Now let’s look ourselves as a species in relation to ecosystem balance.Modern scientists believe that humankind, like other animals, evolved(进化) through millions of years of changes and adaptations to the environment and that our most direct evolutionary ancestor was probably an earlier species of the primate(monkey, ape) group. Despite this similarity with other creatures, however, the evolution of humankind differs from that of other species in one important and unique way.
In other species, evolution has led to specialization, both in the species abilities and in its place within the environmental structure. For example, the giraffe is much adapted to feeding on treetops, but it is also specialized and thus limited to feeding on trees and shrubs. Only with great difficulty can it bend down to graze on the ground. Similarly, the anteater is extremely well adapted to eating ants but is unable to catch or eat other animals. The same is true for countless other species.
For humankind it is opposite. Our evolution had led to a very generalized ability. Our highly developed intelligence and ability to make and handle tools mean that we can do almost anything. Humans evolved in such a way that we are able to move into every environment on Earth and even into space. No natural competitor offers great resistance, and other natural enemies such as disease have been controlled.
Said another way, we see in humankind a great imbalance between biological potential and environmental resistance. The result is the rapidly increasing world population, frequently referred to as the population explosion. Further, to support our growing population, natural ecosystems are being increasingly displaced by human habitations, agriculture, and other human supporting activities.
小题1:From the passage we can infer that in the course of evolution _______.
A．humankind is very important to earlier species, such as the primate group
B．human beings are limited by the environment while animals are not
C．human beings become more and more different from each other
D．humankind has experienced a generalization rather than specialization in ability小题2:According to the passage, primate includes such animals as _______.
A．monkeys and anteaters
B．tigers and apes
C．apes and monkeys
D．monkeys and giraffes小题3:According to the passage, evolution has made it possible for humans to _______.
A．increase the population
B．resist natural offers
C．go to the moon
D．cure all diseases小题4:According to the author, imbalance between biological potential and environ mental resistance has resulted in _______.
A．the population explosion
B．the destruction of human habitations
C．the growth of natural ecosystem
D．the specialization of humans
小题1:D
小题2:C
小题3:C
小题4:A
题目分析：
小题1:推理题，由前两段对人类和其他的生物的进化过程的比较可知人类经历了一个泛化的能力而不是专门的能力。故选D.
小题2:细节题，由第一段probably an earlier species of the primate(monkey, ape) group.可知primate包括猩猩和猴子等，故选C。
小题3:推理题，由Humans evolved in such a way that we are able to move into every environment on Earth and even into space.可知人们有可能进入太空，故选C.
小题4:细节题，由we see in humankind a great imbalance between biological potential and environmental resistance. The result is the rapidly increasing world population,可知生物潜能和环境承受能力之间的不平衡主要是人口的剧增导致的。故选A。
点评：本文主要讲述了人类的进化，以及与其他生物进化的区别。首先通读全文，了解基本大意，然后根据提问理解细节，选出正确选项。考查考生的阅读理解能力。