Raccoons have avasttranscontinentaldistribution, occurringthroughoutmost of North America and Central America. They are found from southern Canada all the way to Panama, as well as on islands near coastal areas. Theyoccurin each of the 49 states of thecontinentalUnited States. Although raccoons are native only to the Western Hemisphere, they have been successfully transplanted to other parts of the globe.

Following adeclineto arelativelylowpopulationlevelin the 1930s, raccoons began toprosperfollowing their 1943breedingseason. A rapidpopulationsurgecontinuedthroughoutthe 1940s, and high numbers have beensustainedever since. By the late 1980s, the number of raccoons in North America was estimated to be atleast15 to 20 times the number that existed during the 1930s. By now, their numbers have undoubtedly grown even more, as they have continued toexpandinto new habitats where they were once eitherrareor absent, such as sandy prairies, deserts, coastal marshes, and mountains. Theirspreadthroughoutthe Rocky Mountain West isindicativeof the fast pace at which they canexploitnew environments. Despitesignificantnumbers being harvested and having sufferedoccasionaldeclines, typically because ofdisease, the raccoon hasconsistentlymaintained highpopulationlevels.

Several factors explain the raccoon'sdramaticincrease inabundanceanddistribution. First, their success has beenpartiallyattributed to the growth of cities, as they oftenthrivein suburban and evenurbansettings. Furthermore, they have beendeliberatelyintroducedthroughoutthecontinent. Withinthe United States, they are commonly taken from one area to another, both legally and illegally, to restock hunting areas and,presumably, because peoplesimplywant them to be part of theirlocalfauna. Theirappearanceandsubsequentflourishingin Utah's Great Salt Lakevalleywithinthe last 40 years appears to be from such anintroduction. As an example of theeasewith which transplanted individuals can succeed, raccoons from Indiana (midwestern United States) havereportedlybeen able toflourishon islands off thecoastof Alaska.

The raccoon'sexpansionin various areas may also bedueto thespreadofagriculture. Raccoons have been able toexploitcrops, especially corn but alsocerealgrains, which have becomedependablefood sources for them. Theexpansionofagriculture, however, does not necessarilyleadto rapid increases in theirabundance. Farming in Kansas and eastern Colorado (central and western United States) proceeded rapidly in the 1870s and 1880s, but this was about 50 years before raccoons started tospreadout from their majorhabitat, the wooded river bottomlands. They have also expanded into many areas lacking anyagricultureother thangrazingand into places without forests orpermanentstreams.

Priorto Europeans settling and farming the Great PlainsRegion, raccoons probably were just foundalongits rivers and streams and in the wooded areas of its southeasternsection. With the possibleexceptionof the southern part of the province of Manitoba, theirabsencewasnotablethroughoutCanada. They first became more widely distributed in the southern part of Manitoba, and by the 1940s wereabundantthroughoutits southeasternportion. In the 1950s theirpopulationswelled in Canada. The control of coyotes in theprairieregionin the 1950s may have been afactorin raccoonexpansion. If their numbers aresufficientcoyotes might be able tosuppressraccoon populations (though little directevidencesupports thisnotion). By the 1960s the raccoon had become a majorpredatorof the canvasback ducks nesting in southwestern Manitoba.

The extermination of the wolf from most of thecontiguousUnited States may have been acriticalfactorin the raccoon'sexpansionand numerical increase. In the eighteenthcentury, when the wolfs range included almost all of North America, raccoons apparently wereabundantonly in thedeciduousforests of the East,GulfCoast, and Great Lakes regions, though they also extended into the wooded bottomlands of the Midwest's major rivers. In such areas, theirarborealhabits and the presence ofhollowdentrees should have offered some protection from wolves and other large predators. Even though raccoons may not have been asignificantpart of theirdiet, wolves surely would have tried topreyon thoseexposedinrelativelytreeless areas.

Questions:
question_stem: According to paragraph 2, what happened to raccoons in the 1930s?
choices: tag: A
text: They had a series of unusually good breading seasons.

tag: B
text: They expanded into the Rocky Mountain West.

tag: C
text: Their population levels fell.

tag: D
text: They were harvest in significant numbers for the first time.
answer_key: C
explanation: 【题目翻译】根据第2段，20世纪30年代浣熊发生了什么？
A：它们有一系列非常好的产粮季节。

B：它们向西扩展到落基山脉。

C：它们的人口水平下降了。

D：这是第一次有大量的收获。

【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】本题根据题干给的关键词 raccoon 和1930s 定位到原文中这里 Following a decline to a relatively low population level in the 1930s，意思是“是在1930年左右数量降低到一个相对较低的水平之后”。

