文档内容
选择性必修第三册 Unit 3 Back to the past
Ⅰ.阅读理解
A
(2024·江苏泰州调研)
The commonly held view is that people arrived in North America from Asia via a land bridge
once connecting the two continents.But recent discoveries have suggested humans might have been
there earlier.Researchers studying fossilized human footprints in New Mexico say that humans
were there at least 23,000 years ago.
Matthew Bennett，a specialist in ancient footprints and author of a study on the new findings
published in Science，and his colleagues studied 61 footprints by radiocarbon dating layers of
aquatic(水生的) plant seeds preserved above and below the footprints and accurately dated they
were made 21,000 to 23,000 years ago.The people who made the footprints were living there in the
last Ice Age when two massive ice sheets covering the continent and cold temperatures would have
made a journey between Asia and Alaska impossible，indicating humans must have been there
much earlier than previously thought.
According to their analysis of the footprints，they were likely made in soft ground at the edge
of a wetland by children who were sent to do the work like fetching and catching by adults.Wind
probably blew dust over the surface，accumulating in the prints，thus，leaving footprints that
previously recorded.
Their finding also makes it possible to explore the older and more controversial sites with a
different light.One such site is Chiquihuite Cave in central Mexico，where stone tools dating back
to 30,000 years ago have been found.
David Rachal，an uninvolved but experienced geoarchaeologist(地质考古学家) thought the
footprint dates provided by Bennett and his team looked “solid”，with seeds providing very
reliable and precise ages through radiocarbon dating.“You could not ask for a better setup，”
said Rachal.However，he was puzzled that no artifacts，such as stone tools，had been found in
the area.He thought it was just a theme that was gaining some serious traction in the literature.
1．What is the most essential evidence dating the time in the passage?
A．The aquatic plant seeds. B．The fossilized human footprints.
C．The unearthed tools. D．The massive ice sheets.
2．Why does the author mention Chiquihuite Cave in central Mexico?
A．To introduce a historical site.
B．To show the significance of the footprints.
C．To compare geoarchaeological discoveries.D．To explain the course of making a discovery.
3．What’s David Rachal’s attitude towards the new discovery?
A．Optimistic and trustful. B．Conservative and cautious.
C．Negative but curious. D．Favorable but confused.
4．What is the passage mainly about?
A．The discovery of human footprints.
B．Scientific methods of dating footprints.
C．The earlier arrival of people in North America.
D．A discussion on human history among researchers.
B
A strong sense of smell is a key component of a healthy and enjoyable life.Yet our sense of
smell is in decline as a result of an unnoticed threat to our health：air pollution.
Scientists are finding that anosmia，a loss of the sense of smell，is becoming a widespread
problem among people of all ages exposed to PM2.5 pollutants constantly ，which are tiny
particles(微粒) that can enter our bodies with every breath we take.
The reason，they suggest，is that the olfactory bulbs(嗅球)，which are located in our noses
and packed with nerve endings，are affected by exposure to air pollution.The tiny particles cause
illness either in the bulbs themselves or in the brain ， impacting our sense of smell over
time，“Our data show the risk of developing anosmia with constant particulate pollution is 1.6 to
1.7 times higher，” says Ramanathan，a doctor at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine，
America.
Ramanathan is an author of a recent study of nearly 2,700 patients，a fifth of whom had
anosmia despite many of them being non-smokers.When he and his colleagues looked into the
backgrounds of the affected patients，they found most of them lived in neighborhoods with
significantly higher levels of air pollution.
The findings prove other studies with similar findings.One of these studies，conducted in a
town in Italy，found that more than 200 teenagers and young adults between the ages of 15 and 25
suffered olfactory damage as a result of exposure to NO ，a common component in traffic
2
emissions.“This is alarming as olfactory loss affects patient safety，well-being，and it is a
predictor of poor health，” says Ramanathan.
Yet the loss of a sense of smell is a condition that is often overlooked though it can bring about
numerous health problems.A sense of smell is linked to memory as well and life is a lot less fun
without it.“People don’t remember what the pastry that they ate in childhood looked like，but
they remember what the shop smelled like，” says Ramanathan.
5．How air pollution negatively influences our sense of smell?
A．It blocks the inside transport of information.
B．It prevents the nerve system functioning normally.C．It leads to the brain requiring more time to respond.
D．It results in diseases in the olfactory bulbs or the brain.
6．What can we conclude from the two studies?
A．Air pollution can rob us of our sense of smell.
B．Smokers are more likely to suffer from anosmia.
C．Traffic emissions contribute a lot to air pollution.
D．Exposure to PM2.5 pollutants occasionally is harmless.
7．What does Ramanathan think of the loss of people’s sense of smell?
A．Confusing and astonishing. B．Complicated but treatable.
C．Critical and concerning. D．Disturbing but temporary.
8．Where is this text probably taken from?
A．A travel brochure. B．A science website.
C．A biology textbook. D．An art magazine.
