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。阅读理解 Boiler rooms are often dirty and steamy, but this one is clean and cool. Fox Point is a very new47-unit living building in South Bronx, one of the citys poorest areas. Two-thirds of the people living there are formerly (以前) homeless people, whose rent is paid by the government.
14、The rest are low-income families. The boiler room has special equipment, which produces energy for electricity and heat. It reuses heat that would otherwise be lost to the air, reducing carbon emissions(碳排放)while also cutting costs. Fox Point is operated by Palladian, a group that specializes in pro
15、viding housing and services to needy, people. Palladian received support from Enterprise Community Partners (ECP), which helps build affordable housing by providing support to housing developers. w_w*w.k_s*5_u.c_o mECP has created national standards for healthy, environmentally (环境方面) clever and aff
16、ordable homes which are called, the Green Communities Standards. These standards include water keeping, energy saving and the use of environmentally friendly building materials. Meeting the standards increases housing construction costs by 2%, which is rapidly paid back by lower running costs. Even
17、the positioning of a window to get most daylight can help save energy.Michael. Bloomberg, New Yorks mayor, plans to create 165,000 affordable housing units for500,000 New Yorkers. Almost 80% of New York Citys greenhouse-gas emissions come from buildings, and 40% of those are caused, by housing. So h
18、e recently announced that the citys Department of Housing and Preservation and Development (DHPD) , whose duty is to develop and keep the citys supply of affordable housing, will require all its new projects to follow ECPs green standards. w_w*w.k_s*5_u.c_o mSimilar measures have been taken by other
19、 cities such as Cleveland and Denver, but New Yorks DHPD is the largest city developer of affordable housing in the country.( ) 1. What is the purpose of describing the boiler room in the first paragraph? w_w w. k#s5_u.c o*mA. To explain the measures the city takes to care for poor people. B. To sug
20、gest that affordable housing is possible in all areas.C. To show how the environment-friendly building works.D. To compare old and new boiler rooms.( ) 2. What is an advantage of the buildings meeting the Green Communities Standards? A. Lower running costs. w_w*w.k_s*5_u.c_o mB. Costing less in cons
21、truction. C. Less air to be lost in hot days.D. Better prices for homeless people.( ) 3. It can be learned from the text that, A. New York City is seriously polluted w_w*w.k_s*5_u.c_o mB. peoples daily life causes many carbon emissions in New York CityC. a great number of people in New York City don
22、t have houses to live inD. some other cities have developed more affordable housing than New York City( ) 4. What is the main purpose of this text? w_w w. k#s5_u.c o*mA. To call on people to pay more attention to housing problems.B. To prove that some standards are needed for affordable housing.C. T
23、o ask society to help homeless people and low-income families.D. To introduce healthy, environmentally clever-and affordable housing.语篇解读：本篇文章为科技说明文。作者以Fox Point居住群的boiler rooms为切入点，阐述此类房子的环保节能的优点，以及各城市特别是纽约队建造此类建筑的积极响应。1. 答案：C考点：作者的写作意图解析：从第一段最后两句，作者描述开水房仅是从一个侧面展示整个建筑群的节能，环保，可以得出答案。2. 答案：A考点：细节理解解析
24、：依据文章第三段倒数第二句：Meeting the standards increases housing construction costs by 2%, which is rapidly paid back by lower running costs.可得到答案。句意为“达到这一标准会将建筑成本提高2%，但很快会被它的低成本运行成本补回”3. 答案：B考点：细节理解解析：依据文章第四段第二句：Almost 80% of New York Citys greenhouse-gas emissions come from buildings, and 40% of those are ca
