07年考研英语阅读理解精读100篇unit61

Unit 61
In this week's Nature, a group of zoologists led by Andrew Whiten of the University of St Andrews in Scotland and Christophe Boesch of the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig, Germany, have provided that evidence. They have synthesised the results from seven chimpanzee-research centres scattered across Africa, and shown that chimps can, indeed, do more than just pass on the odd behaviour pattern here and there. Individual groups of chimps exhibit behavioural“complexes'' that are recognisably different from those of other groups, yet seem to have no connection with environmental or genetic differences between the groups. If that is not culture, it is difficult to think what is.
The problem that confronted Dr Whiten and Dr Boesch was how to disentangle which of chimpanzees' many behaviour patterns are genetically instinctive, which are learnt by individuals in isolation （and so are not cultural, because not copied from others） and which are culturally transmitted （by animals copying one another）. They solved it by standardising the reports from the research centres, and paying as much attention to what the animals in each place did not do as to what they did.
Behaviour patterns found at all sites were deemed as likely to be genetic as cultural （leaf-sponging turned out to be in this category）, as were those whose absence was due to some environmental factor （fishing algae out of ponds is impossible where there are no algae to fish）. Nor were behaviour patterns that did not appear to be sporadic （digging for termites, rather than using a stick to fish for them） classified as cultural. They could just as well have been the result of individual invention, as of copying.
That still left 39 behaviour patterns that were common at some sites and absent from others. Termite fishing with twigs and the mid-ribs of leaves were two. So were breaking nuts open with a hammer （which could be done in four different ways, each with its own pattern of occurrence among the sites）, and picking marrow out of the bones of hunted animals using a tool. Nor does chimpanzee culture revolve solely around food. Some chimps have developed flywhisks in the form of leaves. Others have learnt how to tickle themselves. And there is even a behaviour pattern the researchers refer to as ``rain dance'', though it takes place in response to rain, rather than as a way of conjuring it up.
The idea that these and some 30 other behaviour patterns are cultural rather than genetic was supported by the fact that particular sub-species （which differ from one another genetically） are not associated with particular behaviours. Indeed, abrupt cultural transitions often occur in the middle of sub-specific homelands. Short of developing language （and there are a few researchers who believe that chimps can also manage that）, it is hard to see what more man's closest relatives could possibly be required to do to be admitted to the culture club.
注（1）：本⽂选⾃Economist; 06/19/99，p82；
注（2）：本⽂习题命题模仿对象2004年真题Text 3（题⽬顺序稍做调整）；
1.By “If that is not culture, it is difficult to think what is.”（Line 8, Paragraph 1）, the author means _______.
[A]it is difficult to define what culture is
[B]scientists feel confused about culture
[C]nobody knows what the culture is
[D]it is nothing but culture
2.The most distinctive feature of culture is _________.
[A]copying one another among animals
[B]passing on the odd behavior among animals
[C]learning from one another among animals
[D]individual invention by the animals
3.How does the author feel about the cultural phenomenon among the chimps?
[A]Optimistic.
[B]Affirmative.
[C]Carefree.
[D]Panicked.
3.Which of the following will the scientists not regard as cultural behavior?
[A]Using a stick to fish for termites.
[B]Breaking nuts open with a hammer.
[C]Making flywhisks in the form of leaves.
[D]Dancing a “rain dance”.
4. To which of the following is the author likely to agree?
[A]Chimps can learn 37 behaviors by copying one another.
[B]Genes and environment have no effect on the behavior of chimps.
[C]Chimps should be admitted to the culture club.
[D]People are too critical of the behavior of chimps.
答案：DABAC
篇章剖析
本⽂采⽤先总括说明，后详细论述的模式，指出⿊猩猩群体中也存在⽂化现象这⼀事实。

第⼀段指出动物学家研究发现在⿊猩猩群体中存在⽂化现象；第⼆段和第三段具体指出动物学家是如何解决分类问题的；第四段指出具有⿊猩猩具有⽂化特点的39种⾏为模式；第五段再⼀次指出⿊猩猩应该归属到⽂化俱乐部中来。

