Passage 1
For millions of years, mating frogs might have been making some interesting mistakes. New research indicates that male frogs sometimes attempt to mate with inappropriate objects, such as a different species, a turtle, or even a dead fish. And it seems this behavior is not a recent development but an ancient feature of frog evolution.
Francois Brischoux from the University of La Rochelle in France and his colleague, Lea Lormain - Solignon, collected 280 records of misguided frog matings from various sources across different frog species. They then used probability analysis to calculate the likelihood of this behavior. Their findings showed a surprisingly high chance of such mismatches, especially in situations where multiple frog species share the same breeding ground and there's intense competition with rivals to reproduce.
The earliest frog species, which lived around 220 million years ago, were likely to have made these kinds of mistaken matings too. “Our results suggest that the reproductive strategies of frogs are more complex than previously thought,” says Brischoux. “This behavior could be advantageous for males to be attracted to and thus clasp any female - looking object in order to increase their chances of reproduction.”
Studies like this further support the idea that frogs have a diverse range of reproductive behaviors. Andrew Biewener from the University of St. Louis, Missouri, agrees that it is possible for frogs to make such mistakes. “This behavior could have occurred in all amphibians, including salamanders and caecilians,” he says. And as habitats are damaged by human activities, environmental noise, and other factors, the frequency of these reproductive dead - end mistakes may even increase.
What did Francois Brischoux and his colleague do in the research
A. They observed the mating process of frogs in the wild.
B. They analyzed records of misguided frog matings.
C. They studied the evolution of different frog species.
D. They compared the mating behaviors of various animals.
Why do male frogs sometimes mate with inappropriate objects according to the research
A. Because they can't tell the difference between species.
B. Because they want to compete with other males.
C. Because it can increase their chances of reproduction.
D. Because they are attracted by the appearance of these objects.
What can we infer from the passage
A. The mating mistakes of frogs are a newly - discovered phenomenon.
B. Only frogs among amphibians make mating mistakes.
C. Human activities have no impact on frogs' mating behaviors.
D. The frequency of frogs' wrong mating may rise in the future.
What is the main idea of the passage
A. The evolution of frogs' mating behaviors.
B. The reasons for frogs' inappropriate mating.
C. New findings about frogs' attempts to mate with other species.
D. The diversity of frogs' reproductive strategies.
答案
B
解析：根据文章第二段 “Francois Brischoux from the University of La Rochelle in France and his colleague, Lea Lormain - Solignon, collected 280 records of misguided frog matings from various sources across different frog species. They then used probability analysis to calculate the likelihood of this behavior.” 可知，Francois Brischoux 和他的同事收集并分析了青蛙错误交配的记录，B 选项正确。A 选项 “在野外观察青蛙的交配过程”、C 选项 “研究不同青蛙物种的进化” 和 D 选项 “比较各种动物的交配行为” 文中均未提及。
C
解析：从文章第三段 “This behavior could be advantageous for males to be attracted to and thus clasp any female - looking object in order to increase their chances of reproduction.” 可知，雄性青蛙有时与不合适的对象交配是因为这可以增加它们繁殖的机会，C 选项正确。A 选项 “因为它们无法区分物种”、B 选项 “因为它们想和其他雄性竞争” 文中未提及；D 选项 “因为它们被这些物体的外观吸引” 表述不准确，吸引它们的是看起来像雌性的物体。
D
解析：依据文章最后一段 “And as habitats are damaged by human activities, environmental noise, and other factors, the frequency of these reproductive dead - end mistakes may even increase.” 可知，随着栖息地被破坏等情况的出现，青蛙错误交配的频率未来可能会上升，D 选项正确。A 选项 “青蛙的交配错误是新发现的现象” 与原文 “this behavior is not a recent development but an ancient feature of frog evolution” 不符；B 选项 “两栖动物中只有青蛙会出现交配错误” 与文中 “this behavior could have occurred in all amphibians” 相悖；C 选项 “人类活动对青蛙的交配行为没有影响” 错误。
C
解析：文章主要介绍了一项关于青蛙试图与其他物种交配的新研究，包括研究的发现、原因以及未来可能的趋势，C 选项 “关于青蛙试图与其他物种交配的新发现” 符合主旨。A 选项 “青蛙交配行为的进化”、B 选项 “青蛙不适当交配的原因” 和 D 选项 “青蛙繁殖策略的多样性” 都只是文章的部分内容。
Passage 2
As we age, some cells in our bodies stop dividing and instead linger, releasing chemicals that can weaken our immune system and contribute to diseases. These are known as senescent cells, and they accumulate in our organs over time. When an older organ is transplanted into a younger person, these senescent cells can trigger a process called “transplant - associated senescence,” which may worsen the outcome of the transplant or even lead to organ rejection.
