1、 After years of observing human nature, I have decided that two qualities make the difference between men of great achievement and men of average performance: curiosity and discontent. I have never known an outstanding man who lacked either. And I have never known an average man who had both. The tw
2、o belong together. Together, these deep human urges (驱策力) count for much more that ambition. Galileo was not merely ambitious when he dropped objects of varying weights from the Leaning Tower at Pisa and timed their fall to the ground. Like Galileo, all the great names in history were curious and as
3、ked in discontent, “Why? Why? Why?” Fortunately, curiosity and discontent dont have to be learned. We are born with them and need only recapture them. “The great man,” said Mencius (孟子), “is he who does not lose his childs heart.” Yet most of us do lose it. We stop asking questions. We stop challeng
4、ing custom. We just follow the crowd. And the crowd desires restful average. It encourages us to occupy our own little corner, to avoid foolish leaps into the dark, to be satisfied. Most of us meet new people, and new ideas, with hesitation. But once having met and liked them, we think how terrible
5、it would have been, had we missed the chance. We will probably have to force ourselves to waken our curiosity and discontent and keep them awake. How should you start? Modestly, so as not to become discouraged. I think of one friend who couldnt arrange flowers to satisfy herself. She was curious abo
6、ut how the experts did it. How she is one of the experts, writing books on flower arrangement. One way to begin is to answer your own excuses. You havent any special ability? Most people dont; there are only a few geniuses. You havent any time? Thats good because its always the people with no time w
7、ho get things done. Harriet Stowe, mother of six, wrote parts of 【 2 0 2 0 天 津 卷 】 阅读理解阅读理解议论文社会现象类议论文社会现象类 真题在线 Uncle Toms Cabin while cooking. Youre too old? Remember that Thomas Costain was 57 when he published his first novel, and that Grandma Moses showed her first pictures when she was 78. How
8、ever you start, remember there is no better time to start than right now, for youll never be more alive than you are at this moment. 1. In writing Paragraph 1, the author aims to _. A. propose a definition B. make a comparison C. reach a conclusion D. present an argument 2. What does the example of
9、Galileo tell us? A. Trial and error leads to the finding of truth. B. Scientists tend to be curious and ambitious. C. Creativity results from challenging authority. D. Greatness comes from a lasting desire to explore. 3. What can you do to recapture curiosity and discontent? A. Observe the unknown a
10、round you. B. Develop a questioning mind. C. Lead a life of adventure. D. Follow the fashion. 4. What can we learn from Paragraphs 6 and 7? A. Gaining success helps you become an expert. B. The genius tends to get things done creatively. C. Lack of talent and time is no reason for taking no action.
11、D. You should remain modest when approaching perfection. 5. What could be the best tile or the passage? A. Curious Minds Never Feel Contented B. Reflections on Human Nature C. The Keys to Achievement D. Never Too Late to Learn 【答案】1. D 2. D 3. B 4. C 5. C 【解析】本文是一篇议论文。文章论述了获得成就的两个关键因素好奇心和不满足。 1.推理判断
12、题。根据第一段内容 After years of observing human nature, I have decided that two qualities make the difference between men of great achievement and men of average performance curiosity and discontent. I have never known an outstanding man who lacked either. And I have never known an average man who had both
13、. The two belong together.可知，作者经过 多年对人性的观察， 认为成就非凡的人和平庸的人的区别在于好奇心和不满足， 而且两者是 相辅相成的。由此推知，作者写第一段的目的是提出一个论点。故选 D。 2.推理判断题。根据第二段中的 Like Galileo, all the great names in history were curious and asked in discontent, “Why? Why? Why?”可知，像伽利略一样，历史上所有的伟人都感到 好奇，并不满地问：“为什么？为什么？为什么？”由此推知，伽利略的例子告诉我们，伟大 来自于持久的探索欲望
14、。故选 D。 3.细节理解题。根据第二段中的 Like Galileo, all the great names in history were curious and asked in discontent, “Why? Why? Why?”及第四段中的“The great man,” said Mencius (孟 子), “is he who does not lose his childs heart.” Yet most of us do lose it. We stop asking questions. We stop challenging custom. We just fo
15、llow the crowd.可知，历史上所有的伟人都有好奇心， 并不满足地问：“为什么？为什么？为什么？”孟子认为“不失去孩子的心，就是伟大的人。” 然而， 我们大多数人确实失去了它。 我们不再问问题。 我们不再挑战习俗。 我们只是随大流。 由此可知，你可以通过培养了一个善于提问的头脑，来重新获得好奇心和不满足。故选 B。 4.推理判断题。根据第六段中的 How she is one of the experts, writing books on flower arrangement.及第七段中的 You havent any special ability? Most people do
16、nt; there are only a few geniuses. You havent any time? Thats good, because its always the people with no time who get things done.以及列举了Thomas Costain在57岁时出版了他的第一部小说， Grandma Moses 在 78 岁时展示了她的第一批照片。 由此可知，这两段想告诉我们“缺乏天赋和时间不是不采 取行动的理由”。故选 C。 5.主旨大意题。根据第一段内容 After years of observing human nature, I hav
