Part III Reading Comprehension （30 marks）Dire...

Part III　 Reading Comprehension （30 marks）

Directions: Read the following three passages, Each passage is followed by several questions or unfinished statements．For each of them there are four choices marked A, B,C and D．Choose the one that fits best according to the information given in the passage.

A

Humans aren’t the only ones getting a buzz from coffee. Caffeine can improve memory among honeybees and lead to better pollination(授粉). According to a recent study published in the journal Science.

The study was conducted by a team of researchers at Newcastle University in the United Kingdom. They found that the nectar(花蜜) of some flowers, such as those from grapefruit and lemon plants, as well as certain coffee flowers, contains low doses of caffeine. To get bees to feed on these flowers, the team trained the insects to associate food with the smell of the flowers. They also trained another group of bees to feed on nectar from flowers that were sweetened with a sugar, but did not contain caffeine. After 24 hours, the bees trained on caffeinated flowers returned to these plants three times as often as those trained on the sweetened flowers returned to the uncaffeinated plants.

Professor Geraldine Wright led the researchers. “Remembering floral traits (花部特征) is difficult for bees to perform at a fast pace as they fly from flower to flower and we found that caffeine helps the bee remember where the flowers are,” Wright said in a statement.

Improved memory led to the better pollination. That’s because once bees sip the caffeine nectar, they continue to look for more coffee plants to pollinate. This also suggests that caffeine plays a role in improving the bees’ ability to search for food.

Researchers found that caffeine’s effect on the bee brain is similar to its effect on mammals. “The change is similar to that produced by caffeine in neurons (神经元)”associated with learning and memory in the rat brain,” Wright said.

Bee populations have declining since 2007. The dramatic drop in the insects’ numbers has serious effects for ecosystems and the farming industry. Bees are needed in the reproduction of crops and spreading wild flower species. Understanding what keeps bees buzzing could help to make sure that the insects are able to remember and pollinate their favorite flowers.

1.Which of the following is mentioned in the passage?

A. Caffeine has no effect on the rat brain.

B. Bee population has been increasing.

C. The nectar of lemon plants contains caffeine.

D. Bees dislike nectar from sweetened flowers.

2.After reading the passage, John, who works in the farming industry, will probably feel ________.

A. annoyed　　 B. angry　　 C. nervous　　 D. excited

3.Which of the following relationship is correct according to the passage?

A. improved memory — caffeine nectar — better pollination

B. caffeine nectar — improved memory — better pollination

C. improved memory — better pollination — caffeine nectar

D. caffeine nectar — better pollination — improved memory

4.We can know from the passage that ________.

A. the rat is a mammal

B. caffeine has nothing to do with memory

C. bees are good at remembering floral traits

D. Geraldine Wright did the research on his own

5. What section of a newspaper may this passage be taken from?

A. Science　　 B. Education

C. Culture　 D. Sports

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PART THREE READING COMPREHENSION（30 points）

Directions: Read the following three passages．Each passage is followed by several questions or unfinished statements．For each of them there are 4 choices marked A,B,C and D．Choose the one that fits best according to the information given in the passage．

Next time you find yourself drenched (湿透) in an unexpected heavy rain, look on the bright side – it will be a memorable experience. While wet weather may make us feel gloomy, it sharpens the memory and improves our recall. But those who feel in a good mood because it’s a sunny day are able to remember less well, according to memory tests carried by Australian researchers.

Professor Joe Forgas, who led the research, said: “It seems strange but a little bit of sadness is a good thing. People performed much better on our memory test when the weather was unpleasant and they wee in a slightly negative mood. On bright sunny days, when they were more likely to be happy, the flunked it.”

The tests were carried out on shoppers at a store in Sydney, where researchers randomly placed ten small objects on the check – out counter. On rainy days, sad music was played in the store. When it was bright and sunny, customers heard cheery music. This was done to further influence them towards negative or positive moods. After shopping, customers were asked how many of the objects they could remember. Their scores were three times higher when the weather was had and they were feeling angry, compared with those tested on sunny days. The results were published in Journal of Experimental Psychology. A report on the findings said: “They point to a growing body of evidence that the way people think, the quality of their judgments and the accuracy of their memory are all significantly influenced by positive and negative moods.”

