Now let’s look ourselves as a species in relation to ecosystem balance.Modern scientists believe that humankind, like other animals, evolved(进化) through millions of years of changes and adaptations to the environment and that our most direct evolutionary ancestor was probably an earlier species of the primate(monkey, ape) group. Despite this similarity with other creatures, however, the evolution of humankind differs from that of other species in one important and unique way.
In other species, evolution has led to specialization, both in the species abilities and in its place within the environmental structure. For example, the giraffe is much adapted to feeding on treetops, but it is also specialized and thus limited to feeding on trees and shrubs. Only with great difficulty can it bend down to graze on the ground. Similarly, the anteater is extremely well adapted to eating ants but is unable to catch or eat other animals. The same is true for countless other species.
For humankind it is opposite. Our evolution had led to a very generalized ability. Our highly developed intelligence and ability to make and handle tools mean that we can do almost anything. Humans evolved in such a way that we are able to move into every environment on Earth and even into space. No natural competitor offers great resistance, and other natural enemies such as disease have been controlled.
Said another way, we see in humankind a great imbalance between biological potential and environmental resistance. The result is the rapidly increasing world population, frequently referred to as the population explosion. Further, to support our growing population, natural ecosystems are being increasingly displaced by human habitations, agriculture, and other human supporting activities.
小题1:From the passage we can infer that in the course of evolution _______.| A．humankind is very important to earlier species, such as the primate group | | B．human beings are limited by the environment while animals are not | | C．human beings become more and more different from each other | | D．humankind has experienced a generalization rather than specialization in ability |
小题2:According to the passage, primate includes such animals as _______.| A．monkeys and anteaters | B．tigers and apes | | C．apes and monkeys | D．monkeys and giraffes |
小题3:According to the passage, evolution has made it possible for humans to _______.| A．increase the population | | B．resist natural offers | | C．go to the moon | | D．cure all diseases |
小题4:According to the author, imbalance between biological potential and environ mental resistance has resulted in _______.| A．the population explosion | | B．the destruction of human habitations | | C．the growth of natural ecosystem | | D．the specialization of humans |
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小题1:D
小题2:C
小题3:C
小题4:A |
试题分析：
小题1:推理题，由前两段对人类和其他的生物的进化过程的比较可知人类经历了一个泛化的能力而不是专门的能力。故选D.
小题2:细节题，由第一段probably an earlier species of the primate(monkey, ape) group.可知primate包括猩猩和猴子等，故选C。
小题3:推理题，由Humans evolved in such a way that we are able to move into every environment on Earth and even into space.可知人们有可能进入太空，故选C.
小题4:细节题，由we see in humankind a great imbalance between biological potential and environmental resistance. The result is the rapidly increasing world population,可知生物潜能和环境承受能力之间的不平衡主要是人口的剧增导致的。故选A。
点评：本文主要讲述了人类的进化，以及与其他生物进化的区别。首先通读全文，了解基本大意，然后根据提问理解细节，选出正确选项。考查考生的阅读理解能力。 |
核心考点
试题【Now let’s look ourselves as a species in relation to ecosystem balance.Modern sc】；主要考察你对
题材分类等知识点的理解。
[详细]举一反三
The heaviest snow in a hundred years hit the south of China. It snowed __36___for half a month. Many people were __37___in railway stations, bus stations and airports. People did everything they could to fight the __38___; nobody was killed from cold and _39____. Gradually ,the trapped people all went back home_40___. While fighting the snow, people ___41__their animal friends until a moving story of a swallow(燕子) couple appeared on the Internet.
The couple hadn’t eaten anything for several days __42___the snow. They tried to fly into people’s home to warm themselves, but every house was ___43___tightly(紧紧地). They got to a side of a balcony ( 阳台 ) where wind couldn’t reach. They jumped and flapped (拍打) their wings(翅膀) to _44___the attention of the people inside the house, who were __45____their own things. The wife’s body was __46___. She couldn’t move any longer. The husband came near and __47__her with his wings. The husband lost his heat soon because of his opened wings.
