【最新】四川省高考英语模拟阅读理解部分

2014年四川省高考英语模拟（一）

第二部分阅读理解(共两节，满分50分)

A

These eco-inspired books get kids thinking about nature and the environment.

How to Raise Monarch Butterflies

By Carol Pasternak

Have you ever watched a monarch transform from a caterpillar (毛虫) to a butterfly from up close? In this book, learn everything about the monarch life cycle and how to raise monarchs from eggs to adult butterflies. You will also get to know the efforts involved to protect the species.

A Kid’s Guide to America’s Parks

By Erin McHugh

This year, the US National Park Service’s National Park Week is April 21-29. During the week, all national parks offer free admission. Enrich your knowledge with this book, as it introduces the national parks and some interesting places in the US, including their geography, specific animals as well as environmental challenges. The book’s featured places include Yosemite National Park, Ellis Island (home of the Statue of Liberty) and the National Park of American Samoa, the only U.S. national park south of the equator (赤道).

Where Do Recyclable Materials Go?

By Sabbithry Persad

Tiana had been learning about recycling at school. But when her dog, Bubbles, gets lost running after a recycling truck, she ends up learning a lot more about recyclable materials than ever! Follow Tiana and her family as they search for Bubbles around town and at the Materials Recovery Facility. Along the way, readers will learn a lot about recycling and how they can do their part in protecting the environment.

The Scrap Kins Build-It Book, Volume 1

By Brian Yanish

Meet the Scrap Kins. They are creative, friendly monsters (怪物) who live in a recycling center, known as Scrap City. They’ll show you how to turn junk (垃圾) into pretty cool things. Readers will learn how to create cute bags from old jeans, beautiful ships from milk boxes, and more. Remember that one person’s trash (废物) is another person’s treasure!

31. Which author teaches you how to make an artwork from wastes?

A. Carol Pasternak.

B. Erin McHugh.

C. Sabbithry Persad.

D. Brian Yanish.

32. What makes the National Park of American Samoa special?

A. There is a famous statue in it.

B. It lies south of the equator.

C. It lies across the equator.

D. It is free for admission.

33. Which book is most probably written in the form of a story?

A. How to Raise Monarch Butterflies

B. A Kid’s Guide to America’s Parks

C. Where Do Recyclable Materials Go?

D. The Scrap Kins Build-It Book, Volume 1

34. The common goal of the four books is to ______.

A. teach kids practical skills

B. c omment on kids’ behavior

C. raise kids’ environment awareness

D. make kids interested in geography

B

He was no scholar, and his classmates made fun of him. Rather than read, the kid really preferred to run around with an 8 mm camera, shooting homemade movies, which he showed to friends for a small fee.

After graduation from high school, Steven Spielberg was denied entrance into a traditional filmmaking school, but he majored in English at California State College at Long Beach. Then in 1965, he recalls, in one of those serendipitous (偶然发现的) moments, his life took a complete turn. Visiting Universal Studios, he met Chuck Silvers, a manager in the editorial department. Silvers liked the kid who made 8 mm films and invited him back sometime to visit.

He appeared the next day. Without a job or security clearance (安全检查), Spielberg, dressed in a dark suit and tie and carrying his father’s briefcase with nothing inside but a sandwich and candy bars, walked confidently up to the guard at the gate of Universal and gave him a casual wave. The guard waved back. He was in.

“For the entire summer,” Spielberg remembers, “I dressed in my suit and hung out with the directors and writers, including Silvers, who knew that I wasn’t a studio employee, but pretended not t o know the fact. I even found an office that wasn’t being used, and became a squatter (擅自占用者). I bought some plastic tiles (屋瓦) and put my name on the wall: Steven Spielberg, Room 23C.”

It paid off. Ten years later, the 28-year-old Spielberg directed Jaws, which took in $470 million, then the highest profit-making movie of all time. Dozens of films and awards have followed because Steven Spielberg knew what his teachers didn’t — talent is in the eyes of the filmmaker.

35. When young, Spielberg ______.

A. often skipped school

B. took great interest in filmmaking

C. was awarded for his 8 mm short films

D. earned much money from his 8 mm short films

36. During his stay in Universal Studios, Spielberg ______.

A. got a good opportunity to practice

B. had to work alone without being found

C. received a separate studio from the company

D. worked for the company officially due to Silvers’ invitation

37. The guard at the gate of Universal Studios mistook Spielberg for ______.

A. one of Chuck Silver s’ friends

B. a film star from Long Beach

C. an employee of the company

D. a student from California State College

38. By directing Jaws, Spielberg ______.

A. set a record at the time

B. said goodbye to his college

C. no longer had to work for nothing

D. started a new trend in the movie industry

C

A woman who attended my workshop took me aside to tell me about her son and his friend. They are 15, and the friend was dealing with some really upsetting problems at home. But he felt comfortable and safe at her house and she and her son had taken this boy under their wings. What she found remarkable was that in his overly stressed state, he found happiness in the simplest video games from his youth.

She began to closely observe more of her son’s friend s. She noticed that all of them, when they are relaxed and comfortable, love to play the games they enjoyed when they were 10. Her theory is that these boys are under too much pressure to behave older than they feel, so they allow themselves to let their hair down and really relax with their friends. And sometimes it makes them feel happy and comfortable to play like kids.

Teens often feel as though they are on a stage performing when they go to school. They feel evaluated (评价) and judged, and if they don’t measure up they feel bad.

One of the greatest gifts you can give your teen this Christmas vacation is the opportunity to relax and be a kid. When the snow comes, encourage sledding (乘雪撬), skating and have the hot chocolate ready. Get out old-fashioned games. And if they get silly and act like they did when they were 10, all the

better. To be able to relax that much, to feel that comfortable with family or a few chosen friends is a great gift. Not just this vacation, but anytime. Your teens have a lifetime in front of them to learn to be an adult. And these days of their youth are fading fast. Help them make a few more memories.

39. Why do teens play the games they enjoyed when they were 10?

A. They don’t like school.

B. They can feel like small kids again.

C. They don’t want to be with adults.

D. They are addicted to playing games.

40. What does the author want to say in the last paragraph?

A. Teens grow up too quickly.

B. It takes time for teens to grow up.

C. Some games may make teens silly.

D. Teens need opportunities to play and relax.

41. What can be the best title for the text?

A. Let your teens be kids

B. Teens should grow up quickly

C. Encourage your teens to play games

D. Help your teens deal with upsetting problems

D

Their beautiful call heralds (预示) the arrival of spring, but the routes taken by cuckoos (杜鹃鸟) during their annual migration (迁徙) have remained a mystery. Now, though, scientists from the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) have revealed (展示) the details of their remarkable 10,000-mile journey, with the help of tracking devices (设备).

