备战2018年高考英语大题冲关秘笈
专题08 冲关押题训练
Passage1
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正确率
科学家发现距今37亿年前的化石
420
★★★☆☆
6分钟
Old Fossils
Scientists have found what they think is probably the oldest fossil on Earth, a remnant of life from 3.7 billion years ago when Earth’s skies were orange and its oceans green.
In a newly melted part of Greenland, Australian scientists found the leftover structure from a community of microbes（微生物）that lived on an ancient seafloor. Based on their analysis of the fossils, the researchers determined that they are 220 million years older than those discovered in Western Australia, which were 3.48 billion years old.
The discovery shows life may have formed quicker and more easily than once thought, about half a billion years after Earth formed. And that may also give hope for life forming elsewhere, such as Mars, said study co-author Martin VanKranendonk of the University of New South Wales and director of the Australian Center for Astrobiology. ＂It gives us an idea how our planet evolved and how life gained a foothold,＂ VanKranendonk said.
Scientists had thought it would take at least half a billion years for life to form after the molten Earth started to cool a bit, but this shows it could have happened quicker, he said. That’s because the newly found fossil is far too complex to have developed soon after the planet’s first life forms, he said.
In an outcrop of rocks that used to be covered with ice and snow which melted after an exceptionally warm spring, the Australian team found stromatolites（叠层石）, which are layered structures that are often produced by a community of microbes. The stromatolites were about 1 to 4 centimeters high.
＂It is like the house left behind made by the microbes,＂ VanKranendonk said. ＂Scientists used the layers of ash from volcanoes and tiny zircon（锆石） with uranium and estimated that they date back to 3.7 billion years ago.＂
The dating seems about right, said Abigail Allwood, a NASA astrobiologist who found the previous oldest fossil, from 3.48 billion years ago, in Australia. But Allwood said she is not completely convinced that what VanKranendonk’s team found once was alive. She said the evidence wasn’t conclusive enough that it was life and not a geologic quirk（地质巧合）. ＂It would be nice to have more evidence, but in these rocks that’s a lot to ask,＂ Allwood said in an email.
1. The underlined words ＂gained a foothold＂ in Paragraph 3 mean______.
A.continued B.changed
C.increased D.Started
2. We can learn from Paragraph 4______.
A.the fossil appeared soon after the birth of the earth
B.the fossil formed soon after the earth’s first life
C.life formed earlier than the newly found fossil
D.life appeared about half a billion years ago
3. What is Abigail Allwood’s attitude towards the newly found fossil?
A.Neutral. B.Sceptical.
C.Objective. D.Supportive.
4. According to the passage, ______.
A.the previous fossils are a geologic quirk
B. the previous fossils are made up of stromatolites
C. the newly found fossils come from Western Australia
D. the newly found fossils have a history of 3.7 billion years
【语篇解析】文章介绍科学家发现距今37亿年前的化石。
1. D【解析】词义猜测题。根据文章第三段的句子＂It gives us an idea how our planet evolved＂这让我们了解 星球是怎么形成的，下文是生命是怎么开始的。可知，＂gained a foothold＂ 意为＂开始＂。故选D。
3. B【解析】 观点态度题。根据文章最后一段的句子＂She said the evidence wasn’t conclusive enough that it was life and not a geologic quirk(地质巧合).＂可知，Abigail Allwood 对于新发现的化石态度是怀疑的。故选B。
4. D【解析】细节理解题。根据文章第一段的句子＂remnant of life from 3.7 billion years ago＂和第二段的句 子＂the researchers determined that they are 220 million years older than those discovered in Western Australia, which were 3.48 billion years old.＂可知，新发现的化石有37亿年历史。故选D。
Passage2
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意外中毒的主要原因及急救方法
304
★★★☆☆
6分钟
Doctors in hospital emergency rooms often see accidental poisonings. A frightened parent arrives with a child who swallowed a cleaning liquid. Or perhaps the harmful substance is a medicine. Or it might be a chemical product meant to kill insects. These are common causes of accidental poisoning.
In cases like this, seek medical help as soon as possible. Save the container of whatever caused the poisoning. And look on the container for information about anything that stops the effects of the poison. Save anything expelled from the mouth of the victim. That way, doctors can examine it.
Millions of people know a way to save a person who is choking on something trapped in the throat. The method is commonly known as the Heimlich Maneuver or abdominal thrusts(腹部按压), which you can do by getting directly behind a sitting or standing person. Put your arms around the victim’s waist. Close one hand to form a ball. Place it over the upper part of the stomach, below the ribs. Place the other hand on top. Then push forcefully inward and upward. Repeat the abdominal thrusts until the object is expelled from the mouth. For someone who is pregnant or very fat, place your hands a little higher than with normal abdominal thrusts.
Red Cross experts say taking these steps can save many lives. But they also warn that abdominal thrusts are not for people who have almost drowned. They say use of the method could delay other ways to re-start breathing in the victim. Abdominal thrusts should be used only in cases where a near-drowning victim is choking on an object.
To learn more about first aid, ask a hospital or organization like a Red Cross or Red Crescent Society for information. There may be training classes offered in your area.
1. According to the first paragraph, which of the following is NOT the common cause of accidental poisonings?
A. A harmful medicine
B. A cleaning liquid
C. Poisonous insects
D. Dangerous pesticide(杀虫剂)
2. The underlined word “expelled” in paragraph 2 can be replaced by “_________ ”.
A. coming out B. taking up
C. going away D. getting down
3. Why abdominal thrusts are not for people who have almost drowned?
A. Because people are unwilling to attempt rescue efforts
B. Because it is hard to perform
C. Because it is no need to do so
D. Because it could hold up other ways to re-start breathing in the victim
4. What is the author’s purpose in writing this text?
A. To promote medical research
B. To share some knowledge about first aid
C. To show how to perform abdominal thrusts
C.To help people deal with accidental poisoning
【语篇解读】本文是一篇说明文，主要介绍了意外中毒的主要原因及急救方法。
1.C【解析】细节理解题。根据第一段的介绍可知，有害的药物、清洁剂及杀虫剂都是意外中毒的主要原因， 而没有提到有毒的昆虫。
3.D【解析】细节理解题。根据倒数第二段中的“They say use of the method could delay other ways to re-start breathing in the victim. ”可知，腹部按压不适合溺水者是因为它会延迟受害者以其他的方式重新开始
呼吸。
4. B 【解析】文章意图题。根据最后一段中的“To learn more about first aid, ask a hospital or organization like
a Red Cross or Red Crescent Society for information.”可知，这篇文章的目的是促进关于急救常识的医学研究。
Passage3
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紫禁城的斗拱设计
358
★★★☆☆
6分钟
Beijing’s Forbidden City is a place full of wonder. From its thousands of rooms to its many beautiful artifacts, there’s no wonder it’s one of China’s most popular tourist destinations.
But even more than 600 years after it was built, it’s still managing to serve up surprises. Since it was built during the Ming Dynasty, it’s estimated that the Forbidden City has survived more than 200 earthquakes. And while most structures aren’t made to survive natural disasters, let alone ones built hundreds of years ago, it seems that the Forbidden City was built to withstand anything.
A recent television documentary by UK broadcaster Channel 4 explored the skills of the ancient building’s designers. A group of Chinese carpenters and engineers were shown building a scale model (成比例模型) of one of the Forbidden City’s palaces, at one fifth of the size.
To show how strong ancient Chinese architecture really is, the model was put to the test. It was subjected to a simulated (模拟的) earthquake of 9.5 on the Richter scale – equivalent to the largest ever recorded quake – and survived. Instead of falling apart, the model was just moved gently during the test.
According to experts, the answer to the Forbidden City’s strength, as well as other ancient Chinese structures’, lies in dougong– a centuries-old building method invented in China. This is the name for special brackets on buildings. Despite being held together without any nails or glue, the brackets are perfect at keeping structures together when the weather gets rough.
“Dougong design is an important earthquake-resistant feature of classical Chinese structures because the framework changes in shape when under pressure, much like the shock absorbers (减震器) of a car,” according to Chinese National Geography.
“Ancient Chinese craftsmen created structures that were both enduring and aesthetically (在美学方面) pleasing using dougong, revealing their advanced understanding of mathematics, architecture, materials, and structural science.”
The Forbidden City draws visitors because of its rich history and cultural significance, but perhaps it should add one more thing to its list of attractions: earthquake shelter.
1. What is the article mainly about?
A.What has made the Forbidden City a popular tourist destination.
B.What has helped the Forbidden City survive so many earthquakes.
C.The characteristics of Chinese architecture during the Ming Dynasty.
D.A variety of building methods used in ancient Chinese structures.
