1、第 1 页 共 6 页专题训练：阅读理解（10）阅读下列材料，从每题所给的四个选项（A、B 、C 和 D）中，选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项。AAny foreigner who has tried to learn Chinese can tell how hard it is to master the tones required to speak and understand. And anyone who has tried to learn to play the violin or other instruments can report similar challenges.No
2、w researchers have found that people with musical training have an easier time learning Chinese. Writing in the online edition of Nature Neuroscience，researchers from Northwestern University say that both skills draw on the same parts of the brain that help people discover changes in pitch(音调) One o
3、f the studys authors，Nina Kraus，said the findings suggested that studying music “actually tunes our sensory system”This means that schools that want children to do well in languages should hesitate before cutting music programs，Dr.Kraus said. She said music training might also help children with lan
4、guage problems.Mandarin(普通话)speakers have been shown to have a more complex encoding(编码) of pitch patterns in their brains than English speakers do. This is because in Mandarin and other Asian languages，pitch plays a central role. A single-syllable word can have several meanings depending on how it
5、is intoned.For this study，the researchers looked at 20 non-Chinese speaking volunteers，half with no musical background and half who have studied an instrument for at least six years.As they were shown a movie，the volunteers also heard an audio tape of the Mandarin word “mi” in three of its meanings：
6、squint ，bewilder and rice. The researchers recorded activities in their brain stems to see how well they were processing the sounds. Those with a music background showed much more brain activities in response to the Chinese sounds.The lead author of the study， Patrick CM.Wong，said it might work both
7、 ways. It appears that native speakers of tonal languages may do better at learning instruments.1. When learning Chinese，a foreigner will find _.Ahe has a difficult time learning music at the same timeBhe has an easier time learning music at the same timeC it is hard to master the tones required to
8、speak and understandDit is easy to use the brain to help him discover changes in pitch2. Why does Chinese learning have something to do with music training?ABecause there is the same difficulty in learning Chinese and music.BBecause skills to learn the two make use of the same parts of the brain.C B
9、ecause music training might help people with language study.DBecause people who do well in Chinese study do well in music.3. The underlined word “intoned” in the fourth paragraph can be replaced by the word “_”Acreated Bspelled C seemed Dpronounced4. What would be the best title for this passage?AMa
10、ndarin Speakers Are Smarter than English SpeakersBSkilled Ear for Music May Help Language Study第 2 页 共 6 页C Pitch Plays a Central Role in Chinese LearningDSchools Need to Develop Music ProgramsBToday, theres hardly an aspect of our life that isnt being upended by the tons of information available on
11、 the hundreds of millions of sites crowding the Internet, not to mention its ability to keep us in constant touch with each other via electronic mail. “If the automobile and aerospace technology had exploded at the same pace as computer and information technology,” says Microsoft, “a new car would c
12、ost about $ 2 and go 600 miles on a small quantity of gas. And you could buy a Boeing 747 for the cost of a pizza.”Probably the biggest payoff, however, is the billions of dollars the Internet is saving companies in producing goods and serving for the needs of their customers. Nothing like it has be
13、en seen since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, when power-driven machines began producing more in a day than men could turn out in nearly a year. “We view the growth of the Internet and e-commerce as a global trend,” says Merrill Lynch, “along the lines of printing press, the telephone, t
14、he computer, and electricity.”You would be hard pressed to name something that isnt available on the Internet. Consider: books, health care, movie tickets, construction materials, baby clothes, stocks, cattle feed, music, electronics, antiques, tools, real estate, toys, autographs of famous people,
15、wine and airline tickets. And even after youve moved on to your final resting place, theres no reason those you love cant keep in touch. A company called FinalT offers a place for you to store “afterlife e-mails” you can send to Heaven with the help of a “guardian angel”.Kids today are so computer l
16、iterate that it in fact ensures the United States will remain the unchallenged leader in cyberspace for the foreseeable future. Nearly all children in families with incomes of more than $75,000 a year have home computers, according to a study by the David and Lucile Packard Foundation. Youngsters fr
17、om ages 2 to 17 at all income levels have computers, with 52% of those connected to the Internet. Most kids use computers to play games (some for 30 hours or more a week), and many teenage girls think nothing of rushing home from school to have e-mail chats with friends they have just left.Whats cle
18、ar is that, whether we like it or not, the Internet is an ever growing part of our lives and there is no turning back. “The Internet is just 20% invented,” says cyber pioneer Jake Winebaum. “The last 80% is happening now.”5. What can we learn from the Microsofts remark?A. Todays cars and airplanes a
19、re extremely overpriced.B. Information technology is developing at an amazing speed.C. Information technology has reached the point where improvement is difficult.D. Theres more competition in information technology industry than in car industry.6. According to the author, the biggest benefit of the
20、 Internet is that_.A. it saves companies huge amounts of moneyB. it speeds up profit makingC. it brings people incredible convenienceD. it provides easy access to information 7. The author gives the example of FinalT to make the point that_.A. there are some genius ideas on the Internet第 3 页 共 6 页B.
