江西 侯昌瑋

閱讀理解專項(xiàng)訓(xùn)練

江西 侯昌瑋

Passage 1

Scientists said they have found evidence of a giant planet far out in our solar system.

In a statement，the California Institute of Technology—Caltech—said this planet travels a strange “highly elongated orbit in the distant solar system.”

The discovery was made by two researchers at Caltech：Konstantin Batygin and Mike Brown.They used mathematical modeling and computer simulations to find the planet.

So far，there have not been any direct observations of the planet.

“My jaw hit the floor，” said astronomer Mike Brown，the moment he realized there might be a ninth planet.

The scientists said it would take this planet 10 000 to 20 000 years just to make one full orbit around the sun.The new planet，called “Planet Nine” has a mass about 10 times the size of Earth.

It is believed that the planet orbits，or travels，around the sun from a great distance.The planet Neptune’s average distance to the sun is about 4.5 billion kilometers.But “Planet Nine” could be 20 times farther away from the sun than that.While they did not get a picture of “Planet Nine” yet，the scientists say they are using the biggest—and best—telescopes on Earth to try to find “Planet Nine”.

Brown and Batygin reported their findings in the Astronomical Journal.They say that this new planet is so large that there should be no doubt that it is a true planet，once they confirm it.

Robert Massey is with the Royal Astronomical Society in London.He told AFP that planets have been predicted before，and then were not found.But，he said the work of these researchers is definitely worth following up.“It would be a really exciting thing to find.At the moment it’s simply a prediction.”

1.How was the evidence of the ninth planet found?

A.Through direct observations.

B.Through a special telescope.

C.Through studying its special orbit in the solar system.

D.Through mathematical modeling and computer simulations.

2.What does the phrase “My jaw hit the floor” mean?

A.He was astonished.

B.He fell on the floor.

C.He was hurt seriously.

D.He wanted to fly at once.

3.What can we know about “Planet Nine” from the text?

A.It is much smaller than the earth.

B.It travels a normal orbit like other planets.

C.Its distance to the sun is about 90 billion kilometers.

D.Its picture has been caught by the biggest and best telescope.

4.What’s Robert’s attitude towards the discovery of Planet Nine?

A.Worried. B.Supportive.

C.Indifferent. D.Negative.

5.What’s the best title for the text?

A.The Discovery of the Largest Planet.

B.A Big Prediction of the Solar System.

C.A Ninth Planet may be in Solar System.

D.The Ninth Planet has been Found in Solar System.

Passage 2

Ever since we were young，we’ve been asked to compete，to make sure that we’re the best at everything，to ensure that we are always at the top.For most of us，it starts when we’re young； we are told to be the best in class or get first place in sports.We were not taught how to come in second，to be happy that someone else is better than you.

Normally when we end up not winning something or coming in second，we often find fault with the person who is“better” than us.Even if they do truly deserve to win，we would make it a point to find as many faults and reasons as to why that person should have lost to us instead.I’m sure you’d agree that sometimes we just have to accept that there’s someonebetter than us at some things.

But even now，some of you would probably be stuck at the phrase “...to be happy that someone else is better than you”.It might not make sense to you at all.How could you be happy when you didn’t win? Sure，they might be better than you，but why would you be happy about it?

This is the problem with competition.It shows how selfcentered we are.It shows us that in the end we only want ourselves to win and no one else.Many people would deny it，but let’s be real，how many of us can truly put our hands to our hearts and say that we are truly happy that the person who was “better than us” ended up winning instead of ourselves?

Even I’m still learning how to do that.I haven’t mastered the art of being able to feel pure joy that the better person won.But I comfort myself by saying that at least I am aware of how I feel and I’m taking effort to correct it.

1.When did people mostly begin to learn to compete?

A.In class.

B.In sports.

C.At a young age.

D.After coming in second.

2.Why do we often pick out their faults when people win the first?

A.To regret we have lost.

