江苏省苏州市相城区陆慕高级中学2020届高三第二学期第二次周考英语试卷

2020届江苏省苏州中学高三英语第二次联考试题及参考答案第一部分阅读（共两节，满分40分）第一节（共15小题；每小题2分，满分30分）阅读下列短文，从每题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中选出最佳选项ATop Four MarathonsPortland MarathonThe marathon welcomes 8 000 people every fall. It’s a great event for first-timers because everyone is cheered on with enthusiasm no matter how long it takes to cross the finish line. The time limit for the full marathon is now at a pace of minutes per mile, or 6 hours and 33 minutes, but in the past it had an open time limit. They promise you’ll still receive your medal if you fall behind the pace, but you have to finish using the sidewalks.TCS New York City MarathonAs the world’s biggest marathon, the TCS New York City Marathon attracts over 50,000 people to the Big Apple each November. The time limit is generous eight and a half hours, but participants must move to the sidewalk if they drop below 15-minute mile.The famous course snakes through five boroughs (行政区) of the city and crosses five bridges to end in Central Park.Honolulo MarathonThe marathon attracts over 30,000 participants each December. The race starts on Ala Moana Boulevard in downtown Honolulu and snakes its way along the breathtaking Hawaiian coastline to the finish line in Kapiolani Park. The start time is at 5: 00 am with finish line services officially open until 2: 00 pm. However, the organizers allow everyone to finish and have waiters on hand until 4: 00 pm.Boston MarathonThe marathon is held in May every year. For this event running isn’t allowed as the city streets aren’t closed off. Participants must instead make their way along sidewalks under the guidance of event organizers and city police. The event attracts over 8,000 people who can choose anything from three-mile walk to the full 26.2-mile Boston Marathon route.1.Where is a new marathon runner most likely to receive enthusiastic cheers?A.In Portland.B.In New York.C.In Honolulu.D.In Boston.2.What can we know about TCS New York City Marathon?A.It is extremely popular.B.It has an open time limit.C.It starts and ends in a park.D.It forbids using the sidewalk.3.Which marathon is held the earliest in a year?A.Portland Marathon.B.TCS New York City Marathon.C.Boston Marathon.D.Honolulu Marathon.BFor years, Zach Ault, a father of three, enjoyed being physically active. He was even training for a half-marathon. But in 2017, he took time off to recover from an infection. After recovering, he tried to continue his runs but could not complete them. He was not able to spend time with his children. He had to cut back his job. Even sleeping as much as 16 hours a day made no difference in his condition.“His body had literally hijacked him and it wasn't going to allow him to push through, ” said Anne Ault, his wife. After months of testing, doctors announced their result-chronic fatigue syndrome, a disease that makes an individual feel extremely tired.This fatigue lasts more than six months and becomes worse after any kind of physical exertion (费力活动). Patients may have difficulty standing upright. They also may have trouble thinking, often described as a “brain fog”. There are no approvedtreatments, or even tests to help with diagnosis. There is no way to predict who will recover and who will have a severe case that lasts for years.Now the doctors at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) are conducting a unique study to learn more about the condition. Zach Ault is one of the subjects in the study. When Ault rides an exercise bicycle, scientists measure how his leg muscles use oxygen. Afterward, doctors fit a special cap on Ault's head to measure electrical activity in his brain. They then send him to spend the night in an air-tight room where air has been removed with pipe for additional study. Scientists measure oxygen and carbon dioxide levels to tell how much energy Ault is using, minute by minute. “We're figuring out how his body adjusts to an exercise load, or a stress load.”“It's hard not knowing if or when I'm going to recover, ” he said. But Ault says the study did help him learn about the disease. And it gave him ideas about how to save up his energy.4. What was Zach Ault's life like before 2017?A. He was fond of exercising.B. He won several half-marathons.C. He spent much time lying in bed.D. He was busy looking after his children.5. How did the infection affect Zach Ault?A. He lost his job.B. He was unable to sleep.C. He became too weak to do sports.D. He was tired of running a half-marathon.6. What can we learn about chronic fatigue syndrome?A. It usually lasts no more than months.B. It is likely to cause thinking disorders.C. Patients with it need to stay in bed all day long.D. Patients with it should avoid any kind of exercise.7. What does Zach Ault think of the study?A. It helped him cure his illness.B. It helped him recover and stay fit.C. It taught him how to enjoy cycling.D. It brought him new ideas about fighting diseases.CGlobal food demand will double by 2050, according to a new projection, and the farming techniques used to meet that unprecedented(空前的) demand will significantly determine how severe the impact is on the environment, researchers said.The study researchers warned that meeting the demand for food would clear more land, increase nitrogen(氮) use and significantly add to carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions.“Agriculture’s greenhouse gas emissions could double by2050 if current trends in global food production continue,” study researcher David Tilman, of theUniversityofMinnesota, said in a statement. “This would be a major problem, since global agriculture already accounts for a third of all greenhouse gas emissions.”The researchers studied various ways in which the increasing food demand could be mentioned. They found that the most environmentally friendly and cost-effective approach would be for more food producers to adopt the nitrogen-efficient “intensive” farming method, which involves the heavy use of labor and the production of more crops per acre.This approach was shown to be more effective than the “extensive” farming currently practiced by many poor nations, a method that includes clearing more new land to produce more food.Different farming methods produce significantly different yields, the researchers found — in 2005, the crop yields for the wealthiest nations were more than 300 percent higher than what the poorest nations produced.According to their analysis of the effects of extensive farming, if poorer nations continue using this method, by 2050theywill have cleared an area larger than theUnited States, about 2.5 billion acres. However, if wealthy nations help poorer nations to improve food yields by incorporating(吸收) intensive farming practices, thatnumber could be reduced to half a billion acres.The researchers stress that the environmental effects of meeting future food demand depend on how global agriculture expands and develops.“Our analyses show that we cansave most of the Earth’s remaining ecosystems by helping the poorer nations of the world feed themselves,” Tilman said.8. What is the best title of this passage?A. The World Will Need Double Food by 2050B. Man Will Face the Risk of Lacking Food in the FutureC. Future Farmers Hold Environment’s Fate in Their HandsD. Different Farming Methods Produce Significantly Different Yields9. The character of the extensive farming is ________.A. very cost-effectiveB. to produce more crops per acreC. at cost of more new land to produce more foodD. very environmentally friendly10. It can be inferred from the passage that ________.A. poorer nations mainly use the intensive farmingB. wealthy nations mainly use the extensive farmingC. the intensive farming needs less food producersD. the extensive farming has a worse effect on ecosystems11. According to the passage, the underlined word “they” in the 7th paragraph refers to “________”.A. poorer nationsB. the effects of extensive farmingC. wealthy nationsD.future food demandDWhen I was young, my mother didn't have the money to send me to school, but she thought it was important for me to keep up with education.So she decided to teach me extra lessons herself.But because she had to go to work, the only time she could do it was at 4：30 inthe morning.We needevery one of you to develop your talents and your skills so that you can help us old folks solve ourmost difficult problems. If you quit on school—you're not just quitting on yourself, but you're quitting on your country. No one's written your destiny(命运)for you, because you write your own destiny. You make your own future.That's why today I'm calling on each of you to set your own goals for your education and do everything you can to meet them.Your goal can be something as simple as doing all your homework, paying attention in class, or spending some time reading a book.But whatever you decide to do, I want you to commit to it.I want you to really work at it.I know that sometimes you get that sense from TV that you can be rich and successful without any hard work—that your ticket to success is through rapping or basketball or being a reality TV star.No one's born being good at all things. You become good at things through hard work.You're not a good athlete the first time you play a new sport.You don't hit every note the first time you sing a song.You've got to practise.12. What can we learn from the first paragraph？A. The writer's home was very rich.B. The writer's mother was a teacher.C. The writer was born in a poor family.D. The writer didn't like reading books.13. What does the writer want everyone to do by improving their talents and skills？A. To quit on their country to earn more money.B. To help solve the most difficult problems.C. To write their own new destiny by working as a TV star.D. To spend some time writing books about their own life.14. Why does the writer call on everyone to set his/her own goal？A. Because everyone's future is determined by themselves.B. Because eyeryone's future is to do simple work.C. Because everyone should do their homework.D. Because everyone should pay attention in class.15. How can people realise their great dreams？A. By rapping.B. By playing basketball.C. By being a reality star.D. By working hard.第二节（共5小题；每小题2分，满分10分）阅读下面短文，从短文后的选项中选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项。

