1、阅读强化训练(四)(建议用时：25分钟) 阅读理解If youve ever seen old blackandwhite photographs from long, long ago, the faces in those old photos would seem to confirm a sad existence：theres rarely a smile to be found anywhere.Was life back then really that bad? Or is there another explanation for the lack of smiling fa
2、ces in old photos?Some people believe its because people long ago had really bad teeth. Did people simply refuse to smile for the camera because they didnt want to show their discolored or missing teeth？Its possible, although some experts doubt thats a primary reason.Since everyone back then would h
3、ave had similar oral health issues, people themselves probably werent aware of it.Another possible factor is technology：the earliest cameras required long exposure(暴露) time to capture a photograph. Some believe people simply couldnt hold a smile for that long, so they instead chose a more solemn exp
4、ression that they could maintain for a longer time.Experts point out, however, that much shorter exposure time came about long before smiles became common in photos.Some experts believe the lack of smiles in old photos is a result of historical views on smiling.In todays world where the “selfie” is
5、so common，smiles have something to do with happiness and wellbeing.In the distant past, wide smiles were often seen as signs of madness, loudness, or other undesirable traits.This historical view of smiling is shown in portraits(肖像) that were painted in the hundreds of years before cameras came into
6、 existence.Hundreds of years ago, a portrait was, for most people, a onceinalifetime chance to be kept on canvas forever.A solemn expression was considered a dignified(有尊严的) way to be represented forever, and it was better than a stupid wide smile that might make someone question your mental health.
7、Experts believe this same view probably influenced the earliest photographs, which usually tried to imitate the painted portrait as an art form.Today，smart phones and cameras are widely used.Smiles, even funny faces, are easily seen in todays photos.After all, taking photographs is no longer a oncei
8、nalifetime opportunity!【解题导语】本文是一篇说明文。作者从多个角度探讨了为什么在老照片里很少见到人们的笑脸。1Why does the author put forward questions in Paragraph 1?ATo introduce the main topic.BTo show the authors attitude.CTo describe the life long ago.DTo show the difference in old photos.A解析：推理判断题。根据第一段两个问题可判断，作者提出两个问题主要是为了引出文章的主要话题。2W
9、hat does the underlined word “solemn” mean in Paragraph 3?AAnxious.BSatisfied.CSerious. DSurprised.C解析：词义猜测题。结合前文的Some believe people simply couldnt hold a smile for that long以及第五段第一句A solemn expression was considered a dignified(有尊严的) way to be represented forever可推知，以前人们在照相时需要选择一个严肃的表情，划线词意为“严肃的”。
10、3What conclusion can we draw from Paragraphs 4 and 5?AAn old portrait is more a picture than an art.BBoth portraits and photos can be seen as art.CWide smiles are also rarely seen in old portraits.DOld portraits were influenced by the earliest photographs.C解析：细节理解题。根据第四段最后两句和第五段最后一句可知，照相机出现之前，肖像画也是奢
11、侈品，人们非常珍惜这难得的机会，因此在肖像画中他们也表现得很庄重，故很少见笑脸。4What is the passage mainly about?AThe development of photography.BTechnology progress in taking photos.CThe difference between portraits and photos.DReasons why smiles are rarely seen in old photos.D解析：主旨大意题。综合全文内容，尤其是第一段内容可知，本文主要探讨了为什么老照片里很少见到人们的笑脸。 完形填空My s
