Almost every machine with moving parts has wheels, yet no one knows exactly when the first wheel was invented or what it was used for. We do know, however, that they existed over 5,500 years ago in ancient Asia.
The oldest known transport wheel was discovered in 2002 in Slovenia. It is over 5,100 years old. Evidence suggests that wheels for transport didn’t become popular for a while, though. This could be because animals did a perfectly good job of carrying farming tools and humans around.
But it could also be because of a difficult situation. While wheels need to roll on smooth surfaces, roads with smooth surfaces weren’t going to be constructed until there was plenty of demand for them. Eventually, road surfaces did become smoother, but this difficult situation appeared again a few centuries later. There had been no important changes in wheel and vehicle design before the arrival of modem road design.
In the mid-1700s, a Frenchman came up with a new design of road—a base layer (层) of large stones covered with a thin layer of smaller stones. A Scotsman improved on this design in the 1820s and a strong, lasting road surface became a reality. At around the same lime, metal hubs (the central part of a wheel) came into being, followed by the pneumatic tyre(充气轮胎) in 1846. Alloy wheels were invented in 1967, sixty years after the appearance of tarmacked roads (柏油路). As wheel design took off, vehicles got faster and faster.
小题1:What might explain why transport wheels didn’t become popular for some time?| A．Few knew how to use transport wheels. | | B．Humans carried farming tools just as well. | | C．Animals were a good means of transport. | | D．The existence of transport wheels was not known. |
小题2:What do we know about road design from the passage?| A．It was easier than wheel design. | | B．It improved after big changes in vehicle design. | | C．It was promoted by fast-moving vehicles. | | D．It provided conditions for wheel design to develop. |
小题3:How is the last paragraph mainly developed?| A．By giving examples. | | B．By making comparisons. | | C．By following time order. | | D．By making classifications. |
小题4:What is the passage mainly about?| A．The beginning of road design. | | B．The development of transport wheels. | | C．The history of public transport. | | D．The invention of fast-moving vehicles. |
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小题1:C
小题2:D
小题3:C
小题4:B |
【语篇解读】本文是一篇说明文，题材是车轮。全文讲述了车轮的发展历程以及道路设计对车轮发展的影响。本解
小题1:推理判断题。难度：中等。根据第二段This could be because animals did a perfectly good job of carrying farming tools and humans around.（这或许是因为动物在拉运农具人们的方面做得不错。）可知由于当时动物使用的方便让轮子没能够普及。
小题2:推理判断题。难度：较难。根据第3段 There had been no important changes in wheel and vehicle design before the arrival of modem road design.（在现代道路设计之前，轮子和交通工具的设计都没有重大变化）。第4段接着讲述了随着道路设计的进步，各种新型的轮子(包括充气轮胎)随之发展，而且也促进了车辆的发展。由此可知，道路设计的发展促进了车轮的发展。
小题3:推理判断题。难度：较易。根据第四段时间数字，In the mid-1700s、in the 1820s、in 1846、in 1967，只有C项符合。
小题4:主旨大意。难度：中等。全文讲述了车轮的发展历程以及道路设计对车轮发展的影响，故选C项。 |
核心考点
试题【Almost every machine with moving parts has wheels, yet no one knows exactly when】；主要考察你对
题材分类等知识点的理解。
[详细]举一反三
Not all bodies of water are so evidently alive as the Atlantic Ocean, an S-shaped body of water covering 33 million square miles. The Atlantic has, in a sense, replaced the Mediterranean as the inland sea of Western civilization. Unlike real inland seas, which seem strangely still, the Atlantic is rich in oceanic liveliness. It is perhaps not surprising that its vitality has been much written about by ancient poets.
“Storm at Sea”, a short poem written around 700, is generally regarded as one of mankind’s earliest artistic representations of the Atlantic.
When the wind is from the west
All the waves that cannot rest
To the east must thunder on
Where the bright tree of the sun
Is rooted in the ocean’s breast.
As the poem suggests, the Atlantic is never dead and dull. It is an ocean that moves, impressively and endlessly. It makes all kinds of noise—it is forever thundering, boiling, crashing, and whistling.
It is easy to imagine the Atlantic trying to draw breath—perhaps not so noticeably out in mid-ocean, but where it meets land, its waters bathing up and down a sandy beach. It mimics(模仿) nearly perfectly the steady breathing of a living creature. It is filled with symbiotic existences, too: unimaginable quantities of creatures, little and large alike, mix within its depths in a kind of oceanic harmony, giving to the waters a feeling of heartbeat, a kind of sub-ocean vitality. And it has a psychology. It has personalities: sometimes peaceful and pleasant, on rare occasions rough and wild; always it is strong and striking.
