托福考试的阅读部分通常包含三篇文章或者四篇文章，每篇文章后总题数为13-14， 需要学生在60-80分钟内完成。2014年新托福考试中，阅读部分的题型，题量总体不会发生变化。

但是需要考生注意的是，在第四版官方指南的三套模拟题目中，每套模拟题的后面都会有分数换算表格，其中有的模拟题目的总题点是39，有的raw points total是42，也有45的情况。而根据2013年新托福考试的总结，目前总题点在42-45最为常见，其中以45 最为常见。所以考生在课下练习时，注意题量和时间的安排。

此外，新托福的阅读考试通常为700-800字左右的学术文章，根据官方指南，以及TPO 的文章情况，通常我们练习的文章大约为4-5 个自然段左右，也有自然段数更多的文章，例如官方指南第二篇的Desert Formation 更是多达10 个自然段。在文章字数总体不变的情况下，一篇文章的段落越多，段落篇幅越小，阅读难度越低。但是，在真正的新托福考试当中，目前的趋势是，阅读的字数不变的情况下，段落数越来越少，也就意味着段落篇幅加大，对于学生的阅读难度也就相应提升。笔者本人在2013.8 月参加的新托福考试中，真题阅读部分的三篇文章中，有两篇文章都是只有三个自然段的大段落阅读文章。因此，考生为了应对新托福考试的最新趋势，需要注意多练习大段落阅读以及在大段落的情况下定位找答案的能力。除上述变化外，目前十大题型中的指代题基本已经不考，但是相应的指代的原则有可能融入到其他题目中考场，最常见的考查方式即放在句子简化题或者句子插入题中一并考查。

以上是新托福考试2014 的最新趋势，接下来我们分别就阅读的不同题型进行探讨：

1. 词汇题 Vocabulary questions

在托福考试当中，词汇题的主要目的是考察考生能否识别词汇在陌生语境中的含义。既然强调语境，那么通过识别生词附近的语境含义，往往可以推测出生词的含义。我们来看一道新托福考试官方指南上的题目：

Several skeletons of another early whale, Basilosaurus, were found in sediments left by the Tethys Sea and now exposed in the Sahara desert.

6. The word exposed in the passage is closest in meaning to

○ Explained

○ Visible

○ Identified

○ Located

这道题目很多同学会选择第四个选项（locate： 坐落于…），将这个含义带入到语句当中，意思也通顺，指Basilosaurus 坐落于撒哈拉沙漠。但是这里需要注意的是，托福的词汇题并不是选项带入搭配合适就一定能找到正确答案，而是应该从语境入手来选择。正确的做法是，首先查看生词附近有无并列，转折等语境上的含义暗示。本句当中，生词的前方有“and”来暗示并列，而从句子结构来看，前半句中的动词“found”，意思是“找到，发现”，那么后半句的exposed 对应语境也应该强调发现某物，即找到，或者看见某物。因此这道题目的正确答案选择B（visible：可看见的）。

2. 指代题 Reference questions

指代题在托福考试中题量大约为0-2 个，主要考察学生能否找到原文中代词的指代对象。解决指代题最基本的原则为：单复数与人称一致，前指且符合句意。

It has been suggested that Pakicetus fed on fish in shallow water and was not yet adapted for life in the open ocean. It probably bred and gave birth on land.

5. The word it in the passage refers to

○ Pakicetus

○ Fish

○ Life

○ ocean

本句代词作主语，在结构上指代上一句话主句中的名词主语，即A 选项的Pakicetus。也可以采用带入的方法，将选项逐一带入，符合搭配的只有A 选项，其余选项，B fish鱼类，C life 生命，D ocean 海洋， 都无法“bred and gave birth，哺育后代”。 目前十大题型中的指代题基本已经不考，但是相应的指代的原则有可能融入到其他题目中考查，最常见的考查方式即放在句子简化题或者句子插入题中一并考查。

3. 句子简化题 Sentence Simplification questions

句子简化题是新题型之一，在这里我们先讲解一下。对于句子简化题，有一些题目如果句子不长，我们做题的基本原则就是：同义替换。找到原句中的关键词在选项当中进行同义替换。例如，

In evolutionary history, the development of language set humans apart from the rest of the animal kingdom. Which sentence below best expresses the essential information in the highlighted sentence in the passage? Incorrect choices change the meaning in important ways or leave out essential information.

