话题一：社会文化类
(一)
(2011·课标全国)
When milk arrived on the doorstep
When I was a boy growing up in New Jersey in the 1960s, we had a milkman delivering milk to our doorstep. His name was Mr. Basille. He wore a white cap and drove a white truck. As a 5-year-old boy, I couldn't take my eyes off the coin changer fixed to his belt. He noticed this one day during a delivery and gave me a quarter out of his coin changer.
Of course, he delivered more than milk. There was cheese, eggs and so on. If we needed to change our order, my mother would pen a note －―Please add a bottle of buttermilk next delivery‖－and place it in the box along with the empty bottles. And then, the buttermilk would magically appear.
All of this was about more than convenience. There existed a close relationship between families and their milkmen. Mr. Basille even had a key to our house, for those times when it was so cold outside that we put the box indoors, so that the milk wouldn't freeze. And I remember Mr.Basille from time to time taking a break at our kitchen table, having a cup of tea and telling stories about his delivery.
There is sadly no home milk delivery today. Big companies allowed the production of cheaper milk, thus making it difficult for milkmen to compete. Besides, milk is for sale everywhere, and it may just not have been practical to have a delivery service.
Recently, an old milk box in the countryside I saw brought back my childhood memories. I took it home and planted it on the back porch (门廊). Every so often my son's friends will ask what it is. So I start telling stories of my boyhood, and of the milkman who brought us friendship along with his milk.
1．Mr. Basille gave the boy a quarter out of his coin changer
________.
A．to show his magical power
B．to pay for the delivery
C．to satisfy his curiosity
D．to please his mother
2．What can be inferred from the fact that the milkman had the key to the boy's house?
A．He wanted to have tea there.
B．He was treated as a family member.
C．He was a respectable person.
D．He was fully trusted by the family.
3．Why does home milk delivery no longer exist?
A．Nobody wants to be a milkman now.
B．It has been driven out of the market.
C．Its service is getting poor.
D．It is forbidden by law.
4．Why did the author bring back home an old milk box?
A．He missed the good old days.
B．He wanted to tell interesting stories.
C．He needed it for his milk bottles.
D．He planted flowers in it.
答案与解析
1.C推理判断题。根据第一段最后可以看出，当时作者只是一个5岁的孩子，对送奶人腰带上的投币器很好奇，善良的送奶人把一枚硬币送给作者，是为了满足其好奇心，所以应选C项。
2.D推理判断题。根据第三段第二句可知，家里人与送奶人之间关系很密切，送奶人甚至有家里的钥匙，由此推断送奶人得到了充分的信任，故选D项。
3.B细节理解题。根据第四段可知，激烈的竞争和购买的便利使得送奶上门退出了市场，无法存在下去，故选B项。
4.A推理判断题。由最后一段可以看出，作者有一种怀旧的心理，想念儿时的时光，感觉送奶人送来牛奶的同时，也带来了友谊，故选A项。
(二)
(2011·课标全国)
While small may be beautiful, tall is just plain uncomfortable it seems, particularly when it comes to staying in hotels and eating in restaurants.
The Tall Persons Club Great Britain (TPCGB), which was formed six months ago to campaign for the needs of the tall, has turned its attention to hotels and restaurants. Beds that are too small，shower heads that are too low, and restaurant tables with hardly any leg-room all make life difficult for those of above average height, it says.
But it is not just the extra-tall whose needs are not being met. The average height of the population has been increasing yet the standard size of beds, doorways, and chairs has remained unchanged.
“The bedding industry says a bed should be six inches larger than the person using it, so even a king-size bed at 6′6″ (6 feet and 6 inches) is falling short for 25% of men, while the standard 6′3″bed caters for less than half of the male population，” said TPCGB president Phil Heinricy，“Seven-foot beds would work fine.”
Similarly, restaurant tables can cause no end of problems. Small tables, which mean the long-legged have to sit a foot or so away from them, are enough to make tall customers go elsewhere.
Some have already taken note, however. At Queens Moat Houses' Caledonian Hotel in Edinburgh, 6′6″ beds are now put in as standard after requests for longer beds from taller visitors，particularly Americans.
1．What is the purpose of the TPCGB campaign?
A．To provide better services.
B．To rebuild hotels and restaurants.
C．To draw public attention to the needs of the tall.
D．To attract more people to become its members.
2．Which of the following might be a bed of proper length according to Phil Heinricy?
A．7′2″
B．7′
C．6′6″
D．6′3″
3．What may happen to restaurants with small tables?
A．They may lose some customers.
B．They may start businesses elsewhere.
C．They have to find easy chairs to match the tables.
D．They have to provide enough space for the long-legged.
4．What change has already been made in a hotel in Edinburgh?
A. Tall people pay more for larger beds.
B．6′6″ beds have taken the place of 6′3″ beds.
C．Special rooms are kept for Americans.
D．Guest rooms are standardized.
答案与解析
1.C细节理解题。根据第二段第一句话可知，这次活动的目的是引起公众对高个子的人的需要的关注。
2.B细节理解题。根据第四段最后一句中的“Seven-foot beds would work fine.”可知，床铺的合适长度是7英尺。
3.A推理判断题。根据第五段可知，餐桌太小会使高个子的人们到别的地方去(吃饭)，也就是说，餐桌太小的饭店会失去一些客人。
4.B细节理解题。根据最后一段可知，爱丁堡的一家宾馆已经使用6英尺6英寸的床铺作为标准床铺，故选B项。
(三)
(2011·课标全国)
Cassandra Feeley finds it hard to manage on her husband's income. So this year she did something more than a hobby: She planted vegetables in her yard. For her first garden, Ms. Feeley has put in 15 tomato plants, and five rows of a variety of vegetables. The family's old farm house has become a chicken house, its residents arriving next month. Last year, Ms. Rita Gartin kept a small garden. This year she has made it much larger because, she said, “The cost of everything is going up and I was looking to lose a few pounds, too; so it's a win-win situation all around.”
They are among the growing number of Americans who, driven by higher living costs and a falling economy (经济), have taken up vegetable gardening for the first time. Others have increased the size of their existing gardens. Seed companies and garden shops say that not since the 1970s has there been such an increase in interest in growing food at home. Now many gardens across the country have been sold out for several months. In Austin, Tex., some of the gardens have a three-year waiting list.
George C. Ball Jr., owner of a company, said sales of vegetable seeds and plants are up by 40% over last year, double the average growth of the last five years. Mr. Ball argues that some of the reasons have been building for the last few years. The big one is the striking rise in the cost of food like bread and milk, together with the increases in the price of fruits and vegetables. Food prices have increased because of higher oil prices. People are now driving less, taking fewer vacations, so there is more time to garden.
1．What does the word ―residents‖ in Paragraph 1 probably refer to?
A．chickens
B．tomatoes
C．gardens
D．people
2．Why is vegetable gardening becoming increasingly popular?
A．More Americans are doing it for fun.
B．The price of oil is lower than before.
C．There's a growing need for fruits.
D．The cost of living is on the rise.
3．Which of the following might be the best title for the text?
A．Family Food Planning
B．Banking on Gardening
C．A Belt-tightening Move
D．Gardening as a Hobby
答案与解析
1.A词义猜测题。根据前半句可知，这家的农舍变成了鸡舍，所以下个月要住进来的应该是“鸡”。
2.D推理判断题。根据第一段最后一句中的―The cost of everything is going up‖和第二段第一句中的―higher living costs and a falling economy‖以及最后一段第三句中的“the striking rise in the cost of food like bread and milk，together with the increases in the price of fruits and vegetables”可以看出，种植蔬菜流行的原因是生活费用的提高。
3.B主旨大意题。纵观全文可知，很多人种植蔬菜不仅是出于爱好，更重要的是为了节省生活费用，所以应选B项，bank作为动词是“存款”的意思。
(四)
(2011·全国卷Ⅱ)
Since 1984, Philadelphia has been cleaning up its act. One by one, graffiti-covered walls are being changed into outdoor art. So far, more than 1,800 murals (壁画) have been painted.Philadelphia now has more murals than any other American city.
