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题型:阅读理解 题类:常考题 难易度:普通

福建省莆田第一中学2018-2019学年高二下学期英语期中考试试卷

阅读理解

    The belief that new technologies are causing the death of work is the idea that never goes away. Despite evidence to the contrary, we still view technological change today as being more rapid and dramatic in its consequences for work than ever before. But this is nothing new. People have always viewed the technological changes that take place during their lives as the most dramatic and dangerous that ever happened in history.

    In the 1930s, the British economist(经济学家) John Maynard Keynes predicted the widespread use of electricity would produce a world where people spend most of their time doing nothing. In the United States during the 1960s, the government repeatedly investigates fears that automatic machines would permanently reduce the amount of work available. In 1988, one Australian historian claimed that at least a quarter of the workforce would be without jobs within 10 years because of computers.

    Of course, none of these disasters came to pass in the United Kingdom, the United States and Australia, or anywhere else.

    Yet today, we are seeing the return of these predictions, with some experts claiming the world of work is once more undergoing radical(激进的)and unprecedented(前所未有的) change. They argue that robots and other workplace technologies are causing a reduction in the total amount of work available, or are bringing a more rapid pace of substitution of machines for humans than has been seen previously.

    But there is a little evidence to support such beliefs. Statistics show that the percentage of people in work, the number of hours they work, and how frequently they change jobs have remained remarkably constant over the past 20 years.

    This stability should not come as a surprise. There are good reasons why we should not expect new technologies to cause the death of work. New technologies always cause job losses, but that is only part of the story. What also needs to be understood is how they increase the amount of work available.

    One way this happens is through the increases in incomes that accompany the use of new technologies. With the introduction of these technologies, goods and services can be produced faster, which results in higher real incomes for workers. Higher incomes then increase demand for other products and consequently more workers are needed to make them. Additionally, while new technologies are likely to substitute for some types of workers, they will also increase demand for other types of workers, especially those with higher level skills and expertise.

    So, the end of work is no closer today than at any time in the past. But there is still a need to keep disproving the prediction, to reduce people's fears.

(1)、What is the function of the second paragraph?
A、To explain the importance of developing new technology. B、To show how technology affected employment in the past. C、To argue that technological dangers are becoming more serious. D、To give historical examples of unnecessary fear about new technology.
(2)、How can employment statistics over the past 20 years best be described?
A、Confusing. B、Steady. C、Reliable. D、Variable.
(3)、According to paragraph 7, why does demand for products often increase after new technology is introduced?
A、There are more goods for people to choose from. B、There is more demand for new skills in the economy. C、Productivity improvements help raise workers' salaries. D、Higher quality goods at lower prices encourage consumption.
(4)、What is the author's opinion about the introduction of new technology?
A、It does not have an effect on most people's jobs. B、Its benefits are usually not worth the introduction. C、It usually leads to a significant increase in employment. D、Its danger to people's employment possibilities is overstated.
举一反三
阅读理解

Classis Book Club for Home-schooled Teens

★ Sign up at Librarian's 1st Floor Reference Desk.

★ Free books for first 15 teens who sign up for each title. If you are unable to attend the activity, please return the book to Teen Librarian so she can give the book to another teen.

Classics for Home-schooled Teens

Fridays, 1:00~2:00 pm, Library Room 215

January 23: The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway

February 20: Antigone by Sophocles

March 20: Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

April 24: Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger

For information contact Teen Librarian Elise Sheppard, elise.i.sheppard@lonestar.edu, 281-290-5248.

5th Annual Prom-dress Give-away

Lone Star College — CYEAIR BRANCH LIBRARY'S PROM CLOSET

Your dress is free for you to keep.

If you Need a Prom Dress

Contact the Youth Service Specialist at your school/ Contact Prom Closet organizers directly:

LSC-CF Teen Librarian Elise Sheppard at 281-290-5248, elise.i.sheppard@lonestar.edu

LSC-CF Friends of the Library President Nancy Flanakin at meaford8510@vahoo.com

Saturday dates to get a dress:

(Other dates by appointment only — contact Elise or Nancy)

Dates

Times

Locations at LSC-CF Branch Library

March 21

1:00—5:00 pm

Library Room 131

March 28

1:00—5:00 pm

Activity Room of Kid's Comer (Children's Library)

April 4

1:00—5:00 pm

Library Room 131

April 11

Library closed


April 25

1:00—5:00 pm

Library Room 131

Prom Dresses Needed!

Dresses & accessories needed: All dress sizes 0 — 26

Accessories: Shoes, handbags, jewelry, hair pieces, shawls, etc.

Perfect condition: Clean, undamaged, beautiful

Delivery instructions:

Take donations to Lone Star College — CyFair Branch Library Circulation/Customer Service Desk anytime the library is open.

阅读理解

    Two men, Alan and Henry, both seriously ill, shared a hospital room. Alan was allowed to sit up in his bed and his bed was next to the room's only window. Henry had to spend all his time flat on his back.

    The men talked for hours, of their wives, families, their homes and their jobs. And every afternoon when Alan, in the bed next to the window, could sit up, he would pass the time by describing to his roommate all the things he could see. Ducks and swans played on the water while children sailed their model boats. Lovers walked arm in arm among flowers. Trees and skyline could be seen in the distance. As he described all this, Henry, on the other side of the room, would close his eyes and imagine the scene.