21、 almost anything is available on the InternetC. people can find good bargains on the InternetD. people are free to do anything on the Internet 8. What can we learn from the fourth paragraph?A. There is a link between income and computer ownership.B. Many American children dont put computers to good
22、use.C. Studies show that boys are more computer literate than girls.D. The U.S. will stay ahead in the information technology in years.9. Which sentence has the phrase that has the same meaning as the one underlined in the fifth paragraph? A. Some can tell you that he has changed their lives, while
23、others think nothing of him.B. Think nothing of it. It was my pleasure.C. He thinks nothing of staying up all night in the Caf bar.D. He thinks nothing of the pain in his back for the moment.10. What is the message the author intends to convey?A. The Internet is going to get firm hold of our lives s
24、ome day.B. The Internet is going to influence our lives even more greatly.C. We should have a positive attitude towards the changes the Internet brings.D. Children should be well prepared for the challenges in the information age.CThe new studies show that fewer than half of the 9th graders in many
25、of the nations largest cities, can ever graduate. The studies clearly show that the dropout rate isnt dropping. And, in particular, the dropout rate isnt dropping for poor and minority students.Amazingly, though so many regret the rising dropout rate, our schools continue to lack formal plans-or any
26、 plans-to teach students motivation(动机). Most schools have no game plan to ensure that students understand that schooling will be completely necessary. Schools expect youth and children to act as though schooling is important, but they never teach them to believe that.Years ago, families ensured tha
27、t the children recognized the value of schooling. But in many modern families, the children may fail to recognize the importance of school life just because these families may actually tell their children that school is not important. Since many families are not motivating their children to be inter
28、ested students, youth professionals, like teachers may need to provide this training. Otherwise, it is likely the dropout rate will continue not to drop, but only worsen.Here are some strategies to convince even the most apathetic (无动于衷的) students that they must stay in school.Ask students if they w
29、ill ever need to work: The world has changed. 100 years ago, factory work was the booming job, and it required no education. Today, factories are increasingly automated. Most computer-related jobs require education and at least a high school diploma.Ask students which century they will be prepared f
30、or: In 1900, the most common jobs were farm laborer and domestic servanteducation not needed. Now, the most common jobs are office and sales staffeducation and diploma usually needed. An amazing 6 out of 10 people today work in a store or office.Ask students to devise a way that the employee could b
31、e replaced. For example, the coming trend in fast food is to use computers rather than people to run the restaurant. A prototype is 第 4 页 共 6 页apparently already being tested. The students should discover that most jobs that lack education and diploma requirements may be ripe for automation.11. What
32、 does the underlined part mean in Paragraph1?A. Few students can afford to go to school in large cities.B. A large number of the 9th graders can graduate now.C. There are still quite a few 9th graders leaving school early.D. Most schools in large cities have fewer and fewer students.12. Without the
33、help of youth professionals,_.A. more and more families will gradually recognize the value of school.B. it is likely that the dropout rate in schools wont continue to drop.C. some parents will be more convinced of their childrens future.D. the schools will make proper plans to solve the problems wit
34、h dropout.13. The author takes factory work for example mainly to _.A. tell us that many jobs requires certain education in the pastB. show that there are more factory work and employment in modern societyC. show that employment in the computer field grows at a high rateD. emphasize that modern jobs
35、 require education and schools are necessary 14. It can be inferred that_.A. both schools and families should answer for the high dropout rateB. many new jobs dont need childrens high school diplomaC. working in a store doesnt require a high school diplomaD. most schools are ready to help students r
