# Australia's camouflaged creatures - 科目：雅思阅读真题（Part 2） - 考频：中频 - 最近考试：2018.7.21 - 题目数：13 - 来源页：https://www.yaquan.site/paper/d9f6a4bb-a8bb-4fa4-b808-24b831a64165（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 A Most species use camouflage to some extent. if they are convincing, they survive to pass their genes on to future generations. After generation of natural selection, animals can develop astonishingly complex camouflage techniques, manipulating shape, colour and movement. ‘The principle of camouflage is to make it economically unviable for a predator to pursue a particular species of prey.’ explains Professor Mark Elgar, of the University of Melbourne. ‘Camouflage increases the search time and, as a consequence, the predator will simply target another species, either because it doesn’t see the camouflaged individual or it just finds something more obvious to do. B The easiest way for an animal to disguise itself is to be invisible in its surroundings to that end, stick and leaf insects have evolved complex camouflage to hide themselves from predators. Many have the texture of sticks or dry leaves, while others imitate living foliage, even the veins in a leaf. Some insects develop blemishes to match the spots caused by disease. A convincing appearance only works if its owner also acts the part, so during the day the creature using this type of camouflage keeps motionless, or sways like a dead leaf in the breeze. If disturbed. it falls to the ground and stays still. Entomologist Paul Zborowski, who has spent decades photographing inconspicuous creatures, rates the desert insects of Central Australia as the most convincingly disguised creatures he's seen " It's an incredibly old habitat so the creatures have had a long time to adapt, ' Zborowski explains. Most of them behave like stones and don't move all day feeding only at night. C A tawny frogmouth sitting motionless on a stump also illustrates the importance of pairing a persuasive costume with behaviour. Professor Gisela Kaplan of the University of New England, in Australia, says the frogmouth's skill at camouflaging is learned behaviour. While adopting a pose may be a reflex of the bird, and can be observed in a hatchling s first week, the ability to choose a backdrop which matches its colouration does not develop for 4-6 months hen the chicks land they are usually highly conspicuous, and their parents try to signal to them to move to a safe location. D Fixed camouflage is only good against a relatively unchanging environment, so some animals, such as the cuttlefish, have evolved an adaptable disguise. The cuttlefish can almost instantly change its colour, Pattern and texture to match its surroundings, using specialised cells and muscles. On Queensland's reefs, scientists have been studying another ocean dweller that uses colour change, although not to blend into the surroundings, Dr Karen Cheney, from the University of Queensland, says the bluestriped fangblenny alters its colouration to mimic other species of fish, allowing it to travel with them and benefit from safety in numbers. Its most impressive impersonation is of the black-with-neon-blue striped cleaner wrasse which eats the parasites on larger fish. Not only does the fangblenny benefit from the reduced predation that comes with the wrasse’s beneficial relationships with other fish, but the disguise also lets it get closer to prey. It darts out from the safety of the wrasse’s cleaning station to nip at unsuspecting fish passing by but doesn't attack those coming to be cleaned. E The most famous form of mimicry, however, is for defence, not attack, Batesian mimicry refers to animals that gain protection from predators by imitating a dangerous organism, often using conspicuous colours. The nineteenth-century naturalist Henry Bates first suggested this camouflage technique after noticing that several Amazonian butterfly species looked the same. The technique was later called after him. In Australian waters, the harmless harlequin snake eel sports the same black and white bandings as the highly toxic, yellow-lipped sea krait, ensuring no predator will attack. However, the success of Batesian mimicry depends on the ratio of mimics to originals. If a predator encounters too many that are edible, it will just assume none of the animals with those markings are dangerous, explains Martyn Robinson, an educational naturalist with the Australian Museum. F An imitation of a more dangerous creature needn’t be exact, just enough to make potential predators hesitate. The hawk moth caterpillar has markings resembling a snake’s eyes on its abdomen. When confronted, the caterpillar pulls its head in and the ‘eyes’ flash open. Whether the potential predator thinks it has seen a snake, or is simply startled is unclear, but the outcome is that the caterpillar lives to see another day. G In Queensland's tablelands, the chameleon gecko has another way of making predators hesitate. Its body is brown, but its tail is banded in black and white. Robinson explains that if attacked, the chameleon gecko will drop off its tail, which will wriggle around on the ground. Many lizards do this, but in the case of the chameleon gecko the tail bones actually rub against one another, so it squeaks. ‘The predator is, of course, thoroughly absorbed by this black-and-white-striped, wriggling, squeaking thing on the ground, and the gecko can sneak away,’ Robinson says, It's a one-time-only trick: the regrown tail is brown, the same as the gecko's body. Such precise disguise and elaborate trickery illustrate the limitless possibilities of nature. But, as Robinson points out, only the most successful illusionists are here to tell the tale. ## 题目与答案 ### 14. a species that indicates to its young to move to a place where they are less visible. a species that indicates to its young to move to a place where they are less visible. - A - B - C - D - E - F **答案**：C 原文定位：their parents try to signal to them to move to a safe location 同义替换：「indicates」↔「signal」；「place where they are less visible」↔「safe location」 ### 15. an instance where sound is used to help an animal escape. an instance where sound is used to help an animal escape. - A - B - C - D - E - F **答案**：G 原文定位：but in the case of the chameleon gecko the tail bones actually rub against one another, so it squeaks. ‘The