2. Which of the following can best replace the underlined phrase “was subjected to” in Paragraph 4?
A. suffered B. was controlled by
C. obeyed D. was affected by
3. What was the aim of the test in the UK documentary?
A. To reproduce a real earthquake from the Ming Dynasty.
B. To discover a long-lost Chinese building method
C. To explain the impact of earthquakes on ancient buildings.
D. To prove the strength of ancient Chinese architecture.
4. What is “dougong” according to the text?
A. A paint that gives Chinese buildings an attractive look.
B. A tool used by ancient people to measure earth-quakes.
C. Special building parts that keep a traditional Chinese building together,
D. A building piece located in the center of a traditional Chinese house.
【语篇解读】本文是一篇说明文，介绍了紫禁城的斗拱设计帮助它能够在多次地震中幸存。
1. B【解析】主旨大意题。根据文章内容，特别是倒数第二段中的“Dougong design is an important
earthquake-resistant feature of classical Chinese structures because the framework changes in shape when under pressure”可知，紫禁城的斗拱设计帮助它能够在多次地震中幸存。
3. D【解析】细节理解题。根据第四段中的“To show how strong ancient Chinese architecture really is, the model was put to the test. ”可知，测试的目的是证明中国古建筑的抗震性。
4. C【解析】细节理解题。根据倒数第二段中的“dougong– a centuries-old building method invented in China. This is the name for special brackets on buildings.”可知，斗拱是连接中国传统建筑物的一个特殊部件。
Passage4
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有一颗年轻的心
357
★★★☆☆
6分钟
Taylore is a kid who passes by to ride sometimes and help us with chores. Barely 15, she’s never short of advice, and one of her favorite pastimes is teasing me about being afraid to go too fast on a horse.
Last summer four of us rode down the trail behind our woods: my wife Karen, Taylore, Taylore’s friend Kendall and me. I was riding my 13-year-old, Tawny.
We were two miles from home when, for some unexplainable reason, I pushed Tawny into a gallop（飞驰）. The other horses were anxious to catch up, and just like that, the race was on.
Taylore brushed past my left leg and, seconds later, Kendall went by on my right. I realized Tawny was covering ground faster than I’d ever seen her. She strained every muscle in her body to catch up with the girls. It was like a truck winding over a mountain road without brakes (闸). Part of me felt perfectly in control, while another part screamed that I wasn’t.
In half a mile I knew we’d be crossing the highway, so I prayed that the girls would be fine. I gave up calculating how long it might take before my horse would be tried enough to want to slow down.
I was just about out of answers when I saw the girls slowing in front of me. Their horses were relaxed and comfortable, not even breathing hard. Taylore’s face glowed. She gave me a high five. ＂Wow, you did well, ＂she said. ＂ I knew you’d go fast when you were ready.＂
No one in the group had even broken a sweat, except me. I was still nervous from the crazy pace. My heart pounded too, but not from exercise. Karen claims I was showing off for the girls that day, and maybe she’s right. But I think I had something to prove. Because despite my wrinkles (皱纹), glasses and gray hair, I was feeling young at heart. And, like a horse on a warm summer day, I’m always ready to kick up my heels.
1. How did the race between the girls and the author begin?
A. His horse’s gallop made the other horses want to catch up.
B. He wanted to show off his riding skills for the girls.
C. They wanted to know whose horse could run fastest.
D. They teased him about being afraid to go too fast on a horse.
2. During the race, ___________.
A. the author’s horse outran the girl’s horses the whole time
B. the author was confident that Tawny was in control
C. the girls were so anxious to win that they sweated a lot
D. the author’s good performance took Taylore by surprise
3. When the race ended, the author’s heart pounded because ________.
A. he was feeling thrilled and young
B. it was really tough exercise for him
C. he was worried that the girls might be in danger
D. he felt quite embarrassed that he had lost the race
4. The phrase ＂kick up my heels＂ at the end can be replaced by _________.
A. devote myself
B. enjoy myself
C. accept my challenge
D. take part in running competition
【语篇解析】文章描述作者和两个女孩骑马比赛，这让作者感到兴奋，也感到虽然自己上了年纪，但是有一颗年轻的心。
1. A【解析】细节理解题。根据文章第三段的句子＂We were two miles from home when, for some unexplainable reason,I pushed Tawny into a gallop(飞驰). The other horses were anxious to catch up, and just like that, the race was on.＂可知，作者的马飞驰起来使得其它马想要赶上。故选A。
2. D【解析】推理判断题。根据文章倒数第二段的句子＂Taylore’s face glowed. She gave me a high five. ‘Wow, you did well,’ she said.‘I knew you’d go fast when you were ready.’＂可知，作者的出色的表现让Taylore 很惊讶。故选D。
4. B【解析】词义猜测题。根据文章最后一段的句子＂like a horse on a warm summer day,＂可知，作者感觉 自己像温暖夏日的马，总是准备好享受一番。故选B。
备战2018年高考英语大题冲关秘笈
专题08 冲关模拟训练
题组一
Passage1（2018届河北省五个一联盟高三模拟考试）
话题
词数
难度
参考用时
正确率
最悲哀的两个单词if only
355
★★★☆☆
5分钟
Two of the saddest words in the English language are “if only”. I live my life with the goal of never having to say those words, because they convey regret, lost opportunities, mistakes, and disappointment.
My father is famous in our family for saying, “Take the extra minute to do it right.” I always try to live by the “extra minute” rule. When my children were young and likely to cause accidents, I always thought about what I could do to avoid an “if only ” moment, whether it was something minor like moving a cup full of hot coffee away from the edge of a computer, or something that required a little more work such as taping padding (衬垫) onto the sharp corners of a glass coffee table.
I don’t only avoid those “if only” moments when it comes to safety. It’s equally important to avoid “if only” in our personal relationships. We all know people who lost a loved one and regretted that they had?foregone?an opportunity to say “I love you” or “I forgive you”. When my father announced he was going to the eye doctor across from my office on Good Friday, I told him that it was a holiday for my company and I wouldn’t be there. But then I thought about the fact that he’s 84 years old and I realized that I shouldn’t give up an opportunity to see him. I called him and told him I had decided to go to work on my day off after all.
I know there will still be occasions when I have to say “if only” about something, but my life is definitely better because of my policy of doing everything possible to avoid that eventuality(可能发生的事). And even though it takes an extra minute to do something right, or it occasionally takes an hour or two in my busy schedule to make a personal connection, I know that I’m doing the right thing. I’m buying myself peace of mind and that’s the best kind of insurance for my emotional well-being.
1.Which of the following is an example of the “extra minute” rule ?
A. Start the car the moment everyone is seated.
B. Leave the room for a minute with the iron working.
C. Wait for an extra minute so that the steak tastes better.
D. Move an object out of the way before it trips someone.
2.The author decided to go to her office on Good Friday to __________.
A. keep her appointment with the eye doctor
B. meet her father who was already an old man
C. join in the holiday celebration of the company
D. finish her work before the deadline approaching
3.The underlined word “foregone” in Paragraph 3 is closed in meaning to “_________”.
A. abandoned B. lacked
C. avoided D. wasted
4.What is the best title for the passage ?
A. The Emotional Well-being B. The Two Saddest Words
C. The Most Useful Rule D. The Peace of Mind
【文章大意】这篇文章主要讲解的是作者对于最悲哀的两个单词if only 的理解及看法。
1.D 【解析】推理判断题。根据第二段的句子“When my children were young and likely to cause accidents, I always thought about what I could do to avoid an ‘if only’ moment,”可知，“extra minute”指的是“在发生意外之前防患于未然”，D项（在一个东西绊倒某人之前将它拿走）符合。故选D。
3.A 【解析】猜测词义题。根据foregone 所在句子“We all know people who lost a loved one and regretted that they had?foregone?an opportunity to say ‘ I love you’ or ‘I forgive you’.”中的lost及regretted 可知此词与opportunity 搭配翻译成“放弃机会”，故选A。
4.B 【解析】标题判断题。根据第一段第一句话“Two of the saddest words in the English language are ‘if only’.”及文章大意，可知本文主要针对最悲哀的两个单词if only 展开话题进行讲解，故选B。
Passage2（2018届江西省红色七校高三第一次联考）
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跷二郎腿对身体有害
303
★★★☆☆
6分钟
Crossing your legs is an extremely common habit; most people don't even notice that they're doing it when they sit down. While you may find it comfortable to sit with one knee crossed over the other, it might be causing health problems that you are not aware of.
A study published in Blood Pressure Monitoring stated that sitting with your legs crossed can increase your blood pressure. The reason for this is that the blood in your legs has to work against gravity to be pumped back to your heart and that crossing one leg over the other increases resistance, making it even harder for the blood to circulate. This causes your body to increase your blood pressure to push the blood back to the heart. You won't feel any immediate effects, but repeated, drawn-out increases in blood pressure can cause long-term health issues. So, planning to sit for a long period of time? Don't keep your legs crossed.
Crossing your legs at the knee can also cause pressure on the major nerve in your leg that passes just below your knee and along the outside of your leg, explains Richard Graves, a medical expert. This pressure can cause numbness and temporary paralysis (麻痹) of some of the muscles in your foot and leg, preventing you from being able to raise your ankle—what we know as that “pins and needles” sensation. While the feeling of discomfort may only last a minute or two, repeatedly crossing your legs until they feel numb can cause permanent nerve damage.
So next time you sit down, try to get yourself in the habit of sitting with both of your feet on the floor. Not only will it help your posture and stability, but it will also save your health in the long run.
1.What can we learn about crossing one's legs?
A. It is a very bad social habit.
B. It is usually practiced deliberately.
C. It can make others feel uncomfortable.
D. It can do harm to people's health.
2.According to the study, sitting with your legs crossed can______.
