专题07+考前必刷说明文（21-32）-冲刺2019高考英语二轮复习核心考点特色突破 14页

说明文专项21‎ 体裁 话题 词数 难度 建议时间 说明文 加利福尼亚州的秃鹫 ‎358‎ ‎★★★‎ ‎6分钟 California Condor’s Shocking Recovery California condors are North America’s largest birds, with wing-length of up to 3 meters. In the 1980s, electrical lines and lead poisoning(铅中毒) nearly drove them to dying out. Now, electric shock training and medical treatment are helping to rescue these big birds.‎ In the late 1980s, the last few condors were taken from the wild to be bred(繁殖). Since 1992, there have been multiple reintroductions to the wild, and there are now more than 150 flying over California and nearby Arizona, Utah and Baja in Mexico.‎ Electrical lines have been killing them off. "As they go in to rest for the night, they just don’t see the power lines," says Bruce Rideout of San Diego Zoo. Their wings can bridge the gap between lines, resulting in electrocution(电死) if they touch two lines at once.‎ So scientists have come up with a shocking idea. Tall poles, placed in large training areas, teach the birds to stay clear of electrical lines by giving them a painful but undeadly electric shock. Before the training was introduced, 66% of set-free birds died of electrocution. This has now dropped to 18%.‎ Lead poisoning has proved more difficult to deal with. When condors eat dead bodies of other animals containing lead, they absorb large quantities of lead. This affects their nervous systems and ability to produce baby birds, and can lead to kidney(肾) failure and death. So condors with high levels of lead are sent to Los Angeles Zoo, where they are treated with calcium EDTA, a chemical that removes lead from the blood over several days. This work is starting to pay off. The annual death rate for adult condors has dropped from 38% in 2000 to 5.4% in 2011.‎ Rideout’s team thinks that the California condors’ average survival time in the wild is now just under eight ‎ years. "Although these measures are not effective forever, they are vital for now," he says. "They are truly good birds that are worth every effort we put into recovering them."‎ 语篇解读：在20世纪80年代,电线和铅中毒导致美国加利福尼亚州的秃鹫濒临灭绝,但在科研人员的帮助下,秃鹫的数量有所回升,死亡率也有所下降。‎ ‎1.California condors attract researchers’ interest because they　　　. ‎ A.are active at night B.had to be bred in the wild C.are found only in California D.almost died out in the 1980s ‎2.Researchers have found electrical lines are 　　　. ‎ A.blocking condors’ journey home B.big killers of California condors C.rest places for condors at night D.used to keep condors away ‎2.选B　考查细节理解。从题干中的electrical lines可知,答案应定位在第三段。电线能使秃鹫丧命,因为秃鹫晚上休息的时候看不见电线,而如果它们宽大的翅膀同时搭在两根电线上,它们就会被电死,因此选B。‎ ‎3.According to Paragraph 5, lead poisoning 　　　. ‎ A.makes condors too nervous to fly B.has little effect on condors’ kidneys C.can hardly be gotten rid of from condors’ blood D.makes it difficult for condors to produce baby birds ‎3.选D　考查细节理解。第五段讲述了铅中毒对秃鹫的危害:影响秃鹫的神经系统(A错),影响秃鹫繁衍后代的能力(D正确),导致秃鹫肾衰竭(B错)。科研人员给秃鹫使用一种化学药物,帮助它们排出了体内的铅(C错)。因此选D。 ‎ ‎1.Which is true about AI and education?‎ A. Robots have been widely used to teach children. ‎ B. AI has been used to grade students’ homework. ‎ C. AI has enabled more students to receive education at school. ‎ D. Education was the first field where AI was used. ‎ ‎2.Which can be inferred from the passage?‎ A. Atria can help people understand complex data. ‎ B. The wallet.AI can help people make more money. ‎ C. Robots’ jobs are considered dangerous to humans. ‎ D. Robots can help people concentrate. ‎ ‎2.选A　考查推理判断。根据第三段第三句"Also, systems are being developed, like Atria, to translate complex data into simple and understandable language"可知,Atria系统能够将复杂的数据转化为简单易懂的语言,由此可推知Atria能够帮助人们理解复杂的数据,故A项正确。‎ ‎3.From the last two paragraphs we can know that 　　　　.  ‎ A. Today’s drivers needn’t learn to park their cars B. AI ensures safe, efficient, and reliable transportation C. AI-enabled toys are designed to improve kids’ intelligence D. Video game bots can fight against you in video games ‎3.