Researchers from Aarhus University and University of Gothenburg have produced new maps of mammals (哺乳动物) to date connecting all living and recently extinct mammal kinds-nearly 6,000 in total.
Earlier similar studies always left out one key group of mammals: species driven to extinction by humans.
Scientists often use these maps to predict how climate change will affect species. And because the new ones show species’ footprints, they help scientists better see many species have had their numbers greatly reduced by humans, for example, through over hunting and the destroying of their habitats.
“Brown bears may lead us to think of Alaska or Russia today but they used to cover all the way from Mexico to Northern Africa before they were widely hunted by humans.” said Faurby.
We usually think large mammals like elephants and lions live in Africa today, but for most of the last 30 million years, big animals traveled all over the Earth. It was only recently that humans drove many of these large mammals extinct, leaving a world depauperate of large mammals.
“Even some huge species that we think of as prehistoric, lived up to the time the Great Pyramid was being built,” Davis said.
Making a database that included every species of mammal was no easy task. It took the research team at Aarhus University months just to piece together existing datasets and fill in missing holes in the data.
Marking footprints on the map for them was even harder. The scientists used both DNA information and data from some dig sites around the world with a powerful new computer algorithm (算法) to predict where the extinct species fit in with mammals that are alive today.
1. What’s the writer’s attitude towards the maps?| A．Positive. | B．Concerned. | C．Unclear | D．Doubtful. |
| A．Elephants and lions are all over the world now. |
| B．They died out long before the Pyramids were built. |
| C．Brown bears were once limited to Alaska or Russia. |
| D．They have been greatly affected by human activities. |
| A．Short of. | B．Full of. | C．Famous for. | D．Suitable for. |
| A．The computer algorithm is of great use. |
| B．It took ages to find DNA evidence. |
| C．Missing holes are pieced together. |
| D．It took a lot to complete the task. |
相似题推荐
【推荐1】Wonderful Benefîts Having a Family Pet You Need to Know
Family pets come in all shapes and sizes. Typically, a family pet can range from dogs and cats to birds, turtles, and many more.
Pets can help keep you fit. All dogs need daily, regular walks to stay healthy and happy, and so do people!
Pets make sure you never feel alone. The beauty of owning a family pet means you’ll never be alone!
Having a family pet at home can lower your stress levels.As you probably know, the modern way of living causes high levels of anxiety. And it can lead to countless health problems. Fortunately, pets can help us relax.For example, watching your fish swim can make your worries fade away.
All in all, family pets make a great companion and positively impact your life.
| A．Owning a family pet means lots of work. |
| B．A family pet can improve your social life. |
| C．Pet owners tend to have lower blood pressure. |
| D．It is also a good way to develop a new hobby. |
| E．Nevertheless, we sometimes tend to get a bit lazy. |
| F．Of course, this holds for any pet but especially dogs and cats. |
| G．Similarly, patting your cats or dogs can also has the same effect. |
【推荐2】Scientists in Australia thought they had developed a new tracking device to help them monitor magpies, but these intelligent birds had other ideas.
Initially, researchers planned a pilot study to learn more about the movements and social dynamics of magpie. The study was also designed to test the effectiveness of a new tracking device that would fit on small birds. “Instead, the birds outsmarted us,” explained Dominique Potvin, a zoologist at the University of the Sunshine Coast.
Most trackers are too big to fit on small sized birds, and small trackers tend to be limited when it comes to data storage, battery life, and reusability. The new trackers, which weighed less than one gram, would charge and send data wirelessly without needing to recapture the birds. They were attached to a rigid belt that could only be released with a magnet. The design was meant to be durable, except for a weak point where the magnet needed to function. Once the trackers were on, researchers could attract the previously trained birds back to an outdoor ground “feeding station” where the trackers could charge, and the team could download the data.
The team placed trackers on five magpies using their special belt. However, just ten minutes after setting up the last magpie, they noticed something unusual: an adult female without a tracker was busy trying to remove the device from a younger bird, eventually succeeding. This pattern was repeated in the following hour, and by the third day all trackers had been removed.
Researchers are unsure if the same female magpie removed all the devices or if multiple birds cooperated. However, “what we have observed is the first documented case of rescue behaviour in magpies”, according to the paper — something the researchers hadn’t considered going into the project.
But that’s how science works sometimes. The team didn’t get the data they wanted, but their experiment still produced interesting results.
