【英语】2019届二轮复习阅读理解专题说明文类型模拟试题10篇训练之三十五（19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篇训练之三十五（19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篇训练之三十五 ‎[一]‎ As a star computer scientist, Cristina Fonseca had lots of job offers, but she turned them all down. She decided to start her own business Talkdesk. She lives in Portugal but does business all over the globe by using software.‎ The global economy works well for such people.‎ But the world of work has been less kind to other young folks. Florence Moreau, a young architect in Paris, had the double misfortune to leave university in 2009, when the world economy was on its knees; and to be French. “I really need a fulltime, permanent job，” she says. Under France’s 3,800page labour code, workers on permanent contracts (合同) receive generous benefits and are extremely hard to get rid of. So French firms have all but stopped hiring permanent staff: Fourfifths of new employees are on shortterm contracts. Ms Moreau has had eight jobs, none lasting for longer than 16 months. With a small child at home, she has to keep looking for the next one. “It’s tiring，” she sighs.‎ Joblessness matters. The longer people are out of work, the more their skills and their selfconfidence atrophy,_the less appealing they look to potential employers and the more likely they are to give up.‎ Trade unions often favour a minimum wage. This can help those who already have jobs, but if it is set too high it can crowd out those with the fewest skills and the least experience, who tend to be young.‎ A labour system where companies can hire and fire easily is urgently needed.‎ Making it easier for young people to start their own business is essential, too. They may be full of energy and open to new ideas.‎ Also, there is a huge mismatch everywhere between the skills that many young people can offer and the ones that employers need. Ms Fonseca says she cannot find the right talent for Talkdesk. As economies grow more ‎ complex, demand for practical skills will keep rising. The world’s schools are not even close to meeting it.‎ 语篇解读：本文是一篇议论文，主要论述了目前严峻的就业形势及其原因。‎ ‎12．Why can’t Moreau find a permanent job?‎ A．Employers don’t want to give workers good welfare.‎ B．She didn’t finish university studies.‎ C．The world economy is booming.‎ D．The French government hasn’t taken any measures for unemployment.‎ 解析：选A　推理判断题。根据第三段第四、五句可推知，Moreau找不到永久工作的原因是雇主不想给工人好的福利。故答案选A。‎ ‎13．What does the underlined word “atrophy” in Paragraph 4 mean?‎ A．Increase. B．Shrink.‎ C．Overcome. D．Survive.‎ 解析：选B　词义猜测题。根据语境再结合常识可知，人们失业时间越长，他们的技能和自信就会越萎缩，对潜在的雇主就越没有吸引力，更有可能放弃。由此可推知，画线词“atrophy”应与shrink意思相近，意为“萎缩”。故答案选B。‎ ‎14．What can we learn about Cristina Fonseca?‎ A．She does business only in Portugal.‎ B．When seeking a job, she was refused many times by employers.‎ C．Her company is not related to information technology.‎ D．She can’t find the talents she wants.‎ 解析：选D　细节理解题。根据最后一段第二句可知，Fonseca女士没能找到她想要的人才。故答案选D。‎ ‎15．Which measure is actually useless for unemployment?‎ A．Make labour rules more flexible.‎ B．Train students to gain skills.‎ C．Raise the minimum wage.‎ D．Encourage young people to start companies.‎ 解析：选C　推理判断题。该题提问的是哪种措施对失业无用。根据文章最后四段可推知，提高最低工资对解决失业问题是无用的。故答案选C。‎ ‎[二]‎ Students who stay up late to cram for a test or finish a project have lower comprehension and worse performance in the classroom as a result, research shows. The old saying that "you snooze, you lose" doesn't apply to students who stay up late to cram for a test or finish a class project.‎ ‎ The UCLA team found that regardless of how much time a high schooler normally spends on homework each day, a student who gives up sleep for extra study time will have trouble the next day understanding material in class and be more likely to struggle with an assignment or test-the opposite of the student's intent.