2021届高三新高考适应性考试专项训练阅读理解(二)

2021届高三新高考适应性考试专项训练阅读理解(二)

A

Contributors to Reader's Digest

Nicholas Hune-Brown

Writer, Toronto

“Fight of His Life”

Hune-Brown is a National Magazine Award w inning writer whose work has been published in Toronto Life, The Walrus, Hazlitt and The Guardian. He's also the senior editor at The Local, a magazine focused on long-form stories about health and social issues in Toronto. Read his story about a COVID-19 patient's incredible fight for survival on page 114.

Jarred Briggs

Artist, Plaster Rock, N.B．

“Beware Winter Rays”

Briggs's favorite part about being an artist is coming up with clever conceptual drawings—he lives for the moment when all the pieces of the puzzle begin to fit together. When he's not drawing, Briggs loves reading science-fiction novels, being outdoors and spending time with his three dogs. Take a look at his latest work on page 18.

Megan Murphy

Writer, Peterborough, Ont.

“Home for the Holidays”

Murphy's love affairs with writing began at a young age with nightly words “Dear diary”. Also an actor, Murphy co-created a show this year called The Verandah Society, in which she and a musician friend Anna Walker travel to people's homes and share music and stories. Read her humorous tale of a childhood Christmas ceremony on page 26.

1．What does Jarred Briggs like best about his job?

A．Working out puzzles.B．Reading science-fiction novels.

C．Thinking up satisfying drawings.D．Writing stories about social issues.

2．Who developed an interest in writing at a young age?

A．Nicholas Hune- Brown.B．Jarred Briggs.C．Anna Walker.D．Megan Murphy.

3．What can you learn from the text?

A．It recommends some works of Reader s Digest.

B．It introduces senior editors of popular magazines.

C．Nicholas Hune- Brown is a COVID-19 survivor.

D．The V erandah Society is about a Christmas ceremony.

B

For centuries, people have kept large amounts of cash at home during difficult times. But during the coronavirus crisis, things are different. Metal coins and paper bills can be a source of worry rather than hope.

The fear is that these objects, possibly touched by thousands of people, could provide a way for the coronavirus to spread. Public officials and health experts have said that the risk is small. Still, some businesses refuse to accept cash and some countries have suggested that their citizens should stop using it altogether.

Zachary Cohle is an economics professor at Quinnipiac University in Connecticut. “In many areas, cash was already beginning to disappear due to the increased risk of robbery, the ease of Internet ordering, and the ubiquity of cell phones,” he said. “Sweden, Finland, Norway, Canada and others have slowly reduced cash use to the point where using it in large amounts seems unusual. Britain and Australia are expected to become cashless countries. And in China, cash use has dropped as electronic payment services have increased in popularity over the past decade.”

“Cash ist Fesch” is a common saying in Austria and southern Germany. The words mean cash is beautiful. But since the virus outbreak, shops that have remained open there, like grocery stores, have encouraged people to pay with cards. And Germany’s central bank said 43 percent of Germans recently paid for goods and services with a card. The Bank of Japan estimates that cash makes up for 53 percent of household assets. But the threat of the coronavirus could move the country toward going cashless, said Hiroki Maruyama, head of the nonprofit Fintech Association of Japan. He added, “The culture is slowly changing.”

However, cash use is still common in places like West and Central Africa. Some experts say that the world will not be cashless until everyone and every country has reliable access to the Internet.

4．Why is cash regarded as a source of worry?

A．Cash may carry viruses after being used.B．Some countries refuse to accept cash.

C．It’s risky to keep a lot of cash at home.D．Cash can’t be used during the crisis.

5．What is paragraph 3 mainly about?

A．The disadvantages of paying in cash.B．The introduction to cashless countries.

C．The present situation of cash use worldwide.D．The increasing popularity of electronic payment.

6．What do we know from the example of Germany and Japan?

A．Shops in Germany only take cash because it’s beautiful.