2014湖北高考英语专项训练阅读理解24

2014高考英语冲刺阅读理解专项 50-24

A

NOT all memories are sweet. Some people spend all their lives trying

to forget bad experiences. Violence and traffic accidents can leave people

with terrible physical and emotional scars. Often they relive these

experiences.

Now American researchers think they are close to developing a pill,

which will help people forget bad memories. The pill is designed to be

taken immediately after a frightening experience. They hope it might

reduce , or possibly erase(抹去), the effect of painful memories. In November, experts tested a drug on people in the US and France.

The drug stops the body releasing chemicals that fix memories in the brain.

So far the research has suggested that only the emotional effects of

memories may be reduced, not that the memories are erased. The research has caused a great deal of argument. Some think it is

a bad idea, while others support it. Supporters say it could lead to pills

that prevent or treat soldiers' troubling memories after war. They say

that there are many people who suffer from terrible memories. "Some memories can ruin people's lives . They come back to you when

you don't want to have them in a daydream or nightmare. They usually come

with very painful emotions," said Roger Pitman, a professor of psychiatry

at Harvard Medical School. "This could relieve a lot of that suffering." But those who are against the research say that changing memories is

very dangerous because memories give us our identity (特质). They also

help us all avoid the mistakes of the past.

"All of us can think of bad events in our lives that were horrible

at the time but make us who we are. I'm not sure we want to wipe those

memories out, "said Rebecca Dresser, a medical ethicist(论理学家).

Some people fear that although the drug would first be uesed in only

very serious cases, it would become more and more common. “ People always

have the ability to misuse science,” said Joseph Le Doux, a New York

University memory researcher.” All we want to do is to help people have

better control of memories.”

1. What’s the main idea of this passage?

A People often suffer from bad memories.

B American researchers are trying to develop a pill.

C Forget bad memories, and be happy.

D The researh has caused a heated argument.

答案解析：答案为D。本题为主旨大意题。第一段引出话题人们想忘记痛苦的回

忆，第二、三段介绍科学家研究可以消除痛苦回忆的药物，该研究引起了人们的

激烈争论，有人支持，有人反对，文章的重心着重于人们的争论，文章的大意就

是“研究引起了激烈的争论”。 故答案为D。

2. The underlinded word “ it “ in Para 4 refers to _______

A the new drug B the research into the drug

C the bad memory D the chemical drug

答案解析：答案为B。本题为词义推理题。结合划线的 “it” 出现的语境 “The research has caused a great deal of argument. Some think it is a bad idea, while others support it.” 可以推断，“it”指代的是“the research”，再结合前面第二、三段的内容可知，“it”指代的是对药物的研究，故答案为B。

3. Which of the opinions is NOT the opinion of the supporters?

A The pill can erase all the memories of the past

B Some memories can ruin people’s lives. The pill can relieve emotional suffering.

C The pill can also help many other types of people who suffer from terrible memories.

D The pill can prevent or treat troubling memories in soldiers after war.

答案解析：答案为A。 本题为细节题。由第四段 “Supporters say it could lead to pills that prevent or treat soldiers' troubling memories after war. They say that there are many people who suffer from terrible memories.” 和第五段 “Some memories can ruin people's lives . They come back to you when you don't want to have them in a daydream or nightmare. They usually come with very painful emotions,” 可知，B、C、D选项是支持者的意见。 A选项 “药物可以抹去所有过去的回忆”表达有误。故答案为A。

4. Which of the opinion is not the opinion of the opponents?

A Our memories give us our identity.

B The memories help human avoid mistakes of the past.

C The drug should be used in only very serious cases.

D People may not be sure whether they want to wipe the memories out. 答案解析：答案为C。本题为细节题。由第六、七段可知，A、B、D选项都是反对者的意见。由最后一段首句 “ Some people fear that although the drug would first be uesed in only very serious cases„”可知，C选项是文中的一个事实，不是反对者的意见，故答案为C。

B

Maggie was very glad that James was not a frequent visitor to the house. So far as the children were concerned, they had a mystery about him that stirred their imagination. He stirred Maggie’s anger, however, so that she often said to her husband, “It’s mercy that brother of yours doesn’t come often.”

