2024届上海市部分区高三英语二模试题分类汇编：阅读理解（含答案）

2024届上海市部分区高三英语二模试题分类汇编
阅读理解
2024届上海市浦东区高考二模英语试题
Section B
Directions: Read the following three passages. Each passage is followed by several questions or unfinished statements. For each of them there are four choices marked A, B, C and D. Choose the one that fits best according to the information given in the passage you have just read.
(A)
“Calling all. This is our last cry before our eternal silence.” With that, in January 1997, the French coast guard transmitted its final message in Morse code.
Wrecked ships had radioed out SOS signals from the era of the Titanic. In near-instant time, the beeps could be decoded by Morse-code stations thousands of miles away. First used to send messages over land in 1844, Morse code outlived the telegraph age. But by the late 20th century, satellite radio was turning it into a dying language. In February 1999, it officially ceased being the standard for maritime communication.
Nestled within the Point Reyes National Seashore, north of San Francisco, KPH Maritime Radio is the last operational Morse-code radio station in North America. The station —which consists of two buildings some 25 miles apart – once watched over the waters of the Pacific and Indian Oceans. It shut down in 1997, but a few years later, a couple of radio enthusiasts brought it back to life. The group has gotten slightly larger over the years, who call themselves the “radio squirrels”. Every Saturday, they beep out maritime news and weather reports. Much of their communication is with the SS Jeremiah O’Brien, a World War II-era ship permanently parked at a San Francisco pier.
Last July, the photographer Ann Hermes visited these “radio squirrels” and stepped into their time machine. To send a message, they tapped each Morse-code letter into a gadget, generating a loud noise that repeated throughout the whole building. “It’s almost like jazz,” Hermes told me —a music of rhythm and timing that can sound slightly different depending on who is doing the tapping. Some of the machines date back to World War II. The “radio squirrels” do their own repairs, and search eBay for replacement parts on the newer units.
Though many of the “radio squirrels” are retired or nearing retirement, Morse code is not quite extinct: The U.S. Navy still teaches it to a few sailors. Besides, in 2017, a British man who had broken his leg on a beach used it to signal for help in the dark with a flashlight.
56. What was Morse code used for in the era of the Titanic
A. Warning the coming of total silence.
B. Sending a signal for help or rescue.
C. Saving an endangered language.
D. Setting a standard for communication.
57. What does the underlined phrase “radio squirrels” refer to
A. The former staff of KPH Maritime Radio Station.
B. The crew of ship wreckage in San Francisco.
C. Those particularly passionate about radio stuff.
D. Those expert at playing instruments and jazz.
58. The Morse code machines can still be in good condition thanks to ________.
A. the frequent use by the “squirrels” to beep out news
B. the constant communication with experienced operators
C. the repair and restore efforts made by the “squirrels”
D. the protection and maintenance made by the U.S. Navy
59. Which of the following can be the best title of this passage
A. Keep the “Jazz” Going B. The Last Call from Sea
C. Volunteers of Point Reyes D. A Farewell to Radio
(B)
BILLIARD TABLES bought and sold. Mr Villis. (02805)66(Bucks). GIFT CHAMPAGNE. We post a bottle with your message. From 14.50 incl. Orders or details 0642 45733 CHRISTINE’S beauty treatment and body therapy.402 6499, 0473 4004
SMOKED SALMON 8oz sliced 5.75, 1lb sliced 11, 2lb 4oz side 16.90, 2lb 8oz side 19.50, 400 gms offcuts 5. Prices include UK 1st class postage. Cheques with order. Cornish Smoked Fish Co. Ltd, Charlestown. St. Austell, Cornwell. HAVANA CIGARS And other fine cigars at wholesale prices. Send for list to James Jordan Ltd, Shelly, Huddars-field. Tel: 0484 60227 C-SCOPE METAL DETECTORS. The ideal family gift to treasure from 39.99 to 449.50. Tel. Ashford (0233) 2918 today for free colour brochure. BEAUTIFUL farm estate, total 700 acres. Diplomats 4 bed 1832 house, 220,000 ono.0639 73082 5 BEDROOMED HOUSE in quiet mid-Wales village. 1 acre of land, fishing and shooting available. 42,000. Tel: 059 787 687 (after 6 p. m.).
400-YEAR-OLD thatched cottage between Winchester/ Basingstoke: 3 dble beds, sec gdn &extras. 110, 000. (0962)88109 CHATEAU LATOUR, 1964.24 bottles, 75 each. Phone (0227) 9848 evenings. GOING IN TO BUSINESS Send 7.45 inc p&p for ‘The Beginners Guide to Success in Business.’ Comquip Ltd, 189 Highview, Meopham, Gravesend, Kent. (0732) 22315. THE TIMES (1814-1985). This Xmas give someone an original issue dated the very day they were born, 12, 50 or 2 for 21. Tel 01-486 6305 or 0492 3314 PARTYMANIA, everything for your party in one “fun-tastic” store. - 179 Kingston Road, Oxford 51339, own parking. 37685
SILVER CROSS detachable coach Pram (navy), shopping tray, excellent clean condition, 30; Carry Cot, 5; Baby Bath, 2.50; Atari system, joystick and paddle sticks, in good working order, needs a new mains adapter, 40; 5 Atari Cassettes, 10 each, very good condition, ideal Xmas presents. Apply 34 Kynaston Road, Didcot, Oxon. evenings. 215702 OXFORD: lively divorcee, mid forties, bored with solitude and the cat, seeks male, preferably tall, to share local pleasures and pastimes, music, the arts etc. Box (50) 2050.
