【英语】2020届二轮复习阅读理解猜测词义题模拟训练学案

【英语】2020届二轮复习阅读理解猜测词义题模拟训练学案

‎2020届二轮复习阅读理解 猜测词义题模拟训练学案 基础闯关题组 Passage 1‎ In a research on the effect of the transport sector(运输领域)on climate, it proves that road traffic contributes the most to global warming. The aviation(航空)sector has the second largest warming effect while shipping has a cooling effect on the Earth’s climate.‎ The study concludes that since pre-industrial times,15% of CO2 emissions(排放量)made by humans have come from the transport sector. The study implies that more attention needs to be paid to the fast-growing road sector. Looking only at CO2 emissions, road traffic alone has led to two-thirds of the warming caused by total transport emissions. The reason why road transport tops the list is mainly due to the large number of vehicles on the roads and the smaller cooling effect from their emissions. The researchers said that the road emissions of today will make up three quarters of the warming caused by transport over the next hundred years.‎ Following road transport, aviation is the second largest transport contributor to global warming. However, the historical contribution from aviation emissions to global warming is more than doubled the contribution from road emissions. In fact, over the next 100 years, today’s road emissions will have a climate effect that is four times higher than the climate effect from today’s aviation emissions.‎ For shipping, the picture is more complicated. Until now, shipping has had a cooling effect on climate. This is because shipping produces a large amount of SO2,which has a cooling effect. However, although the gas, until now, has given the shipping industry a cooling effect, this effect will disappear after a while, as the gas doesn’t last long in the atmosphere. The long-lived CO2 will dominate(占优势), giving shipping a warming effect in the long run. ‎ In general, the transport sector’s contribution to global warming will be continuously high in the future.‎ ‎1. What can we learn about road traffic?‎ A. It has the second largest warming effect on climate.‎ B. It produces 15% of all CO2 into the air every year.‎ C. It created more CO2 emissions than aviation in history.‎ D. Its CO2 emissions will probably increase in future.‎ ‎2.Shipping has a cooling effect because　　　. ‎ A. shipping conditions have been improved B. the amount of ships at sea is small C.it produces a gas which has a cooling effect D. the gas it produces can absorb CO2‎ ‎3.The underlined phrase in Paragraph 4 probably means “　　　”. ‎ A. after a long time B.in a tiring race C. all the time D. during a long voyage ‎4.The passage mainly talks about　　　. ‎ A. the effect of CO2 on global climate B. the effect from traffic on global warming C. how to choose a green way to travel D. why transport produces so much CO2‎ Passage 2‎ Bringing up children is hard work, and you are often to blame for any bad behavior of your children. If so, Judith Rich Harris has good news for you. Parents, she argues, have no important long-term effect on the development of the personality of their children. Far more important are their playground friends and neighborhood. Ms Harris takes to hitting the assumption, which has dominated(支配) developmental psychology for almost half a century.‎ Ms Harris’s attack on the developmentalists’ “nature” argument looks likely to reinforce(加强)doubts that the profession was already having. If parents matter, why is it that two adopted children, brought up in the same home, are no more similar in personality than two adopted children brought up in separate homes? Or that a pair of identical twins, brought up in the same home, are no more alike than a pair of identical twins brought up in different homes.‎ Difficult as it is to track the precise effects of parental upbringing, it may be harder to measure the exact influence of the peer(同龄人)group in childhood and adolescence. Ms Harris points to how children from immigrant homes soon learn not to speak at school in the way their parents speak. But acquiring a language is surely a skill, rather than a characteristic of the sort developmental psychologists hunt for. Certainly it is different from growing up tense or relaxed, or from learning to be honest or hard-working or generous.Easy though it may be to prove that parents have little influence on those qualities, it will be hard to prove that peers have vastly more.‎ Moreover, mum and dad surely cannot be ditched completely. Young adults may, as Ms Harris argues, be keen to appear like their peers. But even in those early years, parents have the power to open doors: they may initially choose the peers with whom their young associate, and pick that influential neighborhood. Moreover, most people suspect that they come to resemble their parents more in middle age, and that people’s child bearing habits may be formed partly by what their parents did. So the balance of influences is probably complicated, as most parents already suspected without being able to demonstrate it scientifically. Even if it turns out that the genes they pass on and the friends their children play with matter as much as affection, discipline and good example, parents are not completely off the hook.‎ ‎1.According to Ms Harris,　　　. ‎ A. parents are to blame for any bad behavior of their children B. children’s personality is shaped mostly by their friends and neighbors C. nature rather than upbringing has a significant effect on children’s personality development D. parents will greatly affect the children’s life in the long run ‎2.The word “ditched” (Para.4)could best be replaced by　　　. ‎ A. proved B. emphasized C. compared D. ignored ‎3.The developmental psychologists think　　　. ‎ A. children are more influenced by their peers B. identical twins raised in the same home are different in personality C. twins raised in two separate families are different in personality D. upbringing has a less significant effect on children’s personality development ‎4.According to Paragraph 3,we know that　　　. ‎ A.it is easier for children to gain a language at home B.it is harder to follow the effects of parental upbringing C. immigrant children avoid speaking the same way as their parents at school D.it is proved that peers have a greater effect on children’s qualities ‎5. What does the author mean by saying “parents are not completely off the hook” at the end of the passage?‎ A. Parents should control the situation.‎ B. Parents should give their way to children.‎ C. Parents should spend more time on children.‎ D. Parents should take on their responsibility.‎ Passage 3‎ A single night of taking the drug Ecstasy(摇头丸)can cause serious brain damage and speed up the start of Parkinson’s disease, scientists say. Just two or three Ecstasy tablets can permanently destroy brain cells that affect movement and reasoning, according to American research that links the drug to Parkinson’s for the first time.‎ A study by a team at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland, involving squirrel monkeys and baboons(狒狒)found that both species suffered permanent damage to key cells, which are lost in Parkinson’s, after receiving three low doses(剂量)of Ecstasy at three-hour periods.‎ The study is particularly important because baboons are one of the best animal models for the human brain. George Ricaurte, who led the research, said that the widespread abuse of drug might have caused severe damage. “The most troubling result is that young adults using Ecstasy may be increasing their risk of developing Parkinsonism as they get older.”‎ Alan Leshner, a former director of the US National Institute on Drug Abuse, said, “This study emphasizes the multi-aspect damage that Ecstasy causes to users. We’ve long known that repeated use damages brain cells. But this study shows that even very occasional use ‎ can have long-lasting effects on many different brain systems. It sends an important message to young people: don’t experiment with your own brain.”‎ Janet Betts, a mother whose teenage daughter Leah died after a single Ecstasy tablet in 1995,said,“This comes as no surprise. But people can’t see the effects at first, and they say it won’t happen to them. We’ll see the symptoms later, just as we have with smoking.”‎ ‎1.The article is intended to　　　. ‎ A. explain the bad effects of drugs on people’s health B. warn young people of the risk of taking the drug Ecstasy C. persuade people out of such bad habits as smoking and using drugs D. tell us the links between the drug Ecstasy and Parkinson’s disease ‎2.We know from the passage that a low dose of Ecstasy　　　. ‎ A. won’t cause serious brain damage B. can permanently destroy one’s brain cells C. will result in immediate symptoms D. may bring on Parkinson’s at once ‎3. Why are squirrel monkeys and baboons involved in the experiments?‎ A. Because their brain is similar to human beings’.‎ B. Because these animals usually take drugs.‎ C. Because these animals will soon get well after the experiment.‎ D. Because there is a model in the animals’ brains.‎ ‎4.The underlined word “This” in the last paragraph probably means that　　　. ‎ A. Leah died after a single Ecstasy tablet in 1995‎ B. taking drug has the same symptoms as smoking C. occasional use of the drug can have long-lasting effects on the brain systems D. people have long known that repeated use of the drug damages brain cells Passage 4‎ It’s one of the strangest landscapes in the United States. Hundreds of grassy small hills form a strange and frightening field of bumps(隆起之处)extending as far as the eye can see. Located on the Mima Prairie in Washington State, the bumps are called Mima mounds.‎ Where did the strange bumps come from? How long have they existed? Why are they so uniformly(均匀地) distributed? These questions have been puzzling geologists for more than a century.‎ ‎“Mima mounds don’t exist only in Washington State. But I don’t know why they’re the biggest here,” said Bernard Hallet, a geologist at the University of Washington.‎ One of the popular theories was hatched by Andrew Berg of Spokane, a geologist with the U.S. Bureau of Mines. Berg’s theory came to him shortly after the Mount St. Helens volcanic eruption in 1980.While he was building a doghouse, he noticed that the shakes caused the ash to pile into small “hills” that looked a lot like Mima mounds.‎ From that observation, Berg guessed that shakes from violent earthquakes could have formed the Mima mounds. According to Berg, the soil on the Mima Prairie is like volcanic ash, and the layer of rock below that is like a piece of wood. When shock waves produced by an earthquake move through the hard ground and knock into large broken parts in the ground, the waves jump backward. When these waves meet with other waves from the quake, the soil rises and forms mounds.‎ Berg claims that Mima mounds occur only in areas where many earthquakes occur.The area where the Washington Mima mounds are found experienced a major earthquake about 1,000 years ago.‎ ‎1.What do we know about the Mima mounds?‎ A. The largest area of Mima mounds is in Washington State.‎ B. Mima mounds have experienced the volcanic eruption.‎ C. The fields of bumps are uniformly distributed in the country.‎ D. It’s one of the most beautiful landscapes in Washington State.‎ ‎2. What does the underlined word mean in Paragraph 4?‎ A. Borrowed. B. Taught. C. Formed. D. Understood.‎ ‎3.According to Berg, which of the following shows the correct order of how the Mima mounds were formed?‎ a. The waves knock into large broken parts in the ground and jump backward.‎ b. These shock waves meet with other waves from the quake. c. The shock waves go through the hard ground.‎ d. Violent earthquakes send out shock waves. e. The soil goes up and forms bumps in the field.‎ A. d-c-a-b-e B. d-a-c-b-e C. d-b-c-a-e D. d-a-b-c-e Passage 5‎ The Owl Count Annie slept in the front seat while her father drove through the darkness. “We’re almost there!” Dad announced cheerfully. “Soon we’ll be observing and counting owls at the state park.” Yawning, Annie nodded and smiled. The time was 4:30 a.m.. Looking out into the darkness, Annie remembered learning in school that most owls are active at night, when they hunt for food. During the day they sleep in hard-to-find spots.‎ ‎“Dad, why do you need to count owls?” she asked. “It’s important for scientists to have current information about bird populations,” he explained. “We want to know which birds have decreased in number and whether any new kinds of birds are coming into a certain area. You and I will write down the kinds of birds that we see today and keep a record of how many times we see each kind. Then we’ll send out a report to a scientific organization that is collecting information about birds from people all over the country.”‎ Dad pulled into the parking lot of the state park. Then, with flashlights in hand, they began their hike into the woods. Annie zipped up her coat and tried to keep from trembling. She had not expected the morning to be so frigid. Luckily her gloves were in her pocket.‎ Suddenly Annie’s father stopped and gestured for her to be still. Obeying, Annie did not take another step. She thought she heard a low cry up ahead. “That’s certainly a screech owl,” her father whispered. “Let’s get a look at it.” After looking more closely, Annie could see that it was a small owl. Sensing danger, the owl narrowed its eyes and pulled its feathers tightly against its body. Annie carefully wrote down in her notebook that they had seen a screech owl.‎ Walking a little farther, they came to a tall oak tree. “This looks like a perfect spot to attract owls,” Dad said. “I’m going to play a recording of a common call of the barred owl. Maybe we can get one to answer.” Annie could hardly believe her ears. The recorded call sounded as if the bird were asking, “Who cooks for you?” Moments later Annie thought she heard a return call in the distance. She held her breath and waited. Suddenly a huge bird landed very quietly on a branch directly above them.‎ Annie had long forgotten how cold it was. She stood in wonder, shining her flashlight on the bird and studying it carefully. The barred owl was nearly two feet tall. Gray feathers surrounded its dark eyes. The bird did not stay long, but it did not matter. Annie would never forget the image of the powerful barred owl.