2020届二轮复习阅读理解训练（51） 15页

阅读理解训练（51）‎ Passage 1‎ Rachel Carson was an American author and environmental protection scientist. “Silent Spring” was her most famous book. The idea for the book developed from a suggestion from a friend. Rachel’s friend owned a protected area for birds. An airplane had flown over the area where the birds were kept and spread a powerful chemical called DDT. Many songbirds and harmless insects were killed by the DDT. ‎ Miss Carson and other scientists were very concerned about the harmful effects of DDT and other insect-killing chemicals called pesticides (杀虫剂). Rachel Carson tried to get many magazines interested in publishing a report about the subject. However, none would agree to publish anything about such a disputed (有争议的) subject. They said no one wanted to hear that industrial companies could cause great ecological damage.‎ Miss Carson believed the public needed to know about this important issue. She decided to write a book about it. In her book “Silent Spring”, Miss Carson questioned the right of industrial companies to pollute without considering the effects on the environment. Miss Carson argued that this kind of pollution would result in ever-decreasing populations of birds and other wildlife. She said this would lead to the loss of the wonderful sounds of nature. The chemical poisoning of the environment, she said, would cause a silent spring.‎ The chemical industry felt threatened. Industry spokesmen and other critics said the book was non-scientific and emotional. They misunderstood the message of the book. Miss Carson did not suggest that all pesticides be banned. She urged that control of these substances be given to biologists who could make informed decisions about the risks involved.‎ Support for the book increased. By the end of 1962, there were more than forty bills in state laws proposing to control pesticides. Finally, in November, 1969, the United States government ruled that the use of DDT must stop in two years.‎ Rachel Carson did not live to see how her book influenced the government’s decision to ban DDT. She died of breast cancer in 1964. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎1. What can be inferred from Paragraph 1?‎ A. Rachel’s friend was concerned about bird protection.‎ B. Rachel wrote a lot of books about chemicals.‎ C. DDT kills both insects and plants in the wild.‎ D. An airplane spread DDT to kill harmless insects.‎ ‎2. No magazines agreed to publish the harmful effect of DDT because ______.‎ A. it was an unimportant subject for them B. they were afraid of being involved in the dispute C. they had no environmental consciousness at all D. DDT was necessary for industry development ‎3. In her book “Silent Spring”, Miss Carson ______.‎ A. supported the development of industry B. predicted bird population would increase C. showed her anxiety about the environment D. was confused about the cause of a silent spring ‎4. Industry spokesman’s attitude towards the book is that of ______.‎ A. tolerance B. criticism C. unconcern D. praise ‎5. Which of the following is true according to the text?‎ A. DDT was forbidden to be used once “Silent Spring” was published.‎ B. Miss Carson was glad to see her book was appreciated by all.‎ C. Miss Carson suggested all pesticides should be banned.‎ D. Rachel’s book contributed a lot to the ban of DDT.‎ ‎【答案】1—5 ABCBD Passage 2‎ ‎ Calvin Coolidge (1872 – 1933) was the thirtieth president of the United States. He looked down on a person as being unworthy of respect who was too fond of talking about the details of others people’s actions and private lives because he had no time for small talks. The following two incidents clearly show how Collidge treasured silence.‎ When he was vice president, Coolidge had plenty of opportunities to participate (参加) in Washington’s social life, especially the many dinner parties. As be ignored the art of conversation, he couldn’t exactly make himself dear to his hostesses. One lady felt she could solve this problem. She placed him next to Alice Roosevelt Longworth, daughter of the former President Roosevelt. Mrs. Longworth, a very brilliant conversationalist (谈话者), began to talk in her usual charming manner, but all attempts to a wake the interest on the part of the vice president were unproductive. Finally, being shamed into anger, she said, “I’m sure that going to as many dinners as you do, you must get terribly bored.”‎ Without lifting his eyes from his plate, Coolidge said not very clearly, “Well, a man has to eat somewhere.”