Question

It’s a popular belief that a fish’s memory lasts for only seven seconds. It may seem sad to think that they don’t remember what they’ve eaten or where they’ve been, and they don’t recognize you or any of their friends — every moment in their life would be like seeing the world for the first time.

But don’t be so quick to feel sorry for them. A new study has found that fish have a much better memory than we used to think. In fact, certain species of fish can even remember events from as long as 12 days ago.

In the study, researchers from MacEwan University in Canada trained a kind of fish called African cichlids to go to a certain area of their tank to get food. They then waited for 12 days before putting them back in the tank again.

Researchers used computer software to monitor the fish’s movements. They found that after such a long break the fish still went to the same place where they first got food. This suggested that they could remember their past experiences.

In fact, scientists had been thinking for a long time that African cichlids might have a good memory. An earlier study showed that they behaved aggressively（挑衅地） in front of certain fish, perhaps because they remembered their past “fights”. But until the latest findings, there was no clear evidence.

Just as a good memory can make our lives easier, it also plays an important part when a fish is trying to survive in the wild.

“If fish are able to remember that a certain area contains safe food, they will be able to go back to that area without putting their lives at risks,” lead researcher Trevor Hamilton told Live Science.

For a long time, fish were placed far below chimpanzees, dolphins and mice on the list of smart animals. But this study has given scientists a new understanding of their intelligence.

1.What is the article mainly about?

A. Fish having very bad memories.

B. Fish being smarter than we thought.

C. How fish improve their memory.

D. What we can learn from fish.

2.According to the article, people used to believe that _______.

A. fish could only remember part of their past experiences

B. fish could remember things that happened 12 days ago

C. a fish’s memory lasted for only seven minutes

D. fish didn’t recognize any of their friends

3.How can fish benefit most from a good memory? They can remember _______.

A. where to get food and survive

B. their enemies and fight

C. where to escape to when in danger

D. their friends and help each other

4.Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?

A. Fish behave aggressively in a fight.

B. Fish can remember more.

C. Fish don’t belong to the list of smart animals.

D. Only African cichlids have a good memory.

Answer

1.B

2.D

3.A

4.B

【解析】

试题分析：本文讲述了一项新的研究发现，鱼的记忆力比我们过去认为的要好得多。

1. 主旨大意题。根据第二段第二句A new study has found that fish have a much better memory than we used to think.（一项新的研究发现，鱼的记忆力比我们过去认为的要好得多）；根据文章最后一段For a long time, fish were placed far below chimpanzees, dolphins and mice on the list of smart animals. But this study has given scientists a new understanding of their intelligence.（很长时间，鱼被放置在远远低于黑猩猩，海豚和老鼠的名单上，但是这项研究使科学家们对他们的智力有了新的认识。）可知，B项“鱼比我们认为的聪明”是文章的大意。

2. 细节理解题。根据第一段中they don’t recognize you or any of their friends可知，他们不认识你或他们的任何一个朋友。故选D。

3. 细节理解题。根据第四段最后两句They found that after such a long break the fish still went to the same place where they first got food. This suggested that they could remember their past experiences. （他们发现，休息这么长时间的鱼还能回到第一次得到食物的地方。这表明他们可以记住他们过去的经历。）可知，他们知道在哪里能得到食物和生存。故选A。

4. 推理判断题。根据第五段最后一句But until the latest findings, there was no clear evidence.（至今没有清晰的证据。）故排除A；根据最后一段For a long time, fish were placed far below chimpanzees, dolphins and mice on the list of smart animals. But this study has given scientists a new understanding of their intelligence. （很长时间，鱼被放置在远远低于黑猩猩，海豚和老鼠的名单上，但是这项研究使科学家们对他们的智力有了新的认识。）故排除C；根据第五段第一句In fact, scientists had been thinking for a long time that African cichlids might have a good memory. （African cichlids有一个好的记忆，但并未说只有African cichlids才有好的记忆。）故排除D。纵观全文，再根据第二段第二句A new study has found that fish have a much better memory than we used to think.（一项新的研究发现，鱼的记忆力比我们过去认为的要好得多。）故B项正确。

【名师点睛】

抓住文章主线和关键词语是归纳文章中心的关键。

要注意不是所有的段落都有主题句，有时主题句暗含在句中。阅读这样的文章，就需要自己根据文章的细节来分析，概括出段落的主题，从而推导出文章的主旨。分析的方法是：先弄清该段落主要讲了哪几方面的内容，这些内容在逻辑上有什么联系，然后加以归纳形成主题。5.

考点：考查科普类阅读