1. Which is one of the purposes of the research?| A．To test magpie’s intelligence. | B．To design a creative device. |
| C．To compare different magpies. | D．To try out a new tracker. |
| A．It is for single use. | B．It is powered by the sun. |
| C．It is very convenient. | D．It is attached to a magnet. |
| A．By rubbing them on the ground. | B．By getting help from other magpies. |
| C．By waiting for the belt to loosen. | D．By going back to the feeding station. |
| A．Unexpected. | B．Misleading. | C．Unreliable. | D．Misunderstood. |
【推荐3】As is known to all, sleep is very important to humans. But it’s important to animals, too. At night you hardly hear a bird.
Sleeping together in large numbers is another way many birds use. By sleeping together, there are more birds to notice predators(捕食者).
When birds sleep, they protect vulnerable(易受伤害的) body parts by burying themselves in their feathers.
There is little data available about how long birds sleep once.
| A．A bird’s feathers help it keep warm. |
| B．Birds are rarely seen sleeping. |
| C．That’s because they’re sleeping at night, too. |
| D．It gives each bird a greater chance of survival. |
| E．A bird may be sleepy in the daytime for lack of sleep. |
| F．So the length of birds sleep per night is still unknown. |
| G．Unlike humans, birds can more carefully control their sleep. |
【推荐1】We have all experienced how easy it is for a smile to light up our day, improve our emotions and make it easier for us to recover from illnesses. But do you also know that smiling improves your chances of success in many aspects of your life?
Studies have shown that people are more likely to think that a smiling person is more confident than others. Smiling will inspire your boss to trust you on-a particular project. Standing in front of a group of people, a confident smile on your face indicates knowledge, competence. trustworthiness, and ability to carry out tasks efficiently. It also opens up the way to higher job earning opportunities.
If you meet a person for the first time and walk into the restaurant, the person is seated by the table, looking sad on the face. What would be your first thought? Either the person regrets the meeting or the person is troubled by other issues. The chances are more likely you wouldn't want to see the person anymore. Smiling makes a great first impression on anyone. Studies have shown that people are more likely to remember a person who has a friendly and sweet smile. This is because no one wants to have to deal with a person who is always worried. It is also a great way to ensure that you get callbacks from job interviews and other potential meetups.
When you smile, neurotransmitters, materials that are anti-stress, are released from your brain. They spread throughout the body,causing a happy feeling to take over the negative emotions Being positive gives you enough enthusiasm to go ahead and make more use of your day and be productive. In recent researches, it has been found that people who were unhappy with their work-life were less productive than others who loved their jobs.An individual who is not happy at what they do is unwilling to put in the efforts needed to go beyond the average. While the other who is positive is more likely to carry on more tasks and is more productive, gains more experience,and gets promoted more easily.
But when you are in an environment that is sad or pessimistic, it isn't easy to remain happy and optimistic. If you are caught up in a situation where something had gone wrong, and you are having a heavy heart, try looking for reasons to be happy,smile, and watch your day begin to change positively.
Do not forget that when you smile, you are not only making your day better but someone else's too. A smile is what it takes to make all the difference.
1. The author raises a question in Paragraph 1 mainly to________.| A．present an idea | B．settle an argument | C．lead in the experiments | D．attract the readers’ attention |
| A．is helpful in gaining knowledge | B．has both positive and negative effects |
| C．has effects on many aspects of your life | D．is a great way to make your more capable |
| A．tell readers the way to succeed | B．explain how to make a difference |
| C．show information about new studies | D．persuade readers to smile more often |
| A．why we should smile | B．how our attitude affects us |
| C．how to get on well with others | D．why we benefit from our optimism |
【推荐2】The goal of this book is to make the case for digital minimalism, including a detailed exploration of what it asks and why it works, and then to teach you how to adopt this philosophy if you decide it’s right for you.
To do so, I divided the book into two parts. In part one, I describe the philosophical foundations of digital minimalism, starting with an examination of the forces that are making so many people’s digital lives increasingly intolerable, before moving on to a detailed discussion of the digital minimalism philosophy.
Part one concludes by introducing my suggested method for adopting this philosophy: the digital declutter. This process requires you to step away from optional online activities for thirty days. At the end of the thirty days, you will then add back a small number of carefully chosen online activities that you believe will provide massive benefits to the things you value.
In the final chapter of part one, I’ll guide you through carrying out your own digital declutter. In doing so, I’ll draw on an experiment I ran in 2018 in which over 1,600 people agreed to perform a digital declutter. You’ll hear these participants’ stories and learn what strategies worked well for them, and what traps they encountered that you should avoid.