词汇注释
Vocabulary:
disentangle [5disin5tAN^l] vt. 解开，澄清，清理；解决（纠纷等）；使……摆脱混乱状态
sponge vi. （海绵等）吸收；敲诈；寄⾷, 依赖他⼈过⽇⼦（on, upon）
leaf-sponging特指动物，⽐如⿊猩猩利⽤树叶收集⾬⽔或者露⽔的⾏为
sporadic [spE5rAdIk] adj. 不定时发⽣的；⽆时间顺序或固定模式的；偶发性的
termite [5t\:maIt] n.⽩蚁
just as well adv. 幸好, ⽆妨；同样；完全⼀样
revolve about [round] vi. 围绕……⽽旋转；反复考虑；围绕（某⼀个问题）
midrib [`mIdrIb] n. [植]（叶的）中脉
flywhisk[5flaIwi:l; （?@） 5flaIhwi:l] n. 蝇掸
tickle [5tikl] vt. 使发痒; 胳肢；逗乐, 使⾼兴, 激起情绪；使满⾜
conjure up使在脑海中显现，想象；⽤魔法做出（召唤）
subspecies n.「⽣物学」亚种（通常以地理分节为根据的⽣物学分类级别）
难句突破
1.Behaviour patterns found at all sites were deemed as likely to be genetic as cultural （leaf-sponging turned out to be in this category）, as were those whose absence was due to some environmental factor （fishing algae out of ponds is impossible where there are no algae to fish）.
主体句式：Behaviour patterns … were deemed … , as were those …
结构分析：本句的关键在于对“as”⽤法的掌握。

这句话的主语是“Behaviour patterns”，“found at all sites”是过去分词做后置定语修饰主语：“deem”的意思是“认为”；词组“as … as”表⽰同级正⾯⽐较，意思是“同…⼀样”；leaf-sponging特指动物，⽐如⿊猩猩利⽤树叶收集⾬⽔或者露⽔的⾏为；第⼆次出现的“as”后⾯跟倒装句型，意思是“也怎么样，也如何”；whose引导限制性定语从句修饰those，⽽those指代的是behaviour patterns；词组due to意思是“因为”。

句⼦译⽂：在所有地⽅观察到的动物⾏为模式都被认为既有可能是遗传模式，也有可能是⽂化模式（⽤树叶收集⾬⽔和露⽔的⾏为就属于这⼀类），那些因某⼀环境因素的⽋缺⽽缺失的⾏为模式（没有藻类的池塘是不可能出现钓⾷藻类的⾏为）也属于这种情况。

2.Nor were behaviour patterns that did not appear to be sporadic （digging for termites, rather than using a stick to fish for them） classified as cultural.
主体句式：Nor were behaviour patterns … classified as cultural
结构分析：本句句形结构并不复杂，关键在于理解双重否定表肯定的含义。

nor放在句⾸，句⼦要倒装。

That引导定语从句修饰behaviour patterns.
句⼦译⽂：看起来象是零星出现的⾏为模式（不⽤棍⼦钓⾷⽩蚁⽽是挖坑找⽩蚁）被纳⼊⽂化模式。

题⽬分析
1.答案为D，属推理判断题。

从⽂章整个来看，争论焦点主要集中在⿊猩猩群体中到底存在不存在⽂化现象。

在⽂章开头的句⼦“a group of zoologists have provided that evidence.”中，“that evidence”指的是“存在⽂化现象”。

句⼦“If that is not culture, it is difficult to think what is.”的意思是“如果这不是⽂化的话，那么很难说这到底是什么。

”，⼜进⼀步强调了存在⽂化现象。

2.答案为A，属事实细节题。

原⽂对应信息是：“so are not cultural, because not copied from others”和“which are
culturally transmitted （by animals copying one another）”。

从这两句话我们可看出“copying one another”是⽂化的显著特征。

3.答案为B，属情感态度题。

从⽂中两处地⽅可做出判断。

第⼀处是句⼦“If that is not culture, it is difficult to think what is.”这句话的意思是“如果这不是⽂化的话，那么很难说这到底是什么。

