阅读理解A

来源：个人技术集锦

阅读理解A

1、Throughout the colonial period there was a remarkable shortage of women, which varied with the regions and was always greatest in the frontier areas. This shortage enhanced （提高）women's status and position and allowed them to pursue different careers. The puritans （清教徒） regarded idleness as a sin （罪恶）, and believed that life in an underdevelopment country made it necessary that each member of the community performed an economic function. Thus work for women was not only approved but also was regarded as a civic （公民的） duty. Puritan town councils expected widows and independent women to be self-supporting. There was no social prohibition against married women working; on the contrary, wives were expected to help their husbands in their trade and won social approval for doing extra work in or out of the home.

The vast majority of women worked within their homes, where their labor produced most articles needed for the family. The entire colonial production of cloth and clothing and partly that of shoes was in the hands of women. In addition to these occupations, women were found in many different kinds of employment. They were butchers, silversmiths and gunsmiths. They ran mills, plantations, shipyards, and every kind of shop. They were gatekeepers, jail keepers, journalists, printers, nurses, and teachers.

1）、What does the passage mainly discuss?

A.Colonial marriages.

B.The puritan religion.

C.Colonial women's employment.

D.Education in the colonies.

答案：C

2）、According to the passage, where in colonial North America were there the fewest women?

A.Puritan communities.

B.Seaports.

C.Frontier settlements.

D.Capital cities.

答案：C

3）、It can be inferred from the passage that the Puritans were ______.

A.uneducated

B.hardworking

C.generous

D.wealthy

答案：B

4）、According to the passage, Puritans believed that an unmarried adult woman should be ______.

A.financially responsible for herself

B.returned to England

C.supported by her family

D.trained to be a nurse

答案：A

5）、According to the passage, what did the Puritans expect from married women?

A.They should adopt needy children.

B.They should assist in their husbands' trade or business.

C.They should work only within their own homes.

D.They should be apprenticed.

答案：B

2、\"High tech\" and \"state of the art\" are two expressions that describe very modern technology. High tech is just a shorter way of saying high technology. And high technology describes any invention, system of device that uses the newest ideas or discoveries of science and engineering.

What is high tech? A computer is high tech. So is a communications satellite. A modern manufacturing system is surely high tech.

High tech became a popular expression in the United States during the early 1980's. Because of improvements in technology, people could buy many new kinds of products in American stores, such as home computers, microwave ovens, etc.

\"State of the art\" is something that is as modern as possible. It is a product that is based on the very latest methods and technology. Something that is \"state of the art\" is the newest possible design or product of a business or industry. A state of the art television set, for example, uses the most modern electronic design and parts. It is the best that one can buy.

\"State of the art\" is not a new expression. Engineers have used it for years, to describe the best and most modern way of doing something.

Millions of Americans began to use the expression in the late 1970's. The

reason was the computer revolution. Every computer company claimed that its computers were \"state of the art\".

Computer technology changed so fast that state of the art computer today might be old and out of date tomorrow. The expression \"state of the art\" became as common and popular as computers themselves. Now all kinds of products are said to be \"state of the art\".

1）、What is the purpose of the passage?

A.To give examples of \"state of the art\".

B.To give examples of high tech.

C.To tell what \"high tech\" and \"state of the art\" are.

D.To tell how \"high tech\" and \"state of the art\" have developed.

答案：C

2）、What can we infer from the passage?

A.\"State of the art\" is not as popular as \"high tech\".

B.High tech describes a technology that is not traditional.

C.A wooden plough pulled by oxen is \"state if the art\".

D.American stores could provide new kinds of products to the people.

答案：B

3）、All the following examples are high tech EXCEPT______.

A.a satellite

B.a microwave oven

C.a hand pump

D.a home computer

答案：C

4）、Which of the following statements is NOTtrue?

A.Since the computer revolution, the expression \"state of the become popular.

B.\"State of the art\" means something that is the best one can buy.

C.A state of the art computer may easily become out of date.

D.All kinds of products are real \"state of the art\" nowadays.

art\" has 6

答案：D

5）、The best title for the passage is \"______\".

A.Two New Expressions

B.Computer Technology

C.High Tech in America

D.Most Advanced Technology

答案：A

3、Mel Kiser was driving along a busy highway in Columbus, Ohio. He saw an armored truck（装甲车）and a few cars ahead of him. Suddenly the doors of the armored truck opened，and a blue plastic bag fell out of the truck. A car in front of Mr. Kiser hit the bag. The bag ripped（撕破）and money spilled out. Then another bag fell out of the truck, and another. Money was flying everywhere.

At first, drivers thought the green papers on the highway were leaves. Then they realized that the green papers were not leaves--they were money! Drivers stopped their cars right in the middle of the highway. People jumped out of their cars and began picking up money. They were putting ten, twenty, and one-hundred-dollar bills into their pockets. One man said，\"Money, money, money! It's all free! Grab some while you can!\"

Mr. Kiser also got out of his car. He grabbed a plastic bag of money, put the bag in his car, and drove away.

