Question

Every day we experience one of the wonders of the world around us without even realizing it. It is not the amazing complexity of television, nor the impressive technology of transport. The universal wonder we share and experience is our ability to make noise with our mouths, and so transmit ideas and thoughts to each other’s minds. This ability comes so naturally that we tend to forget what a miracle it is.

Obviously, the ability to talk is something that marks humans off from animal. Of course, some animals have powers just as amazing, Birds can fly thousands miles by observing positions of the stars in the sky in relation to the time of day and year. In Nature’s talent show, humans are a species of animal that have developed their own special act. If we reduce it to basic terms, it’s an ability for communicating information to others, by varying sounds we make as we breathe out.

Not that we don’t have other powers of communication. Our facial expressions convey our emotions, such as anger, or joy, or disappointment. The way we hold our heads can indicate to others whether we are happy or sad. This is so-called “body language”. Bristling(直立的) fur is an unmistakable warning of attack among many animals. Similarly, the bowed head or drooping tail shows a readiness to take second place in any animal gathering.

Such a means of communication is a basic mechanism that animals, including human beings, instinctively acquire and display. Is the ability to speak just another sort of instinct? If so, how did human beings acquire this amazing skill? Biologist can readily indicate that particular area of our brain where speech mechanisms function, but this doesn’t tell us how that part of our bodies originated in our biological history.

1.According to the passage, the wonder we take for granted(认为理所当然) is________.

A．our ability to use language

B．the miracle of technology

C．the amazing power of nature

D．our ability to make noises with mouth

2.What feature of “body language” mentioned in the passage is common to both human and animals?

A．Lifting heads when sad.

B．Keeping long faces when angry.

C．Bristling hair when ready to attack.

D．Bowing heads when willing to obey.

3.What can be inferred from Paragraph 3?

A．Body language is unique to humans.

B．Animals express emotions just as humans do.

C．Humans have other powers of communication.

D．Humans are no different from animals to some degree.

4.This passage is mainly about _______.

A．the development of body language.

B．the special role humans play in nature

C．the power to convey information to others

D．the difference between humans and animals in language use

Answer

1.A

2.D

3.D

4.C

【解析】

试题分析：本文主要介绍的人类所拥有的语言的能力，这种能力正是人类区别与动物的一个主要的特点。

1.A 细节题。根据第一段3,4行The universal wonder we share and experience is our ability to make noise with our mouths, and so transmit ideas and thoughts to each other’s minds.说明这种能力就是我们的语言能力，故A正确。

2.D 细节题。根据第二段最后2行Similarly, the bowed head or drooping tail shows a readiness to take second place in any animal gathering.说明bowing表示的是同意服从。故D项正确。

3.D 推断题。根据本段前2行Such a means of communication is a basic mechanism that animals, including human beings, instinctively acquire and display.说明本段讲述的是在某种程度上，这些交流的方式是人和动物都有的，故D项正确。

4.C 主旨大意题。根据文章第一段内容可知本文主要讲述的是人有拥有的语言的能力，这种能力能够让我们传递信息。故C正确。

考点：考查科普类短文阅读