Question

    Antarctica remained largely untouched by humans for thousands of years, allowing an ecosystem to develop independently. However, since the 1990s, the last wild land on the planet is becoming an increasingly popular destination for adventure-seeking tourists. Now, a study newly conducted shows the visitors may be leaving behind harmful bacteria which could destroy that area’s bird population.

We mainly hear about zoonoses（动物传染病）— diseases like Ebola and pig flu — that are spread from animals to humans, yet humans can also infect animals with illnesses such as the flu. Researchers, however, believed that Antarctic animals, which had no recorded reverse（反向的）cases of zoonoses, were not affected by the danger due to the extreme environment. But microbiologists Marta Cerda-Cuellar at the Research Center for Animal Health, was not convinced this was true.

So she and some colleagues decided to examine waste samples from Antarctic birds for evidence of human bacteria. To ensure the waste was not polluted, the scientists had to collect it from the birds themselves. This was no easy task. It took the scientists four years to collect waste samples of 666 adult birds from 24 local species. However, it was well worth the effort. The results of their study showed the presence of several types of human bacteria in the bird waste.

“The bacteria, which are a common cause for infections in humans, don’t usually cause death in wild animals,” says Cerda-Cuellar. “However, the pathogens（病原体）that arrive to highly sensitive populations could cause extinction of some populations and destroy the local ecosystem.” The researcher also fears the presence of these bacteria could foresee the arrival of other, more deadly, pathogens as the number of people visiting the area increases. While the best solution would be to prevent tourism, Cerda-Cuellar, who believes it is because of efforts from tourist and scientific groups that Antarctica remains largely protected, says that’s impossible. “While we should do as much as possible to reduce the spread, it’s hard to believe we’ll stop tourism and science at these sites, and so it is hard to believe that humans won’t continue to pass on pathogens.”

1.Which of the following will the new study support?

A.The Antarctic becomes popular with tourists.

B.The Antarctic ecosystem is destroyed by outsiders.

C.Zoonoses are spread from animals to humans.

D.Tourists expose Antarctic birds to human bacteria.

2.Why did researchers think Antarctic animals were free from human diseases?

A.The Antarctic weather is extraordinarily cold.

B.The number of tourists to the Antarctic is small.

C.There was no recorded case of reverse zoonoses.

D.An independent ecosystem was in place in Antarctica.

3.What advice might Cerda-Cuellar give?

A.Strengthen researches into Antarctic animals.

B.Stop tourism and science in Antarctica.

C.Restrict the number of visitors to Antarctica.

D.Monitor the presence of other pathogens.

4.In which section of a magazine might the text be found?

A.Health. B.Science.

C.Tourism. D.Geography.

Answer

1.D

2.A

3.C

4.B

【解析】

本文是一篇说明文。文章主要讲述由于南极洲的寒冷人类几千年来没有踏足。然而，自上世纪90年代以来，地球上最后一片真正的荒野正日益成为探险游客的热门目的地。一项新的研究发现游客们可能留下有害细菌，影响鸟类的生存。科学家对此做了研究，建议限制人类旅游的数量。

1.细节理解题。根据第一段的 Now, a study newly conducted shows the visitors may be leaving behind harmful bacteria which could destroy that area’s bird population.可知，现在，一项新的研究指出，游客可能会留下有害细菌，会毁灭该地区本土鸟类。故“游客将南极鸟类

暴露于人类细菌中。”是新研究多支持的内容。故选D。

2.细节理解题。根据第二段的Researchers, however, believed that Antarctic animals, which had no recorded reverse（反向的）cases of zoonoses, were not affected by the danger due to the extreme environment.可知，然而，研究人员认为，南极的动物，没有过人畜共患病的反向病例的记录，由于极端环境不会受到这种危险的影响。因此南极极端寒冷使得动物不受人类疾病的影响。故选A。

3.推理判断题。根据最后一段的While the best solution would be to prevent tourism, Cerda-Cuellar, who believes it is because of efforts from tourist and scientific groups that Antarctica remains largely protected...(尽管最好的解决办法是阻止旅游业，Cerda-Cuellar认为正是由于旅游和科学团体的努力，南极洲在很大程度上受到保护)可推断， Cerda-Cuellar建议限制去南极的游客数量。故选C。

4.推理判断题。纵观全文可知，文章主要讲述南极洲的动物受到人类踏上南极带来的病菌的影响，人类的到来影响到南极动物的生存，科学家对此进行了研究，提出尽管限制人类旅游和科学研究不可能，但是可以减少游客的数量。因此推断文章属于科学研究的范畴，故选B。