2024届高考英语三轮冲刺考前阅读理解训练 日常生活类（含答案）

2024年高考英语三轮冲刺考前阅读理解小专题训练
日常生活类
一、阅读理解
阅读理解
According to a study done by University of Michigan, shopping to reduce stress was 40 times more effective at giving people a sense of control and shoppers were three times less sad than those only looking at items.
More than half of the 1,000 consumers surveyed by Credit Karma, head researcher of the study, said they have shopped to deal with feelings of stress or depression. About 48 percent of men and 31 percent of women who have stress shopping said they had purchased alcohol when stressed. About 82 percent of women spend on clothing compared to 52 percent of men. Women also lead shopping for jewellery, 42 percent, compared to 22 percent for men.
In some sense, stress shopping can actually help you live a healthier life by making sure that your blood pressure is lowered. The survey found 82 percent had only positive feelings about their purchases and that the positive mood was long-lasting. However, stress shopping, for many, could grow into a drive that uses up money, causes conflict, and therefore adds great stress to life.
Despite the in-time joy from purchases, stress shopping never proves along-lasting cure to stress or depression. Actually it needs to be avoided anyhow. Whether you're purchasing Christmas presents or buying groceries, having the items you need written down will provide you with brightness while shopping. Reward yourself for sticking to your list and you'll be more likely to commit to it.
In addition, always think about what you struggle with most financially. Do you spend too much money at the mall Eating out Vacations Make a list of where your money is going and take necessary steps to resist your desire. For example, if you spend too much money on dining out on weekends, stuff your cupboard with food on Friday. So you'll be more likely to stay in and cook. And you need to give up the need to keep up with others. Everyone's financial situation is different and comparison may lead to debt and dissatisfaction with what you already have.
1．Why does the author mention those numbers in paragraph 2
A．To explain the text. B．To attract readers.
C．To support an idea. D．To introduce a topic.
2．Which of the following may help deal with stress shopping
A．Adjusting mood. B．Recording expenses.
C．Turning to medicines. D．Comparing with others.
3．What is the author's attitude to stress shopping
A．Positive. B．Doubtful. C．Negative. D．Indifferent.
4．What is a suitable title for the text
A．Does shopping benefit us B．More stressed, women or men
C．Should we compare with others D．Can stress shopping reduce stress
【答案】1．C
2．B
3．C
4．D
阅读理解
Removing gender bias
Tailors worked out long ago that men and women have different shapes. Yet this message has failed to enter many other areas of design. Car seat belts, for example, which date back to the 1880s, are often still more suitable for men, who tend to sit farther back than women when driving. And today the most forward-looking tech companies on Earth are still placing old-school bias (偏见；成见) into new products. Consider smart phones. Most are too big to fit comfortably into the average woman's hand, as are many video-game controllers.
An obvious part of the explanation for their design problem is that men control most of its companies—male-run firms receive 82% of venture-capital (VC) funding. Male bosses may be unaware of the problems women face. They may not flag up obvious areas of concern, or ask the right questions when doing their research for a new product design. And once an idea gets the green light, it will then be handled by product-design and engineering teams, three-quarters of whose members are men. These teams often use data to make decisions, but mixing all users together means they may fail to spot trends based on sex differences. Dependence on historical data, and the lack of data on underrepresented groups, can also create bias in algorithms (算法).
Next comes testing. Naturally, designers test original models on their intended customers, but they may not get feedback from a broad enough group of people. There is also the risk of confirmation bias—designers may listen to what they want to hear, and ignore negative reactions from some groups of users.
Tech's design bias needs fixing for moral, safety and business reasons. The ethical importance is obvious: it is wrong that women have to make do with a "one-size-fits-men" world, as Caroline Criado Perez, a writer, puts it. As for safety, regulators can tackle that by banning things that are dangerous to women—including seat belts—because they are no! designed properly.
But there is also a powerful business case for avoiding design bias, because huge opportunities are being missed. Women are 50% of the population, and make 70—80% of the world's consumer-spending decisions.
Change is coming. The first voice-recognition systems struggled to understand female voices, but most now manage just fine. "Femtech" start-up companies, which focus on women's health and well-being, may raise MYM 1 billion by the end of this year. VC funds and tech firms are hiring more women. Ensuring that products are designed for everyone would lead to happier and safer customers. For the companies that get it right, that means higher profits. What is holding them back
5．The underlined part in Paragraph 2 means ________.
A．hits the market B．gets approval
C．becomes successful D．comes into being
6．What is discussed in Paragraphs 2 and 3
A．Why tech's design bias needs to be fixed.
B．How gender bias is affecting tech companies.
C．Where gender bias in product design is rooted.
D．Who is to blame for gender bias in tech companies.
7．We can learn from the passage that ________.
A．tech companies are unwilling to change
B．design bias may result in missed opportunities
C．male workers benefit more in engineering teams
D．tech companies are poor at making user-friendly products
8．How does the author feel about the future of bias-free product design
A．Uncertain. B．Sceptical. C．Positive. D．Negative.
【答案】5．B
6．C
7．B
8．C
阅读理解
Every day thousands of people travel across the world for different reasons. Whenever I've checked in for a flight, I've seen many travellers saying "I missed it" or "I forgot it", etc. This happens because while packing our bags, we miss so many important things.
The baggage packing isn't a big job but many people see it as a messy job. I'll advise you to always pack your bags according to your trip. The baggage should be different according to the duration（持续时间）of your trip. You shouldn't carry unnecessary things or more than what you need.
If you're going on a business trip of not more than 2-3 days, then make sure you don't carry more than a single bag. Pack 2-3 business suits , a night suit and also some casual (非正式的) clothes. You'll need casual clothes because you might get a chance to explore the place.
While on holidays of 5-6 days, you have to be very smart while packing your bag. First of all, check the climate of the place. If it's summer, then carry lightweight clothes and if it's winter, you have to pack a sweater. For holidays, pack all the small things you'll be requiring. But don't carry too many things.
If you're going to a relative's place, then you can be a bit relaxed because if you miss something, you won't have to worry as your relative will be there to help you. But don't forget to buy gifts for your relatives. If the gifts are fragile, then pack them in a hard box and always keep them in between clothes. No need to carry too many clothes as you can wash your clothes at their place. This will also help you to shop more and more.
9．While packing for a trip, we needn't consider ___________.
A．the climate of the destination
B．possible activities at the destination
C．how long we'll stay at the destination
D．how long it takes us to go to the destination
10．What does the underlined word "fragile" in the last paragraph probably mean
A．Hard to use. B．Easy to break.
C．Difficult to carry. D．Important to prepare.
11．If we go to travel in a relative's place, we __________.
A．can carry fewer clothes with us
B．had better stay at the relative's home
C．don't have to buy too many things there
D．should buy expensive gifts for the relative
12．What does the text mainly talk about
A．What to take while travelling.
B．How to take care of the baggage while travelling.
C．How to pack baggage according to the duration.
D．Why packing baggage is necessary while travelling.
【答案】9．D
10．B
11．A
12．C
阅读理解
In the world of water, 2021 was another year for the record books. Parts of Western Europe suffered from deadly floods while large areas of the southwestern United States remained locked in a massive drought.
One might think that our impressive water management would safeguard society from such catastrophic events. Yet when it comes to water, the past is no longer a good guide for the future and most of the water engineering is unprepared for consequences of increasingly occurring extreme weather. One of the most alarming wake-up calls came from the city of Cape Town, where the water taps of 4 million residents were nearly forced to be shut off after severe drought dried up its reservoir (水库).
Appealing as it might be, the solution is not to further build bigger and higher dams (水坝) that often result in more disastrous flooding. Rather, it is to work more with natural processes.
The Netherlands avoided major damage from the historic floods in July 2021 thanks to its recently completed project, which gives river room to spread out by redirecting floodwaters into wetlands, lowering parts of the stormy river by more than a foot. Agricultural practices offer another strategy. Scientists have found that boosting organic matter in the soil by 1% can increase the soil's water-holding capacity by up to 18,000 gallons per acre, creating flexibility to both intense rains and dry periods. This means farmland practices such as the planting of cover crops can not only raise output but improve water management.
Solutions don't come easily, but they are key to a livable future. While it's too late to avoid the impacts of climate change, we can avoid the worst of those impacts by investing more in such nature-based water solutions.
13．Cape Town is mentioned to show__________.
A．the reservoir was of no use
B．new water management is in need
C．how awful it was without tap water
D．the existing water management is impressive
14．What can we learn from Paragraph 4
A．The Netherlands was spared from flood damage.
B．The river's water level was reduced to over a foot.
C．Improving soil's water-holding ability is practical.
D．Planting crops boosts organisms at the cost of output.
15．Which of the following water projects might win the author's favor
① "Restoring Healthy Soil" ② "Filling Wetland"
③ "Strengthening Dam" ④ "Making Room for River"
A．①② B．②③ C．③④ D．①④
16．What can be a suitable title for the text
A．Water disaster: way out of control
B．Investment in water: a key to the future
C．Good news: farming practices working well
D．Nature-based solution: a way out for water
【答案】13．B
14．C
15．D
16．D
阅读理解
We are a culture drowning in our possessions. We take in more and more （holiday, birthdays, sales, needs）, but rarely find an opportunity to get rid of it. As a result, our homes fill up with so much stuff. And because we believe the best solution is to find organizational tools to manage all of it, we seek out bigger containers or more efficient organizational tips and tricks. But simply organizing our stuff must be repeated over and over.
At its heart, organizing is simply rearranging. And though we may find storage solutions to- day, we are quickly forced to find new ones as early as tomorrow. Additionally, organizing has some other major shortcomings that are rarely considered. For example, it doesn't benefit anyone else. The possessions we rarely use sit on shelves in our basements or garages, even while some of our closest friends desperately need them.
On the other hand, the act of getting rid of stuff from our home accomplishes many purposes. It is not a temporary solution. It is an action of permanence-once an item has been removed, it is removed completely. Whether we re-sell our possessions, donate them to charity, or give them to a friend, they are immediately put to use by those who need them.
Removing possessions begins to turn back our desire for more as we find freedom and happiness in owning less. And removing ourselves from the all-consuming desire to own more creates opportunities for significant life changes to take place.
If you're struggling with how to get rid of stuff, you can first challenge yourself to remove the unneeded things in your home, carry a trash bag from room-to-room, see how big of a donation pile you can make, and even eliminatedebt by selling what you no longer need.
It doesn't matter how you remove them, for it is far better to remove than to always organize.
17．What is the problem with simply organizing stuff
A．Few tools and tricks are available.
B．It needs to be repeated very often.
C．People cannot save money by organizing.
D．Desire to buy more disappears by organizing.
