
题型有:1.
The latest in cat research reveals that the lovely animal seems to have a basic grasp on both the laws of physics and the ins and outs of cause and effect. According to a newly published study, cats seem to be able to predict the location of hiding prey (猎物) using both their ears and an inborn (天生的) understanding of how the physical world works. In a recent experiment, Japanese researchers taped 30 domestic cats reacting to a container that a team member shook. Some containers rattled (发出响声) : others did not. When the container was tipped over, sometimes an object fell out and sometimes it didn’ t. It turns out that the cats were remarkably smart about what would happen when a container was tipped over. When an object did not drop out of the bottom of a rattling container, they looked at it for a longer time than they did when the container behaved as expected. “Cats use a causal-logical understanding of noise or sounds to predict the appearance of invisible objects,” lead researcher Saho Takagi says in a press release. The researchers conclude that cats’ hunting style may have developed based on their common-sense abilities to infer where prey is, using their hearing. Scientists have explored this idea with other endearing creatures: babies. Like cats, babies appear to engage in what’s called “preferential looking” —looking longer at things that are interesting or unusual than things they perceive as normal. When babies’ expectations are violated in experiments like the ones performed with the cats, they react much like their animal friends. Psychologists have shown that babies apparently expect their world to comply with the laws of physics and cause and effect as early as two months of age. Does the study mean that cats will soon grasp the ins and outs of cause and effect? Maybe. Okay, so cats may not be the next physics faculty members at America’ s most important research universities. But by demonstrating their common sense, they’ ve shown that the divide between cats and humans may not be that great after all.
1. What do we learn from a newly published study about cats?
A.They can be trained to understand the physical world.
B.They know what kind of prey might be easier to hunt.
C.They have a natural ability to locate animals they hunt.
D.They are capable of telling which way their prey flees.
正确答案:C
解析:细节题。原文第二段指出,一项新近发表的研究表明,猫似乎能够同时使用耳朵及其与生俱来的对物质世界运行规律的理解来预测猎物隐藏的位置。由此可知,猫凭借与生俱来的能力锁定猎物,故答案为C。A项与原文不符,猫理解物质世界的能力不是后天培养的,而是天生的。B、D两项原文均未提及,故排除。
2. What may account for the cats’ response to the noise from the containers?
A.Their inborn sensitivity to noise.
B.Their unusual sense of direction.
C.Their special ability to perceive.
D.Their mastery of cause and effect.
正确答案:C
解析:推理题。原文第五段第一句指出,猫通过对噪声或响声的因果逻辑关系的理解来预测看不见的物体的出现。由此可知,猫可以通过听到的声音来察觉物体,故答案为C。A项与原文不符,原文提到猫与生俱来的能力是对物质世界运行规律的理解,而不是对响声敏感,故排除。B项与原文不符,原文提到猫可以预测猎物的位置,但没有提及其方向感,故排除。D项与原文不符,原文第一段指出猫对物理定律和因果关系只是“基本掌握”,并非“精通”,该项属于夸大事实,故排除。
3. What is characteristic of the way cats hunt, according to the Japanese researchers?
A.They depend on their instincts.
B.They rely mainly on their hearing.
C.They wait some time before attack.
D.They use both their ears and eyes.
正确答案:A
解析:推理题。原文第五段最后一句指出,猫的狩猎风格是在其运用听觉根据常识推断猎物位置的能力基础上发展而来的。由此可知,听到声音判断猎物的位置,这属于猫的本能,故答案为A。B项与原文不符,利用常识判断是猫狩猎的主要特点,听觉只是辅助,故排除。C项原文未提及,故排除。D项中的“眼睛”原文也未提及,故排除。
4. In what way do babies behave like cats?
A.They focus on what appears odd.
B.They view the world as normal.
C.They do what they prefer to do.
D.They are curious about everything.
