托福阅读素材：斑马条纹到底有何用

斑马阅读理解语文
斑马是非洲大草原上的一种独特动物，以其黑白相间的条纹而闻名。

这种条纹不仅是斑马的标志性特征，也是其生存策略的一部分。

斑马的条纹有助于它们在草原上伪装，混淆捕食者的视线，从而提高生存机会。

斑马的阅读理解能力在动物界中是非常独特的。

虽然它们无法像人类一样阅读文字，但斑马能够通过视觉和听觉来理解周围环境的变化。

例如，斑马能够识别同伴的警告叫声，从而迅速做出反应，避免潜在的危险。

在斑马的社会结构中，群体成员之间的沟通是非常重要的。

斑马通过一系列的肢体语言和声音来传达信息，如嘶鸣、喷鼻和摆动尾巴。

这些行为帮助斑马在群体中建立社会联系，同时也有助于它们在面对威胁时做出集体反应。

斑马的阅读理解能力还体现在它们对环境的适应上。

斑马能够识别水源和食物的位置，这对于在干旱季节生存至关重要。

此外，斑马还能通过观察天气变化来预测降雨，这对于它们寻找新的水源和食物来源非常重要。

总的来说，斑马的阅读理解能力虽然与人类不同，但它们通过自己的方式理解和适应环境，展现出了动物界中独特的生存智慧。

斑马的这些能力不仅有助于它们在自然界中生存，也为人类提供了对动物行为和生态适应的深刻理解。

斑马神奇黑白条纹并非用于隐藏而是驱蝇[导读]黑白相间的粗条纹或许能帮助斑马躲避那些携带疾病的苍蝇。

一个多世纪以来，鲁德亚德-吉卜林的故事《Just So》通过虚构的方式解释了为什么动物们看起来是这个样子，这让孩子们（还有成年人）感到高兴。

但是虽然吉卜林讲述豹子的斑点和骆驼的驼峰，但他从不讲述斑马的条纹。

一项最新的研究填补了这个空白，这次是真实的资料。

斑马身上的黑白条纹会让它们避免蚊虫叮咬抛开了一系列可能的解释，新的研究成果声称斑马黑白相间的条纹图案以一种方式反射光线来帮助它们远离传播病毒的苍蝇。

饥饿的苍蝇或许不是推动斑马进化出条纹的唯一动力。

但是这个发现或许能提供一些方法，来帮助防御动物甚至是帮助人们抵御一些昆虫。

一位来自瑞典兰德大学的进化生物学教授苏珊娜说：“我们一直都在养殖动物来获取肉制品和奶制品，并且我们也不必关注它们皮毛的颜色和样式。

或许这是我们需要考虑的事情，也许能从斑马那里学到某种策略来帮助我们。

从十九世纪七十年代开始科学家们就一直在猜测斑马条纹的目的，当时查尔斯-达尔文批评了阿弗雷德-罗素-华莱士的理论，认为条纹在高高的草丛中提供伪装是错误的。

达尔文争辩说：“斑马更喜欢开阔的大草原，那里的草非常短所以条纹很难成为有效的隐藏工具。

”从那以后，科学家声称条纹作用包括斑马之间识别，抵御狮子们袭击，还有温度调节的作用，亮暗相间的皮毛或许会导致空气扰动从而帮助斑马保持凉爽。

苏珊娜和她的同事们猜测，属于虻科群体的果蝇是否与这种情况有关。

这些果蝇对于斑马、牛、马和相关的动物来说是主要的害虫。

它们的叮咬会明显的减少动物进食，并且它们能够携带致命疾病。

在之前的研究中，苏珊娜和她的团队发现黑色动物比白色动物对于马蝇来说更具新引力，很可能是由于不同表面的光线反射方式。

直射的阳光充满了全方位闪烁的光线。

但是当光线从水中反射或者在深棕色的牛、马表皮发生反射，它的反光水平的排成一行。

虻科苍蝇被这种线性的偏振光所吸引：这通常引导它们飞向水坑，在那里它们能够产卵和交配。

斑马条原理斑马条原理，又称条纹原理，是指斑马身上的黑白条纹有助于驱赶昆虫的一种自然现象。

在斑马的身体表面，黑白相间的条纹形成了一种视觉效果，这种视觉效果对昆虫有一种特殊的驱赶作用。

斑马条原理不仅在自然界中有所体现，在工程设计和生活中也有着广泛的应用。

首先，我们来看一下斑马条原理在自然界中的体现。

斑马身上的黑白条纹形成了一种视觉效果，这种视觉效果对昆虫有一种特殊的驱赶作用。

科学家们通过实验发现，黑白相间的条纹能够干扰昆虫的视觉系统，使它们难以判断斑马的轮廓和速度，从而使得昆虫难以靠近斑马。

这种视觉效果对昆虫的驱赶作用是非常明显的，因此斑马身上的黑白条纹成为了一种自然的防御机制。

其次，斑马条原理在工程设计中也有着广泛的应用。

借鉴斑马条纹的原理，科学家们设计出了一种新型的防虫材料。

这种材料模仿了斑马身上的黑白条纹，形成了一种特殊的视觉效果，对昆虫具有驱赶作用。

这种防虫材料被广泛应用于农业生产中，可以有效地减少农作物上的害虫数量，降低农药的使用量，对环境保护具有重要意义。

此外，斑马条原理还在城市规划和建筑设计中得到了应用。

一些建筑设计师借鉴了斑马条纹的原理，设计出了一些具有特殊视觉效果的建筑外墙。

这些建筑外墙的设计不仅美观大方，而且还具有一定的防虫效果，可以减少建筑物周围的昆虫数量，提高人们的居住环境质量。

总的来说，斑马条原理是一种非常有趣的自然现象，它不仅在自然界中有所体现，而且在工程设计和生活中也有着广泛的应用。

通过借鉴斑马条原理，科学家们设计出了一些新型的防虫材料，在农业生产和建筑设计中得到了应用。

相信随着科学技术的不断发展，斑马条原理将会在更多的领域得到应用，为人类创造出更加美好的生活环境。

斑马为何是“条纹控”作者：来源：《百科知识》2018年第19期关于斑马条纹的作用，100年前人们就展开了争论，至今仍众说纷纭。

美国生物学家拉尔松认为斑马的条纹有助于降温。

他说，由于黑色比白色更加吸热，当风吹到斑马身上时，气流在黑色部分的运动更快更强，而在白色部分则较缓慢。

这两股相反的气流一旦交汇，就会产生小气旋，有助于斑马表皮降温。

不过，最新实验否定了这种推测。

中国科学院动物研究所张劲硕博士认为斑马的條纹有利于“防蚊虫叮咬”。

他说，条纹会影响偏振光，模糊昆虫的视线。

但有科学家认为条纹能影响偏振光不够科学。

澳大利亚昆士兰大学的科学家马丁·郝说，斑马的条纹样式可以产生一种视觉假象，在斑马成群运动的时候这种迷惑性特别强大，能帮助斑马在关键时刻逃离食肉动物的魔爪。

不过，达尔文曾表示，在南非开阔的平原上，黑白条纹起不到任何保护作用。

还有研究者认为，就像人类的指纹一样，黑白条纹是自然界赐给斑马的“条形码”，“条形码识别”对于斑马来说很重要，通过相互观察条纹，斑马可以认出彼此。

在斑马的求偶期，条纹也起着重要的识别作用。

但也有人质疑这种看法，毕竟，无论是雌性斑马还是雄性斑马都有黑白条纹。

懒洋洋地晒太阳是人生中最大乐事之一，但令人遗憾的是，这种消遣方式是有代价的：皮肤会被晒伤。

然而，我们为什么很少见到被晒伤的动物？太阳亘古以来一直存在，因此，太阳对动物构成一种非常大的选择压力，这产生了很多对抗机制。

其中一些机制很明显：很多动物的毛发、毛皮、软毛、羽毛和鳞片在阳光与皮肤间构筑了一道屏障。

天然无毛无鳞的动物必须求助于其他自保手段。

大象和犀牛不仅皮肤较厚，而且在身上涂上一层尘土或泥巴，形成一种初级防晒霜。

在极端条件下，大多数动物会躲到阴凉处或藏身洞穴中。

一些动物更胜一筹，它们的细胞能生成一种独特的防晒物质。

鱼类、鸟类、爬行动物和两栖动物的一些遗传特征使它们能够产生一种能抵御阳光中紫外线的化合物。

不能产生这种化合物的哺乳动物也不甘示弱，形成了属于自己的复杂保护机制。

托福阅读真题第30篇Zebra_Stripes（答案文章最后）Zebras, horse like animals native to the grasslands of frica, are known for their distinctive black and white stripes. Historically many scientists thought zebras' stripes served to camouflage (hide) them from predators, such as lions and hyenas. This assumption was based on the observation that other animals, such as tigers, have similar stripes that make them less visible. However, in recent years scientists have noted that zebras' environment and behavior are not well suited to camouflage by stripes. Tigers often inhabit heavily forested areas in which there, vertical stripes help them blend in with the surrounding trees, but zebras typically inhabit open grasslands. Unlike tigers, who use stealth to stalk their prey, zebras are herbivores that rarely hold still when threatened by predators; instead, they rely on their good