2015年高考押题英语附答案.docx

2015年高考押题英语卷1 第一部分 阅读理解 第一节 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，并在题卡上将该项涂黑。A A report from the American Academy of Arts and Sciences Commission reveals that, due to a job market which disproportionately rewards graduates in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) fields, more and more students are seeking degrees in business and hard-science subjects. Some institutions have responded by cutting budgets in the arts and humanities and directing those funds elsewhere. Thats the wrong thing to do. The humanities study of languages, literature, history, philosophy, religion, ethics, etc.-and the arts are vital to our future. We should be investing more funds, more time and more expertise, not less, into these endeavors. What detractors（诋毁者） of the soft subjects miss is that the arts and humanities provide an essential framework and context for understanding the wider world. Studying the humanities strengthens the ability to communicate and work with others. It allows students to develop broad intellectual and cultural understanding; it nurtures creativity and deepens participation in public discourse and modem democracy. The commissions report points out that at the very moment when China is seeking to adopt our model of broad education in the humanities, social sciences and natural sciences as a stimulus to invention, the United States is instead narrowing our focus and abandoning our sense of what education has been and should continue to be our sense of what makes America great. These are the telling statistics: First, federal funding for helping American students include international training in their education has been cut 41 percent in four years. Second, the National Assessment of Educational Progress test shows that only less than a quarter of eighth- and 12th-grade US students are proficient in reading, writing and civics. How can we possibly equip the US for its leadership role in an increasingly connected world if we are not adequately teaching students to communicate and helping them understand and encounter diverse perspectives? If we fail to invest in the arts and humanities, our countrys future leaders will not have the ability to connect on an emotional level with others. This ability is developed by studying the humanities, and in the global community this skill is not optional - its essential. In a word, we must enthusiastically support and fund the study of the arts and humanities. For anyone concerned with how this translates into a sound economy and a sound financial future, simply recall what Steve Jobs told graduates of Stanford University in 2005: One of the most influential experiences in his brief time at Reed College was his exposure to the fine art of calligraphy（书法） It taught him the important lesson of the relationship between discipline and creativity.1. What can be inferred from the passage?A. Business and hard-science subjects are based upon the arts and humanities.B. At present too much emphasis and investment are put on science in America.C. More students will learn the arts and humanities instead of science in the USA.D. China has spent more money in the humanities and social sciences than the USA.2. The author mentions Steve Jobs in the last paragraph to prove that _. A. science has a close relationship with the arts and humanities B. investment in the arts and humanities promotes economic development C. calligraphy plays a determining role in Steve Jobs accomplishment D. Reed College supports and funds the study of the arts and humanities3. Which of the following is the most suitable title for this passage? A. Significance of arts and humanities B. Key qualities of future leaders C. Decline of arts and humanities D. Rise and fall of hard sciencesB Fuel Cell Technology for Cars Fill her up with hydrogen? Thats what someCalifornia motorists may be saying soon, as car makers tryto speed up production of zero emission（零排放） cars tomeet state requirements in the near future. Beneath the skin of this ordinary looking HondasFCX Concept Vehicle sits an electro-chemical reactor: ahand built, astronomically expensive power plant knownas a fuel cell. Its expected to be running ordinary family cars on Californias roads within three years. So what exactly is a fuel cell, anyway? Why are governments, private businesses and academic institutions cooperating to develop and produce them? A fuel cell, very simply described, is a power generator, making electricity through the combination of hydrogen and oxygen. Fuel cells generate electrical power quietly and efficiently, without pollution, unlike power sources that use fossil fuels, the only by-products from an operating fuel cell are heat and water. To be more technical about it, a hydrogen atom with its one electron, attempts to pass through a fuel cell membrane（膜） to unite with an oxygen atom. The membrane allows only the hydrogen proton（质子） to pass through, forcing its electron to run around the membrane to catch up with the proton on the other side. This creates electricity, water, and heat, but no exhaust emissions. If the fuel cell is powered with pure hydrogen, it has the potential to be up to 80-percent efficient, That is, it turns 80 percent of the energy content of the hydrogen into electrical energy. However, we still need to turn the electrical energy into mechanical work. This is accomplished by the electric motor. A reasonable number for the efficiency of the motor is about 80 percent. So we have 80-percent efficiency in generating electricity, and 80-percent efficiency turning it into mechanical power. That gives an overall efficiency of about64 