第三部分:阅读理解阅读下列短文,从每题所给的四个选项(A、B、C和D)中,选出最佳选项。(共20小题;每小题2.5分,满分50分)
The American book Who Moved My Cheese(奶酪) has been a bestseller all over the world. It teaches people how to face changes in their lives. Now its author Spence Johnson has written a book just for teens(青少年). The book tells us that when facing change in our lives, like a new school or new friends, don't be afraid. Instead, use this change to make a better life. The book gives an example of a change at school. A school is changing from having two terms to three terms b
ecause there are too many students.
Several teens are talking about this. Most of them are unhappy and worried. But Chris is not. He laughs and tells a story about two mice(老鼠), two“little people”and some cheese.
The four are in a maze looking for the cheese. Here, cheese means something important in life, like moving to a new class or getting into college. But they find the cheese is gone. The mice realize that they can’t change what has happened and have to find more cheese. This means finding different dreams. The little people, however, can’t do this. They are afraid of change so they find no cheese.
After Chris finishes the story, the friends understand one thing: to get more cheese, move in a new direction quickly. His friends understand how this can be used in the changes all teens face, such as doing well at school or having good relationships or just feeling good about yourself.
56. The book Who Moved My Cheese is __________.
A. written all over the world B. read across the world
C. sold only in America D. loved only by teens
57. What does the text mainly discuss?
A. Never change in our life. B. Change when you like to do.
C. Change with the changes. D. Pay attention to the changes.
58. The underline word “four”(paragraph 3) refers to __________.
A. Mice and little people B. Students
C. Cheese D. Readers
59. Which of the following statements is true?
A. The author is Britain.
B. There are three terms in every school.
C. Most teens don't understand Chris' story.
D. The book tells teens how to face changes in their lives.
A long time ago, before there was any money (coins or paper money), people got the things that they needed by trading or exchanging. Salt was one of the first items used to exchange for other items. Later, some of the common things that were used for exchanging were tea leaves, shells, feathers, animal teeth, tobacco, and blankets. Around 3000 BC, barley, a type of grain, was used for exchanging.
The world’s first metal money was developed by the Sumerians who melted silver into small bars all weighing the same. This was around 1000 BC. About three hundred years later, people started using coins as official money.
Around 640 BC, people in the ancient kingdom of Lydia ( which was in Turkey) created special coins of exact with and purity (纯度). They were made of gold and silver and were stamped with a lion’s head.
Later, other empires such as Greece, Persia, and Rome adopted the concept of coins and started developing their own in many different shapes and different metals.
Around the year 1000, the Chinese started using paper money. The Chinese were the first to use paper money. The Europeans discovered this thanks to Marco Polo who went to China in 1295. the Chinese had different values for the paper notes which were made by the Chinese government.
Around 1661, Sweden became the first European country to make paper money. Until 1850, the Spanish dollar was the coin most widely used throughout the world.What is the best title for this passage?
A. The history of money |
B. How people traded in the past |
C. The invention of paper money |
D. The use of coins around the world |
We learn that before coins and paper money were used, _____.
A. barley had always been used for exchanging |
B. only a few people knew how to trade with others |
C. salt was the most widely used item for exchanging |
D. many kinds of things were used for exchanging |
According to the passage, when did people start using coins as official money?
A. Around 1300 BC. B. Around 1000 BC.
C. Around 700 BC. D. Around 640 BC.The underlined word “adopted” in Paragraph 4 probably means “____”.
A. replaced | B. changed |
C. accepted | D. invented |
Which of the following countries first started to use paper money?
A.Spain | B.China | C.Sweden | D.Lydia |
Many years ago my student asked me the question, “Mrs. Kindred, why do you teach?” Without taking time to reflect, I answered, “Because someday I might say something that might make a difference in someone’s life.” Even though I was sincere, that wasn’t a very good answer and my student didn’t let it slide.
“Let me get this straight,” he said, “You went to college for four years so you could come here every day because you have the hope that someday you might say something that will influence someone?” He shook his head as if I were crazy and walked away looking confused. I’m one of those people who look back and wish they had said something smart or witty, or swift.
Even though that particular student might no longer wonder why I teach, there are days when I wonder. On those days, I remind myself of the real reasons I teach:
It’s in my blood. My mother was my most influential teacher, and she was a 6th grade reading teacher until her death in 1990. She instilled(逐渐灌输) in me a love of reading and the knowledge that education opens doors.
Teaching is a way to make a difference. If you throw a stone in a pond the ripples go on and on until they reach the shore. You can’t have ripples without a “stone.” Good teachers throw stones that make a positive difference, and that’s what I strive to do.
I genuinely love teenagers.
I want to share with others what I know and what I have learned through the years. Life is full of ups and downs, and if I can help students avoid some potholes on the road of life, I want to do so. If they’ll allow me to celebrate their victories with them, I want to do too.
Teaching isn’t for everyone, but I know I made the right career choice.What do you think of the writer?
