2011高考英语阅读理解分类汇编之科普知识类(附答案)

2011高考英语阅读理解分类汇编之科普知识类

1.（2011·陕西卷）D

Ever since they were first put on the market in the early 1990s, gentically mondified (GM, 转基因) foods have been increasingly developed and marketed in many countries in the word,mainly on the basis of their promise to end the worldwide food crisis. But can GM technology solve world hunger problems? Even if it would ,is it the best solutiorr?

Despite what it promiises,GM technology actually has not increased the production potential of any corp. In fact

Studies show that the most crown GM croo.

GM soybeans, has suffered reduced productivity. For instance, a report than analysed nearly two decades of research on mojor GM food crops shows that GM engineering has failed to significantly increase US crop production.

Something else, however, has been on the rise, While GM seeds are expensive, GM companics tell farmers that they will make good profits by saving money on pesticides（杀虫剂）. On the contrary, US government data show that GM crops in the US have produced an overall increase in pesticide use compared to traditional crops. “ The promise was that you could use less chemicals and boost production. But nether is true,” said Bill Christison, President of the US National Farm Coalition.

At the same time, the authors of the book World Hunger: Twelve Myths argue that there actually is more than enough food in the world and that the hunger crisis is not caused by production, but by problems in food distribution and politics. These indeed deserve our efforts and money. Meanwhile, the rise in food prices results from the increased use of crops for fuel rather than food, according to a 2008 World Bank report.

As a matter of fact ,scientists see better ways to feed the world. Another World Bank report concluded that GM crops have little to offer to the challenges of worldwide poverty and hunger, because better ways out are available, among which “green” farming is supposed to be the first choice.

57.The author develops the second paragraph mainly . 【C】

A. by classification

B. by comparison

C. by example

D. by process

58. What does the underlined word “boost ” in the third paragraph probably mean? 【D】

A. Control.

B. Evaluate

C. Obtain.

D. Increase.

59. GM companies promise farmers that they will benefit from ______________. 【B】

A. practicing “green” farming

B. use of less chemicals

C. fair distribution of their crops

D. using more crops for fuel

60. Which of the following best describes the attitude of the author towards GM technology?

【C】

A. Optimistic

B. Defensive

C. Disapproving

D. Casual

2.（2011·重庆卷）C

Getting rid of dirt, in the opinion of most people, is a good thing. However, there is nothing fixed about attitudes to dirt.

In the early 16th century, people thought that dirt on the skin was a means to block out disease, as medical opinion had it that washing off dirt with hot water could open up the skin and let ills in. A particular danger was thought to lie in public baths. By 1538, the French king had closed the bath houses in his kingdom. So did the king of England in 1546. Thus began a long time when the rich and the poor in Europe lived with dirt in a friendly way. Henry IV, King of France, was famously dirty. Upon learning that a nobleman had taken a bath, the king ordered that, to avoid the attack of disease, the nobleman should not go out.

Though the belief in the merit of dirt was long-lived, dirt has no longer been regarded as a nice neighbor ever since the 18th century. Scientifically speaking, cleaning away dirt is good to health. Clean water supply and hand washing are practical means of preventing disease. Yet, it seems that standards of cleanliness have moved beyond science since World War Ⅱ. Advertisements repeatedly sell the idea: clothes need to be whiter than white, cloths ever softer, surfaces to shine. Has the hate for dirt, however, gone too far?

Attitudes to dirt still differ hugely nowadays. Many first-time parents nervously try to warn their children off touching dirt, which might be responsible for the spread of disease.On the contrary, Mary Ruebush, an American immunologist(免疫学家)，encourages children to play in the dirt to build up a strong immune system. And the latter position is gaining some ground. 64. The kings of France and England in the 16th century closed bath houses because .

A. they lived healthily in a dirty environment.

B. they thought bath houses were too dirty to stay in

C. they believed disease could be spread in public baths

D. they considered bathing as the cause of skin disease

65.Which of the following best describes Henry IV’s attitude to bathing?