‎ ‎ The researchers didn't quantify(量化) the increased risk for academic problems following a longer-than-usual study session, but they said the number of problems was "surprisingly greater." The relationship held up no matter how ambitious the student was, as measured by the amount of time spent studying on a typical day, and it became stronger as students progressed through high school.‎ ‎ The results rang true to Kai Daniels, a senior at the Los Angeles Center for Enriched Studies. On occasions when she's stayed up late to study, she's had more trouble absorbing material in class. "I'd have to re-teach myself at night," she said. The finding makes a lot of sense, and several new studies are showing that the quantity and the quality of sleep are important for remembering new information and consolidating(巩固) learning.‎ ‎ Students who get too little sleep don't have enough time to process what they study; even just one night of sleep deprivation(剥夺) can have a negative effect. Parents should do what they can to make sure their children have sufficient and consistent sleep. Most adolescents need just ‎ over nine hours of sleep a night, which 9% of high school students actually get, according to the National Sleep Foundation. Though a consistent study and sleep schedule are ideal, the demands that high school students face make that "infeasible(办不到的)," the researchers wrote.‎ ‎16. New research shows that giving away sleep for school work is  .‎ ‎ ‎ A.‎ ‎ a good trade B.‎ ‎ a special trade ‎ ‎ C.‎ ‎ a common trade D.‎ ‎ a bad trade ‎17. Students give up their sleep just to  .‎ ‎ ‎ A.‎ ‎ understand material in class B.‎ ‎ get more time to play ‎ ‎ C.‎ ‎ get more time to study D.‎ ‎ struggle with a test ‎18. The underlined "it" in Paragraph 3 means  .‎ ‎ ‎ A.‎ ‎ The relationship B.‎ ‎ The risk ‎ ‎ C.‎ ‎ The problem D.‎ ‎ The student ‎19. What does the example of Kai Daniels prove?‎ ‎ ‎ A.‎ ‎ The importance of staying up late to study.‎ ‎ ‎ B.‎ ‎ The importance of the quantity and the quality of sleep.‎ ‎ ‎ C.‎ ‎ The importance of remembering new information.‎ ‎ ‎ D.‎ ‎ The importance of consolidating learning.‎ ‎20. Why can NOT most students in high school get enough sleep?‎ ‎ ‎ A.‎ ‎ Because they should obey the school rules.‎ ‎ ‎ B.‎ ‎ Because their parents force them to stay up.‎ ‎ ‎ C.‎ ‎ Because they obey the rules of the National Sleep Foundation.‎ ‎ ‎ D.‎ ‎ Because they face the pressure of going to college.‎ 参考答案：16. D 17. C 18. A 19. B 20. D ‎[三]‎ It has long been believed that drinking green tea is good for the memory. Now researchers have discovered how the chemical properties of China's favorite drink affect the generation of brain cells, providing benefits ‎ for memory and spatial(空间的) learning. "There has been plenty of scientific attention on its use in helping prevent cardiovascular diseases, but now there is emerging evidence that its chemical properties may impact cellular mechanisms in the brain," said Professor Yun Bai. ‎ ‎ Professor Bai's team focused on the organic chemical EGCG, a key property of green tea. The team believed it can also have a beneficial effect against age-related degenerative(退化的) diseases. "We proposed that EGCG can improve cognitive function by impacting the generation of neuron cells, a process known as neurogenesis," said Bai. "We focused our research on the hippocampus, the part of the brain which processes information from short-term to long-term memory." ‎ ‎ The team found that EGCG boosts the production of neural progenitor cells, which like stem cells can adapt, or differentiate, into various types of cells. The team then used laboratory mice to discover if this increased cell production gave an advantage to memory or spatial learning. "We ran tests on two groups of mice, one which had imbibed EGCG and a control group," said Bai. "First the mice were trained for three days to find a visible platform in their maze(迷宫). Then they were trained for seven days to find a hidden platform."