2024届上海市部分区高三下学期二模英语试题汇编：阅读理解（含解析）

上海市部分区2023-2024学年高三下学期二模英语试题汇编
阅读理解
2024届上海市黄浦区高三下学期二模英语试卷
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
My son, Ben, died when he was 23. The year after his death, I hiked 48 of the state’s tallest mountains in his memory. Every step, path and peak has been a way to restore.
About a month after his death, my husband and I hiked Carter Dome and Mount Hight, sorrow weighing heavy in our hearts and legs. Standing on the peak, I looked out across the mountains my son loved. For a moment, the heavy blow brought about by Ben’s death faded into the timeless expanse, and I could breathe.
The next weekend found us on Mount Moosilauke. Then Mount Cannon, Mount Flume, Mount Liberty and so on. It was a series of firsts, of struggles and overcoming them — climbing at night, climbing slides and rocks, camping alone, finding paths and planning routes.
Six days before the anniversary of Ben’s death, I hiked my 48th and final peak: Mount Carrigain. As I stood on the observation platform at the peak, I found the essential truth I had been grasping to express for months: The only place that feels vast enough to hold sorrow this deep and wide is the top of a mountain, looking out into forever.
These days, I hike not to hide, but to seek. I find Ben, but I also find myself: someone broken, now braver and more capable. The forced isolation of sorrow becomes the welcome loneliness of the path; the peace of nature replaces the pain of loss. Hiking is both exhausting and exciting, and it teaches us that sorrow and joy can coexist.
But there’s another, possibly more important truth: A hike is not the only way to find the peace of the natural world; a simple walk along a park path can have a similar effect. The internal journey of sorrow mixes with our steps, and we find comfort along the way.
56. How did the writer feel after climbing Carter Dome and Mount Hight
A. Doubtful. B. Relieved. C. Sad. D. Terrified.
57. After hiking the 48 peaks, the writer learned that __________.
A. it was possible to live with both sorrow and joy
B. it was the isolation of sorrow that exhausted her
C. only by overcoming struggles could one survive
D. the peaks were proper places to remember someone
58. What does the writer imply in the last paragraph
A. Walking works best for those in sorrow. B. We can plan our internal journey as intended.
C. What counts is to make peace with ourselves. D. People tend to hike in parks to seek comfort.
59. Which of the following is the best title for the passage
A. The Heavy Steps That Led Me To Peaks B. The Mountains That Held My Sorrow
C. The Journeys That Frustrated Me D. The First Struggles That Empowered Me
B
FAQs on preparing your Application
Q: Should I target my Application to a specific Job Opening (JO)
A: Yes. Naturally, a customized cover note will also help you focus on the key aspects of your Application that relate to the JO, but it is also in your interest to target the Application according to the responsibilities and competencies of the position.
Q: What’s the difference between duties and achievements
A: Duties describe the specific responsibilities of your job. They accurately reflect what you are doing or have done in each of your previous jobs. In other words, it is the “what you do” of your job. Achievements describe in specific terms “how well” you did in your job.
Q: Many of my achievements are team-based, how do I draft them in my Application
A: You should include your team-based achievements in your Application. Indicate that you were part of a team and describe your specific role in reaching the goal.
FAQs on general Application guidelines
Q: Can I save my Application
A: Yes. You should save your Application when you make changes and/or update it. It is recommended that you save different versions of your Application in Word format and then edit the Application online according to the post for which you are applying.
Q: Can I update my Application to apply for a new JO
A: Yes. Each time you apply for a new JO, we recommend that you review your Application and update it, if appropriate, or target it to better reflect your suitability for the new JO. Your updates will not affect the content of Applications previously submitted against other JOs.
Q: Must I use up all the available characters in each section of my Application
A: No. In fact, doing so may result in an unnecessary lengthy Application. Unless you have an enormous range of experiences, there is no reason to use up all the space given. Applicants are encouraged to list their duties and achievements in a clear and brief manner.
60. Which of the following descriptions best shows your achievements
A. I’ve developed various interests, ranging from oil painting to designing model.
B. I’m good at creating proposals for new product ideas aimed at a specific market.
C. I’m in charge of the clearance, production and distribution of information material.
D. I succeeded in directing a video presentation, assisting our group to win the first prize.
61. If you want to apply for another JO, you’d better __________.
A. target your focus on your interest in the JO
B. save your latest application in Word format
C. prepare one application with all your competencies
D. update your application to match new requirements
62. Applicants are expected to __________ in their applications.
A. introduce what JOs they have previously applied to
B. list the greatest achievements they have made in detail
C. give key information about their experiences and achievements
D. provide the results of their tests, assessments and examinations
C
In the past, jobs were about muscles. Now they’re about brains, but in the future, they’ll be about the heart. – Minouche Shafik, the president of Columbia University
LinkedIn researchers recently looked at which skills any given job requires and then identified over 500 likely to be affected by generative A.I. technologies. They then estimated that 96 percent of a software engineer’s current skills — mainly in programming languages — can eventually be possessed by A.I. Skills associated with jobs like legal associates and finance officers will also be highly exposed. In fact, given the broad impact A.I. is set to have, it is quite likely to affect all of our work to some degree or another.
Circling around this research is the big question emerging across so many conversations about A.I. and work, namely: What are our core capabilities as humans
If we answer this question from a place of fear about what’s left for people in the age of A.I., we can end up admitting a diminished view of human capability. Instead, it’s critical for us all to start from a place that imagines what’s possible for humans in the age of A.I. When we do that, we find ourselves focusing quickly on people skills that allow us to cooperate and innovate in ways technology can intensify but never replace.
A recent Jobs for the Future survey found that 78 percent of the 10 top-employing occupations classified uniquely human skills and tasks as “important” or “very important.” These, commonly referred to as soft skills, include building interpersonal relationships, negotiating between parties and guiding and motivating teams.
Now is the time for leaders, across departments, to develop new ways for students to learn that are more directly tied to where our economy is going, not where it has been. Critically, that involves bringing the same level of preciseness to training around people skills that we have brought to technical skills.
Ultimately, for our society, this comes down to whether we believe in the potential of humans with as much belief as we believe in the potential of A.I. If we do, it is entirely possible to build a world of work that not only is more human but also is a place where all people are valued for the unique skills we have, enabling us to deliver new levels of human achievement across so many areas that affect all of our lives.
