河南省新乡市延津县高级中学高考英语任务型阅读习题及答案
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一、高中英语任务型阅读1.请认真阅读下面短文,并根据所读内容在文章后表格中的空格里填入最恰当的单词。
注意:每个空格只填1个单词。
Time for Americans to act on climate changeThe climate crisis is worsening at a rate that is becoming harder and harder to ignore. For more than two decades, scientific reports have made it clear that global warming is real, that humans cause it and that the consequences will be disastrous.The scientific community has become increasingly panicked over the past year. The latest assessment from the U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change painted a far more terrible picture than its previous analyses, and the long-awaited National Climate Assessment made clear that climate change represents a severe threat to human health as well as our economic security. Out of this panic came the treaty(条约)reached this past weekend by world leaders to keep the Paris climate agreement alive.Yet many Americans still don't regard the threat as a key priority for our government, and support President Trump's decision to withdraw from the Paris treaty. Campaign contributions from fossil fuel companies have convinced elected officials to look the other way. A certain amount of despair has resulted in widespread apathy(漠然).But there is another reason that has been discussed far less openly. While a growing number of people understand that climate change will have significant worldwide consequences, many Americans have an intuitive(直觉的)belief that their nation is more capable than others of adapting to a changed environment. Why? Because they have before.This historical success, however, resulted from the federal government taking science seriously, and making investments to urge revolution and innovation.But these innovations did not happen by themselves, or simply because of the United States' rich resources. They depended on consistent support from the leaders about the need to take action when faced with crises. This has been especially true in the environmental crisis.President Bill Clinton had a shockingly modest record of advancing climate security, particularly given that his vice president, Al Gore, had been one of the most outspoken environmentalists in Congress. By far Clinton's biggest accomplishment was assigning Gore to participate іn thе Куоtо Рrоtoсоl negotiations. Сlіntоn сhоѕе, hоwеvеr, tо аvоіd whаt ѕurеlу wоuld have been a terrible fight in the Senate to gain approval of the treaty. While this effort probably would have failed, it would have signaled to the American people how seriously the Democratic Party took climate change.Thus, the time has clearly arrived for progressive candidates to start campaigning on a platform built around the need for a sustainability revolution. Such a plan should include a carbon tax, well-funded clean energy research, evolved agricultural policies and smarter public transport. Given that Generation X and millennials(千禧一代)never bought into the fiction that the United States is immune to the dangers of global warming, the time is ripe to make climate security a crucial government responsibility. Only by doing so can we begin the long-overdue(拖延好久的)campaign to save the planet.Time for Americans to act on climate changesure/certain/optimistic;positive;Conclusion【解析】【分析】本文是一篇新闻报道。
一、高中英语任务型阅读1.任务型阅读Who's Really Addicting You To Technology?“Nearly everyone I know is addicted in some measure to the Internet”, wrote Tony Schwartz in The New York Times. It's a common complaint these days. A steady stream of similar headlines accuses the Net and its offspring apps, social media sites and online games of addicting us to distraction.There's little doubt that nearly everyone who comes in contact with the Net has difficulty disconnecting. Then who's at fault for its overuse? To find solutions, it's important to understand what we're dealing with. There are four parties cooperating to keep you connected: the tech, your boss, your friends and you.The technologies themselves and their makers are the easiest suspects to blame for our distraction. Online services like Facebook, Google, twitter and the like rely on advertising revenue, so the more frequently you use them, the more money they make. No wonder these companies employ teams of people focused on improving their services to be as attractive as possible.Good as these services are, there are simple steps we can take to keep them from coming too close. However, less than 15 percent of smartphone users are willing to adjust