1、湖北省2012高考英语二轮复习专题训练：阅读理解（16）阅读下列短文, 从各题所给的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中，选出最佳选项。AVampires (吸血鬼)Vampire stories go back thousands of years. The acts we now associate with vampires, such as rising from the grave and drinking blood, were popularized by eastern European stories. Most early cultures created stories to e
2、xplain things they didnt understand. For example, hair and nails continue to grow after people die, which has already been proved possible by modern science.These facts were unknown to most people in the 19th century, however. As a result, the legends surrounding such mysteries were kept alive. Coun
3、t Dracula In 1897, Irish writer Bram Stokers novel Dracula was published, spreading the vampire stories to a mass audience. In the novel, the Count Dracula of Transylvania, a 500-year-old vampire, has drunk his country dry and must move to England in search of new victims. Dracula means “son of the
4、dragon” or “son of the devil” in Romania. Werewolf The story of a half-man, half-wolf beast is as old as that of vampires, and almost as varied. In most werewolf stories, however, a beast would silently enter settlements at night and steal a young child or an animal. The most common explanation of w
5、erewolf stories is that the beast was usually an ordinary wolf. The genetic disorder, which causes too much body hair, may also have helped to popularize the story. Frankenstein This is a fictional scientist created by British writer Mary Shelly in 1818. Dr Frankenstein lives in a castle and is so a
6、ddicted to making living beings from parts of dead bodies that he refuses to marry.The story of Frankenstein may have been planted in Shellys mind since she visited Castle Frankenstein in Germany, where an alchemist(炼金术士) tried to do experiments with the aim of making people live longer.The Invisibl
7、e Man In HG Wells 1897 story, a young scientist called Griffin, manages to make himself invisible. But he cannot find a way to become visible again. He then wants to make use of his super power but finally has gone mad. Wells tale owes a great debt to Greek philosopher Platos book Republic. 1. The b
8、est title for this passage should be _.A. Origins of Ghosts B. Tales of Horror C. Exciting Stories D.Science Fictions 2. The people in the 19th century did NOT know _.A. why vampires drank blood B. why dead people rose from the graveC. that vampires always kept their nailsD. that hair could continue
9、 to grow after people died 3. What do most of the werewolf stories have in common according to the passage?A. The beast often silently entered settlements at night and stole a little child.B. The werewolf was in genetic disorder and so had a lot of body hair.C. An ordinary wolf would enter settlemen
10、ts at night and steal a child. D. The beast was sometimes a half-man and sometimes a half-wolf.4. Which of the following statements is right about Frankenstein and the Invisible Man?A. They were produced based on the writers real experience.B. They were the producers of science and technology.C. The
11、y were not well suited to their surroundings. D. They were folk legends in the writers homeland. BThe first two and a half years of American control of the Panama Canal were devoted only to preparation for human living. Energies were committed to establish suitable houses, hotels, and kitchens. Food
12、 supplies were built up and the ability of the existing Panama Railway system was increased. In addition, a large Panama Canal labor force was enrolled (招收) and organized under a civil government. With all this activity, the need for improved sanitation soon became apparent. Improving the unclean co
13、nditions was one of the greatest difficulties in building the Panama Canal. Colonel William C. Gorgas stepped up and took charge of improving these sanitary and working conditions. With the leadership of Gorgas, many new departments of sanitation were founded. Separate departments each undertook dif
14、ferent tasks. Some health departments were in charge of hospitals, others in the management of health matters, and still others took charge of sanitation inspections. Committees were also formed to look after the basic welfare of the laborers. The sanitation work included clearing land, establishing
15、 quarantine(检疫) facilities, and taking care of sick and injured laborers in hospitals. On top of this, an operation under Gorgas command aimed to destroy the yellow fever and malaria carrying mosquitoes. The big wetlands surrounding the canal in certain areas were a great breeding(繁殖) ground for mos
16、quitoes. In an attempt to solve some of the mosquito problems, the surrounding wetlands were drained(排干水) and filled. Various methods were used. This task was so big that the first two years of building the canal were largely dedicated to getting rid of the mosquitoes. In the end, these efforts were
17、 a success. By 1906, yellow fever was virtually wiped out in canal areas and the number of deaths caused by the other top disease, malaria, was also reduced significantly. With all these new health measures, the canal area has become one of the healthiest regions in the world. With the leadership of
18、 Gorgas, the department of sanitation helped to make the canal construction possible. 5. This passage is mainly about _. A. the health measures during the construction of the Panama Canal B. the leadership of Gorgas in the construction of the Panama CanalC. the first two years of American control in
19、 the Panama Canal D. the process of the construction of the Panama Canal6. Led by Gorgas, many departments were set up to do various tasks except _.A. inspect sanitation B. watch over health matters C. take charge of hospitals D. enroll labour force 7. What Colonel William C. Gorgas thought most imp
