问答题Passage 1　　Despite the basic biological, chemical, and physical similarities found in all living things, a diversity of life exists not only among and between species but also within every natural population. The phenomenon of diversity has had a long

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第二篇

Research by the University of Exeter has revealed that ants have a big impact on their local en-vironment as a result of their activity as"ecosystem engineers"and predators.The study,published in the Journal of Animal Ecology,found that ants have two distinct effects on their local environment.
Firstly,through moving of soil by nest building activity and by collecting food they affect the level of nutrients in the soil.This can indirectly impact the local populations of many animal groups, from decomposers to species much higher up the food chain.
Secondly,they prey on a wide range of other animals,including larger prey which can be at-tacked by vast numbers of ant workers.
Dirk Sanders,an author of the study from the university's Centre for Ecology and Conservation, said:"Ants are very effective predators which thrive in huge numbers.They're also very territorial and very aggressive,defending their resources and territory against other predators.All of this means they have a strong influence on their surrounding area."
"In this research,we studied for the first time how big this impact is and the subtleties of it. What we found is that despite being predators,their presence can also lead to an increase in density and diversity of other animal groups.They genuinely play a key role in the local environment,haying a big influence on the grassland food web,"Sanders said.
The study,carried out in Germany,studied the impact of the presence of different combinations and densities of black garden ants and common red ants,both species which can be found across Eurone.including in the UK.It found that a low density of ants in an area increased the diversity and density of other animals in the local area,particularly the density of herbivores and decomposers.At higher densities ants had no or the opposite effect,showing that predation is counteracting the positive influence.
Dr Frank van Veen,another author on the study,said:"What we find is that the impact of ants on soil nutrient levels has a positive effect on animal groups at low levels,but as the number of ants increases,their predatory impacts have the bigger effect一thereby counteracting the positive influence via ecosystem engineering."
Ants are important components of ecosystems not only because they constitute a great part of the animal biomass but also because they act as ecosystem engineers.Ant biodiversity is incredibly high and these organisms are highly responsive to human impact,which obviously reduces its richness. However,it is not clear how such disturbance damages the maintenance of ant services to the ecosystem.Ants are important in below ground processes through the alteration of the physical and chemical environment and through their effects on plants,microorganisms,and other soil organisms.

What still remains unclear about ants,according to the last paragraph?
A:What roles do ants play in the ecosystem in which they live?
B:How do ants affect the animal diversity in a given ecosystem?
C:How do human activities affect ants' influence on a given ecosystem?
D:How do ants alter the physical and chemical environment?

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Ants Have Big Impact on Environment as“Ecosystem Engineers”
Research by the University of Exeter has revealed that ants have a big impact on their local environment as a result of their activity as“ecosystem engineers”and predators. The study,published in the Journal of Animal Ecology,found that ants have two distinct effects on their local environment.
Firstly,through moving of soil by nest building activity and by collecting food they af-fect the level of nutrients in the soil. This can indirectly impact the local populations of many animal groups,from decomposers to species much higher up the food chain.
Secondly,they prey on a wide range of other animals,including larger prey which can be attacked by vast numbers of ant workers.
Dirk Sanders,an author of the study from the university's Centre for Ecology and Con-servation,said:“Ants are very effective predators which thrive in huge numbers. They're al-so very territorial and very aggressive,defending their resources and territory against other predators. All of this means they have a strong influence on their surrounding area.”
“In this research,we studied for the first time how big this impact is and the subtleties of it. What we found is that despite being predators,their presence can also lead to an increase in density and diversity of other animal groups. They genuinely play a key role in the local environment,having a big influence on the grassland food web,”Sanders said.
The study,carried out in Germany,studied the impact of the presence of different combinations and densities of black garden ants and common red ants,both species which can be found across Europe,including in the UK.It found that a low density of ants in an area increased the diversity and density of other animals in the local area,particularly the density of herbivores and decomposers. At higher densities ants had no or the opposite effect,showing that predation is counteracting the positive influence.
Dr Frank van Veen,another author on the study,said:“What we find is that the impact of ants on soil nutrient levels has a positive effect on animal groups at low levels,but as the number of ants increases,their predatory impacts have the bigger effect一thereby counteracting the positive influence via ecosystem engineering.”
Ants are important components of ecosystems not only because they constitute a great part of the animal biomass but also because they act as ecosystem engineers. Ant biodiversity is incredibly high and these organisms are highly responsive to human impact,which obviously reduces its richness. However,it is not clear how such disturbance damages the maintenance of ant services to the ecosystem. Ants are important in below ground processes through the alteration of the physical and chemical environment and through their effects on plants,microorganisms,and other soil organisms.

