专题06 阅读理解说明文类（精选名校试卷15篇）【考题猜想】-2024-2025学年高二英语上学期期中考点大串讲（上海）

2024-2025学年高二上学期期中考点大串讲（上海） 专题06 阅读理解说明文类精选15篇 （原题版） 01 【来源】上海市育才中学2023-2024学年高二上学期期中英语试卷 While more and more scientists are working on nonfiction science books for the general reader, I think we also need a change. The typical expert-voiced monologues (独白) that scientists write are a wonderful component of the engagement effort, but the form is limited. Such books are largely ready people already willing to pick up a science book, or who are open to the authoritative academic’s voice telling them how to think. There are plenty of people who can engage with science but who find those kinds of books a sometimes unwelcome reminder of the classroom. Following from my belief that science is for everyone, I suggest that publishers need to work with scientists to expand the kinds of books on offer, assured that there is an audience for them. Progress is possible. Many years ago, I realized it is hard to find books on the nonfiction science shelf that let readers see themselves as part of the conversation about science. So I thought about an entire book of conversations about science taking place between ordinary people. While “overhearing” those conversations, readers learn some science ideas. It’s a resurrection of the dialogue form, known to the ancient Greeks, and to Galileo, as a device for exchanging ideas, but with contemporary settings: cafes, restaurants, trains and so on. I decided it would be engaging for the reader to actually see who’s having those conversations, and where, instead of describing them in words. This led me to realize that I was thinking about a powerful form of visual storytelling: Graphic novels for adults have matured and exploded in popularity in recent years. Spiegelman’s “Maus: A Survivor’s Tale” and Bechdel’s “Fun Home” are just two well-known examples. But the storytelling tools of the graphic book have been little used to convey nonfiction science ideas to a general adult audience. The vast majority of contemporary graphic books with a science focus are presented instead as “explainer/adventure comics” for younger audiences. This is an important genre, but graphic books about science should not be limited to that. And while there are several excellent graphic books for adults that include science, they typically focus instead on the lives of famous scientists, with discussion of the science itself as a secondary goal. Some excellent recent examples that balance the two aspects well include Ottaviani arid Myrick’s “Feyrunan” and Doxiadis and Papadimitriou’s “Logicomix”. The scarcity of science-focused non-biographical (非自传体的) graphic books for adults is especially true in my field of physics. So I decided that here was an opportunity to broaden the kinds of nonfiction science book available to engage the public. 1．It can be inferred from Para.2 that the expert-voiced monologues don’t appeal to _________. A．those who are interested in scientific ideas B．those who have no talents for scientific research C．those who would like to know how scientists think D．those who think science classes in school are uninteresting 2．The word “resurrection” (in paragraph 3) most probably means _________. A．announcement B．comeback C．explanation D．representation 3．According to the writer, which might be the best form of nonfiction science books for general readers? A．A collection of scientists’ life stories. B．A book written by a Nobel Prize winner. C．An adventure novel focusing on science. D．A comic book conveying scientific ideas. 4．What is passage mainly about? A．A well-known writer who writes to promote science among the public. B．A possible way to get nonfiction science books to appeal to the public. C．A new approach to have the public get interested in new scientific ideas. D．An easy access for the public to have a general idea of what science is. 02 【来源】上海市南洋模范中学2023-2024学年高二上学期期中英语试卷 Running is often tiring and a lot of hard work, but nothing beats the feeling you get after finishing a long workout around the track. But while it’s long been believed that endorphins (内啡肽) —chemicals in the body that cause happiness—are behind the so-called “runner’s high”, a study suggested that there may be more to this phenomenon than we previously knew. According to a recent study published by a group of scientists from several German universities, a group of chemicals called endocannabinoids (内源性大麻素) may actually be responsible for this familiar great feeling. To test this theory, the scientists turned to mice. Both mice and humans release high levels of endorphins and endocannabinoids after exercise. After exercising on running wheels, the mice seemed happy and relaxed and displayed no signs of anxiety. But after being given a drug to block their endorphins, the mice’s behavior didn’t seem to change. However, when their endocannabinoids were blocked with a different drug, their runners’ high symptoms seemed to fade. “The long-held notion of endorphins being responsible for the runner’s high is false. Endorphins are effective pain relievers, but only when it comes to the pain in your body and muscles you feel after working out,” Patrick Lucas Austin wrote on science blog Lifchacker. Similar studies are yet to be carried out on humans, but it’s already known that exercise is a highly effective way to get rid of stress or anxiety. The UK’s National Health Service even prescribes (开药 方) exercise to patients who are suffering from depression. “Being depressed can leave you feeling low in energy, which might put you off being more active. Regular exercise can improve your mood if you have depression, and its especially useful for people with mild to moderate (中等的) depression,” it wrote on its website. It seems like nothing can beat that feeling we get after a good workout, even if we don’t fully understand where it comes from. At least if we’re feeling down, we know that all we have to do is to put on our running shoes. 5．What did scientists from German universities recently discover? A．Working out is a highly effective way to treat depression. B．The runner’s high could be caused by endocannabinoids. C．Endorphins may contribute to one’s high spirits after running. D．The level of endorphins and endocannabinoids could affect one’s mood. 6．Why did the scientists give mice drugs in their experiment? A．To find what reduces the runner’s high symptoms. B．To see the specific symptoms of the runner’s high. C．To identify what is responsible for the runner’s high. D．To test what influences the level of endocannabinoids released. 7．What does the underlined word “notion” mean? A．Effect. B．Goal. C．Opinion. D．Question 8．What can we know about regular workouts according to the UK’s National Health Service? A．They can help ease depression symptoms. B．They are the best way to treat depression. C．They only work for those with serious depression. D．They can help people completely recover from depression. 03 【来源】上海市进才中学2023-2024学年高二上学期期中英语试卷 Humans have a habit of deliberately stopping making progress. From digital music to coffee to tractors,  history is littered with innovations that caused resistance before becoming fixtures in everyday life. Calestous Juma, a professor of Harvard University, explores this phenomenon thoroughly. Juma identified in his research three key sources of opposition to innovation: those with commercial interests in existing products, those who identify with existing products, and those who might lose power as a result of change. The first group is perhaps the most obvious. Many industries have been disrupted by innovation. Just take a look at the unsuccessful efforts of music publishers to stop the transition to digital music. Also, some consumers might oppose an innovation because the existing product is deeply rooted in their identity, culture or customs. The British preferred tea time at home to sitting in a coffee shop, for example. Finally, the emergence of new technologies can also result in a shift in economic and political power, redistributing wealth and influence away from some groups and toward others. The expansion of tractors and other mechanical equipment reduced the need for farm labor, and the shift in population away from rural areas had significant political implications. Humans make decisions about new innovations with their gut rather than evidence. Opponents and enthusiasts of a new technology will often make bold claims to support their argument. Sometimes these claims are rooted in fact, other times not. For example, people once claimed coffee could make you hyperactive. Juma said this argument was typically an inborn fear of new technology, rather than a reasoned response. “People react instinctively, and they collect the evidence to support what they’ re doing,” Juma said. “They see a new product and there is an emotional reaction to that product because it challenges their outlook on the world. This has been the story with almost every new product.” Historically, technologists have been missing the point. “I think they get very much focused on the instrumental part of technology. Does it work or not work? They don’t connect it with the social dimensions,” he said. Fortunately, that may be starting to change. Juma highlights artificial intelligence as a contemporary illustration. Worries about uncontrollable robots have led to substantial discussions about adding a “kill button” to artificial intelligence products, an idea that Google and others have been working on. 9．According to Para. 2, which of the following statements is correct? A．Sitting in a coffee shop goes against British tradition. B．British people place much emphasis on family values. C．A significant innovation can affect population flow. D．Music publishers were pessimistic about digital music. 10．The underlined word “gut”(para. 4) is closest in meaning to____________. A．courage B．logic C．prejudice D．instinct 11．It can be implied from the passage that____________. A．technologists have historically misunderstood the social impact of new inventions B．The wide adoption of an innovation can help overcome resistance C．Some companies are thinking beyond the functionality of new products D．People’s fear of innovation may lead to the loss of a part of their lifestyle 12．Which of the following is the best title for the passage? A．Opposing Change: The Battle between Innovation and Tradition B．From Digital Music to Coffee: Why We often Hate New Stuff C．Lost Opportunities: How Humans Missed the Boat on Progress D．Enemies of Innovation: Fear and Past Success 04 【来源】上海市进才中学2023-2024学年高二上学期期中英语试卷 Judging by the historic record, we’ve been fascinated by our reflections for a long time. Some of the earliest human-made mirrors date to 6200 B．C． in Turkey. But even back then, mirrors were largely used to assess how beautiful we were. Egyptians paintings show the upper classes combing their hair and applying thick cosmetics in front of mirrors. Mirrors were associated from early on with vanity. In the Renaissance, Italians began developing techniques for making flatter glass, and in 1507 hit upon a way of producing clear mirrors. This new technology was wonderful, but so expensive that nobles sometimes sold property just to afford one. In the 16th and 17th centuries, mirror making was so costly that it required the investment of half of France’s GDP. By the time the Renaissance was in full flower, wealthy noblemen could get large mirrors in which they could see their entire body at a glance. It was a transformative sight. The historian Ian Mortimer believes that mirror was central in developing the modern sense of the individual. As the novelist Louis-Sebastien Mercler noted in the1780s, wealthy young men would look “at four mirrors at once to see themselves”. Many others thought nothing of all this self-regard. In the early years of America, “mirrors were considered, within American society, a kind of luxury that was somewhat shameful,” says Josiah McElheny, a Brooklyn-based artist who works with mirrors. Some countries imposed taxes on large mirrors. America’s mirror taxes were so high that if a furniture maker wished to create a full-body-sized reflection without going bankrupt, he had to assemble it from several smaller mirrors. It wasn’t until the last decades of the 19th century that the industrial world could finally make big mirrors cheaply. Production exploded and mirrors quickly passed from luxurious products for the rich to everyday devices that were affordable among an emerging middle class. In 1897, Sears Roebuck advertised ten-inch-square mirrors for only 50 cents apiece and said: “No house is complete without a number of small mirrors which are handy in so many rooms.” 13．Which of the following statements is true of the mirrors in the Renaissance? A．They were rather small in size. B．They were unaffordable to most people. C．They were mostly manufactured in Italy. D．They were no longer associated with vanity. 14．According to Ian Mortimer, what change did mirrors bring about? A．Humans started to think of themselves as an individual. B．More and more mirrors shops sprang up all over Europe. C．Novelists began to write about people’s love for mirrors. D．People cared about their appearance for the first time. 15．In the early years of America, mirrors_____________. A．brought their makers much profit B．were regarded as something bringing embarrassment C．caused many furniture makers to go bankrupt D．were mostly assembled from small pieces 16．What is the passage mainly about? A．The transformative sight of mirrors. B．The varying enthusiasm for mirrors. C．The historic development of mirrors. D．The change in people’s attitudes to mirrors. 05 【来源】上海市复旦大学附属中学2023-2024学年高二上学期期中考试英语试题 Children’s Acquiring the Principles of Mathematics and Science It has been pointed out that learning mathematics and science is not so much learning facts as learning ways of thinking. It has also been emphasized that in order to learn science, people often have to change the way they think in ordinary situations. These changes in ways of thinking are often referred to as “conceptual changes”. But how do “conceptual changes” happen? How do children change their ways of thinking as they learn in school? The psychologist Piaget suggested an interesting hypothesis (假说) relating to the process of cognitive (认知的) change in children. Cognitive change was expected to result from the pupils’ own intellectual activity. When met with a result that challenges their thinking, that is when faced with conflict, pupils realize that they need to think again about their own ways of solving problems, regardless of whether the problem is one in mathematics or in science. He hypothesised that conflict brings about unbalance, and then triggers processes that ultimately produce cognitive changes. For this reason, pupils need to be actively engaged in solving problems that will challenge their current mode of reasoning. However, Piaget also pointed out that young children do not always abandon their ideas in the face of conflicting evidence. They may actually abandon the evidence and keep their theory. Piaget’s hypothesis about how cognitive change occurs was later translated into an educational approach which is now termed “discovery learning”. Discovery learning initially took what is now considered the “lone learners” route. The role of the teacher was to select situations that challenged the pupils’ reasoning; and the pupils’ peers had no real role in this process. However, it was subsequently proposed that interpersonal conflict, especially with peers, might play an important role in promoting cognitive change. This hypothesis has been investigated in many recent studies of science teaching and learning. Christine Howe and her colleagues, for example, have compared children’s progress in understanding several types of science concepts when they are given the opportunity to observe relevant events. In one study, Howe compared the progress of 8 to 12-year-old children in understanding what influences motion down a slope. In order to figure out the role of conflict in group work, they created two kinds of groups according to a pre-test: one in which the children had dissimilar views, and a second in which the children had similar views. They found support for the idea that children in the groups with dissimilar views progressed more after their training sessions than those who had been placed in groups with similar views. However, they found no evidence to support the idea that the children worked out their new conceptions during their group discussions, because progress was not actually observed in a post-test immediately after the sessions of group work, but rather in a second test given around four weeks after the group work. 17．