限时阅读训练十 彭发

江苏省仪征中学2015届高三英语第二学期阅读训练（十）一、完形填空One of the political issues that is heard a lot about in the States lately is campaign（竞选）finance reform（改革）. The people who are 36 for reform usually want the 37 to pay for campaigns and/or limit the amount of money that candidates（候选人）and their 38 can spend.One reason that reform is called for is that it costs so much to 39 for political office. Candidates have to spend a great deal of time and effort 40 money. The incumbents (those already in office) have less time to do chief jobs since they must 41 so many money raising events.Another 42 is the fear that candidates will be owned or 43 by the “special interest groups” that give money to their campaigns. Sometimes this certainly seems to be the 44 .On the 45 side are those who say that it doesn’t mean it’s really46 just because you call something “reform”. They argue that the right to freedom of speech is47 if the government can limit anyone’s ability to get his or her message out to the peopl e.If one person or a group of people want to tell the 48 what they think about an issue or candidate, they have to buy 49 on TV, radio, and in newspapers and magazines. They might want to put up advertisements along highways and on websites. All this costs a lot of 50 . Those against laws that control or limit spending say that you don’t really have freedom of 51 or freedom of the press if you can’t get your message out. They say the government should never be able to control 52 discussions. They believe that this is most important when the voters are about to make 53 .What do you think about this 54 ? Listen to what the candidates for national office have to say. Which candidates 55 the most sense to you?36．A．waiting B．calling C．standing D．preparing 37．A．government B．president C．candidates D．citizens 38．A．leaders B．compete C．wait D．work 40．A．raising B．earning C．giving D．getting 41．A．notice B．report C．guard D．attend 42．A．event B．cost C．reason D．office 43．A．encouraged B．forced C．controlled D．ordered 44．A．joke B．purpose C．case D．example 45．A．other B．same C．another D．different 46．A．worse B．better C．easier D．harder 47．A．meaningless B．unimportant C．unnecessary D．impossible 48．A．reporters B．truth C．story D．public 49．A．time B．copies C．rights D．advertising 50．A．energy B．effort C．time D．money 51．A．argument B．opinion C．speech D．election 52．A．common B．political C．general D．special 53．A．profit B．trouble C．plans D．decisions 54．A．quarrel B．problem C．issue D．affair 55．A．find B．make C．create D．produce 二、阅读理解AGiant landslides (山崩) have a seismic (地震的) fingerprint that allows researchers to estimate their size, duration, and even how far they travel across the landscape, new research reveals. The finding may be particularly useful in identifying landslides that occur in steep, remote areas where few people live — not because of their immediate effects, but because such slumps (滑坡) can block rivers and impound lakes that could later destroy the natural dams and threaten populated areas downstream.Seismometers and other such instruments record ground motions occurring at all frequencies (频率), but seismologists typically pay attention to only those in ranges where the signals of earthquakes exist. The first seismic waves caused by quakes and explosions are sharp and distinct, says Goran Ekstrom, a seismologist in Palisades, New York. But the low-frequency waves caused by giant landslides are occasionally hidden in the mix of seismic vibrations (震动) booming through Earth’s crust, too.Of the 29 largest known landslides worldwide from 1980 through 2012, ground motions from the 27 largest were detected by seismic instruments that were part of a global network of instruments. Seismic vibrations produced by the other two slides showed up well on regional networks.When Ekstrom and colleague Colin Stark analyzed the seismic data associated with those major landslides, they realized that certain characteristics of the slumps were contained in the ground motions —similar to the way that researchers can use seismic data to estimate the size of a quake and the directions. For instance, when rock falls off a mountainside, the peak is suddenly lighter —so, according to Newton’s laws of motion, the mountain springs upward and away from the falling rock, causing initial ground motions that reveal some characteristics of the landslide.And because seismic data offer clues about how landslides unfold, it hay help researchers develop better models of how landsl ides behave. “People merely see large landslides happen; they typically only see the aftereffects,” Ekstrom notes.Indeed, Ekstrom aril Stark’s analysis revealed that a set of landslides that fell onto the Siachen Glacier near the India-Pakistan border in September 2010 actually included seven slides that occurred over a period of 4 days. “If we’d only seen this deposit in the field, we’d likely have thought it was formed by one or two landslides,” Ekstrom says.Although some landsl ides fortunately