LADIES NARROW SHOWS. AA and narrower, sizes 2-11. Also wide EE. SAE Muriel Hitchcock Shoes, 3b Castle Mews, Arundel BN18 9DG.
HAVE a very happy birthday Paul!
60. How much will it cost you to get somebody a pound of smoked salmon and a bottle of champagne (with a message)
A. 20.25 B. 25.50 C. 14.50 D. Almost 18.00
61. What is the stuff you can buy that was produced on the day you were born
A. Birthday cards B. Christmas gifts C. Cigars D. Newspapers
62. Someone is offering a baby bath for sale and where can you get it
A. PARTYMANIA B. LADIES NARROW SHOWS
C. SILVER CROSS D. GOING IN TO BUSINESS
(C)
Those who had the pleasure of watching Benny Goodman at work saw a rather ordinary-looking man in rimless glasses and a conservative business suit; but they also saw a human being who could play the clarinet (单簧管) like no one before or since. This made Benny Goodman a unique individual.
Other Americans who have stood out from the flock include Joe DiMaggio, Beverly Sill, Ernest Hemingway and Jonas Salk. They, like Benny Goodman, were recognized and honored for no other reason than excellence.
It is doing something better than other people that makes us unique. Yet a surprising number of people still see individuality as a surface thing. They wear garish clothes, dye their hair strange colors and decorate their skin with tattoos to make some kind of social statement. But an ordinary guy who has dyed his hair purple or orange is nothing more than the same person with a funny-looking head.
The whole purpose of individuality is excellence. Those who invent, who improvise (即兴发挥), who know more about a subject than other people do, and who take something that doesn’t work and make it work -- these people are the very soul of capitalism.
Charles Kettering didn’t like the idea of cranking a car to make it start, so he invented the electric starter. Henry Ford figured out the assembly-line technique and made it possible to mass-produce automobiles, and Elisha Otis, inventor of the elevator, indirectly created the city sky-line. These people understood that individualism means working at the top of one’s capacity.
The ones with the purple hair and the funky jewelry are just along for the ride, trying to be “different” and not knowing how to go about it.
The student who earns straight A’s on his report card has grasped the idea and has found the real meaning of individuality. So has the youngster who has designed his own spaceship, who gives piano recitals, who paints pictures of the world around him.
Benny Goodman understood it too. This is why he was at his best, blowing his clarinet, in a blue suit and black shoes.
63. The author mentions the appearance of Benny Goodman to ________.
A. show what a talented musician should look like
B. introduce an important figure in the musical world
C. contrast with his talent in music performance
D. indicate that he can’t stand out from the flock
64. The author would most probably agree that ________.
A. an individualist tends to seek difference both in character and appearance
B. the essence of individualism lies in pursuing excellence to the full
C. being different in appearance is the very first step to being individual
D. those who strive to win the recognition of others are real individualists
65. According to the passage, which individual’s actions may not truly embody the essence of individualism
A. A scientist who conducts research solely advancing knowledge for the greater good rather than for personal recognition.
B. A social media influencer who conforms to popular opinions to maintain a large following.
C. An artist who creates unique works but fail to gain fame and recognition from others.
D. An entrepreneur who prioritizes ethical considerations over profit in his business practices.
66. For the main thread, the article is organized by way of ________.
A. specific to general B. cause and effect
C. examples and conclusion D. comparison and contrast
2024届上海市虹口区高三下学期二模英语试题
Section B
Directions: Read the following three passages. Each passage is followed by several questions or unfinished statements. For each of them there are four choices marked A, B, C and D. Choose the one that fits best according to the information given in the passage you have just read.
(A)
I used to think I was a good person. I was caring to my friends, my partner, my family; I gave to charity and I volunteered. But when I started training to become a therapist (治疗师), I began to understand that however much we might like to think of ourselves as good people, we don’t actually know ourselves very well. I learned about how we might, without consciously realizing it, deny the feelings and motivations we consider to be bad, pushing them down into our unconscious and projecting them out on to others, so they become the bad people. I learned that deep in the human mind, alongside love and kindness, run currents of anger, need, greed, envy, destructiveness, superiority—whether we want to acknowledge them or not.
It was 22-year-old Boru who taught me what it really means to be a good grown up. We first spoke two years ago. He was unemployed, living with his parents, watching his friends’ lives progress. A good grown-up, he told me, is “someone who has his ducks in a row”—and that wasn’t him.
I also didn’t feel like the competent, confident grown-up I thought I should be—and neither did most of the adults I knew. I researched statistics about people hitting the traditional landmarks of adulthood later and later, if at all—from buying a home to getting married or starting a family. I recognized what made me feel like a bad grown-up: that I’ll sit with a broken fridge rather than call an engineer to repair it.
Then I saw Boru again. He told me how, over two years, he’d found a job he loves, rented a flat with a friend. He’s now cycling round the world, having adventures that will keep him strong for the rest of his life. So what changed “You start to have those conversations with yourself, and you become more of an honest person. I don’t feel like I’m hiding from anything anymore, because I’m not hiding from myself.”
