五年高考(2014-2018年)英语阅读理解话题分类解读与训练：专题15 热点话题

五年高考（2014-2018年）英语阅读理解话题分类解读与训练专题15 热点话题“热点话题”是高中新课程标准24话题之一，亦是高考英语热点话题。

本话题主要包括全球变暖、节约能源、环境保护、交通问题、人口问题等。

通过本话题的学习和高考的考查，帮助学生学习有关气候、能源和环保的有关知识，树立“节约能源，保护环境”的主人翁意识。

“热点话题”在高考英语当中通常以阅读理解、完形填空、七选五或书面表达的形式出现，例如：2018年北京卷阅读理解C、D篇，2018年江苏卷阅读理解C篇，2018年浙江卷B、C篇，2018年天津卷阅读理解A篇；2017年新课标卷II阅读理解C篇；2017年北京卷阅读理解B篇，江苏卷阅读理解D篇；2016年北京卷阅读理解B篇、2014年新课标全国卷Ⅱ阅读理解B篇等。

Passage 1（2018年·新课标II卷）We’ve all been there: in a lift, in line at the bank or on an airplane, surrounded b y people who are, like us, deeply focused on their smartphones or, worse, struggling with the uncomfortable silence.What’s the problem? It’s possible that we all have compromised conversational intelligence. It’s more likely that none of us start a conversation because it’s awkward and challenging, or we think it’s annoying and unnecessary. But the next time you find yourself among strangers, consider that small talk is worth the trouble. Experts say it’s an invaluable social practice that results in big benefits.Dismissing small talk as unimportant is easy, but we can’t forget that deep relationships wouldn’teven exist if it weren’t for casual conversation. Small talk is the grease(润滑剂) for socialcommunication, says Bernardo Carducci, director of the Shyness Research Institute at Indiana University Southeast. ＂Almost every great love story and each big business deal begins with small talk,＂ he explains. ＂The key to successful small talk is learning how to connect with others, not just communicate with them.＂In a 2014 study, Elizabeth Dunn, associate professor of psychology at UBC, invited people on their way into a coffee shop. One group was asked to seek out an interaction(互动) with its waiter; the other, to speak only when necessary. The results showed that those who chatted with their server reported significantly higher positive feelings and a better coffee shop experience. ＂It’s not that talking to the waiter is better than talking to your husband,＂ says Dunn. ＂But interactions with peripheral(边缘的) members of our social network matter for our well-being also.＂Dunn believes that people who reach out to strangers feel a significantly greater sense of belonging, a bond with others. Carducci believes developing such a sense of belonging starts with small talk. ＂Small talk is the basis of good manners,＂ he says.32. What phenomenon is described in the first paragraph?A. Addiction to smartphones.B. Inappropriate behaviours in public places.C. Absence of communication between strangers.D. Impatience with slow service.33. What is important for successful small talk according to Carducci?A. Showing good manners.B. Relating to other people.C. Focusing on a topic.D. Making business deals.34. What does the coffee-shop study suggest about small talk?A. It improves family relationships.B. It raises people’s confidence.C. It matters as much as a formal talk.D. It makes people feel good.35. What is the best title for the text?A. Conversation CountsB. Ways of Making Small TalkC. Benefits of Small TalkD. Uncomfortable Silence【文章大意】这是一篇议论文。

