阅读理解精讲精炼15
74.
It was a simple letter asking for a place to study at Scotland's oldest university which helped start a revolution in higher education. A 140yearold letter written by a lady calling for her to be allowed to study medicine at St Andrews University has been discovered by researchers. Written by Sophia JexBlake in 1873, the sevenpage document, which urged the university to allow women to study medicine at the institution, was released yesterday on International Women's Day.
The document was discovered buried in the university archives (档案)by parttime history student Lis Smith, who is completing her PhD at St Andrews Institute of Scottish Historical Research. She said: “We knew that Sophia JexBlake and her supporters, in their effort to open up university medical education for women, had written to the Senates Academicus (校评议委员会)at St Andrews in an attempt to gain permission to attend classes there, but we didn't know documentary evidence existed. While searching the archives for information about the university's higher certificate for women, I was astonished to come across what must be the very letter JexBlake wrote. ”
In the letter, Sophia and her supporters offered to hire teachers or build suitable buildings for a medical school and to arrange for lectures to be delivered in the subjects not already covered at St Andrews. Although her letter was not successful, it eventually led to the establishment of the Ladies Literate in Arts at St Andrews, a distancelearning degree for women. The qualification, which ran from 1877 until the 1930s, gave women access to university education in the days before they were admitted as students. It was so popular that it survived long after women were admitted as full students to St Andrews in 1892.
Ms JexBlake went on to help establish the London School of Medicine for Women in 1874. She was accepted by the University of Berne, where she was awarded a medical degree in January 1877. Eventually, she moved back to Edinburgh and opened her own practice.
59．Sophia wrote a letter to St Andrews University because she wanted ________.
A．to carry out a research project there
B．to set up a medical institute there
C．to study medicine there
D．to deliver lectures there
60．Lis Smith found Sophia's letter to St Andrews University ________.
A．by pure chance
B．in the school office
C．with her supporters' help
D．while reading history books
61．Sophia's letter resulted in the establishment of ________.
A．the London School of Medicine for Women
B．a degree programme for women
C．a system of medical education
D．the University of Berne
62. When did St Andrews University begin to take fulltime women students?
A. In 1873.
B. In 1874.
C. In 1877.
D. In 1892.
【要点综述】此篇讲述了一封女子求学的信件引发了英国高等教育的改革，允许女子接受高等教育。
59．C 信息理解题。根据第一段…which urged the university to allow women to study medicine at the institution可知C为正确选项。
60．A 信息理解题。根据第二段中but we didn't know documentary evidence existed…I was astonished to come across what must be the very letter JexBlake wrote.可知A(纯粹偶然的机会)为正确选项。
61．B 信息理解题。由倒数第二段…letter was not successful, it eventually led to the establishment of the Ladies Literate in Arts at St Andrews…可推断B为正确选项。
62．D 信息理解题。由倒数第二段最后一句可知答案为D，此事发生在1892年。
75.
Holidays are really important.Many of us will have childhood memories of summer holidays where we were taken away from home to experience new environments and learn in different ways.
But holidays are expensive and，for those on low wages or living on benefits, they are often unobtainable. Even the cheapest holidays require travel and other additional costs that are difficult for many families to meet.
For working parents，the long summer break can be a very difficult problem for childcare. When an annual leave allowance amounts to only five weeks，there is a need to spread this across the year.Couples can find themselves taking leave in turn in order to care for children who are on holiday. For some，this makes even an affordable family holiday difficult.
The schools that I visit in Nottingham are full of experienced staff committed to giving our children a caring and inspiring learning environment.The number of children receiving free school meals is quite large in Nottingham and many schools have breakfast clubs to make sure that children get a healthy start to the day. Most schools undertake programs of group or individual educational support. Schools also have an important role in safeguarding children's welfare through the ongoing touch and support with their pupils. During the long summer holidays，much of this is missed.
While teachers are holidaying in the UK，many of their pupils spend the whole six weeks on the street where they live. The lack of free school meals for six weeks can result in pressure on a family budget and an inability to afford the inspiring experiences that help children to continue their learning.
In setting out its plans for a fiveterm year，Nottingham City Council(委员会)is seeking to reduce the summer holiday down to four and a half weeks, with a more balanced five terms of roughly eight weeks, each followed by a twoweek break.We believe this will give real “down time” for school staff and pupils alike but will be short enough not to cause a real break in learning.
