2021-2022学年上海市华东师范大学第二某中学高二年级下册英语3月测试英语试卷含详解

华东师范大学第二附属中学

2021-2022学年第二学期3月份阶段检测试卷

高二英语

（考试时间：120分钟卷面满分：140分）

I.ListeningComprehension

SectionA

Directions:InSectionA,youwillheartenshortconversationsbetweentwospeakers.Attheendofeach

conversation,aquestionwillbeaskedaboutwhatwassaid.Theconversationsandthequestionswillbe

spokenonlyonce.Afteryouhearaconversationandthequestionaboutit,readthefourpossible

answersonyourpaper,anddecide-whichoneisthebestanswertothequestionyouhaveheard.

1A.Shedoesn'tworkhardinmaths.

B.Sheisinferiortohiminmaths.

C.Shedidn'tdowellinthistest.

D.Sheisgoodatmaths.

2.A.Thelibrarywillbeclosedlaterthisafternoon.

B.Thecomputersinthelibraryarenotworking.

C.Themanneedshiscomputerallafternoon.

D.Thewomanhaslenthercomputertosomebody.

3.A.Goingtotheoperaistime-consuming.

B.Thereisnotimelefttoorderoperatickets.

C.Shewouldliketogowiththemantotheopera.

D.Shewillhelpthemanpayfortheoperatickets.

4.A.Worththeprice.B.Expensive.

C.Mysterious.D.Goodforhealth.

5.A.11:00a.m.B.12:00p.m.C.l:00p.m.D.3:00p.m.

6.A.Thewomanshouldchangeherlivingarrangement.

B.Thewomanwillhavetocallherroommate.

C.Thewomanshouldnotspendsomuchtimeonthephone.

D.Thewomandoesnotcleanherapartmentoftenenough.

7.A.Shealsothinksthelecturewasinteresting.

B.Shewastootiredtoenjoythelecture.

C.Shemissedthelecturethismoming.

D.Shedidnotfinishthereadingbeforethelecture.

8.A.Herworkexperience.

B.Thecoursesshehastaken.

C.Herknowledgeofthegraduateschool.

D.Thedescriptionofheracademicperformance.

9.A.Thewomandoesnotliketodrinkcoffeeintheafternoon.

B.Itwasnotthewoman'scoatthatthemanspilledthecoffeeon.

C.Thewomanjusthadhercoatcleaned.

D.Thewomanisnotangrywiththeman.

10.A.Shehopestogetintoartschool.

B.Sheisworkingasacommercialartist.

C.Shehastalentsotherthandrawing.

D.Shecannotdecideuponacareer.

SectionB

Directions:InSectionB,youwillheartwoshortpassagesandonelongerconversation,andyouwillbe

askedseveralquestionsoneachofthem.Thepassagesandtheconversationwillbereadtwice,butthe

questionswillbespokenonlyonce.Whenyouhearaquestion,readthefourpossibleanswersonyour

paperanddecidewhichoneisthebestanswertothequestionyouhaveheard.

Questions11through13arebasedonthefollowingpassage.

Il.A.Whatacountrydoestopromotepunctuality.

B.HowbusinessinEcuadorhavebeendeveloping.

C.Whatpeoplefromdifferentareasthinkofpunctuality.

D.HowEcuadorrespondstoCitizens,Participation'sappeal.

12.A.Ithascausedmanypubliceventstobecancelled.

B.Itismorecommonamonggovernmentofficials.

C.ItisatraditionwithalonghistoryinEcuador.

D.IthascostEcuadormuchmoneyeveryyear.

13.A.Theyworkhardtoprotestagainstit.

B.Theyareinfavorofit.

C.Theyholdmeetingstodiscussit.

D.Theywaitandseewhatwillhappen.

Questions14through16arebasedonthefollowingpassage.

14.A.Whywomenneedmoregossipthanman.

B.Howwoman'sconversationsaredifferentfrommen's.

C.Whatresearchfindsabouttopicspreferredbymanandwomen.