The walls that were once ugly with graffiti (涂鸦) are now covered with beautiful pictures of historical heroes and modern art, thanks to the Mural Arts Program (MAP). Its work makes schools and public places attractive, and its citizens very proud. The program began as part of Philadelphia's Anti-Graffiti Network. Jane Golden is the MAP's artistic director. “When people ask me what our program is about，”she says, ―I answer them with one word: hope‖. Each year, the MAP offers youth art programs and workshops. Some one-time graffiti writers even help paint MAP murals.
The MAP's work, says Golden, is all about developing a sense of community (社区). When a neighborhood requests a mural, the MAP works with the people there to develop a message. Some messages have been ―Safe Streets‖，―Love and Care‖，and ―Peace Walk‖．
The MAP receives up to 50 requests for murals each week. Last year, the workers painted 140 murals.
―The making of a mural enters people's collective memory as an extrao rdinary, pleasant moment in neighborhood history.‖ says Golden, who began as a muralist in Los Angeles.
1．What can be the best title for the text?
A．Love, from Graffiti Writers to Muralists
B．MAP, a New Company in Philadelphia
C．Jane, an Excellent Mural Artist
D．Hope, One Wall at a Time
2．What is the Mural Arts Program in Philadelphia aimed at?
A．Helping the young find jobs.
B．Protecting the neighborhood.
C．Fighting against graffiti.
D．Attracting more visitors.
3．How does the MAP decide on the message for a mural?
A．By having discussions with people in the community.
B．By seeking advice from the city government.
C．By learning from the young graffiti writers.
D．By studying the history of the city.
4．Which of the following words best describes the work of the MAP?
A．Difficult.
B．Dangerous.
C．Experimental.
D．Successful.
答案与解析
1.D主旨大意题。根据第二段Jane Golden的话可知，当人们问及该项目是关于什么的时候，她用一个词来概括，即Hope，故D项为最佳标题。
2.C推理判断题。根据第一、二段，昔日曾经被涂鸦的墙壁正被美丽的壁画所覆盖，以使社区更具魅力，因此对抗涂鸦应是该项目的目的。
3.A细节理解题。根据第三段第二句可知，当社区的居民请求画一张壁画时，该项目的工作人员就和当地的人们一起工作来拟定出一个主题，故选A项。
4.D推理判断题。根据第一段及倒数第二段可知，该项目很成功，故选D 项。
话题二：科普小品类
(一)
(2011·全国卷Ⅱ)
For those who study the development of intelligence (智力) in the animal world，self-awareness is an important measurement. An animal that is aware (意识) of itself has a high level of intelligence.
Awareness can be tested by studying whether the animal recognizes itself in the mirror, that is，its own reflected image (反射出的影像). Many animals fail this exercise bitterly, paying very little attention to the reflected image. Only humans, and some intelligent animals like apes and dolphins，have been shown to recognize that the image in the mirror is of themselves.
Now another animal has joined the club. In the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, researchers report that an Asian elephant has passed the mirror self-reflection test.
―We thought that elephants were the next important animal.‖said Diana Reiss of the Wildlife Conservation Society, an author of the study with Joshua M. Plotnik and Fans B. M. de Waal of Emory University. With their large brains, Reiss said, elephants ―seemed like cousins to apes and dolphins‖．
The researchers tested Happy, Maxine and Patty, three elephants at the Bronx Zoo. They put an 8-foot-square mirror on a wall of the animals' play area (out of the sight of zoo visitors) and recorded what happened with cameras, including one built in the mirror.
The elephants used their long noses to find what was behind it, and to examine parts of their bodies.
Of the three, Happy then passed the test, in which a clear mark was painted on one side of her face. She could tell the mark was there by looking in the mirror, and she used the mirror to touch the mark with her long nose.
Diana Reiss said, ―We knew elephants were intelligent, but now we can talk about their intelligence in a better way.‖
1．What can mirror tests tell us about animals?
A．Whether they have large brains.
B．Whether they have self-awareness.
C．Whether they enjoy outdoor exercises.
D．Whether they enjoy playing with mirrors.
2．Why does the author mention apes and dolphins in the text?
A．They are most familiar to readers.
B．They are big favorites with zoo visitors.
C．They are included in the study by Reiss.
D．They are already known to be intelligent.
3．What made Happy different from Maxine and Patty?
A．She used her nose to search behind the mirror.
B．She recognized her own image in the mirror.
C．She painted a mark on her own face.
D．She found the hidden camera.
答案与解析
1.B细节理解题。根据第二段第一句可知，通过研究动物是否在镜子中识别自己可以测试它们的自我意识。
2.D推理判断题。根据第二段最后一句可知，作者提到猿和海豚是因为它们和人一样可以识别镜中自己的形象，是人们已知的有智力的动物；再根据第三段，一个亚洲象也通过了该测试，也加入到有智力的行列里，故选D项。
3.B细节理解题。根据倒数第二段，三个大象中只有Happy通过了镜子测试，也就是说只有她能识别镜中自己的形象，因此这是她有别于其他大象的地方，故选B项。
(二)
(2011·江苏高考)
According to the US government, wind farms off the Pacific coast could produce 900 gigawatts of electricity every year. Unfortunately, the water there is far too deep for even the tallest windmills (see picture) to touch bottom. An experiment under way off the coast of Norway, however, could help put them anywhere.
The project, called Hywind, is the world's first large-scale deepwater wind turbine (涡轮发电机). Although it uses a fairly standard 152-ton, 2.3-megawatt turbine, Hywind represents totally new technology. The turbine will be fixed 213 feet above the water on a floating spar ( see picture), a technology Hywind's creator, the Norwegian company StatoilHydro, has developed recently. The steel spar, which is filled with stones and goes 328 feet below the sea surface, will be tied to the ocean floor by three cables (缆索); these will keep the spar stable and prevent the turbine from moving up and down in the waves. Hywind's stability (稳定性) in the cold and rough sea would prove that even the deepest corners of the ocean are suitable for wind power. If all goes according to plan, the turbine will start producing electricity six miles off the coast of southwestern Norway as early as September.
To produce electricity on a large scale, a commercial wind farm will have to use bigger
turbines than Hywind does, but it's difficult enough to balance such a large turbine so high on a floating spar in the middle of the ocean. To make that turbine heavier, the whole spar's centre of gravity must be moved much closer to the ocean's surface. To do that, the company plans to design a new kind of wind turbine, one whose gearbox (变速箱) sits at sea level rather than behind the blades (see picture)．
Hywind is a test run, but the benefits for perfecting floating wind-farm technology could be extremely large. Out at sea, the wind is often stronger and steadier than close to shore, where all existing off-shore windmills are planted. Deep-sea farms are invisible from land, which helps overcome the windmill-as-eyesore objection. If the technology catches on, it will open up vast areas of the planet's surface to one of the best low-carbon power sources available.
