331b4bbd00e29b2fdd5fc25111027eff.png 阅读理解

A

Today’s beef comes from animals raised on farms.So do chicken and pork.But some scientists are looking to change that.They’d like to grow just the parts that we want to eat.Create hamburgers, for example, without any cows.

Opinions differ on how best to do this.Some would start with animal cells(细胞)．Others would reach for parts of plants instead.But whatever their source is, the goals are the same：tasty meat for more people, less stress on the environment.

The idea of growing just the beef, not the whole cow, has been around since at least the 1890s. And it got a bit more real in 2013. That was when Mark Post introduced his lab­grown hamburger at a televised tasting(品尝会)．But the cost of that first burger was high—more than $300，000.No one expected to buy a burger that cost more than a car, let alone a small plant.

Other scientists want to make “meat” from plants.These dreamers are not looking to create a better “vegetable burger”．Indeed, one of these scientists, Patrick O. Brown, doesn’t like that term at all.Vegetable burgers are made from plants and have the shape of a burger.The taste is often quite different from true meat.Brown’s company, Impossible Foods in Redwood City, Calif, instead wants to make plant burgers so delicious that even those meat eaters will enjoy them and want to take another bite.

When it comes to making meat，“Animals happened to be the technology that was available 10，000 years ago，” Brown says.“We stuck with that technology.But it is unbelievably inefficient(效率低的) by any measure.” Brown believes that science can come up with something better.His team is going towards the plant path. But if the scientists can make their animal­cell­based dream affordable, he adds，“I’ll be their biggest fan.”

【解题导语】　本文是一篇说明文。一些研究人员想利用植物生产肉或者在实验室里种植出肉来，以减少肉类动物的养殖。

1．What do the scientists want to do?

A．Raise animals in a better way.

B．Create meat without raising animals.

C．Change the taste of chicken and pork.

D．Make much healthier burgers for people.

B　【解析】细节理解题。根据第一段的They’d like to grow just the parts that we want to eat. Create hamburgers, for example, without any cows.可知，科学家们想通过不用养殖动物的方式来获得肉。

2．What can we know about Mark Post’s lab­grown hamburger?

A．It was first created in the 1890s.

B．It was made based on animal cells.

C．Its price was too high for customers.

D．Its taste was not as good as original hamburgers.

C　【解析】细节理解题。根据第三段的But the cost of that first burger was high—more than $300，000.No one expected to buy a burger that cost more than a car, let alone a small plant.可知，Mark Post在实验室种植出的汉堡包价格太高。

3．What’s Patrick O．Brown’s attitude towards the traditional way of making meat?

A．Uninterested.　　　　　 B．Negative.

C．Hopeful. D．Supportive.

B　【解析】观点态度题。根据末段的“We stuck with that technology.But it is unbelievably inefficient(效率低的) by any measure.” Brown believes that science can come up with something better.可知，Brown认为传统的用动物来获得肉的方式效率太低，他相信能找到更好的方法。故他对这种方式持消极态度。

B

As hard as you and your loved ones try to pick out the perfect present, you may need to return something.The sweater will be the wrong size, or the new coffee maker won’t match your kitchen.

Almost everyone is in the same boat, though, with almost two­thirds of shoppers making a return over the holiday season, according to data from the National Retail Foundation.With numbers like that, a “quick” return or exchange can turn into a big headache for you.Luckily, if you plan correctly, you can be in and out at once.

To avoid long lines, beat the crowds by arriving right at opening time, typically two hours before noon, says personal stylist Vanessa Valiente, creator of V­Style. “Most mornings at a store have shorter lines, but the mornings with the shortest lines are on Sundays，” she says.“This is true all through the year and continues to be true during the holidays.”

If you can’t get out on a Sunday, weekday mornings, especially Mondays and Tuesdays, usually have shorter lines too, says Sarah Hollenbeck, a shopping and savings expert.Hitting the shops on a weekday afternoon is also better than heading out after work or on a busy weekend, she says, but notes that the week after Christmas tends to be full of people no matter what.Stores offer New Year’s and after­Christmas sales, and shoppers gather for the things that weren’t checked off their Christmas lists.So many people avert that week.

