廣安市2024高考英語閱讀理解一輪系列訓練（8）

　　【閱讀理解】

　　For those who study the development of intelligence (智力) in the animal world，self-awareness is an important measurement. An animal that is aware (意識) of itself has a high level of intelligence.

　　Awareness can be tested by studying whether the animal recognizes itself in the mirror, that is, its own reflected image (反射出的影像). Many animals fail this exercise bitterly, paying very little attention to the reflected image. Only humans，and some intelligent animals like apes and dolphins，have been shown to recognize that the image in the mirror is of themselves.

　　Now another animal has joined the club. In the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, researchers report that an Asian elephant has passed the mirror self-reflection test.

　　“We thought that elephants were the next important animal，”said Diana Reiss of the Wildlife Conservation Society, an author of the study with Joshua M. Plotnik and Fans B. M. de Waal of Emory University. With their large brains，Reiss said,

　　elephants “seemed like cousins to apes and dolphins.”

　　The researchers tested Happy. Maxine and Patty, three elephants at the Bronx Zoo. They put an 8-foot-square mirror on a wall of the animals' play area (out of the sight of zoo visitors) and recorded what happened with cameras, including one built in the mirror.

　　The elephants used their long noses to find what was behind it，and to examine parts of their bodies.

　　Of the three, Happy then passed the test，in which a clear mark was painted on one side of her face. She could tell the mark was there by looking in the mirror, and she used the mirror to touch the mark with her long nose.

　　Diana Reiss said，“We knew elephants were intelligent, but now we can talk about their intelligence in a better way.”

　　文章通過實驗說明能意識到自身形象的動物具有高智商。

　　1. What can mirror tests tell us about animals?

　　A. Whether they have large brains.

　　B. Whether they have self-awareness.

　　C. Whether they enjoy outdoor exercises.

　　D. Whether they enjoy playing with mirrors.

　　答案：B。細節理解題。由文章第二段第一句話“Awareness can be tested by...”可知B項正確。

　　2. Why does the author mention apes and dolphins in the text?

　　A. They are most familiar to readers.

　　B. They are big favorites with zoo visitors.

　　C. They are included in the study by Reiss.

　　D. They are already known to be intelligent.

　　答案：D。推理判斷題。由第二段最后一句可知人們已經知道apes和dolphins是聰明的。

　　3. What made Happy different from Maxine and Patty?

　　A. She used her nose to search behind the mirror.

　　B. She recognized her own image in the mirror.

　　C. She painted a mark on her own face.

　　D. She found the hidden camera.

　　答案：B。推理判斷題。由倒數第二段可推出Happy能辨別出自己在鏡子中的形象。

　　(2024·山東省威海市二模)

　　Run, swim, lift weights, do yoga—do something, because it's good for you. Many studies tell us that regular exercise not only helps our bodies but improves memory, and eases anxiety. But what is happening to the mind during workout to create all these benefits?

　　A new study from Sweden suggests that a specific protein found in trained muscles might contribute to exercise's mental benefits. This protein, the researchers found, might help our bodies process molecules that, if out of balance, can stress us and contribute to depression(萎靡不振). The findings were published in the journal Cell.

　　To test this, the researchers kept attacking some mice with flashing lights, loud noises and interrupting their sleep for weeks. Predictably, this treatment makes the mice show signs and biochemical markers of depression.

　　But not all the mice showed those signs. One group, specially raised to have high levels of a protein called PGC-1alpha1 (the one in trained muscles), did not show those depression signs. PGC-1alpha1 increases production of an enzyme that breaks down a chemical called kynurenine. Kynurenine helps the body respond to an activated immune system(活性免疫系統), but it also plays a role in depression.

　　“Our original research assumption was that trained muscle would produce a substance(物質) with beneficial effects on the brain，” Jorge Ruas of the Karolinska Institute told Forbes.com. “We actually found the opposite: well-trained muscle produces an enzyme that removes harmful substances away from the body.”

　　This study was in mice, but it lines up nicely with all the other lines of evidence that exercise is good for mental health.

　　文章大意：體育鍛煉有益身心健康，但是我們的大腦在鍛煉過程中發生了什么變化從而有益于我們的身心的呢？本文給出了答案：鍛煉的肌肉中產生了一種enzyme物質，它帶走了我們身體里的有害物質。

　　12．According to the study, which of the following is bad for your mental health?

　　A．Protein. B．Molecule.