18．How can we remove unnecessary possessions
A．By reselling them to others. B．By keeping them in trash bags.
C．By storing them in the garage. D．By piling them on the shelves.
19．What does the underlined word "eliminate" mean in Paragraph 5
A．get rid of B．get over C．add to D．take charge of
20．What is the purpose of the passage
A．To explain the advantages and disadvantages of organizing things.
B．To inform readers of the ways to get rid of unnecessary possessions.
C．To call for people to remove stuff instead of just organizing.
D．To appeal to people to make donations to people in need.
【答案】17．B
18．A
19．A
20．C
阅读理解
In the early 1990s, my friend Jay was working for IBM and made a good salary. Later, Jay declined an offer from an interesting but small organization because of the low pay. He has regretted it ever since. That small company was Microsoft.
Regret is a reaction to a disappointing event in your life, such as a choice you made that can't be changed, or something you said that you can't take back. It's a heavy and negative emotion connected to pity, sorrow and helplessness and can last for minutes, days, years or even a lifetime. Regret can increase your stress and throw off the balance of immune (免疫) systems.
Fortunately, regret can be overcome through interventions. As a psychologist at the University of Virginia School of Medicine, I conducted a research on stressful emotions. In the research, we found people would experience regret for action or inaction. The action-related regrets, although painful, stimulate people to learn from their mistakes and move on. But the regret related to the inaction is more likely to lead to depression and anxiety. Avoiding or denying regret only can increase negative feelings and extend the time people suffer with them. Rather than stay stuck, people can manage these emotions in four steps: First, accept the fact that you are feeling them; determine why you are feeling them; allow yourself to learn from them; and finally, release them and move forward.
In Jay's case, at first he pushed away his feelings of regret. He continued to struggle with thoughts of what he missed. He did not change until he approached and explored his feelings of regret. Eventually he accepted the fact and reminded himself of his rationale at the time- he failed to recognize the potential of Microsoft. On making future decisions, Jay recognized the importance of obtaining information about opportunities and challenged himself to learn about the big players in the field. Doing so allowed him to move on and ultimately forgive himself.
21．What does Paragraph 2 mainly focus on about regret
A．Its condition. B．Its definition.
C．Its variation. D．Its consequence.
22．What does the finding of the research indicate
A．Regret can disappear itself. B．Intervention increases pains.
C．Avoidance may relieve stress. D．Acceptance helps manage regret.
23．What does the underlined word "rationale" in Paragraph 4 probably mean
A．Reason. B．Puzzle. C．Concern. D．Emotion.
24．Why is Jay's experience mentioned
A．To attract more attention to mental diseases.
B．To raise awareness of psychological health.
C．To demonstrate negative effects of regret.
D．To justify the approach to tackling regret.
【答案】21．B
22．D
23．A
24．D
阅读下列短文, 从每题所给的 A、B、C和D四个选项中, 选出最佳选项。
The great increase of waste that you find around the world is hard to ignore. Depending on where they live, people produce between 0. 11 and 4. 54 kilograms of waste every day. Even more alarming, that number is expected to increase by 70 percent by 2050.
Is there anything specific you can do to help the situation One thing is to shop smart. Buy from companies that promote sustainable（可持续的） business practices and use recycled materials in their products.
Here are some products and companies that hit the mark for being environmentally-friendly.
Wool Runners by Allbirds
These light and comfortable tennis shoes are made from natural wool. The laces（鞋带）are made from recycled water bottles. Other shoe parts are made from bean oil, and the shoeboxes are made with recycled materials.
Women's 711 Skinny Jeans by Levi's
It usually takes hundreds of gallons of water to make one pair of blue jeans. However, Levis Water Less collection uses up to 96 percent less water.
Reactive Drawstring Family Tote by Vera Bradley
These pretty bags put recycled water bottles to good use, using 23 of them per bag.
The Sunrise Reborn' TM Pack by ASICS
ASICS' new shoes were created with sustainability in mind. The material is dyed（染色）, using a special method. The technique uses up to 80 percent less water than regular dyeing methods. The process also uses fewer chemicals and less energy.
Regarding their future footwear lines, ASICS has made a promise. Over 95 percent of their new running shoes will be made from recycled materials. The technology behind Sunrise Reborn puts ASICS one step closer to reaching their sustainability goals. The company has promised to leave a lighter environmental footprint for future generations.
25．What do the data in Paragraph 1 show
A．The danger caused by waste materials.
B．The existing problem ignored by people.
C．The serious problem of increasing waste.
D．The growing amount of poisonous waste.
26．What do the four products have in common
A．They only use recycled materials.
B．They're made from natural materials.
C．The techniques behind them are very special.
D．Their companies share the sustainability goals.
27．Where may the text be found
A．In a life magazine. B．In a fantasy book.
C．In a research paper. D．In a business report.
【答案】25．C
26．D
27．A
阅读下列短文，从每题所给的A、B、C和D四个选项中，选出最佳选项。
"Use up all leftovers." "Buy second-hand things instead of new ones". "Learn DIY to fix things yourself." "Invite friends over instead of going out." "Grow your own food." "Save rainwater for your garden." Nowadays, more and more people take action to save for life. Let's see what there people do in saving and how they enjoy doing so.
"To save money in college, I decided to do the no new clothes challenge last year. This meant I didn't buy new clothes for an entire year. It was a little embarrassing to rewear the same clothes to different parties and events, but it was worth it. After all, I saved all the money!" —Eden from Mint Notion
"I copied a whole textbook. I didn't feel like buying a new one, so instead, I borrowed one from a classmate and copied the entire thing using the copy machine. It may or may not have taken a few hours but I saved $ 20. And for a college student who was broke, that was a lot!" —Athena from Money Smart Latina
"Cat litter（猫砂）is something that can set me back a couple hundred dollars every day. However, by toilet-training my cat with a $ 20 toilet trainer, I'm able to save on the costs and avoid the trouble to change it. Plus it's always funny to see the cat on the toilet." —Dustyn from Dime Will Tell
28．Who gave up buying clothes to save money
A．Athena. B．Eden. C．Dustyn. D．Smart Latina.
29．How does Dustyn save for life
A．By walking his cat outside.
B．By switching to cheap cat litter.
C．By teaching his cat to use the toilet.
D．By reducing the amount of cat litter.
30．What do the three people have in common
A．They learn DIY to fix things.
B．They received higher education.
C．They're not in financial difficulties.
D．They feel it worthwhile to save money.
【答案】28．B
29．C
30．D
阅读下列短文，从每题所给的A、B、C和D四个选项中，选出最佳选项。
In winter, many of us are reaching for more clothes and turning on the heat. Besides wearing a pair of long johns, increasing our food intake can help protect us against severe cold. So what food keeps us warm
Red meat, such as beef, lamb and pork, is great when you find yourself in cold conditions because it is a fantastic source of iron, which is crucial for circulating your blood. Iron is an important mineral to help carry oxygen throughout your body. People with low iron may notice cold hands and feet or easily become tired. Eating red meat can also supply vitamin B12, which contributes to healthy nerves and a strong immune system.
Oats can keep you warm in winter. It's great thermogenic（生热的）food and is filled with nutrients that release energy slowly throughout the day to keep your body warm. You can start your day with a hot breakfast of oats or other types of porridge. Oats are a great source of whole grains and fiber. In addition to keeping you full and warm, oats are full of other nutrients.
Hot ginger tea can make you feel warm inside on a cold day. Ginger is known to be good for health. It's also a diaphoretic (发汗药), which means it will help your body warm from the inside. Ginger has the nature to produce heat and help blood circulation in our bodies, making it a great source of warmth.
Root vegetables like sweet potatoes need more energy to move through the digestion process, which raises your body temperature. High in vitamin A, vitamin C and potassium (钾), sweet potatoes add fiber and other nutrients to a warm winter meal. Sweet potatoes also have beta-carotene (β胡萝卜素) that is good for eye heath.
31．How many types of food to keep people warm are mentioned in the text
A．3. B．4. C．5. D．6.
32．Why does ginger tea keep you warm
A．It's a great source of iron. B．It releases energy slowly.
C．It is full of fiber and vitamins. D．It is great food to generate heat.
33．What's the purpose of the text
A．To promote green food.
B．To remind people of a healthy diet.
C．To introduce some food to keep warm.
D．To teach people how to keep warm.
34．In which section of a newspaper may this text appear
A．Science Study. B．Campus Life.
C．Global Vision. D．Physical Education.
【答案】31．B
32．D
33．C
34．A
阅读下列短文，从每题所给的A、B、C和D四个选项中，选出最佳选项。
Many people have warm memories of playing games while growing up. Do you remember running around outside as a child playing rock-paper-scissors You may not have realized it, but games are a very important part of life.
During prehistoric times, humans would play a game called Knucklebones. To play Knucklebones, the players would balance small objects like sheep ankle bones on the top of their hands，toss（抛掷） them into the air, and then try to catch as many as possible.
But why do people love games so much They are fun to play, but that isn't the only reason why.
For most, games are "like chocolate: a guilty pleasure consumed secretly", Canadian-American game designer Sid Meier said: "They have a series of interesting choices." The rock-paper-scissors game is just an example. In every turn, people make a judgment, which is often based on their personalities and past experiences. "Navigating these choices shapes the course of play, revealing who we are and how we think," The New York Times noted."Playing a game is an act of exposition（展 示）. "
Games such as this require a faster way of thinking than in everyday life. But interestingly, when the game is over, the players can switch out of competition mode quickly and return to normal. "It separates a game from reality," Sam Von Ehren of The New York Times wrote. "We can enter and exit the magic circle freely."
Games can also be used to help improve critical thinking skills. Just take Go as an example. Go is a game that was made in ancient China, and it is still even played today. Even though we don't exactly know how Go started, many researchers think it was invented to help teach tactics and strategy skills.
Even today, games are being used to help solve real-world problems. These types of games are called serious games, and they are used to help find solutions to problems in fields such as education and healthcare, among others. Perhaps playing games helps us to think outside the box in a fun and interesting way.
35．What does paragraph 2 mainly tell us
A．The way to play Knucklebones. B．The development of Knucklebones.
C．The popularity of Knucklebones. D．The objects of Knucklebones.
36．What can we say about the rock-paper-scissors game
A．It is a game of eating chocolate.
B．It shows the player's personalities.
C．The way of thinking is a necessary rule.
D．Judgments decide the player's past experience.
37．What does the underlined word in paragraph 6 mean
A．Awareness. B．Emotion. C．Politeness. D．Method.
38．What can we infer about games
A．Games are nothing but fun and interesting.
B．Games are serious in the world of adults.
C．Playing games may encourage creativity.
D．We should play games while solving problems.