percent. Hondas FCX concept vehicle reportedly has 60-percent energy efficiency, which is twice or even three times more efficient than usual cars. But in spite of all the advantages described above, experts say, We still have technical challenges getting this extremely complex system to work properly, the way customers expect it to work. There are challenges in using new fuels, and providing the new fuel basic facilities. And before fuel cell vehicles hit the road, there will have to be a network of hydrogen stations that will allow drivers to fill up with the flammable gas, under 36-hundred pounds of pressure.4. What can be inferred from Californias zero emissions policy? A. New cars with fuel cell technology will surely become much cheaper. B. By carrying out the policy, traffic will not be so busy as it is now. C. The quality of life in California will improve once this policy is in effect. D. With facilities of new kinds, more local employment will be created.5. What does the phrase power plant refer to? A. A power device generating electricity. B. A power station providing electricity. C. A power component consuming electricity. D. A power engine using electricity.6. One of the reasons why fuel cell powered vehicles are superior is that . . A. they give out almost no water or heat B. they run faster and more smoothly C. they give out almost no noise D. they turn 64% of the energy into electricity7. What does the author want to tell us in the last paragraph? A. Customers will not think it a good idea to develop fuel cell technology. B. It is still not very easy to speed up production of zero emission cars. C. We cant ignore the financial problems to build a network of hydrogen stations. D. We still have much difficulty turning all the chains of the business into reality. CWhen DeKalb Walcott III was just 8 years old, his father, a Chicago fire chief, let him tag along on a call. DeKalb says a lot of kids idolized basketball player Michael Jordan when he was growing up in Chicago in the 1990s. Not him.I wanted to be like DeKalb Walcott Jr., he says of his father.So when his dad asked if he wanted to go on that call with him when he was 8, DeKalb was excited. Im jumping up and down, saying, Mom, can I go? Can I go? The experience changed DeKalbs life, he tells his dad on a visit to Story Corps. My eyes got big from the moment the alarm went off. the younger DeKalb says. “This is the life that I want to live someday.”Now 27, the younger DeKalb is living that life. He became a firefighter at 21 and went to work alongside his dad at the Chicago Fire Department. Before his father retired, the pair even went out on a call together father supervising（监督） son.You know, its everything for me to watch you grow, his father says. But he also recalls worrying about one particular fire that his son faced.I received a phone call that night. And they said, Well, your son was at this fire. I said, OK, which way is this conversation going to go? “DeKalb Walcott Jr. recalls.And they said, but hes OK. And he put it out all by himself. Everybody here was proud of him.And the word went around, Who was out there managing that fire? Oh, thats Walcott! Thats Walcott up there! So, you know, moments like that, its heaven on Earth for a dad.DeKalb Walcott Jr. retired in 2009. The younger DeKalb says hes proud of being a second-generation firefighter. You know, it makes me look forward to fatherhood as well, because Im definitely looking forward to passing that torch down to my son.8. The underlined phrase tag along in Paragraph 1 is closest in meaning to _.A. put out fire B. watch basketball C. follow his father D. ask his mothers permission9. DeKalb Walcott III determined to become a firefighter at the age of _.A. 8 B. 21 C. 27 D. 3510. What did DeKalb Walcott Jr want to do before he was told that the fire was put out?A. Go on with the conversation B. Put it out all by himself C. Supervise his son D. Go to the fire scene 11. What can we learn from the last paragraph?A. DeKalb Walcott Jr is proud to be a second-generation firefighter.B. DeKalb Walcott III wants his son to become a firefighter too.C. DeKalb Walcott Jr wants to pass the torch to DeKalb Walcott III.D. DeKalb Walcott III is proud that his son has become an excellent firefighter.DEngineers should embrace（接受） the arts, Sir John OReilly, a fellow of the Institution of Engineering and Technology, argued in a lecture. About 59% of engineering companies in the IETs 2014 survey feared skill shortages could threaten（威胁） business. There is nothing as creative as engineering, Sir John told the reporter. He says science, technology, engineering and mathematics - often known as Stem subjects, are vital for a modern knowledge economy. But there is a massive shortfall in the number of recruits（招聘） - with a recent study by the Royal Academy of Engineering saying the UK needs to increase by as much as 50% the number of Stem graduates it produces. Delivering this years Mountbatten Lecture at the Royal Institution, Sir John argued that engineers should recognise the role of the arts in their work - among other benefits; this could attract more people into the profession. The lecture, Full Steam Ahead for Growth, advocated a wider adoption - Steam, or science, technology, engineering, arts and maths. Engineers should embrace the arts as being key to creativity and an important component of innovation（创新）, crucial to creating new products and boosting future competitiveness, he argued. Engineering and technology is an increasingly diverse and creative field, said Sir John. Some university engineering departments already cooperated with art schools to develop understanding, he