Passage 1
King Juan Carlos of Spain once insisted \"kings don't give up the throne(王位), they die in their sleep.\" But embarrassing scandals and the popularity of the republican left in the recent Euro-elections have forced him to eat his words and stand down. So does the Spanish crisis suggest that monarchy(君主制)is seeing its last days？Does that mean the writing is on the wall for all European royals, with their magnificent uniforms and majestic lifestyles？
The Spanish case provides arguments both for and against monarchy. When public opinion is particularly polarized, as it was following the end of the Franco regime, monarchs can rise above mere politics and symbolize a spirit of national unity.
It is this apparent transcendence(超越)of politics that explains monarchs continuing popularity as heads of state. And so, the Middle East excepted, Europe is the most monarch-filled region in the world, with 10 kingdoms (not counting Vatican City and Andorra). Most royal families have survived because they allow voters to avoid the difficult search for a non﹣controversial but respected public figure.
Even so, kings and queens undoubtedly have a downside. Symbolic of national unity as they claim to be, their very history and sometimes the way they behave today symbolizes outdated and indefensible privileges and inequalities. At a time when Thomas Piketty and other economists are warning of rising inequality and the increasing power of inherited wealth, it is strange that wealthy noble families should still be the symbolic heart of modern democratic(民主的)states.
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The most successful monarchies try their best to abandon or hide their old noble ways. Princes and princesses have day﹣jobs and ride bicycles, not horses(or helicopters). Even so, these are wealthy families who party with the international 1%, and media interference makes it increasingly difficult to maintain the right image. 1. According to the first two paragraphs, King Juan Carlos of Spain________ . A. used to enjoy high public support B. was unpopular among European royals C. eased his relationship with his rivals D. gave up his throne in embarrassment
2. Monarchs are kept as heads of state in Europe mostly________ .
A. owing to their undoubted and respectable statusB. to achieve a balance between tradition and reality
C. to give voters more public figures to look up to D. due to their everlasting political symbolizing
3. Which of the following is shown to be strange, according to Paragraph 4？________ A. The noble families'excessive dependence on inherited wealth B. The role of the nobility in modern democracies C. The simple lifestyle of the noble families D. The nobility's sticking to their privileges
4. Which of the following is the best title of the text？________ A. Carlos, a good example of All European Monarchs B. Europe, the most monarch﹣filled region in the world
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C. Carlos, a Lesson for All European Monarchs D. Europe, symbolic heart of modern democracy.
Passage 2
We've considered several ways of paying to cut inline: hiring line standers, buying tickets from scalpers(票贩子), or purchasing line cutting privileges directly from, say, an airline or an amusement park. Each of these deals replaces the morals of the queue (waiting your turn) with the morals of the market (paying a price for faster service).
Markets and queues—paying and waiting—are two different ways of allocating things, and each is appropriate to different activities. The morals of the queue, \"First come, first served, \" have an egalitarian(平等主义的) appeal. They tell us to ignore privilege, power, and deep pockets.
The principle seems right on play grounds and at bus stops. But the morals of the queue do not govern all occasions. If I put my house up for sale, I have no duty to accept the first offer that comes along, simply because it's the first. Selling my house and waiting for a bus are different activities, properly governed by different standards.
Sometimes standards change, and it is unclear which principle should apply. Think of the recorded message you hear, played over and over, as you wait on hold when calling your bank: \"Your call will be answered in the order in which it was received. \" This is essential for the morals of the queue. It's as if the company is trying to ease our impatience with fairness.
But don't take the recorded message too seriously. Today, some people's calls are answered faster than others. Call center technology enables companies to \"score\"
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incoming call sand to give faster service to those that come from rich places. You might call this telephonic queue jumping.
Of course, markets and queues are not the only ways of allocating things. Some goods we distribute by merit, others by need, still others by chance. However, the tendency of markets to replace queues, and other non-market ways of allocating goods is so common in modern life that we scarcely notice it anymore. It is striking that most of the paid queue—jumping schemes we've considered—at airports and amusement parks, in call centers, doctors'offices, and national parks—are recent developments, scarcely imaginable three decades ago. The disappearance of the queues in these places may seem an unusual concern, but these are not the only places that markets have entered.
1. According to the author, which of the following seems governed by the principle \"First come, first served\"?________ A. Taking buses. B. Buying houses. C. Flying with an airline. D. Visiting amusement parks.