A. Afraid.

B. Curious.

C. Approving.

D. Uninterested.

66. How does the passage mainly develop?

A. By providing examples.

B. By making comparisons.

C. By following the order of time.

D. By following the order of importance.

67. What is the author’s purpose in writing the passage?

A. To stress the role of dirt.

B. To introduce the history of dirt.

C. To call attention to the danger of dirt.

D. To present the change of views on dirt.

【答案】CA CD

3.（2011·湖南卷）C

A recent study of ancient and modern elephants has come up with the unexpected conclusion that the African elephant is divided into two distinct (不同的) species

The discovery was made by researchers at York and Harvard universities when they were examining the genetic relationship between the ancient woolly mammoth and mastodon to modern elephants—the Asian elephant, African forest elephant and African savanna elephant Once they obtained DNA sequences (序列) from two fossils (化石)，mammoths and mastodons the team compared them with DNA from modern elephants. They found to their amazement that modern forest and savanna elephants are as distinct from each other as Asian elephants and mammoths.

The scientists used detailed genetic analysis to prove that the African savanna elephants and the African forest elephants have been distinct species for several million years. The divergence

of the two species took place around the time of the divergence of Asian elephants and woolly mammoths. This result amazed all the scientists.

There has long been debate in the scientific community that the two might be separate species but this is the most convincing scientific evidence so far that they are indeed different species.

Previously, many naturalists believed that African savanna elephants and African forest elephants were two populations of the same species despite the ele phants’ signi ficant size differences. The savanna elephant has an average shoulder height of 3.5metres while the forest elephant has an average shoulder height of 2.5metres. The savanna elephant weighs between six and seven tons, roughly double the weight of the forest elephant. But the fact that they look so different does not necessarily mean they are different species. However, the proof lay in the analysis of the DNA.

Alfred Roca, assistant professor in the department of Animal Sciences at the University of Minois, said, “We now have to treat the forest and savanna elephants as two different units for conservation purpose. Since 1950 all African elephants have been conserved as one species. Now that we know the forest and savanna elephants are two very distinct animals, the forest elephant should become a bigger priority (优先)for conservation purpose .”

66. One of the fossils studied by the researchers is that of ________.

A. the Asian elephant

B. the forest elephant

C. the savanna elephant

D. the mastodon elephant

67. T he underlined word “divergence”in paragraph 4means “________”

A. evolution

B. exhibition

C. separation

D. examination

68. The researche r’s conclusion was based on a study of the A frican elephant’s ____________

A. DNA

B. height

C. weight

D. population

69. What were Alfred Roca’s words mainly about?

A. The conversation of African elephants.

B. The purpose of studying African elephants

C. The way to divide African elephants into two units

D. The reason for the distinction of African elephants

70. Which of the following can be the best title for the passage?

A. Naturalist’s Belief about Elephants.

B. Amazing Experiment about Elephants

C. An Unexpected Finding about Elephants

D. A Long scientific Debate about Elephants

C 科普说明文：African elephant 有两个不同的种类

66. fossils 定位，找到第三段第一句，有两种fossils，mam和mas，选项D

67. 文中divergence of the two species指代前文the Ase and the Afe have been distinct species, divergence与distinct同义替换，对应选项C

68. conclusion, based on定位，找到倒数第二段最后一句lay in 与based on 同义替换，答案：A

69. AR定位，找到倒数第一段，从AR的话中，第一句for conservation purpose, 最后一句for conservation purpose确定A

70.文章首句点明全文主旨，答案：C

4.（2011·江西卷）D

Why should mankind explore space? Why should money, time and effort be spent exploring and researching something with so few apparent benefits? Why should resources be spent on space rather than on conditions and people on Earth? These are questions that, understandably, are very often asked.

Perhaps the best answer lies in our genetic makeup(基因构成) as human beings. What drove our ancestors to move from the trees into the plains, and on into all possible areas and environments? The wider the spread of a species, the better its chance of survival. Perhaps the best reason for exploring space is this genetic tendency to expand wherever possible.

Nearly every successful civilization has explored, because by doing so, any dangers in surrounding areas can be identified and prepared for. Without knowledge, we may be completely destroyed by the danger. With knowledge, we can lessen its effects.

