An article published recently in the scientific journal Nature is shedding new light on an important, but so far little has been appreciated, aspect of human evolution. In this article, Professors Dennis Bramble, and Daniel Lieberman suggest that the ability to run was a decisive factor in the development of our species. According to the two scientists, humans possess a number of anatomical（人体结构的）features that make them surprisingly good runners. “We are very confident that strong selection for running，which came at the expense of the historical ability to live in trees-was helpful in the origin of the modern human body form,” says Bramble, a biology professor at the University of Utah.
Traditional thinking up to now has been that the upright body form of modern humans has come about as a result of the ability to walk, and that running is simply a by-product of walking. Furthermore, humans have usually been regarded as poor runners compared to such animals as dogs, horses or antelopes. However, this is only true if we consider fast running over short distances. Even Olympic athlete can hardly run as fast as a horse can gallop, and can only keep up a top speed for fifteen seconds or so. Horses and antelopes, on the other hand, can run at top speed for several minutes, clearly outperforming us in this respect. But when it comes to long-distance running, humans do astonishingly well. They can maintain a steady pace for miles, and their overall speed compares favorably with that of horses or dogs.
Bramble and Lieberman examined twenty-six anatomical features found in humans. One of the most interesting of these is the nuchal ligament（颈背的韧带）. When we run, it is this ligament that prevents our head from pitching back and forth or from side to side. Therefore, we are able to run with steady heads held high. The nuchal ligament is not found in any other surviving primates（灵长类动物）, although the fossil（化石）record shows that Homo erectus, an early human species that walked upright, much as we do, also had one. Then there are our Achilles tendons（跟腱）at the backs of our legs, which have nothing to do with walking. When we run, these tendons behave like springs, helping to push us forward. Furthermore, we have low, wide shoulders, virtually disconnected from our skulls (the bony part of the head), another anatomical adaptation which allows us to run more efficiently.
But what evolutionary advantage is gained from being good long-distance runners? One assumption is that this ability may have permitted early humans to obtain food more effectively. “What these features and fossil facts appear to be telling us is that running evolved in order for our direct ancestors to compete with other carnivores (animals that eat meat) for access to the protein needed to grow the big brains that we enjoy today.” says Lieberman.
1.We can learn from the passage that the human ability to run _______.
A. was only recently described in a scientific journal
B. played an important part in human evolution
C. was considered more natural than the ability to live in trees
D. contributed to the form of human language
2.According to the second paragraph, humans _______
A. are better runners than most other animals
B. are not good at running short distances
C. compare unfavorably with horses and dogs
D. are poor long-distance runners
3.It appears that the nuchal ligament _______.
A. enables us to run with steady heads
B. is found in modern primates only
C. prevents the head from being held high
D. is a unique feature of carnivores
4.The passage does NOT tell us that _______
A. early humans had an advantage in obtaining food thanks to the running ability
B. fossils help us better understand human evolution.
C. our Achilles tendons are an adaptation for running efficiently
D. big brains may have been evolved for running long-distance
书面表达
假定你是沈阳二中学生会主席李华，学校拟在新年晚会中安排一个英文话剧表演节目。请按以下要点写一份招募演员的通知：
1.招募目的、报名时间及地点
2.简述话剧的内容；
3.报名者需具备的素质。
注意：1.词数100左右
2.可适当增加情节，以使行文连贯。
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短文改错
假定英语课上老师要求同桌之间交换修改作文，请你修改你同桌写的以下作文。文中共有10处语言错误，每句中最多有两处。错误涉及一个单词的增加、删除或修改。
增加：在缺词处加一个漏字符号(∧)，并在其下面写出该加的词。
删除：把多余的词用斜线（\）划掉。
修改：在错的词下划一横线，并在该词下面写出改正后的词。
注意：1. 每处错误及其修改均仅限一词；
2. 只允许修改10处，多者（从第11处起）不计分。
Even today, a man with good manner will politely open the door for a lady, help her put on her coat when necessary and see her safely to the door of her home before a date. When a man take a woman out for a dinner, it is considered impolite to help her with her chair when she gets up or sits down. On a crowding train or bus, it is proper for a man offer a woman his seat, particular if she is old or carries a baby. Even when it comes to shake hands, ladies come first. It is impolite for a man to extend his hand for a handshake upon first greeting. Unless a woman does not extend her hand to the man first, the man shouldn’t offer theirs.
