考点31 阅读理解推理判断题
高考频度:★★★★★
题主要考查学生根据文章的字面意思,通过语篇逻辑关系,研究细节的暗示,推敲作者的态度,理解文章的寓意等。推理判断题属于主观性较强的高层次阅读理解题。做这类题时,考生应在理解全文的基础上,从文章本身所提供的信息出发,运用逻辑思维,同时借助一定的常识进行分析、推理、判断。
提问整篇文章或某句某段的含蓄意思时,问句中都含有infer, imply, indicate, suggest (推断,暗指)等词。对付这类题时我们不仅要弄懂文章字面的意思,更重要的是要知道文章潜在的含义,和作者所给的提示。同时要对文章的含义和作者的暗示作合理的猜测和推论。关键是:意思要靠推断得出,而不是原文照搬。这就要把握住文章的主题思想和每段的内容;明确作者的观点及其写作该文的目的;分析文章里所给的有关信息;注意词汇在词典的定义和词典以外的含义;最后运用自己的知识进行由表及里的逻辑推理,挖出文章的伏笔,得出正确的推论。
这种问题的提问方式通常有:
1.From paragraph 4 we can infer that. / What can be inferred from the passage? / From the last paragraph we can infer that .
2.We can infer from the text that…/ What can we learn from…? / We can conclude from the
passage that…
3.The last sentence of the first paragraph most probably implies that.
4.The author implies that by the year 2080, .
5.To solve the present social problems the author suggests that we should.
6.The author mentions the fact that…to show.
7. This passage would most likely be found in _________?
8.The author’s attitude toward …is _________?
9. The tone of the passage can best be described as _________?
这些提问方式的答案一般在短文中不可能直接找到,必须根据提问中的某些关键字眼与短文中相应的有关内容加以逻辑推理或演算,从而得出某些作者并未说明却已在字里行间所暗含的意思及观点。具体的说,考生应当注意以下几点:
1.首先要注意一定要忠实于原文,以文章提供的事实和线索为依据。立足已知,推断未知,遵循“词不离句,句不离段,段不离篇”的原则。千万不能主观臆想,凭空想象,随意揣测,更不能以自己的观点代替作者的观点。
2.要吃透文章的字面意思,从字里行间捕捉有用的提示和线索,这是推理的前提和基础。有的推断,考生完全可以根据文章中所阐述的细节,再结合自己所掌握的基础知识、有关背景知识或常识来帮助进行分析、推敲,从而得出符合文章原意的结论。
3.要对文字的表面信息进行挖掘加工,由表及里,由浅入深,从具体到抽象,从特殊到一般,通过分析、综合、判断等,进行深层处理,合乎逻辑地推理。不能就事论事,断章取义,以偏概全。
4. 要把握句、段之间的逻辑关系,了解语篇的结构,同时还要体会文章的基调,揣摩作者的态度,摸准逻辑发展方向,悟出作者的言外之意。
5.在解答推理性问题时,一定要注意确定推理依据的位置或范围。应清楚所要解答的问题需要针对某个细节进行推断,还是针对主题思想、作者的意图进行推断。针对细节的推断可运用scanning的方法,迅速在材料中确定推理依据的位置或范围,然后再进行推理判断。针对主题思想作推断时,则常常要纵览全篇文章。
推理判断题常见有以下形式:
1.细节推断题
要求考生根据语篇关系,推断具体细节,如时间、地点、人物关系、人物身份、事件、具体信息等。考生要从文章本身所提供的信息出发,抓住关键的信息词,运用逻辑思维,并借助一定的常识进行分析、推理、判断。
2020年全国统一高考英语试卷(新课标ⅠB) Returning to a book you’ve read many times can feel like drinks with an old friend. There’s a welcome familiarity - but also sometimes a slight suspicion that time has changed you both, and thus the relationship. But books don’t change, people do. And that’s what makes the act of rereading so rich and transformative.
The beauty of rereading lies in the idea that our bond with the work is based on our present mental register. It’s true, the older I get, the more I feel time has wings. But with reading, it’s all about the present. It’s about the now and what one contributes to the now, because reading is a give and take between author and reader. Each has to pull their own weight.
There are three books I reread annually .The first, which I take to reading every spring is Emest Hemningway’s A Moveable Feast. Published in 1964, it’s his classic memoir of 1920s Paris. The language is almost intoxicating (令人陶醉的),an aging writer looking back on an ambitious yet simpler time. Another is Annie Dillard’s Holy the Firm, her poetic 1975 ramble (随笔) about everything and nothing. The third book is Julio Cortazar’s Save Twilight: Selected Poems, because poetry. And because Cortazar.
While I tend to buy a lot of books, these three were given to me as gifs, which might add to the meaning I attach to them. But I imagine that, while money is indeed wonderful and necessary, rereading an author’s work is the highest currency a reader can pay them. The best books are the ones that open further as time passes. But remember, it’s you that has to grow and read and reread in order to better understand your friends.
24.Why does the author like rereading?
A.It evaluates the writer-reader relationship.
B.It’s a window to a whole new world.
C.It’s a substitute for drinking with a friend.
D.It extends the understanding of oneself.
25.What do we know about the book A Moveable Feast?
A.It’s a brief account of a trip.
B.It’s about Hemingway’s life as a young man.
C.It’s a record of a historic event.
D.It’s about Hemingway’s friends in Paris.
27.What can we infer about the author from the text?
A.He loves poetry.
B.He’s an editor.
C.He’s very ambitious.
D.He teaches reading.
【答案】
24.D
25.B
27.A
【解析】这是一篇说明文。短文介绍了重新阅读的意义和益处并向读者介绍了作者每年重读的三本书。作者鼓励读者去重新阅读书籍。
24.推理判断题。根据第一段最后两句“But books don’t change, people do. And that’s what makes the act of rereading so rich and transformative.(但是书没变,人变了。那就是使重新阅读行为如此丰富和富于变化之处)”和第二段“The beauty of rereading lies in that our bond with the work is based on our present register. It is true, the older I get, the more I feel time has wings.(重新阅读的美妙之处在于我们与作品的联系是基于我们现在的心理状态。真的,我年纪越大,就越觉得时光飞逝。)”可推知,作者喜欢重新阅读是因为重新阅读可以扩展对自己的理解。故选D项。
25.推理判断题。根据倒数第二段“Published in 1964, it’s his classic memoir of 1920s Paris.”及“an aging writer looking back on an ambitious yet simpler time”可知,这本书出版于1964年,这是他关于20世纪20年代在巴黎的经典回忆录,是他老年时对那些野心勃勃却更简单的日子的回顾。由此可判断出A Movable Feast是关于海明威年轻时的生活。故选B项。
27.推理判断题。根据倒数第二段“The third book is Julio Cortázar’s Save Twilight: selected poems, because poetry.(第三本书是胡里奥·科塔扎的《拯救暮光之城: 诗歌精选》,因为诗歌)”可知,作者是由于喜欢诗歌而喜欢这本书。故选A项。
2.因果推断题
要求考生根据已知结果推测导致结果的可能原因或根据已有的原因推断可能的结果。考生要准确掌握文章的内涵,理解文章的真正含义。最关键的是要找准事物间存在的因果关系信息,根据已有信息,进行分析判断推理,从而推出最符合逻辑的原因或判断出最可能导致的结果。
2020年全国统一高考英语试卷(新课标ⅡC)When you were trying to figure out what to buy for the environmentalist on your holiday list, fur probably didn’t cross your mind. But some ecologists and fashion (时装)enthusiasts are trying to bring back the market for fur made from nutria(海狸鼠).
