1、限时训练(九).阅读理解A话题：书店难度：A Brief History of WaterstonesWaterstones is the largest bookstore chain in the UK and Ireland，with 296 stores and 4,500 employees，but its market share has recently declined and sales have been poor.The book market suffered during the economy declines and the emergence of new e-
2、readers，such as the Amazon Kindle，was pulling more customers away from the high street.A & NN will pay for Waterstones in two parts，one of 40 million and one of 13 million.The deal will only complete if HMV can renegotiate its bank facilities，though HMV says the banks are supportive of the sale.Pens
3、ion trustees and the pensions regulator also have to approve.HMV chief executive Simon Fox said A &NN would be a good home for Waterstones，while the sale will reduce borrowings and enable HMV to focus on plans for transforming the business into a broad-based entertainment business.A & NN will appoin
4、t James Daunt as managing director of Waterstones once the deal completes.Mr Daunt currently runs Daunt Books，a small chain of London-based bookshops he founded in 1990.Waterstones founder Tim Waterstone opened his first store in 1982 at a time when fellow book lovers were presented with few options
5、 on the high street.The top bookseller was WH Smith，Mr Waterstones former employer of eight years before he was dismissed，which he felt was failing to go into a broad market of literature fans.The first store was opened in Old Brompton Road，and the former bankers intuition was correct as the chain w
6、ent from strength to strength.Mr Waterstone，who has written four novels，saw a recovery in the market driven by demand for the works of a new wave of literary stars including Salman Rushdie，Ian McEwan，John Banville and Martin Amis.Having founded the firm with his 6,000，Mr Waterstone sold the chain to
7、 his former employer WH Smith in 1993 for 47 million.语篇解读本文讲述了连锁书店Waterstones的变迁。1.According to the passage，who is the most likely to be the managing director of Waterstones in the near future?A.Mr Waterstone. B.John Banville.C.James Daunt. D.Simon Fox.答案C解析细节理解题。根据第五段第一句“A & NN will appoint James D
8、aunt as managing director of Waterstones once the deal completes.”可知C项正确。2.What does the underlined word “intuition” mean in the passage?A.Instinctive knowledge. B.Mental image.C.Calm consideration. D.Indirect suggestion.答案A解析词义猜测题。根据intuition所在的段落中的“as the chain went from strength to strength”以及全文语
9、境可知intuition表示的是银行家的“直觉”，故选A项。B话题：失眠难度：A new study from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine suggests that getting out of bed when you cant sleep might prevent your sleepless night from becoming chronic insomnia(慢性失眠).After monitoring these sleep habits of 416 participants for one year，
10、researchers found that night owls who restricted their time in bed were more likely to sleep soundly once they did fall asleep.Those who remained in bed when they couldnt sleep，on the other hand，were more likely to develop chronic insomnia.While this advice may seem counterintuitive at first，it make
11、s sense once you understand what causes your sleeplessness.“Those with insomnia typically extend their sleep opportunity，” said Michael Perlis，PhD.“They go to bed early，get out of bed late，and they nap.While this seems a reasonable thing to do，and may well be in the short term，the problem in the lon
12、ger term is that it creates a mismatch between the individuals current sleep ability and their current sleep opportunity；this fuels insomnia.” These seemingly harmless habits could be causing your insomnia，too.“So if youre struggling to fall asleep at night，try getting out of bed and using that time
13、 to read a book or write in a journal.Not only could you fall asleep in just an hour，but you will also do so faster and sleep better than if you had just stayed in bed，” Perlis told Real Simple.“And try to resist the urge to take a nap or sleep in the next day；powering through can help you fall asle
14、ep the following night.”语篇解读本文是一篇说明文。一项新的研究发现，失眠时不应强迫自己入睡，最好的做法是起床做点其他的事，这样可以预防慢性失眠。3.What does the underlined word “counterintuitive” in Paragraph 3 mean?A.Contrary to common belief.B.Unlike anything else.C.Similar to first reaction.D.Beyond wildest imagination.答案A解析词义猜测题。根据第三段内容和画线词所在句“While this
15、advice may seem counterintuitive at first，it makes sense once you understand what causes your sleeplessness.”可知，尽管一开始你可能会觉得这条建议违反常理，但一旦你明白失眠的原因就会觉得它(这条建议)合乎情理。由此可推知，画线词和make sense应表达相反的意思。所以“counterintuitive”意为“(想法、提议等)违反常理的”，和“contrary to common belief”意思相近。故选A。4.What does Perlis advise for a sleep
16、less night?A.Get out of bed. B.Remain in bed.C.Keep wide awake. D.Take a nap.答案A解析细节理解题。根据最后一段第一句“So if youre struggling to fall asleep at night，try getting out of bed and using that time to read a book or write in a journal.”可知，Perlis建议失眠时起床做其他的事。故选A。5.Whats the authors purpose in writing the text?