Five male birds were caught in Norfolk last May and fitted with satellite-tagged (卫星跟踪的) “backpacks”. The scientists then monitored their progress over 12 months as they flew to A frica in the autumn, and returned in the spring.

The project was carried out to discover why every year fewer of the birds return to Britain. Between 1995 and 2010 the population of cuckoos spending summer here fell by almost half, and the number is conti nuing to decline. Previously, the lack of information about the cuckoos’ long migration has hampered the understanding of how to help protect the birds.

Earlier this year it was reported that cuckoos arrived in the UK much earlier than normal. Their call was recorded by ornithologists (鸟类学家) as early as February, a month ahead of their usual arrival.

The cuckoo migration map has now shown the widely varied routes the birds take across Spain or Italy, over the Mediterranean, and across the Sahara desert to their wintering grounds in the rainforests of sub-Saharan Africa.

Like all migrating animals, cuckoos respond to the changing seasons. They depend on lush (茂盛的) vegetation to provide the fruit and food for insects that they feed on. This reliance on seasonal patterns means that a changing climate could make an already challenging journey impossible for them.

Grahame Madge, of the RSPB, said, “This fantastic project is promoting the understanding of the cuckoo so that, hopefully, we can give this bird a future.”

42. What is the main purpose of the project?

A. To study the effect of climate change.

B. To better understand the habits of cuckoos.

C. To find out what happens during cuckoos’ migration.

D. To discover why the population of cuckoos in the UK is declining.

43. When do cuckoos usually arrive in Britain?

A. In January.

B. In February.

C. In March.

D. In April.

44. The number of cuckoos has been decreasing probably because ______.

A. the climate is changing

B. they were affected by ornithologists

C. they changed their route of migration

D. they spent more time during their migration

45. The underlined word “hampered” in Paragraph 3 is closest in meaning to “______”.

A. admitted

B. deepened

C. improved

D. prevented

E

As the beliefs and customs of different European ethnic (种族的) groups as well as the American Indians mixed, a distinctly American version of Halloween began to come into being. The first celebrations included “play parties”, public events held to celebrate the harvest, where neighbors would share stories of the dead, dance and sing. Colonial Halloween festivities also featured the telling of ghost stories and mischief-making of all kinds.

In the second half of the nineteenth century, America was flooded with new immigrants(移民). These new immigrants, especially the millions of Irish, helped to popularize the celebration of Halloween nationally. Taking from Irish and English traditions, Americans began to dress up in costumes and go house to house asking for food or money, a practice that eventually became today’s “trick-or-treat” tradition.

In the late 1800s, there was a move in America to mold Halloween into a holiday more about community and neighborly get-togethers than about ghosts. Parties focused on games, foods of the season and festive costumes. Parents were encouraged by newspapers and community leaders to take anything “frightening” out of Halloween celebrations. Because of these efforts, Halloween lost most of its religious overtones (含义) by the beginning of the twentieth century.

By the 1920s and 1930s, Halloween had become community-centered holiday, with parades and town-wide parties as the featured entertainment. Despite the best efforts of many schools and communities, vandalism(故意毁坏) began to cause trouble to Halloween celebrations in many communities during this time. By the 1950s, town leaders had successfully limited vandalism and Halloween had evolved (进化) into a holiday directed mainly at the young. Due to the high numbers of young children during the fifties baby boom, parties moved from town civic centers into the classroom or home, where they could be more easily accommodated. Between 1920 and 1950, the centuries-old practice of trick-or-treat was also revived(恢复). A new American tradition was born, and it has continued to grow. Today, Americans spend an estimated $6 billion annually on Halloween, making it the country’s second largest commercial holiday.

46. The play parties in the first celebrations were intended to .

A. celebrate the harvest

B. be in memory of the dead people

C. show love and respect for God

D. drive the ghosts away

47. Who contributed greatly to the popularization of the celebration of Halloween nationally?

A. The American Indians.

B. The peasants.

C. The Irish immigrants.

D. The early English immigrants.

48. From the third paragraph, we know that by the beginning of the twentieth century, .

A. children had lost interest in Halloween

B. celebrations of Halloween were mainly about religious activities

C. frightening things were forbidden by the government in celebrations

D. the celebrations were more like entertainment parties

49. Which of the following word cannot be used to describe today’s Halloween in America?

A. Religious.

B. Commercial.

C. Community-centered.

D. Entertaining.

50. What’s the text mainly about?

A. When Halloween came into being.

B. Why Halloween is important in America.

C. How the celebrations of Halloween developed in America.

D. How people celebrated Halloween in America.

2014年四川省高考英语模拟（二）

第二部分阅读理解(共两节，满分50分)

A

One day I was waiting in line to check out at Wal-Mart. Like a lot of people who want to get through a checkout line, my thoughts were on speed, nothing more. The line I was standing in wasn’t moving as quickly as I wanted, and I glanced toward the cashier.

There stood a man in his seventies. Of average build, he wore glasses and a nice smile. I thought, “Well, he’s an old guy and it probably takes him a little longer to get the chores (工作) done.”

For the next few minutes I watched him. He greeted every customer before he began scanning the items they were purchasing. Sure, his words were the usual, "How’s it going?" But he did something different—he actually listened to people. Then he would respond to what they had said and engage them in brief conversation.

I thought it was strange, but I guess I had grown accustomed to people asking me how I was doing simply out of a robotic conversational habit. After a while, you don’t give any thought to the question and just mumble something back. I could say, “I just found out I have six months to live,” and someone would reply, “Have a great day!”

This old cashier had my attention. He seemed genuine (真诚的) about wanting to know how people were feeling. And after giving them the change, the old cashier looked the customers in the eyes. “I sure want to thank you for shopping here today,” he told them. “You will have a great day. Bye-bye.”

The looks on the faces of the customers were priceless. There were smiles and some shy grins (露齿而笑). All had been touched by his simple gesture in a place they never expected.

31. The author glanced at the cashier because of _________.

A. the slow speed of the checkout line

B. the look of the old cashier

C. the smile on the cashier’s fa ce

D. the long line of customers

32. In the fourth paragraph, the author intends to tell us _________.

A. no one cared about his health

B. people usually have robotic conversations

C. people are not friendly to each other

D. he was suffering from a serious disease

33. What is special about the old cashier according to the author?

A. He worked hard at his old age.

B. He listened to people attentively.

C. He gave customers the right change.

D. He had usual conversations with customers.

34. How did the customers probably feel after meeting the old cashier?

A. Quite ashamed of themselves.

B. Unexpectedly moved.

C. Completely puzzled.

D. Curious but happy.

B

The Beijing International Marathon, held annually since 1981, is traditionally held in October, when the temperature is usually above 10 degrees Celsius in the Chinese capital.

But it has been postponed by about a month, meaning the temperature may be just around 5 degrees Celsius, according to the weather forecast. Weather is the biggest concern.