A. Humans evolved as the most powerful species after they are developed language.

B. The creation of human language has its origins in the language of animals.

C. The emergence of language distinguished early humans from other animals.

D. Humans and animals developed completed different systems of communication.

先来看题干：Which sentence below best expresses the essential information in the highlighted sentence in the passage? Incorrect choices change the meaning in important ways or leave out essential information.

该题要求从选项中选择一个能够表达原文阴影句子核心信息的句子。很多同学采用翻译的方法做题，即首先翻译原句，然后逐个翻译四个选项。这种做法不仅浪费时间，而且对我们读句子的能力要求极高。更好的做法是，首先判断句子的核心信息。这是考题当中为数不多的原句比较简单的句子释义题，原句的核心概念在于强调区分（apart from）。因此找到同义替换，即是C 项当中的distinguished。但是大多数题目的原文不会是一个简单句，多数是带有逻辑关系的复杂句。那么简单的同义替换技巧就无法操作了。如何快速解决这种题型呢？我们主要分两个部分来解析。

其实，我们在读原句的时候并不需要完整的彻底的摄取信息，相反，我们通过快速浏览，只需要关注两个关键点：一是原句当中的表示程度，频率的词，二是原句当中的逻辑关系。并不需要吸收所有信息，只需要快速浏览将所关注的信息点抓住即可，这样便节省了大量的时间。

The extreme seriousness of desertification results from the vast areas of land and the tremendous numbers of people affected, as well as from the great difficulty of reversing or even slowing the process. Which sentence below best expresses the essential information in the highlighted sentence in the passage? Incorrect choices change the meaning in important ways or leave out essential information.

A. Desertification is a significant problem because it is so hard to reverse and affects large areas of land and great numbers of people.

B. Slowing down the process of desertification is difficult because of population growth.

C. The spread of deserts is considered a very serious problem that can be solved only if large numbers of people in various countries are involved in the effort.

D. Desertification is extremely hard to reverse unless the population is reduced in the vast areas affected.

解题思路：

句子中最核心的信息首先就是该句的逻辑关系。原句的逻辑关系可以由result from 来判断，为因果关系。借此我们就可以缩小选项范围，首先排除掉C,D 选项。剩下的A,B 两个选项均包含因果的逻辑关系。接下来我们可以根据句子的第二种核心信息：主语，来判断。原句的主语是Desertification 沙漠化，而B 项的主语是Slowing down the process of desertification 减缓沙漠化进程。所以排除掉B 选项，A 为正确答案。

将通过程度词解题和借助逻辑关系解题结合起来，对于解答带有逻辑关系的复杂句的释义题很有帮助。我们看下面这道题目：

It is one of the most important sensations because it is translated into a negative reaction, such as withdrawal from danger.

Which sentence below best expresses the essential information in the highlighted sentence in the passage? Incorrect choices change the meaning in important ways or leave out essential information.

A. Escaping from danger is a negative reaction, but it is the most important thing an individual learns.

B. The ability to sense pain is extremely important because pain signals the body to respond to a threat.

C. Experiencing pain is one type of reaction to a negative stimulus; another type is avoiding danger.

D. We experience a lot of sensations, and the most important ones are translated into appropriate actions.

( 本题节选自，新托福考试备考策略与模拟试题，群言出版社，P150，第1 题)

浏览原句，从because 可以看出逻辑关系为因果关系，并且原句当中有绝对化词汇most。仅仅凭借most 这个程度很强的词汇我们可以排除C 选项。因为原文当中带有绝对化词汇而选项中没有，那么这个选项为必错选项。接下来利用逻辑关系排除A 项，A 中为转折关系。而B 恰恰有because 这个词，此外B 中的extremely 可以作为most的同义替换。正确答案为B。

几乎每一篇文章后面都会有一道释义题，因此考生应加强练习。平时在阅读文章，或者报刊杂志的时候不仅仅要把注意力放在读懂原文上，还应该注意原文的逻辑关系，培养根据逻辑关系思考的习惯。另外，一些程度词的存在也会影响我们对原文的精确理解，平时阅读的时候应当多加关注。

4. 句子插入题 Insert Text questions

█ Most investigators concur that certain facial expressions suggest the same emotions in all people. █ Moreover, people in diverse cultures recognize the emotions manifested by the facial expressions. █ In classic research Paul Ekman took photographs of people exhibiting the emotions of anger, disgust, fear, happiness, and sadness. █ He then asked people around the world to indicate what emotions were

being depicted in them.

