1、考研英语（阅读）模拟试卷 44 及答案与解析Part ADirections: Read the following four texts. Answer the questions below each text by choosing A, B, C or D. (40 points)0 High DiveCheryl Sterns aims to go boldly where no human has ever gone before in a balloon: 40 kilometers up into the atmosphere. 41 No one has ever leapt
2、 from such a height or gone supersonic without an airplane or a spacecraft. Yet Sterns, an airline pilot, is not the only person who wants to be the first to accomplish those feats. Two other brave people, an Australian man and a Frenchman, are also planning to make similar leaps.42 First, shell cli
3、mb into a cabin hanging from a balloon the size of a football field. Then balloon will take her high into the stratosphere-the layer of Earths atmosphere 12 to 50 kilometers above the planet. “The ascent will take two and a half to three hours, “ said Sterns. “Ill be wearing a fully pressurized, tem
4、perature-controlled space suit.“At 40 kilometers, Sterns will be able to see the gentle curve of Earth and the blackness of space over head. Then shell unclip herself from the cabin and dive headfirst, like a bullet, into the atmosphere. 43For high dive, astronaut escape suits are a key to success.
5、Current pilot and astronaut escape suite are guaranteed only a maximum altitude of 21 kilometers. Del Rosso, a NASA engineer of spacesuits and life-support systems, said the suit designed for Sterns jump could serve as a model for the lethal environment of higher climbs. _44 The first hazard is oxyg
6、en-deficient air. Any person without an additional oxygen supply at 40 kilometers would die within three to five seconds. The second hazard is low atmospheric pressure. Atmospheric pressure is much lower at high altitudes than it is at sea level. The low atmospheric pressure of the upper stratospher
7、e causes the gases in body fluids to fizz out of solution like soda bubbles. 45 Other hazards include temperatures as low as -55 degrees Celsius, flying debris, and solar radiation.For Sterns to survive, her spacesuit will have to protect her from all of these hazards. “A spacesuit is like a one-per
8、son spaceship, “ Del Rosso explained. “You have to take everything you need in a package thats light enough, mobile enough, and tough enough to do the job. You cant exist without it. “A. It will handle several major hazards.B. Escape suits are tough enough to stand the atmospheric pressure of the up
9、per stratosphere.C. From there, shell take a death-defying leap back to Earth at supersonic speed.D. “In 30 seconds, Ill be going Mach (马赫) speed, “ said Sterns.E. How will Sterns make her giant jump?F. In short, blood boils.5 Virtual DriverDriving involves sharp eyes and keen ears, analyzing with a
10、 brain, and coordination between hands, feet and brain. A man has sharp eyes and keen ears, analyzes through his brain, and maintains coordination between his hands and brains. He can control a fast-moving car with different parts of his body. 41 Apparently there isnt anyone in the drivers cab, but
11、there is in fact a virtual driver. This virtual driver has eyes, brains, hands and feet too. The mincemeats on each side of the car are its eyes and are responsible for observing the road conditions ahead of it as well as the traffic to its left and right. If you open the boot, you can see the most
12、important part of the automatic driving system: a built-in computer. 42 The brain is responsible for calculating the speeds objects surrounding the car are moving at, analyzing their position on the road, choosing the right path, and giving orders to the wheel and the control system.In comparison wi
