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1、优点英语高中英语时文阅读外刊精选精练专题21黑巨人因环境变化而灭绝【原文外刊阅读】Gigantopithecus blacki extinct after failure to adapt to environmental changes（文章来源：Global Times）Chinese, Australian and US researchers have revealed more about the extinction of the Gigantopithecus blacki great ape in their latest joint study, which was publ
2、ished in Nature on Thursday. The study found that Gigantopithecus blacki became extinct between 295,000 and 215,000 years ago due to being unable to adapt its food preferences and behavior, as well as being vulnerable to the changing climate, the Global Times learned from the Institute of Vertebrate
3、 Paleontology and Paleoanthropology (IVPP) and the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS).With a height of about three meters and weight of about 250 kilograms, Gigantopithecus blacki is the largest primate that has ever existed on the Earth. It is a very distant human ancestor. Gigantopithecus blacki on
4、ce roamed the karst plains of southern China and became extinct before humans arrived in the region, leaving around 2,000 fossilized teeth and four jawbones among the only signs of their existence. The story of Gigantopithecus blacki is an enigma in paleontology - how could such a mighty creature go
5、 extinct at a time when other primates were adapting and surviving? The unresolved cause of its disappearance has become a mystery in the field, said Zhang Yingqi, a Chinese paleontologist from the IVPP and co-lead author of the study.According to Zhang, the IVPP has been excavating for Gigantopithe
6、cus blacki remains in southern China for more than 10 years, but could figure out the cause of its extinction through consistent environmental analysis. Definitive evidence revealing the story of the giant apes extinction came from a large-scale evidence collecting project on 22 cave sites spread ac
7、ross a wide region of South Chinas Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Its a major challenge to present a defined cause for the extinction of a species. At first, we should figure out the exact time when a species disappears from the fossil record so that we can conduct an environmental reconstruction
8、 and behavior assessment, said Kira Westaway, a geochronologist associate professor from Macquarie University who is another co-lead author of the study. Without robust dating, you are simply looking for clues in the wrong places, Westaway said.Six different dating techniques were applied to analyze
9、 the cave sediments and fossils. Luminescence dating, which measures a light-sensitive signal found in the burial sediments that encased the Gigantopithecus blacki fossils, was the primary technique, supported by uranium series (US) and electron-spin resonance (US-ESR) dating of the Gigantopithecus
10、blacki teeth themselves. By direct-dating the fossil remains, the scientists confirmed the fossils age aligns with the luminescence sequence in the sediments where they were found, providing a comprehensive and reliable chronology for the extinction of Gigantopithecus blacki.Using detailed pollen an
11、alysis, fauna reconstructions, stable isotope analysis of the teeth and a detailed analysis of the cave sediments at a micro level, the team established the environmental conditions when Gigantopithecus blacki went extinct. Then, using trace element and dental microwear mark textural analysis (DMTA)
12、 of the apes teeth, the team built a comparison model between when it was flourishing and when it was close to extinction. According to scientists, tooth tissue contains rich information related to species feeding behavior that can be used to interpret in depth whether they are facing survival press
13、ure, the diversity of their food, the regularity of their feeding behavior and their activity range.The findings show Gigantopithecus blacki went extinct between 295,000 and 215,000 years ago, much earlier than previously assumed. Before that time, Gigantopithecus blacki flourished in a rich and div
14、erse forest environment. However, by 700,000 to 600,000 years ago, the increased seasonality in the forest led to diversification of the environment and change in the structure of the forest communities. Orangutans (genus Pongo) - a close relative of Gigantopithecus blacki - adapted in size, behavio
15、r and habitat preferences as conditions changed. However, Gigantopithecus blacki relied on a less nutritious food source when its preferences were unavailable. At the same time, they grew larger and bulkier, and their geographical range for feeding was greatly reduced. Therefore, its population face
16、d long-term survival pressure and continued to shrink, eventually becoming extinct.It was Gigantopithecus blackis stubbornness and conservatism that led to its demise, Zhang noted. As the specter of a sixth mass extinction looms over us, we urgently need to understand why species become extinct. As
