2015年成人高考英语阅读理解试题及答案

IV. Reading Comprehension ( 60 points )

Directions:There are five reading passages in this part. Each passage is followed by four questions. For each question there are four suggested answers marked A, B, C and D.Choose the best answer and blacken the corresponding letter on the Answer Sheet.

Passage One

As we recently discovered, there is a Stepmother' s Day, though it is not on any official holiday calendar. So,it would be safe to assume that there is a similar day for stepdads, too. Right? Well, it depends on what you read. A Google search brought up posts that say, for example," It' s on father' s day--father' s day is for fathers, step-fathers and people who are like fathers to you--it' s a day for making father figures feel special. " Further searching found a Stepfather' s Day Facebook page that says, "The unofficial Stepfather' s Day is the fourth Sunday of June. "Unfortunately, as of the publishing of this article,only 30 people have "liked" the page. Considering that studies show 3.3 million men, or 11.1% of U. S. fathers, live with at least one stepchild,that's only a drop in the ocean.It's interesting to note that there is a National Grandparents' Day. President Jimmy Carter signed it into law in 1978. Law ! While grandparents are undoubtedly special people in our children' s lives,they are often seen as the most loving family members. But what about the stepparents? The stepparents are the ones who are often the outsiders,the ones who have to endure the hurtful "You're not my dad!" or "You're not my mom!" And yet they never give up. They do their best to over- come theinherentchallenges of stepparents and be role models for their stepchildren. These unsung( 未被颂扬的 ) family heroes deserve "official" days of honor. Perhaps if we are loud enough, Presi- dent Obama, who had a stepfather himself, will sign into law National Stepmother' s Day and National Stepfather' s Day.

Are you with me? Follow me and get your voice heard. How cool it would be if we could make

this happen !

36. What does the underlined word "that" in Paragraph 1 refer to?

A. 11.1% of U. S. fathers who live with at least one stepchild in the U. S.

B. 3.3 million men who live with at least one stepchild in the world.

C. Father figures who are equally honored in the U. S.

D. 30 people who support Stepfather' s Day on the Facebook page.

【答案】D

37. What did President Jimmy Carter sign into law in 1978?

A. The National Stepchildren's Day.

B. The National Stepparents' Day.

C. The National Grandparents' Day.

D. The National Grandchildren's Day.

【答案】C

38. Which of the following is closest in meaning to the word "inherent" in Paragraph 2?

A. Inevitable.

B. Lasting.

C. Unbelievable.

D. Tough.

【答案】A

39. What is the reason for setting an official holiday for stepparents?

A. Because they are often seen as the most loving family members.

B. Because they deserve respect and honor as family members.

C. Because they love their role as stepparents.

D. Because they are often treated as heroes in the family.

【答案】B

Passage Two

Most students choose "Homestay" accommodation when they study abroad; others select Home- stay even if they are not on a study visit. Statistics show that it ' s a form of accommodation gaining in popularity all the time.

But what is Homestay? And what makes it so popular?

Homestav means hying with a family, or "host family" as we say. There are three ways of doing

it:

* choose to learn English in a language school near to your Homestay location;

* have your English classes in the house with a member of the family who is a qualified teacher;

* select not to have classes at all when you visit--a popular choice if you want to do the tourist thing for example.

Even in their busy summer period the organizations that arrange the Homestays will always try to place you with the most suitable host family to match your requirements. Placement (安置) organinations think about location, interests, language level, eating requirements, allergies (过敏) and other requests you may have.

Though prices vary according to your needs, good quality Homestay accommodation can be rela- tively economical --and although you may be charged an extra amount of money if you want your Homestay in or near the city centre. Even if you stay further out, you can expect your journey into the centre not to exceed 30 minutes.

Not only does Homestay accommodation represent value for money, it also gives you an excellent opportunity to practise English with your host family. This is a very important extra for students who like to speak as much English as possible. But if you plan to learn English, why not have your English classes in your host family? There' s no better way to learn English than this--the perfect combination of learning and accommodation combined with the cultural experience!

40.Homestay is an ideal choice for students who . A. want to learn statistics

B. plan to study overseas

C. plan to visit relatives

D. want to stay at home

【答案】B

41.Who will consider students' requirements before their Homestay starts?

A. The language school.

B. The host family.

C. The English teacher.

D. The placement organization.

【答案】D

42. Which of the following is a key factor affecting the price of Homestay?

A. Students' specific needs.

B. Students' language level.

C. Nationality of the host family.

D. Eating habits of the host family.

【答案】A

43. What can be inferred from the passage?

A. The author finds Homestay accommodation expensive.

B. The author finds Homestay arrangement complicated.

C. The author is in favor of Homestay accommodation.

D. The author is doubtful about the safety of Homestay.

【答案】C

Passage Three

Using less energy around the home is easier than you might think, saving your money while creating a healthier, more comfortable living space for you and your family. Changing a few old habits can make an impact on your energy bill, your comfort and the environment. Here are some handy tips to make your house more energy-efficient.

Lower the heat

If your home has adjustable central heating, lowering the room temperature even slightly can make a difference. You may not feel it, but your wallet will. It is even more advisable to control temperatures at different times of the day.

Hang clothes out to dry

If the weather allows it, head outside and dry your laundry on a clothesline. The sunlight will help eliminate bacteria and dust. While clothes dryers get the job done faster,they also use up energy.By hanging your clothes out you' ll be cutting greenhouse gases by about three kilograms per load.