1. The Hywind project uses totally new technology to ensure the stability of ________.
A. the cables which tie the spar to the ocean floor
B. the spar which is floating in deep-sea water
C. the blades driven by strong and steady sea wind
D. the stones filled in the spar below the sea surface
2. To balance a bigger turbine high on a floating spar, a new type of turbine is to be designed with its gearbox sitting
________.
A. on the sea floor
B. on the spar top
C. at sea level
D. behind the blades
3. Wide applications of deepwater wind power technology can
________.
A. solve the technical problems of deepwater windmills
B. make financial profits by producing more turbines
C. settle the arguments about environmental problems
D. explore low-carbon power resources available at sea
答案与解析
1.B细节理解题。根据第二段倒数第三句可知，该工程采用了全新的技术，是为了确保漂浮在深海水域中的圆材的保持稳定。
2.C细节理解题。根据第三段最后一句可知，为了使较大的涡轮发电机能在圆材上保持平衡，公司计划设计新的发电机，其变速箱在海平面上。
3.D细节理解题。根据最后一段最后一句可知，深海风能技术的广泛应用会在海洋上开发出可使用的最好的低碳能源之一。
(三)
(2011·山东高考)
Since the 1970s, scientists have been searching for ways to link the brain with computers. Brain-computer interface (BCI) technology could help people with disabilities send commands to machines.
Recently, two researchers, Jose Millan and Michele Tavella from the Federal Polytechnic School in Lausanne, Switzerland, demonstrated (展示) a small robotic wheelchair directed by a person's thoughts.
In the laboratory, Tavella operated the wheelchair just by thinking about moving his left or right hand. He could even talk as he watched the vehicle and guided it with his thoughts.
“Our brain has billions of nerve cells. These send signals through the spinal cord (脊髓) to the muscles to give us the ability to move. But spinal cord injuries or other conditions can prevent these weak electrical signals from reaching the muscles.”Tavella says. ―Our system allows disabled people to communicate with external world and also to control devices.‖The researchers designed a special cap for the user. This head cover picks up the signals from the scalp (头皮) and sends them to a computer. The computer interprets the signals and commands the motorized wheelchair. The wheelchair also has two cameras that identify objects in its path. They help the computer react to commands from the brain.
Prof. Millan, the team leader, says scientists keep improving the computer software that interprets brain signals and turns them into simple commands. ―The practical possibilities that BC
technology offers to disabled people can be grouped in two categories: communication, and controlling devices. One example is this wheelchair.‖
He says his team has set two goals. One is testing with real patients, so as to prove that this is a technology they can benefit from. And the other is to guarantee that they can use the technology over long periods of time.
1．BCI is a technology that can ________.
A. help to update computer systems
B. link the human brain with computers
C. help the disabled to recover
D. control a person's thoughts
2．How did Tavella operate the wheelchair in the laboratory?
A. By controlling his muscles.
B. By talking to the machine.
C. By moving his hand.
D. By using his mind.
3．Which of the following shows the path of the signals described in Paragraph 5?
A. scalp→computer→cap→wheelchair
B. computer→cap→scalp→wheelchair
C. scalp→cap→computer→wheelchair
D. cap→computer→scalp→wheelchair
4．The team will test with real patients to ________.
A. make profits from them
B. prove the technology useful to them
C. make them live longer
D. learn about their physical condition
5．Which of the following would be the best title for the text?
A. Switzerland, the BCI Research Center
B. New Findings About How the Human Brain Works
C. BCI Could Mean More Freedom for the Disabled
D. Robotic Vehicles Could Help to Cure Brain Injuries
答案与解析
1.B细节理解题。根据第一段可知，自20世纪70年代以来，科学家一直寻找途径能将人脑与电脑相连。BCI技术能帮助残疾人向机器发送指令。故此处B项正确。而C项只是部分正确，虽然能帮助残疾人，但却不能帮他们康复。
2.D细节理解题。根据第三段可知Tavella只是思考动他的左右手就能操作这个轮椅。甚至当他观察这台机器时就能进行交流，也能用他的思想指导机器人工作。因此机器人是在人脑的思想支配下进行工作的。故D项正确。
3.C细节理解题。根据第五段可知，首先研究人员为用户设计一种特殊的帽子，它会捕捉头皮发出的信号并将其传给电脑。电脑将这些信号进行分析翻译，给监控下的机器人轮椅发出指令。机器人轮椅装有两部摄像头能识别信号路径中的物体，从而帮助电脑对人脑的指令作出反应。故此处C项正确。
4．B推理判断题。根据最后一段第二句―One is testing with real patients, so as to prove that this is a technology they can benefit from‖可知，在患者身上进行实验是他们团队工作的一个目标，旨在证明这项技术对他们有益。故正确答案选B项。
5.C主旨大意题。本文为科技说明文，开篇点题。介绍科学家研究的这项新技术BCI，对残疾人大有裨益。故正确答案为C项。
(四)
(2011·安徽高考)
Think about the different ways that people use the wind.You can use it to fly a kite or to sail a boat.Wind is one of our cleanest and richest power sources (来源), as well as one of the oldest.Evidence shows that windmills (风车) began to be used in ancient Iran back in the seventh century BC.They were first introduced to Europe during the 1100s, when armies returned from the Middle East with knowledge of using wind power.
For many centuries, people used windmills to grind (磨碎) wheat into flour or pump water from deep underground.When electricity was discovered in the late 1800s, people living in remote areas began to use them to produce electricity.This allowed them to have electric lights and radio.However, by the 1940s when electricity was available to people in almost all areas of the United States, windmills were rarely used.
During the 1970s, people started becoming concerned about the pollution that is created when coal and gas are burned to produce electricity.People also realized that the supply of coal and gas would not last forever.Then, wind was rediscovered, though it means higher costs.Today, there is a global movement to supply more and more of our electricity through the use of wind.
1．From the text we know that windmills ________.
A．were invented by European armies
B．have a history of more than 2,800 years
C．used to supply power to radio in remote areas
D．have rarely been used since electricity was discovered
2．What was a new use for wind power in the late 19th century?
A．Sailing a boat.
B．Producing electricity.
C．Grinding wheat into flour.
D．Pumping water from underground.
3．One of the reasons wind was rediscovered in the 1970s is that ________.
A．wind power is cleaner
B．it is one of the oldest power sources
C．it was cheaper to create energy from wind
D．the supply of coal and gas failed to meet needs
4．What would the author probably discuss in the paragraph that follows?
A．The advantages of wind power.
B．The design of wind power plants.
C．The worldwide movement to save energy.
D．The global trend towards producing power from wind.
答案与解析
1．C细节理解题。根据第二段的―When electricity was discovered in the late 1800s, people living in remote areas began to use them to produce electricity. This allowed them to have electric lights and radio.‖可推出，C项符合题意。
2．B细节理解题。根据第二段的―When electricity was discovered in the late 1800s, people living in remote areas began to use them to produce electricity.‖可知，B项符合题目要求。
3．A细节理解题。根据第三段的―people started beco ming concerned about the pollution that is created when coal and gas are burned to produce electricity‖可知，A项符合题意。
4．D推理判断题。第三段最后已提出现在全球已越来越多地使用风力发电，所以下一段应该要进一步推广使用风力发电，这是一种总体的能源发展趋势。故D项正确。
话题三：短篇故事类
(一)
(2011·山东高考)
Tim Richter and his wife, Linda, had taught for over 30 years near Buffalo, New York—he in computers, she in special education. ―Teaching means everything to us.‖ Tim would say. In April 1998, he learned he would need a heart operation. It was the kind of news that leads to some serious thinking about life's purpose.
Not long after the surgery, Tim saw a brochure describing Imagination Library, a program started by Dolly Parton's foundation (基金会) that mailed a book every month to children from birth to age five in the singer's home town of Sevier, Tennessee. ―I thought, maybe Linda and I could do something like this when we
retire.‖ Tim recalls. He placed the brochure on his desk, ―as a reminder‖．
Five years later, now retired and with that brochure still on the desk, Tim clicked on https://www.doczj.com/doc/e214874072.html,. The program had been opened up to partners who could take advantage of book and postage discounts.
The quality of the books was of great concern to the Richters. Rather than sign up online, they went to Dollywood for a look-see. ―We didn't want to give the children rub bish.‖ says Linda. The books—reviewed each year by teachers, literacy specialists, and Dollywood board members—included classics such as Ezra Jack Keats's The Snowy Day and newer books like Anna Dewdney's Llama Llama series.