We acknowledge that this change may be difficult for some school staff，particularly whose own children are educated in other authorities. However, this must be weighed against the benefits for city children for whom we all have the greatest duty of care.
71．The passage is probably written by ________.
A. an experienced teacher
B．a working parent
C．an inspired student
D．a city council member
72．The underlined word “they” in the second paragraph refers to “________”．
A．environments
B．holidays
C．wages
D．benefits
73．It is suggested in the passage that the summer break be reduced to ________.
A．2 weeks
B．4.5 weeks
C．5 weeks
D．6 weeks
74．The plans for a shorter summer holiday will help students ________.
A．obtain the cheapest holidays without additional costs
B．get a chance to spend six weeks a term with teachers in school
C．benefit more from the caring and inspiring learning environment
D．have more school days to receive free school meals
75．It can be inferred from the passage that ________.
A．working parents can enjoy a fiveweek break to care for their children
B．the suggested plans for a fiveterm school year can hardly be carried out
C．the long summer holiday gives teachers and students real “down time”
D．some school staff will say “No” to the plans for a shorter summer holiday
【要点综述】本文是一篇说明文。介绍了英国诺丁汉城市委员会把学生假期缩短至4.5周的计划。
71. D 推理判断题。从文章倒数第二段“Nottingham City Council is seeking to reduce the summer holiday down to four and a half weeks”和最后一段“We acknowledge that this change may be difficult for some school staff”可知答案。
72. B 代词指代题。根据第二段，度假是昂贵的，并且对于那些低工资和靠救济为生的人，度假是不可能的。
73. B 细节理解题。根据倒数第二段第一句可知答案。
74. C 推理判断题。根据第四段第一句话“The schools that I visit in Nottingham are full of experienced staff committed to giving our children a caring and inspiring learning environment.”可知如果假期缩短，学生就可以更多地享受学校提供的照顾和鼓舞人心的学习环境。
75. D 推理判断题。根据最后一段第一句话“We acknowledge that this change may be difficult for some school staff”可推知一些学校员工会反对这个计划。
76.
Two friends have an argument that breaks up their friendship forever, even though neither one can remember how the whole thing got started. Such sad events happen over and over in high schools across the country. In fact, according to an official report on youth violence, “In our country today, the greatest threat to the lives of children and adolescents is not disease or starvation or abandonment, but the terrible reality of violence”. Given that this is the case, why aren't students taught to manage conflict the way they are taught to solve math problems, drive cars, or stay physically fit?
First of all, students need to realize that conflict is unavoidable. A report on violence among middle school and high school students indicates that most violent incidents between students begin with a relatively minor insult(侮辱). For example, a fight could start over the fact that one student eats a peanut butter sandwich each lunchtime. Laughter over the sandwich can lead to insults, which in turn can lead to violence. The problem isn't in the sandwich, but in the way students deal with the conflict.
Once students recognize that conflict is unavoidable, they can practice the golden rule of conflict resolution(解决)：stay calm. Once the student feels calmer, he or she should choose words that will calm the other person down as well. Rude words, namecalling, and accusations only add fuel to the emotional fire. On the other hand, soft words spoken at a normal sound level can put out the fire before it explodes out of control.
After both sides have calmed down, they can use another key strategy(策略) for conflict resolution: listening. Listening allows the two sides to understand each other. One person should describe his or her side, and the other person should listen without interrupting. Afterward, the listener can ask nonthreatening questions to clarify the speaker's position. Then the two people should change roles.
Finally, students need to consider what they are bearing. This doesn't mean trying to figure out what's wrong with the other person. It means understanding what the real issue is and what both sides are trying to accomplish. For example, a shouting match over a peanut butter sandwich might happen because one person thinks the other person is unwilling to try new things. Students need to ask themselves questions such as these：How did this start? What do I really want? What am I afraid of? As the issue becomes clearer, the conflict often simply becomes smaller. Even if it doesn't, careful thought helps both sides figure out a mutual solution.
There will always be conflict in schools, but that doesn't mean there needs to be violence. After students in Atlanta started a conflict resolution program, according to Educators for Social Responsibility, “64 percent of the teachers reported less physical violence in the classroom; 75 percent of the teachers reported an increase in student cooperation; and 92 percent of the students felt better about themselves”. Learning to resolve conflicts can help students deal with friends, teachers, parents, bosses, and coworkers. In that way, conflict resolution is a basic life skill that should be taught in schools across the country.
