第24天　M4U2单元练习(一)

(建议用时：45分钟)

一、 阅读理解

A

Top Hotels in Sydney

(　　)1. Which hotel is the nearest to the Sydney Opera House?

A. QT Sydney. B. Shangri­La Hotel Sydney.

C. The Tank Stream. D. Rydges Sydney Airport Hotel.

(　　)2. What is special about Rydges Sydney Airport Hotel?

A. It offers office service.

B. It has a coffee maker in each room.

C. It provides laundry service.

D. It has the best restaurant in Sydney.

(　　)3. What can we learn about the hotels mentioned in the text?

A. They have smoking areas. B. They have sporting facilities.

C. They have free parking lots. D. They charge the Internet users.

B

Digging in the dirt may be a natural cure for depression according to recent research that shows a common type of bacteria found in soil can actually lift your mood. Of course, it could just be that “playing” in the dirt takes you back to those carefree days of summer years ago. Either way, it works.

Researchers at England's Bristol University injected samples of mycobacterium vaccae(分支杆菌菌苗) into lab mice and studied the effects on their brains and behaviour. They found that exposure(暴露) to this bacterium seems to make the brain produce higher levels of a substance that results in a feeling of well­being. In other words, this bacterium may lift your mood.

Lead researcher and scientist Chris Lowry says that to get regular exposure, we have to breathe in the soil dust — or swallow it. “That sounds ridiculous, but if you're eating fresh vegetables from the garden, then you're consuming bacteria.”

But Lowry admits that more research needs to be done. In any case, he says the bacteria probably only partly explain why working in a garden or hiking a wooded path can make us feel so good. Psychologist Heather Hadjistavropoulos points out that factors like sunshine and physical exercise are known to lift mood. So does that sense of accomplishment when your well­tended trees are all in flower.

And any activity that forces us to slow down and be mindful of our surroundings, like a nature walk, is very likely to be rewarding. “Most of us have very busy lives，” Hadjistavropoulos says. “A slow walk can be a time of renewal emotionally.”

Gardening expert Denis Flanagan adores playing in the dirt. “Gardening is a simple pleasure，” he says. “There's something very satisfying about being on the end of a gardening tool for a couple of hours and weeding a little bed out. It's very beneficial.”

Of course, breathing in a little mycobacterium vaccae in the process certainly isn't going to hurt. The bacterium has already been injected into UK cancer patients by other researchers to successfully reduce pain and nausea(恶心), and it is currently being looked at as a treatment for some immune disorders(混乱)．

(　　)4. What is the researchers' latest discovery about the cure for depression?

A. The smell of soil can lift the mood.

B. Digging in the dirt can help people recover physically.

C. Mycobacterium vaccae in soil is beneficial to the mood.

D. The smell of soil can make lab mice feel less depressed.

(　　)5. What Chris Lowry says helps us understand that ________.

A. people can be injected with vaccae to lift mood

B. working in a garden is a tiring job

C. eating fresh vegetables is the best cure for depression

D. mycobacterium vaccae is one of the reasons to make people feel good

(　　)6. In the future, mycobacterium vaccae will ________.

A. be obtained mainly by breathing B. be widely used in medical field

C. not be used in labs D. damage the immune system

(　　)7. What would be the best title for the passage?

A. Go on! Get Down and Dirty! B. Let's Get Together in the Wild!

C. Come on! Make Yourself Happy! D. Great Bacteria Found in Soil!

C

Eight years before his death in 1896, Alfred Nobel was surprised to read an obituary(讣告) in the local newspaper. This was a strange obituary, for it told Alfred Nobel, the man who was reading it, that he was dead. The newspaper had confused Alfred with his brother, Ludwig, who had recently died.

Nobel was shocked to read that he had passed away, and he was even more annoyed by the title of his obituary：The Merchant of Death Is Dead. Alfred was a very rich and successful armaments manufacturer(武器制造商)．

This incident got him thinking about his reputation. What would people think of him after his real death? Would they really say “That was a man who profited from killing”？ It was this thought that led him to leave his money—a huge amount of it—for the founding of the famous Nobel prizes. His aim was for his money to be used to support the ongoing quest(追求) for excellence in the sciences and literature, and the ideal of peace.Thousands of men and women have been honored since the first awards were given out in 1901. The awards let the world know about the developments that may have a huge effect on our lives.

However, the prizes are controversial sometimes. There is often protest(抗议) at the award of the peace prize when not everyone thinks that the award­winners deserve the award. Even the award for literature has sometimes been criticized because the award committee often neglects important writers. The highly influential novelists James Joyce and Marcel Proust, for example, were never honored by the Swedish Academy.

Still, for the most part the awards don't cause many complaints. Alfred Nobel founded the prizes to recognize those who have had “the greatest benefit to mankind” and few would disagree that most of the prize­winners—among them, Albert Einstein and Martin Luther King—have made contributions that deserve to be honored and remembered.