Satisfied, the couple set up the Richter Family Foundation and got to work. Since 2004, they have shipped more than 12,200 books to preschoolers in their area. Megan Williams, a mother of four, is more than appreciative：―This program introduces us to books I've never heard of.‖
The Rich ters spend about $400 a month sending books to 200 children.―Some people sit there and wait to die.‖ says Tim. ―Others get as busy as they can in the time they have left.‖
1．What led Tim to think seriously about the meaning of life?
A. His health problem.
B. His love for teaching.
C. The influence of his wife.
D. The news from the Web.
2．What did Tim want to do after learning about Imagination Library?
A. Give out brochures.
B. Do something similar.
C. Write books for children.
D. Retire from being a teacher.
3．According to the text, Dolly Parton is ________.
A. a well-known surgeon
B. a mother of a four-year-old
C. a singer born in Tennessee
D. a computer programmer
4．Why did the Richters go to Dollywood?
A. To avoid signing up online.
B. To meet Dollywood board members.
C. To make sure the books were the newest.
D. To see if the books were of good quality.
5．What can we learn from Tim's words in the last paragraph?
A. He needs more money to help the children.
B. He wonders why some people are so busy.
C. He tries to save those waiting to die.
D. He considers his efforts worthwhile.
答案与解析
1．A细节理解题。从第一段最后两句―...he learned he would need a heart operation. It was the kind of news that leads to some serious thinking about life's purpose.‖可知需要做心脏手术这个消息引发他深思生活的真谛。因此A项正确。
2.B细节理解题。从第二段可知Tim从一个小册子上得知Imagination Library每月向儿童赠送书籍，从出生到年满5岁。他深有启发，认为退休后可以做点类似(something like)的事情。故B项正确。
3．C推理判断题。由第二段“... a program started by Dolly Parton's foundation that mailed a book every month to children from birth to age five in the singer's home town of Sevier，Tennessee.”可判断出the singer 就是Dolly Parton，出生于田纳西州的Sevier。故C项正确。
4.D推理判断题。由文章第四段第三句―We didn't want to give the children rubbish.‖可知，他们不想让孩子们读一些垃圾书，故此行目的旨在检验书籍质量。故D项正确。
5.D推理判断题。从最后一段Tim所说的话“一些人坐在那里等死，有些人利用有生之年忙得不可开交。”可知，他认为自己做的事是有意义的。故D 项正确。
(二)
(2011·安徽高考)
They are the sort of friends who are so close they trust each other with their lives.If one falls, the other is there to catch him.
They are Wellman, whose legs were permanently injured nine years ago in a rock-climbing accident，and Corbett，an experienced rock climber.Together，they climbed up Half Dome, the famous 2,000-foot rock in the Yosemite National Park, through one of most difficult routes(路线)．
During the climb, Corbett took the lead, hit in the metal spikes (尖状物) that guided the ropes and climbed up.Then, after Wellman pulled himself up the rope, Corbett went down to remove the spikes and climbed up again.This process was repeated time and again, inch by inch, for 13 days.
Wellman's job was not easy either.He got himself up the rope through upper body strength alone.In all, Wellman figured that he had done 5,000 pull-ups up the rope on the climb.
However，when the two men first met, they never talked about climbing.―He knew that was how I got injured.‖Wellman said.Until one day Wellman decided that he wanted to climb again and they started training.
Their climb of Half Dome was not all smooth. At one point, pieces of rock gave way, and Corbett dropped down quickly.Wellman locked their rope in place, stopping the fall at 20 feet.His quick action probably saved his friend's life.
“Your partner can save your life—you can save your partner's life.” Wellman said as the pair received congratulations from friends.―There are real close ties.‖1．Which of the following was a challenge for Corbett in climbing Half Dome?
A．To climb up to remove the spikes.
B．To climb it twice.
C．To do 5,000 pull-ups up the rope.
D．To lock the rope in place.
2．Why did the two men never talk about climbing when they first met?
A．Corbett was poorly trained.
B．Wellman had lost interest in climbing.
C．Corbett didn't want to hurt Wellman.
D．Wellman hadn't decided whether to climb again.
3．What do we know about Wellman?
A．He climbed Half Dome by himself.
B．He was disabled in a traffic accident.
C．He stopped rock-climbing for some time.
D．He was saved by Corbett during the climb.
4．The main idea of the text is that ________.
A．two heads are better than one
B．friendship is precious in life
C．the disabled should never give up
D．a man can be destroyed but cannot be defeated
答案与解析
1．B细节理解题。根据第三段的During the climb, Corbett took the lead, hit in the metal spikes that guided the ropes and climbed up. Then，after Wellman pulled himself up the rope. Corbett went down to remove the spikes and climbed up again. This process was repeated time and again，inch by inch，for 13 days.可知，B项符合题意。
2．C细节理解题。根据第五段的―He knew that was how I got injured.‖Wellman said. Until one day Wellman decid ed that he wanted to climb again and they started training.可知，C项符合题意。
3．C推理判断题。根据第五段的However, when the two men first met，they never talked about climbing. ―He knew that was how I got injured.‖ Wellman said. Until one day Wellman decided that he wanted to climb again and they started training.可知，C项符合题意。
4．B主旨大意题。由文章的第一段They are the sort of friends who are so close they trust each other with their lives. If one falls, the other is there to catch him. 以及整篇文章所描述的二人之间的友谊可总结出，B项符合题意。
(三)
(2011·天津高考)
In the fall of 1985, I was a bright-eyed girl heading off to Howard University, aiming at a legal career and dreaming of sitting on a Supreme Court bench somewhere. Twenty-one years later I am still a bright-eyed dreamer and one with quite a different tale to tell.
My grandma, an amazing woman, graduated from college at the age of 65.She was the first in our family to reach that goal.But one year after I started college, she developed cancer.I made the choice to withdraw from college to care for her.It meant that school and my personal dream would have to wait.
Then I got married with another dream: building my family with a combination of adopted and biological children.In 1999, we adopted our first son.To lay eyes on him was fantastic—and very emotional.A year later came our second adopted boy.Then followed son No.3.In 2003, I gave birth to another boy.
You can imagine how fully occupied I became, raising four boys under the age of 8！Our home was a complete zoo—a joyous zoo.Not surprising, I never did make it back to college full-time.But I never gave up on the dream either.I had only one choice: to find a way.That meant taking as few as one class each semester.
The hardest part was feeling guilty about the time I spent away from the boys.They often wanted me to stay home with them.There certainly were times I wanted to quit, but I knew I should set an example for them to follow through the rest of their lives.
In 2007, I graduated from the University of North Carolina.It took me over 21 years to get my college degree!
I am not special, just single-minded.It always struck me that when you're looking at a big challenge from the outside it looks huge, but when you're in the midst of it, it just seems normal.Everything you want won't arrive in your life on one day.It's a process.Remember: little steps add up to big dreams.
1．When the author went to Howard University, her dream was to be ________.
A．a writer
B．a teacher
C．a judge
D．a doctor
2．Why did the author quit school in her second year of college?
A．She wanted to study by herself.
B．She fell in love and got married.
C．She suffered from a serious illness.
D．She decided to look after her grandma.
3．What can we learn about the author from Paragraphs 4 and 5?
A．She was busy yet happy with her family life.
B．She ignored her guilty feeling for her sons.
C．She wanted to remain a full-time housewife.
D．She was too confused to make a correct choice.
4．What does the author mostly want to tell us in the last paragraph?
A．Failure is the mother of success.
B．Little by little, one goes far.
C．Every coin has two sides.
D．Well begun, half done.
5．Which of the following can best describe the author?
A．Caring and determined.
B．Honest and responsible.
C．Ambitious and sensitive.
