Ⅰ.阅读理解
A(文化教育)
(2016·常州第一学期期末考试)
In today's China，exchanges between Chinese and English－speakers are increasingly frequent.English skills are important to Chinese if China wishes to play a stronger role on the world stage.However，the general English level of the Chinese people is on the decline.
China's ranking in the 2015 EF English Proficiency Index dropped 10 drops.The Middle Kingdom was ranked 47th out of 70 countries rated，and is now on_par_with several Latin American countries.The report triggered widespread discussion in China：in an increasingly international nation，why is the peoples' level of English getting worse?
A decline in the English level of the Chinese people is no accident.With China's exam－based education system，worsening English is inevitable.English education in China is too focused on grammar and ignored oral practice.This results in students that are often too scared to speak，for fear of making a mistake.Exam－based courses make it so students merely learn for the test，not learn the language.
In Latin America，nations do not have a rigorous exam system for English，but focus on promoting the language itself.Such programs that promote English include Chile's“English Opens Doors Program”，Panama's“Panama Bilingual Education Program”．and Mexico's “10 Million People Plan”．Brazil，which also has a government program，is ranked first in the region for English.
The Chinese government should first think about how to reduce the amount of pressure on students taking exams in order to promote change in the current system of rote English education.This is the most important step.
Everyone has been recently focused on overseas returnees.The number of Chinese studying abroad has rapidly multiplied in past years.At the same time，the number of overseas returnees is increasing as well.The job market is also increasingly competitive for them and it is often more difficult for returnees to find a suitable job than it is for domestic graduates.
Difficulties and pressure in the job market for overseas returnees deters a number of Chinese from studying abroad.As a result，the number of Chinese with high－level English，carefully perfected abroad，has been reduced.This could be a major reason for why English is getting worse overall in China.
While China's overall level of English has declined，it has not affected China's huge emphasis on English education and training.China remains one of the nations that is most committed to the study of English.
2015年英孚英语熟练度指标报告表明，中国在2015年的英语水平排名中下降了10名，与一些拉丁美洲国家的排名相当。这一现象在全国引起了广泛的讨论：在一个越来越国际化的国度，为什么人民的英语水平越来越差？帮助中国人提高英语水平的最重要的措施就是推动目前死记硬背的英语教育制度的改革，重视表达能力而降低对语法考试的过分关注。
1．What do the underlined phrase“on par with”most probably mean? A．Superior to. C．Parallel to.
B．Relative to. D．Equal to.
C [词义猜测题。根据第二段第一、二句及第四段第一句可知，中国在2015年英孚英语熟练度指标中的排名下降了10名。虽然一些拉丁美洲国家没有严格的英语考试制度，但是专注于语言自身的推广。由此可见，一些拉丁美洲国家的英语水平提升到的位置恰好与中国的英语水平下降到的位置相当。故选项C符合题意。on par with意为“与……水平或标准相同，与……平分秋色，与……势均力敌，与……不相上下”；be superior to意为“比……优越”；be relative to意为“与……有关”；be parallel to意为“与……类似，与……平行”；be equal to意为“与……相等；胜任”。]
2．What does the writer want to do with this article?
A．To advise the Chinese government to reform its exam－based education. B．To analyze the reasons why China's general English level is on the decline. C．To report the phenomenon that there is a decline in English level of Chinese people.
D．To compare the different ways of learning English between China and Latin America.
B [主旨大意题。综合全文内容可知，中国在2015年英孚英语熟练度指标中的排名下降了10名，这在全国引起了广泛的讨论，作者写作本文是为了分析为什么中国的英语水平越来越差，找出中国整体英语水平下降的原因。故选项B符合题意。]
3．What measure can help improve English level of Chinese people? A．Stopping testing English in the educational examination system. B．Reducing the amount of pressure on students studying English. C．Encouraging more students to study in Latin American countries. D．Focusing more on expressive abilities and less on grammatical exams. D [推理判断题。根据第三段第三、四、五句及第五段可知，中国英语水平下降的原因在于，中国的英语教育是应试教育，过度关注语法而忽视口语练习，学生常常太害怕犯错而不敢开口。因此，帮助中国人提高英语水平的最重要的措施就是推动目前死记硬背的英语教育制度的改革，重视表达能力降低对语法考试的过分关注。故选项D符合题意。]
【导学号：57732078】
B(科普知识)
(2016·黄冈模拟)
Robots are being used for the first time in hospitals.“Robot－nurses” perform a variety of tasks such as delivering medicine，food and laboratory samples to sickrooms and taking away waste.Patients aren't treated by robots，as this is still done by medical staff.The idea is to employ robots to transport supplies between departments.
“Nurses often have to break off from what they are doing to gather supplies，” says Peter Seiff，who makes the robots called TUGs.Research shows any interruption in medical work can lead to errors—a nurse may forget whether she has given medicine and may give a patient double the dose (剂量) or none at all.
The robots vary in size according to what job they perform，but normally take the shape of a metal box on wheels，with a box on the side containing their software.