A. resist gravity effectively B. affect your blood pressure
C. lead to heart attacks easily D. improve the fun_ction of legs
3.In the third paragraph "pins and needles" probably means______.
A. serious muscle injuries B. being a little nervous
C. slight sharp pains D. being highly flexible
4.What is the main purpose of the text?
A. To give readers some advice.
B. To compare common habits.
C. To evaluate effects of an experiment.
D. To introduce research methods.
【文章大意】本文是一篇说明文，主要介绍了研究发现跷二郎腿对身体有害，大家要改掉跷二郎腿的坏习惯。
1.D 【解析】细节理解题。根据第一段中的“ it might be causing health problems that you are not aware of.”可知，跷二郎腿对健康有害。
2.B 【解析】细节理解题。根据第二段中的“ sitting with your legs crossed can increase your blood pressure.”可知，跷二郎腿会使血压升高。
4.A 【解析】文章意图题。根据文章内容，特别是第一段中的“it might be causing health problems that you are not aware of.”及最后一段中的“So next time you sit down, try to get yourself in the habit of sitting with both of your feet on the floor.”可知，研究发现跷二郎腿对健康有害，因此这篇文章的目的是建议大家改掉跷二郎腿的坏习惯。
Passage3（2018届福建省百所重点校高三年上学期联合考试 ）
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Sir Nicholas Winton在纳粹期间帮助669个犹太孩子逃到英国的故事
339
★★★☆☆
5分钟
The story of Sir Nicholas Winton is the one that you would imagine could only happen on the silver screen. Sir Nicholas Winton was a British man who went to heroic efforts, potentially putting himself at risk, during World War II. Sir Winton was responsible for ensuring the safety of six hundred and sixty-nine Jewish children by aiding their escape from countries occupied by Nazis. Finally, the Jewish children were brought to England where he worked to make sure families in his native country would help the kids by taking them into their homes.
Recently, this unbelievable story has again been making the rounds on the Internet, particularly after a rerun of the BBC show called “That’s Life”, which featured Sir Winton. People around the world were moved at the details of the story, with saying it to be the best story they’ve ever seen.
Sir Winton kept his entire plan completely secret, even his wife had no idea about his planning until fifty years later. After the war, years passed and many people remained in the dark about Sir Winton’s extraordinary achievement. Some fifty years later, his wife Greta was searching in their house and discovered a Winton’s notebook which documented the names of all the children. She worked with BBC and they produced a TV episode (插曲) of their program “That’s Life” that served as an honor for Sir Winton’s work.
In 2003, Sir Winton was knighted by the Queen of England for his work. He also was even nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize. He also had a small planet named after him by Czech astronomers. Sir Winton died peacefully in his sleep at the old age of one hundred and six, in 2015. Leaders around the world paid tribute (悼念). Israel’s ambassador to the United Kingdom, Daniel Taub, said, “He was a hero of our time, having saved 669 Jewish children from Nazis. His story, as a point of light in a period of darkness, will forever be remembered.”
1.What happened to the 669 Jewish children?
A. They were killed by Nazis.
B. They returned to their own homes.
C. They fled to their native countries.
D. They were raised by English families.
2.What made Winton’s story spread widely?
A. People’s chatting online. B. The program “That’s Life”.
C. His wife’s promotion. D. Praises from some leaders.
3.Which of the following can replace the underlined expression “remained in the dark’, in Paragraph 3?
A. felt doubtful B. remained moved
C. knew nothing D. criticized something
4.What do we know about Winton?
A. He was born in 1909. B. Nazis tried to arrest him.
C. He named a small planet. D. Many children paid tribute to him.
【文章大意】文章主要讲述Sir Nicholas Winton在纳粹期间帮助669个犹太孩子逃到英国的故事。如今而且BBC把这一故事搬上荧幕，让大众知道在黑暗时期还有这样一个英雄给人们带来光明。
1.D 【解析】细节理解题。根据文章第一段中的“Finally, the Jewish children were brought to England where he worked to make sure families in his native country would help the kids by taking them into their homes.”可知，669个犹太人孩子被带到了英国，并由英国家庭收养。故选D。
3.C 【解析】词义猜测题。根据前面的句意可知，Sir Nicholas Winton一直对自己的英雄事迹保密，甚至是他的妻子。所以，此处应为不为人们所知道。故选Ｃ。
4.A 【解析】细节理解题。根据最后一段中“Sir Winton died peacefully in his sleep at the old age of one hundred and six, in 2015.”可知，Sir Winton 生于1909年。故选Ａ。
Passage4（2018届江西省新余市第一中学高三毕业班第四次模拟考试）
话题
词数
难度
参考用时
正确率
美国家庭移民历史中心
328
★★★☆☆
6分钟
The American Family Immigration History Center is an exciting new interactive area at the Ellis Island Immigration Museum where more than 100 million Americans may search for their family's beginnings in the New World. Now, for the first time, the passengers records of the ships that landed some 22 million immigrants, crewmembers and other passengers at the Port of New York and Ellis Island from 1892 to 1924 have been computerized, making it easier than ever to discover your own family history.
Five years in the making, the center was developed and funded by the Statue of the LibertyEllis Island Foundation, Inc., which was responsible for the restoration and preservation of the Statue of the Liberty and Ellis Island, and the creation of the Immigration Museum.
For visitors to the Museum, the excitement begins at a welcoming?kiosk?where you can enter ancestors' names and see if their arrival records are included in the database and are available in the History Center in the Museum's West Wing. Once inside the Center itself, in the very place where your ancestors (grandgrandparents) may have ended their long journey, you and your family can log on the one of 41 computers, type in name, and, within seconds, set in motion your own special journey of discovery.
Imagine the excitement you'll share with your family as you use the latest technology to sort through a vast computerized archive (档案馆) with millions of records, and see your family's own personal story in America come to life before your eyes.
Millions of hours were spent creating this vast database and, if you find your ancestors' names, you'll discover answers to questions you've always wondered about... What ship did my family members take? When did they arrive? How old were they? Were they married? Then, take these valuable records and create your own Family History Scrapbook, preserving forever the story of the past while keeping the legacy of your family alive.
1.Why is it easier for visitors to find their family histories in the History Center?
A. More clerks are employed there.
B. All of its documents are computerized.
C. Facilities of the museum are restored.
D. Workers are more creative than before.
2.Who sponsors the restoration of the American Family Immigration History Center?
A. Families whose family histories are kept here.
B. National Park Service in the United States.
C. Local government and visitors to the Museum.
D. The Statue of LibertyEllis Island Foundation, Inc.
3.The word “kiosk” in the passage is most probably______.
A. a museum assistant B.an advertisement
C. a self?service device D. a receptionist
4.In which part of a newspaper would this passage most probably be found?
A. Science. B. Entertainment.
C. Life. D. Travel.
【文章大意】本文主要介绍了美国家庭移民历史中心，数以亿计的美国人可以在这里找到他们的家庭。
1.B 【解析】细节理解题。根据第一段中的“…have been computerized, making it easier than ever to discover your own family history.”可知，参观者容易找到家庭历史是因为所有的档案都是电脑化的。
3.C 【解析】词义猜测题。根据画线词后的“where you can enter ancestors' names and see if their arrival records are included in the database and are available in the History Center in the Museum's West Wing.”可知，画线词指的是一种供参观者查看数据库中家庭历史信息的自助服务设备。
4.D 【解析】推理判断题。本文主要介绍了美国家庭移民历史中心，数以亿计的美国人可以在这里找到他们的家庭，是关于移民话题的，因此最有可能出现在报纸的旅行版面中。
题组二
Passage1(2017届河南省新乡市第一中学高三模考)
话题
词数
难度
参考用时
正确率
大黄蜂有学习能力
304
★★★☆☆
5分钟
Scientists in Britain have managed to teach bumblebees(大黄蜂) to pull strings to get to food and then pass on what they have learned to others in their colony(群体)—showing a high level of intelligence despite their tiny brains.
Researchers at Queen Mary University of London said the experiments, often used to test the intelligence of apes (猿) and birds, showed for the first time that some insects are up to the task, and can also pass skills on through several generations.
The findings add to the evidence suggesting the ability for ＂culture spread＂ — the ability to learn and pass on knowledge and skills — may not be exclusive to humans.
In the research, published in the journal PLOS Biology on Tuesday, the scientists were able to train 23 out of a group of 40 bees to pull strings with their legs and feet.
The strings were attached to discs — or artificial ＂flowers＂ — containing food at their center but placed under a transparent screen. The bees, spotting the food beneath the screen, learned to pull the ＂flowers＂ out by pulling the string with their legs and feet to be able to get to it.
From another group of bees given the chance to solve the task without any training, only two of 110 were successful.
Another group of bees was then allowed to observe the trained bees pulling the strings, and 60 percent of them successfully learned the skill. Finally, trained bees were put in colonies, and the scientists found the technique spread successfully to a majority of the colony’s worker bees.
Lars Chittka, a Queen Mary University professor who guided the project, said the team is interested in figuring out the brain processes behind the bees’ learning and teaching skills.
1.What does the underlined word ＂exclusive＂ in Paragraph 3 probably mean?
