2016届高考英语二轮专题总复习精选综合能力专练：阅读理解14
Audrey Hepburn won an Academy Award as Best Actress for her first major American movie, Roman Holiday, which was released in 1953. But she is remembered as much for her aid work as for her acting.
Born in Belgium in 1929, Audrey’ s father was British and her mother was Dutch.
Audrey was sent to live at a British school for part of her childhood. During World War II , she lived and studied in the Netherlands. Her mother thought it would be safe from German attacks. Audrey studied dance as a teenager and during college when she returned to London after the war. But she realized she wasn’ t going to be a ballerina. So she began taking acting parts in stage shows. Later she began to get small parts in movies.
But it was Audrey Hepburn’ s move to America that brought her true fame. In 1951 she played the character “Gigi” in the Broadway play of the same name to great critical praise. Two years later, Roman Holiday made her a star at the age of 24.
Audrey made more than 25 movies. Among her most popular roles was Holly Golightly in Breakfast at Tiffany’s in 1961. Three years later she played Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady.
She was married two times and had one son by each husband. In 1989, the UN Children’ s Fund named Audrey a goodwill ambassador. She travelled all over the world in support of UNICEF projects. The UN agency said she was a tireless worker. She often gave 15 interviews a day to gain money and support for UNICEF projects.
Audrey Hepburn often said her loyalty to UNICEF was the result of her experiences as a child during World War Ⅱ. She said she knew what it was like to be starving and to be saved by international aid. She was a goodwill ambassador until her death in 1993 from colon cancer.
[语篇解读] 本文介绍著名影星Audrey Hepburn(奥黛丽·赫本)的生平事迹。1953年主演的《罗马假日》使她一举成名。从1989年直至1993年去世，赫本一直担任联合国儿童基金会的特使，为拉美和非洲儿童提供了很大帮助。
1．In Paragraph 1, “her aid work” means ________.
A. winning an Academy Award as Best Actress
B. taking acting parts in stage shows
C. making movies
D. acting as a goodwill ambassador for UNICEF
[解析] 推理判断题。此题应根据全文内容来判断。第一段是全文的概括，其重心在后面，即奥黛丽·赫本尽管获得奥斯卡最佳女主角奖，但她担当的援助工作同样使人铭记。再结合文章接下来的叙述可知答案为D。
[答案] D
2．The reason why Audrey lived and studied in the Netherlands was that ________.
A. she wanted to be a ballerina
B. her parents were from Britain
C. the education there was excellent
D. it was safe there
[解析] 细节理解题。根据第三段中的“Her mother thought it would be safe from German attacks”和“she returned to London after the war”可知D项正确。
[答案] D
3．We can infer from the passage that ________.
A. Audrey’ s parents lived in Germany during World War Ⅱ
B. Audrey lived in America in the 1950s
C. Audrey was made to give up dancing
D. the character “Gigi” in the Broadway play was her most popular role
[解析] 推理判断题。根据第二段和第三段前半部分可知，A项错误；根据第三段中“she realized she wasn’t going to be a ballerina”可知是她主动放弃的，C项错误；根据第四段中“In 1951 she played the character‘Gigi’in the Broadway play”及后文可判断，这个角色并不是她扮演的最有名的角色，因此D项错误。由文章第四、五两段可知B项正确。
[答案] B
4．________is NOT mentioned in the passage about Audrey Hepburn.
A. Marriage
B. Identity
C. Contribution
D. Religion
[解析] 细节理解题。可以运用排除法。她的婚姻、身份和贡献在文章中都提到了，唯独没有提及她的宗教信仰，故选D。
[答案] D
5．________is the right order for Audrey’ s life.
①The first time she began to play in movies.
②She returned to London from the Netherlands.
③She won an Academy Award as Best Actress.
④She travelled all over the world in support of UNICEF projects.
⑤She played a part in My Fair Lady.
A．②①③⑤④
B. ①②③⑤④
C. ②①⑤③④
D. ①②⑤③④
[解析] 排列顺序题。结合文章内容可以判断A项顺序正确。
[答案] A
[长难句解读] But it was Audrey Hepburn’s move to America that brought her true fame.是奥黛丽·赫本移居美国给她带来了真正的名声。这是一个强调句型，强调主语Audrey Hepburn’s move to America。
The world is not coming to an end on December 21, 2012, the US space agency insisted Monday in a rare campaign to dispel widespread rumors fueled by the Internet and a new Hollywood movie.
The latest big screen offering from Sony Picture, 2012, arrives in theaters on Friday, with a 200milliondollar production about the end of the world supposedly based on myths (虚构的故事) backed by the Mayan calendar. It is claimed that the end of time will come as a Planet X — or Nibiru — heads toward or collides with the Earth.