2020届江苏省苏州实验中学高三英语二模试卷及答案解析第一部分阅读（共两节，满分40分）第一节（共15小题；每小题2分，满分30分）阅读下列短文，从每题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中选出最佳选项AArtificial intelligence (Al) is practically everywhere today. There are so many products out there which use Al. Some are being developed, some are already in use, and some failed and are being improved, so it’s very difficult to name a few of them and regard them as the best.ViIt is an Al personal trainer which is mainly concerned with fitness and coaching. It, however, requires the use of bio-sensing earphones and other fitness tracking equipment! It can play your favourite music while you work out and all you have to worry about is the exercise you're doing.Deep TextDo you ever wonder how an ad appears suddenly just when you are looking for something similar? This is because of Deep Text. It uses real-time consumer information to produce data which in turn is used to target consumers. Thus, if you search online for flight tickets fromBangaloretoDelhi, it is very likely that an ad relating to hotels inDelhiwill soon follow.Hello EggIf you live alone and miss your mother because you always miss your breakfast or don’t know what to eat for dinner, then Hello Egg is exactly what you are looking for. A very healthy choice of the 2-minute noodles and oats, Hello Egg provides you with a detailed weekly meal plan about the needs of your body. It is truly a modern AI-powered home cooking tool for the young.WordsmithYou can put Mr. Smith into your Microsoft Excel using their free API, and let it write up detailed analysis of the stories behind your numbers. It can produce detailed reports on thousands of pages of spreadsheets in seconds.1. What can we learn about Vi from the text?A. It is an AI music player.B. It is a bio-sensing earphone.C. It doesn't work without bio-sensing earphones.D. It can make you more energetic while you work out.2. Which can help you improve cooking skill?A. Deep Text.B. Vi.C. Wordsmith.D. Hello Egg.3. What can Wordsmith do for us?A. Produce a detailed report.B. Provide us with a detailed meal plan.C. Book a ticket ahead of time.D. Offer us information on hotels for traveling.BImagine the feeling of swinging at a baseball going 100 miles per hour—without leaving your living room, or being in race car as it roars down the track, while you are sitting on the couch.These are just some of the ways that sports business leaders say virtual reality (VR) will revolutionize how people train for and experience sports. Virtual and augmented（增强的）realities are together known as mixed reality (MR). “American footballers are already using VR to better train their minds andread the field,” Ludden said. “This can allow players to perfect their skills without risking injury.”Canadian company D-BOX Technologies designs and produces moving seats found in cinema and theme parks. It is now moving into sports, and shows its Formula One (F1) racing simulator（模拟器）. The seats stimulate the force of gravity, speed and every shaking as Fl champion Lewis Hamilton zips around city streets.A simulation seat uses pre-programed data now. Someday, though, it could use real-time information sent by the car. “They couldbroadcast live content through a network in pop-up theaters around the world,” Ludden said. Say you want to experience the true stress of a batter being up against major-league baseball pitcher. “You can have a heartbeat added to the sensation on the seat and then you can feel it, boom, boom,” Maheu explained. “When he swings and hits the ball, you can have an impact.”One day, fans around the world could physically experience every game from their favorite player in real time. Ludden said that current and near-future technology could create “augmented stadiums” for live audiences. Panasonic launched its “Smart Venue” plans which included the overlaying of graphics, advertisements, player statistics and replays on the field of play at a pro football game. “If you are seated in the cheap seats, you can see this really useful.” “Fans may someday join in stadium wide games, using the field as a virtual gaming platform,” Ludden added.4. What does the underlined phrase “read the field” in paragraph 2 mean?A. Get off the playing field.B. Build up a football court.C. Judge the situation on the field.D. Ask players to play on the spot.5. What does Maheu think audiences can do in the future baseball game?A. Enjoy live content in any theater.B. Program the simulation seats in advance.C. Control the force and speed of the baseball.D. Experience the real time game with the player.6. What does Ludden mainly describe in the last paragraph?A. The origin of VR.B. A future stadium.C. An advertisement platform.D. The expectations of audiences.7. What is the main idea of the text?A. VR can improve players' skills for sports.B. VR increases fans' joy in the baseball game.C. VR can improve sports experience for players and fans.D. VR promises a new future for football players and games.CHave you ever been on social media and seen your favorite celebrity talking about a product? These promotions might not be totally random, and are actually seen as a vital part of the marketing process. The question is: How do social media influencers ‘influence’ what you buy?Human desire for status and making friends, combined with our need to belong to a group, makes us receptive to being ‘socially influenced’. Companies often use that desire to have a similar lifestyle to a celebrity we admire to sell or launch a product. So, what do these promotions actually do?Firstly, they can be used to build brand awareness. A social media influencer should have a strong understanding of the platform they operate on, and therefore can create appealing content that not only sticks to the brand image, but sparks their followers’ interests in a product they might never have seen before.Secondly, influencers can improve a company or product’s relationship with their customer base. According to InMoment’s 2018 US Retail CX Trends Report on customer loyalty, 77% of buyers have been brand loyal for more than ten years. This is also true of 60% of millennials. A popular celebrity can target key customers and talk or blog about a product, which can create an instant and lasting bond with them.Lastly, influencers can improve customer buying habits with seemingly ‘unbiased opinions’. We are morelikely to respond to ‘peer recommendation’ than traditional ads, meaning the fact we see an influencer as a ‘friend’ can make us less likely to be doubtful about what we are seeing.So, the next time you see a celebrity talking about a product, you might want to consider that this could be a carefully worked-out marketing strategy designed to target your core needs. If you find yourself examining a product you’ve seen on social media, you may well have been influenced.8. Why do companies invite celebrities to launch products?A. Because celebrities can improve the companies’ public images.B. Because consumers like to share similarity with celebrities.C. Because celebrities want to make more money.D. Because consumers can make friends with celebrities.9. According to the passage, which strategy is often used by influencers?A. Setting up operation platforms.B. Sending gifts to customers.C. Improving relationship with the company.D. Taking advantage of their popularity.10. To customers, the recommendations of influencers seem to be ________.A. offensiveB. subjectiveC. objectiveD. misleading11. The passage is mainly about ________.A. how social media make adsB. how social media influence our lifestyleC. how social influencers affect our buyingD. how celebrities earn fameDA dog spentthe lastfour years of his life waitingat a crossroad in the Thai city ofKhon Kaenas if waiting for someone. People originally thought the dog had been abandoned, but then realized that he looked healthy, so people asked around about him. It turned out that the dog had indeed been spending most of his time around that crossroad, but a woman had been coming round regularly to bring him food and water.One day, while photographing the dog everyone called Leo, a reporter met the woman who had been taking care of him. She had come to drop off some food. After learning the story about the dog and the woman, the reporter decided to share the story on social media. The post soonwent viraland the photos of Leo got shared hundreds of times. And the photos reached the eyes of Leo’s former old owner.Nang Noi Sittisarn, a 64-year-old woman fromThailand’sRoiEtProvince, almost had a heart attack when her daughter showed her a photo of the beloved dog named BonBon she had lost during a car trip. When she learned that he had been waiting for her in the same spot for the last four years，her heart melted(融化).Auntie Noi told her daughter to drive her to where the dog was waiting. When she got there and called his name. BonBon，the poor dog started wiggling(扭动)his tailand came to her，but when she tried to take him home with her, he was unwilling to follow. She didn’ t want to force the dog to come with her so she agreed to leave him with his new master. However, she and her daughter will come to visit him regularly.12.Why did the dog look healthy after separation from his former owner?A. He walked around the crossroad constantly.B. He was kept at a woman’s home all the time.C. A local reporter brought him food and water.D. A woman looked after him on a regular basis.13. What does the underlined phrase “went viral” in paragraph 2 probably mean?A. Changed surprisingly.B. Spread quickly.C. Appeared gradually.D. Fell directly.14. How did Nang Noi Sittisam feel about the dog's waiting for her?A. Shocked.B. Regretful.C. Touched.D. Proud.15. What can we mainly learn from the story about the dog?A. Unbelievable success is worth waiting for.B. We should adjust ourselves to environments.C. We need to learn to be faithful and thankful.D. No one knows the result until the last minute第二节（共5小题；每小题2分，满分10分）阅读下面短文，从短文后的选项中选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项。

