高中英语阅读理解

The adaptation of books to the big screen is nothing new to our society． Books have become well﹣respected tools for creating a better Hollywood． However， films should be just as respected for their ability to create better writers．

   The main skill films help writers develop is attention to progress． Most directors and screenwriters know that the majority of people are not willing to sit through a five﹣hour film． Thus， every scene must have a purpose． This is a vital objective to keep in mind when writing a novel or short story． With most writing courses placing emphasis on literary techniques， it is easy to become more invested in diction than with actually moving the plot forward． Films remind the writer that while a novel ought to have some degree of literary complexity， the goal at the end of each chapter， page， or sentence is simple： keep the story moving． Films not only help writers develop a plot， but also help writers develop specific moments within their stories． Although writing a means of expression， not all things are easy to express in writing， especially facial expressions and emotions． Films allow writers to study the bodily and emotional actions that make characters read more realistically and make stories more tempting．

   Lastly， sometimes it takes a film to bring about a story idea in the first place． Stop using a horribly specific or extremely uninteresting prompt． A pleasing theme or aesthetic can be enough to inspire a character or setting． As writers， whether fiction or independent， our works often arise from the things we see around us or the things we wish we could see． Nonetheless， our works also arise from the visuals that have been created for us． As literature continues to enter the film industry， perhaps we should make use of film techniques in our literature．

（1）Reminded by films， a writer can move the plot forward by 　　．

A．	keeping in mind that every word should mean something．
B．	providing a description of as many details as possible．
C．	paying attention to further enhancing literary complexity．
D．	choosing the perfect word to go with his/her thought．

（2）According to the passage， films help writers develop in many aspects except 　　．

A．	getting an improved expressiveness
B．	focusing on keeping the story moving．
C．	complicating their thinking and life．
D．	bringing in inspiration for new works．

（3）The word "prompt" （paragraph 4）probably means 　 　．

A．	a reason to write．
B．	a topic to start from．
C．	an excuse to put off working．
D．	an element to attract relationship．

（4）Which of the following statements best represents the author's thoughts in this passage？ 　　

A．	book writers are the ones promoting the growth of the film industry．
B．	directors and screenwriters are more respected than fiction writers．
C．	writers should spend more time on wording rather than on other things．
D．	filmmaking technique could help book writers to improve themselves．

Art is everywhere. Any public space has been carefully designed by an artistic mind to be both functional and beautiful. Why, then, is art still so widely considered to be "the easy subject" at school, insignificant to wider society, a waste of time and effort?

Art can connect culture with commercial products in a way that not many other things can; art generates money and holds significant emotional and cultural value within communities. When people attend a concert, they are paying for music, sure, maybe even hotel rooms, meals, and transport, but they also gain an incredible experience, a unique atmosphere and a memory that will go through the rest of their lives. People don't just want material things anymore, they want to experience life -- the arts are a perfect crossover （交迭） between culture and commerce.

Furthermore, the arts can bring communities together, reducing loneliness and making people feel safer. Social bonds are created among individuals when they share their arts experiences through reflection and discussion, and their expression of common values through artworks in honour of events significant to a nation's experience.

The arts clearly have a pretty positive impact on physical and psychological health. It is found that people who frequent cultural places or participate in artistic events are more likely to gain good health compared to those who do not; more engagement with the arts is linked to a higher level of people's wellbeing. The Royal Society of Public Health discovered that music and art, when used in hospitals, help to improve the conditions of patients by reducing stress, anxiety and blood pressure.

Children who are involved with the arts make greater achievements in their education: those engaged with drama have greater literary ability while others taking part in musical practice exhibit greater skills in math and languages. Kids with preference for the arts have a greater chance of finding employment in the future. Participating in the arts is essential for child development; encouraging children to express themselves in constructive ways could help to form healthy emotional responses in later life.

Vital to human life, art is celebrated and used by nations across the world for various purposes. Life without art would be boring and dead still, for art is a part of what makes us human.

51. Art products differ from most other commercial products because .

A．	most people purchase them for collection
B．	they are more expensive and less accessible
C．	they have both commercial and cultural values
D．	their prices may climb up as time passes

52. By sharing their arts experiences, community members can .

A．	keep the community safe from illnesses
B．	develop a stronger tie between them
C．	learn to appreciate their own works of art
D．	offer honourable solutions to their problems

53. What can we learn about people who are involved in artistic activities?

A．	They enjoy better living conditions.
B．	They like to compare themselves with others.
C．	They are particularly good at both music and art.
D．	They tend to be healthier physically and mentally.

54. How does kids' engagement with the arts benefit them?

A．	It promotes their academic performance and emotional growth.
B．	It gives them more confidence in exhibiting their learning skills.
C．	It inspires their creativity in designing their future career.
D．	It helps to make responsible people out of them.

