吉林高考英语阅读理解专项训练（含答案）

阅读理解
In Singapore, it seems like art is at every turn. Look closely and you’ll discover masterpieces in front of an office building, a walkway, and even on a rooftop garden, where everyone can appreciate them up close. In order to further promote art, festivals are held throughout the year. Here are some of the biggest art draws to come.
ARTWALK When: January
An annual public art festival, Artwalk takes place in the culturally rich neighborhoods of Little India and Katong-Joo Chiat. Visitors can learn about the food, stories and history of two of Singapore’s most distinct communities on guided walking tours. They can even experience art and culture up close with hands-on workshops with local artists, storytellers and cultural experts.
ART SG When: March
During the biggest art fair in Southeast Asia, more than 150 of the world’s best galleries will showcase their collection of more than 1,000 artists. The film sector will feature panel discussions, experimental films, and new film-making practices. Some galleries will also present digital technology artworks like AR, VR, and NFTs.
SINGAPORE NIGHT When: August
During this party-like night festival, the Bras Basah-Bugis business street lights up for this multi-dimensional art festival with diverse light installations (装置). Building walls provide larger-than-life canvases (画布) for shows; underground tunnels are brilliant with lights. Art and creativity blossom through a passion for experiments.
SINGAPORE BIENNALE When: October-February
Lasting five months, the Singapore Biennale is a dynamic event that encourages folks to see art in a new light through interactive installations and exhibitions. The highlights include art tours, air performances, a film installation and various exhibitions.
1．What can a visitor do in ARTWALK
A．Visit museums and galleries. B．Join in interactive activities.
C．Try out global cuisine. D．Share personal stories.
2．When should visitors go to Singapore if they want to enjoy light shows at night
A．In January. B．In March. C．In August. D．In November.
3．What’s the text mainly about
A．Four art shows in Singapore. B．Four places of interest in Singapore.
C．Four art festivals in Singapore. D．Four travel routes in Singapore.
A year ago, I paid no attention to English idioms (习语), though my teacher stressed the importance again and again. But soon, the importance of English idioms was shown in an amusing experience.
One day, I happened to meet an Englishman on the road, and soon we began to talk. As I was talking about how I was studying English, the foreigner seemed to be astonished.
Gently shaking his head, shrugging his shoulders, he said, “You don’t say!” I was puzzled. I thought, perhaps this is not an appropriate topic. “Well, I’d better change the topic.” So I said to him. “Well, shall we talk about the Great Wall By the way, have you ever been there ” “Certainly, everyone back home will laugh at me if I leave China without seeing it. It was magnificent.” He was deep in thought when I began to talk like a tourist guide. “The Great Wall is one of the wonders in the world. We are very proud of it.” Soon I was interrupted again by his words: “You don’t say!”. I couldn’t help asking, “Why do you ask me not to talk about it ”
“Well, I didn’t request you to do so,” he answered, greatly surprised. I said, “Didn’t you say ‘you don’t say’ ” Hearing this, the Englishman laughed to tears. He began to explain, “‘You don’t say!’ actually means ‘Really!’. It is an expression of surprise. Perhaps you don’t pay attention to English idioms.”
Only then did I realize I had made a fool of mysell. Since then I have been more careful with idiomatic expressions. Remember: What the English teachers said is always right to us students.
4．A year ago, I paid no attention to English idioms because________.
A．English idioms were not important
B．my teacher didn’t emphasize the importance of them
C．I had no interest in them
D．I didn’t realize the importance of English idioms
5．What can we infer from the second paragraph
A．The Englishman left China without seeing the Great Wall.
B．The Englishman thought the Great Wall is worth visiting.
C．The Englishman wanted to see the Great Wall after I talked about it.
D．The Englishman wanted me to act as his guide.
6．At first, on hearing “You don’t say!” I thought the foreigner meant ________.
A．he was only interested in the Great Wall
B．he was not interested in the topic
C．I had talked too much
D．I had to stop talking
7．After the Englishman explained the idiom, ________.
A．I felt very foolish
B．I thought the Englishman had made me a fool
C．the Englishman became a real fool
D．I became more carefully in everything
Here are some of the prettiest small towns across Europe.
Giethoorn, Netherlands
They call it the Dutch answer to Venice, but Giethoorn lacks one crucial thing that the Italian city has overtourism. As in Venice, life goes around the water. There are no cars in the center so the only way to get around is on foot or on the water. Hungry Stop at the Michelin-starred restaurant Hollands Veneti .
Guim ries, Portugal
Guim ries is crucial to Portugal’s history — It was named the country’s first capital in the 12th century. Its Middle Age core remains largely undamaged, full of grand old palaces and a broken castle, standing on top of a cliff. Like everywhere in Portugal, local bakeries make a taste pie, but here you should try the local speciality: tortas de Guim ries, a pastry filled with squash and ground almonds.
Clovelly, UK
Donkeys used to be the only way to get up and down the steep streets of Clovelly, a pretty fishing village in Devon, southwest England. Today, they still haven’t managed to bring cars in. It sits at the bottom of a 400-foot cliff. Instead, goods are transported by man-powered sledges (雪橇).
Kenmare, Ireland
On the southwestern tip of Ireland, the land melts into the ocean in County Kerry. Kenmare swings on the bay of the same name. This is in the middle of some of Ireland’s best loved ares. It’s on the Wild Atlantic Way, between the Ring of Kerry and the Ring of Beara. Kenmare is known for its food, and for its views — with grand mountains behind the clear bay.
8．How can one travel in Giethoorn
A．By car. B．By bus. C．By air. D．By water.
9．Why is Guimar es important to Portugal’s history
A．It stands on top of a cliff. B．It has many grand old palaces.
C．It was the country’s first capital. D．It attracted many famous bakers.
10．In which place can you experience the life of a fishing village
A．Giethoorn. B．Guimar es. C．Clovelly. D．Kenmare.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, many of us have decided to get our hands dirty and get into gardening, but did indoor plants purify (净化) air
In an often-cited 1989 NASA report, a scientist Bill Wolverton claimed that household plants could provide a “promising economical solution to indoor air pollution.” However, more recent researches have poured cold water on the idea.
Scientists studying the effectiveness of indoor plants for the passive removal of air pollution, found houseplants make “at best, modest contributions of about 0.9-9% to indoor pollution removal effectiveness,” they reported in 2017 in the Journal of Building and Environment. The tests, performed in a laboratory to simulate the effects on a typical U. S. home, found houseplants hardly affected the environment. To make a meaningful difference to the air quality of your home, you’d need to fill a room from top to bottom with plants, they suggest, While a single spider plant won’t purify the air, a green wall covered in plants just might, found scientists in a study published in 2020 in the Journal of Environmental Management.
While the benefits of plants purifying the air are less certain, a recent study from Princeton University finds that gardening is beneficial for physical and mental health. Another study found that indoor gardening lowered stress responses compared to the demands of completing a computer task.
Although plants can make your home a more pleasant environment and taking care of them can have mental health benefits, it’s unlikely they’ll do much to purify the air-unless you’ re going to buy hundreds. So if you’ re concerned about air quality in your home, we’ll advise you to invest in an air purifier.
11．What can we infer about the 1989 NASA report
A．It agreed with the latest research.