17、e decided that two qualities make the difference between men of great achievement and men of average performance curiosity and discontent. I have never known an outstanding man who lacked either. And I have never known an average man who had both. The two belong together.及下文论述可 知， 本文主要论述了获得成就的两个关键因素
18、好奇心和不满足。 由此可知， C 项 The Keys to Achievement(成就的关键)适合做本文最佳标题。故选 C。 【安徽省六校教育研究会 2020 届高三英语第二次素质测试试题】 The famous Spanish painter Pablo Picasso once said, “Every child is an artist. The problem he has is how to remain an artist once he grows up.” This is both encouraging and discouraging. The fact that w
19、e were all born to be artists is certainly exciting, and yet the reality has proven that remaining one is a task that many of us have failed. Fortunately, some people have seen the problem and want to solve it. Western educators have suggested that we introduce the concept of “STEAM” instead of “STE
20、M” traditional “core majors” including science, technology, engineering, and math -since the “A”, which stands for “arts”, is just as important. And on April 11, Chinas Ministry of Education issued a guideline. Colleges and universities are required to provide more art-related courses and students n
21、eed to earn a certain number of art credits in order to graduate. These efforts came after many scientific studies had found that art education helps students develop self-confidence and teamwork skills, as well as habits of mind such as problem solving and critical thinking, according to The Washin
22、gton Post. Its true that none of these skills target specific jobs. But as former US ballet dancer Damian Woetzel told The Atlantic, the purpose of art is “to give kids the tools to become adults who are creative, adaptable, and expressive capable of having their eyes and ears and senses alive”. And
23、 we can now see how we lost track of our born “artist self” on our way to growing up: We failed to keep our capabilities to see, hear and feel, and became blind, deaf and insensitive adults. Hopefully, art education can help turn things around. 1. What is the function of the first paragraph? A. To i
24、ntroduce a famous artist. B. To summarize the whole passage. C. To lead in the topic. D. To encourage us to be artists. 2. Why should the concept of “STEAM” be introduced according to western educators? 提分训练 A. Art is as important as traditional “core majors”. B. All of us should learn art in colleg
25、e. C. Traditional “core majors” are out of date. D. Western education is more helpful. 3. What can we predict from the guideline issued by Chinas Ministry of education? A. More art-related courses will appear in all schools. B. College students will have to gain enough art credits to graduate. C. Mo
26、re students will major in art at colleges and universities. D. Art will become much more important than science. 4. What is the best title of the passage? A. Every child is an artist B. Bringing art to life C. Learning from the artists D. Life is art 【2020 安徽省舒城中学一模】Almost every community has some f
27、orm of rules and some way of enforcing them. So why do we have rules, and what makes people follow them? Studies have suggested that the reason we dont like rule-breaking is because fairness is programmed into our brains. Scientists have found that the brain reacts in a particular way when we feel w
28、e are being treated unfairly. A fair situation makes us feel comfortable and even happy, but unfairness causes our brains to respond with negative feelings. The study found that this a so happened when subjects saw others being treated unfairly. They concluded that fairness is one of basic human nee
29、ds. Arriving at a feeling of fairness means considering different, often conflicting, points of view. Regardless of the disagreement, people almost always need to compromise. But it can be difficult to arrive at a compromise when there are conflicting interests. This is why communities have rules th
30、at everyone must follow. Social controls are an important factor in setting and following rules. They influence the way we behave, and can be internal (内在的) or external. Internal controls come from within and are based on our values and fears. Most of us dont steal, for example, because we believe t
31、hat theft is unfair and wrong. We also dont want to disappoint our family and friends. In other words, our internal controls keep us from behaving in ways that cause conflict. External controls include rewards and punishments. Rewards, such as job promotions and praise, are designed to encourage peo
32、ple to behave and acting the interest of the whole community. Punishments, such as public embarrassment, fines, and even imprisonment can prevent people from acting against the communitys best interests. People need their communities to function smoothly. If there were no rules, most people would pr
33、obably still behave positively. However, there would always be a minority who would not. This is why a society without rules is unlikely to exist. 5What does the underlined word “this” in paragraph 2 refer to? AA program in human brains. BA comfortable situation. CThe response with bad feelings. DTh
