阅读理解DWith the completion of the Human Genome（基因组）Project more than 20 years ago, and the discovery of the double helix structure of DNA enjoying its 70th birthday last year, you might assume that we know how life works. Think again!Evolution has a 4bn-year head start on us. However, several aspects of the standard picture of how life works-the idea of the genome as a blueprint, of genes as instructions for building an organism, of proteins as precisely tailored molecular（分子）machines and more-have wildly reduced the complexity of life. In the excellent book How Life Works, Philip Ball explorers the new biology, revealing life to be a far richer, more delicate affair than we have understood. Ball explains that life is a system of many levels-genes, proteins, cells, tissues, and body modules-each with its own rules and principles, so there is no unique place to look for an answer to it. Also, How Life Works is a much more appealing title than the overused question of "What is life?". We should be less concerned with what a thing is, and rather more focused on what a thing does. Defining a living thing implies an unchangeable ideal type, but this will run counter to the Darwinian principle that living things are four-dimensional, ever changing in time as well as space. But it's an idea that is deeply rooted within our culture. Ball points out that we rely on metaphors（比喻）to explain and explore the complexities of life, but none suffice. We are taught that cells are machines, though no machine we have invented behaves like the simplest cell; that DNA is a code or a blueprint, though it is neither; that the brain is a computer, though no computer behaves like a brain at all. Ball is a terrific writer, pumping out books on incredibly diverse subjects. There's a wealth of well-researched information in here, and some details that are a bit chewy for the lay reader. But the book serves as an essential introduction on our never-ending quest to understand life.

1. 阅读理解

With the completion of the Human Genome（基因组）Project more than 20 years ago, and the discovery of the double helix structure of DNA enjoying its 70th birthday last year, you might assume that we know how life works. Think again!

Evolution has a 4bn-year head start on us. However, several aspects of the standard picture of how life works-the idea of the genome as a blueprint, of genes as instructions for building an organism, of proteins as precisely tailored molecular（分子）machines and more-have wildly reduced the complexity of life.

In the excellent book How Life Works, Philip Ball explorers the new biology, revealing life to be a far richer, more delicate affair than we have understood. Ball explains that life is a system of many levels-genes, proteins, cells, tissues, and body modules-each with its own rules and principles, so there is no unique place to look for an answer to it.

Also, How Life Works is a much more appealing title than the overused question of "What is life?". We should be less concerned with what a thing is, and rather more focused on what a thing does. Defining a living thing implies an unchangeable ideal type, but this will run counter to the Darwinian principle that living things are four-dimensional, ever changing in time as well as space.

But it's an idea that is deeply rooted within our culture. Ball points out that we rely on metaphors（比喻）to explain and explore the complexities of life, but none suffice. We are taught that cells are machines, though no machine we have invented behaves like the simplest cell; that DNA is a code or a blueprint, though it is neither; that the brain is a computer, though no computer behaves like a brain at all.

Ball is a terrific writer, pumping out books on incredibly diverse subjects. There's a wealth of well-researched information in here, and some details that are a bit chewy for the lay reader. But the book serves as an essential introduction on our never-ending quest to understand life.

(1) What does paragraph 2 intend to state? A. The research of biology is tricky. B. Human evolution is a lengthy process. C. Genes determine the structure of living things. D. Commonly held models of life are oversimplified.

(2) What does the underlined phrase "run counter to" in paragraph 4 mean? A. Go against. B. Refer to. C. Account for. D. Contribute to.

(3) What is Ball's attitude to using metaphors to explain life? A. Tolerant. B. Disapproving. C. Objective. D. Indecisive.

(4) What is the purpose of the text? A. To review a book. B. To introduce genetic map. C. To honour a writer. D. To correct a misperception.

【考点】

推理判断题; 词义猜测题; 说明文; 故事阅读类;

【答案】

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阅读理解未知普通

1. 阅读理解

In his 1936 work How to Win Friends and Influence People, Dale Carnegie wrote: "I have come to the conclusion that there is only one way to get the best of an argument — and that is to avoid it. " This distaste for arguments is common, but it depends on a mistaken view of arguments that causes problems for our personal and social lives — and in many ways misses the point of arguing in the first place.

Carnegie would be right if arguments were fights, which is how we often think of them. Like physical fights, verbal (言语的) fights can leave both sides bloodied. Even when you win, you end up no better off. You would be feeling almost as bad if arguments were even just competitions — like, say, tennis tournaments. Pairs of opponents hit the ball back and forth until one winner comes out from all who entered. Everybody else loses. This kind of thinking explains why so many people try to avoid arguments.

However, there are ways to win an argument every time. When you state your position, formulate (阐述) an argument for what you claim and honestly ask yourself whether your argument is any good. When you talk with someone who takes a stand, ask them to give you a reason for their view and spell out their argument fully. Assess its strength and weakness. Raise objections (异议) and listen carefully to their replies. This method will require effort, but practice will make you better at it.

These tools can help you win every argument — not in the unhelpful sense of beating your opponents but in the better sense of learning about what divides people, learning why they disagree with us and learning to talk and work together with them. If we readjust our view of arguments — from a verbal fight or tennis game to a reasoned exchange through which we all gain respect and understanding from each other — then we change the very nature of what it means to "win" an argument.

