2023届高考英语二轮复习专项：阅读理解－说明文突破训练

这是一份2023届高考英语二轮复习专项：阅读理解－说明文突破训练，共19页。试卷主要包含了 阅读理解， 精深练习等内容，欢迎下载使用。
阅读理解－说明文
基础题
一、 阅读理解。
Passage 1
You've heard that plastic is polluting the oceans—between 4.8 and 12.7 million tonnes enter ocean ecosystems every year. But does one plastic straw or cup really make a difference? Artist Benjamin Von Wong wants you to know that it does. He builds massive sculptures out of plastic garbage, forcing viewers to re­examine their relationship to single­use plastic products.
At the beginning of the year, the artist built a piece called “Strawpocalypse”， a pair of 10­foot­tall plastic waves, frozen mid­crash. Made of 168，000 plastic straws collected from several volunteer beach cleanups, the sculpture made its first appearance at the Estella Place shopping center in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
Just 9% of global plastic waste is recycled. Plastic straws are by no means the biggest source(来源) of plastic pollution, but they've recently come under fire because most people don't need them to drink with and, because of their small size and weight, they cannot be recycled. Every straw that's part of Von Wong's artwork likely came from a drink that someone used for only a few minutes. Once the drink is gone, the straw will take centuries to disappear.
In a piece from 2018, Von Wong wanted to illustrate(说明) a specific statistic: Every 60 seconds, a truckload's worth of plastic enters the ocean. For this work, titled “Truckload of Plastic”， Von Wong and a group of volunteers collected more than 10，000 pieces of plastic, which were then tied together to look like they'd been dumped(倾倒) from a truck all at once.
Von Wong hopes that his work will also help pressure big companies to reduce their plastic footprint.
(　) 1. What are Von Wong's artworks intended for?
A. Beautifying the city he lives in.
B. Introducing eco­friendly products.
C. Drawing public attention to plastic waste.
D. Reducing garbage on the beach.
(　) 2. Why does the author discuss plastic straws in Paragraph 3?
A. To show the difficulty of their recycling.
B. To explain why they are useful.
C. To voice his views on modern art.
D. To find a substitute for them.
(　) 3. What effect would “Truckload of Plastic” have on viewers?
A. Calming. B. Disturbing.
C. Refreshing. D. Challenging.
(　) 4. Which of the following can be the best title for the text?
A. Artists' Opinions on Plastic Safety
B. Media Interest in Contemporary Art
C. Responsibility Demanded of Big Companies　
D. Ocean Plastics Transformed into Sculptures　
Passage 2
During an interview for one of my books, my interviewer said something I still think about often. Annoyed by the level of distraction(干扰) in his open office, he said, “That's why I have a membership at the coworking space across the street—so I can focus.” His comment struck me as strange. After all, coworking spaces also typically use an open office layout(布局). But I recently came across a study that shows why his approach works.
The researchers examined various levels of noise on participants as they completed tests of creative thinking. They were randomly divided into four groups and exposed to various noise levels in the background, from total silence to 50 decibels(分贝), 70 decibels, and 85 decibels. The differences between most of the groups were statistically insignificant; however, the participants in the 70 decibels group—those exposed to a level of noise similar to background chatter in a coffee shop—significantly outperformed the other groups. Since the effects were small, this may suggest that our creative thinking does not differ that much in response to total silence and 85 decibels of background noise.
But since the results at 70 decibels were significant, the study also suggests that the right level of background noise—not too loud and not total silence—may actually improve one's creative thinking ability. The right level of background noise may interrupt our normal patterns of thinking just enough to allow our imaginations to wander, without making it impossible to focus. This kind of “distracted focus” appears to be the best state for working on creative tasks.
So why do so many of us hate our open offices? The problem may be that, in our offices, we can't stop ourselves from getting drawn into others' conversations while we're trying to focus. Indeed, the researchers found that face­to­face interactions and conversations affect the creative process, and yet a coworking space or a coffee shop provides a certain level of noise while also providing freedom from interruptions.
(　) 5. Why does the interviewer prefer a coworking space?
