Echinoderm Evolution

Passage
The echinoderms are a phylum of invertebrate animals that includes starfish, sea urchins, and
sand dollars. One feature that distinguishes echinoderms from other groups of organisms is their
system of locomotion—the bottoms of echinoderms are covered with a number of tiny tube feet,
which aid the echinoderm in feeding and slow movement on the ocean floor. Like other
invertebrates, echinoderms lack a backbone and have a fairly primitive nervous system. Unlike
many invertebrates, the soft bodies of which are often poorly preserved as fossils, echinoderms
have hard internal skeletons made of calcite. For this reason, echinoderms are well represented
in the fossil record. However, there are several puzzles surrounding the evolution of echinoderms.

1. According to paragraph 1, what is one reason that many echinoderms were preserved as
fossils?
A. Echinoderms do not have backbones.
B. Echinoderms have many small body parts that can be easily preserved.
C. Echinoderms have hard structures inside their bodies.
D. Echinoderms have feet that allow them to move across the seafloor.

One major mystery surrounding echinoderms is how they originated. The first clearly
recognizable echinoderms appeared around 540 million years ago during the Cambrian period;
however, these first echinoderms were already fairly complex. Paleontologists have been unable
to conclusively identify a simpler organism that could have been the ancestor of the
echinoderms. One fossil that has been tentatively suggested as an ancestral echinoderm is
Tribrachidium, which dates to the Ediacaran period just before the Cambrian. Tribrachidium is a
round, flat, disc-shaped fossil that was discovered in 1959. Some paleontologists have
suggested that Tribrachidium could have been a primitive echinoderm, as it shares the radial
body plan of modern echinoderms. A radial body plan is one in which an organism’s body is
composed of parts that are arranged symmetrically around the center, like the petals of a flower.
Since most known echinoderms have radial body plans, the radial symmetry of Tribrachidium has
been viewed as suggestive of an evolutionary relationship. However, Tribrachidium has now been
discounted as an ancestral echinoderm since it has triradial (three-point) symmetry instead of
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the pentaradial (five-point) symmetry found in adult echinoderms. In 1985, Tribrachidium was
placed in its own phylum, a group with no known living descendants.

2. Which of the following best describes the relationship of paragraph 2 to paragraph 1?

A. Paragraph 2 provides an explanation for the unusual physical characteristics of
echinoderms introduced in paragraph 1.
B. Paragraph 2 explains some of the differences among types of echinoderms introduced
in paragraph 1.
C. Paragraph 2 gives an example of one of the puzzles about echinoderm evolution
mentioned in paragraph 1.
D. Paragraph 2 presents additional information about the similarities between
echinoderms and other invertebrates discussed in paragraph 1.

3. It can be inferred that scientists believe which of the following about the “first clearly
recognizable echinoderms”?
A. They could actually be misidentified Tribrachidium fossils.
B. They became fossilized during the Ediacaran period.
C. They had different body plans than modern echinoderms.
D. They are too complex to be the earliest form of the animal.

4. According to paragraph 2, why do some scientists believe that Tribrachidium may not
actually be an ancestor of the echinoderms?
A. It appears at the same point as echinoderms in the fossil record.
B. Its body plan is not the same as that of adult echinoderms.
C. Its body parts are arranged symmetrically around a center.
D. It is more primitive than paleontologists would have expected an echinoderm ancestor
to be.

Another puzzle related to echinoderm evolution is how and why these organisms acquired their
distinctive radial body plan. Among animals, all but the most primitive have bilateral symmetry—
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the left sides of their bodies are roughly mirror images of the right sides. Two main groups of
animals have radial symmetry instead. One of these groups is jellyfish, which are extremely
primitive and are assumed never to have evolved bilateral symmetry. The other radially
symmetrical group is the echinoderms, which are fairly sophisticated. In fact, biologists know that
the echinoderms did once have bilateral symmetry because the free-swimming larvae (young) of
echinoderms are bilaterally symmetrical. Once the larvae settle down on the ocean floor, they
develop the radial symmetry of adult echinoderms. It is not clear why echinoderms do not retain
bilateral symmetry as adults.