Exploration also allows minerals and other potential (潜在的) resources to be found. Even if we have no immediate need of them, they will perhaps be useful later. Resources may be more

than physical possessions. Knowledge or techniques have been acquired through exploration. The techniques may have medical applications which can improve the length or quality of our lives. We have already benefited from other spin-offs including improvements in earthquake prediction, in satellites for weather forecasting and in communications systems. Even non-stick pans and mirrored sunglasses are by-products (副产品) of technological developments in the space, the chance to save ourselves might not exist.

While many resources are spent on what seems a small return, the exploration of space allows creative, brave and intelligent members of our species to focus on what may serve to save us. While space may hold many wonders and explanations of how the universe was formed or how it works, it also holds dangers. The danger exists, but knowledge can help human being to survive. Without the ability to reach out across space, the chance to save ourselves might not exist.

While Earth is the only planet known to support life, surely the adaptive ability of humans would allow us to live on other planets. It is true that the lifestyle would be different, but human life and cultures have adapted in the past and surely could in the future.

71. Why does the author mention the questions in Paragraph1?

A. To express his doubts.

B. To compare different ideas.

C. To introduce points for discussion.

D. To describe the conditions on Earth.

72. What is the reason for exploring space based on Paragraph2?

A. Humans are nature-born to do so.

B. Humans have the tendency to fight.

C. Humans may find new sources of food.

D. Humans don’t like to stay in the same place.

73. The underlin ed word“spin-offs” in Paragraph 4 probably refers to______.

A. survival chances

B. potential resources

C. unexpected benefits

D. physical possessions

74. What makes it possible for humans to live on other planets?

A. O ur genetic makeup.

B. Resources on the earth..

C. The adaptive ability of humans.

D. By-products in space exploration.

75. Which of the statements can best sum un the passage?

A. Space exploration has created many wonders.

B. Space exploration provided the best value for money.

C. Space exploration may help us avoid potential problems on Earth.

解析：

71. 推理判断题。答案选C。文章是典型的议论说明文，是提出问题，分析问题的套路。第一段通过提出一系列关于太空探索利弊的问题引发讨论。并不是真的有这些怀疑，也没有鲜明的正反观点，所以AB不对。D偏差较远。

72. 主旨题。答案选A。第二段是典型的总分总结构，主旨句在段首段尾。Perhaps the best answer lies in our genetic makeup as human beings. 主要原因在于人类基因。Perhaps the best reason for exploring space is this genetic tendency to expand wherever possible. 而B选项错在fight这个词。CD没提及。

73. 词义猜测题。选C。根据spin off 前面的we have already benefited from other spin off 关键词benefit，受益。而spin off后面的including … 说的全是获得的利益，如improvements in earthquake prediction. 地震预测的进步等等，而不是什么生存机会，或者潜在资源。所以选C。

74. 细节题。答案选C。按照问题顺序一致原则，答案应当出现在最后两段。在最后一段的首句我们找到了一个极端词用以定位。While earth is the only planet known to support life, surely the adaptive ability of humans would allow us to live on other planets.直接由翻译可知，人类的适应能力使我们在其他星球的居住成为可能。

75. 推理判断题。选D。除去前两段引入，第三段主旨句（首句）的意思是每个文明都会探索周围文明以减低危险，第四段主旨句（首句）说的是探索使得我们能够发现潜在能源。第五段主旨句（首句）说的是探索使得很多人发现解决问题的有用资源。总的来说，就可归结为，太空探索可以帮助我们很多，避免很多问题。

5.（2011·江苏卷）A

We know the famous ones—the Thomas Edisons and the Alexander Graham Bells —but what about the less famous inventors? What about the people who invented the traffic light and

the windshield wiper(雨刮器)？Shouldn’t we know who they are?

Joan Mclean think so. In fact, Mclean, a professor of physics at Mountain University in Range, feels so strongly about this matter that she’s developed a course on the topic. In addition to learning “who”invented”what”, however, Mclean also likes her students to learn the answers to the”why” and ”how” questions. According to Mclean,”When students learn the answers to these questions, they are better prepared to recognize opportunities for inventing and more motivated to give inventing a try.”