As predators,ants______.
A:prey on small as well as large animals
B: collect nutritious food from the soil
C: collect food as decomposers
D: prey on species much higher up the food chain

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To Survive or to Vanish

1.Over 3.6 billion years ago,the first creature was born in the world.Since then,the earth started its era with life.The history of life on earth has been a history of interaction between living things and their surroundings.To a large extent,the physical form and the habits of the earth's vegetation and its animal life have been molded by the environment. Considering the whole span of earthly time,the opposite effect,in which life actually modifies its surroundings,has been relatively slight. Only in the present century has one species一man acquired significant power to alter the nature of his world.
2.During the past 25 years,this power has not only become increasingly great but it has changed in character. The most alarming of all man's assaults upon the environment is the contamination of air,earth,rivers,and sea with dangerous and even lethal materials. This pollution is for the most part irrecoverable.In this now universal contamination of the environment,chemicals are the sinister partners of radiation in changing the very nature of the world the very nature of its life. Chemicals sprayed on croplands or forests or gardens lie long in soil,entering into living organisms, passing from one to another in a chain of poisoning and death.Or they pass mysteriously by underground streams until they emerge and combine into new forms that kill vegetation,sicken cattle,and work unknown harm on those who drink from once pure wells."Man can hardly even recognize the devils of his own creation,"as a scientist has said.
3.Hundreds of millions of years have passed before the globe produced the life that now inhabits the earth.Given time not in years but in millennia life adjusts,and a balance has been reached.But in the modern world there is no time.
4.The quick steps of change follows the impetuous pace of man rather than the deliberate pace of nature.Radiation is now the unnatural creation of man's tampering with the atom.The chemicals are the synthetic creations of man's inventive mind,having no counterparts in nature.
5.To survive these chemicals would require not merely the years of one man's life but the life of generations.And even this,were it by some miracle possible,would be futile,for the new chemicals come from our laboratories in an endless stream;almost five hundred annually find their way into actual use in the United States alone.Among them are many that are used in man's war against nature.Since the mid l940's over 200 basic chemicals have been created for use in killing insects,weeds,and other organisms described as"pests".
6.It is not my contention that chemical insecticides must never he used.I do contend that we have put poisonous and biologically potent chemicals indiscriminately into the hands of persons largely or wholly ignorant of their potentials for harm. We have subjected enormous numbers of people to contact with these poisons,without their consent and often without their knowledge.I contend,furthermore,that we have allowed these chemicals to be used with little or no advance investigation of their effect on soil,water,wildlife,and man himself. Future generations are unlikely to forgive our lack of concern for the integrity of the natural world that supports all life.

Human's pollution on nature is for the most part_______.
A:man's tampering with the atom
B:enormous numbers of people to contact with these poisons
C:the integrity of the natural world that supports all life
D:inventive
E:irrecoverable
F:relatively slight

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To Survive or to Vanish

1.Over 3.6 billion years ago,the first creature was born in the world.Since then,the earth started its era with life.The history of life on earth has been a history of interaction between living things and their surroundings.To a large extent,the physical form and the habits of the earth's vegetation and its animal life have been molded by the environment. Considering the whole span of earthly time,the opposite effect,in which life actually modifies its surroundings,has been relatively slight. Only in the present century has one species一man acquired significant power to alter the nature of his world.
2.During the past 25 years,this power has not only become increasingly great but it has changed in character. The most alarming of all man's assaults upon the environment is the contamination of air,earth,rivers,and sea with dangerous and even lethal materials. This pollution is for the most part irrecoverable.In this now universal contamination of the environment,chemicals are the sinister partners of radiation in changing the very nature of the world the very nature of its life. Chemicals sprayed on croplands or forests or gardens lie long in soil,entering into living organisms, passing from one to another in a chain of poisoning and death.Or they pass mysteriously by underground streams until they emerge and combine into new forms that kill vegetation,sicken cattle,and work unknown harm on those who drink from once pure wells."Man can hardly even recognize the devils of his own creation,"as a scientist has said.
3.Hundreds of millions of years have passed before the globe produced the life that now inhabits the earth.Given time not in years but in millennia life adjusts,and a balance has been reached.But in the modern world there is no time.
4.The quick steps of change follows the impetuous pace of man rather than the deliberate pace of nature.Radiation is now the unnatural creation of man's tampering with the atom.The chemicals are the synthetic creations of man's inventive mind,having no counterparts in nature.
5.To survive these chemicals would require not merely the years of one man's life but the life of generations.And even this,were it by some miracle possible,would be futile,for the new chemicals come from our laboratories in an endless stream;almost five hundred annually find their way into actual use in the United States alone.Among them are many that are used in man's war against nature.Since the mid l940's over 200 basic chemicals have been created for use in killing insects,weeds,and other organisms described as"pests".
6.It is not my contention that chemical insecticides must never he used.I do contend that we have put poisonous and biologically potent chemicals indiscriminately into the hands of persons largely or wholly ignorant of their potentials for harm. We have subjected enormous numbers of people to contact with these poisons,without their consent and often without their knowledge.I contend,furthermore,that we have allowed these chemicals to be used with little or no advance investigation of their effect on soil,water,wildlife,and man himself. Future generations are unlikely to forgive our lack of concern for the integrity of the natural world that supports all life.

