# Elephant research in Amboseli - 科目：雅思听力真题（Part 4） - 考频：中频 - 最近考试：2021.2.6/2017.5.6 - 题目数：10 - 来源页：https://www.yaquan.site/paper/b5921870-c458-4083-a419-6b07fc2871c1（在线机考练习与音频请访问该页面） - 数据更新：2026-10-29 ## 题目原文 00:00:00,740 Part four. You will hear a lecture on research into elephants by an expert who's been studying them for forty years. 00:00:10,800 First, you have some time to look at questions thirty-one to forty. 00:00:20,380 Now listen carefully and answer questions thirty-one to forty. 00:01:11,860 Good morning. My name's Caroline Stewart, and I'd like to give you an overview of the research we've been carrying out to learn more about the elephants living in the Amboseli National Park in Kenya. 00:01:27,580 Let me start by telling you a little about the methodology we use. We've been studying this population of elephants for nearly forty years, and we've collected a wealth of information about individual elephants. We now have a database of two thousand five hundred elephants from the area, and we know the month and year of their birth, as well as who was the mother of each one. 00:01:55,220 More recently, one of my colleagues has been examining the pattern of elephant relationships within and between the families in more detail. He's done this by using audio equipment to record and then play back the calls that are made by the elephants. 00:02:14,460 And in addition to that, for some time we've been using DNA analysis to investigate these relationships. The findings were significant. For example, for a long time, we'd suspected that elephants live in a very complex social system, and one thing we found from our research is that this social system is made up of a large number of different layers, not just parent and child, but also brother and sister, and so on. 00:02:48,020 Another important discovery was that elephants can be very cooperative, as much as chimps, in fact. 00:02:55,860 We conducted an experiment in which two of the elephants brought food within reach by pulling simultaneously on the ends of a rope. 00:03:06,100 It was a surprise even to us that they managed to do it. Another finding was just how flexible elephants can be. 00:03:16,109 They may live in smaller or larger groups depending on environmental conditions. So for example, an adult female and her calves might leave their larger groups for days or weeks. 00:03:31,520 A good example of this was two years ago when there was not enough rain. Many left the herd and moved to new areas in order to survive. We also discovered that elephants can show emotion. 00:03:47,460 For example, when an elephant dies, the others may stroke and rearrange the bones, although why they do it is still a mystery. 00:03:58,840 Elephants are very intelligent creatures. We've dedicated a whole chapter to this in our new book, as the findings are so important. For example, when we looked at the elephant's brain, we found that its weight was quite high compared with that of its body, which is significant. 00:04:19,079 Early on in the research, we discovered that bull elephants, i.e. males, go through periods of significant change, which is called Musth. 00:04:31,270 This serves to advertise the male's virility to other females, letting them know he's healthy and would be a good father. But it also warns other males to stay away. One of the most obvious changes is in how they walk, though there are others. 00:04:52,060 However, one of our most important discoveries is that it is crucial for elephants to live for a long time. 00:05:00,420 If you are a male, you probably won't be a successful mate unless you do. 00:05:06,780 If you are a female, the older and more experienced you are, the more likely it is that you'll be aware of danger when it approaches. For example, an elephant may be able to cope with one lion, but may have problems if there are three of them. Age helps elephants know when it's best to walk away or to stand and fight. 00:05:35,120 There's a huge amount that's still waiting to be discovered. 00:05:39,460 For example, we know very little about the part that's played in the life of elephants by their sense of smell, although we suspect that it must be important because this sense is very well developed. 00:05:53,360 It's very hard to conduct research in this area in the wild because there are so many variables involved. 00:06:01,400 Another area we know little about is illustrated by a time I observed a young elephant reaching out towards an electric fence. His mother's whole body posture displayed alarm at the danger he was in. 00:06:16,200 This is an example of how one elephant can be sensitive towards the feelings or situation of another, but we don't know how much it happens. 00:06:29,870 That is the end of part four. You now have one minute to check your answers to part four. ## 题目与答案 ### 31. Methodology ·The elephant population has been studied for almost forty years. ·Records of many elephants` dates of birth and also of their 31_____ have been kept. ·Play-back of elephant calls and DNA analysis were also used. Methodology ·The elephant population has been studied for almost forty years. ·Records of many elephants` dates of birth and also of their 31_____ have been kept. ·Play-back of elephant calls and DNA analysis were also used. **答案**：mother 原文定位：We know the month and year of their birth, as well as who was the mother of each one 同义替换：「also」↔「as well as」 ### 32. Findings ·The social system of elephants has many 32_____ . Findings ·The social system of elephants has many 32_____ . **答案**：layers 原文定位：One thing we found from our research is that this social system is made up of a large number of different layers 同义替换：「many」↔「a large number of」 ### 33. Co-operation ·Two elephants worked together to get food using a 33_____ . Co-operation ·Two elephants worked together to get food using a 33_____ . **答案**：rope 原文定位：We conducted an experiment in which two of the elephants brought food within reach by pulling simultaneously on the ends of a rope 同义替换：「together」↔「simultaneously」；「get food」↔「brought food within reach」；「using」↔「pulling」 ### 34. Flexibility ·Some moved to a new area when there was a lack of 34_____ . Flexibility ·Some moved to a new area when there was a lack of 34_____ . **答案**：rain 原文定位：A good example of this was two years ago when there was not enough rain. Many left the herd and moved to new areas in order to survive 同义替换：「lack of」↔「not enough」 ### 35. Emotion ·They may move the 35_____ of another elephant after death. Emotion ·They may move the 35_____ of another elephant after death. **答案**：bones 原文定位：When an elephant dies, the others may stroke and rearrange the bones 同义替换：「move」↔「rearrange」；「after death」↔「when an elephant dies」 ### 36. Intelligence ·Their brain 36_____ is quite high in comparison with that of their body. Intelligence ·Their brain 36_____ is quite high in comparison with that of their body. **答案**：weight 原文定位：When we looked at the elephant's brain, we found that its weight was quite high compared with that of its body 同义替换：「comparison」↔「compared」 ### 37. Male Elephants and “Musth” ·They way they 37_____ is one obvious change. Male Elephants and “Musth” ·They way they 37_____ is one obvious change. **答案**：walk 原文定位：One of the most obvious changes is in how they walk ### 38. Longevity and Mating ·Elephants need to live a long time. ·Older males make better mates: older females recognize 38_____ . Longevity and Mating ·Elephants need to live a long time. ·Older males make better mates: older females recognize 38_____ . **答案**：danger 原文定位：The older and more experienced you are, the more likely it is that you'll be aware of danger when it approaches 同义替换：「recognize」↔「aware」 ### 39. What still needs to be discovered ·How elephants use smell - difficult to study this in the 39_____ . What still needs to be discovered ·How elephants use smell - difficult to study this in the 39_____ . **答案**：wild 原文定位：It's very hard to conduct research in this area in the wild because there are so many variables involved 同义替换：「difficult」↔「hard」；「study」↔「research」 ### 40. ·How 40_____ elephants are to one another. ·How 40_____ elephants are to one another. **答案**：sensitive 原文定位：This is an example of how one elephant can be sensitive towards the feelings or situation of another, but we don't know how much it happens --- 以上内容由鸭圈雅思真题库（www.yaquan.site）提供，收录近期雅思考试真题回忆，支持在线机考模式免费练习。