Unusual fashion shows in New Orleans and Brooklyn have showcased nutria fur made into clothes in different styles. “It sounds crazy to talk about guilt-free fur-unless you understand that the nutria are destroying vast wetlands every year”, says Cree McCree, project director of Righteous Fur.
Scientists in Louisiana were so concerned that they decided to pay hunters $5 a tail. Some of the fur ends up in the fashion shows like the one in Brooklyn last month.
Nutria were brought there from Argentina by fur farmers and let go into the wild. “The ecosystem down there can’t handle this non-native species(物种).It’s destroying the environment. It’s them or us.” says Michael Massimi, an expert in this field.
The fur trade kept nutria in check for decades,but when the market for nutria collapsed in the late 1980s,the cat-sized animals multiplied like crazy.
Biologist Edmond Mouton runs the nutria control program for Louisiana. He says it’s not easy to convince people that nutria fur is green, but he has no doubt about it. Hunters bring in more than 300,000 nutria tails a year, so part of Mouton’s job these days is trying to promote fur.
Then there’s Righteous Fur and its unusual fashion. Model Paige Morgan says,”To give people a guilt-free option that they can wear without someone throwing paint on them-1 think that’s going to be a massive thing, at least here in New York.” Designer Jennifer Anderson admits it took her a while to come around to the opinion that using nutria fur for her creations is morally acceptable. She trying to come up with a lable to attach to nutria fashions to show it is eco-friendly.
28.What is the purpose of the fashion shows in New Orleans and Brooklyn?
A.To promote guilt-free fur.
B.To expand the fashion market.
C.To introduce a new brand.
D.To celebrate a winter holiday.
29.Why are scientists concerned about nutria?
A.Nutria damage the ecosystem seriously.
B.Nutria are an endangered species.
C.Nutria hurt local cat-sized animals.
D.Nutria are illegally hunted.
31.What can we infer abouf wearing fur in New York according to Morgan?
A.It’s formal. B.It’s risky. C.It’s harmful. D.It’s traditional.
【答案】28.A 29.A 31.B
【解析】本文是说明文。介绍了美国新奥良和布鲁克林举办了不同寻常的时装秀。展出海狸鼠制成的皮衣。海狸鼠们每年都在破坏大片的湿地,因此设计师称这是一种环保的举措,科学家们也对海狸鼠损坏生态平衡表示了担忧。
28.推理判断题。根据第二段Unusual fashion shows in New Orleans and Brooklyn have showcased nutria fur made into clothes in different styles. “It sounds crazy to talk about guilt-free fur-unless you understand that the nutria are destroying vast wetlands every year,”says Cree McCree, project director of Righteous Fur.得知,美国新奥尔良和布鲁克林举办了不同寻常的时装秀,时装秀上展出海狸鼠皮制成的不同风格的衣服,项目总监Cree McCree说:“除非了解海狸鼠正每年破坏大片湿地,否则谈论无罪感皮衣是很疯狂的事情”,可以判断出由于海狸鼠对生态造成了巨大的破坏,这场海狸鼠皮衣时装秀销售的是无罪恶感皮衣。故选A。
29.推理判断题。根据第三段Scientists in Louisiana were so concerned that they decided to pay hunters $5 a tail.得知,科学家们如此担心以至于他们决定按照一条海狸鼠尾巴付给猎人们5美元,可以推断出科学家们担忧海狸鼠们严重破坏生态平衡,。故选A。
31.推理判断题。根据第二段Model Paige Morgan says, “To give people a guilt –free option that they can wear without someone throwing paint on them-I think that’s going to be a massive thing, at least in New York. ” 得知,为了给人们一种无罪的选择,人们可以穿皮衣而不被人们泼油漆,我认为在纽约将是一件巨大的事情,根据模特摩根所说得知,在纽约穿皮质衣服是有风险的。故选B。
3.人物性格、心情处境、态度及观点等推断题
高考阅读测试中有些题目考查学生对文章作者的主导思想、被描写人物语气、言谈话语中流露的情绪、性格倾向和作用或文中人物的态度、观点等方面的理解。做这一类题时一定注意:
(1)由表及里地准确把握字里行间的意思,切勿用自己的主观想法或观点代替作者的思想观点。
(2)特别注意那些描写环境气氛的语言,以及表达感情,态度观点的词语。要特别注意作者在文章中的措辞,尤其是感彩的形容词。
(3)能结合自己平时积累的有关英语国家的文化传统、风俗习惯等背景知识来识别评价。
2020年全国统一高考英语试卷(新课标ⅠC)Race walking shares many fitness benefits with running, research shows, while most likely contributing to fewer injuries. It does, however, have its own problem.
Race walkers are conditioned athletes. The longest track and field event at the Summer Olympics is the 50-kilometer race walk, which is about five miles longer than the marathon. But the sport’s rules require that a race walker’s knees stay straight through most of the leg swing and one foot remain in contact (接触) with the ground at all times. It’s this strange form that makes race walking such an attractive activity, however, says Jaclyn Norberg, an assistant professor of exercise science at Salem State University in Salem, Mass.
Like running, race walking is physically demanding, she says, According to most calculations, race walkers moving at a pace of six miles per hour would burn about 800 calories(卡路里) per hour, which is approximately twice as many as they would burn walking, although fewer than running, which would probably burn about 1,000 or more calories per hour.
However, race walking does not pound the body as much as running does, Dr. Norberg says. According to her research, runners hit the ground with as much as four times their body weight per step, while race walkers, who do not leave the ground, create only about 1.4 times their body weight with each step.
As a result, she says, some of the injuries associated with running, such as runner’s knee, are uncommon among race walkers. But the sport’s strange form does place considerable stress on the ankles and hips, so people with a history of such injuries might want to be cautious in adopting the sport. In fact, anyone wishing to try race walking should probably first consult a coach or experienced racer to learn proper technique, she says. It takes some practice.
31.Which word best describes the author’s attitude to race walking?
A.Skeptical. B.Objective.
C.Tolerant. D.Conservative.
【答案】31.B
【解析】31.推理判断题。根据第一段“Race walking shares many fitness benefits with running, research shows, while most likely contributing to fewer injuries. It does, however, have its own problem.”可知,研究表明,竞走和跑步一样有很多健身益处,而且它还很少导致受伤。不过,它也有自己的问题。由此判断出作者对于竞走的态度是客观的。故选B项。
2020年全国统一高考英语试卷(新课标Ⅲ C) With the young unable to afford to leave home and the old at risk of isolation(孤独), more families are choosing to live together.
The doorway to peace and quiet, for Nick Bright at least, leads straight to his mother-in-law, she lives on the ground floor, while he lives upstairs with his wife and their two daughters.
Four years ago they all moved into a three-storey Victorian house in Bristol - one of a growing number of multigenerational families in the UK living together under the same roof. They share a front door and a washing machine, but Rita Whitehead has her own kitchen, bathroom, bedroom and living room on the ground floor.