Paragraph 1_______
A:Man should be cautious in chemical use.
B:It takes generations for mankind to adapt themselves to the chemicals.
C:Chemicals are human's invention
D:Human's power increases and has changed its character in the past quarter century.
E:The new change in the relationship between earth and its creature一human's power playing a greater role in changing the world
F: Modern world gives no time for nature to adjust to human.

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Ecosystem
1. The word “ecosystem” is short for ecological（生态的）system. An ecosystem is where living creatures expand within a given area. You can say that an ecosystem is the natural environment where biological organisms（生物）such as plants,animals and humans co-exist in this world. So naturally that includes you and me. Yes,we are all members of an ecosystem!
2 .There are different kinds of ecosystems depending on the type of surface or environ-ment. Most are naturally made such as the ocean or lake and the desert or rainforest.Some are man-made or artificial to encourage co-habitation（同居）between living and non-living things in a monitored environment,such as a zoo or garden.
3 .Plants make up the biggest group of biological creatures within an ecosystem,and that's because they are the natural food producers for everyone. Plants raised in the earth need air and collect sunlight to help them grow. When they grow,the plants and its fruits or flowers eventually become a source of food to animals,microorganisms（微生物）and even hu- mans,of course. Food is then converted to energy for the rest of us to function,and this hap-pens in a never-ending cycle until the living creatures die and break up back in the earth.
4 .Ecosystems are the basis of survival for all living things.We depend on plants and ani-mals for food. In order for us to exist,we need to grow and care about other organisms. We also need to care for the non-living things within our environment like our air and water so we can continue living as a population. Since plants,animals and humans are all of various species（物种）,we all play a role in maintaining the ecosystem.
5 .To preserve our ecosystems,we should stop using too much energy,which happens when we consume more than our share of resources. Humans should not disturb the natural habitat（栖息地）of plants and animals,and allow them to grow healthily for the cycle to con-tinue. Too many people in a habitat can mean displacement（搬迁）: imagine being thrown out of your home because there is no more space for everyone. Worse,overpopulation can also ru- in the environment and cause destruction of existing plants and animals.

Plants,animals and humans are all effective in______.
A: our share of resources
B: a biological creature
C: a given area
D: the maintenance of the ecosystem
E: the source of food
F: various species

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Ecosystem
1. The word “ecosystem” is short for ecological（生态的）system. An ecosystem is where living creatures expand within a given area. You can say that an ecosystem is the natural environment where biological organisms（生物）such as plants,animals and humans co-exist in this world. So naturally that includes you and me. Yes,we are all members of an ecosystem!
2 .There are different kinds of ecosystems depending on the type of surface or environ-ment. Most are naturally made such as the ocean or lake and the desert or rainforest.Some are man-made or artificial to encourage co-habitation（同居）between living and non-living things in a monitored environment,such as a zoo or garden.
3 .Plants make up the biggest group of biological creatures within an ecosystem,and that's because they are the natural food producers for everyone. Plants raised in the earth need air and collect sunlight to help them grow. When they grow,the plants and its fruits or flowers eventually become a source of food to animals,microorganisms（微生物）and even hu- mans,of course. Food is then converted to energy for the rest of us to function,and this hap-pens in a never-ending cycle until the living creatures die and break up back in the earth.
4 .Ecosystems are the basis of survival for all living things.We depend on plants and ani-mals for food. In order for us to exist,we need to grow and care about other organisms. We also need to care for the non-living things within our environment like our air and water so we can continue living as a population. Since plants,animals and humans are all of various species（物种）,we all play a role in maintaining the ecosystem.
5 .To preserve our ecosystems,we should stop using too much energy,which happens when we consume more than our share of resources. Humans should not disturb the natural habitat（栖息地）of plants and animals,and allow them to grow healthily for the cycle to con-tinue. Too many people in a habitat can mean displacement（搬迁）: imagine being thrown out of your home because there is no more space for everyone. Worse,overpopulation can also ru- in the environment and cause destruction of existing plants and animals.

Paragraph 2_________
A: What Can We Do to Help Protect Ecosystems?
B: What Are Different types of Ecosystems?
C: What Is an Ecosystem?
D: What Destroys Ecosystems?
E: How Does an Ecosystem Work?
F: Why Are Ecosystems Emportant?

共用题干
Ecosystem
1. The word “ecosystem” is short for ecological（生态的）system. An ecosystem is where living creatures expand within a given area. You can say that an ecosystem is the natural environment where biological organisms（生物）such as plants,animals and humans co-exist in this world. So naturally that includes you and me. Yes,we are all members of an ecosystem!
2 .There are different kinds of ecosystems depending on the type of surface or environ-ment. Most are naturally made such as the ocean or lake and the desert or rainforest.Some are man-made or artificial to encourage co-habitation（同居）between living and non-living things in a monitored environment,such as a zoo or garden.
3 .Plants make up the biggest group of biological creatures within an ecosystem,and that's because they are the natural food producers for everyone. Plants raised in the earth need air and collect sunlight to help them grow. When they grow,the plants and its fruits or flowers eventually become a source of food to animals,microorganisms（微生物）and even hu- mans,of course. Food is then converted to energy for the rest of us to function,and this hap-pens in a never-ending cycle until the living creatures die and break up back in the earth.
4 .Ecosystems are the basis of survival for all living things.We depend on plants and ani-mals for food. In order for us to exist,we need to grow and care about other organisms. We also need to care for the non-living things within our environment like our air and water so we can continue living as a population. Since plants,animals and humans are all of various species（物种）,we all play a role in maintaining the ecosystem.
5 .To preserve our ecosystems,we should stop using too much energy,which happens when we consume more than our share of resources. Humans should not disturb the natural habitat（栖息地）of plants and animals,and allow them to grow healthily for the cycle to con-tinue. Too many people in a habitat can mean displacement（搬迁）: imagine being thrown out of your home because there is no more space for everyone. Worse,overpopulation can also ru- in the environment and cause destruction of existing plants and animals.