2. The example of the recorded message in Paragraphs 4 and 5 illustrates. ________ A. the necessity of patience in queuing B. the advantage of modern technology C. the uncertainty of allocation principle D. the fairness of telephonic services
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3. The passage is meant to ________. A. justify paying for faster services B. discuss the morals of allocating things C. analyze the reason for standing in line D. criticize the behavior of queue jumping
Passage 3
Music For Humans and Humpback Whales
As researchers conclude in Science, the love of music is not only a universal feature of the human species, but is also deeply fixed in complex structures of the human brain, and is far more ancient than previously suspected.
In the articles that discuss the field of bio-musicology, the study of the biological basis for the creation and appreciation of music, researchers present various evidence to show that music-making is at once an original human \"business\with skillful performers throughout the animal kingdom.
The new reports stress that humans hold no copyright on sound wisdom, and that a number of nonhuman animals produce what can rightly be called music, rather than random sounds. Recent in-depth analyses of the songs sung by humpback whales show that, even when their organ would allow them to do otherwise, the animals converge on the same choices relating to sounds and beauty, and accept the same laws of song composition as those preferred by human musicians, and human ears, everywhere. For example, male humpback whale, who spend six months of each year doing
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little else but singing, use rhythms(节奏) similar to those found in human music and musical phrases of similar length—a few seconds. Whales are able to make sounds over a range of at least seven octaves(八度音阶), yet they tend to move through a song in beautiful musical intervals, rather than moving forwards madly. They mix the sounds like drums and pure tones in a ratio(比例) which agrees with that heard in much western music. They also use a favorite technique of human singers, the so-called A-B-A form, in which a theme is stated, then developed, and then returned to in slightly revised form. Perhaps most impressive, humpback songs contain tunes that rhyme. \"This suggests that whales use rhyme in the same way we do: as a technique in poem to help them remember complex material, \" the researchers write.
1. The underlined words \"converge on\" in Paragraph 3 probably means ________ . A. tend towards C. turn into
B. refer to D. put forward
2. Which of the following shows the advanced musical ability in humpback whales?________
A. They can remember complex material. B. They can create pleasing patterns of music. C. They can make sounds like drums continuously. D. They can sing along with rhythms of western music. 3. What is the main idea of the article?________
A. Animals are able to compose and enjoy music like humans. B. Human beings borrow ideas in music from humpback whales.
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C. Humpback whales are skillful performers in the animal kingdom. D. Music-making is an ancient activity of both humans and animals. 4. The main purpose of the passage is to ________ . A. argue and discuss C. compare and advertise
Passage 4
Early or Later Day Care
Many young parents are confused about whether their children should have early day care, and there have always been different views on this subject.
The British psychoanalyst John Bowlby believes that separation from parents during the sensitive “attachment” period from birth to three may scar a child’s personality and lead to psychological problems in later life. Some people have drawn the conclusion from Bowlby’s work that children should not be subjected to day care before three because of the parental separation it causes, and many people do believe this.
According to Bowlby, a great deal of psychological harm can occur when young children are separated from their parents. If they are left without touch for a while, they will have a higher stress level. Parents’ influence on their children’s well-being may never be greater than during the earliest years of life, when a child’s brain is developing rapidly and when nearly all of her or his experiences are shaped by parents and the family environment.
B. inform and explain D. examine and assess
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However, there are critics. Some anthropologists (人类学家) point out that the love affair between children and parents found in modern societies does not usually exist in traditional societies. There has been a long history of the fact that father and mother did not bring up their children alone. Plato, around 394 B. C., argued that a system of early child care would free women to participate in society. Results from Israeli and Dutch studies show that child-raising duties are more evenly distributed among a broader group of people.
Besides, studies have reported that early day care has a neutral or slightly positive effect on children’s development. They learn the benefits of being socially smart, understanding the concept of sharing and caring. They promote concentration skills, which is very important in their learning. There are games where children are taught basic language and mathematical skills through stories and everyday examples.
Common sense tells us that early day care would not be so widespread if children had problems with it. But Bowlby’s analysis raises the possibility that it has delayed effects. The possibility that such care might lead to more mental illness 15 or 20 years later can only be explored by the use of statistics. Whatever the long-term effects, parents sometimes find the immediate effects difficult to deal with. Children under three dislike leaving their parents and show unhappiness. At the age of three almost all children find it easy to go to the nursery. The matter, then, is far from being clearly known, though experience and available evidence indicate that early day care is reasonable for young children.
1. The passage mainly argues whether ______.
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A. children over three will accept school education B. children under three should be sent to nursery schools C. the family relationship is different in traditional societies D. early day care should be totally replaced in modern societies 2. Which of the following supports Bowlby’s theory?
