Scientists say a huge percentage of bird species are in danger because their habitats, or homelands, are disappearing.
Traditional migration paths take birds through countries that are not protecting locations to stop, rest and feed. The scientists studied the migration, or flight, paths, of almost 1,500 species and decided that 91 percent of them passed through dangerous areas. The major danger for migratory birds is development in human society. Building and paving has covered over nature where birds stop and feed as they move from one part of the world to another. For example, a bird called the bar-tailed godwit migrates from its breeding grounds in the Arctic flying all the way to the southern earth in Australia and New Zealand stopping at Yellow Sea mudflats in China along the way.
One of the scientists who worked on the study says “many of these critical sites have been taken up owing to urban, industrial and agricultural expansion.” The problem, according to researchers, is that many of these small birds die along their migration because they don’t have a safe place to eat and rest to restore their energy for the next part of their journey. Countries in North Africa, Central Asia and those along the coasts of East Asia are having the most difficult time conserving land. The scientists say these countries do not have enough areas that are safe for birds. In addition, many of the sanctuaries(避难所) are not wide enough to cover the paths of migratory birds.
One species that doesn’t exist any longer is the Eskimo curlew. “Our world gets poorer every time we lose a species,” one of the scientists says. The researchers say if one country might have preserved safe zones for migratory birds while a neighboring country might not, a bird might die.
One scientist who is not involved in the report says that while some habitats are changing, more work can be done to make urban areas safe for birds. He says small changes--- like planting more native plants or keeping cats out of areas birds would be likely to use--- could make a big difference.
1.Why is development in human society considered as the major danger for migratory birds?
A.Construction activities occupy birds’ paths.
B.Serious industrial pollution damages birds’ habitats.
C.Hunting activities happen more frequently.
D.Airplane flights directly harm birds’ safety.
2.What’s the current situation of protecting migratory birds?
A.Countries in East Asia don’t want to make any changes.
B.The progress still remains at the primary stage.
C.Some of the efforts of humans aren’t working well.
D.Not many countries are involved in the activities.
3.According to the researchers, __________.
A.governments need to work together and provide safe areas
B.safe zones in neighboring countries need to be combined together
C.more bird species will die out if they continue migrating through countries
D.human activities should give way to the birds when the migrating season comes
4.What can we know about the migratory birds according to the passage?
A.They always travel from the north to the south.
B.They need to stop during the migration to correct directions.
C.All of them are endangered because of lacking protection.
D.Some of them take rests or feed in cities.
5.What’s the main idea of the passage?
A.The migration of birds influences society development.
B.Migratory birds are dying from losing their homes.
C.Countries need to work together to protect migratory birds.
D.Protecting migratory birds is very necessary.
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题
Scientists say a huge percentage of bird species are in danger because their habitats are disappearing.
The scientists studied the migration, or flight, paths, of almost 1,500 species and decided that 91 percent of them passed through dangerous areas. The major danger for migratory birds is development. Building and paving have covered over nature where birds stop and feed as they move from one part of the world to another.
For example, a bird called the bar-tailed godwit migrates from its breeding grounds in the Arctic. It flies all the way to Australia and New Zealand. The problem, according to investigators, is that many of these small birds die along their migration because they don't have a safe place to eat and rest. There is no place to restore their energy for the next part of their journey. "They simply perish along the way," says one of the scientists.
Countries in North Africa, Central Asia and those along the coasts of East Asia are having the most difficult time conserving land. The scientists say these countries do not have enough areas that are safe for birds.
"Our world gets poorer every time we lose a species,’’ one of the scientists says.
The researchers say countries need to work together and come up with safe stopover areas for birds that pass through their boundaries.
For example, one country might have preserved safe zones for migrating birds. But a neighbor country might not. A bird might die.
One scientist who is not involved in the report tells the Los Angeles Times that while some habitats are changing, more work can be done to make urban areas safe for birds. He says small changes—like planting more native plants or keeping cats out of areas birds would be likely to use—could make a big difference.
1.What’s the major danger for migratory birds according to the passage?
A.They can’t find enough food along the way.
B.They have lost their way because of human development.
C.Human development has occupied their natural habitats.
D.They are sometimes struck by human diseases.
2.What do we know about bar-tailed godwits?
A.They fly from the Arctic south to Australia every year.
B.They can pick out good resting place along the way.
C.They have died out because of human hunting.
D.They have their conserved land in Australia.
