Question

Each Indian tribe had a different language. Many Indians never learned any language except their own. Do you know how Indians from different tribes talked to each other? They had two ways to talk without sound. One way was by sign language. Another way is by signals.

Sign language is a way of talking by using signs. Indians used sign language when they met strangers. In this way,　they could find out whether the stranger was a friend or an enemy. In Indian sign language, signs were made with the hands. One sign meant "man". Another meant "horse".

To tell the time of day when something happened, an Indian pointed to the sky. He showed where the sun had been at the time.

Indians usually used signals when they wanted to send messages to someone far away. To make signals, an Indian might use a pony. He might use a blanket. Or he might use smoke,　a mirror or fire arrows.

To signal that he had seen many animals, an Indian rode his pony in a large circle. Sometimes the Indian gave a signal like this and then went away to hide. This means that there was danger.

The blanket signal was visible from far away. An Indian held the corners of a blanket in his hands. Then he began to swing the blanket from side to side in front of him. An Indian could send many different signals with his blanket.

He could also send many signals with a mirror. He usually used the mirror to warn someone of danger. Or he attempted to get the attention of a person far away. But he also used it to send messages in code. Of course,　mirrors could be used only when the sun was shining. At night,　Indians used fire arrows for signaling.

Now you can see that Indians didn't need to learn each other's language. They could　talk to one another by using signals or sign language.

1.For signaling,　an Indian held         .

A. a blanket in front of him by the corners

B. the corners of a blanket and swang it in front of him

C. one side of the blanket and let someone else hold the other side

D. the blanket corners and ran from one side to the other

2.An Indian used a mirror to           .

A. warn someone of danger    B. get the attention of someone far away

C. send messages in code    D. all of the above

3.The underlined word "pony" in the fourth paragraph probably means "      ".

A. camel    B. goat

C. horse    D. donkey

Answer

1.B

2.D

3.C

【解析】

本文是一篇说明文，详细介绍了印第安人通常用来传递信息的两种方法：sign language和signals。

1.细节理解题。根据第五段23句An Indian held the corners of a blanket in his hands. Then he began to swing the blanket from side to side in front of him.可知印第安人抓住毯子的角开始摆动，以此副词信号。故B项正确。

2.细节理解题。根据文章倒数第二段234句He usually used the mirror to warn someone of danger. Or he attempted to get the attention of a person far away. But he also used it to send messages in code.可知ABC三项都是印第安人使用镜子的途径。故D项正确。

3.猜测词义题。根据本句an Indian rode his pony in a large circle.可知印第安人骑着pony转圈，正常被用来骑行的动物是马，所以pony指horse。故C项正确。