限时阅读训练17.doc

高二英语限时阅读训练(十七)阅读理解AGrandfather and the 3-year-old boy are natural buddies. On this particular day in May, the grandfather was pleased to have the company of his best little pal when planting the vegetable garden. For a while, the boy seemed to like it too. His small fingers were just the right size to pick up tiny seeds and drop them into Granddad-made holes. They were a great team. But before long the boy became restless and directed his anger at the seeds themselves. “Whats this one, Granddad?” “Beets (甜菜).” “Ugh, I hate beets.” “Well, then, lets do the pumpkin instead.” “Yuck. I really hate pumpkin.” “Okay, buddy. What would you like to plant?” “How about doughnuts (油炸圈饼)?” Just in time, the grandfather stopped himself from saying there was no such thing as a doughnut seed. Looking at the unhappy little face, he suddenly got an inspiration. “Wait a second. I have to go inside and get the right seeds.” Granddad returned with a handful of seeds. He and the small boy solemnly planted them in a special corner of the vegetable garden. Weeks later, when the real seeds began to break through the soil, the boy became delighted with the tiny seedlings. He spent many afternoons helping Granddad water and watch them grow. And when the first baby vegetables were harvested, he liked them after all. For weeks, he forgot all about the doughnuts. But then one day at lunch, he said, “Granddad, what happened to our doughnuts? How come they didnt grow?” Granddad paused a moment. “Well, you know, doughnuts are tricky. Some years when you plant them, you get lots of doughnuts.” He sighed sadly. “But other years, all that comes up are the holes.”51. The word “buddies” in the first sentence probably means_.A. the old and the young B. gardeners or farmers C. friends or partners D. schoolmates or classmatesFrom the first half of the passage we can learn that the boy_.A. doesnt like vegetables C. doesnt like playing with his granddad B. hates planting anything D. hates planting vegetables because of his small hands53. Why did Granddad tell the boy they were going to plant doughnuts?A. Because he had already got the right seeds for doughnuts.B. Because he liked doughnuts and also wanted to try planting them.C. Because he began to feel unhappy about the boys questions.D. Because he wanted to arouse his grandsons interest in planting.54. What do Granddads words mean in the last paragraph?A. No pains, no gains. B. All good things come to an end. C. All jobs do not produce good results. D. A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.BAppearing with President Hu Jintao, President Obama on Tuesday told reporters that the United States was determined to work with China and other countries to help produce a substantive （实质性的）agreement in Copenhagen climate talks.He and Mr. Hu also discussed a series of partnerships on energy. David Sandalow, who is in China as part of the Obama administrations climate team, said it was his fifth trip to China in six months and he was convinced that clean energy has become a top priority for Chinese leaders in their dealings with the United States. “This issue is now central to the bilateral（双边的） relationship in a way thats become exciting,” said Mr. Sandalow, “A year or two ago I couldnt have imagined that.” He provided some more details on the planned joint(联合) clean-energy research center, saying its $150 million budget would be equally divided between the two countries, with a headquarters established in both as well. “The aim is to find ways to bring together the best researchers in each country to help solve some of the most important challenges facing the world,” he said, giving out three prime targets: l Clean vehicles(交通工具), both electric and powered by various fuels.l Energy efficiency in buildings (this is particularly important considering the pace with which China and other developing countries are constructing new cities).l Technology for controlling emissions(排放) from coal-burning power plants, including those already built. “The world has a huge number of existing coal plants,” Mr. Sandalow said. “Unless we find ways to control the carbon emissions from those plants at affordable rates were going to keep warming the planet.”Mr. Sandalow said he was also convinced that China has made climate change itself, and not just the pressing real-time issue of energy security, a real priority now. “Its front and center（重要的）to the Chinese leadership,” he said.55. Which is true according to Mr. Sandalow?A. Chinese leaders didnt start dealing with the USA until a year or two ago.B. China is to blame for the climate change.C. The USA provided China with $150 million for clean-energy research. D. China now cares much about climate change as well as energy security.56. The following are the targets the research centre tries to achieve EXCEPT that_.A. China and other developing countries will step up constructing new citiesB. environmentally friendly ways of powering vehicles will be encouraged and usedC. new technology will be in use to reduce the pollution from coal-burning plantsD. the carbon emissions will be reduced in order to avoid global warming57. What can we infer from the passage?A. Mr. Sandalow still doubts whether the Chinese government takes clean energy seriously.B. President Obama and Mr. Hu discussed a series of partnerships on energy.C. Mr. Sandalow has been to China altogether five times.D. China and the U.S. both want to