第三部分：阅读理解（共20小题；每小题2分，满分40分）
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。
Want to take an out-of-this-world trip? Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic plans to make that possible. Beginning in 2009, people should have the opportunity to become space tourists, traveling at about 3,000 mph to heights about 75 miles above Earth. Branson has high hopes for his latest plans. "It is just the start of what we believe will be a new age in the history of mankind-one day making the affordable exploration of space by human beings a real possibility," he said.
At the start, though, the trip won't be cheap. Seats aboard Virgin's first craft-VSS Enterprise-will cost about $200,000. Prices could drop after the first hundred space flights. Despite the current ticket cost, more than 30,000 people-including celebrities(名人) Sigourney Weaver and Victoria Principal-have expressed interest in getting onboard.
People who don't have an extra $200,000 still have a chance to get a seat aboard the craft. A computer game contest and a reality television show are in the works. Those who can't afford a ticket will have an opportunity to win a seat.
Virgin is expected to be the first commercial spacecraft. It will hold six passengers and two pilots. Passengers will be able to see the Earth from many different viewpoints. The cabin will include 15 floor-to-ceiling windows, allowing for views that extend about 1,000 miles in any direction.
Passengers will have three days of preflight preparation. On the big day, the spacecraft will take off from the Mojave Spaceport in the California desert. The craft will rocket passengers into space at four times the speed of sound. The journey will last about 2 1.2 hours. Passengers will wear spacesuits and helmets(头盔). They will be able to float around the cabin and do somersaults(空翻) during the five minutes of weightlessness they will experience in zero gravity. At the end of the flight, the craft will land on a runway.
56. Virgin Galactic could be _____.
A. the engineer of the first commercial spacecraft B. the name of a series of spacecrafts
C. the company of the first commercial spacecraft D. a passenger aboard the first commercial spacecraft
57. The space passengers will do all the following except that _____.
A. they will receive a three-day training course B. they will wear spacesuits and helmets
C. they will take about $200,000 with them D. they will experience weightlessness
58. Which statement is true according to the passage?
A. More than 30,000 people have got to travel in spacecraft.
B. Many people signed up for space travel in spite of the high ticket cost.
C. Those without much money could also go space travel without occupying the seats.
D. The first commercial spacecraft will have six persons on board.
59. What is the text mainly about?
A. The exciting moment of the spacecraft's launching.
B. The living condition of space tourists in the craft.
C. Preparations for a space travel.
D. Plans for the first commercial space flight.
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。
Long ago in a small town，there was a place known as the House of 1,000 Mirrors. A happy little dog learned of this place and decided to visit.
When he arrived，he bounced(跳) happily up the stairs to the doorway of the house. He looked through the doorway with his ears lifted high and his tail wagging as fast as it could. To his great surprise，he found himself staring at 1,000 other happy little dogs with their tails wagging just as his. He smiled a great smile，and was answered with 1,000 great smiles just as warm and friendly. As he left the house，he thought to himself，“This is a wonderful place. I will come back and visit often.”
In this same town，another little dog，who was not quite as happy as the first one，decided to visit the house. He slowly climbed the stairs and hung his head low as he looked into the door. When he saw the 1,000 unfriendly looking dogs staring back at him，he growled at them and was horrified to see 1,000 little dogs growling back at him. As he left，he thought to himself，“This is a horrible place，and I will never go back there again.”
All the faces in the world are mirrors. What kind of reflections do you see on the faces of the people you meet?
【选项】 Why was the first dog surprised When he entered the house?
| A．Because he didn't expect to see so many happy dogs. |
| B．Because he didn't know there were 1,000 mirrors in the house. |
| C．Because he was always in a mixed mood. |
| D．Because he saw so many dogs smiling at him. |
Why did the first dog like the house?
| A．Because there were 1,000 mirrors in the house. |
| B．Because he thought he could keep himself warm in the house. |
| C．Because he liked the mirrors. |
| D．Because he felt he was welcome here. |
The underlined word “growled” probably means________.
| A．made an unfriendly noise |
| B．smiled |
| C．said hello |
| D．stared |
Which of the following is the most suitable title for the passage?
| A．A Happy Little Dog |
| B．The House of 1,000 Mirrors |
| C．The Wonderful Place and the Horrible Place |
| D．Two Little Dogs |
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。
Ever wondered how one person could save the planet from the effects of climate change？A British-made computer game on trial release on Monday creates different ways of doing just that.
“Fate of the World” puts the Earth's future in players' hands，placing them in charge of an international environmental body which could save the world from the effects of rising greenhouse gas emissions(排放) or let it destroyed by more emissions.
Through different scenes，players can explore options such as geoengineering(地球工程) and alternative energy sources to save the planet from rising temperatures，decreasing natural resources and a growing population over the next 200 years.
An improved version of the game will be followed by a three-month feedback period from players，with final release due in February next year.
