Little Things Can Rule The World

地球是个精密的生态系统，每一个微小的变化都可能打破这个系统，引起连锁反应。各种生物在这个系统中相互依存，共同演绎着生命的奇迹。下面我们一起来阅读本文，了解一下由于大头蚂蚁的入侵，导致狮子改变了它们的捕食习惯。

An invasive species （入侵物种） of ant， called “big⁃headed ant”， is changing the way lions hunt （捕猎） and eat in Kenya， according to a new study. The ants spread because of human activities like trade and travel. They arrived in Kenya from southern Africa about 15 years ago. Since then they have been killing the local acacia ant.

Acacia ants live in and take care of the whistling thorn trees in Kenya. In a “symbiotic relationship”， acacia ants get food from the trees and use them for home. In return， they protect the trees from animals like elephants or giraffes， which might eat too much of the trees. Acacia ants do this through a tacking （攻击） these animals in group.

However， big⁃headed ants eat acacia ants and their eggs. As a result， the number of acacia ants is falling. What’s more， big⁃headed ants don’t protect whistling thorn trees either. So with fewer acacia ants to save them， the trees are in trouble.

Professor Palmer’s team found that in areas with big⁃headed ants， elephants destroyed （破坏） more trees. This means the place is more open and zebras can easily find lions following them. So lions kill much fewer zebras in these areas than in tree⁃filled places.

The good news is that the lion population remains unchanged because the lions turn to hunt buffalo for food instead of zebras. This probably means that the tiny ants have caused lions to change their habits， too. They have to hunt the bigger， heavier buffalo. Professor Palmer said， “We often find it’s the little things that rule the world.”

跟踪练习：

1. Picture best shows the underlined words “symbiotic relationship”.

A. lt;E：＼2024-12月数据＼初中生学习指导·提升版202410" 数据打不开＼PB＼CZ24-21-11.psdgt; " B. lt;E：＼2024-12月数据＼初中生学习指导·提升版202410" 数据打不开＼PB＼CZ24-21-12psd.psdgt;

C. lt;E：＼2024-12月数据＼初中生学习指导·提升版202410" 数据打不开＼PB＼CZ24-21-13.psdgt; " D. lt;E：＼2024-12月数据＼初中生学习指导·提升版202410" 数据打不开＼PB＼CZ24-21-14.psdgt;

2. In Paragraph 4， elephants destroyed more trees so that .

A. buffalo run out of food " " B. lions have trouble hunting zebras

C. invasive ants lose homes " " D. zebras leave tree⁃filled places

3. Big⁃headed ants have caused the number of to fall.

①acacia ants ②whistling thorn trees ③zebras ④lions

A. ①② " B. ①④ C. ②③ " D. ②④

4. Lions to deal with the changes.

A. have kept the elephants from tree⁃filled places

B. have spent much more time following zebras

C. have moved elsewhere without big⁃headed ants

D. have looked for other larger animals for food

答案解析：

1.B.图片匹配题。根据“Acacia ants get food from the trees and use them for home. In return， they protect the trees from animals like elephants or giraffes， which might eat too much of the trees. ”可知，金合欢蚁从树上获取食物并在树上安家，同时它们可以保护动物吃太多树上的树叶，所以金合欢蚁和树木是一种共生关系。故选B。

2.B.细节理解题。根据“This means the place is more open and zebras can easily find lions following them. So lions kill much fewer zebras in these areas than in tree⁃filled places.”可知，大象破坏更多的树木，导致斑马很容易发现狮子在跟踪它们，这样就导致狮子捕食斑马比较困难。故选B。

3.A.细节理解题。根据“However， big⁃headed ants eat acacia ants and their eggs. As a result， the number of acacia ants is falling. What’s more， big⁃headed ants don’t protect whistling thorn trees either. So with fewer acacia ants to save them， the trees are in trouble.”可知，大头蚂蚁吃金合欢蚁和它们的卵，这样会导致金合欢蚁数量减少；同时大头蚂蚁不会保护荆棘树，其数量也会下降。故选A。

4. D.细节理解题。根据“This probably means that the tiny ants have caused lions to change their habits， too. They have to hunt the bigger， heavier buffalo.”可知，狮子转向捕食更大的动物。故选D。