Development of a widely accepted chronology for the arrival of humans has been
题型：不详难度：来源：
Development of a widely accepted chronology for the arrival of humans has been equally difficult, and it was only with the development of optically stimulated luminescence dating that a human presence in Australia was confirmed at 53,000 to 60,000 years ago. Older dates for a human presence in Australia have now been shown to be erroneous .
The importance of Australia as a separate natural laboratory in which to test extinction theories lies in the fact that humans arrived there much earlier than they arrived in the other continental areas (the Americas and northern Eurasia) that experienced substantial megafaunal extinction. What Miller et al. have shown is that the extinction of Genyornis occurred simultaneously across southeastern Australia (indeed probably right across the continent) about 50,000 years ago. This is very close to the presently accepted time of arrival of humans in Australia. It was also a period of modest climate change, well before the dramatic climatic fluctuations of the terminal Pleistocene. The data of Miller et al., therefore, support those who see human hunting rather than climate as causing the extinction of the megafauna.
Genyornis was a ponderous bird, around 80 to 100 kg in weight, about twice as heavy as the living emu and cassowary. It was an inhabitant of Australias inland plains and some coastal regions, but its legs were relatively short and thick, suggestion that it was a slower runner than the emu. Proponents of humancaused extinction suggest that it is just such characteristics that made the megafauna vulnerable to human hunting.
A new school of thought has recently established itself in the extinction debate. It advocates the idea that a combination of human impact and climate change was responsible for the extinction of the worlds megafauna. The new Genyornis data also weaken that argument, for the following reason. Fifty thousand years ago, Australia was experiencing mild cooling; 11,000 to 12,000 years ago, the Americas were experiencing rapid warming. These disparate climatic conditions, all coincident with megafaunal extinction, suggest that whatever was happening with climate, it was bad for the big animals. Under these conditions, the hybrid model becomes indistinguishable from the humancaused extinction model for the influence of climate becomes extremely weak, and only the arrival of humans is important in predicting extinction.
小题1: The last word “megafauna” in Paragraph 2 most probably means
A birds. B plants.
C big animals. D small animals.
小题2: Genyornis was vulnerable to human hunting because it was
A a delicacy. B very weak.
C very small in size. D clumsy.
小题3: How many models have been put forward for the extinction of Genyoris?
A One. B Two.
C Three. D Four.
小题4: That Australia experienced mild cooling and the Americas rapid warming suggests that
A the climatic conditions were unfit for Genyornis to live.
B Genyornis were highly adaptable to different climatic conditions.
C The two climatic conditions were both bad for Genyornis.
D The climatic conditions had nothing to do with the extinction of Genyoris.
小题5: The selection is mainly about
A the debate over the time of the human presence in Australia.
B the relationship between the human presence and magafaunal extinction.
C the relationship between human activities and climatic changes.
D the debate over factors causing megafaunal extinction. |
答案
小题1:C
小题2:D
小题3:C
小题4:D
小题5:D |
解析
小题1:［C big animals.
【本题考点】 词语释义题。
【试题精解】 考生如果有一定的构词法知识一眼就可看出该题的答案。 “mega”在英文中指 “big”；fauna指 “animals” ，显然［C 为正确答案。考生如果没有这方面的知识，也可以利用上下文来判断。作者在提到megafauna后紧接着提到了Genyornis,在第三段开始对其进行了描述： “Genyornis was a ponderous bird, around 80 to 100kg in weight, about twice as heavy as the living emu and cassowary.” 足见其大。
【考点出处】 第二段末句，但对该词的推断却应联系上下文。
小题2: ［D clumsy.
【本题考点】 细节判断题。
【试题精解】 第三段中指出 “it is such characteristics that made the megafauna vulnerable to human hunting” “such characteristics” 指的是其 “heavy, short and thick”, 即 “clumsy”。
【考点出处】 根据第三段第二句可知它的腿短而粗，跑得慢，［D 项clumsy“笨拙的”与句意一致。
小题3: ［C Three.
【本题考点】 细节判断题。
【试题精解】 文中共提到了三种：（1）Human hunting;（2）Climate;（3）Human impact and climate change。
【考点出处】 第二、三、四段中。
小题4:［D The climatic conditions had nothing to do with the extinction of Genyoris.
