For the past five years, Paula Smith, a historian of science, has devoted herself to re﹣creating long﹣forgotten techniques. While doing research for her new book, she came across a 16th﹣century French manuscript (手稿) consisting of nearly 1,000 sets of instructions, covering subjects from tool making to finding the best sand.
The author's intention remains as mysterious (神秘) as his name; he may have been simply taking notes for his own records. But Smith was struck mainly by the fact that she didn't truly grasp any of the skills the author described. "You simply can't get an understanding of that handwork by reading about it," she says.
Though Smith did get her hands on the best sand, doing things the old﹣fashioned way isn't just about playing around with French mud. Reconstructing the work of the craftsmen (工匠) who lived centuries ago can reveal how they viewed the world, what objects filled their homes, and what went on in the workshops that produced them. It can even help solve present﹣day problems: In 2015, scientists discovered that a 10th﹣century English medicine for eye problems could kill a drug﹣resistant virus.
The work has also brought insights for museums, Smith says. One must know how an object was made in order to preserve it. What's more, reconstructions might be the only way to know what treasures looked like before time wore them down. Scholars have seen this idea in practice with ancient Greek and Roman statues. These sculptures were painted a rainbow of striking colours. We can't appreciate these kinds of details without seeing works of art as they originally appeared﹣ something Smith believes you can do only when you have a road map.
Smith has put the manuscript's ideas into practice. Her final goal is to link the worlds of art and science back together. She believes that bringing the old recipes to life can help develop a kind of learning that highlights experimentation, teamwork, and problem solving.
Back when science﹣then called "the new philosophy"﹣took shape, academics looked to craftsmen for help in understanding the natural world. Microscopes and telescopes were invented by way of artistic tinkering (修补), as craftsmen experimented with glass to better bend light.
If we can rediscover the values of hands﹣on experience and craftwork, Smith says, we can marry the best of our modern insights with the handiness of our ancestors.
(1)How did Smith feel after reading the French manuscript?
| A. |
Confused about the technical terms. |
| B. |
Impressed with its detailed instructions. |
| C. |
Discouraged by its complex structure. |
| D. |
Shocked for her own lack of hand skills. |
(2)According to Smith, the reconstruction work is done mainly to .
| A. |
restore old workshops |
| B. |
understand the craftsmen |
| C. |
improve visual effects |
| D. |
inspire the philosophers |
(3)Why does the author mention museums?
| A. |
To reveal the beauty of ancient objects. |
| B. |
To present the findings of old science. |
| C. |
To highlight the importance of antiques. |
| D. |
To emphasise the values of hand skills. |
(4)Which would be the best title for this passage?
| A. |
Craftsmen Set the Trends for Artists |
| B. |
Craftsmanship Leads to New Theories |
| C. |
Craftsmanship Makes Better Scientists |
| D. |
Craftsmen Reshape the Future of Science |
Japanese students work very hard but many are unhappy.They feel heavy pressures from their parents to do well in school.Most students are always being told by their parents to study harder so that they can have a wonderful life.Though this may be good ideas for those very bright students,it can have very bad results for many students who are not quick enough at learning.
Unfortunately,a number of students killed themselves.Others are after comfort in using drugs.Some do bad things with trouble-makers and turn to crime.Many of them have tried very hard at school but have failed in the exams and have disappointed their parents.Such students feel that they are less important and leave school before they have finished their study.
It is surprising that though most Japanese parents are worried about their children, they do not help them in any way.Many parents feel that they are not able to help their children and that it is the teachers' work to help their children.To make matters worse, a lot of parents send their children to special school called juku-cram schools.These schools are open during the evening and on weekends, and their only purpose is to prepare students to pass exams, they do not try to educate students in any real sense of the real world. It thus comes as a shock to realize that almost three quarters of the junior or high school population attend these cram schools.
Ordinary Japanese schools usually have rules about everything from the students' hair to their clothes and things in their school bag.Child psychologists now think that such strict rules often lead to a feeling of being unsafe and being unable to fit into society.They regard the rules as being harmful to the development of each student.They believe that no sense of moral values is developed and that students are given neither guidance nor training in becoming good citizens.
56.A lot of Japanese students are unhappy at school because .
A.they work very hard B.they find they can't do well at school
C.they feel unimportant D.they are under too much pressure
57.Because of their failure at school, some students take drugs to .
A.kill themselves B.seek comfort
C.disappoint their parents D.make trouble
58.What should be the best title of the passage?