their notification settings meaning the remaining 85 percent of us default to (默认)the app makers' every preset devices.While companies like Facebook harvest attention to generate revenue from advertisers, other technologies have no such agenda. Take email, for example. We check email at all hours of the day we're obsessed, because that's what the boss wants. For almost all white-collar jobs, email is the primary tool of corporate communication. A slow response to a message could hurt not only your reputation but also your livelihood.Your friends are also responsible for the addiction. Think about this familiar scene. People gathered around a table, enjoying food and each others' company. Then, during an interval in the conversation, someone takes out their phone to check who knows what. Barely anyone notices and no one says a thing.The reality is taking one's phone out at the wrong time is more than an impolite behavior because, unlike other minor offense, checking tech is contagious (传染). Once one person looks at their phone, other people tend to do the same, starting a chain reaction.Hie technology, your boss, and your friends, all influence how often you find yourself using (or overusing) these gadgets. But there's still someone who deserves careful examination the person holding the phone.When people are doing something difficult they'd rather not do, the phone is used to transport them elsewhere. They can easily escape discomfort temporarily, by answering email or browsing the web under the excuse of so-called “research”. The truth is that we are working unproductively out of our bad habits.Personal technology is indeed more attractive than ever, which doesn't mean we shouldn't attempt to control our use of technology, instead, we should come to terms with the fact that it'smore than the technology that's responsible for our habits. Our workplace culture, social norms and individual behaviors all play a part.free/liberate/release;rise/birth;alone/itself【解析】【分析】本文是一篇议论文,阐述了让人沉迷于科技的几个因素。
一、高中英语任务型阅读1.任务型阅读Why do some people feel obliged to do the craziest things, while most of us are happy to sit on the sofa and watch their exploits on TV? Robin Styles ponders(考虑)this question.Generally, we love to watch someone's bravery and drama--a single person against the wilds of nature, testing their endurance beyond belief. And our pleasure is greater because we live a comfortable and increasingly risk-free life, where the greatest test of endurance is getting to work through the rush hour. ________However, there are countless ways to test the limits of your endurance, if you should wish to do so, by attempting something unpleasant, uncomfortable or just plain dangerous.American Lynne Cox swims in sub-zero temperatures through the planet's most dangerous oceans wearing only a swimsuit--for fun! According to Lynne, there is always something driving her on. At age 9, when she was swimming in an outdoor pool one day, a violent storm blew up, but she refused to get out of the pool. Something make her carry on. Then she realized that, as the water got colder and rougher, she was actually getting faster and warmer, and she was really enjoying it. At age 14, she broke her first endurance record. Years later, experts discovered that Lynne has a totally even layer of body fat, like a seal. ________The famous British explorer, Sir Ranulph Fiennes, has led many major expeditions (远征) in the extreme cold, including walking right round the Arctic Circle. He has also led expeditions in the extreme heat, and discovered the Lost City of Ubar in the Omani desert. ________Sir Fiennes has said, "If I am getting sick, I find a very powerful way of conquering it is to know that my father would have definitely done it."________There is probably no such thing as a "normal" adventurer. Unsurprisingly, risk-takers tend to be single-minded and unusually determined people who hate the stability and routine that most people prefer. They tend to take risks for the "fun" of it. The excitement becomes addictive, and they want more and more of it. Ordinary life seems boring in comparison.A. She is perfectly made for doing what she does, it seems.B. Adventurers are clearly different from the rest of us.C What she did was really beyond our imagination.D. It seems that many adventurers spend their lives trying to live up to the image of a parent.E. And most of us would prefer it to remain that way.F. Many adventurers have amazed the world with their extraordinary skills.【答案】 E;A;D;B【解析】【分析】本文是一篇说明文,讲述了一些人喜欢以冒险为乐趣。