3.Which of the following is closest in meaning to the underlined word "perish" in Paragraph 3?
A.Continue. B.Die.
C.Settle. D.Migrate.
4.What suggestion does the scientist say to the Los Angeles Times?
A.Countries working together to protect the sea.
B.Protecting the original habitats for the migrating birds.
C.Reserving some land for the birds to rest along the way.
D.Planting some native plants for the migrating birds to use.
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
Scientists say a huge percentage of bird species are in danger because their habitats are disappearing.
The scientists studied the migration, or flight, paths, of almost 1,500 species and decided that 91 percent of them passed through dangerous areas. The major danger for migratory birds is development. Building and paving have covered over nature where birds stop and feed as they move from one part of the world to another.
For example, a bird called the bar-tailed godwit migrates from its breeding grounds in the Arctic. It flies all the way to Australia and New Zealand. The problem, according to investigators, is that many of these small birds die along their migration because they don't have a safe place to eat and rest. There is no place to restore their energy for the next part of their journey. "They simply perish along the way," says one of the scientists.
Countries in North Africa, Central Asia and those along the coasts of East Asia are having the most difficult time conserving land. The scientists say these countries do not have enough areas that are safe for birds.
"Our world gets poorer every time we lose a species,’’ one of the scientists says.
The researchers say countries need to work together and come up with safe stopover areas for birds that pass through their boundaries.
For example, one country might have preserved safe zones for migrating birds. But a neighbor country might not. A bird might die.
One scientist who is not involved in the report tells the Los Angeles Times that while some habitats are changing, more work can be done to make urban areas safe for birds. He says small changes—like planting more native plants or keeping cats out of areas birds would be likely to use—could make a big difference.
1.What’s the major danger for migratory birds according to the passage?
A.They can’t find enough food along the way.
B.They have lost their way because of human development.
C.Human development has occupied their natural habitats.
D.They are sometimes struck by human diseases.
2.What do we know about bar-tailed godwits?
A.They fly from the Arctic south to Australia every year.
B.They can pick out good resting place along the way.
C.They have died out because of human hunting.
D.They have their conserved land in Australia.
3.The countries along the migrating route need to ________.
A.fight the poverty of people to protect the birds
B.work together to conserve safe areas for birds
C.plant more trees to provide safe areas for birds
D.maintain a good relationship with neighboring countries
4.What suggestion does the scientist say to the Los Angeles Times?
A.Countries working together to protect the sea.
B.Protecting the original habitats for the migrating birds.
C.Reserving some land for the birds to rest along the way.
D.Planting some native plants for the migrating birds to use.
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
Scientists say a huge percentage of bird species are in danger because their habitats, or homelands, are disappearing.
Traditional migration paths take birds through countries that are not protecting locations to stop, rest and feed. The scientists studied the migration, or flight, paths, of almost 1,500 species and decided that 91 percent of them passed through dangerous areas. The major danger for migratory birds is development in human society. Building and paving has covered over nature where birds stop and feed as they move from one part of the world to another. For example, a bird called the bar-tailed godwit migrates from its breeding grounds in the Arctic flying all the way to the southern earth in Australia and New Zealand stopping at Yellow Sea mudflats in China along the way.
One of the scientists who worked on the study says “many of these critical sites have been taken up owing to urban, industrial and agricultural expansion.” The problem, according to researchers, is that many of these small birds die along their migration because they don’t have a safe place to eat and rest to restore their energy for the next part of their journey. Countries in North Africa, Central Asia and those along the coasts of East Asia are having the most difficult time conserving land. The scientists say these countries do not have enough areas that are safe for birds. In addition, many of the sanctuaries(避难所) are not wide enough to cover the paths of migratory birds.
One species that doesn’t exist any longer is the Eskimo curlew. “Our world gets poorer every time we lose a species,” one of the scientists says. The researchers say if one country might have preserved safe zones for migratory birds while a neighboring country might not, a bird might die.
One scientist who is not involved in the report says that while some habitats are changing, more work can be done to make urban areas safe for birds. He says small changes--- like planting more native plants or keeping cats out of areas birds would be likely to use--- could make a big difference.
1.Why is development in human society considered as the major danger for migratory birds?
A.Construction activities occupy birds’ paths.
B.Serious industrial pollution damages birds’ habitats.
C.Hunting activities happen more frequently.
D.Airplane flights directly harm birds’ safety.
2.What’s the current situation of protecting migratory birds?
A.Countries in East Asia don’t want to make any changes.