正确答案:A
解析:细节题。原文第六段第二句指出,像猫一样,婴儿也会对那些有趣的事物或他们认为不同寻常的事物看的时间长一些。由此可知,A项表述符合原文,故答案为A。B、D两项原文均未提及,故排除。C项与原文表述不符,原文是指婴儿会“优先观望”他们觉得有趣或不同寻常的事物,而不是做他们愿意做的事情,故排除。
5. What can we conclude about cats from the passage?
A.They have higher intelligence than many other animals.
B.They interact with the physical world much like humans.
C.They display extraordinarily high intelligence in hunting.
D.They can aid physics professors in their research work.
正确答案:B
解析:推理题。原文最后一段最后一句指出,通过展现它们所具有的常识,猫已经证明了它们和人类之间的区别可能没有那么大。由此可知,猫与物质世界的互动跟人类差不多,故答案为B。A项原文未提及,故排除。C项与原文不符,原文第四段提及猫在预测容器被打翻后会不会有东西掉出来时非常聪明,这并不能说明它们在狩猎时展示出了超高的智商,故排除。D项是对原文最后一段第三句的曲解,该句是用幽默的语气说明猫并非很快就会掌握因果关系的来龙去脉,而非可以作为物理学院中的一员帮助物理学教授做研究,故排除。
Imagine you enter a car with no steering wheel, no brake or accelerator pedals (踏板) . Under a voice-activated command, you say an address. “The fastest route will take us 15. 3 minutes. Should I take it?” You say “yes” and you are on your way. The car responds and starts moving all by itself. All you have to do is sit back and relax. How weird would it be if, one day in the future, everyone had such a car? No crazy driving, no insults, no cutting in: traffic laws would be respected and driving much safer. On the other hand, imagine the cost savings for local police enforcement and town budgets without all those speeding and parking tickets. A new technology has the potential to change modern society in radical ways. There’ s no question that self-driving vehicles could be an enormous benefit. The potential for safer cars means accident statistics would drop: some 94% of road accidents in the U. S. involve human error. Older drivers and visually- or physically-impaired people would gain a new level of freedom. Maintaining safe speeds and being electric, self-driving cars would drastically reduce pollution levels and dependency on non-renewable fuels. Roads would be quieter, people safer. But we must also consider the impact of the new technology on those who now depend on driving for their livelihoods. According to the U. S. Department of Labor, in May 2015 there were 505,560 registered school bus drivers. The American Trucking Association lists approximately 3. 5 million professional truck drivers in the U. S. The companies developing self-driving vehicles should be partnering with state and federal authorities to offer retraining for this massive workforce, many of whom will be displaced by the new technology. This is similar to what’ s happening in the coal and oil industries, a situation that fuels much of the current political discontent in this country. New technologies will, and should, be developed. This is how society moves forward. However, progress can’t be one-sided. It is necessary for the companies and state agencies involved to consider the ethical consequences of these potential changes to build a better future for all.
6. What would be the impact of the extensive use of driverless cars?
A.People would be driving in a more civilized way.
B.It would save local governments a lot of money.
C.More policemen would be patrolling the streets.
D.Traffic regulations would be a thing of the past.
正确答案:B
解析:推理题。原文第二段最后一句指出,无人驾驶汽车的应用会为节省财政支出,“imagine”“all those”这两个词包含感叹语气,说明节省的开支数目可观,故答案为B。由于是无人驾驶,所以A项(人们驾驶会更加文明)与实际情况不符,故排除。第二段第三句表明,如果无人驾驶汽车得到广泛应用,那么就不需要有太多执法,所以C项与原文不符,故排除。D项也与原文不符,无人驾驶汽车也需要遵守交通规则,故排除。
7. How would the elderly and the disabled benefit from driverless cars?
A.They could enjoy greater mobility.
B.They would suffer no road accidents.
C.They would have no trouble driving.
D.They could go anywhere they want.