However, a new class of drugs that selectively clear away senescent cells may change the situation. Scientists at Harvard Medical School, led by Stefan Tullius, have been researching ways to stop the transfer of senescent cells during organ transplantation. In a recent study, they used these drugs in mice and achieved promising results.
The team first transplanted hearts from older donors into younger mice. As expected, the mice that received hearts from older donors had more senescent cells in their livers and lymph nodes compared to those that got hearts from younger animals. But when the older - heart - receiving mice were treated with the senolytic drugs (drugs that target senescent cells), not only did the senescent cells in their organs decrease significantly, but the overall health of the mice also improved.
Jesús Gil from Imperial College London said, “This is a promising approach with many potential implications.” Currently, there is a high demand for organ transplants in Europe, with 21 people dying daily on average while waiting for a transplant. Older organs are often turned down due to concerns about their viability. Gil believes that the use of senolytic drugs could potentially increase the pool of available organs for transplantation. Although there are still questions about the long - term effects of these drugs, the research offers new hope for improving the success rate of organ transplants.
What are senescent cells
A. Cells that divide rapidly as we age.
B. Cells that can strengthen our immune system.
C. Cells that stop dividing and may harm our health.
D. Cells that are only found in older people's organs.
Why did the researchers use drugs in the mice study
A. To make the mice live longer.
B. To improve the function of the transplanted hearts.
C. To reduce the number of senescent cells in transplanted organs.
D. To test the side - effects of the new drugs.
What can we infer from Jesús Gil's words
A. The use of senolytic drugs has no potential risks.
B. The new approach may help solve the shortage of transplant organs.
C. More people will die while waiting for organ transplants.
D. Older organs are no longer suitable for transplantation.
What is the main idea of the passage
A. The process of organ transplantation.
B. The harm of senescent cells to the human body.
C. A new research on improving the success of organ transplants.
D. The importance of finding suitable donors for organ transplants.
答案
C
解析：根据文章第一段 “As we age, some cells stop dividing and instead linger, releasing chemicals that can weaken our immune system and contribute to diseases. These are known as senescent cells” 可知，衰老细胞是停止分裂且可能对健康有害的细胞，C 选项正确。A 选项 “随着年龄增长快速分裂的细胞” 与原文不符；B 选项 “能增强免疫系统的细胞” 错误，原文是削弱免疫系统；D 选项 “只在老年人器官中发现的细胞” 过于绝对，文中未提及。
C
解析：从文章第二段 “Scientists at Harvard Medical School, led by Stefan Tullius, have been researching ways to stop the transfer of senescent cells during organ transplantation. In a recent study, they used these drugs in mice” 以及第三段中药物处理后小鼠体内衰老细胞减少的结果可知，研究人员在小鼠实验中使用药物是为了减少移植器官中的衰老细胞数量，C 选项正确。A 选项 “让小鼠活得更久”、B 选项 “改善移植心脏的功能” 和 D 选项 “测试新药的副作用” 文中均未提及。
B
解析：依据文章最后一段 “Gil believes that the use of senolytic drugs could potentially increase the pool of available organs for transplantation.” 可知，Jesús Gil 认为这种新方法可能有助于解决移植器官短缺的问题，C 选项正确。A 选项 “使用衰老细胞裂解药物没有潜在风险” 错误，文中提到还有关于长期影响的疑问；B 选项 “更多人会在等待器官移植时死亡” 与原文不符；D 选项 “较老的器官不再适合移植” 过于绝对。
C
解析：文章主要介绍了一种通过使用能清除衰老细胞的药物来提高器官移植成功率的新研究，包括研究的背景、实验过程以及潜在意义，C 选项 “关于提高器官移植成功率的一项新研究” 符合主旨。A 选项 “器官移植的过程”、B 选项 “衰老细胞对人体的危害” 和 D 选项 “为器官移植寻找合适捐赠者的重要性” 都只是文章的部分内容。
Passage 3
For most of human existence, Homo sapiens shared the planet with other types of humans, such as the diminutive “hobbit” Homo floresiensis and our closest relatives, the Neanderthals. However, about 40,000 years ago, the Neanderthals died out, leaving many questions about their intelligence and way of life.