选D　考查推理判断。根据最后一段最后一句"AI has also been applied to...aren’t available or desired"可知,如果人类玩家人数不够或者不想和其他人类玩家玩,那么video game bots就可以充当对手,故D项正确 ‎4.What is the passage mainly about?‎ A. The latest progress in AI. ‎ B. AI is of great use. ‎ C. Some applications of AI. ‎ D. AI is used in all fields. ‎ 说明文专项训练（25）‎ 体裁 话题 词数 难度 建议时间 说明文 交换衣服 ‎350‎ ‎★★★‎ ‎6分钟 ‎　　"Clothes Swapping" is an activity which has become increasingly popular among American women. At a clothes swap event the women can give away unwanted clothing and get something different in return.‎ Recently about 300 women went to a clothes swap at a high school in Springfield, Virginia. It was the largest crowd ever for the area’s popular clothing-swapping group.‎ Daphne Steinberg was having a good day. "For anyone who knows Ann Taylor LOFT, Ann Taylor is a really good women’s designer and I will totally wear this to work. So I love that, and I love that I can equip myself for work, have a good time in doing it, and not totally bankrupt(使破产) myself."‎ Sandy Van Dusen likes the idea that clothes are finding new homes instead of being thrown away. "Because it helps to keep the Earth green. There’s no point in my opinion in continuing to buy new clothes when we can reuse what are already here. Give them a new home — let somebody else love what you used to love and no longer love."‎ Kim Pratt organized the clothes swap event in Springfield. She also organized a money-raising activity for the high school’s debate team. It is one of several ways that her group gives to charitable causes. Another is by donating all of the "unswapped" clothing to shelters for victims of domestic violence.‎ ‎"I started doing this four years ago, and we’ve been doing it for four years, getting bigger and bigger each time we have a swap."‎ She used the social media website meetup.com to help publicize the events. The website has helped her group grow from 30 members to 1,300. Ms. Pratt says most of the members respect the clothing swap rules. But she says competition for desirable fashion can be strong.‎ ‎"We have to tell people sometimes not to hover(徘徊) over the new people coming in with their clothing. As they put it out, some people tend to grab the stuff right out of their hands and it becomes like a free-for-all. We try to avoid that as much as possible."‎ 本文是一篇说明文。文章介绍了在Springfield的一所高中举办的"交换衣服"活动,详细介绍了活动组织人Kim Pratt组织该活动的初衷、意义和存在的问题等。　‎ ‎1.Women can 　　　　at a clothes swap. ‎ ‎ A. exchange unwanted clothing for something different ‎ B. buy whatever clothing they like ‎ C. have a social gathering and make friends ‎ D. make some money by giving away unwanted clothing ‎2.We can learn from what Daphne Steinberg said that 　　　　. ‎ ‎ A. she had been to a clothes swap for the first time ‎ B. she experienced the largest clothes swap ever in the area ‎ C. she got some clothes she likes at the clothes swap ‎ D. she saved much more money than she had expected ‎2.C　考查细节理解。根据第三段中Daphne Steinberg 所说的话"For anyone who knows Ann Taylor LOFT, Ann Taylor is a really good women’s designer and I will totally wear this to work"可知,Daphne Steinberg在这次"交换衣服"活动中得到了她喜欢的Ann Taylor设计的衣服,并会穿着它去上班,故C项正确。‎ ‎3.What is Paragraph 5 mainly about?‎ ‎ A. What Kim Pratt did with the unswapped clothing.‎ ‎ B. How Kim Pratt started the clothes swap event.‎ ‎ C. What Kim Pratt did to help people in need.‎ ‎ D. How Kim Pratt raised money to help charitable causes.‎ ‎3.C　考查段落大意。通读第五段可知,该段主要介绍了Kim Pratt为帮助需要帮助的人组织的多个活动,包括"交换衣服"活动、为Springfield的一所高中的辩论队组织的筹款活动、捐赠衣服给家庭暴力受害者的庇护所的活动,故C项正确。