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英语阅读练习

Reading Test

The following passage refers to questions 8 through 14.

In the 16th century, an age of great marine and terrestrial exploration, Ferdinand Magellan led the first expedition to sail around the world. As a young Portuguese noble, he served the king of Portugal, but he became involved in the quagmire of political intrigue at court and lost the king's favor. After he was dismissed from service by the king of Portugal, he offered to serve the future Emperor Charles V of Spain.

A papal decree of 1493 had assigned all land in the New World west of 50 degrees W longitude to Spain and all the land east of that line to Portugal. Magellan offered to prove that the East Indies fell under Spanish authority. On September 20, 1519, Magellan set sail from Spain with five ships. More than a year later, one of these ships was exploring the topography of South America in search of a water route across the continent. This ship sank, but the remaining four ships searched along the southern peninsula of South America. Finally they found the passage they sought near 50 degrees S latitude. Magellan named this passage the Strait of All Saints, but today it is known as the Strait of Magellan.

One ship deserted while in this passage and returned to Spain, so fewer sailors were privileged to gaze at that first panorama of the Pacific Ocean. Those who remained crossed the meridian now known as the International Date Line in the early spring of 1521 after 98 days on the Pacific Ocean. During those long days at sea, many of Magellan's men died of starvation and disease.

Later, Magellan became involved in an insular conflict in the Philippines and was killed in a tribal battle. Only one ship and 17 sailors under the command of the Basque navigator Elcano survived to complete the westward journey to Spain and thus prove once and for all that the world is round, with no precipice at the edge.

1. The 16th century was an age of great ______ exploration.

A. cosmic

B. land

C. mental

D. common man

E. None of the above

2. Magellan lost the favor of the king of Portugal when he became involved in a political ________.

A. entanglement

B. discussion

C. negotiation

D. problem

E. None of the above

3. The Pope divided New World lands between Spain and Portugal according to their location on one side or the other of an imaginary geographical line 50 degrees west of Greenwich that extends in a _________ direction.

A. north and south

B. crosswise

C. easterly

D. south east

E. north and west

4. One of Magellan's ships explored the _________ of South America for a passage across the continent.

A. coastline

B. mountain range

C. physical features

D. islands

E. None of the above

5. Four of the ships sought a passage along a southern ______.

A. coast

B. inland

C. body of land with water on three sides

D. border

E. Answer not available

6. The passage was found near 50 degrees S of ________.

A. Greenwich

B. The equator

C. Spain

D. Portugal

E. Madrid

7. In the spring of 1521, the ships crossed the _______ now called the International Date Line.

A. imaginary circle passing through the poles

B. imaginary line parallel to the equator

C. area

D. land mass

E. Answer not available

The following passage refers to questions 8 through 14.

Marie Curie was one of the most accomplished scientists in history. Together with her husband, Pierre, she discovered radium, an element widely used for treating cancer, and studied uranium and other radioactive substances. Pierre and Marie's amicable collaboration later helped to unlock the secrets of the atom.

Marie was born in 1867 in Warsaw, Poland, where her father was a professor of physics. At an early age, she displayed a brilliant mind and a blithe personality. Her great exuberance for learning prompted her to continue with her studies after high school. She became disgruntled, however, when she learned that the university in Warsaw was closed to women. Determined to receive a higher education, she defiantly left Poland and in 1891 entered the Sorbonne, a French university, where she earned her master's degree and doctorate in physics. Marie was fortunate to have studied at the Sorbonne with some of the greatest scientists of her day, one of whom was Pierre Curie. Marie and Pierre were married in 1895 and spent many productive years working together in the physics laboratory. A short time after they discovered radium, Pierre was killed by a horse-drawn wagon in 1906. Marie was stunned by this horrible misfortune and endured heartbreaking anguish. Despondently she recalled their close relationship and the joy that they had shared in scientific research. The fact that she had two young daughters to raise by herself greatly increased her distress.

Curie's feeling of desolation finally began to fade when she was asked to succeed her husband as a physics professor at the Sorbonne. She was the first woman to be given a professorship at the world-famous university. In 1911 she received the Nobel Prize in chemistry for isolating radium. Although Marie Curie eventually suffered a fatal illness from her long exposure to radium, she never became disillusioned about her work. Regardless of the consequences, she had dedicated herself to science and to revealing the mysteries of the physical world.

8. The Curies' _________ collaboration helped to unlock the secrets of the atom.

A. friendly

B. competitive

C. courteous

D. industrious

E. chemistry

9. Marie had a bright mind and a ______ personality.

A. strong

B. lighthearted

C. humorous

D. strange

E. envious

10. When she learned that she could not attend the university in Warsaw, she felt _________.

A. hopeless

B. annoyed

C. depressed

D. worried

E. None of the above

11. Marie _________ by leaving Poland and traveling to France to enter the Sorbonne.

A. challenged authority

B. showed intelligence

C. behaved

D. was distressed

E. Answer not available

12. _________ she remembered their joy together.

A. Dejectedly

B. Worried

C. Tearfully

D. Happily

E. Irefully

13. Her _________ began to fade when she returned to the Sorbonne to succeed her husband.

A. misfortune

B. anger

C. wretchedness

D. disappointment

E. ambition

14. Even though she became fatally ill from working with radium, Marie Curie was never _________.

A. troubled

B. worried

C. disappointed

D. sorrowful

E. disturbed

The following passage refers to questions 15 through 19.

Mount Vesuvius, a volcano located between the ancient Italian cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum, has received much attention because of its frequent and destructive eruptions. The most famous of these eruptions occurred in A.D. 79.