12. Look at the four squares █ that indicate where the following sentence could be added to the passage.

This universality in the recognition of emotions was demonstrated by using rather simple methods.

Where would the sentence best fit?

Click on a square [ ■ ] to add the sentence to the passage.

解题思路：

Insert Text question。该题型要求考生将一句话插入到原文四个黑色空格的其中一个当中，使得段落看起来更通顺。首先可以从这个单独的句子中找到暗示点，例如，本题待插入句子为：This universality in the recognition of emotions was demonstrated by using rather simple methods. 主语部分为：这个对于感情的认知的普遍性。如果待插入句子中出现代词，则代词所指内容应当在该句之前出现，结合这道题目，在这个句子应当插入的空之前必有：对于感情认知的普遍性。这道题目选择第三个黑色方框，其之前的句子为：

Moreover, people in diverse cultures recognize the emotions manifested by the facial expressions. 意思是：另外，来自不同文化背景的人能够通过面部表情的识别来判断对方的情绪。来自不同文化背景的人都可以判断出来，这里暗示了universality 普遍性。同时，放在第三个空也可以对应后面的内容。待插入句子说到“demonstrated by using rather simple methods”：可以用简单的方式证明，对应第三个空后方的句子：In classic research Paul Ekman took photographs（在经典的研究项目当中）。

再来看一道题目，

Sigmund Freud, for example, believed that aggressive impulses are inevitable reactions to the frustrations of daily life. Children normally desire to vent aggressive impulses on other people, including their parents, because even the most attentive parents cannot gratify all of their demands immediately. ■ Yet children, also fearing their parents' punishment and the loss of parental love, come to repress most aggressive impulses. ■ The Freudian perspective, in a sense: sees us as "steam engines." ■ By holding in rather than venting "steam," we set the stage for future explosions. ■ Pent-up aggressive impulses demand outlets. They may be expressed toward parents in indirect ways such as destroying furniture, or they may be expressed toward strangers later in life.

11. Look at the four squares [ ■ ] that indicate where the following sentence can be added to the passage.

According to Freud, however, impulses that have been repressed continue to exist and demand expression.

Where would the sentence best fit?

Click on a square [ ■ ] to add the sentence to the passage.

首先我们来看待插入句子：According to Freud, however, impulses that have been repressed continue to exist and demand expression. 本句的前半句说道，According to Freud,（根据弗洛伊德的理论）; 后半句：impulses that have been repressed continue to exist and demand expression. 被压抑的冲动会持续存在并且需要表达。这个句子是一句概括性的陈述，一般概括性陈述的后方需要有具体的细节句子来提供支持解释。所以这道题目选择第二个空。第二空格之后紧跟：The Freudian perspective, in a sense: sees us as "steam engines."（从某种意义上讲，弗洛伊德的观点是将人类看做“蒸汽机”）。这里既可以对应Freud，又有具体的细节交代，说持续存在的冲动，就好比蒸汽机，这里的steam engines是解释他观点的具体细节。

再来看一道题目，

■ Because they are always swimming, tunas simply have to open their mouths and water is forced in and over their gills. ■ Accordingly, they have lost most of the muscles that other fishes use to suck in water and push it past the gills. ■ In fact, tunas must swim to breathe. ■ They must also keep swimming to keep from sinking, since most have largely or completely lost the swim bladder, the gas-filled sac that helps most other fish remain buoyant.

Look at the four squares [ ■ ] that indicate where the following sentence could be added to the passage.

Consequently, tunas do not need to suck in water.

Where would the sentence best fit?

Click on a square [ ■ ] to add the sentence to the passage.