25、used, by housing.可得出答案4. 答案：D考点：作者的写作目的解析：本文主要让读者了解这类健康、环保、经济类住房。阅读理解阅读下面短文，从每题所给的四个选项(A、B、C和D)中，选出最佳答案。 Many people think a telephone is essential. But I think it is a pest and a time waster. Very often you find it impossible to escape from some idle or curious chatter-box, or from somebody who wan
26、ts something for nothing. If you have a telephone in your own house, you will admit that it tends to ring when you are asleep, or in the middle of a meal or a conversation, or when you are just going out, or when you are taking your bath. Are you strong minded enough to ignore it, to say to yourself
27、,“Ah, well, it will all be the same in a hundred years time” You are not. You think there may be some important news or messages for you. I can assure you that if a message is really important it will reach you sooner or later. Have you never rushed dripping from the bath, or chewing from the table,
28、 or dazed from the bed, only to be told that you are a wrong number? But you will say, you need not have your name printed in the telephone directory, and you can have a telephone which is only usable for outgoing calls. Besides, you will say, isnt it important to have a telephone in case of emergen
29、cyillness, an accident, or fire? Of course, you are right, but here in a thickly populated country like England one is seldom far from a telephone in case of dreadful necessity. I think perhaps I had better try to justify myself by trying to prove that what I like is good. I admit that in different
30、circumstancesif I were a tycoon(business VIP),for instance, or bed ridden I might find a telephone essential. But then if I were a taxi-driver I should find a car essential. Let me put it another way: there are two things for which the English seem to show particular talent; one is mechanical invent
31、ion, the other is literature. My own business happens to be with the use of words but I see I must now stop using them. For I have just been handed a slip of paper to say that somebody is waiting to speak to me on the telephone. I think I had better answer it. After all, one never knows, it may be s
32、omething important.36.The passage is mainly discussing _.A. that we should be strong enough to ignore a phone callB. that important message will reach you sooner or laterC. whether its necessary to answer all phone callsD. whether it is necessary to have a telephone提示:通读全文，尤其是文章的第一段和最后一段可以得出此结论。答案:D
33、37.Judging from the passage, who is strong-minded enough to ignore a phone call?A. The author. B.A tycoon.C.A taxi-driver. D. Hardly anyone.答案:D 大意理解，文章的第二段第三段可以看出38.According to the passage, the author_.A. thinks the telephone should go out of our lifeB. likes to be different from other peopleC. th
34、inks the telephone is annoyingD. speaks favourably of a telephone提示:文章的第二句就说明了作者的观点，后面又作了进一步的补充说明。答案:C39.In the authors opinion, which of the following is NOT true?A. Nearly everyone has been told a wrong number.B. Its necessary for everyone to have a telephone.C. He himself can not decide whether t
35、o answer a call.D.A telephone directory may bring in unexpected calls.提示:从文章的第二段得出答案。答案:B完形填空This is a story that can teach us a good lesson. One day, a man in rags begged from door to door along the street. With an old wallet in his hand, he was asking for a few coins to buy something to eat. He ke
36、pt complaining about his bad fortune and kept1why those who had so much money were never2and were always desiring more. “As far as Im concerned, if I had only enough to3and to wear, I would not want anything more. ”Just at that moment Goddess Fortune, who came down the4saw the beggar and said to him
