-高二英語寒假提升天天練之閱讀理解Day4政治經(jīng)濟文化含解析

Day4政治經(jīng)濟文化A“WhenIgrowup,Iwanttobearunner.”ThesewordsarespokenbythousandsofKenyanchildren.50percentoftheKenyantoprunnersaremembersofKalenjin,oneminorityraceofthecountry.TheymakeuplessthantwopercentofKenya’spopulation.Thisfacthaspuzzledsportsscientists.Theyhavespentconsiderabletimeandefforttryingtoansweronequestion:WhatenablestheKalenjinpeopletorunsofast?Althoughthequestionseemssimple,findingtheanswerhasproventobedifficultandcontroversial.AteamofDanishsportsscientistsspent18monthsanddiscoveredtheKalenjinshadremarkablyslowheartratesevenwhenrunninglongdistances.TheKalenjinsliveinhigh-elevation（高海拔）villagesintheRiftValleyinwesternKenya.Peoplelivingathighelevationsproducemoreredbloodcells,whichaidinthetransportofoxygenthroughoutthebody.Becausetheairisthinnerandcontainslessoxygenathighelevations,thebodyproducesmoreredbloodcells.Scientistsbelievethereisaconnectionbetweenincreasedredbloodcellsandlowheartratesandthatbothmayenablehigh-altitudeathletestooutperformthosewhotrainatlowaltitudes.TheDanishscientistsalsostudiedthebodiesoftheKalenjinsandcomparedthemtothoseoftheDanes.TheyfoundthattheKalenjinshavelonger“birdlike”legs.TheKalenjinsalsohavelowerbodymassindexes(ameasureofbodyfatbasedonweightandheight)andshorterbodiesthanDanishpeople.AsaresultoftheDanishstudy,somescientistsmadetheconclusionthattheKalenjinspossesswhatiscalleda“speedgene(基因)”.However,KenyanrunnerswereoffendedbythisconclusionTheycreditedtheirsuccesstohardworkandendlesshoursoftraining.Althoughthecontroversyoverthe“speedgene”remainsunsolved,BritishrunnerMoFarah’sexperienceoffersaninterestingperspectiveonthesubject.In2005,herealizedhewasn’tmeetinghispotentialasarunner.AgroupofKenyanrunnersweretraininginEnglandthen.AfterheaccidentallyobservedtheKenyans’stricttrainingroutinesanddedicationtotheirsport,Farahsaiditwaslikeaswitchhadbeenturnedoninhishead.Hebeganeatinghealthyfoods,goingtobedearly,andtrainingharderthanhehadevertrainedinhislife.Asaresult,Farah’srunningcareerexploded.HehaswonsevenworldandOlympictitlesinthe5000mandregularlybeatsKenya’stoprunners!Farah’sstoryproveswhatKenyanshaveknownallalong.Regardlessofgenetics,theirsuccesswouldnotbepossiblewithouthardwork,dedication,sacrifice,andmentaltoughness.Their“secret”issimple.Trainhard,runfast,andnevergiveup.1.Whatinterestedthesportsscientists?A.Kenyansportshistory.B.Kanlenjins’runningability.C.Kanlenjins’trainingmethods.D.Kenyans’enthusiasmforsport.2.AccordingtoDanishscientists,whatleadstotheKanlenjins’success?A.Physicalcondition.

B.Hardtraining.C.Livingstyle.

D.Strongwill.3.HowdidKenyanrunnersthinkaboutDanishresearchresult?A.Convincing.

B.Astonishing.C.Unacceptable.