I think growing up must involve finding your own way to have those conversations. Boru does it on his bike, I do it in psychoanalysis, others I spoke to do it while cooking or playing music. That, for Boru, and for me, is what it means to “have his ducks in a row”.
56. What does the first paragraph imply about understanding ourselves
A. Recognizing our positive traits is enough for growth.
B. Our understanding of our motives and feelings is accurate.
C. True self-awareness means accepting both good and bad sides.
D. Ignoring our negative traits does not affect our self-perception.
57. What critical lesson did the author learn from Boru about being a good grown-up
A. It involves having a clear career path and financial stability.
B. It requires constant self-improvement and education.
C. It means being employed and living independently.
D. It is like a journey of self-discovery and honesty.
58. What does the author identify as a reason for feeling like an inadequate adult
A. Escaping basic responsibilities.
B. Delaying reaching traditional life milestones.
C. Comparing personal achievements to others.
D. Investigating changing patterns of adult life.
59. Which of the following might be the best title of the passage
A. Why Hide Harms
B. How to Be Better Adults
C. Why Growing up Matters
D. How to Have Effective Conversations
(B)
Guided Desert Adventure
Typical desert activities like sandboarding, dune bashing and quad biking
With this tour, you’ll have half a day of adventure activities in the desert.
You’ll start your tour by driving to a scenic spot on the top of a tall sand dune (沙丘) for a chance to take photos of the area. On top of a sand dune, you’ll have the chance to slide down the side by sandboarding. From here, you’ll get ready for hitting some dunes in a four-wheel drive vehicle. Next, you’ll hop on a quad bike and have time to drive around the desert in the open air. Finally, you’ll have a camel ride around a small part of the desert.
What’s included
Pickup and drop-off
20 minutes of sandboarding
35 minutes of dune bashing
25 minutes of quad biking
10-minute camel ride
Water and soft drinks
A drive through a camel farm
Additional information
Requires a high level of physical fitness.
Not suitable for children between 0 and 5.
Children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
Tours starting after noon include a BBQ dinner with sweets and fruits, which costs an additional US$ 45/person only.
60. What kind of experiences can participants expect from this trip
A. Taking a sand bathing on the top of a sand dune.
B. Exploring the expansive desert freely on a camel ride.
C. An exciting day adventure filled with diverse activities.
D. Capturing the breathtaking desert landscape with a camera.
61. How much does a group of four university students need to pay for taking the 14:00 tour
A. US$ 180. B. US$ 220. C. US$ 265. D. US$ 400.
62. Which of the following is most likely to be a review from a former participant of the tour
A. The show was great! I highly recommend!
B. It was a lot of fun and I enjoyed every minute of it.
C. The place is cool, easy to find and get to with metro.
D. Arrive early for tickets to avoid a long queue.
(C)
Pricing is managers’ biggest marketing headache. It’s where they feel the most pressure to perform and the least certain that they are doing a good job. All successful pricing efforts share two qualities: The policy combines well with the company’s overall marketing strategy, and the process is well-organized as a whole.
A company’s pricing policy sends a message to the market—it gives customers an important sense of a company’s philosophy. Consider Saturn Corporation (a wholly owned company of General Motors). Saturn wants to let consumers know that it is friendly and easy to do business with. Part of this concept is conveyed through initiatives such as inviting customers to the factory to see where the cars are made and sponsoring evenings at the dealership that combine a social event with training on car maintenance. But Saturn’s pricing policy sends a strong message as well. Can a friendly, trusting relationship be established with customers if a salesperson uses all the negotiating tricks in the book to try to separate them from that last $100 Of course not. Saturn has a “no hassle, no haggle” policy which removes the possibility of conflicts between dealer and potential customer. Customers have an easier time buying a car knowing that the next person in the door won’t negotiate a better deal.
Of course, there are typically many participants in the pricing process: Accounting provides cost estimates; marketing communicates the pricing strategy; sales provides specific customer input; production sets supply boundaries; and finance establishes the requirements for the entire company’s financial health. Input from diverse sources is necessary. However, problems arise when the philosophy of wide participation is carried over to the price-setting process without strong coordinating mechanisms (协调机制). For example, if the marketing department sets list prices, the salespeople negotiate discounts in the field, the legal department adjusts prices if necessary to prevent breaking the laws or contractual agreements, and the people filling orders negotiate price adjustments for delays in shipment, everybody’s best intentions usually end up bringing about less than the best results. In fact, the company may actually lose money on some orders.
63. Why is it essential for a company’s pricing policy to combine with its overall marketing strategy
A. To maximize possible returns and profits.
B. To maintain consistency in business operations.
C. To eliminate the need for diverse sales inputs.
D. To attract customers to social events and trainings.
64. What does Saturn’s “no hassle, no haggle” policy (paragraph 2) most probably mean
A. Saturn trains its dealers to treat customers sincerely.
B. Saturn offers discounts to some loyal customers.
C. Saturn cars are at least $100 cheaper than other cars.
D. Saturn cars are sold at fixed, non-negotiable prices.
65. What can be inferred from the wide participation in the pricing process
A. Decision making requires gathering comprehensive information.
B. The coordinating mechanism won’t work without a lot of input.
C. Potential customers are easily upset at any stage of the process.
D. The company loses money unless everyone intends for the best.
66. Which of the following is the best title for this passage
A. The art of coordinating pricing processes
B. The best sales negotiation techniques
C. Getting one step closer toward better pricing
D. Maximizing profits through pricing policies
2024届上海市静安区高三下学期二模英语试题
Section B
Directions: Read the following three passages. Each passage is followed by several questions or unfinished statements. For each of them there are four choices marked A, B, C and D. Choose the one that fits best according to the information given in the passage you have read.
