广东省2020-2021学年高二年级上册期末考试英语试题分类汇编-阅读理解含答案

广东省2020-2021学年高二上学期期末考试英语试题分类汇编

-阅读理解

广东省佛山市2020-2021学年高二上学期期末考试英语试题

第二部分阅读理解（共两节，满分40分）

第一节（共15小题，每小题2分，满分30分）

阅读下列短文，从每题所给的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中，选出最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项

涂黑。

A

Wanttolovewhereyouworkandgetfulltrainingtodoit?Comeandjoinus!

Jacoby&Meyersisthenation'sfamouslawfirmprotectingconsumerssince1972.Wearecurrentlyseeking

asmartandcapablelegalreceptionisttojoinourgrowingteam.AtJacoby&Meyers,everysingleemployeehasa

chancetomakeaninfluence.Ourvaluesguidethewayweworkwitheachother.It*saculturewhereyouhavethe

freedomtoexperimentandpushyourtalentsasfarastheycango.

JobTitle:LegalReceptionist

TypeofPosition:FULLTIME

Hours:Monday—Friday

JobDescription:

Receptionistswillprovideapositivefirstimpressionofthecompanyatalltimewhileinchargeofanswering

phonesandwelcomingvisitors.Youwillneedexcellentattentiontodetailandperfectcustomerservicedelivery,

andwrittenandoralcommunicationskills.

Qualifications:

•Excellenttimemanagementandwrittenandoralcommunicationskills

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•Highlyorganizedmultitaskerwhoworkswellinafast-pacedenvironment

•Bachelor'sdegreefromafour-yearuniversity

•Averagecomputerskills

WhatWeOffer:

•Medical,Dental,VisionandPetInsurance

•PaidTimeOfF,PaidSickTime

•FlexibleHours

•Training

•Fully-paidparking

11.WhichistrueaboutJacoby&Meyers?

A.Itiswell-knownintheworld.

B.Itaimstotrainoutstandinglawyers.

C.Itsemployeesareofgreatinfluence.

D.Ithasahistoryofnearlyfivedecades.

12.Whichisoneoftherequirementsforbeingareceptionist?

A.ADoctor'sdegree.

B.Relatedworkexperience.

C.Advancedcomputerskills.

D.Goodcommunicationskills.

13.WhatcananemployeeinJacoby&Meyersenjoy?

A.Freeparking.B.Freepets.

2

C.Shortworkinghours.D.Accidentinsurance.

B

AmanfromtheVillageofGrossePointeShoresinMichiganandhisbrother-in-lawhavesomethingspecial

tocelebratethisyear.It*sbeenoneyearsincethebrother-in-lawsavedtheotherslifewithalivertransplant（移

植）.

MarkDybiswasdeterminedtohelpDaveGalbenski,whosufferedfromararediseasethatwasattackinghis

liver.Withoutatransplant,Davewoulddie.,HThreepeopleadaydieonthetransplantlistwaitingforaliver/5

Davesaid.AsDavewaitedandworried,Markwasundergoingtesting.Hedidn'ttellhisbrother-in-lawhewas

tryingtobecomehisdonor（捐赠者）untilheknewforsurehewasamatch.Thenhebrokethenews.

“Marksaidhewasgoingtobemyliverdonor,andyoucanonlyimaginetheemotionsthatIfeltatthat

point,*'Davesaid.''Lotsoftears,lotsofjoy,lotsofrelief."ItwasSeptember2019whenDavegotthenewsofhis

diseaseandintheendofNovember,theywentinfortransplantsurgeryatHenryFordHospital.

“Ifwehadeverybodysignupfbrtheorgan（器官）registry,weprobablywouldn'thavetheorganshortage

thatwetalkaboutrightnow,°saidDr.AtsushiYoshidafromthehospital.''Manypeopledon'tknowtheycan

donatepartoftheirliveranditwillgrowbackquickly.^^

AtHenryFordHospitaltheycreatedtheCenterforLivingDonationforkidneysandliversbecausetheother

choiceiswaitingforanorganfromadeceaseddonor,whichcantakeaverylongtime.