‎ ‎1. Why did Annie and her father go to the state park?‎ A. To take a hike in the woods.‎ B. To record the call of barred owls.‎ C. To collect information about birds.‎ D. To protect the environment for wildlife.‎ ‎2.The underlined word “frigid” in Paragraph 3 probably means　　　. ‎ A. dark B. clear C. cold D. nice ‎3. In Paragraph 4, why did Annie’s father stop her suddenly?‎ A. He noticed a screech owl.‎ B. He heard somebody crying.‎ C. He sensed they were in danger.‎ D. He reminded her to take down notes.‎ ‎4.How did Annie feel when she saw the barred owl?‎ A. Bored. B. Relaxed. C. Frightened. D. Amazed.‎ Passage 6‎ Does happiness have a scent?‎ When someone is happy, can you smell it? ‎ You can usually tell when someone is happy based on seeing them smile, hearing them laugh or perhaps from receiving a big hug. But can you also smell their happiness? Surprising new research suggests that happiness does indeed have a scent, and that the experience of happiness can be transmitted through smell, reports Phys.org.‎ For the study, 12 young men were shown videos, which meant to bring about a variety of emotions, while researchers gathered sweat samples from them. All of the men were healthy and none of them were drug users or smokers, and all were asked to abstain from drinking or eating smelly foods during the study period.  ‎ Those sweat samples were then given to 36 equally healthy young women to smell, while researchers monitored their reactions. Only women were selected to smell the samples, apparently because previous research has shown that women have a better sense of smell than men and are also more sensitive to emotional signals—though it’s unclear why only men were chosen to produce the scents. ‎ Researchers found that the behavior of the women after smelling the scents—particularly their facial expressions—indicated a relationship between the emotional states of the men who produced the sweat and the women who sniffed them. ‎ ‎“Human sweat produced when a person is happy brings about a state similar to happiness in somebody who breathes this smell,” said study co-author Gun Semin, a professor at Koc University in Turkey.‎ This is a fascinating finding because it not only means that happiness does have a scent, but that the scent is capable of transmitting the emotion to others. The study also found that other emotions, such as fear, seem to carry a scent too. This ensures previous research suggesting that some negative emotions have a smell, but it is the first time this has proved to be true of positive feelings.‎ Researchers have yet to isolate(分离)exactly what the chemical compound for the happiness smell is, but you might imagine what the potential applications for such a finding could be. Happiness perfumes, for instance, could be invented. Scent therapies(香味疗法)could also be developed to help people through depression or anxiety.‎ Perhaps the most surprising result of the study, however, is our broadened understanding of how emotions get communicated, and also how our own emotions are potentially managed through our social context and the emotional states of those around us.‎ ‎1. What is the main finding of the new research?‎ A. Men produce more sweats.‎ B. Negative emotions have a smell.‎ C. Pleasant feelings can be smelt out.‎ D. Women have a better sense of smell.‎ ‎2.The underlined part “abstain from” in Paragraph 3 probably means　　　. ‎ ‎ A. avoid B. practice C. continue D. try ‎3. What is the application value of the new research?‎ ‎ A. Perfumes could help people understand each other.‎ ‎ B. Some smells could be developed to better our mood.‎ ‎ C. Perfumes could be produced to cure physical diseases.‎ ‎ D. Some smells could be created to improve our appearance.‎ ‎4.We can learn from the last paragraph that　　　. ‎ ‎ A. happiness comes from a scent of sweat B. positive energy can deepen understanding ‎ C. people need more emotional communication D. social surroundings can influence our emotions Passage 7‎ Time Travel If you could travel in time, where would you go? Perhaps you would watch an original performance of a Shakespeare’s play in Elizabethan England. What about hanging out with Laozi in the Spring and Autumn Period? Or maybe you’d voyage far ahead of the present day to see what the future holds.‎ The possibility of time travel is indeed appealing. Stories exploring the subject have been around for hundreds of years. Perhaps the best known example is the science fiction novel The Time Machine, which was written by H.G. Wells and published in 1895 for the first time. It was adapted into at least two feature films of the same name, as well as two television versions, and a large number of comic book adaptations. It is generally credited with the popularization of the concept of time travel using a vehicle that allows an operator to travel purposefully and selectively. The term “time machine”, coined by Wells, is now universally used to refer to a vehicle transporting people into the far future.‎ But could time travel actually be possible? Some scientists say yes, in theory. They propose using cracks in time and space called “wormholes”, which could be used as shortcuts to other periods. Einstein’s theory of relativity allows time travel in extreme circumstances. And British physicist Stephen Hawking says you could travel into the future with a really fast spaceship—going at nearly the speed of light. Though building such a spaceship would of course be no simple task.‎ Even if you could travel into the past, there is something called the “grandfather paradox”. It asks what would happen if a time traveler were to go back in time and have his own grandfather killed for some reason, and therefore prevent himself from being born. If the time traveler wasn’t born, how would he travel back in time?‎ And would you really like to visit the future? In H. G. Wells’ book, the main character travels into distant time where he arrives at a beach and is attacked by giant crabs. He then voyages 30 million years into the future where the only living thing is a black object with tentacles(触角).‎ ‎ If that’s what’s in store, maybe we are better just living in the present day after all.‎ ‎1.The novel The Time Machine mentioned in Paragraph 2 aims to show　　　. ‎ A. people’s interest in time travel B. the special feature of the book C. the long history of time travel D. the contribution of H. G. Wells ‎2.Einstein’s and Hawking’s theories　　　. ‎ A. have similarities in many ways B. push the invention of the first spaceship C. have proved wrong by some time travelers D. suggest the possibility to invent the time machine ‎3.In Paragraph 4, “grandfather paradox” probably refers to the idea that　　　. ‎ A. the traveler is prevented from meeting his grandfather B. the traveler goes back in time to seek for his grandfather C. the grandfather’s death makes the traveler’s birth impossible D. the reunion of the traveler and his grandfather brings happiness ‎4. According to the passage, what is probably the author’s attitude towards time travel?‎ A. Unclear. B. Skeptical.‎ C. Supportive. D. Unconcerned.‎ Passage 8‎ Conventional wisdom is a major barrier to innovation that threatens the survival of companies everywhere. It’s based on the assumption that old ideas will always work, so they shouldn’t be challenged. While this may be a valid assumption in situations that don’t change, it’s unlikely to hold true in a changing situation. In today’s rapid changing global environment, old methods often don’t work, and stubbornly using them can lead to major problems.‎ Most people seem to agree with conventional wisdom because it gives one a false sense of security. If everyone else believes it, then it must be true. Individuals who use conventional wisdom are certain that they are right, and being right is good. They want to continue using old ideas rather than take risks with changes that might not work. In 1977, Ken Olsen, co-founder and CEO of Digital Equipment Corporation(DEC), stated “There is no reason for any individual to have a computer in his home.” Despite being a dominant leader in the computer industry, DEC no longer exists.‎ People seem to forget that since innovation is change, there can be no innovation without change. Unfortunately, conventional wisdom prevents leaders, followers and companies from changing and therefore innovating. If companies don’t innovate, but their competitors do, the future is likely to be problematic. Breaking from conventional wisdom has led to many of the most innovative companies and products in history across many industries, so it has a powerful effect on business success.‎ Ted Turner(founder of CNN)knew little, if anything, about the news business, but he knew it was inconvenient to watch news only at the dinner hour, as was common before CNN. Turner’s solution was to create a cable channel dedicated to news 24 hours a day. The news establishment reflected conventional wisdom at the time, and predicted his idea would fail because no one wanted to watch the news all day. However, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to understand that viewers don’t have to watch the news all day for the CNN to work. Viewers ‎ just have to watch when they want to get information. Due to conventional thinking, the critics failed to recognize the opportunity that was clear to Ted. They assumed that only what was familiar to them could work in the future. ‎ Conventional wisdom prevents creativity, flexibility and risk-taking, so unconventional leaders enthusiastically break away from it. To survive, thrive and maintain competitive advantage, companies must be flexible when reacting to change.‎ ‎1.DEC has disappeared probably because　　　. ‎ A. the consumers didn’t like its products B. the leaders lacked the sense of security C. the CEO stuck to the conventional ideas D. the employees took many risks with changes ‎2.The founding of CNN is used as an example to prove 　　　. ‎ A. missing opportunities could lead to failure B. changing could contribute to business success C. watching news at the dinner hour is convenient D. conventional wisdom influences business success ‎3. What does the underlined part probably mean?‎ A. Rocket scientists can ensure the CNN works properly.‎ B. Most of the viewers don’t like to watch the news at work.‎ C. It’s necessary to understand when people watch the news.‎ D. It’s easy to know people needn’t watch the news all the time.‎ ‎4.The passage is mainly written to tell us that 　　　. ‎ A. old methods are changing with time B. opportunities lead to business success C. conventional wisdom limits innovation D. successful companies need wise leaders Passage 9‎ On a dark night,11-year-old Joe was playing hide-and-seek with his friends in the backyard when he thought he saw Magellan—a huge house cat. However, when the cat suddenly jumped on his head, Joe found it turned out a young cougar. He backed away from the animal, then turned and ran inside the house.‎ Cougar encounters like this one are becoming increasingly common in the U.S.. Most people assume that’s because the population of cougars is growing, or because the big cats are coming into closer contact with the expanding web of human suburbs. But Professor Robert Wielgus at Washington State University argues that poorly designed hunting policies might be causing an increase in cougar-human conflicts.‎ Wielgus’s research teams have been fitting the big cats with radio collars and monitoring their movements. They find that the population of cougars is actually declining rapidly and that almost no male cougars are over four years of age. And a study shows that the heavily hunted area has five times as many cougar complaints as the lightly hunted area—even though the density of cougars is about the same in both areas.‎ Wielgus suspects that hunting policies, which allow older males to be killed to keep the population of cougars in check, were the culprit and teenage cougars in the heavily hunted area may be responsible for most of the trouble. To test his theory, he adds two more groups of cougars to the tracking program—one in a heavily hunted area and another in a comparable but lightly hunted area. He concludes that heavy hunting indeed almost wipes out older males and that the population structure in the heavily hunted area shifts toward younger animals.‎ With these findings, Wielgus believes without adults to keep them under control, the disorderly teens are more likely to come into conflict with humans, farm animals and pets.‎ Wielgus’s ideas don’t sit well with everyone. “Hunting definitely does cause lots of teenage males to flow in, but I don’t yet see solid proof that they are more likely to cause trouble than older cats,” says the University of Montana’s Robinson. “In many cases, the new arrivals have been squeezed out of remote wilderness habitat and forced into areas where they are more likely to encounter humans. I think humans are primarily responsible for all the interaction you see. We’re moving into these areas where cougars and deer are,” according to Alldredge, a researcher at the Colorado Division of Wildlife.‎ We may not understand what makes 18-year-old males more likely than 48-year-old men to do dangerous things, Wielgus says, but we know that the world would be a different place, if teenagers were in charge.‎ ‎1.The passage begins with a story to　　　　. ‎ A. lead into the topic B. describe an incident C. show the author’s attitude D. warn of the dangers of cougars ‎2.The underlined word “culprit” in Para.4 is closest in meaning to　　　　. ‎ A. effect　　　　　　　B. evidence C. target　　　　　　　D. cause ‎3.Which of the following is true?‎ A. Alldredge agrees hunting results in the arrival of lots of teens.‎ B. Robinson doubts age is a key factor in human-cougar conflicts.‎ C. Alldredge believes killing older males may cause a bigger threat.‎ D. Robinson holds humans are to blame for the fall of older males.‎ ‎4. What might Wielgus suggest to reduce cougar attacks?‎ A. Driving teenage cougars back into their natural habitat.