A. It helps him concentrate.
B. It blocks out background noise.
C. It has a pleasant atmosphere.
D. It encourages face­to­face interactions.
(　) 6. Which level of background noise may promote creative thinking ability?
A. Total silence.
B. 50 decibels.
C. 70 decibels.
D. 85 decibels.
(　) 7. What makes an open office unwelcome to many people?
A. Personal privacy unprotected.
B. Limited working space.
C. Restrictions on group discussion.
D. Constant interruptions.
(　) 8. What can we infer about the author from the text?
A. He's a news reporter.
B. He's an office manager.
C. He's a professional designer.
D. He's a published writer.
Passage 3
Hundreds of scientists, writers and academics sounded a warning to humanity in an open letter published last December: Policymakers and the rest of us must engage openly with the risk of global collapse. Researchers in many areas have projected the widespread collapse as “a credible scenario(情景) this century”.
A survey of scientists found that extreme weather events, food insecurity, and freshwater shortages might create global collapse. Of course, if you are a non­human species, collapse is well underway.
The call for public engagement with the unthinkable is especially germane in this moment of still­uncontrolled pandemic and economic crises in the world's most technologically advanced nations. Not very long ago, it was also unthinkable that a virus would shut down nations and that safety nets would be proven so disastrously lacking in flexibility.
The international scholars' warning letter doesn't say exactly what collapse will look like or when it might happen. Collapseology, the study of collapse, is more concerned with identifying trends and with them the dangers of everyday civilization. Among the signatories(签署者) of the warning was Bob Johnson, the originator of the “ecological footprint” concept, which measures the total amount of environmental input needed to maintain a given lifestyle. With the current footprint of humanity, “it seems that global collapse is certain to happen in some form, possibly within a decade, certainly within this century，” Johnson said in an email.
Only if we discuss the consequences of our biophysical limits, the December warning letter says, can we have the hope to reduce their “speed, severity and harm”. And yet messengers of the coming disturbance are likely to be ignored. We all want to hope things will turn out fine. As a poet wrote,
Man is a victim of dope(麻醉品)
In the incurable form of hope.
The hundreds of scholars who signed the letter are intent(执着) on quieting hope that ignores preparedness. “Let's look directly into the issue of collapse，” they say, “and deal with the terrible possibilities of what we see there to make the best of a troubling future.”
(　) 9. What does the underlined word “germane” in Paragraph 3 probably mean?
A. Scientific. B. Credible.
C. Original. D. Relevant.
(　)10. As for the public awareness of global collapse, the author is ________.
A. worried　 B. puzzled
C. surprised　 D. scared
(　)11. What can we learn from this passage?
A. The signatories may change the biophysical limits.
B. The author agrees with the message of the poem.
C. The issue of collapse is being prioritized.
D. The global collapse is well underway.
二、 精深练习。
(一) 写出下列句中画线词的中文释义。
1. You've heard that plastic is polluting the oceans—between 4.8 and 12.7 million tonnes enter ocean ecosystems every year. ______
2. Plastic straws are by__no__means the biggest source(来源) of plastic pollution, but …______
3. Von Wong hopes that his work will also help pressure big companies to reduce their plastic footprint. ______
4. Since the effects were small, this may suggest that our creative thinking does not differ that much in__response__to total silence and 85 decibels of background noise. ______
5. The right level of background noise may interrupt our normal patterns of thinking just enough to allow our imaginations to wander, without making it impossible to focus. ______
6. Hundreds of scientists, writers and academics sounded a warning to humanity in an open letter published last December: …______
7. Of course, if you are a non­human species, collapse is well underway．______
8. “Let's look directly into the issue of collapse，” they say, “and deal__with the terrible possibilities of what we see there to make the best of a troubling future.” ______
(二) 根据中文写出单词的正确形式。
1. He builds massive sculptures out of plastic garbage, ______ (迫使) viewers to re­examine their relationship to single­use plastic products.
2. ______ (恼火) by the level of distraction(干扰) in his open office, he said, “That's why I have a membership at the coworking space across the street—so I can focus.”