17、A.To promote a healthy lifestyle.B.To introduce a new finding.C.To encourage similar study.D.To discuss the cause of sleeplessness.答案B解析写作意图题。通读全文可知，文章主要介绍了一项关于失眠的新研究，即失眠时最好的做法是起床做其他的事。由此可知，作者写本文的目的是向读者介绍这项研究的内容。故选B。C话题：细菌难度：If youre making resolutions for a healthier new year，consider a gut makeove
18、r.Refashioning the community of bacteria and other microbes living in your intestinal tract，collectively known as the gut microbiome，could be a good long-term investment in your health.Trillions of microbial cells inhabit the human body，outnumbering human cells by 10 to one according to some estimat
19、es，and growing evidence suggests that the rich array of intestinal microbiota helps us process nutrients in the foods we eat，bolsters the immune system and does all sorts of odd jobs that promote sound health.A diminished microbial ecosystem，on the other hand，is believed to have consequences that ex
20、tend far beyond the intestinal tract，affecting everything from allergies and inflammation，metabolic diseases like diabetes and obesity，even mental health conditions like depression and anxiety.Much of the composition of the microbiome is established early in life，shaped by forces like your genetics
21、and whether you were breast-fed or bottle-fed.Microbial diversity may be further undermined by the typical high-calorie American diet，rich in sugar，meats and processed foods.But a new study in mice and people adds to evidence that suggests you can take steps to enrich your gut microbiota.Changing yo
22、ur diet to one containing a variety of plant-based foods，the new research suggests，may be crucial to achieving a healthier microbiome.Altering your microbiome，however，may not be easy，and nobody knows how long it might take.Thats because the ecosystem already established in your gut determines how it
23、 absorbs and processes nutrients.So if the microbial community in your gut has been shaped by a daily diet of cheeseburgers and pepperoni pizza，for example，it wont respond as quickly to a healthy diet as a gut shaped by vegetables and fruits that has more varied microbiota to begin with.“The nutriti
24、onal value of food is influenced in part by the microbial community that encounters that food，” said Dr Jeffrey Gordon，the senior author of the new paper and director of the Center for Genome Science and Systems Biology at the Washington University School of Medicine in St.Louis.“Nutritional compone
25、nts of a healthy diet have to be viewed from the inside out，” he said，“not just the outside in.”One of the questions the study set out to answer was how individuals with different diets respond when they try to improve their eating habits.The scientists harvested gut bacteria from humans，transplante
26、d them into mice bred under sterile conditions，and then fed the mice either American-style or plant-based diets.The scientists then analyzed changes in the mices microbial communities.Of interest，the scientists harvested the gut bacteria from people who followed sharply different diets.One group ate
27、 a fairly typical American diet，consuming about 3,000 calories a day，high in animal proteins with few fruits and vegetables.Some of their favorite foods were processed cheese，pepperoni and lunch meats.The other group consisted of people who were devotees of calorie restriction.They ate less than 1,8
28、00 calories a day and had meticulously tracked what they ate for at least two years，sticking to a mostly plant-based diet and consuming far less animal protein than the other group，a third fewer carbohydrates and only half the fat.This calorie-restricted group，the researchers found，had a far richer
29、and more diverse microbial community in the gut than those eating a typical American diet.They also carried several strains of “good” bacteria，known to promote health，that are unique to their plant-based diet.“Their choices as adults dramatically influenced their gut community，” said Nicholas W.Grif