【本题考点】 推理暗示题。
【试题精解】 澳大利亚经历了 “mild cooling”, 美洲经历了 “rapid warming”, 而两个地方都出现了Genyornis的灭绝，说明气候对其灭绝并未产生什么影响。在文中最后一段作者也指出 “the influence of climate becomes extremely weak, and only the arrival of humans is important in predicting extinction.”
【考点出处】 第二段和第四段。
小题5:［D the debate over factors causing megafaunal extinction.
【本题考点】 主旨大意题。
【试题精解】 本文重点介绍了造成“magafaunal extinction”的三种原因，所以［D 为正确答案。
【考点出处】 考察对全文的理解能力，实际上从第三题的做答中我们就可得出解答该题的部分相关信息。
■核心词汇
1.chronologyn.年代学
2.luminescencen.发光
3.erroneousa.错误的 ［同义 false, incorrect, inexact
4.megafaunan.巨型动物
5.fluctuationn.变化 ［同义 oscillation, rolling
6.ponderousa.笨重的 ［同义 heavy, weighty, massive, bulky
7.cassowaryn.食火鸡
■全文精译
澳洲古代巨鸟灭绝探因
要创建人类是何时到来的、且为人们所广为接受的年代表同样也是困难的。并且只有在光学模拟发光测定年代的方法发展起来后，人们才确定53，000年到60，000年前澳洲有了人类，现在已证明更久远的年代是错误的。
之所以把澳洲称为试验种族灭绝理论的天然实验室，其重要性在于（lie in）：人类到达这儿的年代要远远先于到达经历过巨型动物灭亡的其他大陆（如欧洲和欧亚大陆北部）的年代。Miller等人向我们说明，“巨鸟”于50，000年前在澳洲南部同时灭绝，这和人们普遍接受的人类到达澳洲大陆的时间相当接近。这也是气候温和的时期，随后很久才发生了更新世晚期灭绝性的气候剧变。Miller的资料支撑了认为人类捕猎而非气候变化是巨兽灭绝的原因的观点。
“巨鸟”是远古时期一种巨型鸟类，重约80到100公斤，是鸸鹋和食火鸡的两倍重。它是澳洲内陆和沿海地区的动物，但它的腿相对短而粗，证明它不如鸸鹋跑得快。坚持人类导致这种鸟灭绝的人说，它们的这种特性使它们很容易受到（be vulnerable to ...）捕***。
在这一“灭绝争论”中，新的学派又建立了。他们赞成人类及气候因素结合导致（be responsible for ...）了世界范围巨型动物的灭绝的观点。新的巨鸟资料也削弱了这种争论，原因如下：50，000年前，澳洲气候逐渐变冷；11，000到12，000年前，美洲气温迅速上升。这些完全相异的气候条件正好与巨鸟灭绝时期相吻合（be coincident with）。这说明，无论气候怎样变化，巨型动物还是难逃厄运。在这种情况下（under these conditions），这种结合两种说法的观点就变得与人类导致其灭绝的观点难以区别了。因为在他们看来，气候影响是那么微弱，只有人类的到来才预示了巨型动物的灭绝。 |
举一反三
There is probably no field of human activity in which our values and lifestyles are shown more clearly and strongly than they are in the clothes that we choose to wear.The dress of an individual is a kind of “sign language” that communicates a set of information and is usually the basis on which immediate impressions are formed.Traditionally,a concern for clothes was considered to be an affair of females,while men took pride in the fact that they were completely lacking in clothes consciousness(意识).
This type of American culture is by degrees changing as man dress takes on greater variety and color.Even as early as 1955,a researcher in Michigan said that men attached rather high importance to the value of clothing in daily life. White collar workers in particular viewed dress as a symbol(象征)of ability,which could be used to impress or influence others,especially in the work situation.The white collar worker was described as extremely concerned about the impression his clothing made on his superiors(上司).Although blue collar workers were less aware(察觉到的)that they might be judged on the basis of their clothing,they recognized that any difference from the accepted pattern of dress would be made fun of by fellow workers.
Since that time,of course,the patterns have changed:the typical office worker may now be wearing the blue shirt,and the laborer a white shirt;but the importance of dress has not become less.Other researchers in recent years have helped to prove its importance in the lives of individuals at various age levels and in different social and economic status groups(阶层).
