高考英语二轮复习专题训练阅读理解(83).doc

高考英语二轮复习专题训练：阅读理解（83）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。AMen have always believed that they are smarter than women. Now, a study has found that while this is certainly true, men also have to deal with the fact that they are also more stupid than the fairer sex.In the study, scientists measured the IQ of 2500 brothers and sisters and they found an uneven number of men not only in the top two percent, but also in the bottom two percent.The studys participants were tested on science, maths, English and mechanical abilities.Though there were twice as many men as women in the smartest group, there were also twice as many men among the dolts.The aggregate scores of men and women were similar.One of the studys authors, psychology professor Timothy Bates, said that the phenomenon may be because men have always been expected to be high achievers and women have been restricted to spend more time taking care of their home.The female developmental program may be tilted more towards ensuring survival and the safety of the middle ground., the Daily Mail quoted Professor Bates, of Edinburgh University, as saying.The research tallies with past results that men were more likely than women to receive first class University degrees or thirds and women secured the seconds.It has been said that men are more ready to take risk when it comes to academics. Women have always found to be steadier in their learning.A past study has shown that women are securing more firsts and seconds, while men are continuing to receive more thirds.The argument for the change is that the increase of coursework at the cost of exams favors womens steady approach.1. The purpose of the passage is to tell us that _. A. man are smarter then women B. man are more stupid the women C. a new fact about the IQ of men and women has been foundD. men are more likely to receive first class university degrees2. According to Timothy Bates, less women are in the smartest group because _.A. they are born stupidB. they have to spend more time to tale care of their home than men C. they dont like to take risk D. they are not expected to be high achievers3. The underlined word tallies with in the eighth paragraph means_. A. agree with B. deal with C. go against D. go with4. It can be inferred from the passage that_.A. Women are steadier in their learning.B. men are more ready to take risk in everythingC. women are securing more firsts and seconds D. women are doing much better in academy5. Which of the following questions has NOT been discussed in the passage?A. Why are men smarter than women? B. Why are men more stupid than women?C. How does the result go along with the past research? D. How can we help the men in the bottom?BA long-term American study shows the importance of early education for poor children. The study is known as the Abecedarian(初步的) Project. It involved more than one-hundred young children from poor families in North Carolina.Half of the children attended an all-day program at a high-quality childcare center. The center offered educational, health and social programs. Children took part in games and activities to increase their thinking and language skills and social and emotional development. The program also included health foods for the childrenThe children attended the program from when they were a few weeks old until the age of five years. The other group of children did not attend the childcare center. After the age of five, both groups attended public school.Researchers compared the two groups of children. When they were babies, both groups had similar results in tests for mental and physical skills. However, from the age of eighteen months, the children in the educational child care program did much better in tests. The researchers tested the children again when they were twelve and fifteen years old. The tests found that the children who had been in the childcare center continued to have higher average test results. These children did much better on tests of reading and mathematics. A few years ago, organizers of the Abecedarian Project tested the students again. At the time, each student was twenty-one years old. They were tested for thinking and educational ability, employment, parenting and social skills. The researchers found that the young adults who had the early education still did better in reading and mathematics tests. They were more than two times as likely to be attending college or to have completed college. In addition, the children who received early education were older on average, when their first child was born. The study offers more evidence that learning during the first months and years of life is important for all later development. The researchers of the Abecedarian Project believe their study shows a need for lawmakers to spend money on public early education. They believe these kinds of programs could reduce the number of children who do not complete school and are unemployed.6. The Abecedarian Project has lasted_.A. almost one year B. about five yearsC. more than 20 years D. no more than 15 years7. Those who had been in the child-care center_ compared with those who hadnt.A. have their children at later agesB. have no parenting or social skillsC. are poorer at reading and mathematicsD. get more help from other people8. What dont we know about the Abecedarian Project after reading the text?A. How important early education is for poor children.B. What the children learned at the child-care center.C. How many children are involved in the Abecedarian Project.D. Whether lawmakers will spend money on public early education.9. The study if Abecedarian project shows that early education_.A. leads to a lower birthrateB. costs a lot of moneyC. is not important for later developmentD. can improve the life of poor childrenCNever-say-die AttitudeIn 1883, a creative engineer named John Roebling was inspired by an idea to build a spectacular bridge connecting New York with the Long Island. However, bridge building experts throughtout the world thought that this was an impossible feat and told Roebling to forget the ideaIt just could not be done. It was not practicalIt had never been done before.Roebling could not ignore the vision he had in his mind of this bridge. He thought about it all the time and he knew deep in his heart that it could be done. He just had to share the dream with someone else. After much discussion and persuasion he managed to convince his son Washington，an up-and-coming engineer, that the bridge in fact could be built.Working together for the first time, the father and son developed concepts of how it could be accomplished and how the obstacles could be overcome. With great excitement and inspiration, and headiness of a wild challenge before them, they hired their crew and began to build their dream bridge.The project started well, but when it was only a few months underway a tregic accident on the site took the life of John Roebling. Washington was injured and left with certain account of brain damage, which resulted in him not being able to walk or talk or even move.“We told them so.”“Crazy men and their crazy dreams.”