12、ister, Shirley, is now 83.She has lived on a farm for 64 years and has never been a _1_ to hard work.For the first 12 years of her marriage, she and her husband _2_five children while living in a small house.Her husband _3_ from 9 to 5, and Shirley was _4_for milking the cows, growing vegetables in
13、the garden, and helping with the crops.After her husbands death, she _5_to raise beef cattle, and grow corns and soybeans.Shirley was _6_for the cattle she had.There was a waiting line of people who wanted to get _7_from her.The farming is hard work, but she has always _8_ the difficulties.Looking o
14、ut from the window at the cattle eating grass and crops growing gives her a _9_that she is a part of the land.It also gives her the pride that she is doing something that has been_10_to her family.Im the younger sister, so when I was in high school, I_11_the bus every day at Shirleys farm to _12_her
15、 kids while she worked.When I was there, Shirley _13_me how to cook and clean, and how to grow vegetables._14_I helped her with the kids every day, now I_15_that she helped me more than I did.Shes my sister, but shes also been my _16_and role model.Shirley is _17_among those in her community. She al
16、ways has a smile on her face and loves _18_a delicious meal whenever you go to her house, as if by magic.And at 83, shes _19_ not ready to retire.She continues to run the farm that has been passed down to her.She is a role model to all who know her.Im _20_to be her sister.【解题导语】作者的姐姐83岁了，但仍然辛勤工作在劳动了
17、一辈子的农场上。她乐观勤劳的人生态度感染着他人。1A.helperBstrangerCfarmer DhostB解析：她在一个农场生活了64年，她对辛勤工作从来都不陌生，即她一直辛勤工作。“no stranger to sth.”是固定搭配。2A.raised BhelpedClost DlovedA解析：虽然住在一个小房子里，她和丈夫还是养育了(raised)五个孩子。3A.slept BstayedCworked DlivedC解析：根据语境可知，她的丈夫朝九晚五地工作(worked)。4A.sorry BreadyCeager DresponsibleD解析：她丈夫从早到晚工作，而她负责
18、(responsible)挤牛奶、种蔬菜和粮食等。5A.expected BseemedCcontinued DstoppedC解析：根据语境可知，丈夫去世后，她继续(continued) 做着农场相关的工作。6A.wellknown BsadCaccepted DremindedA解析：根据下文的There was a waiting line of people who wanted to get可知，Shirley因为她养的牛而广为人知(wellknown)。7A.vegetables BsoybeansCcorns DbeefD解析：因为她养的牛很有名气，所以人们都排着队想买她家的牛肉
19、(beef)。8A.dealt with Bgiven upCbrought in Dheld backA解析：农场的工作很辛苦，但是Shirley总是能应付(dealt with)困难。9A.plan BsenseCpicture DdreamB解析：看到牛吃草和庄稼生长，她就感到自己属于这片土地，故选“sense”。10A.beautiful BterribleCimportant DnervousC解析：她同时也很骄傲，因为自己所做的事对这个家很重要(important)。11A.got off Bwent onCleft for Dwaited forA解析：上高中时，作者每天都会在S
20、hirley家的农场下车(got off)。12A.look for Blook afterClook up Dlook backB解析：根据语境可知，作者每天下车来到她家农场，在她工作时帮忙照看(look after)孩子。13A.asked BwarnedCtaught DrefusedC解析：作者待在那里时，Shirley会教(taught)作者如何做饭和种蔬菜。14A.Although BButCBecause DSoA解析：根据后面的she helped me more than I did可知，尽管(although)作者当时每天帮她带孩子，但她给作者的帮助更多。15A.talk
21、BrealizeCdecide DforgetB解析：根据语境可知，作者现在意识到(realize)姐姐给她的帮助比自己给姐姐的更多。16A.teacher BstudentCchild DfamilyA解析：根据role model可知，她是作者的姐姐，也是作者的老师(teacher)和楷模。17A.ignored BmissedCrespected DunderstoodC解析：根据语境可知，她在社区里受到人们的尊重，故选“respected”。18A.changing BchoosingCpreparing DeatingC解析：她总是面带笑容，有人拜访她时她总会准备(preparing)美味的饭菜。19A.only BeverCjust DstillD解析：尽管Shirley已经83岁了，她仍然(still)没有退休的打算。20A.ashamed BproudCdisappointed DlovelyB解析：根据语境可知，她是所有人的榜样，作者为有这样的姐姐而感到自豪(proud)。