【答案】35．A
36．B
37．D
38．C
阅读下列短文，从每题所给的A、B、C、和D四个选项中，选出最佳选项。
The season of ice cream treats is in full swing. Nothing captures pure joy and innocence like an ice cream cone（蛋筒）dripping down your hand.
But have you ever wondered why some ice cream just stands apart from all the others What really makes good ice cream Well ,here's how to tell high-quality ice cream without even Lasting it.
Let the ingredients speak
High-quality ice cream is always made with real vanilla（香草）nuts，chocolate or fruit. On the other hand, if you've ever looked closely at the ingredients of ice cream from less fancy brands, you may have noticed that they only say "vanilla flavored "or "chocolate flavored". This is because they don't contain real vanilla or chocolate.
Check the butterfat（乳乳脂）content
What differences do butterfat make Besides making ice cream taste less like frozen milk, butterfat gives the product a creamy texture and a good flavor. In order to even be called ice cream in the United States, the product must contain at least 10 percent butterfat, according to the Food and Drug Administration's regulations. High-quality brands of ice cream usually contain anywhere from 13 to 17 percent butterfat.
Take home the heavier one
Ice cream mixtures have air pumped into them as they freeze. Air is essential, or ice cream would be as hard as rock. The legal limit for the amount of air in the US is 100 percent. A more dense（浓的）ice cream will be creamier and will melt more slowly in the mouth.
But how can we tell which ice cream has less air in it Well, one thing you should know about ice cream is that it's usually sold by volume, not by weight. The containers may be equal in size, but one ice cream may be denser than another and therefore weighs more.
39．Which of the following can be called good ice cream according to the text
A．The ice cream without any butterfat in it.
B．The vanilla or chocolate flavored ice cream.
C．The ice cream which tastes like frozen milk.
D．The ice cream with 15 percent butterfat in it.
40．How can we judge which ice cream has less air
A．By the brand. B．By the weight.
C．By the ingredients. D．By the shape.
41．What is the text mainly about
A．The brands of food. B．The safety of food.
C．The identification of food. D．The origins of food.
【答案】39．D
40．B
41．C
阅读下列短文, 从每题所给的A、B、C和D四个选项中, 选出最佳选项。
In the United States, people often use large amounts of salt to remove dangerous ice from roads and walkways in the winter. But when the spring arrives, all that salt can really damage plants in the garden. Salt is the chemical sodium chloride.
Salt pulls water from living cells, like plant roots and the healthy ground soil around them. So, spring growth may show up lighter in color than normal, or, in the worst cases, plants may simply die. Rain can wash away much of the salt, permitting some older plants to live. Salt can also be removed by pouring a large amount of water on the ground where plants are growing. But the best action is to simply use less salt.
There are. of course, other things that can be used to cover for sodium chloride. One is the chemical calcium chloride, which does less damage to plants and melts ice faster than salt. It also works when the temperature is below negative 17 degrees Celsius. Salt loses some of its effectiveness at temperatures below negative 12 degrees.
Still, calcium chloride does put chloride ion（氯离子）, which plants don＇t like, into the soil. It is also more expensive and can do more damage to cars. Calcium magnesium acetate, also called CMA, has become a popular alternative. It is made by combining limestone, a type of rock. and vinegar. It breaks down naturally so it does not damage plants or soil. It stays on roads and does not hurt cars.
CMA does have problems, however. It is most effective at around negative 9 Celsius, just like salt. And it is better at stopping ice from forming rather than removing it. So, it is best placed on a road before the temperature gets very cold. Some materials other than salt-such as sand or very small pieces of wood- can also work against ice. But they can be very messy.
42．What is the poor result by using salt to remove ice
A．All the plants are likely to disappear overnight.
B．The plants may well look much weaker than ever.
C．Some older plants can't resist being washed away.
D．A large amount of water is trapped on the roads.
43．What does the underlined part mean in the 3rd paragraph
A．Remove. B．Wrap. C．Collect. D．Replace.
44．What is the advantage of calcium chloride
A．It functions well at cold temperatures.
B．It provides chloride ion to the soil.
C．It can melt ice just above minus 17'℃.
D．It brings no damage to plants or soil.
45．The author wants to show .
A．many materials can be used to remove ic
B．using less salt is beneficial to your plants
C．sand and pieces of wood are eco-friendly
D．too much salt is used on the roads in the USA
【答案】42．B
43．D
44．A
45．D
阅读下列短文，从每题所给的A、B、C和D四个选项中，选出最佳选项。
You run into the grocery store to pick up one bottle of water. You get what you need, head to the front, and choose the line that looks fastest.
You chose wrong. People who you swear got in other lines long after you are already checked out and off to the parking lot. Why does this always seem to happen to you It turns out, it's just math working against you; chances are, the other line really is faster.
Grocery stores try to have enough employees at checkout to get all their customers through with minimum delay. But sometimes, as on a Sunday afternoon, the system gets particularly busy. Any small interruption—a price check, a chatty customer—can have downstream effects, holding up an entire line.
If there are three lines in the store, delays will happen randomly at different registers. Think about the probability: The chances of your line being the fastest are only one in three. So it's not just in your mind: Another line probably is moving faster.
Researchers have a good way to deal with this problem. Make all customers stand in one long, snaking line—called a serpentine line —and serve each person at the front with the next available register. With three registers, this method is much faster than the traditional approach. This is what they do at most banks and fast-food restaurants. With a serpentine line, a long delay at one register won't unfairly punish the people who lined up behind it. Instead, it will slow down everyone a little bit but speed up checkout overall.
So why don't most places encourage serpentine lines It takes many registers to keep one line moving quickly, and some stores can't afford the space or manpower. So wherever your next wait may be: Good luck.
46．Which world can replace the underlined world in paragraph 3
A．useless. B．harmful. C．useful. D．lower.
47．How to solve delay in line according to researchers
A．Employ more workers. B．Make a serpentine line.
C．Set up more checkouts. D．Stop selling on Sunday afternoon.
48．Why some stores still can't solve the problem of being delayed in line
A．Because they have less employees.
B．Because they make a little money.
C．Because they lack enough room and manpower.
D．Because they have few registers.
49．What the last sentence means in the last paragraph
A．It's lucky to wait in line.
B．More lines there are, the luckier you are.
C．It's possible for you to be delayed in line next time.
D．Whatever you wait in line next time, you will be lucky.
【答案】46．D
47．B
48．C
49．C
阅读理解
The key to a successful garage sale is to get the word out. The best way of advertising your sale is to place an ad in the local newspaper. If you have a city and neighborhood paper, make sure you advertise in both. The ad should be large enough to stand out. It should also include information on where the sale is located with directions, the "hot" items you're selling and the time when the sale will start and end. An ad should be placed at least two days before the sale and run until the day of your event. That way people can plan their route to the sale in advance.
Signs must be another great way to inform your community. Post them where people gather, such as stores and community centers. Some businesses have a central bulletin board, which is the best place to advertise. Other places to post are at the local college or university campus. This is especially helpful if your sale is happening in August or early September when students have returned to school and are looking for cheap finds.
Post signs round your neighborhood. You should also place both ads and direction signs, especially if you're located on a side street without a major presence. Signs will attract and direct people. Just make sure your print is in bold letters and use large direction signs so that people can read the information from the front seat of their car.
50．You should place an ad at least two days before the sale so that people can________.
A．get enough cash for the sale B．compare prices of the items
C．select the items they will buy D．decide on their route beforehand
51．Why should signs be posted in a community center
A．Schools are nearby. B．There are many stores.
C．Students often meet there. D．More people gather there.
52．What advice is given for printing the signs according to the last paragraph
A．Colored signs are preferred. B．Bold letters should be used.
C．Large pictures should be included. D．Phone numbers should be provided.
53．The best title for the passage might be _________.
A．Advertising Garage Sales B．Advantages of Garage Sales
C．Importance of Garage Sales D．Printing Ads for Garage Sales
【答案】50．D
51．D
52．B
53．A
阅读理解
When researching New Year's resolutions in the 1980s, the psychologist John Norcross found over 50% of Americans made resolution. After 6 months, only 40% had stuck with it. Two years later, the number had dropped to 19%. Still, we keep telling ourselves we can lose weight, save money, and go to the gym.
It turns out that timing is important in determining whether we succeed. In May, 2012, the behavioral economist Katherine Milkman, at a social-science gathering, found herself in a discussion about "turning points". She said, "I had a strong instinct that turning points are effective - moments that feel like a new beginning."
So she teamed up with two colleagues, Jason Riis and Hengchen Dai, to see if the "turning points" idea held any merit. In follow-up studies, they found fresh starts do push us to change our behavior. With those, researchers suspect, comes a sense of optimism, the promise of "a new me," as Milkman put it. To test that theory, her team looked at daily Google searches for the term "diet" over 9 years, finding a predictable cycle: they topped at the start of any given week, month, or year, then gradually declined. The largest increase — 82% above the baseline — occurred immediately after New Year's.
The college gym attendance is no exception: shooting up in January and decreasing in the following months. Smaller spikes occurred at the beginning of each week, each month, and each term.
Finally, the researchers investigated commitments on the website stick, which allows you to set a goal and contractually determine the consequences for failing to attain it. Tracking 43,000 people over 2.5 years, they found the greatest number of contracts were signed at the start of the new year. Throughout the year, each week and each month had a mini-cycle of its own, with the beginning of the week corresponding to a 63% increase. "Every week brings a new opportunity," Riis says. "And people take advantage of that, whether or not they know it."
54．Why was John Norcross's research mentioned in paragraph 1
A．To make a comparison. B．To indicate a conclusion.
C．To analyze the data. D．To introduce the topic.
55．Why does a turning point matter
A．It is instinctive. B．It guarantees a new start.
C．It follows a cycle. D．It determines the result.
56．What does the underlined word "spikes" in paragraph 4 mean
A．Peaks. B．Sharp points. C．Changes. D．Accidents.
57．In which section of the newspaper may this text appear
A．Entertainment. B．Education. C．Lifestyle. D．News.
【答案】54．D
55．B
56．A
57．C
阅读理解
MySpace, the social networking website, is different from other websites which only provide stories about other people. MySpace is a place that allows you to broadcast your own stories and personal information to as many people as you like. Founded in 2003, it is a big source of information for and about American kids.
Teenagers and their parents feel very differently about it. Teens are rushing to join the site, not sharing their parents' worries. It signals yet another generation gap in the digital era.
