高中英语阅读理解精选精讲（八）01Three boys were enjoying themselves in their hometown of Bovina, Mississippi ．However, their lives were turned upside down when they discovered the jawbone of a Mastodon (齿乳象)．Brothers Shawn and Caid Sellers and cousin Michael Mahalitc found the prehistoric bone in a piece of earth that was recently plowed (犁、耕)．“I thought it was a log,” Caid said．“I tried to pick it up and it was really heavy and I saw teeth on it.” The bone weighed about 50 pounds．They eventually got the bone to their home and fitted it in their tub (浴盆), but it took their collective strength, might and a golf cart, to carry the large Mastodon bone．“They didn’t expect to find that,” Michael’s mom said．“Now that they have, I believe that they will be more aware of their surroundings and what they’re digging up when they are digging and playing.”“We’ve gotten a lot of petrified (石化的) wood and Civil War relics from the area and that’s what I thought it was,” the brothers’ mother said．“This is our first set of teeth we’ve found．So we thought it was their imagination．We were quite surprised to see that it was not their imagination.”They were exploring near the brothers’ home．Lo and behold (真想不到), they saw what they thought resembled a fossil．It was the curator of paleontology (古生物负责人) of the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science, George Phillips, who first identified the bone as a “very mature individual.”The Mastodon was a mammal who lived during the prehistoric times ．They had long tusks and trunks, like elephants．They were clearly different from their modern-day counterparts, as well as woolly mammoths (猛犸)．1. How did they find the jawbone of a Mastodon?A. With great efforts．B. By chance．C. Instructed by an expert．D. Through imagination．2. At first the brother s’ mother thought the jawbone was ．A. from people who died in the Civil WarB. the bone from a very mature individualC. like a log or somethingD. the prehistoric bone3. The discovery of the jawbone of a Mastodon is important mainly because it ．A. helps people to know more about the Civil WarB. teaches kids to be more aware of their surroundingsC. promotes the research on more prehistoric creaturesD. attracts the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science4. Which of the following can be the best title for the article?A. Prehistoric Bones Recently Found in MississippiB. Not Petrified Wood Nor Civil War RelicsC. First Identifying Bone as a “Very Mature Individual”D. Unexpectedly Discovering Mastodon Jawbone02Adding math talk to story t ime at home is a winning factor for children’s math achievement, according to a new research from a university. The study from psychologists Sian Beilock and Susan Levine shows a marked increase in math achievement among children whose families used Bedtime Math, an iPad app that delivers engaging math story problems for parents and children to solve together.Even children who used the app with their parents as little as once a week saw gains in math achievement by the end of the school year. The app’s eff ect was especially strong for children whose parents tend to be anxious or uncomfortable with math.Previous research from this group has demonstrated the importance of adults’ attitudes about math for children’s math success. For example, a recent study found that math-anxious parents who help their children with math homework actually weaken their children’s math achievement.The new findings demonstrate that structured, positive interactions around math at home can cut the link between parents’ uneasiness about math and children’s low math achievement.“Many Americans experience high levels of anxiety when they have to solve a math problem, with a majority of adults feeling at least some worries about math,” said Beilock, professor in Psychology and autho r of Choke, a book about stress and performance. “These math-anxious parents are probably less likely to talk about math at home, which affects how competent their children are in math. Bedtime Math encourages a dialogue between parents and kids about math, and offers a way to engage in high-quality math interactions in a low-effort, high-impact way.”Study participants included 587 first-grade students and their parents. Families were given an iPad installed with a version of the Bedtime Math app, with which parents and their children read stories and answer questions involving math, including topics like counting, shapes and problem-solving. A control group received a reading app that had similar stories without the math content and questions related to re ading comprehension instead. Children’s math achievement was assessed at the beginning and end of the school year. Parents completed a questionnaire about their nervousness with math.The more times parents and children in the math group used the app, the higher children’s achievement on a math assessment at the end of the school year. Indeed, children who frequently used the math app with their parents outperformed similar students in the reading group by almost three months in math achievement at year’s e nd.5. Bedtime Math is an iPad app that ________.A. requires parents and children to answer reading comprehension questionsB. encourages children together with their parents to solve math story problemsC. teaches