(　　)8. How did Alfred Nobel feel when he read the obituary in the newspaper?

A. Sad and worried. B. Shocked and upset.

C. Surprised and confused. D. Amused and puzzled.

(　　)9. What did Alfred Nobel decide to do after reading the obituary?

A. Seek excellence in the sciences.

B. Donate all his money to the charity.

C. Stop producing any killing weapons.

D. Set up the Nobel prizes with his money.

(　　)10. Why does the author mention James Joyce and Marcel Proust?

A. To show the controversy of some Nobel prizes.

B. To give examples of influential Nobel prizes.

C. To explain the standard of giving out the Nobel prizes.

D. To prove the influence of the Nobel prizes on literature.

(　　)11. What does the author think of the Nobel prizes?

A. There should be more female winners.

B. There are too many controversial winners.

C. They have honored many worthy winners.

D. The committee should be more selective.

D

A few years ago, Darla Hoff painted a pumpkin face onto a round straw bale(捆) at Al and Karen Goldman's farm in Idaho Falls to advertise her u­pick pumpkin field. While Darla has stopped growing pumpkins, the annual tradition of straw bale art lives on at the farm and has drawn friends and neighbors to participate in it. Past creations have included an owl, Minions, tractors and a teddy bear.

To make the tractors, Al baled round straw bales in two different sizes—smaller ones for the tractor's front tires and larger ones for the rear(尾部). Large square bales made up the bodies. Jerry Kienlen used his farming equipment to arrange the bales in the shape of two tractors. Then it was time to bring the tractors to life. Karen and her daughter, Lana Hedrick, secured some green paint, and Al got some red paint. Darla's husband, James, sprayed the_creation with a paint gun. For the finishing touches Steven donated two shiny exhaust stacks(排气管), and Al and Karen donated two steering wheels from their farm parts.

The farm's annual straw bale art projects have now become a way for everyone to celebrate the end of another growing season. It's just something fun to do together after harvest. This neighborhood has always been close. Generations of these families have grown crops in this soil. Raised on the farms where they live now, they grew up together as their elders did before. Al and Karen are truly super neighbors. Every year they also grow about two acres of corn to give away. Anyone can pick some, or Al and Karen will even deliver. And during long Idaho winters, everyone gathers at the farm to enjoy fresh coffee and cookies.

This year's straw bale creation theme is Straw Wars. And all eyes will be on Al and Karen's farm as their creation takes shape.

(　　)12. Why did Darla paint a pumpkin face onto a straw bale?

A. To recycle straw bales. B. To please his neighbors.

C. To create a new tradition. D. To make an advertisement.

(　　)13. What does the underlined phrase “the creation” in Paragraph 2 refer to?

A. The straw bale tires. B. The square straw bales.

C. The straw bale tractors. D. The farming equipment.

(　　)14. What do local people think of the straw bale art show?

A. It needs something fun.

B. It's a good way to celebrate harvest.

C. It makes Al and Karen famous in the town.

D. It stands for the beginning of a new season.

(　　)15. What kind of neighbors are Al and Karen according to Paragraph 3?

A. Generous. B. Creative.

C. Funny. D. Determined.

二、 七选五阅读

根据短文内容，选出最佳选项。有两项为多余选项。

It was a little before nine o'clock on Tuesday night. __1__ “Do you need a second helping of pudding？” a waitress asked. Antonio, who had already finished a plate of pasta, a fish stew and a slice of cake, couldn't answer it right away. The question might be common for most diners, but for him, it was entirely novel because he was homeless and was having the meal for free. __2__ He had no preparation for it.

__3__ But by night, it transforms itself into a pioneering place where homeless people such as Antonio can dine free of charge, at tables set with flowers, metal cutlery(餐具) and proper glasses.

The restaurant is the latest initiative(初步行动) from the charity Mensajeros de la Paz. It was founded 54 years ago by Father Angel Garcia Rodriguez. Its business model—using breakfast and lunch takings from paying customers to fund free evening meals for the homeless—is simple enough. __4__ “The inspiration came from Pope Francis, who's spoken again and again about the importance of giving people dignity, whether it's through bread or through work，” said Father Angel. “__5__ People with nothing can come and eat in the restaurant and get the same treatment as everyone else. It's just common sense.”