‎ ‎ The team found that the EGCG treated mice required less time to find the hidden platform. Overall the results revealed that EGCG enhances learning and memory by improving object recognition and spatial memory. "We have shown that the organic chemical EGCG acts directly to increase the production of neural progenitor cells, both in glass tests and in mice," concluded Bai. "This helps us to understand the potential for EGCG, and green tea which contains it, to help combat degenerative diseases and memory loss."‎ ‎11. The new evidence suggests chemical properties  .‎ ‎ ‎ A.‎ ‎ in black tea may impact cellular mechanisms in the brain ‎ ‎ B.‎ ‎ in green tea may affect cellular mechanisms in the brain ‎ ‎ C.‎ ‎ in black tea may damage cellular mechanisms in the brain ‎ ‎ D.‎ ‎ in green tea may damage memory and spatial learning ‎12. According to the passage, Professor Bai's team paid attention to  .‎ ‎ ‎ A.‎ ‎ short-term and long-term memory ‎ ‎ B.‎ ‎ the generation of neuron cells and hippocampus ‎ ‎ C.‎ ‎ age-related degenerative diseases ‎ ‎ D.‎ ‎ the organic chemical EGCG and hippocampus ‎13. The underlined word "imbibed" refers to  .‎ ‎ ‎ A.‎ ‎ drunk B.‎ ‎ stolen C.‎ ‎ carried D.‎ ‎ refused ‎14. The team found that it took more time  .‎ ‎ ‎ A.‎ ‎ for the EGCG treated mice to find the hidden platform ‎ ‎ B.‎ ‎ for the EGCG treated mice to find the visible platform ‎ ‎ C.‎ ‎ for the control mice to find the hidden platform ‎ ‎ D.‎ ‎ for the control mice to find the visible platform ‎15. What might be the potential for EGCG?‎ ‎ ‎ A.‎ ‎ To decrease the blood level.‎ ‎ ‎ B.‎ ‎ To improve the time memory.‎ ‎ ‎ C.‎ ‎ To help treat memory loss.‎ ‎ ‎ D.‎ ‎ To cure degenerative diseases.‎ 参考答案：11. B 12. D 13. A 14. C 15. C ‎[四]‎ ‎ At last, good news to report about the "greenest government ever". A package of railway spending across England and Wales worth £9.4bn—of which £4.2bn will be spent on previously unannounced projects. The projects include a high capacity "electric spine" running between Yorkshire and the East Midlands down to south coast ports, and the electrification of the line between Sheffield and Bedford. Further ‎ electrification is also planned in Wales meaning two-thirds of the Welsh population will have access to electric trains.‎ ‎ Speaking on Radio 4's Today program this morning, she said, we all know that diesel(柴油机) is massively expensive so if we can move over to electric trains, not only are they greener, they're also cheaper and also they are lighter too, so what that means is that when they are on the track they don't damage it so much, so maintenance costs go down too.‎ ‎ Rail electrification is an important part of the Department's carbon strategy. Typically an electric train emits between 20% and 35% less carbon per passenger mile than a diesel train. This benefit will only improve as the electricity generation industry reduces its carbon levels. Electric trains also have zero emissions at the point of use, of particular benefit for air quality in pollution hot spots like city centres and mainline stations such as London Paddington.‎ ‎ A lot depends on the decarbonisation(低碳排放) of our electricity generation, but by the time these new electrified lines are fully operational in the 2020s we should be advancing with the decarbonisation of the grid. However you calculate it, though, electric trains are greener than diesel trains.