Medical teams in Beijing are on their marks for the marathon on Sunday after a runner died in Guangzhou several days ago.

The teams ― including six motorcycles, 25 ambulances, 110 medical professionals, 480 volunteers and a command vehicle ― wi ll serve the 30,000 participants from across the world.

“The medical team is fully prepared,” said Wang Lixin, an official from Beijing Emergency Medical Center who is responsible for the event’s medical service.

A volunteer will be deployed (分布) every 100 meters, and for every 5 kilometers there will be a medical booth with medical advice and medicine, Wang said. Those medical volunteers are either medical majors, or have received training and have first aid certificates.

On November 18, a 21-year-old college student fainted (昏倒) at the finish line after completing a 10 km race in the Guangzhou International Marathon and died later in hospital of a heart attack.

The death caused public concerns over the risk of running a marathon. The website of the Beijing marathon has published articles and instructions on how to train and prepare, how to run in winter, and how to avoid injuries.

On Sunday, the event’s organizer will also offer warm-up exercises, cold-proof raincoats, chocolate and other supplies along the route, according to Wang.

However, Wang Lixin said that the safety of the race also depends on the racers’ cooperation. They should reveal (透露) their real health condition. “Any deception (欺骗) is very irresponsible,” Wang Lixin said.

35. The underlined pa rt “on their marks” has the closest meaning to “_________”.

A. on schedule

B. in charge

C. on duty

D. prepared

36. If a runner has problems during the race, the volunteers can _________.

A. offer professional medical help

B. order him to stop the race at once

C. offer any necessary supply on the scene

D. arrange an ambulance from the nearest hospital

37. It can be inferred that the organizers of the Beijing International Marathon _________.

A. offer proper places for professional training

B. have hired hundreds of experienced doctors

C. have learned lessons from the Guangzhou event

D. had to put the race off because of the weather condition

38. Wang Lixin suggested that all racers should _________.

A. visit the website of the Beijing marathon

B. understand the risk of running a marathon

C. have a physical examination before the race

D. be responsible for their health information

C

Nature Tours—Oahu

Advanced Horseback Ride

Duration: 60 minutes

Location: Gunstock Ranch

This ride winds through mountain trails (小路) with occasional ocean views. The highlight spot is our scenic lookout (观景点) which provides a great view of the Windward side of Oahu. This is a great picture-taking spot, so bring your camera. Guests are likely to see wild pigs, cattle, and other horses roaming around.

Child Age: 9 years and older

Tour Times: 11:00 am | 2:00 pm

Explore Diamond Head Crater (火山口)

Duration: 2.5 hours

Location: Oahu, Hawaii

Come to enjoy a hike to the top of the most famous crater on earth. On this tour you will be informed of the crater’s geology and history. In reality, the Diamond Head Crater contains no diamonds at all and was named by a sailor in the 19th century who mistook some calcite (方解石) crystals (晶体) for diamonds.

Times: 6:00 - 8:30 am: First tour

9:30 am - 12:00 pm: Second tour

Manoa Waterfall Hiking Adventure

Duration: 5 hours

Location: Oahu, Hawaii

The Manoa Waterfall Hiking Adventure will take you into the beautiful rainforests, where you can see the tallest waterfall in Oahu that is accessible. While on this hike you will see huge ferns (蕨类植物) around you, beautiful waterfalls and streams. This guided tour will educate you on the various plants and animals that you will see along the way to the waterfalls.

Time: 1:00 - 6:00 pm

Natural Highlights of Oahu

Duration: 4 hours

Location: Oahu, Hawaii

You begin your tour with a visit to Paiko Lagoon, where you can observe native wetland birds in the natural habitat (栖息地). Following that stop, travel to Halona Cave, where you have an opportunity to see green sea turtles (海龟) or spot a humpback whale. At the final stop, Pali Lookout, you are able to walk alongside the 2,000-foot cliffs (悬崖) of the Ko’olau Volcano.

Times: 8:00 am - 12:00 pm: Morning tour

2:00 pm - 6:00 pm: Afternoon tour

39. Which of the following is true about Advanced Horseback Ride?

A. It is not suitable for children.

B. It is a long way from the ocean.

C. It gives people a good spot to take pictures.

D. The travelers will ride through high mountains.

40. The crater is called Diamond Head Crater because _________.

A. a sailor named it by mistake

B. the crater looks like a diamond

C. there used to be diamonds in it

D. the calcite crystals in it attract visitors

41. Which is most suitable for you if you want to gain some knowledge of plants and animals?

A. Advanced Horseback Ride.

B. Explore Diamond Head Crater.

C. Manoa Waterfall Hiking Adventure.

D. Natural Highlights of Oahu.

42. If you choose the tour of Natural Highlights of Oahu, you will _________.

A. have to set off in the morning

B. see some amazing sea creatures

C. spend a whole day for the tour

D. have a chance to see a volcanic eruption

D

From a high-five, to a firm or a weak handshake, human greetings say something about our social and cultural traditions.

Similarly, a study by the Gonzaga University has shown that chimpanzees (黑猩猩) have their own social habits in the form of “grooming (梳理) handclasps”. A handclasp is the custom when chimpanzees clasp (握住) each other’s arms, raise them into the air, and groom each other with their free arm.

Grooming for chimpanzees has two purposes: first, to clean dirt and parasites (寄生虫) from their skin, and second, to strengthen the bonds of family and friendship. Consequently, the way the chimpanzees practice these handclasps indicates the community in which they belong.

The research shows that between chimpanzee communities (群体) with similar genetic (基因的) backgrounds and ecological environments, the chimpanzees have subtle (细微的) differences in grooming handclasps. For example, one chimpanzee group highly prefer the style where they will grasp each other’s hands during the grooming, while another group engage (参加) in a clasp where they will fold their wrists around each other’s wrists.

“We don’t know what factors account for these differences,” says Edwin van Leeuwen, one of the study’s authors. “But our study at least shows that these chimpanzee communities have formed and maintained their own local grooming traditions over the last 5 years.”

The research team followed these populations and noted that young individuals developed the handclasp behavior over time. Being taught through the handclasp partnership with their mothers means that chimpanzees socially learn their local tradition. Previously, traditions and cultures have been difficult to establish (建立) in animal societies due to complex ecological and genetic factors. However, this study concludes that evidence of varying handclasps is not only motivated by genetic instincts (本能), but may also be partly cultural in nature.