　　C．Enzyme. D．Kynurenine.

　　答案：D　細節理解題。由第四段最后一句話“...but it also plays a role in depression.”可知，Kynurenine會造成我們心情萎靡不振。該題易誤選B項，由第二段倒數第二句話“molecules that, if out of balance, can stress us and contribute to depression(萎靡不振)”可知，該物質本身無害，只有當它在身體內失衡時才有害，所以不選。

　　13．What conclusion have the researchers drawn from the study?

　　A．Unbalanced exercise leads you to depression.

　　B．Well-fed mice survive better though being ill-treated.

　　C．Trained muscle produces a substance good for brain.

　　D．Regular exercise helps to clear rubbish away from body.

　　答案：D　細節理解題。由第五段最后一句話“...well-trained muscle produces an enzyme that removes harmful substances away from the body...”可知。

　　14．According to the last paragraph, the result of the study is ________.

　　A．reliable B．doubtful

　　C．predictable D．ambiguous

　　答案：A　推理判斷題。該研究是在老鼠身上做的，但是它與其他研究非常吻合，所以該研究結果是可信的。

　　15．What's the main idea of the passage?

　　A．Why do you need regular exercise?

　　B．What matters most for your body?

　　C．How does exercise help your brain?

　　D．Why are mice chosen for the study?

　　答案：C　主旨大意題。由文章大意可知。

　　(2024·安徽省黃山市高中畢業班第二次質檢)

　　If you are trying to achieve big goals in your life and work, the chances are that, from time to time, you hit rock bottom. Nothing works, nothing goes right, and nothing succeeds. At times like these, you may feel like throwing_in_the_towel. But before you do, read the following story. It might just change your mind.

　　One day, a small business owner decided he'd had enough. Enough of the endless work, enough of the lack of response, enough of the disturbing loneliness.

　　He went into the woods to have one last talk to the wise man. “Mr. wise man，” he said. “Can you give me one good reason why I shouldn't give up？”

　　The answer took him by surprise. “Look around you，” the wise man said. “Do you see the fern (蕨類植物)and the bamboo？”

　　“Yes”， the man replied.

　　“When I planted the fern and the bamboo, I took very good care of them. I gave them both equal amounts of food and water. I gave them sunlight in spring and protected them from the storms in autumn. The fern quickly grew from the earth. Yet nothing came from the bamboo seed. But I did not give up on the bamboo. In the second year, the fern grew even better than before but nothing came from the bamboo seed. But I did not give up on the bamboo. In year three there was still nothing from the bamboo seed. But I would not give up. In year four, again, there was nothing from the bamboo seed. Still would not give up.”

　　Then in the fifth year a tiny sprout(芽)came out from the earth. Compared to the fern it was seemingly small. But day by day the sprout grew. Within six months, the sprout had risen to a height of 100 feet. It had spent the five years growing roots. Those roots made it strong and gave it

　　what it needed to survive.“Did you know, young man, that all this time you have been struggling,

　　you have been growing? Grow the roots that you need to produce your fruit.”

　　“Don't compare yourself to others. All things have different purposes, and different journeys.

　　The bamboo has a different purpose from the fern. Yet they both make the forest beautiful. Yourtime will come. You will rise high.”

　　The small business owner left the forest. And never went back.

　　If nothing seems like it is happening in your life, despite all the work you're putting in,

　　remember that you're probably growing roots not fruit. Stick with it. One day not far from now,

　　there'll be a great harvest.

　　文章大意：這是哲理類文章閱讀。文章通過竹子的故事告訴我們當面臨困難的時候不要放棄。

　　1．The underlined phrase “throwing in the towel” in Paragraph l probably means ________.

　　A．crying out B．showing off

　　C．giving up D．running away

　　答案：C　詞義猜測題。cry out大聲哭泣；show off炫耀；give up放棄；run away跑掉。根據前文的Nothing works, nothing goes right, and nothing succeeds諸多困難，應該是想到放棄。故選C。

　　2．After the wise man planted the fern and the bamboo，________

　　A．he cared for the fern only

　　B．they didn't receive any care from him

　　C．he gave up the bamboo in the fifth year

　　D．the bamboo seed never stopped growing

　　答案：D　推理判斷題。根據文中the wise man所說的話“Yet nothing came from the bamboo seed. But I did not give up on the bamboo. In the second year, the fern grew even better than before but nothing came from the bamboo seed. But I did not give up on the bamboo. In year three there was still nothing from the bamboo seed. But I would not give up. In year four, again, there was nothing from the bamboo seed. Still would not give up. Then in the fifth year a tiny sprout(芽)came out from the earth”可知竹子從沒有放棄過自己的成長。故選D。

　　3．From the passage we can conclude that the small business owner will________.

