2019年11月9日托福阅读真题+题目+答案：Archaeological Evidence of Plant and Animal Domestication

Much of what we know about domestication comes from the archaeological record. Increasing knowledge about both plant domestication and the exploitation of wild species is a result of intensifying awareness among researchers of the need to recover plant remains from excavations through more refined recovery techniques. A great deal of information has been obtained by the use of a technique known as flotation. When placed in water, soil from an excavation sinks, whereas organic materials, including plant remains, float to the surface. These can then be skimmed off and examined by scientists for identifiable fragments. Other information may be obtained by studying the stomach contents of well-preserved bodies.

1.The word  “fragments”, in the passage is closest in meaning to

O materials

O pieces

O patterns

O characteristics

2.According to paragraph 1, the archaeological methods involved in studying plant domestication

O are not yet sophisticated enough to provide knowledge about plant domestication

O often damage other artifacts within the area of excavation

O focus on separating organic remains from other substances

O require identifying areas that once contained significant amounts of water

Although archaeologists can easily distinguish some plant species in the wild from those that were domesticated, the domestication of animals is more difficult to discern from archaeological evidence, even though many features distinguish wild from domesticated animals. Unlike their wild counterparts, domesticated cattle and goats produce more milk than their offspring need; this excess is used by humans. Wild sheep do not produce wool, and undomesticated chickens do not lay extra eggs. Unfortunately, however, the animal remains found at archaeological sites often exhibit only subtle differences between wild and domesticated species. Researchers have traditionally considered reduction in jaw or tooth size as an indication of domestication in some species, for example, the pig and dog. Other studies have attempted to identify changes in bone shape and internal structure. Although providing possible insights, such approaches are problematic when the diversity within animal species is considered because the particular characteristics used to identify “domesticated” stock may fall within the range found in wild herds.

3.According to paragraph 2, why is it difficult for archaeologists to distinguish between the remains of wild and domesticated animals?

O Bone remains change over time so that it is impossible to know their original shape.

O The presence of large quantities of milk, wool, or egg remains may indicate either wild or domesticated species.

O Differences in jaw or tooth size are hard to determine from archaeological evidence.

O Characteristics that have been used to identify domesticated animals can be found in wild animals as well.

A different approach to the study of animal domestication is to look for possible human influence on the makeup the distribution of wild animal populations, for example, changing ratios in the ages and sexes of the animals killed by humans. Archaeological evidence from Southwest Asia shows that Paleolithic (2.6 million to about 12,000 years ago) hunters, who killed wild goats and sheep as a staple of their lifestyle, initially killed animals of both sexes and of any age. However, as time went on, older males were targeted, whereas females and their young were spared. Some sheep bones dating back 9,000 years have been found in sites in Southwest Asia far away from the animals’ natural habitat, suggesting that animals were captured to be killed when needed.

Observations such as these may suggest human intervention and incipient domestication, but conclusions need to be carefully assessed. ⬛ Recent research has pointed out that sex ratios and percentages of juvenile individuals vary substantially in wild populations. ⬛ Moreover, all predators, not just humans, hunt selectively (choose to hunt some animals but leave others alone). ⬛ Finally, information on the ancient distribution of animal species is unknown. ⬛

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