B.To prove we are really the best.

C.To show they don’t truly deserve to win.

D.To deny they are better than us at some things.

3.What’s the usual attitude towards the fact that someone else is better than you?

A.Unacceptable. B.Satisfied.

C.Happy. D.Objective.

4.According to the text，in competition we should _______.

A.keep self-centered

B.learn to be selfless

C.accept our own faults

D.face the unfair results

5.What’s the purpose of competing according to the author?

A.To ensure we are the best.

B.To learn to keep happy.

C.To correct our faults.

D.To comfort ourselves.

Passage 3

Since the nineteen nineties，education has been required for all South Africans from age seven to fifteen.Last December，the government announced that 70 percent of students passed their final examination to finish high school.In 2008 the passage rate was about 63 percent.There have been increases each year since then.

Professor Shireen Motala at the University of Johannesburg says access to basic education is no longer the problem in South Africa.She says most children stay in school until they are about sixteen.The problem now，she says，is that large numbers of them leave without completing high school.

Students take an examination known as the matric in grade twelve，their final or “matriculation” year.Professor Motala notes that less than half the children who started school in two thousand sat for the matric last year.

Educational researchers also point to another problem.They say South African schools do not produce enough students with the skills for higher education in math and science.Many schools are not well-equipped.They do not have libraries at school.Ninety-two percent of the schools do not have libraries.

Also，education specialists say in many cases，teachers and school principals do not have the skills or training to do their jobs.In other cases，they are simply not doing their duty to provide an education.

Professor Motala says a number of teachers were poorly trained during the system of apartheid（種族隔離制度），or racial separation in South Africa.Apartheid ended in 1994.

Secondly，she says，teachers have been confused by the many educational reform efforts in the last fifteen years.And，finally，she thinks language differences in the classroom have not gotten as much attention as they should.

South Africa’s minister of basic education promises a number of improvements.

1.What does the underlined word “passage” most probably mean?

A.Age. B.Education.

C.Article. D.Pass.

2.What’s Motala’s attitude towards the basic education for students in South Africa?

A.Confident. B.Hopeless.

C.Negative. D.Worried.

3.From the passage we know the matric is_______.

A.an examination difficult for students to pass

B.an examination for students in grade twelve

C.the number of students leaving school

D.the number of students taking exams

4.Students in South Africa find it hard to get improved in math and science because________.

A.they drop out of school without finishing high school

B.teachers don’t have the abilities to teach them

C.most schools can not provide enough equipment

D.there aren’t such subjects in most schools

5.In which section of a newspaper can you most probably see the passage?

A.Entertainment. B.News report.

C.Education. D.Lifestyle.

Passage 4

You know how important your heart is，so its’ no wonder people worry when they hear someone has heart problems.

Heart disease，also called cardiovascular disease，mainly affects older people and means that there are problems with the heart and blood vessels.You might know someone who has cardiovascular disease because 61 million Americans have some form of it.This disease includes a variety of problems，including high blood pressure，hardening of the arteries，chest pain，heart attacks，and strokes.

What Is Heart Disease?

The heart is the center of the cardiovascular system.Through the bodys’ blood vessels，the heart pumps blood to all of the bodys’ cells.The blood carries oxygen，which the cells need.Cardiovascular disease is a group of problems that occur when the heart and blood vessels arent’ working the way they should.

How Do You Get Heart Disease?

Heart disease isn’t contagious（接觸傳染的）—you cant’ catch it like the way you get the flu or a cold.Instead，certain things increase a persons’ chances of getting cardiovascular disease.Doctors call these things risk factors.

Some of these risk factors a person cant’ do anything about，like being older and having other people in the family who have had the same problems.But people do have control over some risk factors—smoking，having high blood pressure，being overweight，and not exercising can increase the risk of getting cardiovascular disease.

Can Kids Get Heart Disease?

