C KEY→P22
范畴:人与自然 主题:人与动物 体裁:说明文 难度:★★★ 建议用时:5分钟 评价:/4
Scientists have found proof that raccoons(浣熊) in the US are changing how they look. This happens because they spend more time near people. The researchers think this is the start of “domestication(驯化)”. Domestication is a kind of evolution. Evolution is how living things change over time. They change to live well in their living places and live more easily. Domestication means they change to live with humans.

In cities and towns with many people, there is often leftover food in rubbish bins. And there are not many big animals that hunt them. Wild animals can change little by little to live in these places. They get used to living with humans. Fully domesticated animals, like dogs and cats, are different from their wild relatives such as wolves and tigers. They often have smaller teeth, curlier tails, shorter noses and softer ears.
A group of students led by Raffaela Lesch studied nearly 20,000 photos of raccoons across the US. Their study found a difference between city and country raccoons. Raccoons living in cities had shorter noses than those living in the countryside.
Lesch says trash is the main reason for this change. Raccoons are mostly active at night. They are known for looking for food in rubbish bins. Rubbish bins are usually near people. To get to the food, raccoons need to be calm around humans, or at least not very scared of them. It’s worth it. As Lesch explains, “They just need to put up with humans being around them. They don’t need to be angry or hurt people. Then they can eat lots of the food we throw away.” Animals that become calmer around humans also develop shorter noses as they grow and change.
Some experts have an idea about these physical changes. They say features like soft ears make animals look less scary to humans—sometimes even cute. But not all scientists believe Lesch’s study. They also don’t think raccoons can ever become truly domesticated. After all, raccoons are still wild animals.
素材来源: The Week Junior
()1. Why do raccoons change their appearance?
A. Because they are kept as pets.
B. Because they fight more for food in cities.
C. Because they like finding food in the wild.
D. Because they spend more time near people.
()2. What is the reason why city environments are good for wild animals?
A. There is more open space.
B. The weather is much warmer.
C. There is more food and fewer enemies.
D. They can learn skills from dogs and cats.
()3. What does the underlined phrase “put up with” mean?
A. To fight against sb. /sth. strongly.
B. To accept sb. /sth. in a patient way.
C. To run away from sb. /sth. quickly.
D. To feel excited and happy about sb. /sth.
()4. Which is the structure of this passage?
A. ①/②/③/④/⑤
B. ①/②③④⑤
C. ①②③/④⑤
D. ①/②/③④/⑤

C
美国浣熊因常在人类附近活动、食用垃圾，外形正发生改变，城市浣熊鼻子更短。有科学家认为这是驯化开端，但也有专家认为浣熊无法被真正驯化。
1. D 细节理解题。由第一段中“... raccoons in the US are changing how they look. This happens because they spend more time near people.”可知，浣熊在外貌上发生变化是因为它们更多地在人类附近活动。
2. C 推理判断题。由第二段中“In cities ... there is often leftover food ... And there are not many big animals that hunt them.”可知，城市环境有利于野生动物生存是因为食物多、天敌少。
3. B 词义猜测题。由“它们无需变得愤怒或伤害人类。这样它们就能享用我们丢弃的大量食物了”可知，上文对应表示：它们只需要忍受人类在它们周围即可。put up with意思是“容忍”。
4. D 篇章结构题。第一段：总起全文，提出核心观点——美国浣熊因长期靠近人类而外貌发生变化，并解释了“驯化”的概念。第二段：补充背景，说明城市环境促使野生动物适应与人类共处，并列举驯化动物的典型外貌特征。第三、四段：具体介绍研究发现与原因，指出城市浣熊鼻子更短，并分析食物垃圾与适应人类是主要原因。第五段：总结不同专家的看法，一方面解释外貌变化的意义，另一方面指出浣熊仍为野生动物、未必能真正驯化。故选项D符合本文的结构。