一、高中英语任务型阅读1.任务型阅读Ways to Free Your Mind You're Feeling StuckHave you ever like you were racing around in without making much forward progress? If you're stuck and you don't know how to rise, don't look outside yourself. Look below.________Go back to what's importantWhen we get stuck, it can be extremely useful to come back to these three things: core values, beliefs and goals. Why?________Ask for helpVery often, highly happy and successful people have a supporting group of friends, family and others who help them________And don't be afraid to reach out and help someone who's even more stuck than you.Embrace the natural pathwaysWhen you get stuck, there's no need to go back to the drawing board. Ask the people around you about the systems that are working for them, read insightful books and blog articles, and use the same methods and pathways that others have used to get unstuck.________Relocate yourself to an inspiring environment________You can go for a walk in a nearby park. You can come out of the office for a cup of coffee. Or if you are at home, you can simply go to a different room in the house. Whether it's urban spaces, parks, libraries, museums or even our own backyards, there are plenty of available sources that we can draw inspiration and strength from.A. Goals are the outcomes in life that we strive for.B. Here are some useful ways to help yourself get unstuck.C. When you are stuck, don't be afraid to ask for help.D. One way to get unstuck is to simply change your environment.E. Because they form the basics of what is important to us as individuals.F. Break the circle of worry and work on something else.G. In fact, the system is nothing more than a natural pathway of thought that someone has created with their mind.【答案】B;E;C;G;D【解析】【分析】本文主要介绍了一些使自己摆脱困境的建议。
一、高中英语任务型阅读1.任务型阅读Green is not always referring to the color. In some cases, it is the term used for being environmentally friendly. If you've been looking to replace your furniture, consider going green because environmentally friendly furniture offers many benefits. Here are a few tips to get you started on your hunt for the perfect eco-friendly furniture.First, environmentally friendly furniture isn't harmful to your health. Also its manufacturing process doesn't cause damage to the environment in any way. Besides, by purchasing eco-friendly products, you prevent deforestation and global warming to some extent in your own way. You do your part in protecting the environment. Environmentally friendly furniture is cost-effective as well.The materials that are used in furniture are what make them green. Materials can be good for the environment either because they are materials that are considered renewable resources or they are all natural. A lack of chemicals and toxins (毒素) in green furniture also means it is a better choice for the environment. It may be hard to imagine that a sofa or a table could actually be a green product but they really can be depending on what they're made of.There are a lot of renewable sources that manufacturers could use when building the furniture, so you should be keeping an eye out for them. Bamboo can be an excellent replacement for wood and can also replace plastics and metals in some furnishing. Cotton is a sofa fabric that is safe for the environment and it can be replenished (补充) often. Hemp is also a renewable source that can be used for fabric and twine.Recycled materials also can be made into green furniture. Metals can be recovered and remade into new things such as frames and foundations for sofas. Recycled plastic can also be made into furniture such as tables and chairs. Touching up old furniture instead of buying new items is very cheap way to be green. Yard sales and second-hand stores sell furniture too and buying the used means new things won't be made, so no more damage has to happen to the earth.Therefore, when you want to hunt for the perfect environmentally friendly furniture, you should try to know the type of materials which are used in building the furniture.reused/recycled/used;like;second-hand/used/old;better/necessary/important/vital/essential【解析】【分析】如果你想换家俱,可以考虑选择绿色环保家俱,本文主要介绍了环保家俱的优势以及这种家俱材料的选择等有关事宜。