Kids usually don’t have any symptoms of heart and blood vessel problems.But by starting heart-healthy habits right now，kids can reduce the chance they will ever need to worry about cardiovascular disease.

So what should you do? Don’t smoke，for one.And be sure to eat healthy，exercise，and maintain a healthy weight.Your heart and blood vessels will thank you later!

1.Which of the following about heart disease is WRONG according to Paragraph 2?

A.It is also called cardiovascular disease.

B.It merely has a great effect on old people.

C.It means suffering problems with the heart and blood vessels.

D.Many Americans have the disease in some kinds of forms.

2.Which one does NOT belong to heart disease according to the passage?

A.Chest pain. B.Strokes.

C.A high fever. D.High blood pressure.

3.The oxygen our body’s cells need is provided by _______.

A.our blood B.our heart

C.breathing D.exercising

4.Many risk factors can be controlled EXCEPT_______.

A.being overweight B.getting older

C.not exercising D.smoking

5.What’s the main purpose of the text?

A.To offer some information to protect our heart.

B.To persuade us to live a healthy life.

C.To tell us what is heart disease.

D.To provide advice on how to treat heart disease.

【參考答案與解析】

Passage 1

【材料來源】http://www.51voa.com/VOA_Special_ English/ninth-planet-may-be-in-solar-system-67562.html

【文章大意】本文為說明文。文章是一篇報(bào)道說明文，介紹了一項(xiàng)科學(xué)新發(fā)現(xiàn)：科學(xué)家找到了太陽系中存在第九行星的證據(jù)，但還有待于進(jìn)一步證實(shí)。

1.D。細(xì)節(jié)理解題。根據(jù)文章第三段中的“They used mathematical modeling and computer simulations to find the planet”可知，科學(xué)家們使用的是數(shù)學(xué)模型和計(jì)算機(jī)模擬技術(shù)發(fā)現(xiàn)的第九行星存在的可能。

2.A。詞義推測題。此句表示：當(dāng)Mike意識(shí)到可能有第九行星存在的時(shí)候，他的下巴都撞到地面了（表示他相當(dāng)驚訝）。因此根據(jù)上下文語境、句意和選項(xiàng)可知，A項(xiàng)正確。

3.C。推理判斷題。根據(jù)倒數(shù)第三段中的“The planet Neptune’s average distance to the sun is about 4.5 billion kilometers.But ‘Planet Nine’ could be 20 times farther away from the sun than that”可知，第九行星距離太陽大約900億千米（20×4.5）。

4.B。觀點(diǎn)態(tài)度題。根據(jù)文章最后一段中的最后兩句可知，Robert說，這項(xiàng)研究無疑值得繼續(xù)下去，找到第九行星真得令人很興奮。所以可推知，他對(duì)找到第九行星是持樂觀支持的態(tài)度。

5.C。主旨大意題。全文都是圍繞科學(xué)家找到太陽系中存在第九行星的證據(jù)展開，文中介紹說目前還未真正發(fā)現(xiàn)它，還只是預(yù)測。故選C項(xiàng)。

Passage 2

【材料來源】http://www.selfgrowth.com/articles/theneed-to-compete

【文章大意】本文是一篇議論文。文章討論了競爭這一話題。在競爭中，當(dāng)別人勝過我們時(shí)，我們能否真心為對(duì)方感到高興呢？

1.C。細(xì)節(jié)理解題。根據(jù)文章首段的前兩句可知，大多數(shù)人從小就開始體驗(yàn)競爭了。故選C項(xiàng)。

2.D。推理判斷題。根據(jù)第二段內(nèi)容可知，當(dāng)我們失利時(shí)，通常我們會(huì)挑那些獲勝者們的毛病。這樣是因?yàn)橛袝r(shí)候我們很難接受有人在某些方面勝過我們。故選D項(xiàng)。

