【英语】2019届二轮复习阅读理解专题说明文类型模拟试题10篇训练之四十二（18页word版）

【英语】2019届二轮复习阅读理解专题说明文类型模拟试题10篇训练之四十二（18页word版）

‎2019届二轮复习阅读理解专题说明文类型模拟试题10篇训练之四十二 ‎[一]‎ In the mid-2000s,Waze Mobile co-founder Ehud Shabtai received a cutting-edge (尖端的) gift from his girlfriend—a GPS. The expensive gift was supposed to be helpful. But straight out of the box, it was already out of date.‎ Shabtai, a coding enthusiast, had an immediate reaction to reinvent. Shabtai’s solution? To build an app. With 80 million monthly active users globally and nearly 400,000 superusers who function much like Wikipedia volunteer editors (editing maps rather than words),Waze Mobile caught the eye of Google as a revolutionary approach to navigation (导航).‎ Acquired by Google in 2013,Waze’s value mainly lies in its high rate of user involvement. Unlike traditional navigation apps that simply show directions, Waze asks its users to report accidents and other road conditions in real time, so other users can avoid the traffic by using an alternative route.‎ The goal behind Waze’s approach is an ambitious one—not to just avoid traffic, but to end it altogether. Waze is finding new ways to put its loyal and active user base to use to make that vision a reality, including a plan to make carpooling (拼车) cool.‎ To be sure,traffic jams are troubling people all over the world. Waze has been quietly ahead of the game for some time. In 2013,when Waze was just a small digital-mapping business with limited resources, it had something Google Maps and other competitors didn’t—richer GPS guidance thanks to its stream of live traffic reports from users.‎ These users were the basis of Shabtai’s plan to solve for his GPS device’s “silent” hardware—he grounded the app in software that could be perpetually updated by users, anywhere and anytime.‎ Waze Carpool is going straight to the heart of traffic jams, trying to get more drivers off the road and into carpools. The app has already connected tens of thousands of rideseekers with drivers willing to ferry them along a shared route, and that trend could be the answer to a traffic-free future.‎ ‎【语篇导读】文章主要介绍了一种由Ehud Shabtai改装的最新导航系统。‎ ‎1.What did Shabtai do when he found his girlfriend’s gift out of date?‎ A. He improved it.‎ B. He took it apart.‎ C. He put it away.‎ D. He used it anyway.‎ 答案　A解析　细节理解题。根据文章第二段中的“Shabtai,a coding enthusiast,had an immediate reaction to reinvent.”可知,他立刻对GPS进行了改进。‎ ‎2. What sets Waze Mobile apart from traditional navigation apps?‎ A. It has the most users.‎ B. It can indicate directions.‎ C. It reports road conditions in real time.‎ D. Most users help edit its words.‎ 答案　C解析　细节理解题。根据文章第三段中的“Unlike traditional navigation apps that simply show directions, Waze asks its users to report accidents and other road conditions in real time, so other users can avoid the traffic by using an alternative route.”可知,Waze Mobile 要求使用者随时报道路况,这是与其他传统导航不同的地方。‎ ‎3. What does the underlined word “perpetually” in Paragraph 6 probably mean?‎ A. Difficultly. B. Carefully.‎ C. Greatly. D. Constantly.‎ 答案　D 解析　词义猜测题。根据文章第六段中的“he grounded the app in software that could be perpetually updated by users,anywhere and anytime.”可知,用户们可以随时随地更新软件,所以可以猜出perpetually意为“不断地”。‎ ‎4. What is mainly talked about in the text?‎ A. The rise of carpooling.‎ B. An advanced navigation app.‎ C. The development of Google.‎ D. Traffic problems in the world.‎ 答案　B解析　主旨大意题。通读整篇文章可知,文章主要介绍了一种先进的导航程序。‎ ‎[二]‎ If you are a fruit grower—or would like to become one—take advantage of Apple Day to see what’s around. It’s called Apple Day but in practice it’s more like Apple Month. The day itself is on October 21,but since it has caught on, events now spread out over most of October around Britain.‎ Visiting an apple event is a good chance to see, and often taste, a wide variety of apples. To people who are used to the limited choice of apples such as Golden Delicious and Royal Gala in supermarkets, it can be quite an eye opener to see the range of classical apples still in existence, such as Decio which was grown by the Romans. Although it doesn’t taste of anything special, it’s still worth a try, as is the ‎ knobbly(多疙瘩的) Cat’s Head which is more of a curiosity than anything else.