Professor Forgas said, “We found that weather – inducted negative mood improved memory accuracy. Shoppers in a negative mood showed better memory and higher discrimination ability.”

A worse mood helped to focus people’s attention on their surroundings and led to a more thorough and careful thinking style, while happiness increased confidence and forgetfulness.

Being happy tends to promote a thinking style that is less focused on our surroundings. In a positive mood we are less likely to make more snap (匆忙的) judgments about people we meet. Mild negative mood, in turn, tends to increase attention to our surroundings and produce a more careful, thorough thinking style.

Accurately remembering everyday scenes is a difficult task, yet such memories can be on importance in everyday life. Surprisingly, the influence of mood states on the accuracy of real-life memories is still poorly understood.

56．What’s the major function of Paragraph 1?

A．To attract readers’ interest.

B．To introduce the theme of the whole passage.

C．To generalize the whole passage.

D．To describe a memorable experience.

57．The underlined word “flunked” in Paragraph2 may mean “       ”.

A．conducted B．failed       C．passed      D．understood

58．In the research, researchers play different music to         .

A．make customers become sadder or happier

B．help customers choose what they want

C．promote customers to buy more goods

D．get customers to make a quick choice

59．According to Joe Forgas, on sunny days, people         .

A．will make careful judgments on others

B．tend to pay more attention to their surroundings

C．will have more confidence

D．will have a better recall

60．What can we know from the research?

A．Forgetfulness is rather troublesome.

B．It’s important to feel in a good mood.

C．It’s memorable to experience a rainy day.

D．Gloomy days are good for memorizing things.

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PART THREE: READING COMPREHENSION (30分)

Directions: Read the following three passages. Each passage is followed by several questions or unfinished statements. For each of them there are 4 choices marked A, B, C and D. Choose the one that fits best according to the information given in the passage you have just read.

A

The Wuhan to Guangzhou MU(动车组) Train route will start to operate on the 26th of this month. The train is the fastest in the world. All the construction and preparations for the route's operation are in the final stages. Our reporter Li Dong has the details.

In a trial operation, the speed of the MU Train reached 394 kilometers per hour, the highest in the world. Though the speed during normal operation may be at 350 kilometers per hour, but this newly built high speed railway may still reduce the travel time of Wuhan to Guangzhou from more than 10 to 3 hours.

The total length of Wuhan—Guangzhou high speed railway is more than 1068 kilometers. The railway connects Hubei, Hunan and Guangdong. The total investment is more than 116 billion yuan.

Protection facilities like bars and surveillance cameras are installed along the whole railway. Zhang Shuguang, director of transport bureau of the Ministry of Railway says the safety system of the train and the route is also state of the art.

"The break distance of the train is 5 kilometers. But the MU Train can respond to any emergency situations within 32 kilometers. It's very safe."

The shortened travel distance is good news for many people. However some passengers also hope the service can be upgraded.

"The dinning and entertainment service can be better. I hope I can watch TV on the train."

"The weariness during travel can be eased if I can use internet on the train. I can feel more comfortable."

Jing Libin is the MU Train driver of the Wuhan—Guangzhou high speed railway. As a MU Train engineer who witnessed China's high speed railway development. Jing Libin says: It's a way faster!

"The development of China's railway is so fast. In the beginning of the year, the speed is only 160 kilometers per hour. Soon, the speed reached 250 kilometers. And now, it's 350 kilometers! As a driver, I am very impressed."

China plans to increase the railway operation length from the current 80 thousand kilometers to 110 thousand kilometers, which includes 18 thousand kilometers of high speed passenger railways by 2012.

Within 3 years, China plans to build an "8 Hour, High Speed Transportation Circle", which means, passengers may reach nearly all the provincial capital cities in China in about 8 hours by high speed railway. With the development of the railway, China’s economy will also continue her highest development. In the near future, China will be really powerful in the world.