5. The word “distinctive” in the passage is closest in meaning to:

A. familiar
B. characteristic
C. complex
D. attractive

6. According to paragraph 3, in which of the following ways are jellyfish different from
echinoderms?
A. Jellyfish have the same body plan through all stages of life.
B. Jellyfish are not as primitive as echinoderms.
C. Jellyfish develop radial symmetry later than echinoderms do.
D. Jellyfish larvae live on the ocean surface.

Paleontologists are always attempting to determine evolutionary relationships among organisms.

▉One widely accepted hypothesis is that echinoderms are closely related to vertebrates—the
group of animals that includes fish, reptiles, and mammals. ▉Although adult echinoderms do not
resemble vertebrates, biologists have based this conclusion on DNA comparisons and
embryological evidence. ▉In most non-echinoderm invertebrates, the mouth forms from the first
opening in the embryo (an early stage of development), whereas in both echinoderm and
vertebrate embryos the mouth develops from a secondary opening. ▉

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 7. In paragraph 4, why does the author discuss mouth development in various types of
animals?
A. To identify a feature of echinoderms that may connect them to vertebrates
B. To contradict the hypothesis that echinoderms are closely related to vertebrates.
C. To demonstrate how embryological evidence is used to show that echinoderms are not
closely linked to fish and mammals.
D. To explain why DNA comparisons and embryological evidence are useful for biologists.

A group of animals called carpoids, which are only known through the fossil record, have been
considered to be intermediate between echinoderms and chordates, a group that includes all
vertebrates. Carpoids share several characteristics with vertebrates, including gill slits and a
complex nervous system. In fact, some experts have placed them near or at the beginning of
chordate evolution. However, carpoids possess a skeleton of calcite plates identical to that of
echinoderms. A calcite skeleton is not present in any chordates. Furthermore, no ancestral genes
for calcite skeleton development have been identified in any present-day chordates, which
indicates that chordates and echinoderms most likely followed their own evolutionary paths and
that carpoids are echinoderms. In 2012, scientists reported the discovery in southern Europe of
fossils from the early middle Cambrian period; these fossils show adult echinoderms with a fully
bilateral body plan. The animals represented by these fossils may be the earliest echinoderms
from which all other echinoderms evolved.

8. According to paragraph 5, what is one reason scientists have concluded that carpoids are
echinoderms and that they are not related to chordates?
A. Chordates have been traced back to fossils found in southern Europe in 2012.
B. Present-day carpoids are very different from vertebrates.
C. Carpoids and echinoderms both have complex nervous systems.
D. Carpoids have a calcite-plate skeleton just like that of echinoderms.

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 Look at the four squares [▉] that indicate where the following sentence can be added to
9.
the passage. Where would the sentence best fit?
Researchers have looked at how the mouth forms in vertebrate and invertebrate
embryos.

10. Directions: An introductory sentence for a brief summary of the passage is provided
below. Complete the summary by selecting the three answer choices that express the
most important ideas in the passage. Some sentences do not belong in the summary
because they express ideas that are not presented in the passage or are minor ideas in
the passage. (This question is worth two points.)
A. While echinoderms found in the fossil record lacked the ability to move from one place
to another, it is possible that pre-Cambrian forms had a system of locomotion.
B. Echinoderms are one of only two groups of animals to have radial body symmetry, but
unlike jellyfish, echinoderms did have bilateral symmetry at one time.
C.According to one theory, there is a direct evolutionary path linking echinoderms to
carpoids and later to vertebrates, but there is much evidence against this theory.
D.Although it is unclear how its pentaradial symmetry evolved into a triradial symmetry.
Tribrachidium is now considered one of the primitive ancestors of echinoderms.
E.Some scientists who study fossils have proposed that echinoderms may be distantly
related to jellyfish, but no intermediary from has yet been identified.
F.One puzzle seems to have been solved by the recent identification of fossils that may
have been early ancestors of echinoderms.

