1、一四级英语每日练习Passage 1 It is well known that teenage boys tend to do better 1)_ math than girls, that male high school students are more likely than their female counterparts 2)_ advanced math courses like calculus, that virtually all the great mathematicians 3)_ men. Are women born with 4)_ mathematica
2、l ability? Or does societys sexism slow their progress? In 1980, two Johns Hopkins University researchers tried 5)_ the eternal nature/nurture debate. Julian Stanley and Camilla Benbow 6)_ 10,000 talented seventh and eighth graders between 1972 and 1979. Using the Scholastic Aptitude Test, in which
3、math questions are meant to measure ability rather than knowledge, they discovered 7)_ sex differences. 8)_ the verbal abilities of the males and females 9)_ differed, twice as many boys as girls scored over 500 (on a scale of 200 to 800) on mathematical ability; at the 700 level, the ratio was 14 t
4、o 1. The conclusion: males have 10)_ superior mathematical reasoning ability. Benbow and Stanleys findings, 11)_ were published in Science, disturbed some men and 12)_ women. Now there is comfort for those people in a new study from the University of Chicago that suggests math 13)_ not, after all, a
5、 natural male domain. Prof. Zalman Usiskin studied 1,366 tenth graders. They were selected from geometry classes and tested on their ability to solve geometry proofs, a subject requiring 14)_ abstract reasoning and spatial ability. The conclusion 15)_ by Usiskin: there are no sex differences in math
6、 ability.1. A. at B. to C. of D. about2. A. in tackling B. tackling C. to tackle D. about tackling3. A. might beB. have beenC. must be D. had been4. A. smaller B. less C. fewerD. not more5. A. to settle B. to set C. settling D. setting6. A. were tested B. have testedC. were testingD. had tested7. A.
7、 distinct B. instinct C. remote D. vague8. A. Since B. However C. As D. While9. A. scarcely notB. virtuallyC. largelyD. hardly10. A. superficially B. universallyC. inherentlyD. initially11. A. as B. that C. which D. all12. A. fewB. not a fewC. not fewD. quite few13. A. be B. wereC. was D. is14. A. n
8、one ofB. neither of C. eitherD. both15. A. gotB. gained C. reached D. accomplishedPassage 2 We all know that a magician does not really depend on magic to perform his tricks, but on his ability to act at great speed. 16)_, this does not prevent us from enjoying watching a magician 17)_rabbits from a
9、 hat. 18)_ the greatest magician of all time was Harry Houdini who died in 1926. Houdini mastered the art of 19)_. He could free himself from the tight test knots or the most complicated locks in seconds. 20)_ no one really knows how he did this, there is no doubt 21)_ he had made a close study of e
10、very type of lock ever invented. He liked to carry a small steel needle like tool strapped to his leg and he used this inplace of a key. Houdini once asked the Chicago police to lock him in prison. They 22)_ him in chains and locked him up, but he freed himself 23)_ an instant. The police 24)_ him o
11、f having used a tool and locked him up again . This time he wore no clothes and there were chains round his neck, waist, wrists, and legs; but he again escaped in a few minutes. Houdini had probably hidden his needle in a wax like 25)_ and dropped it on the floor in the passage. 26)_ he went past, h
12、e stepped on it so that it stuck to the bottom of his foot. His most famous escape, however, was 27)_ astonishing. He was heavily chained up and enclosed in an empty wooden chest, the lid of 28)_ was nailed down. The 29)_ was dropped into the sea in New York harbor. In one minute Houdini had swum to
13、 the surface. When the chest was 30)_, it was opened and the chains were found inside.16. A. Generally B. However C. Possibly D. Likewise17. A. to produce B. who produces C. produce D. how to produce18. A. Out of the question B. Though C. Probably D. Undoubted19. A. escaping B. lockingC. opening D.
