2012高考二轮复习英语专题训练（江苏专用）专题2 阅读理解30

2012高考英语二轮复习专题限时训练（江苏专用）

专题2 阅读理解 30

（35分钟）

A

While travelling to Newcastle in the UK to visit relatives, I arrived in London to find my plane transfer north to Newcastle had been cancelled due to deteriorating weather conditions.

The airline was helpful -- offering me a choice between a night in a hotel or a six-hour bus fide to my destination. With no indication as to whether a flight to Newcastle would happen in the next two days, I chose the bus ride.

I stored all my baggage in the luggage compartment of the bus, thinking I would not need anything on the journey.

The young lady sitting beside me could see how tired I was and asked me if anyone would be meeting me on my arrival.

I realised that t had left my cell phone in my bag and had no way to contact my relatives. They would be waiting for me at the airport about five hours before the bus got to Newcastle, not knowing what had happened. Without hesitation, the young lady offered me the use of her cell phone.

When the bus made a rest stop, she asked me if I was getting out. I replied that I wouldn’t as I still had sandals on, and bare feet weren’t ideal for the cold weather, When she got back on, she’d bought me some tea and a packet of sweets to eat.

When we eventually arrived in Newcastle, the woman checked that someone was there to meet me. I asked her to wait a moment while I got my purse to repay her, but when I looked up she had gore. I was unable to even verbally thank her.

1. We learn from the passage that ____________.

A. the author had little money to buy the air ticket from London to Newcastle

B. the author probably flew to London from a warm place

C. the author’s relatives missed meeting her in London

D. the author’s cell phone wasn’t functioning in Britain

2. Which of the following information is of great importance to the author’s relatives?

A. Why the flight was called off.

B. Why the flight was delayed.

C. Where the author was put up.

D. When the author would arrive.

3. What does the passage mainly tell us?

A. British people always suffer from terrible weather in winter.

B. British people are usually helpful.

C. The author was kind of careless.

D. The author was grateful to the airline.

B

Accurately forecasting the weather is a very hard thing to do. There are many parts of weather dynamics-the study of how water and air in motion cause weather patterns-to consider. Even the best forecast can be changed by a small weather disturbance halfway around the world. Today’s forecast use complex computer models, weather instruments, and detailed analyses of daily observations to predict the weather. However, it hasn’t always been that way. People, like your grandparents, use folklore and proverbs to help forecast the weather. They remembered what conditions caused changes and observed the factors associated with weather: atmospheric and cloud conditions, temperature, winds, and reactions of plants and animals. Many people believe that this way of forecasting weather is accurate more often than modem forecasting.

Grandma’s aching joints might indicate the arrival of a low-pressure system. She might also observe the geese flying lower than usual, confirming the low-pressure system. Finally, she might feel dampness on her skin, a sign of high humidity (湿度). Based on these three observations, grandma might warn that a storm is brewing.

Joints and nerves can indicate dropping air pressure, Dissolved gases in the blood form bubbles under low air pressure. This causes pain in joints and nerve endings. Geese and other birds respond to changes in air pressure by adjusting how high they fly. In the fair, calm weather of a high-pressure system, the birds fly higher than in the stormy weather associated with a low-pressure system.

Nature provides other clues to changing weather. A decrease in air pressure causes deer and elk to come down from the mountains to look for shelter. Some animals feed more than usual. The higher humidity before a storm causes some insects to leave the trees and gather near the ground. Some flowers close so rain doesn’t get inside them. In winter, rhododendron plants curl up to protect themselves as the temperature drops.

Several of the sayings apply in particular areas of the world. Here are some of them.

■Early thunder, early spring.

■Rainbow in the morning 8ives you fair warning.

■When teeth and bones and bunions ache, expect the clouds to fill the lake.

■When high clouds and tow clouds do not match together, prepare for a blow and a change in the weather.

4. It is true that ___________.

A. using folklore and proverbs to forecast weather is more accurate than modem forecasting

B. complex computer models and weather instruments can always forecast weather accurately

C. modern forecasting cannot always guarantee accurate weather forecasting for some reason

D. modem forecasting along with other observations is sure to give accurate weather forecast

5. In a low-pressure system, you may notice the following EXCEPT that ___________.

A. some birds will be seen flying near the surface of the earth

B. some flowers close so rain doesn’t get inside

C. some animals come down from mountains

D. some insects disappear from ground

6. It is a fact that the behaviour of plants and animals is _________.

A. likely to reflect long-term weather forecasting

B. likely to reflect short-term weather forecasting

C. unlikely to reflect any kind of weather forecasting

D. more likely to reflect both short-term and long. term weather forecasting

7. What does the passage mainly tell us?

A. People can forecast weather with no modern equipment.

B. How to use proverbs to forecast weather forecasting.

C. Hard as it is, weather forecasting has a scientific base.

D. The importance of weather forecasting.

C

The United States has always been a country of many cultures. Before Europeans came to North America, many groups of Native Americans lived here. Different Native American groups had different cultures. The first Europeans in the United States were from England and Holland, but immigrants came from all European countries. Many people also immigrated from Asia and Africa. Sadly, many Africans were brought to the United States as slaves. Many immigrants come from Latin America too. Today, the United States has people from more cultures than ever.