eyesight to spot predators at a distance and flee at any signal of danger.zebra's stripes may help to protect it in other ways. Stripes may help zebras blend in with each other, rather than blend in with their environment. Zebras live in large herds, and they flee as a group when threatened. The dense pattern of moving zebra stripes may appear as a mass of confusing images, making it difficult for predators to target individual zebras. atching a fleeing zebra requires a precisely timed final leap, and a zebra's stripes may interfere with predators' perception of distance. ecause zebras have some ability to defend themselves by using their hind legs to kick at pursuing predators, at times powerfully enough to cause serious injury, a zebra's distinctive stripes may also serve as a Warning that encourages predators to seek less dangerous prey. However, none of these explanations is stronglysupported by observation. Zebras are killed by lions about as frequently as other unstriped prey animals.More recently, scientists have suggested that the primary purpose of stripes is to protect zebras from biting flies. The grasslands of frica are home to a number of species of flies that feed on the blood of large mammals and can cause considerable damage through blood loss and the transmission of diseases. Laboratory tests have shown that biting flies are less likely to land on objects covered in black and white stripes than on solid black on white surfaces. It is not yet known why biting flies would avoid striped objects. but scientists have suggested that the explanation lies in the mechanisms of flies' vision, which is simple and apparently confused by stripes. The stripes may make it difficult for flies to detect the outline of a zebra's body or cause the flies to confuse a zebra for a collection of thin, vertical objects that do not resemble potential victims. Scientists have analyzed the stomach contents of wild biting flies and have found relatively little zebra blood.If stripes are an effective means of protection against biting flies. then why have other animals not evolved stripes as well? One theory is that zebras are particularly vulnerable to flies because of their unusually short hair and developed stripes as an alternative protective measure. Horses, which are closely related to zebras, are indeed extremely susceptible to biting flies when imported to frica. They are frequently infected by fly-borne parasitic infections which are often fatal even when veterinary treatment is provided. Horses do not develop immunity to the parasites and so can be repeatedly re-infectedOther puzzles remain. For instance, biting flies seem to be most discouraged by horizontal stripes, but the stripes on zebrasare mostly vertical. More mysteriously, not all zebras are covered in stripes: the quagga, an extinct subspecies of zebra. had fainter stripes that were present only on the front half of its body. If stripes protect from flies, why would the quagga lack protection on half of its body? This cannot be explained by environmental factors. because quaggas' range overlapped with that of fully striped zebras. One possible explanation is that if they only have stripes on half of their body, quaggas can more easily distinguish between. their own and other species of zebra, making it easier for them to follow the solid-colored hindquarters when fleeing from predators. This behavioral hypothesis is unfortunately impossible to test, because scientists can only study the quagga through preserved museum specimens and a handful of nineteenth-century photographs.1.Zebras, horse like animals native to the grasslands of frica, are known for their distinctive black and white stripes. Historically many scientists thought zebras' stripes served to camouflage (hide) them from predators, such as lions and hyenas. This assumption was based on the observation that