“We floated the idea to my mum of sharing at a house,” says Kathryn Whitehead. Rita cuts in: “We spoke more with Nick because I think it’s a big thing for Nick to live with his mother-in-law.”
And what does Nick think? “From my standpoint, it all seems to work very well. Would I recommend it? Yes, I think I would.”
It’s hard to tell exactly how many people agree with him, but research indicates that the numbers have been rising for some time. Official reports suggest that the number of households with three generations living together had risen from 325,000 in 2001to 419,000 in 2013.
Other varieties of multigenerational family are more common. Some people live with their elderly parents; many more adult children are returning to the family home, if they ever left. It is said that about 20% of 25-34-year-olds live with their parents, compared with 16% in 1991.The total number of all multigenerational households in Britain is thought to be about 1.8 million.
Stories like that are more common in parts of the world where multigenerational living is more firmly rooted. In India, particularly outside cities, young women are expected to move in with their husband’s family when they get married.
29.What is Nick’s attitude towards sharing the house with his mother-in -law?
A.Positive. B.Carefree. C.Tolerant. D.Unwilling.
【答案】29.A
29.推理判断题。根据第五段“And what does Nick think? “From my standpoint, it all seems to work very well. Would I recommend it? Yes, I think I would.”可知,尼克是怎么想的?“从我的角度来看,一切都很顺利。我推荐它吗?是的,我想我会推荐在一起居住的。”由此判断出,尼克对和和岳母合住房子的态度是积极的。故选A项。
4.篇章结构推断题
根据不同文章的内容和写作目的,作者会采取记叙、描写、议论、说明或应用文体。作者也会采用叙述、例证、比较对照等不同的组织结构。不同文体的阅读难度、要求和任务不同,阅读方法也应不同。增强对篇章结构的理解能力有助于提高阅读质量。
Have you ever wondered why birds sing? Maybe you thought that they were just happy. After all, you probably sing or whistle when you are happy.
Some scientists believe that birds do sing some of the time just because they are happy. However, they sing most of the time for a very different reason. Their singing is actually a warning to other birds to stay out of their territory.
…
1. How does the writer explain birds’ singing?
A. By comparing birds with human beings.
B. By reporting experiment results.
C. By describing birds’ daily life.
D. By telling a bird’s story.
【答案】A
【解析】由文章第一、二两段可知作者是把鸟儿和人类进行对比。
5.文章结论推断题
由具体到一般,对已知的事实进行归纳总结性推断称为结论。
2020年山东省高考英语试卷(新高考全国Ⅰ卷B)In the mid-1990s, Tom Bissell taught English as a volunteer in Uzbekistan. He left after seven months, physically broken and having lost his mind. A few years later, still attracted to the country, he returned to Uzbekistan to write an article about the disappearance of the Aral Sea.
His visit, however, ended up involving a lot more than that. Hence this book, Chasing the Sea: Lost Among the Ghosts of Empire in Central Asia, which talks about a road trip from Tashkent to Karakalpakstan, where millions of lives have been destroyed by the slow drying up of the sea. It is the story of an American travelling to a strange land, and of the people he meets on his way: Rustam, his translator, a lovely 24-year-old who picked up his colorful English in California, Oleg and Natasha, his hosts in Tashkent, and a string of foreign aid workers.
This is a quick look at life in Uzbekistan, made of friendliness and warmth, but also its darker side of society. In Samarkand, Mr Bissell admires the architectural wonders, while on his way to Bukhara he gets a taste of police methods when suspected of drug dealing. In Ferghana, he attends a mountain funeral(葬礼)followed by a strange drinking party. And in Karakalpakstan, he is saddened by the dust storms, diseases and fishing boats stuck miles from the sea.
Mr Bissell skillfully organizes historical insights and cultural references, making his tale a well-rounded picture of Uzbekistan, seen from Western eyes. His judgment and references are decidedly American, as well as his delicate stomach. As the author explains, this is neither a travel nor a history book, or even a piece of reportage. Whatever it is, the result is a fine and vivid description of the purest of Central Asian traditions.
10.Which of the following best describes Mr Bissell's road trip in Uzbekistan?
A.Romantic. B.Eventful. C.Pleasant. D.Dangerous.
11.What is the purpose of this text?
A.To introduce a book. B.To explain a cultural phenomenon.
C.To remember a writer. D.To recommend a travel destination.
【答案】10.B 11.A
【解析】
10.推理判断题。根据第三段”This is a quick look at life in Uzbekistan, made of friendliness and warmth, but also its darker side of society. In Samarkand, Mr Bissell admires the architectural wonders, while on his way to Bukhara he gets a taste of police methods when suspected of drug dealing. In Ferghana, he attends a mountain funeral(葬礼)followed by a strange drinking party. And in Karakalpakstan, he is saddened by the dust storms, diseases and fishing boats stuck miles from the sea.”可知,在乌兹别克斯坦的旅途中,Mr Bissell既体会到了友善和温暖,也看到了社会的黑暗面。在撒马尔罕,Mr Bissell欣赏到了的建筑奇观。在前往布哈拉的路上,他因为被怀疑进行毒品交易,他尝到了警察的伎俩。在费尔干纳,他参加了一个山区葬礼,然后参加了一个奇怪的酒会。在卡拉卡尔帕克斯坦,他为沙尘暴、疾病和被困在数英里外的渔船而难过。由此可知,在旅途中,他经历了很多事情。结合选项,B选项(充满事件的,多事的)可以表达此意。故选B。
11.推理判断题。文章第一段提到书的作者的乌兹别克斯坦之行,引出他写的书,接下来三段讲述了他的书《追逐大海:迷失在中亚帝国的幽灵》的故事内容,是乌兹别克斯坦生活的一个快速观察。因此推断本文的写作目的是介绍一本书。故选A。
2020年普通高等学校招生全国统一考试(天津卷 A)(7月第二次)
How to Use a Modern Public Library
Has it been a while since your last visit to a public library? If so, you may be surprised to learn that libraries have changed for the better. It’s been years since they were dusty little rooms with books. They have transformed themselves into places where you can develop your love of knowledge meet interesting people, or find out how to start a business.
Check out a book. While libraries still loan out(出借)books, you’ll find it easier to get a copy of whatever you’re looking for, thanks to a cooperative network of area libraries. Via such networks, libraries share their books with each other through the use of delivery vehicles. Once the book you’ve requested is delivered to the nearest branch, they will inform you by e-mail, so you can pick it up.
Check out other items. The library is now a multimedia zone, loaded with information in many formats(载体形式). You can borrow movies on DVDs, music on CDs, and popular magazines. Some libraries even loan out toys and games. If a popular magazine you want isn’t offered and the library keeps a list of such requests, they may bring it in when enough interest is shown.
Join targeted reading groups. Libraries will often hold reading-group sessions targeted to various age groups. Perhaps you’d like to learn a language or improve your English. The library may sponsor a language group you could join. If you have difficulties reading, ask about special reading opportunities. Your library might be able to accommodate you. And you might find it relaxing to bring your small kid to a half-hour Story Time while you sit quietly in a corner with a good book.