The volcano had been inactive for centuries. There was little warning of the coming eruption, although one account unearthed by archaeologists says that a hard rain and a strong wind had disturbed the celestial calm during the preceding night. Early the next morning, the volcano poured a huge river of molten rock down upon Herculaneum, completely burying the city and filling the harbor with coagulated lava.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the mountain, cinders, stone and ash rained down on Pompeii. Sparks from the burning ash ignited the combustible rooftops quickly. Large portions of the city were destroyed in the conflagration. Fire, however, was not the only cause of destruction. Poisonous sulfuric gases saturated the air. These heavy gases were not buoyant in the atmosphere and therefore sank toward the earth and suffocated people.

Over the years, excavations of Pompeii and Herculaneum have revealed a great deal about the behavior of the volcano. By analyzing data, much as a zoologist dissects an animal specimen, scientists have concluded that the eruption changed large portions of the area's geography. For instance, it turned the Sarno River from its course and raised the level of the beach along the Bay of Naples. Meteorologists studying these events have also concluded that Vesuvius caused a huge tidal wave that affected the world's climate.

In addition to making these investigations, archaeologists have been able to study the skeletons of victims by using distilled water to wash away the volcanic ash. By strengthening the brittle bones with acrylic paint, scientists have been able to examine the skeletons and draw conclusions about the diet and habits of the residents. Finally, the excavations at both Pompeii and Herculaneum have yielded many examples of classical art, such as jewelry made of bronze, which is an alloy of copper and tin. The eruption of Mount Vesuvius and its tragic consequences have provided everyone with a wealth of data about the effects that volcanoes can have on the surrounding area. Today, volcanologists can locate and predict eruptions, saving lives and preventing the destruction of other cities and cultures.

15. Herculaneum and its harbor were buried under _________ lava.

A. liquid

B. solid

C. flowing

D. gas

E. Answer not available

16. The poisonous gases were not _________ in the air.

A. able to float

B. visible

C. able to evaporate

D. invisible

E. able to condense

17. Scientists analyzed data about Vesuvius in the same way that a zoologist _________ a specimen.

A. describes in detail

B. studies by cutting apart

C. photographs

D. chart

E. Answer not available

18. _________ have concluded that the volcanic eruption caused a tidal wave.

A. Scientists who study oceans

B. Scientists who study atmospheric conditions

C. Scientists who study ash

D. Scientists who study animal behavior

E. Answer not available in article

19. Scientists have used _________ water to wash away volcanic ash from the skeletons of victims.

A. bottled

B. volcanic

C. purified

D. sea

E. fountain

The following passage refers to questions 20-24.

Conflict had existed between Spain and England since the 1570s. England wanted a share of the wealth that Spain had been taking from the lands it had claimed in the Americas.

Elizabeth I, Queen of England, encouraged her staunch admiral of the navy, Sir Francis Drake, to raid Spanish ships and towns. Though these raids were on a small scale, Drake achieved dramatic success, adding gold and silver to England's treasury and diminishing Spain's supremacy.

Religious differences also caused conflict between the two countries. Whereas Spain was Roman Catholic, most of England had become Protestant. King Philip II of Spain wanted to claim the throne and make England a Catholic country again. To satisfy his ambition and also to retaliate against England's theft of his gold and silver, King Philip began to build his fleet of warships, the Spanish Armada, in January 1586.

Philip intended his fleet to be indestructible. In addition to building new warships, he marshaled 130 sailing vessels of all types and recruited more than 19,000 robust soldiers and 8,000 sailors. Although some of his ships lacked guns and others lacked ammunition, Philip was convinced that his Armada could withstand any battle with England.

The martial Armada set sail from Lisbon, Portugal, on May 9, 1588, but bad weather forced it back to port. The voyage resumed on July 22 after the weather became more stable.

The Spanish fleet met the smaller, faster, and more maneuverable English ships in battle off the coast of Plymouth, England, first on July 31 and again on August 2. The two battles left Spain vulnerable, having lost several ships and with its ammunition depleted. On August 7, while the Armada lay at anchor on the French side of the Strait of Dover, England sent eight burning ships into the midst of the Spanish fleet to set it on fire. Blocked on one side, the Spanish ships could only drift away, their crews in panic and disorder. Before the Armada could regroup, the English attacked again on August 8.

Although the Spaniards made a valiant effort to fight back, the fleet suffered extensive damage. During the eight hours of battle, the Armada drifted perilously close to the rocky coastline. At the moment when it seemed that the Spanish ships would be driven onto the English shore, the wind shifted, and the Armada drifted out into the North Sea. The Spaniards recognized the superiority of the English fleet and returned home, defeated.

20. Sir Francis Drake added wealth to the treasury and diminished Spain's _________.

A. unlimited power

B. unrestricted growth

C. territory

D. treaties

E. Answer not available in article

21. King Philip recruited many ______ soldiers and sailors.

A. warlike

B. strong

C. accomplished

D. timid

E. inexperienced

22. The ______ Armada set sail on May 9, 1588.

A. complete

B. warlike

C. independent

D. isolated

E. Answer not available

23. The two battles left the Spanish fleet _________.

A. open to change

B. triumphant

C. open to attack

D. defeated

E. discouraged

24. The Armada was ______ on one side.

A. closed off

B. damaged

C. alone

D. circled

E. Answer not available in this article

The following passage refers to questions 25-29.

The victory of the small Greek democracy of Athens over the mighty Persian Empire in 490 B.C. is one of the most famous events in history. Darius, king of the Persian Empire, was furious because Athens had interceded for the other Greek city-states in revolt against Persian domination. In anger the king sent an enormous army to defeat Athens. He thought it would take drastic steps to pacify the rebellious part of the empire.

Persia was ruled by one man. In Athens, however, all citizens helped to rule. Ennobled by this participation, Athenians were prepared to die for their city-state. Perhaps this was the secret of the remarkable victory at Marathon, which freed them from Persian rule. On their way to Marathon, the Persians tried to fool some Greek city-states by claiming to have come in peace. The frightened citizens of Delos refused to believe this. Not wanting to abet the conquest of Greece, they fled from their city and did not return until the Persians had left. They were wise, for the Persians next conquered the city of Eritrea and captured its people.