(A)
From Marie Tussaud’s Chamber of Horrors to Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion（鬼屋） to horror-themed escape rooms, haunted house attractions have terrified and delighted audiences around the world for more than 200 years.
These attractions turn out to be good places to study fear. They help scientists understand the body’s response to fright and how we perceive some situations as enjoyably thrilling and others as truly terrible. One surprising finding: having friends close at hand in a haunted house might make you more jumpy, not less so.
Psychologist and study co-author Sarah Tashjian, who is now at the University of Melbourne, and her team conducted their research with 156 adults, who each wore a wireless wrist sensor during their visit. The sensor measured skin responses linked to the body’s reactions to stress and other situations. When the sensor picked up, for example, greater skin conductance — that is, the degree to which the skin can transmit an electric current — that was a sign that the body was more aroused and ready for fight or flight. In addition to this measure, people reported their expected fear (on a scale of 1 to 10) before entering the haunted house and their experienced fear (on the same scale) after completing the haunt.
The scientists found that people who reported greater fear also showed heightened skin responses. Being with friends, Tashjian and her colleagues further found, increased physiological arousal during the experience, which was linked to stronger feelings of fright. In fact, the fear response was actually weaker when people went through the house in the presence of strangers.
Other investigators have used haunted houses to understand how fear and enjoyment can coexist. In a 2020 study led by Marc Malmdorf Andersen, a member of the Recreational Fear Lab at Aarhus University in Denmark, scientists joined forces with Dystopia Haunted House. The Danish attraction includes such terrifying experiences as being chased by “Mr. Piggy”, a large, chain-saw-wielding man wearing a bloody butcher’s apron and pig mask. People between the ages of 12 and 57 were video recorded at peak moments during the attraction, wore heart-rate monitors throughout and reported on their experience. People’s fright was tied to large-scale heart-rate fluctuations; their enjoyment was linked to small-scale ones. The results suggest that fear and enjoyment can happen together when physiological arousal is balanced “just right”.
56. Studying haunted house attractions helps scientists to learn about _________.
A. the psychological effects of fear on individuals
B. the history of horror-themed entertainment
C. the body’s response to material rewards
D. the impact of technology on people’s enjoyment
57. How did Sarah Tashjian and her team conduct their research on haunted house experiences
A. By surveying participants. B. By analyzing historical records.
C. By employing wireless wrist sensors. D. By using virtual reality simulations.
58. What did Tashjian and her colleagues discover in their study
A. Being with friends elevated level of physiological arousal.
B. The fear reaction was stronger in the company of strangers.
C. Psychological effect was unrelated to intensified feelings of fright.
D. Those reporting lightened fear showed increased skin responses.
59. It can be concluded from the 2020 study led by Marc Malmdorf Andersen that _________.
A. fear and enjoyment can not happen at the same time
B. large-scale heart-rate fluctuations were linked to enjoyment
C. the age of the participants was not related to the study’s findings
D. fear and enjoyment can coexist
under certain conditions
(B)
Is an electric vehicle right for you
Many people will ask themselves that question for the first time this year. Prices are falling, battery range is rising and mainstream brands are adding new EVs at a breakneck pace.
Here are three things anybody seriously considering buying an EV should know:
1. The price to install a 240v charger
Anybody who owns an electric vehicle needs a 240-volt charger at home. With one, you can recharge overnight, so you start every day with the equivalent of a full tank.
Just a few years ago, home 240v EV chargers cost $2,500-$3,000, including installation, but prices have declined as competition grows with the number of EVs on the road.
2. The time it takes to charge
About 80% of miles driven in EVs are powered by electricity charged at home, but you’ll need to charge elsewhere occasionally. That’s when charging time becomes a big deal, but how long it takes depends on a couple of factors.
First, voltage from the charger. Getting 250 miles of range in seven hours from a 240v charger is fine when you’re charging overnight at home, but it’s a deal breaker if you’re going 300 miles for a weekend getaway. In that case, you’ll want to look for a 400v DC fast charger. They’re not as common as 240v public chargers yet, but they’re becoming more widespread.
There’s another factor: the on-board charger. It regulates how fast the battery can accept electricity. A vehicle with a higher-capacity on-board charger accepts electricity faster.
3. Where to charge
Good route-planning apps will help you find chargers on a road trip.
“Most people have no idea how many public charging stations are within, say, a 10-or 15-mile radius(半径) because they’re small, people don’t look for them or even don’t know what to look for, and they’re rarely signposted,” said journalist John Voelcker, who has studied EVs and charging exhaustively.
4. On the horizon
If an EV doesn’t meet your needs now, watch this space. They’re coming closer, but large numbers of gasoline vehicles will remain in production for years. Beyond that, companies will keep making spare parts for oil-burners for decades.
60. Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage
A. The price of installing a home EV charger has remained stable in the past few years.
B. It’s quite easy to identify the public charging stations with the help of striking signposts.
C. Popular brands are introducing new EVs at an incredibly fast rate.
D. An electric vehicle can’t provide the same amount of energy as a completely filled fuel tank.
61. The underlined phrase “watch this space” in the last paragraph probably means “_______”.
A. give up the plan to purchase an EV
B. make space for an EV
C. find an alternative to EV
D. keep an eye out for future developments
62. This passage is mainly intended to _________.
A. illustrate the factors charging time depends on
B. offer advice on purchasing an electric vehicle
C. look forward to the future of electric vehicles
D. explain the reason for the falling prices of electric vehicles
(C)
Flinging brightly coloured objects around a screen at high speed is not what computers’ central processing units were designed for. So manufacturers of arcade machines invented the graphics-processing unit (GPU), a set of circuits to handle video games’ visuals in parallel to the work done by the central processor. The GPU’ s ability to speed up complex tasks has since found wider uses: video editing, cryptocurrency mining and most recently, the training of artificial intelligence.
AI is now disrupting the industry that helped bring it into being. Every part of entertainment stands to be affected by generative AI, which digests inputs of text, image, audio or video to create new outputs of the same. But the games business will change the most, argues Andreessen Horowitz, a venture-capital (VC) firm. Games interactivity requires them to be stuffed with laboriously designed content: consider the 30 square miles of landscape or 60 hours of music in “Red Dead Redemption 2” a recent cowboy adventure. Enlisting AI assistants to churn it out could drastically shrink timescales and budgets.
AI represents an “explosion of opportunity” and could drastically change the landscape of game development. Making a game is already easier than it was: nearly 13,000 titles were published last year on Steam, a games platform, almost double the number in 2017. Gaming may soon resemble the music and video industries in which most new content on Spotify or YouTube is user-generated. One games executive predicts that small firms will be the quickest to work out what new genres are made possible by AI. Last month Raja Koduri, an executive at Intel, left the chip maker to found an AI-gaming startup.
Don’t count the big studios out, though. If they can release half a dozen high-quality titles a year instead of a couple, it might chip away at the hit-driven nature of their business, says Josh Chapman of Konvoy, a gaming focused VC firm. A world of more choices also favors those with big marketing budgets. And the giants may have better answers to the mounting copyright questions around AI. If generative models have to be trained on data to which the developer has the rights, those with big back-catalogues will be better placed than startups. Trent Kaniuga, an artist who has worked on games like “Fortnite”, said last month that several clients had updated their contracts to ban AI-generated art.
If the lawyers don’t intervene, unions might. Studios diplomatically refer to AI assistants as “co-pilots”, not replacements for humans.
63. The original purpose behind the invention of the graphics-processing unit (GPU) was to _______.
A. speed up complex tasks in video editing and cryptocurrency mining
B. assist in the developing and training of artificial intelligence
C. disrupt the industry and create new outputs using generative AI
D. offload game visual tasks from the central processor.
64. How might the rise of AI-gaming startups affect the development of the gaming industry
A. It contributes to the growth of user-generated content.
B. It facilitates blockbuster dependency on big studios.
C. It decreases collaboration between different stakeholders in the industry.
D. It may help to consolidate the gaming market under major corporations.
65. What can be inferred about the role of artificial intelligence in gaming
A. AI favors the businesses with small marketing budgets.
B. AI is expected to simplify game development processes.
C. AI allows startups to gain an edge over big firms with authorized data.
D. AI assistants may serve as human substitutes for studios.
66. What is this passage mainly about
A. The evolution of graphics-processing units (GPUs).
B. The impact of generative AI on the gaming industry.
C. The societal significance of graphics-processing units(GPUs).
D. The challenges generative AI presents to gaming studios.
2024届上海市徐汇区高三下学期二模英语试卷
Section B
Directions: Read the following three passages. Each passage is followed by several questions or unfinished statements. For each of them there are four choices marked A, B, C and D. Choose the one that fits best according to the information given in the passage you have just read.
A
Growing up in the 80s as a child with lots of siblings, I played in the street until dark or until we were called for dinner. We had an amazing community of neighbours. However, one elderly neighbour hated us. Every time the football went into her garden, she would confiscate it – and then pop the ball. When she collected over 20 deflated footballs, she would take them down to the police station and complain. To her, at least, free and active children were a pest and a disgrace.
Actually, at that time, nothing but one stopped us playing: the shattering of a window and the scream of a parent coming outside to tell us off. On reflection, I was probably part of the last generation of children to play outside regularly. Now in London, the estate I live in is covered with historic signs saying: “No ball games”.
The signs function as a play ban for children. Even during the summer, there are only a couple of rebels who dare to play football on the street. They get my nod and a kick of the ball back when it comes in my direction.
The problem is, many people don’t know that these signs are not enforceable by law: they are simply a request from local housing associations.
Of course, if people are kicking the ball against someone’s house or out on the streets making noise late at night, it would be considered criminal damage and antisocial behaviour – and quite right. But most of the time the signs are just preventing children from playing.
The London Sport charity has recommended that these signs are removed. I agree - let’s burn them all. But I do think it is simplistic to imagine banning the signs will combat a national obesity epidemic.