For teenagers, it is reliable network to keep in touch with their friends. They will often list their surnames, birthdays, after-school jobs, school clubs, hobbies and other personal information. "MySpace is an easy way to reach just about everyone. I don't have all the phone numbers of my acquaintances. But if I want to get in touch with one of them, I could just leave them a message on MySpace," said Abby Van Wassen. She is a 16-year-old student at Woodland Hills High of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Parents, on the other hand, are seriously concerned about the security problems of MySpace. “Every time we hold a parents meeting, the first question is always about MySpace," said Kent Gates, who travels the country doing Internet safety seminars（研讨会）. The National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children has received at least 288 MySpace-related complaints, according to Mary Beth Buchanan, a lawyer in Pittsburgh.
“Your profile on MySpace shows all your personal information to anyone on the WeB. And MySpace even lists this information by birthplace and age. It's like a free checklist for troublemakers and it endangers children,” Buchanan said.
58．From the passage, we can learn that MySpace_____________.
A．is popular with parents
B．is very careful about people's privacy
C．encourages you to list your personal information
D．lists the telephone numbers of your friends
59．What can we infer from the sentence "Every time we hold a parents meeting, the first question is always about MySpace"
A．MySpace has become a top issue troubling parents.
B．MySpace often holds parents meetings.
C．MySpace is quite popular with parents.
D．Parents have lots of questions about the website.
60．The writer's attitude towards MySpace is____________.
A．negative B．positive C．optimistic D．objective
61．Which of the following is the best title for the passage
A．Internet Safety B．The Digital Era
C．Generation Gap D．MySpace
【答案】58．C
59．A
60．D
61．D
阅读理解
Pioneers like Harvard social ecologist Stephen Kellert were among the first to champion modern biophilic design. Kellert believed that weaving nature into living and workspaces is critical for good physical and mental health.
Humans have evolved to gravitate towards nature, Kellert noted, but if we don't develop that impulse it fades. So his principles include access to natural light, air, water, plants, and gardens. Using materials such as wood and stone, natural designs such as leaf or shell patterns, and earthy colors also helps humans to feel closer to nature.
Biophilic designs can be seen in cities and buildings around the world. Modern examples include the Jewel Changi Airport in Singapore, with its four-storey forest garden and world's largest indoor waterfall fed by rainwater. Or the Swedish Mirrorcube tree house hotel, mainly made of used plywood and a lightweight aluminum (铝) frame wrapped around a tree.
Spectacular biophilic homes include One Central Park in Sydney apartment blocks featuring hanging gardens on the outside. The buildings recycle their own water and a suspended (悬浮的) motorized mirror system reflects sunlight down onto gardens below. Milan's Bosco Verticale block is perhaps even more eye—catching with its vertical forest of 17,000 trees, bushes, and plants.
Putting biophilic design to work for society could prevent millions in healthcare costs, with one study estimating annual savings of $93 million in the US alone. Hospital design in particular has historically been influenced by access to sunlight and views of nature. Modern buildings like the Khoo Teck Puat Hospital in Singapore, with its position next to the waterfall of the Yishun Pond, are closely linked with their surroundings. The hospital channels outdoor air to cool the inside, and uses reflective sunshades to direct light into the wards to brighten them and save energy.
The aim of these designs is to emphasize the human connection to nature by integrating buildings with the local environment. But how do we bring biophilia into our homes Start with house plants. New smart home apps can also provide sensory nature experiences such as birdsong and a projected forest canopy, helping people to carve out a restful space indoors.
But perhaps the best way to transform society with biophilic designs is to start with schools. Children learn better and feel more relaxed in biophilic settings. So the Children and Nature Network is working with schools across the US to create green schoolyards for better physical and mental health and to increase opportunities for outdoor learning.
Biophilic designers are bringing nature into classrooms through natural patterns, shapes and colors, nature photography, artwork and materials like timber and stone. Fresh air flow, green walls, and aquariums all become part of a recipe for improving health and academic success.
62．According to the passage, Stephen Kellert probably believes that_________.
A．humans' inborn love for nature won't be lessened
B．nature can improve people's sense of responsibility
C．humans need to appreciate and make good use of nature
D．natural materials have taken priority in modern building designs
63．What do the examples of biophilic designs in the passage have in common
A．They apply smart home technology.
B．They promote sustainable development.
C．They include waterfalls and gardens inside.
D．They use local resources to cut the cost of buildings.
64．From the last two paragraphs, we learn that biophilic designs ____________.
A．have greatly transformed schools
B．help improve students' performance
C．focus mainly on students' mental health
D．have moved most of the classrooms outside
65．Which of the following would be the best title for the passage
A．Let's Invite Nature Inside
B．Live Naturally and Simply
C．The Best Natural Building Designer
D．Ups and Downs of Natural Buildings
【答案】62．C
63．B
64．B
65．A
阅读理解
"Inspector Sands to the control room, please." If you ever hear that at a British train station, don't panic. But you might appreciate knowing that this is a codeword meant to inform staff that there is an emergency somewhere in the building. The idea is to avoid causing alarm among commuters (通勤者), but still get the message out to those trained to deal with the problem.
The subject of secret codewords like this was raised this week on Reddit, and the discussion has attracted thousands of examples. But what codewords and signs are really out there in the wild
A good place to start is hospital emergency codes. These are often colour-coded, and one health centre in Canada has published its list online. "Code red" announces a fire, "code white" indicates a violent person while "code black" means a bomb threat is active. It's been reported that hospital staff sometimes refer to the morgue as "Rose Cottage", in order to avoid upsetting relatives of a patient who has recently died.
"I can see very good reasons for having these codes," says Paul Baker, a linguist at the University of Lancaster. "It may be that people are unsure when they're giving the code so there's no point upsetting members of the public."
Not all codes are alphanumeric (字母数字的). Some are visual, intended to be hidden in plain sight. As BBC Future discovered earlier this year, many banknotes feature a specific pattern of dots placed there to prevent people from photocopying money. Many copiers and scanners are programmed to spot it.
And finally, the spray-painted squiggles (波形曲线) you see on pavements in towns and cities all over the world are codes understood by construction workers and engineers. For example, in UK, different colours are related to different types of cable or pipe. Blue meant a water system while yellow indicated gas lines and green labelled CCTV or data wiring.
All of these codes have a purpose — to avoid causing panic, to transmit subtle signals in social groups, or to provide technical information quickly and easily. "People don't like secrets, do they " says Baker. "There is a drive to have as much information as possible — we do live in the information age," he adds.
66．The following are purposes of the secret codes except ________.
A．to avoid causing alarm and panic among the public.
B．to send sensitive signals in social groups.
C．to provide technical information quickly and easily.
D．to make people believe you are wiser.
67．The underlined word "morgue" in paragraph 3 refers to the room in a hospital ______.
A．where patients are treated
B．where dead bodies are kept
C．where a patient has an operation
D．where a surgeon cuts open the patients' bodies
68．How many kinds of secret codes are mentioned in the passage
A．2. B．3. C．4. D．5.
69．Which of the following could be the best title of the passage
A．The secret codes you are not meant to know
B．Where to find the codes
C．The origin of different codes
D．Codes in the modern society
【答案】66．D
67．B
68．B
69．A
阅读理解
For many of us, summertime means road trips to the beach or mountains, or at the very least some additional dust and bird poop on the exterior of our vehicles. The extra dirt leads us to do one of two things: wash our car in the driveway or head to the car wash. But which choice is better for the environment
The main concerns with either choice are the amount of fresh water being used and the types of chemicals used to remove the dirt. Both of these concerns can be closely monitored when washing the carat home, says Katy Gresh, spokeswoman for the Southwest Region of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. She advises car owners to keep a set amount of water for the entire wash. "It's just like brushing your teeth," she says. "You don't want to leave the water running or use more than you need for the job." But even following this advice comes with an environmental risk: Washing your car in the driveway or street flushes the dirty water into storm drains (下水道).
"Drains are not made for treating waste, " says John Schombert, executive director of 3 Rivers Wet Weather. Even when car owners use natural soaps to wash their cars, Schombert says they are probably ineffective in breaking down grease (油脂) anyway.
The commercial car wish down the street knows full well the rules regarding wastewater in storm drains. According to the International Carwash Association (ICA), professional car washes must use water reclamation systems. These mandated processes not only keep the dirty water out of storm drains and regular water treatment systems, but they also work to reduce water usage at commercial facilities.
As experts point out, cleaning our car at home can use 100 gallons of pare that to self-service car washes, which allow you to use only about 17 or 18 gallons of water. And most full-service car washes average about 30 to 45 gallons of water per vehicle.
70．What does Katy suggest people do about washing cars
A．Save treated water. B．Avoid using chemicals.
C．Put aside some water. D．Use soft toothbrushes.
71．What is Schombert's attitude to washing cars at home
A．Disapproving. B．Favourable. C．Optimistic. D．Objective.
72．What is the fourth paragraph mainly about
A．Rules of handling wastewater.
B．Processes of getting rid of dirty water.
C．Advantages of professional car washes.
D．Drawbacks of water treatment systems.
73．Which method of car washing consumes the least water
A．The full-service car washes. B．The self-service car washes.
C．Car washing in the driveway. D．Car washing using natural soaps.
【答案】70．C
71．A
72．C
73．B
阅读理解
Brownrigg is a London tour guide and leads walks through the capital all summer long, whatever the weather. His dozen or so routes range in topics from Harry Potter to the London Underground, but all have something in common." 'I often end up talking about the weather, ' he says. 'It's a national obsession (痴迷). I realised how much it has shaped London's existence and history.
Brownrigg's Discovering Britain walk takes in several of the city's famous landmarks, from the Tower of London to the Shard, /each stop exploring some of London's extraordinary weather events.
We begin at the Monument, Christopher Wren's elegy to the Great Fire of London, with is pale stone column topped by a golden orb the Monument was designed to look like a giant candle. It stands 202ft high, exactly 202ft away from where the dire began in Pudding Lane. Despite its size. the structure is dwarfed by(相形见绌) today's surrounding tower blocks. Similarly, the causes behind the fire are sometimes overlooked. The Great Fire was a significant event in the City of London's history, one that was shaped by the capital's geography: The spark was the weather.
As we enjoy some autumn sun 'beside the Monument Brownrigg explains: The summer of 1666 was unusually warm. At that time London was crammed(塞满) with wooden buildings, many only a few feet apart. A long, hot summer 1eft them bone dry. Add stores of flammable materials -including gunpowder left over from the Civil War - and the city was a giant tinderbox. It caught a light on 2 September when a bakery oven wasn't cleaned properly The inferno(特大火) lasted three days thanks to a strong breeze. Besides fanning the flames, the wind caused more mess by changing direction.
74．What does "it" refer to in paragraph 1
A．Introducing the celebrities in London.
B．Talking about the weather.
C．Explaining the public transport.
D．Exploring the culture of Britain.
75．What does Brownrigg do mainly in each stop
A．Admiring the special architecture.
