北京市西城区（2020-2022）三年中考英语模拟卷分题型分层汇编-06阅读单选 (含解析)

北京市西城区三年（2020-2022）中考英语模拟卷分题型分层汇编-06阅读单选
一、阅读单选
（2020·北京西城·北京四中校考模拟预测）Grand Opening
Bentwood Truck Museum Saturday,
November 8, at 10:00 A．M.
After eighteen months of hard work by more than 100 volunteers, the Bentwood Truck Museum is ready to open. The old factory on the corner of Palmer Street and Norman Drive had been scheduled to be destroyed. When Roger Haygood heard about the plans to tear down the building, he bought it so that he could store his collection of old trucks there. Then he had the idea of turning the building into a truck museum.
During the past year and a half, the old building has been transformed into a treasure chest of memories. Instead of a dark and dull house, the building has become a cheery, bright home for all kinds of trucks from the past.
The museum now houses 68 trucks, and we hope to have even more soon. There is a 1959 school bus, a 1942 bakery truck, and a 1937 fire engine. Our oldest vehicle is a 1919 milk truck. Our newest vehicle is a 1966 tow truck.
You can take a ride on a fire truck, a mail truck, or an ice-cream truck. Rides are $2.00, but you can get a ticket for a free ride at any grocery store in Bentwood.
Help us celebrate our grand opening by bringing your family and friends! There is something to interest everyone who attends. The Bentwood Truck Museum is a special piece of our history.
To get to Bentwood Truck Museum, take Route 29 (Kingston Highway) to Palmer
Street.
Go south on Palmer Street for one block and take a left onto Norman Drive.
You will see the museum building and the amusement park on your left.
Parking is available across the street, on your right.
1．In which of the following can visitors take a ride
A．A school bus. B．A bakery truck.
C．A milk truck. D．A mail truck.
2．Where is Bentwood Truck Museum
A．On Kingston Highway.
B．On Robert Street.
C．On Norman Drive.
D．On Elliott Street.
3．What is special about this museum
A．It exhibits trucks dating back to 200 years ago.
B．It is not possible for you to drive to the museum.
C．It’s transformed from an old factory by volunteers.
D．It is built because an old factory has been destroyed.
（2020·北京西城·北京四中校考模拟预测）
Picky, Picky
Scientists have no idea exactly why birds choose certain objects to build their nests. But scientists know that the main reason birds build nests is to keep their babies safe, warm and healthy.
Baby birds grow faster and are healthier when they are warm. They also learn to fly and leave the nests sooner than birds without warm homes.
What A Yarn (纱)Is
Yarn is big on an oriole’s shopping list during nest building. Scientists are still trying to work out why so many birds choose white yarn over other colors for nest building.
Scientists think that the white objects remind birds of cotton fluff (绒毛) they find in the wild.
Do It Naturally
Even though birds can help us recycle some of our junk by using it to build nests, they also need to use lots of natural things. Long grass, dried sticks, spider’s silk and mud are some of the natural ingredients that are good for nests, too.
You can make a collection box of things to leave for birds so they can help themselves. Hang a small plastic box with holes on a tree branch. Fill the box freely with nest building goodies. Hang the box on a tree and watch birds climb on board to pick through the junk to find their treasures.
Warning: Don’t let the birds turn into a tasty treat. Keep your bird station away from places where cats hang out.
For The Birds!
Stop! Don’t throw all that garbage out! Give some to the birds. Look and see how your old junk can help beautify and warm a bird’s new home.
4．The baby birds with warm homes are able to ___________.
A．learn to fly earlier B．grow slower
C．build better nests D．leave the nests safer
5．What can people make for birds to build nests
A．A warning board. B．Holes on a tree branch.
C．Food in the garbage. D．A collection box of things.
6．What is the purpose of the passage
A．To tell us how birds build nests.
B．To show the importance of nests to birds.
C．To tell humans what they can do to help birds.
D．To show the bad relationship between birds and cats.
（2020·北京西城·北京四中校考模拟预测）
Do you want to become better at making small talk with new people Do you want to become better at networking with others Nothing will improve your networking ability and your ability to make a successful conversation with other people rather than your curiosity about them.
When you are curious about other people, you will want to discover some of the interesting ways that they are similar to you. When you are curious about them, you’ll also be interested to discover the ways in which they think differently and live differently from you.
When you have curiosity about others, you will be much less self-conscious and your conversations will work a lot better. Instead of worrying yourself, “What can I say next that won’t sound stupid ” you will be focused on learning more about the other person.
Making small talk with strangers can be tricky. We’ve all heard the advice that we should pick something out of our immediate environment and use that as a main point to start our small talk with the other person.
It’s true that this can be a great starting point for a conversation. However, when you focus too much on discussing things like the weather in your city, you can bring the conversation to a painful end very quickly. The other person will sense that you are trying to make a conversation, but that you have no interest in really getting to know him or her.
How can you keep small talk from becoming boring
One way is to watch the other person for clues they will give you about what is really interesting to them. When you get these clues, use them to start making the conversation a bit more about their life, their opinions, and their experiences.
After you have had a couple of minutes to break the ice, try looking for ways to make the conversation a little bit more personal. Ask the other person for his or her opinion about something that is a bit more personal but not extremely so. The first few minutes of talking to someone new will not be the best time to ask the other person his or her opinion on religious （宗教的） or political（政治的） matters. However, he or she might be happy to discuss his or her favorite team or musical band.
7．In Paragraph 1, the writer mainly wants to tell us that___________.
A．it’s hard to make a talk with new people
B．curiosity can help us start a good small talk
C．curiosity helps us know new people quickly
D．it’s hard to make a successful talk with others
8．The underlined word “self-conscious” in Paragraph 3 probably means___________.
A．nervous B．serious C．self-centered D．self-controlled
9．What is the best title for the passage
A．The way of starting small talk.
B．The importance of small talk in our life.
C．Improving our small talk with curiosity.
D．Improving our relationship through small talk.
（2020·北京西城·北京四中校考模拟预测）The secret of the aroma
What is the first thing you notice when you walk into a shop The products displayed（展示）at the entrance Or the soft background music
But have you ever noticed the smell Unless it is bad, the answer is likely to be no. But while a shop’s scent may not be outstanding compared with sights and sounds, it is certainly there. And it is provided as an increasing powerful tool in encouraging people to purchase.
A brand store has become famous for its distinctive scent which floats through the fairly dark hall and out to the entrance, via scent machines. A smell may be attractive but it may not just be used for freshening air. One sports goods company once reported that when it first introduced scent into its stores, customers’ intention to purchase increased by 80 percent.
