2010届高考英语总复习五年高考三年联考精品题库阅读理解分类汇编社会生活类220页

社会生活类
第一部分五年高考题荟萃
Passage 1
(09·上海D篇)
The latest research suggests that the key factor separating geniuses from the merely accomplished is not I.Q., a generally bad predictor of success. Instead, it’s purposeful practice. Top performers spend more hours practising their craft. It you wanted to picture how a typical genius might develop, you’d take a girl who possessed a slightly above average language ability. It wouldn’t have to be a big talent, just enough so that she might gain some sense of distinction. Then you would want her to meet, say, a novelist, who coincidentally shared some similar qualities. Maybe the writer was from the same town, had the same family background, or shared the same birthday.
This contact would give the girl a vision of her future self. It would hive her some idea of a fascinating circle who might someday join. It would also help if one of her parents died when she was 12, giving her a strong sense of insecurity and fuelling a desperate need for success. Armed with this ambition, she would read novels and life stories of writers without end. This would give her a primary knowledge of her field. She’s be able to see new writing in deeper ways and quickly understand its inner workings.
Then she would practise writing. Her practice would be slow, painstaking and error-focused. By practising in this way, he delays the automatizing process. Her mind wants to turn conscious, newly learned skills into unconscious. Automatically performed skills. By practising slowly, by breaking skills down into tiny parts and repeating, she forces the brain to internalize a better pattern of performance. Then she would find an adviser who would provide a constant stream of feedback, viewing her performance form the outside, correcting the smallest errors, pushing her to take on tougher challenges. By now she is redoing problems—how do I get characters into a room—dozens and dozens of times. She is establishing habits of thought she can call upon in order to understand or solve future problems.
The prim ary quality our young writer possesses is not some mysterious genius. It’s the ability to develop a purposeful, laborious and boring practice routine; the latest research takes some of the magic out of great achievement. But it underlines a fact that is often neglected. Public discussion is affected by genetics and what we’re “hard-wired” to do. And it’s true that genes play a role in our capabilities. But the brain is also very plastic. We construct ourselves through behaviour.
76. The passage mainly deals with .
A. the function of I.Q. in cultivating a writer
B. the relationship between genius and success
C. the decisive factor in making a genius
D. the way of gaining some sense of distinction
77. By reading novels and writers’ stories, the girl could .
A. come to understand the inner structure of writing
B. join a fascinating circle of writers someday
C. share with a novelist her likes and dislikes
D. learn from the living examples to establish a sense of security
78. In the gi rl’s long painstaking training process, ________.
A. her adviser forms a primary challenging force to her success.
B. her writing turns into an automatic pattern of performance
C. she acquires the magic of some great achievement
D. she comes to realize she is “hard-wired” to write
79. What can be concluded from the passage?
A. A fuelling ambition plays a leading role in one’s success
B. A responsible adviser is more important than the knowledge of writing.
C. As to the growth of a genius, I.Q. Doesn’t matter, but just his|her effort.
D. What really matters is what you do rather than who you are.
答案76.C 77.A 78.B 79.D
Passage 2
(09·安徽A篇)
Remembering names is an important social skill. Here are some ways to master it.
Recite and repeat in conversation.
When you hear a person’s name，repeat it. Immediately say it to yourself several times without moving your lips. You could also repeat the name in a way that does not sound forced or artificial.
Ask the other person to recite and repeat.
You can let other people help you remember their names. After you’ve been introduced to someone，ask that person to spell the name mad pronounce it correctly for you. Most people will be pleased by the effort you’re making to learn their names.
Admit you don’t kn ow.
Admitting that you can’t remember someone’s name can actually make people relaxed. Most of them will feel sympathy if you say. “I’m working to remember names better. Yours is right on the tip of my tongue. What is it again?”
Use associations.
Link each person yon meet with one thing you find interesting or unusual. For example，you could make a mental note: "Vicki Cheng -- tall, black hair. " To reinforce you’re your associations, write them on a small card as soon as possible.
Limit the number of new names you learn at one time.