B.The progress still remains at the primary stage.
C.Some of the efforts of humans aren’t working well.
D.Not many countries are involved in the activities.
3.According to the researchers, __________.
A.governments need to work together and provide safe areas
B.safe zones in neighboring countries need to be combined together
C.more bird species will die out if they continue migrating through countries
D.human activities should give way to the birds when the migrating season comes
4.What can we know about the migratory birds according to the passage?
A.They always travel from the north to the south.
B.They need to stop during the migration to correct directions.
C.All of them are endangered because of lacking protection.
D.Some of them take rests or feed in cities.
5.What’s the main idea of the passage?
A.The migration of birds influences society development.
B.Migratory birds are dying from losing their homes.
C.Countries need to work together to protect migratory birds.
D.Protecting migratory birds is very necessary.
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
Scientists say a huge percentage of bird species are in danger because their habitats, or homelands, are disappearing.
Traditional migration paths take birds through countries that are not protecting the places for birds to stop, rest and feed. The scientists studied the migration or flight paths of almost 1,500 species. They decided that 91 percent of them passed through dangerous areas.
The major danger for migratory birds is development. Buildings and pavements have covered the places where birds stop and feed as they move from one part of the world to another. One of the scientists who worked on the study says “Many of these important places have been lost to land reclamation (开垦) because of urban, industrial and agricultural land expansion”.
The problem, according to scientists, is that many of these small birds die along their migration paths because they don’t have a safe place to feed and rest. There is no place to restore their energy for the next part of their journey. Countries in North Africa, Central Asia and those along the coasts of East Asia are having the most difficult time in protecting land. The scientists say these countries do not have enough areas that are safe for birds. One species that doesn’t exist now is the Eskimo curlew. “Our world gets poorer every time we lose a species,” one of the scientists says.
The researchers say countries need to work together and come up with safe stopping areas for birds that pass through their boundaries. For example, one country might have preserved safe zones for migrating birds. But a neighbor country might not. A bird might die.
One scientist who is not connected with the report tells Los Angeles Times that while some habitats are changing, more work can be done to make urban areas safe for birds.
He says small changes, like planting more native plants or keeping cats out of the areas birds would be likely to use, could make a big difference.
1.What mainly caused the disappearing of birds’ habitats ?
A.The decrease of awareness to protect birds. B.Natural disasters.
C.Overuse of land by human beings. D.The rising sea level.
2.What may be the main reason for many birds’ death on the way of migration?
A.Exhaustion and hunger. B.Beast attack on the ground.
C.Hunting of humans. D.The long journey.
3.According to the last two paragraphs, how should we protect the migrating birds?
A.By keeping fewer cats or dogs.
B.By restoring their destroyed habitats.
C.By helping change the birds’ migration paths.
D.By preserving the ecological environments on their migration paths.
4.What is the author’s purpose in writing the passage?
A.To tell us a huge percentage of bird species are in danger.
B.To analyze the reasons for disappearing of birds’ habitats.
C.To offer some solutions to the problem of birds’ habitats.
D.To call on people to protect the birds’ habitats.
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
As skies are filled with millions of migrating（迁徙） birds, European scientists say the seasonal wonder appears to be strange. The fatter the bird, the better it flies.
The results of their study led to a theory opposite to a central one of aerodynamics(空气动力学), which says that the power needed to fly increases with weight.
For birds, obviously, the cost of flying with heavy fat is much smaller than we used to think. Researchers found that red knot wading birds double their normal body weight of 100 grams before making their twice-a-year nonstop flight between the British Isles and the Russian Arctic.Distance;5,000 kilometers.
Another study in the magazine Nature measured the advantage of flying in an aerodynamic group which allows birds to save energy by flying smoothly and quietly in the lead bird’s air stream.
Flying in groups, their heart rates were 14.5 percent lower than flying alone, according to Henri, a French scientist. The findings help explain how birds complete difficult migrations. Researchers had thought stronger birds would have the best chance to survive.
The first study suggests that building up fat to be burnt as fuel during the migration is worth more than the energy it take to carry the additional weight.
In the study, researchers said their team studied the birds flown at different body weights during 28 simulated(模拟的)flights. They forced a small amount of special water into the birds’ bodies so that they could measure the amount of energy burnt during the flight.
1.A red knot wading bird of 100 grams will probably weigh ________before making its nonstop migrating flight.