‎ There are also varieties developed to suit specific local conditions. One of the very best varieties for eating quality is Orleans Reinette, but you’ll need a warm, sheltered place with perfect soil to grow it, so it’s a pipe dream for most apple lovers who fall for it. ‎ At the events, you can meet expert growers and discuss which ones will best suit your conditions, and because these are family affairs, children are well catered for with apple-themed fun and games.‎ Apple Days are being held at all sorts of places with an interest in fruit, including stately gardens and commercial orchards(果园).If you want to have a real orchard experience, try visiting the National Fruit Collection at Brogdale, near Faversham in Kent.‎ ‎【语篇导读】文章介绍了苹果节举办的时间、项目及地点。重点提到苹果节上种类丰富的苹果品种和有关苹果种植的相关知识,特别指出可以与苹果种植专家进行讨论等。再加上孩子们喜欢的以苹果为主题的趣味游戏,可以说,对于那些对苹果及苹果种植感兴趣的人极具吸引力。‎ ‎1. What can people do at the apple events?‎ A. Attend experts’ lectures.‎ B. Visit fruit-loving families.‎ C. Plant fruit trees in an orchard.‎ D. Taste many kinds of apples.‎ 答案　D解析　细节理解题。由第二段第一句“Visiting an apple event is a good chance to see, and often taste, a wide variety of apples.”可知,在苹果节的活动中,人们可以品尝到各种苹果。故选D项。‎ ‎2. What can we learn about Decio?‎ A. It is a new variety. ‎ B. It has a strange look.‎ C. It is rarely seen now.‎ D. It has a special taste.‎ 答案　C解析　推理判断题。由第二段第二句中的“it can be quite an eye opener to see the range of classical apples still in existence,such as Decio which was grown by the Romans.”可推知,Decio是以前由罗马人种植的一种苹果,现在的人们能够看到这种苹果就算是大开眼界了。由此推知现在Decio苹果非常罕见。故选C项。‎ ‎3. What does the underlined phrase “a pipe dream” in Paragraph 3 mean?‎ A. A practical idea. B. A vain hope.‎ C. A brilliant plan. D. A selfish desire.‎ 答案　B解析　词义猜测题。由第三段第二句可知,Orleans Reinette果品上佳,但是对温度、环境、土壤的要求很高,因此,对大多数喜欢种植该苹果的爱好者来说是a pipe dream (白日梦)。‎ ‎4. What is the author’s purpose in writing the text?‎ A. To show how to grow apples.‎ B. To introduce an apple festival.‎ C. To help people select apples.‎ D. To promote apple research.‎ 答案　B解析　主旨大意题。通读全篇,文章主要介绍一个关于苹果的节日——苹果节。故选B项。‎ ‎[三]‎ When a leafy plant is under attack, it doesn’t sit quietly. Back in 1983,two scientists, Jack Schultz and Ian Baldwin, reported that young maple trees getting bitten by insects send out a particular smell that neighboring plants can get. These chemicals come from the injured parts of the plant and seem to be an alarm. What the plants pump through the air is a mixture of chemicals known as volatile organic compounds, VOCs for short.‎ Scientists have found that all kinds of plants give out VOCs when being attacked. It’s a plant’s way of crying out. But is anyone listening? Apparently. Because we can watch the neighbors react.‎ Some plants pump out smelly chemicals to keep insects away. But others do double duty. They pump out perfumes designed to attract different insects who are natural enemies to the attackers. Once they arrive, the tables are turned.The attacker who was lunching now becomes lunch. ‎ In study after study, it appears that these chemical conversations help the neighbors. The damage is usually more serious on the first plant, but the neighbors, relatively speaking, stay safer because they heard the alarm and knew what to do.‎ Does this mean that plants talk to each other? Scientists don’t know. Maybe the first plant just made a cry of pain or was sending a message to its own branches, and so, in effect, was talking to itself. Perhaps the neighbors just happened to “overhear” the cry. So information was exchanged, but it wasn’t a true, intentional back and forth.‎ Charles Darwin, over 150 years ago, imagined a world far busier, noisier and more intimate(亲密的) than the world we can see and hear. Our senses are weak. There’s a whole lot going on.‎ ‎【语篇导读】当受到攻击的时候,人们往往都会还击。动植物也一样。研究表明,当植物受到害虫的攻击时,它们会释放出一种化学物质来袭击害虫。甚至还会发出某种香味来吸引这些害虫的天敌,以此来保护自己。‎ ‎1. What does a plant do when it is under attack?‎ A. It makes noises.‎ B. It gets help from other plants.‎ C. It stands quietly.‎ D. It sends out certain chemicals.‎ 答案　D解析　细节理解题。根据第一段的“...send out a particular smell that neighboring plants can get. These chemicals come from the injured parts of the plant...”可知,当植物受到袭击时,它们会释放出某种化学物质。因此D项正确。‎ ‎2. What does the author mean by “the tables are turned” in paragraph 3?‎ A. The attackers get attacked.‎ B. The insects gather under the table.‎ C. The plants get ready to fight back.‎ D. The perfumes attract natural enemies.‎ 答案　A解析　词义猜测题。前文说,有些植物释放出一些难闻的化学物质赶走害虫,而另一些植物会释放出一些香味吸引这些害虫的天敌。一旦这些天敌到达,这些害虫就会受到攻击,因此the tables are turned的意思是“攻击者受到攻击”,故A项正确。