43. Chimpanzee communities with similar genetic backgrounds and ecological environments probably ________.

A. have the same way of glooming

B. exchange their grooming handclasps

C. have slightly different grooming handclasps

D. prefer to gloom chimpanzees in other communities

44. What can we infer from the last paragraph?

A. Cultures may exist in chimpanzees’ society.

B. Varying handclasps exist among chimpanzees.

C. Chimpanzees are born with the ability to groom.

D. Chimpanzees’ society is too complex to understand.

45. What is the best title for the text?

A. How chimpanzees greet each other

B. Why chimpanzees gloom each other

C. Chimpanzees have their own cultural traditions

D. Chimpanzees create social traditions with handclasps

E

Michelangelo Buonarroti, the greatest of the Italian Renaissance (文艺复兴) artists, was born in the small village of Caprese in 1475. As the son of a government administrator, he grew up in Florence, a ce nter of the early Renaissance movement, and became an artist’s apprentice (学徒) at age 13. Showing obvious talent, he was taken under the wing of Lorenzo de’ Medici, the ruler of the Florentine Republic and a great supporter of the arts. After showing his mastery of sculpture in such works as the Pieta (1498) and David (1504), he was called to Rome in 1508 to paint the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel — the chief holy space in the Vatican.

Michelangelo’s epic ceiling frescoes(壁画), which took several years to complete, are among his most memorable works. The most famous of these is The Creation of Adam, a painting in which the arms of God and Adam are stretching toward each other. In 1512, Michelangelo completed the work. The Creation of Adam is generally thought to describe the excerpt (节录) “God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him” in the Bible.

After 15 years as an architect in Florence, Michelangelo returned to Rome in 1534, where he would work and live for the rest of his life. That year saw his painting of The Last Judgment on the wall above the altar (圣坛) in the Sistine Chapel for Pope Paul ?ó. The work is massive and spans the entire wall behind the altar of the Sistine Chapel. It is a description of the Second Coming of Christ and the final and eternal judgment by God of all humanity.

Michelangelo worked until his death in 1564. In addition to his major artistic works, he produced numerous other sculptures, frescoes, architectural designs, and drawings, many of which are unfinished and some of which are lost. In his lifetime, he was celebrated as Europe’s greatest living artist, and today he is held up as one of the greatest artists of all time, as admired in the visual arts as William Shakespeare is in literature or Ludwig van Beethoven is in music.

46. From the first paragraph we know that Michelangelo .

A. was born in an artist’s family

B. showed no interest in arts as a boy

C. was an apprentice of Lorenzo de’ Medici

D. had won reputation before going to Rome

47. Which of the following is true about The Creation of Adam?

A. It was one of his most memorable sculptures.

B. It was finished in his twenties.

C. It was based on the Bible.

D. It took seven years to complete.

48. The Last Judgment

A. was created in Rome

B. described the creation of man by God

C. showed the darkness of the time

D. was a great sculpture

49. Which of the following is true according to the text?

A. All of Michelangelo’s works are based on the Bible.

B. Michelangelo was a sculptor, a painter as well as an architect.

C. Michelangelo was born and died in Florence.

D. Michelangelo’s achievement was not recognized in his lifetime.

50. What’s the text mainly about?

A. Michelangelo’s achievements in arts.

B. The Last Judgment of Michelangelo.

C. Michelangelo’s life in Rome.

D. The Renaissance.

2014年四川省高考英语模拟（三）

第二部分阅读理解(共两节，满分50分)

第一节阅读下列短文，从每题所给的四个选项(A、B、C和D)中，选出最佳选项。(共20小题；每小题2分，满分40分)

A

The “old school of thought” here in China is that it is dangerous to buy online, that the produc ts are often fake (假冒的), and that you will often lose your money. Based on my experience, this manner of thinking is definitely out-of-date. Taobao has a system for reviewing sellers and helping you pick the responsible ones.

In the last few years, I have bought many things online. Some of the things I bought online were expensive and many of my Chinese friends were really shocked that I would use Taobao.

You might think living in a foreign country means you will be lonely at times, but I most enjoy chatting online with the sellers and especially enjoy the casual online language of Taobao. I particularly like being called “Qin”！This is an abbreviated (简短的) form of “dear” which is a familiar greeting on Taobao.

I once bought an expensive computer from Taobao and the seller turned out to be living just down the street, so I was invited to pick it up at their home. Yes, there was the computer running in the kitchen where the woman of the house was preparing dinner. She carefully loaded the Chinese service pack on to the computer and explained how to use it. Two days later I returned to buy some accessories (附件) and met her husband, a friendly young man, who was very interested in what I was doing in Dalian. If I am very clever with my Chinese, sometimes Taobao people will not know I am a foreigner, but the woman found out because my Chinese name is not commonly used by Chinese people. We had a wonderful time chatting, and I also wrote a great review for them.

31. In the first paragraph, the author implies that many Chinese people believe that online sellers ______.

A. have enough measures to protect buyers

B. are not honest and may cheat customers

C. sell quality products at low prices

D. sell fake products at high prices

32. Apart from buying things, the author regards online shopping as a good way of ______.

A. relaxation

B. saving money

C. communication

D. learning English

33. It can be inferred that the author ______.

A. has a popular Chinese name

B. has used Taobao for quite some time

C. is a foreign teacher working in China

D. is a computer engineer with a high income

34. Why did the author go to the woman’s house?

A. To have dinner.

B. To meet her husband.

C. To get what he bought.

D. To buy a program for his computer.

B

Mary Cope, who w orks as a volunteer at Memorial Hospital West, Florida, admits it’s her partner who often steals the show.

It’s easy to see why with one look at Lady, the dog of this pet therapy(疗法) team. “She’s the part of this team that makes it work,” Cope says.

Lady was a stray when Cope and her husband saw her seven years ago. She wandered up their driveway. She had no collar or dog tags, and a front foot looked badly broken. It was clear she’d been abused.

“I fed and watered her,” Cope says. “Then I took her to our vet (兽医).” A woman in the vet’s office found her sweet nature and suggested Lady as a candidate for pet therapy. Cope agreed and contacted Therapy Dogs Inc., an organization that trains dogs for pet therapy.

Lady’s personality makes her a natural. Though neglected (忽视) and abused, she is always eager to make others happy. Patients’ faces light up upon Lady’s entrance and many workers even bring her food from home. In return, Lady provides constant, unconditional love. “It doesn’t matter who they are, or wh ere they’re from. To her they’re all the same,” Cope explains. “And we’ve come to see that she loves them all.”

Recalling (回忆) an unforgettable experience with a 102-year-old dog-lover, Cope says, “The woman had a huge smile. She said to me, ‘Oh my gosh, I’ve seen this on TV lots of times and it’s never happened to me before. I love it, thank you so much!’”

When the old woman asked for a kiss from Lady, Cope carefully put Lady’s front paws on the bed and the dog gently granted her wish. Cope says that the e xpressions on patients’ faces when they meet her four-legged friend are priceless.