Plants are essential in an ecosystem because to other living creatures they are______.
A: our share of resources
B: a biological creature
C: a given area
D: the maintenance of the ecosystem
E: the source of food
F: various species

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Ecosystem

1 The word " ecosystem" is short for ecological（生态的）system. An ecosystem is where living crea-
tures expand within a given area.You can say that an ecosystem is the natural environment where biological
organisms（生物）such as plants,animals and humans co-exist in this world. So naturally that includes you
and mne.Yes,we are all members of an ecosystem!
2 There are different kinds of ecosystems depending on the type of suiface or environment. Most are
naturally made 5uch as the ocean or lake and the desert or rainforest.Some are man-made or artificial to en-
courage co-habitation（共居）between living and non-living things in a monitored environment,such as a
zoo or garden.
3 Plants make up the biggest group of biological creatures within an ecosystem,and that's because
they are the natural food producers for everyone.Plants raised in the earth need air and collect sunlight to
help them grow.When they grow,the plants and their加its or flowers eventually become a source of food to
animals,microorganisms (微生物）and even humans, of course. Food is then converted to energy for the rest
of us to function,and this happens in a never-ending cycle until the living creatures die and break up back
in the earth.
4 Ecosystems are the basis of survival for all living things.We depend on plants and animals for food.
In order for us to exist,we need to grow and care about other organisms.We also need tO care for the non一living
things within our environment like our air and water so we can continue living as a population.Since plants,
animals and humans are all of various species（物种）,we all play a role in maintaining the ecosystem.
5 To preserve our ecosystems,we should stop using too much energy,which happens汕en we consume more
than our share of resources. Humans should not disturb the natural habitat（栖息地）of plants and animals,
and should allow them to grow healthily for the cycle to continue.Too many people in a habitat can mean dis-
placement（搬迁）:imagine being thrown out of your home because there is no more space for everyone.
Worse,overpopulation can also ruin the environment and cause destruction of existing plants and animals.

Paragraph 3_______
A: What Can We Do to Help Protect Ecosystems?
B:What Are Different Types of Ecosystems？
C:What Is an Ecosystem？
D: What Destroys Ecosystems?
E:How does an Ecosystem Work?
F: Why Are Ecosystems Important？

共用题干
Ecosystem

1 The word " ecosystem" is short for ecological（生态的）system. An ecosystem is where living crea-
tures expand within a given area.You can say that an ecosystem is the natural environment where biological
organisms（生物）such as plants,animals and humans co-exist in this world. So naturally that includes you
and mne.Yes,we are all members of an ecosystem!
2 There are different kinds of ecosystems depending on the type of suiface or environment. Most are
naturally made 5uch as the ocean or lake and the desert or rainforest.Some are man-made or artificial to en-
courage co-habitation（共居）between living and non-living things in a monitored environment,such as a
zoo or garden.
3 Plants make up the biggest group of biological creatures within an ecosystem,and that's because
they are the natural food producers for everyone.Plants raised in the earth need air and collect sunlight to
help them grow.When they grow,the plants and their加its or flowers eventually become a source of food to
animals,microorganisms (微生物）and even humans, of course. Food is then converted to energy for the rest
of us to function,and this happens in a never-ending cycle until the living creatures die and break up back
in the earth.
4 Ecosystems are the basis of survival for all living things.We depend on plants and animals for food.
In order for us to exist,we need to grow and care about other organisms.We also need tO care for the non一living
things within our environment like our air and water so we can continue living as a population.Since plants,
animals and humans are all of various species（物种）,we all play a role in maintaining the ecosystem.
5 To preserve our ecosystems,we should stop using too much energy,which happens汕en we consume more
than our share of resources. Humans should not disturb the natural habitat（栖息地）of plants and animals,
and should allow them to grow healthily for the cycle to continue.Too many people in a habitat can mean dis-
placement（搬迁）:imagine being thrown out of your home because there is no more space for everyone.
Worse,overpopulation can also ruin the environment and cause destruction of existing plants and animals.

