英语阅读理解(社会文化)练习题20篇

一、高中英语阅读理解社会文化类 1．阅读理解

In India, one of the most significant festivals is Diwali, which falls between October and November. It's a five-day celebration that includes good food, fireworks, colored sand, and special candles and lamps.

In honor of Lakshmi, the Hindu goddess of wealth, people make special prayers on the first day to obtain blessings for welfare, succcss, and well-being. People welcome the goddess into their homes by decorating entrances with colorful lanterns and traditional designs. In addition, many people treat themselves to fine jewelry, praying for good fortune. Those who cannot afford so much, seek out cheaper items such as clothes or household goods.

The second day of the festival is called Kali Chaudas. For some, the day provides an opportunity to drive away misfortune from homes and businesses. They decorate their homes with clay lamps and create design patterns called rangoli on the floor using colored powder or sand.

The third day is when the biggest celebrations occur, which begin early in the morning with a visit to a temple to seek the blessings of the goddess. As the sun sets, festival observers light up their homes with small lamps and enjoy delicious traditional foods with their loved ones. The festival's fourth day is celebrated in many different ways. Friends and relatives visit with gifts, sweets and best wishes for the season.

And the final day of the festival is called Bhai Oooj It honors the close bond between brothers and sisters and is observed with traditional ceremonies and more delicious food.

For children in India, Diwali is similar to Christmas. They get all entire week off from school and are treated to gifts, new clothes, amazing food, and, in the past at least, a large number of fireworks. It is no wonder that the festival ranks high among the country's favorite celebrations. （1）People celebrate the first day of Diwali mainly for______. A.good fortune. B.colorful lanterns C.expensive jewelry D.traditional designs

（2）What's the probable purpose of creating \"rangoli\" on the floor? A.To design traditional patterns. B.To produce colored powder or sand. C.To help get rid of bad luck.

D.To produce an opportunity in business.

（3）What is a man likely to do on the last day of the festival? A.Exchange gifts and best wishes with his loved ones. B.Be busy decorating his home during the day. C.Get together with his sisters and brothers. D.Light up his home with small lamps.

（4）Which of the following may not be a reason for children's love of Diwali? A.Having a week off.

B.Getting Christmas gifts. C.Enjoying amazing food. D.Setting off fireworks. 【答案】 （1）A （2）C （3）C （4）B

【解析】【分析】本文是一篇说明文，介绍了印度最重要的节日之一——排灯节。 （1）细节理解题。根据第二段中的“In honor of Lakshmi，the Hindu goddess of wealth，people make special prayers on the first day to obtain blessings for welfare，succcss，and well-being.”印度人庆祝排灯节第一天是为了获得生活，成功，为人方面的好运。故选A。 （2）考查细节理解。根据第三段中的“For some，the day provides an opportunity to drive away misfortune from homes and businesses. They decorate their homes with clay lamps and create design patterns called rangoli on the floor using colored powder or sand. ”在排灯节为了驱散家里和生意的霉运，印度人会在地上用彩色粉或沙子创造出rangoli形状。故选C。 （3）考查细节理解。根据倒数第二段中的“And the final day of the festival is called Bhai Oooj. It honors the close bond between brothers and sisters and is observed with traditional ceremonies and more delicious food. ”排灯节最后一天是纪念兄弟姐妹亲密纽带的日子。可知这天男子会和自己的兄弟姐妹在一起。故选C。

（4）考查细节理解。根据最后一段中的“For children in India，Diwali is similar to Christmas. They get all entire week off from school and are treated to gifts，new clothes，amazing food，and，in the past at least，a large number of fireworks. It is no wonder that the festival ranks high among the country's favorite celebrations.”印度孩子们喜欢排灯节因 为 他们可以放假一周，吃美味食物，还有大量烟花，没有说收到圣诞节礼物。故选B。

【点评】本题考点涉及细节理解题型的考查，是一篇文化类阅读，考生需要准确捕捉细节信息，并结合题目要求，从而选出正确答案。

2．阅读理解

A PG-13 rating is a stricter warning by the Rating Board to parents to determine whether their children under age 13 should view the film. A PG-13 film may go beyond the PG rating in theme, violence, nudity (裸露), language, adult activities or other elements, but does not reach the restricted R category.

The theme of the film by itself will not result in a rating greater than PG-13, although activities shown in the film related to a mature theme may result in a restricted rating for the film. Any drug use will initially require at least a PG-13 rating. More than brief nudity will require at least a PG-13 rating, but such nudity in PG-13 rated film generally will not be sexually oriented. There may be violence scene in a PG-13 movie, but generally not both realistic and extreme or persistent violence.