解题思路： 此题的带插入句子当中并没有代词， 这时我们可以根据关联词来解答题目。带插入句子当中的Consequently（结果是...）可以给我们暗示。带插入句子的含义为：结果是，tunas（金枪鱼）不需要吸水。那么该句子的前方应该在陈述关于导致金枪鱼不需要吸水的内容。此题正确答案选C。在第三个空格之前的这句话：...they have lost most of the muscles that other fishes use to suck in water and push it past the gills. （金枪鱼失去了像其他鱼类的嘴里所拥有的一块肌肉，这块肌肉用于吸水和从腮里排水。）既然已经失去了这块用来吸水的肌肉，那么自然紧接着陈述，其结果，即金枪鱼不再需要吸水。

5. 细节题 Factual Information questions

细节题是托福考试当中题量最大的一种题型，主要是对原文的事实信息进行提问来考察学生的信息检索能力和阅读能力，并且所有的选项都会出现原文的信息来对考生进行干扰。例如：

The muscles of these fishes and the mechanism that maintains a warm body temperature are also highly efficient. A bluefin tuna in water of 7° C (45° F) can maintain a core temperature of over 25° C (77° F). This warm body temperature may help not only the muscles to work better, but also the brain and the eyes. The billfishes have gone one step further. They have evolved special "heaters" of modified muscle tissue that warm the eyes and brain, maintaining peak performance of these critical organs.

10. According to paragraph 9, which of the following is true of bluefin tunas?

○ Their eyes and brain are more efficient than those of any other fish.

○ Their body temperature can change greatly depending on the water temperature.

○ They can swim in waters that are much colder than their own bodies.

○ They have special muscle tissue that warms their eyes and brain.

做细节题的第一步就是“定位”，要找到原文答案所在的区间。题干中问到“bluefin tunas”，我们回到原文，找到定位句：…A bluefin tuna in water of 7° C (45° F) can maintain a core temperature of over 25° C (77° F)…，即蓝鳍金枪鱼可以在低于自己体温（25° C）的水温（7° C）中生活，所以正确答案选择第三个。而其它干扰选项在原文均有出现，但是并不属于题干所问内容。

6. Negative Factual Information questions (0 to 2 questions per set )

首先我们来介绍一下否定信息题，Negative Factual Information questions。这种题型的提问方式一般为：

According to the passage,which of the following is NOT true of X?

The author’s description of X mentions all of the following EXCEPT ?

在解答这种题目的时候首先要注意的是避免惯性思维的影响。在前面讲过的所有题目当中，或者是平时大家的做题习惯当中，我们都是看到与原文相符或者和原文一样的选项就选，但是到了这个题目，需要选择不属于题干内容或者与原文相反的选项，这是需要注意的一点。

一般这种题目的定位范围都在原文的某一个或者两个自然段，所以第一步需要的就是根据题目大定位到某个自然段，然后根据选项特征对应原文进行选题。我们来看一个例题：

Paragraph 7: The Cognitive Approach. Cognitive psychologists assert that our behavior is influenced by our values, by the ways in which we interpret our situations and by choice. For example, people who believe that aggression is necessary and justified-as during wartime-are likely to act aggressively, whereas people who believe that a particular war or act of aggression is unjust, or who think that aggression is never justified, are less likely to behave aggressively.

Paragraph 8: One cognitive theory suggests that aggravating and painful events trigger unpleasant feelings. These feelings, inturn, can lead to aggressive action, but not automatically. Cognitive factors intervene. People decide whether they will act aggressively or not on the basis of factors such as their experiences with aggression and their interpretation of other people's motives. Supporting evidence comes from research showing that aggressive people often distort other people's motives. For example, they assume that other people mean them harm when they do not.

9. According to the cognitive approach described in paragraphs 7 and 8, all of the following may influence the decision whether to act aggressively EXCEPT a person's

○ Moral values

○ Previous experiences with aggression

○ Instinct to avoid aggression

○ Beliefs about other people's intentions

这道题目的定位范围是两个自然段，四个选项中有三个会the decision whether to act aggressively，有一个选项不会“影响一个人决定是否要表现的具有侵略性”，我们要选择这个选项。首先，在第七自然段的第二句“Cognitive psychologists assert that our behavior is influenced by our values, by the ways in which we interpret our situations and by choice.”中就提到moral values，对应A 选项。其次，在第八自然段中，第四句“People decide whether they will act aggressively or not on the basis of factors such as their experiences with aggression and their interpretation of other people's motives.” 中提到两个选项， 一个是“their experiences with aggression”对应B 选项，另外一个是“interpretation of other people's motives”对应D选项。只有C 选项的instinct 没有提到，这道题目选择C 选项。