Which of the following statements is in line with Piaget’s hypothesis? A．Teachers play a big role in learning by explaining difficult concepts. B．Teaching should be consistent in order to easily acquire knowledge. C．Children can help each other make cognitive progress. D．Cognitive progress mainly relies on children’s own intellectual activity. 18．The lone learner’ route is an educational approach which ________. A．was adopted during discovery learning early on B．requires help from the pupils’ peers C．relies on how the teacher guides the students heavily D．played an important role in cognitive change 19．Which statement describes Howe’s experiment with 8 to 12-year-old children correctly? A．The most active children made the least progress according to a pre-test. B．The children were evaluated on their abilities to understand a physics phenomenon. C．The teacher aided the children to understand a scientific problem in group work. D．All the children were working in mixed-ability groups to work out new conceptions. 20．It can be inferred from the last paragraph ________. A．that children acquire more when learning in groups B．that children opposing each other would learn slower C．that the children were given a total of three tests, at different times D．that there can be a satisfying result thanks to the duration of test 06 【来源】上海市交通大学附属中学2023-2024学年高二上学期期中英语试题 Summerhill School If you travel 140 kilometers north of London to England’s east coast, you’ll find an unusual boarding school called Summerhill in a large 19th century building with about a hundred students aged between 5 and 18. The school has its own library, theater, sports and playing fields. What makes the school different, however, is the way it treats its students. It is a free school. Students have the right to choose when to attend class, to vote on school rules and to decide whether to take classes and exams. If they prefer going for a walk in the countryside instead of having maths, that’s OK: they will not receive any punishments. This may sound like a new and revolutionary idea for a school, but, actually, Summerhill first opened in the 1920s. Back in the 1920s, society believed that children were immature and irresponsible and that the only way to educate them was to be strict. Children had to wear school uniforms, be silent and never ask questions. Schools regularly used physical punishment when students broke the school rules. There were too many rules, so it was difficult not to get into trouble. This way of teaching was contrary to the idea of the founder of the school, A．S. Neil. He wanted a school where children were free to make decisions and give opinions. His philosophy was that if you are able to be responsible for yourself, you’ll make decisions that are good for others. He believed all crimes and wars only happened because people were unhappy, so he created a school where children were free to be happy. Nowadays, the rules in state secondary schools are less strict than they were a hundred years ago, but the pressure on students to work hard and to do well is greater than ever before. But this is not the case at Summerhill, where students are free to develop their imagination and personalities. Interestingly, however, some things are soon going to change at Summerhill, Neil’s daughter, Ms. Readhead, took over his place after he died in 1973. She said she would introduce more discipline because the children were spoiled and overprotected by parents. In her opinion, children need to learn how to organize their lives themselves instead of depending on their parents. 21．Which of the following statements about Summerhill is not true? A．It’s by the sea or not far from the seaside. B．It’s possible to have meals at the school. C．The school building is modern and unusual. D．Both teachers and students stay at the school. 22．According to the passage, which one of the following “rights” do children at Summerhill have? A．They can choose their teachers. B．They can choose not to do any exams. C．They can have classes outside if they want. D．They can vote for their favorite classes. 23．In what way are modern state schools different from Summerhill today? A．Their students spend more time discussing ideas than at Summerhill. B．They don’t expect their students to do as well in exams as the ones in Summerhill. C．Their students certainly won’t work as hard as those at Summerhill. D．Their students are under a lot more pressure to do well in exams. 24．Which of the following best describes the “philosophy” of Summerhill School? A．Young people need loving, kind, helpful parents. B．Young people need adults to give them a good example. C．Young people need the freedom to learn by themselves. D．Young people need to have lots of interesting things to do. 07 【来源】上海市建平中学2023-2024学年高二上学期期中英语试卷 Ancient builders across the world created structures that are still standing today, thousands of years later. Yet the concrete that makes up much of our modern world has a lifespan of around 50 to 100 years. A growing number of scientists have been studying materials from long-ago eras, hoping to uncover how they’ve held up for millennia. Many researchers have turned to the Romans for inspiration. Starting around 200 BCE, the architects of the Roman Empire were building impressive concrete structures that have stood the test of time. Even in harbors, where seawater has been battering structures for ages, you’ll find concrete basically the way it was when it was poured 2,000 years ago. Most modern concrete starts with Portland cement, a powder made by heating limestone and clay to super-high temperatures and crushing them. That cement is mixed with water to create a chemically reactive paste. Then, blocks of material like rock and gravel are added, and the cement paste mixes them into a concrete mass. According to records from ancient architects, the Roman process was similar. The ancient builders mixed materials like burnt limestone and volcanic sand with water and gravel, creating chemical reactions to stick everything together. In a study published earlier this year, Admir Masic, a civil and environmental engineer, proposed that this power comes from blocks of lime that are scattered throughout the Roman material instead of being mixed in evenly. Researchers used to think these blocks were a sign that the Romans weren’t mixing up their materials well enough. Instead, after analyzing concrete samples from Privernum—an ancient city outside of Rome — the scientists found that the blocks could fuel the material’s “self-healing” abilities. When cracks form, water is able to flow into the concrete, Masic explained. That water activates the leftover lime, leading to new chemical reactions that can fill in the damaged sections. The ancient architectures suggested using extracts from local chukum and jiote trees in the lime mix. When researchers tested out the recipe, they found the resulting plaster was especially durable against physical and chemical damage. Studies have found all kinds of natural materials mixed into structures from long ago: fruit extracts, milk, cheese curd, beer, even dung and urine. The paste that holds together some of China’s most famous structures—including the Great Wall and the Forbidden City — includes traces of sticky rice. “Some of these ancient builders might have just gotten lucky”, said Cecilia Pesce, a materials scientist at the University of Sheffield in England, “They’d throw just about anything into their mixes, as long as it was cheap and available.” Today’s builders can’t just copy the ancient recipes. Even though Roman concrete lasted a longtime, it couldn’t hold up heavy loads: “You couldn’t build a modern skyscraper with Roman concrete,” Cecilia said. “It would collapse.” Instead, researchers are trying to take some of the ancient material’s specialties and add them into modern mixes. 25．Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage? A．Lime blocks in Roman concrete indicate poor mixing of materials. B．Ancient Roman concrete structures have witnessed a long history. C．Modern builders are confused about the Roman method of construction. D．The concrete used in modern structures has a lifespan of over 200 years. 26．What is proposed as a possible explanation for the self-healing abilities of Roman concrete? A．The uniform mixing of lime in the concrete. B．The use of extracts from chukum and jiote trees. C．The addition of whatever was within reach in the mix. D．The scattering of blocks of lime throughout the material. 27．The passage mentions that today’s builders can’t simply copy ancient recipes because ______. A．ancient recipes were not well-documented B．ancient materials were too expensive C．ancient materials couldn’t hold up heavy loads D．ancient builders used materials that are no longer available 28．According to the passage, why do some researchers believe ancient builders included various natural materials in their mixes? A．To enhance the beauty of the structures. B．To make the construction process more cost-effective. C．To create structures that were resistant to chemical damage. D．To follow ancient traditions without considering effectiveness. 08 【来源】上海市徐汇中学2022-2023学年高二上学期期中英语试题 As countless unmade beds and unfinished homework assignments prove, kids need rules. Yet how parents make demands can powerfully influence a child’s social skills, psychologists at the University of Virginia recently found after the conclusion on a study investigating the transition from adolescence to adulthood. Initially 184 13-year-olds filled out multiple surveys, including one to assess how often their parents employed psychologically controlling strategies, such as threatening to withdraw affection. The kids rated, for example how typical it would be for Dad to suggest that “if I really cared for him, I would not do things that caused him to worry” or for Mom to become “less friendly when I did not see things her way.” The researchers followed up with the subjects at ages 18 and 21, asking the young adults to bring along a close friend. These pairs were asked to answer questions that were purposefully written to cause a difference of opinion. “We wanted to see whether they could handle a disagreement in a healthy way,” says study leader Barbara Oudekerk, now at the U.S. Department of Justice’s Bureau of Statistics. In the October issue of Child Development, Oudekerk and her colleagues report that the 13-year-olds who had highly controlling parents floundered in friendly disagreements at age 18. They had difficulty stating their opinions in a confident, reasoned manner in comparison to the kids without controlling parents. And when they did speak up, they often failed to express themselves in warm and productive ways. The researchers suspect that controlling parents affect their child’s ability to learn how to argue his or her own viewpoint in other relationships. Although parents do need to set boundaries， dominating strategies imply that any disagreement will damage the bond itself. Separate findings suggest that parents who explain the reasons behind their rules and turn disagreements into conversations leave youngsters better prepared for future disagreements. The consequences of tense or dominating relationships appear to worsen with time. This study also found that social difficulties at 18 predicted even poorer communication abilities at age 21. Psychologist Shmuel Shulman of Bar-llan University in Israel, who did not participate in the work, thinks these conclusions convincingly reveal how relationship patterns “carry forward” into new friendships. 29．What did the researchers from the University of Virginia do in their research? A．They asked kids about how they got along with their parents. B．They surveyed some parents about what rules kids needed. C．They inquired into what the kids’ friends thought of them. D．They traced their subjects for nearly eight years. 30．The phrase “floundered in” (in paragraph 4) is closest in meaning to ___. A．struggled with B．dealt with C．looked over D．took over 31．What can be inferred from the passage? A．Shmuel Shulman thinks more evidence is needed for the new research. B．Controlling parents’ influence on their kids gets stronger as time goes by. C．21-year-olds are more eager to be free of parents’ control than 18-year-olds. D．Kids can handle disagreement better if their parents get along well with each other. 32．What is the passage mainly about? A．Pushy parents could harm their kids’ social skills. B．Kids should learn what friendly disagreements are. C．Parents; affection matters in terms of kids; personality. D．Few parents explain the reasons why they set boundaries. 09 【来源】上海市华师大二附中2022-2023学年高二上学期期中考试英语试卷 When in a saturated (饱和的) market, you need a hook that makes your business stand out from the competition. Lower prices could help, but imagine a tactic that could encourage organic conversation about your brand, and actually help you increase the value of your product. That’s scarcity marketing. And you’ll find it used across numerous industries. It’s especially common in retail, as companies use several exclusivity techniques, like limited time sales, to encourage consumers further along the buying cycle. It’s also common in the tech industry, whether for promoting apps or devices. Even beauty brands are rewarding consumers with exclusive club membership. Scarcity marketing is everywhere. But it’s also a risky tactic. Limited items and restricted membership mean some of your consumers will miss out, leading to frustration, disappointment, and anger. You need to use social media listening to make sure your strategy doesn’t backfire. The reason why scarcity marketing tactics are so effective is due to our fear of missing out, or FOMO(fear of missing out). It’s driven by the explosive growth of social networking that gives us a greater opportunity to connect with people around the world. But that increased reliance on the Internet encourages people to feel more anxious about missing something important. Brands can make the most of this in their sales and marketing strategy by the scarcity principle. Consumers place a higher value on goods that are scarce. Or even, just perceived to be scarce. So, by decreasing the availability of your product or service, while still maintaining the demand, your product will be made more scarce. Meaning you can charge a premium price. That’s why scarcity marketing is so effective. You’re decreasing supply, tipping the equilibrium in your favour. In What Exclusivity Can Do for Your Business Marketing, Rachel Winsted explains how you can use exclusivity as your entire marketing strategy. This relies less on traditional marketing techniques, and more on making your brand appear unique. This boutique style can be more cost-effective, as you don’t need to advertise to everyone. In fact, it benefits from fewer people knowing about the brand. That way, new consumers get an extra thrill from discovering you and will sell you to their friends, if only to show off what they’ve discovered. The three things for making this strategy work are: ·Networking With fewer marketing channels available, you want more face-to-face engagement. It’s a more personal way to promote. Therefore, more exclusive. ·A simpler online presence You want to create engaging social media content, not promotional sales posts. Give clients the opportunity to find out more about you on their own accord. ·An amazing customer experience This is essential. There’s no point in being exclusionary if what you offer isn’t. It’s easy for exclusivity to go wrong if there’s nothing unique about the brand. 33．Which of the following cases falls into the category of strategy of scarcity marketing? A．A small cafe in Singapore only opens on random days. B．A fitness gym encourages people to pre-purchase courses with a special offer. C．A cosmetic shop sends samples of its latest products to its potential customers. D．Face masks are out of stock during the outbreak of the pandemic in January 2020. 34．All of the adjectives describe the feature of scarcity marketing EXCEPT ”________“. A．risky B．tricky C．effective D．eccentric 35．According to the context, which phrase best interprets the underlined word “backfire” in paragraph 5? A．Let somebody down. B．Miss a golden opportunity. C．Have the opposite effect. D．Go against the principle. 36．Which of the following statements is true according to the passage? A．Access to the Internet could alleviate people’s fear of missing out because of the extensive information it provides. B．Your scarcity marketing would be in vain without the excellent customer experience. C．Decreasing the availability of your product results in the decline in demand. D．