Start a business using the help of your local library. If you want to have a business of your own, your local library can become a launch space for it. In library books and computers, you can find information on starting a business. Many libraries will help you with locally supplied information about business management shared through chambers of commerce(商会)and government agencies, and they will offer printing, faxing and database services you need.
40. What is the purpose of the passage?
A. To point out the importance of public libraries.
B. To encourage people to work in public libraries.
C. To introduce the improved services of public libraries.
D. To call for the modernization of public library systems.
【答案】40. C
【解析】40. 推理判断题。根据文章标题How to Use a Modern Public Library(如何使用一个现代公共图书馆)和第一段中的“you may be surprised to learn that libraries have changed for the better. They have transformed themselves into places where you can develop your love of knowledge meet interesting people, or find out how to start a business.(你可能会惊讶地发现图书馆已经变得更好了。他们已经把自己变成了一个地方,在那里你可以发展你对知识的热爱,遇见有趣的人,或者发现如何创业)”。再结合几个小标题:Check out a book(借一本书); Check out other items(借其他物品);Join targeted reading groups(加入有针对性的阅读小组);Start a business using the help of your local library(在当地图书馆的帮助下创业)可知,本文主要介绍了在经过改善后的图书馆里,人们可以做些什么,即:经过改善后的图书馆可以给人们提供什么服务。故选C。
题组一(2020年高考真题)
Passage1(2020年全国统一高考英语试卷(新课标Ⅱ)C)
I have a special place in my heart for libraries. I have for as long as I can remember. I was always an enthusiastic reader, sometimes reading up to three books a day as a child. Stories were like air to me and while other kids played ball or went to parties, I lived out adventures through the books I checked out from the library.
My first job was working at the Ukiah Library when I was 16 years old .It was a dream job and I did everything from shelving books to reading to the children for story time.
As I grew older and became a mother, the library took on a new place and an added meaning in my life. I had several children and books were our main source(来源) of entertainment. It was a big deal for us to load up and go to the local library, where my kids could pick out books to read or books they wanted me to read to them.
I always read ,using different voices ,as though I were acting out the stories with my voice and they loved it !It was a special time to bond with my children and it filled them with the wonderment of books .
Now, I see my children taking their children to the library and I love that the excitement of going to the library lives on form generation to generation.
As a novelist, I’ve found a new relationship with libraries. I encourage readers to go to their local library when they can’t afford to purchase a book. I see libraries as a safe haven(避风港) for readers and writers, a bridge that helps put together a reader with a book. Libraries, in their own way, help fight book piracy(盗版行为) and 1 think all writers should support libraries in a significant way when they can. Encourage readers to use the library. Share library announcements on your social media. Frequent them and talk about them when you can.
32.Which word best describes the author’s relationship with books as a child?
A.Cooperative. B.Uneasy. C.Inseparable. D.Casual.
33.What does the underlined phrase “an added meaning” in paragraph 3 refer to?
A.Pleasure from working in the library.
B.Joy of reading passed on in the family.
C.Wonderment from acting out the stories.
D.A closer bond developed with the readers.
34.What does the author call on other writers to do?
A.Sponsor book fairs. B.Write for social media.
C.Support libraries. D.Purchase her novels.
35.Which can be a suitable title for the text?
A.Reading: A Source of Knowledge
B.My Idea about writing
C.Library: A Haven for the Young
D.My Love of the Library
Passage2(2020年全国统一高考英语试卷(新课标Ⅲ),A)
Journey Back in Time with Scholars
Classical Provence(13days)
Journey through the beautiful countryside of Provence,France,with Prof. Ori Z. Soltes. We will visit some of the best-preserved Roman monuments in the world. Our tour also includes a chance to walk in the footsteps of Van Gogh and Gauguin. Fields of flowers, tile-roofed(瓦屋顶)villages and tasty meals enrich this wonderful experience.
Southern Spain(15days)
Spain has lovely white towns and the scent(芳香)of oranges,but it is also a treasury of ancient remains including the cities left by the Greeks,Romans and Arabs. As we travel south from Madrid with Prof. Ronald Messier to historic Toledo,Roman Merida and into Andalucia, we explore historical monuments and architecture.
China’s Sacred Landscapes(21days)
Discover the China of “past ages,” its walled cities,temples and mountain scenery with Prof. Robert Thorp. Highlights(精彩之处)include China’s most sacred peaks at Mount Tai and Hangzbou’s rolling hills,waterways and peaceful temples. We will wander in traditional small towns and end our tour with an exceptional museum in Shanghai.
Tunisia(17days)
Join Prof. Pedar Foss on our in-depth Tunisian tour. Tour highlights include the Roman city of Dougga,the underground Numidian capital at Bulla Regia, Roman Sbeitla and the remote areas around Tataouine and Matmata,uique for underground cities. Our journey takes us to picturesque Berber villages and lovely beaches.
21.What can visitors see in both Classical Provence and Southern Spain?
A.Historical monuments. B.Fields of flowers.
C.Van Gogh’s paintings. D.Greek buildings.
22.Which country is Prof. Thorp most knowledgeable about?
A.France. B.Spain. C.China. D.Tunisia.
23.Which of the following highlight the Tunisian tour?
A.White towns. B.Underground cities. C.Tile-roofed villages. D.Rolling hills.
Passage3(2020年普通高等学校招生全国统一考试(天津卷 D)(第一次))
Studying a subject that you feel pointless is never a fun or easy task. If you're studying history, asking yourself the question "why is history important "is a very good first step. History is an essential part of human civilization. You will find something here that will arouse your interest, or get you thinking about the significance of history.
History grounds us in our roots. History is an important and interesting field of study, and learning the history of our home country can give us a deeper, more meaningful glimpse(一瞥)into our ancestral pasts, and how we got to where we are today. Many people feel like they need a sense of cultural belonging, which is something that studying your roots and being open-minded to the evolution of your culture can provide.
History enriches our experience. Reading history is an amazing experience because it enables us to reflect on the social and economic life of the people living long time ago According to the experts, problems faced by people regardless of the past and present are the same. With the information about the ancestors, one can become more experienced in handling challenges of life.
History makes us more empathetic(具有共情能力的), Studying history can give us insight (洞察力)into why our culture does certain things, and how the past has shaped it into what we know now. It also provides a rather strong foundation for empathy across cultures. Fear and hate for others is usually caused by ignorance (无知). We're scared of the things that we don't understand. History has the potential to break down those boundaries by offering us insight into entire worlds that would otherwise be foreign to us.
History can inspire us to learn more. what's fantastic about history is the way it broadens our horizons. It's almost impossible to learn about one historical period without having dozens of questions about related concepts. Study the 19th century England, and you might catch a glimpse of Charles Dickens' Oliver Twist. Look up Charles Dickens, and you might learn a thing or two about realism. Or maybe you end up switching your attention away from novels, and discover the history of romantic poets in England. It can go anywhere, and there is something in there for absolutely anybody.
The value of history cannot be underestimated. We don't have to live in the past, but we can definitely do better by learning from it and using the lessons learnt to lead more meaningful lives.
51.The underlined part "where we are today" in Para. 2 probably means __________.
A.the turning point in our history
B.the present state of our nation
C.the location of our homeland
D.the total area of our country
52.According to the experts, why is history useful for people to handle challenges of life?
A.The problems at present are similar to those in the past.
