You’ve probably heard of working dogs that help police officers, or horses that help farmers. Did you know that carrier pigeons（信鸽）can be trained to help people too? Here are some examples.
Mailman
Carrier pigeons can be trained to carry messages to people. The note is placed into a small can. The can is tied to the pigeon’s leg. Then the pigeon flies off with the note.
Lifeguard
From high up in the sky, specially trained pigeons can find orange life jackets in the ocean. Sometimes it is difficult for humans to find people lost at sea, especially when the weather is bad. However, pigeons can fly quickly over a large area of water to look for people.
Spy
Many years ago, carrier pigeons were used to help our country during wars (战争). “Spy pigeons” had small cameras that were tied to their feet. As a pigeon flew over enemy (敌人)land, the camera took photos of the land below. This would allow our soldiers to see where the enemies were and what they were doing.
So next time you see a pigeon, stop and watch it closely. What might look like an ordinary bird to most people, might actually be helpful.Which part of the carrier pigeon is the can tied to?
| A．The pigeon’s back. | B．The pigeon’s head. | C．The pigeon’s neck. | D．The pigeon’s leg. |
What kind of people can the carrier pigeons find?
| A．The people in orange life jackets at sea. |
| B．The people in red jackets in the boats. |
| C．The people swimming in the ocean. |
| D．The people lost in the mountains. |
Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage?
| A．A pigeon could predict what the weather would be like. |
| B．A pigeon was tied with a small camera around its leg. |
| C．A pigeon could help us to know the number of the enemy. |
| D．A pigeon carried the camera to take photos of the enemy land. |
What kind of jobs are mentioned for a carrier pigeon?
| A．A mailman, a lifeguard and a spy. |
| B．A trainer, a spy and a police officer. |
| C．A soldier, a police officer and a mailman. |
| D．A farmer, a weather reporter and a lifeguard. |
What is the purpose of writing this article?
| A．To make readers like pigeons more. |
| B．To teach readers about the lives of wild pigeons. |
| C．To tell readers about real jobs held by carrier pigeons. |
| D．To share science fictions about pigeons helping people. |
【河北省2015年中考英语试题】阅读理解（共15小题，每小题2分，计30分）
阅读A、B、C三篇材料，然后从各小题所给的四个选项中选出最佳选项。
B
Super International Crafts (工艺品) Market
1/F, Super Shopping Center, 12 Shopping Road, ssKowloon,
next to Dandy's Store and Cleo's Cafe
**************************************************************************
| The Super Shopping Center is proud to hold the Super International Crafts Market. The market owns hand-crafted products from all over the world. Come to learn about other cultures and see beautiful things from different countries! A part of the sales will be given to the International Children's Fund (ICF). Some of the interesting products include: |
|
| Beaded bracelets (圆珠手链) from Africa Do you love bracelets? Here you can find bracelets made from special wooden beads, and no two pieces are the same! Each bracelet looks expensive, but costs only $20. What is more, if you buy two, you can get a card for a free drink at Cleo's Cafe! |
Silk handbags from Thailand These colorful bags are beautiful and useful! You can use them every day. Each bag is as much as $150. If you buy more than one, they will be 10% cheaper for you. |
| Fantastic! We will have introductions about the different countries, as well as a lucky draw (M!) for a free trip to one of the special countries in the market! You can also taste foods from the different countries at our International Foods Stand. Visit the International Crafts Market and learn about different cultures. Buy beautiful, interesting things and support the International Children's Fund! |
The passage above is probably _________.
| A．a piece of news | B．a visitor's letter |
| C．a shopping guide | D．a trip introduction |
The Super International Crafts Market is _________.
| A．next to Cleo's Cafe | B．next to 12 Shopping Road |
| C．on 1/F, Dandy's Store | D．on 2/F, Super Shopping Center |
People can _________ in the market.
| A．learn about different cultures |
| B．visit the International Children's Fund |
| C．sell their own hand-crafted products |
| D．see beautiful things mostly from ssKowloon |
Which is right according to the passage?