‎ ‎3.Scientists find from their studies that plants can 　　　. ‎ A. predict natural disasters B. protect themselves against insects C. talk to one another intentionally ‎ D. help their neighbors when necessary 答案　B解析　推理判断题。根据第四段可知,研究表明,植物们能保护自己不受害虫的侵袭。‎ ‎4. What can we infer from the last paragraph?‎ A. The world is changing faster than ever.‎ B. People have stronger senses than before.‎ C. The world is more complex than it seems.‎ D. People in Darwin’s time were more imaginative.‎ 答案　C解析　推理判断题。文章最后一段说,150多年前,达尔文曾经设想一个更加忙碌,噪音更大的世界,它比我们所看到和听到的联系更加亲密。作者说,我们的感觉非常微弱,世界非常复杂。因此C项正确。‎ ‎[四]‎ Many of us love July because it’s the month when nature’s berries and stone fruits are in abundance. These colourful and sweet jewels from British Columbia’s fields are little powerhouses of nutritional protection.‎ Of the common berries, strawberries are highest in vitamin C, although, because of their seeds, raspberries contain a little more protein(蛋白质),iron and zinc(not that fruits have much protein).Blueberries are particularly high in antioxidants(抗氧化物质).The yellow and orange stone fruits such as peaches are high in the carotenoids we turn into ‎ vitamin A and which are antioxidants. As for cherries(樱桃),they are so delicious who cares? However, they are rich in vitamin C.‎ When combined with berries or slices of other fruits, frozen bananas make an excellent base for thick, cooling fruit shakes and low fat “ice cream”. For this purpose, select ripe bananas for freezing as they are much sweeter. Remove the skin and place them in plastic bags or containers and freeze. If you like, a squeeze of fresh lemon juice on the bananas will prevent them turning brown. Frozen bananas will last several weeks, depending on their ripeness and the temperature of the freezer.‎ If you have a juicer, you can simply feed in frozen bananas and some berries or sliced fruit. Out comes a “soft-serve” creamy dessert, to be eaten right away. This makes a fun activity for a children’s party; they love feeding the fruit and frozen bananas into the top of the machine and watching the ice cream come out below. ‎ ‎【语篇导读】我们很多人都喜欢七月,因为七月是大自然的浆果和核果大量收获的时候。文章介绍了如草莓、蓝莓、樱桃等水果的特殊功效,以及香蕉的选择、保存和如何使香蕉保持颜色的方法。‎ ‎1. What does the author seem to like about cherries?‎ A. They contain protein.‎ B. They are high in vitamin A.‎ C. They have a pleasant taste.‎ D. They are rich in antioxidants.‎ 答案　C解析　细节理解题。根据文章第二段的倒数第二句“As for cherries (樱桃),they are so delicious who cares?”可知,樱桃的特点是“美味的”,故选C项。A项“富含蛋白质”是覆盆子的特点,B项“维生素A含量高”是桃子等水果的特征,D项“富含抗氧化物质”是蓝莓的特点。‎ ‎2. Why is fresh lemon juice used in freezing bananas?‎ A. To make them smell better.‎ B. To keep their colour.‎ C. To speed up their ripening.‎ D. To improve their nutrition.‎ 答案　B解析　细节理解题。根据文章第三段的倒数第二句“If you like,a squeeze of fresh lemon juice on the bananas will prevent them turning brown.”可知,在香蕉上放些新鲜的柠檬汁,会预防香蕉变成褐色,也就是会保持香蕉的颜色,故选B项。‎ ‎3.What is “a juicer” in the last paragraph?‎ A.A dessert. B.A drink.‎ C.A container. D.A machine.‎ 答案　D解析　词义猜测题。根据文章最后一句中的“the machine”可知,孩子们喜欢把水果和冷冻香蕉放到机器的顶部,看着冰激凌出来,因此,此处的“the machine”与“a juicer”相呼应,故选D项。‎ ‎4.From which is the text probably taken?‎ A.A biology textbook. B.A health magazine.‎ C.A research paper. D.A travel brochure.‎ 答案　B解析　推理判断题。本文主要介绍了七月里盛产的几种水果及其主要健康功效,所以可推测这篇文章很可能是选自某健康杂志,故选B项。而A项“生物学教材”,C项“研究报告”,D项“旅游手册”均与文章的主题不符。‎ ‎[五]‎ Languages have been coming and going for thousands of years, but in recent times there has been less coming and a lot more going .When the world was still populated by hunter-gatherers, small, tightly knit(联系) groups developed their own patterns of speech independent of each other. Some language experts believe that 10,000 years ago, when the world had just five to ten million people, they spoke perhaps 12,000 languages between them.‎ Soon afterwards, many of those people started settling down to become farmers, and their languages too became more settled and fewer in number. In recent centuries, trade, industrialisation, the development of the nation-state and the spread of universal compulsory education, especially globalisation and better communications in the past few decades, all have caused many languages to disappear, and dominant languages such as English, Spanish and Chinese are increasingly taking over.