Every day we experience one of the wonders of the world around us without even realizing it. It is not the amazing complexity of television, nor the impressive technology of transport. The universal wonder we share and experience is our ability to make noise without mouths, and so transmit ideas and thoughts to each other's minds. This ability comes so naturally that we tend to forget what a miracle (奇迹) it is.
Obviously, the ability to talk is something that marks humans off from animal. Of course, some animals have powers just as amazing, Birds can fly thousands miles by \observing positions of the stars in the sky in relation to the time of day and year. In Nature's talent show, humans are a species of animal that have developed their own special act. If we reduce it to basic terms, it's an ability for communicating information to others, by varying sounds we make as we breathe out.
Not that we don't have other powers of communication. Our facial expressions convey our emotions, such as anger, or joy, or disappointment. The way we hold our heads can indicate to others whether we are happy or sad. This is so-called "body language". Bristling (直立的) fur is an unmistakable warning of attack among many animals. Similarly, the bowed head or drooping tail shows a readiness to take second place in any animal gathering.
Such a means of communication is a basic mechanism that animals, including human beings, instinctively acquire and display. Is the ability to speak just another sort of instinct? If so, how did human beings acquire this amazing skills ? Biologist can readily indicate that particular area of our brain where speech mechanisms function, but this doesn't tell us how that part of our bodies originated in our biological history.
本文是介绍关于人类使用语言的能力的说明文, 主要阐述人区分动物的特殊能力及其相似性。
( ) 1. According to the passage, the wonder we take for granted is .
A. our ability to use language
B. the miracle of technology
C. the amazing power of nature
D. our ability to make noises with mouth
答案：A
考点：细节理解题。
题目: 根据文章, 我们认为理所当然的奇迹是:
A: 我们使用语言的能力
B: 技术的奇迹
C: 自然的惊人力量
D: 我们用嘴制造噪音的能力。
解析：根据第一段倒数第二句话The universal wonder we share and experience is our ability to make noise without mouths, and so transmit ideas and thoughts to each other's minds.可知: 我们把使用语言的能力这个奇迹当做理所当然。B, C选项与文章不符, 在第一段第二句话中可得知。D选项易误导学生, 在文章中虽然有原话, 但一句话没有说完, 关键是通过嘴巴发出的声音去给其他人传递信息。故D选项也是错误的。
( ) . What feature of "body language" mentioned in the passage is common to both human an animals?
A. Lifting heads when sad.
B. Keeping long faces when angry.
C. Bristling hair when ready to attack.
D. Bowing heads when willing to obey.
答案：D
考点：细节理解题。
题目: 文章中提到的"肢体语言"的什么特征对于人类和动物都是共同的:
A: 伤心时抬头
B: 愤怒时拉长脸
C: 准备攻击时直立毛皮
D: 乐意服从时低头
解析： 根据第三段最后一句话"Similarly, the bowed head or drooping tail shows ....."可知答案。A和B选项描绘的是人的肢体语言特征。C 选项描绘的是动物的肢体语言。
( ) . What can be inferred from Paragraph 3?
A. Body language is unique to humans.
B. Animals express emotions just as humans do.
C. Humans have other powers of communication.
D. Humans are no different from animals to some degree.
答案：D
考点：推理判断题。
题目: 从第三段可以推段出:
A: 肢体语言是人类独一无二的
B: 动物和人类一样表达情感
C: 人类有其他交流的能力
D: 人类在某种程度上和动物是相同的
解析： 根据第三段后三句话可知: 人类在某种程度上和动物没有不同。从段落中可得知A, B, C 均与文章不符。
( ). This passage is mainly about .
A. the development of body language.
B. the special role humans play in nature
C. the power to convey information to others
D. the difference between humans and animals in language use
答案：C
考点：主旨大意题。
题目: 这篇文章主要讲述什么?
A: 肢体语言的发展
B: 人类在自然中扮演的特殊角色
C: 给他人传递信息的力量
D: 人类和动物在语言使用中的差异
解析： 整篇文章谈论的都是给他人传递信息的力量, 使用语言的能力。A, B选项文章未提及. D选项较片面, 文章第三段中提到了相似点和差异二种。