正确答案:A
解析:细节题。原文第三段第四句指出,年长的司机和视觉或身体有障碍的人们可以获得更大的自由。由此可知,无人驾驶汽车可以使老人和残疾人出行更方便,故答案为A。无人驾驶汽车不需要司机,所以C项错误,故排除。B、D两项原文均未提及,而且表述过于绝对,故排除。
8. What would be the negative impact of driverless cars?
A.The conflict between labor and management would intensify.
B.The gap between various sectors of society would be widened.
C.Professional drivers would have a hard time adapting to new road conditions.
D.Numerous professional drivers would have to find new ways of earning a living.
正确答案:D
解析:细节题。原文第四段第一句指出,我们还必须考虑新技术对那些现在依赖驾驶维持生计的人们的影响,由此可知,无人驾驶汽车的出现可能会使大量专职司机失业,故答案为D。A、B、C三项原文均未提及,故排除。
9. What is the result of the introduction of new technologies in energy industries?
A.Political dissatisfaction.
B.Retraining of employees.
C.Fossil fuel conservation.
D.Business restructuring.
正确答案:A
解析:细节题。原文第五段第二句指出,煤炭和石油行业引进新技术之后加剧了美国的政治不满情绪,由此可知,A项表述正确,故答案为A。B项是针对汽车行业,而非能源行业,故排除。C、D两项原文均未提及,故排除。
10. What does the author suggest businesses and the government do?
A.Keep pace with technological developments.
B.Make new technologies affordable to everyone.
C.Enable everyone to benefit from new technologies.
D.Popularize the use of new technologies and devices.
正确答案:C
解析:推理题。原文最后一段最后一句指出,为了给所有人创造一个更加美好的未来,相关企业和机构有必要考虑这些潜在变化所带来的伦理道德上的影响。由此可知,作者的建议是让企业和让每个人都从新技术中获益,故答案为C。A、B、D三项原文均未提及,故排除。
Roughly the size of a soda can, sitting on a bookshelf, a relatively harmless gadget may be turning friends away from your home. The elephant in your living room is your Internet-connected security camera, a device people are increasingly using for peace of mind in their homes. But few stop to think about the effect these devices may have on house guests. Should you tell your friends, for instance, that they’ re being recorded while you all watch the big game together? “ It’ s certainly new territory, especially as home security cameras become easier to install,” says Lizzie Post, president of the Emily Post Institute, America’ s foremost manners advisors. “I think it will be very interesting to see what etiquette (礼仪) emerges in terms of whether you tell people you have a camera or not, and whether guests have a right to ask that it be turned off, if it’ s not a security issue. “ Post wants to make clear that she’ s not talking about legal rights, but rather personal preferences. She also wants to explain that there are no right or wrong answers regarding manners on this front yet, because the technology is just now becoming mainstream. Besides, the Emily Post Institute doesn’ t dictate manners. When it comes to security cameras, Post says it’ s a host’ s responsibility to make sure guests feel comfortable within their home. “I’m always a fan of being open and honest. “ For instance, if the host casually acknowledges that there is a camera in the room by telling a story about it, that may be enough to provide an opening for a guest to say if they are uncomfortable. However, if a contractor is working in your home, you don’ t need to tell them that there are cameras watching. Then again, the air of accountability that the camera generates can also work in contractors’ favor. “ If anything does go wrong while they’ re in the house, they don’ t want to be blamed for it,” she says. “In fact, the camera could be the thing that proves that they didn’ t steal the $20, or knock the vase off the table. “
11. For what reason may your friends feel reluctant to visit your home?
A.The security camera installed may intrude into their privacy.
B.They don’t want their photos to be circulated on the Internet.
C.The security camera may turn out to be harmful to their health.
D.They may not be willing to interact with your family members.
正确答案:A
解析:推理题。原文第一段指出,家里安装摄像头可能会将你的朋友们拒之门外,比如,你和朋友们正在看比赛时,摄像头会录下他们的一举一动,这样就可能侵犯到他们的隐私,故答案为A。B、C、D三项原文均未提及,故排除。
12. What does Lizzie Post say is new territory?
A.The effect of manners advice on the public.
