焦点04 阅读理解之说明文
备战2024年中考英语复习之优秀生拔高特训
A
Microplastics (微塑料) are in our soil, our water, our air, getting into our bodies and causing health problems. Plastics are everywhere, and they’re not going away. Now, that may be changing.
A new environmentally-friendly shopping model was created. For example, in this model, you are able to buy ice cream in a reusable container (容器). When you’re done eating the ice cream, you’ll throw the container in your personal reuse bin. The containers are then picked up by a delivery service, cleaned and refilled, and shipped out to consumers again. In other words, it’s the 21st century milkman to save the world from single-use plastics. This shopping model is called Loop. Already, two large retailers (零售商) are Loop partners and more may join the project.
While recycling is very important, it is not going to solve waste at the root (根本的) cause. “Our company collects the ocean plastics and puts them into products making,” says Tom Szaky, CEO of TerraCycle, a company that is known for recycling hard-to-recycle materials. “But every day, more and more gets put in the ocean, so no matter how much we clean the ocean, we’re never going to solve the problem. That’s really where Loop came out. To us, the root cause of waste is not plastic, it’s using things once, and that’s really what Loop tries to change as much as possible.”
For customers, the process is designed to be as easy as possible. “The goal isn’t as much to get you to change, it’s instead to create systems that don’t make you change—but have you then solve the problem in the process,” Szaky says. “Making customers change is difficult. So the first question we asked in developing the model was ‘Why did throwing rubbish win ’ I think it did because throwing rubbish is convenient and affordable.” If the solutions are not convenient, people will not accept them. Loop aims to be as convenient as throwing something in the bin. You don’t even need to wash the container, so it’s simpler than recycling.
Jennifer Morgan from the environmental non-profit organization Greenpeace said, “Greenpeace welcomes the aim of the Loop to move away from throwaway culture.” But Morgan questioned whether companies worldwide are ready to change their business models. Anyway, this is an effort to change the problem of plastics and hopefully this model will work.
1．The second paragraph is mainly about ________.
A．what customers should do to solve waste problem
B．what benefits the retailers can get from Loop
C．how the new shopping model Loop works
D．how the milkman picks up the containers
2．What can we learn from the passage
A．Loop is designed to be convenient for customers to accept.
B．Companies worldwide are using the shopping model Loop.
C．Ocean plastics can be cleaned up by the shopping model Loop.
D．Customers have to clean the containers under the new model Loop.
3．What is the best title of the passage
A．Making Plastics into Products B．Recycling: A Falling Industry
C．From Throwing Away to Reusing D．Plastics: Hard-to-recycle Materials
【答案】1．C 2．A 3．C
【导语】本文是一篇说明文。文章主要介绍了为解决一次性塑料问题，出现的环保购物新模式——Loop。
1．主旨大意题。根据第二段整段可知，第二段介绍了一种新的环保购物模式——Loop，并举例说明新的购物模式Loop是如何运作的。故选C。
2．细节理解题。根据“For customers, the process is designed to be as easy as possible”可知，对于客户来说，流程设计得尽可能简单，所以Loop的设计便于客户接受。故选A。
3．标题归纳题。根据全文可知，文章主要介绍了为解决一次性塑料问题，出现的环保购物新模式——Loop，在这个模式中，用可重复使用的容器来代替一次性包装物，来购买物品，即文章的标题可为“从丢弃到再利用”。故选C。
B
Niejiazhuang Village in Weifang is known for colored clay sculpture handicraft (泥塑手工艺), which dates back to (追溯到) the Ming Dynasty. The Weifang government has encouraged local people to learn this kind of traditional handicraft and make more money to get rid of poverty (脱贫).
Wang Jie is a young villager in Niejiazhuang. He is crazy about clay sculpture handicraft. He began to learn it from his father when he was a child. Now, he has taught lots of young craftsmen (手艺人) to make colored clay sculptures. And the handicraft has become an important way for local people to get richer than before.
The dragon is a typical subject for colored clay sculptures. Wang started to learn to make clay dragons in 2012, the year of the Dragon. Over these years, he has seen the development of this art form. At first, the clay dragons were all of the same size. Till 2024, there are different sizes of dragons. They are very popular.
Wang cares for the future of clay sculpture handicraft. He often encourages young craftsmen to create more works. He hopes that the sculpture handicraft can be passed down to the next generation.
4．The Weifang government has encouraged local people to ________ to get rid of poverty according to the passage.
①learn colored clay sculpture handicraft ②plant trees
③buy many colored clay sculptures ④make more money
A．①④ B．②③
C．①② D．③④
5．Which paragraph tells us Wang Jie’s personal information
A．Paragraph 1. B．Paragraph 4.
C．Paragraph 2. D．Paragraph 3.
6．Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage
A．Niejiazhuang Village in Weifang was built during the Yuan Dynasty.
B．Wang Jie learnt about clay sculpture handicraft from his father when he was a child.
C．Wang Jie started to learn to make clay dragons in the year of the Dragon.
D．Wang Jie often encourages young craftsmen to create more works.
【答案】4．A 5．C 6．A
【导语】本文是一篇说明文。主要介绍了潍坊的聂家庄村的彩色泥塑工艺品。
4．细节理解题。根据第一段中“The Weifang government has encouraged local people to learn this kind of traditional handicraft and make more money to get rid of poverty (脱贫).”可知，潍坊政府鼓励当地人学习这种传统手工艺，多赚钱摆脱贫困。故选A。
5．主旨大意题。根据第二段内容“Wang Jie is a young villager in Niejiazhuang. He is crazy about clay sculpture handicraft. He began to learn it from his father when he was a child. Now, he has taught lots of young craftsmen (手艺人) to make colored clay sculptures. And the handicraft has become an important way for local people to get richer than before.”可知，王杰是聂家庄的一名年轻村民。他酷爱泥塑工艺品。他小时候就开始向父亲学习。现在，他已经教了许多年轻的手艺人来制作彩色泥塑。由此可知，第二段主要是告诉我们王杰的个人信息。故选C。
6．细节理解题。根据第一段中“Niejiazhuang Village in Weifang is known for colored clay sculpture handicraft (泥塑手工艺), which dates back to (追溯到) the Ming Dynasty.”可知，潍坊的聂家庄村以彩色泥塑工艺品而闻名，其历史可以追溯到明朝，所以A选项“潍坊的聂家庄村建于元代。”的表述与文章内容不符。故选A。
C
What will the world of tomorrow look like Many people believe that technology is going to help solve some of the most difficult problems we have on the Earth today. New technology may solve old problems, but it may also create new ones, as these three examples.
When we dream about the future, many of us think that we will be able to fly to the skies in our own personal flying car. We could fly at 480 km per hour, avoiding traffic lights and busy roads. However, if the cars become popular, there will be problems with traffic control.
3D printing is another new technology for the future. 3D printers are already used to make life-size models of car parts, and man-made body parts, such as ears. As we move into the future, 3D printing will change the way we make things and the way we treat sick people. The disadvantage is that such a machine is very expensive.
Finally, people are trying to build a robot suit. This is an electronic suit. It allows people to lift heavy objects and walk a long way. It might help people walk again after an illness or an accident. However, one disadvantage at the moment is the cost.
Looking ahead, it is easy to imagine a future. We can certainly dream of a world. In this world, technology makes people’s life easier and safer. It can solve some of the most difficult problems we have today.
7．What may new technology create while solving old problems
A．New traffic. B．New suits. C．New problems. D．New shoes.
8．What will happen if most of us have our own personal flying cars
A．We will be able to fly to the moon.
B．We will have traffic lights and busy roads.
C．We could drive at 480 km per hour on the roads.
D．We will have problems with traffic control.