在当今社会，人们在公共场合或沉迷于智能手机，或与不舒服的沉默抗争，陌生人之间缺乏沟通。

但人与人之间是需要适当的交谈闲聊的，闲聊是人际关系社会交往必不可少的部分，而且也有很多好处。

32.C 主旨大意题。

题干问的是：第一段描述了什么现象。

在公共场合（比如在电梯里，在银行排队，或在飞机上）人们深深地专注于他们的智能手机，或者更糟糕的是，与不舒服的沉默抗争。

有此可知，陌生人之间缺乏沟通。

A项意为：沉迷于智能手机。

B项意为：在公共场所不适当的行为。

C项意为：陌生人之间缺乏沟通。

D项意为：对缓慢的服务不耐烦。

故选C项。

34.D 推理判断题。

题干问的是：咖啡店的研究对闲聊有什么建议。

根据第四段的调查结果可知，那些与服务员聊天的人，有显著的积极情绪和更好的咖啡店体验。

由此可知，D项符合题意。

A项意为：闲聊改善了家庭关系。

B项意为：闲聊提高了人们的信心。

C项意为：闲聊和正式谈话一样重要。

D项意为：闲聊让人感觉很好。

故选D项。

35.C 主旨大意题。

整篇文章刚开始介绍了社会的现象（公共场合人们沉迷于智能手机，陌生人之间缺乏沟通交流），接着分析了这一问题的原因，接下来有专家对闲聊进行了研究，最后得出结论，闲聊都有什么样的好处。

A项意为：谈话很重要。

B项意为：闲聊的方法。

C项意为：闲聊的好处。

D项意为：不舒服的沉默。

故选C项。

Passage 2（2018年·北京卷）Preparing Cities for Robot CarsThe possibility of self-driving robot cars has often seemed like a futurist’s dream, years away from materializing in the real world. Well, the future is apparently now. The California Department of Motor Vehicles began giving permits in April for companies to test truly self-driving cars on public roads. The state also cleared the way for companies to sell or rent out self-driving cars, and for companies to operate driverless taxi services. California, it should be noted, isn’t leading the way here. Companies have been testing their vehicles in cities across the country.It’s hard to predict when driverless cars will be everywhere on our roads. But however long it takes, the technology has the potential to change our transportation systems and our cities, for better or for worse, depending on how the transformation is regulated.While much of the debate so far has been focused on the safety of driverless cars(and rightfully so), policymakers also should be talking about how self-driving vehicles can help reduce traffic jams, cut emissions(排放) and offer more convenient, affordable mobility options. The arrival of driverless vehicles is a chance to make sure that those vehicles are environmentally friendly and more shared.Do we want to copy — or even worsen — the traffic of today with driverless cars? Imagine a future where most adults own individual self-driving vehicles. They tolerate long, slow journeys to and from work on packed highways because they can work, entertain themselves or sleep on the ride, which encourages urban spread. They take their driverless car to an appointment and set the empty vehicle to circle the building to avoid paying for parking. Instead of walking a few blocks to pick up a child or the dry cleaning, they send the self-driving minibus. The convenience even leads fewer people to take public transport — an unwelcome side effect researchers have already found in ride-hailing(叫车) services.A study from the University of California at Davis suggested that replacing petrol-powered private cars worldwide with electric, self-driving and shared systems could reduce carbon emissions from transportation 80% and cut the cost of transportation infrastructure(基础设施) and operations 40% by 2050. Fewer emissions and cheaper travel sound pretty appealing. The first commercially available driverless cars will almost certainly be fielded by ride-hailing services, considering the cost of self-driving technology as well as liability and maintenance issues(责任与维护问题). But driverless car ownership could increase as the prices drop and more people become comfortable with the technology.Policymakers should start thinking now about how to make sure the appearance of driverless vehicles doesn’t extend the worst aspects of the car-controlled transportation system we have today. The coming technological advancement presents a chance for cities and states to develop transportation systems designed to move more people, and more affordably. The car of the future is coming. We just have to plan for it.47. According to the author, attention should be paid to how driverless cars can __________.A. help deal with transportation-related problemsB. provide better services to customersC. cause damage to our environmentD. make some people lose jobs48. As for driverless cars, what i s the author’s major concern?A. Safety.B. Side effects.C. Affordability.D. Management.49. What does the underlined word ＂fielded＂ in Paragraph 4 probably mean?A. Employed.B. Replaced.C. Shared.D. Reduced.50. What is the author’s attitude to the future of self-driving cars?A. Doubtful.B. Positive.C. Disapproving.D. Sympathetic.【文章大意】本文为说明文。