‎ Later, when he was president and once again at a dinner party, Collidge was seated next to an outstanding society woman, one of those busybodies, who seemed to take delight in trying to change the lives of everyone they met. “Oh, Mr. President,” she spoke with too much enthusiasm, “you are always so quiet. I made a bet (打赌) today that I could get more than two words out of you.”‎ ‎5．President Collidge considered those people as being unworthy of respect .‎ ‎ A．who liked to talk about the affairs of others ‎ B．who never talked about anything serious ‎ C．who often spoke insincerely ‎ D．who talked much but did little ‎6．The hostesses thought Collidge was unfriendly because in her eyes.‎ ‎ A．he treated women coldly and rudely ‎ B．he paid no attention to conversational skills ‎ C．he was too serious to please any women ‎ D．he was pretty easy and quick to get angry ‎7．Mrs. Longworth got shamed and angry because .‎ ‎ A．the vice president took part in too many dinner parties ‎ B．the vice president didn’t lift his eyes from his plate ‎ C．the vice president didn’t speak exactly and clearly ‎ D．the vice president didn’t react to all her efforts Passage 3‎ ‎ Richard Cantillon (1680s-May 1734) was an Irish economist and author of Essay on the Nature of Trade in General, a book considered by Willian Stanley Jevons to be the “cradle of political economy”. Although little information exists on Cantillon’s life, it is known that he became a successful banker and merchant at an early age. His success was largely gained from the political and business connections he was able to acquire through his family and an early employer. During the late 1710s and early 1720s, Cantillon took a chance, and helped finance John Law’s Mississippi Company, from which he acquired great wealth. His success, however, came at a cost to his debtors, who attempted to get him involved in criminal activities, and even murder plots until his death 1734.‎ ‎ The Essay remains Cantillon’s only surviving contribution to economics. It was written around 1730 and circulated widely in manuscript form, but was not published until 1755. Despite having much influence on the early development of the physiocrat（重农主义者）and classical schools of thought, the Essay was largely forgotten until its rediscovery by Jevons in the late 19th century. Cantillon was influenced by his experiences as a banker, and especially by the speculative bubble（投机泡沫）of John Law’s Mississippi Company. He was also heavily influenced by previous economists, especially William Petty.‎ ‎ The Essay is considered the first complete essay on economies, with a great many contributions to the science. These contributions include the development of spatial（与空间有关的）economics. Canutillo’s Essay had significant influence on the early development of political economy, including the works of David Hume and Adam Smith.‎ ‎8. Which of the following about Cantillon is TRUE according to the first paragraph?‎ ‎ A. He knew little about business though a successful banker.‎ ‎ B. He owed all his success to his family and an early employer.‎ ‎ C. John Law’s Mississippi Company brought him a great deal of money.‎ ‎ D. His debtors tried to copy him by participating in some criminal activities.‎ ‎9. Cantillon’s Essay ______________.‎ ‎ A. was not much recognized until the late 19th century ‎ B. was highly thought of by the economists around 1730‎ ‎ C. had great influence on the economist, William Petty ‎ D. helped Jevons to make some discoveries in science ‎10. What can be inferred from the passage?‎ ‎ A. The Essay was not circulated widely until 1755.‎ ‎ B. Cantillon was a successful banker, merchant and politician.‎ C. Cantillon turned a merchant in his fifties.‎ D. The Essay was largely forgotten for years.‎ ‎11. What can be the best title for the passage?‎ A. Cantillon and his life. B. Cantillon and his business.‎ C. Cantillon and his Essay. D. Cantillon and his contribution. ‎ ‎【答案】‎ ‎8. C 细节题。根据第一段“Cantillon helped John Law’s Mississippi Company, from which he acquired great wealth.”‎ ‎9. A 细节题。根据第二段第四行。‎ ‎10. D 考查学生的推理和理解能力。根据第二段“the Essay was largely forgotten until its rediscovery by Jevons in the late 19th century”‎ ‎11. C 主旨大意题。本文主要讲述Cantillon和他的散文对经济和科学界的影响。可根据首段和最后一段得知。‎ Passage 4‎ John Steinbeck once said, “All Americans believe they are born fishermen. For a man to admit to a distaste in fishing would be like denouncing (公开指责) mother – love or hating moonlight.”‎ I can’t say that I’m the biggest John Steinbeck fan. Actually, the only thing I can ever remember reading by him was “The pearl” when I was in middle school, but I couldn’t agree more with the man when it comes to fishing. Whether I am on a boat in the middle of the Lay Lake, fishing off the shores of the Florida Keys for tarpon (大海鲢) or catching rainbow trout (红鲭鱼) in the Shoshone River of Wyoming, fishing is my life.