阅读理解练与析
中学英语教学资源网 → 英语论文 → 阅读专题指导 手机版




作者：艾群
Without most people realizing it, there has been a revolution in office work over the last ten years. Before that time, large computers were only used by large rich companies that could afford the investment. With the advancement of technology, small computers have come on to the market which are capable of doing the work which used to be done by much larger and more expensive computers, so now most smaller companies can use them.
The main development in small computers has been in the field of word processors, or WPS as they are often called. 40% of British offices are now estimated(估计) to have a word processor and this percentage is growing fast.
There are many advantages in using a word processor for both secretary and manager. The secretary is freed from a lot of daily work, such as re-typing letters and storing papers. He or she can use this time to do other more interesting work for the boss. From a manager's point of view, secretarial time is being made better use of and money can be saved by doing daily jobs automatically outside office hours.
But is it all good? If a lot of daily secretarial work can be done automatically, surely this will mean that fewer secretaries will be needed. Another worry is the increasing medical problems related to work with visual display units(显示器). The case of a slow loss of sight among people using word processors seems to have risen greatly. It is also feared that if a pregnant woman works at a VDU for long hours, an unborn child in her body might be killed. Safety screens to put over a VDU have been invented but few companies in England bother to buy them.
Whatever the arguments for and against word processors, they are a key feature of this revolution in office practice.
1. Ten years ago, large computers were only used by large companies because ________ .
A. small companies did not have enough money to buy such expensive computers
B. large computers could not do the work that small companies can do today
C. large computers did not come on to the market
D. small companies did not need to use this new technology
2. According to the writer, the main progress made in office work over the last ten years is ________ .
A. the saving of time and money
B. the use of computers in big companies
C. the wide use of word processors
D. the decreasing number of secretaries
3. We can infer from the passage that with the use of word processors ________ .
A. some secretaries will lose their jobs
B. daily jobs can be done automatically outside office hours
C. medical problems related to work with a VDU have increased
D. the British companies will make less money
[答案与解析]
1. A。第一段第一、二句即本题答案出处。 2. C。第二段即本题答案出处。 3. A。第四段第二句即本题答案出处。


A
It is hard to believe that a fish less than 30 centimeters long can be dangerous to people and to other sea animals. Yet the piranha(水虎鱼)swims in the dark waters of South America, ready to bite whenever it is hungry.
Many fish eat plants, but the piranha is one of a small group that eats meat. With its sharp teeth and strong jaws, the piranha most often kills other fish. Sometimes, however, it attacks people.
A person will not die from a single bite, but the blood from the wound attracts other piranhas. Soon a school of as many as a thousand fish gather by the victim. They all begin to bite. In minutes, only a skeleton(骨架)is left.
Perhaps the strangest thing about piranhas is that they are not always dangerous. People may safely swim near them in one river, while in another river only a few miles away, may be attacked.
Until several years ago, you could buy piranhas in the United States pet stores. Now there is a law against bringing piranhas into the country to sell them. Many people were afraid that the fish might get loose in lakes or streams.
1. The underlined word "school" probably means "________".
A. a place to learn knowledge B. a large group
C. a long river D. small pupils
2. Why is there a law against bringing piranhas into the United States?
A. Because there are enough piranhas in lakes already.
B. Because piranhas are not safe to eat.
C. Because piranhas die too easily.
D. Because piranhas might get loose and attack swimmers.
3. What is the main idea of the passage?
A. Piranhas make good pets.
B. Piranhas are 30 centimeters long.
C. Piranhas swim in South American waters.
D. Piranhas can be dangerous.
B
One kind of letter most people enjoy writing is the letter of thanks or appreciation. It's pleasant to say "thank you" to someone who has been generous or thoughtful.
Every gift, however trifling, should be acknowledged(表示感谢)with a note of thanks. Every favor or courtesy(礼貌)- every kindness or attention on the part of a neighbor or friend - every expression of hospitality- certainly every letter of condolence(吊唁)or congratulation - deserves sincere and gracious(有礼貌的)acknowledgement.