Tiny Athens stood alone against Persia. The Athenian people went to their sanctuaries. There they prayed for deliverance. They asked their gods to expedite their victory. The Athenians refurbished their weapons and moved to the plain of Marathon, where their little band would meet the Persians. At the last moment, soldiers from Plataea reinforced the Athenian troops.

The Athenian army attacked, and Greek citizens fought bravely. The power of the mighty Persians was offset by the love that the Athenians had for their city. Athenians defeated the Persians in both archery and hand combat. Greek soldiers seized Persian ships and burned them, and the Persians fled in terror. Herodotus, a famous historian, reports that 6,400 Persians died, compared to only 192 Athenians.

25. Athens had _________ the other Greek city-states against the Persians.

A. refused help to

B. intervened on behalf of

C. wanted to fight

D. given orders for all to fight

E. defeated

26. Darius took drastic steps to ________ the rebellious Athenians.

A. weaken

B. destroy

C. calm

D. irritate

E. Answer not available

27. Their participation _________ to the Athenians.

A. gave comfort

B. gave honor

C. gave strength

D. gave fear

E. gave hope

28. The people of Delos did not want to ______ the conquest of Greece.

A. end

B. encourage

C. think about

D. daydream about

E. Answer not available

29. The Athenians were _________ by some soldiers who arrived from Plataea.

A. welcomed

B. strengthened

C. held

D. captured

E. Answer not available

The following passage refers to questions 30-32.

The Trojan War is one of the most famous wars in history. It is well known for the 10-year duration, for the heroism of a number of legendary characters, and for the Trojan horse. What may not be familiar, however, is the story of how the war began.

According to Greek myth, the strife between the Trojans and the Greeks started at the wedding of Peleus, King of Thessaly, and Thetis, a sea nymph. All of the gods and goddesses had been invited to the wedding celebration in Troy except Eris, goddess of discord. She had been omitted from the guest list because her presence always embroiled mortals and immortals alike in conflict.

To take revenge on those who had slighted her, Eris decided to cause a skirmish. Into the middle of the banquet hall, she threw a golden apple marked "for the most beautiful." All of the goddesses began to haggle over who should possess it. The gods and goddesses reached a stalemate when the choice was narrowed to Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite. Someone was needed to settle the controversy by picking a winner. The job eventually fell to Paris, son of King Priam of Troy, who was said to be a good judge of beauty. Paris did not have an easy job. Each goddess, eager to win the golden apple, tried aggressively to bribe him.

"I'll grant you vast kingdoms to rule," promised Hera. "Vast kingdoms are nothing in comparison with my gift," contradicted Athena. "Choose me and I'll see that you win victory and fame in war." Aphrodite outdid her adversaries, however. She won the golden apple by offering Helen, daughter of Zeus and the most beautiful mortal in the land, to Paris. Paris, anxious to claim Helen, set off for Sparta in Greece.

Although Paris learned that Helen was married, he nevertheless accepted the hospitality of her husband, King Menelaus of Sparta. Therefore, Menelaus was outraged for a number of reasons when Paris departed, taking Helen and much of the king's wealth back to Troy. Menelaus collected his loyal forces and set sail for Troy to begin the war to reclaim Helen.

30. Eris was known for _________ both mortals and immortals.

A. scheming against

B. creating conflict amongst

C. feeling hostile toward

D. ignoring

E. comforting

31. Each goddess tried ______ to bribe Paris.

A. boldly

B. effectively

C. secretly

D. carefully

E. Answer not available

32. Athena _________ Hera, promising Paris victory and fame in war.

A. disregarded the statement of

B. defeated

C. agreed with

D. restated the statement of

E. questioned the statement of

Refer to the following passage for questions 33-37.

One of the most intriguing stories of the Russian Revolution concerns the identity of Anastasia, the youngest daughter of Czar Nicholas II. During his reign over Russia, the czar had planned to revoke many of the harsh laws established by previous czars. Some workers and peasants, however, clamored for more rapid social reform. In 1918, a group of these people known as Bolsheviks overthrew the government. On July 17 or 18, they murdered the czar and what was thought to be his entire family.

Although witnesses vouched that all the members of the czar's family had been executed, there were rumors suggesting that Anastasia had survived. Over the years, a number of women claimed to be Grand Duchess Anastasia. Perhaps the most famous claimant was Anastasia Tschaikovsky, who was also known as Anna Anderson.

In 1920, 18 months after the czar's execution, this terrified young woman was rescued from drowning in a Berlin river. She spent two years in a hospital, where she attempted to reclaim her health and shattered mind. The doctors and nurses thought that she resembled Anastasia and questioned her about her background. She disclaimed any connection with the czar's family. Eight years later, however, she claimed that she was Anastasia. She said that she had been rescued by two Russian soldiers after the czar and the rest of her family had been killed. Two brothers named Tschaikovsky had carried her into Romania. She had married one of the brothers, who had taken her to Berlin and left her there, penniless and without a vocation. Unable to invoke the aid of her mother's family in Germany, she had tried to drown herself.

During the next few years, scores of the czar's relatives, ex-servants, and acquaintances interviewed her. Many of these people said that her looks and mannerisms were evocative of the Anastasia that they had known. Her grandmother and other relatives denied that she was the real Anastasia, however.

Tired of being accused of fraud, Anastasia immigrated to the United States in 1928 and took the name Anna Anderson. She still wished to prove that she was Anastasia, though, and returned to Germany in 1933 to bring suit against her mother's family. There she declaimed to the court, asserting that she was indeed Anastasia and deserved her inheritance.

In 1957, the court decided that it could neither confirm nor deny Anastasia's identity. Although it will probably never be known whether this woman was the Grand Duchess Anastasia, her search to establish her identity has been the subject of numerous books, plays, and movies.

