考向18 阅读理解之人与自然
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真题典例
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Passage1
(2022·全国·高考真题)Goffin’s cockatoos, a kind of small parrot native to Australasia, have been shown to have similar shape-recognition abilities to a human two-year-old. Though not known to use tools in the wild, the birds have proved skilful at tool use while kept in the cage. In a recent experiment, cockatoos were presented with a box with a nut inside it. The clear front of the box had a “keyhole” in a geometric shape, and the birds were given five differently shaped “keys” to choose from. Inserting the correct “key” would let out the nut.
In humans, babies can put a round shape in a round hole from around one year of age, but it will be another year before they are able to do the same with less symmetrical (对称的) shapes. This ability to recognize that a shape will need to be turned in a specific direction before it will fit is called an “allocentric frame of reference”. In the experiment, Goffin’s cockatoos were able to select the right tool for the job, in most cases, by visual recognition alone. Where trial-and-error was used, the cockatoos did better than monkeys in similar tests. This indicates that Goffin’s cockatoos do indeed possess an allocentric frame of reference when moving objects in space, similar to two-year-old babies.
The next step, according to the researchers, is to try and work out whether the cockatoos rely entirely on visual clues (线索), or also use a sense of touch in making their shape selections.
1.How did the cockatoos get the nut from the box in the experiment
A.By following instructions. B.By using a tool.
C.By turning the box around. D.By removing the lid.
2.Which task can human one-year-olds most likely complete according to the text
A.Using a key to unlock a door. B.Telling parrots from other birds.
C.Putting a ball into a round hole. D.Grouping toys of different shapes.
3.What does the follow-up test aim to find out about the cockatoos
A.How far they are able to see. B.How they track moving objects.
C.Whether they are smarter than monkeys. D.Whether they use a sense of touch in the test.
4.Which can be a suitable title for the text
A.Cockatoos: Quick Error Checkers B.Cockatoos: Independent Learners
C.Cockatoos: Clever Signal-Readers D.Cockatoos: Skilful Shape-Sorters
【答案】1.B2.C3.D4.D
【导语】本文是一篇说明文。文章主要介绍了一种会识别形状的凤头鹦鹉。
1.细节理解题。根据文章第一段“Though not known to use tools in the wild, the birds have proved skilful at tool use while kept in the cage. (虽然人们不知道这些鸟在野外会使用工具,但事实证明,它们在关在笼子里时就能熟练地使用工具)”以及“the birds were given five differently shaped “keys” to choose from. Inserting, the correct “keys” would let out the nut. (研究人员给了这些鸟5把形状各异的“钥匙”供它们选择。插入,正确的“钥匙”会让坚果出来)”可知,在实验中,凤头鹦鹉是通过使用工具从盒子里取出坚果的。故选B。
2.细节理解题。根据文章第二段“In humans, babies can put a round shape in a round hole from around one year of age (在人类身上,婴儿从一岁左右就可以把一个圆形的物品放进一个圆形的洞里)”结合选项,可知,一岁儿童最有可能完成“将一个球放进一个圆形的洞里”的任务。故选C。
3.推理判断题。通过文章最后一段“The next step, according to the researchers, is to try and work out whether the cockatoos rely entirely on visual clues, or also use a sense of touch in making their shape selections. (根据研究人员的说法,下一步是尝试弄清楚凤头鹦鹉是完全依靠视觉线索,还是也使用触觉来选择它们的形状)”可推知,后续测试的目的是了解凤头鹦鹉在测试中是否使用触觉。故选D。
4.主旨大意题。通读全文,再结合文章第一段“Coffin’s cockatoos, a kind of small parrot native to Australasia, have been shown to have similar shape-recognition abilities to a human two-year-old. (科芬的凤头鹦鹉是一种原产于大洋洲的小鹦鹉,它的形状识别能力与两岁的人类相似)”可推知,本文主要介绍了会识别形状的凤头鹦鹉。D项“Cockatoos: Skilful Shape-Sorters (凤头鹦鹉:识别形状的熟练工)”符合文意,最适合作为本文标题。故选D。
Passage2
(2021·全国·高考真题)I have worked as a keeper at the National Zoo, Paris for 11 years. Spot and Stripe are the first tiger cubs that have ever been born here. Globally, a third of Sumatran cubs in zoos don't make it to adulthood, so I decided to give them round-the-clock care at home.
I've got two children—the younger one, Kynan, was extremely happy about the tigers arriving - but all of us really looked forward to being part of their lives and watching them grow. I wasn't worried about bringing them into my home with my wife and kids. These were cubs. They weighed about 2.5 kg and were so small that there was absolutely no risk.
As they grew more mobile, we let them move freely around the house during the day, but when we were asleep we had to contain them in a large room, otherwise they'd get up to mischief. We'd come down in the morning to find they'd turned the room upside down, and left it looking like a zoo.
Things quickly got very intense due to the huge amount of energy required to look after them. There were some tough times and I just felt extremely tired. I was grateful that my family was there to help. We had to have a bit of a production line going, making up “tiger milk”, washing baby bottles, and cleaning the floors.
When Spot and Stripe were four months old, they were learning how to open doors and jump fences, and we knew it really was time for them to go. It was hard for us to finally part with them. For the first few days, Kynan was always a bit disappointed that the cubs weren't there.
I'm not sad about it. I'm hands-on with them every day at the zoo, and I do look back very fondly on the time that we had them.
5.Why did the author bring the tiger cubs home
A.To ensure their survival. B.To observe their differences.
C.To teach them life skills. D.To let them play with his kids.
6.What do the underlined words “get up to mischief” mean in paragraph 3
A.Behave badly. B.Lose their way. C.Sleep soundly. D.Miss their mom.
7.What did the author think of raising the tiger cubs at home
A.Boring. B.Tiring. C.Costly. D.Risky.
8.Why did the author decide to send Spot and Stripe back to the zoo
A.They frightened the children. B.They became difficult to contain.
C.They annoyed the neighbours. D.They started fighting each other.