55. What is the best title for this passage?

A．	How Art Cures Our Hearts
B．	Art: A Blessing to Humankind
C．	How Art Benefits Communities
D．	Art: A Bridge Between Cultures

While famous foreign architects are invited to lead the designs of landmark buildings in China such as the new CCTV tower and the National Center for the Performing Arts， many excellent Chinese architects are making great efforts to take the center stage．

   Their efforts have been proven fruitful． Wang Shu a 49﹣year﹣old Chinese architect， won the 2012 Pritzker Architecture prize ﹣which is often referred to as the Nobel Prize in architecture﹣on February 28． He is the first Chinese citizen to win this award．

    Wang serves as head of the Architecture Department at the China Department at the China Academy of Art（CAA）． His office is located at the Xiangshan campus （校园）of the university in Hangzhou， Zhejiang Province． Many buildings on the campus are his original creations．

   The style of the campus is quite different from that of most Chinese universities． Many visitors were amazed by the complex architectural space and abundant building types．The curves（曲线） of the buildings perfectly match the rise and fall of hills， forming a unique view．

   Wang collected more than 7 million abandoned bricks of different ages． He asked the workers to use traditional techniques to make the bricks into walls， roofs and corridors． This creation attracted a lot of attention thanks to its mixture of modern and traditional Chinese elements．

   Wang's works show a deep understanding of modern architecture and a good knowledge of traditions． Through such a balance， he had created a new type of Chinese architecture， said Tadao Ando， the winner of the 1995 Pritzker Prize．

   Wang believes traditions should not be sealed in glass boxes at museums． "That is only evidence that traditions once existed，" he said．

   "Many Chinese people have a misunderstanding of traditions． They think tradition means old things from the past． In fact， tradition also refers to the things that have been developing and that are still being created ，"he said．

   "Today， many Chinese people are learning Western styles and theories rather than focusing on Chinese traditions． Many people tend to talk about traditions without knowing what they really are，" said Wang．

   The study of traditions should be combined with practice． Otherwise， the recreation of traditions would be artificial and empty， he said．

（1）Wang's winning of the prize means that Chinese architects are 　 　．

A．	following the latest world trend
B．	getting international recognition
C．	working harder than ever before
D．	relying on foreign architects

（2）What impressed visitors to the CAA Xiangshan campus most？ 　 　

A．	Its hilly environment．
B．	Its large size．
C．	Its unique style．
D．	Its diverse functions．

（3）What made Wang's architectural design a success？ 　 　

A．	The mixture of different shapes．
B．	The balance of East and West．
C．	The use of popular techniques．
D．	The harmony of old and new．

（4）What should we do about Chinese traditions according to Wang？ 　 　

A．	Spread them to the world．
B．	Preserve them at museums．
C．	Teach them in universities．
D．	Recreate them in practice．

阅读下列短文，从每题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中选出最佳选项。

Bike Rental &Guided Tours

ㅤWelcome to Amsterdam，welcome to MacBike. You see much more from the seat of a bike! Cycling is the most economical，sustainable and fun way to explore the city，with its beautiful canals，parks，squares and countless lights. You can also bike along lovely landscapes outside of Amsterdam.

ㅤWhy MacBike

ㅤMacBike has been around for almost 30 years and is the biggest bicycle rental company in Amsterdam. With over 2，500 bikes stored in our five rental shops at strategic locations，we make sure there is always a bike available for you. We offer the newest bicycles in a wide variety，including basic bikes with foot brake（刹车），bikes with hand brake and gears （排挡），bikes with child seats，and children's bikes.

ㅤPrices

	Hand Brake，Three Gears	Foot Brake，No Gears
1 hour	€7.50	€5.00
3 hours	€11.00	€7.50
1 day（24 hours）	€14.75	€9.75
Each additional day	€8.00	€6.00

ㅤGuided City Tours

ㅤThe 2.5﹣hour tour covers the Gooyer Windmill，the Skinny Bridge，the Rijksmuseum，Heineken Brewery and much more. The tour departs from Dam Square every hour on the hour，starting at 1：00 pm every day. You can buy your ticket in a MacBike shop or book online.

（1）What is an advantage of MacBike？ ＿＿＿＿

A．	It gives children a discount.
B．	It offers many types of bikes.
C．	It organizes free cycle tours.
D．	It has over 2，500 rental shops.

（2）How much do you pay for renting a bike with hand brake and three gears for two days？＿＿＿＿

A．	€15.75.
B．	€19.50.
C．	€22.75.
D．	€29.50.

（3）Where does the guided city tour start？＿＿＿＿

A．	The Gooyer，Windmill.
B．	The Skinny Bridge.
C．	Heineken Brewery.
D．	Dam Square.