‎ According to the American Sports Fishing Association, the fishing industry brings in more than $ 116 billion per year from fishermen across the country.‎ Though a beautiful picture to imagine fishing is much more than that. Fishing is a way of life for many people and a way to escape everyday stress. Being a fisherman makes me a member of a wonderful group of people extending to all walks of life. Even President Bush can be found fishing on his farm in Texas with his good friend Roland Martin when the job gets too stressful.‎ I can remember fishing with my grandfather when I was 5 years old on his boat at Lake‎ ‎Mitchell. Although I didn’t understand what I doing. I did know that my grandfather was happy and that made me happy. Since then I’ve spent the past 16 years on the rivers and lakes of ‎ Alabama‎.‎ After days of practice, before and after work, I slowly developed an understanding of fishing. My boss. Ric Horst, took me back to the Shoshone, and I managed to bring in a 19 – inch cutthroat trout. Fishing with Ric was a life – changing experience for me. He not only showed my how to fish correctly, but also told me how fishing could be a way to escape your problems.‎ Since then, prime – time (黄金时间) season seems to take forever to arrive.‎ Now, with the ending of February and beginning of March in sight, the excitement of heading out Lake Tuscaloosa or Lake‎ ‎Lurleen before classes and catching something has finally returned.‎ ‎12．What John Steinbeck said in the first paragraph implies that .‎ ‎ A．Americans are believed to be the offspring (后代) of fishermen ‎ B．it is unthinkable for an American to admit his dislike of fishing ‎ C．all Americans are expert at fishing ‎ D．those who dislike fishing would not love their mother ‎13．The writer came to understand the real meaning of fishing .‎ ‎ A．when he was reading “The pearl” by John Steinbeck ‎ B．when he went fishing with his grandfather at ‎Lake‎ ‎Mitchell ‎ C．after he had spent 16 years on the rivers and lakes of ‎Alabama ‎ D．after he went fishing with his boss, Ric Horst on the Shoshone ‎14．What can be inferred from the text?‎ ‎ A．The author is at most 21 years old.‎ ‎ B．The author regards fishing as a very important part in his life.‎ ‎ C．The author agreed with John Steinbeck the most when he was in middle school.‎ ‎ D．President Bush often goes fishing in public in order to collect idea for his job.‎ ‎15．According to the author, .‎ ‎ A．people can get to know VIPs when fishing.‎ ‎ B．people can smooth away all the troubles by fishing ‎ C．Fishing is a way of communication ‎ D．Fishing is a way to make a living for most American people ‎16．What is the purpose of the writing?‎ ‎ A．To describe the writer’s experience and understanding of fishing.‎ ‎ B．To explain the reason why so many Americans like fishing.‎ ‎ C．To make others understand the industry of fishing.‎ ‎ D．To express his opinions about fishing in different time of the year.‎ 答案：BDBCA Passage 5‎ Here’s an unusual story: a diamond ring was recently found in an egg. The magician, Liu Qian, discovered it in front of an audience of millions at CCTV’s Spring Festival Gala. Liu’s ‎ magic tricks have made the centuries – old art of magic fashionable once again, and made him the hottest magician in China.‎ ‎ As a seasoned magician from Taiwan, Liu is popular worldwide for his magic shows. Countries he has performed in include the United States, Japan, South Korea and the UK.‎ ‎ Witnessing something impossible happen right before your eyes is the root of people’s love for magic.‎ ‎ Liu is known for his interaction with his audiences. He has a unique understanding of showmanship(演出技巧)。‎ ‎ “It’s actually thinking rather than one’s manipulation (处理) skills that is more important to achieving a successful magic show. We think carefully about how to design the shows creatively, to make them appear more interesting,” Liu said.‎ ‎ Liu Qian’s success dated back to his childhood. Born in ‎1976 in Taiwan, he found himself attracted to a magic toy in a shop when he was seven years old. At the age of 12, he won Taiwan’s Youth Magic Contest, which was judged by the great American magician, David Copperfield.‎ ‎ Yet, Liu never planned on becoming a professional magician. He studied Japanese literature at university and only hoped to be an amateur magician in his spare time. However, his failure to find a proper job after graduation pushed him towards magic as a career. ‎ ‎ To refine his performing skills, he has performed on streets, roads and fields, for passersby, policemen and farmers.