D.Important.4.WhyisMoFarah’sstorymentionedinthepassage?A.Toshowrunningmethodscount.B.ToencourageBritishathletes.C.Toproveeffortpaysoff.D.Tosupportgenetheory.BPeopleinmostwesterncountriescelebrateValentine'sDay(情人節(jié))onFebruary14th.Itisaspecialtimetosendgreetingcardscalledvalentinestotheirsweethearts,friends,parentsandotherfamilymembers.EstherA.HowlandofWorcester,Massachusetts,becameonethefirstAmericanmanufacturers(生產(chǎn)者)ofvalentinesin1847.ShesawseveralBritishvalentinesanddecidedtomakeherown.Sheusedribbons,lace,flowersandpaintedleavesonhercards.Todayvalentinesaresoldinmanystoresallovertheworldandmayhavemessagesofloveorbeveryhumorous.Peoplealsosendflowers,candyandgiftstothepeopletheywanttorememberonValentine’sDay.ChildreninAmericadecoratetheirclassroomswithpaperheartsandcupids(丘比特的畫),andmanyholdclassroompartiestocelebrateValentine’sDaywiththeirclassmatesandteachers.OlderstudentsmayhavedancesattheirschoolsonValentine’sDay.Valentine’sDayinEuropeiscelebratedinmanyways.ChildreninEnglandsingspecialsongsandreceivegifts,candyandmoney.Peoplemaybakespecialbreadwithplums(葡萄干)inthem.InDenmark,peoplesendpressedwhiteflowerscalledsnowdropstotheirfriends.HoweveryoudecidetocelebrateonValentine’sDay,takesometimetotellyourfriendsandfamilythatyoulovethem.1.Whatisthemainideaofthiswriting?A.Valentine’sDayiscelebratedonFeb.14th.B.Howvalentinesaremade.C.Valentine’sDayisaspecialholidayforfriendsandfamily.D.WhyValentine’sDayisaspecialtime.2.WherewerethefirstvalentinesmadeinAmerica?A.InOregon.

B.InMassachusetts.C.InMichigan.

D.InFlorida.3.HowdopeopleinEnglandcelebrateValentine’sDay?A.Havedancesatschool.B.Receivegiftsoffruit,candyandmoney.C.Holdclassroomparties.D.Sendpressedsnowdropstotheirfriends.4.WhichofthefollowingisNOTtrue?A.SchoolchildrencelebrateValentine’sDayinmanyways.B.PeopleinDenmarksendflowerscalledsnowdropstotheirfriends.C.Allvalentinesarefunnyorhumorous.CAsoneofthemostimportantlanguagesintheworld,Latinhadhumblebeginnings.ItoriginatedalongtheTiberRiverinItalyandonlyahandfulofpeoplespokethelanguage.Overtime,Latinbecamemorewell-knownasRomansgainedpoliticalpower.ManyfamousliterarytextsandscientificclassificationswerewritteninLatin.EventhoughknowingLatinindicatedapersonwaseducated,accordingtoBritannica,inthe20thcenturyfarfewerpeoplelearnedLatin,leadingittobeclassifiedasa“dead”language.Therearearound7,000livinglanguagesintheworld,but,accordingtoBritannica,“morethanhalfareatriskofdyingoutbytheendofthe21stcentury.”Civilizationsevolveovertimeandsodolanguages.Moreoftenthannot,alanguagediesbecauseeveryonewhospeaksthelanguagedies.Forexample,MarieSmithJones,perhapsthelastnativespeakeroftheAlaskanEyaklanguage,diedattheageof89in2008,andsodidthelanguage.Now,fewerandfewerpeoplespeakLatin,whichraisespublic’sawarenessaboutitsprotection.Actually,therearemanyotherreasonsastowhyLatinshouldbeprotectedortaught.“Itisawindowintoafascinatingancientcivilization,andstudyinganancientcivilizationteachesustorespectdifferentpointsofviewandunfamiliarculturalpractices,”saysKathleenColeman,JamesLoebProfessorofHarvardUniversity.Sinceitisn’tusedinordinaryconversations,therearealotofdifficultiesthatarisefromteachingLatin.“Teachinga‘dead’languageisdifferentfromteachingotherlanguages,”explainsColeman,“becausetherearenonativespeakerstoshowushowitsoundsoranswerquestionsaboutthemeaningofwordsorexplainidioms.Thoughit’shard,fortunately,westillcanfindtheanswerstoourquestionsfromthebrokenevidenceavailableinwrittentexts.”1.WhatcanwelearnaboutLatinfromParagraph1?A.Mostpeopledidn’tlearnLatininthe20thcentury.B.OnlyeducatedpeoplelearnedLatininthepast.C.Latinwasnotfavoredbyscientistsandwriters.D.Latinwaswell-knownsinceitsbirth.2.TheauthormentionsMarieSmithJonesinParagraph2toshow________.A.howalanguagediesB.whatadeadlanguageisC.howalanguageisprotectedD.whoisthelastAlaskanEyakspeaker3.WhyshouldpeoplelearnLatinaccordingtoColeman?A.Toshowunfamiliarpractices.

B.Torespectothers’opinions.C.Toprotecta“dead”language.

D.Tolearnaboutanancientsociety.4.Whatwilltheauthorprobablydiscussinthefollowingparagraph?A.Thelearningmethods.

B.ThedevelopmentofLatin.C.Thelearningmaterials.

