2025天津高考英语阅读理解说明文专题复习练习题（含答案与解析）

2025天津高考英语阅读理解说明文专题复习练习题
真题练习
01（2024·天津·高考真题）Research sometimes proves, with data, what we more or less already know（e. g. Exercise is good for you, and polluted air isn’t）. Still, sometimes our assumptions are incorrect, and scientific findings surprise researchers, along with the rest of us. A recent example is the phenomenon of disappearing lakes in parts of the frozen treeless Arctic（北极的） region.
You might think these lakes would be expanding, not disappearing. As climate change warms the region — melting（融化）surface snow and ice as well as the permafrost（永冻层）— there should be more surface water, forming larger lakes and even new ones. Recently, however, scientists have observed not just shrinking（缩小的） lakes but lakes that have completely gone away.
Many scientists shared the commonsense expectation that as permafrost melted, lakes would at first expand with meltwater flowing into them. Eventually, researchers made a prediction that progressive warming during the 21st and 22nd centuries would dry out the Arctic, and lakes would begin to shrink. But now it looks as if Arctic lakes are disappearing a century sooner than predicted. A case in point is that some large, age-old lakes shrank dramatically in what appears to have been a matter of months. Scientists have labeled this phenomenon “disastrous lake loss”
What caused this The frozen solid ground actually contains bits of rock, mineral and organic matter, leaving spaces in between. And because these spaces are filled with solid ice, liquid water cannot readily get inside, but it can when the permafrost melts, allowing more water to get through. Soon after that, around 192 lakes in northwestern Alaska are gone from sight.
Why did scientists miss this One probable reason is that most climate models assume that the melting of permafrost is driven only by warming air.
New evidence suggests, however, that rainfall — particularly increasing autumn rain — is now contributing significantly to permafrost loss. The rainfall carries heat into the ground. Yet none of the existing models includes such processes.
That is a good example of why — no matter how complex our models are or may one day be — we need direct observation of the natural world.
1．What does Paragraph 1 mainly tell us
A．General knowledge can at times turn out to be true.
B．Commonsense assumptions can sometimes prove wrong.
C．Research findings should be built on popular assumptions.
D．Scientific research is inspired by an unknown phenomenon.
2. Contrary to the general expectation, climate change has caused ________.
A. a rapid rise of water surface B. the permafrost to melt faster
C. many Arctic lakes to grow larger D. the disappearance of many Arctic lakes
3. The disastrous climatic impacts on the Arctic region have been ________.
A. proved with emerging lakes B. underestimated by scientists
C. well predicted by researchers D. shown elsewhere in the world
4. Why is the frozen Arctic ground hard for water to get through
A. Because of the solid ice within it.
B. Because of its unique composition.
C. Because it is far away from the waters.
D. Because snow rarely melts on frozen ground.
5. What lesson can we learn from the passage
A. Direct observation is a must for scientific research.
B. Scientific research is guaranteed by sufficient lab facilities.
C. New evidence should be found to back up research findings.
D. Scientific predictions should be mostly based on research models.
02（2024·天津·高考真题）Staring at the bookcases in my study, packed with so many great books that had remained unread, I heard a loud voice in my head — “Shame on you! How can you leave these masterpieces unread ”
The first book I picked up was Montaigne's Essays. To my surprise I discovered in the margins (页边空白) what clearly was my own faded hand-writing. So I was actually reading it again, but what I was rereading seemed entirely new. I also found sentences underlined. Only this time I wondered: Why did I underline this sentence It's the next one that is important!
Clearly, my way of reading the text had shifted, and I myself had changed over the years. This raised the larger question of rereading. It comes in many forms. There’s voluntary rereading, the result of a willful decision to revisit a book one has admired, or a book that has left one with some unanswered questions. This kind of planned revisit could also be for confirming certain details in the text, or for checking on the moves of a given character. A devoted teacher might also wish to refresh his closeness to a work, and thus avoid teaching through the same old written notes with soporific (让人瞌睡的) effects.
Contrarily, there’s involuntary rereading. The original reading was either forgotten or so totally absorbed that the new chance encounter with the text produced surprise and astonishment. My reaction to the renewed reading no longer corresponded to the original experience, and I was no longer sure that I recognized myself as the same reader.
Then there are what one might call subconscious (潜意识的) rereadings, those that occur without the specific act of reading, much as the memory of a tune can keep coming back to the mind without its actually being heard again. This form of remembered contact with a book can accompany us during a lifetime and continue to strengthen and shape us. Much in the same manner, we may over the years recite to ourselves poems learnt by heart long ago, which have become part of our self-recognition.
All of these ways of reading are valuable. Renewed contact with a novel or a poem can activate the search for a better knowledge of the self. The new reading, a form of revision, uncovers the change in us. The newness is not in the text. It is we who have evolved. In the process of rereading, our outlook has also been significantly changed. Rereading makes it possible for us to see the world around us, ourselves included, in a new light.
1. What did the author find when reading Montaigne’s Essays
A. He still couldn't understand it. B. He had made notes in it.
C. It was a brand new copy. D. It was his favorite work.
2. According to the author, what could be a purpose of voluntary rereading
A. To improve the quality of teaching. B. To learn from admirable characters.
C. To collect details for writing novels. D. To help making important decisions.
3. According to Paragraph 4, involuntary rereading can bring about
A. Unexpected reading experience. B. Total concentration on new books.
C. Changed preferences for books. D. Enhanced reading skills.
4. What can be learnt about subconscious rereading
A. It prevents memory from fading. B. It helps make who we are.
C. It involves actual reading. D. It works best with poetry and music.
5. What could be the best title for the passage
A. Accessing Masterpieces through Rereading
B. Rereading: Voluntary or Involuntary
C. Rereading: Pursuit of Truth
D. Transformative Power of Rereading
03（2023·天津3月卷）Getting the “side-eye” look from your dog can make it seem like they are making a judgement about you, and some new studies suggest they really could be.
The ability to judge others’ intentions is an indicator of possessing “theory of mind” which was once thought to be unique to humans. However, new studies have shown that dogs can read human behaviour and have a preference to people who are more friendly or generous with food.
One such study published in 2023 aimed to see if dogs can tell the difference between humans who are “unwilling” or “unable” to give them a treat. 96 dogs were involved in both “unwilling” and “unable” scenarios (情境) designed for the study. Both scenarios involved a dog being placed on one side of a glass screen with small holes in it at nose-height, and an experimenter standing on the other. In the ‘unwilling’ scenario, the experimenter would hang a piece of sausage in front of the screen in a ‘teasing’ (戏耍的) manner, and approach one of the holes. But instead of passing it through the hole to the dog, they would then pull it out of its reach. For the “unable” scenario, the experimenter would again move the treat towards the hole while the dog watched, but “accidentally” drop it before they could pass it through.