50. This article is mainly about ________.
A. the lives of school children
B. the cause of arguments in schools
C. how to analyze youth violence
D. how to deal with school conflicts
51. From Paragraph 2 we can learn that ________.
A. violence is more likely to occur at lunchtime
B. a small conflict can lead to violence
C. students tend to lose their temper easily
D. the eating habit of a student is often the cause of a fight
52. Why do students need to ask themselves the questions stated in Paragraph 5?
A. To find out who is to blame.
B. To get ready to try new things.
C. To make clear what the real issue is.
D. To figure out how to stop the shouting match.
53. After the conflict resolution program was started in Atlanta, it was found that ________.
A. there was a decrease in classroom violence
B. there was less student cooperation in the classroom
C. more teachers felt better about themselves in schools
D. the teacherstudent relationship greatly improved
54. The writer's purpose for writing this article is to ________.
A. complain about problems in school education
B. teach students different strategies for school life
C. advocate teaching conflict management in schools
D. inform teachers of the latest studies on school violence
【要点综述】作者在文章中主要探讨了如何让学生正确、冷静处理校园冲突，从而减少校园暴力以及介绍了学生学会解决冲突的益处，最后呼吁全国的各个学校教授学生解决冲突的技能。
50. D 主旨大意题。从文章第一段…is not disease or starvation or abandonment, but the terrible reality of violence…，以及下文提到的First of all…；Once students…；After both sides have calmed down…；Finally, students…等知，该文主要介绍了如何帮助学生正确处理校园冲突的方法，所以选D项。
51. B 推理判断题。从第二段…begin with a relatively minor insult…推知，很多时候校园冲突的起因只是一件小事而已。下面作者所列举的例子也是来说明这一点的，故选B项。
52. C 推理判断题。从第五段It means understanding what the real issue is and what both sides are trying to accomplish…知，学生自问问题的关键在于：让学生明白冲突真正的症结所在，而不是只关注对方的过错，由此推断C项是最佳答案。
53. A 细节理解题。从第六段…64 percent of the teachers reported less physical violence in the classroom…知，亚特兰大实施了校园冲突解决方案后，肢体上的暴力行为有了较大的减少，而合作上升了，学生们的自我归属感也增强了，所以选A项。54. C 写作意图题。从文章中第一段…Given that this is the case…和最后一段In that way, conflict resolution is a basic life skill that should be taught…，并结合全文知，本文作者主要倡导在校园中教授解决冲突的办法，所以选C项。
77.
Bicycle Safety
Operation Always ride your bike in a safe, controlled manner on campus(校园). Obey rules and regulations. Watch out for walkers and other bicyclists, and always use your lights in dark conditions.
Theft Prevention Always securely lock your bicycle to a bicycle rack—even if you are only away for a minute. Register your bike with the University Department of Public Safety. It's fast, easy, and free. Registration permanently records your serial number, which is useful in the possible recovery of the bike stolen.
Equipment
Brakes Make sure that they are in good working order and adjusted properly.
Helmet A necessity, make sure your helmet meets current safety standards and fits properly.
Lights Always have a front headlight—visible at least 500 feet in front of the bike. A taillight is a good idea.
Rules of the Road
Riding on Campus As a bicycle rider, you have a responsibility to ride only on streets and posted bicycle paths. Riding on sidewalks or other walkways can lead to a fine. The speed limit for bicycles on campus is 15 mph, unless otherwise posted. Always give the right of way to walkers. If you are involved in an accident, you are required to offer appropriate aid, call the Department of Public Safety and remain at the scene until the officer lets you go.
Bicycle Parking Only park in areas reserved for bikes. Trees, handrails, hallways, and sign posts are not for bicycle parking, and parking in such spots can result in a fine.
If Things Go Wrong
If you break the rules, you will be fined. Besides violating rules while riding bicycles on campus, you could be fined for：
No bicycle registration$25
Bicycle parking banned$30
Blocking path with bicycle$40
Violation of bicycle equipment requirement$35
36．Registration of your bicycle may help you ________.
A．find your stolen bicycle
B．get your serial number
C．receive free repair services
D．settle conflicts with walkers
37．According to the passage, what bike equipment is a free choice for bicycle riders?
A．Brakes.
B．A helmet.
C．A headlight.
D．A taillight.
38．When you ride a bicycle on the campus, ________.
