Animal Signals in the Rain Forest
The daytime quality of light in forests varies with the density of the vegetation, the angle of the Sun, and the amount of cloud in the sky. Both animals and plants have different appearances in these various lighting conditions. A color or pattern that is relatively indistinct in one kind of light may be quite conspicuous in another.
In the varied and constantly changing light environment of the forest, an animal must be able to send visual signals to members of its own species and at the same time avoid being detected by predators. An animal can hide from predators by choosing the light environment in which its pattern is least visible. This may require moving to different parts of the forest at different times of the day or under different weather conditions, or it may be achieved by changing color according to the changing light conditions. Many species of amphibians (frogs and toads) and reptiles (lizards and snakes) are able to change their color patterns to camouflage themselves. Some also signal by changing color. The chameleon lizard has the most striking ability to do this. Some chameleon species can change from a rather dull appearance to a full riot of carnival colors in seconds. By this means, they signal their level of aggression or readiness to mate.
Other species take into account the changing conditions of light by performing their visual displays only when the light is favorable. A male bird of paradise may put himself in the limelight by displaying his spectacular plumage in the best stage setting to attract a female. Certain butterflies move into spots of sunlight that have penetrated to the forest floor and display by opening and closing their beautifully patterned wings in the bright spotlights. They also compete with each other for the best spot of sunlight.
Very little light filters through the canopy of leaves and branches in a rain forest to reach ground level-or close to the ground-and at those levels the yellow-to-green wavelengths predominate. A signal might be most easily seen if it is maximally bright. In the green-to-yellow lighting conditions of the lowest levels of the forest, yellow and green would be the brightest colors, but when an animal is signaling, these colors would not be very visible if the animal was sitting in an area with a yellowish or greenish background. The best signal depends not only on its brightness but also on how well it contrasts with the background against which it must be seen. In this part of the rain forest, therefore, red and orange are the best colors for signaling, and they are the colors used in signals by the ground-walking Australian brush turkey. This species, which lives in the rain forests and scrublands of the east coast of Australia, has a brown-to-black plumage with bare, bright-red skin on the head and neck and a neck collar of orange-yellow loosely hanging skin. During courtship and aggressive displays, the turkey enlarges its colored neck collar by inflating sacs in the neck region and then flings about a pendulous part of the colored signaling apparatus as it utters calls designed to attract or repel. This impressive display is clearly visible in the light spectrum illuminating the forest floor.
Less colorful birds and animals that inhabit the rain forest tend to rely on other forms of signaling other than the visual, particularly over long distances. The piercing cries of the rhinoceros hornbill characterize the Southeast Asian rain forest, as do the unmistakable calls of the gibbons. In densely wooded environments, sound is the best means of communication over distance because in comparison with light, it travels with little impediment from trees and other vegetation. In forests, visual signals can be seen only at short distances, where they are not obstructed by trees. The male riflebird exploits both of these modes of signaling simultaneously in his courtship display. The sounds made as each wing is opened carry extremely well over distance and advertise his presence widely. The ritualized visual display communicates in close quarters when a female has approached.
Paragraph 1: The daytime quality of light in forests varies with the density of the vegetation, the angle of the Sun, and the amount of cloud in the sky. Both animals and plants have different appearances in these various lighting conditions. A color or pattern that is relatively indistinct in one kind of light may be quite conspicuous in another.
1. The phrase conspicuous in the passage is closest in meaning to
○Commom
○Noticeable
○Different
○Colorful
Paragraph 2: In the varied and constantly changing light environment of the forest, an animal must be able to send visual signals to members of its own species and at the same time avoid being detected by predators. An animal can hide from predators by choosing the light environment in which its pattern is least visible. This may require moving to different parts of the forest at different times of the day or under different weather conditions, or it may be achieved by changing color according to the changing light conditions. Many species of amphibians (frogs and toads) and reptiles (lizards and snakes) are able to change their color patterns to camouflage themselves. Some also signal by changing color. The chameleon lizard has the most striking ability to do this. Some chameleon species can change from a rather dull appearance to a full riot of carnival colors in seconds. By this means, they signal their level of aggression or readiness to mate.
2. According to paragraph 2, what is problematic about an animal's sending visual signals to members of its own species?
○Signs that make an animal visible to its species also make it visible to predators.
○An animal that changes color to avoid predators can confuse members of its species.
○Changing light may require an animal to move beyond the visual range of other members.
○The animal may mistakenly signal aggression when it meant to signal readiness to mate.
3. The word signal in the passage is closest in meaning to
○change
○imitate
○communicate
○hide
4. According to paragraph 2, all of the following are reasons amphibians and reptiles change color EXCEPT
○changing seasons
○to signal others of their species
○to match the light
○to hide from predators
Paragraph 3: Other species take into account the changing conditions of light by performing their visual displays only when the light is favorable. A male bird of paradise may put himself in the limelight by displaying his spectacular plumage in the best stage setting to attract a female. Certain butterflies move into spots of sunlight that have penetrated to the forest floor and display by opening and closing their beautifully patterned wings in the bright spotlights They also compete with each other for the best spot of sunlight.