told the reporter. In particular he mentioned Cranfield Universitys Centre for Creative Competitive Design and Imperial Colleges work with the Royal College of Art. The two sets of people could work well together and more emphasis on the creative side of engineering could improve the success of products, he said. Aesthetics(美学) is part of it, he told the reporter, adding that Apples iPod was not the first digital media player, nor the only one that worked - but it came to dominate the market because it was nice to have.Sir John said he was not suggesting universities started requiring A-level art from engineering applicants - the key subjects for admission would continue to be maths and the sciences. But an emphasis on creative skills would help broaden the pool and attract more people in. 12. According to the lecture Full Steam Ahead for Growth, _.A. engineers should cooperate with arts majorsB. Accepting the arts could attract more people into engineeringC. engineers should realize arts play the most important part in their work D. engineering and technology is as diverse and creative as before13. By giving the example of Apples iPod, Sir John intends to _.A. stress the importance of arts B. stress the importance of marketingC. stress the importance of communication D. stress the importance of science and technology14. Which of the following is true according to the passage?A. More university students should study arts instead of engineering.B. Engineering and technology is increasingly different and unrelated fields.C. The IETs skills survey raised concerns about the number of recruits to engineering.D. Students from some university engineering departments have already transferred to art schools 15. What is the passage mainly about?A. Lack of creativity makes it difficult for the engineering major to find a satisfactory job.B. The key subjects for engineering majors remain to be maths and the sciences rather than arts.C. University engineering departments should cooperate with art schools to improve the success of products.D. Engineering needs to emphasize its creative side to encourage more young people to choose it as a career.第二节根据短文内容，从短文后的选项中选出能填入空白处的最佳选项。选项中有两项为多余选项。 I have collected some examples that should be an inspiration to anyone who desires to be successful. They show that if you want to succeed you should expect failure along the way. I actually believe that failure can encourage you on and make you try even harder. 16 The Truly successful things wont be beaten, they take responsibility for failure, learn from it and start all over from a stronger position. Walt Disney-one of the greatest business leaders who created the global Disney empire of film studios, theme parks and consumer products didnt start off successful. 17 Believe it or not, Walt was fired from an early job at the Kansas City Star Newspaper because he was not creative enough! In 1922 he started his first company called Laugh-O-Gram. The Kansas based on business would produce cartoons and short advertising films. 18 Walt didnt give up, he packed up, went to Hollywood and started The Walt Disney Company. Bill Gates co-founder and chairman of Microsoft set up a business called Traf-O-Data. The partnership between him, Paul Allen and Paul Gilbert was based on a good idea but a flawed business model that left the company with few customers. 19 However, Bill Gates and Paul Allen took what they learned and avoided those mistakes when they created the Microsoft empire. 20 I hope that these are inspiration and motivation for everyone who aspires to be successful in whatever way they choose. Do you agree or disagree with me?A. So, the one thing successful people never do is: Give up!B. In 1923, the business went bankrupt.C. He was greatly depressed.D. Every experience of failure increases the hunger for success.E. The company ran up losses between 1974 and 1980 before it was closed.F. Many factors may affect your success.G. Before the great success came a number of failures. 第二部分 英语知识运用第一节 完形填空阅读下面短文，从短文后各题所给的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中，选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。Everyone enjoys a fitting reply; it is wonderful to say the right thing at the right time! When I was a senior in high school, I 21 knew I wanted to pursue writing as a career.Writing had basically 22 me when I was only 7 years old, 23 since that time, Id been bombarded by guidance counselors and career planners who all 24 me to have “a back-up plan” in case writing didnt work out.Id never even 25 a different career path, so I was very 26 and worried. After much thought, I decided 27 would be my “back-up plan,” and I signed up for a class throughmy high school.This 28 that every morning, I would serve as a teachers helper for my favorite 6th grade teacher, Mr. Ralston. Morning after morning, I showed up in Mr. Ralstons classroom and 29 papers for him.Sometimes, I even 30 a lesson or two. It was fun, and the students seemed to like me, so I was surprised when it came time for my 31 . Mr. Ralston looked me right in the eyes and asked, “Do you really want to teach?”“Had I really been that 32 ?” I thought.“Dont misunderstand. Youll do fine in teaching,” he continued. “But, is your 33 really in it?”“Not really,” I 34 . “I want to write. I want to write news stories and fiction and poetry and so much morebut Ive been told its tough to make it as a writer 35 I thought maybe I would teach and then use my summers 36 to pursue writing.”As I shared with Mr. Ralston my hopes, dreams and carefully plotted-out back-up plan, he smiled and said, “Why are you preparing to 37 with this back-up plan? If you want to