高二下学期期末考试英语试题

考试时间：13:00~14:40 满分：120分

第一部分：阅读理解（共两节，满分40分）

（共15小题；每小题2分，满分30分）

阅读下列短文，从每题所给的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中，选出最佳答案

A

Fumbling with the buttons to find a good song while driving has been linked to increased risk of crashes, but is listening to music risky?

The study found teenage drivers who played their own music had significantly more traffic violations compared with background music designed by the researchers to minimize driving distractions, or no music.

Researchers at Ben Gurion University in Israel recruited 85 drivers about 18 years old: just over half were male. The subjects were each assigned to drive six challenging road trips that were about 40 minutes long, accompanied by an experienced driving instructor. Music was played on four trips, two with selections from the drivers’ playlists, mostly fast-paced vocals, and two with background music, which was a blend of easy listening, soft rock and light jazz in instrumental and vocal arrangements designed to make the subjects safer. No music was played on two trips. Subjects rated their mood after each trip and in-car data recorders analyzed drivers’ behavior and errors.

All 85 subjects committed at least three errors in one or more of the six trips; 27 received a verbal warning and 17 required steering or braking by an instructor to prevent an accident. When the music was their own, 98% made errors; without the music, 92% made errors; and while listening to the safe-driving must, 77% made errors. Speeding, following too close, inappropriate lane use, one-handed driving and weaving were the common violations.

The male subjects were more aggressive drivers and made more serious errors than female subjects. The teens played their own music at a very loud volume but significantly decreased the sound level when listening to the safe-driving music, researchers said. Mood ratings were highest on trips with driver-preferred music.

1.What is the key information the author wants to give in Paragraph 1?

A. Many drivers played their favorite music while driving.

B. Drivers shouldn’t search for the buttons to find a good song.

C. Song selections has nothing to do with increased risk of crashes.

D. Listening to certain types of music can increase drivers’ errors.

2.What does the underlined word “subjects” refer to?

Something being discussed

B. People being written about

C. People being tested

D. Areas of knowledge or study

3.In the research, soft rock and light jazz are likely to ______.

A. increase drivers’ safety B. add to the pleasure of driving

C. change drivers’ idea of safe driving D. lower drivers’ guard against danger

4.It can be inferred from the passage that in the research _____.

A. the teens committed the most errors B. the male were more skillful in driving

C. traveling with no music made the least errors D. driver-preferred music increased the mood ratings

B

Dogs are able to help all sorts of people with disabilities live their lives. Now a man from te United Kingdom has made a dog-controlled washing machine so that dogs can help these people with their laundry too!

John Middleton of laundry company JTM invented the “Woof to Wash” washing machine that makes it easier for people with disabilities to get their clothes clean.

Loading, starting, and emptying regular washing machines involves movements that most of us don’t think twice about and take for granted. But doing laundry can be difficult for people who have autism (孤独症), are blind, have learning disabilities, or have limited movement in their hands.

“We developed this machine because mainstream products with complex digital controls seldom mee the needs of the disabled users, ”explained Middleton.

“But then I saw a video from the charity Support Dogs, where a dog strips a bed and loads the washing machine. I was completely blown away and instantly thought I could invent a machine where the dog does everything. So I got in touch with Support Dogs and they loved the idea. They said it would be a huge help to their severely disabled users.”

With Middleton’s washer, support dogs of all shapes and sizes can be trained to be load the clothes, bark to turn it on, and open the door with a push of a paw and pull a string to unload the washing.

The dogs are currently being trained by Support Dogs, and, for now, they will only be available to the UK citizens with disabilities.

JTM’s website says that, “Plans are underway for this groundbreaking machine to improve the quality of life and independence for thousands of people with wide ranging disabilities across the UK.”

5.According to Middleton, the common washing machines _____.

are designed for special purposes B. are completely controlled by themselves

C. are produced digitally for people to use D. are difficult for the disabled to operate

6. If the dog wants to empty washing machines, he should _____.

A. bark to the machine B. open the door

C. pull a string D. bite a button on the machine

7. What do we know about the Woof to Wash washing machine?

A. Any dogs can be trained to operate it B. It is widely sold in England at present

C. Dogs for it are being trained by John D. It is designed especially for the dogs.

8. The best title for the passage may be “_____”.

A. A washing machine designed by a disabled person B. The dog-friendly washing machine

C. The latest washing machine in the world D. The machine specially designed for dogs

C

Human’s appetite for protein is so powerful tat we are driven to continue eating until we get the right amount of protein, even if it means consuming far more energy than we need, according to new research from the University of Sydney’s Charles Perkins Centre. Published online in Obesity Reviews , the research shows the main drive for dietary protein could be a key factor in the global obesity problem.

The research gathered the results of 38 published experimental trials measuring the unrestricted energy intake of people in different diets, also taking into account the ages, body mass indexes (BMIs) and diet times.

“We found that regardless of your age of BMI, your appetite for protein is so strong that you will keep eating until you get enough protein, which could mean you’re eating much more than you should,” said Dr Alison Gosby, lead author of the research at the University of Sydney’s Charles Perkins Centre.

As diets shift towards an increased proportion of foods that are higher in carbohydrate or fat, available protein is reduced and energy intake necessarily increases.

“For example, when you consume things like soft drinks, which are fairly low in protein but high in calories, your energy intake will increase because you’ll need to keep eating to get the protein you need. If you add a soft drink to your lunch then you’ve added a lot of calories, but you’ll still have to eat the same amount of food.”

“The strength of our nutritional drive fro protein is frightening within our nutritional environment, where there are a large number of low-protein foods consumed on a regular basis,” Dr Gosby says. “We have shown that when people are trying to lose weight they need to look at macronutrient (常量营养物) composition, not just calories. If you cut out calories bud don’t consider protein intake, you’re going to be hungry and your diet won’t be successful.”

Dr Gosby says the findings could provide a new tool in the fight against overweight and obesity, which currently affects more than 60 percent of adults and one in four children in Australia.

9.In the passage, the author wants to tell us that _____.

A. lack of protein leads to overeating B. humans should adjust their tastes

C. protein is very important to health D. lack of exercise causes overweight

10.It can be inferred from Paragraph 4 and Paragraph 5 that _____.

A. it is necessary to have different diets

B. the intake food should be rich in calories

C. soft drinks should be removed from market

D. parents must limit soft drinks to children

11.According to Dr Gosby, we can know that _____.

A. people prefer low-protein foods in daily life

B. reducing daily intake of protein is effective in losing weight

C. reducing calories leads to a successful weight loss

D. over half of Australian adults are overweight

D

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