In his book The Naked Neanderthal, Ludovic Slimak challenges the traditional perception of Neanderthals as having low intelligence. For a long time, based on the study of Neanderthal remains, people thought of them as creatures with relatively low intelligence, unable to adapt to environmental changes. But Slimak argues that this view is a misconstruction.
Slimak is skeptical of the evidence suggesting that Neanderthals were fundamentally different from us. He points out that Neanderthals created art and symbolic objects like necklaces made of shell beads, which shows their creativity. Although it's certain that they buried their dead, Slimak believes this doesn't help us fully understand them. Instead, through an exhaustive excavation he conducted at a rock shelter called Mount Ventoux in France, he found unique insights.
The excavation revealed an astonishing discovery in a 12 - metre - deep patch of soil dating from between 80,000 and 12,000 years ago. It recorded events during a time of great climate change, and there were well - preserved remains of hunts. The remains showed that Neanderthal hunters targeted different prey in the face of climate change, which was a sign of their ability to adapt. Slimak's work challenges the idea that Neanderthals couldn't adapt to environmental changes and suggests that they were more intelligent and adaptable than previously thought.
What was the traditional view of Neanderthals
A. They were highly intelligent beings.
B. They had a strong ability to adapt to climate change.
C. They were less intelligent and unable to adapt well.
D. They shared many similarities with Homo sapiens.
What did Ludovic Slimak find through the excavation at Mount Ventoux
A. Evidence of Neanderthals' unique burial customs.
B. Proof that Neanderthals couldn't adapt to climate change.
C. Well - preserved remains of Neanderthal artworks.
D. Signs of Neanderthals' adaptability to climate change.
What can we infer from the passage
A. Neanderthals died out mainly because of competition with Homo sapiens.
B. The study of Neanderthals can help us better understand ourselves.
C. Ludovic Slimak's book has been widely accepted by the scientific community.
D. Neanderthals' creativity was not as good as that of Homo sapiens.
What is the main purpose of the passage
A. To introduce a new book about Neanderthals.
B. To compare Neanderthals with Homo sapiens.
C. To discuss the extinction of Neanderthals.
D. To present a new perspective on Neanderthals.
答案
C
解析：根据文章第二段 “For a long time, based on the study of Neanderthal remains, people thought of them as creatures with relatively low intelligence, unable to adapt to environmental changes.” 可知，传统观点认为尼安德特人智力较低且适应能力差，C 选项正确。A 选项 “他们是高智商生物”、B 选项 “他们有很强的适应气候变化的能力” 与传统观点相悖；D 选项 “他们与智人有很多相似之处” 文中未提及传统观点有此内容。
D
解析：从文章第四段 “The remains showed that Neanderthal hunters targeted different prey in the face of climate change, which was a sign of their ability to adapt.” 可知，Ludovic Slimak 在 Ventoux 山的挖掘工作发现了尼安德特人适应气候变化的迹象，D 选项正确。A 选项 “尼安德特人独特埋葬习俗的证据” 不是此次挖掘的主要发现；B 选项 “尼安德特人无法适应气候变化的证据” 与原文不符；C 选项 “保存完好的尼安德特人艺术品遗迹” 文中未提及。
B
解析：依据文章第一段 “How we see our closest extinct relative says as much about us as it does about them” 可推断出，对尼安德特人的研究可以帮助我们更好地了解自己，B 选项正确。A 选项 “尼安德特人灭绝主要是因为与智人的竞争” 文中未提及；C 选项 “Ludovic Slimak 的书已被科学界广泛接受” 文中没有相关信息；D 选项 “尼安德特人的创造力不如智人” 文中未进行比较。
D
解析：文章主要介绍了 Ludovic Slimak 在《裸体的尼安德特人》一书中提出的关于尼安德特人的新观点，即他们比传统认为的更聪明、更具适应性，所以文章的主要目的是呈现关于尼安德特人的新视角，D 选项正确。A 选项 “介绍一本关于尼安德特人的新书” 只是一种方式，不是主要目的；B 选项 “比较尼安德特人和智人” 不是重点；C 选项 “讨论尼安德特人的灭绝” 在文中只是一笔带过。Passage 1