D.Whethermencanconcentrateononemattermoreeasilythanwomen.

15.A.Health,B.Politics.C.Education.D.Football.

16.A.Womenusuallysticktoonesubjectwhiletalkingwitheachother.

B.Menareoftengoodatdealingwithseveralmattersinameeting.

CMen'stalktendstocoveronlyasmallrangeofsubjects.

D.Women'sconversationsaremeanttoexchangeopinions.

Questions17through20arebasedonthefallowingpassage.

17.A.Herhusbandworksthere.

B.ShecanspeakArabic.

C.Itisabeautifulcity.

D.Sheneedsarest.

18.A.Shehasbeentravelingaroundthecity.

BShehasbeenteachingchildrenEnglish.

C.Shehasbeenlearningdrawingandpainting.

D.ShehasbeenlookingforanArabicteacher.

19.A.Grammar.B.Reading.C.Writing.D.Pronunciation.

20.A.Sheisgenerousandfriendly.

B.ShelovesArabicmusic.

C.SheunderstandsEnglishculture.

D.Sheisgoodatdancing.

III.GrammarandVocabulary

SectionA

Directions:BeneatheachofthefollowingsentencestherearefourchoicesmarkedA,B,CandD.Choose

theoneanswerthatbestcompletesthesentence.

1.Whenthebosscomplainedabouttheslowprogressoftheproject,shetoyoupersonally,buttotheDepartment

asawhole.

A.hasn'treferredB.wasn'treferringC.hadn'treferredD.wouldn'trefer

2.Hopefullyin2030wewillnolongerbee-mailingeachother,forwecommunicationtoolsbythen.

A.havedevelopedB.haddeveloped

C.willhavedevelopedD.developed

3.He'sbeeninformedthatheforthescholarshipbecauseofhisacademicbackground.

A.hasn'tqualifiedB.hadn'tqualified

C.doesn'tqualifyD.wasn'tqualifying

4.LynnFlorencebyplanewhichat8:30nextmorning.

A.isleavingfor;willleaveB.isleavingfor;leaves

C.willleavefbr;willleaveD.leavesfor;leaves

5.1wassenttotheworksitelastmonthtoseehowthedevelopmentplaninthepasttwoyears.

A.hadbeencarriedoutB.wouldbecarriedout

C.isbeingcarriedoutD.havebeencarriedout

6.ThepublicationofGreatExpectations,whichbothwidelyreviewedandhighlypraised,strengthenedDickens's

statusasaleadingnovelist.

A.havebeenB.wereC.wasD.willbe

7.Theproducersofthetalkshowdeniedthatthejokewastoooffensive,insistingthattheymerelytoaddaslight

touchofhumor.

A.weremeantB.hadmeant

C.havemeantD.hadbeenmeant

8.Byhiringregionalmusicianstoplayincommonareassuchaslobbiesandwaitingrooms,theCenStageArtsinHealth

programanenvironmentofmusicallovercampusforthepastfiveyears.

A.iscreatingB.wasabouttocreate

C.hasbeencreatingD.willbecreating

9.Thecountryitsborderswhenawaveofrefugeesin,whichputaseverestrainonitssocialwelfare

system.

A.scarcelyopened;flooded

B.hadscarcelyopened;hadflooded

C.scarcelyopened;hadflooded

D.hadscarcelyopened;flooded

10.Bynextyear,drywasteburningandwetwastetreatmentratesinShanghaitoreach27,800tonsaday,around

80%ofthecity'stotalgarbage.

A.areexpectedB.willhavebeenexpected

C.haveexpectedD.areexpecting

SectionB

Directions:Afterreadingthepassagebelow,fillintheblankstomakethepassagecoherentandgrammaticallycorrect.For

theblanks"withagivenword,fillineachblankwiththeproperformofthegivenword;fortheotherblanks,useoneword

thatbestfitseachblank.

OnJanuary10,Ugandareopenedschoolsafterthelongestclosureintheworld11thecoronaviruspandemic.