“Thisisahumanlifeontheline.Whateverwe'vegottodotogetthisdone,let'sgetitdone/Marksaid.And

Daveisbeyondgratefultheydid.He'sgratefulforthisgiftofspecialmomentswithhisfamily.He'sevenbackto

running.

"HopefullyMark'scourageousactinspiresotherpeopletogivelifebecausewhatMarkdidnotonlysaved

mylifebutalsofreedupanorganforanotherindividualtocomeoffthetransplantlist,"Davesaid.

14.WhydidMarkhidehiswillingnessofliverdonation?

A.Hedidn'twantDavetorefusehishelp.

B.Hedidn'twantDavetogetdisappointed.

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C.HewantedtomakeitasurpriseforDave.

D.Hewishedtofacethepossibledangeralone.

15.WhatdoDr.Atsushi'swordsinParagraph4suggest?

A.Manypeoplehaveadeepknowledgeofliver.

B.Liverdonationisn'tasdangerousasexpected.

C.Everybodyshouldtakeactionfororganregistry.

D.Organshortageinthefuturewon'tbesoserious.

16.Whatdoestheunderlinedword"deceased44inParagraph5mean?

A.Old.B.Kind.C.Dead.D.Sick.

17.Whichisthebesttitleforthetext?

A.FamilyLoveB.ABraveAct

C.GiftofLifeD.MagicofTransplant

C

Haveyoueverwokenupinanewplaceandrealizedwithdisappointmentthatyouarestilltired?Iam

thinking,forexample,ofthefirstnightinahotelatthestartofyourholidays,anightstayingwithfriends,orthe

firstnightofabusinesstrip.

FNE,orfirstnighteffect,hasbeenknownofforalongtime.Sofar,scientistshaven'tbeenabletocomeup

withareasonableexplanationforit,whichhaskeptsleepresearcherMasakoTamakiawakeatnight.So,she

broughttogetherateamofexpertsinhumanbrainprocessesandbegantolookforanswers.Afterexamining

dozensofbrainsofpeoplewhiletheysleptinanewplace,theyfoundthattheactivityofbothhemispheres（半球）

ofthebrainwasobviouslydifferentfromnormal.

Inanewplace,wesleepalittlelikesomeanimals.Onehemispherefallsasleepcompletely,buttheother

remainsalert（警惕）.Thisiswhathappenswith,forexample,dolphins.Inhumans,thesecondhemispherealso

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goestosleep,butthisisanunusuallyshallowsleep.Thisisinordertoreacttopossiblethreats（威胁）.Ofcourse,

inthemajorityofcases,wearenotatriskofbeingtomapartbyatiger,butevolutionary（进化的）changeshave

notkeptpacewithourlifestylechanges.Thisiswhy,duringthefirstnightinanewenvironment,almostanynoise

canwakeusup:thecreakingofadoor,orthedistantbarkingofapuppy.Inmostcases,thelefthemisphereison

nightwatch.Willwealwaysbelikethis?Anotherscientist,YukiSasaki,saysthat,becauseoftherelativepeace

andsecurityofourexistence,overtimethisfunctionofthehumanbrainwillbelost.

Meanwhile,whenturningoutthelightinanewplace,it*sbesttogiveuponanyhopeofagoodnight'ssleep.

Evolutionworksslowly.

18.WhatdidMasakoTamaki'steamtrytofind?

A.Thereasonfbrherpoorsleep.

B.Theexplanationforfirstnighteffect.

C.Thesolutiontohersleepingproblem.

D.Thesecretofhumanbrainprocesses.

19.Whathappenswhenhumansareinanewplace?

A.Theychangetheirlifestyle.

B.Theyfunctionlikeanimals.

C.Theyfacepossiblethreatswhenasleep.

D.Theysleepwithpartofthebrainalert.

20.WhatcanbeinferredaboutFNE?

A.Itwillbeharmfultohumanbrain.

B.Itisnecessaryforhumansecurity.