B．It suggested plants purified indoor air.
C．It had a great impact on the economy.
D．It provided much evidence for experiments.
12．What is the main idea of paragraph4
A．The recent studies on air quality. B．Comparison between gardening tasks.
C．Professors’ views on indoor pollution. D．The healthy benefits of gardening.
13．How should we remove indoor air pollution according to the text
A．By using an air purifier. B．By growing particular plants.
C．By improving gardening skills. D．By decorating walls with plants.
14．In which section of a newspaper can we find the text
A．Sports and Amusement B．Life and Fashion
C．Daily Science and Technology D．Commercial and Advertisement
People who give, live longer, studies have shown. Now, a new study by University of Michigan researchers shows that why people volunteer — not whether they volunteer — is what really counts.
For the study, Konrath and colleagues analyzed data collected in 2008 and 2012 aiming at the same random samples of 3,376 people. Overall, they found that just 2.3 percent of those who once worked as volunteers had died, compared to 4.3 percent of non-volunteers. They further found that how much people volunteered mattered as well — only 1.8 percent of regular volunteers died, compared with 2.5 percent of occasional volunteers.
But what really made a difference were people’s motives for volunteering. The researchers asked people to rate how important they found various reasons for volunteering, and they found that the more important people rated reasons such as feeling pity for people in need, the more likely they were to be alive. Those who rated motives related to personal benefit as more important were more likely to have died, and just as likely to die as those who didn’t volunteer at all. These reasons included volunteering because they enjoyed the social contact, to escape their own problems, or to explore their own strengths.
Konrath says the current findings suggest it may be a poor idea to encourage people to volunteer because it’s good for them. “Volunteering is increasingly being encouraged in schools and organizations. Some groups say that it’s okay to want benefits for yourself, and encourage people to think of volunteering as an exchange for personal interests. Some groups emphasize the health benefits received through volunteering.” Konrath added, “Of course, it’s reasonable for volunteers to expect benefits for themselves. But the potential health benefits of volunteering are significantly reduced if self-benefit becomes a person’s main motive.”
15．What does the new study mainly find
A．Whether we volunteer decides our well-being. B．Why we volunteer has an impact on our health.
C．How we volunteer makes sense to others. D．How often we volunteer makes a difference.
16．How did the researchers do the research
A．By analyzing statistics. B．By reviewing previous studies.
C．By doing lab experiments. D．By observing random samples.
17．Which of the following motives will probably benefit the volunteers most
A．Making more friends. B．Developing ability in practice.
C．Solving personal problems. D．Helping people in trouble.
18．What is the last paragraph mainly about
A．Practical suggestions on further studies. B．Potential applications of the research method.
C．A further explanation of the current findings. D．A reasonable doubt about the research findings.
Today, I’ve been recording an audiobook. I am excited that I have realized my life-long dream.
I will never forget at primary school I used to wait with breathless anticipation to take my turn reading out a paragraph of great works in front. At my secondary school, when students were encouraged to select and present a reading at “morning talk”, I often added my name to the list.
This was all handy background for my career in broadcasting. But, much as I enjoy hosting shows and interviewing people, I often find myself missing the simple pleasures of reading out loud. I’d thought about putting myself forward as a narrator (朗读者) for audiobooks. But I’m not an actor. I can’t do regional accents or play female voice. Non-fiction, then, seemed the obvious target, but I felt that such books were best read by their authors. If it were authors’ own voice, their stories would touch me.
Recently, delivering my son’s nightly bedtime story has reawakened my love for reading out loud—highlights so far have included Charlotte’s Web. But I never thought I’d get the opportunity to do it professionally.
Then, last month, I was contacted by James Plunkett, author of End State, a forthcoming book about political ideas. He had no desire to read his book out loud, but as a fan of my program, he thought I might do a reasonable job.
So, I’ve spent this week in a studio, simply reading stuff out loud. And I’m LOVING IT!
Mind you, it’s an entirely unexpected experience. It’s disheartening when the recording needs to be stopped because I’ve just carelessly skipped over a ’the’, or had to clear my throat, or catch my breath. I’ve also learned how many words I’ve been mispronouncing my entire life: behavioural is BE-HAYVE-YOU-RAL, not BE-HAYVE-EE-AH-RUL.
Though tackling this 339-page book doesn’t turn out to be that easy, I’ve found the whole process awesome, and hope this becomes the first of many.
19．What does the author want to show by mentioning his experiences at school
A．The power of dreaming. B．His love for reading aloud.
C．The impact of schooling. D．His talent for reading.
20．What can we learn about the author from paragraph 3
A．He regrets being a host. B．He can not read non-fiction well.
C．He lacks working experience. D．He is aware of his disadvantages.
21．Why did the author get the job as a narrator
A．He was good at reading bedtime story. B．He applied for it in person.
C．He was appointed by the writer. D．He had crowds of fans.
22．What does the author think of being a narrator
A．Demanding but enjoyable. B．Risky but fruitful. C．Tiring but stress-free. D．Boring but rewarding.
Swot satellite is scheduled to be launched Thursday morning to conduct a comprehensive survey of Earth’s vital resource. By using advanced microwave radar technology it will collect height-surface measurements of oceans, lakes and rivers in high-definition detail over 90% of the globe. It’s rally the first time to observe nearly all water on the planet’s surface.
The major mission is to explore how oceans absorb atmospheric heat and carbon dioxide in a natural process that adjusts climate change. Oceans are estimated to have absorbed more than 90%, of the extra heat trapped in the Earth’s atmosphere by human-caused greenhouse gases. Swot will scan, the seas and precisely measure fine differences in surface elevations (高度) around smaller currents and eddies (漩涡), where much of the oceans’ decrease of heat and carbon is believed to occur. “Studying the mechanism will help climate scientists answer a key question: What is the turning point at which oceans start releasing, rather than absorbing, huge amounts of heat back into the atmosphere and speed up global warming, rather than limiting it,” said NadyaShiffer, Swot’s program scientist.
By comparison, earlier studies of water bodies relied on data of rivers or oceans taken at specific, points, or from satellites that can only track measurements along a one-dimensional line, requiring scientists to fill in data gaps through extrapolation (外推法). Thanks to the radar instrument, Swot can scan through cloud cover and darkness over wide ranges of the Earth. This enables scientists to accurately map their observations in two dimensions regardless of weather or time of day and to cover large geographic areas far more quickly than was previously possible.
“Rather than giving us a line of elevations, it’s giving us a map of elevations, and that’s just a total game changer,” said Tamlin Pavelsky, Swot freshwater science leader.
23．What do the underlined words “vital resource” in the first paragraph refer to
A．Technology. B．Climate. C．Oceans. D．Water.
24．What is the major mission of Swot satellite
A．To explore where oceans absorb heat and CO2. B．To explain why greenhouse gas comes into being.
C．To identify when global warming is worsened. D．To study how oceans influence climate change.
25．What is an advantage Swot has over previous satellites
A．It fills in data gaps automatically by extrapolation.
B．It contributes to mapping the observation accurately.
C．It covers specific rivers and oceans in one dimension.
D．It keeps track of the weather change at any time of day.