For millions of years, mating frogs might have been making some interesting mistakes. New research indicates that male frogs sometimes attempt to mate with inappropriate objects, such as a different species, a turtle, or even a dead fish. And it seems this behavior is not a recent development but an ancient feature of frog evolution.
Francois Brischoux from the University of La Rochelle in France and his colleague, Lea Lormain - Solignon, collected 280 records of misguided frog matings from various sources across different frog species. They then used probability analysis to calculate the likelihood of this behavior. Their findings showed a surprisingly high chance of such mismatches, especially in situations where multiple frog species share the same breeding ground and there's intense competition with rivals to reproduce.
The earliest frog species, which lived around 220 million years ago, were likely to have made these kinds of mistaken matings too. “Our results suggest that the reproductive strategies of frogs are more complex than previously thought,” says Brischoux. “This behavior could be advantageous for males to be attracted to and thus clasp any female - looking object in order to increase their chances of reproduction.”
Studies like this further support the idea that frogs have a diverse range of reproductive behaviors. Andrew Biewener from the University of St. Louis, Missouri, agrees that it is possible for frogs to make such mistakes. “This behavior could have occurred in all amphibians, including salamanders and caecilians,” he says. And as habitats are damaged by human activities, environmental noise, and other factors, the frequency of these reproductive dead - end mistakes may even increase.
What did Francois Brischoux and his colleague do in the research
A. They observed the mating process of frogs in the wild.
B. They analyzed records of misguided frog matings.
C. They studied the evolution of different frog species.
D. They compared the mating behaviors of various animals.
Why do male frogs sometimes mate with inappropriate objects according to the research
A. Because they can't tell the difference between species.
B. Because they want to compete with other males.
C. Because it can increase their chances of reproduction.
D. Because they are attracted by the appearance of these objects.
What can we infer from the passage
A. The mating mistakes of frogs are a newly - discovered phenomenon.
B. Only frogs among amphibians make mating mistakes.
C. Human activities have no impact on frogs' mating behaviors.
D. The frequency of frogs' wrong mating may rise in the future.
What is the main idea of the passage
A. The evolution of frogs' mating behaviors.
B. The reasons for frogs' inappropriate mating.
C. New findings about frogs' attempts to mate with other species.
D. The diversity of frogs' reproductive strategies.
Passage 2
As we age, some cells in our bodies stop dividing and instead linger, releasing chemicals that can weaken our immune system and contribute to diseases. These are known as senescent cells, and they accumulate in our organs over time. When an older organ is transplanted into a younger person, these senescent cells can trigger a process called “transplant - associated senescence,” which may worsen the outcome of the transplant or even lead to organ rejection.
However, a new class of drugs that selectively clear away senescent cells may change the situation. Scientists at Harvard Medical School, led by Stefan Tullius, have been researching ways to stop the transfer of senescent cells during organ transplantation. In a recent study, they used these drugs in mice and achieved promising results.