56. What is the best title of the passage?

A. Fastest Train in the World

C. High Speed Railway Construction

B. Trial Operation of the MU Train

D. Newly Typed Train in the World.

57. Surveillance cameras are used for________.

A. art   B. speed   C. safety    D. research

58. How much time would be needed from Wuhan to Guangzhou if the train travelled at its top speed?

A. a little more than three hours           C. more than four hours

B. less than three hours                  D. less than seven hours

59. What can we learn from the passage?

A. There will be no problems on the new train.

B. Passengers are completely satisfied with the new train.

C. Jing Libin is very proud of the development of China’s railway.

D. China has 110 thousand kilometers ofthe railway operation length now.

60. What can we infer according to the author?

A. Nobody expected China would have such a fast train.

B. China will build more high speed railways.

C. The service of the train is hard to be improved.

D. China’s economy would slow down if her transport couldn’t be improved.

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PART THREE READING COMPREHENSION（30分）

Directions: Read the following three passages．Each passage is followed by several questions or unfinished statements．For each of them there are 4 choices marked A,B,C and D．Choose the one that fits best according to the information given in the passage．

Short reader – submitted stories – for the woman you should think of today!

——Compiled by Amy Zerello

Great Minds Reminded of Mom

After a long, exhausting day, a friend of mine, Allen, headed home. On the road, he passed an elderly woman who was standing by a car with a flat tire. If that were his mother, he thought, he would want someone to help her. With a tired sigh, he turned around and drove back.

Just as he reached the stranded woman, a truck pulled up and a burly farmer got out. "Kindof reminds you of your mom, too?" the man asked as the two of them pitched in together to change the tire for the woman.

-- Contributed by Katherine L. Houge

Your Biggest Fan

While waiting in a bookstore for a guest author to sign her latest book, I leafed through some of the Civil War novels she had written. The woman in line behind me commented, "Those are the best books I've ever read. I couldn't put them down." Before I could reply, the author frowning, looked over and said, "Oh, come on, Mom!"

-- Contributed by Marilyn Kopp

Head of the Household

My husband, Jeff, and I came across several problems while assembling our new computer system, so we called the help desk. The man on the phone started to talk to Jeff in computer jargon(行业术语), which confused us even more.

"Sir," my husband politely said, "please explain what I should do as if I were a four-year-old."

"Okay," the computer technician replied. "Sweetie, could you please put your mommy on the phone?"

-- Contributed by Lena Worth

How does it feel to tickle your mom’s funny bone?

Now send your own funny story to us! You could earn up to $ 300!

56．Who would the burly man be in the first joke?

A．Another kind helper.       B．The old lady’s son.

C．Allen’s friend.         D．A policeman.

57．What was the guest author’s mom trying to do in the second story?

A．Push hard to get her daughter’s signature.

B．Promote her daughter’s books by pretending to be a fan.

C．Show her pride in her daughter’s achievement.

D．Persuade Marilyn Kopp to buy her daughter’s book.

58．The computer technician on the phone in the third story________.

A．actually could find no way to solve Jeff’s problems

B．teased Jeff about his poor knowledge of computer jargon

C．wanted to talk to Lena instead

D．believed that Jeff’s mom would know more computer jargon

59．What is the main purpose of the jokes?

A．To make fun of moms.    B．To honor moms.

C．To educate moms.           D．To amuse moms.

60．The passage is most possibly found________.

A．in a storybook         B．in a commercial ad

C．in a magazine          D．in a student’s textbook

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PART Ⅳ　 WRITING　 (45 marks)

Section A (10 marks)

Directions: Read the following passage. Fill in the numbered blankets by using the information from the passage. Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS for each answer.

Like our body, our memory needs regular exercise to be in good condition. Like the sportsman who must train to allow the body to respond to difficult times, the memory needs its own special training in order to stay in “shape” and improve.

There are many factors that can cause poor memory like insomnia (失眠), depression and alcohol. However, there are simple ways which you can follow to keep your memory in shape and actually help you to improve your memory’s condition and performance.

Never stop learning. Look for topics that interest you and really get involved in learning new information about them. Reading and attending lectures or programs are sources of continuous education of your brain with beneficial results to your memory.

Develop your social and family relationships. The more social you are, the better it is for your brain. Studies have shown that the brain and heart have a lot to gain from good family and social relationships.

