wings and feathers were quite different from those of birds today.
Looking closely at the fossils, scientists found that ancient feathers contained many layers of long feathers, like a penguin's. This made the wings rather heavy and difficult for birds to move up and down. “We don't think these things could take off from the ground,\the study. “They can’t fly like a modern bird.”
This is why scientists concluded that early feathers were only used by birds to glide (滑翔)from high trees, or keep warm, or maybe as camouflage (伪装),but not flying, according to National Geographic.
Over the next millions of years, the evolution of feathers never stopped. Birds developed wings that included a layer of long feathers covered with short feathers on top. This structure allowed birds to separate their feathers more easily to create wider span (翼展）and to change directions in midair. They have also grown special wrist bones so that they can spread their wings when flying and fold them into their sides when walking.
\specially on how feathers came to be the way they are today---one of the most amazing and highly specialized structures in nature,\said Jakob Vinther, from the University of Bristol UK.
1. According to the article, scientists conclude that early birds__________。 A. could already fly high B. only used feathers to keep warm C. could only leap and glide D. could easily open their wings wide 2. Modern birds are different from their ancestors in that________。 A. they have layers of long feathers
B. they have special wrist bones so that they can change directions in midair C. they have a layer of long feathers topped with a layer of short feathers D. they have teeth in the mouth and long bony tails
3. What is critical in finding out how feathers came to be the way they are? A. Fossils of ancient birds. B. Tapes of old times.
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C. Comparing features of reptiles and birds. D. Studying bones and structures of modern birds. 4. The passage mainly aims to_。
A. explore how birds looked 150 million years ago.
B. explore how modern birds developed from ancient reptiles. C. list all the fossils of ancient birds recently discovered. D. look at the evolution of feathers that enabled birds to fly. 参考答案1—4、CCAD
阅读下列短文, 从给的四个选项 (A、B、C和D) 中, 选出最佳选项。 体裁：记叙文 话题：关爱动物 时间：7分钟
My husband and I had just opened up a pet sitting business earlier that year.Our customers had slowly risen from three to thirty a month.We were busy through those hot summer months，driving between visits.Our services were strictly held at the pet owner's home.It was almost too busy for the two of us，but we were making good money! We asked pet owners new to our services to phone two weeks ahead so we had enough time to meet the owners and pets at their homes and make any following meeting before the owner leaves.
One day，we decided to take on a new customer just two days before they would leave.We met the family，filled in a form，and spent some time with their dog，Hercules.He playfully jumped on us and touched our hands and arms using his tongue.The family laughed as he did this，showing us that he was very loving.
Two days later I appeared at the house，alone.I came up to Hercules and said hello happily.I filled up his water bowl and cleaned any messes he made.Meanwhile，he was so lovely sitting beside.I thought this would be the good picture to send to the owners，a usual service.After the light and “click” sound went off，Hercules rushed at me.I didn't know what had just happened until I noticed the drops of blood.I ran out and did the only thing—calling my husband.
Then I went to neighbors for help.My husband arrived after ten minutes.The helpful neighbor and my husband led Hercules back into his pen(圈)．Then my husband and I took off to the hospital.
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I must have looked like I was shot when I walked into the hospital.The nurses quickly moved me to a room.I asked the doctor in a weak but playful manner，“Am I going to die？” He replied，“Finally.”
【语篇导读】 本文是一篇记叙文。作者和她丈夫从事给别人看护宠物的工作，工作非常繁忙。有一次，作者外出照看宠物却发生了意外。
1．According to the text，the author's work was ______. A．tiring and dangerous C．well paid
B．easy and free D．done outdoors
解析 细节理解题。根据文章第一段的最后两句可知，作者和她丈夫的工作主要是在客户家里进行的，他们非常忙碌，但是报酬是很高的。故选C项。 答案 C
2．What did the author often do during her work? A．Cleaning the clients' house. B．Walking the pets outside.
C．Bringing the pets to her own house. D．Taking a photo of pets to the owners.
解析 细节理解题。根据第四段第五句“I thought this would be the good picture to send to the owners，a usual service.”可知，D项正确。 答案 D
3．It can be inferred from the text that the author was attacked because ______. A．Hercules feared the sound and flash B．the author attacked Hercules first C．Hercules was very hungry then D．the author treated Hercules badly
解析 推理判断题。根据第四段倒数第三句和倒数第二句可知，在作者拍照的时候，随着相机发出闪光和咔嚓声后，Hercules袭击了作者。由此可推知，Hercules害怕相机的闪光灯和咔嚓声。 答案 A
4．The doctor's answer gave us a sense of ______. A．anger C．carelessness
B．humor D．patience
解析 推理判断题。根据文章最后一段，作者问医生“我要死了吗？”，医生的回答是“最终会的”可知，作者这次是没有生命危险的，而医生的回答给读者一种幽默感。 答案 B
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2016高考训练题。阅读理解。
阅读下列短文，从每题所给的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中，选出最佳选项。
It is quite reasonable to blame traffic jams, the cost of gas and the great speed of modern life, but manners on the road are becoming horrible．Everybody knows that the nicest men would become fierce tigers behind the wheel．It is all right to have a tiger in a cage, but to have one in the driver’s seat is another matter altogether. Road politeness is not only good manners, but good sense too．It takes the most cool-headed drivers great patience to give up the desire to beat back when forced to face rude driving．On the other hand, a little politeness goes a long way towards reducing the possibility of quarrelling and fighting．A friendly nod or a wave of thanks in answer to an act of politeness helps to create an atmosphere of good will and calm so necessary in modern traffic condition．But such behaviors of politeness are by no means enough．Many drivers nowadays don’t even seem able to recognize politeness when they see it.
However, misplaced politeness can also be dangerous．Typical examples are the driver who waves a child crossing the street at a wrong place into the path of oncoming cars that may be not able to stop in time．The same goes for encouraging old ladies to cross the road wherever and whenever they want to．It always amazes me that the highways are not covered with the dead bodies of these grannies (奶奶).
An experienced driver, whose manners are faultless, told me it would help if drivers learnt to correctly join in traffic stream without causing total blockages that give rise to unpleasant feelings．Unfortunately, modern drivers can’t even learn to drive．Years ago, experts warned us that the fast increase of the car ownership would demand more give-and-take from all road users．It is high time for all of us to take this message to heart.
1．According to the passage, troubles on the road are often caused by .
A．road conditions B．the behavior of the drivers C．the speed of modern life D．the large number of cars
2．In the writer’s opinion, .
A．unskillful drivers should be punished
B．strict traffic rules are badly needed C．drivers should show road politeness properly
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