‎ ‎4.It can be inferred from the last paragraph that 　　　　. ‎ ‎ A. clothes swaps are often out of control in the end ‎ B. inappropriate behavior at clothes swaps needs to be controlled ‎ C. clothes swapping is becoming increasingly popular with Americanwomen ‎ D. more clothes swap events need to be organized 说明文专项训练（26）‎ 体裁 话题 词数 难度 建议时间 说明文 全球变暖对海豹的影响 ‎338‎ ‎★★★‎ ‎6分钟 ‎　　When the natural climate changes due to global warming, it can surely affect seals. The majority of them live in the Antarctic region so as the ice is melting, their natural habitat(栖息地) can be seriously affected. These changes don’t take place overnight. They can be the result of many years of additional temperatures in the area. The seals then have to find ways to adapt. ‎ Seals depend on the cool air currents to bring plenty of food for them. When the temperatures get higher, there is less and less food and the seal population starts to get depleted. Mothers aren’t healthy enough to feed their babies. Many of the babies end up abandoned as the mothers have to leave to find their own source of food. ‎ The fact that their desire to produce young can be changed by the warmer temperatures is frightening too. It is also believed that the warmer temperatures can allow different diseases and viruses to attack the seals. This is a huge concern as they can rapidly wipe out huge numbers of seals out there.‎ However, these changes in climate and temperature aren’t all bad for other species of seals. Scientists have found that those living in warmer climates are producing more young due to the changes. Research also shows that the females are moving further to find food and water. When they are out of the reach of the governing males, they are more willing to accept the moves of other males in the group. ‎ This is good news too because it means that there will be more selection in the gene pool(基因库) for future generations. It can help the seals as a species adapt to changes in their natural environment more easily. ‎ The climate change problem for seals is directly linked to humans. When we take action to change what we let out into the environment, we will make positive changes for the seals. However, it is going to take a very long time to reverse(彻底改变) the effects of what has already been done. ‎ 语篇解读：本文是一篇说明文,主要说明了全球气候变暖给海豹带来的影响。‎ ‎1.What does the author regard climate changes for seals as?‎ A. A double-edged sword. ‎ B. An unavoidable disaster for existence. ‎ C. A mirror of evolution.‎ D. A requirement for more choice in the gene pool. ‎ ‎1.A　考查推理判断。文章第一至三段介绍了气候变暖对南极地区的海豹的负面影响,第四、五段介绍了气候变暖对其他种类的海豹的正面影响。由此可推知,在作者看来,对海豹来说,气候变暖既有利又有弊,是把双刃剑。故选A。‎ ‎2.What does the underlined phrase "get depleted" in Paragraph 2 most probably mean?‎ A. Explode. B. Disappear.‎ C. Shrink. D. Vary.‎ ‎3.What will happen to the seals in warmer climates?‎ A. Their number will be on the increase. ‎ B. The female seals will be in the lead. ‎ C. Their genes will change a great deal. ‎ D. The females will keep away from the males. ‎ ‎3.A　考查细节理解。根据第四段中的"those living in warmer climates are producing more young due to the changes"可知,生活在更暖和的地区的海豹会因为气候变暖而繁殖更多的幼崽。由此可知,它们的数量会增加。‎ ‎4.Which of the following can be the best title for the text?‎ A. The Importance of Protecting Seals B. Seals’ Adaptation to Climate Change ‎ C. How Climate Change Affects Seals ‎ D. Why Are Seals Becoming Less and Less ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ 说明文专项训练（27）‎ 体裁 话题 词数 难度 建议时间 说明文 反垄断管理 ‎439‎ ‎★★★‎ ‎7分钟 ‎　　A new commodity brings about a highly profitable, fast-growing industry, urging antitrust(反垄断) regulators to step in to check those who control its flow. A century ago, the resource in question was oil. Now similar concerns are being raised by the giants(巨头) that deal in data, the oil of the digital age. The most valuable firms are Google, Amazon, Facebook and Microsoft. All look unstoppable.‎ Such situations have led to calls for the tech giants to be broken up. But size alone is not a crime. The giants’ success has benefited consumers. Few want to live without search engines or a quick delivery. Far from charging consumers high prices, many of these services are free (users pay, in effect, by handing over yet more data). And the appearance of new-born giants suggests that newcomers can make waves, too.