63. According to LinkedIn’s recent research __________.
A. soft engineers are required to identify 500 languages
B. A.I. will replace humans in jobs requiring certain skills
C. we humans underestimate the impact A.I. is set to have
D. A.I. technologies are to influence research to some degree
64. Which of the following is “a diminished view of human capability” (paragraph 3)
A. Humans are losing control of the world.
B. Technology intensifies humans’ cooperation.
C. Humans outsmart A.I in terms of critical thinking.
D. A.I. and humans are similar in their ability to innovate.
65. Leaders in different departments are advised to __________.
A. teach students unique technical skills B. develop students’ soft skills for their future
C. remind students where our economy is going D. build healthy interpersonal relationships with students
66. According to the writer, what is the core factor of human development
A. Practical value set on skills. B. Firm belief about A.I. technologies.
C. Decisive effects brought by A.I. D. Confidence in our potential.
2024届上海市普陀区高三下学期二模英语试题
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
In bringing up children, every parent watches eagerly the child’s acquisition of each new skill — the first spoken words, the first independent steps, or the beginning of reading and writing. It is often tempting to hurry the child beyond his natural learning rate, but this can set up dangerous feelings of failure and states of worry in the child. This might happen at any stage. A baby might be forced to use a toilet too early, a young child might be encouraged to learn to read before he knows the meaning of the words he reads. On the other hand, though, if a child is left alone too much, or without any learning opportunities, he loses his natural enthusiasm for life and his desire to find out new things for himself.
Parents vary greatly in their degree of strictness towards their children. Some may be especially strict in money matters. Others are severe over times of coming home at night or punctuality for meals. In general, parents’ demands and social values are as important as children’s own well-being. Therefore, parents also need to constantly observe the world and explore the unknown so as to give the children good personalized education in their growth.
As regards the development of moral standards in the growing child, consistency is very important in parental teaching. To ban a thing one day and excuse it the next is no foundation for morality. Also, parents should realize that “example is better than precept (训诫)”. If they are not sincere and do not practice what they say, their children may grow confused, and emotionally insecure when they grow old enough to think for themselves, and realize they have been to some extent fooled.
A sudden awareness of a marked difference between their parents’ principles and their morals can be a dangerous disappointment. Parents must pay more attention to their own behavior and language, passing on the right values and cognition to their children. In this way, children can grow up healthily on the right track.
56. What do parents usually do when their children are growing up
A. Speed up their children’s learning.
B. Watch their children learn new skills.
C. Put their children into a state of isolation.
D. Make their children live on their own.
57. What’s right about parents’ being strict with their children
A. Parents should not expect too much of them.
B. Parents should encourage them to read faster than others.
C. Parents should create as many learning opportunities as possible.
D. Parents should find a balance between being strict and leaving them alone.
58. The second paragraph mainly tells us that ______.
A. parents should be strict with their children
B. parents need to be strict with themselves
C. different parents treat their children differently
D. parents set strict limits on their children’s spending
59. In moral matters, parents should ______.
A. keep in line in words and deeds
B. demand that their children listen to them
C. know the difference between adults and children
D. consistently ensure the security of their children
B
Preschooler or grade-schooler Start saving early
It’s never too early to start saving for college. One way to get a jump is to use college savings plans like the 529 or Coverdell to start a pool of money to draw from later. You can open an account while your student is a child. And with an account like a 529, the money can be invested to grow tax-free, as long as it’s used for qualified education expenses.
Early high school Time to check those expectations
Setting realistic expectations with your high schooler is an important part of the college readiness timeline. In fact, you can start talking about college and the future when your student is in junior high. Even if you have college savings to help pay for college—or most of your savings—speaking with your student about expectations is important.
High school junior Apply for scholarships and financial aid
The time to start applying for scholarships is during your student’s junior year of high school. Sports, music, performance, and clubs can enhance an application along with grades. It can help create a general essay that can be adjusted for each scholarship. Put together a résumé that includes activities, jobs, and accomplishments. Don’t forget to fill out a CSS profile with the college board. Some schools and other organizations use the CSS profile for outstanding scholarship applications.
Federal financial aid
In order to qualify for federal financial aid, including grants (助学金) and student loans, it’s important to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Your student should fill out their first FAFSA in October of their senior year of high school. The FAFSA should be updated and submitted every subsequent year in October to keep the information up to date and to receive ongoing federal financial aid.
Other opportunities to hold back the costs … or add to them
When planning ahead for college, it’s also important to consider other opportunities and expect the unexpected. Some additional opportunities to consider while your high schooler is a junior or senior include:
Study abroad. If there’s a chance for your student to take a semester or year abroad, that can be a good experience, but it might also require extra paperwork and additional costs.
Additional education. Some schools might offer additional certifications on top of regular degree coursework. A special certification might require a summer semester that might not be included in the traditional financial aid award.
Longer time in school. Not every student will finish in the traditional four-year time frame. Changing majors, double majors, and extracurricular (课外的) activities can extend your student’s time in school.
…
60 What does the underlined part in Para.1 refer to
A. College savings plan. B. Scholarship application method.
C. Education savings account. D. Educational certification agency.
61. What do you need to do first if you want to get federal financial aid
A. To update your materials. B. To apply for scholarships.
C. To contact the government. D. To fill out the free application.
62. What does the author want to tell the readers to do
A. To plan a brand-new college life.
B. To think ahead about the cost of college.
C. To work to make money as early as possible.
D. To think about the significance of major choices.
C
The emergence of black holes undoubtedly marks the beginning of a revolution. Black holes have many peculiar properties, such as the alteration of space and time, the radiation of gravitational waves and so on. Scientists are still trying to study the properties and evolution of black holes in order to better understand the origin and evolution of the universe.
Recently, a team of astronomers may have found a solo-wandering black hole using a strange trick of gravity called microlensing (微透镜效应), but the results still have to be confirmed.
Sometimes it’s tough being an astronomer. Nature likes to hide the most interesting things from easy observation. Take, for example, black holes. Except for the strange quantum (量子) phenomenon of Hawking radiation, black holes are completely black. They don’t emit a single bit of radiation – they only absorb, hence their name.