don’t affect people immediately, they can have long-term effects. If researchers have a way to identify such landslides quickly, they can possibly minimize damage and loss of life.56. What is the particular use of the finding mentioned in the passage?A. Clarifying the reasons to identify landslides.B. Finding the possible directions of landslides.C. Judging where landslides occur and how long they may last.D. Confirming the lonely sites and potential effects of landslides.57. According to the passage, seismic waves caused by giant landslides ______.A. are at high frequencyB. are sharp and distinctC. might hardly be discoveredD. may occur at all frequencies58. What can help scientists figure out the size and direction of a landslide?A. Ground motions.B. Newton’s laws of motion.C. The falling rock.D. The lighter mountain peak.59. We can infer from the passage that ______.A. damage and loss of life from giant landslides are unavoidableB. landslides can all be detected by instruments over the worldC. landslides have never been seen when they occurD. deposit can tell scientists the number of landslidesBAlmost every machine with moving parts has wheels, yet no one knows exactly when the first wheel was invented or what it was used for.We do know，however，that they existed over 5，500 years ago in ancient Asia.The oldest known transport wheel was discovered in 2002 in Slovenia. It is over 5，100 years old.Evidence suggests that wheels for transport didn't become popular for a while, though. This could be because animals did a perfectly good job of carrying farming tools and humans around. But it could also be because of a difficult situation. While wheels need to roll on smooth surfaces,roads with smooth surfaces weren't going to be constructed until there was plenty of demand for them.Eventually，road surfaces did become smoother, but this difficult situation appeared again a few centuries later. There had been no important changes in wheel and vehicle design before the arrival of modern road design.In the mid－1700s，a Frenchman came up with a new design of road—a base layer (层)of large stones covered with a thin layer of smaller stones. A Scotsman improved on this design in the 1820s and a strong，lasting road surface became a reality. At around the same time，metal hubs(the central part of a wheel) came into being，followed by the pneumatic tyre (充气轮胎) in 1846. Alloy wheels were invented in 1967, sixty years after the appearance of tarmacked roads(柏油路)．As wheel design took off, vehicles got faster and faster.60．What might explain why transport wheels didn't become popular for some time?A．Few knew how to use transport wheels.B．Humans carried farming tools just as well.C．Animals were a good means of transport.D．The existence of transport wheels was not known.61．What do we know about road design from the passage?A．It was easier than wheel design.B．It improved after big changes in vehicle design.C．It was promoted by fast－moving vehicles.D．It provided conditions for wheel design to develop.62．How is the last paragraph mainly developed?A．By giving examples. B．By making comparisons.C．By following time order. D．By making classifications.63．What is the passage mainly about?A．The beginning of road design. B．The development of transport wheels.C．The history of public transport. D．The invention of fast－moving vehicles.CA recent global survey of 2000 high-net-worth individuals found that 60% were not planning on a traditional retirement. Among US participants, 75% expected to continue working in some capacity even after stepping away from full-time jobs. "Many of these people made their wealth by doing something they're passionate （有激情的）about." says Daniel Egan, head of behavioral finance for Barclays Wealth Americas. "Given the choice, they prefer to continue working." Barclays calls these people "nevertirees."Unlike many Americans compelled into early retirement by company restrictions, the average nevertiree often has no one forcing his hand. If 106-year-old investor Irving Kahn, head of his own family firm, wants to keep coming to work every day. who's going to stop him? Seventy-eight-year-old Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg's job security is guaranteed in the Constitution.It may seem that these elderly people are trying to cheat death. In fact, they are. And it's working. Howard Friedman, a professor at UC Riverside, found in his research that those who work hardest and are successful in their careers often live the longest lives. "People are generally being given bad advice to slow down, take it easy, stop worrying, and retire to Florida," he says. He described one study participant, still working at the age of 100, who was recently disappointed to see his son retire."We're beginning to see a change in how people view retirement," says George Leeson, co-director of the Institute of Population Ageing at Oxford. Where once retirement was seen as a brief reward after a long struggle through some miserable