A. Ordinary. B. Unique.
C. Beneficial. D. Widespread.
2.What did the researchers find about bees?
A. Bees learn best in insects.
B. Bees are as clever as birds.
C. Bees are born good learners.
D. Bees can be trained to learn skills.
3.What may the research team focus on next?
A. What else bees can do.
B. Where bees learn skills.
C. How bees teach others.
D. How bees’ brain work.
4.What may be the best title for the text?
A. Small bees, great abilities
B. Bees can learn and teach
C. Bees are smarter
D. Let bees learn
【文章大意】本文为说明文，属于科普类文章。介绍了大黄蜂有学习能力，还会传播自己学到的知识。
1.B 【解析】猜测词义题。依据第二段可知，大黄蜂也具有学习并传播所学知识的能力，结合第三段本句话可知，这种能力并非人类独有的，故选B项。
2.D 【解析】细节理解题。根据第三、四、五、六、七段可知，蜜蜂可以被训练学习技能。D项正确。
4.B 【解析】主旨大意题。综合全文尤其第一段可知，文章主要介绍一项科学发现，大黄蜂也可以学习并传播所学技能，故选B项。
Passage2(2017届黑龙江大庆一中高三第三段测)
话题
词数
难度
参考用时
正确率
保护本国文化
355
★★★☆☆
6分钟
One of the main challenges facing many countries is how to maintain their identity in the face of globalization and the growing multi-language trend. ＂One of the main reasons for economic failure in many African countries is the fact that, with a few important exceptions, mother-tongue education is not practiced in any of the independent African states.＂ said Neville Alexander, Director of the Project for the Study of Alternative Education in South Africa at the University of Cape Town.
In response to the spread of English and the increased multi-language trends arising from immigration, many countries have introduced language laws in the last decade. In some, the use of languages other than the national language is banned in public spaces such as advertising posters. One of the first such legal provisions(规定) was the 1994 ＂Toubon law＂ in France, and the idea has been copied in many countries since then. Such efforts to govern language use are often considered as futile by language experts, who are well aware of the difficulty in controlling fashions in speech and know from research that language switching among bilinguals is a natural process.
It is especially difficult for native speakers of English to understand the desire to maintain the ＂purity＂ of a language by law. Since the time of Shakespeare, English has continually absorbed foreign words into its own language. English is one of the most mixed and rapidly changing languages in the world, but that has not been a barrier to acquiring superiority and power. Another reason for the failure of many native English speakers to understand the role of the state regulation is that it has never been the Anglo-Saxon way of doing things. English has never had a state-controlled authority for the language, similar, for example, to the Academic Francaise in France.
The need to protect national languages is, for most western Europeans, a recent phenomenon- especially the need to ensure that English does not unnecessarily take over too many fields. Public communication, education and new ways of communication promoted by technology, may be key fields to defend.
1.Neville Alexander believes that __________.
A. mother-tongue education is not practiced in all African countries
B. globalization has resulted in the economic failure of Africa
C. globalization has led to the rise of multi-language trend
D. lack of mother-tongue education can lead to economic failure
2.The underlined word ＂futile＂ (in paragraph 2) most probably means ＂ _________＂.
A. workable B. practical
C. useless D. unnecessary
3.What can we infer from the last paragraph?
A. English has taken over fields like public communication and education.
B. Many aspects of national culture are threatened by the spread of English.
C. Most language experts believe it is important to promote a national language.
D. Europeans have long realized the need to protect a national language.
4.The best title for the passage is __________.
A. Fighting against the rule of English
B. Protecting local languages and identities
C. Globalization and multi-language trend
D. To maintain the purity of language by law
【文章大意】现在世界全球化导致很多国家的独特的文化收到了冲击和影响，本文讲述的正是这方面的话题。很多国家都采取了很多的措施来保护本国的文化。
1.D 【解析】推理判断题。根据文章第一段＂One of the main reasons for economic failure in many African countries is the fact that, with a few important exceptions, mother-tongue education is not practiced in any of the independent African states.＂ said Neville Alexander可知，他认为母语教育方面的缺失会导致经济方面的失败。故D正确。
2.C 【解析】词义猜测题。根据本句Such efforts to govern language use are often dismissed as futile by language experts, who are well aware of the difficulty in controlling fashions in speech and know from research that language switching among bilinguals is a natural process.可知，很多语言专家都认为管理语言使用的努力是无用的，因为这样的控制是没有什么效果的。故C正确。
4.B 【解析】主旨大意题。根据文章第一段One of the main challenges facing many countries is how to maintain their identity in the face of globalization and the growing multi-language trend.可知，现在世界全球化导致很多国家的独特的文化受到了冲击和影响，本文讲述的正是这方面的话题。故B正确。
Passage3(2017届贵州省南白中学高三第四次联考)
话题
词数
难度
参考用时
正确率
不要期盼完美的演讲
294
★★★☆☆
6分钟
It may help you to know that there is no such thing as a perfect speech. At some point in every speech, every speaker says something that is not understood exactly as he has planned. Fortunately, such moments are usually not obvious to the listeners. Why? Because the listeners do not know what the speaker plans to say. They hear only what the speaker does say. If you lose your place for a moment, wrongly change the order of a couple of sentences, or forget to pause at a certain point, no one will be any the wiser. When such moments occur, don’t worry about them. Just continue as if nothing happened.
Even if you do make an obvious mistake during a speech, that doesn’t really matter. If you have ever listened to Martin Luther King’s famous speech — ＂I Have a Dream＂, you may notice that he stumbles (结巴)over his words twice during the speech. Most likely, however, you don’t remember. Why? Because you were fixing your attention on his message rather than on his way of speech-making.
People care a lot about making a mistake in a speech because they regard speech-making as a kind of performance rather than as an act of communication. They feel the listeners are like judges in an ice-skating competition. But, in fact, the listeners are not looking for a perfect performance. They are looking for a well-thought-out speech that expresses the speaker’s ideas clearly and directly. Sometimes a mistake or two can actually increase a speaker’s attractiveness by making him more human.
As you work on your speech, don’t worry about being perfect. Once you free your mind of this, you will find it much easier to give your speech freely.
1.The underlined part in the first paragraph means that no one will .
A.be smarter than you
B. know what you are talking about
C.do better than you
D. notice your mistakes
2.You don’t remember obvious mistakes in a speech because .
A. you find the way of speech-making more important
B. you don’t fully understand the speech
C. you don’t know what the speaker plans to say
D. your attention is on the content
3.From the last two paragraphs, the author means that .
A. giving a speech is like giving a performance
B. the listeners should pay more attention to how a speech is made
C.one or two mistakes in a speech may not be bad。
D. the more mistakes a speaker makes, the more attractive he will be
4.What would be the best title for the passage?
A. How to Be a Perfect Speaker
B. Don’t Expect a Perfect Speech
C. Don’t Expect Mistakes in a Speech
D. How to Make a Perfect Speech
【文章大意】这篇文章主要讲了不要期盼完美的演讲，没有人会注意到你的错误，有时一两个错误也不坏。
1.D 【解析】词义猜测题。根据上文＂Because the listeners do not know what the speaker plans to say. They hear only what the speaker does say.＂可知，没人会注意到你在演讲中所出现的问题和错误，故选D。
3.C 【解析】推理判断题。根据倒数第二段最后一句话＂Sometimes a mistake or two can actually increase a speaker’s attractiveness by making him more human＂ 作者认为演讲中的一两个错误并不坏。故选C。
4.B 【解析】标题判断题。根据第一段的句子＂It may help you to know that there is no such thing as a perfect speech.＂可知，文章主要介绍不要期望完美的演讲。故选B。
Passage 4(2017届山西省晋中市高考模拟)
话题
词数
难度
参考用时
正确率
帮助别人，提高自己
266
★★★★☆
5分钟
Recently I and other Red Cross volunteers met a group of victims from Hurricane Katrina. We were there, as mental health professionals, to offer ＂psychological first aid＂ and I was struck by the simple healing power of presence. As we walked in the gate to the shelter, we were greeted with a burst of gratitude (感激) from the first person we met. I felt appreciated, but also guilty, because I hadn’t really done anything yet.
I first realized the power of presence many years ago when a friend’s mother passed away unexpectedly. I had received a call saying she had just passed away. I wanted to rush down there immediately, but didn’t want to intrude (打扰) on this very personal period of sadness. I was torn about what to do. Another friend with me then said, ＂Just go. Just be there.＂ I did, and I will never regret it.
Since then, I have not hesitated to be in the presence of others. Once I sat at the bedside of a young man suffering from the pain of his AIDS — related dying. He was not awake, and obviously unaware of others’ presence. However, the atmosphere was by no means solemn. His family, playing guitars and singing, allowed him to be present with them as though he were still fully alive.
In my life, I am repeatedly struck by the healing power of presence. In it, none of us are truly alone. It is not only something we give to others but also changes me for the better.
1.Why were the hurricane victims grateful to the author?
A. He built shelters for them.
B. He gave immediate first aid to them.
C. He came to stay with them.
D. He brought mental health professionals.
2.What did the author do when his friend’s mother passed away?
A. He hesitated over whether to go.
B. He went to his friends’ at once.
C. He knew what to do instantly.
D. He decided not to disturb.
3.What does the underlined word ＂solemn＂ in Paragraph 3 probably mean?