26．Which is the most suitable title for the text
A．First Global Water Survey from Space B．Successful Launch of Swot Satellite
C．A Breakthrough in Space Travel. D．A Solution to Climate Change
In the African bush in southern Kenya, Lucy King watched an elephant rest under a big tree, seemingly bothered by an overhead beehive. It was 2007, and King had just published a behavioral study confirming a belief, widely held by local communities for thousands of years, that elephants are frightened by bees.
King, a zoologist at the nonprofit organization Save the Elephants (STE), asked her research assistant to throw a stone at the hive. “And then suddenly, the bees just erupted,” King says, “the elephants just fled.” That moment led King to a novel design for using live beehives as “fences” to protect farm crops from hungry elephants.
An elephant can eat a farm’s entire harvest in one day, seriously threatening a family’s income and food security. To protect their livelihoods, some farmers have taken to shooting elephants. In an attempt to find a nonlethal solution, nearly 10,000 bee fences like those in King’s initial design are now built into sites in 20 African and Asian countries, she estimates. STE team members focus on providing bee-fence kits to farmers in areas of serious human-elephant conflicts.
In a 2017 field study, King documented that bee fences installed at 10 farms near a national park in Kenya deterred elephants 80 percent of the time. Meanwhile, bee fences have provided some farmers with new income. As part of the STE program, they are taught beekeeping and provided with protective gear such as suits, smokers, rubber boots and gloves.
Farms with bee fences and healthy hives have also inspired another type of enterprise. Mavis Nduchwa started a honey-collecting business in Botswana — a country that has a farm-based economy and is also home to the world’s largest elephant population. The company offers beekeeping training to women at farms with bee fences and helps them sell the resulting honey through her business. The benefits go beyond extra income, she says. “We have seen a decline in the number of gender-based violence cases as women are more empowered and have jobs,” says Nduchwa, who employs more than 1,500 female farmers. “It might sound crazy, but a jar of honey saves elephants and feeds more families.”
27．Why did King design bee fences
A．To obtain live beehives. B．To test the function of STE.
C．To protect crops. D．To provide jobs for women.
28．How does King’s design work
A．It trains farmers to watch over crops. B．It makes bees provide more honey.
C．It frightens elephants away. D．It uses kits to reduce conflict.
29．The author develops the last paragraph mainly by __________.
A．cause and effect B．example C．process D．comparison and contrast
30．Which word best describe the author’s attitude to bee fences
A．Skeptical. B．Tolerant. C．Worried. D．Positive.
Amy Fang has recently been asked a lot about how her handbag matches her vest (马甲). A few months ago, they belonged to the same grey jacket that she bought five years ago. “I’ve been telling people around me that if you have clothes that carry emotional value and you don’t want to get rid of them, you can have them upcycled (升级改造),” says Fang.
Fashion’s waste problem places a huge burden on the environment, awareness of which partly drives upcycle actions. The fashion industry contributes 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions, according to the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe. Upcycling, or making unwanted materials into new products, is an important solution that goes hand in hand with recycling and reuse.
In China’s big cities such as Beijing and Shanghai, the trend is beginning to make an impact. Retopia, a sustainable lifestyle platform backed by student designer incubator Labelhood Youtopia, hosted a pop-up in a shopping centre in Shanghai to sell secondhand or upcycled clothes—70% of over 1,000 items were sold, according to the platform.
Haiyan Zhong, co-founder of Another Aura, which helped Fang find a new life for her old jacket, explains how her startup fits into the wider sustainability fashion context in China. “One part of it is to use natural, organic or biodegradable materials in making the clothes,” she says. “The other part is how to deal with the clothes and the materials they’re made from in their afterlife.”
Customers like Fang can help to influence the next generation. She is happy to see how her upcycle mindset rubs off on her 16-year-old daughter. “My daughter was very impressed with the final products from Another Aura. I hope she can be conscious of her purchases as well and adopt the same habit in the future.”
31．What does Amy Fang think about her vest
A．It is of little use.
B．It has cost too much.
C．It contains a certain feeling.
D．It should be donated to others.
32．What can we learn from the text
A．The fashion industry is environmentally friendly.
B．Another Aura attaches importance to materials of clothes.
C．Retopia is the first to sell upcycled clothes.
D．Recycling is not a solution to the waste problem.
33．What does the phrase “rubs off ” in the last paragraph probably mean
A．Shocks. B．Affects.
C．Amuses. D．Threatens.
34．Which can be a suitable title for the text
A．China’s Upcycling Trend B．Fang’s Beneficial Actions
C．Starting Sustainable Studios D．Influence of the Fashion Industry
Jordan Mittler has been spending weekends teaching seniors in New York how to use technology for years, but he never expected he would be streaming a class online.
He has taught texting, emailing and video chatting to dozens of seniors for years, beginning when his grandparents first got smartphones. Teaching them how to use apps and send messages inspired the teen to offer his services to more older people. In February 2019, he created a formal curriculum and started hosting free, hour-long sessions for seniors every Sunday.
Immediately, he was flooded with interested participants. His course, spread out over 10 weeks, was an instant success. One of his favorite lessons was helping his students surprise a family member with a video call.
But when the coronavirus hit New York City, Jordan had to end his classes. He wasn’t sure if he could move the lessons online—it was much easier to help students understand their devices in person —but he knew the importance of keeping older folks connected online. Most of the attendees were retired or lived alone and needed to find ways to connect with family members remotely. “It gives them somewhere to be and something to do,” he said.
So he spent a week ensuring each student could use Zoom, an online video chat platform. For most of the seniors, that meant calling them individually with step-by-step instructions. Since then, online classes have been going smoothly. He has reworked his curriculum to include tasks relevant to life in isolation, like staying in touch with family, checking the news, and playing online games.
His project, Mittler Senior Technology, has taught Jordan the value of making intergenerational relationships. He frequently invites his teenage friends to participate in his classes, hoping more young people will take time to help older relatives or neighbors.
35．What made Jordan decide to help the old
A．Buying smartphones for his grandparents.
B．Streaming a class about smartphones.
C．Guiding his grandparents to use smartphones.
D．Learning more skills about surfing the Internet.
36．What does paragraph 4 mainly talk about
A．How Jordan began his online classes.
B．Why it was necessary to help the old.
C．What Jordan thought of the coronavirus.
D．Why it was hard to teach the old online.
37．What can we know about Jordan’s online teaching
A．It got support from apps. B．Jordan had confidence in it at first.
C．Its curriculum never changed. D．Jordan well prepared for it.
38．What can we infer about Jordan Mittler
A．He is considerate and patient. B．He is humorous and positive.
C．He is curious and brave. D．He is honest and determined.
Chinatown, lying in Downtown L.A．near the city’s cultural center, is one of L.A．’s most popular tourist destinations. What are you waiting for Go to explore this amazing place right now!
A MECCA FOR FOOD
In Chinatown, a mix of new and old restaurants meets everyone’s needs. Early birds should stop by Philippe The Original, a local restaurant that’s beloved for French Dip sandwiches, but also serves a good classic American breakfast. Night owls will want to head to Full House Seafood on Hill Street, which is open late into the night.
CHINESE AMERICAN MUSEUM
Food is far from the only reason to visit Chinatown. People interested in history will want to start their trip at the Chinese American Museum (CAM), lying just outside of Chinatown at El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument. The museum is housed in the Garnier Building, the oldest surviving Chinese building in a major area of California.
