专题限时集训24 社会生活型阅读理解

(限时：25分钟)

(一)

An “apple polisher” is one who gives gifts to win friendship or special treatment. It is not exactly a bribe(贿赂), but is close to it.

All sorts of people are “apple polishers”， including politicians and people in high offices—just about everybody. Oliver Cromwell, the great English leader, offered many gifts to win the support of George Fox and his party, but failed.

There are other phrases meaning the same thing as “apple­polishing”—“soft­soaping” or “buttering­up”. A gift is just one way to “soft­soap” somebody, or to “butter him up”. Another that is just as effective is flattery, giving someone high praise—telling him how good he looks, or how well he speaks, or how talented and wise he is.

Endless are the ways of flattery. Who does not love to hear it? Only an unusual man can resist the thrill of being told how wonderful he is. In truth, flattery is good medicine for most of us, who get so little of it.

We need it to be more sure of ourselves. It cannot hurt unless we get carried away by it. But if we just lap it up for its good value and nourishment, as a cat laps up milk, then we can still remain true to ourselves.

Sometimes, however, flattery will get you nothing from one who has had too much of it. A good example is the famous 12th century legend of King Canute of Denmark and England. The king got tired of listening to endless sickening flattery of his courtiers(朝臣). They overpraised him to the skies, as a man of limitless might.

He decided to teach them a lesson. He took them to the seashore and sat down. Then he ordered the waves to stop coming in. The tide was too busy to listen to him. The king was satisfied. This might show his followers how weak his power was and how empty their flattery was.

1．Which of the following activities has nothing to do with “apple­polishing”？ A．A boy tells his girlfriend how pretty she looks.

B．An employee tells her boss how good he is at management. C．A knight is said to be of limitless power by his followers. D．A teacher praises her students for their talent and wisdom. 2．What does the writer want to prove with Cromwell's example? A．Everybody can be an apple polisher. B．Cromwell was not a good apple polisher.

C．George Fox and his party were not apple polishers. D．There are people who don't like being apple-polished.

3．Which of the following statements about flattery is TRUE according to the author? A．Too much flattery can carry us away.

B．Flattery is too empty to do people any good.

C．Flattery can get you nothing but excessive(过度的) pride. D．Flattery is one of the ways to apple-polished people.

4．Why did King Canute of Denmark and England take his followers to the seashore? A．Because he was sick of his normal life.

B．Because he disliked being overpraised any more. C．Because he wanted them to realize how wise he was.

D．Because he wanted them to see how weak he was as a king. 5．Who does the author think that flattery can do good to?

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A．Those who are politicians or in high offices. B．Those who lack confidence. C．Those who are really excellent.

D．Those who think highly of themselves.

(二)

Some say everyday miracles(奇迹) are predestined(注定的)—the right time for the appointed meeting. And it can happen anywhere.

11-year-old Kevin Stephen was a bat boy for his younger brother's Little League team in Lancaster, New

York. It was an early evening in late July. Kevin was standing on the grass away from the plate, where another youngster was warming up for the next game. Swinging his bat back and forth, giving it all the power an elementary school kid could give, the boy brought the bat back hard and hit Kevin in the chest. His heart stopped.

When Kevin fell to the ground, the mother of one of the players rushed out of the stands to his aid. Penny Brown hadn't planned to be there that day, but at the last minute, her shift(换班)at the hospital had been changed to see her son's performance. She was given the night off. Penny bent over the senseless boy, his face already starting to turn blue, and giving CPR, breathing into his mouth and giving chest compressions. And he revived in the end.

After his recovery, he became a volunteer junior firefighter, learning some of the emergency first-aid

techniques that had saved his life. He studied hard in school and was saving money for college by working as a dishwasher in a local restaurant in his spare time.

Kevin, now 18, was working in the kitchen when he heard people screaming, customers in confusion, employees rushing towards a table. He hurried into the main room and saw a woman there, her face turning blue, her hands at her throat. She was choking.

Quickly Kevin stepped behind her, wrapped his arms around her and clasped his hands. Then, using skills he'd first learned in Scouts. The food that was trapped in the woman's throat was freed. The colour began to return to her face.

“The food was stuck. I couldn't breathe，” she said. She thought she was dying. “I was very frightened.” Who was the woman? Penny Brown.

1. The author wrote the passage to show us that________． A. miracles are predestined and they can happen anywhere B. whoever helps you in trouble will get a reward one day C. God will help those who give others a helping hand D. miracles won't come without any difficulty sometimes

2. Which of the following statements is TRUE of Kevin Stephen? A. He was hit on the face by a boy and almost lost his life.