Plants,animals and humans are all effective in________.
A:our share of resourees
B:a biological creature
C:a given area
D:the maintenance of the ecosystem
E:the source of food
F:various species

共用题干
第二篇

Research by the University of Exeter has revealed that ants have a big impact on their local en-vironment as a result of their activity as"ecosystem engineers"and predators.The study,published in the Journal of Animal Ecology,found that ants have two distinct effects on their local environment.
Firstly,through moving of soil by nest building activity and by collecting food they affect the level of nutrients in the soil.This can indirectly impact the local populations of many animal groups, from decomposers to species much higher up the food chain.
Secondly,they prey on a wide range of other animals,including larger prey which can be at-tacked by vast numbers of ant workers.
Dirk Sanders,an author of the study from the university's Centre for Ecology and Conservation, said:"Ants are very effective predators which thrive in huge numbers.They're also very territorial and very aggressive,defending their resources and territory against other predators.All of this means they have a strong influence on their surrounding area."
"In this research,we studied for the first time how big this impact is and the subtleties of it. What we found is that despite being predators,their presence can also lead to an increase in density and diversity of other animal groups.They genuinely play a key role in the local environment,haying a big influence on the grassland food web,"Sanders said.
The study,carried out in Germany,studied the impact of the presence of different combinations and densities of black garden ants and common red ants,both species which can be found across Eurone.including in the UK.It found that a low density of ants in an area increased the diversity and density of other animals in the local area,particularly the density of herbivores and decomposers.At higher densities ants had no or the opposite effect,showing that predation is counteracting the positive influence.
Dr Frank van Veen,another author on the study,said:"What we find is that the impact of ants on soil nutrient levels has a positive effect on animal groups at low levels,but as the number of ants increases,their predatory impacts have the bigger effect一thereby counteracting the positive influence via ecosystem engineering."
Ants are important components of ecosystems not only because they constitute a great part of the animal biomass but also because they act as ecosystem engineers.Ant biodiversity is incredibly high and these organisms are highly responsive to human impact,which obviously reduces its richness. However,it is not clear how such disturbance damages the maintenance of ant services to the ecosystem.Ants are important in below ground processes through the alteration of the physical and chemical environment and through their effects on plants,microorganisms,and other soil organisms.

As predators,ants_________.
A:prey on small as well as large animals
B:collect nutritious food from the soil
C:collect food as decomposers
D:prey on species much higher up the food chain

共用题干
Ants Have Big Impact on Environment as“Ecosystem Engineers”
Research by the University of Exeter has revealed that ants have a big impact on their local environment as a result of their activity as“ecosystem engineers”and predators. The study,published in the Journal of Animal Ecology,found that ants have two distinct effects on their local environment.
Firstly,through moving of soil by nest building activity and by collecting food they af-fect the level of nutrients in the soil. This can indirectly impact the local populations of many animal groups,from decomposers to species much higher up the food chain.
Secondly,they prey on a wide range of other animals,including larger prey which can be attacked by vast numbers of ant workers.
Dirk Sanders,an author of the study from the university's Centre for Ecology and Con-servation,said:“Ants are very effective predators which thrive in huge numbers. They're al-so very territorial and very aggressive,defending their resources and territory against other predators. All of this means they have a strong influence on their surrounding area.”
“In this research,we studied for the first time how big this impact is and the subtleties of it. What we found is that despite being predators,their presence can also lead to an increase in density and diversity of other animal groups. They genuinely play a key role in the local environment,having a big influence on the grassland food web,”Sanders said.
The study,carried out in Germany,studied the impact of the presence of different combinations and densities of black garden ants and common red ants,both species which can be found across Europe,including in the UK.It found that a low density of ants in an area increased the diversity and density of other animals in the local area,particularly the density of herbivores and decomposers. At higher densities ants had no or the opposite effect,showing that predation is counteracting the positive influence.
Dr Frank van Veen,another author on the study,said:“What we find is that the impact of ants on soil nutrient levels has a positive effect on animal groups at low levels,but as the number of ants increases,their predatory impacts have the bigger effect一thereby counteracting the positive influence via ecosystem engineering.”
Ants are important components of ecosystems not only because they constitute a great part of the animal biomass but also because they act as ecosystem engineers. Ant biodiversity is incredibly high and these organisms are highly responsive to human impact,which obviously reduces its richness. However,it is not clear how such disturbance damages the maintenance of ant services to the ecosystem. Ants are important in below ground processes through the alteration of the physical and chemical environment and through their effects on plants,microorganisms,and other soil organisms.

What still remains unclear about ants,according to the last paragraph?
A: What roles do ants play in the ecosystem in which they live?
B: How do ants affect the animal diversity in a given ecosystem?
C: How do human activities affect ants'influence on a given ecosystem?
D: How do ants alter the physical and chemical environment?

