题文
Human remains of ancient settlements will be reburied and lost to science under a law that threatens research into the history of humans in Britain, a group of leading archaeologists(考古学家) says. In a letter addressed to the justice secretary, Ken Clarke, 40 archaeologists write of their “deep and widespread concern” about the issue. It centers on the law introduced by the Ministry of Justice in 2008 which requires all human remains unearthed in England and Wales to be reburied within two years, regardless of their age. The decision means scientists have too little time to study bones and other human remains of national and cultural significance.
“Your current requirement that all archaeologically unearthed human remains should be reburied, whether after a standard period of two years or further special extension, is contrary to basic principles of archaeological and scientific research and of museum practice,” they write.
The law applies to any pieces of bone uncovered at around 400 dig sites, including the remains of 60 or so bodies found at Stonehenge in 2008 that date back to 3,000 BC. Archaeologists have been granted a temporary extension to give them more time, but eventually the bones will have to be returned to the ground.
The arrangements may result in the waste of future discoveries at sites such as Happisburgh in Norfolk, where digging is continuing after the discovery of stone tools made by early humans 950,000 years ago. If human remains were found at Happisburgh, they would be the oldest in northern Europe and the first indication of what this species was. Under the current practice of the law those remains would have to be reburied and effectively destroyed.
Before 2008, guidelines allowed for the proper preservation and study of bones of sufficient age and historical interest, while the Burial Act 1857 applied to more recent remains. The Ministry of Justice assured archaeologists two years ago that the law was temporary, but has so far failed to revise it.
Mike Parker Pearson, an archaeologist at Sheffield University, said: “Archaeologists have been extremely patient because we were led to believe the ministry was sorting out this problem, but we feel that we cannot wait any longer.”
The ministry has no guidelines on where or how remains should be reburied, or on what records should be kept.
小题1:According to the passage, scientists are unhappy with the law mainly because _______.A．it is only a temporary measure on the human remainsB．it is unreasonable and thus destructive to scientific researchC．it was introduced by the government without their knowledgeD．it is vague about where and how to rebury human remains小题2:Which of the following statements is true according to the passage?A．Temporary extension of two years will guarantee scientists enough time.B．Human remains of the oldest species were dug out at Happisburgh.C．Human remains will have to be reburied despite the extension of time.D．Scientists have been warned that the law can hardly be changed.