‎ But there is cause for concern. The internet has made data abundant, all-present and far more valuable, changing the nature of data and competition. Google initially used the data collected from users to target advertising better. But recently it has discovered that data can be turned into new services: translation and visual recognition, to be sold to other companies. Internet companies’ control of data gives them enormous power. So they have a "God’s eye view" of activities in their own markets and beyond.‎ This nature of data makes the antitrust measures of the past less useful. Breaking up firms like Google into five small ones would not stop remaking themselves: in time, one of them would become great again. A rethink is required — and as a new approach starts to become apparent, two ideas stand out.‎ The first is that antitrust authorities need to move from the industrial age into the 21st century. When considering a merger(兼并), for example, they have traditionally used size to determine when to step in. They now need to take into account the extent of firms’ data assets(资产) when assessing the impact of deals. The purchase price could also be a signal that an established company is buying a new-born threat. When this takes place, especially when a new-born company has no revenue to speak of, the regulators should raise red flags.‎ The second principle is to loosen the control that providers of on-line services have over data and give more to those who supply them. Companies could be forced to reveal to consumers what information they hold and how much money they make from it. Governments could order the sharing of certain kinds of data, with users’ consent.‎ Restarting antitrust for the information age will not be easy. But if governments don’t want a data economy controlled by a few giants, they must act soon.‎ 语篇解读：一种新的商品引发了一个高利润的、快速增长的产业的产生,迫使反垄断管理者介入并控制那些处于主导地位的公司。 公司对于数据的控制赋予了它们巨大的权力,从而可以巩固它们的控制地位。‎ ‎3.By paying attention to firms’ data assets, antitrust regulators could 　　　. ‎ A. kill a new threat B. avoid the size trap C. favour bigger firms D. charge higher prices ‎4.What is the purpose of loosening the giants’ control of data?‎ A. Big companies could relieve data security pressure.‎ B. Governments could relieve their financial pressure.‎ C. Consumers could better protect their privacy.‎ D. Small companies could get more opportunities.　　‎ ‎4.选D　考查细节理解。由倒数第二段内容可知,放松在线服务提供商对于数据的控制,把更多的份额给数据提供者,从而让小公司也有机会发展。‎ 说明文专项训练（28）‎ 体裁 话题 词数 难度 建议时间 说明文 间隔年 ‎254‎ ‎★★★‎ ‎5分钟 ‎　　More students than ever before are taking a gap year(间隔年) before going to university. It used to be called the "year off" between school and university. The gap-year phenomenon originated(起源) with the months left over to Oxbridge applicants between entrance exams in November and the start of the next academic year.‎ This year, 25,310 students who have accepted places in higher education institutions have put off their entry until next year, according to statistics on university entrance provided by the University and College Admissions Service(UCAS).‎ That is a record 14.7% increase in the number of students taking a gap year. Tony Higgins from UCAS said that the statistics are good news for everyone in higher education. "Students who take a well-planned year out are more likely to be satisfied with, and complete, their chosen course. Students who take a gap year are often more mature and responsible," he said.