3. The researchers examined various levels of noise on ______ (参加者) as they completed tests of creative thinking.
4. They were______ (随机地， 随意地) divided into four groups and exposed to various noise levels in the background, from total silence to 50 decibels(分贝), 70 decibels, and 85 decibels.
5. Indeed, the researchers found that face­to­face interactions and conversations affect the creative process, and yet a coworking space or a coffee shop provides a certain level of noise while also providing ______ (没有……的情况；自由) from interruptions.
6. Not very long ago, it was also unthinkable that a virus would shut down nations and that safety nets would be proven so disastrously lacking in ______ (灵活性).
(三) 长难句分析与翻译。
1. Made of 168，000 plastic straws collected from several volunteer beach cleanups, the sculpture made its first appearance at the Estella Place shopping center in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
[分析]____________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
[翻译]____________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
2. The differences between most of the groups were statistically insignificant; however, the participants in the 70 decibels group—those exposed to a level of noise similar to background chatter in a coffee shop—significantly outperformed the other groups.
[分析]____________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
[翻译]____________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
3. Only if we discuss the consequences of our biophysical limits, the December warning letter says, can we have the hope to reduce their “speed, severity and harm”．
[分析]____________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
[翻译]____________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
提高题
一、 阅读理解。
Passage 1 (2021·新高考Ⅱ卷)
An Australian professor is developing a robot to monitor the health of grazing cattle, a development that could bring big changes to a profession that's relied largely on a low­tech approach for decades but is facing a labor shortage.
Salah Sukkarieh, a professor at the University of Sydney, sees robots as necessary given how cattlemen are aging. He is building a four­wheeled robot that will run on solar and electric power. It will use cameras and sensors to monitor the animals. A computer system will analyze the video to determine whether a cow is sick. Radio tags(标签) on the animals will measure temperature changes. The quality of grassland will be tracked by monitoring the shape, color and texture(质地) of grass. That way, cattlemen will know whether they need to move their cattle to another field for nutrition purposes.
Machines have largely taken over planting, watering and harvesting crops such as corn and wheat, but the monitoring of cattle has gone through fewer changes.
For Texas cattleman Pete Bonds, it's increasingly difficult to find workers interested in watching cattle. But Bonds doesn't believe a robot is right for the job. Years of experience in the industry—and failed attempts to use technology—have convinced him that the best way to check cattle is with a man on a horse. Bonds, who bought his first cattle almost 50 years ago, still has each of his cowboys inspect 300 or 400 cattle daily and look for signs that an animal is getting sick.
Other cattlemen see more promise in robots. Michael Kelsey, vice president of the Oklahoma Cattlemen's Association, said a robot could be extremely useful given rising concerns about cattle theft. Cattle tend to be kept in remote places and their value has risen, making them appealing targets.
(　) 1. What is a problem with the cattle­raising industry?
A. Soil pollution.
B. Lack of workers.
C. Aging machines.
D. Low profitability.
(　) 2. What will Sukkarieh's robot be able to do?
A. Monitor the quality of grass.
B. Cure the diseased cattle.
C. Move cattle to another field.
D. Predict weather changes.
(　) 3. Why does Pete Bonds still hire cowboys to watch cattle?
A. He wants to help them earn a living.
B. He thinks men can do the job better.
C. He is inexperienced in using robots.
D. He enjoys the traditional way of life.
(　) 4. How may robots help with cattle watching according to Michael Kelsey?
A. Increase the value of cattle.
B. Bring down the cost of labor.
C. Make the job more appealing.
D. Keep cattle from being stolen.
Passage 2 (2021·新高考Ⅰ卷)
When the explorers first set foot upon the continent of North America, the skies and lands were alive with an astonishing variety of wildlife. Native Americans had taken care of these precious natural resources wisely. Unfortunately, it took the explorers and the settlers who followed only a few decades to decimate__a large part of these resources. Millions of waterfowl(水禽) were killed at the hands of market hunters and a handful of overly ambitious sportsmen. Millions of acres of wetlands were dried to feed and house the ever­increasing populations, greatly reducing waterfowl habitat.
