gre考试阅读真题解析(A)

　　As Gilbert White, Darwin, and others observed long ago, all species appear to have the innate capacity to increase their numbers from generation to generation. The task for ecologists is to untangle the environmental and biological factors that hold this intrinsic capacity for population growth in check over the long run. The great variety of dynamic behaviors exhibited by different populations makes this task more difficult: some populations remain roughly constant from year to year ; others exhibit regular cycles of abundance and scarcity; still others vary wildly, with outbreaks and crashes that are in some cases plainly correlated with the weather, and in other cases not.

　　To impose some order on this kaleidoscope of patterns, one school of thought proposes dividing populations into two groups. These ecologists posit that the relatively steady populations have density-dependent growth parameters; that is, rates of birth, death, and migration which depend strongly on population density. The highly varying populations have density-independent growth parameters, with vital rates buffeted by environmental events; these rates fluctuate in a way that is wholly independent of population density.

　　This dichotomy has its uses, but it can cause problems if taken too literally. For one thing, no population can be driven entirely by density-independent factors all the time. No matter how severely or unpredictably birth, death and migration rates may be fluctuating around their long-term averages, if there were no density-dependent effects, the population would, in the long run, either increase or decrease without bound . Put another way, it may be that on average 99 percent of all deaths in a population arise from density-independent causes, and only one percent from factors varying with density. The factors making up the one percent may seem unimportant, and their cause may be correspondingly hard to determine. Yet, whether recognized or not, they will usually determine the long-term average population density.

　　In order to understand the nature of the ecologists investigation, we may think of the density-dependent effects on growth parameters as the signal ecologists are trying to isolate and interpret, one that tends to make the population increase from relatively low values or decrease from relatively high ones, while the density-independent effects act to produce noise in the population dynamics . For populations that remain relatively constant, or that oscillate around repeated cycles, the signal can be fairly easily characterized and its effects described, even though the causative biological mechanism may remain unknown. For irregularly fluctuating populations, we are likely to have too few observations to have any hope of extracting the signal from the overwhelming noise. But it now seems clear that all populations are regulated by a mixture of density-dependent and density-independent effects in varying proportions.

　　17. The author of the passage is primarily concerned with

　　 discussing two categories of factors that control population growth and assessing their relative importance

　　 describing how growth rates in natural populations fluctuate over time and explaining why these changes occur

　　 proposing a hypothesis concerning population sizes and suggesting ways to test it

　　 posing a fundamental question about environmental factors in population growth and presenting some currently accepted answers

　　 refuting a commonly accepted theory about population density and offering a new alternative

　　18. It can be inferred from the passage that the author considers the dichotomy discussed in the second paragraph to be

　　 applicable only to erratically fluctuating populations

　　 useful, but only if its limitations are recognized

　　 dangerously misleading in most circumstances

　　 a complete and sufficient way to account for observed phenomena

　　 conceptually valid, but too confusing to apply on a practical basis

　　19. Which of the following statements can be inferred from the last paragraph?

　　 For irregularly fluctuating populations, doubling the number of observations made will probably result in the isolation of density-dependent effects.

　　 Density-dependent effects on population dynamics do not occur as frequently as do density-independent effects.

　　 At present, ecologists do not understand any of the underlying causes of the density-dependent effects they observe in population dynamics.

　　 Density-dependent effects on growth parameters are thought to be caused by some sort of biochemical signaling that ecologists hope eventually to understand.

　　 It is sometimes possible to infer the existence of a density-dependent factor controlling population growth without understanding its causative mechanism.

　　20. According to the passage, which of the following is a true statement about density-dependent factors in population growth?

　　 They ultimately account for long-term population levels.

　　 They have little to do with long-term population dynamics.

　　 They are always more easily isolated and described than those that are density-independent.

　　 They include random environmental events.

　　 They contradict current ecological assumptions about population dynamics.