B.Cost of applying new technologies at home.
C.The increasing use of home security devices.
D.Etiquette around home security cameras.
正确答案:D
解析:推理题。原文第二段指出,家庭安全摄像头变得越来越容易安装,而是否告诉别人家里装有摄像头或客人是否有权要求关掉摄像头都会涉及一些礼仪问题,由此可知,利齐-波斯特所说的新领域是指使用家庭安全摄像头所涉及的礼仪,故答案为D。A、B两项原文均未提及,故排除。C项是强干扰项,原文确实提及越来越多的人使用家庭安全设备,但与题干所问不符,故排除。
13. What is Lizzie Post mainly discussing with regard to the use of home security cameras?
A.Legal rights.
B.Moral issues.
C.Likes and dislikes of individuals.
D.The possible impact on manners.
正确答案:C
解析:细节题。原文第三段第一句指出,利齐-波斯特明确表示她所说的不是法律权利,而是个人喜好,由此可知,利齐-波斯特所讨论的主要内容为个人的喜恶,故答案为C,排除A项。B、D两项原文均未提及,故排除。
14. What is a host’ s responsibility regarding security cameras, according to Lizzie Post?
A.Making their guests feel at ease.
B.Indicating where they are.
C.Turning them off in time.
D.Ensuring their guests’ privacy.
正确答案:A
解析:细节题。原文第四段第一句指出,说到安全摄像头,利齐-波斯特说确保客人感到宾至如归是主人的责任,A项中的at ease与原文中的comfortable同义,故答案为A。B、C、D三项均与题干所问不符,故排除。
15. In what way can the home security camera benefit visitors to your home?
A.It can satisfy their curiosity.
B.It can prove their innocence.
C.It can help them learn new technology.
D.It can make their visit more enjoyable.
正确答案:B
解析:推理题。原文第五段指出,摄像头所带来的可信性可能对承包商(访客)有利。如果他们在家里工作的时候,家里出了问题,安全摄像头可以记录并证明他们是否无辜,由此可知,B项符合题意,故答案为B。A、C两项原文均未提及,故排除。D项与原文不符,根据原文第一段可知,在家里安装摄像头可能会引起来访者的不适,故排除。
PepsiCo is to spend billions of dollars to develop drinks and snacks and reformulate existing ones with lower sugar, salt and fat, as consumers demand healthier options and regulatory pressure intensifies amid an obesity epidemic (流行病). The maker of Mountain Dew and Gatorade has been one of the earlier movers in the industry to offer products with reduced levels of unhealthy ingredients—PepsiCo claims a packet of its chips now contains less salt than a slice of white bread. However, its new 10-year plan makes clear it believes it still has a long way to go. Shifting eating habits, including a sharp drop in consumption of sparkling drinks, have forced radical change on the industry. But those shifts have yet to be reflected in record obesity levels, which stand at 36. 5% overall in the US. Indra Nooyi, PepsiCo chairman, said the plan to make its products healthier was important for the company’ s growth. But on the subject of obesity, she pointed out that consumers’ lifestyles have changed significantly, with many people being more sedentary (久坐不动的) not least because more time is spent in front of computers. She said PepsiCo’ s contribution was to produce healthier snacks that still tasted good. “Society has to change its habits,” she added. “We can’ t do much to alter sedentary lifestyles, but we can provide consumers with great-tasting products, low in salt, sugar and fat. In the past we had to have a taste trade-off. But we’ re breaking that trade-off. “ PepsiCo’ s plan for its foods and drinks is based on guidelines from the World Health Organisation, which last week backed using taxes on sparkling drinks to reduce sugar consumption. Initiatives also include efforts to reduce its environmental impact, water consumption and materials used in packaging by 2025. PepsiCo did not say exactly how much it planned to invest to reach its goals. However, Dr Mehmood Khan, chief scientific officer, said the company had doubled research and development spending in the past five years and was “committed to sustaining investment” , adding that companies cannot cost-cut their way to increasing sales. PepsiCo’s research and development budget in 2015 was $754 million.