In 1934, with the passage of the Migratory Bird Hunting Stamp Act(Act), an increasingly concerned nation took firm action to stop the destruction of migratory(迁徙的) waterfowl and the wetlands so vital to their survival. Under this Act, all waterfowl hunters 16 years of age and over must annually purchase and carry a Federal Duck Stamp. The very first Federal Duck Stamp was designed by J．N. “Ding” Darling, a political cartoonist from Des Moines, Iowa, who at that time was appointed by President Franklin Roosevelt as Director of the Bureau of Biological Survey. Hunters willingly pay the stamp price to ensure the survival of our natural resources.
About 98 cents of every duck stamp dollar goes directly into the Migratory Bird Conservation Fund to purchase wetlands and wildlife habitat for inclusion into the National Wildlife Refuge System—a fact that ensures this land will be protected and available for all generations to come. Since 1934, better than half a billion dollars has gone into that Fund to purchase more than 5 million acres of habitat. Little wonder the Federal Duck Stamp Program has been called one of the most successful conservation programs ever initiated.
(　) 5. What was a cause of the waterfowl population decline in North America?
A. Loss of wetlands.
B. Popularity of water sports.
C. Pollution of rivers.
D. Arrival of other wild animals.
(　) 6. What does the underlined word “decimate” mean in the first paragraph?
A. Acquire. B. Export.
C. Destroy. D. Distribute.
(　) 7. What is a direct result of the Act passed in 1934?
A. The stamp price has gone down.
B. The migratory birds have flown away.
C. The hunters have stopped hunting.
D. The government has collected money.
(　) 8. Which of the following is a suitable title for the text?
A. The Federal Duck Stamp Story
B. The National Wildlife Refuge System
C. The Benefits of Saving Waterfowl
D. The History of Migratory Bird Hunting　
Passage 3 (2021·新高考Ⅰ卷)
Popularization has in some cases changed the original meaning of emotional(情感的) intelligence. Many people now misunderstand emotional intelligence as almost everything desirable in a person's makeup that cannot be measured by an IQ test, such as character, motivation, confidence, mental stability, optimism and “people skills”. Research has shown that emotional skills may contribute to some of these qualities, but most of them move far beyond skill­based emotional intelligence.
We prefer to describe emotional intelligence as a specific set of skills that can be used for either good or bad purposes. The ability to accurately understand how others are feeling may be used by a doctor to find how best to help her patients, while a cheater might use it to control potential victims. Being emotionally intelligent does not necessarily make one a moral person.
Although popular beliefs regarding emotional intelligence run far ahead of what research can reasonably support, the overall effects of the publicity have been more beneficial than harmful. The most positive aspect of this popularization is a new and much needed emphasis(重视) on emotion by employers, educators and others interested in promoting social well­being. The popularization of emotional intelligence has helped both the public and researchers re­evaluate the functionality of emotions and how they serve people adaptively in everyday life.
Although the continuing popular appeal of emotional intelligence is desirable, we hope that such attention will excite a greater interest in the scientific and scholarly study of emotion. It is our hope that in coming decades, advances in science will offer new perspectives(视角) from which to study how people manage their lives. Emotional intelligence, with its focus on both head and heart, may serve to point us in the right direction.
(　) 9. What is a common misunderstanding of emotional intelligence?
A. It can be measured by an IQ test.
B. It helps to exercise a person's mind.
C. It includes a set of emotional skills.
D. It refers to a person's positive qualities.
(　)10. Why does the author mention “doctor” and “cheater” in Paragraph 2?
A. To explain a rule.
B. To clarify a concept.
C. To present a fact.
D. To make a prediction.
(　)11. What is the author's attitude to the popularization of emotional intelligence?
A. Favorable. B. Intolerant.
C. Doubtful. D. Unclear.
(　)12. What does the last paragraph mainly talk about concerning emotional intelligence?