A single use of one of the rude words in a film, though only as an expletive (感叹语), initially requires at least a PG-13 rating. More than one such bad word requires an R rating, as must even

one of those words used in a sexual context. The Rating Board nevertheless may rate such a film PG-13 if, based on a special vote by a two-thirds majority, the Raters feel that most American parents would believe that a PG-13 rating is appropriate because of the context or manner in which the words are used or because the use of those words in the film is easily neglected. （1）What is the main goal of this passage? A.To discuss various movie ratings. B.To explain various movie ratings.

C.To explain the difference between PG-13 and R movie ratings. D.To explain the PG-13 movie rating.

（2）According to PG-13 rating, the theme of the movie __________. A.has little impact on its rating B.has a large impact on its rating C.should be entertaining D.should be suitable for children

（3）From Paragraph 2, we can learn that drug usage __________. A.should not be allowed in movies B.is dangerous

C.makes a PG-13 rating necessary D.is not appropriate for children under 13

（4）What does a movie with two or more uses of bad words require? A.A PG rating. B.A PG-13 rating. C.An R rating. D.An NC-17 rating. 【答案】 （1）D （2）A （3）C （4）C

【解析】【分析】本文是一篇说明文。PG-13级是电影分级委员会对家长发出的更严格的警告，目的是决定13岁以下的孩子是否应该看这部电影。文章介绍了PG-13电影分级。 （1）考查推理判断。纵观全文可知，本文从主题、暴力、裸体、语言、成人活动方面解释了PG-13的电影分级。全文目的在于解释PG-13。故选D。

（2）考查细节理解。根据第二段中的“The theme of the film by itself will not result in a rating greater than PG-13, although activities shown in the film related to a mature theme may result in a restricted rating for the film.”，电影的主题本身不会导致评级大于PG-13，尽管在电影中出现的与成熟主题相关的活动可能会导致对电影的评级。此可知，电影的主题对PG-13评级影响不大。故选A。

（3）考查推理判断。根据第二段中的“Any drug use will initially require at least a PG-13 rating.”任何药物使用最初都需要至少达到PG-13级别。可知，药物使用使PG-13评级是必要的。故选C。

（4）考查推理判断。根据最后一段中的“More than one such bad word requires an R rating, as must even one of those words used in a sexual context.”，一部有两个或两个以上脏话用法的电影需要满足R级。故选C。

【点评】本题考点涉及细节理解和推理判断两个题型的考查，是一篇文化类阅读，考生需要准确掌握细节信息，并根据上下文进行逻辑推理，从而选出正确答案。

3．阅读理解

Vietnam aims to solve the relations between economic development and cultural preservation. Vietnamese cultural departments and activists have tried to preserve the historical and cultural relics in the country.

Vietnam now has more than 40000 historical relics. These relics of various forms and history are treasures for future generations.

However, hundreds of relics are severely damaged due to the negative influence of time, war and human activities. Head of Hanoi Relics Management Board, Nguyen Doan Tuan, says rescue work must preserve the relics' soul: \"We cannot replace ruined construction with new materials. We must preserve its shape, size and style. We need to pay attention to every brick replaced so that it looks exactly like the original.\"

Most relics have to rely on tourist fees for repair and rescue work. Director of Van Mieu Cultural and Science Center Dang Kim Ngoc, says that the relics must be promoted widely to attract more visitors and bring in more income for repair and preservation: \"We provide constant guide services for visitors so that they understand more about our relics. At the same time, a natural surrounding of the relic has been ensured, including the grass field and garden to improve its scenic value.\"

The local government agreed that the relics must be turned to the community for shared efforts in the preservation work. Director of Vietnam Revolution Museum Dang Quoc Quan, said that the community must be guided in the preservation and protection, \"The UNESCO aims to let local community take part in the preservation of relics. We have seen limitations in the preservation of relics, especially festival-related groups of buildings. This requires management and guidance by the government.\"

Nguyen Thi Minh Ly from the Department of Heritage says the community should be guided in proper behaviors towards relics: \"This will ensure the protection of cultural relics in later generations. Creative restoration (修复) must be based on previous (先前的) values.\"

Experts have called for a systematic (系统的) guidance by the state in local level preservation while promoting creative thinking in restoration for each relic. （1）Where is the passage most probably taken from? A.A government survey. B.A research paper. C.A newspaper report. D.A travel guide.

（2）Which of the following is not the reasons for the damaged relics in Vietnam? A.Human activities.

B.Poor building materials. C.War influence. D.The passing of time.