35. What is the text mainly about?

A. A dog and its owner.

B. Patients’ love for pets.

C. The effects of pet therapy.

D. The story of a therapy dog.

36. Lady became a good therapy dog because ______.

A. she was sweet in nature

B. she was friendly to Cope

C. she used to be abused

D. she loved to be around patients

37. Why is the 102-year-old dog-lover mentioned?

A. To show how therapy dogs work.

B. To show the joy Lady brought to patients.

C. To show Cope’s concern for the patients.

D. To show old patients’ suffering and loneliness.

38. What does the underlined word “stray” in Paragraph 3 refer to?

A. A cruel dog owner.

B. A beggar.

C. A homeless dog.

D. A poor woman.

C

Art classes about animals & wildlife

All Creatures Large and Small

Animals bring something special to our lives and give us inspiration for paintings that we will treasure. This workshop will concentrate on how to bring animals to life through color, lighting and good composition (构图). We will be working from photographs, so you will need to bring several good photos of your pets or wildlife animals, and remember you’re only as good as your copy!

Location: Scottsdale, AZ

Instructor: Phil Beck

Pet Portraitures (肖像画法) with Christine Fifer

Nothing teaches us to live in the moment more than our furry and feathered friends, and this workshop addresses the technical aspects of drawing and painting animals. Fifer is a long-time painter whose realistic style is simple and concise (简明的). For the beginners and advanced students alike. Sorry, no live models allowed, only a favorite picture or two!

Location: Key West, FL

Instructor: Christine Fifer

Nature & Wildlife in the Field with Rafael Galvez

Limited t o 12 students. Have a guided walk through a natural reserve and explore Charlotte’s

wilderness with an experienced naturalist and bird painter, while learning about the region’s wildlife and habitats (栖息地), and learning to paint from live subjects. Galvez emphasizes (强调) process rather than product.

Location: Charlotte, NC

Instructor: Rafael Galvez

Animal Drawing

A rare opportunity to work from live animals in the PAFA studios! Working from both a horse and a dog as models, learn skills and develop techniques for the graphic depiction (描绘) of animals. Explore a variety of drawing materials and techniques.

Location: Philadelphia, PA

Instructor: Peter van Dyck

39. Phil Beck will teach students to paint animals from ______.

A. live models

B. his works

C. famous paintings

D. pictures

40. Where should you go if you want to learn to paint in the wild?

A. Scottsdale, AZ.

B. Key West, FL.

C. Charlotte, NC.

D. Philadelphia, PA.

41. If you like to paint in a simple and realistic style, you will learn from ______.

A. Phil Beck

B. Christine Fifer

C. Rafael Galvez

D. Peter van Dyck

42. Which of the workshops is most suitable for one who’d like to paint from live animals in a studio?

A. All Creatures Large and Small

B. Pet Portraitures with Christine Fifer

C. Nature & Wildlife in the Field with Rafael Galvez

D. Animal Drawing

D

Nostalgia (怀旧) could be an effective way to fight cold temperatures, according to new research that shows the heart-warming feeling has real body-warming effects.

“Nostal gia is experienced frequently by everyone, and we know that it can maintain (保持) psychological comfort. For example, nostalgia can fight loneliness,” Tim Wildschut, a psychology researcher of the University of Southampton in England, explained in a stateme nt. “We wanted to take a step further and assess whether it can also maintain physiological comfort.”

Wildschut and his colleagues set up several experiments to examine the link between nostalgia and temperature. In one study, volunteers kept a log of their feelings over 30 days, showing that they tended to feel more nostalgic on colder days.

In another study, participants were placed in a cold room, instructed to recall (回忆) either a nostalgic or ordinary event from their past, and then asked to guess the temperature of the room. Those filled with nostalgia generally estimated (估计) that the room was warmer, the researchers said.

Another experiment also had one set of participants recall a nostalgic event and the others an ordinary event. But instead of guessing the temperature of a cold room, the volunteers placed their hand in ice-cold water to see how long they could stand it. The nostalgic participants had a greater tolerance to the cold, the researchers found.

“Our study has shown that nostalgia serves a homeostatic (自动平衡的) function, allowing the mental simulation (模拟) of previously enjoyable states, including states of bodily comfort, in this case making us feel warmer or increasing our tolerance to cold,” Wildschut said. “More research is now needed to see if nostalgia can fight other forms of physical discomfort, besides low temperature.”

43. Which of the following is true according to the second paragraph?

A. Nostalgia can make us feel good mentally.

B. Nostalgia affects people in different ways.

C. Not everyone can experience nostalgia.

D. Nostalgia makes us feel lonely.

44. What do we know from the third experiment?

A. Those who recalled an ordinary event didn’t feel cold.

B. Cold had more effects on the nostalgic participants.

C. The nostalgic participants felt warmer in the room. D The nostalgic participants stood cold longer than the others.

45. Which of the following could be the best title for the text?

A. Nostalgia makes you warm

B. Nostalgia makes us happy

C. A good way to cure cold

D. A heart-warming feeling

E

Insects with rather small brains may be as intelligent as much bigger animals. Having a brain the size of a pinhead (针头) does not necessarily make you less bright, said researchers.

Computer simulations (模拟) show that consciousness (意识) could be generated in neural circuits (神经回路) tiny enough to fit into an insect’s brain, according to the scientists at Queen Mary University of London and Cambridge University. A honeybee’s brain weighs one milligram and contains fewer than a million nerve cells. The models suggest that counting ability could be achieved with just a few hundred nerve cells, it was claimed. And a few thousand would be enough to make an animal a conscious being, rather than an automated “living robot”.

“Animals with bigger brains are not necessarily more intelligent,” said Professor Lars Chittka, from Queen Mary’s Research Centre for Psychology, writing in the journal Current Biology.

“We know that body size is the single best way to predict an animal’s brain size. However, contrary to popular belief, we can’t say that brain size predicts their capacity for intelligent behaviour. In bigger brains we often don’t find more complexity, just an endless repetition of the same neural circuits over and over. To use a computer analogy (类比), bigger brains might in many cases be bigger hard drives, not necessarily better processors.”

Differences in brain size between animals can be extreme. A whale’s brain can weigh up to nine kilograms and be packed with more than 200 billion nerve cells. Human brains vary in weight between 1.25 kilograms and 1.45 kilograms, and have an estimated 85 billion neurons(神经元). In contrast, a honeybee’s brain weighs one milligram and contains fewer than a million nerve cells.

Research suggested that bigger animals may need larger brains simply because there was more to control. More nerves were needed to move bigger muscles, for example. Much “advanced” thinking could be done with very limited numbers of neurons, the scientists claimed.