【答案】5.A6.A7.B8.B
【分析】这是一篇记叙文。讲述了作者为了保证两只老虎幼崽的存活,决定在家里全天候照顾它们。介绍了老虎在作者家生活的情况以及作者照顾老虎的感受。
5.细节理解题。根据第一段中“Globally, a third of Sumatran cubs in zoos don't make it to adulthood, so I decided to give them round-the-clock care at home. (在全球范围内,动物园里三分之一的苏门答腊老虎幼崽活不到成年,所以我决定在家里全天候照顾它们)”可知,作者把老虎幼崽带回家是为了确保他们的存活。故选A。
6.词句猜测题。根据画线词上文“As they grew more mobile, we let them move freely around the house during the day, but when we were asleep we had to contain them in a large room, otherwise they'd ”(随着它们的活动越来越多,我们白天让它们在房子里自由活动,但当我们睡觉时,我们必须把它们关在一个大房间里,否则它们会)以及后文“We'd come down in the morning to find they'd turned the room upside down, and left it looking like a zoo.”(我们早上下楼时发现他们把房间弄得乱七八糟,让它看起来像个动物园。)可知,作者不得不把老虎们关在一个大房间里,否则它们就会调皮捣蛋,表现不好。早上下楼时发现他们把房间弄得乱七八糟,看起来像个动物园。故画线词意思是“表现不好”。故选A。
7.推理判断题。根据倒数第三段中“Things quickly got very intense due to the huge amount of energy required to look after them. There were some tough times and I just felt extremely tired.(由于需要大量的精力来照顾它们,事情很快变得非常紧张。有一段艰难的日子,我只是觉得非常累)”可推知,作者认为在家里养小老虎累人。故选B。
8.细节理解题。根据倒数第二段中“When Spot and Stripe were four months old, they were learning how to open doors and jump fences, and we knew it really was time for them to go.(当Spot和Stripe四个月大的时候,他们正在学习如何开门和跳栅栏,我们知道是时候让他们离开了)”可知,作者决定把Spot 和Stripe送回动物园是因为他们变得难以控制。故选B。
Passage3
(2021·北京·高考真题)Early fifth-century philosopher St.Augustine famously wrote that he knew what time was unless someone asked him.Albert Einstein added another wrinkle when he theorized that time varies depending on where you measure it.Today's state-of-the-art atomic(原子的) clocks have proven Einstein right.Even advanced physics can't decisively tell us what time is, because the answer depends on the question you're asking.
Forget about time as an absolute.What if,instead of considering time in terms of astronomy,we related time to ecology?What if we allowed environmental conditions to set the tempo(节奏) of human life?We're increasingly aware of the fact that we can't control Earth systems with engineering alone,and realizing that we need to moderate(调节)our actions if we hope to live in balance.What if our definition of time reflected that?
Recently,I conceptualized a new approach to timekeeping that's connected to circumstances on our planet,conditions that might change as a result of global warming.We're now building a clock at the Anchorage Museum that reflects the total flow of several major Alaskan rivers,which are sensitive to local and global environmental changes.We've programmed it to match an atomic clock if the waterways continue to flow at their present rate.If the rivers run faster in the future on average,the clock will get ahead of standard time.If they run slower,you'll see the opposite effect.
The clock registers both short-term irregularities and long-term trends in river dynamics.It's a sort of observatory that reveals how the rivers are behaving from their own temporal frame(时间框架),and allows us to witness those changes on our smartwatches or phones.Anyone who opts to go on Alaska Mean River Time will live in harmony with the planet.Anyone who considers river time in relation to atomic time will encounter a major imbalance and may be motivated to counteract it by consuming less fuel or supporting greener policies.
Even if this method of timekeeping is novel in its particulars,early agricultural societies also connected time to natural phenomena.In pre-Classical Greece,for instance,people“corrected”official calendars by shifting dates forward or backward to reflect the change of season.Temporal connection to the environment was vital to their survival.Likewise,river time and other timekeeping systems we're developing may encourage environmental awareness.
When St.Augustine admitted his inability to define time, he highlighted one of time 's most noticeable qualities:Time becomes meaningful only in a defined context.Any timekeeping system is valid,and each is as praiseworthy as its purpose.
9.What is the main idea of Paragraph 1?
A.Timekeeping is increasingly related to nature.
B.Everyone can define time on their own terms.
C.The qualities of time vary with how you measure it.
D.Time is a major concern of philosophers and scientists.
10.The author raises three questions in Paragraph 2 mainly to________.
A.present an assumption B.evaluate an argument
C.highlight an experiment D.introduce an approach
11.What can we learn from this passage?
A.Those who do not go on river time will live an imbalanced life.
B.New ways of measuring time can help to control Earth systems.
C.Atomic time will get ahead of river time if the rivers run slower.
D.Modern technology may help to shape the rivers’ temporal frame.
12.What can we infer from this passage?
A.It is crucial to improve the definition of time.
B.A fixed frame will make time meaningless.
C.We should live in harmony with nature.
D.History is a mirror reflecting reality.
【答案】9.B10.D11.C12.C
【分析】本文是议论文。文章通过讨论时间的定义,讲述了人们应该和大自然和谐相处,保护环境。
9.主旨大意题。根据第一段最后一句“Even advanced physics can't decisively tell us what time is, because the answer depends on the question you're asking.(即使是先进的物理学也不能决定性地告诉我们时间是什么,因为答案取决于你要问的问题)”以及上文列举的哲学家St.Augustine和爱因斯坦对于时间的定义可推断,第一段主要讲述每个人都可以用自己的话来定义时间。故选B项。
10.推理判断题。根据第二段的“We're increasingly aware of the fact that we can't control Earth systems with engineering alone,and realizing that we need to moderate(调节)our actions if we hope to live in balance.(我们越来越意识到,我们不能只是用工程学来控制地球系统,意识到,如果我们希望保持平衡,我们就需要调节我们的行动。)”进而提出问题“What if our definition of time reflected that?(如果时间的定义反映那些会怎么样呢)”,结合前两个问题“What if,instead of considering time in terms of astronomy, we related time to ecology?What if we allowed environmental conditions to set the tempo(节奏) of human life?(如果我们不考虑天文学方面的时间,而是将时间与生态学联系起来呢?如果我们允许环境条件来设定人类生活的节奏呢)”可推断,第二段提出的三个问题是为了介绍方法。故选D项。
11.细节理解题。根据第三段的“We've programmed it to match an atomic clock if the waterways continue to flow at their present rate.If the rivers run faster in the future on average,the clock will get ahead of standard time.If they run slower,you'll see the opposite effect.(如果水道继续以目前的速度流动,我们对它进行了编程,匹配了一个原子时间。如果河流在未来的平均运行速度更快,时间就会超过标准时间。如果它们的运行速度较慢,你就会看到相反的效果。)”可知,如果河流运行速度得较慢,原子时间将超过河流时间。故选C项。
12.推理判断题。根据第二段的“We're increasingly aware of the fact that we can't control Earth systems with engineering alone,and realizing that we need to moderate(调节)our actions if we hope to live in balance.(我们越来越意识到,我们不能只是用工程学来控制地球系统,意识到,如果我们希望保持平衡,我们就需要调节我们的行动。)”和倒数第二段的“Temporal connection to the environment was vital to their survival.Likewise,river time and other timekeeping systems we're developing may encourage environmental awareness(时间与环境的暂时联系对它们的生存至关重要。同样,河流时间和我们正在开发的其他时间保护系统也可能会鼓励人们提高环境意识)”可推断,从这篇文章中我们知道我们应该与自然和谐共处,保护环境。故选C。
Passage4
(2021·北京·高考真题)Hundreds of scientists, writers and academics sounded a warning to humanity in an open letter published last December: Policymakers and the rest of us must engage openly with the risk of global collapse. Researchers in many areas have projected the widespread collapse as “a credible scenario(情景) this century”.
A survey of scientists found that extreme weather events, food insecurity, and freshwater shortages might create global collapse. Of course, if you are a non-human species, collapse is well underway.
