1、Unit 4Never too old to learn.阅读理解ADigital hoarding(also known as e-hoarding or data hoarding)means accumulating(积累)a large quantity of electronic materials,even though it is no longer valuable to the user.Antoinette,25,said,“Though not well-organized,the WhatsApp chat with my best friends in high sc
2、hool will never be deleted.Its interesting looking back at the start of the relationship so many years ago and who I was then,and I can see how the relationship has changed.”Besides the“friends”we keep on social media,digital files,folders,music,movies and computer programs are also forms of digital
3、 hoarding.Both undergraduates and graduates expressed feeling overwhelmed with masses of technological leftover data:lecture notes,PowerPoint slides,PDFs of research,snapshots of classroom whiteboards not to mention their own ever-increasing Meta friends they didnt know but were afraid of unfriendin
4、g.I am also a digital hoarder.My first home screen is filled with apps I use every dayMeta,Spotify,Twitter,Outlook,Weather,etc.My second home screen has apps that I dont use quite as much,but still want within easy reachbilling apps,shopping,and smart home apps.My third home screen is where things g
5、et complex and out of control,just a mess of games,business-related apps,and a ton of miscellaneous data that are hard to be grouped into one category.I keep telling myself maybe Ill need them one day that has never come and probably never will.Hoarders fall into different categories.“Collectors”are
6、 organized,systematic and in control of their data.“Accidental hoarders”are disorganized,dont know what they have,and dont have control over it.The“compliant hoarders”keep data on behalf of their companies.Finally,“anxious hoarders”have strong emotional ties to their data and are worried about delet
7、ing it.People are more resistant when it comes to actually getting rid of their precious possessionsperhaps because they have treated these lifeless possessions as if they had thoughts and feelings.【语篇解读】本文是一篇说明文。文章介绍了什么是数字囤积、囤积的内容、囤积者的类型以及囤积的原因等。1.Why does the author write the text?A.To introduce d
8、igital collectors.B.To present a modern phenomenon.C.To advertise digital hoarding.D.To offer tips on handling e-data.推理判断题。根据文章第一段内容可知,本文主要围绕“数字囤积”这一社会现象展开。再结合下文内容可知,下文介绍了囤积的内容、囤积者的类型以及囤积的原因等。由此可推知,本文主要是为了向读者介绍“数字囤积”这种现代社会中存在的现象。故选B项。2.What does the underlined word“miscellaneous”in paragraph 4 refe
9、r to?A.Diverse.B.Reliable.C.Precise.D.Suitable.词义猜测题。根据画线词所在句中的“where things get complex and out ofcontrol”和“that are hard to be grouped into one category”可知,miscellaneousdata指的是复杂且无法控制的东西,这种东西难以归类。由此可推测出,只有数据种类繁多且混杂,才会难以把其归类。miscellaneous意为“混杂的,各种各样的”,与diverse意思最为接近。故选A项。3.Which type of digital hoa
10、rder does Antoinette belong to?A.Collectors.B.Accidental hoarders.C.Compliant hoarder.D.Anxious hoarders.推理判断题。根据第二段Antoinette说的话中的“Its interesting lookingback at the start of the relationship so many years ago and who I was then,andI can see how the relationship has changed.”可知,Antoinette对自己存的数据有很强
11、的感情。再根据倒数第二段中的“Finally,anxious hoarders havestrong emotional ties to their data and are worried about deleting it.”可知,Antoinette属于焦虑的囤积者。故选D项。4.What is the authors attitude towards digital hoarding?A.Doubtful.B.Disapproving.C.Tolerant.D.Uncaring.推理判断题。第四段讲述了作者也是一个数字囤积者,作者的三台电脑里都存满了东西。根据第四段中的“My firs
12、t home screen is filled with apps Iuse every day”,“My second home screen has apps that I dont use quite asmuch,but still want within easy reach”和“My third home screen is wherethings get complex and out of control”可知,作者在三台电脑上囤积了很多东西,但丝毫没有为此感到烦恼,这说明他对数字囤积持容忍的态度。故选C项。BWhat defines us?If pressed,I would
13、 answer that if there is any part of me that sits at my core,then surely it must be my moral centre,my deep-seated sense of right and wrong.And I often feel that Im a slightly different person in each language I speakmore determined in English,more relaxed in French,and more emotional in Czech.Is it
14、 possible that,along with these differences,my moral guidelines also point in somewhat different directions depending on the language Im using?In a research led by Albert Costa,volunteers were presented with a moral dilemma known as the“train problem”:Imagine that a train is charging at five people
15、standing on the track,unable to move.The only way to stop the train and spare the five people is to push another stranger off a footbridge into its path.Costa and his colleagues found that posing the dilemma in a language that volunteers had learned as foreign tongue dramatically increased their wil