predator is, of course, thoroughly absorbed by this black-and-white-striped, wriggling, squeaking thing on the ground, and the gecko can sneak away 同义替换：「sound」↔「squeaks」；「help an animal escape」↔「the gecko can sneak away」 ### 16. a creature that can use camouflage to match a range of different backgrounds. a creature that can use camouflage to match a range of different backgrounds. - A - B - C - D - E - F **答案**：D 原文定位：some animals, such as the cuttlefish, have evolved an adaptable disguise. The cuttlefish can almost instantly change its colour, pattern and texture to match its surroundings 同义替换：「backgrounds」↔「surroundings」；「can use camouflage」↔「adaptable disguise」；「a creature」↔「cuttlefish」 ### 17. a claim that the majority of animals disguise themselves in some way. a claim that the majority of animals disguise themselves in some way. - A - B - C - D - E - F **答案**：A 原文定位：Most species use camouflage to some extent 同义替换：「the majority of animals」↔「Most species」；「disguise themselves」↔「use camouflage」；「in some way」↔「to some extent」 ### 18. examples of animals that use camouflage to look like plants. examples of animals that use camouflage to look like plants. - A - B - C - D - E - F **答案**：B 原文定位：stick and leaf insects have evolved complex camouflage to hide themselves from predators. Many have the texture of sticks or dry leaves, while others imitate living foliage, even the veins in a leaf 同义替换：「examples of animals」↔「stick and leaf insects」；「use camouflage to look like plants」↔「texture of sticks or dry leaves」 ### 19. one species has a camouflage tactic that is not present from birth. one species has a camouflage tactic that is not present from birth. - Professor Mark Elgar - Paul Zborowski - Professor Gisela Kaplan - Dr Karen Cheney - Henry Bates - Martyn Robinson **答案**：Professor Gisela Kaplan 原文定位：Professor Gisela Kaplan of the University of New England, in Australia, says the frogmouth's skill at camouflaging is learned behaviour. While adopting a pose may be a reflex of the bird, and can be observed in a hatchling s first week, the ability to choose a backdrop which matches its colouration does not develop for 4-6 months hen the chicks land they are usually highly conspicuous 同义替换：「not present from birth」↔「learned behaviour」；「tactic」↔「skill」；「one species」↔「tawny frogmouth」 ### 20. Species that live in an ancient environment have become very effective at camouflaging themselves. Species that live in an ancient environment have become very effective at camouflaging themselves. - Professor Mark Elgar - Paul Zborowski - Professor Gisela Kaplan - Dr Karen Cheney - Henry Bates - Martyn Robinson **答案**：Paul Zborowski 原文定位：Paul Zborowski;It's an incredibly old habitat so the creatures have had a long time to adapt 同义替换：「ancient environment」↔「incredibly old habitat」；「very effective at camouflaging」↔「most convincingly disguised」；「become」↔「had a long time to adapt」 ### 21. Part of an animals is left behind to distract predators. Part of an animals is left behind to distract predators. - Professor Mark Elgar - Paul Zborowski - Professor Gisela Kaplan - Dr Karen Cheney - Henry Bates - Martyn Robinson **答案**：Martyn Robinson 原文定位：Robinson explains that if attacked, the chameleon gecko will drop off its tail, which will wriggle around on the ground. Many lizards do this, but in the case of the chameleon gecko the tail bones actually rub against one another, so it squeaks. ‘The predator is, of course, thoroughly absorbed by this black-and-white-striped, wriggling, squeaking thing on the ground, and the gecko can sneak away 同义替换：「Part of an animal is left behind」↔「drop off its tail」；「distract」↔「thoroughly absorbed by this」 ### 22. If it takes too long to find one kind of prey, animals will look for an alternative source food. If it takes too long to find one kind of prey, animals will look for an alternative source food. - Professor Mark Elgar - Paul Zborowski - Professor Gisela Kaplan - Dr Karen Cheney - Henry Bates - Martyn Robinson **答案**：Professor Mark Elgar 原文定位：Camouflage increases the search time and, as a consequence, the predator will simply target another species 同义替换：「takes too long to find」↔「increases the search time」；「look for an alternative source food」↔「target another species」 ### 23. Camouflage can involve copying a threatening type of animals. Camouflage can involve copying a threatening type of animals. - Professor Mark Elgar - Paul Zborowski - Professor Gisela Kaplan - Dr Karen Cheney - Henry Bates - Martyn Robinson **答案**：Henry Bates 原文定位：Batesian mimicry refers to animals that gain protection from predators by imitating a dangerous organism 同义替换：「copying a threatening type of animals」↔「imitating a dangerous organism」；「camouflage」↔「Batesian mimicry」 ### 24. Dr Karen Cheney studies the bluestriped fanblenny on 24_____ off Queensland's coast. She found that the fangblenny was able to make itself resemble other fish by adjusting its colouration. Dr Karen Cheney studies the bluestriped fanblenny on 24_____ off Queensland's coast. She found that the fangblenny was able to make itself resemble other fish by adjusting its colouration. **答案**：reefs 原文定位：On Queensland's reefs, scientists have been studying another ocean dweller that uses colour change;Dr Karen Cheney, from the University of Queensland, says the bluestriped fangblenny alters its colouration ### 25. The fangblenny impersonates the striped cleaner wrasse, a fish that is welcomed by other species as it gets rid of their 25_____ . The fangblenny impersonates the striped cleaner wrasse, a fish that is welcomed by other species as it gets rid of their 25_____ . **答案**：dynamic 原文定位：Its most impressive impersonation is of the black-with-neon-blue striped cleaner wrasse which eats the parasites on larger fish 同义替换：「able to change quickly」↔「dynamically」；「appearance」↔「colouration」 ### 26. The fangblenny can approach its 26_____ the attention of predators or disturbing the work of the striped cleaner wrasse. without drawing. The fangblenny can approach its 26_____ the attention of predators or disturbing the work of the striped cleaner wrasse. without drawing. **答案**：prey 原文定位：the disguise also lets it get closer to prey 同义替换：「approach」↔「get closer to」；「without drawing the attention of predators」↔「benefit from reduced predation」 --- 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。