The call for public engagement with the unthinkable is especially germane in this moment of still-uncontrolled pandemic and economic crises in the world's most technologically advanced nations. Not very long ago, it was also unthinkable that a virus would shut down nations and that safety nets would be proven so disastrously lacking in flexibility.
The international scholars’ warning letter doesn't say exactly what collapse will look like or when it might happen. Collapseology, the study of collapse, is more concerned with identifying trends and with them the dangers of everyday civilization. Among the signatories(签署者) of the warning was Bob Johnson, the originator of the “ecological footprint” concept, which measures the total amount of environmental input needed to maintain a given lifestyle. With the current footprint of humanity, “it seems that global collapse is certain to happen in some form, possibly within a decade, certainly within this century,” Johnson said in an email.
“Only if we discuss the consequences of our biophysical limits,” the December warning letter says, “can we have the hope to reduce their speed, severity and harm”. And yet messengers of the coming disturbance are likely to be ignored. We all want to hope things will turn out fine. As a poet wrote,
Man is a victim of dope(麻醉品)
In the incurable form of hope.
The hundreds of scholars who signed the letter are intent(执着) on quieting hope that ignores preparedness. “Let's look directly into the issue of collapse,” they say, “and deal with the terrible possibilities of what we see there to make the best of a troubling future.”
13.What does the underlined word “germane” in Paragraph 3 probably mean
A.Scientific. B.Credible.
C.Original. D.Relevant.
14.As for the public awareness of global collapse, the author is________.
A.worried B.puzzled
C.surprised D.scared
15.What can we learn from this passage
A.The signatories may change the biophysical limits.
B.The author agrees with the message of the poem.
C.The issue of collapse is being prioritized.
D.The global collapse is well underway.
【答案】13.D14.A15.B
【分析】这是一篇说明文,文章阐述了全球崩塌(global collapse)的概念。数百名科学家、作家和学者在去年12月发表的一封公开信中向全人类发出了警告:政策制定者和我们每个人必须直面“全球崩塌”的风险。文章具体阐释了学者们对这一概念的定义、理解和它的现实意义。
13.词义猜测题。根据该词所在的具体语境,第三段第一句“The call for public engagement with the unthinkable is especially germane in this moment of still-uncontrolled pandemic and economic crises in the world's most technologically advanced nations.”(呼吁公众对世界不确定性的关注,尤其与此时此刻的情况密切相关:此时此刻,在世界上技术最先进的国家,仍处于无法控制流行病和经济危机的泥潭中),下文也提到,一场病毒肆虐,一个国家社会停止了运转,大流行无法控制,经济下行,这样的事情在不久之前都是无法想象,不可思议(unthinkable)的,即世界充满了不确定性。而此时此刻呼吁人们对这种unthinkable加以关注,正是和此时此刻的世界实况密切相关。A. Scientific科学的;B. Credible可信的,可靠的;C. Original原来的,原创的;D. Relevant相关的,有重大关系的。根据上面的分析,仅有D符合语境,故选D。
14.推理判断题。本题要求判断作者的情感态度,根据原文第五段“yet messengers of the coming disturbance are likely to be ignored. We all want to hope things will turn out fine.”(然而未来崩溃的先行信号很可能被忽略,我们都希望事情在未来会变好)和倒数最后一段的呼吁,例如“Let's look directly into the issue of collapse,” they say, “and deal with the terrible possibilities of what we see there to make the best of a troubling future.”(他们说,“让我们直面全球崩塌的议题,真正去解决我们看到的可能的糟糕情况,以便使未来没那么糟。”)可知,作者认为公众对“全球崩塌”的重视意识不够,比较担心,A. worried担忧的;B. puzzled困惑的,茫然的;C. surprised惊讶的;D. scared害怕的,综合以上的分析,可见作者对此是“担忧的”,故选A。
15.推理判断题。原文诗歌“Man is a victim of dope; In the incurable form of hope.”(人类是麻醉品的受害者;沉迷于无可救药的幻想中)表达的是,人类无视未来全球崩塌的巨大危险,把头埋进沙子里,假装不知道,充满不切实际的幻想和希望。而诗歌前面的段落就提到“yet messengers of the coming disturbance are likely to be ignored. We all want to hope things will turn out fine.”(然而未来崩溃的先行信号很可能被忽略,我们都希望事情在未来会变好),结合上下文,这里指的是人们都幻想着未来就会变好。诗歌之后的最后一段则提到执着于“quieting hope that ignores preparedness.”(掐灭不做准备的空有幻想),接着又借学者之口,提到“Let's look directly into the issue of collapse,” they say, “and deal with the terrible possibilities of what we see there to make the best of a troubling future.”(他们说,“让我们直面全球崩塌的议题,真正去解决我们看到的可能的糟糕情况,以便使未来没那么糟。”)可见,上下文一脉相承,表达相同的一方观点,未对另一方的观点有任何呈现,理解文章后可知,作者有明显的态度倾向,作者对于这首诗表达的信息是赞同的,故选B。
Passage5
(2021·全国·高考真题)If you ever get the impression that your dog can "tell" whether you look content or annoyed, you may be onto something. Dogs may indeed be able to distinguish between happy and angry human faces, according to a new study
Researchers trained a group of 11 dogs to distinguish between images(图像)of the same person making either a happy or an angry face. During the training stage, each dog was shown only the upper half or the lower half of the person's face. The researchers then tested the dogs' ability to distinguish between human facial expressions by showing them the other half of the person's face on images totally different from the ones used in training. The researchers found that the dogs were able to pick the angry or happy face by touching a picture of it with their noses more often than one would expect by random chance.
The study showed the animals had figured out how to apply what they learned about human faces during training to new faces in the testing stage. "We can rule out that the dogs simply distinguish between the pictures based on a simple cue, such as the sight of teeth," said study author Corsin Muller. "Instead, our results suggest that the successful dogs realized that a smiling mouth means the same thing as smiling eyes, and the same rule applies to an angry mouth having the same meaning as angry eyes."
"With our study, we think we can now confidently conclude that at least some dogs can distinguish human facial expressions," Muller told Live Science.
At this point, it is not clear why dogs seem to be equipped with the ability to recognize different facial expressions in humans. "To us, the most likely explanation appears to be that the basis lies in their living with humans, which gives them a lot of exposure to human facial expressions," and this exposure has provided them with many chances to learn to distinguish between them, Muller said.
16.The new study focused on whether dogs can_________.
A.distinguish shapes B.make sense of human faces
C.feel happy or angry D.communicate with each other
17.What can we learn about the study from paragraph 2
A.Researchers tested the dogs in random order.
B.Diverse methods were adopted during training.
C.Pictures used in the two stages were different
D.The dogs were photographed before the lest.
18.What is the last paragraph mainly about
A.A suggestion for future studies. B.A possible reason for the study findings.
C.A major limitation of the study D.An explanation of the research method.