B．Warming tourists of the public safety.
C．Paying a visit to the famous museums.
D．Probing some historical matters with Weather.
76．How does the third paragraph develop
A．By making a comparison.
B．By analyzing the important figures.
C．By offering some examples.
D．By describing the features of the billings.
77．What can be inferred mainly from Brownrigg's words in the last paragraph .
A．Showing the materials of the buildings.
B．Expressing the cause of the Great Fire.
C．Predicting the change of the weather.
D．Describing the surroundings of the bakery.
【答案】74．B
75．D
76．A
77．B2024年高考英语三轮冲刺考前阅读理解小专题训练
日常生活类
一、阅读理解
阅读理解
According to a study done by University of Michigan, shopping to reduce stress was 40 times more effective at giving people a sense of control and shoppers were three times less sad than those only looking at items.
More than half of the 1,000 consumers surveyed by Credit Karma, head researcher of the study, said they have shopped to deal with feelings of stress or depression. About 48 percent of men and 31 percent of women who have stress shopping said they had purchased alcohol when stressed. About 82 percent of women spend on clothing compared to 52 percent of men. Women also lead shopping for jewellery, 42 percent, compared to 22 percent for men.
In some sense, stress shopping can actually help you live a healthier life by making sure that your blood pressure is lowered. The survey found 82 percent had only positive feelings about their purchases and that the positive mood was long-lasting. However, stress shopping, for many, could grow into a drive that uses up money, causes conflict, and therefore adds great stress to life.
Despite the in-time joy from purchases, stress shopping never proves along-lasting cure to stress or depression. Actually it needs to be avoided anyhow. Whether you're purchasing Christmas presents or buying groceries, having the items you need written down will provide you with brightness while shopping. Reward yourself for sticking to your list and you'll be more likely to commit to it.
In addition, always think about what you struggle with most financially. Do you spend too much money at the mall Eating out Vacations Make a list of where your money is going and take necessary steps to resist your desire. For example, if you spend too much money on dining out on weekends, stuff your cupboard with food on Friday. So you'll be more likely to stay in and cook. And you need to give up the need to keep up with others. Everyone's financial situation is different and comparison may lead to debt and dissatisfaction with what you already have.
1．Why does the author mention those numbers in paragraph 2
A．To explain the text. B．To attract readers.
C．To support an idea. D．To introduce a topic.
2．Which of the following may help deal with stress shopping
A．Adjusting mood. B．Recording expenses.
C．Turning to medicines. D．Comparing with others.
3．What is the author's attitude to stress shopping
A．Positive. B．Doubtful. C．Negative. D．Indifferent.
4．What is a suitable title for the text
A．Does shopping benefit us B．More stressed, women or men
C．Should we compare with others D．Can stress shopping reduce stress
阅读理解
Removing gender bias
Tailors worked out long ago that men and women have different shapes. Yet this message has failed to enter many other areas of design. Car seat belts, for example, which date back to the 1880s, are often still more suitable for men, who tend to sit farther back than women when driving. And today the most forward-looking tech companies on Earth are still placing old-school bias (偏见；成见) into new products. Consider smart phones. Most are too big to fit comfortably into the average woman's hand, as are many video-game controllers.
An obvious part of the explanation for their design problem is that men control most of its companies—male-run firms receive 82% of venture-capital (VC) funding. Male bosses may be unaware of the problems women face. They may not flag up obvious areas of concern, or ask the right questions when doing their research for a new product design. And once an idea gets the green light, it will then be handled by product-design and engineering teams, three-quarters of whose members are men. These teams often use data to make decisions, but mixing all users together means they may fail to spot trends based on sex differences. Dependence on historical data, and the lack of data on underrepresented groups, can also create bias in algorithms (算法).
Next comes testing. Naturally, designers test original models on their intended customers, but they may not get feedback from a broad enough group of people. There is also the risk of confirmation bias—designers may listen to what they want to hear, and ignore negative reactions from some groups of users.
Tech's design bias needs fixing for moral, safety and business reasons. The ethical importance is obvious: it is wrong that women have to make do with a "one-size-fits-men" world, as Caroline Criado Perez, a writer, puts it. As for safety, regulators can tackle that by banning things that are dangerous to women—including seat belts—because they are no! designed properly.
But there is also a powerful business case for avoiding design bias, because huge opportunities are being missed. Women are 50% of the population, and make 70—80% of the world's consumer-spending decisions.
Change is coming. The first voice-recognition systems struggled to understand female voices, but most now manage just fine. "Femtech" start-up companies, which focus on women's health and well-being, may raise MYM 1 billion by the end of this year. VC funds and tech firms are hiring more women. Ensuring that products are designed for everyone would lead to happier and safer customers. For the companies that get it right, that means higher profits. What is holding them back
5．The underlined part in Paragraph 2 means ________.
A．hits the market B．gets approval
C．becomes successful D．comes into being
6．What is discussed in Paragraphs 2 and 3
A．Why tech's design bias needs to be fixed.
B．How gender bias is affecting tech companies.
C．Where gender bias in product design is rooted.
D．Who is to blame for gender bias in tech companies.
7．We can learn from the passage that ________.
A．tech companies are unwilling to change
B．design bias may result in missed opportunities
C．male workers benefit more in engineering teams
D．tech companies are poor at making user-friendly products
8．How does the author feel about the future of bias-free product design
A．Uncertain. B．Sceptical. C．Positive. D．Negative.
阅读理解
Every day thousands of people travel across the world for different reasons. Whenever I've checked in for a flight, I've seen many travellers saying "I missed it" or "I forgot it", etc. This happens because while packing our bags, we miss so many important things.
The baggage packing isn't a big job but many people see it as a messy job. I'll advise you to always pack your bags according to your trip. The baggage should be different according to the duration（持续时间）of your trip. You shouldn't carry unnecessary things or more than what you need.
If you're going on a business trip of not more than 2-3 days, then make sure you don't carry more than a single bag. Pack 2-3 business suits , a night suit and also some casual (非正式的) clothes. You'll need casual clothes because you might get a chance to explore the place.
While on holidays of 5-6 days, you have to be very smart while packing your bag. First of all, check the climate of the place. If it's summer, then carry lightweight clothes and if it's winter, you have to pack a sweater. For holidays, pack all the small things you'll be requiring. But don't carry too many things.
If you're going to a relative's place, then you can be a bit relaxed because if you miss something, you won't have to worry as your relative will be there to help you. But don't forget to buy gifts for your relatives. If the gifts are fragile, then pack them in a hard box and always keep them in between clothes. No need to carry too many clothes as you can wash your clothes at their place. This will also help you to shop more and more.
9．While packing for a trip, we needn't consider ___________.
A．the climate of the destination
B．possible activities at the destination
C．how long we'll stay at the destination
D．how long it takes us to go to the destination
10．What does the underlined word "fragile" in the last paragraph probably mean
A．Hard to use. B．Easy to break.
C．Difficult to carry. D．Important to prepare.
11．If we go to travel in a relative's place, we __________.
A．can carry fewer clothes with us
B．had better stay at the relative's home
C．don't have to buy too many things there
D．should buy expensive gifts for the relative
12．What does the text mainly talk about
A．What to take while travelling.
B．How to take care of the baggage while travelling.
C．How to pack baggage according to the duration.
D．Why packing baggage is necessary while travelling.
阅读理解
In the world of water, 2021 was another year for the record books. Parts of Western Europe suffered from deadly floods while large areas of the southwestern United States remained locked in a massive drought.
One might think that our impressive water management would safeguard society from such catastrophic events. Yet when it comes to water, the past is no longer a good guide for the future and most of the water engineering is unprepared for consequences of increasingly occurring extreme weather. One of the most alarming wake-up calls came from the city of Cape Town, where the water taps of 4 million residents were nearly forced to be shut off after severe drought dried up its reservoir (水库).
Appealing as it might be, the solution is not to further build bigger and higher dams (水坝) that often result in more disastrous flooding. Rather, it is to work more with natural processes.
The Netherlands avoided major damage from the historic floods in July 2021 thanks to its recently completed project, which gives river room to spread out by redirecting floodwaters into wetlands, lowering parts of the stormy river by more than a foot. Agricultural practices offer another strategy. Scientists have found that boosting organic matter in the soil by 1% can increase the soil's water-holding capacity by up to 18,000 gallons per acre, creating flexibility to both intense rains and dry periods. This means farmland practices such as the planting of cover crops can not only raise output but improve water management.
Solutions don't come easily, but they are key to a livable future. While it's too late to avoid the impacts of climate change, we can avoid the worst of those impacts by investing more in such nature-based water solutions.
13．Cape Town is mentioned to show__________.
A．the reservoir was of no use
B．new water management is in need
C．how awful it was without tap water
D．the existing water management is impressive
14．What can we learn from Paragraph 4
A．The Netherlands was spared from flood damage.
B．The river's water level was reduced to over a foot.
C．Improving soil's water-holding ability is practical.
D．Planting crops boosts organisms at the cost of output.
15．Which of the following water projects might win the author's favor
① "Restoring Healthy Soil" ② "Filling Wetland"
③ "Strengthening Dam" ④ "Making Room for River"
A．①② B．②③ C．③④ D．①④
16．What can be a suitable title for the text
A．Water disaster: way out of control
B．Investment in water: a key to the future
C．Good news: farming practices working well
D．Nature-based solution: a way out for water
阅读理解
We are a culture drowning in our possessions. We take in more and more （holiday, birthdays, sales, needs）, but rarely find an opportunity to get rid of it. As a result, our homes fill up with so much stuff. And because we believe the best solution is to find organizational tools to manage all of it, we seek out bigger containers or more efficient organizational tips and tricks. But simply organizing our stuff must be repeated over and over.
At its heart, organizing is simply rearranging. And though we may find storage solutions to- day, we are quickly forced to find new ones as early as tomorrow. Additionally, organizing has some other major shortcomings that are rarely considered. For example, it doesn't benefit anyone else. The possessions we rarely use sit on shelves in our basements or garages, even while some of our closest friends desperately need them.
On the other hand, the act of getting rid of stuff from our home accomplishes many purposes. It is not a temporary solution. It is an action of permanence-once an item has been removed, it is removed completely. Whether we re-sell our possessions, donate them to charity, or give them to a friend, they are immediately put to use by those who need them.
Removing possessions begins to turn back our desire for more as we find freedom and happiness in owning less. And removing ourselves from the all-consuming desire to own more creates opportunities for significant life changes to take place.
If you're struggling with how to get rid of stuff, you can first challenge yourself to remove the unneeded things in your home, carry a trash bag from room-to-room, see how big of a donation pile you can make, and even eliminatedebt by selling what you no longer need.
It doesn't matter how you remove them, for it is far better to remove than to always organize.