”这说明作者是⽀持动物学家的观点的。

第⼆处是句
⼦“Short of developing language （and there are a few researchers who believe that chimps can also manage that）, it is hard to see what more man's closest relatives could possibly be required to do to be admitted to the culture club.”，这句话也同样表达了作者⽀持⿊猩猩中存在的⽂化现象。

4.答案为A，属事实细节题。

原⽂对应信息是“Nor were behaviour patterns that did not appear to be sporadic （digging for termites, rather than using a stick to fish for them） classified as cultural.“这句话的意思是：”看起来象是零星出现的⾏为模式（不⽤棍⼦钓⾷⽩蚁⽽是挖坑找⽩蚁）被纳⼊⽂化模式。

“因此不难做出判断。

5.答案为C，属事实细节题。

⽂中有两处信息可⽀持这⼀判断：“If that is not culture, it is difficult to think what is.”和“Short of developing language （and there are a few researchers who believe that chimps can also manage that）, it is hard to see what more man's closest relatives could possibly be required to do to be admitted to the culture club.”
参考译⽂
在本周出版的《⾃然》上, ⼀个由苏格兰圣安德鲁斯⼤学的安德鲁?怀特和德国莱⽐锡马克斯普朗克演化⼈类学研究所的克⾥斯托夫?布伊希带领的动物学家⼩组提供了这种证据。

他们综合了分散于⾮洲的七个⿊猩猩研究中⼼的观察结果，结果显⽰出⿊猩猩能做的可能远不⽌四处传递某些不固定的⾏为模式。

单独活动的⿊猩猩群表现出与其它群体明显不同的⾏为“复杂性”，但这种⾏为复杂性好象与群体之间的环境或遗传差别没有什么关系。

如果这不是⽂化的话，那么很难说这到底是什么。

怀特博⼠和布伊希博⼠所⾯临的问题是怎么从⿊猩猩诸多⾏为模式中分辨出哪些是属于基因本能性的，哪些是属于个别孤⽴⽣活的群体后天学来的（同样也不是⽂化的, 因为不是通过模仿别⼈学来的），哪些是属于⽂化上传递的（由动物相互模仿的）。

他们对来⾃各研究中⼼的报告进⾏了规范化处理，并对每个地⽅的动物做了什么和没有做什么给予了同等的关注。

这样，他们就解决了这⼀分类问题。

在所有地⽅观察到的动物⾏为模式都被认为既有可能是遗传模式，也有可能是⽂化模式（⽤树叶收集⾬⽔和露⽔的⾏为就属于这⼀类），那些因某⼀环境因素的⽋缺⽽缺失的⾏为模式（没有藻类的池塘是不可能出现钓⾷藻类的⾏为）也属于这种情况。

看起来象是零星出现的⾏为模式（不⽤棍⼦钓⾷⽩蚁⽽是挖坑找⽩蚁）被纳⼊⽂化模式。

它们既有可能是个体独创的结果，也有可能是模仿的结果。

这就留下了在某些地⽅共有的、但在其它地⽅没有的39种⾏为样式。

⽤⼩树枝和树叶中脉钓取⽩蚁是其中的两种模式。

还有⽤锤⼦砸开坚果（可以⽤四种不同⽅式敲开，每种⽅式都具有这些地区独特的发⽣模式），以及⽤⼯具砸⾻取动物⾻髓等。

⿊猩猩⽂化也不是完全以⾷物为中⼼。

有些⿊猩猩制成了树叶形状的蝇甩⼉（蝇掸），有些则学会了如何胳肢⾃⼰。

甚⾄还有⼀种被研究⼈员称之为“⾬舞”的⾏为模式，虽然这种⾏为只是对下⾬做出的反应，⽽不是通过想象编排出来的。

这些和其它约30 种⾏为模式属于⽂化模式⽽⾮基因模式的思想得到以下事实的⽀持：特殊亚种（它们在基因上相互有区别）与其特殊的⾏为没有关系。

的确，在次特异性区域中间经常会发⽣突发性⽂化变迁现象。

由于缺乏语⾔开发能⼒（但也有极少数研究⼈员认为⿊猩猩能够做到），很难知道⼈类最近的近亲需要做些什么才能被接纳到⽂化俱乐部中来。