Answer Key
Question 1
Answer: C. Echinoderms have hard structures inside their bodies.
In Paragraph 1, it states, "Unlike many invertebrates, the soft bodies of which are often poorly
preserved as fossils, echinoderms have hard internal skeletons made of calcite." This indicates
that the presence of "hard internal skeletons" is a primary reason why echinoderms are well
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represented in the fossil record. This sentence highlights the key distinction between
echinoderms and other invertebrates, supporting the choice.
在第1段中提到，“与许多无脊椎动物不同，柔软的身体往往在化石中保存不良，而棘皮动物则具有由方
解石构成的坚硬内骨架。”这表明“坚硬的内骨架”是棘皮动物在化石记录中保存良好的主要原因。这句话
强调了棘皮动物与其他无脊椎动物的关键区别，从而支持了选项C。

Question 2
Answer: C. Paragraph 2 gives an example of one of the puzzles about echinoderm evolution
mentioned in paragraph 1.
Paragraph 1 introduces "several puzzles surrounding the evolution of echinoderms." Paragraph 2
discusses the complexity of the first echinoderms and mentions the fossil Tribrachidium as a
potential ancestor, concluding that it has been "discounted as an ancestral echinoderm." This
example directly illustrates one of the puzzles about echinoderm evolution, confirming choice C.
第1段提到“围绕棘皮动物进化的几个难题。”第2段讨论了最早的棘皮动物的复杂性，并提到化石三叉盘
生物作为潜在的祖先，最终得出它已被“驳回作为棘皮动物的祖先”。这个例子直接说明了关于棘皮动物
进化的一个难题，因此选择C是正确的。

Question 3
Answer: D. They are too complex to be the earliest form of the animal.
The passage states that "the first clearly recognizable echinoderms appeared around 540 million
years ago... however, these first echinoderms were already fairly complex." This suggests that
these early forms are not simple organisms, implying that they may be "too complex to be the
earliest form of the animal." This reasoning leads to choice D.
文章指出“第一个清晰可辨的棘皮动物出现在约5.4亿年前……然而，这些最早的棘皮动物已经相当复
杂。”这表明这些早期形式不是简单的生物，暗示它们“太复杂，不可能是动物的最早形式”。这种推理指
向选择D。

Question 4
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Answer: B. Its body plan is not the same as that of adult echinoderms.
The passage notes that Tribrachidium has "triradial (three-point) symmetry instead of the
pentaradial (five-point) symmetry found in adult echinoderms." This distinction emphasizes that
the body plan of Tribrachidium differs significantly from that of adult echinoderms, supporting
the conclusion that it may not be an ancestor. This critical information leads to choice B.
文章提到三叉盘生物具有“与成年棘皮动物不同的三辐（三个点）对称，而成年棘皮动物则具有五辐（五
个点）对称。”这一区别强调三叉盘生物的体制与成年棘皮动物有显著不同，这支持了选择B。

Question 5
Answer: B. characteristic.
The word "distinctive" in the context of the passage describes the "radial body plan" of
echinoderms. A synonym that fits this context is "characteristic," as it denotes a trait that makes
echinoderms unique compared to other animals. This connection clarifies the meaning, leading to
choice B.
在文中，“distinctive”一词描述的是棘皮动物的“辐射体制”。一个适合这个上下文的同义词
是“Characteristic”，因为它表示使棘皮动物独特的特性。因此选择B是正确的。

Question 6
Answer: A. Jellyfish have the same body plan through all stages of life.
The passage states that "jellyfish... are assumed never to have evolved bilateral symmetry" and
suggests they maintain a consistent body plan. In contrast, echinoderms transition from bilateral
symmetry as larvae to radial symmetry as adults. This difference emphasizes that jellyfish do not
change body plans, leading to choice A.
文章提到“水母……被认为从未进化出双侧对称”，并暗示它们保持一致的体制。相比之下，棘皮动物的
幼虫在成为成体之前会经历双侧对称的阶段。这一差异强调水母不会改变体制，从而支持选择A。

Question 7

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Answer: A. To identify a feature of echinoderms that may connect them to vertebrates.
The passage explains that "in both echinoderm and vertebrate embryos the mouth develops from
a secondary opening," which is a significant connection between these groups. This information
suggests a relationship and illustrates why the author discusses mouth development, leading to
choice A.
文章提到“虽然成年棘皮动物与脊椎动物没有相似之处，但生物学家基于DNA比较和胚胎发育证据得出这
一结论。”这段话强调了嘴部发育的相关性，表明在胚胎阶段棘皮动物和脊椎动物之间存在一种联系。通
过讨论嘴部如何在不同动物胚胎中发育，作者说明了这一特征如何支持它们之间的进化关系。因此，选
择A是正确的。