A．ride on posted bicycle paths and sidewalks
B．cycle at a speed of over 15 mph
C．put the walkers' right of way first
D．call the police before leaving in case of accident
39．If you lock your bicycle to a tree on the campus, you could be fined ________.
A．$25
B．$30
C．$35
D．$4040．What is the passage mainly about?
A．A guide for safe bicycling on campus.
B．Directions for bicycle tour on campus.
C．Regulations of bicycle race on campus.
D．Rules for riding motor vehicles on campus.
【要点综述】本文讲述了在校园骑自行车应注意的一些事项。
36. A 信息理解题。根据文中Theft Prevention一段中的 “…which is useful in the possible recovery of the bike stolen”可知选A。
37. D 信息理解题。根据Equipment中的Lights一段叙述可知， Brakes, Helmet以及Lights是自行车的必选配置。
38. C 信息理解题。根据 “Always give the right of way to walkers”可知答案。
39. B 信息理解题。根据 “Bicycle Parking”一段及 “Bicycle parking banned…$30”可知答案。
40. A 主旨大意题。通读全文可知本文讲述了在校园内骑自行车应注意的一些事项。故选A。
“I can't tell you how pleased I am to be here. I haven't seen many of you since your graduation, but I have followed your careers and enjoyed your victories as well as crying for your tragedies. I have a large collection of newspaper photographs of my students. Although I haven't appeared in person, I have attended your college graduations, weddings and even the births of your children, in my imagination.”
Ms. Yates paused and started crying a bit. Then she continued：
“It was my belief that if I pushed you as hard as I could, some of you would succeed to please me and others would succeed to annoy me. Regardless of our motives, I can see that you have all been successful in your chosen path.”
“There is no greater comfort for an educator than to see the end result of his or her years of work. You have all been a great source of pleasure and pride for me and I want you to know I love you all from the bottom of my heart.”
There was a silence over the crowd for a few seconds and then someone started clapping. The clapping turned into cheering, then into a deafening roar(呼喊). Lawyers, truck drivers, bankers and models were rubbing their eyes or crying openly with no shame all because of the words from a long forgotten English teacher from their hometown.
41．What activity was organized for the school reunion?
A．Sightseeing in the park.
B．A picnic on the school playground.
C．Telling stories about past events.
D．Graduates' reports in the old building.
42. What can be inferred from Paragraph 2?
A. Some graduates were too busy to listen to Ms. Yates' speech.
B. Many graduates disliked Ms. Yates' ways of teaching.
C. Some people got tired from the reunion activities.
D. Most people had little interest in the reunion.
43. We can learn from Ms. Yates' speech that she________.
A. kept track of her students' progress
B. gave her students advice on their careers
C. attended her students' college graduations
D. went to her students' wedding ceremonies
44. What was Ms. Yates' belief in teaching teenagers?
A. Teachers' knowledge is the key to students' achievements.
B. Pressure on students from teachers should be reduced.
C. Hardpushed students are more likely to succeed.
D. Students' respect is the best reward for teachers.
45. Which of the following can best describe Ms. Yates?
A. Reliable and devoted.
B. Tough and generous.
C. Proud but patient.
D. Strict but caring.
【要点综述】Barditch High School组织学生、教师重聚。在聚会上Ms. Yates的一席发言打动了所有的人。
41. C 信息理解题。根据第一段中的 “Several former teachers were on hand to tell stories about the old days.”可知答案。
42. B 推理判断题。根据第二段描述在Ms. Yates要开始讲话时学生们的表现可知，学生们对老师过去对他们的种种教学方式是有些反感的。
43. A 信息理解题。通读Ms. Yates的发言，特别是从 “…but I have followed your careers and enjoyed your victories as well as crying for your tragedies. I have a large collection of newspaper photographs of my students.”中可知答案。
44. C 信息理解题。根据 “It was my belief that if I pushed you as hard as I could, some of you would succeed to please me and others would succeed to annoy me”可知答案。
45. D 推理判断题。从 第二段最后一句“…made them work harder than all the other teachers combined”以及 “…I have a large collection of newspaper photographs of my students”可知答案。
79.
One of the greatest contributors to the first Oxford English Dictionary was also one of its most unusual. In 1879, Oxford University in England asked Prof. James Murray to serve as editor for what was to be the most ambitious dictionary in the history of the English language. It would include every English word possible and would give not only the definition but also the history of the word and quotations(引文)showing how it was used.