D.ThedifficultiesinlearningLatin.DMusicisaninternationallanguage.Thesongsthataresungorplayedbyinstrumentsarebeautifultoallpeopleeverywhere.PopularmusicinAmericaiswhateverystudentlikes.Studentscarrysmallradioswithearphonesandlistentomusicbeforeclass，afterclassandatlunch.Studentswithcarsbuylargespeakers(揚聲器)andplaythemusicloudlyastheydriveonthestreet.Adultdriverslistentomusiconthecarradioastheydrivetowork.Theyalsolistentothenewsaboutsports，theweather，politics，andactivitiesoftheAmericanpeople.Butmostoftheradiobroadcastismusic.Poporpopularmusicsingersmakemuchmoney.TheymakeaCDortapewhichradiostationsuseineverystate.Oncethepopularsingerisheardthroughoutthecountry，youngpeoplebuyhisorhertapes.Someofthemoneyfromthesetapescomestothesinger.Whereverthesingergoes，alltheyoungpeoplewanttomeethimorher.Nowthesingerhasbecomeanationalstar.Besidespopmusic，therearetwootherkindsofmusicthatisimportanttoAmericans.Oneiscalledfolkmusic.IttellsstoriesaboutthecommonlifeofAmericans.Theotheriscalledwesternorcountrymusic.Thiswasstartedbycowboyswhowouldsingatnighttothecowstheywerewatching.Today，anymusicaboutcountrylifeandthelovebetweenacountryboyandhisgirliscalledwesternorcountrymusic.Seriousmusicfortheconcerthallsiscalledclassicalmusic.Musicforinstrumentsiscalledorchestramusic，suchasthesymphonies(交響樂)ofBeethoven.Thereisoperaforsingers，balletfordancerslikethestoryofLiangShanboandZhuYingtaiinChina.1.Inwhatwaycanmusicberegardedasaninternationallanguage?A.Popularmusiciswhateveryoneenjoys.B.Thewonderfulsongsarepopularwiththeworldpeople.C.Whenmusicisplayed，itseemsasifitwerespeakingtous.D.Musicistoopopularforeveryonetobeabletoplayit.2.WhatcanweknowaboutmusicandpeopleinAmerica?A.Adultdriverslistentonewsaswellasmusicwhentheydrivetowork.B.Adultdriversneverlistentomusicwhentheydrivetowork.C.Studentdriverscarrysmallradioswithearphoneswhentheydriveonthestreets.D.Studentsalwayslistentomusicbeforeclass，inclassandafterclass.3.WhichofthefollowingstatementisTRUEaccordingtothepassage?A.AllpeopleinAmericalikepopularmusic.B.Popsingerscangetallthemoneyfromthetapes.C.LiangShanboandZhuYingtaiisakindofpopmusicinChina.D.Now，westernorcountrymusicisalittledifferentfromitsbeginning.4.What's

thebesttitleofthepassage?A.Internationallanguage.

B.MusicinAmerica.C.Popmusic.

D.Musiclisteners.答案A【答案解析】1.B

2.A

3.C

4.C【分析】這是一篇議論文?？▊惤蛉苏伎夏醽喨丝诓坏?%，但是50%左右的肯尼亞的領(lǐng)先賽跑運動員都是卡倫津人，這讓科學家們很疑惑。丹麥的一隊運動科學家通過研究認為卡倫津人生活在高海拔地方，導致他們體內(nèi)有更多的紅細胞，使得他們表現(xiàn)比其他人好。他們還說卡倫津人的體型使得他們占優(yōu)勢。但是卡倫津人卻認為是他們的努力使得他們表現(xiàn)好。英國一個運動員Farah，看到卡倫津人的嚴格的訓練后改變了自己的飲食和作息習慣、加強訓練，取得了比之前更優(yōu)異的成績。這也證明了卡倫津人的觀點?！?題詳解】細節(jié)理解題。由第一段最后一句“Theyhavespentconsiderabletimeandefforttryingtoansweronequestion:WhatenablestheKalenjinpeopletorunsofast?（他們花大量的時間和精力來回答一個問題：什么使得卡倫津人跑的如此快？）”可知，科學家們對卡倫津人的長跑能力很感興趣。故選B?！?題詳解】細節(jié)理解題。第二段講述了丹麥科學家的發(fā)現(xiàn)：卡倫津人跑的快的原因一是因為他們訓練于高海拔地方，使得他們有更多的紅細胞，所以他們的心率也比較低。二是因為他們的體型與丹麥其他人相比，有更長的腿、更低的體重指數(shù)與短小的身體?？偨Y(jié)起來就是說丹麥科學家認為卡倫津人運動能力強的原因是他們的體質(zhì)更適合跑步。A.Physicalcondition身體狀況；B.Hardtraining高強度的訓練；C.Livingstyle生活方式；D.Strongwill堅強的意志。故選A?！?題詳解】細節(jié)理解題。由第三段中的“However,Kenyanrunnerswereoffendedbythisconclusion.Theycreditedtheirsuccesstohardworkandendlesshoursoftraining（然而，卡倫津人對這個結(jié)論卻很生氣。他們認為他們的成功歸功于他們的努力工作與長時間的訓練）”可知，卡倫津人認為丹麥科學家們的結(jié)論是不可接受的。A.Convincing令人信服的，有說服力的；B.Astonishing令人驚訝的；C.Unacceptable不可接受的；D.Important重要的。故選C?！?題詳解】推理判斷題。由最后一段首句“Farah’sstoryproveswhatKenyanshaveknownallalong.”可知，F(xiàn)arah的故事證明了卡倫津人一直以來相信的東西。而由第三段內(nèi)容可知卡倫津人認為他們的成功歸功于他們的努力工作與長時間的訓練。所以Farah的故事是為了證明努力能夠獲得回報。故選C。B【答案解析】1.C