CENTRAL PLAZA
A big statue of Bruce Lee has become a must-photograph site in Chinatown’s Central Plaza. The late martial arts star once had a studio in Chinatown at 628 W. College St.
Nearby is Dragon Chasing Pearl, which was originally painted on the wall in 1941 by Tyrus Wong. The artist, who passed away in December 2016 at age 106, was famous for his work in films, particularly as the lead artist on Disney’s Bambi.
FESTIVALS
Chinatown hosts many party-style events throughout the year, like the music and food truck Chinatown Summer Nights, the yearly Moon Festival and the biggest one, Chinese New Year! It’s really a good place to experience L.A．’s cultural diversity.
39．Of the following places, which one may be popular for its breakfast
A．Garnier Building. B．Philippe The Original.
C．Full House Seafood. D．Golden Lake Eatery.
40．Who might be attracted to the CAM most
A．A chef. B．A doctor. C．A dancer. D．A historian.
41．What can you do in Chinatown
A．Visit Bruce Lee in person. B．Taste different food for free.
C．Celebrate the Spring Festival. D．Protect the oldest Chinese building.
The coronavirus pandemic(新冠疫情)has brought with it the rise of a new kind of single-use plastic in the form of personal protective equipment (PPE), like face masks and gloves. Experts warned that these sharply increasing single-use items could cause a new wave of plastic pollution and kill wildlife.
The charity Ocean Conservancy reported that volunteers had collected more than 100,000 PPE items from coasts and waterways during the last six months of 2020. They sent out a survey to more than 200 International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) coordinators and volunteers asking about their experience with PPE. The results show that it is a real problem. Volunteers collected 107,219 pieces of PPE in 70 of 115 participating countries. Of those surveyed, 94% reported seeing PPE at a cleanup, and 40% found five items or more. Further, 37% found the items had already sunk into the water.
“During one of our clean-ups in the canals of Leiden, our volunteers found a latex(乳胶)glove with a dead fish trapped in the thumb,” said Auke-Florian Hiemstra, a study coauthor from Leiden University. “Also, in the Dutch canals, we observed that a water bird was using face masks and gloves in its nests.” Other animals that have gotten tangled up in face masks include a fox in the UK, a pufferfish in Florida, and two crabs in France. Numerous dogs and cats have been observed eating PPE as well.
The danger posed by PPE goes deeper than what the eye can see. Luckily, there are ways that all of us can be part of the solution to the problem of PPE pollution. Hiemstra suggested using reusable PPE instead of single-use products. In that case, we should deal with them properly by cutting the ear loops to prevent animal entanglements(缠绕物)and throwing them away in a bin that is not overstuffed. “We definitely think it is important for citizens to understand how much PPE is ending up in the environment and impacting animals,” Hiemstra said.
42．What problem did experts mention in paragraph 1
A．The decline of wildlife due to overhunting.
B．The shortage of personal protective equipment.
C．The plastic pollution caused by anti-pandemic products.
D．The increasing number of coronavirus patients.
43．What do the numbers in paragraph 2 mainly show
A．The leading cause of ocean pollution.
B．Volunteers’ great efforts to protect the ocean.
C．The large amount of PPE in the environment.
D．Difficulties of cleaning up plastic waste in the ocean.
44．What can we infer from paragraph 3
A．PPE pollution has threatened many animals’ lives.
B．Litter makes it hard for boats to pass through the canals.
C．Water birds may not be affected by plastic pollution.
D．PPE is attractive to dogs and cats due to its smell.
45．What is Hiemstra’s suggestion for reducing PPE pollution
A．Limiting the production of non-recyclable plastic.
B．Cleaning the rubbish bin regularly.
C．Raising the price of PPE items.
D．Replacing single-use products with reusable ones.
Technology is developing by leaps and bounds. A small device such as a smartphone now has more processing power than rockets to the Moon once had. New tech brings many advantages, making our lives easier and opening up new opportunities. One piece of kit that’s been really taking off recently is the drone. This pilotless mini aircraft, originally developed for aerial (航空的) photography and warfare, is now bringing us benefits closer to home. In the last few years, tech companies such as Amazon, Alphabet and Uber have promised us delivery drones—bringing goods to our doorsteps in a matter of minutes. While progress in developing them has been slow, drones are becoming more and more involved in our life.
Drones are helping to connect with and enhance the lives of people in remote locations. In the UK, the Royal Mail wants a fleet of 500 drones to help deliver the mail to faraway communities. Windracers, the company developing the drones, say they can fly in fog and produce 30% fewer emissions than comparable piloted aircraft. And in Coventry in the UK, construction has started on an air center, which will act as a base for police and delivery drones. Urban-Air Port Limited is working with car-maker Hyundai on the mini-airport, known as a skyport.
Drones can also play a part in improving the health of millions of people. For example, an incredible development project by the University of South Australia is for drones to eventually be able to survey populations for disease by reading the blood oxygen levels of humans from the air. They’ll also be able to scan for other vital signs, like coughing and a high temperature.
It seems that the sky is the limit for what drone technology can achieve. The only thing that sometimes keeps it from working is regulation. Writing for the BBC, Jessica Brown says: “If our skies are to become as crowded as our streets, airspace rules need updating to prevent accidents.”
46．What does the underlined sentence indicate
A．A smartphone is more advanced than rockets.
B．The rockets to the moon are very powerful.
C．Technology is progressing very rapidly.
D．Technology is widely used in daily life.
47．What do we know about drones according to the passage
A．They were initially developed for bringing goods.
B．They’ve improved people’s life quality in remote areas.
C．They don’t cause any pollution to the environment.
D．They can diagnose and treat some diseases from the air.
48．What does Jessica Brown mean
A．The development of drones is quite promising.
B．It’s a pity that drones are limited to the sky.
C．Drones will be likely to cause some accidents.
D．Some latest laws are needed to regulate drones.
49．Which is the most suitable title for the passage
A．Drones Are Delivering Benefits Closer to Home
B．Developing Drones Is Facing Many Challenges
C．Drones Are Currently Booming in Every Field
D．Companies Are Competing to Develop Drones
My quest started when I was on the New York subway. Some children were whining. Four trains came screaming into the station at once. I put my hands over my ears and cowered (蜷缩) — the noise was deafening. In cities, the ever-present dull background roar of planes, cars, machinery and voices is a fact of life. There is no escape from it and it was beginning to drive me mad.
In an attempt to recapture some peace, I decided to go on a mission to find the quietest place on Earth to discover whether absolute silence exists. The one place I was most excited about visiting was an anechoic chamber (消声室) in Minnesota.
Ironically, far from being peaceful, most people find its perfect quiet upsetting. And yet I booked a 45-minute session—no one had managed to stay in for that long before. When the heavy door shut behind me, I was plunged into darkness — all lights were turned off because they could also make a noise.
For the first few seconds, being in such a quiet place felt like heaven, a remedy for my unsettled nerves. Then, after a minute or two, I became aware of the sound of my breathing. As the minutes ticked by, the beat of my heart became apparent. Then I heard a strange, metallic scraping noise. Was I hallucinating The feeling of peace was spoiled by a sensation of disappointment — this place wasn’t quiet at all.