It doesn't matter if you have already expressed your appreciation in person; a letter must still be written. It can be as brief and simple as you like, but it should express your appreciation with sincerity and warmth. Remember that half the joy of giving is the anticipation(预料)of receiving pleased acknowledgement, and surely the person who has been thoughtful or generous toward you deserves that satisfaction!
4. The underlined word "trifling" probably means "________".
A. of little value B. important
C. valuable D. precious
5. Which of the following statements is TRUE?
A. We need not write a letter of thanks if we have already said "thank you" personally.
B. Usually no replies are written to letters of condolence.
C. Our letters of thanks may be short, but we should be sincere.
D. We should not, however, expect letters of thanks for what we give.
[答案与解析]
1. B。从第三段的上下文中可猜测出school的词义:水虎鱼咬一口不会丧命,但伤口处流出来的血会把其它的水虎鱼吸引过来,很快,多达上千条的水虎鱼聚集到受害者身旁。
2. D。短文最后一段即本题答案出处。
3. D。本文主要讲述了水虎鱼的危险性,它对人的生命构成了威胁。
4. A。如果一份礼物很"重要、有价值、珍贵",收礼者自然会表示感谢。由Every gift, however可猜测得出,此句表达的意思是:每一份礼物,不管是多么不值钱的(微不足道的),都应该写信表示感谢。
5. C。第二段第二句和第三段前两句即本题答案出处。
A
What can you do if you "lose" the data(数据)from your disks(硬盘)? To find an expert, who can recover the lost information for you, is probably the easiest solution. Jack Olson is one of these experts. Jack and a few of his friends set up a company called "Jack's Disk Doctor Service". They work from home and give all the money they earn to charity(慈善团体). The fees are always the same, no matter how precious the data on the disk is. Some people, however, are so grateful that they send extra money to Jack or to the charities his company supports. One oil company offered him $2,000 for his help and an architect even sent him a blank check.
It would be difficult to put a value on the things rescued by the Disk Doctor. There have been disks which contain medical research, television scripts, manuscripts of whole books, a lawyer's papers for a court case, and even Margaret Thatcher's travel plan for a visit to eastern Europe. For this last case, Jack had to go in person to Thatcher's office "for security reasons"!
Disks are usually sent to the Disk Doctor by post, but sometimes people are in such a hurry that they cannot wait for the mail to come. For example, some radio scripts had to be rushed by taxi to Jack's house because they were needed for broadcasting the next day. When the material has been recovered, the disk is returned to the sender with a diagnosis(诊断)and a prescription for avoiding the problem in the future. One grateful client(顾客), and author, put a "thank you" to Jack in the front of his book, "Jack saved me from a heart attack," he wrote. "But," says Jack, "most people don't take any notice of the doctor's advice!"
1. Why did the architect send Jack a blank check?
A. The architect did not have any money.
B. The architect did it for security reasons.
C. The architect always followed the doctor's advice.
D. The architect thought Jack's service was priceless.
2. What does the underlined word "rescued" mean?
A. Recovered. B. Prescribed.
C. Examined. D. Lost.
3. Which of the following statements is NOT true?
A. Jack's Disk Doctor Service has only one standard fee.
B. Jack and his company have made a fortune from their service.
C. Margaret Thatcher is a very important person.
D. Jack's clients are from all walks of life.
B
The earliest immigrants(移民) to North America found the Indians already living there. The Indians numbered about 500,000 at that time. Their society was a primitive society(原始社会), but they lived peacefully and welcomed the white strangers to the land. However, these early immigrants from Europe didn't want to share the land with the natives. They killed many of the Indians, seized their land or pushed them off to lands farther away. Today, the Indians, not more than half a million, live in poverty and misery on the land of which they were once masters.
The earliest immigrants were the Spanish, who settled in the southern part of what is now the U.S. The next large group were the English, after the English came the French, Dutch, Irish, Germans, and other nationality groups, mostly European.
Another earliest group to arrive were the Negroes. But they were brought in as slaves from Africa. They didn't win freedom till generations later.
4. Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage?