When meeting a group of people, concentrate on remembering just two or three names. Free yourself from remembering every one. Few of the people in mass introductions expect you to remember their names. Another way is to limit yourself to learning just first names. Last names can come later.
Go early.
Consider going early to conferences, parties and classes. Sometimes just a few people show up on time. That's fewer names for you to remember. And as more people arrive, you can hear them being introduced to others—an automatic review for you.
56. How will most people feel when you try hard to remember their names?
A. They will be moved.
B. They will be annoyed.
C. They will be delighted.
D. They will be discouraged.
57. If you can't remember someone's name, you may __
A. tell him the truth
B. tell him a white lie
C. ask him for pity
D. ask others to help you
58. When you meet a group of people, it is better to remember __
A. all their names
B. a couple of names first
C. just their last names
D. as many names as possible
59. What does the text mainly tell us?
A. Tips on an important social skill.
B. Importance of attending parties.
C. How to make use of associations.
D. How to recite and repeat names.
答案56.C 57.A 58.B 59.A
Passage 3
(09·北京D篇)
When students and parents are asked to rate subjects according to their importance ,the arts are unavoidably at the bottom of the list . Music is nice, people seem to say, but not important. Too often it is viewed as mere entertainment, but certainly not an education priority （优先）. This view is shortsighted. In fact, music education is beneficial and important for all students.
Music tells us who we are. Because music is an expression of the beings who create it, it reflects their thinking and values, as well as the social environment it came from. Rock music represents a lifestyle just as surely as does a Schubert song. The jazz influence that George Gershwin and other musicians introduced into their music is obviously American because it came from American musical traditions. Music expresses our character and values. It gives us identity as a society.
Music provides a kind of perception（感知）that cannot be acquired any other way . Science can explain how the sun rises and sets. The arts explore emotive（情感的）meaning of the same phenomenon . We need every possible way to discover and respond to our world for one simple but powerful reason: No one way can get it all.
The arts are forms of thought as powerful in what they communicate as mathematical and scientific symbols. They are ways we human beings “talk” to each other. They are the language of civilization through which we express our fears, our curiosities, our hungers, our discoveries, our hopes. The arts are ways we give form to our ideas and imagination so that they can be shared with others. When we do not give children access to an important way of expressing themselves such as music, we take away from them the meanings that music expresses.
Science and technology do not tell us what it means to be human. The arts do. Music is an important way we express human suffering, celebration, the meaning and value of peace and love.
So music education is far more necessary than people to realize.
68. According to Paragraph 1, students______.
A. regard music as a way of entertainment
B. disagree with their parents on education
C. view music as an overlooked subject
D. prefer the arts to science
69. In Paragraph 2, the author uses jazz as an example to .
A. compare it with rock music
B. show music identifies a society
C. introduce American musical traditions
D. prove music influences people’s l ifestyles
70. According to the passage. the arts and science .
A. approach the world from different angles
B. explore different phenomena of the world
C. express people’s feelings in different ways
D. explain what it means to be human differently
71. What is the main idea of the passage?
A. Music education deserves more attention.
B. Music should be of top education priority.
C. Music is an effective communication tool.
D. Music education makes students more imaginative.
答案68.A 69.B 70.A 71.A
Passage 4
(09·北京E篇)
Camping wild is a wonderful way to experience the natural world and, at it best, it makes little environmental influence. But with increasing numbers of people wanting to escape into the wilderness. It is becoming more and more important to camp unobtrusively（不引人注目的）and leave no mark.
Wild camping is not permitted in many places, particularly in crowded lowland Britain, Wherever you are, find out about organizations responsible for managing wild spaces, and contact them to find out their policy on camping and shelter building. For example, it is fine to camp wild in remote parts of Scotland, but in England you must ask the landowner’s permission, except in national parks.
Camping is about having relaxation, sleeping outdoors, experiencing bad weather, and making do without modern conveniences. A busy, fully-equipped campsite（野营地）seems to go against this, so seek out smaller, more remote places with easy access to open spaces and perhaps beaches. Better still, find a campsite with no road access: Walking in makes a real adventure.