Then I stopped obsessing about what bodily functions I could hear and began to enjoy it. I didn’t feel afraid and came out only because my time was up. Everyone was impressed that I’d beaten the record, but having spent so long searching for quiet, I was comfortable with the feeling of absolute stillness. Afterward, I felt wonderfully rested and calm.
My desire for silence changed my life. I found making space for moments of quiet in my day is the key to happiness. If you can occasionally become master of your own sound environment — from turning off the phone to taking a trip to the countryside, you’ll become a lot more accepting of the noises of everyday life.
50．What pushed the author to seek a change
A．The annoying kids. B．Loud chats in stations.
C．The roar of subway. D．Endless noises in daily life.
51．Why did the author pick the anechoic chamber in Minnesota
A．It might give perfect silence. B．It launched a time challenge.
C．It offered professional guidance. D．It was the only one of its kind.
52．What happened when the author was in the anechoic chamber
A．He started talking to himself. B．He heard sounds from the outside.
C．He made some mental adjustments. D．He felt scared in the first few minutes.
53．What message does the text convey
A．Noises stop us from making progress. B．Moments of inner quiet better our lives.
C．We should bravely overcome our fears. D．A state of peace and calm is hard to attain.
Welcome to Norway
DAY 1: Welcome to Bergen! Upon arrival meet your driver and travel to the city’s center where you can drop your luggage at the Grand Terminus Hotel and enjoy a walking tour of the city. Once back at the hotel you’ll have a talk from Rowan Hooper, who will explore why the Arctic is important to the well-being of the planet.
DAY 2: This morning you’ll go on a 3-hour round trip from Bergen to Mostraumen. When you return to Bergen you’ll have time for lunch before visiting the Vilvite Science Center. After dinner, you’ll have a second talk from Rowan on how we could grow the whale population to rebuild marine ecosystems.
DAY 3: Today, you will transfer to the airport for your flight to Tromso. Upon arrival, you’ll take a fast ferry (轮渡) to Senja Island, where the Aurora Borealis Observatory is your hone for the night. In the evening, astronomer Abigail Beall will hold a talk on the science behind the Northern Lights before you have the opportunity to search for the Northern Lights yourself.
DAY 4: Return by ferry to Tromso, where you’ll explore the Northern Norwegian Science Center. The center is a popular science experience center containing almost 100 interactive installations, divided into four themes on three floors.
DAY 5: Today you’ll start a full-day fjord trip by boat. As you pass through the frozen coastline, you’ll get an opportunity to look for sea eagles, seals and whales. Recently, hundreds of humpback and killer whales visit the northern fjords, and your boat’s expert crew will help you spot them.
DAY 6: This morning you’ll enjoy a guided tour of the dog yard where you can learn about the Alaskan husky dog, and dog sled racing. Afterward, you’ll be transferred to the airport in the afternoon for your flight home.
54．What is Rowan Hooper’s job
A．An astronomer. B．A guide. C．An ecologist. D．A driver.
55．Where will you see the Northern Lights
A．Bergen. B．Mostraumen. C．Tromso. D．Senja Island.
56．On which day will you probably see some whales
A．Day 3. B．Day 4. C．Day 5. D．Day 6.
Children are naturally curious about the world around them. When Chase Hansen was only 4 years old, he encountered homeless people for the first time while shopping with his dad at an outdoor mall in Salt Lake City, Nevada. It’s no wonder that he had a lot of questions.
“Chase looked at me and said, ‘Dad, who are these people Why don’t they have a place to stay ’” John Hansen recalled. “After I explained that they had run into hard times and were homeless, I knew that we were looking at an educational opportunity. My son wanted to help them.”
The father and son convinced a local Jamba Juice store to donate more than 100 smoothies(果汁)and the pair gave them out to homeless people in a park.
After that, they came up with an even better idea. “I wanted a way to get to know people better, “Chase said. ”So, my dad and I decided to start taking some of the homeless people we’d met out to lunch.
“A lot of people walk right past homeless people and don’t see the person,” he said. “I know now that they’re people just like us. They want to make a connection and not feel so alone in the world.”
Hundreds of lunches later, they run a self-funded charity called Project Empathy(同情)to help inspire others to meet and to create relationships with the homeless people in their neighborhoods. The organization provides a list of resources that can help homeless people with food, housing and employment.
John said that what started as a way to spend quality time with his son has turned into a passion for both of them. “Chase and I realized that the country needed an army of people to practice empathy, and that by doing something as simple as taking a homeless person to lunch, we could maybe inspire others to do the same, ”he said. “Any time you can help to give someone a voice, it’s empowering.
57．Which of the following can best describe Chase Hansen
A．Curious and caring. B．Knowledgeable and kind.
C．Successful and talented. D．Generous and ambitious.
58．Why did John and his son take some homeless people out to lunch initially
A．To help them to find the suitable shelter.
B．To make friends with the homeless people.
C．To do some research and prepare for a project.
D．To have a better understanding of the homeless people.
59．What’s the father and son super team’s goal
A．To offer jobs to the homeless. B．To change the social-economic conditions.
C．To donate more smoothies to the homeless. D．To inspire more people to help the homeless.
60．What’s the best title of the text
A．The Terrible Situation of Homeless People
B．The Relationship Between Father and Son
C．Father and Son Help Homeless People One Meal at a Time
D．Project Empathy Encourages People to Practice Empathy
Mosquitofish may look small, but these invasive fish are a threat. Outside of their range, they defeat other freshwater creatures, like fishes and tadpoles, and feast on their eggs. Since they have few natural predators (捕食者), their population goes unchecked as they cause damage to native wildlife.
Fortunately, scientists have now invented a new tool meant to intimidate mosquitofish: a robotic fish. “Instead of killing them one by one, we’re presenting an approach that can inform better strategies to control them,” said Giovanni Polverino, a biologist at the University of Western Australia. “We made their worst nightmare become real: a robot that scares the mosquitofish but not the other animals around it.”
The robot, which resembles a largemouth bass, one of the mosquitofish’s natural predators, was equipped with a camera to recognize mosquitofish and tadpoles. The researchers set up 12 tanks with six mosquitofish and six tadpoles in each one and allowed the creatures to adapt for a week before meeting the robot. For one hour twice a week for five weeks, each group was placed in a tank with the robot.
In the robotic fish’s presence, the mosquitofish spent more time getting together, and their swimming became more unstable. With the mosquitofish anxious and scared, the tadpoles ventured out more. These effects even lasted for weeks after the final meet with the robot. When the creatures returned to their tanks, the mosquitofish swam at a lower speed and didn’t eat as much, which are signs of anxiety. No change, on the other hand, can be detected on tadpoles.
What’s more, the mosquitofish spent so much energy living in terror that they lost weight. Males’ body shapes also changed to become more streamlined, likely so they can escape more quickly when they’re scared.
Though the study showed promising results, these robots can’t be released into the water yet. The team still needs to understand the long-term impacts on other wildlife and downstream effects on the ecosystem as a whole. But Polverino says they achieved their main goal: to prove fear can affect the survival of mosquitofish.
61．What does the underlined word “intimidate” mean in paragraph 2
A．Poison. B．Attract. C．Frighten. D．Recognize.
