First listen and then answer the following question.
听录音，然后回答以下问题。
What is the main condition for the preservation of the remains of any living creature?
It is animals and plants which lived in or near water whose remains are most likely to be preserved, for one of the necessary conditions of preservation is quick burial, and it is only in the seas and rivers, and sometimes lakes, where mud and silt have been continuously deposited, that bodies and the like can be rapidly covered over and preserved.
But even in the most favourable circumstances only a small fraction of the creatures that die are preserved in this way before decay sets in or, even more likely, before scavengers eat them. After all, all living creatures live by feeding on something else, whether it be plant or animal, dead or alive, and it is only by chance that such a fate is avoided. The remains of plants and animals that lived on land are much more rarely preserved, for there is seldom anything to cover them over. When you think of the innumerable birds that one sees flying about, not to mention the equally numerous small animals like field mice and voles which you do not see, it is very rarely that one comes across a dead body, except, of course, on the roads. They decompose and are quickly destroyed by the weather or eaten by some other creature.
It is almost always due to some very special circumstances that traces of land animals survive, as by falling into inaccessible caves, or into an ice crevasse, like the Siberian mammoths, when the whole animal is sometimes preserved, as in a refrigerator. This is what happened to the famous Beresovka mammoth which was found preserved and in good condition. In his mouth were the remains of fir trees----the last meal that he had before he fell into the crevasse and broke his back. The mammoth has now been restored in the Palaeontological Museum in St. Petersburg. Other animals were trapped in tar pits, like the elephants, sabretoothed cats, and numerous other creatures that are found at Rancho la Brea , which is now just a suburb of Los Angeles. Apparently what happened was that water collected on these tar pits, and the bigger animals like the elephants ventured out on to the apparently firm surface to drink, and were promptly bogged in the tar. And then, when they were dead, the carnivores, like the sabre-toothed cats and the giant wolves, came out to feed and suffered exactly the same fate. There are also endless numbers of birds in the tar as well.
ERROL WHITE The past life of the earth from Discovery
1 第1段中有两个由it is…引导的强调句。一个是 It is animals and plants which lived in or near water whose remains aremost likely to be preserved，被强调部分是 animals and plants which lived in or near water．另一个强调句是 itisonlyin theseasandrivers，andsometimeslakes，…that bodiesandthelikecanbe…，这一句中强调的是地点状语。
Refer to the text to see how the following words have been used, then write sentences of your own using these words: preservation (1.2); the like (1.3); a small fraction (1.5); scavengers (1.6); innumerable (1.9); decompose (1.12); inaccessible (1.14); restored (1.17); promptly bogged (1.21).
Summary摘要
A Drawing your information from the first two paragraphs (lines 1-12), write a list of points in note form outlining the author's main ideas on the preservation of animals.
B Using this list of points, reconstruct the author's account in not more than 80 words. Your answer should be in one paragraph.
Composition作文
Write a composition of about 300 words on the following subject: Extinct forms of animal life.
You may use some or all of the ideas given below if you wish:
1 Fascination of a natural history museum where the skeletons and fossils of extinct forms of life are on display.
2 The sort of thing one can see: remains of animals that existed in pre-historic times. E.g. Reptiles: dinosaurs, tyrannosaurs. Birds: pterodactyls. Fish: early sharks; fossilized crustaceans. Mammals: perhaps the most fascinating: Neanderthal man.
3 The remains of animals which became extinct recently: e.g. the dodo. Many forms of animal life are in danger of becoming extinct today.
4 A reference to ‘living fossils’----primitive forms of life which have surprisingly survived: e.g. the coelacanth; the platypus.
Key structures关键句型
A Note the form of the verbs in italics:
Only a small fraction of the creatures that die are preserved in this way before decay sets in or, even more likely, before scavengers eat them. (11.5-6)
Write sentences using the same construction with these words: until; after; as soon as; when.
B Compare the use of for in these two sentences:
1 The remains of plants and animals that lived on land are much more rarely preserved, for there is seldom anything to cover them over. (11.8-9)
2 I think this letter is for you.
Write two sentences using for in the ways illustrated above.
C Supply the correct form of the verbs in the following. Do not refer to the passage until you have finished the exercise:
It is almost always due to some very special circumstances that traces of land animals survive, as by____(fall) into inaccessible caves, or into an ice crevasse, like the Siberian mammoths, when the whole animal sometimes____(preserve) as in a refrigerator, This is what ____(happen) to the famous Beresovka mammoth which____ (find)____ (preserve) and in good condition. In his mouth____ (be) the remains of fir trees----the last meal that he____ (have) before he____ (fall) into the crevasse and ____(break) his back. The mammoth now____ (restore) in the Palaeontological Museum in St. Petersburg. Other animals____ (trap) in tar pits, like the elephants, sabre-toothed cats, and numerous other creatures that ____(find) at Rancho la Brea. (11.13-19)
Special difficulties难点
A Study the following pairs of words and then write sentences of your own to bring out the difference.
1 favourable (1.5) ---- favourite
The new film received favourable reviews.
What is your favourite dish?
2 alive (1.7) ---- living
Be careful! That lobster is alive.
All living creatures need air and water.
3 avoid (1.8) ---- prevent
Avoid travelling during the rush hour.
I can't prevent your going if you want to.
B Note the phrase in italics: Only a small fraction of the creatures that die are preserved in this way. (11.5-6)
Write sentences using the following phrases:
in the way; on the way; in a way; by the way.
C Explain the meaning of due to and due in these sentences:
l It is almost always due to some very special circumstances that traces of land animals survive. (1.13)
2 The train is due to arrive in three minutes.
3 Give the man his due, even if you dislike him.
4 Halifax lies due North from here.
D Study the use of as and like in this sentence:
It is due to some very special circumstances … as by falling into inaccessible caves, like the Siberian mammoths …(11.13-14)
Supply like or as in the following sentences:
1 Please do ____I say.
2 He was white ____a sheet.
3 He left ____suddenly____ he came.
4 Don't act ____a baby.
5 The carnivores, ____the sabre-toothed cats, came out to feed and suffered exactly the same fate. (11.22-23)
Multiple choice questions多项选择题
Choose the correct answers to the following questions.
Comprehension理解
1 The remains of life forms can only survive intact if they are ____.
a．in seas and rivers
b．under the ground
c．covered up quickly in the right conditions
d．preserved near water
2 Inland conditions ensure that the preservation of life forms ____.
a．is quite common
b．is relatively rare
c．occurs where there are great numbers of species
d．is always possible in favourable circumstances
3 Unusual circumstances for the preservation of life forms can be provided by ____.
a．mammoths
b．crevasses
c．freezing conditions
d．fir trees
4 Animals were trapped in tar because they ____.
a．wanted to drink the tar
b．were deceived by the appearance of the pits
c．were extremely heavy
d．were chasing birds
Structure句型
5 The remains of plants are ____more rarely preserved. (11.8-9)
a．far
b．very
c．quite
d．many
6 There is ____anything to cover them over. (1.9)
a．ever
b．never
c．rarely
d．hardly
7 It is almost always ____special circumstances that traces of land animals survive. (1.13)
a．as a result
b．owing
c．on account
d．because of
8 In his mouth were the remains of fir trees----the last meal he____ before he fell. (1.17)
a．was eaten
b．is eating
c．has eaten
d．ate
Vocabulary词汇
9 When you think of the ____birds that one sees ... (11.9-10)
a．countless
b．uncountable
c．uncounted
d．unnumbered
10 They____ and are quickly destroyed by the weather. (11.11-12)
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