问题 阅读理解与欣赏

阅读下面的文字,完成问题。

挑战达尔文

  英国伦敦大学的起源学教授史蒂夫·琼斯日前雄心勃勃地向物种起源学的开山鼻祖达尔文发起了挑战,并且发誓要写出一部比达尔文的巨著《物种起源》更完美的学术著作来。

  1858年,达尔文在伦敦将他的进化论公之于众,然而,这种150年后仍有科学意义的学说在当时不但没有引起任何的轰动,反而遭到当时科学界的冷嘲热讽。伦敦科学家协会的 * * 在当年的年会上说:“今年没有任何的发现。”当然了,神学界对这一学说更是恨之入骨。殊不知,达尔文提出的这一理论成了日后世界上影响最大的学说,并且因此创建了一门全新的学说——生物学。

  然而任何学说都有其时代的局限和不足之处,达尔文的物种起源学说也不例外。按琼斯教授的说法,达尔文最大的不足便是没有解释人类的起源这一最为人们关心、也是最重要的问题。在达尔文的《物种起源》中,有关人类起源的话只有一句:“人类的起源和它的历史总有一天会大白于天下。”此外,琼斯教授还认为,达尔文的学说在其广义理论上也有许多缺陷。

  针对达尔文进化论和《物种起源》一书的不足,琼斯教授提出了自己的科学观点,并且准备写一本巨著。琼斯在他的著作中第一个要阐明的重要观点就是人类的起源。他认为,人类这一当今地球上最高级的动物,“也许已经步出了进化”的历程,也就是说从生理上不再进化了,只是人类的思想和创造出的机器仍在进化中。此外,琼斯教授还认为,达尔文在提出进化理论时回避了机会在物种起源与生物演变中的重大作用。琼斯主张,进化不只是像达尔文所说的那样仅仅只是自然选择“优胜劣汰”的结果,机会在进化中也起了相当的作用。他指出,我们现在已经知道,有些物种的灭绝和进化是由于陨星撞击地球的结果,比如恐龙。他还举了个简单的例子说,大象产生的性激素与飞蛾产生的性激素化学成分完全相同,这当然容易造成大象的“误会”。琼斯说:“这对于飞蛾来说是危险的,然而这是进化中的一个失误,而绝不是自然选择的结果。”另外,琼斯教授还在他的著作中对当今世界上一些著名的科学家的进化理论提出挑战。他首先攻击美国哈佛大学教授斯蒂文·杰伊·古尔德和英国牛津大学教授查德·道金斯是以“古怪”的方式对待进化这一课题的。他认为,道金斯提出的“自私基因”之说,也就是,任何生命都是按基因的利益进行进化的,这一学说根本不足以说明生命有差异的原因。至于古尔德教授认为进化是突然间发生的,这与琼斯认为的进化是个逐步的过程的观点截然相反。琼斯教授满怀信心地说:“我的长处在于我对生物学有着特别宽的知识面。”琼斯教授打算用达尔文写《物种起源》的方式写成自己的著作,也就是说他将用大量的轶闻趣事、丰富的例子,从细胞到现代艺术各个方面来谈物种起源这个问题。(选自《青年参考》)

1.琼斯教授向达尔文学说提出挑战的原因是什么?

____________________________________________________________。

2.根据文意,归纳出达尔文理论的三点不足之处。

____________________________________________________________。

3.请归纳琼斯教授新进化论著作的主要内容。

____________________________________________________________。

4.琼斯教授关于著作体例的构想是什么?

____________________________________________________________。

答案

1.任何学说都有其时代的局限和不足之处,达尔文的物种起源学说也不例外。

2.①没有解释人类的起源这一最为人们关心,也是最重要的问题。

②达尔文的学说在其广义理论上有许多缺陷。

③达尔文在提出进化理论时回避了机会在物种起源与生命演变中的重大作用。

3.①阐明人类的起源。

②进化不仅仅只是自然选择“优胜劣汰”的结果,机会在进化中也起了相当大的作用。

③对当今其他进化理论提出挑战,否定了“自私基因”之说,认为进化是个逐步的过程。

4.①用达尔文写《物种起源》的方式写成自己的著作。

②从细胞到现代艺术的各个方面谈物种的起源。

阅读理解

Until a few months ago, he was a butler(管家) in one of the more expensive residential buildings in Manhattan. But now, Nepal-born Indra Tamang is the owner of two multi-million dollar apartments in the same building.

The former owner - his former employer, Ruth Ford - died last year and left the apartments  to Mr Tamang in her will.

Mr Tamang is happy but quickly points out that his good fortune did not come easily. "I am happy and have been touched by the generosity of the Ford family," he says. "I never expected that I will be given the ownership of these apartments. But I have been working for the family for the last 36 years, devotedly, with honesty and dedication(奉献). So my hard work has been rewarded."

Mr Tamang was 21 when he was brought from Nepal by Charles Ford, a writer and a photographer. Mr Ford died in 2002; his sister, actress Ruth Ford, then took charge and told Mr Tamang that he was like a brother to her after Charles's death.

Mrs Ford died aged 98. During the last five years of her life, she lost her eyesight and also developed speech problems. Mr Tamang looked after her most of the time and took care of her medicines and food.

He also worked with Charles Ford on various photography projects, which he now wants to keep as the photographer's legacy(遗产). He hopes to organize exhibitions of Mr Ford's photographs and edit a book of his works.

Mr Tamang plans to sell the bigger, three-bedroom apartment to pay the taxes he owes to the government on his legacy. He says: "The rules of the building might be a problem, as they require a minimum monthly income to qualify to live as owner of apartments. I have my small house here but I am happy with it,"

Mr Tamang has learnt his lesson from the life of his employers and plans to use his money with great caution. "I think one should save money for old age. That's when you need it the most to get care," he says. 

小题1:Mr Tamang treated the legacy as __________.

A.a reward

B.a punishment

C.business

D.a gift小题2:What DIDN’T Mr Tamang do in the Ford family?

A.Show Mr Ford's works in the exhibition.

B.Look after Ruth Ford when she was ill.

C.Work on kinds of photography projects

D.Experience deaths of Charles Ford and Ruth Ford小题3:Mr Tamang wants to sell one apartment to _______. 

A.buy the small house

B.pay the government the tax of the apartments

C.edit a book of Charles Ford's photographs

D.move into the expensive apartments as soon as possible小题4:What lesson does Mr Tamang learn from the Ford family? 

A.To find a good butler.

B.To spend money thoughtfully.

C.To save money for children.

D.To get good care when people get old.小题5:What can we know from the passage?

A.Charles Ford gave the apartments to Mr Tamang.

B.Charles Ford couldn't see or speak before his death.

C.Mr Tamang treated Ruth Ford much better than her brother.

D.Mr Tamang will still live in his small house in the near future.

单项选择题