TPO阅读44文本答案翻译.docx

1、TPO阅读44文本答案翻译TPO-44From Fish to Terrestrial VertebratesOne of the most significant evolutionary events that occurred on Earth was the transition of water-dwelling fish to terrestrial tetrapods (four-limbed organisms with backbones). Fish probably originated in the oceans, and our first records of th

2、em are in marine rocks. However, by the Devonian Period (408 million to 362 million years ago), they had radiated into almost all available aquatic habitats, including freshwater settings. One of the groups whose fossils are especially common in rocks deposited in fresh water is the lobe-finned fish

3、.The freshwater Devonian lobe-finned fish rhipidistian crossopterygian is of particular interest to biologists studying tetrapod evolution. These fish lived in river channels and lakes on large deltas. The delta rocks in which these fossils are found are commonly red due to oxidized iron minerals, i

4、ndicating that the deltas formed in a climate that had alternate wet and dry periods. If there were periods of drought, any adaptations allowing the fish to survive the dry conditions would have been advantageous. In these rhipidistians，several such adaptations existed. It is known that they had lun

5、gs as well as gills for breathing. Cross sections cut through some of the fossils reveal that the mud filling the interior of the carcass differed in consistency and texture depending on its location inside the fish. These differences suggest a sadlike cavity below the front end of the gut that can

6、only be interpreted as a lung. Gills were undoubtedly the main source of oxygen for these fish, but the lungs served as an auxiliary breathing device for gulping air when the water became oxygen depleted, such as during extended periods of drought. So, these fish had already evolved one of the prime

7、 requisites for living on land: the ability to use air as a source of oxygen.A second adaptation of these fish was in the structure of the lobe fins. The fins were thick, fleshy, and quite sturdy, with a median axis of bone down the center. They could have been used as feeble locomotor devices on la

8、nd, perhaps good enough to allow a fish to flop its way from one pool of water that was almost dry to an adjacent pond that had enough water and oxygen for survival. These fins eventually changed into short, stubby legs. The bones of the fins of a Devonian rhipidistian exactly match in number and po

9、sition the limb bones of the earliest known tetrapods, the amphibians. It should be emphasized that the evolution of lungs and limbs was in no sense an anticipation of future life on land. These adaptations developed because they helped fish to survive in their existing aquatic environment.What ecol

10、ogical pressures might have caused fishes to gradually abandon their watery habitat and become increasingly land-dwelling creatures? Changes in climate during the Devonian may have had something to do with this if freshwater areas became progressively more restricted. Another impetus may have been n

11、ew sources of food. The edges of ponds and streams surely had scattered dead fish and other water-dwelling creatures. In addition, plants had emerged into terrestrial habitats in areas near streams and ponds, and crabs and other arthropods were also members of this earliest terrestrial community. Th

12、us, by the Devonian the land habitat marginal to freshwater was probably a rich source of protein that could be exploited by an animal that could easily climb out of water. Evidence from teeth suggests that these earliest tetrapods did not utilize land plants as food; they were presumably carnivorou

13、s and had not developed the ability to feed on plants. How did the first tetrapods make the transition to a terrestrial habitat? Like early land plants such as rhyniophytes, they made only a partial transition; they were still quite tied to water. However, many problems that faced early land plants

14、were not applicable to the first tetrapods. The ancestors of these animals already had a circulation system, and they were mobile, so that they could move to water to drink. Furthermore, they already had lungs, which rhipidistians presumably used for auxiliary breathing. The principal changes for th

15、e earliest tetrapods were in the skeletal systemchanges in the bones of the fins, the vertebral column, pelvic girdle, and pectoral girdle.P1：One of the most significant evolutionary events that occurred on Earth was the transition of water-dwelling fish to terrestrial tetrapods (four-limbed organis

16、ms with backbones). Fish probably originated in the oceans, and our first records of them are in marine rocks. However, by the Devonian Period (408 million to 362 million years ago), they had radiated into almost all available aquatic habitats, including freshwater settings. One of the groups whose

17、fossils are especially common in rocks deposited in fresh water is the lobe-finned fish.1. Paragraph 1 supports which of the following statements about fish evolution?A. Lobe-finned fish were among the earliest types of fish to appear.B. Fish began living in freshwater habitats only after originatin