‎ ‎ Interestingly, he added that a high-speed electric train traveling at ‎300km per hour—as might be seen on HS2—would still emit less CO2 per passenger kilometer than a diesel train traveling at its top speed of ‎220km per hour. Combine all this with the fact that railway electrification, particularly on city commuter routes, helps to reduce local air pollution—a topical subject in London this week-and it seems clear that electric trains are the way to go.‎ ‎ 6. Which parts will benefit most from electric trains?‎ ‎ ‎ A.‎ ‎ England and Ireland.‎ B.‎ ‎ England and Scotland.‎ ‎ ‎ C.‎ ‎ Wales and Scotland.‎ D.‎ ‎ Wales and England.‎ ‎ 7. What's the main idea of Paragraph 2?‎ ‎ ‎ A.‎ ‎ The benefits of the electric trains.‎ ‎ ‎ B.‎ ‎ The benefits of the diesel trains.‎ ‎ ‎ C.‎ ‎ The shortcoming of the electric trains.‎ ‎ ‎ D.‎ ‎ The shortcoming of the diesel trains.‎ ‎ 8. The underlined word "emits" means  .‎ ‎ ‎ A.‎ ‎ gives away B.‎ ‎ gives over C.‎ ‎ gives out D.‎ ‎ gives up ‎ 9. What's the author's attitude on the decarbonisation?‎ ‎ ‎ A.‎ ‎ Doubtful.‎ B.‎ ‎ Confident.‎ C.‎ ‎ Negative.‎ D.‎ ‎ Unclear.‎ ‎10. According to the passage, the Londoners will focus a lot on  .‎ ‎ ‎ A.‎ ‎ railway electrification B.‎ ‎ high-speed electric trains ‎ ‎ C.‎ ‎ city commuter routes D.‎ ‎ diesel train traveling 参考答案：6. D 7. A 8. C 9. B 10. A ‎ ‎[五]‎ ‎ As any plane passenger will confirm, a crying baby is almost impossible to ignore, no matter how hard you try. Now scientists believe they may have worked out why. An infant's cries pull at the heartstrings in a way that other cries don't, researchers found.‎ ‎ Researchers found that the sound of a baby crying can trigger unique emotional responses in the brain, making it impossible for us to ignore them—whether we are parents or not. Other types of cry, including calls of animals in sadness, fail to cause the same response—suggesting the brain is programmed to respond specifically to a baby's cry.‎ ‎ A team of Oxford University scientists scanned the brains of 28 men and women as they listened to a variety of calls and cries. After 100 milliseconds—roughly the time it takes to blink—two regions of the brain that respond to emotion lit up. Their response to a baby's cry was ‎ particularly strong. The response was seen in both men and women—even if they had no children.‎ ‎ You might read that men should barely notice a baby and step over it and not see any of them but it's not true. There is a specialized processing in men and women which makes sense from an evolutionary perspective that both genders would be responding to these cues. The study was in people who were not parents, yet they are all responding at 100ms to these particular sounds, so this might be a fundamental response present in all of us regardless of parental status.‎ ‎ Fellow researcher Katie Young said it may take a bit longer for someone to recognize their own child's cries because they need to do more "fine-grained analysis". The team had previously found that our reactions speed up when we hear a baby crying. Adults performed better on computer games when they played the sound of a baby crying than after they heard recordings of adults crying or high-pitched birdsong.‎ ‎ 1. Why is a baby's crying difficult to ignore?‎ ‎ ‎ A.‎ ‎ Because it cries louder than others.‎ ‎ ‎ B.‎ ‎ Because it cries in a different manner.‎ ‎ ‎ C.‎ ‎ Because its cry is moving.‎ ‎ ‎ D.‎ ‎ Because its cry is absorbing.‎ ‎ 2. What does the underlined word "trigger" in Paragraph 2 mean?‎ ‎ ‎ A.‎ ‎ Cause.‎ B.‎ ‎ Avoid.‎ C.‎ ‎ Remove.‎ D.‎ ‎ Cure.‎ ‎ 3. According to the passage, responses to a baby's cry are strong  .‎ ‎ ‎ A.‎ ‎ in people with children B.‎ ‎ in people with no children ‎ ‎ C.‎ ‎ in neither men nor women D.‎ ‎ in both men and women ‎ 4. People's response to baby's cry can be understood  .‎ ‎ ‎ A.‎ ‎ from human's fundamental emotion ‎ ‎ B.‎ ‎ from a view of parents ‎ ‎ C.