Whales’ Ancestor: An Evolutionary Mystery Uncovered 鲸鱼演化论
- 详细资料
- 创建于 2008年5月26日
- 最后更新于 2024年5月25日
- 发布于 2012年2月10日
- 作者：Mike Lee
- 点击数：261
课文朗读
课文讲解
Scientists agree that life began in the water and it gradually spread onto land over billions of years. Gills were swapped for lungs and fins ___1___ into legs. However, there was one group of mammals that decides to go back ___2___ the waves.
科学家都认为，生命始于水中，经过数十亿年的时间才逐渐延伸至陆地。自此，鳃变成肺，鳍变成腿。然而，有一群哺乳类动物却决定重返大海。
|
1. |
(A) involved |
(B) evolved |
(C) revolved |
(D) revolted |
|
2. |
(A) upon |
(B) above |
(C) through |
(D) beneath |
The cetacean family, which includes whales and dolphins, ___3___ always been something of an anomaly. They are mammals that breathe air but live underwater. Researchers conventionally assume that their ancestors are ___4___ mammals much like modern hippopotamuses. However, a new discovery suggests that the cetaceans’ closest relative might not be the hippo, but Indohyus. Fossils unearthed in Kashmir show this deer-like mammal with some strangely whale-like features. ___5___, its bones are extremely dense, like cetaceans. It also has special ears which are useful for listening underwater.
鲸类家族，包括鲸鱼和海豚，一直以来可算是异类。牠们是呼吸空气的哺乳类，却住在水里。研究者传统上认为，牠们的祖先是居住于水中的哺乳类动物，类似现在的河马。但是有项新发现指出，鲸类的近亲可能不是河马，而是称为Indohyus的古老偶蹄类动物。于克什米尔出土的化石显示，这种像鹿的哺乳类动物，拥有一些和鲸鱼出奇相似的特征。首先，牠的骨头和鲸类一样，非常厚实；牠也有特别的耳朵，可以在水中听见声音。
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3. |
(A) has |
(B) have |
(C) could |
(D) would |
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4. |
(A) water-dwelt |
(B) dwelt-water |
(C) water-dwelling |
(D) dwelling-water |
|
5. |
(A) For the time being |
(B) For one thing |
(C) For another |
(D) For once |
The researchers who discovered the fossils hypothesize that this animal lived on land but would dash into the water to escape from predators. This is the ___6___ tactic employed by the African mouse deer, a modern-day animal that closely resembles Indohyus. Bizarre ___7___ it sounds for a deer to turn into a whale, is it any more bizarre than a dinosaur turning into a bird?
发现该化石的研究人员假设，这种动物原为陆生，但会跳入水中以躲避猎食者。这也是非洲鼠鹿所使用的策略；鼠鹿是一种和Indohyus很相似的现代动物。虽然鹿变成鲸鱼听起来很不寻常，但会比恐龙成鸟奇怪吗？
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6. |
(A) same |
(B) like |
(C) unlike |
(D) different |
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7. |
(A) so |
(B) like |
(C) as |
(D) if |
−by Michael Karanicilas
Vocabulary
单词发音
evolutionary [͵ɛvəˋluʃən͵ɛrɪ] adj. 进化的
swap [swɑp] v. 以……作交换；与……交换[O1][（+for/with）]
mammal [ˋmæm!] n. 哺乳动物
assume [əˋsjum] v.（想当然地）认为
fossil [ˋfɑs!] n. 化石
tactic [ˋtæktɪk] n. 策略
More Information
单词发音
gill [gɪl] n.（鱼）鳃
cetacean [sɪˋteʃən] adj. 鲸类的
something of 多少有点
anomaly [əˋnɑməlɪ] adv.【正式】异常现象﹐反常现象
conventionally [kənˋvɛnʃənəlɪ] adv. 按照惯例; 习惯上
hippopotamus [͵hɪpəˋpɑtəməs] n. 河马
unearth [ʌnˋɝθ] v.（从地下）发掘
Kashmir [kæʃˋmɪr] n. 克什米尔
hypothesize [haɪˋpɑθə͵saɪz] v. 假设，假定
dash [dæʃ] v. 猛冲﹐飞奔
mouse deer 鼠鹿；鼷鹿
water-dwelling 居住于水中的
for the time being 目前; 暂时 temporarily
for one thing 首先；一则
Answer
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1. ( B ) |
2. ( D ) |
3. ( A ) |
4. ( C ) |
5. ( B ) |
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6. ( A )
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7. ( C ) |
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