新人教版(2019)英语必修二 专题训练:Unit1-Unit5单元话题阅读(理解15篇原卷版+解析版)

文档属性

名称 新人教版(2019)英语必修二 专题训练:Unit1-Unit5单元话题阅读(理解15篇原卷版+解析版)
格式 zip
文件大小 3.3MB
资源类型 试卷
版本资源 人教版(2019)
科目 英语
更新时间 2023-01-14 15:22:15

文档简介

中小学教育资源及组卷应用平台
新人教版(2019)英语必修二:专题训练
Unit1-Unit5各单元话题阅读理解15 篇 (解析版)
Passage 1
In 1686, a French ship called the Belle disappeared in Texas’ Matagorda Bay.It would be more than 300 years before archaeologists(考古学家) were able to dig the site.It turned out to be well worth the wait.The Belle could provide important information about historical events and the last journey of the famous French explorer, Rene Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle, or Robert de La Salle.The Belle was among four French ships that were headed for the mouth of the Mississippi River.The ships sailed far off course and landed on the coast of Texas, about 400 miles from where they had meant to go.
People on the ship faced many difficulties, such as fights with the native American people and disease, but they finally built their homes in a place they named Fort St.Louis.During a strong winter storm, the Belle ended up on the sea floor in Matagorda Bay.
In 1995, after years of searching, an archaeologist named J.Barto Arnold finally came across the wreckage(残骸) of the Belle.It took nearly a year for archaeologists to dig the site.They used a cofferdam that made the work of the archaeologists much easier.It was a large, special wall that was placed around the wreckage of the ship.Workers took all water out of the area inside the cofferdam so that the archaeologists didn’t need to work in the water.
After so many years, you might think almost everything would have disappeared because seawater would destroy them bit by bit(渐渐地).Luckily, the thick mud, or wet earth, that covered the ship helped save the things that might have been lost forever.
About a million artifacts(物品) were found, including cloth, bone, wood, the body of the ship, three cannons, thousands of little glass balls, bells, and pottery.Many pieces are in Texas museums today, but it will be a long time before archaeologists have learned everything they can from this amazing discovery!
【解题导语】 本文是一篇说明文。文章介绍了著名法国沉船Belle号在美国得克萨斯州被发现和发掘的过程。
1.What was the cause of the disappearance of the Belle
A.Bad weather.
B.Fights with the natives.
C.A bad change of course.
D.The workers’ carelessness.
A 解析:细节理解题。由第二段中的During a strong winter storm, the Belle ended up on the sea floor in Matagorda Bay.可知,是恶劣的天气导致了Belle号的沉没。
2.How did the cofferdam help the archaeologists
A.It could dig into the sea floor.
B.It gave them a dry space.
C.It helped them find the artifacts.
D.It helped them reach the site.
B 解析:推理判断题。由第三段中的Workers took all water out of the area inside the cofferdam so that the archaeologists didn’t need to work in the water.可知,这个围堰给考古学家提供了干燥的工作空间。
3.Why were a lot of artifacts on the ship in good condition
A.The seawater in the area was unusual.
B.The ship was hidden under lots of mud.
C.They were covered with special materials.
D.They were protected by the air around them.
B 解析:细节理解题。由倒数第二段中的Luckily, the thick mud, or wet earth, that covered the ship helped save the things that might have been lost forever.可知,这艘沉船上面覆盖着很多泥土,因此船上的很多遗物都被保存下来了。
Passage 2
The Pharos, the great lighthouse of Alexandria, was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.It stood on the island of Pharos, in the harbor(港口) of the city of Alexandria.In 280 B.C.,Ptolemy Ⅰ Soter, the ruler of Egypt, ordered the building of the lighthouse.Twenty years later, it was finished—the first lighthouse in the world and the tallest building on Earth, besides the Great Pyramid of Egypt.
The Pharos was designed by Sostrates, a Greek architect(建筑师).Sostrates wanted to leave his name on the base of the lighthouse.But Ptolemy refused, ordering that only his own name appeared on the building.But Sostrates found a way to do that.At the base of the Pharos, Sostrates left a message containing his own name.Then he covered it with plaster(建筑石膏) and left Ptolemy’s name over it.After many years, the plaster disappeared and people knew the true architect of the lighthouse.
In 1302 and 1323, two strong earthquakes hit Alexandria, damaging the lighthouse.In 1326, it finally fell into the sea.Much of what we know about the lighthouse comes from the writings of Arabs who once visited the Pharos.
The Pharos was about 384 feet tall, the same height as a modern 40 story building.At the top of the lighthouse stood a large statue of Poseidon, the Greek god of the sea.Under it was a beacon, the source of light for the lighthouse.The Pharos used two kinds of beacons.At night, a large fire created the light.During the day, a huge mirror made use of the sunlight to create the light.
It was said that the mirror was also used to set enemy ships on fire as they entered the harbor by directing the sun’s rays (sunlight) at them.While the idea is interesting, it is also clearly impossible.
【解题导语】 本文是一篇说明文。文章介绍了古代世界七大奇迹之一的亚历山大灯塔。
1.Why did Sostrates use plaster at the base of the Pharos
A.To follow Ptolemy’s orders.
B.To hide his name left on the base.
C.To protect the base from damage.
D.To make the lighthouse more beautiful.
B 解析:细节理解题。由第二段中的Sostrates left a message containing his own name.Then he covered it with plaster(建筑石膏) and left Ptolemy’s name over it.可知,Sostrates 是亚历山大灯塔的设计者,他在底座使用建筑石膏是为了隐藏他的名字。
2.How long had the Pharos stayed standing
A.For about 800 years.
B.For about 1,000 years.
C.For about 1,600 years.
D.For about 2,000 years.
C 解析:数字计算题。由第一段中的In 280 B.C., Ptolemy Ⅰ Soter, the ruler of Egypt, ordered the building of the lighthouse.Twenty years later, it was finished可知,亚历山大灯塔于公元前280年建成;再由第三段中的In 1326, it finally fell into the sea.可知,它大约存在了1 600年。 
3.What does the underlined word “it” in Paragraph 4 refer to? 
A.The lighthouse. B.The statue.
C.A large fire. D.A huge mirror.
B 解析:代词指代题。联系前一句At the top of the lighthouse stood a large statue of Poseidon, the Greek god of the sea.可知,此处it指的是波塞冬雕像。
4.What’s the main purpose of the text
A.To explain why the Pharos was built.
B.To find more secrets about the Pharos.
C.To offer some basic facts about the Pharos.
D.To introduce the true architect of the Pharos.
C 解析:写作意图题。通读全文可知,本文主要介绍了埃及亚历山大灯塔的一些基本信息。
Passage 3
What do you usually do when a flying insect lands on your arm Most likely you blow it away.But what if that bug were a ladybug(瓢虫) Then chances are that you would let it stay.What is it about ladybugs that we like
Farmers once thought ladybugs were a good luck sign.A ladybug in the field meant that the crops(庄稼) would be successful and the weather would be good.The farmers may have been exaggerating(夸大) about what a very small bug can do, but in fact ladybugs do help out with the crops.They eat harmful insects.
Actually, it is not the adult ladybug that eats the other insects.It’s the ladybug larvae(幼虫).Ladybugs lay their eggs on leaves that are covered with aphids or other insects.When the larvae come out of the eggs, they are very hungry and will eat mites, aphids, mealybugs, green flies, and other crop destroyers.
A single ladybug larva can eat over 1,000 aphids in one day.In the 1800s, ladybugs were brought all the way from Australia to California and set free among orange trees that were dying from being eaten by insects.The little red and black “eating machines” completely saved all the trees.
Ladybugs go about their daily business without worrying much about anything.Very few birds or insects will eat a ladybug because it gives off something that is dangerous to eat.Ladybugs also protect themselves by playing dead.They fall off leaves and remain very still until their enemy goes away.
So next time you see a ladybug, think about what it may be up to.Maybe it is off to save an orange tree.Maybe its next move will be to fall off a leaf and play dead or stand_up_to a bird about 100 times its size.Maybe it’s letting you know that the weather will be good tomorrow.Who knows Ladybugs are special that way.
【解题导语】 本文是一篇说明文。文章是对瓢虫的介绍。
1.What do we know about mites and aphids
A.They do harm to the crops.
B.They eat more than they should.
C.They are food for adult ladybugs.
D.They are the enemy of ladybug larvae.
A 解析:推理判断题。由第三段中的mites, aphids, mealybugs, green flies, and other crop destroyers可知,这些都是对庄稼有害的虫子。
2.What does the underlined part “stand up to” in the last paragraph probably mean
A.Play with. B.Worry about.
C.Get along with. D.Fight back against.
D 解析:词义猜测题。由倒数第二段中的Very few birds or insects will eat a ladybug because it gives off something that is dangerous to eat.可知,很少有鸟或昆虫吃瓢虫。再由画线部分后的a bird about 100 times its size可知,当遇见比它大的鸟时,瓢虫会释放某种物质从而对鸟造成威胁。故此处的stand up to有“回击、抵御”之意。
3.What does the author think of the ladybug
A.It is a crop destroyer.
B.It is a good luck sign.
C.It is a little flying helper.
D.It is a big eating machine.
