2015年考研英语阅读理解考前专项训练（52）
发布时间：2012/10/31 13:23:43 来源：城市网学院 编辑：admin
At around 1.65 million years ago，another early human，Homo ergaster，started to create tools in a slightly different fashion.This s0—called Acheulean tradition was the too|一making technology used for nearlv the entire Stone Age，and practiced until 100，000 years ago.①Acheulean tools，such as hand axes and cleavers，were larger and more sophisticated than their predecessors‘。They may have been status symbols as well as tools.
Homo ergaster first appeared in Africa around 2 million years a90，and in many ways resembled us· Though they had brow ridges，they had lost the stoop and long arms of their ancestors.They may have been even more slender than us and were probably well adapted to running long distances.Some experts believe that they were the first to sport largely hairless bodies，and to sweat，though another theory puts our hairlessness down to an aquatic phase.② kaoshida
One famous example of a more modern looking early human is the Turkana boy，a teenager when he died，1.6 million years ago in Kenya.The shape of this fossil showed that the human pelvis had reached todav's narrow proportions.Combined with the growing size of the human head and brain，this had far— reaching implications：human women now need help for a successful birth； and human babies are born earlier，and need a longer period of childhood care，than those of apes.④
Meat—eatin9，however，may have allowed us to be#e early weaners.
H.ergaster may have been the first early human to leave Africa.Bones dated to around 1.75 million years ago have been found in Dmanisi in Georgia.
Shortlv afterwards，HOmo ereclus appeared--the first early human whose fossils have been seen in1arge numbers outside of Africa.The first specimen discovered， a single cranium， was unearthed in lndonesia in 1891.H.erectus was highly successful，spreading to much of Asia between 1.8 and 1.5 million years ago，and surviving as recently as 27，000 years ago.
This sDecies，with a brain volume of around 1000 cm3 would have interacted with modern humans· Thev mav have been the first people to take to the seas and habitually hunt prey such as mammoths and wild horses，although there is some debate about this.They may also have harnessed the use of fire and built the first shelters.
In 2004，the remains。f a tiny and mysterious human species，that may have lived as recently as 13，000 years ago,was discovered on an Indonesian island. More bones of the“hobbit”，or Homo floresiensis，were uncovered in 2005. Some studies suggest it had an advanced brain and was unequivocally a separate species--but others argue that these people were modern humans suffering from a genetic disorder. [445 words]
1.Homo ergaster was characterized by______
A.its status symbols
B.its hand axes and cleavers
C.its tool—making technology
D.its so—called Acheulean tradition
2.Homo Prgaster resembled us in many ways，for example，they______
A.were largelv hairless
B.had liVed in an aquatic phase
C.had long arms of their ancestors
D.were well-adapted to running long distances
3.Help is n6eded for a woman to bear a baby mainly because______.
A.human babies are larger
B.human peivis is narrower
C.human babies are born earlier
D.childhood care is much longer
4.Homo erectus may have been______.
A.the earliest people leaving Africa
B.the earliest species living in Indonesia
C.the earliest humans to hunt prey habitually
D.the earliest interacting with modern humans
5.This text is mainly about______
A.the interaction of early humans
B.an early human，Homo ergaster
C.the development of modern humans
D.several early humans in human evolution [NextPage] 难句透析
④This S0—called Acheulean tradition was the tool—making technology used for nearly the entire Stone Age]，and [practiced until l00，000 years ago].
【结构】用逗号和“and”连接的两个方括号所标示的过去分词短语“used for…Age”和“practiced…a90”并列 用做“technology”的后置定语。
【释义】这个所谓的阿舍利时期传统就是制作工具的技艺。几乎整个石器时代，一直到l0万年前，都使用这种技 艺。
②Some experts believe[that they were the first to sport largely hairless bodies，and to sweat]，[though another theory puts our hairlessness down tO an aquatic phase].
【结构】方括号所标示的“that they were…tO sweat”是“believe”的宾语从句；用逗号和“and”连接的两个动词不 定式短语“tO sport…bodies”和“tO sweat”是“the first”的后置定语。方括号所标示的“though another theory… to an aquatic phase”是让步状语从句。
【释义】一些专家认为，这些同源匠人是出现最早的身体基本不长毛，并会出汗的原始人种；不过，另一种理论把 我们的身体无毛归因于曾经在水中生存的阶段。
③[Combined with the growing size of the human head and brain-]，this had far-reaching implications：“human women nOW meed help for a successful birth；and human babies are born earlier，and need a longer period of childhood care，than those of apes.
【结构】方括号所标示的过去分词短语”Combined with…brain“用做状语。用分号和”and“连接的两个分句 ”human women…birth“和”human babies…apes“组成并列句；在第二个分句中，有两个并列的谓语动词”are born“和”need“。
【释义】随着人的头部和大脑不断增大，骨盆变窄的影响相当深远：人类女性需要助产才能成功生育，和猿类婴儿 相比，人类婴儿出生得早，需要照料的儿童期变得更长。
④Herectus was highly successful，”spreading tO much of Asia between l.8 and l.5 million years a90，and surviving as recently as 27000 years a90.
