Termites, social insects which live in colonies that, in somespecies,contain2 million individuals or more, are often incorrectly referred to aswhite ants. But they are certainly not ants. Termites, unlike ants, havegradualmetamorphosis with only three life stage: egg, nymph, and adult. Ants and the other social members of their order, certain bees and wasps, have complete metamorphosis in four life stages; egg,larva, pupa, and adult. The worker and soldier castes of social ants, bees, and waspsconsistof only females, all daughters of a single queen that mated soon after she matured and thereafter never mated again. The worker and soldier castes of termitesconsistof both males and females, and the queen lives permanently with amaleconsort.

Since termites are small and soft-bodied, they easily become desiccated and must live inmoistplaces with a highrelativehumidity. They do best when therelativehumidityin theirnestis above 96 percent and thetemperatureisfairlyhigh, an optimum of about 79°F fortemperatezonespeciesand about 86°F fortropicalspecies. Subterraneantermites, thedestructivespeciesthat occurs commonlythroughoutthe eastern United States,attainthese conditions by nesting inmoistsoil that is incontactwith wood, their only food. The surrounding soil keeps thenestmoistand tends to keep thetemperatureat a more or lessfavorablelevel. When it is cold in winter,subterraneantermites move to burrows below thefrostline.

Sometropicaltermites are moreingeniousengineers, constructing huge above-ground nests with built-in “air conditioning” that keeps thenestmoist, at aconstanttemperature, and well supplied withoxygen. Among the most architecturallyadvancedof these termites is an Africanspecies, Macrotermes natalensis. Renowned SwissentomologistMartin Luscher described the mounds of this fungus-growingspeciesas being as much as 16 feet tall, 16 feet indiameterat their base, and with a cement-like wall of soil mixed withtermitesalivathat is from 16 to 23 inches thick. The thick anddensewall of themoundinsulates theinteriormicroclimate from the variations inhumidityandtemperatureof the outsideatmosphere. Several narrow andrelativelythin-walled ridges on the outside of themoundextendfrom near its base almost to its top.

According to Luscher, a medium-sizednestof Macrotermes has apopulationof about 2 million individuals. Themetabolismof so many termites and of thefungusthat they grow in their gardens as food helps keep theinteriorof thenestwarm and supplies somemoistureto the air in thenest. The termitessaturatetheatmosphereof thenest, bringing it to about 100 percentrelativehumidity, by carrying water up from the soil.

But how is this well-insulatednestventilated? Its many occupantsrequireover 250 quarts ofoxygen(more than 1,200 quarts of air) per day. How can so muchoxygendiffusethroughthe thick walls of themound? Even the pores in the wall are filled with water, which almost stops thediffusionof gases. The answer lies in theconstructionof thenest. Theinteriorconsists of a large centralcorein which thefungusis grown, below it is “cellar” of empty space, above it is an “attic” of empty space, and within the ridges on the outer wall of thenest, there are many small tunnels that connect the cellar and the attic. The warm air in thefungusgardens risesthroughthenestup to the attic. From the attic, the air passes into the tunnels in the ridges and flows back down to the cellar. Gases, mainlyoxygencoming in andcarbondioxidegoing out, easilydiffuseinto or out of the ridges, since their walls are thin and their surface area is large because they protrude far out from the wall of themound. Thus air that flows down into the cellarthroughthe ridges isrelativelyrich inoxygen, and has lost much of itscarbondioxide. It supplies thenest’s inhabitants with freshoxygenas it risesthroughthe fungus-growing area back up to the attic.