37、, “Hi, I have wished to5you for a long time. Now, open your6and I will pour my gold into it. But I will do that only on this7: All that falls into the wallet will be pure gold; but every piece falling upon the8shall become dust. Do you understand? ”“I see. ”said the beggar. “Then you should9! Its ob
38、vious that your wallet is a(n)10one, so dont load it too heavily, ”said the Goddess Fortune. The excited beggar could hardly11to have gold. He quickly opened his wallet, and a12of yellow coins was poured into it. The wallet grew heavier and heavier. “Is that enough? Isnt it cracking? ”asked the Godd
39、ess Fortune. “Never13. Its still strong enough now. ”answered the beggar. The wallet was filled with so many coins that the beggars hands began to14. “Ah, if only the golden stream would15forever! Just a little more, ”said the beggar, “16just a handful or two. ”“There! Its full. The wallet will17. ”
40、warned the Goddess Fortune, but the beggar requested, “It will18a little more, just a little more. ”One more piece was added and the wallet split. The19fell upon the ground and became dust. The greedy beggar had now20but his broken wallet. 【文章大意】一个沿街乞讨的乞丐遇到了财富女神, 财富女神给了乞丐许多金币, 同时告诫乞丐, 金币掉到地上则化为尘土。贪婪
41、的乞丐不听劝告, 导致金币撑破钱包化为尘土, 乞丐又变得一无所有。故事告诫人们面对金钱不要贪得无厌。1. A. showingB. explainingC. provingD. wondering【解析】选D。逻辑推理题。根据第一段最后一句, 为什么那些人如此有钱却从不满足, 还想得到更多。可知乞丐对此百思不得其解, “keep wondering”(一直想知道)符合句意。2. A. relaxedB. satisfiedC. worriedD. depressed【解析】选B。逻辑推理题。还想得到更多, 所以不满足, B项符合句意。3. A. learnB. watchC. eatD. pl
42、ay【解析】选C。背景常识题。由常识可知, 乞丐最重要的是要解决吃和穿的问题。eat(吃)对应下面提到的“穿”, 符合语境。4. A. streetB. bridgeC. yardD. forest【解析】选A。词汇复现题。根据第一段, 乞丐在沿街乞讨, 所以财富女神降临到大街上才能看到乞丐。street(街道)符合语境。5. A. praiseB. forgiveC. helpD. comfort【解析】选C。逻辑推理题。根据下文, “打开你的钱包, 我要给你一些金子”, 可知财富女神想帮助乞丐。所以选help(帮助)。6. A. coatB. pocketC. boxD. wallet【解
43、析】选D。词汇复现题。根据下文“All that falls into the wallet will be pure gold(所有进入你钱包的都是纯金)”可知乞丐打开的是一个钱包, 所以选wallet。前文也有提示。7. A. occasionB. suggestionC. situationD. condition【解析】选D。逻辑推理题。只有在这种条件下, “我”才会去做。“All that falls into the wallet will be pure gold; but every piece falling upon theshall become dust”解释上文提到的
44、这种条件。condition“条件、状况”, 符合句意。8. A. handB. feetC. groundD. street【解析】选C。词汇复现题。句意: 每一枚掉到地上的金币都会变成尘土。ground(地面)一词在最后一段中出现。9. A. look outB. look afterC. look upD. look down【解析】选A。短语辨析题。根据下文财富女神告诫乞丐不要装得太多, 提醒乞丐注意、当心。所以选look out。look after照顾; look up仰视, 向上看; look down俯视。10. A. smallB. emptyC. wornD. full【解
45、析】选C。词汇复现题。第一段中“With an old wallet in his hand”表明这是一个旧钱包, 所以选worn, 意思是: 用旧的。11. A. standB. waitC. breatheD. think【解析】选B。固定搭配题。could hardly wait to do sth. 意为: 迫不及待做某事。句意: 激动的乞丐早已迫不及待地想拿到金子。12. A. streamB. pieceC. pairD. variety【解析】选A。词汇复现题。根据倒数第三段中提到“golden stream”可知答案。13. A. stopB. requestC. fearD.
46、 insist【解析】选C。逻辑推理题。通过乞丐告诉财富女神钱包现在还很结实, 可知不要为钱包担心。Never fear. 不要害怕。14. A. spreadB. closeC. looseD. shake【解析】选D。逻辑推理题。句意: 钱包装了如此多的金币, 乞丐的手开始发抖。shake(发抖), 符合语境。spread伸展; close关闭; loose放松, 均不符合语境。15. A. pourB. endC. dryD. melt【解析】选A。逻辑推理题。乞丐希望金子源源不断地流出, 四个选项中只有pour(流出)能形象地描绘出乞丐的贪婪。16. A. takeB. addC. l
47、endD. send【解析】选B。词汇复现题。最后一段的第一句话有原词复现: One more piece was added and the wallet split。17. A. flowB. burstC. disappearD. change【解析】选B。逻辑推理题。钱包已经装满了, 而且是一个旧钱包, 继续装可能会裂开。所以选burst“破裂”。下文中的“split”为同义词复现。18. A. attractB. permitC. includeD. hold【解析】选D。词义辨析题。贪婪的乞丐认为钱包还能多装一点。hold“容纳”, 符合语境。19. A. presentB. foodC. treasureD. metal【解析】选C。背景常识题。treasure(财宝)这里指代金币。钱包破裂后金币自然会掉到地上。present礼物; food食物; metal金属, 均不符合句意。20. A. nothingB. anythingC. everythingD. something【解析】选A。逻辑推理题。句意: 现在贪婪的乞丐除了破裂的钱包一无所有了。nothing什么也没有。
