Nature and culture are often seen as opposite ideas. What belongs to nature cannot be the result of human activities and on the other hand, cultural development is achieved against nature. However, this is not the only opinion on the relationship between nature and culture. Studies in the development of humans suggest that culture, whether taken as an effort against nature or a natural effort, is part of the development of the human species( 物种 ).
Several modern writers saw the process of education as a struggle( 斗争 ) against human nature. We are born with wild natures, such as eating and behaving in a disorganized way or acting selfishly. Education uses culture as a way to get us out of our widest natures; it is thanks to culture that the human species could learn to adapt( 适应 ) , progress and raise itself above and beyond other species.
Over the past century and a half, however, studies in the history of human development have shown that the formation of culture is part of the biological adaptation. Consider, for example, hunting( 打猎 ) . It seems to be an adaptation, which allowed humans to move into new and different areas, opening up the opportunity to change living habits. At the same time, the development of weapons( 武器 ) is related to that adaptation-from rocks and stones to a set of hunting tools, and from hunting tools to rules relating to the proper use of weapons. Hunting also seems to be responsible for a whole set of bodily abilities, such as balancing on one foot. Just think of how this very simple thing is closely related to dance, a key expression of human culture. It is then clear that biological development and cultural development are closely tied.
The transmission of culture seems to be directly related to what’s in our blood. Just as snails carry their shells, so do we bring along our culture. However, culture is also passed on among people of the same time or among people belonging to different populations. We can learn how to make jiaozi even if we were born from Russian parents in Paris just as we can learn how to speak English even if none of our family or friends speak that language.
1 . What is Paragraph 2 mainly about?
A . Culture belongs to human nature.
B . Nature teaches humans how to adapt.
C . Humans are supposed to be well organized.
D . Education pushes the human species to progress.
2 . Why does the writer talk about hunting in Paragraph 3?
A . To suggest some possible ways of changing living habits.
B . To stress the importance of tools in humans’ struggle for life.
C . To show how culture develops as humans adapt to the environment.
D . To explain why there is a need to call for the proper use of weapons.
3 . The word “transmission” in Paragraph 4 probably means “________”.
A . system B . spread C . start D . spirit
4 . What is the writer’s opinion on the nature-culture relationship?
A . Culture and nature are separate yet balanced.
B . Culture depends much on nature to progress.
C . Nature and culture are different but connected.
D . Nature follows the unwritten rules set by culture.
1 . D
2 . C
3 . B
4 . C
【分析】
本文是一篇议论文,自然和文化常常被视为对立的观点,但是人类发展的研究表明,文化,无论是作为一种反对自然的努力还是自然的努力,都是人类物种发展的一部分。生物的发展和文化的发展是紧密相连的,文化的传播似乎与我们血液中的东西直接相关。
1. 段落大意题。根据 “Several modern writers saw the process of education as a struggle( 斗争 ) against human nature.” 和 “Education uses culture as a way to get us out of our widest natures” 可知,人们把教育的过程看作是一场与人性的斗争,教育把文化作为一种方式,让我们摆脱最广泛的天性。所以本段想说明教育推动人类进步。故选 D 。
2. 推理判断题。根据 “Consider, for example, hunting( 打猎 ) . It seems to be an adaptation, which allowed humans to move into new and different areas, opening up the opportunity to change living habits.” 可知,打猎似乎是一种适应,使人类能够进入新的和不同的地区,打开改变生活习惯的机会。文章提到打猎是为了展示文化是如何随着人类适应环境而发展的。故选 C 。
3. 词义猜测题。分析 “The transmission of culture seems to be directly related to what’s in our blood. Just as snails carry their shells, so do we bring along our culture.” 可知,文化的传播似乎与我们血液中的东西直接相关。就像蜗牛带着它们的壳一样,我们也带着我们的文化。所以此处 transmission 的意思是 “ 传播 ” ,故选 B 。
4. 观点态度题。根据 “Studies in the development of humans suggest that culture, whether taken as an effort against nature or a natural effort, is part of the development of the human species( 物种 ).” 可知,作者认为文化,无论是作为一种反对自然的努力还是自然的努力,都是人类物种发展的一部分,作者认为自然和文化之间是对立且密切联系的。故选 C 。