A.Stupid. | B.Honest. | C.Conservative. | D.Polite. |
According to the text, which of the following is NOT true?
A.The writer’s mother has the greatest influence on her. |
B.The writer’s answer made the student confused. |
C.In the writer’s opinion, some people in the world are unfit to teach. |
D.The writer annoyed the student who asked the question. |
Why did the student continue to ask the question about the writer’s being a teacher?
A.Because he thought her answer was unbelievable. |
B.Because the writer was insincere. |
C.Because the student was naughty. |
D.Because the answer was difficult to understand. |
What’s the main idea of the text?
A.A student’s silly question. | B.A good teacher who likes students. |
C.A confused student. | D.The reason why I teach. |
We can infer from the text that _________.
A.the writer was also a good teacher in school |
B.the writer often plays with her students beside a pond |
C.the writer devotes herself to teaching and her students |
D.the writer often accompanies the students on their way home |
Napoleon Bonaparte died on May 5, 1821, on the island of St. Helena off the coast of Africa. He was 51 years old at the time. When doctors examined Napoleon’s body, they said that the former emperor of France had died from cancer of the stomach. That was the cause of death recorded in the official report. However, other doctors disagreed. One doctor who was present during the examination of the body said that Napoleon died of hepatitis. Other historians and medical experts have suggested that Napoleon died of syphilis, tuberculosis, or perhaps malaria. Now, after careful research, a British chemist thinks that Napoleon might have been poisoned -- not by a person, but by his wallpaper.
Napoleon was sent to the island of St. Helena in 1815 after he lost the battle of Waterloo. He was a prisoner on the island. Although he had servants to attend to him, he had to live in one small building. St. Helena is a very wet island, so the walls of the building were always covered with mold. Napoleon became ill from spending too much time inside his house. Almost constantly he had a fever, chills, and felt sick to his stomach. He often felt pain in his shoulders and in his side. His skin turned yellow. He got frequent headaches, and he would become dizzy and vomit(吐). None of the medicine that the doctors gave Napoleon seemed to help. They were not sure what was the matter. Finally, Napoleon was too weak to leave the house. One night, while he was sleeping, he went into a coma and died.
Many doctors who later reviewed the reports of Napoleon’s illness found that the symptoms(症状) did not show a man who suffered from stomach cancer. It seemed obvious that Napoleon had died from some other cause. In 1961, a Swedish doctor examined some of Napoleon’s hair and found a high level of arsenic, a chemical poison. Was Napoleon murdered? It is doubtful. Arsenic was used in many types of medicine during Napoleon’s time, so he might have taken the arsenic as a cure for his illness. Then, in 1982, Dr. David Jones from England began to look into the mystery and suggested that Napoleon might have breathed in arsenic which was in the air of his house. In the 1700s and 1800s, arsenic was used to make a kind of green paint used on cloth and wallpaper. If the paint was used on a wet wall, the arsenic would go into the air. A person in the room might breathe that air. After studying the wallpaper in the room where Napoleon died, Dr. Jones found high levels of arsenic in the green paint on the walls.Why did Napoleon live on St. Helena?
A.He owned the island. | B.He was a prisoner there. |
C.His family lived there. | D.He liked the island. |
The official report said that Napoleon died of____________.
A.cancer | B.a coma | C. mold | D.poison |
Napoleon suffered from the following symptoms except __________.
A. chills B. fever C dizziness D. bleedingAccording to Dr. Jones, how did the arsenic probably get into Napoleon’s body?
A.He drank it.. | B.He touched it. | C.He breathed it in. | D.He ate it |
The passage says that .
A.a British doctor thinks he has found the cause of Napoleon’s death |
B.many doctors have tried to guess the cause of Napoleon's death |
C.Napoleon could have died from poison |
D.all of the above |
There is a brown female(母的) Canadian duck that weighs only four hundred fifty grams. The duck had flown to the southern state of Florida for the winter.A hunter shot it on January fifteenth and took it to his home in the city of Tallahassee.He put it in the refrigerator(冰箱).Two days later the man’s wife opened the refrigerator door.The duck lifted its head and looked at her.It was alive!
The family took the duck to a doctor who treats animals.The doctor gave the duck to the Goose Creek Animal Sanctuary(动物保护区).Animal sanctuaries provide homes for animals and teach people about their care.
The doctor said it was easy to understand why people thought the duck was dead. He said ducks generally do not move a 1ot,especially after being shot.And he said its low body temperature helped it survive in the refrigerator.
That was enough to make the duck famous around the world.The Tallahassee newspaper published the story that was re-printed in many different countries.But that was not the end of the story.
Workers at the wildlife sanctuary named the duck Perky.And they got the doctor to give an operation to repair the duck’s damaged wing.During the operation,Perky stopped breathing--not just once but two times.The doctor tried to save Perky by giving her oxygen.But he finally said the duck had died.A few seconds later, however, Perky began to move.Reports say the people in the operating room were so happy that they cried.