18、g elsewhere.C. Lobe-finned fish radiated into almost all available aquatic habitats.D. During the Devonian, lobe-finned fish were more common in marine than in freshwater habitats.P2：The freshwater Devonian lobe-finned fish rhipidistian crossopterygian is of particular interest to biologists studyin

19、g tetrapod evolution. These fish lived in river channels and lakes on large deltas. The delta rocks in which these fossils are found are commonly red due to oxidized iron minerals, indicating that the deltas formed in a climate that had alternate wet and dry periods. If there were periods of drought

20、, any adaptations allowing the fish to survive the dry conditions would have been advantageous. In these rhipidistians，several such adaptations existed. It is known that they had lungs as well as gills for breathing. Cross sections cut through some of the fossils reveal that the mud filling the inte

21、rior of the carcass differed in consistency and texture depending on its location inside the fish. These differences suggest a sadlike cavity below the front end of the gut that can only be interpreted as a lung. Gills were undoubtedly the main source of oxygen for these fish, but the lungs served a

22、s an auxiliary breathing device for gulping air when the water became oxygen depleted, such as during extended periods of drought. So, these fish had already evolved one of the prime requisites for living on land: the ability to use air as a source of oxygen.2. According to paragraph 2, what do the

23、minerals in the delta rocks containing rhipidistian crossopterygian fossils reveal?A. These deltas formed in dry periods but gradually became wetter.B.These deltas contain different types of iron minerals than do the surrounding areas.C.Most rhipidistian crossopterygian fish died when the climate be

24、came dry.D.Rhipidistian crossopterygian fish lived in areas that experienced alternate dry and wet periods.3. The word advantageous in the passage is closest in meaning toA. beneficial B. necessary C. remarkableD. common4. In paragraph 2, why does the author include the information that mud inside r

25、hipidistian crossopterygian fossils differed in consistency and texture depending on where the mud was located?A. To provide evidence that rhipidistian crossopterygian lived in river channels and lakes on large deltas.B. To identify an effect of the oxidation of iron minerals on the evolution of rhi

26、pidistian crossopterygian.C. To help explain why scientists have concluded that rhipidistian crossopterygian probably had lungs.D. To explain why scientists decided to cut cross sections through some fossils of rhipidistian crossopterygian.5. Which of the sentences below best expresses the essential

27、 information in the highlighted sentence in the passage? Incorrect choices change the meaning in important ways or leave out essential information.A. Because the lungs of these fish were able to provide only a small amount of oxygen, these fish obtained most of their oxygen through their gills durin

28、g periods of drought.B. During periods of extended drought, these fish used their lungs to increase their intake of oxygen beyond the levels absorbed by the gills in normal times.C. Although these fish primarily used their gills to obtain oxygen, they used their lungs to obtain oxygen from the air w

29、hen there was not enough in the water.D. During periods of extended drought, the gills became an auxiliary breathing device and the lungs became the main source of oxygen for these fish.6. Which of the sentences below best expresses the essential information in the highlighted sentence in the passag

30、e? Incorrect choices change the meaning in important ways or leave out essential information.A. Because the lungs of these fish were able to provide only a small amount of oxygen, these fish obtained most of their oxygen through their gills during periods of drought.B. During periods of extended dro

31、ught, these fish used their lungs to increase their intake of oxygen beyond the levels absorbed by the gills in normal times.C. Although these fish primarily used their gills to obtain oxygen, they used their lungs to obtain oxygen from the air when there was not enough in the water.D. During period

32、s of extended drought, the gills became an auxiliary breathing device and the lungs became the main source of oxygen for these fish.P3：A second adaptation of these fish was in the structure of the lobe fins. The fins were thick, fleshy, and quite sturdy, with a median axis of bone down the center. T

33、hey could have been used as feeble locomotor devices on land, perhaps good enough to allow a fish to flop its way from one pool of water that was almost dry to an adjacent pond that had enough water and oxygen for survival. These fins eventually changed into short, stubby legs. The bones of the fins of a Devoni