children how to count, recognize shapes and solve practical problemsD. assesses children’s math achievement and parents’ nervousness with math6. The previous study found that _______.A. children’s math achievement are related to parents’ attitude about mathB. help from math-anxious parents i mproves children’s math achievementsC. interactions around math at home will cut off the family relationshipD. children can achieve more success if they see the importance of math7. We can infer from the passage that _______.A. children using the app can see gains in math achievementB. children whose parents are uneasy about math outperform other studentsC. it is the math problems related to the stories that make the great differenceD. the frequency of using the app has nothing to do with children’s achievement03For those concerned about wrinkly old skin, it might be a creative solution: an elastic(有弹性的) “second skin” that can be smoothed on to make aged tissue look more youthful.The wearable film, developed at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), has shown promise in a series of small experiments where it was applied to wrinkles, under-eye bags and areas of dry skin. When applied to the face or body, the thin, transparent layer sticks to the skin and supports the tissue, making it look and behave like younger skin, its producers claim.“What we’ve been able to do is create a cream that y ou can put on the skin, and then when it's on the skin it can actually form, essentially, an elastic second skin,” said Bob Langer, who led the research. Tests in the lab found that the polymer film (高分子膜), which is only 70 thousandths of a millimeter thick, reduced the appearance of wrinkles and under-eye bags, and helped keep moisture (水分) in areas of dry skin.The layer is designed to be applied in the morning, then peeled off at night, In previous studies, the second skin withstood normal daily wear, and the stresses and strains of exercise and swimming, without falling off or causing irritation. It also survived exposure to rain.“It's something you can wear for a whole day or longer, depending on the physical forces that get applied to the area where it is worn, "said Daniel Anderson, who helped develop the product at MIT. “You can't tell you're wearing it.”While normal cosmetics can mask imperfections on the skin, the new coating changes the way skin behaves by giving it the elasticity of young skin. It was developed with help from two companies.8. According to the text, the “second skin” ________.A. was developed by two companiesB. has not been tested by scientistsC. is developed to remove under-eye bagsD. is a transparent covering for the skin9. Compared with normal cosmetics, the new product ________.A. can make the skin appear youngerB. can fully mask imperfections on the skinC. doesn't cause any problems in the skinD. must be used in a more complicated way10. What can we learn from the Daniel’s words?A. You can recognize if people wear the “second skin.”B. The “second skin” should be peeled off at night.C. How long people can wear the layer varies.D. The product can provide skin with a lot of water.11. What is the main idea of the text?A. MIT has made a breakthrough in cosmetics.B. The “second skin” helps renew one’s youth.C. Masks will soon become a thing of the past.D. How the “second skin” is used to improve skin.04From family-friendly beach holidays to city breaks, you won’t need to break the bank on these trips this summer. Tenerife, Canary IslandsWhat to do: You won’t be stuck trying to find activities that the whole family can enjoy in Tenerife. Parents can enjoy themselves as kids make the most of the sandy beaches and blue waters—everybody is happy.Where to stay: The four-star, all-inclusive Fanabe Costa Sur Hotel is a short walk from Playa del Duqe and Playa Fanabe. Its central location means it’s conveniently right by the area’s bars, shops and restaurants.CyprusWhat to do: Whether you like to go out and explore local cultures or prefer to sit on a beach with a good book, Cyprus serves a wide range of holiday types. There are famous historic sites—such as UNESCO World hotels offering water sports and other fun activities.Where to stay: The five-star Great Beach Hotel overlooks the Mediterranean sea, and is just a few minutes’ walk from the town.Goa, IndiaWhat to do: Looking to venture somewhere a bit different this summer? Goa has everything you could want for an unforgettable experience with foreign beache, spiritual retreats and a thriving nightlife.Where to stay: The four-star Ronil Beach Resort is just a five-minute walk from the beach, making it the perfect location for those after some peach and quietness.Barcelona,SpainWhat to do : Spend the day exploring some of the city’s most famous sights. In the evening visit one of the countless wonderful bars before you head out to discover Barcelona’s w orld famous bars snd nightclubs.Where to stay: Tucked away at the heart of the city, the Novotel Barcelona City Hotel is ideal for those wanting to pack in as much sightseeing as possible.12. What can visitors do when traveling in Tenerife, Canary Islands?A. Stay at a five-star hotel.B. Enjoy their family holidayC. Discover the would-famous bars.D. Explore the local cultures13. Where can you go if you want to experience the cultural holiday?A. Tenerife, Canary IslandsB. Goa, India.C. CyprusD. Barcelona, Spain.14. What can we infer about the above four resorts in the text?A. They are known for the clear blue waters.B. They’re the best summer holiday destinations.C. They serve a wide range of holiday types.D. They’re the proper r esorts on a budget.05Many of us may be eating food containing GM（转基因的) ingredients without realizing it. Are GM foods safe for people? Can they help solve the poverty problem? They have been the subjects of a hot debate.This debate is related to increasing challenges from rising climatic change, population growth, urbanization, and natural resource consumption. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization, food production needs to increase by 60 percent by 2050 in order to feed 9 billion people. Scientists and policymakers are searching for effective ways to gain nutritious food, for today and future. Unlike previous agricultural methods (such as the Green Revolution), GM crops are to fight food safety and poverty challenges.The great expansion of GM crop varieties over the last two decades can be seen easily. The total area devoted to GM crops has increased 100 times from 1.7 million hectares in 1996 to 170 million hectares in 2012. Developing countries now grow more GM crops than developed countries (in terms of area), largely driven by Brazil’s rapid adoption of GM crops. China is home to about 4 percent of the total global area devoted to GM crops. Beans, corn, and cotton are main global GM crops, while China’s focus is on cotton, papaya, and poplar.Recently, a scientific study shows that GM crops are safe for people and the environment. According to a 2010 report on the safety of GM crops by the EU, “the main conclusion to be drawn from the efforts of more than 130 research projects, covering a period of more than 25 years of research, and involving more than 500 research groups, is that biology methods, are not more risky than traditional planting technologies, for example.” Other international and national scientific bodies, such as the World Health Organization, have reached the same conclusion.15. As for GM crops, what do people mainly focus on ?A. Food safety.B. Food nutrition.C. Food production.D. Food variety.16. What does Paragraph 3 talk about?A. More GM crops in developing countries.B. The expansion of GM crop varieties of the worldC. Rapid adoption of GM crops in Brazil.D. Less GM crops in developed countries.17. From a recent scientific study, we can infer that______.A. traditional planting technologies are more riskyB. present GM crops are safe for people and the environment.C. the safety of GM crops was reported by the EU in 2010D. the safety of GM crops has been proved in many ways18. What’s the writer’s attitude towards GM crops?A. Unknown.B. Opposed.C. Supportive.D. Indifferent.06I spent most my twenties working for the National Park Service, and I lived a wide variety of government housing, including several shabby but appealing old houses where the wild creatures outnumbered humans. Sometimes I wondered, lying awake at night, how many hearts beat inside those walls. With all that lovely national park habitat protected for their use, why did the animals need to live in my house?My latest essay “The indoor wilds at outdoor parks,” revisits my experiences with wild (non-human!) roommates and officemates in Rocky Mountain National Park. At first, they were considered annoying but not dangerous. Attitudes changed dramatically when hantavirus (汉他病毒) came on the scene, and suddenly those cute, non-housebroken deer mice became a threat. When I moved on to Canyonlands National Park, I found that every effort had been made to seal off my house from four-footed intruders. These efforts mostly worked and later employees moved into new housing. But somehow a rat still managed to chew its way through the floor and drown itself in my toilet. I’m not even going to get started about my coworkers, experiences with other much scarier animals.The Beaver Meadows Vistor Center in the story was designed by Tailiesin Associated Architects, Frank Lloyed Wright’s firm, after Wright’s death. Working there, I always thought the building was strange. I recently revisited the building while researching a children’s book I am writing about the park. I think I get it now, at least a little.19. What does the underlined word “their” in Paragraph 1 refer to?A. Some park visitors’.B. Endangered animals’.C. The author’s coworkers’.D. The author’s wild roommates’.20. Why did people show a change in attitude towards deer mice?A. Because a virus was spreading.B. Because people were hurt by them.C. Because people saw a really cute one.D. Because they protected people’s houses.21. What can we infer about the li ving conditions of the author’s coworkers?A. They were unknown to the author.B. They were acceptable to the author.C. They were no better than the author’s.D. They were much better than the author’s.22. After visiting the Beaver Meadows Vistor Center again, the author ________.A. could appreciate it betterB. finished a children’s bookC. did research on national parksD. knew it was designed by Wright07When he was young, Louis Armstrong was taking what was called “Creole jazz”, which wa s also