The next morning, the housemaster went to the balcony to __48__ his flowers and saw a dead swallow outside. __49__ it, he found they were two embracing（拥抱） together. Thinking of the __50___the snow had brought to people, he was moved to tears . He took them in for giving them some _51___they couldn’t feel any longer. He found a small box, __52__it with some hay （干草）and lay the couple in . He _53__them in the garden of the community(社区).
In my hometown in the countryside, a swallow family live in the roof of my house . They __54__every spring to have babies. Then in autumn, when babies have __55___, they fly to the south, I wonder if they will come back this spring as they did.
| 小题1: | | A．beautifully | B．directly | C．gently | D．continuously |
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| 小题2: | | A．forbidden | B．rescued | C．trapped | D．covered |
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| 小题3: | | A．disaster | B．war | C．campaign | D．disease |
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| 小题4: | | A．anger | B．heat | C．hunger | D．poverty |
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| 小题5: | | A．sadly | B．safely | C．nervously | D．curiously |
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| 小题6: | | A．treasured | B．invited | C．accepted | D．forgot |
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| 小题7: | | A．because of | B．in case of | C．in spite of | D．instead of |
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| 小题8: | | A．controlled | B．fixed | C．, stretched | D．closed |
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| 小题9: | | A．admit | B．attract | C．turn | D．escape |
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| 小题10: | | A．busy with | B．born with | C．good for | D．famous for |
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| 小题11: | | A．burnt | B．watched | C．frozen | D．found |
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| 小题12: | | A．supplied | B．wrapped | C．folded | D．sorted |
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| 小题14: | | A．Feeding | B．Leaving | C．Touching | D．Greeting |
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| 小题15: | | A．hardship | B．childhood | C．cooperation | D．lesson |
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| 小题16: | | A．clothes | B．warmness | C．flowers | D．tension |
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| 小题17: | | A．made | B．played | C．associated | D．filled |
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| 小题18: | | A．buried | B．showed | C．fastened | D．enjoyed |
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| 小题19: | | A．put away | B．come back | C．fly away | D．hold back |
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| 小题20: | | A．dropped out | B．died out | C．grown up | D．stood up |
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Bamboo（竹） is one of the nature’s most surprising plants. Many people call this plant a tree, but it is a kind of grass.
Like other kinds of grass, a bamboo plant may be cut very low to the ground, but it will grow back very quickly. A Japanese scientist recorded one bamboo plant that grew almost 1.5 meters in 24 hours! Bamboo grows almost everywhere in the world except Europe（欧洲）. There are more than 1,000 kinds of bamboo that grow around the world on both mountains and plains.
Not all bamboo looks the same. Some bamboo plants are very thin. They may only grow to be a few centimeters（厘米）wide while others may grow to more than 30 centimeters across. This plant also comes in different colors, from yellow to black to green.
Many Asian countries have been using bamboo for hundreds of years. They often use bamboo for building new buildings. As a matter of fact, the cables(绳索) hold up the hanging bridge across the Min River in Sichuan are made of bamboo. The bridge has been in use for more than 1,000 years, and is still holding strong.
In Africa, engineers are teaching poor farmers how to find water using bamboo. These African countries need cheap ways to find water because they have no money, and their fields often die from no rain and no water. It seems that bamboo is one of the best things they can use. Bamboo pipes and drills(钻) can help to make the poor thirsty fields be watered.
