题目内容
1.Big cats have existed on the earth for millions of years,though scientists aren't sure exactly how long.But a new study indicates that a skull(颅骨) of a snow leopard(豹) relative that was recently unearthed is 4.4million years old.That makes it the oldest big cat fossil(化石) ever found.A team of US and Chinese scientists unearthed the skull in Tibet.This creature is not a direct ancestor to big cats,but it is closely related to the snow leopard,study leader Jack Tseng told the Associated Press.The fossil lends evidence to the belief that big cats existed in Asia and spread out from there.
Big cats are at the top of the food chain and have few predators of their own.Big cats include snow leopards,clouded leopards,tigers and lions.Based on genetic judgements,most scientists believe they first existed in Central Asia.But previously,the oldest known big cat fossil was 3.6million years old and found in Africa.
The new fossil findings were published in the November 13 issue of the science journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B:Biological Sciences.Tseng and his team were fossil hunting in the Himalayas in 2010when they discovered some bones,including the buried cat skull.The researchers were able to determine its age by studying the surrounding rocks and soil.The skull indicates that the animal was about the size of a clouded leopard,which can grow up to 50pounds.In 2012,the team returned to unearth more cat bones.
David Polly from Indiana University told the Associated Press that the fossil is"convincingly older than the current record holder".He added that there could be even older big cat fossils in the Tibetan plateau to uncover.
24.What does the newly unearthed skull proveA?
A.Big cats might have their origins in Asia.
B.The oldest fossil is 4.4million years old.
C.The snow leopard is the oldest big cat.
D.The skull is of big cats'direct ancestor.
25.What does the underlined word in Paragraph 3 meanB?
A.relatives.
B.enemies.
C.partners.
D.protectors
26.How do the researchers know the skull's ageD?
A.By measuring its size and forehead.
B.By examining other bones around it.
C.By studying its chemical composition.
D.By exploring the rocks and soil around it.
27.Where was"the current record holder"in the last paragraph foundB?
A.Asia.
B.Africa.
C.America.
D.Australia.
分析 一项新的研究表明,最近出土的一个大概来源于400多万年前的像豹子的头骨,使人们发现了古老的大型猫科动物化石.本文讲述的是科学家们对此化石的研究与对大型猫科动物历史的一些猜测.
解答 24.A.细节理解题.根据文章第二段"The fossil lends evidence to the belief that big cats existed in Asia and spread out from there",可知,新的研究证明大型猫科动物最早存在于亚洲.故选A.
25.B.词义猜测题.根据原句"Big cats are at the top of the food chain and have few predators of their own",可知,大型猫科动物处于食物链的顶端,很少有自己的 predators.可推测,食物顶端的天敌比较少.因此"predators"是天敌,捕食者之意.结合选项,"enemies"是敌人之意.故选B.
26.D.细节理解题.根据文章第四段"The researchers were able to determine its age by studying the surrounding rocks and soil",可知,研究人员根据它周围的岩石及土壤来判断头骨的年龄.故选D.
27.B.细节理解题."the current record holder"意为"目前的记录保持者".根据文章第三段"But previously,the oldest known big cat fossil was 3.6 million years old and found in Africa",可知,原来记录中发现的最古老的化石来自非洲.故选B.
点评 本文为人文地理类阅读.此类文章解释说明文居多.说明文的解题关键在于抓住文章第一段内容,通常该部分就是文章的中心思想.说明文是对事物的形状、性质、特征、成果或功用等进行介绍,解释或阐述的文章.把握所说明事物的特征和本质是理解说明文的关键.说明事物特征的方法很多,主要有定义法、解释法、比较法、比喻法、数字法、图表法、引用法和举例法等.
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