一、高中英语任务型阅读1.Read the passage carefully. Fill in each blank with a proper sentence given in the box. Each sentence can be used only once. Note that there are two more sentences than you need.College graduation eventually means taking much of your attention in your first job search. This process can be challenging, especially for those students who had thought very carefully about their chosen major and their potential career path—or those who majored in a field not directly connected to a specific career he eventually got. If you are in one of these groups, fear not! ________Some majors are tied directly to specific career fields. For example, if you wish to become a teacher, you will likely have needed to complete an education program and eventually sit for a licensing exam. The same applies to majors in nursing. If you did not complete an acceptable nursing program, you won't be able to take the nursing licensing exam. ________Other majors, however, are closely related to career paths but don't necessarily require a degree in the area. For example, students who majored in finance, math, or statistics may also have the necessary skills to be hired as an accountant.Hopefully, as a college student, you were able to do more than just attend classes and read your course books. Your non-academic experiences can be very influential on your future career as well. Did you work during college, volunteer, or participate in a club or organization?________ If you volunteered with a non-profit organization such as a homeless or domestic violence shelter, seek out positions in social services related to case management or victim advocacy. You may qualify for a position regardless of your major.Although it often seems like your college major alone determines your career fate, this just isn't the case. ________ If you don't know what career options to consider based on your major, talk to your faculty or academic advisor. You may be surprised at what opportunities await!A. If so, and if you enjoyed these activities, seek out related careers.B. In these cases, successfully completing a specific major is crucial to landing a job in the matching field.C. Graduating from a university with an excellent major and practical ability will surely make you more competitive.D. It may influence it, but there are other factors that influence your career options as well.E. The more you learn about workforce market, the better you'll know the importance of a desired major.F. Although your major and coursework are relevant to landing a job, they are not the only deciding factors.【答案】 F;B;A;D【解析】【分析】本文是一篇以论文,大学生毕业后找工作很具有挑战性。
一、高中英语完形填空1.阅读下面短文,从短文后各题所给的A、B、C和D四个选项中,选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项。
I feel that I was blessed by an Angel not long ago I was out in town with my husband. We livein a 1 town. Because of the cold, my 2 shrunk, causing my anniversary ring to 3 . I didn't notice this until we got home. I became 4 ill ached all over. I thought my husband was going to have a heart attack.Although it is a material item, it is yet very 5 . He went out and retraced our 6 to where we came back. I called the stores we were in and no one 7 it in. I thoughtit was 8 for sure.Well, at around midnight last night, our dogs went mad. We have a sunroom 9 to our home. The door to that is usually 10 . But that night, we left it unlocked. My all-terrain motor scooter (小型摩托车) was 11 out there. In its basket was a ring box…holding my ring! Along with the ring was a diamond circle.There was also a 12 that told the story of this stranger 13 the ring and recognizing the work, as it is a piece made particularly. The person then went to the jeweler and 14 about finding the ring. The jeweler is a friend of mine so she gave her my 15 and the town is so small, we are 16 to find. The stranger who found the ring 17 the ribbon (丝线) in the store in order to keep the ring around the finger when it is 18 out. And then also left a gift card for us to take our family out to the movies as a Christmas gift. The note was 19 "Santa's Elf (小精灵)". My friend is keeping her lips 20 about whomit was.1. A. modern B. small C. big D. developed2. A. ring B. hand C. brain D. finger3. A. fall off B. leave behind C. break down D. go away4. A. firmly B. formally C. identically D. physically5. A. valuable B. challenging C. memorable D. beneficial6. A. footprints B. steps C. streets D. directions7. A. took B. pressed C. turned D. counted8. A. gone B. stolen C. changed D. transformed9. A. adapted B. attached C. exposed D. held10. A. open B. abandoned C. closed D. locked11. A. made B. parked C. repaired D. destroyed12. A. slogan B. advertisement C. note D. announcement13. A. handling B. exploring C. finding D. chasing14. A. explained B. complained C. wondered D. argued15. A. phone number B. photo C. mailbox D. name16. A. difficult B. easy C. incredible D. complex17. A. purchased B. tore C. sold D. borrowed18. A. warm B. rainy C. foggy D. cold19. A. called B. written C. signed D. noticed20. A. tight B. painted C. secret D. clear【答案】(1)B;(2)D;(3)A;(4)D;(5)C;(6)B;(7)C;(8)A;(9)B;(10)D;(11)B;(12)C;(13)C;(14)A;(15)D;(16)B;(17)A;(18)D;(19)C;(20)A;【解析】【分析】本文是一篇记叙文,作者不小心弄丢了戒指,捡到戒指的好心人找到了戒指的主人也就是作者,将戒指放在她的车里并附上了一个纸条写着找寻戒指主人的经过。