7. Inference questions ( 0 to 2 questions per set )

Inference questions 推理题

推理题的标志是在题干中出现infer/imply/suggest/indicate/most likely 这样的词汇，它和细节题属于同源题目，都需要定位并且根据文中信息来选择答案。与细节题不同的是，推理题在找到原文中定位点之后考察的是学生对于文中信息的总结概括，或者反向推理的能力。我们来看一道例题，

It should be obvious that cetaceans-whales , porpoises, and dolphins-are mammals. They breathe through lungs, not through gills, and give birth to live young. Their streamlined bodies, the absence of hind legs, and the presence of a fluke3 and blowhole4 cannot disguise their affinities with land-dwelling mammals. However, unlike the cases of sea otters and pinnipeds (seals, sea lions, and walruses, whose limbs are functional both on land and at sea), it is not easy to envision what the first whales looked like. Extinct but, already fully marine cetaceans are known from the fossil record. How was the gap between a walking mammal and a swimming whale bridged? Missing until recently were fossils clearly intermediate, or transitional, between land mammals and cetaceans.

Which of the following can be inferred from paragraph 1 about early sea otters?

○ It is not difficult to imagine what they looked like

○ There were great numbers of them.

○ They lived in the sea only.

○ They did not leave many fossil remains.

首先我们来对题目的出题范围进行定位，题干的blowhole可以作为定位词汇，定位到原文的第四句话：“However, unlike the cases of sea otters and pinnipeds (seals, sea lions, and walruses, whose limbs are functional both on land and at sea), it is not easy to envision what the first whales looked like.” 在这句话里交代了“unlike the casess of sea otters”，即与sea otters 不一样的是，whales 的陈述是：it is not easy to envision what the first whales looked like. 即，不容易看出第一头鲸长什么样子。而sea ottter 是和鲸鱼相反，所以选择A选项，即不难看出第一头sea otter 长什么样子。所以实际上，这种题目虽然叫做推理题，但是并不需要同学们在做题的时候推的过远，基本考察的还是对原文信息概括和总结的能力。

8. Rhetorical Purpose questions 目的题

目的题的提问方式一般为：

Why does the author mention/include/use …?

The author …in order to …

The author uses the example to ?

…for … purpose?

这种题目一般问的是作者举某个例子，说某句话的目的是什么，判断好题干是第一步。一般的阅读文章的思路，作者在举例子的时候的主要目的都是为了证明自己的观点，所以在做这类题目的时候，真正的解题关键在于，所问例子前方的观点，我们来看一道例题：

The first generation to experience these changes did not adopt the new attitudes easily. The factory clock became the symbol of the new work rules. One mill worker who finally quit complained revealingly about "obedience to the ding-dong of the bell-just as though we are so many living machines." With the loss of personal freedom also came the loss of standing in the community. Unlike artisan workshops in which apprentices worked closely with the masters supervising them, factories sharply separated workers from management. Few workers rose through the ranks to supervisory positions, and even fewer could achieve the artisan's dream of setting up one's own business. Even well-paid workers sensed their decline in status.

4. In paragraph 4, the author includes the quotation from a mill worker in order to

○ Support the idea that it was difficult for workers to adjust to working in factories

○ To show that workers sometimes quit because of the loud noise made by factory machinery

○ Argue that clocks did not have a useful function in factories

○ Emphasize that factories were most successful when workers revealed their complaints

题目问，作者为什么引用工人的话。工人的话“One mill worker who finally quit complained revealingly about "obedience to the ding-dong of the bell-just as though we are so many living machines."”在文章的第三句出现，作为和例子一样的目的，来支持本段的观点句，即第一句，The first generation to experience these changes did not adopt the new attitudes easily.（第一代经历这些变化的人没有轻易的适应新的观点）。所以正确选项应该为观点句的同义替换。正确答案选择A，即支持一种观点，对于工人来说很难调整在工厂工作。B 选项里面的工人退出（workers sometimes quit）没有提到，C 选项里面的clocks did not have a useful function（钟表不能发挥有效作用）不对，最后D 选项里面说到当工人抱怨的时候工厂最成功，显然是不正确的。

但是不是所有的作者目的题，都只是段落的第一句话。每个段落的topic sentence 位置不一样，或者说，每个例子对应的topic sentence 位置不一样。我们再来看一个例子，