The researchers observed that the dogs were much more patient, making more eye contact and staying closer to the screen after the “unable” scenario played out. In the “unwilling” scenario, however, the dogs looked at the experimenter less often, sat, lay down and wandered around more frequently.
Another study from 2021 tested for “theory of mind” in dogs in a similar way, but the dogs were able to walk round the screen to obtain the treat after witnessing the experimenter’s “unwilling” or “unable” behaviour. The main finding was that the dogs approached the experimenter significantly sooner in the unable scenario than in the unwilling scenario.
However, the researchers of the 2023 study challenged that the food dropped on the floor in the clumsy (笨拙的) manner might have motivated the dogs to approach the experimenter considering that they probably often obtain food dropped on the floor in their daily lives.
Now, more evidence has been provided that dogs distinguish between similar actions associated with different intentions. But how exactly they acquire such intention-reading abilities will be an exciting topic for future research.
1. What is one of the new research findings according to Paragraph 2
A. Dogs also have “theory of mind”.
B. Dogs prefer food from generous people.
C. Human behaviours are mostly intentional.
D. Friendly animals can get food more easily.
2. What did the experimenter do in the “unwilling” scenario in the 2023 study
A. They acted awkwardly while feeding the dog.
B. They pretended to walk slowly away from the dog.
C. They teased the dog by fixing the treat to the screen.
D. They pulled the sausage beyond the dog’s reach.
3. How did the dogs of the 2023 study respond to the “unable” behaviour
A. By moving closer to the experimenter.
B. By keeping wandering around.
C. By ignoring the experimenter.
D. By lying still on the floor
4. How does the experiment design of the 2021 study differ from that of 2023
A. The dogs can watch the experimenter.
B. The dogs can go to the other side of the screen.
C. The dogs’ responses are under close observation.
D. The dogs’ habitual behaviours are under analysis.
5. What do the dogs’ different responses in “unwilling” and “unable” scenarios suggest
A. Dogs can tell “being friendly” from “being mean”
B. Dogs’ intelligence is gradually evolving.
C. Dogs’ intentions can be easily identified.
D. Dogs are a lot more emotional than other animals.
04（2023·天津6月卷）I love making art and looking at artworks. I’ve found myself wondering how we gain pleasure from art. And now neuroaesthetics, a combination of neuroscience (神经科学) and aesthetics (美学), may provide an answer.
Neuroaesthetics is a relatively young field of research on what happens in the brain when we make aesthetic assessments. Researchers use brain imaging technique to see which brain areas light up when we view paintings that we consider beautiful. Similar research has been done to understand the “neuronal fireworks” that occur when we look at inspiring sculptures, attractive faces, impressive dance, etc.
But why do we find some art beautiful and other art ugly According to research, it all comes down to the “aesthetic triad (三元组合)”.
The first part of the triad is sensory-motor. This involves perceiving things like colours, shapes and movements. Movement in art has an interesting role. If you see a painting of a movement, like of a man pulling his arm away after being bitten by a dog, you feel like going through a similar experience. The part of your brain that controls your own movements lights up in response.
Second is emotion-valuation. This is how a piece of art makes you feel, and whether or not you appreciate or enjoy that feeling. The part of the brain related to pleasure is activated in response to something we find beautiful. This system can be affected in fascinating ways, as found by research using transcranial magnetic stimulation(TMS) (经颅磁刺激). If TMS is applied to a specific part of your brain behind your forehead that is particularly important for decision-making, you suddenly like different kinds of art. Such stimulation produces significant changes in aesthetic appreciation of faces, bodies and artworks.
The third part is meaning-knowledge. This is to do with how we can connect with a piece of art and what meaning we can create in it. Art is deeply personal, because when two people see the same artwork, our perception can create vastly different experiences of meaning. If we find meaning, then we often find pleasure. We also get enjoyment from the knowledge of how something was made. For the images that an artist creates, viewers will probably get far more enjoyment once they know the process used to create them.
Informed by neuroaesthetics, the next time I create my art I will value the process even more, enjoying the activation of the aesthetic triad in my brain as I admire the vivid images that I have created.
1. What does “neuronal fireworks” in Paragraph 2 refer to
A. A beautiful painting or sculpture.
B. The lighting-up of specific brain areas.
C. An advanced brain imaging technology.
D. The aesthetic assessment of modern art.
2. What effect does movement in art produce on the viewers
A. Certain part of their brain is activated.
B. Their experience of pain is reduced.
C. Their aesthetic sense is sharpened.
D. Their body reactions are delayed.
3. The application of TMS to the brain described in Paragraph 5 leads to__________.
A. raised memory capacity
B. enhanced painting skills
C. changed artistic taste
D. improved decision-making ability
4. According to the author, what increases our enjoyment of a piece of art
A. Knowing how it is created.
B. Having a pleasant personality.
C. Learning how science develops.
D. Understanding the meaning of life.
5. What is the author’s purpose in writing the passage
A. To propose an abstract theory of art making.
B. To reveal the beauty of science in an artistic way.
C. To share some personal understanding of artworks.
D. To introduce a new research field for art appreciation.
05 (2022天津卷) Is it true that our brain alone is responsible fo human cognition(认知) What about our body Is it possible for thought and behavior to originate from somewhere other than our brain Psychologists who study Embodied Cognition(EC) ask similar questions. The ECtheory suggests our body is also responsible for thinking or problem-solving. More precisely, the mind shapes the body and the body shapes the mind in equal measure.
If you think about it for a moment, it makes total sense. When you smell something good or hear amusing sounds, certain emotions are awakened. Think about how newborns use their senses to understand the world around them. They don’t have emotions so much as needs—they don’t feel sad, they’re just hungry and need food. Even unborn babies can feel their mothers’ heartbeats and this has a calming effect. In the real world，they cry when they’re cold and then get hugged. That way, they start to as-sociate being warm with being loved.
Understandably, theorists have been arguing for years and still disagree on whether the brain is the nerve centre that operates the rest of the body. Older Western philosophers and mainstream language researchers believe this is fact, while EC theorises that the brain and body are working together as an organic supercomputer, processing everything and forming your reactions.
Further studies have backed up the mind-body interaction. In one ex-periment, test subjects(实验对象) were asked to judge people after being handed a hot or a cold drink. They all made warm evaluations when their fingertips perceived warmth rather than coolness. And it works the other way too; in another study, subjects’ fingertip temperatures were measured after being“included” in or “rejected” from a group task. Those who were included felt physically warmer.
For further proof, we can look at the metaphors(比喻说法) that we use without even thinking. A kind and sympathetic person is frequently referred to as one with a soft heart and someone who is very strong and calm in difficult situations is often described as solid as a rock. And this kind of metaphorical use is common across languages.
