三年真题研读04任务型阅读原卷版文档格式.docx

1、The first unique human characteristic is that humans have extraordinarily large brains compared with other animals. It seems obvious that evolution should select for larger brains. Mammals（哺乳动物）weighing sixty kilograms have an average brain size of 200 cm2. Modern man has a brain averaging 1200-1400

2、 cm2. We are so fond of our high intelligence that we assume that when it comes to brain power, more must be better. Unfortunately, that is not the case.The fact is that a huge brain is a huge drainconsumption of energyon the body. Is not easy to carry around, especially when boxed inside a massive

3、skull（倾骨）. Its even harder to provides energy. In modern man, the brain accounts for about 2-3%of total body weight but it consumes 25% of the bodys energy when the body is at rest. By comparison, the brains of apes（类人猿）require only 8%of rest-time energy. Early humans pad for their large brains in t

4、wo ways. Firstly, they spent more time in search food. Secondly, their muscles grew smaller and weaker. Its hardly an obvious conclusion that this is a good way to survive. A chimpanzee（黑猩猩）cant win an argument with a modern man, but it can tear the man apart like a rag doll.Another unique human cha

5、racteristic is that we walk upright. Standing up, its easier to find food or enemies. In addition, their arms that are unnecessary for moving around are freed for other purposes, like throwing stones or signaling. As a result, humans can perform very complex tasks with their hands.Yet walking uprigh

6、t has its disadvantage. The bone structure of our ancestors developed for millions of years to support a creature that walked on all fours and has a relatively small head. Adjusting to an upright position was quite a challenge, especially when the bones had to support an extra-large skull. Humankind

7、 paid for its broad vision and skillful hands backaches and painful necks.We assume that a large brain makes huge advantages. It seems obvious that these have made humankind the most powerful animal on earth. But humans enjoyed all of these advantages for a full 2 million years during which they rem

8、ained weak and marginal creature. Thus humans who lived a million years ago, despite their big brains and sharp stone tools, lived in constant fear of meat-eating animals.IntroductionLarge brains for their bodies and the ability to walk upright are two （71） of human beings.The （72） of large human br

9、ainsThe larger brains may not be better because of the cost.The big brains make it harder for the body to move around and consume more energy.The animal brain requires less （73） when the body is at rest.Large human brains consume more food, and weaken muscles.The （74） of walking uprightWalking uprig

10、ht makes it easy to find food or （75） against enemies.Freed hands can serve some （76） purpose and perform complex tasks.Walking upright challenges the human bone structure, and （77） the size of brains.Walking upright results in （78） sufferings.ConclusionWith a large brain, human beings （79） other be

11、ings in terms ofintelligence.Weak and marginal, human beings remained （80） of meat-eating animals.2018How Arts Promote Our EconomyWhen most people think of the arts, they imagine the end product, the beautiful painting, a wonderful piece of music, or an award-winning performance in the theater. But

12、arts groups bring broader value to our communities. The economic impact of the arts is often overlooked and badly judged.The arts create jobs that help develop the economy. Any given performance takes a tour bus full of artists, technical experts, managers, musicians, or writers to create an appeali

13、ng piece of art. These people earn a living wage for their professional knowledge and skills.Another group of folks is needed to help market the event. “If you build it they will come” is a misleading belief. Painters, digital media experts, photographers, booking agents and promoters are hired to s

14、ell tickets and promote the event. According to the Dallas Area Cultural Advocacy Coalition, arts agencies employ more than 10,000 people as full-or part-time employees or independent contractors.A successful arts neighborhood creates a ripple effect（连锁反应）throughout a community. In 2005, when the Bi

15、shop Arts Theatre was donated to our town, the location was considered a poor area of town. After investing more than $1 million in reconstructing the building, we began producing a full season of theater performances, jazz concerts, and year-round arts education programs in 2008. Nearly 40 percent