Question 8
Answer: D. Carpoids have a calcite-plate skeleton just like that of echinoderms.
The passage notes that "carpoids possess a skeleton of calcite plates identical to that of
echinoderms," indicating a critical similarity that leads scientists to classify carpoids as
echinoderms rather than chordates. This connection supports choice D.
文中指出，“三叉盘生物拥有与棘皮动物相同的钙质板骨架，这在任何脊椎动物中都不存在。”这一信息
清楚地表明三叉盘生物与棘皮动物之间的相似性，支持科学家认为三叉盘生物是棘皮动物的观点。这种
相似性是判断它们之间关系的关键证据，因此选择D是正确的。

Question 9
The sentence, "Researchers have looked at how the mouth forms in vertebrate and
invertebrate embryos," should be placed in the 3rd box, immediately after the sentence about
DNA comparisons and embryological evidence.
This insertion enhances the discussion about the embryological evidence that supports the
evolutionary link between echinoderms and vertebrates. It provides a direct segue into explaining
the significance of mouth formation in embryos, illustrating a specific aspect of embryological
development that reinforces the argument for a shared evolutionary pathway. By placing it here,
it connects the general discussion of evidence to a concrete example, strengthening the overall
argument.

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最佳插入位置：在“虽然成年棘皮动物与脊椎动物不同，但生物学家基于DNA比较和胚胎发育证据得出这
一结论。”之后。在此位置插入“研究人员研究了脊椎动物和无脊椎动物胚胎中嘴部的形成”这句话，可以
为接下来的胚胎发育讨论提供背景。这句话为生物学家如何得出结论提供了具体的实例，从而强调嘴部
发育在确定棘皮动物与脊椎动物之间联系中的重要性。这个位置可以更好地衔接文章的逻辑，使论点更
加连贯。

Question 10
Answers: B, C, F.
1. A. While echinoderms found in the fossil record lacked the ability to move from one place
to another, it is possible that pre-Cambrian forms had a system of locomotion.
❌ This statement introduces an idea about locomotion that isn’t discussed in the passage.
The focus of the passage is on the evolutionary characteristics and relationships of
echinoderms, rather than their movement capabilities in the fossil record.
这个陈述引入了一个关于运动的观点，而在文章中并没有讨论。文章的重点是棘皮动物的进化特征
和关系，而不是它们在化石记录中的移动能力。
2. B. Echinoderms are one of only two groups of animals to have radial body symmetry, but
unlike jellyfish, echinoderms did have bilateral symmetry at one time.
✅ This choice accurately reflects a significant point made in the passage about
echinoderms having radial symmetry and their evolutionary history. It captures the idea that
echinoderms once exhibited bilateral symmetry, highlighting their unique evolutionary path
compared to jellyfish.
这个选项准确反映了文章中关于棘皮动物具有辐射对称性及其进化历史的一个重要观点。它捕捉到
了棘皮动物曾表现出双侧对称性的思想，突显了它们与水母相比的独特进化路径。
3. C. According to one theory, there is a direct evolutionary path linking echinoderms to
carpoids and later to vertebrates, but there is much evidence against this theory.
✅ This statement encapsulates the discussion about carpoids and their proposed
relationship to echinoderms and vertebrates. It reflects the idea that while there is a
hypothesis connecting these groups, the passage also presents evidence suggesting they
followed separate evolutionary paths. This complexity in evolutionary relationships is a key
theme in the text.