Created by Oxford-based games developer Red Redemption，the game is different from other mainstream action games mainly by using data from real climate models and advice from scientists and economists.
“Science data is often inaccessible and we are trying to put players in a position of power and connected with the issues，” Gobion Rowlands，Red Redemption's founder and chairman said.
This year，a series of apparent errors in climate science and the failure of UN talks to reach an international deal to cut greenhouse gas emissions appeared to weaken the public's interest in climate change.
However，games centered on sustainability(持续性) and human rights have been growing in popularity and are welcomed by green groups as a way of raising awareness.
Using climate change as inspiration for entertainment shows the issue has affected global culture，which can only be a good thing. Friends of the Earth's head of climate Mike Childs said.“We need creative industries to work with these big issues as the results can be extremely powerful and can help us to understand what a sustainable future looks and feels like，” he added.Fate of the World in the passage refers to ________.
| A．a book on computer games |
| B．a company developing computer games |
| C．a computer game on climate change |
| D．a player in charge of computer games |
What makes the climate computer game different from the other games?
| A．It uses data from real climate models and advice from experts. |
| B．It is the only computer game about climate. |
| C．It can save the planet from the effect of climate change. |
| D．It aims to affect the global culture. |
It can be concluded from the passage that ________.
| A．games on sustainability and human rights are very popular among young players |
| B．the game increases players' awareness of environmental protection |
| C．only computer experts can play the new climate computer game |
| D．after a three-month feedback period from players，the new game is on sale now |
Which of the following can the players not experience while playing the new game?
| A．Challenging the climate change in an unreal world. |
| B．Understanding what a sustainable future looks and feels like. |
| C．Enjoying the power to decide the earth's fate. |
| D．Predicting what will happen in 200 years. |
In which column of a newspaper can you read this article?
| A．Weather & Climate |
| B．Science & Technology |
| C．Life & Entertainment |
| D．Sports & Culture |
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。
Next time a customer comes to your office，offer him a cup of coffee. And when you're doing your holiday shopping online，make sure you're holding a large glass of iced tea. The physical sensation(感觉) of warmth encourages emotional warmth，while a cold drink in hand prevents you from making unwise decisions－those are the practical lesson being drawn from recent research by psychologist John A. Bargh.
Psychologists have known that one person's perception(感知) of another's “warmth” is a powerful determiner in social relationships. Judging someone to be either “warm” or “cold” is a primary consideration，even trumping evidence that a “cold” person may be more capable. Much of this is rooted in very early childhood experiences，Bargh argues，when babies' conceptual sense of the world around them is shaped by physical sensations，particularly warmth and coldness. Classic studies by Harry Harlow，published in 1958，showed monkeys preferred to stay close to a cloth “mother” rather than one made of wire，even when the wire “mother” carried a food bottle. Harlow's work and later studies have led psychologists to stress the need for warm physical contact from caregivers to help young children grow into healthy adults with normal social skills.
Feelings of “warmth” and “coldness” in social judgments appear to be universal. Although no worldwide study has been done，Bargh says that describing people as “warm” or “cold” is common to many cultures，and studies have found those perceptions influence judgment in dozens of countries.
To test the relationship between physical and psychological warmth，Bargh conducted an experiment which involved 41 college students. A research assistant who was unaware of the study's hypotheses(假设)，handed the students either a hot cup of coffee，or a cold drink，to hold while the researcher filled out a short information form：The drink was then handed back. After that，the students were asked to rate the personality of “Person A” based on a particular description. Those who had briefly held the warm drink regarded Person A as warmer than those who had held the iced drink.
“We are grounded in our physical experiences even when we think abstractly.” says Bargh.According to Paragraph 1，a person's emotion may be affected by ________.
| A．the visitors to his office |
| B．the psychology lessons he has |
| C．his physical feeling of coldness |
| D．the things he has bought online |
The author mentions Harlow's experiment to show that ________.
| A．adults should develop social skills |
| B．babies need warm physical contact |
| C．caregivers should be healthy adults |
| D．monkeys have social relationships |
In Bargh's experiment，the students were asked to ________.
| A．evaluate someone's personality |
| B．write down their hypotheses |
| C．fill out a personal information form |
| D．hold coffee and cold drink alternatively |
We can infer from the passage that ________.
| A．abstract thinking does not come from physical experiences |
| B．feelings of warmth and coldness are studied worldwide |
| C．physical temperature affects how we see others |
| D．capable persons are often cold to others |
What would be the best title for the passage?
| A．Drinking for Better Social Relationships |
| B．Experiments of Personality Evaluation |
| C．Developing Better Drinking Habits |
| D．Physical Sensations and Emotions |
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。
That our students rarely get the opportunity to use their imagination was an open secret among Chinese people. Now，a global survey has brought it to the notice of the rest of the world.