62．How did the researchers carry out the experiment
A．By comparing behaviors of two species.
B．By interviewing the inventor of the robot.
C．By collecting data from previous studies.
D．By observing the life cycle of mosquitofish.
63．What was the change of the mosquitofish
A．They became stronger. B．They were less active.
C．They started attacking easily. D．They showed little change.
64．What is Polverino’s attitude towards the robotic fish
A．Approving. B．Disappointed.
C．Objective. D．Skeptical.
Like many writers, I’m a supreme expert at procrastination (拖延症). When I ought to be working on an assignment, with the clock ticking towards my deadline, I’ll sit there watching pointless interviews or cat videos on YouTube.
According to traditional thinking — I, along with my fellow procrastinators, have a time management problem. By this view, I haven’t fully appreciated how long my assignment is going to take and I’m not paying enough attention to how much time I’m currently wasting on videos. With better scheduling, I will stop procrastinating and get on with my work.
Increasingly, however, psychologists are realizing this is wrong. Experts in the UK have proposed that procrastination is an issue with managing our emotions, not our time. The task we’re putting off is making us feel bad — perhaps it’s boring, too difficult or we’re worried about failing — and to make ourselves feel better in the moment, we start doing something else, like watching videos.
One investigation to inspire the emotional view of procrastination was published by researchers at Case Western Reserve University. They first prompted people to feel bad (by asking them to read sad stories) and showed that this increased their tendency to procrastinate by doing puzzles or playing video games instead of preparing for the test they knew was coming. Subsequent studies by the another team also showed low mood only increases procrastination if enjoyable activities are available as a distraction.
This fresh perspective on procrastination is beginning to open up exciting new approaches to reducing the habit. An approach, which is based on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, seems especially suitable. It argues that prioritizing choices and actions that help you get closer to get things done can keep you away from the unpleasant feelings. So the next time you’re going to procrastinate, make your focus as simple as “What’s the next action ”. Focusing on this one-step question takes your mind off your feelings and onto easily achievable action. “Our research and lived experience show very clearly that once we get started, we’re typically able to keep going. Getting started is everything.”
65．Which is true according to the traditional view of procrastinators
A．They are usually irresponsible people.
B．They have difficulty in concentrating.
C．They enjoy watching videos while writing.
D．They can get work done with better schedules.
66．What can we know from paragraph 4
A．Procrastination boosts your moods.
B．Procrastinators prefer puzzles to sad stories.
C．Test-takers can not escape bad emotions.
D．Negative emotions promote procrastination.
67．Why focusing on one simple question is suggested
A．It shortens the process. B．It inspires the wildest imagination.
C．It may relieve unpleasant feelings. D．It can fix time management problem.
68．Which is the most suitable title of the text
A．Prioritize Your To-do List B．New Studies on Work Performance
C．Quit Watching Cat Videos D．Tremendous Damage of Procrastination
Most people are familiar with hoarding (囤积) and the psychological issues associated with it. Hoarding leads to messy homes and difficulty parting with items that you don’t use and don’t even need. But hoarding can also occur in the digital world.
Digital hoarding, also known as e-hoarding, is too much acquisition and reluctance (不情愿) to delete electronic material no longer valuable to the user. Most computer users save digital files to some extent, and that’s expected. With digital hoarding, however, the act of saving the files becomes an uncontrollable urge. Digital hoarders may collect emails, photos, articles; podcasts, or any type of computer files they believe they may want to revisit in the future, and ultimately, in most cases, they rarely get to actually use it or listen to it or read it.
Digital hoarding also occurs when someone is too attached to the data even to consider getting rid of it. This can include chats and photos of an old partner, texts sent by a long-lost friend, or even screenshots collected several years ago.
Researchers have categorized digital hoarders into 4 different types, according to their characteristics. “Collectors” are organized, systematic and in control of their data. “Accidental hoarders” are disorganized, don’t know what they have, and don’t have control over it. The “compliant hoarder” keeps data on behalf of their company. Finally, “anxious hoarders” have strong emotional ties to their data-and are worried about deleting it.
The problem has only gotten worse since we have more access to digital storage than ever. In addition, cloud storage makes it incredibly easy to purchase more storage as needed. With infinite cloud space, it’s logical when network users don’t think twice about saving files.
However, studies found that digital hoarders experience increased levels of stress and now researchers are observing that the negative consequences of digital hoarding may be similar to those physical hoarding. Therefore, it’s important to set time aside to have a good clear-out in the same way we do in the physical world. By organizing and getting rid of useless files in a regular way, people with this problem can ease some of their distress and clear their own mind as well.
69．A digital hoarder tends to _____________.
A．have psychological problems
B．be unwilling to remove e-documents
C．revisit what they’ve stored frequently
D．have an urge to dispose of the data
70．Which of the following belongs to an accidental hoarder
A．Mike arranges all work and business-related data scientifically.
B．Tom is resistant to deleting anything about his ex-girlfriend.
C．Antony keeps the financial data of his company orderly.
D．Lauren’s camera roll is largely taken up by throwaway selfies.
71．What contributes to a network user saving more e-material
A．Easy access to limitless cloud storage.
B．Decreasing cost of digital storage.
C．Increasing stress from the loss of data.
D．Difficulty in recovering data.
72．What can we learn from the last paragraph
A．Stress can’t be avoided for a digital hoarder.
B．It’s unnecessary to part with useless items at home.
C．Time should be set aside to clean rooms regularly.
D．E-files had better be cleared out on a regular basis.
Jennifer Brophy, a professor of Stanford, is working on methods that she hopes will be used to improve commercial plant species so that they can survive harsh conditions. Initially, she studied green architecture in her undergraduate years. Once she started taking architecture classes, she realized it wasn’t her passion — but when she encountered an article about a company that creates biofuels (生物燃料) from bacteria, something clicked. “I thought that was just the coolest thing. It got me really interested in pursuing bioengineering,” she says.
Today, Brophy is developing new genetic engineering techniques that can help plants grow in various conditions. By changing the genome (基因组) of both commercial crops and soil bacteria, she thinks it’s possible to help plants survive droughts.
Brophy is building what she calls “genetic circuits”. Besides changing the genes within plant cells, this method also changes how and when those genes are triggered. If the plant senses a specific sugar, it can express one protein; if it senses another signal, it’ll express a different protein. If both signals are there, the plant may be able to express something else entirely. ”Using circuits to all these different inputs,“ she says.
“A plant doesn’t necessarily know what’s coming. It just knows whether it’s hot or temperate right now,” says Brophy. This can lead to problems when weather becomes erratic. A plant that usually flowers in spring may flower in winter if there’re a few unseasonably warm days. When temperatures fall again, the flowers die, which ruins a year of crops. “It’d be great to be able to communicate with plants to tell them, ‘Hey, you should wait on that flowering,’” she adds.
Brophy is still testing the concept in the lab using a small weedy plant called Arabidopsis. She notes engineering crops in the future may also involve genetically modifying soil bacteria. As the bacteria’s surroundings change, they could potentially send out chemical signals that tell nearby plants to shift their growth accordingly. Brophy thinks engineering crops could benefit farmers and society at large.
73．What made Brophy interested in bioengineering
A．Her undergraduate education. B．Her visit to a company.