17．What is the problem with simply organizing stuff
A．Few tools and tricks are available.
B．It needs to be repeated very often.
C．People cannot save money by organizing.
D．Desire to buy more disappears by organizing.
18．How can we remove unnecessary possessions
A．By reselling them to others. B．By keeping them in trash bags.
C．By storing them in the garage. D．By piling them on the shelves.
19．What does the underlined word "eliminate" mean in Paragraph 5
A．get rid of B．get over C．add to D．take charge of
20．What is the purpose of the passage
A．To explain the advantages and disadvantages of organizing things.
B．To inform readers of the ways to get rid of unnecessary possessions.
C．To call for people to remove stuff instead of just organizing.
D．To appeal to people to make donations to people in need.
阅读理解
In the early 1990s, my friend Jay was working for IBM and made a good salary. Later, Jay declined an offer from an interesting but small organization because of the low pay. He has regretted it ever since. That small company was Microsoft.
Regret is a reaction to a disappointing event in your life, such as a choice you made that can't be changed, or something you said that you can't take back. It's a heavy and negative emotion connected to pity, sorrow and helplessness and can last for minutes, days, years or even a lifetime. Regret can increase your stress and throw off the balance of immune (免疫) systems.
Fortunately, regret can be overcome through interventions. As a psychologist at the University of Virginia School of Medicine, I conducted a research on stressful emotions. In the research, we found people would experience regret for action or inaction. The action-related regrets, although painful, stimulate people to learn from their mistakes and move on. But the regret related to the inaction is more likely to lead to depression and anxiety. Avoiding or denying regret only can increase negative feelings and extend the time people suffer with them. Rather than stay stuck, people can manage these emotions in four steps: First, accept the fact that you are feeling them; determine why you are feeling them; allow yourself to learn from them; and finally, release them and move forward.
In Jay's case, at first he pushed away his feelings of regret. He continued to struggle with thoughts of what he missed. He did not change until he approached and explored his feelings of regret. Eventually he accepted the fact and reminded himself of his rationale at the time- he failed to recognize the potential of Microsoft. On making future decisions, Jay recognized the importance of obtaining information about opportunities and challenged himself to learn about the big players in the field. Doing so allowed him to move on and ultimately forgive himself.
21．What does Paragraph 2 mainly focus on about regret
A．Its condition. B．Its definition.
C．Its variation. D．Its consequence.
22．What does the finding of the research indicate
A．Regret can disappear itself. B．Intervention increases pains.
C．Avoidance may relieve stress. D．Acceptance helps manage regret.
23．What does the underlined word "rationale" in Paragraph 4 probably mean
A．Reason. B．Puzzle. C．Concern. D．Emotion.
24．Why is Jay's experience mentioned
A．To attract more attention to mental diseases.
B．To raise awareness of psychological health.
C．To demonstrate negative effects of regret.
D．To justify the approach to tackling regret.
阅读下列短文, 从每题所给的 A、B、C和D四个选项中, 选出最佳选项。
The great increase of waste that you find around the world is hard to ignore. Depending on where they live, people produce between 0. 11 and 4. 54 kilograms of waste every day. Even more alarming, that number is expected to increase by 70 percent by 2050.
Is there anything specific you can do to help the situation One thing is to shop smart. Buy from companies that promote sustainable（可持续的） business practices and use recycled materials in their products.
Here are some products and companies that hit the mark for being environmentally-friendly.
Wool Runners by Allbirds
These light and comfortable tennis shoes are made from natural wool. The laces（鞋带）are made from recycled water bottles. Other shoe parts are made from bean oil, and the shoeboxes are made with recycled materials.
Women's 711 Skinny Jeans by Levi's
It usually takes hundreds of gallons of water to make one pair of blue jeans. However, Levis Water Less collection uses up to 96 percent less water.
Reactive Drawstring Family Tote by Vera Bradley
These pretty bags put recycled water bottles to good use, using 23 of them per bag.
The Sunrise Reborn' TM Pack by ASICS
ASICS' new shoes were created with sustainability in mind. The material is dyed（染色）, using a special method. The technique uses up to 80 percent less water than regular dyeing methods. The process also uses fewer chemicals and less energy.
Regarding their future footwear lines, ASICS has made a promise. Over 95 percent of their new running shoes will be made from recycled materials. The technology behind Sunrise Reborn puts ASICS one step closer to reaching their sustainability goals. The company has promised to leave a lighter environmental footprint for future generations.
25．What do the data in Paragraph 1 show
A．The danger caused by waste materials.
B．The existing problem ignored by people.
C．The serious problem of increasing waste.
D．The growing amount of poisonous waste.
26．What do the four products have in common
A．They only use recycled materials.
B．They're made from natural materials.
C．The techniques behind them are very special.
D．Their companies share the sustainability goals.
27．Where may the text be found
A．In a life magazine. B．In a fantasy book.
C．In a research paper. D．In a business report.
阅读下列短文，从每题所给的A、B、C和D四个选项中，选出最佳选项。
"Use up all leftovers." "Buy second-hand things instead of new ones". "Learn DIY to fix things yourself." "Invite friends over instead of going out." "Grow your own food." "Save rainwater for your garden." Nowadays, more and more people take action to save for life. Let's see what there people do in saving and how they enjoy doing so.
"To save money in college, I decided to do the no new clothes challenge last year. This meant I didn't buy new clothes for an entire year. It was a little embarrassing to rewear the same clothes to different parties and events, but it was worth it. After all, I saved all the money!" —Eden from Mint Notion
"I copied a whole textbook. I didn't feel like buying a new one, so instead, I borrowed one from a classmate and copied the entire thing using the copy machine. It may or may not have taken a few hours but I saved $ 20. And for a college student who was broke, that was a lot!" —Athena from Money Smart Latina
"Cat litter（猫砂）is something that can set me back a couple hundred dollars every day. However, by toilet-training my cat with a $ 20 toilet trainer, I'm able to save on the costs and avoid the trouble to change it. Plus it's always funny to see the cat on the toilet." —Dustyn from Dime Will Tell
28．Who gave up buying clothes to save money
A．Athena. B．Eden. C．Dustyn. D．Smart Latina.
29．How does Dustyn save for life
A．By walking his cat outside.
B．By switching to cheap cat litter.
C．By teaching his cat to use the toilet.
D．By reducing the amount of cat litter.
30．What do the three people have in common
A．They learn DIY to fix things.
B．They received higher education.
C．They're not in financial difficulties.
D．They feel it worthwhile to save money.
阅读下列短文，从每题所给的A、B、C和D四个选项中，选出最佳选项。
In winter, many of us are reaching for more clothes and turning on the heat. Besides wearing a pair of long johns, increasing our food intake can help protect us against severe cold. So what food keeps us warm
Red meat, such as beef, lamb and pork, is great when you find yourself in cold conditions because it is a fantastic source of iron, which is crucial for circulating your blood. Iron is an important mineral to help carry oxygen throughout your body. People with low iron may notice cold hands and feet or easily become tired. Eating red meat can also supply vitamin B12, which contributes to healthy nerves and a strong immune system.
Oats can keep you warm in winter. It's great thermogenic（生热的）food and is filled with nutrients that release energy slowly throughout the day to keep your body warm. You can start your day with a hot breakfast of oats or other types of porridge. Oats are a great source of whole grains and fiber. In addition to keeping you full and warm, oats are full of other nutrients.
Hot ginger tea can make you feel warm inside on a cold day. Ginger is known to be good for health. It's also a diaphoretic (发汗药), which means it will help your body warm from the inside. Ginger has the nature to produce heat and help blood circulation in our bodies, making it a great source of warmth.
Root vegetables like sweet potatoes need more energy to move through the digestion process, which raises your body temperature. High in vitamin A, vitamin C and potassium (钾), sweet potatoes add fiber and other nutrients to a warm winter meal. Sweet potatoes also have beta-carotene (β胡萝卜素) that is good for eye heath.
31．How many types of food to keep people warm are mentioned in the text
A．3. B．4. C．5. D．6.
32．Why does ginger tea keep you warm
A．It's a great source of iron. B．It releases energy slowly.
C．It is full of fiber and vitamins. D．It is great food to generate heat.
33．What's the purpose of the text
A．To promote green food.
B．To remind people of a healthy diet.
C．To introduce some food to keep warm.
D．To teach people how to keep warm.
34．In which section of a newspaper may this text appear
A．Science Study. B．Campus Life.
C．Global Vision. D．Physical Education.
阅读下列短文，从每题所给的A、B、C和D四个选项中，选出最佳选项。
Many people have warm memories of playing games while growing up. Do you remember running around outside as a child playing rock-paper-scissors You may not have realized it, but games are a very important part of life.
During prehistoric times, humans would play a game called Knucklebones. To play Knucklebones, the players would balance small objects like sheep ankle bones on the top of their hands，toss（抛掷） them into the air, and then try to catch as many as possible.
But why do people love games so much They are fun to play, but that isn't the only reason why.
For most, games are "like chocolate: a guilty pleasure consumed secretly", Canadian-American game designer Sid Meier said: "They have a series of interesting choices." The rock-paper-scissors game is just an example. In every turn, people make a judgment, which is often based on their personalities and past experiences. "Navigating these choices shapes the course of play, revealing who we are and how we think," The New York Times noted."Playing a game is an act of exposition（展 示）. "
Games such as this require a faster way of thinking than in everyday life. But interestingly, when the game is over, the players can switch out of competition mode quickly and return to normal. "It separates a game from reality," Sam Von Ehren of The New York Times wrote. "We can enter and exit the magic circle freely."
Games can also be used to help improve critical thinking skills. Just take Go as an example. Go is a game that was made in ancient China, and it is still even played today. Even though we don't exactly know how Go started, many researchers think it was invented to help teach tactics and strategy skills.
Even today, games are being used to help solve real-world problems. These types of games are called serious games, and they are used to help find solutions to problems in fields such as education and healthcare, among others. Perhaps playing games helps us to think outside the box in a fun and interesting way.
35．What does paragraph 2 mainly tell us
A．The way to play Knucklebones. B．The development of Knucklebones.
C．The popularity of Knucklebones. D．The objects of Knucklebones.
36．What can we say about the rock-paper-scissors game
A．It is a game of eating chocolate.
B．It shows the player's personalities.
C．The way of thinking is a necessary rule.
D．Judgments decide the player's past experience.
37．What does the underlined word in paragraph 6 mean
A．Awareness. B．Emotion. C．Politeness. D．Method.
38．What can we infer about games
A．Games are nothing but fun and interesting.
B．Games are serious in the world of adults.
C．Playing games may encourage creativity.
D．We should play games while solving problems.