阅读下面材料，在空白处填入合适的内容（1个单词）或括号内单词的正确形式。
My most embarrassing moment occurred last month. I was invited to attend an interview for a job as a hotel receptionist. I arrived on time and was shown into the manager’s office by an 1. (assist). I was 2. nervous that I didn’t catch the manager’s name. 3. interview began. “Do you have any previous experience in hotels?” asked the manager. “No, sir,” I said. The manager frowned. “Are you good at using computers?” “Yes, sir. I am familiar 4. most popular kinds of software.” The manager frowned again. 5. didn’t look like a friendly person. The interview continued. Every answer I gave 6. (receive) by a frown from the manager, even though I told him about my communication skills, my knowledge of French and so on. 7. (obvious), I was doing very badly. At last, the interview came to a 【小题8 . “One final question, ”said the manager, “how good is your eyesight?” “Excellent, sir,” I replied. “Very well,” said the manager, “thank you for coming.” I stood up 8. (shake) hands. When the manager stood up as well, I realized 9. I had been doing wrong. The gentleman I had been calling “sir” during the whole interview was wearing a skirt! The manger was a woman! I didn’t get the job.
阅读下面短文，从短文后各题所给的四个选项（Ａ，Ｂ，Ｃ和Ｄ）中选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
It had been a long drive to the Veteran’s hospital. My brother and I had gone to _________ my Dad who had been _________ days earlier, weak, sick and confused. The _________ had diagnosed him with pneumonia(肺炎) and found cancer cells in his brain. My Dad looked so _________ lying there in bed. It wasn’t just the _________ that was getting to him. It was also being so _________ his family and friends.
As I sat by his _________ , a little woman with a big smile _________ into his room. She was at least 80 years old but seemed to have the _________ of someone 60 years younger. She was a volunteer _________ handmade get-well cards from the local elementary school. Gently, she took my Dad’s hand and thanked him for his service to our country. It was the first time since he had gotten _________ that I saw my Dad smile. I _________ her into the hallway as she left and _________ her for lifting my Dad’s _________ . “I am just sharing a little_________ , sweetie,” she said with a smile as she walked into the next _________ room to share a little more.
That 80-year-old angel reminded me again of what is _________ in this life: sharing our love. When we share our love, we create _________ not only in the hearts of those _________ us, but in our own hearts as well. When we share our love, we find ourselves doing what we were always _________ to do. When we share our love, we make our souls lighter, our lives brighter and the world better.
1.A. inviteB. amuse C. visit D. watch
2.A. refused B. admitted C. hurt D. wounded
3.A. family B. patient C. nurse D. doctor
4.A. sad B. small C. bored D. calm
5.A. work B. illness C. failure D. loneliness
6.A. related to B. strange toC. far away fromD. different from
7.A. bed B. chair C. table D. window
8.A. broke B. walked C. turned D. looked
9.A. looks B. strength C. wealth D. energy
10.A. deliveringB. showing C. selling D. collecting
11.A. hurt B. guilty C. sick D. bored
12.A. forced B. watched C. pushed D. followed
13.A. thanked B. questionedC. forgave D. blamed
14.A. hand B. head C. spirits D. dreams
15.A. love B. present C. time D. information
16.A. nurse’sB. doctor’s C. patient’s D. women’s
17.A. hard B. easy C. initial D. essential
18.A. surpriseB. joy C. security D. wonder
19.A. within B. beyond C. around D. before
20.A. meant B. ordered C. asked D. Attracted
根据短文内容，从短文后的选项中选出能填入空白的最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。，选项中有两项为多余选项。
Crows Have Had a Bad Press
1. They are smarter than any cat and sometimes children too. But despite this, they have a bad reputation.
“There are a few reasons for this,” says Kevin J. McGowan, a U.S. bird expert, who has studied crows for 25 years. “One is that they’re black, and in western European culture, that’s bad. 2. So somebody died, lying on the side of the road, and the crows came in and picked at it because there it was, free food. ”
Crows are also attacked by gardeners. It’s not deserved, says John Marzluff, professor of wildlife science at the University of Washington. U.S. Marzluff says crows do more good than harm to a garden. “They eat a great variety of crop pest insects,” he said, “so in the family garden they are a good natural insecticide.”
3.
Crows have strong family values. They come closer to human beings in social behavior than any other animal studied. Crow society is family-based. 4. . When you see a number of crows gathering, they’re usually family groups that are helping each other make a living.
A crow has a big “vocabulary”. It can make around 30 calls unique to itself, each with a different meaning. From their calls, crows can tell the difference between family members, neighbors and strangers.
Young crows like to play. They get an object like a leaf or a feather and they chase each other around, trying to get the object. Then whoever gets it gets chased.
5. They let others know when they are calm, angry, fearful and playful. Some crow emotions and behavior are amazing, such as leaving goodies-candy, keys or shiny glass-for people who feed them, or pooping on the cars of people who bother them.
A. Crow emotions are wonderful
B. Here is something more about crows that you might not know.
C. Young crows show respect for their parents as humans do.
D. They also get associated with death because in Europe there are no vultures(秃鹰).
E. Crows are very smart.
F. Crows express emotions.
G. Parents take care of their kids, just like people.