33. Some Russian peasants and workers ______ for social reform.

A. longed

B. cried out

C. begged

D. hoped

E. thought much

34. Witnesses ______ that all members of the czar's family had been executed.

A. gave assurance

B. thought

C. hoped

D. convinced some

E. Answer not available

35. Tschaikovsky initially ______ any connection with the czar's family.

A. denied

B. stopped

C. noted

D. justified

E. Answer not available

36. She was unable to ______ the aid of her relatives.

A. locate

B. speak about

C. call upon

D. identify

E. know

37. In court she _________ maintaining that she was Anastasia and deserved her inheritance.

A. finally appeared

B. spoke forcefully

C. gave testimony

D. gave evidence

E. Answer not available

Refer to the following passage for questions 38-39.

King Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette ruled France from 1774 to 1789, a time when the country was fighting bankruptcy. The royal couple did not let France's insecure financial situation limit their immoderate spending, however. Even though the minister of finance repeatedly warned the king and queen against wasting money, they continued to spend great fortunes on their personal pleasure. This lavish spending greatly enraged the people of France. They felt that the royal couple bought its luxurious lifestyle at the poor people's expense.

Marie Antoinette, the beautiful but exceedingly impractical queen, seemed uncaring about her subjects' misery. While French citizens begged for lower taxes, the queen embellished her palace with extravagant works of art. She also surrounded herself with artists, writers, and musicians, who encouraged the queen to spend money even more profusely.

While the queen's favorites glutted themselves on huge feasts at the royal table, many people in France were starving. The French government taxed the citizens outrageously. These high taxes paid for the entertainments the queen and her court so enjoyed. When the minister of finance tried to stop these royal spendthrifts, the queen replaced him. The intense hatred that the people felt for Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette kept building until it led to the French Revolution. During this time of struggle and violence (1789-1799), thousands of aristocrats, as well as the king and queen themselves, lost their lives at the guillotine. Perhaps if Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette had reined in their extravagant spending, the events that rocked France would not have occurred.

38. The people surrounding the queen encouraged her to spend money ______.

A. wisely

B. abundantly

C. carefully

D. foolishly

E. joyfully

39. The minister of finance tried to curb these royal ______.

A. aristocrats

B. money wasters

C. enemies

D. individuals

E. spenders

Refer to the following passage for questions 40-45.

Many great inventions are initially greeted with ridicule and disbelief. The invention of the airplane was no exception. Although many people who heard about the first powered flight on December 17, 1903 were excited and impressed, others reacted with peals of laughter. The idea of flying an aircraft was repulsive to some people. Such people called Wilbur and Orville Wright, the inventors of the first flying machine, impulsive fools. Negative reactions, however, did not stop the Wrights. Impelled by their desire to succeed, they continued their experiments in aviation.

Orville and Wilbur Wright had always had a compelling interest in aeronautics and mechanics. As young boys they earned money by making and selling kites and mechanical toys. Later, they designed a newspaper-folding machine, built a printing press, and operated a bicycle-repair shop. In 1896, when they read about the death of Otto Lilienthal, the brothers' interest in flight grew into a compulsion.

Lilienthal, a pioneer in hang-gliding, had controlled his gliders by shifting his body in the desired direction. This idea was repellent to the Wright brothers, however, and they searched for more efficient methods to control the balance of airborne vehicles. In 1900 and 1901, the Wrights tested numerous gliders and developed control techniques. The brothers' inability to obtain enough lift power for the gliders almost led them to abandon their efforts.

After further study, the Wright brothers concluded that the published tables of air pressure on curved surfaces must be wrong. They set up a wind tunnel and began a series of experiments with model wings. Because of their efforts, the old tables were repealed in time and replaced by the first reliable figures for air pressure on curved surfaces. This work, in turn, made it possible for the brothers to design a machine that would fly. In 1903 the Wrights built their first airplane, which cost less than $1,000. They even designed and built their own source of propulsion-a lightweight gasoline engine. When they started the engine on December 17, the airplane pulsated wildly before taking off. The plane managed to stay aloft for 12 seconds, however, and it flew 120 feet.

By 1905, the Wrights had perfected the first airplane that could turn, circle, and remain airborne for half an hour at a time. Others had flown in balloons and hang gliders, but the Wright brothers were the first to build a full-size machine that could fly under its own power. As the contributors of one of the most outstanding engineering achievements in history, the Wright brothers are accurately called the fathers of aviation.

40. The idea of flying an aircraft was ______ to some people.

A. boring

B. distasteful

C. exciting

D. needless

E. Answer not available

41. People thought that the Wright brothers had ______.

A. acted without thinking

B. been negatively influenced

C. been too cautious

D. been mistaken

E. acted in a negative way

42. The Wrights' interest in flight grew into a ______.

A. financial empire

B. plan

C. need to act

D. foolish thought

E. Answer not available

43. Lilienthal's idea about controlling airborne vehicles was _________ the Wrights.

A. proven wrong by

B. opposite to the ideas of

C. disliked by

D. accepted by

E. improved by

44. The old tables were _________ and replaced by the first reliable figures for air pressure on curved surfaces.

A. destroyed

B. invalidated

C. multiplied

D. approved

E. not used

45. The Wrights designed and built their own source of _________.

A. force for moving forward

B. force for turning around

C. turning

D. force for going backward

E. None of the above

Answers and Explanations

1. B: "Terrestrial" means land. No choice here offers a synonym for "marine," e.g. nautical/naval/water/seagoing, and no other choices match either marine or terrestrial.

2. A: "Quagmire" means literally a bog or marsh, and figuratively an involved situation difficult to escape; entanglement is a synonym, more specifically similar than the other choices.

3. A: Longitudes are imaginary geographical lines running north and south. Latitudes run east and west. The other choices do not equal either latitude or longitude in direction.

4. C: Topography means the physical features of a land mass. It does not mean coastline (A), mountain range (B), or islands (D).

5. C: A peninsula is a piece of land connected to the mainland by an isthmus and projecting into the ocean such that it is surrounded on three sides by water. A peninsula is not a coast (A); it is not found inland (B); and it is not

a border (D).