‎ But not everyone is happy. Owain James, the president of the National Union of Students (NUS), argued that the increase is evidence of student hardship — young people are being forced into earning money before finishing their education. "New students are now aware that they are likely to leave university up to ￡15,000 in debt. It is not surprising that more and more students are taking a gap year to earn money to support their study for the degree. NUS statistics show that over 40% of students are forced to work during term time and the figure increases ‎ to 90% during vacation periods," he said.‎ ‎　语篇解读：这是一篇社会生活类的文章。越来越多的高中毕业生没有直接去上大学而是选择了间隔年,这样他们可以打工攒够费用上大学,将来能更好地适应大学生活。　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 ‎ ‎1. What do we learn about the gap year from the text?‎ ‎ A.It is flexible in length. ‎ B.It is a time for relaxation.‎ ‎ C.It is increasingly popular. ‎ D.It is required by universities.‎ ‎2. According to Tony Higgins, students taking a gap year 　　　. ‎ ‎ A.are better prepared for college studies ‎ ‎ B.know a lot more about their future jobs ‎ ‎ C.are more likely to leave university in debt ‎ ‎ D.have a better chance to enter top universities ‎ ‎2.选A　考查推理判断。根据第三段中的"Students who take a well-planned year out are more likely to be satisfied with, and complete, their chosen course. Students who take a gap year are often more mature and responsible"可推知,选择间隔年的学生将来能够更好地适应大学生活。‎ ‎3. How does Owain James feel about the gap-year phenomenon?‎ ‎ A.He’s puzzled. B.He’s worried. ‎ ‎ C.He’s surprised. D.He’s annoyed. ‎ ‎3.选B　考查推理判断。根据第四段的首句"But not everyone is happy."和下文内容可推断,Owain James认为间隔年现象也从侧面反映了大学生上学压力大、费用高的现状,因此他感到担忧。‎ ‎4. What would most students do on their vacation according to NUS statistics? ‎ A.Attend additional courses. ‎ B.Make plans for the new term. ‎ C.Earn money for their education. ‎ D.Prepare for their graduate studies. ‎ 说明文专项训练（29）‎ 体裁 话题 词数 难度 建议时间 说明文 因特网的影响 ‎275‎ ‎★★‎ ‎5分钟 ‎　　As Internet users become more dependent on the Internet to store information, are people remembering less? If you know your computer will save information, why store it in your own personal memory, your brain? Experts are wondering if the Internet is changing what we remember and how.‎ In a recent study, Professor Betsy Sparrow conducted some experiments. She and her research team wanted to know how the Internet is changing memory. In the first experiment, they gave people 40 unimportant facts to type into a computer. The first group of people understood that the computer would save the information. The second group understood that the computer would not save it. Later, the second group remembered the information better. People in the first group knew they could find the information again, so they did not try to remember it. ‎ In another experiment, the researchers gave people facts to remember, and told them where to find the information on the computer. The information was in a specific computer folder(文件夹). Surprisingly, people later remembered the folder location(位置) better than the facts. When people use the Internet, they do not remember the information. Rather, they remember how to find it. This is called "transactive memory(交互记忆). "‎ According to Sparrow, we are not becoming people with poor memories as a result of the Internet. Instead, computer users are developing stronger transactive memories; that is, people are learning how to organize huge quantities of information so that they are able to access it at a later date. This doesn’t mean we are becoming either more or less intelligent, but there is no doubt that the way we use memory is changing. ‎ 语篇解读：这是一篇说明文。本文通过对两个实验的叙述,力图找出因特网对人们记忆的影响。‎ ‎1.The passage begins with two questions to 　　　.  ‎ A.introduce the main topic B. show the author’s attitude C.describe how to use the Internet D.explain how to store information ‎1.选A　考查推理判断。本文通过"are people remembering less"以及"why store it in your own personal memory, your brain"这样的问题来导入下文两个实验要论证的主题。‎ ‎2.What can we learn about the first experiment?