【逻辑分析】我们可以知道在20世纪30年代的时候，raccoon 的数量是下降的。

【选项分析】
A.文章未提及，故错误。
B.文章未提及，故错误。
C.选项符合文意，故正确。
D.文章未提及，故错误。

question_stem: Which of the sentences below best express 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: Raccoons are growing more numerous even though they must continue to find new habitats.

tag: B
text: Raccoons are now undoubtedly present in areas where they once rare or absent.

tag: C
text: Raccoons have found parties, deserts, coastal marshes, and mountains to be excellent habitats to expand into.

tag: D
text: The number of raccoons must be even greater today because raccoons have continued to expand into new habitats.
answer_key: D
explanation: 【题目翻译】以下哪一句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：尽管浣熊必须继续寻找新的栖息地，但它们的数量正在增加。

B：毫无疑问，浣熊现在出现在它们曾经稀少或不存在的地方。

C：浣熊已经发现聚会、沙漠、沿海沼泽和高山是很好的栖息地。

D：今天浣熊的数量必须更大，因为浣熊一直在扩大到新的栖息地。

【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】本题先定位到高亮的句子：By now, their numbers have undoubtedly grown even more, as they have continued to expand into new habitats where they were once either rare or absent, such as sandy prairies, deserts, coastal marshes, and mountains. 本句大意是：现在 raccoon 的数量毫无疑问地增长了，它们继续扩张到以前很少或者根本没有去过的地区，比如说沙漠大草原、沙漠等等地方。

【选项分析】
A.选项 A 说 raccoon 必须去找新的栖息地，不对，后文我们可以得知是人为地放养，不是它们自己必须扩张；
B.选项 B 说的太绝对，raccoon 正在扩张而不是已经扩张完了，而且也不是扩张到了所有它们没出现过的地方；
C.选项 C 错误的地方与选项 A 一样，raccoon 不是自己去扩张的，是被人放生过去的。
D.选项 D 是这个句子的同义转述。选择 D。

question_stem: The word "consistently" in the passage is closest in meaning to
choices: tag: A
text: typically

tag: B
text: predictably

tag: C
text: increasingly

tag: D
text: reliably
answer_key: D
explanation: 【题目翻译】单词“consistently”与下列哪一个意思最相近？
选项 A 是典型的，
选项 B 是可以预测的，
选项 C 是增加的，
选项 D 是可信赖的。

【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“consistently”,定位到原句“Despite significant numbers being harvested and having suffered occasional declines, typically because of disease, the raccoon has consistently maintained high population levels. ”。

【词汇解析】词汇“consistently”的意思是“持续的，不断的，不变的。”,带入到原句中，原句的意思是“尽管很多 raccoons 被捕获，遭受到偶然性的数量降低（一般是因为疾病），它们的数量还是居高不下。”

【选项分析】
选项 A 是典型的，不符，错误
选项 B 是可以预测的，不符，错误
选项 C 是增加的，不符，错误
选项 D 是可信赖的。同义替换，正确

question_stem: According to paragraph 3, which is true about raccoons in Utah's Great Salt Lake Valley?
choices: tag: A
text: They were not easily transplanted there from Indiana.

tag: B
text: They were not found there prior to 40 years ago.

tag: C
text: They were often restocked because of illegal hunting.

tag: D
text: They expanded into that area from nearby suburban and urban settings.
answer_key: B
explanation: 【题目翻译】根据第3段，关于犹他州大盐湖谷的浣熊，哪一个是正确的？
A：它们不容易从印第安纳州移到那里。

B：它们40年前在那里没有被发现。

C：它们经常因为非法狩猎而重新带进来。

D：它们从附近的郊区和城市扩展到那个地区。

【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】题根据题干给出的关键词 raccoon，Utah’s Great Salt 和 Lake Valley 定位到原文中这两句：Within the United States, they are commonly taken from one area to another 和 Their appearance and subsequent flourishing in Utah's Great Salt Lake valley within the last 40 years appears to be from such an introduction. 意思是“在美国，它们通常从一个地区被带到另一个地区，它们的出现和随后的繁荣在犹他州的大盐湖流域在过去40年似乎是从这样的引进”。

【逻辑分析】通过这两句我们可以知道，浣熊在美国被人为地带到很多地方，在引进后它们40年间在犹他盐湖山谷里大量繁殖。所以40年以前还没有把浣熊引进犹他盐湖。

【选项分析】
A.文中未说是从印第安州移到犹他州，故错误。
B.符合文章意思，正确。
C.位中未提到非法捕猎。故错误。
D.文中说：“因为它们经常活跃在郊区或者城区”。选项错误。

question_stem: According to paragraph 3, the introduction of raccoons into Utah's Great Salt Lake Valley appears to have been an example of an introduction that was
choices: tag: A
text: motivated by a desire to have raccoons among the local wildlife.