To date, the only way astronomers have been able to spot black holes is through their influence on their environments. For example, if an orbiting star gets a little too close, the black hole can absorb the gas from that star, causing it to heat up as it falls. We can watch as stars dance around the giant black hole at the center of the Milky Way.
Even the famed pictures of the black holes in the center of the Milky Way and the M87 galaxy(星系) aren’t photographs of the black holes themselves. Instead, they are radio images of everything around them.
But surely not all black holes have other light-emitting objects around them to help us find them. To find these wanderers, astronomers have tried their luck with microlensing. We know that heavy objects can bend the path of light around them. This is a prediction of Einstein’s general theory of relativity, and the slight bending of starlight around our own sun was one of the first successful tests of the theory.
Microlensing is pretty much what the name suggests. When astronomers get extremely lucky, a wandering black hole and pass between us and a random distant star. The light from that star bends around the black hole because of its gravity, and from our point of view, the star will appear to temporarily flare in brightness.
And when I say “extremely lucky” I mean it. Despite trying this technique for over a decade, it is only now that astronomers have found a candidate black hole through microlensing. Two teams used the same data, a microlensing event recorded from both the OGLE (Optical Gravitational Lensing Experiment) telescope in Chile and the MOA (Microlensing Observations in Astrophysics) telescope in New Zealand. One team found that the mass was somewhere around seven times the mass of the sun – definitely black hole territory. But the other team estimated a much smaller mass, around 2-4 times the mass of the Sun. If the true mass of the object is at the lower end of that spectrum (光谱), then the wanderer is probably not a black hole.
63. Why does the author say it is hard to be an astronomer
A. Einstein’s theory is hard to understand.
B. Many things in nature are not easy to observe.
C. Understanding the evolution of the universe is not easy.
D. Whether the black hole has been found remains to be seen.
64. What is the example in Para. 4 trying to prove
A. Stars’ wandering in black holes.
B. Black holes’ absorbing the star’s gas.
C. The relationship between stars’ heating and black holes.
D. Finding black holes by observing environmental changes.
65. What does the author tell us about the discovery of black holes
A. People can often find black holes with glowing objects.
B. Research groups can work together to find black holes.
C. Glowing objects around black holes help us find them sometimes.
D. Understanding the properties of black holes helps find them.
66. What conclusion can we draw from the last paragraph
A. To persevere in the end is to win.
B. Facts speak louder than words.
C. Failure is the mother of success.
D. Things are not always what they seem.
2024届上海市奉贤区高三下学期二模英语试题
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)
Among my oldest friends, I’m known as the mysterious one, the guy who rarely shows up, is always there not here. I had high school buddies, and I loved them all dearly though we boys didn’t say such things back then. Then life happened. Most of us left our hometown. Meet-ups become rare occasions.
One of those old friends, whom I had not seen since our high school graduation, reached out recently to say he’d be near where I am, and hoped we could meet up. He’d done the same thing about 10 years ago, and I’d begged off for some stupid reason related to my shyness, or rather, my introverted nature. I’m older and a bit wiser now, and I’ve been packing around some guilt over that missed opportunity for 10 years, so I agreed readily.
We met for dinner perhaps two hours, and rarely had I felt at ease with other humans as I did with him. We talked and talked. About who we were then. Who we are now. And what made us the jerks (混蛋) we were then. We acknowledged that if not for each other, and the circles of good people we ran with back then, the good friends who kept us reasonably on track and in check, life could have easily gone south for either of us. Each of us recalled things the other had no memory of. Fragments of memories, scattered yet precious. We know we were tight then, and we value that friendship and shared experience still today.
People are fundamentally social beings and enjoy connecting with others. Maintaining social connections is good for our mental and physical health. However, despite the importance and enjoyment of social connection, people significantly underestimate how much others will appreciate being reached out to.
There’s something about the friends you make in youth that’s near impossible to recreate with friends you make later in life. I’m telling you this to remind you that your old friends would love to hear from you, maybe a simple text, a little hello, maybe even a phone call or a meetup.
36. The author refused the meet-up about 10 years ago probably because ______.
A. he was not a sociable man. B. he was not clever enough.
C. he lived far away from his friends. D. he felt guilty about his friends.
37. Which of the following best describes the author’s feeling during the dinner
A. Anxious and nervous. B. Excited and energetic.
C. Comfortable and relaxed. D. Sad and regretful.
38. What does the author imply by saying “life could have easily gone south for either of us”
A. They could have easily been off the track in life.
B. They might have settled down in the southern region.
C. Their friendship could have easily turned sour.
D. They could have faced financial difficulties.
39. What is the main purpose of the article
A. To describe the author’s re union with an old friend.
B. To reflect on the value of friendships formed in youth.
C. To encourage readers to reach out to their old friends.
D. To discuss the importance of social connections.
WORLD 2024
Run Like Olympians WHERE Paris, France WHEN AUGUST
For the first time, members of the public will be able to run their own marathon during the 2024 Summer Olympics, just one initiative aimed at creating a more inclusive Games. Held in the evening between the men’s and women’s official races, the Marathon Games will allow 20,024 qualifying lottery (彩票) winners on the 26-mile route that links Paris and Versailles.
Hear It Live WHERE Kyoto, Japan WHEN YEAR-ROUND
Guidebooks peak of Kyoto as frozen in time, with quiet temples and peaceful gardens. But after hours, Japan’s ancient capital reveals a live music scene. Rock, swing, and even Irish music echo into the night. Whatever you’re into, from jazz to punk, there’s a community for you to share. “This is what happens in Japan when the mask comes off,” says Kyoto guide Van Milton.
Ski New Peaks WHERE Georgia WHEN DEC-APR
Long as a means of transport action, hunting and exploration, skiing is still a way of life in the mountainous republic of Georgia. Now visitors can enjoy some of the nation's best back-country skiing in the Caucasus. In Svaneti, journeys may lead skiers through Gvibari Pass or to Ushguli village.
