2017年高考英语阅读专练(七选五)

1. Brain Transplants

Research on the human brain has been attracting more and more scientists in recent years. 1 If we compare a human brain to a hard disc, what the scientists are doing is to make better use of the hard disc.

The idea that a human brain could be transplanted may come from Frankenstein. In 1999, an experiment turned a bear into a dolphin. 2 They were made of the memory area in the dolphin’s brain containing information about swimming. They had a series of useful information, which was saved into a button-sized chip (芯片). Later the information was transplanted into the action memory area in the bear’s brain. 3 It proved to be a highly successful experiment and a bear was turned into a dolphin.

Recently, another memory transplant was performed at the Motor Nerve Research Institute of the University of California. The experiment had an entire transplant of the memory area. 4 The transplant was performed from a dog named Genius to a dog named Idiot. Genius could follow up to 100 gestures and orders made by its master. It was a real genius in memorizing. However, Idiot had no contact with people since its birth. It became an animal with nothing in its brain, without any memory.

5 When the two dogs woke up, Idiot had grasped all the abilities Genius

第 1 页 共 18 页

possessed; it was good at memorizing and sensible. It could follow every gesture and any command given by its master. But Genius gave no response to its master, and did not recognize him at all.

A. The experiment was a complete success.

B. It included actions, moods, logic, words, images, etc.

C. Then it was released by means of electric power.

D. Different images have different meanings in the memory area.

E. Using the most advanced technology, detailed images were produced.

F. Discoveries show that messages are carried by the central nervous system in the brain.

G. One of the latest topics is how to change the human brain or combine it with the computer.

2. W. Lloyd Jerome’s Dental Surgery

If you walk into W.Lloyd Jerome’s dental surgery in Glasgow, You’ll see bright paintings and a fashionable blue couch which patients sit on while he checks their teeth. Jerome says, “That’s because they’re frightened.”

第 2 页 共 18 页

__1__

“That’s why I don’t wear a white coat. I find that’s one of the things that people associate with pain. In fact, my philosophy is that dental treatment should take place in an atmosphere of relaxation, interest and, above all, enjoyment”, which is all highly shocking for anyone who associates dental treatment with pain, or at the very least, formal, clinical visits. He says, “If people are relaxed, entertained and correctly treated, they will forget such previous unpleasant experiences.”

“Virtual-reality headsets are one of his new relaxation techniques. ___2____ The headsets are used for the first check-up, where the patient sits on the blue couch and watches ar film while I look at their teeth. Then the headset switches to a special camera, to give the patient a visual tour around their mouth.”

“Another key point is that the surgery smells more like a perfume shop than a dentist’s. Today there is the smell of orange. ‘When people walk in, I want them to realize with all their senses that it’s not like going to dentist’s. Smell is very important. ____3_____”

Known as Glasgow’s most fashionable dentist, Jerome is keen to point out that he takes his work very seriously. ____4___

For example, Jerome uses a special

instrument which sprays warm water on the teeth to clean them, rather than scraping them. “It feels a bit strange, but as long as people are relaxed, it’s not painful.”

___5___ “One of the things I found out there was that when you make it

第 3 页 共 18 页

easier for the patient, you make it easier for yourself.” He sees his patient-centred attitude as the start of a gradual movement towards less formality in the conservative British dentistry profession. At that moment, a patient arrives. Jerome rushes over, offers him a cup of tea, asks him what video he’d like to watch and leads him gently towards the chair.

A. Five years ago, Jerome went to the United States to do research.

B. He has tried to create an environment where people are not afraid.

C. The relaxation techniques are important but the quality of the treatment is the most important thing.

D. We were the first practice in Britain to introduce them.

E. Now they look forward to their visits here.

F. That dental smell of surgical spirit can get the heart racing in minutes if you’re frightened of dentists.

G. Fifty percent of the population only go to the dentist when they’re in pain.

3. School Phobia

第 4 页 共 18 页

School phobia is a type of illness which causes the students, typically between the ages of 8-13, to be afraid to go to school. Symptoms include stomachaches, tiredness, shaking, a racing heart and frequent trips to the toilet.