After being programmed，the robots are able to find their way around a hospital unassisted.They also contain scanning technology to create electronic pictures or a
“memory” of routes on their hard drives to help them go through passages，doors and other obstacles.Each robot is also monitored at the producer's headquarters (总部) in case it runs into any difficulties.
Trials show TUGs reduce the time it takes for a patient to receive medicine，and stop drugs from going missing.A study at the University of Maryland Medical Centre in the U．S.found that when three TUGs were used over the course of a year，the average length of time from the drugstore receiving a prescription to the patient receiving it dropped from 74 minutes to 30 minutes and saved nurses 6，123 hours finding medicines.It also cut the number of medicines that went missing to zero.
“The biggest complaints we receive from patients is that the nurses don't spend enough time with them.Anything that frees nurses is boon，” says Katherine Mulligan，director of nursing at the hospital，“The TUGs allow nurses to spend more time focusing on patient care.Nurse satisfaction has improved.”
本文是一篇说明文。介绍了一种新型机器人——机器人护士，文中介绍了这种机器人的几种功能，并且实验证明它确实起到了很大的作用。
4．Why do the patients complain before? A. the nurses often make errors.
B．the robots may interrupt the treatment. C．the nurse often give a patient double the dose. D．the nurses don't spend enough time with patients.
D [细节理解题。根据最后一段“‘The biggest complaints we receive from patients is that the nurses don't spend enough time with them.’”可知D项正确。]
5．Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage? A. Robots can do many tasks. B．All robots have the same size.
C．Robots are unable to find their way by themselves. D．Robots cannot get help if they run into difficulties.
A [细节理解题。根据第一段“‘Robot－nurses’perform a variety of tasks such as delivering medicine，food and laboratory samples to sickrooms and taking away waste.”可知机器人可完成很多任务。]
6．What is the main idea of Paragraph 5?
A. Experiments show “Robot－nurses” perform well. B．“Robot－nurses” can save time.
C．“Robot－nurses” can cut the number of medicine. D．“Robot－nurses” vary in size.
A [段落大意题。第五段用一些实验证明机器人护士能够节省时间，防止药物用尽等等，所以总结概括为实验表明机器人护士表现很好，B，C选项不全面，D项第五段没有提及。]
7．What is the attitude of the author to robot－nurses? A．Disappointed. C．Negative.
B．Positive. D．Disapproval.
B [推理判断题。根据全文内容可知作者提到了机器人护士的若干益处，另外通过文章最后可知患者常常抱怨护士没时间照顾病人，所以任何能够解放护士的事都应是好事，是有益的，而机器人护士恰恰把护士解放了出来，因此可知作者对它的态度应是积极肯定的。]
Ⅱ.任务型阅读——说明文 (2016·镇江第一学期期末考试)
A selfie stick is a monopod(单脚架)used to take selfie photographs by positioning a smartphone or camera beyond the normal range of the arm.The metal sticks are typically extendable，with a handle on one end and an adjustable clamp(夹子)on the other end to hold a phone in place.Some have remote or Bluetooth controls，letting the user decide when to take the picture，and models designed for cameras have a mirror behind the viewscreen so that the shot can be lined up.In contrast to a monopod for stabilizing a camera on the ground，a selfie stick's arm is thickest and strongest at the opposite end from the camera in order to provide better grip(控制)and balance when held high up in the air.
Homemade selfie sticks could date back as early as 1925.A photo from that year shows a man taking a photograph of himself and his wife，with the aid of a long pole which is pointed towards the camera and out of frame.Amateur box cameras of the period would not have been able to capture a self－portrait in focus when held at arm's length，requiring photographers to use remote shutter(快门)devices such as
cables or sticks.
The 1983“Minolta Disc－7”camera had a convex mirror on its front to allow the composition of self－portraits，and its packaging showed the camera mounted on a stick while used for such a purpose.A“telescopic extender”for compact handheld cameras was patented in U．S.in 1983.Canadian inventor Wayne Fromm patented his Quik Pod in 2005，and it became commercially available in the United States the following year.Despite positive reviews for the Quik Pod over the next few years in mainstream press，the term“selfie stick”itself did not become widely used until 2014.
People attach their cell phone or camera to the end of the selfie stick，raise it in front of themselves and then make a sound or press a shutter button on the stick handle which is connected to the camera(usually using a port such as a headphone jack)，or press a button on a wireless remote(often via Bluetooth)，or use the camera's built－in timer to take a photo after a number of seconds have passed.The first two methods usually adapt the device's physical means of pressing the camera shutter such as the volume controls or the dedicated camera button of the device，which are replicated(复制)on headphones with on－cord controls，and are seen by the device as headphone devices.
The device gives more practical use in situations that require assistance for difficult photographs.It allows the user to take photographs in otherwise dangerous situations such as taking a photo over a cliff or from the door of an airplane.The device is sometimes used to take selfies that involve the photographer inside a moving vehicle.
Bans and restrictions on the use of selfie sticks have been imposed across a range of public venues(场所)generally on the grounds of safety and inconvenience to others.
