Question

In a paper published in the journey Science Advance, researchers describe how Matabele ants, a species of large ant known for attacking termite colonies (白蚁群落), will, after the battle, pick up injured fellow soldiers and carry them back to the nest where they can recover.

The paper is the latest in a growing body of research that this form of helping behavior, previously observed in some mammals and birds, may not require complex emotion, and may, therefore, be far more widespread in nature than previously thought.

“Here we have an example of an individual saving another individual,” says lead researcher Erik Frank who conducted the research. “We can be quite certain that the ants don’t know why they are doing what they are doing.”

It’s a behavior that pays off for the colony. Our classic conception of worker ants is that they are essentially abandoned, but Mr. Frank and his colleagues calculated that the practice of rescuing nest mates results in a colony size that is a 28.7 percent larger than it would be had the ants left their fellow soldiers for dead.

“These injured ants are able to recover from their injuries, ” says Frank. “They are essential for the safety and the betterment of the colony. ”

When a Matabele ant is injured, as often happens during battles with termites, its body will give off two smelly chemicals that tell other ants to carry it back to the nest. Indeed, the researchers found that using these chemicals to seek help from uninjured ants will effectively activate the rescue behavior, supporting their theory that the ants were acting on pure instinct(本能), not more complex emotions.

“The more we study rescue behavior in ants and other animals, the more we are going to realize that it’s not just limited to the species we’ve observed so far, ” says Karen Hollis, a professor at Mount Holyoke College, mentioning studies that found that dolphins help other injured dolphins to the surface for air, capuchin monkeys defend each other during intergroup battles, and rats free other rats that are trapped.

1.What does Frank say about Matabele ants’ helping behavior?

A. It proves they can feel sympathy.    B. It exists only in some individuals.

C. It happens only termite colonies.    D. It is something they were born with

2.How will the helping behavior benefit the ants?

A. It will expand the size of the colony.

B. It will help them catch more termites.

C. It will improve their fighting abilities.

D. It will help them escape enemies’ attacks.

3.How can Matabele ants know one needs rescuing?

A. Through its special noise.    B. Though the smell of its blood.

C. Through its chemical signals.    D. Though the search after a battle

4.What is the main purpose of the text?

A. To promote research on ants.    B. To describe termites’ battles.

C. To introduce a new species.    D. To report a research result

Answer

1.D

2.A

3.C

4.D

【解析】本文是一篇科普说明文。研究人员发现一种大型蚂蚁攻击白蚁群落之后，会将受伤的蚂蚁带回巢穴让它们康复。

1.推理判断题。根据文章第三段Frank 的话We can be quite certain that the ants don’t know why they are doing what they are doing.我们可以很肯定蚂蚁不知道它们为什么要做它们正在做的事情，以及文章倒数第二段Indeed, the researchers found that using these chemicals to seek help from uninjured ants will effectively activate the rescue behavior, supporting their theory that the ants were acting on pure instinct(本能), not more complex emotions.可以推断出Frank认为蚂蚁的这种帮助行为是与生俱来的。故选D。

2.细节理解题。根据文章第四段It’s a behavior that pays off for the colony.以及后面的数据可知，蚂蚁的这种行为可以帮助扩大群体的规模。故选A。

3.细节理解题。根据文章倒数第二段Indeed, the researchers found that using these chemicals to seek help from uninjured ants will effectively activate the rescue behavior, supporting their theory that the ants were acting on pure instinct(本能), not more complex emotions.可知，未受伤的蚂蚁使用化学物质来寻找受伤的蚂蚁。故选C。

4.推理判断题。根据文章大意：研究人员发现一种大型蚂蚁攻击白蚁群落之后，会将受伤的蚂蚁带回巢穴让它们康复。可以推断出文章的主要目的是为了报道一个研究结果。故选D。