A. The Negroes came to North America in order to work for the earliest immigrants.
B. The Negroes also belonged to the earliest immigrants to North America.
C. The Negroes were brought to America by chance.
D. The Negroes live in a primitive society now.
5. At least ________ kinds of peoples living in North America are mentioned in this passage.
A. six B. seven C. eight D. nine
【答案与解析】
1. D。因为建筑师认为他丢失的数据是很珍贵的,所以他寄给杰克一张空白支票。
2. A。第一段第二句已有提示,专家的工作就是使丢失的信息"recover"。
3. B。第一段提供的信息表明,杰克及其公司所赚的钱全部捐给慈善团体,他并未从中获利。
4. B。短文最后一段第一句即本题答案出处。
5. C。本文中提到的在北美居住的有the Indians, the Spanish, the English, the French, the Dutch, the Irish, the Germans and the Africans等八个民族。
A
What comes into your mind when you think about robots(机器人)? Do you imagine armies of evil metal monsters(怪物)planning to take over the world? Or, perhaps of mechanical men who have been created as guards or soldiers by a mad genius? Or maybe you think of man-like robots who act, think, and look like human beings. In fact, robots like these have more to do with science fiction films(科幻电影)than with real life. In the real world robots are machines that do jobs which otherwise have to be done by people. Robots either operate by themselves or under the control of a person.
In a car factory, for example, robot machinery can put together and paint car bodies. On the sea bed, remote-controlled(遥控)underwater machines with mechanical arms can perform tasks too difficult for divers. Robot spacecraft can explore the solar system and send back information about planets and stars.
Many robots have computer brains. Some robots are fitted with cameras, sensors, and microphones which enable them to "see", to "feel", and to "hear". And some robots can even produce electronic speech.
All this does not mean that a robot can think and behave like a human being. Present day robots have to be programmed with a good deal of information before they can carry out even simple tasks.
1. The robots in science fiction films and those in real life differ mainly in ________ .
A. mentality B. appearance C. material D. size
2. What can robots do in the real world?
A. They have the ability to control the world.
B. They can behave like human beings.
C. They can help us do a lot of work.
D. They can think by themselves.
3. Which of the following statements is NOT true about robots?
A. They are as creative as human beings.
B. They can help manufacture cars.
C. They can explore outer space.
D. They can "see" and "hear".
B
The human nose has given to the languages of the world many interesting expressions. Of course, this is not surprising. Without the nose, we could not breathe or smell. It is the part of the face that gives a person special character. Cyrano de Bergerac said that a large nose showed a great man-courageous, courteous(谦恭的),manly, and intellectual.(有智力的).
A famous woman poet wished that she had two noses to smell a rose! Blaise Pascal, a French philosopher(哲学家), made an interesting comment about Cleopatra's nose. If it had been shorter, he said, it would have changed the whole face of the world!
Historically, man's nose had had a main role in his imagination. Man has referred to the nose in many ways to express his emotions. Expressions concerning the nose refer to human weakness: anger, pride, jealousy(嫉妒)and revenge(报复).
In English there are a number of phrases about the nose. For example, "to hold up one's nose" expresses a basic human feeling-pride. People can hold their noses up at people, things, and places. The phrase "to be led around by the nose" shows a man's weakness. A person who is led around by the nose lets other people control him. On the other hand, a person who "follows his nose" lets his instinct(本能)guide him. For the human emotion of rejection, the phrase "to have one's nose put out of joint" is very descriptive. The expression applies to the persons who have been turned aside because of a competitor. Their pride is hurt and they feel rejected. This expression is not new. It was used by Erasmus in 1542.
This is only a sample of expressions in English dealing with "nose". There are a number of others. However, it should be "as plain as the nose on your face" that the nose is more than an organ(器官)for breathing and smelling!