B.Ancient people laid economic foundations for people today.
C.The current challenges of life were predicted by the ancestors.
D.People living long time ago knew more about how to solve problems.
53.What can be concluded from Para.4?
A.It is difficult to get rid of cultural barriers.
B.People are willing to accept foreign cultures.
C.Cultural conflicts in history are difficult to ignore.
D.History helps us improve our cross-cultural awareness.
54.With the example in Para.5, the writer intends to show that______________.
A.Charles Dickens contributes much to British literature.
B.Oliver Twist can satisfy our curiosity for romantic poets.
C.reading novels is a way to learn about a historical period.
D.studying history can arouse people's interest in other fields.
55.What could be the best title for the passage?
A.How to Build Cultural Identity
B.Why Studying History Matters
C.Know the Past, Know the Present
D.History: a Way to Broaden Horizons
Passage4(2020年普通高等学校招生全国统一考试(天津卷 A)(7月第二次))
“They tell me that you’d like to make a statue(塑像) of me-is that correct, Miss Vinnie Ream?”
The deep, gentle voice helped calm the nervous girl. Asking a favor of the President of the United States was no casual matter, especially for a seventeen-year-old girl.
“Yes, sir,” she replied, her dark eyes meeting his. “I wouldn’t have duo ask you, but my teacher, Mr. Mills, says I am ready. I plan to make it in an admirable manner. “
President Lincoln smiled. “Painters, sculptors-they’ve all tried to make the best of this ordinary face, but I’m afraid there’s not much hope. What did you have in mind, Miss Ream? A bust(半身像)?”
Before Vinnie could say yes, the President hurried on, a shade of apology in his voice.
“Of course-I shouldn’t have asked. A full-length pose would be much too big a project for a young woman your size. “
Vinnie’s face turned red. She realized she looked like a child, with her tiny figure. “Small does not mean weak, sir,” she defended herself. “I was born in the country of Wisconsin. I’ve driven teams of horses and carried water. Making a full-length clay(粘土) figure would not exhaust my strength-and that is what I intend to do!”
The President’s eyes, brightened at her show of spirit. “Sorry, madam, I have underestimated you as I didn’t know your background.”
But his smile faded as he rubbed his beard with bony fingers, in thought. “Miss Ream,” he sighed, “I’d like to let you do it, but as you know, we are in the middle of a war. How could I possibly take the time to pose for a sculpture now? I hardly have a minute to myself.”
Vinnie glanced around and noted the size of his office. “I work quickly,” she said. Her voice was soft but confident as she pointed to the corner near the windows. “If I were to bring my clay here and work for three hours every afternoon, I could complete most of the project while you are at your desk.”
The President seemed to consider her idea seriously. He got up and shook Vinnie’s hand warmly, “I’ve heard that you are a talented young woman, and I have found you charming and intelligent as well. I cannot make my decision immediately, but you will hear from me soon.”
The very next day, Vinnie received an invitation from the President.
41. What gave Vinnie confidence to make her request of President Lincoln?
A. Her aggressive personality.
B. Mr. Mills’s encouraging remark.
C. President Lincoln’s gentle voice.
D. Her interest in a challenging job.
42. How did President Lincoln first respond to Vinnie’s request?
A. Pleased.
B. Thrilled.
C. Regretful.
D. Doubtful.
43. Vinnie confirmed her ability to make a full-length statue by highlighting ______.
A. her experience from other projects
B. her innocent childhood in the country
C. the heavy labor she had done before
D. the skill she picked up in Wisconsin
44. Vinnie wanted to choose the corner near the windows to ______.
A. achieve effects of natural lighting
B. keep all her tools within easy reach
C. observe the President at a right angle
D. avoid disturbing the president’s work
45. What message does the story convey?
A. A strong-willed soul can reach his goal.
B. Experience helps to promote excellence.
C. Ups and downs make one strong.
D. Devotion requires enthusiasm.
题组二(2019年高考真题)
Passage1(2019·江苏卷,D)
The 65-year-old Steve Goodwin was found suffering from early Alzheimer’s(阿尔楚海默症). He was losing his memory.
A software engineer by profession, Steve was a keen lover of the piano, and the only musician in his family. Music was his true passion, though he had never performed outside the family.
Melissa, his daughter, felt it more than worthwhile to save his music, to which she fell asleep catch night when she was young. She thought about hiring a professional pianist to work with her father.
Naomi, Melissa’s best friend and a talented pianist, got to know about this and showed willingness to help.
“Why do this?” Steve wondered.
“Because she cares.” Melissa said.
Steve nodded, tears in eye.
Naomi drove to the Goodwin home. She told Steve she’d love to hear him play. Steve moved to the piano and sat at the bench, hands trembling as he gently placed his fingers on the keys.
Naomi put a small recorder near the piano, Starts and stops and mistakes. Long pauses, heart sinking. But Steve pressed on, playing for the first time in his life for a stranger.
“It was beautiful." Naomi said after listening to the recording. “The music was worth saving.”
Her responsibility, her privilege, would be to rescue it. The music was still in Steve Goodwin. It was bidden in rooms with doors about to be locked.
Naomi and Steve met every other week and spent hours together. He’d move his fingers clumsily on the piano, and then she’d take his place. He struggled to explain what he heard in his head. He stood by the piano, eyes closed, listening for the first time to his own work being played by someone else.
Steve and Naomi spoke in musical code lines, beats, intervals, moving from the root to end a song in a new key. Steve heard it. All of it. He just couldn’t play it.
Working with Naomi did wonders for Steve. It had excited within him the belief he could write one last song. One day, Naomi received an email. Attached was a recording, a recording of loss and love, of the fight. Steve called it “Melancholy Flower”.
Naomi heard multiple stops and starts, Steve struggling, searching while his wife Joni called him “honey” and encouraged him. The task was so hard, and Steve, angry and upset, said he was quitting. Joni praised him, telling her husband this could be his signature piece.
Naomi managed to figure out 16 of Steve’s favorite, and most personal songs. With Naomi’s help, the Goodwin family found a sound engineer to record Naomi playing Steve’s songs. Joni thought that would be the end. But it wasn’t.
In the months leading up to the 2016 Oregon Repertory Singers Christmas concert, Naomi told the director she had a special one in mind: “Melancholy Flower”
She told the director about her project with Steve. The director agreed to add it to the playing list. But Naomi would have to ask Steve’s permission. He considered it an honor.
After the concert, Naomi told the family that Steve’s music was beautiful and professional. It needed to be shared in public.
The family rented a former church in downtown Portland and scheduled a concert. By the day of the show, more than 300 people had said they would attend.
By then, Steve was having a hard time remembering the names of some of his friends. He knew the path his life was now taking. He told his family he was at peace.
Steve arrived and sat in the front row, surrounded by his family. The house lights faded. Naomi took the stage. Her fingers. His heart.