Exercise your mind with games. The more you use your brain, the more you help your memory stay in shape. There are many games that can make you an intelligent person as well as entertain you such as chess, puzzles and board games.

Exercise physically can improve your memory. This type of exercise improves the circulatory （血液循环的） system. Even the simple but regular daily exercise such as fast walking can improve the heart and oxygenation（供氧） of the brain. The benefits of exercise affect positively many body systems, as well as our memory and other cognitive（认知的） capabilities.

Eat more fruit and vegetables. What we eat every day affects the performance and long-term condition of our memory. Fruit and vegetables are an excellent source of antioxidants（抗氧化剂） and vitamins that can help and benefit the nervous system.

So our memory is like a sportsman. The more we practice our brains and memory, the better their performance will be.

Title: How to improve memory

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Part IV　 Writing （45 marks）

Section A （10 marks）

Directions: Read the following passage．Fill in the numbered blanks by using the

information from the passage.

Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS for each answer.

The X- Factor (英国偶像), Britain's got talent（英国达人）, American Idol（美国偶像）and Super girl, TV talent shows are popular all over the world.

There are many reasons for that. To start with, the show can make the contestant(选手) famous overnight. Susan Boyle was an ordinary English woman before she appeared on Britain’s Got talent, in which she sang “I Dreamed a Dream”. The video clip (片段) of her performance was viewed more than 50 million times within a few weeks. Second, the show offers a good opportunity to display one’s talents. Third, everybody has a fair chance to be involved in the show regardless of the age and background. Even if you can’t perform in the show, you can vote for your favorite contestant through cell phones and the Internet. Fourth, the fun and humorous style also appeals to young people. Last but not least, the modern media such as TV and the Internet contributes greatly to its rapid popularity.

However, many people express concerns about TV talent shows. They argue that the TV talent show misleads the young people and makes them believe that they can become famous overnight. Some think the show only creates entertainers rather than artists, because many winners have little idea about real music and acting. What’s worse, some judges even humiliate (羞辱) and laugh at contestants. One contestant from American Idol committed suicide because she couldn’t stand the rejection and humiliation. Even the winners suffer. Susan Boyle suffered a nervous breakdown soon after the show, because she was unable to deal with the pressure.

Many countries have realized the problems and taken some steps to regulate the show. The UK requires that contestants younger than 16 not be allowed to participate. China bans TV talent shows to be broadcast during the prime time. In the USA, some insulting judges are punished.

高三英语其他题中等难度题查看答案及解析

III. Reading Comprehension (35分)

Section A

Directions: For each blank in the following passage, there are four words or phrases marked A, B, C and D. Fill in each blank with the word or phrase that best fits the context.

Billions of people across the world use cell phones. Though cell phones can be wonderful, liberating tools of   50  , freeing us from the confines (界限) of an office and providing more leisure time, they often do the exact   51  . Cell phone use has   52   the line between work and non-work time, increasing stress and tension within families and between friends. As Eric Slate, author of Technoslave commented in his essay: "It seems the more '  53  ' we are, the more detached (不相连的) we become."

There is a risk of being too connected. While I was hiking in Spain, I got   54   a few times. I saw new sights and was surprised by   55   landscapes and towns I wouldn't have otherwise come across. Back in the US, whenever I got lost, I would always call a friend for   56   on my cell phone. With a cell phone, you're less   57   to go down the wrong street and see new things or unexpectedly meet new people.

So, when I recently returned home to Burlington, Vermont, I   58   my cell phone and traded in an old, rusty bike for a regular landline telephone that was connected to the wall and everything. Now, I go outside and don't make a phone call or check my phone.   59  , I've seen things in my neighbourhood I   60  noticed before, like a big flower garden around the block and artwork and sculptures down the road. Now that I'm not __61___ my cell phone, I've met new people on the street and at the supermarket, started   62   with neighbours I haven't spoken with before and talk with my friends face-to-face instead of over the phone. .

Instead of   63   me from the world, getting rid of my cell phone has helped me become more in touch with my community. I am no longer a   64   of my cell phone.