C.Itwillnotdisappearinashorttime.

D.Ithaslittleinfluenceonhumansleep.

5

21.Whichsectionofawebsiteisthepassageprobablyfrom?

A.Science.B.Travel.C.History.D.Lifestyle.

D

Intheearly1970sAmericanwomengavebirth,onaverage,to2.12childreneach.By2018thatnumberhad

fallento1.73.JordanNickersonandDavidSolomon,professorsatMIT,thinktheyhavefoundaninteresting

factorwhichhelpexplainthischange:America'sincreasinglyprotectivechildcar-seatlaws.

Theirstudyexaminestheeffectthatcar-seatpoliciesmayhavehadonAmericanbirthrates.Duringthe

1980s,onlythechildrenagedunderthreehadtobesecuredinchild-safetyseats.Butsincethen,therequirements

havebeenslowlyincreased.Today,mostplacesinAmericamakechildrensitinsafetyseatsuntiltheireighth

birthdays.Thatconcernforyoungsters'safetyhashadtheunexpectedconsequenceoffewerthree-childfamilies.

Indrawingthisconclusiontheyhaveconnectedpopulationdatawithchangesinstatelawsonsafetyseats.

Theydiscoveredthatstricterlawshadnonoticeableeffectsontheratesofbirthsoffirstandsecondchildren,but

withadrop,onaverage,of0.73percentagepointsinthenumberofwomengivingbirthtoathirdwhilethefirst

twowereyoungenoughtoneedsafetyseats.

Theprofessorsalsomadetwootherrelatedobservations.Thereductiontheysawwaslimitedtofamiliesthat

didactuallyhaveaccesstoacar.Andspaceinthevehicleistheimportantfactor.Inpre-safety-seatdays,putting

threeyoungchildrenintothebackofafamilycarwasaperfectlypracticaladvice.Mostsuchcars,though,can

comfortablyaccommodateonlytwosafetyseats,So,asthechildcar-seatlawschange,afamilymustwaitlonger

timeforathirdchildtofitinthecar.Sometimes,thatwaitwillmeannothirdchildiseverbom.

Unless,ofcourse,thefamilyconcernedbuysabiggercar.Butaveragefamilieshavetheobviousreasonsnot

todoso—bigcarscostmore,andaremorecostlytorun.Interestingly,DrNickersonandDrSolomonfoundthat

thethird-childdeterrent（遏制作用）appearsevenstrongeramongwealthierfamilies.Astheyobserve,"largecars

mayreflecttheirrealstatusandtaste,whichmaymakepeopleunwillingtoswitchevenwhentheycanaffordto.”

22.Whatisthepassagemainlyabout?

A.ChangesinAmericancar-seatlaws.

6

B.Waystoensurechildren'ssafetyincars.

C.Influenceofcar-seatlawsonAmericanbirthrate.

D.TheconnectionbetweencarsandAmericanbirthrate.

23.Whatcontributestofewerthree-childfamiliesaccordingtoParagraph4?

A.Thespaceofthefamilycar.

B.Thefamily*seconomicstatus.

C.Thequalityofchildsafetyseats.

D.Thedesiretohaveathirdchild.

24.Whatcanbeinferredaboutbigcarsfromthelastparagraph?

A.Theyareasymbolofwealth.

B.Theyareaffordabletomostfamilies.

C.Theyaremorepopularamongricherfamilies.

D.Theyareunabletosolvechildbirthratesproblem.

25.Howdidthetwoprofessorsreachtheconclusionoftheirstudy?

A.Bycomparingdata.B.Bymakingsurveys.

C.Bydoingexperiments.D.Byholdinginterviews.