When it comes to the best shopping streets in Pairs, scent is just as important to a brand’s success as the quality of its window displays and goods on sales. That is mainly because shopping is a very different experience to what it used to be.
Some years ago, the focus for brand name shopping was on a few people with sales assistants’ disproving attitude and don’t-touch-what-you-can’t-afford displays. Now the rise of electronic commerce (e-commerce) has opened up famous brands to a wider audience. But while e-shops can use sights and sounds, only bricks-and-mortar stores (实体店) can offer a full experience from the minute customers step through the door to the moment they leave. Another brand store seeks to be much more than a shop, but rather a destination. And scent is just one way to achieve this.
Now a famous store uses complex man-made smell to make sure that the soft scent of baby powder floats through the kid department, and coconut scent in the swimsuit section. A department store has even opened a new lab, inviting customers on a journey into the store’s windows to smell books, pots and drawers, in search of their perfect scent.
10．According to the passage, what is an increasingly powerful tool in the success of somebrand stores
A．Unique scents. B．Friendly assistant.
C．Soft background music D．Attractive window display.
11．E-shops are mentioned in the passage to _______.
A．show the advantages of brick-and-mortar stores
B．urge shop assistants to change their attitude
C．push stores to use sights and sounds
D．introduce the rise of e-commerce
12．Which of the following is true according to the passage
A．The sport goods company once found an 80 percent increase in purchase.
B．For stores in Paris, the smell is more important than the window displays.
C．Both the E-commerce and the real stores focus on the attractiveness of goods.
D．Many famous stores nowadays are trying hard to find the ideal scent.
13．The main purpose of the passage is to ______.
A．compare and evaluate B．examine and assess
C．argue and discuss D．inform and explain
（2020·北京西城·统考一模）Every year, many inventions are introduced to the world. Some help us solve problems. Others make life easier, or more fun. Here are four of last year's best inventions.
LUMI was designed for music lovers. “We hope that LUMI can help people who have just started learning how to play music,” says the inventor Will MacNamara. The small Eumi keyboard lights up, allowing users to know which keys to press. And with the LUMI app, users can learn their favorite songs.
Millions of people around the world have to face the problem of unsafe food. Marc Oshima says his indoor farming technology can help. Instead of growing in dirt, crops grow in reusable cloth. The plants are watered with mist. This requires 95% less water than field farming.
For people who are blind, the ORCAM MYEYE 2 could be a game changer. It might also prove useful for people with reading difficulties. Described as “talking glasses”, it can read text aloud. Amnon Shashua invented the technology.
Christine Schindler is an engineer. She wanted to help stop the spread of foodborne illnesses, so she created PATHSPOT. It uses light to scan（扫描）a person's hands for harmful germs. Restaurant workers hold their hands under the scanner. Then the scanner decides whether they should be rewashed.
14．LUMI was designed for________.
A．indoor farmers B．music lovers
C．blind people D．restaurant workers
15．Who is the inventor of the ORCAM MYEYE 2
A．Will MacNamara. B．Marc Oshima.
C．Amnon Shashua. D．Christine Schindler.
16．Where can we probably read this passage
A．A medical website. B．A travel guide.
C．A school notice. D．A science magazine.
（2020·北京西城·统考一模）
This Family Keeps Their Community Warm by Cutting Firewood for Those in Need
Washington is home to lots of trees—it is the Evergreen State, after all—— and it has lots of fireplaces and wood-burning heaters too. But what if you lived there and couldn’t cut wood or couldn’t afford to pay someone to do it Luckily, Shane McDaniel and his twin sons, Harrison and Henry McDaniel, are happy to help. The three men cut truckloads of wood—then give it to those m need.
The idea actually started as a father-son relationship project, Shane told msn.com. “I cut wood with my dad. He just loved doing it, " said Shane. He wanted to pass along that feeling, so he and the twins spent the summer cutting. The result was a great wall of wood piled up （堆积）around their house. To buy that much it would cost about $10,000.
It was too much for the McDaniels to use themselves, and when the weather turned cold that November, Shane started thinking of others. He posted online: "IF YOU ARE IN NEED OF FIREWOOD AND CANNOT AFFORD IT, PLEASE PM [personal message] ME! ... If you know someone who BURNS WOOD, please help me and my boys make sure NO ONE GOES COLD IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, The response（反应）was immediate. One man offered to donate （捐赠）a wood-burning stove. Others raced over to Shane's house with more wood. One woman, noticing the photo of the McDaniels, started to feel warm in other ways: "I don't need the wood. But I am truly happy for what you have done! ”
Single mom Katelyn Ticer, 29, and her four-year-old daughter depended on a wood-burning stove as their only way of heat, so it was so good to receive a truckload of firewood from the McDaniels. "To get that much wood brought me to tears/' she told msn.com. “ So much stress and worry is off my shoulders. I couldn't be more thankful.
Shane is ready to help more people. “Giving is the reward”, he said. "It has nothing to do with how well it’s received; it's about how much it’s needed.”
17．What did Shane and his sons do to help their neighbors
A．They gave firewood to those in need. B．They bought wood-burning stoves.
C．They raised about 10,000 dollars. D．They paid someone to cut wood.
18．What happened after Shane posted messages online
A．His family received lots of presents. B．Some people quickly offered to help.
C．Lots of wood piled up around their house, D．The weather suddenly turned freezing cold.
19．What did Shane think of what he had done to help others
A．Being needed drives us to give. B．Love is not giving but receiving.
C．Helping others is just helping ourselves. D．It’s better to help people fish than to give them fish.
（2020·北京西城·统考一模）It Is Never Too Early to Think—and Communicate—like a Scientist
Who is a scientist and what is his job A chemist doing experiments A geologist out studying rocks When most people think about science, they imagine characters making discoveries or finding cures （治疗方法）for new diseases. However, these leave out an extremely important part of the scientific process: communicating—sharing the results of that work.
Imagine if someone discovered something important about a disease. Other scientists need to understand the work well enough to use these new developments to make even more discoveries in the future. The public, too, needs to understand how these discoveries might influence their lives. But none of this will be possible if the work is not shared. Being a scientist goes far beyond the moment of discovery.
Without clear communication, scientists would not be able to use the work that has already been done. So how do scientists tell others about the work that they have done How do they make sure that everything that they share is as clear and correct as possible
Researchers publish their work in scientific journals（期刊）.These journals can be read by other researchers around the world. It is very important for these journals, and for the scientists who read them, to make sure that the research included is as correct as possible. In order to do that, articles given to scientific journals before publication first go through a process called peer review. Other scientists who do research in areas related to the work in an article are asked to read through it. Scientists also provide feedback to the writers. They bring up new questions the writer may not have considered, recognize limitations to the results being described, and also make sure that no mistakes were made during the process.