C 解析:推理判断题。本文旨在介绍瓢虫这种能够吃害虫的昆虫,它们对于庄稼来说是得力的帮手,故C项中的helper最符合瓢虫的这一特性。
Passage 4
Each year, people are becoming more and more worried about the future of our planet.People are now starting to agree—global warming will certainly make a difference to the world’s weather.While some parts of the world may have more floods(洪水), some other parts might have long periods of dry weather.All of this will have a serious influence on the world’s agriculture(农业).And that could make it difficult for us to get enough food to survive.
This explains the idea behind the Svalbard Global Seed Vault(种子库).The Seed Vault is built into a mountain on an island near the North Pole.The purpose is to protect the world’s agriculture from future disasters.This may not just be a question of global warming.Perhaps there will be a major nuclear disaster or war one day.These things won’t be a problem for Svalbard.
Some experts think that the population of the earth will probably go up by 50% in the next 40 years.Because of climate change, it probably won’t be easy for some plants to survive.Having many different types of plants will be necessary for agriculture to adapt to(适应) changes in the environment.In the Svalbard Global Seed Vault, there is space for 4.5 million types of seed.At the moment there are over 770,000 different types there.
Any country in the world can leave seeds in Svalbard without paying.The seeds of some plants, such as peas, only survive for 20 to 30 years.But others will last for hundreds of years.
In 2028, the Svalbard Vault will celebrate its 20th birthday.200 years in the future, it’s possible that the ice caps will disappear.Even if this happens, Svalbard will be safe.That’s because it is on a mountain and will be above the sea level.And because it is so close to the North Pole, even if their electricity stops working, the ice will keep a cool temperature of -3.5℃ to keep the seeds in good condition.But the best protection is the fact that it is in such a faraway place.After all, maybe one day this will be the most important building in the whole world.
【解题导语】 本文是一篇说明文。文章介绍了斯瓦尔巴全球种子库。
1.What does the first paragraph mainly introduce
A.The role of agriculture.
B.The reason for global warming.
C.The future problems we’ll face.
D.The planet where we’ll live in the future.
C 解析:段落大意题。由第一段提及的global warming, more floods(洪水), long periods of dry weather, make it difficult for us to get enough food to survive可知,本段主要介绍了人类未来可能遇到的问题。
2.What is the Seed Vault mainly used for
A.Storing plant seeds.
B.Growing more plants.
C.Discovering new plants.
D.Providing humans with food.
A 解析:推理判断题。由第二段介绍该种子库的目的to protect the world’s agriculture from future disasters以及第三段中对种子库的内部用途介绍there is space for 4.5 million types of seed.At the moment there are over 770,000 different types there.可知,该种子库主要是用来储藏植物种子。
3.What do we know about the Seed Vault
A.It needs more space.
B.It provides service for free.
C.It is built above a mountain.
D.It will close in 200 years.
B 解析:细节理解题。由倒数第二段中的Any country in the world can leave seeds in Svalbard without paying.可知,该种子库提供的服务完全免费。
4.If there is an electrical problem at the Seed Vault, what will happen to the seeds
A.They will be sent away.
B.They will still be safe.
C.They will be of no use.
D.They will be planted at once.
B 解析:细节理解题。由第二段中的The Seed Vault is built into a mountain on an island near the North Pole.和最后一段中的even if their electricity stops working, the ice will keep a cool temperature of -3.5℃ to keep the seeds in good condition可知,即使停电,种子库中的种子也会安然无恙,因为其修建在北极冰山中。
Passage 5
Ninety five percent of American families are now online, with adults spending averagely five hours a day at home on the computer, which greatly influences their life, according to a new study.Yes, we’re connecting more with friends, but we’re also having dinner quickly so we can update our Facebook status.Does your life suffer from too much time spent online, and do you properly protect your family’s identity when you share their information online Here’s how to take control of them.
According to Sherry Turkle, professor of psychology at MIT, many people use their computers to avoid the messiness of real life.It’s difficult to refuse a friend, but it’s easy to send out an e mail to do that.When you find yourself hiding behind your screen, make an effort to reconnect with people face to face.“It’s not because the technology is bad,” says Turkle.“It’s a matter of figuring out its place.”
Proud parents can’t help posting photos of their kids.But publicly sharing your kids’information, such as your child’s full name, birth date, and place of residence could put him in danger.To avoid the risk, invite the people you know well to view the photos on password protected(加密的) websites such as Flickr and Snapfish.If you use Facebook, create a group of your inner circle specially for sharing photos and news of your kids.
Need a handy way to measure your family’s online habits Check out the family plan on rescuetime.com.It tracks how each member of your family spends time online, and it shows the data by hour, day, and week.The website, which also offers personal plans, even allows you to block distracting(分心的) websites from your loved ones and yourself.
If reaching for your phone to check for messages and e mails has become an uncontrollable habit, try this trick.Keep your devices on but turn off every message reminding, vibration(振动), and so on.Check for updates only when you finish a task.
【解题导语】 本文是一篇说明文。文章针对网络给人们带来的一些问题,提出了一些具体的建议。
1.Sherry Turkle probably agrees that ________.
A.Internet is just a tool for people
B.people have to know their social status
C.technology can help improve friendship
D.going online helps people lead a happier life
A 解析:观点态度题。通读第二段尤其是“It’s not because the technology is bad,” says Turkle.“It’s a matter of figuring out its place.”可知,Sherry Turkle认为网络只是一种工具,人们应该弄清楚它的位置。
2.How are family members’online habits tracked by rescuetime.com
A.By offering plans and blocking unsafe websites.
B.By blocking unwanted contact and information.
C.By tracking their online time and sorting out data.
D.By making plans and storing collected data.
C 解析:细节理解题。根据第四段中的It tracks how each member of your family spends time online, and it shows the data by hour, day, and week.可知答案。
3.What can be the best title for the text
A.Important Tips on Protecting Online Information
B.How to Take Control of Families’ Technology Time
C.Key Advice on How to Avoid Unsafe Websites
D.How to Break Away from Bad Online Habits
B 解析:标题归纳题。通读全文可知,本文作者就网络给家庭带来的时间、安全、成瘾等问题,给出了具体的建议。
Passage 6
Khan Academy is a website providing a free education for any person.The website includes more than 4,000 short teaching videos about many different subjects.Every month, over 7 million people go to the Khan Academy website to watch its videos.
Khan Academy began with one man named Salman Khan.As a young man, Khan got a degree from Harvard Business School and began to work in business.
In 2006, Khan used the Internet to help his young cousins, who lived far away, with their mathematics schoolwork.He drew numbers and pictures on the website to teach them.After a time, he put his videos onto the website YouTube, where his cousins could watch them any time they wanted.But Khan noticed that other people were also watching his videos on YouTube.
By 2009, the number of people watching his videos on YouTube was getting very large.Khan decided to make the videos his job instead.So he officially began Khan Academy, providing videos on mathematics and other school subjects.
People did not have to pay to watch the videos.But they could give Khan money if they wanted to support his work.Some people did give Khan small amounts of money, but he was still having a hard time.Later, a woman told Khan that Bill Gates used Khan Academy for his kids.After that, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation began giving money to Khan Academy.In 2010 Google gave the website money too, wanting Khan to translate his videos into the world’s most common languages.Today, people can see Khan’s videos in many different languages.
Some people think that Khan Academy will be the way more and more people learn in the future.Teachers can use it in their classrooms.Khan believes that Khan Academy will never, and should never, replace a school.But he believes teachers and students can use it to make schools better.
【解题导语】 本文是一篇记叙文。文章主要介绍了Khan Academy这个学习网站的成立背景、发展过程以及现状。
1.What can one get from Khan Academy
A.Video making methods.
B.Free learning information.
C.Any help with the schoolwork.
D.A good number of beautiful pictures.
B 解析:细节理解题。根据第一段中的Khan Academy is a website providing a free education for any person.可知。
2.In its early days, Khan Academy________.
A.faced money problems
B.had trouble with language
C.was unpopular with schools
D.had a shortage of skilled teachers
A 解析:细节理解题。根据第五段可知,Khan Academy网站在创办初期曾遇到过资金问题。
3.What does Salman Khan think of Khan Academy
A.It will play an active role in school teaching.
B.It can replace teachers in classrooms.
C.It can replace a teaching school.
D.It’s the future of education.
A 解析:推理判断题。根据最后一段中的But he believes teachers and students can use it to make schools better.可知,Salman Khan觉得他的网站可以促进教学。
4.The text is mainly written to________.
A.describe an academic leader
B.introduce a learning website
C.offer some network knowledge
D.compare two different learning styles
B 解析:写作意图题。本文主要介绍了Khan Academy这个学习网站的成立背景、发展过程以及现状,由此可知B项概括正确。
Passage 7
In 2013, Harris Academy, a school in south London, stopped its students from using slang(俚语) words, such as ain’t.The move led to an argument over whether it is necessary to control the way students speak.
The creation of slang is one way languages change.Slang, or informal language, usually changes more rapidly than standard language.For example, the word “groovy”,meaning “great”,used to be very popular in the 1960s and 1970s.But by 1980, people had stopped using it.
One important reason we use slang is to show others that we belong to a group.Another is to communicate an idea in a more colorful or humorous way.For example, the phrase jump ship creates a stronger image(形象) than the more standard leave an organization.While in the Internet age, slang expressions are created faster than ever.Often, Internet slang words are created to make messages faster and easier to type.
Some people are strongly against the use of slang.Teachers at Harris Academy were worried that slang would prevent their students from learning how to read, write, and express themselves correctly.They thought this might cause problems for them when they finally went on to apply(申请) to universities or companies.