D．Innocent and single-minded.
答案与解析
1.C细节理解题。由第一段第一句中的dreaming of sitting on a Supreme Court bench可知，作者去霍华德大学时就梦想着能够坐在美国联邦最高法院的长凳上，即她渴望成为一名法官。故答案为C项。
2.D细节理解题。由第二段第三、四句可知，作者在大二时退学回家是为了生病的祖母。其他三个选项均不是作者退学的理由。故选D项。
3.A推理判断题。由第四、五段的叙述可知，作者在家里虽然忙碌，但她的确非常快乐。由第五段第一句中的The hardest part was feeling guilty about...可知B项的叙述是错误的；由第四段第四、五句可知，作者并没有放弃自己的梦想去当全职家庭主妇，排除C项；由第四段倒数第二句中“I had only one choice：to find a way.”可知，作者对于这个选择是果断的，并没有感到困惑，排除D项。
4.B主旨大意题。最后一段的最后一句“Remember：little steps add up to big dreams.”是该段的主题句，意思是：千里之行，始于足下。Failure is the mother of success.“失败是成功之母。”；Little by little，one goes far.“千里之行，始于足下。”；Every coin has two sides.“凡事都有两面性。”；Well begun，half done.“好的开始是成功的一半。”故选B项。
5.A推理判断题。由第二段作者在大二时退学回家照顾祖母可知，这表明作者是有爱心的；由倒数第二段作者用了21年多的时间最终取得大学学位，这表明作者是有决心的。故选A项。
话题四：广告说明类
(一)
(2011·课标全国)
Wanted, Someone for a Kiss
We're looking for producers to join us on the sound of London Kiss 100 FM. You'll work on the station's music programmes. Music production experience in radio is necessary, along with rich knowledge of modern dance music. Please apply in writing to Producer Vacancies, Kiss 100.
Father Christmas
We're looking for a very special person, preferably over 40, to fill our Father Christmas suit.
Working days: Every Saturday from November 24 to December 15 and every day from December 17 to December 24 except Sundays, 10∶30－16∶00.
Excellent pay.
Please contact (联系) the Enterprise Shopping Centre, Station Parade, Eastbourne.
Accountants Assistant
When you join the team in our Revenue Administration Unit, you will be providing assistance within all parts of the Revenue Division, dealing with post and other general duties. If you are educated to GCSE grade C level we would like to talk to you. This position is equally suitable for a school leaver or for somebody who has office experience.
Wealden District Council
Software Trainer
If you are aged 24-45 and have experience in teaching and training, you could be the person we are looking for. You should be good at the computer and have some experience in programme writing. You will be allowed to make your own decisions, and to design courses as well as present them. Pay upwards of ￡15,000 for the right person. Please apply by sending your CV (简历) to Mrs R. Oglivie, Palmlace Limited.
1．Who should you get in touch with if you hope to work in a radio station?
A．Producer Vacancies, Kiss 100.
B．Mrs Oglivie, Palmlace Limited.
C．The Enterprise Shopping Centre.
D．Wealden District Council.
2．We learn from the ads that the Enterprise Shopping Centre needs a person who________.
A．is aged between 24 and 40
B．may do some training work
C．should deal with general duties
D．can work for about a month
3．Which position is open to recent school graduates?
A．Producer, London Kiss.
B．Father Christmas.
C．Accountants Assistant.
D．Software Trainer.
4．What kind of person would probably apply to Palmlace Limited?
A．One with GCSE grade C level.
B．One with some office experience.
C．One having good computer knowledge.
D．One trained in producing music programmes.
答案与解析
1.A细节理解题。第一则广告招聘的是电台音乐制作人，如果你希望在电台工作，当然应与Producer Vacancies，Kiss 100联系。
2.D细节理解题。根据第二则广告可知，the Enterprise Shopping Centre招聘的是圣诞老人，工作的时间是从11月24日开始，持续到12月24日，在这大约一个月的时间内，他都要在周六或者除了周日以外的其他时间工作。
3.C细节理解题。根据第三则广告最后―This position is equally suitable for a school leaver‖可知答案为C项。
4.C细节理解题。根据最后一则广告第二句中的―You should be good at the computer‖可知答案为C项。
(二)
(2011·江苏高考)
Attractions
Do you：
◆Love the National Park, value it and hope to safeguard its future?
◆Wish to see the beautiful landscape of the Park protected?
◆Like to enjoy peaceful, informal recreation within the Park?
Aims
The Friends organization aims are to help protect and improve the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park for all to enjoy. We are a voluntary organization and registered charity without financial links to the National Park Authority.
Activities
We encourage everyone to enjoy the National Park through regular talks and visits to interesting places in the Park with expert guides.
We keep an eye on planning applications，Park Authority policies and threats to the National Park such as massive leisure complexes. We work with like-minded organizations such as the Campaign for National Parks to make our voice more effective.,We help children to understand the National Park by sponsoring publications such as an adventure booklet and projects in local schools.,Benefits,◆Guided visits to places of interest which may not always be available to the general public.,◆All members receive our regular Ne w s and Vie w s.,◆Talks by experts in their fields on current issues.,◆A discount is available on Friends items for sale.,◆Satisfaction of participation
inwork parties，for those willing and able to be involved.,If interested，please complete the Application Form at www. https://www.doczj.com/doc/e214874072.html,. uk.
1. Which of the following is discouraged by the Friends organization?
A. To build massive complexes for public amusement.
B. To prevent possible damages to the National Park.
C. To help protect and improve the Park for all to enjoy.
D. To sponsor publications and projects in local schools.
2. One of the benefits for members of Friends is to ________.
A. have Friends' goods free of charge
B. visit any place not open to the public
C. take part in work parties if they want to
D. give talks in their fields on current issues
3．The purpose of this poster is to invite more people to ______.
A. raise money for the Friends organization
B. join the Friends organization and be members of it
C. work as managers for Pembrokeshire National Park
D. enjoy the landscape of Pembrokeshire National Park
答案与解析
1．A细节理解题。根据Activities这部分内容的第二段第一句可知，为公众娱乐大兴土木是对国家公园的威胁，是该机构要阻止的行为。
2.C细节理解题。根据Benefits这部分内容的第五条可知，该机构成员享有的权益之一就是参加工作组。
3.B推理判断题。文章介绍了Friends这一机构的亮点、目标、活动以及该机构成员享有的权益等，显然，作者的目的是想邀请更多的有志之士加入进来，成为其中的一员。
(三)
(2011·天津高考)
Homestay provides English language students with the opportunity to speak English outside the classroom and the experience of being part of a British home.
What to Expect
The host will provide accommodation and meals.Rooms will be cleaned and bedcovers changed at least once a week.You will be given the house key and the host is there to offer help and advice as well as to take an interest in your physical and mental health.
Accommodation Zones
Homestays are located in London mainly in Zones 2, 3 and 4 of the transport system.Most hosts do not live in the town centre as much of central London is commercial and not residential(居住的) .Zones 3 and 4 often offer larger accommodation in a less crowded area.It is very convenient to travel in London by Underground.
Meal Plans Available
◇Continental Breakfast
◇Breakfast and Dinner
◇Breakfast, Packed Lunch and Dinner
It's important to note that few English families still provide a traditional cooked breakfast.Your accommodation includes Continental Breakfast which normally consists of fruit juice，cereal (谷物类食品), bread and tea or coffee.Cheese, fruit and
cold meat are not normally part of a Continental Breakfast in England.Dinners usually consist of meat or fish with vegetables followed by dessert, fruit and coffee.
Friends
If you wish to invite a friend over to visit, you must first ask your host's permission.You have no right to entertain friends in a family home as some families feel it is an invasion of their privacy.