This was a huge task, so Murray had to find volunteers from Britain, the United States, and the British colonies to search every newspaper, magazine, and book ever written in English. Hundreds of volunteers responded, including William Chester Minor. Dr. Minor was an American surgeon who had served in the Civil War and was now living in England. He gave his address as “Broadmoor, Crowthorne, Berkshire，” 50 miles from Oxford.
Minor joined the army of volunteers sending words and quotations to Murray. Over the next 17 years, he became one of the staff's most valued contributors.
But he was also a mystery. In spite of many invitations, he would always decline to visit Oxford. So in 1897, Murray finally decided to travel to Crowthorne himself. When he arrived, he found Minor locked in a booklined cell at the Broadmoor Asylum(精神病院)for the Criminally Insane.
Murray and Minor became friends, sharing their love of words. Minor continued contributing to the dictionary, sending in more than 10,000 submissions in 20 years. Murray continued to visit Minor regularly, sometimes taking walks with him around the asylum grounds.
In 1910, Minor left Broadmoor for an asylum in his native America. Murray was at the port to wave goodbye to his remarkable friend.
Minor died in 1920, seven years before the first edition of the Oxford English Dictionary was completed. The 12 volumes defined 414,825 words, and thousands of them were contributions from a very scholarly and devoted asylum patient.
61. According to the text, the first Oxford English Dictionary
________.
A. came out before Minor died
B. was edited by an American volunteer
C. included the English words invented by Murray
D. was intended to be the most ambitious English dictionary
62. How did Dr. Minor contribute to the dictionary?
A. He helped Murray to find hundreds of volunteers.
B. He sent newspapers, magazines and books to Murray.
C. He provided a great number of words and quotations.
D. He went to England to work with Murray.
63. Why did Dr. Minor refuse to visit Oxford?
A. He was shut in an asylum.
B. He lived far from Oxford.
C. He was busy writing a book.
D. He disliked traveling.
64. Prof. Murray and Dr. Minor became friends mainly because
________.
A. they both served in the Civil War
B. they had a common interest in words
C. Minor recovered with the help of Murray
D. Murray went to America regularly to visit Minor
65. Which of the following best describes Dr. Minor?
A. Brave and determined.
B. Cautious and friendly.
C. Considerate and optimistic.
D. Unusual and scholarly.
66. What does the text mainly talk about?
A. The history of the English language.
B. The friendship between Murray and Minor.
C. Minor and the first Oxford English Dictionary.
D. Broadmoor Asylum and its patients.
【要点综述】这是一篇记叙文。文章叙述了第一本牛津字典的编写过程，以及Minor对字典的编写工作所作出的巨大贡献。
61. D 细节理解题。从最后一段的“Minor died in 1920, seven years before the first edition of the Oxford English Dictionary was completed.”看出A选项是不正确的；从第二段的“Murray had to find volunteers from Britain , the United States, and the British colonies to search every newspaper, magazine, and book ever written in English. Hundreds of volunteers responded, including William Chester Minor. Dr. Minor was an American surgeon who had served in the Civil War and was now living in England.”看出牛津字典是集体智慧的结晶；由第一段最后一句中“It would include every English word possible”可知，C项不正确。故选D。
62. C 细节理解题。从第三段的“Minor joined the army of volunteers sending words and quotations to Murray”看出，Minor提供了大量词汇和引文。故选C。
63. A 细节理解题。从第四段的“Murray finally decided to travel to Crowthorne himself. When he arrived, he found Minor locked in a booklined cell at the Broadmoor Asylum for the Criminally Insane.”看出，是由于Minor患精神病被关进医院里，所以没有办法去牛津。故选A。
64. B 细节理解题。从第二段Minor自愿加入编字典这个活动可知，他对此很感兴趣，与Murray有着共同的兴趣，再从文章倒数第三段的“Murray and Minor became friends, sharing their love of words. Minor continued contributing to the dictionary, sending in more than 10,000 submissions in 20 years.”可找到答案。故选B。
65. D 推理判断题。根据文章中Minor在患精神病住院期间还坚持字典的编写工作看出他的不寻常；从文章倒数第三段的“Minor continued contributing to the dictionary, sending in more than 10,000 submissions in 20 years.”看出他的学者风范。故选D。
66. C 主旨大意题。文章一开始主要介绍由来自英国、美国和英国殖民地的志愿者参加牛津字典的编写工作，后半部分主要写编者Minor对字典的编写工作所作出的巨大贡献。故选C。