2008年考研英语三层递进攻克阅读理解text3
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In the early 1960s Wilt Chamberlain was one of only three players in the National Basketball Association (NBA) listed at over seven feet. If he had played last season, however, he would have been one of 42. The bodies playing major professional sports have changed dramatically over the years, and managers have been more than willing to adjust team uniforms to fit the growing numbers of bigger, longer frames.
The trend in sports, though, may be obscuring an unrecognized reality: Americans have generally stopped growing. Though typically about two inches taller now than 140 years ago, today's people-especially those born to families who have lived in the U.S. for many generations-apparently reached their limit in the early 1960s. And they aren't likely to get any taller. "In the general population today, at this genetic, environmental level, we've pretty much gone as far as we can go," says anthropologist William Cameron Chumlea of Wright State University. In the case of NBA players, their increase in height appears to result from the increasingly common practice of recruiting players from all over the world.
Growth, which rarely continues beyond the age of 20, demands calories and nutrients-notably, protein-to feed expanding tissues. At the start of the 20th century, undernutrition and childhood infections got in the way. But as diet and health improved, children and adolescents have, on average, increased in height by about an inch and a half every 20 years, a pattern known as the secular trend in height. Yet according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, average height 5′9″ for men, 5′4″for women-hasn't really changed since 1960.
Genetically speaking, there are advantages to avoiding substantial height. During childbirth, larger babies have more difficulty passing through the birth canal. Moreover, even though humans have been upright for millions of years, our feet and back continue to struggle with bipedal posture and cannot easily withstand repeated strain imposed by oversize limbs. "There are some real constraints that are set by the genetic architecture of the individual organism," says anthropologist William Leonard of Northwestern University.
Genetic maximums can change, but don't expect this to happen soon. Claire C. Gordon, senior anthropologist at the Army Research Center in Natick, Mass, ensures that 90 percent of the uniforms and workstations fit recruits without alteration. She says that, unlike those for basketball, the length of military uniforms has not changed for some time. And if you need to predict human height in the near future to design a piece of equipment, Gordon says that by and large, "you could use today's data and feel fairly confident."
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31. Wilt Chamberlain is cited as an example to
［A］ illustrate the change of height of NBA players.
［B］ show the popularity of NBA players in the U.S..
［C］ compare different generations of NBA players.
［D］ assess the achievements of famous NBA players.
32. Which of the following plays a key role in body growth according to the text?
［A］ Genetic modification. ［B］ Natural environment.
［C］ Living standards. ［D］ Daily exercise.
33. On which of the following statements would the author most probably agree?
［A］ NonAmericans add to the average height of the nation.
［B］ Human height is conditioned by the upright posture.
［C］ Americans are the tallest on average in the world.
［D］ Larger babies tend to become taller in adulthood.
34. We learn from the last paragraph that in the near future
［A］ the garment industry will reconsider the uniform size.
［B］ the design of military uniforms will remain unchanged.
［C］ genetic testing will be employed in selecting sportsmen.
［D］ the existing data of human height will still be applicable.
35. The text intends to tell us that
［A］ the change of human height follows a cyclic pattern.
［B］ human height is becoming even more predictable.
［C］ Americans have reached their genetic growth limit.
［D］ the genetic pattern of Americans has altered.