The Active Lives Survey shows that just 47% of children in England are getting the recommended 60 minutes or more of sport and physical activity a day. Removing “No ball games” signs doesn’t mean that the other 53% of children will feel motivated to venture outside and play.
The Active Lives Survey also suggests that boys are more likely to be active than girls. Perhaps boys are still given more activity opportunities. The Lionesses（英格兰女足）win at the Euros football tournament highlighted the lack of opportunities for girls in football and inequitable sports curriculums in schools.
Children and young people of black, Asian and other minority ethnicities are least likely to be active. Perhaps because racism in sport is alive and kicking
In addition, access to sport and physical activity is a social justice issue that depends on location and financial circumstances. For a child from an economically disadvantaged background, who lives in a high-rise flat with little green space around, the costs and practicalities of participating in sport are prohibitive. For example, a weekend tennis court costs anywhere between 10 and 27, without travel or equipment.
So, while we can burn all the “No ball games” signs in the country, the real barrier to combating low activity levels in children is social inequality. What really needs to happen to get our children moving
56. What does the underlined word “confiscate” in Paragraph 1 mean in the context
A. Collect something as a hobby B. Take something away as a punishment
C. Destroy something due to being annoyed D. Remove and make something disappear
57. Why does the author believe that removing "No ball games" signs may not effectively combat low activity levels in children
A. Because children prefer indoor activities.
B. Because boys are more active than girls.
C. Because access to physical activity is influenced by social inequality.
D. Because of the lack of interest in sports among children.
58. What conclusion does the author draw regarding the relationship between "No ball games" signs and low activity levels in children
A. Removing the signs will directly address the issue of low activity levels.
B. Social inequality is the primary barrier to increasing children's activity levels.
C. Boys are more likely to play sports than girls due to cultural biases.
D. Racism in sports is a significant factor in preventing children from being active.
59. What is the main idea of the passage
A. The author reminisces about their childhood and the changes in outdoor play.
B. The ineffectiveness of "No ball games" signs in encouraging physical activity among children.
C. The impact of social inequality on children's access to physical activity.
D. The author's support for removing "No ball games" signs but recognition of deeper issues.
B
From a distance, the grey cement bridge looks unremarkable. Two tunnels on either side of the Trans-Canada Highway are in semi-circles that end bluntly on the pavement below. But on top, away from passing motorists’ eyes, lies a grassy oasis. Against the odds, pine trees and wildflowers have taken root here, giving the overpass a fringe of greenery. On the edges, wire fencing provides safe passage for wandering animals.
Tony Clevenger has dedicated much of his life to studying the performance of Banff’s wildlife crossing structures. When the first wildlife bridges went up, Clevenger, a researcher with the Western Transportation Institute, was living in Canmore, and recalls the distinctly negative atmosphere that surrounded what many saw as a hair-brained scheme by Parks Canada. Save for a few small crossings in the eastern United States, no one had ever attempted something like this before — and no one believed it would work. Editorials in the local paper scoffed at the “waste of taxpayers’ money” and confidently stated animals would never use the $2 million to $3 million man-made bridges. Others believed wolves would herd their prey into the fence, violently killing them before shocked tourists.
“This project started in a bad spot. There was a lot of opposition and criticism,” Clevenger says. “It took several years of good data, publishing in scientific peer-reviewed journals, to change people’s minds.”
Clevenger now has 17 years-worth of data proving the efficacy of the crossings. Among large carnivores, mortality (死亡) rates are 50 to 100 per cent lower along sections of the highway where overpasses and underpasses exist. In those same sections, mortality rates for elk are almost zero, compared to 100 elk-vehicle collisions per year in the mid-1990s. Clevenger’s research has shown that 11 species of large mammals in Banff have used the structures more than 200,000 times, including unexpected species such as red fox, hoary marmot, boreal toads, wolverines, lynx, garter snakes and beavers.
In 2014, a Montana State University study found that not only are grizzly bears using the crossing structures, but the structures are also helping to maintain genetically healthy populations among the bears that use them. Grizzlies were crossing with enough frequency to ensure populations on either side of the highway weren’t genetically isolated from each other.
“This is Canada’s biggest conservation success story — it’s the largest highway mitigation complex in the world,” says Clevenger. “You won’t find anything anywhere else in the world close to what we have. We have the most overpasses in one localized area and almost half of all the overpasses in North America.”
60. Why did Tony Clevenger face opposition and criticism at the beginning of the wildlife crossing project
A. Because of disbelief regarding the project's feasibility and effectiveness.
B. Due to the design flaws of the crossing structures.
C. Because of concerns about the environmental impact of the structures.
D. Due to insufficient funding for the project.
61. Which unexpected species have been observed using the wildlife crossing structures in Banff
A. Grizzly bears and elk. B. Wolves and red foxes.
C. Garter snakes and beavers. D. Hoary marmots and wolverines.
62. How did a Montana State University study contribute to the understanding of wildlife crossings in Banff
A. It confirmed the disbelief surrounding the effectiveness of the crossings.
B. It identified design flaws in the crossing structures.
C. It criticized the Canadian government's conservation efforts.
D. It provided evidence of grizzly bears using the crossings and maintaining genetically healthy populations.
C
Both my parents worked for 30-plus years for their employers – they had lifelong careers at a single company. Growing up, they taught me the importance of “loyalty” and “commitment”.