小题1:How is bamboo like grass?| A．It is thin and easy to cut. | | B．It grows everywhere. | | C．It grows quickly after it’s cut short. | | D．It is short and green. |
小题2:The underlined sentence “while others may grow to more than 30 centimeters across.” means “Some other bamboo plants may grow to be very _______.” | A．short | B．strong | C．thick | D．tall |
小题3:From the text we know ______. | A．All people call bamboo plant trees | | B．a bamboo plant may grow 4.5 meters in three days | | C．the bamboo plant changes its colors when it grows | | D．a bridge held by bamboo cable was built thousands of years ago |
小题4:Why did the engineers teach the poor farmers in Africa to make use of bamboo?| A．Because it is cheap. | B．Because it is colorful. | | C．Because it drills fast. | D．Because it is used by Asians. |
小题5:Which of the following is NOT true?| A．There are many different kinds of bamboo with different colors. | | B．Cables made of bamboo can last for over a thousand years. | | C．Bamboo can be used for buildings, bridges and watering projects(工程). | | D．Bamboo plants are able to grow well in any part of the world. |
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Three quarters of Britain’s parents are too busy to read bedtime stories to their children，according to a study. The study was carried out by CITV to start their new children’s show Bookaboo，which is designed to encourage anyone to pick up a book and read with their children at any time of the day.
Worryingly，the study showed that only three percent of fathers now find the time to read to the kids compared to 89 percent of mothers. Lucy Goodman，creator of Bookaboo，said，“It’s important for young boys to be able to share a book with dads，granddads or male carers and it can be fun and rewarding，too.” Of the dads who said they didn’t read to their kids,87 percent blamed work while more than a third said they were too tired. While 89 percent of mums said they did read to their children，more than half of them said cleaning distracted (使分心) them and 49 percent were distracted by other household things.
Researchers also found parents are now relying heavily on other people to lend a hand with reading to their children with grandparents doing the most，followed by sisters and brothers，aunts and uncles. While 95 percent of parents read to their children at some point，only five percent read to their children during the day. More than one in ten said they read every couple of weeks or less，and five percent could not remember the last time they shared a book.
The study found parents also seem content with allowing their children to immerse (使沉浸) themselves in TV programs or playing computer games rather than reading.
Exgoalkeeper David Seaman，who is a dad of two，has been a guest in Bookaboo.He says，“I think it’s important that fathers do read to their children because it’s a special time. Sometimes my two children will come to listen to the same book—it’s a magical moment and I advise fathers just to try it.”
小题1:We can know from the passage that Bookaboo________.| A．is a daily show | B．is an adults’ show | | C．is a popular show | D．aims to encourage people to read to their children |
小题2:According to the study，fathers don’t read to their kids mainly because________.| A．they are too busy with work | | B．they don’t think it necessary to do so | | C．they are distracted by household things | | D．they like to play computer games in their free time |
小题3:Which group of people helped parents read to the kids the most?| A．Aunts and uncles. | B．Grandparents. | | C．Children’s carers. | D．Children’s sisters and brothers. |
小题4:According to the last paragraph，David Seaman________.| A．is a goalkeeper now | B．has only one child | | C．is the creator of Bookaboo | D．thinks it is great to read to children |
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I was sitting at the bar of a local restaurant having __36__ and taking a break. A pretty girl who looked about 25 walked in and sat down in a booth(饭馆的小隔间) __37__ for her friend. It didn’t take long __38__ I saw she was trying to stay __39__ from other people’s gazes(注视) and my heart sank. You could see her hair was __40__ and, at such a young age, she was receiving chemo(化疗).
I sat there watching her trying to remain composed(镇静的) and she was having a __41__ time of it. I __42__ for her, imagining what it must be like to go through this and yet I know some of her __43__.
You see I __44__ my wife, the love of my life just a few short years ago and watched her slowly fade away. I needed to give a message of __45__ to this girl. But how? What could I do?
Then it __46__ to me! I called over her waitress and explained that I wanted to buy the girl and her friend’s lunch but I also told her not to tell her it was me. I also __47__ the waitress a note to give to the girl.
The note __48__ as follows:
“ Someone today thought you were beautiful; someone today thought your smile glowed __49__ excitement; someone today thought your eyes __50__ up the world; someone today cared and wanted you to know this. Enjoy the rest of your day, pretty young lady.”
About 15 minutes later, the young girl asked for her __51__ and I watched as she was told it was paid for. She asked why? Who? What for? The waitress simply handed her the note and __52__ to her the gentleman who did it left.