called dance music, and combining it with trumpeter(小号手) Buddy Bolden, to create what would eventually become today’s jazz.Armstrong accomplished this with almost no formal training. He received little training before he was placed in the New Orlea ns Colored Waif’s Home at the age of 12, after a run-in(小争执) with the police. The punishment turnedout to be a mixed blessing, for he also had the opportunity to play in a real band.While at the Waif’s, Armstrong also got the chance to hear some of the city’s finest musicians. Cornetist Freddie Keppard performed in a nearby club. So did trumpeter and bandleader King Joe Oliver, who took the boy under his wing and taught him how to read music and work on his playing technique.When Oliver left for Chicago, Armstrong chose to stay in New Orleans and work with some of the other top musicians of the day. In Chicago, King Oliver offered him a place in his band in 1922. It became Armstrong’s biggest challenge yet — the band had no parts written for trumpet, so he was forced to listen to King Oliver and improvise(即兴创作).Soon, Armstrong’s undeniable talent was getting noticed. Even classically trained musicians would come to hear the incredible sounds this young man created.Lil Hardin, the band’s piano player and the future Mrs. Armstrong, explained that Oliver kept Armstrong in the second trumpet-chair so that Oliver would still be “King”. Hardin convinced him to leave the band.Armstrong moved to New York City in 1924 to join Fletcher Henderson’s band and then fl ew solo. In 1925, Armstrong put together the Hot Five, expanding his popularity even more. Armstrong recorded his first composition, Cornet Chop Suey, one of the most copied jazz solos of all time. This monumental 1928 recording blends(混合) artistry, endurance and showmanship that has rarely, if ever, been matched in jazz.23. What does the underlined word “this” refer to in the second paragraph?A. To play dance music.B. To work with Buddy Bolden.C. To play a jazz instrument well.D. To create modern jazz music.24. Who taught Louis Armstrong how to play music in the early time?A. Buddy Bolden.B. Lil Hardin.C. King Joe Oliver.D. Cornetist Freddie Keppard.25. Why did Louis Armstrong Leave King Oliver’s band?A. Because he wanted to get married in New York.B. Because his talent could not develop completely.C. Because he got a better opportunity in New York.D. Because the man forced him to leave the band.26. What’s the main idea of the passage?A. It asks readers to know more about modern jazz.B. It introduces one of the greatest jazz musicians.C. It introduces the development of jazz.D. It describes the importance of talent in playing jazz.08The Children and Family Research Center, located in Illinois, is an independent research organization to promote public child welfare research activities. The following are our 2018 research briefs.The Child Endangerment Risk Assessment Protocol（CERAP）Tamara L. FullerCERAP is a safety assessment protocol（协议）used in child protection investigations and child services in Illinois. It is designed to evaluate the potential harm to a child and take quick action to protect children. Workers use theprotocol to help focus their decision-making to determine whether a child is safe with their family, and decide what action to take to assure the child’s safety.10 Things to Know about Child Welfare SystemCatherine, Michael, and SteveIn March 2018, researchers Michael and Steve partnered with professor Catherine to present a webinar（在线研讨会）titled 10 Things to Know about Child Welfare System, focused on explaining the child welfare system. Topics included process of making a hotline call, ways to support families who have experienced childhood sufferings. Highlights from the Child Death Review Team Annual ReportSteve and TamaraThis research brief focuses on the findings from the most recent CDRT annual report on child deaths in Illinois in 2016, presenting summary information about child deaths in Illinois by age, manner of death, and category of death, as well as recommendations to prevent child deaths.Promoting Widespread Improvement in PracticeTed Cross and IritThis article by CFRC’s psychologist（心理学家）Ted Cross and Dr. Irit explores the contribution of psychology to child protection and suggests opportunities for psychology to contribute more, choosing 3 selected areas. Across these areas, psychology has contributed both to the knowledge base and to available assessment and intervention （干预）methods.27. Which event aims at determining the safety of children within the family?A. Promoting Widespread Improvement in PracticeB. 10 Things to Know about Child Welfare SystemC. The Child Endangerment Risk Assessment ProtocolD. Highlights from the Child Death Review Team Annual Report28. Who wrote a report about prevention of child deaths?A. Steve and Tamara.B. Catherine, Michael, and Steve.C. Tamara L. Fuller.D. Ted Cross and Irit.29. Which of the following deals with child protection in a psychological way?A. Highlights from the Child Death Review Team Annual ReportB. 