Formoststudents,itwastheirfirsttimebackintheclassroominnearlytwoyears.

Whenthebuildingsfirstshuttered,theMinistryofEducationbroadcastlessonsonTVandradiostations,andsome

schoolshandedoutprintedmaterials.Butthisdidnotlastforlackoffunding.Sothe12(estimate)15million

childrenaffectedbythisclosureputtheirstudiesonhold.

Uganda'sNationalPlanningAuthorityinAugust2021projectedthat4.5millionofthemwilllikelynotreturntoschool.

Thereasonsforthedropoutsaremanifold.Theteenpregnancyraterosesignificantly.Andmanypoorchildreninurbanand

ruralareas13(force)tostartworkingtohelpsupporttheirfamilies.,“Theyturnedchildrenintolaborersandthat

wasaloss,especiallyforafamilythathasreliedfbralmosttwoyearsonchildlabor,“saysMunirSafieldin,theUNICEF

Ugandarepresentative.

Plus,inaneconomypinchedbythepandemic,manyfamiliescannotcurrentlyaffordthefees,14startatabout

$135pertermforhighschool,andothercosts(includingacademicmaterialsanduniforms).

Childrenwhoareabletoreturnschoolhavebeenpromotedonegradelevel,adecisionmadebytheMinistryofEducation

toguaranteespotsfornewly15(enter)students.Butmanyfamiliesandexpertsareconcerned.MaryGoretti

Nakabugo,theexecutivedirectorofUwezoUganda,anonprofitorganizationworking16(promote)equitable

qualityeducation,arguesthatevenbeforetheclosure,manyofUganda'syoungerstudentshadnotyetacquiredbasic

fundamentals,suchasreadingandunderstandingatext."Thisisthetimefbrustorethinkourcurriculum,ourteachingand

learning,17studentswhoareunpreparedforclasseswillonlyendupeven18(far)behind.”

KusemererwaJonathanHenry,ateenagerlivinginKamwokya,oneofthelargestslumsinthecapitalofKampala,had

juststartedhighschoolandmadenewfriends19thelockdownstarted.uWewereusedtotheshortschoolbreaks

butthiswastoolong.Atfirst,all1woulddoissitathomeandsleep;,hesays.Fortunately,hisdad'sfinancialhelpcombined

withhispersonalsavingsallowedJonathantoopenafruitandvegetablestall.^Beforethelockdown,Ineverknewhowto

fendfor20,butnowIdon'tevenneedtoaskfbrmoneytobuyclothes."Still,Jonathanlongedtogetbackto

class.,?Thedayadatewasannouncedfbrustoresumeschool,Iwashedmyuniforms,bagsandpolishedmyshoes,that'show

excitedIwastogetback.”

SectionC

Directions:Fillineachblankwithaproperwordchosenfromthebox.Eachwordusedonlyonce.Notethatthereisoneword

morethanyouneed.

A.implicationsB.pieceC.survivalD.revolutionE.varying

F.climaticG.stretchingH.delicatelyI.migrateJ.merelyK.shifts

ClimateChange

Whenglobalwarmingfinallycame,itcameaggressively.Insomeregions,temperaturesroseseveraldegreesinlessthan

acentury.Sealevelsshotupnearly40feet,floodingcoastalsettlementsandforcingpeopleto21inland.Deserts

spreadthroughouttheworldasvegetationshiftedgreatlyinNorthAmerica,EuropeandAsia.Afterdrivingmanyofthe

animalsaroundthemtonearextinction,peoplewereforcedtoabandontheiroldwayoflifeforanew22strategy

thatresultedinwidespreadstarvationanddisease.

AsenvironmentalistsmeetinRiodeJaneirothisweektothinkcarefullyabouttheglobalclimateofthefuture,earth

scientistsareinthemiddleofa(n)23inunderstandinghowclimatehaschangedinthepastandhowthosechanges

havetransformedhumanexistence.Researchershavebegunto24togetheraninspiringpictureofthepowerful

geologicalandastronomicalforcestochangetheplanet'senvironmentfromhottocold,wettodryandbackagainoveratime

period25backhundredsofmillionsofyears.