一、高中英语完形填空1.阅读下面短文,从短文后各题所给的四个选项(A、B、C 和D)中,选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项。
I come from one of those families where you have to yell at the dinner table to get in a word. Everyone has a strong 1 , and talks at the same time, and no one has a 2 leadingto heated arguments. We often talk or even debate with each other on different topics.3 a family like mine has made me more4 about the world around me, making me tend to question anything anyone tells me. But it has also made me realize that I'm not a good listener. And when I say "listening", I'm not5 to the nodding-your-head-and-6 -answering-Uh-huh-or-Ooh-I-see variety. I mean the kind of listening where you find yourself deeply7 with the person you're speaking with, when his story becomes so8 that your world becomes less about you and more about him. No, I was never very good at that.I spent summer in South Africa two years ago. I worked for a good non-profit 9 called Noah, which works 10 on behalf of children affected by AIDS. But 11 you asked me what I really did in South Africa, I'd tell you one thing: I listened, and I listened. Sometimes I 12 , but mostly listened.And had I not spent two months 13 , I might have missed the 14 moment whena quiet little girl at one of Noah's community centers, orphaned(孤儿)at the age of three, whispered after a long 15 , "I love you."16 that summer, I knew how to hear. I could sit down with anyone and hear their17 and nod and respond at the 18 time—but most of the time I was 19 about the next words out of my own mouth. Ever since my summer in South Africa, I have noticed that it's in those moments when my mouth is closed and my 20 is wide open thatI've learned the most about other people, and perhaps about myself.1. A. qualification B. influence C. opinion D. assumption2. A. commitment B. problem C. schedule D. request3. A. Belonging to B. Believing in C. Bringing up D. Struggling for4. A. anxious B. curious C. nervous D. adventurous5. A. objecting B. appealing C. turning D. referring6. A. rudely B. loudly C. politely D. gratefully7. A. identifying B. quarreling C. debating D. competing8. A. vivid B. magical C. mind-numbing D. time-consuming9. A. school B. organization C. factory D. church10. A. effortlessly B. timelessly C. aimlessly D. tirelessly11. A. unless B. because C. although D. if12. A. applauded B. spoke C. wept D. complained13. A. studying B. traveling C. listening D. working14. A. touching B. frustrating C. astonishing D. fascinating15. A. delay B. course C. journey D. silence16. A. Before B. After C. Except D. Since17. A. needs B. stories C. comments D. cases18. A. valuable B. free C. right D. same19. A. talking B. arguing C. learning D. thinking20. A. sympathy B. spirit C. mind D. family【答案】(1)C;(2)B;(3)A;(4)B;(5)D;(6)C;(7)A;(8)A;(9)B;(10)D;(11)D;(12)B;(13)C;(14)A;(15)D;(16)A;(17)B;(18)C;(19)D;(20)C;【解析】【分析】本文是一篇记叙文,南非的工作改变了原生家庭对自己的影响,让作者在倾听的同时思维变得更开阔,对人了解的更多。
高考英语任务型阅读训练经典题目(及答案)一、高中英语任务型阅读1.根据短文内容,从短文后的选项中选出能填入空白处的最佳选项。
选项中有两项为多余选项。
They Just Can't Help ItMy theory is that the female brain is mainly built for empathy —the ability to understand other people —and that the male brain is mainly built for building systems. ________ For example, women are more likely to read magazines on fashion and parenting, while men will choose magazines that feature computers and sport.You may think that these preferences are influenced by the way people are taught to behave when they are growing up. However, this is not the case. A new study carried out at Cambridge University shows that newborn girls look longer at a face, and newborn boys look longer at a mobile. ________ It has also been observed that girls are better at noticing signs of changes in other people's feelings. Boys, however, seem to enjoy building toy towers and playing with toys which have clear functions. ________ People whose jobs are in the construction industries are almost male. Math and engineering, which require high levels of systems-thinking, are also male-chosen disciplines. Why do men and women have the difference? Actually women have four times as many brain