The team first transplanted hearts from older donors into younger mice. As expected, the mice that received hearts from older donors had more senescent cells in their livers and lymph nodes compared to those that got hearts from younger animals. But when the older - heart - receiving mice were treated with the senolytic drugs (drugs that target senescent cells), not only did the senescent cells in their organs decrease significantly, but the overall health of the mice also improved.
Jesús Gil from Imperial College London said, “This is a promising approach with many potential implications.” Currently, there is a high demand for organ transplants in Europe, with 21 people dying daily on average while waiting for a transplant. Older organs are often turned down due to concerns about their viability. Gil believes that the use of senolytic drugs could potentially increase the pool of available organs for transplantation. Although there are still questions about the long - term effects of these drugs, the research offers new hope for improving the success rate of organ transplants.
What are senescent cells
A. Cells that divide rapidly as we age.
B. Cells that can strengthen our immune system.
C. Cells that stop dividing and may harm our health.
D. Cells that are only found in older people's organs.
Why did the researchers use drugs in the mice study
A. To make the mice live longer.
B. To improve the function of the transplanted hearts.
C. To reduce the number of senescent cells in transplanted organs.
D. To test the side - effects of the new drugs.
What can we infer from Jesús Gil's words
A. The use of senolytic drugs has no potential risks.
B. The new approach may help solve the shortage of transplant organs.
C. More people will die while waiting for organ transplants.
D. Older organs are no longer suitable for transplantation.
What is the main idea of the passage
A. The process of organ transplantation.
B. The harm of senescent cells to the human body.
C. A new research on improving the success of organ transplants.
D. The importance of finding suitable donors for organ transplants.
Passage 3
For most of human existence, Homo sapiens shared the planet with other types of humans, such as the diminutive “hobbit” Homo floresiensis and our closest relatives, the Neanderthals. However, about 40,000 years ago, the Neanderthals died out, leaving many questions about their intelligence and way of life.
In his book The Naked Neanderthal, Ludovic Slimak challenges the traditional perception of Neanderthals as having low intelligence. For a long time, based on the study of Neanderthal remains, people thought of them as creatures with relatively low intelligence, unable to adapt to environmental changes. But Slimak argues that this view is a misconstruction.
Slimak is skeptical of the evidence suggesting that Neanderthals were fundamentally different from us. He points out that Neanderthals created art and symbolic objects like necklaces made of shell beads, which shows their creativity. Although it's certain that they buried their dead, Slimak believes this doesn't help us fully understand them. Instead, through an exhaustive excavation he conducted at a rock shelter called Mount Ventoux in France, he found unique insights.
The excavation revealed an astonishing discovery in a 12 - metre - deep patch of soil dating from between 80,000 and 12,000 years ago. It recorded events during a time of great climate change, and there were well - preserved remains of hunts. The remains showed that Neanderthal hunters targeted different prey in the face of climate change, which was a sign of their ability to adapt. Slimak's work challenges the idea that Neanderthals couldn't adapt to environmental changes and suggests that they were more intelligent and adaptable than previously thought.
What was the traditional view of Neanderthals
A. They were highly intelligent beings.
B. They had a strong ability to adapt to climate change.
C. They were less intelligent and unable to adapt well.
D. They shared many similarities with Homo sapiens.
What did Ludovic Slimak find through the excavation at Mount Ventoux
A. Evidence of Neanderthals' unique burial customs.
B. Proof that Neanderthals couldn't adapt to climate change.
C. Well - preserved remains of Neanderthal artworks.
D. Signs of Neanderthals' adaptability to climate change.
What can we infer from the passage
A. Neanderthals died out mainly because of competition with Homo sapiens.
B. The study of Neanderthals can help us better understand ourselves.
C. Ludovic Slimak's book has been widely accepted by the scientific community.
D. Neanderthals' creativity was not as good as that of Homo sapiens.
What is the main purpose of the passage
A. To introduce a new book about Neanderthals.
B. To compare Neanderthals with Homo sapiens.
C. To discuss the extinction of Neanderthals.
D. To present a new perspective on Neanderthals.
