2007-2011北京英语高考试题阅读B篇2007年北京英语高考试题阅读B篇The Book of LifeSo far, scientists have named about 1.8 million living species(物种), and that’s just a small number of what probably exists on Earth. With so many plants, animals, and other living things covering the planet, it can be tough to figure out what type of grass is growing by the roadside or what kind of bird just flew by.A soon-to-be-started Web site might help. An international team of researchers has announced the creation of Web-based Encyclopedia(百科全书) of Life (EoL). The project aims to list every species on Earth in a single, easy-to-use reference guide.To get the encyclopedia started, the creators will use information from scientific databases(数据库)that already exist. And eventually, in special sections of the site, non-scientists with specialized knowledge will come to help. Bird-watchers, for example, will be able to input what birds they’ve seen and where. To make sure the encyclopedia is accurate, scientists will review much of the information added to it.As the EoL develops, you might find it useful for school projects. The site will feature(以……为特色) special pages for kids who are studying ecosystems in their neighborhoods. Another convenient feature of the EoL is that you’ll be able to pick the level of detail you want to see to match your interests, age, and knowledge.It now takes years for scientists to collect all the data they need to describe and analyze species. The creators of the Encyclopedia of Life hope that their new tool will speed up that process.60. The Web based EoL aims to ___A. find out what covers the earthB. list all living things on EarthC. work out the number of birdsD. save the existing plants61. One characteristic of the EoL is that ____A. it is run by school studentsB. it focuses on different types of grassC. it provides different levels of informationD. it allows non-scientists to review its data62. In the last paragraph, “that process” means ___A. analyzing speciesB. creating a new toolC. collecting dataD. describing species2008年北京英语高考试题阅读B篇Domestic (驯养的) horses now pull ploughs, race in the Kentucky Derby, and carry police. But early horses weren’t tame (驯服的) enough to perform these kinds of tasks. Scientists think the first interactions humans had with horses were far different from those today.Thousands of years ago, people killed the wild horses that lived around them for food. Over time, people began to catch the animals and raise them. This was the first step in domestication.As people began to tame and ride horses, they chose to keep those animals that had more desirable characteristics. For example, people may have chosen to keep horses that had a gentle personality so they could be ridden more easily. People who used horses to pull heavy loads wouldhave chosen to keep stronger animals. Characteristics like strength are partly controlled by the animals’ genes. So as the domesticated horses reproduced, they passed the characteristics on to their young. Each new generation of horses would show more of these chosen characteristics.Modern-day horse breeds come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. This variety didn’t exist in the horse population before domestication. The Shetland horse is one of the smallest breeds—typically reaching only one meter tall. With short, strong legs, the animals were bred to pull coal out of mine shafts (矿井) with low ceilings. Huge horses like the Clydesdale came on the scene around 1700. People bred these heavy, tall horses to pull large vehicles used for carrying heavy loads.The domestication of horses has had great effects on societies. For example, horses were important tools in the advancement of modern agriculture. Using them to pull ploughs and carry heavy loads allowed people to farm more efficiently. Before they were able to ride horses, humans had to cross land on foot. Riding horses allowed people to travel far greater distance in much less time. That encouraged populations living in different areas to interact with one another. The new form of rapid transportation helped cultures spread around the world.59. Before domestication horses were ______.A. caught for sportsB. hunted for foodC. made to pull ploughsD. used to carry people60. The author uses the Shetland horse as an example to show ______.A. it is smaller than the Clydesdale horseB. horse used to have gentle personalitiesC. some horses have better shapes than othersD. horses were of less variety before domestication61. Horses contributed to the spread of culture by ______.A. carrying heavy loadsB. changing farming methodsC. serving as a means of transportD. advancing agriculture in different areas62. The passage is mainly about _______.A. why humans domesticated horsesB. how humans and horses needed each otherC. why horses came in different shapes and sizesD. how human societies and horses influenced each other2009年北京英语高考试题阅读B篇Dear Friend,The recent success of children’s books has made the general public aware that there's a huge market out there.And there's a growing need for new writers trained to create the ＄3 billion worth of children's books bought ea ch year…plus stories and articles needed by over 650 publishers of magazines for children and teenagers.Who are these needed writers? They’re ordinary folks like you and me.But am I good enough?I was once where you might be now. My thoughts of writing had been pushed down by self-doubt, and I didn't know where to turn for help.Then, I accepted a free offer from the Institute to test my writing aptitude（潜能）, and it turned out to be the inspiration I needed.The promise that paid offThe Institute made the same promise to me that they will make to you, if you show basic writing ability:You will complete at least one manuscript（手稿）suitable to hand in to a publisher by the time you finish our course.I really didn't expect any publication before I finished the course, but