Explore Ancient Art WHERE Algeria WHEN OCT-NOV
Algeria is home to Africa’s largest national park, which holds one of the world's greatest concentrations of ancient rock art. Tassilin’ Ajjer National Park is a geologic wonderland, but these rock forests are only half the story. Neolithic (新石器时代的) hunter-gatherers left 15,000 rock carvings here, including images of elephants and giraffes. These animals are more commonly associated with sub-Saharan Africa — a hint that this deserted wilderness was once a fertile grassland.
40. As a student who is fond of sports, where is Jane most likely to visit during the summer vacation
A. Georgia B. Kyoto C. Algeria D. Paris
41. What can we infer from the passage
A. Everyone can enter for the Marathon Games in the summer of 2024.
B. Kyoto features the peaceful daytime and energetic nightlife.
C. Visitors worldwide can enjoy skiing in Georgia all year round.
D. Rock carvings in Algeria werc created by artists to attract tourists.
42. What is the main idea of the passage
A. It presents attractions in different regions of the world.
B. It shows the beauty of rural landscapes around the world.
C. It lists the most popular places of interest in the world.
D. It discovers the hidden treasures in western cultures.
With its bright colors, easy-to-learn rules and familiar music, the video game Tetris has endured as a pop culture symbol over the past 40 years. Many people, like me, have been playing the game for decades, and it has been updated to adapt to new technologies like game systems, phones and tablets.
However, Tetris is much more than winning. The game, in which players must control blocks of different shapes as they slide down a screen, is based on a fundamental element of geometry, called dynamic spatial reasoning (动态空间推理). It is taught by mathematics educators and used by architects, engineers, animators, and many others. Players employ these geometric skills to progress in Tetris, so playing it both tests and improves a player’s dynamic spatial reasoning.
Spatial reasoning is the ability to visualize geometric figures and how they will move in space. So, dynamic spatial reasoning is the ability to visualize actively moving figures. The Tetris player must quickly decide where the falling game piece will best fit and then move it there. This movement involves both translation — moving a shape right and left, and rotation — turning its shape by 90 degrees at a time.
Spatial visualization is a key element of a mathematics discipline called transformation al geometry, which is usually first taught in middle school. In a typical transformational geometry exercise, students might be asked to represent a figure by its x and y coordinates (坐标) on a coordinate graph and then identify the transformations, such as translation and rotations, necessary to move it from one position to another while keeping the piece the same shape and size.
While it may seem simple, transformation al geometry is the foundation for several advanced topics in mathematics. Architects and engineers both use transformations to draw up blueprints, which represent the real world in scale drawings. Animators use concepts of transformations as well. While animators today use computer programs that automatically move figures around, they are all based on this kind of transformation.
43. Which is NOT a key reason for Tetris’s lasting popularity
A. Its pleasure of winning the game. B. Its bright colors and catchy music.
C. Its link to complex math and geometry. D. Its simple rules and tech adaptability.
44. According to the passage, what fundamental skill does playing Tetris help improve
A. Logical reasoning. B. Mathematical calculation.
C. Memory maintaining. D. Spatial visualization.
45. Move the sample block on the right using both translation and rotation. Which image below can we get
A. (a) B. (b) C. (c) D. (d)
46. Which of the following statements does the author most probably agree with
A. Tetris is a particularly useful tool for animation and architecture designs.
B. Spatial visualization is based on the constant change of a figure’s position.
C Transformation algeometry behind Tetris can be applied to various fields.
D. Spatial reasoning is too difficult for middle school students to master.
2024市上海市杨浦区高三下学期二模英语试题
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
PAUL HEMINGTON, 57, is the Assistant Operations Manager at Cheddar Gorge（切达峡谷） and Caves cheddargorge.co.uk
I moved to SOMERSET mainly for my family. My daughter was getting married and I didn’t want to live six hours away, so we made the move. Once we moved, we were made unneeded and it was a mad race to get work. I ended up at here at Cheddar Gorge and Caves.
Cheddar Gorge is like nothing else in the UK. It’s a unique phenomenon, because although there are other caves in the country, you don’t have the gorge elsewhere. This is a major geological feature, it’s three miles long and there’s just this natural, raw beauty. I can sit at my desk in guest services and look out at part of the gorge. It’s amazing.
The Cheddar Gorge spirit is strong. You know, not having worked here or heard about the area, you come here and it gets under your skin in the right way. You become part of it, it becomes part of you. I’m very passionate about it. And there’s the amazing wildlife, the geology, the prehistory — Cheddar Man is still one of the greatest finds in the UK.
Every day at Cheddar Gorge and Caves is different. You’ve got the rock sports side of things, the climbing, the caving. We take people through the caves on tours and we have pre-history, which we do with the museum, whereby we have schools come in and do demonstrations with them. We will dress up as genuinely as we can to reproduce the time period of the Cheddar Man, which is the Mesolithic period, so 10,000 years ago. We do fire lighting, for example, and hopefully it’s inspiring to the young people! It’s really cool to be in the museum garden and have part of the gorge as the background while you’re doing it, so you can really submerge yourself in that moment.
My favourite spot is when you go past the peak on the walk and you can look back down into the gorge or across to the reservoir. The view is amazing. Yes, you can see pictures of it, but honestly you have to be there to fully appreciate it. You might hear some buzzards or see some sheep or goats while you’re up there, just to enhance the experience!