9．What’s the best title for the passage
A．New Technology Today B．Looking Ahead of the Future
C．3D Printing and Robot Suit D．How to Solve Old Problems
【答案】7．C 8．D 9．A
【导语】本文介绍了面向未来世界的一些新技术以及这些技术的优缺点。
7．细节理解题。根据“ New technology may solve old problems, but it may also create new ones”可知，新技术在解决老问题的同时也可能产生新问题，故选C。
8．细节理解题。根据“However, if the cars become popular, there will be problems with traffic control.”可知，如果我们大多数人都拥有自己的私人飞行汽车，交通管制会有问题。故选D。
9．最佳标题题。根据“What will the world of tomorrow look like Many people believe that technology is going to help solve some of the most difficult problems we have on the Earth today...”以及“...In this world, technology makes people’s life easier and safer. It can solve some of the most difficult problems we have today.”可知，文章主要是介绍面向未来世界的一些新技术的情况，故选A。
D
Zhangzhou hand puppetry (木偶 戏) has a history of over 1,000 years. Hand puppet shows require performers to have direct control of their hands. In 2006, Zhangzhou hand puppetry was listed as a national-level intangible cultural heritage.
Zhuang Yanhong is an inheritor (传承人) of Zhangzhou hand puppetry. She was born into a “hand puppetry family”. She studied in a professional art school and was able to perform with masters across the country at 16.
Hand puppet shows became less popular with the rise of TV dramas. To save the old art and make it alive again, inheritors have been doing what they can. “The puppetry has become much more realistic after flexible (灵活的) arms and legs with joint were invented. It has also borrowed from other show forms like Peking Opera, modem TV dramas and cartoons,” Zhuang said. ▲ .
“There is no limit to hand puppetry because it often requires much imagination and creativity in nature. I’m looking forward to more of its new, creative forms.”
OTHER WELL-KNOWN PUPPET TYPES IN THE WORLD
Shadow puppets move against a screen through which light can show their shadows. They have moveable arms and legs. Shadow puppet shows can still be found in China and India.
Rod puppets are 3D figures controlled by pieces of wood or bamboo on different parts of their bodies. Java has probably one of the most famous rod puppets in the world.
String puppets are 3D figures controlled by strings. They have strings connected to their arms, legs... All the parts are connected to a wooden cross. Different types of string puppets are found all over the world.
10．What can most possibly be the writer’s purpose
A．To tell the story of an inheritor.
B．To introduce an art form
C．Тo explain differences among puppets
D．To save an endangered art form
11．Which of the following would be the most suitable for ▲
A．She believes the art has a bright future.
B．She realizes it’s hard to improve the situation.
C．She requires more people to give her a helping hand.
D．She never doubts the art is worth putting all her effort into.
12．What can we infer from the article
A．There will be fewer hand puppetry performers.
B．Zhuang was influenced by her friends and relatives.
C． Foreigners don’t love puppetry as much as Chinese do.
D． Hand puppetry was less popular because of new entertainments.
【答案】10．B 11．A 12．D
【导语】本文介绍了国家级非物质文化遗产——漳州的木偶戏。
10．主旨大意题。根据“Zhangzhou hand puppetry (木偶 戏) has a history of over 1,000 years...In 2006, Zhangzhou hand puppetry was listed as a national-level intangible cultural heritage.”以及整个文章的理解可知，文章主要是介绍木偶戏这一门艺术，故选B。
11．推理判断题。根据“Hand puppet shows became less popular with the rise of TV dramas. To save the old art and make it alive again, inheritors have been doing what they can...Zhuang said.”可知，这门艺术在借鉴其他表演形式中不断的发展，庄认为它的前途应该是光明的，故选A。
12．推理判断题。根据“Hand puppet shows became less popular with the rise of TV dramas.”可知，由于有了新的娱乐方式，木偶戏不那么受欢迎了，故选D。
E
Laughter is a social emotion, so we’re 30 times more likely to laugh if there is somebody else with us than if we’re on our own.
We laugh to show that we agree with what someone says; that we remember the same thing that we’re talking about. People will also use laughter to try and mask other emotions. People will laugh to try and pretend they’re not upset, or embarrassed or in pain. People will use laughter to get other people to do things. If you get someone laughing, they will tell you more about themselves.
Laughter can sometimes feel contagious (有感染力的). You can probably think of occasions when you’ve been watching television or listening to the radio, maybe it’s been broadcast live, and the presenter or presenters start to get the giggles (咯咯的笑). If you chuckle, the contagion is working. And it’s called behaviourally contagious phenomena (现象), which are things you can catch from somebody else just because they’re doing them. You might have noticed this happens with yawning, it happens a lot with laughter.
As you know, there are lots of health benefits from laughing. You are more relaxed when you laugh. So as soon as you start laughing, you get a reduction in adrenaline (肾上腺素). You also get an increased uptake of the body’s naturally circulating endorphin (内啡肽). Now, that is because you do quite a lot of exercise at your ribcage (胸腔) when you laugh. It’s exactly the same as a runner’s high or the good feeling you get after exercising. And interestingly, that’s true of laughter even if you’ve completely pretended to laugh.
Unluckily, laughter can also have a darker side. When we laugh ha-ha-ha, breathing out, we do squeezes with ribcage. These big squeezes, particularly if you’re laughing really hard, are quite stressful for your heart and your lungs and that can mean if you have some sort of problem with your heart or your lungs or your blood vessels, you can put them under more strain. And throughout history, there are examples of people who have died of laughing.
So if you want to get your endorphin going, you can start by laughing out loud.
13．You laugh to ________ while your friend states his team beat your favourite one excitedly.
A．feel much comfortable B．ask for more information
C．pretend you’re not upset D．show your congratulations
14．The second paragraph is mainly about ________.
A．why humans laugh B．what laughter means
C．when humans need to laugh D．how laughter affects one’s emotion
15．What do we know from the passage
A．Real laughing influences one’s health much more.
B．You’re likely to keep calm while a TV presenter is laughing.
C．Laughing hard is possibly harmful to patients with heart illness.
D．You're hardly able to get the same feeling from laughing as exercising.
【答案】13．C 14．A 15．C
【导语】本文是一篇说明文，主要讲述了大笑的好处和坏处。
13．推理判断题。根据第二段中“People will laugh to try and pretend they’re not upset, or embarrassed or in pain.”可知，人们会笑着假装他们不难过，不尴尬，不痛苦。由此可推测出，当你的朋友兴奋地说他的球队击败了你最喜欢的球队时，你笑着假装自己并不沮丧。故选C。
14．主旨大意题。根据第二段内容“We laugh to show that we agree with what someone says; that we remember the same thing that we’re talking about. People will also use laughter to try and mask other emotions. People will laugh to try and pretend they’re not upset, or embarrassed or in pain. People will use laughter to get other people to do things. If you get someone laughing, they will tell you more about themselves.”可知，本段主要讲述了为什么人们会大笑。故选A。
15．细节理解题。根据倒数第二段中“These big squeezes, particularly if you’re laughing really hard, are quite stressful for your heart and your lungs and that can mean if you have some sort of problem with your heart or your lungs or your blood vessels, you can put them under more strain.”可知，大笑可能对心脏病患者有害。故选C。
F
In a culture that focuses so strongly on success, it’s easy to feel like a failure. But according to the organizational psychologist Adam Grant, that might be because we’re thinking about achievements all wrong.
Many people think that achievements are tied closely to innate (天生的) ability, so they give up on activities they find challenging. That’s a mistake. Dr. Grant writes in his new book, Hidden Potential(潜能): The Science of Achieving Greater Things. The following are the three key points from his book that could help you unlock your own hidden potential.
Accept discomfort. Dr. Grant argues that success is more about gradual (逐渐的) growth than achieving immediate victories. And one of the most effective methods for skill development is to challenge oneself. “The discomfort we feel offers a chance for new learning,” Dr. Grant explained in an interview and he also stressed the importance of welcoming such moments. According to him, stepping outside our comfort zones (区域) may actually encourage greater growth. He also suggests accepting mistakes as a natural part of the learning process. Besides, he stresses that making mistakes is necessary for progress. Without enough efforts and mistakes, development becomes challenging.
