When we look at the way in whichbiodiversity(biologicaldiversity) is distributed over the land surface of theplanet, we find that it is far from even. The tropicscontainmany morespeciesoverallthan anequivalentarea at the higher latitudes. This seems to be true for many different groups of animals and plants.

Why is it that higher latitudes havelowerdiversities than the tropics? Perhaps it is simply a matter of land area. The tropicscontaina larger surface area of land than higher latitudes - a fact that is not alwaysevidentwhen we examine commonly used projections of Earth’s curved surface, since this tends toexaggeratethe areas of land in the higher latitudes - and some biogeographers regard the differences indiversityas areflectionof this effect. But ananalysisof the data by biologist Klaus Rohde does not support this explanation. Although area maycontributetobiodiversity, it is certainly not the whole story;otherwise, large landmasses would always be richer inspecies.

Productivityseems to be involvedinstead, though perhaps its influence is indirect. Where conditions are mostsuitablefor plant growth - that is, where temperatures arerelativelyhigh anduniformand where there is anamplesupplyof water - one usually finds large masses ofvegetation. This leads to acomplexstructure in the layers of plantmaterialIn atropicalrain forest, for example, a very largequantityof plantmaterialbuilds up above the surface of the ground. There is also a largemassofmaterial, developed below ground asroottissues, but this is lessapparent. Carefulanalysisof the above groundmaterialreveals that it is arranged in aseriesof layers, theprecisenumber of layers varying with age and the nature of the forest. The arrangement of the biologicalmass("biomass") of thevegetationinto layered forms is termed its “structure” (asopposedto its “composition”, which refers to thespeciesof organisms forming thecommunity). Structure isessentiallythearchitectureofvegetation, and as in the case oftropicalforests, it can be extremelycomplicated. In amaturefloodplaintropicalforest in the Amazon Riverbasin, thecanopy(theuppermostlayers of a forest, formed by the crowns of trees) takes on a stratified structure. There are threeclearpeaks in leaf cover at heights ofapproximately3, 6, and 30 meters above the ground; and the very highestlayer, at 50 meters, corresponds to the very tall trees that stand free of the maincanopyand form an openlayerof their own. So, such a forest containsessentiallyfour layers ofcanopy. Forests intemperatelands often have just twocanopylayers, so they have much lesscomplexarchitecture.

Structure has a strong influence on the animal life inhabiting a site. It forms thespatialenvironment within which an animal feeds, moves around shelters, lives, and breeds. It even affects theclimateon a verylocallevel(the "microclimate") by influencing light intensity,humidity, and both the range and extremes oftemperature. An area of grasslandvegetationwith very simple structure, for example, has a very different microclimate at the groundlevelfrom that experienced in the uppercanopy. Wind speeds arelower, temperatures arelowerduring the day (but warmer at night), and therelativehumidityis much greater near the ground. Thecomplexityof the microclimate is closely related to thecomplexityof structure invegetation, and generally speaking, the morecomplexthe structure ofvegetation, the morespeciesof animal are able to make a living there. The high plant biomass of the tropics leads to a greaterspatialcomplexityin the environment, and this leads to a higherpotentialfordiversityin the living things that canoccupyaregion. The climates of the higher latitudes are generally lessfavorablefor theaccumulationof large quantities of biomass; hence, the structure ofvegetationis simpler and the animaldiversityisconsequentlylower.

Questions:
question_stem: Which of the following is NOT mentioned in paragraph 4 as an aspect of microclimate?
choices: tag: A
text: Temperature range

tag: B
text: Relative humidity

tag: C
text: Light intensity

tag: D
text: Seasonal variations
answer_key: D
explanation: 【题目翻译】以下哪项在第4段中没有提到，作为微气候的一个方面？
A：温度范围
B：相对湿度
C：光强
D：季节性变化

【判定题型】：根据题干中出现的大写“EXCEPT”/"NOT" 等其他明显表示否定的词，可以判定本题为否定事实信息题，需要找出与原文信息不符的那个答案。

【关键词定位】根据关键词 microclimate 定位至第三句话，It even affects the climate on a very local level (the "microclimate") by influencing light intensity, humidity, and both the range and extremes of temperature. 

