Comprehension 理解
Answer the following question:
1 Name one outstanding quality which porpoises possess.
Vocabulary 词汇
Refer to the text to see how the following words have been used, then write sentences of your own using these words: superstition (1.1); in defensive formation (1.2); motive (1.4); waterlogged (1.6); ensued (1.9); intrigued (1.10); constantly (1.10); shoving (1.12); sticking his snout (1.13); butts (1.16); recovers his equilibrium (1.16).
The paragraph 段落
A Drawing your information from the second paragraph (lines 10-19) write a list of points in note form to answer the following question:
How does the author prove that the porpoise is intrigued with anything alive?
B Read the first paragraph again (lines 1-9)．Then, using the list of points given below, reconstruct the paragraph in your own words as far as possible．Do not refer to the passage until you have finished the exercise:
1 Superstition among mariners.
2 Porpoises will save drowning men or protect them ----sharks.
3 Marine Studio biologists: probably not true.
4 Done out of curiosity or for sport.
5 E．g．pushing a mattress to the shore.
6 Saving men from sharks: porpoises and sharks: natural enemies.
C Write a paragraph of about 200 words on one of the following subjects:
1 Dolphins.
2 Intelligence in animals.
Key structures 关键句型
A Supply the correct form of the verbs in parentheses in the following paragraph．Do not refer to the passage until you have finished the exercise:
There has long been a superstition among mariners that porpoises ______(save) drowning men by______ (push) them to the surface, or ______(protect) them from sharks by ______(surround) them in defensive formation．Marine Studio biologists ______(point) out that, however intelligent they may be, it______ (be) probably a mistake to credit dolphins with any motive of lifesaving．On the occasions when they ______ (push) to shore an unconscious human being they much more likely ______(do) it out of curiosity or for sport, as in ______(ride) the bow waves of a ship．In 1928 some porpoises ______(photograph) ______ (work) like beavers to push ashore a waterlogged mattress．If, as ______(report), they ______(protect) humans from sharks, it may have been because curiosity ______(attract) them and because the scent of a possible meal ______(attract) the sharks．Porpoises and sharks ______(be) natural enemies．It ______ (be) possible that upon such an occasion as battle ______(ensue) with the sharks ______ (drive) away or ______ (kill)．(11.1-9)
B Note the form of the verb used after enjoyed in this sentence: One young calf especially enjoyed raising a turtle to the surface．(11.11-12)
Complete the following sentences using the construction given above:
1 I can't remember ______.
2 You should avoid ______.
3 Will you stop ______.
4 Fancy ______.
5 I can't imagine him ______.
6 Pardon my ______.
C Study the following sentence:
He no sooner recovers his equilibrium than the next porpoise comes along and hits him another crack．(11.16-17) Write a sentence using the phrase no sooner ..．than.
Special difficulties 难点
A Study the following pairs of words and then write sentences of your own to bring out the difference.
1 drown (1.1 ) ---- choke
She must have swum too far out and drowned．
Something got stuck in my throat and I nearly choked．
2 unconscious (1.4) ---- insensitive
Someone fainted on the train today and remained unconscious for several minutes.
The two mothers chatted happily, quite unconscious of what their children were planning.
You have to be completely insensitive to other people, to play loud music in the street in the middle of the night.
3 curiosity (1.7) ---- strangeness
Curiosity killed the cat．(= wanting to know)
It took me a while to get used to the strangeness of my new school．(= the unfamiliar quality)
4 indignity (1.11) ---- disrespect
Pink and embarassed, she endured the indignity of being rescued from the mud in front of a party of tourists staring in silence.
To avoid any hint of disrespect, most countries sent their most senior officials to represent them at the President's funeral.
5 raise (1.11 ) ---- rise
Increased sales tax will raise prices.
We rise at six in the morning.
6 game (1.15) ---- play
Thousands of people packed the stadium to see the game.
Which is your favourite Shakespeare play?
7 eventually (1.17) ---- finally
Pneumonia eventually led to his death.
So you've finally decided to get married．
B Explain the meaning of the words in italics:
1 They have much more likely done it out of curiosity or for sport．(1.5)
2 It's rather unlikely that he will come now.
3 That's a likely story, I must say.
4 He's a likely person, I'm sure he'll help you.
C Note the verb in italics:
A battle ensued, with the sharks being driven away or killed．(1.9)
Write sentences using the following expressions idiomatically: drive off; drive out; drive back; drive up.
D Explain the verbs in italics:
1 They are constantly after the turtles．(11.10-11)
2 The game is over．(1.19)
3 You can't see him now．He's out.
4 When will he be back?
5 Our team will not be playing next week．The match is off.
6 The fire is out.
7 What's on at the Regal today?
E Explain the meaning of the verb in italics:
The turtle at last gives up by pulling his feet under his shell．(1.19)
Write sentences using the following expressions:
give oneself up; give off; give back.
Multiple choice questions 多项选择题
Choose the correct answers to the following questions.
Comprehension 理解
1 The writer of this piece probably ______.
a．doubts whether porpoises have a special relationship with humans
b．believes that porpoises have a special interest in humans
c．thinks that porpoises can't tell the difference between a human and a mattress
d．thinks that porpoises are attracted by humans as a possible meal
2 The stories we hear about porpoises suggest that porpoises ______.
a．take a special interest in us
b．are as intelligent as we are
c．always save humans who are drowning
d．always protect humans from sharks
3 Porpoises often give turtles a bad time because ______.
a．they are natural enemies
b．they like to play
c．turtles enjoy being badly treated
d．they often share an oceanarium
4 One of these statements is true．Which one?
a．Porpoises try to kill turtles by lifting their shells.
b．Porpoises never allow turtles to stand up.
c．Turtles seem to take part in this game played by porpoises.
d．Turtles don't feel any pain when they're ill-treated by porpoises.
Structure 句型
5 The superstition among mariners ______．(1.1)
a．was very common
b．has been very long
c．existed long ago
d．has lasted a long time
6 ______ intelligent they may be, it is a mistake to ..．(1.3)
a．Regardless that
b．Whatever
c．No matter how
d．Whether
7 Whether it ______bird, fish or beast, the porpoise is intrigued ..．(1.10)
a．were
b．has been
c．was
d．is
8 Hardly has the turtle recovered his equilibrium ______he is knocked down．(11.16-17)
a．but
b．though
c．when
d．than
Vocabulary 词汇
9 The of a possible meal attracted sharks．(1.8)
a．odour
b．perfume
c．smell
d．aroma
10 The porpoise is ______with anything that is alive．(1.10)
a．repelled
b．attracted
c．fascinated
d．puzzled
11 One young calf especially enjoyed ______a turtle to the surface．(11.11-12)
a．rising
b．lifting
c．arousing
d．elevating
12 The first porpoise ______down from above．(1.15)
a．dives
b．flies
c．jumps
d．falls