A.50 grams B.100 grams C.150 grams D.200 grams
2.During their migrating flight, red knot wading birds can save energy by flying________.
A. separately B. alone C. in groups D. in pairs
3.A ________red knot wading bird has a better chance to survive during its migrating flight.
A. stronger B. weaker C. thinner D. fatter
4.The best title for this passage may probably be ________ .
A. Birds Thin Down For Journey B. Birds Fatten Up For Journey
C. How Birds Build Up Fat For Journey D. How Birds Burn Energy For Journey
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
When different species of birds flock (聚集) together, their flight formations are determined by social dynamics both between and within species.
New research from the Universities of Cambridge and Exeter reveals for the first time that, contrary to current models used to explain the movement of flocks, the differences between bird species and social relationships between individuals play a critical role in determining the dynamics of mixed-species flocks.
The unified(群集) behaviour of bird flocks has puzzled scientists for hundreds of years. One naturalist from the turn of the century even suggested telepathy(心灵感应)may be involved. There have since been more logical explanations, including mathematical models that show that repeated interactions among individuals following simple rules can generate coordinated (协同的)group movements. However, these models usually rely on the assumption that individuals within groups are identical and interact independently, which may not reflect reality.
Jolle Jolles, a PhD student at the University of Cambridge's Department of Zoology and author of the paper, said：“Spectacular collective behaviour can be found in a large range of animal species, and we now know that often these complex coordinated group movements may be the result of individuals following simple rules. However, rarely are the individual characteristics and social relationships within them taken into account. Our research highlights that these striking displays of group behaviour are much more complex.”
By analysing high-resolution photographs of mixed flocks of rooks and jackdaws (both from the corvid family), the researchers found that rather than individuals interacting in a consistent fashion throughout the flock, interactions depended on social dynamics between the different species as well as relationships within a species.
The researchers discovered that birds prefer to fly close to members of their own species, and that the larger and more dominant rooks take the lead by flying near the front of flocks. Additionally, the lifelong, monogamous(一妻一夫制的)pair bonds that are characteristic of both species seem to be reflected in flight, as birds often fly particularly close to a single, same-species partner.
Dr Alex Thornton, principal investigator of the Cambridge Jackdaw Project, now at the University of Exeter and author of the paper, said: “Together, our findings demonstrate that to understand the structure of groups — such as bird flocks — we need to consider the characteristics and relationships of the individuals within them.”
1.The underlined word “generate” means ______.
A. set down B. take away
C. bring about D. give up
2.According to Jolle Jolles, what are seldom considered about coordinated group movement?
A. Individual characteristics and social relationship between them
B. Repeated interactions among individuals and social dynamics
C. Telepathy and social relationship between them
D. The structure of groups and the varieties of species
3.Birds may prefer to fly the closest to _____ .
A. the largest one B. the most dynamic one
C. the lifelong partner D. the friendly partner
4.What is the main idea of the passage?
A. How birds interact in simple rules.
B. How birds of different feathers flock together.
C. Why birds show preference to flocking.
D. Why birds display the characteristics.
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
Last summer, bird-watchers confirmed the discovery of a new species of bird in Cambodia（柬埔寨）: the Combodian tailorbird. It was not an event of particular biological significance but it was striking for one reason: This species of tailorbird was discovered not in an unspoiled rain forest but within the limits of Combodia’s capital, Phnom Penh.
We don’t typically think of the city as a likely habitat for natural life except rats and pigeons（鸽子）, let alone as a hiding place for an undiscovered species of bird. But a new paper, published last week in the Proceedings of the Royal Society, proves it incorrect. A team of 24 researchers has studied birds and plants in 147 cities, and found that cities much more closely resemble their native habitats than they resemble each other.
It’s also true that in the world of birds and plants, as in human society, there is such thing as a world species who feels equally at home in Francisco, Milan and Beijing. Four birds appear in more than 80 percent of the cities studied, and 11 plants in more than 90 percent of the cities. On the plant side, those include meadow grass, shepherd’s purse, weeds. In the air, it’s the usual species: the pigeon, the house sparrow and the European starling（惊鸟）. They all have become completely adapted to urban life.
However, not all cities are equal protectors of plants and animals, though. City design plays an important role in greening a city. In fact, the amount of green space is a stronger predictor of the biodiversity than a city’s size.
In a world where architecture, food, language, fashion and commerce are increasingly globalized, a city’s native plants and animals are considered as a kind of city identity. Cities tend to become similar, but their natural environments stand differently apart.