Keep things interesting. Dr. Grant warns us about burnout, which happens when we work too much. But he also talks about “bore out”, which is feeling tired from not having enough to do. He suggests adding fun activities and new things to learn to our daily life. In his book, he says basketball player Stephen Curry got rapid improvement after college because of a coach who focused on different activities and games in his training periods, rather than repetitive (重复的) practice. Dr. Grant mentions that trying out different skills helps people improve faster. If you’re stuck, he advises taking a break and doing something enjoyable. This can improve your confidence and skills, helping you make progress.
Ask for advice and give it, too. Dr. Grant points to Harvard Business School research that found it’s more helpful to ask for advice, which focuses on what you can do better in the future. Furthermore, advice has positive effect, changing your mindset to what you can do right. We often perform better after we give other people advice, too, in what Dr.Grant refers to as the “coach effect”. That’s because we are more likely to focus on advice that we have already given to others, he says. One study he mentions discovered that high school students who were chosen by chance to offer encouragement to younger students went on to get better grades.
16．Dr. Grant would suggest ________ to unlock your own hidden potential.
A．accepting mistakes B．having repetitive practice
C．shortening learning process D．achieving immediate victories
17．Why does Dr. Grant mention the Harvard Business School research in Paragraph 5
A．To point out the importance of asking for advice among students.
B．To show the connection between coach effect and encouragement.
C．To present examples of high school students’ educational achievements.
D．To stress the benefits of giving and receiving advice on better performance.
18．What is the passage mainly about
A．The effects of keeping things interesting.
B．The reasons of keeping things interesting.
C．The ways to unlock your own hidden potential.
D．The difficulties in unlocking your own hidden potential.
【答案】16．A 17．A 18．C
【导语】本文介绍的是释放你隐藏潜力的方法。
16．细节理解题。根据第三段“Accept discomfort.”及“He also suggests accepting mistakes as a natural part of the learning process. Besides, he stresses that making mistakes is necessary for progress.”可知，格兰特博士建议接受错误来释放你隐藏的潜力。故选A。
17．细节理解题。根据最后一段“Ask for advice and give it, too. Dr. Grant points to Harvard Business School research that found it’s more helpful to ask for advice, which focuses on what you can do better in the future.”可知，是为了指出向学生征求意见的重要性。故选A。
18．主旨大意题。根据第二段“The following are the three key points from his book that could help you unlock your own hidden potential.”可知，文章说的是释放你自己隐藏潜力的方法。故选C。
G
Some of us like to keep some things private—maybe we don’t want people to know about our relationship status (状况), our age or where we live—because these details are personal. The problem is, everywhere we go online, we seem to leave a “digital footprint”.
On our social media accounts (账户), we often show things like our opinions, connections and holiday photos. The matter is, how do we stop everybody seeing everything Maybe we don’t want a stranger knowing our favourite type of coffee. And cookies—there was a time they were just something nice to eat. Now they seem to appear on websites. So how can you stay more private
There are some steps you can take. First, on your social media accounts, check your privacy settings. Many social media platforms automatically (自动地) show everything to everyone unless you change the settings, so it’s up to you to decide what other people can see. And limiting how much information you share isn’t just something you should do on social media. There are many sites out there that help you to share documents, so a good tip may be to not put anything too private, like passwords, on there. One wrong click (点击) may send it to the wrong person.
Finally, cookies are designed to improve your browsing (浏览) experience by tracking (追踪) and saving information about your visits to a site, helping to personalize your time on these sites. Erasing your browsing history may help, but there are certain apps which can block them if you don’t feel comfortable.
So, if you want to keep your privacy online, maybe only share things you’d be happy with a stranger seeing—and if you don’t feel comfortable with cookies, you might decide to use some tech to block them. If that’s not enough, just don’t accept them and visit another site—and why not have a yummy cookie to eat instead
19．According to the passage, which of the following is NOT a “digital footprint”
A．A paper book. B．A holiday photo. C．A personal opinion. D．A home address.
20．What can we learn from the passage
A．Visitors can help you to share documents online.
B．Cookies can track users’ behavior on the sites.
C．It’s impossible to stop everybody seeing everything.
D．Some tech can stop strangers erasing your footprints.
21．What is the writer’s main purpose in writing this passage
A．To explain the importance of online privacy.
B．To tell people how to protect privacy online.
C．To warn people against the social media.
D．To encourage people to share ideas online.
【答案】19．A 20．B 21．B
【导语】本文是一篇说明文。文章主要介绍了一些在网络社会保护隐私的具体做法。
19．推理判断题。根据第一段“The problem is, everywhere we go online, we seem to leave a ‘digital footprint’.”可知上网才会留下数字足迹，一本纸质书并不是在网络上留下的痕迹，与“数字足迹”无关。故选A。
20．推理判断题。根据第四段“cookies are designed to improve your browsing experience by tracking and saving information about your visits to a site.”可知，cookies被设计用来通过追踪和保存你访问某个站点的信息来改善你的浏览体验，与B项“Cookies可以跟踪用户在网站上的行为”一致。故选B。
21．主旨大意题。全文详细介绍了如何在社交媒体上检查隐私设置、避免在共享文档时泄露私人信息，以及如何使用技术来阻止cookies追踪，这些都是为了保护在线隐私的建议，与B项“告诉人们如何在网上保护隐私”表述一致。故选B。
H
What do table football, a Barbie’s house and a toy car all have in common They are all much smaller than real things. Humans have long been interested in miniature (微小) things. The fashion, marketing, and the design industry all use miniature one way or another, and the public seems to love it. This is the effect of cuteness psychology (心理).
The psychology of cuteness is the idea that seeing something small and cute encourages connecting behaviors and the need to take care of it and protect it. However, our attraction to small objects isn’t fully a result of a strong hope to act as a parent. More recent research has shown that our feeling to cuteness isn’t necessarily related to some kind of inborn need to be taken care of, but rather more of a general, positive feeling that can influence how we socially interact with other people.
Seeing tiny things, humans or animals gives off dopamine (多巴胺), which is involved with forming emotional connections. When the body gives off dopamine, it makes us feel in love with the object we are attracted to. “The human brain is designed to love cute, small things by awarding us with dopamine to make sure we will love our tiny babies. This protects their survival and, in turn, the survival of we humans,” says Sam Von Reiche, a psychologist in New Jersey.
Meanwhile, small things bring back the comfort of childhood. In times of stress, we return to things that gave us comfort at an early age. It doesn’t need to be the exact toy we played with as a child, or even a toy at all. It could be a miniature model of a thing. We connect tiny objects with the safety and comfort they brought us in an earlier time in our lives.
Some people may be interested in miniatures because they don’t have the money to get real-life ones. While we might not be able to own an expensive race car, a miniature copy can offer unbelievable emotional awards. Certain tiny objects from one’s travels, for example, a tiny Eiffel Tower can bring a sense of connection to important life stories and the people who have shared our journey.
Depending on one’s needs, a miniature object can bring a sense of pleasure, satisfaction, and even emotional comfort.
22．What can we learn from the passage
A．The fashion leads to the cuteness psychology.
B．People prefer real objects when they grow up.
C．Our attraction to tiny things brings positive feelings.
D．Expensive race cars bring back the comfort of childhood.
23．According to Sam Von Reiche, ________.