Later Mr. Kiser counted the money. He had $57, 000. For the next two hours Mr. Kiser thought about the money. He dreamed about spending it. He needed a new furnace（火炉）for his house. He wanted to take a vacation in Florida. But he decided to return the money. He drove to the police station and gave the police the $57, 000.

The armored truck company offered 10 percent reward, so Mr. Kiser got a reward of $5, 700. A few more people returned money and got rewards, but over one million dollars were still missing.

Then a man telephoned the armored truck company and said, \"I was driving along the highway when I saw the money. People were running everywhere. I had a camera in my car and I took some pictures. Would you like the pictures? \"

\"Yes!\" answered the company. The company gave the pictures to the police. The police looked closely at the pictures. They looked at the cars, the license plates, and the people's faces. They tried to find the people who had taken the money, but they didn't have much luck.

One man telephoned a Columbus newspaper. The man did not give his name. \"I took two bags of money,\" he said. \"I'm going to take the money and leave Columbus. I have enough money for the rest of my life. \"

1）、Mel Kiser was driving along a busy highway when he saw_________.

A.a truck hit a blue plastic bag

B.three blue plastic bags fell out of a truck

C.a car hit the truck ahead of him

D.someone was flying money

答案：B

2）、The drivers stopped suddenly in the middle of the highway because _________.

A.there was a traffic accident ahead of them

B.they didn't believe the green papers were money

C.they had grabbed some money

D.they wanted to pick up money

答案：D

3）、Mel Kiser needed a furnace, so probably _________.

A.he was an honest man

B.drivers liked furnaces

C.the weather is sometimes cold in Ohio

D.it was easy to make money in Columbus

答案：C

4）、If a man returned a million dollars to the company, the company would pay him ________ dollars as a reward.

A.one hundred thousand

B.one thousand and one hundred

C.ten thousand and one hundred

D.ten hundred and one thousand

答案：A

5）、The police looked closely at the pictures, but_________.

A.they did not realize that the money was falling from the truck

B.the man who had taken the money did not give his name

C.they did not believe that the man would leave Columbus

D.they did not find the people who had taken the money

答案：D

4、Take any long piece of paper. Now glue（粘）the ends of the paper together. You have made a ring.

Take a second long piece of paper. Twist the paper once and glue the ends together. Now you have made a Mobius band（带子）. For people studying maths, this band is uncommon.

This strange band was first made in the 1800s by a German man named August. Mobius. Mr. Mobius studied maths. He wanted to find a way to show how this band works with maths. Understand it or not, this band has only one surface. You can find this out for yourself.

If you draw a line on the surface of the paper before you twist and glue it, the line is only on one side of the paper. The paper has two surfaces. However, if you draw a line after you make the Mobius band, you can follow the line around all sides of the paper. In other words, the Mobius band must have only one surface.

It is also very interesting to see what happens when you cut the band. If you cut the Mobius band in half once down the line you drew, you do not get two

Mobius bands. Instead, after you cut the band, it turns into one large twisted ring. Then, if you cut this ring in half along the middle of the band again, you get two connected（相连的）Mobius bands.

1）、What is a Mobius band?

A.A long piece of paper.

B.A paper ring for people to wear.

C.A metal ring for music.

D.An interesting twisted ring.

答案：D

2）、Why did August Mobius make this ring?

A.To help study a maths problem.

B.To show it's the same as others.

C.To show the only surface of any band.

D.To find out how many sides it has.

答案：A

3）、How can you change the two surfaces of a long piece of paper into one surface?

A.Glue the ends of the long piece of paper.

B.Cut the two surfaces of the paper into one.

C.Draw a line in the middle of the paper.

D.Twist the paper once and glue the two ends.

答案：D

4）、What do you get if you cut the Mobius band along the middle?

A.A long piece of paper.

B.Two long pieces of paper.

C.Two Mobius bands.

D.One large twisted ring.

答案：D

5）、Which of the following is NOT true?

A.You can use any long piece of paper to make a Mobius band.

B.Any long piece of paper has two surfaces.

C.The Mobius band was first made about two hundred years ago.

D.You have to draw a line in the middle of the long piece of paper before making a Mobius band.

答案：D

5、Many countries face a somewhat more serious economic problem in the form of an unfavorable trade balance with other nations. Such an imbalance exists when the total value of a country's imports exceeds that of its exports. For example, if a country buys $25 billion of products from other countries, yet sells only $10 billion of its own products overseas, its trade deficit（贸易逆差） is $15 billion. Many underdeveloped nations find themselves in this position because they lack natural resources or the industrial capacity to use these resources, and thus have to import raw materials or manufactured goods.

One effect of a trade deficit is the flow of currency out of a country. In the case of an underdeveloped nation, this can cause many financial difficulties, including failure to meet debt payments and obstacles to creation of an industrial base. Even in the case of a fully developed nation such as the United States, a large trade deficit is a reason for alarm. American products, made by well-paid workers in U.S. industries, cost more to produce than those made in places like

Asia, where labor and material costs are much lower. Money spent on foreign products is money not spent on items produced by domestic industries.