Now that you have the knowledge of mind-body interaction, why not use it If you’re having a bad day,a warm cup of tea will give you a flash of pleasure. If you know you’re physically cold, warm up before making any interpersonal decisions.
1. According to the author, the significance of the EC theory lies in ________.
A. facilitating our understanding of the origin of psychology
B. revealing the major role of the mind in human cognition
C. offering a clearer picture of the shape of human brain
D. bringing us closer to the truth in human cognition
2. Where does the new borns’ understanding of their surroundings start from
A. Their personal looks.
B. Their mental needs.
C. Their inner emotions.
D. Their physical feelings.
3. The experiments mentioned in Paragraph 4 further prove________.
A. environment impacts how we judge others
B. how body temperature is related to health
C. the mind and the body influence each other
D. how humans interact with their surroundings
4. What does the author intend to prove by citing the metaphors in Paragraph 5
A. Human speech is alive with metaphors.
B. Human senses have effects on thinking.
C. Human language is shaped by visual images.
D. Human emotions are often compared to natural materials.
5. What is the author’s purpose in writing the last paragraph
A. To share with the reader ways to release their emotions.
B. To guide the reader onto the path to career success.
C. To encourage the reader to put EC into practice.
D. To deepen the reader’s understanding of EC.
名校模拟练习
01（25-26高三上·天津·阶段练习）Starbucks is offering a coffee “click and collect “ service, introducing charging mats (充电垫) across all of its UK stores and promising the fastest Wi-Fi speeds on the high street to attract customers back after its tax controversies. Starbucks, the coffee giant, is investing 30m in its UK business to attract British caffeine-lovers back to its stores following a customer loss over its tax arrangements.
The company, which sparked widespread anger in 2012 over its low British tax payments, has since turned a profit in the UK and is now aiming to win back customers with a mobile ordering coffee service. “Today what we are focused on is the customer and developing the coffee shop experience.” Kris Engskov, Starbucks president of Europe, Middle East and Africa said.
The company’s mobile ordering app will offer consumers a click and collect service that allows them to order and pay for their coffee on the way to their nearest starbucks cafe. The business is also investing in having the fastest Wi-Fi on the high street to improve the experience of its average customer who spends 40 minutes online per visit.
Starbucks is also attempting to provide the answer to being out of batteries — the biggest problem of most iPhone users — by installing charging mats in the furniture in its stores. The wireless charging points were originally tested in January, focusing on city sites and then rolling it across stores. The last step of the technology drive is a new agreement with music downloading service which will run a jukebox (自动唱机) function in stores as well as urging people to use their Starbucks loyalty points on the service.
“The role of the coffee shop is basically changing across the world but it is particularly serious in the UK, the most competitive coffee market in the world, because it is just so competitive and it’s changing because people are increasingly busy. That’s well understood but the business is stressed by this move to digital where so much of your life is led through a device. It’s the little details about how we remove the barriers, whether it’s a queue, a click or giving someone secure Wi-Fi,” Mr Engskov said.
Mr Engskov also mentioned Starbucks’ potentially opening new cafes in UK supermarket chains including Aldi and Lidl. Sartbucks, which recently moved its European headquarters from Amsterdam to Chiswick, west London, is “now paying more UK business tax than we ever have,” the coffee boss said. “ Our customers are very loyal and the UK business is as healthy as it’s ever been”, he added.
1. What does the underlined word “sparked” mean
A. Removed. B. Expressed. C. Caused. D. Avoided.
2. What can be inferred from the passage about the fastest Wi-Fi
A. It can make customers spend 40 minutes per visit.
B. It can attract and keep more customers.
C. It can better customers’ shopping experience.
D. It can help customers find the nearest Starbucks café.
3. How does Starbucks solve the iPhone’s battery problem
A. By offering Wi-Fi with faster speed. B. By running a jukebox function in stores.
C. By using the Starbucks loyalty points. D. By installing charging mats in its stores.
4. What can we learn about people’s busy life according to Mr Engskov
A. It influences the coffee shop’s benefits.
B. It changes the coffee shop’s digital equipment.
C. It influences the use of Wi-Fi in coffee shops.
D. It changes the UK coffee’s production.
5. What’s Mr Engskov’s next plan
A. Opening new cafes in UK supermarket chains.
B. Paying less UK corporation tax than before.
C. Moving the European headquarters to Amsterdam.
D. Removing the coffee shops from Aldi and Lidl.
02（25-26高三上·天津·阶段练习）China’s Tech Rise: From followers to Front-Runners
For decades, the global tech landscape was dominated by the West. China was often seen as a manufacturer, an assembler of others’ innovations. Today, that narrative is being dramatically rewritten. Through sustained investment, visionary planning, and the tireless work of its scientists and engineers, China has not only closed the gap but has become a global leader in several pivotal fields of technology.
One of the most visible symbols of this progress is the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS). For years, China relied on the American GPS. The development of BeiDou was a strategic national project, embodying the spirit of self-reliance (自力更生). Completed in 2020, it now offers precise positioning services globally, serving over a billion users worldwide. It is not just a tool for navigation; it supports disaster relief, agricultural planning, and traffic management, showcasing how Chinese innovation serves humanity.
Beyond Earth, China’s ambitions soar. The Chang’e lunar exploration program, named after the mythical Moon goddess, has achieved a series of historic firsts. From landing the Yutu rover on the far side of the Moon — a feat (壮举) no other country has accomplished — to successfully returning lunar samples to Earth, these missions are the evidence of China’s growing prowess in aerospace. They represent a peaceful pursuit of knowledge and a source of immense national pride.
On the ground, the revolution is just as profound. Chinese companies like Huawei and ZTE are at the forefront of the 5G revolution, setting international standards for the next generation of wireless technology. The popularity of 5G networks across Chinese cities has enabled smart factories, remote surgery, and the Internet of Things, creating a powerful digital infrastructure (基础) for the nation’s future economy.
Perhaps the most uplifting aspect of this tech boom is its human element. It is driven by a generation of young, brilliant minds educated in China’s top universities, who are choosing to build their careers at home. They are supported by a national policy that champions innovation and a public that takes great pride in these achievements. This collective effort, from state support to individual genius, is what propels China’s technological leap forward, not just for national strength, but as a contribution to global progress.