I watched as she slowly read the note. Her eyes tore up, for only a moment, and then came the smile! A huge, beautiful, hopeful smile! She lit up the room and then sat up straight, not __53__ who saw her.
It’s not __54__ we look or what we have; it’s not our houses or how many cars we have; nor is it how much money we can earn. It’s all about how much we care and what we do, __55__ it’s making someone feel pretty only for a moment.
| 小题1: | | A．meal | B．lunch 0 | C．tea | D．breakfast |
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| 小题2: | | A．searching | B．hoping | C．looking | D．waiting |
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| 小题3: | | A．so | B．before | C．after | D．until |
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| 小题4: | | A．hidden | B．stubborn | C．focused | D．sighted |
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| 小题5: | | A．falling in | B．falling over | C．falling out | D．falling behind |
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| 小题6: | | A．easy | B．good | C．tough | D．great |
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| 小题7: | | A．sank | B．ached | C．trust | D．puzzled |
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| 小题8: | | A．idea | B．view | C．trouble | D．pain |
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| 小题9: | | A．left | B．deserted | C．buried | D．valued |
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| 小题10: | | A．dream | B．hope | C．energy | D．wish |
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| 小题11: | | A．struck | B．happened | C．occurred | D．hit |
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| 小题12: | | A．handed | B．presented | C．provided | D．brought |
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| 小题13: | | A．told | B．spoke | C．read | D．wrote |
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| 小题15: | | A．tore | B．lit | C．cheered | D．lifted |
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| 小题16: | | A．bill | B．meal | C．check | D．share |
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| 小题17: | | A．explained | B．informed | C．warned | D．reminded |
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| 小题18: | | A．knowing | B．ignoring | C．risking | D．caring |
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| 小题20: | | A．even though | B．as though | C．as if | D．if only |
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It"s the end of class. When the bell rings, students of Luohu Foreign Languages School in Shenzhen quickly take out their cell phones. They want to log on to their micro blogs（微博） to check the interesting things that have happened in the last hour.
Since last year, thetrend of micro blogging has swept the country. Recent surveys shows that most students in middle schools have a micro blog and some even update their blogs over five times per day.
"We learn many fresh and interesting things on micro blogs and they have become popular topics in class," said Andy Liang, 14. "If you do not know about them, you are out."
It is also a great place for students to let out stress. "My parents always ask me to study hard, and encourage me before exams, but it really adds pressure," said Simon Zhang, 15. "When I share these feelings on my micro blog, I get many replies from friends in the same situation, which makes me feel better."
But parents are worried that micro blogging could be a waste of time. Some misleading messages may even cause danger to kids, they said.
Mr. Shen, a professor at the China Education Association, suggests parents not worry too much as long as kids are not crazy about micro blogging. Maybe it can become a window for parents to understand their children. "If parents can read their children"s micro blogs, they"ll know their thoughts, thus leading to better communication and solutions to problems," he said. He also gives some tips for kids.
-Don"t micro blog for more than one hour a day.
-Never micro blog in class.
-Try to talk face to face with people from time to time.
-Be critical(批判性的). Don"t trust all the messages on a micro blog.
小题1:Students log on to their micro blogs to .| A．check the things | B．write articles | C．listen to music | D．call their parents |
小题2:Micro blog made Simon when he shared his feelings and got replies on his micro blog.| A．feel sad | B．let out stress | C．add pressure | D．make friends |
小题3:We can know from Mr. Shen that micro blogging can .| A．make kids crazy while logging on to it | | B．bring a lot of misleading messages | | C．become a window to understand young kids | | D．lead to worse communication |
小题4:Don"t micro blog for a day.
A more than one hour B. less than one hour C. one hour D. more than two hours
小题5:Which is Wrong ?| A．Never micro blog in class. | | B．They"ll know their thoughts through micro blog. | | C．Trust all the messages on a micro blog. | | D．Be critical(批判性的) |
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