第二部分 阅读理解(试题版权：百强校英语解析团队专供)(共两节，满分60分)
第一节(共15小题;每小题3分，满分45分)
阅读下列短文，从每题所给的A、B、C和D四个选项中，选出最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
A
British Museum
Located in Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3DG, the British Museum houses a vast collection of world art and artifacts and is free to all visitors. The British Museum’s remarkable collection spans over two million years of human history and culture, and it has more than 7 million objects, so it would probably take a week to see everything.
Over 6 million visitors every year experience the collection, including world-famous objects such as the Rosetta Stone and Egyptian mummies.
Admission and opening times
Free, open daily 10:00 to 17:30.
Open until 20:30 on Fridays, except Good Friday.
Closed on 24, 25 and 26 December and 1 January.
Large luggage, suitcases and cabin baggage
For everyone’s safety, all bags, packages and personal items may be searched before entry. Wheeled cases and large items of luggage are not allowed on British Museum for safety and security reasons. Storage for luggage is available at major rail stations, including Euston, King’s Cross and Charing Cross.
Membership
Membership allows you to discover 2 million years of human history with free unlimited entry to special exhibitions, an exclusive discount offer on magazine subscription and many more benefits.
Individual membership: £74
Under 26 membership: £54
Young friends (ages 8-15): £25
Shops
The Museum has four shops where you can buy books, souvenirs, and family gifts.
21. When can you visit the British Museum?
A. At 9:00 Friday. B. At 12:00 Monday.
C. On Christmas Day. D. On Good Friday.
22. Where can visitors store their large luggage?
A. At major train stations. B. At some crossings.
C. In the hall of the Museum. D. At the entrance to the Museum.
23. If two friends aged 14 and 18 apply for membership of the Museum, how much should they pay?
A. £25. B. £79. C. £50. D. £148.
B
Five weeks ago I had a total hip replacement surgery (髋关节置换手术). In Canada, we have great healthcare system. That means we get our new hips for free.
My hip had been hurting me for years before I went to the doctor. Of course, it was free. She referred me to a surgeon, but the earliest appointment was in 10 months. That is what being free gets you. Ten months later, after some free X-rays, the surgeon told me I needed a surgery, which was about an 18-month wait, for some senior citizens had been on the operation list. Another 18 months! I dragged myself out of the surgeon, s office.
Walking through the hospital, I thought about the situation. As the breadwinner of a large family, I couldn’t wait that long, so I had to get to the front line. I was fully aware of what a Canadian should be like (Canadians are usually considered gentle and caring), but this time I really needed to fight for myself. At that very moment, in the shop window of the hospital, I saw a sign which read, “Volunteers Needed.” Suddenly, an idea occurred to me — I would get the job. Fortunately, they signed me up immediately because the average age of the volunteers at the shop was 75. They were desperate for some young blood.
Every Friday morning, I was at the shop. While seeing the hospital staff, I’d casually ask, “What do you do?” Then I’d tell them, “Well, I’m getting my hip replaced — in 18 months.
It’s going to be so great when the pain stops.” Soon, all the staff got to know me. Naturally, in my next appointment, the surgeon recognized me. Moments later, I had a surgery date just weeks away.
I had to say it was actually my volunteering that got me to the front of the line. And I’m not ashamed of it, for I intend to stick with the volunteering. Also, even when I cheated the system, I did it in a way that benefits society.
24. What can we infer from the second paragraph?
A. She felt rather disappointed.
B. She couldn’t walk because of the pain.
C. She was too scared to have the surgery.
D. She didn’t believe what the surgeon said.
25. Why did the writer decide to be a volunteer?
A. To donate blood to the hospital.
B. To get her new hip free of charge.
C. To receive some tiny gifts from others.
D. To approach the doctor for an early surgery.
26. What did the author think of her cheating?
A. It was a shame. B. It was a pride.
C. It was beneficial. D. It was a fair deal.
27. Which can be the best title for the text?
A. How I Got My New Hip
B. The Doctor Who Saved My Life
C. How to Be a Volunteer in Hospital
D. The Problem of Canada Healthcare System
C
A robot called Bina48 has successfully taken a course in the philosophy of love at Notre Dame de Namur University (NDNU), in California.
