閱讀理解

  Mathematical ability and musical ability may not seem on the surface to be connected, but people who have researched the subject and studied the brain say that they are.Three quarters of the bright but speech-delayed children in the group I studied had a close relative who was an engineer, mathematician or scientist, and four fifths had a close relative who played a musical instrument.The children themselves usually took readily to math and other analytical subjects and to music.

  Black, white and Asian children in this group show the same patterns.However, it is clear that blacks have been greatly overrepresented(被過(guò)多的代表)in the development of American popular music and greatly underrepresented in such fields as mathematics, science and engineering.

  If the abilities required in analytical fields and in music are so closely related, how can there be this great discrepancy?One reason is that the development of mathematical and other such abilities requires years of formal schooling, while certain musical talents can be developed with little or no formal training, as has happened with a number of well-known black musicians.

  It is precisely in those kinds of music where one can acquire great skill without formal training that blacks have excelled(擅長(zhǎng))popular music rather than classical music, piano rather than violin, blues rather than opera.This is readily understandable, given that most blacks, for most of American history, have not had either the money or the leisure for long years of formal study in music.

  Blacks have not merely held their own in American popular music.They have played a large role in the development of jazz, both traditional and modern.A long string of names comes to mind-W.C.Handy, Louis Armstrong, Charlie Parker…and so on.

  None of these presupposes(假設(shè),意味著)any special innate(先天的)ability of blacks in music.On the contrary, it is perfectly consistent(一致的)with blacks having no more such inborn ability than anyone else, but being limited to being able to express such ability in narrower channels than others who have had the money, the time and the formal education to spread out over a wider range of music, as well as into mathematics, science and engineering.

(1)

What is the main idea of the first paragraph?

[  ]

A.

Mathematical ability and musical ability are connected.

B.

Mathematical ability has more to do with the brain than musical ability.

C.

More people are good at music than math.

D.

More research should be done into the relationship between mathematical ability and math ability.

(2)

The word“discrepancy”(Para.3)most probably means ________.

[  ]

A.

difference

B.

excellence

C.

inborn ability

D.

inability

(3)

What can be inferred about opera?

[  ]

A.

It requires formal training.

B.

It is often enjoyed by those with strong analytical ability.

C.

It is disliked by blacks.

D.

It is more difficult to learn than classical music.

(4)

Which of the following statements is true according to the last paragraph?

[  ]

A.

Blacks have special innate ability in music.

B.

Unlike others, blacks do not have innate ability in music.

C.

Jazz is one of the narrow channels through which blacks express their ability in music.

D.

Those who have money and time choose mathematics over music.

(5)

Which of the following questions does the passage mainly concern?

[  ]

A.

Are musical ability and mathematical ability connected?

B.

Why have blacks been greatly overrepresented in the development of American popular music?

C.

What kinds of music require formal training?

D.

What are the contributions made by black musicians?

答案:1.A;2.A;3.A;4.C;5.B;
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科目:高中英語(yǔ) 來(lái)源:2001—2002學(xué)年度第二學(xué)期形式性練習(xí)·高一英語(yǔ)(下) 題型:050

閱讀理解

  One morning, when we had been riding on our bikes for five hours, we came to a bridge where the railway crossed a pond (池塘). For 30 feet there was nothing but the widely-spaced wooden sleepers(枕木)under our wheels, and nothing to stop us falling into the steaming pond below if we lost our balance. Right under the bridge lay the body of a dead cow. I watched Mat as he came near to the bridge and rode straight over, without even slowing down. I stopped.

  ‘What's up?’ he cried out from the other side.

  ‘I'm not riding over that thing, if I slip(滑), I'll be in there with that cow’.

  ‘There is nothing to it. I just did it, didn't I?’

  ‘You're strong and taller. My feet don't touch the ground. You do it for me. ’

  Mat said strength didn't come into it and rode off. I knew he would give me at least an hour before coming to help. The sun burned my face, sweat ran off my forehead into my eyes and stuck my blouse to my body. Try myself rather than wait for Mat to help. I rode back to get a good run-up and over I went. Mat was that right: all the difficulties were in the mind.

1. The bridge looked dangerous to the girl because ________ .

[  ]

A.there was a 30 feet drop to the water below

B.it had nothing at the sides

C.there were pieces of wood all over the road

D.there was a railway line below

2. The reason she stopped was that she________ .

[  ]

A.was tired

B.suddenly saw the dead cow below

C.wanted to let Mat go first

D.was afraid to losing her balance

3. Mat argued that________ .

A.the bridge wasn't at all difficult to cross

B.she had no other choice but to cross the bridge

C.the cow was harmless because it was dead

D.there was no difference between them in strength

4.Mat rode a way leaving the girl because he________ .

