NOT all memories are sweet. Some people -- all their lives trying to forget bad experiences. Violence and traffic accidents can leave people with terrible physical and emotional scars (伤痕).
Now American researchers think they are close to developing a pill, which will help people forget bad memories. The pill is designed to be taken immediately after a frightening experience. They hope it might reduce, or possibly erase, the effect of painful memories.
In November, experts tested a drug on people in the US and France. The drug stops the body producing chemicals that fix memories in the brain (大脑). So far the research has suggested that only the emotional effects of memories may be reduced, not that the memories are erased.
The research has caused a great deal of discussion. Some think it is a bad idea, while others support it.
Supporters say it could lead to pills that prevent or treat soldiers' troubling memories after war. They say that there are many people who suffer from terrible memories.
"Some memories can destroy people's lives. They come back to you when you don't want to have them in a daydream or nightmare (噩梦). They usually come with very painful emotions," said Roger Pitman, a professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. "This could relieve a lot of that suffering."
But those who are against the research say that changing memories is very dangerous because memories give us our identity (特质). They also help us all avoid the mistakes of the past.
"All of us can think of bad events in our lives that were horrible at the time but make us who we are. I'm not sure we want to wipe those memories out, "said Rebecca Dresser, a medical ethicist.The passage is mainly about
| A．a new medical invention |
| B．a new research on the pill |
| C．a way of erasing painful memories |
| D．a discussion about the research on the pill |
The drug tested on people can
| A．cause the brain to fix memories |
| B．stop people remembering bad experiences |
| C．prevent body producing certain chemicals |
| D．erase the emotional effects of memories |
We can infer from the passage that
| A．people doubt the effects of the pills |
| B．the pill will stop people's bad experiences |
| C．taking the pill will do harm to people's health |
| D．the pill has probably been produced in America |
Which of the following does Rebecca Dresser agree with?
| A．Some memories can destroy people's lives. |
| B．People want to remove bad memories. |
| C．Experiencing bad events makes us different from others. |
| D．The pill will reduce people's sufferings from bad memories. |
【云南省2015年中考英语试题】阅读理解（共15小题；满分25分）
C
These days, more and more Chinese people enjoy sending and receiving messages on the phone. It can help them to get the latest news and communicate with friends. But I think I should read more books besides the textbooks, the more, the better. It can open my eyes and improve my language skills. Of course, it also can help me to get good grades. Do you know how to read more and learn more? Here are some tips for you.
◆ Clear your purpose for reading
Before you start reading, ask yourself why you are reading this book. Most people read for two main reasons, pleasure or knowledge. Clearing about your reading purpose can not only help you choose the books you really need to read, but also remind you why reading the book is important to you, so you will keep reading and complete the book faster.
◆ Read only what you are interested in
No matter what you are reading, it is important to enjoy what you read. Your friends may tell you the books they love, but those books might not necessarily be the ones you enjoy.
◆ Give up books that you don’t enjoy
You may have chosen books that you are interested in, and they are right to your purpose. But while you are reading them, there may still be some books that you don’t enjoy reading. Whenever you realize that you aren’t enjoying the book you are reading, give it up. Remember reading shouldn’t be a chore.
◆ Set a reading goal
It is interesting that I read the books borrowed from libraries faster than those I bought. The reason is the books I bought don’t have a due date! I don’t need to return those books. Having a reading goal helps you work out how much reading you need to do in a week or even a day. Before you read each book, ask yourself what time you need to complete this book by.
根据短文内容，从题中所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中，选出正确选项，并将所选答案涂到答题卡的相应位置上。（共5小题；每小题2分，满分10分）According to the passage, the writer might be a .
| A．teacher | B．doctor | C．student | D．scientist |
Why do most people read books?
| A．To get the latest news and communicate with friends. |
| B．For pleasure or knowledge. |
| C．To open their eyes and improve their language skills. |
| D．To get good grades. |
What should you do when you find the book which you are reading is boring?
| A．Keep on reading. |
| B．Set a reading goal. |
| C．Read the books your friends love. |
| D．Give up the book. |
The underlined words “due date” mean in Chinese.