Sensitivity to physical laws is thus an important consideration for the maker of applied-art objects. It is often taken for granted that this is also true for the maker of fine-art objects. This assumption misses a significant difference between the two disciplines. Fine-art objects are not constrained by the laws of physics in the same way that applied-art objects are. Because their primary purpose is not functional, they are only limited in terms of the materials used to make them. Sculptures must, for example, be stable, which requires an understanding of the properties of mass, weight distribution, and stress. Paintingsmust have rigid stretchers so that the canvas will be taut, and the paint must not deteriorate, crack, or discolor. These are problems that must be overcome by the artist because they tend to intrude upon his or her conception of the work. For example, in the early Italian Renaissance, bronze statues of horses with a raised foreleg usually had a cannonball under that hoof. This was done because the cannonball was needed to support the weight of the leg. In other words, the demands of the laws of physics, not the sculptor's aesthetic intentions, placed the ball there. That this device was a necessary structural compromise is clear from the fact that the cannonball quickly disappeared when sculptors learned how to strengthen the internal structure of a statue with iron braces (iron being much stronger than bronze).

6. Why does the author discuss the bronze statues of horses created by artists in the early Italian Renaissance?

○ To provide an example of a problem related to the

laws of physics that a fine artist must overcome

○ To argue that fine artists are unconcerned with the

laws of physics

○ To contrast the relative sophistication of modern

artists in solving problems related to the laws of

physics

○ To note an exceptional piece of art constructed

without the aid of technology

在这道题目当中，我们需要先确定例子的位置，即加了阴影的地方。这个题目的特色是，出题点是一个非常长的自然段，一般这种比较长的自然段往往会有段落分层或者段中的转折，这样的话我们需要确定例子所在的位置在哪一层或者是在转折前还是转折后。我们先来分析一下这个段落的结构：

Sensitivity to physical laws is thus an important consideration for the maker of applied-art objects. It is often taken for granted that this is also true for the maker of fine-art objects. This assumption misses a significant difference between the two disciplines. 这句话对前面的内容作了否定，即：这种假设忽视了两个规律之间的重要差别。 Fine-art objects are not constrained by the laws of physics in the same way that applied art objects are. Because their primary purpose is not functional, they are only limited in terms of the materials used to make them. Sculptures must, for example, be stable, which requires an understanding of the properties of mass, weight distribution, and stress. Paintings must have rigid stretchers so that the canvas will be taut, and the paint must not deteriorate, crack, or discolor. These are problems that must be overcome by the artist because they tend to intrude upon his or her conception of the work. 这句才是例子真正对应的核心句，作者举例子是为了证明这个观点 For example, in the early Italian Renaissance, bronze statues of horses with a raised foreleg usually had... 在这个段落当中，例子所对应的topic sentence 变成了第八句，即These are problems that must be overcome by the artist because they tend to intrude upon his or her conception of the work.（这些都是艺术家必须克服的问题...）根据关键句的同义替换，我们选择第一个选项作为正确答案，即To provide an example of a problem related to the laws of physics that a fine artist must overcome （举一个关于艺术家必须跨越的关于物理学规律的例子）

9. Prose Summary 小结题

小结题是每一篇文章最后的那一道大题，需要从六个选项中选出三个作为正确答案，每一题两分。我们首先来分析一下这个题目的题干要求：

An introductory sentence for a brief summary of the passage is provided below. Complete the summary by selecting the THREE answer choices that express the most important ideas in the passage. Some sentences do not belong in the summary because they express ideas that are not presented in the passage or are minor ideas in the passage. This question is worth 2 points.

（一个总结性句子已经给出。通过选择三个选项来完成这个总结，所选的选项需要表达原文最重要的信息。有些选项不属于总结性选项，因为他们表达了没在原文中出现的信息或者是原文中的细节信息。此题两分。）通过分析题干给出的具体信息，我们能够看出，这道题目的关键要求在于选择重要信息，总结性信息。也就意味着，有的选项虽然正确，但是如果它表达的是原文中的细节信息，那么依然不能作为正确答案，这是这道题目中最难的一个点。

让我们来看一道例题:

13-14. Directions: An introductory sentence for a brief summary of the passage is provided below. Complete the summary by selecting the THREE answer choices that express the most important ideas in the passage. Some answer choices do not belong in the summary because they express ideas that are not presented in the passage or are minor ideas in the passage.

This question is worth 2 points. This passage discusses fossils that help to explain the likely origins of cetaceanswhales, porpoises, and dolphins.