A. Its appeal to the public.
B. Expectations for future studies.
C. Its practical application.
D. Scientists with new perspectives.
Passage 4 (2020·海南卷)
Rainforests are home to a rich variety of medicinal plants, food, birds and animals. Can you believe that a single bush(灌木丛) in the Amazon may have more species of ants than the whole of Britain! About 480 varieties of trees may be found in just one hectare of rainforest.
Rainforests are the lungs of the planet—storing vast quantities of carbon dioxide and producing a significant amount of the world's oxygen. Rainforests have their own perfect system for ensuring their own survival; the tall trees make a canopy(树冠层) of branches and leaves which protect themselves, smaller plants, and the forest animals from heavy rain, intense dry heat from the sun and strong winds.
Amazingly, the trees grow in such a way that their leaves and branches, although close together, never actually touch those of another tree. Scientists think this is the plants' way to prevent the spread of any tree diseases and make life more difficult for leaf­eating insects like caterpillars. To survive in the forest, animals must climb, jump or fly across the gaps. The ground floor of the forest is not all tangled leaves and bushes, like in films, but is actually fairly clear. It is where dead leaves turn into food for the trees and other forest life.
They are not called rainforests for nothing! Rainforests can generate 75% of their own rain. At least 80 inches of rain a year is normal—and in some areas there may be as much as 430 inches of rain annually. This is real rain—your umbrella may protect you in a shower, but it won't keep you dry if there is a full rainstorm. In just two hours, streams can rise ten to twenty feet. The humidity(湿气) of large rainforests contributes to the formation of rainclouds that may travel to other countries in need of rain.
(　)13. What can we learn about rainforests from the first paragraph?
A. They produce oxygen.
B. They cover a vast area.
C. They are well managed.
D. They are rich in wildlife.
(　)14. Which of the following contributes most to the survival of rainforests?
A. Heavy rains.
B. Big trees.
C. Small plants.　
D. Forest animals.
(　)15. Why do the leaves and branches of different trees avoid touching each other?
A. For more sunlight.
B. For more growing space.
C. For self­protection.
D. For the detection of insects.
(　)16. What can be a suitable title for the text?
A. Life­Giving Rainforests
B. The Law of the Jungle
C. Animals in the Amazon
D. Weather in Rainforests
二、 精深练习。
(一) 写出下列句中画线词的中文释义。
1. Machines have largely taken__over planting, watering and harvesting crops such as corn and wheat, but the monitoring of cattle has gone through fewer changes. ______
2. Other cattlemen see more promise in robots. ______
3. When the explorers first set__foot__upon the continent of North America, the skies and lands were alive with an astonishing variety of wildlife. ______
4. In 1934, with the passage of the Migratory Bird Hunting Stamp Act(Act), an increasingly concerned nation took firm action to stop the destruction of migratory(迁徙的) waterfowl and the wetlands so vital to their survival. ______
5. Little wonder the Federal Duck Stamp Program has been called one of the most successful conservation programs ever initiated．______
6. Being emotionally intelligent does not__necessarily make one a moral person. ______
(二) 根据中文写出单词的正确形式。
1. It will use cameras and sensors to______ (监视) the animals.
2. Cattle tend to be kept in remote places and their value has risen, making them ______ (吸引人的；令人感兴趣的) targets.
3. Millions of acres of wetlands were dried to feed and house the ever­increasing populations, greatly ______ (减少) waterfowl habitat.
4. Hunters ______ (乐意地) pay the stamp price to ensure the survival of our natural resources.
5. The ability to ______ (准确地) understand how others are feeling may be used by a doctor to find how best to help her patients, while a cheater might use it to control potential victims.
6. Although the continuing popular appeal of emotional intelligence is ______ (向往的；值得拥有的), we hope that such attention will excite a greater interest in the scientific and scholarly study of emotion.
7. Rainforests are home to a rich______ (种类；多样化) of medicinal plants, food, birds and animals.
8. Rainforests are the lungs of the planet—______ (储存) vast quantities of carbon dioxide and producing a significant amount of the world's oxygen.