Workers at the wildlife sanctuary say Perky will not have any more operations. It seems the drugs that were used had side-effects on her.Perky is expected to live at the sanctuary.And a local company has begun to sell T-shirts showing a picture of the lucky duck. Money from the sale of the shirts will help pay for Perky’s care.Which of the following statements is TRUE?
A.Animal sanctuaries are homes specially for wounded animals. |
B.The hunter shot the duck in the wing. |
C.Ducks do not move at all for the whole winter. |
D.The hunter’s wife intended to free the duck in the refrigerator. |
The underlined Word “That” in the fourth paragraph refers to the fact that______.
A.the duck survived the shot and the cold in the refrigerator |
B.the hunter had saved the duck by freezing it |
C.the hunter shot the duck from Canada |
D.the Tallahassee newspaper published the story |
The duck in the story______.
A.was big and strong |
B.flew to Florida for food |
C.stayed in the refrigerator to keep its body temperature low |
D.was considered dead before being put in the refrigerator |
What is the best title for the passage?
A.Save the Duck | B.The Lucky Duck | C.Stop Killing Ducks | D.The Poor Duck |
It can be inferred from the passage that_______.
A.the local company will get large profits by selling the T-shirts |
B.it was illegal for me hunter to shoot the duck |
C.the duck is likely to be well cared for in the sanctuary |
D.Perky likes Florida better than Canada |
Having driven almost thirty hours, I decided to stay in South Carolina for a few days. The next morning, I purchased a three-day fishing license and bait (饵料) before heading to the lake.
Opening my trunk, I carefully took out my fishing gear (用具), put it on the lake’s edge, baited up and began to fish.
“Good morning,” said someone, walking up from behind me.
Turning around, I saw a game warden (猎场管理员) with a clip-board.
“Good morning,” I said, nodding my head.
“Catch any fish?” he asked.
“No sir, just relaxing and killing time.”
“Can I see your fishing license?”
I handed him the license I had purchased at the bait shop.
“Can I see your driver’s license, too?” he requested.
“I see the name on the driver’s license is spelled Kiser and the name on the fishing license is Kaiser,” said the warden.
“The gentleman at the bait shop must have written it wrong,” I told him.
“Well, I’m afraid I’ll have to write you up for fishing with an invalid license and take away your fishing gear.”
“You’ve got to be kidding,” I responded, with a surprised look on my face.
Sure enough I was written up and my fishing gear taken away. I was told that I would have to pay a fine and that my stuff would be sold at auction(拍卖).
I stood there almost in tears as he drove away. Those rods and reels were very special to me. I had used them over twenty years, fishing with my friends, who were now all dead.
After returning home in Georgia, I telephoned South Carolina trying to explain the situation, but no
one would listen. I was told that the Department of Fish and Game had a “zero tolerance” for fishing and hunting violations. Finally, in tears I paid the fine and gave up the fight.
Nine months later, I received a letter. I had no idea who it was from as there was no return address. On a plain piece of notebook paper was written “Auction for the Department of Fish and Game held this Saturday at 11:00 am.”
On Saturday, at six in the morning I headed to South Carolina. By ten o’clock I had found the auction. There were numerous boats and piles upon piles of fishing equipment. All at once, there it was—my wonderful stuff all thrown in a pile as if it was worth nothing.
As the auction began I took my seat. In my wallet was twenty-seven dollars. For more than an hour I waited for my property to be brought to the auction block.
“We have three rods and reels here. I guess we will sell this as a unit,” said the auctioneer.
“50 dollars,” yelled someone in the crowd.
“51 dollars,” yelled another man.
I rose from my seat and walked out of the auction.
“66 dollars,” I heard as the bidding continued.
“100 dollars,” came another bid. The auction became silent.
“100 dollars once, 100 dollars twice, 100 dollars three times. Sold for 100 dollars,” went the auctioneer.
I walked to my truck, got in and just sat there. Suddenly I heard something hit the side of my truck. Turning around, I saw the back of a man putting my three rods and reels into my truck. It was the same game warden who wrote me the ticket almost a year ago!
As I got out of the truck he stuck out his hand and said, “I wasn’t wrong. It’s the law that is wrong.”
I shook his hand, thanked him and drove away. I cried as I crossed the South Carolina Georgia state line.Who wrote a letter to the writer telling him about the auction?
A.The Department of Fish and Game. | B.The game warden. |
C.A person unmentioned in the passage. | D.The auction organizers. |
Why did the writer walk out of the auction while it was going on?
A.He realized he was unable to get back his fishing gear. |
B.He was too nervous to stay inside till the auction ended. |
C.He couldn’t bear hearing people selling his fishing gear. |
D.He knew the game warden was waiting for him outside. |
What did the game warden mean by saying “It’s the law that is wrong”?
A.It didn’t make any sense to prohibit people from fishing freely in South Carolina. |
B.The writer did break the law by fishing with an invalid license whatever the reason. |
C.The writer should have been allowed a chance to explain and get his things back. |
D.The auction should not have been held to sell the boats and fishing equipment. |