neurons (神经) that connect the right and left part of their brains. Because of it, women have a better ability to multitask than men. ________ Men tend to focus on a limited number of problems at a time. They will separate themselves from problems and view tasks as independent from one another.Some people may worry that I am suggesting one gender (性别) is better than the other, but this is not the case. My theory says that males and females differ in the kinds of things that they find easy, but that both genders have their strengths and weaknesses. ________ It is not true. The study simply looks at males and females as two groups, and asks what differences exist, and why they are there.A. Generally speaking, there are clear differences.B. Their preference for building systems may change over time.C. You can see the same kind of pattern in the adult workplace.D. They will consider many sources of information at the same time.E. It is important to stress that the female brain may be built more for empathy.F. That suggests certain differences between male and female brains are biological.G. Others may think the theory creates a belief of what a particular type of person is like.【答案】 A;F;C;D;G【解析】【分析】本文是一篇说明文,阐述男性与女性差异各有优缺点。
高考英语任务型阅读试题(含答案)一、高中英语任务型阅读1.根据短文内容,从短文后的选项中选出能填入空白处的最佳选项。
选项中有两项为多余选项。
Most of us lead unhealthy lives; we spend far too much sitting down. If in addition we are careless about our diets, our bodies soon become loose and fatty and our systems slow moving.________I am thinking of such features of modern city life as pollution, noise, rushed meals and stress. But keeping fit is a way to reduce the effects of these evils. The usual suggestion to a person who is looking for a way to keep fit is to take up some sport or other. While it is true that every weekend you will find people playing football and hockey in the local park, they are outnumbered a hundred to one by the people who are simply watching them.For those who do not particularly enjoy competitive sports—________—there are such separate activities as cycling, walking, jogging and swimming. What often happens though is that you do them in such a leisurely way, so slowly, that it is doubtful if you are doing yourself much good, except for the fact that you have at least managed to get up out of your armchair.Even after you have found a way for keeping in shape, through sport or gymnastics, ________, because, according to the experts, you must also master the art of complete mental and physical relaxation. ________Yoga, as practiced in the West, is the most widely known and popular of the systems for achieving the necessary state of relaxation. It seems ironical (讽刺性的), though, that as our lives have improved in a material sense we have found it increasingly necessary to go back to forms of activity—________—which were the natural way of life of our forefathers.A. be active and practise YogaB. There are some aspects of our unhealthy lives that we cannot avoid.C. and it is especially difficult to do so if you are not good at themD. physical effort on the one hand and relaxation on the otherE. they spent most of the time out of doorsF. you are still only half way to good healthG. It has to do with deep breathing, emptying your mind of all thoughts, meditation, and so on.【答案】B;C;F;G;D【解析】文章大意:这是一篇说明文。
一、高中英语任务型阅读1.任务型阅读Why doesn't the conductor face the audience?________As the only person with his back to the audience, the conductor is a figure who is bathed in the spotlight, but his complex work requires a high degree of musical skill, as well as an ability to extract what he desires out of the group of artists he leads--his orchestra.________A person may become a conductor without graduating from the conducting department of a music school or studying in any kind of conductor's training program. However, becoming the conductor of a famous orchestra requires a great deal more than what is needed merely to join an orchestra.________These naturally examine a conductor's technique and musical interpretation while he conducts an orchestra through a prepared piece of music, but they also involve a sight-reading element________The conductor then has to sit in a room and memorize the piece before coming out and leading the orchestra through the piece by memory. Not only does the conductor have to make his arm and hand motion properly, and signal all the entrances of each instrument, he has to point out intentional mistakes made by the orchestra members on the spot.The least capabilities a conductor must have are: The ability to memorize an entire score. A good ear for distinguishing correct notes among the music of the entire orchestra.