other animals, such as tigers, have similar stripes that make them less visible. However, in recent years scientists have noted that zebras' environment and behavior are not well suited to camouflage by stripes. Tigers often inhabit heavily forested areas in which there, vertical stripes help them blend in with the surrounding trees, but zebras typically inhabit open grasslands. Unlike tigers, who use stealth to stalk their prey, zebras are herbivores that rarely hold still when threatened by predators; instead, they rely on their good eyesight to spot predators at a distance and flee at any signal of danger.2. zebra's stripes may help to protect it in other ways. Stripeswith their environment. Zebras live in large herds, and they flee as a group when threatened. The dense pattern of moving zebra stripes may appear as a mass of confusing images, making it difficult for predators to target individual zebras. atching a fleeing zebra requires a precisely timed final leap, and a zebra's stripes may interfere with predators' perception of distance. ecause zebras have some ability to defend themselves by using their hind legs to kick at pursuing predators, at times powerfully enough to cause serious injury, a zebra's distinctive stripes may also serve as a Warning that encourages predators to seek less dangerous prey. However, none of these explanations is strongly supported by observation. Zebras are killed by lions about as frequently as other unstriped prey animals.3. zebra's stripes may help to protect it in other ways. Stripes may help zebras blend in with each other, rather than blend in with their environment. Zebras live in large herds, and they flee as a group when threatened. The dense pattern of moving zebra stripes may appear as a mass of confusing images, making it difficult for predators to target individual zebras. atching a fleeing zebra requires a precisely timed final leap, and a zebra's stripes may interfere with predators' perception of distance. ecause zebras have some ability to defend themselves by using their hind legs to kick at pursuing predators, at times powerfully enough to cause serious injury, a zebra's distinctive stripes may also serve as a Warning that encourages predators to seek less dangerous prey. However, none of these explanations is strongly supported by observation. Zebras are killed by lions about as frequently as other unstriped prey animals.4. zebra's stripes may help to protect it in other ways. Stripeswith their environment. Zebras live in large herds, and they flee as a group when threatened. The dense pattern of moving zebra stripes may appear as a mass of confusing images, making it difficult for predators to target individual zebras. atching a fleeing zebra requires a precisely timed final leap, and a zebra's stripes may interfere with predators' perception of distance. ecause zebras have some ability to defend themselves by using their hind legs to kick at pursuing predators, at times powerfully enough to cause serious injury, a zebra's distinctive stripes may also serve as a Warning that encourages predators to seek less dangerous prey. However, none of these explanations is strongly supported by observation. Zebras are killed by lions about as frequently as other unstriped prey animals.5.More recently, scientists have suggested that the primary purpose of stripes is to protect zebras from biting flies. The grasslands of frica are home to a number of species of flies that feed on the blood of large mammals and can cause considerable damage through blood loss and the transmission of diseases. Laboratory tests have shown that biting flies are less likely to land on objects covered in black and white stripes than on solid black on white surfaces. It is not yet known why biting flies would avoid striped objects. but scientists have suggested that the explanation lies in the mechanisms of