核心词汇：
adjust［E5dVQst］vt.调节；整顿，调整vi.适应（to）；使调节（ad.加强意义+just正；使变正→调整，校正）
adolescent［AdE5lesEnt］n.青少年a.青春期的，青少年的
alteration［9C:ltE5reiFEn］n.改变，变更
constrain［kEn5strein］a.强迫，强制（con一起+strain→拉到一起→限制，强制）
dramatic［drE5mAtik］a.戏剧的,戏剧性的剧烈的;引人注目的（drama戏剧+tic"与......相关的，......的" （表形容词） →戏剧性的）adv. dramatically
frame［freim］n.框架;体格;骨架;组织;机构v.设计;制定
genetic［dVi5netik］a.基因的，遗传的；演变的（gen出生，产生+etic→基因的，遗传学的）
impose［im5pEuz］v.征（税）;把......强加给; 诈骗（im进+pose放→放进去→强加）
limb［lim］n.肢,翼,大树枝
maximum［5mAksimEm］n.最大的量、体积、强度等 （max大+imum名词后缀）
obscure［Eb5skjuE］a.暗的,朦胧的;模糊的,晦涩的（obs=ob+cure关心→不关心→记不住→模糊的)
posture［5pCstFE］n.姿势,姿态,心态,态度v.作出某种姿势（pos+ture名词后缀）
protein［5prEuti:n］n.蛋白质
recruit［ri5kru:t］v.征募（新兵），吸收；补充n.新成员，新兵
strain［5strein］v.拉紧;紧张;扭伤;竭尽全力n.拉紧;负担
substantial［sEb5stAnFEl］a.实质的;相当的;显著的;坚固的;富裕的（sub+stant+ial形容词后缀→本质的）
tissue［5tisju:］n.织物,薄绢,纸巾;(动,植物的)组织
trend［trend］n.倾向,趋势vi.伸向,倾向
upright［5Qprait］a.垂直的,直立的;正直的,诚实的ad.竖立着
withstand［wiT5stAnd］vt.抵抗,经受住（with反+stand→反着站→抵抗）
难句剖析：
难句1 Though typically about two inches taller now than 140 years ago, today's people-especially those born to families who have lived in the U.S. for many generations-apparently reached their limit in the early 1960s.
［分析］此句主干是 "...today's people..."，本句开始是Though引导的让步状语，相当于省略了主谓today's people are的状语从句，破折号之间的内容是插入语做主语today's people的同位语，过去分词短语born to families...做后置定语修饰代词those，who引导的定语从句修饰名词families。
［译文］尽管现在的美国人比140年以前高了两英寸，但是，现在的美国人在20世纪60年代早期就长到了他们的极限高度--对于那些出生于在美国生活了好几代的家庭的人来说尤其如此。
难句2 Moreover, even though humans have been upright for millions of years, our feet and back continue to struggle with bipedal posture and cannot easily withstand repeated strain imposed by oversize limbs.
［分析］此句开始是由even though引导的让步状语从句，句子主干是 "...our feet and back continue to struggle with...and cannot easily withstand..."，句中的过去分词短语imposed by oversize limbs做后置定语修饰名词strain。
［译文］而且，尽管人类已经直立行走了几百万年，但为了保持这种站立的姿势，我们的双脚和后背仍然很费力，仍然不能轻易经受太大的肢体所导致的持续重压。
文章类型：时文--社会科学--科普类
这篇文章围绕美国人身高展开论述，并分析其身高不再增长的这一现状产生的原因。
试题解析：
31. 威尔特•张伯伦被引用作的例子。
［A］ 阐明NBA选手身高的变化。［B］ 表明美国NBA选手的声望。
［C］ 比较不同年代的NBA选手。［D］ 评估著名的NBA选手所取得的成就。
例证题【正确答案】【A】
例证题重点找出例子后面所支持的观点或者结论。文章第一段首句先提到了威尔特•张伯伦的例子，接着第二句中出现了however，然后使用了虚拟语气，这说明，张伯伦的身高在现在的NBA球员中已经不像过去那样突出了。接着第三句就给出了结论：The bodies playing major professional sports have changed dramatically over the year。因此选择［A］项。