Welcome to Holker Hall Garden

Visitor information

How to Get to Holker

   By car： Follow brown signs on A590 from J36， M6． Approximate travel times：Windermere﹣20 minutes， Kendal﹣25 minutes， Lancaster﹣45 minutes， Manchester﹣1 hour 30 minutes．

   By rail： the nearest station is Cark﹣in﹣Cartmel with trains to Carnforth． Lancaster and Preston for connections to major cities & airports．

Opening times

   Sunday﹣Friday（closed on Saturday）11： 00 am﹣4： 00 pm， 30th March﹣2nd November．

Admission Charges

                  Hall & Gardens          Gardens

   Adults：     ￡12.00                   ￡8.00

   Groups：      ￡9.00                    ￡5.5

Special Events

Producers' Market13th April

   Join us to taste a variety of fresh local food and drinks． Meet the producers and get some excellent recipe ideas．

Holker Garden Festival30th May

   The event celebrates its 22nd anniversary with a great show of the very best of gardening， making it one of the most popular events in the gardening．

National Garden Day28th August

   Holker once again opens its gardens in aid of the disadvantaged． For just a small donation you can take a tour with our garden guide．

Winter Market8th November

   This is an event for all the family． Wander among a variety of shops selling gifts while enjoying a live music show and nice street entertainment．

（1）How long does it probably take a tourist to drive to Holker from Manchester？ 　 　

A．	20 minutes．
B．	25 minutes．
C．	45 minutes．
D．	90 minutes

（2）How much should a member of a tour group pay a visit to Hall &gardens？ 　 　

A．	￡12.00．
B．	￡9.00．
C．	￡8.00．
D．	￡5.50．

（3）Which event will you go to if you want to see a live music show？ 　 　

A．	Producers' Market．
B．	Holker Garden Festival．
C．	National Garden Day．
D．	Winter Market．

When people ask me how I started writing, I find myself describing an urgent need that I felt to work with language. Having said that, I did not know for a long time what I was looking for. It was not until I followed this feeling to its source that I discovered I had a passion for writing. With some encouragement from my colleagues, I had one of my poems published. This bit of success, however, was the point where my problem began.

Back in 1978, I had to travel between three different campuses in the morning, teaching freshman composition. Afternoons I spent taking my daughter to her ballet and horse-riding lessons. I composed my lectures on the way, and that was all the thinking time I had. When I returned home, there was not enough of me left for writing after a full working day.

As a way out, I decided to get up two hours before my usual time. My alarm was set for 5:00 A.M. The first day I shut it off because I had placed it within arm's reach. The second day I set two clocks, one on my night table, and one out in the hallway. I had to jump out of bed and run to silence it before my family was awoken. This was when my morning writing began.

Since that first morning in 1978, I have been following the habit to this day, not making or accepting many excuses for not writing. I wrote my poems in this manner for nearly ten years before my first book was published. When I decided to write a novel, I divided my two hours: the first for poetry, the second for fiction. Well or badly, I wrote at least two pages a day. This is how my novel, The Line of the Sun. was finished. If I had waited to have the time, I would still be waiting to write my novel.

What I got out of getting up in the dark to work is the feeling that I am in control. For many people, the initial sense of urgency to create easily dies away because it requires making the tough decision: taking the time to create, stealing it from yourself if ifs the only way.

41. What motivated the author to start her writing career?

A．	Her strong wish to share.
B．	Her keen interest in writing.
C．	Her urgent need to make a living.
D．	Her passionate desire for fame.

42. What problem did the author face when she decided to begin her writing?

A．	She was too exhausted to write after a busy day.
B．	She had trouble in deciding on her writing style.
C．	She had to take time to discipline her daughter.
D．	She was unsure about her writing skills.

43. Why did the author place an alarm clock in the hallway?

A．	In case the clock in her room broke down.
B．	In case she failed to hear the ringing.
C．	To force herself out of bed.
D．	To wake up her family.

44. How did the author manage to finish her novel?

A．	By sticking to writing every morning.
B．	By writing when her mind was most active.
C．	By drawing inspirations from classic novels.
D．	By reducing her teaching hours at school.

45. What can we learn from the author's success in her writing career?

A．	It is never too late to change your job.
B．	Imaginative ideas die away if not taken in time.
C．	A tight schedule is no excuse for lack of action.
D．	Daily life provides ideas for creative writing.