Some websites accuse NASA of hiding the truth on the planet’ s existence, but the US space agency denounced such stories as an “Internet hoax(恶作剧) ”. “There is no factual basis for these claims，” NASA said in a questionandanswer posting on its website. “If such a collision were real, astronomers would have been tracking it for at least the past decade, and it would be visible by now to the naked eye. Obviously, it does not exist. Credible scientists worldwide know of no threat associated with 2012，” it insisted. “After all, our planet has been getting along just well for more than four billion years，” added NASA.
There is another planet, Eris, floating in space. But the small planet similar to Pluto will remain safely fixed in the outer solar system and it can come no closer than four billion miles to the Earth, according to NASA.
Initial theories set the disaster for May 2003, but when nothing happened the date was moved forward to the winter in 2012 to coincide with the end of a cycle of the ancient Mayan calendar.
NASA insisted the Mayan calendar in fact does not end on December 21, 2012, as another period begins immediately afterward.
And even if the planets were to line up as some have forecast, the effect on our planet would be “negligible”， NASA said.
“And while comets and asteroids (小行星) have always hit the Earth, big hits are very rare，” NASA noted. The last major impact was believed to be 65 million years ago，resulting in the end of dinosaurs.
“We have already determined that there are no threatening asteroids as large as the one that killed the dinosaurs，” the space agency said.
[语篇解读] 好莱坞灾难大片《2012》使网络上盛传的“2012年12月21日为世界末日”这一所谓的玛雅预言再次进入人们的视野。为此，美国宇航局重申，2012年12月21日并不是世界末日，传言中的X星球将与地球相撞也并不属实。
1．________played a key role in the spread of the rumors.
A. A new book
B. The Internet and a new Hollywood movie
C. NASA
D. An Indian calendar
[解析] 细节理解题。根据第一段中to dispel widespread rumors fueled by the Intermet and a new Hollywood movie可知因特网和一部好莱坞新片对传播世界末日的谣言起到了推波助澜的作用。
[答案] B
2．The film 2012 is________.
A. about the end of the world
B. based on the scientific prediction
C. well accepted in the science field
D. about a romantic love story
[解析] 细节理解题。根据第二段第一句可知《2012》这部电影是关于世界末日的。根据文章内容可先排除D项；由第二段中based on myths(虚构的故事)可知B项错误；由宇航局的讲话可推出C项错误。
[答案] A
3．We can infer that________.
A. people didn’t take the rumor seriously
B. Planet X — or Nibiru does exist
C. astronomers have been tracking Planet X for over ten years
D. the rumor caused a panic among some people
[解析] 推理判断题。根据the US space agency insisted Monday in a rare campaign to dispel widespread rumors可知谣言传播之广以至于美国宇航局不得不出来辟谣，由此可见事态严重，故可判断谣言有可能造成了一些人的恐慌。
[答案] D
4．NASA thinks that Eris________.
A. might pose a threat to the Earth
B. doesn’t pose any threat to the Earth
C. is too far away to be visible
D. is similar to our planet, where life might exist
[解析] 细节理解题。根据第四段内容可知Eris行星并没有对我们的地球构成威胁。
[答案] B
5. Which of the following is the best title?
A. New Hollywood movie 2012
B. December 21, 2012, NOT the end of the world
C. End of the ancient Mayan calendar
D. How rumors came into being
[解析] 主旨大意题。本文主要讲美国宇航局驳斥“2012年12月21日是世界末日”的谣言。故B项为最佳标题。
[答案] B
[长难句解读] The latest big screen offering from Sony Picture, 2012, arrives in theaters on Friday, with a 200milliondollar production about the end of the world supposedly based on myths(虚构的故事) backed by the Mayan calendar.
本句为简单句。句子的主语为The latest big screen offering，意为“最新银幕作品”。介词短语“with a．..”作状语。过去分词短语supposedly based on myths作定语，修饰the end of the world。过去分词短语backed by the Mayan calendar作定语，修饰myths。
Angus MacLeod was fifty and he had spent his entire life as a shepherd in the remote mountainous region of northwest Scotland. He had never owned a radio or television nor had he travelled further than forty kilometres from his birthplace. His knowledge of the world was gained only from his brief trips to the village to sell his sheep and buy food. However, he had lately come to rely on the growing number of hillwalkers in the region as sources of international news.
In the spring of 1992, a Spanish student came across Angus high in the mountains. Eager to practise his English he engaged Angus in conversation. The student told Angus of the forthcoming Olympic Games in Barcelona. Excited by the student’s colourful description of Spain and the Games, Angus decided to attend the event in person and two months later arrived in Barcelona.
The ticketless Angus stood outside the stadium with his canny brain working overtime，watching a growing number of individuals entering the stadium through a small entrance at the side. He noticed that they all seemed to be carrying objects. Perhaps they were workmen, he thought. He moved closer and watched.