小题1:Unlike real inland seas, the Atlantic Ocean is______.| A．always energetic | | B．lacking in liveliness | | C．shaped like a square | | D．favored by ancient poets |
小题2:What is the purpose of using the poem “Storm at Sea” in the passage?| A．To describe the movement of the waves. | | B．To show the strength of the storm. | | C．To represent the power of the ocean. | | D．To prove the vastness of the sea. |
小题3:What does the underlined word “symbiotic” mean?| A．Living together. | | B．Growing fast. | | C．Moving harmoniously. | | D．Breathing peacefully. |
小题4:In the last paragraph, the Atlantic is compared to______.| A．a beautiful and poetic place | | B．a flesh and blood person | | C．a wonderful world | | D．a lovely animal |
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Almost everyone wants to get smarter. We struggle to improve our 36_ , intelligence and attention. We drink cup after cup of coffee to help us 37_ the day.
38 __, a new study published in Current Directions in Psychological Science warns that there are 39___ to how smart humans can get.
Each of our body parts develops in a certain way for a reason. 40 _, we are not 3 meters tall 41 _ most people’s hearts are not strong enough to send 42 _ up that high. Scientists say that our thinking ability works in the same way. A baby’s brain size is limited by a series of __43 , such as the size of the mother’s pelvis (骨盆). If our brains developed to be bigger, there could be more 44 during childbirth.
The study of Jews, who have an average IQ much _ 45_ than other Europeans, showed they were more _46_ to develop diseases of the _47_ system. This might be because of their increased brainpower.
If intelligence cannot be improved, can we at least get better at _ 48 _ ? Not really, say scientists. They studied _49_ like caffeine (咖啡因)that improve attention. They found the drugs only helped people with serious 50 _ problems. For those who did not have trouble paying attention, the drugs could have the 51 _ effect. Scientists say that this suggests there is a(n) 52 limit to how much people can or should concentrate.
Our memory is also a “double-edged sword”. People with extremely good memories could 53__ having a difficult life because they cannot _54 bad things that happen to them.
Thomas Hills, one of the authors of the paper, said that 55 all the problems in trying to get smarter, it’s unlikely that there will ever be a “super mind”.
| 小题1: | | A．ability | B．character | C．memory | D．emotion |
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| 小题2: | | A．go through | B．put through | C．get through | D．carry through |
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| 小题3: | | A．Though | B．Therefore | C．However | D．Meanwhile |
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| 小题4: | | A．standards | B．measures | C．ranges | D．limits |
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| 小题5: | | A．At first | B．In addition | C．For example | D．Above all |
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| 小题6: | | A．until | B．because | C．before | D．so that |
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| 小题7: | | A．blood | B．information | C．breath | D．strength |
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| 小题8: | | A．factors | B．reasons | C．aspects | D．effects |
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| 小题9: | | A．chances | B．deaths | C．choices | D．lives |
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| 小题10: | | A．smarter | B．better | C．lower | D．higher |
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| 小题11: | | A．likely | B．possible | C．probable | D．sure |
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| 小题12: | | A．physical | B．bodily | C．personal | D．nervous |
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| 小题13: | | A．exercising | B．concentrating | C．memorizing | D．thinking |
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| 小题14: | | A．poisons | B．drinks | C．plants | D．drugs |
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| 小题15: | | A．attention | B．family | C．health | D．living |
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| 小题16: | | A．same | B．opposite | C．different | D．similar |
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| 小题17: | | A．lower | B．smaller | C．upper | D．higher |
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| 小题18: | | A．end up | B．make up | C．start up | D．come up |
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| 小题19: | | A．forget | B．remember | C．perform | D．share |
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| 小题20: | | A．supposing | B．concerning | C．considering | D．regarding |
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The baby is just one day old and has not yet left hospital. She is quiet but alert (警觉). Twenty centimeters from her face researchers have placed a white card with two black spots on it. She stares at it carefully. A researcher removes the card and replaces it by another, this time with the spots differently spaced. As the cards change from one to the other, her gaze(凝视) starts to lose its focus - until a third, with three black spots, is presented. Her gaze returns; she looks at it for twice as long as she did at the previous card. Can she tell that the number two is different from three, just 24 hours after coming into the world?
Or do newborns simply prefer more to fewer? The same experiment, but with three spots shown before two, shows the same return of interest when the number of spots changes. Perhaps it is just the newness? When slightly older babies were shown cards with pictures of objects(a comb, a key, an orange and so on), changing the number of objects had an effect separate from changing the objects themselves. Could it be the pattern that two things make, as opposed to three? No again. Babies paid more attention to squares moving randomly on a screen when their number changed from two to three, or three to two. The effect even crosses between senses. Babies who were repeatedly shown two spots became more excited when they then heard three drumbeats than when they heard just two; likewise(同样地) when the researchers started with drumbeats and moved to spots.