[  ]

A.didn't know that he could do to help her

B.felt she should overcome her fear by herself

C.didn't believe she was really afraid

D.couldn't wait and longer for her

5.The girl finally decided to ride across the bridge, for she ________ .

[  ]

A.realized that it was easier than it looked

B.was tired of waiting for Mat to come and help her

C.knew she couldn't stay where she was any longer

D.was afraid that Mat would go and leave her behind

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科目:高中英語(yǔ) 來(lái)源:黃岡題庫(kù)練考新課堂 高一英語(yǔ) 題型:050

閱讀理解

  One morning when we had been riding for five hours, we came to a bridge where the railway cross a pond(池塘). For 30 feet there was nothing but the widely-spaced wooden sleepers(枕木) under our wheels, and nothing to stop us falling into the steaming pond below if we overbalanced. Right under the bridge lay the body of a dead cow. I watched Mat as he approached(接近) the bridge and rode straight over, without even slowing down. I stopped.

  “What’s up?”he cried out from the other side.

  “I’m not riding over that thing. If I slip, I’ll be in there with that cow.”

  “There’s nothing to it, I just did it, didn’t I?”

  “You are stronger and taller. My feet don’t touch the ground. You do it for me!”

  Mat said strength didn’t come into it and rode off. I knew he would give me at least an hour before coming to help. The sun burned my face, sweat ran off my forehead into my eyes and stuck my shirt to my body. Try myself rather than wait for Mat to help. I rode back to get a good run-up and over I went. Mat was right: All difficulties were in the mind.

1.The bridge looked dangerous to the girl because ________.

[  ]

A.there was a 30 foot drop to the water below

B.it had nothing on the sides

C.there was a railway below

D.there were pieces of wood all over the road

2.The reason she stopped was ________.

[  ]

A.she was tired

B.she suddenly saw the dead cow below

C.she wanted to let Mat go first

D.she was afraid of losing her balance

3.Mat argue that, ________.

[  ]

A.the bridge wasn’t at all difficult to cross

B.she had no other, choice but to cross the bridge

C.the cow was harmless because it was dead

D.there was no difference between them in strength in crossing the bridge

4.Mat rode away leaving the girl behind because ________.

[  ]

A.he didn’t know what he could do to help her

B.he felt she should overcome her fear by herself

C.he didn’t believe she was really afraid

D.he couldn’t wait any longer for her

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科目:高中英語(yǔ) 來(lái)源: 題型:053

閱讀理解

  One morning, when we had been riding on our bikes for five hours, we came to a bridge where the railway crossed a pond (池塘). For 30 feet there was nothing but the widely-spaced wooden sleepers(枕木)under our wheels, and nothing to stop us falling into the steaming pond below if we lost our balance. Right under the bridge lay the body of a dead cow. I watched Mat as he came near to the bridge and rode straight over, without even slowing down. I stopped.

  ‘What's up?’ he cried out from the other side.

  ‘I'm not riding over that thing, if I slip(滑), I'll be in there with that cow’.

  ‘There is nothing to it. I just did it, didn't I?’

  ‘You're strong and taller. My feet don't touch the ground. You do it for me. ’

  Mat said strength didn't come into it and rode off. I knew he would give me at least an hour before coming to help. The sun burned my face, sweat ran off my forehead into my eyes and stuck my blouse to my body. Try myself rather than wait for Mat to help. I rode back to get a good run-up and over I went. Mat was that right: all the difficulties were in the mind.

1. The bridge looked dangerous to the girl because ________ .

[  ]

A.there was a 30 feet drop to the water below

B.it had nothing at the sides

C.there were pieces of wood all over the road

D.there was a railway line below

2. The reason she stopped was that she________ .

[  ]

A.was tired

B.suddenly saw the dead cow below

C.wanted to let Mat go first

D.was afraid to losing her balance

3. Mat argued that________ .

A.the bridge wasn't at all difficult to cross

B.she had no other choice but to cross the bridge

C.the cow was harmless because it was dead

D.there was no difference between them in strength

4.Mat rode a way leaving the girl because he________ .

[  ]

A.didn't know that he could do to help her

B.felt she should overcome her fear by herself

C.didn't believe she was really afraid

D.couldn't wait and longer for her

5.The girl finally decided to ride across the bridge, for she ________ .