（3）It can be inferred from paragraphs 4-6 that to preserve relics, the government should . A.turn to the UNESCO for financial help B.improve the scenic value by raising tourist fees C.encourage the community to join in the rescue work D.make full use of the money raised by the local people （4）What might be the best title for the passage? A.Guide the Community in Proper Behaviors B.Replace the Ruined Construction with a New Style C.Hundreds of Relics in Vietnam Are In Ruins D.Experts Call for a Systematic Way to Preserve Relics 【答案】 （1）C （2）B （3）C （4）D

【解析】【分析】本文是一篇说明文，介绍了越南文化部门和活动人士一直在努力保护本国的历史和文化遗产，文章说明了文物遭受破坏的原因和文物保护的现状。就此专家们呼吁国家对地方一级的保护进行系统的指导，同时促进对每一件文物的创造性修复。 （1）考查推理判断。根据第一段中的“Vietnamese cultural departments and activists have tried to preserve the historical and cultural relics in the country.”越南文化部门和活动人士一直在努力保护本国的历史和文化遗产，以及文章主要内容为介绍专家们呼吁用一种系统的方法来保护文物，故选C。

（2）考查细节理解。根据第三段中的“However, hundreds of relics are severely damaged due to the negative influence of time, war and human activities.”然而，由于时间、战争和人类活动的负面影响，数以百计的文物遭到严重破坏，故选B。

（3）考查推理判断。根据第五段中的“The local government agreed that the relics must be turned to the community for shared efforts in the preservation work. Director of Vietnam Revolution Museum Dang Quoc Quan, said that the community must be guided in the preservation and protection, ‘The UNESCO aims to let local community take part in the preservation of relics...’”当地同意，文物必须移交给社区，共同努力进行保护工作。越南博物馆馆长Dang Quoc Quan说，社会必须在保护和保护的指导下，“联合国教科文组织的目的是让当地社会参与文物的保”可以推断，为了保护文物，应该鼓励社区参与救援工作。故选C。

（4）考查主旨大意。根据最后一段“Experts have called for a systematic guidance by the state in local level preservation while promoting creative thinking in restoration for each relic.”专家们呼吁国家对地方一级的保护进行系统的指导，同时促进对每一件文物的创造性修复，以及结合文章主要内容为越南文化部门和活动人士一直在努力保护本国的历史和文化遗产可知，故选D。

【点评】本题考点涉及细节理解，推理判断和主旨大意三个题型的考查，是一篇文化类阅读，要求考生在捕捉细节信息的基础上，进一步根据上下文的逻辑关系，进行分析，推理，概括和归纳，从而选出正确答案。

4．阅读理解

The British live on a small island. They are surrounded by thesea, so it is not surprising that the sea has always played an important role intheir lives. After the development of large, ocean-going sailing ships in the fifteenthcentury, the sea became even more important to the country's development. Shipssetting sail from England determined to extend Britain's territories, its wealthand its knowledge of the world. Ships returned to England bringing goods, peopleand new ideas from foreign places. By the nineteenth century, Britain had the largest,most powerful navy in the world.

The great sailing ships were so much a part of British life thatthey even affected the language. Many English expressions we use today were originallynautical (航海的)terms, although most people no longer realize this. For example, people commonlydescribe an honest and fair business deal as being \"above board\". Thisexpression was originally used in sailing ship times when secretive, dishonest ship'sbusiness would be carried out below decks (below the boards) out of public view.On the other hand, honest business was always conducted on deck (above the boards),in the open where everyone could see what was going on.

\"Pipe down!\meaning \"Be quiet!\is anothercommon expression that has nautical origins. The ship's boatswain (水手长) would blow a whistle, or pipe, at theend of the day to indicate (表明) to the sailors it was time to quieten down and go to sleep.

Most native English speakers have heard the expression \"notenough room to swing a cat\few know that the \"cat\" does notrefer to a small furry animal with four legs and a tail. The \"cat\" isactually a short form of \"cat of nine tails\" — a whip with nine, knotted(打结的) tails. A boatswain needed a lot of spacein order to swing the whip properly when lashing (鞭打) a poor sailor under his control!

（1）The British have been strongly influenced by the sea because ________.

A. they occupied more land around the world B. they got more wealth from the sea C. they live on an island surrounded by the sea D. they had the largest navy ever （2）If someone is open and above board, it means he is ________.

A. secretive B. honest C. cheerful D. dishonest （3）Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?

A. Sailors need to go to sleep when they hear a whistle. B. Sailors will be whipped if they do business below decks. C. A poor sailor may be whipped nine times a day. D. There is no spare room to raise cats on ships.

（4）What is the main idea of the passage?

A. The business on British sailing ships.

B. The influence of British sailors' language on English. C. The sailing history of England. D. The sailing story of British sailors. 【答案】（1）C （2）B （3）A （4）B

【解析】【分析】本文是一篇说明文，英国作为一个岛国，四周环海，海洋在英国人的生活中起着重要的作用。英国曾有着强大的海军。一直以来，水手们经常使用的一些航海术语丰富并影响着英语这门语言。

（1）考查细节理解。根据第一段中的“They are surrounded by the sea, so it is not surprising that the sea has always played an important role in their lives.”可知，英国被海洋环绕，海对英国人的生活影响很大。故选C。

（2）考查词义猜测。根据第二段中的“…people commonly describe an honest and fair business deal as being “above board”可知，如果”一个诚实公正的人就会被认为是'above board'”。故选B。