flies' vision, which is simple and apparently confused by stripes. The stripes may make it difficult for flies to detect the outline of a zebra's body or cause the flies to confuse a zebra for a collection of thin, vertical objects that do not resemble potential victims. Scientists have analyzed the stomach contents of wild biting flies and have found relatively little zebra blood.6.More recently, scientists have suggested that the primary purpose of stripes is to protect zebras from biting flies. The grasslands of frica are home to a number of species of flies that feed on the blood of large mammals and can cause considerable damage through blood loss and the transmission of diseases. Laboratory tests have shown that biting flies are less likely to land on objects covered in black and white stripes than on solid black on white surfaces. It is not yet known why biting flies would avoid striped objects. but scientists have suggested that the explanation lies in the mechanisms of flies' vision, which is simple and apparently confused by stripes. The stripes may make it difficult for flies to detect the outline of a zebra's body or cause the flies to confuse a zebra for a collection of thin, vertical objects that do not resemble potential victims. Scientists have analyzed the stomach contents of wild biting flies and have found relatively little zebra blood.7.If stripes are an effective means of protection against biting flies. then why have other animals not evolved stripes as well? One theory is that zebras are particularly vulnerable to flies because of their unusually short hair and developed stripes as an alternative protective measure. Horses, which are closely related to zebras, are indeed extremely susceptible to biting flies when imported to frica. They are frequently infected by fly-borne parasitic infections which are often fatal even when veterinary treatment is provided. Horses do not develop immunity to the parasites and so can be repeatedly re-infected8.Other puzzles remain. For instance, biting flies seem to be most discouraged by horizontal stripes, but the stripes on zebras are mostly vertical. More mysteriously, not all zebras are covered in stripes: the quagga, an extinct subspecies of zebra. had fainterstripes that were present only on the front half of its body. If stripes protect from flies, why would the quagga lack protection on half of its body? This cannot be explained by environmental factors. because quaggas' range overlapped with that of fully striped zebras. One possible explanation is that if they only have stripes on half of their body, quaggas can more easily distinguish between. their own and other species of zebra, making it easier for them to follow the solid-colored hindquarters when fleeing from predators. This behavioral hypothesis is unfortunately impossible to test, because scientists can only study the quagga through preserved museum specimens and a handful of nineteenth-century photographs.9.Zebras, horse like animals native to the grasslands of frica, are known for their distinctive black and white stripes.⬛Historically many scientists thought zebras' stripes served to camouflage (hide) them from predators, such as lions and hyenas.⬛This assumption was based on the observation that other animals, such as tigers, have similar stripes that make them less visible. However, in recent years scientists have noted that zebras' environment and behavior are not well suited to camouflage by stripes. ⬛Tigers often inhabit heavily forested areas in which there, vertical stripes help them blend in with the surrounding trees, but zebras typically inhabit open grasslands.⬛Unlike tigers, who use stealth to stalk their prey, zebras are herbivores that rarely hold still when threatened by predators; instead, they rely on their good eyesight to spot predators at a distance and flee at any signal of danger.10.。