But in a rapidly changing world, the concept of a job for life has become as rare as a dial-up internet connection. This shift from stable, long-term employment and single-employer careers to a world where frequent job changes are the norm comes directly from globalisation, rapid technological advancements and the changing ideas about work.
Globalisation has turned the world economy into a giant, interconnected web. This has made job markets fiercely competitive and talent and opportunities in the labour market more diverse and digitally accessible.
Jobs can be widely publicised and explored online and are no longer tied to your city of birth. Add to this the rapid technological progress. We now live in a world where the skills you learned yesterday might not be enough for today’s job market.
The job market is transforming, with new careers emerging as automation and artificial intelligence (AI) advances. Risks and price policies can be efficiently assessed using AI, making insurance underwriters redundant while advanced software in banking and finance mean data analysis can be automated.
Online booking has reduced demand for travel agents and desktop publishers are being replaced by user-friendly software, which allows people to create their own materials. These changes highlight the need for professionals to update their skills and adapt to a technologically evolving job market.
As a result, career paths have become fluid and multi-directional. It’s no longer just about climbing the corporate ladder and getting a regular paycheck; it’s about exploring different paths, switching jobs and industries and sometimes even venturing into freelancing and the gig economy.
Loyalty is defined as an employee’s commitment to their organisation and its goals. It means a willingness to put in extra effort and to uphold the company’s values and objectives. Loyal workers often identify strongly with their workplace, are reliable and view the organisation positively, even during tough times.
When long-term employees change workplaces, it does not mean they are disloyal. It signifies a change in priorities and a redefined loyalty bond. Employees are loyal to their employer and its interests while working there. But they also seek mutual growth and expect to be recognised and rewarded.
Career paths are now a kaleidoscope (万花筒) of experiences and opportunities. Instead of a career identity being about a company brand, it is about skills, experiences and the meaningfulness of the work. This transformation means career decision-making is more intricate, considering personal aspirations, market trends and family considerations.
63. What factors have contributed to the shift in job market dynamics
A. Increased reliance on desktop publishing software.
B. Changing ideas about loyalty and commitment.
C. The decreasing demand for travel agents due to online booking systems.
D. Globalization, rapid technological advancements, and evolving work concepts.
64. What skills are highlighted as essential for professionals in the evolving job market
A. Skills related to desktop publishing.
B. Skills that were relevant yesterday.
C. Skills in data analysis and adaptability.
D. Skills in insurance underwriting.
65. How does the passage suggest employees should approach loyalty in the modern workplace
A. By remaining with a single employer for their entire career.
B. By prioritizing personal growth and recognition.
C. By relying on traditional definitions of loyalty.
D. By avoiding job changes to maintain loyalty.
66. The best title for the passage is _______.
A. Forget About a Job for Life.
B. Learn More as Much as You Can
C. Benefit from Long-term Employment.
D. The Impact of Globalization.
2024届上海市青浦区高三下学期二模英语试卷
Section B
Directions: Read the following three passages. Each passage is followed by several questions or unfinished statements. For each of them there are four choices marked A, B, C and D. Choose the one that fits best according to the information given in the passage you have just read.
(A)
I was sitting in my high school classroom, nervously tapping my pencil against the desk as I awaited the start of the English exam.
As the clock struck, signaling the beginning of the exam, my heart began to race. I opened the exam booklet and scanned the questions, and I felt a wave of panic over me. The questions seemed foreign, and the topics unfamiliar. In a state of panic, I hurriedly wrote down my answers, hoping that somehow, by some stroke of luck, they would be correct. But as the minutes went by, I realized I couldn’t seem to make sense of the questions before me. As the final bell rang, I handed in my paper with a heavy heart.
In the days that followed, I couldn’t shake the feeling of failure that hung over me like a dark cloud. I replayed the exam over and over in my mind, analyzing every question, every answer, searching for clues as to where I had gone wrong.
But in the depression, a realization began to dawn on me — I had failed, yes, but I had also learned valuable lessons along the way. Armed with this newfound wisdom, I ensured that I would do better next time. I threw myself into my studies with renewed determination, devouring books and practicing past exams with an eagerness I had never known before.
When the time came to retake the exam, I was ready. I approached each question with confidence and clarity, drawing upon the lessons I had learned from my previous missteps.
When the results were announced, I held my breath as I scanned the list of names. And there it was — my name, shining brightly among the list of successful candidates. At that moment, all the hard work, all the late nights and early mornings, were worth it.
And as I look back on that sunny afternoon in the high school classroom, I am grateful for the lessons it taught me, and the person it helped me become.
56. Why did the author panic when he first took the exam
A. He sat with a pounding heart.
B. He found the questions too difficult.
C. He was not familiar with the foreign language.
D. He was in a hurry when answering the questions.
57. What did the author do after he failed in the exam
A. He attended valuable lessons in school.
B. He retook the exam over and over again.
C. He promised to arm himself with eagerness.
D. He determined to engage himself in learning.
58. Which of the following can replace the underlined word “devouring” (paragraph 4)
A. being targeted at B. being obliged for
C. being absorbed in D. being credited to
59. According to the passage, this experience helped the author become _____.
A. cheerful and considerate B. objective and demanding
C. tough and persevering D. proud and tolerant
(B)
Whether you are attracted by landscapes or the after-effects of weather, there are photo opportunities everywhere. The following photography tips from photographers will help you shoot your best shot.