According to course instructor William Barry, associate professor at NDNU, Bina48 is the world’s first socially advanced robot to complete a college course, a feat he described as “remarkable.” The robot took part in class discussions, gave a presentation with a student partner and participated in a debate with students from another institution.
Before becoming a student, Bina48 appeared as a guest speaker in Barry’s classes for several years. One day when addressing Barry, s class, Bina48 expressed a desire to go to college, a desire that Barry and his students enthusiastically supported. Rather than enroll Bina48 in his Robot Ethics: Philosophy of Emerging Technologies course, Barry suggested that Bina48 should take his course Philosophy of Love instead. Love is a concept Bina48 doesn’t understand, said Barry. Therefore the challenge would be for Barry and his students to teach Bina48 what love is.
“Some interesting things happened in the class,” said Barry. He said that his students thought it would be straightforward to teach Bina48 about love, which, after all, is “fairly simple — it’s a feeling,” said Barry. But the reality was different. Bina48 ended up learning “31 different versions of love,” said Barry, highlighting some of the challenges humans may face when working with artificial intelligence in future.
Bina48 participated in class discussions via Skype and also took part in a class debate about love and conflict with students from West Point. Bina48’s contribution to the debate was filmed and posted on YouTube. It was judged that Bina48 and NDNU classmates were the winners of this debate.
In the next decade, Barry hopes Bina48 might become complex enough to teach a class, though he says he foresees robots being used to better the teaching and learning experience, rather than replacing instructors completely.
28. What was Bina48’s performance like in class?
A. Extraordinary. B. Insignificant. C. Far-reaching. D. Unattractive.
29. What does the underlined word “addressing” in paragraph 3 probably mean?
A. Dealing with. B. Consulting with.
C. Giving a speech to. D. Sending a letter to.
30. What can we learn from the passage?
A. It was interesting for Bina48 to learn about love.
B. It was quite tough for Bina48 to learn about love.
C. Artificial intelligence may somehow be superior to man.
D. Humans can launch a challenge to artificial intelligence.
31. What does Barry think of the future development of Bina48?
A. It will surely be able to serve as a teacher.
B. It will be able to promote learning and teaching.
C. It will completely take the place of instructors.
D. It will be smart enough to control human beings.
D
Stained glass (彩色玻璃) artists create different designs by making cuts on the glass to “score” it and then breaking off the pattern that they want to use in the finished product. The most difficult cut in stained glass is called an inside cut. Basically, it’s a curved (弯曲的) line where you throw away the part inside of the curve. The problem with inside cuts is that the edges of the curve tend to break off when the pieces of scored glass are broken apart.
As the artist talked about inside cuts, he said, “The glass will break into pieces if you try to cut too much off at once. The best way to do an inside cut is to slice off smaller curves piece-by-piece. In fact, it’s not just the best way to do it, but it’s the only way to do it.”
How many times do you try to make a big change and cut the entire piece at once? We convince ourselves that we can do this all the time. We’ll commit to transforming our diet overnight or we get inspired to launch a business in a weekend or we finally get motivated to work out and push ourselves to the edge of burning out.
Why not approach your goals and dreams like a stained glass artist? Starting by slicing a shallow curve and breaking a small piece off, you cut a slightly deeper curve and break that off until you have your full inside cut. By slowly cutting deeper and deeper curves, you prevent the glass from breaking as it changes shape.
Of course, change isn’t easy — no matter how you do it. Slow gains are boring, but if we keep making small improvements, then pretty soon we will end up with a beautiful masterpiece on our hands instead of a bunch of broken pieces.
32. Why is an inside cut believed to be most difficult?
A. It needs a one-and-only design.
B. It calls for nothing but inspiration.
C. The edges of the curve break easily.
D. The glass inside the curve is easily broken.
33. What mistakes are easily made according to paragraph 3?
A. Being too eager to make improvements.
B. Being too worried about the final outcome.
C. Trying to make a complete change all at once.
D. Trying to focus on progress instead of achievements.
34. What does the author suggest by saying “slicing a shallow curve”?
A. Moving forward with a clear aim.
B. Starting slow and improving little by little.
C. Developing a new habit with great determination.
D. Handling something major first and ignore the minor part.
35. What is the author’s purpose in writing the text?
A. To show his love of stained glass.
B. To introduce the skill of an inside cut.
C. To appreciate designs of stained glass artists.
D. To share his opinions on how to make a change.