But for the best­of­the­best and the worst­of­the­worst, there are two days to notice.December 26 tends to be extra busy with people rushing out to make their Christmas returns immediately, says Valiente.On the other side, shoppers are more likely to stay at home on New Year’s Day.“If you take it easy on New Year’s Eve, you can be the only one in the stores doing returns on the first day of the year，” she says.

【解题导语】　本文是一篇议论文。圣诞节后，很多人会想去商场退掉一些收到的圣诞节礼物，可是不是每天都适合去做这件事。

4．What does the author mean by saying “Almost everyone is in the same boat”？

A．People find it hard to do Christmas shopping.

B．People really like the things bought as gifts.

C．It’s common for people to receive wrong gifts.

D．It’s common for people to return Christmas gifts.

D　【解析】推理判断题。根据第二段的Almost everyone is in the same boat, though, with almost two­thirds of shoppers making a return over the holiday season...可知，作者的意思是：圣诞节后很多人想去商场退掉一些他们收到的礼物。

5．What does the underlined word “avert” in Paragraph 4 mean?

A．Avoid. B．Fear.

C．Celebrate. D．Suggest.

A　【解析】词义猜测题。根据第四段的Stores offer New Year’s and after­Christmas sales, and shoppers gather for the things that weren’t checked off their Christmas lists.可知，这一周商场一般都会很拥挤，故可知很多人会选择“避开”这一周去商场。

6．Which of the following statements would Valiente agree with?

A．Afternoon is the best time to go shopping.

B．People should rest at home on New Year’s Day.

C．New Year’s Day is the best time to return Christmas gifts.

D．We’d better return our Christmas gifts on December 26.

C　【解析】推理判断题。根据末段的“If you take it easy on New Year’s Eve, you can be the only one in the stores doing returns on the first day of the year，” she says.可知，她认为新年第一天去退掉那些商品最好。

7．What is the text mainly about?

A．The best time to visit a store.

B．The best time to return Christmas gifts.

C．Some good ways to deal with Christmas gifts.

D．Some good ways to return Christmas presents.

B　【解析】主旨大意题。根据文章内容可知，本文主要是讲圣诞节过后哪一天去商场退掉那些不需要的礼物最好。

C

The National Pass walking track is in the Blue Mountains National Park, one of the most well­known national parks in Australia.It is near Wentworth Falls, which is around 100 kilometres from Sydney (the largest city in Australia)．It is a circular walking track of 4.4km.It includes a 709m climb and takes around 3.5 hours to complete.Though the transport is not perfect, the National Pass can be readily reached by car or train.

The Grand Stairway is an unforgettable part of the National Pass.This is a zigzag stairway(which looks like a line of Z’s joined together) with 173 steps. It has been described as the tallest outdoor stairway in Australia.The Grand Stairway provides a way to the valley below Wentworth Falls.It was built around 1906 by workers who used all kinds of different tools.

Along a great part of this track is the amazing waterfalls which hikers(远足者) pass by, through, and over.These include the Empress Falls.This is a wonderful waterfall in the Valley of the Waters.It goes down a series of rocks to a pool.There are stepping stones for hikers to cross the falls and some shady spots where tired travelers can rest.

In 2002 the National Parks and Wildlife Service started repair work on the National Pass.This work took several years and the project was awarded recognition from UNESCO(United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) and the National Trust of Australia.

It is worthwhile to choose a guided tour package for the National Pass.The walk costs around $135 per person and requires good health and physical condition.It takes the hiker through valleys, thick forests and ends with a lovely picnic lunch.

【解题导语】　本文是一篇说明文。文章介绍了澳洲蓝山国家公园的国家山口步行小道。

8．What do we learn about the National Pass?