Take advantage of natural light

Installing large windows on the northern side of your house can help you make use of sunlight' s natural warmth. To stay cool indoors on hot summer days, install blinds (百叶窗) to block the heavy sun. Put your desk near the window ,then you don't need a lamp in the daytime.

Wrap (裹) your pipes

Be sure your hot-water pipes are properly wrapped. In an average home, heating water accounts for more than one-quarter of the energy bill. Why let warmth go to waste before it reaches you?

Choose the right size for appliances (家用电器)

When the time comes to replace appliances, select those that are both energy-efficient and of theappropriate size for your needs. Don' t buy bigger ones just because you can.

44. What benefit may using less energy at home bring about?

A. Enlarging your living space.

B. Keeping old habits unchanged.

C. Having a healthier living environment.

D. Improving your work efficiency.

【答案】C

45. Which of the following is one of the advantages of hanging clothes out to dry?

A. It gets clothes dry much faster than clothes dryers.

B. It uses half the energy that clothes dryers do.

C. It may help to build a greenhouse.

D. It helps remove bacteria in clothes.

【答案】D

46. What can be installed on the northern side of your house to make better use of natural light?

A. Shades.

B. Windows.

C. Blinds.

D. Curtains.

【答案】B

47. Besides energy-efficiency ,what else should be considered when replacing appliances?

A. Proper size.

B. Good quality.

C. Replacing time.

D. Reasonable price.

【答案】A

Passage Four

I talk to strangers for a living and love the challenge of getting their stories published in news- papers. I' ve been married for years, but until six months ago, I could be a typical absent-minded husband. Often I was just nodding when I was supposed to. When my wife asked, "Did you even hear what I just said?" I would defensively say,"Of course I did".

In January, I began to lose my voice. Doctors told me I needed surgery, or my throat would bepermanently damaged. Total silence would be required for the first few weeks of my recovery.

Two hours after the surgery, my eyes filled with tears as my two-year-old son looked puzzled because I wouldn' tanswer his questions. I wanted to talk but couldn' t. Luckily, I' d recorded myself reading some of his favorite books. That would come in handy the next couple of weeks.

When I got home, I noticed a "side effect" : as my wife talked to me to keep up my spirits, I wasn't just hearing her; I was listening to her. Over the next few weeks, I didn't want to miss a word she said. I began to hear sweetness in her voice. It had never left. I' d just stopped noticing. I found myself understanding her better on topics I' d previously dismissed as "things I just don' t get as a guy". I also realized my son wasn' t just talking nonstop but that he often had thoughtful things to say. Even while walking my dog in the woods near our home, I began hearing pleasant patterns in birdsongs. Before my surgery, I' d have spent those walks on my phone.

After several weeks, I was fully recovered. Conversation in our house is better now, not because I' m talking more. I' m just listening better and becoming less and less surprised that I like what I hear

48. According to the passage, the author is most likely a __

A. journalist

B. doctor

C. driver

D. Teacher

【答案】A

49. What does the wife mean by asking "Did you even hear what I just said?" in Paragraph 1 ?

A. You didn' t have to nod while you were listening.

B. You should tell me what I said just now.

C. You should listen to me.

D. You didn' t want to talk with me.

【答案】C

50. What is true of the author after the surgery?

A. He was unwilling to talk to his wife.

B. He was unable to communicate with his son.

C. He was required to keep silent for the first few months.

D. He was worried about his recovery after the surgery.

【答案】B

51. What did the author realize after the surgery?

A. His dog liked pleasant birdsongs.

B. His son didn' t like talking.

C. His wife was a talkative woman.

D. His house was full of pleasant talks.

【答案】D

Passage Five

Coconut (椰子) is an unusual food for many reasons. It is one of the largestedibleseeds produced by any plant. Its unusual contents also make it unique in the seed world--it consists of both"meat" and "water" inside. The coconut meat is the white substance with which we are all familiar, as it is used extensively for cooking and flavorings; the coconut water is a white and sweet liquid. Portuguese (葡萄牙) explorers gave the nut its name in the 15th century, referring to it as coco, meaning "ghost" in their language. The outside appearance of coconuts reminded them of a ghost's face, and the tree.has had that name ever since.

The coconut has varied uses. It is used to make various cooking oils for fast-food restaurants around the world to make diet materials. The coconut fluid is a favorite drink in hot climates, providing a cool and refreshing beverage right off the tree. This water is also used by manufacturers of various sports drinks. Even the shell itself has many uses, including animal food and fertilizer.

Yet the coconut is also useful in many ways that have nothing to do with food. Coconut oil is used for cosmetics (化妆品), medicines, and so on. Dried coconut shells are used in many countries as a tool for shining wood floors. The shells are also used for shirt buttons, and are commonly found on Hawaiian clothing. They are even used for musical instruments and bird houses.

And all these are only some of the uses found for the coconut fruit. The coconut tree, which produces the nut,also produces many useful things. It' s no wonder that the coconut tree has beentaken as "the tree of life".

52. What does the underlined word "edible" in Paragraph 1 mean?

A. Eatable.

B. Available.

C. Visible.

D. Collectible.

【答案】A

53. The coconut got its name because of__

A, its round shape

B. its ghostlike appearance

C. its hard shell

D. its white color

【答案】B

54. What is the passage mainly about?

A. Types of coconut seeds.

B. The discovery of coconut.

C. The history of coconut.

D. Uses of coconut.

【答案】D

55. What can be learned from the passage?

A. Coconut fluid can become fertilizer.

B. Coconut trunks are houses for birds.

C. Coconut trees are useful plants.

D. Coconut oil is rare and expensive.

【答案】C