【答案】16.B17.C18.B
【分析】这是一篇说明文。一项研究证明狗能够识别人类的面部表情,但目前还不清楚它们为什么有这种能力,可能的原因是它们长时间与人类共同生活。
16.细节理解题。根据第二段的“Researchers trained a group of 11 dogs to distinguish between images of the same person making either a happy or an angry face.(研究人员训练了11只狗来区分同一个人脸上的表情是高兴还是愤怒)”可知,该新研究的关注点是狗是否能够区分人的面部表情。故选B。
17.细节理解题。根据第二段的“During the training stage, each dog was shown only the upper half or the lower half of the person’s face. The researchers then tested the dogs’ ability to distinguish between human facial expressions by showing them the other half of the person’s face or images totally different from the ones used in training.(在训练阶段,每只狗只看到人脸的上半部分或下半部分。研究人员随后测试了狗辨别人类面部表情的能力,向狗展示了人的另一半面部或与训练中使用的完全不同的图像)”可知,在训练和测试阶段,狗看的照片是不一样的。故选C。
18.主旨大意题。根据最后一段的““To us, the most likely explanation appears to be that the basis lies in their living with humans, which gives them a lot of exposure to human facial expressions, and this exposure has provided them with many chances to learn to distinguish between them” Muller said.(Muller说:“对我们来说,最可能的解释似乎是,基于他们与人类生活在一起,这让他们有很多机会接触人类的面部表情,而这种接触为他们提供了很多机会,让他们学会区分他们。”)”可知,最后一段主要讲述了狗能够辨别人类面部表情的可能原因。故选B。
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经典变式练
(基础练、提升练、真题练)
)
※基础练
Passage1
Do dogs understand us
Be careful what you say around your dog. It might understand more than you think.
A border collie named Rico recognizes the names of about 200 objects, say researchers in Germany. The dog also appears to be able to learn new words as easily as a 3-year-old child. Its word-learning skills are as good as those of a parrot or chimpanzee.
In one experiment, the researchers took all 200 items that Rico is supposed to know and divided them into 20 groups of 10 objects. Then the owner told the dog to go and fetch one of the items and bring it back. In four tests, Rico got 37 out of 40 commands right. As the dog couldn’t see anyone to get clues, the scientists believe Rico must understand the meanings of certain words.
In another experiment, the scientists took one toy that Rico had never seen before and put it in a room with seven toys whose names the dog already knew. The owner then told Rico to fetch the object, using a word the dog had never heard before.
The correct object was chosen in seven out of l0 tests, suggesting that the dog had worked out the answer by process of elimination. A month later, Rico remembered half of the new names, which is even more impressive.
Rico is thought to be smarter than the average dog. For one thing, Rico is a border collie, a breed known for its mental abilities. In addition, the 9-year-old dog has been trained to fetch toys by their names since the age of nine months.
It’s hard to know if all dogs understand at least some of the words we say. Even if they do, they can’t talk back. Still, it wouldn’t hurt to sweet-talk your dog every now and then. You might just get a big, wet kiss in return!
1.From paragraph 2 we know that ________ .
A.animals are as clever as human beings
B.dogs are smarter than parrots and chimpanzees
C.dogs have similar learning abilities as 3-year-old children
D.chimpanzees have very good word-learning skills
2.Both experiments show that________.
A.Rico can recognize different things including toys
B.Rico is smart enough to get all commands right
C.Rico has developed the ability of learning mathematics
D.Rico won’t forget the names of objects once recognizing them
3.Which of the following statements is true
A.Rico has a better memory partly because of its proper early training.
B.The purpose of the experiments is to show the border collie’s mental abilities.
C.The border collie is world-famous for recognizing objects.
D.Rico is born to understand its owner’s commands.
4.What does the writer want to tell us
A.To train your dog. B.To talk to your dog.
C.To be friendly to your dog. D.To be careful with your dog.
5.From the passage we know that Rico is ________.
A.a three-year-old baby B.a dog C.a chimpanzee D.a parrot
Passage2
German artist HA Schult is an unusual artist who uses trash to make sculptures. “We are living in a time of garbage,” says Schult. “I created a thousand sculptures of garbage. They are a mirror of ourselves.” Here, Schult was talking about his 1,000 trash sculptures in the form of humans.
“They are social sculptures,” he explained. “They are not only sculptures for the eyes. They are sculptures to spread the idea that we live in a time of garbage.” So far, Schult’s social sculptures have been on show in Paris, in Moscow’s Red Square, on the Great Wall of China, and in the desert next to the Great Pyramid of Giza near Cairo.
HA Schult’s work is unforgettable. Although his work has had a big influence on the art world, Schult remains modest about his creation, “Artists have to learn every time. We are not important. All that counts is the time in which we are living. ”
Trash art has been around for years. But it seems that only the popular artists are regarded as true artists when working with trash. Why can’t ordinary people be considered artists when they use the same things and change them into some form of personal art Maybe it’s because we all have our own presumption of what art is and isn’t, or whom artists are or should be.
You can be an artist like Schult if you try. Look at used metal cans. What might be done with them Imagine them in any number of new uses, or imagine them simply as an art form. What about boxes or clothing Boxes can usually serve as new storage containers and houses for pets. And clothing Imagine taking old clothes and turning them into hats or bags.
6.What do we know about Schult’s sculptures
A.They served as garbage containers. B.They reflected environmental issues.
C.They were first shown in Paris. D.They were to raise economic awareness.
7.What can be learnt by HA Schult’s example
A.An artist must be socially responsible. B.An artist must be as modest as possible.
C.An artist must make garbage recyclable. D.An artist must take diverse artistic forms.
8.According to the last two paragraphs, what does the author probably agree about
A.It takes talent to be a trash artist. B.Presumptions are important to artists.
C.Trash art can’t be seen as a real art form. D.Average people can also make trash artists.
9.Which of the following is the best title for the text
A.Could You Be a Trash Artist B.What Are Social Sculptures
C.Do You Know about Trash Art D.How Can We Deal with Used Cans
Passage3
A group of blue-faced birds step through the grass shoulder to shoulder, red eyes looking around. They look like middle schoolers seeking a cafeteria table at lunchtime. Perhaps they’re not so different.
A new study, led by Damien Farine, an ornithologist who studies collective behaviour, shows that vulturine guinea fowls of eastern Africa, like humans, have multilevel societies. In the past, scientists assumed such social structures required a lot of brainpower. But the pea-brained guinea fowls are revealing the faults in that assumption.
These large birds wander across the landscape in packs, often walking so closely that their bodies touch. They may fight each other to maintain their strict hierarchies, but at other times they engage in friendly behaviours like sharing food.
Suspecting the guinea fowl might have a social structure, Dr. Farine and his colleagues began a thorough study of their society. For a whole year, they made daily observations of 441 birds. Coloured leg bands in unique combinations let researchers tell the black-and-blue birds apart. They also attached GPS devices to the backs of 58 birds, which let them see exactly where every group went, 24 hours a day.
The findings of the research suggest that vulturine guinea fowls have a multilevel society. There are groups within groups within the population as a whole. There even seem to be groups of friends within the small groups. This is the first time anyone has observed such a society in a bird.
And Dr. Farine emphasizes this particular bird’s tiny brain size. “They don’t only have small brains relative to mammals; they also have quite small brains relative to other birds,” he said.