4. The underlined expression "as plain as the nose on your face" means " ________ ".
A. easy to understand
B. too proud to expect others
C. weak to be controlled by others
D. jealousy enough to hate others
5. What is the passage mainly about?
A. The function(功能)of the nose.
B. A famous woman poet's wish.
C. A number of phrases about "nose".
D. An interesting comment about Cleopatra's nose.
[答案与解析]
1. A。由第一段后一部分可知,科幻电影中的机器人是有独立意识的,而现实生活中的机器人是受人控制的。
2. C。这是一道考查事实细节题。短文第一段倒数第二句即本题答案出处。
3. A。由第二段第一句可知,选项B是正确的;由第二段最后一句可知,选项C是正确的;由第三段第二句可知,选项D是正确的;由短文最后一段可知,选项A是错误的。
4. A。由第四段可知,"to hold up one's nose"表达"pride"的意思; "to be led around by the nose"表达"weakness"的意思; 短文没有列举表达"jealousy"的短语。从短文最后一段可知,"as plain as the nose on your face"表达的是"易于理解的"。
5. C。从短文的内容和最后一段第一句(主题句)可知,本篇短文主要讲述了由"nose"构成的短语。
A
Pronouncing words of a language is a skill. Every normal person is expert in the skill of pronouncing their own language; but few people are ever skilled at pronouncing foreign languages. Now there are many reasons for this, some obvious, some perhaps not so obvious. But I suggest that the reason why people in general do not speak foreign languages much better than they do their own language is that they fail to grasp the true nature of the problem of learning to pronounce, and never set about solving it in the right way. Far too many people fail to realize that pronouncing a foreign language is a skill-one that needs careful training of a special kind, and one that cannot be gained by just leaving it to take care of itself. I think even teachers of language, while recognizing the importance of a good accent, tend to neglect(忽略), in their practical teaching, the branch of study which has something to do with speaking the language. So the first point I want to make is that English pronunciation must be taught. The teacher should be prepared to devote some of the lesson time to this, and by his whole attitude(态度)to the subject should get the student to feel that here is a matter worthy of receiving close attention, thus when other aspects(方面)of English, such as grammar or spelling, are allowed for the moment, to take second place, there is something else.
Except for the question of time given to pronunciation, there are two other requirements for the teacher: the first, knowledge; the second, technique.
1. Why don't people speak a foreign language better than they speak they native language?
A. Because they can't grasp the nature of the problem of learning to pronounce.
B. Because they think pronouncing a foreign language is a impossible.
C. Because they never solve the problem in any way.
D. Because they pay more attention to pronunciation than anything else.
2. What is the passage mainly about?
A. Grammar should be paid no attention to.
B. Pronunciation is the most important aspect in learning a foreign language.
C. Spelling should not be taught in class.
D. Knowledge and technique are unnecessary in learning a foreign language.
B
When in 1789, George Washington became the first president of the United States, there was no permanent(永久的)capital in which to house the government. During the Revolutionary War several different cities had served as the national capital. In addition, members of congress(国会)could not agree as to where this permanent capital should be located. Some officials wanted it in the north, others wanted it in the south. Each of the states hoped that the capital might lie within its own state lines. At last it was decided that the capital should occupy a section(区域)by itself, separate from any of the states. The place chosen was situated on the Potoma River. The land belonged originally to the state of Maryland, but Maryland agreed to the national government's decision. The section was named Washington. Work was begun on the new capital in 1791. In the year 1899, Congress occupied the new capital building and, at the same time, the White House was opened as the home of all future presidents.
3. Why was it decided that the capital should be separated from any of the states?
A. Because each of the states wanted the capital to be within its own state.
B. Because the District of Columbia was in the center of America.
C. Because Maryland insisted that the capital lie in its own state.
D. Because the District of Columbia was on the borders of several states.
[答案与解析]
1. A。第一段第四句即本题答案出处。2. B。本篇短文主要讲述了语音在学习一门外语中的重要作用。由第一段最后一句和最后一段可知,A、C和D三个选项是错误的。3. A。由于国会意见不统一,有的想把首都建在北方,有的想把首都建在南方,每个州都想把首都建在自己的领地内。最后只好采取这样一个折衷的办法,首都划定一块自己的区域,它不属于任何一个州。

·语文课件下载
·语文视频下载
·语文试题下载

·语文备课中心



『点此察看与本文相关的其它文章』『搜索相关课件』


【上一篇】【下一篇】   【教师投稿】 
本站管理员：尹瑞文 微信：13958889955