‎ B. Getting people to move out of the areas where cougars are.‎ C. Forbidding children to play in the backyard by themselves.‎ D. Revising hunting policies to ensure a healthy cougar population.‎ Passage 10‎ Sit-and-Listen Game Games are a good form of teaching or training children as they combine fun with knowledge. They make the teaching or training activities more interesting. They are useful in all fields of teaching and training.‎ Help your children discover just how much more is going on in the world around them with this listening game. It will also provide a few minutes of peace and quiet in what is probably a very noisy and busy day.A discussion of the sounds you each hear will also assist in language development and an ability to articulate that which was heard. The sit-and-listen game is especially helpful if your child is at the stage of developing language skills: listening, speaking and so on.‎ Method: This is a very relaxing activity in which you both need to sit still and be silent for about 30 seconds and just listen to the world around you. You are both trying to hear as many different things as you can, whether they are cars, people, airplanes, water running, the wind in the trees or any other kinds of daily sounds.‎ After the given time is up, have a chat about what you both could hear. It is a good idea to ask your little ones some open ended questions to promote their language development, such as:‎ ‎“What were the loudest sounds you heard?”‎ ‎“What were the closest sounds you heard?”‎ ‎“How many cars did you hear?”‎ ‎“How far away do you think that barking dog might live?”‎ ‎“What sounds did you hear which you did not expect to hear?”‎ Note: As an extension activity, your child may draw a picture of all the things heard.‎ ‎1.The sit-and-listen game is intended to develop　　　　. ‎ A. your child’s curiosity B. your child’s imagination C. your child’s patience D. your child’s language ability ‎2.During the game, the child　　　　. ‎ A.is given more time than the parent B. tries to catch any sound that is going on C. can go and explore outdoors if necessary D. can ask the parent any question he/she has ‎3.After a discussion of the sounds, you can ask your child　　　　. ‎ A.to write a diary B.to dictate the new words learnt C.to draw a picture of the happenings D.to imitate the sounds he/she has heard ‎4.The underlined word “articulate” in the 2nd paragraph probably means　　　　. ‎ A. describe B. ignore C. write D. imagine Passage 11‎ For anyone still doubting the belief that our emotions influence our physical health, a new study from New Zealand should be able to settle the matter. It reports that the physical wounds of healthy seniors healed(愈合)more quickly if they wrote about their most upsetting experiences.‎ This confirms the results of a 2010 study, and extends those findings to cover older adults—a group that is likely to suffer wounds(as from surgery),and one with less access to other ways of lowering tension(such as exercise).‎ Reported in the journal Psychosomatic Medicine, a research team led by the University of Auckland’s Elizabeth Broadbent made a study featuring 50 healthy adults ranging in age from 64 to 97.They were asked to write for 20 minutes per day for three consecutive(连续的)days.‎ Half were asked to write about the most upsetting experience in their life, describing their deepest thoughts, feelings, and emotions about the events, ideally not previously shared with others.The others were asked to write about their daily activities without mentioning emotions, opinions or beliefs.‎ Two weeks after the third day of writing, all participants received a standard 4mm skin biopsy(皮下活体组织检查)on their inner arm. The very tiny wounds caused by the biopsy were photographed regularly over the following days to determine the rate at which they healed.‎ On the 11th day after the biopsy, the wounds completely healed on 76.2 percent of those who had done the expressive writing. That was true of only 42.1 percent of those who had written about everyday activities.‎ ‎“The biological and psychological mechanisms(机体)behind this effect remain unclear,” the researchers wrote, noting that those who had done the expressive writing did not report lower stress levels or fewer depressive symptoms than the others in the control group. Even if they weren’t consciously aware of feeling more relaxed or positive, the expressive writing appeared to have caused some sort of bodily reaction—probably involving their immune systems—that hastened their recovery.‎ ‎1.What was the difference between the two groups of participants in the study?‎ A. What they wrote. B. Where they wrote.‎ C. When they wrote. D. How often they wrote.‎ ‎2.According to the text, the experiment lasted　　　　. ‎ A. about three days B. about a month C. about two weeks D. about ten days ‎3.The underlined word “hastened” in the last paragraph is closest in meaning to　　　　. ‎ A. speeded B. showed C. limited D. ruined ‎4. What would be the best title of the text?‎ A. Sharing with others can reduce stress.‎ B. Skin biopsies are likely to cause wounds.‎ C. Expressive writing heals physical wounds.‎ D. Upsetting experiences influence our emotions.‎ Passage 12‎ Do we really know our best friends?‎ I like my close friends a lot, and yet, on an almost daily basis, they shocked me. I have a friend who thinks voting is a waste of time; I have another friend who never takes any arrangement to meet at a given time and place seriously.‎ It’s generally held that friends are people with whom we choose to develop relationships because we find their personalities agreeable, or similar to our own, and yet experience regularly contradicts this. What is a friend, really? All that one can safely say is that a friend is someone one likes and wishes to see again.‎ The truth is that we don’t know our friends. Numerous studies show that we tend to assume our friends agree with us more than they really do. The striking part is that the problem doesn’t appear to lessen as a friendship deepens. When the researchers Michael Gill and Bill Swann questioned students sharing rooms, they found that, as time passed, people became even more confident in the accuracy of their judgments about the other, and yet, in reality, the judgments grew no more accurate. Two people might become dear friends, yet remain ignorant about vast areas of each other’s inner lives.‎ This seems strange, until you consider, that many of the benefits that friendship provides don’t necessarily depend on perfect familiarity; they come from something closer to reliability. Friendship may be less about being drawn to someone’s personality than about finding someone willing to keep you company, or lend an ear. A friend provides the “social-identity support” we desire. You needn’t be a close match with someone, nor deeply familiar with their mind. And once a friendship has begun, you want to like it, if only to confirm that you made the right decision. We don’t want to know everything about our friends. We don’t base friendships on what we learn about people; we decide what to learn about people, and what to ignore, based on having decided to be friends.‎ Perhaps there’s something moving about viewing friendship as an agreement to keep each other company, ignore each other’s faults and not probe(刨根问底)too deeply in ways that might weaken the friendship. Perhaps a true friend is someone who doesn’t ask many awkward questions.‎ ‎1. Why does the author tell the stories of his friends in the first paragraph?‎ A. To provide background information. B. To introduce the topic of the passage.‎ C. To stress the importance of friendship. D. To show the difference between friends.‎ ‎2.The underlined word “they” in Paragraph 4 refers to　　　. ‎ A. friends B. judgments C. researchers　 D. benefits ‎3.It can be concluded from the passage that　　　. ‎ A. close friends usually know each other in depth B. real friends are people you like but don’t wish to see often C. we do not necessarily share personalities with close friends D. the longer we stay with friends, the more accurately we judge them ‎4. Which statement about friends will the author probably accept?‎ A. Stay friends but keep a distance.‎ B. It takes a long time to grow an old friend.‎ C. Real friends will tell you when your face is dirty.‎ D. True friends know all about you and still like you.‎ Passage 13‎ No one should be forced to wear a uniform under any circumstance. Uniforms are controlling the human spirit and totally unnecessary in a democratic(民主的)society. Uniforms tell the world that the person who wears one has no value as an individual but only lives to function as a part of the whole. The individual in a uniform loses all self-worth.‎ There are those who say that wearing a uniform gives a person a sense of identification with a larger, more important concept. What could be more important than the individual himself? If an organization is so weak that it must rely on cloth and buttons to inspire its members, that organization has no right to continue its existence.‎ Others say that the practice of making persons wear uniforms, say in school, gets rid of all envy and competition in a matter of dress, such that a poor person who cannot afford good-quality clothing is not to be looked down upon by a wealthy person who wears expensive clothing. Those persons ignore the concepts as freedom of choice, motivation, and individuality. If all persons were to wear the same clothing, why would anyone struggle to be better? It is only a short step from forcing everyone to drive the same car and have the same type of food. When this happens, all motivation to improve one’s life is removed. Why would parents bother to work hard so that their children could have a better life than they had when they know that their children are going to be forced to have exactly the same life as they had?‎ Uniforms also hurt the economy(经济).Right now, billions of dollars are spent on the fashion industry yearly. Thousands of people are employed in designing, creating, and marketing different types of clothing. If everyone were forced to wear uniforms, artistic personnel would be unnecessary. Salesmen would be extra as well. Why bother to sell the only items that are available? The wearing of uniforms would destroy the fashion industry which in turn would have a wave effect on such industries as advertising and sales promotion. Without advertising, newspapers, magazines, and television would not be able to remain in business. Our entire information and entertainment industries would collapse.‎ ‎1. Why does the author discuss forcing everyone to buy the same car or eat the same food?‎ A. To show that freedom of choice is absolute in modern society.‎ B. To suggest what would happen if uniforms became compulsory.‎ C. To predict the way the society will be in the next few generations.‎ D. To show that the government has too much control over people’s lives.‎ ‎2.The last word of the passage “collapse” probably means　　　. ‎ A. fail B. rise C. disappear D. struggle ‎3.The author’s primary purpose in writing this passage was to　　　. ‎ A. show that uniforms are not possible in a democratic society B. advise the government to change the rules of wearing uniforms C. advocate stronger governmental controls on the wearing of uniforms D. convince the reader that uniforms have more disadvantages than advantages Passage 14‎ I watch documentaries, not movies. I read history books, not fiction. I use every free moment to accomplish one of the tasks on my never-ending checklist, and I am completely filled with thoughts of productivity. An hour sleeping is an hour wasted. And like the rest of 21st century America, I like it. But this fixation on productivity is increasingly destroying characters and transforming men into robots.‎ New York Times columnist David Brooks warned American University students of this cultural decline in a speech. “We cut off all things spiritual and emotional in a competitive urge to stand out,” he said. “The pressure to succeed professionally, to acquire skills, to do the things you need to do to succeed in an information age economy really became the overwhelming(难以应付的)pressures, and it sort of eclipses the thinking about character and morality.”‎ Many students happily go to college, viewing it as a next step on their rise to professional achievements. Forcing as many success-building activities into their schedules as they can, they enjoy keeping busy with little sleep. “Today’s outstanding kids are likely to spend their afternoons and weekends shuttling from one skill-improving activity to the next,” Brooks wrote in an article, “We fear failure more than we desire success.”‎ A century ago, college was about character building. Today ,our characters are in decline. We are experts on economics, material things and professional skills. We fail to discuss and understand relationships, emotions and all things spiritual.‎ Philosopher Karl Popper divided the world into two categories: Clocks and Clouds. Clock problems are those that can be taken apart, examined and solved through deductive reasoning(演绎推理).Clouds cannot be taken apart. Cloud problems represent whole systems that need to be understood in a different way.‎ ‎“When we have a Cloud problem, we try to turn it into a Clock problem,” Brooks said. And in a reason-centered culture, adding titles to one’s resume becomes a trend. At American University,85 percent of seniors(and 89 percent of business majors)graduate with at least one practical experience which is often helpful to a student’s future career, but can sometimes draw focus away from academics.‎ To prevent the death of man’s character, Brooks urges us to rediscover our human natures through falling in love. And by love he means love for a task, job, or another person. “Synchronicity is the key to happiness,” he said. Rather than crazily increasing our long lists of accomplishments, we need to lose ourselves in what we do, and success will come on its own.