Three Boys and a DadBrad closed the door slowly as Sue left home to visit her mo
题型：不详难度：来源：
Three Boys and a Dad
Brad closed the door slowly as Sue left home to visit her mother.Expecting a whole day to relax，he was thinking whether to read the newspaper or watch his favourite TV talk show on his first day off in months.“This will be like a walk in the park，”he’d told his wife.“I’ll look after the kids，and you can go visit your mom.”
Things started well，but just after eight o’clock，his three little “good kids”—Mike，Randy，and Alex—came down the stairs in their night clothes and shouted “breakfast，daddy.”When food had not appeared within thirty seconds，Randy began using his spoon on Alex’s head as if it were a drum.Alex started to shout loudly in time to the beat(节拍)．Mike chanted “Where’s my toast，where’s my toast” in the background.Brad realised his newspaper would have to wait for a few seconds.
Life became worse after breakfast.Mike wore Randy’s underwear on his head.Randy locked himself in the bathroom，while Alex shouted again because he was going to wet his pants.Nobody could find clean socks，although they were before their very eyes.Someone named “Not Me” had spilled a whole glass of orange juice into the basket of clean clothes.Brad knew the talk show had already started.
By ten o’clock，things were out of control.Alex was wondering why the fish in the jar refused his bread and butter.Mike was trying to show off his talent by decorating the kitchen wall with his colour pencils.Randy，thankfully，appeared to be reading quietly in the family room，but closer examination showed that he was eating apple jam straight from the bottle with his hands.Brad realised that the talk show was over and reading would be impossible.
At exactly 11∶17，Brad called the daycare centre(日托所)．“I suddenly have to go into work and my wife’s away.Can I bring the boys over in a few minutes？”The answer was obviously “yes” because Brad was smiling.(2012·陕西，B)
小题1:When his wife left home，Brad expected to________.| A．go out for a walk in the park | | B．watch TV talk show with his children | | C．enjoy his first day off work | | D．read the newspaper to his children |
小题2:Which of the following did Randy do?| A．Drawing on the wall. | B．Eating apple jam. | | C．Feeding the fish. | D．Reading in a room. |
小题3:Why did Brad ask the daycare centre for help?| A．Because he wanted to clean up his house. | | B．Because he suddenly had to go to his office. | | C．Because he found it hard to manage his boys. | | D．Because he had to take his wife back home. |
小题4:This text is developed________.| A．by space | B．by comparison | | C．by process | D．by time |
|
答案
小题1:C
小题2:B
小题3:C
小题4:D |
解析
小题1: C
解析 推理判断题。根据第一段对Brad的心理描写，尤其是信息句“Expecting a whole day to relax，he was thinking whether to read the newspaper or watch his favourite TV talk show on his first day off in months.”可以看出，妻子离家后，Brad期待着在第一个休假日里放松一下自己，故C项符合题意。A项并不是Brad想做的；B、D两项内容并不是与孩子一起进行的活动，这在后文也有体现，因此错误。
小题2:B
解析 细节理解题。根据第四段的描述可以看出，A项是Mike做的；B项是Randy做的；C项是Alex做的；D项是对文中信息“Randy，thankfully，appeared to be reading quietly in the family room，but closer examination showed that he was eating apple jam straight from the bottle with his hands.”的曲解。
小题3: C
解析 推理判断题。文中诸多关键字眼如“Life became worse”与“things were out of control”都表明是因为管理不了孩子们，Brad才把他们送去日托所的，故C项正确。
小题4: D
解析 细节理解题。第一段：Brad closed the door slowly as Sue left home→第二段：breakfast→第三段：after breakfast→第四段：by ten o’clock→第五段：at exactly 11∶17，由此可以看出本文是按照事件发展的时间先后顺序来叙述的。 |
举一反三
Scientists in Israel have discovered a new way to test for water pollution by “listening” to what the plants growing in water have to say.
By shining a laser beam (激光束) on the tiny pieces of algae floating in the water，the researchers said they hear sound waves that tell them the type and amount of contamination (致污物) in the water.