【选项分析】
A.提到了“both the range and extremes of temperature”，故正确。不选。
B.提到了“ humidity”，故正确。不选。
C.提到了“ light intensity”，故正确。不选。
D.D 选项没有提及，所以选择 D.

question_stem: The word “distributed” in the passage is closest in meaning to
choices: tag: A
text: represented

tag: B
text: collected

tag: C
text: spread

tag: D
text: managed
answer_key: C
explanation: 【题目翻译】文中“distributed”一词和以下哪个最相近？
A.Represented, 表现，描写。
B.Collected, 收集，募捐。 
C.Spread, 传播，延伸。 
D.Managed, 管理。

【判定题型】：题目要求选出与高亮单词意思最接近的选项，故判断本题为词汇题。

【关键词定位】：根据关键词“distributed”,定位到原句“When we look at the way in which biodiversity (biological diversity) is distributed over the land surface of the planet, we find that it is far from even.”。

【词汇解析】：词汇“distributed”的意思是“散布”,带入到原句中，原句的意思是“当我们观察生物多样性（生物多样性）在地球陆地表面的分布方式时，我们发现它离平坦很远”。

【选项分析】
A.Represented, 表现，描写。不符，错误
B.Collected, 收集，募捐。 不符，错误
C.Spread, 传播，延伸。 同义替换，正确。
D.Managed, 管理。不符，错误

question_stem: The word “overall” in the passage is closest in meaning to
choices: tag: A
text: considered as a whole

tag: B
text: to some degree

tag: C
text: possibly

tag: D
text: evidently
answer_key: A
explanation: 【题目翻译】文中“overall”一词和以下哪个最相近？
A.考虑为一个整体
B.某种程度上
C.可能地
D.明显地

【判定题型】：题目要求选出与高亮单词意思最接近的选项，故判断本题为词汇题。

【关键词定位】：根据关键词“overall”,定位到原句“The tropics contain many more species overall than an equivalent area at the higher latitudes.”。

【词汇解析】词汇“overall”的意思是“全体的”,带入到原句中，原句的意思是“总的来说，热带地区比高纬度地区同等面积要包含更多的物种。”。

【选项分析】
A.考虑为一个整体。同义替换，正确
B.某种程度上。不符，错误
C.可能地。不符，错误
D.明显地。不符，错误

question_stem: Which of the sentences below best expresses the essential information in the highlighted sentence in the passage? Incorrect choices change the meaning in important ways or leave out essential information.
choices: tag: A
text: Some biogeographers believe that the tropics have larger surface areas than they actually do because of the distortions produced by projections of Earth’s curved surface.

tag: B
text: High levels of diversity in the tropics are sometimes attributed to the fact that the tropics have more surface area of land than the higher latitudes do, though distortions in commonly used projections may seem to suggest otherwise.

tag: C
text: Because biogeographers disagree on whether or not the tropics are correctly represented in projections of Earth s surface, it is difficult to determine the relationship their surface area has to their diversity.

tag: D
text: Most biogeographers agree that the tropics contain a larger surface area of land than higher latitudes do，but they disagree on whether or not the tropics’ level of diversity is a reflection of that larger surface area.
answer_key: B
explanation: 【题目翻译】下面哪句话最能表达文章中突出显示的句子中的基本信息？错误的选择会以重要的方式改变意义，或者遗漏重要的信息。
A：一些生物地理学家认为，由于地球曲面投影产生的扭曲，热带地区的表面积比实际大。

B：热带地区的高度多样性有时归因于这样一个事实，即热带地区比高纬度地区拥有更多的土地表面积，尽管通常使用的预测中的扭曲似乎暗示了另一个事实。

C：由于生物地理学家对热带地区是否在地球表面的投影中正确表示存在分歧，因此很难确定它们的表面积与其多样性之间的关系。

D：大多数生物地理学家都认为热带地区比高纬度地区拥有更大的陆地表面积，但是他们不同意热带地区的多样性水平是否反映了更大的表面积。

【判定题型】：根据题目问法，题目要求选择和高亮句意思逻辑都最为接近的句子，故判断本题为句子简化题。

【句子分析】highlighted 句子主干为 The tropics contain a larger surface area of land than higher latitudes - a fact that is not always evident when we examine commonly used projections of Earth’s curved surface，热带地区比高纬度地区有更大的表面积，当我们检查地球曲面的映射时却并不明显。