【答案】11DI2D13A14B15B16C17C18B19D20C21A22C23A24D25A

广东省梅州市2020-2021学年高二上学期期末考试英语试题

第二部分:阅读理解（共两节，满分37.5分）

第一节（共小题;每小题2.5%,满分25分）

7

阅读下列3篇短文，从每小题后所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中，选出最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该

选项涂黑。

A

VacationCamps

LakeIdahoCamp

When:2weeksinJuly

Joinourfun-filledcamponthebanksoflakeIdaho!Youcantakepartinexcitingwatersports,including

canoeingandswimming.Allequipmentisprovided.Oarhighlyqualifiedinstructorsleadgroupsforalllevels,

includingbeginners.Intheevenings,weorganizecampfireactivitiesforchildrenwithsinging,drama,and

storytelling,whileadultscanexplorethenearbytownofSt.Albans.

Cost：$400,includingallyourdelicioushealthymeals.

EverwellForestCamp

When：1weekinAugust

TeachersMatandAliceBransonrunourcampintheEverweliForest.Opentochildren8-12yearsofage,the

campalsooffersparticipantsthechancetotryvariousartsandcrafts,includingpaintings,pottery,andwoodwork.

Placesarelimitedto20,soearlybookingisadvised.

Cost：$150,includingallmeals.

HappyShellsCamp

When：3weeksinAugust

HappyShellsvolunteerorganizationislookingforyoungpeopleaged15-20tojoinourcampontheFlorida

coast.Participantswillhelptobuildprotectivefencesaroundthenestsofseaturtleswhichcometothebeaches

duringthesummertolaytheireggs.Attheendofthecamp,participantsreceiveacertificate（证书）thatcanbe

usedforcreditonhighschoolandacollegecourse.

Cost：$120perweektocoverfoodandhotel.

8

PowerhouseBootCamp

When：2weeksinJulyorAugust

Thenameoftheeventcouldgivesomepeoplethewrongidea.Participantsactuallystayinahotel,notan

outdoorcamp.Butitdefinitelyisanintensive（集中的）courseofphysicaltraining.Ifyouwanttogetintoshape

fast,PowerhouseBootCampisforyou.

Cost：$520fortwoweeks.

16.Whichcampprovidesagoodchancetolearnarts?

A.LakeIdahoCamp.B.EverwellForestCamp.

C.HappyShellsCamp.D.PowerhouseBootCamp.

17.Howmuchwillparticipantspayiftheygotoprotectseaturtles?

A.SI50.B.$260.C.$360.D.$400.

18.WhatcancampersdoinPowerhouseBootCamp?

A.Campoutsidethecity.B.Takeexerciseinahotel.

C.Sailandswiminthelake.D.Enjoythesunonthebeach.

B

ItwasaveryhotdayinlateSummer.Iwasayoungdadworkinginalocalwoodmill.Itwasdangerous,back

-breakingworkthatpaidverylittle.IntheyearIworkedthere,onlyfourotherpeoplehadn'tquitandbeen

replacedwithnewfeces（渣滓）.Thoseofuswhostayeddidsoonlybecausetherewasnootherworktofindto

supportourfamilies.

Onthisdayallofuswerecoveredinsweatanddust.WhenIlookedaround,everyfaceIsawlookedangry

andfrustrated.Suddenly,avoicecalledout,"Hey!There'sadeerinhere."Alostlittlefemaledeerhadwandered

throughtheopenloadingbaydoorsandwasnowcowering（蜷缩）inbetweenthehugepilesofwood.Allofus

stoppedworkingandwentlookingforherassheranaboutlookingforawayout.

9

NowmostpeoplewhereIlivehuntdeerformeatintheFallbutalsotreatthemwithgreatkindnesstherestof

theyear.Manywillevenbuy50bagsofcomtohelpfeedthemduringtheharshWintermonths.Itwasnosurprise

thenthatallofusweresoonquicklyworkingtogethertofreethislittlecreature.Byblockingoffalltheother

routes,wewereabletoguideherfrantic（紧张忙舌L的）searchbacktotheopenbaydoors.Wewatchedasshe

jumpedoutofthebuildingandbackintothewoods.Thenwewalkedbackintowork.Inoticedsomething,

though.Oneveryfacetherewasajoyfulsmile.Itwasasifthisonesingleactofkindnesshadstrengthenedus

againandremindedusofwhatlifeisallabout.