（3）考查细节理解。根据第三段中的“The ship's boatswain (水手长) would blow a whistle, or pipe, at the end of the day to indicate (表明) to the sailors it was time to quieten down and go to sleep.”可知船上的水手长会在一天结束的时候吹口哨或吹笛子，向水手们表示应该安静下来睡觉了。故选A。

（4）考查主旨大意。第一段介绍英国是一个受到海洋影响的国家，四周环海，航海在人们的生活中起着重要的作用。以此引入主题即水手们在航行时使用的一些航海术语对英语这门语言所产生的影响。故选B。

【点评】本题考点涉及细节理解，词义猜测和主旨大意三个题型的考查，是一篇文化类阅读，要求考生在捕捉细节信息的基础上，进一步根据上下文的逻辑关系，进行分析，推理，概括和归纳，从而选出正确答案。

5．阅读理解

The Nazca Lines are a series of large ancient geoglyphs (地画) in the Nazca Desert, in southern Peru. It is ranging from geometric patterns to drawings of different animals and stylized human-like forms. The ancient lines can only be truly taken in from high in the air, leaving generations puzzled as to how these precise works could have been completed long before the documented invention of human flight.

The Lines were first spotted when commercial airlines began flying across the Peruvian desert in the 1920,s. Who built them and what was their purpose? Are they roads, star pointers，maybe even a gigantic map? If the people who lived here 2,000 years ago had only a simple technology, how did they manage to construct such precise figures? Did they have a plan? These

markings are like a vast puzzle.

The Nazca Lines are the most outstanding group of geoglyphs in the world. There are also huge geoglyphs in Egypt, Malta，United States (Mississippi and California), Chile，Holivia and in other countries. But the Nazca geoglyphs, because of their numbers， characteristics, dimensions and cultural continuity as they were made and remade throughout a certain history period, form the most impressive archeological (考古学的) group.

The Nazca plain is unique for its ability to preserve the markings upon it, due to the combination of the climate (one of the driest on Earth, with only twenty minutes of rainfall per year) and the flat, stony ground which minimizes the effect of the wind at ground level. With no dust or sand to cover the plain and little rain or wind to erode (腐蚀) it, lines drawn here tend to stay drawn. These factors, combined with the existence of lighter-colored subsoil beneath the desert surface, provide a vast writing pad that is suited to the artist who wants to leave his mark eternal.

（1）What can we know about the Nazca Lines from the first two paragraphs? A. They were built as a big map. B. They were formed by nature. C. They are ancient lines in caves. D. They are huge markings in a desert （2）How many factors make the Nazca Lines the most impressive?

A. One. B. Two. C. Three. D. Four. （3）Why are the Nazca Lines well preserved?

A. Because of the wind at ground level. B. Because of the existence of soft soil. C. Because of the climate and geography. D. Because of the thick sand on the top. （4）What does the underlined word “eternal” probably mean?

A. Non-stop. B. Ever-lasting. C. Real-life. D. High-end. 【答案】（1）D （2）D （3）C （4）B

【解析】【分析】本文是一篇说明文，介绍了出现在秘鲁南部Nazca沙漠的大型古代地画The Nazca Lines，其神奇之处及形成原因。

(1)考查细节理解。根据第一段中的“The Nazca Lines are a series of large ancient geoglyphs (地画) in the Nazca Desert, in southern Peru.”及对The Nazca Lines图案和发现过程的具体介绍，可知the Nazca Lines是出现在秘鲁南部Nazca沙漠的大型古代地画，故选D。

(2)考查细节理解。根据第二段中的“Who built them and what was their purpose? Are they roads, star pointers，maybe even a gigantic map? If the people who lived here 2,000 years ago had only a simple technology, how did they manage to construct such precise figures? Did they have a plan?”四方面使人迷惑的问题，可知这四个因素使the Nazca Lines更独特更使人们难忘，故选D。

(3)考查推理判断。根据最后一段中的“The Nazca plain is unique for its ability to preserve the markings upon it, due to the combination of the climate and the flat, stony ground which minimizes the effect of the wind at ground level.”可知因为这里干燥少雨的气候和平坦多石的

地形使地画能很好的被保留，故选C。

(4)考查词义猜测。最后一句指这些因素，加上沙漠表面下浅色地下土壤的存在，给那些想要永久留下印记的艺术家提供了一个巨大的书写板。“eternal”永恒的，和Ever-lasting同义，故选B。

【点评】本题考点涉及细节理解，推理判断和词义猜测三个题型的考查，是一篇文化类阅读，考生需要准确捕捉细节信息，并进一步根据上下文进行分析，推理，概括和归纳，选出正确答案。

6．阅读理解

In 1947 a group of famous people from the art world headed by an Austrian conductor decided to hold an international festival of music, dance and theatre in Edinburgh. The idea was to reunite Europe after the Second World War.

