Charles Darwin

Early years

Charles Darwin was one of the six children from a big family. His grandfather and father were doctors and the young Darwin went to Edinburgh University to study medicine. However, he hated to see blood and he soon realized that he couldn’t be a doctor. He then went to Cambridge University and discovered that he had a great interest in studying plants, insects and animals. Luckily, one of Darwin's university teachers helped him join the perfect trip for a biologist: a voyage around the world to study nature.

The Beagle

In 1831, Charles Darwin left Plymouth on The Beagle, a ship that took him around the world for five years. While he was travelling, he studied the plants and animals in the countries and on the islands that the ship visited. Darwin also spent his time on The Beagle writing notes about the things he had seen.

When he finally arrived back in Britain, Darwin was already starting to create his famous theory that all living things had a common ancestor （祖先）.

At home at Down House, a place that you can still visit today, Darwin wrote many articles and books about his travels, but he didn’t want to make anything about his theory known to the public. He worked in his study, where he wrote 250,000 words about his theory of evolution （进化论）,but he was frightened about what people might say about his idea that monkeys were the ancestors of humans. He thought the public would be against it and was so frightened that he became ill

with worry. However; when another scientist started to write about similar ideas, Darwin decided to print his book, On the Origin of Species.

Most scientists accepted Darwin's theory and people continue to study it today. On 12th February the day he was born, Darwin Day is celebrated around the world to encourage more people to study the natural world.

(1).What caused Darwin to give up his study of medicine?

A．	He didn't like seeing blood.	B．	He found the studies too difficult.
C．	He found the studies too difficult.	D．	He was advised to study natural science.

(2).Why was the trip on The Beagle important to Darwin?

A．	It helped him to finish his study at the university.
B．	It allowed him to change his mind about his fixture.
C．	It gave him ideas about the beginnings of human life.
D．	It got him to complete his most famous book on the ship.

(3).In what order did the following happen in Darwin's life?

a.He arrived back in Britain in 1836.

b.He thought the public would not support his ideas.

c.He became interested in studying the natural world.

d.He printed his famous book, On the Origin of Species.

e.He received help to get a place on a trip around the world.

f.He studied the plants and animals on the islands he visited.

A．	e→f→c→a→b→d	B．	c→e→f→a→b→d
C．	e-→f→a→c→d→b	D．	c→e→f→d→a→b

(4).Why did the writer include the last paragraph?

A．	To introduce Darwin's famous book.
B．	To tell how people celebrate Darwin Day.
C．	To explain why people accept Darwin's ideas.
D．	To show Darwin's influence on natural science.

科目 英语   题型 阅读理解   难度 中等