Urbanization
(2013·高考北京卷)Until relatively recently,the vast majority of human beings lived and died without ever seeing a city.The first city was probably founded no more than 5,500 years ago.__ 1.__In fact,nearly everyone lived on farms or in tiny rural (乡村的) villages.It was not until the 20th century that Great Britain became the first urban society in history—a society in which the majority of people live in cities and do not farm for a living.
Britain was only the beginning. 2.__The process of urbanization—the migration (迁徙) of people from the countryside to the city—was the result of modernization,which has rapidly transformed how people live and where they live.
In 1990,fewer than 40% of Americans lived in urban areas.Today,over 82% of Americans live in cities.Only about 2% live on farms.__ 3.__
Large cities were impossible until agriculture became industrialized.Even in advanced agricultural societies,it took about ninetyfive people on farms to feed five people in cities._ 4._Until modern times,those living in cities were mainly the ruling elite(精英) and the servants,laborers and professionals who served them.Cities survived by taxing farmers and were limited in size by the amount of surplus food that the rural population produced and by the ability to move this surplus from farm to city.
Over the past two centuries,the Industrial Revolution has broken this balance between the city and the country. 5._Today,instead of needing ninetyfive farmers to feed five city people,one American farmer is able to feed more than a hundred nonfarmers.
A.That kept cities very small.
B.The rest live in small towns.
C.The effects of urban living on people should be considered.
D.Soon many other industrial nations became urban societies.
E.But even 200 years ago,only a few people could live in cities.
F.Modernization drew people to the cities and made farmers more productive.
G.Modern cities have destroyed social relations and the health of human beings.
(2013·高考安徽卷)If you want to learn a new language,the very first thing to think about is why.Do you need it for a____ reason,such as your job or your studies?____ perhaps you’re interested in the ____,films or music of a different country and you know how much it will help to have a ____ of the language.
Most people learn best using a variety of ____,but traditional classes are an ideal(理想的)start for many people.They ____ an environment where you can practice under the ___ of someone who’s good at the language.We all lead ____ lives and learning a language takes ____.You will have more success if you study regularly,so try to develop a ___.It doesn’t matter if you haven’t got long.Becoming fluent in a language will take years,but learning to get by takes____.
Many people start learning a language and soon give up.“I’m too____,”they say.Yes,children do learn languages more ____ than adults,but research has shown that you can learn a language at any ____.And learning is good for the health of your brain,too.I’ve also heard people ___ about the mistakes they make when ____.Well,relax and laugh about your mistakes ____ you’re much less likely to make them again.
Learning a new language is never ____.But with some work and devotion,you’ll make progress.And you’ll be ____ by the positive reaction of some people when you say just a few words in ____ own language.Good luck!
1.A.technical B.political
C.practical D.physical
2.A.After B.So
C.Though D.Or
3.A literature B.transport
C.agriculture D.medicine
4.A view B.knowledge
C.form D.database
5.A paintings B.regulations
C.methods D.computers
6.A.protect B.change
C.respect D.provide
7.A.control B.command
C.guidance D.pressure
8.A.busy B.happy
C.simple D.normal
9.A.courage B.time
C.energy D.place
10.A.theory B.business
C.routine D.project
11.A.some risks B.a lot less
C.some notes D.a lot more
12.A.old B.nervous
C.weak D.tired
13.A.closely B.quickly
C.privately D.quietly
14.A.age B.speed
C.distance D.school
15.A.worry B.hesitate
C.think D.quarrel
16.A.singing B.working
C.bargaining D.learning
17.A.if B.and
C.but D. before
18.A.tiresome B.hard
C.interesting D.easy
19.A.blamed B.amazed
C.interrupted D.informed
20.A.their B.his
C.our D,your
(2013·高考重庆卷,B)It is easy to overlook the role that your body plays in influencing your mood(情绪).When you are____,you may find yourself blaming work pressures or an unknown future.However,it could just be that you’ve been sitting behind your desk too long.
