Domestic(驯养的)horses now pull ploughs，race in the Kentucky Derby，and carry police.But early horses weren’t tame(驯服的)enough to perform these kinds of tasks.Scientists think the first interactions humans had with horses were far different from those today.
Thousands of years ago，people killed the wild horses that lived around them for food.Over time，people began to catch the animals and raise them.This was the first step in domestication.
As people began to tame and ride horses，they chose to keep those animals that had more desirable characteristics.For example，people may have chosen to keep horses that had a gentle personality so they could be ridden more easily.People who used horses to pull heavy loads would have chosen to keep stronger animals.Characteristics like strength are partly controlled by the animals’genes.So as the domesticated horses reproduced，they passed the characteristics on to their young.Each new generation of horses would show more of these chosen characteristics.
Modern-day horse breeds come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes.This variety didn’t exist in the horse population before domestication.The Shetland horse is one of the smallest breeds－typically reaching only one meter tall.With short，strong legs，the animals were bred to pull coal out of mine shafts(矿井)with low ceilings.Huge horses like the Clydesdale came on the scene around 1700.People bred these heavy，tall horses to pull large vehicles used for carrying heavy loads.
The domestication of horses has had great effects on societies.For example，horses were important tools in the advancement of modern agriculture.Using them to pull ploughs and carry heavy loads allowed people to farm more efficiently.Before they were able to ride horses，humans had to cross land on foot.Riding horses allowed people to travel far greater distances in much less time.That encouraged populations living in different areas to interact with one another.The new form of rapid transportation helped cultures spread around the world.
59.Before domestication horses were.
A.caught for sports B.hunted for food
C.made to pull ploughs D.used to carry people
60.The author uses the Shetland horse as an example to show.
A.it is smaller than the Clydesdale horse
B.horses used to have gentle personalities
C.some horses have better shapes than others
D.horses were of less variety before domestication
61.Horses contributed to the spread of culture by.
A.carrying heavy loads
B.changing farming methods
C.serving as a means of transport
D.advancing agriculture in different areas
62.The passage is mainly about.
A.why humans domesticated horses
B.how humans and horses needed each other
C.why horses came in different shapes and sizes
D.how human societies and horses influenced each other
【文章大意】文章从现代马的功用与过去的功用的不同入手，讲述了人类如何对马进行选择驯化，造成了马的种群的多样性；同时也介绍了马的驯化对人类社会的影响。
59.【答案】B
【解析】细节判断题。由第一、二段可判断，人类先是猎马为食，然后喂养，最后才是根据人类需要进行驯化。
60.【答案】D
【解析】细节推断题。由第四段第二句“This variety didn’t exist in the horse population before domestication”可推断出马被驯化前没有如此多的种群，再由作者所举的例子“the shetland horse”可看出马是根据人的需要从单一种群被驯化为多种种群的。
61.【答案】C
【解析】细节判断题。从最后一段“Riding horses allowed people to travel far greater distances in much less time .”和“The new form of rapid transportation helped cultures spread around the world.”可判断马在文化传播中所扮演的角色为交通工具。
62.【答案】D
【解析】主旨大意题。文章前两段引入马的驯化这一话题。第三、四段讲述人类根据自身需要把马驯化为多个种群。第五段讲述了马对人类社会发展的影响。只有D项涵盖了文章的内容。
3.写作
要求考生根据题示进行书面表达。考试应能：
(1)准确使用语法和词汇；
(2)使用一定的句型、词汇，清楚、连贯地表达自己的意思。
【导读】写作是四项语言技能中不可分割的一个重要部分，要求考生在给出的特定情境下按特定要求进行书面表达。近几年写作主题的选择有结合社会热点的趋势。所以考生备考时可阅读一些英语时文，背诵其中的优美句子等。
【试题举例】(2008年四川卷)
你校学生会准备办一期英语墙报，主题为：保护环境从我做起。请你根据下图所示写一篇英语短文。
注意：
1.词数100左右，开头语已为你写好；
2.可适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
What Can I Do for Our Environment?
Everyone_can_do_something_for_our_environment.______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
One Possible Version
What Can I Do for Our Environment?
Everyone_can_do_something_for_our_environment.For me，I should try to save electricity in my daily life.For example，if I am the last person to leave the classroom in the evening，I will always remember to turn off the lights. In order to protect our forests，I will use paper wisely.I should try to use both sides of paper whenever it is possible. I will not use things like paper cups and disposable chopsticks because they are made of wood.I believe that doing all these small things will improve our environment and help make our world a better place to live in.
【写作指导】本文主题是环保，要求考生介绍如何从自身做起保护环境，时态以将来时为主。显然图画中已给出了一些参考：节约用电，随手关灯；保护森林；双面用纸；拒绝一次性纸杯、筷子等。文章要点包括：如何从自身做起，自己的决心及希望等。
