2017 年高考英语阅读专练（七选五）1.Brain TransplantsResearch on the human brain has been attracting more and more scientists in recent years.1If we compare a human brain to a harddisc, what the scientists are doing is to make better use of the hard disc.The idea that a human brain could be transplanted may come fromFrankenstein. In 1999, an experiment turned a bear into a dolphin.2They were made of the memory area in the dolphin’ s brain containing information about swimming.They had a series of useful information,which was saved into a button-sized chip(芯片 ). Later the informationwas transplanted into the action memory area in the bear 3 ’ s brain.It proved to be a highly successful experiment and a bear was turnedinto a dolphin.Recently,another memory transplant was performed at the Motor Nerve Research Institute of the University of California. The experimenthad an entire transplant of the memory area.4The transplantwas performed from a dog named Genius to a dog named Idiot. Geniuscould follow up to 100 gestures and orders made by its master. It was areal genius in memorizing.However,Idiot had no contact with peoplesince its birth. It became an animal with nothing in its brain, withoutany memory.5 When the two dogs woke up, Idiot had grasped all the abilitiesGenius possessed; it was good at memorizing and sensible. It couldfollow every gesture and any command given by its master. But Geniusgave no response to its master, and did not recognize him at all.A. The experiment was a complete success.B. It included actions, moods, logic, words, images, etc.C. Then it was released by means of electric power.D. Different images have different meanings in the memory area.E. Using the most advanced technology, detailed images were produced.F. Discoveries show that messages are carried by the central nervous system inthe brain.G. One of the latest topics is how to change the human brain or combine it with thecomputer.2.W. Lloyd Jerome’ s Dental SurgeryIf you walk into W.Lloyd Jerome’ sdental surgery inYou ’ ll see bright paintings and a fashionable blue couch whichpatients sit on while he checks their teeth. Jerome says,“ That’ s__1__ “ That ’ swhy I don ’ t wear awhite coat. I find that’ ones of the things that people associate withpain. In fact, my philosophy is that dental treatment should take place inan atmosphere of relaxation, interest and, above all, enjoyment” , is all highly shocking for anyone who associates dental treatment withpain, or at the very least, formal, clinical visits. He says,“ If p relaxed, entertained and correctly treated, they will forget such previous“ Virtual -reality headsets are one of his new relaxation techniques.___2____ The headsets are used for the first check-up, where the patientsits on the blue couch and watches ar film while I look at their teeth. Then theheadset switches to a special camera, to give the patient avisual tour around their mouth.”“ Another key point is that the surgery smells more like a perfumeshop than a dentist ’Todays. there is the smell of orange. ‘ When people walk in, Iwant them to realize with all their senses that itlike going to dentist’ s. Smell is very important.3_____”Known as Glasgow’ s most fashionable dentist, Jerome is keen toJerome uses a special instrument which sprays warm water on the teethto clean them, rather than scraping them.“ It feels a bit strange, but as___5___ “ One of the things I found out there was that when youmake it easier for the patient, you make it easier for yoursel f.” He seeshis patient-centred attitude as the start of a gradual movement towardsless formality in the conservative British dentistry profession. At thatmoment, a patient arrives. Jerome rushes over, offers him a cup of tea,asks him what video he’ke dtoliwatch and leads him gently towardsthe chair.B. He has tried to create an environment where people are not afraid.C. The relaxation techniques are important but the quality of theF. That dental smell of surgical spirit can get the heart racing in minutesif you’ re frightened ofG. Fifty percent of the population only go to the dentist when theyin pain.3.School PhobiaSchool phobia is a type of illness which causes the students, typically between the ages of8-13,to be afraid to go to school. Symptoms include stomachaches, tiredness, shaking, a racing heart andfrequent trips to the toilet.__1__ Most commonly it is the result of separation anxiety,but it can also be caused by different kinds of stress. A child who has recentlymoved, suffered a loss, or gone through a divorce may develop schoolphobia, and phobias can also develop in response to an unrecognizedlearning disability, and poor self-image.