A. Heavy but warm.
B. A little sad but cosy.
C. Relaxing and delightful.
D. Very serious and unhappy.
4.What has the author learned from his experience?
A. A friend in need is a friend indeed.
B. Being present can make a big difference.
C. The family harmony is the happiest thing in life.
D. Being a volunteer can make one’s life more significant
【文章大意】本文是一篇记叙文。经过几次出现在诸如灾难现场、失去亲人的朋友家里等，作者体会到出现产生的巨大力量，因为这不仅帮助了别人，也提高了自己。
1.C 【解析】细节理解题。根据第一段末we were greeted with a burst of gratitude (感激)from the first person we met….I hadn’t really done anything yet.可知，我们只是和他们见面，还没有做什么，故选C。
2.A 【解析】细节理解题。根据第二段中I wanted to rush down there immediately, but didn’t want to intrude (打扰) on this very personal period of sadness. I was tom about what to do.可知，作者犹豫不知是否要去，故选A。
3.D 【解析】词义猜测题。根据画线词后一句中His family, playing guitars and singing, allowed him to be present with them as though he were still fully alive.可知，当时气氛并不严肃，故选D。
备战2018年高考英语大题冲关秘笈
专题07 冲关真题训练
题组一
Passage 1(2017·新课标II卷，D)
话题
词数
难度
参考用时
正确率
植物受到攻击时，会发出VOCs，以此来保护自己
293
★★★☆☆
5分钟
When a leafy plant is under attack, it doesn’t sit quietly. Back in 1983, two scientists, Jack Schultz and Ian Baldwin, reported that young maple trees getting bitten by insects send out a particular smell that neighboring plants can get. These chemicals come from the injured parts of the plant and seem to be an alarm. What the plants pump through the air is a mixture of chemicals known as volatile organic compounds, VOCs for short.
Scientists have found that all kinds of plants give out VOCs when being attacked .It’s a plant’s way of crying out. But is anyone listening? Apparently. Because we can watch the neighbours react.
Some plants pump out smelly chemicals to keep insects away. But others do double duty. They pump out perfumes designed to attract different insects who are natural enemies to the attackers. Once they arrive, the tables are turned. The attacker who was lunching now becomes lunch.
In study after study, it appears that these chemical conversations help the neighbors .The damage is usually more serious on the first plant, but the neighbors, relatively speaking, stay safer because they heard the alarm and knew what to do.
Does this mean that plants talk to each other? Scientists don’t know. Maybe the first plant just made a cry of pain or was sending a message to its own branches, and so, in effect, was talking to itself. Perhaps the neighbors just happened to “overhear” the cry. So information was exchanged, but it wasn’t a true, intentional back and forth.
Charles?Darwin,?over?150?years?ago,?imagined?a?world?far?busier,?noisier?and?more?intimate(亲密的)
?than?the?world?we?can?see?and?hear.?Our?senses?are?weak.?There’s?a?whole?lot?going?on.
32.?What?does?a?plant?do?when?it?is?under?attack?
A.?It?makes?noises.????? B.?It?gets?help?from?other?plants.
C.?It?stands?quietly???? D.?It?sends?out?certain?chemicals.
33.?What?does?the?author?mean?by?“the?tables?are?turned”?in?paragraph?3?
A.?The?attackers?get?attacked.
B.?The?insects?gather?under?the?table.
C.?The?plants?get?ready?to?fight?back.
D.?The?perfumes?attract?natural?enemies.
34.Scientists find from their studies that plants can .
A. predict natural disasters
B. protect themselves against insects
C. talk to one another intentionally
D. help their neighbors when necessary
35.what can we infer from the last paragraph?
A. The world is changing faster than ever.
B. People have stronger senses than before
C. The world is more complex than it seems
D. People in Darwin’s time were imaginative.
【文章大意】本文是一篇科普说明文。研究发现，当植物受到攻击时，会发出VOCs，以此来保护自己或者与周围的植物通过化学物质进行交流。
32.D 【解析】细节理解题。根据“reported that young maple trees getting bitten by insects send out a particular
smell that neighboring plants can get. These chemicals come from the injured parts of the plant and seem to be an alarm”可知，当植物受到伤害时，会分泌一种特殊的化学物质。
33.A 【解析】词义推测题。根据“Once they arrive,the tables are turned.The attacker who was lunching now
becomes lunch”，一旦它们到达这里，这些攻击者就会受到植物的攻击，故选A。
35.C 【解析】推理判断题。根据“imagined a world far busier, noisier and more intimate(亲密的) than the world
we can see and hear. Our senses are weak. There’s a whole lot going on”可知，这个世界远比我们看到或听到的更热闹、更亲密，我们认知能力有限，有很多事仍在继续发生，远比我们想象的要复杂。故选C。
Passage 2（2017·新课标卷III，C）
话题
词数
难度
参考用时
正确率
美国黄石公园重新引进灰狼
295
★★★☆☆
6分钟
After years of heated debate, gray wolves were reintroduced to Yellowstone National Park. Fourteen wolves were caught in Canada and transported to the park. By last year, the Yellowstone wolf population had grown to more than 170 wolves.
Gray wolves once were seen here and there in the Yellowstone area and much of the continental United States, but they were gradually displaced by human development. By the 1920s, wolves had practically disappeared from the Yellowstone area. They went farther north into the deep forests of Canada, where there were fewer humans around.
The disappearance of the wolves had many unexpected results. Deer and elk populations — major food sources (来源) for the wolf — grew rapidly. These animals consumed large amounts of vegetation (植被), which reduced plant diversity in the park. In the absence of wolves, coyote populations also grew quickly. The coyotes killed a large percentage of the park’s red foxes, and completely drove away the park’s beavers.
As early as 1966, biologists asked the government to consider reintroducing wolves to Yellowstone Park. They hoped that wolves would be able to control the elk and coyote problems. Many farmers opposed the plan because they feared that wolves would kill their farm animals or pets.
The government spent nearly 30 years coming up with a plan to reintroduce the wolvers. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service carefully monitors and manages the wolf packs in Yellowstone. Today, the debate continues over how well the gray wolf is fitting in at Yellowstone. Elk, deer, and coyote populations are down, while beavers and red foxes have made a comeback. The Yellowstone wolf project has been a valuable experiment to help biologists decide whether to reintroduce wolves to other parts of the country as well.
28. What is the text mainly about?
A. Wildlife research in the United States.
B. Plant diversity in the Yellowstone area.
C. The conflict between farmers and gray wolves.
D. The reintroduction of wolves to Yellowstone Park.
29. What does the underlined word ＂displaced＂ in paragraph 2 mean?
A. Tested. B. Separated.
C. Forced out. D. Tracked down.
30. What did the disappearance of gray wolves bring about?
A. Damage to local ecology.
B. A decline in the park’s income.
C. Preservation of vegetation.
D. An increase in the variety of animals.
31. What is the author’s attitude towards the Yellowstone wolf project?
A. Doubtful. B. Positive.
C. Disapproving. D. Uncaring.
【文章大意】本文是一篇说明文，介绍了美国黄石公园重新引进灰狼的事情。人类活动的影响使灰狼的数量逐渐减少，鹿群数量逐渐增加，从而导致植被被大量破坏。
28.D 【解析】主旨大意题。文章开门见山地提出黄石公园引进灰狼的举措，然后在下文中详细介绍其原因以及带来的良好的转机，由此判断本文的中心话题是美国黄石公园对灰狼的引进。
30.A 【解析】推理判断题。根据第三段的内容可知，灰狼的减少造成了鹿群的增多，从而植被遭到了破坏；造成了土狼数量的快速增长，它们猎杀了大量的赤狐，赶走了海狸，由此可推断出灰狼的消失导致了当地生态平衡被破坏。
31.B 【解析】推理判断题。根据文章末段的最后一句可知，作者认为引进灰狼的项目是很有价值的实验，因此可推知作者对这一举措持肯定的态度。
Passage 3（2017·天津卷）
话题
词数
难度
参考用时
正确率
无人驾驶的自动化车辆在英国、新加坡和美国的不同前景
348
★★★☆☆
8分钟
This month, Germany’s transport minister, Alexander Dobrindt, proposed the first set of rules for autonomous vehicles(自主驾驶车辆). They would define the driver’s role in such cars and govern how such cars perform in crashes where lives might be lost.
The proposal attempts to deal with what some call the “death valley” of autonomous vehicles: the grey area between semi-autonomous and fully driverless cars that could delay the driverless future.
Dobrindt wants three things: that a car always chooses property(财产) damage over personal injury; that it never distinguishes between humans based on age or race; and that if a human removes his or her hands from the driving wheel — to check email, say — the car’s maker is responsible if there is a crash.
“The change to the road traffic law will permit fully automatic driving,” says Dobrindt. It will put fully driverless cars on an equal legal footing to human drivers, he says.
Who is responsible for the operation of such vehicles is not clear among car makers, consumers and lawyers. “The liability(法律责任) issue is the biggest one of them all,” says Natasha Merat at the University of Leeds, UK.
An assumption behind UK insurance for driverless cars, introduced earlier this year, insists that a human “be watchful and monitoring the road” at every moment.