高三英语模拟试卷（二）英语试卷第I卷（选择题，共95分）第一部分：英语知识运用（共两节，满分45分）第一节：单项填空（共15小题；每小题1分，满分15分）从A、B、C、D四个选项中，选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项。

1. —I’d like to take a holiday in August, Mr. Yang.— ___________ We'll be busy then. You'll have to make it another time.A. It's up to you.B. It's out of the question.C. It doesn't matter.D. By all means.2. My computer ___________ start this morning. There must have been something wrong with it.A. shouldn'tB. wouldn'tC. needn'tD. mustn't3. The professor could tell by the _______________ look in Maria's eyes that she didn't understand asingle word of his lecture.A. coldB. emptyC. innocent D・ blank4. It is by no means clear __________ the local government will do with the buildings of poor quality.A. whatB. howC. whetherD. which5. Alice spent an afternoon helping her grandfather to ____________ the stamps which he had collectedfor years.A. make outB. watch outC. sort outD. put out6. Delete the short message at once! Many a man ____________ by such tricks up to now.A. are cheatedB is cheated' C. have been cheatedD. has been cheated7. There is a belief that the robots will take the place of human beings one day.—_______ After all, they don't have their own thinking.A. Don't mention it.B. It depends.C. I don't think so.D. I have no idea.8. The cooling wind swept through our bedroom windows, ___________ air conditioning unnecessary.A. madeB. to makeC. being madeD. making9. Most passengers like sitting in the front of a bus to have a better view. What's more, they believe it's lesslikely that _____________________ will happen.A. car-accidentB. car-sicknessC. car-troubleD. car-crash10. Much disappointed as he is _________ in the job interview, he still keeps his confidence.A. to have failedB. to failC. having failedD. failing11 .---What do you think of the jacket and the hat I wear today?—I don't think this jacket _________ you and that your hat ________ this jacket perfectly.A. suits; fitsB. meets; fitsC. matches; suitsD. fits; matches12. 5G has faster data transmission, lower delay and stronger mobility ______________ the conventional4G.A. in charge ofB. in defense ofC. in contrast toD. in proportion to .13. Although he did not do it ________ , he definitely had some responsibility.A. instantlyB. deliberatelyC. accidentallyD. casually14. Tom is so independent that he never asks his parents' opinion __________ he wants their support.A. sinceB. onceC. unlessD. after15. We have entered into an age _______ dreams have the best chance of coming true.A. whichB. whatC. thatD. when第二节:完形填空（共20小题；每小题1.5分，满分30分）阅读下面短文，掌握其大意，然后从16-35题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中，选出最佳选项。

2020高考第二次模拟考试试卷含答案听力材料英语第一部分听力（共两节，满分30分）做题时，先将答案标在试卷上。

录音内容结束后，你将有两分钟的时间将试卷上的答案转涂到答题卡上。

第一节（共5小题；每小题1.5分，满分7.5分）听下面5段对话。

每段对话后有一个小题，从题中所给的A、B、C三个选项中选出最佳选项，并标在试卷的相应位置。

听完每段对话后，你都有10秒钟的时间来回答有关小题和阅读下一小题，每段对话仅读一遍。

例：How much is the shirt?A. £19.15.B. £9.18.C. £9.15.答案是C。

1. What is the weather going to be like?A. Cloudy.B. Sunny.C. Rainy.2. How does the man suggest going to the park?A. By bus.B. By car.C. By bike.3. When will the company bus pass by?A. At 8:30.B. At 8:45.C. At 9:00.4. Where does the conversation probably take place?A. In a bookstore.B. In a classroom.C. In a library.5. What does the woman decide to do?A. Come back another time.B. Buy other flowers instead.C. Go to another shop.第二节（共15小题；每小题1.5分，满分22.5分）听下面5段对话或独白。