tag: B
text: illegal

tag: C
text: carried out by hunters who wanted more raccoons to hunt.

tag: D
text: unsuccessful
answer_key: A
explanation: 【题目翻译】根据第3段，引入浣熊到犹他州的大盐湖谷似乎是引入浣熊的一个例子
A：动机是想在当地野生动物中养浣熊。

B：非法

C：由希望更多浣熊狩猎的猎人执行。

D：不成功

【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】本题根据题干的关键词 Utah's Great Salt Lake valley 定位到原文中这一句：Within the United States, they are commonly taken from one area to another, both legally and illegally, to restock hunting areas and, presumably, because people simply want them to be part of their local fauna，意思是“在美国，他们通常从一个地区被带到另一个地区，无论是合法的还是非法的，以补充狩猎区，大概是因为人们只是希望他们成为当地动物群的一部分”。

【逻辑分析】说明人们就是单纯地想要 raccoon 来到他们居住的地方。

【选项分析】
A.符合文意，正确。
B.文中未提及，故错误。
C.文中未提及，故错误。
D.文中未提及，故错误。

question_stem: All of the following are mentioned in paragraph 3 as helping to explain the raccoon's dramatic increase in abundance and distribution EXCEPT
choices: tag: A
text: Raccoons thrive in suburban areas.

tag: B
text: Hunting raccoons has become illegal in most areas.

tag: C
text: People enjoy having raccoons as part of their environment.

tag: D
text: A transplanted raccoon will generally be able to succeed in its new environment.
answer_key: B
explanation: 【题目翻译】下面第3段中提到的所有内容都有助于解释浣熊数量和分布的急剧增加，除了
A：浣熊在郊区很兴旺。

B：在大多数地区猎杀浣熊都是违法的。

C：人们喜欢把浣熊作为环境的一部分。

D：移植的浣熊一般能够在新的环境中成功。

【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】本题用题干中的 dramatic increase 和 abundance and distribution 定位，找到第三段。

【选项分析】
A.选项 A 的依据是 as they often thrive in suburban，说明 raccoon 在郊区很容易繁殖；
B.只有选项 B 在原文中并没有提及。选择 B。
C.选项 C 的依据是 because people simply want them to be part of their local fauna，说明人们愿意让 raccoon 成为自己身边环境里的动物；
D.选项 D 的依据是 As an example of the ease with which transplanted individuals can succeed，说明 raccoon 的迁移后成功率非常高。

question_stem: The word "presumably" in the passage is closest in meaning to
choices: tag: A
text: it has been established.

tag: B
text: it has been incorrectly stated.

tag: C
text: it can be assumed.

tag: D
text: it can be demonstrated.
answer_key: C
explanation: 【题目翻译】文中“presumably”与下列哪一个意思最相近？
选项 A 是被建立的，
选项 B 是被错误陈述的，
选项 C 是可以被假设的，
选项 D 是可以被阐述的。

【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“presumably”,定位到原句“Within the United States, they are commonly taken from one area to another, both legally and illegally, to restock hunting areas and, presumably, because people simply want them to be part of their local fauna.”。

【词汇解析】：词汇“presumably”的意思是“推测的，可以假设的”,带入到原句中，原句的意思是“在美国，浣熊通常被从一个地方引入另一个地方，合法的引入也有非法的也有，目的是补充生物进入捕猎区，并且可以推测的是，人们也想要浣熊进入他们生活的地区。”

【选项分析】
选项 A 是被建立的，不符，错误
选项 B 是被错误陈述的，不符，错误
选项 C 是可以被假设的，同义替换，正确
选项 D 是可以被阐述的。不符，错误

question_stem: According to paragraph 4, how has the spread of agriculture affected raccoon populations?
choices: tag: A
text: The spread of agriculture destroyed some of the raccoon's natural habitats and reduced their populations in Kansas and eastern Colorado.

tag: B
text: Because of the availability of corn and other cereal grains as a result of the spread of agriculture.

tag: C
text: The spread of agriculture may have contributed to some raccoon expansion but has not always caused raccoon populations to expand.

tag: D
text: The spread of agriculture to Kansas and eastern Colorado brought increased raccoon populations in the 1870s and 1880s.
answer_key: C
explanation: 【题目翻译】根据第4段，农业的蔓延对浣熊种群有何影响？
A：农业的蔓延破坏了浣熊的一些自然栖息地，并减少了它们在堪萨斯州和科罗拉多州东部的数量。
B：由于农业的普及，玉米和其他谷类作物的供应量大。
C：农业的普及可能导致了一些浣熊的扩张，但并不总是导致浣熊种群的扩张。
D：在19世纪70年代和19世纪80年代，堪萨斯州和科罗拉多州东部的农业扩张带来了浣熊数量的增加。