that happened. I sold three stories. And I soon discovered that was not unusual at the Institute.Since graduation, I have authored 34 nationally published children's books and over 300 stories and articles.Free test and brochureWe offer a free aptitude test and will send you a copy of our brochure describing our recognized home-study courses on the basis of one-on-one training.Realize your writing dream today. There's nothing sadder than a dream delayed until it fades forever.Sincerely,Kristi Holl, InstructorInstitute of Children's Literature61. From the first three paragraphs, we learn that .A. children's books are usually bestsellersB. publishers are making ＄3 billion each yearC. magazines for teenagers have drawn public attentionD. there is a growing need for writers of children's books62. When finishing the course, you are promised to .A. be a successful publisherB. become a confident editorC. finish one work for publicationD. get one story or article published63. Kristi Holl mentions her experience mainly to ____.A. prove she is a good instructorB. promote the writing programC. give her advice on course preparationD. show she sold more stories than articles2010年北京英语高考试题阅读B篇Open Letter to an EditorI had an interesting conversation with a reporter recently—one who works for you. In fact, he'sone of your best reporters. He wants to leave.Y our reporter gave me a copy of his resume (简历) and photocopies of six stories that he wrote for you. The headlines showed you played them proudly. With great enthusiasm, he talked about how he finds issues (问题), approaches them, and writes about them, which tells me he is one of your best. I'm sure you would hate to lose him. Surprisingly, your reporter is not unhappy. In fact, he told me he really likes his job. He has a great assignment (分工), and said you run a great paper. It would be easy for you to keep him, he said. He knows that the paper values him. He appreciates the responsibility you've given him, takes ownership of his profession, and enjoys his freedom.So why is he looking for a way out?He talked to me because he wants his editors to demand so much more of him. He wants to be pushed, challenged, coached to new heights.The reporter believes that good stories spring from good questions, but his editors usually ask how long the story will be, when it will be in, where it can play, and what the budget is.He longs for conversations with an editor who will help him turn his good ideas into great ones. He wants someone to get excited about what he's doing and to help him turn his story idea upside down and inside out, exploring the best ways to report it. He wants to be more valuable for your paper. That's what you want for him, too, isn't it?So your reporter has set me thinking.Our best hope in keeping our best reporters, copy editors, photographers, artists—everyone—is to work harder to make sure they get the help they are demanding to reach their potential. If we can't do it, they'll find someone who can.60. What does the writer think of the reporter?A. Optimistic.B. Imaginative.C. Ambitious.D. Proud.61. What does the reporter want most from his editors in their talks?A. Finding the news value of his stories.B. Giving him financial support.C. Helping him to find issues.D. Improving his good ideas.62. Who probably wrote the letter?A. An editor.B. An artist.C. A reporter.D. A reader.63. The letter aims to remind editors that they should __A. keep their best reporters at all costsB. give more freedom to their reportersC. be aware of their reporters' professional developmentD. appreciate their reporters' working styles and attitudes2011年北京英语高考试题阅读B篇Submission GuidelinesBefore sending us a manuscript ( 稿件), look through recent issues (刊物) of the Post to get an idea of the range andstyle of articles we publish. You will discover that our focus has broadened to include well-researched, timely and informative articles on finance, home improvement, travel, humor, and many other fields.The Post’s goal is to remain unique, with content that provides additional understandings on the ever-evolving American scene.In addition to feature-length (专题长度的) articles, the Post buys anecdotes, cartoons, and photos. Payment ranges from $25 to $400.Our nonfiction needs include how-to, useful articles on gardening, pet care and training, financial planning, and subjects of interest to a 45-plus, home-loving readership. For nonfiction articles, indicate any special qualifications you have for writing about the subject, especially scientific material. Include one or two published pieces with your article. We prefer typed articles between 1,000 and 2,000 words in length. We encourage you to send both printed and online versions.We also welcome new fiction. A light, humorous touch is appreciated. We are always in need of straight humor articles. Make us laugh, and we’ll buy it.Feature articles average about 1,000 to 2,000 words. We like positive, fresh angles to Post articles, and we ask that they be thoroughly researched.We normally respond to article submissions within six weeks. Y ou are free to submit the article elsewhere at the same time.Please submit all articles to Feature Editor, The Saturday Evening Post, 1100 Waterway Boulevard, Indianapolis, IN 46202, (317)634-1100.60. Before sending a manuscript to the Post, a contributor is advised to .A. get a better understanding of American issuesB. find out the range of the articles in the PostC. increase his knowledge in many fieldsD. broaden his research focus61. To submit nonfiction articles，a contributor must_____.A. provide his special qualificationB. be a regular reader of the PostC. produce printed versionD. be over 45 year old62. From the passage we can learn that the Post.A. allows article submission within six weeksB. favor science articles within 2,000 wordsC. has a huge demand for humorous worksD. prefers nonfiction to fiction article。