第三部分：阅读理解（共15小题，满分30分）
阅读下面短文，从每题所给的四个选项中选出最佳选项。
A
As prices and building costs keep rising, the “do-it-yourself” (DIY) trend (趋势) in the U.S. continues to grow.
“We needed furniture(家具) for our living room.” C, “and we just didn’t have enough money to buy it. So we decided to try making a few tables and chairs.” John got married six months ago, and like many young people these days, they are struggling to make a home at a time when the cost of living is very high. The Rosses took a 2-week course for $ 280 at a night school. Now they build all their furniture and make repairs around the house.
Jim Hatfield has three boys and his wife died. He has a full-time job at home as well as in a shoe making factory. Last month, he received a car repair bill for $ 420. “I was deeply upset about it. Now I’ve finished a car repair course, I should be able to fix the car by myself.”
John and Jim are not unusual people. Most families in the country are doing everything they can to save money so they can fight the high cost of living. If you want to become a “do-it-yourself”, you can go to DIY classes. And for those who don’t have time to take a course, there are books that tell you how you can do things yourself.
36. We can learn from the text that many newly married people _______.
A. find it hard to pay for what they need
B. have to learn to make their own furniture.
C. take DIY courses run by the government.
D. seldom go to a department store to buy things
37. John and his wife went to evening classes to learn how to _____
A. run a DIY shop B. make or repair things
C. save time and money D. improve the quality of life.
38. When the writer says Jim has a full-time job at home, he means Jim ____
A. makes shoes in his home B. does extra work at night
C. does his own car and home repairs D. keeps house and looks after his children
39. Jim Hatfield decided to become a “do-it-yourself” when ____
A. his car repairs cost too much B. the car repair class was not helpful
C. he could no possible do two job D. he had to raise the children by himself
A regular drop in the sun’s radiation(辐射) can cause unusually cold winters in parts of North America and Europe, scientists say, a finding that could improve long-range forecasts and help countries prepare for snowstorms.
Scientists have known for a long time that the sun has an 11-year cycle during which radiation measured by sunspots on the surface reaches a peak then falls. But explaining a clear connection to weather is harder.
“Our research confirms the observed connection between solar change and regional winter climate,” lead author Sarah Ineson of the UK Met Office told the reporters in an email. The study was published in the magazine Nature Geoscience on Monday.
The researchers found that the reducing of ultraviolet(UV，紫外线) radiation from the sun can affect high-altitude wind patterns in the Northern Hemisphere(半球), causing cold winters.
“While UV levels won’t tell us what the day-to-day weather will do, they show us the bright future of improved forecasts for winter conditions for months and even years ahead. These forecasts play an important role in long-term possibility planning,” Ineson, a climate scientist, said.
Ineson and colleagues from Imperial College London and the University of Oxford used satellite data that more accurately(精确的) measures UV radiation from the sun and found a much greater change than previously thought.
They found that in years of low activity, unusually cold air forms high in the atmosphere over the tropics. This causes a redistribution(重新分配) of heat in the atmosphere, making easterly winds that bring freezing weather and snowstorms to northern Europe and the United States and milder weather to Canada and the Mediterranean.
When solar UV radiation is stronger, the opposite occurs.
More study was needed, though. A key uncertainty in the experiment lay in the satellite data used, because it covers only a few years. “So questions remain concerning both accuracy(精确) and also applicability to other solar cycles,” she said.The new finding claims cold winters in the North Hemisphere can be caused by ______.
| A．a sharp rise in the amount of sunspots |
| B．a drop in the sun’s UV radiation |
| C．a complex computer model simulation |
| D．a clear link between the sun and the earth |
It has long been known by scientists that ______.
| A．UV radiation can affect high-altitude wind patterns |
| B．there’s a clear connection between the sun’s activity and weather |
| C．the sun’s radiation reaches a peak every eleven years |
| D．they can predict day-to-day weather conditions from UV levels |
What will happen if the sun turns into years of high activity according to the finding?
| A．Canada and the Mediterranean will have milder weather. |
| B．The whole Northern Hemisphere will suffer from extreme winter days. |
| C．Freezing cold weather will appear in northern Europe. |
| D．Burning hot weather will appear in the United States. |
It can be inferred from the passage that ______.
| A．researchers have analyzed the data collected in eleven years |
| B．long-term weather conditions can be accurately predicted depending on UV levels |
| C．the research doesn’t seem correct and true enough due to limited satellite data used |
| D．climate scientists have just begun their research in severe weather forecast |
Do you know mulch? Mulch is a protective cover of material that is spread on top of soil. It is usually made out of organic material, like crop waste. Farmers may keep the remains of corn or other crops on top of the soil. This creates mulch on the soil surface. The plant remains help protect the soil against wind and water damage. Mulching is one of the best things people can do for their plants. It also helps keep the soil from getting dry, and reduces the need for watering plants. It also limits temperature changes in the soil. And it stops unwanted plants, or weeds, from growing.