Mostimportantly,scientistsarebeginningtorealizethatthe26changeshavehadamajorimpactonthe

evolutionofthehumanspecies.Newresearchnowsuggeststhatclimate27playedakeyroleinnearlyevery

significantturningpointinhumanevolution.Indeed,thehumanhistoryhasnotbeen28touchedbyglobalclimate

change.Somescientistsargueithasinsomeinstancesbeendrivenbyit.

Thenewresearchhasfar-reaching29fortheenvironmentsummitinRio.Amongotherthings,thefindings

demonstratethatdramaticclimatechangeisnothingnewforplanetEarth.Thepleasantglobalenvironmentthathasexisted

overthepast10,000yearsisamerebrightspotinamuchlargerpatternofwidely30climateovertheages.In

feet,thepatternofclimatechangeinthepastrevealsthatEarth'sclimatewillalmostcertainlygothroughdramaticchanges

inthefutureevenwithouttheinfluenceofhumanactivity.

IILReadingComprehension

SectionA

Directions:ForeachblankinthefollowingpassagetherearefourwordsorphrasesmarkedA,B,C

andD.Fillineachblankwiththewordorphrasethatbestfitsthecontext.

Whafsthepurposeofphilosophy?AlfredNorthWhiteheadcharacterizeditasaseriesoffootnotestoPlato.Onthe

surface,wedon'tseemtohave3jmuchinthetwoandahalfmillenniasincePlatowrotehisdialogues.Today's

philosophersstillstrugglewithmanyofthesameissuesthatexercisedtheGreeks.

Comparedwithphilosophy,sciencehasbeenonelong32storysinceittookitsmodemforminthe17th

century.Ithasuncoveredtheworkingsofnatureandbroughtuntoldbenefitstohumanity.

33,notallphilosophersaretroubledbythiscontrast.Forsome,theworthofphilosophyliesintheprocess,

nottheproduct.AccordingtoSocrates?statement一"Theunexaminedlifeisnotworthliving?^^一theyholdthat34

onthehumanstatementisvaluableinitself.OtherstaketheirleadfromMarx—“Thephilosophershaveonlyinterpretedthe

world—andviewphilosophyasanengineofpoliticalchange,whosepurposeisnottoreflectreality,buttochangeit.Even

so,themajorityofcontemporaryphilosophersprobablystillthinkofphilosophyasaroutetothe35.

Accordingtothet4spin-ofF,theoryofphilosophicalprogress,allnewsciences36asbranchesofphilosophy,

andonlybecomeestablishedasseparatedisciplinesoncephilosophyhasgrantedthemtheessentialintellectualmeansto

surviveontheirown.Then,itis37tosupposethelackofprogressinphilosophy.Wheneverphilosophydoes

makeprogress,itcreatesanewsubject,whichthennolongercountsaspartofphilosophy.Thafs38itsprogress

ismaskedbytheconstantrenamingofitsintellectualfruits.

Philosophyhasn'tlefteverythingtootheruniversitydepartments,andstill39plentyofitsownquestionsto

exerciseitsownstudents.The40isthatitdoesn'tseemtohaveanydefiniteanswers.Whenitcomestotopics

likemorality,knowledge,freewill,consciousnessandsoon,thelecturersstill41arangeofoptionsthathave

beenaroundforalongtime.

Nodoubtsomeofthe42betweenphilosophyandscienceresultfromthedifferentmethodsofinvestigation

thattheyemploy.Wherephilosophyreliesonanalysisandargument,scienceisdevotedtodata.Itis43doubted

thatphilosophersdisagreemorethanscientists.Butargumentshaveloopholes(漏洞).Sothereisalwaysplentyofroomfor

philosopherstotakeissuewitheachother,wherescientistsbycontrasthaveto44whattheyaretold.