Steven Stein likes to follow garbage trucks． His strange habit makes sense when you consider that he's an environmental scientist who studies how to reduce litter，including things that fall off garbage trucks as they drive down the road． What is even more interesting is that one of Stein's jobs is defending an industry behind the plastic shopping bag．

   Americans use more than 100 billion thin film plastic bags every year． So many end up in tree branches or along highways that a growing number of cities do not allow them at checkouts （收银台）． The bags are prohibited in some 90 cities in California， including Los Angeles． Eyeing these headwinds， plastic﹣bag makers are hiring scientists like Stein to make the case that their products are not as bad for the planet as most people assume．

   Among the bag makers' arguments： many cities with bans still allow shoppers to purchase paper bags， which are easily recycled but require more energy to produce and transport． And while plastic bags may be ugly to look at， they represent a small percentage of all garbage on the ground today．

   The industry has also taken aim at the product that has appeared as its replacement： reusable shopping bags． The stronger a reusable bag is， the longer its life and the more plastic﹣bag use it cancels out． However， longer﹣lasting reusable bags often require more energy to make． One study found that a cotton bag must be used at least 131 times to be better for the planet than plastic．

   Environmentalists don't dispute（质疑） these points． They hope paper bags will be banned someday too and want shoppers to use the same reusable bags for years．

（1）What has Steven Stein been hired to do？ 　 　

A．	Help increase grocery sales．
B．	Recycle the waste material．
C．	Stop things falling off trucks．
D．	Argue for the use of plastic bags．

（2）What does the word "headwinds" in paragraph 2 refer to？ 　 　

A．	Bans on plastic bags．
B．	Effects of city development．
C．	Headaches caused by garbage．
D．	Plastic bags hung in trees．

（3）What is a disadvantage of reusable bags according to plastic﹣bag makers？ 　 　

A．	They are quite expensive．
B．	Replacing them can be difficult．
C．	They are less strong than plastic bags．
D．	Producing them requires more energy．

（4）What is the best title for the text？ 　 　

A．	Plastic， Paper or Neither
B．	Industry， Pollution and Environment
C．	Recycle or Throw Away
D．	Garbage Collection and Waste Control

ㅤI was about 13 when an uncle gave me a copy of Jostein Gaarder's Sophie's World.It was full of ideas that were new to me，so I spent the summer with my head in and out of that book.It spoke to me and brought me into a world of philosophy（哲学）.

ㅤThat love for philosophy lasted until I got to college.Nothing kills the love for philosophy faster than people who think they understand Foucault，Baudrillard，or Confucius better than you ﹣ and then try to explain them.

ㅤEric Weiner's The Socrates Express：In Search of Life Lessons from Dead Philosophers reawakened my love for philosophy.It is not an explanation，but an invitation to think and experience philosophy.

ㅤWeiner starts each chapter with a scene on a train ride between cities and then frames each philosopher's work in the context（ 背景） of one thing they can help us do better.The end result is a read in which we learn to wonder like Socrates，see like Thoreau，listen like Schopenhauer，and have no regrets like Nietzsche.This，more than a book about understanding philosophy ，is a book about learning to use philosophy to improve a life.

ㅤHe makes philosophical thought an appealing exercise that improves the quality of our experiences，and he does so with plenty of humor.Weiner enters into conversation with some of the most important philosophers in history，and he becomes part of that crowd in the process by decoding（ 解读） their messages and adding his own interpretation.

ㅤThe Socrates Express is a fun，sharp book that draws readers in with its apparent simplicity and gradually pulls them in deeper thoughts on desire，loneliness，and aging.The invitation is clear：Weiner wants you to pick up a coffee or tea and sit down with this book.I encourage you to take his offer.It's worth your time，even if time is something we don't have a lot of.

（1）Who opened the door to philosophy for the author？ 　 　

A．	Foucault.
B．	Erie Weiner.
C．	Jostein Gaarder
D．	A college teacher.

（2）Why does the author list great philosophers in paragraph 4？ 　 　

A．	To compare Weiner with them.
B．	To give examples of great works.
C．	To praise their writing skills.
D．	To help readers understand Weiners book.

（3）What does the author like about The Socrates Express？ 　 　

A．	Its views on history are well﹣presented.
B．	Its ideas can be applied to daily life.
C．	It includes comments from readers.
D．	It leaves an open ending.

（4）What does the author think of Weiner's book？ 　 　

A．	Objective and plain.
B．	Daring and ambitious.
C．	Serious and hard to follow.
D．	Humorous and straightforward.

