专业英语考试四级阅读练习与解析
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  Certainly no creature in the sea is odder than the common sea cucumber. All living creature, especially human beings, have their peculiarities1, but everything about the little sea cucumber seems unusual. What else can be said about a bizarre animal that, among other eccentricities2, eats mud, feeds almost continuously day and night but can live without eating for long periods, and can be poisonous but is considered supremely3 edible4 by gourmets5

  For some fifty million years, despite all its eccentricities, the sea cucumber has subsisted6 on its diet of mud. It is adaptable7 enough to live attached to rocks by its tube feet, under rocks in shallow water, or on the surface of mud flats. Common in cool water on both Atlantic and Pacific shores, it has the ability

  to suck up mud or sand and digest whatever nutrients8 are present.

  Sea cucumbers come in a variety of colors, ranging from black to reddish brown to sand color and nearly white. One form even has vivid purple tentacles9. Usually the creatures are cucumber shaped-hence their name-and because they are typically rock inhabitants, this shape, combined with flexibility10, enables them to squeeze into crevices11 where they are safe from predators12 and ocean currents.

  Although they have voracious13 appetites, eating day and night, sea cucumbers have the capacity to become quiescent14 and live at a low metabolic15 rate-feeding sparingly or not at all for long periods, so that the marine16 organisms that provide their food have a chance to multiply. If it were not for this faculty17, they would devour18 all the food available in a short time and would probably starve themselves out of existence.

  But the most spectacular thing about the sea cucumber is the way it defends itself. Its major enemies are fish and crabs19, when attacked, it squirts all its internal organs into water. It also casts off attached structures such as tentacles. The sea cucumber will eviscerate20 and regenerate21 itself if it is attacked or even touched; it will do the same if the surrounding water temperature is too high or if the water becomes too polluted.?

