14．The more scientists study pigeons，the more they learn how their brains operate in ways not so different from our own．
In a new study，researchers found that pigeons can categorize and name both natural and man-made objects-and not just a few objects．These birds categorized 128 photographs into 16categories．
Ed Wasserman，an author of the study，says the finding suggests a similarity between how pigeons learn the equivalent of words and the way children do．
In an experiment the researchers used a computerized version of the"name game"where three pigeons were shown 128 black-and-white photos of objects from 16 basic categories：baby，bottle，cake，car，cracker，dog，duck，fish，flower，hat，key，pen，phone，plane，shoe，tree．They then had to peck（啄） on one of two different symbols：the correct one for that photo and an incorrect one that was randomly chosen from one of the remaining 15 categories．The pigeons not only succeeded in learning the task，but they reliably transferred the learning to four new photos from each of the 16 categories．
Pigeons have long been known to be smarter than average birds．They have a"homing instinct（返巢本能）"that helps them find their way home，even when blindfolded（蒙住眼睛）．They have better eyesight than humans and have been trained to spot orange life jackets of people lost at sea．They carried messages for the U．S．Army during the two world wars．
McMurray，another author of the study，says"Our testing methods can be used with any type of animal that can interact with a computer screen．"
He also says，"Contrary to people's belief，the research shows the methods with which children solve this huge problem may be shared with many species．"
Wasserman acknowledges though this study is not a direct equivalent of word learning in children，the model used in the study could lead to a better understanding of children's word learning．
32．What can we know from Paragraph 4？A
A．How the researchers carried out the experiment．
B．What objects pigeons are good at recognizing．
C．How many categories pigeons can be classified into．
D．Why researchers wanted to prove pigeons'intelligence．
33．What can pigeons do？A
A．Help to save lives．
B．Teach children words．
C．Learn words just as adults．
D．Use their eyes to judge the way home．
34．According to McMurray，most people consider children's word learning methodsB．
A．interesting
B．unique
C．important
D．common
35．What is the purpose of this passage？D
A．To inform people that pigeons are clever birds．
B．To prove pigeons are of great use to humans．
C．To explain why pigeons solve problems more easily than children．
D．To show pigeons are similar to children in learning words．
分析 文章主要講述了鴿子與人類的區(qū)別．
解答 32．A 細節(jié)理解題．根據(jù)第四段In an experiment the researchers used a computerized version of the"name game"where three pigeons were shown 128 black-and-white photos of objects from 16 basic categories在一項實驗中，研究人員使用了電腦版的"名稱游戲"，其中三只鴿子被展示了128個來自16個基本類別的物體的黑白照片．主要講述了科學家是如何進行試驗的．故選A．
33．A 細節(jié)理解題．根據(jù)文章內(nèi)容They have better eyesight than humans and have been trained to spot orange life jackets of people lost at sea他們的視力比人類好，受過訓練，能在海上發(fā)現(xiàn)丟失的橙色救生衣．故選A．
34．B 細節(jié)理解題．根據(jù)文章內(nèi)容Contrary to people's belief，the research shows the methods with which children solve this huge problem may be shared with many species．"與人們的看法相反，研究表明，兒童解決這一巨大問題的方法可以與許多物種分享．可知每一個孩子的學習方法是獨特的，是不一樣的．故選B．
35．D 主旨題 文章主要講述了鴿子與人類的區(qū)別，文章內(nèi)容Ed Wasserman，an author of the study，says the finding suggests a similarity between how pigeons learn the equivalent of words and the way children do．埃德•沃瑟曼說，這項研究的作者發(fā)現(xiàn)鴿子如何學習單詞的和孩子學習的方式之間有一定的相似性．．故選D．
點評 這類題材閱讀理解時要求考生對文章通讀一遍，做題時結(jié)合原文和題目有針對性的找出相關(guān)語句進行仔細分析，結(jié)合選項選出正確答案．推理判斷題也是要在抓住關(guān)鍵句子的基礎(chǔ)上合理的分析才能得出正確答案，切忌胡亂猜測，一定要做到有理有據(jù)．