Organic mulch improves the condition of soil. As the mulch breaks down, it provides material which keeps the soil from getting hard. This improves the growth of roots and increases the movement of water through the soil. It also improves the ability of the soil to hold water. Organic mulch contains nutrients for plants. It also provides good environment for earthworms and other helpful living things in the soil.
It is easy to find organic mulch materials. Cut-up leaves and small pieces of tree bark can be used. Grass cuttings are also a good mulch for plants. Mulch from news- papers works well in controlling weeds.
The best time to add mulch depends on your goal. Mulch provides a thick barrier between the soil and the air. This helps to reduce temperature changes in the soil. As a result, mulched soil will be cooler than other soil in the summer. In winter, the mulched soil may not freeze as deeply as other soil. The best time is after the ground has frozen, but before the coldest weather arrives. Spreading mulch before the ground has frozen may attract small animals searching for a warm place to spend the winter. Delaying the spreading should prevent this problem. The animals will probably find another place to live.The author tells us the following EXCEPT ______.
| A．what mulch is and its advantages |
| B．the best time to add mulch |
| C．the bad effects of mulch |
| D．what can be mulch on the soil surface |
The following can be used as organic materials to make mulch EXCEPT ______.
| A．tree barks | B．plastic | C．grass cuttings | D．cut-up leaves |
The main idea of Paragraph 2 is that organic mulch can ______.
| A．improve the condition of soil |
| B．improve the ability of the soil to hold water |
| C．provide a good environment for earthworms |
| D．improve the growth of roots and increase the movement of water through the soil |
From the last paragraph, we know ______.
| A．the best time to add mulch is in spring and summer |
| B．the best time to add mulch is after the coldest weather arrives |
| C．the best time to add mulch is exactly the same time of each year |
| D．choosing the best time to add mulch can avoid attracting small animals |
Iceland is a popular European tourist destination. Before you go there, it is good to learn some of the basic Iceland customs first.
Just like other countries in Europe, it is one of the customs in Iceland to shake hands and say “Hello”. Kissing each other’s cheeks is acceptable along with wishing each other a happy day.
Another custom is to take off your shoes in the hallway(走廊) when you enter someone’s home. Also, don’t be surprised if someone invites you to their house, since Icelanders love to have guests. Just make sure you take flowers or a similar token of thanks to give them.
If you have been invited to eat, keep in mind that you don’t need to express thanks before meals like the French or the Japanese. Rather, eat heartily and then thank your host afterwards by shaking his hand.
Keep in mind that believing in mysterious beings is part of the tradition in Iceland. Indeed, most of the unique and sometimes strange rock formations in Iceland are due to elves(小精灵), according to the people of Iceland.
Are you planning to spend Christmas in Iceland? If so, make sure you practice saying “Gleileg jol got tog fars!” first, which is the local Christmas greeting. It is part of the tradition in Iceland to have long Christmas holidays—26 days—longer than in any other European country. There are 13 Santa Clauses in Iceland, too!
There may not be a law requiring you to follow the customs, but there is no harm in doing so. Following them, you might be rewarded with a rich cultural experience and a more meaningful trip. When you are invited to someone’s home in Iceland, you'd better do all of the following EXCEPT ______.
| A．eating heartily and enjoying your time there |
| B．expressing your thanks to the host before you eat |
| C．taking some flowers or something else to the host |
| D．taking off shoes in the hallway before you enter the home |
Which of the following is one of the differences in customs between Iceland and France?
| A．Shaking hands when greeting. |
| B．A 26-day-long Christmas holiday. |
| C．Saying hello when meeting each other. |
| D．Kissing each other’s cheeks when greeting. |
The text is mainly about ______.
| A．what some of the customs in Iceland are like |
| B．why some of the customs in Iceland are special |
| C．how some of the customs in Iceland were formed |
| D．what some of the customs are like in Europe |
In the text, the author aims to tell us that ______.
| A．happiness is a form of courage |
| B．when in Rome, do as the Romans do |
| C．practice is the only path to knowledge |
| D．everyone has good and bad times in life |
In the Night Garden
In a magical forest, colourful characters have adventures. A mysterious tide of water appears suddenly next to Igglepiggle. He discovers that he can control it by moving his feet. Excited, he takes it to Makka Pakka who finds it very useful indeed.