So,just what is the story behind the windshield wiper? Well,Mary Anderson came up with the idea in 1902 after a visit to Mew York City.The day was cold and stormy, but Anderson still wanted to see the sights ,so she jumped aboard a streetcar. Noticing that the driver was struggling to see through the snow covering the winshield,she found hersefe wondering why there couldn’t be a buolt-in devic for cleaing the window. Still wondering about this when she returned home to Birmingham, Alabama, Anderson started drafting out solutions. One of her ideas, a lever(操作杆)on the inside of a vehicle that would contral an arm on the outside, became the first windshield wiper.

Today we benefit from countless inventions and innovations，It’s hard to imagine driving without Garrett A.Morgan’s traffic light. It’s equally impossible to picture a world without Katherine J.Blodgett’s innovation that makes glass invisible, Can you picture life without clear windows and eyeglasses?

56.By mentionong “traffic light”and “windshield wiper”,the author indicates that countless inventions are .

A.beneficial,because their inventors are famous

B. beneficial,though their inventors are less famous

C.not useful, because their inventors are less famous

D. not useful, though their inventors are famous

57.Professor Joan McLean’s course aims to_____.

A. add colour and variety to students’ campus life

B. inform students of the windshield wiper’s invention

C. carry out the requirements by Mountain University

D. pre[are students to try theie own invention

58．Tommy Lee’s invention of the unbreakable umbrella was _________.

A. not eventually accepted by the umbrella producer

B. inspired by the story behind the windshield wiper

C. due to his dream of being caught in a rainstorm

D. not related to Professor Jo an McLean’s lectures

59. Which 0f the following can best serve as the title of this passage?

A How to Help Students to Sell Their Inventions to Producers?

B How to Design a Built-in Dervice for Cleaning the Window?

C Shouldn’t We Know Who Inventd the Windshield Wiper?

D Shouldn’t We Deve lop Invention Courses in Universities?

56. B 推理判断题。根据第一段内容结合下文可推断，作者提到交通信号灯、雨刮器等发明，是想说无数的发明对人类十分有益，虽然它们的发明者没有太大的名气。

57. D 细节理解题。根据第二段最后一句可知，John McLean教授开设这门课程的目的就是

让学生有足够的准备去尝试自己发明东西。

58. B 细节理解题。根据第三段内容可知，Tommy Lee发明的“不会折断的雨伞”就是受到

了雨刮器背后的故事的激励。

59. C 主旨大意题。通读全文可知，文章的第一段就是主题段，特别是第一段最后一句充分

体现了作者想要表达的心声，接下来的内容都是围绕第一段展开并为第一段服务的。

6.（2011·江苏卷）C

According to the US government, wind farms off the Pacific coast could produce 900 gig watts of electricity every year.Unfortunately,the water there is far too deep for even the tallest windmills(see picture)to touch bottom. An experiment under way off the coast of

Norway,however,could help put them anywhere.

The project, called Hywind,is the world’s first large-scale deepwater wind turbine(涡轮发电机).Although it uses a fairly standard 152-ton,2.3-megawatt

turbine,Hywind represents totally new technology. The turbine will be fixed 213 feet above the water on a floating spar(see picture),a technology Hywind’s creator,the Norwegian company StatoilHydro,has developed recently. The steel spar, which is filled with stones and goes 328 feet below the sea surface, will be tied to the ocean floor by three cable(缆索)；these will keep the spar stable and prevent the turbine from moving up and down in the waves.Hywind’s stability(稳定性)in the cold and rough sea would prove that even the deepest corners of the ocean are suitable for wind power. If all goes according to plan, the turbine will start producing electricity six miles off the coast of southwestern Norway as early as September.

To produce electricity on a large scale, a commercial wind farm will have to use bigger turbines than Hywind does, but it’s difficult enough to balance such a large turbine so high on a floating spar in the middle of the ocean. To make that turbine heavier, the whole spar’s to design a new kind of wind turbine, one whose gearbox(变速箱) sits at sea level rather than behind the blades (see picture )

Hywind is a test run, but the benefits for perfecting floating wind-farm technology could be extremely large. Out at sea, the wind is often stronger and steadier than close to shore, where all existing offshore windmills are planted. Deep-sea farms are invisible from land, which helps overcome the windmill-as-eyesore objection. If the technology catches on, it will open up vast areas of the planet’s surface to one of the best low-carbon power sources available.

