《2025年实验班全程提优训练高中英语选择性必修第二册外研版》

B(2025·湖南示范性高中市县月考联考)
跨学科 When Roger Payne first heard the curious underwater sounds of a humpback whale, he was so moved that he cried.
Payne realised that the whale songs could be used as part of the novel movement to protect the mammals from extinction. In 1970, he released Songs of the Humpback Whale, an LP that sold 125, 000 copies on first launch and remains the bestselling environmental album of all time. Accompanying the album was a 40-page booklet which impressed the need to conserve the world’s whale populations.
When asked how whale songs should be heard, Payne said, “Attentively. You should listen silently. You should listen with nothing else to distract you. That’s the way to listen. ”
His own dream of learning “whaleish”, as he called it, was only half-complete; he believed that such knowledge draws us closer to the animal kingdom. It troubled him that he would not be alive to help in the fight to protect animals on the brink of extinction. “I find myself at 88 years of age,” he wrote in an article for TIME magazine, “very close to the end of a long life, coming to terms with the fact that I will not be around to find out what we learn. ”
Payne was always curious, with a childlike delight in the natural world and his interests were wide-ranging. Astronomy, giant clams and cellular biology, to name a few. He was also a practical man who spent many of his waking hours working with machinery in a messy workshop.
“We have learnt that all men are created equal,” said Payne after showing the beauty of whale songs to the world, “but the whales remind us that all species are created equal—that every organism on Earth, whether large or small, has an inalienable right to life. ”
24. What impact did Roger Payne’s album Songs of the Humpback Whale have?
A. It became the best-selling album of all time.
B. It raised the awareness of whale conservation.
C. It led to a significant increase in humpback whale populations.
D. It featured a 40-page booklet about other marine animals.
25. According to Roger Payne, how should whale songs be listened to?
A. By scientifically analysing the acoustic patterns.
B. While multitasking, such as reading or writing.
C. With background sounds to enhance the experience.
D. Listening intently and without any distractions.
26. What difficulty did Roger Payne have learning “whaleish”?
A. He feared that his efforts would be in vain.
B. He worried about the impact of his work on the animal kingdom.
C. He might not live long enough to see the results.
D. He was concerned about the limitations of human understanding.
27. 新考法 Which words best describe Roger Payne?
A. Curious and enthusiastic.
B. Practical and generous.
C. Knowledgeable and diverse.
D. Compassionate and curious.

答案： 24.B 25.D 26.C 27.D