__1__ Most commonly it is the result of separation anxiety, but it can also be caused by different kinds of stress. A child who has recently moved, suffered a loss, or gone through a divorce may develop school phobia, and phobias can also develop in response to an unrecognized learning disability, and poor self-image.

__2__ He or she may become physically ill when ordered to school, or pretend to be sick to avoid going. When the child arrives at school, he or she may run away, or develop behavioral problems in class. When school is discussed, the child can become impatient, upset or angry.

Many techniques can be used to manage school phobia. But research suggests that much more effective treatment is required for school phobia to prevent problems developing in later life. Children with this condition usually benefit from seeing a psychologist or doctor. __3__ As soon as a school phobia is identified, parents should take action too. Like other phobias, school phobia gets worse if it is left untreated, and it can prevent the child from succeeding in school. __4__ If bullying is a cause, for example, the bullying situation should be solved. A teacher can meet the child at the door and take him or her to class, and provide support so that the child feels a friendly adult is always available.

Changes at home can include supportive language from parents, along with

第 5 页 共 18 页

support like assistance with homework. If a child lacks confidence, parents may encourage the child to take up new hobbies. __5__ Parents might also talk to their children about their own fears of school and how they got over them, and their own enjoyment of school and school-like activities.

A. It will help children to feel good about themselves.

B. But a child with phobia refuses to accept adults’ support.

C. A child with school phobia usually refuses to go to school.

D. Adjustments can be made at home and in the classroom to help.

E. This common phobia is associated with a wide variety of causes.

F. The most effective treatment is to help the child have a sense of success.

G. And the assistance can help parents and school officials support the child.

4. The Pleasing Sound of a Rainstick

A rainstick is a long tube that is carved out, with small sticks or other

materials pushed inside so that it has a somewhat smooth surface on the outside, but small barriers inside. These can be in a lined pattern, for a specific sound, or placed at random for a more varied effect. It is then filled with a variety of

第 6 页 共 18 页

different things, like small stones, or beads(珠子), or even rice, and the ends are capped to provide a seal. __1_____

The origins of rainsticks are not really known and so the stories are quite varied. Some people say that the ancient peoples of Chile created rainsticks from dried cactus(仙人掌), with the sharp points taken off, pushed back inside and then filled with small stones. __2_____ The Deaguita Indians survive even today, and they are still using them in many of their rain ceremonies. They also make them as musical instruments.

___3____ Turning the stick over quickly will produce a higher sound, while turning it slowly will produce a deeper effect. How long the effect lasts depends on how long the instrument is. The tube also affects the quality of the rain sound as well. If you make them from some kind of absorbent material, like cactus or bamboo, you will hear it better than if you were to make it from cardboard tubing.

A rainstick can be made from almost any kind of material and the types of things that you can use as fillings can be even more varied. __4____ Usually, these school projects are made using a cardboard tube, like the center from a roll of toilet paper or a paper towel tube. Tooth picks are then inserted, with the exposed ends cut off and glued in place. ___5____

A. You can even make your own rainsticks, and they are often part of school projects where they are used to help children learn the history of Indian peoples.

第 7 页 共 18 页

B. When turned upside down, these materials fall down through the tube, bouncing off of the barriers to produce a calming rain-like sound.

C. These were then capped with pieces of wood on the ends and used in ceremonies to bring rain to their crops.

D. One end is capped off with poster board and filled with rice or beans, and then the other end is sealed.

E. You can get different rain sounds, depending on how fast you turn the rainstick itself.

F. This rainstick can never be opened according to the scared writings of the ancients.

G. They can be three feet or longer depending on what the tube itself is made from.

5. Tips on Young Adult Life

As you grow rapidly through your teenage years, you will experience a lot of changes. The changes may seem difficult. 1 Don’t panic! You will deal successfully with them! You are a young adult now!

With more responsibility, you will find more freedom to make your own

第 8 页 共 18 页

choices. This is a time to be well informed about making choices. In this way you can make healthy balanced decisions. 2 You may already know your career path or you may have no idea at all what you want to do. Both situations are fine! Work hard and the right opportunity will present itself to you.