1. What is the main idea of the passage
A. China’s transition from a tech follower to a leader in various fields.
B. The history of Western technology domination.
C. The story of a single Chinese tech company.
D. A comparison between GPS and BeiDou.
2. Why was the development of the BeiDou system significant for China
A. It was cheaper to build than the GPS system.
B. It represented a major step towards self-reliance and global service.
C. It was developed with help from other countries.
D. It is only used for military purposes.
3. Which of the following is NOT mentioned as an achievement of the Chang’e program
A. Landing a rover on the far side of the Moon.
B. Returning lunar samples to Earth.
C. Sending astronauts to the Moon.
D. Achieving a historic first for the country.
4. According to the passage, what is a key social impact of 5G technology in China
A. It has completely replaced all older networks.
B. It has created a foundation for a future digital economy.
C. It is primarily used for entertainment.
D. It was developed solely by foreign companies.
5. What does the “human element” (Paragraph 5) of China’s tech progress refer to
A. The government’s investment in robots.
B. The decline of manufacturing jobs.
C. The import of foreign experts.
D. The talented individuals and public support driving innovation.
03（25-26高三上·天津·阶段练习）Have you ever wondered why the sound of a mosquito (蚊子) seems so much louder and more annoying at night when you’re trying to sleep It’s not just your imagination; there’s actual science behind this nightly nuisance (讨厌的东西).
The primary reason is the cocktail Party Effect. During the day, your environment is filled with a variety of sounds — people talking, traffic noise, birds chirping, etc. Your brain acts as a filter (过滤器), focusing on what is important (like a conversation) and tuning out background noise. In this crowded “sound party,” the mosquito’s buzz (嗡嗡声) is just another unimportant background noise, easily ignored.
However, at night, the world becomes much quieter. The background noise that once masked the mosquito’s buzz disappears. With fewer competing sounds, your brain has less to filter out, making the mosquito’s high-pitched whine seem disproportionately loud and urgent. It becomes the main “guest” at a very quiet party, and your brain focuses on it entirely.
Furthermore, evolution may play a role. Mosquitoes are most active during dawn and dusk. Our ancestors who were light sleepers and more alert to these potential disease-carrying pests might have had a survival advantage. Therefore, we might be hardwired to be particularly sensitive to that specific sound when we are resting.
So the next time a mosquito’s buzz keeps you awake, remember: it’s not just a bug, it’s a master of sound, exploring the quiet of the night and your brain’s own filtering system to become the most irritating (烦人的) sound on the planet.
1. What is the main purpose of the first paragraph
A. To describe the life cycle of a mosquito.
B. To explain how human hearing works.
C. To introduce a common experience and the topic.
D. To complain about the harm mosquitoes cause.
2. According to the passage, what is the “Cocktail Party Effect”
A. The ability to focus on a single sound in a noisy environment.
B. A party where people talk about science.
C. The phenomenon where music sounds better at a party.
D. The effect of alcohol on human hearing.
3. Why does a mosquito’s buzz seem louder at night
A. Because mosquitoes are larger and stronger at night.
B. Because there is less background noise to mask it.
C. Because human hearing becomes sharper after dark.
D. Because mosquitoes fly closer to our ears at night.
4. What evolutionary reason is suggested for our sensitivity to the mosquito’s buzz
A. It helped our ancestors avoid dangerous animals.
B. It prevented our ancestors from sleeping too deeply.
C. It allowed our ancestors to communicate better at night.
D. It made our ancestors more alert to disease carriers.
5. What is the author’s tone in the last sentence of the passage
A. Serious and worried. B. Angry and frustrated.
C. Humorous and vivid. D. Sad and disappointed.
04（25-26高三上·天津北辰·阶段练习）Humans make decisions using statistical information every day. For example, we weigh the likelihood of various factors when deciding what to bet in card games.
However, humans aren’t alone in using statistical inferences in decision-making. Until now, human cousins like monkeys and also some birds have been regarded as the only animals to show evidence of reasoning based on probability and statistics, which requires advanced mental power. These animals have large brains relative to their body size, which is often linked with high intelligence.
Researchers from the University of Barcelona oppugned such statements and suspected that an animal with a small brain relative to its body size could also perform statistical reasoning.
Giraffes were an ideal choice. But researchers had a concern: When we choose a checkout line at a grocery store, we typically just count the number of people in each line, not weighing the probability. Statistical reasoning is quite distinct from basic counting. Giraffes have already shown an ability to perform quantity discrimination (being able to tell a larger number of items from a smaller number), which poses a challenge for the researchers to confirm their suspicion.
The research team settled on a special approach where they started with a mixture of carrots the animal desires along with zucchinis (密生西葫芦) they dislike and varied the number and proportion (比例) of both items.
The researchers placed different proportions of carrots and zucchinis into two plastic containers to test whether the giraffes could predict a higher likelihood of receiving a carrot. Each test consisted of 20 trials in which a researcher selected a piece of food from each container without showing it to the giraffes. The giraffes then touched the hand they wanted to eat from, using only the information they had from the containers.
In the first test, where one container had 20 carrots and 80 zucchinis and another had 80 carrots and 20 zucchinis, each giraffe chose the hand that had a higher probability of holding a carrot at least 17 times. In the following two tests, the proportion of carrots and zucchinis was changed. Yet again the giraffes chose correctly.
The combined results indicated that the researchers’ idea was convincing.
1. What is the existing theory about animals’ statistical reasoning based on
A. Brain processing is never unique to humans.
B. Animals are smart enough to perform reasoning.
C. Animals with larger bodies have larger brains.
D. Brain size is positively related to intelligence.
2. What does the underlined word “oppugned” in Paragraph 3 probably mean
A. Declared. B. Applauded. C. Explained. D. Questioned.
3. What made giraffes the ideal subjects of this study
A. Their brains are small compared with their bodies.
B. They eat carrots in preference to zucchinis.
C. They are good at making predictions.
D. Their ability to interact with humans is relatively good.
4. Why did the research team introduce a special approach to the study
A. To determine whether giraffes prefer carrots or zucchinis.
B. To rule out the effect of giraffes’ quantity discrimination.
C. To observe the giraffes’ behavior in different situations.
D. To test the giraffes’ ability to perform basic counting.
5. What did the test results show
A. Giraffes rely on visual information to make food choices.
B. Giraffes’ sense of proportion is limited.
C. Giraffes are capable of statistical reasoning.
D. Giraffes’ food preferences can be changed through training.
05（25-26高三上·天津北辰·阶段练习）In a 350,000 square feet Amazon warehouse(仓库), a robot called Sparrow is working. Using computer vision and AI, Amazon says Sparrow can identify most of its products, tell which is damaged, and adjust its “hand” to handle different objects — all jobs once done by humans. Sparrow is just one of these robots. Other innovations include a green robot called Proteus, capable of shifting heavy loads, and a drone (无人机), which allows the company to deliver 500 million packages by air. The 2020s will be the “age of applied robotics”, said Tye Brady, chief technologist at Amazon Robotics.