However, some people think differently.Linguist Tony Thorne sees slang as a way for speakers of a language to show their creativity and humor.And, unlike what some believe, slang is not a new phenomenon(现象).As Thorne explains, “Slang has not become more popular, simply more public.” In today’s highly connected world, slang has become more noticeable because of better tools to observe(观察) language change.
Perhaps the worries mentioned above can be solved by making people understand when to use certain forms of language.As long as people use slang properly, there is no need to completely avoid it.
【解题导语】 本文是一篇议论文。某学校禁止学生使用俚语,此举引发了社会各方的争论。作者就此也发表了自己的看法。
1.Why did the author mention the example of “groovy”?
A.To show how languages change.
B.To show slang often changes fast.
C.To show slang was popular in the 1960s.
D.To show how standard language forms over time.
B 解析:推理判断题。第二段中,作者阐述了观点:俚语通常比标准语言变化更快,接着用groovy的流行与消亡来对该观点进行举例说明。
2.What is Paragraph 3 mainly about
A.Why people use slang.
B.How people use slang.
C.Different types of slang.
D.The development of slang.
A 解析:段落大意题。由第三段中的One important reason we use slang..., Another...以及Internet slang words...faster and easier to type可知,该段列举了人们使用俚语的若干原因。
3.What can we infer from Tony Thorne’s words in Paragraph 5
A.Slang takes time to develop.
B.Slang is being accepted by the public.
C.Slang is increasingly known to the public.
D.More and more people are beginning to use slang.
C 解析:推理判断题。第五段中的slang has become more noticeable because of better tools to observe(观察) language change是对Thorne所说话语的补充说明,因为出现较好的观察语言变化的工具,俚语的曝光度增加了,即俚语正为越来越多的大众所知。
4.What’s the author’s attitude towards Harris Academy’s decision on slang
A.He is against it.
B.He is in favor of it.
C.He is doubtful about it.
D.He is uncertain about it.
A 解析:推理判断题。由最后一段中的As long as people use slang properly, there is no need to completely avoid it.可推断,作者对Harris Academy禁止学生使用俚语的举措持反对态度。
Passage 8
The Golden Gate Bridge was the longest bridge in the world from 1937 when it was completed until the Verrazano Narrows Bridge was built in New York in 1964.Today, it is still the ninth longest bridge in the world.
For many years before the Golden Gate Bridge was built, the only way to get across San Francisco Bay was by ship.And by the early twentieth century the Bay was crowded because of them.In the 1920s, engineer and bridge builder Joseph Strauss believed that a bridge should be built across the Golden Gate to solve the problem.
Many groups went against him,each for their own selfish reasons.Besides, the engineering challenge was also huge—the Golden Gate Bridge area often has winds of up to 60 miles per hour, and strong ocean currents(洋流) sweep below the surface.If all that weren’t enough,it was the middle of the Great Depression, and funds were hard to find.
Strauss didn’t give up, and the Golden Gate Bridge history began when San Francisco officials approved(批准) $35 million to build the Golden Gate Bridge.After the artistic design and red color were chosen, construction (建造) work began in 1933.The Golden Gate Bridge project was completed in 1937, an important date in San Francisco history.
Strauss was a pioneer in building safety.The Bay Bridge, which was being built at the same time cost 24 lives while the Golden Gate Bridge cost only 12, a great achievement in a period of time when one man was killed on most construction projects for every million spent.
【解题导语】 本文是一篇说明文。文章主要介绍了美国的金门大桥在建桥时面临重重困难,但是Joseph Strauss并没有放弃,最终于1937年建成这座大桥。
1.What do we know about the Golden Gate Bridge
A.It remained the world’s longest bridge for 30 years.
B.It was the widest bridge worldwide when completed.
C.It is of the same age as the Verrazano Narrows Bridge.
D.There are only 8 bridges worldwide longer than it now.
D 解析:细节理解题。根据第一段中的Today,it is still the ninth longest bridge in the world.可知,现在世界上只有八座桥比金门大桥长。
2.Why did Strauss want to build the Golden Gate Bridge
A.To prove his artistic ability.
B.To build the world’s longest bridge.
C.To solve traffic jams at San Francisco Bay.
D.To make crossing San Francisco Bay possible.
C 解析:推理判断题。根据第二段中的the Bay was crowded because of them可知,Strauss建桥的原因是旧金山湾交通拥堵。
3.What does Paragraph 3 mainly talk about
A.The necessity for building the bridge.
B.The hard time of the Great Depression.
C.The bad weather in the Golden Gate Bridge area.
D.The difficulties in building the Golden Gate Bridge.
D 解析:段落大意题。根据第三段的内容可知,该段主要讲述了建造这座大桥时面临的重重困难,包括反对意见、恶劣的地理因素及低迷的经济等。
Passage 9
Everything, no matter how great it is, will always have its problems.If you ever find yourself in an argument(争论) about renewable(可再生的) energy with someone who needs to receive more education, do your part for the environment by giving the following facts.
Argument one: renewable energy is expensive.This argument is only a surface truth.For a large house or small business, to start using renewable energy can be expensive at first.There’s a lot of equipment(设备) to buy.However, in the following 10 or 20 years, you’ll never see another power bill again.If you make lots of energy, you might even be able to sell it back to the power company.
Argument two: renewable energy takes up a lot of space.If you have a small yard, people might have told you that you’ll never be able to fit solar energy equipment in there.Even if you can’t, look at land for sale close to your place.If your neighbors are interested in going green, you might be able to go in together to buy a piece of land and build a large solar farm you can share.Many houses can benefit from one solar farm.Not everyone needs a big yard.
Argument three: renewable energy isn’t necessary.Renewable energy allows us to power our lives without using up anything.We don’t need to do much—we can just make receptacles(容器) for the free, renewable energy that already surrounds us.When you think about it, it’s almost like wasting energy if we don’t collect it.
Argument four: renewable energy isn’t as efficient(效率高的).A UK based study on renewable energy actually found that it was a lot more efficient than traditional energy sources.Since it produces almost no waste heat, while most other energy sources can produce more than half of their production in waste heat, it’s safe to say that using the energy we already have in our daily life can be more than twice as efficient.
【解题导语】 本文是一篇议论文。文章讨论了使用可再生能源的必要性。
1.Why did the author write the text
A.To develop arguments against renewable energy.
B.To explain why renewable energy should be used.
C.To teach people to make full use of renewable energy.
D.To show the importance of protecting the environment.
B 解析:推理判断题。由第一段中的If you ever find yourself in an argument(争论) about renewable(可再生的) energy with someone who needs to receive more education, do your part for the environment by giving the following facts.可知,作者写这篇文章是为了解释为什么应该使用可再生能源。
2.What’s the weak point of using renewable energy
A.It’s mostly for small businesses.
B.It can be used for 20 years at most.
C.It takes up lots of money at the beginning.
D.It’s sometimes not enough for daily use.
C 解析:细节理解题。由第二段中的For a large house or small business, to start using renewable energy can be expensive at first.There’s a lot of equipment(设备) to buy.可知,使用可再生能源初期投资比较大。
3.What does the author suggest when your yard is too small
A.Make your solar farm to a smaller size.
B.Raise money with other people to buy land.
C.Move your family to a place with a bigger yard.
D.Put the solar energy equipment in your neighbor’s yard.
B 解析:细节理解题。由第三段中的If your neighbors are interested in going green, you might be able to go in together to buy a piece of land and build a large solar farm you can share.可知,如果自己家的院子不大,可以跟邻居们一起筹钱买一块空地来放置太阳能设备。
4.In what way is renewable energy efficient
A.Almost all of its production is usable.
B.It can produce heat in a very short time.
C.It produces more power than power companies.
D.Its waste heat is a bit less than traditional energy’s.
A 解析:细节理解题。由最后一段中的Since it produces almost no waste heat, while most other energy sources can produce more than half of their production in waste heat可知,可再生能源的利用率很高,几乎不会产生废弃热量。
Passage 10
On any given day, you can find most 10 year old boys throwing a ball around outside, riding their bikes, or playing video games.But Braden Baker is different.
Braden is a hearing impaired(受损的) 5th grader and has to wear hearing aids(助听器).Unluckily, Braden’s dog Chewy found his hearing aids on the floor and destroyed them—not once, but twice—and they had to be replaced.But at $3,500 to $6,000 a pair, Braden’s carelessness was costly.
Braden’s mother Ashley sat Braden down and had a long talk about taking better care of his hearing aids, explaining just how much they cost.“I told him that he was lucky we could buy another pair and that some people couldn’t afford a new pair,” Ashley said.
Those words clearly stuck in Braden’s mind, who realized that not every child who needed hearing aids could afford them.So recently, the 10 year old took it upon himself to start a GoFundMe page to raise money for those who aren’t so lucky.
Braden made a video to explain why he wanted to raise money.Ashley said, “We weren’t really sure how it would turn out.He began with a goal of $1, 000.We woke up the next morning and found that it had raised $400.”
This encouraged him to start making even more videos.Fast forward a few months and Braden’s GoFundMe page has raised over $15,000, which Braden donated to the Oticon Hearing Foundation.And that money will be used to help other families buy hearing aids for their children.
The project has not only taught Braden the value of money, but according to his mom,“he’s learned that if you put a small idea into action, amazing things can happen.”
As for Braden’s advice to those looking for ways to give back to others?“Don’t give up!Any small idea can get really big.”