________Of the conductors that meet these requirements, those with better musical insight and a higher level of charisma(魅力) will succeed.A. The need for a common musical standard becomes necessaryB. The ability to lead a group of professional musiciansC. There are many conducting competitionsD. For this, the score of music is given to the conductor on siteE. This is how the role of the conductor came to be establishedF. The role of the conductor is in fact not well understoodG. There are no examinations for becoming a conductor【答案】F;G;C;D;B【解析】【分析】为什么指挥不面向观众?本文就这一话题展开介绍了乐队的指挥总是背对着观众的原因,以及成为一名乐队指挥需要哪些方面的能力等。
(1)根据前面的“Why doesn't the conductor face the audience”可知,人们对乐队指挥这一工作不甚了解,再根据本空后的内容推断应选F项。
故答案为F。
(2)根据本空后面的“A person may become a conductor without graduating from the conducting department of a music school or studying in any kind of conductor's training program”可知,乐队的指挥不需要毕业于专业的音乐学校或经过相关的训练,与G项的“不用考试”一致。
故答案为G。
(3)根据空格后面的“These naturally examine a conductor's technique and musical interpretation while he conducts an orchestra through a prepared piece of music”,这里的These指的是C项中的competitions。
故答案为C。
(4)根据后面的“The conductor then has to sit in a room and memorize the piece”,即把音乐的总谱现场给乐队指挥,然后指挥需要现场记忆。
故答案为D。
(5)与前面的“The ability to memorize an entire score”中的ability是并列的。
故答案为B。
【点评】此类文体的文章的行文需要通过一定的衔接手段来实现,文章的衔接手段有:重复使用某一词语或子范畴词语,使用同义词表达,用总称指代指代具体事物或用具体事物指代整体。
使用代词避免重复等。
2.请认真阅读下列短文,并根据所读内容在文章后表格中的空格里填入一个最恰当的单词。
注意:每个空格只填1个单词。
The urge to share our lives on social mediaPeople have long used media to see reflections of themselves. Long before mobile phones or even photography, diaries were kept as a way to understand oneself and the world in which one lives. In the 18th and 19th centuries, as diaries became more popular, middle-class New Englanders, particularly white women, wrote about their everyday lives and the world around them.These diaries were not a place into which they poured their innermost thoughts and desires, but rather a place to chronicle (记录) the social world around them. The diaries captured the everyday routines of mid-19th-century life, and women diarists in particular focused not on themselves but on their families and their communities.Diaries today are, for the most part, private. But things were different for these New England diaries. Young women who were married would send their diaries home to their parents as a way of maintaining kin (血缘) relations. When family or friends came to visit, it was not uncommon to sit down and go through one's journal together.Diaries are not the only media that people have used to document lives and share them with others. We have long used media like photo albums, baby books and even slide shows as a means of creating traces (痕迹) of our lives. We do this to understand ourselves and to see trends in our behaviour. We create traces as part of our identity and part of our memory.Sharing everyday life events can strengthen social connection and intimacy (亲密感). For example, you take a picture of your child's first birthday. It is not only a developmental milestone: the photo also strengthen the identity of the family unit itself. The act of taking the photo and proudly sharing it further reaffirms (再次证实) one as a good and attentive parent. In other words, the media traces of others figure in our own identities.Today's social media platforms are, by and large, free to use, unlike historical diaries, which people had to buy. Today, advertising subsidises (补贴) our use of networked platforms. Therefore these platforms encourage use of their networks to build larger audiences and to better target them. Our pictures, our posts, and our likes are commodified—that is, they are used to create value through increasingly targeted advertising.Instead of social media merely connecting us, it has become a craze (狂热) for information, continually trying to draw us in with the promise of social connectivity—it's someone's birthday, someone liked your picture, etc. There's a multibillion-dollar industry pulling us into our smartphones, relying on a longstanding human need for communication.The urge to be present on social media is much more complex than simply narcissism (自恋). Social media of all kinds not only enable people to see their reflections, but to feel their connection as well.free/nothing;commodities;catering;connection/communication【解析】【分析】本文是一篇说明文,介绍了早期的和现代社交媒体的特点和影响。