有皮的动物皮上的纹路有什么含义？一、动物皮肤上的纹路具有遗传意义动物皮肤上的纹路不仅是美丽的装饰，还具有遗传意义。

通过研究发现，动物皮肤上的纹路往往是遗传因素的体现，可以帮助鉴别不同个体之间的差异。

比如，斑马身上黑白相间的条纹纹路是由基因控制的，不同个体的纹路形状和排列方式各有不同。

这些纹路能够帮助动物融入环境，起到伪装的作用，帮助它们逃避天敌的追捕，提高生存能力。

二、动物皮肤纹路的色彩能够传达信息动物皮肤上的纹路不仅仅是形态上的表现，还通过色彩传达信息。

一些动物皮肤上的纹路具有明显的色彩差异，这些差异可以用来进行种内的识别和交流。

例如，犀牛的皮肤上的纹路色彩可以反映出它们的性别、健康状况和社会地位等信息。

有研究发现，犀牛群体中的个体在纹路排列和色彩上存在差异，这些差异可以帮助个体之间进行视觉交流，维持群体的稳定和秩序。

三、动物皮肤纹路的变化受到环境的影响动物皮肤上的纹路在一定程度上受到环境的影响。

比如，一些爬行动物的皮肤纹路会随着生长环境的变化而发生改变。

这是由于环境因素如温度、湿度和食物供应等的影响，在动物生长发育的过程中，纹路的形态和排列方式会发生变化。

这种变化是动物身体适应环境的一种表现，可以帮助它们更好地适应生活条件，提高生存能力。

四、动物皮肤纹路的修饰与行为表达有关动物皮肤上的纹路不仅仅是生物学上的结构，还与动物的行为表达有关。

一些动物会通过改变皮肤纹路的颜色、形状或者排列方式，来表达自己的情绪状态和意图。

例如，一些蜥蜴在受到威胁时会改变身体颜色和纹路，以警示敌人或者吸引异性。

这种行为表达与皮肤纹路的修饰有着密切的联系，通过展示特定的纹路，动物可以更好地进行社交和繁殖行为。

综上所述，动物皮肤上的纹路不仅具有遗传意义，还能传达信息、受到环境的影响，并与动物的行为表达有关。

对于研究者来说，深入了解动物皮肤纹路的含义和功能，有助于揭示动物的演化历程和适应环境的策略。

同时，对于大众来说，了解动物皮肤纹路的意义，可以更好地欣赏和保护这些生物多样性的奇妙之处。

为什么斑马有条纹？
斑马是非常有特点的动物，它们的身上有黑白相间的条纹，这种斑马独特的斑纹图案被认为是众多进化的结果，而且具有多种生物学意义。

首先，斑马的条纹能够起到良好的防御作用，这是因为斑马条纹让捕食者难以辨别出斑马的身体形态。

条纹的防御作用主要是对当地的食肉动物特别有效，因为当地食肉动物主要是大型哺乳动物，因此会忽略细小动物。

因此，斑马在长大以后就能得到这种保护。

其次，斑马的条纹还能够使斑马彼此之间保持联系，斑马在大草原上生活，为了在浩大的草原上保持联系，礼物往往可以通过条纹互相确认身份。

这可以帮助斑马快速找到彼此，然后集结在一起，以抵御可能出现的猎食者。

此外，斑马下面的皮肤一直是黑色的，这会使它们吸收更多的太阳热能和光线，而条纹周围的白色皮肤会反射热能并保持凉爽。

斑马们经常身处广阔无垠的草原和沙漠生态系统中，而这种自身的身体特性既可以防范强烈的日光浴，又能保持凉爽，而且能够使斑马进行长期的运动。

最后，还有一种说法是斑马的条纹可以防止昆虫感染，因为昆虫感应条纹的形状，而斑马的条纹可以令昆虫感到尴尬，从而避免了它们的困扰。

总之，斑马之所以有条纹，可以归结于其自身生存和适应环境的需求，包括防御捕食和吸收热能，并且帮助彼此保持联系，防范昆虫感染。

斑马的条纹不仅为它们提供了众多的生物保护，也为我们向动物世界带来了许多的美。

高一英语阅读理解强化训练附解析Day 203Passage 1We all know that zebra have strips(条纹). But why? It's hard to get a black-and-white answer. This is a question not just common people like us have asked, but scientists too.Several studies have been done to find out the reason behind the stripes and many theories have been suggested. According to a recent study, the type of stripes changes depending on the temperature where zebras live. The warmer the place is, the more stripes they may have. From this study, scientists believe that stripes may help to keep a zebra cool in warmer places.According to the cooler temperature theory, when air hits a zebra, the movements of air are stronger and faster over the black parts and slower over the white. This is because black color takes in more heat than white. So at the point where the black and white meet, there is cooling airflow. It can quickly cool a zebra's skin! In fact, scientists have noticed that heavily striped zebras have 5. 4℉ lower skin temperature than other animals without stripes in the same area.Some scientists believe that stripes may be an adaptation by zebras to defend themselves from the horseflies that follow zebras. The cooler temperature theory holds merit here too, since disease-carrying flies like horseflies like it hot, Flies also don't like landing on striped surfaces.There also have been many other theories that have been suggested for why zebras have stripes. Some explanations are very common. One of them is that stripes may helpzebras hide in grass especially from lions. Lions are color blind and even if they are not far away they may see stripes as grey and be confused by them. What's more, zebras are a large group of animals living together. When a number of zebra stand or move together, stripes may confuse lions into thinking it is one large animal.1. Stripes are helpful for zebras to________ .A. stay coolB. move togetherC. live in cold placesD. fight against diseases2. How do zebras' stripes protect them from lions?A. Lions may be frightened away by stripsB. Lions may see stripes as many animalsC. Stripes can prevent zebras from being seenD. Stripes may make lions confused3. The underlined words "Holds merit" on paragraph 4 probably mean "________ ".A. works wellB. sounds unreasonableC. causes disagreementD. needs supporting facts4. What is the passage mainly about?A. Why lions can't eat zebraB. How horseflies keep away from zebrasC. Why zebras have stripsD. How stripes keep a zebra coolPassage 2We live in a technological society where most goods are mass-produced