Question

    DNA analysis has revealed family relationships between more than 10 generations of Stone Age people at megalithic (巨石的) tombs in Ireland and Sweden.

The evidence suggests that megaliths, prehistoric large stone structures, sometimes acted as graves for family groups in northwestern Europe thousands of years ago. The latest findings throw new light on the origins and social structure of the groups that built megaliths in this region—a history that has long been hidden in mystery.

For their study, the international team of researchers analyzed the genomes—the complete set of genetic material in a cell—of 24 Stone Age individuals from five megalithic burial sites in Ireland, Scotland and Gotland, a large Swedish island in the Baltic Sea.

This analysis showed that many of the individuals buried at each megalith, who all lived between  3,800 B.C. and 2,600 B.C.,  according  to  radiocarbon-dating  of  their  remains,  were closely related via family ties.

The results also showed that the individuals buried at the megaliths were related to Neolithic farmers in northern and western Europe but genetically distinct from other hunter-gatherers. This was particularly noticeable at the Ansarve site on the island of Gotland.

“The people buried in the Ansarve tomb are remarkably different on a genetic level compared to the individuals dug out from hunter-gather contexts, showing that the burial tradition in this megalithic tomb, which lasted for over 700 years, was performed by distinct groups with roots in the European Neolithic expansion,” Magdalena Fraser, co-first author from Uppsala University, said in the statement.

1.What’s the significance of the new findings?

A. It reveals the family ties between people in Ireland and Sweden.

B. It implies that many people buried in the tombs were closely related.

C. It indicates the long-hidden mystery concerning DNA analysis.

D. It suggests that the megaliths became tombs thousands of years ago.

2.How did the researchers reach their findings?

A. By interviewing individuals. B. By travelling to different regions.

C. By analyzing genes. D. By studying the burial sites.

3.Which is true according to the latest findings?

A. Some people buried in the tombs were related to farmers.

B. Few people buried in the tombs were genetically different.

C. All the people buried at megaliths had family relationships.

D. People buried in the Ansarve tomb were dug out 700 years later.

4.What’s the main idea of this passage?

A. Megaliths served as tombs thousands of years ago.

B. People buried at the megaliths were recently analyzed.

C. Latest findings shed light on a mystery about burials.

D. Stone-Age people in Ireland and Sweden had close ties.

Answer

1.B

2.C

3.A

4.D

【解析】

这是一篇说明文。最新一项发现显示石器时代的爱尔兰人和瑞典人可能存在亲属关系。研究人员通过分析来自爱尔兰、苏格兰和位于波罗的海的瑞典格特兰岛的5个巨石墓葬遗址的24个石器时代个体的基因组。发现，每座巨石下埋葬着许多人，他们都生活在公元前3800年至公元前2600年之间根据他们遗体的放射性碳年代测定，他们的血缘关系非常密切。

1.细节理解题。第一段DNA analysis has revealed family relationships between more than 10 generations of Stone Age people at megalithic (巨石的) tombs in Ireland and Sweden.可知DNA分析揭示了爱尔兰和瑞典巨石墓群10多代人之间存在家庭关系。这项新发现意味着埋葬在坟墓里的许多人是近亲。故选B。

2.细节理解题。第三段第一句For their study, the international team of researchers analyzed the genomes可知研究人员是通过分析基因组得出这项发现的，故选C。

3.细节理解题。第五段第一句The results also showed that the individuals buried at the megaliths were related to Neolithic farmers in northern and western Europe可知埋葬在巨石阵中的人与北欧和西欧的新石器时代农民有关，故选A。

4.主旨大意题。根据文章第一段DNA analysis has revealed family relationships between more than 10 generations of Stone Age people at megalithic (巨石的) tombs in Ireland and Sweden.以及文章主要内容可知文章中心内容主要围绕着石器时代的爱尔兰人和瑞典人有密切联系展开。故选D。