【解题导语】 本文是一篇记叙文。文章讲述了10岁的听障男孩发起筹资网页,帮助贫困听障儿童购买助听器的故事。
1.Why did Braden change his hearing aids
A.He wanted a better pair of hearing aids.
B.The old pairs were destroyed by his dog.
C.His hearing problem became more serious.
D.He lost the old pairs because of his carelessness.
B 解析:细节理解题。由第二段的第二句可知,Braden的狗找到并弄坏了他的助听器。
2.What has led to Braden starting a GoFundMe page
A.His mother’s words about the usefulness of hearing aids.
B.His mother’s encouragement for him to do good things.
C.His wish to help poor children with hearing problems.
D.His need to buy a new pair of hearing aids.
C 解析:细节理解题。由第四段中的Braden’s mind,who realized that ...raise money for those who aren’t so lucky 可知,Braden了解到有些听障儿童买不起助听器,因此他想筹资帮助这些孩子。
3.How did Braden and his mother feel when the page was started
A.Uncertain. B.Satisfied.
C.Hopeful. D.Unexpected.
A 解析:细节理解题。由第五段中的We weren’t really sure how it would turn out.可知,一开始发起筹资网页时,Braden和妈妈都不确定结果会怎样。
4.What has Braden learned from working on the project
A.One should always use money smartly.
B.A small idea can make a big difference.
C.Videoing is a good way to reach people.
D.It’s important to dream big and hold on to it.
B 解析:细节理解题。由倒数第二段中的he’s learned that if you ...things can happen 可知,Braden 通过筹资学到一件事:将小小的想法付诸行动,会有很棒的结果出现。
Passage 11
Until March 18, New York City is hosting the New York International Children’s Film Festival (NYICFF).The festival presented films from 24 countries.50% of the filmmakers are women.
Since February 23, when the festival began, viewers have been able to choose from more than 100 films at six theaters across the city.Although the event is considered as a children’s festival, the films set no rules as to who you are or where you come from.
Among the films presented at the festival, Zoo and Zombillenium are two impressive(给人印象深刻的) ones.Zoo is a British war film that shows the difference that a kid can make.
Tom is the protagonist(主角) of this heartwarming story.Tom’s dad is the owner of the Belfast Zoo.After he leaves to fight in the war, Tom has to save the zoo’s baby elephant, Buster, from being killed in the war.
“I loved it,” said 9 year old Gabriel Bieller of New York City after seeing the film.“It really taught how kids could make a difference.”
Ella Hanson, 7, was also moved.“The sweet story of a kid like me making a difference when faced with difficulties caused by a war,” she said, “was very encouraging.”
Zombillenium is an animated(动画的) French film about working hard to achieve your dreams.Hector Saxe is the immediately dislikeable protagonist.His management job is all about rules.But after he starts working at the amusement park(游乐园) that he hates, he puts all of his love into getting it ready for his daughter to visit.
The film had many positive reactions(反响) from the audience.“The story presented great, lifelike characters,” said Sami Ali, 12.
Oliver, 10, who did not provide a last name, said, “It was rather sad, but it underlined the importance of never letting go of the things that you care about.”
【解题导语】 本文是一篇说明文。文章介绍了纽约国际儿童电影节的情况。
1.What can we learn about this year’s NYICFF
A.It lasted more than three weeks.
B.It attracted viewers from 24 countries.
C.It presented films mostly made by women.
D.It only presented films with kids as protagonists.
A 解析:细节理解题。由第一段中的Until March 18和第二段中的Since February 23可知,该电影节持续了三周多的时间。
2.What happens to Tom in the film Zoo
A.He saves the owner of a zoo.
B.He is forced to fight in a war.
C.He loses his father because of a war.
D.He helps an elephant live through a war.
D 解析:细节理解题。由第四段中的Tom has to save the zoo’s baby elephant, Buster, from being killed in the war可知,在该电影中,主角Tom 拯救动物园的小象,使它在战争中幸存。
3.How did Gabriel Bieller find the film Zoo
A.Creative. B.Relaxing.
C.Educative. D.Saddening.
C 解析:推理判断题。由第五段中的Gabriel Bieller所说的话“It really taught how kids could make a difference.”可知,他认为该电影对小孩子有教育意义。
4.What might the viewers think of Hector Saxe at first
A.Shy. B.Strict.
C.Hard working. D.Warm hearted.
B 解析:推理判断题。由倒数第三段中的Hector Saxe is the immediately dislikeable...all about rules.可知,Hector Saxe一出场就不招人喜爱,他一开始的管理工作列满了条条框框的规定,因此可推断他给观众的第一印象是非常严格。
Passage 12
In recent years, I’ve found mental illness has been a term largely avoided in conversation, and this has built a huge stigma(耻辱) against those suffering from depression(抑郁), anxiety, and other mental illnesses.What’s worse, mental illness is only brought up when the news draws our attention to it, but then the conversation quiets until the next sad thing happens.
It’s time for the conversation to continue.Instead of waiting for the next sad thing, we need to be open about mental health and about the struggles that come with mental illness and treatment.We need to develop an environment where people feel comfortable to ask for the help they need instead of hiding.
It takes a long time, but I am now open about my anxiety and depression.I’m open about my taking medication to treat my mental illnesses.I’m open about the struggle of finding the medication that works.I encourage everyone to do the same.Be honest and open with your conversations about mental health.The more comfortable people are with these conversations, the easier it will be for the conversation to continue.A continued conversation will lead to more ideas on treatment and more ideas on how to give help to those who need it.
We have the ability to help those we love and break the stigma around mental illness.Mental illness can actually affect anyone, impacting one out of every four people.
In short, let’s keep the conversation about mental health and mental illness open.Be sure to check up on your friends, and be open about the importance of mental health.If you’re comfortable, share your story, which may let others know they are not alone.Just as Albus Dumbledore said, “Happiness can be found in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light”.Therefore, remember to turn on the light.
【解题导语】 本文是一篇议论文。最近几年,人们对心理疾病总是讳莫如深。作者针对此事阐述了自己的看法并且提出了建议。
1.Which of the following would the author agree with
A.It’s hard to recover from mental illness.
B.We should pay much attention to our health.
C.The youth more likely suffer from mental illness.
D.People easily feel shame about having mental illness.
D 解析:观点态度题。根据第一段的In recent years, I’ve found mental illness has been a term...anxiety, and other mental illnesses.可知,人们常常因患精神疾病而感到羞耻。
2.How can a continued conversation benefit those with mental illnesses
A.By reducing their anxiety.
B.By making them feel comfortable.
C.By helping them get support from others.
D.By helping them obtain some good advice on treatment.
D 解析:细节理解题。根据第三段的A continued conversation will lead to more ideas on treatment and more ideas on how to give help to those who need it.可知,如果出现心理问题,多跟别人深入交流有好处,也许可以得到治疗的好办法。
3.What would be the best title for the passage
A.How to Start a Conversation
B.Be Open About Mental Health
C.The Importance of Mental Health
D.How to Avoid Depression and Anxiety
B 解析:标题归纳题。根据全文内容可知,本文主要讲了人们在面对有关心理健康或者心理疾病的问题时,总是选择避而不谈。因此作者建议人们应该大胆、敞开交流,以此来寻求最佳的解决方法,故可推出答案。
Passage 13
Andrew Feldman is a student at Lawrence Woodmere Academy (LWA) in Woodmere, New York.On June 25, 2018, he took home the top prize at the National High School Musical Theatre Awards(全美高中生音乐剧奖) at Broadway’s Minskoff Theatre.
Also known as the Jimmy Awards, the awards were named to remember James M.Nederlander, a theatre owner and Broadway producer who died in 2016.
Feldman won the award for Best Performance by an Actor for playing Frank Abagnale Jr.in LWA’s production of “Catch Me If You Can.” He and Reneé Rapp each received a$10,000 scholarship.Rapp from Charlotte, North Carolina, is the winner of the Best Performance by an Actress award.The other remaining seventy eight finalists received$3,000 scholarships.
The finalists received a week of training at the New York University Tisch School of the Arts (TSOA) before the awards event.Instructors from Broadway taught them basic skills of performing arts.
Feldman also won the Carnegie Mellon Pre College Scholarship.Carnegie Mellon University, based in Pittsburgh, was founded in 1900 by Andrew Carnegie.Feldman received an additional $7,500 to attend the university’s six week summer play program.
He has been a Broadway lover since seeing “Beauty and the Beast” when he was young.And then he performed in his first play, a production of “Annie,” at eight.
The shock of winning has still not disappeared.“Winning the Jimmy Award is not something I even imagined,” Feldman said.“I didn’t think it could actually happen! It’s now been about a week and a half and I still don’t believe it.”
In 2014, Feldman created a theatre company called Zneefrock Productions.The company is run totally by teens.It was set up to raise money for NEXT for Autism, an organization helping to support autism programs.
【解题导语】 本文是一篇记叙文。Andrew Feldman获得了2018年度全美高中生音乐剧大奖。
1.What did Feldman do during the week before June 25
A.He traveled around Pittsburgh.
B.He received training at TSOA.
C.He performed at the Minskoff Theatre.
D.He visited Carnegie Mellon University.
B 解析:推理判断题。由第四段中的The finalists received a week of training...(TSOA) before the awards event.可推断,在颁奖仪式之前,Feldman和其他决赛选手一起在帝势艺术学院接受了一周的培训。
2.What did Feldman say about winning the prize
A.He was certain of it.