A. Early day care wouldn’t be so popular if it had negative effects. B. Separation from parents for young children is common in history. C. Parents find the immediate effects of early day care difficult to deal with. D. Studies show early day care has a positive effect on children’s development. 3. The author’s attitude towards early day care is that ______. A. children under three should stay with their parents B. it has potential benefits for both children and parents C. the bad effect of it on children will disappear as they grow up D. it is controversial and the settlement calls for the use of statistics 4. Which of the following shows the development of ideas in the passage? I: Introduction P: Point Sp: Sub-point (次要点) C: Conclusion
A. B.
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C. D.
Passage 5
Secrets I Know (Random House Children’s Books, ages 3-7)
This tale written by Kallie George and pictured by Paola Zakimi follows a young girl and her little friend as they move from rain to sunshine, from pleasant loneliness to sweet friendship, and finally from adventures on earth to an exploration of the sky above. The colors of Zakimi’s pencildrawings are calming and George’s poetic text tells her story with simple language.
Pandora (Clarion Books, ages 3-7)
The award-winning author Victoria Turnbull tells the story of a little fox Pandora. Pandora lives alone. She makes herself a handsome home, but no one ever comes to visit. Then one day something falls from the sky -- a bird with a broken wing. Little by little, the bird helps Pandora feel less lonely. Turnbull’s watercolor and colored pencil drawings make this story offriendship and growth an atmospheric delight.
Prince and Pirate (G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Younger Readers, ages 5-8) A different kind offriendship is described in this book, by Charlotte Gunnufson with pictures by Mike Lowery. Prince and Pirate are a pair of mismatched fish put into
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the same aquarium（水族馆). At first it seems that they’ll never learn to be friends. It’s only when both take pity on a frightened dogfish that they learn the benefits of cooperation, and soon all three fish become good friends.
The Giant Jumperee (Dinal Books, ages 3-5)
The story was written by the award-winning British author Julia Donaldson. When Rabbit hears a loud voice bellowingthreateningly from inside a cave, he gathers （吼叫）Cat, Bear and Elephant to help him decide what to do. But it’s Mama Frog who fearlessly confronts（面对）the unknown creature. Helen Oxenbury’s sof t watercolors creat a beautiful countryside and her characterizations of the animals are impressive. 1. Who pictured the book Pandora? A. Kallie George. C. Paola Zakimi.
B. Victoria Turnbull. D. Charlotte Gunnufson.
2. Which book tells a story about courage? A. Pandora. C. Prince and Pirate.
B. Secrets I Know. D. The Giant Jumperee.
3. What do the four books have in common? A. Their publishers are the same one. C. They all have pencil drawings.
B. Their characters are all animals. D. They are all for younger readers
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参考答案
Passage 1
1. D细节理解题。根据文章第一段 embarrassing scandals and the popularity of the republican left in the recent Euro-elections have forced him to eat his words and stand down. 可知尴尬的丑闻和共和的风行结束了 Carlos 退位。故选 D。
