As the sun sets on a frigid winter afternoon, an unmistakable cheery song comprised of clear and rhythmic whistles fills the air. The culprit, a small bird with grayish-brown feathers and a bright orange chest, is a familiar fixture in both wooded areas and cityscapes in the wintertime. It is the robin, a little bird that is easily identifiable by even the most novice of bird watchers. Aside from the characteristic splash of color, robins are also distinguishable by their uniquely-colored eggs. Robin eggs are a solid cyan color, which is a mix of blue and green.
Robins make their homes in a range of different habitats. They can be found not only in marshes, fields, and forest borders, but also in someone’s garden, backyard, or hedge. And although they can be found on every continent but one, they are more numerous in Europe and North America. Robins are so prominent in some places that they have obtained “official bird” status. In Britain, for example, it has been the National Bird since 1960. In America, it has been declared the state bird of Connecticut, Michigan, and Wisconsin.
Robins are known to have a bit of a sweet tooth, and will often purposely seek out fruits, berries, sweet cakes, and pastry dough. They also have an interesting connection with Christmas. One legend dates back to Victorian times (around the 19th century), when sending Christmas cards first became popular. Royal Mail postmen wore bright red uniforms, and this earned them the nickname of “robin” or “redbreast.” Pictures of the postmen began appearing on Christmas cards and were eventually replaced by drawings of the charming brown and red bird instead.
1. What does “The culprit” most likely mean in the first paragraph?
(A) The being behind the terrible mistake.
(B) The most freezing-cold winter day ever.
(C) The time people get together to sing cheerful songs.
(D) The creature that is responsible for the happy melody.
2. Among the following features of the robin, which ones make them easily recognizable?
appearance
diet
habitat
egg color
Christmas role
migration patterns
singing ability
(A) 、和。
(B) 、和。
(C) 、和。
(D) 、和。
3. Why are Britain and America mentioned in the passage?
(A) To illustrate environments where the robin cannot easily survive.
(B) To give examples of places that hunt robins.
(C) To point out where the robin is an endangered species.
(D) To show the importance of the robin in certain places.
4. Which of the following statements about robins is NOT true?
(A) Their picture was featured prominently on postman uniforms.
(B) If some cake is left unattended, a robin might come eat some.
(C) They became connected with Christmas over a century ago.
(D) They can be found in and around both rural and urban areas.
