湖北省2020-2021学年高二上学期期末联考英语试题分类汇编-阅读理解

-阅读理解

湖北省武汉市部分重点中学2020-2021学年高二上学期期末联考英语试题 第二部分 阅读理解（共两节，满分50分） 第一节（共15小题；每小题2.5分，满分37.5分）

阅读下列短文，从每题所给的A、B、C和D四个选项中，选出最佳选项。

A

A quarter of the world's humans are at home right now. If you're reading this, chances are that you're one of them. Yes, it's important to stay safe indoors to protect ourselves and others, but that doesn't mean you can't have a good time. We will create an endless list of things to do indoors. Stick with us and we promise you won't be bored for a second.

Catch up on literary classics

You know that pile of books that you haven't ever quite managed to get into? There'll never be a better time to conquer it. And if you've already exhausted your library, you can now access more than a million books for free online as part of the 'National Emergency Library'. Usually, you'd have to join a queue before being able to borrow anything. But now you can just dip into whatever you want, whenever.

Join a virtual choir

If the videos of cities in lockdown coming together to sing on their balconies left you with a lump in your throat, here's your chance to add your sound to one of several online choirs popping up around the world. The Sofa Singers is a free online singing event that aims to 'bring people together from around the world to promote joy and human connection'. It involves hundreds of singers joining a Zoom call and learning a new song together.

Form new bonds with your neighbours

In normal times, you might not be the type to actually talk to your neighbours. But let's be honest: your social life's a wreck right now, and you're going to make friends with the people next door, no matter what. So why not

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take inspiration from Balcony Parties In Miami, or the Londoner Hosting Athletic Classes On His Doorstep? Go on, get social - in a distant kind of way, of course. 21. What's the purpose of the writer? '

A. To enrich people's life. B. To educate the uncivilized. C. To train professional singers. D. To build a harmonious society. 22. What does the underlined phrase \"with a lump in your throat\" mean? A. the state of being choked. B. the state of singing aloud. C. the state of wanting to sing. D. the state of having a bad voice. 23. The author implies that neighbours . A. seldom communicate with one another. B. usually form a community singing group. C. often share literary books with each other. D. hold parties on the balcony every weekend.

B

A few years ago, my father arranged to send me a mail- order fruitcake at Christmastime. Although I had a good job and owned an apartment in Manhattan, he feared my cupboards and refrigerator might be bare. I had recently moved from California, where my parents still lived in their suburban bungalow of 50 years, the house I grew up in.

He wanted me to have a particular brand of fruitcake. \"It reminds me of my mother's,\" he told me in a phone call. Ordering the fruitcake was his way of trying to take care of me from afar. \"It should arrive the first week of December,\" he said. \"As soon as you get it, let me know what you think.\" The first week of December passed with no sign of his fruitcake. Delayed by holiday mail, I assumed, or a backlog of orders.

The day before my flight to California, the fruitcake still had not arrived. When I arrived at my parents' house,

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he said, \"Did you get the fruitcake?\" \"No, but I'm sure it'll be there when I go home.\"

As soon as the word left my lips, I realized that home, for them, was a kind of triggering（触发）word. Because wasn't this home? Wasn't I home now, with my parents greeting me, asking whether I was hungry after the long flight?

January, February, and March came and went with no fruitcake. Though my father continued to ask about it, I never once considered lying and telling him yes, the fruitcake had finally arrived and was delicious. Instead I said, \"That cake is traveling earth, and sooner or later it will land.\"

\"That's a good one!\" he said,

His sense of humor never wavered, and as time went on he would bring up the journey of his fruitcake now and then.

\"I wonder where it is now,\" he'd say.

\"It's taken a detour（绕道）to Pluto（冥王星）.\" He liked that one too.

\"Do you want me to order another, in case it never comes?\"

\"That's OK. Dad. I said. \"I'll wait for this one. It'll taste even better after touring the universe.\"

Early last December, nearly a year after my father died from a failing heart, I got a call from a staffer at the front desk of my apartment building.

\"You have a package,\" he said.

24. Why did the author's father purchase a fruitcake for her a few years ago? A. Because her father missed his own mother so much. B. Because her father was concerned about her very much. C. Because her father knew she was too busy to buy one herself.

D. Because her father wanted to share a particular brand of fruitcake with her.

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25. Which word can be used to describe the author's feeling in paragraph 4?

A. Regretful. B. Shocked. C. Unbelievable. D. Heartbroken. 26. What can we know about the fruitcake according to the text? A. It was touring the universe. B. It failed to reach the author.

C. It arrived after the author's father died. D. It was sent to her before she left for California. 27. What is the best title for the text?

A. A Late Call. B. Dad's Package. C. Adventure of a Gift. D. Grandma's Fruitcake.

C

Listening to new music is hard. Not hard compared to going to space or war, but hard compared to listening to music we already know.

There is a physiological explanation in our desire to seek comfort in the familiar. It can help us understand why listening to new music is so hard, and why it can make us feel uneasy, angry, or even riotous（的）. It has to do with the plasticity of our brains.

When it comes to hearing music, a network of nerves in the auditory cortex called the corticofugal（离皮质的） network helps classify the different patterns of music. When a specific sound maps onto a pattern, our brains release an amount of dopamine（多巴胺）, the main chemical source of some of our most intense emotions. This is the essential reason why music triggers such powerful emotional reactions.

Take the chorus of a song by Adele or Bruce Springsteen, many of which have very recognizable melody. The majority of our brains have memorized these melodies and know exactly what to expect when each comes around. When the corticofugal network registers that Springsteen chorus, our brains release just the right amount of dopamine.

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But when we hear something that hasn't already been mapped onto the brain, the corticofugal network goes a bit out of control, and our brains release too much dopamine as a response. When there is no map or pattern to attach to, music can register as unpleasant or bad.