C．Her exposure to a related article. D．Her curiosity about biofuels.
74．The method of “genetic circuits” is designed to _____________.
A．create better biofuels from soil bacteria B．monitor the proteins within plant cells
C．preserve species of commercial crops D．promote plants to respond to surroundings
75．What does the underlined word “erratic” mean in Paragraph 4
A．Unpleasant. B．Unstable. C．Unbearable. D．Unaffected.
76．What is the best title of the passage
A．Jennifer Brophy, a brilliant bioengineering scientist.
B．Climate change, a tough problem around the world.
C．Genetic circuits, a smart method to help crops survive.
D．Genetic engineering, a new technique to produce crops.
参考答案：
1．B 2．C 3．C
【导语】本文是一篇应用文。主要介绍的是四个新加坡的艺术节。
1．细节理解题。根据ARTWALK部分中的“They can even experience art and culture up close with hands-on workshops with local artists, storytellers and cultural experts.(他们甚至可以与当地艺术家、讲故事的人和文化专家一起参加实践研讨会，近距离体验艺术和文化。)”可知，游客可以与当地艺术家、讲故事的人和文化专家一起参加实践研讨会，近距离体验艺术和文化，也就是可以与他们进行互动活动。故选B项。
2．细节理解题。根据SINGAPORE NIGHT部分中的“During this party-like night festival, the Bras Basah-Bugis business street lights up for this multi-dimensional art festival with diverse light installations (装置).(在这个派对般的夜间节日期间，Bras Basah-Bugis商业街为这个多维艺术节点亮了各种灯光装置。)”以及“When: August(时间：八月)”可知，游客可以在这里可以欣赏到各种灯光装饰，时间是在8月。故选C项。
3．主旨大意题。根据首段中的“In order to further promote art, festivals are held throughout the year. Here are some of the biggest art draws to come.(为了进一步推广艺术，全年举办节日。以下是一些最大的艺术吸引力。)”可知，为了进一步推广艺术，全年举办节日，由此可知，本文主要介绍的是四个新加坡的艺术节。故选C项。
4．D 5．B 6．B 7．A
【导语】这是一篇记叙文，文章主要讲述尽管老师一再强调英语中习语的重要性，但作者并不在意，直到有一天作者与一位英国人聊天时，产生了语言理解上的误解。这才使作者明白习语的重要性。
4．细节理解题。根据第一段中“A year ago, I paid no attention to English idioms (习语), though my teacher stressed the importance again and again. But soon, the importance of English idioms was shown in an amusing experience. (一年前，我不注意英语成语，尽管我的老师一再强调它的重要性。但很快，英语习语的重要性在一次有趣的经历中得到了体现)”可知，一年前“我”不注意英语习语，是因为“我”没有意识到它的重要性。故选D。
5．推理判断题。根据第二段中那个英国人说的话“It was magnificent.(它非常宏伟)”以及听“我”介绍长城时他说的“You don’t say!(真的)”可知，他认为长城值得一游。故选B。
6．细节理解题。根据第三段中“I was puzzled. I thought, perhaps this is not an appropriate topic.(我很困惑。我想，也许这不是一个合适的话题)”可知，一开始听到那个英国人说“You don’t say!”时“我”以为他对这个话题不感兴趣，故选B。
7．细节理解题。根据最后一段中“Only then did I realize I had made a fool of myself.(直到那时，我才意识到自己出了洋相)”可知，听完那个英国人的解释，“我”感觉自己出丑了。故选A。
8．D 9．C 10．C
【导语】这是一篇应用文。文章主要介绍了欧洲四个美丽的小城镇。
8．细节理解题。根据第二段“There are no cars in the center so the only way to get around is on foot or on the water.(市中心没有汽车，所以唯一的出行方式是步行或水上)”可知，Giethoorn的出行方式是水路。故选D。
9．细节理解题。根据第三段“Guim ries is crucial to Portugal’s history — It was named the country’s first capital in the 12th century.( Guim ries对葡萄牙的历史至关重要——它在12世纪被命名为葡萄牙的第一个首都)”可知，Guimar es对葡萄牙历史重要因为它是国家的第一个首都。故选C。
10．细节理解题。根据倒数第二段“Donkeys used to be the only way to get up and down the steep streets of Clovelly, a pretty fishing village in Devon, southwest England.(在英格兰西南部德文郡一个美丽的渔村Clovelly，驴子曾经是人们在陡峭的街道上走来走去的唯一工具)”可知，Clovelly能体验到渔村的生活。故选C。
11．B 12．D 13．A 14．C
【导语】本文是一篇说明文。文章主要介绍了一项新的研究发现，该研究表明，室内植物对环境几乎没有影响，但是园艺确实对身心健康都有好处。
11．推理判断题。根据文章第二段“In an often-cited 1989 NASA report, a scientist Bill Wolverton claimed that household plants could provide a “promising economical solution to indoor air pollution.” However, more recent researches have poured cold water on the idea.(在一份经常被引用的1989年美国宇航局的报告中，科学家Bill Wolverton声称，家用植物可以为“室内空气污染提供一种有前途的经济解决方案”。然而，最近的研究给这个想法泼了一盆冷水。)”可知，1989年美国宇航局的报告认为家用植物可以净化空气。故选B。
12．主旨大意题。根据文章第四段内容“While the benefits of plants purifying the air are less certain, a recent study from Princeton University finds that gardening is beneficial for physical and mental health. Another study found that indoor gardening lowered stress responses compared to the demands of completing a computer task.(虽然植物净化空气的好处还不太确定，但普林斯顿大学最近的一项研究发现，园艺对身心健康都有好处。另一项研究发现，与完成电脑任务的要求相比，室内园艺可以降低压力反应。)”可知，第四段主要讲述的是园艺的健康益处。故选D。
13．细节理解题。根据文章最后一段“So if you’ re concerned about air quality in your home, we’ll advise you to invest in an air purifier.(所以，如果你担心家里的空气质量，我们会建议你投资一台空气净化器。)”可知，文章认为空气净化器可以改善家里的空气质量。故选A。
14．推理判断题。根据文章第二段“In an often-cited 1989 NASA report, a scientist Bill Wolverton claimed that household plants could provide a “promising economical solution to indoor air pollution.” However, more recent researches have poured cold water on the idea.(在一份经常被引用的1989年美国宇航局的报告中，科学家Bill Wolverton声称，家用植物可以为“室内空气污染提供一种有前途的经济解决方案”。然而，最近的研究给这个想法泼了一盆冷水。)”可知，这篇文章是介绍了一项新的研究发现结果。所以这种文章极有可能刊登在报纸的科学部分。故选C。
15．B 16．A 17．D 18．C
【导语】这是一篇说明文。文章主要说明了密歇根大学研究人员的一项新研究表明，真正重要的是人们为什么做志愿者，而不是他们是否做志愿者。文章解释了研究开展的过程以及发现。
15．细节理解题。根据第一段“People who give, live longer, studies have shown. Now, a new study by University of Michigan researchers shows that why people volunteer—not whether they volunteer—is what really counts.(研究表明，付出的人更长寿。现在，密歇根大学研究人员的一项新研究表明，真正重要的是人们为什么志愿，而不是他们是否志愿)”可知，这项新研究主要发现了我们做志愿者的原因对我们的健康有影响。故选B。