Children Under 5
Today on BBC2 from 11:05am to 11:35am
Last of the Summer Wine
To relax, Howard tries a simple trick to change his appearance enough to fool even Pearl. But he soon discovers that taking over someone else's identity can be equally dangerous.
Comedy Sitcoms
Today on G.O.L.D. from 12:40pm to 1: 20pm
The Secret Circle
Cassie is an orphaned teenager who discovers that not only is she a witch but that she is also the key that will unlock a centuries-old battle between good and evil. When Cassie accepts a cute boy's invitation to the school dance, Adam struggles to control his anger.
Today on Sky Living from 10:00pm to 11:00pm
The Kid's Speech
Eleven-year-olds, Reggie and William, and 14-year-old Bethan, are determined to improve their speech. Along with their parents, they start a unique course at the Michael Palin Centre for Stammering children. Over two weeks, they open up about their fears and frustrations.
Documentary
Today on BBC1 London from 10:35pm to 11:25pm If Mary's little brother is free before noon, which play can he watch?
| A．In the Night Garden. |
| B．Last of the Summer Wine. |
| C．The Secret Circle. |
| D．The Kid's Speech. |
Which of the following statements is true according to the passage?
| A．Igglepiggle finds something frightening. |
| B．Howard finds it funny to take over someone else's identity. |
| C．Adam is very angry when Cassie accepts a boy's invitation. |
| D．Reggie and William are afraid to improve their speech. |
Which play can be used to inspire children who are afraid to speak in public?
| A．In the Night Garden. |
| B．Last of the Summer Wine. |
| C．The Secret Circle. |
| D．The Kid's Speech. |
If you want to watch The Secret Circle you should choose channel ______.
A. BBC2 from 11:05am to 11:35am
B. G.O.L.D. From 12:40pm to 1: 20pm
C. Sky Living from 10:00pm to 11:00pm
D. BBC1 London from 10:35pm to 11:25pm
I was in my third year of teaching creative writing at a high school in New York, when one of my students, 15-year-old Mikey, gave me a note from his mother. It explained his absence from class the day before.
I had seen Mikey himself writing the note at his desk. Most parental-excuse notes I received were penned by my students. If I were to deal with them, I’d be busy 24 hours a day.
The forged excuse notes made a large pile(堆), with writing that ranged from imaginative to crazy. The writers of those notes didn’t realize that honest excuse notes were usually dull: “Peter was late because the alarm clock didn’t go off.”
Isn’t it remarkable, I thought, how the students complained and said it was hard to put 200 words together on any subject? But when they produced excuse notes, they were brilliant.
So one day I typed out a dozen excuse notes and gave them to my classes. I said, “They’re supposed to be written by parents, but actually they are not. True, Mikey?” The students looked at me nervously.
“Now, this will be the first class to study the art of the excuse note—the first class, ever, to practice writing them. You’re so lucky to have a teacher like me who has taken your best writing and turned it into a subject worth studying.”
Everyone smiled as I went on, “You used your imaginations. So try more now. Today I’d like you to write ‘An Excuse Note from Adam to God’ or ‘An Excuse Note from Eve to God’. ” Heads went down. Pens raced across paper. For the first time ever I saw students so careful in their writing that they had to be asked to go to lunch by their friends.
The next day everyone had excuse notes. Heated discussions followed. The headmaster entered the classroom and walked up and down, looking at papers, and then said, “I’d like you to see me in my office.”
When I stepped into his office, he came to shake my hand and said, “I just want to tell you that that lesson, that task, whatever the hell you were doing, was great. Those kids were writing on the college level. Thank you.”What did the author do with the students found dishonest?
| A．He reported them to the headmaster. |
| B．He lectured them hard on honesty. |
| C．He had them take notes before lunch. |
| D．He helped improve their writing skills. |
The author had the students practice writing excuse notes so that the students could learn ______.
| A．the importance of being honest |
| B．how to write excuse notes skillfully |
| C．the pleasure of creative writing |
| D．how to be creative in writing |
The underlined word “forged” in the second paragraph means“______”.
| A．dull | B．copied | C．dishonest | D．parental |
What did the headmaster think of the author’s way of teaching?
| A．Excellent. | B．Difficult. | C．Incorrect. | D．Reasonable. |
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