The more people you target at, the more people knowing about your brand, the better. 10 【来源】上海市复旦附中2022-2023学年高二上学期期中考试英语试卷 I was about 13 when an uncle gave me a copy of Jostein Gaarder’s Sophie’s World. It was full of ideas that were new to me, so I spent the summer with my head in and out of that book. It spoke to me and brought me into a world of philosophy (哲学). That love for philosophy lasted until I got to college. Nothing kills the love for philosophy faster than people who think they understand Foucault, Baudrillard, or Confucius better than you — and then try to explain them. Eric Weiner’s The Socrates Express: In Search of Life Lessons from Dead Philosophers reawakened my love for philosophy. It is not an explanation, but an invitation to think and experience philosophy. Weiner starts each chapter with a scene on a train ride between cities and then frames each philosopher’s work in the context (背景) of one thing they can help us do better. The end result is a read in which we learn to wonder like Socrates, see like Thoreau, listen like Schopenhauer, and have no regrets like Nietzsche. This, more than a book about understanding philosophy, is a book about learning to use philosophy to improve a life. He makes philosophical thought an appealing exercise that improves the quality of our experiences, and he does so with plenty of humor. Weiner enters into conversation with some of the most important philosophers in history, and he becomes part of that crowd in the process by decoding (解读) their messages and adding his own interpretation. The Socrates Express is a fun, sharp book that draws readers in with its apparent simplicity and gradually pulls them in deeper thoughts on desire, loneliness, and aging. The invitation is clear: Weiner wants you to pick up a coffee or tea and sit down with this book. I encourage you to take his offer. It’s worth your time, even if time is something we don’t have a lot of. 37．Who opened the door to philosophy for the author? A．Foucault. B．Eric Weiner. C．Jostein Gaarder. D．A college teacher. 38．Why does the author list great philosophers in paragraph 4? A．To compare Weiner with them. B．To give examples of great works. C．To praise their writing skills. D．To help readers understand Weiner’s book. 39．What does the author like about The Socrates Express? A．Its views on history are well-presented. B．Its ideas can be applied to daily life. C．It includes comments from readers. D．It leaves an open ending. 40．What does the author think of Weiner’s book? A．Objective and plain. B．Daring and ambitious. C．Serious and hard to follow. D．Humorous and straightforward. 11 【来源】上海市交大附中2022-2023学年高二上学期期中考试英语试卷 Today China is the world’s biggest consumer of wheat. But it wasn’t always that way. Wheat only came to the area now known as northern China toward the end of the Neolithic (新石器) period, some 4,600 years ago. Initially, wheat didn’t seem to be so delicious and had been treated as a crop of desperation rather than a cooking delight. The first farmers of northern China primarily grew millet (粟), starting as early as 11,500 years ago. By the time of the Tang dynasty, wheat had replaced millet, becoming a major crop. But relatively little was known about exactly why this shift occurred. In an attempt to track the answer, I accumulated (积累) a collection of nearly 1,200 data points covering more than 50 sites from the mid-Neolithic, about 9,000 years ago, to the collapse of the Eastern Han dynasty in 220 AD．The sites were across 8 modern provinces, ranging from Gansu province in the northwest to Shandong province in the east. One possible explanation is a major climate shift, called the Holocene Event 3, which happened 4,000 to 4,500 years ago. At that time, the climate became colder and drier across continents, causing damage to crop production. On top of this, the late Neolithic period was also a time of rapid population growth around the world. With an ever-increasing population and unsteady crop production, it is reasonable to assume that Neolithic farmers in northern China were struggling. Wheat, it turns out, actually needs more water than millet, making it seem a poor choice for a dry period of history. But importantly, it can be sowed after millet has been harvested. That, we think, is the most likely reason why the people across northern China started to grow wheat. From more extreme weather to changing coastlines, climate change has always brought unexpected and sometimes dramatic changes to societies. In this instance, the consequence of the Holocene Event 3 in northern China proved, eventually, delicious. 41．What can we learn about wheat from the second paragraph? A．It replaced millet for its great taste. B．It was a poor choice at the beginning. C．It outnumbered millet 4,600 years ago. D．It was the earliest crop grown in China. 42．What do the figures in paragraph 3 show? A．The author found the exact answer. B．The author did the research cautiously. C．The author did extensive research. D．The author was good at collecting data. 43．What was probably the main reason for northerners in China to grow wheat? A．The water supply was enough then. B．The harvest of millet was not satisfying. C．It adjusted to the weather conditions better. D．It had an alternative sowing season with millet. 44．Which of the following can be the best title for the text? A．How was millet introduced to China? B．Why did Chinese farmers switch to wheat? C．How did China become the biggest wheat consumer? D．How was China’s wheat growth affected by climate change? 12 【来源】上海市浦东新区2022-2023学年高二上学期期中考试英语试卷 The human thirst for knowledge is the driving force behind our successful species. But curiosity can also be dangerous, leading to setbacks or even downfalls. Given curiosity’s complexity, scientists have found it hard to define. While pinning down a definition has proven tricky, the general consensus is it’s some means of information gathering. Psychologists also agree curiosity is intrinsically(内在地)motivated. Curiosity covers such a large set of behaviors that there probably isn’t any single “curiosity gene” that makes humans wonder about and explore their environment. That said, curiosity does have a genetic component. Genes and environment interact in many complex ways to shape individuals and guide their behavior, including their curiosity. Regardless of their genetic makeup, infants have to learn an incredible amount of information in a short time, and curiosity is one of the tools humans have found to accomplish that gigantic task. Hundreds of studies show that infants prefer novelty. It’s what motivates non-human animals, human infants and probably human adults to explore and seek out new things before growing less interested in them after continued exposure. But curiosity often comes with a cost. In some situations, the stakes are low and failure is a healthy part of growth. For instance, many babies are perfectly proficient crawlers, but they decide to try walking because there’s more to see and do when they stand upright. But this milestone comes at a small cost. A study of 12- to 19-month-olds learning how to walk documented that these children fell down a lot. Seventeen times per hour, to be exact. But walking is faster than crawling, so this motivates expert crawlers to transition to walking. Sometimes, however, testing out a new idea can lead to disaster. For instance, the Inuit people of the Arctic regions have created incredible modes to deal with the challenges of living in northern climates, but what we forget about are the tens of thousands of people that tried and failed to make it in those challenging landscapes. 45．What does the author say about curiosity? A．It is too complex for non-scientists to understand. B．It is the force that pushes human society forward. C．It is a unique trait specific to the human race. D．It is often the major cause for human failures. 46．What do we learn about how genes shape people’s behavior? A．They determine people’s way of thinking. B．They account for age differences in learning. C．They enable people to undertake massive tasks. D．They work in conjunction with the environment. 47．What do numerous studies show about infants? A．They are far more curious than adults. B．They prefer to go after all that is novel. C．They have different interests than adults. D．They show non-human animal behaviors. 48．What does the example of the Inuit people of the Arctic regions illustrate? A．The cost of human’s curiosity to explore. B．The incredible harshness of cold weather. C．The innovative ideas stemming from curiosity. D．The importance of learning from past failures. 13 【来源】上海市市西中学2022-2023学年高二上学期期中考试英语试卷 The question of whether our government should promote science and technology or the liberal arts in higher education isn’t an either/or proposition (命题), although the current emphasis on preparing young Americans for STEM (science, technology, engineering, maths) - related fields can make it seem that way. The latest congressional report acknowledge the critical importance of technical training, but also argues that the study of the humanities and social sciences must remain central components of America’s educational system at all levels. Both are critical to producing citizens who can participate effectively in our democratic society, become innovative leaders, and benefit from the spiritual enrichment that the reflection on the great ideas of mankind over time provides. Parents and students who have invested heavily in higher education worry about graduates’ job prospects as technological advances and changes in domestic and global markets transform professions in ways that reduce wages and cut jobs. Under these circumstances, it’s national to look for what may appear to be the most “practical” way out of the problem. “Major in a subject designed to get you a job” seems the obvious answer to some, though this ignores the fact that many disciplines in the humanities characterized as “soft” often, in fact, lead to employment and success in the long run. Indeed, according to surveys, employers have expressed a preference for students who have received a broadly-based education that has taught them to write well, think critically, research creatively, and communicate easily. Moreover, students should be prepared not just for their first job, but for their 4th and 5th jobs, as there’s little reason to doubt that people entering the workforce today will be called upon to play many different roles over the course of their careers. The ones who will do the best in this new environment will be those whose educations have prepared them to be flexible. The ability to draw upon every available tool and insight - picked up from science, arts, and technology - to solve the problems of the future, and take advantage of the opportunities that present themselves, will be helpful to them and the United States. 49．What does the latest congressional report suggest? A．STEM-related subjects help students find jobs in the information society. B．Higher education should be adjust ed to the practical needs of society. C．The liberal arts in higher education help enrich students’ spiritual life. D．The humanities and STEM subjects should be given equal importance. 50．What is the main concern of students when they choose a major? A．Their chances of getting a good job. B．The academic value of the courses. C．The quality of education to receive. D．Their interest in relevant subjects. 51．What kind of job applicants do employers look for? A．Those who have a strong sense of responsibility. B．Those who are good at solving practical problems. C．Those who have received a well-rounded education. D．Those who are likely to become innovative leaders. 52．What advice does the author give to college students? A．Seize opportunities to tap their potential. B．Try to take a variety of practical courses. C．Prepare themselves for different job options. D．Choose a flexible job. 14 【来源】上海市上海中学2022--2023学年高二上学期期中英语试卷 Since teenage friendships are often a never-ending revolving door of gossip between peers, what can be said about high school friendships? How long can they last outside of high school? And how does one affect an individual? Growing up with movies such as “High School Musical” and “Grease”, which portrayed the ideal high school friendships, we sometimes have the expectation of having a perfect relationship, staying in contact after graduation, possibly even graduating from college together and becoming lifelong friends.   Chances are you may experience genuine and pare friendships but still encounter failed ones, so high school is a time to think about what kind of people you do and do not want in your life. Although most adults see high school drama as silly, teenagers can be in the “this is the end of the world” mindset when it comes to minor inconvenience. Most teens have not realized the big question when dealing with high school problems: In five years, will this still matter? It is hard to look at the big picture when the problems are in front of you, which is understandable. However, most teens need a moment to weigh and question if the problem matters in the long run. “In the end, the friends who are inclusive and only want to see you happy and successful are the ones that really matter. Those people have helped me grow as a person. Drama is drama, and there’s no way to get around it, but if you focus on those positive people, you are sure to live a happy life socially and individually,” Karen Hart said. As time goes on, the fiends you were in contact with after high school slowly dwindle. People embark on different pathways and go different directions. Briana Lopez, Class of 2008 graduate and current substitute teacher, said, “I am currently in contact with two high school friends. I think the friendship experiences I had in high school shaped who I am because I learned to be open-minded and be friend all kinds of people. I learned to see people for who they are, not what they wear or who they hang out with. I learned most of all how to be a good friend.” High school is a small percentage of your life, but it has a huge impact on who you will become and where you will go. Friendships and relationships help mold who you are, be they good or bad. Lessons are brought, and lessons are learned. If you are currently dealing amongst high school drama, ask yourself: In five years, will this really matter? 53．The author mentioned “High School Musical” and “Grease” in paragraph 2 mainly to show ________. A．high school relationships are not ideally portrayed B．such movies are quite popular among grown-ups C．teenage viewers expect perfect school friendships D．high school friends always become lifelong friends 54．If Lily, a 16-year-old high school student finds difficulty dealing with high school drama, which of the following tip might be helpful? A．Ask herself: “In five years, is it a big deal?” B．Feel worried about “this is the end of the world”. C．Treat failed friendships equally as genuine ones. D．Pay close attention to the problem facing her. 55．The underlined word “dwindle” (Line 1, Paragraph 5) is closest in meaning to ________. A．become greater, more serious or more extreme B．improve something and make it more successful C．return to a normal condition after difficulty D．decrease in size, amount value, or degree 56．According to the passage, how do high school friendships impact an individual? A．Exclusive friends help one grow and live a pleasant life. B．They may shape one’s personality and paths in the future. C．One tends to judge people based on appearance and style. D．Positive friends reach out to help avoid high school drama. 15 【来源】上海市西中学2022-2023学年高二上学期期中考试英语试卷 You’re running late for work and you can’t find your keys: What’s really annoying is that in your search, you pick up and move them without realizing. This may be because the brain systems involved in the task are working at different speeds, with the system responsible for perception(感知)unable to keep pace. So says Grayden Solman and his colleagues at the University of Waterloo in Ontario, Canada. To investigate how we search, Solman’s team created a simple computer-based task that involved searching through a pile of colored shapes on a computer screen. Volunteers were instructed to find a specific shapes as quickly as possible, while the computer monitored their actions.“Between 10 and 20 percent of the time, they would miss the object,”says Solman, even though they picked it up.