That's what happened one night in Paris in 1913. The piece that was shown at the Théatre des Champs- élysées for the first time that night was Igor Stravinsky's The Rite of Spring. As described in the daily newspaper Le Figaro, many members of the audience could not understand this new music. After the failure of that evening, however, the ballet continued running at the theater for many months. At the second, there was noise only during the latter part of the ballet; at the third, 'thunderous applause' and little protest. At a concert performance of Rite one year later, 'excitement and adoration' swept over the crowd, and admirers surrounded Stravinsky in the street afterward, in a riot of delight.\"

We are built to avoid the uncertainty of newness and our brains actually fight against the unfamiliarity of life. The act of listening to new music is hard, but it's necessary. Our brains change as they recognize new patterns in the world, which is what makes brains useful.

28. According to the passage, why is it hard to listen to new music? A. Because our brains tell us it's unpleasant. B. Because new music tend to be unappealing. C. Because new music can trigger emotional reactions.

D. Because our brains release dopamine when listening to new music. 29. Why do people like the chorus of Adele's song? A. Because it is familiar to us. B. Because it is easy to memorize. C. Because it has a specific sound map. D. Because it affects the network of nerves. 30. What's the purpose of paragraph 6?

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A. To show that people are changeable. B. To introduce an event happening in 1913. C. To appeal to people to listen to new music. D. To prove that people tend to dislike new music. 31. What may be talked about next? A. Ways of listening to new music. B. Other activities that benefit our brains. с. Benefits we can get from listening to new music. D. Reasons why we are built to avoid the uncertainty.

D

In the oceans, concrete（混凝土）is the main construction material, accounting for more than 70% of coastal and marine construction such as ports, coastal defence structures and waterfronts. \"Concrete is damaging in the ocean because, to put it in place, natural ecosystems are destroyed,\" says Alex Rogers, director of science at REV Ocean, a not-for-profit company studying ocean health and raising awareness of global impacts on the marine environment. \"Concrete is a conventional material, and it is low cost. But really, in this day and age, we should be looking at alternative materials that have a lower impact on the environment.\"

Those alternatives might already be here. Among them is a substance called ECOncrete, developed as an eco-friendly concrete. ECOncrete produces bio enhancing concrete products intended to protect coastlines and marine resources. This is achieved by using a mixture made almost entirely of by-products and recycled materials, and is thus nearly carbon neutral. This mixture is combined with up to 70% slag cement（a by product of the steel industry which has a low carbon footprint）and is beneficial for marine concrete thanks to its high chloride（氯化物）resistance. The overall result is a low-carbon concrete.

Furthermore, unlike traditional concrete, which is highly alkaline（碱性的）, the specially designed concrete has a pH value near to that of sea water, which helps to promote the growth of marine species such as crabs,

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molluscs, clams, mussels and oysters. ECC ncrete's products are already in use across eight countries and six different seas, from seawalls in to the Port of Rotterdam.

However. Beth Strain, a lecturer in marine biology and a project leader for Australia's National Centre for Coasts and Climate, says the evidence for eco-friendly concrete as a better surface for marine organisms is very mixed. \"It can be location specific. We did an experiment in 15 harbours around the world with the same type of concrete surface complexity. \"Largely, the results were positive, but in Penang, Malaysia, for example, using eco-friendly concrete that would theoretically retain moisture and be better for organisms to survive on made no difference. Strain thinks this is because of the area's typhoons, which make the area very wet already, so the features of the concrete aren't a big help.

\"There is a degree of difference and each location will have its own environmental challenges,\" says Strain. Nevertheless, from multiple perspectives, it appears that nature-based solutions are definitely the way forward.

32. What can we know about ECOncrete from paragraph 2 and 3? A. It is a substance that is highly alkaline. B. It is a substance made of eco-friendly materials. C. It is a company aiming to keep marine resources safe. D. It is a mixture which is combined with low-carbon concrete. 33. What does Beth Strain's attitude towards eco-friendly concrete? A. Negative. B. Indifferent. C. Objective. D. Supportive. 34. What caused the result in Penang according to Beth Strain?

A. The climate of the area. B. The pH value of sea water. C. The researchers of the project. D. The diversity of marine organism.

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35. Which one may be a possible solutions in the future? A. Invent a new artificial material. B. Install monitors under the oceans. C. Pull down all the coastal constructions. D. Use eco-blocks in coastal constructions. 【答案】 题号 答案 21 A 22 C 23 A 24 B 25 A 26 C 27 B 28 A 29 A 30 D 31 C 32 B 33 C 34 A 35 D 湖北省十堰市2020-2021学年高二上学期期末调研考试英语试题 第二部分阅读（共两节，满分50分）

第一节（共15小题；每小题2.5分，满分37.5分）

阅读下列短文，从每题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中选出最佳选项。

A

Four Great Destination Cities to Visit on a Vacation to Australia

Adelaide

Adelaide, the capital city of South Australia, is known for its beauty and outdoor natural areas, many of which are protected and preserved for the use of the people that live there and those that visit there too. Adelaide has a number of popular attractions including attractive swimming beaches, an exciting nightlife, interesting shopping opportunities, great restaurants, and much more.

Canberra

The city of Canberra dates back to 1913 when it was purposefully built to be the capital of the nation of Australia. It has grown over time to not only be the location of the government of the nation, but also a city in its

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own right with a particular culture and atmosphere of its own. Canberra offers the chance to see the more official side of Australia and learn a little bit about how the country was founded, formed, and how it developed.

Darwin

Unlike other major cities in Australia, Darwin is of the rather small size. Darwin sits in the north-central region of Australia, right on the Timor Sea. The lifestyle in Darwin has been described as laid back by many who have visited there before. A visit to Darwin is a visit to one of Australia's truly unforgettable cities.