‎ ‎ “Street shows are the biggest challenge for us magicians. We have to deal with unexpected situations and tough crowds,” Liu said.‎ ‎17. The story is about ________.‎ ‎ A. why people love magic B. how Liu Qian became China’s hottest magician ‎ C. how fashionable magic is D. what magic tricks are ‎18. People love to watch magic because ________.‎ ‎ A. they love watching magicians make the impossible happen ‎ B. it arouses their curiosity ‎ C. they can’t figure out the secret of magic ‎ D. it is a centuries – old art ‎19. Which of the following is the key reason that Liu Qian decided to make magic his career?‎ ‎ A. He was interested in magic when he was little.‎ ‎ B. He had won Taiwan’s Youth Magic Contest.‎ ‎ C. He couldn’t find an acceptable job after graduation.‎ ‎ D. He became an amateur magician in his spare time.‎ ‎20. What does the underlined word “seasoned” in Paragraph2 mean?‎ ‎ A. experienced B. freshman C. amateur D. unskillful ‎21. Liu Qian improved his performing skills by ______.‎ ‎ A. learning from David Copperfield.‎ ‎ B. learning magic in a university ‎ C. performing in public on streets ‎ D. joining in Taiwan’s Youth Magic Contest 答案 BACAC Passage 6‎ ‎ Perhaps you have never heard of Katherine Lawes．Katherine was the wife of Lewis Lawes, warden （监狱长） at Sing Sing Prison from 1920 to 1941．In these 21 years he made many reforms --- and an important part of his success was due to his wife Katherine．‎ ‎ Katherine took seriously the idea that the prisoners are human beings ,worthy of attention and respect ．She regularly visited inside the walls of Sing Sing．She encouraged the prisoners, took things to them and spent time listening to them．Most importantly, she cared about them．And as a result, they cared deeply about her．‎ ‎ Then one night in October of 1937, news was "telegraphed" between the prison cells that Katherine had been killed in an accident．The prisoners asked the warden to allow them to attend her funeral．He agreed to their strange request and a few days later the south gate of Sing Sing swung slowly open．Hundreds of men who had committed almost every crime imaginable marched slowly out of the prison, later gathered again at the gate and returned to their cells．There were so many that they proceeded unguarded．But no one tried to escape．If he had, the others might have killed him immediately．So devoted were they to Katherine Lawes, the woman who daily walked into Hell to show the men a piece of Heaven．‎ ‎ Katherine' s strength was to see the men less as prisoners and more as individuals．Thomas Moore once said, "We can only treat badly those things or people whose souls we show no respect for．"‎ ‎22．When Katherine's husband was the warden at Sing Sing Prison, she did the following things EXCEPT_______________．‎ ‎ A．encouraging the prisoners B．visiting the prison houses ‎ C．doing some writing for the prisoner D．spending time in listening to the prisoners ‎23．Why did the prisoners ask the warden to allow them to attend Katherine’s funeral?‎ ‎ A．Because Katherine didn't look down upon them and cared about them．‎ ‎ B．Because Katherine was the wife of the warden．‎ ‎ C．Because Katherine made reforms in the prison．‎ ‎ D．Because Katherine had been killed by one of them．‎ ‎24．Whom does the underlined part “the others” refer to?‎ ‎ A．The policemen at the funeral． B．The other prisoners．‎ ‎ C．The guards． D．The policemen from other prisons．‎ ‎25．The best title of this passage is_________．‎ ‎ A．Katherine Lawes' s Life B．Reforms at Sing Sing Prison ‎ C．To Honor Their Souls D．To Meet Their Requirement 答案： CABC Passage 7‎ Grandma Moses is among the most famous twentieth-century painters of the United States, yet she did not start painting until she was in her late seventies. As she once said to herself: " I would never sit back in a rocking chair, waiting for someone to help me." No one could have had a more productive old age.‎ ‎ She was born Anna Mary Robertson on a farm in New York‎ ‎State, one of five boys and five girls. At twelve she left home and was in domestic service until, at twenty—seven, she married Thomas Moses, the hired hand of one of her employers. They farmed most of their lives, first in Virginia and then in New York State, at Eagle‎ ‎Bridge. She had ten children, of whom five survived; her husband died in 1927.