Frontiers for Young Minds is a scientific journal written for—and reviewed by young people. All of the articles in it are based on works already published in a peer reviewed scientific journal. However, while scientists are good at making sure that articles are understandable for other scientists, there are no better experts to make sure that something can be understood by young people than the young people themselves. By working together with an experts young reviewers read the article to see if any part of the article is hard to understands make it clear why the experiment was done in the way it was done and check whether the figures （数据）clearly explain the point of the article.
Basically, these young reviewers learn to think like scientists. It is never too early to start! Ask questions, learn new things, and don't forget the importance of communicating your findings.
20．What is Paragraph 2 mainly about
A．What is required to be a good scientist.
B．Who should understand a scientist’s job.
C．Why sharing the results of scientific work is important.
D．How scientists make sure their work is clear and correct.
21．From the passage we can know that________.
A．scientists are good at working together with others
B．young people usually enjoy reading scientific journals
C．in peer review, other scientists bring up questions to readers
D．young reviewers help make articles in Frontiers for Young Minds more readable
22．What is the writer's main purpose in writing this passage
A．To introduce how scientists do their jobs.
B．To offer practical advice on how to ask scientific questions.
C．To explain the effects of peer review on scientific journals.
D．To encourage young people to think and communicate like scientists.
（2020·北京西城·统考一模）Why Wisdom （智慧）Doesn't Work as Well as We Think It Does
We relate wisdom to age. Most of us believe that gaining wisdom is like picking up stones on a path: the longer you're on the path, the more stones you'll collect.
It seems a reasonable inference, then, the older you are, the more wisdom you have. Older people usually make fewer careless mistakes, and they often know the best course of action in a given situation. But I think there's another explanation at play here, which we might consider in the light of what we know about human decision-making.
There are two different ways of decision-making: plans and habits. Here's an example of how these ways differ. If you’re driving somewhere for the first time, you'll need a plan. You will need to know whether to turn left or right, because you don’t already have that information stored away in your head. On the other hand, you don't need a plan when you're going somewhere familiar （熟悉的） because the order of steps that will take you there is stored as a habit. But if you find that the road is blocked by fallen trees, you’ll have to think about another way. Such a plan allows you to more easily deal with new situations, but they require a lot more attention.
The use of plans and habits changes over the course of our lives. A baby can't use habits to make decisions, because any situation she’s in will be a new one. As we build up a store of familiar situations, the more we can depend on habits. The older you are, the more likely your behavior is based on tried- and-true habits rather than fresh planning.
But what does this tell us about wisdom Well, it suggests that wisdom is interactive, not static: it is a relationship between a person and their surroundings （环境），The reason that wisdom seems to come out so effortlessly from well-seasoned minds is that they have a store of habitual information about how to act in a given situation.
But it also makes a worrying prediction: if older people were put in a new situation, with which they had no familiarity, they wouldn't make better decisions than someone who is young. It is the same with mistakes. Older, seemingly wiser people make fewer mistakes because they're familiar with surroundings they often deal with. If you controlled for the familiarity of the situation, then people in different age groups would probably make the same number of mistakes. Younger people might even make fewer mistakes, because they are better at coming up with fresh plans.
While wisdom gives you expertise within a particular environment, it doesn't mean that you'll be able to generalize that to new experiences. It's not that we necessarily get wiser as we get older, but we put ourselves in fewer situations where we are likely to make mistakes.
23．What do we know about the two ways of decision-making according to the passage
A．Using plans or habits to make decisions is an ever-changing process.
B．The use of plans and habits requires lots of attention and effort.
C．When going somewhere familiar, we need to work out a plan.
D．Younger people depend more on habits to make decisions,
24．What can we learn from the passage
A．Younger people have a great advantage in becoming wiser.
B．Older people are better at making careful plans before action.
C．Older people seem wiser because they’ve stored more habitual information.
D．Younger people make more mistakes when they're in unfamiliar surroundings.
25．What does the underlined word “static” probably mean in Paragraph 5
A．Uncontrolled. B．Unchanged. C．Increasing. D．Surprising.
26．What is the writer's main purpose in writing this passage
A．To stress the importance of gaining wisdom.
B．To compare the two different ways of decision-making.
C．To call on younger people to learn more from older people.
D．To remind us to view the wisdom of older people reasonably.
（2020·北京西城·统考二模）Cool Places to Visit In the World
Beipanjiang Bridge in China is 565 meters above Beipanjiang Canyon and it is the highest bridge in the world. It links Guizhou and Yunnan, and it reduces travel time from five hours to one. On the bridge, visitors can have a wonderful view of the canyon.
CopenHill is a power plant in Denmark（丹麦）and it creates energy by burning waste. A 1,300-foot man-made ski slope（斜坡） on the roof makes it special. The slope doesn’t depend on machine- made snow or cold temperature. That means visitors can enjoy Earth- friendly fun throughout the whole year.
a roller coaste Canada’s Wonderland is home to 17 roller coasters including the world’s fastest and longest dive（潜水）coaster. Riders hang over a 90-an underwater passage.
Icehotel in Sweden（瑞典）is the world’s first hotel made of ice. Every winter, this magical place is completely rebuilt by artists using more than 3,000 tons of ice and snow. They are made into works of art that make up every part of the hotel.
27．The world’s highest bridge is in________.
A．China B．Sweden C．Canada D．Denmark
28．Which of the four places is a power plant
A．Icehotel. B．Beipanjiang Bridge.
C．CopenHill. D．Canada’s Wonderland.
29．What makes Canada’s Wonderland a cool place to visit
A．A 1,300-foot man-made ski slope. B．Works of art made of ice and snow.
C．A wonderful view of Beipanjiang Canyon. D．The world’s fastest and longest dive coaster.
（2020·北京西城·统考二模）
Luisa’s Letter
Luisa checked the mailbox. An eggshell-white envelope lay on top of all the letters. It was still there, thank goodness. She picked it and put it into her bag.
Upstairs, she handed the remaining letters to her mother. “How was school, Luisa ” Mom asked.
“It was fine,” said Luisa, giving her mother a quick hug.
In her room Luisa tried to focus on her English homework, but the letter called to her. It had traveled more places than she had. All her life, Luisa had lived in Seville, an ancient city in the southwest of Spain. Luisa loved her hometown, but she wanted to see the world.
A year abroad! What an attractive possibility! But Luisa couldn’t bring herself to raise the subject with her parents because her parents just wanted her to stay in Seville, get married, give them grandchildren. Last spring, on her own, she applied for(申请) a year of high school in England. Now, this envelope held her answer.