5. According to paragraph 3, butterflies move into spots of sunlight in order to
○warm their wings in order to open them
○compete with each other
○take advantage of favorable light conditions on the forest floor
○imitate birds of paradise
Paragraph 4: Very little light filters through the canopy of leaves and branches in a rain forest to reach ground level-or close to the ground-and at those levels the yellow-to-green wavelengths predominate. A signal might be most easily seen if it is maximally bright. In the green-to yellow lighting conditions of the lowest levels of the forest, yellow and green would be the brightest colors, but when an animal is signaling, these colors would not be very visible if the animal was sitting in an area with a yellowish or greenish background. The best signal depends not only on its brightness but also on how well it contrasts with the background against which it must be seen. In this part of the rain forest, therefore, red and orange are the best colors for signaling, and they are the colors used in signals by the ground-walking Australian brush turkey. This species, which lives in the rain forests and scrublands of the east coast of Australia, has a brown to-black plumage with bare, bright-red skin on the head and neck and a neck collar of orange-yellow loosely hanging skin. During courtship and aggressive displays, the turkey enlarges its colored neck collar byinflating sacs in the neck region and then flings about a pendulous part of the colored signaling apparatus as it utters calls designed to attract or repel. This impressive display is clearly visible in the light spectrum illuminating the forest floor.
6. According to paragraph 4, what is true about light that reaches ground level?
○It reveals only the yellow and green colors animals use to signal each other.
○It reflects the yellow and green colors to make the floor as bright as sunshine.
○It camouflages animals whose natural colors are yellow and green.
○It consists mostly of yellow-to-green wavelengths.
7. Which of the sentences below best expresses the essential information in the highlighted sentence in the passage? Incorrect choices change the meaning in important ways or leave out essential information.
○When an animal is signaling in an area with green-to yellow lighting condition. It's signal will not be visible if the background is brightly lit.
○In the lowest levels of the forest, an animal's signals are not easily seen unless there is a yellowish or greenish background.
○In the green-to-yellow lighting conditions at the lowest levels of the forest, only signals that are themselves green or yellow will be bright enough to be seen in most areas.
○Although green and yellow would be the brightest colors near the forest floor, these colors would make poor signals whenever the forest background was also in the green-to-yellow range.
8. The word inflating in the passage is closest in meaning to
○Coloring
○Enlarging
○Loosening
○Heating
9. Which of the following can be inferred from paragraph 4 about yellow and green colors compared with red and orange colors at the bottom of the forest?
○Yellow and green are better colors for signaling than red and orange colors.
○Orange and red are brighter colors than yellow and green.
○Yellow and green are likely to be more common in the background than red and orange.
○Orange and red colors do not contrast as well with the forest floor as yellow and green do.
Paragraph 5: Less colorful birds and animals that inhabit the rain forest tend to rely on forms of signaling other than the visual, particularly over long distances. The piercing cries of the rhinoceros hornbill characterize the Southeast Asian rain forest, as do the unmistakable calls of the gibbons. In densely wooded environments, sound is the best means of communication over distance because in comparison with light, it travels with little impediment from trees and other vegetation. In forests, visual signals can be seen only at short distances, where they are not obstructed by trees. The male riflebird exploits both of these modes of signaling simultaneously in his courtship display. The sounds made as each wing is opened carry extremely well over distance and advertise his presence widely. The ritualized visual display communicates in close quarters when a female has approached.
10. What can be inferred from paragraph 5 about the less colorful birds and animals that inhabit the forest?
○These species are less able to see color. and therefore they communicate with one another using nonvisual signals.
○These species generally live in less densely wooded environments than more colorful birds and animals do.
○The cries of these species do not carry as well over distances as the cries of more colorful birds and animals.
○These species depend more on nonvisual signals for communication because they are less visible in their environment.
11. The word impediment in the passage is closest in meaning to
○obstruction
○effort
○delay
○resistance
12. The word exploits in the passage is closest in meaning to
○repeats
○makes use of
○increases the intensity of
○recognizes
Less colorful birds and animals that inhabit the rain forest tend to rely on forms of signaling other than the visual, particularly over long distances. ■ The piercing cries of the rhinoceros hornbill characterize the Southeast Asian rain forest, as do the unmistakable calls of the gibbons. ■ In densely wooded environments, sound is the best means of communication over distance because in comparison with light, it travels with little impediment from trees and other vegetation. ■ In forests, visual signals can be seen only at short distances, where they are not obstructed by trees. ■ The male riflebird exploits both of these modes of signaling simultaneously in his courtship display. The sounds made as each wing is opened carry extremely well over distance and advertise his presence widely. The ritualized visual display communicates in close quarters when a female has approached.
