《2026年水木金卷高考模拟试卷精编英语》

C
Colossal Biosciences, a company trying to revive long - gone species, recently announced that they had genetically engineered a lab mouse to exhibit traits resembling those of the extinct woolly mammoth(猛犸,毛象). Instead of having mammoth - like size or tusks, the creature possessed an abundance of dense, golden fur. It was, in other words, adorable. "That was the main unintended consequence," says Ben Lamm, Colossal's boss and co - founder.
Colossal's long - term goal is on a larger scale. The company wants to create real mammoths by editing the genes of Asian elephants. To understand which edits are needed, the firm's scientists must work out which adjustments give rise to mammoth traits. That is hard to test in elephants, partly because these animals gestate(孕育) for 22 months—which is a long time to wait for data—and partly because they are endangered, highly intelligent creatures which cannot be experimented at will. To avoid these difficulties, the company's scientists set out to test which edits might lead to mammoth - like features in mice first.
Led by Beth Shapiro, an expert in ancient DNA, Colossal's team first searched for mouse mutations(变异) already known to cause woolly fur. At the same time, they also compared ancient mammoth genomes(基因组) that had been naturally preserved with genomes from present - day Asian elephants. By doing so, the team was able to discover genes that might contribute to a specifically mammoth - like appearance, rather than a purely elephantine one. The literature could then be scoured to see if mutated versions of those genes existed in mice.
The team settled on ten mutations in ten genes: nine related to hair and fur and one linked to fat storage, which may have kept mammoths warm on the tundra(冻原). Thus armed, the team at Colossal began to engineer those mutations into lab mice, using tools based on the gene - editing technology called CRISPR, which can be thought of as a pair of molecular scissors that makes cuts in specific genes.
In experiments conducted on several groups of mice in 2024, combinations of these ten genes were slightly adjusted. The resulting mice were not hybrids—they contained no DNA taken from actual mammoths—but did wind up dense, woolen fur. The mutation put into the fat - storage gene, however, did not immediately lead to heavier mice. Whether these changes connected with diet and temperature remains to be seen. Indeed, the next step will be to test whether the new physical traits give the woolly mice any advantage in handling the cold. "This will be done during the coming year," says Dr. Shapiro.
The results are intriguing, but a revived mammoth remains far away. Making a mouse woolly is one thing—adjusting an elephant to be woolly, small - eared and cold - resistant is a truly tough task. "It's the first step on a long journey," says Eske Willerslev, a specialist in ancient DNA at the University of Cambridge, who was not involved with the work.
There are still many unknowns, such as whether an edited Asian elephant would truly resemble a mammoth or just a long - haired elephant. Some critics argue that revived mammoths might face health issues and that the funds used for de - extinction could be better spent on protecting existing species. However, Colossal's founders argue that their technology could also help prevent extinction by aiding species struggling with climate change.
46. Why did Colossal Biosciences choose to test genetic edits on mice instead of elephants?
A. Mice are easier to handle in labs.
B. Elephants have a long gestation period and are endangered.
C. Mice have more similar DNA to mammoths.
D. Elephants are not intelligent enough for the experiments.
47. What is the primary function of the third paragraph in the passage?
A. To explain the scientific process of identifying and selecting genetic mutations.
B. To describe the initial success of the genetic engineering project in mice.
C. To argue for the ethical use of genetic editing technology.
D. To discuss the challenges and future steps in the de - extinction project.
48. What can be inferred about the fat - storage gene mutation in the genetically engineered mice?
A. It immediately made the mice heavier.
B. It had no effect on the mice's appearance.
C. Its impact on weight may depend on diet and temperature.
D. It was the most important gene for creating woolly fur.
49. What can we learn from Paragraphs 6 and 7?
A. Eske Willerslev argues that the technology could help prevent species' extinction.
B. Creating a true woolly mammoth remains a distant goal.
C. Making a mouse woolly is a truly tough task.
D. Scientists cannot agree on the importance of woolly fur.
50. What is the main purpose of the passage?
A. To describe the process of genetic engineering in mice.
B. To compare the traits of modern elephants and ancient mammoths.
C. To argue for the ethical use of genetic editing technology.
D. To explain the challenges and progress in reviving the woolly mammoths.

答案： 46.B 细节理解题。题干意为：为什么 Colossal Biosciences 选择在老鼠而不是大象身上测试基因编辑？根据第二段中“That is hard to test in elephants, partly because these animals gestate(孕育) for 22 months... and partly because they are endangered”可知，Colossal Biosciences 选择用老鼠做实验是因为大象的妊娠期长且濒临灭绝。故选B。
47.A 推理判断题。题干意为：这篇文章中第三段的主要功能是什么？根据第三段可知，本段详细描述了团队如何通过对比猛犸象和亚洲象的基因组、检索文献来确定基因突变的科学过程。由此可推知，本段的功能是解释识别和选择基因突变的科学过程。故选A。
48.C 推理判断题。题干意为：关于转基因老鼠体内的脂肪储存基因的突变，可以推断出什么？根据第五段中“The mutation put into the fat-storage gene, however, did not immediately lead to heavier mice. Whether these changes connected with diet and temperature remains to be seen.”可推知，该基因突变对体重的影响可能取决于饮食和温度。故选C。
49.B 细节理解题。题干意为：我们可以从第六段和第七段中得知什么？根据第六段中“a revived mammoth remains far away”可知，复活猛犸象仍是遥远的目标。故选B。
50.D 写作意图题。题干意为：这篇文章的主要目的是什么？通读全文可知，文章围绕 Colossal Biosciences 公司通过基因编辑技术复活猛犸象的尝试展开，既介绍了在老鼠身上进行的实验进展(如获得浓密毛发)，也讨论了在大象身上应用的挑战(如长妊娠期、伦理争议)。由此可推知，本文主要目的是解释复活猛犸象的挑战与进展。故选D。