“We thought that was remarkably often.” To find out why, the team developed a number of further experiments. To check whether volunteers were just forgetting their target, they gave a new group a list of items to memorize before the search task, which they had to recall afterwards. The idea was to fill each volunteer’s“memory load”，so that they were unable to hold any other information in their short-term memory. Although this was expected to have a negative effect on their performance at the search task, the extra load made no difference to the percentage of mistakes volunteers made. To check that the volunteers were paying enough attention to the items they were moving, Solman’s team created another task involving a pile of cards marked with shapes that only became visible while the card was being moved. Again, they were surprised to see the same level of error, says Solman. Finally, the team analyzed participants’ mouse movements as they were carrying out a similar search task. They discovered that volunteers’ movements were slower after they had moved and missed their target. Solman’s team propose that the system in the brain that deals with movement is running too quickly for the visual system to keep up. While you are searching around a messy house to find your keys, you might not be giving your visual system enough time to work out what each object is. Since time can be costly, sacrificing accuracy on occasion for speed might be beneficial overall, Solman thinks. The slowing of mouse movements suggests that at some level the volunteers were aware that they had missed their target, a theory that is backed up by other studies that show people tend to slow down their actions after they have made a mistake, even if they don’t consciously realize the mistake. 57．What conclusion has Solman drawn from the first task? A．More volunteers are needed to confirm the findings. B．It happens very often that people miss what they intend to find. C．Computers make negative effects on how people perform at the task. D．Targets tend to be forgotten after people search for 10 minutes or more. 58．What can be inferred from the third task that Solman’s team created? A．Cards marked with shapes may become a source of distraction. B．Fewer errors will be made if people are forbidden to move cards. C．People may be absent-minded even when they are moving something. D．Volunteers prefer to use a mouse to control the objects on the computer screen. 59．What does“a theory”(in the last paragraph)refers to? A．Mistakes will cause people to reduce the speed. B．Our visual system can’t keep up with the brain system. C．The faster people move, the more mistakes they will make. D．People’s actions are independent of the mistakes they make. 60．Which of the following might be the best title of the passage? A．Better memory, worse search B．Accuracy speaks louder than speed C．Hurry up, or you will make mistakes D．Slow down your search to find your keys 原创精品资源学科网独家享有版权，侵权必究！5 学科网（北京）股份有限公司 学科网（北京）股份有限公司 $$ 2024-2025学年高二上学期期中考点大串讲（上海） 专题06 阅读理解说明文类精选15篇 （解析版） 01 【来源】上海市育才中学2023-2024学年高二上学期期中英语试卷 While more and more scientists are working on nonfiction science books for the general reader, I think we also need a change. The typical expert-voiced monologues (独白) that scientists write are a wonderful component of the engagement effort, but the form is limited. Such books are largely ready people already willing to pick up a science book, or who are open to the authoritative academic’s voice telling them how to think. There are plenty of people who can engage with science but who find those kinds of books a sometimes unwelcome reminder of the classroom. Following from my belief that science is for everyone, I suggest that publishers need to work with scientists to expand the kinds of books on offer, assured that there is an audience for them. Progress is possible. Many years ago, I realized it is hard to find books on the nonfiction science shelf that let readers see themselves as part of the conversation about science. So I thought about an entire book of conversations about science taking place between ordinary people. While “overhearing” those conversations, readers learn some science ideas. It’s a resurrection of the dialogue form, known to the ancient Greeks, and to Galileo, as a device for exchanging ideas, but with contemporary settings: cafes, restaurants, trains and so on. I decided it would be engaging for the reader to actually see who’s having those conversations, and where, instead of describing them in words. This led me to realize that I was thinking about a powerful form of visual storytelling: Graphic novels for adults have matured and exploded in popularity in recent years. Spiegelman’s “Maus: A Survivor’s Tale” and Bechdel’s “Fun Home” are just two well-known examples. But the storytelling tools of the graphic book have been little used to convey nonfiction science ideas to a general adult audience. The vast majority of contemporary graphic books with a science focus are presented instead as “explainer/adventure comics” for younger audiences. This is an important genre, but graphic books about science should not be limited to that. And while there are several excellent graphic books for adults that include science, they typically focus instead on the lives of famous scientists, with discussion of the science itself as a secondary goal. Some excellent recent examples that balance the two aspects well include Ottaviani arid Myrick’s “Feyrunan” and Doxiadis and Papadimitriou’s “Logicomix”. The scarcity of science-focused non-biographical (非自传体的) graphic books for adults is especially true in my field of physics. So I decided that here was an opportunity to broaden the kinds of nonfiction science book available to engage the public. 1．It can be inferred from Para.2 that the expert-voiced monologues don’t appeal to _________. A．those who are interested in scientific ideas B．those who have no talents for scientific research C．those who would like to know how scientists think D．those who think science classes in school are uninteresting 2．The word “resurrection” (in paragraph 3) most probably means _________. A．announcement B．comeback C．explanation D．representation 3．According to the writer, which might be the best form of nonfiction science books for general readers? A．A collection of scientists’ life stories. B．A book written by a Nobel Prize winner. C．An adventure novel focusing on science. D．A comic book conveying scientific ideas. 4．What is passage mainly about? A．A well-known writer who writes to promote science among the public. B．A possible way to get nonfiction science books to appeal to the public. C．A new approach to have the public get interested in new scientific ideas. D．An easy access for the public to have a general idea of what science is. 【答案】1．D 2．B 3．D 4．B 【导语】这是一篇说明文。文章主要说明了越来越多的科学家致力于为普通读者编写非小说类科学书籍，作者也在探索关于普通人之间的科学对话的书，好让非虚构类科学书籍也能够吸引公众。 1．推理判断题。根据第二段“The typical expert-voiced monologues (独白) that scientists write are a wonderful component of the engagement effort, but the form is limited.(科学家们写的典型的专家独白是参与努力的一个很好的组成部分，但形式是有限的)”以及“There are plenty of people who can engage with science but who find those kinds of books a sometimes unwelcome reminder of the classroom.(有很多人可以参与科学，但他们发现这类书有时在课堂是不受欢迎的)”可推知，那些认为学校里的科学课没意思的人并不喜欢这些专家的独白。故选D。 2．词义猜测题。根据第三段“Many years ago, I realized it is hard to find books on the nonfiction science shelf that let readers see themselves as part of the conversation about science. So I thought about an entire book of conversations about science taking place between ordinary people.(许多年前，我意识到，在非虚构类的科学书架上，很难找到让读者把自己视为科学对话的一部分的书。所以我想写一本关于普通人之间的科学对话的书)”以及划线词后文“dialogue form, known to the ancient Greeks, and to Galileo, as a device for exchanging ideas”可知，作者发现很难找到科学对话的书，所以想写一本关于普通人之间的科学对话的书，这是对话形式的复活，古希腊人和伽利略都知道，对话是交流思想的一种手段，故划线词意思是“恢复，复原”。故选B。 3．推理判断题。根据第四段“I decided it would be engaging for the reader to actually see who’s having those conversations, and where, instead of describing them in words. This led me to realize that I was thinking about a powerful form of visual storytelling: Graphic novels for adults have matured and exploded in popularity in recent years.(我决定让读者真正看到是谁在进行这些对话，在哪里进行，而不是用文字描述。这让我意识到，我正在思考一种强大的视觉叙事形式：近年来，成人漫画小说已经成熟，并迅速流行起来)”以及倒数第二段“The vast majority of contemporary graphic books with a science focus are presented instead as “explainer/adventure comics” for younger audiences. This is an important genre, but graphic books about science should not be limited to that.(绝大多数以科学为重点的当代图画书都以“解释者/冒险漫画”的形式呈现给年轻读者。这是一种重要的类型，但有关科学的图文书籍不应局限于此)”可推知，作者认为，对于普通读者来说，传达科学思想的漫画书最好。故选D。 4．主旨大意题。根据第一段“While more and more scientists are working on nonfiction science books for the general reader, I think we also need a change.(当越来越多的科学家致力于为普通读者编写非小说类科学书籍时，我认为我们也需要改变)”提到当越来越多的科学家正在为普通读者研究非虚构的科学书籍时，作者认为也需要改变。到结尾：作者想要拓宽非虚构类科学书籍种类，从而吸引公众。说明作者正在探索一种可能的方式，让非虚构类科学书籍能够吸引公众。即这篇文章的主要内容是一种让非虚构类科学书籍吸引公众的可能方法。故选B。 02 【来源】上海市南洋模范中学2023-2024学年高二上学期期中英语试卷 Running is often tiring and a lot of hard work, but nothing beats the feeling you get after finishing a long workout around the track. But while it’s long been believed that endorphins (内啡肽) —chemicals in the body that cause happiness—are behind the so-called “runner’s high”, a study suggested that there may be more to this phenomenon than we previously knew. According to a recent study published by a group of scientists from several German universities, a group of chemicals called endocannabinoids (内源性大麻素) may actually be responsible for this familiar great feeling. To test this theory, the scientists turned to mice. Both mice and humans release high levels of endorphins and endocannabinoids after exercise. After exercising on running wheels, the mice seemed happy and relaxed and displayed no signs of anxiety. But after being given a drug to block their endorphins, the mice’s behavior didn’t seem to change. However, when their endocannabinoids were blocked with a different drug, their runners’ high symptoms seemed to fade. “The long-held notion of endorphins being responsible for the runner’s high is false. Endorphins are effective pain relievers, but only when it comes to the pain in your body and muscles you feel after working out,” Patrick Lucas Austin wrote on science blog Lifchacker. Similar studies are yet to be carried out on humans, but it’s already known that exercise is a highly effective way to get rid of stress or anxiety. The UK’s National Health Service even prescribes (开药 方) exercise to patients who are suffering from depression. “Being depressed can leave you feeling low in energy, which might put you off being more active. Regular exercise can improve your mood if you have depression, and its especially useful for people with mild to moderate (中等的) depression,” it wrote on its website. It seems like nothing can beat that feeling we get after a good workout, even if we don’t fully understand where it comes from. At least if we’re feeling down, we know that all we have to do is to put on our running shoes. 5．What did scientists from German universities recently discover? A．Working out is a highly effective way to treat depression. B．The runner’s high could be caused by endocannabinoids. C．Endorphins may contribute to one’s high spirits after running. D．The level of endorphins and endocannabinoids could affect one’s mood. 6．Why did the scientists give mice drugs in their experiment? A．To find what reduces the runner’s high symptoms. B．To see the specific symptoms of the runner’s high. C．To identify what is responsible for the runner’s high. D．To test what influences the level of endocannabinoids released. 7．What does the underlined word “notion” mean? A．Effect. B．Goal. C．Opinion. D．Question 8．What can we know about regular workouts according to the UK’s National Health Service? A．They can help ease depression symptoms. B．They are the best way to treat depression. C．They only work for those with serious depression. D．They can help people completely recover from depression. 【答案】5．B 6．C 7．C 8．A 【导语】本文是一篇说明文。主要介绍了研究表明跑步后人们会感觉很好，其真正的原因可能是内源性大麻素。 5．细节理解题。根据第一段“Running is often tiring and a lot of hard work, but nothing beats the feeling you get after finishing a long workout around the track.(跑步通常很累，也需要很多艰苦的工作，但没有什么能比得上你在赛道上完成长时间锻炼后的感觉)”以及第三段“According to a recent study published by a group of scientists from several German universities, a group of chemicals called endocannabinoids may actually be responsible for this familiar great feeling.(根据德国几所大学的一组科学家最近发表的一项研究，一组称为内源性大麻素的化学物质实际上可能是这种熟悉的极好感觉的原因)”可知，跑步者的兴奋可能是由内源性大麻素引起的。故选B项。 6．推理判断题。根据第三段“According to a recent study published by a group of scientists from several German universities, a group of chemicals called endocannabinoids may actually be responsible for this familiar great feeling.(根据德国几所大学的一组科学家最近发表的一项研究，一组称为内源性大麻素的化学物质实际上可能是这种熟悉的极好感觉的原因)”以及第四段“Both mice and humans release high levels of endorphins and endocannabinoids after exercise. After exercising on running wheels, the mice seemed happy and relaxed and displayed no signs of anxiety. But after being given a drug to block their endorphins, the mice’s behavior didn’t seem to change. However, when their endocannabinoids were blocked with a different drug, their runners’ high symptoms seemed to fade.(老鼠和人类在运动后都会释放出高水平的内啡肽和内源性大麻素。在转轮上锻炼后，老鼠看起来很开心，很放松，没有表现出焦虑的迹象。但在服用了阻断内啡肽的药物后，老鼠的行为似乎没有改变。然而，当它们的内源性大麻素被另一种药物阻断时，它们跑步者的高症状似乎会消退)”可知，科学家们在实验中给老鼠服用药物，是为了找出使跑步者兴奋的原因。故选C项。 7．词句猜测题。根据第五段“The long-held notion of endorphins being responsible for the runner’s high is false. Endorphins are effective pain relievers, but only when it comes to the pain in your body and muscles you feel after working out,(人们长期以来认为内啡肽是导致跑步者兴奋的原因，这种notion是错误的。内啡肽可以有效缓解疼痛，但只有在锻炼后你的身体和肌肉感到疼痛时才有效)”可知，内啡肽在人们锻炼后身体和肌肉感到疼痛时才会起作用，说明内啡肽不会导致跑步者兴奋，因此内啡肽会导致跑步者兴奋的观点是错误的，推测划线单词notion表示“观点”，与opinion同义。故选C项。 8．细节理解题。根据第六段“Regular exercise can improve your mood if you have depression, and its especially useful for people with mild to moderate (中等的) depression,(如果你患有抑郁症，定期锻炼可以改善你的情绪，对轻度至中度抑郁症患者尤其有用)”可知，定期锻炼可以帮助缓解抑郁症状。故选A项。 03 【来源】上海市进才中学2023-2024学年高二上学期期中英语试卷 Humans have a habit of deliberately stopping making progress. From digital music to coffee to tractors,  history is littered with innovations that caused resistance before becoming fixtures in everyday life. Calestous Juma, a professor of Harvard University, explores this phenomenon thoroughly. Juma identified in his research three key sources of opposition to innovation: those with commercial interests in existing products, those who identify with existing products, and those who might lose power as a result of change. The first group is perhaps the most obvious. Many industries have been disrupted by innovation. Just take a look at the unsuccessful efforts of music publishers to stop the transition to digital music. Also, some consumers might oppose an innovation because the existing product is deeply rooted in their identity, culture or customs. The British preferred tea time at home to sitting in a coffee shop, for example. Finally, the emergence of new technologies can also result in a shift in economic and political power, redistributing wealth and influence away from some groups and toward others. The expansion of tractors and other mechanical equipment reduced the need for farm labor, and the shift in population away from rural areas had significant political implications. Humans make decisions about new innovations with their gut rather than evidence. Opponents and enthusiasts of a new technology will often make bold claims to support their argument. Sometimes these claims are rooted in fact, other times not. For example, people once claimed coffee could make you hyperactive. Juma said this argument was typically an inborn fear of new technology, rather than a reasoned response. “People react instinctively, and they collect the evidence to support what they’ re doing,” Juma said. “They see a new product and there is an emotional reaction to that product because it challenges their outlook on the world. This has been the story with almost every new product.” Historically, technologists have been missing the point. “I think they get very much focused on the instrumental part of technology. Does it work or not work? They don’t connect it with the social dimensions,” he said. Fortunately, that may be starting to change. Juma highlights artificial intelligence as a contemporary illustration. Worries about uncontrollable robots have led to substantial discussions about adding a “kill button” to artificial intelligence products, an idea that Google and others have been working on. 9．According to Para. 2, which of the following statements is correct? A．Sitting in a coffee shop goes against British tradition. B．British people place much emphasis on family values. C．A significant innovation can affect population flow. D．Music publishers were pessimistic about digital music. 10．The underlined word “gut”(para. 4) is closest in meaning to____________. A．courage B．logic C．prejudice D．instinct 11．