2024届广东省韶关市高三下学期综合测试（二）英语试题

韶关市2024届高三综合测试（二）

英语

本试卷共10页，卷面满分120分。考试用时120分钟。

注意事项：

1.答卷前，考生务必用黑色字迹的钢笔或签字笔将自己的姓名、准考证号、学校和班级填写在答题卡指定的位置上。

2.选择题每小题选出答案后，用2B铅笔把答题卡对应题目的答案标号涂黑。如需改动，用橡皮擦干净后，再选涂其他答案。写在本试卷上无效。

3.非选择题必须用黑色字迹的钢笔或签字笔作答，答案必须写在答题卡指定区域内的相应位置上；如需改动，先划掉原来的答案，然后再写上新答案；不准使用铅笔和涂改液。不按以上要求作答无效。

4.考生必须保持答题卡的整洁。考试结束后，将本试卷和答题卡一并交回。

第二部分  阅读（共两节，满分50分）

第一节（共15小题；每小题2.5分，满分37.5分）

阅读下列短文，从每小题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中选出最佳选项。

A

The cuisine that marks Christmas is as diverse as the people feasting on it. Here’s a look at how the locals celebrate Christmas through cuisine in their countries, which will give you a glimpse of the celebrations.

England

The real festivities start on Christmas morning with champagne and smoked salmon. After the King’s or Queen’s annual Christmas speech, it’s time for the main meal, typically including a turkey or roast beef accompanied by various side dishes.

France

The French celebrate their Christmas Eve with a lavish meal, with seafood served first. The main course usually consists of a rooster that’s renowned for its tenderness. Fine red wine from Burgundy can’t be missed of course.

Italy

Similar to France, Italians celebrate Christmas on the eve. The locals typically attend midnight Mass and then indulge in a lavish meal before heading to church. For the main course, northern Italians often have stuffed turkey, while those in seaside areas may feast on a large baked sea bass accompanied by roasted potatoes and vegetables.

Greece

After attending an early morning holy communion in church on Christmas, Greeks go home for an all-day eating gathering. Families gather around the fireplace, feasting on a special wheat bread only made at Christmas. Later, the main course may include roast chicken stuffed with chestnuts.

1. What activity distinguishes England in Christmas celebration?

A. The seafood-themed dinner. B. The yearly Royal address.

C. The religious ceremony. D. The main course featuring turkey.

2. To experience the religious atmosphere, you’d better spend Christmas in ________.

A. France and Italy. B. England and France.

C. England and Greece. D. Italy and Greece.

3. From which column of the magazine is the passage probably from?

A. Religion and culture. B. Diet and health.

C. Festival and tradition. D. Sports and fitness.

B

For nearly two decades, a thin, sun-burnt postal worker could frequently be seen carrying packages along a dangerous mountain trail in the Taihang Mountains.

The 10-kilometer-long route, which is between 20 centimeters and 1 meter wide, is known as the “cat road” by locals, meaning that it is so dangerous that only cats could walk on it. Whereas, Zhao Yuefang, a postal worker in Ewu township in Huguan county, Shanxi province, had to walk the route every day to deliver mail.

Every day at the crack of dawn, he would start his journey along the “cat road”. From picking up the day’s post to delivering it to villagers and returning along the same route, it took Zhao four days. During rainy and snowy seasons, the mountain road, part of which hugs the cliffs, would become slippery and dangerous. One day in the winter of 2003, the “cat road” was covered in thick snow and he slipped off the trail. Fortunately, he was able to stop his sharp descent by grabbing a tree branch and slowly managed to climb to safety.

By 2012, Zhao had walked more than 300,000 km and delivered over 800,000 pieces of mail. Born and raised in the deep mountains, Zhao truly understands the significance of mail deliveries to villagers. “They depend on the mail to keep in touch with the outside world,” he said. “Their sheer joy written on their face while receiving any post struck me,” he added.

In 2012, a 67-km-long tourist highway was built and gone were those days when Zhao risked his life to walk on the “cat road”. But Zhao was even busier than before. “The number of packages I handle daily now exceeds the number I used to deal with in the past,” said Zhao, adding that villagers are turning to online shopping and ordering more and more goods by post.

4. Why is the mountain trail referred to as “cat road”?

A. It’s shaped like a cat. B. It’s intended for cats.

C. It is too narrow and risky. D. It rains cats and dogs there.

5. What does the word “descent” in paragraph 3 mean?

A. Fall. B. Pain.

C. Turn. D. Landing.

6. According to the passage, which words can best describe Zhao?

A. Persistent and dedicated. B. Diligent and ambitious.

C. Considerate and confident. D. Courageous and generous.

7. What has always motivated Zhao’s enthusiasm for his job?

A. The villagers’ respect for him.

B. His being born and raised there.

C. Today’s huge number of the packages.

D. The value of the deliveries to the locals.

C

Is life a story or a game? Answers may vary from one to another. Over the course of life, we find things to love and commit to — a job, a partner or a community. At times, we struggle to learn from our misfortunes to grow in wisdom, kindness and grace.

Will Storr, a writer whose work I admire, says this story version of life is a misunderstanding. In his book The Status Game, he argues that human beings are deeply driven by status. Rather than about being liked or accepted, he writes, it’s about being better than others. “When people are obedient to us, offer respect, admiration or praise, that’s status. It feels good.”

Life is a series of games, he adds. There’s the high school game of competing to be the popular kid. The lawyer game to make partner. The finance game to make the most money. The academic game for fame. The sports game to show that our team is the best. Even when we are trying to do good, Storr claims, we’re playing the “virtue game” to show we are morally superior to others.

I think Storr is in danger of becoming one of those guys who ignore the noble desires of the human heart and the caring element in every friendship and family. The status-mad world that Storr describes is so loveless. In fact, gaming as a way of life is immature. Maturity means rising above the shallow desire — for status — that doesn’t really nourish us. It’s about cultivating the higher desires: the love of truth and learning; the inner pleasure the craftsman gets in his work, which is not about popularity, and the desire for a good and meaningful life that inspires