1）、What does the passage mainly discuss?

A.Some worldwide economic problems.

B.The cause and consequences of trade deficit.

C.Lack of resources in underdeveloped countries.

D.High labor and material costs in developed countries.

答案：B

2）、According to the passage, a trade imbalance occurs when ______.

A.a country is facing serious financial problems

B.a country buys more from other countries than it sells overseas

C.the value of a country's exports is greater than that of its imports

D.products imported are more expensive than those exported

答案：B

3）、Many underdeveloped countries have trade deficits because ______.

A.they failed to meet debt payments

B.they export most of their natural resources to other countries

C.they borrow too much money from other countries

D.they have to import most of their manufactured products

答案：D

4）、Which of the following is NOT mentioned as a possible cause of a trade imbalance?

A.The flow of currency of the country.

B.Low labor and material costs in Asian countries.

C.Lack of natural resources.

D.Lack of the industrial capacity to use the resources.

答案：A

5）、It can be inferred from this passage that American industries ______.

A.do not pay their workers sufficiently

B.are hurt by a trade imbalance

C.imported labor and material from abroad

D.are able to prevent a trade deficit

答案：B

6、What is your favorite colour? Do you like yellow, orange, red? If you do, you must be an optimist, a leader, an active person who enjoys life, people and excitement. Do you prefer greys and blues? Then you are probably quiet, shy, and you would rather follow than lead. You tend to be a pessimist. At least, this is what psychologists tell us, and they should know, because they have been seriously studying the meaning of colours preference, as well as the effect that colours have on human beings. They tell us, among other facts, that we do not choose our favourite clour as we grow up ---- we are born with our preference. If you happen to love brown, you did so, as soon as you opened your eyes, or at least as soon as you could see clearly.

Colours do influence our moods－there is no doubt about it. A yellow room makes most people feel more cheerful and more relaxed than a dark green one; and a red dress brings warmth and cheer to the saddest winter day. On the other hand, black is depressing. A black bridge over the Thames River, near London, used to be the scene of more suicides than any other bridge in the area ---- until

it was repainted green. The number of suicide attempts immediately fell sharply; perhaps it would have fallen even more if the bridge had been done in pink or baby blue.

Light and bright colours make people not only happier but more active. It is an established fact that factory workers work better, harder, and have fewer accidents when their machines are painted orange rather than black or grey.

1）、“You would rather follow than lead” means_______.

A.you don't like to follow others

B.you would be a member rather than a leader

C.you would be afraid of following others

D.you would like to be a leader rather than a follower

答案：B

2）、If one enjoys life, one is sure to prefer________.

A.red to yellow

B.blue to orange

C.red to grey

D.blue to yellow

答案：C

3）、“They tell us, among other facts, that we don't choose our favorite colours as we grow up.” “Among other facts” means ______.

A.besides other facts

B.in regard to other facts

C.not considering other facts

D.according to other facts

答案：A

4）、Which of the following statements is true according to the text? ______

A.People's preference of one colour to another is instinct.

B.People's preference of one colour to another is acquired as they grow up.

C.More people happen to love brown because they saw something brown when they were born.

D.Colours have little influence on our moods.

答案：A

5）、Those who committed suicide preferred the bridge over the Thames River near London to others because of _______.

A.its shape

B.its structure

C.its colour

D.its building materials

答案：C

7、Most people have had a dog or wanted one as their companion at some time in their lives. If you are thinking of buying a dog, however, you should first decide what sort of companion you need and whether the dog is likely to be happy in the surroundings you can provide. Specialists' advice is useful to help you choose the most suitable kind of dog. But in part the decision depends on common sense.

Different dogs were originally developed to perform specific tasks. So, if you want a dog to protect you or your house, for example, you should choose the one that has the right size and characteristics. You must also be ready to devote a great deal of time to training the dog when it is young and give it the exercise it needs throughout its life, unless you live in the countryside and can let it run

freely. Dogs are demanding pets. Cats love the house and so are satisfactory with their place where there is security, but a dog is loyal to its master and consequently wants him to show proof of his affection.

The best time to buy a baby dog is when it is between 6 and 8 weeks old so that it can transfer its love for its mother to its master. If baby dogs have not established a relationship with the human being until they are over three months old, their strong relationship will always be with dogs. They are likely to be too shy when they are brought out into the world to become good pets.

1）、Which of the following statement is FALSE according to the passage?

A.You can always get help from the specialists.

B.The common sense is the most important when choosing a dog.

C.Size and characteristics of the dogs should be considered.

D.You should decide what kind of dog you want.

答案：B

2）、What is mentioned as a consideration in buying a dog?

A.The color of the dog.

B.The price of the dog.

C.Whether the dog will fit the environment.

D.Whether the dog will get along with the other pets in the house.

答案：C

3）、Why does the writer say a dog is a more demanding pet than a cat?

