Question

The evolution of the first animals may have oxygenated（供氧）Earth's oceans. New research

led by the University of Exeter challenges the long held belief that oxygenation of the atmosphere and oceans was a precondition for the evolution of complex life forms.

The study, published in the journal Nature Geoscience, builds on the recent work of scientists in Denmark who found that sponges（海绵动物）一the first animals to evolve一require only small amounts of oxygen.

Professor Tim Lenton of the University of Exeter, who led the new study, said: "We argue that the evolution of the first animals could have played a key role in the widespread oxygenation of the deep oceans. This in turn may have facilitated the evolution of more complex, mobile animals."

Critical to determining oxygen levels in the deep ocean is the balance of oxygen supply and demand. Demand for oxygen is created by the sinking of dead organic material into the deep ocean. The new study argues that the first animals reduced this supply of organic matter一both directly and indirectly.

Sponges feed by pumping water through their bodies, "digesting" the tiny particles of organic matter, and thus helping oxygenate the shelf seas that they live in. By oxygenating more of the bottom waters, the first animals actually increased the removal of the essential nutrient phosphorus（磷）in the ocean. This in turn reduced the productivity of the whole ocean ecosystem, lowering oxygen demand and thus oxygenating the deep ocean.

A more oxygen-rich ocean created ideal conditions for more complex mobile animals to evolve, because they have a higher requirement for oxygen. These included the first predatory（肉食的）animals with guts（内脏）that started to eat one another, marking the beginning of the type of food webs we are familiar with today.

Professor Simon Poulton of the University of Leeds, who is a co-author of the study, added: "This study provides a possible mechanism for ocean oxygenation without the requirement for a rise in atmospheric oxygen. It therefore questions whether the long-standing belief that there was a major rise in atmospheric oxygen at this time is correct. We simply don't know the answer to this at present, which is ultimately key to understanding how our planet evolved to its current habitable state. Geochemists need to come up with new ways to explain oxygen levels on the early Earth."

1.The underlined word "facilitated" in Para. 3 is closest in meaning to＿＿．

A. prevented B. promoted C. interrupted D. witnessed

2.From paragraphs 4 to 6, we can infer that＿＿．

A. phosphorus can keep the productivity of the ocean ecosystem

B. complex animals consume the same amount of oxygen as sponges

C. the sinking of dead organic material into the deep ocean produces oxygen

D. the existence of the first animals marks the beginning of modern food webs

3. From the last paragraph, we can learn Pro. Simon Poulton believes that＿＿．

A. their study gives a new explanation for the high oxygen content in the air

B．oxygen increased greatly in the air as the first animals oxygenated the oceans

C. their study answers the question of how the earth evolved to the present state

D. ocean oxygenation does not necessarily require a rise in atmospheric oxygen

4.The main purpose of the passage is to＿＿．

A. present the view that the first animals played an active role in oxygenating oceans

B. introduce two opposite opinions on how the first animals oxygenated oceans

C．analyze how atmospheric oxygen stepped up the evolution of oceanic animals

D. explain how oceanic oxygen determines the amount of atmospheric oxygen

Answer

1.B

2.A

3.D

4.A

【解析】

试题分析: 本文讲述传统观点认为，地球上氧气含量的提高引发了原始动物的进化。然而，最新研究表明，早期海洋原始动物的进化可能为地球上的海洋提供了最初的氧气。

1.B 猜测词意。根据文中我们认为，原始动物的演化在大范围深层海水氧气的产生和积累过程中起了至关重要的作用。原始动物的进化或许反过来促进了更复杂、更活跃动物的出现可知选B项。

2.A 推断题。根据第五段提到This in turn reduced the productivity of the whole ocean ecosystem, lowering oxygen demand and thus oxygenating the deep ocean. 这种流失反过来降低了整个海洋生态系统的生物化学反应速率，从而减少了氧气的需求量，因此同样有助于深海氧气含量的增加，故选A项。

3.D 细节理解题。根据最后一段提到This study provides a possible mechanism for ocean oxygenation without the requirement for a rise in atmospheric oxygen. It therefore questions whether the long-standing belief that there was a major rise in atmospheric oxygen at this time is correct. 这项研究为不依赖于大气氧气含量上升的海水氧气化提供了合理解释。因此，长期以来人们所相信的在那个时候大气氧气含量大幅度上升的理论是否正确受到了怀疑，故选D项。

4.A 主旨大意。本文主要在讲述传统观点认为，地球上氧气含量的提高引发了原始动物的进化。然而，最新研究表明，早期海洋原始动物的进化可能为地球上的海洋提供了最初的氧气，故选A项。

考点:科普类阅读。