Luisa went to the kitchen to help with dinner. She asked, “Mom, do you ever think about traveling
I mean, I want to. And maybe someday…live somewhere else.”
Luisa’s heart beat harder as she waited for her mother’s reaction. But Mom nodded. “Luisa, of course you’d like to travel. I want that for you and…”
Just then Dad arrived. When they sat down at the table to eat, Dad said, “Seville is the best, yes, my Luisa ” Luisa’s heart sank(为之一沉). Dad continued, “Why would people want to leave Seville ” Mom smiled, “When Luisa is old enough, we can discuss with her what’s best for her future.”
Dad raised an eyebrow but didn’t argue.
Luisa couldn’t wait any longer, but her parents’ easy chatter(聊天)was the sound of her childhood. She sank deeper into her chair and listened. Home would always be here. But when the time was right, she’d leave. And she wanted it to be with her parents’ support.
“Something came in the letter,” she said at last. “I want you to see.” She took out the letter. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you,” her voice was shaking. “I wanted this more than anything.” Luisa waved at the unopened envelope. “But only if you say it’s okay.”
30．Last spring, Luisa________.
A．traveled abroad with her parents B．got married and started a family
C．discussed her future plan with her mother D．applied for a year of high school in England
31．How did Luisa feel as she waited for her mother’s reaction in the kitchen
A．Excited. B．Nervous. C．Proud. D．Regretful.
32．Luisa decided to tell her parents about the letter because________.
A．she wanted her parents’ support B．she had already known the answer
C．her parents asked her for the letter D．her parents were unwilling to wait
（2020·北京西城·统考二模）Bacterial Quorum Sensing
Bacteria(细菌)play an important role in our lives. They can keep us alive as well as make us sick. It wasn’t until fairly recently that we learned bacteria can communicate with one another.
In the 1960s, researchers found that a kind of bacteria called Vibrio fischeri（费氏弧菌） produced no light when they were alone, but that they exhibited great amount of light as the bacterial population grew to a certain number. How did this happen How can Vibrio fischeri tell the difference between times when they’re alone and times when they’re in a community, and then all do something together
Researchers found they talk to each other with a chemical language—signal molecules(信号分子). Vibrio fischeri makes signal molecules, and it also has a receptor on its surface that fits like a lock and key with a signal molecule. As the bacteria increase, more and more signal molecules are sent into the environment. When signal molecules increase to a certain amount, they lock down into those receptors and information comes into the bacteria, which tells them how many neighbors there are. As soon as they realize the population has hit the certain number, all of the bacteria behave as a group, making light together. In the past ten years, researchers have found all bacteria have systems like this: they make and recognize chemical words, determine(判断)the size of the community, and carry out tasks that would be unsuccessful if a single one were to act alone. This process is called quorum sensing.
Most of the time, bacteria live with thousands of other species (种类)of bacteria. There has to be a language of interspecies communication. In fact, bacteria have another kind of signal molecule, which is the common language used by all species. Moreover, this kind of molecule has its own receptor. In this way, bacteria are able to count different populations, and then they decide what task to carry out depending on which species has the greatest population.
Knowing how bacteria communicate could influence how we fight disease. What if bacteria can’t talk or hear They won’t recognize when there are enough bacteria and when to exhibit the group behavior to make us sick. Researchers are developing a method—to make molecules that look like the real ones and then they lock into the receptors to jam recognition of the real situation.
On the other hand, researchers also improve the conversation of the beneficial bacteria, so they can do things that we want them to do better than they would do on their own.
33．According to the passage, what can we learn about quorum sensing
A．Quorum sensing may happen when there is only one Vibrio fischeri.
B．Signal molecules are kept away from receptors during quorum sensing.
C．Most bacteria have similar systems to make light during quorum sensing.
D．Bacteria carry out a group task when their population hit a certain number.
34．What can we learn from the passage
A．The more species there are, the more group actions bacteria will take.
B．In different environments, bacteria have different interspecies languages.
C．Beneficial bacteria communicate better by themselves than harmful ones.
D．To fight disease, researchers try to turn off the communication between harmful bacteria.
35．The passage is mainly about ________.
A．why bacterial population grows B．how bacteria communicate with each other
C．which bacteria help fight disease D．what scientists do to find quorum sensing
（2020·北京西城·统考二模）Everybody hates that feeling when you spend three weeks reading a book, and a month later somebody asks you about it and you can’t remember a thing you read. It makes you wonder why you wasted a couple of hours on the words that didn’t stick.
There are some effective ways to learn. And when I say “to learn effectively”, what I mean is to not just build up knowledge, but to be able to apply(应用)that knowledge effectively at some point in the future. By this definition, most of the courses people spend money on is not learning. Something is not truly learned until it changes you in some way.
1. Memory is based on relevance (相关性)
One of my favorite online book clubs is Mentor Box. What’s cool about the club is not only do they send you books to read, but they send you study materials related to them. The study materials, instead of being like school, where it asks you to repeat information in the book to help memorize it, are designed to help you apply the lessons to various areas of your life.
That’s because memory works based on relevance. We only remember what our brain has considered important to our own lives. If you don’t find a way to make it relevant to you and your well-being in some way, your brain will conveniently forget it.
You can do this on your own. When you come across something interesting in a book, write down its application or relevance to something in your life—how you can use the idea, how it explains something in your past, how it can help with your problems, etc.
2. Reading does not have to be linear
People believe they have to read everything, line by line, one after another. This is not only not true, but it’s often a waste of time and energy.
When you buy a book, you’re not buying the words, you’re buying the useful ideas. The point of a book is to gather the information that is relevant and important to you, not to finish it or to understand every word. What matters is the principle or key idea. Once you’ve received that principle or idea, there’s no reason to feel obligated to sit there and read the rest.
3.Think critically and ask the right questions
Everything you read should be questioned. You should question the writer’s biases(偏见 ), whether they’re explaining information correctly, whether they’re overlooking something. When reading something I agree with, I’ll ask myself, “Is it possible that this could be wrong ” Everything should be taken with a grain of salt, for the simple reason that almost everything is largely uncertain. And it’s the ability to manage those uncertainties effectively that will determine the depth of your knowledge and understanding, not the ability to memorize a lot of facts and numbers.
36．According to the writer, effective learning________.
A．is a practical method to have good feelings
B．helps you explain and remember difficult words
C．happens when knowledge changes you in some way
D．is the main goal of the courses people spend money on
37．What does the writer suggest when we learn something new
A．Read line by line to receive useful ideas.
B．Repeat and rethink information to deepen our memory.
C．Build connections between books and our personal life.
D．Keep asking questions to understand the writer’s opinions.
38．The underlined word “obligated” probably means “________”.