[  ]

A.realized that it was easier than it looked

B.was tired of waiting for Mat to come and help her

C.knew she couldn't stay where she was any longer

D.was afraid that Mat would go and leave her behind

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科目:高中英語(yǔ) 來(lái)源: 題型:053

閱讀理解

  Chess must be one of the oldest games in the world. An Arab traveller in India in the year 900 wrote that it was played “l(fā)ong, long ago”. Chess was probably invented in India, and it has been played everywhere from Japan to Europe since 1400. The name“chess”is interesting. When one player is attacking the other's king, he says, in English,“check”. When the king has been caught and cannot move anywhere, he says“check mate”. These words come from Persian (波斯語(yǔ)).“Shah mat”means “the king is dead”. That is when the game is over, and one player has won.

  Such an old game changes very slowly. The rules have not always been the same as they are now. For example, at one time the queen could only move one square at a time. Now she is the strongest piece on the board. It would be interesting to know why this has happened! Chess takes time and thought, but it is a game for all kinds of people. You don't have to be a champion in order to enjoy it. It is not always played by two people sitting at the same table. The first time the Americans beat the Russians was in a match played by radio. Some of the chess masters are able to play many people at the same time. The record was when one man played 400 games! It is said that some people play chess by post. This must make chess the slowest game in the world.

(1)Which of the following is known to be true?

[  ]

A.Chess is an old Indian travelling game.

B.Chess is the oldest game in the world.

C.Chess was played in Japan and Europe before 1400.

D.Chess was played in India long before 900.

(2)One player has won the game when ________.

[  ]

A.he attacks the other player's king

B.he says some Persian words

C.the other player's king cannot move anywhere

D.he says“check”to the other player

(3)Which of the following will you hear when one player has won the game?

[  ]

A.Shah mat.        B.Check.

C.The king is dead.     D.Check mate.

(4)Which of the following is NOT correct?

[  ]

A.All kinds of people can play chess.

B.Only two people can play chess sitting at the same table.

C.Some people write to each other playing chess.

D.The Russian lost the game played by radio.

(5)According to the old rules of the game ________.

[  ]

A.the queen was the strongest piece on the board

B.the king had to be attacked all the time

C.the queen could move no more than one square at a time

D.the king could not move anywhere

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科目:高中英語(yǔ) 來(lái)源:新教材新學(xué)案 配合普通高中課程標(biāo)準(zhǔn)實(shí)驗(yàn)教科書(shū) 英語(yǔ)⑤ 必修(配人教版) 人教版 題型:050

閱讀理解

  Ask most American children what they want to be when they grow up, and they probably will say“doctor”or“l(fā)awyer”.

  Though our culture, our economy(經(jīng)濟(jì)),indeed our very security(安全)are heavily dependent on science and engineering, only 12 percent of American high school students graduate with the prerequisites(先決條件)for a career in science or engineering.

  Don't be too surprised.If you ask further why the majority of the high school students would choose a career in medicine or law, the answers will be straight out of some popular TV shows.

  “Doctors help people.They save lives.”“Lawyers beat the bad guys.”Most students would say.

  Now, how about science or engineering as a career choice?The answers will be just as predictable(可預(yù)見(jiàn)的),“Get real!Who wants to be a geek?They all are nerds.Besides I hate maths.”

  In our media, scientists and engineers typically are described as introverted(內(nèi)向的)and humorless.They always wear white lab coats with a collection of pencils in their pocket protectors.They wear glasses with black plastic frames.

  If more students are to choose technical careers, they must have a better view presented to them.

  They need to be told, for example, that the invention of lifesaving equipment saves lives just as surely as the application(應(yīng)用)of it in the hospital.

  It also might help if someone points out to students that the lawyer who saved the defendant(被告)by introducing the DNA evidence(證據(jù))would have seen him hanged had it not been for the scientists who discovered DNA.

  Whatever we do, until students stop thinking of the term“engineer”as a synonym (同義詞)“geek”, it is impossible to expect our children to change their views towards scientists and engineers.

(1)

Which of the following has influenced American students greatly in their choice of their careers?

[  ]

A.

Parents'opinions.

B.

TV shows and publications.

C.

Security measures.

D.

Culture and economy.

(2)

What kind of person do you think a geek or nerd is?

[  ]

A.

Someone who is boring, unfashionable or unsociable.

B.

Someone who loves the career of a scientist or engineer.

C.

Someone who is good at mat hs and loves science.

D.

Someone who is full of unreal ideas in the head.

(3)

In order to change the students'view towards scientists and engineers, the writer suggests that ________.

[  ]

A.

teachers reconsider their way of teaching mathematics

B.

scientists and engineers change their images a little bit

C.

students be told about the wonders of science and engineering

D.

the media stop praising doctors and lawyers too much

(4)

Judging from what is said in the passage, the writer obviously believes that ________.

[  ]

A.

scientists and engineers are more important than doctors and lawyers

B.

there are too many scientists and engineers nowadays

C.

American children are hopeless

D.

science and engineering have been dangerously ignored

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