1、2014年河南省实验中学高三第二次模拟考试英语第I卷第二部分：阅读理解（共两节，满分40分）第一节（共15小题；每小题2分，满分30分）阅读下列短文，从所给的四个选项中，选出最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。AFor most people, graduation is an exciting day the culmination(顶点) of years of hard work.My graduation day. was not.I remember that weekend two years ago, family and friends had traveled far to w
2、atch ourclass walk across the stage. But like everyone else in my graduating class, I had watched theeconomy go from bad to worse during my senior year. We graduates had degrees, but very limited prospects(前景). I hadnt secured a job, and I knew that the next day, when my lease(租约) ended,I would no l
3、onger have a place to call home.The weeks ahead werent easy. I gathered up everything I couldnt carry and put it intostorage. Then, because I had no opportunities in my small university town, I packed up my car anddrove to California to find work. But what I thought would take a wee k dragged into t
4、wo, thenfour, and 100 job applications later, I found myself in the same spot as I was before. The due dateto begin paying back my student loans was creeping even closer.Have you ever felt utter dread? That feeling became constant in my life. The most frustratingpart was no matter how much I tried,
5、I just couldnt seem to make any progress.I channeled my frustration into a childrens book. Beyond the River was the story of anunlikely hero, a little fish who refused to give up.And then one day, with no writing degree or contacts in the writing world just hard workand perseverance I was offered a
6、publishing contract for my first book. After that, things were in place. I was offered a second book deal. Then, a few months later, I got an interview with the WaltDisney Company and was hired shortly after.Often our dreams lie in waiting just a little further upstream, and all we need is the coura
7、ge topush beyond the river.21.When it was time to graduate, the author felt _.A. BoredB. RelievedC. depressedD. hopeful解析：根据For most people, graduation is an exciting daythe culmination(顶点) of years ofhard work. My graduation day. was not，故选C。答案：C22.After the authors graduation, _. A. he went on a s
8、hort trip with his family to CaliforniaB. things turned even worse than he had expectedC. he focused on writing instead of applying for jobsD. he found his salary was hardly enough to pay back his student loans解析：根据But like everyone else in my graduating class, I had watched the economy go from bad
9、to worse during my senior year.故选B。答案：B23.When did the authors career life begin to run smoothly according to the article?A.After he got his first publishing contract.B.After he began to write his book Beyond the river.C.After he finished his book Beyond the river.D.After he got hired by the Walt Di
10、sney Company.解析：根据And then one day, with no writing degree or contacts in the writing worldjust hardwork and perseveranceI was offered a publishing contract for my first book. After that, thingswere in place, I was offered a second book deal.故选A。答案：A24.What is the main message the story intends to c
11、onvey?A. Opportunity lies everywhere. B. Perseverance is essential to success.C. Its important to adapt yourself to society.D. We should devote ourselves to whatever we do.解析：根据The moral of this story isdont give up, even if things look bleak now.故选B。答案：B BMeet Jeff Wilson AKA Professor Dumpster(垃圾箱
12、), an environmental scientist and theDean of Huston Tillotson University in Austin, Texas. The reason for his unusual nickname? Hehas decided to live in a dumpster for the next year. Yes, the kind that you might find filled withtrash behind a restaurant.Wilson says the inspiration to do something fi
13、rst hit him two years ago, when he was workingon an article at a neighborhood coffee shop and caught sight of an eight-yard dumpster. Now that he has found one, Professor Dumpster is putting his students to work. After all, thepoint of this project isnt just to spend his life living out of a garbage
14、 can: there is, a much greaterpurpose involved. As an environmental scientist, the professor constantly thinks aboutsustainable living and how every person should try to minimize his/her impact on our alreadystretched resources. That, is the challenge Wilson wanted his students to step up to, this e
15、ntireyear.Using their math, science, engineering and technology skills, he wants them to retrofit(改进)his 33 square-foot dumpster into a modern space that includes a shower, a toilet, a kitchen and abed and is fitted with conveniences like air-conditioning and even WiFi. The demand? It all hasto be g