It quickly attracted famous names such as Alec Guinness, Richard Burton, Dame Margot Fonteyn and Marlene Dietrich as well as the big symphony orchestras(交响乐团). It became a fixed event every August and now attracts 400,000 people yearly.

At the same time, the \"Fringe\" appeared as a challenge(挑战) to the official festival. Eight theatre groups turned up uninvited in 1947, in the belief that everyone should have the right to perform, and they did so in a public house disused for years.

Soon, groups of students firstly from Edinburgh University, and later from the universities of Oxford and Cambridge, Durham and Birmingham were making the journey to the Scottish capital each summer to perform theatre by little -- known writers of plays in small church halls to the people of Edinburgh.

Today the \"Fringe\once less recognized, has far outgrown the festival with around 1,500 performances of theatre, music and dance on every one of the 21 days it lasts. And yet as early as 1959, with only 19 theatre groups performing, some said it was getting too big.

A paid administrator(行政人员) was first employed only in 1971, and today there are eight administrators working all year round and the number rises to 150 during August itself. In 2004 there were 200 places housing 1,695 shows by over 600 different groups from 50 different countries. More than 1.25 million tickets were sold.

（1）What was the purpose of Edinburgh Festival at the beginning? A.To bring Europe together again. B.To honor heroes of World War II. C.To introduce young theatre groups. D.To attract great artists from Europe.

（2）Why did some uninvited theatre groups come to Edinburgh in 1947? A.They owned a public house there. B.They came to take up a challenge. C.They thought they were also famous. D.They wanted to take part in the festival.

（3）What does the \"Fringe\" mean in the third paragraph?

A.unpopular groups B.non-official groups C.foreign groups D.local groups

（4）We may learn from the text that Edinburgh Festival . A.has become a non-official event B.has gone beyond an art festival C.gives shows all year round D.keeps growing rapidly 【答案】 （1）A （2）D （3）B （4）D

【解析】【分析】本文是一篇说明文，介绍了爱丁堡音乐节形成和发展，包括对创设目的，参与群体，发展规模等方面进行了简要而准确的叙述，回顾了爱丁堡音乐节的发展历程。

（1）考查细节理解。根据第一段中的“The idea was to reunite Europe after the Second World War.”可知，这个Edinburgh Festival是为了在二战后重新团结欧洲。故选A。

（2）考查细节理解。根据第三段中的 “Eight theatre groups turned up uninvited in 1947, in the belief that everyone should have the right to perform,” 可知这些队伍认为每个人都有表演的权力，所以他们想要参加节日。故选D。

（3）考查词义猜测。根据第三段中的“At the same time, the ‘Fringe’ appeared as a challenge(挑战) to the official festival. ”可知Fringe 与official是相对的；再根据“Eight theatre groups turned up？”以及第四段中的“Soon, groups of students firstly from Edinburgh University, and later from the universities of Oxford and Cambridge, Durham and Birmingham were making the journey to the Scottish capital each summer to perform ”可知很多团体和大学生也参与了进来，所以Fringe译为非正式的，故选B。

（4）考查推理判断。根据最后一段中的“ today there are eight administrators working all year round and the number rises to 150 during August itself. In 2004 there were 200 places housing 1,695 shows by over 600 different groups from 50 different countries. ”可知它发展的非常快。故选D。

【点评】本题考点涉及细节理解，词义猜测和推理判断三个题型的考查，是一篇文化类阅读，考生需要准确掌握细节信息，并根据上下文的逻辑关系，进行分析，推理，从而选出正确答案。

7．阅读理解

More and more people in America are celebrating the Indian holiday Diwali. Diwali is Hindi for \"row of lights\". It is the most important holiday in India.

Many people around the world are beginning to celebrate it as well. The United States is one of the places where the festival is becoming more common. Diwali celebrations can now be found at

American landmarks like Disneyland in California and New York City's Times Square. They are also held in many parks and museums.

Neeta Bhasin created the Times Square event. She said Indian immigrants have found great success in America. But, she said, many Americans still do not know much about India. So, she decided to act.\" I felt it's about time that we should take India to mainstream America and show India's rich culture, heritage, arts and variety to the world,\" she said, \"and I couldn't find a better place than Times Square.\"

Bhasin came to the United States from India 40 years ago. She is president of ASB Communications, the marketing firm behind Diwali at Times Square. Tens of thousands of people attend the event, now in its fourth year.

In India, Diwali is a five-day harvest festival held just before the Hindu New Year. The exact dates change from year to year but Diwali is always in the fall. Celebrations include lighting oil lamps or candles called \"diyas\".