In recent years, Amazon has become one of the world’s largest private employers. That growth has not come without pain. Robot packers, robot movers and robot deliveries could be an answer to issues caused by using human labor. People have predicted that robots will damage the labour market for decades. Economist John Maynard Keynes foretold that widespread technological unemployment was coming due to our discovery of means of saving the use of labour developing faster than the pace at which we could find new uses for labor.
“I just don’t see that at all,” said Brady. “More robots will boost the efficiency of warehouses, which means that they can store more goods, that Amazon will sell more stuff, and that more people will be needed to make sure everything runs smoothly. The need for people to solve problems and use common sense will always be there. We are nowhere near that with robotics. It’s not even close.”
Brady may be right on job numbers. A recent report said there was “little support” for the idea that the new era of smart machines would lead to job destruction, but there is no fixed number of jobs and new ones take their place. Warehouse jobs, for example, replaced retail jobs as online shopping weakened shopping malls.
But all this change isn’t necessarily good for workers. In a paper, co-authors Beth Gutelius and Nik Theodore concluded that tech innovations at warehouses were unlikely to cost significant jobs. But, they argued, employers “may use technology in ways that decrease the skill requirements of jobs in order to reduce training times and turnover costs. This could create unfavorable effects on workers, such as the wage fall and job insecurity.”
Such arguments are unlikely to slow Amazon’s robot revolution. “We will react to what customers want and if they want their toothpaste faster, we will help them get their toothpaste faster,” Brady said.
1. What does the author mean to show by introducing Sparrow, Proteus and a drone
A. Amazon’s advanced robotic technology. B. Amazon’s clear trend in using robots to work.
C. The different division of labor among robots. D. The reason for Amazon’s quick delivery.
2. What aspect of robots does John stress in Paragraph 2
A. Their threat to the labour force. B. Their technological problems.
C. Their application prospects. D. Their potential application fields.
3. Which point does Brady miss in his statement according to the recent report
A. Amazon aims to offer large-scale employment in the future.
B. The increase in some jobs comes at the expense of others.
C. The new era of smart machines is just around the corner.
D. Robots have a long way to go to replace humans.
4. Which of the following might reflect Gutelius and Theodore’s opinion
A. Robots will take up some significant jobs.
B. Demanding jobs will be unnecessary in robotic ages.
C. Technology makes common workers more replaceable.
D. Skill requirements of jobs are becoming higher nowadays.
5. What is the author trying to do through the text
A. Promote the use of robots. B. Advertise smart products.
C. Express sympathy for workers. D. Report a controversial issue.
06（25-26高三上·天津·阶段练习）Koko the gorilla knew over 1,000 signs based on American Sign Language, and used them to do everything from asking for food to joking around. Her trainer and long-term companion, Penny Patterson, thought Koko went further still, signing in novel ways and showing complex emotions. According to Ms Patterson, when a cat that Koko loved was killed in an accident, Koko signed: “Cat, cry, have-sorry, Koko-love.” When Koko died last month, some of her obituaries (讣告) mourned the gorilla who had “mastered American sign language.
Then came the backlash, from linguists and experts in sign languages. Sign languages have complex grammars, equivalent to spoken tongues in expressiveness. Koko’s ability, it was pointed out, fell well short of a fluent human signer. Moreover, Ms Patterson was her interpreter, a role that invited the question of how much she was inferring what Koko “must have meant,” and explaining away random signs. It was hard to be sure: Ms Patterson preferred speaking to journalists over sharing her video and raw data about Koko with fellow researchers.
There is no doubt that animals communicate. Animals from one region can share sounds that differ from groups in another, leading researchers to talk of animal “dialects.” Then there are the remarkable achievements of Koko and her primate predecessors, including a chimp delightfully named Nim Chimpsky. Yet there is an important distinction between communication and language. Take the misleading term “body language.” It is sometimes claimed that words convey just 7% of meaning, and that body language and tone of voice do the rest. This wildly overstretches an old study which found that most emotional messageing — as opposed to the propositional kind — comes from tone and body language, especially when a neutral word such as “maybe” was used. But try conveying a fact like “It will rain on Tuesday” with your eyebrows, and the difference becomes clear. Language allows for clear statements, questions and commands.
Nim Chimpsky's near-namesake, Noam Chomsky, has argued that people have a kind of “universal grammar”, and that all humankind's languages are mere variations on a theme. Mr Chomsky has changed his mind repeatedly on what constitutes the core of human language, but one obvious candidate is syntax — rules, not just words, which allow the construction of a huge variety of meaningful utterances (所说的话). This capacity may even be infinite. Any statement in English, for example, can be made longer by adding “He said that …” at the beginning. This property is called recursion: a simple statement (“It’s cold”) is embedded (嵌入) in a more complicated one (“He said that it’s cold”). Human syntax also allows for hypotheticals (假设) (“If she hadn’t arrived ...”), talking precisely about events distant from the present, and so much more.
That gorillas lack syntax should not blind humans to their magnificence. But the fact that Koko could communicate should not mislead observers into thinking she possessed language.
1. What is the main purpose of the passage
A. To prove that animals like Koko can master human language perfectly.
B. To discuss the difference between animal communication and human language.
C. To criticize Patterson for not sharing her research data with the public.
D. To explain why syntax is the most important part of human language.
2. The underlined word in Para.2 is closest in meaning to “_______”.
A. approval B. bias C. opposition D. evidence
3. Why did Linguists and sign language experts doubt Koko’s mastery of American sign language because_______.
A. Koko was not as expressive as a human signer
B. Koko seldom needed an interpreter
C. Koko was able to communicate with journalists
D. Koko failed to speak several animal “dialects”
4. Which of the following statements would the author probably disagree with
A. Humans can express past events using language while apes cannot.
B. Tone and body language play a dominant role in human communication.
C. Words enable humans to convey clear meanings.
D. Gorillas are still magnificent in terms of their ability to communicate.
5. Which might be the best title for the article
A. Nim Chimpsky and Noam Chomsky — Who Has the Upper Hand
B. Syntax — What Separates Humans and Apes.
C. Koko the Gorilla — A Magnificent Communicator.
D. Great Apes — Language and Communication Are Not the Same Thing.
07（25-26高三上·天津红桥·阶段练习）Fresh peas often take so long to reach grocery stores that they usually lose their original flavor and texture (质地) when you eat them. Frozen peas, which are frozen within hours of being picked, keep their sweetness and crispness, not to mention their bright color.
While people in cold climates have been preserving food by freezing for longer than we probably can record, in the early 20th century, processed food companies had a lot to learn when it came to making defrosted (解冻的) fish and other foodstuffs delicious. Frozen food always took on a depressingly mushy texture (糊状质地).