According to him, living in this kind of society might actually make it easier to keep track of the social order. For example, if groups are stable and a bird can identify just one or two individuals within a group, it knows which group it’s looking at — no need for a brain that can recognize every single animal. Multilevel societies also let animals adjust their group sizes based on whatever challenges they’re facing. Depending on what enemies or resources are around, it might make sense to travel in a combined group rather than a smaller one.
“Having a multilevel structure may not require having a large brain,” Dr. Farine said. There may be more birds and other animals out there that, although small-brained, have multilevel societies as our own.
10.According to the passage, what inspired Dr. Farine to carry out the study
A.The guinea fowl’s social behaviour. B.Previous assumptions about birds.
C.His interest in animals’ brainpower. D.The faults in earlier research.
11.What is Paragraph 4 mainly about
A.The research subjects. B.The research methods.
C.The research findings. D.The research equipment.
12.What can be learned from the passage
A.Complex social systems can be a disadvantage to guinea fowls.
B.Guinea fowls are good at recognizing individuals in a group.
C.Birds maintain the social order by travelling in combined groups.
D.Small-brained animals can form multilevel societies.
13.What is the main purpose of the passage
A.To present the findings of a study of the guinea fowl.
B.To explain the interaction patterns in multilevel societies.
C.To introduce a new approach to observing the guinea fowl.
D.To uncover clues about how complex societies are formed.
Passage4
Modern zoos aim to promote animal conservation, educate people, and support further wildlife research. Staff are devoted to providing species specific housing and appropriate diets to ensure that the animals’ lives are as natural as possible within captivity (圈养).
In fact, most zoo animals have been born and bred in captivity. They have never experienced “the wild”, which many people assume is a wonderful and safe place, despite destruction of natural habits for palm oil threats from climate change or the increase in poaching.
There are two ways capturing animals helps conserve them. Zoo conservation work can be in-situ (在原处)where money: expertise and sometimes staff are provided to protect animals and their habitats in the wild. Large, charming animals such as pandas, tigers or elephants draw the crowds. These flagship species help to raise the image and funds for in-situ conservation efforts for the not so well known species
“Ex-situ” conservation, meanwhile, takes place outside of the animals’ natural habitats, usually back at the zoo and often involving international captive breeding programs. These studbooks(良种登记册) can outline suitable genetic matches for breeding, to keep a sustainable captive population of a certain species and ensure genetic variation.
In the UK a least, zoos must have a written education strategy and an active education programme.If you have been to an accredited (官方认可的) zoo recently you will have noticed they use games and technology to go way beyond these basic requirements.
Research within zoos often looks at animal behaviour or welfare helping to ensure the animals are well housed and fed. Other research investigates the impact humans have on the zoo animals from the visitor effect to the relationships which can be formed between the animals and their keepers. Research also focuses on biological functioning of animals. Much of this is work that cannot be conducted in the wild if the animals live in remote or inhospitable areas.
Overall, zoos provide opportunities to observe and engage with exotic (外国的) animals, many of which may be threatened with extinction in the wild. Seeing them up close can cause a passion for biology, conservation and the environment.
14.What do people think of “the wild”
A.It poses a danger to humans.
B.It is perfect for large animals
C.It is an ideal habitat for animals.
D.It guarantees the safety of animals.
15.What highlights “ex-situ” conservation
A.Saving the conservation cost.
B.Attracting more visitors to zoos.
C.Keeping a species’ population stable.
D.Changing the genes of a certain species.
16.What is Paragraph 6 mainly about
A.How zoo keepers get along with animals.
B.How zoos can contribute to research work.
C.What researchers are expected to do in zoos.
D.Why it is difficult to carry out research in the wild.
17.What is the author’s purpose in wring the text
A.To show zoos ways to raise animals.
B.To stress modern zoos research value.
C.To defend zoos role in protecting animals.
D.To advise zoos to release animals into the wild.
Passage5
Two thirds of the ice in the glaciers (冰川) of the Alps is doomed! These glaciers will melt by the end of the century as global temperatures rise, according to a recent study.
Scientists claim that half the ice held in some 4,000 Alpine glaciers will disappear by 2050 due to global warming through the effect of past emissions. After that, even if carbon emissions drop to zero, two-thirds of the ice will still have melted by 2100. If emissions continue to rise at the current rate, the ice tongues will have all but disappeared from Alpine valleys by the end of the century. The most pessimistic prediction tells us that the Alps will be mostly ice-free by 2100. Only isolated ice patches would remain at high altitudes, representing five per cent, at most, of the ice volume seen today.
The researchers warn that the loss of these glaciers will mean much less water is available for farming and hydroelectricity, especially during droughts. It would also affect nature and tourism.
In February, a study found that a third of the huge ice fields in Asia’s towering mountain chains were also under threat for the same reasons. This will lead to serious consequences for almost two billion people who live downstream. Glaciers along the Hindu Kush and Himalayan range are at higher, colder altitudes. If global carbon emissions are not cut, however, two-thirds of their ice could be gone by 2100.
The latest research combined computer models with real-world data to forecast the fate of the glaciers. It used 2017 as its starting point. Unlike previous work, these models included how the glaciers move down the mountains. Applying this approach to other glaciated mountain chains could improve ice loss forecasts there.
Cutting the emissions from fossil-fuel burning, deforestation and other polluting activities is the biggest factor in minimizing the melting of the ice. The future of these glaciers is indeed at risk, but there is still a possibility of limiting their disappearance.
18.What does the underlined word “doomed” mean in paragraph 1
A.Polluted. B.Discovered. C.Endangered. D.Abandoned.
19.What can we infer from paragraph 2
A.Emissions have much to do with the ice melting.
B.The Alps is expected to lose all its ice by 2100.
C.Ice loss will be avoided with emissions prevented.
D.Large ice pieces will just exist at the mountain top.
20.Why are the Asia’s ice fields mentioned in paragraph 4
A.To explain how glacier melting came about.
B.To imply pollution is a worldwide problem.
C.To show what consequences ice melting will cause.
D.To indicate the Alps is not alone to face ice melting.
21.What is the writer’s attitude towards the future of glaciers
A.Objective. B.Optimistic. C.Critical. D.Doubtful.
◎提升练
Passage6
Climate change has been a long-standing issue that continuously drives scientists to find green, sustainable fuels. The universe’s most abundant element, hydrogen (氢), has drawn their attention and is now on its way to becoming the future of green fuel.
More than $150 billion worth of green hydrogen projects were announced globally in 2020, according to Reuters. Airbus, a European multinational aerospace corporation, has taken the lead in the new sustainable fuel industry. It has designed self-contained hydrogen fuel cell pods that can be attached to the underside of airplane wings, promoting the use of hydrogen fuel for long-distance flights, which aim to achieve zero emissions. The company plans to launch hydrogen-powered aircraft in 2035, according to Daily Mail.