B. He was a volunteer junior firefighter, teaching the players first-aid skills.

C. He worked part-time in a local restaurant to save money for college.

D. He saved Penny Brown though he didn't really know how to deal with food choke. 3. Why did Penny Brown change her shift and was given the night off that night? A. She was invited to give the players directions. B. She volunteered to give medical services.

C. She was a little worried about his son's safety.

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D. She came to watch her son's game and cheered him.

4. The underlined word “revived”(Paragraph 3) most likely means “________”． A. came back to life B. became worse C. failed D. moved

5. When Kevin knew the woman was Penny Brown, probably he first felt ________． A. happy B. surprised C. sad D. worried

(三)

People turn to magic(魔力)chiefly as a form of insurance—that is, they use it along with actions that actually bring results. For example, hunters may use a hunting charm(咒语). But they also use their hunting skills and knowledge of animals. The charm may give hunters the extra confidence they need to hunt even more successfully than they would without it. If they shoot a lot of game(猎物), they credit the charm for their success. Many events happen naturally without magic. Crops grow without it, and sick people get well without it. But if people use magic to bring a good harvest or to cure a patient, they may believe the magic was responsible.

People also tend to forget magic's failures and to be impressed by its surface successes. They may consider magic successful if it appears to work only 10 percent of the time. Even when magic fails, people often explain the failure without doubting the power of the magic. They may say that the magician made a mistake in reciting the spell or that another magician cast a more powerful spell against the magician.

Many anthropologists(人类学家) believe that people have faith in magic because they feel a need to believe in it. People may turn to magic to reduce their fear and uncertainty if they feel they have no control over the outcome of a situation. For example, farmers use knowledge and skill when they plant their fields. But they know that weather, insects, or diseases might ruin the crops. So farmers in some societies may also plant a charm or perform a magic rite to ensure a good harvest.

1. From the passage, we can learn that the writer of the passage may be ________． A. a hunter B. a farmer C. a magician D. an anthropologist 2. Which of the following can best serve as the title of the passage? A. Magic and Hunting B. Magic and Farming

C. Why Magic Works? D. Why People Believe in Magic?

3. The underlined word “spell”(Paragraph 2) most probably means “________”. A. magic words B. magic events C. words or expressions D. magicians 4. People believe in magic because________． A. magic powers are greater than natural powers B. magic can turn dreams into reality C. they are not sure of themselves D. magic can bring good results

5. Which of the following statements is NOT true according to the passage? A. Even though magic fails, believers in magic will explain the reason. B. Believers in magic usually overstate the power of magic.

C. People use magic to reduce their uncertainty and give them extra confidence. D. Magic can solve problems people can't deal with in a natural way.

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专题限时训练(二十五) [科普知识型阅读理解(一)]

(限时：25分钟)

(一)

The forces that make Japan one of the world's most earthquake-prone(有地震倾向的) countries could

become part of its long-term energy solution.

Water from deep below the ground at Japan's tens of thousands of hot springs could be used to produce electricity.

Although Japanese high-tech companies are leaders in geothermal(地热的) technology and export it, its

use is limited in the nation.

“Japan should no doubt make use of its resources of geothermal energy，” said Yoshiyasu Takefuji, a leading researcher of thermal-electric power production.

The disastrous earthquake and tsunami on March 11, 2011 caused a reaction against atomic power, which previously made up 30 percent of Japan's energy needs, and increased interest in alternative energies, which account for only 8 percent.

Artist Yoko Ono has called on Japan to explore its natural energy, following the example of Iceland which uses renewable energy for more than 80 percent of its needs.

For now, geothermal energy makes up less than 1 percent of the energy needs in Japan, which has for decades relied heavily on fossil fuels and atomic power.

The biggest problem to geothermal energy is the high initial cost of the exploration and constructing the factories.Another problem is that Japan's potentially best sites are already being developed for tourism or are located within national parks where construction is forbidden.

“We can't even dig 10cm inside national parks，” said Shigeto Yamada of Fuji Electric, adding that regulations protecting nature would need to be relaxed for geothermal energy to grow.

Researcher Hideaki Matsui said, “Producing electricity by using hot springs is a decades­long project.We also have to think about what to do for now as energy supplies will decline in the short term.”

The Earth Policy Institute in Washington, the US, believed Japan could produce 80，000 megawatts(兆瓦)and meet more than half its electricity needs with geothermal technology.

Japanese giants such as Toshiba are already global leaders in geothermal technology, with a 70 percent market share.In 2010, Fuji Electric built the world's largest geothermal factory in New Zealand.

