高中英语限时阅读训练 (1)词数：about 290 难度★★建议用时：3.5minutesUnlike most of the other non-foolish holidays, the history of April Fool’s Day, sometimes called All Fools’ Day, is not totally clear. There really wasn’t a “first April Fool’s Day” that can be pinpoi nted on the calendar. Some believe it came from celebrations involving the first day of spring. The closest point in time that can be identified as the beginning of this tradition was in 1582, in France. Before that year, the new year was celebrated for eight days, beginning on March 25. The celebration culminated （达到高潮） on April 1. With the reform of the calendar under Charles IX, the Gregorian Calendar was introduced, and New Year’s Day was moved to January 1.However, in those days news traveled by foot, so many people did not receive the news until several years later. Others, the more obstinate （顽固的） crowd refused to accept the new calendar and continued to celebrate the new year on April 1. These backward folk were labeled as “fools” by the general p opulace （民众）. They were subject to some ridicule （嘲笑）. The tradition eventually spread to England and Scotland in the eighteenth century. It was later introduced to the American colonies of both the English and French. April Fool’s Day thus developed into an international fun fest (联欢会),so to speak, with different nationalities specializing in their own brand of humor at the expense of their friends and families.Pranks performed on April Fool’s Day range from the simple, (such as saying, “Your shoe’s untied!”), to the elaborate(精心制作的). Setting a roommate’s alarm clock back an hour is a common trick. Whatever the prank, the trickster usually ends it by yelling （大叫）to his victim, “April Fool!”April Fool’s Day is a “for-fun-only” observance （风俗习惯）. Nobody is expected to buy gifts or to take their “significant other” out to eat in a fancy restaurant. Nobody gets off work or school. It’s simply a fun little holiday, but a holiday on which one must remain forever vigilant （警觉的）, for he may be the next April Fool!1. Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?A. New Year’s Day was celebrated on March 25 after 1582.B．April Fool’s Day was the first day to celebrate new year before 1582.C. Many people didn’t know the New Year’s Day fell on Janu ary 1 until several years later.D. Only the obstinate people got involved in celebrating April Fool’s Day.2. The underlined word “pranks”(in Paragraph 3) most probably means “______”.A. foolsB. tricksC. projectsD. plans3. “April fools” first referred to ______.A. those who continued to celebrate the new year on April 1B. those who accepted the new calendarC. those who were fooled on April 1D. those who always did foolish things on April 1Key: 1-3 CBA（二）词数 about 310 难度★★建议用时 3.5 minutesBEIJING, Aug. 25 (Xinhuanet) —Apple Computer Inc. on Thursday announced a recall of 1.8 million lithium-ion (锂) notebook batteries that could cause a fire risk, a move that followed Dell’s similar recall just ten days ago.The defective （有缺陷的） batteries were sold with Apple 12-inch iBook G4, 12-inch PowerBook G4 and 15-inch PowerBook G4 computers from October 2003 through this month. In its recall announcement, Apple said it has received nine reports of lithium-ion battery packs overheating, including two cases in which users suffered minor burns and some involving minor property damage.The company urged users to stop using the batteries and contact Apple Customer Service. The computer maker will replace the batteries free of charge.About 1.1 million of the battery packs are in use in the US, the remaining 700,000 were sold internationally. The recall is the second-biggest in US history involving electronics or computers. Just last week, No. 1 PC maker Dell Inc. recalled 4.1 million lithium-ion batteries.Both recalls involve lithium-ion batteries made by a Sony subsidiary（子公司) in Japan.Sony said in a press release （新闻公布） that both the Dell and Apple problems were caused by tiny pieces of metal floating inside the battery. When the batteries arebeing used or recharged, they will heat up and these particals (质点) can start moving around, potentially causing the unit to short circuit （短路）. This can cause the battery to explode or catch fire.According to Sony, the recalls will cost it between 172 and 278 million dollars. Both Apple and Dell said the recalls would not affect their earnings.1. What is the news story mainly about?A. Apple Computer Inc. recalling 1.8 million Sony batteries.B. The biggest recall in US history.C. The potential risk of lithium-ion batteries.D. The cause of laptop batteries being recalled.2. What happened to Dell Inc. ten days ago?A. Dell’s notebook batteries caused a fire.B. Dell urged users to stop using the Sony batteries.C. Dell received nine reports of battery overheating.D. Dell announced a recall of laptop batteries.3. Which of the following is NOT mentioned in the passage?A. Where the battery packs concerned are mostly sold.B. What caused the battery packs to ov erheat when they’re used.C. How many laptop batteries in China will be recalled.D. Whether customers should pay for the batteries to be replaced.4. Which of the following companies suffers the worst in the recalls of laptop batteries?A. Lenovo.B. Dell Inc.C. Apple Computer Inc.D. Sony Inc.Key: 1-4 ADCD。