16、lingness to push the sacrificial person off the footbridge,from fewer than 20%respondents using their native language to about 50%of those using the foreign one.In another research conducted by Janet Greipel,volunteers read acts that many people find immoral,such as stories where someone cooked and
17、ate his dog after it had been killed by car.Those who read the stories in a foreign language perceived these actions less wrong than those who read them in their native tongue.The difference in this judgment comes down to two separate and competing thinking patternsone of these,a quick and direct fe
18、eling,and the other,careful deliberation about the greatest good for the largest number.When we use a foreign language,we unconsciously sink into the more deliberate mode simply because the effort of operating in our no-native language activates our cognitive system.This is similar to findings that
19、reading math problems in a hard-to-read typeface(字体)makes people less likely to make careless mistakes.【语篇解读】本文是一篇说明文。文章主要说明了作者认为语言与道德有关,列举了两个实验并对这种现象进行了总结。5.What can we learn about the author from the first two paragraphs?A.He invests time in studying language.B.He perceives languages differ slight
20、ly.C.He ignores the role of moral concepts.D.He thinks languages relate to morals.细节理解题。根据前两段内容可知,作者认为语言与道德有关。故选D项。6.How did the author prove his viewpoint?A.By carefully citing examples.B.By collecting and listing data.C.By conducting experiments.D.By analyzing peoples habits.推理判断题。根据第三段中的“In a res
21、earch led by Albert Costa,volunteerswere presented with a moral dilemma known as the train problem:Imaginethat a train is charging at five people standing on the track,unable to move.”以及第四段中的“In another research conducted by Janet Greipel,volunteers readacts that many people find immoral,such as sto
22、ries where someone cooked andate his dog after it had been killed by car.”可知,作者通过仔细地引用例子证明他的观点。故选A项。7.Why are“math problems”mentioned?A.To justify a thinking pattern.B.To present a new finding.C.To clarify the cognitive system.D.To warn against making mistakes.推理判断题。根据最后一段中的“When we use a foreign la
23、nguage,weunconsciously sink into the more deliberate mode simply because the effort ofoperating in our no-native language activates our cognitive system.This issimilar to findings that reading math problems in a hard-to-read typefacemakes people less likely to make careless mistakes.”可推知,提到“数学问题”是为一
24、种思维模式辩护。故选A项。8.Whats the suitable title for the passage?A.Morality:The Core of PeopleB.Languages:Insights into JudgmentsC.Languages:A Shaping Power to MoralityD.Morality:A New Way to Learn Languages标题归纳题。文章主要说明了作者认为语言与道德有关,列举了两个实验并对这种现象进行了总结。由此可知,C选项“语言:一种塑造道德的力量”最适合作文章标题。故选C项。CSeveral years ago,I w
25、as at a pre-season football practice at a high school where I was working with the team on a concussion(脑震荡)research project.The players were lined up in two rows facing each other and with little more instructions from the coach than,“on the whistle,hit the man across from you”,great concern rushed
26、 through my mind.Professional sports get the lions share of attention,but over three million children and teenagers in the United States play the same game.This directly places concussion as a significant public health concern for all.However,for decades,concussion has been considered a temporary in
27、jury with no long-term consequences.Many athletes will do just about anything to stay on the field and“play through the pain”as a sign of toughness.In 2005,with the release of the brain tissue pathology(病理学)report of Mike Webster,a retired National Football League player,our thinking on concussion b
28、egan to shift.Since then,public attention has focused on this link between brain injury and blows to the head.As our understanding of concussion progressed to understanding its significance as an injury,so too did the development of player equipment.In the early 1900s football was played without hel
29、mets(头盔),but severe injuries,like skull fractures,led to the occasional use of leather helmets in the 1920s.The first facemask entered the game in the 1950s.Modern helmets use advanced shell materials,have moveable panels to absorb forces,and multi-layered padding that responds to different impacts.