job, it is now akin（近似）to being cast aside. What Leeson terms "the Warren Buffett effect" is becoming more broadly appealing as individuals come to "view retirement as not simply being linked to economic productivity but also about contribution."Observers are split on whether this is a wholly good thing. On the one hand, companies andfinancial firms can benefit from the wisdom of a resilient（坚韧的）chief. On the other, the new generation can find it more difficult to advance-an argument that typically holds little sway to a nevertiree.64. What do we learn about the so-called "nevertirees"?A. They are passionate about making a fortune.B. They have no choice but to continue working.C. They love what they do and choose not to retire.D. They will not retire unless they are compelled to.65. What do Irving Kahn and Ruth Bader Ginsburg have in common?A. Neither of them is subject to forced retirement.B. Neither of them desires reward for their work.C. Both cling to their positions despite opposition.D. Both are capable of coping with heavy workloads.66. What is the finding of Howard Friedman's research?A. The harder you work, the bigger your fortune will be.B. The earlier you retire, the healthier you will be.C. Elderly people have to slow down to live longer.D. Working at an advanced age lengthens people's life.67. What is the traditional view of retirement according to the passage?A. It means a burden to the younger generation.B. It is a symbol of a mature and civilized society.C. It is a compensation for one's life-long hard work.D. It helps increase a nation's economic productivity.68. What do critics say about "nevertirees"?A. They are an obstacle to a company's development.B. They lack the creativity of the younger generation.C. They cannot work as efficiently as they used to.D. They prevent young people from getting ahead.D"Culture shock" occurs as a result of total immersion (浸没) in a new culture. It happens to "people who have been suddenly transplanted abroad. " Newcomers may be anxious because they do not speak the language, know the customs, or understand people's behavior in daily life. The visitor finds that "yes" may not always mean "yes", that friendliness does not necessarily mean friendship, or that statements that appear to be serious are really intended as jokes. The foreigner may be unsure as to when to shake hands, when to start conversations, or how to approach a stranger. The notion of "culture shock" helps explain feelings of bewilderment and disorientation. Language problems do not account for all the frustrations that people feel. When one is deprived of everything that was once so familiar, such as understanding a transportation system, knowing how to register for university classes, or knowing how to make friends, difficulties in coping with the new society may arise."... when an individual enters a strange culture, he or she is like fish out of water, " Newcomers feel at times that they do not belong to and feel alienated from the native members of the culture. When this happens visitors may want to reject everything about the new environment and may glorify and exaggerate the positive aspects of their own culture. Conversely visitors may scorn their native country by rejecting its values and instead choosing to identify with (if only temporarily) the value of the new country. This may occur as an attempt to over-identify with the new culture in order to be accepted by the people in it.69. The expression "he or she is like fish out of water" suggests_______.A. people away from their cultures can hardly survive in a new cultureB. a fish can not survive without waterC. people away from their culture experience mental isolationD. people away from their culture have difficulties in their studies70. In order to identify with the new environment, some people may_______.A. give an exaggerated picture of their own countryB. criticize the positive aspects of their own countryC. abandon their original beliefsD. accept a temporary set of values71. Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the author?A. Homesickness results in culture shock.B. A typical symptom of culture shock is confusion.C. Culture shock is the explanation of anxiety.D. Culture shock happens to foreign students only.72. Newcomers may worry aboutA. their ignorance of the alien customsB. their knowledge of "yes" in the native languageC. their understanding of friendshipD. their control of their behavior73. When the foreign visitor is immersed in new problems he finds hard to cope with, he is most likely to feel_______.A. uninsuredB. deprivedC. alienatedD. disappointed三、任务型阅读The college search doesn’t have to begin and end with the name-brand schools. There’re many schools out there to choose from — some known and some less known, all worthy of your attention. To find the school that works for you, you should start with who you are and why you’re going to co llege. What are you good at and what are you interested