In fact James came once a year, unexpectedly, around eight o’clock in the evening, and he stayed for six hours of close discussion with his brother. His arrival was a signal to the children that their bedtime would be delayed. Not that he ever spoke to them or played with them. He took no notice of them, as if he was unable to see children, at least until the time came for him to go. Instead, after his first greeting and a careless kiss, James took no notice of Maggie either, except to add,

“You’ll be getting on with the supper, Maggie.” Such was his regard for her.

Maggie paid him back in her own way. She kept the children up, the four of them, to keep her company, she said, but of course they sang and made a noise and broke the endless sound of James’s voice. Very late, they dropped off to sleep in their chairs. Then, when James was about to go, Maggie woke them up and so more or less forced him to part with four shillings before he left. That gave her some satisfaction, for James, though rich, was mean. He always went home by the last train, just after two o’clock.

Maggie’s children secretly stared at their uncle. They could not forget that he had, in their mother’s words, “lost two wives and taken a third, ” They wondered about those two unfortunate lost ladies. They asked each other what their fate had been, and if neither could ever be found again. James never brought his third wife with him nor ever mentioned her. The children decided that he must be so frightened of losing her that he never allowed her outside the door.

1. The underlined word “mercy” in the text most probably means _______.

A. loss B. wonder

C. lucky thing D. terrible thing

答案解析：答案为C。本题为词义猜测题。由第一段的内容可知，Maggie非常高兴James不常来她家，James的到来只会让Maggie生气，于是她对她丈夫说：“你的弟弟不常来真是一件不错的事情。” 故 “mercy” 意思就是 “lucky thing(幸运事)”。故答案为C。

2. Maggie never prepared anything special for James because _______.

A. he was a man difficult to please

B. she never knew when he was coming

C. she was too busy looking after her children

D. he never stayed long enough for a meal

答案解析：答案为B。本题为推理题。文中虽没有提及Maggie从不为James 准备特别的东西，但是可以根据文中第二段首句 “In fact James came once a year, unexpectedly, around eight o’clock in the evening„” 推断，James一年只来一次，而且是没有预料地到来，所以Maggie从不为James 准备特别的东西。故答案为B。

3. What do we know about James’ behavior?

A. He was a kind man, with love for the family.

B. He was generous, especially towards his brother.

C. He was anxious to please the family, especially the kids.

D. He was rude to his sister-in-law.

答案解析：答案为D。本题为推理题。由第二段后面的内容 “Instead, after his first greeting and a careless kiss, James took no notice of Maggie either, except to add, “You’ll be getting on with the supper, Maggie.” Such was his regard for her.” 可知James 不注意Maggie，除了说一句问候

的话，可以推断，他对他的嫂子非常粗鲁，故答案为D。

4. Maggie felt pleased when _______.

A. she paid James the money that she owed him

B. James gave some money to the children

C. she had to wake James up to catch his train

D. James thanked her for the nice supper

答案解析：答案为B。本题为细节推理题。由第三段 “Then, when James was about to go, Maggie woke them up and so more or less forced him to part with four shillings before he left. That gave her some satisfaction, for James, though rich, was mean.”可知，当James要离开的时候，Maggie把孩子们唤醒，或多或少地逼James给四个先令的钱孩子们，这才让她感到些许满意，因为James虽然有钱但是非常小气。 故答案为B。

5. The children did not realize that two of James’ wives _______.

A. had been dead B. suffered from loss of memory

C. had run away from him D. might appear again one day 答案解析：答案为A。本题为细节推理题。由最后一段 “Maggie’s children secretly stared at their uncle. They could not forget that he had, in their mother’s words, “lost two wives and taken a third, ” They wondered about those two unfortunate lost ladies. They asked each other what their fate had been, and if neither could ever be found again.” 可知，Maggie对孩子们说James失去了两位妻子，又娶了第三个，但是孩子们却想知道那两位不幸的妻子，他们彼此讨论两位妻子的命运是怎样的，是不是都找不到了。可以推断，孩子们并不知道James的两位妻子已经死去。故答案为A。