14、dropping20. A. Surprisingly B. Obviously C. Perhaps D. Although21. A. if B. whether C. as toD. that22. A. involved B. closed C. connected D. bound23. A. at B. by C. in D. for24. A. rid B. chargedC. accusedD. deprived25. A. candle B. mud C. something D. substance26. A. As B. UsuallyC. Maybe D. Then27
15、. A. overallB. all butC. no longerD. altogether28. A. it B. which C. that D. him29. A. chest B. body C. lid D. chain30. A. brought up B. sunk C. broken apart D. snapped二 Passage 3 Who won the World cup 1998 football game? What happened at the United Nations? How did the critics like the new play? 31
16、)_ an event takes place, newspapers are on the streets giving the details. Wherever anything happens in the world, reporters are on the spot to gather the news. Newspapers have one basic 32)_, to get the news as quickly as possible from its source, from those who make it to those who want to 33)_ it
17、. Radio, telegraph, television, and 34)_ inventions brought competition for newspapers. So did the development of magazines and other means of communication. 35)_, this competition merely spurred the newspapers on. They quickly make use of the newer and faster means of communication to improve the 3
18、6)_ and thus the efficiency of their own operations. Today more newspapers are 37)_ and read than ever before. Competition also led newspapers to branch out into many other fields. Besides keeping readers 38)_ of the latest news, todays newspapers educate and influence readers about politics and oth
19、er important and serious matters. Newspapers influence readers economic choices 39)_ advertising. Most newspapers depend on advertising for their very 40)_. Newspapers are sold at a price that 41)_ even a small fraction of the cost of production. The main 42)_ of income for most newspapers is commer
20、cial advertising. The success in selling advertising depends on a newspapers value to advertisers. This 43)_ in terms of circulation. How many people read the newspaper? Circulation depends somewhat on the work of the circulation department and on the services or entertainment 44)_ in a newspapers p
21、ages. But for the most part, circulation depends on a newspapers value to readers as source of information 45)_ the community, city, country, state, nation and world and even outer space.31. A. Just when B. While C. Soon after D. Before32. A. reason B. causeC. problem D. purpose33. A. make B. publis
22、h C. know D. write34. A. another B. otherC. one another D. the other35. A. However B. And C. Therefore D. So36.A. value B. ratioC. rate D. speed37. A. spread B. passed C. printed D. completed38. A. inform B. be informedC. to be informed D. informed39. A. on B. throughC. with D. of40. A. forms B. exi
23、stenceC. contents D. purpose41. A. tries to cover B. manages to coverC. fails to cover D. succeeds in42. A. source B. origin C. course D. finance43. A. measures B. measuredC. is measured D. was measured44. A. offering B. offeredC. which offeredD. to be offered45. A. by B. with C. at D. aboutPassage
24、4The United States is well known for its network of major highways designed to help a driver get from one place to another in the shortest possible time. 46)_ these wide modern roads are generally 47)_ and well maintained, with 48)_ sharp curves and straight sections, a direct route is not always th
25、e most 49)_ one. Large highways often pass 50)_ scenic areas and interesting small towns. Furthermore, these highways generally 51)_ large urban centers, which means that they become crowded with 52)_ traffic during rush hours, 53)_ the fast, direct route becomes a very slow route.However, there is
26、almost always another route to take 54)_ you are not in a hurry. Not far from the 55)_ new superhighways, there are often older, 56)_ heavily traveled roads which go through the countryside. 57)_ of these are good two lane roads; others are uneven roads curving through the country. These secondary r
27、outes may go up steep slopes, along high 58)_, or down frightening hillside to towns 59)_ in deep valleys. Through theseless direct routes, longer and slower, they generally go to places 60)_the air is clean and scenery is beautiful, and the driver may have a chance to get a fresh, clean view of the
28、 world.46. A. Although B. SinceC. BecauseD. Therefore47. A. stable B. splendid C. smooth D. complicated48. A. little B. few C. much D. many49. A. terribleB. possible C. enjoyableD. profitable50. A. to B. into C. over D. by51. A. lead B. connectC. collectD. communicate52. A. large B. fast C. high D.