20、ortant was to _.A. remove the grasses and bushes B. establish quarantine equipment C. destroy mosquitoes D. attend to sick laborers in hospitals8. The author tells the readers that _.A. yellow fever and malaria are caused by waters and wetlands B. the wiping out of yellow fever reduced the number of
21、 malaria deathsC. the climate in the canal areas was suitable for mosquitoes to growD. the two-year sanitation work stopped the outbreak of yellow fever CThree Cups of Tea is the true story of our time. In 1993, a young American mountain climber named Greg Mortenson walks into a tiny village high in
22、 Pakistans beautiful and poor Karakoram Himalaya region. Sick, exhausted, and depressed after failing to climb the summit of K2, Mortenson regains his strength and his will to live due to the generosity of the people of the village of Korphe. Before he leaves, he makes a promise that will completely
23、 change both the villagers lives and his ownhe will return and build them a school.The book describes how Mortenson kept this promise and many more in the high country of Pakistan and Afghanistan. The region is remote and dangerous as a breeding ground (滋生地) for terrorists. In the course of his work
24、, Mortenson was taken prisoner and threatened with death. He suffered from local opposition, deep misunderstandings, jealousy, not to mention dangerous roads and extreme weather. But he believed strongly that balanced, non-extremist education, for boys and girls alike, is the most effective way to f
25、ight the violent discrimination that breeds terrorism. Today, Mortensons Central Asia Institute has constructed fifty-five schools, and his work continues.Mortenson first approached Karakoram as a climber and he never lost the mountaineers appreciation for the regions simple beauty and incredible ph
26、ysical challenges. His coauthor(合著者) David Oliver Relin skillfully described high-altitude landscapes. Gradually he transformed himself from a poor climber to a director of a helpful institute. In the course of this description, readers come to know Mortenson as a friend, a husband and father, a tra
27、veling companion, a son and brother, and also as an imperfect human being. Relin does not shy away from describing the mans annoying qualitieshis impatience, disorganization and sleeplessness. But Mortenson never asks others to make sacrifices that he has not already made himself time and time again
28、.Pakistan and Afghanistan appear in the news as the breeding grounds of terrorist training camps. In Three Cups of Tea, Mortenson and Relin take readers behind the headlines to reveal the true heart and soul of this region and to show how one mans promise might be enough to change the world.9. Greg
29、Mortenson promised to build a school for the villagers of Korphe to _.A. show admiration for the regions beautyB. show appreciation for their generosity C. remember his physical challenges D. promote his strength and will to live10. Greg Mortenson has devoted so much to building schools because he b
30、elieves that _.A. both boys and girls should be fairly educated B. people there must suffer a lot from terrorist attacksC. people there have to deal with opposition and misunderstandings D. education is the best way to fight discrimination that leads to terrorism11. The passage seems to think that t
31、he coauthor David Oliver Relin is _. A. straightforward and honest B. unhappy with Gregs behaviours C. good at describing a character D. embarrassed to admit Gregs mistake12. The writing purpose of the book Three Cups of Tea is to _.A. reveal the breeding grounds of terrorism B. share the true beaut
32、y of the region C. show the great power of ones promise D. inspire others to make sacrifices DCan Apes Really Learn To “Talk”Who are Sarah, Washoe, Koko, and Sherman? They are chimpanzees or gorillas who some scientists claim have learned how to “talk” to humans. In the past several years people hav
33、e been astonished by reports that they communicate with humans. For example, Koko, a female gorilla, is said to understand and use hundreds of words. Koko, says her trainer, Francine Patterson, can carry on conversations in sign language about her feelings and plans.Researcher Talks BackRecently a C
34、olumbia University scientist caused an argument by challenging the conclusion that apes can in fact use language. The scientist, Dr. Herbert Terrace, thinks that the animals do not use language the way humans do. Dr. Terrace has caused such strong feelings among scientists studying ape language. Her
35、e lets listen to an imaginary conversation between Washoe, the first chimp to learn sign language, and Koko, the gorilla. Apes Are TalkingKoko: Did you hear what Dr. Terrace said about us? He claims we cannot create our own sentences. Instead, he says, we react to clues accidentally given by our tra
36、iner. He says we are like the famous horse Clever Hans. Hans was supposed to be able to solve arithmetic problems and then stamp out the answers with his hoof(蹄子). If the horse was asked what two plus two was, he would stamp four times. Although the trainer did not realized it, says Dr. Terrace, the
37、 horse was picking up clues from the trainer as to when to stop stamping. Washoe: I disagree with Dr. Terrace. My trainer, Dr. R. Allen Gardner and his wife, Beatrice, have seen me talking in sign language to other chimps. Koko: I heard that Dr. Terrace became unimpressed with ape language after stu
38、dying a chimp named Nim. Dr. Terrace found that Nim usually made signs only after being prompted (提示) by his trainer. Yet when children learn a language, they start using many words on their own. Nim usually did not do this. Even when Nim did use additional signs, he did not add any new information.
