在2014年6月15日的託福閱讀考試中有這樣一道題：自然選擇所帶來的相關滅絕。針對這道託福考題，新東方謝真真老師來為大家普及一下關於自然選擇的背景知識，這樣有助於考生在面對這類題目時方便作答，新東方謝真真老師指出：本文討論的是自然選擇這個常考話題，該話題歷年來都是常考話題。
託福閱讀真題再現：
版本一：
2，自然選擇的限制，進化並非好處，很大可能導致滅絕。分述前者進化會對後代造成限制，器官間的相互作用。最後說是一些列的偶然，包括進化等等造就了生存下來的早期生物
版本二：
natural selection不是總是靠譜的因為據記錄地球上百分之九十九點幾的出現過的進化分支(不知道中文怎麼說原文也不記得了可能是evolutionary line?)都滅絕了 這好像是達爾文說的 大概說進化好多時候不是按natural selection或者進化不到perfection.原因一是基因結構的形成互相影響(interact)，不會輕易因為 natural selection改變。還說早期的改變會影響後來的進化，舉例說脊椎動物和另一種估計是節肢什麼的動物分別進化了internal和external的骨骼，導致後來脊椎動物很多長得很大個，節肢動物頂多有隻大個的螃蟹噗哈哈哈
還有一個原因好像是自然環境因素，這個記不清了似乎說自然環境變了動物fit in environment也變反正是說可能比起由於natural selection產生的變化多??還有什麼面對環境變化倖存的動物後代可能失去一些基因??
版本三：
題目好像是EXTINCTION 講的是生物進化的知識 第一段亮觀點進化不一定都是物種的選優(原詞是perfection)達爾文的進化論雖然對滴但是也有99.9%的evolutionary line(原詞好像是這個) 滅絕了 主題就是自然選擇不一定都是好事 可能滅絕一些
往下繼續是一些比較零散的信息： 有一個詞彙題resistance 正確選項是opposition 那個詞附近是這麼個事情 這段的主題是interation 各個結構和器官之間不可能相互independent 一個器官或者組織不足以應對自然界的變化 所以器官之間的resistance會在某種程度上決定這個物種的去留
再往下：提到了另一個因素 就是Chance 就是一個物種能不能留下也得靠人品 有一個詞彙題indiscriminate答案應該是random 那個附近說了這麼個事情 就是一些大災難用的是catastrophe會是的一些就算是比較NB的物種也完蛋 就是一視同仁不管是誰 所以用了indiscriminate這個詞
補充resistance的那一段 還提到了genotype基因型 好像是這個意思 在進化過程中優秀的基因會保留 不行的直接完蛋
新東方謝真真老師解析：
本文討論的是自然選擇這個常考話題，該話題歷年來都是常考話題。與以往不同的是，本文側重的角度是自然選擇所帶來的相關滅絕，而且沒有像之前的話題那樣結合某種物種來討論，同學們在解題中的關鍵是，閱讀完英文後，能對應的理解所描述表達的概念，對同學們抽象內容理解能力也是一定的挑戰。
託福參考閱讀：
Natural selection acts solely through the preservation of variations in some way advantageous, which consequently endure. Owing to the high geometrical rate of increase of all organic beings, each area is already fully stocked with inhabitants; and it follows from this, that as the favoured forms increase in number, so, generally, will the less favoured decrease and become rare. Rarity, as geology tells us, is the precursor to extinction. We can see that any form which is represented by few individuals will run a good chance of utter extinction, during great fluctuations in the nature of the seasons, or from a temporary increase in the number of its enemies. But we may go further than this; for, as new forms are produced, unless we admit that specific forms can go on indefinitely increasing in number, many old forms must become extinct. That the number of specific forms has not indefinitely increased, geology plainly tells us; and we shall presently attempt to show why it is that the number of species throughout the world has not become immeasurably great.
We have seen that the species which are most numerous in individuals have the best chance of producing favourable variations within any given period. We have evidence of this, in the facts stated in the second chapter showing that it is the common and diffused or dominant species which offer the greatest number of recorded varieties. Hence, rare species will be less quickly modified or improved within any given period; they will consequently be beaten in the race for life by the modified and improved descendants of the commoner species.
From these several considerations I think it inevitably follows, that as new species in the course of time are formed through natural selection, others will become rarer and rarer, and finally extinct. The forms which stand in closest competition with those undergoing modification and improvement will naturally suffer most. And we have seen in the chapter on the Struggle for Existence that it is the most closely-allied forms,—varieties of the same species, and species of the same genus or of related genera,—which, from having nearly the same structure, constitution, and habits, generally come into the severest competition with each other; consequently, each new variety or species, during the progress of its formation, will generally press hardest on its nearest kindred, and tend to exterminate them. We see the same process of extermination amongst our domesticated productions, through the selection of improved forms by man. Many curious instances could be given showing how quickly new breeds of cattle, sheep, and other animals, and varieties of flowers, take the place of older and inferior kinds. In Yorkshire, it is historically known that the ancient black cattle were displaced by the long-horns, and that these 「were swept away by the shorthorns」 (I quote the words of an agricultural writer) 「as if by some murderous pestilence.」
(責任編輯：許爽)
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