A Diwali celebration will light up Disney California Adventure Park in Anaheim this year. Visitors can watch performances of traditional Indian dances and take part in a Bollywood dance party. The event is part of a Festival of Holidays program at the theme park to show cultural traditions from around the world. The program takes place on November 10th through January 7th. San Antonio, Texas, also holds a Diwali celebration. And it is one of the nation's largest celebrations, with more than 15,000 people in attendance each year. Visitors can enjoy Indian dance，food and fireworks. Organizers also plan to float hundreds of lighted candles in the San Antonio River, along the city's famous River Walk.

（1）Which is the main symbol in the Indian holiday Diwali?

A. Dances. B. Lamps. C. Food. D. Clothes. （2）Why did Neeta Bhasin set up the Times Square event? A. To make the American culture richer. B. To create a new business for the firm. C. To make Indian culture better known in the US. D. To show the achievements of Indian immigrants. （3）What do we know about Diwali? A. It is held in autumn in India. B. It lasts five days in America.

C. It has been held for 40 years in America.

D. It happens from November 10th to January 7th in India. （4）What is the main idea of the text? A. Diwali is mainly celebrated in Disney Parks. B. Many American cities compete to hold Diwali. C. Indian Holiday Diwali lights up America, too.

D. Diwali has become the most important holiday in India. 【答案】 （1）B （2）C （3）A

（4）C

【解析】【分析】本文是一篇说明文，Diwali在印度语中意为\"排灯节\"。它是印度最重要的节日。越来越多的美国人庆祝印度的Diwali。

（1）考查细节理解。根据第五段中的“Celebrations include lighting oil lamps or candles called ‘diyas’.”可知，the Indian holiday Diwali的主要标志是Lamps。故选B。

（2）考查推理判断。根据第三段中的“Neeta Bhasin created the Times Square event. She said Indian immigrants have found great success in America. But, she said, many Americans still do not know much about India.”可知，Neeta Bhasin成立了the Times Square的活动是为了让印度文化在美国更广为人知。故选C。

（3）考查细节理解。根据第五段中的“In India, Diwali is a five-day harvest festival held just before the Hindu New Year. The exact dates change from year to year but Diwali is always in the fall.”可知，Diwali在印度的秋天举行。故选A。

（4）考查主旨大意。根据第一段中的“More and more people in America are celebrating the Indian holiday Diwali. Diwali is Hindi for ‘row of lights’. It is the most important holiday in India.”可知，Indian Holiday Diwali也照亮了美国。它在美国越来越受欢迎。故选C。

【点评】本题考点涉及细节理解，推理判断和主旨大意三个题型的考查，是一篇文化类阅读，考生需要准确掌握细节信息，并根据上下文进行逻辑推理，概括归纳，从而选出正确答案。

8．阅读理解

I have learned something about myself since I moved from Long Island to Florida three years ago. Even though I own a home in Port St. Lucie just minutes from the ocean, an uncontrollable urge wells up to return to Long Island even as others make their way south. I guess I am a snowbird stuck in reverse. Instead of enjoying Florida's mild winters, I willingly endure the severe weather on Long Island, the place I called home for 65 years.

I'm like a migratory bird that has lost its sense of timing and direction, my wings flapping against season.

So what makes me fly against the tide of snowbirds? The answer has a lot to do with my reluctance to give up the things that define who I am. Once I hear that the temperature on Long Island has dipped into the range of 40 to 50 degrees, I begin to long for the sight and crackling sound of a wood fire. I also long for the bright display o£ colors — first in the fall trees, and then in the limits around homes and at Rockefeller Center. Floridians decorate too, but can't create the special feel of a New England winter.

I suppose the biggest reason why I return is to celebrate the holidays with people I haven't seen in months. What could be better than sitting with family and friends for a Thanksgiving turkey dinner, or watching neighbors' children excitedly open gifts on Christmas? Even the first snowfall seems special. I especially enjoy seeing a bright red bird settling on a snow-covered branch (My wife and I spend winters at a retirement community in Ridge, and I'm grateful that I don't have to shovel.）

While these simple pleasures are not unique to Long Island, they are some of the reasons why I

come back. Who says you can't go home?

（1）What does the underlined word \"snowbird\" in Paragraph 1 refer to? A. A person spending winter in a warmer climate. B. A bird seen chiefly in winter. C. A person permanently living in a foreign country. D. A bird flying to the south in winter. （2）What's the difference between Florida and Long Island?

A. Winters in Long Island are milder. B. The snowbirds in Long Island are rarer. C. Weather in Long Island is severer. D. Long Island is nearer to the ocean. （3）What did the author miss most when he was in Florida A. The cold temperature. B. The colorful light display. C. The family gathering. D. The winter landscape. （4）What's the author's purpose in writing the text? A. To praise the beauty and warmth of his hometown. B. To describe his dream to be a free bird.

