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题型:阅读理解 题类:常考题 难易度:普通

河南省鹤壁市淇滨高级中学2016-2017学年高二下学期英语第一次月考试卷

根据短文内容,选择正确答案。    If your parents were to surprise you with a present on your birthday, which one would you prefer, a trip to the amusement park or a new pair of shoes?
    According to Science Daily, about one-third of the people are likely to prefer shoes to a fun trip. These people are called "materialists", namely, those who value material goods more than experiences. But which of the two choices makes people happier?
    Back in 2009, Ryan Howell, a professor at San Francisco State University, found that in the long run, experiences make people happier than possessions. This is because the joy of receiving a new object fades over time as you get used to seeing it every day. Experiences, on the other hand, can continue to bring you joy in the future through happy memories.
    But materialists should at least be happy when they first buy something, shouldn't they?
    To figure it out, Howell did another study. He classified a group of adults according to their personality types, ranging from less materialistic to more materialistic. Each person was asked different questions to see how they felt about spending money on material goods versus spending money on experiences.
    As expected, the more materialistic participants got less happiness from purchases than the less materialistic, because such purchases didn't fit with their personalities and values. But to Howell's surprise, he found that materialists weren't any happier even if they spent money on material items.
    This is because materialists worry that others may criticize or look clown on their choices. "There are certain value systems that are rejected by society," said Howell. "When we find out someone is materialistic, we think less of them, and that drives their happiness down."
    Another reason is that materialistic people always focus on what they don't have instead of what they have now. This makes them feel less satisfied and grateful.
    If you happen to be a materialistic person, there's something you can try. "If materialists make more accurate purchases, rather than trying to impress others, they will be happier, "Howell said.
    You should also remember what an ancient Greek philosopher once said, "Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for."
(1)、What did Ryan Howell find in his studies?
A、Material goods bring people less happiness than experiences. B、About one-third of the people prefer material goods to experiences. C、Materialists have more fun spending money on goods than on experiences. D、Receiving a new object brings lasting joy while the joy of an experience fades soon.
(2)、What did Ryan Howell want to find out by doing another study?
A、How to judge whether a person is a materialist. B、Why materialists are not happy with their purchases. C、How materialists feel when they spend money on goods. D、Whether materialists are happy when they first make purchases.
(3)、Why does the author use the ancient Greek philosopher's words in the last paragraph?
A、To advise materialistic people not to try to impress others. B、To persuade people to be satisfied with what they have. C、To prove it's unwise to be materialistic and desire too much. D、To tell readers what they desire now might one day become theirs.
(4)、What can be the best title for the passage?
A、Are You a Materialist? B、How To Acquire Happiness? C、The Best Present For the Birthday D、Which Can Make People Happier?
举一反三
根据短文理解,选择正确答案。

    Nowadays airfare isn't getting any cheaper with fuel costs rising every day. Luckily, there are plenty of ways to find the most affordable fares and also avoid paying as many extra charges as possible when you plan ahead.

♦ Getting the best fare

    Fly during the least popular times. Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday are the slowest days to fly, which means cheaper deals than the rest of the week. You can also find reduced rates on early morning flights, since many people don't like to get up before the sun to get to the airport. Earlier boarding times can also considerably cut down your chances of getting delayed because of other delayed flights or mechanical issues.

    Choose your seat later. Some airlines charge you to pick your seat when you book online, adding even more to the bottom line of your ticket cost. If you show up early on your travel day, you can still have a chance to get suitable seats that others are not willing to pay extra for ahead of time.

    Fly on holidays. You already know that summer is the most expensive time to fly, but the days surrounding holidays can also be crazy. Save big if you're willing to travel on major holidays, such as Thanksgiving and Christmas.

    Don't wait until the last-minute to book. Book too early or too late and you could end up paying more than you need to. The best time to book is between three months and six weeks from when you want to travel.

※  ※  ※  ※  ※  ※  ※  ※

♦Avoiding extra fees

    Avoid the upgrade(升级). It's not necessary. Sometimes upgrades are free, but mostly you will be charged for seeking a last-minute bump to first class, and the cost can be very high.

    Fly carry-on only. Baggage fees vary wildly, but almost all airlines charge them and charge big. It's easy to reduce the amount of stuff if you pack less clothes and only travel-sized toiletries. Planning to do a bit of laundry on your trip will also do.

    Pack your own snacks. Unless you're flying internationally, it's rare your flight comes with a free meal. So put some of your own snacks — homemade muffins, fruit and granola bars all make fantastic travel foods — into your bag and eat a lot better, and cheaper, than other passengers.

阅读理解

    China is known as a state of manners and ceremony. Many proverbs have been passed down from generation to generation such as "polite behavior costs nothing" or "showing respect each other" and so on. For instance, there is an interesting short story. Once upon a time, a man went on a long tour to visit his friend with a swan as a gift. But it escaped from the cage on the way. Though he tried hard, he got hold of nothing but a feather. Instead of returning home, he continued his journey with the swan feather. When his friend received this unexpected gift, he was deeply moved. And the saying "The gift is nothing much, but it's the thought that counts." was spread far and wide.

    Chinese used to cup one hand in the other before the chest as a greeting. This tradition has a history of more than 2, 000 years and nowadays it is seldom used except in the Spring Festival. And shaking hands is more popular. Bowing, as to show respect to the higher level, is often used by the lower like subordinates(下级), students, and attendants. But at present Chinese youngsters prefer to simply nod as a greeting.

    When you start a talk with a stranger, the topics such as weather, food, or hobbies may be good choices to break the ice. For a man, a chat about sports, stock market or his job can usually go on smoothly. Similar to Western customs, you should be careful to ask a woman private questions. However, relaxing talks about her job or family life will never put you into danger. Though Chinese are said to be implicit(含蓄的), they are actually humorous enough to be pleased about the jokes of Americans.

