1、2016高考英语二轮：（寒假）阅读理解训练（18）及答案AOn a sunny day last August, Tim heard some shouting. Looking out to the sea carefully, he saw a couple of kids in a rowboat were being pulled out to sea.Two 12-year-old boys, Christian and Jack, rowed out a boat to search for a football. Once theyd rowed beyond the calm
2、waters, a beach umbrella tied to the boat caught the wind and pulled the boat into open water. The pair panicked and tried to row back to shore. But they were no match for it and the boat was out of control.Tim knew it would soon be swallowed by the waves.Everything went quiet in my head, Tim recall
3、s (回忆). I was trying to figure out how to swim to the boys in a straight line.Tim took off his clothes and jumped into the water. Every 500 yards or so, he raised his head to judge his progress. At one point, I considered turning back, he says. I wondered if I was putting my life at risk. After 30 m
4、inutes of struggling, he was close enough to yell to the boys, Take down the umbrella!Christian made much effort to take down the umbrella. Then Tim was able to catch up and climb aboard the boat. He took over rowing, but the waves were almost too strong for him.Lets aim for the pier (码头), Jack said
5、. Tim turned the boat toward it. Soon afterward, waves crashed over the boat, and it began to sink. Can you guys swim? he cried. A little bit, the boys said.Once they were in the water, Tim decided it would be safer and faster for him to pull the boys toward the pier. Christian and Jack were wearing
6、 life jackets and floated on their backs. Tim swam toward land as water washed over the boys faces.“Are we almost there? they asked again and again. Yes, Tim told them each time.After 30minutes, they reached the pier.1. Why did the two boys go to the sea?A. To go boat rowing. B. To swim in the open
7、water.C. To get back their football.D. To test the umbrella as a sail.2. What does it in Paragraph 2 refer to? A. The beach. B. The wind.C. The boat. D. The water.3. Why did Tim raise his head regularly? A. To check his distance from the boys. B. To consider turning back or not. C. To take in enough
8、 fresh air. D. To ask the boys to take down the umbrella.4. How did the two boys finally reach the pier? A. They were carried to the pier by Tim on his back. B. They swam to the pier all by themselves. C. They were washed to the pier by the waves. D. They were dragged to the pier by Tim.参考答案1-4 CBAD
9、 BWhat will power your house in the future？Nuclear，wind，or solar power？According to scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the US，it might be leaves but artificial (人造的) ones.Natural leaves are able to change sunlight and water into energy. It is known as photosynthesis (光合
10、作用)Now researchers have found a way to imitate this seemingly simple process.The artificial leaf developed by Daniel Nocera and his colleagues at MIT can be seen as a special silicon chip with catalysts (催化剂)Similar to natural leaves，it can split water into hydrogen and oxygen when put into a bucket
11、 of water. The hydrogen and oxygen gases are then stored in a fuel cell，which uses those two materials to produce electricity，located either on top of a house or beside the house.Though the leaf is only about the shape of a poker card，scientists claimed that it is promising to be an inexpensive sour
12、ce of electricity in developing countries. “One can imagine villages in India and Africa not long from now purchasing an affordable basic power system based on this technology,” said Nocera at a conference of the American Chemical Society.The artificial leaf is not a new idea. The first artificial l
13、eaf was invented in 1997 but was too expensive and unstable for practical use. The new leaf，by contrast，is made of cheap materials，easy to use and highly stable. In laboratory studies，Nocera showed that an artificial leaf prototype (原型) could operate continuously for at least 45 hours without a drop
14、 in activity.The wonderful improvements come from Noceras recent discovery of several powerful，new and inexpensive catalysts. These catalysts make the energy transformation inside the leaf more efficient with water and sunlight. Right now，the new leaf is about 10 times more efficient at carrying out
15、 photosynthesis than a natural one. Besides，the device can run in whatever water is available；that is，it doesnt need pure water. This is important for some countries that dont have access to pure water.With the goal to “make each home its own power station” and “give energy to the poor”，scientists b
16、elieve that the new technology could be widely used in developing countries，especially in India and rural China.5Which of the following orders correctly shows how the artificial leaf is used to produce electricity?aartificial leaves split water into hydrogen and oxygenbthe hydrogen and oxygen gases
17、are stored in a fuel cellcthe artificial leaves are put in waterdthe fuel cell uses hydrogen and oxygen to produce electricityAc，a，b，d Bc，b，a，d Cb，c，a，d Dc，a，d，b6The purpose of the scientists at MIT in developing the new artificial leaf is to_. Abuild up more power stations in the worldBprovide chea
18、per energy for developing countriesCoffer people in developing countries access to pure waterDgain a deeper understanding of the photosynthesis process7The main idea of this passage is _.Aan introduction to the history of artificial leaves Ba mixture of water power and solar energyCgiving energy to
19、the poor Dan invention copying photosynthesis参考答案5-7 ABD CIn December, 2010, many American newspapers publish a list of the best books of the year. Freedom by Jonathan Franzen is one of the most repeatedly praised books on this years list of favorites. It tells about the ups and downs of the Berglun