The survey covering 21 countries，conducted by International Educational Progress Evaluation Organization，showed Chinese students excelled at math，beating their peers from other countries. But when it came to using their imagination，they were tied for the last place. And in creativity，they were fifth from the bottom.
The survey results are not shocking，given the way our children are taught in schools and at home. But they are a severe reminder to our educators and parents to improve their ways.
Chinese students rarely get the time or chance to use their imagination. Right from the day they enter school they are pushed into a culture of exams and more exams. Teachers and parents teach them that education is all about passing these exams with flying colors. And to pass those exams，they are made to learn by fixed standard answers.
Teachers dare not encourage students to think outside the box. Teachers don't like students questioning them，killing the curiosity of the young minds. For children，there's hardly any room for bright ideas either in class or at home.
Israel shares the values of education with China. But there is a world of difference between the way Israeli parents treat their children and we do. Israeli parents do not mollycoddle their children. Instead，they encourage them to learn how to live independently. In contrast，Chinese parents go to extremes，allowing their children to do whatever they like to do and punishing them severely the next for committing a “mistake”．
The global study should make us swing into action and help our students to throw open their young minds to imagination and creativity. It is time our education officials and educators asked themselves what they should do to let our children's imagination and creativity blossom.Based on the passage，the creativity of the Chinese students ranks ________ among the 21 countries.
| A．the 5th |
| B．the 17th |
| C．the 21st |
| D．the 1st |
Why is the imagination of the Chinese students so poor?
| A．Their parents often improve their educational ways. |
| B．They are thought to be lacking in curiosity. |
| C．Their teachers are afraid of being questioned. |
| D．They are not encouraged to imagine both at home and in class. |
What does the underlined word “mollycoddle” probably mean in Paragraph 6?
| A．spoil |
| B．motivate |
| C．appreciate |
| D．scold |
It can be learned from the passage Israeli parents ________.
| A．lay much more emphasis on education than Chinese ones |
| B．allow their children to live in whatever way they like |
| C．focus more attention on developing their children's living ability |
| D．encourage their children to commit mistakes in lives |
Israel is introduced in the passage mainly ________.
| A．to enrich the content of the text |
| B．to support and advocate Israel education |
| C．to illustrate the disadvantages of Chinese education |
| D．to criticize the wrong behavior of Chinese parents |
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。
(2012年湖南卷，B)Still seeking a destination for your weekend break? There are some places which are probably a mere walk away from your college.
King's Art Centre
A day at the Centre could mean a visit to an exhibition of the work of one of the most interesting contemporary artists on show anywhere. This weekend sees the opening of an exhibition of four local artists.
You could attend a class teaching you how to ‘learn from the master' or get more creative with paint—free of charge.
The Centre also runs two life drawing classes for which there is a small fee.
The Botanic Garden
The Garden has over 8,000 plant species，it holds the research and teaching collection of living plants for Cambridge University.
The multi-branched Torch Aloe here is impressive. The African plant produces red flowers above blue-green leaves, and is not one to miss.
Get to the display house to see Dionaea muscipula, a plant more commonly known as the Venus Flytrap that feeds on insects and other small animals.
The Garden is also a place for wildlife-enthusiasts. Look for grass snakes in the lake. A snake called ‘Hissing Sid' is regularly seen lying in the heat of the warm sun.
Byron's Pool
Many stories surround Lord Byron's time as a student of Cambridge University. Arriving in 1805, he wrote a letter complaining that it was a place of “mess and drunkenness”. However, it seems as though Byron did manage to pass the time pleasantly enough. I'm not just talking about the pet bear he kept in his rooms. He spent a great deal of time walking in the village.
It is also said that on occasion Byron swam naked by moonlight in the lake, which is now known as Byron's Pool. A couple of miles past Grant Chester in the south Cambridge shire countryside, the pool is surrounded by beautiful circular paths around the fields. The cries of invisible birds make the trip a lovely experience and on the way home you can drop into the village for afternoon tea. If you don't trust me, then perhaps you'll take it from Virginia Woolf—over a century after Byron, she reportedly took a trip to swim in the same pool.As mentioned in the passage, there is a small charge for________.
| A．attending the masters' class |
| B．working with local artists |
| C．learning life drawing |
| D．seeing an exhibition |
“Torch Aloe” and “Venus Flytrap” are ________.
| A．common insects |
| B．impressive plants |
| C．rarely-seen snakes |
| D．wildlife-enthusiasts |
We can infer from the passage that Byron seemed ________.
| A．to fear pet bears |
| B．to like walking |
| C．to be a heavy drinker |
| D．to finish university in 1805 |
In the passage Byron's Pool is described as a lake________.
| A．surrounded by fields |
| B．owned by Lord Byron |
| C．located in Grant Chester |
| D．discovered by Virginia Woolf |
What is the passage mainly about?
| A．Some places for weekend break. |
| B．A way to become creative in art. |
| C．The colorful life in the countryside. |
| D．Unknown stories of Cambridge University. |