A．dopamine can save humans in a natural way
B．cuteness preference helps with human survival
C．the human brain is designed to love real-life things
D．dopamine can mislead human emotion to feel in love
24．Which of the following would be the best title for the passage
A．Why are we really into small things
B．What do all small things have in common
C．Where does cuteness psychology come from
D．Why are our brains designed to love miniatures
【答案】22．C 23．B 24．A
【导语】本文主要介绍了人们为什么喜欢微缩物体的原因。
22．推理判断题。根据最后一段中“Depending on one’s needs, a miniature object can bring a sense of pleasure, satisfaction, and even emotional comfort.”可知，微缩物体可以给人带来积极的感觉。故选C。
23．细节理解题。根据第三段中“This protects their survival and, in turn, the survival of we humans”可知，喜欢可爱物体帮助人类生存。故选B。
24．最佳标题。根据第二段中“The psychology of cuteness is the idea that seeing something small and cute encourages connecting behaviors and the need to take care of it and protect it.”以及通读全文可知，本文主要介绍了人们为什么喜欢微缩物体的原因，选项A“为什么我们真的喜欢小物品？”为最佳标题。故选A。
I
Do you love sunflowers This text will walk you through how to plant your sunflower seeds (种子) and care for them. Start it with the best temperatures: 18～33℃.
Part 1 Germinating (使发芽) Sunflower Seeds1. Choose one kind you like. 2. Put the seeds in a plastic bag. Cover the seeds with wet paper towels (纸巾). Put them in plastic bags. Once the seeds germinate, plant them. Part 2 ▲ 1. Choose a sunny place. Sunflowers grow best with six to eight hours of sunlight a day. 2. Plant the seeds in holes. Plant seeds 2.5 cm deep and 15 cm apart. Cover the seeds with soil (土壤) after planting. Part 3 Caring for Sunflower Plants 1. Water plants weekly. Water plants once a week. 2. Fertilize (施肥) a little or not at all. If you are growing sunflowers for fun, there is no need to fertilize. 3. Harvest (收获) the seeds. Sunflowers usually take 2.5 months to 4 months to mature (成熟) and new seeds can be harvested later.
Tips: Protect the young plants from pests (害虫). Cover the ground with nets. Support plants over 90 cm with sticks.
25．Which of the following can be put in ________
A．Planting Sunflower Seeds B．Choosing Sunflower Seeds
C．Watering Sunflower Plants D．Checking the Temperature
26．When will you get new seeds if you plant sunflower seeds in April
A．January. B．May. C．July. D．November.
27．Where is the text probably taken from
A．A notice board. B．A travel guide.
C．A planting diary. D．A gardening magazine.
【答案】25．A 26．C 27．D
【导语】本文是一篇说明文，介绍了种植向日葵种子和照料它们的方法。
25．词句猜测题。根据原文“1. Choose a sunny place … 2. Plant the seeds in holes”可知，第二部分说的是种下向日葵种子。故选A。
26．推理判断题。根据原文“Sunflowers usually take 2.5 months to 4 months to mature (成熟) and new seeds can be harvested later”可知，种下向日葵种子后2.5个月和4个月内可以获得新种子。四月份种下向日葵种子，大约七月份可以收获新种子。故选C。
27．推理判断题。通读全文可知，本文是一篇说明文，介绍了种植向日葵种子和照料它们的方法。由此可推断本文出自一本园艺杂志。故选D。
J
People knock on iron pots and bowls to cheer for players. Villagers perform folk songs and dances in the halftime show. Prizes for the winning team are bags of rice, fish, and ducks .... This year, the “Village Basketball Association (Village BA)” at Taipan village in Guizhou has greatly caught people's attention.
The final game of the Guizhou country basketball league, known as “village BA”, took place on March 27 and Team Qiandongnan won the Championship Cup. Most of the players were farmers from local villages and nearby cities.
Besides the exciting matches on the court, the most eye-catching spaces in Taipan were courtside. More than 30,000 people from across the country poured into the tiny village, which has a population of about 1,200. A single spot was hard to get.
“Many people even wear adult diapers (纸尿裤) so they can sit for hours in the stands. Ladders were also sold out that day,” Wu Xiaolong, a 31-year-old local man, told Teens.
Since 2016, the local government has worked hard to build new standard basketball courts to support basketball development.
Zeng Jinlong, a 17-year-old villager, has been watching the games since he was 6 years old. Over the years, “the courts have become standard as backboards (篮板) have turned from wood into glass and the floor material from cement (水泥) to rubber, “ he told Teens.
Taipan has now become a model place of rural vitalization (乡村振兴) driven by sports and tourism. In the summer of 2022, around 500,000 visitors came to the village to watch the preliminary rounds (预赛) of the “Village BA”, which brought tourism revenue (收入) of more than 40 million yuan, reported Xinhua.
The event has also encouraged more people to take part in sports. Now as a point guard in the local youth basketball team, Zeng said he dreams of taking part in the “Village BA” final himself one day.
28．Which of the following information about the “Village BA” is NOT mentioned in the passage
A．The performances. B．The players.
C．The prizes. D．The rules.
29．What is the meaning of the underlined word “spot” in Paragraph 3
A．place B．point C．touch D．position
30．Which of the following sentences is TRUE according to the passage
A．The “Village BA” has a history of less than 10 years.
B．The prizes are the same as those of other matches.
C．The sports and tourism are good for rural vitalization.
D．The event has encouraged only young people to take part in sports.
【答案】28．D 29．A 30．C
【导语】本文是一篇说明文，主要介绍了贵州台盘村的“村庄篮球协会”的比赛情况。
28．细节理解题。根据“Villagers perform folk songs and dances in the halftime show. Prizes for the winning team are bags of rice, fish, and ducks.”、“Most of the players were farmers from local villages and nearby cities.”可知，本文提及了“村庄篮球协会”的表演、奖品以及运动员，没有提及规则。故选D。
29．词义猜测题。根据“Many people even wear adult diapers so they can sit for hours in the stands.”可知，许多人甚至穿纸尿裤，这样他们就可以在看台上坐上几个小时，由此可推测，划线处spot意思为“位置，地方”，相当于place。故选A。
30．细节理解题。根据“Taipan has now become a model place of rural vitalization driven by sports and tourism.”可知体育和旅游有利于乡村振兴。故选C。
K
Green Energy for Today and Tomorrow
Did you know that most of the energy we use comes from the sun For example, the sun helps plants to grow. Plants that grew millions of years ago turned into coal, oil, and natural gas (天然气). We call these fossil fuels (化石燃料).
However, fossil fuels make pollution. This is bad for the Earth. Fossil fuels are also nonrenewable (不可再生的). Some day they will be gone. So, scientists want people to use green energy. Why is green energy important First, it is clean. It doesn’t hurt the Earth. Next, it is renewable. It won’t run out. Green energy gives us almost 25% of the electricity we use today.
What are the main sources (来源) of green energy
1 Water Power Water power uses moving water in rivers and dams (堤坝). Moving water has energy. Water power makes 16.6% of the electricity we use.
2 Wind Power Is wind power new No, it isn’t. People used wind power many years ago. Wind power makes 4% of the electricity we use.
3 Solar Power Solar power comes from sunlight. The sun shines on solar panels (太阳能板), and electricity is made. Solar power is now as cheap as some fossil fuels. It makes 15% of the electricity we use.
4 Biomass (生物质能) Biomass is energy that we get from plants around us. For example, deadwood or grass is burned in power stations. This makes electricity. Biomass is green energy because we plant new trees or crops (庄稼) after we use it. Biomass makes 2% of the electricity we use.
5 New Green Energy Ocean rises and falls each day. This moving water can make electricity. We call it tide power. There is also heat under the Earth’s surface. Scientists can use this heat for energy, which is called heat power. We may find other sources of green energy in the future.
Some day, green energy could make 100% of the electricity we use. That’s good news for the Earth!
31．Why do scientists suggest using green energy
A．Because it is as cheap as fossil fuels.
B．Because it is clean and won’t be used up.
C．Because it is the main source of electricity now.