‎ ‎ Grandma Moses painted a little as a child and made embroidery (刺绣) pictures as a hobby, but only changed to oils in old age because her hands had become too stiff to sew and she wanted to keep busy and pass the time. Her pictures were first sold at the local drugstore and at a market and were soon noticed by a businessman who bought everything she painted. Three of the pictures exhibited in the Museum of Modern Art, and in 1940 she had her first exhibition in New York. Between the 1930's and her death, she produced some 2,000 pictures: detailed and lively portrayals of the country life she had known for so long, with a wonderful sense of color and form. "I think really hard till I think of something really pretty, and then I paint it" she said.‎ ‎26. According to the passage, Grandma Moses began to paint because she wanted to_______.‎ ‎ A. make herself beautiful B. keep active ‎ C. earn more money D. become famous ‎27. Grandma Moses spent most of her life ________.‎ ‎ A. nursing B. painting C. embroidering D. farming ‎28. The underlined word “portrayals ” means ________.‎ ‎ A. descriptions B. expressions C.explanations D.impressions ‎29. From Grandma Moses' description of herself in the first paragraph, it can be inferred that she ‎ was ________.‎ ‎ A. independent B. pretty C. rich D. nervous ‎30. Which of the following would be the best title for the passage?‎ ‎ A. Grandma Moses: Her Life and Pictures. ‎ ‎ B. The Children of Grandma Moses.‎ ‎ C. Grandma Moses: Her Best Exhibition. ‎ ‎ D.Grandma Moses and Other Older Artists.‎ 答案：26-30 BDAAA Passage 8‎ Alia Sabur, from North, NY, US, went to college at the age of 10. And by at the age of 14, ‎ Sabur was earning a bachelor of science degree in applied mathematics from stony Brook University – the youngest female in US history to do so. Her education continued at Drexel‎ ‎University, where she earned an MS and a Phd.(博士学位) in materials science and engineering.‎ With an unlimited future ahead of her, Sabur directed her first career choice to teaching. “I really enjoy teaching, ” she said. She was three days short of her 19th birthday in February, 2008, when she was hired to become a professor at Konkuk University in Seoul‎, ‎South Korea. This distinction(差异) made her the youngest college professor in history, according to the Guinness Book of World Records, beating the previous record held by Colin Maclaurin, a student of physicist Isaac Newton, in 1717.‎ Although she doesn’t start until next month, Sabur has taken up teaching math and physics courses at Southern University in New Orleans. Sabur is old enough to teach, but not to join her fellow professors in a bar after work. In South Korea, where the drinking age is 20, she might have more luck. In traditional Korean culture, children are considered to be 1 year old when they are born, and add a year to their age every New Year instead of their actual birthday, so in Korea Sabur is considered 20.‎ On top of her unprecedented(空前的) academic achievements, Sabur has a black belt in Tae Kwon Do(跆拳道). She is also a talented clarinet(竖笛) player who has performed with musicians like Lang Lang and Smash Mouth. So is there anything Sabur can’t do?‎ ‎31.We learn from the passage that Sabur is _________.‎ A. the world’s youngest female teacher B. Drexel‎ ‎University’s youngest student C. the world’s youngest college professor D. American’s youngest bachelor of science ‎32.What does the author mean by saying “she might have more luck” in Paragraph 3?‎ A. Sabur is lucky to be hired by Konkuk‎ ‎University.‎ B. Sabur will be permitted to drink in Korean bars.‎ C. Sabur would be allowed to attend parties in South Korea.‎ D. Sabur is old enough to teach at Konkuk‎ ‎University.‎ ‎33.What does the author mainly want to show in the last paragraph?‎ A. Sabur has her own way of relaxing. B. Sabur spends little time on her studies.‎ C. Sabur is talented in a lot of ways. D. Sabur likes music more than sports.‎ ‎34.It can be inferred from the passage that _________.‎ A. Sabur went to college when she was ten years old B. by aged 14, Sabur got a bachelor of science degree C. the drinking age in South Korea is twenty years old D. Alia Sabur was born in February ‎1989 in the ‎United States 答案： CBCD Passage 9‎ ‎ “S.H.E. is going to sing at the CCTV annual Spring Festival Evening Party, is that true?” cried out Peng Weiye, a Senior 2 girl in Shanghai and die-hard(铁杆的) S.H.E. fan.‎ After checking it on the Internet, Peng quickly phoned friends to spread the news. For fans like her, S.H.E.’s performance is perhaps the only part of the old fashioned evening to get excited about. ‎ The Taiwanese band is made up of Selina, Hebe and Ella. Their name comes from the first letter of each of the singers’ English names.