Compared to fossil fuels, hydrogen is a much more eco-friendly fuel. When hydrogen burns, the only by-product is water. However, the traditional way to get hydrogen from natural gas or coal generates considerable carbon emissions. The greenest way is to obtain hydrogen from water using electrolysis (电解) powered by renewable energy, although this process requires so much electricity that it is quite expensive. The key to making hydrogen competitive with fossil fuels is to lower the production cost to under $1.50. This would require lowering around 50 percent of renewable power costs and 75 percent of electrolyzer costs, according to Australia’s renewable energy agency.
Also, shipping liquid hydrogen is challenging, given that needs to be chilled to -253 C to do so. Japan’s Kawasaki Heavy Industries is set to complete the construction of the world’s first liquefied hydrogen carrier by early 2021. According to Reuters, most of the world’s big hydrogen export projects are looking to ship hydrogen in the form of liquid ammonia (氨), which can be changed to hydrogen and needs to be chilled to only -33 C.
With more and more countries aiming to cut down carbon emissions to solve the issue of global warming, green hydrogen will help decarbonizing industries that can’t be electrified hit the targets.
“We could use these circumstances, where loads of public money are going to be needed into the energy system, to jump forward towards a hydrogen economy,” said Diederik Samsom, who heads the European Commission’s climate cabinet.
22.What is the strength of the hydrogen fuel
A.It works very efficiently. B.It is convenient to store.
C.It is environmentally friendly. D.It produces no by-product.
23.What is the challenge when shipping liquid hydrogen
A.The expensive cost of shipping. B.The required temperature.
C.The construction of liquefied carriers. D.Changing it to the form of liquid ammonia.
24.In which industries does green hydrogen benefit for
A.Those powered by fossil fuels. B.Those generating electricity.
C.Those funded by public money. D.Those making hydrogen.
25.What is the most suitable title for the passage
A.Fueling a Green Future B.Living a Green Life.
C.Shipping Liquid Hydrogen D.Making Hydrogen Competitive
Passage7
There was a time when a trip to the supermarket in theUnited States often ended with a seemingly simple question from the cashier: “Paper or plastic ” Well, which type of bag would you choose
While all types of bags have some influence on the environment, it has long been supposed that paper bags are kinder. They are made from a renewable source, break down easily, burn without giving off thick smoke and can be recycled. However, the producing process behind paper bags uses more energy than that of plastic ones. How can this be true
Studies show that paper bag production requires four times as much energy as plastic bag production. And the amount of water used to make paper bags is twenty times higher. Besides, the influence on forests is very serious. It takes about fourteen million trees to produce ten billion paper bags, which happens to be the number of bags used in the United States yearly.In terms of recycling, the idea that paper bags are more environmentally friendly than plastic ones can be quickly discarded. Research shows it requires about 98% less energy to recycle plastic than it does to recycle paper.
Even though paper bags might be more harmful than plastic ones, plastic still seems to be considered by governments as the more harmful of the two. In Ireland, for example, a tax has been introduced to discourage the use of plastic bags. People have to pay 22 cents for every plastic bag, and as a result, their use has dropped quickly.
There’s no doubt that it makes more sense to reuse these bags. However, we don’t seem to be doing that at present. Cloth bags are a better choice, but still, their production also has a bad influence on the environment. So what to do How should I we answer the question of “Paper or plastic ” It seems that we firstneed to ask ourselves one more general question: “What can I do to help the environment ”
26.Why does the author use the questions in Paragraph 1
A.To express the author’s doubts. B.To introduce the topic for discussion.
C.To tell readers how to save money. D.To show the kindness of the cashier.
27.Compared with plastic bags, paper bags ________.
A.need more water to produce B.require less energy to recycle
C.have less influence on forests D.take more time to break down
28.Which of the following can best replace the underlined word “discarded” in Paragraph 3
A.Put forward. B.Discussed. C.Given up. D.Shared.
29.Which question does the author probably hope the cashier will ask
A.Paper or cloth B.Paper or plastic
C.A small bag or a big one D.A new bag or your own one
Passage8
With the help of modern technology, people have killed up to 99 percent of certain types of whales. Some scientists thought this would cause krill (磷虾), tiny shrimp-like animals that many whales eat, to explode in number. But that didn’t happen. Krill numbers in Antarctic waters with of whale hunting have dropped by more than 80 percent. New research suggests a lack of whale poop (粪便) may explain this. A new study finds whales eat more than we thought. Lots more food means lots more poop that is rich in iron. So with fewer whales, ecosystems get less iron and other crucial nutrients that they need to thrive. That hurts other species, including krill.
Figuring out whale diets isn’t easy. In the past, scientists looked at the contents of dead whales’ stomachs to see what they ate. Or they estimated how much food whales should need based on their size. However, the new study, led by Matthew Savoca, a marine biologist at Stanford University, used some different techniques. Savoca’s team put sensors on 321 whales. The sensors tracked when the whales hunted for food.
Using all this information, the scientists found that whales eat about three times as much food as earlier estimates had suggested. The amount of food that whales eat and poop out is astonishing. And it suggests that whales play a bigger role in shaping ocean ecosystems than previously thought.
Whales are nutrient cyclers. If whales and krill returned to their early 1900s numbers, the productivity of the Southern Ocean could be boosted by 11 percent, the researchers calculate. That increased productivity would translate into more carbon-rich life. Together, those creatures would store 215 million tons of carbon each year. The carbon stored in those creatures wouldn’t be able to escape into the atmosphere and contribute to global warming.
30.What is the first paragraph mainly about
A.The reason for krill numbers declining. B.The present situation of whale killing.
C.The help from the modern technology. D.The relationship between food and poop.
31.How did the new study figure out whales’ diets
A.By referring to past studies. B.By tracking whales with sensors.
C.By observing whales’ sizes. D.By examining whales’ stomachs.
32.What do the scientists findings suggest
A.Whales hurt other ocean species. B.Whales eat as much as estimated.
C.Whales slow ocean productivity. D.Whales matter more than expected.
33.In which column of a newspaper can we probably read this passage
A.Opinion. B.Health. C.Nature. D.Business.
Passage9
ECycling refers to the recycling of electronic items, which are becoming a common problem in American home and throughout the world. The EPA, or Environmental Protection Agency, has actually started a program to help and motivate the recycling of electronics.
To get the program to the regional and neighborhood levels, the EPA directed “Plug-In to eCycling Partners.” These partnerships support electronic reusing programs in individual communities. They provide local governments, retailers and manufacturers with opportunities to reuse and recycle their items. Those who make and offer electronic devices then promote programs and opportunities for consumers to reuse their second-hand electronic products. One of the EPA’s goals is to enlighten customers about why the recycling of electronics is so important. They likewise wish to make eCycling chances easily accessible to specific consumers and their family electronics. According to the EPA, the eCycling program has actually been quite successful. In 2008, the EPA collected 66.5 million pounds of electronic devices through their Plug-In Partners.
Local governments have actually likewise got on board and passed laws intended to handle used electronic devices. Huge corporations have actually introduced eCycling programs at their local retail stores. One seller offers customers small, medium and big boxes for sale, which the customers then load with used electronics and go back to the store. Typically, customers bring their recyclable electronics to a location. When the electronic items are gathered by the EPA (typically this is done by the Partners), they are reused or recycled.