32．Where can we get biomass
A．From natural gas. B．From new trees. C．From dead plants.
33．How many kinds of green energy are mentioned in the passage
A．4. B．6. C．7.
【答案】31．B 32．C 33．B
【导语】本文主要介绍了过去和现在使用的能源，并详细说明了绿色能源。
31．细节理解题。根据“So, scientists want people to use green energy. Why is green energy important First, it is clean. It doesn’t hurt the Earth. Next, it is renewable. It won’t run out.”可知，绿色能源是很干净的，也是可再生的。故选B。
32．细节理解题。根据“Biomass is energy that we get from plants around us. For example, deadwood or grass is burned in power stations. This makes electricity. Biomass is green energy because we plant new trees or crops (庄稼) after we use it.”可知，可以从枯死植物中获得生物质能。故选C
33．细节理解题。根据“Water Power...Wind Power...Solar Power... Biomass...We call it tide power...which is called heat power.”可知，文中共介绍了6种绿色能源。故选B。
L
Baduanjin is one of the most popular Chinese qigong exercises. Do you know how to do it Preparation: Find a quiet place and play your favourite slow music. Stand upright, look forward and relax. When you feel peaceful, take a step to the left. Remember to breathe deeply through the exercise.
Step 1 Raise both arms with palms (手掌) facing up. Stretch (伸展) out completely as if you were holding up the sky. Hold your breath for two seconds before slowly returning to the starting position. Step 2 Bend (弯曲) your knees into the horse stance. Open your arms to the left as if you were shooting arrows (箭) from a bow. Slowly return to the starting position and repeat it on the right side.
Step 3 Stretch the left arm with the palm facing up while pressing the other arm down. Return to the starting position and do the same on the other side. Step 4 Slowly turn your head to the left and look back as far as possible. Then, repeat the exercise on the other side.
Step 5 Do the horse stance. Raise your hands and slowly lower them until your palms on your thighs (大腿). Lean your upper body forward. Shake your head from right to left. Repeat it on the other side. Step 6 Raise both hands before pressing them down to waist (腰) level. Bend from waist while moving your hands down the back of the legs until they touch your toes.
Step 7 Do the horse stance. Make fists next to the waist. Punch with the left fist before pulling it into the waist. Then, do the same with the right fist. Step 8 Raise up on your toes before landing slowly.
Steps 1,6, 8 should be repeated six times each, and the others three times each.
34．Which part of a magazine is the passage most probably taken from
A．Sports. B．History. C．Custom. D．Fashion.
35．Which of the following shows the correct order of Steps 1-4
A． B．
C． D．
36．What can you learn about baduanjin
A．It is the most popular exercise in China.
B．It includes 8 steps that should be repeated six times each.
C．It requires people to take deep breaths through the exercise.
D．It requires people to do every step on both left and right sides.
【答案】34．A 35．C 36．C
【导语】本文讲解了八段锦的八段动作要领。
34．推理判断题。根据“Baduanjin is one of the most popular Chinese qigong exercises.”可知，八段锦是一种气功锻炼。故选A。
35．推理判断题。根据“Raise both arms with palms (手掌) facing up.”、“Bend (弯曲) your knees into the horse stance.”、“Stretch the left arm with the palm facing up while pressing the other arm down.”和“Slowly turn your head to the left and look back as far as possible.”可知，八段锦的前四段分别为举起双臂，掌心向上；弯曲膝盖成马式；伸展左臂，手掌朝上，另一只手臂向下按压；慢慢地把头转向左边，尽量向后看。故选C。
36．细节理解题。根据“Remember to breathe deeply through the exercise.”可知，在整个锻炼过程中都需要深呼吸。故选C。
M
In some parts of the world, children don’t have enough food to eat or enough money to buy clothes or shoes. Every year at Sunshine Middle School, we do something to raise money for these children. This year we will have a Market Day.
The Market Day will fall on July 8. We’re going to make the student center at our school look just like a big shopping center! People can come at any time from 9:00 a. m. to 5:00 p. m. and buy everything from clothes to books, cakes and flowers.
Luckily for us, many volunteers will help prepare for the big event. Last year, Ms. Grant and Ms. Ali made some wonderful cakes for our charity event. They will do it again this year. Bull Thomas will visit Bookworm Bookshop and Mel’s Music Shop and ask them to give us things that we can sell at the event. Philip White will e-mail all the teachers and ask them to come to our event. Alice Brown will put a message online telling the public the event is open to everyone.
However, there’s more to do, and we need your help. We want you to give us things that we can sell—books, old clothes, anything that we can sell to raise money for poor children. We also need some student volunteers to sell the things we get on Market Day.
37．Why is the Market Day like a shopping center ________
A．To show more school things.
B．To celebrate this school festival.
C．To have people buy what they like.
D．To build a shopping center one day.
38．What does Paragraph 4 mainly talk about ________
A．Why the event is important.
B．How to become a volunteer.
C．What help the event still needs.
D．How to sell things on Market Day.
39．What the best title for the text ________
A．A school charity event
B．A great charity experience
C．An interesting Market Day
D．Volunteers needed
【答案】37．C 38．C 39．A
【导语】本文是一篇说明文，主要介绍了集市日慈善活动举行的目的以及该活动的实施情况。
37．细节理解题。根据“People can come at any time from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and buy everything from clothes to books, cakes and flowers.”可知集市日像一个购物中心，人们在这里可以买他们喜欢的东西。故选C。
38．主旨大意题。根据“...there’s more to do, and we need your help...We also need some student volunteers to sell the things we get on Market Day. ”可知本段主要介绍了一些仍需要帮助的地方。故选C。
39．最佳标题题。通读全文，可知本文主要介绍了阳光中学的募捐活动，选项A“学校慈善活动”符合主旨。故选A。焦点04 阅读理解之说明文
备战2024年中考英语复习之优秀生拔高特训
A
Microplastics (微塑料) are in our soil, our water, our air, getting into our bodies and causing health problems. Plastics are everywhere, and they’re not going away. Now, that may be changing.
A new environmentally-friendly shopping model was created. For example, in this model, you are able to buy ice cream in a reusable container (容器). When you’re done eating the ice cream, you’ll throw the container in your personal reuse bin. The containers are then picked up by a delivery service, cleaned and refilled, and shipped out to consumers again. In other words, it’s the 21st century milkman to save the world from single-use plastics. This shopping model is called Loop. Already, two large retailers (零售商) are Loop partners and more may join the project.
While recycling is very important, it is not going to solve waste at the root (根本的) cause. “Our company collects the ocean plastics and puts them into products making,” says Tom Szaky, CEO of TerraCycle, a company that is known for recycling hard-to-recycle materials. “But every day, more and more gets put in the ocean, so no matter how much we clean the ocean, we’re never going to solve the problem. That’s really where Loop came out. To us, the root cause of waste is not plastic, it’s using things once, and that’s really what Loop tries to change as much as possible.”
For customers, the process is designed to be as easy as possible. “The goal isn’t as much to get you to change, it’s instead to create systems that don’t make you change—but have you then solve the problem in the process,” Szaky says. “Making customers change is difficult. So the first question we asked in developing the model was ‘Why did throwing rubbish win ’ I think it did because throwing rubbish is convenient and affordable.” If the solutions are not convenient, people will not accept them. Loop aims to be as convenient as throwing something in the bin. You don’t even need to wash the container, so it’s simpler than recycling.
Jennifer Morgan from the environmental non-profit organization Greenpeace said, “Greenpeace welcomes the aim of the Loop to move away from throwaway culture.” But Morgan questioned whether companies worldwide are ready to change their business models. Anyway, this is an effort to change the problem of plastics and hopefully this model will work.
1．The second paragraph is mainly about ________.
