5.閱讀下列短文,從每題所給出的四個選項中,選出最佳選項.
The size of animals is directly connected(聯(lián)系)to the Earth's temperature.The hotter it gets,the smaller animals become.It suggests that humans could shrink(縮。﹊f the Earth continues its warmer steps.
Scientists studied Sifrhippus,a 56-million-year-old ancestor of the modern-day horse.When Sifrhippus first appeared,he weighed only 12 pounds.Scientists used the teeth of the Sifrhippus fossils (化石)to judge its size over time.Then they compared its change of size with climate(氣候)changes.
What did the study show?During a period of 175 000 years,Sifrhippus shrank to about 8.5 pounds (just the weight of a little dog) before it increased to its original 12-pound size.Its funny change in size was well connected with the great changes of the Earth's temperature.The horse shrank as the Earth heated up by 5°C to 10°C,and grew as the Earth cooled again.
Why did heat cause the horse to shrink?Scientists think that smaller animals can throw off their body heat more easily.So they can live more successfully in warm climates.That shows a rule known as Bergmann,s rule(伯格曼定律),which says that animals of the same kind are smaller in warmer climates and larger in colder climates.(The polar bear,for example,is the largest member of the bear family.) Scientists also believe that global warming makes it difficult for animals to get enough food,which makes animals live in smaller size.
Could humans shrink,too?Quite possibly.But scientists say a lot more research has to be done before making any final conclusions.
63.From th e passage we know that the Earth's temperatureD,
A.a(chǎn)lways stays the same B.is becoming lower
C.will rise by 10°C D.is becoming higher
64.What do you know about Sifrhippus?D
A.It s the biggest horse.B.It's the smallest horse.
C.It's a kind of modern horse.D.It's the earliest horse.
65.The study has shown that SifrhippusA.
A.changed it s size with climate changes
B.a(chǎn)lways had the same size
C.grew bigger in hotter environment
D.couldn't have enough food to eat
66.Which of the following would be the best title for the passage?D
A.A conclusion about horse B.Why did the horse shrink?
C.How a horse became smaller D.Will global warming make us shorter?
分析 本文是介紹伯格曼定律,動物在溫暖的氣候下長的沒有在寒冷的氣候下大,動物的大小與地球的溫度有關,文中提到了科學家研究始祖馬得出的結果,認為氣候暖和,動物很難獲取足夠的食物,那么人們也很有可能會變。
解答 63.D.細節(jié)題.結合It suggests that humans could shrink(縮。﹊f the Earth continues its warmer steps可知地球溫度變的更高,故選D.
64.D.細節(jié)題,結合Scientists studied Sifrhippus,a 56-million-year-old ancestor of the modern-day horse可知是現(xiàn)代馬的始祖,也就是最早的馬,故選D.
65.A.細節(jié)題,結合Its funny change in size was well connected with the great changes of the Earth's temperature可知始祖馬隨著氣候的變化改變了身體的大小,故選A.
66.D.標題判斷.結合It suggests that humans could shrink(縮。﹊f the Earth continues its warmer steps可知本文是在探討地球變暖會不會讓我們變小變矮,故選D.
點評 明確任務后,應迅速閱讀全文來了解文章主要內容,以及文章的感情基調、作者的意圖、態(tài)度傾向.在材料后的問題設置中,經(jīng)常有對文章大意的考查.對于概括大意的題目,需要通篇考慮,對要點加以歸納概括,這類題目有時可以從文中找到答案,但有時需要用自己的話來概括.