__2__ He or she may become physically ill when ordered to school,or pretend to be sick to avoid going. When the child arrives at school,he or she may run away, or develop behavioral problems in class. Whenschool is discussed, the child can become impatient, upset or angry.Many techniques can be used to manage school phobia.But research suggests that much more effective treatment is required for school phobia to prevent problems developing in later life.Children with this condition usually benefit from seeing a psychologist or doctor.__3__ As soon as a school phobia is identified,parents should take action too. Like other phobias,school phobia gets worse if it is left untreated, and it can prevent the child from succeeding in school. __4__If bullying is a cause,for example,the bullying situation should be solved. A teacher can meet the child at the door and take him or her toclass, and provide support so that the child feels a friendly adult is always available.Changes at home can include supportive language from parents, along with support like assistance with homework.If a child lacks confidence,parents may encourage the child to take up new hobbies.__5__ Parents might also talk to their children about their own fears ofschool and how they got over them, and their own enjoyment ofschool and school-like activities.A. It will help children to feel good about themselves.B. But a child with phobia refuses to accept adults’ support.C. A child with school phobia usually refuses to go to school.D. Adjustments can be made at home and in the classroom to help.E. This common phobia is associated with a wide variety of causes.F. The most effective treatment is to help the child have a sense of success.G. And the assistance can help parents and school officials supportthe child.4.The Pleasing Sound of a RainstickA rainstick is a long tube that is carved out, with small sticks orother materials pushed inside so that it has a somewhat smooth surfaceon the outside, but small barriers inside. These can be in a lined pattern,for a specific sound, or placed at random for a more varied effect. It isthen filled with a variety of different things, like small stones, orbeads( 珠子 ), or even rice, and the ends are capped to provide a seal.__1_____The origins of rainsticks are not really known and so the stories arequite varied. Some people say that the ancient peoples of Chile createdrainsticks from dried cactus(仙人掌 ), with the sharp points taken off,pushed back inside and then filled with small stones. __2_____The Deaguita Indians survive even today, and they are still using them inmany of their rain ceremonies. They also make them as musicalinstruments.___3____ Turning the stick over quickly will produce a higher sound,while turning it slowly will produce a deeper effect. How long the effectlasts depends on how long the instrument is. The tube also affects thequality of the rain sound as well. If you make them from some kind ofabsorbent material, like cactus or bamboo, you will hear it better thanif you were to make it from cardboard tubing.A rainstick can be made from almost any kind of material and thetypes of things that you can use as fillings can be even more varied.__4____ Usually, these school projects are made using a cardboard tube,like the center from a roll of toilet paper or a paper towel tube.Tooth picks are then inserted, with the exposed ends cut off andglued in place. ___5____A.You can even make your own rainsticks, and they are often part ofschool projects where they are used to help children learn the history of Indian peoples.B.When turned upside down, these materials fall down throughthe tube, bouncing off of the barriers to produce a calming rain-like sound.C.These were then capped with pieces of wood on the ends andused in ceremonies to bring rain to their crops.D.One end is capped off with poster board and filled with rice or beans, and thenthe other end is sealed.E.You can get different rain sounds, depending on how fast youturn the rainstick itself.F.This rainstick can never be opened according to the scaredwritings of the ancients.G.They can be three feet or longer depending on what the tube itselfis made from.5.Tips on Young Adult LifeAs you grow rapidly through your teenage years, you will experiencea lot of changes. The changes may seem difficult.1Don ’ t panic! You will deal successfully with them! You are a young adult now!With more responsibility, you will find more freedom to make yourown choices. This is a time to be well informed about making choices. Inthis way you can make healthy balanced decisions.2You may already know your career path or you may have no idea at all what youwant to do. Both situations are fine! Work hard and the right opportunity will present itself to you.Young adulthood means greater freedom and more choices.3 But try not to shut your family out of your life. You school learn to thinkof others even though you are old enough to look after yourself.It is also perfectly natural at this time for you to spend more time with your friends than your family4 A true friend will stand by youno matter what happens.This period is a part of the life cycle. There are some people who willbe with you throughout life’ s journey. There will be some people with whom you part and go separate ways. Leaving school can be hard.The reality is that you may not even see all of your classmates again.You are a young adult. It is your life. No one can live it for you.5 So making the right choices will be important to you. Life is for living.Enjoy your life wisely!A． Choose your friends wisely.B．