小题3:What can be inferred about the British law governing human remains?A．The Ministry of Justice did not intend it to protect human remains.B．The Burial Act 1857 only applied to remains uncovered before 1857.C．The law on human remains hasn’t changed in recent decades.D．The Ministry of Justice has not done enough about the law.小题4:Which of the following might be the best title of the passage?A．New discoveries should be reburied, the government demands.B．Research time should be extended, scientists require.C．Law on human remains needs thorough discussion, authorities say.D．Law could bury ancient secrets for ever, archaeologists warn. 题型：未知 难度：其他题型
答案
小题1:B
小题2:C
小题3:D
小题4:D 解析
本文是一篇关于考古话题的议论文。英国法律规定出土的文物要重新埋入地下，考古学家们认为这对考古工作是有害的。
小题1:归纳总结题。根据文章第二段和第四段可知考古学家们认为此项法律是不合理的，对考古工作也是有破坏性的，故选B。
小题2:细节理解题。根据第三段第二句Archaeologists have been granted a temporary extension to give them more time, but eventually the bones will have to be returned to the ground.虽然时间延长了，但是这些人类的遗骸还是要被重新埋起来，可知C项正确；根据第三段第二句可知A项说法错误；由第四段可知B项说法错误；文章没有提到D项所叙说内容。
小题3:判断推理题。由文章最后一段The ministry has no guidelines on where or how remains should be reburied, or on what records should be kept.可推出司法部还没有对法律做出明确的规定，D项说法正确；A项说法与文章内容相悖；由第五段可知B项中的副词only绝对化了，不正确；C项中的in recent decades说法有误。选D。
小题4:主旨大意题。从文章第一段的句子：Human remains of ancient settlements will be reburied and lost to science under a law that threatens research into the history of humans in Britain, a group of leading archaeologists(考古学家) says. 可知法律要求出土的文物要重新被埋入地下，为此很多古代的秘密就不为人知了，故选D。 考点
据考高分专家说，试题“Human remains of anc.....”主要考查你对 [新闻报道类阅读 ]考点的理解。
新闻报道类阅读
新闻报道类阅读的概念：
阅读理解的选材明显地呈现出关注实际生活的趋势，这种趋势与当前基础教育改革的目标是一致的，而中学生学习语言的根本目标与基础教育学会求知，学会做事，学会合作，学会做人的目标是一致的，真实新颖的选材对基础英语教学课程改革具有重要的反作用。
新闻报道类阅读理解技巧点拨：
新闻报道类类文章有一共同特点，即都是由标题（Headline）、导语（Lead）、主体（Mainbody）、背景（Background）和结尾（End）五部分构成。标题是新闻报道中心思想高度而又精辟的概括；导语位于新闻报道的首段，高度概括新闻事实；主体则对导语概括的新闻事实进行详细叙述；新闻背景是指新闻事实之外，对新闻事实或新闻事实的某个部分进行解释或补充的材料；结尾往往是新闻事件的结果或动态展望，也是中心思想的概括并常常与新闻导语相呼应。
新闻报道中的导语非常重要，它位于文章的第一段，通过它点出新闻的主题，五个W和一个H(When,Where,Who,What,Why和How)通常是构成一则完整消息不可缺少的要素。文章往往呈现出“倒金字塔”的特征，因此读懂首句或首段至关重要。
另外，从句的使用也是此类文章的一大语言特色，因为从句信息量大，适合新闻报道的要求。此外，大量的副词和插入语的使用也是此类文章的特点。为使文章更客观、更具信服力，常用The study said…, Scientists believe that…Experts said…, It's reported that…, According to the survey…等语言。同事在阅读过程中，我们要对材料所提供信息如when, where, who, how, why等进行提问，将信息迅速提炼出来。
新闻报道类阅读应试策略：
【命题趋势】
阅读理解的选材明显地呈现出关注实际生活的趋势，这种趋势与当前基础教育改革的目标是一致的，而中学生学习语言的根本目标与基础教育学会求知，学会做事，学会合作，学会做人的目标是一致的，真实新颖的选材对基础英语教学课程改革具有重要的反作用。时文报道就在文章中体现了这一要求。主要表现在以下几个方面：
1、反映海内外事件，文章结构严谨，内容贴近生活，用现代英语反映现代生活。
2、如果是新闻报道，都有比较固定的写作格式，如文首通常有报道的地点或时间，第一句话常常是文章的导语，有助于了解文章的大致内容和主题。
3、如果是新闻报道则是记叙文，有地点、时间、人物、事物等要素。
4、有许多大量反映当代社会变化的新词汇和表达方式。
5、命题既重细节，又重推理和主旨。
6、大背景中的小事件，大事件中的小插曲往往是选材的热点。
【应试对策】
1、在平时学习中，关注生活，阅读新闻报道和广告类文章、把阅读时事文章作为学习英语的重要途径。
2、了解新的词汇和表达方式。如：tsunami海啸，MP3players(MP3)播放器，well_offsociety小康社会等。
3、抓住文章主题，准确捕捉细节和内涵，进行合理的推理。
4、品味新闻的标题，联系平时所积累的知识，为了解材料大意作铺垫。
5、了解新闻报道的特殊规律，其内容和多含何人、何地、何事、何时等，阅读时要抓住新闻的这一主要特点去理解判断。
6、要注意文中以黑体、大写、下划线等方式加以提示的文字，因为这很有可能是材料的核心或至少是一部分内容的概括。
