单选题. A subject which seems to have been insufficiently studied by doctors and psychologists is the influence of geography and climate on the psychological and physical health of mankind. There seems no doubt that the general character of the landscape, the relative length of day and night, and the climate must all play a big part in determining what kind of people we are. It is true that a few studies have been made. Where all the inhabitants of particular area enjoy exceptionally good or bad health, scientists have identified contributory factors such as the presence or absence of substances like iodine, fluoride, calcium, or iron in the water supply, or perhaps types of land that provide breeding places for pests like mosquitoes or rats. Moreover, we can all generalize about types of people we have met. Those living in countries with long dark winters are apt to be less talkative and less vivacious (活泼的) than inhabitants of countries where the climate is more equable (稳定). And where the olive and the orange grow, there the inhabitants are cheerful, talkative, and spontaneous. But these commonplace generalizations are inadequate: the influence of climate and geography should be studied in depth. Do all mountain dwellers live to a ripe old age? Does the drinking of wine, rather than beer, result in a sunny and open temperament? Is the strength and height of one of the Kenyan tribes due to their habitual drinking of the blood of cows? We are not yet sure of the answers to such questions, but let us hope that something of benefit to mankind may eventually result from such studies.1. ______ might serve as a suitable title for this selection.
【正确答案】
B
【答案解析】 主旨大意题 文章先提出一个问题,而后是说明。文章的段首“A subject which seems to have been insufficiently studied by doctors and psychologists is the influence of geography and climate on the psychological and physical health of mankind. ”即是中心。故选B。 [参考译文] 一门似乎医生和心理学家都没有充分研究的科目是地理和气候对人类的心理和生理健康的影响。看起来毫无疑问的是,在决定我们是哪类人的时候,当地景观的大致特征、白天和黑夜的相对长度以及气候都起着很大一部分作用。 诚然,已经有了一些研究。在一些特定的区域内,一些居民有着特别好的或者坏的健康状况,科学家已经识别出了一些起作用的因素,如碘、氟化物、钙等物质的存在或缺失、水中铁的含量,或者提供蚊子、老鼠这些有害动物繁殖的土地类型。 此外,我们都可以概括我们所遇到的人的类型。那些生活在有着漫长黑夜的冬天的国家里的人比那些气候较稳定的国家的居民更倾向于沉默,而且不那么活泼。在种植橄榄和柑橘的地方,那里的居民开朗、健谈和自由。 但是这些整体的概括是不充分的:还要更深刻地研究地理和气候的影响。所有山民都能活到耄耋之年吗?饮白酒而不是啤酒能使人的性格变得更阳光更开放吗?肯尼亚部族人的力量和高度都是由于他们有喝牛血的习惯吗? 我们目前还不清楚这些问题的答案,但是我们希望这些研究最终会给人类带来一些有益的东西。