Question

【题目】Scientists investigated why Ebola virus is so deadly when it spreads from animals to humans and then from human-to-human contact. The research team looked at the Zaire Ebola virus in an animal system to understand how it gains strength. This virus is responsible for the current outbreak in West Africa. They found thatinitiallythe animal systems were notaffected by the virus, but succeeding transmission(传送) into other animals caused the virus to “hot up” and become more severe.

The team analyzed the viruses at different stages and were able to identify several changes in its geneticmaterial that were associated with increased disease.

Professor Julian Hiscox, who led the study from the University’s Institute of Infection and Global Health, explains: “The work tells us that theevolutionary goal of Ebola virus is to become more fatal.”

“We were able to show through genetic analysis which parts of the virus are involved in this process. The information we have gathered will now allow us to monitor for such changes in an outbreak as well as develop future treatment strategies.”

Professor Roger Hewson, leading the study from Public Health England, Porton Down, said: “Ebola virus is such adestructiveinfection to the people affected by the disease and the economy of West Africa.”

“Our understanding of Ebola virus biology is way behind that of other viruses and ourcooperation shows how we can bring together our specialists’ skills to close this knowledge gap.”

Professor Miles Carroll, a co-author of the work, said: “This study has allowed the team to be at the forefront of developing methodologies to analyze patient samples recently taken by the European Mobile Laboratory from West Africa to understand disease evolution during the current outbreak.”

【1】What does the first paragraph mainly tell us?

A. How severe Ebola virus is.

B. How Ebola virus spreads.

C. How Ebola virus gradually becomes deadly.

D. What contributions scientists have made on Ebola virus.

【2】Which of the following statements is mentioned in the passage?

A. In the first stage, the virus hurts its victims much.

B. As the virus spreads, it’ll change and become more and more deadly.

C. The research in Ebola virus is more advanced than that in other viruses.

D. The scientists have a negative attitude to the research in Ebola virus.

【3】The underlined word “fatal” has the closest meaning to ______.

A. optimistic B. deadly

C. common D. fantastic

【4】Where can we probably read this passage?

A. In a science report. B. In a storybook.

C. In an advertisement. D. In a textbook.

Answer 1

【答案】

【1】C

【2】B

【3】B

【4】A

【解析】文章讲述了埃博拉病毒爆发于西非，该病毒传播的范围之广、速度之快，危害性极强，科学家们为此持有不同态度。

【1】C段落大意题。由文章第一段内容可知，科学家通过调查，解释了为什么埃博拉病毒是致命的，且在动物与人群中，人群和人群间传播的如此之快。说明了病毒传播的范围逐渐扩大，危害性逐步加深，故选C。

【2】B细节理解题。由文章第二段The team analyzed the viruses at different stages... disease.可知，研究小组得出埃博拉病毒发展存在于不同阶段。及文章第五段...Ebola virus is such a destructive infection to the people affected by the disease and the economy of West Africa.可知，埃博拉病毒有较强的破坏性，严重影响了西非的经济。故可得知，随着病毒的传播，埃博拉病每时每刻逐渐变化，而且越来越严重，故选B。

【3】B词义猜测题。由上下文可知，埃博拉病毒具有致命性的危害，由此并结合选项的词义可知，只有deadly具有此意。optimistic意为“乐观的”；deadly意为“致命的，致死的”；common意为“普通的，共有的”；fantastic意为“异想天开的”，故选B。

【4】A推理判断题。文章主要围绕埃博拉病毒进行说明的，故可得知本文是一篇科普类说明文。因此，本文摘自于科学报告中。storybook意为“故事书”；advertisement意为“广告”；textbook意为“教科书，课本”，故选A。