  1. According to the passage, why is the shape of sea cucumbers important??

  A. It helps them to digest their food.?

  B. It helps them to protect themselves from danger.?

  C. It makes it easier for them to move through the mud.?

  D. It makes them attractive to fish. ?

  2. The fourth paragraph of the passage primarily discusses______.?

  A. the reproduction of sea cucumbers?

  B. the food sources of sea cucumbers?

  C. the eating habits of sea cucumbers?

  D. threats to sea cucumbers' existence ?

  3. What can be inferred about the defence mechanisms22 of the sea cucumber??

  A. They are very sensitive to surrounding stimuli23.?

  B. They are almost useless.?

  C. They require group cooperation.?

  D. They are similar to those of most sea creatures. ?

  4. Which of the following would NOT cause a sea cucumber to release its internal organs into the water??

  A. A touch   B. Food? C. Unusually warm water   D. Pollution.

  1. B) 通过阅读文章可以排除选项A、C、D,因为文中没有提及,故选项B为正确答案。?

  2. C) 此题为段落主旨题。通过阅读第四段可知作者都是讲述海参的进食习惯,故选项C为正确答案。?

  3. A) 此题为推论题。根据最后一段可知海参在受到外界刺激时,会做出一定的反应,这也反映出它的防御机制非常敏感,故A为正确答案。?

  4. B) 此题为细节题。根据最后一段可知惟有food不会使海参将体内器官吐出来,故其为正确答案。



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1 peculiarities 84444218acb57e9321fbad3dc6b368be     
n. 特质, 特性, 怪癖, 古怪
参考例句:
  • the cultural peculiarities of the English 英国人的文化特点
  • He used to mimic speech peculiarities of another. 他过去总是模仿别人讲话的特点。
2 eccentricities 9d4f841e5aa6297cdc01f631723077d9     
n.古怪行为( eccentricity的名词复数 );反常;怪癖
参考例句:
  • My wife has many eccentricities. 我妻子有很多怪癖。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • His eccentricities had earned for him the nickname"The Madman". 他的怪癖已使他得到'疯子'的绰号。 来自辞典例句
3 supremely MhpzUo     
adv.无上地,崇高地
参考例句:
  • They managed it all supremely well. 这件事他们干得极其出色。
  • I consider a supremely beautiful gesture. 我觉得这是非常优雅的姿态。
4 edible Uqdxx     
n.食品,食物;adj.可食用的
参考例句:
  • Edible wild herbs kept us from dying of starvation.我们靠着野菜才没被饿死。
  • This kind of mushroom is edible,but that kind is not.这种蘑菇吃得,那种吃不得。
5 gourmets 1e91aa9ec98153b060108e2a0895b9ca     
讲究吃喝的人,美食家( gourmet的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • The food here satisfies gourmands rather than gourmets. 这里的食物可以管饱却不讲究品质。
  • Here is another example: "Western gourmets are sold on Peking Duck." 这里再举一个例子:“西方美食家已对北京烤鸭极有兴趣。”
6 subsisted d36c0632da7a5cceb815e51e7c5d4aa2     
v.(靠很少的钱或食物)维持生活,生存下去( subsist的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • Before liberation he subsisted on wild potatoes. 解放前他靠吃野薯度日。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
  • Survivors of the air crash subsisted on wild fruits. 空难事件的幸存者以野果维持生命。 来自辞典例句
7 adaptable vJDyI     
adj.能适应的,适应性强的,可改编的
参考例句:
  • He is an adaptable man and will soon learn the new work.他是个适应性很强的人,很快就将学会这种工作。
  • The soil is adaptable to the growth of peanuts.这土壤适宜于花生的生长。
8 nutrients 6a1e1ed248a3ac49744c39cc962fb607     
n.(食品或化学品)营养物,营养品( nutrient的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • a lack of essential nutrients 基本营养的缺乏
  • Nutrients are absorbed into the bloodstream. 营养素被吸收进血液。 来自《简明英汉词典》
9 tentacles de6ad1cd521db1ee7397e4ed9f18a212     
n.触手( tentacle的名词复数 );触角;触须;触毛
参考例句:
  • Tentacles of fear closed around her body. 恐惧的阴影笼罩着她。
  • Many molluscs have tentacles. 很多软体动物有触角。 来自《简明英汉词典》
10 flexibility vjPxb     
n.柔韧性,弹性,(光的)折射性,灵活性
参考例句:
  • Her great strength lies in her flexibility.她的优势在于她灵活变通。
  • The flexibility of a man's muscles will lessen as he becomes old.人老了肌肉的柔韧性将降低。
11 crevices 268603b2b5d88d8a9cc5258e16a1c2f8     
n.(尤指岩石的)裂缝,缺口( crevice的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • It has bedded into the deepest crevices of the store. 它已钻进了店里最隐避的隙缝。 来自辞典例句
  • The wind whistled through the crevices in the rock. 风呼啸着吹过岩石的缝隙。 来自辞典例句
12 predators 48b965855934a5395e409c1112d94f63     
n.食肉动物( predator的名词复数 );奴役他人者(尤指在财务或性关系方面)
参考例句:
  • birds and their earthbound predators 鸟和地面上捕食它们的动物
  • The eyes of predators are highly sensitive to the slightest movement. 捕食性动物的眼睛能感觉到最细小的动静。 来自《简明英汉词典》
13 voracious vLLzY     
adj.狼吞虎咽的,贪婪的
参考例句:
  • She's a voracious reader of all kinds of love stories.什么样的爱情故事她都百看不厌。
  • Joseph Smith was a voracious book collector.约瑟夫·史密斯是个如饥似渴的藏书家。
14 quiescent A0EzR     
adj.静止的,不活动的,寂静的
参考例句:
  • It is unlikely that such an extremist organization will remain quiescent for long.这种过激的组织是不太可能长期沉默的。
  • Great distance in either time or space has wonderful power to lull and render quiescent the human mind.时间和空间上的远距离有一种奇妙的力量,可以使人的心灵平静。
15 metabolic 2R4z1     
adj.新陈代谢的
参考例句:
  • Impressive metabolic alternations have been undergone during embryogenesis.在胚胎发生期间经历了深刻的代谢变化。
  • A number of intoxicants are associated with metabolic acidosis.许多毒性物质可引起代谢性酸中毒。
16 marine 77Izo     
adj.海的;海生的;航海的;海事的;n.水兵
参考例句:
  • Marine creatures are those which live in the sea. 海洋生物是生存在海里的生物。
  • When the war broke out,he volunteered for the Marine Corps.战争爆发时,他自愿参加了海军陆战队。
17 faculty HhkzK     
n.才能;学院,系;(学院或系的)全体教学人员
参考例句:
  • He has a great faculty for learning foreign languages.他有学习外语的天赋。
  • He has the faculty of saying the right thing at the right time.他有在恰当的时候说恰当的话的才智。
18 devour hlezt     
v.吞没;贪婪地注视或谛听,贪读;使着迷
参考例句:
  • Larger fish devour the smaller ones.大鱼吃小鱼。
  • Beauty is but a flower which wrinkle will devour.美只不过是一朵,终会被皱纹所吞噬。
19 crabs a26cc3db05581d7cfc36d59943c77523     
n.蟹( crab的名词复数 );阴虱寄生病;蟹肉v.捕蟹( crab的第三人称单数 )
参考例句:
  • As we walked along the seashore we saw lots of tiny crabs. 我们在海岸上散步时看到很多小蟹。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • The fish and crabs scavenge for decaying tissue. 鱼和蟹搜寻腐烂的组织为食。 来自《简明英汉词典》
20 eviscerate widzT     
vt.取出…的内脏;抽出…的精华
参考例句:
  • We agreed to eviscerate the proposed bill.我们同意去除所提议案的本质部分。
  • Eviscerate demolition meat,cut into the meat section.拆肉剔骨,将肉切成条。
21 regenerate EU2xV     
vt.使恢复,使新生;vi.恢复,再生;adj.恢复的
参考例句:
  • Their aim is to regenerate British industry.他们的目的是复兴英国的工业。
  • Although it is not easy,you have the power to regenerate your life.尽管这不容易,但你有使生活重获新生的能力。
22 mechanisms d0db71d70348ef1c49f05f59097917b8     
n.机械( mechanism的名词复数 );机械装置;[生物学] 机制;机械作用
参考例句:
  • The research will provide direct insight into molecular mechanisms. 这项研究将使人能够直接地了解分子的机理。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • He explained how the two mechanisms worked. 他解释这两台机械装置是如何工作的。 来自《简明英汉词典》
23 stimuli luBwM     
n.刺激(物)
参考例句:
  • It is necessary to curtail or alter normally coexisting stimuli.必需消除或改变正常时并存的刺激。
  • My sweat glands also respond to emotional stimuli.我的汗腺对情绪刺激也能产生反应。
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