The idea of making food eatable for the future by freezing had been appealing for quite some time. Sir Francis Bacon, the famous statesman who is behind what we now call the scientific method — in which an observation leads to a question that can be tested-conducted a food — freezing experiment in 1626. Bacon noticed food could be stored longer in winter, so he had a chicken’s body stuffed with snow to see if it would be well preserved. His death soon after prohibited him from continuing the experiment, but the concept had legs.
A turning point in the frozen food industry’s history came when Clarence Birdseye, a naturalist, lived in Labrador between 1912 and 1915. There he learned about the customs of the Inuit, who would go ice fishing and then let their catch immediately freeze in the very cold air. When this frozen fish, which was left out in the cold, was eventually cooked, it tasted fresh and delicious. He applied the same method to cabbages, and it worked wonderfully.
Later, Birdseye launched a series of inventions using the idea of quick freezing. However, frozen food didn’t find its feet then. Large numbers of Americans first tasted frozen food in the 1940s, during World War II, when there was a shortage of canned goods. Even more significant was the fact that while men were off fighting, women took jobs outside the home, causing them to seek faster ways to fix meals.
It took trial and error to discover the foods that froze well and to improve refrigeration in transportation systems, in stores, and in people’s homes.
1. What challenge did processed food companies face in the early 20th century
A. To promote sales of frozen products.
B. To harvest ripe vegetables in a short time.
C. To keep the original color of frozen products.
D. To preserve the flavor and texture of defrosted food.
2. What was the purpose of Sir Francis Bacon’s experiment in 1626
A. To study the properties of snow.
B. To test food preservation by freezing
C. To find the best way of preserving food.
D. To improve a traditional scientific method.
3. What did Clarence Birdseye learn from the Inuit
A. Cooking skills mattered a lot to flavor.
B. Ice fishing could be a health-giving activity.
C. Quick freezing helped keep food’s favor and freshness.
D. Certain frozen products offered superior taste and quality.
4. What did World War II mean to frozen food
A. It drove a great increase in frozen food consumption.
B. It resulted in a sudden rise in the price of frozen food.
C. It posed a challenge to the transportation of frozen food.
D. It redirected frozen food producers’ focus to canned goods.
5. Which of the following is the best title for the text
A. The Challenges and Misunderstandings of Frozen Food
B. Frozen Food:A Good Alternative to Fresh Food
C. The History and Development of Frozen Food
D. Clarence Birdseye: A Pioneer of Frozen Food
08（25-26高三上·天津红桥·阶段练习）Sharing is considered an altruistic (利他的) behavior. Altruism is an action that benefits the receiver but not the giver. Donating blood, for example, can be considered altruistic because the donor sacrifices (牺牲) a vital bodily liquid. But other than feeling proud, the donor doesn’t receive anything in exchange for that.
Humans are social creatures and have developed to rely on each other for survival, but some scholars have debated whether humans are truly altruistic or have other motivations, such as the need to feel good about themselves.
Scholars have also debated the role of altruism in animal behavior. Charles Darwin struggled to fit altruism into his theory of natural selection because he knew some species made sacrifices without any personal benefit. With honeybees, for example, some bees postponed reproducing their own children in order to support others’ young.
In 1964, another naturalist put forward an explanation — known as “Hamilton’s Rule”. This theory explained that there was an inborn drive to pass on genetic material, and that drive motivated altruistic behavior in sharing resources with blood relations in need. Hamilton’s Rule has been used to explain altruistic behavior in animals, as well as humans. Experts have debated the theory, as it fails to pay attention to how social ranks might force sharing behavior.
In a 1984 study, biologist Gerald S. Wilkinson observed that when a wild vampire bat who failed to feed returned, they may ask for a blood donation. If another bat was willing to make a donation, the two would put their heads together so the hungry bat could feed on blood from the other’s mouth;otherwise, it would push the other bat away or simply turn away.
However, females only shared with females, while males were not included unless they were still young. Mean bats weren’t part of the sharing network and were often turned down. So what makes a bat sacrifice its blood Reciprocity (相互性). “The advantage of sharing increases the potential that there will be someone to repay them in the future,” Wilkinson says.
In a follow-up study, Wilkinson found that most of the sharing pairs,almost 67 percent, were genetically unrelated, which apparently contravenes the fundamental assumptions of Hamilton’s Rule.
1. How does the author introduce the topic of the text in the opening paragraph
A. By explaining a concept through a real-world case.
B. By introducing a behavior with a fictional situation.
C. By presenting an opposing view to attract readers.
D. By arguing against a common misunderstanding.
2. The primary purpose of the honeybee example is to ______ .
A. contrast animals’ altruism and humans’
B. show the social structures of honeybees
C. challenge Darwin’s natural selection theory
D. demonstrate resource sharing among species
3. Which of the following matches the core of Hamilton’s Rule
A. Altruism is a learned behavior in animals.
B. Animals tend to share during emergencies.
C. Altruism occurs among biological relatives.
D. Animals share to maintain their social status.
4. What mainly drives vampire bats’ altruistic behavior
A. Genetic relatedness.
B. Age-based social ranks.
C. Gender-based competition.
D. Social benefits from each other.
5. What does the underlined word “contravenes” mean in the last paragraph
A. Emphasizes. B. Goes against. C. Publicizes. D. Reflects upon.
09（25-26高三上·天津滨海新·阶段练习）Hundreds of people die at sea every year due to ship and airplane accidents. Emergency teams have little time to rescue those in the water because the probability of finding a person alive falls dramatically after six hours. Beyond tides and challenging weather conditions, unsteady coastal currents often make search and rescue operations extremely difficult.
New insight into coastal flows gained by an international research team led by Geroge Haller, Professor of Nonlinear Dynamics at ETH Zurich, promises to enhance the search and rescue techniques currently in use. Using tools from dynamical systems theory and ocean data, the team has developed an algorithm to predict where objects and people floating in water will go. “Our work has a clear potential to save lives,” says Mattia Serra, the first author of a study recently published in Nature Communications.
In today’s rescue operation at sea, complicated models of ocean dynamics and weather forecasting are used to predict the path of floating objects. For fast-changing coastal waters, however, such predictions are often inaccurate due to uncertain boundaries and missing data. As a result, a search may be launched in the wrong location, causing a loss of precious time.
Haller’s research team obtained mathematical results predicting that objects floating on the ocean’s surface should gather along a few special curves (曲线) which they call Transient Attracting Profiles (TRAPs). These curves can’t be seen with our eyes but can be tracked from instant ocean surface current data using recent mathematical methods developed by the ETH team. This enables quick and precise planning of search paths that are less sensitive to uncertainties in the time and place of the accident.