共用题干
To Survive or to Vanish

1.Over 3.6 billion years ago,the first creature was born in the world.Since then,the earth started its era with life.The history of life on earth has been a history of interaction between living things and their surroundings.To a large extent,the physical form and the habits of the earth's vegetation and its animal life have been molded by the environment. Considering the whole span of earthly time,the opposite effect,in which life actually modifies its surroundings,has been relatively slight. Only in the present century has one species一man acquired significant power to alter the nature of his world.
2.During the past 25 years,this power has not only become increasingly great but it has changed in character. The most alarming of all man's assaults upon the environment is the contamination of air,earth,rivers,and sea with dangerous and even lethal materials. This pollution is for the most part irrecoverable.In this now universal contamination of the environment,chemicals are the sinister partners of radiation in changing the very nature of the world the very nature of its life. Chemicals sprayed on croplands or forests or gardens lie long in soil,entering into living organisms, passing from one to another in a chain of poisoning and death.Or they pass mysteriously by underground streams until they emerge and combine into new forms that kill vegetation,sicken cattle,and work unknown harm on those who drink from once pure wells."Man can hardly even recognize the devils of his own creation,"as a scientist has said.
3.Hundreds of millions of years have passed before the globe produced the life that now inhabits the earth.Given time not in years but in millennia life adjusts,and a balance has been reached.But in the modern world there is no time.
4.The quick steps of change follows the impetuous pace of man rather than the deliberate pace of nature.Radiation is now the unnatural creation of man's tampering with the atom.The chemicals are the synthetic creations of man's inventive mind,having no counterparts in nature.
5.To survive these chemicals would require not merely the years of one man's life but the life of generations.And even this,were it by some miracle possible,would be futile,for the new chemicals come from our laboratories in an endless stream;almost five hundred annually find their way into actual use in the United States alone.Among them are many that are used in man's war against nature.Since the mid l940's over 200 basic chemicals have been created for use in killing insects,weeds,and other organisms described as"pests".
6.It is not my contention that chemical insecticides must never he used.I do contend that we have put poisonous and biologically potent chemicals indiscriminately into the hands of persons largely or wholly ignorant of their potentials for harm. We have subjected enormous numbers of people to contact with these poisons,without their consent and often without their knowledge.I contend,furthermore,that we have allowed these chemicals to be used with little or no advance investigation of their effect on soil,water,wildlife,and man himself. Future generations are unlikely to forgive our lack of concern for the integrity of the natural world that supports all life.

The effect of life modifying its surroundings has been_______.
A:man's tampering with the atom
B:enormous numbers of people to contact with these poisons
C:the integrity of the natural world that supports all life
D:inventive
E:irrecoverable
F:relatively slight

共用题干
To Survive or to Vanish

1.Over 3.6 billion years ago,the first creature was born in the world.Since then,the earth started its era with life.The history of life on earth has been a history of interaction between living things and their surroundings.To a large extent,the physical form and the habits of the earth's vegetation and its animal life have been molded by the environment. Considering the whole span of earthly time,the opposite effect,in which life actually modifies its surroundings,has been relatively slight. Only in the present century has one species一man acquired significant power to alter the nature of his world.
2.During the past 25 years,this power has not only become increasingly great but it has changed in character. The most alarming of all man's assaults upon the environment is the contamination of air,earth,rivers,and sea with dangerous and even lethal materials. This pollution is for the most part irrecoverable.In this now universal contamination of the environment,chemicals are the sinister partners of radiation in changing the very nature of the world the very nature of its life. Chemicals sprayed on croplands or forests or gardens lie long in soil,entering into living organisms, passing from one to another in a chain of poisoning and death.Or they pass mysteriously by underground streams until they emerge and combine into new forms that kill vegetation,sicken cattle,and work unknown harm on those who drink from once pure wells."Man can hardly even recognize the devils of his own creation,"as a scientist has said.
3.Hundreds of millions of years have passed before the globe produced the life that now inhabits the earth.Given time not in years but in millennia life adjusts,and a balance has been reached.But in the modern world there is no time.
4.The quick steps of change follows the impetuous pace of man rather than the deliberate pace of nature.Radiation is now the unnatural creation of man's tampering with the atom.The chemicals are the synthetic creations of man's inventive mind,having no counterparts in nature.
5.To survive these chemicals would require not merely the years of one man's life but the life of generations.And even this,were it by some miracle possible,would be futile,for the new chemicals come from our laboratories in an endless stream;almost five hundred annually find their way into actual use in the United States alone.Among them are many that are used in man's war against nature.Since the mid l940's over 200 basic chemicals have been created for use in killing insects,weeds,and other organisms described as"pests".
6.It is not my contention that chemical insecticides must never he used.I do contend that we have put poisonous and biologically potent chemicals indiscriminately into the hands of persons largely or wholly ignorant of their potentials for harm. We have subjected enormous numbers of people to contact with these poisons,without their consent and often without their knowledge.I contend,furthermore,that we have allowed these chemicals to be used with little or no advance investigation of their effect on soil,water,wildlife,and man himself. Future generations are unlikely to forgive our lack of concern for the integrity of the natural world that supports all life.

Paragraph 5_______
A:Man should be cautious in chemical use.
B:It takes generations for mankind to adapt themselves to the chemicals.
C:Chemicals are human's invention
D:Human's power increases and has changed its character in the past quarter century.
E:The new change in the relationship between earth and its creature一human's power playing a greater role in changing the world
F: Modern world gives no time for nature to adjust to human.