阅读理解

    A recent experiment proves that bees can save time and energy when they fly around to different flowers.

    Dr Nigel Raine, from the Royal Holloway University of London, has always been interested in finding out why animal behave like they do. He is also interested in bees. It was not a surprise when he and some other scientists from Queen Mary University of London discovered that bees can quickly solve a problem that takes computers many days.

    Flowers make pollen (花粉), and when bees visit them, they carry the pollen to other flowers. The plants need the pollen to make seeds that will grow. Dr Raine notes that we get a lot of our food from plants, so it is important to know how the bees move around and take the pollen between flowers. The scientists wanted to examine the journey that the bees take and how they save energy when they do this. They completed the experiment on the roof of Queen Mary University, using artificial flowers and a large amount of nectar, a sweet liquid produced by flowers. They taught one bee to visit all the flowers in one place at the same time. When the bee got to know the location of the flowers well, they saw how it flew around and returned home with the nectar. After this, they changed the locations of the flowers. The scientists thought the bee would follow the route it knew already. This would mean that it followed a longer route than it needed to, and so it would use more energy. They watched the bee carefully as it travelled between the flowers in their new location, and they made notes. But in the experiment, the bee changed its route and flew a shorter distance.

    The problem that the bee solved is similar to a maths puzzle called the 'travelling salesman problem'. A salesman who goes to different places to sell things wants to travel the shortest distance. But he has to calculate the length of many possible routes to know which one is the shortest. A computer can calculate this but the experiment shows bees can do the same calculation quickly with a tiny brain. Scientists are very interested in how they do this. It would help us to understand how pollen is moved around. In addition, if they find this out, it could help us to improve communication networks. This might help humans to reduce traffic jams when there is an accident, for example.

Choose the one that fits best according to the information given in the passage you have just read.

    ARCHAEOLOGISTS (考古学家) GUIDED BY laser images of a remote region of northern Guatemala have discovered 20-foot-high walls, watchtowers, and other evidence that ancient Maya societies had been annoyed by warfare threat over many years. The finds have upended long-established impressions of a civilization that it tamed the jungle and built thriving cities, then declined and disappeared quietly beneath the dense tropical forest.

    Among the most surprising discoveries was a large stone complex now called La Cuemavilla. Built on a steep ridge, the heavily fortified site included high walls. Moats which serves as the largest defensive system ever discovered in the region.

    This was surprising says an archaeologist, because we had a tendency to romanticize Maya warfare as something that was largely ritualized. But the fortifications were seeing suggest an elevated level of antagonism over centuries. Rulers were so deeply alarmed that they felt the need to invest in all these hilltop fortifications. There is an almost visible sense of fear in this landscape.

    All these findings owe credit to PACUNAM LIDAR Initiative, a laser survey of some 800 square miles of the Maya Biosphere Reserve in northern Guatemala. Using revolutionary Laser technology, the survey revealed the long-hidden ruins of a sprawling pre-Columbian civilization that was far more complex and interconnected than most Maya specialists had supposed.

    Guided by the new Laser treasure maps, the LIDAR team deployed through the jungle over the past year to conduct hands-on investigations of more than a dozen of the most promising sites-most of which would have been imperceptible without LIDAR.

    "You could walk over the top of a major ruin and miss it, "says an archaeologist who's part of the PACUNA project. But LIDAR picks up the patterns and makes the features pop out with surprising clarity.

    Three-dimensional maps generated by the survey yielded surprises even at Tikal, the largest and most extensively explored archaeological site in Guatemala. The ancient city was at least four times bigger than previously thought, and surrounded by a massive ditch and fortified base stretching for miles.

    Archaeologists stress that LIDAR, for all its utility, will never see below the ground or yield direct dates of occupation. "We still need to dig and hack our way through the jungle, but now we have a very accurate map to guide us."

阅读短文,从每题所给的A、B、C和D四个选项中,选出最佳选项。

    Still seeking a destination for your weekend break? There are some places which are probably a mere walk away from your college.

    King's Art Centre

    A day at the Centre could mean a visit to an exhibition of the work of one of the most interesting contemporary artists on show anywhere. This weekend tees the opening of an exhibition of four local artists.

    You could attend a class teaching you how to 'learn from the masters' or get more creative with paint—free of charge.

    The Centre also runs two life drawing classes for which there is a small fee.

    The Botanic Garden

    The Garden has over 8, 000 plant species; it holds the research and teaching collection of living plants for Cambridge University.

    The multi-branchedTorch Aloe here is impressive. The African plant produces red flowers above blue-green leaves, and is not one to miss.

    Get to the display house to seeDionaea muscipula, a plant more commonly known as the Venus Flytrap that feeds on insects and other small animals.

    The Garden is also a place for wildlife-enthusiasts. Look for grass snakes in the lake. A snake called 'Hissing Sid' is regularly seen lying in the heat of the warm sun.

    Byron's Pool

    Many stories surround Lord Byron's time as a student of Cambridge University, Arriving in 1805, he wrote a letter complaining that it was a place of "mess and drunkenness". However, it seems as though Byron did manage to pass the time pleasantly enough. I'm not just talking about the pet bear he kept in his roans. He spent a great deal of time walking in the village.

    It is also said that on occasion Byron swam naked by moonlight in the lake, which is now known as Byron's Pool. A couple of miles past Grantchester in the south Cambridgeshire countryside, the pool is surrounded by beautiful circular paths around the fields. The cries of invisible birds make the trip a lovely experience and on the way home you can drop into the village for afternoon tea. If you don't trust me, then perhaps you'll take it from Virginia Woolf—over a century after Byron, she reportedly took a trip to swim in the same pool.

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