(三) 长难句分析与翻译。
1. An Australian professor is developing a robot to monitor the health of grazing cattle, a development that could bring big changes to a profession that's relied largely on a low­tech approach for decades but is facing a labor shortage.
[分析]____________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
[翻译]____________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
2. The very first Federal Duck Stamp was designed by J．N. “Ding” Darling, a political cartoonist from Des Moines, Iowa, who at that time was appointed by President Franklin Roosevelt as Director of the Bureau of Biological Survey.
[分析]____________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
[翻译]____________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
3. It is our hope that in coming decades, advances in science will offer new perspectives(视角) from which to study how people manage their lives.
[分析]____________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
[翻译]____________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________


基 础 题
一、
Passage 1
1—4 CABD
1. C　细节理解题。根据第一段中“He builds massive sculptures out of plastic garbage, forcing viewers to re­examine their relationship to single­use plastic products.”可知，Von Wong用塑料垃圾制作雕塑，是想让人们重新审视与一次性塑料制品的关系。由此可知，他做这个雕塑的目的是引起公众对塑料垃圾的关注。故选C。
2. A　推理判断题。根据第三段内容可知，吸管由于体积小，重量轻，无法被回收利用。由此可推知，作者在第三段讨论吸管是为了展示它们回收的困难。故选A。
3. B　推理判断题。根据倒数第二段内容可知，这个作品以创新的方式让人们了解到塑料垃圾以很快的速度和很大的量倾入海洋，刷新了观众对海洋塑料污染的认知。由此可推断，这个作品会让观众对塑料垃圾进入海洋造成污染这件事感到不安。故选B。
4. D　标题归纳题。通读全文，并结合第一段中“He builds massive sculptures out of plastic garbage, forcing viewers to re­examine their relationship to single­use plastic products.”和倒数第二段内容可知，艺术家Benjamin Von Wong通过利用塑料垃圾制作巨型雕塑的方法来提示人们重新思考与一次性塑料的关系，唤醒和提高人们循环利用的意识，促进环保的发展。由此可知，D项“海洋塑料变成雕塑”符合文章主旨，适合作为文章标题。故选D。
Passage 2
5—8 ACDD
5. A　细节理解题。根据第一段中“That's why I have a membership at the coworking space across the street—so I can focus.”可知，采访者喜欢共享办公空间的原因是那里可以帮助他集中精力。故选A。
6. C　细节理解题。根据第二段中“The differences between most of the groups were statistically insignificant; however, the participants in the 70 decibels group—those exposed to a level of noise similar to background chatter in a coffee shop—significantly outperformed the other groups.”和第三段中“But since the results at 70 decibels were significant, the study also suggests that the right level of background noise—not too loud and not total silence—may actually improve one's creative thinking ability.”可知，70分贝的那组参与者的表现好于其他组，所以70分贝的噪音背景环境更有可能促进创造性思维能力的产生。故选C。
7. D　细节理解题。根据最后一段中“Indeed, the researchers found that face­to­face interactions and conversations affect the creative process, and yet a coworking space or a coffee shop provides a certain level of noise while also providing freedom from interruptions.”可知，开放式办公室不受人们欢迎的原因是让我们不断地被卷入别人的谈话中，受到较多干扰。故选D。