But that is not what many people have in mind when thinking of driverless cars. “When you say ‘driverless cars’, people expect driverless cars.” Merat says. “You know — no driver.”
Because of the confusion, Merat thinks some car makers will wait until vehicles can be fully automated without operation.
Driverless cars may end up being a form of public transport rather than vehicles you own, says Ryan Calo at Stanford University, California. That is happening in the UK and Singapore, where government-provided driverless vehicles are being launched.
That would go down poorly in the US, however. “The idea that the government would take over driverless cars and treat them as a public good would get absolutely nowhere here,” says Calo.
46. What does the phrase “death valley” in Paragraph 2 refer to?
A. A place where cars often break down.
B. A case where passing a law is impossible.
C. An area where no driving is permitted.
D. A situation where drivers’ role is not clear.
47. The proposal put forward by Dobrindt aims to __________.
A. stop people from breaking traffic rules
B. help promote fully automatic driving
C. protect drivers of all ages and races
D. prevent serious property damage
48. What do consumers think of the operation of driverless cars?
A. It should get the attention of insurance companies.
B. It should be the main concern of law makers.
C. It should not cause deadly traffic accidents.
D. It should involve no human responsibility.
49. Driverless vehicles in public transport see no bright future in _________.
A. Singapore B. the UK
C. the US D. Germany
50. What could be the best title for the passage?
A. Autonomous Driving: Whose Liability?
B. Fully Automatic Cars: A New Breakthrough
C. Autonomous Vehicles: Driver Removed!
D. Driverless Cars: Root of Road Accidents
【文章大意】这是一篇新闻报道。文章记叙了德国交通部长的对于自主驾驶车辆的规章制度的一个提议，引出说明了位于科技前沿的无人驾驶的自动化车辆在英国、新加坡和美国的不同前景。
46.D 【解析】考查词义猜测。根据第二段的句子the grey area between semi-autonomous and fully driverless cars that could delay the driverless future可知选D。
48.D【解析】考查细节理解。根据第六、七、八段内容可知选D。
49.C 【解析】考查细节理解。根据最后一段That would go down poorly in the US, however. “The idea that the government would take over driverless cars and treat them as a public good would get absolutely nowhere here,” says Calo.可知选C。
50.A 【解析】通读全文可以知道，本文主要讲述了谁来对无人驾驶的机动车辆负责。故选A。
Passage 4（2017·江苏卷 ）
话题
词数
难度
参考用时
正确率
鸟类在胎教方面的超凡本领
343
★★★☆☆
7分钟
Before birth, babies can tell the difference between loud sounds and voices. They can even distinguish their mother’s voice from that of a female stranger. But when it comes to embryonic learning (胎教), birds could rule the roost. As recently reported in The Auk: Ornithological Advances, some mother birds may teach their young to sing even before they hatch (孵化). New-born chicks can then imitate their mom’s call within a few days of entering the world.
This educational method was first observed in 2012 by Sonia Kleindorfer, a biologist at Flinders University in South Australia, and her colleagues. Female Australian superb fairy wrens were found to repeat one sound over and over again while hatching their eggs. When the eggs were hatched, the baby birds made the similar chirp to their mothers—a sound that served as their regular ＂feed me!＂ call.
To find out if the special quality was more widespread in birds, the researchers sought the red-backed fairy wren, another species of Australian songbird. First they collected sound data from 67 nests in four sites in Queensland before and after hatching. Then they identified begging calls by analyzing the order and number of notes. A computer analysis blindly compared calls produced by mothers and chicks, ranking them by similarity.
It turns out that baby red-backed fairy wrens also emerge chirping like their moms. And the more frequently mothers had called to their eggs, the more similar were the babies’ begging calls. In addition, the team set up a separate experiment that suggested that the baby birds that most closely imitated their mom’s voice were rewarded with the most food.
This observation hints that effective embryonic learning could signal neurological (神经系统的) strengths of children to parents. An evolutionary inference can then be drawn. ＂As a parent, do you invest in quality children, or do you invest in children that are in need?＂ Kleindorfer asks. ＂Our results suggest that they might be going for quality.＂
58.The underlined phrase in Paragraph 1 means＂____________＂.
A. be the worst B. be the best
C. be the as bad D. be just as good
59. What are Kleindorfer’s findings based on?
A. Similarities between the calls of moms and chicks.
B. The observation of fairy wrens across Australia.
C. The data collected from Queensland’s locals.
D. Controlled experiments on wrens and other birds.
60. Embryonic learning helps mother birds to identify the baby birds which ____________.
A. can receive quality signals
B. are in need of training
C. fit the environment better
D. make the loudest call
【文章大意】文章介绍了鸟类在胎教方面的超凡本领。实验发现鸟儿在孵化时不停地鸣叫是为了教会以后出生的雏鸟歌唱的本领，从而挑选出能够适应环境的雏鸟。
58.B【解析】根据第二段＂when the errs were hatched, the baby birds made the similar chirp to their mothers＂可知，鸟儿在孵化小鸟的时候，鸣叫对未出生的小鸟有很大影响，它们被孵化后也能发出类似的声音，说明鸟儿很擅长胎教。
60.C【解析】根据倒数第二段中的＂the baby birds that most closely imitated their mom’s voice were rewarded with the most food＂和最后一段＂Our results suggest that they might be going for quality.＂可知，模仿母鸟模仿得最好的雏鸟得到最多的食物，研究结果表明，母亲会选择质量好的雏鸟。由此可知，胎教帮助母鸟辨别出那些适应环境较好的孩子。
题组二
Passage1(2016·全国新课标卷II)
话题
词数
难度
参考用时
正确率
教学中所发生的事情
300
★★★☆☆
6分钟
Five years ago, when I taught art at a school in Seattle, I used Tinkertoys as a test at the beginning of a term to find out something about my students. I put a small set of Tinkertoys in front of each student, and said: ＂Make something out of the Tinkertoys. You have 45 minutes today — and 45 minutes each day for the rest of the week.＂
A few students hesitated to start. They waited to see what the rest of the class would do. Several others checked the instructions and made something according to one of the model plans provide. Another group built something out of their own imaginations.
Once I had a boy who worked experimentally with Tinkertoys in his free time. His constructions filled a shelf in the art classroom and a good part of his bedroom at home. I was delighted at the presence of such a student. Here was an exceptionally creative mind at work. His presence meant that I had an unexpected teaching assistant in class whose creativity would infect(感染)other students.
Encouraging this kind of thinking has a downside. I ran the risk of losing those students who had a different style of thinking. Without fail one would declare, ＂But I’m just not creative.＂
＂Do you dream at night when you’re asleep?＂
＂Oh, sure.＂
＂So tell me one of your most interesting dreams.＂ The student would tell something wildly imaginative. Flying in the sky or in a time machine or growing three heads. ＂That’s pretty creative. Who does that for you?＂
＂Nobody. I do it.＂
＂Really — at night, when you’re asleep?＂
＂Sure.＂
＂Try doing it in the daytime, in class, okay?＂
25. The teacher used Tinkertoys in class in order to ________.
A. know more about the students
B. make the lessons more exciting
C. raise the students’ interest in art
D. teach the students about toy design
26. What do we know about the boy mentioned in Paragraph 3?
A. He liked to help his teacher.
B. He preferred to study alone.
C. He was active in class.
D. He was imaginative.
27. What does the underlined word ＂downside＂ in Paragraph 4 probably mean?
A. Mistake. B. Drawback.
C. Difficulty. D. Burden.
28. Why did the teacher ask the students to talk about their dreams?
A. To help them to see their creativity.
B. To find out about their sleeping habits.
C. To help them to improve their memory.
D. To find out about their ways of thinking.
【文章大意】本文是一篇记叙文。文章讲述了作者五年前在西雅图教学生们美术时在教学中所发生的事情，以及培养学生们的想象力的方法。
25. A【解析】考查细节理解。根据文章第一段的＂to find out something about my students＂可知，作者使用 Tinkertoys是为了弄清楚有关学生们的一些事情。故选A项。
27. B【解析】考查词义猜测。根据下文的＂I ran the risk of losing those students who had a different style of thinking＂可知，作者冒着失去那些有不同思维风格的学生的风险。故可知该词的意思为＂不足，缺点＂, 所以选B项。
28. A【解析】考查推理判断。根据第四段中的＂Without fail one would declare, ‘But I’m just not creative.’＂ 及下文内容可推知，作者问学生们他们是否做梦了是为了让他们看到自己的创造力。故选A项。
Passage 2(2016·四川卷)
话题
词数
难度
参考用时
正确率
帮助别人，快乐自己
249
★★★☆☆
6分钟
If you could have one superpower, what would it be?
Dreaming about whether you would want to read minds, see through walls, or have superhuman strength may sound silly, but it actually gets to the heart of what really matters in your life.
Every day in our work, we are inspired by the people we meet doing extraordinary things to improve the world.
They have a different kind of superpower that all of us possess: the power to make a difference in the lives of others.