‎ At present, the world has about 6,800 languages. The distribution of these languages is hugely uneven. The general rule is that mild zones have relatively few languages, often spoken by many people, while hot, wet zones have lots, often spoken by small numbers. Europe has only around 200 languages; the Americas about 1,000;Africa 2,400;and Asia and the Pacific perhaps 3,200,of which Papua New Guinea alone accounts for well over 800.The median number(中位数) of speakers is a mere 6,000,which means that half the world’s languages are spoken by fewer people than that.‎ Already well over 400 of the total of 6,800 languages are close to extinction(消亡),with only a few elderly speakers left. Pick, at random, Busuu in Cameroon(eight remaining speakers),Chiapaneco in Mexico(150),Lipan Apache in the United States(two or three) or Wadjigu in Australia(one, with a question-mark):none of these seems to have much chance of survival.‎ ‎【语篇导读】在依靠狩猎和采集生活的时代,语种众多。但是随着工业化、贸易、全球化等的发展,许多语种消失了。‎ ‎1. What can we infer about languages in hunter-gatherer times?‎ A. They developed very fast.‎ B. They were large in number.‎ C. They had similar patterns.‎ D. They were closely connected.‎ 答案　B解析　推理判断题。根据第一段中的“When the world was still populated by hunter-gatherers...they spoke perhaps 12,000 languages between them”可知,在依靠狩猎和采集生活的时代,人们使用的语言种类很多。‎ ‎2.Which of the following best explains “dominant” underlined in paragraph 2?‎ A. Complex. B. Advanced.‎ C. Powerful. D. Modern.‎ 答案　C解析　词义猜测题。根据上文提到的“...all have caused many languages to disappear”和下文的“such as English, Spanish and Chinese are increasingly taking over”可知,英语、西班牙语和汉语正在逐渐取代一些语言。由此可猜测该词的意思是“占优势的”,所以选C项。‎ ‎3. How many languages are spoken by less than 6,000 people at present?‎ A. About 6,800. B. About 3,400.‎ C. About 2,400. D. About 1,200.‎ 答案　B解析　细节理解题。根据第三段的第一句“At present, the world has about 6,800 languages”和最后一句中的“is a mere 6,000,which means that half the world’s languages are spoken by fewer people than that”可知,B项正确。‎ ‎4. What is the main idea of the text?‎ A. New languages will be created.‎ B. People’s lifestyles are reflected in languages.‎ C. Human development results in fewer languages.‎ D. Geography determines language evolution.‎ 答案　C解析　主旨大意题。通读全文可知,在依靠狩猎和采集生活的时代,语种众多。但是随着工业化、贸易、全球化等的发展,许多语种消失了。由此可知,人类的发展导致了语种的减少,所以选C项。‎ ‎[六]‎ Many Americans think of driverless cars as a futuristic technology that will revolutionize travel in cities and along state highways.But recent experiments are proving that autonomous vehicles also have the potential to improve the quality of life for millions of Americans underserved by traditional modes of transportation, such as the elderly and disabled, so long as lawmakers make smart policies that pave the way for innovation.‎ A retirement community in San Jose,Calif.,which has been transformed by a small fleet of driverless taxis, shows the potential of self-driving cars to transform people’s lives. Built by a tech start-up called Voyage, ‎ the modified Ford Fusions are currently limited to a two-mile road, but residents are already having the benefits of these autonomous vehicles, which allow them to participate in social activities they would otherwise be unable to enjoy simply because they could not get to them.‎ When the trial run finally expands to 15 miles of road, these residents—whose average age is 76—will also have a convenient and reliable new way to appointments. As these cars continue to serve residents there, it is easy to understand why California is moving to simplify regulations for the industry.‎ In Michigan, forward-thinking policies have the potential to unlock other hidden benefits of autonomous vehicles, especially for those with physical disabilities. The Michigan Disability Rights Coalition has strongly advocated for the development of this technology, saying that it could give people with disabilities greater opportunities in the workforce and enable them to lead more fulfilling and independent lives.‎ Many recognize that autonomous vehicles will be the future of transportation, but it is too often overlooked that this future cannot arrive fast enough for millions of Americans who are forced to depend on others for day-to-day travel. The policymakers should follow the lead of places like California and Michigan, and pass rules and regulations to unlock these hidden benefits of driverless cars.‎ ‎【语篇导读】文章介绍了美国人使用自动驾驶汽车的现状,自动驾驶汽车给人们带来的便利及今后应该注意的问题。‎ ‎1. What’s the attitude of most American people to the future of autonomous vehicles?‎ A. Uncertain.‎ B. Doubtful.‎ C. Indifferent.‎ D. Optimistic.‎ 答案　D 解析　推理判断题。