3.A。推理判斷題。根據(jù)文章內(nèi)容，特別是第三段中的最后一句可知，作者認(rèn)為，即使有人確實(shí)優(yōu)于我們，但為何我們要因此而開心呢？因此通常情況下人們此時(shí)的心態(tài)都是難以接受的。故選A項(xiàng)。

4.B。推理判斷題。根據(jù)文章第四段的內(nèi)容及“It shows how self-centered we are”可知，人們?cè)诒荣愔袑?duì)待結(jié)果的情況表明人們是多么的以自我為中心。因此選B項(xiàng)。

5.A。細(xì)節(jié)理解題。根據(jù)文章首段中的“...to make sure that we’re the best at everything，to ensure that we are always at the top”可知，文章敘述我們從小被要求競爭，就是要保證自己獲得第一，獲得最佳。故選A項(xiàng)。

Passage 3

【材料來源】http://www.51voa.com/VOA_Special_ English/Education_Report_44886.html

【文章大意】本文是一篇教育報(bào)道。南非的基礎(chǔ)教育得到改善，大部分學(xué)生能完成高中學(xué)業(yè)。但是因?yàn)楦鞣N因素，較高的輟學(xué)率仍是個(gè)大問題。

1.D。詞義推測題。根據(jù)文章首段中的第二句和第三句可知，去年南非學(xué)生通過期末考試完成高中的概率相比2008年63%的通過率有所上升。故可推知此處passage表示“通過；過關(guān)”之意。

2.A。推理判斷題。根據(jù)第二段首句“...access to basic education is no longer the problem in South Africa”可知，在南非接受基礎(chǔ)教育不再是個(gè)問題。故選A項(xiàng)“自信的”。

3.B。細(xì)節(jié)理解題。根據(jù)第三段首句“Students take an examination known as the matric in grade twelve，their final or ‘matriculation’ year”可知，“the matric”其實(shí)是學(xué)生的高中畢業(yè)考試。故選B項(xiàng)。

4.C。細(xì)節(jié)理解題。根據(jù)第四段“Many schools are not well-equipped...”可知，許多學(xué)校缺少設(shè)備，無法提供學(xué)生在這些方面的能力提高的保障。故選C項(xiàng)。

5.C。推理判斷題。本文是一篇教育報(bào)道。報(bào)道了南非的教育問題。故選C項(xiàng)。

Passage 4

【材料來源】http://kidshealth.org/kid/grownup/conditions/heart_disease.html#

【文章大意】人的心臟是人的主要器官，起著至關(guān)重要的作用。本文講述了有關(guān)心臟病的相關(guān)情況，旨在提醒讀者養(yǎng)成良好的生活習(xí)慣，保護(hù)好心臟。

1.B。細(xì)節(jié)理解題。根據(jù)第二段中的“...mainly affects older people”可知，心臟病主要威脅老年人，但不絕對(duì)是對(duì)年輕人沒有影響。故選B項(xiàng)。

2.C。細(xì)節(jié)理解題。根據(jù)第二段中的“...including high blood pressure，hardening of the arteries，chest pain，heart attacks，and strokes”可知，發(fā)燒不包括在心臟病中。故選C項(xiàng)。

3.A。細(xì)節(jié)理解題。根據(jù)第三段中的“The blood carries oxygen，which the cells need”可知，血液循環(huán)提供細(xì)胞所需的氧氣。故選A項(xiàng)。

4.B。推理判斷題。根據(jù)第五段首句可知，人們無法應(yīng)對(duì)的風(fēng)險(xiǎn)因素，如人的變老，這個(gè)難以改變。而根據(jù)該段最后一句可知，A，C，D三項(xiàng)風(fēng)險(xiǎn)因素都是可以被控制的。

5.A。主旨大意題。根據(jù)文章首尾段可知，本文講述了有關(guān)心臟病的相關(guān)情況，旨在提醒讀者養(yǎng)成良好的生活習(xí)慣，保護(hù)好我們的心臟。故選A項(xiàng)。

（作者單位：江西省都昌縣第二中學(xué)）