阅读理解（说明文）期中专练 2026-2027学年人教版八年级英语上册

2026-2027学年八年级英语上册阅读理解（说明文）期中专练

 

甄选期中说明文阅读素材，贴合八上教材词汇与期中统考命题方向，选材涵盖科普知识、文化习俗、事物介绍、生活科学等常见主题。专项训练定位细节信息、词义猜测、推理判断、段落主旨与篇章结构分析，引导学生理清说明对象、说明要点与行文逻辑，熟练掌握说明文答题思路，适用于课堂限时训练、课后巩固以及期中专项冲刺。

（一）

In 2005, a small red robot named Toddler surprised the whole world. Toddler was only as tall as a six-year-old child, and it had no eyes or mouth, just two straight legs and a simple computer brain. Still, it could learn to walk in only twenty minutes—about six hundred steps—without any help from people. At first it moved slowly and often lost balance (平衡), but after every step it studied the ground, changed the way it moved its knees and arms, and tried again. Soon it walked naturally like a real child, and even climbed gentle slopes (斜坡).

Toddler was shown to the public at the big American Association for the Advancement of Science meeting in February 2005. Two other walking robots stood beside it, but Toddler was the smartest. Older walking robots used one motor for each part. They needed ten times more power because they fought against gravity (重力) all the time. Toddler was different. It let gravity help its body fall forward, then quickly placed the next foot under its center, just like a human. If it started to fall down, it reacted in less than one second and caught itself before hitting the ground.

The team leader, Michael Foster, explained why they built Toddler. “We want robots to do jobs that are too dangerous or dirty for people,” he said. In the future, walking robots could enter burning houses to look for people who are hurt, climb broken buildings when accidents happen, or explore the far-away planets. The same program might also help doctors build better artificial (人工的) legs for soldiers, or children who have lost their legs. Foster believes that today’s Toddler is only the first step. “Give us ten more years,” he smiled, “and robots will walk, run, jump, and carry heavy packs beside our soldiers and save them.”

Today, many middle-school students dream of joining this exciting work. Who knows? Maybe the next great helper robot will be designed in your own classroom.

1．Which is true about Toddler in Paragraph 1?

A．It looked like an old man. B．It could walk without learning.

C．It could walk for 600 minutes. D．It could learn to walk by itself.

2．What is the difference between Toddler and the older robots?

A．Older robots used ten motors. B．Toddler had a motor for every part.

C．Toddler used less power to walk. D．Toddler hit the ground more often.

3．What could robots do in the future?

A．Walk without computers. B．Work as a real doctor.

C．Teach like a human. D．Help people do more things.

4．What’s the purpose of the last paragraph?

A．To let readers continue to read. B．To encourage students to take part.

C．To advise schools to buy robots. D．To show science courses are interesting.

5．Where is the text probably taken from?

A．A story book. B．A traveling booklet.

C．A diary entry. D．A science magazine.

（二）

Acupuncture (针灸) started in ancient China over 2,000 years ago. This treatment uses very thin needles (针). The needles are put into the skin at special points (点位) on the body. People believe these points are connected by lines that carry energy through our bodies.

Many people around the world use acupuncture for different health problems. It can help when people feel terrible in their body, like in their back or head. It can also help people feel better and sleep better. If some people feel worse or cannot sleep well, acupuncture may help them feel better.

When you go for an acupuncture treatment, you will lie down on a bed. The doctor will put about 5 to 20 needles into your skin. Most people feel only a little pinch, and it doesn’t hurt much. Then, you rest for 15 to 30 minutes with the needles in place. People usually feel very comfortable and even fall asleep during this time.

Why is acupuncture useful? Scientists have studied it. They found that putting needles in these points helps our bodies make their own natural chemicals to stop the hurt. It also helps our body work better. Because it can help with these problems, acupuncture is now popular not only in China but also in many countries in the West.

Acupuncture is a safe treatment. It shows the great wisdom of ancient Chinese medicine. Today, many doctors in hospitals use acupuncture together with modern medicine to help sick people get well faster.

6．Acupuncture is a(n) ________  way.

A．Japanese B．Chinese C．American D．English

7．We can infer from the passage that people usually feel ________ during an acupuncture.

A．terrible B．afraid C．relaxed D．disappointed

8．According to the passage, we can know that ________.

A．acupuncture is a modern way to solve many health problems

B．acupuncture helps people with terrible body pain and sleep problems

C．you have to rest for more than 30 minutes with the needles

D．acupuncture is only popular in many countries in the East

9．What’s the structure of the passage?

A． B． C． D．

10．What’s the purpose of the passage?

A．To tell a funny story about acupuncture. B．To sell acupuncture needles to old people.

C．To teach people how to do acupuncture. D．To give information about acupuncture.

（三）

Rainforests (热带雨林) are some of the most amazing places on Earth. They cover only about 6% of the world’s land, but are home to more than half of all living things. These dense forests are full of life, from tiny insects to large animals, and from small plants to tall trees.

The rainforest has different layers. The top layer is called the emergent layer, where the tallest trees reach up to 70 meters. Below that is the canopy, a thick layer of leaves and branches that stops most sunlight from reaching the layers below. Next is the understory, with smaller trees and bushes. The bottom layer is the forest floor, where only a little sunlight gets through.

Many rainforest animals have special skills to live in their layers. For example, sloths hang from the canopy branches. Their long claws help them stay there, and their slow movement helps them save energy. Toucans have big beaks to reach fruit on thin branches that can’t hold their weight. On the forest floor, jaguars use their spots to hide in the shadows while hunting.

Rainforests are important for the whole world. They take in carbon dioxide (二氧化碳) and give out oxygen (氧气), which helps keep the air clean. They also help control the world’s weather. But rainforests are in danger. Every year, large areas are cut down for wood or to make space for farms. This destroys the homes of many animals and plants, and may even change the world’s climate.

11．What percentage of the world’s land do rainforests cover?

A．About 6%. B．About 16%.

C．About 26%. D．About 36%.

12．What does the word “dense” mean in the first paragraph?

A．Dry. B．Thick with plants.

C．Cold. D．Easy to walk through.