2012年高考英語閱讀理解訓練：社會文化類(3)

　　(三)(2011·課標全國)

　　Cassandra Feeley finds it hard to manage on her husband's income. So this year she did something more than a hobby: She planted vegetables in her yard. For her first garden, Ms. Feeley has put in 15 tomato plants, and five rows of a variety of vegetables. The family's old farm house has become a chicken house, its residents arriving next month. Last year, Ms. Rita Gartin kept a small garden. This year she has made it much larger because, she said, “The cost of everything is going up and I was looking to lose a few pounds, too; so it's a win??win situation all around.”

　　They are among the growing number of Americans who, driven by higher living costs and a falling economy (經濟), have taken up vegetable gardening for the first time. Others have increased the size of their existing gardens. Seed companies and garden shops say that not since the 1970s has there been such an increase in interest in growing food at home. Now many gardens across the country have been sold out for several months. In Austin, Tex., some of the gardens have a three??year waiting list.

　　George C. Ball Jr., owner of a company, said sales of vegetable seeds and plants are up by 40% over last year, double the average growth of the last five years. Mr. Ball argues that some of the reasons have been building for the last few years. The big one is the striking rise in the cost of food like bread and milk, together with the increases in the price of fruits and vegetables. Food prices have increased because of higher oil prices. People are now driving less, taking fewer vacations, so there is more time to garden.

　　1．What does the word “residents” in Paragraph 1 probably refer to?

　　A．chickens

　　B．tomatoes

　　C．gardens

　　D．people

　　2．Why is vegetable gardening becoming increasingly popular?

　　A．More Americans are doing it for fun.

　　B．The price of oil is lower than before.

　　C．There's a growing need for fruits.

　　D．The cost of living is on the rise.

　　3．Which of the following might be the best title for the text?

　　A．Family Food Planning

　　B．Banking on Gardening

　　C．A Belt??tightening Move

　　D．Gardening as a Hobby

　　答案與解析

　　1.A　詞義猜測題。根據(jù)前半句可知，這家的農舍變成了雞舍，所以下個月要住進來的應該是“雞”。

　　2.D　推理判斷題。根據(jù)第一段最后一句中的“The cost of everything is going up”和第二段第一句中的“higher living costs and a falling economy”以及最后一段第三句中的“the striking rise in the cost of food like bread and milk，together with the increases in the price of fruits and vegetables”可以看出，種植蔬菜流行的原因是生活費用的提高。

　　3.B　主旨大意題。縱觀全文可知，很多人種植蔬菜不僅是出于愛好，更重要的是為了節(jié)省生活費用，所以應選B項，bank作為動詞是“存款”的意思。

　　(四)(2011·全國卷Ⅱ)

　　Since 1984, Philadelphia has been cleaning up its act. One by one, graffiti??covered walls are being changed into outdoor art. So far, more than 1,800 murals (壁畫) have been painted.Philadelphia now has more murals than any other American city.

　　The walls that were once ugly with graffiti (涂鴉) are now covered with beautiful pictures of historical heroes and modern art, thanks to the Mural Arts Program (MAP). Its work makes schools and public places attractive, and its citizens very proud. The program began as part of Philadelphia's Anti??Graffiti Network. Jane Golden is the MAP's artistic director. “When people ask me what our program is about，” she says, “I answer them with one word: hope”. Each year, the MAP offers youth art programs and workshops. Some one??time graffiti writers even help paint MAP murals.

　　The MAP's work, says Golden, is all about developing a sense of community (社區(qū)). When a neighborhood requests a mural, the MAP works with the people there to develop a message. Some messages have been “Safe Streets”， “Love and Care”， and “Peace Walk”．

　　The MAP receives up to 50 requests for murals each week. Last year, the workers painted 140 murals.

　　 “The making of a mural enters people's collective memory as an extraordinary, pleasant moment in neighborhood history.” says Golden, who began as a muralist in Los Angeles.

　　1．What can be the best title for the text?

　　A．Love, from Graffiti Writers to Muralists

　　B．MAP, a New Company in Philadelphia

　　C．Jane, an Excellent Mural Artist

　　D．Hope, One Wall at a Time

　　2．What is the Mural Arts Program in Philadelphia aimed at?

　　A．Helping the young find jobs.

　　B．Protecting the neighborhood.

　　C．Fighting against graffiti.

　　D．Attracting more visitors.

　　3．How does the MAP decide on the message for a mural?

　　A．By having discussions with people in the community.

　　B．By seeking advice from the city government.

　　C．By learning from the young graffiti writers.

　　D．By studying the history of the city.

　　4．Which of the following words best describes the work of the MAP?

　　A．Difficult.

　　B．Dangerous.

　　C．Experimental.

　　D．Successful.

　　答案與解析

　　1.D　主旨大意題。根據(jù)第二段Jane Golden的話可知，當人們問及該項目是關于什么的時候，她用一個詞來概括，即Hope，故D項為最佳標題。

　　2.C　推理判斷題。根據(jù)第一、二段，昔日曾經被涂鴉的墻壁正被美麗的壁畫所覆蓋，以使社區(qū)更具魅力，因此對抗涂鴉應是該項目的目的。

　　3.A　細節(jié)理解題。根據(jù)第三段第二句可知，當社區(qū)的居民請求畫一張壁畫時，該項目的工作人員就和當?shù)氐娜藗円黄鸸ぷ鱽頂M定出一個主題，故選A項。

　　4.D　推理判斷題。根據(jù)第一段及倒數(shù)第二段可知，該項目很成功，故選D項。