46. From computer simulations, we know that .

A. animals with bigger brains are more intelligent

B. only animals with big brains have consciousness

C. consciousness is only generated in large neural circuits

D. insects’ brains can have neural circuits that ge nerate consciousness

47. From the text, we can infer that .

A. the bigger brain an animal has, the more intelligent it is

B. the same species of animals has brains of the same size

C. the size of one animal’s brain is related to its body size

D. th e size of one animal’s brain is necessarily related to its intelligence

48. Bigger animals usually have bigger brains because ________.

A. they usually have more to think about

B. they need more nerves to control themselves

C. advanced thinking needs more neurons to perform

D. they need to live in higher places

49. What would be the best title for the text?

A. The differences among animals’ brain sizes

B. Insects with tiny brains may be intelligent too

C. The secret of animals’ intelligence

D. Can animals think?

50. The underlined part “an automated ‘living robot’” in Paragraph 2 probably means “”.

A. an animal that has a smaller brain

B. an animal whose brain is bigger

C. an animal that is intelligent

D. an animal without consciousness

2014年四川省高考英语模拟（四） 第二部分 阅读理解 (共两节，共50分) 第一节 阅读下列短文，从每题所给的四个选项(A 、B 、C 和D)中，选出最佳选项。(共20小题；每小题2分，共40分)

A As a child I lived in a narrow house with five floors. Half my youth was spent running up and down

the stairs and I have been a devoted stair-climber ever since.

T he only place where I never take the stairs is in the office. You could say this is because I’m too

busy climbing a virtual (虚拟的) ladder to have any strength left for an actual one, but actually it is

because long hours’ sitting still in front of a screen saps my desire to use any energy.

Yet a couple of weeks ago, encouraged by a friend, I started walking up the 80 stairs to the office

canteen, making the journey several times a day in search of coffee.

I have been rewarded for this in various ways. Firstly, it is usually quicker: 55 seconds compared

with about 70 seconds in the lift, assuming a couple of stops on the way. Secondly, it leaves you feeling

pleased. Thirdly, it is a less stressful way of meeting colleagues. In the lift you are forced into a nervous

conversation, while on the stairs you smile and keep moving.

It, at last, is something that is good for you but that has none of the shortcomings of most healthy

things. It doesn’t taste bad; it isn’t expensive or boring and it doesn’t requi re any skill or courage.

Yet despite these impressive advantages, stairs in offices are usually empty of walkers. Instead, they are

mainly used as a hiding place, one for phoning your bank, shouting at your worker or exchanging

top-secret gossip. But actually anywhere would be better: the stairwell is a natural auditorium (报告厅),

so that top gossip and angry words can be heard several floors away.

31. What can we learn about the author?

A. He began to take the stairs in the office to keep fit.

B. He do esn’t like any kind of exercise.

C. He is too busy to climb the stairs in the office.

D. He has a great love for taking the

stairs.

32. The underlined word “saps” in the second paragraph probably means “_______”.

A. recovers B . weakens C. satisfies D. shows

33. The author thinks that climbing the stairs _______.

A. puts you in a good mood

B. takes more time than taking the lift

C. gives you a good chance to talk with your colleagues

D. requires some skills

34. We can infer from the passage that _______.

A. taking the stairs has some shortcomings

B. stairs are a good place for people to hide

C. taking the stairs in offices is becoming very popular

D. most people in the office couldn’t make

good use of stairs

B

A. It was named one of the “Top 100 Picture Books” in 2007.

B. It will be turned into a film starring Jim Carrey.

C. It tells us the true meaning of Christmas.

D. It recommends some Christmas gifts to us. 36. When did Dr. Seuss become well-known? A. In 1936. B. In 1957. C. In 1991. D. In 2013. 37. What can we learn about The Cat in the Hat ? A. It is a book written with only 50 words.

B. It was written by William Spaulding in 1936.

C. It is aimed at children aged 5-8.

D. It has sold more than 300 million copies so far. 38. We can infer that this passage is probably _______. A. an advertisement B. a book review C. a news report D. an introduction to a famous person C The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has started an effort to end the use of trans fats (反式脂肪酸) in some processed foods. Health officials say the use of trans fats in food products is possibly harmful and can lead to deadly health conditions. Fast food French fries are tasty. It is an example of what tastes good may not be good for your health. French fries are not alone. There are many such foods. Actually, many foods that contain trans fats are American people’s favorites. They are thought of as comfort foods, and people eat a large number of these foods. Professor Lisa Brown is a heart specialist at George Washington University. “A lot of prepared foods such as cookies, cakes and pies have trans fats to increase the shelf life (保存期限),” says Professor Brown. She also says published reports have shown that trans fats may block the flow of blood in the manufacturers and other businesses have already cut trans fats levels in their But the FDA says a further effort could avoid an additional 20,000 heart attacks and 7,000 foods. “Information provided by recognized scientific organizations such as the Institute of

the rule is final. So if you care about your health, think twice when commenting on the proposal!

39. What can we infer from Paragraph 2？

A. French fries are the only unhealthy fast food in America.

B. There are many other unhealthy tasty fast foods in America.

C. French fries are not very popular among Americans.

D. French fries are regarded as junk food in America.

40. According to Lisa Brown, trans fats _______.

A. can help blood flow faster in our body

B. can help manufacturers store foods longer

C. are not widely used in prepared foods

D. are mainly used in cookies, cakes and pies

41. What does the FDA want to show by mentioning the figures in Paragraph 3?

A. Many people die from heart attacks each year.

B. Trans fats in food products are the main cause of heart attacks.

C. Deaths caused by heart attacks can be avoided with proper measures.

D. Cutting trans fats levels in food products can save many people’s lives.

42. What is the best title for the passage?

A. The FDA tries to reduce trans fats risks

B. Fast foods lead to serious health problems

C. Americans will comment on the FDA proposal

D. Food manufacturers have reduced trans fats levels

D

Lots of people buy books and products from Amazon, an online seller. They order and pay over the Internet and the books are shipped through the mail or a delivery service.

One day, people can get their Amazon deliveries from an “unmanned flying vehicle” — a tiny flying vehicle that looks like a toy helicopter. And instead of waiting days to get the parcel, it can be at the buyer’s home in half an hour or less. The company is working on a fleet of tiny vehicles they call “Prime Air”. The vehicles are also known as “octocopters”. On their website, Amazon says, “One day, Prime Air vehicles will be as normal as mail trucks on the road today.”

The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is working on safety regulations for unmanned flying vehicles like Prime Air vehicles. Those regulations will make sure the vehicles are able to safely fly where they need to go. Once the FAA has put its rules in place, which could be as early as 2015, Amazon will be ready with its fleet of tiny flyers. The process could take as many as five years.

The new delivery service would likely be available only in the United States at first. The flying vehicles the company is testing now can handle packages up to five pounds and they have a range of 10 miles.

Other companies are also considering using unmanned flying vehicles to deliver their products. For instance, Domino’s Pizza in the UK released a video showing a “DomiCopter”, delivering a pizza. In any case, just like Prime Air vehicles, the DomiCopters don’t have clearance (许可) to take off just yet.