共用题干
Ecosystem
1. The word “ecosystem” is short for ecological（生态的）system. An ecosystem is where living creatures expand within a given area. You can say that an ecosystem is the natural environment where biological organisms（生物）such as plants,animals and humans co-exist in this world. So naturally that includes you and me. Yes,we are all members of an ecosystem!
2 .There are different kinds of ecosystems depending on the type of surface or environ-ment. Most are naturally made such as the ocean or lake and the desert or rainforest.Some are man-made or artificial to encourage co-habitation（同居）between living and non-living things in a monitored environment,such as a zoo or garden.
3 .Plants make up the biggest group of biological creatures within an ecosystem,and that's because they are the natural food producers for everyone. Plants raised in the earth need air and collect sunlight to help them grow. When they grow,the plants and its fruits or flowers eventually become a source of food to animals,microorganisms（微生物）and even hu- mans,of course. Food is then converted to energy for the rest of us to function,and this hap-pens in a never-ending cycle until the living creatures die and break up back in the earth.
4 .Ecosystems are the basis of survival for all living things.We depend on plants and ani-mals for food. In order for us to exist,we need to grow and care about other organisms. We also need to care for the non-living things within our environment like our air and water so we can continue living as a population. Since plants,animals and humans are all of various species（物种）,we all play a role in maintaining the ecosystem.
5 .To preserve our ecosystems,we should stop using too much energy,which happens when we consume more than our share of resources. Humans should not disturb the natural habitat（栖息地）of plants and animals,and allow them to grow healthily for the cycle to con-tinue. Too many people in a habitat can mean displacement（搬迁）: imagine being thrown out of your home because there is no more space for everyone. Worse,overpopulation can also ru- in the environment and cause destruction of existing plants and animals.

In an ecosystem,plants,animals and humans live together in______.
A: our share of resources
B: a biological creature
C: a given area
D: the maintenance of the ecosystem
E: the source of food
F: various species

共用题干
第三篇

Ants Have Big Impact on Environment as " Ecosystem Engineers"

Research by the University of Exeter has revealed that ants have a big impact on their local environment
as a result of their activity as"ecosystem engineers"and predators.The study,published in the Journal of
Animal Ecology,found that ants have two distinct effects on their local environment?
Firstly.throuah moving the soil by nest building activity and by collecting food they affect the level of
nutrients in the soil.This can indirectly impact the local populations of many animal groups,from decomposers
to species much higher up the food chain.
Secondly,they prey on a wide range of other animals,including larger prey which can be attacked by
vast numbers of ant workers.
Dirk Sanders,an author of the study from the university's Centre for Ecology and Conservation,said,
"Ants are very effective predators which thrive in huge numbers.They're also very territorial and very ag-
gressive,defending their resources and territory against other predators.All of this means they have a strong
influence on their surrounding area."
"In this research,we studied for the first time how big this impact is and the subtleties of it.What we
found is that despite being predators,their presence can also lead to an increase in density and diversity of
other animal groups.They genuinely play a key role in the local environment,having a big influence on the
grassland food web,"Sanders said.
The study,carried out in Germany,studied the impact of the presence of different combinations and den-
sities of black garden ants and common red ants,both of which can be found across Europe,including the
UK. It found that a low density of ants in an area increased the diversity and density of other animals in the
local area,particularly the density of herbivores and decomposers.At higher densities ants had no or the op-
posite effect,the predation counteracting the positive influence.
Dr Frank van Veen,another author on the study,said:"What we find is that the impact of ants on soil
nutrient levels has a positive effect on animal groups at low levels,but as the number of ants increases,their
predatory impacts have the bigger effect一thereby counteracting the positive influence via ecosystem
engineering.
Ants are important components of the ecosystem not only because they constitute a great part of the ani--
mal biomass but also because they act as ecosystem engineers.Ant biodiversity is incredibly high and these
organisms are highly responsive to human impact,which obviously reduces its richness.However,it is not
clear how such disturbance damages the maintenance of ant services to the ecosystem.Ants are important in
below ground processes through the alteration of the physical and chemical environment and through their
effects on plants,microorganisms,and other soil organisms.

What still remains unclear about ants,according to the last paragraph?
A:What roles ants play in the ecosystem in which they live.
B:How ants affect the animal diversity in a given ecosystem.
C:How human activities affect ants'influence on a given ecosystem.
D:How ants alter the physical and chemical environment.

