How a prehistoric predator took to the skies

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题目与答案

1. Pterosaurs are believed to have existed until the end of the Cretaceous period. They are classed as 27_____, which were capable of flight,
   • front feet
   • fish
   • dinosaurs
   • reptiles
   • flexibility
   • hind legs

   答案：reptiles

   原文定位：They are among the least understood of all the extinct reptiles that once spent their lives in the skies while the dinosaurs dominated the land

2. , unlike modern species, they had some 28_____, which is evidence of their having had warm blood.
   • front feet
   • fish
   • dinosaurs
   • reptiles
   • flexibility
   • hind legs

   答案：hair

   原文定位：Pterosaurs had no feathers, but at least part of their bodies was covered in hair, not unlike bats. Some believe this is an indication they were warm-blooded

   同义替换：「evidence of warm blood」↔「an indication they were warm-blooded」

3. There are two theories as to how they moved on land: perhaps with all their feet or by using their 29_____ only.
   • front feet
   • fish
   • dinosaurs
   • reptiles
   • flexibility
   • hind legs

   答案：hind legs

   原文定位：Researchers also debate whether pterosaurs travelled on the ground by walking on their hind legs, like birds, or by using all fours, relying on their threetoed front feet as well as their four-toed rear feet

   同义替换：「moved on land」↔「travelled on the ground」，「using their hind legs only」↔「walking on their hind legs」

4. Another mystery has concerned the ability of the pterosaur to fly despite its immense 30_____,
   • front feet
   • fish
   • dinosaurs
   • reptiles
   • flexibility
   • hind legs

   答案：weight

   原文定位：How, they wondered, did such a heavy creature ever manage to take off

   同义替换：「immense」↔「heavy」

5. , and the fact that the bones making up the wing did not have great 31_____.
   • front feet
   • fish
   • dinosaurs
   • reptiles
   • flexibility
   • hind legs

   答案：strength

   原文定位：How could a wing that appears to have been supported by fine, hollow bones have carried one into the sky

   同义替换：「the bones making up the wing」↔「a wing that appears to have been supported by fine, hollow bones」

6. Thanks to reptile fossils found in Brazil, we now know that the subspecies known as Anhanguera had wings that were 12 metres across and that it mainly survived on 32_____.
   • front feet
   • fish
   • dinosaurs
   • reptiles
   • flexibility
   • hind legs

   答案：fish

   原文定位：The anhanguera - a fisheating sub-species of pterosaur that ruled the skies in the Cretaceous period - was among them. With a wingspan of up to 12 metres

7. 33 It is rare to find a fossil of a pterosaur that clearly shows its skeleton.
   • YES
   • NO
   • NOT GIVEN

   答案：YES

   原文定位：The probability of finding three-dimensional pterosaur fossils anywhere is slim. That was quite a find,' he says. Their bones are usually crushed to dust

   同义替换：「rare」↔「slim probability」，「fossil that clearly shows its skeleton」↔「three-dimensional pterosaur fossils」

8. 34 The reason for building the model was to prove pterosaurs flew for long distances.
   • YES
   • NO
   • NOT GIVEN

   答案：NO

   原文定位：I've always been interested in how they managed to launch themselves, so I thought the real test would be to actually build one and fly it

9. 35 It is possible that pterosaur species achieved their wing size as a result of the pteroid.
   • YES
   • NO
   • NOT GIVEN

   答案：NOT GIVEN

   原文定位：This high-lift capability would have significantly reduced the minimum flight speed, allowing even the largest forms to take off without difficulty,' Wilkinson says. 'It would have enabled them to glide very slowly and may have been instrumental in the evolution of large size by the pterosaurs

10. 36 Wilkinson has made several unsuccessful replicas of the pterosaur's head.
    • YES
    • NO
    • NOT GIVEN

    答案：NOT GIVEN

    原文定位：Unlike an aircraft, which is stabilised by the tail wing at the back, the model is stabilised by its head, which means it can start spinning around. That's the most problematic bit as far as we're concerned,' Wilkinson says. 'We've had to take it flying without the head so far

11. 37 What was Professor Wilkinson's main problem, according to the third paragraph?
    • Early amphibians had a more complex structure than pterosaurs.
    • Pterosaur wings could easily be damaged while on the ground.
    • Flying squirrels and bats were better adapted to flying than pterosaurs.
    • Large pterosaurs were not able to take off like other flying animals.

    答案：Large pterosaurs were not able to take off like other flying animals.

    原文定位：Smaller subspecies flapped their wings during takeoff. That may have explained the creatures' flexibility, but it did not answer the most pressing question: how did such heavy animals manage to launch themselves into the sky

    同义替换：「Large pterosaurs」↔「heavy animals」，「take off」↔「launch themselves into the sky」

12. 38 What did Professor Wilkinson discover about a bone in pterosaurs called a pteroid?
    • It was in an unexpected position.
    • It existed only in large species of pterosaurs.
    • It allowed pterosaurs to glide rather than fly.
    • It increased the speed pterosaurs could reach in the air.

    答案：It was in an unexpected position.

    原文定位：It had previously been thought the pteroid pointed towards the shoulder of the creature and supported a soft forewing in front of the arm. But if that were the case, the forewing would have been too small and ineffectual for flight. However, to the surprise of many scientists, fossils from the Araripe basin showed the pteroid possibly faced the opposite way

    同义替换：「unexpected position」↔「to the surprise of many scientists」

13. 39 According to the writer, the main problem with the remote-controlled 'pterosaur' is that
    • it has been unable to leave the ground so far.
    • it cannot be controlled when its head is attached.
    • its wing material is not flexible enough.
    • the force of the wind may affect its test results.

    答案：it cannot be controlled when its head is attached.

    原文定位：Unlike an aircraft, which is stabilised by the tail wing at the back, the model is stabilised by its head, which means it can start spinning around. That's the most problematic bit as far as we're concerned,' Wilkinson says. 'We've had to take it flying without the head so far

14. 40 What does 'it' in the last sentence refer to?
    • the information the tests have revealed
    • Wilkinson's sense of achievement
    • Wilkinson's desire to build models
    • the comparison between types of models

    答案：Wilkinson's desire to build models

    原文定位：it's more likely we'll start off with one of the smaller, flapping pterosaurs.' This is certainly more reassuring. Let's hope he is content to leave it at that