1、阅读理解。Feeling blue about the world ? “Cheer up，” says science writer Matt Ridley.“The world has never been a better place to live in，and it will keep on getting better both for humans and for nature.”Ridley calls himself a rational optimistrational，because hes carefully weighed the evidence optimisti
2、c，because that evidence shows human progress to be both unavoidable and good. And this is what hes set out to prove from a unique point of view in his most recent book The Rational Optimist. He views mankind as a grand enterprise that，on the whole，has done little but progress for 100, 000 years.He b
3、acks his findings with hard facts gathered through years of research.Heres how he explains his views.1)Shopping fuels inventionIt is reported that there are more than ten billion different products for sale in London alone.Even allowing for the many people who still live in poverty，our own generatio
4、n has access to more nutritious food，more convenient transport，bigger houses，better cars，and of course，more pounds and dollars than any who lived before us .This will continue as long as we use these things to make other things.The more we specialize and exchange，the better off well be.2) Brilliant
5、advancesOne reason we are richer，healthier，taller，cleverer，longerlived and freer than ever before is that the four most basic human needsfood，clothing，fuel and shelterhave grown a lot cheaper.Take one example.In 1800 a candle providing one hours light cost six hours work.In the 1880s the same light
6、from an oil lamp took 15 minutes work to pay for.In 1950 it was eight seconds.Today its half second.3) Lets not kill ourselves for climate changeMitigating(减轻) climate change could prove just as damaging to human welfare as climate change itself.A child that dies from indoor smoke in a village，where
7、 the use of fassilfuel(化石燃料) electricity is forbidden by wellmeaning members of green political movements trying to save the world，is just as great a tragedy as a child that dies in a flood caused by climate change.If climaic change proves to be mild，but cutting carbon causes real pain，we may well f
8、ind that we have stopped a nosebleed by putting a tourniquet(止血带) around our necks.人类的进步是无法阻挡的，是令人乐观。在理性的乐观主义者一书中，作者阐述了自己对于生活中的乐观现象，并且对于购物这样普通的日常行为所带来的积极影响都做了详尽的分析和描述。1What is the theme of Ridleys most recent book?AWeakness of human nature.BConcern about climate change.CImportance of practical think
9、ing.DOptimism about human progress.答案：D。理解判断题。从第二段的前两句话中，反复提到一个关键词“optimistic”以及信息句“because that evidence shows.”；另外，“this is what hes set out to prove.”一句也正好清楚的表明了作者在本书中所以阐述的正是这个话题，正是与选项D的说法是一致的，即：人类的进步总是不可避免的。2How does Ridley look at shopping?AIt encourages the creation of things.BIt results in sh
10、ortage of goods.CIt demands more fossil fuels.DIt causes a poverty problem.答案：A。细节判断题。从“Shopping fuels invention”一段正是反映了Ridley的观点：购物能够激发创造发明。选项A与之相吻合。3The candle and lamp example is used to show that _.Aoil lamps give off more light than candlesBshortening working time brings about a happier lifeCad
11、vanced technology helps to produce better candlesDincreased production rate leads to lower cost of goods答案：D。细节判断题。根据Brilliant advances 一段中的“Take one example”一句很明显的确定为：作者拿蜡烛与灯的比较与变化正是为了前面他所提到的看法，故与选项D的说法是一致的。4What does the last sentence of the passage imply?ACutting carbon is necessary in spite of t
12、he huge cost.BOverreaction to climate change may be dangerous.CPeoples health is closely related to climate change.DCareless medical treatment may cause great pain.答案：B。推理判断题。根据最后一句话中的“cutting carbon causes real pain”可以排除选项A与C的说法，因为它们大相径庭；而根据“putting. around our necks”一句可以表明选项D中“careless”一词运用不当，是不符合
13、语境的。故只有选项B是最正确的。【浙江省2014高考英语模拟冲刺卷】阅读下列短文，从每题所给的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中，选出最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该选项标号涂黑。Change is everything in the case of mobile phones. Recent research indicates that the mobile phone is changing not only our culture, but our very bodies as well. First, lets talk about culture. The difference between
14、 the mobile phone and its parent, the fixed-line phone, is that a mobile number corresponds to a person, while a landline goes to a place. If you call my mobile, you get me. If you call my fixed-line phone, you get whoever answers it. This has several implications（含义）. The most common one, however,
15、and perhaps the thing that has changed our culture forever, is the “meeting” influence. People no longer need to make firm plans about when and where to meet. Twenty years ago, a Friday night would need to be arranged in advance. You needed enough time to allow everyone to get from their place of wo