16、of jazz lovers live outside of the Dallas city limits and drive or fly in to enjoy an evening in the Bishop Arts District.No doubt the theater has contributed to the areas development and economic growth. Today, there are galleries, studios, restaurants and newly built work spaces where neighbors sh

17、are experiences, where there is renewed life and energy. In this way, arts and culture also serve as a public good.TeCo Theatrical Productions Inc. made use of Bloombergs investment of $35,000 to get nearly $400,000 in public and private sector support during the two-year period. Further, Dallas art

18、s and arts-based businesses produce $298 for every dollar the city spends on arts programming and facilities. In Philadelphia, a metro area smaller than Dallas, the arts have an economic impact of almost $3 million and support 44,000 jobs, 80 percent of which actually lie outside the arts industry,

19、including accountants, marketers, construction workers, hotel managers, printers, and other kinds of art workers.The arts are efficient economic drivers and when they are supported, the entire small-business community benefits.It is wrong to assume arts groups cannot make a profit. But in order to s

20、tay in business, arts groups must produce returns. If you are a student studying the arts, chances are you have been ill-advised to have a plan B. But those who truly understand the economic impact and can work to change the patterns can create a wide range of career possibilities.Arts as an economi

21、c driverOur communities （71） from arts in terms of economy.（72） of arts promoting our economyArts activity demands a（n） （73） effort. It involves creation, performance, and （74） .Artists make a living through their creative work.Others get paid by marketing the event.Arts have a gradually spreading （

22、75） . They could help promote other industries whether they lie inside or outside arts.Besides tickets, some jazz lovers will pay their （76） to and from the events.Arts contribute to cultural development when people gather together to share their experience and renew their energy.Investment in arts

23、could produce potential （77） economic results.TeCo used a $35,000 art investment to attract an overall support of $400,000.In Dallas, one dollar invested in arts could harvest and extraordinary return of nearly $300.In Philadelphia the arts have created about 35,000 job opportunities for workers （78

24、） arts industry.Art students making a good livingWith these （79） in mind, art students need not worry about their career and have a（n） （80） plan.2017Population ChangeWhy is the worlds population growing? The answer is not what you might think. The reason for the explosion is not that people have bee

25、n reproducing like rabbits, but that people have stopped dropping dead like flies. In 1900, people died at the average age of 30. By 2000 the average age was 65. But while increasing health was a typical feature of the 20th century, declining birth rate could be a defining one of the 21st.Statistics

26、 show that the average number of births per woman has fallen from 4.9 in the early 1960s to 2.5 nowadays. Furthermore, around 50% of the worlds population live in regions where the figure is now below the replacement level（i.e.2.1 births per woman）and almost all developed nations are experiencing su

27、b-replacement birth rate. You might think that developing nations would make up the loss（especially since 80% of the worlds people now live in such nations）, but youd be wrong. Declining birth rate is a major problem in many developing regions too, which might cause catastrophic global shortages of

28、work force within a few decades.A great decline in young work force is likely to occur in China, for instance. What does it imply? First, China needs to undergo rapid economic development before a population decline hits the country. Second, if other factors such as technology remain constant, econo

29、mic growth and material expectations will fall well below recent standards and this could invite trouble.Russia is another country with population problems that could break its economic promise. Since 1992 the number of people dying has been bigger than that of those being born by a massive 50%. Ind

30、eed official figures suggest the country has shrunk by 5% since 1993 and people in Russia live a shorter life now than those in 1961.Why is this occurring? Nobody is quite sure, but poor diet an above all long-time alcoholism have much to do with it. If current trends dont bend, Russias population w

31、ill be about the size of Yemens by the year 2050.In the north of India, the population is booming due to high birth rates, but in the south, where most economic development is taking place, birth rate is falling rapidly. In a further twist, birth rate is highest in poorly educated rural areas and lowest in highly educated urban areas. In total, 25% of Indias working-age population has no education. In 2030, a sixth of the countrys potential work force could be totally uneducated.One solution