2017高考英语阅读理解解析版汇编（55）
阅读理解。阅读下列短文，从每题所给的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中，选出最佳选项。Feeling blue about the world ? “Cheer up，” says science writer Matt Ridley.“The world has never been a better place to live in，and it will keep on getting better both for humans and for nature.”
Ridley calls himself a rational optimist—rational，because he's carefully weighed the evidence optimistic，because that
evidence shows human progress to be both unavoidable and good. And this is what he's set out to prove from a unique point of view in his most recent book The Rational Optimist. He views mankind as a grand enterprise that，on the whole，has done little but progress for 100, 000 years.He backs his findings with hard facts gathered through years of research.
Here's how he explains his views.
1)Shopping fuels invention
It is reported that there are more than ten billion different products for sale in London alone.Even allowing for the many people who still live in poverty，our own generation has access to more nutritious food，more convenient transport，bigger houses，better cars，and of course，more pounds and dollars than any who lived before us .This will continue as long as we use these things to make other things.The more we specialize and exchange，the better off we'll be.
2) Brilliant advances
One reason we are richer，healthier，taller，cleverer，longerlived and freer than ever before is that the four most basic human needs—food，clothing，fuel and shelter—have grown a lot cheaper.Take one example.In 1800 a candle providing one hour's light cost six hours' work.In the 1880s the same light from an oil lamp took 15 minutes' work to pay for.In 1950 it was eight seconds.Today it's half second.
3) Let's not kill ourselves for climate change
Mitigating(减轻) climate change could prove just as damaging to human welfare as climate change itself.A child that dies from indoor smoke in a village，where the use of fassilfuel(化石燃料) electricity is forbidden by wellmeaning members of green political movements trying to save the world，is just as great a tragedy as a child that dies in a flood caused by climate change.If climaic change proves to be mild，but cutting carbon causes real pain，we may well find that we have stopped a nosebleed by putting a tourniquet(止血带) around our necks.
人类的进步是无法阻挡的，是令人乐观。在《理性的乐观主义者》一书中，作者阐述了自己对于生活中的乐观现象，并且对于购物这样普通的日常行为所带来的积极影响都做了详尽的分析和描述。
．What is the theme of Ridley's most recent book?
A．Weakness of human nature.B．Concern about climate change.
C．Importance of practical thinking.D．Optimism about human progress.
答案：D。理解判断题。从第二段的前两句话中，反复提到一个关键词“optimistic”以及信息句“because that evidence shows...”；另外，“this is what he's set out to prove...”一句也正好清楚的表明了作者在本书中所以阐述的正是这个话题，正是与选项D的说法是一致的，即：人类的进步总是不可避免的。
．How does Ridley look at shopping?
A．It encourages the creation of things.B．It results in shortage of goods.
C．It demands more fossil fuels.D．It causes a poverty problem.
答案：A。细节判断题。从“Shopping fuels invention”一段正是反映了Ridley的观点：购物能够激发创造发明。选项A与之相吻合。
．The candle and lamp example is used to show that ________.
A．oil lamps give off more light than candles
B．shortening working time brings about a happier life
C．advanced technology helps to produce better candles
D．increased production rate leads to lower cost of goods
答案：D。细节判断题。根据Brilliant advances 一段中的“Take one example”一句很明显的确定为：作者拿蜡烛与灯的比较与变化正是为了前面他所提到的看法，故与选项D的说法是一致的。
．What does the last sentence of the passage imply?
A．Cutting carbon is necessary in spite of the huge cost.
B．Overreaction to climate change may be dangerous.
C．People's health is closely related to climate change.
D．Careless medical treatment may cause great pain.
答案：B。推理判断题。根据最后一句话中的“cutting carbon causes real pain”可以排除选项A与C的说法，因为它们大相径庭；而根据“putting... around our necks”一句可以表明选项D中“careless”一词运用不当，是不符合语境的。故只有选项B是最正确的。
What does it mean to say that we live in a world of persuasion? It means that we live among competing interests. Your roommate’s need to study for an exam may take priority (优先) over pizza. Your instructor may have good reasons not to change your grade. And the object of your romantic/interest may have other choices.
In such a world, persuasion is the art of getting others to give fair and favorable consideration to our points of view. When we persuade, we want to influence how others believe and behave. We may not always prevail — other points of view may be more persuasive, depending on the listener, the situation, and the merit of the case. But when we practice the art of persuasion, we try to ensure that our position receives the attention it deserves.