65. Why did Melissa want to save her father’s music?
A. His music could stop his disease from worsening.
B. She wanted to please her dying old father.
C. His music deserved to be preserved in the family.
D. She wanted to make her father a professional.
66. After hearing Steve’s playing, Naomi ________.
A. refused to make a comment on it
B. was deeply impressed by his music
C. decided to free Steve from suffering
D. regretted offering help to her friend
67. How can the process of Steve’s recording be described?
A. It was slow but productive.
B. It was beneficial to his health.
C. It was tiresome for Naomi.
D. It was vital for Naomi’s career.
68. Before Steve finished “Melancholy Flower," his wife Joni _______.
A. thought the music talent of Steve was exhausted
B. didn’t expect the damage the disease brought about
C. didn’t fully realize the value of her husband’s music
D. brought her husband’s music career to perfection
69. How did Steve feel at the concert held in downtown Portland?
A. He felt concerned about his illness.
B. He sensed a responsibility for music.
C. He regained his faith in music.
D. He got into a state of quiet.
70. What can be a suitable title for the passage?
A. The Kindness of Friends B. The Power of Music
C. The Making of a Musician D. The Value of Determination
Passage2(2019·浙江卷,A)
Zachariah Fike has an unusual hobby. He finds old military(军队的)medals for sale in antique stores and on the Internet.But unlike most collectors, Zac tracks down the medals’ rightful owners, and returns them.
His effort to reunite families with lost medals began with a Christmas gift from his mother, a Purple Heart with the name Corrado A. G. Piccoli, found in an antique shop. Zac knows the meaning of a Purple Heart-he earned one himself in a war as a soldier. So when his mother gave him the medal, he knew right away what he had to do.
Through the Internet, Zac tracked down Corrado’s sister Adeline Rockko. But when he finally reached her, the woman flooded him with questions: "Who are you?What antique shop?" However, when she hung up, she regretted the way she had handled the call. So she called Zac back and apologized. Soon she drove to meet Zac in Watertown, N.Y. "At that point, I knew she meant business, " Zac says. "To drive eight hours to come to see me."
The Piccolis grew up the children of Italian immigrants in Watertown. Corrado, a translator for the Army during WWII, was killed in action in Europe.
Before hearing from Zac, Adeline hadn’t realized the medal was missing. Like many military medals, the one Zac’s mother had found was a family treasure." This medal was very precious to my parents. Only on special occasions(场合)would they take it out and let us hold it in our hands," Adeline says.
As a child, Adeline couldn't understand why the medal was so significant. “But as I grew older,” Adeline says, "and missed my brother more and more, I realized that was the only thing we had left." Corrado Piccoli’s Purple Heart medal now hangs at the Italian American Civic Association in Watertown.
Zac recently returned another lost medal to a family in Alabama. Since he first reunited Corrado’s medal, Zac says his record is now 5 for 5.
21. Where did Zac get a Purple Heart medal for himself?
A. In the army. B. In an antique shop.
C. From his mother. D. From Adeline Rockko.
22. What did Zac realize when Adeline drove to meet him?
A. She was very impolite. B. She was serious about the medal.
C. She suspected his honesty. D. She came from a wealthy family.
23. What made Adeline treasure the Purple Heart?
A. Her parents’ advice. B. Her knowledge of antiques.
C. Her childhood dream. D. Her memory of her brother.
Passage3(2019·全国II卷,C)
Marian Bechtel sits at West Palm Beach’s Bar Louie counter by herself, quietly reading her e-book as she waits for her salad. What is she reading? None of your business! Lunch is Bechtel’s “me” time. And like more Americans, she’s not alone.
A new report found 46 percent of meals are eaten alone in America. More than half(53 percent)have breakfast alone and nearly half(46 percent)have lunch by themselves. Only at dinnertime are we eating together anymore,74 percent,according to statistics from the report.
“I prefer to go out and be out. Alone,but together,you know?”Bechtel said,looking up from her book. Bechtel,who works in downtown West Palm Beach,has lunch with coworkers sometimes,but like many of us,too often works through lunch at her desk. A lunchtime escape allows her to keep a boss from tapping her on the shoulder. She returns to work feeling energized. “Today,I just wanted some time to myself,”she said.
Just two seats over,Andrew Mazoleny,a local videographer,is finishing his lunch at the bar. He likes that he can sit and check his phone in peace or chat up the barkeeper with whom he's on a first-name basis if he wants to have a little interaction(交流). “I reflect on how my day's gone and think about the rest of the week,” he said. “It's a chance for self-reflection, You return to work recharged and with a plan.”
That freedom to choose is one reason more people like to eat alone. There was a time when people may have felt awkward about asking for a table for one,but those days are over. Now,we have our smartphones to keep us company at the table. “It doesn't feel as alone as it may have before al the advances in technology,” said Laurie Demerit, whose company provided the statistics for the report.
28. What are the statistics in paragraph 2 about?
A. Food variety B. Eating habits. C. Table manners. D. Restaurant service.
29. Why does Bechtel prefer to go out for lunch?
A. To meet with her coworkers. B. To catch up with her work.
C. To have some time on her own. D. To collect data for her report.
30. What do we know about Mazoleny?
A. He makes videos for the bar.
B. He’s fond of the food at the bar.
C. He interviews customers at the bar.
D. He’s familiar with the barkeeper.
31. What is the text mainly about?
A. The trend of having meals alone.
B. The importance of self-reflection.
C. The stress from working overtime.
D. The advantage of wireless technology.
Passage4(2018·天津卷,D)
Would you BET on the future of this man?He is 53 years old. Most of his adult life has been a losing struggle against debt and misfortune. A war injury has made his left hand stop functioning,and he has often been in prison. Driven by heaven-knows-what motives,he determines to write a book.
The book turns out to be one that has appealed to the world for more than 350 years. That former prisoner was Cervantes,and the book was Don Quixote(《堂吉诃德》). And the story poses an interesting question: why do some people discover new vitality and creativity to the end of their days,while others go to seed long before?
We've all known people who run out of steam before they reach life's halfway mark. I'm not talking about those who fail to get to the top. We can't all get there. I'm talking about people who have stopped learning on growing because they have adopted the fixed attitudes and opinions that all too often come with passing years.
Most of us,in fact,progressively narrow the variety of our lives. We succeed in our field of specialization and then become trapped in it. Nothing surprises us. We lose our sense of wonder. But,if we are willing to lean,the opportunities are everywhere.
The things we learn in maturity seldom involve information and skills. We learn to bear with the things we can't change. We learn to avoid self-pity. We learn that however much we try to please,some people are never going to love us-an idea that troubles at first but is eventually relaxing.
With high motivation and enthusiasm,we can keep on learning. Then we will know how important it is to have meaning in our life. However,we can achieve meaning only if we have made a commitment to something larger than our own little egos(自我),whether to loved ones,to fellow humans,to work,or to some moral concept.
Many of us equate(视……等同于)“commitment” with such “caring” occupations as teaching and nursing. But doing any ordinary job as well as one can is in itself an admirable commitment. People who work toward such excellence whether they are driving a truck,or running a store-make the world better just by being the kind of people they are. They've learned life's most valuable lesson.