‎ Last week S.H.E. announced they will perform in Las Vegas, US, over Christmas and then in Guangzhou on January 15.‎ At their Shanghai show on October 30, hundreds of parents waited outside the Hongkou Stadium. Thousands of teenagers sang, cried and shouted as the band performed.‎ ‎“I love their music, healthy image and everything related to them. Thank God that, although my parents don’t understand why I love them so much, they still bought me a ticket for that show,” said Peng about the Shanghai performance.‎ It is not just on the mainland that the three girls have thrilled (make sb. excited) audiences. In the past year the band has passed through Taiwan, Hong Kong and even Singapore and Malaysia. ‎ When the three high school girls entered a singing contest in Taiwan in 2000, none of them ever dreamed of being a superstar. “We had never met before, and we didn’t talk at all at the beginning,” recalled Ella.‎ When asked about the secret of their success, she said, “Our average looks and not-so-expensive clothes keep us close to our fans. We are happy to be the girl next door, your singing sisters.”‎ ‎“ It’s really a magical journey, from day- dreaming high school girls to singers performing on the same stage as our idols. Nothing but magical,” she said.‎ ‎35．What makes Peng Weiye, a senior 2 girl, so excited?‎ A. She is the one who will be met by S.H.E.‎ B. S.H.E. will perform in Las Vegas over Christmas.‎ C. Her parents bought her a ticket for S.H.E.’s Shanghai show.‎ D. S.H.E. will perform on the annual CCTV Spring Festival Evening.‎ ‎36．How did the Taiwanese band get the name?‎ A. Their fans gave the name to them.‎ B. Their idols had a deep influence on them.‎ C. A singing contest gave their idea of the band name.‎ D. The first letter of each of the singers’ English names.‎ ‎37．What do you know about Peng Weiye?‎ A. She stayed outside the Hongkou Stadium to listen to S.H.E.‎ B. She will watch the performance in Guangzhou on January 15.‎ C. She pays close attention to everything about S.H.E.‎ D. She appreciates that her parents understood her well.‎ ‎38．Which is true about S.H.E?‎ A. They caused a storm of excitement in Southeast Asia.‎ B. They have well prepared to perform with their idols.‎ C. They were close friends when they entered a singing contest.‎ D. Their secret to success is the pretty faces and expensive clothes.‎ 答案 DDCA Passage 10‎ When Charles Stratton was five, he stopped growing. His mother took him to see the famous showman, P. T. Barnum. Mr. Barnum thought a small person would be the perfect addition to his show. He hired Charles’ parents along with him, and they traveled the world together.‎ He gave the two-foot-tall Charles a name, General Tom Thumb. He taught Tom how to sing, dance, act and tell jokes. When he felt Tom was ready to perform on stage, he made up ads. To stir up great interest, he said that Tom was eleven years old and had come from England.‎ During the show, Tom fought battles pretendedly with tall people. He also danced upon a wooden plate held by a person who was eight feet tall. Tom’s act was very popular and brought in a lot of money. By the time Tom was an adult, he had grown very rich. He had become a billionaire at the age of twenty five.‎ Fortunately for Tom, Mr. Barnum added more little people to his show, and Tom became lucky in love as well. One of the little people was Lavinia Warren, a schoolteacher. Tom was able to win her love, and they married.‎ The ceremony and reception were the talk of the town. They were attended by many rich and famous people and by about 2000 guests. Crowds filled the streets of New York to have a look at their tiny wedding marriage. The couple even met with President Abraham Lincoln on their honeymoon just before going to live in Tom’s house in Connecticut.‎ Their wedding, which took place during the Civil War, provided a welcome escape from the sad problems of war. Not willing to let this bit of sunshine fade, communities throughout the country sponsored(发起) “Tom Thumb” weddings. In these weddings, small boys and girls, all dressed up, went through marriage ceremony for fun.‎ ‎39．“Talk of the town” means 　　　.‎ A. it was in the newspaper B. people spread bad rumors about it C. it was the most popular happenings D. it was discussed in a city meeting ‎40．What does the author think about Tom’s wedding?‎ A. It helped people cheer up in a dark time.‎ B. People gave it too much of their attention.‎ C. It was funny and ridiculous.‎ D. Tom and Lavinia were stupid.‎ ‎41．Tom would dance on a wooden plate held by a person who was eight feet tall because 　　　.