1．What would be the best title for the text? A．Alternative energies in Japan

B．The world's largest geothermal plant

C．Japan takes the lead in geothermal technology D．Japan thinks of geothermal energy

2．What percentage of Japan's energy needs is geothermal energy? A．About 8%. B．Below 1%. C．Around 30%. D．Over 80%.

3．According to Shigeto Yamada, the growth of geothermal power in Japan needs ________． A．a change of rules B．financial support C．local people's help D．high technology 4．Geothermal energy is considered as a long-term program by ________．

A．Yoshiyasu Takefuji B．Hideaki Matsui C．Shigeto Yamada D．Yoko Ono

5．It can be learned from the last two paragraphs that ________．

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A．the world's biggest geothermal plant was built by America B．Japan will not export its geothermal technology C．the potential of Japan's geothermal energy is great D．it is hard to find geothermal energy in Japan

(二)

Last night's meteor(流星)shower left many people in the community dissatisfied and demanding answers.According to Gabe Rothschild, Emerald Valley's mayor, people gathered in the suburbs of the city, carrying heavy telescopes, expecting to watch the brightly burning meteors passing through the sky.What they found instead was a sky so brightened by the city's lights that it darkened the light of the meteors passing overhead.

“My family was so frustrated，” admitted town resident Duane Cosby.“We wanted to make this an unforgettable family outing, but it turned out to be a huge disappointment.”

Astronomers—scientists who study stars and planets—have been complaining about this problem for decades.They say that light pollution prevents them from seeing objects in the sky that they could see quite easily in the past.They call on people and the government to take measures to fight against it.

There is yet a population besides professional and amateur star observers that suffers even more from light pollution. This population consists of birds, bats, frogs，snakes，etc.For example, outdoor lighting severely affects migrating (迁徙的)birds.According to the International Dark-Sky Association，“100 million birds a year

throughout North America die in crashes with lighted buildings and towers.”

Countless more animal casualties(伤亡) result from the use of artificial lighting.Clearly，people enjoy the benefits of lighting their evenings, but some scientists think it can be harmful for humans，too.They worry that exposure to light while sleeping can increase a person's chances of getting cancer.

Emerald Valley is only one community that is becoming aware of the negative effects of light pollution.For years, Flagstaff, Arizona, has enforced lighting regulations in its city in order to assist astronomers at the Lowell Observatory.Similar efforts have been made worldwide, and a movement is underway to remind us to turn off lights when we are not using them, so that other creatures can share the night.

1．It happened last night that ________． A. the city's lights affected the meteor watching B．the meteors flew past before being noticed C．the city light show attracted many people

D．the meteor watching ended up a social outing 2．What do the astronomers complain about? A．Meteor showers occur less often than before. B．Their observation equipment is in poor repair. C．Light pollution has remained unsolved for years. D．Their eyesight is failing due to artificial lighting.

3．What is the author concerned about according to Paragraph 4? A. Birds may take other migration paths.

B．Animals' living habits may change suddenly.

C．Varieties of animals will become sharply reduced. D．Animals' survival is threatened by outdoor lighting.

4．Lighting regulations in Flagstaff, Arizona are put into effect to________．

A．lessen the chance of getting cancer B．create an ideal observation condition C．ensure citizens a good sleep at night D．enable all creatures to live in harmony

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5．What message does the author most want to give us?

A．Saving wildlife is saving ourselves. B．Great efforts should be made to save energy. C．Human activities should be environmentally friendly. D．New equipment should be introduced for space study.

(三)

Online clothes shoppers will be told exactly what size is best for them using new software which combines with their webcam or smart phone to form a 3D tape measure.

Scientists from Surrey University and design experts from the London College of Fashion are developing a program which can take precise waist, hip, chest and other measurements from camera images.

Using the person's height as a starting point, the software will be able to build up a 3D image and estimate their size at various different points on the body, based on their overall proportions.

The result will be a more accurate sizing guide than previous systems based on waist size or a “small/medium/large” scale, which rely on limited measurements and the buyer's perception of their own body size.

Shoppers and retailers(零售商) who choose to sign up for the project could save millions of pounds a year in postage costs by removing the need to order multiple sizes of the same garment(服装) and send back ill-fitting clothes, researchers claimed.

The project, sponsored by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council(EPSRC), is expected to be brought to market within two years.

After choosing an item, the shopper will activate the software, enter their height, stand in front of their webcam or smart phone in their underwear and take a photograph.

The software will not store or transmit the image to the Internet, but will use it to judge the person's dimensions at various points on their body.

Philip Delamore of the London College of Fashion said, “The potential benefits for the fashion industry and for shoppers are huge. Currently, it's common for online shoppers to order two or three different sizes of the same item of clothing at the same time, as they're unsure which one will fit best.”