In cooperation with a team from MIT, the ETH team tested their new, TRAP-based search algorithm in two separate ocean experiments near Martha’s Vineyard, which is on the northeastern coast of the United States. Working from the same real-time data available to the Coast Guard, the team successfully identified TRAPs in the region in real-time. They found that buoys and manikins (浮标和人体模型) thrown in the water indeed quickly gathered along these emerging curves. “Of several competing approaches tested in the project, this was the only algorithm that consistently found the right location,” says Haller.
“Our results are rapidly obtained, easy to interpret, and cheap to perform,” points out Serra. Haller stresses: “Our hope is that this method will become a standard part of the tool kit of coast guards everywhere.”
1. In a search and rescue operation, ________.
A. the survival rate drops to almost zero after six hours
B. the use of dynamics leads to the wrong location
C. weather conditions are a determining factor
D. changing currents present a challenge
2. The main significance of the new algorithm is ________.
A. accurately predicting weather conditions during rescue operations
B. dependence on satellite technology to locate distressed individuals at sea
C. cost-effective, efficient tracking of objects and individuals in coastal waters
D. predicting the exact time and location of ocean accidents
3. What is the meaning of the underlined word in paragraph 2
A. a mathematical way of operating data B. a principle in science and technology
C. a software to locate anything floated D. an approach to rescue lives
4. Paragraph 5 mainly talks about ________.
A. the collection of data B. the testing of the algorithm
C. the identification of the TRAPs D. the cooperation of two research teams
5. Which of the following is the best title for the passage
A. How Mathematics Can Save Lives at Sea
B. How Coastal Waters Affect Saving Lives
C. Why Algorithms Are Popular in Rescue Operations
D. Why Success Rates of Rescue Operations Have Fallen
10（25-26高三上·天津·阶段练习）Here’s how the Pacific Northwest is preparing for “The Big One”. It’s the mother of all disaster drills for what could be the worst disaster in American history. California has spent years preparing for “The Big One” — the inevitable earthquake that will undoubtedly unleash all kinds of havoc along the famous San Andreas fault (断层). But what if the fault that runs along the Pacific Northwest delivers a gigantic earthquake of its own If the people of the Cascadia region have anything to do with it, they won’t be caught unawares.
The region is engaged in a multi-day earthquake-and-tsunami (海啸) drill involving around 20,000 people. The Cascadia Rising drill gives area residents and emergency responders a chance to practice what to do in case of a 9.0-magnitude earthquake and tsunami along one of the nation’s dangerous — and underestimated — faults.
The Cascadia Earthquake Zone is big enough to compete with San Andreas (it’s been called the most dangerous fault in America), but it’s much lesser known than its California cousin. Nearly 700 miles long, the earthquake zone is located by the North American Plate off the coast of Pacific British Columbia, Washington, Oregon and Northern California.
Cascadia is what’s known as a “megathrust” fault. Megathrusts are created in earthquake zones — land plate boundaries where two plates converge (汇聚). In the areas where one plate is beneath another, stress builds up over time. During a megathrust event, all of that stress releases and some of the world’s most powerful earthquakes occur. Remember the 9.1 earthquake and tsunami in the Indian Ocean off Sumatra in 2004 It was caused by a megathrust event as the India plate moved beneath the Burma micro-plate.
The last time a major earthquake occurred along the Cascadia fault was in 1700, so officials worry that another event could occur any time. To prevent that event from becoming a catastrophe, first responders will join members of the public in rehearsals that involve communication, evacuation, search and rescue, and other scenarios.
Thousands of casualties (伤亡) are expected if a 9.0 earthquake were to occur. First, the earthquake would shake metropolitan areas including Seattle and Portland. This could trigger a tsunami that would create havoc along the coast. Not all casualties can necessarily be prevented — but by coordinating across local, state, and even national borders, officials hope that the worst-case scenario can be averted. On the exercise’s website, officials explain that the report they prepare during this rehearsal will inform disaster management for years to come.
For hundreds of thousands of Cascadia residents, “The Big One” isn’t a question of if, only when. And it’s never too early to get ready for the inevitable.
1. What does “The Big One” refer to
A. A gigantic geological fault.
B. A massive natural catastrophe.
C. A large-scale exercise to prepare for disasters.
D. A huge tsunami on the California coast.
2. What is the purpose of the Cascadia Rising drill
A. To increase residents’ awareness of upcoming disasters.
B. To teach people how to adapt to post-disaster life.
C. To cope with the consequence of a possible earthquake.
D. To prepare people for a major earthquake and tsunami.
3. What happens in case of a megathrust earthquake according to the passage
A. Two plates merge into one. B. Enormous stress is released.
C. A variety of forces converge. D. Boundaries blur between plates.
4. What do the officials hope to achieve through the drills
A. Coordinating various disaster-relief efforts.
B. Reducing casualties in the event of a disaster.
C. Minimizing property loss caused by disasters.
D. Establishing disaster and emergency management.
5. What does the author say about “The Big One”
A. Its occurrence is just a matter of time.
B. Whether it will occur remains to be seen.
C. How it will arrive is too early to predict.
D. It keeps haunting Cascadia residents.
11（25-26高三上·天津津南·阶段练习）It’s essential for parents to teach their kids financial responsibility and that money should be earned. Still many child-development experts agree that tying a child’s allowance to chores (家务劳动) can be a slippery slope. Here’s why.
Susie Walton, master instructor at Peace in Your Home advises to keep chores and allowances totally separate. “Allowance is one thing. When it comes to chores, life skills, responsibilities — that’s a whole different thing,” says Walton.
Walton says, “When kids aren’t doing a chore, you don’t say, ‘Well, there goes your allowance.’ You’re going to sit them down and ask what’s going on. ‘We’re a team. We’re a family. We’ve got to have them done.”
Besides, by paying children for chores with an allowance, you’ll also be sending the message that work isn’t worth doing unless they’re getting paid for it.
There are times when it would make sense to pay kids for chores. Most financial and child-development experts agree that it’s a fine idea to pay children money for extra jobs that are outside their normal set of chores, such as washing windows, washing the car or helping to clean out the garage— especially if the child is saving for a big item. This may even develop an entrepreneurial (企业家的) spirit to think outside of the box to earn money.
For parents who are concerned that their children won’t learn the value of a dollar if the allowance isn’t tied to household chores, note that there are still plenty of money management skills to be learned from a straight allowance. Depending on the age, kids can be made responsible for paying for their own toys or snacks. Some parents even require that kids set aside a percentage of their allowance towards savings.
“I really like having my own money,” says Kevin, 9. “It’s up to me if I want to buy the cheap toy now, or save and get the better toy.” And that’s a good lesson to learn at 9 years old.
No matter which allowance route you take in parenthood, kids will feel empowered by being able to handle their own money.