Ⅱ.七选五
Virtually，there is nothing that man cannot do.Only what he has to do is keep doing and doing
without being discouraged.Success will come someday or other，though it may apparently be the
conception about something that it cannot be done.__1__ But the reality is that man’s success
depends on whether he can do the toughest tasks successfully.It is because our life is complicated
and tough.And to succeed in this tough battle，perseverance and hard work are a must.__2__ We
can prove this fact when we look at the reality of life and the history of man’s
success.Perseverance helps us do what we otherwise would consider impossible to do.
What the world-famous scientist Sir Isaac Newton had done by twelve years’ constant hard
work was burnt out by his pet dog.But that could not discourage him a little.__3__ It is only for his
undefeated perseverance that we have been able to have many inventions and discoveries.
__4__ He went through thick and thin to reach his destination after months of the strenuous
voyage on the sea.He discovered the way from Spain to America and offered the world a new route
of communication with America.This outcome of his perseverance will be generated by the world
forever.
All the great men in history have written their names in golden letters by means of
perseverance.__5__ If we all are perseverant in whatever we do，we are sure to stand out as a
successful nation in the near future.
A．Every action has its reaction.
B．It is a unique precondition to success in life.
C．In human life，perseverance plays a very important role.
D．Their success will always remain as perfect examples to us.
E．Columbus has left us an adventurous story of perseverance.
F．The task that is easily done at the first attempt is undoubtedly very easy.G．He was able to do it again through years of hard work and perseverance.
Ⅲ.完形填空
Head to Flint，Michigan，on a Wednesday night，and you’ll see a blinding display of
lights near the river.
The tradition __1__ on a whim in 2010 with Daniel Riddick，a doctor in Hurley Children’s
Hospital in Providence，Rhode Island.His patient，a teenager，had been in the hospital long-
term.During his stay，Daniel had __2__ the kid so deeply that he decided that on the boy’s
__3__ night there，he would do something __4__ for the final parting.
As he left，Daniel told the boy to __5__ the corner near the bus stop from his window.Daniel
__6__ to that spot，turned around，and flickered(闪烁) his bike light up toward the hospital.To
his surprise，the teen flickered his own room lights to __7__.“From a quarter mile away it was
very __8__ where the kid was，” says Daniel.“I figured if it __9__ once I could do it again.”
And so he did.
Daniel made it a __10__ to flicker his bike lights to kids as he left for the night as a __11__
way to say goodbye.The nightly tradition became such a __12__ that customers started joining in
with flashlights and cellphones too.
The tradition has __13__ inspired those beyond Michigan and Daniel hopes it __14__ even
more.“It could happen anywhere if someone is willing to give it a try with one __15__，” he
says.
1．A.developed B．survived C．continued D．started
2．A.negotiated with B．bonded with C．agreed with D．accommodated with
3．A.last B．usual C．scary D．challenging
4．A.essential B．accurate C．special D．tolerant
5．A.witness B．appreciate C．watch D．explore
6．A.slid B．biked C．drove D．paced
7．A.signal B．warn C．check D．respond
8．A.evident B．important C．probable D．surprising
9．A.worked B．changed C．happened D．mattered
10．A.duty B．assignment C．practice D．commitment
11．A.casual B．trendy C．strange D．fun
12．A.phenomenon B．miracle C．hit D．celebration
13．A.only B．even C．nearly D．ever
14．A.improves B．spreads C．extends D．accelerates
15．A.light B．message C．hope D．sign
Ⅳ.语法填空
In ancient times，silk from China found 1.____________(it) way overland to India，the
Middle East，and Rome，along 2.____________ became known as the Silk Road.A trading routeacross the sea was also extended along the coasts of the Indian Ocean，centred around Ceylon(now
Sri Lanka)．Here，merchants from China and many other places met 3.____________(negotiate)
trade deals，which also led to more 4.____________(aware) of each other’s cultures.Over the
centuries，further trading allowed more exploration of the regions to the west of China，as
5.__________(record) in Du Huan’s Record of My Travels in the eighth century.
To reach out across the sea 6.____________(remain) a strong desire today.The ancient sea
routes travelled by Zheng He are being revisited with the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road，
7.____________ is part of the Belt and Road Initiative.The aim of this initiative is to encourage
cooperation and trade across the 8.____________(history) Silk Road areas，and strengthen the
bonds between China and the rest of the world.Trading has grown greatly in recent years，and will
continue to do so in years 9.____________(come)．China 10.____________(invest) billions in
systems and services along these routes，which will help to greatly develop the whole area for the
benefit of future trade and cultural exchange.
Ⅴ.应用文微写作
假定你是校学生会主席李华。下个月，你校学生会拟举行“Second-hand Books
Donation” 活动，请你为校英文报写一则通知，内容包括：
1．活动的目的；2.活动的安排；3.号召大家积极参与。
范文补全
Notice
Dear fellow students，
Next month，the students’ union will 1._______________________________________(发
起一场名为二手书捐赠的运动) to gather secondhand books 2.____________________(为了)
recycling used books.
The donation boxes will be placed in each classroom,3.____________________________(志
愿者每周收集两次)．Additionally，you can take donations directly to the office between 1 p．
m.and 2 p．m.on weekdays.4.________________________________________________(被收集
的书会被送给) primary students in rural areas.
Please 5.________________________________(积极参加这个活动)，and there is no doubt
that your kindness will be greatly appreciated.
Students’ Council