‎ A. the wooden plate would make it sound as if Tom was dancing B. it made Tom look taller C. the eight–foot–tall man was the only tall person Tom trusted D. the difference between them would make Tom look even smaller ‎42．What is the main idea of the last paragraph?‎ A. Weddings always make people feel full of sunshine.‎ B. People are always disappointed during war time.‎ C. Entertainment can serve an important purpose.‎ D. People should be married when they are small children.‎ 答案 CADC Passage 11‎ Jeanne Calment, a French woman, became a record breaker on 17 October of 1995, when at the age of 120 years and 238 days, she became the longest-lived human being on record. A Japanese man died in 1986 at the age of 120 years and 237 days. ‎ Jeanne Calment lives in a small old people's home in the south of France; her husband, her only child and her grandson have all died. She is nearly blind and deaf and is always in a wheelchair, but her doctor describes her as being more like a 90-year-old in good health than someone of 120. She still has a lively sense of humor. When asked on her 120th birthday what she expected of the future, she replied: A very short one. She also remarked that she thought the good Lord had forgotten all about her. ‎ So what is the key to a long life? According to some doctors, diet, exercise and no smoking are the three important factors. Jeanne Calment has followed two of the tips（窍门）. She has always eaten a healthy diet, and she used to do exercises every day until she broke her leg at the age of 115. However, until recently she drank two glassed of strong red wine a day, and she does smoke（now only a little）. Besides, Jeanne Calment might have got very good genes（基因）from her parents. Her father lived to the age of 94 and her mother to 86. ‎ A local lawyer bought her house when she was 80 under an agreement that he would pay her some money every year until her death. It must have seemed a good move at the time, but so far the lawyer has paid her at least three times the value of the house. Every year on her birthday Jeanne Calment sends him a card saying:‎ Sorry, I'm still alive!‎ ‎43. How does Jeanne Calment feel about her old age?‎ A. She is miserable and unhappy. B. She is cheerful and humorous. ‎ C. She would like to live much longer. D. She feels she is going to die very soon. ‎ ‎44. Jeanne Calment owes her good health and long life to _______. ‎ A. smoking only a little every day B. her giving up smoking and drinking C. drinking two glasses of strong red wine every day D. the good genes from her parents, a healthy diet and some exercises ‎45. Which of the following could best replace the word "move" in the fourth paragraph?‎ A. deal B. trick C. march D. sport ‎46. Why does Jeanne Calment say "Sorry, I'm still alive" to the local lawyer every year on her birthday?‎ A. Because she had an agreement at 80 with the lawyer which was to her advantage. ‎ B. Because she has asked the lawyer to pay her more rent than they first agreed. ‎ C. Because the lawyer has paid her much more money than the value of the house. ‎ D. Because the house she sold to the lawyer isn't worth the money he has already paid. ‎ 答案 BDAC Passage 12‎ ‎ “A good book for children should simply be a good book in its own right,” says Mollie Hunter. Born and brought up near Edinburgh, Mollie has devoted her talents to writing primarily for young people. She firmly believes that there is always and should always be a wider audience for any good book whatever its main market is. In Mollie's opinion it is necessary to make full use of language and she enjoys telling a story, which is what every writer should be doing. “If you aren't telling a story, you're a very dead writer indeed,” she says. With the chief function of a writer being to entertain, Mollie is indeed an entertainer. “I have this great love of not only the meaning of language but of the music of language,” she says. “This love goes back to early childhood. I've told stories all my life. I had a school teacher who used to ask us what we would like to be when we grew up and, because my family always had dogs, and I was very good at handling them, I said I wanted to work with dogs, and the teacher always said ‘Nonsense, Mollie, dear, you’ll be a writer.’ So finally I thought that this woman must have something, since she was a good teacher and I decided when I was nine that I would be a writer.”