Domestic(馴養(yǎng)的)horses now pull ploughs，race in the Kentucky Derby，and carry police.But early horses weren’t tame(馴服的)enough to perform these kinds of tasks.Scientists think the first interactions humans had with horses were far different from those today.
Thousands of years ago，people killed the wild horses that lived around them for food.Over time，people began to catch the animals and raise them.This was the first step in domestication.
As people began to tame and ride horses，they chose to keep those animals that had more desirable characteristics.For example，people may have chosen to keep horses that had a gentle personality so they could be ridden more easily.People who used horses to pull heavy loads would have chosen to keep stronger animals.Characteristics like strength are partly controlled by the animals’genes.So as the domesticated horses reproduced，they passed the characteristics on to their young.Each new generation of horses would show more of these chosen characteristics.
Modern-day horse breeds come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes.This variety didn’t exist in the horse population before domestication.The Shetland horse is one of the smallest breeds－typically reaching only one meter tall.With short，strong legs，the animals were bred to pull coal out of mine shafts(礦井)with low ceilings.Huge horses like the Clydesdale came on the scene around 1700.People bred these heavy，tall horses to pull large vehicles used for carrying heavy loads.
The domestication of horses has had great effects on societies.For example，horses were important tools in the advancement of modern agriculture.Using them to pull ploughs and carry heavy loads allowed people to farm more efficiently.Before they were able to ride horses，humans had to cross land on foot.Riding horses allowed people to travel far greater distances in much less time.That encouraged populations living in different areas to interact with one another.The new form of rapid transportation helped cultures spread around the world.
59.Before domestication horses were.
A.caught for sports B.hunted for food
C.made to pull ploughs D.used to carry people
60.The author uses the Shetland horse as an example to show.
A.it is smaller than the Clydesdale horse
B.horses used to have gentle personalities
C.some horses have better shapes than others
D.horses were of less variety before domestication
61.Horses contributed to the spread of culture by.
A.carrying heavy loads
B.changing farming methods
C.serving as a means of transport
D.advancing agriculture in different areas
62.The passage is mainly about.
A.why humans domesticated horses
B.how humans and horses needed each other
C.why horses came in different shapes and sizes
D.how human societies and horses influenced each other
【文章大意】文章從現(xiàn)代馬的功用與過去的功用的不同入手，講述了人類如何對馬進行選擇馴化，造成了馬的種群的多樣性；同時也介紹了馬的馴化對人類社會的影響。
59.【答案】B
【解析】細節(jié)判斷題。由第一、二段可判斷，人類先是獵馬為食，然后喂養(yǎng)，最后才是根據(jù)人類需要進行馴化。
60.【答案】D
【解析】細節(jié)推斷題。由第四段第二句“This variety didn’t exist in the horse population before domestication”可推斷出馬被馴化前沒有如此多的種群，再由作者所舉的例子“the shetland horse”可看出馬是根據(jù)人的需要從單一種群被馴化為多種種群的。
61.【答案】C
【解析】細節(jié)判斷題。從最后一段“Riding horses allowed people to travel far greater distances in much less time .”和“The new form of rapid transportation helped cultures spread around the world.”可判斷馬在文化傳播中所扮演的角色為交通工具。
62.【答案】D
【解析】主旨大意題。文章前兩段引入馬的馴化這一話題。第三、四段講述人類根據(jù)自身需要把馬馴化為多個種群。第五段講述了馬對人類社會發(fā)展的影響。只有D項涵蓋了文章的內(nèi)容。
3.寫作
要求考生根據(jù)題示進行書面表達。考試應(yīng)能：
(1)準確使用語法和詞匯；
(2)使用一定的句型、詞匯，清楚、連貫地表達自己的意思。
【導(dǎo)讀】寫作是四項語言技能中不可分割的一個重要部分，要求考生在給出的特定情境下按特定要求進行書面表達。近幾年寫作主題的選擇有結(jié)合社會熱點的趨勢。所以考生備考時可閱讀一些英語時文，背誦其中的優(yōu)美句子等。
【試題舉例】(2008年四川卷)
你校學(xué)生會準備辦一期英語墻報，主題為：保護環(huán)境從我做起。請你根據(jù)下圖所示寫一篇英語短文。
注意：
1.詞數(shù)100左右，開頭語已為你寫好；
2.可適當增加細節(jié)，以使行文連貫。
What Can I Do for Our Environment?
Everyone_can_do_something_for_our_environment.______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
One Possible Version
What Can I Do for Our Environment?
Everyone_can_do_something_for_our_environment.For me，I should try to save electricity in my daily life.For example，if I am the last person to leave the classroom in the evening，I will always remember to turn off the lights. In order to protect our forests，I will use paper wisely.I should try to use both sides of paper whenever it is possible. I will not use things like paper cups and disposable chopsticks because they are made of wood.I believe that doing all these small things will improve our environment and help make our world a better place to live in.
【寫作指導(dǎo)】本文主題是環(huán)保，要求考生介紹如何從自身做起保護環(huán)境，時態(tài)以將來時為主。顯然圖畫中已給出了一些參考：節(jié)約用電，隨手關(guān)燈；保護森林；雙面用紙；拒絕一次性紙杯、筷子等。文章要點包括：如何從自身做起，自己的決心及希望等。