36. PAUL HEMINGTON originally moved to Cheddar Gorge to __________.
A. settle down in the countryside B. be closer to his daughter
C. land a job as a tour guide D. take part in a competitive race
37. The underlined phrase “gets under your skin” is closest in meaning to _________.
A. affects you deeply B. bothers you greatly
C. increases your strength D. improves your skin condition
38 Which of the following falls into Paul’s job descriptions
A. He goes to the school to give lectures on pre-history.
B. He demonstrates to young people how to climb rocks.
C. He participates in recreating the scenes in the Mesolithic period.
D. He decorates the museum garden to make it look like the gorge.
39. What does PAUL HEMINGTON talk about in this article
A. How he adapts to the local way of life.
B. What major local attractions are worth seeing.
C. Why Cheddar Gorge ranks first as a natural wonder.
D. What makes Cheddar Gorge so special to him.
B
With short story writer and novelist Della Galton
Q What’s the best way to keep track of your characters in a novel Amanda Rose, via email A I’m not sure what the best way is, but here are some of the methods I use. Most of my records are on paper. I have a huge folder, and in it are the following: * Character sheets – one A4 sheet for each character with all their details: name; age; address; physical description; personality type… * Dialogue records – an extra page where I note their favorite words and dialogues. * Photographs – I use photos cut from magazines for inspirations as to what they look like. I’m also a big fan of spreadsheets. I create one that has the name, date of birth and age of my characters at any given time in the novel – or novels if it’s a series. This is particularly helpful for controlling timelines, as I only need to change one date and the rest are set up to update automatically. I also use a spreadsheet for keeping track of the plot so I know what happens to each character in each chapter. I create the spreadsheet before I start and fill it in as I go. It’s for tracking not plotting, but it could be used for that if you plotted what happens in each chapter. Hope this helps, Amanda. Q Should I use single quotes or double quotes for dialogue Tania Yeatman, Wimborne A It doesn’t matter! Usually it’s a matter of house style, so if you are aiming at a specific publication, check to see what their style is for publication and copy that. If you don’t know the house style then the important thing is to be consistent. The same applies to quotes from interviewees and experts in your articles.
“I saw Anne at writing group,” Milly said. “And she came rushing up to me and told me she’d done it at last. She’s got an agent!”
Sometimes there may be a quote within a quote. It can be single quotes within double quotes or the other way around. But don’t mix the two styles within the story to avoid confusion. Q ______________________________ Grace Louise
40. ________ are most useful for controlling timelines of the story.
A. Character sheets B. Dialogue records
C. Photographs D. Spreadsheets
41. The appropriate example in the box should be __________.
A. ‘I saw Anne at writing group,’ Milly said. ‘And she came rushing up to me and cried, “I’ve done it at last. I’ve got an agent!”’
B. “I saw Anne at writing group,” Milly said. “And she came rushing up to me and cried, ‘I’ve done it at last. I’ve got an agent!”
C. ‘I saw Anne at writing group,’ Milly said. “And she came rushing up to me and cried, ‘I’ve done it at last. I’ve got an agent!’”
D. “I saw Anne at writing group,” Milly said. ‘And she came rushing up to me and cried, ‘I’ve done it at last. I’ve got an agent!’
42. Which of the following questions is most likely to be asked by Grace Louise, who is dreaming of becoming a novelist
A. When and where will your next novel be published
B. What should I write about to win the writing competition
C. Do you have any tips for overcoming the writer’s block
D. Can you give us a lecture on choosing the right topics
C
A forest in Staffordshire (in the UK) transformed into a hi-tech laboratory. Researchers here are investigating how the trees use carbon, and it’s difficult to find out. In an unusual experiment, extra carbon dioxide is piped to the trees, to create the kind of atmospheric conditions expected in the middle of the century. And instruments measure how the forest reacts.
The scientist in charge says there’s still a lot to learn. And he worries that governments and companies are rushing to plant trees as an easy answer to climate change. “If you try and use trees to tidy up the mess that we’re making through emissions, you are putting those trees into a very rapidly changing climate and they will struggle to adapt,” said Professor Rob MacKenzie, University of Birmingham.
This device tracks the movement of carbon dioxide. In a healthy forest, the gas is not only absorbed by the trees but some is released as well. What scientists here are finding out is the way carbon flows into a forest and out of it is a lot more complicated than you might think. So, if mass tree planting is meant to be a solution to tackling climate change, the trees are going to have to be monitored and cared for, over not just decades, but may be centuries as well.
Of all the challenges, the task of planting is the simplest. Shelby Barber from Canada can do an amazing 4,000 trees in a day. “People talking about planting millions billions of trees around the world. Is it possible do you think, physically ” asked BBC.
“It’s definitely possible with the right amount of people, the right group of people. I’ve personally, in three years, planted just over half a million trees.” said Professor Rob MacKenzie.
Once planted, the trees need to survive, and experts are mixing different types to minimize the risk of disease. “It’s a bit like making sure you don’t put all your eggs in one basket, you’re spreading out your risk. And then if one part of that woodland fails, for whatever reason, it gets a disease or it can’t tolerate future climatic conditions, there are other parts of the forest that are healthy and able to fill in those gaps.” said Eleanor Tew of Forestry England.
Suddenly there’s momentum to plant trees on a scale never seen before. So what matters is doing it in a way that ensures the forests thrive — so they really do help with climate change.