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 这个陈述概括了关于三叉盘生物及其与棘皮动物和脊椎动物提议关系的讨论。它反映了尽管有假说
将这些群体连接起来，但文章也提出了证据表明它们遵循了不同的进化路径。进化关系的复杂性是
文章的一个关键主题。
4. D. Although it is unclear how its pentaradial symmetry evolved into a triradial symmetry,
Tribrachidium is now considered one of the primitive ancestors of echinoderms.
❌ This choice is misleading because the passage states that Tribrachidium has been
discounted as an ancestor due to its triradial symmetry, which differs from the pentaradial
symmetry of adult echinoderms. Therefore, claiming it is considered one of the primitive
ancestors contradicts the information in the passage.
这个选择具有误导性，因为文章指出，三叉盘生物因其三辐对称而被排除为祖先，这与成年棘皮动
物的五辐对称不同。因此，声称它被认为是原始祖先之一与文章中的信息相矛盾。
5. E. Some scientists who study fossils have proposed that echinoderms may be distantly
related to jellyfish, but no intermediary form has yet been identified.
❌ While the passage discusses relationships among groups, it does not support a clear
proposal of a distant relation between echinoderms and jellyfish without any evidence. The
text focuses on echinoderm evolution rather than establishing a direct relationship with
jellyfish, making this choice less relevant.
虽然文章讨论了各组之间的关系，但并没有支持棘皮动物与水母之间存在清晰的远缘关系的提议，
且没有任何证据。文本专注于棘皮动物的进化，而不是与水母建立直接关系，因此这个选择不太相
关。
6. F. One puzzle seems to have been solved by the recent identification of fossils that may
have been early ancestors of echinoderms.
✅ This choice reflects the passage’s conclusion regarding the discovery of fossils that could
represent early echinoderms. This finding addresses some of the evolutionary mysteries
mentioned throughout the text, making it a key point in understanding the evolution of
echinoderms.
这个选择反映了文章关于可能代表早期棘皮动物的化石发现的结论。这一发现解决了文章中提到的
一些进化谜题，使其成为理解棘皮动物进化的关键点。

Vocabulary
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 Word Pronunciation Meaning Chinese
Echinoderm /ˌɛkɪˈnoʊdɜrm/ A marine animal of a phylum 棘皮动物
characterized by a hard internal
skeleton.
Fossil /ˈfɑːsəl/ The preserved remains or traces of 化石
a once-living organism.
Locomotion /ˌloʊkəˈmoʊʃən/ The ability to move from one place 运动能力
to another.
Radial /ˈreɪdiəl/ Arranged like rays from a center; 辐射的
having radial symmetry.
Symmetry /ˈsɪmətri/ The quality of being made up of 对称性
exactly similar parts facing each
other or around an axis.
Primitive /ˈprɪmətɪv/ Relating to the earliest age or 原始的
stage; simple or basic.
Ancestral /ænˈsɛstrəl/ Relating to one's ancestors; 祖先的
preceding in evolution.
Hypothesis /haɪˈpɑːθɪsɪs/ A proposed explanation for a 假说
phenomenon, to be tested.
Evidence /ˈɛvɪdəns/ Information that supports a belief 证据
or proposition.
Evolution /ˌiːvəˈluːʃən/ The process by which different 进化
kinds of living organisms develop
and diversify.
Relationship /rɪˈleɪʃənˌʃɪp/ The way in which two or more 关系
concepts, objects, or people are
connected.
Intermediate /ˌɪntərˈmiːdiət/ Being or occurring between two 中间的
extremes; moderate.

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Distinctive /dɪˈstɪŋktɪv/ Characteristic of one person or 独特的
thing, and so serving to distinguish
it from others.
Characteristics /ˌkɛrɪktəˈrɪstɪks/ Features or qualities that define or 特征
distinguish something.
Development /dɪˈvɛləpmənt/ The process of developing or being 发展
developed.
Complexity /kəmˈplɛksɪti/ The state or quality of being 复杂性
intricate or complicated.
Paleontologist /ˌpeɪliən A scientist who studies fossils and 古生物学家
ˈtɒlədʒɪst/ ancient life forms.
Tentatively /ˈtɛntətɪvli/ Subject to further confirmation; not 暂时地
definite or certain.
Fossilized /ˈfɑːsəlaɪzd/ Preserved in fossil form; turned 化石化的
into a fossil.
Symmetrically /ˌsɪməˈtrɪkli/ In a way that shows symmetry; 对称地
evenly balanced.
Lineage /ˈlɪniɪdʒ/ Direct descent from an ancestor; 血统
ancestry.
Diverged /daɪˈvɜrdʒd/ To separate and develop in 分歧
different directions.