B.He was not expecting it.
C.It took him a lot of effort.
D.It was not a great achievement.
B 解析:细节理解题。由倒数第二段中的Winning the Jimmy Award is not something I even imagined可知,Feldman并没有想到自己会获得吉米奖。
3.What is the text mainly about
A.A group of Broadway lovers.
B.A theatre company run by teens.
C.The winner of the Jimmy Awards.
D.The influence of the Jimmy Awards.
C 解析:主旨大意题。通读全文可知,本文报道了2018年度全美高中生音乐剧大奖获得者Andrew Feldman。
Passage 14
A meeting of The Washington Post employees was held on 5 August, 2013.Into the crowded hall entered chairman Donald E.Graham, and his niece and publisher Katherine Weymouth.The air was thick.The newspaper was to get a new boss! Jeffrey P.Bezos of Amazon.com would buy the daily for $250 million in cash.
Both the uncle and the niece took turns in telling the news and answering their questions.Many of the audiences wept because they were unable to accept the news.“The rise of Internet and the change from print to digital technology have created a huge wave of competition for traditional news companies,” said Donald E.Graham.
In 2013, after struggling with the falling revenue(收益) for years, The New York Times (NYT) sold its The Boston Globe newspaper for $70 million.The NYT bought the paper in 1993 for $1.1 billion.Just twenty years later, the company sold it for a cheap price.
Nowadays, things seem to be worse than ever.Newspapers are reporting negative growth across US and Europe.Francis Gurry, the 4th Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization said that newspapers would disappear by 2040.
This may cause a lot of problems for media jobs.For example, layoffs(裁员) and salary cuts are very common now.Many of the journalists have already moved to different jobs where their writing and editing skills are of no use.A large number of former journalists work as marketing executives, or property developers.In Canada last year, Sun Media, the largest newspaper chain there, stopped its eight dailies, closing 360 jobs and slashing 500 positions.
The traditional media still send people out to collect stories.However, with the mobile phones today, everybody is a reporter.Therefore, the newspapers are forced to adapt in order to survive.That may be a revolution(革命), but at the cost of newspapers.
【解题导语】 本文是一篇新闻报道。受到互联网的冲击,很多传统报纸销量下降,甚至传统报纸也会面临消失。
1.Why did Donald E.Graham decide to sell The Washington Post
A.He really needed money.
B.He had trouble in governing it.
C.The company planned to do something else.
D.The company was at a disadvantage in competition.
D 解析:推理判断题。根据第二段Donald E.Graham的话可知,他卖报纸的原因是因为它在竞争中处于劣势。
2.What was Francis Gurry’s attitude towards the future of newspapers
A.Confident.      B.Negative.
C.Uninterested. D.Curious.
B 解析:观点态度题。根据第四段的Francis Gurry, the 4th Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization said that newspapers would disappear by 2040.可推断,他对报纸的前途持消极态度。
3.What does the underlined word “slashing” in the last but one paragraph mean
A.Creating. B.Requiring.
C.Cutting. D.Changing.
C 解析:词义猜测题。根据本段中的This may cause a lot of problems for media jobs.For example, layoffs(裁员) and salary cuts are very common now.和...stopped its eight dailies, closing 360 jobs可推测,画线词意为“削减职位”。
Passage 15
Kids in primary schools in Bellaire, Ohio, have something to sing about.For the past eight years, public primary schools in that town didn’t offer music classes.They didn’t have the money to pay for them.But the school district got some support to bring back music this school year.
Many school officials across the country say music classes get students excited about going to school.And studies have shown that music classes may boost brainpower.For example, researchers from the University of Southern California recently released the results of a five year study.They found that the brains of 10 and 11 year olds who learned to play a musical instrument developed faster than the brains of kids who didn’t.
Though most people aren’t against teaching music in schools, not everyone says it’s necessary.
Many school officials argue(争论) that learning music means less time spent on maths, writing, and science, all of which may be more useful to students later in life.
Here’s what two of our readers think.
Music should be taught in school for the simple reason that it makes learning more fun.We have music classes at my school, and I love them!
Taking music lessons can also build character.In 2015, a research company called Grunwald Associates did a survey on music education.More than 60 percent of parents whose kids took music classes in school said their child became more focused(集中注意力的).
—Noah Falcon, New Jersey
At my school, we don’t have music classes.I think that’s OK because it gives us more time to focus on main subjects, like reading and maths.It’s more important to learn these subjects than it is to learn how to play an instrument or sing.
If someone wants to take music lessons, he or she can do it outside of school.Once I took a mariachi(墨西哥流浪乐队音乐) class after school, so it didn’t take time away from my other classes.
—Sophia Salazar, California
【解题导语】 本文是一篇议论文,文章探讨了儿童是否应该在学校上音乐课。
1.What change has happened in primary schools in Bellaire this year
A.Music classes are offered.
B.The school year is shortened.
C.Singing is allowed in schools.
D.Kids can get prizes if they learn music.
A 解析:细节理解题。由第一段中的For the past eight years, public primary schools in that town didn’t offer music classes.和But the school district got some support to bring back music this school year.的对比可知,该地区的小学今年开设了音乐课。
2.What does the underlined word “boost” in Paragraph 2 probably mean
A.Create. B.Prevent.
C.Increase. D.Discover.
C 解析:词义猜测题。由第二段中介绍的研究结果the brains of 10 and 11 year olds who learned to play a musical instrument developed faster than the brains of kids who didn’t.可知,音乐课可以促进脑力的开发。
3.What does Noah Falcon think of music education
A.It is unnecessary.
B.It is very important.
C.It is a waste of money.
D.It is easy to continue.
B 解析:推理判断题。由Noah Falcon表达的观点it makes learning more fun和Taking music lessons can also build character.可知,他认为音乐教育很重要。
4.What can we learn about Sophia Salazar
A.She didn’t like music at all.
B.Music brings her more fun.
C.Music helps her keep focused.
D.She took a music class after school.
D 解析:细节理解题。由Sophia Salazar 自述的I took a mariachi(墨西哥流浪乐队音乐) class after school可知答案。
21世纪教育网 www.21cnjy.com 精品试卷·第 2 页 (共 2 页)
HYPERLINK "http://21世纪教育网(www.21cnjy.com)
" 21世纪教育网(www.21cnjy.com)中小学教育资源及组卷应用平台
新人教版(2019)英语必修二:专题训练
Unit1-Unit5各单元话题阅读理解15 篇 (原卷版)
Passage 1
In 1686, a French ship called the Belle disappeared in Texas’ Matagorda Bay.It would be more than 300 years before archaeologists(考古学家) were able to dig the site.It turned out to be well worth the wait.The Belle could provide important information about historical events and the last journey of the famous French explorer, Rene Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle, or Robert de La Salle.The Belle was among four French ships that were headed for the mouth of the Mississippi River.The ships sailed far off course and landed on the coast of Texas, about 400 miles from where they had meant to go.
People on the ship faced many difficulties, such as fights with the native American people and disease, but they finally built their homes in a place they named Fort St.Louis.During a strong winter storm, the Belle ended up on the sea floor in Matagorda Bay.
In 1995, after years of searching, an archaeologist named J.Barto Arnold finally came across the wreckage(残骸) of the Belle.It took nearly a year for archaeologists to dig the site.They used a cofferdam that made the work of the archaeologists much easier.It was a large, special wall that was placed around the wreckage of the ship.Workers took all water out of the area inside the cofferdam so that the archaeologists didn’t need to work in the water.
After so many years, you might think almost everything would have disappeared because seawater would destroy them bit by bit(渐渐地).Luckily, the thick mud, or wet earth, that covered the ship helped save the things that might have been lost forever.
About a million artifacts(物品) were found, including cloth, bone, wood, the body of the ship, three cannons, thousands of little glass balls, bells, and pottery.Many pieces are in Texas museums today, but it will be a long time before archaeologists have learned everything they can from this amazing discovery!
1.What was the cause of the disappearance of the Belle
A.Bad weather.
B.Fights with the natives.
C.A bad change of course.
D.The workers’ carelessness.
2.How did the cofferdam help the archaeologists
A.It could dig into the sea floor.
B.It gave them a dry space.
C.It helped them find the artifacts.
D.It helped them reach the site.
3.Why were a lot of artifacts on the ship in good condition
A.The seawater in the area was unusual.
B.The ship was hidden under lots of mud.
C.They were covered with special materials.
D.They were protected by the air around them.
Passage 2
The Pharos, the great lighthouse of Alexandria, was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.It stood on the island of Pharos, in the harbor(港口) of the city of Alexandria.In 280 B.C.,Ptolemy Ⅰ Soter, the ruler of Egypt, ordered the building of the lighthouse.Twenty years later, it was finished—the first lighthouse in the world and the tallest building on Earth, besides the Great Pyramid of Egypt.
The Pharos was designed by Sostrates, a Greek architect(建筑师).Sostrates wanted to leave his name on the base of the lighthouse.But Ptolemy refused, ordering that only his own name appeared on the building.But Sostrates found a way to do that.At the base of the Pharos, Sostrates left a message containing his own name.Then he covered it with plaster(建筑石膏) and left Ptolemy’s name over it.After many years, the plaster disappeared and people knew the true architect of the lighthouse.
In 1302 and 1323, two strong earthquakes hit Alexandria, damaging the lighthouse.In 1326, it finally fell into the sea.Much of what we know about the lighthouse comes from the writings of Arabs who once visited the Pharos.
