Question

What will man be like in the future——in 5000 or even 50,000 years from now? We can only make guesses, of course, but we can be sure that he will be different from what he is today, for man is slowly changing all the time.

Let us take an obvious example. Man, even five hundred years ago, was shorter than he is today. Now, on average, men are about three inches taller. Five hundred years is relatively short period of time, so we may assume that man will continue to grow taller. Again, in the modern world we use our brains a great deal. Even so, we still make use of only about 20% of the brain’s capacity. As time goes on, however, we shall have to use our brains more and more, and eventually we shall need larger ones! This is likely to bring about a physical change to the head, in particular the forehead, will grow larger.

Nowadays our eyes are in constant use. In fact, we use them so much that very often they become weaker and we have to wear glasses. But over very long period of time it is likely that man’s eyes will grow stronger.

On the other hand, we tend to make less use of our arms and legs. These, as a result, are likely to grow weaker. At the same time, however, our fingers will grow more sensitive because they are used a great deal in modern life.

But what about hair? This will probably disappear from the body altogether in course of time because it does not serve a useful purpose any longer. In the future, then, both sexes are likely to be bald.

Perhaps all this gives the impression that future man will not be a very attractive creature to look at! This may well be true. All the same, in spite of all these changes, future man will still have a lot in common with us. He will still be a human being, with thoughts and emotions similar to our own.

1. The passage mainly tells us that____.

A. man’s life will be different in the future

B. future man will look quite different from us

C. man is growing taller and uglier as time passes

D. the functions of man’s organs(器官) will function as well as today

2. Which of the following serves as the evidence that man is changing?

A. Man’s hair is getting thinner and thinner.

B. Man has got stronger eyes now than he ever had.

C. Man has been growing taller over the past 500 years.

D. Man’s arms and legs have become lighter and weaker.

3. The change in man’s size of forehead is probably because__________

A. he makes use of only 20 % of the brain’s capacity.

B. the other 80% of his brain will grow in due（预定的） time.

C. his brain has grown larger over the past centuries.

D. he will use his brain more and more as time goes on.

4. Which of the following is true about a human being in the future?

A. He thinks and feels in different way.

B. He has smaller eyes and wears better glasses.

C. He is hairless because hair is no longer useful.

D. His fingers grow weaker because he doesn’t use them.

5. It can be inferred from the passage that __________.

A. future life is always predictable（可预测的）

B. human beings hope for a change in the future life

C. human beings will become less attractive in the future

D. Less use of a bodily organ may lead to its degeneration（衰退）

Answer 1

1.B

2.C

3.D

4.C

5.D

【解析】

试题分析：这是一篇科学想象文。未来人类长什么样子呢？作者给我们描述了5000年后人类的样子的画面。

1. we can be sure that he will be different from what he is today，for man is slowly changing all the time”可知文章主要是论述未来人类将看起来与今天的人类非常不同。故选B。

2. us take an obvious example. Man, even five hundred years ago, was shorter than he is today. Now, on average, men are about three inches taller. Five hundred years is relatively short period of time, so we may assume that man will continue to grow taller”可知作者以过去500年来人类慢慢变高为例说明人类是在不断变化着的。故选C。

3. in the modern world we use our brains a great deal. Even so, we still make use of only about 20% of the brain’s capacity. As time goes on, however, we shall have to use our brains more and more, and eventually we shall need larger ones! This is likely to bring about a physical change to the head, in particular the forehead, will grow larger.”可知由于未来用脑越来越多将会使前额变大。故选D。

4. will probably disappear from the body altogether in course of time because it does not serve a useful purpose any longer. In the future, then, both sexes are likely to be bald.”可知未来头发将不起任何作用，男人和女人可能都是秃顶的。故选C。

5.

考点：考查科学论述文阅读。