Certain animals and plants develop characteristics that help them cope
with their environment better than others of their kind. This
natural biological process is called adaptation. Among the superior
characteristics developed through adaptation are those that may help in getting
food or shelter, in providing protection, and in producing and protecting the
young. That results in the evolution of more and more organisms that are better
fitted to their environments. Each living thing is adapted to
its way of life in a general way, but each is adapted especially to its own
distinct class. A plant, for example, depends upon its roots to fix itself
firmly and to absorb water and inorganic chemicals. It depends upon its green
leaves for using the sun's energy to make food from inorganic chemicals. These
are general adaptations, common to most plants. In addition, there are special
adaptations that only certain kinds of plants have. Many
animals have adaptations that help them escape from their enemies. Some insects
are hidden by their body color or shape, and many look like a leaf or a little
branch. The coats of deer are colored to mix with the surroundings. Many animals
have the ability to remain completely still when an enemy is near.
Organisms have a great variety of ways of adapting. They may adapt in
their structure, function, and genetics; in their development and production of
the young; and in other respects. An organism may create its own environment, as
do warm-blooded mammals, which have the ability to adjust body heat exactly to
maintain their ideal temperature despite changing weather. Usually adaptations
are an advantage, but sometimes an organism is so well adapted to a particular
environment that, if conditions change, it finds it difficult or impossible to
readapt to the new conditions.
单选题
Some plants and animals develop superior characteristics so that they
may ______.
A. help others of their kind get food, shelter and other things needed
B. survive even in extremely severe conditions
C. become better adapted to the environments than others of their kind
D. result in the evolution and production of more intelligent
organisms
【正确答案】
C
【答案解析】[解析] 该题的直接答案相关句是文章第一句，故选C。
单选题
In the first paragraph, the word "environments" could best be replaced
by ______.
A. contexts
B. surroundings
C. neighbors
D. enemies
【正确答案】
B
【答案解析】[解析] surroundings和environments是近义词，故选B。
单选题
It can be inferred from this passage that the feathers of a bird are
colored ______.
A. to frightened its enemies
B. to attract its enemies
C. to adjust its body heat
D. to match its environment
【正确答案】
D
【答案解析】[解析] 该题的直接答案相关句是第三段的第三句话：“The coats of deer are colored to mix with the surroundings.”故选D。
单选题
Which of the following is NOT directly mentioned?
A. A living thing may adapt in its structure.
B. An organism may adapt in its function.
C. A living creature may adapt in its genetic makeup.
D. A living organism may adapt in its sleeping habit.