每段对话或独白后有几个小题, 从题中所给的A、B、C三个选项中选出最佳选项, 并标在试卷的相应位置。

听每段对话或独白前, 你将有时间阅读各个小题, 每小题5秒钟; 听完后, 各小题将给出5秒钟的作答时间。

2019-2020学年苏州市相城实验中学高三英语二模试卷及答案第一部分阅读（共两节，满分40分）第一节（共15小题；每小题2分，满分30分）阅读下列短文，从每题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中选出最佳选项AF the Art World competition.Prize -The winner of each type will get the chance to display their artworks in a week-long exhibition inChelsea,New York..Eligibility - Open to artists all over the world..Entry Fee(参赛费)-$24 for a maximum of 3 submitted(提交的)photos..Date of Exhibition - From 25thApril to 2ndMay.F the Art World is an international art competition organized by which is quite unusual, compared to other competitions. The artworks are not judged on the basis of creativity and skill. Instead, they're judged by the depth of the subject matter. The subject this year is “A Competition About Change”, where artists can try and show how they'd like to change humanity in a good way.Notes*For this competition, there are three types for submissions, namely: street art, fine art, and digital art.*Each type will have a winner as chosen by the organizers and all the winners will have the wonderful chance to exhibit their works at the Unarthodox Gallery inNew Yorkin a week-long exhibition.*All the winners will also receive 100% of the sale price when any of their artworks are sold!Winners will also be displayed on the website and the entrants' artworks will also be displayed in the opening ceremony(仪式)as well.1.What is special about F the Art World Competition?AIt is free to attend.B.It lasts for over a week.C.It is open to artists inNew York.D.It centers on the depth of the artworks.2.What will the winners get?A.Prize money.B.A chance to visit an exhibition.C.A written judgement of their artworks.D.Money from the sale of their artworks.3.Where will the entrants' artworks be shown?A.In the street.B.In the opening ceremony.C.On the website.D.At the market.BA maverick describes a person who thinks independently. A maverick refuses to follow the customs or rules of a group to which he or she belongs. In the US, a maverick is often admired for his or her free spirit, although others who belong to the maverick’s group may not like the maverick’s independent ways.But where did the word “maverick” come from?Early in the 1800s, a man named Samuel Augustus Maverick settled down in Texas, which was a place of wide-open land, rich soil, cattle ranches(牛场) and cowboys. As the years passed, Mr. Maverick increased his property(财产) in Texas. Before long, he owned huge pieces of land that were good for raising cattle. But he had no cattle. He wasn’t a rancher.One day, a man came to Samuel Maverick to pay him an old debt. But the man didn’t have enough money. So he offered Mr. Maverick 400 head of cattle. Mr. Maverick accepted them, but he didn’t really want them. He simply put the cattle on his land to eat and care for themselves.It was not long before the cows reproduced(繁殖). The calves grew and had more calves. Soon, hundreds of cows and calves moved freely across Samuel Maverick’s land. They also moved across the land of nearby ranch owners.It was a tradition among ranchers in the West to put a mark of ownership on newborn calves. They burned the name of their ranch into the animal’s skin with a hot iron. The iron made a clear mark called a “brand”. Brands allowed ranchers to easily see who owned which cattle.Samuel Maverick refused to brand his calves. “Why should I?” he asked. If all the other cattle owners branded theirs, then those without a brand belonged to him.And this is how the word “maverick” entered the American language. It meant a calf without a brand. As time passed, the word “maverick” took on a wider meaning. It came to mean a person who was too independent to follow even his or her own group.4. Why did the man give Samuel Maverick 400 head of cattle?A. To get some money.B. To return what he owed him.C. To buy some of his land.D. To ask him to raise them.5. How could the ranchers easily know who the cattle belonged to?A. Through the brand on the cattle.B. Through the name of the cattle.C. Through the appearance of the cattle.D. Through the land on which the cattle stayed.6. What can we learn about Samuel Augustus Maverick from the text?A. He was born in Texas.B. He took good care of all his cattle.C. He didn’t really want to accept the cattle.D. He followed the tradition of ranchers in the West.7. What is the text mainly about?A. How to become an independent thinker.B. “Maverick” means a calf without a brand.C. The life story of Samuel Augustus Maverick.D. How the word “maverick” got into American English.CMany of us in China enjoy adding chilies (辣椒) toour food, but did you know that this spicy vegetable could also be dangerous? A 34-year-oldUSman recently ended up in hospital after eating a Carolina Reaper—the spiciest chili in the world. After taking just a single bite of one, the man suffered from serious headaches in the following few days, reported BBC News.In fact, reports of stomachache and headache caused by eating spicy food are not something unusual. But if chilies are harmful, why is it that human beings are the only animals to eat this vegetable? According to the website Huanqiu, about 600 million Chinese people—almost half of the national population—are chili eaters. So what makes people love chilies so much? The human body reacts to the burning feeling that comes from eating chilies by releasing natural chemicals that “produce a sense of happiness” , noted BBC News.And the benefits go even further than just personal enjoyment. A survey conducted by the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences found that the death rate of those who eat spicy food once or twice a week is 10 percent lower than those who eat it less than once a week. The number decreased to 14 percent for those who eat spicy food six to seven times a week. And another study done by theUniversityofVermontcame to a similar conclusion. “The data encourages people to eat more spicy food to improve health and reduce death risk at an early age,” Liu Qi, a nutritionist at the Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, told BBC News.Chilies have anti-cancer quality and the ability to increase our metabolism (新陈代谢). So, don't worry if you love spicy food. It seems that chilies are actually good for us—except for the Carolina Reaper, perhaps.8. The example of a 34-year-old American is mentioned in Paragraph 1 to prove ________.A. chiliescan be beneficialB. chilies are popular inAmericaC. chilies can be dangerousD. serious headaches can be dangerous9. Eating chilies gives people a sense of happiness by_______.A. decreasing death rateB. releasing natural chemicalsC. curing serious headachesD. providing enough nutrition10. Which of the following statement is TRUE?A. Human are the only animals to eat chilies.B. Stomachache and headaches caused by chilies is something unusual.C. The more chilies you eat, the healthier you are.D. Chilies have anti-cancer quality but it can't increase our metabolism.11. The writer wrote the passage to ________.A. warn people of the dangers of chiliesB. ask people to eat Carolina ReaperC. encourage people to eat more chiliesD. tell people the benefits of chiliesDThe AI research arm of Alibaba created a machine learning model that received a higher score on the Stanford Question Answering Dataset than humans. The database consists of more than 100,000 questions to test reading comprehension.In early January this year the Alibaba AI software machine scored 82.44 on the test while humans scored 82.304. Besides, computers and AI have already defeated humans, for example in games such as chess. However, it seemed that language skills were superior in humans as machines find languages hard to master.A large number of call center employees, often in developing countries, may be out of work soon if the AI robots are cheaper and as effective as human labor. Soon when you phone a company for information the conversation will go like this: “ We are sorry but all our robots are busy right now. We value your call. Please stay on the line until a robot is free to serve you. There are just 12 callers ahead of you.” A robot will serve you some popular tunes while you wait.Si Luo, who is a chief scientist of natural language processing at Alibaba’s AI research group noted that questions such as “What causes rain?” can now be answered with a high degree of accuracy by robots. Si Luo said, “ We believe the foundational technology can be gradually applied to a lot of applications such as customer service, museum tutorials, and online responses to inquiries from patients, freeing human efforts in a new way.”Si Luo’s team is working closely with Ali Xiaomi, a mobile customer service chatbot. Ali Xiaomi can becustomized to be used on Alibaba’s platforms such as Taobao and Tmall. The new AI robots could answer consumers’ questions as they did the Stanford questions. The robots would look for the answers from prepared information. However, there are limits to what the system will be able to do. If questions do not have clear-cut answers, or the questions asked are too unclear or ungrammatical, the robot may not be able to deal with them.12. What can we learn about the Alibaba AI software machine?A. It has been tested in some areas.B. It has become popular since January.C. It has offered a special learning style.D. It has made people interested in reading.13. What does the example in paragraph 3 show about the AI robots?A. They should have better language skills.B. They may replace humans in some fields.C. They need to be customized to serve customers.D. They will be widely used in developing countries.14. How does Si Luo feel about the foundational technology?A. Doubtful.B. Worried.C. Curious.D. Confident.15. What can we infer from the lastparagraph about Ali Xiaomi?A. It needs to improve in some ways.B. It is connected with another system.C. It is a platform to show good service.D. It can answer any questions accordingly.第二节（共5小题；每小题2分，满分10分）阅读下面短文，从短文后的选项中选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项。