17、with the story of the extinction of Gigantopithecus blacki, exploring unresolved extinction events in the past will help us to understand the resilience of primates and the fate of other large animals in the past and into the future, Westaway noted.【原创阅读理解】1.According to the joint study published in
18、 Nature, what were the primary factors that led to the extinction of Gigantopithecus blacki?A. Lack of suitable habitats.B. Inability to adapt food preferences and behavior.C. Competition with other primate species.D. Overhunting by humans.【答案】B【解析】根据文章，Gigantopithecus blacki的灭绝主要原因是无法适应食物偏好和行为的变化，以
19、及对气候变化的脆弱性。故选B项。2.How did the researchers determine the age of Gigantopithecus blacki fossils?A. By analyzing the size and weight of the fossils.B. Through detailed pollen analysis.C. Using luminescence dating and other dating techniques.D. By studying the geographical range of Gigantopithecus black
20、i.【答案】C【解析】研究人员通过使用发光测年和其他日期技术来确定Gigantopithecus blacki化石的年龄。故选C项。3.What environmental changes contributed to Gigantopithecus blackis extinction?A. Increase in seasonality in the forest.B. Adaptation of orangutans in size, behavior, and habitat preferences.C. Availability of a less nutritious food s
21、ource.D. Growth of Gigantopithecus blacki population.【答案】A【解析】文章提到，在70-60万年前，森林季节性的增加导致了环境的多样化和森林群落结构的改变，这是导致Gigantopithecus blacki灭绝的环境变化之一。故选A项。【精选名校好题】（2024河南模拟预测）Most of us have an unclear memory of learning about the Pythagorean Theorem (勾股定理) many years ago in math class.If youre anything like
22、 us writer-types, that 2,000-year-old theorem went in one ear, and immediately out the other! But for two students at St. Marys Academy in New Orleans, Louisiana, the theorem presented a challenge they simply couldnt resist taking on. As a reminder for those of us who arent potential mathematicians,
23、 the Pythagorean Theorem is the basis of trigonometry (三角学). For over 2,000 years, math scholars have stated its impossible to use trigonometry to prove the Pythagorean Theorem because doing so would be circular logic. In other words, an idea cannot prove itself.Calcea Johnson and NeKiya Jackson hav
24、e challenged that concept in their new abstract. The two high school seniors recently presented their abstract in front of the American Mathematical Society (AMS) at their annual southeastern conference. Unsurprisingly, they were the only teenagers there in a sea of math scholars! Their abstract sta
25、tes, “We present a new proof of the Pythagorean Theorem which is based on a fundamental result in trigonometry.” In plain English, that means Calcea and NeKiya proved the theorem using trigonometry after all, and without using circular reasoning.How did a pair of teenagers solve a riddle that has st
26、umped so many mathematicians before them? Countless math scholars can do nothing facing this theorem. According to Calcea and NeKiya, they have their teachers to thank!The St. Marys school slogan is “No Excellence Without Hard Labor”, and they mean it! Both girls say their teachers push them to thin
27、k outside the box and encourage them to discover new concepts. “We have really great teachers,” NeKiya said with a smile. Calcea is proud of herself and her friend for doing something no other high school students have ever done.1What does the author think of the Pythagorean Theorem in paragraph 2?A
28、It has too short a history.BIts unattractive to writers.CIts too academic to understand.DIt needs to be proved once more.2What did Calcea and NeKiya do about the theorem in front of the AMS?AThey proved it using trigonometry.BThey showed it was based on trigonometry.CThey said circular reasoning cou
29、ldnt prove it.DThey introduced a kind of theory similar to it.3What does the underlined word “stumped” in paragraph 4 mean?AHelped.BExcited.CPuzzled.DChanged.4What do Calcea and NeKiyas teachers ask them to do?AThink creatively.BAct independently.CStudy curiously.DLive thankfully.【答案】1B 2B 3C 4A【导语】
30、本文为一篇说明文。文章介绍了两位青年Calcea Johnson和NeKiya Jackson提出了一个关于勾股定理的新证明，这个证明是基于三角学的一个基本结果。这个成就源于她们老师对她们的鼓励。1细节理解题。根据文章第二段“If youre anything like us writer-types, that 2,000-year-old theorem went in one ear, and immediately out the other! (如果你和我们作家类型的人一样，这个2000年前的定理一只耳朵进，另一只耳朵出！)”可知，勾股定理对于作家类型的人没有吸引力。故选B。2推理判
31、断题。根据文章第三段“Calcea Johnson and NeKiya Jackson have challenged that concept in their new abstract. The two high school seniors recently presented their abstract in front of the American Mathematical Society(AMS) at their annual southeastern conference. (Calcea Johnson和NeKiya Jackson在他们的新抽象中挑战了这一概念。这两位
32、高中毕业生最近在美国数学学会(AMS)的东南年度会议上展示了他们的摘要)”以及“Their abstract states, “We present a new proof of the Pythagorean Theorem which is based on a fundamental result in trigonometry.” In plain English. that means Calcea and NeKiya proved the theorem using trigonometry after all, and without using circular reason