One way to improve your mood is____.Psychologically,it provides you with a break from the stresses in your life.Also,in the process,you may aim for____goals,like a new personal running record or a better body shape.The achievement of a particular goal makes you feel good and contributes to your____.That is why exercise has been shown to____your selfrespect.
You do not have to train yourself____to feel the psychological benefits of exercise.What really matters is____,not intensity(强度)of your exercise.You can try walking for 30 minutes five times per week or simply gardening on weekends.
1.A.ill B.poor
C.unhappy D.unsuccessful
2.A.play B.communication
C.sleep D.exercise
3.A.clear B.present
C.common D.early
4.A.ability B.relationship
C.confidence D.business
5.A.tear down B.build up
C.set aside D.give out
6.A.hard B.everywhere
C.carefully D.late
7.A.time B.length
C.form D.frequency
(2013·高考山东卷)I used to be a very selfcentered person,but in the past two years I have really changed.I have started to think about other people ____ I think about myself.I am happy that I am becoming a ____ person.
I think my ____ started when I was at Palomar College.At first,I just wanted to get my ___ and be left alone.I thought I was smarter than everyone else,so I hardly ever ___ to anyone in my classes.By the end of my first semester,I was really ____.It seemed as if everyone but me had made friends and was having fun.So I tried a(n)____.I started asking people around me how they were doing,and if they were having trouble I ____ to help.That was really a big ____ for me.By the end of the year,I had several new friends,and two of ____ are still my best friends today.
A bigger cause of my new ____,however,came when I took a parttime job at Vista Nursing Home.One old lady there who had Alzheimer’s disease became my ____.Every time I came into her room,she was so ____ because she thought I was her daughter.Her real daughter never ____ her,so I took her place.She let me ____that making others feel good made me feel good too,when she died,I was ____,but I was also very grateful to her.
I think I am a much ____ person today than I used to be,and I hope I will not ____ these experiences.They have ____ me to care about other people more than about myself.I ____ who I am today,and I could not say that a few years ago.
1.A.since B.before
C.or D.unless
2.A.famous B.simple
C.different D.skilled
3.A.education B.career
C.tour D.change
4.A.balance B.homework
C.degree D.interest
5.A.talked B.wrote
C.lied D.reported
6.A.careful B.lonely
C.curious D.guilty
7.A.argument B.game
C.experiment D.defence
8.A.dared B.offered
C.hesitated D.happened
9.A.dream B.problem
C.duty D.step
10.A.us B.which
C.them D.whom
11.A.attitude B.hobby
C.hope D.luck
12.A.friend B.partner
C.guide D.guest
13.A.polite B.happy
C.strange D.confident
14.A.bothered B.answered
C.visited D.trusted
15.A.explain B.guess
C.declare D.see
16.A.homeless B.heartbroken
C.badtempered D.hopeless
17.A.quieter B.busier
C.better D.richer
18.A.forget B.face
C.improve D.analyze
19.A.forced B.preferred
C.ordered D.taught
20.A.miss B.like
C.wonder D.expect
(2013·高考四川卷)“Look,it’s Baldy!”A boy shouted in my direction across the playground.Even though I was used to regular insults(侮辱) because of the___on my head,it was___horrible to hear.I sighed as I headed back to the class.
When I was just 20 months old,I suffered serious____after a bowl full of hot oil fell on my head.I was____to hospital and had to stay there for weeks while the doctors____to save my life.“Holly’s very____to be alive,”they told Mum and Dad.“But she’ll be___with scars on her head,and of course her hair won’t grow there.”
As a child,I cared much about my scars,so I____wore a scarf to cover them up when I left home.____I didn’t,people would call me horrible names like Baldy.Although my friends were always comforting me,they never____understood how it felt.