Perhapsthereismoreprogressinphilosophythanatfirstappears,evenapartfromthespin-offdisciplines.Judgingfrom

itsappearances,itmaylookasifnothingiseversettled.Butbehindthem,philosophyisbynomeansincapableof

45

31.A.progressedB.possessedC.addressedD.oppressed

32.A.horrorB.lifeC.caseD.success

33.A.ThereforeB.OtherwiseC.HoweverD.Moreover

34.A.reflectionB.basisC.relianceD.evaluation

35.A.equalityB.truthC.destinationD.peace

36.A.serveB.struggleC.startD.develop

37.A.naturalB.possibleC.difficultD.wrong

38.A.howB.whenC.whyD.where

39.A.reservesB.explainsC.analyzesD.comprehends

40.A.solutionB.differenceC.troubleD.impression

41.A.debateB.exploreC.preserveD.pursue

42.A.agreementsB.distinctionsC.optionsD.relations

43.A.generallyB.franklyC.privatelyD.scarcely

44.A.establishB.checkC.acceptD.present

45.A.sufferingB.peakingC.advancingD.signaling

SectionB

Directions:Readthefollowingtwopassages.Eachpassageisfollowedbyseveralquestionsorunfinished

statements.ForeachofthemtherearefourchoicesmarkedA,B,C,andD.Choosetheonethatfitsbest

accordingtotheinformationgiveninthepassageyouhavejustread.

(A)

Thenumberofdevicesyoucantalktoismultiplying-firstitwasyourphone,thenyourcar,andnowyoucanboss

aroundyourappliances.Childrenarelikelytogrowupthinkingeverythingisalive,oratleastinteractive.Oneappdeveloper

toldTheWashingtonthathissonstartedtalkingtocupmats.Butevenwithoutchattydevices,researchsuggeststhatunder

certaincircumstances,peoplepersonifyeverydayproducts.

Sometimesweseethingsashumanbecausewe'relonely.Inoneexperiment,peoplewhoreportedfeelingisolatedwere

morelikelythanotherstoattributefreewillandconsciousnesstovariousdevices.Inturn,feelingbeingrelatedtoobjectscan

reduceloneliness.Whencollegestudentswereremindedofatimethey'dbeenexcludedsocially,theymadeitupby

exaggeratingtheirnumberoffriendsonsocialmedia-unlesstheywerefirstgiventasksthatcausedthemtointeractwith

theirphoneasifithadhumanqualities.Thephoneapparentlystoodinforrealfriends.

Atothertimes,wepersonifyproductsinanefforttounderstandthem.Onestudyfoundthatthreeinfourrespondents

shoutedattheircomputerandthemoretheircomputergavethemproblems,themorelikelytheyweretoreportthatithad"its

ownbeliefsanddesires”.

Whenwepersonifyproducts,theybecomehardertocastoff.Afterbeingaskedtoevaluatetheircar'spersonality,people

werelesslikelytosaytheyintendedtoreplaceitsoon.Andpersonifyingobjectsisassociatedwithatendencytohoard.

Sohowdopeopleassigncharacteristicstoanobject?Inpart,werelyonlooks.Onhumans,widefacesareassociated

withdominance.Similarly,peopleratedcars,clocks,andwatcheswithwidefacesasmoredominantlookingthannarrow­

facedonesandpreferredthem.AnanalysisofcarsalesinGermanyfoundthatcarswithgrillesthatwereupturnedlikesmiles

andheadlightslikenarrowedeyessoldbest.Thepurchaserssawthesefeaturesasincreasingacar'sfriendlinessand

aggressiveness,respectively.

Ifslittlewondersomanycompaniesusemascotstobringbrandstolife.Aclassificationof1,151brandcharactersfound

symbolsthatwerehumanorhumanliketobewidespread:Peopleweremostpopular,accountingfor21percentofmascots,

followedbybirds,domesticatedanimals,wildanimals,andvariousplants.