33、ing. (他们的摘要是这样写的：“我们提出了一个关于毕达哥拉斯定理的新证明，这个证明是基于三角学的一个基本结果。”用简单的英语说。这意味着Calcea和NeKiya终究是用三角学证明了这个定理，而不是用循环推理)”可知，这两位高中毕业生最近在美国数学学会(AMS)的东南年度会议上展示了他们的摘要，在摘要中她们用三角学证明了勾股定理。故选B。3词句猜测题。根据划线词下文“Countless math scholars can do nothing facing this theorem. (面对这个定理，无数数学学者束手无策)”可知，这个定理让无数数学学者束手无测，难以解开。所以，此处指的是“
34、一个让人难住的谜团”。由此可知，划线词stumped与puzzled“使困惑”意思接近。故选C。4细节理解题。根据文章最后一段“Both girls say their teachers push them to think outside the box and encourage them to discover new concepts. (两个女孩都说，她们的老师鼓励她们打破常规思考，鼓励她们发现新概念)”可知，她们的老师鼓励她们打破常规思考，要有创新性思维。故选A。（2023黑龙江期末联考）Researchers at the University of Washington cre
35、ated a new web app, Self-Talk with Superhero Zip, aimed to help children develop skills like self-awareness and emotional management.At first, some parents were wary: In a world of Siri and Alexa, they are skeptical that the makers of such technologies are putting childrens welfare first.In Self-Tal
36、k with Superhero Zip, a chatbot guided pairs of siblings through lessons. The UW team found that, after speaking with the app for a week, most children could explain the concept of supportive self-talk and apply it in their daily lives. And kids whod engaged in negative self-talk before the study we
37、re able to turn that habit positive.The UW team published its findings in June at the 2023 Interaction Design and Children conference. The app is still a prototype (雏形) and is not yet publicly available. Previous studies have shown children can learn various tasks and abilities from chatbots. Yet li
38、ttle research explores how chatbots can help kids effectively acquire socioemotional skills.“There is room to design child-centric experiences with a chatbot that provide fun and educational practice opportunities,” said senior author Alexis Hiniker, an associate professor in the UW Information Scho
39、ol. “Over the last few decades, television programs like Sesame Street, Mister Rogers, and Daniel Tigers Neighborhood have shown that it is possible for TV to help kids cultivate socioemotional skills. We asked: Can we make a space where kids can practice these skills in an interactive app? We wante
40、d to create something useful and fun a Sesame Street experience for a smart speaker.”The length of these effects isnt clear, researchers note. The study spanned just one week and the tendency for survey participants to respond in ways that make them look good could lead kids to speak positively abou
41、t the apps effects.“Our goal is to make the app accessible to a wider audience in the future,” said lead author Chris (Yue) Fu, a UW doctoral student in the iSchool. “Were exploring the integration of large language models the systems that power tech like ChatGPT into our prototype and we plan to wo
42、rk with content creators to adapt existing socioemotional learning materials into our system. The hope is that these will facilitate more prolonged and effective interventions.”5What can we learn about Self-Talk?AIt encouraged kids to engage in positive talking.BIt could help kids explain complicate
43、d concepts.CIt could be already downloaded from UWs website.DIt was welcomed by parents like Siri and Alexa.6“Sesame Street” is mentioned in this passage to show _ of Self-Talk.AThe primary function. BThe promising prospect.CThe new-found popularity.DThe historical background.7Which may the follow-u
44、p research include?ALarger amounts of kinds of languages.BMore characters with different background.CNew technology adopted like ChatGPT.DLonger studies in more natural settings.8It can be inferred from the last paragraph that the Self-Talk will _.AAdapt socioemotional material and reform the educat
45、ion system.BExplore powerful technology and improve its effectiveness.CPromote socioemotional learning and provide ongoing support.DCombine large language models and lengthen its service time.【答案】5A 6B 7D 8C【导语】这是一篇说明文。文章主要介绍了一个名为Self-Talk的应用程序旨在帮助孩子们培养自我意识和情绪管理等技能。5细节理解题。根据第三段“In Self-Talk with Sup
46、erhero Zip, a chatbot guided pairs of siblings through lessons. The UW team found that, after speaking with the app for a week, most children could explain the concept of supportive self-talk and apply it in their daily lives.(在与超级英雄Zip的自言自语中，一个聊天机器人指导兄弟姐妹们学习课程。华盛顿大学的研究小组发现，在与应用程序交谈一周后，大多数孩子都能解释支持性自
47、我对话的概念，并将其应用到日常生活中)”可知，Self-Talk鼓励孩子们进行积极的对话。故选A。6推理判断题。根据第五段“There is room to design child-centric experiences with a chatbot that provide fun and educational practice opportunities(通过聊天机器人设计以儿童为中心的体验是有空间的，它可以提供有趣和有教育意义的实践机会)”以及“We asked: Can we make a space where kids can practice these skills in
48、an interactive app? We wanted to create something useful and fun a Sesame Street experience for a smart speaker.”(我们的问题是：我们能否创造一个空间，让孩子们在一个互动应用程序中练习这些技能？我们想创造一些有用又有趣的东西为智能音箱创造一种芝麻街的体验。”)”可推知，提到Sesame Street是为了表明Self-Talk 这个应用程序是有前景，有未来的。故选B。7推理判断题。根据第六段“The length of these effects isnt clear, researchers note. The study spanned just one week and the tendency for survey participants to respond in ways that make them look good could lead kids to speak positively about the apps effects.(研究人员指出，这些影响的持续时间尚不清楚。这项