30、fin of Washington University，the papers lead author.The study，published in Cell Host & Microbe，is not the first to report findings suggesting dietary shifts can induce persistent changes in a gut microbial community，said Dr David A.Relman，a professor of medicine，microbiology and immunology at Stanfo
31、rd University，who was not involved in the current research.He noted that other studies had found even more profound effects.After the human microbiota was transplanted into the mice，the mice got to eat either like typical Americans or like the calorie restrictors.Mice that had a microbiota condition
32、ed by the typical American diet had a weaker response to the plant-based diet.Their microbial communities didnt increase and diversify as much.“They all responded in a predictable direction，but with not as great a magnitude，”said Dr Griffin.Another aspect of the study suggests the company you keep m
33、ay also enrich your gut microbiotaat least in mice.At first the animals were kept in separate cages.Then，when they were housed together，the microbes from the communities conditioned by plant diets made their way into the American-diet microbiome.Its not clear how that translates to humans：Mice eat o
34、ne anothers droppings when they live together，so they easily share the bacterial wealth.Still，its possible humans have other ways of sharing bacteria，Dr Griffin said.“We know from previous work and other studies that spouses who live together will develop microbial communities that are similar to ea
35、ch other，” he said.6.What can we know from Jeffrey Gordons research?A.They thought that other studies had less profound effects.B.Those who live a calorie restricted life have a variety of microbial community in the gut.C.People who were devotees of calorie restriction are crazy for processed cheese
36、，pepperoni and so on.D.Typical American diet consumes less animal protein and a third fewer carbohydrates.答案B解析细节理解题。根据第十段最后一句“He noted that other studies had found even more profound effects.”可知A项是错误的。根据第九段第一句“This calorie-restricted group，the researchers found，had a far richer and more diverse mic
37、robial community in the gut”可知，限制饮食的人们会有更加多样灵活的肠道环境。选项C是偷换概念，不是热衷于控制热量摄入的人，应该是美式饮食者们需要这样的食物。根据第七段第二句和第八段最后一个分句可知，选项D是错误的。由此可知答案是B项。7.Whats the meaning of the underlined word “encounter” in the fifth paragraph?A.Decrease. B.Increase.C.Meet. D.Effect.答案C解析词义猜测题。由画线词所在句中的“The nutritional value of food
38、is influenced in part by the microbial community that encounters that food”和上下文可知，是食物遇到微生物群落，此处是“相遇，相汇”的意思，所以答案选“meet”。8.Which of the following is FALSE according to the passage?A.A diminished microbial ecosystem just extend the intestinal tract.B.It is important to gain a healthier microbiome.C.A h
39、ealthy diet must be weighed from the inside to the outside.D.People who accompany you may enrich your gut microbiota.答案A解析细节理解题。根据第二段最后一句“A diminished microbial ecosystem.like depression and anxiety.”可知，不仅仅是对肠道产生影响，还会影响其他方方面面，故A项说法错误。根据文章第一段可知获得更健康的微生物群很重要，故B项说法正确。根据第五段最后一句“Nutritional components of
40、 a healthy diet have to be viewed from the inside out，he said，not just the outside in.”推出C项说法正确。选项D说的是陪伴我们的人们也有可能会影响到我们的肠道菌群，根据倒数第二段内容可知其说法正确。9.Whats the best title of the passage?A.A Variety of Microbial CommunityB.How to Avoid Gut TroubleC.The Way of Gut WorkingD.A Gut Makeover for the New Year答案D
41、解析标题归纳题。本篇文章一直在讲解有一个健康的肠道是多么重要，所以“A Gut Makeover for the New Year”是最合适的。.任务型阅读话题：互联网技术难度：The Impact of Technology on PoliticsThe continued growth of technology has had a significant impact on the political levels that candidates achieve.Political candidates use technology in many ways.Different comm