16. Why is PepsiCo making a policy change?
A.To win support from the federal government.
B.To be more competitive in the global market.
C.To satisfy the growing needs for healthy foods.
D.To invest more wisely in the soft drink industry.
正确答案:C
解析:细节题。原文第一段指出,随着肥胖病的盛行,消费者需要选择更健康的食品,在此背景下,百事公司作出了的改变,由此可知,C项与文章内容一致,故答案为C。A、B两项原文均未提及,故排除。D项与原文内容不符,百事公司的投资不仅仅限于软饮料,还包括零食,故排除。
17. What does PepsiCo think it will have to do in the future?
A.Invest more to develop new snacks.
B.Reduce levels of obesity in the US.
C.Change consumers’ eating habits.
D.Keep on improving its products.
正确答案:D
解析:推理题。原文第一段和第二段指出,百事公司将投资数十亿美元开发饮料和零食,并按照低糖、低盐和低脂肪的标准重新制作已有的饮料和零食,而且百事公司的十年计划表明在降低其产品的含盐量、含糖量和含脂肪量方面,它还有很长的路要走,由此可知,百事公司认为其未来应致力于不断改进其产品,以符合市场的需求,故答案为D。A项与原文不符,百事公司的投资不仅仅是用来开发新品的,还用于重新制作已有产品,这两者都属于“改进产品”,故A项表述比较片面,故排除。根据第三段可知,饮食行业的根本变化还没有反映在美国的肥胖率上,且根据第四段和第五段可知,百事公司董事长因德拉-努伊认为现在许多人久坐不动,这是造成肥胖的原因之一,但百事公司对此所能做的是有限的,因此B、C两项均不是百事公司未来的目标,故排除。
18. Why does PepsiCo plan to alter its products, according to Indra Nooyi?
A.To ensure the company’ s future development.
B.To adapt to its customers’ changed taste.
C.To help improve its consumers’ lifestyles.
D.To break the trade-off in its product design.
正确答案:A
解析:推理题。原文第四段第一句指出,百事公司董事长因德拉-努伊表示,让其产品更健康的计划对公司的发展很重要,故答案为A。原文没有提及消费者的口味改变了,而是他们现在倾向于选择更加健康的食品,B项与原文不符,故排除。C项与原文不符,由第五段第二句可知,因德拉-努伊明确表示对消费者的生活方式公司所能做的是有限的,故排除。D项与原文不符,原文说的是扭转口味方面的失衡,故排除。
19. What does Indra Nooyi say about the obesity epidemic?
A.It is mainly caused by overconsumption of snacks.
B.It results from high sugar and salt consumption.
C.It is attributable to people’ s changed lifestyles.
D.It has a lot to do with longer working hours.
正确答案:C
解析:细节题。原文第四段第二句话指出,因德拉-努伊认为消费者久坐不动的生活方式是造成肥胖的原因,由此可知,C项与因德拉-努伊所说一致,故答案为C。A、B、D三项可能造成肥胖,但不是因德拉-努伊的看法,故排除。
20. What has PepsiCo been doing to achieve its objective?
A.Studying WHO’s guidelines.
B.Increasing its research funding.
C.Expanding its market overseas.
D.Cutting its production costs.
正确答案:B
解析:细节题。原文最后一段指出,百事公司没有明确说明计划投资多少来实现其目标,不过,首席科学官穆罕默德-汗博士表示,在过去5年中,公司的研发支出增加了一倍,由此可知,B项与文章内容相符,故答案为B。A项是百事公司制定食品和饮料计划的依据,而非其为实现目标而进行的活动,故排除。C项原文未提及,故排除。文中提及企业不能削减成本来增加销量,D项与原文内容相悖,故排除。