by unskilled labor. Because of this, most people think that craft（工艺, 手艺）no longer exists.One of the ways these people wrongly support their view is by pointing to 100-year-old homes which are still solid, and arguing that it is the craftsmanship that is responsible for their durability(牢圈). "Homes in those days were well-built, " they say No doubt these homes were well-built, but what these people have done is to mix up the quality of material used in the house with the quality of the craftsmanship.Homes today could be built to last just as long as those old homes if people were willing or able to pay the price. For example, most people can no longer afford solid oak (橡树) stairways, although they were once fairly common in older homes. Nor can they afford the high labor cost of employing a carpenter to build the stairway. Yet if someone can pay the high cost, there are still plenty of carpenters around able to make those stairways. And not only would these carpenters know how to build them, they would probably do a better job than carpenters of old.One thing the modern carpenter has which enables him to do a better job is much more advanced tools. Such tools as laser beams and power planes help them lay out a house better and make more precision cuts on the wood. Also, it is not uncommon saymore to find carpenters with college degrees and carpenters with a solid knowledge of mathematics, which would enable them to deal with more difficult house designs.The problem of modern quality, then, really boils down to the problem of material, for the modern carpenter is just as able to produce craftsmanship as the carpenter of fifty years ago, but only if given proper material.1. Compared to the carpenters in the past, modern carpenters areA. more successfulB. more learnedC. more imaginativeD. more hardworking2. What does the underlined work "they" (paragraph 2) refer to?A. Carpenters who are fond of oak stairways.B. Carpenters who have college degrees.C. People who think highly of carpenters of oldD. Popole who think that modern material is of low quality3. What does the third paragraph mainly discus?A. People in the past preferred to use oak to build stairwaysB. It is now expensive to employ a carpenter.C. Modern houses lasts long the old cones.D. Good carpenters still exist in modern times.4. The underlined phrase "boils down to" can be replaced byA. reduces by boilingB. makes shorterC. results inD. lies in5. What would be the best title for the text?A. Is Craft Dead?B. Craft, Back to Life?C. History of CraftsmanshipD. Carpenter Today and YesterdayPassage 3The days of staring attentively at the computer screen pretending to be interested in an assignment even though you are bored out of your mind may soon be coming to an end. That's because if Dr. Harry Witchel has his way, computers of the future will be able to detect (察觉) boredom and even react to it real-time.But before you get concerned, the machine is not reading your mind. It is just keeping track of the constant involuntary movements that people exhibit when in front of a computer or even a television. These are not the bigger instrumental actions like moving a mouse or using the remote, but subtle barely noticeable movements like scratching or stretching. Witchel says the level of movement is directly relative to how absorbed the person is in what he/she is reading or watching—the higher the interest level, the lesser the movement!To test the theory Witchel and his team invited 27 people and exposed them to avariety of digital content for three minutes at a time. The activities ranged from playing online games to reading documents like the EU banking regulations that most people would find boring. A video motion tracker monitored their movements as they powered through each assignment. Just as the researchers had suspected, the involuntary actions decreased surprisingly, by as much as 42%, when the subjects were totally absorbed in what they were reading or seeing.Fortunately, the scientists are not