36、ecognize the importance of study15. If students play the “Replace Me” game, the result would be “_”.A. They will know that they can always do without a diplomaB. More of them will drop out early to go to workC. They will discover that lack of education is a disadvantage in choosing jobsD. They will
37、become better at using computers to hunt for a jobDHans was an honest fellow with a funny round good-humored face. Living alone, every day he worked in his garden. In all the countryside there was no garden so lovely as his. All sorts of flowers grew there, blooming in their proper order as the mont
38、hs went by, one flower taking another flowers place, so that there were always beautiful things to see, and pleasant odors to smell.Hans had many friends, the most devoted being the Miller. So devoted was the rich Miller to Hans that hed never go by his garden without plucking a large bunch of flowe
39、rs or a handful of sweet herbs, or filling his pockets with fruits. The Miller used to talk about noble ideas, and Hans nodded and smiled, feeling proud of having such a friend. The neighbors thought it strange that the rich Miller never gave Hans anything in return, though he had hundreds of sacks
40、of flour, many cows and sheep, but Hans never troubled his head about these, and nothing gave him greater pleasure than to listen to all the wonderful things about the unselfishness of true friendship. In spring, summer, and autumn Hans was very happy, but when winter came, and he had no fruit or fl
41、owers to sell, he suffered from cold and hunger. Though extremely lonely, the Miller never came to see him then. “Theres no good in going to see Hans while the snow lasts.” The Miller said to his wife, 第 5 页 共 6 页“When people are in trouble they shouldnt be bothered. So Ill wait till the spring come
42、s when hes happy to give me flowers.”“Youre certainly very thoughtful,” answered his wife, “Its quite a treat to hear you talk about friendship.”“Couldnt we ask Hans up here?” said their son. “Ill give him half my meal, and show him my white rabbits.” “How silly you are!” cried the Miller. “I really
43、 dont know whats the use of sending you to school. If Hans came up here, and saw our warm fire, our good supper, and our red wine, he might get envious, and envy is a most terrible thing, and would spoil anybodys nature. I am his best friend, and Ill always watch over him, and see that hes not led i
44、nto any temptation. Besides, if Hans came here, he might ask me for some flour. Flour is one thing, and friendship is another, and they shouldnt be confused. The words are spelt differently, and mean quite different things. Everybody can see that.” He looked seriously at his son, who felt so ashamed
45、 that he hung his head down, and grew quite scared, and began to cry into his tea. Spring coming, the Miller went down to see Hans. Again he talked about friendship. “Hans, friendship never forgets. Im afraid you dont understand the poetry of life. See, how lovely your roses are!”Hans said he wanted
46、 to sell them in the market to buy back his things which were sold during the hard time of the winter. “Ill give you many good things. I think being generous is the base of friendship.” said the Miller. “And now, as Ill give you many good things, Im sure youd like to give me some flowers in return.
47、Heres the basket, and fill it quite full.”Poor Hans was afraid to say anything. He ran and plucked all his pretty roses, and filled the Millers basket, imagining the many good things promised by the Miller. The next day he heard the Miller calling: “Hans, would you mind carrying this sack of flour f
48、or me to market?”“Im sorry, but I am really very busy today.”“Well,” said the Miller, “considering that Im going to give you my things, its rather unfriendly of you to refuse. Upon my word, you mustnt mind my speaking quite plainly to you.”Poor Hans was driven by his friendship theory to work hard f
49、or his best friend, leaving his garden dry and wasted.One evening Hans was sitting by fire when the Miller came. “Hans,” cried the Miller, “My little boy has fallen off a ladder and hurt himself, and Im going for the Doctor. But he lives so far away, and its such a bad windy night. It has just occurred to me that you can go instead of me. You know Im going to give you my good things, so you sho