6. B: The passage was found near 50 degrees S latitude. Latitudes are measured horizontally, in relation to the equator or central imaginary line, equidistant between the North and South Poles. Longitudes are measured vertically. Greenwich (A), the location of zero degrees longitude, adopted as the global standard, is both incorrect and never named in the passage. Spain (C), Portugal (D), and Madrid (E) in Spain are also incorrect.

7. A: Meridians are imaginary geographical circles intersecting the poles. Imaginary lines parallel to the equator

(B) are latitudes. The International Date Line is a specific meridian, not an area (C). It is not a land mass (D) as it crosses both water and land.

8. A: "Amicable" means friendly. It does not mean competitive (B), i.e. oppositional, ambitious, or aggressive; courteous (C), i.e. polite; industrious (D), i.e. hard-working; or chemistry (E): their collaboration was in physics, but moreover, the passage specifically describes their collaboration as "amicable."

9. B: "Blithe" means light-hearted. It does not mean strong (A), humorous (B) or funny; strange (D), or envious (E).

10. B: "Disgruntled" means annoyed. It does not mean hopeless (A), depressed (C), or worried (D).

11. A: Marie challenged authority by going to study at the Sorbonne, because Warsaw's university did not admit women. The passage indicates this challenge by describing her "defiantly" leaving Poland for France; i.e., she was defying authority. The passage does not indicate she showed intelligence (B), "behaved" (C), or was distressed (D) or upset by her move.

12. A: A synonym for "despondently" is "dejectedly," meaning sadly, with despair or depression. The passage indicates this by describing Curie's emotional state as one of "heartbreaking anguish" over her husband's sudden accidental death. She is not described in this passage as worried (B) by her memories, or recalling them tearfully

(C), happily (D), or irefully (E), i.e. angrily.

13. C: The closest synonym for the "feeling of desolation" (despair) described in the passage is wretchedness. Misfortune (A) or ill fate/luck is not as close. Anger (B) is a separate emotion from desolation. Disappointment (D) is also different from desolation, meaning feeling let-down rather than hopeless. Ambition (E) is drive to succeed or accomplish things. It was not Curie's ambition that faded upon returning to the Sorbonne but her depression.

14. C: "Disillusioned" means disappointed. It does not mean troubled (A), i.e. concerned or disturbed; worried (B) or anxious; sorrowful (D) or sad; or disturbed (E).

15. B: "Coagulated" means solidified. Liquid (A) is an opposite of solid. Flowing (C) assumes a liquid, not solid, state. Gas (D) is another opposite of solid. (Three states of matter, like volcanic material, are liquid, solid, and gaseous.)

16. A: "Buoyant" means able to float. The passage indicates this by indicating that the gases therefore, sank toward earth and suffocated people. Buoyant does not mean visible (B) or possible to see. Able to float/buoyant does not mean able to evaporate (C). Evaporation means turning to vapor, which only liquids can do. Gases are already vapors. Buoyant does not mean invisible (D) or unseen. Able to float does not mean able to condense (E),

i.e. turn from vapor to liquid.

17. B: "Dissect" means to cut apart for study. It does not mean to describe in detail (A), to photograph (C), or to chart (D) a specimen.

18. B: Meteorologists are scientists who study atmospheric conditions, particularly weather. Scientists who study oceans (A) are oceanographers, i.e. marine scientists. Scientists who study ash (C) do not exist as members of a separate discipline. Climate scientists and many others concerned with its effects study volcanic ash. Scientists who study animal behavior (D) are ethologists or animal behaviorists and do not study ash.

19. C: Distilled water is purified water. Distilled water is not equivalent to bottled (A), volcanic (B), sea (D), or fountain (E) water.

20. A: "Supremacy" means unlimited power, not unrestricted growth (B). The passage states that Drake diminished Spain's supremacy, but does not specifically mention diminishing its territory (C). Drake's raids enriched England and reduced Spain's power; no mention is made of eliminating any treaties (D).

21. B: "Robust" means strong. It does not mean warlike (A), accomplished (C) or competent, timid (D) or fearful, or inexperienced (E).

22. B: "Martial" means warlike or war-related. It does not mean complete (A), independent (C), or isolated (D).

23. C: "Vulnerable" means open to attack or susceptible to harm. It does not mean open to change (A) or receptive, triumphant (B) or victorious, defeated (D) or beaten-they were vulnerable to attack first and then consequently were defeated-or discouraged (E), i.e. disheartened or dispirited.

24. A: The passage indicates the Armada was "blocked" on one side, i.e. closed off rather than damaged (B) (it was damaged extensively, not on one side); alone (C) or circled (D), i.e. surrounded, neither of which can be done on only one side.

25. B: "Interceded for" means intervened on behalf of, not refused help to (A), wanted to fight (C), given orders for all to fight (D), or defeated (E).

26. C: "Pacify" means to calm or make peaceful. It does not mean to make weaker (A), to destroy (B), or to irritate (D), i.e. annoy or provoke.

27. B: "Ennobled" means gave honor to or made noble. It does not mean gave comfort (A) or solace, gave strength (C), i.e. fortified or reinforced, gave fear (D) or frightened, or gave hope (E) or encouraged.

28. B: To "abet" means to enable, support, or encourage, usually in crime or doing something wrong. It does not mean to end (A), think about (C), or daydream about (D) something.

29. B: "Reinforced" means strengthened, not welcomed (A), held (C), or captured (D).

30. B: The passage states that the presence of Eris, goddess of discord, "always embroiled mortals and immortals alike in conflict." Embroiling them in conflict is creating conflict amongst them. It does not mean scheming against (A) them, feeling hostile toward (C) them, ignoring (D) them, or comforting (E) them.

31. A: "Aggressively" means boldly. It does not mean effectively (B) or successfully, secretly (C), or carefully (D).

32. A: "Contradicted" means Athena disregarded Hera's statement and disputed or countered it. It does not mean she defeated (B) her statement, agreed with (C) it, restated (D) it, or questioned (E) it.