C. To explain the reasons for moving from his hometown. D. To express his feeling of missing his hometown. 【答案】 （1）A （2）C （3）C （4）D

【解析】【分析】本文是一篇说明文，介绍了作者自己独特的习惯，喜欢家乡寒冷的冬天，而不愿享受佛罗里达温和的冬天；因为作者想念家乡的冬天，想念家乡的景色，想念家乡的亲朋好友。

（1）考查词义猜测。根据第一段中的“ Even though I own a home in Port St. Lucie just minutes from the ocean, an uncontrollable urge wells up to return to Long Island even as others make their way south. I guess I am a snowbird stuck in reverse. ”即使我在圣路西港有家离大海只有几分钟的路程,一股无法控制的冲动涌到了长岛，就在其他人向南走的时候。我想我是一个反其道而行之的，一个在温暖的气候里过冬的人，可知选A。

（2）考查细节理解。根据第一段中的\"Instead of enjoying Florida's mild winters， I willingly endure the severe weather on Long Island， the place I called home for 65 years．”没有享受佛罗里达州温和的冬天，我愿意忍受长岛我称之为家乡的地方的恶劣天气长达65年，可知，佛罗里达的冬天比长岛更加温和，所以选C。

（3）考查细节理解。根据第五段中的“ I suppose the biggest reason why I return is to celebrate the holidays with people I haven't seen in months. What could be better than sitting with family and friends for a Thanksgiving turkey dinner, or watching neighbors' children excitedly open gifts on Christmas? ”我认为我回来的最大原因是和我几个月没见过的人一起庆祝节日。还有什么能比和家人朋友坐在一起吃感恩节火鸡大餐或者看着邻居的孩子在圣诞节兴奋地打开礼物更好呢？可知选C。

（4）考查写作意图。纵观全文可知，本文介绍作者自己独特的习惯，喜欢家乡寒冷的冬天，而不愿享受佛罗里达温和的冬天；因为作者想念家乡的冬天，想念家乡的景色，想念家乡的亲朋好友，可知，作者写作本文的目的是解释自己对家乡的思念的原因，所以选

D。

【点评】本题考点涉及细节理解，词义猜测和写作意图三个题型的考查，是一篇文化类阅读，要求考生在捕捉细节信息的基础上，进一步根据上下文的逻辑关系，进行分析，推理，概括和归纳，从而选出正确答案。

9．阅读理解

Thomas Cheatham had planned to study Latin during his time at Hebron High School in Texas. But when he learned that the school district was going to offer a Mandarin(普通话) class, he quickly changed his mind.

\"I thought Mandarin would be more beneficial than Latin,\" said Cheatham, who is now in his second year of studying the language.

He speaks Mandarin to order food at Chinese restaurants and can read social media posts from his Chinese-speaking friends. While it's a difficult language to master, the high school junior, who plans to study computer engineering, thinks it will be important for his career. \"Chinese is a good language to know, especially with China becoming a growing power,\" he said.

Many experts agree that proficiency(熟练) in a language spoken by a billion people worldwide will give American students an edge in the global economy.

\"People are looking at China as our next economic competitor, and interest in Mandarin is growing fast,\" said Marty Abbott, director of the American Council(议会) on the Teaching of Foreign Languages. \"We're seeing it in all parts of the country.\"

Abbott predicts that as many as 100,000 students are now studying Mandarin in public and private schools throughout the US. She said the US government has designated (指定) Mandarin as an \"important needs\" language and provides professional development programs for teachers. \"Our government wants to increase our language ability for national security and economic competitiveness,\" Abbott added.

At the same time, the Chinese government is spreading knowledge of the Chinese language and culture through Confucius Institutes set up in many US states. For example, the Confucius Institute at the University of Texas in Dallas has been the home of a Confucius Institute for 10 years. It sponsors Confucius Classrooms at 21 local public and private schools, where tens of thousands of students are learning Mandarin.

（1）Why did Thomas Cheatham decide to study Mandarin instead of Latin? A. Mandarin was easier to learn than Latin. B. Mandarin could be helpful to his future career. C. Mandarin might help him learn more about China. D. Mandarin could enable him to study computer engineering.

（2）The underlined word \"edge\" in Paragraph 4 probably means \"________\". A. a slight advantage B. the outside limit C. a sharp tone of voice D. an exciting quality

（3）Which of the following statements might Marty Abbott agree with? A. Mandarin should be taught in classrooms throughout the US. B. Those skilled at Chinese will be the most competitive in the future.