A.It must be trained so that it won't bite.

B.It must be looked after carefully.

C.It needs more love and care.

D.It demands more food and space.

答案：C

4）、Why is it advised to buy a baby dog under three months old?

A.It's easier to buy a baby dog under three months old.

B.They are less likely to be shy with human beings.

C.They are less likely to run away.

D.It's easier for them to form a relationship with their masters.

答案：D

5）、The word “affection”(in paragraph 2) means ______.

A.love

B.effect

C.draw

D.connection

答案：A

8、“You’re trying to control my life,” says my nine-year-old son. “I don’t know why you think you can do that, but you can’t.” I received this bit of information after I asked Gabriele to put his dirty socks in the basket. And I get no sympathy from my mother, who says,“You let him have his way from the beginning.”

It’s true. I have always asked Gabriele’s opinion, found out how he felt about things - treated him as my peer, not my child. And what have I got from my troubles? A lot of back talk. At least I’m not alone; it’s a complaint heard among parents across the country.

It’s not just that we’re confused by the contradictory advice offered in parenting books. The fact is, in an effort to break away from how we were raised -

to try something more liberal than our parents’ “do it because I say so”approach - our generationhas gone too far. “Today’s parents want to be young, so they try to be friends with their children,”says Kathy Lynn, a parenting educator.

“When it comes to discipline, our society has gone from one extreme to the other,”says Ron Moorish, a behavior specialist. “We used to use the strap, to intimidate. Then we had permissiveness, and now it’s about giving children choices and allowing them to learn from their own experiences.”

Real discipline, says Moorish, is about teaching. “By correcting our children when they do something wrong, we teach them how to behave properly,”he says. But this only works, he emphasizes, if parents regain their position of authority. Children will always be children. The key is for parents to choose to take the time to guide and teach their kids.

Rita Munday, a mother of four children, couldn’t believe the dramas that played out in the children’s shoe store she operated. She often saw children insist on having the high-priced, brand-name shoes. And even when the mother didn’t want to spend the money, she would give in when the kid started acting up and throwing shoes around.

Rhonda Radice, Munday’s younger colleague, is one parent who has bucked the trend and is proud of it. “I don’t negotiate with them. You can’t. I’ve seen parents come into the store and bribe their children to behave. You shouldn’t have to buy love and respect.”

1）、The author’s way of treating her son ____________.

A.is shared by many parents

B.is encouraged by her mother

C.proves to be quite successful

D.shows little concern for the child

答案：A

2）、It can be inferred from the passage that __________.

A.parents should learn to make friends with their children

B.parents need to follow the advice of parenting books

C.today’s children enjoy more freedom than the previous generation

D.today’s parents are better at raising children than the previous generation

答案：C

3）、According to the passage, to have “discipline”means that parents should ___________.

A.adopt the “do it because I say so”approach

B.teach their children to understand the rules

C.negotiate with their children for a decision

D.never allow their children to have their ways

答案：B

4）、If Ronda Radice is the parent who has “bucked the trend”, which of the following can also be cited as the example for “bucking the trend”?

A.Parents buy whatever their children want.

B.Parents treat their children as their equals.

C.Parents make decisions for their children.

D.Parents maintain authority over their children.

答案：D

5）、The main point of the passage is to __________.

A.compare different ways of raising children

B.analyze the problems faced by today’s parents

C.explain the importance of understanding children

D.point out the mistakes made by the older generation

答案：B

9、In America, during the meal, you'd better be careful not to leave a spoon in a soup bowl or coffee cup or any other dish. The coffee spoon ought to be on the saucer, the soup spoon ought to be on the plate under the bowl. When you are having soup, make the least noises and use the side of your spoon inside out this way, not the tip. And you mustn't pick up your soup bowls so as to drink away the last drops of your soup from the bottom of the bowl.

Very often there is only one main course and salad, followed by your sweet. If you find the meal not enough, say \"Oh, it's delicious!\" and ask for some more of the chicken or steak or whatever you have just had. The hostess will be very glad that you appreciate her cooking and will give you an extra portion. But if you observe the Chinese way of being polite and say \"No, thank you\" when the hostess offers you more, you will most probably starve later, because Americans will never press food on you. Yet it is not polite to keep silent and not to talk with the person next to you. It would be considered good manners if you handle your silverware with care so that they don't make any noise. When coffee comes, drink it from your cup. The coffee spoon should rest on the saucer while you are drinking. And smoking, of course, is rarely seen at a dinner table. Well, when the

meal is finished, the guests put their napkins on the table and stand up, the men again helping the ladies with their chairs.

After the dinner, the guests usually stay for an hour or two, then they would say, \"Well, I'm afraid I must be going now.\" The host and hostess would of course urge everyone to stay longer. \"What, already? Won't you have another coffee?\" The guests, for instance, would say, \"I'd love to, but I have to be up early tomorrow morning. Thank you for a most enjoyable evening. Good-night.\"

And if you stay overnight or over the weekend, it will be courteous to send a thank-you note to the host or hostess the following day, very often with a small gift such as a box of chocolate or some flowers as a token of appreciation of their hospitality.