We’re not saying that everyone needs to contribute their lives to the poor. Your lives are busy enough doing homework, playing sports, making friends, seeking after your dreams. But we do think that you can live a more powerful life when you devote some of your time and energy to something much larger than yourself. Find an issue you are interested in and learn more. Volunteer or, if you can, contribute a little money to a cause. Whatever you do, don’t be a bystander. Get involved. You may have the opportunity to make your biggest difference when you’re older. But why not start now?
Our own experience working together on health, development, and energy the last twenty years has been one of the most rewarding parts of our lives. It has changed who we are and continues to fuel our optimism about how much the lives of the poorest people will improve in the years ahead.
24. What does the underlined part in Paragraph 2 refer to?
A. Your life style. B. Your life value.
C. Your trouble in life. D. Your life experience.
25. Why does the author say they are inspired every day?
A. They possess different kinds of superpowers.
B. They have got the power to change the world.
C. Some people around them are making the world better.
D. There are many powerful people in their life and work.
26. What does the author stress in Paragraph 5?
A. Learning more and contributing more to a cause.
B. Rising above self and acting to help others.
C. Working hard to get a bigger opportunity.
D. Trying your best to help the poor.
27. What can be inferred from the last paragraph?
A. The author believes the lives of the poorest will get better.
B. Much more progress will be made in the near future.
C. The work on health is the most valuable experience.
D. People’s efforts have been materially rewarded.
【文章大意】本文以虚拟语气的问句形式开头，鼓励人们奉献自己的一些时间和精力去帮助别人，最穷人的生活将会变得更好。
24.B 【解析】词义猜测题。此处是说，梦想着能读懂别人心思，看穿墙，或者拥有超能力，这些可能听起来很荒唐，但是实际上它是你生活的价值的核心。故选B。
26.B 【解析】推理判断题。综合第五段内容可知，作者想要告诉我们，提升自己，行动起来帮助别人。故选B。
27.A 【解析】推理判断题。根据最后一段最后一句可知，它已经改变了我们是谁，并将在以后的这些年里继续点燃我们对改善穷人生活的乐观情绪。故选A。
Passage 3(2016·新课标全国卷III)
话题
词数
难度
参考用时
正确率
英国苹果节
278
★★★★☆
6分钟
If you are a fruit grower — or would like to become one — take advantage of Apple Day to see what’s around. It’s called Apple Day but in practice it’s more like Apple Month. The day itself is on October 21, but since it has caught on, events now spread out over most of October around Britain.
Visiting an apple event is a good chance to see, and often taste, a wide variety of apples. To people who are used to the limited choice of apples such as Golden Delicious and Royal Gala in supermarkets, it can be quite an eye opener to see the range of classical apples still in existence, such as Decio which was grown by the Romans. Although it doesn’t taste of anything special, it’s still worth a try, as is the knobbly(多疙瘩的) Cat’s Head which is more of a curiosity than anything else.
There are also varieties developed to suit specific local conditions. One of the very best varieties for eating quality is Orleans Reinette, but you’ll need a warm, sheltered place with perfect soil to grow it, so it’s a pipe dream for most apple lovers who fall for it.
At the events, you can meet expert growers and discuss which ones will best suit your conditions, and because these are family affairs, children are well catered for with apple-themed fun and games.
Apple Days are being held at all sorts of places with an interest in fruit, including stately gardens and commercial orchards(果园). If you want to have a real orchard experience, try visiting the National Fruit Collection at Brogdale, near Faversham in Kent.
8. What can people do at the apple events?
A. Attend experts’ lectures.
B. Visit fruit-loving families.
C. Plant fruit trees in an orchard.
D. Taste many kinds of apples.
9. What can we learn about Decio?
A. It is a new variety.
B. It has a strange look.
C. It is rarely seen now.
D. It has a special taste.
10. What does the underlined phrase "a pipe dream" in Paragraph 3 mean?
A. A practical idea.
B. A vain hope.
C. A brilliant plan.
D. A selfish desire.
11. What is the author’s purpose in writing the text?
A. To show how to grow apples.
B. To introduce an apple festival.
C. To help people select apples.
D. To promote apple research.
【文章大意】本文是一篇说明文，对英国苹果节的举办规模、活动安排、苹果种类及种植环境等进行了介绍。
8. D【解析】考查细节理解。从第二段首句"Visiting an apple event...often taste, a wide variety of apples"可直接 获取答案。
10. B【解析】考查词义猜测。根据第三段可知，Orleans Reinette品种虽然口感好,但对种植环境和土壤要求
高，因此对于大多数喜欢它的人来说，大饱口福只是一种脱离实际的愿望，这与B项 "A vain hope" (徒劳的希望)一致。
11. B【解析】考查写作意图。通读全文可知，这是一篇介绍英国苹果节的文章。
Passage 4(2016·天津卷)
话题
词数
难度
参考用时
正确率
小时候劳动的男孩长大后更容易享受快乐的生活
366
★★★★☆
7分钟
When John was growing up, other kids felt sorry for him. His parents always had him weeding the garden, carrying out the garbage and delivering newspapers. But when John reached adulthood, he was better off than his childhood playmates. He had more job satisfaction, a better marriage and was healthier. Most of all, he was happier. Far happier.
These are the findings of a 40-year study that followed the lives of 456 teenage boys from Boston. The study showed that those who had worked as boys enjoyed happier and more productive lives than those who had not. ＂Boys who worked in the home or community gained competence(能力) and came to feel they were worthwhile members of society,＂ said George Vaillant, the psychologist(心理学家) who made the discovery. ＂And because they felt good about themselves, others felt good about them.＂
Vaillant’s study followed these males in great detail. Interviews were repeated at ages 25,31 and 47. Under Vaillant, the researchers compared the men’s mental-health scores with their boyhood-activity scores. Points were awarded for part-time jobs, housework, effort in school, and ability to deal with problems.
The link between what the men had done as boys and how they turned out as adults was surprisingly sharp. Those who had done the most boyhood activities were twice as likely to have warm relations with a wide variety of people, five times as likely to be well paid and 16 times less likely to have been unemployed. The researchers also found that IQ and family social and economic class made no real difference in how the boys turned out.
Working — at any age — is important. Childhood activities help a child develop responsibility, independence, confidence and competence — the underpinnings(基础) of emotional health. They also help him understand that people must cooperate and work toward common goals. The most competent adults are those who know how to do this. Yet work isn’t everything. As Tolstoy once said, ＂One can live magnificently in this world if one knows how to work and how to love, to work for the person one loves and to love one’s work.＂
46. What do we know about John?
A. He enjoyed his career and marriage.
B. He had few childhood playmates.
C. He received little love from his family.
D. He was envied by others in his childhood.
47. Vaillant’s words in Paragraph 2 serve as .
A. a description of personal values and social values
B. an analysis of how work was related to competence
C. an example for parents’ expectations of their children
D. an explanation why some boys grew into happy men
48. Vaillant’s team obtained their findings by .
A. recording the boys’ effort in school
B. evaluating the men’s mental health
C. comparing different sets of scores
D. measuring the men’s problem solving ability
49. What does the underlined word ＂sharp＂ probably mean in Paragraph 4?
A. Quick to react. B. Having a thin edge.
C. Clear and definite. D. Sudden and rapid.
50. What can be inferred from the last paragraph?
A.Competent adults know more about love than work.
B.Emotional health is essential to a wonderful adult life.
C.Love brings more joy to people than work does.
D.Independence is the key to one’s success.
【语篇解读】一项研究表明，小时候劳动的男孩长大后更容易享受快乐的生活。
46. A【解析】考查细节理解。根据第一段中的＂He had more job satisfaction, a better marriage and was
healthier＂可知，约翰享受工作和婚姻带来的快乐。
48.C【解析】考查细节理解。根据第三段的内容可知，Vaillant的团队通过比较几组不同的得分情况得出了
他们的结论。
49.C 【解析】考查词义猜测。根据画线词后面的＂Those who had done the most boyhood activities...less likely to have been unemployed＂可知，孩提时代的劳动和长大后的生活之间的联系是显而易见的。
50. B【解析】考查推理判断。根据最后一段的内容可知,孩提时代的劳动能够培养一个人多方面的能力，这
些能力正是情感健康的基础，同时也能帮助他们过上更快乐的生活。由此可推断出情感健康对享受精彩的成年生活十分重要。
备战2018年高考英语大题冲关秘笈
专题08 阅读理解词义猜测题
词义猜测是应用英语的重要能力，也是高考中必考的题型。它不但需要准确无误地理解上下文，而且要有较大的泛读量，掌握或认识较多的课外词汇。考生应学会通过构词、定义、同位、对比、因果、常识、同义、反义及上下文线索等确定词义。