A. By day, the Robin Hood restaurant, which sits on a side street near the center of Madrid, is a typical Spanish bar.

B. So we thought, why not open a restaurant with tablecloths, proper cutlery and waiters?

C. They plan to extend the scheme and hope it will attract famous chefs to come to cook.

D. It was the first time that he had been asked such a question.

E. The homeless are treated with respect at the restaurant.

F. Antonio found himself facing a welcome dilemma.

G. Its aim, however, is a little ambitious.

1. ________　　2. ________　　3. ________　　4. ________　　5. ________

第24天 M4U2单元练习（一）

一、A

本文是一篇应用文,介绍了悉尼的四家顶级的酒店。

1.B。细节理解题。根据Shangri La Hotel Sydney 一栏Location部分最后一句“ It’s only a 9 minute walk to the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbor Bridge.”可知,这家酒店步行到悉尼歌剧院只需9分钟,与其他酒店比较起来是最近的。

2.A。细节理解题。根据Rydges Sydney Airport Hotel一栏Hotel Features部分最后一句“It also has a 24 hour business center, which provides busy travellers with an ‘office away from the office’.”可知,只有这家酒店提供了办公服务。

3.B。推理判断题。根据四家酒店Hotel Features部分可知,拥有健身设施是所有酒店共有的特点。

B

研究者发现土壤中常见的一种细菌能提升情绪，这种细菌在医疗领域有一定的应用。

4.C。细节理解题。根据第一段第一句话“……研究表明一种常见的土壤中的细菌可以提升你的心情”及第二段的实验可知选C项。

5.D。细节理解题。第三段与第四段均涉及Chris Lowry的言论，从第四段第二句话可推知D项正确：微生物，即分支杆菌，只能部分解释在花园工作或在小树林徒步旅行使人愉快的原因。

6.B。推理判断题。根据文章最后一段所提到的医学实例可推测，分支杆菌有可能在医学领域被广泛应用。

7.A。归纳标题题。文章首段提出一项新发现，进而提到支持此观点的实验、研究者对此观点的相关论述，A项中的Get down and dirty正与研究者的呼吁相呼应。

C

本文是一篇记叙文,讲述了阿尔弗雷德·诺贝尔设立诺贝尔奖背后的故事以及诺贝尔奖引发的争议。

8.B。细节理解题。根据第二段第一句“Nobel was shocked to read that he had passed away, and he was even more annoyed by the title of his obituary: The Merchant of Death Is Dead.”可知,阿尔弗雷德·诺贝尔看到讣告时,既震惊又生气。

9.D。细节理解题。根据第三段第四句“It was this thought that led him to leave his money—a huge amount of it—for the founding of the famous Nobel prizes.”可知,看到讣告后,他决定用自己的钱设立诺贝尔奖。

10.A。推理判断题。根据第四段第一句“However, the prizes are controversial sometimes.”和第三句“Even the award for literature has sometimes been criticized because the award committee often neglects important writers.”可知,作者提到这两位作家是为了举例说明一些诺贝尔奖引发的争论。

11.C。细节理解题。根据最后一段最后一句“Alfred Nobel founded the prizes to recognize those who have had ‘the greatest benefit to mankind’ and few would disagree that most of the prize winners—among them, Albert Einstein and Martin Luther King—have made contributions that deserve to be honored and remembered.”可知,作者认为大多数的获奖者都是当之无愧的。

D

本文是一篇说明文,介绍了爱达荷州一家农场每年举办的用草砖制作艺术品的活动。

12.D。细节理解题。根据第一段第一句“A few years ago, Darla Hoff painted a pumpkin face onto a round straw bale(捆) at Al and Karen Goldman’s farm in Idaho Falls to advertise her u pick pumpkin field.”可知,Darla Hoff 在草砖上画南瓜,是为了做广告。

13.C。短语理解题。根据第二段第四至六句“Then it was time to bring the tractors to life. Karen and her daughter, Lana Hedrick, secured some green paint, and Al got some red paint. Darla’s husband, James, sprayed the creation with a paint gun.”可知,the creation指的是用草砖制作成的拖拉机。

14.B。细节理解题。根据第三段前两句“The farm’s annual straw bale art projects have now become a way for everyone to celebrate the end of another growing season. It’s just something fun to do together after harvest.”可知,这一活动是很好的庆祝丰收的方式。

15.A。推理判断题。根据第三段最后三句“Every year they also grow about two acres of corn to give away. Anyone can pick some, or Al and Karen will even deliver. And during long Idaho winters, everyone gathers at the farm to enjoy fresh coffee and cookies.”可知,他们十分慷慨大方。

二、本文是一篇记叙文,主要讲述了西班牙一家餐馆在晚上为流浪人群免费提供晚餐,并让他们吃得有尊严。

1.F。根据下一句“Do you need a second helping of pudding?”可知,餐馆女服务员的友好询问使流浪汉Antonio陷入困境。故选F项。

2.D。根据空格前一句“The question might be common for most diners, but for him, it was entirely novel because he was homeless and was having the meal for free.”可知,服务员的问话对他来说非常新颖,因为他是流浪汉,这是他第一次被问到这样的问题。故选D项。

3.A。空格后的But by night与A项中的By day相对应。

4.G。根据空格前一句可知,这家餐馆的经营模式很简单,但它的目标是很有野心的。故选G项。

5.B。根据空格后一句“People with nothing can come and eat in the restaurant and get the same treatment as everyone else.”可知,B项“所以我们想,为什么不开一家有桌布、有合适的餐具和有服务生的餐馆呢?”符合语境。