1.What does the author think of the discovery of the Cambodian tailorbird?
A.It is just an exception.
B.It is a wonder for the Cambodians.
C.It is an amazing biological event.
D.It is very common in the world.
2.Weeds and sparrows are found in many cities. This seems to be a result of ________.
A.complete adaption
B.natural selection
C.good urban design
D.rapid globalization
3.We can learn that while cities tend to become similar, their natural environments ________.
A.are becoming worse
B.remain diverse
C.are expanding in size
D.stay unchanged
4.What would be the best title for the text?
A.The Discovery of New Species of Bird in Cambodia
B.The Similarity of the Habitats in Different Cities
C.City’s Native Plants and Animals—A Kind of City Identity
D.City—Protector of Native Plants and Animals
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
Since English biologist Charles Darwin published On the Origin of Species in 1859, scientists have vastly improved their knowledge of natural history. However, a lot of information is still of the speculation, and scientists can still only make educated guesses at certain things.
One subject that they guess about is why some 400 million years ago, animals in the sea developed limbs (肢) that allowed them to move onto and live on land.
Recently, an idea that occurred to the US paleontologist (古生物学家) Alfred Romer a century ago became a hot topic once again.
Romer thought that tidal (潮汐的) pools might have led to fish gaining limbs. Sea animals would have been forced into these pools by strong tides. Then, they would have been made either to adapt to their new environment close to land or die. The fittest among them grew to accomplish the transition (过渡) from sea to land.
Romer called these earliest four-footed animals “tetrapods”. Science has always thought that this was a credible theory, but only recently has there been strong enough evidence to support it.
Hannah Byrne is an oceanographer (海洋学家) at Uppsala University in Sweden. She announced at the 2018 Ocean Sciences Meeting in Oregon, US, that by using computer software, her team had managed to link Homer’s theory to places where fossil deposits (沉积物) of the earliest tetrapods were found.
According to the magazine Science, in 2014, Steven Balbus, a scientist at the University of Oxford in the UK, calculated that 400 million years ago, when the move from land to sea was achieved, tides were stronger than they are today. This is because the planet was 10 percent closer to the moon than it is now.
The creatures stranded in the pools would have been under the pressure of “survival of the fittest”, explained Mattias Green, an ocean scientist at the UK’s University of Bangor. As he told Science, “After a few days in these pools, you become food or you run out of food... the fish that had large limbs had an advantage because they could flip (翻转) themselves back in the water.”
As is often the case, however, there are others who find the theory less convincing. Cambridge University’s paleontologist Jennifer Clark, speaking to Nature magazine, seemed unconvinced. “It’s only one of many ideas for the origin of land-based tetrapods, any or all of which may have been a part of the answer,” she said.
1.Who first proposed the theory that fish might have gained limbs because of tidal pools?
A. Hannah Byrne. B. Charles Darwin.
C. Alfred Romer. D. Steven Balbus.
2.Why were tides stronger 400 million years ago than they are today according to Steven Balbus?
A. There were larger oceans. B. Earth was under greater pressure.
C. The moon gave off more energy. D. Earth was closer to the moon.
3.The underlined word “stranded” in Paragraph 8 probably means “________”.
A. trapped B. settled
C. abandoned D. found
4.What is the focus of the article?
A. The arguments over a scientific theory.
B. Some new evidence to support a previous theory.
C. The proposal of a new scientific theory.
D. A new discovery that questions a previous theory.
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
Since English biologist Charles Darwin published On the Origin of Species in 1859, scientists have vastly improved their knowledge of natural history. However, a lot of information is still of the speculation, and scientists can still only make educated guesses at certain things.
One subject that they guess about is why some 400 million years ago, animals in the sea developed limbs (肢) that allowed them to move onto and live on land.
Recently, an idea that occurred to the US paleontologist (古生物学家) Alfred Romer a century ago became a hot topic once again.
Homer thought that tidal (潮汐的) pools might have led to fish gaining limbs. Sea animals would have been forced into these pools by strong tides. Then, they would have been made either to adapt to their new environment close to land or die. The fittest among them grew to accomplish the transition (过渡) from sea to land.
Romer called these earliest four-footed animals “tetrapods”. Science has always thought that this was a credible theory, but only recently has there been strong enough evidence to support it.
Hannah Byrne is an oceanographer (海洋学家) at Uppsala University in Sweden. She announced at the 2018 Ocean Sciences Meeting in Oregon, US, that by using computer software, her team had managed to link Homer’s theory to places where fossil deposits (沉积物) of the earliest tetrapods were found.