Sydney

The most famous, most traveled to, and most popular city in all of Australia is the city of Sydney. Sydney sits on the shores of Sydney Harbour and is an exciting city that offers an unbelievable experience to those travelers. Sydney has been the main point of tourism in Australia for decades and it will continue to be that so long as it keeps offering the amazing experiences that it does right now.

Travel to Australia with Travelocity, get discounts on www. couponcodes. com. 21. What can visitors learn about in Canberra?

A. The development of Australia. B. The outdoor natural areas. C. An exciting art show. D. The attractive swimming beaches. 22. What is Darwin special for compared with the other three places? A. Its position. B. Its history. C. Its size. D. Its attractions. 23. Which city attracts the most tourists?

A. Adelaide. B. Canberra. C. Darwin. D. Sydney.

B

One day, Lisa Holman told her family she would be out that night visiting her friend, only about half an hour

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drive from her house. So it was not alarming as the night grew on and she did not arrive home. As 11 pm passed, her family began to worry. They called her but did not get any answer. They then reached out to Lisa's friend, who said Lisa had left to drive home at 9 that night.

The family thought about calling the police that evening but the police typically don't define a person missing unless there is no contact for 24 hours. The next morning there was still no sign of Lisa. All the family could do was sit home and wait. Lisa's son decided to drive along Lisa's route and carefully look for her. He found Lisa's car had crashed into a tree. What's worse, there was no sign of Lisa at all.

The family called the police. The police began their search. But due to the heavy rain the search team was called back. The family was very disappointed but still hopeful and continued the search. 700 feet from Lisa's car, they finally found Lisa under a rock.

After a few days in hospital, Lisa recovered. She explained that she passed out after her car slid off the road in the rain. After she came to herself, Lisa managed to climb out of the car. While walking to find help, Lisa was exhausted and unable to figure out the direction. So she couldn't walk on and climbed under a rock as it started raining again. Scared as she was, she turned to her faith in hopes of living to see her son again. 24. When should Lisa arrive home after visiting her friend? A. About 9 pm. B. About 9:30 pm. C. About 11 pm. D. The next morning. 25. Why did the family give up calling the police that night? A. The police usually refused to come at night. B. The heavy rain had blocked all the roads up. C. They thought Lisa would come back herself.

D. They had been out of touch with Lisa for less than a day.

26. Who found Lisa under the rock?

A. Lisa's family. B. A hiking team passing by.

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C. The police search team. D. The friend she had visited. 27. Why was Lisa unable to go home by herself? A. She was caught by heavy rain. B. Her legs were badly injured. C. She was locked in her car. D. She was lost.

C

A new app uses Artificial Intelligence（AI）to tell- you what your pet is thinking. It's called Happy Pets and it analyses an animal's facial features, tells you what breed（血统）it is and indicates which of the five most common animal emotions—happy, angry, neutral, sad and scared.

The Happy Pets app uses AI, or machine learning. It's a technology that's used for vision in robotics and self-driving cars and it works by taking in images and assigning importance to them. One common use for AI is in facial recognition technology. Many of us can unlock our mobile phones with an image of our face and it's an important part of security processes in, for instance, airports.

But this is the first time this kind of technology has been used for animals. It then had to learn to recognise facial features. This is sophisticated because photos can be taken in so many different ways: from the side, above, below, in bright light. And different animals can have such different facial features, Think about how different the noses of a border collie（边境牧羊犬）and a bulldog are, for instance, Once the AI behind Happy Pets had learned all this, it then had to be able to detect emotions based on specific facial features that are associated with each emotion, which it has learnt from thousands of examples. For instance, if a dog tightens its eyes and mouth while changing the position of its ears in a particular way, it's a sign of being scared.

In an online article for Melbourne University's Pursuit, the researchers write they're happy with how the app performs. The researchers would love feedback about how they could develop the app further. 28. Which of the following may go beyond Happy Pets' function?

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A. Learning the kinds of pets, B. Teaching pets' facial recognition. C. Showing pets' main feelings. D. Analyzing the pets' facial features.

29. What is the facial recognition technology commonly used as now? A. The robots' eyes. B. The vision of self driving. C. A security system. D. A machine learning system. 30. What does the underlined word \"sophisticated\" in paragraph 3 mean?

A. Typical. B. Complex. C. Scientific. D. Traditional. 31. Why does Happy Pets have to learn to recognize faces? A. Because faces can show animals' feelings. B. Because it wants to have emotions of humans. C. Because it is learning to use facial expressions. D. Because the types of animals are based on the looks.

D

The word \"orange\" describes both a color and a fruit. Which one came first might be surprising. \"Orange\" when used as the name of the fruit came before \"orange\" as a word to describe color. While the shade itself existed before the fruit, there was not a name in the English language for the color. Before the introduction of the fruit to English-speaking countries, the color was usually described as a shade of red or yellow.

In the early 16th century, Portuguese traders brought oranges from India to Europe. The Europeans had not seen the bright colored fruit before and didn't have a name for it. The fruits were named \"narancia\" by Italians and \"narange\" by the French and were sometimes referred to as \"golden apples\" by English speakers.

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\"Orange\" was first used in a phrase to describe shades of colors, including in a third-century Greek text translated into English, in 1576. It describes Alexander the Great's servants as dressed in \"orange colour velvet（天鹅绒）\". In 1578, a Latin-American dictionary defined \"melites\" as \"a precious stone of orange color\". While orange represents the color of the objects, it needed the word \"color\" to follow it in order for the meaning to be clear. In the mid-1590s, Shakespeare described a beard as \"orange tawny\without the word \"color\" as part of the expression. Tawny is a brown color often used on its own. Orange was not yet a color, just a shade of brown.

