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课程推荐：2015职称英语 锁定65分 冲击75分
2015年职称英语考试综合类阅读理解模拟题(5)
Defending the Theory of Evolution Still Seems Needed
Judith S.Weis,a biology professor who serves as2 president of the American Institute of Biological Sciences(AIBS)is leading a nationwide effort to"defend,,the theory of evolution.Weis leads the effort in the face of what the institute views as opposition and indifference from school boards and government entities3.
The Institute believes that the teaching of evolution in America is being diminished by the teaching of creationism as well as by an overall lack of teaching Darwin's4 theory in high school."There's nothing that requires schools to teach evolution.Sometimes teachers in high schools just leave it out .However,from the point of view of biologists,evolution is the central theory of biology upon which everything is based,"said Weis."Unfortunately,teaching evolution has become a political issue in many parts of the country and AIBS,as a representative of biologists,wanted to be a major force speaking out in favor of its teaching."6
Weis said the institute is working together with the American Geological Institute and the National Association of Biology Teachers and its 80-plus member organizations7 to address8 the political and legislative threats to teaching evolution.In states challenging its teaching,the institute responds by sending letters to school boards and state legislatures,by providing testimony at public meetings and by notifying members and affiliated organizations.AIBS,with more than 80 member societies and 250,000 members,has established an e-mail system enabling scientists and teachers in each state,and member societies,to keep each other informed about threats to the teaching of evolution.
Darwin's theory of evolution holds that living things change and adapt to their environment and that present-day species(including human beings)are descended from earlier species through modification by natural selection.The theory has been accepted by scientists for nearly 100 years,Weis said,and has been refined,extended and strengthened over the years by findings in paleontology and developmental biology.
Discoveries in genetics,molecular biology9 and genomics ― all of which provide significant benefits for human health ― would not be possible without the underlying10 knowledge of evolution.And,Weis adds,“modern molecular biology and genomics have increased our understanding of how evolution works."Nonetheless,evolution remains a politically,if not scientifically,controversial issue.
Weis said that this year alone,seven states have had either local or statewide efforts to water down11 the teaching of evolution,or"balance"it with the teaching of creationism 一 a religious belief that different species were created separately by a higher power,such as God."Rarely does anyone now use the word ‘creationism,,because that's too obvious,"Weis said."The current terminology is intelligent design.
词汇：
creationism 神造说 legislature .立法机关
affiliated organization 附属机构 refine 精炼,提纯; 改进
paleontology .古生物学 genetics .遗传
genomics 基因学 terminology.术语
注释：
1.the theory of evolution：进化论
2.serve as：担任
3.Weis leads the effort in the face of what the institute views as opposition and indifference from school boards and government entities.：研究所看到了来自学校董事会和政府部门 的反对和冷漠管如此,Weis仍然带领大家为-卫进化论而努力。 in the face of：意为“despite the opposition of"(不管,不顾)。 entity： 实体。如,business entity：企业单位,营业单位
4.Darwin：达尔文(1809―1882),英国博物学家,进化论创始人
5.leave it out：忽略,遗漏
6.speak out in favor of its teaching：为进化论教育而疾呼 speak out：大胆地说,大声地说 in favor of： in support of 支持;赞同
7.80- plus member organizations：80 多个成员组织。plus：超过的,略大的,如：All the children here are 10plus.这些孩子年龄都在10岁或者10岁以上。 Her mark was B plus.她的分数是 B+.
8.address：意为"to deal with"(处理,解决,对付)。如：to address the issue of terrorist attack：对付恐怖袭击的问题
9.molecular biology：分子生物学
10.underlying：意痴"basic; fundamental"(基础的;基本的)。
11.water down：冲淡,掺水,打折扣
练习：
1.According to the first paragraph,which of the following statements about the theory of evolution is true?
A)Government entities support AIBS's effort to defend the theory of evolution.
B)School boards oppose AIBS's effort to defend the theory of evolution.
C)AIBS and school boards advocate the teaching of the theory of evolution.
D)The theory of evolution and that of creationism co-exist peacefully in schools.
2.Which one of the following is NOT the reason for an overall lack of teaching Darwin's theory?
A)Teaching of creationism diminishes teaching of evolution.
B)Teachers are not required to teach Darwin's theory.
C)Teachers often leave out the teaching of evolution.
D)Darwin's theory is denied as the central theory of biology.
3.AIBS is composed of
A)more than 80 societies and 250,000 members.
B)250,000 biologists.
C)80 member organizations.
D)more than 250,000 members and 80 member societies.
4.According to Weis in the 5th paragraph,the theory of evolution
A)is fundamental to the development of modern genetics,molecular biology and genomics.
B)is a political issue.
C)is based on genetics,molecular biology and genomics.
D)has increased our understanding of human health.
5.Why do people replace the term creationism with the term intelligent design nowadays?
A Because"intelligent design"represents the modified theory of evolution.
B Because they believe God created different species.
C Because the term creationism is unscientific.
D Because the term creationism is too direct.
答案与题解：
1.B 选项A与原意不符。C和D第一段没有涉及。只有B是正确的答案。
2.D 根据文章第二段的内容,除了 D以外,A、B、C明显都是学校缺少达尔文进 化论教育的原因。
3.A 第三段的最后一个句子提供了答案。
4.A 该段第一句告诉我们,没有进化论作为基础知识不可能有遗传学、分子生物学 和基因学上的发现。所以A是正确选项。
5.D 人们使用“intelligent design"不仅因为这个词语更带有科学性,而且因为 creationism带有过于明显的宗教色彩。that's too obvious即表达了这层意思。
