高考英语二轮专题阅读理解训练精品题（13）.doc

2014高考英语阅读理解二轮专题训练精品题（13）及答案阅读理解-arecognized as the largest desert in the world, the sahara runs across north africa, covering over 3 million square miles from the atlantic coast to the nile river valley. except for an occasional oasis(绿洲), this vast land is mainly made up of sand, stones, and worn out mountains. the burning sun causes daytime temperatures to rise to 70 degrees in the shade, and days without rain commonly last for years.paintings found on the walls of caves in the sahara desert suggest that a few thousand years ago, large quantities of plants grew there and covered the desert floor. many curious and unusual insects, birds and animals got enough food that allowed them to grow and reproduce. at that time, huge river systems and many oases supported growing communities(社团，社区) where a large number of people lived.research scientists believe that the land became a desert for several reasons. for centuries people there have wandered from place to place in search of food, water and grazing(吃草)land for their animals. these people have always considered the number of animals they have as a sign of wealth. it is considered more important to have 100 sick and starving animals than 15 healthy ones. the large herds(群)have been allowed to go freely and graze on desert plants and grass. over time, large sections of land have been left uncovered. in addition to allowing overgrazing, these people cut down whatever trees they could find and used them for firewood. the sand was unable to hold on to the great heat of the day, so nightting temperatures often drop below freezing and nothing was left to hold the soil together.scientists have been studying different ways to bring back the green desert. through research and experiments, they hope to be able to produce plants that will once again support the life there. huge holes filled with much water lie under the desert surface. scientists believe this rainwater simply flew down through the sand over hundreds of years and collected in the big, rocky holding tanks. by making use of the suns power, scientists in the sahara have made experiments in which they got huge amount of electricity. this electricity was then used to operate drilling machines and pumps to pull the rainwater from the underground tanks. by drilling the hole one mile deep into the floor of the desert, one machine was able to recover more than 80 gallons of icecold water each second, or 288,000 gallons per hour.scientists have had some success turning this wasteland into useful farmland. today the desert is dotted with huge wheat fields watered by a system of pipes that carry water from the underground tanks. farmers have also learnt that plants grow better if seeds are planted next to stones. studies show that stones provide protection from the sun, allowing seeds to grow in a shady and cool environment. in addition to that, greenhouses have been built to protect plants from the sunshine so that less water is needed. another idea is to grow plants that can live on a diet of salt water, since the ocean is so near to the desert.1. what will probably happen if the local people continue their customs and traditions?a. the desert will continue to be enlarged.b. tourists will begin traveling to north africa.c. more oases will begin to appear across the desert.d. the number of healthy animals will become larger. 答案解析：答案为a。本题为推理题。结合前三段可知，撒哈拉沙漠原本是绿洲，后由于人类过度放牧（overgrazing）、滥砍乱伐（these people cut down whatever trees they could find ）导致了沙漠的形成和扩大，因此可以推断，如果当地人继续沿袭他们的老传统，会导致沙漠继续扩大。故答案为a。2. which of the flowing statements is a fact presented in the passage?a. the desert is rich in beautiful color and scenery.b. camels can go for days without drinking any water.c. the sahara will one day become a beautiful garden.d. large river systems once supported many communities.答案解析：答案为d。本题为推理题。考生需看清题意，要求选择与原文符合的事实。由第二段最后一句话 “at that time, huge river systems and many oases supported growing communities where a large number of people lived.”可知，答案为d。由第一段 “except for an occasional oasis, this vast land is mainly made up of sand, stones, and worn out mountains.”可知，a选项错误；b选项未提及；c选项也不是事实。故答案为d。3. the author of the passage provides evidences (证据)that scientists are .a. pleased by the progress but do not have the money to continueb. discouraged by the poor results of their experiments c. hopeful about the chances of life coming back to the desertd. troubled by the lack of water found underground 答案解析：答案为c。