1）、Which of the following would be the best title of the passage?

A.How to Prepare for a Meal.

B.Never Press Food on Your Guest.

C.Table Manners in the U.S.A.

D.How to Enjoy a Dinner.

答案：C

2）、The passage suggests that ______.

A.to make the hostess happy you should ask for more food even if you are full

B.you should keep silent at a dinner table in order to be polite

C.if you want to be friendly with the person next to you, you should press food on him

D.talking is necessary at a dinner table

答案：D

3）、At a dinner table, you do all of the following except ______.

A.making the least noise possible

B.picking up your soup bowl to drink away the last drop

C.handling your silverware with care

D.drinking the coffee from your cup

答案：B

4）、What does \"courteous\" in the last paragraph mean?

A.Friendly.

B.Generous.

C.Polite.

D.Noble.

答案：C

5）、The passage implies that ______.

A.different nations have different customs

B.Chinese customs are quite similar to American ones

C.both Chinese and Americans have soup before the main course

D.if you are polite, the hostess will press more food on you

答案：A

10、One of my favorite places when I lived in Tokyo was the sushi bar in my neighborhood. I'd take a seat, and the chef would prepare fish fresh from the market in central Tokyo. I liked sushi before I moved to Japan; now I love it.

I'm hardly alone, which is bad news for the world's oceans. Partly because more and more sushi is demanded, we're fast fishing out our seas. Some researchers estimate that if we don't change the way we harvest the oceans, all

the commercial fisheries (捕鱼业) in the world could disappear as early as 2048. That could mean no more fish to buy in your local supermarket.

Fortunately, scientists are looking for ways to fish sustainably (可持续地). One method is a quota system that sets a limited amount to every fisherman or corporation who wants a share of the total catch for certain sea area. These catch shares get rid of the possibility to overfish. A recent study in Science found that the system can prevent fishery from dying and even make it better over time. \"It's truly a win-win situation,\" says Steven Gaines, a marine biologist at the University of California at Santa Barbara and one of the study's co-authors.

Consumers also can help save the seas through the fish they buy. California's Monterey Bay Aquarium Institute is coming out with pocket guides to sustainable sushi. The researchers base their ratings on the health of a wild fish's population as well as the impacts of fish-farming operations. Oysters, for example, grow fast and can be farmed sustainably, but salmon can't. The researchers also take fishing practices into consideration: catching big-eye tuna (金枪鱼) can cause its nearby fish to die, which certainly no one wants to see. It is hoped that, by making the right choice, consumers can encourage businesses to fish in a more sustainable way.

1）、The author loved _____ when he lived in Tokyo.

A.playing football

B.eating sea food

C.singing and dancing

D.reading newspapers

答案：B

2）、If we continue to fish in this way, ______.

A.the fisheries could make a lot of money

B.more and more sushi would be demanded

C.there could be no fish in the oceans

D.the supermarkets could disappear

答案：C

3）、The “quota system” is a system which ______.

A.sets a limited amount to fishermen or companies

B.enables everyone to fish as much as possible

C.prevents fishery from getting better over time

D.is not a way to guarantee sustainable fishing

答案：A

4）、According to the last paragraph, the researchers base their ratings on _____ aspects.

A.one

B.two

C.three

D.four

答案：B

5）、The example of catching big-eye tuna is to prove that _____.

A.the quota system is a win-win situation

B.the pocket guides are helpful to sustainable sushi

C.the health of a wild fish's population is important

D.the researchers base the ratings on fishing practice

答案：D

11、Regular child care provided outside home or by someone other than the mother does not in itself undermine healthy emotional connections between mothers and their 15-month-old infants, according to a long-term national study. The finding holds even if care begins during the first 3 months after birth and runs for 30 hours or more per week.

Among infants who receive unkind and unresponsive care from their mothers, however, the mother-child relationship may be damaged. \"This research helps us put apart complexities regarding child care that have not previously been studied in detail,\" contends Jay Belsky, a psychologist.

The investigation consists of 1,153 children and their families living in or near Boston. The youngsters, no more than 1 month old when they entered the study in 1991, will be tracked until the age of 7. Experimenters administered questionnaires to mothers in their homes and videotaped baby caretakers interacting with the kids at ages 1, 6 and 15 months. Independent observers rated the quality of each child care efforts and noted infant nervousness. Unlike most previous studies, this one allows researchers to observe each caretaker's personality at child nursing, and kids' emotional reactions by the equipment.

1）、From the first paragraph we know that ______.

A.mother care is the best according to a national study

B.child care outside home is the best in accordance with the study

C.regular child care outside home does not in itself do harm to mother-child relationship

D.connections between mothers and infants are damaged by outside care

答案：C

2）、According to the passage, unresponsive care from a mother may ______.

A.ruin a kid's growth

B.harm the mother-child tie

C.hurt a baby's emotional reaction

D.spoil a child's personality

答案：B

3）、Jay Belsky implies that the study of child care ______.