in? What are your weaknesses? What do you want out of life? Are you socially self-sufficient or do you need warm, familial support? Talk with your family, friends and teachers as you ask these questions. The people who know you best can help you the most with these important issues.Remember that a name-brand college won’t guarantee your success. Think about the people in your life who have achieved great success and find out where they went to colleg e. You’ll likely find success in life has less to do with the choice of college than with the experiences and opportunities while in college. Employers are looking for outstanding skills and experience, not college background. As you search for colleges, a sk about graduate students, and you’ll find many colleges that are better than name-brand ones.You don’t need to pick a major to pick a college. V ery few high school students have enough information or experience to choose a major. You need the variety and depth of college coursework to determine your interest and major. Most college students change their minds two or three times before they settle on a major, and they can still graduate in four years! Being undecided is a good thing and will leave you open to more academic experiences.If you make the assumption that you cannot afford college based on the sticker price of tuition, you’ll miss out. It’s difficult to talk about money, but if you investigate all the options and ask for help and advice, y ou’ll find affordable choices. Online resources, as well as financial aid workshops sponsored by high schools in local communities, are widely available to get you started. Investigate early and ask for help.The most important factor in choosing a college is fit. Finding a good fit requires time and thoughtfulness. You can visit college websites and learn about what events take place, who visits as a guest speaker, and how to get in touch with current students and teachers. If you visit the campus, try to sit in on classes, eat in the dining hall and hang around in the student center. That will help you imagine yourself as a part of the community. Talk to a few student s and ask if they would make the same college choice if they had to do it again. Conside r the information you’ve collected about1. An air France jet is reported ______ in the Atlantic Ocean with 228 people aboard, theairline’s worst disaster in its 75-year history.A. to have crashedB. to have been crashedC. having crashedD. having been crashed2. ---I was wondering whether you could remember that name.---Oh, I’m afraid that ____ me for the moment.A. remindsB. puzzlesC. disturbsD. escapes3. The company’s _____ to providing quality at a reasonable price has been vital to its success.A. considerationB. commitmentC. competitionD. contribution4. If a country doesn’t see the global economy and ecology as dynamic, interdependent systems, it’ll blindly _____ growth as a solution to all social problems.A. make forB. hunt forC. apply forD. push for5. ---Will Mary go for a picnic with us tomorrow?---She says she won’t go, but I say she ______, with no excuse.A. willB. shallC. canD. may6. ---Why didn’t you join in the final of talent shows?---I _______, but I was kicked out of the first round.A. wouldB. wished toC. would like toD. was to have7. It is only gradually, with the passing of years, _____ to a clear understanding of their position.A. that they comeB. do they comeC. that comeD. when they come8. Visiting the Acropolis this summer was an unforgettable moment, I will treasure.A. whatB. thatC. itD. one9. --- So, how is your new roommate?---She really ____. She’s always making loud noises at midnight and when I remind her, she always makes rude remarks.A. turns me overB. turns me downC. turns me offD. turns me out10.—So hard ______ in the past few years that he has made great progress in English.—I can see that, only a few mistakes _______ in this exam.A. has he worked; did he makeB. he has worked; he madeC. he has worked; has he madeD. has he worked; he made11. Don’t fall for the false adv ertisement. In the beginning, you may lose some weight, but aftera while you will end up back ________ you started.A. as ifB. whenC. even ifD. where12. The whole town was simply swept aside by the power of water. Cars, trains and buildings could not ____, _______ the people who stood in the way.A. remain; or ratherB. survive; let aloneC. exist; more or lessD. achieve; besides13. Generally, ____ to a university in the USA, foreign students need to prove their strong ability in using English.A. admittingB. admittedC. to be admittedD. being admitted14. It’s certainly hard work. But, ____ , a man who wishes to have a career has to make a great many sacrifices.A. on the contraryB. as a resultC. on the other handD. in addition15. Despite the fact that he has little knowledge in this field, he is a native speaker of English, soI think he is ____ to the translating job.A. fitB. qualifiedC. equalD. able【要点综述】本文介绍轮子的演进历史。