In the 19th century, people spoke of the United States as a “melting pot.” People thought that all immigrates should forget their native cultures and languages and become English-speaking Americans. They felt that people should assimilate - join American culture. However, not everyone wanted to assimilate completely. Many people tried to keep parts of their cultures, such as foods, customs, and languages. However, their children often forgot their parents’ or grandparents’ language. But most Americans, even those whose families have been here a long time, can tell the countries their relatives came from. And of course, new immigrants take great pride in their curare and language.

For all of these reasons, melting pot is no longer a good way to describe the United States. Instead, people now call the United States a “salad bowl.” They say salad bowl because in a salad, you can still see all of the individual parts (lettuce, tomato, and so on), but all the different parts mixed together and begin to take on the flavor of one another.

8. Which of the following is the key information the writer wants to tell us in the first paragraph?

A. There used to be many groups of Native Americans.

B. Englishmen were among the first to settle in America.

C. Asians and Africans also immigrated to America.

D. USA today is made up of people from across the world.

9. The “melting pot” ___________.

A. is an accurate way to describe the United States

B. is a place where people from different cultures should assimilate completely

C. cannot accurately reflect the reality in the United States

D. cannot be replaced by the “salad bowl”

10. Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?

A. Many immigrates to the United States try to keep some of their culture.

B. Immigrates are encouraged to use English wherever they go in the USA.

C. Children of early immigrates can speak English as well as their parents’ native language.

D. New immigrants want to live in their own culture and language.

11. The “salad bowl” reflects the fact that immigrates to the United States ____________.

A. help each other

B. assimilate only partially

C. take great pride in their culture and language

D. remain independent

D

Expecting good things can make you healthier and might even lengthen your life, says researcher Suzaane Segerstrom, PhD, author of Breaking Murphy’s Law. Segerstrom is coauthor of a recent review of studies on the benefits of a positive attitude---and has experienced them herself. We asked her about optimism’s principles and payoffs.

l) Feeling well helps when you’re not well.

“When researchers look at people who have similar medical conditions, they can predict who’s likely to live longer: the one who feels his health is better. There’s something about that feeling of wellness that’s important, even--maybe especially--if you’re ill. Optimism also seems to help buffer (减缓) you against stress. I’ve been studying first-year law students for 16 years. That’s a very stressed group, but in my most recent study, each time a student’s optimism increased one point on a five-point scale, his immune (免疫性的) response to an injected virus or yeast improved by 20 percent.”

2) Optimism is something you do.

“Anxiety and other negative emotions are known to be detri-mental to the body, especially to your cardiovascular and immune systems (心血管和免疫系统), and having an optimistic nature seems to protect against those effects.

In addition, research shows that people who axe optimistic about their future behave differently. They exercise more, are less likely to smoke, and follow a better diet. And if they get sick, they’re more likely to actively participate in their treatment. I’ve seen that myself--I have back pain from arthritis, but I think my willingness to do whatever it takes has helped a lot.”

3) Not happy? Don’t worry.

“Happiness is a feeling; optimism is a belief that aspects of your future will turn out well. Happiness can fluctuate (波动) a lot, but an optimistic disposition (性格) is usually pretty stable. If you’re not optimistic, you can try creating a ‘positive events’ log. Good filings happen to everyone, but pessimists often don’t take notice; spending a few minutes every day writing about at least three positive things may help you expect them more often. Or instead of trying to be optimistic, do what optimists do: Work hard to reach your goals. Each accomplishment should make it easier to be hopeful about the next one.”

12. The main finding of the study done by 8uzanae Segerstrom is ________.

A. people will benefit from their positive attitudes towards life

B. anyone who feels his health is better lives longer

C. people who are optimistic about their future behave differently

D. happiness usually results in a bright future

13. What conclusion did Suzanne Segerstrom draw from her studies on her fast-year law students?

A. The better medical care they enjoy, the longer they will live.

B. The younger they arc, the stronger they will be.

C. The more optimistic they am, the less likely they will get ill.

D. The better they feel, the more rapidly they will recover from illness.

14. We learn from the passage that optimistic people __________.

A. are easy to give up smoking

B. are willing to do whatever they are asked

C. take an active part in all aspects

D. tend to have a better life style

15. What are you advised to do according to the passage?

A. Take exercise as much as you can.

B. Keep a daily note of positive things.

C. Work hard and play hard.

D. Make your goals easy to reach.

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