30、Companies will continue to improve helmets as new materials become available,guided by the newest science.Sports are an important part of a societys culture and they give millions of children much-needed exercise.Yet,participation in any sport carries the injury risk,and concussion will always be pa
31、rt of that.As those children become adults and make sports their hobby or even career,ensuring they play safely at all levels is essential.【语篇解读】本文是一篇说明文。文章讲述运动中的安全问题,以脑震荡为例,由一开始的忽视到后来得到重视的过程,以此来告诉我们运动中安全问题至关重要。9.What made the author feel concerned?A.The coachs inexperience.B.The physical conflicts
32、among the players.C.Unawareness of the potential injuries.D.The unpredictable outcome of the project.推理判断题。根据第一段“Several years ago,I was.great concern rushedthrough my mind.”可知,作者当时正与球队一起进行脑震荡研究项目,而教练命令队员去打对面的人,由此可推断出,作者一定是担心教练没有意识到其中潜在的伤害。10.What did athletes use to do when meeting with sports-rela
33、ted concussion?A.They tended to ignore it.B.They felt scared about it.C.They quit playing immediately.D.They refused medical assistance.细节理解题。根据第三段的“However,for decades,.to stay on the field andplay through the pain as a sign of toughness.”可知,以前,运动员在遇到与运动相关的脑震荡时往往会忽视它。故选A项。11.What does paragraph 4 m
34、ainly talk about concerning the helmet?A.Its gradual improvement.B.Its widespread influence.C.The discovery of its new materials.D.The difficulty of its mass production.主旨大意题。根据第四段“In the early 1900s football.improve helmets asnew materials become available,guided by the newest science.”可知,该段主要是说运动员
35、所戴头盔的改进与变化。12.What can be inferred from the last paragraph?A.Exercise is vital for children.B.Sports safety cant be overemphasized.C.No participation in sports is without injuries.D.Concussion is the most common injury in sports.推理判断题。根据文章的最后两句“Yet,participation in any sport.playsafely at all levels
36、 is essential.”可以推断出,运动安全怎么强调都不为过。故选B项。.完形填空One day I was approaching several massive creatures when I came to a sudden stop.It was well beyond me that these huge animals should be limited by only some ropes.It was 1 that the animals could easily escape from these small ropes tied to their front leg
37、s.However,2,they did not.I spotted a 3 close by and wondered why the elephants just 4 where they were and had no intention to break away.“Well,”he replied,“as theyre very 5 we tie them with the same 6rope and its enough to 7 them for their age.As they grow up,theyre 8to hold the belief that they can
38、 never run away.They think the ropes are bound to 9 hold them,so they do not struggle to break free.”I was 10.The large animals could easily move away from their 11 but they felt they couldnt,so they were 12 right there.In our life a number of people are 13 with the same wrong self-limiting beliefIm
39、 not excellent enough or why try it if Im not going to 14 it.However,we oughtnt to 15 our capability,talent and potential.Instead,we should believe in ourselves.After all,we need to change with the times and think outside the box.1.A.importantB.obviousC.necessaryD.hopeful2.A.at that timeB.from then
40、onC.in that caseD.for some reason3.A.trainerB.teacherC.doctorD.businessman4.A.sleptB.ateC.stoodD.relaxed5.A.thinB.youngC.weakD.ill6.A.sizeB.colorC.styleD.length7.A.attractB.trainC.cheatD.hold8.A.encouragedB.conditionedC.taughtD.forced9.A.stillB.evenC.justD.hardly10.A.thrilledB.interestedC.shockedD.d
41、isappointed 11.A.ownersB.thoughtsC.habitatsD.bonds12.A.stuckB.killedC.soldD.fed13.A.laughed atB.told offC.brought upD.relied on14.A.meanB.catchC.getD.make15.A.controlB.underestimateC.ignoreD.develop【语篇解读】本文是一篇夹叙夹议文。文章结合作者看到大象被细绳绑住但不逃脱的原因的解释,提到了生活中也有一些类似的人,他们低估自己的能力、才能和潜力,认为自己不会成功。最后作者指出,我们应该相信自己,需要与