The Pharos was about 384 feet tall, the same height as a modern 40 story building.At the top of the lighthouse stood a large statue of Poseidon, the Greek god of the sea.Under it was a beacon, the source of light for the lighthouse.The Pharos used two kinds of beacons.At night, a large fire created the light.During the day, a huge mirror made use of the sunlight to create the light.
It was said that the mirror was also used to set enemy ships on fire as they entered the harbor by directing the sun’s rays (sunlight) at them.While the idea is interesting, it is also clearly impossible.
1.Why did Sostrates use plaster at the base of the Pharos
A.To follow Ptolemy’s orders.
B.To hide his name left on the base.
C.To protect the base from damage.
D.To make the lighthouse more beautiful.
2.How long had the Pharos stayed standing
A.For about 800 years.
B.For about 1,000 years.
C.For about 1,600 years.
D.For about 2,000 years.
3.What does the underlined word “it” in Paragraph 4 refer to? 
A.The lighthouse. B.The statue.
C.A large fire. D.A huge mirror.
4.What’s the main purpose of the text
A.To explain why the Pharos was built.
B.To find more secrets about the Pharos.
C.To offer some basic facts about the Pharos.
D.To introduce the true architect of the Pharos.
Passage 3
What do you usually do when a flying insect lands on your arm Most likely you blow it away.But what if that bug were a ladybug(瓢虫) Then chances are that you would let it stay.What is it about ladybugs that we like
Farmers once thought ladybugs were a good luck sign.A ladybug in the field meant that the crops(庄稼) would be successful and the weather would be good.The farmers may have been exaggerating(夸大) about what a very small bug can do, but in fact ladybugs do help out with the crops.They eat harmful insects.
Actually, it is not the adult ladybug that eats the other insects.It’s the ladybug larvae(幼虫).Ladybugs lay their eggs on leaves that are covered with aphids or other insects.When the larvae come out of the eggs, they are very hungry and will eat mites, aphids, mealybugs, green flies, and other crop destroyers.
A single ladybug larva can eat over 1,000 aphids in one day.In the 1800s, ladybugs were brought all the way from Australia to California and set free among orange trees that were dying from being eaten by insects.The little red and black “eating machines” completely saved all the trees.
Ladybugs go about their daily business without worrying much about anything.Very few birds or insects will eat a ladybug because it gives off something that is dangerous to eat.Ladybugs also protect themselves by playing dead.They fall off leaves and remain very still until their enemy goes away.
So next time you see a ladybug, think about what it may be up to.Maybe it is off to save an orange tree.Maybe its next move will be to fall off a leaf and play dead or stand_up_to a bird about 100 times its size.Maybe it’s letting you know that the weather will be good tomorrow.Who knows Ladybugs are special that way.
1.What do we know about mites and aphids
A.They do harm to the crops.
B.They eat more than they should.
C.They are food for adult ladybugs.
D.They are the enemy of ladybug larvae.
2.What does the underlined part “stand up to” in the last paragraph probably mean
A.Play with. B.Worry about.
C.Get along with. D.Fight back against.
3.What does the author think of the ladybug
A.It is a crop destroyer.
B.It is a good luck sign.
C.It is a little flying helper.
D.It is a big eating machine.
Passage 4
Each year, people are becoming more and more worried about the future of our planet.People are now starting to agree—global warming will certainly make a difference to the world’s weather.While some parts of the world may have more floods(洪水), some other parts might have long periods of dry weather.All of this will have a serious influence on the world’s agriculture(农业).And that could make it difficult for us to get enough food to survive.
This explains the idea behind the Svalbard Global Seed Vault(种子库).The Seed Vault is built into a mountain on an island near the North Pole.The purpose is to protect the world’s agriculture from future disasters.This may not just be a question of global warming.Perhaps there will be a major nuclear disaster or war one day.These things won’t be a problem for Svalbard.
Some experts think that the population of the earth will probably go up by 50% in the next 40 years.Because of climate change, it probably won’t be easy for some plants to survive.Having many different types of plants will be necessary for agriculture to adapt to(适应) changes in the environment.In the Svalbard Global Seed Vault, there is space for 4.5 million types of seed.At the moment there are over 770,000 different types there.
Any country in the world can leave seeds in Svalbard without paying.The seeds of some plants, such as peas, only survive for 20 to 30 years.But others will last for hundreds of years.
In 2028, the Svalbard Vault will celebrate its 20th birthday.200 years in the future, it’s possible that the ice caps will disappear.Even if this happens, Svalbard will be safe.That’s because it is on a mountain and will be above the sea level.And because it is so close to the North Pole, even if their electricity stops working, the ice will keep a cool temperature of -3.5℃ to keep the seeds in good condition.But the best protection is the fact that it is in such a faraway place.After all, maybe one day this will be the most important building in the whole world.
1.What does the first paragraph mainly introduce
A.The role of agriculture.
B.The reason for global warming.
C.The future problems we’ll face.
D.The planet where we’ll live in the future.
2.What is the Seed Vault mainly used for
A.Storing plant seeds.
B.Growing more plants.
C.Discovering new plants.
D.Providing humans with food.
3.What do we know about the Seed Vault
A.It needs more space.
B.It provides service for free.
C.It is built above a mountain.
D.It will close in 200 years.
4.If there is an electrical problem at the Seed Vault, what will happen to the seeds
A.They will be sent away.
B.They will still be safe.
C.They will be of no use.
D.They will be planted at once.
Passage 5
Ninety five percent of American families are now online, with adults spending averagely five hours a day at home on the computer, which greatly influences their life, according to a new study.Yes, we’re connecting more with friends, but we’re also having dinner quickly so we can update our Facebook status.Does your life suffer from too much time spent online, and do you properly protect your family’s identity when you share their information online Here’s how to take control of them.
According to Sherry Turkle, professor of psychology at MIT, many people use their computers to avoid the messiness of real life.It’s difficult to refuse a friend, but it’s easy to send out an e mail to do that.When you find yourself hiding behind your screen, make an effort to reconnect with people face to face.“It’s not because the technology is bad,” says Turkle.“It’s a matter of figuring out its place.”
Proud parents can’t help posting photos of their kids.But publicly sharing your kids’information, such as your child’s full name, birth date, and place of residence could put him in danger.To avoid the risk, invite the people you know well to view the photos on password protected(加密的) websites such as Flickr and Snapfish.If you use Facebook, create a group of your inner circle specially for sharing photos and news of your kids.
Need a handy way to measure your family’s online habits Check out the family plan on rescuetime.com.It tracks how each member of your family spends time online, and it shows the data by hour, day, and week.The website, which also offers personal plans, even allows you to block distracting(分心的) websites from your loved ones and yourself.
If reaching for your phone to check for messages and e mails has become an uncontrollable habit, try this trick.Keep your devices on but turn off every message reminding, vibration(振动), and so on.Check for updates only when you finish a task.
1.Sherry Turkle probably agrees that ________.
A.Internet is just a tool for people
B.people have to know their social status
C.technology can help improve friendship
D.going online helps people lead a happier life
2.How are family members’online habits tracked by rescuetime.com
A.By offering plans and blocking unsafe websites.
B.By blocking unwanted contact and information.
C.By tracking their online time and sorting out data.
D.By making plans and storing collected data.
3.What can be the best title for the text
A.Important Tips on Protecting Online Information
B.How to Take Control of Families’ Technology Time
C.Key Advice on How to Avoid Unsafe Websites
D.How to Break Away from Bad Online Habits
Passage 6
Khan Academy is a website providing a free education for any person.The website includes more than 4,000 short teaching videos about many different subjects.Every month, over 7 million people go to the Khan Academy website to watch its videos.
Khan Academy began with one man named Salman Khan.As a young man, Khan got a degree from Harvard Business School and began to work in business.
In 2006, Khan used the Internet to help his young cousins, who lived far away, with their mathematics schoolwork.He drew numbers and pictures on the website to teach them.After a time, he put his videos onto the website YouTube, where his cousins could watch them any time they wanted.But Khan noticed that other people were also watching his videos on YouTube.
By 2009, the number of people watching his videos on YouTube was getting very large.Khan decided to make the videos his job instead.So he officially began Khan Academy, providing videos on mathematics and other school subjects.
People did not have to pay to watch the videos.But they could give Khan money if they wanted to support his work.Some people did give Khan small amounts of money, but he was still having a hard time.Later, a woman told Khan that Bill Gates used Khan Academy for his kids.After that, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation began giving money to Khan Academy.In 2010 Google gave the website money too, wanting Khan to translate his videos into the world’s most common languages.Today, people can see Khan’s videos in many different languages.
Some people think that Khan Academy will be the way more and more people learn in the future.Teachers can use it in their classrooms.Khan believes that Khan Academy will never, and should never, replace a school.But he believes teachers and students can use it to make schools better.
1.What can one get from Khan Academy
A.Video making methods.
B.Free learning information.
C.Any help with the schoolwork.
D.A good number of beautiful pictures.
2.In its early days, Khan Academy________.
A.faced money problems
B.had trouble with language
C.was unpopular with schools
D.had a shortage of skilled teachers
3.What does Salman Khan think of Khan Academy
A.It will play an active role in school teaching.
B.It can replace teachers in classrooms.
C.It can replace a teaching school.
D.It’s the future of education.
4.The text is mainly written to________.
