2026年江苏版《学位英语》冲刺试卷四

For some behaviors in animals， there is little proof for strong genetic (基因的)determination. Not only are there many environmental and historical changes in behavior patterns，__21__ we also know that some of them are passed on from one generation to the __22__.They are "cultural”.The term “culture”here __23__ social traditions. One __24__ of animal culture is the well-studied food-handling behavior of the group of Japanese monkeys living __25__ the small， wooded island of Koshima. These monkeys __26__ to live in the forests. But Japanese researchers came and started to feed them by __27__ sweet potatoes on the sandy beach. Soon， the monkeys began to leave the forests and __28__ the sweet potatoes on the beach. About a year __29__ the feeding started， a young female monkey was __30__ to wash the potatoes in a nearby river. She actively and successfully __31__ the sand on them. Within the next few years， potato-washing spread __32__ the group and the practice was carried __33__ from the river to the sea. __34__ potato-washing in the sea， several other habits __35__ with feeding on the sandy beach are now well established in the monkey group. The habits are passed from mothers and other group members to the babies.Japanese monkeys are not the only animals to have __36__ their behaviors. In many cities and towns， European red foxes have successfully changed some of their behaviors in __37__ to get used to their new city life over a short period of time. Obviously， this is not the __38__ of the selection of genes. The same is __39__ of common racoons (浣熊) in America. The course of the evolution (进化) of behavior cannot be adequately described and understood without __40__ “culture” as an active factor. The cultural factor affects the selection of genes.

Passage 2
Traditionally， universities have carried out two main activities: research and teaching. Many experts would argue that both these activities play a critical role in serving the community. The fundamental question， however， is how does the community want or need to be served？
In recent years universities have been coming under increasing pressure from both the governments and the public to ensure that they do not remain “ivory towers(象牙塔)” of study separated from the realities of everyday life. University teachers have been encouraged， and in some cases constrained (强迫)， to provide more courses which produce graduates with the technical skills required for the commercial use. If Aristotle wanted to work in a university in the UK today， he would have a good chance of teaching computer science but would not be so readily employable as a philosopher.A post-industrial society requires large numbers of computer programmers，engineers， managers and technicians to maintain and develop its economic growth but “man”， as the Bible says， “does not live by bread alone.” Apart from requiring medical and social services， which do not directly contribute to economic growth， the society should also value and enjoy literature， music and the arts. Because they can also promote economic growth. A successful musical play， for instance， can contribute as much to the Gross National Product through tourist dollars as any other things.

Passage 2
It is the world’s fourth-most-important food crop， after maize， wheat and rice. It provides more calories，more quickly， using less land and in a wider range of climates than any other plant. It is， of course， the potato.The United Nations has hoped that greater awareness of the merits of potatoes will contribute to the achievement of its Millennium Development Goals， by helping to reduce poverty and promote economic development.The potato promoted economic development by supporting the Industrial Revolution in England in the 19th century. It provided a cheap source of calories and was easy to cultivate， so it liberated workers from the land. Potatoes became popular in the north of England， as people there specialized in livestock farming and domestic industry， while farmers in the south concentrated on wheat production. By a happy accident， the concentrated industrial activity in the regions where coal was readily available， and a potato-driven population boom provided ample workers for the new factories. Friedrich Engels even declared that the potato was the equal of iron for its “ historically revolutionary role ”.In the form of French fries， served alongside burgers and Coca-Cola， potatoes are now a symbol of globalization. This is quite a change given the skepticism which first greeted them on their arrival in the Old World in the 16th century. They were variously thought to be fit only for animals， to be associated with the devil or to be poisonous. They took hold in 18th- century Europe only when war and famine meant there was nothing else to eat； people then realized just how useful and reliable they were. As Adam Smith， one of the potato’s many admirers， observed at the time， “The very general use which is made of potatoes in these kingdoms as food for man is a convincing proof that the prejudices of a nation，with regard to diet， however deeply rooted， are by no means unconquerable.” Mashed， fried， boiled and roast，a humble potato changed the world，and people everywhere should celebrate it.