2020年江苏省苏州中学高三英语二模试题及答案解析第一部分阅读（共两节，满分40分）第一节（共15小题；每小题2分，满分30分）阅读下列短文，从每题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中选出最佳选项AThe “laugh out loud” face is officially the world’s most popular emoji, according to researchers from Adobe (ADBE) who surveyed 7,000 users across the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Japan, Australia, and South Korea.The “thumbs up” emoji came in second, followed by the “red heart” emoji. The flirtatious “wink and kiss” and “sad face with a tear” emojis respectively rounded out the top five.The software maker on Thursday released the findings from its 2021 Global Emoji Trend Report ahead of World Emoji Day on Saturday.Adobe’s latest Emoji Trend report also examined the three most misunderstood emojis in the world. The “eggplant” symbol edged out the “peach” and the “clown” emojis respectively as the most confusing for users.The vast majority of emoji users (90%) believe the modern —day hieroglyphs make it easier for them to express themselves. Eighty — nine percent of respondents said emojis simplify communicating across language barriers. And 67% said they think people who use emojis are friendlier, funnier and cooler than those who don’t. A slight majority of respondents said they are more comfortable expressing emotions through emojis than talking on the phone or in —person. More than half of global emoji users (55%) said using emojis in communications has positively impacted their mental health. Seventy — six percent of those surveyed said emojis are an important communication tool for creating unity, respect and understanding. And 88% said they feel more empathetic toward people who use emojis.1.What are the three most popular emojis according to the passage?A.clown thumbs up laugh out loudugh out loud thumbs up wink and kissugh out loud thumbs up red heartD.thumbs up red heart sad face with a tear2.Which emoji is the most confusing one for users?A.Peach.B.Eggplant.C.Clown.D.Wink and kiss.3.Which of the following best describes the attitude of most people surveyed to emojis?A.Favorable.B.Passive.C.Indifferent.D.Doubtful.BIf you easily make mistakes when in a hurry, a new study from Michigan State University—the largest of its kind to date-found that meditation (冥想) could help you improve the situation.The research tested how open monitoring meditation (OMM)—or, meditationthat focuses awareness on feelings or thoughts as they unfold in one’s mind and body—alteredbrain activity in a way that suggested increased error recognition.“People’s interest in meditation is outpacing what science can prove in terms of effects and benefits.” said Jeff Lin, MSU psychology doctoral candidate and study co-author. “But it’s amazing to me that we were able to see how one session of a guided meditation could produce changes to brain activity in non-meditators.”“Some forms of meditation have you focus on a single object, commonly your breath, but open monitoring meditation is a bit different,” Lin said, “It has you tune inward and pay attention to everything going on in your mind and body. The goal is to sit quietly and pay close attention to where the mind travels without getting too caught up in the scenery.”Lin and his MSU co-authors—William Eckerle, Ling Peng and Jason Moser—hired more than 200 participants to test how open monitoring meditation affected how people detect and respond toerrors.The participants, who had never meditated before, were taken through a 20-minute open monitoring meditation exercise while the researchers measured brain activity through electroencephalography (脑电图), or EEG. Then, they completed a computerized distraction (分心) test.“The EEG can measure brain activity at the millisecond level, so we got precise measures of brain activity right after mistakes compared to correct responses,” Lin said. “A certain neural signal occurs about half a second after an error called the error positivity, which is linked to conscious error recognition. We found that the strength of this signal is increased in the meditators to controls.”“These findings show what just 20 minutes of open monitoring meditation can do to improve the brain’s ability to detect and pay attention to mistakes,” Moser said.4. What does the underlined word “altered” in paragraph 2 probably mean?A. Changed.B. Prevented.C. Started.D. Recorded.5. Why is open monitoring meditation different?A. It is just aimed at a single object.B. It clears your mind of everything.C. It gets too caught up in the scenery.D. It focuses on where the mind travels.6. What did the researchers do for the studyA. They hired people who had meditated before.B. They measured the participants’ brain activity.C. They reminded the participants to avoid errors.D. They had non-meditators design a distraction test.7. What is the best title for the text?A. Turn to OMM to Avoid Acting in a HurryB. You’re Able to Recognize Errors ConsciouslyC. Meditators’ Brain Proves Much More ActiveD. OMM Can Help You Make Fewer MistakesCBecoming famous is the dream of many, and Tian is getting closer to that dream.Tian, 30, is a white-collar worker inBeijing. On short video application Douyin, Tian has more than 2,000 fans. So far, she has received more than 50,000 likes on the Dubsmash-like app. On her page on Douyin, Tian shares everything, from her son’s daily activities, to her pet dogs, to little skits (段子) made up by her and her husband. “Making funny videos, and combining them with music is really interesting,” Tian said. “Of course, I make the videos for fun because it is quite relaxing.”China’s short video market has seen great growth, according to areport. The report said thatChina’s short video market was valued at 5.73 billion yuan ($900 million) in 2017, an increase of 184 percent. The industry value is expected to go up to the 30 billion mark in 2020. Companies like Tencent, Sohu and Iqiyi have all started providing short video content.“Short videos are popular because they are an addition to traditional audio and video content on the internet,” said Sun Jiashan with the Chinese National Academy of Arts.Fans say that the short videos help them “chill out” from a stressed-out lifestyle. “My favorite videos are all about pets,” said Zhou Na, a nurse inHefei, capital of East China’sAnhuiprovince. “After a whole day’s work, watching the 15-second videos makes me laugh, which reduces my pressure.”8. Why does Tian make short videos in Douyin?A. To get fun.B. To become a well-known person.C. To attract fans.D. To record her family’s routine.9. What’s Sun Jiashan’s opinion about short videos?A. They have huge value.B. They greatly reduce people’s pressure.C. They make people’s star dreams come true.D. They enrich internet audio and video content.10. What does the underlined words “chill out” probably mean?A. Catch a cold.B. Feel cold.C. Calm down.D. Become concerned.11. What does the passage mainly tell us?A. Every Chinese is using Douyin.B. China’s short video market is open.C. Douyin brings the Chinese great happiness.D.China’s short video market has developed rapidly.DScientists say baby sharks are at risk of being born smaller and without the energy they need to survive because of warming oceans from climate change.Scientists studied epaulette sharks, which live off Australia and New Guinea. They found that warmer conditions sped up the sharks’ growing process. That meant the sharks were born earlier and very tired. The findings could be used in the study of other sharks, including those that give birth to live young.The scientists studied 27 sharks. Some were raised in average summer water temperatures, about 27 degrees Celsius. Others were raised in higher temperatures around 29 degrees Celsius and 31 degrees Celsius. They found that the sharks raised in the warmest temperatures weighed much less than those raised in average temperatures. They also showed reduced energy levels.Epaulette sharks can grow to a length of about one meter. Their name comes from large spots on their bodies that look like decorations on some military clothing.One study this year found that worldwide numbers of oceanie sharks and rays dropped more than 70 percent between 1970 and 2018. Overfishing is a main concern, while climate change and pollution also threaten shark.Carolyn Wheeler is a doctoral student at the University of Massachusetts Boston and with the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies at James Cook University in Australia. She was the lead author of the epaulette shark study. She said that while all the sharks survived, those raised in warmer temperatures were not strong enough to survive for long in the wild.She added that if the sharks are born smaller than usual “they are probably going to have to start looking for food sooner—and they’re going to have less time to adjust to their surroundings.” The study should serve as a warning to ocean governing agencies that careful management is needed to prevent the loss of more sharks.12. In what aspect do the warmer conditions affect the baby sharks?A. Their food.B. Their body weight.C. Their living habits.D. Their moving route.13. How did the scientists carry out their study?A. By studying former data.B. By tracking sharks in the wild.C. By collecting information about climate change.D. By comparing sharks in waters of different temperatures14. What does paragraph 5 mainly talk about?A. The origin of sharks’ names.B. The sharks’ appearance.C. The threats to sharks’ survival.D. The sharks’ living environment.15. Which of the following can be the best title for the text?A. Scientists Raise Sharks to Deal with ProblemsB. Global Warming Has Reduced Shark PopulationsC. Baby Sharks Struggle to Survive in Warming OceansD. Scientists Are Struggling to Save Sharks from Extinction第二节（共5小题；每小题2分，满分10分）阅读下面短文，从短文后的选项中选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项。