A.describe an academic leader
B.introduce a learning website
C.offer some network knowledge
D.compare two different learning styles
Passage 7
In 2013, Harris Academy, a school in south London, stopped its students from using slang(俚语) words, such as ain’t.The move led to an argument over whether it is necessary to control the way students speak.
The creation of slang is one way languages change.Slang, or informal language, usually changes more rapidly than standard language.For example, the word “groovy”,meaning “great”,used to be very popular in the 1960s and 1970s.But by 1980, people had stopped using it.
One important reason we use slang is to show others that we belong to a group.Another is to communicate an idea in a more colorful or humorous way.For example, the phrase jump ship creates a stronger image(形象) than the more standard leave an organization.While in the Internet age, slang expressions are created faster than ever.Often, Internet slang words are created to make messages faster and easier to type.
Some people are strongly against the use of slang.Teachers at Harris Academy were worried that slang would prevent their students from learning how to read, write, and express themselves correctly.They thought this might cause problems for them when they finally went on to apply(申请) to universities or companies.
However, some people think differently.Linguist Tony Thorne sees slang as a way for speakers of a language to show their creativity and humor.And, unlike what some believe, slang is not a new phenomenon(现象).As Thorne explains, “Slang has not become more popular, simply more public.” In today’s highly connected world, slang has become more noticeable because of better tools to observe(观察) language change.
Perhaps the worries mentioned above can be solved by making people understand when to use certain forms of language.As long as people use slang properly, there is no need to completely avoid it.
1.Why did the author mention the example of “groovy”?
A.To show how languages change.
B.To show slang often changes fast.
C.To show slang was popular in the 1960s.
D.To show how standard language forms over time.
2.What is Paragraph 3 mainly about
A.Why people use slang.
B.How people use slang.
C.Different types of slang.
D.The development of slang.
3.What can we infer from Tony Thorne’s words in Paragraph 5
A.Slang takes time to develop.
B.Slang is being accepted by the public.
C.Slang is increasingly known to the public.
D.More and more people are beginning to use slang.
4.What’s the author’s attitude towards Harris Academy’s decision on slang
A.He is against it.
B.He is in favor of it.
C.He is doubtful about it.
D.He is uncertain about it.
Passage 8
The Golden Gate Bridge was the longest bridge in the world from 1937 when it was completed until the Verrazano Narrows Bridge was built in New York in 1964.Today, it is still the ninth longest bridge in the world.
For many years before the Golden Gate Bridge was built, the only way to get across San Francisco Bay was by ship.And by the early twentieth century the Bay was crowded because of them.In the 1920s, engineer and bridge builder Joseph Strauss believed that a bridge should be built across the Golden Gate to solve the problem.
Many groups went against him,each for their own selfish reasons.Besides, the engineering challenge was also huge—the Golden Gate Bridge area often has winds of up to 60 miles per hour, and strong ocean currents(洋流) sweep below the surface.If all that weren’t enough,it was the middle of the Great Depression, and funds were hard to find.
Strauss didn’t give up, and the Golden Gate Bridge history began when San Francisco officials approved(批准) $35 million to build the Golden Gate Bridge.After the artistic design and red color were chosen, construction (建造) work began in 1933.The Golden Gate Bridge project was completed in 1937, an important date in San Francisco history.
Strauss was a pioneer in building safety.The Bay Bridge, which was being built at the same time cost 24 lives while the Golden Gate Bridge cost only 12, a great achievement in a period of time when one man was killed on most construction projects for every million spent.
1.What do we know about the Golden Gate Bridge
A.It remained the world’s longest bridge for 30 years.
B.It was the widest bridge worldwide when completed.
C.It is of the same age as the Verrazano Narrows Bridge.
D.There are only 8 bridges worldwide longer than it now.
2.Why did Strauss want to build the Golden Gate Bridge
A.To prove his artistic ability.
B.To build the world’s longest bridge.
C.To solve traffic jams at San Francisco Bay.
D.To make crossing San Francisco Bay possible.
3.What does Paragraph 3 mainly talk about
A.The necessity for building the bridge.
B.The hard time of the Great Depression.
C.The bad weather in the Golden Gate Bridge area.
D.The difficulties in building the Golden Gate Bridge.
Passage 9
Everything, no matter how great it is, will always have its problems.If you ever find yourself in an argument(争论) about renewable(可再生的) energy with someone who needs to receive more education, do your part for the environment by giving the following facts.
Argument one: renewable energy is expensive.This argument is only a surface truth.For a large house or small business, to start using renewable energy can be expensive at first.There’s a lot of equipment(设备) to buy.However, in the following 10 or 20 years, you’ll never see another power bill again.If you make lots of energy, you might even be able to sell it back to the power company.
Argument two: renewable energy takes up a lot of space.If you have a small yard, people might have told you that you’ll never be able to fit solar energy equipment in there.Even if you can’t, look at land for sale close to your place.If your neighbors are interested in going green, you might be able to go in together to buy a piece of land and build a large solar farm you can share.Many houses can benefit from one solar farm.Not everyone needs a big yard.
Argument three: renewable energy isn’t necessary.Renewable energy allows us to power our lives without using up anything.We don’t need to do much—we can just make receptacles(容器) for the free, renewable energy that already surrounds us.When you think about it, it’s almost like wasting energy if we don’t collect it.
Argument four: renewable energy isn’t as efficient(效率高的).A UK based study on renewable energy actually found that it was a lot more efficient than traditional energy sources.Since it produces almost no waste heat, while most other energy sources can produce more than half of their production in waste heat, it’s safe to say that using the energy we already have in our daily life can be more than twice as efficient.
1.Why did the author write the text
A.To develop arguments against renewable energy.
B.To explain why renewable energy should be used.
C.To teach people to make full use of renewable energy.
D.To show the importance of protecting the environment.
2.What’s the weak point of using renewable energy
A.It’s mostly for small businesses.
B.It can be used for 20 years at most.
C.It takes up lots of money at the beginning.
D.It’s sometimes not enough for daily use.
3.What does the author suggest when your yard is too small
A.Make your solar farm to a smaller size.
B.Raise money with other people to buy land.
C.Move your family to a place with a bigger yard.
D.Put the solar energy equipment in your neighbor’s yard.
4.In what way is renewable energy efficient
A.Almost all of its production is usable.
B.It can produce heat in a very short time.
C.It produces more power than power companies.
D.Its waste heat is a bit less than traditional energy’s.
Passage 10
On any given day, you can find most 10 year old boys throwing a ball around outside, riding their bikes, or playing video games.But Braden Baker is different.
Braden is a hearing impaired(受损的) 5th grader and has to wear hearing aids(助听器).Unluckily, Braden’s dog Chewy found his hearing aids on the floor and destroyed them—not once, but twice—and they had to be replaced.But at $3,500 to $6,000 a pair, Braden’s carelessness was costly.
Braden’s mother Ashley sat Braden down and had a long talk about taking better care of his hearing aids, explaining just how much they cost.“I told him that he was lucky we could buy another pair and that some people couldn’t afford a new pair,” Ashley said.
Those words clearly stuck in Braden’s mind, who realized that not every child who needed hearing aids could afford them.So recently, the 10 year old took it upon himself to start a GoFundMe page to raise money for those who aren’t so lucky.
Braden made a video to explain why he wanted to raise money.Ashley said, “We weren’t really sure how it would turn out.He began with a goal of $1, 000.We woke up the next morning and found that it had raised $400.”
This encouraged him to start making even more videos.Fast forward a few months and Braden’s GoFundMe page has raised over $15,000, which Braden donated to the Oticon Hearing Foundation.And that money will be used to help other families buy hearing aids for their children.
The project has not only taught Braden the value of money, but according to his mom,“he’s learned that if you put a small idea into action, amazing things can happen.”
As for Braden’s advice to those looking for ways to give back to others?“Don’t give up!Any small idea can get really big.”
1.Why did Braden change his hearing aids
A.He wanted a better pair of hearing aids.
B.The old pairs were destroyed by his dog.
C.His hearing problem became more serious.
D.He lost the old pairs because of his carelessness.
2.What has led to Braden starting a GoFundMe page
A.His mother’s words about the usefulness of hearing aids.
B.His mother’s encouragement for him to do good things.
C.His wish to help poor children with hearing problems.
D.His need to buy a new pair of hearing aids.
3.How did Braden and his mother feel when the page was started
A.Uncertain. B.Satisfied.
C.Hopeful. D.Unexpected.
4.What has Braden learned from working on the project
A.One should always use money smartly.
B.A small idea can make a big difference.
C.Videoing is a good way to reach people.
D.It’s important to dream big and hold on to it.
Passage 11
Until March 18, New York City is hosting the New York International Children’s Film Festival (NYICFF).The festival presented films from 24 countries.50% of the filmmakers are women.
Since February 23, when the festival began, viewers have been able to choose from more than 100 films at six theaters across the city.Although the event is considered as a children’s festival, the films set no rules as to who you are or where you come from.
Among the films presented at the festival, Zoo and Zombillenium are two impressive(给人印象深刻的) ones.Zoo is a British war film that shows the difference that a kid can make.
Tom is the protagonist(主角) of this heartwarming story.Tom’s dad is the owner of the Belfast Zoo.After he leaves to fight in the war, Tom has to save the zoo’s baby elephant, Buster, from being killed in the war.
“I loved it,” said 9 year old Gabriel Bieller of New York City after seeing the film.“It really taught how kids could make a difference.”