A．worried B．forced C．relaxed D．interested
39．Which of the following would be the best title for the passage
A．How to Become A Better Learner
B．How to Memorize Things Effectively
C．Ways of Building Relevance in Your Life
D．The importance of Asking the Right Questions
（2021·北京西城·统考一模）Best Gifts for Your Teen Friends
Shopping for your teen friends’ birthday gifts can be difficult. Each year, we pay close attention to the newest gifts hitting the market. Below, we’ve created such a list, choosing some of the hottest items on store shelves right now.
Color-changing Lamp Speaker $36.00With a simple touch, this speaker lamp changes color, plays music and helps them sleep. They can even bring it with them on camping trips since it runs for up to 120 hours. Harry Potter Paperback Box Set $80.00If they’re getting sick of borrowing the local library’s copies, then they need a complete collection of Harry Potter books to call their own. This set comes with all seven books in the series (系列).
The Mind Card Game $20.00This is a board game that encourages true teamwork, because the number one rule is “No talking!” If successful, they’ll be amazed at how well they work with their teammates without using any words. Bluetooth Wireless (无线) Smart Beanie $15.00Trying to wear headphones and a hat at the same time is usually uncomfortable. This smart beanie can keep their ears warm in winter, while allowing them to listen to their favorite playlists for up to five hours. Also, it’s washable as long as you take out the battery (电池) .
40．Which gift encourages teamwork A．The Mind Card Game. B．Harry Potter Paperback Box Set.
C．Color-changing Lamp Speaker. D．Bluetooth Wireless Smart Beanie.
41．How much should you pay for a color-changing lamp speaker
A．$80.00. B．$36.00. C．$20.00. D．$15.00.
42．The Bluetooth Wireless Smart Beanie ________.
A．comes with all seven books B．can run for five hours in winter
C．can change color and help one sleep D．follows the number one rule “No talking!”
（2021·北京西城·统考一模）
Field Day
“It’s time for Field Day again,” thought Carly as she started the last week of school.
Carly was not looking forward to it. “Why does everybody make a big deal out of it ” Carly asked her mom. “Well, it’s supposed to be a fun day and a day to let yourself go,” said Carly’s mom. “I’m not good at any of those games that are played, and I’m afraid the kids are going to laugh at me. Maybe I can stay home and miss Field Day,” said Carly.
Mary was Carly’s closest friend, and they walked to school every day. “Aren’t you excited about Field Day ” Mary asked Carly. “No, I don’t care about such a silly day. No one ever picks me for their team because I’m not good at those games,” answered Carly.
Mary felt bad and she told her mom how unexcited Carly was and wondered what she could do to cheer her friend up. “See if you can get in a game that you know Carly is good at,” suggested Mary’s mom. Mary thought for a moment and said that she knew Carly loved to play horseshoes, and was really good at that game. She was also good at the water balloon toss (投掷) too.
Field Day finally arrived. Mary came by Carly’s house for their daily walk to school. Carly was very quiet on the way to school. “I hear they are going to have horseshoes this year and also a water balloon game,” Mary said. “Really I love horseshoes, and I am pretty good at catching those water balloons,” said Carly. Suddenly, Carly felt more excited about going to school and starting Field Day than she had ever been.
The games began, and Carly had the best Field Day ever! Her team won first place in the water balloon toss thanks to her, and she got a ribbon (绶带) for second place in horseshoes. “What a great day!” Carly said to Mary. Carly is now looking forward to Field Day next year!
43．Carly wasn’t looking forward to Field Day at first because ________.
A．she didn’t have friends to go with her
B．her friend Mary wasn’t excited about it
C．her mom told her that it wasn’t fun at all
D．she wasn’t good at those games that were played
44．In the story, Mary ________.
A．tried hard to cheer Carly up B．won first place this Field Day
C．taught Carly how to play horseshoes D．stayed at home and missed this Field Day
45．Carly will probably ________ next Field Day.
A．invite her family to join her B．make a completely new rule
C．take an active part in the games D．plan the whole event for her school
（2021·北京西城·统考一模）Imagine that your friend is cutting the cake to share with all the guests at the birthday party. The first three guests are handed large pieces of cake, while you are handed a teeny-tiny one. How would you feel Is this fair Most of us have a clear sense of what is fair and what is not, but where does this come from Scientists try to study fairness in primate species (灵长类物种) to understand how fairness came about.
Fairness often involves equal outcomes (平等的结果)
Do monkeys behave in ways that lead to equal outcomes To find out, scientists give monkeys choices about how to share food. Scientists ask a monkey to choose between two options—to provide a piece of food just for themselves, or to provide food for another monkey nearby, as well as for themselves (Figure 1). If monkeys are trying to achieve equal outcomes, they would give food to both themselves and another. Do they Sometimes.
The left monkey has just chosen the board to give food to himself and the neighboring monkey. The left monkey has just chosen the board that provides food for himself only.
（Figure 1）Whether monkeys favor equal outcomes seems to depend on the species. The species which live in groups will prefer equal outcomes, but not all the time.
What else might be influencing whether monkeys create equal outcomes If the two monkeys are friends, one is more likely to share food with the other. It also seems that monkeys would make the equal choice when they cannot see the actual food—some scientists use pictures of food.
But wait, does effort matter
Scientists have developed a way to test whether monkeys prefer everyone to be paid equally for doing the same work. In this study, monkeys are trained to work for food by exchanging small coins with a scientist. To determine if and how monkeys respond to unfairness, scientists have two monkeys take turns exchanging coins and give them different food—their favorite food or a less-preferred food (Figure2). If the monkey getting the less-preferred food refuses to keep exchanging coins, scientists conclude the monkeys respond to unfairness.
The monkey on the left exchanges the coin for a piece of banana. Next, the neighbor monkey will also exchange a coin, but receive a less-preferred piece of food.
（Figure 2）The results of the study have suggested differences across monkey species. Generally, monkeys living in groups do not respond to unfairness, while other monkeys do respond to it. However, monkeys do not appear to mind if they get a better food than others.
All in all, monkeys’ sense of fairness does not seem to be as well-developed as our own. By studying their preferences for fairness and responses to unfair situations, we can learn more about how these values developed in humans. And this also helps us to better understand the natural world and how to care for animals as well.
46．In the first monkey study, ________.
A．scientists use more pictures of food than actual food
B．scientists let monkeys choose from a variety of foods
C．the left monkey will get no food if it provides food for another
D．the left monkey can choose between two ways of providing food
47．What can we learn from these monkey studies
A．Monkeys living in groups value effort more.
B．Monkeys of different species enjoy different work.
C．Not all monkeys stop working when treated unfairly.
D．Monkeys seem to mind if the neighbor gets less food.