‎ ‎ from a view of people who are not parents ‎ ‎ D.‎ ‎ from an evolutionary view ‎ 5. When do grown-ups play computer games much better?‎ ‎ ‎ A.‎ ‎ When hearing recordings of adults crying.‎ ‎ ‎ B.‎ ‎ When hearing recordings of high-pitched birdsong.‎ ‎ ‎ C.‎ ‎ When hearing recordings of old people crying.‎ ‎ ‎ D.‎ ‎ When hearing recordings of babies crying.‎ 参考答案：‎ ‎ 1. B 2. A 3. C 4. D 5. D ‎[六]‎ AIDS-related illnesses have killed more than 30 million people since 1981. That's half as many deaths as in World War II. And it's not over. An estimated 1.1 million Americans are among the 33 million people worldwide who are now living with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.‎ ‎ Between 1884 and 1924, somewhere near modern-day Kinshasa in West Central Africa, a hunter kills a chimpanzee. Some of the animal's blood enters the hunter's body, possibly through an open wound. The blood carries a virus harmless to the chimp but deadly to humans: HIV.‎ ‎ In June, 1981, the CDC publishes a report from Los Angeles of five young homosexual men with fatal or life-threatening PCP pneumonia. First cases recognized. In 1985, Rock Hudson dies of AIDS. Larry Kramer's AIDS play, "The Normal Heart." shocks New York audiences.‎ ‎ In 1986, for the first time, President Reagan publicly utters the word "AIDS." In 1987, Princess Diana is photographed hugging people with AIDS. Reagan makes his first speech on AIDS. Liberace dies of AIDS. Three years later, Photographer Robert Mapplethorpe dies of AIDS.‎ ‎ In 1988, the first World AIDS DAY is held on Dec. 1. During 1991-1992, the red ribbon is introduced as a symbol of AIDS solidarity(团结一致). But AIDS becomes the leading cause of death in U.S. men aged 25-44 and ‎ ten years later, AIDS becomes the leading cause of death worldwide for people aged 15 to 59.‎ ‎ In 2008, for the first time, global AIDS deaths decline. UNAIDS calculates that the global spread of AIDS peaked in 1996 at 3.5 million new infections. Deaths peaked in 2004, at 2.2 million. Yet AIDS Day 2009 brings surprising figures: 2.7 million new HIV infections and 2 million AIDS deaths in the previous year.‎ ‎ Researchers have discovered more than a dozen antibodies that target the HIV virus. They hope that these discoveries will lead to a vaccine that offers long-term protection against AIDS. One antibody in particular, PGT 128, is considered among the most potent and promising—preventing about 70% of viruses from infecting cells in laboratory tests.‎ ‎12. Why does the author mention the year ‎1981 in the first paragraph?‎ ‎ ‎ A.‎ ‎ Because there is no recorder before 1981.‎ ‎ ‎ B.‎ ‎ Because the author thinks 1981 is the first year of a decade.‎ ‎ ‎ C.‎ ‎ Because in 1981, the first case of AIDS was confirmed.‎ ‎ ‎ D.‎ ‎ Because there was fewer AIDS before 1981, even none.‎ ‎13. What is the second paragraph mainly about?‎ ‎ ‎ A.‎ ‎ HIV: from monkeys to humans.‎ ‎ ‎ B.‎ ‎ A hunter's killing caused HIV.‎ ‎ ‎ C.‎ ‎ HIV is harmless to the chimpanzee.‎ ‎ ‎ D.‎ ‎ HIV is deadly to humans.‎ ‎14. How many famous people died of AIDS mentioned in the passage between 1985 and 1991?‎ ‎ ‎ A.‎ ‎ 2.‎ B.‎ ‎ 3.‎ C.‎ ‎ 4.‎ D.‎ ‎ 5.‎ ‎15. Which of the following statements is true according to the passage?‎ ‎ ‎ A.‎ ‎ The red ribbon and the World AIDS Day are both the symbols of AIDS solidarity.‎ ‎ ‎ B.‎ ‎ In 2008, AIDS caused most deaths since 1981 and the death began ‎ to go down.‎ ‎ ‎ C.‎ ‎ In 1986, President Reagan used the word "AIDS" and made a speech on it.‎ ‎ ‎ D.‎ ‎ During 2001-2002, AIDS is the leading cause of death in the world aged 15 to 59.‎ ‎16. What attitude does the author have towards the treatment to AIDS in the future?‎ ‎ ‎ A.‎ ‎ Pessimistic.‎ B.‎ ‎ Optimistic.‎ C.‎ ‎ Objective.‎ D.‎ ‎ Uncertain.