63. The Hywind project uses totally new technology to ensure the stability of _______.

A. the cables which tie the spar to the ocean floor

B. the spar which is floating in deep-sea water

C. the blades driven by strong and steady sea wind

D. the stones filled in the spar below the sea surface

64. To balance a bigger turbine high on a flatting spar, a new type of turbine is to be

designed with its gearbox sitting ____________.

A. on the sea floor

B. on the spar top

C. at sea level

D. behind the blades

65. Wide applications of deepwater wind power technology can ____________.

A. solve the technical problems of deepwater windmills

B. make financial profits by producing more turbines

C. settle the arguments about environmental problems

D. explore low-carbon power resources available at sea

63. B 细节理解题。根据第二段倒数第三句可知，该工程采用了全新的技术，是为了确保漂

浮在深海水域中的圆材的稳定。

64. C 细节理解题。根据第三段最后一句可知，为了使较大的涡轮发电机能在圆材上保持平

衡，公司计划设计新的发电机，其变速箱在海平面上。

65. D 细节理解题。根据最后一段最后一句可知，深海风能技术的广泛应用可能会在海洋

上开发出可使用的低碳能源。

7.（2011·湖北卷）B

Howling is a behavior commonly observed among a wolf nark. An animals, wolves work together to hunt and rely on howling was an important means of communication each other. There are different explants of a wolf’s howl and it appears that ther e may be more to discover.

One theory is that wolves howl to bend better together. It’s almost as if howling together helps the pack stay together. Perhaps something similar to people feeling a sense of involvement with each other when singing a song together . But this theory may be wrong, explains Fred H. Harington, a professor who studies wolf behavior.

Indeed, there have been tines when wolves have been seen one moment howling in a exhorts, and the next, quarreling anions each other. It appears that usually the lowest-tanking menthes of the pack may actually be “punished” for Joining in the churs at times. So is howling a way to strcagthen a social boad or just a way to reconfirm status among its members? ——Why do welves howl for sure?

What is cleat, however, is that howling is often used among packmates to locate each other. Hunting grounds are distant and it happens that woloves may separate from one another at times. When this happens, howling appcars to be an ercellent means of gathering.

Howling, interestingly, is a contagious behaviour. When one wolf starts to howl, very likely others will follow. This is often seen to occat in the morning, as if wolves were doing some sotr of “roll rall”where wolves all howl togeter to howl, very likely others will follow. This is often seen to occar in the morning, as if wolves were doing w some sotr of “roll call”where wolves all howl together to repotr their pteence.

55.What the por similarity between wolves’ how humaes ting in chorus?

A.The act of calling each other.

B.the sense of accomplishment.

C.The act of hunting for something.

D.The sense of belonging to a group.

56.Why does Harrington think the“secial boad”theory may be wrong?

A.Wolves separate from each other after howling.

B.Wolves tend to protect their hunting grounds.

C.Wolves sometimes have quarrels after howling together.

D.Wolves of low rank are encouraged to join in the chorus.

57.Reseatchers are sure that wolves often howl to______.

A.show their ranks

B.

C.repotr the missing ones

D.express their lonelingess

58.“Howling… is a contagious behaviour”(in the last paragraph)means_______.

A.howling is a signal for hunting

B.howling is a way of communication

C.howling aften occurs in the morning

D.howling spreads from one to another

【答案】DCBD

8.（2011·湖北卷）E

Which are you more likely to have wath you at sny given mement—your cell phone or your wallet? Soon you may be able to throw your wallet away and pay for things with a quick wave of your smart phone over an electroue scannet.

In January, Starbucks announced that customers could start using their phones to buy coffee in 6,800 of its states. This is the first pay by phone practice in the U.S., but we’re likely to see more witeless payment alternatives as something called ucar field communcation(NFC)GETS IN TO America’s consumet electanies. Last Deccmbet some new smart phanes which cantain an NFC chip were introduced to the midlit.