In 1616, in an account describing varieties of tulips（郁金香）that can be grown, orange was used as a stand-alone color. When Isaac Newton performed his experiments on the color spectrum（色谱）, he listed it as one of the seven basic colors. After almost half a century, orange was recognized as a color on its own. 32. Which is the right time order of the appearance of \"orange\"? A. As a fruit→as a color→the shade itself. B. The shade itself→as a color→as a fruit. C. As a color→the shade itself→as a fruit. D. The shade itself→as a fruit→as a color.

33. What were oranges called by the British in the early 1500s?

A. Melites. B. Narange. C. Golden apples. D. Narancia. 34. Which of the following would be the right usage of \"orange\" in the 16th century? A. My ball is a melite. B. The ball is orange colour. C. The orange ball is beautiful. D. I have an orange ball.

35. What is the best title for the text?

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A. How to plant oranges B. The spread of oranges C. Orange used as a color D. Shakespeare and oranges 湖北省黄冈市2020-2021学年高二上学期期末考试英语试题 第一节（共15小题；每小题2.5分，满分37.5分）

阅读下列短文，从每题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中，选出最佳选项。

A

There are four fantastic films you can’t miss in December. Nomadland

When Fern is widowed, she drives off into the Nevada desert. She soon discovers that she isn’t alone: there is a large community of senior citizens who have been forced to live on the road, supporting themselves with short-term jobs along the way. Written and directed by Chloe Zhao (The Rider), the film is a “hybrid of documentary and fiction”.

Released on 4 Dec. in the US and Canada, and 30 Dec. in France. The Midnight Sky

George Clooney’s science-fiction adventure is set in a post-apocalyptic future. As well as directing and producing, Clooney stars as Augustine, a scientist stationed in an Arctic observatory. He need to contact a spaceship so that he can warn its astronauts (Felicity Jones and David Oyelowo, among others) not to return to the ruined Earth.

On Netflix from 23 Dec. Soul

In the first Pixar cartoon to have an African-American lead character, Jamie Foxx provides the voice of a music teacher who dreams of making it as a jazz pianist in New York. But just after a successful audition, he falls down a manhole, and finds himself in another spiritual world. And things get even stranger from there.

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On Disney from 25 Dec. News of the World

In News of the World, Tom Hanks plays a widowed Civil War solider who makes his living as a storyteller. When he finds a 10-year-old girl who was kidnapped by an indigenous tribe, he takes her across Texas to reunite her with her aunt and uncle. Adapted from the novel by Paulette Jiles.

Released in cinemas n 25 Dec. in the US and Canada, and on 1 Jan. in the UK and Spain. 21. Who is the director of The Midnight Sky? A. Clooney.

B. Augustine.

C. Felicity Jones.

D. David Oyelowo.

22. Which of the following is a cartoon film? A. The Midnight Sky.

B. Soul.

C. News of the World.

D. Nomadland.

23. When can you enjoy the film News of the World in England? A. On 2 Jan.

B. On 26 Dec.

C. On 25 Dec. B

Les Brown was adopted by Mamie Brown, a kitchen worker and maid. Due to the learning disability, Les was placed in special education class throughout high school. Upon graduation, he became a city cleaner in Miami Beach. But he had a dream of being a DJ.

At night, he would take a radio to bed, listening to the talking DJs. He created an imaginary radio station in his tiny room with a hairbrush as his microphone, practicing introducing records to his ghost listeners.

One day, Les bravely went to the local radio station during his lunch break and told the manager he wanted to be a DJ. But the manager told him they had no job for him. The station manager assumed that he had seen the last of this young man. But he underestimated the depth of Les’s devotion to his goal. You see, Les had a higher purpose than simply wanting to be a DJ—buying a nicer house for his adoptive mother.

And so Les returned to the station every day for a week, asking if there were any job openings. Finally the station manager gave in and took him on as an errand (差事) boy—at no pay. Les did whatever was asked of him

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D. On 30 Dec.

at the station, and more. While hanging out with the DJs, he taught himself their hand movements on the control panel. Then, back in his bedroom at night, he practiced and prepared himself for the opportunity that he knew would present itself.

One afternoon, a DJ named Rock was drinking while on the air. Les was the only other person in the building. Only minutes after the program was on, the phone rang. It was the station manager Mr. Klein, who asked whether he knew how to work the controls in the studio. That afternoon, he impressed the audience and his general manager. From then on, Les went on to a successful career in broadcasting, politics, public speaking and television.

24. What led to Les’s being put in special education class? A. His poor family.

B. His difficulty in learning. D. His dream of being a DJ.

C. His physical disability. 25. What was Les’s final goal? A. To become a DJ at a radio station. C. To create his own radio station.

26. Why did he get a job at the radio station at last? A. Because he was ready for the job. C. Because he loved the job very much. 27. What can we learn from Les’s story? A. No pains, no gains.

B. To buy a better house for Mamie Brown. D. To realize the dream of his adoptive mother.

B. Because he went there every day.

D. Because his persistence moved the manager.

B. Practice makes perfect. D. Interest is the key to success. C

C. Opportunity favors those prepared.

A few minutes of looking into a deep red light could have a dramatic effect on preventing eyesight decline as we age, according to a newstudy published this week in the Journals of Gerontology.

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“You don’t need to use it for very long to start getting a strong result.” said lead author Glen Jeffery, a professor of neuroscience at University College London’s Institute of Ophthalmology. The study was small, an experimental study to test the concept. Researchers recruited 12 men and 12 women, whose ages ranged from 28 to 72. Each participant was given a small handheld flashlight that emitted a red light with a wavelength of 670 nanometers. They spent three minutes each day looking into the light over a period of two weeks.