‎ 参考答案：12. C 13. A 14. B 15. D 16. B ‎[七]‎ ‎ New archaeological discoveries suggest that trade between Europe and Asia along the Silk Road probably began many centuries earlier than once thought. The findings, coupled with a range of scientific and historical research, could add a fascinating new page to the epic of the Silk Road.‎ ‎ The latest and most surprising discovery is pieces of silk found in the hair of an Egyptian mummy from about 1,000 BC, long before regular traffic on the Silk Road and at least one thousand years before silk was previously thought to be used in Egypt.‎ ‎ The official origin of East-West commerce along the road is usually placed in the late 2nd century BC when an agent of the Chinese Emperor Wudi returned from a dangerous secret mission(使命) across the western desert into the remote Central Asia. The agent, Zhang Qian, travelled as far as Afghanistan and brought back knowledge of even more distant lands such as Persia, Syria and a place known as Lijien, perhaps Rome. Historians have called this one of the most important journeys in ancient times. His journey opened the way for what have been thought to be the first indirect contacts between the ancient world's two superpowers, China and Rome. Chinese silk, first traded to central Asian tribes for war horses and to ‎ the Parthians of old Persia in exchange for acrobats and ostrich eggs, was soon finding its way through a network of merchants to the luxury markets of Rome.‎ ‎ But the new discoveries show that Chinese silk was apparently present in the West long before the Han emperor started organized trade over the Silk Road. The research could change thinking about the early history of world trade and wonder the mystery of just when and how Europe and the Mediterranean lands first became aware of the glorious culture.‎ ‎ 8. The underlined word "coupled" in the first paragraph could best be replaced by  .‎ ‎ ‎ A.‎ ‎ produced B.‎ ‎ continued C.‎ ‎ doubled D.‎ ‎ combined ‎ 9. The silk thread found in the hair of an Egyptian mummy suggests that  .‎ ‎ ‎ A.‎ ‎ Egyptians had probably travelled to China to buy silk ‎ ‎ B.‎ ‎ trade along the Silk Road began earlier than once thought ‎ ‎ C.‎ ‎ historical research often achieves fascinating results ‎ ‎ D.‎ ‎ new light can now be thrown on ancient trading practices ‎10. Until recently most historians officially believed that trade along the Silk Road  .‎ ‎ ‎ A.‎ ‎ originated in the 2nd century BC ‎ ‎ B.‎ ‎ extended human migration into eastern Asia ‎ ‎ C.‎ ‎ began a million years ago ‎ ‎ D.‎ ‎ primarily benefited the Egyptians ‎11. Historians have always considered Zhang Qian's journey important because they believe  .‎ ‎ ‎ A.‎ ‎ he brought back knowledge of Rome to the emperor ‎ ‎ B.‎ ‎ he discovered the Silk Road ‎ ‎ C.‎ ‎ he helped establish East-West trade ‎ ‎ D.‎ ‎ he travelled as far as Afghanistan 参考答案：8. D 9. B 10. A 11. C ‎ ‎[八]‎ ‎ The most common symbol of a nation in the modern world is also one of the most ancient. With a clear symbolic meaning, the flag in the traditional form is still used today to mark buildings, ships and other vehicles related to a country.‎ ‎ The national flag as we know it today is in no way a primitive (原始的) artifact. It is, rather, the product of thousands of years' development. Historians believe that it had two major ancestors, of which the earlier served to show wind direction.‎ ‎ Early human beings used very fragile (脆弱的) houses and boats. Often strong winds would tear roofs from houses or cause high waves that endangered travelers. People's food supplies were similarly vulnerable. Even after they had learned how to plant grains, they still needed help from nature to ensure good harvests. Therefore they feared and depended on the power of the wind, which could bring warmth from one direction and cold from another.