（整理版高中英语）高考英语专项训练阅读理解11.doc

高考英语冲刺阅读理解专项 50-11AMost musicians agree that the best violins were made in Italy. They were made in Cremona, Italy, about 200 years ago. These violins sound better than any others. They even sound better than violins made today. Violin makers and scientists try to make instruments like the old Italian violins. But they arent the same. Musicians still prefer the old ones. No one really knows why these old Italian violins are so special, but many people think they have an answer.Some people think it is the age of the violins. They say that todays violins will also sound wonderful someday. But there is a problem here. Not all old violins sound wonderful. Only those from Cremona are special. So age cannot be the answer. There must be something different about Cremona or those Italian violins makers.Other people think the secret to those violins is wood. The wood of the violin is very important. It must be from certain kinds of the trees. It must not be too young or too old. Perhaps the violin makers of Cremona knew something special about wood for violins.But the kind of wood may not be so important. It may be more important to cut the wood in a special way. Wood for a violin must be cut very carefully. It has to be the right size and shape. The smallest difference will change the sound of the violin. Musicians sometimes think that this was the secret of the Italians. Maybe they understood more than we do about how to cut the wood.Size and shape may not be the answer either. Scientists measured these old violins very carefully. They can make new ones that are exactly the same size and shape. But the new violins still do not sound as good as the old ones. Some scientists think the secret may be the varnish, which covers the wood of the violin and makes it look shiny. It also helps the sound of the instrument. No one knows what the Italian violin makers used in their varnish. So no one can make the same varnish today.There may never be other violins like the violins of Cremona. Their secret may be lost forever. Young musicians today hope this is not true. They need fine violins. But there arent very many of the old violins left. Also, the old violins are very expensive. Recently, a famous old Italian violin was sold for about US$300,000!1. This passage is about . A. making violinsB. musical instrumentsC. scientific ideasD. the old Italian voilins答案解析：答案为D。此题为主旨大意题。 第一段最后一句话 “No one really knows why these old Italian violins are so special, but many people think they have an answer. 引入话题，为什么古老的意大利小提琴如此特别，很多人认为他们知道答案，后文分别给出了不同人的答案，最后一段对问题的答案进行总结 “There may never be other violins like the violins of Cremona. Their secret may be lost forever. 意大利小提琴的秘密或许永远消失了，无人知晓。全文都是围绕古老的意大利小提琴展开。故答案为D。2. The best violins .A. are made with modern techniquesB. were lost many years agoC. were made in Italy 200 years ago D. were made by scientists答案解析：答案为C。此题为细节题。由第一段第一、二句话 “Most musicians agree that the best violins were made in Italy. They were made in Cremona, Italy, about 200 years ago. 可知，答案为C。3. Some people think that modern violins .A. will sound better in the futureB. will sound worse in the futureC. sound wonderful and naturalD. will never be as old as those from Cremona答案解析：答案为A。此题为细节题。结合第二段和该段第二句话 “They say that todays violins will also sound wonderful someday. 可知，一些人认为现代小提琴有一天也会演奏出优美的旋律，故A选项正确。B、C选项与文意不符，D选项未提及。4. Violins made today . A. look the same as the old onesB. sound the same as the old onesC. are better than the old onesD. have the same varnish as the old ones答案解析：答案为A。此题为推理题。由倒数第二段 “They can make new ones that are exactly the same size and shape. But the new violins still do not sound as good as the old ones. 可知，科学家可以制作出和意大利小提琴一样大小和形状的小提琴，但是新的小提琴音质就是不如意大利小提琴好，故A正确，B、C错误。由该段最后两句话 “No one knows what the Italian violin makers used in their varnish. So no one can make the same varnish today.可知，D选项错误。BAre you preparing for a big test? If so, you may want to go play some basketball in between hitting the books. Doctors are starting to find more and more information that suggests a connection between exercise and brain development. Judy Cameron, a scientist at Oregon Health and Science University, studies brain development. According to her research, it seems that exercise can make blood vessels(血管), including those in the brain, stronger and more fully developed. Doctor Cameron is sure that this allows people who exercise to think better. As she says, “ while we already know that exercise is good for the heart, exercise can actually cause physical changes in the brain.The effects of exercise on brain development can even be seen in babies. Babies who do activities that requires a lot of movement and physical activity show greater brain development than babies who are less physically active. Even a little movement can show big results. Margaret Barnes, a scientist, also believes in the importance of exercise. She thinks that many learning disabilities that children have in primary school or high school can result from a lack of movement as babies. “Babies need movement that encourages and excites their five senses. They need to set up a connection between motion and memory. In this way, as they get older, children will begin to connect physical activity with higher learning, says Margaret.Older people can develop their brains as well. Cornell University studied a group of seniors who have a shortterm memory increase of up to 40 percent after exercising just three hours a week. The exercise does not have to be very difficult, but it does have to increase the heart rate. Also, just like the motion for babies, exercise for older people should not be too simple. Learning some new skills or actions, such as with yoga or tai-chi helps to open up memory paths in the brain that may not have been used for a long time. For most people, any type of physical activity that increases the heart rate is helpful. The main aim is to increase the brains flow of blood. And your brain can benefit from as little as two to three hours of exercise a week.1. What is the main idea of this passage?A. How exercise makes people strong.B. How to get good scores on a test.C. How exercise helps the brain.D. How the brain can change. 答案解析：答案为C。此题为主旨大意题。第一段就点出了全文的中心 “According to her research, it seems that exercise can make blood vessels, including those in the brain, stronger and more fully developed.，锻炼可以使血管，包括大脑里的血管更结实、发育更好，后面的段落分别对中心进行阐述证明。故答案为C。2. According to the passage, what is the connection between exercise and brain development?A. Exercise helps make our blood vessels.B. Physical exercise helps us think better.C. The brain needs special mental exercise.D. The more exercise, the bigger the brain. 答案解析：答案为B。此题为细节推理题。由第一段 “According to her research, it seems that exercise can make blood vessels, including those in the brain, stronger and more fully developed. Doctor Cameron is sure that this allows people who exercise to think better. 可知，答案为B。3. The smallest amount of exercise required to gain any benefit is .A. three hours per week B. 40 hours per weekC. three hours per dayD. 40 hours per month答案解析：答案为A。此题为细节题。由最后一段最后一句话 “And your brain can benefit from as little as two to three hours of exercise a week.可知，答案为A。4. Why is yoga suggested for seniors?A. It does good to the joints of old people.B. It does not increase the heart rate.C. It includes learning new actionsD. It can be done in groups.答案解析：答案为C。此题为推理题。由最后一段 “Learning some new skills or actions, such as with yoga or tai-chi helps to open up memory paths in the brain that may not have been used for a long time. For most people, any type of physical activity that increases the heart rate is helpful.，可知C选项正确。A、D选项未提及；B选项与文意相反。故答案为C。