1、阅读理解-练习二十及答案解析(总分：20.00，做题时间：90 分钟)一、Text A(总题数：1，分数：5.00)Auctions are public sales of goods, conducted by an officially approved auctioneer. He asked the crowd to gather in the auction room to bid for various items on sale. He encourages buyers to bid higher figures and finally names the highest bi
2、dder as the buyer of the goods. This is called “knocking down“ the goods, for the bidding ends when the auctioneer bangs a small hammer on a raised platform.The ancient Romans probably invented sales by auction and the English word comes from the Latin “autic“, meaning “increase“. The Romans usually
3、 sold in this way the spoils taken in war; these sales were called “sub hasta“, meaning “under the spear“, a spear being stuck in the ground as a signal for a crowd to gather. In England in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries goods were often sold “by the candle“; a short candle was lit by the a
4、uctioneer and bids could be made while it was burning.Practically all goods can be sold by auction. Among these are coffee, skins, wool, tea, cocoa, furs, fruit, vegetables and wines. Auction sales are also usual for land and property, antique furniture, pictures, rare books, old china and works of
5、art. The auction rooms at Christies and Sothebys in London and New York are world famous.An auction is usually advertised beforehand with full particulars of the articles to be sold and where and when they can be viewed by the buyers. If the advertisement cannot give full details, catalogues are pri
6、nted, and each group of goods to be sold together, called a “lot“, is usually given a number. The auctioneer need not begin with lot one and continue the numerical order; he may wait until he notices the fact that certain buyers are in the room and then produce the lots they are likely to be interes
7、ted in. The auctioneers services are paid for in the form of a percentage of the price the goods are sold for. The auctioneer therefore has a direct interest in pushing up the bidding.（分数：5.00）(1).Auctioned goods are sold（分数：1.00）A.for the highest price offered.B.at fixed prices.C.at prices lower th
8、an their true value.D.at prices offered by the auctioneer.(2).The end of bidding is called “knocking down“ because（分数：1.00）A.the auctioneer knocks on the table.B.the auctioneer names the highest bidder as the buyer of the goods.C.the goods are knocked down onto the table.D.the auctioneer bangs the t
9、able with a hammer.(3).In the sentence “The Romans usually sold in this way the spoils taken in war,“ the word “spoils“ most probably means（分数：1.00）A.useless goods.B.spears.C.various kinds of food.D.property taken from the enemy.(4).In England a candle used to burn at auction sales（分数：1.00）A.because
10、 the auction sales took place at night.B.as a signal for the crowd to gather.C.to keep the auction room warm.D.to limit the time when offers of prices could be mad(5).An auction catalogue gives buyers（分数：1.00）A.the current market values of the goods.B.details of the goods to be sold.C.the order in w
11、hich goods are to be sold.D.free admission to the auction sale.二、Text B(总题数：1，分数：4.00)When Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected President of the United States in 1932, not only the United States but also the rest of the world was in the throes of an economic depression. Following the termination of Wor
12、ld War , Britain and the United States at first experienced a boom in industry. Called the Roaring Twenties, the 1920s ushered in a number of things- prosperity, greater equality for women in the work world, rising consumption, and easy credit. The outlook for American business was rosy.October 1929
13、 was a month that had catastrophic economic reverberations worldwide. The American stock market witnessed the “Great Crash,“ as it is called, and the temporary boom in the American economy came to a standstill. Stock prices sank, and panic spread. The ensuing unemployment figure soared to 12 million
14、 by 1932.Germany in the postwar years suffered from burdensome compensation it was obliged to pay to the Allies. The countrys industrial capacity had been greatly diminished by the war. Inflation, political instability, and high unemployment were factors helpful to the growth of the initial Nazi par
15、ty. Germans had lost confidence in their old leaders and heralded the arrival of a messiah-like figure who would lead them out of their economic wilderness. Hitler promised jobs and, once elected, kept his promise by providing employment in the party, in the newly expanded army, and in munitions fac
16、tories.Roosevelt was elected because he promised a “New Deal“ to lift the United States out of the doldrums of the depression. Following the principles advocated by Keynes, a British economist, Roosevelt collected the spending capacities of the federal government to provide welfare, work, and agricu
17、ltural aid to the millions of down-and-out Americans. Elected President for four terms because of his innovative policies, Roosevelt succeeded in dragging the nation out of the depression before the outbreak of World War .（分数：4.00）(1).Which of the following was NOT true at the time Roosevelt was ele