Some people, however, object to the very idea of persuasion. They may regard it as an unwelcome interruption into their lives. Just the opposite, we believe that persuasion is unavoidable — to live is to persuade. Persuasion may be ethical (合乎道义的) or unethical, selfless or selfish, inspiring or degrading. Persuaders may enlighten our mind or prey on our vulnerability. Ethical persuasion, however, calls on sound reasoning and is sensitive to the feelings and needs of listeners. Such persuasion can help us apply the wisdom of the past to the decisions we now must make. Therefore, the most basic part of education is learning to resist the one kind of persuasion and to encourage and practice the other.
Beyond its personal importance to us, persuasion is necessary to society. The right to persuade and be persuaded is the bedrock of the American political system, guaranteed by the First Amendment to the Constitution (美国宪法).
1. According to the passage, persuasion means ________.
A. changing others’ points of view
B. exercising power over other people
C. getting other people to consider your point of view
D. getting people to agree with you and do what you want
2. The underlined word in the second paragraph “prevail” means________.
A. win
B. fail
C. speak
D. listen
3. The passage states that some people object to persuasion because they think it is ________.
A. a danger to society
B. difficult to do well
C. unwelcome behavior
D. never successful
4. The passage mainly discusses ________.
A. how people persuade
B. why people persuade
C. that persuasion is both good and bad
D. that persuasion is important and it is all around us
【答案与解析】
1. C 细节题。将第二段中persuasion is the art of getting others to give fair and favorable consideration to our points of view与各选项进行比较可知。
2. A 词义题。由破折号后面的句子other points of view may be more persuasive可知，我们不一定占上风，故选A。
3. C 细节题。由第三段中第一二句Some people…into their lives可知。
4. D 主旨题。根据第一段对we live in a world of persuasion的理解，第三段中we believe that persuasion is unavoidable-to live is to persuade 及最后一段中persuasion is necessary to society与各选项进行比较可确定选D。
阅读理解。阅读下列短文, 从给的四个选项 (A、B、C和D) 中, 选出最佳选项。
GET YOUR DEGREE AT HOME!
Have you ever wondered what a Degree might be worth to you in your job or career(事业)? It means a lot of Americans with an Associate Degree average nearly $10,000 more in yearly earnings than those with just a High School Diploma(毕业证).
Harcourt Learning Direct offers you a way to get a Specialized Associate Degree in 11 of today’s growing fields-without having to go to college full time. With Harcourt, you study at home, in your spare time-so you don’t have to give up your present job while you train for a better one. Choose from exciting majors like Business Management, Accounting, Dressmaking ＆Design, Bookkeeping, Photography, Computer Science, Engineering, and more! Your training includes everything you need! Books, lessons, learning aids-even professional-quality tools and equipment-everything you need to master your training and more ahead to a new career is included in the low tuition(学费) price you pay. Your education is nationally recognized! Nearly 2, 000 American companies-including General Electric, IBM, Mobile, General Motors, Ford, and many others-have used our training for their employees. If companies like these recognize the value of our training, you can be sure that employees in your area will, too!
Earn your degree in as little as two years! Get a career diploma in just six months! The career of your dreams is closer than you think! Even if you have no experience before, you can get valuable job skills in today’s hottest fields! Step-by-step lessons make learning easy. Prepare for promotions(提升), pay raises, even start a business of your own! Send today for FREE information about Harcourt at home training!
Simply fill in your name and address on the coupon(票券) above. Then write in the name and number of the one program you’re most interested in, and mail it today. We’ll rush your free information about how you can take advantage of the opportunities(机会) in the field you’ve chosen. Act today!
Mail coupon today! Or call the number below 1-800-372-1589. Call any time, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. www. Harcourt-learning. com E-mail：Harcourt＠learning. com.