Children as young as ten are becoming dependent on social media for their sense of self﹣worth， a major study warned．

   It found many youngsters（少年）now measure their status by how much public approval they get online， often through "like"． Some change their behavior in real life to improve their image on the web．

   The report into youngsters aged from 8 to 12 was carried out by Children's Commissioner （专员）Anne Longfield． She said social media firms were exposing children to major emotional risks，with some youngsters starting secondary school ill﹣equipped to cope with the tremendous pressure they faced online．

   Some social apps were popular among the children even though they supposedly require users to be at least 13．The youngsters admitted planning trips around potential photo﹣opportunities and then messaging friends﹣and friends of friends﹣to demand "likes" for their online posts．

   The report found that youngsters felt their friendships could be at risk if they did not respond to social media posts quickly， and around the clock．

   Children aged 8 to 10 were "starting to feel happy" when others liked their posts． However，those in the 10 to 12 age group were "concerned with how many people like their posts"， suggesting a "need" for social recognition that gets stronger the older they become．

   Miss Longfield warned that a generation of children risked growing up "worried about their appearance and image as a result of the unrealistic lifestyles they follow on platforms， and increasingly anxious about switching off due to the constant demands of social media"．

   She said： "Children are using social media with family and friends and to play games when they are in primary school． But what starts as fun usage of apps turns into tremendous pressure in real social media interaction at secondary school．"

   As their world expanded． she said，children compared themselves to others online in a way that was "hugely damaging in terms of their self﹣identity， in terms of their confidence， but also in terms of their ability to develop themselves"．

   Miss Longfield added： "Then there is this push to connect﹣if you go offline， will you miss something， will you miss out， will you show that you don't care about those people you are following，all of those come together in a huge way at once．"

   "For children it is very， very difficult to cope with emotionally．" The Children's Commissioner for England's study﹣Life in Likes﹣found that children as young as 8 were using social media platforms largely for play．

   However， the research﹣involving eight groups of 32 children aged 8 to 12﹣suggested that as they headed toward their teens， they became increasingly anxious online．

   By the time they started secondary school﹣at age 11﹣children were already far more aware of their image online and felt under huge pressure to ensure their posts were popular， the report found．

   However， they still did not know how to cope with mean﹣spirited jokes， or the sense of incompetence they might feel if they compared themselves to celebrities（名人）or more brilliant friends online． The report said they also faced pressure to respond to messages at all hours of the day﹣especially at secondary school when more youngsters have mobile phones．

   The Children's Commissioner said schools and parents must now do more to prepare children for the emotional minefield（雷区）they faced online． And she said social media companies must also "take more responsibility"． They should either monitor their websites better so that children do not sign up too early， or they should adjust their websites to the needs of younger users．

   Javed Khan， of children's charity Bamardo's， said： "It's vital that new compulsory age﹣appropriate relationship and sex education lessons in England should help equip children to deal with the growing demands of social media．

   "It's also hugely important for parents to know which apps their children are using．"

（1）Why did some secondary school students feel too much pressure？ 　 　

A．	They were not provided with adequate equipment．
B．	They were not well prepared for emotional risks．
C．	They were required to give quick responses．
D．	They were prevented from using mobile phones．

（2）Some social app companies were to blame because 　 　．

A．	they didn't adequately check their users' registration
B．	they organized photo trips to attract more youngsters
C．	they encouraged youngsters to post more photos
D．	they didn't stop youngsters from staying up late

（3）Children's comparing themselves to others online may lead to 　 　．

A．	less friendliness to each other
B．	lower self﹣identity and confidence
C．	an increase in online cheating
D．	a stronger desire to stay online

（4）According to Life in Likes， as children grew， they became more anxious to 　 　．

A．	circulate their posts quickly
B．	know the qualities of their posts
C．	use mobile phones for play
D．	get more public approval

（5）What should parents do to solve the problem？ 　 　

A．	Communicate more with secondary schools．
B．	Urge media companies to create safer apps．
C．	Keep track of children's use of social media．
D．	Forbid their children from visiting the web．

（6）What does the passage mainly talk about？ 　 　

A．	The influence of social media on children．
B．	The importance of social media to children．
C．	The problem in building a healthy relationship．
D．	The measure to reduce risks from social media．

An Australian professor is developing a robot to monitor the health of grazing cattle, a development that could bring big changes to a profession that's relied largely on a low-tech approach for decades but is facing a labor shortage.

Salah Sukkarieh, a professor at the University of Sydney, sees robots as necessary given how cattlemen are aging. He is building a four-wheeled robot that will run on solar and electric power. It will use cameras and sensors to monitor the animals. A computer system will analyze the video to determine whether a cow is sick. Radio tags （标签）on the animals will measure temperature changes. The quality of grassland will be tracked by monitoring the shape，color and texture （质地） of grass. That way， cattlemen will know whether they need to move their cattle to another field for nutrition purposes.

Machines have largely taken over planting, watering and harvesting crops such as com and wheat, but the monitoring of cattle has gone through fewer changes.

For Texas cattleman Pete Bonds, it's increasingly difficult to find workers interested in watching cattle. But Bonds doesn't believe a robot is right for the job. Years of experience in the industry - and failed attempts to use technology - have convinced him that the best way to check cattle is with a man on a horse. Bonds, who bought his first cattle almost 50 years ago, still has each of his cowboys inspect 300 or 400 cattle daily and look for signs that an animal is getting sick.