According to the magazine Science, in 2014, Steven Balbus, a scientist at the University of Oxford in the UK, calculated that 400 million years ago, when the move from land to sea was achieved, tides were stronger than they are today. This is because the planet was 10 percent closer to the moon than it is now.
The creatures stranded in the pools would have been under the pressure of “survival of the fittest”, explained Mattias Green, an ocean scientist at the UK’s University of Bangor. As he told Science, “After a few days in these pools, you become food or you run out of food... the fish that had large limbs had an advantage because they could flip (翻转) themselves back in the water.”
As is often the case, however, there are others who find the theory less convincing. Cambridge University’s paleontologist Jennifer Clark, speaking to Nature magazine, seemed unconvinced. “It’s only one of many ideas for the origin of land-based tetrapods, any or all of which may have been a part of the answer,” she said.
1.Who first proposed the theory that fish might have gained limbs because of tidal pools?
A. Alfred Romer. B. Charles Darwin.
C. Hannah Byrne. D. Steven Balbus.
2.Why were tides stronger 400 million years ago than they are today according to Steven Balbus?
A. There were larger oceans.
B. Earth was closer to the moon.
C. The moon gave off more energy.
D. Earth was under greater pressure.
3.The underlined word “stranded” in Paragraph 8 probably means “________”.
A. found B. settled
C. abandoned D. trapped
4.What is the focus of the article?
A. The arguments over a scientific theory.
B. The proposal of a new scientific theory.
C. Some new evidence to support a previous theory.
D. A new discovery that questions a previous theory.
高三英语阅读理解困难题查看答案及解析
Since English biologist Charles Darwin published On the Origin of Species in 1859, scientists have vastly improved their knowledge of natural history. However, a lot of information is still of the speculation, and scientists can still only make educated guesses at certain things.
One subject that they guess about is why some 400 million years ago, animals in the sea developed limbs (肢) that allowed them to move onto and live on land.
Recently, an idea that occurred to the US paleontologist (古生物学家) Alfred Romer a century ago became a hot topic once again.
Romer thought that tidal (潮汐的) pools might have led to fish gaining limbs. Sea animals would have been forced into these pools by strong tides. Then, they would have been made either to adapt to their new environment close to land or die. The fittest among them grew to accomplish the transition (过渡) from sea to land.
Romer called these earliest four-footed animals “tetrapods”. Science has always thought that this was a credible theory, but only recently has there been strong enough evidence to support it.
Hannah Byrne is an oceanographer (海洋学家) at Uppsala University in Sweden. She announced at the 2018 Ocean Sciences Meeting in Oregon, US, that by using computer software, her team had managed to link Homer’s theory to places where fossil deposits (沉积物) of the earliest tetrapods were found.
According to the magazine Science, in 2014, Steven Balbus, a scientist at the University of Oxford in the UK, calculated that 400 million years ago, when the move from land to sea was achieved, tides were stronger than they are today. This is because the planet was 10 percent closer to the moon than it is now.
The creatures stranded in the pools would have been under the pressure of “survival of the fittest”, explained Mattias Green, an ocean scientist at the UK’s University of Bangor. As he told Science, “After a few days in these pools, you become food or you run out of food... the fish that had large limbs had an advantage because they could flip (翻转) themselves back in the water.”
As is often the case, however, there are others who find the theory less convincing. Cambridge University’s paleontologist Jennifer Clark, speaking to Nature magazine, seemed unconvinced. “It’s only one of many ideas for the origin of land-based tetrapods, any or all of which may have been a part of the answer,” she said.
1.Who first proposed the theory that fish might have gained limbs because of tidal pools?
A. Hannah Byrne. B. Charles Darwin. C. Steven Balbus. D. Alfred Romer.
2.Why were tides stronger 400 million years ago than they are today according to Steven Balbus?
A. There were larger oceans. B. Earth was under greater pressure.
C. Earth was closer to the moon. D. The moon gave off more energy.
3.The underlined word “stranded” in Paragraph 8 probably means “________”.
A. settled B. trapped C. abandoned D. found
4.What is the focus of the article?
A. The arguments over a scientific theory.
B. The proposal of a new scientific theory.
C. Some new evidence to support a previous theory.
D. A new discovery that questions a previous theory.
高三英语阅读理解困难题查看答案及解析