48．Which of the following would be the best title for the passage
A．Do Monkeys Care What Is Fair
B．Can Equal Outcomes Bring Fairness
C．Why Do Monkeys Value Fairness and Effort
D．How Do Monkeys Develop a Sense of Fairness
（2021·北京西城·统考一模）We’ve all experienced failure. Whether we like it or not, failure is part of life. How people respond to it is of great importance both to their decisions and achievements. Some are likely to have such expectations: “If I should reach that goal, how happy would I feel ” In a recent study, we wanted to understand how such expectations may change in the face of failure. Are people able to predict their own happiness
The old saying “the grass is always greener on the other side” suggests that people spend much of their time searching for things they can’t have. In other words, the harder it is to achieve, the higher the valuation. But is this a good model for how ordinary people process failure According to the story The Fox and the Grapes, failure often leads us to drop our initial (最初的) plan. In the story, the fox jumps with all his strength, yet he fails to reach the grapes. Finally, he walks away, concluding that the grapes were sour (酸的) anyway.
So, which is it: greener grass or sour grapes We did an experiment to determine how people react to failure.
In the study, about 1,200 participants (参加者) received either good or poor feedback (反馈) on the practice trial of a test. Half of them were told that they had performed in the bottom 20 percent, while the other half, in the top 20 percent. They were then asked to predict how they would feel if they earned a high score on the actual test.
The research results showed that those who received poor feedback on the practice trial predicted that they would feel less happiness and less pride, compared to those who received strong feedback. However, when they received a top score on the actual test later, they were just as happy as the other half, and much happier than they had predicted before. This suggests that the initial failure made people undervalue how good it would feel to succeed in the future.
The question though, is why failure makes us downplay our future happiness. According to Professor Jon Elster, people don’t always know what they want, and often change their wishes to match what appears within reach. When the outcome doesn’t fit the one they have of themselves, they protect themselves by devaluing the goal—rather than devaluing themselves. In other words, when personal failure happens, one way of protecting our positive (积极的) sense of self is to refuse to accept the emotional importance of future achievements.
Detachment (超脱) from personal goals can be useful, if it helps people redirect their attention from the impossible to better and more achievable goals. However, if the sour-grape effect kicks in too early and people become fearful of failure, they could miss out on the chance to try again and realize that what once seemed impossible is now within reach.
49．What does the story The Fox and the Grapes suggest
A．The outcome valuation depends on what goal is set.
B．Difficulties result in a higher achievement expectation.
C．Past performance doesn’t help predict future happiness.
D．Initial failure makes future success appear less attractive.
50．The word “downplay” in Paragraph 6 probably means “________”.
A．undervalue B．better understand C．destroy D．discover
51．What do we know from the passage
A．The participants cared more about strong feedback.
B．The happier people are those who predict less happiness.
C．The participants’ performance failed to match their abilities.
D．People devalue the goal to keep a positive view of themselves.
52．What is the writer trying to tell us
A．Failure is the mother of success.
B．Detachment stops people from changing wishes.
C．The seemingly impossible is worth trying sometimes.
D．The sour-grape effect pushes us to keep moving forward.
（2021·北京西城·统考二模）Homes Around the World
Floating(漂浮) HomesLots of people in the world live on houseboats. People sleep, cook, eat, and sometimes work on them. The Uros people in Peru make floating houses from the plants that grow in the lake. First, they make a floating island for the house to stand on and then they make a house, all from plants!
Rock HomesSome people still live in caves(洞穴)! Cave homes can be very comfortable today, and they usually have windows and electricity. In Guadix, Spain, almost half of the people live underground in caves. Many of the homes have chimneys(烟囱), but these aren't to let smoke out—they are to let air in!
Family HomesIn many places in the world, lots of generations(一代人) of a family often live together. This can be helpful because the grandparents can look after the children while the parents work. The people who live in this house in Mexico use ladders(梯子) to get between floors. On summer nights they often sleep on the cool roof(屋顶) .
Community HomesThis house is in China. It's called a tulou. It's a big round house, three or four floors high, and it's made of mud(泥土) . There is only one door and all the main windows are inside, so it is well protected. Lots of families live here, sometimes up to 800 people! Each family has two or three rooms.
53．The Uros people live________.A．in floating houses B．in caves
C．on roofs D．in a tulou
54．Why do many of the rock homes in Guadix have chimneys
A．To let smoke out. B．To let air in.
C．To help cook food. D．To protect the house.
55．What is true about a tulou
A．It is made from plants. B．It is built underground.
C．All the main windows are inside. D．People get between floors with ladders.
（2021·北京西城·统考二模）
A Day at the Amusement Park
Robert and his friend, Mike, were headed to the amusement park for the day. It had been Mike’s birthday, and his mom promised him a day at the amusement park with a friend. The boys were so excited to try the roller coaster.
The boys were hungry, so Mike’s mom gave them tickets to get cotton candy, hotdogs, and some popcorn. While getting the food, Mike saw a boy about his age staring at the roller coaster. “That boy was standing there when we were on it.” said Mike. “I wonder why he doesn’t go on the ride ” asked Robert. “Maybe he’s frightened.”
The boy was by himself and looked poor. His shirt and jeans were torn and dirty. Even his hair was messy.
After the boys finished their food, they walked over to Mike’s mom and told her about the boy. “Can we do something to help him ” asked Mike. “What do you want to do ” his mom asked. “Let’s give him the spare tickets we have.” Mike and Robert went over to the boy and handed him a ticket for the roller coaster.
The boy gave them the biggest smile and said, “Thanks. That would be great!” “We have some spare food tickets, too.” “Wow, I would really like a hotdog,” said the boy. He said his name was Chris and that he came to the amusement park often, but he didn’t have the money to go on the rides. “I just watch everyone else and wish I could go on all the rides.”
Mike’s mom came over and told the boys it was getting late, “This is Chris,” said Mike to his mom. “It’s nice to meet you, Chris.” “Well boys, we need to head home.” They said goodbye to Chris and left. Mike’s mom told the boys what they did for Chris was very special. “You both brightened a boy’s day that is less lucky than you. I’m proud of you both.”
56．At the amusement park, Mike and Robert ________.
A．shared a birthday cake B．rode the roller coaster
C．bought a shirt for Chris D．lost the spare tickets
57．Chris didn’t go on the ride because ________.
A．he was hungry B．he was frightened
C．he was poor D．he was late
58．What does the story tell us
A．A small act means a lot to others. B．Friends are easier lost than found.
C．Think twice before you act. D．Knowledge starts with practice.
（2021·北京西城·统考二模）
Talking to yourself isn’t just for humans—it’s for robots too.
