# A survivor's story - 科目：雅思阅读真题（Part 1） - 考频：中频 - 最近考试：2024.3.9 - 题目数：13 - 来源页：https://www.yaquan.site/paper/fe14e3a7-663f-44ea-8f64-908ca13776ea（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 One native bird in New Zealand that has managed to survive the introduction of non-native species A As an island country with a fauna dominated by birds, New Zealand was once home to an owl species which is now extinct, the laughing owl, named for its distinctive cry. This bird was widespread throughout the islands when European settlers arrived in the middle of the 19th century and it remained in good numbers for some years thereafter. Where other native birds suffered from predation by the Polynesian rat, the laughing owl turned the tables and adapted its diet to include the rodent. It was also capable of catching and killing the other New Zealand owl, the morepork, and even larger birds, such as the weka. However, the laughing owl was wiped out around the beginning of the 20th century, its demise caused by specimen collectors, habitat changes, and non-native predators including cats and stoats. Surprisingly, it is the smaller owl, the morepork, that has managed to survive until this day. Speckled dark brown, with yellow eyes and long tails, they are around 29 centimetres long from head to tail and 175 grams in weight. Moreporks have fringes on the edge of their feathers, so they can fly almost silently and not alert potential prey. They have acute hearing and their large eyes are very sensitive to light. B Moreporks nest in tree hollows, in clumps of plants, or in cavities among rocks and roots. In the wild, moreporks usually start nesting in October, although two specimens have been recorded nesting in mid-winter, possibly stimulated by an ample food supply. The female lays up to three white eggs, which she incubates for 20 to 30 days. During this time, she rarely hunts, and the male brings food to her. C Once the chicks hatch, she stays mainly on the nest until the young owls are fully feathered. When hatched, chicks are covered in light grey down and have their eyes closed. The eyes do not open until the eighth day after hatching. They can fly at around 35 days. D By day, moreporks sleep in roosts. By night, they hunt a variety of animals - mainly large invertebrates including scarab and huhu beetles, moths, caterpillars and spiders. They also take small birds and mice. They can find suitable food in pine forest as well as native forest. A morepork uses its sharp talons to catch or stun its prey, which it then carries away in its bill. Moreporks are clever hunters, and birds such as robins, grey warblers and fantails can end up as their prey. In the day, these small birds sometimes mob drowsy moreporks and chase them away from their roosts; they force the sleepy predators to search for a more peaceful spot. E Moreporks have proved to be ungracious hosts. Scientists trying to establish a population of plovers on Motuora Island in New Zealand's Hauraki Gulf were mystified as to why only two birds survived out of the 75 placed there. The culprits turned out to be five pairs of moreporks that ate or chased away the new arrivals. F Although moreporks are still considered to be relatively common, it is likely that numbers are in gradual decline due to predation and loss of habitat. As the female is a hole-nester, she is vulnerable to predators such as stoats and possums during the breeding season, and eggs and chicks will also be at risk from rats. The use of pesticides is another possible threat to the owls, though not a direct one. As moreporks are at the top of the food chain, they could be affected by an accumulative poison by consuming prey that has ingested poison. The New Zealand Department of Conservation is taking steps to ensure the preservation of New Zealand's only native owl. The department is involved in measuring the population of moreporks and has put transmitters on a number of birds to determine survival and mortality. As well as being New Zealand's only native owl, the morepork has symbolic and spiritual importance, so in monitoring the birds it is hoped that the morepork will continue to survive and thrive. G At dusk, the melancholy sound of the morepork can be heard in forests and parks as it calls to other moreporks and claims territory. Its Māori name (ruru) echoes its two-part cry. In the tradition of the Māori people of New Zealand, the morepork, or ruru, was often seen as a careful guardian. A number of sayings referred to the bird's alertness. As a bird of the night, it was associated with the spirit world. Moreporks were believed to act as messengers to the gods in the heavens, flying along spiritual paths in the sky. They were the mediums used to communicate with the gods. The occasional high, piercing call of the morepork signified bad news, but the lower-pitched and more common "ruru" call heralded good news. ## 题目与答案 ### 1. 