1．What is the essential part of a 3D tape measure?

A. A software. B. A webcam. C. A microphone. D. A smart phone. 2. What can we learn about the 3D tape measure? A. It will store or transmit the image to the Internet. B. It is based on the buyer's perception of their size. C. It will be a co-working production.

D. It uses a person's weight as a starting point.

3. Compared with the traditional sizing system, a 3D tape measure is ________ . A. quicker B. more precise C. more beautiful D. more vivid 4. How can the 3D tape measure benefit online shoppers? A．Online shoppers will get their ordered garment in time.

B．Online shoppers will get their ordered garment more quickly. C．Online shoppers will get an ordered garment of high quality. D．Online shoppers will get an ordered garment to their measure. 5. What is the right order for a shopper to form a 3D tape measure? ①to take a photo with a webcam ②to activate the software

③to enter his/her height ④to judge his/her size by analysing his/her image A. ①②③④ B. ②①③④ C. ②③①④ D. ②③④①

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专题限时训练(二十四)

(一)

【要点综述】 本文论述了现代社会存在的一个普遍现象，人们往往为了自己的一点儿利益去送礼或者说一些阿谀奉承的话，当然有时即使这样做了也未必就能实现自己的愿望。

1．D 推理判断题。根据“An ‘apple polisher’ is one who gives gifts to win friendship or special treatment.”可知，一个老师表扬学生并不是想得到什么好处。故选D项。

2．A 细节理解题。根据“All sorts of people are ‘apple polishers’，including politicians and people in high offices—just about everybody.Oliver Cromwell，the great English leader，offered many gifts to win the support of George Fox and his party，but failed.”可知，高层的领导者也有拍马屁的人，可以想象每个人都可能是这种人。故选A项。

3．D 细节理解题。根据“An ‘apple polisher’ is one who gives gifts to win friendship or special treatment.”和“A gift is just one way to ‘soft­soap’ somebody，or to ‘butter him up’．Another that is just as effective is flattery…”可知选D项。

4．B 细节理解题。根据“The king got tired of listening to endless sickening flattery of his courtiers(朝臣)．”可知国王厌烦了朝臣们的阿谀奉承，故选B项。

5．B 细节理解题。根据“In truth，flattery is good medicine for most of us，who get so little of it.We need it to be more sure of ourselves.It cannot hurt unless we get carried away by it.”可知，对于缺乏自信的人来说，奉承是有好处的。故选B项。

(二)

【要点综述】 文章通过讲述两个人的互救经历来证明“奇迹是注定的，无处不在”这一观点。 1．A 主旨大意题。文章第一段点明了本文的写作目的：奇迹是注定的，无处不在。下文通过具体讲述两个人的互救经历来证明这一观点。

2．C 正误判断题。由第四段中“He studied hard in school and was saving money for college by working as a dishwasher in a local restaurant in his spare time.”可知C项表述正确，符合题意。

3．D 细节理解题。由第三段中“…but at the last minute, her shift(换班)at the hospital had been changed to see her son's performance.”可知Penny Brown是为了看她儿子的比赛，为他加油，才换了班。

4．A 词义猜测题。由前面的句子“Penny bent over the senseless boy…”和下一段的“After his recovery…”可以推出revive的意思为“苏醒，醒了过来”。

5．B 推理判断题。当Kevin知道Penny Brown正是七年前挽救他生命的那个人时， 他的第一感觉应该是“惊讶，意想不到”；再结合本文的写作目的：奇迹无处不在，可以推出B项为正确答案。

(三)

【要点综述】 为什么有些人相信魔法咒语呢？魔法咒语真的灵验吗？这些人相信魔法咒语是因为他们缺乏自信。作者以人类学家的科学眼光分析了这种社会现象。

1．D

2．D 主旨大意题。全文主要介绍了人们为什么相信咒语。

3．A 词义猜测题。同形异义词需要根据上下文语境来确定其具体意义，不可受原先所熟悉词义的约束。文中第二段的“spell”与“拼写”无关，而是指“咒语”可知。

4．C 细节理解题。根据第三段第二句可知，人们相信魔法咒语是因为人们需要相信它。当人们无法控制情况的后果时，就可能转向寻求魔法咒语来减轻自己的恐惧或不安，也就是人们缺乏自信。

5．D 正误判断题。D项意思为：咒语可以解决人们用自然的方式不能解决的问题。由文章内容可

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知，咒语只是人们解决问题时的一种寄托和心理安慰，并不能真正地帮助人们解决问题，故D项表述错误。其他三项均可从文中找到相应的依据。

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