| A．星期 | B．借期 | C．还期 | D．日期 |
This passage mainly tells us .
| A．how to read more and learn more |
| B．how to choose a good book |
| C．how to read faster |
| D．why we should read more books |
【浙江省温州市2015年中考英语试题】阅读理解（本题有15小题，每小题2分，共30分）
阅读下面的短文，从每小题所给的A.B.C.D四个选项中选出最佳答案。
A
The most interesting festivals around the world
| Contents Introduction.....................................1 ＊Baby Crying Day......................2 ＊Cheese--rolling Festival ............................................4 ＊Color Throwing Festival .................................................6 ＊Fish Swallowing Festival ................................................8 ＊International Pillow Fight Day ............11 ＊International Twins Festival ................13 ＊Raincoat Festival ......................15 ＊Roswell UFO Festival ..................16 ＊Tomato Festival........................18 ＊Water Fighting Day...................19 ＊Wife Carrying Festival..............20 ＊World Bodypainting Festival .............22 |
International Pillow(枕头) Fight Day International Pillow Fight Day is held every April around the world---from Amsterdam,Budapest,to New York.It has been celebrated since 2008.Hundreds of people go out with their pillows hitting each other’s face,back and chest.People dress up as superheroes and animals,laughing and fighting. The festival used to be a game to release (释放)energy and stress.Nowadays besides bringing fun,International Pillow Fight Day has become a way to quickly collect pillows for the homeless.In 2014,about 2,000 pillows were collected for the poor in Bronx and Brooklyn. Rules:Bring your own pillows and don’t hit anyone without a pillow or with a camera. The Guinness World Record:The latest record of the largest pillow fight was set on October 27,2013 in Chicago,with 4,500 pillows and 3,813 people. ----11---- |
The International Pillow Fight Day was first celebrated in _________.
| A．2000 | B．2008 | C．2013 | D．2014 |
The latest Guinness World Record of the largest pillow fight was set in _______________.
| A．Chicago | B．Amsterdam | C．Budapest | D．New York |
You may read about ______________ on the Page 19.
| A．Baby Crying Day | B．Color Throwing Festival |
| C．Water Fighting Day | D．World Bodypainting Festival |
【浙江省丽水市2015年中考英语试题】阅读理解（共15小题；每小题2分，满分30分）
阅读下面四篇短文，从每题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中选出最佳选项。D
Hi Sam! Sorry I haven’t emailed recently— I’ve been revising for my exams. I have finished them now and I have got some time to relax and some money to spend on going out. Last weekend, I went to see a great film called Yes Man. If you haven’t seen it, you must go! Jim Carrey plays the main character and it’s very funny--and also quite encouraging. It’s based on a book by Danny Wallace which is also called Yes Man. I read the book a few months ago and that’s hilarious, too – I really laughed out loud!
The book is a true story about what happens to the writer, Danny. Basically, he found that he was doing nothing all the time, just worrying about things and complaining about his life. He wasn’t seeing his friends much, so he was lonely and bored. Then one day, he was on a bus in London when he sat down next to a man. The man was a stranger, but they started talking. Danny told him about his boring life and the man just gave him three words: ‘Say “yes” more.’ And for Danny this was a turning point in his life. Those three words influenced everything he did. At that moment, he made a decision: ‘I will say “yes” to everything!’ And he wrote a book about what happened to him in the next year or so. Three years later, the book was made into a hit film.
The film is based on the book although there are some differences. First, it’s set in the US instead of England. Secondly, the main character is based on Danny, but he called Carl in the film. And what’s more, he doesn’t meet a man on a bus. His turning point comes when he goes to a self-help class and they advise him to say “yes” more.
In the film, Carl succeeds in changing his life and doing lots of crazy things: he has flying lessons, he learns to speak Korean and he rides a motorbike with no clothes on! The storyline isn’t very strong. It’s quite weak, I suppose, but all Carl’s stories are very interesting— especially because Jim Carrey is a very funny actor.
I’m really interested in the film because there’s a serious message, too. I believe in making the most of life and I’ve decided I’m going to be more positive. I’ve decided I’m not going to stay at home so much. I’m going to do more things, see my friends more and everything. Actually, that’s why I’m emailing you! It would be great if we could meet up soon. Let me know when you are free.