Questions:
question_stem: The author mentions “white ants” in the beginning of the passage in order to
choices: tag: A
text: correct a common misunderstanding about termites

tag: B
text: introduce the idea that termites only take the form of ants during certain life stages

tag: C
text: argue that not all white ants are social insects

tag: D
text: Illustrate the large variety of insect species that live in colonies
answer_key: A
explanation: 【题目翻译】作者在文章的开头提到“白色蚂蚁”，以便
A：纠正对白蚁的常见误解

B：介绍白蚁只在某些生命阶段以蚂蚁的形式存在的观点。

C：认为并非所有的白蚁都是社会性昆虫。

D：说明生活在群落中的昆虫种类繁多。

【判定题型】：根据题目问法，题目询问 white ants 组成或构成方式/段落与段落的关系/某一段在全文中所起的作用，故判断本题为组织结构题。

【内容分析】原文 But they are certainly not ants，说明作者想要表明白蚁并不是人们认为的蚂蚁。

【选项分析】
A：纠正对白蚁的常见误解。符合文意，正确

B：介绍白蚁只在某些生命阶段以蚂蚁的形式存在的观点。不符，错误

C：认为并非所有的白蚁都是社会性昆虫。不符，错误

D：说明生活在群落中的昆虫种类繁多。不符，错误

question_stem: According to paragraph 1, which of the following is true about termites?
choices: tag: A
text: They are a kind of ant, but they are unlike most ants in many ways.

tag: B
text: They form colonies that grow at first and then gradually decline.

tag: C
text: Their workers are all males, and their soldiers are all females.

tag: D
text: They go through a life state called the nymph stage.
answer_key: D
explanation: 【题目翻译】根据第1段，下列哪一项关于白蚁是正确的？
A：它们是一种蚂蚁，但在许多方面与大多数蚂蚁不同。

B：它们形成殖民地，开始生长，然后逐渐衰落。

C：它们的工人都是男性，士兵都是女性。

D：它们经历了一种叫做若虫阶段的生命状态。

【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“termites”,定位到 Passage 1 第 x 句，原句为“Termites, social insects which live in colonies that, in some species, contain 2 million individuals or more, are often incorrectly referred to as white ants. But they are certainly not ants. Termites, unlike ants, have gradual metamorphosis with only three life stage: egg, nymph, and adult. ”，意思是“白蚁是一种群居昆虫，在某些物种中含有200万或更多的个体，通常被错误地称为白蚁。但它们当然不是蚂蚁。白蚁不像蚂蚁，只有三个生活阶段逐渐变态：卵、若虫和成虫。”。

【逻辑分析】原文说明白蚁会经历蛹期。

【选项分析】
A：白蚁不是蚂蚁，选项 A 错在 a kind of ant。
B：没有提到聚集地的大小变化，选项 B 错在 colonies。
C：白蚁中的工蚁有雄也有雌，选项 C 错在 all males。
D：与原文相对应。正确。

question_stem: According to paragraph 2, termites need to live in nests with high humidity in order to
choices: tag: A
text: keep their food moist

tag: B
text: withstand cold temperatures in winter

tag: C
text: protect their bodies from drying out

tag: D
text: keep nest temperatures high
answer_key: C
explanation: 【题目翻译】根据第2段，白蚁需要生活在高湿度的巢穴中，以便

A：保持食物湿润

B：冬天经得起寒冷。

C：保护他们的身体免于干燥。

D：保持巢穴温度高

【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“with high humidity”,定位到 Passage 2，原句为“Since termites are small and soft-bodied, they easily become desiccated and must live in moist places with a high relative humidity”，意思是“由于白蚁体积小，身体柔软，它们很容易干燥，必须生活在潮湿、相对湿度高的地方。”。

【逻辑分析】说明白蚁身体很容易干燥所以要生活在潮湿的地方。

【选项分析】
A：保持食物湿润。是要保持自身湿润。错误。

B：冬天经得起寒冷。无中生有，错误。

C：保护他们的身体免于干燥。符合，正确。

D：保持巢穴温度高。没有提到温度，错误。

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

tag: B
text: observe

tag: C
text: overcome

tag: D
text: reflect
answer_key: A
explanation: 【题目翻译】文章中的“attain”一词最接近下列哪个选项？
A：获得
B：观察
C：克服
D：反映

