Up to now,nobody has been able to understand chimp behavior better than Jane Goodall.Since her childhood, she had been dreaming of working closely with animals in Africa.“All through my childhood people said you couldn’t go to Africa.
You’re a girl.But my mother used to say,if you really want to,there’s nothing you can’t do.” Goodall said.
In 1957,the 26-year-old Goodall went to Kenya to work as a secretary.She also arranged to meet the famous scientist Louis Leakey,who was so impressed by her enthusiasm that he hired her as his assistant.She went with him on many trips to the African jungle and in 1960 Leakey sent Goodall to live among chimpanzees in a remote animal preserve,recording the animals’ behavior and interactions.
For three months Goodall made little progress.But she said,“I never came close to giving up.” Her breakthrough came one day when she saw a male chimpanzee stick a piece of grass into a termite (白蚁) hill,then put the grass in his mouth.Afterwards she came to the hill and did the same.Pulling the grass out,she discovered dozens of termites on it.The discovery — that some animals use tools — was unknown to most scientists at the time.
Goodall saw chimpanzees exhibit human-like emotions,such as jealousy and love.But she also discovered they were capable of violent attacks against each other.
Goodall received her PhD in the study of animal behavior at England’s Cambridge University.Now she travels around the globe raising money to preserve wildlife.“I love being in the forest with the chimpanzees,” she said.“I’d much rather be there than travel around from city to city.”
1.What was Goodall’s childhood dream?
A.She dreamed of going to college.
B.She dreamed of traveling all around the world.
C.She dreamed of becoming a famous scientist.
D.She dreamed of studying animals in Africa.
2.What did Goodall’s mother think of her dream?
A.As a girl she should not go to the African jungle.
B.Her dream would remain a dream unless she got the right training.
C.As a girl she should stay away from violent animals.
D.She could make her dream come true if she was determined.
3.What can we learn from the passage?
A.One of Goodall’s discoveries is that some animals use tools.
B.Chimpanzees like attacking each other violently.
C.Goodall had just about given herself up when she made a breakthrough.
D.Termites are chimpanzees’ favorite food.
4.Which of the following might be the best title for the text?
A.The Lives of Chimps
B.A Scholar of African Wildlife
C.Jane’s Breakthrough
D.The Connections between Chimps and Human Beings
语篇解读:本文是一篇记叙文。本文主要介绍了一位到非洲研究动物习性的女科学家的故事。
答案及剖析:
1.D 细节理解题。根据第一段中的“Since her childhood,she had been dreaming of working closely with animals in Africa.”可知,Goodall童年时的梦想是在非洲研究动物。故选D。
2.D 细节理解题。根据第一段中的“But my mother used to say,if you really want to,there’s nothing you can’t do.”可知,Goodall的母亲认为,如果Goodall下定决心做某事,没有什么能阻挡她实现她的梦想,她会实现她的梦想的。故选D。
3.A 细节理解题。根据第三段中的“The discovery — that some animals use tools — was unknown to most scientists at the time.”可知,Goodall在非洲的发现之一就是有些动物会使用工具。故选A。
4.B 主旨大意题。根据全文内容可总结出,本文主要介绍了一位到非洲研究动物习性的女科学家的故事。B项意为“研究非洲野生动物的一位学者”,体现了本文核心,适合用作标题。