根据第四段中的“...it could give people with disabilities greater opportunities in the workforce and enable them to lead more fulfilling and independent lives.”和最后一段中的“Many recognize that autonomous vehicles will be the future of transportation...”可知,自动驾驶汽车对残疾人有好处,而且许多人认识到自动驾驶汽车将是未来的交通工具。由此推测,多数美国人对自动驾驶汽车的未来持乐观的态度。‎ ‎2. What is the modified Ford Fusion?‎ A. The collection of social activities.‎ B. The name of a retirement community.‎ C. A kind of autonomous vehicle.‎ D. A two-mile road for self-driving cars.‎ 答案　C解析　推理判断题。根据第二段中的“Built by a tech start-up called Voyage, the modified Ford Fusions are currently limited to a two-mile road...”可知,由新创科技公司生产并修改后的Ford Fusion被称为Voyage。由此可知,the modified Ford Fusion是一种自动驾驶汽车。‎ ‎3. Examples are given in the third and forth paragraphs to prove 　　　. ‎ A. what is preventing the development of the technology B. why driverless cars are restricted in many states in America C. how driverless technology benefits the aged and disabled D. when driverless cars can enter people’s life eventually 答案　C解析　推理判断题。第三段的例子说明了自动驾驶汽车给老年人带来的方便,第四段的例子说明了自动驾驶汽车给残疾人带来的方便。故选C项。‎ ‎4. What does the author attempt to inform us in the last paragraph?‎ A. The concept of autonomous vehicles has been widely recognized.‎ B. The weak groups are often overlooked despite technology advances.‎ C. The benefits of driverless cars have been fully unlocked.‎ D. Regulations should go hand in hand with driverless technology.‎ 答案　D解析　推理判断题。根据最后一段中的“The policymakers should follow the lead of places like California and Michigan, and pass rules and regulations to unlock these hidden benefits of driverless cars.”可知,作者想告诉我们政策制定者应该通过规章制度来解锁无人驾驶汽车的使用限制,故选D项。‎ ‎[七]‎ Lack of electricity and resources in disadvantaged regions around the world means no centrifuge (离心机)in medical labs.Now,a simple new 20-cent invention could change all that.It’s based on an unusual source of inspiration—the whirligig(陀螺).‎ Manu Prakash is a physical biologist at Stanford and the inventor of the new product.When he visited Uganda in 2013 he found that the clinics had neither centrifuges nor the electricity to power them.He realized that he needed to design a human-powered centrifuge that cost less than a cup of coffee.When he returned to Stanford,Prakash began brainstorming ideas with his assistant,Saad Bhamla.They quickly concentrated on toys like yo-yos and whirligigs.‎ ‎“One night I was playing with a button and string.And out of curiosity,I set up a high-speed camera to see how fast a button whirligig would spin.I couldn’t believe my eyes,” Bhamla recalled.The button was spinning at 10,000 to 15,000 revolutions per minute (rpm).‎ The pair began designing small hand-powered centrifuges based on the whirligig principle.Their final model was the Paperfuge.It spins at 125,000 rpm,the same as a centrifuge costing $1,000 to $5,000.‎ The Paperfuge is made of a disk of paper coated in a polymer(聚合物).The disk is attached to two pieces of wood or PVG pipe via strings.When the strings are pulled,the disk in the middle spins.This acts as a centrifuge for a blood sample attached to the center of the disk.The team describes their work in the journal Nature Biomedical Engineering.‎ Once the blood is separated,it needs to be examined by a microscope.Luckily,several years ago Prakash also created the Foldscope.It is a $1 paper microscope with optical quality similar to conventional microscopes that will begin distribution in 2019.‎ ‎【语篇导读】本文介绍的是美国斯坦福大学的Manu Prakash发明的一种简易离心机装置,该装置适用于那些设施落后的贫困地区。‎ ‎1.Why did Manu Prakash invent the Paperfuge?‎ A.To help the clinics in Uganda.‎ B.To make traditional toys popular again.‎ C.To make it affordable for poor areas.‎ D.To transport electricity more conveniently.‎ 答案　C 解析　推理判断题。第一段提到世界上资源贫乏地区的医疗实验室里没有离心机,结合第二段中的“He realized that he needed to design a human-powered centrifuge that cost less than a cup of coffee.”可知,他意识到需要设计一种价格低于一杯咖啡的离心机。由此可知,他发明Paperfuge是为了让贫困地区能用的起离心机。‎ ‎2.Which of the following words can best describe Manu Prakash?‎ A.Creative and sympathetic.‎ B.Ambitious and determined.‎ C.Brave and considerate.‎ D.Sensitive and modest.‎ 答案　A 解析　推理判断题。根据他和他的团队受陀螺的启发发明人工离心机的过程可知,他是一个有创造力的人;根据第二段促使他发明离心机的个人经历可知,他是个富有同情心的人。故选A项。‎ ‎3.What does Paragraph 5 mainly tell us about the Paperfuge?‎ A.How much it costs.‎ B.How it works.‎ C.What it is made of.‎ D.Where it is applied.‎ 答案　B 解析　段落大意题。根据第五段中的“The Paperfuge is made of a disk of paper coated in a polymer...When the strings are pulled,the disk in the middle spins.”