Young adulthood means greater freedom and more choices. 3 But try not to shut your family out of your life. You school learn to think of others even though you are old enough to look after yourself.

It is also perfectly natural at this time for you to spend more time with your friends than your family 4 A true friend will stand by you no matter what happens.

This period is a part of the life cycle. There are some people who will be with you throughout life’s journey. There will be some people with whom you part and go separate ways. Leaving school can be hard. The reality is that you may not even see all of your classmates again.

You are a young adult. It is your life. No one can live it for you. 5 So making the right choices will be important to you. Life is for living. Enjoy your life wisely!

A．Choose your friends wisely.

B．They will help shape the future.

第 9 页 共 18 页

C．They may seem to happen quickly.

D．You will probably want to be independent.

E．You may appreciate what you have in your own life.

F．The choices that you make from now on will be your choices.

G．Your family has been with you since you came into this world.

6. The First Americans

There was a time long ago when a land bridge connected Asia and North America. The first settlers in North America crossed this land bridge from what is now Siberia to Alaska. The people who made this initial crossing were probably following the animals they used for food.

Eventually, the oceans rose and the land bridge between the continents disappeared. The settlers, who I shall call the “First Americans”, could not return to their homeland. 1

For the next few thousand years, the First Americans migrated south and east throughout North and South America. They made the journey all the way from Alaska to the southern tip of South America, a distance of more than 10,000 miles. 2

第 10 页 共 18 页

In the far north, above the Arctic Circle, the First Americans became hunters of the ocean. 3 In the brief summer, they gathered berries and other plants. In the winter, they stayed in lodges much of the time preparing for the next summer. It was a hard life, but they learned to survive in these harsh conditions.

Farther south, in what is now Arizona, Utah, Colorado, and New Mexico, the First Americans became cliff dwellers(悬崖居民). They began by living in caves that already existed in the cliffs. 4 The dwellings they constructed in many ways resembled today’s apartment buildings.

5 They built a system of dams and canals so they could store and use water almost any time of the year. They were so successful that they could raise fruits and vegetables that were not found naturally in the desert.

In Mexico and South America, the First Americans founded civilizations that were among the greatest in the world. They built huge pyramids, lived in fabulous cities, and made great advances in science and mathematics long before the Europeans arrived.

A. They also discovered foods like corn and potatoes.

B. Along the way, they established many different civilizations.

C. The First Americans of the Southwest learned to irrigate the desert.

第 11 页 共 18 页

D. They would have to survive in the New World they had discovered.

E. They built boats of animal skins and hunted or fished for their food.

F. People living near each other tended to share similar environments and customs.

G. They discovered how to add to the caves by building structures of wood and stone.

7. Public Speaking and Critical Thinking

What is critical thinking? To a certain degree, it’s a matter of logic—of being able to spot weakness in other people’s arguments and to avoid them in your own. It also includes related skills such as distinguishing fact from opinion and assessing the soundness of evidence.

In the broad sense, critical thinking is focused, organized thinking—the ability to see clearly the relationships among ideas. ___1____ The greatest thinkers, scientists and inventors have often taken information that was readily available and put it together differently to produce new ideas. That, too, is critical thinking.

___2___ As the class goes on, for example, you will probably spend a great deal of time organizing your speeches. While this may seem like a purely mechanical( 机械的) exercise, it is closely connected with critical thinking. If the

第 12 页 共 18 页

structure of your speech is loose and confused, chances are that your thinking is also disordered and confused. If, on the other hand, the structure is clear, there is good chance your thinking is too. Organizing a speech is not just a matter of arranging the ideas you already have. __3____

What is true of organization is true of many aspects of public speaking. ___4___ As you work on expressing your ideas in clear, accurate language, you will improve your ability to think clearly and accurately. ___5___ As you learn to listen critically to speeches in class, you will be better able to assess the ideas of speakers in a variety of situations.

If you take full advantage of your speech class, you will be able to develop your skills as a critical thinker in many circumstances. This is one reason public speaking has been regarded as a vital part of education since the days of ancient Greece.