43. What can we learn about Prime Air vehicles?

A. They are manned flying vehicles with a high speed.

B. They will soon take the place of mail trucks.

C. They are expected to shorten the delivery period.

D. They are toy helicopters which could be bought online.

44. We can learn from the passage that the US FAA _______.

A. will take five years to put Prime Air vehicles to use

B. is making safety rules for Prime Air vehicles

C. is working on improving the delivery service

D. is testing the weight of goods Prime Air can handle

45. What can be inferred from the last paragraph?

A. The delivery service in the world is making great progress.

B. The new vehicles will go into mass production.

C. The designer will promote his new product to other countries.

D. The delivery vehicles in other places worked out quite well.

E

Most people know that awkward feeling when you walk into a lift with other people, and try not to make eye contact. But new research suggests it may be down to a subconscious(潜意识的) power struggle being played out, as you make your way up or down. A study found that people decide where they stand based on a micro social class, within seconds of entering the lift.

Ms Rebek Rousi conducted a study of lift behavior in two of the tallest office buildings in Australia. As part of her study, she took a total of 30 lift rides in the two buildings, and discovered there was an order in which people tended to stand. More senior men seemed to direct themselves to the back of the lift cabins. She said, “In front of them were younger men, and in front of the younger men were women of all ages.”

She also noticed there was a difference in where people directed their gaze (注视) half way through the ride. “Men watched the monitors, looked in the side mirrors (in one building) to see themselves, and in the door mirrors (of the other building) to also watch others. Women would watch the monitors and avoid eye contact with other users (unless in conversation) and the mirrors.”

Both men and women mentioned how they would purposely stare at other lift users to draw attention; one woman in particular would enter the lift and stand facing the back, rather than the doors, which other users found puzzling. Another lift user, who was quite anxious about lift travel, mentioned that upon entering the lift she always stood perfectly still, believing that any sudden move might cause the lift to drop.

It could be that people who are more easily to be shy stand toward the front, where they can’t see other passengers, while bolder people stand in the back, where they have a view of everyone else.

46. According to the passage, where people stand in the lift mainly reflects their .

A. level of self-control

B. social status

C. hobbies and habits

D. knowledge level

47. Where do younger men tend to stand in the lift?

A. At the front of the lift.

B. In the middle of the lift.

C. At the back of the lift.

D. Near the door of the lift.

48. What do women usually do when in the lift?

A. They look into the door mirrors to see themselves.

B. They draw other users’ attention by talking.

C. They watch the monitors and avoid eye contact with others.

D. They see other passengers now and then.

49. Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?

A. Women always stand in the lift facing the back.

B. It’s quite dangerous to move in the lift.

C. Shy people would like to stand at the back of the lift.

D. Bolder people would watch other users at the back of the lift.

50. What’s the purpose of the wri ter in writing the passage?

A. To present a new report to readers.

B. To advise people not to take a lift.

C. To introduce the different classes of society.

D. To show differences between the behaviour of men and wowen.

2014年四川省高考英语模拟（五）

第二部分阅读理解(共两节，满分50分)

第一节阅读下列短文，从每题所给的四个选项(A、B、C和D)中，选出最佳选项。(共20小题；每小题2分，满分40分)

A

The folks in the passing vehicles cast stares at those walking on the streets and sidewalks (人行道), unable to take their eyes off the 40,000 proud faces. Our Walk for Hunger stickers (贴纸) stuck to our clothes got wet because of the sweat we were producing. As my friends and I crossed the balloon archway (拱门) that showed the end of the 20-mile walk, the atmosphere was filled with enthusiasm and hope, expelling (消除) all negative (消极的) feelings.

On the bus from Boston back to my school, my feet ached as I thought of the eight-year-old girl who completed her fifth walk, the volunteers with encouraging energy, and the teenagers with attitude in their voice and cell phones in their ears. In all their eyes, there was a glimmer of hope and true concern for others, not just for themselves.

Too many people think only in terms of self-improvement, rather than human-race improvement. People have thrown sympathy and philanthropy (博爱) out the window, seeing only themselves and money to be made, forgetting about the people who are trying to survive each day.

As I stayed up late to finish my homework, these thoughts came into my mind, as well as the questions: How can someone not care about the 30,000 children who die each day from preventable and treatable diseases? How can anyone pretend it does not affect you, when it does? We are living on this planet together, and should be working as one to make sure everyone has a pleasant experience, rather than letting people suffer from starvation or disease. We need to live together under the umbrella of love as inhabitants (居民) of the same world.

31. What were the 40,000 people doing, according to the first paragraph?

A. Taking an adventure.

B. Doing some charity work.

C. Enjoying their vacation.

D. Getting more people to join in the walk.

32. We can infer from the text that the author ______.

A. thinks people should focus on self-improvement

B. took a long walk from Boston to school

C. was too tired to do his homework at night

D. is concerned about the suffering children

33. Which of the following could be the best title for the text?

A. Benefits of volunteering

B. Walk for Hunger

C. Keep fit through walking

D. Improve oneself by helping others

B

Top Kid-Friendly Summer Vacations

Dude Ranch

If you have little cowboys and cowgirls at home, thrill them by visiting a dude ranch (度假牧场) on your next vacation. Your children can learn about nature, enjoy horseback riding, and gain an entirely new perspective. You can choose between programs that have you spending quality time with your kids, and programs that are for children only. This summer, enjoy the great outdoors — at a dude ranch!

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Six Flags Great Adventure

Have a classic vacation by visiting one of the most famous theme park chains. With locations all over the U.S., there’s sure to be a Six Flags near you. Take the whole family and be back at work on Monday. Escape the summer heat with countless water rides. Take your kids to have brunch with Bugs Bunny, or check out the new Safari Park, where you can interact with real animals.

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Roswell UFO Festival

Do you have science fiction fans in your household? Encourage their interests and experience a special vacation at the annual Roswell UFO Festival. Come in costume (化妆服) if you wish, and join the parade (游行). Attend lectures by famous authors and researchers, or watch up-and-coming bands perform. Even if you’re not a believer, you can still enjoy the artwork, music, and great celebration.

For more information, visit: https://www.wendangku.net/doc/ea2845348.html,

Earthplace

It’s not easy being green, but it can be fun if yo u visit the exhibits at Earthplace in Westport, Connecticut. This 62-acre wildlife reserve is committed to educating the public about the environment and promoting positive action to preserve nature. The exhibits provide hands-on features that make learning fun for your kids. After touring the exhibits, visit the garden and the playground, and enjoy the summer weather.