A.was never carried out in the past

B.was not done much in detail in the past

C.was greatly ignored by psychologists and researchers

D.was interesting but very difficult to make discovery

答案：B

4）、The main difference between the investigation and the previous ones is that ______.

A.the researchers started with only one month old infants

B.the observers could rate the quality of child care efforts and analyzed them soon

C.the researchers were able to give the questionnaires to mothers in their homes

D.video equipment enabled researchers to observe what was happening directly

答案：D

5）、Which of the following is NOT TRUE of the investigation?

A.It will last at least 7 years.

B.Cooperation from the mothers is also necessary.

C.Some independent observers play a part.

D.Researchers paid site visits to see a caretaker's personality and kids' emotional reactions.

答案：D

12、There’s a great story about an old Finnish woman who, without quite realizing it, was using her cell-phone to access the Internet and track her city’s public transit system. When asked why she used the wireless Internet so frequently, she replied, “What are you talking about? I don’t know anything about this wireless Internet stuff. I just know the bus is here.”

Regardless of whether you want to admit it, a lot of us are like that old Finnish woman. When it comes to new mobile applications, many of us do not realize the capability and power that we hold, literally, in our hands.

What we are looking at today is the mobile Internet in its infancy. Now that using the Internet from home or work has saturated much of society, the next logical step is to be able to use the Net when you are far away from your desktop or laptop. Speech recognition is one way to do this, and there are a number of services, collectively called the “voice Web”, that will make this possible. All you do is to use a phone or wireless device to call a phone number, and speak commands to an intuitive system. It will then give you the information you’re seeking, using either a synthesized voice or an audio file.

In the United States and Europe, the hot technology for wireless devices is called WAP (Wireless Application Protocol), which is being considered as the

world standard. WAP is supported by major phone companies including Nokia, Motorola and Ericsson, and is simply a means of transmitting information, much like HTML which is a means of communicating on the Internet.

Currently, wireless Internet connections may give you news, sports scores, stock quotes, and the weather if you’re lucky. But if you’ve ever used this technology, you know it’s slow, costly and doesn’t seem worth the time and effort, if it works at all. All of this technology points to easier living. Perhaps you’ll need to find a restaurant for an occasional business meeting. You’ll press a button on your mobile phone, and access the Internet to pull up a list of great restaurants in your immediate area. You’ll hit another button, say a few words into the handset and you’ve got a reservation for four.

1）、The author uses the story of an old Finnish woman to indicate that __________.

A.she is ignorant of some common knowledge

B.public transit system contains the accessory to Internet

C.many people are unaware of the function of the new appliances being used

D.the Internet is experiencing rapid growth

答案：C

2）、The word “saturate”(Para. 3) most probably means _________.

A.state

B.utilize

C.despise

D.fill

答案：D

3）、According to the text, WAP is a __________.

A.technology standard set by major phone companies

B.substitution of HTML which can be applied on the Internet

C.means of exchanging information

D.software application for transmitting voice over telephone lines

答案：C

4）、We can infer from the passage that the mobile Internet is different from the previous Internet in that the former __________.

A.can be accessed by desktop computers

B.has no need for wire appliances

C.can be used to book a table in a restaurant

D.is equipped with speech recognition systems

答案：B

5）、What is the attitude of the author towards the future of mobile Internet?

A.Indifferent

B.Neutral

C.Optimistic

D.Pessimistic

答案：C

13、After a long period of studies, scientists are uncovering surprising new findings about dolphins. They believe that dolphins do \"talk\" to each other, whistling \"names\" among themselves and others in their group. They help one another when in trouble. Like bats, they use sound waves to \"see\". Because of these and many other findings, many scientists now place dolphins among the cleverest animals on earth.

Dolphins love to mimic. If we swim on our backs, they do too. If we dive, they follow. Once a trainer blew a puff of cigarette smoke against the window of an observation tank, a young dolphin suddenly swam to its mother, nursed a moment, and spit out a cloud of milk. It is even more surprising that dolphins are able to understand sign language. One of Herman's dolphins has mastered more than 50 sign words. For example, it understands the difference between \"bring the surfboard to the person\" and \"bring the person to the surfboard.\"

Scientists are learning how dolphins \"speak\" to each other. \"Each dolphin,\" says Peter Gyack \"has its own 'signature' whistle.\" Dolphin can also mimic the signature of others.

Dolphins help one another. When birth-giving takes place, females gather to keep off sharks. Later, while the mother looks for food, they take care of the young dolphin, swimming in a circle.

Dolphins reach out to us in astonishing ways. What would the world be like without them?

1）、To the best of our knowledge, dolphins are ______.

A.surprising fish

B.interesting animals

C.intelligent mammals

D.man's friends

答案：C

2）、In the second paragraph, “nursed” means ______.

A.brought the mother something to eat

B.sucked milk from the mother dolphin

C.asked to be taken care of

D.gave some milk to her

答案：B

3）、What was the young dolphin doing when it suddenly spit out a cloud of milk? It was ______.