make joint efforts to cooperate with each other on energy.58. Which of the following is the best title for the passage?A. Climate Change Talks B. Details on US-China Climate and Energy PlansC. Obamas Official Visit to China D. Chinas Efforts in Protecting the EnvironmentCNearly 62 percent of Japans second-year junior middle school students say they are weak in English, with 66 percent of them developing this understanding during their first year of middle school, according to the results of a recent survey, The Daily Yomiuri has reported.The survey of 2,967 second-year students at 33 public schools was conducted in January and February by the Benesse Corporation, an educational service provider in Japan. It suggests that students are most motivated to learn English at the very beginning of their study, with 43.6 percent of them indicating this. However, within a year, the enthusiasm wanes and most students begin to identify themselves as weak in the subject. Out of the 61.8 percent of the students who say they are “rather weak” or “very weak” in the language, 26.6 percent choose “the latter half of the first year” as the period they began feeling that way, followed by “the beginning of the first year”, with 16.2 percent. Nearly 12 percent say they lost confidence “before entering middle school.”When asked about what they struggled with, 78.6 percent selected “grammar”, while 72.7 percent replied that they “got lower test scores than expected.”The students were also asked to predict the role English would play in their future. More than 70 percent of them said they felt English would be much more necessary in Japanese society in their adult lives. Only 20.4 percent said they would like to study abroad, while 14.6 percent said they hoped to have a career that would require English skills.The respondents were second-graders in 2002, the starting year of the current teaching guidelines that allow primary schools to introduce English as an elective course for their students. About 91.4 percent of the second-year middle school students had some English training in primary school, mainly through simple conversation, songs and stories. The main problem, teachers say, is that the benefits gained during primary school disappear rapidly once students move on to middle school, where they are bewildered by the sudden shift from everyday English to textbook English.59. What does the underlined word “wanes” in paragraph 2 mean?A. develops B. becomes weaker C. gets stronger D. adds 60. Which of the following is true about the survey?A. It was conducted in January and February in 2002.B. 26.6 percent of the students in the survey think they are rather weak or very weak in English.C. Most students in the survey became doubtful about their English levels in primary school.D. The majority of the students in the survey agreed English would be important in future life.61. What is the leading cause of the students frustration in their English studies according to teachers in Japan?A. Grammar being such a headache for the students.B. The sudden change in the focus of teaching between primary school and middle school.C. Lower test scores in English than expected.D. Not many students planning to study abroad in the future.62. What can we learn from the article?A. The English levels of primary school students in Japan are far from satisfactory.B. Japanese junior middle school students are quite good at textbook English.C. Before 2002, English was not officially included in primary school courses in Japan.D. Junior students in Japan are improving their English levels because of good-quality textbooks.DLOS ANGELESFor most of the last century, the Disney cartoon heroine was as white as, well. Snow White, the studios first feature-film superstar in 1937s Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.It would take some 60 years for the Disney artists to begin painting their leading ladies with all the fashionable colors, including the American Indian Pocahontas (1995), the Chinese Mulan (1998) and the Hawaiian Lilo (2002).Only now, with The Princess and the Frog, have Disney animators(动画师) put a black female in a leading place. The inspiration for the new film came from two Caucasian(白人) men: current (目前的)Pixar-Disney chief John Lasseter and the late Walt Disney himself.The story really came from an initial idea of doing an American fairy tale, which hadnt been done at Disney, said Princess co-director Ron Clements. And set it in New Orleans, which is John Lasseters favorite city in the world. It was Walt Disneys favorite city in the world . Out of that, it seemed natural that the heroine would be African-American.Discussion of the characters race angered some of the films leading actors. We walk around being black every day, and nobody talks about it, said Anika Noni Rose, who supplies the voice of lead Princess Tiana. So, I suggest you follow your instinct and let it be nothing to be talked about.Production was started on Princess in March 2006, long before the election of a new American president. We tried to arrange that, joked co-director John Musker. We voted for Obama, Musker continued. That was about as much influence as we had on things.But the coincidence（巧合） isnt lost on some members of the Princess cast. It is historical in the sense now that there is Obama and Tiana. said actress Jenifer Lewis, widely known as the black mother of Hollywood. It is a new day. she continued. There