“Its foolish to chase wild visions.”Everyone had a negative comment to make and felt that the project should be scraped since the Roeblings were the only ones who knew how the bridge could be built. In spite of his handicap, Washington was never discouraged and still had burning desire to complete the bridge and his mind was still as sharp as ever.He tried to inspire and pass on his enthusiasm to some of his friends, but they were too daunted by the taskAs he lay on his bed in his hospital room，with the sunlight streaming through the windows, a gentle breeze blew the white curtains apart and he was able to see the sky and the top of the trees outside for just a moment. It seemed that there was a message for him not to give up. Suddenly an idea hit him. All he could do was move one finger and decided to make the best use of it. By moving this, he slowly developed a code of communication with his wife.He touched his wifes arm with that finger, indicating to her he wanted her to call the engineers again. Then he used the same method of tapping her arm to tell the engineers what to do. It seemed foolish but the project was under way again.For 13 years Washington tapped out his instructions with his finger on his wifes arm until the bridge was finally completed. Today the spectacular Brooklyn Bridge stands in all its glory as a tribute of ones indomitable spirit and his determination not to be defeated by circumstances. It is also a tribute to the engineers and their team work, and to their faith in a man who was considered mad by half the world. It stands too as a monument to the love and devotion of his wife who for 13 years patiently decoded the message of her husband and told the engineers what to do.Perhaps this is one of the best example of a never-say-die attitude that overcomes a terrible physical handicap and achieves an impossible goal.10. Why did the bridge building experts think that Washingtons idea could not be done? A. because the poor technology at that time B. because it was not practical and on one had done it before C. because they didnt believe in John Roebeling D. because they didnt accept new ideas.11. What happed on the Rebellings when the project started only a few months? A. Washington died and Roebeling handicapped B. Roebeling died and Washington handicapped C. The Roebelings died D. the bridge collapsed12.What does the underlined word “scraped” in paragraph nine means? A. continued B. given up C. insisted on D. disappeared13. Which of the followings are the right orders?a. John Roebeling had an idea to build a spectacular bridge connecting New York with the Long Island. b. John Roebeling died in an accident c. John Roebeling convinced his son to build the bridge with himd. people laughed at the Roebelings for they couldnt continue their projecte. the bridge stands in all its gloryf. Washington.moved his finger with the help of his wife to make the project be under way againA. a b c d f e B. b a d c f e C. a d c b f e D. a c b d f e14. What made the Roebelings success?A. Their never-say-die attitude and the support of their familyB. Their devotion to building bridgeC. Their bravery and persistenceD. Their high skill in professionDRepressionToday, as I was relaxing at the beach, I couldnt help but eavesdrop（窃听，偷听） on a conversation four high school kids were having on the beach blanket next to me. Their conversation was about making a positive difference in the world. And it went something like thisIts impossible to make a difference unless youre a huge corporation or someone with lots of money and power, one of them said.Yeah man, another replied. My mom keeps telling me to move mountains to speak up and stand up for what I believe. But what I say and do doesnt even get noticed. I just keep answering to the man and then I get slapped back（山谷回声） in place by him when I step out of line.Repression another snickered.I smiled because I knew exactly how they felt. When I was their age, I was certain I was being repressed and couldnt possibly make a difference in this world. And I actually almost got expelled from（驱逐，开除） school once because I openly expressed how repressed I felt in the middle of the principals office.I Have A DreamSuddenly, one of the kids noticed me eavesdropping and smiling. He sat up, looked at me and said, What? Do you disagree? Then as he waited for a response, the other three kids turned around too.Rather than arguing with them, I took an old receipt（收据） out of my wallet, ripped（撕，扯） it into four pieces, and wrote a different word on each piece. Then I crumbled the pieces into little paper balls and handed a different piece to each one of them.Look at the word on the paper I just gave you and dont show it to anyone else. The kids looked at the single word I had handed each of them and appeared confused. You have two choices, I told them. If your word inspired you to make a difference in this world, then hold onto it. If not, give it back to me so I can recycle the paper. They all returned their words.I scooted（快走） over, sat down on the sand next to their beach blanket and laid out the four words that the students had returned to me so that the words combined to form the simple sentence, I have a dream.Dude, thats Martin Luther King Jr., one of the kids said.How did you know that? I asked.Everyone knows Martin Luther King Jr. the kid snarled. He has his own national holiday, and we all had to memorize his speech in school a few years ago.Why do you think your teachers had you memorize his speech? I asked.I dont really care! the kid replied. His three friends shook their heads in agreement. What does this have to do with us and our situation?Your teachers asked you to memorize those words, just like thousands of teachers around the world have asked students to memorize those words, because they have inspired millions of repressed people to dream of a better world and take action to make their dreams come true. Do you see where Im going with this?Man, I know exactly what youre trying to do and its not going to work, alright? the fourth kid said, who hadnt spoken a word until now. Were not going to get all inspired and emotional about something some dude said thirty years ago. Our world is different now. And its more screwed up than any us can even begin to imagine, and theres little you or I can do about it. Were too small, were nobody.TogetherI smiled again because I once believed and used to say similar things. Then after holding the smile for a few seconds I said, On their own, I or have or a or dream are just words. Not very compelling or inspiring. But when you put them together in a certain order, they create a phrase that has been powerful enough to move millions of people to take action action that changed laws, perceptions, and lives. You dont need to be inspired or emotional to agree with this, do you?The four kids shrugged and struggled to appear totally indifferent, but I could tell they were listening intently. And whats true for words is also true for people, I continued. One person without help from anyone else cant do much to make a sizable difference in this crazy world - or to overcome all of the various forms of repression（抑制，压抑） that exist today. But when people get together and unite to form something more powerful and meaningful then themselves, the possibilities