《2026年水木金卷高考模拟试卷精编英语》

C
The researchers from the NeuroMind Institute have created a new way to study how young fish learn quickly in real-life situations. They use special robots that act like predators to chase larval zebrafish(斑马鱼的幼体) in open water. This innovative approach is helping the researchers study how the young fish rapidly learn and adapt in real-world conditions.
Larval zebrafish are valuable models for neuroscientists(神经科学家) because their transparent(透明的) bodies direct observation of brain activity and behaviour. However, research on learning in these developing vertebrates(脊椎动物) has been challenging for scientists, despite its importance in understanding how the brain works. Previous research found young zebrafish could learn simple associations. But this type of learning happens slowly and often unreliably, and it was still unclear whether days-old zebrafish can learn fast enough to use their memory in natural situations, like recognizing and avoiding new predators.
The researchers thought that traditional ways of testing learning in larval zebrafish in the lab, where the conditions were far from what the fish would encounter in the wild, might not be effective for uncovering how the fish learn. To model a real-life situation, the researchers used small robotic cylinders (圆柱体) with some programmed to show predator-like characteristics.
The researchers created the interactions: they first placed a robot that stayed still with a free-swimming zebrafish, after the robot chased the fish for a minute, the fish began avoiding the robot's area for more than an hour—a big change from the non-avoidant behaviour before the chase experience. When a second robot was introduced that did not chase the fish, the zebrafish only avoided the chasing robot, showing that they could distinguish between a threat and a non-threat.
Using this system, the researchers made an unexpected discovery that not only could larval zebrafish learn extremely quickly in a more natural context, but they could also do so just five days after beginning their lives as single cells. This was particularly surprising given the fact that a developing larval zebrafish contains just 1% or so of the neurons(神经元) in its adult form. The findings suggest that some essential learning abilities like recognizing predators emerge early in life and are critical for survival.
Further brain imaging reveals that distinct regions of the zebrafish brain are involved in this rapid learning: the hindbrain (后脑), a region controlling essential functions, responds to the approaching predator; the forebrain, a region associated with learning and planning, encodes the presence of the predator robot; and the habenula (缰核), another brain area, signals avoidance outcomes. All these regions are necessary for learning, and silencing any of them removes the ability of the fish to learn. It is believed that the new work could offer insights into how other brains process real-world threats.
45. What motivated the researchers to create a new way using larval zebrafish?
A. To observe their hunting behaviours.
B. To identify their simple associations.
C. To examine their brain characteristics.
D. To uncover their learning in natural settings.
46. Larval zebrafish are considered valuable for neuroscientists because .
A. they can live on common lab meals
B. they can learn faster than adult zebrafish
C. their neuron counts are simpler to analyze than adults'
D. their see-through bodies simplify study of the brain and behaviour
47. What can we learn about larval zebrafish?
A. They can distinguish between robots and fish.
B. They learn fast through a multi-regional brain network.
C. They develop learning abilities when reaching adulthood.
D. They can recognize predators with many neurons needed.
48. What surprising discovery was made about zebrafish learning?
A. The effectiveness of robots as predators compared to real predators.
B. The ability of newborn zebrafish to quickly learn to avoid threats.
C. The quantity of neurons in adult zebrafish's brains.
D. The capacity to recognize different colors.
49. What will the author most probably discuss in the paragraph that follows?
A. Explaining the robot design used in the experiment.
B. Exploring danger processing in other species' brains.
C. Analysing the connection between learning and planning.
D. Describing zebrafish behaviours in different surroundings.

答案： 45.D 细节理解题。题干意为:什么促使研究人员创造了一种利用斑马鱼的幼体的新方法?根据第一段中“This innovative approach is helping the researchers study how the young fish rapidly learn and adapt in real-world conditions.”可知,研究人员创造一种利用斑马鱼的幼体的新方法是为了揭示它们在自然环境中的学习。故选D。
46.D 细节理解题。题干意为:斑马鱼的幼体对神经科学家来说很有价值,因为______。根据第二段中“Larval zebrafish are valuable models for neuroscientists(神经科学家) because their transparent(透明的) bodies direct observation of brain activity and behaviour.”可知,对神经科学家而言,斑马鱼的幼体是很有价值的模型,因为它们透明的身体可以直接观察大脑的活动和行为。由此可知,斑马鱼的幼体对神经科学家来说很有价值的原因是它们透明的身体简化了对大脑和行为的研究。故选D。
47.B 细节理解题。题干意为:关于斑马鱼的幼体,我们能了解到什么?根据最后一段中“distinct regions of the zebrafish brain are involved in this rapid learning: the hindbrain(后脑)... the forebrain... and the habenula(缰核)”可知,斑马鱼的幼体通过多区域大脑网络快速学习。故选B。
48.B 细节理解题。题干意为:关于斑马鱼的学习,有什么惊人的发现?根据第四段中“the zebrafish only avoided the chasing robot, showing that they could distinguish between a threat and a non-threat”和倒数第二段中“the researchers made an unexpected discovery that not only could larval zebrafish learn extremely quickly in a more natural context, but they could also do so just five days after beginning their lives as single cells”可知,研究人员发现斑马鱼能够辨别并躲避威胁,此外,他们还意外地发现斑马鱼的幼体不仅可以在更自然的环境中非常快速地学习,而且在作为单细胞开始生活后的五天内就可以做到这一点。由此可知,新生斑马鱼快速学会躲避威胁的能力是一个惊人的发现。故选B。
49.B 推理判断题。题干意为:在接下来的段落中,作者最有可能谈论什么?根据最后一段中“It is believed that the new work could offer insights into how other brains process real-world threats.”可知,这项新研究可以让研究人员深入了解其他物种的大脑是如何处理现实世界的威胁的。由此可推知,在接下来的段落中,作者最有可能探索其他物种大脑中的危险处理机制。故选B。