16．细节理解题。根据第二段“For the study, Konrath and colleagues analyzed data collected in 2008 and 2012 aiming at the same random samples of 3,376 people.(在这项研究中，康拉斯和同事分析了2008年和2012年收集的数据，这些数据针对同样的3376人随机样本)”可知，研究人员通过分析数据进行这项研究。故选A。
17．推理判断题。根据第三段“The researchers asked people to rate how important they found various reasons for volunteering, and they found that the more important people rated reasons such as feeling pity for people in need, the more likely they were to be alive.(研究人员要求人们评价他们认为志愿服务的各种原因有多重要，他们发现，人们对诸如同情需要帮助的人这样的原因评价越重要，他们长寿的可能性就越大)”推知，“帮助有困难的人”可能会使志愿者受益最大。故选D。
18．主旨大意题。根据最后一段“Konrath says the current findings suggest it may be a poor idea to encourage people to volunteer because it’s good for them. “Volunteering is increasingly being encouraged in schools and organizations. Some groups say that it’s okay to want benefits for yourself, and encourage people to think of volunteering as an exchange for personal interests. Some groups emphasize the health benefits received through volunteering.” Konrath added, “Of course, it’s reasonable for volunteers to expect benefits for themselves. But the potential health benefits of volunteering are significantly reduced if self-benefit becomes a person’s main motive.”(康拉特说，目前的研究结果表明，鼓励人们做志愿者可能不是一个好主意，因为这对他们有好处。“学校和组织越来越鼓励志愿者活动。一些组织表示，为自己谋取利益是可以的，并鼓励人们将志愿活动视为个人兴趣的交换。一些团体强调通过志愿活动获得的健康益处。”康拉特补充说：“当然，志愿者期望自己受益是合理的。但如果自我利益成为一个人的主要动机，志愿服务的潜在健康益处就会大大降低。”)”可知，最后一段主要讲的是对当前发现的进一步解释。故选C。
19．B 20．D 21．C 22．A
【导语】本文是一篇记叙文。主要介绍的是作者录制有声读物，实现了自己一生的梦想。
19．推理判断题。根据第二段“I will never forget at primary school I used to wait with breathless anticipation to take my turn reading out a paragraph of great works in front. At my secondary school, when students were encouraged to select and present a reading at “morning talk”, I often added my name to the list.(我永远不会忘记上小学时，我总是屏息以待，等着轮到我朗读面前的一段名著。在我上中学的时候，当学校鼓励学生在“晨间谈话”中选择并发表一篇阅读材料时，我经常把自己的名字加到名单上。)”可知，作者小学时，经常期待着能轮到自己阅读作品，在中学时经常把自己的名字添加到朗读的名单中，由此可知，提及作者在上学期间的经历是为了说明作者对朗读的热爱。故选B项。
20．细节理解题。根据第三段中的“I’d thought about putting myself forward as a narrator (朗读者) for audiobooks. But I’m not an actor. I can’t do regional accents or play female voice.(我曾想过让自己成为有声读物的朗读者。但我不是演员。我不会做地方口音或演奏女声。)”可知，作者发现自己不是个演员，也不会方言或者假的声音，由此可知，作者意识到自己有很多的缺点。故选D项。
21．细节理解题。根据第五段“Then, last month, I was contacted by James Plunkett, author of End State, a forthcoming book about political ideas. He had no desire to read his book out loud, but as a fan of my program, he thought I might do a reasonable job.(然后，上个月，詹姆斯·普伦基特（James Plunkett）联系了我，他是即将出版的一本关于政治理念的书《终结状态》（End State）的作者。他不想大声朗读他的书，但作为我的节目的粉丝，他认为我可能会做一个合理的工作。)”可知，作者是受End State的邀请成为一名朗读者的。故选C项。
22．推理判断题。根据倒数第二段中的“It’s disheartening when the recording needs to be stopped because I’ve just carelessly skipped over a ’the’, or had to clear my throat, or catch my breath.(当录音需要停止时，这令人沮丧，因为我只是不小心跳过了一个“the”，或者不得不清清喉咙，或者喘口气。)”可知，在录制过程中出现一点点问题都会重新录制，说明这样工作要求很高，根据尾段中的“Though tackling this 339-page book doesn’t turn out to be that easy, I’ve found the whole process awesome, and hope this becomes the first of many.(虽然处理这本339页的书并不容易，但我发现整个过程很棒，希望这成为许多书中的第一。)”可知，作者觉得尽管处理339页的书籍不是那么容易，但是这个过程感觉很棒，所以作者认为朗读者是一项邀请很高但又很享受的工作。故选A项。
23．D 24．D 25．B 26．A
【导语】这是一篇说明文。文章介绍了Swot卫星将对地球表面几乎所有的水进行观测时它的主要任务和先进之处。
23．词义猜测题。根据第一段“It’s rally the first time to observe nearly all water on the planet’s surface.”（这是第一次观测到地球表面几乎所有的水）可知，Swot卫星计划于周四上午发射是为了对地球表面几乎所有的水进行观测，推断出文章中提到的“重要资源”是指水资源。故选D项。
24．细节理解题。根据第二段“The major mission is to explore how oceans absorb atmospheric heat and carbon dioxide in a natural process that adjusts climate change.”（主要任务是探索海洋如何在调节气候变化的自然过程中吸收大气热量和二氧化碳）可知，Swot卫星的主要任务是研究海洋在气候调节过程中的作用，换句话说就是要研究海洋是如何影响气候改变的。故选D项。
25．细节理解题。根据第三段“ Thanks to the radar instrument, Swot can scan through cloud cover and darkness over wide ranges of the Earth. This enables scientists to accurately map their observations in two dimensions regardless of weather or time of day and to cover large geographic areas far more quickly than was previously possible.”（得益于雷达仪器，Swot可以在地球的大范围内扫描云层和黑暗。这使科学家能够在不考虑天气或时间的情况下准确地绘制二维观测图，并以比以前更快的速度覆盖大的地理区域）可知，Swot与以前的卫星相比的优势是它有助于准确绘制观测图。故选B项。
26．主旨大意题。根据第一段“Swot satellite is scheduled to be launched Thursday morning to conduct a comprehensive survey of Earth’s vital resource. By using advanced microwave radar technology it will collect height-surface measurements of oceans, lakes and rivers in high-definition detail over 90% of the globe.It’s rally the first time to observe nearly all water on the planet’s surface.”（Swot卫星计划于周四上午发射，对地球的重要资源进行全面调查。通过使用先进的微波雷达技术，它将收集全球90%以上的海洋、湖泊和河流的高度表面测量结果。这是第一次观测到地球表面几乎所有的水）可知，文章主要介绍了Swot卫星将从外太空首次对地球表面几乎所有的水进行观测。因此A项“首次从太空进行全球水资源调查”可以作为本文的最佳标题。故选A项。
27．C 28．C 29．B 30．D
【导语】这是一篇说明文。文章主要说明了Lucy King发明了一种蜜蜂围栏，通过吓跑大象来保护农作物。文章介绍了其发明灵感以及蜜蜂围栏的好处。
27．细节理解题。根据第二段中“That moment led King to a novel design for using live beehives as “fences” to protect farm crops from hungry