19.Whywerefewpeoplewillingtoworkinthewoodmill?

A.Theyweredissatisfiedwiththepayandworkingconditions.

B.Theyweretiredofwoodcuttingandwantedmorefreedom.

C.Theywantedtomovetobigplacestoseekmorepleasure.

D.Theydislikedthetreatmentofthebossandanimalsaround.

20.WhatcanbeinferredfromParagraph2?

A.Thedeermadetheworkersunabletowork.

B.Theworkerstherewantedtokillthedeerformeat.

C.Itwascommonfortheworkerstoseeadeerthere.

D.Thedeerwasarayoflighttothedullworkersthere.

21.Whichofthefollowingcanbestdescribetheworkers?

A.Cruelandimpatient.B.Hard-workingandcaring.

C.Cautiousandcourageous.D.Bad-temperedanddemanding.

C

OnSaturday24August（1918,itwasrainingcatsanddogsandthunderingoveracitycalledSunderlandon

thenortheastcoastofEngland.ThestoiTnlastedforonlyabouttenminutes.Peopleweresurprisedtoseethatit

10

wasnotjustrainwaterfallingfromthesky.Therewerefishfallingdown,too!Peoplecameouttofindoutwhat

washappening.Theycouldnotbelievetheirowneyes.Therewerethousandsoffish-sandeels-lyingonthe

ground.Theywereaboutsevencentimeterslong,andallwerefrozensolid.

Sandeelsswimtogetherinlargegroups,ofteninsandywater,andareoftenfoundinlargenumbersinthe

NorthSea,whichreachesouttotheeastofSunderland.Howwasitpossibleforthesesandeelstofallfromthe

skyandlandonSunderland?

Scientistsbelievedtheheavythunderstormthatafternoonmayhavecausedawaterspout.Waterspoutscanbe

formedwhenstrongwindsmovequicklyinacircleoverwater.Theyaresopowerful;anythinglessthanone

meterinlengthcanbetakenintothemandforcedintotheclouds.Thecloudscarrywhateverhasbeentakeninto

themforlongdistances-sometimesover150kilometers.It'sverycoldupthereandeverythingsoonfreezessolid.

Forhundredsofyearstherehavebeenreportsofsmallanimalsbeingtakenintotheskythroughwaterspouts.

In2009,deadtadpolesraineddownonthecityofNanaoinJapan.In2012,fiftykilosofprawnsfellfromthesky

overSriLanka.In2017,fishfellonthecoastalcityofTampicoinMexico.

Itmustbeaverystrangeexperiencetoseefishrainingdownonyou.Itwouldprobablyhurtifonefellon

yourhead!Withclimatechange,globalwanningandmanyreportsofterriblenaturaldisasters,willthetimeever

comewhenitmayreallybegintoraincatsanddogs?

22.Whatwastherainlikeon24August,1918?

A.Itwasveryheavy.B.ItfellaroundEngland.

C.Itlastedquitealongtime.D.Itcausedmanyhumandeaths.

23.WhatdoweknowaboutthesandeelsthatlandedonSunderland?

A.Theywerefewinnumber.B.Theycameindifferentsizes.

C.Theywerestillalivewhenlanding.D.TheyprobablycamefromtheNorthSea.

24.Whatdoestheunderlinedword"them"inParagraph3referto?

A.Clouds.B.Waterspouts.

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C.Strongwinds.D.Thewatersofthesea.

25.Intheend,whatdoestheauthorprobablycaremostabout?

A.Ourhealth.B.Ourenvironment.

C.Thewildanimals.D.Thenewsreports.

【答案】16-18BCB19-21ADB22-25ADBB

广东省肇庆市2020-2021学年高二上学期期末考试英语试题

阅读下列短文，从每题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中选出最佳选项。

A

Thefollowingaresomeofthebestitemsonsaleyoucanfindonourwebsite.