小题1:The passage tells us that _______.| A．our values and lifestyles are in no field of human activity | | B．the clothes that we choose to wear have something to do with our values and lifestyles | | C．our values and lifestyles are from the sign language | | D．the clothes we choose to wear depend on a set of information and immediate impression |
小题2:Traditionally,people usually thought that _______.| A．men cared very much for clothes | | B．women were concerned greatly about what they wore while men didn’t | | C．both men and women paid great attention to their clothes | | D．neither men nor women showed interest in clothes |
小题3:Blue collar workers pay attention to their clothes because _______.| A．they are concerned about the impression their clothes make on their superiors | | B．they know very clearly that people will judge them on the basis of their clothing | | C．they want to impress and influence others | | D．they don’t want to be laughed at |
小题4:Which of the following can best explain the underlined sentence in the second paragraph?| A．Men thought the value of clothing in daily life was very important. | | B．Men didn’t pay attention to the importance of the value of clothing in daily life. | | C．Men thought little of the importance of the value of clothing in daily life. | | D．Men were concerned little about the value of clothing in daily life. |
小题5:The passage mainly suggests that _______.| A．now men pay more attention to their clothes than women do | | B．women always like beautiful dresses | | C．people have paid more and more attention to the importance of dress | | D．American culture is changing greatly |
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Science is a dominant theme in our culture. Since it touches almost every facet of our life, educated people need at least some acquaintance with its structure and operation. They should also have an understanding of the subculture in which scientists live and the kinds of people they are. An understanding of general characteristics of science as well as specific scientific concepts is easier to attain if one knows something about the things that excite and frustrate the scientist.
This book is written for the intelligent student or lay person whose acquaintance with science is superficial; for the person who has been presented with science as a musty storehouse of dried facts; for the person who sees the chief objective of science as the production of gadgets; and for the person who views the scientists as some sort of magician. The book can be used to supplement a course in any science, to accompany any course that attempts to give an understanding of the modern world, or – independently of any course – simply to provide a better understanding of science. We hope this book will lead readers to a broader perspective on scientific attitudes and a more realistic view of what science is, who scientists are, and what they do. It will give them an awareness and understanding of the relationship between science and our culture and an appreciation of the roles science may play in our culture. In addition, readers may learn to appreciate the relationship between scientific views and some of the values and philosophies that are pervasive in our culture.
We have tried to present in this book an accurate and up-to-date picture of the scientific community and the people who populate it. That population has in recent years come to comprise more and more women. This increasing role of women in the scientific subculture is not an unique incident but, rather, part of the trend evident in all segments of society as more women enter traditionally male-dominated fields and make significant contributions. In discussing these changes and contribution, however, we are faced with a language that is implicitly sexist, one that uses male nouns or pronouns in referring to unspecified individuals. To offset this built-in bias, we have adopted the policy of using plural nouns and pronouns whenever possible and, when absolutely necessary, alternating he and she. This policy is far form being ideal, but it is at least an acknowledgment of the inadequacy of our language in treating half of the human race equally.
We have also tried to make the book entertaining as well as informative. Our approach is usually informal. We feel, as do many other scientists, that we shouldn’t take ourselves too seriously. As the reader may observe, we see science as a delightful pastime rather than as a grim and dreary way to earn a living.
小题1:According to the passage, ‘scientific subculture’ means
[A] cultural groups that are formed by scientists.
people whose knowledge of science is very limited.
[C] the scientific community.
[D] people who make good contribution to science.
小题2:We need to know something about the structure and operation of science because
[A] it is not easy to understand the things that excite and frustrate scientists.
Science affects almost every aspect of our life.
[C] Scientists live in a specific subculture.
[D] It is easier to understand general characteristics of science.
小题3:The book mentioned in this passage is written for readers who
[A] are intelligent college students and lay person who do not know much about science.
are good at producing various gadgets.
[C] work in a storehouse of dried facts.
[D] want to have a superficial understanding of science.
小题4:According to this passage,
[A] English is a sexist language.
only in the scientific world is the role of women increasing rapidly.
[C] women are making significant contributions to eliminating the inadequacy of our language.
[D] male nouns or pronouns should not be used to refer to scientists.
小题5:This passage most probably is
[A] a book review.
the preface of a book.
[C] the postscript of a book.
[D] the concluding part of a book.