【选项分析】
A.是在比较热带地区和高纬度地区，不是单单热带地区。故错误。
B.句中表因果关系的 since this tends to exaggerate the areas of land in the higher latitudes, 对应 B 选项中的 the tropics have more surface area of land than the higher latitudes do. 所以 B 选项正确。
C.原句是说热带地区和高纬度地区的关系。故错误。
D.不同意的内容不对。故错误。

question_stem: Why does the author mention “Klaus Rohde” in the passage?
choices: tag: A
text: To support the argument that large landmasses are usually richer in species than smaller ones are

tag: B
text: To introduce the argument that there are other factors contributing to species diversity besides land area

tag: C
text: To cast doubt on whether the tropics actually contain higher species diversity than land at higher latitudes does

tag: D
text: To emphasize that biogeographers and biologists differ in their approaches to biodiversity
answer_key: B
explanation: 【题目翻译】为什么作者在文章中提到“克劳斯·罗德”？
A：为了支持这样一种观点，即大的陆地通常比小的陆地更丰富。

B：介绍除陆地面积外，还有其他因素影响物种多样性的论点。

C：让我们怀疑热带地区的物种多样性是否比高纬度地区的土地更高

D：强调生物地理学家和生物学家对生物多样性的研究方法不同

【判定题型】：根据题干问法“why …… mention”，题目询问“xxxxxx”(文章引用内容)的修辞目的，可以判断本题为修辞目的题。

【关键词定位】根据关键词“Klaus Rohde”,定位到 Passage 4最后一句，原句为“Although area may contribute to biodiversity, it is certainly not the whole story; Otherwise, large landmasses would always be richer in species.”。

【引用内容分析】根据原文可知，尽管这个区域可能会导致生物多样性，但是陆地上的物种永远都是更丰富的。

【选项分析】
A.生物学家克劳斯罗德的数据分析并不支持这样的解释。故错误。
B.符合原文。正确。
C.并不是怀疑，而是要有别的论点。故错误。
D.与研究方法无关，故选项错误。

question_stem: Which of the following is NOT mentioned in paragraph 3 as a condition that benefits plant growth?
choices: tag: A
text: High temperatures

tag: B
text: Steady temperatures

tag: C
text: High latitude

tag: D
text: Plentiful water
answer_key: C
explanation: 【题目翻译】以下哪一项在第3段中作为有利于植物生长的条件没有提到？
A：高温

B：稳定温度

C：高纬度

D：充足的水

【判定题型】：根据题干中出现的大写“EXCEPT”/"NOT" 等其他明显表示否定的词，可以判定本题为否定事实信息题，需要找出与原文信息不符的那个答案。

【关键词定位】根据题干关键词“benefits plant growth”,可以将出题范围锁定在 Passage 3。

【选项分析】
A.temperatures are relatively high。所以文章提到，不选。
B.temperatures are relatively high and uniform。即温度相对比较高，温差小。说明了稳定的温度。所以不选。
C.根据原文 where temperatures are relatively high and uniform and where there is an ample supply of water 可知，适合植物生长的条件是，气温较高且稳定，有充足的水。所以 C 选项错误。
D. where there is an ample supply of water，说明水源充足。故不选。

question_stem: The word “precise” in the passage is closest in meaning to
choices: tag: A
text: exact

tag: B
text: predicted

tag: C
text: approximate

tag: D
text: required
answer_key: A
explanation: 【题目翻译】段落中的“precise”一词最接近于下列哪个选项？
A.Exact, 准确的，精确的。
B.Predicted, 预测的。
C.Approximate, 大约的。
D.Required, 必需的。

【判定题型】：题目要求选出与高亮单词意思最接近的选项，故判断本题为词汇题。

【关键词定位】：根据关键词“precise”,定位到原句“Careful analysis of the above ground material reveals that it is arranged in a series of layers, the precise number of layers varying with age and the nature of the forest.”。

【词汇解析】：词汇“precise”的意思是“精确地”,带入到原句中，原句的意思是“通过对地上物质的仔细分析，可以发现地上物质排列成一系列的层，精确的层数随年龄和森林的性质而变化。”。

