下面是出国留学网小编为大家整理的2017年GRE阅读题练习：枕状熔岩，欢迎大家阅读。
P1
Volcanic rock that forms as fluid lava chills rapidly is called pillow lava. This rapid chilling occurs when lava erupts directly into water (or beneath ice) or when it flows across a shoreline and into a body of water. While the term "pillow lava" suggests a definite shape, in fact geologists disagree. Some geologists argue that pillow lava is characterized by discrete, ellipsoidal masses. Others describe pillow lava as a tangled mass of cylindrical, interconnected flow lobes. Much of this controversy probably results from unwarranted extrapolations of the original configuration of pillow flows from two-dimensional cross sections of eroded pillows in land outcroppings. Virtually any cross section cut through a tangled mass of interconnected flow lobes would give the appearance of a pile of discrete ellipsoidal masses. Adequate three-dimensional images of intact pillows are essential for defining the true geometry of pillowed flows and thus ascertaining their mode of origin. Indeed, the term “pillow,” itself suggestive of discrete masses, is probably a misnomer. (165 words)
1. In the passage, the author is primarily interested in
(A) analyzing the source of a scientific controversy
(B) criticizing some geologists‘ methodology
(C) pointing out the flaws in a geological study
(D) proposing a new theory to explain existing scientific evidence
(E) describing a physical phenomenon
For the following question, consider each of the choices separately and select all that apply
2. The author of the passage would most probably agree that the geologists mentioned in the fourth sentence have made which of the following errors in reasoning?
□A Generalized unjustifiably from available evidence.
□B Deliberately ignored existing counterevidence.
□C Repeatedly failed to take new evidence into account.
3. The author implies that the “controversy” might be resolved if
(A) geologists did not persist in using the term “pillow”
(B) geologists did not rely on potentially misleading information
(C) geologists were more willing to confer directly with one another
(D) two-dimensional cross sections of eroded pillows were available
(E) existing pillows in land outcroppings were not so badly eroded
P1
1
Volcanic rock that forms as fluid lava chills rapidly is called pillow lava.
岩浆快速冷却时时产生的火山岩被称为枕状熔岩。
2
This rapid chilling occurs when lava erupts directly into water (or beneath ice) or when it flows across a shoreline and into a body of water.
这种快速冷却往往属于以下情况，岩浆被直接喷入水中(或冰块下)或流过水域岸线而冲入水中。
3
While the term "pillow lava" suggests a definite shape, in fact geologists disagree.
虽然“枕式熔岩”从字面上看，貌似有确定的形态，但实际上地质学家对此存在争议。
4
Some geologists argue that pillow lava is characterized by discrete, ellipsoidal masses.
有些认为枕式熔岩是一些彼此分离的椭球状块体。
5
Others describe pillow lava as a tangled mass of cylindrical, interconnected flow lobes.
另外一些则把它描述成，由彼此相连的圆柱状岩叶构成的，扭结的块体。
(flow 此处做名词
a mass of material which has flowed when molten (MWC)熔融状态时可流动，凝结后成为固体块
lobe
a curved or rounded projection or division specifically : a usually somewhat rounded projection or division of a bodily organ or part (MWC)
指人体器官时，lobe 经常被翻译成“垂”，比如耳垂，或“叶”，如额叶、肺叶等，此处译作“岩叶”是不严谨的、权宜的、闭门造车的译法，会意即可，勿举一反三。)
6
Much of this controversy probably results from unwarranted extrapolations of the original configuration of pillow flows from two-dimensional cross sections of eroded pillows in land outcroppings.
很大程度上，这种争论可能是因为露出地表的枕式熔岩受到侵蚀，人们根据这些受到侵蚀的石块的二维断面，对它的初始构造做了不靠谱的推测。
(outcropping 也可以写作 outcrop，指石头、岩层等露出地表的部分。
稍微解释一下。
岩浆冲入水或冰，温度急剧下降，外部会迅速凝结一层岩壳，但内部的岩浆温度仍很高，仍是液态，仍向外扩张，于是会挤破岩壳，而冲出岩壳的岩浆再次迅速冷却。不断把冷却的旧壳推向两侧，就形成了“枕头”样的外形。而岩浆向外冲的路径，则表现为熔岩内部的放射状(因为一直往外喷)结构。
露出地表的枕式熔岩被侵蚀，也许一些“枕头”从整个岩体上剥落下来了，就给人一种 discrete ellipsoidal masses 的误解，正如句 4 那种观点。
做题不需要懂这些，这些是我查过资料结合文段写出来供同学作复盘用的。做题中把握作者和几种观点及其证据的态度就好了，不需要完全读懂文段，也应该能做对，这都属于背景知识。)
7
Virtually any cross section cut through a tangled mass of interconnected flow lobes would give the appearance of a pile of discrete ellipsoidal masses.
其实任何内部相连的岩叶扭结而成的岩块，其横断面看起来都好像一堆不连续的椭球岩块。
8
Adequate three-dimensional images of intact pillows are essential for defining the true geometry of pillowed flows and thus ascertaining their mode of origin.
想要真正在地质学意义上定义枕式熔岩流进而确定它的成因，充分观察完整的枕式熔岩的三维图像是至关重要的。
9
Indeed, the term “pillow,” itself suggestive of discrete masses, is probably a misnomer. (165 words)
实际上，“ 枕 ” 这个字面上就暗示了彼此离散块体的说法本身，可能是不恰当的。
1. In the passage, the author is primarily interested in
(A) analyzing the source of a scientific controversy
(B) criticizing some geologists‘ methodology
(C) pointing out the flaws in a geological study
(D) proposing a new theory to explain existing scientific evidence
(E) describing a physical phenomenon
选 A
分析一起科学争论的缘由，也就是句 4、5 两种观点之间的争论。
For the following question, consider each of the choices separately and select all that apply
2. The author of the passage would most probably agree that the geologists mentioned in the fourth sentence have made which of the following errors in reasoning?
□A Generalized unjustifiably from available evidence.
□B Deliberately ignored existing counter evidence.
□C Repeatedly failed to take new evidence into account.
选 A
我们先回到句 4：
Some geologists argue that pillow lava is characterized by discrete, ellipsoidal masses.
第一拨地质学家是这么认为的，分离的椭球状岩石。
综合句 7：
Virtually any cross section cut through a tangled mass of interconnected flow lobes would give the appearance of a pile of discrete ellipsoidal masses.
可见作者认为这些地质学家的想法是错的。
错在通过现有的证据(二维断面)做了错误的归纳，文中用的说法是 unwarranted extrapolations (句6)。
所以选 A 。
3. The author implies that the “controversy” might be resolved if
(A) geologists did not persist in using the term “pillow”
(B) geologists did not rely on potentially misleading information
(C) geologists were more willing to confer directly with one another
(D) two-dimensional cross sections of eroded pillows were available
(E) existing pillows in land outcroppings were not so badly eroded
选 B
作者暗示，只要地质学家不再依靠具有潜在误导作用的信息。