A．You can finish it in one or two hours.

B．It is a track that is close to Sydney.

C．You can get there on foot only.

D．It ends where it begins.

D　【解析】细节理解题。由第一段中的It is a circular walking track of 4.4km.可知，国家山口步行小道是一条环形路线。

9．Which of the following best describes the Grand Stairway?

A．It is under the valley below Wentworth Falls.

B．It was built with the help of UNESCO.

C．It is the longest stairway in Australia.

D．It has a history of over one century.

D　【解析】细节理解题。由第二段中的It was built around 1906 by workers who used all kinds of different tools.可知，大阶梯有一百多年的历史了。

10．What will be exciting for a traveler?

A．The clear pools near the track.

B．The waterfalls along the track.

C．The traditional native culture.

D．The beautiful rocks on the mountains.

B　【解析】细节理解题。由第三段中的Along a great part of this track is the amazing waterfalls which hikers(远足者) pass by, through, and over.可知，一路上的瀑布会让旅行者感到激动。

11．What should hikers know about the track?

A．They must be strong enough to walk it.

B．Some parts of it are quite dangerous.

C．It is being repaired at the moment.

D．Meals are sold during the walk.

A　【解析】推理判断题。由最后一段中的requires good health and physical condition.可知，步行者应该知道，他们必须足够强壮才能完成这里的旅行。

baa46abc65171c21724fbbbd853f3d2e.png 七选五

According to medical experts, people do not need food as much as they need water.If you are in good physical shape, you are likely to survive longer.In fact, the body stores fat and other forms of energy.The fatter you are, the more fat your body can store.1.________

The survival time without food also depends on how fast a person burns food.Those who use up food energy faster will probably not survive as long as those who burn food energy more slowly.

Climate also plays an important role in it.2.________ However, hot climate allows you to go on longer without replacing food.

3．________ It may lead to physical weakness or confusion.After many weeks without food, your body organs can fail one after another.Even so, people can still survive without food for up to two months as long as they have enough to drink.

However, living without water can be a very different story.Every minute, we lose water through breathing and other activities.The water that our bodies lose must be replaced so that our organs can work properly.4.________ Otherwise, we may suffer a heat stroke(中暑)．

Dehydration(严重脱水) can lead to many illnesses.In the beginning, you may just suffer a dry mouth or a fast heartbeat.5.________ Therefore, you should never go on without water for a day or more.

A．Water helps us cool down in the heat.

B．However, we can’t live long without water.

C．That is why fatter people can survive longer.

D．Cold weather makes you use up more energy.

E．Eating too much is not necessary in our daily life.

F．But a few weeks later, you may be in a state of shock.

G．Eating too little causes your body to react in some special ways.

【解题导语】　本文是一篇说明文。文章主要指出了相比于食物，人们存活更需要水。人体内可以存储一些脂肪和能量备用，而呼吸和其他身体活动却随时随地在消耗人体内的水分。

1．C　【解析】此空设于段尾，与上文存在逻辑上的指代关系。本句中的That指代的是前一句中提到的The fatter you are, the more fat your body can store.。

2．D　【解析】此空设于段中，是对前一句的进一步解释。此句和后一句都是对前一句的进一步解释。前一句指出，气候在人们存活的过程中扮演着很重要的角色，此句和后一句分别提出冷天气和炎热的气候是如何具体影响的。

3．G　【解析】此空设于段首，是本段的主题句。此句提出，吃得太少会使身体作出一些特殊的反应，接着后文再具体描述这些反应。

4．A　【解析】此空设于段中，与后文存在转折关系。本段主要是讲缺水可能会带来的后果。后一句句意为“否则，我们可能会中暑。”由此可推测，此句是提出水可以使我们在炎热的天气凉快下来。

5．F　【解析】此空设于段中，是对第一句的进一步解释。第一句指出，严重脱水可以导致很多疾病，接着提出了刚开始的后果。所以可推测，此句是表明几周后，你可能会处于休克状态。