It can be implied from the passage that____________. A．technologists have historically misunderstood the social impact of new inventions B．The wide adoption of an innovation can help overcome resistance C．Some companies are thinking beyond the functionality of new products D．People’s fear of innovation may lead to the loss of a part of their lifestyle 12．Which of the following is the best title for the passage? A．Opposing Change: The Battle between Innovation and Tradition B．From Digital Music to Coffee: Why We often Hate New Stuff C．Lost Opportunities: How Humans Missed the Boat on Progress D．Enemies of Innovation: Fear and Past Success 【答案】9．C 10．D 11．A 12．B 【导语】这是一篇说明文。文章主要说明了人类总是习惯于抵制创新，哈佛大学教授Calestous Juma对这一现象进行了深入的探讨。文章介绍了一些关于人们抵制创新原因的分析，Juma表示，在这些争论的背后，通常是对新技术的担忧，而不是理性的回应。 9．细节理解题。根据第二段“The expansion of tractors and other mechanical equipment reduced the need for farm labor, and the shift in population away from rural areas had significant political implications. (拖拉机和其他机械设备的扩大减少了对农业劳动力的需求，人口从农村地区的转移产生了重大的政治影响)”可知，C选项“一项重大的创新可以影响人口流动”正确。故选C。 10．词句猜测题。根据第三段中“Juma said this argument was typically an inborn fear of new technology, rather than a reasoned response. “People react instinctively, and they collect the evidence to support what they’ re doing,” Juma said. ( 朱玛说，这种观点通常是对新技术天生的恐惧，而不是理性的反应。“人们本能地做出反应，他们会收集证据来支持他们的行为，”朱玛说)”可知，人们反对新技术是出于本能，即人类根据直觉而不是证据做出创新决策。故划线词意思是“直觉”。故选D。 11．推理判断题。根据最后一段“Historically, technologists have been missing the point. “I think they get very much focused on the instrumental part of technology. Does it work or not work? They don’t connect it with the social dimensions,” he said. (从历史上看，技术专家一直没有抓住这一点。“我认为他们非常关注技术的工具部分。它起作用还是不起作用?他们没有把它与社会层面联系起来，”他说)”可推知，从历史上看，技术专家误解了新发明的社会影响。故选A。 12．主旨大意题。根据第一段“Humans have a habit of deliberately stopping making progress. From digital music to coffee to tractors,history is littered with innovations that caused resistance before becoming fixtures in everyday life. Calestous Juma, a professor of Harvard University, explores this phenomenon thoroughly. (人类有一种故意停止进步的习惯。从数字音乐到咖啡再到拖拉机，历史上充满了创新，这些创新在成为日常生活的固定设备之前曾遭到抵制。哈佛大学教授Calestous Juma对这一现象进行了深入的探讨。)”结合文章主要说明了人类总是习惯于抵制创新，哈佛大学教授Calestous Juma对这一现象进行了深入的探讨。文章介绍了一些关于人们抵制创新原因的分析，Juma表示，在这些争论的背后，通常是对新技术的担忧，而不是理性的回应。可知，B选项“从数字音乐到咖啡：为什么我们经常讨厌新事物”最符合文章标题。故选B。 04 【来源】上海市进才中学2023-2024学年高二上学期期中英语试卷 Judging by the historic record, we’ve been fascinated by our reflections for a long time. Some of the earliest human-made mirrors date to 6200 B．C． in Turkey. But even back then, mirrors were largely used to assess how beautiful we were. Egyptians paintings show the upper classes combing their hair and applying thick cosmetics in front of mirrors. Mirrors were associated from early on with vanity. In the Renaissance, Italians began developing techniques for making flatter glass, and in 1507 hit upon a way of producing clear mirrors. This new technology was wonderful, but so expensive that nobles sometimes sold property just to afford one. In the 16th and 17th centuries, mirror making was so costly that it required the investment of half of France’s GDP. By the time the Renaissance was in full flower, wealthy noblemen could get large mirrors in which they could see their entire body at a glance. It was a transformative sight. The historian Ian Mortimer believes that mirror was central in developing the modern sense of the individual. As the novelist Louis-Sebastien Mercler noted in the1780s, wealthy young men would look “at four mirrors at once to see themselves”. Many others thought nothing of all this self-regard. In the early years of America, “mirrors were considered, within American society, a kind of luxury that was somewhat shameful,” says Josiah McElheny, a Brooklyn-based artist who works with mirrors. Some countries imposed taxes on large mirrors. America’s mirror taxes were so high that if a furniture maker wished to create a full-body-sized reflection without going bankrupt, he had to assemble it from several smaller mirrors. It wasn’t until the last decades of the 19th century that the industrial world could finally make big mirrors cheaply. Production exploded and mirrors quickly passed from luxurious products for the rich to everyday devices that were affordable among an emerging middle class. In 1897, Sears Roebuck advertised ten-inch-square mirrors for only 50 cents apiece and said: “No house is complete without a number of small mirrors which are handy in so many rooms.” 13．Which of the following statements is true of the mirrors in the Renaissance? A．They were rather small in size. B．They were unaffordable to most people. C．They were mostly manufactured in Italy. D．They were no longer associated with vanity. 14．According to Ian Mortimer, what change did mirrors bring about? A．Humans started to think of themselves as an individual. B．More and more mirrors shops sprang up all over Europe. C．Novelists began to write about people’s love for mirrors. D．People cared about their appearance for the first time. 15．In the early years of America, mirrors_____________. A．brought their makers much profit B．were regarded as something bringing embarrassment C．caused many furniture makers to go bankrupt D．were mostly assembled from small pieces 16．What is the passage mainly about? A．The transformative sight of mirrors. B．The varying enthusiasm for mirrors. C．The historic development of mirrors. D．The change in people’s attitudes to mirrors. 【答案】13．B 14．A 15．B 16．C 【导语】这是一篇说明文。主要介绍了镜子在不同历史时期的发展演变。 13．细节理解题。根据第二段第二句“ This new technology was wonderful, but so expensive that nobles sometimes sold property just to afford one. ”（这项新技术很棒，但太贵了，贵族们有时为了买得起它而变卖财产。）可知，文艺复兴时期，出现了制作镜子的新技术，但是很昂贵，以至于贵族们都需要变卖财产才能买得起它，故而当时它们对大多数人来说是负担不起的。故选B项。 14．细节理解题。根据第二段第六句“The historian Ian Mortimer believes that mirror was central in developing the modern sense of the individual.”（历史学家Ian Mortimer认为，镜子在发展现代个人意识方面发挥了核心作用。）可知，Ian Mortimer认为镜子的发明促进了现代个人意识的发展，人们开始把自己当成独立的个体。故选A项。 15．细节理解题。根据第三段第二句“In the early years of America, “mirrors were considered, within American society, a kind of luxury that was somewhat shameful,” says Josiah McElheny, a Brooklyn-based artist who works with mirrors.”（在美国早期，“镜子在美国社会被认为是一种有点可耻的奢侈品，”布鲁克林的镜子艺术家Josiah McElheny说。）可知，在美国早期，人们认为镜子是可耻的，会带给人们尴尬。故选B项。 16．主旨大意题。根据第一段第二句“Some of the earliest human-made mirrors date to 6200 B. C. in Turkey.”（最早的人造镜子可以追溯到公元前6200年的土耳其。）第二段第一句“In the Renaissance, Italians began developing techniques for making flatter glass, and in 1507 hit upon a way of producing clear mirrors.”（在文艺复兴时期，意大利人开始发展制作更平的玻璃的技术，并在1507年偶然发现了一种制作透明镜子的方法。）及第三段第二句“In the early years of America, “mirrors were considered, within American society, a kind of luxury that was somewhat shameful,” says Josiah McElheny, a Brooklyn-based artist who works with mirrors.”（在美国早期，“镜子在美国社会被认为是一种有点可耻的奢侈品，”布鲁克林的镜子艺术家Josiah McElheny说。）和第四段第一句“It wasn’t until the last decades of the 19th century that the industrial world could finally make big mirrors cheaply.”（直到19世纪的最后几十年，工业世界才终于能够廉价地制造出大镜子。）可知，本文以时间线索为主，介绍了镜子在不同历史时期的发展。故选C项。 05 【来源】上海市复旦大学附属中学2023-2024学年高二上学期期中考试英语试题 Children’s Acquiring the Principles of Mathematics and Science It has been pointed out that learning mathematics and science is not so much learning facts as learning ways of thinking. It has also been emphasized that in order to learn science, people often have to change the way they think in ordinary situations. These changes in ways of thinking are often referred to as “conceptual changes”. But how do “conceptual changes” happen? How do children change their ways of thinking as they learn in school? The psychologist Piaget suggested an interesting hypothesis (假说) relating to the process of cognitive (认知的) change in children. Cognitive change was expected to result from the pupils’ own intellectual activity. When met with a result that challenges their thinking, that is when faced with conflict, pupils realize that they need to think again about their own ways of solving problems, regardless of whether the problem is one in mathematics or in science. He hypothesised that conflict brings about unbalance, and then triggers processes that ultimately produce cognitive changes. For this reason, pupils need to be actively engaged in solving problems that will challenge their current mode of reasoning. However, Piaget also pointed out that young children do not always abandon their ideas in the face of conflicting evidence. They may actually abandon the evidence and keep their theory. Piaget’s hypothesis about how cognitive change occurs was later translated into an educational approach which is now termed “discovery learning”. Discovery learning initially took what is now considered the “lone learners” route. The role of the teacher was to select situations that challenged the pupils’ reasoning; and the pupils’ peers had no real role in this process. However, it was subsequently proposed that interpersonal conflict, especially with peers, might play an important role in promoting cognitive change. This hypothesis has been investigated in many recent studies of science teaching and learning. Christine Howe and her colleagues, for example, have compared children’s progress in understanding several types of science concepts when they are given the opportunity to observe relevant events. In one study, Howe compared the progress of 8 to 12-year-old children in understanding what influences motion down a slope. In order to figure out the role of conflict in group work, they created two kinds of groups according to a pre-test: one in which the children had dissimilar views, and a second in which the children had similar views. They found support for the idea that children in the groups with dissimilar views progressed more after their training sessions than those who had been placed in groups with similar views. However, they found no evidence to support the idea that the children worked out their new conceptions during their group discussions, because progress was not actually observed in a post-test immediately after the sessions of group work, but rather in a second test given around four weeks after the group work. 17．Which of the following statements is in line with Piaget’s hypothesis? A．Teachers play a big role in learning by explaining difficult concepts. B．Teaching should be consistent in order to easily acquire knowledge. C．Children can help each other make cognitive progress. D．Cognitive progress mainly relies on children’s own intellectual activity. 18．The lone learner’ route is an educational approach which ________. A．was adopted during discovery learning early on B．requires help from the pupils’ peers C．relies on how the teacher guides the students heavily D．played an important role in cognitive change 19．Which statement describes Howe’s experiment with 8 to 12-year-old children correctly? A．The most active children made the least progress according to a pre-test. B．The children were evaluated on their abilities to understand a physics phenomenon. C．The teacher aided the children to understand a scientific problem in group work. D．All the children were working in mixed-ability groups to work out new conceptions. 20．It can be inferred from the last paragraph ________. A．that children acquire more when learning in groups B．that children opposing each other would learn slower C．that the children were given a total of three tests, at different times D．that there can be a satisfying result thanks to the duration of test 【答案】17．D 18．A 19．B 20．C 【导语】本文是说明文。介绍了孩子们在学校学习时如何改变他们的思维方式。 17．细节理解题。根据第二段“The psychologist Piaget suggested an interesting hypothesis (假说) relating to the process of cognitive (认知的) change in children. Cognitive change was expected to result from the pupils’ own intellectual activity.(心理学家皮亚杰提出了一个关于儿童认知变化过程的有趣假设。认知的改变是由学生自己的智力活动引起的)”可知，皮亚杰认为认知的进步主要依靠儿童自身的智力活动。故选D项。 18．细节理解题。根据第三段“Piaget’s hypothesis about how cognitive change occurs was later translated into an educational approach which is now termed “discovery learning”. Discovery learning initially took what is now considered the “lone learners” route.(皮亚杰关于认知变化如何发生的假设后来被翻译成一种教育方法，现在被称为“发现式学习”。发现式学习最初采取的是现在被认为是“单独学习者”的路线)”可知，单独学习者路线是一种在早期发现式学习中采用的教育方法。故选A项。 19．推理判断题。根据最后一段“Christine Howe and her colleagues, for example, have compared children’s progress in understanding several types of science concepts when they are given the opportunity to observe relevant events. In one study, Howe compared the progress of 8 to 12-year-old children in understanding what influences motion down a slope.(例如，Christine Howe和她的同事们比较了孩子们在有机会观察相关事件时，在理解几种科学概念方面的进展。在一项研究中，Howe比较了8到12岁儿童在理解是什么影响了他们从斜坡上滑下来方面的进展)”可知，Howe对8到12岁儿童的实验是对孩子们理解物理现象的能力进行了评估。故选B项。 20．推理判断题。根据最后一段“In order to figure out the role of conflict in group work, they created two kinds of groups according to a pre-test: one in which the children had dissimilar views, and a second in which the children had similar views.(为了弄清楚冲突在小组工作中的作用，他们根据预先测试创建了两种小组：一种是孩子们有不同的观点，另一种是他们有相似的观点)”以及“However, they found no evidence to support the idea that the children worked out their new conceptions during their group discussions, because progress was not actually observed in a post-test immediately after the sessions of group work, but rather in a second test given around four weeks after the group work.(然而，他们没有发现证据支持孩子们在小组讨论中形成新概念的观点，因为实际上在小组工作后立即进行的测试中并没有观察到进步，而是在小组工作后四周进行的第二次测试中观察到进步)”可知，孩子们总共接受了三次测试。故选C项。 06 【来源】上海市交通大学附属中学2023-2024学年高二上学期期中英语试题 Summerhill School If you travel 140 kilometers north of London to England’s east coast, you’ll find an unusual boarding school called Summerhill in a large 19th century building with about a hundred students aged between 5 and 18. The school has its own library, theater, sports and playing fields. What makes the school different, however, is the way it treats its students. It is a free school. Students have the right to choose when to attend class, to vote on school rules and to decide whether to take classes and exams. If they prefer going for a walk in the countryside instead of having maths, that’s OK: they will not receive any punishments. This may sound like a new and revolutionary idea for a school, but, actually, Summerhill first opened in the 1920s. Back in the 1920s, society believed that children were immature and irresponsible and that the only way to educate them was to be strict. Children had to wear school uniforms, be silent and never ask questions. Schools regularly used physical punishment when students broke the school rules. There were too many rules, so it was difficult not to get into trouble. This way of teaching was contrary to the idea of the founder of the school, A．S. Neil. He wanted a school where children were free to make decisions and give opinions. His philosophy was that if you are able to be responsible for yourself, you’ll make decisions that are good for others. He believed all crimes and wars only happened because people were unhappy, so he created a school where children were free to be happy. Nowadays, the rules in state secondary schools are less strict than they were a hundred years ago, but the pressure on students to work hard and to do well is greater than ever before. But this is not the case at Summerhill, where students are free to develop their imagination and personalities. Interestingly, however, some things are soon going to change at Summerhill, Neil’s daughter, Ms. Readhead, took over his place after he died in 1973. She said she would introduce more discipline because the children were spoiled and overprotected by parents. In her opinion, children need to learn how to organize their lives themselves instead of depending on their parents. 21．Which of the following statements about Summerhill is not true? A．It’s by the sea or not far from the seaside. B．It’s possible to have meals at the school. C．The school building is modern and unusual. D．Both teachers and students stay at the school. 22．According to the passage, which one of the following “rights” do children at Summerhill have? A．They can choose their teachers. B．They can choose not to do any exams. C．They can have classes outside if they want. D．They can vote for their favorite classes. 23．In what way are modern state schools different from Summerhill today? A．Their students spend more time discussing ideas than at Summerhill. B．They don’t expect their students to do as well in exams as the ones in Summerhill. C．Their students certainly won’t work as hard as those at Summerhill. D．Their students are under a lot more pressure to do well in exams. 24．Which of the following best describes the “philosophy” of Summerhill School? A．Young people need loving, kind, helpful parents. B．Young people need adults to give them a good example. C．Young people need the freedom to learn by themselves. D．Young people need to have lots of interesting things to do. 