planning to use the findings that were published in the online Journal to create machines that report students who are not focusing at school. Instead, they believe that combining the motion detecting technology into future computers will help enhance (加强) the digital learning experience.The scientists say that being able to measure the student's interest level, will enable educators to adjust the materials real-time and re-engage the student. Witchel also believes that the technology can provide filmmakers with honest audience opinions and in the future, also be used in developing more understanding companion robots.1. Dr. Harry Witchel wants future computers to have the competence to ________ .A. sense when users feel tired and less absorbed.B. record how long people surf on the Internet.C. help educators to prepare teaching materials.D. read the people's mind in front of a computer.2. What can we infer from the text? ________A. The machine will be used to detect whether the students are focusing at school.B. Subjects will make fewer unconscious movements if they are concentrated.C. Future computers are intended to cure adolescents of their network addiction.D. Most people think banking documents boring because they are of little value.3. What may be the best title for the text? ________A. Being Exposed to Computers All Day Long Makes You Bored.B. Scientists are Developing a More Advanced Computer Now.C. Computers of the Future May be Able to Detect Boredom.D. The Future Machine is Helpful to Teachers And Students.Passage 4Escaping predators (食肉动物), digestion and other animal activities—including those of humans—require oxygen. But that essential ingredient is no longer so easy for marine life to obtain, several new studies reveal.In the past decade ocean oxygen levels have taken a dive—an alarming trend that is linked to climate change, says Andreas Oschlies, an oceanographer at the Helmholtz Center for Ocean Research in Germany, whose team tracks ocean oxygen levels worldwide. “We were surprised by the intensity of the changes we saw, how rapidly oxygen is going down in the ocean and how large the effects on marine ecosystems are,” he says. It is no surprise to scientists that warming oceans are losing oxygen, but the scale of the drop calls for urgent attention. Oxygen levels in some tropical (热带的) regions have dropped by an astonishing 40 percent in the last 50 years, some recent studies reveal. Levels have dropped less significantly elsewhere, with an average loss of 2 percent globally.A warming ocean loses oxygen for two reasons: First, the warmer a liquid becomes, the less gas it can hold. That is why carbonated drinks go flat faster when left in the sun. Second, as polar sea ice melts, it forms a layer of water above colder, more salty sea waters. This process creates a sort of lid that can keep currents from mixing surface water down to deeper depths. And because all oxygen enters the surface, less mixing means less of it at depth.Ocean animals large and small, however, respond to even slight changes in oxygen by seeking refuge in higher oxygen zones or by adjusting behavior, Oschlies and others in his field have found. These adjustments can expose animals to new predators or force them into food-scarce regions. Climate change already poses serious problems for marine life, such as ocean acidification, but deoxygenation is the most pressing issue facing sea animals today, Oschlies says. After all, he says, “they all have to breathe.”Aside from food web problems, animals face various other physiological challenges as their bodies adjust to lower oxygen levels. Chinese shrimp (虾) move their tails less vigorously to preserve energy in lower oxygen environments. Some creatures, such as jellyfishes, are more tolerant of low oxygen than others are. But all animals will feel the impact of deoxygenation because they all have evolved their oxygen capacity for a reason, says Oschlies. “Any drop in oxygen is going to damage survivability and performance,” he