C. The US government's policy has helped popularize Mandarin in the US. D. Americans learn Mandarin because they worry about their national security. （4）What does the author mainly talk about in this passage? A. The rising popularity of Mandarin among American students. B. The great benefits of learning Mandarin for American students. C. The influence of China's growing power on American education. D. The effect of Confucius Institutes in promoting Mandarin in the US. 【答案】 （1）B （2）A （3）C （4）A

【解析】【分析】本文是一篇说明文，以一个美国学生的经历为例来讲述随着中国经济的发展，普通话在美国校园很流行，这是中国在世界舞台上地位上升的一个反映。许多美国学生认为学习中文能够在今后职业发展的道路上有所帮助，美国对中文的重视也促使更多的学生学习中文。

（1）考查细节理解。根据第四段中的“While it's a difficult language to master, the high school junior, who plans to study computer engineering, thinks it will be important for his career.”可知，Thomas希望中文能够在他今后职业发展的道路上对他有所帮助。故选B。 （2）考查词义猜测。根据本句句意可知，汉语是一门全世界10亿人说的语言，专家认为掌握了它的人会在全球经济中有优势，故选A。

（3）考查细节理解。根据倒数第二段中的“She said the US government has designated (指定) Mandarin as an important needs language and provides professional development programs for teachers. ”可知，美国的促进了普通话在美国的普及，故选C。

（4）考查主旨大意。纵观全文，主要介绍了美国学生学习中文热情升温的现象，分析了出现该现象的背景和原因，故选A。

【点评】本题考点涉及细节理解，词义猜测和主旨大意三个题型的考查，是一篇社会文化类阅读，要求考生在捕捉细节信息的基础上，进一步根据上下文的逻辑关系，进行分析，推理，概括和归纳，从而选出正确答案。

10．阅读理解

Everything has its root. “Holiday”, is no exception. The origin of “holiday” is easy to see, coming from “holy day”, a day of particular religious significance, often celebrating the life of a saint (圣徒), during which no work was to be done. As far back as the 11th century, “holidays”, especially the major feast days, were times of “celebration and amusement”, as the Oxford English Dictionary puts it.

The number of holidays steadily increased during the Middle Ages, until a medieval Englishman would have had the luxury of 40 to 50 days a year off work, depending on where he lived, in addition to a free day on Sundays.

During the Reformation, Henry VIII abolished most of the holidays partly because of the Protestant (新教徒的) suspicion of saints, but more practically, because, according to historian

Eamon Duffy, “A large number of holidays were making the people poor by limiting agriculture.” The people took a different view and organized a protest march—the Pilgrimage of Grace—partly to protect their days off.

Though at first the religious and festive senses of holiday were combined, the word gradually came to be used for any kind of relaxing break from work. As the word was drawing away from a religious society, the number of authorized holidays was reduced, until by 1834 most workers had only four official days off a year, in addition to Sundays. Many factory workers amplified this time by staying home on “Saint Monday” to recover from what they had gotten up to the day before. By the late 19th century, employers were compromising and offering half-day Saturdays, the beginning of the “weekend”, a term first used in 1879. In 1908, an innovative mill in New England gave its employees all of Saturday off, and the practice of their getting the whole Saturday off spread widely during the Great Depression as a way to keep employment up. It took 400 years, but finally workers could enjoy as many holidays as they had in the 15th century. （1）What was the word “holiday” originally intended for?

A. Economy. B. Entertainment. C. Religion. D. Politics. （2）What's the main reason for Henry VIII's ending most holidays according to Eamon Duffy? A. His people required a thorough reformation. B. He didn't believe in God and saints.

C. People took no interest in the agriculture due to them. D. Large numbers of holidays stood in the way of the agriculture.

（3）Which can best replace the underlined word “amplified” in paragraph 4? A. lengthened B. wasted C. shortened D. guaranteed （4）When did most employees get the whole Saturday off?

A. In 1879. B. During the Great Depression. C. In 1908. D. In the 15th century. 【答案】 （1）C （2）D （3）A （4）B

【解析】【分析】这是一篇说明文。主要说明了“holiday”节日所经历的变革和演变过程。 （1）细节理解题。第一段第二句“The origin of “holiday” is easy to see, coming from “holy day”, a day of particular religious significance…”可知“holiday”的起源很容易看出，来源于“holy day”，一个具有特殊宗教意义的日子，故选C。

（2）细节理解题。第三段倒数第二句“A large number of holidays were making the people poor by limiting agriculture.”可知Henry VIII废除大部分节日是因为大量的假期了农业生产，使人们变得贫穷。故选D。

（3）词义猜测题。根据划线部分句子“Many factory workers amplified this time by staying home on “Saint Monday” to recover from what they had gotten up to the day before.”句意：许多工厂工人在“圣周一”这天呆在家里，从前一天的劳累中恢复过来，从而延长了这段时间。可知amplified意思为“延长”，故选A。

（4）细节理解题。最后一段倒数第二句“In 1908, an innovative mill in New England gave its

employees all of Saturday off, and the practice of their getting the whole Saturday off spread widely during the Great Depression as a way to keep employment up.”可知周六全天休息始于大萧条时期，故选B。

【点评】本题考点涉及细节理解和词义猜测两个题型的考查，是一篇说明类阅读，要求考生准确捕捉细节信息，通过题干中的关键词在文章中定位，同时根据上下文进行分析，推理，概括和归纳，从而选出正确答案。