39、 The signs (words) were repeated over and over again.Washoe: My trainer says that Nim wasnt given much of a chance to act on his own. He had so many different trainers, he became confused. That is not the best way to get chimps to communicate.Koko: Ill never understand humans. But the big question i
40、s: Can we really use language?Koko and Washoe (together): Well never tell.13. How do scientists who study ape language respond to Dr. Herbert Terrace idea according to the 2nd part?A. Enthusiastic.B. Confused. C. Angry. D. Sympathetic. 14. Which of the following is a match according to the passage?A
41、. Dr. Herbert Terrace and Koko. B. Dr. R. Allen Garners and Washoe. C. Clever Hans and Sherman. D. Francine Patterson and Nim. 15. Dr. Herbert Terrace suspects that _.A. Nim added new information while using additional signs B. Clever Hans picked up clues accidentally given by its trainer C. Washoe
42、didnt pick up any clues from its trainer when talking D. when a child learns a language, he starts using many words on his own16. Which of the following is a fact according to the passage?A. Nim had more than one trainer. B. Apes cant create their own language.C. The apes are supposed to form senten
43、ces. D. Clever Hans is supposed to solve math problems. EIn a world where comparisons happen non-stop, it is difficult to look outside yourself and to ever be content with who you are. Theres always someone whos a bit better. The only solution is to reach inside and measure against what Warren Buffe
44、tt calls your own inner yardstick. There is no more accurate measure for comparison than who you were yesterday, last week or last decade, when you were at your best. Nothing useful ever comes from comparison to others. Either you see yourself as better than someone and you get lazy, or you see some
45、one else as better than you and you feel like all your hard work is for nothing. It is a fools game. None of us are inherently above or below the person next to us. We are who we are. Not one of us is exactly alike. The only direct and honest comparison is within yourself. Everything else is apples
46、to oranges.My opinion is that you are only allowed to compare yourself to someone else if their life situation is the same as your own. Good luck finding that match. And one thing is for sure. No matter how hard you work and how dedicated you are, there will always be someone who can run a little fa
47、ster, jump a little higher, score a little better or look a little nicer in a swimsuit. And if theres not, you can bet someone is coming up fast behind you. So how can you always win in life? Become your best competitor.The following are the reasons why you are your own best competitor. 1. You will
48、always be motivated. Having an image of your most recent past limits is the perfect thing to push you to the next level. If you ran 7 flights of stairs yesterday, then do 8 today. Who cares if the guy next to you did 15? It doesnt make a bit of difference. You are a more fit person today than you we
49、re yesterday. Your own progress is all you need.2. You will continuously be your personal best. If you commit to a slightly higher standard of yourself every day, you will always be at the top of your game. And that game will only get better. But if for some reason you fall off your mark, you will a
50、lways have the past image of your best performance to show you what youre capable of. Once youve done it, you know whats possible and then its just a matter of doing it again. 17. Through the passage the writer advises the readers to _.A. avoid comparison with othersB. work much harder C. pay attent
51、ion to others progress D. make full use of motivation 18. If you want to be content with yourself, according to the author, you should _.A. see yourself better than othersB. measure accurately C. compare with yourselfD. be honest with yourself 19. Which of the following is certain to happen accordin
52、g to the author?A. Finding someone else who is in the same life situation as you are. B. Finding someone who runs faster and jumps higher than you.C. Finding someone who is hiding right behind you. D. Finding someone who almost always wins in their life. 20. What can help you up to higher level in your life according to the passage?A. Comparing yourself with the guy next to you.B. Thinking about your own progress.C. Promising to play a game every day.D. Thinking of your most recent past limits.1-20: BDACA DCDBD ACCBB AACBD高考资源网独家精品资源，欢迎下载！高考资源网Ks5uK&S%5#UKs5uKs%U高考资源网高考资源网高考资源网