Finding the right spot to camp is the first step to guaranteeing a good night’s sleep. Choose a campsite with privacy and minimum influence on others and the environment. Try to use an area where people have obviously camped before rather than creating a new spot. When camping in woodland, avoid standing dead trees. Which may fall on a windy night. Avoid animal runs and caves, and possible homes of biting insects. Make sure you have most protection on the windward side. If you make a fire, do so downwind of your shelter. Always consider what influence you might have on the nature word. Avoid damaging plants. A good campsite is found, not made-changing it should be unnecessary.
72. You needn’t ask for permission when camping in .
A. national parks in England
B. most parts of Scotland
C. crowded lowland Britain
D. most parts of England
73. The author thinks that a good campsite is one .
A. with easy access
B. used previously
C. with modern conveniences
D. far away from beaches
74. The last paragraph mainly deals with .
A. protecting animals
B. building a campfire
C. camping in woodland
D. finding a campsite with privacy
75. The passage is mainly about .
A. the protection of campsites
B. the importance of wild camping
C. the human influence on campsites
D. the dos and don’ts of wild camping
答案72.A 73.B 74.C 75.D
Passage 5
(09·湖北C篇)
When I was seven my father gave me a Timex, my first watch. I loved it, wore it for years, and haven’t had another one since it stopped ticking a decade ago. Why? Because I don’t need one.
I have a mobile phone and I’m always near someone with an iPod or something like that. All these devices（装置）tell the time—which is why, if you look around, you’ll see lots of empty wrists; sales of watches to young adults have been going down since 2007.
But while the wise have realized that they don’t need them, others—apparently including some distinguished men of our time—are spending total fortunes on them. Brands such as Rolex, Patek Philippe and Breitling command shocking prices, up to £250.000 for a piece.
This is ridiculous. Expensive cars go faster than cheap cars. Expensive clothes hang better than cheap clothes. But these days all watches tell the time as well as all other watches. Expensive watches come with extra functions—but who needs them? How often do you dive to 300 metres into the sea or need to find your direction in the area around the South Pole? So why pay that much of five years’ school fees for watches that allow you to do these things?
If justice were done, the Swiss watch industry should have closed down when the Japanese discovered how to make accurate watches for a five-pound note. Instead the Swiss reinvented the watch, with the aid of millions of pounds’ worth of advertising, as a message about the man wearing it. Rolexes are for those who spend their weekends climbing icy mountains; a Patek Philippe is for one from a rich or noble family; a Breitling suggests you like to pilot planes across the world.
Watches are now classified as “investments”（投资）. A 1994 Philippe recently sold for nearly? £350, 000, while 1960s Rolexes have gone from? 15, 000 to? 30, 000 plus in a year. But a watch is not an investment. It’s a toy for self-satisfaction, a matter of fashion. Prices may keep going up-—they’ve been rising for 15 years. But when of fashion. Prices may keep going up—they’ve been rising for 15 years. But when fashion moves on, the owner of that? £350, 000 beauty will suddenly find his pride and joy is no more a good investment than my childhood Times.
59 The sales of watches to young people have fallen because they__________.
A. have other devices to tell the time
B. think watches too expensive
C. prefer to wear an iPod
D. hame no sense of time
60. It seems ridiculous to the writer that_______________.
A. people dive 300 metres into the sea
B. expensive clothes sell better than cheap ones
C. cheap cars don’t run as fast as e xpensive ones
D. expensive watches with unnecessary functions still sell
61. What can be learnt about Swiss watch industry from the passage?
A. It targets rich people as its potential customers.
B. It’s hard for the industry to beat its competitors.
C. It wastes a huge amount of money in advertising.
D. It’s easy for the industry to reinvent cheap watches.
62. Which would be the best title for the passage?
A. Timex or Rolex?
B. My Childhood Timex
C. Watches? Mot for Me!
D. Watches—a Valuable Collection
答案59.A 60.D 61.A 62.C
Passage 6
(09·湖北D篇)
A few years ago, Paul Gerner began to gather a group of architects in Las vegas to ask them what it would take to design a public school that used 50 percent less energy, cost much less to build and obviously improved student learn ing . ”I think half of then fell off their chairs,” Gerner says.