2. A细节理解题。根据题干关键词Monarchs和heads of state，可定位文章第三段 they allow voters to avoid the difficult search for a non-controversial but respected public figure. 可知欧洲国家王室留下来的原因是他们可以让选民们不用去艰苦地寻找一个不受争议、受到尊敬的公众人物的形象，给选民以精神寄托。故选 A。
3. B细节理解题。根据文章第四段 wealthy noble families should still be the symbolic heart of modern democratic(民主的)states. 此处“should”意为“竟然”，表示很奇怪，可知有钱的贵族家庭居然仍然是现代民主国家的核心象征。故选 B。
4. C最佳标题题。通读全文可知全文用西班牙国王 Carlos 退位一事开篇，展开了对君主制是穷途末路的探讨，并着重分析了欧洲各国当下君主制的优劣势。故选 C
Passage 2
1. A细节理解题。从第三段第一句\"The principle seems right on playgrounds and at bus stops. \"可知答案为A。
2. C推理判断题。根据第四段和第五段的开头中心句可知事例服务于中心句, 第四段第一句明确提到\"it is unclear which principle should apply. \因此可以推断答案为C。
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3. B主旨大意题。根据文章的首段、尾段以及各段中心句可知本文主要讲述分配事物的准则。
Passage 3
1. A词义猜测题。根据逗号后的重要连词and可知，所猜动作与其后动作accept（接受）构成递进关系，含义相同，结合选项A释义“有倾向（做）”，选项B释义“参考”，选项C释义“变成”，选项D释义“提出”，只有A项与“接受”释义相近，故选A。
2. B细节理解题。若根据题干“advanced musical ability（发达的音乐能力）”，回到原文定位考生会发现并未出现原词，再加上本身篇章中所涉及的难词长句，就更不容易选出答案。因此通过排除法，根据每个选项关键词回到原文定位，确定选项正误则为最快的方法。A项根据“complex material（复杂的内容）”定位至文章最后一行，通过句意“这暗示出座头鲸使用同我们在诗中助记复杂内容相同的韵律”可知并非是鲸鱼记忆复杂内容，故A错。B项，根据“pleasing patterns（令人愉悦的样式）”并未找到完全对照，暂且一放。C项根据“drums（鼓声）”回到原文定位至倒数第二段倒数第四行，通过前半句句意“它们将多种声音混在一起就像鼓声一样”并未提到“continuously（不断地）”这个点，因此C项错。D项根据“western music（西方音乐）”回到原文定位至倒数第二段倒数第三行，接C选项后半句，通过句意“它们将多种声音混在一起就像以我们所听的许多西方音乐中比例一致的鼓声和纯净乐一样”，可知并非是按照西方音乐的旋律唱，因此D项错。由此，排除A、C、D项，故选B。
3. D主旨大意题。文章首段提出，对音乐的爱，不仅是人类的普遍特点，还根深蒂固于人类大脑的复杂结构中，更比之前所猜想的源头要更为久远。接着
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第二段引出说明主题——音乐的创造不仅是人类最初的事儿，还是一种与来自动物王国熟练演奏者相关的艺术表现形式。由此可知，音乐创造既是人类又是动物的一种古老活动，与D项相符，故选D。
4. B主旨大意题。由3题可知，文章为说明文，说明文的文章特征就是给读者传递信息，并且解释信息。再结合文章，开篇引出主题，接着阐述座头鲸是怎么发出美妙的声音的，并且结合同人类创造音乐的手法相似，简言之，就是传递并且解释此信息，与B项相符，故选B。
Passage 4
1. B 主旨大意题。根据文章第一段“Many young parents are confused about whether their children should have early day care, and there have always been different views on this subject.”可知本文是一篇议论文，讨论了三岁的儿童是否应该被送去日间护理托儿所。文章分别介绍了支持与反对两种不同观点。故B项正确。
2. C 推理判断题。根据第二段第一句“The British psychoanalyst John Bowlby believes that separation from parents during the sensitive “attachment” period from birth to three may scar a child’s personality and lead to psychological problems in later life.”可知John Bowlby认为三岁之前孩子与父母分开会给孩子的个性带来影响，并对孩子以后的生活带来精神方面的问题。而性格和精神方面的问题是难以处理的。故C项正确。
3. D 推理判断题。根据最后一段前两句“Common sense tells us that early day care would not be so widespread if children had problems with it. But Bowlby’s analysis raises the possibility that it has delayed effects.”可知作者认为三岁之前送孩子去托儿所的影响是存在争议的，很难说这种做法是正确的还是错误的。再根据
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第三句“The possibility that such care might lead to more mental illness 15 or 20 years later can only be explored by the use of statistics.”可知我们要根据具体的数据来分析这个问题。故D项正确。
4. B 篇章结构题。本文是一篇议论文。第一段提出文章讨论的话题，也就是Introduction；第二三段解释英国精神分析专家John Bowlby反对三岁之前送孩子去托儿所的理由，也就是point1；第四五段是支持送孩子去托儿所的理由，也就是point2；四五段是两个次要点，也就是sp1和sp2；文章最后一段总结了最终的结论。所以B项与文章的结构相吻合。故B项正确。
Passage 5
1. B 细节理解题。根据Pandora (Clarion Books, ages 3-7)部分的Turnbull’s watercolor and colored pencil drawings make this story offriendship and growth an atmospheric delight.（特恩布尔的水彩画和彩色铅笔画使这个关于友谊和成长的故事充满了欢乐。）可知，多利亚•特恩布尔绘制了这本书。故B选项正确。
2. D 细节理解题。根据The Giant Jumperee (Dinal Books, ages 3-5)部分的When Rabbit hears a loud voice bellowing threateningly from inside a cave, he gathers Cat, Bear and Elephant to help him decide what to do. But it’s Mama Frog who fearlessly confronts the unknown creature.可知，The Giant Jumperee讲述了一个关于勇气的故事。故D选项正确。
3. D 细节理解题。根据每本书后读者年龄的介绍可知，这四本书都是写给儿童。故D选项正确。
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