Already in use in part of Asia and Europe, NFCtheir plan a few incees live a payment tetminal a one a few ptaht need to be worked out, like who will get to collect the profitable trunsacian(交易)fees. Although some credit card providers have been experimenting with wave and pay systems that use NFC enabled credit cards, cellphone service providers truay try to mused their way into the point of sale (POS)market. Three big gellphone service providers have formed a joinf tenture(合资企业)that will go into opention over the next i15 months. Its goal is“to lead the U.S. payments industry from cards to mobile phone.”

The other big NFC sue, apart from how paymeats will be processed, is security, For instance, what’s to stop a thief from digitally pickpocketing you? “We’re still not at the point where an attacker can just brush against yee in a crowd and steal all the money out of your phone,”says Jimmy Shah. A mobile security rescarcher, “Usera may also be able to set transaction timeits,requiring a password to be enteced for larger putchases.

Bus siness? Keep in mund you lost your smart phone, it can be located on a located on a map and remotely ned Plus, your phone can be password protected, Your wallet isn’t.

67.What is predicted to happen in the U.S.?

A.The expansion of cellphone companices.

B. The boom of pay by phone business.

C. The dissppearanceof credit cards.

D. The increase of Starbucks sales.s

68.The NFC technology can be used to________.

A. ensure the safety of shoppers

B. collect transaction fees easily

C. make purchase faster and smpler

D. improve the quality of cellphones

69.Three cellphone service providers form a joint venture to__________.

A. strengthen their relationship

B .get a share in the payments industry

C .sell more cellphones

D. test the NFC teehnoingy

70.According to the what can users do if they lose their smart phones?

A. Stop the luneting of niet phones.

B .Stop a passwant.

C .Cat all the money out of their phones.

D. Can large purchases.

【答案】BCBA

9.（2011·广东卷）B

Can dogs and cats live in perfect harmony in the same home? People who are thinking about adopting a dog as a friend for their cats are worried that they will fight. A recent research has found a new recipe of success. According to the study, if the cat is adopte d before the dog, and if they are introduced when still young (less than 6 months for cats, a year for dogs), it is highly probable that the two pets will get along swimmingly. Two-thirds of the homes interviewed reported a positive relationship between their cat and dog.

However, it wasn’t all sweetness and light. There was a reported coldness between the cat and dog in 25% of the homes, while aggression and fighting were observed in 10% of the homes. One reason for this is probably that some of their body signals were just opposite. For example, when a cat turns its head away it signals aggression, while a dog doing the same signals submission.

In homes with cats and dogs living peacefully, researchers observed a surprising behaviour. They are learning how to talk each other’s language. It is a surprise that cats can learn how to talk ‘dog’, and dogs can learn how to talk ‘Cat’.

What’s interesting is that both cats and dogs have appeared to develop their intelligence. They can learn to read each other’s body signals, suggesting that the two may have more in common than was preciously suspected. Once familiar with each other’s presence and body language, cats and dogs can play together, greet each other nose to nose, and enjoy sleeping together in the sofa. They can easily share the same water bowl and in some cases groom(梳理)

each other.

The significance of this research on cats and dogs may go beyond pets----to people who don’t get along, including neighbors, colleagues at work, and even world superpowers. If cats and dogs can learn to get along, surely people have a good chance.

31. The underlined word swimmingly in paragraph1 is closest in meaning to______.

A. early

B.sweetly

C.quickly

D. smoothly

32. Some cats and dogs may fight when_________.

A. they are cold to each other

B. they look away from each other

C. they misunderstand each other’s signals

D. they are introduced at an early age

33. What is found surprising about cats and dogs?

A. They eat and sleep together

B. They observe each other’s behaviors

C. They learn to speak each other’s language

D. They know something from each other’s voice

34. It is suggested in paragraph 4 that cats and dogs_______.

A. have common interests

B. are less different than was thought

C. have a common body langage

D. are less intelligent than was expected

35. What can we human beings learn from cats and dogs?

A. We should learn to live in harmony

B. We should knows more about animals

C. We should live in peace with animals

D. We should learn more body languages

【文章大意】本文是一篇说明文。通过科学研究表明猫和狗在一定的情况下是能够和平相处的。如果先收养猫并且猫不到6个，狗不到一年，他们就能顺利地和平相处。通过观察他们不能和平相处的原因是他们之间误解了彼此的身势语而造成的。但有趣的是猫和狗能够相互学习彼此的身势语，这样他们就能和平相处。