The lights work on both cones (视锥细胞) and rods (视杆细胞) in the eye. Cones are photo receptor cells that detect color and work best in well-lit situations. Rods, which are much more plentiful, are retina cells that specialize in helping us see in dim light, according to the American of Ophthalmology. Researchers measured the cone function in subjects’ eyes by having them identify colored letters with low contrast. And they measured their eyes’ rod sensitivity by asking them to detect light signals in the dark.

There was a 14% improvement in the ability to see colors, or cone color contrast sensitivity, for the entire two dozen participants. Improvement, however, was most significant in study participants over age 40. For those ages, cone color contrast sensitivity rose by 20% over the course of the study.

That age group also saw significant increases in rod threshold, that is the ability to see in low light. Study participants under 40 also experienced some improvement, but didn’t see the same jump as older subjects. Younger eyes haven’t declined as much as older eyes.

“The retina ages faster than any other organ in your body.” Jeffery said. “From an evolutionary viewpoint, they fundamentally have never lived past 40. Now, of course, we regularly live well beyond that age, and need ways to care for the organs that have been the most likely to wear out earliest in life. But more studies are needed to prove it helps.”

28. What do we know about the study? A. 24 old people took part in the test. B. Each participant has good eyesight.

C. All the participants were tested for their eyes’ cone and rod sensitivity. D. The participants were asked to detect light signal in well-lit situation.

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29. What does the study led by Glen Jeffery find? A. Cone sensitivity rose by 20% for those under 40. B. Younger participants haven’t get any improvement. C. Older eyes haven’t declined as much as younger eyes.

D. The participants over 40 have increases in the ability to see in the dark. 30. What does Jeffery mean in the last paragraph? A. It’s easy to protect our organs. C. Our organs never last past 40 years. 31. What is the text mainly about?

A. Using a flashlight can improve people’s eyesight. B. Looking into a red light can lead to good eyesight.

C. Declining eyesight can be improved by looking at a red light. D. Light can raise eyes’ cone and rod sensitivity.

D

I have always found the Chinese to be a very polite people. In particular, Chinese frequently compliment (称赞) foreign friends on their language skills, knowledge of Chinese culture, professional accomplishments, and personal health. Curiously, however, Chinese are as loath to accept a compliment as they are eager to give one. As many of my Chinese friends have explained, this is a sign of the Chinese virtue of modesty.

I have noticed a difference, though, in the degree to which modesty is emphasized in the United States and China. In the US, we tend to place more emphasis on “seeking the truth from fact”, thus, Americans tend to accept a compliment with gratitude.

Chinese, on the other hand, tend to reject the compliment, even when they know they deserve the credit or recognition which has been awarded them. I can imagine a Chinese basketball fan meeting Michael Jordan of the

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B. He will carry out further research. D. The research has benefits many people.

Chicago Bulls. He might say, “Mr. Jordan, I am so happy to meet you. I just want to tell you, you are the best basketball player in the world; you’re the greatest!” to which Jordan would probably respond, “Thank you very much. I really appreciate it! I just to try to do my best every time I step on the court.” If an American met Deng Yaping, China’s premier pingpong player, he might say much the same thing: “Ms. Deng, you’re the best!” but as a Chinese, Deng would probably say, “No, I really don’t play all that well. You’re too much kind.”

Plainly, Americans and Chinese have different ways of responding to praise. Ironically, many Americans might consider Ms. Deng’s response the less modest, because it is less truthful—and therefore less sincere. Americans generally place sincerity above manners; genuine gratitude for the praise serves as a substitute for protestations of modesty. After all, in the words of one of my closest Chinese friends, modesty taken to the extreme is pride.

32. What does the underlined word “loath” in paragraph 1 refer to? A. Polite.

B. Uncertain.

C. Curious.

D. Unwilling.

33. Why does the author mention Michael Jordan and Deng Yaping? A. To note they do as much as they can each time they play against others. B. To remind readers they are the best players in basketball and table tennis. C. To explain they deserve the credit or recognition for their great contributions. D. To show they as Chinese and Americans are different in accepting praise. 34. Why do Americans consider Ms. Deng’s response the less modest? A. They think sincerity matters the most. C. They think she is too modest to believe.

B. They think her reply is against the fact. D. They think manners is more important.

35. In what column can you find this passage in a newspaper? A. Education. 【答案】

B. Sports.

C. Culture.

D. People.

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阅读：21-23ABA 24-27BBDC 28-31CDBC 32-35DDAC 湖北省新高考联考协作体2020-2021学年高二上学期期末考试英语试题 第二部分阅读理解（共两节，满分50分）

第一节（共15小题；每小题2. 5分，满分37. 5分）

阅读下列短文，从每题所给的A、B、C和D四个选项中选出最佳选项。

A

Discover Britain through Literature

I would like to take you on a journey through Great Britain. You can stay exactly where you are: no passport needed, no flight necessary, just great eagerness to explore. Through these novels you will be able to transport yourself and discover the beauty and the culture of Great Britain. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

Jane Austen's romantic novel centers around the Bennet family during the 19th century and the importance of marriage and societal （社会的）expectations, the style of the novel is mocking（嘲讽的）and the author uses exaggerated characters to make fun of the society.

Setting: Longbourn （a fictional town） in Hertfordshire Author: English

Compare your imagination with the real thing and visit Chatsworth House in Derbyshire. The Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling

Witches, wizards and wands. It's highly unlikely that you've managed to avoid hearing of Harry Potter. It is a fantastic series of novels which can make you believe in magic and believe that anything is possible. Setting: Hogwarts （fiction, or is it?） Author: Scottish

Make the magic come alive and visit: Alnwick Castle in Northumberland, Warner Bros Studios in Watford and

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Glenfinnan Viaduct.

