Learning to Run
An article published in the scientific journal Nature discusses an important aspect of human evolution. According to Bramble and Lieberman, Professors at the University of Utah, humans possess a number of features that make them surprisingly good runners. “We are confident that the selection for running was important in the origin of the human body form,” says Bramble.
Traditional thinking has been that humans are poor runners compared to such animals as horses. However, this is only true if we consider running at high speed, especially over short distances. Even an athlete can hardly run as quickly as a horse does, and can only keep up a top speed for 15 seconds or so. But when it comes to long-distance running, humans will do astonishingly well. They can keep a steady pace for many kilometres, and their speed is at least at the same level with that of horses.
Bramble and Lieberman examined 26 parts of human bodies. One of the most interesting of these is the nuchal ligament (韧带). When we run, it is this ligament that prevents our head from moving back and forth or from side to side. Therefore, we are able to run with steady heads, held high. Then there are Achilles tendons at the backs of our legs, forming the mechanical links between the muscles to the bones. They act like strong strings and help to push us forward when we run. Besides, we have low, wide shoulders, a development which allows us to run more effectively. Add to this our light forearms, which swing in co-operation with the movement of our legs to assist balance, and one begins to appreciate the point that Bramble and Lieberman are trying to make.
But what advantage is gained from being good long-distance runners? One theory is that this ability may have permitted early humans to obtain food more effectively. Some scientists guess that early humans may have run after animals for great distances to make them tired before killing them. Running would also have shown another advantage: early humans might have eaten the meat left over from a kill by other large animals. They may have been warned of the existence of a freshly killed animal by vultures (秃鹰), and the faster they got to the scene of the kill, the better.
“Research on the history of human ability of running has traditionally been controversial,” says Lieberman. “At the very least, I hope this theory will make many people have second thoughts about how humans learned to run and why we are built the way we are.”
1.In Paragraph 2, the author mainly tells us that .
A. humans are poor runners compared to horses
B. humans are good runners over long distances
C. humans may run at high speed for a short time
D. humans can keep a constant pace when running
2.We can learn from Paragraph 3 that .
A. tendons are a successful adaptation for running
B. strong muscles and bones keep running effective
C. the shape of shoulders affects the position of heads
D. humans can run faster if they have longer forearms
3.What conclusion is drawn about early humans?
A. They followed birds to avoid danger.
B. They were unable to kill large animals.
C. They developed their big brains for running.
D. They evolved running due to the need for hunting.
4.What does Lieberman mean by saying the underlined sentence?
A. Proving that humans run in a comfortable position.
B. Informing people of the reasons why humans may run.
C. Expressing appreciation of the theory of human evolution.
D. Making people reconsider the idea about our body structure.
A unique experience awaits you at the Centre for Alternative Technology on the edge of the beautiful Snowdonia National Park.
Over thirty years ago a group of people decided to try out alternative technologies. They chose a remote empty place, where rock used to be dug from the ground, as their base. Here experiments offering solutions to the world’s energy problems were carried out, and nowadays many of these ideas have become common practice. You can experience all these for yourself in just one day with us, and then take away what you have learned and put it into practice at home. Be assured it will help you save on your household energy costs!
Your visit to us begins with a ride up a steep 60-metre hillside on a railway which is worked by using the weight of water. At the top of the mountain you will enjoy beautiful views to the distant coastline. Then interactive displays show the power of wind, water and sun, while showing you what can be done in an ordinary household to reduce your influence on the planet.
There was no soil when the project was started, so we created our organic gardens using our own home-made soil. You can enjoy woodland walks or even notice spring flowers growing on the roofs of environmentally-friendly buildings.
In 2006 we opened our new eco-adventure playground for children, and we also run workshops where they can make models and become inventors of the future by putting wind, water or solar power into their own designs.
The Centre for Alternative Technology is open all year round and has good rail, road and cycle links. In fact we offer a 50% reduction on the admission price if you arrive by bicycle. There is wheelchair access for disabled visitors—telephone us in advance if you would like assistance.
1.What’s the main purpose of setting up the Centre for Alternative Technology?
A. To provide people with relevant experience.
B. To teach people how to reduce energy costs.
C. To show the hard condition for early experiments.
D. To encourage people to develop alternative technologies.
2.According to the passage, visitors can .
A. learn to create their own organic gardens
B. appreciate the views of distant mountains
C. visit exhibitions of alternative technologies
D. enjoy woodland walks on the top of buildings
3.Where is the passage most probably from?
A. A literary essay.
B. A research report.
C. A historical novel.
D. A science website.
A Writing Fool
In the seventh grade I realized I was dyslexic, which made it difficult for me to read and spell. I did really badly in my history course, so my mother said to me, “I’ll work with you for a full week. I’m going to show you what you can do if you put in the right amount of effort.” So we did. We worked on history for a full week, an extra hour every day. Then I went to school and failed the test, as always. It was really upsetting.
By the time I got to college I came to know that I couldn’t spell no matter how hard I tried. So I would sign up for extra courses. I’d be in registration lines all day. Then I would go around the first day of class and ask each professor: “What’s your policy on misspelling?” If he said, “Three misspellings is a fail,” I’d drop it.