Reused items are repaired and refurbished, and passed on to others as a contribution. You can repair or recondition your very own electronic devices too, extending the life of the items and conserving the energy of making new materials. Reusing electronic devices includes making use of the products and parts of the items. These materials and parts are then made use of to produce another item. This is more efficient than making items from new materials.
Some items that are commonly eCycled consist of televisions, computer monitors, printers, notebook computer, keyboards and cable televisions. Less usual items include copying machines, CD players, voice mail machines, computer hard drives, mobile telephones, remote controls, radios, batteries, telephones, facsimile machines and computer games. Occasionally, electronic items such as microwaves, fans, vacuums, smoke alarms, and toasters are eCycled.
As the eCycling program continues, you or your organization may want to get involved. Check the EPA’s internet site (www.epa.gov) for regional eCycling programs, or for details on how your company can participate. Their website has links to organizations that are taking part in the eCycling program.
34.The EPA brought about “Plug-In to eCycling Partners” to ________.
A.make and offer electronic devices to consumers
B.make customers understand the importance of eCycling
C.make it possible for consumers to reuse their used e-products
D.make the program accessible to local regions and communities
35.The Plug-In Partners are mainly engaged in ________.
A.offering customers different boxes for sale
B.reusing second-hand e-products
C.gathering recyclable electronics
D.repairing electronic device
36.What is the main purpose of this passage
A.To call on local governments to support Plug-In Partners.
B.To attract people to join in the eCycling programs.
C.To teach customers how to recycle electronics.
D.To introduce a new way to save costs.
Passage10
Otters, are cute, this no one can deny. They have big eyes, short and flat noses and claws (爪子) like tiny hands. They look even cuter when they wear hats and throw food balls into their mouths as if they were bar snacks, like Takechiyo, a pet otter in Japan. Documenting Takechiyo’s funny behavior has earned his owner nearly 230,000 followers on Instagram, a photo-sharing app.
Takechiyo’s fame reflects a craze across east and South-East Asia for keeping the cute creatures as pets. Enthusiasts in Japan visit cafés where they pay to hug them; Indonesian owners parade their pets around on leads or go swimming with them, then share their pictures online. But these enjoyable photos mask a trade that is doing a lot of damage. Even before they became fashionable companions for humans, Asia’s wild otters faced plenty of threats. Their habitats are disappearing. They have long been hunted for their coats, or killed by farmers who wish to prevent them consuming fishes. The pet trade, which began picking up in the early 2000s but appeared to speed up a few years ago, has made things worse. The numbers of wild Asian small-clawed otters and smooth-coated otters, two species that are in highest demand, have declined by at least 30% in the three decades to 2019.
The international agreement that governs trade in wildlife, known as CITES, now prohibits cross-border trade in these species. But laws banning ownership are often poorly implemented, as in Thailand, or full of holes, as in Indonesia. And the otter-keeping craze has been dramatically improved by the internet, says Vincent Nijman of Oxford Brookes University. In 2017 TRAFFIC, a British charity that monitors the wildlife trade, spent nearly five months looking at Facebook and other social-media sites in five South-East Asian countries. During that time, it found around1,000 otters advertised for sale online.
In any case, otters do not even make particularly good pets. Every year the Jakarta Animal Aid Network, a charity in Indonesia’s capital, receives some ten otters from people who have struggled to look after them. Faizul Duha, the founder of an Indonesian otter-owners’ group, admits that his two animals emit a “very specific” (read: fishy) smell. They bite humans and chew on furniture. Their scream can be heard blocks away. And their cages need cleaning every two-to-three hours. That is how often they empty their bowels (肠道).
37.The function of the first paragraph is to ________.
A.present the main idea B.introduce the main topic
C.set readers thinking D.illustrate the writer’s point
38.According to the passage, which of the following mainly drives the otter trade
A.The demand for pet otters. B.The disappearance of otters’ habitats.
C.The popularity of otter coats. D.The decrease of fishes.
39.It can be inferred from the passage that ________.
A.the laws that prohibit cross-border trade are strict in Asia
B.social media plays a significant role in the online otter trade
C.people usually give up otters because they are endangered
D.otters are suitable pets because they are friendly to humans
40.The purpose of the writing is to ________.
A.advertise for a photo-sharing app
B.introduce the popularity of pet otters
C.discourage the illegal otter pet trade
D.describe the characteristics of otters
¤真题练
Passage1
(2021·全国·高考真题)Port Lympne Reserve, which runs a breeding (繁育) programme, has welcomed the arrival of a rare black rhino calf (犀牛幼崽). When the tiny creature arrived on January 31, she became the 40th black rhino to be born at the reserve. And officials at Port Lympne were delighted with the new arrival, especially as black rhinos are known for being difficult to breed in captivity (圈养).
Paul Beer, head of rhino section at Port Lympne, said: “Obviously we're all absolutely delighted to welcome another calf to our black rhino family. She's healthy, strong and already eager to play and explore. Her mother, Solio, is a first-time mum and she is doing a fantastic job. It's still a little too cold for them to go out into the open, but as soon as the weather warms up, I have no doubt that the little one will be out and about exploring and playing every day.”
The adorable female calf is the second black rhino born this year at the reserve, but it is too early to tell if the calves will make good candidates to be returned to protected areas of the wild. The first rhino to be born at Port Lympne arrived on January 5 to first-time mother Kisima and weighed about 32kg. His mother, grandmother and great grandmother were all born at the reserve and still live there.
According to the World Wildlife Fund, the global black rhino population has dropped as low as 5500, giving the rhinos a “critically endangered” status.
1.Which of the following best describes the breeding programme
A.Costly. B.Controversial. C.Ambitious. D.Successful.
2.What does Paul Beer say about the new-born rhino
A.She loves staying with her mother. B.She dislikes outdoor activities.
C.She is in good condition D.She is sensitive to heat.
3.What similar experience do Solio and Kisima have
A.They had their first born in January. B.They enjoyed exploring new places
C.They lived with their grandmothers. D.They were brought to the reserve young
4.What can be inferred about Porn Lympne Reserve
A.The rhino section will be open to the public.
B.It aims to control the number of the animals.
C.It will continue to work with the World Wildlife Fund.
D.Some of its rhinos may be sent to the protected wild areas.
Passage2
(2011·安徽·高考真题)Think about the different ways that people use the wind. You can use it to fly a kite or to sai1a boat. Wind is one of our of our cleanest and riches power source(来源) ,as well as one of the oldest . Evidence shows that windmills(风车) began to be used in ancient Iran back in the seventh century BC .They were first introduced to Europe during the 1100s,when armies returned from the Middle East with knowledge of using wind power .
For many centuries ,people used windmills to grind(磨碎)wheat into flour or pump water from deep underground when electricity was discovered in the 1ate 1800s,people living in remote areas began to use them to produce electricity. This al1owed them to people in almost all1 areas of the United States, windmills were rarely used. During the course 1970s, people started becoming concerned about the pollution that is created when coal and gas are burned to produce electricity. People also realized that the supply of coal and gas would not last forever. Then, wind was rediscovered, though it means higher coasts. Today, there is a global movement to supply more and more of our electricity through the use of wind .