16、reen and sustainable. So why is Wilson planning to go through such hardship? That is because he wants to equiphis students with the tools to survive in a world that is rapidly heading towards a population of 10billion people. A large majority of the population adjust to living in tighter spaces in t
17、he world where resources and space should be limited to be used.By promoting awareness and education on these subjects, Wilson is helping studentseverywhere see that living “small” and sustainably is certainly possible. And while the dumpsterproject may seem a little crazy to some, the professor thi
18、nks of it as a “playful and imaginative”educational experiment and conversation-starter to discuss the fact that all of us can do with less as we move into the future.25.What is Jeff Wilson concerned about all the time?A. How to search for a suitable trash can.B. Challenging his students to follow h
19、is proposal.C. Spending seven months sleeping in his office.D. Finding sustainable living ways of using fewer resources.解析：细节题。根据第三段中第三句话可知答案：As an environmental scientist, the professorconstantly thinks about sustainable living and how every person should try to minimize his/herimpact on our alread
20、y stretched resources.答案：D26. What requirements does Jeff Wilson ask his students to meet?A. They should minimize the impact on stretched resources.B.All their work should be carried out in a modern space. C.All their work should be green and sustainable.D. They should change his dumpster into a hot
21、el.解析：细节题。根据第四段最后一句话：It all has to be green and sustainable.答案：C27. Why does Jeff Wilson make his students do such a hard job?A. To encourage them to try to reduce the population.B. To help them find survival ways in the limited world.C. To make them adjust to the limited space.D. To change their ti
22、ghter spaces into larger ones.解析：细节题。根据第五段第二句话可知答案：That is because he wants to equip his studentswith the tools to survive in a world that is rapidly heading towards a population of 10 billionpeople.答案：B 28. What is the best title for the passage?A. How Should We Teach Our Students in Effective Ways
23、?B. Who Will Be the Next One to Live in a Dumpster?C. Why Is This Professor Moving into a Dumpster?D. What We Can Do to Save Our Earth?解析：主旨题。注意标题的特点，要全面，简洁，还要比较新颖能够吸引读者注意力，只有C项符合了。答案：C CDoes money buy happiness? No! Ah, but would a little more money make us a little happier?Many of us smirk(傻笑，假笑)
24、and nod. There is, we believe, some connection between financialfitness and emotional fulfillment. Three in four American college studentsnearly double the 1970 proportion no w consider it “very important” or “essential” that they become “very welloff financially”. Money matters.But a surprising fac
25、t of life is that in countries where nearly everyone can afford lifesnecessities, increasing wealth matters surprisingly little. The connection between income andhappiness is “surprisingly weak,” observed University of Michigan researcher Ronald Inglehart in one 16-nation study of 170,000 people. On
26、ce comfortable, more money provides diminishingreturns(报酬递减). The second piece of pie, or the second $100,000, never tastes as good as thefirst. Even lottery winners and the Forbes 100 wealthiest Americans surveyed by University ofIllinois psychologist Ed Diener have expressed only slightly greater
27、happiness than the averageAmerican. Making it big brings temporary joy. But in the long run wealth is like health: itscomplete absence can create suffering, but having it doesnt guarantee happiness. Happinessseems less a matter of getting what we want than of wanting what we have.Has our happiness,
28、however, floated upward with the rising economic tide? Are we happiertoday than in 1940s, when two out of five homes lacked a shower or tub? Actually, we are not.Since 1957, the number of Americans who say they are “very happy” has declined from 35 to 32percent. Meanwhile, the divorce rate has doubl
29、ed, the teen suicide(自杀) rate has increased nearlythree times, the violent crime rate has gone up nearly four times, and depression has mushroomed.Economic growth has provided no boost to human morale. When it comes to psychological well being, it is not the economy.I call this soaring wealth and sh
30、rinking spirit “the American paradox.” More than ever, wehave big houses and broken homes, high incomes and low confidence, secured rights and reducedcivility. We are good at making a living but often fail at making a life. We celebrate ourprosperity(繁荣) but long for a purpose. We treasure our freed
31、oms but long for connection. In anage of plenty, we feel spiritual hunger.29. Which of the following statements best expresses the authors view?A. The more money we earn, the less returns we have.B. The more money we earn, the happier we would be.C. In the long run, money cannot guarantee happiness.
