Unit 1 Food for thought 单元练习 2025-2026学年高中英语外研版必修第二册

Unit 1　Food for thought

Ⅰ.阅读理解

A

About Edinburgh Castle

Edinburgh Castle plays an important role in Scotland’s capital.During the Wars of Independence the castle changed hands many times.In 1314 it was retaken from the English in a sudden night attack by Thomas Randolph,nephew of Robert the Bruce.

The castle was home to kings and queens.Queen Margaret died here in 1093,and Mary Queen of Scots,gave birth to James Ⅵ in the royal palace in 1566.From the 1600s onwards the castle was a military base.Later it also held prisoners of war.Parts are still a military base,but the castle is now a world-famous visitor attraction.

Opening Hours

The castle opens daily at 9:30 a.m.Closing time varies seasonally.

·1 Apr.-30 Sept.:it closes at 6 p.m.

·1 Oct.-31 Mar.:it closes at 5 p.m.

The castle is closed on 25th and 26th December.On January 1st we are open from 11 a.m.to 5 p.m.and normal hours from January 2nd.

Last admission is 1 hour before closing.

Ticket Types and Prices

Beat the queues and book ahead online for fast-track entry at no extra cost.Members do not need to queue at the ticket office,and simply need to show their card at Visitor Information.

Admission prices are as follows.

·Child(5-15 yrs):￡9.90

·Adult(16-59 yrs):￡16.50

·Concession(优惠价)(60 yrs+):￡13.20

Children under 5 years old go free,but they must be accompanied by an adult.

Guided Tours

A guided tour is included in your ticket price— our guides love sharing their stories.They are experienced,knowledgeable and are always happy to answer questions,so it’s a great way to discover the castle’s amazing past.Guided tours take

place throughout the day and the meeting point is through the Portcullis Gate past the audio booth by the clock.

1.What can be inferred about Edinburgh Castle from the text?

A.It was used as a prison in the 1500s.

B.It is once owned by non-Scottish people.

C.It is the birthplace of Queen Margaret.

D.It now functions merely as a tourist site.

2.How much should Jack,aged 62,and his twin 5-year-old grandchildren pay in all to visit Edinburgh Castle?

A.￡13.20.　　　　　B.￡36.30.

C.￡16.50. D.￡33.00.

3.What is true about guided tours of Edinburgh Castle?

A.They are provided only at the Portcullis Gate.

B.They are provided only at certain times.

C.Questions aren’t welcomed during them.

D.They cost no extra money.

B

Discovering any collection of Paleolithic art is rare,according to Aitor Ruiz-Redondo,an archaeologist(考古学家) at the University of Zaragoza in Spain.Only about 400 such sites have been found worldwide,and archaeologists all hope to know more about the art.Therefore,the discovery of more than 100 prehistoric designs,which were created over 24,000 years ago with unique techniques and preserved in a cave due to a lucky chemical occurrence,is simply extraordinary.

Cova Dones,the cave in question,lies close to Spain’s eastern coast in Valencia,while most of the country’s ancient art,including the famous prehistoric cave paintings of Altamira,is in northern Spain.First explored by Ruiz-Redondo and his team in 2021,Cova Dones is home to at least 110 paintings,drawings and

carving.Many of the designs feature animals,like female red deer,wild horses and now-extinct oxen.Besides,most of Cova Dones’ paintings were done in clay and conserved.

The walls and standing water of Cova Dones are rich in calcium carbonate(碳酸钙),a natural paints preservative.Early humans likely dug red clay from the cave’s floor and walls and mixed it with water at their feet.Whether intentionally or not,they created paints that were strengthened.Over time,water falling into the cave coated their artwork with a layer of calcium carbonate,sticking it to the wall for Ruiz-Redondo to find so many centuries later.

Determining the age of cave art is tough work.Ruiz-Redondo’s team are awaiting a full laboratory analysis of Cova Dones’ designs,including radiometric age measurement of their mineral coverings,but until then,a couple of logical approaches have provided some clarity.First,some of the designs are drawn in a style that’s typical of a period about 21,000 to 40,000 years ago,as evidenced by findings at other Paleolithic sites.Second,a drawing was marked by a cave bear,which went extinct 24,000 years ago,indicating the art is older.

Ruiz-Redondo states that archaeology has always had a romantic part—a sense of discovery.He adds,“Especially with the paintings,nobody has seen this horse in thousands and thousands of years,until now.”

4.Why is the discovery in Cova Dones significant?

A.It turns out to be the first of its kind.

B.It demonstrates ancient painting tools.

C.It offers new insights into prehistoric art.

D.It supports records of a lost civilization.

5.What contributes to preserving the paintings in Cova Dones?

A.The stable temperature.

B.A fading-resistant technique.

C.The undisturbed environment.

D.A natural chemical substance.

6.What does paragraph 4 mainly talk about?

A.The process of creating the paintings.

B.The challenges of exploring cave art.

C.The methods of dating cave artworks.