可知,本段介绍的是离心机的工作原理,所以选B项。‎ C 体裁:应用文　主题:生活与学习　答题时间:6分钟 ‎ ‎(2018全国100所名校高三示范卷)‎ Tampa Bay has a long and colorful history, which is located on the west coast of Florida. And there are plenty of events on holidays every year. The following are the top things to experience on Tampa Bay over Christmas.‎ Jackie Evancho The superstar exploded on to the national scene after her first performance on NBC’s America’s Got Talent, which left audiences and judges at the show astonished that such a voice could come from a 10-year-old girl.7:30pm,Ruth Eckerd Hall,1111 N McMullen-Booth Road,Clearwater.$39.50-$89.50.(727) 791-7400.‎ Holiday Lights in the Cardens Stroll through the gardens with more than one million twinkly lights, lasers, Florida-style displays, animated figures, visits with Santa and entertainers lining the pathways.5:30pm,Florida Botanical Gardens,12520 Ulmerton Road. Largo Donation of $4 suggested;12 and younger free.(727) 582-5800.‎ Wordier than Thou Prose and Short Story Open Mic—a unique open mic series focusing on storytelling. Poetry and musical performances are not allowed. The event includes a performance by a featured reader followed by numerous 10-minute open mic slots.7pm,Studio@620,620 First Ave. S, St, Petersburg.$ 5.(727) 895-6620.‎ Rockapella Christmas The five-man contemporary pop vocal phenomenon sing takes on classic holiday favorites and branches new originals.7:30pm,Capitol Theatre,405 Cleveland St.,Clearwater.$30-$59.(727) 791-7400.‎ Holiday Classic Movie Series It’s A Wonderful Life—enjoy select holiday classics with a singalong to holiday carols by the Mighty Wurlitzer Theatre Organ before each show.7:30pm,Tampa Theatre,711 Franklin St.,Tampa.$10;$8 members/children.(813) 274-8982.‎ ‎【语篇导读】坦帕湾是位于美国佛罗里达州西部的一个海湾,每年夏天假期里来到坦帕湾你都可以参加很多庆典赛事。‎ ‎1. What can we learn about Jackie Evancho?‎ A. She is a super musical star.‎ B. She broadcasts news at 7:30pm every day.‎ C. She has a special talent for speech.‎ D. She began to speak when she was 10.‎ 答案　A 解析　推理判断题。根据文章第二段中的“...which left audiences and judges at the show astonished that such a voice could come from a 10-year-old girl.”可知,Jackie Evancho在脱口秀上的演唱表现让观众和评委们非常惊讶。故选A项。‎ ‎2. Which activity is partly admission free?‎ A. Rockapella Christmas.‎ B. Holiday Lights in the Gardens.‎ C. Holiday Classic Movie Series.‎ D. Wordier than Thou.‎ 答案　B 解析　细节理解题。根据“Holiday Lights in the Cardens”中的“12 and younger free”可知,Holiday Lights in the Cardens 给12岁及以下人员提供免费入场的特权。‎ ‎3. Where should you go if you are a story lover?‎ A.Studio@620.‎ B. Capitol Theatre.‎ C. Ruth Eckerd Hall.‎ D. Florida Botanical Gardens.‎ 答案　A 解析　细节理解题。根据“Wordier than Thou”中的“Prose and Short Story Open Mic—a unique open mic series focusing on storytelling. ...Studio@620”可知,对讲故事感兴趣的人们可以去Studio@620。‎ ‎4. What do Rockapella Christmas and Holiday Classic Movie Series have in common?‎ A. They both last for two hours.‎ B. They are free for children there.‎ C. They both have special music for Christmas.‎ D. They are both singing competitions.‎ 答案　C 解析　推理判断题。根据“Rockapella Christmas The five-man contemporary pop vocal phenomenon sing takes on classic holiday favorites...”以及“Holiday Classic Movie Series ...enjoy select holiday classics with a ‎ singalong to holiday carols by the Mighty Wurlitzer Theatre Organ before each show.”可知,这两个活动都有为圣诞准备的特殊音乐。‎ ‎[八]‎ On a college camping trip, curiosity about waves and sand caused Rob Thieler to study shorelines around the world. Thirty years later and now a U.S. Geological Survey research geologist, Thieler,is combining science and smartphone technology to help study an endangered bird, the Atlantic Coast piping plover.‎ The piping plover is a shorebird that breeds(繁殖)along the Atlantic Coast, the Great Lakes and the Great Plains. Rising sea levels associated with climate change, as well as increased the development in their beach habitats(栖息地),threatening the species(物种).To help track changes in piping plovers’ habitats, Thieler developed a free app called iPlover in 2012.This is a marked change from the typical way scientists collect data, which involves gathering information using specialized equipment or writing in notebooks and then putting into spreadsheets.