【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“attain”,定位到原句“Subterranean termites, the destructive species that occurs commonly throughout the eastern United States, attain these conditions by nesting in moist soil that is in contact with wood, their only food.”。

【词汇解析】：词汇“attain”的意思是“获得”,带入到原句中，原句的意思是“海底白蚁，这种破坏性的物种通常出现在美国东部，通过在潮湿的土壤中筑巢来达到这些条件，土壤与木材接触，这是它们唯一的食物”。

【选项分析】
A：获得。同义替换，正确
B：观察。不符，错误
C：克服。不符，错误
D：反映。不符，错误

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

tag: B
text: clever

tag: C
text: ambitious

tag: D
text: successful
answer_key: B
explanation: 【题目翻译】文章中的“ingenious”一词最接近于
A:决定性的
B：聪明的
C：雄心壮志的
D：成功的

【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“ingenious”,定位到原句“Some tropical termites are more ingenious engineers, constructing huge above-ground nests with built-in “air conditioning” that keeps the nest moist, at a constant temperature, and well supplied with oxygen. 

【词汇解析】：词汇“ingenious”的意思是“聪明的”,带入到原句中，原句的意思是“一些热带白蚁是更聪明的工程师，用内置的“空调”建造巨大的地面巢穴，使巢穴保持湿润，温度恒定，氧气供应充足。”

【选项分析】
A:决定性的。不符，错误
B：聪明的。同义替换，正确
C：雄心壮志的。不符，错误
D：成功的。不符，错误

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

tag: B
text: Famous

tag: C
text: Early

tag: D
text: Revolutionary
answer_key: B
explanation: 【题目翻译】文章中的“Renowned”一词最接近于下列哪个选项？
A：熟练的
B：著名的
C：早期的
D：革命的

【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“Renowned”,定位到原句 Renowned Swiss entomologist Martin Luscher described the mounds of this fungus-growing species as being as much as 16 feet tall, 16 feet in diameter at their base, and with a cement-like wall of soil mixed with termite saliva that is from 16 to 23 inches thick. 

【词汇解析】：词汇“Renowned”的意思是“知名的”,带入到原句中，原句的意思是“著名的瑞士 entomologist luscher 了马丁的这一真菌物种的生长丘的16英尺高的多的人，在他们的直径在16英尺的基础上，在水泥墙土样与唾液混合热是从16到23英寸厚。”

【选项分析】
A：熟练的。不符，错误
B：著名的。同义替换，正确
C：早期的。不符，错误
D：革命的。不符，错误

question_stem: According to paragraph 3, the nests of some tropical termite species have the ability to
choices: tag: A
text: insulate the microclimate in one part of the nest from the microclimate in another part

tag: B
text: Allow moist outside air to get inside regardless of whether it is warm or cool

tag: C
text: rapidly decrease the humidity inside when it gets hot outside

tag: D
text: Provide the oxygen needed in the nest
answer_key: D
explanation: 【题目翻译】根据第3段，一些热带白蚁的巢穴有能力
A：将巢穴的一部分中的小气候与另一部分中的小气候隔绝。

B：让潮湿的外部空气进入室内，不管是暖和还是凉爽。

C：外面热时室内湿度迅速降低。

D：提供巢穴所需的氧气

【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“tropical termite”,定位到 Passage 3 第1句，原句为“Some tropical termites are more ingenious engineers, constructing huge above-ground nests with built-in “air conditioning” that keeps the nest moist, at a constant temperature, and well supplied with oxygen.”，意思是“一些热带白蚁是更聪明的工程师，用内置的“空调”建造巨大的地面巢穴，使巢穴保持湿润，温度恒定，氧气供应充足”。