‎ ‎1.From Paragraph 1,we can learn that people 　　　. ‎ A. are controlled by time B. are keen on reading books C. are changing their characters D. are eager to achieve more ‎2.In Paragraph 2,the underlined word “eclipses” means 　　　. ‎ A. deletes B. weakens C. worsens D. emphasizes ‎3.The last paragraph mainly tells us that 　　　. ‎ A. love is more important than focus B. the focus on human natures counts C. more work contributes to happiness D. success comes from devotion to work ‎4.The purpose of this passage is to 　　　. ‎ A. bring awareness to character building B. stress the importance of productivity C. warn us of the pressure to seek success D. criticize students’ desire for achievements Passage 15‎ As we enjoy the summer ocean waves along the beaches, we may think nervously about Steven Spielberg’s Jaws and the great fear that sharks inspire in us. Yet we are happy to see global efforts to protect the declining number of sharks. The world has realized that we need the species, like sharks, to keep a balanced ecosystem.‎ Sharks, in particular, are “in” these days. Thanks to good public policy and famous stars such as Jackie Chan and Ang Lee, killing sharks for fin soup is no longer cool.‎ The demand for shark fins has been rising for decades, threatening sharks with extinction(灭绝)—up to 100 million sharks are killed each year just for their fins. But we have started to reverse the trend, particularly in many areas of the United States and overseas where restaurants once proudly provided delicious shark fins on the menu.‎ In California, a ban on the sale and possession of shark fin soup has gone into effect this year through the efforts of Wild Aid and other organizations.‎ Overseas marketing and public efforts featuring posters on public transportation systems and TV ads have been underway for the past few years. These efforts all show signs of success, on both the supply side and the demand side of trade in shark fins.‎ Actually, stopping the killing of sharks is part of a broader movement to stop the killing of wild animals and the buying and selling of wildlife products. These products come from hunting elephants, tigers and rhinos, besides killing marine life.‎ Whether it is shark fin soup or ivory piano keys, killing animals is big business. The hunting of elephants in search of ivory tusks for luxury(奢侈的)goods has become a full-scale war. The decrease of African elephant populations is alarming. Together with international partners, the United States is leading the worldwide effort to reduce demand for high-end products that rely on killing animals.‎ ‎1.The underlined word “reverse” in Paragraph 3 probably means 　　　. ‎ A. show B. keep C. follow D. change ‎2.From the passage, we know　　　. ‎ A. Jackie Chan and Ang Lee make fin soup popular B. a lot of wild animals have been killed for products C. Steven Spielberg’s Jaws inspires us to protect sharks D. the number of African elephants has been increased ‎3. What can we infer from the passage?‎ A. More animals for high-end products will be saved.‎ B. People have kicked the habit of having shark fin soup.‎ C. Shark fins will not be available any more in restaurants.‎ D. Global efforts have succeeded in stopping killing wild animals.‎ Passage 16‎ Expensive and new gloves allow chatterboxes(话匣子)to take the term “handsfree” to a new level—by talking into them as they make a call. The gloves are known as “Talk to the Hand” and cost ￡1,000 a pair. They fixed a speaker unit into the thumb and a microphone into the little finger that can be connected to any mobile handset using Bluetooth.‎ Artist Sean Miles designed the new gloves that double as a phone in part of his project that shows the possibilities of gadget recycling. He uses outdated gloves and combines them with parts from mobile handsets recycled through O2,which commissioned(承担)the project. Mobile phone users will be able to keep their hands warm while they chat without taking their phones out of their pockets or handbags.‎ Mr Miles designed two pairs of the new gloves—one in pink and the other in brown and yellow. They will appear in an exhibition this July and visitors will be able to win the gloves. If demand is high, they will then be produced on a larger scale.O2 Recycle, which backed the project, estimates that there are already 70 million unused mobile handsets in the UK. The service pays up to ￡260 to those who recycle gadgets including phones, handheld consoles,MP3 players and digital cameras.‎ Designer Sean Miles hopes his work will get people thinking about recycling. The 41-year-old said, “I hope that my ‘Talk to the Hand’ project will get people to think again about the waste created by not recycling gadgets. If a few more people recycle their gadgets rather than send them to trash, I think this project will have fulfilled its aim.”‎ Bill Eyres, head of O2 Recycle, urges people to recycle their phone responsibly. He said, “There’s a pressing need for all of us to look at outdated handsets, and all the gadgets that we move on from or upgrade each year. Whether they are consoles or cameras, we should think of them as a resource that we need to recycle responsibly rather than throw them away.”‎ ‎1.The underlined word “O2” in Paragraph 2 is probably the name of　　　. ‎ A.an artist B. a company C. a mobile D.an exhibition ‎2.Consumers can buy the “Talk to the Hand” gloves　　　. ‎ A.in the exhibition B. from Mr Miles C. when they are produced on a large scale D. after they recycle the gadgets ‎3.The purpose of the project is to　　　. ‎ A. promote the technology of IT B. enable people to talk to their hands C. raise people’s awareness of recycling D. attract visitors’ attention in the exhibition ‎4. What is the passage mainly about?‎ A. New mobiles that are fashionable.‎ B. Outdated handsets that are upgraded.‎ C. Outdated gadgets that can be used for recycling.‎ D. New gloves that can be used for making phone calls.‎ 能力提升题组 Passage 1(2018北京东城第一学期期末,D)‎ It’s the holiday season, the time when we connect with family and friends. Social media sites like Twitter and Facebook are full of festive pictures, featuring parents’ catching and sharing those special family moments, their child’s wish list, and maybe even a cute video of their child dancing to “Jingle Bell Rock” while wearing a diaper(尿布) and a Santa hat. Swelling with pride, parents can’t wait to get approval with a“thumbs up”or better yet a personalized message on their treasured post.‎ Adults should be able to post what they want online. However, when exposing family moments online, are they sharing too much information? Do parents have the right to share those cute now, but embarrassing later moments about kids? Have children willingly given their agreement on sharing their cute but funny video online?‎ A recent study found that 75% of parents turn to social media for parenting-related information and social support. There is even a term used to describe the overuse of sharing too much information about kids on social media—“sharenting”.Research also finds that “sharenting” isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. What’s troublesome is that a typical parent has about 150 Facebook friends and only a third of them are actual friends. So, that brings up good questions—Who are we really sharing our information with and why? Who knows when and where that photo could resurface in the future?‎ While there’s no reliable information on how young children feel about things posted online, we do have information about how teens feel. According to a report by the Family Online Safety Institute, 76% of teens are concerned about their privacy. Many teens constantly ‎ search for new apps that allow anonymity. When names are required, they use screen names that don’t reveal real information. If our teens are doing a better job of protecting themselves online, shouldn’t parents take the lead and do the same? Plus, more and more college admissions representatives and potential employers surfing the internet for potential candidates, we’d hate for one of our posts to change an important decision. Thinking about it,online reputations are now becoming inseparable from real life ones.‎ Of course, we can secure our privacy, only allowing our friends to view pictures, posts and videos, but that doesn’t stop others from uploading our pictures. Adults need children.‎ So, this holiday season, enjoy family time and share those special memories with family and friends. Before clicking the app to upload photos or videos, stop and think twice.‎ ‎1.Which of the following behaviors is “sharenting”?‎ A.A girl attends a live performance online. B.A father tells his son’s story to his colleagues.‎ C.A mother posts her baby’s pictures on Facebook. D.A boy invites his friends to his birthday party at home.‎ ‎2. What does the underlined word “anonymity” in Paragraph 4 mean?‎ A. One’s real name.‎ B. Using strange names.‎ C. Unchangeable names.‎ D. Being unknown by name.‎ ‎3. What’s the attitude toward “sharenting”?‎ A. Sympathetic B. Negative C. Neutral D. Unconcerned ‎4. What is the main purpose of the passage?‎ A. To state an argument.‎ B. To support an opinion.‎ C. To compare different ideas.‎ D. To question a point of view.‎ Passage 2(2018北京海淀第一学期期末,C)‎ As the world’s population grows, farmers will need to produce more and more food. And large farms are increasingly using precision farming to increase yields (产量), reduce waste, and reduce the economic and security risks that inevitably accompany agricultural uncertainty.‎ Traditional farming relies on managing entire fields—making decisions related to planting, harvesting, irrigating, and applying pesticides and fertilizer(杀虫剂和肥料)—based on regional conditions and historical data. Precision farming, by contrast, combines sensors, robots, GPS, mapping tools and data-analytics software to customize the care that plants receive without increasing labor. Robot-‎ mounted sensors and camera-equipped drones (无人机) wirelessly send images and data on individual plants to a computer,which looks for signs of health and stress. Farmers receive the feedback in real time and then deliver water, pesticide or fertilizer in adjusted doses(剂量) to only the areas that need it. The technology can also help farmers decide when to plant and harvest crops.‎ As a result, precision farming can improve time management, reduce water and chemical use, and produce healthier crops and higher yields—all of which benefit farmers’ bottom lines and conserve resources while reducing chemical waste.‎ Many small businesses are developing new software, sensors, and other tools for precision farming, as are large companies such as Monsanto, John Deere, Bayer, Dow and DuPont. The U.S. Department of Agriculture, NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration all support precision farming, and many colleges now offer course work on the topic.‎ In a related development, seed producers are applying technology to improve plant characteristics. By following individual plants over time and analyzing which ones flourish in different conditions, companies can relate the plants’ response to their environments with their genomics (基因组学). That information, in turn, allows the companies to produce seed varieties that will grow well in specific soil and weather conditions. This advanced technology may also help to improve crop nutrition.‎ Farmers do not universally welcome precision agriculture for various reasons, such as high equipment costs and lack of access to the Internet. The technology may bring great challenges to experienced farmers who are not good at computers. And large systems will also be beyond the reach of small farming operations in developing nations. But less expensive, simpler systems could potentially be applied. For others, though, cost savings in the long run may reduce the financial concerns. And however reticent some farmers may be to adopt new technology, the next generation of farmers are likely to warm to the approach.‎ ‎1.Precision farming differs from traditional farming partly because it　　　. ‎ A. provides real-time information about target crops B. relies on regional conditions and historical data C. offers plenty of water, pesticides and fertilizer D. guarantees high yields with more labor ‎2.About precision farming, we can learn that　　　. ‎ A. the government holds a cautious attitude B.it draws positive responses from businesses C. seed producers have already made huge profits D. large systems will soon be built in developing nations ‎3.The underlined word “reticent” in the last paragraph probably means　　　. ‎ A. disappointed B. confused C. shocked D. unwilling ‎4. What is the best title for the passage?‎ A. Precision Farming Increase Crop Yields.‎ B. More Challenges Faced by Modern Farmers.‎ C. Development of Farming Systems in the US.‎ D. Traditional Farming is Gradually Disappearing.‎ Passage 3(2018北京海淀期中,C)‎ ‎　　A large body of research has been developed in recent years to explain many aspects of willpower. Most of the researchers exploring self-control do so with an obvious goal in mind: How can willpower be strengthened? If willpower is truly a limited resource, as the research suggests, what can be done to make it stay strong?‎ Avoiding temptation(诱惑) is an effective method for maintaining self-control, which is called the “out of sight, out of mind” principle. A recent study, for instance, found office workers are less attracted to candy in the desk drawer than that on top of their desks, in plain sight. ‎ The research suggesting that we possess a limited reservoir of self-control raises a troubling question. When we face too many temptations, are we to fail? Not necessarily. Researchers don’t believe that one’s willpower is ever completely exhausted. Rather, people appear to hold some willpower in reserve, saved for future demands. The right motivation allows us to tap into those reserves, allowing us to carry on even when our self-control strength has been run down. High motivation might help overcome weakened willpower—at least to a point. ‎ Willpower may also be made less vulnerable to being exhausted in the first place. Researchers who study self-control often describe it as being like a muscle that gets tired with heavy use. But there is another aspect of the muscle comparison, they say. While muscles become exhausted by exercise in the short term, they are strengthened by regular exercise in the long term. Similarly, regular practices of self-control may improve willpower.