43. Why is extra carbon dioxide piped to the trees in the experiment
A. To predict the future atmospheric conditions.
B. To imitate the possible air condition in the future.
C. To create an instrument to measure atmospheric conditions.
D. To investigate the quality of air condition in the future.
44. The underlined word “some” in the second paragraph refers to __________.
A. oxygen B. carbon dioxide C. mess D. purified gas
45. What will Eleanor Tew suggest concerning the survival of the forest
A. Minimizing the area of the woodland.
B. Studying future climatic conditions.
C. Planting different types of trees.
D. Avoiding mixing different species.
46. Which statement concerning mass tree planting will Professor Rob Mackenzie mostly likely agree with
A. It should be advocated in terms of efficiency and convenience.
B. It is the most effective solution to fighting climate changes.
C. It will do more harm than good to the health of the environment.
D. It needs to be studied further as a measure against climate change.
2024届上海市虹口区高三下学期二模英语试题
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
答案
2024届上海市黄浦区高三下学期二模英语试卷
【答案】56. B 57. A 58. C 59. B
【解析】
【导语】这是一篇记叙文。文章主要讲述了作者在儿子去世后开始攀登山峰，攀登的过程让作者了解到生活中可以既悲伤又快乐，重要的是与自己和平相处。
【56题详解】
细节理解题。根据第二段“For a moment, the heavy blow brought about by Ben’s death faded into the timeless expanse, and I could breathe.(有那么一瞬间，本的死给我带来的沉重打击消失在永恒的浩瀚中，我可以呼吸了)”可知，爬完卡特山和海特山后，作者感到松了一口气。故选B。
【57题详解】
细节理解题。根据第四段“As I stood on the observation platform at the peak, I found the essential truth I had been grasping to express for months: The only place that feels vast enough to hold sorrow this deep and wide is the top of a mountain, looking out into forever.(当我站在山顶的观景台上时，我发现了几个月来我一直想表达的一个基本真理：唯一一个让我觉得足够大的地方，可以容纳这么深、这么宽的悲伤，就是山顶，俯瞰永远)”可知，在攀登了48座山峰之后，作者了解到生活中可以既悲伤又快乐。故选A。
【58题详解】
推理判断题。根据最后一段“But there’s another, possibly more important truth: A hike is not the only way to find the peace of the natural world; a simple walk along a park path can have a similar effect. The internal journey of sorrow mixes with our steps, and we find comfort along the way.(但还有另一个可能更重要的事实：徒步旅行并不是找到自然世界宁静的唯一途径；沿着公园的小路散步也有类似的效果。内心的悲伤伴随着我们的脚步，我们在途中找到了安慰)”可知，作者在最后一段暗示了重要的是与自己和平相处。故选C。
【59题详解】
主旨大意题。根据第一段“My son, Ben, died when he was 23. The year after his death, I hiked 48 of the state’s tallest mountains in his memory. Every step, path and peak has been a way to restore.(我儿子本在23岁时就去世了。在他去世后的一年，为了纪念他，我攀登了该州48座最高的山峰。每一步，每一条路，每一次高峰，都是一次恢复)”结合文章主要讲述了作者在儿子去世后开始攀登山峰，攀登的过程让作者了解到生活中可以既悲伤又快乐，重要的是与自己和平相处。可知，B选项“承载我悲伤的群山”最符合文章标题。故选B。
【答案】60. D 61. D 62. C
【解析】
【导语】这是一篇应用文。文章主要列举了一些有关准备申请职位空缺的常见问题。
【60题详解】
细节理解题。根据第二个问题的回答“Duties describe the specific responsibilities of your job. They accurately reflect what you are doing or have done in each of your previous jobs. In other words, it is the “what you do” of your job. Achievements describe in specific terms “how well” you did in your job.(职责描述了你工作的具体职责。它们准确地反映了你在以前的每一份工作中正在做的事情或曾经做过的事情。换句话说，它是你工作的“你做什么”。成就用具体的术语来描述你在工作中做得“有多好”)”可知，D选项“我成功导演了一个视频展示，帮助我们小组获得了一等奖”最能说明你的成就。故选D。
【61题详解】
细节理解题。根据倒数第二段“Each time you apply for a new JO, we recommend that you review your Application and update it, if appropriate, or target it to better reflect your suitability for the new JO. Your updates will not affect the content of Applications previously submitted against other JOs.(每次申请新的JO时，我们建议你检查并更新你的申请，如果合适的话，或者针对你的申请更好地反映你对新JO的适用性。你的更新不会影响以前针对其他JO提交的申请的内容)”可知，如果你想申请另一个JO，你最好更新你的申请以符合新的要求。故选D。
【62题详解】
细节理解题。根据最后一段“Unless you have an enormous range of experiences, there is no reason to use up all the space given. Applicants are encouraged to list their duties and achievements in a clear and brief manner.(除非你有丰富的经验，否则没有理由把所有的空间都用完。我们鼓励申请人以简洁明了的方式列出自己的职责和成就)”可知，申请人应在申请中提供有关其经历和成就的关键信息。故选C。
【答案】63. B 64. A 65. B 66. D
【解析】
【导语】这是一篇说明文。根据领英最近的研究，人工智能将在需要某些技能的工作中取代人类，围绕这项研究的一个大问题出现在许多关于人工智能和工作的对话中，即：我们作为人类的核心能力是什么？
【63题详解】
细节理解题。根据第一段“They then estimated that 96 percent of a software engineer’s current skills — mainly in programming languages — can eventually be possessed by A.I. Skills associated with jobs like legal associates and finance officers will also be highly exposed.(然后他们估计，软件工程师目前96%的技能——主要是编程语言——最终都可以被人工智能所掌握。与法律助理和财务官等工作相关的技能也将高度曝光)”可知，根据领英最近的研究，人工智能将在需要某些技能的工作中取代人类。故选B。
【64题详解】
细节理解题。根据第三段“Instead, it’s critical for us all to start from a place that imagines what’s possible for humans in the age of A.I. When we do that, we find ourselves focusing quickly on people skills that allow us to cooperate and innovate in ways technology can intensify but never replace.(相反，对我们所有人来说，从想象人工智能时代人类的可能性开始是至关重要的。当我们这样做时，我们会发现自己很快就把注意力集中在人际交往技能上，这些技能使我们能够以技术可以加强但永远不会取代的方式进行合作和创新)”可知，人类正在失去对世界的控制是“对人类能力的低估”。故选A。
【65题详解】
