1. (2020高一上·汕头月考) 阅读理解

The snowy owl (雪鹗) is a white-colored owl with many unique characteristics. This bird bears a pure white appearance (only the male), with a rounded head, and black bill. While the male is actually a pure white individual, the female and young ones have a darker appearance with dusky spots. The female owl never attains complete whiteness in her lifetime. As young owls get older, they get whiter, losing their heavy stripes (条纹) and dark spots. This bird is between 18 to 20 inches long. Its Wingspan is 49 to 59 inches. It weighs between 3.5 to 6.5 pounds.

The snowy owl lives in the regions of Greenland, Iceland, Canada, and the northern parts of USA. Carolus Linnaeus was the first person to classify this bird. Apart from being the heaviest owl in North America, it is also the official bird of Quebec. It is known by other names such as "the Arctic Owl" or "the Great White Owl". The reason for this bird's adaptation to the cold temperatures of the Arctic Circle is its splendidly beautiful, white, and thick feathers. These feathers help it to survive the extreme cold and develop a perfect camouflage (伪装) in the "white" of its Arctic habitat.

The snowy owl is a very patient hunter, and it can sit in one place for hours. Gifted with great hearing and keen eyesight, it is known to be an efficient and clever hunter. It is not difficult for it to track down its prey, which might be barely visible under thick plants or snow cover. Before soaring off in pursuit, the bird waits patiently and identifies its potential prey. Once the prey comes within the proper range, it lays its attack with its sharp-hooked claws. It hunts both during the day and at night.

1. （1） What can we conclude about the snowy owl from the first paragraph?

   A . It is a bird with pure white feathers. B . It is a bird which is big and heavy. C . It has a white appearance with black spots. D . The female owl is whiter than the male one.
3. （2） Why can the snowy owl adapt to the cold climate of the Arctic Circle?

   A . Thanks to its living areas. B . Because of its special feathers. C . As a result of its clever mind. D . Owing to its strong wings.
5. （3） What does the underlined expression “track down” mean?

   A . Chase. B . Find. C . Attract. D . Recognize.
7. （4） What does the passage mainly talk about?

   A . The brief introduction of the snowy owl. B . The snowy owl is the heaviest bird in the world. C . The snowy owl is first classified by Carolus Linnaeus. D . The difference between the Arctic owl and the snowy owl.