“It is a red light，telling us that something is beginning to go wrong with the quality of water，” said Zvy Dubinsky，an aquatic biologist at Israel’s Bar Ilan University.“Algae is the first thing to be affected by a change in water quality.”“The secret，” he said，“is to measure the rate of photosynthesis (光合作用) in the algae，meaning the plant’s ability to transform light into energy.” During photosynthesis，plants also release oxygen into the air.
Dubinsky’s technique is easy to perform because of the overabundance of algae in the planet’s water.Most of the oxygen in the atmosphere comes from algae.A prototype tester that occupies about one square meter of a laboratory desktop，shoots a laser beam at water samples to stimulate photosynthesis in the algae.But not all of the laser’s heat is used.Depending on the condition of the algae and the rate of photosynthesis，some of the heat is shot back into the water，creating sound waves，Dubinsky said.With a special underwater microphone，researchers are able to analyze the strength of the sound waves and determine the health of the algae and the condition of the surrounding water.
“Algae suffering from lead poisoning，like waste discharged from battery and paint manufacturing plants，will produce a different sound than those suffering from lack of iron or exposure to other toxins，” said researcher Yulia Pinchasov.She said that testing algae photosynthesis can determine water quality more accurately and easily than laborintensive methods now used like chemical and radioactive carbon testing.
小题1:The underlined word “algae” in Paragraph 2 probably refers to a kind of________.| A．instrument | B．plant | | C．wood | D．pollutant |
小题2:Why is the algae tested?| A．Because it floats on the water. | | B．Because it can have photosynthesis. | | C．Because it is the first to be polluted. | | D．Because it can produce different sounds. |
小题3:We can infer from the passage that________.| A．algae can produce a loud sound when polluted | | B．algae can die easily from pollution | | C．photosynthesis of the algae can only be caused by sunlight | | D．photosynthesis of the algae is related to water quality |
小题4:What would be the best title for the passage?| A．Scientists Listen to Plants to Find Water Pollution | | B．A Prototype Tester Is Used to Determine Water Pollution | | C．The Importance of Photosynthesis of the Algae | | D．The Problem of Chemical and Radioactive Carbon Testing |
|
Most people are aware that outdoor air pollution can damage their health，but many do not know that indoor air pollution can also have significant health effects.Environmental Protection Agency studies indicate that indoor levels of pollutants may be 3～5 times，and occasionally more than 100 times，higher than outdoor levels.These levels of indoor air pollutants may be of particular concern because most people spend about 90% of their time indoors.
There are many sources of indoor air pollution in any home.These include sources such as oil，gas，coal，wood，and tobacco products，building materials，wet or damp carpet，and furniture made of certain pressed wood products，products for household cleaning and maintenance，personal care，or hobbies，central heating and cooling systems.
Immediate effects may show up after a single exposure (暴露) or repeated exposures.These include irritation of the eyes，nose，and throat，headaches，dizziness.Such immediate effects are usually shortterm and treatable.Sometimes the treatment is simply removing the person’s exposure to the source of the pollution，if it can be identified.
The likelihood of immediate reactions to indoor air pollutants depends on several factors.Age and preexisting medical conditions are two important influences.In other cases，whether a person reacts to a pollutant depends on individual sensitivity，which varies tremendously from person to person.Some people can become sensitized to biological pollutants after repeated exposures，and it appears that some people can become sensitized to chemical pollutants as well.
Certain immediate effects are similar to those from colds or other viral (病毒性的) diseases，so it is often difficult to determine if the symptoms are a result of exposure to indoor air pollution.While pollutants commonly found in indoor air are responsible for many harmful effects，there is considerable uncertainty about what concentrations or periods of exposure are necessary to produce specific health problems.People also react very differently to exposure to indoor air pollutants.Therefore，further research is needed to better understand the effects of indoor air pollution and to find efficient ways to protect our health.