10 Things to Know about Child Welfare SystemC. The Child Endangerment Risk Assessment ProtocolD. Promoting Widespread Improvement in Practice09At a time when almost anything can be purchased with just one click, it’s become an automatic response to simply replace what breaks. Generations raised in the earlier half of the 20th century will say that this wasn’t always so:household appliances（器具）, clothing, electronics and more used to be bought under the assumption that, with the occasional repairs, they would last a lifetime.Now, some conscientious consumers are taking matters into their own hands and joining the Repair Cafémovement. Founded in Amsterdam in 2009 by sewing expert Martine Postma, the original nonprofit has expanded to more than 1,500 locations worldwide. These pop-up events, which are run by volunteers, offer lessons in how to fix anything from fixing a button to an unresponsive laptop.“There’s juice and treats and you get to meet new people,” says Bennett, a retired civil servant and volunteer fixer at the Repair Cafe Toronto, where she mends jewellery. She brings her own specialized tools but says most items could be repair ed by anyone with a pair of pliers and some determination. “Something that is broken took time and resources to make, so if you’re throwing it out, you’re wasting those resources. ”If you can’t find a Repair Cafe near you, it’s easy to start one. RepairCa fe. org offers a starter manual with step-by-step instructions.Changing how we acquire things is necessary, but there’s also something to be said for simply not getting them in the first place. “Most of us have more than what we need,” says Marina. “This can lead to a lot of anxiety, like—think about everything packed in the back of your closet; do you own those things or do they own you?” She suggests we train ourselves to make mindful purchases.Lazarovic, whose delayed purchase went even further, explains that less shopping has freed up more time for family activities, dinner with friends and making art. By doing so, as she puts it, “I got out of that need-to-buy-it craze and in the end I feel good that I’ve made something.”30. How would people raised in the 1940s deal with broken home appliances?A. Sell them at a lower price.B. Press the button to find the fault.C. Repair them to last longer.D. Donate them to recycling stations.31. What does Bennett say about her work?A. She likes the good food people bring for her work.B. Helping make repairs means saving resources.C. She will set up her own Repair Cafe soon.D. She learned to repair jewels after she retired.32. Which of the following best explains “conscientious” underlined in Paragrap h 2?A. Responsible.B. Generous.C. Powerful.D. Irreplaceable.33. What good does Lazarovic think less shopping will do to us?A. It’ll make us less anxious about used things at home.B. It’ll force us to make donations of unwanted things.C. It’l l lead us to explore the world more responsibly.D. It will provide us more time for beneficial events.10With all the wars, fighting and sadness in the world today, it's not only necessary, but also essential to have a goodsense of humor just to help us get through each and every day of our lives. Putting a smile on someone's face when you know they are feeling down in the dump, makes me feel good and warms my heart.How would you feel if you could not joke around with your wife, husband, child, co-worker, neighbor, close friends, or even just someone that you are standing in line with at your corner store? I am always saying things that make others smile or laugh, even if I don't know the person I'm joking around with. My Grandma always found humor in everything she did, even if it was the hardest job anyone could imagine. This not only relieves stress in any situation, but also is common courtesy(礼貌)to speak to others that are around you.I know of a few people that don’t have a funny bone in their bodie s, as they say. Everyone around them could be rolling on the f loor after hearing a great joke and they would sit there without the s lightest smile on their face. They don't get the joke that makes others laugh. I am busting a gut while they just sit there, looking at me as if I were from outer space. How can people not get a really funny joke?Laughing is essential to keep your stress levels under control. Without humor we would find ourselves with a lot of psychological problems, or on a lot of medications to keep us from going crazy. There is too much sadness in this present world. It drives people crazy. We all need to find a way to ignore the sadness and bring a little light into our lives. So, I believe our best medicine is to get together and tell some jokes and have some fun laughing together.34. What is the author’s attitude towards the present world?A. SatisfiedB. PositiveC. CriticalD. Indifferent35. The phrase “busting a gut" in the third paragraph can be replaced by .A. explaining carefullyB. speaking loudC. keeping silentD. laughing hard36. According to the author, humor is useful in the aspect that .A. it makes people more confidentB. it can help get rid of the cruelty in the worldC. it can pick up people’s spiritsD. it can help people get on well with others37. In writing the passage, the author mainly intends to .A. introduce a practical way to get through daily lifeB. encourage people to be humorous in daily lifeC. convince people of the power of humourD. talk about his own understanding of humor01篇1. B2. A3. C4. D 本文是一篇记叙文，美国密西西比的三个男孩在玩耍的时候无意中发现了齿乳象的颚骨，起初他们并不知道这是史前生物的遗骸，所发现的遗骸对史前生物的研究有较强的促进作用。