32、D. In the long run, happiness grows with economy.解析：主旨题。根据第二段倒数第二句话可知答案，本篇文章第一段是导入，第二段阐明文章主题，而文章最后两句话是文章的中心，也是作者的观点，故选C。 答案：C30. “The second $100,000 never tastes as good as the first” because _.A. it is not so fresh as the first $100,000B. it is not so important as the first $100,000C. profit broug
33、ht by it is less than that from the first $100,000D. happiness brought by it is less than that from the first $100,000解析：细节题。根据第二段第三句话：Once comfortable, more money provides diminishingreturns(报酬递减).可知。答案：D31.According to the passage, people do well in making a living but dont _.A. have any primary a
34、imB. know how to spend moneyC. know how to enjoy life D. keep in touch with other people解析：细节题。根据最后一段第三句话：We are good at making a living but often fail at makinga life.可知答案选C。答案：C32. The things that happened after 1957 are given to show that _. A. peoples spiritual needs cannot be fulfilled by wealt
35、hB. family problems become more and more seriousC. young people are not happy about their lifeD. social crimes have increased significantly解析：细节推断题。根据第三段开始部分：Has our happiness, however, floated upward with therising economic tide? Are we happier today than in 1940s, when two out of five homes lacked
36、 ashower or tub?Actually, we are not.注意：这就是所谓的例证法。答案：A D14 days from just2,090Fully inclusive from the UKPrice cover international airfares, departure taxes, fuel charge, local transportation all meals, entrance fees, guides, daily tours and visas for UK citizens.Days 1-3 UK-ShanghaiFly to the great
37、 city of Shanghai and in the evening sample traditional Shanghai food. Visit thebeautiful YU Garden, Old Town. Shanghai Museum, cross the Great Nampa Bridge and tour thePudong area.Also explore Xintiandi with its 1920s style Shikumen buildings and end your stay inShanghai with an amazing Huangpu Riv
38、er evening tour.Days 4-7:Shanghai-Yangtze River TourFly to Yichang and change (approx: one hour) to board your Yangtze River ship for the next fournights. Enjoy a tour of the three Gorges Dam(三峡大坝) before sailing on the grand Yangtze River,passing through the impressive Three Gorges. We take a side
39、trip to the lesser Three Gorges ortravel up the Shennong Stream in a peapod boat and enjoy various shore trips along the way.Day8 :ChongqingChengduGet off in Chongqing and drive to Chengdu for an overnight stay. Day9-10;Chengdu-XianVisit the famous Panda Reserve to see the lovely animals. We then fl
40、y to the historic city of Xianfor two nights stay and enjoy traditional Shuijiao. Next day, explore one of the most importantdiscoveries of the 20th centurythe Terracotta Warriors(兵马俑)，followed by the ancient Citywall and a performance of Tang Dynasty dancing.Day11-13:Xian-BeijingVisit little wild g
41、oose pagoda and see the ancient objects at the well-known Shanxi provincialmuseum before walking through the lively militia Quarter to see the Great Mosque. Later fly toBeijing for three nights stay and try Peking Duck. During our stay in Beijing, we stroll throughTiananmen Square to the Forbidden c
42、ity, the largest and best preserved collection of ancientbuildings in China, and visit the Summer Palace. Next day we take a walk on the Great wall, tourthe unique Temple of Heaven and enjoy an attractive ChineseAcrzibatio show.Day14:Beijing-UK Fly back to the UK, arriving home later the same day fi
43、lled with happy memories.33. The underlined word “sample” in the passage probably means _.A. buyB. reserveC. taste D. make解析：词义猜测题。根据sample的宾语traditional shanghai food可知sample在此处意思是：品尝，选taste。答案：C34. Which of the following is TRUE according to the ad?A. The tourists will have to pay extra for fuel a
44、nd meals.B. The tourists will visit the 1920s Shikumen buildings in BeijingC. The tourists will take a side trip to the Three Gorges Dam during the tour.D. The tourists will stay in Beijing for three nights before leaving for the UK解析：细节理解题。根据Day11 - 13: Xian Beijing中的“Later fly to Beijing for three
45、 nightsstay”可知。答案：D35. The ad is mainly intended to _. A. encourage the British to travel in ChinaB. attract the British to traditional Chinese foodC. offer service of booking air tickets to touristsD. provide the British with a better understanding of China.解析：主旨题。本文体裁是旅游广告，目的是吸引旅游爱好者去中国旅游。答案：A第二节（
46、共5小题；每小题2分，满分10分）There are many benefits of reading books. Read on to learn the various benefits of readingbooks. 36 Whenever you read something, you learn information that you otherwisewouldnt have known. It can be a fact about history or a theory you didnt know existed. If youwant to learn new wor
47、ds, reading books is a great way to enlarge your vocabulary. Reading keeps your mind in good condition. Similar to solving puzzles, reading books allowsyour mind to practice its processing skills. 37One of the primary benefits of reading books is its ability to develop your critical thinkingskills.
48、38 Wherever you are faced with a similar problem in real life, your mind isable to put its mystery-solving prowess(技能) to a test.One of the great benefits of reading books is that the information in it can be accessed overand over again. For example, reading a cookbook allows you the luxury of revie
49、wing theprocedures whenever you need to. 39Dont even think about writing the information down because you may lose the paper you wrotedown on sooner or later.These are just some of the wonderful benefits of reading books. Why dont you drop by thebookstore or library and pick a book up? If you cant even go outside, you can download freee-books on line and read them on your computer. 40 A. Reading books keeps your mind active.B. You can memorize information better by reading.C. Reading books provides you with new knowledge.D.
