Human beings have used tools for a very long time.In some parts of the world you can still find toolsthat people used more than two million years ago.They made these tools by hitting one stone againstanother. In this way, they broke off pieces from oneof the stones. These chips of stone were usuallysharp on one side. People used them for cuttingmeat and skin from dead animals, and also formaking other tools out of wood.

Human beings needed to use tools because they didnot have sharp teeth like other meat eating animals,such as lions and tigers. Tools helped people to get food more easily. Working with tools alsohelped to develop human intelligence. The human brain grew bigger, and human beings beganto invent more and more tools and machines. The stone chip was one of the first tools thatpeople used, and perhaps it is the most important. Some scientists say that it was the key tosuccess of mankind.?

1. The stone chip is thought to be the most important tool because it ______.

A. was one of the first tools

B. developed human capabilities?

C. led to the invention of machines

D. was crucial to the development of mankind ?

2. At the end of the passage the author seems to suggest that life in future is ______.

A. disastrous B. unpredictable C. exciting D. colorful

■答案■

1. D) 这是一道细节题。根据文章第二段尾句

“Some scientists say that it was the key to the success of mankind”

可知“stone chip”对于人类的发展起到了非常重要的作用，这与D正好相符。

2. B) 在文章最后一段中作者说人类在过去的几百万年时间

里一直使用“stone chip”，人类社会发生的变化很小。

而我们使用“silicon chips”才不过几年，生活却发生了巨大的变化。

于是作者发出了疑问：“二十年后的生活会是什么样子的呢?”，

“ 二百万年后的世界又会是什么样子呢?”，

表明将来的生活无法预料，这与选项B相符。