13. Look at the four squares [■] that indicate where the following sentence could be added to the passage.
There is also the long, rather terrifying call of the male orangutan, which carries over considerable distances to advertise his presence.
Where would the sentence best fit?
14. Directions: An introductory sentence for a brief summary of the passage is provided below. Complete the summary by selecting the THREE answer choices that express the most important ideas in the passage. Some sentences do not belong in the summary because they express ideas that are not presented in the passage or are minor ideas in the passage. This question is worth 2 points.
In the rain forest, an animal must be able to send signals to members of its own species and at the same time avoid being detected by predators.
●
●
●
Answer Choices
○Animals that have different predators at different times of day change color to avoid being detected.
○To escape notice, an animal may move or change color so that its color pattern is not visible.
○To be noticed, an animal may draw attention to the contrast F between its colors and the colors of its environment.
○Yellow and green are the most common colors found in the r rain forest.
○Animals must have signals for aggression as well as to indicate readiness to mate.
○An animal may use sound rather than color to attract attention, because sound signals are not hindered by light conditions.#p#副标题#e#
参考答案：
1. 2
2. 1
3. 3
4. 1
5. 3
6. 4
7. 4
8. 2
9. 3
10. 4
11. 1
12. 2
13. 2
14. To escape…
To be noticed…
An animal may…
参考翻译：雨林中的动物信号
森林中白天的光照质量随着植被密度、太阳角度以及天空中云的数量的变化而变化。在不同的光照条件下，动植物会有不同的表现。在某种光照下相对较难辨认的颜色或式样，在另外一种光照下也许会变得相当显眼。
在多样和不断变化的森林光照环境下，动物必须能够发送视觉信号给自己的同类，同时避免被捕食者发现。动物可以选择最不易看得见的光照环境来躲避捕食者的视线。这就要求动物能在白天不同的时间或者在不同的天气条件下移动到森林的不同方位，或者，它们也可以根据不同的光照来改变自身的颜色。很多两栖动物(青蛙和蟾蜍)和爬行动物(蜥蜴和蛇)都可以通过改变颜色图案来伪装自己。有些动物还通过改变颜色来发出信号。变色龙在这方面有着最惊人的能力。有些变色龙物种可以在几秒钟之内就把暗淡的外表变得灿烂夺目。通过这种方式，它们可以传达出攻击程度和交配意愿。
其他的物种则只有在光照对它们有利的时候才会利用光照，来进行视觉上的自我展现。雄性极乐鸟会置身于汇聚的光线之下，在最佳的场景中展现自己缤纷绚烂的羽翼，以吸引雌鸟的注意。某些蝴蝶则飞到穿透森林的太阳光点处，，在明亮的光点中扇动着带有美丽图案的翅膀来展现自己。它们还会互相争夺最佳的光照位置。
很少有光能够穿透热带雨林的树冠层到达地平面--或是接近地面--而能达到底部的主要是黄绿光波。如果是色彩极为明亮的信号，可能更容易被看见。在森林底层的黄绿光照条件下，黄色和绿色是最明亮的颜色，但是当动物发送信号时，如果处于浅黄或浅绿的背景下，这些颜色就不容易看到了。最佳的信号不仅取决于其明亮度，还在于它与背景颜色的对比度。因此，在热带雨林这块区域，红色和橙色是最佳的信号颜色，而这也是地面行走的澳大利亚灌丛火鸡最善于使用的信号颜色。这个物种生活在澳大利亚东海岸的雨林和灌木丛中，长着黑棕色的羽毛，有着光秃秃、亮红色的头和脖子，颈圈上是一层橙黄色的松垮垮的皮。在求爱期和发起进攻时，火鸡通过给颈部液囊充气扩张颈圈，晃动着下垂的鲜艳的信号装置，随之发出叫声来吸引异性或击退敌人。在照亮雨林底层的光谱环境下，能够清晰地看到这种让人印象深刻的展示。
对于生活在热带雨林中的色彩不那么鲜艳的鸟类和动物来说，它们则倾向于发出其他形式的信号而非视觉信号，尤其是在跨越长距离时。比如说，东南亚雨林中极有代表性的能发出尖锐叫声的犀鸟和叫声清厉的长臂猿。在树木繁茂的环境中，声音是最好的跨距离传播手段。因为，相较于视觉信号，声音几乎不受树木和其他植被的干扰。在森林中，只能在不被树木阻挡的近距离地方看到视觉信号。雄性极乐鸟在求爱期则同时运用了这两种信号传送方式。它张开翅膀时发出的声响能够极好地传送到远距离之外，铺天盖地地宣传着它的仪表风采。而当雌鸟吸引而来时，它那仪式化的视觉展现就得以近距离地进行交流。
微信扫描下方二维码，第一时间知晓