All the best, AdamThe underlined word hilarious in Paragraph 1 most probably means _____.
| A．simple | B．helpful | C．humorous | D．meaningful |
In Paragraph 3, there are_____ differences mentioned between the book and the film.
| A．two | B．three | C．four | D．five |
Adam wrote this email mainly _____.
| A．to talk about what he was doing recently |
| B．to introduce the book Yes Man written by Danny to Sam |
| C．to advise Sam to watch the film Yes Man made in US |
| D．to talk about why and how he wants to change his life |
From the email we can infer (推断) that _____.
| A．Sam will love Yes Man as much as Adam does |
| B．Yes Man must be the most popular book in the US |
| C．Adam used to stay at home a lot before seeing Yes Man |
| D．Jim Carrey is now a very funny actor because of Yes Man |
【云南省2015年中考英语试题】阅读理解（共15小题；满分25分）
A
Have you heard about paper-cutting? Paper-cutting is an important art form in China. Paper-cuts were used for many purposes, and everything can become the theme (主题) of paper-cuts, from people to the things that can be found in everyday life such as birds, flowers and animals.
Each paper-cut brings out the personal ideas of the author (作者). People express traditional culture or their own feelings with different styles of paper-cuts. For example, when someone marries, we put up some red paper-cuts on the wall, dressing table or other furniture to express our best wishes.
It is easy to learn paper-cutting but very difficult to make it perfect. We need a long-time practice to learn how to use the scissors and how to paint. More over, we need to learn some cutting skills.
At present, in many parts of China, paper-cutting skill has become a must for women and a symbol of a clever mind.
根据短文内容，判断下列句子的正误。正确的填“T”，错误的填“F”，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。（共5小题；每小题1分，满分5分）Not everything can become the theme of paper-cuts.
People express traditional culture or their own feelings with the same paper-cut.
It is not easy to make a perfect paper-cut.
When we learn paper-cutting, we don’t need to learn cutting skills.
Women must learn paper-cutting skills in many places of China.
【四川省南充市2015年中考英语试题】阅读理解（共20小题；每小题2分，满分40分）
阅读短文，从题中所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中选出最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
C
Carrots are grown all over the world. They are easy to plant and easy to harvest. They have a good taste.
When people think about carrots, they usually think they are a kind of long, thin, orange-colored vegetable. In fact, carrots are in many different sizes and shapes. And not all carrots are orange.
Carrots should be grown in a field that does not have water for a long time. The earth also should not be too hard. To prepare your carrot garden, dig up the earth and turn it over(翻土).
Weather, soil condition(土壤状况), and time affect(影响) the taste of carrots. Warm days and cool nights are the best time to grow great delicious carrots.
The best way to decide if a carrot is ready to be harvested is by its color. Usually, the brighter the color is, the better the taste is.
Most people do not know that carrots can be grown during the winter months. If the winter is not cold enough to freeze the ground, you can grow carrots the same way as you do during the summer months.
Carrots are prepared and eaten in many different ways. They are cut into thin pieces and cooked with other vegetables or meat. Or, they are washed, and eaten just as they come out of the ground.What does the underlined word “harvest” mean?
| A．品尝 | B．收获 | C．种植 | D．销售 |
What can affect the taste of carrots?
| A．Weather and tome |
| B．Weather and soil condition |
| C．Soil condition and time |
| D．Weather, time and soil condition |
carrots have a better taste.
| A．The long | B．The orange |
| C．The thin | D．The bright |
Which is the right order according to the article?
a. Carrots are eaten in different ways.
b. Carrots are in many sizes and shapes.
c. Dig up the earth and turn it over before planting carrots.
d. The best way to decide if a carrot is ready to be harvested is by its color.
| A．b→a→c→d | B．b→c→d→a |
| C．c→b→d→a | D．d→c→b→a |
Which of the following is Not true?
| A．Carrots are easy to plant and easy to harvest. |
| B．Carrots should be grown in a field without water for a long time. |
| C．Everyone knows that carrots can be grown during the winter months. |
| D．Carrots have a good taste. |