1、 Appeal and Value Beowulf interests contemporary readers for many reasons. First, it is an outstanding adventure story. Grendel, Grendels mother, and the dragon are marvelous characters, and each fight is unique, action-packed, and exciting. Second, Beowulf is a very appealing hero. He is the perfec
2、t warrior, combining extraordinary strength, skill, courage, and loyalty. Like Hercules, he devotes his life to making the world a safer place. He chooses to risk death in order to help other people, and he faces his inevitable death with heroism and dignity. Third, the Beowulf poet is interested in
3、 the psychological aspects of human behavior. For example, the Danish heros welcoming speech illustrates his jealousy of Beowulf. The behavior of Beowulfs warriors in the dragon fight reveals their cowardice. Beowulfs attitudes toward heroism reflect his maturity and experience, while King Hrothgars
4、 attitudes toward life show the experiences of an aged nobleman.Finally, the Beowulf poet exhibits a mature appreciation of the transitory nature of human life and achievement. In Beowulf, as in the major epics of other cultures, the hero must create a meaningful life in a world that is often danger
5、ous and uncaring. He must accept the inevitability of death. He chooses to reject despair; instead, he takes pride in himself and in his accomplishments, and he values human relationships.1. According to paragraph 1, which of the following is true about Beowulf?A. It is the only manuscript from the
6、Anglo-Saxon period.B. The original story was written in a German dialect.C. The author did not sign this name to the poem.D. It is one of several epics from the first century.2. The word which in the passage refers toA. taleB. ScandinaviaC. manuscriptsD. Old English3. Why does the author mention “bo
7、g-iron” in paragraph 2?A. To demonstrate the availability of iron in ScandinaviaB. To prove that iron was better than bronze for weaponsC. To argue that the Celts provided the materials to make iron.D. To suggest that 500 B.C. was the date that the Iron Age began.4. Which of the sentences below best
8、 expresses the information in the highlighted statement in the passage? The other choices change the meaning or leave out important information.A. Society in Anglo-Saxons was both advanced and cultured.B. The society of the Anglo-Saxons was not primitive or cultured.C. The Anglo-Saxons had a society
9、 that was primitive, not cultured.D. English during the Anglo-Saxon society was advanced, not cultured.5. The word unique in the passage is closet in meaning toA. oldB. rareC. perfectD. weak6. According to paragraph 4, why do many scholars believe that the original manuscript for Beowulf was lost?A.
10、 Because it is not like other manuscripts.B. Because many libraries were burned.C. Because the Danes were allies of the Anglo-SaxonsD. Because no copies were found of the monasteries7. In paragraph 4, the author suggests that Beowulf was discovered in theA. first centuryB. ninth centuryC. eleven cen
11、turyD. seventeenth century8. Why does the author of this passage use the word “apparently” in paragraph 5?A. He is not certain that the author of Beowulf was a Christian.B. He is mentioning facts that are obvious to the readers.C. He is giving an example from a historical reference.D. He is introduc
12、ing evidence about the author of Beowulf.9. The author compared the Beowulf character to Hercules becauseA. they are both example of the ideal heroB. their adventures with a dragon are very similarC. the speeches that they make are inspiringD. they lived at about the same time10. The word exhibits i
13、n the passage is closet in meaning toA. createsB. demonstratesC. assumesD. terminates11. The word reject in the passage is closet in meaning toA. manageB. evaluateC. refuseD. confront12. Look at the four squares that show where the following sentence could be inserted in the passage.Moreover, they d
14、isagree as to whether this Beowulf is a copy of an earlier manuscript.Where could the sentence best be added?Click on a square to insert the sentence in the passage.13. Directions: An introduction for a short summary of the passage appears below. Complete the summary by selecting the THREE answer ch
15、oices that mention the most important points in the passage. Some sentences do not belong in the summary because they express ideas that are not included in the passage or are minor points from the passage.This question is worth 2 points.Beowulf is the oldest Anglo-Saxon epic poem that has survived
16、to the present day. Answer ChoicesA. The Northmen were adept in crafting tools and weapons made of bronze, but the Celts ere superior in designing and working in iron.B. In the Viking invasions of England, the Danish armies destroyed monasteries, some of which contained extensive libraries.C. King H
17、rothgar and Beowulf become friends at the end of their lives, after having spent decades opposing each other on the battlefield.D. The poem chronicles life in Anglo-Saxon society during the Bronze and Iron Ages when Germanic tribes were invading England.E. Although Beowulf was written by an anonymou
18、s poet, probably a Christian, about 1000A.D., it was not fould until the seventeenth century.F. Beowulf is still interesting because it has engaging characters, and adventures plot, and an appreciation for human behavior and relationships.1.2 ThermoregulationMammals and birds generally maintain body
19、 temperature within a narrow range （3638C for most mammals and 3942C for most birds） that is usually considerably warmer than the environment. Because heat always flows from a warm object to cooler surroundings, birds and mammals must counteract the constant heat loss. This maintenance of warm body
20、temperature depends on several key adaptations. The most basic mechanism is the high metabolic rate of endothermy itself. Endotherms can produce large amounts of metabolic heat that replace the flow of heat to the environment, and they can vary heat production to match changing rates of heat loss. H
21、eat production is increased by such muscle activity as moving or shivering. In some mammals, certain hormones can cause mitochondria to increase their metabolic activity and produce heat instead of ATP. This nonshivering thermogenesis （NST） takes place throughout the body, but some mammals also have
22、 a tissue called brown fat in the neck and between the shoulders that is specialized for rapid heat production. Through shivering and NST, mammals and birds in cold environments can increase their metabolic heat production by as much as 5 to 10 times above the minimal levels that occur in warm conditions.Another major thermoregulatory adaptation that evolved in mammals and birds is insul