33. B: To "clamor for" means to cry out for (something). It does not mean to long for (A) it, beg (C) for it, hope (D) for it, or think much (E) "for," of, or about it.

34. A: To "vouch" means to give assurance. It does not mean to think (B), hope (C), or convince some (D).

35. A: "Disclaimed" means denied, i.e. refused or declared untrue. It does not mean stopped (B), noted (C), or justified (D), i.e. substantiated or confirmed, the opposite of denied.

36. C: She was unable to invoke, i.e. to call upon, the aid of relatives. To invoke does not mean to locate (A) or find; to speak about (B) or discuss; to identify (D), i.e. recognize; or to know (E).

37. B: "Declaimed" means spoke forcefully. It does not mean finally appeared (A). Though she did also give testimony (C) in court, "declaimed" does not mean to testify; it describes the way she spoke while doing so. "Declaimed" also does not mean she gave evidence (D).

38. B: "Profusely" means abundantly, copiously, or excessively. It does not mean wisely (A) or carefully (B), which are both opposite in meaning to the excessive connotation of profuse spending. Foolishly (D) can be associated with spending profusely, but does not have the same meaning. Profusely does not mean joyfully (E), i.e. gleefully or happily.

39. B: "Spendthrifts" means money wasters. It does not mean aristocrats (A), i.e. nobles or privileged people. It does not mean enemies (C) or adversaries. It does not mean individuals (D) or persons. "Spenders" (E) denotes people who spend, but does not convey the sense of wasteful spending or squandering in the same way that "spendthrifts" does.

40. B: "Repulsive" means distasteful. It does not mean boring (A), exciting (C), or needless (D).

41. A: "Impulsive" means acting on impulse, i.e. acting without thinking. People thinking the Wrights "impulsive fools" does not mean they thought the Wrights had been negatively influenced (B), too cautious (C), mistaken (D), or had acted in a negative way (E).

42. C: A "compulsion" is a need or an urge to act. It is not a financial empire (A), a plan (B), or a foolish thought

(D).

43. C: "Repellent" means offensive or hateful; in other words, Lilienthal's idea was disliked by the Wrights. It does not mean his idea was opposite to the idea of (B) the Wrights. It means the opposite of its being accepted by (D) the Wrights. They found his idea unpleasant rather than improving (E) on it.

44. B: "Repealed" means invalidated, i.e. disproven or overturned. It does not mean destroyed (A); multiplied (C),

i.e. increased/approved (D), an antonym; or unused (E).

45. A: "Propulsion" is force for propelling or moving forward. It does not mean force for turning around (B), turning (C) (oscillation perhaps), or force for going backward (D) (like repulsion).

【英语】英语阅读理解练习题含答案及解析

【英语】英语阅读理解练习题含答案及解析一、高中英语阅读理解 1．阅读理解 When going out to dine with kids，you need to know the places where kids are not only welcomed，but really catered for. The following are some of the best family friendly restaurants and cafes. Billy Lids It is a unique environment where your child can play safely while you relax in the central cafe area. The indoor playground includes facilities for children up to 11 years old. There are plenty of food options for the kids，including homemade sausage rolls. Business Hours: Monday to Thursday: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday to Saturday: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tel: 9916 0350 Gladesville Bistro (小餐馆) Welcome to our revolutionary kid-friendly family bistro—where your kids are welcome to play, draw, slip and slide. Our menu includes sandwiches and chips. Your children will receive a free cup of popcorn with every kid's meal purchased. Business Hours: Monday to Sunday: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tel: 9816 4052 MUMU Grill It offers the perfect family dinner. The children can eat and then play in the park opposite the restaurant. Children will be kept amused by the kids, menus, which feature coloring in activities. Children are able to color in a picture of a cow with crayons. Business Hours: Monday to Friday: 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday to Sunday: 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Tel: 9460 6877 Flying Fox Cafe It is located in a park in Mona Vale. Near the cafe is a fantastic fenced children's playground, famous for playground facilities including a bike track, walking tracks and a dog walking beach. Business Hours: Monday to Sunday: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The weather can sometimes influence the closing time. If you are unsure, please call 9986 0980.（1）Where can your children enjoy popcorn for free? A. At Flying Fox Cafe. B. At Gladesville Bistro. C. At MUMU Grill. D. At Billy Lids.（2）MUMU Grill does NOT offer service on A. Tuesday morning B. Wednesday afternoon C. Friday afternoon D. Saturday evening （3）How is Flying Fox Cafe different from other restaurants? A. It only offers home-made sausage rolls to parents and children. B. It amuses children with coloring-in activities listed on the menu. C. Its business hours may be influenced by the weather. D. It offers children crayons to draw pictures of cows.

