This reading test contains 14 questions. You should spend about 20 minutes
on this task.
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paper.
Read the passage below and answer 14 questions.
Bird Body Language
A
Birds are becoming popular as pets, but unlike with more common pets,
owners of birds are often not familiar with the behavioural patterns of the
animal which allow them to recognise what the pet needs and wants. For example,
most of us can recognise the behaviour a dog exhibits when he is hungry or wants
attention, but how many of us know how birds go about showing the same feelings?
By learning about the behavioural patterns of birds, its owner can forge a
stronger relationship with his pet. Owners can learn how to read bird body
language, including movements of the eyes, wings, tail and beak. In addition,
the sounds the bird makes can also indicate the mood, desires, and requirements
of the pet.
B
A bird’s eyes are different from a human’s. While both birds and humans
have pupils and irises (the black and coloured parts respectively), birds have
the ability to control the size of their pupils by enlarging and reducing their
irises quickly. This behaviour, flashing, is something birds may do when they
are angry, interested, or frightened.
C
A bird also communicates through the use of their wings. A bird may lift or
open his wings as a sign of happiness. But if the bird starts opening and
closing their wings, it may signal anger or pain. If a bird fails to fold its
wings against its body, and instead lets them hang by their side, the bird may
be ill. Healthy adult birds will typically tuck their wings against their bodies
when they are at rest.
D Birds often use their tail feathers to communicate, so an understanding
of this behaviour will help the pet’s owner. A bird may move his tail from side
to side, called wagging, to express happiness (similar to dogs in behaviour and
meaning). Happiness is also the emotion expressed by other kinds of tail
movement, such as up and down. However, if a bird fans his tail feathers out, it
is usually a way to show anger or aggression.
E
While the bird’s beak is used mainly for eating and grooming, a bird may
also communicate by using beak movements. For example, a bird may click his beak
once as a greeting, and several clicks can be taken as a warning. Birds may
sometimes bite, but it is often difficult to determine the reason behind it –
birds bite as a way to defend territory, show anger or express fear.
F
Finally, the sounds a bird makes are very important in communication. Birds
use vocalisations to communicate with each other (and with their owners).
Singing is the sign of a happy bird, and many birds love to sing when others are
around. Birds may also purr, though this is not the same as a cat's purr. A
bird's purr sounds more like a low growl, and may indicate annoyance. Finally, a
bird may click his tongue against his beak, and this often indicates a desire to
be picked up and petted.
Questions
Complete the summary below.
Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage for each answer.
Part of the body
Eyes
Wings
Wings
Wings
Tail
Tail
Beak
Beak
Movement
Rapid change ____(1)____ size of pupils, called ____(2)____
Wings in an ____(3)____ position
____(4)____ of wings
Wings ____(5)____
____(7)____ in any direction
Fanning out
One click
Several clicks Reason
Anger, interest
Contentment
Anger or pain
____(6)____
Happiness
Aggression
____(8)____
Warning
The Reading Passage has six paragraphs, A-F.
Which paragraph contains the following information?
Write the correct letter A-F in boxes 9-14 on your answer sheet.NB You may
use any letter more than once.
9) Mentions behaviour connected to a bird’s state of health
10) Describes how birds say hello
11) Compares the behaviour of two different pets
12) Compares humans and birds
13) Discusses the importance of learning about bird behaviour
14) Describes how birds indicate they want physical contact
参考答案
Answers
1) in
2) flashing
3) open
4) movement
5) hanging down / at side
6) illness
7) wagging / movement
8) greeting
9) C
10) E
11) D/F
12) B
13) A
14) F
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