阅读理解练习模拟。
Neanderthal teeth are much more difficult to characterize: the front teeth are large, with strong roots, but the back teeth may be relatively small. This feature may have been an adaptation to cope with heavy tooth wear.
11. What does the passage mainly discuss?
A. The eating habits of the Neanderthals
B. A comparison of various prehistoric populations
C. The physical characteristics of the Neanderthals
D. The effect of climate on human development
12. The author describes the Neanderthal as being all of the following EXCEPT
A. short
B. swift
C. strong
D. stocky
13. Where in the passage does the author specifically stress the contrast between the Neanderthal face and that of other biologically related populations?
A. Lines 1—4
B. Lines 6—10
C. Lines 11—12
D. Lines 20—23
14. Which of the following explanations is NOT cited as a possible explanation of the Neanderthal's streamlined face shape?
A. Some jaw muscles had limited use.
B. The facial features were well adapted to the cold.
C. The front teeth were particularly important.
D. The nose was set far back in the skull.
15. In line 23, the author uses the expression "heavy tooth wear" to imply that the Neanderthals
A. had unusually heavy teeth
B. used their teeth extensively
C. regularly pulled out their teeth
D. used teeth for ornamentation
Passage 4
Much attention is presently being given to what is termed "functional illiteracy". This should not be confused with the problem of illiteracy, that is, the inability to read and write. Current United Nations (UNESCO) figures indicate that 99 percent of all Americans are literate, the same figure assigned to nations such as Britain, Germany. Functional illiteracy, by contrast, is concerned with how much difficulty people have in actually using and writing skills in everyday situations. This might be interpreted, for example, as the relative ability to understand federal income tax forms, or printed instructions, or how well someone can write a letter of complaint, or apply in writing for a job.
There are no agreedupon definitions of what functional illiteracy is and, in practice, definitions vary widely. For many years, reading tests have been used throughout the country which define reading ability by grade level. "Tenthgrade reading level" for instance, would be the average reading score of all pupils who have completed ten years of school. There are, of course, many different reading tests and types of tests. One definition of functional illiteracy holds that anyone is "illiterate" who reads at less that an eighthgrade level. Another common definition uses a twelfthgrade level (the last year of high school in the U.S.).
There seems to be general agreement that at least onetenth of all Americans are functionally illiterate in English to some degree. It is also hardly surprising that those nations which (like the U.S.) have paid most attention to this concept, and which have nationwide testing, have found the greatest problems. As one educator humorously put it, "Reading tests cause illiteracy". Canada, for example, which also has a large nonEnglishspeaking immigrant population, has recently found that many of her citizens, too, are functionally illiterate. The attention given to this problem, therefore, reflects the fact that in North America schools as well as pupils are continually tested.
16. What does "illiteracy" mean?
A. Ability to read and write.
B. Ability to appreciate literature.
C. Lack of interest in literature.
D. Inability to read and write.
17. Which of the following is most probably functionally illiterate?
A. One who reaches tenth grade reading level.
B. One who reaches eighth grade reading level.
C. One who reaches twelfth grade reading level.
D. Not known yet.
18. It can be learned from the passage that .
A. Canada and the U.S. have functionally illiterate population because they hardly paid any attention to the problem
B. functional illiteracy may have been caused at least in part by unsuccessful design of reading tests
C. nonEnglishspeaking immigrant population constitute the majority of all the functionally illiterate
D. it is impractical to determine what functional illiteracy really is as different situations set different requirements
19. It can be inferred that .
A. over onetenth of American population have difficulty in using and writing skills in everyday situations
B. in North America nationwide tests are given to test pupils' functional literacy
C. Canadians are generally at a higher level of functional literacy than Americans are
D. teaching of English reading and writing has turned out to be a failure in Canada and the U.S.
20. This passage was written mainly to .
A. analyze different definitions of functional illiteracy
B. discuss the reasons for functional illiteracy
C. compare ways to get rid of illiteracy
D. introduce the problem of functional illiteracy
1.分析与解答：正确答案为D。
2.分析与解答：正确答案为B。
3.分析与解答：正确答案为B。
4.分析与解答：正确答案为B。
5.分析与解答：正确答案为C。
6.分析与解答：正确答案为C。
7.分析与解答：正确答案为D
8.分析与解答：正确答案为D。
9.分析与解答：正确答案为A。
10.分析与解答：正确答案为B
11.分析与解答：正确答案为C。
12.分析与解答：正确答案为B
13.分析与解答：正确答案为C。
14.分析与解答：正确答案为D。
15.分析与解答：正确答案为B
16.分析与解答：正确答案为D。
17.分析与解答：正确答案为D
18.分析与解答：正确答案为D
19.分析与解答：正确答案为A。
20.分析与解答：正确答案为D