31.D考查推测词义。如果先收养猫并且猫不到6个，狗不到一年，他们就能顺利的和平相处。2/3被采访的家庭也表明这样的结果。

32. C考查细节理解。根据第二段while aggression and fighting were observed in 10% of the homes. One reason for this is probably that some of their body signals were just opposite.可知选C。

33.C考查细节理解。根据文章第三段In homes with cats and dogs living peacefully, researchers observed a surprising behaviour. They are learning how to tal k each other’s language.可知C正确。

34. B考查细节理解。根据文章第四段中的They can learn to read each other’s body signals, suggesting that the two may have more in common than was preciously suspected.可知B正确。

35. A考查推理判断。根据文章的最后一段可知，在动物王国，人们公认的猫和狗都能和平相处，何况人呢？

10.（2011·浙江卷）A

One evening in February 2007 . a student named Paula Ceely brought her car to a stop on a remote in Wales . She got out to open a metal gate that blocked her path . That's when she heard the whistle sounded by the driver of a train.Her Renault Clio parked across a railway line. Second later,she watched the train drag her car almost a kilometre down the railway tracks.

Ceely's near miss made the news because she blamed it on her GPS device(导航仪).She had never driven the route before .It was dark and raining heavily . Ceely was relying on her GPS. But it made no mention of the crossing ."I put my complete trust in the device and it led me right into the path of a speeding train ,"she told the BBC.

W ho is to blame here ? Rick Stevenson ,who tells Ceely's story in his book When Machines Fail US, finger at the limitations of technology. We put our faith in digital devices, he says, but our digital helpers are too often not up to the job. They are filled with small problems. And it’s not just GPS devices: Stevenson takes us on a tour of digital disasters involving everything from mobile phones to wireless key boards.

The problem with his argument in the book is that it’s not clear w hy he only focuses digital technology,while there may be a number of other possible causes. A map-maker might have left the crossing off a paper map. Maybe we should blame Ceely for not paying attention.

perhaps the railway authorities are at fault for poor signaling system. Or maybe someone has studied the relative dangers and worked out that there really is something specific wrong with the CPS equipment. But Stevenson doesn’t say.

It’s a problem that runs through the book. In a section on cars, Stevens on gives an accout of the advanced techniques that criminals use to defeat computer-based locking systems for cars. He offers two independent sets of figures on car theft; both show a small rise in some parts of the country. He says that once once again not all new locks have proved reliable. Perhaps, but maybe it’s also due to the shortage of policemen on the streets. Or changing social circumstances. Or some combination of these factors .

The game between humans and their smart devices is complex. It is shaped by economics and psychology and the cultures we live in. Somewhere in the mix of those forces there may be way a wiser use of technology.

If there is such a way, it should involve more than just an awareness of the shortcomings of our machines. After all, we have lived with them for thousands of years. They have probably been fooling us for just as long .

41 .What did Paula Ceely think was the cause of her accident?

A. She was not familiar with the road.

B. It was dark and raining heavily then.

C. The railway works failed to give the signal.

D. Her GPS device didn’t tell her about the crossing

42.The phrase” near miss” (paragraph 2 ) can best be replaced by _______.

A. close bit

B. heavy loss

C.narrow escape

D. big mistake

43.Which of the following would Rick Stevenson most probably agree with?

A. Modern technology is what we can’t live without.

B. Digital technology often falls short of out expectation.

C. Digital devices are more reliable than they used to be.

D. GPS error is not the only cause for Celery’s accident.

44.In the writer’s opinion, Stevenson’s argument is________.

A. one-sided

B. reasonable

C.puzzling

D.well-based

45.What is the real concern of the writer of this article?

A.The major causes of traffic accidents and car thefts.