‎ The evidence from willpower-exhaustion studies also suggests that making a list of resolutions on New Year’s Eve is the worst possible approach. Being exhausted in one area can reduce willpower in other areas, so it makes more sense to focus on a single goal at a time. In other words, don’t try to quit smoking, adopt a healthy diet and start a new exercise plan at the same time. Taking goals one by one is a better approach. Once a good habit is in place, Baumeister says, you’ll no longer need to draw on your willpower to maintain the behavior. Eventually healthy habits will become routine, and won’t require making decisions at all.‎ Many questions about the nature of self-control remain to be answered by further research. Yet it seems likely that with clear goals, good self-monitoring and a little practice, you can train your willpower to stay strong in the face of temptation.‎ ‎1.From the studies in the passage we learn that 　　　. ‎ A. people have unlimited self-control B. high motivation ensures one’s success C. willpower is hardly completely exhausted D. too many temptations often lead to failure ‎2.The underlined phrase “tap into” in Paragraph 3 most probably means 　　　. ‎ A. make use of B. run out of C. build D. increase ‎3.The author compares self-control to muscles 　　　. ‎ A.to prove the long-term effects of willpower B.to show the significance of regular exercise C.to argue that self-control can be easily used up D.to explain the benefits of practicing self-control ‎4.To develop a good habit, which of the following does the author prefer?‎ A.“I will give up dessert and do exercise.” B.“I will set three goals this new semester.”‎ C.“I will keep myself from any temptation.” D.“I will read an English novel every month.”‎ Passage 4(2017北京东城一模, A)‎ Dear Madam,‎ Welcome back to school. My child is so happy to be in your class this year.We know you care so much about your students. I want to tell you a little bit about my child. Although he really loves to learn, he is somewhat anxious about being back to school again.‎ My child is thought to be gifted and that has brought some unexpected challenges to him and our family. To many people, being gifted means he will do very well in school, but that hasn’t always been true for him. He is just a kid thinking differently, and he sometimes struggles in school. Last year, school wasn’t easy for him for a few reasons.‎ He may be ahead by a few grade levels in some subjects, but not in all subjects. He just doesn’t do better in all areas all the time. And although he may seem older than his years, he doesn’t always behave like you would think he should. I’m sure you know how gifted children can be emotionally immature—that is exactly my kid.‎ Also, he can be really intense in class when you are teaching one of his favorite topics. He may raise his hand often and constantly talk about what he thinks about it. I’ll apologize in advance because he will also likely challenge you on information or facts which he feels are not quite right especially when it’s a topic he is hooked on. He is not being impolite and he isn’t just being a know-it-all, or a show-off; he is really just very excited to be learning about a subject he feels strongly about. He just gets carried away! ‎ Last year, he was teased about looking like a know-it-all in school by some of his classmates, which hurt him a lot. Being teased is part of his fear of going back to school. He fears being called a show-off at school and he feels like he doesn’t fit in. His teacher said he often kept to himself and chose to work alone. I know as a teacher, you are incredibly busy, but could you keep an eye out for anyone teasing him or if he seems to be keeping to himself too much?‎ Lastly, his therapist(理疗师)mentioned that because of the teasing and maybe because he was bored last year in school, he is showing signs of becoming an underachiever. Please let me know if his grades start slipping.‎ Thank you for taking the time to read and understand about my child. Don’t hesitate to call or email me if there are any problems with him at school. Believe me, we know very well how sensitive, emotional and intense he can be. I hope you have a wonderful school year!‎ Sincerely,‎ Mom of a Gifted Child ‎1.From the passage, we learn that the author’s son　　　. ‎ A. fails to get along well with classmates B. has fallen behind the other students C. has lost interest in learning D.is rude to the teachers ‎2.What does the underlined sentence in Paragraph 4 mean?‎ A. He has been taken away from school.‎ B. He is too excited to control himself.‎ C. He is so absorbed in observing.‎ D. He has been overpraised.‎ ‎3. How does the author feel about her child?‎ A. Annoyed. B. Proud. C. Pleased. D. Worried.‎ ‎4. Why does the author write the letter?‎ A. To ask the teacher to reduce children’s burden.‎ B. To call on the school to stop school teasing.‎ C. To suggest that his child has special needs.‎ D. To explain how gifted her child is.‎ Passage 5‎ Sports are the base of my life, next to my mother who raised me when my dad left us. I have been into sports since I was six years old.I have known many coaches and heard hundreds of their tips, but they usually focused on drills to develop my skills and reach the next level of play.‎ When I was in Senior 2,I met the new school basketball coach, Brian Pawloski. I thought I was certain to be selected for the school team since I had been in it the year before. I showed up to the tryouts and put out about 90% effort since I thought I’d make it with no problem. That was a big mistake.‎ Brian Pawloski is the hardest-working coach I have ever met. He didn’t expect 100% effort; he expected 200% effort. One example: he once made us do 40 suicide drills for the 40 lay-ups(单手上篮)we missed in a game. Some think this is crazy, but it isn’t. After this conditioning practice, as we were getting a cup of cold water to drink, I said, “Coach, that was the best practice I ever had.” I was completely sincere. This man was and is the person who influenced me most at my high school. He expected us to be excellent not just on the court but in the classroom. If I am not working on basketball, I am reading a book that he thinks will help us better understand life’s challenges, including Wooden, Coach, and The Screwtape Letters.‎ In the first two years I slacked off, not putting forth my full potential. Unlike the coaches of my youth, this man was interested in how we did off the court. He always made sure I kept up with my studies and was able to be trusted. I can honestly say that no other coach has given me so much advice on how to succeed in basketball, but more importantly, in life. My school is lucky to have such a great person to teach, coach and influence their students. I will always remember my high-school basketball days as one of the hardest times I have ever worked in my life not only in basketball but in my growth as an individual. ‎ ‎1.Different from other coaches, Coach Pawloski　　　. ‎ A. concentrated on skill training B. trained the team to the edge of death C. expected the team to do well in their studies D. asked the team to do more reading than training ‎2.The underlined phrase “slacked off” in the last paragraph probably means 　　　. ‎ A. paid no attention B. showed no interest C. had less passion D. made less effort ‎3.In the author’s eyes, Coach Pawloski is　　　. ‎ A. strict and helpful B. hard-working and honest C. skilled and cruel D. professional and serious Passage 6(2017北京海淀二模, C)‎ Why Do People Blink Their Eyes?‎ People blink(眨眼)their eyes tens of thousands of times every day. Scientists have long believed blinking was an involuntary movement and served mainly to keep the eyeballs wet. But a new study suggests it has a more important purpose.‎ An international team of scientists from the University of California at Berkeley studied the blinking of human eyelids. The journal Current Biology published their findings. The team said they found that blinking “repositions our eyeballs so we can stay focused” on what we are seeing. They said that when we blink our eyelids, the eyes roll back into their sockets—the bony area that surrounds and protects the eyes. However, the researchers found the eyes don’t always return to the same position. They said this causes the brain to tell the eye muscles to reorganize our eyesight.‎ Gerrit Maus is the lead writer of the report. He serves as an assistant professor of psychology at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore. Maus said, “Our eye muscles are quite sluggish(迟缓的)and imprecise, so the brain needs to constantly adapt its motor signals to make sure our eyes are pointing where they’re supposed to. Our findings suggested that the brain measures the difference in what we see before and after a blink, and commands the eye muscles to make the needed corrections.” The researchers said that without such corrections our surroundings would appear unclear and even jumpy. They said the movement acts “like a Steadicam(摄影稳定器)of the mind.”‎ The researchers said they asked volunteers to sit in a dark room while staring at a small dot on a flat surface. They used special cameras to follow the volunteer’s blinks and eye movements. After each blink, the dot was moved one centimeter to the right. The volunteers did not notice this, but the brain did. It followed the movement and directed the eye muscles to refocus on the dot. After the dot was moved in this way 30 times, the volunteers’ eyes changed their focus to the place where they predicted it would be.‎ Professor Maus said, “Even though participants did not consciously register that the dot had moved, their brains did, and adjusted with the corrective eye movements. These findings add to our understanding of how the brain constantly adapts to changes, commanding our eye muscles to correct for errors in our bodies’ own hardware.”‎ ‎1.According to the new study, blinking eyes can　　　. ‎ A. serve to keep the eyeballs wet B. reposition eyeballs to stay focused C. consciously correct eye movements D. make our eyes adapt to motor signals ‎2.From the experiment, we can learn that　　　. ‎ A. volunteers could see the moving dot with special cameras B. the eyeballs could stay in the place as they were predicted C. participants were aware of the dot’s movements to the right D. the brain commanded the eye muscles to refocus on the dot ‎3.The underlined word “register” in Paragraph 5 probably means　　　. ‎ A. realize B. refocus C. reserve D. reason ‎4.This passage shows that　　　. ‎ A. eye muscles are quite inactive and imprecise B. the research is of great value in the eye movement C. the brain plays an important role in seeing things clearly D. volunteers control their blinks to follow the changes of the dots Passage 7(2017北京海淀第一学期期中, C)‎ Old Fossils Scientists have found what they think is probably the oldest fossil on Earth, a remnant of life from 3.7 billion years ago when Earth’s skies were orange and its oceans were green.‎ In a newly melted part of Greenland, Australian scientists found the leftover structure from a community of microbes(微生物)that lived on an ancient sea floor. Based on their analysis of the fossils, the researchers determined that they are 220 million years older than those discovered in Western Australia, which were 3.48 billion years old.‎ The discovery shows life may have formed quicker and more easily than once thought, about half a billion years after Earth formed. And that may also give hope for life forming elsewhere, such as Mars, said study co-author Martin Van Kranendonk of the University of New South Wales and director of the Australian Center for Astrobiology. “It gives us an idea how our planet evolved and how life gained a foothold,” Van Kranendonk said. ‎ Scientists had thought it would take at least half a billion years for life to form after the molten Earth started to cool a bit, but this shows it could have happened quicker, he said. That’s because the newly found fossil is far too complex to have developed soon after the planet’s first life forms, he said.‎ In an outcrop of rocks that used to be covered with ice and snow which melted after an exceptionally warm spring, the Australian team found stromatolites(叠层), which are layered structures that are often produced by a community of microbes. The stromatolites were about 1 to 4 centimeters high.‎ ‎“It is like the house left behind made by the microbes,” Van Kranendonk said. “Scientists used the layers of ash from volcanoes and tiny zircon(锆石)with uranium and estimated that they date back to 3.7 billion years ago.” ‎ The dating seems about right, said Abigail Allwood, a NASA astrobiologist who found the previous oldest fossil, from 3.48 billion years ago, in Australia. But Allwood said she is not completely convinced that what Van Kranendonk’s team found once was alive.She said the evidence wasn’t conclusive enough that it was life and not a geologic quirk.“It would be nice to have more evidence, but in these rocks that’s a lot to ask,” Allwood said in an email.‎ ‎1.The underlined words “gained a foothold” in Paragraph 3 mean　　　. ‎ A. continued B. changed C. increased D. started ‎2.We can learn from Paragraph 4　　　. ‎ A. the fossil appeared soon after the birth of the earth B. the fossil formed soon after the earth’s first life C. life formed earlier than the newly found fossil D. life appeared about half a billion years ago ‎3. What is Abigail Allwood’s attitude towards the newly found fossil?‎ A. Neutral. B. Sceptical. C. Objective. D.Supportive.‎ ‎4.According to the passage,　　　. ‎ A. the previous fossils are a geologic quirk B. the previous fossils are made up of stromatolites C. the newly found fossils come from Western Australia D. the newly found fossils have a history of 3.7 billion years Passage 8(2017北京西城一模,D)‎ In June 2014, Huffington Post and Mail Online reported that three-year-old Victoria Wilcher, who had suffered facial scarring, had been kicked out of a KFC because she was frightening customers. Later, KFC announced that no evidence had been found to support the story. This phenomenon is largely a product of the increasing pressure in newsrooms that care more about traffic figures.