8. D　推理判断题。根据第一段中“During an interview for one of my books, my interviewer said something I still think about often.”可知，作者提到有人采访关于自己的书，所以可以推断，作者是一位作家。故选D。
Passage 3
9—11 DAB
9. D　词义猜测题。根据第三段中“The call for public engagement with the unthinkable is especially germane in this moment of still­uncontrolled pandemic and economic crises in the world's most technologically advanced nations.”可知，一场病毒肆虐，一个国家社会停止了运转，疫情无法被控制，经济下行，这样的事情在不久之前都是无法想象，不可思议(unthinkable)的，即世界充满了不确定性。而此时此刻科学家呼吁人们对这种unthinkable加以关注，正是和目前的世界实况密切相关。故选D。
10. A　推理判断题。根据第五段中“And yet messengers of the coming disturbance are likely to be ignored. We all want to hope things will turn out fine.”和最后一段中“‘Let's look directly into the issue of collapse，’ they say, ‘and deal with the terrible possibilities of what we see there to make the best of a troubling future.’”可知，作者认为公众对“全球崩塌”的重视意识不够，比较担心。故选A。
11. B　推理判断题。原文诗歌“Man is a victim of dope; In the incurable form of hope.”表达的是人类无视未来全球崩塌的巨大危险，把头埋进沙子里，假装不知道，充满不切实际的幻想和希望，并结合诗歌上文可知，人们都幻想着未来会变好。再根据诗歌下文可知，要掐灭不做准备的空有幻想，直面问题，解决所面临的糟糕情况。由此可推断，作者有明显的态度倾向，作者对于这首诗所表达的信息是赞同的。故选B。
二、 (一) 1. 生态系统　2. 绝不　3. 给……施压，强迫　4. 作为回应　5. 干扰　6. 发出(警告)，拉响(警报)　7. 在进行中　8. 处理
(二) 1. forcing　2. Annoyed　3. participants
4. randomly　5. freedom　6. flexibility
(三) 1. [分析] 本句为简单句。句中Made of …为过去分词短语作状语，修饰主语the sculpture; collected from …为过去分词短语作后置定语，修饰plastic straws。
[翻译] 由168 000支来自沙滩清洁支援工作中的塑料吸管制作而成的雕塑，首次出现在越南的胡志明市的埃斯特拉广场的购物中心。
2. [分析] 本句为并列句。后句中破折号起解释说明的作用，其中“exposed to a level of noise similar to background chatter in a coffee shop”为过去分词短语作后置定语，修饰those。
[翻译] 大多数组内差异从统计学上讲并不大；然而，处在70分贝环境中的那一组参与者(即那些接触的噪音水平类似于咖啡馆聊天背景下的人)的表现明显优于其他组。
3. [分析] 本句为主从复合句。Only置于句首，修饰if引导的条件状语从句，主句要用部分倒装。
[翻译] 12月份的警报中说，只有我们讨论了生物物理学极限的后果，我们才会有减少它们的速度、严重性以及危害的希望。
提 高 题
一、
Passage 1
1—4 BABD
1. B　细节理解题。根据第一段“An Australian professor is developing a … for decades but is facing a labor shortage.”可知，畜牧产业面临劳动力短缺的问题。故选B。
2. A　细节理解题。根据第二段中“The quality of grassland will be tracked by monitoring the shape, color and texture(质地) of grass.”可知，Sukkarieh的机器人可以监测草的质量。故选A。
3. B　细节理解题。根据第四段中“But Bonds doesn't believe a robot is right for the job. Years of experience in the industry—and failed attempts to use technology—have convinced him that the best way to check cattle is with a man on a horse.”可知，Bonds仍然雇用牛仔看牛是因为他认为人能做得更好。故选B。
4. D　细节理解题。根据最后一段中“Michael Kelsey, vice president of the Oklahoma Cattlemen's Association, said a robot could be extremely useful given rising concerns about cattle theft.”可知，机器人帮助照看牛，可以防止牛被偷。故选D。
Passage 2
5—8 ACDA
5. A　细节理解题。根据第一段中“Millions of acres of wetlands were dried to feed and house the ever­increasing populations, greatly reducing waterfowl habitat.”可知，栖息地的减少导致了水禽数量的下降。故选A。
6. C　词义猜测题。根据画线词上文“Native Americans had taken care of these precious natural resources wisely.”以及“Unfortunately”可知，本句与上一句形成了转折，前一句陈述北美土著人做得好的地方，因此本句阐述的是移民者做得不好的地方，即移民者破坏了这些自然资源，画线词意思是“破坏”。故选C。