16、rk to the first meeting place. Now, however, a night out can be arranged on the run. It is no longer “see you there at 8”,but “text me around 8 and well see where we all are.” Texting changes people as well. In their paper, “Insights into the Social and Psychological Effects of SMS (Short Message Se
17、rvice) Text Messaging, two British researchers distinguished between two types of mobile phone users: the “talkers” and the “texters”those who prefer voice to text messages and those who prefer text to voice. They found that the mobile phones individuality and privacy gave texters the ability to exp
18、ress a whole new outer personality. Texters were likely to report that their family would be surprised if they were to read their texts. This suggests that texting allowed texters to present a self-image that differed from the one familiar to those who knew them well. Another scientist wrote of the
19、changes that mobiles have brought to body language. There are two kinds that people use while speaking on the phone. There is the “speakeasy”: the head is held high, in a self-confident way, chatting away. And there is the “spacemaker”: these people focus on themselves and keep out other people. Who
20、 can blame them? Phone meetings get cancelled or reformed and camera- phones intrude（侵入）on peoples privacy. So, it is understandable if your mobile makes you nervous. But perhaps you neednt worry so much. After all, it is good to talk.41. The “meeting” influence of a mobile phone refers to the fact
21、that _.A. people can arrange their meeting place and time more flexiblyB. people have to make a firm plan about when and where to meetC. people are able to meet someone at any place and any timeD. people have to attend phone meetings than ever before42. According to the two British researchers, the
22、Social and Psychological Effects are most likely to be seen on _. A. talkersB. the “speakeasy”C. the “spacemaker” D. texters43.Wecaninferfromthepassagethatthetextssentbytextersare_. A. showing or making known B.wellwrittenC.unacceptablebyothersD.shockingtoothers44. According to the passage, who is a
23、fraid of being heard while talking on the mobile? A. talkersB. the “speakeasy”C. the “spacemaker” D. texters45. Which of the following can be the best title of the passage?A. The Influence of Short Message ServiceB. Changes Caused by Mobile Phone UseC. Changes in the Use of the MobileD. Body Languag
24、e and the Mobile Phone41. A 从第三段People no longer need to make firm plans about when and where to meet.可知。42. D 从第四五段可知43. A 从第五段可知。44. C 从第六段最后一句可知45. B 从第一段可知阅读理解。Going green seems to be a fad(时尚) for a lot of people these days.Whether that is good or bad, we cant really say, but for the two of us,
25、 going green is not a fad but a lifestyle.On April 22，2011, we decided to go green every single day for an entire year.This meant doing 365 different green things, and it also meant challenging ourselves to go green beyond the easy things.Rather than recycle and reduce our energy, we had to think of
26、 365 different green things to do and this was no easy task.With the idea of going green every single day for a year, Our Green Year started.My wife and I decided to educate people about how they could go green in their lives and hoped we could show people all the green things that could be done to
27、help the environment.We wanted to push the message that every little bit helps.Over the course of Our Green Year, we completely changed our lifestyles.We now shop at organic(有机的) stores.We consume less meat, choosing green food.We have greatly reduced our buying we dont need.We have given away half
28、of what we owned through websites.Our home is kept clean by vinegar and lemon juice, with no chemical cleaners.We make our own butter, enjoying the smell of homemade fresh bread.In our home office anyone caught doing something ungreen might be punished.Our minds have been changed by Our Green Year.W
29、e are grateful for the chance to have been able to go green and educate others.We believe that we do have the power to change things and help our planet.60What might be the best title for the passage?AGoing GreenBProtecting the PlanetCKeeping OpenMindedDCelebrating Our Green Year61It was difficult f
30、or the couple to live a green life for the whole year because _Athey were expected to follow the green fadBthey didnt know how to educate other peopleCthey were unwilling to reduce their energyDthey needed to perform unusual green tasks62What did the couple do over the course of Our Green Year?AThey
31、 tried to get out of their ungreen habits.BThey ignored others ungreen behavior.CThey chose better chemical cleaners.DThey sold their homemade food.63What can we infer from the last paragraph?AThe government will give support to the green project.BThe couple may continue their project in the future.