A．what customers should do to solve waste problem
B．what benefits the retailers can get from Loop
C．how the new shopping model Loop works
D．how the milkman picks up the containers
2．What can we learn from the passage
A．Loop is designed to be convenient for customers to accept.
B．Companies worldwide are using the shopping model Loop.
C．Ocean plastics can be cleaned up by the shopping model Loop.
D．Customers have to clean the containers under the new model Loop.
3．What is the best title of the passage
A．Making Plastics into Products B．Recycling: A Falling Industry
C．From Throwing Away to Reusing D．Plastics: Hard-to-recycle Materials
B
Niejiazhuang Village in Weifang is known for colored clay sculpture handicraft (泥塑手工艺), which dates back to (追溯到) the Ming Dynasty. The Weifang government has encouraged local people to learn this kind of traditional handicraft and make more money to get rid of poverty (脱贫).
Wang Jie is a young villager in Niejiazhuang. He is crazy about clay sculpture handicraft. He began to learn it from his father when he was a child. Now, he has taught lots of young craftsmen (手艺人) to make colored clay sculptures. And the handicraft has become an important way for local people to get richer than before.
The dragon is a typical subject for colored clay sculptures. Wang started to learn to make clay dragons in 2012, the year of the Dragon. Over these years, he has seen the development of this art form. At first, the clay dragons were all of the same size. Till 2024, there are different sizes of dragons. They are very popular.
Wang cares for the future of clay sculpture handicraft. He often encourages young craftsmen to create more works. He hopes that the sculpture handicraft can be passed down to the next generation.
4．The Weifang government has encouraged local people to ________ to get rid of poverty according to the passage.
①learn colored clay sculpture handicraft ②plant trees
③buy many colored clay sculptures ④make more money
A．①④ B．②③
C．①② D．③④
5．Which paragraph tells us Wang Jie’s personal information
A．Paragraph 1. B．Paragraph 4.
C．Paragraph 2. D．Paragraph 3.
6．Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage
A．Niejiazhuang Village in Weifang was built during the Yuan Dynasty.
B．Wang Jie learnt about clay sculpture handicraft from his father when he was a child.
C．Wang Jie started to learn to make clay dragons in the year of the Dragon.
D．Wang Jie often encourages young craftsmen to create more works.
C
What will the world of tomorrow look like Many people believe that technology is going to help solve some of the most difficult problems we have on the Earth today. New technology may solve old problems, but it may also create new ones, as these three examples.
When we dream about the future, many of us think that we will be able to fly to the skies in our own personal flying car. We could fly at 480 km per hour, avoiding traffic lights and busy roads. However, if the cars become popular, there will be problems with traffic control.
3D printing is another new technology for the future. 3D printers are already used to make life-size models of car parts, and man-made body parts, such as ears. As we move into the future, 3D printing will change the way we make things and the way we treat sick people. The disadvantage is that such a machine is very expensive.
Finally, people are trying to build a robot suit. This is an electronic suit. It allows people to lift heavy objects and walk a long way. It might help people walk again after an illness or an accident. However, one disadvantage at the moment is the cost.
Looking ahead, it is easy to imagine a future. We can certainly dream of a world. In this world, technology makes people’s life easier and safer. It can solve some of the most difficult problems we have today.
7．What may new technology create while solving old problems
A．New traffic. B．New suits. C．New problems. D．New shoes.
8．What will happen if most of us have our own personal flying cars
A．We will be able to fly to the moon.
B．We will have traffic lights and busy roads.
C．We could drive at 480 km per hour on the roads.
D．We will have problems with traffic control.
9．What’s the best title for the passage
A．New Technology Today B．Looking Ahead of the Future
C．3D Printing and Robot Suit D．How to Solve Old Problems
D
Zhangzhou hand puppetry (木偶 戏) has a history of over 1,000 years. Hand puppet shows require performers to have direct control of their hands. In 2006, Zhangzhou hand puppetry was listed as a national-level intangible cultural heritage.
Zhuang Yanhong is an inheritor (传承人) of Zhangzhou hand puppetry. She was born into a “hand puppetry family”. She studied in a professional art school and was able to perform with masters across the country at 16.
Hand puppet shows became less popular with the rise of TV dramas. To save the old art and make it alive again, inheritors have been doing what they can. “The puppetry has become much more realistic after flexible (灵活的) arms and legs with joint were invented. It has also borrowed from other show forms like Peking Opera, modem TV dramas and cartoons,” Zhuang said. ▲ .
“There is no limit to hand puppetry because it often requires much imagination and creativity in nature. I’m looking forward to more of its new, creative forms.”
OTHER WELL-KNOWN PUPPET TYPES IN THE WORLD
Shadow puppets move against a screen through which light can show their shadows. They have moveable arms and legs. Shadow puppet shows can still be found in China and India.
Rod puppets are 3D figures controlled by pieces of wood or bamboo on different parts of their bodies. Java has probably one of the most famous rod puppets in the world.
String puppets are 3D figures controlled by strings. They have strings connected to their arms, legs... All the parts are connected to a wooden cross. Different types of string puppets are found all over the world.
10．What can most possibly be the writer’s purpose
A．To tell the story of an inheritor.
B．To introduce an art form
C．Тo explain differences among puppets
D．To save an endangered art form
11．Which of the following would be the most suitable for ▲
A．She believes the art has a bright future.
B．She realizes it’s hard to improve the situation.
C．She requires more people to give her a helping hand.
D．She never doubts the art is worth putting all her effort into.
12．What can we infer from the article
A．There will be fewer hand puppetry performers.
B．Zhuang was influenced by her friends and relatives.
C． Foreigners don’t love puppetry as much as Chinese do.
D． Hand puppetry was less popular because of new entertainments.
E
Laughter is a social emotion, so we’re 30 times more likely to laugh if there is somebody else with us than if we’re on our own.
We laugh to show that we agree with what someone says; that we remember the same thing that we’re talking about. People will also use laughter to try and mask other emotions. People will laugh to try and pretend they’re not upset, or embarrassed or in pain. People will use laughter to get other people to do things. If you get someone laughing, they will tell you more about themselves.
Laughter can sometimes feel contagious (有感染力的). You can probably think of occasions when you’ve been watching television or listening to the radio, maybe it’s been broadcast live, and the presenter or presenters start to get the giggles (咯咯的笑). If you chuckle, the contagion is working. And it’s called behaviourally contagious phenomena (现象), which are things you can catch from somebody else just because they’re doing them. You might have noticed this happens with yawning, it happens a lot with laughter.
As you know, there are lots of health benefits from laughing. You are more relaxed when you laugh. So as soon as you start laughing, you get a reduction in adrenaline (肾上腺素). You also get an increased uptake of the body’s naturally circulating endorphin (内啡肽). Now, that is because you do quite a lot of exercise at your ribcage (胸腔) when you laugh. It’s exactly the same as a runner’s high or the good feeling you get after exercising. And interestingly, that’s true of laughter even if you’ve completely pretended to laugh.
Unluckily, laughter can also have a darker side. When we laugh ha-ha-ha, breathing out, we do squeezes with ribcage. These big squeezes, particularly if you’re laughing really hard, are quite stressful for your heart and your lungs and that can mean if you have some sort of problem with your heart or your lungs or your blood vessels, you can put them under more strain. And throughout history, there are examples of people who have died of laughing.
So if you want to get your endorphin going, you can start by laughing out loud.
13．You laugh to ________ while your friend states his team beat your favourite one excitedly.
A．feel much comfortable B．ask for more information
C．pretend you’re not upset D．show your congratulations
14．The second paragraph is mainly about ________.
A．why humans laugh B．what laughter means
C．when humans need to laugh D．how laughter affects one’s emotion
15．What do we know from the passage
A．Real laughing influences one’s health much more.
B．You’re likely to keep calm while a TV presenter is laughing.
C．Laughing hard is possibly harmful to patients with heart illness.