1. Which of the following would Susie Walton probably agree with
A. Kids should be paid for doing chores all the time.
B. A child’s allowance shouldn’t be tied to chores.
C. Doing chores teaches kids the value of work.
D. Kids shouldn’t be forced to do chores at home.
2. According to Susie Walton, if kids don’t do chores, parents should ________
A. teach them the entrepreneurial spirit
B. give them a smaller allowance than usual
C. talk to them about family responsibilities
D. punish them by not giving them allowance
3. In Para. 6, “a straight allowance” probably means “________”.
A. money earned by kids themselves by doing part-time jobs
B. money given by charity organizations
C. money given by parents and not dependent on chores
D. money earned by doing everyday chores
4. What is the author’s attitude towards Kevin’s action
A. Unfavorable. B. Worried. C. Doubtful. D. Approving.
5. The text is mainly about ________.
A. the importance of kids helping parents with chores
B. whether parents should pay kids for chores
C. the advantages of kids handling their own money
D. parents should give kids regular allowances
12（25-26高三上·天津武清·开学考试）The call to “know yourself” has been there since ancient times, but our sense of self doesn’t always match what others perceive. Considering the stories we tell about ourselves can help us to change our minds for better.
For many years, psychologists saw identity as a combination of someone’s values, beliefs, goals and social roles. Then, in the 1980s, Bob Johnson created the life story model of identity, in which he proposes that, as we go through life, these core features are built in with our memories to create a personal story through which we understand our lives.
Our life story is something that starts coming together in our teenage years, when we begin to organise our lives into chapters around key events or life changes, and begin to see ourselves as both the central character and, to a varying extent, the story’s author. People with more consistent stories tend to have a stronger sense of identity, and they feel their life has more meaning, direction and sense of purpose. Such people show greater overall life satisfaction, too.
Johnson has also investigated the link between well-being and certain story themes. He discovered that whether someone describes having had some control over events in their past is an important predictor of a person’s mental health. Another key theme involves finding some kind of positive meaning after stressful events. “People could talk about gaining knowledge or personal growth,” says Johnson. His research shows that this is often missing for people with mental health conditions. The good news is that there is evidence we can learn to change our own story.
Lisa Green, another researcher, sounds a few notes of caution (谨慎). For instance, hearing about the power of redemptive (拯救性的) stories, many people may feel forced to find a positive angle on horrible events. She says that Western culture already pushes people to look for the silver lining behind every cloud.
If you want to turn over a new leaf, though, one top tip is that it helps to choose a significant date that signals the start of a new “chapter”. Contrary to popular doubt, resolutions made on 1 January are more effective for this reason. So, whether your goal is saving money or getting fit, there is no better time to become the author of our own destiny (命运).
1. Which statement about personal identity is true according to the passage
A. Childhood memories played the dominant role in shaping personal identity.
B. Psychologists originally viewed identity as constructed through life narratives.
C. External perceptions mattered more than self-reflection in identity formation.
D. Early theories defined identity through values, beliefs, goals and social roles.
2. What can be inferred about personal stories
A. They are unrelated to health. B. They are relevant to happiness.
C. Thematic ones hold back change. D. Consistent ones lead to stress.
3. What can we learn from this passage
A. The West tends to overvalue optimism.
B. New Year resolutions are well received.
C. Talking about gains from failure is negative.
D. Social roles fail to be highlighted.
4. What does the author mainly do in this passage
A. Clarify a goal. B. Illustrate an approach.
C. Make a comparison. D. Analyse an event.
5. What is the author’s attitude toward the life story model of identity proposed by Bob Johnson
A. Skeptical and dismissive. B. Enthusiastically supportive.
C. Objective with cautious approval. D. Ambiguous and uncertain.
6. What is the passage mainly about
A. How personal stories raise doubts. B. How story-tellers are made.
C. How self-identity works. D. How timing affects personal identity.
答案解析
真题练习
01（2024·天津·高考真题）Research sometimes proves, with data, what we more or less already know（e. g. Exercise is good for you, and polluted air isn’t）. Still, sometimes our assumptions are incorrect, and scientific findings surprise researchers, along with the rest of us. A recent example is the phenomenon of disappearing lakes in parts of the frozen treeless Arctic（北极的） region.
You might think these lakes would be expanding, not disappearing. As climate change warms the region — melting（融化）surface snow and ice as well as the permafrost（永冻层）— there should be more surface water, forming larger lakes and even new ones. Recently, however, scientists have observed not just shrinking（缩小的） lakes but lakes that have completely gone away.
Many scientists shared the commonsense expectation that as permafrost melted, lakes would at first expand with meltwater flowing into them. Eventually, researchers made a prediction that progressive warming during the 21st and 22nd centuries would dry out the Arctic, and lakes would begin to shrink. But now it looks as if Arctic lakes are disappearing a century sooner than predicted. A case in point is that some large, age-old lakes shrank dramatically in what appears to have been a matter of months. Scientists have labeled this phenomenon “disastrous lake loss”
What caused this The frozen solid ground actually contains bits of rock, mineral and organic matter, leaving spaces in between. And because these spaces are filled with solid ice, liquid water cannot readily get inside, but it can when the permafrost melts, allowing more water to get through. Soon after that, around 192 lakes in northwestern Alaska are gone from sight.
Why did scientists miss this One probable reason is that most climate models assume that the melting of permafrost is driven only by warming air.
New evidence suggests, however, that rainfall — particularly increasing autumn rain — is now contributing significantly to permafrost loss. The rainfall carries heat into the ground. Yet none of the existing models includes such processes.
That is a good example of why — no matter how complex our models are or may one day be — we need direct observation of the natural world.
1．What does Paragraph 1 mainly tell us
A．General knowledge can at times turn out to be true.
B．Commonsense assumptions can sometimes prove wrong.
C．Research findings should be built on popular assumptions.
D．Scientific research is inspired by an unknown phenomenon.
2. Contrary to the general expectation, climate change has caused ________.
A. a rapid rise of water surface B. the permafrost to melt faster
C. many Arctic lakes to grow larger D. the disappearance of many Arctic lakes
3. The disastrous climatic impacts on the Arctic region have been ________.
A. proved with emerging lakes B. underestimated by scientists
C. well predicted by researchers D. shown elsewhere in the world
4. Why is the frozen Arctic ground hard for water to get through
A. Because of the solid ice within it.
B. Because of its unique composition.
C. Because it is far away from the waters.
D. Because snow rarely melts on frozen ground.
5. What lesson can we learn from the passage
A. Direct observation is a must for scientific research.
B. Scientific research is guaranteed by sufficient lab facilities.
C. New evidence should be found to back up research findings.
D. Scientific predictio