(1) What is the author's attitude toward Carnegie's understanding of argument? A. Critical. B. Supportive. C. Tolerant. D. Uncertain.

(2) Why do many people try to avoid arguments? A. They lack debating skills. B. They may feel bad even if they win. C. They fear being ignored. D. They are not confident in themselves.

(3) What does the underlined phrase "spell out" in paragraph 3 probably mean? A. Defend. B. Explain. C. Conclude. D. Repeat.

(4) What is the key to "winning" an argument according to the author? A. Sense of logic. B. Solid supporting evidence. C. Proper manners. D. Understanding from both sides.

阅读理解未知普通

2.阅读理解

As to psychological well-being, the comfort zone is frequently perceived as a haven, a familiar location where individuals feel calm and peaceful. Pushing beyond this psychological state might have benefits.

The comfort zone can be understood as a behavioral metaphor. Within a comfort zone, an individual takes on a state of minimal anxiety without a perception of risk, responding predictably to deliver a consistent level of performance. These include behaviors that people do commonly, find relaxing, or that take them away from high-stress situations. Engaging in the same manner over time leads to a predictable and familiar zone of comfort. As creatures of habit, we become dependent on these routines that we know we can complete well to feel secure. However, by stepping outside of our comfort zone, we learn about our ability to handle new situations and control risks, leading to greater self-confidence, and lower levels of anxiety.

One study found that individuals who are more secure in stepping out of their comfort zone are more likely to be excited by and look forward to new experiences, feeling greater confidence in their ability to take them on.

One behavior that demonstrates the benefits of stepping out of a comfort zone is learning to play a musical instrument. When we consider actions outside of our comfort zone, we must assess our desire to engage in that activity. By weighing the pros and cons, we evaluate how uncomfortable a situation may seem, and whether the danger of entering such an unknown situation will be worth the risk.

Music offers a safe way to step out of your initial comfort zone because you can begin by practicing in an isolated setting, which offers a casual, safe way to build a new skill set. By picking up and practicing a new instrument, you have proven to yourself that you are capable of meeting an unfamiliar objective, thus decreasing anxiety.

(1) What does the underlined word "haven" in Paragraph 1 most probably mean? A. Habitat. B. Shelter. C. Community. D. Destination.

(2) Which will not be considered when we step out of our comfort zone? A. We recall the old experience. B. We think whether it is worth the risk. C. We evaluate our thirsty for the activity. D. We weigh the strengths and weaknesses.

(3) What will be probably discussed in the following paragraph? A. The definition of the comfort zone. B. The importance of psychological well-being. C. The process of learning a new musical instrument. D. The benefits of stepping out of one's comfort zone.

(4) Which of the following is the best title for the text? A. How to Identify Comfort Zone B. Staying Inside Comfort Zone is Important C. Stepping Outside Comfort Zone Promotes Learning D. How to Take Yourself Away from High-stress Situations

阅读理解未知困难

3.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。

Everything you know is in your brain. For what you don't, you can ask the web. However, as you can imagine, in the past there were no computers and no web at all. Think about people living 3, 500 years ago, in places where pyramids towered above them. The lack of explanations about how things worked inspired the ancients to make discoveries and feed their curiosity.

But do not think they knew nothing: in fact, we still wonder how the Egyptians could build the pyramids using their own, rather rudimentary equipment. They wrote down their knowledge on books (called papyrus scrolls) so that later people could benefit from their skills.

Living safer and healthier was a top priority for the ancients: when they hurt their heads in battles,

they used to heal their wounds using the cures, some of which were recorded on a papyrus now known as the Edwin Smith Papyrus. Interestingly, this is the oldest written evidence of the word "brain" we have on Earth, and it dates back to 3, 500 years ago!

However, writing the word "brain" on a papyrus did not solve all the curiosities and questions about it. Around 2, 500 years ago, for example, ancient Greeks wondered whether mind and soul lay in the brain or in the heart.

2, 000 years ago, Roman physician Galen of Pergamon was sure he had solved the question: it was the brain, not the heart, that was the center of mental life. However, Galen had to convince the people around him that what he had discovered was true. It was not easy, mostly because people held their earlier beliefs. Every neuroscientist, just like Galen did, has to carefully observe reality, focus on something that is really interesting, think about how it can work, perform experiments, and discuss the data they get. This way, they can obtain convincing evidence to be shared with others.

(1) What encouraged the ancients to make discoveries? A. The search for explanations. B. The need for writing books. C. The hope for keeping curiosity. D. The wish to work faster.

(2) Which word can best replace "rudimentary" underlined in paragraph 2? A. Complicated. B. Electrical. C. Primitive. D. Protective.

(3) What can be learned about the Edwin Smith Papyrus? A. It was finished 2,500 years ago. B. It was probably a medical text. C. It was considered useless at first. D. It was written by Galen of Pergamon.

(4) How did Galen convince people of his discovery? A. By following strict scientific methods. B. By teaching people to do experiments. C. By finding evidence from papyrus scrolls. D. By asking many scientists to support him.

阅读理解常考题普通