They will help shape the future.C． They may seem to happen quickly.D． You will probably want to be independent.E．You may appreciate what you have in your own life.F．The choices that you make from now on will be your choices.G． Your family has been with you since you came into this world.6.The First AmericansThere was a time long ago when a land bridge connected Asia andNorth America.The first settlers in North America crossed this landbridge from what is now Siberia to Alaska. The people who made thisinitial crossing were probably following the animals they used for food.Eventually,the oceans rose and the land bridge between the continents disappeared.The set tlers,who I shall call the“ First Americans ” , could not return to their homeland.1For the next few thousand years,the First Americans migratedsouth and east throughout North and South America.They made thejourney all the way from Alaska to the southern tip of South America, adistance of more than 10,000 miles.2In the far north, above the Arctic Circle, the First Americans becamehunters of the ocean.3In the brief summer,they gathered berriesand other plants. In the winter, they stayed in lodges much of the timepreparing for the next summer. It was a hard life,but they learned tosurvive in these harsh conditions.Farther south,in what is now Arizona,Utah,Colorado,and New Mexico, the First Americans became cliff dwellers(悬崖居民 ). They beganby living in caves that already existed in the cliffs.4The dwellingsthey constructed in many ways resembled today’ s apartment buildings.5They built a system of dams and canals so they could store and usewater almost any time of the year. They were so successful thatthey could raise fruits and vegetables that were not found naturallyin the desert.In Mexico and South America, the First Americans founded civilizations thatwere among the greatest in the world. They built hugepyramids, lived in fabulous cities, and made great advances in science andmathematics long before the Europeans arrived.A. They also discovered foods like corn and potatoes.B. Along the way, they established many different civilizations.C. The First Americans of the Southwest learned to irrigate the desert.D. They would have to survive in the New World they had discovered.E. They built boats of animal skins and hunted or fished for their food.F. People living near each other tended to share similar environmentsand customs.G. They discovered how to add to the caves by building structures ofwood and stone.7.Public Speaking and Critical ThinkingWhat is critical thinking?To a certain degree,it’ sa matter of logic — of being able to spot weakness in other people’ arguments and to avoid them in your own. It also includes related skills such as distinguishing fact from opinion and assessing the soundness of evidence.In the broad sense, critical thinking is focused, organized thinking—the ability to see clearly the relationships among ideas.___1____ The greatest thinkers, scientists and inventors have often taken informationthat was readily available and put it together differently to produce newideas. That, too, is critical thinking.___2___ As the class goes on, for example, you will probably spend agreat deal of time organizing your speeches. While this may seem like apurely mechanical(机械的 ) exercise, it is closely connected with critical thinking. If the structure of your speech is loose and confused, chancesare that your thinking is also disordered and confused. If, on the otherhand, the structure is clear, there is good chance your thinking is too. Organizing a speech is not just a matter of arranging the ideas you already have. __3____What is true of organization is true of many aspects of public speaking.___4___ As you work on expressing your ideas in clear, accurate language,you will improve your ability to think clearly and accurately.