50. A. information                B. communication         C. learning                   D. exchange

51. A. opposite                     B. same                        C. wrong                      D. right

52. A. misused                            B. limited                     C. troubled                  D. confused

53. A. affected                            B. separated                  C. connected                 D. satisfied

54. A. exhausted                  B. disappointed             C. lost                          D. attracted

55. A. inaccessible             B. unexpected               C. familiar                    D. similar

56. A. attention                   B. destination                C. direction                  D. action

57. A. eager                         B. likely                       C. willing                     D. interested

58. A. made use of               B. hung up                   C. got rid of                 D. got hold of

59. A. Therefore                   B. However                  C. Besides                    D. Instead

60. A. once                          B. often                        C. never                       D. ever

61. A. happy with          B. crazy about        C. glue to            D. aware of

62. A . interviews             B. arguments         C. visits                     D. conversations

63. A. isolating                    B. saving                      C. protecting                 D. removing

64. A. fan                                   B. master                      C. friend                      D. slave

高三英语完型填空简单题查看答案及解析

Part B: Reading Comprehension 20%

A

Backpacks are convenient. They can hold your books, your lunch, and a change of clothes, leaving your hands free to do other things. Someday, if you don’t mind carrying a heavy load, your backpack might also power your MP3 player, keep your cell phone running, and maybe even light your way home.

Scientists from the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia and the Marine Biological Laboratory in Woods Hole, Mass., have invented a backpack that makes electricity from energy produced while its wearer walks.

The backpack’s electricity-creating powers depend on springs used to hang a cloth pack from its metal frame. The frame sits against the wearer’s back, and the whole pack moves up and down as the person walks. A mechanism with gears(传动装置) collects energy from this motion and transfers it to an electrical generator.

Surprisingly, the researchers found, people walk differently when they wear the springy packs. As a result, wearers use less energy than when carrying regular backpacks. Also, the way the new packs ride on wearers’ backs makes them more comfortable than standard packs.

The backpack could be especially useful for soldiers, scientists, mountaineers, and emergency workers who typically carry heavy backpacks. These people often rely on global positioning system(GPS) receivers, night-vision goggles(夜视镜), and other battery-powered devices to get around and do their work. Because the pack can make its own electricity, users don’t need to give up space in their packs to lots of extra batteries.

For the rest of us, power-generating backpacks could make it possible to walk, play video games, watch TV, and listen to music, all at the same time. Electricity-generating packs aren’t on the market yet, but if you do get one eventually, just make sure to look both ways before crossing the street!

65. The passage introduces a new kind of ______ backpack.

66. The new backpack makes use of ______ to produce power.

batteries placed at the bottom of the frame

the motion of the pack while the wearer walks

energy the wearer consumes for carrying the pack

the collective motion of a mechanism and some gears

67. From the passage, we can infer that ______.

the backpacks of mountaineers may become smaller in the future

the new backpack can hardly be produced due to its potential danger

the new backpack will someday replace MP3 players and cell phones

the backpack will also provide electricity for lighting our houses

68. An enormous disadvantage of power-generating backpacks might be that ______.

they may stop working at any time

it takes quite a while to have the energy transferred

they may distract the wearer’s attention from road safety

they will be extremely heavy with the mechanism

高三英语阅读理解简单题查看答案及解析

Ⅲ. Reading Comprehension: 35%

Part A: Cloze Test 15%

Competition for admission to the country’s top private schools has always been tough. This is spreading from Manhattan to the rest of the country. Precise 50 data on private schools are unavailable, but interviews with representatives of independent and religious schools all told the same 51: too many applicants, higher rejection rates. Surveys indicate that Americans’ No. 1 52 is education. 53 the long economic boom(繁荣) has given parents more income, many are turning to private schools, even at price tags of well over $10,000 a year. “We’re getting applicants from a broader area, 54, than we ever have in the past,” said Besty Haugh of the Latin School of Chicago, which experienced a 20 percent increase in 55 this year.

The problem is that while demand has increased, supply has not. “Every year, there are a few children who do not find places, but this year, for the first time that I know of, there are a(n) 56 number of children who don’t have places,” said Krents, who also heads a private-school admissions group in New York.

