人教新目标初中英语九年级下学期期中阅读理解练习一Once you begin to eat potato chips, you may keep eating until the bag is empty. Have you ever experienced this? Why can’t you stop eating these salty chips? Scientists said it is due to a kind of neuron (神经元) 。
Scientists at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston have found that some neurons can make us want to eat salt.The neurons take note of whether our bodies are lacking sodium(钠), a main part of salt. Then, they send signals to our brain to encourage us to eat more salt, according to the Daily Mail.How do these neurons work?Scientists did experiments on mice. They found that when mice lack sodium, their body releases a kind of hormone (荷尔蒙) called aldosterone (醛固酮).This hormone then makes these neurons become active.More research showed that adding salt to meals makes people enjoy their food more, Time magazine reported. This may cause people to continue eating even if they are full.Scientists from Deakin University in Australia asked healthy people to eat the same food for lunch for four weeks. The amount of salt in the food was changed each week. At the same time, the scientists measured how much these people ate. They also asked the people how they felt about the meals; for example, if they felt happy or were still hungry after eating.The results showed that salt made people eat 11 percent more food and calories. When eating low-salt meals, they had better control over how much they ate. “But when we add salt to that food, all of a sudden those controls are gone,” researcher Russell Keast said to Time.So maybe you will want to think twice the next time you open a new bag of chips.1．We may find it hard to stop eating potato chips mainly because _________.A．potato chips don’t have much sodiumB．potato chips send hungry signals to our brainC．some neurons lead to a preference for salty foodD．people’s brain will be more active with more salt2．Scientists did experiments on mice to _________.A．find how the neurons workB．find where aldosterone isC．find whether mice like saltD．find whether mice like chips3．The meaning of the underlined word “releases” in Paragraph 5 is _________. A．sends out B．puts off C．takes up D．turns down4．What are the results of eating food with more salt in?a. People have better control over how much they eat.b. People enjoy their food more.c. People continue eating even if they are full.d. People lose control on how much to eat.A．abc B．acd C．abd D．bcd5．Where can we find this article?A．In a story book. B．In a tourist guide.C．In a science magazine. D．In a film introduction.二Last year,we took a trip to New York City. When we arrived at our hotel, it was around 2 a.m. My son, Joseph, looked out at the lights of Times Square and said he wanted to go outside. I told him it was too late, but he kept looking out of the window and said, “Just for two minutes.”My wife and I just looked at each other, smiled and said, “Two minutes.” We got dressed and walked into the center of Times Square. When we got there, my son pointed at the light s and said, “Dad, look!” And then he started to fall asleep. So we had to go back to the hotel.It took us 20 minutes to get ready for the 20 seconds (秒) we spent outside, but it made our son happy and it meant a lot to us. That night I learned a lessonabout felicity. We sometimes have chances to create happy moments in our lives, but we often find an excuse to do something else.Because of my son, I’ve learned that I am the biggest enemy to my own happiness. Although happiness is a door that is always open, we are the ones who have to decide if we are going to walk through the door.6．When did the writer arrive in New York City?A．Around 2 p.m. B．Around 8:30 p.m.C．Around 10 a.m. D．Around 2 a.m.7．Who did the writer travel with?A．His classmates. B．His friends.C．His families. D．His neighbors.8．How did the writer get to the center of Times Square?A．On foot. B．By bike. C．By car. D．By subway.9．The underlined word “felicity” in the paragraph 3 has the same meaning as________.A．kindness B．illness C．happiness D．sadness10．What does the writer mainly want to tell us in the last paragraph?A．Parents should be patient with their children.B．We should take the chance to create happiness.C．We shouldn’t miss the beauty of nature.D．We should spend time with families as much as possible.三Jerry is a world-famous mountain climber. He has climbed many high mountains in the world. Starting in 2015, he and his friends spent two years on an adventure（探险）in South America, covering 7,800 miles. He was even named Adventure of the Year by a famous geography magazine in 2018.Although Jerry had achieved great success, he didn’t feel fulfilled. He asked himself, “Is it enough to climb the highest mountains? Am I doing something helpful? How can I turn my adventures into something that can help the world?”Jerry learned that scientists need plants, rocks and water samples（样本）from the places far away to do research. But scientists can’t get there themselves as such places are hard to reach——only the bravest adventurers can make it. Jerry thought himself could do something to help. He then came up with an idea. He set up a team of top adventures to collect samples for scientists. By studying the samples, scientists could know more about the earth and find ways to protect it.Recently Jerry and his adventurer friends have discovered a special plant life of Mountain Qomolangma. The samples they brought back have helped scientists how plants live in extreme（极端的）conditions.For Jerry, this kind of adventure is most satisfying. “S uch adventures had made us see life in a different way. Now, being the best climber isn’t important for me, what matters is doing something helpful while climbing the mountains. There is still much more we can do.” Jerry said to a newspaper.11．What is paragraph 1 mainly about?A．Jerry’s friends.B．Jerry’s achievements.C．High mountains. D．A geography magazine.12．What does the underlined word “fulfilled” in paragraph 2 mean? A．Satisfied. B．Lonely. C．Patient. D．Worried.13．Why did Jerry set a team of top adventures?A．To make friends. B．To help scientists.C．To study plants. D．To train scientists.14．Jerry’s and his friends’ adventures had changed ________.A．their hobbies B．their friendshipC．their understanding of life D．their living conditions15．Which can be the best title for the passage?A．