Personifyingproductsandbrandscanbackfire,however.Whenacoffeemakerwaspersonifiedinanad("IamAroma^^

versusjust“Aroma"),men,butnotwomen,feltbetrayedbyincreasesinitsprice.Nowthatspeech-enabledcoffeemakers

areonthemarket,maybethemachinescansweet-talktheirwaybackintomen'shearts.

46.WhywouldthesonofanappdeveloperinParagraph1trytotalktocupmats?

A.Becauseherecognizeseverythingasbeinginteractive.

B.Becausehebelievesthecupmatshavetalkedtohim,

C.BecausehewantstorepeattheexperiencewithAlexa.

D.Becausehehasstronginterestsinmakingconversation.

47.Peoplearemostlikelytopersonifythingswhen.

A.theylackreallifefriendsandarenotabletomakeany

B.theyfindithardtounderstandotherpeoplearoundthem

C.theyfeellonelyandareawareofadesireforinteraction

D.theybecomeextremelyangrywithacertainproduct

48.Whichofthefollowingistrueregardingtheresultofpersonifyingproducts?

A.Dominant-lookingcarssellbestbecausewefindthemfriendlie匚

B.Wefindithardertogetridofthethingsthatweoncepersonified.

C.Productswithcertainfeaturesaremorelikelytobepersonified.

D.Weprefergood-lookingproductsandaremorelikelytobuythem.

49.Whichofthefollowingcanprobablymakethemostpopularbrandmascotaccordingtothepassage?

A.Agood-lookingdog.

B.Sunflowers.

C.HelloKitty,

D.SuperMarioBrothers.

(B)

TheElMaestrazgomountainregionofAragonisoneofSpain'smostunder-populatedareas.Thereinthetinyvillage

ofAguaviva,MarceloMartinezandGildaMazzeo,35-year-oldtransplantsfromBuenosAires,havebeenlearningtoembrace

theiradoptedhome."It'snotasisolatedasitlooks,saysMartinez,pointingoutthatthenearesttownis"only"30minutes

away.Mazzeolessconvinced,butevensheisfilledwithemotionassherecallshowkindlyherchildrenweretreatedwhen

thefamilyfirstarrived.tcTheygaveusfood,clothes,bicycles,everything.^^

Forthepasttwoyears,Aguavivahasbeenthecenterofalittle-knownplantorepopulateSpain'sremotevillageswith

familiesfromLatinAmerica.Settlersareattractedwithprepaidflights,jobs,andhousing——aticketoutofthepovertythat

hasspreadmuchoftheircontinent.LuisBricio,Aguaviva'smayorandfounderoftheAssociationofSpanishTownsAgainst

Depopulation,describeshisventureasanefforttosaveplacesthatwouldotherwise“disappear."Sincethe1950s,reducing

birthratesandmigrationtocitieshaveleftSpainwithmorethan2,000ghosttowns.Manymorevillagesarepopulatedonly

byhandfulsofpeopleintheir80s.

EnterArgentina,acountrystrugglingwithanunemploymentrateof12%.Inopinionpolls,one-thirdofitscitizenshave

saidtheywouldleaveiftheycould.Already,expertsestimate,asmanyas15,000ArgentineshavemovedtoSpaininthepast

year,nearlydoublingthenumberalreadythere.Justlastweek,Spainchangeditslawstoallowmothers—notjustfathers一

topassonnationality,doublingthenumbereligible(有资格的)tobecomeSpanishcitizenstomorethan720,000.InTeruel

province,whereAguavivalies,thepopulationisnowaround40%ofwhatitwasin1900."Therewereonlytwowaysto

changethesituation,saysBricio."Eitherforcepeopletohavemorebabiesorbringinyoungpeoplefromoutside.Wethought