A.having a little fun

B.diving into the deep sea

C.playing \"smoking\"

D.copying \"smoking\"

答案：D

4）、Which of the following do you think is more reasonable?

A.We are still in the early stage of learning about these animals.

B.We have little difficulty in understanding dolphins.

C.Man will be able to talk freely to dolphins in the near future.

D.Sign language is the only way to make dolphins understand us.

答案：A

5）、What's the purpose of female dolphins' swimming in a circle?

A.The young dolphin needs friends to play with.

B.The young dolphin can play safely inside.

C.The mother will help them to learn swimming in a circle.

D.The mother will be free to meet the father.

答案：B

14、What makes one person more intelligent than another? What makes one

person a genius, like the brilliant Albert Einstein, and another person a fool? Are people born intelligent or stupid, or is intelligence the result of where and how you live? These are very old questions and the answers to them are still not clear.

We know, however, that just being born with a good mind is not enough. In some ways, the mind is like a leg or an arm muscle. It needs exercise. Mental (done with the mind) exercise is particularly important for young children. Many child psychologists think that parents should play with their children more often, and give them problems to think about. The children are then more likely to grow up bright and intelligent. If, on the other hand, children are left alone a great deal with nothing to do, they are more likely to become dull and unintelligent.

Parents should also be careful what they say to young children. According to some psychologists, if parents are always telling a child that he or she is a fool or an idiot, then the child is more likely to keep doing silly and foolish things. So it is probably better for parents to say very positive things to their children, such as \"That was a very clever thing you did\" or \"You are such a smart child\".

1）、The questions in the first paragraph are raised to _____.

A.introduce the topic of what makes a clever mind

B.compare Albert Einstein with ordinary people

C.summarise the characters of an intelligent person

D.prove that there are no answers to these questions

答案：A

2）、According to the context we can guess that a genius is ______ while an idiot is ______.

A.a normal person...a funny person

B.a strong person...a weak person

C.a highly intelligent person...a foolish or weak-minded person

D.a famous person...an ordinary person

答案：C

3）、A person ______ is more likely to become a genius.

A.whose parents are clever

B.who often thinks about difficult problems

C.who is often helped by his parents and teachers

D.who is born with a good brain and putting it to active use

答案：D

4）、It is better for parents ______.

A.to praise and encourage their children more often

B.to be hard on their children

C.to leave their children alone with nothing to do

D.to give their children as much help as possible

答案：A

5）、Which of the following is NOT true according to the article?

A.Parents play an important part in their children's growth.

B.The less you use your mind the duller you may become.

C.Intelligence is obviously the result of where and how you live.

D.Parents should always encourage their children.

答案：C

15、I shall never forget one showing which was really a challenge. I was busy getting ready to show my winter fashions. Then just a few days before the presentation, the sewing girls were called out on strike. I found myself left with

one tailor and the woman who was in charge of the sewing room! I was as gloomy as my models and sales girls. \"We will never make it,\" one of them cried.

Where was the way out this time? I wondered and worried. I could not help thinking of the day when my father had brought me to the highest spot not far from our home. I was only ten years old. \"Look down, my dear daughter,\" Father said. I gathered all my courage and looked down. I saw the square in the center of our little town and I saw the crisscross（十字型） of twisting streets leading to the square. \"See, my dear,\" Father said, \"There is more than one way to the square. Life is like that. If you can't get to the place where you want to go by one road, try another.\"

What would be another road this time? I was almost certain we would have to call off the presentation - or else show the clothes unfinished. Then it dawned on me. Why not show the clothes unfinished?

We worked at fever pitch（程度）, and exactly right on time, the show took place.

What a show it was! Some coats had no sleeves; other had only one. Many of our clothes were still in an early stage. They were only patterns made of heavy cotton cloth. But on these we pinned sketches and pieces of material. In this way we were able to show what colors and textures the clothes would have when they were finished.

All in all, the showing was different. It was so different that it was a great

success. Our unusual showing caught the attention of the public, and orders for the clothes poured in. Father's wise words had guided me once again. There is more than one way to the square and always so!

1）、The writer was busy preparing a show of ______.

A.clothing

B.presentation

C.winter scene

D.challenge

答案：A

2）、The writer found herself left almost on her own because all her girls were ______.

A.busy sewing

B.on strike

C.on holidays

D.tired of working

答案：B

3）、When the writer was only a young girl, her father took her to the highest spot to ______.

A.show her the center of the square

B.show her the danger of the place

C.show her the ways to the square

D.make her familiar with the city

答案：C

4）、The writer decided ______.

A.not to give up the show

B.to postpone the show

C.to call off the presentation

D.to buy some new clothes

答案：A

5）、When the show was held, it turned out to be ______.

A.only patterns made of heavy cotton clothes

B.pinned sketches and pieces of material

C.a big failure for the clothes were not finished

D.a success because it was so different

答案：D

16、Halloween (October 31) is a holiday widely celebrated with different names in many countries. Although it originated as a religious holiday, it has lost its religious connections in the United States. It is now celebrated largely as a children's day, and many American children look forward to it for days and weeks beforehand.