Ella Hanson, 7, was also moved.“The sweet story of a kid like me making a difference when faced with difficulties caused by a war,” she said, “was very encouraging.”
Zombillenium is an animated(动画的) French film about working hard to achieve your dreams.Hector Saxe is the immediately dislikeable protagonist.His management job is all about rules.But after he starts working at the amusement park(游乐园) that he hates, he puts all of his love into getting it ready for his daughter to visit.
The film had many positive reactions(反响) from the audience.“The story presented great, lifelike characters,” said Sami Ali, 12.
Oliver, 10, who did not provide a last name, said, “It was rather sad, but it underlined the importance of never letting go of the things that you care about.”
1.What can we learn about this year’s NYICFF
A.It lasted more than three weeks.
B.It attracted viewers from 24 countries.
C.It presented films mostly made by women.
D.It only presented films with kids as protagonists.
2.What happens to Tom in the film Zoo
A.He saves the owner of a zoo.
B.He is forced to fight in a war.
C.He loses his father because of a war.
D.He helps an elephant live through a war.
3.How did Gabriel Bieller find the film Zoo
A.Creative. B.Relaxing.
C.Educative. D.Saddening.
4.What might the viewers think of Hector Saxe at first
A.Shy. B.Strict.
C.Hard working. D.Warm hearted.
Passage 12
In recent years, I’ve found mental illness has been a term largely avoided in conversation, and this has built a huge stigma(耻辱) against those suffering from depression(抑郁), anxiety, and other mental illnesses.What’s worse, mental illness is only brought up when the news draws our attention to it, but then the conversation quiets until the next sad thing happens.
It’s time for the conversation to continue.Instead of waiting for the next sad thing, we need to be open about mental health and about the struggles that come with mental illness and treatment.We need to develop an environment where people feel comfortable to ask for the help they need instead of hiding.
It takes a long time, but I am now open about my anxiety and depression.I’m open about my taking medication to treat my mental illnesses.I’m open about the struggle of finding the medication that works.I encourage everyone to do the same.Be honest and open with your conversations about mental health.The more comfortable people are with these conversations, the easier it will be for the conversation to continue.A continued conversation will lead to more ideas on treatment and more ideas on how to give help to those who need it.
We have the ability to help those we love and break the stigma around mental illness.Mental illness can actually affect anyone, impacting one out of every four people.
In short, let’s keep the conversation about mental health and mental illness open.Be sure to check up on your friends, and be open about the importance of mental health.If you’re comfortable, share your story, which may let others know they are not alone.Just as Albus Dumbledore said, “Happiness can be found in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light”.Therefore, remember to turn on the light.
1.Which of the following would the author agree with
A.It’s hard to recover from mental illness.
B.We should pay much attention to our health.
C.The youth more likely suffer from mental illness.
D.People easily feel shame about having mental illness.
2.How can a continued conversation benefit those with mental illnesses
A.By reducing their anxiety.
B.By making them feel comfortable.
C.By helping them get support from others.
D.By helping them obtain some good advice on treatment.
3.What would be the best title for the passage
A.How to Start a Conversation
B.Be Open About Mental Health
C.The Importance of Mental Health
D.How to Avoid Depression and Anxiety
Passage 13
Andrew Feldman is a student at Lawrence Woodmere Academy (LWA) in Woodmere, New York.On June 25, 2018, he took home the top prize at the National High School Musical Theatre Awards(全美高中生音乐剧奖) at Broadway’s Minskoff Theatre.
Also known as the Jimmy Awards, the awards were named to remember James M.Nederlander, a theatre owner and Broadway producer who died in 2016.
Feldman won the award for Best Performance by an Actor for playing Frank Abagnale Jr.in LWA’s production of “Catch Me If You Can.” He and Reneé Rapp each received a$10,000 scholarship.Rapp from Charlotte, North Carolina, is the winner of the Best Performance by an Actress award.The other remaining seventy eight finalists received$3,000 scholarships.
The finalists received a week of training at the New York University Tisch School of the Arts (TSOA) before the awards event.Instructors from Broadway taught them basic skills of performing arts.
Feldman also won the Carnegie Mellon Pre College Scholarship.Carnegie Mellon University, based in Pittsburgh, was founded in 1900 by Andrew Carnegie.Feldman received an additional $7,500 to attend the university’s six week summer play program.
He has been a Broadway lover since seeing “Beauty and the Beast” when he was young.And then he performed in his first play, a production of “Annie,” at eight.
The shock of winning has still not disappeared.“Winning the Jimmy Award is not something I even imagined,” Feldman said.“I didn’t think it could actually happen! It’s now been about a week and a half and I still don’t believe it.”
In 2014, Feldman created a theatre company called Zneefrock Productions.The company is run totally by teens.It was set up to raise money for NEXT for Autism, an organization helping to support autism programs.
1.What did Feldman do during the week before June 25
A.He traveled around Pittsburgh.
B.He received training at TSOA.
C.He performed at the Minskoff Theatre.
D.He visited Carnegie Mellon University.
2.What did Feldman say about winning the prize
A.He was certain of it.
B.He was not expecting it.
C.It took him a lot of effort.
D.It was not a great achievement.
3.What is the text mainly about
A.A group of Broadway lovers.
B.A theatre company run by teens.
C.The winner of the Jimmy Awards.
D.The influence of the Jimmy Awards.
Passage 14
A meeting of The Washington Post employees was held on 5 August, 2013.Into the crowded hall entered chairman Donald E.Graham, and his niece and publisher Katherine Weymouth.The air was thick.The newspaper was to get a new boss! Jeffrey P.Bezos of Amazon.com would buy the daily for $250 million in cash.
Both the uncle and the niece took turns in telling the news and answering their questions.Many of the audiences wept because they were unable to accept the news.“The rise of Internet and the change from print to digital technology have created a huge wave of competition for traditional news companies,” said Donald E.Graham.
In 2013, after struggling with the falling revenue(收益) for years, The New York Times (NYT) sold its The Boston Globe newspaper for $70 million.The NYT bought the paper in 1993 for $1.1 billion.Just twenty years later, the company sold it for a cheap price.
Nowadays, things seem to be worse than ever.Newspapers are reporting negative growth across US and Europe.Francis Gurry, the 4th Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization said that newspapers would disappear by 2040.
This may cause a lot of problems for media jobs.For example, layoffs(裁员) and salary cuts are very common now.Many of the journalists have already moved to different jobs where their writing and editing skills are of no use.A large number of former journalists work as marketing executives, or property developers.In Canada last year, Sun Media, the largest newspaper chain there, stopped its eight dailies, closing 360 jobs and slashing 500 positions.
The traditional media still send people out to collect stories.However, with the mobile phones today, everybody is a reporter.Therefore, the newspapers are forced to adapt in order to survive.That may be a revolution(革命), but at the cost of newspapers.
1.Why did Donald E.Graham decide to sell The Washington Post
A.He really needed money.
B.He had trouble in governing it.
C.The company planned to do something else.
D.The company was at a disadvantage in competition.
2.What was Francis Gurry’s attitude towards the future of newspapers
A.Confident.      B.Negative.
C.Uninterested. D.Curious.
3.What does the underlined word “slashing” in the last but one paragraph mean
A.Creating. B.Requiring.
C.Cutting. D.Changing.
Passage 15
Kids in primary schools in Bellaire, Ohio, have something to sing about.For the past eight years, public primary schools in that town didn’t offer music classes.They didn’t have the money to pay for them.But the school district got some support to bring back music this school year.
Many school officials across the country say music classes get students excited about going to school.And studies have shown that music classes may boost brainpower.For example, researchers from the University of Southern California recently released the results of a five year study.They found that the brains of 10 and 11 year olds who learned to play a musical instrument developed faster than the brains of kids who didn’t.
Though most people aren’t against teaching music in schools, not everyone says it’s necessary.
Many school officials argue(争论) that learning music means less time spent on maths, writing, and science, all of which may be more useful to students later in life.
Here’s what two of our readers think.
Music should be taught in school for the simple reason that it makes learning more fun.We have music classes at my school, and I love them!
Taking music lessons can also build character.In 2015, a research company called Grunwald Associates did a survey on music education.More than 60 percent of parents whose kids took music classes in school said their child became more focused(集中注意力的).
—Noah Falcon, New Jersey
At my school, we don’t have music classes.I think that’s OK because it gives us more time to focus on main subjects, like reading and maths.It’s more important to learn these subjects than it is to learn how to play an instrument or sing.
If someone wants to take music lessons, he or she can do it outside of school.Once I took a mariachi(墨西哥流浪乐队音乐) class after school, so it didn’t take time away from my other classes.
—Sophia Salazar, California
1.What change has happened in primary schools in Bellaire this year
A.Music classes are offered.
B.The school year is shortened.
C.Singing is allowed in schools.
D.Kids can get prizes if they learn music.
2.What does the underlined word “boost” in Paragraph 2 probably mean
A.Create. B.Prevent.
C.Increase. D.Discover.
3.What does Noah Falcon think of music education
A.It is unnecessary.
B.It is very important.
C.It is a waste of money.
D.It is easy to continue.
4.What can we learn about Sophia Salazar
A.She didn’t like music at all.
B.Music brings her more fun.
C.Music helps her keep focused.
D.She took a music class after school.
21世纪教育网 www.21cnjy.com 精品试卷·第 2 页 (共 2 页)
HYPERLINK "http://21世纪教育网(www.21cnjy.com)
" 21世纪教育网(www.21cnjy.com)