【逻辑分析】说明一些热带白蚁可以为巢穴提供氧气。

【选项分析】
A：将巢穴的一部分中的小气候与另一部分中的小气候隔绝。没有隔绝，错误。

B：让潮湿的外部空气进入室内，不管是暖和还是凉爽。不是潮湿的外部空气，是让空气进来，使巢穴潮湿。错误。

C：外面热时室内湿度迅速降低。湿度不能降低，错误

D：提供巢穴所需的氧气。符合，正确

question_stem: According to paragraphs 3 and 4, all of the following are true of the nests of Macrotermes natalensis EXCEPT:
choices: tag: A
text: The walls are built out of soil mixed with termite saliva.

tag: B
text: The nests can be as tall as they are wide at the base.

tag: C
text: The interior of the nest is kept as humid as possible.

tag: D
text: The termites use hollow, thin-walled ridges to travel from one part of the nest to another.
answer_key: D
explanation: 【题目翻译】根据第3段和第4段，除南美大鲵的巢外，所有下列情况均属实：
A：墙是用掺有白蚁唾液的土壤建造的。

B：这些巢的高度和底部的宽一样大。

C：巢穴的内部尽可能保持潮湿。

D：白蚁利用空心的薄壁脊从巢穴的一部分传播到另一部分。

【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“the nests of Macrotermes natalensis ”,可以将出题范围锁定在 Passage 3and4 。

【选项分析】
A：原文…and with a cement-like wall of soil mixed with termite saliva ...，说明墙体是土壤和白蚁唾液做成的，对应选项 A 中：…walls…soil…termite saliva。正确
B：原文 Several narrow and relatively thin-walled ridges … extend … to …，选项 D 错在 hollow。原文…as much as 16 feet tall, 16 feet in diameter at their base，说明高度和宽度一样，对应选项 B 中：…as tall as…wide。正确
C：原文 The termites saturate the atmosphere of the nest, bringing it to about 100 percent relative humidity...，说明要尽可能的保持巢穴潮湿，对应选项 C 中：as humid as possible。正确
D：与原文不符，错误。

question_stem: According to paragraph 4, how does the fungus grown by Macrotermes natalensis affect the environment of the nest?
choices: tag: A
text: It carries water up from the soil into the interior.

tag: B
text: It dries the air by using up moisture as it grows.

tag: C
text: It heats and adds humidity to the inside of the nest.

tag: D
text: It lessens the effects of the metabolism of so many termites.
answer_key: C
explanation: 【题目翻译】根据第4段，南美大蠊生长的真菌如何影响巢穴的环境？
A：它把水从土壤中带到室内。

B：它使空气在成长过程中耗尽水分而干燥。

C：它会加热，给巢穴内部增加湿度。

D：它减轻了这么多白蚁新陈代谢的影响。

【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“fungus”,定位到 Passage 4第2句，原句为“The metabolism of so many termites and of the fungus that they grow in their gardens as food helps keep the interior of the nest warm and supplies some moisture to the air in the nest. ”，意思是“许多白蚁和真菌的新陈代谢，使它们作为食物在花园中生长，这有助于保持巢穴内部的温暖，并为巢穴中的空气提供水分。”。

【逻辑分析】说明菌类的新陈代谢保证巢穴的温度和湿度。

【选项分析】
A：它把水从土壤中带到室内。与原文不符，错误

B：它使空气在成长过程中耗尽水分而干燥。与原文不符，错误

C：它会加热，给巢穴内部增加湿度。符合，正确

D：它减轻了这么多白蚁新陈代谢的影响。与白蚁没有关系。错误。

question_stem: According to paragraph 5, what does the thinness of the ridge walls make possible?
choices: tag: A
text: The concentration of cool air in the cellar

tag: B
text: The construction of exceptionally long tunnels

tag: C
text: The even distribution of oxygen from attic to cellar

tag: D
text: The diffusion of gases into and out of the ridges
answer_key: D
explanation: 【题目翻译】根据第5段，脊墙的薄度使什么成为可能？
A：地下室中冷空气的浓度