细节理解题。根据倒数第三段“These, commonly referred to as soft skills, include building interpersonal relationships, negotiating between parties and guiding and motivating teams.(这些通常被称为软技能，包括建立人际关系，在各方之间进行谈判以及指导和激励团队)”可知，建议不同部门的领导为学生的未来培养软技能。故选B。
【66题详解】
细节理解题。根据最后一段“Ultimately, for our society, this comes down to whether we believe in the potential of humans with as much belief as we believe in the potential of A.I. If we do, it is entirely possible to build a world of work that not only is more human but also is a place where all people are valued for the unique skills we have, enabling us to deliver new levels of human achievement across so many areas that affect all of our lives.(归根结底，对于我们的社会来说，这取决于我们是否像相信人工智能的潜力一样相信人类的潜力。如果我们相信，就完全有可能建立一个不仅更加人性化，而且所有人的独特技能都受到重视的工作世界，使我们能够在影响我们所有人生活的众多领域取得新的人类成就)”可知，对我们潜力的信心是人类发展的核心因素。故选D。
2024届上海市普陀区高三下学期二模英语试题
【答案】56. B 57. D 58. C 59. A
【解析】
【导语】本文是一篇议论文。文章主要围绕父母在抚养孩子过程中应注意的问题和策略展开，提出了自己的观点和论据，阐述了父母在孩子成长过程中的重要作用和应该注意的方面。
【56题详解】
细节理解题。根据文章第一段“In bringing up children, every parent watches eagerly the child’s acquisition of each new skill— the first spoken words, the first independent steps, or the beginning of reading and writing.(在抚养孩子的过程中，每个父母都热切地注视着孩子掌握每一项新技能——第一次说话，第一次独立行走，或开始阅读和写作。)”可知，在孩子成长的过程中，父母通常会热切地注视着孩子掌握每一项新技能。故选B。
【57题详解】
推理判断题。根据文章第二段“Some may be especially strict in money matters. Others are severe over times of coming home at night or punctuality for meals. In general, parents’ demands and social values are as important as children’s own well-being. Therefore, parents also need to constantly observe the world and explore the unknown so as to give the children good personalized education in their growth.(有些人可能在金钱问题上特别严格。另一些人则在晚上回家的时间或吃饭的时间上很严重。一般来说，父母的要求和社会价值观与孩子自身的幸福同样重要。因此，父母也需要不断地观察世界，探索未知，才能在孩子的成长过程中给予他们良好的个性化教育。)”可知，第二段内容认为如果父母对孩子过于严格或过于放任，都可能对孩子产生不良影响。因此，父母需要在严格和放任之间找到平衡。故选D。
【58题详解】
主旨大意题。根据文章第二段“Parents vary greatly in their degree of strictness towards their children. Some may be especially strict in money matters. Others are severe over times of coming home at night or punctuality for meals. (父母对孩子的严格程度差别很大。有些人可能在金钱问题上特别严格。另一些人则在晚上回家的时间或吃饭的时间上很严重。)”可知，第二段讲述的是不同的父母对待孩子的方式不同。故选C。
【59题详解】
细节理解题。根据文章最后一段“Also, parents should realize that “example is better than precept(训诫)”. If they are not sincere and do not practice what they say, their children may grow confused, and emotionally insecure when they grow old enough to think for themselves, and realize they have been to some extent fooled.(此外，父母应该意识到“身教胜于训诫”。如果他们不真诚，不实践他们所说的话，他们的孩子可能会变得困惑，在情感上缺乏安全感，当他们长大到足以独立思考，并意识到他们在某种程度上被愚弄了。)”可知，父母在道德问题上应该言行一致，以身作则，给孩子树立一个好榜样。故选A。
【答案】60. C 61. D 62. B
【解析】
【导语】这是一篇应用文。文章给家长提了一些为孩子上大学的费用提前进行规划的方法。
【60题详解】
词句猜测题。根据空前上文“ college savings plans like (像……这样的大学储蓄计划)”及下文“You can open an account while your student is a child. And with an account like a 529, the money can be invested to grow tax-free, as long as it’s used for qualified education expenses. (你可以在学生还是孩子的时候开立账户。像529这样的账户，只要用于符合条件的教育费用，这笔钱就可以免税投资。)”可推测，the 529 or Coverdell 应该是用来做教育储蓄的账户。故选C项。
【61题详解】
细节理解题。根据第四段“In order to qualify for federal financial aid, including grants(助学金) and student loans, it’s important to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Your student should fill out their first FAFSA in October of their senior year of high school. (为了有资格获得联邦财政援助，包括助学金和学生贷款，填写联邦学生援助免费申请表(FAFSA)很重要。你的学生应该在他们高中最后一年的十月份填写他们的第一份FAFSA。)”可知，想要的得到联邦财政资助，首先要填写一个免费申请表。故选D项。
【62题详解】
推理判断题。根据文章第一段“Preschooler or grade-schooler Start saving early It’s never too early to start saving for college. One way to get a jump is to use college savings plans like the 529 or Coverdell to start a pool of money to draw from later. You can open an account while your student is a child. And with an account like a 529, the money can be invested to grow tax-free, as long as it’s used for qualified education expenses. (学龄前儿童还是小学生 早点开始存钱 为上大学存钱永远不会嫌早。一种提升的方法是使用529或Coverdell等来建立一个资金池，以便以后提取。你可以在学生还是孩子的时候开立账户。像529这样的账户，只要用于符合条件的教育费用，这笔钱就可以免税投资。)”并综合全文可知，作者在向读者介绍提前规划孩子上大学的各种费用一些建议。故选B项。
【答案】63. B 64. D 65. C 66. D
【解析】
【导语】本文是一篇说明文。文章主要介绍了微引力透镜效应的概念、天文学家通过这一技术寻找黑洞的过程，以及不同团队在估计潜在黑洞质量时产生的差异。
【63题详解】
细节理解题。根据文章第三段“Sometimes it’s tough being an astronomer. Nature likes to hide the most interesting things from easy observation.(有时候做天文学家很艰难。大自然喜欢把最有趣的东西隐藏起来，不让人轻易观察。)”可知，作者说天文学家很难是因为大自然喜欢把最有趣的东西隐藏起来，不让人轻易观察。故选B。
【64题详解】
推理判断题。根据文章第四段“To date, the only way astronomers have been able to spot black holes is through their influence on their environments. For example, if an orbiting star gets a little too close, the black hole can absorb the gas from that star, causing it to heat up as it falls. We can watch as stars dance around the giant black hole at the center of the Milky Way.(迄今为止，天文学家能够发现黑洞的唯一方法是通过它们对周围环境的影响。例如，如果一颗绕轨道运行的恒星靠得太近，黑洞就会吸收恒星的气体，导致恒星下落时温度升高。我们可以看到恒星在银河系中心的巨大黑洞周围跳舞。)”可知，本段的例子试图证明的是首句的观点，即天文学家能够发现黑洞的唯一方法是通过它们对周围环境的影响。故选D。