【选项分析】
A.Exact, 准确的，精确的。同义替换，正确
B.Predicted, 预测的。不符，错误
C.Approximate, 大约的。不符，错误
D.Required, 必需的。不符，错误

question_stem: Paragraph 3 mentions which of the following as creating the structural complexity of a forest?
choices: tag: A
text: The height of the very tallest trees in the forest

tag: B
text: The number of layers of canopy

tag: C
text: The frequency of floods along the plain

tag: D
text: The age of the root tissues below the ground
answer_key: B
explanation: 【题目翻译】第3段提到以下哪一项是造成森林结构复杂性的原因？
A：森林中最高的树的高度

B：雨棚层数

C：平原洪水频率

D：地下根组织的年龄

【判定题型】：题目问的是文章中的具体细节信息，故根据题目问法可以判断本题为事实信息题。

【关键词定位】：根据关键词“structural complexity”,定位到 Passage 3第5句，原句为“Careful analysis of the above ground material reveals that it is arranged in a series of layers, the precise number of layers varying with age and the nature of the forest. ”，意思是“通过对地上物质的仔细分析，可以发现地上物质排列成一系列的层，精确的层数随年龄和森林的性质而变化”。

【逻辑分析】可知导致森林结构复杂性的原因是树冠层的数量。

【选项分析】
A.导致森林结构复杂性的原因是树冠层的数量。错误
B.文中 the precise number of layers 对应 B 选项中的 the number of layers. 所以 B 选项正确。
C.导致森林结构复杂性的原因是树冠层的数量。错误
D.导致森林结构复杂性的原因是树冠层的数量。错误

question_stem: According to paragraph 3, which of the following statements best describes the difference between structure and composition?
choices: tag: A
text: “Structure” refers to the arrangement of plant material above the ground surface; “composition” refers to the arrangement of root tissues below the surface of the ground.

tag: B
text: “Structure” refers to the age of the forest; “composition” refers to the forest's nature.

tag: C
text: “Structure” refers to the arrangement of plant species in an area; “composition” refers to which plant species are present in the area.

tag: D
text: “Structure” refers to the shape of the forest canopy; “composition” refers to the number of crowns forming the canopy.
answer_key: C
explanation: 【题目翻译】根据第3段，以下哪项陈述最能说明结构和组成之间的差异？
A：“结构”是指植物材料在地表以上的排列；“组成”是指植物根系在地表以下的排列。

B：“结构”是指森林的年龄；“组成”是指森林的性质。

C：“结构”是指一个区域内植物种类的排列；“组成”是指该区域内存在的植物种类。

D：“结构”是指森林树冠的形状；“组成”是指形成树冠的树冠数量。

【判定题型】：题目问的是文章中的具体细节信息，故根据题目问法可以判断本题为事实信息题。

【关键词定位】：根据关键词“difference”,定位到 Passage 3，原句为“The arrangement of the biological mass ("biomass") of the vegetation into layered forms is termed its "structure" (as opposed to its “composition”, which refers to the species of organisms forming the community). ”，意思是“将植被的生物量（“生物量”）排列成分层形式被称为“结构”（而不是其“组成”，即构成群落的生物物种）。”。

【逻辑分析】可知，结构指的就是在一个地区植物物种的分布，组成指的就是在这个地区有哪一个植物物种。

【选项分析】
A.结构不是指地表上的植物排列。故选项错误。
B.“结构”是指一个区域内植物种类的排列；“组成”是指该区域内存在的植物种类。故选项错误。
C.符合文意，正确。
D.“结构”是指一个区域内植物种类的排列；“组成”是指该区域内存在的植物种类。故选项错误。

question_stem: Why does the author mention "mature floodplain tropical forest in the Amazon River basin" in the passage?
choices: tag: A
text: To dispute the idea that tropical forests are arranged in layers

tag: B
text: To give an example of the complex architecture vegetation displays in a dense area

tag: C
text: To suggest that the layers of canopy in some tropical forests can exceed the usual three or four

tag: D
text: To emphasize that the layers of canopy in a tropical forest give evidence of the number of layers of root tissues below the ground
answer_key: B
explanation: 【题目翻译】为什么作者在文章中提到“亚马逊河流域成熟的漫滩热带森林”？
A：对热带森林是分层排列的说法提出异议