大学英语B 阅读理解答案

阅读理解 B 42、Martin Luther King was a black minister, who became a great leader of the civil rights movement in the 1950s and 1960s. King was born on January 15, 1929 in Atlanta, Georgia. When he was young, he was strongly influenced by Thoreau and Indian leader Mahatma Gandhi's idea of non-violent resistance. Having received a Ph. D (Doctor of Philosophy) from Boston University, he became a political and religious leader of the non-violent civil relights movement in 1955. On August 28, 1963, he led over 250,000 Americans on a march in Washington D.C. to fight for the Civil Rights Law to guarantee equality for all people, and delivered his best known speech "I Have a Dream" before the Lincoln Memorial. The "dream" is a dream of brotherly love and equality for the Black and White. Thus, he was awarded the Nobel Prize for peace in 1964, but he was murdered four years later. Though he died, he was greatly respected and loved by the Americans, both the white and the black. By vote of Congress in 1968, the third Monday of every January is now a federal holiday in Luther King's honor. He lives in people's hearts forever. (1)、Martin Luther King was murdered when he was 39 years old. A：T B：F 答案：A (2)、Martin Luther King was a black minister only. A：T B：F 答案：B (3)、Martin Luther King's Day has been a federal holiday for more than 40 years. A：T B：F 答案：A (4)、The underlined word "delivered" in the second paragraph could be replaced by "gave". A：T B：F 答案：A (5)、The best title for this passage is "Civil Rights Law". A：T B：F 答案：B 43、A public house which was recently bought by Mr. James is up for sale. He is going to sell it because it is haunted (闹鬼的). He told me that he could not go to sleep one night because he heard a strange noise coming from the bar. The next morning, he found that the doors had been blocked by chairs and the furniture had been moved. Though Mr. James had turned the lights off before he went to bed, they were on in the morning. He also said that he had found five empty whisky bottles which the ghost (鬼) must have drunk the night before. When I suggested that some villagers must have come in for a free drink, he shook his head. The villagers have told him that they will not accept it even if he gives it away. (1)、Mr. James was the owner of the public house. A：T B：F 答案：A (2)、Mr. James had not turned off the lights that night. A：T B：F 答案：B (3)、Mr. James built the house. A：T B：F 答案：B (4)、Mr. James found sixty empty bottles. A：T B：F 答案：B (5)、The writer of the passage believes Mr. James' story. A：T B：F 答案：B 44、Great changes have been made in family life because of science and industry. In the past, when more Americans lived on farms, the typical family had many children. In a farm family, parents and their children often lived with grandparents. Often, too, uncles and aunts lived nearby. But when industry became more important than agriculture in American life, families became smaller because industry requires workers who are ready and able to move off the land and to move again whenever necessary. And large families can not be moved from place to place as smaller families can. So, at present people tend to have smaller families. In the future, because of industrialization, a typical family will be required to move even more often than now, so families will be even smaller. The typical family may remain childless and consists only of a man and a woman. A small number of families may take child raising as their chief work. At the same time they may also raise other people's children, leaving those families free to move from job to job. (1)、The passage discusses influence of science and industry on American families. A：T B：F 答案：A (2)、Families of the past, the present and the future are described in the passage. A：T B：F 答案：A (3)、People no longer want to have children. A：T B：F 答案：B (4)、Grandparents will take the chief responsibility of raising children in the future. A：T B：F 答案：B (5)、Large families cannot fit in with a highly industrialized society. A：T B：F 答案：A 45、My husband had just bought a new washing machine for me. I decided to use it and I washed a lot of things. Everything worked well, but I found one of my husband's socks missing. I looked everywhere for it, but I couldn't find it anywhere. The next morning, I got ready for school as usual. When the bell rang, the students came in. I greeted them first and then told them what we were going to do that day. When I turned around to write on the blackboard, the class broke out a roar! They laughed and laughed. They laughed so much, in fact, that I was afraid the headmaster would be into seeing all this. I asked the class to stop, but the more I talked, the more they laughed. I decided to pay no attention to them and I continued to write on the blackboard. When I did this, they roared even more. Finally, the teacher who had the room next to mine came in to see what all the laughter was about. When he came in, he started laughing, too!

(完整版)小学英语阅读100篇天天练前十篇(五年级用)

Passage 1 An Old Man One day an old man is taking a train to his hometown. One of his shoes falls onto the ground, but the train starts .He can not pick it up. Then he takes off the ogher and throws it near the fallen shoe. A boy beside his asks him,”why do you do that?” He says, “If a man picks them up ,he ma as well get a pair of shoes.” 根据短文内容判断正（T）误（F）（）1.An old woman is taking a train to his hometown. （）2.one of the man's shoes falls nto the ground. （）3.The old man picks his shoes up. （）4.The old man takes off the other and throws it near the fallen shoe. （）5.The old man is very kind . Passage 2 Why Do I help You? It is early in the morning. Mr. White is cutting the grass in the yard. Suddenly, his neighbor Mr. Black runs out and helps him. Mr. White is very happy and he asks Mr. Black, “Do you often help people cut grass?”“No!” “So why do you get up and help me?” Mr. Black says :”I help you cut the grass so that I can go back to sleep again.” （）1.When does the story happen? It happens in the _______ morning. A. early B. late C. middle D. last （）2.What is Mr. White doing? Mr. White is _______ in the yard. A. watering B. drinking C. doing exercises D. cutting the grass （）3.How does Mr. White feel when his neighbour helps him? Mr. White is very _______. A. angry B. happy C. upset D. excited （）4.What does Mr. Black want to do? Mr. Black wants to _______ again. A. sleep B. eat C. drink D. read books （）5.Does Mr. Black often help people cut grass? _______. A. Yes B. No C. Not mentioned D. We don't know. Passage 3 Lynn's Weekend Today is Sunday. Lynn is very happy. She needn't clean the classroom, do morning exercise or have classes. She has to do many exercises at school every day. She has no time to play. And only at weekends can she play happily. But she has to do her homework at home. She has to clean her bedroom, wash her clothes and water the flowers at home, she doesn't like doing these things. And you? 根据短文内容判断正(T)误(F)。 ( )1. Today is Saturday. ( )2. Lynn needs to clean the classroom. ( )3. Lynn has no time to play at school.