Within minutes a thin young man came along carrying an extremely long pole.
He approached the official at the door and said “Pole Vault”. The official moved to the side and the man entered. Next came a heavyset man with a spear. Angus wondered how a man could carry such a dangerous weapon in a modern city. The man shouted “Javelin” and was presently admitted. Angus was puzzled. Perhaps they were all connected with security. His puzzlement grew when a huge man appeared with a steel ball in his hand. He shouted “Shot Putt” and walked past the official.
It suddenly dawned on Angus that these people were competitors. He opened his programme and sure enough under the heading “events” he saw the three words the men had said. Angus laughed to himself as a plan began to take shape in his mind. First he needed to buy one or two things.
An hour later he reappeared dressed in a tracksuit with “Scotland” written across the chest.Over his shoulder he carried a roll of barbed wire (铁丝网). Smiling to himself he walked up to the official and as casually as he could, shouted, “Fencing！”
1. Which was Angus’ new way of getting information about the outside world?
A. Travelling from his birthplace.
B. Listening to radio and watching TV.
C. Going to the nearby village to sell sheep.
D. Talking to hillwalkers in the region.
[答案] D
2. What are “Javelin”， “Pole Vault”， “Shot Putt” and “Fencing” in the passage?
A. Olympic events.
B. Names of competitors.
C. Security weapons.
D. Names of countries.
[答案] A
3. From the passage we can learn that________.
A. more and more people went to Scotland to practise their English
B. the Spanish student’s description of his country excited Angus
C. Angus had been planning a trip to Barcelona to see the Olympic Games
D. Angus became a member of the Scottish Olympic team
[答案] B
4. From the passage we know that Angus seemed to be________.
A. poorlyinformed
B. intelligent
C. strongminded
D. athletic
[答案] A
5. What do you expect the official would do in the end?
A. Help him carry the wire.
B. Refuse to let him in.
C. Give him a close inspection.
D. Lead him to the competition.
[答案] B
In the quest for better health, many people turn to doctors, selfhelp books or herbal supplements. But they overlook a powerful weapon that could help them fight illness and depression, speed recovery, slow aging and prolong life: their friends.
Researchers are only now starting to pay attention to the importance of friendship and social networks in overall health. A 10year Australian study found that older people with a large circle of friends were 22 percent less likely to die during the study period than those with fewer friends. A large 2007 study showed an increase of nearly 60 percent in the risk for obesity among people whose friends gained weight. And last year, Harvard researchers reported that strong social ties could promote brain health as we age.
“In general, the role of friendship in our lives isn’ t well appreciated，” said Rebecca G. Adams, a professor of sociology at the University of North Carolina, Greensboro. “There are a lot of things on families and marriage, but very little on friendship. It baffles me. Friendship has a bigger impact on our psychological wellbeing than family relationships.”
Bella DePaulo, a visiting psychology professor at the University of California, Santa Barbara, whose work focuses on single people and friendships, notes that in many studies, friendship has an even greater effect on health than a spouse or a family member.
It isn’ t entirely clear why friendship has such a big effect. It may be because people with strong social ties also have better access to health services and care. Beyond that, however, friendship clearly has a profound psychological effect. People with strong friendships are less likely than others to get colds, perhaps because they have lower stress levels.
Last year, researchers studied 34 students at the University of Virginia, taking them to the base of a steep hill and fitting them with a weighted backpack. They were then asked to estimate the steepness of the hill. Some participants stood next to friends during the exercise, while others were alone.
The students who stood with friends gave lower estimates of the steepness of the hill. And the longer the friends had known each other, the less steep the hill appeared.
“People with stronger friendship networks feel like there is someone they can turn to，” said Karen A．Roberto, director of the center for gerontology (老年医学) at Virginia Tech.“ Friendship is an undervalued resource. The consistent message of these studies is that friends make your life better.”
[语篇解读] 如何保持身心健康？相信每个人对此都很感兴趣并能给出自己的答案。本文作者向我们介绍了一个有利于身心健康的，很重要又长期被人们忽视的因素——友谊。
1．What’ s the main idea of the passage?
A. People should make friends as many as possible.
B. Friendships do great good to human health.
C. People with friends have optimistic attitude.
D. Several studies have been done on friendships.
[解析] 主旨大意题。文章通过几个研究结果说明友谊在促进人类身心健康方面作用巨大。
[答案] B
2．Which of the following is true?
A. People haven’t attached importance to friendships.
B. A friend can replace doctors and selfhelp books.
C. People with many friends may have higher stress levels.
D. People who have friends tend to be fat.
[解析] 正误判断题。从文章第三段可知，人们尚未认识到友谊对人们身心健康的重要性。其他选项均与原文信息不符。
[答案] A
3．The author mentioned the study in the last three paragraphs to indicate that ________.