　　A．not turn to the wise man for help again

　　B．not give up in face of difficulties

　　C．give up his business later

　　D．grow some bamboo later

　　答案：B　推理判斷題。根據the wise man所說的竹子故事，不放棄。商人回去后肯定會在遇到困難時不再放棄。故選B。

　　4．Which of the following best describes the story in the passage?

　　A．Never give up hope.

　　B．Practice makes perfect.

　　C．Time and tide wait for nobody.

　　D．One should try and achieve bigger goals in life.

　　答案：A　主旨大意題。A項永遠不要放棄希望；B項熟能生巧；C項時不我待；D項一個人應該努力在生活中獲得更大的成就。通讀全文，并根據the wise man的故事判斷就是永遠不要放棄。故選A。

　　【2024高考訓練題】閱讀下列短文，從每題所給的四個選項（A、B、C、D）中，選出最佳選項。As any plane passenger will confirm, a crying baby is almost impossible to ignore, no matter how hard you try. Now scientists believe they may have worked out why. A baby’s cry pulls at the heartstrings(扣人心弦) in a way while other cries don’t, researchers found.

　　Researchers found that a baby’s cry can trigger unique emotional responses in the brain, making it impossible for us to ignore them---whether we are parents or not. Other types of cries, including calls of animals in great pain, fail to get the same response---suggesting the brain is programmed to respond specifically to a baby’s cry.

　　A team of Oxford University scientists scanned the brains of 28 men and women as they listened to a variety of calls and cries. After 100 milliseconds two parts of the brain that respond to emotion lit up. Their response to a baby’s cry was particularly strong. The response was seen in both men and women—even if they had no children.

　　Researcher Dr Christine Parsons said, “You might read that men should just notice a baby and step over it and not see it, but it’s not true. There is a special processing in men and women, which makes sense from an evolutionary(演變的) view that both men and women would be responding to these cries.” The study was in people who were not parents, yet they are all responding at 100ms to these particular cries, so this might be a fundamental response present in all of us regardless of parental status.

　　Researcher Katie Young said it may take a bit longer for someone to recognize their own child’s cries because they need to do more “fine-grained analysis”. The team had previously found that our reactions speed up when we hear a baby crying. Adults performed better on computer games when they heard the sound of a baby crying than after they heard recordings of adults crying.

　　1. A baby’s cry is difficult to ignore because it _____.

　　A. keeps on crying

　　B. cries harder than adults

　　C. causes people great pain

　　D. makes people feel strong emotions

　　2. The underlined word “trigger” in Paragraph 2 probably means “_____”

　　A. remove

　　B. avoid

　　C. cause

　　D. Cure

　　3. What may Christine Parsons agree to?

　　A. Almost everyone makes certain response to a baby’s cries.

　　B. A crying baby makes no sense to people without children.

　　C. Men pay less attention to a crying baby than women.

　　D. Parents can hardly recognize their own babies’ cry.

　　4. Computer games are mentioned in the text to show _____.

　　A. players’ different reactions to a crying baby

　　B. baby’s crying contributes to quicker reactions

　　C. the influence of baby’s and adult’s crying on performance

　　D. it’s hard to keep one’s concentration with a crying baby nearby

　　參考答案、1-4 DCAB

　　【2024高考訓練題】閱讀下列短文，從每題所給的四個選項（A、B、C、D）中，選出最佳選項。 Three Boys and a Dad

　　??? Brad closed the door slowly as Sue left home to visit her mother. Expecting a whole day to relax, he was thinking whether to read the newspaper or watch his favourite TV talk show on his first day off in months. "This will be like a walk in the park," he'd told his wife. "I'll look after the kids, and you can go visit your mom."

　　??? Things started well, but just after eight o'clock, his three little "good kids"—Mike, Randy, and Alex—came down the stairs in their night clothes and shouted "breakfast, daddy." When food had not appeared within thirty seconds, Randy began using his spoon on Alex's head as if it were a drum. Alex started to shout loudly in time to the beat(節拍). Mike chanted "Where's my toast, where's my toast," in the background. Brad realized his newspaper would have to wait for a few seconds.