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Scientists have known spiders have exceptional vision, particularly jumping spiders. They’ve even known spiders can feel nearby vibrations. However, because they don’t have ears, scientists believed they couldn’t hear at all.

“The standard textbooks say spiders are especially sensitive to airborne vibrations from nearby sources. We’ve discovered jumping spiders can hear things from much farther away than this,” says Gil Menda, co-researcher of Cornell University.

The researchers were studying how spiders process visual information by making neural recordings of their brain activity. After taking a recording, Gil Menda moved his chair and it squeaked(吱吱叫). “The way we do neural(神经系统的) recordings,” explains Paul Shamble, co-researcher, “we set up a speaker so that you can hear when neurons(神经元) fire, they make this really distinct ‘pop’ sound, and when Gil’s chair squeaked, the neuron we were recording from started popping.”

Gil moved his chair again and the neuron popped again. Not convinced of what they were seeing, the two researchers started clapping. When the spider neurons responded, the researchers started moving farther away. They reached 5 meters away from the spider and the reaction continued. The two were amazed. “You thought they were just these little creatures of vibration and vision,” says Paul Shamble, “and now suddenly you realize they can hear, too.”

If spiders don’t have ears, how do spiders hear? It turns out that the hairs on their legs are sensitive to sound. Previously, scientists believed these hairs were only able to detect airborne vibrations. This new discovery has shown that spiders aren’t simply sensing vibrations, but rather hearing. To test this, the researchers placed water on the spider’s legs to muffle(抑制) the vibrations. The spider stopped firing auditory neurons, meaning the spider could no longer hear.

This research only involved jumping spiders, but follow-up studies show many other kinds of spiders are able to hear. Why does all of this matter? This finding could result in new technologies for people.

1.What is a common belief among scientists about spiders?

A They have poor sight.

B They are frightening.

C They have no hearing.

D They can look and listen.

解析：选C。C 细节理解题。根据第一段However, because they don’t have ears, scientists believed they couldn’t hear at all.可知蜘蛛没有听觉是科学界普遍的看法，故选C。

2.The researchers of Cornell University made their new discovery about spiders _____.

A as planned

B by accident

C after many experiments

D based on previous studies

解析：选B。B 推理判断题。根据第三段对实验过程的描述，以及第四段“You thought they were just these little creatures of vibration and vision,” says Paul Shamble, “and now suddenly you realize they can hear, too.”可推断研究者们是偶然发现蜘蛛有听觉的，故选B。

3.What can we learn about spiders from the study done by the researchers of Cornell University?

A Their hearing and sight depend on each other.

B Their senses are weak and thus easily damaged.

C Their hairy legs are an important sense organ.

D They have no ability to sense things in the water.

解析：选C。推理判断题。根据倒数第二段可知是腿毛使得蜘蛛有视觉也有听觉，由此可判断它们长毛的腿是重要的感觉器官，故选C项。

4.What will be discussed in the following paragraph?

A More follow-up studies about spiders’ hearing.

B Other kinds of spiders with the sense of hearing.

C The effects of new technologies on people’s life.

D Examples of new technologies based on the finding.

解析：选D。推理判断题。根据最后一段Why does all of this matter? This finding could result in new technologies for people. 可推断文章接下来会举例说明该发现在科技上的运用，故选D项。