Chinese Translation

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棘皮动物的进化
棘皮动物是一个无脊椎动物门类，包括海星、海胆和沙钱。棘皮动物与其他类群有一个显著的区
别在于其运动系统——棘皮动物的底部覆盖着许多微小的管足，这些管足有助于棘皮动物在海底觅食
和缓慢移动。与其他无脊椎动物一样，棘皮动物没有脊椎，并且具有相对原始的神经系统。与许多无
脊椎动物不同的是，后者的软体通常不容易保存为化石，棘皮动物有由方解石构成的硬内部骨骼。因
此，棘皮动物在化石记录中保存得很好。然而，关于棘皮动物的进化还有几个谜团。

1. 根据第一段，许多棘皮动物被保存为化石的一个原因是什么？
○ A. 棘皮动物没有脊椎。
○ B. 棘皮动物有许多容易保存的小身体部分。
○ C. 棘皮动物体内有硬结构。
○ D. 棘皮动物的脚使它们能够在海底移动。

一个主要的谜团是棘皮动物是如何起源的。第一个清晰可辨的棘皮动物出现在大约5.4亿年前的
寒武纪时期；然而，这些早期的棘皮动物已经相当复杂。古生物学家未能明确识别出可能是棘皮动物
祖先的简单生物。有一个化石曾被暂时认为是棘皮动物的祖先，它是三叉盘生物，年代可以追溯到寒
武纪之前的埃迪卡拉纪。三叉盘生物是一个圆形、扁平、盘状的化石，于1959年被发现。一些古生物
学家认为三叉盘生物可能是原始的棘皮动物，因为它具有现代棘皮动物的辐射对称体制。辐射对称体
制是指生物体的部分围绕中心对称排列，就像花瓣一样。由于大多数已知的棘皮动物具有辐射对称体
制，三叉盘生物的辐射对称性被认为暗示了一种进化关系。然而，由于三叉盘生物具有三射对称（三
个点）而不是成年棘皮动物的五射对称（五个点），它现在被认为不是棘皮动物的祖先。1985年，三
叉盘生物被归入自己的门类，一个没有已知现存后代的类群。

2. 下列哪一项最好地描述了第二段与第一段的关系？
○ A. 第二段解释了第一段中介绍的棘皮动物不寻常的身体特征。
○ B. 第二段解释了第一段中介绍的各种棘皮动物的差异。
○ C. 第二段举例说明了第一段中提到的关于棘皮动物进化的谜团之一。
○ D. 第二段提供了关于棘皮动物和其他无脊椎动物相似性的额外信息。
○

3. 可以推断出科学家认为关于“第一个清晰可辨的棘皮动物”以下哪一项是正确的？
○ A. 它们实际上可能是误认的三叉盘生物化石。
○ B. 它们在埃迪卡拉纪时期被石化。

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 ○ C. 它们的体制与现代棘皮动物不同。
○ D. 它们太复杂，不可能是动物的最早形式。
○

4. 根据第二段，为什么一些科学家认为三叉盘生物可能实际上不是棘皮动物的祖先？
○ A. 它出现在化石记录中与棘皮动物同一时间。
○ B. 它的体制与成年棘皮动物不同。
○ C. 它的身体部分围绕中心对称排列。
○ D. 它比古生物学家预期的棘皮动物祖先更原始。

另一个与棘皮动物进化相关的谜团是这些生物是如何以及为何获得其独特的辐射对称体制。在动
物中，除最原始的以外，所有动物都有两侧对称——身体的左侧大致是右侧的镜像。只有两个主要的
动物类群具有辐射对称体制。其中之一是水母，它们非常原始，被认为从未进化出两侧对称。另一个
辐射对称类群是棘皮动物，它们相当复杂。事实上，生物学家知道棘皮动物曾经有过两侧对称，因为
棘皮动物的自由游动幼虫（幼体）是两侧对称的。一旦幼虫定居在海底，它们就会发展成成年棘皮动
物的辐射对称。尚不清楚为什么棘皮动物在成体时不保留两侧对称。