13、th the human brain, the virtual drivers best advantage is that it reacts quickly. 43 However, it takes the worlds best racecar driver at least one second to react, and this doesnt include the time he needs to take action.With its rapid reaction and accurate control, the virtual driver can reduce the
14、 accident rate on expressways considerably. In this case, is it possible for us to let it have the wheel at any time and in any place? 44 With its limited ability to recognize things, the car can now only travel on expressways.The intelligent car determines its direction by the clear lines that mark
15、 the lanes clearly and recognizes vehicles according to their regular shapes. 45 This being the case, people still have high hopes about driverless cars, and think highly intelligent cars are what the cars of the future should be like.A. Experts say that we cannot do that just yet.B. In the near fut
16、ure, intelligent cars will be put into commercial operation.C. This is the brain of the car.D. But how does an intelligent car control itself?E. It completes the processing of the images sent by the cameras within 100 milliseconds.F. However, it cannot recognize moving people and bicycles on ordinar
17、y roads that have no clear markings on them.10 Musical Training Can Improve Communication SkillsAmerican scientists say musical training seems to improve communication skills and language retardation. They found that developing musical skills involves the same process in the brain as learning how to
18、 speak. The scientists believe that could help children with learning disabilities.41 She says musical training involves putting together different kinds of information, such as hearing music, looking at musical notes, touching an instrument and watching other musicians. This process is not much dif
19、ferent from learning how to speak. 42She further explains musical training and learning to speak each make us think about what we are doing. She says speech and music pass through a structure of the nervous system called the brain stem. 43 Until recently, experts have thought the brain stem could no
20、t be developed or changed. But Professor Krauss and her team found that musical training can improve a persons brain stem activity.The study involved individuals with different levels of musical ability. They were asked to wear an electrical device that measures brain activity. The Individuals wore
21、the electrode while they watched a video of someone speaking and a person playing a musical instrumentthe cello. 44 The study found that the more years of training people had, the more sensitive they were to the sound and rhythm of the music. Those who were involved in musical activities were the sa
22、me people in whom the improvement of sensory events was the strongest. 45 She says using music to improve listening skills could mean they hear sentences and understand facial expressions better.A. Both involve different senses.B. Nina Krans is a neurobiologist (神经生物学家) at Northwestern University in
23、 Illinois.C. Some disabled children attended the musical training class.D. It shows the importance of musical training to children with learning disabilities.E. Professor Krauss says cellos have sound qualities similar to some of the sounds that are important with speech.F. The brain stem controls o
24、ur ability to hear.15 Sleeping GiantRight now, an eruption is brewing in Yellowstone National Park. Sometime during the next two hours, the most famous geyser. Old Faithful, will begin gurgling boiling water and steam. 41Old Faithful is not only a spectacular sight) its also a constant remainder tha
25、t Yellowstone sits on one of the largest volcanoes in the world. If youve never heard of Yellowstones volcano, youre not alone. 42 Yet it has erupted three times during the last 2 million years. And one of those eruptions spewed enough volcanic ash and other debris to blanket half the United States.
