兰州一中2015-2016-I学期高三年级期中考试试题

英 语

说明：本试卷分第I卷（选择题）和第II卷（非选择题）两部分，满分120分。

考试时间100分钟。答案写在答题卡上，交卷时只交答题卡。

第一部分 阅读理解（共两节，满分40分）

第一节 (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, 选出最佳选项。

A

According to the US government, wind farms off the Pacific coast could produce 900 gigawatts of electricity every year. Unfortunately, the water there is far too deep for even the tallest windmills to touch bottom. An experiment under way off the coast of Norway, however, could help put them anywhere.

The project, called Hywind, is the world’s first large-scale deepwater wind turbine (涡轮发电机). Although it uses a fairly standard 152-ton, 2. 3-megawatt turbine, Hywind represents totally new technology. The turbine will be fixed 213 feet above the water on a floating spar, a technology Hywind’s creator, the Norwegian company StatoilHydro, has developed recently. The steel spar, which is filled with stones and goes 328 feet below the sea surface, will be tied to the ocean floor by three cables ; these will keep the spar stable and prevent the turbine from moving up and down in the waves. Hywind’s stability in the cold and rough sea would prove that even the deepest corners of the ocean are suitable for wind power. If all goes according to the plan, the turbine will start producing electricity six miles off the coast of southwestern Norway as early as September.

To produce electricity on a large scale, a commercial wind farm will have to use bigger turbines than Hywind does, but it’s difficult enough to balance such a large turbine so high on a floating spar in the middle of the ocean. To make that turbine heavier, the whole spar’s center of gravity must be moved much closer to the ocean’s surface. To do that, the company plans to design a new kind of wind turbine, one whose gearbox (变速箱) sits at sea level rather than behind the blades.

Hywind is a test run, but the benefits for perfecting floating wind-farm technology could be extremely large. Out at sea, the wind is often stronger and steadier than close to shore, where all existing offshore windmills are planted. Deep-sea farms are invisible from land, which helps overcome the windmill-as-eyesore objection. If the technology catches on, it will open up vast areas of the planet’s surface to one of the best low-carbon power sources available.

1. The Hywind project uses totally new technology to ensure the stability of　　 　.　

A. the cables which tie the spar to the ocean floor

B. the spar which is floating in deep-sea water

C. the blades driven by strong and steady sea wind

D. the stones filled in the spar below the sea surface

To balance a bigger turbine high on a floating spar, a new type of turbine is to be designed

with its gearbox sitting　　 　.　

A. on the sea floor　　B. on the spar top　　　C. at sea level　　　D. behind the blades

3. Wide applications of deepwater wind power technology can　 　　.　

A. solve the technical problems of deepwater windmills

B. make financial profits by producing more turbines

C. settle the arguments about environmental problems

D. explore low-carbon power resources available at sea

B　

Mark and his brother Jason both were looking at the shining new computer enviously. Jason was determined not to go against their father's wishes but Mark was more adventurous than his brother. He loved experimenting and his aim was to become a scientist like his father.

“Dad will be really mad if he finds out you've been playing with his new computer.”Jason said，“He told us not to touch it.”

“He won't find out，” Mark said，“I'll just have a quick look and shut it down.”

Mark had been scolded before for touching his father's equipment. But his curiosity was difficult to control and this new computer really puzzled him.

It was a strange-looking machine—one his dad had brought home from the laboratory where he worked.“It's an experimental model，” his father had explained，“so don't touch it under any circumstances.” But his father's warning only served to make Mark more curious. Without any further thought，Mark turned on the power switch. The computer burst into life and seconds later，the screen turned into colors，shifting and changing and then two big white words appeared in the center of the screen：“SPACE TRANSPORTER.”

“Yes！” Mark cried excitedly，“It's a computer game. I knew it！Dad's only been pretending to work. He's really been playing games instead.” A new message appeared on the screen：“ENTER NAMES

VOYAGER 1：...

VOYAGER 2：...”

Mark's fingers flew across the keyboard as he typed in both of their names.