本题为推理题。由最后两段可知，科学家一直在研究让沙漠变绿洲的办法，并且已经付诸实践，取得了一定的成效，故可推断，科学家满怀希望想使撒哈拉沙漠恢复生机。故答案为c。4. which of the following is the best summary of this passage?a. drilling machines help to water the desert floor and make plants and animals alive.bscientists have been able to turn this large wasteland into a successful farming community.c. so much soil has become sand that the desert will never be able to support life as it once did.d. the desert no longer supports plenty of life, but researchers hope to change it with new scientific techniques. 答案解析：答案为d。本题为主旨大意题。本文揭示了撒哈拉沙漠形成的原因，重点是介绍科学家依靠科学技术试图让这片沙漠变成绿洲的方法。故答案为d。阅读理解课堂练学案（10）passage six (equality of opportunity in the twentieth century has not destroyed the class system) these days we hear a lot of nonsense about the great classless society. the idea that the twentieth century is the age of the common man has become one of the great clichs of our time. the same old arguments are put forward in evidence. here are some of them: monarchy as a system of government has been completely discredited. the monarchies that survive have been deprived of all political power. inherited wealth has been savagely reduced by taxation and, in time, the great fortunes will disappear altogether. in a number of countries the victory has been complete. the people rule; the great millennium has become a political reality. but has it? close examination doesnt bear out the claim. it is a fallacy to suppose that all men are equal and that society will be leveled out if you provide everybody with the same educational opportunities. (it is debatable whether you can ever provide everyone with the same educational opportunities, but that is another question.) the fact is that nature dispenses brains and ability with a total disregard for the principle of equality. the old rules of the jungle, survival of the fittest, and might is right are still with us. the spread of education has destroyed the old class system and created a new one. rewards are based on merit. for aristocracy read meritocracy; in other respects, society remains unaltered: the class system is rigidly maintained. genuine ability, animal cunning, skill, the knack of seizing opportunities, all bring material rewards. and what is the first thing people do when they become rich? they use their wealth to secure the best possible opportunities for their children, to give them a good start in life. for all the lip service we pay to the idea of equality, we do not consider this wrong in the western world. private schools which offer unfair advantages over state schools are not banned because one of the principles in a democracy is that people should be free to choose how they will educate their children. in this way, the new meritocracy can perpetuate itself to a certain extent: an able child from a wealthy home can succeed far more rapidly than his poorer counterpart. wealth is also used indiscriminately to further political ends. it would be almost impossible to become the leader of a democracy without massive financial backing. money is as powerful a weapon as ever it was. in societies wholly dedicated to the principle of social equality, privileged private education is forbidden. but even here people are rewarded according to their abilities. in fact, so great is the need for skilled workers that the least able may be neglected. bright children are carefully and expensively trained to become future rulers. in the end, all political ideologies boil down to the same thing: class divisions persist whether you are ruled by a feudal king or an educated peasant.1.what is the main idea of this passage?a equality of opportunity in the twentieth century has not destroyed the class system.equality means money.c there is no such society as classless society.d nature cant give you a classless society.2.according to the author, the same educational opportunities cant get rid of inequality becausea the principle survival of the fittest exists.nature ignores equality in dispensing brains and ability.c material rewards are for genuine ability.d people have the freedom how to educate their children.3.who can obtain more rapid successa those with wealth.those with the best brains.c those with the best opportunities.d those who have the ability to catch at opportunities.4.why does the author say the new meritocracy can