登录
B
What Can Amber Tell Us?
Amber is not just beautiful jewellery. It is also a natural time capsule(胶囊). In 2024, scientists in Myanmar found a piece of amber the size of a ping-pong ball. Inside it was a tiny dinosaur tail covered with feathers. This discovery changed the old belief that all dinosaurs had scales.
Amber comes from the sticky resin(树脂) of ancient trees. When insects or small animals touch the resin, they can become trapped. Over millions of years, the resin hardens into amber, keeping the trapped creatures in perfect condition. In 2025, another team found a 100-million-year-old ant in African amber. This ant is so different from northern ants that scientists now think ants may have started in the southern half of the earth.
Because amber preserves soft parts like skin and feathers, it acts like a window on the past. Researchers can study the DNA of trapped insects, learn about ancient climates and even discover new species. "Amber is the key that helps us unlock the secrets of nature," said Dr Li, the leader of the 2025 study.
(
A. A bird's feather.
B. A dinosaur tail.
C. A complete dinosaur.
D. A tree leaf.
(
A. It is very expensive.
B. It is easy to find.
C. It is colourful.
D. It keeps creatures unchanged.
(
A. Ants only lived in the north.
B. Ants may have begun in the south.
C. All ants are the same.
D. Amber is useless.
(
A. Doubtful.
B. Worried.
C. Excited.
D. Indifferent(漠不关心).
What Can Amber Tell Us?
Amber is not just beautiful jewellery. It is also a natural time capsule(胶囊). In 2024, scientists in Myanmar found a piece of amber the size of a ping-pong ball. Inside it was a tiny dinosaur tail covered with feathers. This discovery changed the old belief that all dinosaurs had scales.
Amber comes from the sticky resin(树脂) of ancient trees. When insects or small animals touch the resin, they can become trapped. Over millions of years, the resin hardens into amber, keeping the trapped creatures in perfect condition. In 2025, another team found a 100-million-year-old ant in African amber. This ant is so different from northern ants that scientists now think ants may have started in the southern half of the earth.
Because amber preserves soft parts like skin and feathers, it acts like a window on the past. Researchers can study the DNA of trapped insects, learn about ancient climates and even discover new species. "Amber is the key that helps us unlock the secrets of nature," said Dr Li, the leader of the 2025 study.
(
B
)4. What did the 2024 Myanmar amber contain?A. A bird's feather.
B. A dinosaur tail.
C. A complete dinosaur.
D. A tree leaf.
(
D
)5. Why is amber called a "natural time capsule"?A. It is very expensive.
B. It is easy to find.
C. It is colourful.
D. It keeps creatures unchanged.
(
B
)6. What did the 2025 African amber discovery show?A. Ants only lived in the north.
B. Ants may have begun in the south.
C. All ants are the same.
D. Amber is useless.
(
C
)7. What is Dr Li's attitude towards amber research?A. Doubtful.
B. Worried.
C. Excited.
D. Indifferent(漠不关心).
答案
4.B 5.D 6.B 7.C
解析
【分析】
做这类英语阅读理解题，需先根据题干关键词定位原文对应内容，再比对选项与原文信息得出答案：第4题找2024年缅甸琥珀的内含物；第5题找“天然时间胶囊”的原因；第6题找2025年非洲琥珀发现的结论；第7题找李博士对琥珀研究的态度。
【解析】
4. 定位原文第一段：“In 2024, scientists in Myanmar found a piece of amber... Inside it was a tiny dinosaur tail covered with feathers.” 可知2024年缅甸琥珀里有恐龙尾巴，对应选项B。
5. 定位原文第二段：“Over millions of years, the resin hardens into amber, keeping the trapped creatures in perfect condition.” 及第三段“Because amber preserves soft parts like skin and feathers, it acts like a window on the past.” 说明琥珀能完好保存被困生物，对应选项D。
6. 定位原文第二段：“This ant is so different from northern ants that scientists now think ants may have started in the southern half of the earth.” 可知2025年非洲琥珀发现表明蚂蚁可能起源于地球南部，对应选项B。
7. 定位原文第三段李博士的话：“Amber is the key that helps us unlock the secrets of nature,” 这句话体现出他对琥珀研究的积极态度，对应选项C。
【答案】
4.B 5.D 6.B 7.C
【知识点】
英语阅读理解细节题、观点态度题
【点评】
本文是科普类阅读理解，围绕琥珀的作用展开，题目均为基础细节类，需学生快速定位原文信息即可解题，适合巩固英语阅读基础能力。
【难度系数】
0.8
做这类英语阅读理解题，需先根据题干关键词定位原文对应内容，再比对选项与原文信息得出答案：第4题找2024年缅甸琥珀的内含物；第5题找“天然时间胶囊”的原因；第6题找2025年非洲琥珀发现的结论；第7题找李博士对琥珀研究的态度。
【解析】
4. 定位原文第一段：“In 2024, scientists in Myanmar found a piece of amber... Inside it was a tiny dinosaur tail covered with feathers.” 可知2024年缅甸琥珀里有恐龙尾巴，对应选项B。
5. 定位原文第二段：“Over millions of years, the resin hardens into amber, keeping the trapped creatures in perfect condition.” 及第三段“Because amber preserves soft parts like skin and feathers, it acts like a window on the past.” 说明琥珀能完好保存被困生物，对应选项D。
6. 定位原文第二段：“This ant is so different from northern ants that scientists now think ants may have started in the southern half of the earth.” 可知2025年非洲琥珀发现表明蚂蚁可能起源于地球南部，对应选项B。
7. 定位原文第三段李博士的话：“Amber is the key that helps us unlock the secrets of nature,” 这句话体现出他对琥珀研究的积极态度，对应选项C。
【答案】
4.B 5.D 6.B 7.C
【知识点】
英语阅读理解细节题、观点态度题
【点评】
本文是科普类阅读理解，围绕琥珀的作用展开，题目均为基础细节类，需学生快速定位原文信息即可解题，适合巩固英语阅读基础能力。
【难度系数】
0.8