MartinClunes：IslandsofAustraliaDVD

ItemNO.XA9692

Price：$24.99

MartinClunesmakesdelightfuldocumentariesforBritishtelevision.Hislatestjourneytakeshimdown

undertoplacesmostofuswillneversee.Australiaissurroundedbymorethan8,000islands,andClunesflies,

sails,andkayaksto16ofthebest,findingspectacularscenery,interestinghistory,amazingcreatures,unusual

pastimesandlocalpeople.

NATURE：Cuba9sWildRevolutionDVD

ItemNO.WC5582

Price:$19.99

Cubaisanislandteemingwithgreatbiodiversity:fromtheworld'stiniesthummingbirdtothousandsof

migratingcrabs,tothejumpingcrocodilesoftheZapataswamp.Decadesofasocialist,conservation-minded

government,Americanembargoes（禁运）andminimaldevelopmenthavelefttheislandunchangedfor50years.

12

AmericanExperience:Mr.TornadoDVD

ItemNO.WC5472

Price:$I9.99

TetsuyaFujitaspenttenmonthsstudyingTheSuperOutbreakof1974,whichwasthestrongesttornado

outbreakonrecord.Mr.TornadoistheamazingstoryofTetsuyaFujita.Hisresearchhelpedsavethousandsof

Americans,whoselivesarethreatenedbydangerousweatherconditions.

WorldWarOne:ThePeopledStoryDVD

ItemNO.XD3362

Price:$24.99

Throughoriginaldiaries,letters,andpersonalstories,thisunforgettabledocumentarytellshowthelivesof

regularBritishmenandwomenweretransformedbytheGreatWar,toldintheirownwords.Thewarwascruel:

hundredsofthousandswouldneverreturn,andthosewhodidwouldcarryphysicaloremotionalwoundsforever.

Alongwithhistoricalfootage,anoutstandinggroupofactorsactoutthefirst-handaccounts.

l.WhatdoItemNO.XA9692andItemNO.WC5582haveincommon?

A.Theyintroducethesameplace.

B.Theycangetviewersclosetonature.

C.Theyfocusonthehistoryofaplace.

D.Theycostthesameamountofmoney.

2.HowdidTetsuyaFujitadohisresearch?

A.Bystudyingasupertornado.

B.Bycollectingamazingstories.

C.Bytrackingdangeroustornadoes.

13

D.ByworkingwiththousandsofAmericans.

3.WhatisthedocumentaryWorldWarOne:ThePeople'sStorymainlyabout?

A.ThebraveryofBritishpeople.

B.ThecausesofWorldWarOne.

C.ThehistoricalachievementsofBritishpeople.

D.TheinfluenceofWorldWarOneonordinarypeople.

B

Atleastthreetimesaweek.LouiseandDavidSamplepreparethree-coursemealsintheirhomeandthen

givethemaway.

Louisepreparesthemeatsthenightbeforeshecooksthem.Vegetablesmatter,too.Sheoncespentanentire

Saturdaycookinggreens.Each'legular”（whichishowthecouplereferstothosetheirmealsareintendedfor）gets

afreshsalad.ThismeansDavidneedstoshopmultipletimesaweek.Togetherthecoupleprepare,cook,clean,

package,anddelivercontainersfulloffoodtotheirneighborsinneed.

“They'realwaysmakingfoodforpeople,makingsureeverybodyistakencareof,alwaysgiving,said

Sha，Laina,35.“Itsjustsomethingtheydo.TheSamples,whoareretired（退休的）,sayitsnobigdealspending

hundredsofdollarsandunknownhourseachmonthinservicetoothers.

LouisegotadangerouscancerinNovember2018,andthereweremomentswhenthosearoundherworried

shewouldn'tmakeit.LastyearonValentine'sDay,shewasverysick.Butrightupuntilshereceivedheroperation

lastAugustatAlbertEinsteinMedicalCenter,shemadefoodfortheregularsandforeveryemployeewhotook

careofher."Iwascookingthenightbeforemytransplant（移植）.Davidtookmetotheseventhfloorofthe

hospital”-btoherpatientroom—“thentookthefoodtothem,“shesaid.Evenduringherpost-transplanthospital

stay,Louisefoundawaytohelpothers.Shekelseparatetheuntouchedfoodfromhermeal,andgiveittoDavidto

takehome."We'dgiveittotheregulars,soshedidn'thavetowasteit,“saidDavid.