42、unication channels provided by the Internet have the power to influence the growth of different individuals.The likes of Twitter，Facebook，and YouTube are powerful communication media platforms that can easily raise the levels of political candidates.Believe it or not，technology is a decisive factor
43、in most political races.Through technology，politicians are able to get funds，gain political authorities and spend less on campaigning.One of the ways in which technology influences politics is the financial side.Raising funds to use for campaigning is an important factor for all political candidates
44、.It comes with the need to create a direct response to the whole country or target region.This is a major barrier experienced by political candidates.The Internet aided them to get donations that they required to gain access to a large part of the campaign region.By broadcasting through technologica
45、l marketing，candidates get suitable donors(捐赠者) to support different aspects of their campaign.Publicity(公众宣传) on the Internet is a cheap method as they do not have to re-publish unlike what is provided by the print media.The impact of technology is great on a given generation.The young，educated and
46、 rich will relate to technological creativity.A proper presentation will gain levels for candidates.Using the most recent technology will surely attract the youth.The older generation may not impact the raising of presidential bids，especially if they are done through social media.The older generatio
47、n barely uses the Internet.The younger generation relates easily to these media platforms.This difference is used by politicians to gain advantage in their political bids.Politicians use technology to raise their bids among the youth，while traditional methods are used for the older generation.Anothe
48、r way to look at the matter is in relation to thinking about the Internet as a tool for free advertisement.It is no secret that presidential bids are the most expensive，as they are run to cover the whole region.On the other hand，political videos easily produce online level benefits，and such politica
49、l Internet advertisement will always reach the target audience if launched properly.Individuals perform the needed publicity as each person shares the video.With the huge impact that technology has on society and public opinion in particular，it is important to be cautious in the use of information a
50、bout any political figure，or you will risk making a positive advertisement into a negative advertisement with just one click.语篇解读本文是一篇说明文。文中介绍了互联网技术对政治活动的作用和影响，作者用实例说明了该技术在资金筹措、竞选支持、广告宣传等方面的作用。10.答案involves/includes解析右列表内容告诉人们，技术的作用涉及许多不同方面。11.答案possible/probable/likely解析根据第二段第三句中的“.that can easily
51、raise the levels of political candidates.”可知，技术可以很容易地提高政治家的政治地位。can是possible/probable/likely的同义语。12.答案effect/influence/impact解析分析第二段的内容可知，技术在许多方面都有很大影响，包括水平层次、资金获得和政治权威的增长等。13.答案finance/money/cost/expense(s)解析由第三段内容尤其首句可知，右列表内容是有关技术对候选人政治活动的财政支持。finance是financial的名词形式。14.答案helpful解析根据第三段第五句“The Inte
52、rnet aided them to get donations that they required to gain access to a large part of the campaign region.” 可知，互联网有助于获得所需的捐赠。help是aid的同义语，这里要用其形容词形式。15.答案broadcasting解析根据第三段倒数第二句中的“By broadcasting through technological marketing.”可知，通过技术营销广播，候选人获得合适的捐赠者以支持其活动的不同方面。16.答案attracted解析分析第四段的内容并结合关键词“sure
53、ly attract the youth”和“relates easily to these media platforms”可知，年轻一代比老一代更加容易理解并被现代媒体所吸引。被动语态中应用attract的过去分词形式attracted。17.答案less解析根据第四段最后两句可知，在现代，老一代的政治影响力远不如年轻一代。18.答案save解析根据最后一段前两句可知，政府的网络广告将为总统竞选节省一大笔钱。free advertisement 是save money的同义语。19.答案avoids解析根据文章最后一句中“.it is important to be cautious in the use of information about any political figure，or you will risk making a positive advertisement into a negative advertisement with just one click.”可知，谨慎的信息避免了产生具有负面影响的广告。avoid making advertisement negative是risk making a positive advertisement into a negative advertisement 的同义语。