2020届苏州市相城实验中学高三英语第二次联考试题及答案解析第一部分阅读（共两节，满分40分）第一节（共15小题；每小题2分，满分30分）阅读下列短文，从每题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中选出最佳选项AThis is a list of places to spend the 2020 Olympics if you aren't going to Japan.AustraliaThe fact that the summer Olympics fall during Australia's winter season is worth keeping in mind for two reasons: it makes traveling there cheaper, and it's still not too cold. As far as the Olympics are concerned, there will be no shortage of opportunities to watch the Games in between your various explorations of the country and its limitless activities.ThailandThailand is a breathtaking place 10 spend some time during any summer, and provides a perfect setting for Olympie viewing: You can go scuba diving one morning before watching sports all afternoon, or simply duck out for world-famous street food in between events. But Thai sports fans may also be taking extra interest in the Olympics these days.United StatesThe U.S. is likely to be as interested in the Olympics as any other nation, given is collection of athletes who will be taking center stage. You can rest assured it won't be difficult to watch the Games no matter where you're visiting specifically. This leaves you with all sorts of fun options. You can visit a luxury ski resort town like Aspen, which turns into a gorgeous hiking destination in the summer.Great BritainNot unlike the U, s. Britain will make for a fun place to spend the 2020 Olympics because there's a great deal of national interest in a number of different sports, and the local athletes are expected to be competitive. Summer can also be a good time to be in Britain in general," with ly mild temperatures allowing for full exploration of the country. That means you can stay in the beautiful Lake District if you like, hiking or kayaking when you're not watching the Games.1.What is special about Australia as a destination in an Olympic summer?A.Its season.B.Its activities.C.Its sports.D.Its scenery,2.Which country can you go to if you are a street food lover?A.Australia.B.Thailand.C.United States.D.Great Britain.3.What do the U. S. and Britain have in common as fun places to spend the 2020 Olympics?A.They both have a pleasant temperature.B.They are both interested in the Games.CThey both own lots of sports centers. D.They are both English-speaking countries.BEach year, the women of Olney and Liberal compete in an unusual footrace. Dressed in aprons (围裙) and headscarves, they wait at both towns’starting lines. Each woman holds a frying pan with one pancake inside. At the signal, the women flip (轻抛) pancakes and they’re off!This “pancake racing” tradition is said to have started on Shrove Tuesday, 1445, in Olney. Shrove Tuesday is the day beforethe Christian season of Lent (大斋戒) begins. During Lent, many people decide to give up sugary or fatty foods.Legend says that in 1445, an Olney woman was making pancakes to use up some of her sugar and cooking fats before Lent. She lost track of time and suddenly heard the church bells ring, signaling the beginning of the Shrove Tuesday service. Realizing that she was going to be late for church, she raced out the door still wearing her apron and headscarf and holding her frying pan with a pancake in it. In the following years, the woman’s neighbors imitated her dash to church, and pancake racing was born.The rules are simple. Racers must wear the traditional headscarf and apron. They must flip their pancakes twice - once before starting and once after crossing the finish line. After the race, there are Shrove Tuesday church services. Then Liberal and Olney connect through a video call to compare race times and declare a winner.In both towns, the races have grown into larger festivals. Olney’s festival is an all-day event starting with a big pancake breakfast. Liberal’s festival lasts four days and includes a parade, a talent show, and contests that feature eating and flipping pancakes. Although the women’s race is still the main event, both towns now hold additional races for boys and girls of all ages.4. How did pancake racing start?A. A woman in Olney created it.B. Women made pancakes before Lent.C. A woman dashed to church with a pancake.D. People followed the suit of an interesting incident.5. What should racers obey during the race?A. They can wear fashionable headscarves and aprons.B. They must flip their pancakes once in the race.C. They must flip their pancakes at the beginning of the race.D. They can flip their pancakes in the middle of the race.6. What can we learn about the race from the last paragraph?A. People can show their talent in Olney festival.B. People can enjoy a one-day holiday in Liberal.C. The race is not only intended for women now.D. People can have a big pancake breakfast in both towns.7. What is the text mainly about?A. The origin of pancake racing.B. The history of pancake racing.C. The development of pancake racing.D. The introduction to pancake racing.CUK physicist Isaac Newton once said, ''Nature is pleased with simplicity and nature is no dummy (傻子). '' Indeed, Mother Nature can provide almost everything human beings need if we follow her rules. But if we break the rules, she is likely to be cruel andlash out at us.The outbreak of the novel coronavirus pneumonia (新型冠状病毒肺炎, NCP) in China and some other countries at the beginning of this year is an