Can dogs and cats live in perfect harmony in the same home? People who are thinking about adopting a dog as a friend for their cats are worried that they will fight. A recent research has found a new recipe for success. According to the study, if the cat is adopted before the dog, and if they are introduced when still young (less than 6 months for cats, a year for dogs), it is highly probable that the two pets will get along swimmingly. Twothirds of the homes interviewed reported a positive relationship between their cat and dog.

However, it wasn't all sweetness and light. There was a reported coldness between the cat and dog in 25% of the homes, while aggression and fighting were observed in 10% of the homes. One reason for this is probably that some of their body signals are just opposite. For example, when a cat turns its head away it signals aggression, while a dog doing the same signals submission.

In homes with cats and dogs living peacefully, researchers observed a surprising behavior. They are learning how to talk each other's language. It is a surprise that cats can learn how to talk “Dog”， and dogs can learn how to talk “Cat”.

What's interesting is that both cats and dogs have appeared to develop their intelligence. They can learn how to read each other's body signals, suggesting that the two may have more in common than was previously suspected. Once familiar with each other's presence and body language, cats and dogs can play together, greet each other nose to nose, and enjoy sleeping together on the sofa. They can easily share the same water bowl and in some cases groom (梳理) each other.

The significance of this research on cats and dogs may go beyond pets — to people who don't get along, including neighbors, colleagues at work, and even world superpowers. If cats and dogs can learn to get along, surely people have a good chance.

【1】The underlined word “swimmingly” in Paragraph 1 is closest in meaning to “________”.

A.early B.sweetly

C.quickly D.smoothly

【2】What is found surprising about cats and dogs?

A.They eat and sleep together.

B.They observe each other's behaviors.

C.They learn to speak each other's language.

D.They know something from each other's voices.

【3】It is suggested in Paragraph 4 that cats and dogs ________.

A.have common interests

B.are less different than thought

C.have a common body language

D.are less intelligent than expected

【4】What can we human beings learn from cats and dogs?

A.We should learn to live in harmony.

B.We should know more about animals.

C.We should live in peace with animals.

D.We should learn more body languages.

【答案】

【1】D

【2】C

【3】B

【4】A

【解析】

试题分析：

【1】D 词义猜测题。首段第一、二句就暗示人们普遍认为狗和猫是不能和谐相处的，而后面的研究与前面内容形成对比：如果采取适当的措施，猫与狗之间是可以和平相处的，因而“swimmingly”应该是“顺利地；轻易地”之意。A、C两项有悖常识；B项意为“甜蜜地；亲切地”，程度过深，不合常理；D项smoothly意为“平稳地；顺利地”，切合题意。

【2】C 细节理解题。从第三段“researchers observed a surprising behavior. They are learning how to talk each other's language”可知，这个令人吃惊的发现便是猫与狗竟然能够互相学习对方的语言。

【3】B 细节理解题。根据第四段可知事实上猫与狗之间存在更多的共同点，它们并没有我们想象中的那么格格不入。

【4】A 推理判断题。最后一段作者提出了反问：既然动物都可以学着和谐共存，更何况是技高一筹的人类？因而，通过猫与狗的研究可以得出我们人类应该学会和谐相处。