The orange pumpkin is harvested at this time of year and is hollowed out, a funny face cut into it, and a candle placed inside as decorations in the window. City folks, nowadays, sometimes use paper pumpkins for decorations. Some years ago, the holiday was celebrated by dressing up in strange and frightening costumes and playing tricks on one's neighbors and friends, such as ringing door bells, throwing bits of corn on the window panes, and in other ways making minor disturbances. More recently, children come to the door to have friends and neighbors admire their costumes and guess who they are behind the false faces and receive treats of candy, fruit or cookies. They say, \"Trick or Treat\

will play a trick on you if you do not give me a treat.\"

This practice has even more recently developed into a significant international activity. Instead of or along with candy, the children collect money for UNICEF (United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund). This special collection of money by children for needy children throughout the world is known as \"UNICEF Trick or Treat\". Begun only recently, it results in several million dollars each year contributed to UNICEF. The collection box is orange, reminiscent of the pumpkin.

1）、What does Halloween originate from?

A.A children's day.

B.A children's trick.

C.A religious day.

D.A UNICEF day.

答案：C

2）、What is the symbol of Halloween?

A.Pumpkin

B.Candle

C.Costumes

D.Money

答案：A

3）、The holiday was celebrated in the following ways some years ago EXCEPT ______.

A.putting on strange and frightening costumes

B.receiving treats of candy, fruit or cookies

C.playing tricks on one's neighbors and friends

D.ringing door bells

答案：B

4）、Why do children collect money in the Halloween?

A.They love money.

B.They want to get enough money to buy themselves candy.

C.The adults are willing to give them money.

D.They want to help other children.

答案：D

5）、The collection box is dyed orange because ______.

A.children love orange

B.orange stands for happiness

C.orange is the color of pumpkins

D.orange is loved by adults

答案：C

17、Remember global warming? Back in December, the threat of climate change was thundering and the rich countries agreed to cut their carbon-dioxide and other green-house-related emissions. Since then, interest has cooled markedly, and many European countries are already running away from the promises they made so loudly a few months ago. But there has been much talk, and a bit of action, to encourage renewable energies such as wind, hydro, solar and all living organisms. These emit no greenhouse gases, but tend to cost more than coal, oil or gas.

The better, simpler idea is to remember that the easiest way to reduce something is to tax it - in this case, by taxing the carbon content power. The

dirtier the power, the more tax it would pay. So dirty coal would be more expensive than clean coal, which would see its price rise in relation to oil, which would be more expensive compared with gas, which would lose some of its price advantage over renewables.

Unless a carbon tax was so huge as to be economically crippling, it would not remove the price differential between all renewables and fossil fuels. But it would narrow that gap, by fixing the differing environmental costs into the price - a useful principle in itself. It would also give renewable producers a strong incentive to cut costs, and fossil-fuel suppliers the motivation to clean their products.

Precedents suggest strongly that a carbon tax would be effective. But the disadvantage to carbon tax is political. After almost a decade of trying, the European Union gave up an attempt at a European carbon tax last year. Germany’s ruling coalition is fighting against a proposed energy tax. In America, politicians believe that even mentioning the notion is certain death. But many of the political objections could be met if a carbon tax were made up for the loss elsewhere, for example by lowering payroll or sales taxes. There is always suspicion when governments come up with clever new ways to tax, and rightly so. The response to that suspicion should be to win the argument, not to abandon it.

1）、According to the passage, the easiest way to remove global warming is ___________.

A.to encourage people to use renewable energies

B.to cut down the cost of wind, hydro, solar and all living organisms

C.to force people to pay more tax for the carbon content of power

D.to talk less but act more

答案：C

2）、The standard of paying tax was _________.

A.that the more carbon content of power it contained, the higher tax one would pay

B.that oil would be more expensive than clean coal

C.that renewables would be most expensive of all

D.in the order that renewables are the most expensive while clean coal the cheapest

答案：A

3）、We can infer from the passage that carbon tax ___________.

A.may not be as effective as people expect

B.has encouraged renewable producers to cut costs

C.has reduced consumption of the carbon content energy successfully

D.couldn’t be that effective if fossil fuels would not be forbidden

答案：A

4）、The word “crippling”(Para. 3) most probably means _________.

A.greatly increasing

B.seriously weakening

C.sharply declining

D.abruptly halting

答案：B

5）、The reason why many countries stopped introducing carbon tax eventually was mainly that ___________.

A.governments had tried to put it into effect for many years but with no obvious result

B.if one country made up the loss by paying the carbon tax, other countries would follow it

C.governments were afraid of being suspected if they adopted the new tax

D.governments had been discussing what to do with carbon tax for a long time, but they hadn’t come to an agreement

答案：C

因篇幅问题不能全部显示，请点此查看更多更全内容

查看全文

全部栏目

阅读理解A