7. D　推理判断题。根据最后一段中“Since 1934, better than half a billion dollars has gone into that Fund to purchase more than 5 million acres of habitat.”可知，通过发行鸭票，美国政府获得了大量的资金。故选D。
8. A　标题归纳题。通读全文可知，由于之前不恰当的发展导致美国水禽骤减，因此美国发行了鸭票，狩猎者只有购买了鸭票才能狩猎，而鸭票的部分收入进入了用于购买水禽栖息地的基金，从而保护了水禽。故本文讲述的是美国鸭票的故事。故选A。
Passage 3
9—12　DBAB
9. D　细节理解题。根据第一段中“Research has shown that emotional skills may contribute to some of these qualities, but most of them more far beyond skill­based emotional intelligence.”可知，情商指的并不是一个人的积极品质。故选D。
10. B　推理判断题。根据第二段中“The ability to accurately understand how others are feeling may be used by a doctor to find how best to help her patients, while a cheater might use it to control potential victims.”可知，作者提到“医生”和“骗子”是举例子来阐明下文的观点——情商高并不一定能使一个人成为有道德的人。故选B。
11. A　推理判断题。根据第三段中“the overall effects of the publicity have been more beneficial than harmful”以及“… The popularization of emotional intelligence has helped both the public and researchers …”可知，作者认为情商普及是对人们有利的。故选A。
12. B　段落大意题。根据最后一段中“we hope that such attention will excite a greater interest in the scientific and scholarly study of emotion. It is our hope that in coming decades, advances in science will offer new perspectives(视角) from which to study how people manage their lives.”可推知，本段主要谈了对未来关于情商研究的期望。故选B。
Passage 4
13—16 DBCA
13. D　细节理解题。根据第一段中“Rainforests are home to a rich variety of medicinal plants, food, birds and animals.”可知，热带雨林有丰富的野生动植物。故选D。
14. B　细节理解题。根据第二段中“Rainforests have their own perfect system for ensuring their own survival; the tall trees make a canopy(树冠层) of branches and leaves which protect themselves, smaller plants, and the forest animals from heavy rain, intense dry heat from the sun and strong winds.”可知，大树有助于热带雨林的生存。故选B。
15. C　推理判断题。根据第三段中“Scientists think this is the plants' way to prevent the spread of any tree diseases and make life more difficult for leaf­eating insects like caterpillars.”可知，不同树木的树叶和树枝避免彼此触碰是为了自我保护。故选C。
16. A　标题归纳题。本文首先讲述了热带雨林蕴藏了丰富多彩的药用植物、食物以及鸟禽猛兽。其次，热带雨林就是地球的肺——它吸纳了大量的二氧化碳，并制造了很大部分的全球氧气。最后，雨林可以自我形成所需降雨的75%，而庞大的热带雨林湿气则可以形成雨云，这些雨云可以飘往那些缺水的国家，因此本文最佳标题是“给予生命的热带雨林”。故选A。
二、 (一) 1. 接管　2. 希望，获得成功的迹象　　3. 踏上
4. 通过　5. 开始，发起　6. 未必
(二) 1. monitor　2. appealing　3. reducing　4. willingly
5. accurately　6. desirable　7. variety　8. storing
(三) 1. [分析] 本句为主从复合句。句中“a development”是同位语结构，“that could bring…”是定语从句，修饰先行词development; “that's relied largely on…”是定语从句，修饰先行词profession.
[翻译] 一名澳大利亚教授正在开发一种机器人来监测食草的牛的健康状况，这个研发可能会给数十年来很大程度上依赖低技术却又面临劳动力短缺的行业带来巨大变化。
2. [分析] 本句为主从复合句。who引导非限制性定语从句，修饰先行词J.N. “Ding” Darling; “a political cartoonist from Des Moines, Iowa”是同位语结构，是对J.N. “Ding” Darling的补充说明。
[翻译] 第一张联邦鸭票是由来自爱荷华州德梅因的政治漫画家杰恩·达尔灵设计的，当时他被罗斯福总统任命为生物调查局主任。
3. [分析] 本句为主从复合句。句中It是形式主语，that引导主语从句；其中“from which to study …”是定语从句的省略结构，修饰先行词new perspectives; “how people manage their lives”是宾语从句。
[翻译] 我们希望在未来的几十年里，科学的进步将会提供新的视角来研究人们是如何管理自己的生活的。