‎ Brooke Binkowski, an editor, says that, during her career, she has seen a shift towards less editorial oversight in newsrooms.“Clickbait is king, so newsrooms will uncritically print something unreal. Not all newsrooms are like this, but a lot of them are.”‎ Asked what the driving factor was, a journalist said, “You’ve an editor breathing down your neck and you have to meet your targets. And there are some young journalists on the market who are inexperienced and who will not do those checks. So much news that is reported online happens online. There is no need to get out and knock on someone’s door. You just sit at your desk and do it.”‎ Another journalist says, “There is definitely pressure to churn out(粗制滥造)stories in order to get clicks, because they equal money. At my former employer in particular, the pressure was on due to the limited resources. That made the environment quite horrible to work in.”‎ In a February 2015 report for Digital Journalism, Craig Silverman wrote, “Today the bar for what is worth giving attention to seems to be much lower. Within minutes or hours, a badly sourced report can be changed into a story that is repeated by dozens of news websites, resulting in tens of thousands of shares. Once a certain critical mass is reached, repetition has a powerful effect on belief. The rumor(传闻)becomes true for readers simply by virtue of its ubiquity.” ‎ And, despite the direction that some newsrooms seem to be heading in, a critical eye is becoming more, not less important, according to the New York Times’ public editor, Margaret Sullivan. “Reporters and editors have to be more careful than ever before. It’s extremely important to question and to use every verification(验证)method available before publication.” Yet those working in newsrooms talk of doubtful stories being tolerated because, in the words of some senior editors, “a click is a click, regardless of the advantage of a story”. And, “if the story does turn out to be false, it’s simply a chance for another bite at the cherry.”‎ Verification and fact-checking are regularly falling victim to the pressure to bring in the numbers, and if the only result of being caught out is another chance to bring in the clicks, that looks unlikely to change.‎ ‎1.According to Brooke Binkowski, newsrooms produce false news because　　　. ‎ A. clicks matter a lot B. resources are limited C. budgets are inadequate D. journalists lack experience ‎2.What does the underlined sentence in Paragraph 5 probably mean?‎ A. Lies can’t sell without an atom of truth.‎ B. Rumors are like a flame blown by the wind.‎ C. You can hear rumors, but you can’t know them.‎ D.A lie, repeated often enough, will end up as truth.‎ ‎3. What’s the author’s attitude towards false news online?‎ A. Negative. B. Supportive. C. Sceptical. D. Neutral.‎ ‎4. What is the passage mainly about?‎ A. Consequences of false stories.‎ B. Causes of online false news.‎ C. Incompetence of journalists.‎ D.A craze to get clicks.‎ Passage 9(2017北京海淀第一学期期中, D)‎ When Taking an Uber—Should You Tip or Not?‎ Taking an Uber car may no longer be a direct driver-passenger and guilt-free experience.The ride-sharing experience is about to get awkward.‎ With the wide application of the Internet, Uber, a new approach to your destination instead of taking an ordinary taxi, has become more popular recently. However, benefits won’t come without its fair share of drawbacks.‎ Uber drivers are a part of the so-called sharing economy: They use their own vehicles, receive customer reviews via the app’s five-star rating system and make their own hours. Unlike other services, Uber claimed that drivers all over the country could clearly alert customers that tipping is not included. Those drivers that expect to be tipped can make their wishes known. But the company is holding to its official no-tip-required line, according to its website. “Once you arrive at your destination, your fare is automatically charged to your credit card on file—There’s no need to tip.” Although drivers value their independence—the freedom to push a button rather than punch a clock, lack of a clear policy, however, leaves Uber drivers in a vulnerable(脆弱的)position: If they ask a customer for a tip or put up a sign, that customer could give the driver a low star-rating, and the driver could finally be deactivated from the app.‎ But has the company done a good job working with customers? Some observers say that this new grey area for tipping will create awkwardness about whether they should tip or not—something most Uber customers have not had to deal with until now.Uber did not respond to customers’ comment, just leaving their rating in the air.‎ Providing an option to tip on an app sends a clear message to customers to reach into their pockets. Nearly 30% people would be more likely to leave a tip if they were presented with a “no tip” button, according to Guinn’s 2015 survey of roughly 500 people. When people are presented with three tip choices—20%,25% or 30%—they’re more likely to choose the middle option even if it’s more than the traditional 20%, according to a separate 2014 analysis of 13 million New York City taxi rides.‎ If the service is twice as expensive during a rain storm or public transport delay, the customer has the right not to tip. However, if the driver is extra helpful or avoids traffic to reach your destination in a more timely manner, you could give an extra tip, says Uber, who will leave tipping options in the hands of the consumer rather than the app.‎ ‎1.Compared with taxi drivers, Uber drivers　　　. ‎ A. enjoy more freedom and choices B. support the company’s practice C. clock up the miles while driving D. receive customers reviews directly ‎2.The underlined word “deactivated” in Paragraph 3 probably means　　　. ‎ A. removed B. degraded C. tracked D. charged ‎3.From the survey we can conclude most customers　　　. ‎ A. would probably tip if there is an option B. usually do as the “no tip” sign suggests C. tip because of Uber drivers’ good service D. are disappointed to reach into their pockets ‎4. What causes the awkwardness between Uber drivers and their customers?‎ A. Customers take advantage of the new grey area for tipping.‎ B. There is no specific policy from the Uber to follow.‎ C. It’s up to customers to decide the drivers’ earnings.‎ D. Customers tend to pay least among the three choices.‎ Passage 10(2017北京朝阳第一学期期中, D)‎ Why I’ve taken a break from holidays It is now close to four years since I last took a holiday. This is because I have come to the conclusion, over the course of my adult life, that I am not very good at it. You might think this sounds like saying you’re not very good at drinking tea or listening to music. What could possibly be difficult about the natural act of putting your working life on hold for a couple of weeks and going somewhere warm to do nothing?‎ I was a model holidaymaker as a kid. However, the problems started during my twenties. A trip to the south of France was ended after just two days, mainly because I had an urge to check mye-mails. Similarly, my honeymoon was cut short by 48 hours—not because my wife and I weren’t enjoying ourselves, but because we were missing our cats.‎ So what is my problem? On the surface, I’m probably a bit of a homebody. And I just find the pressure of being on holiday too severe: it always feels like having a gun held to my head and being forced to have fun. Somehow, packing a list of possessions and meeting a scheduled flight has none of the excitement of suddenly deciding to take a day off and driving somewhere for the fun of it.‎ Thankfully, I’m not alone. This summer, most of my friends have decided not to have a break. And a recent survey(调查)proved the downside of holidays, with the results showing that nearly two thirds of people found that the calming effects of a holiday wore off within 24 hours, as stress levels returned to normal. And this year The Idler magazine published its Book of Awful Holidays. Here you will find a list of the five most ecologically-damaging vacations it’s possible to take, along with 50 painful holiday experiences voted for on The Idler website.‎ What interests me is what the concept of a “holiday” says about our lives. For me, the point of living is to have a life you enjoy for 52 weeks a year. The more I like my life and the better I structure it, the less I want to go away. Maybe I’m an unusual person for not liking holidays, but I just feel the time when I’m not working is too valuable to waste on them.‎ ‎1.The events the author describes in the second paragraph show　　　. ‎ A. how hard he has tried to enjoy holidays B. how badly he behaves when he is on holiday C. his lack of enthusiasm for being on holiday D. his fear of something bad when he is on holiday ‎2. What does the author think of holidays?‎ A. They are often well organized in order to please other people.‎ B. He feels embarrassed when other people are having fun but he isn’t.‎ C. He tends to be made responsible for too much of the organization of them.‎ D. They are less enjoyable than breaks that have not been planned in advance.‎ ‎3.The underlined word “downside” in the fourth paragraph probably means　　　. ‎ A. absence B. damage C. disadvantage D. conflict ‎4.What is the author’s attitude towards “taking a holiday”?‎ A. Disapproving. B. Supportive.‎ C. Neutral. D. Unconcerned.‎ Passage 11‎ Two of the saddest words in the English language are “if only”. I live my life with the goal of never having to say those words, because they convey regret and disappointment.‎ My father is famous in our family for saying, “Take the extra minute to do it right.” I always try to live by the “extra minute” rule. When my children were young and likely to cause accidents, I always thought about what I could do to avoid an “if only” moment, whether it was something minor like moving a cup full of hot coffee away from the edge of a counter, or something that required a little more work such as taping padding(衬垫)onto the sharp corners of a glass coffee table.‎ I don’t only avoid those “if only” moments when it comes to safety. It’s equally important to avoid “if only” in our personal relationships. We all know people who lost a loved one and regretted that they had foregone an opportunity to say “I love you” or “I forgive you”. When my father announced he was going to the eye doctor across from my office on Good Friday, I told him that it was a holiday for my company and I wouldn’t be there. But then I thought about the fact that he’s 84 years old and I realized that I shouldn’t give up an opportunity to see him. I called him and told him I had decided to go to work on my day off after all.‎ I know there will still be occasions when I have to say “if only” about something, but my life is definitely better because of my policy of doing everything possible to avoid that eventuality. And even though it takes an extra minute to do something right, or it occasionally takes an hour or two in my busy schedule to make a personal connection, I know that I’m doing the right thing. I’m buying myself peace of mind and that’s the best kind of insurance for my emotional well-being.‎ ‎1. Which of the following is an example of the “extra minute” rule?‎ A. Start the car the moment everyone is seated.‎ B. Leave the room for a minute with the iron working.‎ C. Wait for an extra minute so that the steak tastes better.‎ D. Move an object out of the way before it trips someone.‎ ‎2.The author decided to go to her office on Good Friday to 　　　. ‎ A. keep her appointment with the eye doctor B. meet her father who was already an old man C. join in the holiday celebration of the company D. finish her work before the deadline approached ‎3.The underlined word “foregone” in Paragraph 3 is closest in meaning to 　　　. ‎ A. abandoned B. lacked C. avoided D. wasted ‎4. What is the best title for the passage?‎ A. The Emotional Well-being B. The Two Saddest Words C. The Most Useful Rule D. The Peace of Mind Passage 12‎ Even as Google plans to test its fleet(车队)of self-driving cars on public roads this summer, its business model remains a bit of a mystery. By 2025, as many as 250,000 self-driving vehicles could be sold each year globally, according to a study by an industry research firm.‎ ‎“Vehicles that can take anyone from A to B at the push of a button could transform mobility for millions of people,” said Chris Urmson, director of Google’s self-driving car project. For now, Google has no plans to sell any of its self-driving cars. They are strictly for research. But they will hit public roads this summer near Google’s headquarters in Mountain View, California. Previous testing has taken place only on closed courses.‎ The cars are built to operate without a steering wheel, accelerator(油门)or brake pedal. “Our software and sensors do all the work,” Urmson said. “The vehicles will be very basic—we want to learn from them and adapt them as quickly as possible—but they will take you where you want to go at the push of a button.” The prototypes(雏形)are the first of a 100-car fleet the tech giant is building.‎ In the long run, Urmson sees a future of safer roads—the majority of auto accidents are caused by human error—and fewer traffic jams.Robotic cars could also shuttle people who can’t drive because of age or illness.‎ Google has said that self-driving cars could launch new business models in which people buy the use of vehicles they don’t own.The company has already tested other types of self-driving cars on public streets, including modified Lexus sport-utility vehicles, under a special permit program by the California Department of Motor Vehicles that requires a human driver at the controls.‎ The state has issued six other companies with permits to operate such cars, including Delphi, Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen, Tesla, Bosch and Nissan. The vehicles that will be tested on open roads this summer will have removable steering wheels, accelerator and brake pedals to allow “safety drivers” to take control if needed.