34、e requirement off fairness. 6Why do communities have rules? ATo punish illegal activities. BTo prevent disagreement. CTo promote fairness. DTo meet various demands. 7Which of the following is an example of internal control? ATake exams honestly because cheating is shameful BPark in the right place s
35、o as not to get a parking ticket. CPay the electricity bill on time in order not to get a late fee. DCooperate with your classmates to win a prize for your class. 8What is the best title for this passage? ALiving by the rules BWhy communities need rules CReaching a compromise DHow fairness functions
36、 【山东省山东师范大学附属中学 2021 届高三英语第一次模拟考试】 Nobody likes to fail. It makes people feel embarrassed and discouraged. Whats worse, it may cause major professional or personal trouble and lead to negativity. Basically, failure is no fun for most people. However, a vast body of research tells us that failure pro
37、vides us with a chance to grow and develop, increases adaptability, and helps protect against anxiety. Its hard to change the mindset (心态) of a lifetime. But even if we still cant get over the broken marriage or the failed College Entrance Examination or the work presentation that went fearfully wro
38、ng, it might not be too late for our kids. Christy Pennison, a professional consultant, says she works with an increasing number of kids and teens who show significant anxiety around a fear of failure. She said, We want to protect our children, and we want them to live happy and meaningful lives, so
39、 we frequently tell them the harm of failure and ask them to avoid failure. The children experiencing internal and sometimes extenal pressure think they shouldnt fail. Meanwhile, we always have high expectations of them. So when they dont live up to a certain standard, or things dont go according to
40、 the plans, they will feel upset and anxious. Pennison argues that failures, are often the hidden learning chances that can help people develop positive qualities, like persistence, focus, flexibility, patience, and positive self-image. So what can parents do to help their children embrace (拥抱) fail
41、ure instead of avoiding it at all costs? Pennison suggests directing praise towards the effort, not the result. “This allows children to build confidence in themselves, “she explains.” Acknowledging the effort can give children permission to try new things without a fear of failure. And the bigger p
42、icture is that the development of the mindset Id rather try and fail than not try at all.helps them keep a belief in themselves, and expands their world of possibilities.” As Pennison points out, we all fail, but how we get up after we fail is what matters. 9. What aspect do most people focus on whe
43、n thinking of failure? A. The great courage to face it. B. The efforts made to handle it. C. Unexpected benefits it brings. D. Unpleasant side effects it brings. 10. What does the author intend to do in Paragraph 2? A. Bring up the main topic. B. List the challenges in our life. C. Add some backgrou
44、nd information. D. Stress the importance of the mindset 11. What is mainly talked about in the third paragraph? A. The causes of childrens anxiety. B. Christy Pennisons comments on adolescents. C. The consequences of overprotecting children. D. Christy Pennisons experience in educating children. 12.
45、 Which of the following advice can help parents encourage kids to face failure? Praise kids every achievement. Make kids embrace a bright mindset. Focus on the process of kids effort Expand kids knowledge about the world. Encourage kids to make new attempts. A. B. C. D. 【2020河南中原郑州一中一模】 In a classic
46、 episode (片段） of The Simpsons, Homers class reunion ends in shame when one of Homers guilty secrets is exposed: he never graduated from high school. To get his diploma, he must pass a science test. As he sits down to retake the exam, he holds one of his trademark dialogues with his brain. “All right
47、，brain. You dont like me and I dont like you. But lets just do this and I can get back to killing you with beer.” Many a true word is spoken as a joke. Homer Simpsons Everyman character really is an Everyman. For most people, engaging in the kind of effortful thinking that is required to pass a scie
48、nce test feels too much like hard work. It is so much easier to quit and let the brains autopilot take over. And no wonder. Evolution has blessed the human brain with all kinds of mental shortcuts that make life manageable. If we had to think about every action or weigh up every decision, we would b
49、reak down. As a result, certain ideas and modes of thinking come naturally to us, such as effortless thinking. But at huge cost. Our mental shortcuts work fine at the level of individuals and small-scale societies, but in an increasingly interconnected and globalized world, they are a danger to society. Effortless thinking is at the