B：建造特别长的隧道

C:氧气从阁楼到地窖的均匀分布

D 气体在山脊内和山脊外的扩散。

【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“thinness of the ridge walls”,定位到 Passage 5 第9句，原句为“Gases, mainly oxygen coming in and carbon dioxide going out, easily diffuse into or out of the ridges, since their walls are thin and their surface area is large because they protrude far out from the wall of the mound. ”，意思是“气体，主要是氧气进入和二氧化碳排出，很容易扩散到山脊或从山脊扩散出去，因为它们的壁很薄，而且它们的表面积很大，因为它们从山丘的壁向外突出。”。

【逻辑分析】说明墙体薄的地方是为了让气体进入和排出。

【选项分析】
A：地下室中冷空气的浓度。与冷空气无关，错误

B：建造特别长的隧道。和隧道无关，错误

C:氧气从阁楼到地窖的均匀分布。不是特指氧气，错误。

D 气体在山脊内和山脊外的扩散。符合，正确

question_stem: According to paragraph 5, what happens to the air in the ridge tunnels of Macrotermes natalensis nests?
choices: tag: A
text: It becomes more humid as water vapor diffuses into the tunnels.

tag: B
text: It loses carbon dioxide and gains oxygen.

tag: C
text: It reaches the interior of the nest through pores in the walls.

tag: D
text: It moves in the same direction as the air in the center of the nest.
answer_key: B
explanation: 【题目翻译】根据第5段，南美大鲵巢穴山脊隧道内的空气会发生什么变化？
A：随着水蒸气扩散到隧道里，天气变得更加潮湿。

B：它失去二氧化碳，获得氧气。

C：它通过壁上的毛孔到达巢穴的内部。

D：它和巢巢穴心的空气方向一样。

【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“in the ridge tunnels”,定位到 Passage5第9句，原句为“Gases, mainly oxygen coming in and carbon dioxide going out, easily diffuse into or out of the ridges, since their walls are thin and their surface area is large because they protrude far out from the wall of the mound. ”，意思是“气体，主要是氧气进入和二氧化碳排出，很容易扩散到山脊或从山脊扩散出去，因为它们的壁很薄，而且它们的表面积很大，因为它们从山丘的壁向外突出。”。

【逻辑分析】说明氧气进入，二氧化碳排出。

【选项分析】
A：二氧化碳没有失去，只是扩散出去。错误。
B：对应选项中：It loses carbon dioxide and gains oxygen。正确。
C：原文没有提到巢穴，错误。
D：没有提到巢穴，错误。

question_stem: Paragraph 5 supports which of the following about the air that flows through the interior of a Macrotermes natalensis mound?
choices: tag: A
text: It has a higher concentration of oxygen in the cellar than in the attic.

tag: B
text: It is the same temperature as the air on the outside of the mound.

tag: C
text: It contains over 250 quarts of oxygen which circulate continuously.

tag: D
text: It is most humid in the cellar and gradually loses moisture as it rises to the attic.
answer_key: A
explanation: 【题目翻译】第5段支持下列哪一项关于流经南美大鲵丘内部的空气？
A：地窖里的氧气浓度比阁楼里的高。

B：气温和土墩外面的空气一样。

C：含氧量超过250夸脱，可以连续循环。

D：地下室里最潮湿，上升到阁楼时逐渐失去水分。

【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“the interior of a Macrotermes natalensis mound”,定位到 Passage 5第8句，原句为“From the attic, the air passes into the tunnels in the ridges and flows back down to the cellar. ”，意思是“空气从阁楼进入山脊中的隧道，然后流回地窖。”。

4、【逻辑分析】说明顶楼的空气会流回地下室，在这个过程中会失去二氧化碳得到氧气，所以地下室氧气要比顶楼的氧气多。

【选项分析】
A：文章对应选项中：… higher concentration of oxygen … cellar than … attic.正确。
B：空气是不一样的，湿度不一样，气体成分含量不一样。错误
C：未提到连续循环，错误
D：没有相比较什么最潮湿，错误