example. According to Xinhua News Agency, the new coronavirus is similar to a virus found in a bat in 2017 and probably has an intermediate host (中间宿主). It's believed that the virus originated from the Huanan Seafood Market in Wuhan, Hubei province, where live wild animals were sold.The Wall Street Journal reported that Dr Peter Daszak, president of the US-based health organization EcoHealth Alliance, said, ''This outbreak is a lesson for us. On a global scale, human population density, wildlife diversity, and land use change are what drive new pandemics (流行病). ''In ancient times, people needed to rely on nature to survive so they held it in awe (敬畏). For example, the American Indians believed that humans are a part of nature and nature is a part of humans. Chinese ancients always pursued the harmony between nature and human beings.However, as human beings master more knowledge and make more advanced tools, people try to changeand even conquer nature. They use more land to make buildings, genetically modify (改变) plants, capture some wild and rare animals to suit their own needs. In this process, humans gradually lose contact with nature and even throw it out of balance. For example, cutting a large number of forests means carbon dioxide must build up in the atmosphere and it contributes to global warming.Although we don't know for sure what first caused the NCP outbreak, Brian Lamacraft at Medium said it's time for people to ''reflect on our relationship with our planet'' and ''reconnect with this world and everything that we've been given''. After all, according to US poet Gary Snyder, ''Nature is not the place to visit. It's our home. ''8. What does the phrase ''lash out at'' in Paragraph 1 probably mean?A. punishB. controlC. testD. challenge9. What lesson did Daszak think human beings should learn from the NCP outbreak?A. Bats are one of the most dangerous wild animals.B. It's impossible to prevent new pandemics globally.C. We should stop the wildlife trade around the world.D. Humans should live peacefully with nature.10. What is the main idea of Paragraph 5?A. How human beings become their own masters.B. How human activities cause global warming.C. How human beings break the balance of nature.D. How humans use technology to improve their lives.11. What is the author's purpose in writing this article?A. To reflect on the NCP outbreak.B. To explain what led to the NCP outbreak.C. To describe experts' predictions on new pandemics.D. To compare ancient and modern attitudes toward nature.DIf you have ever tried to catch a resting butterfly, you know it is surprisingly difficult. A new study helps explain why.Previous research had suggested that a butterfly's overhead wing clap forces the insect forward. Researchersthought the wing clap likely formed a pocket of air that shoots out like a jet, but no one had tested that until now.To understand their flight, they placed six butterflies one at a time inside a wind tunnel which was filled with smoke and then used a laser to light up the smoke just behind the butterfly. Four high-speed cameras were placed in the tunnel to take photos of the movement of the butterfly and the-smoke as the butterfly was taking off. This let the researchers create a 3D picture of that air movement as the insect flapped its wings.They observed a total of 25 takeoffs by six butterflies. Each included up to three wing beats after takeoff.The butterflies proved more likely to clap their wings together during the first few wing beats than later in flight.The photos show that forces created by the wings give rise to a flight path. The butterflies rise as their wings move down and shoot forward as their wings move up. A wing clap on takeoff, paired with a quick tum, allowed the butterflies to fly away quickly. They also noticed the wings formed an air pocket just before clapping and that the wings' flexibility and this pocket improved the jet force created by the clap.“The study is exciting,” says Ayodeji Bode-Oke, a mechanical engineer in Charlottesville. That means “we have solved the longtime puzzle about how butterflies fly, and it proves nothing is impossible on the road of scientific research. I can't wait to learn about how the study might inform designs for small aerial vehicles.”12. Why was laser used in the experiment?A. To frighten the butterflies into lying.B. To help researchers observe the butterflies.C. To help take clear photos of air movement.D. To guide the butterflies through the smoke.13. What is the finding of the research-according to paragraph 5?A. Butterflies fly forward as wings move down.B. An air pocket forms after butterflies clap wings.C. Butterflies beat wings three times before taking off.D. Upward wing movements help butterflies fly forward.14. According to the writer, the finding of the research can be used for .A. helping catch a resting butterfly more easilyB. helping do research on other butterfly-like insectsC. helping provide inspiration for making small flying vehiclesD. helping widen the applications of small flying vehicle15. What can be the best title for the text?A. Why Can Butterflies Fly Like a Jet?B. How Can Butterflies Make Wing Claps?C. How Can Butterflies Make Quick Tums?D. Why Can Butterflies Run Away Quickly?第二节（共5小题；每小题2分，满分10分）阅读下面短文，从短文后的选项中选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项。