【答案】21．C 22．B 23．D 24．C 【导语】本文是一篇说明文。文章主要介绍了Summerhill School学校，包括其位置、特色、历史和办学理念等。 21．细节理解题。根据文章第一段“If you travel 140 kilometers north of London to England’s east coast, you’ll find an unusual boarding school called Summerhill in a large 19th century building with about a hundred students aged between 5 and 18. (如果你在伦敦以北140公里处的英格兰东海岸旅行，你会发现一所名叫Summerhill的寄宿学校，它坐落在一座19世纪的大楼里，大约有100名学生，年龄在5岁到18岁之间。)”可知，选项C“The school building is modern and unusual. (学校的建筑是现代的和不寻常的)”的表述和原文“19世纪的大楼”不相符。故选C。 22．细节理解题。根据文章第一段“What makes the school different, however, is the way it treats its students. It is a free school. Students have the right to choose when to attend class, to vote on school rules and to decide whether to take classes and exams. If they prefer going for a walk in the countryside instead of having maths, that’s OK: they will not receive any punishments. (然而，让这所学校与众不同的是它对待学生的方式。这是一所免费的学校。学生有权选择何时上课，对校规进行投票，决定是否上课和考试。如果他们宁愿去乡间散步而不愿学数学，那也没关系：他们不会受到任何惩罚。)”可知，该学校的学生可以选择何时上课，是否上课和考试，对校规投票等。故选B。 23．推理判断题。根据文章第三段“Nowadays, the rules in state secondary schools are less strict than they were a hundred years ago, but the pressure on students to work hard and to do well is greater than ever before. But this is not the case at Summerhill, where students are free to develop their imagination and personalities. (如今，公立中学的规章制度没有一百年前那么严格了，但学生们努力学习、取得好成绩的压力却比以往任何时候都大。但在Summerhill，情况并非如此，学生们可以自由发展自己的想象力和个性。)”可知，如今公立中学的学生们努力学习、取得好成绩的压力却比以往任何时候都大。故选D。 24．推理判断题。根据文章第二段“This way of teaching was contrary to the idea of the founder of the school, A.S. Neil. He wanted a school where children were free to make decisions and give opinions. His philosophy was that if you are able to be responsible for yourself, you’ll make decisions that are good for others. He believed all crimes and wars only happened because people were unhappy, so he created a school where children were free to be happy. (这种教学方式与学校创始人A.S. Neil的想法背道而驰。他想要一所孩子们可以自由做决定和发表意见的学校。他的哲学是，如果你能对自己负责，你就会做出对别人有利的决定。他相信所有的犯罪和战争都是因为人们不快乐而发生的，所以他创建了一所学校，让孩子们可以自由地快乐。)”可知，该学校的创始人认为孩子们可以自由做决定和发表意见，这样才能更快乐，更负责任，才会做出对别人有利的决定。选项C“Young people need the freedom to learn by themselves.(年轻人需要自主学习的自由)”最相符。故选C。 07 【来源】上海市建平中学2023-2024学年高二上学期期中英语试卷 Ancient builders across the world created structures that are still standing today, thousands of years later. Yet the concrete that makes up much of our modern world has a lifespan of around 50 to 100 years. A growing number of scientists have been studying materials from long-ago eras, hoping to uncover how they’ve held up for millennia. Many researchers have turned to the Romans for inspiration. Starting around 200 BCE, the architects of the Roman Empire were building impressive concrete structures that have stood the test of time. Even in harbors, where seawater has been battering structures for ages, you’ll find concrete basically the way it was when it was poured 2,000 years ago. Most modern concrete starts with Portland cement, a powder made by heating limestone and clay to super-high temperatures and crushing them. That cement is mixed with water to create a chemically reactive paste. Then, blocks of material like rock and gravel are added, and the cement paste mixes them into a concrete mass. According to records from ancient architects, the Roman process was similar. The ancient builders mixed materials like burnt limestone and volcanic sand with water and gravel, creating chemical reactions to stick everything together. In a study published earlier this year, Admir Masic, a civil and environmental engineer, proposed that this power comes from blocks of lime that are scattered throughout the Roman material instead of being mixed in evenly. Researchers used to think these blocks were a sign that the Romans weren’t mixing up their materials well enough. Instead, after analyzing concrete samples from Privernum—an ancient city outside of Rome — the scientists found that the blocks could fuel the material’s “self-healing” abilities. When cracks form, water is able to flow into the concrete, Masic explained. That water activates the leftover lime, leading to new chemical reactions that can fill in the damaged sections. The ancient architectures suggested using extracts from local chukum and jiote trees in the lime mix. When researchers tested out the recipe, they found the resulting plaster was especially durable against physical and chemical damage. Studies have found all kinds of natural materials mixed into structures from long ago: fruit extracts, milk, cheese curd, beer, even dung and urine. The paste that holds together some of China’s most famous structures—including the Great Wall and the Forbidden City — includes traces of sticky rice. “Some of these ancient builders might have just gotten lucky”, said Cecilia Pesce, a materials scientist at the University of Sheffield in England, “They’d throw just about anything into their mixes, as long as it was cheap and available.” Today’s builders can’t just copy the ancient recipes. Even though Roman concrete lasted a longtime, it couldn’t hold up heavy loads: “You couldn’t build a modern skyscraper with Roman concrete,” Cecilia said. “It would collapse.” Instead, researchers are trying to take some of the ancient material’s specialties and add them into modern mixes. 25．Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage? A．Lime blocks in Roman concrete indicate poor mixing of materials. B．Ancient Roman concrete structures have witnessed a long history. C．Modern builders are confused about the Roman method of construction. D．The concrete used in modern structures has a lifespan of over 200 years. 26．What is proposed as a possible explanation for the self-healing abilities of Roman concrete? A．The uniform mixing of lime in the concrete. B．The use of extracts from chukum and jiote trees. C．The addition of whatever was within reach in the mix. D．The scattering of blocks of lime throughout the material. 27．The passage mentions that today’s builders can’t simply copy ancient recipes because ______. A．ancient recipes were not well-documented B．ancient materials were too expensive C．ancient materials couldn’t hold up heavy loads D．ancient builders used materials that are no longer available 28．According to the passage, why do some researchers believe ancient builders included various natural materials in their mixes? A．To enhance the beauty of the structures. B．To make the construction process more cost-effective. C．To create structures that were resistant to chemical damage. D．To follow ancient traditions without considering effectiveness. 【答案】25．B 26．D 27．C 28．B 【导语】本文是一篇说明文。文章介绍了世界各地的古代建筑者所建造的建筑在几千年后的今天仍然屹立不倒的原因。 25．细节理解题。根据第二段中的“Starting around 200 BCE, the architects of the Roman Empire were building impressive concrete structures that have stood the test of time. Even in harbors, where seawater has been battering structures for ages, you’ll find concrete basically the way it was when it was poured 2,000 years ago.(从公元前200年左右开始，罗马帝国的建筑师们开始建造令人印象深刻的混凝土结构，这些结构经受住了时间的考验。即使是在海港里，海水冲刷建筑物已经有很长时间了，你也会发现混凝土基本上还是2000年前浇筑时的样子)”可知，古罗马混凝土结构见证了悠久的历史。故选B。 26．细节理解题。根据第三段“In a study published earlier this year, Admir Masic, a civil and environmental engineer, proposed that this power comes from blocks of lime that are scattered throughout the Roman material instead of being mixed in evenly. Researchers used to think these blocks were a sign that the Romans weren’t mixing up their materials well enough. Instead, after analyzing concrete samples from Privernum — an ancient city outside of Rome — the scientists found that the blocks could fuel the material’s “self-healing” abilities. When cracks form, water is able to flow into the concrete, Masic explained. That water activates the leftover lime, leading to new chemical reactions that can fill in the damaged sections. (在今年早些时候发表的一项研究中，土木和环境工程师Admir Masic提出，这种能量来自分散在罗马材料中的石灰块，而不是均匀混合在一起。研究人员过去认为，这些石块表明罗马人没有很好地混合材料。相反，在分析了Privernum——罗马以外的一个古老城市——的混凝土样本后，科学家们发现这些砖块可以促进材料的“自我修复”能力。Masic解释说，当裂缝形成时，水就会流入混凝土中。这些水激活了剩余的石灰，导致新的化学反应，可以填补受损的部分)”可知，遍布材料的石灰块使得罗马混凝土具有自我修复的能力。故选D。 27．细节理解题。根据最后一段中的“Even though Roman concrete lasted a longtime, it couldn’t hold up heavy loads: “You couldn’t build a modern skyscraper with Roman concrete,” Cecilia said. “It would collapse.”(尽管罗马混凝土使用了很长时间，但它无法承受沉重的负荷:“你无法用罗马混凝土建造一座现代摩天大楼，”塞西莉亚说。“它会崩溃。”)”可知，今天的建造者不能简单地复制古代的方法，因为古代的材料不能承受沉重的负荷。故选C。 28．推理判断题。根据倒数第二段““Some of these ancient builders might have just gotten lucky”, said Cecilia Pesce, a materials scientist at the University of Sheffield in England, “They’d throw just about anything into their mixes, as long as it was cheap and available.”(英国谢菲尔德大学的材料科学家Cecilia Pesce说：“一些古代建造者可能只是运气好，他们会把任何东西都扔进混合物里，只要便宜、容易买到。”)”可推知，一些研究人员认为，古代建筑者在他们的混合物中加入了各种天然材料，以使施工过程更具成本效益。故选B。 08 【来源】上海市徐汇中学2022-2023学年高二上学期期中英语试题 As countless unmade beds and unfinished homework assignments prove, kids need rules. Yet how parents make demands can powerfully influence a child’s social skills, psychologists at the University of Virginia recently found after the conclusion on a study investigating the transition from adolescence to adulthood. Initially 184 13-year-olds filled out multiple surveys, including one to assess how often their parents employed psychologically controlling strategies, such as threatening to withdraw affection. The kids rated, for example how typical it would be for Dad to suggest that “if I really cared for him, I would not do things that caused him to worry” or for Mom to become “less friendly when I did not see things her way.” The researchers followed up with the subjects at ages 18 and 21, asking the young adults to bring along a close friend. These pairs were asked to answer questions that were purposefully written to cause a difference of opinion. “We wanted to see whether they could handle a disagreement in a healthy way,” says study leader Barbara Oudekerk, now at the U.S. Department of Justice’s Bureau of Statistics. In the October issue of Child Development, Oudekerk and her colleagues report that the 13-year-olds who had highly controlling parents floundered in friendly disagreements at age 18. They had difficulty stating their opinions in a confident, reasoned manner in comparison to the kids without controlling parents. And when they did speak up, they often failed to express themselves in warm and productive ways. The researchers suspect that controlling parents affect their child’s ability to learn how to argue his or her own viewpoint in other relationships. Although parents do need to set boundaries， dominating strategies imply that any disagreement will damage the bond itself. Separate findings suggest that parents who explain the reasons behind their rules and turn disagreements into conversations leave youngsters better prepared for future disagreements. The consequences of tense or dominating relationships appear to worsen with time. This study also found that social difficulties at 18 predicted even poorer communication abilities at age 21. Psychologist Shmuel Shulman of Bar-llan University in Israel, who did not participate in the work, thinks these conclusions convincingly reveal how relationship patterns “carry forward” into new friendships. 29．What did the researchers from the University of Virginia do in their research? A．They asked kids about how they got along with their parents. B．They surveyed some parents about what rules kids needed. C．They inquired into what the kids’ friends thought of them. D．They traced their subjects for nearly eight years. 30．The phrase “floundered in” (in paragraph 4) is closest in meaning to ___. A．struggled with B．dealt with C．looked over D．took over 31．What can be inferred from the passage? A．Shmuel Shulman thinks more evidence is needed for the new research. B．Controlling parents’ influence on their kids gets stronger as time goes by. C．21-year-olds are more eager to be free of parents’ control than 18-year-olds. D．Kids can handle disagreement better if their parents get along well with each other. 32．What is the passage mainly about? A．Pushy parents could harm their kids’ social skills. B．Kids should learn what friendly disagreements are. C．Parents; affection matters in terms of kids; personality. D．Few parents explain the reasons why they set boundaries. 【答案】29．D 30．A 31．B 32．A 【导语】这是一篇说明文。文章介绍了弗吉尼亚大学的心理学家最近在一项从青春期到成年的研究结束后的发现，父母如何提出要求可以极大地影响孩子的社交能力。 29．细节理解题。由文章第二段“Initially 184 13-year-olds filled out multiple surveys, including one to assess how often their parents employed psychologically controlling strategies, such as threatening to withdraw affection. (最初，184名13岁的青少年填写了多项调查，其中一项是评估他们的父母使用心理控制策略的频率，例如威胁要不再给予感情。)”以及第三段“The researchers followed up with the subjects at ages 18 and 21, asking the young adults to bring along a close friend. (The researchers followed up with the subjects at ages 18 and 21, asking the young adults to bring along a close friend. 研究人员对18岁和21岁的受试者进行了随访，要求这些年轻人带上一位亲密的朋友。)”可知，本实验对于13岁孩子进行研究到21岁，所以整个过程几乎经历了8年。故选D项。 30．词句猜测题。根据第四段“In the October issue of Child Development, Oudekerk and her colleagues report that the 13-year-olds who had highly controlling parents floundered in friendly disagreements at age 18. They had difficulty stating their opinions in a confident, reasoned manner in comparison to the kids without controlling parents. And when they did speak up, they often failed to express themselves in warm and productive ways.(在10月份出版的《儿童发展》杂志上，Oudekerk和她的同事们报道说，父母控制欲很强的13岁孩子在18岁时 友好的分歧。与没有控制父母的孩子相比，他们很难以自信、合理的方式表达自己的观点。当他们开口说话时，他们往往无法以热情和富有成效的方式表达自己。)”可知，父母控制欲很强的13岁孩子很难以自信、合理的方式表达自己的观点，他们陷入（挣扎于）友好的分歧之中，所以猜测floundered in为“挣扎于”。故选A项。 31．推理判断题。由文章第六段“The consequences of tense or dominating relationships appear to worsen with time. This study also found that social difficulties at 18 predicted even poorer communication abilities at age 21. (紧张或支配关系的后果似乎会随着时间的推移而恶化。这项研究还发现，18岁时的社交困难预示着21岁时的沟通能力会更差。)”可知，随着时间的推移，控制型父母对孩子的影响变得越来越强。故选B项。 32．主旨大意题。由文章第一段“Yet how parents make demands can powerfully influence a child’s social skills, psychologists at the University of Virginia recently found after the conclusion on a study investigating the transition from adolescence to adulthood.(然而，弗吉尼亚大学的心理学家最近在一项调查从青春期到成年期过渡的研究得出结论后发现，父母提出要求的方式会对孩子的社交技能产生巨大影响。)”以及下文可知，本文主要讲述父母如何提出要求可以极大地影响孩子的社交能力。所以A项Pushy parents could harm their kids’ social skills(咄咄逼人的的父母可能会损害孩子的社交能力)符合文意。故选A项。 09 【来源】上海市华师大二附中2022-2023学年高二上学期期中考试英语试卷 When in a saturated (饱和的) market, you need a hook that makes your business stand out from the competition. Lower prices could help, but imagine a tactic that could encourage organic conversation about your brand, and actually help you increase the value of your product. That’s scarcity marketing. And you’ll find it used across numerous industries. It’s especially common in retail, as companies use several exclusivity techniques, like limited time sales, to encourage consumers further along the buying cycle. It’s also common in the tech industry, whether for promoting apps or devices. Even beauty brands are rewarding consumers with exclusive club membership. Scarcity marketing is everywhere. But it’s also a risky tactic. Limited items and restricted membership mean some of your consumers will miss out, leading to frustration, disappointment, and anger. You need to use social media listening to make sure your strategy doesn’t backfire. The reason why scarcity marketing tactics are so effective is due to our fear of missing out, or FOMO(fear of missing out). It’s driven by the explosive growth of social networking that gives us a greater opportunity to connect with people around the world. But that increased reliance on the Internet encourages people to feel more anxious about missing something important. Brands can make the most of this in their sales and marketing strategy by the scarcity principle. Consumers place a higher value on goods that are scarce. Or even, just perceived to be scarce. So, by decreasing the availability of your product or service, while still maintaining the demand, your product will be made more scarce. Meaning you can charge a premium price. That’s why scarcity marketing is so effective. You’re decreasing supply, tipping the equilibrium in your favour. In What Exclusivity Can Do for Your Business Marketing, Rachel Winsted explains how you can use exclusivity as your entire marketing strategy. This relies less on traditional marketing techniques, and more on making your brand appear unique. This boutique style can be more cost-effective, as you don’t need to advertise to everyone. In fact, it benefits from fewer people knowing about the brand. That way, new consumers get an extra thrill from discovering you and will sell you to their friends, if only to show off what they’ve discovered. The three things for making this strategy work are: ·Networking With fewer marketing channels available, you want more face-to-face engagement. It’s a more personal way to promote. Therefore, more exclusive. ·A simpler online presence You want to create engaging social media content, not promotional sales posts. Give clients the opportunity to find out more about you on their own accord. ·An amazing customer experience This is essential. There’s no point in being exclusionary if what you offer isn’t. It’s easy for exclusivity to go wrong if there’s nothing unique about the brand. 