D．You're hardly able to get the same feeling from laughing as exercising.
F
In a culture that focuses so strongly on success, it’s easy to feel like a failure. But according to the organizational psychologist Adam Grant, that might be because we’re thinking about achievements all wrong.
Many people think that achievements are tied closely to innate (天生的) ability, so they give up on activities they find challenging. That’s a mistake. Dr. Grant writes in his new book, Hidden Potential(潜能): The Science of Achieving Greater Things. The following are the three key points from his book that could help you unlock your own hidden potential.
Accept discomfort. Dr. Grant argues that success is more about gradual (逐渐的) growth than achieving immediate victories. And one of the most effective methods for skill development is to challenge oneself. “The discomfort we feel offers a chance for new learning,” Dr. Grant explained in an interview and he also stressed the importance of welcoming such moments. According to him, stepping outside our comfort zones (区域) may actually encourage greater growth. He also suggests accepting mistakes as a natural part of the learning process. Besides, he stresses that making mistakes is necessary for progress. Without enough efforts and mistakes, development becomes challenging.
Keep things interesting. Dr. Grant warns us about burnout, which happens when we work too much. But he also talks about “bore out”, which is feeling tired from not having enough to do. He suggests adding fun activities and new things to learn to our daily life. In his book, he says basketball player Stephen Curry got rapid improvement after college because of a coach who focused on different activities and games in his training periods, rather than repetitive (重复的) practice. Dr. Grant mentions that trying out different skills helps people improve faster. If you’re stuck, he advises taking a break and doing something enjoyable. This can improve your confidence and skills, helping you make progress.
Ask for advice and give it, too. Dr. Grant points to Harvard Business School research that found it’s more helpful to ask for advice, which focuses on what you can do better in the future. Furthermore, advice has positive effect, changing your mindset to what you can do right. We often perform better after we give other people advice, too, in what Dr.Grant refers to as the “coach effect”. That’s because we are more likely to focus on advice that we have already given to others, he says. One study he mentions discovered that high school students who were chosen by chance to offer encouragement to younger students went on to get better grades.
16．Dr. Grant would suggest ________ to unlock your own hidden potential.
A．accepting mistakes B．having repetitive practice
C．shortening learning process D．achieving immediate victories
17．Why does Dr. Grant mention the Harvard Business School research in Paragraph 5
A．To point out the importance of asking for advice among students.
B．To show the connection between coach effect and encouragement.
C．To present examples of high school students’ educational achievements.
D．To stress the benefits of giving and receiving advice on better performance.
18．What is the passage mainly about
A．The effects of keeping things interesting.
B．The reasons of keeping things interesting.
C．The ways to unlock your own hidden potential.
D．The difficulties in unlocking your own hidden potential.
G
Some of us like to keep some things private—maybe we don’t want people to know about our relationship status (状况), our age or where we live—because these details are personal. The problem is, everywhere we go online, we seem to leave a “digital footprint”.
On our social media accounts (账户), we often show things like our opinions, connections and holiday photos. The matter is, how do we stop everybody seeing everything Maybe we don’t want a stranger knowing our favourite type of coffee. And cookies—there was a time they were just something nice to eat. Now they seem to appear on websites. So how can you stay more private
There are some steps you can take. First, on your social media accounts, check your privacy settings. Many social media platforms automatically (自动地) show everything to everyone unless you change the settings, so it’s up to you to decide what other people can see. And limiting how much information you share isn’t just something you should do on social media. There are many sites out there that help you to share documents, so a good tip may be to not put anything too private, like passwords, on there. One wrong click (点击) may send it to the wrong person.
Finally, cookies are designed to improve your browsing (浏览) experience by tracking (追踪) and saving information about your visits to a site, helping to personalize your time on these sites. Erasing your browsing history may help, but there are certain apps which can block them if you don’t feel comfortable.
So, if you want to keep your privacy online, maybe only share things you’d be happy with a stranger seeing—and if you don’t feel comfortable with cookies, you might decide to use some tech to block them. If that’s not enough, just don’t accept them and visit another site—and why not have a yummy cookie to eat instead
19．According to the passage, which of the following is NOT a “digital footprint”
A．A paper book. B．A holiday photo. C．A personal opinion. D．A home address.
20．What can we learn from the passage
A．Visitors can help you to share documents online.
B．Cookies can track users’ behavior on the sites.
C．It’s impossible to stop everybody seeing everything.
D．Some tech can stop strangers erasing your footprints.
21．What is the writer’s main purpose in writing this passage
A．To explain the importance of online privacy.
B．To tell people how to protect privacy online.
C．To warn people against the social media.
D．To encourage people to share ideas online.
H
What do table football, a Barbie’s house and a toy car all have in common They are all much smaller than real things. Humans have long been interested in miniature (微小) things. The fashion, marketing, and the design industry all use miniature one way or another, and the public seems to love it. This is the effect of cuteness psychology (心理).
The psychology of cuteness is the idea that seeing something small and cute encourages connecting behaviors and the need to take care of it and protect it. However, our attraction to small objects isn’t fully a result of a strong hope to act as a parent. More recent research has shown that our feeling to cuteness isn’t necessarily related to some kind of inborn need to be taken care of, but rather more of a general, positive feeling that can influence how we socially interact with other people.
Seeing tiny things, humans or animals gives off dopamine (多巴胺), which is involved with forming emotional connections. When the body gives off dopamine, it makes us feel in love with the object we are attracted to. “The human brain is designed to love cute, small things by awarding us with dopamine to make sure we will love our tiny babies. This protects their survival and, in turn, the survival of we humans,” says Sam Von Reiche, a psychologist in New Jersey.
Meanwhile, small things bring back the comfort of childhood. In times of stress, we return to things that gave us comfort at an early age. It doesn’t need to be the exact toy we played with as a child, or even a toy at all. It could be a miniature model of a thing. We connect tiny objects with the safety and comfort they brought us in an earlier time in our lives.
Some people may be interested in miniatures because they don’t have the money to get real-life ones. While we might not be able to own an expensive race car, a miniature copy can offer unbelievable emotional awards. Certain tiny objects from one’s travels, for example, a tiny Eiffel Tower can bring a sense of connection to important life stories and the people who have shared our journey.
Depending on one’s needs, a miniature object can bring a sense of pleasure, satisfaction, and even emotional comfort.
22．What can we learn from the passage
A．The fashion leads to the cuteness psychology.
B．People prefer real objects when they grow up.
C．Our attraction to tiny things brings positive feelings.
D．Expensive race cars bring back the comfort of childhood.
23．According to Sam Von Reiche, ________.
A．dopamine can save humans in a natural way
B．cuteness preference helps with human survival
C．the human brain is designed to love real-life things
D．dopamine can mislead human emotion to feel in love
24．Which of the following would be the best title for the passage
A．Why are we really into small things
B．What do all small things have in common
C．Where does cuteness psychology come from
D．Why are our brains designed to love miniatures
I
Do you love sunflowers This text will walk you through how to plant your sunflower seeds (种子) and care for them. Start it with the best temperatures: 18～33℃.
Part 1 Germinating (使发芽) Sunflower Seeds1. Choose one kind you like. 2. Put the seeds in a plastic bag. Cover the seeds with wet paper towels (纸巾). Put them in plastic bags. Once the seeds germinate, plant them. Part 2 ▲ 1. Choose a sunny place. Sunflowers grow best with six to eight hours of sunlight a day. 2. Plant the seeds in holes. Plant seeds 2.5 cm deep and 15 cm apart. Cover the seeds with soil (土壤) after planting. Part 3 Caring for Sunflower Plants 1. Water plants weekly. Water plants once a week. 2. Fertilize (施肥) a little or not at all. If you are growing sunflowers for fun, there is no need to fertilize. 3. Harvest (收获) the seeds. Sunflowers usually take 2.5 months to 4 months to mature (成熟) and new seeds can be harvested later.