【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】本题根据题干中的关键词 the spread of agriculture 定位到这两句：The raccoon's expansion in various areas may also be due to the spread of agriculture. 和 The expansion of agriculture, however, does not necessarily lead to rapid increases in their abundance. 意思是“农业的扩张也可能是浣熊扩张的原因之一，但是农业的扩张并不一定会导致浣熊数量的迅速增长”。

【逻辑分析】：结合题目问法和出题句，进行逻辑分析。

【选项分析】
A.未提及农业的扩张和浣熊数量减少的关系，故错误。
B.未提及农作物的供应量，故错误。
C.符合文意，正确。
D.文中“但是直到50年后浣熊才从主要栖息地—长满树木的河流低地—开始向外扩张”，选项歪曲了文章的意思，故错误。

question_stem: According to paragraph 5, what was true about raccoons before the arrival of European settlers?
choices: tag: A
text: They were widely distribute throughout the region.

tag: B
text: There were found mostly in areas of open prairie.

tag: C
text: They were not found in most of Canada.

tag: D
text: They had not yet reached the wooded areas of the southeastern portion of the region.
answer_key: C
explanation: 【题目翻译】根据第5段，在欧洲殖民者到来之前，浣熊的真实情况是什么？
A：它们广泛分布在该地区。

B：大部分是在开阔草原地区发现的。

C：在加拿大大部分地区都没有发现。

D：他们还没有到达该地区东南部的森林地带。

【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】本题根据题干关键词 before the arrival of European settlers，定位到原文中这一句：Prior to Europeans settling and farming the Great Plains Region, raccoons probably were just found along its rivers and streams and in the wooded areas of its southeastern section. 意思是“在欧洲殖民者到来并在大平原上耕作之前，浣熊可能只能在大平原的东南部分的河流或者森林里生存”。

【逻辑分析】可知，浣熊和欧洲殖民者的关系。

【选项分析】
A.选项 A 说它们在大平原分布广泛，错误；
B.选项 B 说它们最常见的地方是开放的大草原，错误
C.选项 C 说 raccoons 在加拿大大部分地区都没有分布，正确；
D.选项 D 说它们没有到达大平原的东南部，错误，它们本来就是分布在东南部的。

question_stem: What can be concluded from the discussion in paragraph 5 about coyotes and raccoons in Manitoba?
choices: tag: A
text: In the 1950s both coyotes and raccoons increased their populations.

tag: B
text: Coyotes are more difficult to control than raccoons are.

tag: C
text: Coyotes and raccoons both tend to prefer regions that have rivers, streams, and wooded areas.

tag: D
text: More evidence is needed to determine if controlling coyotes contributed to raccoon expansion in the 1950s.
answer_key: D
explanation: 【题目翻译】从第5段关于曼尼托巴郊狼和浣熊的讨论中可以得出什么结论？
A：在20世纪50年代，土狼和浣熊都增加了它们的数量。

B：小狼比浣熊更难控制。

C：土狼和浣熊都倾向于选择有河流、溪流和树木繁茂的地区。

D：需要更多的证据来确定控制郊狼是否有助于20世纪50年代浣熊的繁殖。

【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】本题题干给出的关键词是 Manitoba。带着这个关键词定位到第五段中部。出题点在这一句：If their numbers are sufficient coyotes might be able to suppress raccoon populations (though little direct evidence supports this notion). 

【逻辑分析】括号里的文字说明，缺少证据证明 coyates 的数量增多会对 raccoon 的数量造成损害。选项 D 是这句话的同义转述。

【选项分析】
A.选项 A 说两者的数量都有所增长，不符，错误
B.选项 B 说 coyotes 比起 raccoon 更难控制，不符，错误
C.选项 C 说 coyotes 和 raccoon 都喜欢有河流或者树木的地方，不符，错误
D.符合文意，正确

question_stem: The word "critical" in the passage is closest in meaning to
choices: tag: A
text: predictable

tag: B
text: crucial

tag: C
text: negative

tag: D
text: contributing
answer_key: B
explanation: 【题目翻译】文中“critical”与下列哪一个意思最相近？
选项 A 是可以预测的，
选项 B 是关键的，
选项 C 是负面的，
选项 D 是有贡献的。

【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“critical”,定位到原句“The extermination of the wolf from most of the contiguous United States may have been a critical factor in the raccoon's expansion and numerical increase.”。

【词汇解析】词汇“critical”的意思是“关键的”,带入到原句中，原句的意思是“狼群的灭绝可能是浣熊扩张和数量增多的关键因素。”

【选项分析】
选项 A 是可以预测的，不符，错误
选项 B 是关键的，同义替换，正确
选项 C 是负面的，不符，错误
选项 D 是有贡献的，不符，错误