A.Students' Pressure B.Students' Problems
C.The Negative(消极) Impact of Japanese Education
D.The Trouble in Japanese Schools
59.In juku-cram schools students.
A.are taken good care of by the teachers B.feel no pressure
C.are trained to pass exams D.can learn a lot of useful things
60.In ordinary Japanese schools,.
A.there are strict rules B.students feel safe
C.students can do anything D.learning is not important
第三部分阅读理解(共15小题,每小题2分,满分30分)
阅读下面短文,从每题所给的四个选项A、B、C、D中,选出最佳选项。
Social customs and ways of behaving changes. Things which were considered impolite many years ago are now acceptable. Just a few years ago, it was considered impolite behavior for a man to smoke on the street. No man who thought of himself as being a gentleman would make a fool of himself by smoking when a lady was in a room. Customs also change from country to country. Does a man walk on the left or on the right in your company? Or does it matter? Should you have one hand in your lap(衣兜) or on the table? The Americans and the British not only speak the same language but also share a large number of social customs. For example, in both countries people shake hands when they meet each other for the first time. Also most Englishmen will open a door for a woman or offer their seat to a woman and so will most Americans. Promptness is important both in England and America. That is, if a dinner is for seven o’clock, the dinner guest either arrives close to that time or calls up to explain his delay(拖延). The important thing to remember about social customs is not to do anything that might make people feel uncomfortable especially if they are your guests. There is an old story about a man who gave a very formal party. When the food was served, one of the guests started to cut his peas with a knife. The other guests were surprised or shocked, but the host calmly picked up his knife and began eating in the same way. It would have been bad manners to make his guests feel foolish and uncomfortable.
56. If a man smoked in the room where a lady stayed, he would be considered as_____.
A. a gentleman B , a boss C. a fool D. a worker
57. Which of the following is true?
A. A respected man usually behaves properly
B. social customs in some countries never change
C. English people open the door for women while Americans don’t
D. To eat peas with a knife is good manners
58. The underlined word “promptness” means _____.
A. to show respect for a lady B. to apologize when you are late
C. to invite sb to dinner D. to do things without delay
59. The writer tells us a story just to ______.
A. amuse the readers B. tell us how to avoid making others uncomfortable
C. tell us how to eat peas D. show that social customs and ways change
60. Which might be the title of the passage ?
A. American and British culture B. Table manners
C. Change old customs D. Social customs
第四部分:阅读理解(15小题,小题2分,满分30分)
阅读下列短文,从每题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中选出最佳选项
Do you often play with your pet dog or cat? Do you like touching wild animals such as squirrels? They are cute. But be careful. If they bite you, you may get a terrible disease——rabies.
Believe it or not, in the last five months, rabies killed more people in China than any other disease.
2,254 people got rabies in the first nine months of this year. In September, 318 people died of rabies. That is 37 per cent more than last September.
Animals like dogs, cats, squirrels and bats can have rabies. If they bite or scratch someone, rabies could infect (感染) the person’s nervous system. The person could even die. It’s important to get the right treatment as soon as possible.
Every year, more than 50,000 people around the world die of rabies. Most of them are from developing countries. India has the most deaths. China is second.
51. Rabies is the name of _____.
A. a bookB. a manC. a dogD. a disease
52. Paragraphs two and three _____.
A. teach people how to deal with rabiesB. explain the situation in China
C. order people not to keep pets D. show what rabies is really like
53. Which of the following animals might NOT have rabies?
A. Squirrels.B. Ducks. C. Cats. D. Bats.
54. The Chinese for the underlined word “treatment” probably is _____.
A. 医生B. 请客C. 治疗 D. 待遇
55. What the best title for the passage?
A. Don’t keep pets B. How to keep pets
C. Watch out for rabies D. Pets with rabies
“Soon,you’re going to have to move out!”cried my neighbor as soon as he saw the largest tomato plant known to mankind,or at least known in my neighborhood.
One tiny 9-inch plant,bought for $ 1.25 in the spring.has already taken over much of my rose bed,covering much of other plants,and is well on its way to the front door.
Roses require a good deal of care,and if it weren’t for the pleasure they give。it wouldn’t be worth the work.As it is.I have a garden full of sweet-smelling roses for most of the year.Bushes must be pruned (剪枝) in early spring,leaving ugly woody branches until the new growth appears a few weeks later.It was the space available (可利用的) in the garden that led me into planting just one little tomato plant.A big mistake.