A. Rather, it is an important part of shaping the ideas themselves.

B. This may seem like a lot of time, but the rewards are well worth it.

C. It may also help you to know that there is no such thing as a perfect speech.

D. It has often been said that there are few new ideas in the world, only reorganized ideas.

第 13 页 共 18 页

E. If you are wondering what this has to do with your public speaking class, the answer is quite a lot.

F. The skills you learn in your speech class can help you become a more effective thinker in a number of ways.

G. As you study the role of evidence and reasoning in speechmaking, you will see how they can be used in other forms of communication.

8. Shopaholism

The word addiction usually makes you think of alcohol or drugs. 1 Some people are compulsive shoppers. Others find it impossible to pull themselves away from their work. Still others spend countless hours watching TV or playing computer games.

2 Many people enjoy going to malls or stores more and more every day, but it’s more than a common hobby for some of them. They have turned into shopaholics. They are people who simply enjoy shopping and walking around spending money without being able to stop doing it. They are hooked on shopping and usually buy things that they don’t need. Even though they don’t have enough money, they buy everything they want.

The question is: why do they have this addiction? There isn’t a specific answer. Some people go shopping when they are sad, worried, upset or lonely

第 14 页 共 18 页

and they want to feel better. They use this activity as a way to forget their problems. Shopaholics say that they feel more important and better after they buy something. 3

Shopaholism seems to be a harmless addiction, but it can bring out problems. Some of them can be psychological. If this is the case, people addicted to shopping should go to a support group to help them break this habit. However, the process, like for most addictions, is long, and they suffer a lot. 4 They just think about satisfying their feelings, so they spend money they don’t have. 5

A. Once you are addicted to alcohol or drugs, it is difficult to get rid of.

B. Over the years, shopping has become a very common activity.

C. They also tend to have this addiction when they feel guilty.

D. However in modern-day society we are seeing some new kinds of addictions.

E. People addicted to computer games consider the games as great ways to amuse themselves.

F. They get deep in debt, and they can even go bankrupt and get sent to prison.

第 15 页 共 18 页

G. It can also cause financial problems.

9. Flavoring

Most drinks stating that they are fruit-flavored (水果味道的) contain no fruit at all, while most of the rest contain only a small quantity of fruit, according to a study carried by the British Food Commission.

“Shoppers need to check the labels (标签) before buying drinks, though sometimes the actual content can be non-existent,” said Food Commission spokesperson Ian Tokelove. “Food production is highly competitive. 1 It will increase profits, and consumers won’t always realize they are being tricked.”

Flavorings are focused on the flavors of natural food products such as fruits, meats and vegetables, or creating flavor for food products that do not have the desired flavors. Researchers analyzed the contents of 28 strawberry-flavored products sold in stores. 2 Of the 11 products that did contain strawberries, five of them contained less than one percent real fruit. In addition, each juice box contained nearly eight teaspoons of sugar.

3 Let’s take jam as an example. Some strawberry-flavored jam was labeled as containing no artificial colors, flavors, or sweeteners, but it contained absolutely no strawberries at all.

第 16 页 共 18 页

4 Consumers have the rights to know clearly about what they have bought. Under current UK law, food packages do not have to distinguish between natural and artificial flavoring. “Describing a product as strawberry flavor and covering the surface of the packet with pictures of strawberries is misleading. 5 Unfortunately, it is also legal and widespread,” Tokelove said. “It’s time to take measures to protect the consumers’ rights.”

A. The products which contain real fruit are popular with people.

B. Even products advertised as more natural often contained no fruit.

C. They found that about 60 percent of them didn’t contain any fruit at all.

D. If companies can cut their costs by using flavoring, they are likely to do so.

E. It is important and necessary to demand a small amount of flavoring in the products.

F. Actually the product contains just a tiny percentage of strawberry or even no fruit at all.

G. The Food Commission suggested all flavors used in a product should be listed on the packaging.

1. GECBA 2. BDFCA 3. ECGDA 4. BCEAD

第 17 页 共 18 页

5. CBDAF 6. DBEGC 7. DEAFG 8. DBCGF

9. DCBGF

第 18 页 共 18 页