LatinAmericanswouldintegraterapidly.Theyhadthelanguage,thecommonhistory.^^Bricioplacedaclassified

advertisementinanArgentinepaperandmadeanannouncementonaBuenosAiresradiostation,targetingcouplesunder40

withatleasttwochildren.Bythetimehearrivedtogivehispresentation,therewerealready6,000peoplewaitingtotalkto

him.''Argentina,therewasverylittlechanceofwork.^^saysSilviaHernandez,33,whorecentlymovedtoTeruelwithher

family."Thelifeourchildrenhavehere,theycouldneverhavehadinArgentina.,,

Bricio'sassociationhasnowplaced106adultsand142childreninSpanishvillages——112oftheminAguaviva.Two

yearsago,theprovincewassodesperatethatitstagedaprotestinMadridundertheslogan“DoesExist".Morerecently,a

nationalpaperranahappierheadline:"FirstbabybominTeruelvillagein30years.”

50.WhenMarceloMartinezandGildaMazzeomovedtoAguaviva,they.

A.feltdisappointedwithwhattheysawB.livedinatown30minutesaway

C.receivedhelpfromlocalsD.failedtofindanyjob

51.Thelittle-knownplan(inparagraph2)wasintendedto.

A.havemorepeopletoliveinsomealmostdesertedtowns

B.findoutwhytherearesomanyghosttownsinSpain

Ccalculatehowmanyplacesaredisappearing

D.preventtownspeoplemigratingtocities

52.WhatcanbelearnedfromthepassageaboutArgentinaandSpain?

A.Bothoftheirpopulationsareincreasing.

B.TheircitizenscancommunicateinSpanish.

C.Theyarebothstrugglingformoreemployment.

D.NeitherofthemappealtootherLatinAmericans.

53.Whichofthefollowingmightbethebesttitleofthepassage?

A.TheLandofOpportunity

B.NewLife,NewChallenge

C.TeruelSufferedintheLast30Years

D.LuisBricio,anAdventurerinForeignAffairs

SectionC

Directions:Completethefollowingpassagebyusingthesentencesgivenbelow.Eachsentencecanbe

usedonlyonce.Notethattherearetwomoresentencesthanyouneed.

PioneersofthePacific

Nooneissurehowtheydiditorevenwhytheydidit,butover3,000yearsagopeoplesailedintotheenormousemptiness

ofthePacificOceaninsimplecanoes.Withinafewcenturies,thesepeoplenowknownastheLapita——hadmigratedfrom

PapuaNewGuineatotheislandofTonga,atleast2,000milestotheeast.54Andtheydiscoveredandthen

inhabiteddozensoftropicalislandsneverbeforeseenbyhumaneyes:Vanuatu,NewCaledonia,Fiji,Samoa.

55AlthoughtheirvoyagebeganinthenorthernislandsofPapuaNewGuinea,theirlanguagecamefrom

Taiwan,andtheirstyleofpotterydecorationprobablyhaditsrootsinthenorthernPhilippines.SowhoweretheLapita?Did

theycomefromasinglepointinAsiaorfromseveraldifferentplaces?

Now,archaeologistsMatthewSpriggsandStuartBedfordoftheAustralianNationalUniversityareworkingtoanswer

thequestions.ALapitacemeteryontheislandoffateinthePacificnationofVanuatuhasrevealedinformationaboutLapita

customs,andDNAfromtheancientbonesmayhelptoanswerquestionsabouttheLapitapeople."Thisrepresentsthebest

opportunitywe'vehadyet,^^saysSpriggs,tofindoutwhotheLapitaactuallywere,wheretheycamefrom,andwhotheir

closestdescendantsaretoday.”

56AthollAnderson,professorofprehistoryattheAustralianNationalUniversity,suggeststhatElNino,

thesamewarmingofoceanwaterthataffectsthePacifictoday,mayhavehelped.Climatedataobtainedfromslow-growing

coralsaroundthePacificaridfromlake-bedsedimentsintheAndesofSou&Americaindicateaseriesofunusuallyfrequent

ElNinoaroundthetimeoftheLapitaexpansion.Byreversingtheregulareast-to-westflowofthetradewindsforweeks