Question

5．阅读下列短文，从每题所给出的四个选项中，选出最佳选项．
The size of animals is directly connected（联系）to the Earth's temperature．The hotter it gets，the smaller animals become．It suggests that humans could shrink（缩小）if the Earth continues its warmer steps．
Scientists studied Sifrhippus，a 56-million-year-old ancestor of the modern-day horse．When Sifrhippus first appeared，he weighed only 12 pounds．Scientists used the teeth of the Sifrhippus fossils （化石）to judge its size over time．Then they compared its change of size with climate（气候）changes．
What did the study show？During a period of 175 000 years，Sifrhippus shrank to about 8.5 pounds （just the weight of a little dog） before it increased to its original 12-pound size．Its funny change in size was well connected with the great changes of the Earth's temperature．The horse shrank as the Earth heated up by 5°C to 10°C，and grew as the Earth cooled again．
Why did heat cause the horse to shrink？Scientists think that smaller animals can throw off their body heat more easily．So they can live more successfully in warm climates．That shows a rule known as Bergmann，s rule（伯格曼定律），which says that animals of the same kind are smaller in warmer climates and larger in colder climates．（The polar bear，for example，is the largest member of the bear family．） Scientists also believe that global warming makes it difficult for animals to get enough food，which makes animals live in smaller size．
Could humans shrink，too？Quite possibly．But scientists say a lot more research has to be done before making any final conclusions．
63．From th e passage we know that the Earth's temperatureD，
A．always stays the same             B．is becoming lower
C．will rise by 10°C                     D．is becoming higher
64．What do you know about Sifrhippus？D
A．It s the biggest horse．B．It's the smallest horse．
C．It's a kind of modern horse．D．It's the earliest horse．
65．The study has shown that SifrhippusA．
A．changed it s size with climate changes
B．always had the same size
C．grew bigger in hotter environment
D．couldn't have enough food to eat
66．Which of the following would be the best title for the passage？D
A．A conclusion about horse       B．Why did the horse shrink？
C．How a horse became smaller   D．Will global warming make us shorter？

Answer 1

分析 本文是介绍伯格曼定律，动物在温暖的气候下长的没有在寒冷的气候下大，动物的大小与地球的温度有关，文中提到了科学家研究始祖马得出的结果，认为气候暖和，动物很难获取足够的食物，那么人们也很有可能会变小．

解答 63．D．细节题．结合It suggests that humans could shrink（缩小）if the Earth continues its warmer steps可知地球温度变的更高，故选D．
64．D．细节题，结合Scientists studied Sifrhippus，a 56-million-year-old ancestor of the modern-day horse可知是现代马的始祖，也就是最早的马，故选D．
65．A．细节题，结合Its funny change in size was well connected with the great changes of the Earth's temperature可知始祖马随着气候的变化改变了身体的大小，故选A．
66．D．标题判断．结合It suggests that humans could shrink（缩小）if the Earth continues its warmer steps可知本文是在探讨地球变暖会不会让我们变小变矮，故选D．

点评 明确任务后，应迅速阅读全文来了解文章主要内容，以及文章的感情基调、作者的意图、态度倾向．在材料后的问题设置中，经常有对文章大意的考查．对于概括大意的题目，需要通篇考虑，对要点加以归纳概括，这类题目有时可以从文中找到答案，但有时需要用自己的话来概括．