B：举一个复杂建筑的例子，植被在一个密集的地区展示。

C：表明一些热带森林的树冠层可以超过通常的三到四层。

D：强调热带森林的树冠层提供了地下根组织层数的证据。

【判定题型】：根据题干问法“why …… mention”，题目询问“xxxxxx”(文章引用内容)的修辞目的，可以判断本题为修辞目的题。

【关键词定位】：根据关键词“mature floodplain tropical forest”,定位到 Passage3，原句为“In a mature floodplain tropical forest in the Amazon River basin, the canopy (the uppermost layers of a forest, formed by the crowns of trees) takes on a stratified structure. There are three clear peaks in leaf cover at heights of approximately 3, 6, and 30 meters above the ground; and the very highest layer, at 50 meters, corresponds to the very tall trees that stand free of the main canopy and form an open layer of their own. So, such a forest contains essentially four layers of canopy. Forests in temperate lands often have just two canopy layers, so they have much less complex architecture.”。

【引用内容分析】根据原文可知文章提及亚马逊盆地丰富的泛滥平原热带雨林是为了说明其结构的复杂性。

【选项分析】
A.并未提出异议，故错误。
B.文中 so they have much less complex architecture 对应 B 选项中的 an example of the complex architecture, 所以 B 选项正确。
C.与热带森林的树冠层无关。故错误。
D.与热带森林的树冠层无关。故错误。

question_stem: What can be inferred from paragraph 4 about a region with a high level of diversity of animal species?
choices: tag: A
text: It also has a high level of plant species diversity.

tag: B
text: It has relatively few microclimates

tag: C
text: It develops a less complex structure than does a region with a high plant species diversity.

tag: D
text: It develops a biomass similar to that of higher latitudes
answer_key: A
explanation: 【题目翻译】从第4段可以推断出一个动物物种高度多样的地区是什么？
A：它还具有很高的植物物种多样性。

B：微气候比较少

C：与植物物种多样性高的地区相比，它的结构不那么复杂。

D：它产生了一种类似于高纬度地区的生物量。

【判定题型】：根据题干中出现的关键词“imply”/“infer”/“suggest”等其他表示推断的词，判定本题为推理题。

【关键词定位】根据关键词 a high level of diversity of animal species 定位至其后面的第七句话 The high plant biomass of the tropics leads to a greater spatial complexity in the environment, and this leads to a higher potential for diversity in the living things that can occupy a region.热带地区庞大的生物量导致了环境的更大的空间复杂度，也就使得住在这个区域的生物的多样性可能更高。高纬度地区的气候条件一般不利于大量生物的集聚，因此，植被结构更简单些，动物的多样性也相应较低。

【逻辑分析】可知它也同样拥有大量的植物物种多样性。

【选项分析】
A.符合原文，正确。
B.未提到到微气候，故错误。
C.植被结构更简单些，动物的多样性也相应较低。所以植物物种多样性高，动物物种多样性也高。故错误。
D 文章：高纬度地区的气候条件一般不利于大量生物的集聚。故错误。

question_stem: The word “consequently” in the passage is closest in meaning to
choices: tag: A
text: usually

tag: B
text: obviously

tag: C
text: however

tag: D
text: therefore
answer_key: D
explanation: 【题目翻译】段落中的“consequently”一词最接近下列哪个选项？
A：通常

B：很明显

C：但是

D：因此

【判定题型】：题目要求选出与高亮单词意思最接近的选项，故判断本题为词汇题。

【关键词定位】：根据关键词“consequently”,定位到原句“The climates of the higher latitudes are generally less favorable for the accumulation of large quantities of biomass; hence, the structure of vegetation is simpler and the animal diversity is consequently lower.”。

【词汇解析】：词汇“consequently”的意思是“因此，所以”,带入到原句中，原句的意思是“高纬度地区的气候条件一般不利于大量生物的集聚，因此，植被结构更简单些，动物的多样性也相应较低”。

【选项分析】
A：通常。不符，错误

B：很明显。不符，错误

C：但是。不符，错误

D：因此。同义替换，正确