10．It's very early in the morning and I'm sitting outside．It's also very cold and dark．With me is Jim Nightingale，and he is the reason I'm up so early．He passes me a hot cup of coffee．"Not long to wait now，"he says．I hope he's right．
After a few minutes there is a very weak light in the east，and then I hear a bird singing．It sings very loud and very clear．"That's the robin（知更鸟），"says Jim．A few more birds start singing with the robin and Jim knows the names of them too．Half an hour later，there are more and more birds singing，and it's very loud!Suddenly，all around us the air is full of the sound of birdsong．This is the dawn chorus（晨鸣），and it's beautiful．
"Wow，this is amazing!"I tell Jim，who is smiling．"Is there a dawn chorus every morning？"
"Birds can sing any time of the year but the best time is the end of winter and during the spring．This is when the birds sing most．"
"Really？So，why do they sing？"I ask．
"Well，there are two reasons，"explains Jim．"Most of the songbirds who sing are males．They want to find a female（雌性）so they sing to show how strong they are．The females listen and choose the best singer!The birds also sing to tell other males to go away．They need their own area； they don't like sharing with another male．"
I listen to the birds； the songs seem too much to me．"Do the birds sing a special song in the morning？"
"That's a good question，"replied Jim．"The successful birds have many kinds of calls and songs．Sometimes they copy the songs of other birds．This makes it sound like there are many birds in that place already and other males stay away．Also the female likes songs with different notes．Some birds，for example the European wren，have songs that contain over 700different notes per minute!"
So，how does Jim know so much about birds？Well，he works as a volunteer for the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds．He is trying to help the birds live in the modern world．"More and more of the birds'habitat disappears every year．The sparrow，for example，was a very common bird in the UK，now it's in danger．"
By now the sun is up and the birds are quiet．It's light so they can start looking for food，they need a big breakfast after all that singing．
51．Why does the writer get up early in the morning？D
A．To visit her friend．B．To drink hot coffee．
C．To see different birds．D．To hear birds sing．
52．When you hear a bird sing in the morning，it's most probablyC．
A．a robin B．a sparrow
C．a male bird D．a female bird
53．A bird sings early in the morning mainlyA．
A．to call a female's attention B．to fight with other males
C．to find a place to live in D．to start looking for food
54．According to the text，which of the following statements is true？B
A．At first the writer is happy to be up so early in the morning．
B．Male birds have their own ways of fooling other birds．
C．It's easier for the birds to find food early in the morning．
D．Jim has a job with the Royal Society for the Proteciton of Birds．
55．The text is mainly aboutC．
A．the robin's songs B．the birds'habitat
C．why birds sing D．how to protect birds．
分析 文章大意：本文讲述了作者和Jim Nightingale在一个寒冷的清晨在外面等待鸟叫的声音，作者向Jim学习到了许多关于鸟叫的知识，原来Jim这么了解鸟叫是因为他作为一名保护鸟类协会的志愿者在积极保护鸟类以及鸟类的栖息地．Jim用他的行动告诉我们保护鸟类，刻不容缓．
解答 51：D 细节理解题．根据After a few minutes there is a very weak light in the east，and then I hear a bird singing．It sings very loud and very clear．可知作者起个大早是为了听鸟叫．故选D
52．C 细节理解题．根据"Most of the songbirds who sing are males．可知当你在早晨听鸟叫时，很有可能是来自于雄鸟的叫声．故选C．
53：A 细节理解题．根据Jim Nightingale介绍鸟叫的原因那部分：They want to find a female（雌性）so they sing to show how strong they are他们想找一个雌鸟，所以他们唱歌来显示他们有多强大．故选A．
54：B 细节判断题．根据文章的倒数第三段进行判断：The successful birds have many kinds of calls and songs．Sometimes they copy the songs of other birds．This makes it sound like there are many birds in that place already and other males stay away等内容，可知雄鸟有着自己独特的方式和叫声来愚弄其它鸟从而获得雌鸟的芳心．所以B项的说法符合这部分内容．故选B．
55：C 主旨大意题．根据Jim Nightingal和作者早早起床听鸟叫的声音，然后Jim主要给作者讲述了鸟叫的知识．所以本篇主要讲述了鸟类为什么会唱歌，主要就是为了吸引雌鸟这个中心内容．故选C．
点评 本文是一篇有关环保的故事类短文．做题时首先对原文材料迅速浏览，掌握全文的主旨大意．因为阅读理解题一般没有标题，所以，速读全文，抓住中心主旨很有必要，在速读的过程中，应尽可能多地捕获信息材料． 其次，细读题材，各个击破．掌握全文的大意之后，细细阅读材料后的问题，弄清每题要求后，带着问题，再回到原文中去寻找、捕获有关信息．