The second part of this book takes a closer look at some ideas that will help you cultivate (培养) a sustainable digital minimalism lifestyle. In these chapters, I examine issues such as the importance of solitude (独处) and the necessity of cultivating high-quality leisure to replace the time most now spend on mindless device use. Each chapter concludes with a collection of practices, which are designed to help you act on the big ideas of the chapter. You can view these practices as a toolbox meant to aid your efforts to build a minimalist lifestyle that works for your particular circumstances.
1. What is presented in the final chapter of part one?| A．Theoretical models. | B．Statistical methods. |
| C．Practical examples. | D．Historical analyses. |
| A．Use them as needed. | B．Recommend them to friends. |
| C．Evaluate their effects. | D．Identify the ideas behind them. |
【推荐3】Gravity signals that race through the ground at the speed of light could help seismologists(地震学家) get a better handle on the size of large, destructive quakes soon after they hit，a study suggests. The tiny changes in Earth’s gravitational field, created when the ground shifts, arrive at earthquake monitoring stations well before earthquake waves.
“The good thing we can do with these signals is have quick information on the magnitude (震级) of the quake,” says Martin Vaillée, a seismologist at the Paris Institute of Earth Physics.
Earthquake equipment in China and South Korea picked up gravity signals immediately after the magnitude-9. 1 Tohoku earthquake that destroyed parts of Japan in 2011. The signals appear as tiny accelerations on earthquake-recording equipment, more than a minute before the seismic waves show up.
“We can look before the earthquake waves arrive,” says Vallée. “If we see nothing, we can say that the quake that made these was maybe large, but not huge. If we see the signals, it means we really have a very big quake. ”
Had seismologists been monitoring for gravity changes, they might have realized sooner just how big the Tohoku earthquake was. A small increase in an earthquake’s magnitude means a large change in the energy released by the quake-and the destruction expected. That information is important for emergency responders as they decide what resources to arrange.
It’ll be a major contribution if gravitational waves can beat down the time needed to know that a big earthquake is big. But much work remains before gravity signals can be considered a reliable tool in the vital minutes after a big quake. A few extra minutes of warning can save lives, particularly in coastal areas where people can flee ahead of an incoming tsunami.
1. What can be judged if gravity signals appear on the equipment?| A．When earthquakes will take place. | B．When a terrible tsunami is coming |
| C．What degree an earthquake reaches. | D．How quickly a huge earthquake spreads. |
| A．It’s already been used to predict quakes. | B．It is not getting along quite well. |
| C．It is gating on smoothly. | D．It needs further research, |
| A．Predicting earthquakes successfully. |
| B．Offering a longer time to save lives. |
| C．Letting scientists better know earthquakes. |
| D．Replacing the present earthquake prediction. |
| A．Gravity signals could speedily warn of huge quakes |
| B．Scientists have more than one way to forecast quakes. |
| C．Human beings are no longer afraid of huge quakes. |
| D．Advanced technology could prevent huge quakes. |
【推荐1】In October this year, it was announced that the gray wolf would be removed from the U.S. Endangered Species List. While they will still be managed by state governments, gray wolves in the lower 48 states will no longer receive federal protections under the Endangered Species Act.
Throughout American history, gray wolves have been highly controversial. Once abundant across most of North America, gray wolves went nearly extinct due to poisoning, hunting and trapping, as human settlements expanded across the continent. At one point, hunters were awarded prizes for killing gray wolves which were seen as threats to livestock(家禽) on rural farms.
In the 1970s, as gray wolf populations continued to dwindle, the U.S. government took protective action, listing the animal as endangered. In 1995 and 1996, the government reintroduced gray wolves in Idaho and Wyoming’s Yellowstone National Park. From these locations, gray wolf populations expanded to other states. As of today, according to data from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the total gray wolf population stands at 6,000.
However, environmentalists have strongly criticized the gray wolf’s removal from the U.S. Endangered Species List. They view the decision as premature and potentially hurtful to wolves, which have not yet gained a strong foothold in many ecosystems.
Recently, citizens in Colorado decided to reintroduce the gray wolf in a vote that passed narrowly. The slim victory for wolves reflects a bitter debate between urban and rural Coloradans. Wolf supporters and conservationists claim the animals’ benefits to the environment. Gray wolves help maintain ecosystem, and wolves also help limit overgrazing(过度放牧), which can lead to soil erosion. Wolf opponents, on the other hand, fear increased livestock deaths and greater risk to farmers and rangers in rural areas. Hunting and livestock raising are among the biggest careers in western states, and opponents fear that forced wolf introduction will significantly impact people’s livelihoods.