| A．Two bracelets cost $20. |
| B．The bracelets look the same. |
| C．Each bag costs only $135. |
| D．The handbags are colorful. |
What can we do to have a free trip to a country in the market?
| A．Give money to the ICF. |
| B．Take part in a lucky draw. |
| C．Buy wooden beads from Africa. |
| D．Taste different foods in the market. |
【贵州省铜仁市2015年中考英语试题】阅读理解 (20分)
阅读A与B两篇短文，从56－65每小题所给的选项中选出最佳答案，并在答题卡的相应位置将其涂黑。
(B)
In China, safety education is becoming more and more important now. The last Monday in March is for students to learn it at school. It helps students learn more about what they should do to keep themselves safe. What are the accidents at school? Take a look.
Stampedes（踩踏）, earthquakes and fires are the main accidents at school.
A stampede always happens in crowded places. When students around you begin to push, just stand there and try to hold onto something. If you fall down in the crowd, move to one side and protect your head with your hands around.
When earthquakes happen, you can get under a desk quickly and hold on. It’ll protect you from falling things. If you are outdoors, find a place away from buildings, trees, and power lines.
When there’s a fire, leave the classroom quickly. It’s better to put something wet over your mouth and nose. In this way, you won’t breathe in smoke. Many people die in a fire, not because of the fire but smoke. It makes them cough and they can’t breathe. That’s very dangerous! So when you want to get out, you should make yourself close to the floor. Then you can breathe some fresh air.Stampedes（踩踏）, earthquakes and fires are the main accidents _________.
| A．at school. | B．at home |
| C．on the farm. | D．in the open air. |
A stampede always happens in ___________ places.
| A．busy | B．dirty | C．crowded | D．clean |
When earthquakes happen, you can get _________ a desk quickly and hold on.
| A．on | B．under | C．near | D．behind |
Which is the following sentences is Right
| A．When there’s a fire, don’t leave the classroom quickly |
| B．Many people die in a fire, not because of the fire but smoke. |
| C．When you want to get out of it, you shouldn’t make yourself close to the floor |
| D．It’s better to put something dry over your mouth and nose |
What’s the best title(标题) for the article?
| A．Health Education | B．Manners Education |
| C．Habits Education | D．Safety Education |
【贵州省铜仁市2015年中考英语试题】 阅读理解 (20分)
阅读A与B两篇短文，从56－65每小题所给的选项中选出最佳答案，并在答题卡的相应位置将其涂黑。
(A)
Sports are important in English life. The people of England are sports lovers. Some of the world’s famous sports began here such as football and cricket.
Football is a game played in winter and early spring. Lots of people play football in parks or playgrounds just for fun. With hundreds of year’s history, it is one of the most important sports in England. The English love football very much and they turned most of their main players into famous persons. David Beckham and Bobby Charlton became heroes for many children. The most interesting part of the English football year is the FA(Football Association) Cup Final each May. Sports are ________ in English life.
| A．impotant. | B．not important. |
| C．unpopular. | D．impossible. |
Football is a fast game played _________.
A. in winter. B. in early spring.
C. in summer. D. A and B.A lot of people in England play football in _________.
| A．fields. | B．school halls. |
| C．parks or playgrounds. | D．Gyms. |
David Beckham and Bobby Charlton became heroes for many _________.
| A．teachers. | B．children. | C．workers | D．farmers. |
According to the passage, the FA(Football Association) Cup Final is in __________.
| A．each April | B．each June |
| C．each May. | D．each August |
【广东省汕尾市2015年初中毕业生学业考试英语试题】阅读理解
B
Have you ever had the strange feeling that you were being watched? You turn around and ,sure enough, someone was looking right at you!
Parapsychologists(灵学家) say that humans have a natural ability to sense when someone is looking at them. To research whether such a “ six sense” really exists, Robert Baker, a psychologist（心理学家） at the University of Kentucky, did two experiments.