Vocabulary
subculture 亚文化群（指在一个社会或一种文化内具有独特性的一群人）
superficial 肤浅的，浅薄的，表面的
lay person 外行，门外汉，俗人
musty 发毒的，老朽的，陈腐的
gadget 小玩意儿，小配件，新发明
pervasive 渗透的，弥漫的，遍布的
populate 居住于……中，在……中占一席之地
implicit 含蓄的，内含的
unspecified 未特别提出的
offset 抵消，补偿 |
It looked like a typical business meeting. Six men, neatly dressed in white shirts and ties filed into the boardroom of a small Jakarta company and sat down at a long table. But instead of consulting files or hearing reports, they closed their eyes and began to meditate, consulting the spirits of ancient Javanese kings. Mysticism touches almost every aspect of life in Indonesia and business is no exception. One of the meditators said his weekly meditation sessions are aimed mainly at bringing the peace of mind that makes for good decision-making. But the insight gained from mystic communication with spirits of wise kings has also helped boost the profits of his five companies.
Mysticism and profits have come together since the 13th century introduction of Islam to Indonesia by Indian Moslem merchants. Those devout traders, called ‘Wali Ullah’ or ‘those close to God, ’ energetically spread both trade and religion by adapting their appeals to the native mysticism of Java. Legends attribute magic power of foreknowledge to the Wali Ullah. These powers were believed to be gained through meditation and fasting.
Businessman Hadisiko said his group fasts and meditates all night every Thursday to become closer to God and to contact the spirits of the great men of the past. ‘If we want to employ someone at the managerial level, we meditate together and often the message comes that this man can’t hole onto money or he is untrustworthy. Or maybe the spirits will tell us he should be hired.’ Hadiziko hastened to add that his companies also hold modern personnel management systems and that formal qualifications are essential for a candidate even to be considered. Perspective investments also are considered through mystic meditation. ‘With the mind relaxed and open, it is easier to be objective in judging the risk of a new venture. Meditation and contact with the wisdom of the old leaders sharpens your own insight and intuition. Then you have to apply that intuition to the information you have and work hard to be successful. ’ Mystic meditation helped reverse a business slide his companies experienced in the mid-1980. Operating with normal business procedures, he lost more than $ 3 millions in that year alone. Meditation brought back his peace of mind. Putting the right persons in the right jobs and gaining confidence in his business decisions were the keys to a turning around that has brought expansion and profitability. The mysticism in Handspike’s boardroom is part of a growing movement in Indonesia called Kebatinan – the ‘search for the inner self.’
One of his managers, Yusuf Soemado, who studied business administration at Harvard University, compared the idea of mystic management to western system of positive thinking. ‘Willpower and subconscious mind are recognized as important factors in business. Such approaches as psycho-cybernetics, Carnegie’s think and growth rates, or the power of positive thinking are western attempts to tap the same higher intelligence that we contact through meditation,’ he said.
小题1:What is the most important factor in their doing business?
[A] Mysticism.
Religion.
[C] Meditation.
[D] Investment.
小题2:Whom do they consult?
[A] The spirits of ancient Javanese kings.
Wali Ullah.
[C] Old Kings.
[D] Carnegie.
小题3:Why did Hadisike hasten to add ‘his companies also hold modern personnel management systems…’?
[A] He thought Mysticism was not so good as expected.
To show they too focused on qualifications.
[C] To show they hired qualified persons.
[D] To show the possibility of combination of the scientific management with religion.
小题4:According to the passage, the function of the meditation is
[A] to gain profit from the god.
to gain peace of mind to make decision.
[C] to gain foreknowledge.
[D] to gain objective conclusion.
小题5:What does ‘operating with normal business procedures’ refer to?
[A] Adopting the western way of doing business.
Ordinary way of doing business without meditation and fasting.
[C] Contact with God.
[D] Putting right persons in the right jobs.
Vocabulary
file into 鱼贯而入，排队进去
Jakarta 雅加达
meditate 沉思，冥想，反省
Java 爪哇
Javanese 爪哇的
mysticism 神秘主义
boost 促进，增加，提高
devout 虔诚的，热诚的
appeal (to) 向……呼吁，求助于，魅力
legend 传说，神话
fasting 禁食，斋戒
hold onto 抓紧，保住
personnel management system 人事管理制度
perspective investment 远景投资
venture （商业）投机，风险
sharpen 使……敏锐/尖锐，磨尖
business slide 买卖/企业滑坡，下滑
turn around （生意）好转，转变
subconscious 下意识的，潜意识的
cybernetics 控制论
Carnegie 卡耐基
tap 开拓，选择 |
The way we do things round here
Some years ago, I was hired by an American bank. I received a letter from the head of the Personnel Department that started, “Dear John, I am quite pleased that you have decided to join us.” That “quite” saddened me. I thought he was saying “We’re kind of pleased you decided to join us although I wish we had hired someone else.” Then I discovered that in American English “quite” sometimes means “very”, while in British English it means “fairly”.
