The idea that some groups of people may
be more intelligent than others is one of those hypotheses that dare not speak
its name. But Gregory Cochran is{{U}} (1) {{/U}}to say it anyway. He is
that{{U}} (2) {{/U}}bird, a scientist who works independently{{U}}
(3) {{/U}}any institution. He helped popularize the idea that some
diseases not{{U}} (4) {{/U}}thought to have a bacterial cause were
actually infections, which aroused much controversy when it was first
suggested. {{U}} (5) {{/U}}he, however, might tremble at
the{{U}} (6) {{/U}}of what he is about to do. Together with another two
scientists, he is publishing a paper which not only{{U}} (7) {{/U}}that
one group of humanity is more intelligent than the others, but explains the
process that has brought this about. The group in{{U}} (8) {{/U}}are a
particular people originated from central Europe. The process is natural
selection. This group generally do well in IQ test,{{U}} (9)
{{/U}}12-15 points above the{{U}} (10) {{/U}}value of 100, and have
contributed{{U}} (11) {{/U}}to the intellectual and cultural life of the
West, as the{{U}} (12) {{/U}}of their elites, including several
world-renowned scientists,{{U}} (13) {{/U}}. They also suffer more often
than most people from a number of nasty genetic diseases, such as breast cancer.
These facts,{{U}} (14) {{/U}}, have previously been thought unrelated.
The former has been{{U}} (15) {{/U}}to social effects, such as a strong
tradition of{{U}} (16) {{/U}}education. The latter was seen as a (an){{U}}
(17) {{/U}}of genetic isolation. Dr. Cochran suggests that the
intelligence and diseases are intimately{{U}} (18) {{/U}}. His argument
is that the unusual history of these people has{{U}} (19) {{/U}}them to
unique evolutionary pressures that have resulted in this{{U}} (20)
{{/U}}state of affairs.
【正确答案】
B
【答案解析】[解题思路] 考查动词搭配和语义。几个动词的被动语态都可以放在be + Ved + to do结构中,但是语义不同。[A]表示“被挑选出来去……”;[B]表示“做好去……的准备”;[C]表示“被迫使去……”;[D]表示“非常荣幸去……”。语义参照点在文章第一句:很多理论不敢言明……。第二句开头的but提示本句与前面“不敢”的情况相反,只有[B1语义最为接近。
【答案解析】[解题思路] 考查名词。属于固定搭配:at the thought of表示“一想到……就”。其他几个选项也可以放在这个结构中,但是语义不同:[B]选项:at the sight of表示“一看到……就”,但是后面的宾语是将来的事情,无法看到,因此排除;[C]选项:at the cost of表示“以……为代价”,涉及成本问题,本文没有提到,排除;[D]选项:at the risk of表示“冒着……的风险”,而“what he is about to do”并不是什么风险,也可以很快排除。
【答案解析】[解题思路] 考查动词。本题较难。难点在于把一个句子的主语和谓语都划了横线让考生自己填,就必须先选对一个,才能选对另外一个。本空套在as引导的一个定语从句中“as the careers of their elites______”,即“正如他们中的那些精英成就的事业所______的一样”,前文说“他们的智商高于平均水平,同时做出了巨大贡献”,而该定语从句中的“精英的事业”无疑就成为前面观点的具体证据,那么其功能自然就是“证明观点”,因此,只能选出表示“证明”的[A]选项。