‎ Since releasing iPlover, scientists have gathered data across 1500 km of breeding range. That equals about a third of the distance across the U.S., which is a large area to cover for only two thousand breeding pairs of piping plovers on the east coast. Instead of having to travel and spend days at each site, a number of cooperators in the field use the app to collect and send data, allowing scientists to gather data more efficiently. It also allows them to collect data at the same time during each breeding season, providing a better picture of changes that happen over longer periods of time. And fast, centralized access means scientists can look at data quickly to get a real-time idea of where and how piping plovers are using their habitats.‎ While iPlover is used by trained field staff, other apps are not. The U.S. Geological Survey’s web-based “iCoast—Did the Coast Change?” invites citizen scientists to identify coastal changes by comparing bird’s eye-view photographs taken before and after storms. All the information scientists and citizen scientists alike collect helps federal and state agencies create policy plans for addressing climate change impacts (影响) worldwide.‎ ‎【语篇导读】文章讲述了美国的一位科学家把科学与智能手机技术结合在一起,帮助研究濒危鸟类。‎ ‎1. What can we know about the piping plover?‎ A. Its behaviour is changing.‎ B. Its habitat is growing bigger.‎ C. Its living environment is becoming worse.‎ D. Its breeding is limited to the Atlantic Coast.‎ 答案　C解析　推理判断题。第二段提到“与气候变化相关的海平面上升,以及人们在它们海滩栖息地更多地开发也在威胁着这个物种”。由此推测笛鸻的生活环境变得糟糕。‎ ‎2. Why did Thieler develop iPlover?‎ A. To study shorelines across America.‎ B. To advance information technology.‎ C. To find out global climate change.‎ D. To monitor changes of piping plover habitats.‎ 答案　D解析　细节理解题。根据第二段中的“To help track changes in piping plovers’ habitats, Thieler developed a free app called iPlover in 2012.”可知,他开发这个程序的目的追踪笛鸻的栖息地的变化。‎ ‎3. Which of the following benefits the shorebirds?‎ A. The camping equipment.‎ B. Research on smartphones.‎ C. The changeable coast.‎ D. Progress in technology.‎ 答案　D解析　推理判断题。文章的第三段中提到使用这种程序,科学家快速获得笛鸻在哪里栖息以及如何使用栖息地的实时数据。由此推测科技进步对这些鸟有益。‎ ‎4. What would be the best title of the text?‎ A. Protecting Endangered Shorebirds.‎ B. Rob Thieler,a Creative Scientist.‎ C. IPlover,Tool for Training Field Staff.‎ D. Differences Between IPlover and ICoast.‎ 答案　A解析　主旨大意题。文章讲述了美国的一个科学家把科学与智能手机技术结合在一起,帮助研究濒危鸟类,所以A项可作为文章的标题。B、C和D三项虽然在文章中提到,但是以偏概全,不能说明文章的主旨。‎ ‎[九]‎ Cities usually have a good reason for being where they are, like a nearby port or river. People settle in these places because they are easy to get to and naturally suited to communications and trade.New York City, for example, is near a large harbour at the mouth of the Hudson River. Over 300 years its population grew gradually from 800 people to 8 million. But not all cities develop slowly over a long period of time. Boom towns grow from nothing almost overnight. In 1896,Dawson,Canada,was unmapped wilderness(荒野).But gold was discovered there in 1897,and two years later, it was one of the largest cities in the West, with a population of 30,000.‎ Dawson did not have any of the natural conveniences of cities like London or Paris. People went there for gold. They travelled over snow-covered mountains and sailed hundreds of miles up icy rivers. The path to Dawson was covered with thirty feet of wet snow that could fall without warning. An avalanche(雪崩)once closed the path, killing 63 people. For many who made it to Dawson, however, the rewards were worth the difficult trip. Of the first 20,000 people who dug for gold,4,000 got rich. About 100 of these stayed rich men for the rest of their lives.‎ But no matter how rich they were, Dawson was never comfortable. Necessities like food and wood were very expensive. But soon, the gold that Dawson depended on had all been found. The city was crowded with disappointed people with no interest in settling down, and when they heard there were new gold discoveries in Alaska, they left Dawson City as quickly as they had come. Today, people still come and go—to see where the Canadian gold rush happened. Tourism is now the chief industry of Dawson City—its present population is 762.‎ ‎【语篇导读】城市自有它形成的原因。本文主要介绍加拿大城市Dawson(道森),它昔日因为金矿而迅速兴起,现在则只能以旅游业作为主产业。‎ ‎1. What attracted the early settlers to New York City?‎ A. Its business culture.‎ B. Its small population.‎ C. Its geographical position.‎ D. Its favourable climate.‎ 答案　C解析　细节理解题。由第一段第二、三句“People settle in these places because they are easy to get to and naturally suited to communications and trade. New York City, for example, is near a large harbour at the mouth of the Hudson River.”