So the first lesson about working in other countries is to learn the language and by that I don’t just mean the words people speak. It is body language, dress, manners, ideas and so on. The way people do things highlights many of the differences we see between cultures.
Some of these differences may be only on the surface--- dress, food and hours of work--- while others may be deeper and take longer to deal with. Mostly, it is just a question of getting used to the differences and accepting them, like the climate (气候), while getting on with business.
Some of the differences may be an improvement. People are more polite; the service is better; you ask for something to be done and it happens without having to ask again. However, other differences can be troubling, like punctuality (准时). If you invite people to a party at 7 o’clock your guests will consider it polite to turn up exactly on time in Germany, five minutes early in the American Midwest, an hour early in Japan, 15 minutes afterwards in the UK, up to an hour afterwards in Italy and some time in the evening in Greece. I prefer not to use the word “late” because there is nothing wrong with the times people arrive. It is simply the accepted thing to do in their own country.
小题1:The author was unhappy as mentioned in Paragraph 1 because he thought _____.| A．the American bank didn’t think much of him | | B．the American bank might hire another person | | C．it’s difficult to get used to American culture | | D．it’s easy to misunderstand Americans |
小题2:The word “highlights” in Paragraph 2 probably means _______.| A．encourages | B．helps to narrow | C．increases | D．draws attention to |
小题3:According to the author, what should we do with most cultural differences?| A．Ask the native people for help. | B．Understand and accept them. | | C．Do things in our own way. | D．Do in-depth research. |
小题4:When invited to a party the people who are usually punctual（准时的）are ______.| A．Italians | B．Germans | C．Greeks | D．the British |
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This may be music to your ears.
Researchers P. Jason Rentfrow and Samuel Gosling gave 3,500 people a personality quiz. Then they asked them to name their favorite kind of music. “We found that the musical style people like are closely linked to their personalities,” Gosling says.
RAP/HIP-HOP
Known for their quick speech, some rappers can say more than 700 syllables (音节) a minute!
If you like rap/hip-hop, you are energetic and have a way with words. You put a fresh spin on things, whether it’s new moves on the dance floor or your hip style.
CLASSLCAL
In the 18th century, classical musicians were like rock stars. Beethoven and Mozart, for example, played in packed concert halls.
If you like classical, you are open to new ideas and like debating with friends. Creative and imaginative, you can easily spend many hours scrapbooking, writing or painting.
COUNTRY
Country music came from the folk songs of English, Scottish, and Irish settlers of the southeastern United States.
If you like country, you express your opinions well, which makes you the ideal class president or team captain. Traditional and loyal, you enjoy spending time with your family.
POP
Pop music is designed to appeal to (吸引) almost everyone, and it does. Each year, the industry brings in about 30 billion dollars!
If you like pop, you are attractive to your friends. You can make big things happen, like planning for a huge party or inspiring your team to victory.
ROCK
In the 1950s, rock music created a brand-new culture. Teenagers, for the first time, had an identity separate from adults and children.
If you like rock, you are a risk-taker who never accepts no for an answer. You rise to any challenge, like doing very well in a big exam or landing the lead in the school play.
If these personality profiles don’t match you, that’s OK. These are just for fun.
小题1:What does the underlined part “You put a fresh spin on things” mean in the passage?| A．You can express your idea in a clever way that makes it seem better than it really is. | | B．You have the ability to attract others’ attention. | | C．You are always willing to communicate with others. | | D．You are willing to express your thoughts to others all the time. |
小题2:If you like pop music, .| A．you are traditional and prefer to stay with your family | | B．you are easy to accept new ideas | | C．you are welcome and your friends all like to be with you | | D．you have a quick speech and can say 30 words in a minute |
小题3:We can know from this passage that .| A．in the 18th century, classical musicians were like pop stars | | B．country music came from the old songs of the Native Americans | | C．pop music is liked by the largest number of people in the world | | D．everyone can find his personality in this passage |
小题4:What’s the main idea of the passage?| A．When music came into being. | | B．What your favorite music says about you. | | C．Some basic information about music. | | D．How to like music. |
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