For more information, visit: https://www.wendangku.net/doc/ea2845348.html,/index.html

34. Dude Ranch and Six Flags Great Adventure are similar in that ______.

A. they are both suitable for a family vacation

B. they both take place in the city

C. they both allow people to have brunch

D. they both provide water rides

35. Which will you join if you want to learn how to protect nature?

A. Dude Ranch.

B. Six Flags Great Adventure.

C. Roswell UFO Festival.

D. Earthplace.

36. Who would be most interested in Roswell UFO Festival?

A. A kid who loves music.

B. A kid who likes adventure.

C. A kid who is interested in aliens.

D. A kid who likes first-hand experience.

37. Which website is most useful if you want to join a parade in costume?

A. https://www.wendangku.net/doc/ea2845348.html,/categorydisplay.htm

B. https://www.wendangku.net/doc/ea2845348.html,/national/index.aspx

C. https://www.wendangku.net/doc/ea2845348.html,

D. https://www.wendangku.net/doc/ea2845348.html,/index.html

C

A waterfall-climbing fish in Hawaii uses the same muscles (肌肉) to both rise and feed, researchers have discovered. Scientists looked at the Nopoli rock-climbing goby (虾虎鱼), also known in Hawaiian as o’opu nopili. This plant-eating fish is found throughout Hawaii, and was once greatly relished (享受) as food, apparently being a favorite among priests (教士).

Many gobies can inch their way up waterfalls with the aid of a sucker (吸盘) on their bellies. The Nopoli rock-climbing goby, on the other hand, can climb waterfalls as tall as 330 feet (100 meters) with the aid of a second mouth sucker, which develops after their mouthparts move from a forward-facing position to under the body during a two-day-long development into adulthood.

“For a human to go the equivalent distance based on body size, it’d be like doing a marathon, some 26 miles (42 kilometers) long, except climbing up a vertical cliff-face against rushing water,” said researcher Richard Blob, an evolutionary scientist at Clemson University in South Carolina.

The goby, which can grow up to 7 inches (18 centimeters) long as an adult, feeds by sticking the tip of its upper jaw against rock to take food off surfaces. This behavior is quite different from other Hawaiian gobies, which feed by sucking food from the water. Given the apparent similarity of the climbing and feeding behaviors of the S. stimpsoni species, researchers thought one might have developed

from the other.

The scientists detailed their findings online Friday in the journal PLOS ONE. They will also present their findings on Sunday at the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology annual meeting in San Francisco.

38. What can we learn about the Nopoli goby?

A. It is rare and endangered.

B. It usually lives among rocks.

C. It used to be eaten by priests.

D. It climbs onto a waterfall to relax.

39. The Nopoli goby is different from other gobies for ______.

A. its short life

B. its mouth sucker

C. its living areas

D. its big size

40. One of the Nopoli goby’s unique behaviors is that ______.

A. it seldom eats plants

B. it finds food from water

C. it often climbs waterfalls

D. it gets food from rock surfaces

41. It can be inferred from the text that ______.

A. the Nopoli goby can reproduce its lost suckers

B. the Nopoli goby and S. stimpsoni are of one species

C. an adult Nopoli looks different from a small one

D. scientists first presented their findings in San Francisco

D

Hurricane Irene caused a frightening landscape in West Hartford, Vermont. The White River jumped its banks and shipping containers, gas bottles, and even entire trucks were spotted being washed down the river near Patriots’ Bridge.

Patti and Scott Holmes had a special connection to the flood zone. Their son, Jeffery Holmes, was one of three soldiers honored on a monument in a memorial garden next to the bridge. Jeffery died on Thanksgiving Day 2004 during a war. Patti took some comfort knowing that her son had died instantly, serving the military (军队) he wanted to join since he was nine years old.

The August hurricane spared Patti and Scott’s home. Patti didn’t realize how bad the situation had been at the monument site until one of Jeff’s friends sent a photo the next day. “When I opened it, I just started crying,” she said. All the flowers that volunteers l ovingly tended were gone. The monument had toppled (倒塌) off its concrete base and was likely ruined. Alone at her desk, Patti wept for the fun-loving blue-eyed son who didn’t live to see his 21st birthday, the boy she still wrote on Christmas and birthdays. Now another piece of him had slipped away.

Scott drove to the bridge that night to see exactly what had happened but was forced to turn back because the flooding had destroyed roads and the bridge. Who knows how the angry waters had damaged the monument?

But when Patti and Scott were finally able to get there later in the week, they were greeted with an extraordinary sight. Local residents had returned the monument to its proper place, unharmed. “I didn’t see a scratch, not even on top of it,” Patti said in joy and relief.

42. The monument was set up ______.

A. to honor three dead soldiers

B. to respect the local residents

C. to protect the bridge

D. to decorate the garden

43. Why did Patti cry when she opened the photo?

A. Her home was ruined in the flood.

B. The memorial garden was destroyed.

C. She couldn’t visit the monument anymore.

D. She couldn’t celebrate her son’s birthday.

44. What does the part “another piece” in Paragraph 3 refer to?

A. The photo.

B. The birthday.

C. The base.

D. The monument.

45. From the last paragraph, we can learn that the couple felt ______.

A. moved

B. ashamed

C. encouraged

D. embarrassed

E

If you think fridges of the future will just be bigger, more efficient white boxes to keep your food cool, then think again. Designers at Haier have come up with a new touch-screen, interactive (交互式的) fridge, which knows more about your food than you do.

With a large, high-tech display, people simply tap the screen and load new items onto the fridge’s database. The fridge can then use the database to recommend recipes with the items available. It even warns users, if the food is about to go out of date.

It can also keep track of all food stored, and recognizes the food you put inside it. The display screen is semi-transparent (半透明的), allowing users to see the screen and also just make out the food behind it. It also gives users the choice to tap over an item in the fridge, and play an advertisement relating to the product, although there are question marks over just how popular this feature would be.

Designers say the screen is good for the environment as you don’t need to open the fridge to see what’s inside, so the fridge doesn’t need to use energy to cool itself down again. It’s been on show in Berlin, although there aren’t any plans to bring it on the market just yet.

It wasn’t the only eye-catching device on display. Experts also showed a TV, which can monitor your eyes and even change the channel, if you give it a nod. The Eye Control TV comes with a large device in front of your TV. With a determined blink of your eyes, you can change channels, change the volume or power your TV off.

46. What’s mainly talked about in the text?

A. The wonderful life of the future.

B. The touch-screen fridge of Haier.

C. The healthy recipes of the future.

D. The Eye Control TV of the future.

47. What’s the most special about the fridge?

A. It’s larger than ever before.

B. It has two more efficient boxes.

C. It owns a database.

D. It has not a door.

48. The fridge can do all the things EXCEPT .

A. play an advertisement relating to the food

B. warn users once the food is to be out of date

C. recommend suitable recipes

D. cook the food ahead of time

49. What can we infer from the text?

A. The fridge is very expensive.

B. The fridge doesn’t need any energy.

C. The fridge hasn’t gone to the public.

D. The fridge is popular with the youth.

50. What does the underlined word “eye-catching” in the last paragraph probably mean?

A. Attractive and making you notice it.

B. Controlled by eyes.

C. Using high technology.

D. Surprising.