Question

What will man be like in the future－in 5,000 or even 50,000 years from now? We can only make guesses, of course, but we can be sure that he will be different from what he is today. For man is slowly changing all the time.

Let us take an obvious example. Man, even five hundred years ago, was shorter than he is today. Now, on average, men are about three inches taller. Five hundred years is relatively short period of time, so we may assume that man will continue to grow taller. Again, in the modern world we use our brains a great deal. Even so, we still make use of only about 20% of the brain's capacity. As time goes on, however, we shall have to use our brains more and more, and eventually we shall need larger ones! This is likely to bring about a physical change to the head, in particular the forehead, will grow larger.

Nowadays our eyes are in constant use. In fact, we use them so much that very often they become weaker and we have to wear glasses. But over very long period of time it is likely that man's eyes will grow stronger.

On the other hand, we tend to make less use of our arms and legs. These, as a result, are likely to grow weaker. At the same time, however, our fingers will grow more sensitive because they are used a great deal in modern life.

But what about hair? This will probably disappear from the body altogether in course of time because it does not serve a useful purpose any longer. In the future, then, both sexes are likely to be bald.

Perhaps all this gives the impression that future man will not be a very attractive creature to look at! This may well be true. All the same, in spite of all these changes, future man will still have a lot in common with us. He will still be a human being, with thoughts and emotions similar to our own.

1. The passage mainly tells us that ________.

A. man's life will be different in the future          

B. future man will look quite different from us

C. man is growing taller and uglier as time passes

D. man's organs' functions will be on the wane

2. What serves as the evidence that man is changing?

A. Man has got stronger eyes now than he ever had.

B. Man's hair is getting thinner and thinner.

C. Man's arms and legs have become lighter and weaker.

D. Man has been growing taller over the past 500 years.

3. The change in man's size of forehead is probably because ________.

A. he makes use only 20% of the brain's capacity

B. his brain has grown larger over the past centuries

C. the other 80% of his brain will grow in due time

D. he will use his brain more and more as time goes on

4. What is true about a human being in the future?

A. He is hairless because hair is no longer useful.

B. He has smaller eyes and wears better glasses.

C. His fingers grow weaker because he doesn't have to make use of them.

D. He thinks and feels in different way.

5. It is implied that ________.

A. human beings will become less attractive in the future

B. less use of a bodily organ may lead to its degeneration   

C. human beings hope for a change in the future life

D. future life is always predictable

Answer 1

1. 解析：選B。主旨大意題。本文主要介紹未來人類的外貌。A項未來的生活，與中心思想不符。C項不具備概括性。D項器官功能衰退不能概括未來人類身體的變化。

2. 解析：選D。細節理解題。人類外貌逐漸變化的依據。由第二段第二句“Man，even five hundred years ago, was shorter than he is today”可知。A、B、C三項均為人類未來的變化趨勢而不是人類變化的證據。

3. 解析：選D。細節理解題。 第二段最后兩句：人類將更多地使用大腦，最終大腦變大，前額增大。

4. 解析：選A。推理判斷題。由倒數第二段“But what about hair? This will probably disappear from the body altogether in course of time because it does not serve a useful purpose any longer.”可知，人類的頭發最終可能會消失，因為頭發失去了作用。其他選項均與文章觀點不符。

5. 解析：選B。從人類身體變化可以看出，經常使用的器官部位，如大腦、手指將變得發達。而不常用的器官會退化。B項符合文章的觀點。