51. The passage starts with the story of Cervantes to show that_________.
A. loss of freedom stimulates one's creativity
B. age is not a barrier to achieving one's goal
C. misery inspires a man to fight against his fate
D. disability cannot stop a man's pursuit of success
52. What does the underlined part in Paragraph 3 probably mean?
A. End one's struggle for liberty.
B. Waste one's energy taking risks.
C. Miss the opportunity to succeed.
D. Lose the interest to continue learning.
53. What could be inferred from Paragraph 4?
A. Those who dare to try often get themselves trapped.
B. Those who tend to think back can hardly go ahead.
C. Opportunity favors those with a curious mind.
D. Opportunity awaits those with a cautious mind.
54. What does the author intend to tell us in Paragraph 5?
A. A tough man can tolerate suffering.
B. A wise man can live without self-pity
C. A man should try to satisfy people around him.
D. A man should learn suitable ways to deal with life
55. What is the author's purpose in writing the passage?
A. To provide guidance on leading a meaningful adult life.
B. To stress the need of shouldering responsibilities at work.
C. To state the importance of generating motivation for learning.
D. To suggest a way of pursuing excellence in our lifelong career.
题组二(2018年高考真题)
Passage1(2018·新课标卷II,C)
Teens and younger children are reading a lot less for fun, according to a Common Sense Media report published Monday.
While the decline over the past decade is steep for teen readers, some data in the report shows that reading remains a big part of many children’s lives, and indicates how parents might help encourage more reading.
According to the report’s key findings, “the proportion (比例) who say they ‘hardly ever’ read for fun has gone from 8 percent of 13-year-olds and 9 percent of 17-year-olds in 1984 to 22 percent and 27 percent respectively today.”
The report data shows that pleasure reading levels for younger children, ages 2—8, remain largely the same. But the amount of time spent in reading each session has declined, from closer to an hour or more to closer to a half hour per session.
When it comes to technology and reading, the report does little to counsel(建议) parents looking for data about the effect of e-readers and tablets on reading. It does point out that many parents still limit electronic reading, mainly due to concerns about increased screen time.
The most hopeful data shared in the report shows clear evidence of parents serving as examples and important guides for their kids when it comes to reading. Data shows that kids and teens who do read frequently, compared to infrequent readers, have more books in the home, more books purchased for them, parents who read more often, and parents who set aside time for them to read.
As the end of school approaches, and school vacation reading lists loom(逼近) ahead, parents might take this chance to step in and make their own summer reading list and plan a family trip to the library or bookstore.
28. What is the Common Sense Media report probably about?
A. Children’s reading habits.
B. Quality of children’s books.
C. Children’s after-class activities.
D. Parent-child relationships.
29. Where can you find the data that best supports "children are reading a lot less for fun"?
A. In paragraph 2. B. In paragraph 3.
C. In paragraph 4. D. In paragraph 5.
30. Why do many parents limit electronic reading?
A. E-books are of poor quality.
B. It could be a waste of time.
C. It may harm children’s health.
D. E-readers are expensive.
31. How should parents encourage their children to read more?
A. Act as role models for them.
B. Ask then to write book reports.
C. Set up reading groups for them.
D. Talk with their reading class teachers.
Passage2(2018·天津卷,D)
Give yourself a test. Which way is the wind blowing? How many kinds of wildflowers can be seen from your front door? If your awareness is as sharp as it could be, you’ll have no trouble answering these questions.
Most of us observed much more as children than we do as adults. A child’s day is filled with fascination, newness and wonder. Curiosity gave us all a natural awareness. But distinctions that were sharp to us as children become unclear; we are numb(麻木的) to new stimulation(刺激), new ideas. Relearning the art of seeing the world around us is quite simple, although it takes practice and requires breaking some bad habits.
The first step in awakening senses is to stop predicting what we are going to see and feel before it occurs. This blocks awareness. One chilly night when I was hiking in the Rocky Mountains with some students, I mentioned that we were going to cross a mountain stream. The students began complaining about how cold it would be. We reached the stream, and they unwillingly walked ahead. They were almost knee-deep when they realized it was a hot spring. Later they all admitted they’d felt cold water at first.
Another block to awareness is the obsession(痴迷) many of us have with naming things. I saw bird watchers who spotted a bird, immediately looked it up in field guides, and said, a "ruby-crowned kinglet" and checked it off. They no longer paid attention to the bird and never learned what it was doing.
The pressures of "time" and "destination" are further blocks to awareness. I encountered many hikers who were headed to a distant camp-ground with just enough time to get there before dark. It seldom occurred to them to wander a bit, to take a moment to see what’s around them. I asked them what they’d seen. "Oh, a few birds," they said. They seemed bent on their destinations.
Nature seems to unfold to people who watch and wait. Next time you take a walk, no matter where it is, take in all the sights, sounds and sensations. Wander in this frame of mind and you will open a new dimension to your life.
51. According to Paragraph 2, compared with adults, children are more _____________.
A. anxious to do wonders
B. sensitive to others’ feelings
C. likely to develop unpleasant habits
D. eager to explore the world around them
52. What idea does the author convey in Paragraph 3?
A. To avoid jumping to conclusions.
B. To stop complaining all the time.
C. To follow the teacher’s advice.
D. To admit mistakes honestly.
53. The bird watchers’ behavior shows that they ____________.
A. are very patient in their observation
B. are really fascinated by nature
C. care only about the names of birds
D. question the accuracy of the field guides
54. Why do the hikers take no notice of the surroundings during the journey?
A. The natural beauty isn’t attractive to them.
B. They focus on arriving at the camp in time.
C. The forest in the dark is dangerous for them.
D. They are keen to see rare birds at the destination.
55. In the passage, the author intends to tell us we should __________.
A. fill our senses to feel the wonders of the world
B. get rid of some bad habits in our daily life
C. open our mind to new things and ideas
D. try our best to protect nature
Passage3(2018·浙江卷,C)
As cultural symbols go, the American car is quite young. The Model T Ford was built at the Piquette Plant in Michigan a century ago, with the first rolling off the assembly line(装配线)on September 27, 1908. Only eleven cars were produced the next month. But eventually Henry Ford would build fifteen million of them.
Modern America was born on the road, behind a wheel. The car shaped some of the most lasting aspects of American culture: the roadside diner, the billboard, the motel, even the hamburger. For most of the last century, the car represented what it meant to be American—going forward at high speed to find new worlds. The road novel, the road movie, these are the most typical American ideas, born of abundant petrol, cheap cars and a never-ending interstate highway system, the largest public works project in history.
In 1928 Herbert Hoover imagined an America with “a chicken in every pot and a car in every garage.” Since then, this society has moved onward, never looking back, as the car transformed America from a farm-based society into an industrial power.
The cars that drove the American Dream have helped to create a global ecological disaster. In America the demand for oil has grown by 22 percent since 1990.
The problems of excessive(过度的)energy consumption, climate change and population growth have been described in a book by the American writer Thomas L. Friedman. He fears the worst, but hopes for the best.
Friedman points out that the green economy(经济)is a chance to keep American strength. “The ability to design, build and export green technologies for producing clean water, clean air and healthy and abundant food is going to be the currency of power in the new century.”
28. Why is hamburger mentioned in paragraph 2?
A. To explain Americans’ love for travelling by car.
B. To show the influence of cars on American culture.
C. To stress the popularity of fast food with Americans.
D. To praise the effectiveness of America’s road system.
29. What has the use of cars in America led to?
A. Decline of economy. B. Environmental problems.
C. A shortage of oil supply. D. A farm-based society.
30. What is Friedman’s attitude towards America’s future?
A. Ambiguous. B. Doubtful. C. Hopeful. D. Tolerant.
题组四(名校模拟题)
Passage 1
(2020·襄阳市第一中学高三月考) If Confucius (孔子) were still alive today and could celebrate his September 28 birthday with a big cake, there would be a lot of candles. He'd need a fan or a strong wind to help him put them out.