says.1. According to the first two paragraphs, what worries scientists the most?A. The worsening deoxygenation in the warming ocean.B. The survival of predators and various marine animals.C. The alarmingly changeable oxygen levels in the ocean.D. The lack of attention to the warming of tropical oceans.2. Which of the following is a reason for the oxygen loss in the ocean?A. Polar ice melting consumes much oxygen in the ocean.B. Global warming reduces the amount of oxygen in the air.C. The surface polar ice water prevents oxygen going down.D. Salty water holds less gas in the increasingly warmer ocean.3. What can be inferred from the passage?A. Ocean deoxygenation changes some animals’ natural territories.B. Ocean acidification is more serious a problem than deoxygenation.C. Not all ocean animals are bothered by the decreasing oxygen levels.D. Some animals reduce their movements in order to absorb more oxygen.4. Which of the following is the best title of the passage?A. The Oxygen Levels of Marine LifeB. Ocean Warming Affects Food WebC. The Survivability of Ocean AnimalsD. The Ocean Is Running Out of BreathPassage 5For some people,music is no fun at all. About four percent of the population is what scientists call “amusic.” People who are amusic are born without the ability to recognize or reproduce musical notes(音调). Amusic people often cannot tell the differencebetween two songs. Amusics can only hear the difference between two notes if they are very far apart on the musical scale.As a result, songs sound like noise to an amusic. Many amusics compare the sound of music to pieces of metal hitting each other. Life can be hard for amusics. Their inability to enjoy music sets them apart from others. It can be difficult for other people to identify with their condition. In fact, most people cannot begin to grasp what it feels like to be amusic. Just going to a restaurant or a shopping mall can be uncomfortable or even painful. That is why many amusics intentionally stay away from places where there is music. However, this can result in withdrawal and social isolation. “I used to hate parties,” says Margaret,a seventy-year-old woman who only recently discovered that she was amusic. By studying people like Margaret, scientists are finally learning how to identify this unusual condition.Scientists say that the brains of amusics are different from the brains of people who can appreciate music. The difference is complex, and it doesn't involve defective hearing. Amusics can understand other nonmusical sounds well. They also have no problems understanding ordinary speech. Scientists compare amusics to people who just can't see. certain colors.Many amusics are happy when their condition is finally diagnosed(诊断). For years, Margaret felt embarrassed about her problem with music. Now she knows that she is not alone. There is a name for her condition. That makes it easier for her to explain. “When people invite me to a concert, I just say,” No thanks, I'm amusic,'“says Margaret. “I just wish I had learned to say that when I was seventeen and not seventy.”1. Which of the following is true of amusic?A. Listening to music is far from enjoyable for them.B. They love places where they are likely to hear music.C. They can easily tell two different songs apart.D. Their situation is well understood by musicians.2. According to Paragraph 3, a person with “defective hearing” is probably one who ___________.A. dislikes listening to speechesB. can hear anything nonmusicalC. has a hearing problemD. lacks a complex hearing system3. In the last paragraph, Margaret expressed her wish that __________.A. her problem with music had been diagnosed earlierB. she were seventeen years old rather than seventyC. her problem could be easily explainedD. she were able to meet other amusics4. What is the passage mainly concerned with?A. Amusics' strange behaviours.B. Some people's inability to enjoy music.C. Musical talent and brain structure.D. Identification and treatment of amusics.参考答案Passage 11. A细节理解题。