Twomonthsafterleavingthehospital,Louisewasbackinthekitchen/'Whensomeonegoesthrough

somethingtraumatic（仓伤的）,continuinganypartofyourlifewhereyouknowwhatyou'redoingisvery

14

beneficial.Itputsyouinaplacewhereyou'reincontrol,'Davidsaid."Shelovescooking.Justdoingitgaveher

partofherlifeback.^^

4.WhatismainlytalkedaboutinParagraph2?

A.Thecouplewentshoppingalot.

B.Ittakesgreatefforttopreparethefood.

C.Themealsfromthecouplearewellbalanced.

D.Thecoupletakegoodcareoftheirneighbors.

5.WhatdoSha'Laina'swordsshowaboutLouiseandDavid?

A.Theyarefondofgiving.B.Theyaregoodattreatingstrangers.

C.Theyareexhaustedfromthecooking.D.Theypreferservingotherstocooking.

6.Aftergettingcancer,Louise.

A.wastoosicktoseethedoctoraloneB.usuallycookedfoodinthehospital

C.continuedheractsofgivingD.receivedseveraloperations

7.Whatcanweinferfromthelastparagraph?

A.Louise'sbraveryhelpedhersurvive.

B.CookingbenefitsLouise'srecovery.

C.Everyonewillgothroughhardtimes.

D.Louiseshouldspendmoretimecooking.

C

Firedbricksareauniversalbuildingmaterial,producedbythousand-year-oldtechnology,whichthroughout

historyhasseldomservedanyotherpurpose.ButresearchersatWashingtonUniversityinSt.Louishavefounda

newuseforbricks:asenergystorageunits.Ateamofengineersandchemistshavefoundawaytotransforman

15

ordinaryhousebrickintoabattery（电¥也）一allowingittoconduct（传导）andstoreelectricity.

TheresearchersconnectanLEDlightbulb（灯》包）tothebricks.Theyarepowerfulenoughtoilluminateitand

costonlyabout$3tomake.

“Ilovetheideaofaddingvaluetothingsthatareinexpensive,thingsthatareaffordable,thingsthatwesee

everyday,“saidJulioD'Arcy,anassistantprofessorofchemistryatWashingtonUniversityandoneofthe

researchersonthisproject.

Thenewinventionreliesonsomethingknownasironoxide,aformofmatterinbricksthatgivesthemtheir

redcolour.Thescientistspumpedthebrickswithseveralgasesthatreactwithironoxidetoproduceanetworkof

plasticfibres.Thesefibrescoattheemptyspacesinsidethebricks—andconductelectricity.

“Whatwe'retryingtodois:we*retryingtomakespecializedplasticsandthenwecanactuallyputthose

plasticsinsideconstructionmaterials,"D'Arcysays."Inthefuture,abrickwallcouldpotentiallyservetwo

purposesatonetime:providingstructuralsupportandstoringelectricityproducedfromrenewableenergy

sources,suchassolarpanels.^^

Thetechnologyisstillatleastafewyearsawayfrombeingreadyforthemarket.Andrightnowtheenergy

thatthebrickscanstoreisstillnotmuch.Huttheteamisnowtestingwaystoimprovebrick

performance——becauseitlookslikeyoucanfindanewpurposeforanoldbrick.

8.Whatdidtheresearchersturnbricksinto?

A.Lightingequipment.B.Constructionmaterials.

C.Anelectricity-storageitem.D.Anewformofgreenenergy.

9.Whatdoestheunderlinedword''illuminate^inparagraph2probablymean?

A.Store.B.Light.C.Conduct.D.Transform.

10.Whatconductselectricityinthebricks?

A.Ironoxide.B.Thestoredgases.

C.Theproducedfibres.D.Theemptyspaces.

16

11.Whatisthebesttitleforthetext?

A.OldBri