In the first one, Baker sat behind unknowing people in public places and stared at the backs of their heads for 5 to 15 minutes. The subjects (受试者) were eating, drinking, reading, studying, watching TV, or working at a computer. Baker made sure that the people could not tell that he was sitting behind them during those periods. Later when he questioned the subjects, almost all of them said they had no sense that someone was staring at them.
For the second experiment, Baker told the subjects that they would be stared at from time to time from behind in a laboratory setting. The people had to write down when they felt they being stared at and when they weren’t. Baker found the subjects were no better at telling when they were stared at and when they weren’t.
Baker concludes that people do not have the ability to sense when they are being stared at. If people doubt the outcome of his two experiments, said Baker, “I suggest they repeat the experiments and see for themselves.”What’s the aim of the two experiments for?
| A．Prove why humans have a sixth sense. |
| B．Explain when people can have a sixth sense |
| C．Show how people act while being watched in the lab. |
| D．Study whether humans can sense when they are stared at. |
What does parapsychologists say that humans have to sense?
| A．a natural ability | B．a natural staring ability |
| C．a strange thinking | D．a looking feeling |
The underlined word” outcome” in the last paragraph most probably means______.
| A．value | B．result |
| C．performance | D．connection |
In the second experiment, the subjects .
| A．could tell when they were stared at and when they weren’t. |
| B．couldn’t tell when they were stared at and when they weren’t |
| C．couldn’t tell when they were stared at but could tell when they weren’t. |
| D．could tell when they were stared at but couldn’t tell when they weren’t. |
What can we learn from the passage?
| A．People are born with a sixth sense. |
| B．The experiments support parapsychologists’ idea. |
| C．The subjects do not have a sixth sense in the experiments. |
| D．People have a sixth sense in all places. |
【北京市2015年中考英语试题】阅读下列短文，根据短文内容，从短文后各题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中，选择最佳选项。（共30分，每小题2分）
D
New Technology Revolutionizes(变革) Learning
More and more people believe that technologies are great for learning. Today, such teaching tools as iPads are used in a lot of courses, including language, history and science.
Many teachers are supporters of using iPads in language learning. They say that students now have much more time for discussion in the classroom.Instead of spending valuable class time listening to texts or watching teaching videos, students can do this on their own and come to class prepared for discussion.
The teachers also say that iPads allow students to learn at their own pace. Some students might listen to a dialogue only once and understand it, so they can save time for doing other things. Other students, however, might need to listen to the same dialogue again and again to understand it. Using iPads is especially helpful to students who are learning a language at different paces.
The students who are using the new tool in some courses are also happy. They believe that using iPads is a more enjoyable way to learn (such as listening to stories and watching movies). The class has become much more interesting and creative.
There are other advantages for students. By using iPads, they can pay more attention to the material and learn more. Teaching notes are stored in their iPads and are easy to find .Some students spend more time studying now.“I can listen to my language material or watch teaching videos on the bus, instead of having to wait until I get home,” a student explained.
Many adults complain that technologies such as iPads are doing harm to students. They worry that students might use iPads to download teaching notes and use them to cheat during exams. Some believe that iPads may separate students from each other. If a student spends more time watching videos on an iPad, he will have fewer opportunities to have face-to-face communication with others.
However, technologies are already a part of most students’ day-to-day lives. As for cheating, teachers can ask students to hand in their iPads when they take exams. Education needs to make changes with the times as technology is playing an important part. We should look forward to a wonderful future when iPads and other technologies can add a lot to the classroom.
What does the expression“at their own pace” in Paragraph 3 probably mean?
| A．According to their own timetable. |
| B．Without their teachers’ help. |
| C．Because of their wonderful goals. |
| D．Against their parents’ hope. |
From the passage we can learn that____.
| A．students with iPads have less discussion in class |
| B．students get more fun from learning with iPads |
| C．iPads help students save time waiting for buses |
| D．iPads prevent students from cheating in exams |
The writer probably agrees that____.
| A．teachers can take control of students’ learning |
| B．exam results depend a lot on now technology |
| C．technology in education has a bright future |
| D．note-taking is as helpful as video-watching |