【命题趋势】
1.要求根据阅读材料所提供的信息，结合中学生应有的常识和经验，正确判断生词词组的含义或成熟词 在特定语境中表达的具体含义以及一些句子的意思。
2.要求猜测词义的词一般为实词及其词组，通过构词、定义、对比、因果、联想、上下文等线索确定词 义的具体内容。
3.代词复指理解题也是猜测词义的常考类型。用＂逻辑关系梳理法＂、＂递向寻踪法＂理清人物及事物 之间的逻辑关系是关键所在。
【设问形式】
1. The underlined word ＂…＂ in the second(third…) paragraph refers to(means) ______.
2. By saying that ＂…＂ in the first(second…) paragraph, the author means that ______.
3. In paragraph …, ＂…＂ can be replaced by ＂______＂.
4. The meaning of ＂…＂ in paragraph… is related to ______.
5. Which of the following has the closest meaning to…(paragraph…)?
6. The underlined sentence in the … paragraph probably means that _____.
对此类试题，考生应该进行大胆猜测，但这种猜测不是胡乱的，盲目的，而是有一定的方法和技巧。下面介绍几种常见的猜测词义的方法供同学们加以运用。
一 、相似法：
利用同义词、近义词（词组）或相似的结构猜测词义。在生词所出现的上下文中，有时会出现与之同义或近义的词语或结构，这时可从熟悉的词语中推知生词的含义。统称在词或短语之间有并列连词and或or，这些词语或短语在句中作相同的成分，并且and或or连接的两项内容在含义上是接近的或递进的，由此确定同等关系中的某个生词所属的义域，甚至推出它的大致词义。
…Fermat’s Last Theorem（定理）, first put forward by the French mathematician Pierre de Fermat in the seventeenth century, the theorem had baffled and beaten the finest mathematical minds, including a French woman scientists who made a major advance in working out the problem, and who had to dress like a man in order to be able to study at the Ecole Polytechnique. …
65. Which of the following best explains the meaning of the word “baffle” as it is used in the text?
A. To encourage people to raise questions.
B. To cause difficulty in understanding.
C. To provide a person with an explanation.
D. To limit people’s imagination.
【答案】B
【解析】由句中不难看出Fermat的定理使得最具有数学头脑的科学家绞尽脑汁（beat），并且在句中beaten和baffled处于同等的并列关系，根据这一信息可以推出baffle表示“使困惑、难倒、难以理解”的意思。
二、对比法：
利用文中的反义词以及表对比关系的词（组）猜测词义。对比是描述，说明事物的常用方式。在对比中，对比的事物是互为相反的，因此根据反义或对比关系可从已知推出未知。利用反义词来说明生词的意义，如反义词hot and cold, perfect and imperfect，甚至前、后句为肯定与否定或是与不是等，在句内词与词之间，在段内句与句之间的关系上起着互为线索的作用。
表示对比的信号词有yet, but, while, though, however, otherwise, on the one hand...on the other hand, for one thing...for another thing, instead of等。
【典例】
…A child’s birthday party doesn’t have to be a hassle ; it can be a basket of fun, according to Beth Anaclerio, an Evaston mother of two, ages 4 and 18 months. …
74.What does the underlined word “hassle” probably mean?
A. A party designed by specialists.
B. A plan requiring careful thought.
C. A situation causing difficulty or trouble.
D. A demand made by guests.
【答案】C
三、释义法：
有些文章，特别是科技文章，通常会对一些关键词给予定义，我们可以利用定义来猜测这些词的意思。释义法就是根据文章中的字里行间，对生词以定语（从句）、表语甚至用逗号、破折号等标点符号引出并加以解释说明的方式。
常见的词有：mean, that is, in other words, for example, for instance, such as...
【典例】
“Organic produce is always better, ” Gold said. “The food is free of pesticides (农药), and you are generally supporting family farms instead of large farms. And more often than not it is locally (本地)grown and seasonal, so it is more tasty.” Gold is one of a growing number of shoppers buying into the organic trend, and supermarkets across Britain are counting on more like him as they grow their organic food business.
62. What is the meaning of “the organic trend” as the words are used in the text?
A. Growing interest in organic food.
B. Better quality of organic food.
C. Rising market for organic food.
D. Higher prices of organic food.
【答案】A
【解析】由Gold is one of a growing number of shoppers buying something可以推断出，越来越多的顾客像Gold一样开始购买有机食物，其实也就是对这类食物产生了越来越浓厚的兴趣。答案为A。
四、语境推断法：
任何一篇文章中的句子在内容上都不是绝对孤立的，都跟句子所在的段落及整整篇文章有关。利用上下文提供的情景和线索，进行合乎逻辑的综合分析进而推测词义，是阅读过程中的一大关键，这也是近年来高考考查的热点。
1. 根据对比关系猜测词义
在一个句子或段落中，有对两个事物或现象进行对比性的描述，我们可以根据生词的反义词猜测其词义。表示对比关系的词汇和短语主要有：unlike, not, but, however, despite, in spite of, in contrast 等。表示对比关系的句子结构：while 引导的并列句。
例如：A child’s birthday party doesn’t have to be a hassle; it can be a basket of fun.
What does the underlined word ＂hassle＂ (paragraph 1) probably mean?
A. a party designed by specialists
B. a plan requiring careful thought
C. a situation causing difficulty or trouble
D. a demand made by guests
根据对比关系，这里hassle 和 a basket of fun 是相反的意义，很容易判断理解题的答案为C。
2. 根据比较关系猜测词义
同对比关系相反，比较关系表示意义上的相似关系。表示比较关系的词和短语主要有：similarly, like, just as, also, as well as 等。
例如：Green loves to talk, and his brothers are similarly loquacious.
该句中副词similarly表明短语loves to talk和loquacious 之间的比较关系，其意义相近。由此我们可推断出loquacious的意思是＂健谈的＂。
3. 根据因果关系猜测词义
在句子或段落中，若两个事物现象之间构成因果关系，我们可以根据这种逻辑关系推测生词词义。
例如：I feel that since you are my superior , it would be presumptuous of me to tell you what to do .
The word ＂presumptuous＂ in the middle of the passage is closest in meaning to ＂__________ ＂.
A. full of respect
B. too confident and rude
C. lacking in experience
D. too shy and quiet
根据since 引导的原因状语从句的内容（＂既然你是我的上司＂），我们可以推断这里presumptuous的意思是：＂冒失的，放肆的＂意思，后半句的意思是：我告诉你怎么做会是一种放肆/冒失的行为。对应的理解题答案为：B。
Pruning is important because it encourages the growth of tender shoots, or young leaves.
根据原因状语从句的内容，我们可以判断Pruning的意思是：＂修剪（树枝等）＂的意思。
4. 根据同义、近义、并列、替代、说明等关系猜测词义
在句子或段落中，我们可以利用熟悉的词语，根据语言环境所表示的关系推断生词词义。
例如：William Shakespeare said. ＂The web of our life is of a mingled yarn（纱线），good and ill together.＂
The underlined word ＂mingled＂ in the last paragraph most probably means .
A. simple B. mixed C. sad D. happy
句中good and ill together 更具体地说明了 a mingled yarn的意义，据此我们不难推测mingled的意思是：＂混合的，交织的＂，答案是：B。
Is it possible to beat high blood pressure without drugs ? The answer is ＂yes＂, according to the researchers at Johns Hopkins and three other medical centers.
根据and three other medical centers 这种并列关系，我们很容易推断出：Johns Hopkins 是一家医疗中心。
【典例】
（2017·新课标卷I）…
To construct a working still, use a sharp stick or rock to dig a hole four feet across and three feet deep. Try to make the hole in a damp area to increase the water catcher’s productivity. Place your cup in the deepest part of the hole. Then lay the tube in place so that one end rests all the way in the cup and the rest of the line runs up — and out — the side of the hole.
33. What does the underlined phrase “the water catcher” in paragraph 2 refer to?
A. The tube. B. The still.
C. The hole. D. The cup.
【答案】B
五、构词推断法：
阅读中常常会遇到一些由熟悉的单词派生或合成的新词。掌握构词法对猜测词义很有帮助。如：unforeseeable.这个词，可以根据构词法把它拆成un, fore, see , able；其中 see 是词根，fore是“先，前，预”的含义，un是否定，able是“能……的，可……的”，因此unforeseeable是“未能预见到的”意思。
1. 根据前缀猜测词义
例如：Do you have any strong opinion on co-educational or single-sex schools?
根据词根educational （教育的），结合前缀co-（共同，一起），我们便可以猜出co-educational的意思是：＂男女同校教育的＂意思。
2. 根据后缀猜测词义
例如：It's a quiet, comfortable hotel overlooking (俯瞰) the bay in an uncommercialized Cornish fishing village on England's most southerly point.
后缀 -ise/ize意思是＂使成为…；使…化＂，结合词根commercial（商业的），不难猜出 uncommercialized 的意思是：＂未被商业化的＂。
3. 根据复合词的各部分猜测词义
例如：Good tool design is important in the prevention of overuse injuries. Well-designed tools and equipment will require less force to operate them and prevent awkward（别扭的）hand positions.
Well-designed 或许是个生词，但我们分析该词的结构后，就能推测出其含义。它由well （好，优秀）和design （设计）两部分组成，合在一起便是＂设计精巧的＂意思。
We live in a technological society where most goods are mass-produced by unskilled labor. Because of this, most people that craft (手艺) no longer exists.
根据合成词中的mass （大量的）和produce （生产），我们可以推测 mass-produce的意思是：＂大批量生产；规模生产＂的意思。
【典例】
…Baker concludes that people do not have the ability to sense when they’re being stared at. If people doubt the outcome of his two experiments, said Baker, “I suggest they repeat the experiments and see for themselves.” …
70. The underlined word “outcome” in the last paragraph most probably means .
A. value B. result
C. performance D. connection
【答案】B
