【英语】高考英语阅读理解(社会文化)专项训练及答案

【英语】高考英语阅读理解(社会文化)专项训练及答案

一、高中英语阅读理解社会文化类

1．阅读理解

Theaters of the Past

The Greek Theater

Theaters developed in many parts of Greece. Ancient Greek theaters were built in natural open air sites on conveniently shaped hills. This allowed a great mass of people to enjoy a show at a time. Due to this, actors placed emphasis on exaggerated (夸张的) action and speech. And, colorful symbolic masks and costumes were used.

The Medieval Theater

The Medieval theater started in churches. That's why medieval plays were about Bible stories. At first, it became a custom for priests (牧师) to act out brief scenes during Christmas and Easter. These acts attracted large crowds. Finally the church refused to allow priests to participate in any such events again, so ordinary people began these performances outside. Performances were set in the town square, with several stage settings around it.

The Elizabethan Theater

The England's theater developed rapidly in the years following the defeat of the Spanish Navy. The dominant feature of Elizabethan theater was the stage. It has three parts: The fore stage for outside scenes; the inner stage for scenes inside a building; an upper stage or balcony for various purposes. The reason for this design is that there were no scene changes, or breaks during the play. Very little scenery was used, so the actors had to create a scene through their voices and dialogues. This led to a more poetic script, and poets became the main source of script writing.

The Restoration Theater

Some of the plays told sad stories, but the majority of the plays were really funny. Many specialized machines were used to create the scene. The stage was a very clever idea , in that on the sides of the stage large back shutters (百叶窗) were painted with the scene.

（1）Why were ancient Greek theaters built on hills?

A.To hold a large audience.

B.To build a big and strong stage.

C.To have a better sound effect.

D.To emphasize exaggerated performances.

（2）In which theater could actors' voices and speech help create scenes?

A.The Greek Theater.

B.The Medieval Theater.

C.The Elizabethan Theater.

D.The Restoration Theater.

（3）What is special about the Restoration Theater?

A.Colorful masks were used.

B.The stage was smartly designed.

C.Most of its plays were sorrowful.

D.Ordinary people were the performers.

【答案】（1）A

（2）C

（3）B

【解析】【分析】本文是一篇说明文，介绍了四个古代的剧院。

（1）考查细节理解。根据The Greek Theater部分中的“Ancient Greek theaters were built in natural open air sites on conveniently shaped hills. This allowed a great mass of people to enjoy a show at a time.”古希腊的剧院建在自然开阔的地方，建在形状方便的山上。这使得一大群人可以一次欣赏一场演出，可知，希腊剧院建在山上是为了让更多的观众可以一起欣赏演出。故选A。

（2）考查细节理解。根据The Elizabethan Theater部分中的“Very little scenery was used, so the actors had to create a sc ene through their voices and dialogues.”布景用得很少，所以演员们不得不通过他们的声音和对话来创造一个场景，可知，在The Elizabethan Theater, 演员的声音和言语能帮助创造场景。故选C。

（3）考查推理判断。根据The Restoration Theater部分中的“The stage was a very clever idea , in that on the sides of the stage large back shutters (百叶窗) were painted with the scene.”舞台是一个非常聪明的想法，因为舞台两侧的大背板上都画着场景)可知，在The Restoration Theater舞台设计非常巧妙。故选B。

【点评】本题考点涉及细节理解和推理判断两个题型的考查，是一篇文化类阅读，考生需要准确掌握细节信息，并根据上下文进行逻辑推理，从而选出正确答案。

2．阅读理解

At one time or another in your life you have probably done origami, even if it was just making a paper airplane or something more complicated like a paper crane. The chances are that as you did it, you reflected on how inventive this traditional art is. Animals, boxes, flowers, boats: it all can be created from a single square or rectangular sheet of paper simply by folding it. No cutting, no pasting.

But did you ever stop to think how the same techniques might be applied to engineering? Equipment that could be of real practical use? Origami meets the demand for things that need to be small when transported and large when they arrive, like the everyday umbrella. In fact, origami-inspired creations have already flown in space; in 1995, Japanese engineers launched a satellite with solar panels that folded like a map.

'It's now mathematically proven that you can pretty much fold anything," says physicist Robert J. Lang, who quit his engineering job eight years ago to fold things full time. Lang, an origami enthusiast since age six, advised a advised well-known ear manufacturer the best way to fold an airbag into a dashboard. He is currently working on a space telescope lens that, if all goes according to plan, should be able to unfold to the size of a football field.

At the other end of the scale, researchers are also working on tiny folding devices that could lead to breakthroughs in medicine and computing. There's no doubt that computers of the future may contain tiny, folded motors or capacitors for faster processing and better memory.