Although I was an academic failure, I had a great time. I had many friends and I was always popular. I was a good football player, which was important in those years because I could read my name in the newspaper. I never had a day when I would think, “People don’t like me.”
In spite of my obvious weaknesses, I became successful in my career, so much so that people say to me, “So you’ve overcome dyslexia.” No. I don’t overcome it. I just learn to compensate for it. Some easy things are hard for me. Most people read 500 words a minute. I only read 200. I try not to dial a phone because I sometimes have to dial three times to get the number right. I owe my successful career to my writing instructor, Ralph Salisbury. He looked past my misspellings and gave me encouragement. So I always feel confident. When I write my books, I’m seeing everything in my imagination. I write quickly and go like the wind.
The real fear that I have for dyslexic people is not that they have to struggle with their reading skills or that they can’t spell correctly, but that they will quit on themselves before they get out of school.
1.When the author did badly in the course, his mother thought that .
A. he needed a better teacher
B. he did not work hard enough
C. he was probably too ill to study
D. he was not as smart as other children
2.In college, the author was in registration lines all day to .
A. choose most interesting courses
B. become friends with new classmates
C. stay distance from language teachers
D. avoid courses that require correct spelling
3.Which of the following best describes the author in college?
A. Happy and active.
B. Shy and unhappy.
C. Successful and funny.
D. Quiet and unsuccessful.
4.According to the author, it is important for dyslexic people .
A. not to get out of school
B. not to give up so easily
C. to learn to spell correctly
D. to develop reading skills
Survival in the Andes
On October 13, 1972, a small plane flying to Chile accidentally crashed into a mountain in the Andes. How some of the passengers __________ to live is one of the greatest survival stories ever told.
The survivors __________ inside the remains of the plane, using seat covers for blankets, and waited for a __________ that never came. Days turned into weeks. It was urgent to find a way to ______ . Three of the passengers—Canessa, Parrado, and Vizintin—volunteered to ________ through the mountains to search for help. When they left, each man wore similar clothes: three pairs of socks, a plastic bag _________ each foot to keep the water out, boots, four pairs of trousers, and four sweaters. Many of the clothes came from those who had died in the crash. The three men ______ that they would survive and bring back help.
For part of the first day, they were glad to make some __________ . But as the land and weather changed, climbing became __________ . After several days, they reached what they thought was the top. They had __________ this moment for days. On the other side of the top, they hoped, would be a ______ leading down and out of the mountains. However, they saw the same snow-covered tops. All hope wasn’t _________. Although they were still in the middle of the mountains, Parrado __________ two low tops far away that didn’t have snow. If they could get there, they would be out of the Andes.
Within the following days they walked toward the two low tops. Little by little, the landscape began to change. Snow _________ completely, and flowers were everywhere. “This is the valley,” Canessa said. “This is the way ____________ .” Then things of humanity started to appear—a few cans on the ground, some farm animals in a field. By December 21, the extremely __________ men made it to the town of Los Maitenes, and a rescue team was sent immediately to __________ for the survivors who were still high in the Andes.
Finally all of the remaining survivors were __________ . The memories of the crash in the Andes would be with the friends forever, but for now, their terrible __________ was over. They had made it out—_________ .
1.A. learned B. managed C. decided D. expected
2.A. stayed B. looked C. turned D. reached
3.A. present B. danger C. message D. rescue
4.A. prepare B. continue C. escape D. develop
5.A. journey B. compare C. measure D. expand
6.A. against B. under C. beside D. around
7.A. admitted B. promised C. informed D. demanded
8.A. policy B. help C. progress D. advice
9.A. narrower B. heavier C. sharper D. tougher
10.A. imagined B. arranged C. witnessed D. appreciated
11.A. court B. valley C. border D. channel
12.A. sent B. left C. lost D. kept
13.A. spotted B. counted C. rejected D. mentioned
14.A. declined B. froze C. spread D. disappeared
15.A. behind B. out C. apart D. off
16.A. tired B. disappointed C. frightened D. puzzled
17.A. fight B. call C. search D. ask
18.A. listed B. treated C. picked D. saved
19.A. performance B. experience C. challenge D. exploration
20.A. free B. cool C. alive D. crazy
Smokejumpers are a special type of firefighter. They jump from planes into areas that are difficult to reach by car or on foot. When they arrive there, they first examine the land and decide 1. to fight the fire. Their main goal is to stop a fire from 2. (spread). They will use basic equipment to clear land of plants and other dry materials. The work is dangerous, 3. they love being able to jump out of planes, fight fires, and live in the forest. As 38-year-old Alexi Tishin, who 4. (work) as a smokejumper for 15 years, says, “This is the best job for tough guys.”
As the world’s population grows, a lot of wild animals 1. (force) to leave their natural home. Many wild animals are in danger. People kill them for food or fur, or because they compete with humans for food supplies. 2. (lucky), animal rescue organizations are working hard 3. (preserve) endangered animals and give them help. More and more people are realizing the importance of protecting wild animals.