32、CSome people disagree with the couples green ideas.DOur Green Year is becoming a national campaign.【要点综述】 本文是记叙文，主要讲一对夫妇在一年时间里做不同支持环保的事情，保护环境和地球。60A主旨大意题。文章第一段提出本文主题“对我们来说，支持环保 (Going green)不是时尚而是生活方式”，所以选A。61D细节理解题。第二段第二句“这意味着做365件不同的环保事情”，说明他们困难的原因是需要做不同的环保任务，所以选D。62A推理判断题。根据倒数第二段第一句“我们完全改变了生活习惯”及
33、倒数第二段剩下的内容可知选A。63B推理判断题。根据最后一段中描述“我们思想已经在改变，我们相信我们的确有能力改变，帮助这个星球”，说明这对夫妇将来还会继续他们的计划。C72013山东卷 -DSparrow is a fastfood chain with 200 restaurants. Some years ago, the group to which Sparrow belonged was taken over by another company. Although Sparrow showed no sign of declining, the chain was general
34、ly in an unhealthy state. With more and more fastfood concepts reaching the market, the Sparrow menu had to struggle for attention. And to make matters worse, its new owner had no plans to give it the funds it required.Sparrow failed to grow for another two years, until a new CEO, Carl Pearson, deci
35、ded to build up its market share. He did a survey, which showed that consumers who already used Sparrow restaurants were extremely positive about the chain, while customers of other fastfood chains were unwilling to turn away from them. Sparrow had to develop a new promotional campaign. Pearson face
36、d a battle over the future of the Sparrow brand. The chains owner now favored rebranding Sparrow as Marcys restaurants. Pearson resisted, arguing for an advertising campaign designed to convince customers that visits to Sparrow restaurants were fun. Such an attempt to establish a positive relationsh
37、ip between a company and the general public was unusual for that time. Pearson strongly believed that numbers were the key to success, rather than customers spending power. Finally, the owner accepted his idea. The campaign itself changed the traditional advertising style of the fastfood industry. T
38、he TV ads of Sparrow focused on entertainment and featured original songs performed by a variety of stars. Instead of showing the superiority of a specific product, the intension was to put Sparrow in the hearts of potential customers.Pearson also made other decisions which he believed would contrib
39、ute to the new Sparrow image. For example, he offered to lower the rent of any restaurants which achieved a certain increase in their turnover (营业额)These efforts paid off, and Sparrow soon became one of the most successful fastfood chains in the regions where it operated.71Which was one of the probl
40、ems Sparrow faced before Pearson became CEO?A. The number of its customers was declining.B. Its customers found the food unhealthy.C. It was in need of financial support.D. Most of its restaurants were closed.72What does the underlined word “them” in Paragraph 2 refer to?ACustomers of Sparrow restau
41、rants. BSparrow restaurants.CCustomers of other fastfood chains. DOther fastfood chains.73For what purpose did Pearson start the advertising campaign?ATo build a good relationship with the public.BTo stress the unusual tradition of Sparrow.CTo learn about customers spending power.DTo meet the challe
42、nge from Marcys restaurants.74The TV ads of Sparrow _Achanged peoples views on pop starsBamused the public with original songsCfocused on the superiority of its productsDinfluenced the eating habits of the audience75What was Pearsons achievement as a CEO?AHe managed to pay off Sparrows debts.BHe mad
43、e Sparrow much more competitive.CHe helped Sparrow take over a company.DHe improved the welfare of Sparrow employees.【要点综述】 这是一篇说明文。文章主要介绍拥有200家餐馆的Sparrow连锁快餐店从衰退到重生的过程。Pearson为此作出了很大的贡献。71C考查细节理解。从第一段的“And to make matters worse, its new owner had no plans to give it the funds it required.”可知，新的管理者没
44、有计划给予它所需要的资金。故选C。72D考查词义猜测。从本句的“which showed that consumers who already used Sparrow restaurants were extremely positive about the chain, while customers of other fastfood chains were unwilling to turn away from them.”前后对比，them 是指other fastfood chains。故选D。73A考查细节理解。从第三段的“Such an attempt to establish
45、 a positive relationship between a company and the general public was unusual for that time.”可看出Pearson启动广告活动的目的是在公司与公众之间建立起一种积极的关系。故选A。74B考查细节理解。从第四段的“The TV ads of Sparrow focused on entertainment and featured original songs performed by a variety of stars.”和“the intention was to put Sparrow in the hearts of potential customers.”可知，广告用原创的歌曲来娱乐公众，故选B。从“Instead of showing the superiority of a specific product”可知C项不正确。75B考查细节理解。从全文看Pearson为Sparrow连锁店起死回生作出了很大的贡献，连锁店又受到公众的喜爱，具有竞争力了。