【65题详解】
推理判断题。根据文章第四段“To date, the only way astronomers have been able to spot black holes is through their influence on their environments. For example, if an orbiting star gets a little too close, the black hole can absorb the gas from that star, causing it to heat up as it falls. We can watch as stars dance around the giant black hole at the center of the Milky Way.(迄今为止，天文学家能够发现黑洞的唯一方法是通过它们对周围环境的影响。例如，如果一颗绕轨道运行的恒星靠得太近，黑洞就会吸收恒星的气体，导致恒星下落时温度升高。我们可以看到恒星在银河系中心的巨大黑洞周围跳舞。)”以及第七段“When astronomers get extremely lucky, a wandering black hole and pass between us and a random distant star. The light from that star bends around the black hole because of its gravity, and from our point of view, the star will appear to temporarily flare in brightness. (当天文学家非常幸运的时候，一个游荡的黑洞会从我们和一颗随机的遥远恒星之间经过。由于黑洞的引力，这颗恒星发出的光会在黑洞周围弯曲，从我们的角度来看，这颗恒星的亮度会暂时变亮。)”可知，黑洞周围的发光物体有时可以帮助天文学家找到它们。故选C。
【66题详解】
推理判断题。根据文章最后一段内容“Two teams used the same data, a microlensing event recorded from both the OGLE (Optical Gravitational Lensing Experiment) telescope in Chile and the MOA (Microlensing Observations in Astrophysics) telescope in New Zealand. One team found that the mass was somewhere around seven times the mass of the sun – definitely black hole territory. But the other team estimated a much smaller mass, around 2-4 times the mass of the Sun.(两个团队使用了相同的数据，智利的OGLE(光学引力透镜实验)望远镜和新西兰的MOA(天体物理学中的微透镜观测)望远镜都记录了一个微透镜事件。一个研究小组发现，它的质量大约是太阳质量的7倍——绝对是黑洞的范围。但另一个小组估计的质量要小得多，大约是太阳质量的2-4倍。)”可知，最后一段提到了分析微透镜事件的两个团队在质量估计上的差异。这种差异表明，即使有科学数据和分析，一个物体的真实性质(在这种情况下，无论它是否是黑洞)也可能无法立即显现。不同的结论表明，即使有科学证据，事情也并不总是像它们看起来的那样。故选D。
2024届上海市奉贤区高三下学期二模英语试题
【答案】36. A 37. C 38. A 39. C
【解析】
【导语】文章是一篇夹叙夹议文。文章主要讲述了作者的老友和他取得联系，重温青春友谊，珍惜过去，一声问候温暖人心，作者建议人们联系自己的老朋友。
【36题详解】
细节理解题。根据文章第二段“He’d done the same thing about 10 years ago, and I’d begged off for some stupid reason related to my shyness, or rather, my introverted nature.(大约10年前，他也做过同样事情，而我因为一些愚蠢的原因拒绝那次见面，这些原因与我的害羞有关，或者更确切地说，与我内向的天性有关)”可知，大约10年前，作者拒绝了这次会面，可能是因为他不是一个善于交际的人。故选A项。
【37题详解】
推理判断题。根据文章第三段“We met for dinner, perhaps two hours, and rarely had I felt at ease with other humans as I did with him.(我们相约共进晚餐，大概有两个小时，我很少能像与他在一起时那样感到如此自在)”可知，作者在晚饭时感到舒适和放松。故选C项。
【38题详解】
词句猜测题。根据文章第三段“We acknowledged that if not for each other, and the circles of good people we ran with back then, the good friends who kept us reasonably on track and in check, (我们承认，如果不是彼此，以及当年我们相处的那些良师益友圈子，那些好朋友让我们保持在相对正确的轨道上)”可推知，划线句表达我们的生活很可能早已偏离正轨，与A项“他们本可以轻而易举地偏离人生轨道”意义相近。故选A项。
【39题详解】
推理判断题。根据文章最后一段“I’m telling you this to remind you that your old friends would love to hear from you, maybe a simple text, a little hello, maybe even a phone call or a meetup.(我告诉你这件事是为了提醒你，你的老朋友们很乐意收到你的来信，也许是一条简单的短信，一个小小的问候，甚至可能是一个电话或聚会)”可知，作者写这篇文章是为了鼓励读者联系他们的老朋友。故选C项。
【答案】40. D 41. B 42. A
【解析】
【导语】这是一篇说明文。文章主要介绍了巴黎、京都、乔治亚州以及阿尔及利亚四个地方的魅力。
【40题详解】
细节理解题。根据第一段“For the first time, members of the public will be able to run their own marathon during the 2024 Summer Olympics, just one initiative aimed at creating a more inclusive Games. Held in the evening between the men’s and women’s official races, the Marathon Games will allow 20,024 qualifying lottery (彩票) winners on the 26-mile route that links Paris and Versailles. (在2024年夏季奥运会期间，公众将首次能够参加自己的马拉松比赛，这只是旨在打造一届更具包容性的奥运会的一项举措。马拉松比赛在男子和女子官方比赛之间的晚上举行，将允许20024名符合资格的彩票获胜者参加连接巴黎和凡尔赛的26英里路线。)”可知，作为一个喜欢运动的学生，简在暑假期间最有可能去巴黎。故选D。
【41题详解】
推理判断题。根据第二段“Guidebooks peak of Kyoto as frozen in time, with quiet temples and peaceful gardens. But after hours, Japan’s ancient capital reveals a live music scene. Rock, swing, and even Irish music echo into the night. Whatever you’re into, from jazz to punk, there’s a community for you to share. (旅游指南书中京都的巅峰就像被时间冻结了一样，有安静的寺庙和宁静的花园。但几个小时后，日本古都呈现出现场音乐场景。摇滚，摇摆，甚至爱尔兰音乐在夜晚回荡。)”可推知，京都的特点是宁静的白天和充满活力的夜生活。故选B。
【42题详解】
主旨大意题。根据文章主要介绍了巴黎、京都、乔治亚州以及阿尔及利亚四个地方的魅力。可知，这篇文章的主旨是它展示了世界不同地区的吸引力。故选A。
【答案】43. C 44. D 45. D 46. C
【解析】
【导语】本文为一篇说明文。文章介绍了游戏俄罗斯方块的数学理论基础。
【43题详解】
细节理解题。根据文章第一段“With its bright colors, easy-to-learn rules and familiar music, the video game Tetris has endured as a pop culture symbol over the past 40 years. Many people, like me, have been playing the game for decades, and it has been updated to adapt to new technologies like game systems, phones and tablets.(在过去的40年里，电子游戏“俄罗斯方块”凭借其鲜艳的色彩、易于学习的规则和熟悉的音乐，一直是流行文化的象征。许多人，像我一样，已经玩了几十年的游戏，它已经更新，以适应新的技术，如游戏系统，手机和平板电脑)”及第二段“However, Tetris is much more than winning. The game, in which players must control blocks of different shapes as they slide down a screen, is based on a fundamental element of geometry, called dynamic spatial reasoning. (然而，俄罗斯方块的意