5. 文中“distinctive”一词在文中的意思最接近：
○ A. 熟悉的
○ B. 特有的
○ C. 复杂的
○ D. 有吸引力的

6. 根据第三段，下列哪一项是水母与棘皮动物的不同之处？
○ A. 水母在生命的所有阶段都有相同的体制。
○ B. 水母没有棘皮动物那么原始。
○ C. 水母比棘皮动物更晚发展出辐射对称。
○ D. 水母幼虫生活在海洋表面。

古生物学家一直在试图确定生物之间的进化关系。▉一种广泛接受的假说是棘皮动物与脊椎动物
密切相关——脊椎动物包括鱼类、爬行动物和哺乳动物。▉虽然成年棘皮动物与脊椎动物不相似，但
生物学家基于DNA比较和胚胎学证据得出了这一结论。▉ 在大多数非棘皮动物无脊椎动物中，口从

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胚胎的第一个开口形成（发育的早期阶段），而在棘皮动物和脊椎动物胚胎中，口从第二个开口发
育。▉

7. 在第四段中，作者为什么讨论不同类型动物的口部发育？
○ A. 为了确定棘皮动物可能与脊椎动物相关的一个特征
○ B. 为了反驳棘皮动物与脊椎动物密切相关的假说。
○ C. 为了展示胚胎学证据如何用来证明棘皮动物与鱼类和哺乳动物没有密切关系。
○ D. 为了解释DNA比较和胚胎学证据对生物学家有何用途。

一种叫做硬骨类的动物群，只有通过化石记录才为人所知，被认为是棘皮动物和脊索动物之间的
中间类群，脊索动物包括所有脊椎动物。硬骨类与脊椎动物共享几个特征，包括鳃裂和复杂的神经系
统。事实上，一些专家将它们置于脊索动物进化的起始位置或接近起始位置。然而，硬骨类拥有与棘
皮动物相同的方解石板骨骼。任何脊索动物都没有方解石骨骼。此外，任何现存脊索动物中都没有识
别出方解石骨骼发育的祖先基因，这表明脊索动物和棘皮动物很可能沿着各自的进化路径发展，而硬
骨类是棘皮动物。2012年，科学家在南欧发现了中寒武纪早期的化石，这些化石显示成年棘皮动物具
有完全的两侧对称体制。这些化石所代表的动物可能是所有其他棘皮动物进化而来的最早棘皮动物。

8. 根据第五段，科学家得出硬骨类是棘皮动物而不是脊索动物的一个原因是什么？
○ A. 脊索动物已经追溯到2012年在南欧发现的化石。
○ B. 现存的硬骨类与脊椎动物非常不同。
○ C. 硬骨类和棘皮动物都有复杂的神经系统。
○ D. 硬骨类具有与棘皮动物相同的方解石板骨骼。

9. 查看标有[▉]的四个方框，指示以下句子可以添加到文章中的位置。该句子最适合放在哪里？
研究人员研究了脊椎动物和无脊椎动物胚胎中嘴部的形成。

10. 下面提供了一句引导性句子，用于简要总结这段文章。通过选择3个表达文章中最重要思想的答
案选项来完成总结。一些句子不适合总结，因为它们表达的观点在文章中没有出现或是次要观
点。
关于棘皮动物（包括海星、海胆和沙钱）有几个进化之谜。
○ A. 尽管在化石记录中发现的棘皮动物缺乏从一个地方移动到另一个地方的能力，但有可能前

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 寒武纪的形态具备某种运动系统。
○ B. 棘皮动物是仅有的两类具有辐射体对称性的动物之一，但与水母不同，棘皮动物曾经具有
双侧对称性。
○ C. 根据一种理论，棘皮动物与三叉盘生物及后来的脊椎动物之间存在直接的进化关系，但有
很多证据反对这一理论。
○ D. 尽管尚不清楚其五辐对称是如何演变为三辐对称的，但三叉盘生物现在被认为是棘皮动物
的原始祖先之一。
○ E. 一些研究化石的科学家提出，棘皮动物可能与水母远缘相关，但尚未发现任何中介形式。
○ F. 最近发现的化石可能是棘皮动物早期祖先的身份似乎解决了一个难题。

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