小题1:According to the first paragraph，which of the following is NOT true?| A．People often fail to notice indoor air pollution. | | B．Indoor air pollution sometimes is more dangerous than outdoor air pollution. | | C．Outdoor air pollution may not be so serious as indoor air pollution. | | D．It is obvious that people have been paying more attention to indoor air pollution. |
小题2:According to the author，which may NOT be the source of indoor air pollution?| A．Building materials. | B．Wet carpet. | | C．Cooling system. | D．Refrigerators. |
小题3:What does the underlined word “irritation” in the third paragraph probably mean?| A．Bad intention. | B．Much sensitivity. | | C．Injury. | D．Carelessness. |
小题4:Which of the following might be the best title for the passage?| A．Reactions of Pollution | B．Danger from Home | | C．Pollution Resources | D．Different Pollutions |
|
Why do human beings still risk their lives under ground and doing one of the dirtiest and most dangerous jobs in the world？It’s an increasingly urgent question，given the recent highprofile(引人注目的) mining accidents in Sago，W.Va.and Huntington，Utah.A small group of engineers and robotics experts look forward to a day in the nottoodistant future when robots and other technology do most of the dangerous mining work.
Robotic technology，in particular，holds much promise，McAteer says，especially when it comes to mapping mines and rescuing trapped miners—the special operations of the mining industry.
One of the first mining robots was developed five years ago at CarnegieMellon University’s Robotics Institute.It was called Groundhog and it looked like a golf cart.It used lasers(激光器) to “see” in dark tunnels and map abandoned mines—some of the most dangerous work in the business.
The latest design is called Cave Crawler.It’s a bit smaller than Groundhog，and even more advanced.It can take photos and video and has sensors mounted(增加) that can detect the presence of dangerous gases.Incredibly，the robot has a real sense of logic.If it comes across an obstacle it gets confused.It has to think through the process and where to go next，and sometimes it throws_a_fit just like a real person.
The biggest obstacle，though，is cost.The original research project was federally funded，but that money has dried up，and it’s not clear where future funding will come from. Partly for that reason，and partly because of advances in safety，mining is not nearly as dangerous as it was in the past.Since 1990，fatalities(致命性) have declined by 67 percent and injuries by 51 percent，according to the National Mining Association.
Some experts predict that robots in mines will serve much of the same function that they do in the automotive industry.The robots do the most repetitive and dangerous jobs，but don’t eliminate(消除) the need for human workers.
小题1:The underlined phrase “throws a fit” in Paragraph 4 probably means “________”．| A．gets angry | B．gets sick | | C．becomes hungry | D．becomes cheerful |
小题2:We can infer from the last paragraph that ________.| A．robots in mines will serve much in the automotive industry | | B．there will be no need for human workers in mines | | C．the mine robots will have a very bright future | | D．robots in mines have a long way to go |
小题3:Which of the following is TRUE according to the text?| A．Mining robots do most of the mining work at present. | | B．Groundhog can discover the presence of dangerous gases. | | C．Experts are trying to make robots save miners in danger. | | D．Robots cannot do dangerous work in dark areas. |
小题4:What can be the best title for the text?| A．Mining Accidents in America | | B．Could Robots Replace Humans in Mines? | | C．Cave Crawler，the Latest Robot | | D．The Development of Robots |
|
Businesses are witnessing a difficult time，which has in turn produced influence on consumers’ desire to go green.However，shoppers are still laying stress on environmental concerns.
Two thirds of customers say that environmental considerations inform their purchases to the same degree as they did a year ago，while more than a quarter say that they are now even better aware of the environmental effect on what they buy.
This may help to influence how shops store goods on their shelves.And the companies should still make efforts to become more environmentally friendly.Two out of three people think it is important to buy from environmentally responsible companies，with about one in seven saying that they had even decided to take their custom elsewhere if they felt a company’s environmental reputation was not good enough.
Harry Morrison，chief executive(主管)of the Carbon Trust，sympathizes：“I understand this situation where survival is very important now.But from environmental considerations，the clock is ticking—we don’t have much time.In addition，cutting carbon has an immediate effect as costs drop and a mediumterm benefit for the brand.”