小题1:The experiment described in Paragraph 1 is related to the baby’s ______.| A．sense of hearing. | | B．sense of sight. | | C．sense of touch. | | D．sense of smell. |
小题2:Babies are sensitive to the change in ______.| A．the size of cards. | | B．the colour of pictures. | | C．the shape of patterns. | | D．the number of objects. |
小题3:Why did the researchers test the babies with drumbeats?| A．To reduce the difficulty of the experiment. | | B．To see how babies recognize sounds. | | C．To carry their experiment further. | | D．To keep the babies’ interest. |
小题4:Where does this text probably come from?| A．Science fiction. | | B．Children’s literature. | | C．An advertisement. | | D．A science report. |
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Last night’s meteor (流星) shower left many people in the community dissatisfied and demanding answers. According to Gabe Rothschild, Emerald Valley’s mayor, people gathered in the suburbs of the city, carrying heavy telescopes, expecting to watch the brightly burning meteors passing through the sky. What they found instead was a sky so brightened by the city’s lights that it darkened the light of the meteors passing overhead.
“My family was so frustrated,” admitted town resident Duane Cosby, “We wanted to make this an unforgettable family outing, but it turned out to be a huge disappointment.”
Astronomers—scientists who study stars and planets—have been complaining about this problem for decades. They say that light pollution prevents them from seeing objects in the sky that they could see quite easily in the past. They call on people and the government to take measures to fight against it.
There is yet a population besides professional and amateur star observers that suffers even more from light pollution. This population consists of birds, bats, frogs, snakes, etc. For example, outdoor lighting severely affects migrating (迁徙的) birds. According to the International Dark-Sky Association, “100 million birds a year throughout North America die in crashes with lighted buildings and towers.”
Countless more animal casualties (伤亡) result from the use of artificial lighting. Clearly, people enjoy the benefits of lighting their evenings. But some scientists think it can be harmful for humans, too. They worry that exposure to light while sleeping can increase a person’s chances of getting cancer.
Emerald Valley is only one community that is becoming aware of the negative effects of light pollution. For years, Flagstaff, Arizona, has enforced lighting regulations in its city in order to assist astronomers at the Lowell Observatory. Similar efforts have been made worldwide, and a movement is underway to remind us to turn off lights when we are not using them, so that other creatures can share the night.
小题1:It happened last night that _____.| A．the city’s lights affected the meteor watching | | B．the meteors flew past before being noticed | | C．the city light show attracted many people | | D．the meteor watching ended up a social outing |
小题2:What do the astronomers complain about?| A．Meteor showers occur less often than before. | | B．Their observation equipment is in poor repair. | | C．Light pollution has remained unsolved for years. | | D．Their eyesight is failing due to artificial lighting. |
小题3:What is the author concerned about according to Paragraph 4?| A．Birds may take other migration paths. | | B．Animals’ living habits may change suddenly | | C．Varieties of animals will become sharply reduced | | D．Animals’ survival is threatened by outdoor lighting. |
小题4:Lighting regulations in Flagstaff, Arizona are put into effect to _____.| A．lessen the chance of getting cancer | | B．create an ideal observation condition | | C．ensure citizens a good sleep at night | | D．enable all creatures to live in harmony |
小题5:What message does the author most want to give us?| A．Saving wildlife is saving ourselves. | | B．Great efforts should be made to save energy. | | C．Human activities should be environmentally friendly. | | D．New equipment should be introduced for space study.. |
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College is a lifetime investment (投资) — the gift of a college education can open the door to a world of opportunity for your child or grandchild. Savings（储蓄）, even not so many at a time, can make a big difference.
With the cost of a college education continuing to rise, the key is to start saving early and regularly. By saving a set amount at set times, your money can grow as your child does. According to the College Board, the average cost for four-year public colleges has increased by nearly 51% over the last 10 years and these costs will almost certainly continue to rise. Saving for college can help with the increasing cost of a college education and help you be well prepared when your child is ready for college.
Saving for your child’s college education is an investment in their future. The savings you make today will pay off in increased earnings in the future. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, college graduates earn an average of $1 million more than high school graduates during their careers. The value of your investment in a college education will continue to grow for a lifetime.
Set your college saving goals realistically. You may not be able to save enough for all four years’ fees, but you could save enough to give your child the right start.
More and more families depend on student loans(贷款) to pay for college. By saving for college, families will have less burden of paying off loans and help their children leave school without worrying about paying off loans.
小题1:From the second paragraph we can learn that_______________.| A．the College Board increased public college costs | | B．public college costs will increase by 51% in the next ten years | | C．it’s not too late to start saving when your child is ready for college | | D．saving can help deal with the rising cost of college education |
小题2:Savings for college education _____________.| A．will increase in the value in the future | B．make one earn a lot | | C．help create good jobs | D．are wise for businessmen to invest |
小题3:Which of the following is TRUE about saving for college?| A．You should save to help children get scholarships more easily. | | B．It’s better to increase the savings as the child grows. | | C．It’s better to save early and regularly. | | D．You should set a further and bigger saving goal. |
小题4:Who are the expected readers of the passage?| A．Parents. | B．High school students. | C．Educators | D．Bankers. |
小题5:Which of the following would be the best title for the passage?| A．When to Save for Children’s College Costs | | B．How to Make a Good Investment | | C．Why We Should Save for Children’s College Costs | | D．How Much Four-Year College Costs |
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