1 Early European settlers made detailed studies of the morepork. 1 Early European settlers made detailed studies of the morepork. - TRUE - FALSE - NOT GIVEN **答案**：NOT GIVEN 原文定位：This bird was widespread throughout the islands when European settlers arrived in the middle of the 19th century and it remained in good numbers for some years thereafter ### 10. Hunting transports prey using its 10_____ Hunting transports prey using its 10_____ **答案**：bill 原文定位：A morepork uses its sharp talons to catch or stun its prey, which it then carries away in its bill 同义替换：「transports」↔「carries」 ### 11. can be chased away by other birds during the 11_____ can be chased away by other birds during the 11_____ **答案**：day 原文定位：In the day, these small birds sometimes mob drowsy moreporks and chase them away from their roosts; they force the sleepy predators to search for a more peaceful spot ### 12. attacked by 12_____ that had been introduced to Motuora Island attacked by 12_____ that had been introduced to Motuora Island **答案**：day 原文定位：By day, moreporks sleep in roosts;In the day, these small birds sometimes mob drowsy moreporks and chase them away from their roosts ### 13. Threats may be exposed to 13_____ in their prey Threats may be exposed to 13_____ in their prey **答案**：moreporks 原文定位：Scientists trying to establish a population of plovers on Motuora Island;The culprits turned out to be five pairs of moreporks that ate or chased away the new arrivals 同义替换：「attacked by」↔「ate or chased away」；「introduced」↔「placed」；「new arrivals」↔「plovers」；「culprits」↔「moreporks」 ### 2. 2 The Polynesian rat had a negative effect on the number of laughing owls. 2 The Polynesian rat had a negative effect on the number of laughing owls. - TRUE - FALSE - NOT GIVEN **答案**：FALSE 原文定位：Where other native birds suffered from predation by the Polynesian rat, the laughing owl turned the tables and adapted its diet to include the rodent 同义替换：「negative effect」↔「suffered」 ### 3. 3 The laughing owl was larger than the morepork. 3 The laughing owl was larger than the morepork. - TRUE - FALSE - NOT GIVEN **答案**：TRUE 原文定位：However, the laughing owl was wiped out around the beginning of the 20th century;Surprisingly, it is the smaller owl, the morepork, that has managed to survive until this day 同义替换：「larger」↔「smaller」 ### 4. 4 Rats pose a risk to young moreporks. 4 Rats pose a risk to young moreporks. - TRUE - FALSE - NOT GIVEN **答案**：TRUE 原文定位：eggs and chicks will also be at risk from rats 同义替换：「pose a risk to」↔「at risk from」；「young moreporks」↔「chicks」 ### 5. 5 The New Zealand Department of Conservation is hoping to limit the population of moreporks. 5 The New Zealand Department of Conservation is hoping to limit the population of moreporks. - TRUE - FALSE - NOT GIVEN **答案**：FALSE 原文定位：The New Zealand Department of Conservation is taking steps to ensure the preservation of New Zealand's only native owl;it is hoped that the morepork will continue to survive and thrive 同义替换：「hoping to limit」↔「ensure the preservation」 ### 6. 6 Other bird species are frightened away when they hear the morepork's cry. 6 Other bird species are frightened away when they hear the morepork's cry. - TRUE - FALSE - NOT GIVEN **答案**：NOT GIVEN 原文定位：In the day, these small birds sometimes mob drowsy moreporks and chase them away from their roosts;At dusk, the melancholy sound of the morepork can be heard in forests and parks as it calls to other moreporks and claims territory 同义替换：「are frightened away」↔「chase them away」 ### 7. 7 In Maori tradition, the low call of the morepork had negative associations. 7 In Maori tradition, the low call of the morepork had negative associations. - TRUE - FALSE - NOT GIVEN **答案**：FALSE 原文定位：The occasional high, piercing call of the morepork signified bad news, but the lower-pitched and more common "ruru" call heralded good news 同义替换：「low call」↔「lower-pitched」；「negative associations」↔「bad news」 ### 8. Appearance Approximately 8_____ in length large yellow eyes feathers with fringes to enable quiet flight Appearance Approximately 8_____ in length large yellow eyes feathers with fringes to enable quiet flight **答案**：29 centimetres 原文定位：Speckled dark brown, with yellow eyes and long tails, they are around 29 centimetres long from head to tail and 175 grams in weight 同义替换：「Approximately」↔「around」；「in length」↔「long」 ### 9. Nesting nests in trees, plants or spaces in roots and 9_____ after about 25 days, baby moreporks are capable of leaving the nest Nesting nests in trees, plants or spaces in roots and 9_____ after about 25 days, baby moreporks are capable of leaving the nest **答案**：rocks 原文定位：Moreporks nest in tree hollows, in clumps of plants, or in cavities among rocks and roots 同义替换：「trees, plants or spaces in roots」↔「tree hollows, in clumps of plants, or in cavities」 --- 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。