33．Which of the following cases falls into the category of strategy of scarcity marketing? A．A small cafe in Singapore only opens on random days. B．A fitness gym encourages people to pre-purchase courses with a special offer. C．A cosmetic shop sends samples of its latest products to its potential customers. D．Face masks are out of stock during the outbreak of the pandemic in January 2020. 34．All of the adjectives describe the feature of scarcity marketing EXCEPT ”________“. A．risky B．tricky C．effective D．eccentric 35．According to the context, which phrase best interprets the underlined word “backfire” in paragraph 5? A．Let somebody down. B．Miss a golden opportunity. C．Have the opposite effect. D．Go against the principle. 36．Which of the following statements is true according to the passage? A．Access to the Internet could alleviate people’s fear of missing out because of the extensive information it provides. B．Your scarcity marketing would be in vain without the excellent customer experience. C．Decreasing the availability of your product results in the decline in demand. D．The more people you target at, the more people knowing about your brand, the better. 【答案】33．A 34．D 35．C 36．B 【导语】 这是一篇说明文。文章讲述了稀缺性营销的一些特点以及使用该策略的注意事项。 33． 推理判断题。根据第三段中“It’s especially common in retail, as companies use several exclusivity techniques, like limited time sales, to encourage consumers further along the buying cycle. (这在零售业尤其常见，因为公司会使用一些排他性技术，比如限时销售，来鼓励消费者在购买周期中走得更远。)”可知，新加坡的一家小咖啡馆只在随机的日子里营业，体现了限时销售的排他性技术，属于稀缺性营销策略。故选A项。 34．推理判断题。根据第四段中“Scarcity marketing is everywhere. But it’s also a risky tactic. (稀缺性营销无处不在。但这也是一种冒险的策略。)”可知，A项risky“冒险的”体现了这一点。第八段中“In What Exclusivity Can Do for Your Business Marketing, Rachel Winsted explains how you can use exclusivity as your entire marketing strategy. This relies less on traditional marketing techniques, and more on making your brand appear unique. (在《排他性对你的商业营销有何帮助》一书中，Rachel Winsted解释了如何将排他性作为你的整个营销策略。这较少依赖于传统的营销技巧，更多的是让你的品牌显得独特。)”可知，B项tricky“难办的”体现了这一点。第六段中“The reason why scarcity marketing tactics are so effective is due to our fear of missing out, or FOMO(fear of missing out). (稀缺性营销策略如此有效的原因是由于我们害怕错过，或FOMO(害怕错过)。)”可知，C项effective“有效的”体现了这一点。D项eccentric“古怪的”在文章中没有体现。故选D项。 35．词句猜测题。第四段“Scarcity marketing is everywhere. But it’s also a risky tactic.(稀缺性营销无处不在。但这也是一种冒险的策略。)”和划线词句前文“Limited items and restricted membership mean some of your consumers will miss out, leading to frustration, disappointment, and anger. (有限的商品和有限的会员资格意味着你的一些消费者将错过，导致沮丧、失望和愤怒。)”说明采取稀缺性营销策略是冒险的，有时一些消费者不满意。从而推知划线词句“You need to use social media listening to make sure your strategy doesn’t backfire. (你需要利用社交媒体倾听来确保你的策略不会backfire。)”其中划线词汇应为“具有相反的效果，适得其反”的意思。故选C项。 36．细节理解题。根据小标题“An amazing customer experience (令人惊叹的客户体验)”及其段落中“This is essential. There’s no point in being exclusionary if what you offer isn’t. It’s easy for exclusivity to go wrong if there’s nothing unique about the brand. (这是至关重要的。如果你提供的不是排斥性的，那就没有意义。如果这个品牌没有什么独特之处，那么排他性很容易出问题。)”可知，如果没有出色的客户体验，你的稀缺营销将是徒劳的。故选B项。 10 【来源】上海市复旦附中2022-2023学年高二上学期期中考试英语试卷 I was about 13 when an uncle gave me a copy of Jostein Gaarder’s Sophie’s World. It was full of ideas that were new to me, so I spent the summer with my head in and out of that book. It spoke to me and brought me into a world of philosophy (哲学). That love for philosophy lasted until I got to college. Nothing kills the love for philosophy faster than people who think they understand Foucault, Baudrillard, or Confucius better than you — and then try to explain them. Eric Weiner’s The Socrates Express: In Search of Life Lessons from Dead Philosophers reawakened my love for philosophy. It is not an explanation, but an invitation to think and experience philosophy. Weiner starts each chapter with a scene on a train ride between cities and then frames each philosopher’s work in the context (背景) of one thing they can help us do better. The end result is a read in which we learn to wonder like Socrates, see like Thoreau, listen like Schopenhauer, and have no regrets like Nietzsche. This, more than a book about understanding philosophy, is a book about learning to use philosophy to improve a life. He makes philosophical thought an appealing exercise that improves the quality of our experiences, and he does so with plenty of humor. Weiner enters into conversation with some of the most important philosophers in history, and he becomes part of that crowd in the process by decoding (解读) their messages and adding his own interpretation. The Socrates Express is a fun, sharp book that draws readers in with its apparent simplicity and gradually pulls them in deeper thoughts on desire, loneliness, and aging. The invitation is clear: Weiner wants you to pick up a coffee or tea and sit down with this book. I encourage you to take his offer. It’s worth your time, even if time is something we don’t have a lot of. 37．Who opened the door to philosophy for the author? A．Foucault. B．Eric Weiner. C．Jostein Gaarder. D．A college teacher. 38．Why does the author list great philosophers in paragraph 4? A．To compare Weiner with them. B．To give examples of great works. C．To praise their writing skills. D．To help readers understand Weiner’s book. 39．What does the author like about The Socrates Express? A．Its views on history are well-presented. B．Its ideas can be applied to daily life. C．It includes comments from readers. D．It leaves an open ending. 40．What does the author think of Weiner’s book? A．Objective and plain. B．Daring and ambitious. C．Serious and hard to follow. D．Humorous and straightforward. 【答案】37．C 38．D 39．B 40．D 【导语】这是一篇说明文。作者在13岁时开始喜欢哲学，随后Weiner的书The Socrates Express唤起了作者对哲学的热爱。文章通过介绍了The Socrates Express这本书，倡导读者花时间去读这本书。 37．细节理解题。根据第一段“I was about 13 when an uncle gave me a copy of Jostein Gaarder’s Sophie’s World. It was full of ideas that were new to me, so I spent the summer with my head in and out of that book. It spoke to me and brought me into a world of philosophy(哲学).(我13岁的时候，一个叔叔给了我一本Jostein Gaarder的《 Sophie的世界》。书里面的观点对我来说都很新奇，所以我整个夏天都在钻研那本书。它对我说话，把我带入一个哲学的世界。)”可知，Jostein Gaarder为作者打开了通往哲学的大门。故选C。 38．推理判断题。根据第四段中“Weiner starts each chapter with a scene on a train ride between cities and then frames each philosopher’s work in the context (背景) of one thing they can help us do better. The end result is a read in which we learn to wonder like Socrates, see like Thoreau, listen like Schopenhauer, and have no regrets like Nietzsche. (Weiner在每一章的开头都描述了一个城市之间火车旅行的场景，然后将每一位哲学家的著作框定在一个他们能够帮助我们做得更好的事情上。最终的结果是，我们学会了像苏格拉底一样思考，像梭罗一样看，像叔本华一样听，像尼采一样没有遗憾。)”可知，作者在第四段开头描写了Weiner书的内容，接着作者通过列举了几位伟大的哲学家来描写读完这本书后我们能从中学到的东西，由此可推知，作者列举了几位伟大的哲学家是为了帮助读者理解Weiners的书。故选D。 39．细节理解题。根据第四段中“This, more than a book about undestanding philosophy, is a book abour learning to use philosophy to improve a life.(这不仅仅是一本关于理解哲学的书，更是一本关于学习运用哲学来改善生活的书。)”可知，作者喜欢The Socrates Express这本书，是因为它的思想可以应用到日常生活中。故选B。 40．推理判断题。根据倒数第二段中“He makes philosopical thought an appealing exercise that improves the quality of our experiences, and he does so with plenty of humor.(他使哲学思想成为一种有吸引力的练习，可以提高我们经验的质量，而且他在做这件事的时候充满了幽默感。)”可知，Weiners的书很幽默，根据最后一段中“The Socrates Express is a fun, sharp book that draws readers in with its apparent simplicity and gradually pulls them in deeper thoughts on desire, loneliness, and aging. (The Socrates Express是一本有趣而尖锐的书，它以其表面上的简单吸引着读者，并逐渐将他们拉进对欲望、孤独和衰老的深层思考中。)”可知，Weiners的书简单易懂，由此可知，Weiners的书既幽默又简单易懂。故选D。 11 【来源】上海市交大附中2022-2023学年高二上学期期中考试英语试卷 Today China is the world’s biggest consumer of wheat. But it wasn’t always that way. Wheat only came to the area now known as northern China toward the end of the Neolithic (新石器) period, some 4,600 years ago. Initially, wheat didn’t seem to be so delicious and had been treated as a crop of desperation rather than a cooking delight. The first farmers of northern China primarily grew millet (粟), starting as early as 11,500 years ago. By the time of the Tang dynasty, wheat had replaced millet, becoming a major crop. But relatively little was known about exactly why this shift occurred. In an attempt to track the answer, I accumulated (积累) a collection of nearly 1,200 data points covering more than 50 sites from the mid-Neolithic, about 9,000 years ago, to the collapse of the Eastern Han dynasty in 220 AD．The sites were across 8 modern provinces, ranging from Gansu province in the northwest to Shandong province in the east. One possible explanation is a major climate shift, called the Holocene Event 3, which happened 4,000 to 4,500 years ago. At that time, the climate became colder and drier across continents, causing damage to crop production. On top of this, the late Neolithic period was also a time of rapid population growth around the world. With an ever-increasing population and unsteady crop production, it is reasonable to assume that Neolithic farmers in northern China were struggling. Wheat, it turns out, actually needs more water than millet, making it seem a poor choice for a dry period of history. But importantly, it can be sowed after millet has been harvested. That, we think, is the most likely reason why the people across northern China started to grow wheat. From more extreme weather to changing coastlines, climate change has always brought unexpected and sometimes dramatic changes to societies. In this instance, the consequence of the Holocene Event 3 in northern China proved, eventually, delicious. 41．What can we learn about wheat from the second paragraph? A．It replaced millet for its great taste. B．It was a poor choice at the beginning. C．It outnumbered millet 4,600 years ago. D．It was the earliest crop grown in China. 42．What do the figures in paragraph 3 show? A．The author found the exact answer. B．The author did the research cautiously. C．The author did extensive research. D．The author was good at collecting data. 43．What was probably the main reason for northerners in China to grow wheat? A．The water supply was enough then. B．The harvest of millet was not satisfying. C．It adjusted to the weather conditions better. D．It had an alternative sowing season with millet. 44．Which of the following can be the best title for the text? A．How was millet introduced to China? B．Why did Chinese farmers switch to wheat? C．How did China become the biggest wheat consumer? D．How was China’s wheat growth affected by climate change? 【答案】41．B 42．C 43．D 44．B 【导语】这是一篇说明文。文章主要说明了小麦开始作为农作物的历史以及小麦成为了主要农作物这种转变的原因。 41．细节理解题。根据第二段中“Initially, wheat didn’t seem to be so delicious and had been treated as a crop of desperation rather than a cooking delight.(起初，小麦似乎并不好吃，人们把它当作一种绝望的作物，而不是烹饪的乐趣)”可知，小麦一开始是一个糟糕的选择。故选B。 42．推理判断题。根据第三段“In an attempt to track the answer, I accumulated a collection of nearly 1,200 data points covering more than 50 sites from the mid-Neolithic, about 9,000 years ago, to the collapse of the Eastern Han dynasty in 220 AD. The sites were across 8 modem provinces, ranging from Gansu province in the northwest to Shandong province in the east.(为了找到答案，我收集了近1200个数据点，涵盖了50多个地点，从大约9000年前的新石器时代中期到公元220年东汉王朝的崩溃。这些遗址横跨8个现代省份，从西北部的甘肃省到东部的山东省)”可推知，第三段中的数字说明了作者做了广泛的研究。故选C。 43．细节理解题。根据倒数第二段中“But importantly, it can be sowed after millet has been harvested. That, we think, is the most likely reason why the people across northern China started to grow wheat.(但重要的是，它可以在谷子收获后播种。我们认为，这最有可能是中国北方人开始种植小麦的原因)”可知，中国北方人种植小麦的主要原因是它有一个可选择的播种季节。故选D。 44．主旨大意题。根据第一段中“Today China is the world’s biggest consumer of wheat. But it wasn’t always that way.(如今，中国是世界上最大的小麦消费国。但事情并不总是这样的)”以及第二段中“But relatively little was known about exactly why this shift occurred.(但人们对这种转变发生的确切原因知之甚少)”可知，文章介绍了小麦开始作为农作物的历史以及小麦成为了主要农作物这种转变的原因。可知，故B选项“为什么中国农民转向种植小麦？”最符合文章标题。故选B。 12 【来源】上海市浦东新区2022-2023学年高二上学期期中考试英语试卷 The human thirst for knowledge is the driving force behind our successful species. But curiosity can also be dangerous, leading to setbacks or even downfalls. Given curiosity’s complexity, scientists have found it hard to define. While pinning down a definition has proven tricky, the general consensus is it’s some means of information gathering. Psychologists also agree curiosity is intrinsically(内在地)motivated. Curiosity covers such a large set of behaviors that there probably isn’t any single “curiosity gene” that makes humans wonder about and explore their environment. That said, curiosity does have a genetic component. Genes and environment interact in many complex ways to shape individuals and guide their behavior, including their curiosity. Regardless of their genetic makeup, infants have to learn an incredible amount of information in a short time, and curiosity is one of the tools humans have found to accomplish that gigantic task. Hundreds of studies show that infants prefer novelty. It’s what motivates non-human animals, human infants and probably human adults to explore and seek out new things before growing less interested in them after continued exposure. But curiosity often comes with a cost. In some situations, the stakes are low and failure is a healthy part of growth. For instance, many babies are perfectly proficient crawlers, but they decide to try walking because there’s more to see and do when they stand upright. But this milestone comes at a small cost. A study of 12- to 19-month-olds learning how to walk documented that these children fell down a lot. Seventeen times per hour, to be exact. But walking is faster than crawling, so this motivates expert crawlers to transition to walking. Sometimes, however, testing out a new idea can lead to disaster. For instance, the Inuit people of the Arctic regions have created incredible modes to deal with the challenges of living in northern climates, but what we forget about are the tens of thousands of people that tried and failed to make it in those challenging landscapes. 45．What does the author say about curiosity? A．It is too complex for non-scientists to understand. B．It is the force that pushes human society forward. C．It is a unique trait specific to the human race. D．It is often the major cause for human failures. 46．What do we learn about how genes shape people’s behavior? A．They determine people’s way of thinking. B．They account for age differences in learning. C．They enable people to undertake massive tasks. D．They work in conjunction with the environment. 47．What do numerous studies show about infants? A．They are far more curious than adults. B．They prefer to go after all that is novel. C．They have different interests than adults. D．They show non-human animal behaviors. 48．What does the example of the Inuit people of the Arctic regions illustrate? A．The cost of human’s curiosity to explore. B．The incredible harshness of cold weather. C．The innovative ideas stemming from curiosity. D．The importance of learning from past failures. 【答案】45．B 46．D 47．B 48．A 【导语】本文是一篇说明文。文章讲述好奇心推动了人类社会的进步，但探索好奇心的同时也可能付出很大代价。 45．推理判断题。根据第一段“The human thirst for knowledge is the driving force behind our successful species. But curiosity can also be dangerous, leading to setbacks or even downfalls. Given curiosity’s complexity, scientists have found it hard to define.(人类对知识的渴求是我们这个成功物种背后的驱动力。但好奇心也可能是危险的，它会导致挫折甚至跌倒。鉴于好奇心的复杂性，科学家们发现很难定义它。) ”由此可知好奇心是人类成功背后的驱动力，也就是作者认为好奇心推动了人类社会的进步，故选B 46．细节理解题。根据第三段“Genes and environment interact in many complex ways to shape individuals and guide their behavior, including their curiosity.( 基因和环境以许多复杂的方式相互作用，塑造个体并指导他们的行为，包括他们的好奇心。) ”可知基因和环境是相互作用的，故选D。 47．细节理解题。根据第五段“Hundreds of studies show that infants prefer novelty. It’s what motivates non-human animals, human infants and probably human adults to explore and seek out new things before growing less interested in them after continued exposure. (数百项研究表明，婴儿喜欢新奇的事物。它激励着非人类动物、人类婴儿，甚至可能是人类成年人去探索和寻求新事物，直到在持续接触后对它们失去兴趣。)”由此可知婴儿的好奇心很强，更喜欢新奇的事物。故选B。 48．推理判断题。根据最后一段“Sometimes, however, testing out a new idea can lead to disaster. For instance, the Inuit people of the Arctic regions have created incredible modes to deal with the challenges of living in northern climates, but what we forget about are the tens of thousands of people that tried and failed to make it in those challenging landscapes.( 然而，有时测试一个新想法可能会导致灾难。例如，北极地区的因纽特人创造了令人难以置信的模式来应对北部气候的生活挑战，但我们忘记了成千上万的人试图在那些充满挑战的环境中生存，但却失败了。)”可知本段说明好奇心可能会导致灾难，然后举例说明这一点，所以北极地区因纽特人的例子说明了人类探索的好奇心也会付出很大的代价，故选A。 