B.The relationship between humans and technology

C. The shortcomings of digital devices we use.

D. The human unawareness of technical problems.

【答案】DCBAB

11.（2011·上海卷）(C)

Human remains of ancient settlements will be reburied and lost to science under a law that threatens research into the history of humans in Britain, a group of leading archaeologists(考古学家) says. I a letter addressed to the justice secretary, Ken Clarke, 40 archaeologists write of their “deep and widespread concern” about the issue. It centers on the law introduced by the Ministry of Justice in 2008 which requires all human remains unearthed in England and Wales to be reburied within two years, regardless of their age. The decision means scientists have too little time to study bones and other human remains of national and cultural significance.

“Your current requirement that all archaeologically unearthed human remains should be reburied, whether after a standard period of two years or further special extension, is contrary to basic principles of archaeological and scientific research and of museum practice,” they write.

The law applies to any pieces of bone uncovered at around 400 dig sites, including the remains of 60 or so bodies found at Stonehenge in 2008 that date back to 3,000 BC. Archaeologists have been granted a temporary extension to give them more time, but eventually the bones will have to be returned to the ground.

The arrangements may result in the waste of future discoveries at sites such as Happisburgh in Norfolk, where digging is continuing after the discovery of stone tools made by early humans 950,000 years ago. If human remains were found at Happisburgh, they would be the oldest in northern Europe and the first indication of what this species was. Under the current practice of the law those remains would have to be reburied and effectively destroyed.

Before 2008, guidelines allowed for the proper preservation and study of bones of sufficient age and historical interest, while the Burial Act 1857 applied to more recent remains. The Ministry of Justice assured archaeologists two years ago that the law was temporary, but has so far failed to revise it.

Mike Parker Pearson, an archaeologist at Sheffield University, said: “Archaeologists have

been extremely patient because we wee led to believe the ministry was sorting out this problem, but we feel that we cannot wait any longer.”

The ministry has no guidelines on where or how remains should be reburied, or on what records should be kept.

72. According to the passage, scientists are unhappy with the law mainly because _________.

A. it is only a temporary measure on the human remains

B. it is unreasonable and thus destructive to scientific research

C. it was introduced by the government without their knowledge

D. it is vague about where and how to rebury human remains

73. Which of the following statements is true according to the passage?

A. Temporary extension of two years will guarantee scientists enough time.

B. Human remains of the oldest species wee dug out at Happisburgh.

C. Human remains will have to be reburied despite the extension of time.

D. Scientists have been warned that the law can hardly be changed.

74. What can be inferred about the British law governing human remains?

A. The Ministry of Justice did not intend it to protect human remains.

B. The Burial Act 1857 only applied to remains uncovered before 1857.

C. The law on human remains hasn’t changed in recent decades.

D. The Ministry of Justice has not done enough about the law.

75. Which of the following might be the best title of the passage?

A. New discoveries should be reburied, the government demands.

B. Research time should be extended, scientists require.

C. Law on human remains needs thorough discussion, authorities say.

D. Law could bury ancient secrets for ever, archaeologists warn.

【答案】ＢＣＤＤ

12.（2011·上海卷）(B)

Humpback whales

Blowhole dorsal fin

Pectoral fin Humpback whales are sometimes called performers of

the ocean. This is because they can make impressive

movements when they dive. The name “humpback ”, which

is the common name for this whale, refers to the typical

curve shape the whale ’s back forms as it dives.

Sometimes the humpback will dive with a fantastic

movement known as a breach. During breaching the whale

uses its powerful tail flukes to lift nearly two-thirds of its

body out of the water in a giant leap. A breach might also

include a sideways twist with fins stretched out like wings,

as the whale reaches the height of the breach.

A humpback whale breathes air at the surface of the

Water through two blowholes which are located near the top

of the head. It blows a double stream of water that can rise

up to 4 meters above the water.

The humpback has a small dorsal fin located towards

the tail flukes about two-thirds of the way down its back.

other distinguishing features include large pectoral fins,

which may be up to a third of the body length, and unique

black and white spots on the underside of the tail flukes.

These markings are like fingerprints: no two are the same.

Humpback whales live in large groups. They

communicate with each other through complex “songs ”

.