29、heavy53. A. when B. for C. but D. that54. A. unless B. if C. as D. since55. A. relatively B. regularlyC. respectivelyD. reasonably56. A. and B. less C. more D. or57. A. All B. SeveralC. Lots D. Some58. A. rocks B. cliffs C. roadsD. paths59. A. lying B. laying C. laid D. lied60. A. thereB. when C. wh
30、ichD. wherePassage 5Early Tudor England was to a large extent self-sufficient. Practically all the necessities of life - food, clothing, fuel and housing - were produced from native resources by native effort, and it was to 61)_ these primary needs that the great mass of the population labored 62)_
31、its daily tasks. Production was for the most part organized in innumerable small units. In the country the farm, the hamlet and the village lived on 63)_ they could grow or make for themselves, and 64) _ the sale of any surplus in the local market town, 65)_ in the towns craftsmen applied themselves
32、 to their one-man business, making the boots and shoes, the caps and the cloaks, the 66)_ and harness of townsmen and countrymen 67)_. Once a week town and country would meet to make 68)_ at a market which came 69) _ realizing the medieval idea of direct contact between producer and 70) _. This was
33、the traditional economy, which was hardly altered for some centuries, and which set the 71) _ of work and the standard of life of perhaps nice out of 72) _ ten English men and women. The work was long and 73)_, and the standard of life achieved was almost 74)_ low. Most Englishmen lied by a diet whi
34、ch was often 75)_ and always monotonous, wore coarse and ill-fitting clothes which harbored dirt undermine, and lived in holes whose squalor would affront the modern slum dweller.61.A. settleB. answerC. satisfyD. fill62.A. atB. inC. onD. with63.A. whichB. whatC. whetherD. where64.A. withB. byC. onD.
35、 for65.A. althoughB. whileC. neverthelessD. when66.A. machinesB. apparatusC. equipmentD. implement67.A. similarB. skinC. likeD. alike68.A. exchangeB. bargainC. dealingD. ride69.A. close atB. adjacent toC. near toD. near-by70.A. consumerB. buyerC. userD. shopper71.A. modelB. formC. patternD. method72
36、.A. everyB. eachC. theD. other73.A. cruelB. hardC. ruthlessD. severe74.A. unimaginativelyB. unimaginablyC. imaginarilyD. unimaginedly75.A. weakB. littleC. meagerD. sparsePassage 6Unlike most sports, which evolved over time from street games, basketball was designed by one man to suit a particular pu
37、rpose. The man was Dr. James Naismith, and his purpose was to invent a vigorous game that could be played indoors in the winter.In 1891, Naismith was an instructor at a training school, which trained physical education instructors for the YMCAs. That year the school was trying 76)_ up with a physica
38、l activity that the men could enjoy 77)_ the football and baseball seasons. None of the standard indoor activities 78)_ their interest for long. Naismith was asked to solve the problem by the school.He first tried to 79)_ some of the popular outdoor sports, but they were all too rough. The men were
39、getting bruised form tackling each other and 80)_ hit with equipment. So, Naismith decided to invent a game that would incorporate the most common elements of outdoor team sports without having the real physical contact.Most popular sports used a ball, so he chose a soccer ball because it was soft a
40、nd large enough that it 81)_ no equipment, such as a bat or a racket to hit it. Next he decided 82)_ an elevated goal, so that scoring world depend on skill and accuracy rather than on 83)_ only.His goals were two peach baskets, 84)_ to ten-foot-high balconies at each end of the gym. The basic 85)_
41、of the game was to throw the ball into the basket. Naismith worth rules for the game, 86)_ of which, though with some small changes, are still 87)_ effect.Basketball was an immediate success. The students 88)_ it to their friends and the new sport quickly 89)_ on. Today, basketball is one of the mos
42、t popular games 90)_ the world.76.A. to have comeB. comingC. comeD. to come77.A. between B. duringC. whenD. for78.A. rousedB. heldC. hadD. were79.A. imitateB. adoptC. adaptD. renovate80.A. beingB. to beC. beenD. were81.A. requestedB. usedC. requiredD. took82.A. onB. toC. ofD. with83.A. powerB. stren
43、gthC. forceD. might84.A. fixedB. fixingC. that fixD. which fixed85.A. methodB. ruleC. wayD. idea86.A. fewB. muchC. manyD. little87.A. withB. in C. onD. for88.A. definedB. spreadC. taughtD. discussed89.A. wentB. tookC. putD. caught90.A. ofB. throughoutC. amongD. through1. A2. C3. B4. B5. A6. D7. A8.
44、D9. D10. C11. C12. B13. D14. D15. C16. B17. C18. C19. A20. D21. D22. D23. C24. C25. D26. A27. D28. B29. A30. A31. C32. D33. C34. B35. A36. D37. C38. D39. B40. B41. C42. A43. C44. B45. D46. A47. C48. B49. C50. D51. B52. D53. A54. B55. A56. B57. D58. B59. A60. D61. C62. A63. B64. C65. B66. D67. D68. A69. C70. A71. C72. A73. B74. B75. C76. D77.