Italian researchers have designed a robot that can speak to itself, which enables users to hear its thought process and gain deeper insight into the technology’s decision—making processes.
“If you were able to hear what the robots are thinking, the robots might be more trustworthy,” study co—author Antonio Chella says. “The robots will be easier to understand for people who aren’t technicians or engineers. In a sense,we can communicate and work with the robots better.”
Humans depend on inner speech when looking for clarity and moral(道德的) guidance, and it helps in the decision—making process. The researchers set out to see how this could affect robots,so they developed one called Pepper, and they trained it to set a table. They then gave it the ability to say,in plain English,what it was “thinking” when completing a task.
After studying the robot,the researchers found that Pepper is better at solving dilemmas(进退两难的困境) when using inner speech. One experiment saw a user ask Pepper to break table setting rules by putting a fork in the wrong place, which led to the robot asking itself a series of self—directed questions. It then concluded that the user might be confused,so it confirmed(确认) the request before continuing to use inner speech:
“Ehm,this situation upsets me. I would never break the rules,but I can’t upset him,so I’m doing what he wants,”Pepper said while putting the fork in the wrong place.
The user can understand Pepper’s thoughts as it uses its inner voice to solve a dilemma,which the researchers say could lead to human—robot trust.
Comparing Pepper’s performance with and without inner speech,Chella discovered that the robot had a higher task—completion rate when using self—dialogue. “People were very surprised by the robot’s ability,” Chella says. “The approach makes the robot different from typical machines because it has the ability to reason,to think. Inner speech could be useful in all the cases where we trust the computer or a robot for evaluation of a situation.”
Although hearing the inner voice of robots enriches the human—robot interaction some people might find it inefficient because the robot spends more time completion tasks when it talks to itself. The robot’s inner speech is also limited to the knowledge that researchers gave it. Still Chella says their research lays the groundwork for more research into how self—dialogue can help robots focus,plan and learn.
59．According to the passage,Pepper can________.
A．design a training task B．talk to itself
C．teach table setting rules D．read users’ minds
60．What can we learn from the research
A．The research aimed to help people understand robots’ actions.
B．Inner speech helps the robot finish tasks more quickly.
C．The Italian researchers created a new language for robots.
D．The robot helped study people’s decision—making process.
61．Which of the following would be the best title for the passage
A．Robots:Learn to Learn B．Robots:Think Out Loud
C．Robots:Make Better Speeches D．Robots:Always Trust Humans
（2021·北京西城·统考二模）Like most people, you usually start work with the hope of being as productive as possible. Yet, as the day rolls on, you find your task list grows. What you set out to achieve in the beginning seems to get pushed to the side.
You’re not alone. Many of us don’t have a process to prioritize tasks and always feel like we’re playing catch-up. We fail to decide what’s the most important task even when everything on the to-do list feels important. But we can get ahead of the game and stay on top of deadlines with some simple methods to set priorities and manage our workload.
Here’s a simple way to prioritize our daily tasks and focus (专注) on the work that matters most: Of all the things we now have the energy for, do the thing we’re normally least likely to do. If we have two live frogs (青蛙) to eat for breakfast, the idea is to eat the ugliest one as early as possible.
There are several ways this trick (技巧) can benefit us.
Doing something we rarely (很少) do is energizing. You do a behavior like washing your windows that you never do. Having clean windows won’t change your life but it challenges your conception of yourself. It influences how we see ourselves. Getting our body moving gives us energy and can improve our focus.
Unfamiliar behaviors often provide more chances to help us grow than familiar ones. When I write for a new publication, it’s with a new editor. I get different feedback. I need to change my style to match the style of that publication, so I develop my skills. In this way we’ll expand (发展) ourselves, our skills, and our future opportunities.
Some people react to anxiety by working hard on very comfortable behaviors but pay no attention to uncomfortable tasks that are a higher priority. The way of prioritizing helps prevent us from doing that. It makes it harder to fool ourselves that we’re being productive by doing busywork that’s super comfortable for us but has little chance of changing our life.
Should we use this trick all the time No. This is a good tip for when we’ve got energy, but we’re swimming in thoughts about all the things we could do, and we’re having trouble deciding and focusing.
Priorities are great. Knowing our priorities reduces stress, helps us focus and can also improve productivity and time management. But remember to be realistic about how much work we can actually do each day. When we prioritize our work properly, we’re sure to have a good day.
62．What does the word “prioritize” in Paragraph 2 probably mean
A．To explain what’s the most beneficial. B．To decide what should be done first.
C．To tell what’s the most meaningful. D．To discuss what can be achieved.
63．The ugliest frog refers to ________.
A．the animal we fear most B．the to-do list we’ve messed up
C．what we are least likely to do D．what makes our day terrible
64．What can we learn from the passage
A．Doing unfamiliar behaviors possibly improves our skills.
B．Doing energizing behaviors shows how we see others.
C．Doing things we rarely do leads to poor focusing.
D．Doing comfortable things changes our life.
65．What is the passage mainly about
A．A solution to reduce our stress. B．Ways to help us focus and decide.
C．A trick to increase our productivity. D．Advantages of developing our skills.
（2022·北京西城·统考一模）After-school clubs are a great way to help kids develop themselves in different areas. They will serve kids well throughout their lives.
Chess It helps build confidence. You have to learn to think ahead and know when your opponent (对手) makes a mistake. Beginning age: 6 Time: Thursdays
Fencing It helps improve problem-solving skills. You can never predict what your opponent will do, so you have to be able to react quickly. Concentration and focus (注意) are also key to keeping calm under pressure. Beginning age: 9 to 11 Time: Wednesdays
First Lego League It teaches the basics of robotics technology and encourages teamwork. Kids are grouped into teams with one coach. The teams work together to build walking, talking robots. Beginning age: 9 Time: Tuesdays
Archery It helps develop attention. It requires focus and concentration, which can help kids do better in school. Safety is very important, so kids are expected to be responsible. Beginning age: 7 Time: Fridays
66．Which club can a 6-year-old join A．Chess. B．Fencing. C．First Lego League. D．Archery.
67．When can kids attend First Lego League
A．On Fridays. B．On Thursdays.
C．On Tuesdays. D．On Wednesdays.
68．Archery helps kids ________.
A．build teamwork B．develop attention
C．learn to think ahead D．improve problem-solving skills
（2022·北京西城·统考一模）It was Saturday and Juan was going to his friend’s house for the day. He was so excited. He thought it would be fun to bring some video games to play with his friend, Tom.
Tom lived on the other side of the town and did not own any video games. He didn’t really ever play them, but he didn’t want to tell Juan. He was afraid Juan would tell the other kids at school. When Juan arrived and suggested playing video games, Tom looked a bit uncomfortable.