Sherlock Holmes stories by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

One of the most famous detectives of all time, Sherlock Holmes, uses his high intelligence and observation skills to solve mysteries. Setting: London Author: Scottish

Are you a good enough detective to understand who Sherlock Holmes is? If not, visit “The Real Sherlock Holmes Walking Tour\" in Edinburgh. Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens

“Please, sir, I want some more.\" The novel follows Oliver's life as an orphan in London and the characters he met while living in the streets. Setting: London Author: English Ulysses by James Joyce

The story follows Leopold Bloom and what happened on 16 June 1904. This is a tricky read but it is often thought of as one of the best novels in British literature. Setting: Dublin Author: Irish

21. Why does the author write the whole passage? A. Because he wants to attract readers to buy books. B. Because he wants to introduce some famous writers.

C. Because he wants readers to learn about Britain through literature works.

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D. Because he wants readers to pay a visit to Britain .

22. If you are interested in books about handling mysteries, whose novels will you read?

A. J.K.Rowling B. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle C. Jane Austen D . James Joyce 23. What can we know after reading Oliver Twist? A. Oliver wants to be a detective. C. Oliver comes from Dublin.

B

One year, our son Tom, who was six years old, asked for a new sound system. \"Please bring me a new stereo so I don't have to listen to my dad's old music,\" he told the shop's Santa. Jenny and I took note.

On Christmas Eve, we let Tom sleep in our bed at the back of the house, where the sound of Santa wouldn't wake him. Then I went to my NASA-level workshop in the spare bedroom and spent the whole night putting together that stereo.

At one point, I took a break to move Tom from our bed to his—he was afraid that Santa might think he wasn't home and would forget to leave presents behind. He moved a bit while I carried him but never opened his eyes. At last, I finished the stereo and positioned it by the tree. Jenny and I fell asleep early that Christmas morning, filled with satisfaction. At 7 a.m., Tom woke us up and led us to the Christmas tree in the hall. He fell in love with the sound system.

A few days passed, and Tom asked me a surprising question. \"Dad, how did I get from your bed to mine?\" Ever the clever one, I said, \"Santa moved you! Isn't that fun?” He said nothing, walking into the hall and looking closely at the floor. He came back, arms folded. \"Dad, we need to talk, but Mom can't hear. You are Santa Claus! Look at the wheel marks on the carpet. The stereo was rolled out of that bedroom and down the hallway.\" I was shocked. He was only six.

His big concern was that we should not tell his mother, because he was certain she didn't know. \"It will be our little secret forever,\" I told him, much to his delight. \"We men have to stick together.\"

B. Oliver is a rich man. D. Oliver is an orphan.

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After that, Tom got to be Santa on Christmas when we donated presents to a needy family—he just loved it.

24. Why did Tom's parents move Tom from their bed to his? A. Because they wanted him to sleep alone.

B. Because they knew his worry that he would possibly miss Santa's presents. C. Because they wanted to put together the stereo. D. Because they would prepare another gift for him.

25. For what reason did Tom want to communicate with his father?

A. He didn't want his mother to hear.

B. He discovered the wheel marks on the floor. C・ He wanted to confirm that his father was Santa. D. He saw his father putting together the stereo at night. 26. From the story, how do you find Tom?

A. Smart and kind B. Considerate and curious C. Naughty and aggressive D. Responsible and cautious 27. What is the best title of the text?

A. The secret well keep forever B. The gift Tom likes best C. The holiday I'll never forget

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D. The kid I've teased

C

One of China's biggest smartphone makers has never sold a phone in the country. Yet thousands of miles away, it dominates markets across Africa. Unknown in the West, Transsion has left global players like Samsung and Apple trailing in its wake in a continent that's home to more than a billion people.

In cities like Lagos, Nairobi and Addis Ababa, busy streets are filled with the bright blue shops of Transsion's brand. In China, the company doesn't have a single store, and its headquarter in the southern city of Shenzhen goes largely unnoticed among the names of more famous Chinese tech firms.

The company took a different path to success from other top Chinese smartphone makers such as Huawei and Xiaomi, which started out in China before eventually expanding overseas. Transsion built its business in Africa. And it has no plans to come home.

In Edna Mall in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, Mesert Baru poses for her Tecno Camon i. \"This phone is seriously nice for selfies,\" says the 35-year-old shop assistant, admiring the picture she just took.

Mesert's satisfaction is no accident. The vice president of Transsion explained, \"Our cameras adjust more light for darker skin, so the photograph is more beautiful, he says. \"That's one of the reasons why we've become successful.\"

Transsion's founder George Zhu had spent nearly a decade traveling to Africa as a head of sales for another mobile phone company when he realized that selling Africans handsets, which were made for developed countries, was the wrong approach.

In 2006, Zhu launched Tecno in Nigeria, which has the most population in Africa . From the start, the company's motto was “think global, act local”, which meant making phones that met Africans, special needs.

Transsion opened research and development centers in China, Nigeria and Kenya to work out how to better appeal to African users. Local languages such as Amharic, Hausa and Swahili were added to keyboards and phones were given a longer battery life.

In Nigeria, South Africa and Ethiopia, for example, the government frequently shuts off electricity to conserve power, leaving people unable to charge their phones for hours. In less developed markets, such as the

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Democratic Republic of Congo, Chowdhury says, consumers might have to walk 30 kilometers to charge their phones at the local market and have to pay to do so. \"For those consumers, longer battery life is a blessing,\" he adds.

28. In which country do Transsion phones sell best? A. China. B. Africa. C. Korea. D. America. 29. From the whole passage, we can infer that. A. the headquarter of Transsion is in Africa B. Africans like taking pictures with their cameras C. Nigeria has the most population in the world

D. Satisfying the needs of Africans made Transsion popular 30. Which word can replace the underlined word “handsets”？ A. watches. B. keyboards. C. cameras. D. mobile phones. 31. What quality of mobile phones attracts African users most? A. Longer battery. C. More functions.