‎ This childhood intention is described in her novel, A Sound of Chariots, which although written in the third person is clearly autobiographical and gives a picture both of Mollie's ambition and her struggle towards its achievement. Thoughts of her childhood inevitably（不可避免地）brought thoughts of the time when her home was still a village with buttercup meadows and strawberry fields—sadly now covered with modern houses.“I was once taken back to see it and I felt that somebody had lain dirty hands all over my childhood. I'll never go back,”she said. “Never.”“When I set one of my books in Scotland,” she said, “I can recall my romantic（浪漫的）feelings as a child playing in those fields, or watching the village blacksmith at work. And that's important, because children now know so much so early that romance can't exist for them, as it did for us.”‎ ‎47. What does Mollie Hunter feel about the nature of a good book?‎ A. It should not aim at a narrow audience.‎ B. It should not be attractive to young readers.‎ C. It should be based on original ideas.‎ D. It should not include too much conversation.‎ ‎48. In Mollie Hunter's opinion, which of the following is one sign of a poor writer?‎ A. Being poor in life experience. B. Being short of writing skills.‎ C. The weakness of description. D. The absence of a story.‎ ‎49. What do we learn about Mollie Hunter as a young child?‎ A. She didn't expect to become a writer. B. She didn't enjoy writing stories.‎ C. She didn't have any particular ambitions. D. She didn't respect her teacher's views.‎ ‎50. What's the writer's purpose in this text?‎ A. To describe Mollie Hunter's most successful books.‎ B. To share her enjoyment of Mollie Hunter's books.‎ C. To introduce Mollie Hunter's work to a wider audience.‎ D. To provide information for Mollie Hunter's existing readers.‎ 答案 ADAC Passage 13‎ LONDON, England（CNN）--- The youngest person to sail solo around the world returned home Thursday from his 30,000-mile, 282-day ocean journey.‎ Mike Perham, 17, sailed into Lizard Point in Cornwall, the southernmost point in Britain, at 9:‎47 a.m., his race team said.‎ ‎“It feels absolutely brilliant,” Mike told CNN by phone hours before crossing the finish line. “I'm really, really excited to be going across the line at last. It doesn't feel like long since I crossed it first.”‎ Mike set off on his round-the-world trip on November 18, 2008. He has been sailing his yacht, TotallyMoney.com, single-handedly, though a support team has been sailing next to him along the way.‎ The teen has now achieved the title of Youngest Sailor to Circumnavigate the Globe Solo, according to the Guinness World Records.‎ Mike learned how to sail when he was seven years old from his father, Peter and at age 14, he sailed across the Atlantic alone.‎ The teenager's school --- which Mike describes as “highly supportive” of his trip --- has redesigned his coursework to fit in with his trip. It also gave him some coursework to do during “quiet moments,” according to Mike's Web site.‎ There haven't been many of those quiet moments. Repeated autopilot failures forced him to stop for repairs in Portugal, the Canary Islands, South Africa, and twice in Australia, according to his Web site.‎ Bad weather in the Southern Ocean --- between Australia and Antarctica --- forced Mike to battle ‎50ft waves and ‎57 mph winds. He said at one point, a “freak wave” picked up the boat and turned it on its side.‎ ‎“My feet were on the ceiling at the time,” he told CNN. “That was a really hairy moment, and I was certainly thinking, ‘Why am I here?’ But we took the sails off and the day after I thought, ‘This is brilliant!’”‎ Mike describes his father as his biggest hero, always supportive of what he wanted to achieve. Peter Perham said he wasn't too worried about his son facing dangerous situations at sea, as long as he knew what to do and stayed safe.‎ ‎51. Mike Perham returned to Britain in ________.‎ A. August B. September C. October D. November ‎52. Mike Perham is ________ that went on the round-the-world trip in the world up till now.‎ A. the first B. the bravest C. the luckiest D. the youngest ‎53. We can infer from the passage that ________.‎ A. the English school is the same as ours B. the English school doesn’t care for students C. the English school has a humane management D. the English school gives students a lot of course work ‎54. According to the passage, Mike did anything EXCEPT ________ on his trip.‎ A. regret B. worry C. abandon D. fear ‎55. The passage mainly tells us ________.‎ A. Mike’s exciting sail trip around the globe B. how Mike’s father taught him to sail a boat C. why CNN wanted to report the news to the public D. the introduction of the Guinness World Records 答案 51-55 ADCCA