10．Australian cities can keep their native wildlife-but only if they can kick their habit of urban sprawl （无计划的扩展）．That's the finding of a new study by leading Australian environmental researchers Jessica Sushinsky，Professor Hugh Possingham and Dr Richard Fuller of The University of Queensland．
"While urban development usually reduces the number of birds in a city，building more compact （紧凑的） cities and avoiding urban sprawl can slow these reductions greatly，"says lead author Jessica Sushinsky．"Compact housing development leaves birds'homes untouched，leading to fewer losses of birds．"
The researchers surveyed native and wild birds in Brisbane's urban areas，including living and industrial areas，public parks and gardens，major roadways and airports．They then used statistical modeling to find out what will happen to the birds as the city grows．The first setting was compact growth-where multiple homes are built on land that previously had only one house．The second setting was sprawling growth-a familiar pattern where homes are built here and there beyond the city's current boundaries．
The team's forecasts showed that a much greater diversity of species was lost over 20 years in the sprawling setting compared to the more compact setting．"Urban sprawl resulted in the disappearance of many urban-sensitive birds-birds that only live in areas where there is native vegetation （植被），such as parklands and woodlands，"Ms Sushinsky says．
"On the other hand，we found the city with the compact development attracted more birds because it kept more of its parks and green areas．"
Now the Queensland Government has adopted the more compact urban growth strategy，which，Dr Richard Fuller says，is good news for Australia's native birds．These birds are environmental specialists-they need a particular environment to do well．"While compact development means smaller backyards，it can also make our entire cities more biodiverse，"according to Dr Fuller．"The study shows that we should hold on to our green spaces instead of clearing them for sprawling development．"
This is the first time science has modeled the effects of different urban growth strategies on birds，the researchers say．"Statistical models like these are important because they help us to understand the ecological consequences of a particular decision，"says Dr Fuller．
71．The study deals with the relationship betweenA．
A．city development and birds B．the environment and birds
C．humans and wildlife D．climate and wildlife
72．Why is compact urban growth better than the sprawling strategy？D
A．It makes the cities more beautiful．
B．It gives people larger backyards．
C．It is money-saving．
D．It is bird-friendly．
73．Dr Richard Fuller thinks the Queensland Government's actionB
A．is really brave
B．is worth praising
C．has an uncertain future
D．should be performed nationwide
74．What can we learn about the study from the passage？D
A．It is based on the statistics in the past．
B．It is strongly against urban development．
C．It criticizes the city environment in Brisbane．
D．It suggests leaving more green spaces for birds．
75．Where does the passage probably come from？A
A．A news report
B．A travel guide
C．A health magazine
D．A history book．
分析 本文属于说明文阅读，作者通过这篇文章主要向我们介绍了一个关于城市发展模式与鸟类生存之间关系的研究，研究发现，紧凑型的发展模式更有利于鸟类在城市的生存，为了城市生物的多样性，我们应该采取更为紧凑的城市发展战略，尽可能保存城市绿色空间．
解答 71．A．细节理解题．根据文章第二段中的"urban development usually reduces the number of birds in a city，building more compact （紧凑的） cities and avoiding urban sprawl can slow these reductions greatly"可知城市的发展通常会降低城市中的鸟的数量，因此该研究关注的是城市发展与鸟类之间的关系；故选A．
72．D．推理判断题．根据倒数第三段中的"we found the city with the compact development attracted more birds because it kept more of its parks and green areas"可知紧凑型的城市吸引了更多的鸟类，推测紧凑型的发展模式有利于鸟类在城市的生存．故选D．
73．B．推理判断题．根据倒数第二段中的"which，Dr Richard Fuller says，is good news for Australia's native birds"可知，Dr Richard Fuller称赞昆士兰政府的做法；故选B．
74．D．细节理解题．根据文章第一段中的"kick their habit of urban sprawl （城市蔓延）"和第五段中的"we found the city with the compact development attracted more birds because it kept more of its parks and green areas"及倒数第二段中的"The study shows that we should hold on to our green spaces instead of clearing them for sprawling development"可知，研究人员主张城市紧凑型发展，让城市为鸟类保留更多的绿色空间；故选D．
75．A．推理判断题．通读全文，可知本文主要介绍了一个关于城市发展模式与鸟类生存之间关系的研究，列出了充分的实验数据和研究人员的意见，可推断文章最有可能选自一篇新闻报道；故选A．
点评 考察学生的细节理解和推理判断能力，做细节理解题时一定要找到文章中的原句，和题干进行比较，再做出正确的选择．在做推理判断题不要以个人的主观想象代替文章的事实，要根据文章事实进行合乎逻辑的推理判断．