“I thought we could go outside and play tag or hide-and-seek,” said Tom.
“I don’t usually play such kind of games,” said Juan.
“Well, we don’t have a television or a computer because my parents don’t have much money, and we can’t afford those extra things, so I usually play old-fashioned games, like tag or hide-and-seek, or dodgeball. Would you please not tell anyone at school that we are poor ” asked Tom.
“You shouldn’t worry about what other people think,” Juan told Tom. “I’m sure the games you play are just as fun as video games.”
The two boys went outside and began playing hide-and-seek. Tom’s parents had a big backyard with many cool places to hide. Juan and Tom played for over an hour! After lunch, they played tag. Juan had so much fun. “I should play these games more often,” he said to Tom.
Three o’clock came and Juan’s mom was there to pick him up. On their way back home, Juan told his mom about not having a television or a computer at Tom’s home. He also told her that he learned to play some great games.
“Sweetie, there are plenty of ways to have fun without video games. When I was growing up, we played hopscotch,” Juan’s mom said.
“What’s hopscotch ” asked Juan.
“I’ll show you when we get home. You will like it.” When they got home, Juan’s mom showed him how she played hopscotch.
“That looks like fun!” said Juan. “Now I have another game to add to my list.”
Juan never told anyone at school that Tom was poor, but thought to himself that Tom was rich in kindness and honesty.
69．How did Tom feel when Juan suggested playing video games
A．Excited. B．Unhappy. C．Interested. D．Uncomfortable.
70．What did Tom play with Juan
A．Video games. B．Hide-and-seek. C．Hopscotch. D．Dodgeball.
71．From this experience, Juan has learned that ________.
A．life can be fun without video games
B．playing games can help one make new friends
C．it is important to spend time doing things with parents
D．people should take action to protect old-fashioned games
（2022·北京西城·统考一模）
Some people are worried that wearing masks will have a bad effect on children’s ability to learn language and socialize. Even parents often worry about how a school year without smiles might negatively(消极地) influence their children.
These worries are understandable, but according to Dr. Danovitch, a research psychologist, who studies the cognitive(认知的) and social development of children, wearing a mask at school could improve certain social and cognitive skills, helping to strengthen abilities like self-control and attention. Take language learning as an example. It’s true that masks cover our mouths and that seeing mouth shape and movement helps babies learn language. But learning how to communicate involves a lot more than mouths. Looking at eyes is at least as important as looking at mouths to understand the people you are looking at and what they are trying to express. Children also make use of other signs to figure out what new words mean and what other people are thinking. A classroom full of people wearing masks is a great chance for children to practice paying attention to those signs, such as a classmate’s tone of voice or a teacher’s body language.
Wearing a mask can also help teach children to pay more attention to their own bodies and physical behaviors. Keeping a mask on over the course of a school day involves the kind of self-control that many children find challenging. Needless to say, children will not always be perfect at keeping their masks on, but they have to be mindful of when their masks are slipping down or when it is OK to take them off. The research on self-control suggests that children who master the skills needed to keep their masks on will grow up to be better at achieving their long-term goals.
Perhaps most importantly, wearing masks during a pandemic(流行病) is a chance for children to practice caring for their community. A recent study shows that children understand the spread of illness better than ever. Wearing a mask gives young children the ability to do something to help protect other people. For older children, mask-wearing is a way to teach them about duty and sacrifice(牺牲). They believe that it feels good to make sacrifices for people in need. Stressing that the discomfort and inconvenience of mask-wearing are forms of caring and public service might encourage children to address other social problems in their lives.
In fact, how children feel about wearing masks at school, and how much they benefit from wearing them, are going to depend on how the parents, teachers and caregivers around them present the topic. Masks are hopefully not here to stay, but while they are still necessary, we should make the most of them.
72．What does the writer tell us in Paragraph 2
A．A teacher uses body language to teach what new words mean.
B．Wearing masks gives children a chance to practice paying attention.
C．Dr. Danovitch helps children with their cognitive and social development.
D．Looking at the mouth matters more than looking at the eyes when people talk.
73．What can we learn from the passage
A．It is unknown if mask-wearing helps children improve social skills.
B．Children believe that the discomfort of mask-wearing is acceptable.
C．People’s thoughts and emotions are hidden when they are wearing masks.
D．Children who know when to keep their masks on will probably be successful.
74．Which of the following would be the best title for the passage
A．How to Help Children Develop Skills
B．How to Be Perfect at Keeping Masks On
C．Wearing Masks Can Help Children Learn
D．Wearing Masks Can Solve Social Problems
（2022·北京西城·统考一模）
This high school term was supposed to be easier. That is the thought in my mind—after all, this is the first term that I’m taking less than 20 credits(学分), and I’m enjoying all of my classes. However, this term has felt the most difficult and my grades are much worse than they were when I was taking two more classes.
I could blame(怪罪) it on the fact that I’ve been busy working in several school clubs and practicing for a school musical several times a week. Actually, it is important that I don’t overlook(忽视) that because it wouldn’t be fair to myself to say it doesn’t play a part in my low grades. However, it’s clearly not the only reason. In fact, study has never been easy for me.
I thought that putting in more effort would change things, but it hasn’t. The exam I studied for hours on comes back a failure. I fall asleep while working on homework and forget to hand it in. I sit in class taking lots of notes, and when I look back at them to do my homework, it all reads as gibberish. I start to realize that maybe some of the work I do is just hard.
I’m learning that it’s okay not to be the best at the work that you do. When you’re used to being naturally good, it’s hard to realize that throwing the same amount(数量) of effort at something that is more difficult won’t just automatically(自动地) work. However, we shouldn’t feel bad about that. Even though we’re here for learning, there are so many things to spend our time on. I think of the things I want as all having a price, and the amount that I would like to pay at any given time changes, as does the price. It’s not to say that you should stop working hard, but it’s good to keep in mind that sometimes the price just might be too high for you at a given time.
You don’t have to do everything perfectly, even if it looks easy, and you’re allowed to deal with knowledge that just doesn’t make sense to you. This is the time to learn how to keep on keeping on. We will be the best of ourselves once we learn that being our best isn’t a precondition to learning.
75．What was probably the writer’s expectation for her term
A．To take more classes and be able to enjoy them.
B．To live an easy school life and get good grades.
C．To give up some clubs to have more time to study.
D．To experience a challenging term and get perfect marks.
76．What does the underlined word “gibberish” in Paragraph 3 probably mean
A．Something difficult to remember. B．Something funny.
C．Something impossible to understand. D．Something boring.
77．What can we learn from Paragraph 4
A．People will pay a higher price if they stop working.
B．People have to a