Self-Catering Accommodation in Private Homes
Accommodation on a room-only basis includes shared kitchen and bathroom facilities and often a main living room.This kind of accommodation offers an independent lifestyle and is more suitable for the long-stay student.However, it does not provide the same family atmosphere as an ordinary homestay and may not benefit those who need to practise English at home quite as much.
1．The passage is probably written for ________.
A．hosts willing to receive foreign students
B．foreigners hoping to build British culture
C．travellers planning to visit families in London
D．English learners applying to live in English homes
2．Which of the following will the host provide?
A．Room cleaning.
B．Medical care.
C．Free transport.
D．Physical training.
3．What can be inferred from Paragraph 3?
A．Zone 4 is more crowded than Zone 2.
B．The business centre of London is in Zone 1.
C．Hosts dislike travelling to the city centre.
D．Accommodation in the city centre is not provided.
4．According to the passage, what does Continental Breakfast include?
A．Dessert and coffee.
B．Fruit and vegetables.
C．Bread and fruit juice.
D．Cereal and cold meat.
5．Why do some people choose self-catering accommodation?
A．To experience a warmer family atmosphere.
B．To enrich their knowledge of English.
C．To entertain friends as they like.
D．To enjoy much more freedom.
答案与解析
1.D主旨大意题。由第一段第一句可知，Homestay为学习英语的学生提供在课堂外说英语的机会和成为英国家庭成员的体验。再结合文章的内容可推知这篇文章不是为愿意接受英国学生的主人写的，也不是为那些希望建设英国文化的外国人以及计划参观伦敦家庭的参观者写的。大概是为那些申请在英国人家中居住的英语学习者写的。
2.A细节理解题。由第二段第二句可知A项的叙述符合题意。主人能够提供的东西主要在第二段进行论述，该段并没有告诉读者主人将为入住者提供医疗护理、免费交通和身体训练。
3.B推理判断题。由第三段倒数第二句可知Zone 3和Zone 4不像Zone 2那么拥挤，由此排除A项；第二句只说明人们不喜欢居住在市中心，并没有说人们不去市中心，由此排除C项；本段只是提到市中心拥挤，并没有说到居住在市中心的家庭不为学生提供食宿，由此排除D项。
4.C细节理解题。由第四段中的Continental Breakfast which normally consists of fruit juice，cereal，bread and tea or coffee可知，A项、B项和D项的叙述是错误，只有C项中的Bread and fruit juice是里面的内容。故选C项。
5.D细节理解题。由最后一段第二句中的This kind of accommodation offers an independent lifestyle可知Self-Catering Accommodation 能够为住宿者提供更多的自由，这与D项的叙述一致。A项、B项和C项的内容均没有在最后一段提及，故排除。
(四)
(2011·江西高考)
Winners Club
You choose to be a winner!
The Winners Club is a bank account specially designed for teenagers. It has heen made to help you better manage your money. The Winners Club is a transaction account (交易账户) where you receive a key-card so you can get to your money 24/7－that's 24 hours a day, 7 days a week!
It's a club with impressive features for teenagers：
●No account keeping fees!
You're no millionaire so we don't expect you to pay large fees. In fact, there are no account keeping or transaction fees!
●Excellent interest rates!
You want your money to grow. The Winners Club has a good rate of interest which gets even better if you make at least two deposits (储蓄) without taking them out in a month.
●Convenient
Teenagers are busy—we get that. You may never need to come to a bank at all. With the Winners Club you can choose to use handy tellers and to bank from home using the phone and the Internet ...You can have money directly deposited into your Winners Club account. This could be your pocket money or your pay from your part-time job!
●Mega magazine included
Along with your regular report, you will receive a FREE magazine full of good ideas to make even more of your money. There are also fantastic offers and competitions only for Winners Club members.
The Winners Club is a great choice for teenagers. And it is so easy to join. Simply fill in an application form. You will have to get permission from your parent or guardian (so we can organize that cool key-card) but it is easy. We can't wait to hear from you. It's the best way to choose to be a winner!
1．The Winners Club is a bank account intended for________.
A．parents
B．teenagers
C．winners
D．adults
2．Which of the following is TRUE about the Winners Club?
A．Special gifts are ready for parents.
B．The bank opens only on work days.
C．Services are convenient for its members.
D．Fees are necessary for the account keeping.
3．The Winners Club provides magazines which________.
A．encourage spending
B．are free to all teenagers
C．are full of adventure stories
D．help to make more of your money
4．If you want to be a member of the Club, you must________.
A．be an Internet user
B．be permitted by your parent
C．have a big sum of money
D．be in your twenties
5．What is the purpose of this text?
A．To set up a club.
B．To provide part-time jobs.
C．To organize key-cards.
D．To introduce a new banking service.
答案与解析
1．B细节理解题。根据文章第一段第一句―The Winners Club is a bank account specially designed for teenagers.‖可知，―the Winners Club‖是专门为青少年而开设的，所以答案为B项。
2．C细节理解题。第三部分主要介绍这项服务的方便之处，所以对于办理该业务的青少年来说是非常便利和快捷的，答案为C项；A项未提到；根据文章前面的介绍可知，银行应该是全天24小时，每周7天营业，而非只是在工作日，所以B项排除；文章第一部分提到不收取账户管理费，所以D项错误。
3．D细节理解题。根据特色最后一点―Along with your regular report, you will receive a FREE magazine full of good ideas to make even more of your money.‖可知，办理该业务的青少年除了可以收到定期报告外，还可以免费得到一份杂志，里面有很多好的建议或办法可以帮助他们赚取更多的钱，所以答案为D项；A 项和C项未提到；B项错在这份杂志并不是对所有的青少年都是免费的，所以排除。
4．B细节理解题。根据最后一段―You will have to get permission from your parent...‖可知，办理此项银行业务要得到父母的同意或许可，所以B项正确；该服务介绍第三点中提到办理业务有多种形式，其中包括使用网络，但不是必须的，所以A项错误；由第一点中―You're no millionaire so we don't expect you to pay large fees.‖可知，办理此项银行业务的不一定都是有钱人，所以C项排除；D项要求办理业务者年龄在二十几岁，文中并未提到。
5．D推理判断题。通读全文可知，文章主要是介绍一项新的银行服务项目，所以答案D项正确。
话题五：人物传记类
(一)
(2011·山东高考)
Arthur Miller (1915—2005) is universally recognized as one of the greatest dramatists of the 20th century. Miller's father had moved to the USA from Austria-Hungary, drawn like so many others by the ―Great American Dream‖. However, he experienced severe financial hardship when his family business was ruined in the Great Depression of the early 1930s.
Miller's most famous play, Death of a Salesman, is a powerful attack on the American system, with its aggressive way of doing business and its insistence on money and social status as indicators of worth. In Willy Loman, the hero of the play, we see a man who has got into trouble with t his system. Willy is ―burnt out‖ and in the cruel world of business there is no room for sentiment: if he can't do the work, then he is no good to his employer, the Wagner Company, and he must go. Willy is painfully aware of this, and at a loss as to what to do with his lack of success. He refuses to face the fact that he has failed and kills himself in the end.
When it was first staged in 1949, the play was greeted with enthusiastic reviews, and it won the Tony Award for Best Play, the New York Drama Critics' Circle Award, and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. It was the first play to win all three of these major awards.
Miller died of heart failure at his home in Roxbury, Connecticut, on the evening of February 10, 2005, the 56th anniversary of the first performance of Death of a Salesman on Broadway.
1．Why did Arthur Miller's father move to the USA?
A. He suffered from severe hunger in his home country.
B. He was attracted by the ―Great American Dream.‖
C. He hoped to make his son a dramatist.
D. His family business failed
2．The play Death of a Salesman________.
A. exposes the cruelty of the American business world
B. discusses the ways to get promoted in a company
C. talks about the business career of Arthur Miller
D. focuses on the skills in doing business
3．What can we learn about Willy Loman?