Several concert venues in Australia and the United Kingdom have banned the use of selfie sticks，along with some music festivals in the United States.Organisers have cited their role in the“illegal recording”of bands' sets，and the inconvenience and safety issues to fellow audience members.The sticks have been banned in some museums，galleries and historical sites because of concerns about possible damage to artworks and other objects.
Theme parks including Walt Disney World Resort and Six Flags have banned selfie sticks.The sticks have always been banned on rides at Disney World for safety
reasons，but after a number of instances where rides had to be stopped because of a guest pulling out a selfie stick in mid－ride，such as incidents on California Screamin' and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad，Disney issued a park－wide ban on the accessorie(配件)．
本文主要介绍了自拍杆的定义、历史、用途以及对自拍杆的限制和禁止等方面的信息。
1．longer/extended/extendable [根据文章第一段的The metal sticks are typically extendable，with a handle on one end and an adjustable clamp(夹子)on the other end to hold a phone in place.可知，自拍杆是金属材质的并且可以延长。由The metal sticks are typically extendable可知longer/extended/extendable符合题意。]
2．stable/steady/stabilized/stabilised/balanced [根据文章第一段的In contrast to a monopod for stabilizing a camera on the ground，a selfie stick's arm is thickest and strongest at the opposite end from the camera in order to provide better grip(控制) and balance when held high up in the air.可知，单脚架是为了使照相机在地面上保持稳定。根据a monopod for stabilizing a camera可知stable/steady/stabilized/stabilised/balanced符合题意。]
3．make [根据文章第二段的Amateur box cameras of the period would not have been able to capture a self－portrait in focus when held at arm's length，requiring photographers to use remote shutter(快门)devices such as cables or sticks.可知，业余的盒式照相机要求摄影师使用遥控快门装置。由requiring photographers to use remote shutter devices可知make符合题意。make use of为固定短语，意为“利用，使用”。]
4．patent [根据文章第三段的A“telescopic extender” for compact handheld cameras was patented in U．S.in 1983.可知，1983年，手持式袖珍相机的伸缩式扩
展器在美国被授予专利。由was patented可知patent正确。]
5．fashion/style/popularity [根据文章第三段的Despite positive reviews for the Quik Pod over the next few years in mainstream press，the term“selfie stick”itself did not become widely used until 2014.可知，尽管在随后几年“快捷豆荚”得到了主流媒体的积极评价，但是“自拍杆”这个专业术语直到2014年才被广泛使用。根据did not become widely used until 2014可知fashion/style/popularity符合题意。in fashion/style/popularity为固定短语，意为“流行的，时髦的，受欢迎的”。]
6．remote [根据文章第四段的People attach their cell phone or camera to the end of the selfie stick，raise it in front of themselves and then make a sound or press a shutter button on the stick handle which is connected to the camera(usually using a port such as a headphone jack)，or press a button on a wireless remote(often via Bluetooth)，or use the camera's built－in timer to take a photo after a number of seconds have passed.可知，拍照时，人们可以按自拍杆手柄上的快门按钮，按无线遥控器上的按钮或者使用照相机的内置定时器。根据or press a button on a wireless remote可知remote符合题意。remote control为固定短语，意为“遥控器，遥控装置”。]
7．keep [根据文章第五段的The device gives more practical use in situations that require assistance for difficult photographs.It allows the user to take photographs in otherwise dangerous situations such as taking a photo over a cliff or from the door of an airplane.可知，当拍摄难拍的照片时，人们可以使用自拍杆来让自己远离危险。根据It allows the user to take photographs in otherwise dangerous situations可知keep符合题意。keep sb.away from为固定短语，意为“使某人远离，不靠近”。]
8．Considering/Given [根据文章第六段的Bans and restrictions on the use of selfie sticks have been imposed across a range of public venues(场所)generally on the grounds of safety and inconvenience to others.可知，由于安全问题以及对他人造成不便，许多公共场所限制自拍杆的使用。根据on the grounds of safety and inconvenience to others可知Considering/Given符合题意。on the grounds of意为“以……为理由，根据”。]
9．range/variety [根据文章第七段的The sticks have been banned in some museums，galleries and historical sites because of concerns about possible damage to
artworks and other objects.可知，由于担忧对艺术品以及其他物品可能造成破坏，自拍杆禁止在一些博物馆、画廊以及历史遗址等各种各样的场所使用。根据in some museums，galleries and historical sites可知range/variety符合题意。a wide range/variety of为固定短语，意为“各种各样的”。]
10．instances/incidents/accidents/cases [根据文章最后一段的The sticks have always been banned on rides at Disney World for safety reasons，but after a number of instances where rides had to be stopped because of a guest pulling out a selfie stick in mid－ride可知，在有人坐过山车时取出自拍杆拍照导致过山车暂停运作的大量意外发生之后，迪士尼乐园全面禁止使用自拍杆。由after a number of instances可知instances/incidents/accidents/cases正确。]
【导学号：57732079】
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