“INPUT ACCEPTED.START TRANSPORT PROGRAM. AUTO-RETRIEVE INITIATED(自动回收程序已启动)．”

The screen turned even brighter and a noise suddenly rose in volume.

“I think we'd better shut it off，Mark，” Jason yelled，reaching for the power switch. He was really frightened.

But his hand never reached the switch. A single beam of dazzling white light burst out of the computer screen，wrapping the boys in its glow(光芒)，until they themselves seemed to be glowing. Then it died down just as suddenly as it had burst into life. And the boys were no longer there. On the screen，the letters changed.

“TRANSPORT SUCCESSFUL.DESTINATION: MARS.RETRIEVE DATE：2025.”

4．Why did Mark touch the computer against his father's warning?

A．He wanted to take a voyage. B．He wanted to practice his skill.

C．He was so much attracted by it. D．He was eager to do an experiment.

5．Where did the boys' father most likely work?

A．In an electronic factory. B．In a computer company.

C．In a scientific research center. D．In an information processing center.

6．Mark thought “SPACE TRANSPORTER” on the screen was the name of ________.

A．a computer game B．a company website

C．a software producer D．an astronomy program

7．Why did Jason want to shut off the computer?

A．He was afraid of being scolded.

B．He didn't like the loud noise and light.

C．He didn't want to play games any more.

D．He was afraid something dangerous might happen.

C

Researchers from France and Italy discovered that Canadian parents are less strict with their children than mothers and fathers in France and Italy.

“Our most important finding was the difference between Canadians and the others，” said Professor Michel Claes，the lead author of the study.“Canadians focus on independence and negotiation. On the other hand，Italians，for example，exercise more control. We found Canadians seem to focus on negotiation in case of a conflict.”

Claes said Canada，France and Italy were selected for the study because they share important cultural and social factors.“We chose French-Canadians because they share the same language as France，and originally came from France and share certain values. Italy was included because it was considered to have similar，strong and important family values，” he explained.

The researchers examined the emotional ties between parents and their children by questioning 1,256 students aged 11 to 19 years old.

Canadian students reported less control and more free actions，according to the study. Italian parents were stricter and French parents were somewhere in the middle.

Claes explains that the differences lie in education in Canada，France and Italy.

“North America has its own educational values，which promote individualization. Tolerance and comprehension are encouraged. Italy，on the other hand，promotes respect of authority，control，and the need for permission.” he said.

Children from all three countries described their mothers as warm and communicative. Italian and Canadian children had similar feelings about their fathers，and reported high levels of emotional ties. But French fathers were generally thought by their children to be more distant and cold.

“We were surprised by this，” Claes admitted.“It seems as though the relationships between French mothers and their children were becoming closer over time，while fathers maintain a form of distance and coldness，which is more of a source of conflict in France than in the other countries.”

8．Professor Michel Claes believes that Canada，France and Italy ________.

A．have the same family spirit

B．have some similar cultural traditions

C．have experienced some similar social changes

D．have experienced similar cultural developments

9．How did the researchers carry out the study ?

A．By collecting answers of parents from Canada，France and Italy.

B．By collecting answers of children from Canada，France and Italy.

C．By questioning parents and their children from Italian Canadian families.

D．By questioning children from French-Canadian families.

10. According to Michel Claes，what mainly leads to the differences in parent-children

relationships among Canada，France and Italy?

A．Educational opportunities. B．Traditional ideas.

C．Educational values. D．Historical events.

11．Which of the following is NOT a finding of the study?

A．French children have troubled relationships with their parents.

B．Canadian children have close relationships with their parents.

C．Italian children have good relationships with their parents.

D．Kids from Canada，France and Italy have closer ties with their moms.

D

An idea that started in Seattle's public library has spread throughout America and beyond. The concept is simple: help to build a sense of community in a city by getting everyone to read the same book at the same time. In addition to encouraging reading as a pursuit (追求) to be enjoyed by all, the program allows strangers to communicate by discussing the book on the bus, as well as promoting reading as an experience to be shared in families and schools. The idea came from Seattle librarian Nancy Pearl who launched (发起）the "If All of Seattle Rea