高考英语二轮复习专题训练：阅读理解(73)

阅读下面短文，从短文后所给各题的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中，选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项。

A

The Fourth “21th Century Cup” National English Speaking Competition is to be held in Shanghai.

Organizers: China Daily and Shanghai Broadcasting Network.

Co-ordinater: China University English Speaking Association （CUESA）.

Co-sponsors （联办单位）: English Speaking Union （ESU）, Lotus Software （China）Co. LtD. Times Publishing Group of Singapore, Hilton Shanghai, Pearson Education, Foreign Language Teaching & Research Press.

Date: March 26 （ Friday）, 2007 Place: Hilton Shanghai.

Competition Format （形式） : Each student will present a prepared speech on the given topic, followed by a three -minute off - hand speech and a three - minute question and answer period with the judges.

Prepared speech period: six minutes. Q & A period: three minutes.

Speech topic: People and Nature: In search of harmony （和谐）in a new age ＋ your personal opinion. （Topics for the off hand speech will be given on the day of competition）.

Prizes: Besides books and certificates （证书）, the top two winners will be offered scholarships（奖学金） to travel to the annual international English -speaking competition which will be held by the English Speaking Union in London in May, 2007. The third and fourth place winners will be offered a study trip to Singapore, sponsored by the Times Publishing Group. The fifth through 10th place winners will be offered cash prizes. All the competitors will receive certificates from the English Speaking Union and book prizes provided by Pearson Education and Foreign Language Teaching & Research Press. The teachers of the top winners will also receive a one-year membership to the International Association of Teachers of English as a Foreign Language（IATEFL）

1. The main purpose of this passage is ________. A. to invite you to take part in the competition B. to tell you some information of the competition C. to help to improve your spoken English D. to show you how to win the competition

2. Which of the following is NOT mentioned about the Shanghai English Speaking Competition?

A. Where and when it will take place. B. Its program.

C. What each winner will be offered. D. The number of its competitors.

3. Suppose you get the sixth place, you’ll________ .

A. travel to London for free.

B. become a one - year member of IATEFL C. get some money , some books and a certificate D. get a chance to study in Singapore 4. An “off- hand speech” is________.

A. a speech not longer than three minutes B. a speech without preparation C. a speech with a piece of paper in hand D. a speech which is well prepared

B

Beauty has always been regarded as something praiseworthy. Almost everyone thinks attractive people are happier and healthier, have better marriages and have more respectable jobs. Personal advisors give them better advice for finding jobs. Even judges are softer on attractive defendants. But in the executive（主管的） circle, beauty can become a liability.

While attractiveness is a positive factor for a man on his way up the executive ladder, it is harmful to a woman.

Handsome male executives were considered having more honesty than plainer men; effort and ability were thought to lead to their success.

Attractive female executives were considered to have less honesty than unattractive ones; their success was connected not with ability but with factors such as luck.

All unattractive women executives were thought to have more honesty and to be more capable than the attractive female executives. Interestingly, though, the rise of the unattractive overnight successes was connected more to personal relationships and less to ability than that of the attractive overnight successes.

Why are attractive women not thought to be able? An attractive woman is considered to be more feminine has an advantage in traditionally female jobs, but an attractive woman in a traditionally manly position appears to lack the “manly” qualifies required.

This is true even in politics, “When the only clue is how he or she looks, people treat men and women differently, ” says Anne Bowman, who recently published a study on the effects of attractiveness on political candidates（候选人）. She asked 125 undergraduate students to rank two groups of photographs, one of men and one of women, in order of attractiveness. The students were told the photographs were of candidates for political offices. They were asked to rank them again, in the order they would vote for them.

The results showed that attractive males completely defeated unattractive men, but the women who had ranked most attractive unchangeably received the fewest votes. 5. The word “liability” most probably means ________.

A. disadvantage

B. advantage C. misfortune

D. trouble

6. Bowman’s experiment shows that when it comes to politics, attractiveness________

A. turns out to be a disadvantage to men

B. is more of a disadvantage than an advantage to women C. has as little effect on men as on women D. affects men and women alike

7. It can be inferred from the passage that people’s views on beauty are often________.

A. practical

B. supportive C. old – fashioned

D. one - sided

8. The author writes this passage to ________.

A. give advice to job - seekers who are attractive B. discuss the disadvantages of being attractive C. demand equal rights for women

D. state the importance of appearance

C

Some people believe that international sport brings about good will between the nations and that if countries play games together they will learn to live together. Others say that the opposite is true: that international contests encourage false national pride and lead to misunderstanding and hatred. There is probably some truth in both arguments, but in recent years the Olympic Games have done little to support the view that sport encourages international brotherhood. Not only was there the terrible incident with the murder of athletes, but the Games were also ruined by those incidents caused mainly by minor national contests.

One country received its second-place medal with great anger after the hockey final. There had been noisy scenes at the end of the hockey match, the losers objecting to the final decisions. They were certain that one of their goals should not have been dismissed and that the opposite side’s victory was unfair. Their manager was angry when he said: “This wasn’t hockey. Hockey and the International Hockey Society are finished. “The president of the society said later that such words could result in the pause of the team for at least three years.

The American basketball team announced that they would not give away first place to Russia, after a fighting end to their contest. The game had ended in quarrel. It was thought at first that the United States had won, by a single point, but it was announced that there were three seconds still to play, A Russian player then threw the ball from one end of the court to the other, and another player beat it into the basket. It was the first time the USA had ever lost an Olympic basketball match. The judges discussed the matter for four and a half hours before announcing that the result would stand. The American players then decided not to receive the silver medals.