A. He treats his employer badly.
B. He runs the Wagner Company.
C. He is a victim of the American system.
D. He is regarded as a hero by his colleagues.
4．After it was first staged, Death of a Salesman________.
A. achieved huge success
B. won the first Tony Award
C. was warmly welcomed by salesmen
D. was severely attacked by dramatists
5．What is the text mainly about?
A. Arthur Miller and his family.
B. The awards Arthur Miller won.
C. The hardship Arthur Miller experienced.
D. Arthur Miller and his best-known play.
答案与解析
1．B细节理解题。根据第一段第二句“Miller's father had moved to the USA from Austria-Hungary，drawn like so many others by the ‘Great American
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(A ) A coal-fire stove(炉灶)provided heating for Zhao Yaoqin's courtyard bungalow in a Beijing hutong all her life. This winter, however, the stove has disappeared from the 66-year-old's life, and an electric radiator takes its place beside her bed, a product of a government to use clean energy in the national capital. With the Olympics to be staged in Beijing next August, the city is determined to eliminate the use of coal within the Third Ring Road that circles the city before the Games. The project to replace the stoves with electric radiators has been part of the effort. When the city's four-month long heating season started on Thursday, coal-fired stoves, known as a big source of pollution in the big city, have disappeared from some 20,000 local households like Zhao's bungalow in the inner city "hutong" -- traditional alleyways(小巷) that date back centuries. "We used to boil water or bake bread on the stove," said Zhao, sounding sentimental(伤感) to the disappearance of the coal furnace from her life. Late in the 1990s, Beijing's air quality monitoring office found that the emissions(排放) of sulphur dioxide and carbon monoxide from the hutong areas have been higher than the city's average in winter, mainly because of the coal stoves. With the project to switch to clean energy for heating launched in 1999, the emission level of the two poisonous substances decreased by 42 percent and 44 percent, respectively, this year from 2001 levels. Zhao said the fee for electrical heat for the entire winter was usually around 2,400 yuan (US$323) per household. With the government's subsidy（补贴）, however, she only needed to pay about 500 yuan, nearly the same price as that for coal. 1．Zhao Yaoqin’ example in the passage is to tell us that_______. A.people in Beijing using electric radiators to welcome the Olympics. B.people in Beijing are doing something to protect the environment. C.hutongs in Beijing have a long history. D.People pay more money to use electric radiators than before. 2. The underlined word eliminate probably means________ A. cut down. B. increase. C. get rid of. D. replace 3. We can infer from the passage that ______ A. Zhao Yaoqin has a strong and deep emotion with the use of coal-fire stove. B. The government will pay most of the fee. C. The air of Beijing has been badly polluted since 1990s. D. The people do not use coal eight months in one year. 4. Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage? A. The clean air is important when the Olympics Games is held in Beijing. B. The success of the Olympics Games depends on the clean air. C. The government spare no effort to make the environment better. D. The emission level of poisonous substances will be low in 2008.
The playwright George Bernard Shaw once said humorously, "England and America are two nations divided by a common language. If he were writing today, he might add "divided by a common technology--E-mail." Two completely different styles of e-mail have formed on either side of the Atlantic--Euromail and Amerimail. Amerimail is informal and chatty. It's likely to begin with a "Hi"and end with a "Bye". The chances of Amerimail containing a smiley face or an "xoxo" are disturbingly high. We Americans are unwilling to dive into the meat of an e-mail. We feel we have to first inform recipients(收信人about our vacation on the island which was really excellent except the jellyfish were biting and the kids caught a bad cold, so we had to skip the whale watching trip, bu t about that investors' meeting in New York…. Amerimail is a bundle of contradictions (矛盾, casual and yet direct, respectful yet over proud. In other words, Amerimail is America. Euromail is stiff and cold often beginning with a formal "Dear Mr. X" and ending with a simple "Sincerely". You won't find any mention of kids or the weather or jellyfish in Euromail. It's all business. It's also slow. Your correspondent (通 信者might take days even weeks to answer a message. Euromail is exactly like the Europeans themselves. Recently about 100 managers were asked on both sides of the Atlantic whether they noticed differences in e-mail styles. Most said yes. Here are a few of their observations: "Americans tend to write (e-mails exactly as they speak." "Why don't you just call me instead of writing five e-mails back and forth " "Europeans are less interested in checking e-mail". "In general, Americans are much more responsive to e-mail--they respond faster and provide more information. ' So which is better, Euromail or Amerimail I realize it's not popular these days to suggest we have anything to learn from Europeans, but I'm fed up with an inbox filled with casual, barely meaningful e-mails from friends and colleagues. If the alternative is a few earnestly written, carefully worded bits of Euromail, then I say: "Bring it on." 61. Which of the following is most likely to be the "meat" of an Amerimail A. The jellyfish were biting. B. We had an excellent vocation on the island. C. We had to skip the whale watching trip. D. We were to attend the investors' meeting in New York. 63. We can conclude from the passage that A. the
（英语）高三英语阅读理解专项训练及答案 一、高中英语阅读理解 1．阅读理解 The setting was a packed gymnasium just before the start of a game against another school. There were five girls who were members of the Danville High School basketball team—all of them starters. They were not in uniform to play that night and would not be on the team for the rest of this season. They were there to admit their breaking of team rules. They were there to support their coach's decision to take them off the team. They were there to let the town know there was a problem in their little community that needed to be addressed. And they did it with sincere regret rather than defensiveness. While the school had been out for the New Year's holiday, the five girls had gone to the party with several of their friends. There was alcohol there. And they all drank some. Coach Rainville has a zero tolerance rule on drugs and alcohol for her members though it was a hard decision to make. When classes resumed and accounts of holiday parties were shared, rumors about the five girls began closing in on them. The coach said she couldn't back down on her rules. And the players—two junior students and three senior students—agreed. That night in the gym was part of their public support of the coach's decision. “We hope you will understand that we are not bad kids. What we did was definitely not worth it. We hope this event will make everyone realize that there is a big drug and alcohol problem in our community,” one of the senior students said, “And if you work with us to try to solve this problem, you will help us feel that we have not been thrown off our basketball team for nothing.” The five left the floor to deafening applause. The team may not win another game this year. But they've learnt something about personal responsibility, the effect of one's action on others, and honesty that will serve them well throughout life. （1）It can be inferred from the passage that the five girls who were kicked off the team were ________. A. very good players on the team B. addicted to alcohol and drugs C. three junior students and two senior students D. scolded by their parents for drinking alcohol （2）What did the girls do to support their coach's decision? A. They didn't fight for Danville High School any more. B. They all gave speeches to apologize in the local press. C. They admitted their mistake in public in the gymnasium. D. They would never drink any alcohol throughout their life. （3）Which word best describes the coach Rainville? A. Indifferent. B. Strict. C. Stubborn. D. Cruel. （4）Which would be the best title for the passage? A. Growing up with pain B. A bad mistake C. Team rules are everything D. Basketball girls in high school 【答案】（1）A