阅读下列短文，从每题所给的A、B、C、和D四个选项中，选出最佳选项。
The season of ice cream treats is in full swing. Nothing captures pure joy and innocence like an ice cream cone（蛋筒）dripping down your hand.
But have you ever wondered why some ice cream just stands apart from all the others What really makes good ice cream Well ,here's how to tell high-quality ice cream without even Lasting it.
Let the ingredients speak
High-quality ice cream is always made with real vanilla（香草）nuts，chocolate or fruit. On the other hand, if you've ever looked closely at the ingredients of ice cream from less fancy brands, you may have noticed that they only say "vanilla flavored "or "chocolate flavored". This is because they don't contain real vanilla or chocolate.
Check the butterfat（乳乳脂）content
What differences do butterfat make Besides making ice cream taste less like frozen milk, butterfat gives the product a creamy texture and a good flavor. In order to even be called ice cream in the United States, the product must contain at least 10 percent butterfat, according to the Food and Drug Administration's regulations. High-quality brands of ice cream usually contain anywhere from 13 to 17 percent butterfat.
Take home the heavier one
Ice cream mixtures have air pumped into them as they freeze. Air is essential, or ice cream would be as hard as rock. The legal limit for the amount of air in the US is 100 percent. A more dense（浓的）ice cream will be creamier and will melt more slowly in the mouth.
But how can we tell which ice cream has less air in it Well, one thing you should know about ice cream is that it's usually sold by volume, not by weight. The containers may be equal in size, but one ice cream may be denser than another and therefore weighs more.
39．Which of the following can be called good ice cream according to the text
A．The ice cream without any butterfat in it.
B．The vanilla or chocolate flavored ice cream.
C．The ice cream which tastes like frozen milk.
D．The ice cream with 15 percent butterfat in it.
40．How can we judge which ice cream has less air
A．By the brand. B．By the weight.
C．By the ingredients. D．By the shape.
41．What is the text mainly about
A．The brands of food. B．The safety of food.
C．The identification of food. D．The origins of food.
阅读下列短文, 从每题所给的A、B、C和D四个选项中, 选出最佳选项。
In the United States, people often use large amounts of salt to remove dangerous ice from roads and walkways in the winter. But when the spring arrives, all that salt can really damage plants in the garden. Salt is the chemical sodium chloride.
Salt pulls water from living cells, like plant roots and the healthy ground soil around them. So, spring growth may show up lighter in color than normal, or, in the worst cases, plants may simply die. Rain can wash away much of the salt, permitting some older plants to live. Salt can also be removed by pouring a large amount of water on the ground where plants are growing. But the best action is to simply use less salt.
There are. of course, other things that can be used to cover for sodium chloride. One is the chemical calcium chloride, which does less damage to plants and melts ice faster than salt. It also works when the temperature is below negative 17 degrees Celsius. Salt loses some of its effectiveness at temperatures below negative 12 degrees.
Still, calcium chloride does put chloride ion（氯离子）, which plants don＇t like, into the soil. It is also more expensive and can do more damage to cars. Calcium magnesium acetate, also called CMA, has become a popular alternative. It is made by combining limestone, a type of rock. and vinegar. It breaks down naturally so it does not damage plants or soil. It stays on roads and does not hurt cars.
CMA does have problems, however. It is most effective at around negative 9 Celsius, just like salt. And it is better at stopping ice from forming rather than removing it. So, it is best placed on a road before the temperature gets very cold. Some materials other than salt-such as sand or very small pieces of wood- can also work against ice. But they can be very messy.
42．What is the poor result by using salt to remove ice
A．All the plants are likely to disappear overnight.
B．The plants may well look much weaker than ever.
C．Some older plants can't resist being washed away.
D．A large amount of water is trapped on the roads.
43．What does the underlined part mean in the 3rd paragraph
A．Remove. B．Wrap. C．Collect. D．Replace.
44．What is the advantage of calcium chloride
A．It functions well at cold temperatures.
B．It provides chloride ion to the soil.
C．It can melt ice just above minus 17'℃.
D．It brings no damage to plants or soil.
45．The author wants to show .
A．many materials can be used to remove ic
B．using less salt is beneficial to your plants
C．sand and pieces of wood are eco-friendly
D．too much salt is used on the roads in the USA
阅读下列短文，从每题所给的A、B、C和D四个选项中，选出最佳选项。
You run into the grocery store to pick up one bottle of water. You get what you need, head to the front, and choose the line that looks fastest.
You chose wrong. People who you swear got in other lines long after you are already checked out and off to the parking lot. Why does this always seem to happen to you It turns out, it's just math working against you; chances are, the other line really is faster.
Grocery stores try to have enough employees at checkout to get all their customers through with minimum delay. But sometimes, as on a Sunday afternoon, the system gets particularly busy. Any small interruption—a price check, a chatty customer—can have downstream effects, holding up an entire line.
If there are three lines in the store, delays will happen randomly at different registers. Think about the probability: The chances of your line being the fastest are only one in three. So it's not just in your mind: Another line probably is moving faster.
Researchers have a good way to deal with this problem. Make all customers stand in one long, snaking line—called a serpentine line —and serve each person at the front with the next available register. With three registers, this method is much faster than the traditional approach. This is what they do at most banks and fast-food restaurants. With a serpentine line, a long delay at one register won't unfairly punish the people who lined up behind it. Instead, it will slow down everyone a little bit but speed up checkout overall.
So why don't most places encourage serpentine lines It takes many registers to keep one line moving quickly, and some stores can't afford the space or manpower. So wherever your next wait may be: Good luck.
46．Which world can replace the underlined world in paragraph 3
A．useless. B．harmful. C．useful. D．lower.
47．How to solve delay in line according to researchers
A．Employ more workers. B．Make a serpentine line.
C．Set up more checkouts. D．Stop selling on Sunday afternoon.
48．Why some stores still can't solve the problem of being delayed in line
A．Because they have less employees.
B．Because they make a little money.
C．Because they lack enough room and manpower.
D．Because they have few registers.
49．What the last sentence means in the last paragraph
A．It's lucky to wait in line.
B．More lines there are, the luckier you are.
C．It's possible for you to be delayed in line next time.
D．Whatever you wait in line next time, you will be lucky.
阅读理解
The key to a successful garage sale is to get the word out. The best way of advertising your sale is to place an ad in the local newspaper. If you have a city and neighborhood paper, make sure you advertise in both. The ad should be large enough to stand out. It should also include information on where the sale is located with directions, the "hot" items you're selling and the time when the sale will start and end. An ad should be placed at least two days before the sale and run until the day of your event. That way people can plan their route to the sale in advance.
Signs must be another great way to inform your community. Post them where people gather, such as stores and community centers. Some businesses have a central bulletin board, which is the best place to advertise. Other places to post are at the local college or university campus. This is especially helpful if your sale is happening in August or early September when students have returned to school and are looking for cheap finds.
Post signs round your neighborhood. You should also place both ads and direction signs, especially if you're located on a side street without a major presence. Signs will attract and direct people. Just make sure your print is in bold letters and use large direction signs so that people can read the information from the front seat of their car.
50．You should place an ad at least two days before the sale so that people can________.
A．get enough cash for the sale B．compare prices of the items
C．select the items they will buy D．decide on their route beforehand
51．Why should signs be posted in a community center
A．Schools are nearby. B．There are many stores.
C．Students often meet there. D．More people gather there.
52．What advice is given for printing the signs according to the last paragraph
A．Colored signs are preferred. B．Bold letters should be used.
C．Large pictures should be included. D．Phone numbers should be provided.
53．The best title for the passage might be _________.
A．Advertising Garage Sales B．Advantages of Garage Sales
C．Importance of Garage Sales D．Printing Ads for Garage Sales
阅读理解
When researching New Year's resolutions in the 1980s, the psychologist John Norcross found over 50% of Americans made resolution. After 6 months, only 40% had stuck with it. Two years later, the number had dropped to 19%. Still, we keep telling ourselves we can lose weight, save money, and go to the gym.
It turns out that timing is important in determining whether we succeed. In May, 2012, the behavioral economist Katherine Milkman, at a social-science gathering, found herself in a discussion about "turning points". She said, "I had a strong instinct that turning points are effective - moments that feel like a new beginning."
So she teamed up with two colleagues, Jason Riis and Hengchen Dai, to see if the "turning points" idea held any merit. In follow-up studies, they found fresh starts do push us to change our behavior. With those, researchers suspect, comes a sense of optimism, the promise of "a new me," as Milkman put it. To test that theory, her team looked at daily Google searches for the term "diet" over 9 years, finding a predictable cycle: they topped at the start of any given week, month, or year, then gradually declined. The largest increase — 82% above the baseline — occurred immediately after New Year's.
The college gym attendance is no exception: shooting up in January and decreasing in the following months. Smaller spikes occurred at the beginning of each week, each month, and each term.
Finally, the researchers investigated commitments on the website stick, which allows you to set a goal and contractually determine the consequences for failing to attain it. Tracking 43,000 people over 2.5 years, they found the greatest number of contracts were signed at the start of the new year. Throughout the year, each week and each month had a mini-cycle of its own, with the beginning of the week corresponding to a 63% increase. "Every week brings a new opportunity," Riis says. "And people take advantage of that, whether or not they know it."
54．Why was John Norcross's research mentioned in paragraph 1
A．To make a comparison. B．To indicate a conclusion.
C．To analyze the data. D．To introduce the topic.
55．Why does a turning point matter
A．It is instinctive. B．It guarantees a new start.
C．It follows a cycle. D．It determines the result.
56．What does the underlined word "spikes" in paragraph 4 mean
A．Peaks. B．Sharp points. C．Changes. D．Accidents.
57．In which section of the newspaper may this text appear
A．Entertainment. B．Education. C．Lifestyle. D．News.
阅读理解
MySpace, the social networking website, is different from other websites which only provide stories about other people. MySpace is a place that allows you to broadcast your own stories and personal information to as many people as you like. Founded in 2003, it is a big source of information for and about American kids.
Teenagers and their parents feel very differently about it. Teens are rushing to join the site, not sharing their parents' worries. It signals yet another generation gap in the digital era.
For teenagers, it is reliable network to keep in touch with their friends. They will often list their surnames, birthdays, after-school jobs, school clubs, hobbies and other personal information. "MySpace is an easy way to reach just about everyone. I don't have all the phone numbers of my acquaintances. But if I want to get in touch with one of them, I could just leave them a message on MySpace," said Abby Van Wassen. She is a 16-year-old student at Woodland Hills High of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Parents, on the other hand, are seriously concerned about the security problems of MySpace. “Every time we hold a parents meeting, the first question is always about MySpace," said Kent Gates, who travels the country doing Internet safety seminars（研讨会）. The National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children has received at least 288 MySpace-related complaints, according to Mary Beth Buchanan, a lawyer in Pittsburgh.