B. Lower prices. D. Easier operation

D

Appealing to rich people's desire to control events is a better tactic to get them to donate to the charity, rather than their community spirit. That's the finding of a psychological study building on previous research which found that the wealthy people value the ability to control the outcome of different events compared to lower-income people.

Donations from high earners were 1.5 times larger when researchers tailored（定制）the words of letters requesting financial support to play on this desire.

Experts from Harvard University wrote to 12,000 alumni of an Ivy League business school—who were

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earning $ 100,000 （£ 80,000） per year or more—asking them to donate to the school. Two sets of letters were sent out—one saying the “community” needed to take action, while the other called on individual action. The letter were phrased respectively as \"Sometimes, one community needs to come forward and support a common goal\" or \"Sometimes, one person needs to come forward and take individual action”.

Respondents to the second letter gave $ 432 （£ 340） on average compared to the $ 270 （£ 215） average from the first group.

New Scientist Ashley Whillans, who led the research, said, \"We think that giving high-income earners a sense of control makes them want to give more.” 32. What is the finding of the psychological study?

A. Community spirit is more important in getting donation.

B. Meeting wealthy people's desire of controlling events can get more donation. C. Wealthy people do not care about their community spirit at all. D. Lower-income people are more likely to control the result of events. 33. What does the underlined word them refer to in the third paragraph?

A. experts. C. events.

B. letters. D. alumni.

34. According to the passage, which of the following messages can get more donation?

A. Your help can benefit the blind boy. B. Let's take action for a common goal. C. It's necessary to help the blind boy.

D. Our community works together to help the blind boy. 35. The author writes the passage in order to.

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A. assist the poor to lead a meaningful life

B. stress the impact of the rich's controlling desire on donation C. appeal to more people to focus on the poor's feeling D. persuade the rich to donate more to the charity 【答案】A篇：21-23 CBD

B篇：24-27 BCAA C篇：28-31 BDDA

D篇：32-35 BDAB

湖北省通城二中2020-2021学年高二上学期期末考试英语试题

第二部分 阅读理解 （共两节，满分50分） 第一节 (共15小题；每小题2.5分，满分37.5分)

阅读下列短文，从每题所给的A、B、C和D四个选项中，选出最佳选项。

A

Two things changed my life: my mother and a white, plastic, daisy bike basket. I have thought long and hard about it and it’s true. I would be a different person if my mom hadn’t turned a silly bicycle accessory(配件) into a life lesson I carry with me today.

It was summer and, one day, my mother drove me to the bike shop to get a tire fixed---and there it was in the window. White, shiny, plastic and decorated with daisies, the basket seemed so appealing and I knew I had to have it.

“Mom, please can I please, please get it? I’ll do extra chores for as long as you say. I’ll do anything, but I need that basket. Please, Mom. Please?”

“You know,” she said, gently rubbing my back while we both stared at what I believed was the coolest thing ever, “If you save up, you could buy this yourself.”

“By the time I make enough it’ll be gone!’

“Maybe Roger here could hold it for you,” She smiled at Roger, the bike guy.

“For that long? He can’t hold it for that long, Mom. Someone else will buy it. Please, Mom, please?” “There might be another choice,” she said. My mother bought the beautiful basket and put it safely out of reach in some hiding place I couldn’t find. Each week I eagerly counted my growing nest egg earned by extra work here and there (washing the car, helping my mother make dinner,delivering milk around the neighborhood). And then, weeks later maybe, I counted, re-counted and jumped for joy. Oh, happy day! I made it! I finally had the exact amount we’d agreed upon.

Days later, the unthinkable happened. A neighborhood girl I’d played with millions of times appeared with the exact same basket fixed to her shiny, new bike that already had all the bells and whistles. I rode my bike fast home to tell my mother about this disaster, this horrible turn of events. And then came the lesson I’ve taken with me through my life: “Honey, your basket is extra-special,” Mom said, gently wiping away my hot tears. “Your basket is special because you paid for it yourself.” 21.In Paragraph 1, the writer shows a sense of _________.

A.loneliness B.regret C.brightness

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D.gratitude

22 The writer finally got the basket she desired by _________.

A.working and saving B.crying and begging C.waiting and sharing D.borrowing and returning 23.What lesson did the mother want to teach her children?

A.After rain comes fair weather. B.The fruit of one’s labor tastes sweeter. C.Hard work leads to success. D.Tolerance and patience bring happiness.

B

Over 30 years of camping vacations, Russ Fee had never experienced or heard of a wolf attack. That changed last August while he was camping with his wife and two sons at Banff National Park. At around midnight, Fee woke to the sound of panicked voices calling for help. He knew there was another family with two sons, aged five and seven, at the next campsite, and went to investigate.

As Fee approached, he caught sight of an animal's rear legs protruding from a collapsing tent legs too large to belong to a dog. Fee ran up and kicked the animal. Startled, it backed out of the tent. Suddenly, Fee was standing face-to-face with a wolf. “That was a terrifying moment,”he recalls. Matt Rispoli, the neighbouring dad, jumped out of the collapsed tent covered in blood. Moments earlier, the wolf had bitten through the tent, puncturing his arm and tearing the material. Both men shouted and threw rocks at the wolf to scare it away.

The wolf backed off long enough for the Rispolis to pile into the Fees’van. Since there was no cell service, Fee drove the family to a nearby hotel, where staff called 911. Rispoli, who only needed stitches, was grateful for Fee coming to his family’s rescue. The Park Personnel euthanized (使安乐死)the wolf later that night — the rare attack was likely because the wolf was near starvation.