【结构】用逗号和“and”连接的两个并列的现在分词短语“spreading t0…ago”和“survivin9…a90”用做状语， 补充说明主句。
【释义】直立人相当成功，在180万年至150万年前散布到亚洲大部分地区，一直存活到近至2万7千年前。
⑤They may have been the first people l'to take tO the seas and habitually hunt prey such as mammoths and wild horses，[-although there is some debate about this].
【结构】两个并列的动词不定式短语“tO take tO the seas”和“…hunt prey…horses”用做“the first people”的后置 定语；第二个动词不定式“hunt”之前的“t0”被省略。方括号所标示的“although there is…this”是让步状语从句。
【释义】他们可能是最早走向大海的人，并且习惯于猎取猛犸和野马等猎物，尽管对此尚有争议。
⑥Some studies suggest lit“had an advanced brain and was unequivocally a separate speeies]--but others argue [that these people were modern humans（suffering from a genetic disorder）].
【结构】本句是破折号和”but“连接的两个分句组成的并列句。方括号所标示的”it had…species“是”suggest“ 的宾语从句；其中有两个并列的谓语动词”had“和”was“。方括号所标示的”that these people…disorder“是”ar— gue“的宾语从句；其中圆括号所标示的现在分词短语”suffering…disorder“是”modern humans“的后置定语。
【释义】有些研究认为，同源矮人大脑发达，显然是另一物种；但是，也有争议认为，这些人是有遗传缺陷的现代人。
答案注释
1.根据第一段前两句，”Homo ergaster“的关键特征在于”create tools“和”tool—making technology“，所以，选项C应 为答案。
2.根据第二段最后一句”Some experts believe that they were the first tO sport largely hairless bodies，and to sweat， though another theory puts our hairlessness down…“可知，选项A应为答案。
3.根据第三段第=句”…the human pelvis had reached today'S narrow proportions“和第三句”…this had far- reaching implications：human women now need help for a successful birth…“可知，选项B应为答案。
4.根据第七段第二句”They may have been the first people t0…habitually hunt prey…“可知，选项C应为答案。
5.本文简要介绍了人类进化过程中涉及的几种早期人类的情况，如：”Homo ergastPr“，Homo erectus Pmft和”Homo floresiensis“等。所以，选项D应为答案。 [NextPage] 全文翻译
大约l65万年前，另一支早期人类——匠人，开始以些许不同的方式制造工具。这个所谓的阿舍利时期传统就是制作工具的技艺。几乎整个石器时代，一直到l0万年前，都使用这种技艺。阿舍利时期的工具，如手斧和切肉刀之类，比之前人类制造的工具更大，也更复杂。它们不仅是工具，更是身份的象征。
匠人最早出现于200万年前左右的非洲，在很多方面他们都和我们相似。虽然他们的眉骨突出，但是他们不像其祖先那样弓着腰，长着长长的手臂。他们的身材可能比今天的人类更修长，更适合长途奔跑。一些专家认为，这些同源匠人是出现最早的身体基本不长毛，并会出汗的原始人种；不过，另一种理论把我们的身体无毛归因于曾经在水中生存的阶段。
图尔卡纳男孩是具有现代长相的早期人类的一个着名代表，这个少年在160万年前死于肯尼亚。这一化石的外形表明当时人类的骨盆已经跟现在的一般窄。随着人的头部和大脑不断增大，骨盆变窄的影响相当深远：人类女性需要助产才能成功生育，和猿类婴儿相比，人类婴儿出生得早，需要照料的儿童期变得更长。
不过，吃肉会让我们的断奶期提前。
匠人大概是第一批离开非洲的早期人类。在乔洽亚共和国的德玛尼西发现的骨骼化石可以追溯到l75万年以前。
其后不久，出现了直立人，他们的化石是最早在非洲以外被大量发现的早期人类化石。最早发现的标本是一个头盖骨，于l891年在印度尼西亚出土。直立人相当成功，在l80万年至150万年前散布到亚洲大部分地区，一直存活到近至2万7千年前。
直立人的脑容量大约有l000立方厘米，能够和现代人类交流。他们可能是最早走向大海的人，并且习惯于猎取猛犸和野马等猎物，尽管对此尚有争议。当时，他们可能也已经掌握了火的技术，并且建了第一批遮蔽场所。 2004年·在印度尼西亚的一个小岛上发现了一个矮小而神秘的人类物种的遗迹。这一物种可能一直生活到近至1万3千年前。2005年，发现了更多的“矮人族”或弗洛里斯人的残骸。有些研究认为，同源矮人大脑发达，显然是另一物种；但是。也有争议认为，这些人是有遗传缺陷的现代人。
超纲词汇
Acheulean adj.[考古]阿舍利时期的
cleaver n.屠夫的切肉刀，屠刀
Predecessor n.前辈，前任，（被取代的）原有事物
Ridge n.脊，隆起
stoop n.曲背
sport vi.／vt.夸耀地穿戴，显示，炫耀
Aquatic adj.水的，水上的，水生的，水栖的
Turkana n.图尔卡纳
Pelvis n.[解]骨盆
Weaner n.断了奶的婴儿
Homo erectus n.直立人
Mammoth n.[古生]猛犸，毛象，庞然大物
harness vt.利用天然力使产生动力
Hobbit n.（英国作家J.R.R.Tolkien笔下的）穴居矮人
Homo floresiensis n.同源矮人
Unequivocally adv.不含糊地
参考答案：1.C 2.A 3.B 4.C 5.D
