高考英语二轮总练习阅读理解精选及解析

2021高考英语二轮总练习阅读理解精选〔05〕及解析

A

Two brothers, Herbert and James, lived with their mother and a cat named Edgar.

James was particularly devoted to the cat, and when he had to leave town for several

days, he left Herbert careful instructions about the pet’s care. At the end of his

first day away, James telephoned his brother, “How is Edgar〞

“Edgar is dead.〞 Herbert answered. There was a pause. Then James said,

“Herbert, you’re insensitive (漠然旳). You know how close I was to Edgar. You

should have broken the news to me slowly. When I asked about Edgar tonight, you should

have said, ‘Edgar’s on the roof , but I have called the fire department to get

him down.’ And tomorrow when I called, you could have said the firemen were having

trouble getting Edgar down, but you were hopeful they would succeed. Then when I

called the third time, you could have told me that the firemen have done their best,

but unfortunately Edgar had fallen off the roof and was at the veterinarian’s (兽医站). Then when I called the last time, you could have said that although everything

possible had been done for Edgar, he had died. That’s the way a sensitive man would have told me about Edgar. And, oh, before I forget,〞 James added, “how is mother〞

“Oh,〞 Herbert said, pausing for a moment, “She’s on the roof.〞

56. James telephoned his brother at the end of his first day away because he wanted

to know ___.

A. what he was doing B. whether he was good

C. whether the cat was good D. where his mother was

57. Why did James say his brother was insensitive

A. Because he told him the news directly.

B. Because he killed their pet.

C. Because his mother was on the roof.

D. Because he missed the truth about the cat.

58. From the last paragraph of the passage, we can know that the mother was probably _____.

A. on the roof B. ill or even dead

C. repairing the house D. playing games

B

Rock and roll music developed in the United States in the early nineteen-fifties. It was based on the music called rhythm and blues that was

performed by African American musicians.

Early rock and roll singers developed their own kinds of music. Elvis Presley,

Chuck Berry, the Beach Boys, and Bob Dylan were the most popular rock and roll

musicians in the early 1960’s. All were American. Then, in 1964, a new rock and

roll group from England invaded America: the Beatles.

Some people say the Beatles’ music shook America like an earthquake. The

Beatles changed rock and roll forever. Their early songs were influenced by American

rock and roll musicians, including Chuck Berry. But the Beatles looked different

and sounded different from any musical group be-fore them.

The Beatles released their first album in the United States in 1964, when all of the top five records in America were by the Beatles. In 1967, they released an

album called “Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.〞 It was one of the first

“concept〞 albums. That is, all the songs were linked by a common story or idea.

The popularity of the Beatles led the way for more rock and roll bands from England

to become popular in America. The Rolling Stones was the most important of these

bands. The Rolling Stones is one of the few groups from the 1960’s that is still

performing and recording today. In 1965, the group recorded one of its most famous

songs, “Satisfaction〞.

The musical instrument most linked to rock and roll is the guitar. Experts say

Jimi Hendrix was one of the most influential guitar players in rock and roll during

the late 1960’s. His “Purple Haze〞 was liked by many people.

By the 1970’s, rock and roll music became known as rock music. It expanded

into many new forms. For example, there was country rock, hard rock, acid rock, and

heavy metal rock. Punk rock, jazz rock, and glitter rock. In the middle 1970’s, experts say rock music regained some of the energy of

early rock and roll. Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band became popular with

their album “Born to Run〞. Springsteen’s music was like the lively rock and roll

music of the early nineteen-sixties. Many of his songs were about social issues.

He sang about the effects of unemployment and the war in Vietnam.

59. The main topic of this passage is _______.

A. the history of American music

B. the development of rock and roll music

C. the famous rock and roll groups

D. the new forms of rock and roll music

60. Which of the following matches is NOT true

A. the Beatles — Chuck Berry

B. the Rolling Stones — Satisfaction

C. Jimi Hendrix — Purple Haze

D. Bruce Springsteen — Born to Run

61. Whose songs were mainly about social problems like unemployment and war