高考英语阅读理解真题汇编(含答案) 一、高中英语阅读理解 1．阅读理解 Mexico sites on an island plateau (高原) surrounded by volcanic peaks, which makes air quality a constant concern for people who live there. In April, the country took a decisive step toward improving air quality by enacting a temporary ban on private and Federal vehicles in the city. The rule forbids people from driving in the city one day each week and one Saturday each month. Electric vehicles, government service vehicles, public transport options and school buses are not included in the ban. Mexico City isn't the first urban center to be involved in car-free living. But the ban is more than an awareness-raiser. It was enacted with the direct aim of solving air pollution. In March, the city sank into a deep brown haze of smog when the pollution levels passed the 200 mark. The city ordered some 1.1m of the area's 4.7m cars off the streets and also offered free bus and subway rides. Mexico City's temporary vehicle ban raises questions about the best ways to improve urban air quality. India, whose citizens breathe some of the world's dirtiest air, has tried a variety of solutions. Earlier this year, the Indian government started a 4% sales tax on new-car purchases. Beijing also has experience with cleaning the air. The city introduced alternate-day rules in advance of the 2008 Olympic Games, which produced good results. And then there is the London congestion (拥挤) charge, introduced in 2003. The charge has had a measurable effect on air quality. For now, Mexico City — named by the United Nations as the most polluted city on the planet in 1992 — can look forward to the start of the region's rainy season, when daily showers will help lo clean the air. （1）How did Mexico ban vehicles in the city? A. By banning private and Federal vehicles one day a week. B. By forbidding private and public vehicles every Saturday. C. By limiting the number of new cars. D. By prohibiting the vehicles except public ones.（2）What did the government of Mexico do when carrying out the ban on vehicles? A. Raised the number of public vehicles. B. Offered free bus and subway rides. C. Introduced more travel options. D. Encouraged citizens to leave the city. （3）What may contribute to improving the air quality in Mexico? A. Alternate-day rules. B. Tax rises. C. Congestion charge. D. The rainy season.（4）What's the best title for the passage? A. Mexico —an Island Plateau B. A Variety of Bans on Vehicles in Mexico C. Should Cities Be Car-free Zones D. How to Improve Air Quality 【答案】（1）A （2）B （3）D （4）C
【英语】高考英语阅读理解专题训练答案 一、高中英语阅读理解 1．阅读理解 Google's new camera, called Clips, is a smart device. It comes with a case that has a clip (夹子), but it's not designed to be worn on your clothing. Most interestingly, it uses artificial intelligence to take photography out of your hands and captures moments entirely on its own! What sets this roughly 2-inch by 2-inch camera, with a three-hour battery life and Gorilla Glass for toughness apart is that it is specially intended for candid moments, like when a child does something cute that may happen too quickly for you to pull out your smartphone. The Clips device, it uses machine learning algorithms (计算程序) to help capture scenes. Those algorithms include face recognition. "Once it learns that there's a face you see frequently, it'll try to get nice photos of those faces," said Juston Payne, the device's product manager. And they also want it to recognize facial expressions, which involved "training it to know what happiness looks like". The Google team also trained it to recognize what not to shoot—like when a child's hand is over the lens, or if it is tossed in a dark purse. The only way to see the images is by connecting the camera with your phone, as it has no screen for viewing or editing. Concerned it could seem strange? Yes, Payne admitted, but he said they addressed that by making it obvious what it is. A green light on the front signals that it is on. Besides, unlike a camera meant to monitor your home, it is not connected to the Internet. "This product is only possible because of the way that silicon(硅) has advanced," Payne said that now they could squeeze the technology down into a device this size. Going forward, we're likely to get more assistance from the artificial intelligence packed into our apps and gadgets.（1）What is the most outstanding feature of Clips? A.It enables easy Internet access. B.It is equipped with tough glass. C.It can be worn on your clothing. D.It allows of hands-free photography. （2）What does the underlined word "candid" in Paragraph 2 mean? A.Awkward. B.Brief. C.Touching. D.Unforgettable. （3）What makes Clips a reality according to Juston Payne? A.The advance in technology. B.The popularity of the Internet. C.The screen for viewing and editing. D.The rise of the smartphone industry. （4）What does the text mainly talk about? A.New gadgets in the age of apps.
I watched from a distance as the homeless man quarreled with those who did not leave money for him – the majority. I walked up to him and right on queue he asked me for a quarter. “I’ll give you a quarter if you tell me your story.” He laughed, “You’ll give me a quarter for my story?” I lay the qu front of him and corrected myself –“Nah, here’s the quarter but it would be nice to hear your story.” I followed his eyes to the quarter and for a brief moment I saw a glimmer of reflection. I sat down next to him and waited. I was a sniper(狙击手)and was supposed to shoot down the “I was in the army,” he said. “ carefully to his grizzly voice as he went deeper into the story. enemy from the distance.” I listened He wore dirty old torn clothes and smelled like a dead rat left in a mouse trap. He told me how he used to hunt with his family and was really good at it. He had his own way of respecting animals by not wasting what he killed for food and not killing more than he needed. When the army came knocking on his door, he felt pride and joined up. All those years of polishing his hunting skills could now serve a larger purpose—to defend us from the bad guys. He set out to fight in Iraq. It wasn’t long before he realized his ideals and expectations were just a shadow of the truth. He became disillusioned with the killings, which he felt were of innocent people. “I was a sniper but I never really killed anyone,” he said. “One day I had to do it. They asked me to shoot this lady from the distance. I saw kids near that lady and my hands were on the trigger (扳机). Man, I was tearing up ... I couldn’t do it. She wasn’t doing anything to anyone and she was with the kids—I couldn’t see through my tears. It just didn’t make any sense to me.” The story goes on as he describes eventually being put into prison for 180 days for refusing to follow orders. He told me how he was black listed so that he couldn’t get a job. All the rights we take for granted were taken away from him. Why? Here was a man who was being punished—and for what? For refusing to kill the lady? For being a hero? “I have no regrets,” anyone the homeless man said. “I may be homeless now, but I never killed that lady. I never killed He in the army. It didn’t feel right. I didn’t go there to do that. I went there to save people.” okay. But I wouldn’t be able to live with continued, “I can live with being homeless—that’s killing innocent people.” On that lonely Friday night, I met a hero. It just never occurred to me that a hero could be a smelly old man left on streets. 1. It can be learned from the passage that the homeless man_______. （） A. never killed animals B. had a strong respect for life C. deserved the punishment he received D. felt guilty about disobeying the order
高考英语阅读理解试题经典及解析 一、高中英语阅读理解 1．阅读理解 When times get tough, we all look for ways to cut back. When we're hungry, we eat at home instead of going out. We take buses instead of taxis. And we wear our old designer jeans just a few months longer. With college expenses at all-time highs, high school students are eager to do anything to cut the cost of a university education. One cost-cutting proposal is to allow college students to get a bachelor's degree in three years instead of four. Educational institutions have been actively exploring ways to make the learning process more efficient. But there's a question: Would the quality of undergraduate education suffer? Few US universities have formally approved a "three-year degree" model. I doubt that mainstream North American colleges will carry out a three-year curriculum any time soon. For one thing, most universities already allow highly qualified students to graduate early by testing out of certain classes and obtaining a number of college credits. In addition, at famous universities, the committee who determine which courses are required and which courses are electives are unlikely to suddenly "throw out" one quarter of the required credits. Professors will resist "diluting (稀释)" the quality of the education they offer. In my opinion, a quality four-year education is always superior to a quality three-year education. A college education requires sufficient time for a student to become skilled in their major and do coursework in fields outside their major. It is not a good idea to water down education, any more than it's not a good idea to water down medicine. If we want to help students find their way through university, we should help them understand early on what knowledge and skills they need to have upon graduation. We should allow students to test out of as many courses as possible. We should give them a chance to earn money as interns (实习生) in meaningful part-time jobs that relate to their university studies, such as the five-year co-op program at Northeastern University. （1）Which of the following can best sum up the main idea? A.It's time to shorten the learning process. B.Best learning takes place over time. C.University education should be watered down. D.College education calls for reform. （2）We can learn from the passage that ________. A.most American universities are against the "three-year degree" model B.many famous US universities are considering adopting the "three-year degree" model C.professors are willing to accept the "three-year degree" model D.The "three-year degree" model can make college learning more efficient （3）In most US universities, ________. A.college students are offered the co-op program B.electives' credits make up one quarter of the required credits C.all students are required to finish four-year education before graduation D.some excellent students can graduate ahead of time