Then through the hospital I was____to a children’s burns camp,where children like me can get any help.There,I____14yearold Stephanie,whose burns are a lot more serious than mine.But she is so____that she never lets anyone put her down.“You shouldn’t____what people say about what you look like because we’re not different from anyone else,Holly,”she____me.“And you don’t need to wear a scarf because you look great____it!” For the first time in my life I could speak to someone who’d been through something____.So weeks later,at my 13th birthday party,____by her bravery,I gave up my scarf and showed off my scars.It felt amazing not having to____away behind my scarf.
Now,I am____of what I look like and much happier,because I have realized it is your personality(个性)that decides who you truly are.
1.A.hat B.scarf
C.scars D.cuts
2.A.still B.just
C.never D.seldom
3.A.hunger B.cold
C.defeats D.burns
4.A.rushed B.led
C.invited D.forced
5.A.learned B.fought
C.returned D.decided
6.A.happy B.lucky
C.lonely D.poor
7.A.pressed B.occupied
C.left D.painted
8.A.possibly B.usually
C.finally D.nearly
9.A.Although B.Since
C.If D.Before
10.A.correctly B.roughly
C.easily D.really
11.A.promoted B.introduced
C.reported D.carried
12.A.met B.recognized
C.remembered D.caught
13.A.honest B.strong
C.active D.young
14.A.write down B.agree with
C.pass on D.listen to
15.A.promised B.encouraged
C.ordered D.calmed
16.A.in B.for
C.without D.beyond
17.A.similar B.strange
C.hard D.important
18.A.allowed B.required
C.guided D.inspired
19.A.hide B.give
C.keep D.put
20.A.sick B.aware
C.tired D.proud
(2013·高考天津卷)As I held my father’s hands one night,I couldn’t help but notice their calluses(老茧)and roughness.His hands tell the story of his life as a ____,including all his struggles.
One summer,I remember,a drought (旱灾) hit Ontario,turning it into a ____ desert.On one of those hot mornings I was picking sweet corn with my dad to fill the last ____ from the grocery store.Fifty dozen was all we needed,which ___ took twenty minutes.That morning,however,the process didn’t ___ quickly.After forty minutes of aimlessly walking in the field,we ____needed twenty dozen.I was completely frustrated and ___.Dropping the basket heavily,I declared, “If the store wants its last twenty dozen,they can pick it themselves!”Dad ____,“Just think,my little girl,only ten dozen left for each of us and then we’re ____.” Such is Dad-whatever problem he ____,he never gives up.
____,the disastrous effects of the drought were felt all over our country.It was a challenging time for everyone,____ Dad remained optimistic.He ____ to be grateful for other things like good health and food on our plates.Only then did I truly begin to ___ Dad and his faith that guided us through the hard times.
Dad is also a living example of real ____.From dawn to dusk,he works countless hours to___ our family.He always puts our happiness ____ his own,and never fails to cheer me on at my sports games ___ his exhaustion after long days.His loving and selfless nature has inspired me to become more sympathetic and ____,putting others first.
Dad,the life ____ I have learned from you will stay with me forever.You are my father,teacher,friend and,most importantly,my hero.
1.A.teacher B.gardener
C.farmer D.grocer
2.A.stormy B.lively
C.disappearing D.burning
3.A.order B.form
C.gap D.position
4.A.repeatedly B.normally
C.finally D.really
5.A.go B.begin
C.occur D.change
6.A.yet B.still
C.even D.nearly
7.A.surprised B.nervous
C.angry D.frightened
8.A.apologized B.cried
C.complained D.laughed
9.A.lost B.done
C.gone D.touched
10.A.meets with B.brings up
C.works out D.thinks about
11.A.Thankfully B.Hopefully
C.Unfortunately D.Strangely
12.A.or B.for
C.so D.but
13.A.happened B.seemed
C.continued D.aimed
14.A.face B.appreciate
C.examine D.question
15.A.love B.pride
C.friendship D.honesty
16.A.support B.settle
C.start D.impress
17.A.after B.before
C.beside D.under
18.A.in spite of B.in terms of
C.in control of D.in place of
19.A.careful B.regretful
C.considerate D.humorous
20.A.history B.motto
C.patterns D.lessons