Gerner manages school facilities （设施）for Clark county, Nevada, a district roughly the size of Massachusetts. By 2018, 143, 000 additional students will enter the already crowded public-education system. Gerner needs 73 new schools to house them. Four architecture teams have nearly finished designing primary school prototypes （样品）; They plan to construct their schools starting in 2009. The district will then assess how well the schools perform, and three winners will copy those designs in 50 to 70 new buildings.
Green schools are appearing all over , but in Clark County, which stands out for its vastness, such aggressive targets are difficult because design requirements like more natural light for students go against the realities of a desert climate. ”One of the biggest challenges is getting the right site orientation（朝向）, ” Mark McGinty, a director at SH Architecture, says. His firm recently completed a high school in Las Vegas. “You have the same building, same set of windows, but if its orientation is incorrect and it faces the sun, it will be really expensive to cool.”
Surprisingly, the man responsible for one of re most progressive green-design competitions has doubts about ideas of eco-friendly buildings. ”I don’t believe in the new green religion,” Gerner says. ”Ge rn er says.”Some of the building technologies that you get are impractical. I’m interested in those that work. ”But he wouldn’t mind if so me green features inspire students. He
says he hopes to set up green energy systems that allow them to learn about the process of harvesting wind and solar power. ”You never know what’s going to start the interest of a child to study math and science,”he s ays.
63．How did the architects react to Garner’s design requirements?
A. They lost balance in excitement.
B. they showed strong disbelief.
C. they expressed little interest.
D. they burst into cheers.
64．Which order of steps is followed in carrying out the project?
A. Assessment－Prototype－Design－Construction.
B. Assessment－Design－Prototype－Construction.
C. Design－Assessment－Prototype－Construction.
D. Design－Prototype－Assessment－Construction.
65．What makes it difficult to build green schools in Clark County?
A. The large size.
B. Limited facilities.
C. The desert climate.
D. Poor natural resources.
66．What does Gerner think of the ideas of green schools?
A. They are questionable.
B. They are out of date.
C. They are advanced.
D. They are practical.
答案63.B 64.D 65.C 66.A
Passage 7
(09·湖北E篇)
Sunday is more like Monday than it used to be, Places of business that used to keep daytime “business hours” are now open late into the night. And on the Internet, the hour of the d ay and the day of the week have become irrelevant （不相关的）. A half century ago in the United states, most people experienced strong and precise dividing lines between days of rest and days of work, school time and summer time, Today the boundaries still exist, but they seem not clear.
The law in almost all states used to require stores to close on Sunday; in most, it no longer does , It used to keep the schools open in all seasons except summer, in most, it still does. And whether the work week should strengthen its legal limits, or whether it should become more “flexible” is often debated, How should we , as a society, organize our time? Should we go even further in relaxing the boundaries of time until we live in a world in which every minute is much like every other?
These are not easy questions even to ask. Part of the difficulty is that we rarely recognize the “law of time” even when we meet it face to face. We know as children that we have to attend school a certain number of hours, a certain number of days, a certain number of years—but unless we meet the truant officer （学监）, we may well think that we should go to school due to social custom and parents’ demand rather than to the law. As adults we are familiar with “extra pay for
overtime working.”but less familiar with the fact that what constitutes（构成）“overtime” is a matter of legal definition. , When we turn the clock forward to start daylight—saving time, have we ever thought to ourselves; “Here is the law in action”? As we shall see, there is a l ot of law that has great influence on how organize and use time: compulsory education law, overtime law, and daylight-saving law—as well as law about Sunday closing, holidays, being late to work , time zones, and so on. Once we begin to look for it, we will have no trouble finding a law of time to examine and assess.