    One warm afternoon Alan described a parade (游行) passing by. Although Henry could not hear the band, he could see it in his mind. Unexpectedly, an alien thought entered his head: why should he have all the pleasure of seeing everything while I never got to see anything? It doesn't seem fair. Henry felt ashamed at first. But as the days passed and he missed seeing more sights, his envy grew and soon let him down. He began to find himself unable to sleep. He should be by that window — and that thought now controlled his life.

    Late one night, as he lay staring at the ceiling, Alan began to cough. He was choking. Henry watched in the dim room as the struggling man tried hard to reach for the button to call for help. Listening from across the room, he never moved, never pushed his own button which would have brought the nurse running. In less than five minutes, the coughing and choking stopped, along with the sound of breathing. Now, there was only silence — deathly silence.

    As soon as it seemed appropriate, Henry asked if he could be moved next to the window. The nurse was happy to make the switch and after making sure he was comfortable, she left him alone. Slowly, painfully, he struggled to take his first look. Finally, he would have the joy of seeing it all himself. He looked out, but faced a blank wall.

阅读理解

    The morning after an evening flight with my then three-year-old daughter, I couldn't wait to get her to school. I was tired from the anger, and her inability to communicate because of her slowed language development.

    As I accompanied her into the car, I felt desperate. Nothing was right with our world. She had been born around the same time the nation was witnessing the birth of another Great Recession(经济萧条). My job and my house had been victims. Then this happened. My child's language delay was identified, but doctors struggled to properly diagnosis her. I felt like we both needed to be rescued.

    I returned that afternoon as disenchanted with the little girl I loved as when I left.

Walking slowly toward the school's playground gate, I found her preschool teacher racing to greet me.

    “You should have seen her today!” His breathy words were supported by excitement.  I didn't interrupt. “See that climber.” He pointed to a piece of wooden playground equipment that looked like a rock wall. I nodded. “Well, every day since she started school. She's tired and failed to make it to the top.” He took a breath. “And today she made it.

    He expressed his joy just like he'd witnessed her conquering (征服) Mount Everest “She cheered and celebrated! I wish I'd recorded it.” His words comforted me. My daughter had conquered her mountain. As she ran toward me, I recognized something I hadn't before. I saw her perseverance. I saw her strength. I saw a hero.

    Everyday greatness celebrates ordinary people who do unusual things in big and small ways, showing courage, kindness, love and selflessness. We encourage you to click these brief accounts and invite you to share your own story in our community.

阅读理解

    A   RICHMOND EXPERIMENTAL THEATRE

    Learn to act introduces people to a broad range of acting techniques. It is specially geared to those with little or no acting experience. The atmosphere is relaxed and unthreatening and great emphasis is placed on developing the confidence and abilities of people who may initially be a little apprehensive!

    B   WORLD CULTURE DAY

    Brazilian Street Percussion

    2:30—4:50

    Samba percussion workshop. Lift your spirits with the taste of carnival! It doesn't matter whether you're an experienced musician or a complete beginner; you'll be creating complex exotic rhythms in no time.

    African Storytelling

    3:45—4:45

    The magical African storytelling tradition of narration, poetry and proverbs. An event for all the family.

    C   SCOTTISH DANCING

    IT'S FUN

    IT'S GOOD EXERCISE

    ● We have classes for dancers of all abilities.

    ● Previous experience is not essential.

    ● All you need to bring is a pair of soft shoes and enthusiasm.

    ● Classes are held in a number of places and at different times.

    ● We guarantee you a warm welcome.

    D   DRAWING IN COLOUR

    An intensive workshop for beginners

    Saturday 13th and Sunday 14th October

    This unusual workshop offers instruction in effective ways to draw in colour. Activities will include study of light and shade and ways to express mood and emotion in colour.

    The small class(12 students) assures maximum attention for each student. Professional quality materials are included in the fee of £95.

阅读理解

    Are you interested in travelling? Here are famous national parks where travellers mostly like to go in America.

    ⒈Great Smoky Mountains National Park

    Visitors: 11,388,893

    The name "Great Smoky Mountains" comes from the fog over this mountain range situated along the North Carolina-Tennessee border. Established in 1934, it is not just home to a diverse ecosystem of plants and animals, but also home to rich Appalachian cultures. Visitors there can see over 100 waterfalls, go boating on Fontana Lake and hike the Appalachian Trail. It's also an excellent vantage point to see the leaves change in the fall.

    ⒉Grand Canyon National Park

    Visitors: 6,254,238

    The Grand Canyon is the result of over 70 million years of geological events creating the Colorado Plateau, glaciers and valleys, while the Colorado River carved its way through the valleys. It is truly a natural splendor!

    When President Roosevelt first visited it in 1903, he said, "The Grand Canyon fills me with awe. It is beyond comparison – beyond description."16 years later, it was signed by President Woodrow Wilson, officially viewing the Grand Canyon a national park.

    ⒊Yosemite National Park

    Visitors: 4,336,890

    In addition to being a national park, Yosemite is designated as a World Heritage Site. Yosemite National Park is in Central California in the western Sierra Nevada. Though it covers around 1,168 square miles of area, visitors spend most of their time in the 5.9 square-mile area of the Yosemite Valley where there are some most famous sites like Yosemite Falls, and Cook's Meadow Loop.

    ⒋Zion National Park

    Visitors: 4,504,812

    Settled in Southwestern Utah is Zion National Park. It has some of the most unique landscapes packed with mountains, valleys, rivers, desert and forests.

    Zion National Park is also an important place to study ancient humans who made the area their home about 8,000 years ago. Some of the park's most notable attractions include Angel's Landing, Kolob Arch, the Narrows, etc.

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