26、Yellowstones volcano is sometimes called a “supervolcano“, or extremely large and explosive caldera volcano. 43 this supervolcano formed over a hot spot, an extremely hot area in Earths mantle. John Valley, a volcano professors, said that as the crust moves across a hot spot, the hot spot melts a se
27、ction of the plate moving over it, forming “one volcano after another“.The Yellowstone hot spot melts thick continental crust, which may cause catastrophic eruptions. According to experts the eruptions that created each of the three calderas in and around Yellowstone National Park were larger than a
28、ny other volcanic eruption in recorded history. The most recent eruption, which happened 640, 000 years ago, produced at least 1, 000 cubic kilometers of ash and debris, which blanketed most of the western half of the United States. 44Geological evidence shows Yellowstone has blown its stack every 7
29、00, 000 years or so. “If nature were truly that regular and reliable, we would be due for another eruption soon, “ said Valley. “However, these processes are subject to variability, so we dont really know when the next eruption will happen.“45 It is the volcanic energy that powers the geysers and ho
30、t springs, creates the mountains and canyons, and generates the unique ecosystems that support Yellowstones diverse wildlife.A. Three calderas make up more than a third of Yellowstone National Park.B. The first Yellowstone eruption, 2 million years ago, released more than double that amount of ash a
31、nd debris.C. The volcano is so inconspicuous (不显眼的) that few people know it exists.D. Then, an enormous fountain will shoot high into the air.E. While the active geologist processes at Yellowstone do pose some risk to the public, they also make it a unique treasure.F. Yellowstone National Park attra
32、cts the interest of geologists the world over.20 Robotic Highway ConesA University of Nebraska professor has developed robotic cones and barrels._41 _They can even be programmed to move on their own at any particular part of the day, said shane Farritor, an assistant professor of mechanical engineer
33、ing at Nebraska.For example, if workers arrived at 6 a. m, the cones could move from the side of the highway to block off the lane at that time. 42 “It just seems like a very good application for robots, “ Farritor said. “The robotic cones would also help remove remove people from hazardous jobs on
34、the highway putting barrels and cones into place, “ Farritor said in a report on his creation._43_This fund allowed Farritor to work on the project with graduate students at Nebraska and his assistant Steve Goddard.The robots are placed at the bottom of the cons and barrels and are small enough not
35、to greatly change the appearance of the construction aides. “It would look exactly te same, “ Farritor said. “Normally theres a kind of rubbery, black base to them. 44 “Farritor has talked with officials from the Nebraska Department of Roads about how the robots would be most useful to what they mig
36、ht need.The robots could come in handy following a slow-moving maintenance operation, like painting a stripe on a road or moving asphalt, where now the barrels have t be picked up and moved as the operation proceeds. “That way you dont have to block off a 10-mile strip for the operation. “ Farritor
37、said.While prototypes have been made, they are not in use anywhere. Farritor said he has applied for a patent and is considering what to do nest. 45 He is also thinking about marketing the robots to roads departments and others across the country who may benefit from them.A. And they can return to t