67. By saying” Sunday is more like Monday than it used to be,” the writer means that
__________.
A. work time is equal to rest time
B. many people have a day off on Monday,
C. it is hard for people to decide when to rest
D. the line between work time and rest time is unclear
68. The author raises the questions in Paragraph 2 to introduce the fact that people____.
A. fail to make full use of their time
B. enjoy working overtime for extra pay
C. are unaware of the law of time
D. welcome flexible working hours
69. According to the passage, most children tend to believe that they go to school because
they_____.
A. need to acquire knowledge
B. have to obey their parents
C. need to find companions
D. have to observe the law
70. What is the main idea of the passage?
A. Our life is governed by the law of time
B. How to organize time is not worth debating.
C. New ways of using time change our society.
D. Our time schedule is decided by social customs
答案67.D 68.C 69.B 70.A
Passage 8
(09·四川C篇)
Honesty comes in many forms. First there’s self-honesty. Is what people see the real article or do you appear through smoke and mirrors? I find that if I try to be something I’m not. I feel unsure of myself and take out a part from my PBA（personal bank account）. I love how singer Judy Garland put it. “Always be a first-class version（版本）of yourself, instead of a second-class version of somebody else. ”
Then there’s honesty in our act ions. Are you honest at school, with your parents, and with your boss? If you’ve ever been dishonest, I think we all have, try being honest, and notice how whole it makes you feel. Remember, you can’t do wrong and feel right. This story by Jeff is a good example of that:
In my second year of study, there were three kids in my math class who didn’t do well. I was
really good at it. I would charge them three dollars for each test that I helped them pass. I’d write on a little piece of paper all the right answers, and hand them off.
At first I felt like I was making money, kind of a nice job. I wasn’t thinking about how it could hurt all of us. After a while I realized I shouldn’t do that anymore, because I wasn’t really helping them. They weren’t learning anything, and it would only get harder down the road. Cheating certainly wasn’t helping me.
It takes courage to be honest when people all around you are getting away with cheating on tests, lying to their parents, and stealing at work. But, remember, every act of honesty is a deposit(储蓄) into your PBA and will build strength.
49. The underlined part “appear through smoke and mirrors” in the first paragraph means
“ ”
A. to be honest
B. to be unreal
C. to become clear
D. to come from an imagined world
50. Which of the following can best explain Judy Garland’s words?
A. Be your true self rather than follow others.
B. Don’t copy others or you can’t be the first class.
C. Make efforts to be the first instead of the second.
D. Do n’t learn from others unless they’re excellent.
51. What does the author expect to show by Jeff’s story?
A. Honesty the author expect to show by Jeff’s story?
B. A bad thing can be turned into a good one.
C. Helping others cheat can do good to nobody.
D. One should realize the wrong in his bad deeds.
52. In the last paragraph the author mainly wants to express .
A. one must be brave to be honest
B. it’s difficult to be honest when others are not
C. one should be honest when making a deposit
D. honesty in one’s actions can help him in the future
答案49.B 50.A 51.D 52.D
Passage 9
(09·四川D篇)
Cities alarmed by deaths and injuries of pedestrians are taking efforts to make crosswalks safer for people on foot, especially seniors and children who need more time to cross streets.
A pedestrian is killed in a traffic accident in the USA every 110 minutes; one is injured every nine minutes, according to official data. Crosswalks can be especially dangerous for the elderly. Among people 70 and older, 36% of pedestrian deaths in 2006 occurred in crosswalks, compared with 21% of those younger than 70, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
The Federal Highway Administration(FHWA) advise that next year states increase by nearly 15% the amount of time traffic lights provide for pedestrians to cross the street after the flashing orange hand appears.
FHWA spokesman Doug Hecox says reasons for the change include an aging population that needs more time to cross, health-conscious Americans walking more, children encouraged to walk to prevent getting overweight and high gas prices pushing people to walk instead of drive.
Pedestrian deaths went down by 12% from 5,449 in 1996 to 4,784 in 2006, Bur among those in 2006, 471 were killed in crosswalks, down slightly from 488 ten years earlier, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration(NHTSA) says.
