kilograms have an average brain size of 200 cm2. Modern man has a brain averaging 1200-1400 cm2. We are so fond of our high intelligence that we assume that when it comes to brain power, more must be better. Unfortunately, that is not the case.
The fact is that a huge brain is a huge drain—consumption of energy—on the body. I's not easy to carry around, especially when boxed inside a massive skull(倾骨). It's even harder to provides energy. In modern man, the brain accounts for about 2-3%of total body weight but it consumes 25% of the body's energy when the body is at rest. By comparison, the brains of apes(类人猿)require only 8%of rest-time energy. Early humans pad for their large brains in two ways. Firstly, they spent more time in search food. Secondly, their muscles grew smaller and weaker. It's hardly an obvious conclusion that this is a good way to survive. A chimpanzee(黑猩猩) can't win an argument with a modern man, but it can tear the man apart like a rag doll.
Another unique human characteristic is that we walk upright. Standing up, it's easier to find food or enemies. In addition, their arms that are unnecessary for moving around are freed for other purposes, like throwing stones or signaling. As a result, humans can perform very complex tasks with their hands.
Yet walking upright has its disadvantage. The bone structure of our ancestors developed for millions of years to support a creature that walked on all fours and has a relatively small head. Adjusting to an upright position was quite a challenge, especially when the bones had to support an extra-large skull. Humankind paid for its broad vision and skillful hands backaches and painful necks.
We assume that a large brain makes huge advantages. It seems obvious that these have made humankind the most powerful animal on earth. But humans enjoyed all of these advantages for a full 2 million years during which they remained weak and marginal creature. Thus humans who lived a million years ago, despite their big brains and sharp stone tools, lived in constant fear of meat-eating animals.
The Cost of Thinking Introduction ? Large brains for their bodies and the ability to walk upright are two (71)_________ of human beings. The (72)_________ of ? The larger brains may not be better because of the cost. large human brains ? The big brains make it harder for the body to move around and consume more energy. ? The animal brain requires less (73)_________ when the body is at rest. 13
? Large human brains consume more food, and weaken muscles. The (74)_________ of ? Walking upright makes it easy to find food or (75)_________ walking upright against enemies. ? Freed hands can serve some (76)_________ purpose and perform complex tasks. ? Walking upright challenges the human bone structure, and (77)_________ the size of brains. ? Walking upright results in (78)_________ sufferings. Conclusion ? With a large brain, human beings (79)_________ other beings in terms of intelligence. ? Weak and marginal, human beings remained (80)_________ of meat-eating animals. 第五部分: 书面表达(满分25 分)
81.请阅读下面文字,并按照要求用英语写一篇150词左右的文章。 Li Jiang:Have you heard this?A group of exchange students from the UK are visiting our school next month. Su Hua:Yes,I have. Some are already recommending the traditional Chinese dress for the welcome ceremony. Li Jiang:But it seems people have different opinions. Su Hua:What do you think?
Li Jiang:I think it's a good idea. It's an opportunity to make the Chinese culture better known to international
students.
Su Hua:I agree. But we don't have to dress that way. That's not our daily style. Besides,it's not very convenient. Li Jiang:You see. It's the Chinese culture that the British friends are coming for. Just the right occasion. Su Hua:I prefer the school uniform. It's nice. It's also a better display of our school culture. 【写作内容】
1.用约30个词概括上述信息的主要内容;
2.在上述场合,你是否倾向于穿中国传统服装?请说明理由(不少于两点)。 【写作要求】
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1.写作过程中不能直接引用原文语句; 2.作文中不能出现真实姓名和学校名称; 3.不必写标题。 【评分标准】
内容完整,语言规范,语篇连贯,词数适当。
英语试题参考答案
第一部分(共20小题;每小题1分,共20分) 1.B 11.B
2.A 12.A
3.B 13.C
4.C 14.A
5.A 15.B
6.C 16.A
7.B 17.C
8.A 18.B
9.C 19.A
10.C 20.C
第二部分(共35小题;每小题1分,共35分) 21.C 31.C 41.B
22.B 32.A 42.A
23.D 33.B 43.B
24.D 34.B 44.D
25.B 35.D 45.D
26.A 36.D 46.C
27.A 28.C 37.B 47.A
38.C 48.D
29.D 39.A 49.C
30.A 40.C 50.D
51.B52.B53.C 54.A55.A
第三部分(共15小题;每小题2分,共30分) 56.A 66.B
57.C 67.A
58.D 68.C
59.A 69.D
60.C 70.B
61.D
62.A
63.B
64.B
65.C
第四部分(共10小题;每小题1分,共10分) 71.characteristics 76.other
72.disadvantages 77.limits
73.energy 78.physical
74.impact(s) 79.beat
75.guard 80.fearful/afraid
第五部分(满分25分) 81. Possible version one:
Li Jiang and Su Hua are discussing what to wear when receiving the British students next month. Li recommends the traditional Chinese dress while Su prefers the school uniform.
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I would be happy to wear traditional Chinese clothes at the welcome ceremony. Firstly, this is precisely what the British visitors are expecting. They come to learn about Chinese culture with their own eyes. Their Chinese peers in the typical Chinese dress would be highly impressive. The school uniforms are fine, but not special enough to give a unique Chinese flavour. Secondly, the inconvenience is not a problem if our purpose is to share Chinese culture. It is just the so-called inconvenience that displays the richness, delicacy and great fascination of Chinese culture with a history of thousands of years.
The traditional Chinese clothes, it seems to me, will make the occasion very Chinese and inviting to the British guests. (150 words)
Possible version two:
Li Jiang and Su Hua don't agree on what to wear when greeting the British students. Li suggests traditional Chinese clothes while Su thinks the school uniforms are more suitable.
I prefer the school uniform to the traditional Chinese dress at the welcome ceremony next month. Although the traditional Chinese dress may look more beautiful and stylish, it is a little bit strange to walk around in it. We feel at ease in our school uniforms every day. What's more, the traditional Chinese dress can't reflect the unique culture of our school. From the design and colour of our uniforms, the British friends will learn more about our school. Besides, the choice of the traditional Chinese dress means extra money, and extra time, for we have to change it back after the event.
So the school uniforms are a better choice than the traditional Chinese dress for such an occasion.
(150words)
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