　　21. According to the passage, all of the following behaviors have been exhibited by different populations EXCEPT:

　　 roughly constant population levels from year to year

　　 regular cycles of increases and decreases in numbers

　　 erratic increases in numbers correlated with the weather

　　 unchecked increases in numbers over many generations

　　 sudden declines in numbers from time to time

　　22. The discussion concerning population in lines 24-40 serves primarily to

　　 demonstrate the difficulties ecologists face in studying density-dependent factors limiting population growth

　　 advocate more rigorous study of density-dependent factors in population growth

　　 prove that the death rates of any population are never entirely density-independent

　　 give an example of how death rates function to limit population densities in typical populations

　　 underline the importance of even small density-dependent factors in regulating long-term population densities

　　23. In the passage, the author does all of the following EXCEPT:

　　 cite the views of other biologists

　　 define a basic problem that the passage addresses

　　 present conceptual categories used by other biologists

　　 describe the results of a particular study

　　 draw a conclusion

　　In Raisin in the Sun, Lorraine Hansberry does not reject integration or the economic and moral promise of the American dream; rather, she remains loyal to this dream while looking, realistically, at its incomplete realization. Once we recognize this dual vision, we can accept the plays ironic nuances as deliberate social commentaries by Hansberry rather than as the unintentional irony that Bigsby attributes to the work. Indeed a curiously persistent refusal to credit Hansberry with a capacity for intentional irony has led some critics to interpret the plays thematic conflicts as mere confusion, contradiction, or eclecticism. Isaacs, for example, cannot easily reconcile Hansberrys intense concern for her race with her ideal of human reconciliation. But the plays complex view of Black self-esteem and human solidarity as compatible is no more contradictory than Du Bois famous, well-considered ideal of ethnic self-awareness coexisting with human unity, or Fanons emphasis on an ideal internationalism that also accommodates national identities and roles.

　　24. The authors primary purpose in this passage is to

　　 explain some critics refusal to consider Raisin in the Sun a deliberately ironic play

　　 suggest that ironic nuances ally Raisin in the Sun with Du Bois and Fanons writings

　　 analyze the fundamental dramatic conflicts in Raisin in the Sun

　　 justify the inclusion of contradictory elements in Raisin in the Sun

　　 affirm the thematic coherence underlying Raisin in the Sun

　　25. It can be inferred from the passage that the author believes which of the following about Hansberrys use of irony in Raisin in the Sun?

　　 It derives from Hansberrys eclectic approach to dramatic structure.

　　 It is justified by Hansberrys loyalty to a favorable depiction of American life.

　　 It is influenced by the themes of works by Du Bois and Fanon.

　　 It is more consistent with Hansberrys concern for Black Americans than with her ideal of human reconciliation.

　　 It reflects Hansberrys reservations about the extent to which the American dream has been realized.

　　26. In which of the following does the author of the passage reinforce his criticism of responses such as Isaacs to Raisin in the Sun?

　　 The statement that Hansberry is loyal to the American dream

　　 The description of Hansberrys concern for Black Americans as intense

　　 The assertion that Hansberry is concerned with human solidarity

　　 The description of Du Bois ideal as well-considered

　　 The description of Fanons internationalism as ideal

　　27. The author of the passage would probably consider which of the following judgments to be most similar to the reasoning of critics described in lines 8-12?

　　 The world is certainly flat; therefore, the person proposing to sail around it is unquestionably foolhardy.

　　 Radioactivity cannot be directly perceived; therefore, a scientist could not possibly control it in a laboratory.

　　 The painter of this picture could not intend it to be funny, therefore, its humor must result from a lack of skill.

　　 Traditional social mores are beneficial to culture; therefore, anyone who deviates from them acts destructively.

　　 Filmmakers who produce documentaries deal exclusively with facts; therefore, a filmmaker who reinterprets particular events is misleading us.

答案：17-27：ABEADEDEEDC