Other cattlemen see more promise in robots. Michael Kelsey Paris, vice president of the Oklahoma Cattlemen's Association, said a robot could be extremely useful given rising concems about cattle theft. Cattle tend to be kept in remote places and their value has risen, making them appealing targets.

12.What is a problem with the cattle-raising industry?

A．	Soil pollution.	B．	Lack of workers.
C．	Aging machines.	D．	Low profitability.

13. What will Sukkarieh's robot be able to do?

A．	Monitor the quality of grass.	B．	Cure the diseased cattle.
C．	Move cattle to another field.	D．	Predict weather changes.

14.Why does Pete Bonds still hire cowboys to watch cattle?

A．	He wants to help them earn a living.	B．	He thinks men can do the job better.
C．	He is inexperienced in using robots.	D．	He enjoys the traditional way of life.

15.How may robots help with cattle watching according to Michael Kelsey?

A．	Increase the value of cattle.	B．	Bring down the cost of labor.
C．	Make the job more appealing.	D．	Keep cattle from being stolen.

阅读下列短文，从每题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中选出最佳选项。

On March 7，1907，the English statistician Francis Galton published a paper which illustrated what has come to be known as the "wisdom of crowds" effect. The experiment of estimation he conducted showed that in some cases，the average of a large number of independent estimates could be quite accurate.

ㅤThis effect capitalizes on the fact that when people make errors，those errors aren't always the same. Some people will tend to overestimate，and some to underestimate. When enough of these errors are averaged together，they cancel each other out，resulting in a more accurate estimate. If people are similar and tend to make the same errors，then their errors won't cancel each other out. In more technical terms，the wisdom of crowds requires that people's estimates be independent. If for whatever reasons，people's errors become correlated or dependent，the accuracy of the estimate will go down.

ㅤBut a new study led by Joaquin Navajas offered an interesting twist （转折） on this classic phenomenon. The key finding of the study was that when crowds were further divided into smaller groups that were allowed to have a discussion，the averages from these groups were more accurate than those from an equal number of independent individuals. For instance，the average obtained from the estimates of four discussion groups of five was significantly more accurate than the average obtained from 20 independent individuals.

ㅤIn a follow﹣up study with 100 university students，the researchers tried to get a better sense of what the group members actually did in their discussion. Did they tend to go with those most confident about their estimates？Did they follow those least willing to change their minds？This happened some of the time，but it wasn't the dominant response. Most frequently，the groups reported that they "shared arguments and reasoned together." Somehow，these arguments and reasoning resulted in a global reduction in error. Although the studies led by Navajas have limitations and many questions remain，the potential implications for group discussion and decision﹣making are enormous.

（1）What is paragraph 2 of the text mainly about？ ＿＿＿＿

A．	The methods of estimation.
B．	The underlying logic of the effect.
C．	The causes of people's errors.
D．	The design of Galton's experiment.

（2）Navajas' study found that the average accuracy could increase even if ＿＿＿＿

A．	the crowds were relatively small
B．	there were occasional underestimates
C．	individuals did not communicate
D．	estimates were not fully independent

（3）What did the follow﹣up study focus on？ ＿＿＿＿

A．	The size of the groups.
B．	The dominant members
C．	The discussion process.
D．	The individual estimates.

（4）What is the author's attitude toward Navajas' studies？＿＿＿＿

A．	Unclear.
B．	Dismissive.
C．	Doubtful.
D．	Approving.

阅读下列短文，从每题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中选出最佳选项。

When John Todd was a child，he loved to explore the woods around his house，observing how nature solved problems. A dirty stream，for example，often became clear after flowing through plants and along rocks where tiny creatures lived. When he got older，John started to wonder if this process could be used to clean up the messes people were making.

ㅤAfter studying agriculture，medicine，and fisheries in college，John went back to observing nature and asking questions. Why can certain plants trap harmful bacteria（细菌）？Which kinds of fish can eat cancer﹣causing chemicals？With the right combination of animals and plants，he figured，maybe he could clean up waste the way nature did. He decided to build what he would later call an eco﹣machine.

ㅤThe task John set for himself was to remove harmful substances from some sludge（污泥）.First，he constructed a series of clear fiberglass tanks connected to each other. Then he went around to local ponds and streams and brought back some plants and animals. He placed them in the tanks and waited. Little by little，these different kinds of life got used to one another and formed their own ecosystem. After a few weeks，John added the sludge.

ㅤHe was amazed at the results. The plants and animals in the eco﹣machine took the sludge as food and began to eat it! Within weeks，it had all been digested，and all that was left was pure water.

ㅤOver the years，John has taken on many big jobs. He developed a greenhouse﹣like facility that treated sewage （污水）from 1，600 homes in South Burlington. He also designed an eco﹣machine to clean canal water in Fuzhou，a city in southeast China.