2020年苏州中学园区校高三英语二模试卷及参考答案第一部分阅读（共两节，满分40分）第一节（共15小题；每小题2分，满分30分）阅读下列短文，从每题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中选出最佳选项ADesign a science holiday to win a science holidayIs there a scientific holiday,tour,vacation or experience in your list that you dream of making a reality? We might just be able to help with that! We are the crowd sourcing thoughts and suggestions onnew tours,and the winner will receive two free places on their tour when it's launched.Starting entries 1st May 2020Deadline 31st August 2020ENTER NOW---Write a brief description of your ideal science holiday,tour,vacation or experience.---No matter how big or small,we are looking for brilliant, unique thoughts.It can be a complex multi-location overseas holiday tour,a weekend away deep-diving,or a simple walking tour(and everything in between).---Our current tours are mainly individual-focused but we would love to hear ideas for families and schools.---Creations that have environmentally friendly themes and a low carbon impact are also welcome.---Your entry can be as simple as a great title but writing more specifies will improve the possibility of walking off with the prize.---The competition doesn't close by September,2020,so plenty of time to brainstorm your entry.---We will launch the best idea in late 2020 or at the beginning of 2021. The winner will receive the award once the result is published.If you want to submit more than 3,999 words,include photos/maps with your entry, or submit multiple entries then send it to tours @ . The competition guidelines and other related information are available at .1. When will the winner probably be announced?A. In August,2020.B. In September,2020.C. In January,2021.D. In May,2021.2. What kind of entries might be more likely to win?A. Those producing a low carbon impact.B. Those with a long and unique title.C. Those providing detailed information.D. Those for individual-focused tours.3. What is the purpose of this text?A. To give guidance on a competition.B. To advertise a science holiday.C. To inspire creativity in teenagers.D. To collect the ideas for tours.BCoke was introduced by the Coca Cola company in 1886, making it a rather true andtested favorite of generations of people in over 200 countries. This list should give you some ideas on how to get more from your coke than usual.. Coca Cola is an excellent rust buster (除锈剂). If you have a bunch of small rusty objects, put them in coke overnight and give them a goodscrubin the morning. Coke helps to break down the rust, making cleaning much easier. Be sure to throw out the used coke when you are done with it or you might be taking a trip to the doctor.. Like the previous item, the citric acid (柠檬酸) in coke makes for an excellent window cleaner. This is especially useful for car windows. Pour a can of coke over the window and rub the window, then wipe it off with a wet cloth to remove any sugary matter from the sugar in the drink. As coke is fullof sugar, you should clean the sticky matter off the window glasses, or it will be not a cleaner but a dirt.. For those of you who live in areas where skunk (臭鼬) smells can be an issue from time to time, one can of coke added to water with detergent (清洁剂) really helps to break the smell down. If you have been sprayed, stand in the shower and cover yourself from head to toe with coke — wait for a few minutes, then wash yourself with a shower. Coke is an excellent hair treatment so you get two tips for the price of one with this item!. Pots can sometimes get black on the bottom. The black is almost impossible to remove; this is caused by over-cooking. To remove the black and renew your pot, pour in a can of coke (or as much as you need to cover the blackened area by an inch) and put it on the stove on a low heat. After an hour or so, wash the pot as normal.4. What does the underlined word “scrub”in Paragraph 2 probably mean?A. Start.B. Cleaning.C. Shake.D. Example.5. What is important while using coke to clean car windows?A. Use a dry cloth.B. Rub the window lightly.C. Don’t pour too much coke.D. Clean the sugary matter thoroughly.6. For which purpose does coke have to be mixed with other material?A. To get rid of the black on the pot.B. To breakdown the rust,C. To remove smells.D. To clean windows.7. What type of writing is this text?A. An advertisement.B. A review.C. A news report.D. A practical guide.CThere are 195 countries in the world today but almost none of them have purple on their national flag. So what’s wrong with purple? It’s such a popular color1 today. Why would no country use it in their flag? The answer is really quite simple. Purple was just for too expensive.The color1 purple has been associated with royalty power and wealth for centuries. Queen Elizabeth I forbade anyone except close members of the royal family to wear it. Purple’s high status comes from the rarity and cost of the dye (染料)originally used to produce it. Fabric traders got the dye from a small sea snail (海螺)that was only found in the Tyre region of the Mediterranean. More than 10,000 snails were needed to create just one gram of purple; not to mention a lot of work went into producing the dye, which made purple dye so expensive.Since only wealthy rulers could afford to buy and wear the color1 , it became associated with the royal family. Sometimes, however, the dye was too expensive even for royalty. Third century Roman Emperor Aurelio famously wouldn’t allow his wife to buy a scarf made from purple silk because it cost three times its weight in gold. A single pound of dye cost three pounds of gold, which equals 56,000 dollars today. Therefore, even the richest countries couldn’t spend that much having purple on their flags.The dye became more accessible to lower-class about a century and a half ago. In 1856, 18-year-old English chemist William Henry Perkin accidentally created a man-made purple compound (化合物)while attemptingto produce an anti-malaria drug. He noticed that the compound could be used to dye fabrics, so he patented the dye, manufactured it and got rich. Purple dye was then mass-produced so everybody could afford it.Till now, a handful of new national flags have been designed and a few of them have chosen to use purple in their flag. So don’t be making any bets just yet.8. Why was color1 purple expensive in the past?A. Because only royal families were allowed to wear purple.B. Because it took a long time to get purple dye from gold.C. Because purple was worth as much as its weight in gold.D. Because purple dye used to be rare and hard to produce.9. Why did Roman Emperor Aurelio forbid his wife to buy a purple scarf?A. Because of poor quality.B. Because of long tradition.C. Because of bad taste.D. Because of high price.10. What is purple's situation now?A. Purple has been widely used on national flags.B. Purple dye is now affordable to ordinary people.C. Royal family stop using purple because it’s toocommon.D. Fewer snails are used to produce purple dye than before.11. Which of the following would be the best title for the passage?A. No Purple Flags?B. Purple vs GoldC. How to Produce Purple Dye?D. The Birth of Purple ColorDScientists have discovered a new behaviour among bumblebees that tricks plants into flowering early.When lack of pollen, bumblebees will bite little by little on the leaves of flower-less plants. The damage seems to fool the plant into flowering, sometimes up to 30 days earlier than normal.With their hairy appearance and special sounds, bumblebees are hard to miss in gardens all over the world. Their hairy bodies make them excellent pollinators for crops like tomatoes and blueberries. They are among the first bees to appear each year and work a long season.But despite their key role, bumblebees, like many other pollinators have seen their numbers decline suddenly in recent decades. One recent study pointed to climate change, reporting that an increasing number of hot days in Europe andNorth Americawas raising local bumblebees extinction rates.But researchers have now made a discovery about bumblebees that could have something to do with their long term survival. Scientists inSwitzerlandfound that when the bumblebees were out of pollen, they started tobite on the leaves of plants that hadn't yet flowered. They used their mouths to cut clearly-shaped holes in the leaves. But the creatures didn't eat the material or use it in their nests.The damaged plants responded by flowering earlier than normal--in some cases up to 30 days ahead of schedule. Researchers also found that the bee damaged plants flowered 30 days earlier than undamaged plants and 25 days earlier than ones damaged by the scientists.“I think everything that we've found is consistent with the idea that the bumblebees are damaging the plants and that that's an adaptation that brings flowers earlier and that benefits the bees,” said Dr Mark Mescher, one of the authors from ETHZurich.12. How do bumblebees fool plants into flowering earlier?A. By making use of the hot weather.B. By putting the false flowers on the leaves.C. By attacking the leaves of flowerless plants.D. By taking away the pollen from the other flowers.13. What's bumblebees’ key role?A.Making plants flower early.B. Spreading pollen to flowers and plants.C. Sending information about weather change.D. Finding out whether the plant has flowers.14. What has happened to bumblebees in the past the years?A. They are becoming homesick.B. They are not as friendly as before.C. There is a sharp decrease in number.D. They have been busy year by year.15. What's Dr Mark Mescher's attitude towards the behaviour of bumblebees?A. Uncaring.B. Skeptical.C. Tolerant.D. Objective.第二节（共5小题；每小题2分，满分10分）阅读下面短文，从短文后的选项中选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项。