42、时俱进,跳出思维定式。1.B根据上文“these huge animals should be limited by only some ropes”可知,对于大型动物而言,轻松地从束缚它们的细绳逃脱是显而易见的。2.D结合上文“the animals could easily escape from these small ropes tied totheir front legs”及“they did not”可知,这些大型动物摆脱束缚它们脚的绳子很容易,然而它们没有,所以这里指不知什么原因。3.A结合下文作者向此人询问动物不逃走的原因,可推知此人是熟悉动物知识的人,应当是动物园中的驯兽师
43、。4.C结合下文“had no intention to break away”可知,此处指大象仅仅站在自己被拴住的地方。5.B结合下文“As they grow up”可知,此处指当它们还小的时候,它们就被用同样的绳子绑起来。6.A结合上文“small ropes”可知,这里指绳子的型号、尺寸。7.D根据下文“hold them”可知,此处指这些绳子可以绑住它们。8.B根据上文可知,在大象小的时候,它们就被用绳索绑住,所以到它们长大后,它们就习惯了自己永远无法逃走的想法。be conditioned to do sth习惯于做某事。9.A根据上文“hold the belief that t
44、hey can never run away”可知,大象小时候被绳子束缚着,所以它们长大后认为,绳子依然会束缚住它们。10.C结合上文驯兽员给作者讲大象不逃脱的原因,作者应该是感到吃惊的。11.D根据上文“the animals could easily escape from these small ropes tiedto their front legs”可知,此处指这些大型动物可以很轻松地摆脱绳子的束缚。12.A根据上文“had no intention to break away”可知,它们没有打算逃走,说明它们应该是被困在原地。13.C结合上文讲述大象被绳子束缚的事实,可知此处指我
45、们中的许多人也像大象那样被抚养长大。14.D结合上文大象认为它们无法逃脱束缚它们的绳子,所以也不尝试,自然无法摆脱,只能被困在原地。此处指不能成功,为什么要尝试呢?make it成功。15.B根据上文“Im not excellent enough”可知,我们认为我们不够优秀,这是对我们自己能力的低估。.读后续写阅读下面材料,根据其内容和所给段落开头语续写两段,使之构成一篇完整的短文。Surfing is a thrilling sport that requires a great deal of skills,strength,calm and determination.For teen
46、agers,riding the waves can make their blood racing and is an addictive experience.This is the story of one teenagers unforgettable adventure while surfing.Alex is a 16-year-old boy who grew up in a small coastal town.He is an enthusiastic surfer and spent most of his free time riding the waves.One s
47、unny morning,he headed out to the beach to catch some waves.As he arrived at the beach,the sun was shining,and the waves were perfect.He grabbed his surfboard and paddled(用桨划)out into the water.He spent the next few hours surfing,and as the sun began to set,he decided to catch one more wave before h
48、eading back to shore.Alex spotted a huge wave on the horizon and knew he had to ride it.He paddled as fast as he could,feeling the water beneath him push him forward.As he reached the top of the wave,he stood up on his board and felt the wind rush past him.The wave was huge,and Alex felt a rush of e
49、xcitement as he rode it towards the shore.But as he approached the shore,he noticed something unusual.The water was moving violently,and he could hear a strange noise coming from beneath him.Suddenly,the wave crashed down on him,and he was thrown from his board.He hit the water hard and was pulled u
50、nder by the current.Alex struggled to reach the surface but found himself trapped in a powerful current.The current was pulling him out to sea,and he could feel himself getting further and further away from the shore.Panic set in,and he began to fear for his life.注意:1.续写词数应为150左右;2.请按如下格式作答。But Alex
51、 was determined not to give up._The boat noticed him and headed towards him._ But Alex was determined not to give up.He attempted to swim towards the shore.But it didnt work.The force of the wave was too great,continuing to drag him further and deeper into the sea.He struggled to the surface and too
52、k a breath,but was covered again.After what seemed like hours,the sea finally calmed down.But it was darker and Alex had no idea where he was or which direction to swim in.Luckily,he saw light in the distance and guessed it was a fishing boat.He swam hard towards the boat and shouted for help.The bo
53、at noticed him and headed towards him.With the help of several fishermen,Alex was rescued.Exhausted,he sank on the deck.Recalling what had happened,he couldnt help feeling scared.If it hadnt been for the boat,he would have been killed.It dawned on him that safety should not be disregarded for the sake of momentary thrill.