Soil conditions made just perfect for roses turn out be even more perfect for tomatoes.The daily watering coupled with full sun and regular fertilizing (肥料) have turned the little plant into a tall bush.The cage I placed around it as the plant grew has long since disappeared under the thick leaves.
Now the task I face in harvesting the fruit is twofold.First.I have to find the red ones among the leaves,which means I almost have to stand on my head.and once found I have to reach down and under,pick the tomatoes and withdraw(缩回)my full fist without dropping the prize so dearly won.I found two full-blown white roses completely hidden as I picked tomatoes in June. But they were weak and the leaves already yellow for lack of light.
Here I am faced with a painful small decision:To tear up a wonderful and productive tomato plant that offers up between ten and twenty ripe sweet tomatoes each day or say goodbye to several expensive and treasured roses.Like Scarlett in Gone With the Wind.I'll think about that tomorrow.
What are the requirements for the healthy growth of rose?
A.A lot of care and the right soil. B.Frequent pruning and fertilizing.
C.Tomato plants grown alongside. D.Cages placed around the roots.
The writer planted the tomato because.
A.it cost only$1.25 B.the soil was just right for it
C.there was room for it in the garden D.the roses’branches needed to be covered
This year the writer’s roses were.
A.removed from the rose bed B.picked along with the tomatoes
C.mostly damaged by too much sunlight D.1argely hidden under the tomato plant
By saying“the prize so dearly won”in paragraph 5,the writer wants to.
A.show the difficulty in picking the tomatoes
B.show the hardship of growing the roses
C.express her liking for the roses
D.express her care for the tomatoes
In the situation described in the text,one good thing is that.
A.the roses cost the writer little money
B.the writer has a daily harvest of tomatoes
C.someone will help the writer make the decision
D.the writer can now enjoy both the roses and tomatoes
Wearing ties (领带) was originally (最初) the mark of Britain’s most powerful classes, which made the tie itself a symbol of power and respect. And that led it to be adopted(采用) by a much larger group-the business group.
You cannot wear a tie if you work with machinery (机械). So wearing a tie became a sign that you were a man who used your brain to make a living, rather than your hands. It showed you were serious. It showed you were a professional (专业人员). It meant that everyone who wanted a job in business had to wear one. It was just impossible to take seriously a man who didn’t wear a piece of colored silk around his neck.
This is how millions of people came to be wearing ties across the world. They are part of the uniform (制服) of business.
“Ties offer a point of indifference,” says John Milne, head of the British Guide of Tie Makers, “They give a chance to say something about their own personality.”
So if you happen to meet a man with a very brightly colored tie, there is a good chance that he is the office jobber. There is also a good chance that he will be wearing brightly colored socks.
Is there a future for ties? The signs are not promising. Tie wearing seems to be rare among the new brands of entrepreneurs (创业者) in the Internet and new technology Industries. Many political leaders, including former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, now go without ties. This shows they are men of the people-but not the people wearing ties.
It was common for men across the western world to wear hats as part of their business uniform up until around 1960. That changed with the election of John F. Kennedy to the presidency of the United States. Kennedy never wore a hat-in fact his nickname was “hatless Jack”. Seeing that the most powerful man in the world did not have to wear a hat, millions of other men decided that they did not have to, either. Hats simply vanished across the Western world. Perhaps “tieless Tony” (former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair) will have the same effect as “hatless Jack”.
56.In Britain, ties were first used as a sign to show a person’s .
A. personality B. social position C. wearing style D. favorite hobby
57.The underlined word “vanished” in this passage may mean .
A. sold B. washed C. appeared D. disappeared
58.The writer may hold the opinion that .
A. Blair is the best leader in the world
B. Kennedy is the best leader in the world
C. millions of people will go to work without a tie
D. people will wear hats instead of ties
59Which of the following statements is TURE according to the passage?
A. If you are a professional, you can’t wear a tie in Britain.
B. The tie will become more fashionable and popular in the future.
C. It was the election of John F. Kennedy to the presidency of the United States that changed the fact that wearing hats as part of their business uniform.
D. Men across the western world didn’t wear hats as part of their business uniform until around 1960.
60..From the last paragraph we know that ___________.
Wearing ties remains very popular with powerful men in the world.
It is possible that wearing ties will not be fashionable in the future.
Wearing ties shows a man’s social identification, so it is likely that people, especially men around the world still will have to follow this fashion.
It will be inconvenient for people to wear ties and hats at work.