perpetuate itself to a certain extent? becausea money decides everything.private schools offer advantages over state schools.c people are free to choose the way of educating their children.d wealth is used for political ends.5.according to the author, class divisions refers toa the rich and the poor.different opportunities for people.c oppressor and the oppressed.d genius and stupidity.vocabulary1.discredit 损害，破坏，败坏（某人的名声），不可信2.monarch 国王，女皇，君主政体3.millennium 千年 the millennium 千僖年4.bear out 证实5.level out （升跌之后）呈平稳状态6.meritocracy 英才管理，英才教育，能人统治7.knack 技巧，诀窍8.perpetuate 使永久，永存或持续9.indiscriminate 不加鉴别的，不加分析的，任意的10.boil down 归结为难句译注1. close examination doesnt bear out the claim.【参考译文】深入探索证实此断言不确。（也就是说太平盛世并没有成为政治现实）。2. might is right谚语：强权即公理。3. for all the lip service we pay to the idea of equality, we do not consider this wrong in the western world.【结构简析】lip-service口惠而实不至。ex: he pays lip-service to feminism but his wife still does all the housework.他口口声声说支持女权主义，但全部家务仍是他妻子的事。【参考译文】我们口口声声赞扬平等思想，我们在西方世界中并不认为这一思想事错误的。4. in the end, all political ideologies boil down to the same thing: class divisions persist whether you are ruled by a feudal king or an educated person.【参考译文】最终，一切政治意识，都归结为一件事：不论你是由封建国王统治还是英才统治，阶级区分依然存在。写作方法与文章大意 这是一篇对“无阶级社会和人人平等”论点的驳斥文章。作者从四个方面进行论述。1、天赋的才能和智慧与平等原则无关。2、“适者生存，强权即公理”依然存在。3、人获得的报酬是取决于人的才能而不是平等。4、金钱的作用，它不仅可以培育有能力的人，还是政治的后盾。只有金钱加能力是成功的关键。所以所谓平等不存在，更没有无阶级的社会。答案详解1. a 二十世纪平等的机遇并没有摧毁阶级。文章一开始就对无阶级社会的论点进行了反驳：有人认为君主整体已完全摧毁，幸存下来的王公贵族已经被剥夺了一切政治权力，继承的财产为税收大幅度的削减，到时候，巨大的财富将消失殆尽，在许多国家中，已全面胜利，人民进行统治，伟大的太平盛世已成为政治显示。作者认为：深入检查证实这一断言不实。第二段提出了即使人人都获同样的受教育的机会，可人的天然智慧和能力与平等原则无关，适者生存，强权即公理依然存在。教育的普及摧毁了老的阶级体制，却创造新的，报酬是机遇才干成就。贵族统治就是英才统治，可在其他方面，社会依然，阶级确实存在。后面两段集中论述了金钱的作用。b.金钱意味着平等是错误的。c.不存在无阶级社会。内容是对的，但不是本文的主题思想。d.自然界不会赋予你一个无阶级社会。2. b 自然界在分赋人智慧和能力是不会顾及平等。a.适者生存的原则存在。根据这一原则无智慧和能力者难以生存于社会。c.物质报偿是根据人的真正能力。d.人们有自由选择如何教育自己的孩子。这三项都基于一点人的智慧和能力。有智慧能力才能生存，才能获报偿，这已经是不平等，即使获同样的受教育的机会，也不可能铲除不平等。3. a 有钱的人。第三段一开始就点明：真正的能力、动物般机敏狡猾、技能、善抓机会的诀窍，这一切都带来物质报偿。有了钱的人首要作的事情就是给孩子最佳教育机会，而私人学校教育优于公立学校，人们又有自由选择如何教育自己的孩子。在这个意义上，英才教育在某种程度上是永存的。一个来自富有家庭的有能力的孩子要比其对立面获得成功要快得多得多。b.具有很高智慧的人，若没有钱是难以成功的。第三段的最后一句话也点明这一点，金钱同从前一样是强有力的武器。文章最后一段即使在完全遵循社会平等原则的社会里，禁止特权的私人教育，人们也是按能力获报酬。小心翼翼而又耗费巨大地把聪明的孩子培养成未来的统治者。c.具有最佳机遇的人。d.是b和c的结合。4. a金钱决定一切。新的英才教育在一定程度上永存。没有钱，上不起私立学校，谈不上机会，更不用说英才教育。有了钱才能为孩子创造机会。b.私立学校提供的优越性高于公立学校。c.人们有自由选择教育孩子的方式方法。d.财富用于政治目的。第三段最后三句话：“财富也可以不加区别地用于更远的政治目的。没有强大的财政作后盾，成为民主国家的元首几乎是不可能。金钱和过去一样是强有力的武器，这也说明了金钱的力量，决定一切。”5. a 富人和穷人。纵然作者提及，同样的教育机会也不可能铲除不平等，因为上天赋予人之智慧是不可能考虑平等原则，可是作者也提到适者生存、强权即公理。贵族政治可读成英才教育。这已说明英才指的是贵族的英才。第四段进一步指出有钱的人首先要做的就是给子女一个良好的教育机会。而私立学校的教育质量优于公立学校。有钱人家的有能力的孩子成功机遇就高。财产还可用于政治目的，要成为民主国家的领袖就得有雄厚的财力支持。钱财和过去一样强有力。即使在以社会平等为原则的社会中，私立学校被禁，酬劳还是以人的能力为准，大量需要有技能的工作人员，而差劲的人没有人关注。天才的孩子予以仔细而又及其昂贵的培养以成为未来的统治者。总之，政治意识归结为同一个东西阶级划分存在，不论你是为封建帝王统治，还是为受过教育的农民统治，从这里看，作者的class division指的是a项。b.人们不同的机遇。c.压迫者和被压迫者。d.天才和笨蛋。阅读理解-bexplaining chinas peaceful growth to the american politicians and public will top president hu jintaos agenda when he visits the united states from september 5 to 8.“ this will be conductive to the development of sinous relations and chinas relationships with the rest of the world.” he yafei, director of the department of north american affairs, said at a news briefing yesterday.it will be hus first state visit to the us after he became president in 2003. he will meet us president george w.bush and legislators in washington dc and business people in seattle, and deliver a speech at yale university in new haven. also on the list of areas of concern for hu and bush may be trade, taiwan, energy and nuclear issue on the korean peninsula.chinas favorable balance of trade with the us derives from different economic structures in the two countries. the two economies supplement and benefit each other instead of competing, and the us should loosen its grip over its exports, especially high-tech products, to china, he said.after his us trip, president hu will travel to canada and mexico from september 8 to 13, and back to new york on september 14 to attend the world summit and other activities in celebration of the 60th anniversary of the united nations.hu will wrap up his tour on september 16 at the un in a show chinas support for the world body and multilateralism.at yesterdays news briefing, he also disclosed that the fourth round of sixparty talks on korean peninsula nuclear issue will be resumed in the week of september 12.1. the underlined word “wrap up” can be taken pl