13 【来源】上海市市西中学2022-2023学年高二上学期期中考试英语试卷 The question of whether our government should promote science and technology or the liberal arts in higher education isn’t an either/or proposition (命题), although the current emphasis on preparing young Americans for STEM (science, technology, engineering, maths) - related fields can make it seem that way. The latest congressional report acknowledge the critical importance of technical training, but also argues that the study of the humanities and social sciences must remain central components of America’s educational system at all levels. Both are critical to producing citizens who can participate effectively in our democratic society, become innovative leaders, and benefit from the spiritual enrichment that the reflection on the great ideas of mankind over time provides. Parents and students who have invested heavily in higher education worry about graduates’ job prospects as technological advances and changes in domestic and global markets transform professions in ways that reduce wages and cut jobs. Under these circumstances, it’s national to look for what may appear to be the most “practical” way out of the problem. “Major in a subject designed to get you a job” seems the obvious answer to some, though this ignores the fact that many disciplines in the humanities characterized as “soft” often, in fact, lead to employment and success in the long run. Indeed, according to surveys, employers have expressed a preference for students who have received a broadly-based education that has taught them to write well, think critically, research creatively, and communicate easily. Moreover, students should be prepared not just for their first job, but for their 4th and 5th jobs, as there’s little reason to doubt that people entering the workforce today will be called upon to play many different roles over the course of their careers. The ones who will do the best in this new environment will be those whose educations have prepared them to be flexible. The ability to draw upon every available tool and insight - picked up from science, arts, and technology - to solve the problems of the future, and take advantage of the opportunities that present themselves, will be helpful to them and the United States. 49．What does the latest congressional report suggest? A．STEM-related subjects help students find jobs in the information society. B．Higher education should be adjust ed to the practical needs of society. C．The liberal arts in higher education help enrich students’ spiritual life. D．The humanities and STEM subjects should be given equal importance. 50．What is the main concern of students when they choose a major? A．Their chances of getting a good job. B．The academic value of the courses. C．The quality of education to receive. D．Their interest in relevant subjects. 51．What kind of job applicants do employers look for? A．Those who have a strong sense of responsibility. B．Those who are good at solving practical problems. C．Those who have received a well-rounded education. D．Those who are likely to become innovative leaders. 52．What advice does the author give to college students? A．Seize opportunities to tap their potential. B．Try to take a variety of practical courses. C．Prepare themselves for different job options. D．Choose a flexible job. 【答案】49．D 50．A 51．C 52．C 【导语】这是一篇说明文。最新的国会报告建议人文学科和科学、技术、工程学科应该同等重要，指出这两个领域都是培养公民的关键。作者也表达了自己对于选择人文还是科学、技术、工程学科的看法。 49．细节理解题。根据第二段“The latest congressional report acknowledge the critical importance of technical training, but also argues that the study of the humanities and social sciences must remain central components of America’s educational system at all levels.(最新的国会报告承认技术培训的关键重要性，但也认为人文和社会科学的研究必须保持美国各级教育系统的核心组成部分。)”可知，最新的国会报告说明人文学科和STEM学科应该被同等重视。故选D。 50．推理判断题。根据第三段““Major in a subject designed to get you a job” seems the obvious answer to some(对一些人来说，“主修一个能让你找到工作的专业”似乎是显而易见的答案)”可知，学生们在选择专业时最关心的是找到一份好工作的机会。故选A。 51．细节理解题。根据第三段最后一句话“employers have expressed a preference for students who have received a broadly-based education that has taught them to write well, think critically, research creatively, and communicate easily(雇主们表示，他们更青睐那些受过广泛教育的学生，这些教育教会了他们良好的写作能力、批判性思维能力、创造性研究能力和轻松沟通能力)”可知，雇主寻找接受过全面教育的人，故选C。 52．推理判断题。根据最后一段“Moreover, students should be prepared not just for their first job, but for their 4th and 5th jobs, as there’s little reason to doubt that people entering the workforce today will be called upon to play many different roles over the course of their careers.(此外，学生不仅应该为第一份工作做好准备，还应该为他们的第四份和第五份工作做好准备，因为几乎没有理由怀疑，今天进入劳动力市场的人将在他们的职业生涯中扮演许多不同的角色。)”可知，作者给大学生的建议是为不同的工作选择做好准备。故选C。 14 【来源】上海市上海中学2022--2023学年高二上学期期中英语试卷 Since teenage friendships are often a never-ending revolving door of gossip between peers, what can be said about high school friendships? How long can they last outside of high school? And how does one affect an individual? Growing up with movies such as “High School Musical” and “Grease”, which portrayed the ideal high school friendships, we sometimes have the expectation of having a perfect relationship, staying in contact after graduation, possibly even graduating from college together and becoming lifelong friends.   Chances are you may experience genuine and pare friendships but still encounter failed ones, so high school is a time to think about what kind of people you do and do not want in your life. Although most adults see high school drama as silly, teenagers can be in the “this is the end of the world” mindset when it comes to minor inconvenience. Most teens have not realized the big question when dealing with high school problems: In five years, will this still matter? It is hard to look at the big picture when the problems are in front of you, which is understandable. However, most teens need a moment to weigh and question if the problem matters in the long run. “In the end, the friends who are inclusive and only want to see you happy and successful are the ones that really matter. Those people have helped me grow as a person. Drama is drama, and there’s no way to get around it, but if you focus on those positive people, you are sure to live a happy life socially and individually,” Karen Hart said. As time goes on, the fiends you were in contact with after high school slowly dwindle. People embark on different pathways and go different directions. Briana Lopez, Class of 2008 graduate and current substitute teacher, said, “I am currently in contact with two high school friends. I think the friendship experiences I had in high school shaped who I am because I learned to be open-minded and be friend all kinds of people. I learned to see people for who they are, not what they wear or who they hang out with. I learned most of all how to be a good friend.” High school is a small percentage of your life, but it has a huge impact on who you will become and where you will go. Friendships and relationships help mold who you are, be they good or bad. Lessons are brought, and lessons are learned. If you are currently dealing amongst high school drama, ask yourself: In five years, will this really matter? 53．The author mentioned “High School Musical” and “Grease” in paragraph 2 mainly to show ________. A．high school relationships are not ideally portrayed B．such movies are quite popular among grown-ups C．teenage viewers expect perfect school friendships D．high school friends always become lifelong friends 54．If Lily, a 16-year-old high school student finds difficulty dealing with high school drama, which of the following tip might be helpful? A．Ask herself: “In five years, is it a big deal?” B．Feel worried about “this is the end of the world”. C．Treat failed friendships equally as genuine ones. D．Pay close attention to the problem facing her. 55．The underlined word “dwindle” (Line 1, Paragraph 5) is closest in meaning to ________. A．become greater, more serious or more extreme B．improve something and make it more successful C．return to a normal condition after difficulty D．decrease in size, amount value, or degree 56．According to the passage, how do high school friendships impact an individual? A．Exclusive friends help one grow and live a pleasant life. B．They may shape one’s personality and paths in the future. C．One tends to judge people based on appearance and style. D．Positive friends reach out to help avoid high school drama. 【答案】53．C 54．A 55．D 56．B 【导语】本文是一篇说明文。文章介绍了我们高中时期的友谊可能产生的影响和应该如何看等待高中时期的友谊。 53．推理判断题。根据第二段“Growing up with movies such as “High School Musical” and “Grease”, which portrayed the ideal high school friendships, we sometimes have the expectation of having a perfect relationship, staying in contact after graduation, possibly even graduating from college together and becoming lifelong friends. (电影《歌舞青春》和《油脂》描绘了理想的高中友谊，在它们的陪伴下成长起来的我们，有时会期待拥有一段完美的友谊：在毕业后保持联系，甚至可能一起从大学毕业，成为一生的朋友)”可推知，作者在第二段提到《歌舞青春》和《油脂》主要是为了说明青少年观众受电影影响，期待完美的校园友谊。故选C项。 54．推理判断题。根据第三段中“Although most adults see high school drama as silly, teenagers can be in the “this is the end of the world” mindset when it comes to minor inconvenience. Most teens have not realized the big question when dealing with high school problems: In five years, will this still matter? It is hard to look at the big picture when the problems are in front of you, which is understandable. However, most teens need a moment to weigh and question if the problem matters in the long run.(尽管大多数成年人认为高中关于友谊的闹剧是愚蠢的，但青少年在遇到这类小麻烦时可能会有“这是世界末日”的心态。大多数青少年在处理高中问题时没有意识到一个更重要的问题：五年后，这还会重要吗？当问题就在眼前的时候，很难看到大局，这是可以理解的。然而，大多数青少年需要一点时间来权衡和思考这个问题是否有长期的影响)”可推知，如果16岁的高中生莉莉在处理关于友谊的闹剧方面遇到困难，作者会建议她问自己：五年后，这还会重要吗？故选A项。 55．词句猜测题。根据划线词所在部分“As time goes on, the fiends you were in contact with after high school slowly dwindle. People embark on different pathways and go different directions.(随着时间的推移，你在高中毕业后接触的朋友会慢慢dwindle。人们走上不同的道路，走向不同的方向)”中“As time goes on”和“People embark on different pathways and go different directions. (人们走上不同的道路，走向不同的方向。)”可推知，因为毕业后走上了不同的道路和方向，高中的朋友会渐行渐远，越来越少，dwindle即“decrease in size, amount value, or degree (大小、数量、价值或程度的减少)”。故选D项。 56．推理判断题。根据最后一段中“High school is a small percentage of your life, but it has a huge impact on who you will become and where you will go. (高中生活只占你生活的一小部分，但它对你将来成为什么样的人、你要去哪里有着巨大的影响)”可推知，高中友谊可能会塑造一个人的个性和他未来的道路。故选B项。 15 【来源】上海市西中学2022-2023学年高二上学期期中考试英语试卷 You’re running late for work and you can’t find your keys: What’s really annoying is that in your search, you pick up and move them without realizing. This may be because the brain systems involved in the task are working at different speeds, with the system responsible for perception(感知)unable to keep pace. So says Grayden Solman and his colleagues at the University of Waterloo in Ontario, Canada. To investigate how we search, Solman’s team created a simple computer-based task that involved searching through a pile of colored shapes on a computer screen. Volunteers were instructed to find a specific shapes as quickly as possible, while the computer monitored their actions.“Between 10 and 20 percent of the time, they would miss the object,”says Solman, even though they picked it up.“We thought that was remarkably often.” To find out why, the team developed a number of further experiments. To check whether volunteers were just forgetting their target, they gave a new group a list of items to memorize before the search task, which they had to recall afterwards. The idea was to fill each volunteer’s“memory load”，so that they were unable to hold any other information in their short-term memory. Although this was expected to have a negative effect on their performance at the search task, the extra load made no difference to the percentage of mistakes volunteers made. To check that the volunteers were paying enough attention to the items they were moving, Solman’s team created another task involving a pile of cards marked with shapes that only became visible while the card was being moved. Again, they were surprised to see the same level of error, says Solman. Finally, the team analyzed participants’ mouse movements as they were carrying out a similar search task. They discovered that volunteers’ movements were slower after they had moved and missed their target. Solman’s team propose that the system in the brain that deals with movement is running too quickly for the visual system to keep up. While you are searching around a messy house to find your keys, you might not be giving your visual system enough time to work out what each object is. Since time can be costly, sacrificing accuracy on occasion for speed might be beneficial overall, Solman thinks. The slowing of mouse movements suggests that at some level the volunteers were aware that they had missed their target, a theory that is backed up by other studies that show people tend to slow down their actions after they have made a mistake, even if they don’t consciously realize the mistake. 57．What conclusion has Solman drawn from the first task? A．More volunteers are needed to confirm the findings. B．It happens very often that people miss what they intend to find. C．Computers make negative effects on how people perform at the task. D．Targets tend to be forgotten after people search for 10 minutes or more. 58．What can be inferred from the third task that Solman’s team created? A．Cards marked with shapes may become a source of distraction. B．Fewer errors will be made if people are forbidden to move cards. C．People may be absent-minded even when they are moving something. D．Volunteers prefer to use a mouse to control the objects on the computer screen. 59．What does“a theory”(in the last paragraph)refers to? A．Mistakes will cause people to reduce the speed. B．Our visual system can’t keep up with the brain system. C．The faster people move, the more mistakes they will make. D．People’s actions are independent of the mistakes they make. 60．Which of the following might be the best title of the passage? A．Better memory, worse search B．Accuracy speaks louder than speed C．Hurry up, or you will make mistakes D．Slow down your search to find your keys 【答案】57．B 58．C 59．A 60．D 【导语】本文为一篇说明文。人们经常会找不到钥匙，但是在寻找过程中，拿起并移动了钥匙，自己却没有意识到。有研究团队对此进行了多个实验，并得出结论：要找到钥匙，得放慢你寻找钥匙的速度。 57．推理判断题。根据第二段“To investigate how we search, Solman’s team created a simple computer-based task that involved searching through a pile of colored shapes on a computer screen. Volunteers were instructed to find a specific shapes as quickly as possible, while the computer monitored their actions. ‘Between 10 and 20 percent of the time, they would miss the object,”says Solman, even though they picked it up.“We thought that was remarkably often.’ (为了研究我们是如何搜索的，索尔曼的团队创建了一个简单的基于计算机的任务，包括在计算机屏幕上的一堆彩色形状中搜索。志愿者被要求尽快找到一个特定的形状，同时计算机监控他们的动作。索尔曼说，‘在10%到20%的情况下，他们会错过物体，即使他们把它拿起来。我们认为这种情况非常常见。’)”可知，人们经常会错过他们想要找的东西。故选B项。 58．推理判断题。根据第五段“To check that the volunteers were paying enough attention to the items they were moving, Solman’s team created another task involving a pile of cards marked with shapes that only became visible while the card was being moved. Again, they were surprised to see the same level of error, says Solman. Finally, the team analyzed participants’ mouse movements as they were carrying out a similar search task. They discovered that volunteers’ movements were slower after they had moved and missed their target. (为了检查志愿者是否对他们移动的物品投入了足够的注意力，索尔曼的团队创建了另一项任务，涉及一堆标有形状的卡片，这些形状只有在卡片移动时才可见。索尔曼说，他们又一次惊讶地看到了同样程度的错误。最后，研究小组分析了参与者在执行类似搜索任务时的鼠标移动。他们发现，志愿者在移动并错过目标后，动作会变慢。)”可知，第三个实验是检查志愿者是否对他们移动的物品投入了足够的注意力，当他们发现移动物体会看到卡片，于是对自己手里正在移动的物体的注意力降低，导致错过目标，即：志愿者没有专注于移动物体，他们会分神寻找他们想看的卡片。故选C项。 59．词句猜测题。根据最后一段“The slowing of mouse movements suggests that at some level the volunteers were aware that they had missed their target, a theory that is backed up by other studies that show people tend to slow down their actions after they have made a mistake, even if they don’t consciously realize the mistake. (鼠标移动的放缓表明，在某种程度上，志愿者意识到他们错过了目标，这一理论得到了其他研究的支持，这些研究表明，人们在犯了错误后往往会放慢行动，即使他们没有意识到错误。)”可知，此处的 a theory 指代people tend to slow down their actions after they have made a mistake, even if they don’t consciously realize the mistake，即：犯错会导致人们放慢速度。故选A项。 60．主旨大意题。通读全文，尤其是第一段“You’re running late for work and you can’t find your keys: What’s really annoying is that in your search, you pick up and move them without realizing. (你上班要迟到了，你找不到钥匙：真正烦人的是，在你找钥匙的时候，你在不知不觉中拿起并移动了钥匙。)”，最后一段“The slowing of mouse movements suggests that at some level the volunteers were aware that they had missed their target, a theory that is backed up by other studies that show people tend to slow down their actions after they have made a mistake, even if they don’t consciously realize the mistake. (鼠标移动的放缓表明，在某种程度上，志愿者意识到他们错过了目标，这一理论得到了其他研究的支持，这些研究表明，人们在犯了错误后往往会放慢行动，即使他们没有意识到错误。)”可知，专注于移动物体这个动作就会错过你想要的目标物体，因此要想达成目的，就需要放慢搜索速度，这是研究团队通过实验得出的结论，也是文章的标题。故选D项。 原创精品资源学科网独家享有版权，侵权必究！5 学科网（北京）股份有限公司 学科网（北京）股份有限公司 $$