‎ A.The Sparrow’s team typed the information into a computer. ‎ B.The two groups remembered the information equally well. ‎ C.The first group did not try to remember the information. ‎ D.The second group did not understand the information. ‎ ‎3.In transactive memory, people 　　　　.  ‎ A.keep the information in mind B.change the quantity of information C.organize information like a computer D.remember how to find the information ‎3.选D　考查细节理解。根据第三段最后两句话"Rather, they remember how to find it. This is called ‘transactive memory(交互记忆).’"可知,答案为D项。‎ ‎4.What is the effect of the Internet according to Sparrow’s research?‎ A.We are using memory differently. ‎ B.We are becoming more intelligent. ‎ C.We have poorer memories than before. ‎ D.We need a better way to access information. ‎ 说明文专项训练（30）‎ 体裁 话题 词数 难度 建议时间 说明文 生活方式和环境的改变 ‎347‎ ‎★★★‎ ‎6分钟 ‎　　Children’s lives have changed greatly over the last 50 years. But do they have a happier childhood than you or I did?‎ It’s difficult to look back on one’s own childhood without some elements of nostalgia(怀旧的). I have four brothers and sisters, and my memories are all about being with them, playing board games on the living room floor, or spending days in the street with the other neighborhood children, racing up and down on our bikes, or exploring the nearby woods. My parents scarcely appear in these memories, except as providers either of meals or of severe blame after some particularly risky adventure.‎ These days, in the UK at least, the nature of childhood has changed dramatically. Firstly, families are smaller, and there are far more only children. It is common for both parents to work outside the home and there is the feeling that there just isn’t time to bring up a large family, or that no one could possibly afford to have more than one child. As a result, today’s boys and girls spend much of their time alone. Another major change is that youngsters today tend to spend a huge amount of their free time at home, inside. More than anything this is due to the fact that parents worry far more than they used to about real or imagined dangers, so they wouldn’t dream of letting their children play outside by themselves.‎ Finally, the kind of toys children have and the way they play is totally different. Computer and video games have replaced the board games and more interesting activities of my childhood. The irony(令人啼笑皆非的事情) is that so many ways of playing games are called "interactive". The fact that you can play electronic games on your own further increases the sense of loneliness felt by many young people today.‎ Do these changes mean that children today have a less relaxing childhood than I had? I personally believe that they do, but perhaps every generation feels exactly the same.‎ 语篇解读：　本文是一篇说明文,主要讲了现在的孩子与以前相比,其童年的生活方式和生活环境都有很大的改变。 ‎ ‎1.According to the story, the man on the bus threw away his cell phone because　　　. ‎ A.it didn’t work properly B.it was stolen from someone else C.he didn’t like the phone’s style D.he didn’t want to be bothered by it ‎2.We can learn from the passage that cell phones 　　　. ‎ A.are too expensive for many people B.are of no use to the author C.can also get people into trouble D.can make life more interesting ‎2.选C　考查推理判断。根据文章第三段的句子"Though cell phones are a wonderful way for communication, they often do the exact opposite. Using cell phones can increase stress within families and friends."可知,手机也会给人们带来麻烦。故选C。‎ ‎3.What can we learn about the author?‎ A.He wants to own a garden now.‎ B.He always chatted with his neighbors.‎ C.He used to take his cell phone when going outside.‎ D.He once threw away his cell phone.‎ ‎3.选C　考查推理判断。根据文章第四段的句子"Now I go outside without taking my phone with me."可知,作者过去外出都是带手机的。故选C。‎ ‎4.The main purpose of the passage is to 　　　. ‎ A.tell us not to let cell phones control our lives B.encourage others to hike with him in France C.share his experiences in France with us D.teach us how to get along with neighbors ‎4.选A　考查写作意图。根据文章内容尤其是最后一段可知,作者是想告诉我们不要被手机控制。故选A。‎