So what can parents do to give their 4-year-old a(n) 57? Schools know there is no simple way to pick a class when children are so young. Many schools give preference to boys or girls or alumni(校友) children. Some use lotteries. But most rely on a 58 of subjective and objective measures: tests that at best 59 developmental maturity and learning potential, interviews with parents and observation of applicants in classroom settings. They also want a diverse mix. Children may end up on a waiting list simply because their birthdays 60 at the wrong time year, or because too many applicants were boys.

The worst thing a parent can do is to pressure preschoolers to perform --- 61, by pushing them to read or do math exercises 62 they’re ready. Instead, the experts say, parents should take a breath and look for 63. Another year in preschool may be all that’s needed. Parents, meanwhile, may need a more 64 mind about relatively unknown private schools --- or about magnet（具有吸引力的）schools in the public system. There’s no sign of the private-school boom letting up.

50. A. traditional                B. current                                   C. processed                 D. average

51. A. story                       B. advice                             C. context                     D. promise

52. A. venture                    B. concern                           C. occupation                D. interest

53. A. For that                   B. So that                                   C. Now that                  D. After that

54. A. intellectually            B. psychologically                C. commercially            D. geographically

55.   A. applications             B. locations                         C. schools                     D. admissions

56.   A. considerate               B. inadequate                       C. significant                D. moderate

57.   A. advantage                 B. skill                                C. place                        D. school

58.   A. choice                      B. mix                                C. preference                D. base

59.   A. identify                    B. exploit                                  C. employ                    D. confirm

60. A. set                           B. fix                                  C. date                         D. fall

61. A. in a word                 B. to a great extent               C. in any case               D. for example

62. A. when                       B. since                               C. before                      D. until

63.   A. occasions                 B. competitions                    C. alternatives               D. pressures

64.   A. open                        B. closed                             C. active                       D. secret

高三英语完型填空简单题查看答案及解析

Section B (10 marks)

Directions: Read the following passage. Answer the questions according to the information given in the passage and required words limit. Write your answers on your answer sheet.

The tasty cream-filled golden sponge(海绵) cakes have been an American favorite for decades. These are just a few of the sugary treats made by the beloved Hostess brand. But after more than 80 years, Americans have to say goodbye to these iconic (标志性的) desserts. Early last week, Hostess announced it is going out of business.

"Many people have worked unbelievably long and hard to keep this from happening," said Hostess CEO Gregory F. Rayburn. "Hostess Brand has no other alternative than to begin the process of getting down and preparing for the sale of our iconic brands." Along with Twinkles (奶油蛋糕) and Wonder Bread, cupcakes and other sugary treats may disappear from the shelves.

In the past decade, Hostess has experienced difficulties with its management and high labor costs. The company had money troubles in the past, but this time there was no way to recover. Along with the loss of sugary treats comes the loss of nearly 20,000 jobs. Hostess fans hope that another company will buy out the Hostess.

The downfall of Hostess is due not just to the company's financial problems, but also to a changing America. Our country's tastes and lifestyles are not the same as they were eighty years ago. Americans have become more health-conscious, and they are demanding more healthful food products. As a manufacturer of high-calorie products, Hostess does not fit into this new way of life.

To make matters worse for Hostess, Americans do not eat as much bread as they once did. "More and more people are choosing one-dish meals," said Harry Balzar. "The tradition of bread as a side dish is going out." Americans are finding alternatives to their morning toast too. Instead they’re choosing quick snacks like yogurt and energy bars.

Will Twinkles become an image of a bygone(过去的) America? Hostess fans hope that it will secure its spot on supermarket shelves for years to come. We can only wait. And maybe eat fruit for dessert instead.

1.What caused Hostess to be in trouble in the last 10 years? (no more than 7 words)

_____________________________________________________________________

2.Can you list three disappearing sugary desserts by Hostess? (no more than 5 words)

_____________________________________________________________________

3.What makes Hostess's situation more severe? (no more than 9 words)

_____________________________________________________________________

4.What's the hope of Hostess fans about this spongy snack's future? (no more than 20 words)

_____________________________________________________________________

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