5.From the text we know that windmills_________.
A.were invented by European armies.
B.have a history of more than 2800 years.
C.used to supply power to radio in remote areas.
D.have rarely been used since electricity was discovered.
6.What was a new use for wind power in the late l9th century
A.Sailing a boat.
B.Producing electricity.
C.Grinding wheat into flour.
D.Pumping water from underground.
7.One of the reasons wind was rediscovered in the 1970 is that_______.
A.wind power is cleaner.
B.it is one of the oldest power sources.
C.it was cheaper to creat energy from wind .
D.the supply of coal and gas failed to meet needs.
8.What would the author probably discuss in the paragraph that follows
A.The advantage of wind power.
B.The design of wind power plants.
C.The worldwide movement to save energy.
D.The global trend towards producing power from wind.
Passage3
(2017·天津·高考真题)Pre-school children who spend time together take on one another's personalities, a new research has found. The study shows that environment plays a key role in shaping people's personalities. While genetics still forms the central part of the human psyche (心理), the research finds that personality traits (特征) are "contagious" (传染的) among children. "Our finding flies in the face of common assumptions that personality can't be changed," said Dr. Jennifer Neal, co-author of the study.
The researchers studied the personalities and social networks of two pre-school classes for a full school year. One of the classes was a set of three-year-olds, and the other a set of four-year-olds. Children whose friends were hard-working or outgoing gradually took on these personality traits over time. Psychology expert Dr. Emily Dublin said kids are having a far bigger effect on each other than people may realize.
The new study is not the first to explore the contagious effects of personality traits. A 2015 psychology study found that rudeness at work can be contagious as it travels from person to person "like a disease". The study found that seeing a boss being rude to an employee was enough to cause people to be rude to those around them.
The researchers questioned 6,000 people on the social "climate" in their workplaces, which included offices, hotels and restaurants. They found 75 percent of those who took part said they had been treated rudely at least once in the past year. And the study also suggests that merely seeing other people being subjected to rudeness made it more likely that a person would treat their colleagues in the same way. Rudeness could include leaving someone off an invite to a company event, sending unkind emails, finding fault with others or failing to give praise.
Dr. Torkelson believes companies need to be more aware of the harm that rudeness in the workplace can do as it can damage the working environment. She said better training could help to fight against the problem.
9.What does the underlined part "flies in the face of" in Paragraph1mean
A.Leads to. B.Results from.
C.Goes against. D.Agrees with.
10.According to Paragraph 2, who have the greatest impact on children's personality
A.Their parents. B.Their friends.
C.The researchers. D.The psychologists.
11.Which of the following is considered rude at the workplace
A.Ignoring the faults of co-workers.
B.Not sending emails to workmates.
C.Seeking praise from colleagues and bosses.
D.Not inviting a colleague to a company party.
12.What is the passage mainly about
A.One's personality is hard to change.
B.One's personality is shaped by genes.
C.One's personality traits can spread to others.
D.One's personality traits can change overnight.
13.This passage is most probably taken from ________.
A.a science report B.a study guide
C.a school textbook D.a technical journal
Passage4
(2020·海南·高考真题)Rainforests are home to a rich variety of medicinal plants, food, birds and animals. Can you believe that a single bush(灌木丛)in the Amazon may have more species of ants than the whole of Britain! About 480 varieties of trees may be found in just one hectare of rainforest.
Rainforests are the lungs of the planet-storing vast quantities of carbon dioxide and producing a significant amount of the world's oxygen. Rainforests have their own perfect system for ensuring their own survival; the tall trees make a canopy(树冠层)of branches and leaves which protect themselves, smaller plants, and the forest animals from heavy rain, intense dry heat from the sun and strong winds.
Amazingly, the trees grow in such a way that their leaves and branches, although close together, never actually touch those of another tree. Scientists think this is the plants' way to prevent the spread of any tree diseases and make life more difficult for leaf-eating insects like caterpillars. To survive in the forest, animals must climb, jump or fly across the gaps. The ground floor of the forest is not all tangled leaves and bushes, like in films, but is actually fairly clear. It is where dead leaves turn into food for the trees and other forest life.
They are not called rainforests for nothing! Rainforests can generate 75%of their own rain. At least 80 inches of rain a year is normal-and in some areas there may be as much as 430 inches of rain annually. This is real rain-your umbrella may protect you in a shower, but it won't keep you dry if there is a full rainstorm. In just two hours, streams can rise ten to twenty feet. The humidity(湿气)of large rainforests contributes to the formation of rainclouds that may travel to other countries in need of rain.
14.What can we learn about rainforests from the first paragraph
A.They produce oxygen. B.They cover a vast area.
C.They are well managed. D.They are rich in wildlife.
15.Which of the following contributes most to the survival of rainforests
A.Heavy rains B.Big trees.
C.Small plants. D.Forest animals.
16.Why do the leaves and branches of different trees avoid touching each other
A.For more sunlight. B.For more growing space.
C.For self-protection. D.For the detection of insects.
17.What can be a suitable title for the text
A.Life-Giving Rainforests B.The Law of the Jungle
C.Animals in the Amazon D.Weather in Rainforests
Passage5
(2020·全国·高考真题)When “Rise of the Planet of the Apes” was first shown to the public last month, a group of excited animal activists gathered on Hollywood Boulevard. But they weren’t there to throw red paint on fur-coat-wearing film stars. Instead, one activist, dressed in a full-body monkey suit, had arrived with a sign praising the filmmakers: “Thanks for not using real apes (猿)!”
The creative team behind “Apes” used motion-capture (动作捕捉) technology to create digitalized animals, spending tens of millions of dollars on technology that records an actor’s performance and later processes it with computer graphics to create a final image (图像). In this case, one of a realistic-looking ape.
Yet “Apes” is more exception than the rule. In fact, Hollywood has been hot on live animals lately. One nonprofit organization, which monitors the treatment of animals in filmed entertainment, is keeping tabs on more than 2,000 productions this year. Already, a number of films, including “Water for Elephants,” “The Hangover Part Ⅱ” and “Zookeeper,” have drawn the anger of activists who say the creatures acting in them haven’t been treated properly.
In some cases, it’s not so much the treatment of the animals on set in the studio that has activists worried; it’s the off-set training and living conditions that are raising concerns. And there are questions about the films made outside the States, which sometimes are not monitored as closely as productions filmed in the States.
18.Why did the animal activists gather on Hollywood Boulevard
A.To see famous film stars.
B.To oppose wearing fur coats.
C.To raise money for animal protection.
D.To express thanks to some filmmakers.
19.What does paragraph 2 mainly talk about
A.The cost of making “Apes.”
B.The creation of digitalized apes.
C.The publicity about “Apes.”
D.The performance of real apes.
20.What does the underlined phrase “keeping tabs on” in paragraph 3 probably mean
A.Listing completely.
B.Directing professionally.
C.Promoting successfully.
D.Watching carefully.
21.What can w