‎ Google says the cars are safe. “The vehicles have sensors that can detect objects out to a distance of more than two football fields in all directions, which is especially helpful on busy streets with lots of intersections,” Urmson said. “We’re looking forward to learning how the community understands and interacts with the vehicles, and to uncovering challenges that are unique to a fully self-driving vehicle.”‎ ‎1.The passage informs us that self-driving cars 　　　. ‎ A. will probably decrease traffic jams B. have already passed necessary tests C. have been purchased by some companies D. will be able to communicate with drivers ‎2.According to Chris Urmson, 　　　. ‎ A. software and sensors are vital for self-driving cars B. self-driving cars can give driving orders to humans C. self-driving cars are specially designed for the elderly D. ordinary vehicles will be replaced by self-driving cars ‎3.The underlined word “intersections” in the last paragraph probably means　　　. ‎ A. accidents B. buildings C. crossings D. vehicles ‎4.What is the best title for this passage?‎ A. Self-driving Car Avoids Human Errors B. Self-driving Car Meets New Challenges C. Google’s Self-driving Car Enjoys Global Popularity D. Google’s Self-driving Car Graduates to City Streets Passage 13‎ Music for Humans and Humpback Whales As researchers conclude in Science, the love of music is not only a universal feature of the human beings, but is deeply fixed in complex structures of the human brain, and is far more ancient than previously suspected.‎ In the articles that discuss the field of bio-musicology, the study of the biological basis for the creation and appreciation of music, researchers present various evidence to show that music-making is at once an original human “business”, and an art form with skillful performers throughout the animal kingdom.‎ The new reports stress that humans hold no copyright on sound wisdom, and that a number of non-human animals produce what can rightly be called music, rather than random sounds. Recent in-depth analyses of the songs sung by humpback whales show that, even when their organ would allow them to do otherwise, the animals converge on the same choices relating to sounds and beauty, and accept the same laws of song composition as those preferred by human musicians, and human ears, everywhere. ‎ For example, male humpback whales, who spend six months of each year doing little else but singing, use rhythms(节奏)similar to those found in human music and musical phrases of similar length— a few seconds. Whales are able to make sounds over a range of at least seven octaves(八度音阶), yet they tend to move on through a song in beautiful musical intervals, rather than moving forwards madly. They mix the sounds like drums and pure tones in a ratio(比例)which agrees with that heard in most of the western music. They also use a favorite technique of human singers, the so-called A-B-A form, in which a theme is stated, then developed, and then returned in a slightly revised form.‎ Perhaps most impressively, humpback songs contain tunes that rhyme. “This suggests that whales use rhyme in the same way we do: as a technique in poems to help them remember complex material,” the researchers write.‎ ‎1.The underlined phrase “converge on” in Paragraph 3 probably means　　　. ‎ A. tend towards B. refer to C. turn into D. put forward ‎2. Which of the following shows the advanced musical ability of humpback whales?‎ A. They can remember complex material. B. They can create pleasing patterns of music.‎ C. They can make sounds like drums continuously. D. They can sing along with rhythms of western music.‎ ‎3. What is the main idea of the article?‎ A. Animals are able to compose and enjoy music like humans.‎ B. Human beings borrow ideas in music from humpback whales.‎ C. Humpback whales are skillful performers in the animal kingdom.‎ D. Music-making is an ancient activity of both humans and animals.‎ ‎4.The main purpose of the passage is to　　　. ‎ A. argue and discuss B. inform and explain C. compare and advertise D. examine and assess Passage 14‎ Despite the anxiety that Jones’ Host—said by some to be the first digital novel—caused in 1993, publishers weren’t too concerned that e-books would replace printed books one day. However, that attitude was changed suddenly in 2007 when Amazon’s Kindle came on the market, which led to e-book sales jumping up to 1,260%.Since then, e-books’ popularity has continued to steadily rise. The publishing industry seemed to have lost all possible ability to regain its position. Will printed books eventually become a thing of the past? ‎ According to Mike Shatzkin, founder and CEO of the Idea Logical Company, printed books just for plain old reading will, in 10 years from now, be unusual. “Not so unusual that a kid will say, ‘Mommy, what’s that?’ but unusual enough that on the train you’ll see one or ‎ two people reading something printed, while everyone else is reading on a tablet computer.” And Shatzkin believes that the demise of print is sure to happen, though such a day won’t arrive in perhaps 50 to 100 or more years.‎ Robert Stein, founder of the Institute for the Future of the Book, however, believes that printed books won’t disappear entirely, at least not anytime soon. “Print will exist, but it will be in a different field and will appeal to a very limited audience, as poetry does today. Like woodblock printing, hand-processed film and folk weaving(编织), printed pages may be assumed to have an artistic value,” he says. He imagines that future forms of books might be developed not by conventional publishers but by the gaming industry. He also predicts that the distinctions between writers and readers will be made less obvious by a social reading experience in which authors and consumers can digitally interact with each other to discuss any passage, sentence or line.‎ Is there anything we risk sacrificing? Should print really disappear entirely? According to Maryanne Wolf, director of the Center for Reading and Language Research at Tufts University, electronic reading can negatively affect the way the brain responds to text, including reading comprehension, focus and the ability to maintain attention to details like the plot and order of events. “My worry is that we’ll have a short-circuited reading brain, excellent for gathering information but not necessarily for forming critical, analytical deep reading skills,” Wolf says.‎ The field, however, is in an early stage, and findings about the negative effects of e-reading are far from certain. In light of this, Wolf hopes that we continue to maintain a “bi-literate” society—one that values both the digital and printed word. A full reading brain circuit is a huge contribution to the intellectual development of our species. Anything that threatens that deserves our attention.‎ ‎1.How did publishers feel about the rising e-book sales inspired by the Kindle?‎ A. Worried. B. Excited. C. Curious. D. Skeptical.‎ ‎2.The underlined word “demise” in Paragraph 2 probably means 　　　. ‎ A. rise B. death C. growth D. decline ‎3.According to Robert Stein, paper books will exist because of 　　　. ‎ A. the artistic value B. the digital interaction C. the growing popularity D. the conventional design ‎4.It can be concluded from the last two paragraphs that Wolf holds that　　　. ‎ A. e-reading will weaken the power of our brain B. digital books and paper books should not coexist C. e-reading will make us more critical and thoughtful D. we should not risk losing a full reading brain circuit 答案精解精析 模拟预测题组训练 基础闯关题组 Passage 1‎ ‎[语篇解读]　本文为说明文。与航空、海路运输相比,陆路运输对全球变暖影响最大,并且这种影响在未来可能会继续升级。‎ ‎1.D　细节理解题。根据第一段可知,导致全球变暖最为严重的是陆路交通,第二是航天,而海上运输使地球变凉,而不是变暖,由此可排除A项;第二段第一句“研究结果表明:自工业化时代以前,人类所产生的二氧化碳中的15%都是由交通产生的。”这并不表明目前陆路交通每年产生全球15%的二氧化碳,故排除B项;从第三段第二句“然而,历史上航空业对全球变暖的影响是陆路交通影响的两倍多。”可知C项错误;从第二段后几句尤其是最后一句可知本题答案为D项。‎ ‎2.C　细节理解题。由第四段的第三句:This is because shipping produces a large amount of SO2,which has a cooling effect.(那是因为海路运输产生大量二氧化硫,而二氧化硫有降温效果)可知答案为C项。‎ ‎3.A　猜测词义题。由第四段的第四句:However,although the gas,until now,has given the shipping industry a cooling effect,this effect will disappear after a while,as the gas doesn’t last long in the atmosphere.(然而,到目前为止虽然这种气体使得海上运输给全球以降温效果,但是这种效果过一段时间就会消失,因为这种气体在大气中持续的时间不长)可知答案为A项。‎ ‎4.B　主旨大意题。本文主要介绍了海陆空运输对全球变暖的影响,故答案为B项。‎ Passage 2‎ ‎[语篇解读]　“子不教,父之过”,这一传统的观念受到人们的挑战与质疑。Harris女士研究发现,子女性格的养成,更多地受到他们周围的朋友和邻居的影响。‎ ‎1.B　细节理解题。第一段介绍了Harris女士的研究,她认为在孩子性格的培养中,父母的影响远不如他们的朋友和邻居的影响大。B项陈述内容与文章内容相吻合。‎ ‎2.D　猜测词义题。ditched所在句子是最后一段的主题句,后面接着说很多人到中年的时候就很像他们的父母了,人们在孩童时的习惯在一定程度上受父母行为的影响。从这些叙述看,ditched所在句子表示“父母也不是完全没有关系的”,因此ditched的含义和D项“忽视,忽略”接近。‎ ‎3.C　推理判断题。在第二段,Harris女士对发展心理学家的观点提出质疑:如果父母起作用,那么为什么同样是双胞胎的孩子,在同一个家庭长大的与在不同家庭长大的都性格迥异呢?由此推断,在不同家庭成长的双胞胎性格不一样,这是因为父母的影响在起作用,这是传统的发展心理学家的观点。‎ ‎4.C　细节理解题。第三段在阐述周围环境对孩子的性格影响更大的时候说,来自移民家庭的孩子在学校中很快就学会了与父母不同的说话方式。‎ ‎5.D　推理判断题。最后一段主要讲父母对子女性格养成的影响与作用,第一句说父母的作用不可忽略,最后一句说父母也不是完全没有责任。句中的hook表示“钩,鱼钩”。‎ Passage 3‎ ‎[语篇解读]　研究表明:一粒小小的摇头丸在使你迷幻的同时也对你的脑细胞造成了永久性的伤害。‎ ‎1.B　主旨大意题。根据第三段最后一句话、第四段最后一句话以及最后一段可以推断:作者的目的是提醒人们,尤其是年轻人要远离摇头丸。‎ ‎2.B　细节理解题。由第一段第二句Just two or three Ecstasy tablets can permanently destroy brain cells...及第二段中的...both species suffered permanent damage...after receiving three low doses of Ecstasy...可知B项正确。‎ ‎3.A　推理判断题。由第三段第一句中的because baboons are one of the best animal models for the human brain可知答案为A项。‎ ‎4.C　猜测词义题。由第四段中的even very occasional use can have long-lasting effects on many different brain systems 可知:This指摇头丸对大脑造成的永久性伤害。‎ Passage 4‎ ‎[语篇解读]　本文为说明文,介绍了美国一种特殊的地貌——隆起。‎ ‎1.A　细节理解题。由第一、三段可知,这种隆起的小丘主要分布在美国的华盛顿州。‎ ‎2.C　猜测词义题。由本句中的theories及下文的内容可判断出,此处表示提出了一种理论。‎ ‎3.A　细节理解题。通读第五段可知选A。‎ Passage 5‎ ‎[语篇解读]　本文为记叙文。作者讲述了Annie和父亲为了收集鸟类信息去国家公园数猫头鹰的经历。‎ ‎1.C　细节理解题。根据第二段父亲的解释“We want to know which birds have decreased in number and whether any new kinds of birds are coming into a certain area.You and I will write down the kinds of birds that we see today and keep a record of how many times we see each kind. Then we’ll send out a report to a scientific organization that is collecting information about birds from people all over the country.”可知本题选择C项。 ‎ ‎2.C　猜测词义题。根据frigid所在句子的前一句Annie zipped up her coat and tried to keep from trembling.和后一句 Luckily her gloves were in her pocket.可以猜测出她没有想到早晨会那么冷,但幸运的是,她带了手套,故选择C项。 ‎ ‎3.A　细节理解题。根据第四段的前四句Suddenly Annie’s father stopped and gestured for her to be still.Obeying, Annie did not take another step.She thought she heard a low cry up ahead.“That’s certainly a screech owl,” her father whispered.可知本题选择A项。 ‎ ‎4.D　推理判断题。根据最后一段的第一、二句Annie had long forgotten how cold it was.She stood in wonder, shining her flashlight on the bird and studying it carefully.以及最后一句Annie would never forget the image of the powerful barred owl.可以推断出Annie在看到the barred owl时感到很吃惊,故选择D项。‎ Passage 6‎ ‎[语篇解读]　本文为说明文。最新的研究表明快乐是有味道的,并且能够被人们闻到。‎ ‎1.C　主旨大意题。根据文章的标题Does happiness have a scent?和第一段When someone is happy, can you smell it?以及第二段的最后一句Surprising new research suggests that happiness does indeed have a scent, and that the experience of happiness can be transmitted through smell, reports Phys.org.可知本题选择C项。‎ ‎2.A　猜测词义题。abstain from所在的那句话的前半句提到所有人都是健康的并且不吸毒、不吸烟,因此可以判断出后半句中的喝酒和吃有难闻气味的东西也是不可以的,故选择A项。‎ ‎3.B　细节理解题。根据文章倒数第二段中的Happiness perfumes, for instance, could be invented. Scent therapies(香味疗法)could also be developed to help people through depression or anxiety.可知一些气味可以让我们的情绪变好,故选择B项。 ‎ ‎4.D　细节理解题。根据最后一段的后半句and also how our own emotions are potentially managed through our social context and the emotional states of those around us.可知本题选择D项。 ‎ Passage 7‎ ‎[语篇解读]　本文为议论文。作者介绍了“时间旅行”的可能性,并且提出了自己的看法。‎ ‎1.A　主旨大意题。根据第二段的第一句“The possibility of time travel is indeed appealing.”可知本题选择A项。‎ ‎2.D　细节理解题。根据第三段的第四、五句“Einstein’s theory of relativity allows time travel in extreme circumstances. And British physicist Stephen Hawking says you could travel into the future with a really fast spaceship—going at nearly the speed of light.”可知本题选择D项。 ‎ ‎3.C　猜测词义题。根据第四段的第二句“It asks what would happen if a time traveler were to go back in time and have his own grandfather killed for some reason, and therefore prevent himself from being born.”可知本题选择C项。 ‎ ‎4.B　推理判断题。根据文章的最后一段“If that’s what’s in store, maybe we are better just living in the present day after all.”可以判断出作者对time travel持怀疑态度,故选择B项。 ‎ Passage 8‎ ‎[语篇解读]　本文为议论文。作者论述了普遍看法会制约创新,如果不想被淘汰,就要学会改变。‎ ‎1.C　主旨大意题。文章第一段的最后一句话In today’s rapid changing global environment, old methods often don’t work, and stubbornly using them can lead to major problems.是文章的主旨,第二段中提到的DEC是针对主旨举的例子,因此选择C项。‎ ‎2.B　推理判断题。文章第三段的第一句话People seem to forget that since innovation is change, there can be no innovation without change.和最后一句Breaking from conventional wisdom has led to many of the most innovative companies and products in history across many industries, so it has a powerful effect on business success.是文章的主旨,而下面一段CNN的例子印证了这一点,故本题选择B项。 ‎ ‎3.D　猜测词义题。画线句子后面的句子阐述了一个事实,那就是电视观众只在需要获取信息时才会去看新闻,没必要全天都看新闻频道,这个事实很简单,大家都明白,因此选择D项。‎ ‎4.C　主旨大意题。根据文章最后一段的第一句Conventional wisdom prevents creativity, flexibility and risk-taking, so unconventional leaders enthusiastically break away from it.可知本题选择C项。‎ Passage 9‎ ‎[语篇解读]　本文为夹叙夹议文,通过讲11岁的Joe在后院和小伙伴玩捉迷藏遇见小美洲狮后,退回到屋里这件事,来引出话题,就近来美国人频繁遭遇小美洲狮一事的原因展开讨论。‎ ‎1.A　推理判断题。lead into the topic引入要讨论的话题。describe an incident描述一起事故。第一段中没有造成不良后果,不能称为事故。show the author’s attitude展示作者的态度。第一段没有作者的态度。warn of the dangers of cougars对美洲狮危险性的警告。第一段没有强调美洲狮的危险性。通读全文后,得知第一段是想用孩子们玩耍邂逅美洲狮来引出关于美洲狮的话题,故答案为A。‎ ‎2.D　猜测词义题。effect效果;evidence证据;target 目标;cause 原因。根据第四段中的第一句“Wielgus suspects that hunting policies, which allow older males to be killed to keep the population of cougars in check, were the culprit”和第五段中的“Wielgus believes without adults to keep them under control, the disorderly teens are more likely to come into conflict with humans, farm animals and pets.”可知,捕杀政策使得雄性老美洲狮数量减少,小美洲狮失去了老雄性美洲狮的约束,它们才会给人捣乱。所以,捕杀政策是原因。故答案为D。‎ ‎3.B　细节理解题。根据第六段中的“Hunting definitely does cause lots of teenage males to flow in, but I don’t yet see solid proof that they are more likely to cause trouble than older cats,”says the University of Montana’s Robinson.可知Robinson认为猎杀确实导致了小美洲狮来捣乱,但是他没有确凿的证据证明小美洲狮比老美洲狮更可能给人找麻烦。所以,他怀疑在人和美洲狮的冲突上美洲狮的年龄是主要因素。故答案为B。‎ ‎4.D　推理判断题。