1. This advertisement aims at calling on people to ________.
A. attend full-time universities
B. work part time to further their education
C. improve their education at home to get better jobs
D. earn their degrees in different ways that suit them
2. Which of the following is NOT clearly mentioned in this advertisement?
A. The way how you will get your degree.
B. Tuition price.
C. The hot fields you will be preparing yourself for.
D. The length of time it will take you to get a degree.
3. What does the writer of this ad intend to say by naming General Electric, IBM, Ford, etc.?
A. To show that their training is widely used in the country.
B. To show that the training program is fully supported by famous companies in the U. S.
C. To prove the value of their training in every area.
D. To show the importance of getting recognized by the most famous companies.
4. It seems to the writer that the greatest attraction for people to take their training is______.
A. its convenience
B. the degree’s nation-wide recognition
C. the economic benefit(利益) it will bring about
D. the hot fields the training will help people to enter
5. How many ways are mentioned in the ad for people to get in touch with the Harcourt Learning Direct?
A. One. B. Two. C. Three. D. Four.
文章是一则业余培训班的招生广告。
1. C。推理判断题。根据 With Harcourt, you study at home, in your spare time so you don’t have to give up your present job while you train for a better one(你可以在家，业余时间接受培训…)可知答案选C。
2. B。事实细节题。文章中提到…in the low tuition price you pay，但没说具体多少学费，故答案选B。
3. C。推理判断题。从Your education is nationally recognized 和If companies like these recognize the value of our training, you can be sure that employees in your area will, too!可知答案C正确。
4. C。推理判断题。从Prepare for promotions, pay raises, even start a business of your own可推知答案C正确。
5. D。事实细节题。文章共提到四种联系方式：(1)sending today for FREE information (2)fill the coupon (3)mail coupon (4)call，即答案选D。
阅读理解。阅读下列短文, 从给的四个选项 (A、B、C和D) 中, 选出最佳选项。
Even before my father left us, my mother had to go back to work to support our family. Once I came out of the kitchen, complaining, “Mom, I can’t peel potatoes. I have only one hand.”
Mom never looked up from sewing. “You get yourself into that kitchen and peel those potatoes,” she told me. “And don’t ever use that as an excuse for anything again!”
In the second grade, our teacher lined up my class on the playground and had each of us race across the monkey bars, swinging from one high steel rod to the next. When it was my turn, I shook my head. Some kids behind me laughed, and I went home crying.
That night I told Mom about it. She hugged me, and I saw her “we’ll see about that” look. The next afternoon, she took me back to school. At the deserted playground, Mom looked carefully at the bars.
“Now, pull up with your right arm,” she advised. She stood by as I struggled to lift myself with my right hand until I could hook the bar with my other elbow. Day after day we practiced, and she praised me for every rung I reached. I’ll never forget the next time, crossing the rungs, I looked down at the kids who were standing with their mouths open.
One night, after a dance at my new junior high, I lay in bed sobbing. I could hear Mom come into my room. “Mom,” I said, weeping, “none of the boys would dance with me.”
For a long time, I didn’t hear anything. Then she said, “Oh, honey, someday you’ll be beating those boys off with a bat.” Her voice was faint and cracking. I peeked out from my covers to see tears running down her cheeks. Then I knew how much she suffered on my behalf. She had never let me see her tears.
1. Which of the following expressions can be used most suitably to describe Mom’s attitude when she made the child to peel potatoes?
A. Cruel.
B. Serious.
C. Strict. D. Cold.
2. From the passage, we know monkey bars can help a child train ______.
A. the skill to throw and catch things
B. the speed of one’s hand movement
C. the strength and skill to hang and sway
D. the bodily skill to rotate round a bar
3. What does the sentence “I saw her ‘we’ll see about that’ look” imply?
A. Mom believed every aim could be achieved if you stuck to it.
B. The race across monkey bars was not difficult enough for a child to give up.
C. Mom was determined to prove she herself was better than the teacher.
D. What the child had said brought Mom great attraction and curiosity.
4. When the child looked down at the kids, they were standing with their mouths open because ______.
A. they felt sorry for what they had done before
B. they were afraid the author might fall off and get hurt
C. they wanted to see what the author would do on the bars
D. they were astonished to find the author’s progress
5. The most probable conclusion we can draw after reading the passage is ______.
A. the last incident was sad enough to make Mom weep
B. the child’s experience reminded Mom of that of her own
C. Mom could solve any problem except the one in the last paragraph
D. in fact Mom suffered more in the process of the child’s growth
文章讲的是一位母亲是如何帮助自己缺一只手的儿子解决成长中的问题。
1. C。推理判断题。从他妈妈的话And don’t ever use that as an excuse for anything again可知他妈妈对他要求很严，即答案选C。
2. C。推理判断题。从had each of us race across the monkey bars, swinging from one high steel rod to the next可知答案C正确。
3. A。推理判断题。第二天妈妈带我去学校帮助我练习monkey bars，可推知妈妈是个很有恒心的人，故答案选A。
4. D。推理判断题。从I’ll never forget the next time, crossing the rungs, I looked down at the kids who were standing with their mouths open可知同学们对我的表现都很吃惊，即答案选D。
5. D。推理判断题。从Then I knew how much she suffered on my behalf. She had never let me see her tears可知对于我的成长中的痛苦妈妈比我承受得还要多，即答案选D。