18、cted?（分数：1.00）A.Stock prices were recovering slowly.B.The nation was in a deep depression.C.There were 12 million unemployed workers.D.The nation needed help from the federal government.(2).The “Great Crash“ in the passage refers to（分数：1.00）A.the end of World War .B.the Great Depression.C.high unemp
19、loyment figures.D.a slump in the stock market.(3).We can infer that the author of this passage（分数：1.00）A.disapproves of Roosevelts “New Deal“.B.thinks the Depression could have been avoided.C.blames the Depression on the “Great Crash“.D.feels there was some similarity between Roosevelt and Hitler.(4
20、).The best title for the passage is（分数：1.00）A.The Twenties.B.The Great Crash.C.The Depression.D.The End of World War .三、Text C(总题数：1，分数：3.00)Naturally the young are more inclined to novelty than their elders and it is in their speech, as it always was, that most of the verbal changes originate. But
21、listening critically to their talk I hear hardly any new words. It is all a matter of using old words in a new way and then copying each other, for much as they wish to speak differently from their parents, they want even more to speak like people of their own age. A new usage once took time to spre
22、ad, but now a pop star can falsify it across the world in hours.Of course it is not only the young who like to use the latest in-word. While they are describing their idols as smashing, great or cosmic, their parents and the more discriminating of the younger set are also groping for words of praise
23、 that are at once apt and fashionable. However, their choice of splendid, brilliant, fantastic and so on will in turn be slightly dimmed by over-use and need replacement.Magic is a theme that has regularly supplied words of praise (and the choice must betray something in our nature). Charming, entra
24、ncing and enchanting are all based on it. So also is marvelous, which has been used so much that some of its magic has faded while among teenagers wizard had a great run. Another of this group, though you might not think it, is glamorous, which was all the rage in the great days of Hollywood. Glamou
25、r was a Scottish dialect form of “grammar“ or “grammarye“, which itself was an old word for enchantment. (Grammar means the study of words, and words have always been at the heart of magic.) The change from “r“ to “l“ may have come about through the association with words like gleaming and glitterin
26、g.On the whole, when a new word takes over, the old ones remain, weakened but still in use, so that the total stock increases all the time. But some that start only as slang and never rise above the class can disappear completely. “Did you really say ripping when you were young?“ my granddaughter as
27、ked me, rather like asking if I ever wore a suit of armor. Of course I did and it was no sillier than smashing, which some of her contemporaries are still saying.（分数：3.00）(1).Which of the following is NOT true about young people in their speech?（分数：1.00）A.They use words invented by pop stars.B.They
28、copy the speech of their contemporaries.C.They give words new meanings.D.They invent words that older people cannot understan(2).According to the passage, words of praise keep changing because（分数：1.00）A.they lose their freshness.B.there are more words available in this area.C.young people are becomi
29、ng more discriminating.D.older people try to avoid the in-words of the youn(3).The fact that magic is a frequent source of words of praise suggests that people（分数：1.00）A.lack linguistic originality.B.have always been interested in magic.C.are becoming more superstitious.D.are interested in magic whe
30、n youn四、Text D(总题数：1，分数：3.00)From a world of silence, deaf percussionist Evelyn Glennie brought some of the worlds most beautiful music to the church of St. Paul and St. Peter the Great at Chichester on Monday evening.This attractive young Scottish lass has proved that what many would consider a dis
31、ability was no handicap at all as she hypnotized her audience with a talented performance at this Chichester Festivities concert. She demonstrated her art with pieces on the xylophone, the marimba, the snare drum, and the timpani.With accompaniment from pianist Robert Howle, this evening with Evelyn
32、 Glennie was one of those little gems the festival seems to pull out to surprise and delight us each year.Displaying an easy and relaxed attitude and a keen sense of humors-with many jokes directed against herself (“this is the part I find most difficult.“ she told us as she tuned the timpani)-Evely
33、n played some haunting works specially written for xylophone, such as her own inspiring “A Little Prayer“ and the lilting Scottish tune “Tween Heaven and Sea“.She also “stole“ items from the repertoire of other instruments-the exciting “Czarda“ more usually heard on violin, “Dreaming“ by Schumann, “
