Scientists in Australia have used Artificial Intelligence (AI) to help them locate (定位) an endangered bird called the Plains-wanderer. This new information will help scientists protect the rare (稀有的) birds.

The Plains-wanderer is a small bird that lives in Australia’s grasslands. They play an important role in controlling insects and spreading seeds which helps create healthier habitats (栖息地) for other native wildlife in Australia. The birds were once common in eastern Australia. But that’s changed, as grasslands have been turned into farms and cities. Zoos Victoria, the group behind the recent effort to locate Plains-wanderers, says the birds’ numbers have fallen by over 85% in recent decades. Scientists believe there are now only 250 to 1,000 of the birds left in the wild.

To protect these rare birds, Zoos Victoria first had to learn where they were. Female Plains-wanderers make an unusual “Ooom” call, and this was the key to locating them. The researchers set up 35 special recording devices (装置) called "song meters" in nine different grassy areas, where Plains-wanderers could possibly have been. The song meters collected tens of thousands of hours of recordings-far more than humans could analyze (分析). Then the researchers fed the recordings to an AI system trained to identify (识别) the calls of Plains-wanderers. The AI system discovered Plains-wanderer calls coming from two of the sites. After that, the scientists double-checked and found that the AI system was correct. Chris Hartnett, who works with Zoos Victoria, says the discovery is “huge”. And it is the first time in over 30 years that the Plains-wanderer has been found west of Melbourne.

The new information of Plains-wanderers will help scientists protect the birds. The team plans to work with the land owners to help protect the birds, and the grasslands they depend on. Now, the researchers are still “listening”—using song meters and AI to try to locate more of the Plains-wanderers.

1.1. Where do the Plains-wanderers live?

A In Australia's grasslands.

B In Victoria Zoo.

C In the city of Melbourne.

D

解析：选A。细节理解题，题干问草原鹨的栖息地。原文第二段明确提到 “The Plains-wanderer is a small bird that lives in Australia’s grasslands”，直接对应选项 A。B 选项 “维多利亚动物园” 是研究发起机构，非栖息地；C 选项 “墨尔本城” 是发现鸟类的区域周边城市，并非栖息地。故选 A。

2.2. Why are the Plains-wanderers endangered?

A They are too small to live in Australia’s grasslands.

B Their habitats have been turned into farms and cities.

C They play an important role in protecting native wildlife.

D

解析：选B。细节理解题，题干问草原鹨濒危的原因。原文第二段指出 “But that’s changed, as grasslands have been turned into farms and cities”，栖息地被改造为农场和城市是数量锐减的核心原因，与选项 B 一致。A 选项 “体型小无法在草原生存” 与原文 “曾在草原常见” 相悖；C 选项 “对保护本土野生动物重要” 是其生态作用，非濒危原因。故选 B。

3.3.What is the right order of locating the Plains-wanderers? ①collect enough recordings ②use AI to identify the calls ③set up recording devices ④double-check the discovery

A ①②③④

B ②③④①

C ③①②④

D

解析：选C。细节排序题，题干问定位草原鹨的正确顺序。根据第三段内容：首先 “set up recording devices”（安装录音设备，③），接着 “collected tens of thousands of hours of recordings”（收集录音，①），然后 “fed the recordings to an AI system to identify the calls”（用 AI 识别叫声，②），最后 “double-checked and found that the AI system was correct”（复核发现，④）。顺序为③①②④，对应选项 C。故选 C。

4.4. What will the researchers do next according to the passage?

A Use song meters to help make AI more intelligent.

B Work with the land owners to help grow rice better.

C Locate more Plains-wanderers to help protect them.

D

解析：选C。细节理解题，题干问研究人员接下来的计划。原文最后一段明确提到 “Now, the researchers are still ‘listening’—using song meters and AI to try to locate more of the Plains-wanderers”，核心是寻找更多草原鹨以助力保护，与选项 C 一致。A 选项 “用记录仪提升 AI 智能” 未提及；B 选项 “与土地所有者合作种水稻” 与原文 “保护草原” 不符。故选 C。