初三英语阅读组合训练(六)

初三英语阅读组合训练（六） On a Saturday morning, my left arm went numb(麻木的), and I felt dizzy. I was taken to hospital. After a quick 41 , the doctor said I had a stroke. As waves of paralysis(瘫痪) came over me, I slowly lost 42 of my body. I was just 50 and I c ouldn’t believe it. After two operations, I was transferred to the Recovery Center（恢复中心）. Though I had lost the use of my 43 arm and leg and couldn’t see out of my left eye, the only thought on my mind was to return to my job. But in fact I needed to relearn how to 44 and see first and this just made me feel like it was 45 to become well again. A few days after my first discouraging physical therapy(治疗) session, my mother came into my room with a neatly-typed 46 written by a nine-year-old boy named Jackson. He told me about the stroke he’d had only a year earlier. He, too, had been paralyzed on his left side. But, beyond telling me what he had lost, Jackson shared what I would 47 . “Do not give up on yourself. All the hard work is worth it.” he wrote. And the advice kept on coming. He told me to 48 the therapy on the hospital’s “grown-up” floor, where “they make you work hard and you get lots of things back fast.” Here I was, a grown man and a senator(参议员) of Illinois, getting 49 from a young boy I had 50 met. After a few weeks of writing letters to each other, I arranged for us to meet. He seemed 51 at first, but the embarrassing situation quickly melted away. Jackson showed me how he could run, and I immediately felt encouraged. One thing I particularly 52 was the energy and dignity radiating from him. As for my recovery, it 53 just as Jackson said it would. After a year of intense physical therapy, I climbed to the top of the Capitol and returned to work. With every step I took, I thought of Jackson and his courage and confidence. Whenever I was tired or 54 , I thought of him, the world’s 55 boy. 41. A. decision B. examination C. description D. discussion 42. A. hope B. sight C. memory D. control 43. A. right B. left C. single D. only 44. A. speak B. run C. stand D. climb 45. A. important B. helpful C. impossible D. cruel 46. A. book B. letter C. novel D. present 47. A. experience B. discover C. lose D. get 48. A. attend B. refuse C. end D. overcome 49. A. information B. knowledge C. advice D. success 50. A. sometimes B. seldom C. ever D. never 51. A. confident B. nervous C. upset D. serious 52. A. expected B. admired C. recalled D. believed 53. A. came B. fell C. stayed D. disappeared 54. A. discouraged B. encouraged C. lazy D. patient 55. A. kindest B. oldest C. strongest D. earliest

(英语)英语阅读理解练习题含答案及解析

一、中考英语阅读理解汇编 1．阅读下面短文，从每题所给的A、B、C三个选项中，选出最佳选项。 What will the world of the future be like? There are plenty of people who are happy to give their opinion of what we will be doing in 2050. Here are two predictions about the world of tomorrow. When we dream about the future, many like to think of owning a personal flying car. The advantages are obvious. This technology would allow total freedom of movement. We could fly at 480 km per hour, avoiding traffic lights and busy roads. However, some people believe there will be problems with traffic control. If the cars become popular, there is likely to be air traffic jam. Another big problem is mechanical failure. What will happen if the cars stop working? These are problems we must expect if flying cars become a reality. Three-dimensional printing is another new technology with exciting possibilities. 3D printers are used to build an object with liquid plastic. They build the object layer by layer until it is complete. Car companies already use 3D printers to make life-size models of car parts, and medical companies use the technology to make man-made body parts. As we move into the future, 3D printing will revolutionize the way we shop, the way we manufacture and the way we treat sick people. The disadvantage is that such equipment will be extremely expensive. So in the future, we might be able to fly to work or print out new shoes. Although there are some problems to solve before this will be possible, we can certainly dream of a world where technology makes life easier and safer for millions of people. （1）What is the passage mainly about? A. Environmental protection. B. The world of tomorrow. C. Advantages of technology. （2）What do we learn from the passage? A. Some people think technology development may bring new problems B. 3D printing can bring great changes to our life and its equipment is cheap. C. The flying cars won't bring air traffic jam even when they become popular.

小学六年级英语阅读理解天天练(含解析)

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初中英语阅读组合训练每周测试内容(一)

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(英语)英语阅读理解练习题20篇及解析

（英语）英语阅读理解练习题20篇及解析一、高中英语阅读理解 1．阅读理解 Many people have long dreamed of being able to fly around as simply as riding a bicycle. Yet the safety and strength of a flying bike was always a big problem. Over the past 10 years, developments in technology have moved the dream of personal flying vehicles closer to reality. Now, two groups of inventors say such vehicles may be available soon. The British company Malloy Aeronautics has developed a prototype (原型) of its flying bicycle. Grant Stapleton, marketing sales director of Malloy Aeronautics, says the Hoverbike is able to get in and out of small spaces very quickly. It can be moved across continents very quickly because it can be folded and packed, he adds. Mr. Stapleton says safety was the company's main concern. He says the designers solved the safety issue by using overlapping rotors ( 交叠式旋翼 )to power the vehicle. The company is testing a full-size prototype of the Hoverbike, which will most likely be used first by the police and emergency rescue teams. In New Zealand, the Martin Aircraft Company is also testing a full-size prototype of its personal flying device, called the Jetpack. It can fly for more than 30 minutes, up to 1,000 meters high and reach a speed of 74 kilometers per hour. Peter Coker is the CEO of Martin Aircraft Company. He said the Jetpack “is built around safety from the start. In his words, reliability is the most important element of it. We have safety built into the actual structure itself, very similar to a Formula One racing car.” The Jetpack uses a gasoline-powered engine that produces two powerful jet streams. Mr. Coker says it also has a parachute (降落伞) that can be used should there be an emergency. “It starts to work at very low altitude and actually saves both the aircraft and the pilot,” he adds. Mr. Coker says the Jetpack will be ready for sale soon. （1）We can learn from the passage that the Hoverbike . A. can hardly get in and out of small spaces quickly B. can fly for over 30 minutes, up to 1,000 meters high C. has been used by the police and emergency rescue teams D. can be transported quickly after being folded and packed （2）The writer uses the example of For One racing car to show that . A. the Jetpack is very safe and reliable B. the engine of the Jetpack is powerful C. the actual structure of the Jetpack is unique D. the Jetpack can reach a great speed and height （3）The underlined word “it” in the last paragraph refer s to. A. the jet stream B. the engine C. the Jetpack D. the parachute （4）What is the authors main purpose of writing the passage? A. To describe the problems of inventing flying vehicles. B. To introduce the latest development of flying vehicles. C. To show the differences between two flying vehicles. D. To advertise the two personal

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