34、Maple Leaf Rag“ by Joplin, and Chopins “Black Key Study“, all works written for the piano but given an extra dimension on the xylophone. The audience was foxed completely as they tried to clap along to snare drum demonstration, a “mummy and daddy open roll“, and there was no falling asleep during th
35、e dramatic sonata for Timpani by Beck-as Evelyn said herself “It may not be everyones cup of tea, but it isnt very often that you see a solo timpanist, and a female one at that!“Evelyn Glennie may not have been able to hear the applause, but she must surely have seen the warm smiles and happy faces
36、of an audience to which she endeared herself with a charming personality and uncanny instrumental ability.（分数：3.00）(1).Which of the following is NOT one of Evelyn Glennies physical characteristics?（分数：1.00）A.Shes unable to hear.B.Shes young.C.Shes short.D.Shes charmin(2).Apart from Evelyn Glennies m
37、usical ability, what does the critic say about her personality?（分数：1.00）A.Helpful.B.Generous.C.Honest.D.Pleasin(3).According to the passage, the critic thinks the concert was（分数：1.00）A.enjoyable.B.boring.C.monotonous.D.disastrous.五、Text E(总题数：1，分数：5.00)Since the earliest times in England, the travel
38、ers inn has always been a warm and hospitable place, a gathering place for voyagers to rest and recover. The tireless landlord, the local customers sharing drinks and food, the welcoming atmosphere, have all become part of the legend of the typical English country and city life. In later centuries,
39、the English tavern took on the role of community gathering place, being the location where friendly chatter and fierce social debate mixed with business discussions, and food, wine, beer and coffee were consumed as the noise of convivial (酒宴的) exchanges rose.In modern times, the English pub often co
40、ntinues to function as the communal meeting place, especially for people whose homes are too small to entertain any number of guests or friends. In many Asian countries, the local restaurant serves a similar social function.In Ireland, the pub has acted as a central attraction for poorer villagers i
41、n the rural areas, and as a literary and social focus in the cities. In keeping with the sociable nature of pub gatherings, music as well as talk has become a central part of this institution in Ireland.Now people around the world are able to experience the friendly nature of the Irish pub, which fo
42、llows in the wake of its English equivalent as a welcome and growing export. English pubs have been found in America, in parts of Europe and throughout the world where English people have settled. Today the Irish pub is witnessing an outburst of international popularity as Westerners turn away from
43、their television and computer screens and seek to put a human face to their social contacts. They are finding it in the bars and corners of Irish pubs, where Guinness stout, the Irish national drink, is available in the tall, dark creamy pint glasses and Irish music is the regular fare.In Mr. McCarv
44、illes view, a pub is a place where you and your friends should be able to walk in and have a drink and talk to each other. But in traditional pubs everywhere there is loud raucous music so that customers cant talk. He says that in all the traditional pubs in Australia they are putting poker machines
45、, and Mr. McCarville saw many vacant looking people gambling. He feels that these pubs are no longer pleasant places to go to have a drink because you cant talk to anyone. “The one place where conversation has always been great is an Irish pub, so everywhere they are set up they become very popular,
46、“ he says.“There is music in them, but it is Irish music. It may be traditional or modern Irish music, but it is happy, infectious music which stimulates the mood of the place and does not overpower it.“ So Irish pubs are spreading.（分数：5.00）(1).The English pub is developed from（分数：1.00）A.the Irish p
47、ub.B.the English inn.C.the Scotch pub.D.the travellers inn.(2).Whats the function of the English pub?（分数：1.00）A.The pub continues to act as a central attraction.B.It is the literary and social focus.C.It is the place where you can consume food and wine.D.It takes the role of community meeting plac(3
48、).Which kind of pub has a growing export?（分数：1.00）A.The Irish pub.B.The English pub.C.The Scotch pub.D.The Australian pu(4).According to Mc Carvilles view，why is Irish pub a warm and hospitable place?（分数：1.00）A.There is loud harsh music to stimulate the mood ofthe pubB.Poker machines are put there s
49、o that everyone can play while drinkingC.It is the great place for conversationD.You can enjoy happy music in it(5).In the passagethe author mainly talks about（分数：1.00）A.the Irish pubB.the English pubC.the Scotch pubD.the Australian pu阅读理解-练习二十答案解析(总分：20.00，做题时间：90 分钟)一、Text A(总题数：1，分数：5.00)Auctions are public sales of goods, conducted by an officially approved auctioneer. He asked the crowd to gather in the auction room to bid for various items on sale. He encourages buyers to bid higher figures and finally names the highest bidder as the buyer of the go