While many people in China will remember Confucius on his special day, few people in the United States will give him a passing thought. It's nothing personal. Most Americans don't even remember the birthdays of their own national heroes.
But this doesn't mean that Americans don't care about Confucius. In many ways he has become a bridge that foreigners must cross if they want to reach a deeper understanding of China.
In the past two decades, the Chinese studies programs have gained huge popularity in Western universities. More recently, the Chinese government has set up Confucius Institutes in more than 80 countries. These schools teach both Chinese language and culture. The main courses of Chinese culture usually include Chinese art, history and philosophy (哲学). Some social scientists suggest that Westerners should take advantage of the ancient Chinese wisdom to make up for the drawbacks of Western philosophy. Students in the United States,at the same time, are racing to learn Chinese. So they will be ready for life in a world where China is an equal power with the United States. Businessmen who hope to make money in China are reading books about Confucius to understand their Chinese customers.
So the old thinker's ideas are still alive and well.
Today China attracts the West more than ever, and it will need more teachers to introduce Confucius and Chinese culture to the West.
As for the old thinker, he will not soon be forgotten by people in the West, even if his birthday is.
1.The opening paragraph is mainly intended to ________.
A.provide some key facts about Confucius
B.attract the readers' interest in the subject
C.show great respect for the ancient thinker
D.prove the popularity of modern birthday celebrations
2.We can learn from Paragraph 4 that American students ________.
A.have a great interest in studying Chinese
B.take an active part in Chinese competitions
C.try to get high scores in Chinese exams
D.fight for a chance to learn Chinese
3.What is the best title for the passage?
A.Forgotten Wisdom in America
B.Huge Fans of the Chinese Language
C.Chinese Culture for Westerners
D.Old Thinker with a Big Future
4.The passage is likely to appear in ________.
A.a biography B.a history paper
C.a newspaper D.a philosophy textbook
Passage 2
(2020·湖南高三二模) It’s 13:30 and 28-year-old Marten Pella 's smart phone starts pinging, a signal that it’s time for us to stop working around his living room table and instead start our workout routine together. A cartoon character wearing bright red shorts on video begins instructing us to do star-jumps and sit-ups around his apartment.
Pella, a research assistant at Stockholm University, is part of the Hoffice movement, which invites workers-freelancers(自由职业者)or full-time employees who can do their jobs remotely—to work at each other’s homes to increase productivity and enjoy an active social life.
Those attending Hoffice events advertised on Facebook are typically asked to work silently in 45-minute blocks, before taking short breaks together to exercise, or simply chatting over a coffee. In addition, each participant shares daily objectives with the rest of the group upon arrival, and is invited to report back on whether or not they have achieved them at the end of the day.
“Often when I am alone, I can work focused for a couple of hours but then I’m easily distracted(分心).The help of others makes me so much more disciplined.” says Pella, who attends Hoffice events as both a guest and a host. Lunches mean networking and connecting with new contacts. “People are coming from really different areas and have different professions so there can be really interesting discussions,” he says.
The Hoffice movement has grown quickly since it was founded in 2014 by Swedish psychologist Christofer Franzen, now 37. He had been giving lectures on the benefits of collective(集体的)intelligence, but realised he was spending most of his own time working alone at his kitchen table. “I wanted to test more structured home co-working with friends in similar situations,” he says.
Franzen says that holding events in houses and apartments creates a unique atmosphere, because there’s a sense of community and desire to contribute. He’s looking for ways to expand the social value of Hoffice, by matching up members with relevant skills to share and even encouraging jobseekers to join its gatherings.
1.Where is Pella when his smart phone starts pinging?
A.In his own home. B.In his office.
C.In another person’s home. D.At Stockholm University.
2.What do people attending Hoffice events do first when they meet?
A.Watch an exercise video. B.Work silently for 45 minutes.
C.Tell each other their daily plans. D.Report what they have achieved.
3.What does Franzen really mean by saying “friends in similar situations”?
A.They usually work alone.
B.They often give lectures.
C.They study collective intelligence.
D.They have to work at a kitchen table.
4.What is the best title for the text?
A.Sharing Comfortable Workplaces B.A New Way to Make New Friends
C.Benefits of Collective Intelligence D.Working from Others’ Homes
Passage 3
(2020·四川省南充高级中学高三月考) A shark moving around the coastline is normally a worrying sight,but this waterborne drone(无人机)threatens floating rubbish instead of people.
Developed by Dutch company RanMarine, the WasteShark takes nature as its inspiration with its whale shark-like mouth. Responsible for collecting waste, the drone will begin operations in Dubai Marina in November after a year of trials with local partner Ecocoast.
According to RanMarine, the WasteShark is available in both autonomous and remote-controlled models. Measuring just over five feet by three-and-a-half feet(1.5 meters by 1.1 meter),it can carry up to 352 pounds of rubbish(159.6 kg)and has an operational battery life of 16 hours.
By 2016 there were approximately 150 million tons of plastic in the world's oceans. One paper from December 2014 estimated that over a quarter of a million tons of ocean plastic pollution was afloat.
"WasteShark also has the abilities to gather air and water quality data, remove chemicals out of the water such as oil,and heavy metals,and scan the seabed to read its depth and outlines,"said Oliver Cunningham, one of the co-founders of RanMarine. "Fitted with a collision-avoidance system, the drone uses laser imaging detection and ranging technology to detect an object in its path and stop or back up if the object approaches."
"Our drones are designed to move through a water system, whether it's around the perimeter(周边) or through the city itself. The drones are that last line of defense between the city and the open ocean," added Cunningham. "WasteSharks are operating in Dubai, South Africa and the Netherlands and cost $ 17,000 for the remote-controlled model and just under $ 23,000 for the autonomous model."
Dubai-based operator Ecocoast has two WasteShark drones. Co-founder Dana Liparts says they will clean waterfronts for clients including hotels and environmental authorities and that Ecocoast' intention is to have the collected rubbish recycled or upcycled. However, Liparts argues that cleaning waterways doesn't have a one-size-fits-all solution and requires a combination of new technology, preventative measures and changing people's attitudes towards littering.
1.What do we know about the WasteShark?
A.It can frighten sharks away. B.It is an ocean explorer.
C.It is a rubbish collector. D.It can catch fish instead of people.
2.What does Paragraph 4 mainly tell us?
A.The causes of ocean pollution. B.The dangers of using plastics.
C.The severity of ocean garbage pollution. D.The importance of ocean protection.
3.What will the WasteShark do with an approaching object?
A.Avoid crashing into it. B.Break it into pieces.
C.Swallow it. D.Fly over it.
4.Which of the following ideas does Liparts agree with?
A.The WasteShark should be used more widely.
B.More measures should be taken to make water clean.
C.The production cost of WasteSharks should be reduced.
D.People should take a positive attitude to new technology.
Passage 4
(2020·北京市第四十三中学高三二模) Microplastics are everywhere in our environment. It's hardly surprising that the tiny fragments have also been found in humans. A new study shows that Americans are consum