32. 根据本文，下面哪项在身体增长的过程中起主要作用？
［A］ 遗传改变。［B］ 自然环境。
［C］ 生活水平。［D］ 日常锻炼。
细节事实题【正确答案】【C】
第三段介绍了身体增长所需的条件，本段第一句指出Growth... demands calories and nutrients-notably, protein-to feed expanding tissues.身体增长需要卡路里和营养素来为器官的增长提供营养，特别是蛋白质。这说明，起主要作用的是饮食和健康的改善。所以选择［C］项。
33. 作者最可能赞同下面哪项说法
［A］ 非美国人提高了美国的平均身高。［B］ 人类的身高受直立姿态的影响。
［C］ 美国人是世界上平均身高最高的。［D］ 更大的体形的孩子往往在成人期更高。
判断题【正确答案】【B】
第四段第三句指出：Moreover, even though humans have been upright for millions of years, our feet and back continue to struggle with bipedal posture and cannot easily withstand repeated strain imposed by oversize limbs.这说明尽管人类已经直立行走了几百万年，但为了保持这种站立的姿势，我们的双脚和后背仍然很费力，仍然不能轻易经受太大的肢体所导致的持续重压。所以选择［B］项。
34. 根据最后一段，我们了解到，在不远的将来
［A］ 服装产业将重新考虑服装的尺码。［B］ 军队制服的设计将保持不变。
［C］ 在挑选运动员时将使用遗传测试。［D］ 人类身高的现存数据仍然有用。
推理题【正确答案】 ［D］
本文最后一段末句指出：在不远的将来to design a piece of equipment，you could use today's data and feel fairly confident 去设计设备的话，基本上"你可以相当自信地采用现在的数据"。［D］项中的be applicable是对use的同义替换，因此为正确答案。
35. 本文想告诉我们，
［A］ 人类身高的变化遵循一个循环模式。［B］ 人类的身高变得更可预测。
［C］ 美国人已经达到了其遗传成长的极限。［D］ 美国人的遗传模式已经改变。
中心主旨题【正确答案】【C】
文章第一段通过张伯伦的例子提到了NBA球员身高增长的现象，第二段转折后指出，但是，美国人已经停止增长了，随后的段落介绍了身高增长所需的条件以及避免高身材的优势，最后进行总结归纳：基因极限很难在近期得到突破，即美国人的身高在近期不会再增高了。
全文精译：
在20世纪60年代早期，威尔特•张伯伦是美国NBA球员中个子超过7英尺的三个球员之一。不过，如果他参加了上个赛季的比赛，他可能是身长超过7英尺的42名选手之一。这些年来，那些从事主要职业球赛的球员的身材发生了巨大变化，管理人员更愿意调整队服以适应不断增长的更大、更高的体格。
第一段：以NBA球员为例说明美国运动员的身高增长明显。
然而，体育界的这一趋势可能掩盖了一个不为人知的现实：美国人普遍不再长高了。尽管现在的美国人比140年以前高了两英寸，但是，现在的美国人在20世纪60年代早期就长到了他们的极限高度--对于那些出生于在美国生活了好几代的家庭的人来说尤其如此。赖特州立大学的人类学家威廉•卡梅伦指出："现在的普通人中，就目前的基因和环境水平而言，我们已远超出了我们所能发育到的程度。" 在NBA球员的例子中，他们的身高的增长似乎是因为NBA越来越多的从世界各地引进球员。
第二段：阐释美国人普遍不再长高这一现状。
人超过20岁之后，很少会再继续长高。长高需要卡路里和营养素--特别是蛋白质--来滋养不断扩张的组织。在20世纪初期，营养不良和儿童传染病妨碍了人们身体的增长。但是，随着人们饮食与健康的改善，儿童及青少年每20年就普遍增高差不多1.5英寸，这已成了众所周知的身高增长上的一个长期趋势。然而根据疾病控制与预防中心的数据，自1960年以来，平均身高--男性5英尺9英寸、女性5英尺4英寸--实际上没有变化。
第三段：分析影响身高的因素。
从遗传方面来看，避免过高是有好处的。出生时，巨大婴儿更难通过产道。而且，尽管人类已经直立行走了几百万年，但为了保持这种站立的姿势，我们的双脚和后背仍然很费力，仍然不能轻易经受太大的肢体所导致的持续重压。西北大学的人类学家威廉•伦纳德指出："个体机体中的遗传结构会造成一些实际的限制。"
第四段：指出遗传方面对身高的影响。
遗传的最大极限可能改变，但不要指望这种现象会很快发生。位于马塞诸塞州的狄克部队研究中心的资深人类学家克莱尔•C•戈登确信，90%雇员的工作服和工作台尺寸无须改变就能适合新增人员。她说，不像这些篮球队服，军装的长度在一段时间内一直未变。戈登指出，如果你需要预计不久的将来人类的身高，去设计设备的话，基本上"你可以相当自信地采用现在的数据"。
第五段：重申美国人身高不再增长这一事实。
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