The Fees still kept in touch with the Rispolis over Facebook and even exchanged Christmas gifts last year. “It easily could have been my family who got attacked,”says Fee. “We were all fortunate in the end. ” 24. What did Russ Fee experience last August at Baff National Park? A. He woke up the family camping at the next campsite. B. He experienced a wolf attack while camping there. C.He camped there with his family and some friends. D. He made investigations to the park after hearing the sound. 25. What did Russ Fee find when he came near to the tent?

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A .Matt got injured and was bleeding.

B.. The Rispolis were throwing rocks at the wolf. C. Matt was standing in front of the wolf. D. The Rispolis were biting and tearing the tent. 26. What can be inferred from the passage?

A. A wolf attack seldom happened at Baff National Park. B. Fee was very brave and felt excited when facing the wolf. C. The Fees thought they were unlucky to meet the Rispolis. D. The workers at the park drove the Rispolis to a nearby hotel. 27. What’s the best title for the text? A.An unexpected reunion with the Rispolis. B.A starving wolf at Baff National Park. C. An unforgettable camping experience. D.A terrible wolf attack at Baff National Park.

C

If you've ever taken a road trip through Georgia or Alabama, you've noticed the fields of kudzu（野葛（from which towering leafy figures turn up. These \"kudzu monsters\" are fascinating to look at, but their funny appearance hides an ecological reality.

Kudzu's initial introduction into the US in 1876 was intended to provide farmers in Pennsylvania with a cover plant to fight against soil erosion（流失（. A few years later, the vine（藤（was marketed widely in the Southeast as a decoration for shading homes. By the mid-1940s, an estimated 3 million acres of kudzu had been planted with the help of government support

As the South's economy and industry shifted in the mid-20th century, however, rural farmers began moving away for jobs in more urban areas, leaving their kudzu plants behind to multiply unchecked. Spreading at a rate

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of about 2,500 acres per year, it wasn't long before the plant earned the name “the vine that ate the South”.

The most obvious methods to control kudzu include regular weeding and herbicidal use, but because those efforts have gained little long-term success over time, efforts to control kudzu have increasingly turned to more biological treatments, such as insects that eat the vine and even animals eating its leaves. With a small herd of goats or sheep, an acre of kudzu can be polished off in a single day.

Goats and sheep shouldn't have all the fun, though! Believe it or not, there are plenty of human-friendly kudzu recipes that are surprisingly palatable. Although the vines cannot be eaten, pretty much everything else is mouth-watering. The leaves can be cooked, eaten raw in a salad. The flowers can be used in jams, jellies, candy and even wine. The roots, which are filled with plenty of protein, fiber and iron, can be ground up and used for cooking.

28. What is the original function of kudzu in the US? A. Providing shade for the farmers' houses.

B. Scaring the wild animals near the house. C.Decorating the farmers' houses and farms. D. Protecting soil from being washed away.

29. Why did kudzu plants grow crazily in the mid-20th century? A. Fewer farmers remained to deal with them. B. The suitable climate promoted their growth. C. The government demanded their abundance. D. Farmers grew them to gain financial benefits. 30. What can we learn about kudzu from paragraph 4? A. It's pretty easy to take control of it forever. B. Goats and sheep are not fond of eating its leaves C. .Traditional ways to control it work temporarily. D. Biological treatments of ridding it are in question.

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31. What does the word “palatable” underlined in the last paragraph probably mean? A. Delicious. B. Rare. C. Expensive. D.Controversial.

D

Intelligent people are more likely to trust others, while those who score lower on measures of

intelligence are less likely to do so. Oxford university researchers based their findings on an analysis of the General Social Survey.

The authors say one explanation could be that more intelligent individuals are better at judging characters and may spend more time building relationships with people they can trust.Another reason could be that smarter people are better at weighing up situations and assessing whether or not the other person will keep his or her side of a bargain.

“Intelligence is shown to be linked with trusting others,”said the study’s lead author, Noah Carl of Oxford University. “This finding supports what other researchers have argued, namely that being a good judge of characters is a distinct part of human intelligence.”

In addition, the study shows that individuals who are more trusting are also happier with their lives and have higher levels of physical health. The Oxford researchers found, however, that the links between trust and health, and between trust and happiness, are not explained by intelligence.The findings confirmed that trust is a valuable resource for an individual, and is not simply a measure of intelligence.

The authors say the research is significant because the study of social trust could have far-reaching implications for public welfare, as social trust contributes to the success of important social institutions, such as welfare systems and financial markets.According to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, trust is in increasingly short supply in the current generation. This decline threatens world leaders’ability to handle some of today’s key challenges like global warming, and the political systems. There are good reasons to think that governments should try to develop more trust in society.

“Distrust usually causes friction in personal relationships, careers and politics among people,” says Stephen Covey. Although the majority of people say that trust can never be restored once it’s broken, Stephen feels it can be brought back. “It’s not easy, and it takes time, but you do it through your behavior, not just things you say.”

32.It can be concluded from the analysis of the General Social Survey that ______.

A. intelligent individuals spend less time on interpersonal relationships B. judgment of characters determines the level of intelligence C. intelligent people tend to show more trust in others

D. intelligence accounts for the connection between trust and health 33.What does the underlined phrase in Paragraph 2 probably mean?

A. .stick to one’s promise as agreed. B. make the best of a situation

C. figure out the true value of a bargain. D. make an assessment of a deal

34.According to the research, higher level of social trust is _______.

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A. a basic step to deal with global warming

B. a contributing factor to successful public institutions C. a decisive basis for stable political systems D. a complete solution to interpersonal conflicts

35.When it comes to rebuilding trust, Stephen is most likely to agree that _____.

A. behavior is a mirror in which everyone shows his image B. behavior is largely determined by mind C. action is the proper fruit of knowledge D. actions always speak louder than words

（（（（21-23 DAB

24-27 BAAD 28-31DACA 32-35 CABD

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