ㅤ"Ecological design"is the name John gives to what he does. "Life on Earth is kind of a box of spare parts for the inventor，"he says. "You put organisms in new relationships and observe what's happening. Then you let these new systems develop their own ways to self﹣repair."

（1）What can we learn about John from the first two paragraphs？ ＿＿＿＿

A．	He was fond of traveling.
B．	He enjoyed being alone.
C．	He had an inquiring mind.
D．	He longed to be a doctor.

（2）Why did John put the sludge into the tanks？ ＿＿＿＿

A．	To feed the animals.
B．	To build an ecosystem.
C．	To protect the plants.
D．	To test the eco﹣machine.

（3）What is the author's purpose in mentioning Fuzhou？ ＿＿＿＿

A．	To review John's research plans.
B．	To show an application of John's idea.
C．	To compare John's different jobs.
D．	To erase doubts about John's invention.

（4）What is the basis for John's work？ ＿＿＿＿

A．	Nature can repair itself.
B．	Organisms need water to survive.
C．	Life on Earth is diverse.
D．	Most tiny creatures live in groups.

ㅤLiving in Iowa and trying to become a photographer specializing in landscape（风景） can be quite a challenge ，mainly because the corn state lacks geographical variation.

ㅤAlthough landscapes in the Midwest tend to be quite similar，either farm fields or highway，sometimes I find distinctive character in the hills or lakes.To make some of my landscape shots，I have traveled up to four hours away to shoot within a 10﹣minute time frame.I tend to travel with a few of my friends to state parks or to the countryside to go on adventures and take photos along the way.

ㅤBeing at the right place at the right time is decisive in any style of photography.I often leave early to seek the right destinations so I can set up early to avoid missing the moment I am attempting to photograph. I have missed plenty of beautiful sunsets/sunrises due to being on the spot only five minutes before the best moment.

ㅤOne time my friends and I drove three hours to Devil's Lake，Wisconsin，to climb the purple quartz（石英）rock around the lake.After we found a crazy﹣looking road that hung over a bunch of rocks，we decided to photograph the scene at sunset.The position enabled us to look over the lake with the sunset in the background.We managed to leave this spot to climb higher because of the spare time until sunset.However，we did not mark the route（路线）so we ended up almost missing the sunset entirely.Once we found the place，it was stressful getting lights and cameras set up in the limited time.Still，looking back on the photos，they are some of my best shots though they could have been so much better if I would have been prepared and managed my time wisely.

（1）How does the author deal with the challenge as a landscape photographer in the Midwest？＿＿＿＿＿

A．	By teaming up with other photographers.
B．	By shooting in the countryside or state parks.
C．	By studying the geographical conditions.
D．	By creating settings in the corn fields.

（2）What is the key to successful landscape photography according to the author？ ＿＿＿＿＿

A．	Proper time management.
B．	Good shooting techniques.
C．	Adventurous spirit.
D．	Distinctive styles.

（3）What can we infer from the author's trip with friends to Devil's Lake？ ＿＿＿＿＿

A．	They went crazy with the purple quartz rock.
B．	They felt stressed while waiting for the sunset.
C．	They reached the shooting spot later than expected.
D．	They had problems with their equipment.

（4）How does the author find his photos taken at Devil's Lake？ ＿＿＿＿＿

A．	Amusing.
B．	Satisfying.
C．	Encouraging.
D．	Comforting.

Sitting in the garden for my friend's birthday. felt a buzz（振动） in my pocket. My heart raced when I saw the email sender's name. The email started off："Dear Mr Green，thank you for your interest" and "the review process took longer than expected." It ended with "We are sorry to inform you…"and my vision blurred（模糊）.The position﹣measuring soil quality in the Sahara Desert as part of an undergraduate research programme﹣had felt like the answer I had spent years looking for. I had put so much time and emotional energy into applying，and I thought the rejection meant the end of the road for my science career.

So I was shocked when，not long after the email，Professor Mary Devon，who was running the programme，invited me to observe the work being done in her lab. I jumped at the chance，and a few weeks later I was equally shocked﹣and overjoyed﹣when she invited me to talk with her about potential projects I could pursue in her lab. What she proposed didn't seem as exciting as the original project I had applied to，but I was going to give it my all.

I found myself working with a robotics professor on techniques for collecting data from the desert remotely. That project，which I could complete from my sofa instead of in the burning heat of the desert，not only survived the lockdown but worked where traditional methods didn't. In the end. I had a new scientific interest to pursue.

When I applied to graduate school，I found three programmes promising to allow me to follow my desired research direction. And I applied with the same anxious excitement as before. When I was rejected from one that had seemed like a perfect fit，it was undoubtedly difficult. But this time I had the perspective（视角）to keep it from sending me into panic. It helped that in the end I was accepted into one of the other programmes I was also excited about.