可知,像纽约市这样的城市往往占据重要的地理位置,交通、通信和贸易方便,由此推知答案为C项。‎ ‎2. What do we know about those who first dug for gold in Dawson?‎ A. Two-thirds of them stayed there.‎ B. One out of five people got rich.‎ C. Almost everyone gave up.‎ D. Half of them died.‎ 答案　B解析　推理判断题。由第二段末的“Of the first 20,000 people who dug for gold, 4,000 got rich. About 100 of these stayed rich men for the rest of their lives.”可知,最早来淘金的20,000人里,有4,000人依靠挖掘黄金致富,占总人数的1/5,所以答案为B项。 ‎ ‎3. What was the main reason for many people to leave Dawson?‎ A. They found the city too crowded.‎ B. They wanted to try their luck elsewhere.‎ C. They were unable to stand the winter.‎ D. They were short of food.‎ 答案　B解析　细节理解题。由最后一段中的“But soon, the gold that Dawson depended on had all been found. The city was crowded...when they heard there were new gold discoveries in Alaska, they left Dawson City as quickly as they had come.”可知,金矿被开采殆尽,特别是当得知阿拉斯加发现新的金矿后,人们已经没有兴趣继续留在这里。据此得出导致很多人离开Dawson的主要原因是要到别处寻找新的金矿,答案为B项,A项并非原因;C项文中没有提及,所以排除;最后一段虽然提到“Necessities like food and wood were very expensive.”,但这并不是导致人们离开的主要原因,所以排除D项。‎ ‎4. What is the text mainly about?‎ A. The rise and fall of a city.‎ B. The gold rush in Canada.‎ C. Journeys into the wilderness.‎ D. Tourism in Dawson.‎ 答案　A解析　主旨大意题。A项“一座城市的兴衰”;B项“加拿大淘金热”;C项“荒野之旅”;D项“道森的旅游业”。文中主要介绍加拿大城市Dawson(道森)因为金矿而崛起,又因为金矿被开采殆尽而衰落,经济只能依靠旅游业支撑,所以A项能准确概括文章内容;文章重心在讲城市的形成,而非淘金热活动本身,所以B项排除;C项与文章内容不符,排除;道森的旅游业只在文章最后一段最后一句提到,不能作为主旨内容。‎ ‎[十]‎ In 1812,the year Charles Dickens was born, there were 66 novels published in Britain. People had been writing novels for a century—most experts date the first novel to Robinson Crusoe in 1719—but nobody wanted to do it professionally. The steam-powered printing press was still in its early stages; the literacy(识字) rate in England was under 50%.Many works of fiction appeared without the names of the authors, often with something like “By a lady.” Novels, for the most part, were looked upon as silly, immoral or just plain bad.‎ In 1870,when Dickens died, the world mourned him as its first professional writer and publisher, famous and beloved, who had led an explosion in both the publication of novels and their readership and whose characters—from Oliver Twist to Tiny Tim—were held up as moral touchstones. Today Dickens’ greatness is unchallenged. Removing him from the pantheon(名人堂) of English literature would make about as much sense as the Louvre selling off the Mona Lisa.‎ How did Dickens get to the top? For all the feelings readers attach to stories, literature is a numbers game, and the test of time is extremely difficult to pass. Some 60,000 novels were published during the Victorian age, from 1837 to 1901;today a casual reader might be able to name a half-dozen of them. It’s partly true that Dickens’ style of writing attracted audiences from all walks of life. It’s partly that his writings ‎ rode a wave of social, political and scientific progress. But it’s also that he rewrote the culture of literature and put himself at the center. No one will ever know what mix of talent, ambition, energy and luck made Dickens such a distinguished writer. But as the 200th anniversary of his birth approaches, it is possible—and important for our own culture—to understand how he made himself a lasting one.‎ ‎【语篇导读】狄更斯,英国伟大的作家。在其诞辰200周年纪念日到来之际,作者写此文来纪念其在世界文学史上做出的卓越贡献。‎ ‎1. Which of the following best describes British novels in the 18th century?‎ A. They were difficult to understand.‎ B. They were popular among the rich.‎ C. They were seen as nearly worthless.‎ D. They were written mostly by women.‎ 答案　C解析　细节理解题。根据文章第一段的最后一句“Novels, for the most part, were looked upon as silly, immoral or just plain bad.”可知,在当时,小说被认为是愚蠢的、不道德的或极坏的。也就是说,是毫无价值的。故选C项。‎ ‎2.Dickens is compared with the Mona Lisa in the text to stress 　　　. ‎ A. his reputation in France B. his interest in modern art C. his success in publication D. his importance in literature 答案　D解析　细节理解题。根据文章第二段的倒数第二句“Today Dickens’ greatness is unchallenged.”可知,狄更斯的伟大是毋庸置疑的。下文与Mona Lisa做比较,正是为了强调其在文学史上的重要地位。故选D项。‎ ‎3. What is the author’s purpose in writing the text?‎ A. To remember a great writer.‎ B. To introduce an English novel.‎ C. To encourage studies on culture.‎ D. To promote values of the Victorian age.‎ 答案　A解析　推理判断题。根据文章最后一段的最后一句“But as the 200th anniversary of his birth approaches...how he made himself a lasting one.”可知,作者写这篇文章的目的是纪念伟大的作家狄更斯,故选A项。‎