1．Big cats have existed on the earth for millions of years，though scientists aren't sure exactly how long．But a new study indicates that a skull（顱骨） of a snow leopard（豹） relative that was recently unearthed is 4.4million years old．That makes it the oldest big cat fossil（化石） ever found．
A team of US and Chinese scientists unearthed the skull in Tibet．This creature is not a direct ancestor to big cats，but it is closely related to the snow leopard，study leader Jack Tseng told the Associated Press．The fossil lends evidence to the belief that big cats existed in Asia and spread out from there．
Big cats are at the top of the food chain and have few predators of their own．Big cats include snow leopards，clouded leopards，tigers and lions．Based on genetic judgements，most scientists believe they first existed in Central Asia．But previously，the oldest known big cat fossil was 3.6million years old and found in Africa．
The new fossil findings were published in the November 13 issue of the science journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B：Biological Sciences．Tseng and his team were fossil hunting in the Himalayas in 2010when they discovered some bones，including the buried cat skull．The researchers were able to determine its age by studying the surrounding rocks and soil．The skull indicates that the animal was about the size of a clouded leopard，which can grow up to 50pounds．In 2012，the team returned to unearth more cat bones．
David Polly from Indiana University told the Associated Press that the fossil is"convincingly older than the current record holder"．He added that there could be even older big cat fossils in the Tibetan plateau to uncover．

24．What does the newly unearthed skull proveA？
A．Big cats might have their origins in Asia．
B．The oldest fossil is 4.4million years old．
C．The snow leopard is the oldest big cat．
D．The skull is of big cats'direct ancestor．
25．What does the underlined word in Paragraph 3 meanB？
A．relatives．
B．enemies．
C．partners．
D．protectors
26．How do the researchers know the skull's ageD？
A．By measuring its size and forehead．
B．By examining other bones around it．
C．By studying its chemical composition．
D．By exploring the rocks and soil around it．
27．Where was"the current record holder"in the last paragraph foundB？
A．Asia．
B．Africa．
C．America．
D．Australia．

分析 一項新的研究表明，最近出土的一個大概來源于400多萬年前的像豹子的頭骨，使人們發(fā)現(xiàn)了古老的大型貓科動物化石．本文講述的是科學(xué)家們對此化石的研究與對大型貓科動物歷史的一些猜測．

解答 24．A．細節(jié)理解題．根據(jù)文章第二段"The fossil lends evidence to the belief that big cats existed in Asia and spread out from there"，可知，新的研究證明大型貓科動物最早存在于亞洲．故選A．
25．B．詞義猜測題．根據(jù)原句"Big cats are at the top of the food chain and have few predators of their own"，可知，大型貓科動物處于食物鏈的頂端，很少有自己的 predators．可推測，食物頂端的天敵比較少．因此"predators"是天敵，捕食者之意．結(jié)合選項，"enemies"是敵人之意．故選B．
26．D．細節(jié)理解題．根據(jù)文章第四段"The researchers were able to determine its age by studying the surrounding rocks and soil"，可知，研究人員根據(jù)它周圍的巖石及土壤來判斷頭骨的年齡．故選D．
27．B．細節(jié)理解題．"the current record holder"意為"目前的記錄保持者"．根據(jù)文章第三段"But previously，the oldest known big cat fossil was 3.6 million years old and found in Africa"，可知，原來記錄中發(fā)現(xiàn)的最古老的化石來自非洲．故選B．

點評 本文為人文地理類閱讀．此類文章解釋說明文居多．說明文的解題關(guān)鍵在于抓住文章第一段內(nèi)容，通常該部分就是文章的中心思想．說明文是對事物的形狀、性質(zhì)、特征、成果或功用等進行介紹，解釋或闡述的文章．把握所說明事物的特征和本質(zhì)是理解說明文的關(guān)鍵．說明事物特征的方法很多，主要有定義法、解釋法、比較法、比喻法、數(shù)字法、圖表法、引用法和舉例法等．

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科目：高中英語 來源： 題型：閱讀理解

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科目：高中英語 來源： 題型：閱讀理解

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科目：高中英語 來源： 題型：閱讀理解

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Cost：free When：May 8
Trip 2  Garland Valley
Bring your binoculars（雙筒望遠鏡）and lunch for this walk in a beautiful area of the Blue Mountains．Garland Valley is close to the town of Garland but is also part of the National Park．A lot of wild animals live in this area，including many rare birds．This is a great walk for bird-lovers．The trip lasts four hours．Bookings essential．
Cost：﹩15     When：May 8，May 15
Trip 3  Flashlight Adventure
Put on some warm clothes，bring a flashlight and come for a night walk along the Dungog Valley．A guide will lead the tour．Many of the animals you see on this trip can only be seen at night．The guide will tell you about the habits of the animals you see．Numbers are strictly limited on night trips，so be sure to book early．This walk lasts two and a half hours．
Cost：﹩12   When：May 8，May 15，May 22
Essential Equipment：
●Please bring enough water and food for all walks．
●Wear good walking shoes-no high heels or sandals．
●Wear a hat for day walks．
●Dress warmly for night walks．
●Children must be accompanied by an adult．
●Make sure your flashlight works well and bring extra batteries for night walks．
●Follow all instructions from guides during the walks．The mountains can be danger-ous．
Booking：
Bookings for the above trips can be made by telephone at 893-4847 or on the Inter-net www．bluemountaintour．com

66．Trip l is free most probably becauseC．
A．there have been several fires in the area
B．it lasts for a very short time
C．you must do some helping job on this trip
D．black bears are not rare animals
67．Trip 2 offers you a great opportunity toB．
A．have lunch in the valley
B．watch rare birds
C．count wild animals
D．work for the National Park
68．Which of the following is NOT necessary for Trip 3？D
A．Good walking shoes．    
B．Food and water．
C．A flashlight．    
D．A hat．
69．If you want to take all the trips but would not tire yourself out，you'd better takeAfirst．
A．Trip l    B．Trip 2    C Trip 3    D．a(chǎn)nother trip
70．Which of the following would be the best title for the passage？D
A．Wild animals in the National Park  
B．Hunting in the Great Mountains
C．Great Tips for Great Trips    
D．Discovery Trips in the Blue Mountains．

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