53. Which of the following is true according to the text?
A. Among 100 pedestrian deaths there were 21 people younger than 70
B. Old people are more likely to meet with accidents happened per hour.
C. Traffic accidents killed more old people than young people
D. About seven traffic accidents happened per hour.
54. What is FHWA’s suggestion to states?
A. Fixing more traffic lights
B. Providing more crosswalks
C. Giving pedestrians more time to cross streets.
D. Drivers don’t give way
56. The report from NHTSA suggests that
A. fewer people were injured in crosswalks
B. crosswalk safety has been greatly improved
C. much has been done to reduce traffic accidents
D. pedestrian deaths in crosswalks remain a serious problem
答案53.B 54.C 55.C 56.D
Passage 10
(09·天津C篇)
Tens of thousands of theatre tickets will be given away to young people next year as part of a government campaign to inspire a lifelong love for theatre.
The plan to offer free seats to people aged between 18 to 26—funded with £2.5 million of taxpayers’ money—was announced yesterday by Andy Burnham, the Culture Secretary. It received a cautious welcome from some in the arts world, who expressed concern that the tickets may not reach the most underprivileged.
The plan comes as West End theatres are enjoying record audiences, thanks largely to musicals teaming up with television talent shows. Attendances reached. 13.6 million in 2007, up 10 percent on 2006, itself a record year. Total sales were up 18 percent on 2006 to almost £470 million.
One theatre source criticized the Government’s priorities（优先考虑的事）in funding free tick ets when pensioners were struggling to buy food and fuel, saying: “I don’t know why the Government’s wasting money on this. The Yong Vic, as The Times reported today, offers excellent performances at cheap prices.”
There was praise for the Government’s pla n from Dominic Cooke of the Royal Court Theatre, who said: “I support any move to get young people into theatre, and especially one that aims to do it all over England, not just in London.”
Ninety-five publicly funded theatres could apply for funding under the two-year plan. In
return, they will offer free tickets on at least one day each week to 18 to 26-year-olds, first-come, first-served. It is likely to be on Mondays, traditionally a quiet night for the theatre.
Mr. Burnham said: “A young person attendi ng the theatre can find it an exciting experience, and be inspired to explore a new world. But sometimes people miss out on it because they fear it’s ‘not for them’. It’s time to change this perception.”
Jeremy Hunt, the Shadow Culture Secretary, said: “Th e real issue is not getting enthusiastic children into the theatre, but improving arts education so that more young people want to go in the first place. For too many children theatres are a no-go area.”
46. Critics of the plan argued that ______.
A. the theatres would be overcrowded
B. it would be a waste of money
C. pensioners wouldn’t get free tickets
D. the government wouldn’t be able to afford it
47. According to the supporters, the plan should ______.
A. benefit the television industry
B. focus on producing better plays
C. help increase the sales of tickets
D. involve all the young people in England
48. Which of the following is TRUE about the plan?
A. Ninety-five theatres have received funding.
B. Everyone will get at least one free ticket.
C. It may not benefit all the young people.
D. Free tickets are offered once every day.
49. We can infer from the passage that in England ______.
A. many plays are not for young people
B. many young people don’t like theatre
C. people know little about the plan
D. children used to receive good arts education
50. According to the passage, the issue to offer free tickets to young people seems ______.
A. controversial
B. inspiring
C. exciting
D. unreasonable
答案46.B 47.D 48.C 49.B 50.A
Passage 11
(09·浙江D篇)
In ancient Egypt, the pharaoh(法老)treated the poor message runner like a prince when he arrived at the palace, if he brought good news. However, if the exhausted runner had the misfortune to bring the pharaoh unhappy news, his head was cut off.
Shades of that spiri t spread over today’s conversations. Once a friend and I packed up some peanut butter and sandwiches for an outing. As we walked light-heartedly out the door, picnic basket in hand, a smiling neighbor looked up at the sky and said, ”Oh boy, bad day for a p icnic.。