“Your profile on MySpace shows all your personal information to anyone on the WeB. And MySpace even lists this information by birthplace and age. It's like a free checklist for troublemakers and it endangers children,” Buchanan said.
58．From the passage, we can learn that MySpace_____________.
A．is popular with parents
B．is very careful about people's privacy
C．encourages you to list your personal information
D．lists the telephone numbers of your friends
59．What can we infer from the sentence "Every time we hold a parents meeting, the first question is always about MySpace"
A．MySpace has become a top issue troubling parents.
B．MySpace often holds parents meetings.
C．MySpace is quite popular with parents.
D．Parents have lots of questions about the website.
60．The writer's attitude towards MySpace is____________.
A．negative B．positive C．optimistic D．objective
61．Which of the following is the best title for the passage
A．Internet Safety B．The Digital Era
C．Generation Gap D．MySpace
阅读理解
Pioneers like Harvard social ecologist Stephen Kellert were among the first to champion modern biophilic design. Kellert believed that weaving nature into living and workspaces is critical for good physical and mental health.
Humans have evolved to gravitate towards nature, Kellert noted, but if we don't develop that impulse it fades. So his principles include access to natural light, air, water, plants, and gardens. Using materials such as wood and stone, natural designs such as leaf or shell patterns, and earthy colors also helps humans to feel closer to nature.
Biophilic designs can be seen in cities and buildings around the world. Modern examples include the Jewel Changi Airport in Singapore, with its four-storey forest garden and world's largest indoor waterfall fed by rainwater. Or the Swedish Mirrorcube tree house hotel, mainly made of used plywood and a lightweight aluminum (铝) frame wrapped around a tree.
Spectacular biophilic homes include One Central Park in Sydney apartment blocks featuring hanging gardens on the outside. The buildings recycle their own water and a suspended (悬浮的) motorized mirror system reflects sunlight down onto gardens below. Milan's Bosco Verticale block is perhaps even more eye—catching with its vertical forest of 17,000 trees, bushes, and plants.
Putting biophilic design to work for society could prevent millions in healthcare costs, with one study estimating annual savings of $93 million in the US alone. Hospital design in particular has historically been influenced by access to sunlight and views of nature. Modern buildings like the Khoo Teck Puat Hospital in Singapore, with its position next to the waterfall of the Yishun Pond, are closely linked with their surroundings. The hospital channels outdoor air to cool the inside, and uses reflective sunshades to direct light into the wards to brighten them and save energy.
The aim of these designs is to emphasize the human connection to nature by integrating buildings with the local environment. But how do we bring biophilia into our homes Start with house plants. New smart home apps can also provide sensory nature experiences such as birdsong and a projected forest canopy, helping people to carve out a restful space indoors.
But perhaps the best way to transform society with biophilic designs is to start with schools. Children learn better and feel more relaxed in biophilic settings. So the Children and Nature Network is working with schools across the US to create green schoolyards for better physical and mental health and to increase opportunities for outdoor learning.
Biophilic designers are bringing nature into classrooms through natural patterns, shapes and colors, nature photography, artwork and materials like timber and stone. Fresh air flow, green walls, and aquariums all become part of a recipe for improving health and academic success.
62．According to the passage, Stephen Kellert probably believes that_________.
A．humans' inborn love for nature won't be lessened
B．nature can improve people's sense of responsibility
C．humans need to appreciate and make good use of nature
D．natural materials have taken priority in modern building designs
63．What do the examples of biophilic designs in the passage have in common
A．They apply smart home technology.
B．They promote sustainable development.
C．They include waterfalls and gardens inside.
D．They use local resources to cut the cost of buildings.
64．From the last two paragraphs, we learn that biophilic designs ____________.
A．have greatly transformed schools
B．help improve students' performance
C．focus mainly on students' mental health
D．have moved most of the classrooms outside
65．Which of the following would be the best title for the passage
A．Let's Invite Nature Inside
B．Live Naturally and Simply
C．The Best Natural Building Designer
D．Ups and Downs of Natural Buildings
阅读理解
"Inspector Sands to the control room, please." If you ever hear that at a British train station, don't panic. But you might appreciate knowing that this is a codeword meant to inform staff that there is an emergency somewhere in the building. The idea is to avoid causing alarm among commuters (通勤者), but still get the message out to those trained to deal with the problem.
The subject of secret codewords like this was raised this week on Reddit, and the discussion has attracted thousands of examples. But what codewords and signs are really out there in the wild
A good place to start is hospital emergency codes. These are often colour-coded, and one health centre in Canada has published its list online. "Code red" announces a fire, "code white" indicates a violent person while "code black" means a bomb threat is active. It's been reported that hospital staff sometimes refer to the morgue as "Rose Cottage", in order to avoid upsetting relatives of a patient who has recently died.
"I can see very good reasons for having these codes," says Paul Baker, a linguist at the University of Lancaster. "It may be that people are unsure when they're giving the code so there's no point upsetting members of the public."
Not all codes are alphanumeric (字母数字的). Some are visual, intended to be hidden in plain sight. As BBC Future discovered earlier this year, many banknotes feature a specific pattern of dots placed there to prevent people from photocopying money. Many copiers and scanners are programmed to spot it.
And finally, the spray-painted squiggles (波形曲线) you see on pavements in towns and cities all over the world are codes understood by construction workers and engineers. For example, in UK, different colours are related to different types of cable or pipe. Blue meant a water system while yellow indicated gas lines and green labelled CCTV or data wiring.
All of these codes have a purpose — to avoid causing panic, to transmit subtle signals in social groups, or to provide technical information quickly and easily. "People don't like secrets, do they " says Baker. "There is a drive to have as much information as possible — we do live in the information age," he adds.
66．The following are purposes of the secret codes except ________.
A．to avoid causing alarm and panic among the public.
B．to send sensitive signals in social groups.
C．to provide technical information quickly and easily.
D．to make people believe you are wiser.
67．The underlined word "morgue" in paragraph 3 refers to the room in a hospital ______.
A．where patients are treated
B．where dead bodies are kept
C．where a patient has an operation
D．where a surgeon cuts open the patients' bodies
68．How many kinds of secret codes are mentioned in the passage
A．2. B．3. C．4. D．5.
69．Which of the following could be the best title of the passage
A．The secret codes you are not meant to know
B．Where to find the codes
C．The origin of different codes
D．Codes in the modern society
阅读理解
For many of us, summertime means road trips to the beach or mountains, or at the very least some additional dust and bird poop on the exterior of our vehicles. The extra dirt leads us to do one of two things: wash our car in the driveway or head to the car wash. But which choice is better for the environment
The main concerns with either choice are the amount of fresh water being used and the types of chemicals used to remove the dirt. Both of these concerns can be closely monitored when washing the carat home, says Katy Gresh, spokeswoman for the Southwest Region of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. She advises car owners to keep a set amount of water for the entire wash. "It's just like brushing your teeth," she says. "You don't want to leave the water running or use more than you need for the job." But even following this advice comes with an environmental risk: Washing your car in the driveway or street flushes the dirty water into storm drains (下水道).
"Drains are not made for treating waste, " says John Schombert, executive director of 3 Rivers Wet Weather. Even when car owners use natural soaps to wash their cars, Schombert says they are probably ineffective in breaking down grease (油脂) anyway.
The commercial car wish down the street knows full well the rules regarding wastewater in storm drains. According to the International Carwash Association (ICA), professional car washes must use water reclamation systems. These mandated processes not only keep the dirty water out of storm drains and regular water treatment systems, but they also work to reduce water usage at commercial facilities.
As experts point out, cleaning our car at home can use 100 gallons of pare that to self-service car washes, which allow you to use only about 17 or 18 gallons of water. And most full-service car washes average about 30 to 45 gallons of water per vehicle.
70．What does Katy suggest people do about washing cars
A．Save treated water. B．Avoid using chemicals.
C．Put aside some water. D．Use soft toothbrushes.
71．What is Schombert's attitude to washing cars at home
A．Disapproving. B．Favourable. C．Optimistic. D．Objective.
72．What is the fourth paragraph mainly about
A．Rules of handling wastewater.
B．Processes of getting rid of dirty water.
C．Advantages of professional car washes.
D．Drawbacks of water treatment systems.
73．Which method of car washing consumes the least water
A．The full-service car washes. B．The self-service car washes.
C．Car washing in the driveway. D．Car washing using natural soaps.
阅读理解
Brownrigg is a London tour guide and leads walks through the capital all summer long, whatever the weather. His dozen or so routes range in topics from Harry Potter to the London Underground, but all have something in common." 'I often end up talking about the weather, ' he says. 'It's a national obsession (痴迷). I realised how much it has shaped London's existence and history.
Brownrigg's Discovering Britain walk takes in several of the city's famous landmarks, from the Tower of London to the Shard, /each stop exploring some of London's extraordinary weather events.
We begin at the Monument, Christopher Wren's elegy to the Great Fire of London, with is pale stone column topped by a golden orb the Monument was designed to look like a giant candle. It stands 202ft high, exactly 202ft away from where the dire began in Pudding Lane. Despite its size. the structure is dwarfed by(相形见绌) today's surrounding tower blocks. Similarly, the causes behind the fire are sometimes overlooked. The Great Fire was a significant event in the City of London's history, one that was shaped by the capital's geography: The spark was the weather.
As we enjoy some autumn sun 'beside the Monument Brownrigg explains: The summer of 1666 was unusually warm. At that time London was crammed(塞满) with wooden buildings, many only a few feet apart. A long, hot summer 1eft them bone dry. Add stores of flammable materials -including gunpowder left over from the Civil War - and the city was a giant tinderbox. It caught a light on 2 September when a bakery oven wasn't cleaned properly The inferno(特大火) lasted three days thanks to a strong breeze. Besides fanning the flames, the wind caused more mess by changing direction.
74．What does "it" refer to in paragraph 1
A．Introducing the celebrities in London.
B．Talking about the weather.
C．Explaining the public transport.
D．Exploring the culture of Britain.
75．What does Brownrigg do mainly in each stop
A．Admiring the special architecture.
B．Warming tourists of the public safety.
C．Paying a visit to the famous museums.
D．Probing some historical matters with Weather.
76．How does the third paragraph develop
A．By making a comparison.
B．By analyzing the important figures.
C．By offering some examples.
D．By describing the features of the billings.
77．What can be inferred mainly from Brownrigg's words in the last paragraph .
A．Showing the materials of the buildings.
B．Expressing the cause of the Great Fire.
C．Predicting the change of the weather.
D．Describing the surroundings of the bakery.