Get to know your subject and their habits
Take time to get to know your local wildlife before shooting, and you might just capture something truly special. Try to shoot from the perspective of the animal you are filming. Resist the urge to just point and click — take the time to observe local wildlife and you will see the rewards in your photos.
Capture details in a close-up
Going in close can bring some fascinating rewards in nature photography. Zooming (聚焦) into plants with frost or picking up water drops on a spider’s web can help show the beauty we might miss in everyday life. If you’re zooming in on one particular subject, such as a bee landing on a flower, you could end up with soft-focus objects in the background to create added interest.
Shoot photos at best time of day
There are no hard and fast rules when it comes to timing, and a shadow or lots of natural sunlight can produce great results — it’s just best to avoid extremes. Too much bright light hitting your camera lens (镜头) sensor will result in an overexposed photo with little detail, while a dark sky full of stars might provide too much contrast between the background and the subject you are taking pictures of.
Capture sharp, clear images
Although the delete button can be your best friend, a few things will help you avoid unclear images. Keeping the camera stable is key, whether that’s through a solid pose as you stand ready to shoot or using a support. A self-timer can also be a handy tool for keeping your hands away from dials and settings once you have chosen your shot.
60. Which of the following is the benefit of “zooming in” in shooting
A. It may be an aid to capture the delicate beauty in daily life.
B. It may be helpful to avoid overexposing photos with little detail.
C. It may bring about deleting the background to create added interest.
D. It may contribute to focusing on several particular subjects at a time.
61. What is a photographer recommended to do to shoot satisfactory photos
A. Chase the running rabbit when shooting. B. Follow his instinct when shooting.
C. Shoot in bright daylight at midday. D. Use a stable stand when shooting.
62. You will find the tips above most useful if you want to take photos _____.
A. at a wedding ceremony B. while visiting an art gallery
C. on an excursion to the countryside D. while walking on the street in a city
(C)
At first the question was how quickly people would get back to the office. Then it was whether they would ever return. The last three years has introduced in a major change in white-collar working patterns. The office is not dead but many professionals have settled into a hybrid (混合的) arrangement of some office days and some remote days.
Hybrid working has much to recommend: flexibility for employees, periods of concentration at home, bursts of cooperation in the office. A new paper from Harvard Business School describes an experiment in which workers at BRAC, a non-profit organisation in Britain, were randomly assigned to three groups, each spending different amounts of time working from home. The intermediate (中等的) group, who spent between 23% and 40% of their time in the office, performed best on various performance measures.
But a shift on this large scale is bound to raise tricky issues. In workplaces that have moved to hybrid work, there are still plenty of open questions. One is how to handle the impact of less time in the office for new joiners and younger workers. Research by Emma Harrington of the University of Iowa shows that software engineers receive more feedback on their code when the team sits next to each other in the office, especially new engineers. According to Nicholas Bloom of Stanford University, making new employees spend more time in the office can be a good way of integrating them into company culture and improving their competence. And these younger employees were most likely to quit when everyone was forced to go remote.
A second question concerns how strictly to enforce attendance on days when teams are meant to be in the office. An agreement holds that there should be agreed “anchor days” on which all the people come to work in the office; since the idea is to spend time together, as many people as possible should be there. But one person on the team might have moved somewhere else; someone else might have asked to stay home to let the repairer in. In practice, therefore, hybrid working still often means a mixture of people on screen and people in the office.
Other questions exist. How to define performance measures so managers do not spend time worrying about lazy workers at home Do you require company-wide anchor days or team-level ones The era of hybrid working is only just beginning, so it will take time for answers to emerge. But if there is a message from this first full year of hybrid working, it is that flexibility does not mean a free-for-all.
63. How can in-office work help new employees
A. Giving them more feedback from senior employees.
B. Getting them to catch up with the work schedule.
C. Saving them the cost of staying at home.
D. Helping them feel part of the company.
64. What makes it difficult to enforce attendance on anchor days
A. Young workers prefer working on screen.
B. Engineers object to the idea of anchor days.
C. Office workers can’t take a day off as expected.
D. Employees have various private matters to address.
65. Which of the following statements is the author most likely to agree with
A. It is necessary to grant employees full autonomous rights.
B. Employers should go with the flow because new questions will emerge.
C. Allowing flexibility in work arrangements does not mean having no rules.
D. It is no easy job to arrange either company-wide or team-level anchor days.
What does the passage mainly talk about
A. Hybrid working is outdated after workers’ return.
B. There are some open questions of hybrid working.
C. A shift of working patterns calls for hybrid working.
D. Fixed restrictions should be applied to hybrid working.
答案：
2024届上海市浦东区高考二模英语试题
56-59 BCCA 60-62 BDC 63-66 CBBD
2024届上海市虹口区高三下学期二模英语试题
56-59: CDAB 60-62: DDB 63-66: BDAC
2024届上海市静安区高三下学期二模英语试题
56-59 ACAD 60-62 CDB 63-66 DABB
2024届上海市徐汇区高三下学期二模英语试卷
56-59 BCBC 60-62 ACD 63-66 DCBA
2024届上海市青浦区高三下学期二模英语试卷
56-59 BDCC 60-62 ADC 63-66 DDCB
26