A. students should climb the steep hill with friends
B. it takes a long time to make friends
C. a friend in need is a friend indeed
D. people accompanied by friends remain optimistic in the face of difficulty
[解析] 推理判断题。倒数第二段中“The students who stood with friends gave lower estimates of the steepness of the hill。”表明与朋友在一起的学生估计出来的坡度更小，这意味着他们面对困难能保持相对乐观的心态。
[答案] D
4．In Paragraph 2 the author aims to tell us ________.
A. friendship has a strong physical effect on people’s health
B. we cannot be too careful when making friends
C. older people are likely to have fewer friends
D. 60 percent of the people without friends will become fat when they get old
[解析] 段落大意题。根据本段开头(主题句)可知答案。而且主题句后的三个研究结论都与“友谊影响身体健康”有关。
[答案] A
5．According to Karen A. Roberto, ________.
A. the effect of friendships is overvalued
B. studies on friendships make our life better
C. friends are more important than family members
D. friends can help each other when faced with problems
[解析] 推理判断题。由文章最后一段的第一句可推断出，有问题的时候朋友之间可以相互帮助，A、B、C三项不符合原文。
[答案] D
[长难句解读]
1.But they overlook a powerful weapon that could help them fight illness and depression, speed recovery, slow aging and prolong life: their friends.
that引导定语从句，修饰a powerful weapon；该定语从句中有四个并列的谓语动词；their friends和a powerful weapon构成同位关系。
2．Bella DePaulo, a visiting psychology professor at the University of California, Santa Barbara, whose work focuses on single people and friendships, notes that in many studies, friendship has an even greater effect on health than a spouse or a family member.
本句中a visiting psychology professor at the University of California，Santa Barbara是Della DePaulo的同位语；whose work focuses on...是定语从句，修饰Bella DePaulo；notes是本句的谓语动词，后面接宾语从句。
“Sesame Street” has been called “the longest street in the world”. That is because the television program by that name can now be seen in so many parts of the world. That program became one of American’s exports soon after it went on the air in New York in 1969.
In the United States more than six million children watch the program regularly. The viewers include more than half the nation’s pre-school children, from every kind of economic(经济的), racial(种族的), and geographical group.
Although some educators object to certain elements in the program, parents praise it highly. Many teachers also consider it a great help, though some teachers find that problems arise when first graders who have learned from “Sesame Street” are in the same class with children who have not watched the program.
Tests have shown that children from all racial, geographical, and economic backgrounds have benefited from watching it. Those who watch it five times a week learn more than occasional(偶然的) viewers. In the US the program is shown at different hours during the week in order to increase the number of children who can watch it regularly.
The programs all use songs, stories, jokes, and pictures to give children a basic understanding of numbers, letters and human relationships. But there are some differences. For example, the Spanish program, produced in Mexico City, devotes more time to teaching whole words than to teaching separate letters.
Why has “Sesame Street” been so much more successful than other children’s shows? Many reasons have been suggested. People mention the educational theories(理论) of its creators, the support by the government and private(私人的) businesses, and the skillful use of a variety of TV tricks. Perhaps an equally important reason is that mothers watch it along with their children. This is partly because famous adult stars often appear on it. But the best reason for the success of the program may be that it makes every child watching feel able to learn. The child finds himself learning, and he wants to learn more.
1. “Sesame Street” is actually _______.
A. a street in the US
B. a program for children
C. a program for teachers
D. a program for students
2. Children who often watch the program _______.
A. can have problems in school
B. will find it a great help
C. will take no interest in their studies
D. will be well educated
3. What is special about the program?
A. It offers great fun.
B. It makes children feel able to learn.
C. It is shown at different hours during the week.
D. Children learn and enjoy themselves while watching.
4. Why is “Sesame Street” so popular in the world?
A. Because it is supported by the government and businesses.
B. Because it uses a variety of skillful tricks.
C. Because mothers watch it along with their children.
D. Because it makes every child watching it feel able to learn.
5. The best title for this passage can be _______.
A. TV Programs
B. Educating Children
C. Sesame Street
D. A Great Success
本文介绍了电视节目Sesame Street所产生的社会影响及它成功的原因。
1. B。细节题。根据文章第2段第1句more than six million children watch the program regularly可推知此题答案为B。
2. B。推断题。根据文章第4段第1句Tests have shown that children…have benefited from watching it 可推知此题答案为B。
3. D。推断题。根据文章第5段第1句The programs all use songs, stories, jokes, and pictures to give children a basic understanding of numbers, letters and human relationships可推知此题答案为B。
4. D。推断题。根据文章最后一段倒数第2句the best reason for the success of the program may be that it makes every child watching feel able to learn 可推知此题答案为D。
5. C。主旨题。本文主要介绍电视节目Sesame Street 所产生的影响及它成功的原因，所以选C。