‎ ‎ Using a simple piece of cloth tied to the top of a post to tell the direction of the wind was more dependable than earlier methods, such as watching the rising of smoke from a fire. The connection of the flag with heavenly power was therefore reasonable. Early human societies began to fix long pieces of cloth to the tops of totems(图腾) before carrying them into battle. They believed that the power of the wind would be added to the good wishes of gods and ancestors represented by the totems themselves.‎ ‎ These flags developed very slowly into modern flags. The first known flag of a nation or a ruler was unmarked: The king of China around 1000 BC was known to have a white flag carried ahead of him. This practice might have been learned from Egyptians even further in the past, but it was from China that it spread over trade routes through India, then across Arab ‎ Lands, and finally to Europe, where it met up with the other ancestor of the national flag.‎ ‎ 4. The best title for the passage would be  .‎ ‎ ‎ A.‎ ‎ Development of the National Flag ‎ ‎ B.‎ ‎ Power of the National Flag ‎ ‎ C.‎ ‎ Type of Flags ‎ ‎ D.‎ ‎ Uses of flags ‎ 5. The underlined word "vulnerable" in paragraph 3 means  .‎ ‎ ‎ A.‎ ‎ impossible to make sure of B.‎ ‎ likely to be protected ‎ ‎ C.‎ ‎ easy to damage D.‎ ‎ difficult to find ‎ 6. What does the author know of the first national flag?‎ ‎ ‎ A.‎ ‎ He knows when it was sent to Europe.‎ ‎ ‎ B.‎ ‎ He believes it was made in China.‎ ‎ ‎ C.‎ ‎ He thinks it came from China.‎ ‎ ‎ D.‎ ‎ He doubts where it started.‎ ‎ 7. What will the author most probably talk about next?‎ ‎ ‎ A.‎ ‎ The role of China in the spread of the national flag.‎ ‎ ‎ B.‎ ‎ The second ancestor of the national flag.‎ ‎ ‎ C.‎ ‎ The use of modern flags in Europe.‎ ‎ ‎ D.‎ ‎ The importance of modern flags.‎ 参考答案：4. A 5. C 6. D 7. B ‎ ‎[九]‎ This is a story that happened in Europe in the 17th century. Tulips(郁金香) were introduced into Holland before the 17th century but it did not take long for the flowers to gain popularity among the upper classes. Flowers of such beauty soon became symbols of power and the rich tried their best to lay their hands on some to display them in their gardens. When more people learned of the prices that the rich were willing to pay for tulips, they knew they just found a “get-rich-quick” gold mine.‎ ‎ By 1634, the whole country was so attracted by tulips that all other activities almost came to a stop. People were trading in tulips and even buying and selling bulbs(球茎). At that time, one rare bulb cost as much as ten tons of cheese.‎ ‎ Many made a fortune in the beginning. As the prices moved in one direction, they only needed to buy low and sell high, buy high and sell higher. After the gains, confidence rose and many sold away all their property in order to invest more money in tulips, hoping to make more money. The desire was so strong that those who were watching also rushed to the tulip market. Everyone thought that the high demand for tulips would continue forever and prices could only go up because more and more people from all over the world would start to like tulips.‎ ‎ When the prices of tulips was much higher than it should be, few people bought them for planting in their gardens. The real demand for the flowers seemed greater than it really was. Many people were buying them for speculation(投机), not appreciation. In 1637, for some unknown reasons, a group of people suddenly realized the danger. The prices of tulips began to fall and the market crashed. When confidence was destroyed, it could not be recovered and prices kept falling. Soon the nobles and the rich became poor. Cries of suffering were heard everywhere in Holland.‎ ‎ 1. Why did the upper classes buy tulips in the beginning?‎ ‎ ‎ A.‎ ‎ Because the prices of tulips were low.