Incidents of this kind will continue as long as sport is played for honors or money rather than for the love of the game. The suggestion that sportsmen should compete as individuals , or in non national teams, might be too much to hope for. But in the present organization of the Olympics there is far too much that encourages dangerous nationalism. 9. According to the author, recent Olympic Games have ________.

A. brought about goodwill between the nations B. made only false national pride

C. hardly showed any international friendship D. led to more and more misunderstanding and hatred

10. What did the manager mean by saying, “… Hockey and the International Hockey Society are

finished”? ________.

A. His team would no longer take part in international games B. Hockey and the society are both ruined by the unfair decisions C. There should be no more hockey matches organized by the society D. The society should be dismissed

11. The author gives the two examples in paragraphs 2 and 3 to show________.

A. how false national pride leads to undesirable incidents in international games B. that sport men have been more troublesome than they used to be C. that competitiveness in the games discourages international friendship D. that unfair decisions are common in Olympic Games. 12. What conclusion can be drawn from the passage? ________.

A. The organization of the Olympic Games must be improved B. Athletes should compete as individuals in the Olympic Games

C. Sport should be played competitively rather than for the love of the game D. International contests lead to misunderstanding between nations.

D

The Carnival of Venice is the most important and magnificent of Venetian celebrations, a festival that attracts thousands of people each year to the city from around the world.

The carnival has ancient origins, a celebration that greets the passing of winter into spring, a period in which everything is apparently connected, including the dream of the more humble（低下的）classes becoming similar to the powerful, since everyone is hidden behind a mask（面具）. The Carnival of Venice officially began in 1296, when the Senate（参议院）of the Republic declared the day as a day of celebration. After a break of almost two centuries, the traditions of the carnival were recovered in 1980 and since then the event has been held with great success each year.

Each year has a different, basic theme for the carnival, which is developed under various points of view, For two weeks St. Marks' Square, the theaters, streets, squares and public buildings become the leading roles of numerous shows: actors, dancers and musicians bring a

celebration atmosphere to the city for a few days.

This year , in Saint Mark’s there will be a large stage where a great festival of music and dance will take place. Meanwhile , on the Grand Canal (a long straight passage filled with water). where there will be a catwalk（狭小通道）, people with Venetian masks go on board Gondolas. Various Venetian squares will enjoy live music, dance and competitions for the most beautiful mask.

Anyone wishing to sample aristocracy（贵族）during the carnival can go to the Venetian palaces where there are masked balls in costume. The city is home to various fashion houses where you can hire splendid period costumes , wigs（假发）and masks. 13. Which of the following statements about The Carnival of Venice is NOT true ?

A. It has taken place every year since 1980. B. It attracts people at home and abroad. C. It began formally late in the thirteenth century. D. It has the same theme every year.

14. The carnival probably failed to celebrate at the year of .

A. 1096 B. 1296 C. 1496

D. 1796

15. The underlined word “Gondolas ”(in paragraph 4) is likely to be . A. boats B. Planes C. buses

D. rivers

16. People who take part in the carnival are likely to do all the following things EXCEPT .

A. hire something special for masked balls B. wear masks of all kinds C. get together with famous actors D. go to the theatres

E

（1）Secretary. Part time. 20 hours a week. Busy doctor’s office. Experience preferred. Good typing. Call 555—2438.

（2）BABY SITTER. 3 to 6 weekday afternoons. I will take you home. $5.00 an hour. Call 555-5593.

（3）Guitar lessons. Your home or mine. Experienced musician. Master’s degree in music. Call Louise 555-6131.

（4）TENTH STREET BLOCK PARTY. Sunday, July 15. Noon to 8. Food, games, prizes, live band, Tenth Street between Main and North,

（5）APARTMENT FOR RENT. 3 sunny rooms on high floor, great view. Separate kitchen. Wall-to-wall carpeting. The living room can be used as dining room. Email: SDGT@ 163. com.cn. （6）TAXI DRIVER WANTED. Full or part time. Experience necessary. A good knowledge of the city is required. Call 555-8860 between 9A.M. and 5P. M. weekday.

（7）A stereo system for sale, It has two speakers. The system has an AM/FM radio. It also has a tape deck and turntable. It is in good condition. The stereo was owned for only one year. The price is $200 including the speakers. The owner will also take the highest price offered if the asking price is not met. Call Bill after 6. P.M, at 555-9834.

17. How many of the seven ads are placed by people who want to hire someone for certain job? A. Four.

B. Three. C. Two. D. Five.

18. Which of the following is true according to the ads above?

A. Those who have some experience in office work will have a better chance to get the job of secretary.

B. The owner of the stereo will never sell his stereo at a price less than $200. C. The taxi driver is not necessarily familiar with the city. D. The tenth street block party will last until after 8. 19. We may learn from the ads above that . A. a baby sitter is paid by the hour B. the party will be held without any music C. the rooms for rent cannot get good sunlight D. people can get guitar lessons at any places they like

20. These ads may probably appear in the following media except______ A. a local newspaper B. a page on the internet C. a government report D. a special radio program

1 A 11 C 2 D 12 A 3 C 13 D 4 B 14 D 5 A 15 A 6 B 16 C 7 A 17 B 8 B 18 A 9 C 19 A 10 B 20 C