Answer Choices

1. Recent discoveries of fossils have helped to show the link between land mammals and cetaceans.

2. The discovery of Ambulocetus natans provided evidence for a whale that lived both on land and at sea.

3. The skeleton of Basilosaurus was found in what had been the Tethys Sea, an area rich in fossil evidence.

4. Pakicetus is the oldest fossil whale yet to be found.

5. Fossils thought to be transitional forms between walking mammals and swimming whales were found.

6. Ambulocetus' hind legs were used for propulsion in the water.

这是每篇文章最后的一个大题，基于全文的基础进行提问，所以，我们可以根据文章的关键句，先来判断这篇文章的主要内容。以下摘选了文章的每个自然段的关键句，我们一起

来看一下：

THE ORIGINS OF CETACEANS

第一自然段：It should be obvious that cetaceanswhales, porpoises, and dolphins-are mammals. They breathe through lungs, not through gills, and give birth to live young. …

第二自然段：Very exciting discoveries have finally__ allowed scientists to reconstruct the most likely origins of cetaceans. …

第三自然段：The fossil consists of a complete skull of an archaeocyte, an extinct group of ancestors of modern cetaceans. Although limited to a skull, the Pakicetus fossil provides precious details on the origins of cetaceans. …

第四自然段：Another major discovery was made in Egypt in 1989. Several skeletons of another early whale, Basilosaurus, were found in sediments left by the Tethys Sea and now exposed in the Sahara desert. …

第五自然段：An even more exciting find was reported in 1994, also from Pakistan. The now extinct whale Ambulocetus natans ("the walking whale that swam") lived in the Tethys Sea 49 million years ago. …

首先，第一自然段综述关于鲸类动物是哺乳动物的事实，到了第二自然段开始揭示鲸类动物起源的具体细节，说到科学家有一些重要发现，到了第三自然段开始交待第一种化石的名称Pakicetus。第四自然段又提到另外一种化石发现，名字为Basilosaurus，最后一自然段提到第三种化石发现Ambulocetus natans，总结来说，这篇文章通过介绍三个化石来揭示了鲸类的起源。

接下来，我们来看以下选项，首先来看第一个选项：

1. Recent discoveries of fossils have helped to show the link between land mammals and cetaceans.（ 最近的化石发现帮助解释了陆生哺乳动物与鲸类之间的关系），此选项概括了本文的主要信息，因此可以算作小结题的答案。2. The discovery of Ambulocetus natans provided evidence for a whale that lived both on land and at sea.（ 化石Ambulocetus natans 的发现提供了关于鲸及生活在陆地上又生活在海里的依据），Ambulocetus natans 是本文三个重要化石之一， 且在本选项中体现了Ambulocetus natans 化石对于揭示鲸类起源的重要作用，因此算作小总结信息从而作为正确选项。3. The skeleton of Basilosaurus was found in what had been the Tethys Sea, an area rich in fossil evidence.（Basilosaurus 在一个叫做Tethys Sea 的地方被发现，这个地方有很多的化石），此选项中虽然提到了本文的一个重要化石Basilosaurus，但是并没有陈述Basilosaurus 对于揭示鲸类起源的作用，因此不能算作正确答案。换句话说，只提到Basilosaurus 化石所发现的地点是不足以作为本文的小结信息的。4. Pakicetus is the oldest fossil whale yet to be found.（Pakicetus 是迄今为止发现的最古老的鲸类化石），此选项也提到了本文中重要化石Pakicetus，但并没有提到Pakicetus 对于揭示鲸类起源的作用，因此不能作为小结题的重要选项。5. Fossils thought to be transitional forms between

walking mammals and swimming whales were found.（被认为是陆生哺乳动物与水生鲸类之间的过渡化石被发现），此选项概括了本文的主要内容，本文的主旨内容即是讲述鲸类原本是陆生哺乳动物的事实，因此，5 是正确选项。6. Ambulocetus' hind legs were used for propulsion in the water.（Ambulocetus natans 的后腿用来在水中前进），本选项貌似也提到了重要化石Ambulocetus natans，但是Ambulocetus natans 的后腿用来在水中前进是一个细节信息，因此不能作为正确答案。所以，本题的正确答案为125.

（注：腾讯网登载此文出于丰富信息之目的，文章内容仅供参考。）