第三段讲了Wielgus的研究,他发现“the heavily hunted area has five times as many cougar complaints as the lightly hunted area—even though the density of cougars is about the same in both areas.”两个地方美洲狮的密度一样的话,捕杀厉害的地方抱怨小美洲狮捣乱抱怨得更多。文章结尾,他又指出“we know that the world would be a different place, if teenagers were in charge.”老美洲狮被杀光了,小美洲狮不被管束了,如果任由小美洲狮做主了,这世界就会变样的。从这两段可知,他认为捕杀政策使美洲狮老幼比例失衡,所以他会建议修订捕杀政策来保证合理的老幼美洲狮比例。故答案为D。‎ Passage 10‎ ‎[语篇解读]　本文为说明文,介绍了在孩子语言发展阶段sit-and-listen game的好处和做法。‎ ‎1.D　细节理解题。从第二段最后一句“The sit-and-listen game is especially helpful if your child is at the stage of developing language skills:listening, speaking and so on.”可知选D。‎ ‎2.B　细节理解题。从第三段第二句“You are both trying to hear as many different things as you can, whether they are cars, people, airplanes, water running, the wind in the trees or any other kinds of daily sounds.”可知选B。‎ ‎3.C　细节理解题。从文章结尾“As an extension activity, your child may draw a picture of all the things heard.”可知选C。‎ ‎4.A　猜测词义题。从第四段第一句“After the given time is up, have a chat about what you both could hear.”通过聊天的形式让孩子说说听到了什么,可知选A。‎ Passage 11‎ ‎[语篇解读]　本文为议论文,2010年的一项研究结果表明,把情绪通过某种方式发泄出去的人压力小,抑郁症状少,身体愈合得快。相反,把情绪憋在心里的人压力大,抑郁症状多,身体愈合得慢。‎ ‎1.A　细节理解题。从第四段可知,让一半被实验的人把他们最不安的事情写出来,把他们内心最深处的感情和想法写出来,另一半被实验的人只写出每日的活动,不提情感。故选A。‎ ‎2.B　推理判断题。第五段提到了“Two weeks after the third day of writing”,第六段提到了“On the 11th day after the biopsy”,14+11,故选B。‎ ‎3.A　猜测词义题。文章结尾说把自己内心的事和情感都写出来的被实验的人自己并没有感到更放松或更乐观,但是这种写作导致了他们身体免疫系统的变化,让他们机体康复得更快,故选A,加速。‎ ‎4.C　主旨大意题。文章第一段是全文的论点,从第一段结尾句“It reports that the physical wounds of healthy seniors healed(愈合) more quickly if they wrote about their most upsetting experiences.”可知选C。‎ Passage 12‎ ‎[语篇解读]　本文为议论文。作者围绕什么是真正的朋友这个问题展开,讨论了我们是否懂得朋友,怎样的朋友才是好朋友。‎ ‎1.B　推理判断题。作者列举两个朋友的例子引出其实我们不懂我们的朋友这个话题。‎ ‎2.D　猜测词义题。根据上下文猜测文中的they应为从朋友那儿的获益。‎ ‎3.C　推理判断题。根据第四段第三、四句可以推断出好朋友之间不必在性格和思想上完全相同,只要能够提供社会认同支持即可。‎ ‎4.A　推理判断题。根据第三段的最后一句以及作者对真正朋友的诠释可以推断好朋友应该是精神的依赖和扶持,但可以保持一定距离。‎ Passage 13‎ ‎[语篇解读]　本文为议论文。作者认为人们不应当被迫去穿制服,制服在人们的自我评价认定、社会进步和经济发展方面都带来限制和制约。‎ ‎1.B　推理判断题。根据第三段第四、五句推断出迫使穿制服如同使人们生活当中所有消费物品相同一样,人们让生活变得更好的动力就失去了。‎ ‎2.A　猜测词义题。根据本段的论据得知迫使穿制服会影响经济的发展,导致信息产业和娱乐产业破产倒闭。‎ ‎3.D　推理判断题。作者通过本文说服读者相信穿制服弊大于利。‎ Passage 14‎ ‎[语篇解读]　本篇文章为议论文,作者写此文章试图让读者认识塑造性格的重要性。‎ ‎1.D　细节理解题。根据文章第一段的第三句可知人们希望得到更多,故选择D项。‎ ‎2.B　猜测词义题。根据文章第一段的最后一句和第二段的第一、二句可以推测出本题应选择B项。‎ ‎3.D　主旨大意题。根据文章最后一段的最后一句可知本题选择D项。‎ ‎4.A　推理判断题。根据文章第一段的最后一句和最后一段的第一句可知本题选择A项。‎ Passage 15‎ ‎[语篇解读]　本文为说明文,呼吁人们重视保护野生动物。‎ ‎1.D　猜测词义题。第三段中写道:对鲨鱼鳍的需求几十年来一直持续上升,威胁鲨鱼的生存,……但是我们已经开始reverse这种潮流,由此可以得出reverse应该是“转变”的意思。因此选择D。‎ ‎2.B　推理判断题。由最后一段可知此题选择B。‎ ‎3.A　推理判断题。从第二段,第三段第二句,第四段,第五段,第六段,第七段最后一句可以推断出本题选择A。‎ Passage 16‎ ‎[语篇解读]　本文为说明文,介绍一款新型的可以用来打电话的手套。‎ ‎1.B　猜测词义题。从第二段该画线部分后面的定语从句which commissioned the project可以看出O2承担这个项目,因此推断出O2应该是一个公司。‎ ‎2.C　细节理解题。根据第三段可知现在这样的手套只会在展览会上展出,参加展览会的人可能赢得这样的手套,如果需求大,才会批量生产。因此消费者只有在手套大量生产时才能购买到。故选择C。‎ ‎3.C　推理判断题。第二、四、五段反复提到了回收的问题,因此可以推断出文章的目的是提高人们的回收意识。故此题选择C。‎ ‎4.D　主旨大意题。本篇文章从始至终都是在讲一款新型手套。故选择D。‎ 能力提升题组 Passage 1‎ ‎[语篇解读]　本文是一篇议论文。文章主要建议成年人在网上应当谨慎分享信息,尤其是孩子们的信息。‎ ‎1.C　细节理解题。从文章第三段中关于sharenting的定义可以看出,这个概念指的是overuse of sharing too much imformation about kids on social media,与C选项表述一致,故正确答案是C。‎ ‎2.D　猜测词义题。在文章第四段anonymity后,描述了青年人的行为they use screen names that don’t reveal real information,与D选项表述一致,故正确答案是D。‎ ‎3.B　观点态度题。从文章最后一段中的Before clicking the app to upload photos or videos, stop and think twice,可以看出作者希望家长上传照片前要三思,也就是说作者不支持这种行为,与B选项表述一致,故正确答案是B。‎ ‎4.A　主旨大意题。通过这篇文章可知,作者表达的是对于家长在社交媒体上上传孩子照片影响孩子隐私的行为的一种担忧的观点,故正确答案是A。‎ Passage 2‎ ‎[语篇解读]　本文是一篇说明文。文章主要介绍了精细农作给农业带来的好处。‎ ‎1.A　细节理解题。根据文章第二段中的Farmers receive the feedback in real time and then deliver water, pesticide or fertilizer in adjusted doses to only the areas that need it.可知,precision farming可以给农民提供关于作物的实时信息;故正确答案是A。‎ ‎2.B　推理判断题。根据文章第四段中的Many small businesses are developing new software...可知,很多公司无论大小,都因为precision farming的出现而得到了新的发展机会;故正确答案是B。‎ ‎3.D　猜测词义题。根据文章最后一段最后一句And however reticent some farmers may be to adopt new technology, the next generation of farmers are likely to warm to the approach.,however引导让步状语从句,前半句的reticent描述的是和下半句下一代农民相反的一拨人,下一代人会are likely to,那我们要选的就是这个短语的反义词,所以选unwilling;故正确答案是D。‎ ‎4.A　主旨大意题。文章的题目必然包含关键词,这篇文章反复出现的关键词是precision farming,且文中一直在介绍它给农业带来的好处,故正确答案是A。‎ Passage 3‎ ‎1.C　细节理解题。根据第三段中的Researchers don’t believe that one’s willpower is ever completely exhausted.可知选C。‎ ‎2.A　猜测词义题。根据上文的people appear to hold some willpower in reserve, saved for future demands可知“人们似乎在保留一些意志力,为将来的需求而储蓄”;又结合下文的allowing us to carry on even when our self-control strength has been run down可知选A。‎ ‎3.D　细节理解题。根据第四段中的Similarly, regular practices of self-control may improve willpower.可知,作者是为了解释练习自我控制的好处。‎ ‎4.D　推理判断题。根据第五段中的Being exhausted in one area can reduce willpower in other areas, so it makes more sense to focus on a single goal at a time.(在一个领域筋疲力尽会减少在其他领域的意志力,所以每次专注于一个目标是更有意义的)可知选D。‎ Passage 4‎ ‎[语篇解读]　本文为应用文。一位母亲给自己孩子的老师写信,信中与老师交流了孩子的一些问题,希望老师能够理解并予以关注。‎ ‎1.A　细节理解题。根据文章第五段的前两句Last year, he was teased about looking like a know-it-all in school by some of his classmates, which hurt him a lot.Being teased is part of his fear of going back to school.可知孩子与同班同学相处得不好,故选择A项。‎ ‎2.B　猜测词义题。在第四段中,妈妈一直在向老师解释,如果孩子在课堂上做出一些看似不礼貌的举动实则不是有意的,他只是太激动了,控制不住自己而已,因此本题选择B项。‎ ‎3.D　推理判断题。整封信件字里行间都透露出妈妈(作者)对孩子现在出现的一系列问题的担忧,因此选择D项。‎ ‎4.C　主旨大意题。文中有几处比较明显的句子说明妈妈(作者)希望老师对自己的孩子特殊照顾,如第五段的最后一句...could you keep an eye out for anyone teasing him or if he seems to be keeping to himself too much?和第六段的最后一句Please let me know if his grades start slipping.以及最后一段的第二句Don’t hesitate to call or email me if there are any problems with him at school.因此本题选择C项。‎ ‎[重点词汇]　be hooked on对……着迷　keep an eye out留意 ‎[长难句]　I’ll apologize in advance because he will also likely challenge you on information or facts which he feels are not quite right especially when it’s a topic he is hooked on.我要提前道歉,因为他也可能会在某些他认为不十分正确的信息或事实上挑战你,特别是当他对某个话题很感兴趣时。‎ 句中because引导原因状语从句,从句中facts后是which引导的定语从句。‎ Passage 5‎ ‎[语篇解读]　本篇文章为记叙文,讲述了作者的篮球教练对他的帮助和影响。‎ ‎1.C　细节理解题。根据文章第三段中He expected us to be excellent not just on the court but in the classroom.可知本题选择C项。‎ ‎2.D　猜测词义题。画线词组后面的not putting forth my full potential和slacked off意思相呼应,因此本题应选择D项。‎ ‎3.A　推理判断题。根据第三段的第二句可知教练很严格;根据最后一段的第四句可知教练给了我很多帮助。因此本题选择A项。‎ Passage 6‎ ‎[语篇解读]　本文为说明文。人们为什么要眨眼睛呢?新的研究发现了眨眼睛的重要意义。‎ ‎1.B　细节理解题。根据文章第二段的第三句The team said they found that blinking “repositions our eyeballs so we can stay focused”on what we are seeing.可知本题选择B项。‎ ‎2.D　细节理解题。根据文章第二段的最后一句They said this causes the brain to tell the eye muscles to reorganize our eyesight和第三段的Our findings suggested that the brain measures the difference in what we see before and after a blink, and commands the eye muscles to make the needed corrections.以及第四段的After each blink, the dot was moved one centimeter to the right.The volunteers did not notice this, but the brain did.It followed the movement and directed the eye muscles to refocus on the dot.可以看出本题选择D项。‎ ‎3.A　猜测词义题。文章第四段中的The volunteers did not notice this, but the brain did.和本段的Even though participants did not consciously register that the dot had moved, their brains did...描述一致,因此可判断下划线标注的词最有可能要表达的意思是“注意到,意识到”,故选择A项。‎ ‎4.C　主旨大意题。根据文章最后一段的最后一句These findings add to our understanding of how the brain constantly adapts to changes, commanding our eye muscles to correct for errors in our bodies’ own hardware.可知本题选择C项。‎ ‎[长难句]　Our findings suggested that the brain measures the difference in what we see before and after a blink, and commands the eye muscles to make the needed corrections.我们的发现表明大脑会对我们在眨眼之前和之后所看到的东西的不同点进行估量,然后大脑会对眼部肌肉发出指令去做一些必要的修正。‎ 句中suggested后的that引导了一个宾语从句,从句中in what we see before and after a blink是介宾短语充当状语,其中介词in后接what引导的宾语从句,后一个分句中的and连接measures和commands这两个并列成分,它们的主语都是the brain。‎ Passage 7‎ ‎[语篇解读]　本文为说明文。文章介绍了科学家发现了37亿年前的化石。‎ ‎1.D　猜测词义题。文章第三段始终围绕着地球和生命是如何形成的展开叙述,结合本段的主旨以及本段最后一句的It gives us an idea how our planet evolved可以猜测地球形成之后生命才会开始,因此“gained a foothold”意为“开始”。‎ ‎2.C　推理判断题。根据第四段最后一句的the newly found fossil is far too complex to have developed soon after the planet’s first life forms可知,生命形成要早于新发现的化石。‎ ‎3.B　推理判断题。根据文章最后一段的倒数第二句She said the evidence wasn’t conclusive enough that it was life and not a geologic quirk.可知,Abigail Allwood对于新发现的化石的态度是怀疑的。‎ ‎4.D　细节理解题。根据文章第一段的a remnant of life from 3.7 billion years ago和第二段第二句的the researchers determined that they are 220 million years older than those discovered in Western Australia, which were 3.48 billion years old.可知,新发现的化石有37亿年历史。‎ ‎[长难句]　Based on their analysis of the fossils, the researchers determined that they are 220 million years older than those discovered in Western Australia, which were 3.48 billion years old.研究者们以他们对化石的分析为依据,他们判断这些化石比在西澳大利亚发现的那些已有三十四亿八千万年历史的化石还要早两亿两千万年。‎ 这是一个复合句,句首的Based on...fossils是状语,based on意为“以……为依据”,主句的主语是the researchers,谓语动词determined后接that引导的宾语从句,从句中的discovered in Western Australia是those的定语,which...old是定语从句,也修饰限定those。‎ Passage 8‎ ‎[语篇解读]　本文为议论文。作者针对现在的假新闻泛滥现象表达了自己的态度并剖析了原因。‎ ‎1.A　细节理解题。根据文章第二段的Clickbait is king, so newsrooms will uncritically print something unreal.可知本题选择A项。‎ ‎2.D　猜测词义题。下划线前一句Once a certain critical mass is reached, repetition has a powerful effect on belief.其实与标下划线的句子的意思是一致的,谎言说多了也就变成了真的,因此本题选择D项。‎ ‎3.A　推理判断题。根据文章最后一段Verification and fact-checking are regularly falling victim to the pressure to bring in the numbers, and if the only result of being caught out is another chance to bring in the clicks, that looks unlikely to change.可以看出作者不支持编造假新闻的做法。‎ ‎4.B　主旨大意题。文章首先以一个新闻消息开篇,引出制造假新闻这一现象,全文一直在对为什么会出现这种现象进行分析,也就是说文章主要向读者剖析了网上经常出现假消息的原因,因此选择B项。‎ ‎[长难句]　Today the bar for what is worth giving attention to seems to be much lower.现在,什么是值得关注的这一道门槛似乎越来越低了。‎ 句中的主干是the bar seems to be much lower,for是介词,后接what引导的宾语从句,for...attention to是对the bar的修饰限定。‎ Passage 9‎ ‎[语篇解读]　本文为议论文,作者在文章中讨论了乘坐优步汽车需不需要给小费的问题。‎ ‎1.A　细节理解题。根据文章第三段的They use their own vehicles, receive customer reviews via the app’s five-star rating system and make their own hours.以及Although drivers value their independence—the freedom to push a button rather than punch a clock可知,和普通的司机相比,优步的司机有更多自由和选择,故选A项。‎ ‎2.A　猜测词义题。根据画线单词所在句的句意“如果他们要顾客付小费或张贴一个标牌,那个顾客可以给司机低等级的评价,这个司机最终会被从应用软件上移除。”可知选A。‎ ‎3.B　推理判断题。根据文章第五段的第二句Nearly 30% people would be more likely to leave a tip if they were presented with a “no tip” button...可知大部分顾客会按照“不用付小费”的标志去做,故选择B项。‎ ‎4.B　推理判断题。根据文章第四段的第二句...this new grey area for tipping will create awkwardness about whether they should tip or not—something most Uber customers have not had to deal with until now.可知导致优步司机和乘客尴尬的是优步没有明确的政策可以遵循,故选择B项。‎ ‎[长难句]　With the wide application of the Internet, Uber, a new approach to your destination instead of taking an ordinary taxi, has become more popular recently.随着互联网的广泛应用,优步,一种新型的到达你的目的地的代替叫普通出租车的(交通)方式,最近变得更流行了。‎ 句中的主语是Uber,谓语是has become(系动词),with结构作状语,a new approach to your destination instead of taking an ordinary taxi是同位语,解释说明Uber。‎ Passage 10‎ ‎[语篇解读]　本文为议论文。作者在文中详细地阐明了自己放弃度假的原因。‎ ‎1.D　推理判断题。在第二段中作者具体地描述了之前度假时不愉快的遭遇,都是因为某些事情草草收场,再加上下文提到作者选择了不再外出度假,可以看出作者提这两件事体现了他怕有不好的事情影响到他的假期,故选择D项。‎ ‎2.D　细节理解题。根据第三段的最后一句Somehow, packing a list of possessions and meeting a scheduled flight has none of the excitement of suddenly deciding to take a day off and driving somewhere for the fun of it.可知本题应该选择D项。‎ ‎3.C　猜测词义题。根据上文,我不去度假是因为我认为度假带给我的大部分都是不好的东西,我的很多朋友也和我一样选择了不去度假,而一个调查结果也证明了我们的选择是对的,因此可以猜测这里是说调查结果证实了度假的缺点,所以选择C项。‎ ‎4.A　推理判断题。文中作者一直在围绕着度假的坏处有哪些以及自己为什么不去度假展开论述,所以可以判断作者对度假是不赞成的,故选择A项。‎ ‎[重点词汇]　wear off 逐渐消失 ‎[长难句]　And a recent survey(调查)proved the downside of holidays, with the results showing that nearly two thirds of people found that the calming effects of a holiday wore off within 24 hours, as stress levels returned to normal.最近的一个调查证实了假期的负面影响是存在的,结果显示,近三分之二的人发现随着压力水平回归正常,假期所带来的令人平静的效果会在24小时之内逐渐消失。‎ 句子主体部分是And a recent survey(调查)proved the downside of holidays,with结构作句中的状语成分,with后接宾语the results,showing...normal是宾补,补充说明results。补语中showing后接that引导的宾语从句,从句又包含一个that引导的宾语从句,as引导状语从句。‎ Passage 11‎ ‎[语篇解读]　本文为记叙文。文章主要阐述了作者对“if only” 的理解及看法。‎ ‎1.D　细节理解题。根据第二段的最后一句“...moving a cup full of hot coffee away from the edge of a counter, or something that required a little more work such as taping padding(衬垫)onto the sharp corners of a glass coffee table.”可以看出D项中的例子与其一致,故选择D项。‎ ‎2.B　细节理解题。根据第三段的最后两句“But then I thought about the fact that he’s 84 years old and I realized that I shouldn’t give up an opportunity to see him.I called him and told him I had decided to go to work on my day off after all.”可知本题选择B项。‎ ‎3.A　猜测词义题。根据画线词所在句子中的people who lost a loved one and regretted...可以推断出foregone an opportunity to...的意思是“放弃一个去……的机会”,因此选择A项。‎ ‎4.B　主旨大意题。本文主要围绕“if only”展开话题,故选B项。‎ Passage 12‎ ‎[语篇解读]　本文为说明文。文章介绍了自动驾驶汽车的设计原理、安全性及其发展前景。‎ ‎1.A　细节理解题。根据文章第四段的第一句“...Urmson sees a future of safer roads—the majority of auto accidents are caused by human error—and fewer traffic jams.”可知本题选择A项。‎ ‎2.A　细节理解题。根据文章第三段的第二句“Our software and sensors do all the work...”可知本题选择A项。‎ ‎3.C　猜测词义题。根据前后文内容可知此处的意思是:对于有许多十字路口的繁忙街道有很大的帮助。因此选择C项。‎ ‎4.D　主旨大意题。通读全文可知,谷歌公司研制的自动驾驶汽车计划在今年夏天上路测试,之前的测试都是在封闭环境中进行的,全文围绕此话题展开,故D项正确。‎ Passage 13‎ ‎[语篇解读]　本文为说明文。文章以座头鲸为例说明了动物和人类一样具备音乐创作的能力。‎ ‎1.A　猜测词义题。联系前后文深入分析humpback whales 会发现:它们都倾向于发出那种悦耳动听、被大众喜爱的声音,根据句意可知应选择A项。‎ ‎2.B　细节理解题。根据文章第四段可知本题应选择B项。‎ ‎3.D　主旨大意题。根据文章第二段“...researchers present various evidence to show that music-making is at once an original human ‘business’, and an art form with skillful performers throughout the animal kingdom.”可知本题选择D项。 ‎ ‎4.B　主旨大意题。本文为说明文,通读文章,作者围绕话题一直在说明事实,因此选择B项。‎ Passage 14‎ ‎[语篇解读]　本文为议论文。文章主要讨论了电子书对纸质书的冲击。‎ ‎1.A　细节理解题。根据文章第一段的第一、二句“Despite the anxiety that Jones’ Host—said by some to be the first digital novel—caused in 1993, publishers weren’t too concerned that e-books would replace printed books one day.However, that attitude was changed suddenly in 2007 when Amazon’s Kindle came on the market, which led to e-book sales jumping up to 1,260%.”可知本题选择A项。 ‎ ‎2.B　猜测词义题。文章第一段和第二段主要在说电子书发展迅速,大有取代印刷书籍之势,围绕这一话题引出Shatzkin的看法——印刷书籍的消亡必将发生,因此选择B项。‎ ‎3.A　 细节理解题。根据文章第三段的“Print will exist, but it will be in a different field and will appeal to a very limited audience, as poetry does today.Like woodblock printing, hand-processed film and folk weaving(编织), printed pages may be assumed to have an artistic value...”可知本题选择A项。 ‎ ‎4.D　主旨大意题。根据倒数第二段的最后一句“My worry is that we’ll have a short-circuited reading brain...”和最后一段的倒数第二句“A full reading brain circuit is a huge contribution to the intellectual development of our species.”可知本题选择D项。‎