20、d family over many years. Mr. Franzen fills the book with sharp observations about American politics, culture and society.Jennifer Egans book A Visit from the Goon Squad takes place in 13 chapters over 40 years. The story moves back and forth in time, from different viewpoints. One main character is
21、 former rock musician Bennie Salazar who works for a record company. The other main character is a troubled young woman named Sasha who works for Bennie. The reader learns about their pasts and those of their friends.The main character in The Imperfectionists by Tom Rachman is a failing English Lang
22、uage newspaper published in Rome, Italy. Each chapter of the book tells about a reporter or editor working for this paper. Their stories are filled with intelligence and great personality.Two of the most popular nonfiction books of 2010 were about rock and roll stars. Just Kids is by rock singer Pat
23、ti Smith. It tells about her friendship with the artist Robert Mapplethorpe in the 1960s and 1970s before they became famous. Life is the autobiography of Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards. It is an honest and exciting look at the development of rock and roll and the wild times this famous ban
24、d has experienced.Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand tells about a man named Louis Zamperini. She tells about his extraordinary survival story after his plane crashed into the Pacific Ocean during Would War Two.Stacy Schiff has received great praise for her book Cleopatra: A Life. It tells about one of t
25、he most misrepresented and famous women in his story, Cleopatra. She ruled ancient Egypt about 2,000 years ago. One critic said Ms. Schiff has brought Cleopatra to life again by unearthing her story from centuries of lies.8.The following books are related to music EXCEPT_. A. The Imperfectionists B.
26、 A Visit from the Goon Squad C. Just Kids D. Life9.If your major is the history of ancient Africa, you may pay attention to _. A. Freedom by Jonathan Franzen B. Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand C. The Imperfections by Tom Rachman D. Cleopatra: A Life by Stacy Schiff10Which book will give you a practica
27、l understanding of the USA? ALife BCleopatra: A Life CFreedomDA Visit from the Goon Squad11.The last sentence of the passage implies that _. AStacy Schiff is an archaeologist Bthe critic finds the character in the book very real Cthe critic speaks highly of Cleopatra in history DStacy Schiff tells a
28、 story about an imaginary Egyptian queen参考答案8-11 ADCB DI want to talk about the economyNot the economy we hear about endlessly in the news each day and in politicians speechesI want to talk about the real economy, the one we live in day by dayMost people arent particularly interested in the economyS
29、hare prices are flying high; interest rates are soaring(令人伤心的）; the Dow Jones Index closed sixty-three points down on 847235 We hear this and subconsciously switch off Notice that the economy is not the same as the economy, The economy is what men in suits play with to make vast personal wealthThe e
30、conomy is where the rest of us live on a daily basis, earning our living, paying our taxes, and purchasing the necessities of life We are supposed to be benefiting from all the advantages of a well-off societySo why do we feel tired and stressed? We have no time for anything other than work, which i
31、s ridiculous given the number of labor-saving devices in our livesOur towns become more and more crowdedWe poison our air and seas, and our food is full of chemicalsTheres something wrong hereIf times were truly good, then you may think wed all feel optimistic about the futureYet the majority of us
32、are deeply worriedMore than 90 percent of us think we are too concerned about ourselves and not concerned enough about future generations The term economic expansion suggests something desirable, but expansion simply means spending more moneyMore spending doesnt mean that life is getting better. We
33、all know it often means the opposite - greed, crime, poverty, pollution. More spending merely feeds our whole economic system, which is based on production and consumption. Unless money keeps circulating, the economy breaks down. If we dont keep consuming, the whole system goes into stalemate（僵局）How
34、 do we break the cycle and make some changes? We need to become far more aware of the results of our actions. We buy clothes that are made in sweat shops by virtual slaves in poor parts of the world. We create mountains of waste. We demand cheap food, mindless of the fact that it totally lacks taste
35、 and is produced using chemicals that poison the land The consumption（消费） culture makes us unaware of the effect of our own behavior. Our main problem is not that we dont know what to do about it. It is gathering the desire to do it12According to the author, which one belongs to the real economy? AT
36、he Dow Jones Index BIncreases in interest rates CShopping in a supermarketDSkyrocketing share prices13It can be concluded from Paragraph 4 that Apeople are benefiting from a well-off society Bthe future generation is a big concern for most people Cthe majority of people are optimistic about the futu
37、re Dpeople still feel much pressure despite labor-saving devices14What is true about economic expansion? AIt may lead to some social problems BIt guarantees a better life for us CIt will stop the circulation of money DIt has only brought desirable effects15.The author writes the passage mainly to Asuggest a solution for over-consumption Bcall on us to change our behavior Cmake a distinction between two economies Dinform us of the effects of economic expansion参考答案12-15 CDAB