Dangerous Mountains Climbing.B．Important Scientific Discoveries.C．Plants Found on High Mountains.D．Adventures Turned into Something Greater.四There is a traditional toy called taiping nijiaojia o. It is a clay toy and also a whistle (哨子) in Zhenjiang, Jiangsu. It has a history of over 1,000 years.Taiping nijiaojiao is made of the mud from the local mountain. It takes more than ten steps to make the clay toy, and the key step is to knead (捏) it with your hands. You can knead the clay toy into anything, like animals and plants. The blowhole is the most difficult part to make, for the size of the blowhole makes a difference to the sound. While coloring, you can use traditional cultural elements (元素) that carry good meanings. It’s hard to make taiping nijiaojiao. But when you finally make it, you will feel proud of yourself.Zhou Baokang, a lover of folk art, learned how to make the clay toy from local artists about 20 years ago. He wants more people to know about it, so he has opened a museum to introduce the clay toy. He teaches kids how to make the clay toy, too.There are many traditional art forms in China, but some of them have been lost. Luckily, the traditional clay toy taiping nijiaojiao is kept to this day.16．What is taiping nijiaojiao?A．A toy. B．An animal. C．A plant. D．A museum.17．What does the underlined word “mud” mean in Paragraph 2?A．Soft silk. B．Clean water. C．Wet earth. D．Dead wood.18．What is the key step when you make taiping nijiaojiao?A．Choosing the elements. B．Kneading the clay toy.C．Making the blowhole. D．Coloring the clay toy.19．Who does Zhou Baokang teach to make taiping nijiaojiao?A．Artists. B．Kids. C．Masters. D．Teachers.20．What’s the best title for the passage?A．Shapes of the Clay Toy B．A Lover of Folk ArtC．Ways of Making a Clay Toy D．A Traditional Clay Toy五Solar energy is a new kind of source of energy which is widely used and produces little pollution. The most widely used one is the flat-plate collector. It consists of a black metal plate, covered with one or two sheets of glass. The collectors are heated by the sunlight falling on it. This heat is then transferred to the air or the water. It can be used directly, or it may be turned into another medium for storage. Flat-plate collectors are commonly used for solar water heaters and house heating. The storage of heat for use at night or on cloudy days is commonly completed by using insulated tanks (隔热储罐) to store the water heated during sunny periods. Such a system can supply a house with hot water drawn from the storage tank, or, with the warmed water flowing through tubes (管) in floors and ceilings, it can provide space heating.Flat-plate collectors are typically heated to temperatures from 66℃ to 93℃. The efficiency (效率) of such collectors can range from 20 to 80 percent, depending on the design of the collector.Another one is solar ponds which are bodies of salt water designed to collect and store solar energy. The heat taken from such ponds can be used for chemicals, food and textiles (纺织品). It can also be used to warm greenhouses, swimming pools and buildings. Solar ponds are sometimes used to produce electricity. Yet solar ponds are expensive to install and keep. So they are not often used to warm in rural areas. 21．Which of the following is needed in a flat-plate collector?A．A white plastic plate. B．A black metal plate.C．A white metal plate. D．A black plastic plate.22．When do the flat-plate collectors store heat?A．At night. B．On cloudy days.C．On rainy days. D．During sunny periods.23．What does the underlined word “range” in Paragraph 1 mean?A．Store. B．Collect. C．Change. D．Develop.24．Why are solar ponds not often used to warm in rural areas?A．Because they can’t be installed in those areas.B．Because the cost of using solar ponds is high.C．Because they can not heat the buildings there.D．Because there are no swimming pools there.25．What’s the best title for this passage?A．Application of Solar EnergyB．Storage of Solar EnergyC．Advantages of Solar EnergyD．The Work System of Solar Energy六Birth order—does it matter? Are you different because you are the first, second, or third child in your family—or maybe the last of nine?A study found that first-borns have an average IQ that is three points higher than people who fall into a different place in the birth order, perhaps because first-borns often help younger brothers and sisters, which improves their own skills. In 2007, an international organization of CEOs found that 43% of CEOs are first-borns, 33% are middle children, and 23% are last-borns. First-borns are more likely to be doctors and astronauts and get higher pay.If first-borns are more successful, last-borns are generally more agreeable. They are also more likely to be funny, possibly to get attention from all the bigger people at the dinner table. Mark Twain and Stephen Colbert were both the youngest in large families, and Jim Carrey was the youngest of four. According to a 2007 Time magazine article, “The power of Birth Order.” last-borns are more likely to be artists and successful businessmen.Then there are the middle children: we have not ignored (忽视) them! Many middle children are short of one-on-one time with their parents. They often feelshort-changed: the oldest gets more rights, and the youngest is spoiled (宠坏的). Though they may be ignored, middle children are more likely to grow into easy-going adults.Many factors make us who we are, but if the research is correct, birth order may be one of the most important factors.26．Who is most likely to be a CEO?A．A first-born. B．A second-born. C．A third-born. D．A last-born. 27．What can we learn about Jim Carrey?A．He is a middle child. B．He is likely to be serious.C．He is a successful businessman. D．He is likely to be agreeable.28．What does the underlined sentence mean?A．They are usually controlled. B．They are always spoiled.C．They are often popular at home. D．They are often treated unfairly. 29．What can we learn from the 4th paragraph?A．Middle children often get more attention from parents.B．Middle children usually communicate with others well.C．Middle children are more likely to get on well with others.D．Middle children are usually famous artists and businessmen.30．What would be the best title for the text?A．What makes you powerful B．How you can be a CEOC．What influence birth order has on you D．How you can grow up。