‎ ‎ ‎ B.‎ ‎ Because they wanted to make a fortune.‎ ‎ ‎ C.‎ ‎ Because tulips were introduced from abroad.‎ ‎ ‎ D.‎ ‎ Because tulips were beautiful and represented power.‎ ‎ 2. It can be inferred from the passage that  .‎ ‎ ‎ A.‎ ‎ greed(贪婪) was the reason why so many people were mad about tulips ‎ ‎ B.‎ ‎ tulips became popular among the upper classes very slowly ‎ ‎ C.‎ ‎ people who were mad about tulips bought them for appreciation ‎ ‎ D.‎ ‎ when the prices were extremely high, most people planted tulips in their gardens ‎ 3. The passage is mainly about  .‎ ‎ ‎ A.‎ ‎ Europe in the 17th century ‎ ‎ B.‎ ‎ buying and selling tulips ‎ ‎ C.‎ ‎ being mad about tulips ‎ ‎ D.‎ ‎ the life of the nobles and the rich 参考答案：1. D 2. A 3. C ‎ ‎[十]‎ Scientists have found we are more likely to die on our birthdays than any other day. Researchers who studied more than two million people over 40 years found a rise in deaths from heart attacks, strokes (中风), falls and suicides on that day.‎ William Shakespeare died on his birthday on April 23, 1616. The actress Ingrid Bergman also died on her birthday, in August, 1982. On average, people over the age of 60 were 14 percent more likely to die on their birthdays. Heart attacks rose 18.6 percent on birthdays and were higher for men than women while strokes were up 21.5 percent — mostly in women. Dr. Vladeta Ajdacic of the University of Zurich said, “Birthdays end in a dangerous way more frequently than might be expected.” He added that risk of birthday death rose as people got older.‎ Canadian data also showed that strokes were more likely on birthdays, especially among patients with high blood pressure. There was a 34.9 percent rise in suicides, 28.5 percent rise in accidental deaths not related to cars, and a 44 percent rise in deaths from falls on birthdays. Psychologist Professor Richard Wiseman, from the University of ‎ Hertfordshire, said，“It seems to be a reliable finding. There are two cases — one is the case that suggests you eat too much and you are getting over excited and that causes you to die.” He said continuously, “The other is a placebo (安慰剂) effect. You_are_knifeedged_on_death. And you kept yourself going until your birthday. You think ’That’s it. I’ve had enough. I’m out of here.’” Dr. Lewis Halsey of the University of Roehampton said, “One interesting finding is that more suicides happen on birthdays, though only in men. Perhaps men are more likely to make a statement about their unhappiness when they think people will be taking more notice of them.”‎ The study is published in the journal Annals of Epidemiology.‎ 语篇解读：本文是一篇说明文。研究表明，60岁以上人群在生日那天死亡率升高，并分析了原因。‎ ‎5．Which of the following can properly be put at the beginning of Paragraph 1?‎ A．Be happy on your birthday.‎ B．Be ready to care for others.‎ C．Be cautious about what you eat.‎ D．Be careful when blowing out candles.‎ 解析：选D　推理判断题。根据第一段第一句可知，生日那天的死亡率更高。D项意为“吹生日蜡烛时要小心”，承接下文，可以放在第一段的开头。故答案选D。‎ ‎6．Which of the following explanations for the birthday death is TRUE?‎ A．More women tend to kill themselves on birthdays.‎ B．Strokes rise on birthday in both men and women.‎ C．Eating too much and getting much excitement make you die on birthday.‎ D．Unhappiness gets you to be conscious of the importance of noticing others.‎ 解析：选C　细节理解题。根据第三段第四句可知，在生日那天死亡的原因包括吃得太多和过度兴奋。故答案选C。‎ ‎7．What does the underlined sentence in Paragraph 3 mean?‎ A．You’re soon dying.‎ B．The knife is very dangerous.‎ C．You’ve broken down.‎ D．The edge of the knife is sharp.‎ 解析：选A　句意理解题。根据画线句后的“And you kept yourself ...I’m out of here.’”可知，此处应指你离死亡已经不远，但你强撑着身体，想等到生日那天享完了福再死。故画线句意为“你不久就要死去”。故答案选A。‎ ‎8．Where is the passage most likely to be taken from?‎ A．A textbook. B．A storybook.‎ C．A magazine. D．An advertisement.‎ 解析：选C　文章出处题。根据最后一段可知，这篇文章应选自杂志。故答案选C。‎