2.B

3.B

4.C【分析】本文是一篇說明文。文章介紹了一個西方的節(jié)日——情人節(jié)，這個節(jié)日對于家人、朋友來說都是個特別的日子?！?題詳解】主旨大意題。根據(jù)第一段Itisaspecialtimetosendgreetingcardscalledvalentinestotheirsweethearts,friends,parentsandotherfamilymembers.(這是一個特殊的日子，向他們的情人、朋友、父母和其他家庭成員發(fā)送名為“情人卡”的賀卡)及下文對慶祝情人節(jié)的描述可知，本文主要介紹了情人節(jié)對于家人、朋友來說都是個特別的日子。故選C項。【2題詳解】推理判斷題。根據(jù)第二段中的EstherA.HowlandofWorcester,Massachusetts,becameonethefirstAmericanmanufacturers(生產(chǎn)者)ofvalentinesin1847.可知，馬薩諸塞州伍斯特的EstherA.Howland于1847年成為美國第一批情人節(jié)賀卡制造商之一。由此可知，馬薩諸塞州是第一批美國情人節(jié)禮物的生產(chǎn)地。故選B項?！?題詳解】細節(jié)理解題。第四段提到歐洲慶祝情人節(jié)有很多種方式。根據(jù)ChildreninEnglandsingspecialsongsandreceivegifts,candyandmoney.可知，在英國，孩子們唱些特別的歌，并收到禮物、糖果和錢。故選B項?！?題詳解】細節(jié)理解題。根據(jù)文章第五段HoweveryoudecidetocelebrateonValentine’sDay,takesometimetotellyourfriendsandfamilythatyoulovethem.可知，無論你決定如何慶祝情人節(jié)，花點時間告訴你的朋友和家人你愛他們。由此可知，雖然人們也舉行各種好玩幽默的活動慶祝情人節(jié)，但情人節(jié)主要是向所愛的人表達愛，并不完全是滑稽幽默的。故選C項。C【答案解析】1.A

2.A

3.D

4.C這是一篇說明文。文章介紹了拉丁語作為世界上最重要的語言之一，在20世紀學習拉丁語的人卻少得多，導致拉丁語被列為“死亡”語言，但這提高了公眾保護拉丁語的意識?！?題詳解】推理判斷題。根據(jù)第一段中EventhoughknowingLatinindicatedapersonwaseducated,accordingtoBritannica,inthe20thcenturyfarfewerpeoplelearnedLatin,leadingittobeclassifiedasa“dead”language.盡管懂拉丁語意味著一個人受過教育，但根據(jù)《大英百科全書》的記載，在20世紀學習拉丁語的人卻少得多，導致拉丁語被列為“死亡”語言?？芍?，從第一段我們能了解到在20世紀大多數(shù)人沒有學習拉丁語。故選A項。【2題詳解】推理判斷題。根據(jù)第二段中Moreoftenthannot,alanguagediesbecauseeveryonewhospeaksthelanguagedies.Forexample,MarieSmithJones,perhapsthelastnativespeakeroftheAlaskanEyaklanguage,diedattheageof89in2008,andsodidthelanguage.通常情況下，一種語言的消亡是因為說這種語言的人都死了。例如，2008年，瑪莉·史密斯·瓊斯(MarieSmithJones)