Bộ Đề Thi Mẫu Đọc Hiểu Tiếng Anh B1 B2 VSTEP - ĐỌC HIỂU PART 4 - Đề số 1
Bộ Đề Thi Mẫu Đọc Hiểu Tiếng Anh B1 B2 VSTEP - ĐỌC HIỂU PART 4 - Đề số 1
1. Cấu trúc đề thi tổng quát
2. Đề Viết B1 B2 VSTEP: ĐỌC HIỂU PART 4 - Đề số 1
Question 31-40
You should spend about 15 minutes on this task.
In the mid-1800s, scientists discovered the complete skeleton of a dinosaur called Archaeopteryx lithographica. The creature was thought to have lived approximately 150 million years ago and, curiously, had features that resembled not only dinosaurs, but modern birds as well. For instance, while it had sharp teeth and a bony tail like the dinosaurs of its time, it also had wings and feathers like modern birds. Despite these similarities to birds, the general consensus within the scientific community was that the closest living relatives of dinosaurs were reptiles, like lizards and alligators. It wasn't until 1969, when paleontologists discovered the fossils of a dinosaur called Deinonychus antirrhopus, that the debate about whether or not birds evolved from dinosaurs was reopened.
The main problem with the theory linking dinosaurs to modern birds - which was also the main support for arguments that reptiles were, in fact, the closest living ancestors of dinosaurs - was the belief that dinosaurs did not have furculae, or wishbones. The main function of this fork-shaped bone, which is located at the base of the neck on birds, is to reinforce the skeleton against the many stresses of flight. However, fossil evidence found in recent years has revealed that many dinosaurs did indeed have furculae. For example, the dinosaurs in the Dromaeosauridae family, a group of bird-like dinosaurs, are all believed to have had furculae. This discovery contradicts the theory that the bones are unique to birds.
[A] In addition to the observation of furculae in dinosaur fossils, paleontologists have identified a number of other structural similarities between birds and dinosaurs [B] For example, comparisons between the skeletons of birds and those of dinosaurs like Velociraptor mongoliensis and Deinonychus reveal that birds and dinosaurs share many unique skeletal features. [C] For instance, Velociraptor fossils show that the creature's front limbs, the construction of which would have presumably allowed for great flexibility are similar to those of modern birds. [D] On the other hand, no such likenesses exist between dinosaurs and early reptiles.
Another compelling piece of evidence that paleontologists now generally agree that birds evolved from dinosaurs is the presence of feathers in both organisms. Fossils of Archaeopteryx feature imprints of feathers that closely resemble those found on modern birds. Since the discovery of Archaeopteryx, paleontologists have discovered fossils demonstrating that a number of other dinosaurs that were likely related to Archaeopteryx also had feathers. Furthermore, even the fossils of dinosaurs that were not related to Archaeopteryx, such as Tyrannosaurus rex, have been found to have long, feather-like structures that are commonly referred to as protofeathers which help to insulate dinosaurs from cold temperatures, not to assist with flight, which accounts for why many flightless dinosaurs may have had them.
Paleontologists have also found evidence that the lungs of dinosaurs were shaped similarly to birds' lungs. Birds have extra air sacs in front of and behind their lungs that allow them to keep their lungs inflated constantly and some dinosaurs also had lungs with extra chambers. However, most animals, including primates, lizards, and frogs, have lungs with two compartments. The similarities in skeletal structures, the existence of feathers and extra lung chambers in both groups reveal that birds probably evolved from dinosaurs and are thus their closest living relatives.
31. Why does the author mention wings and feathers?
A. to point out features shared by Archaeopteryx and modern birds.
B. to explain the small size of Archaeopteryx fossils.
C. to argue that Archaeopteryx was most likely a bird and not a dinosaur.
D. to describe what Archaeopteryx probably looked like
32. The word consensus in paragraph 1 is closest in meaning to
A. question
B. debate
C. evidence
D. agreement
33. What best paraphrases the following sentence in paragraph 22
The main problem with the theory linking dinosaurs to modern birds - which was also the main support for arguments that reptiles were, in fact, the closest living ancestors of dinosaurs - was the belief that dinosaurs did not have furculae, or wishbones.
A. The idea that dinosaurs did not have wishbones was the chief difficulty in proving that modern birds were related to dinosaurs.
B. Many people believed that reptiles were the closest living ancestors of dinosaurs because, like dinosaurs, they do not have furculae.
C. The main reason that scientists couldn't link modern birds and dinosaurs was because they could not find furculae in most modern bird species.
D. Dinosaurs presumed lack of wishbones made people think that birds, not reptiles, were their closest living ancestors
34. Why was the discovery of dinosaur fossils with furculae important?
A. it indicated that several bird species had already evolved during the time of dinosaurs.
B. it proved that many reptilian animals, including dinosaurs, had furculae.
C. it made people uncertain about the theory that reptiles were the closest living relatives of dinosaurs.
D. it helped scientists determine the purpose of furculae in non-bird species.
35. What can be inferred about dinosaurs in the Dromaeosawidae family?
A. They were closely related to Archaeopteryx.
B. They were able to fly.
C. They were the only dinosaurs that had furculae.
D. They were small compared to other dinosaurs.
36. The word 'those' in paragraph 3 refers to
A. Velociraptor fossils
B. front limbs.
C. likenesses.
D. early reptiles.
37. In which space (marked A, B, C and D in the passage) will the following sentence fit?
Scientists have also observed structural similarities in the skulls and necks of some dinosaurs and birds.
A. [A]
B. [B]
C. [C]
D. [D]
38. The word 'compelling' in paragraph 4 is closest in meaning to
A. persuasive
B. conflicting
C. recent
D. sufficient
39. What is true about protofeathers?
A. They were likely the type of feathers that Archaeopteryx had.
B. Only bird-like dinosaurs had them.
C. They probably helped dinosaurs stay warm.
D. Some modern birds have been found to have them.
40. What do primates and lizards have in common?
A. They have a more elaborate lung structure than dinosaurs did.
B. They are able to keep their lungs full of air constantly.
C. Their lungs have a similar structure.
D. They have other organs in addition to lungs to help them breathe.
3. Đáp án
31. A
32. D
33. A
34. C
35. B
36. B
37. D
38. A
39. C
40. C