Larger companies have an extra motivation to look at reducing their carbon footprint，as new rules next year will require businesses to buy carbon allowances to make up for their emissions(排放)．Those that have taken early action will have a head start.More than two thirds of consumers are not clear about which companies are environmentally responsible.This suggests that firms that are able to relay clearly their message to the public will be in a pole position to attract shoppers.
The Carbon Trust believes that it can help by informing customers about the good work companies are doing.“When companies are granted(授予) the standard，they can use a logo(标识) in all their marketing which makes it clear that they are working towards cutting emissions，” Mr.Morrison said. (2010·福建，C)
小题1:What’s the main idea of the passage?| A．Businesses are finding ways to send their message to the shoppers. | | B．Companies will soon get information about cutting carbon emissions. | | C．Firms are making efforts to encourage customers to keep goods at home. | | D．Firms are urged to cut carbon emissions by shoppers’ environmental awareness. |
小题2:The underlined word “inform” in Paragraph 2 probably means “________”．| A．affect | B．change | C．disturb | D．reject |
小题3:According to Harry Morrison，businesses ________.| A．will benefit from cutting carbon emissions | | B．should buy carbon allowances for shoppers | | C．are required to make up for their carbon emissions | | D．have encouraged shoppers to take their custom elsewhere |
小题4:We can learn from the passage that businesses will________.| A．have a strong desire to reduce costs | | B．use the same logo in their marketing | | C．gain advantages by taking early action | | D．attract more shoppers by storing goods |
|
Pessimistic，anxious and depressed people may have a higher risk of dementia (痴呆)，US researchers reported on Thursday.
A study of a group of 3,500 people showed that those who scored high for pessimism on a standardized personality test had a 30 percent increased risk of developing dementia 30 to 40 years later.
Those scoring very high on both anxiety and pessimism scales had a 40 percent higher risk，the study showed.
“There appears to be a doseresponse pattern.That is，the higher the scores，the higher the risk of dementia，”Dr Yonas Geda，a neuropsychiatrist at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester，Minnesota who led the study，said in a statement.
Geda and his colleagues looked at the medical records of 3,500 men and women who lived near the clinic between 1962 and 1965.
They all took the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory，a standard personality and life experience test，Geda’s team told a meeting of the American Academy of Neurology in Miami.
In 2004，the team interviewed the participants or family members.
Those who scored higher for anxiety and pessimism on the test were more likely，as a group，to have developed dementia by 2004，including Alzheimer’s disease and vascular (血管的) dementia.
This did not mean a person who is pessimistic could assume he or she has a higher risk of developing dementia.
“One has to be cautious in interpreting a study like this，”Geda said.
“One cannot make a leap from group level data to the individual.Certainly the last thing you want to do is to say，‘Well，I am a pessimist；thus，I am doomed to develop dementia 20 or 30 years later，’because this may end up becoming a selffulfilling prophecy (预言)．”
And there is NOT any specific way to prevent dementia，although many studies have shown that a healthy diet，exercise，keeping active in other ways，doing puzzles and other activities lower the risk.
小题1:What is the passage mainly about?| A．It is impossible for people to avoid dementia. | | B．People who always have negative feelings may have a higher risk of getting dementia. | | C．If we have a healthy diet，we would have no chance of getting dementia. | | D．A person who is pessimistic has a higher risk of developing dementia. |
小题2:According to the passage，which of the following is TRUE?| A．There are many ways to prevent dementia effectively. | | B．A person who is pessimistic is sure to get dementia. | | C．Those who lead a happy life will not get dementia when they are old. | | D．Those who scored high for pessimism might have a higher risk of dementia. |
小题3:Which of the following does NOT help reduce the risk of getting dementia according to the passage?| A．A healthy diet. | B．Proper exercises. | | C．Doing puzzles. | D．Getting up early. |
小题4:Which of the following words is not close to the meaning of the word “pessimistic”？| A．Cheerless. | B．Optimistic. | | C．Unhappy. | D．Upset. |
|
最新试题
热门考点