___5___ As you learn to listen critically to speeches in class, you will be better able to assess the ideas of speakers in a variety of situations.If you take full advantage of your speech class,you will be able to develop your skills as a critical thinker in many circumstances.This is one reason public speaking has been regarded as a vital part of education since the days of ancient Greece.A. Rather, it is an important part of shaping the ideas themselves.B. This may seem like a lot of time, but the rewards are well worth it.C. It may also help you to know that there is no such thing as a perfectspeech.D. It has often been said that there are few new ideas in the world, onlyreorganized ideas.E. If you are wondering what this has to do with your public speakingclass, the answer is quite a lot.F. The skills you learn in your speech class can help you become a moreeffective thinker in a number of ways.G. As you study the role of evidence and reasoning in speechmaking, you will see how they can be used in other forms of communication.8.ShopaholismThe word addiction usually makes you think of alcohol or drugs.1Some people are compulsive shoppers. Others find it impossibleto pull themselves away from their work. Still others spend countless hours watching TV or playing computer games.2Many people enjoy going to malls or stores more and more every day, but it’ s more than a common hobby for some of them. They have turned into shopaholics.They are people who simply enjoy shopping and walking around spending money without being able to stop doing it. They are hooked on shopping and usually buy things thatthey don ’ t need. Even though they don’ t have enough money, they buy everything they want.The question is: why do they have this addic tion?There isn’ ta specific answer. Some people go shopping when they are sad, worried,upset or lonely and they want to feel better. They use this activity as away to forget their problems.Shopaholics say that they feel more important and better after they buy something.3Shopaholism seems to be a harmless addiction, but it can bring outproblems. Some of them can be psychological. If this is the case, peopleaddicted to shopping should go to a support group to help them breakthis habit.However,the process, like for most addictions,is long,and they suffer a lot.4They just think about satisfyingtheir feelings, so they spend money they don’5 t have.A. Once you are addicted to alcohol or drugs, it is difficult to get rid of.B. Over the years, shopping has become a very common activity.C. They also tend to have this addiction when they feel guilty.D. However in modern-day society we are seeing some new kinds of addictions.E. People addicted to computer games consider the games as great ways toamuse themselves.F. They get deep in debt, and they can even go bankrupt and getsent to prison.G. It can also cause financial problems.9.FlavoringMost drinks stating that they are fruit-flavored (水果味道的) containno fruit at all, while most of the rest contain only a small quantity of fruit, accordingto a study carried by the British Food Commission.“ Shoppers need to check the labels ( 标签) before buying drinks,though sometimes the actual content can be non-existent,” said Food Commission spokesperson Ian Tokelove.“ Food production is highly competitive.1It will increase profits,and consumers won ’ talways realize they are being tricked.”Flavorings are focused on the flavors of natural food products suchas fruits, meats and vegetables, or creating flavor for food products thatdo not have the desired flavors.Researchers analyzed the contents of28strawberry-flavored products sold in stores.2Of the11 products that did contain strawberries, five of them contained less thanone percent real fruit. In addition, each juice box contained nearlyeight teaspoons of sugar.3Let ’ stake jam as an example. Some strawberry -flavored jamwas labeled as containing no artificial colors, flavors, or sweeteners,but it contained absolutely no strawberries at all.4Consumers have the rights to know clearly about what theyhave bought. Under current UK law, food packages do not have to distinguish between natural and artificial fl avoring.“ Describing aproduct as strawberry flavor and covering the surface of the packet withpictures of strawberries is misleading.5Unfortunately,it is alsolegal and widespread,” Tokelove said.“ It’ s time to take measures to protect the consu mers ’ rights.”A. The products which contain real fruit are popular with people.B. Even products advertised as more natural often contained no fruit.C. They found that about 60 percent of them didn ’ t contain any fruit at all.D. If companies can cut their costs by using flavoring, they are likelyto do so.E. It is important and necessary to demand a small amount offlavoring in the products.F. Actually the product contains just a tiny percentage of strawberryor even no fruit at all.G. The Food Commission suggested all flavors used in a productshould be listed on the packaging.1. GECBA2. BDFCA3. ECGDA4. BCEAD5. CBDAF6. DBEGC7. DEAFG8. DBCGF9. DCBGF。