Rather than setting plans in stone，I've learned that sometimes I need to take the opportunities that are offered，even if they don't sound perfect at the time，and make the most of them.

（1）How did the author feel upon seeing the email sender's name？ 　 　

A．	Anxious.
B．	Angry.
C．	Surprised.
D．	Settled.

（2）After talking with Professor Devon，the author decided to 　 　.

A．	criticise the review process
B．	stay longer in the Sahara Desert
C．	apply to the original project again
D．	put his heart and soul into the lab work

（3）According to the author，the project with the robotics professor was 　 　.

A．	demanding
B．	inspiring
C．	misleading
D．	amusing

（4）What can we learn from this passage？ 　 　

A．	An invitation is a reputation.
B．	An innovation is a resolution.
C．	A rejection can be a redirection.
D．	A reflection can be a restriction.

Understand the Economic Concept of a Budget Line

   The term "budget line" has several related meanings， including a couple that are self﹣evident and a third that is not．

   The Budget Line as an Informal Consumer Understanding

   The budget line is an elementary concept that most consumers understand intuitively without a need for graphs and equations    it's the household budget， for example．

   Taken informally， the budget line describes the boundary of affordability for a given budget and specific goods．

   Given a limited amount of money， a consumer can only spend that same amount buying goods． If the consumer has X amount of money and wants to buy two goods A and B， she can only purchase goods totaling X． If the consumer needs an amount of A costing 0.75 X， she can then spend only 0.25 X， the amount remaining， on her purchase of B．

   This seems almost too obvious to bother writing or reading about． As it turns out， however， this same concept one that most consumers make many times each day with reflecting on it is the basis of the more formal budget line concept in economics， which is explained below．

   Lines in a Budget

   Before turning to the economics definition of "budget line"， consider another concept： the line﹣item budget． This is effectively a map of future expenditures， with all the constituent expenditures individually noted and quantified． There's nothing very complicated about this： in this usage， a budget line is one of the lines in the budget， with the service or good to be purchased named and the cost quantified．

   The Budget Line as an Economics Concept

   One of the interesting ways the study of economics relates to human behavior generally is that a lot of economic theory is the formalization of the kind of simple concept outlined above a consumer's informal understanding of the amount she has to spend and what that amount will buy．

   In the process of formalization， the concept can be expressed as a mathematical equation that can be applied generally．

   A Simple Budget Line Graph

   To understand this， think of a graph where the vertical lines quantify how many movie tickets you can buy and where the horizontal lines do the same for crime novels． You like going to the movies and reading crime novels and you have ＄150 to spend． In the example below， assume that each movie costs ＄10 and each crime novel costs ＄15． The more formal economics term for these two items is budget set．

   If movies cost ＄10 each， then the maximum number of movies you can see with the money available is 15． To note this you make a dot at the number 15 （for total movie tickets） at the extreme left﹣hand side of the chart． This same dot appears at the extreme left above "0" on the horizontal axis because you have no money left for books    the number of books available in this example is 0．

   You can also graph the other extreme    all crime novels and no movies． Since crime novels in the example cost ＄15 and you have ＄150 available， if you spend all the available money crime novels， you can buy 10． So you put a dot on the horizontal axis at the number 10．

   You'll place the dot at the bottom of the vertical axis because in this instance you have ＄0 available for movie tickets．

   If you now draw a line from the highest， leftmost dot to the lowest， rightmost dot you'll have created a budget line． Any combination of movies and crime novels that falls below the budget line is affordable． Any combination above it is not．

（1）Which sentence about the budget line is NOT TRUE？ 　 　

A．	It is a limitation of affordability for a given budget and specific goods．
B．	Most costumers will be confused with this concept because of its complex．
C．	It is the effectively a map of future expenditures．
D．	It can be expressed as a mathematical equation．

（2）What is the purpose of the passage？ 　 　

A．	To tell us any concept can be expressed as a mathematical equation．
B．	To help us figure out the meaning Budget Line．
C．	To tell us we should budget before we buy goods．
D．	To give an instruction of drawing a budget Line．

（3）Assume that each movie costs ＄10 and each crime novel costs ＄15， you have ＄150． Which is RIGHT according to this passage？ 　　

A．	The maximum number of movies you can see is 10．
B．	The maximum number of crime novels you can buy is 15．
C．	You can buy 7 crime novels and see 5 movies．
D．	You can buy 7 crime novels and see 4 movies．

（4）What is the best title of this passage？ 　　

A．	Do we really know the economic concept of a budget line？
B．	The Budget Line as an Economics Concept
C．	The Budget Line as an Informal Consumer Understanding
D．	The Complex Concept Budget Line