38、he original place at the end of the day.B. He is thinking about starting a small business.C. Farritor was “Inventor of the Year“ in 2003.D. Work on the idea began in 2002 using a National Academy of Sciences grant.E. We replace that with a robot.F. These robotic cones and barrels can move out of the
39、 way, or into place, form computer commands made miles away.考研英语（阅读）模拟试卷 44 答案与解析Part ADirections: Read the following four texts. Answer the questions below each text by choosing A, B, C or D. (40 points)【知识模块】 阅读1 【正确答案】 C【试题解析】 选项 C 是承上启下的句子。上一句说的是，气球将 Stems 带到同温层。下一句说的足，没有人尝试过不坐飞机或不坐宇宙飞船从同温层往下跳。有
40、了 C 这个句子，意思就连贯了。【知识模块】 阅读2 【正确答案】 E【试题解析】 “空 42”应该是个引导句，应该包含采取行动这类概括词，因为随后的句子是，第一步做什么，第二步做什么，等等。选项 E 是符合这个要求的。【知识模块】 阅读3 【正确答案】 D【试题解析】 选项 D 表达的是跳出气球后下滑的速度，与前一句的意思是连贯的。【知识模块】 阅读4 【正确答案】 A【试题解析】 “空 44”后面的句子列举了许多 hazards。据此推论，“空 44”的句子应该是引导句或概括句。选项 A 中有 several major hazards 这几个概括词，与后面列举的各种 hazards 相呼
41、应。【知识模块】 阅读5 【正确答案】 F【试题解析】 选项 F 中，用了 in short(简而言之)，是总结前面陈述的内容；blood boils 说明“空 45”前面句子的内容与 blood 有关。事实上，“空 45”前面的句子说的是，在低大气压的情况下，溶在人体液体中的气体会逸出，就像苏打水冒泡泡一样。选项 F 形象地总结了上述句子的内容。【知识模块】 阅读【知识模块】 阅读6 【正确答案】 D【试题解析】 “空 41”前面三个句子讲的是真人驾驶员驾驶汽车时脑、眼、耳、手、脚并用，而且要协调配合。“空 41”之后话题转入虚拟驾驶员。“空 41”之后的第一句“Apparently the
42、re isnt anyone in the drivers cab”似乎来得有些突然，与前面句子接得很生硬。所以，中间应该有个过渡句。选项 D 就是连接上下文的过渡句。【知识模块】 阅读7 【正确答案】 C【试题解析】 “空 42”前面一句说，如果你打开车身后部的行李箱，你就能看到自动驾驶系统的最重要的部件，嵌入式电脑。“空 42”后的句子中的 the brain of the car 自然是指前句的 built in computer，但接得太突然。选项 C 的“This is the brain of the car”就把前后句子联系起来了。 this 指代上一句的 builtin com
43、puter。后面句子的 The brain of the car 是重复选项 C 中的 the brain of the Car，显得很自然。所以，C 是答案。【知识模块】 阅读8 【正确答案】 E【试题解析】 “空 43”前面一句说，虚拟驾驶员最大的优点是反应快。“空 43”后面一句说，最好的赛车手至少要 1 秒钟才能作出反应。“至少要 1 秒钟”已经暗示，虚拟驾驶员反应速度要比真人驾驶员快。选项 E 说，虚拟驾驶员只需 100 毫秒就能作出反应。选项 E 使上下文的意思完整，因此是答案。【知识模块】 阅读9 【正确答案】 A【试题解析】 “空 44”前面是一个问句，即“在这种情况下，是不是
44、可以不分时间、不分地点都让虚拟驾驶员驾驶汽车?”“空 44”的句子应该回答这个问题：“让还是不让?”选项 A 回答了这个问题，因此是答案。【知识模块】 阅读10 【正确答案】 F【试题解析】 “空 45”前面一句说，“The intelligent Car determines its direction by the clear lines that mark the lanes clearly and recognizes vehicles according to their regular shapes”(智能汽车按清晰标出的车道线决定自己的行车方向，靠车辆的常规形状识别其他车辆。)选
45、项 F 的内容正好相反。上一句说“recognizes” ，还有“mark the lanes clearly”，而 F 说“cannot recognize”，又说“no clear markings”。从意思表达和词汇重复上，都能判断出，F 的句子应该出现在 “空 45”的位置上。【知识模块】 阅读【知识模块】 阅读11 【正确答案】 B【试题解析】 “空 41”后面的句子的主语足代词 she，说明“空 41”的句子中有一个女性的名字。选项 B 有 Nina Kraus(Nina：“尼娜”是女性名字)，句子的内容是介绍 Nina Kraus，与后面句子的意思配得上。 B 是答案。【知识模块
46、】 阅读12 【正确答案】 A【试题解析】 本段的第二、三句说，音乐训练和学习这两件事没有什么很大的不同。选项 A 的“Both involve different senses”解释了为什么这么说，因为两者都涉及不同的感官，也就是上文所列举的“hearing music”(耳听)，“looking at musical noteswatching other musicians”(眼看)，“touching all instrument”(手触)等。【知识模块】 阅读13 【正确答案】 F【试题解析】 在六个选项中，选项 F 的句子中出现特指的 the brain stem，说明前文已出现过
47、这个词语。这是篇章写作中常用的词汇：连接方式。从意义上看，选项 F 的句子是解释上文提到的 brain stem 的功能。上下文意思连贯所以是答案。【知识模块】 阅读14 【正确答案】 E【试题解析】 同上面第三题的解释一样，选项 E 的句子中出现特指的 the cellos，与上一句的 cello 相呼应，该句说明科学家为什么要选择大提琴作为音乐训练的乐器，上下文意思连贯，所以 E 是答案。【知识模块】 阅读15 【正确答案】 D【试题解析】 最后一段介绍音乐训练的方法和结果，以及对学习的关联和影响。选项 D 表达的意思是音乐训练的结果和对学习上有障碍的儿童所产生的正面影响，意思与其前后两句
48、的意思完全配合，是答案。【知识模块】 阅读【知识模块】 阅读16 【正确答案】 D【试题解析】 第一段第二句说，在随后的两个小时的某一时刻，间歇泉会涌出沸水和蒸汽。后续句应该是选项 D。boiling water 变成 fountain，shoot high into the air。【知识模块】 阅读17 【正确答案】 C【试题解析】 第二段第二句说，如果你不知道黄石公园的下面是火山，没有关系，很多人都不知道。为什么会如此呢?C 道出了原因。所以， C 是答案。【知识模块】 阅读18 【正确答案】 A【试题解析】 第三段第一句说黄石公园的火山 extremely large，所以有时候被称为
49、 supervolcano。选项 A 的句子具体说明这个 supervolcano 大到什么程度，所以是答案。【知识模块】 阅读19 【正确答案】 B【试题解析】 在选项 B 的 more than double that amount of ash and debris 这个短语中，有关键词 double that amount，说明前面句子一定有一个数字。检查后，发现这个数字是“1，000 cubic kilometers of ash and debris”，可以断定，选项 B的句子就是要放回原位的句子。【知识模块】 阅读20 【正确答案】 E【试题解析】 “空 45”所在段的前面两段介绍了黄石公园火山以前喷发时的可怕情景。“空 45”所在段叙述火山能量带来的好处。这是两种情景截然相反的描写，中间很可能有一个过渡句，把它们连接起来。选项 E 就是过渡句，应该是本题的答案。【知识模块】 阅读【知识模块】 阅读21 【正确答案】 F【试题解析】 第一段要恢复的句子的内容应该与 robotic cones and barrels 有关。F 句中的 These