共用题干
第二篇

The Book of Life

So far, scientists have named about 1.8 million living species（物种）,and that's just a small part of
what probably exists on Earth.With so many plants,animals,and other creatures covering the planet,it can
be tough to figure out what type of spider is moving up your leg or what kind of bird is flying by.
A soon-to-be-launched Web site mighit help. An international team of researchers has announced the
creation of a Web-based Encyclopedia（百科全书）of Life(EoL).The project aims to catalog every species
on Earth in a single,easy-to-use referenice guide.
To get the encyclopedia started,the creators will use information from scientific databases（数据库）that
already exist. And eventually , in special sections of the site , nonscientists with specialized（专门的）
knowledge will get to join in Bird-watchers,for example,will be able to input which birds they'ye seen and
where.The technology for this kind of tool has only recently become available.
As the EoL develops,you might find it useful for school projects.The site will feature special pages for
kids who are studying ecosystems（生态系统）in their neighborhoods. To make sure the encyclopedia is
accurate,scientists will review much of the information added to it.People who visit the site will be able to
choose to leave out pages that haven't been reviewed.
Another convenient feature of the EoL is that you'11 be able to pick the level of detail you see to match
your interests,age,and current knowledge.If you wanted to learn about bears for a science class report,for
example,you could use the"novice"setting to get basic information about the animals.On the"expert"
setting,on the other hand,you could get much more detailed information about the history,literature,and
exploration of bears.
It now takes years for scientists to collect all the data they need to describe and analyze species.The
creators of the Encyclopedia of Life hope that their new tool will speed that process.

The goal of the creation of the EoL is to________.
A:collect enough data to analyze the living species on Earth
B:enlarge an existing Web site of the living species on Earth
C:work out an easy-to-use catalog of every living species on Earth
D:add new information to the existing databases of the living species on Earth

共用题干
Ecosystem

1 The word " ecosystem" is short for ecological（生态的）system. An ecosystem is where living crea-
tures expand within a given area.You can say that an ecosystem is the natural environment where biological
organisms（生物）such as plants,animals and humans co-exist in this world. So naturally that includes you
and mne.Yes,we are all members of an ecosystem!
2 There are different kinds of ecosystems depending on the type of suiface or environment. Most are
naturally made 5uch as the ocean or lake and the desert or rainforest.Some are man-made or artificial to en-
courage co-habitation（共居）between living and non-living things in a monitored environment,such as a
zoo or garden.
3 Plants make up the biggest group of biological creatures within an ecosystem,and that's because
they are the natural food producers for everyone.Plants raised in the earth need air and collect sunlight to
help them grow.When they grow,the plants and their加its or flowers eventually become a source of food to
animals,microorganisms (微生物）and even humans, of course. Food is then converted to energy for the rest
of us to function,and this happens in a never-ending cycle until the living creatures die and break up back
in the earth.
4 Ecosystems are the basis of survival for all living things.We depend on plants and animals for food.
In order for us to exist,we need to grow and care about other organisms.We also need tO care for the non一living
things within our environment like our air and water so we can continue living as a population.Since plants,
animals and humans are all of various species（物种）,we all play a role in maintaining the ecosystem.
5 To preserve our ecosystems,we should stop using too much energy,which happens汕en we consume more
than our share of resources. Humans should not disturb the natural habitat（栖息地）of plants and animals,
and should allow them to grow healthily for the cycle to continue.Too many people in a habitat can mean dis-
placement（搬迁）:imagine being thrown out of your home because there is no more space for everyone.
Worse,overpopulation can also ruin the environment and cause destruction of existing plants and animals.

In an ecosystem,plants,animals and humans live together in________.
A:our share of resourees
B:a biological creature
C:a given area
D:the maintenance of the ecosystem
E:the source of food
F:various species

共用题干
Ecosystem

1 The word " ecosystem" is short for ecological（生态的）system. An ecosystem is where living crea-
tures expand within a given area.You can say that an ecosystem is the natural environment where biological
organisms（生物）such as plants,animals and humans co-exist in this world. So naturally that includes you
and mne.Yes,we are all members of an ecosystem!
2 There are different kinds of ecosystems depending on the type of suiface or environment. Most are
naturally made 5uch as the ocean or lake and the desert or rainforest.Some are man-made or artificial to en-
courage co-habitation（共居）between living and non-living things in a monitored environment,such as a
zoo or garden.
3 Plants make up the biggest group of biological creatures within an ecosystem,and that's because
they are the natural food producers for everyone.Plants raised in the earth need air and collect sunlight to
help them grow.When they grow,the plants and their加its or flowers eventually become a source of food to
animals,microorganisms (微生物）and even humans, of course. Food is then converted to energy for the rest
of us to function,and this happens in a never-ending cycle until the living creatures die and break up back
in the earth.
4 Ecosystems are the basis of survival for all living things.We depend on plants and animals for food.
In order for us to exist,we need to grow and care about other organisms.We also need tO care for the non一living
things within our environment like our air and water so we can continue living as a population.Since plants,
animals and humans are all of various species（物种）,we all play a role in maintaining the ecosystem.
5 To preserve our ecosystems,we should stop using too much energy,which happens汕en we consume more
than our share of resources. Humans should not disturb the natural habitat（栖息地）of plants and animals,
and should allow them to grow healthily for the cycle to continue.Too many people in a habitat can mean dis-
placement（搬迁）:imagine being thrown out of your home because there is no more space for everyone.
Worse,overpopulation can also ruin the environment and cause destruction of existing plants and animals.

Plants are essential in an ecosystem because to other living creatures they are___.
A:our share of resourees
B:a biological creature
C:a given area
D:the maintenance of the ecosystem
E:the source of food
F:various species