1. Why was the gray wolf removed from the U.S. Endangered Species List?| A．It is controversial to reintroduce them. |
| B．They are not worth preserving in the US. |
| C．There will be no natural threats for them. |
| D．The number of them has risen to a certain degree. |
| A．Decrease. | B．Become double. | C．Expand. | D．Keep stable. |
| A．Whether to reintroduce gray wolves. | B．How to protect the present gray wolves. |
| C．What benefits we get from gray wolves. | D．Why we removed gray wolves from the list. |
| A．Reflections on gray wolves. | B．A comeback for gray wolves. |
| C．Significance of protecting gray wolves. | D．The present tough situation of gray wolves. |
【推荐2】Today when it comes to the use of digital(数码的) technology, girls have less basic education, leaving them far behind boys. And because the world is more digital. those who lack(缺少) basic internet skills will find it more difficult to take part in the formal economy(经济), to get a quality education, and to have their voices heard.
Since 2013 the global gender gap(性别差异) in male and female about the Internet has actually increased from 11 to 12 percent. Worse yet, women and girls living in the poorest countries are 31 percent less likely than men and boys to surf the Internet. In developing countries, some 200 million fewer women than men own a mobile phone, the most common means of surfing the internet there. This digital divide is increasing. and if it continues at the present pace, it is predicted that over 75 percent of women and girls will lack internet access (进入) and digital skills.
There are many causes of the digital gender gap. They include girls’ exclusion (排斥) from basic education, from specific technology education and high costs of mobile phones and internet access.
Indeed, one of the so-called reasons why girls may be discouraged from learning how to access and use digital technology is also a groundless(毫无根据的) one: that girls are simply not good at using technology.
Without the help of the government, most of the benefits of technological change will be enjoyed only by men, making gender inequality even more serious.
1. What can we know from paragraph 1?| A．Girls usually don’t like to share their ideas. |
| B．Girls don’t have enough digital knowledge. |
| C．Boys are more interested in making money. |
| D．Boys may always receive advanced education. |
| A．By listing numbers. | B．By giving reasons. |
| C．By following time order. | D．By giving examples. |
| A．Positive. | B．Acceptable. | C．Negative. | D．Unclear. |
| A．Girls are lacking in education. |
| B．Women suffer a lot from poor economy. |
| C．Internet continues to develop fast and fast. |
| D．Girls are at a disadvantage compared with boys in digital technology. |
【推荐3】When you drink a glass of water or take a shower, think of glaciers. Why? Glaciers contain at least 75 percent of Earth’s fresh water－much more than all our planet’s lakes and rivers combined.
Glaciers grow by adding a new layer of snow each year. It’s easy for scientists to see the annual layers in an ice core by lighting it from beneath. They can then count the layers to determine the age of any section…much like you can count tree rings to determine a tree’s age.
Glaciers form by the accumulation, press and recrystallization of snow. It requires very specific conditions of climate and geography, which means that they are found in or high mountain regions where snowfall is heavy in winter, temperatures stay below freezing for long periods, and summers are cool.
“Hot” ice! Is that possible? Actually, ice is one of the hottest solids in existence, for it is unsteady and easy to melt when heated. Glaciers are always moving, but because ice is hot, they like liquids rather than solids. They slide over the ground on melt-water, a very thin layer of water from melted ice, and “creep” when their icy layers glide over one another because of their weight. Different parts of the same glacier slide or creep at different speeds. The center moves more rapidly than the sides; the surface moves more rapidly than the bottom, because the sides and bottom are restricted by friction. Most glaciers move several feet per year, while others “race” a few miles.
Unfortunately, glaciers are shrinking throughout the world. Melting glaciers will raise sea levels, forcing people to move from low-lying areas.
1. What does the underlined word “it” refer to in paragraph3?| A．The change of glaciers. | B．The press of glaciers. |
| C．The accumulation of glaciers. | D．The forming of glaciers. |
| A．Because it keeps sliding or creeping. | B．Because it is close to its melting point. |
| C．Because it absorbs too much sunshine. | D．Because the surrounding temperature is low. |
| A．They are spreading. | B．They are disappearing. |
| C．They are rising. | D．They are racing. |
| A．The History of Glaciers. | B．The Development of Glaciers. |
| C．The Secrets about Glaciers. | D．The Danger Glaciers are facing. |