Tips: Protect the young plants from pests (害虫). Cover the ground with nets. Support plants over 90 cm with sticks.
25．Which of the following can be put in ________
A．Planting Sunflower Seeds B．Choosing Sunflower Seeds
C．Watering Sunflower Plants D．Checking the Temperature
26．When will you get new seeds if you plant sunflower seeds in April
A．January. B．May. C．July. D．November.
27．Where is the text probably taken from
A．A notice board. B．A travel guide.
C．A planting diary. D．A gardening magazine.
J
People knock on iron pots and bowls to cheer for players. Villagers perform folk songs and dances in the halftime show. Prizes for the winning team are bags of rice, fish, and ducks .... This year, the “Village Basketball Association (Village BA)” at Taipan village in Guizhou has greatly caught people's attention.
The final game of the Guizhou country basketball league, known as “village BA”, took place on March 27 and Team Qiandongnan won the Championship Cup. Most of the players were farmers from local villages and nearby cities.
Besides the exciting matches on the court, the most eye-catching spaces in Taipan were courtside. More than 30,000 people from across the country poured into the tiny village, which has a population of about 1,200. A single spot was hard to get.
“Many people even wear adult diapers (纸尿裤) so they can sit for hours in the stands. Ladders were also sold out that day,” Wu Xiaolong, a 31-year-old local man, told Teens.
Since 2016, the local government has worked hard to build new standard basketball courts to support basketball development.
Zeng Jinlong, a 17-year-old villager, has been watching the games since he was 6 years old. Over the years, “the courts have become standard as backboards (篮板) have turned from wood into glass and the floor material from cement (水泥) to rubber, “ he told Teens.
Taipan has now become a model place of rural vitalization (乡村振兴) driven by sports and tourism. In the summer of 2022, around 500,000 visitors came to the village to watch the preliminary rounds (预赛) of the “Village BA”, which brought tourism revenue (收入) of more than 40 million yuan, reported Xinhua.
The event has also encouraged more people to take part in sports. Now as a point guard in the local youth basketball team, Zeng said he dreams of taking part in the “Village BA” final himself one day.
28．Which of the following information about the “Village BA” is NOT mentioned in the passage
A．The performances. B．The players.
C．The prizes. D．The rules.
29．What is the meaning of the underlined word “spot” in Paragraph 3
A．place B．point C．touch D．position
30．Which of the following sentences is TRUE according to the passage
A．The “Village BA” has a history of less than 10 years.
B．The prizes are the same as those of other matches.
C．The sports and tourism are good for rural vitalization.
D．The event has encouraged only young people to take part in sports.
K
Green Energy for Today and Tomorrow
Did you know that most of the energy we use comes from the sun For example, the sun helps plants to grow. Plants that grew millions of years ago turned into coal, oil, and natural gas (天然气). We call these fossil fuels (化石燃料).
However, fossil fuels make pollution. This is bad for the Earth. Fossil fuels are also nonrenewable (不可再生的). Some day they will be gone. So, scientists want people to use green energy. Why is green energy important First, it is clean. It doesn’t hurt the Earth. Next, it is renewable. It won’t run out. Green energy gives us almost 25% of the electricity we use today.
What are the main sources (来源) of green energy
1 Water Power Water power uses moving water in rivers and dams (堤坝). Moving water has energy. Water power makes 16.6% of the electricity we use.
2 Wind Power Is wind power new No, it isn’t. People used wind power many years ago. Wind power makes 4% of the electricity we use.
3 Solar Power Solar power comes from sunlight. The sun shines on solar panels (太阳能板), and electricity is made. Solar power is now as cheap as some fossil fuels. It makes 15% of the electricity we use.
4 Biomass (生物质能) Biomass is energy that we get from plants around us. For example, deadwood or grass is burned in power stations. This makes electricity. Biomass is green energy because we plant new trees or crops (庄稼) after we use it. Biomass makes 2% of the electricity we use.
5 New Green Energy Ocean rises and falls each day. This moving water can make electricity. We call it tide power. There is also heat under the Earth’s surface. Scientists can use this heat for energy, which is called heat power. We may find other sources of green energy in the future.
Some day, green energy could make 100% of the electricity we use. That’s good news for the Earth!
31．Why do scientists suggest using green energy
A．Because it is as cheap as fossil fuels.
B．Because it is clean and won’t be used up.
C．Because it is the main source of electricity now.
32．Where can we get biomass
A．From natural gas. B．From new trees. C．From dead plants.
33．How many kinds of green energy are mentioned in the passage
A．4. B．6. C．7.
L
Baduanjin is one of the most popular Chinese qigong exercises. Do you know how to do it Preparation: Find a quiet place and play your favourite slow music. Stand upright, look forward and relax. When you feel peaceful, take a step to the left. Remember to breathe deeply through the exercise.
Step 1 Raise both arms with palms (手掌) facing up. Stretch (伸展) out completely as if you were holding up the sky. Hold your breath for two seconds before slowly returning to the starting position. Step 2 Bend (弯曲) your knees into the horse stance. Open your arms to the left as if you were shooting arrows (箭) from a bow. Slowly return to the starting position and repeat it on the right side.
Step 3 Stretch the left arm with the palm facing up while pressing the other arm down. Return to the starting position and do the same on the other side. Step 4 Slowly turn your head to the left and look back as far as possible. Then, repeat the exercise on the other side.
Step 5 Do the horse stance. Raise your hands and slowly lower them until your palms on your thighs (大腿). Lean your upper body forward. Shake your head from right to left. Repeat it on the other side. Step 6 Raise both hands before pressing them down to waist (腰) level. Bend from waist while moving your hands down the back of the legs until they touch your toes.
Step 7 Do the horse stance. Make fists next to the waist. Punch with the left fist before pulling it into the waist. Then, do the same with the right fist. Step 8 Raise up on your toes before landing slowly.
Steps 1,6, 8 should be repeated six times each, and the others three times each.
34．Which part of a magazine is the passage most probably taken from
A．Sports. B．History. C．Custom. D．Fashion.
35．Which of the following shows the correct order of Steps 1-4
A． B．
C． D．
36．What can you learn about baduanjin
A．It is the most popular exercise in China.
B．It includes 8 steps that should be repeated six times each.
C．It requires people to take deep breaths through the exercise.
D．It requires people to do every step on both left and right sides.
M
In some parts of the world, children don’t have enough food to eat or enough money to buy clothes or shoes. Every year at Sunshine Middle School, we do something to raise money for these children. This year we will have a Market Day.
The Market Day will fall on July 8. We’re going to make the student center at our school look just like a big shopping center! People can come at any time from 9:00 a. m. to 5:00 p. m. and buy everything from clothes to books, cakes and flowers.
Luckily for us, many volunteers will help prepare for the big event. Last year, Ms. Grant and Ms. Ali made some wonderful cakes for our charity event. They will do it again this year. Bull Thomas will visit Bookworm Bookshop and Mel’s Music Shop and ask them to give us things that we can sell at the event. Philip White will e-mail all the teachers and ask them to come to our event. Alice Brown will put a message online telling the public the event is open to everyone.
However, there’s more to do, and we need your help. We want you to give us things that we can sell—books, old clothes, anything that we can sell to raise money for poor children. We also need some student volunteers to sell the things we get on Market Day.
37．Why is the Market Day like a shopping center ________
A．To show more school things.
B．To celebrate this school festival.
C．To have people buy what they like.
D．To build a shopping center one day.
38．What does Paragraph 4 mainly talk about ________
A．Why the event is important.
B．How to become a volunteer.
C．What help the event still needs.
D．How to sell things on Market Day.
39．What the best title for the text ________
A．A school charity event
B．A great charity experience
C．An interesting Market Day
D．Volunteers needed
