____35____ pattern, or “beat,” in the sounds. This is called meter.
Some of the oldest and best-known poetry in the world came from Ancient Greece. As far back as 700 BCE, poets there recited their work at public _____36____ and religious ceremonies. The great epic poems The Iliad and The Odyssey by Homer came from Greece. The Greeks eventually ____37____ Roman poets, such as Virgil, who wrote the Aeneid around 200r 30 BCE. In medieval times, poems such as Beowulf, The Divine Comedy by Dante, and The Canterbury Tales by Chaucer were written. Religion and romance became the ____38___ of choice for many poets at that time.
Poetry _____39____ even more during the Renaissance （文艺复兴）period of history, an era of many great cultural achievements. This was the period during which Shakespeare, the most well-known poet, was making his mark! Needless to say, a trend had started. Poetry has continued to grow and change as a form of ____40____ expression in modern times.
III. Reading Comprehension Section A （15分）
Directions: For each blank in the following passage there are four words or phrases marked A, B, C and D. Fill in each blank with the word or phrase that best fits the context.
The famous American inventor Thomas Alva Edison once claimed that genius was one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration(汗水). Now, it seems, there is scientific evidence to __41__ his claim. The idea that geniuses such as Shakespeare, Mozart, and Picasso possessed certain inborn talents is a false belief, according to a study by a British psychologist and his colleagues.
After examining outstanding performance in the arts and sports, these researchers concluded that __42__ is determined by opportunity, encouragement, training, motivation, self-confidence, and — most important of all — __43__. Even people who were not thought to be __44__ with any special talent could, after having received training, reach levels __45__ considered
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attainable (可获得的) only by gifted individuals. “Talent is a false belief, and it is time that people got rid of it,” they said.
This theory — a dramatic __46__ with traditional beliefs — has been __47__ by academics worldwide. In fact, studies of accomplished artists and mathematicians, and top tennis players and swimmers, have reported few early signs of __48__ in these people before any parental encouragement. No case has been found of anyone reaching the highest levels of achievement without __49__ himself or herself to thousands of hours of serious training. Even those who are believed to be exceptionally talented — whether in music, mathematics, chess, or sports — have needed lengthy periods of instruction and practice to achieve their highest level of success. “The persistent false belief that some people reach high levels of performance without spending numerous hours practising __50__ much to the fact that their practice is usually outside the casual observer’s view,” stated one scientist.
The importance of practice has been noticed in athletics. For instance, differences in the composition of certain muscles were once thought to be __51__ predictors of athletic performance. However, the differences in the proportion of certain muscle fibers(组织)that are __52__ for success in long-distance running are largely the result of extended practice in running. “What makes a genius then?” one may ask. __53__, there is no clear answer. What is known, however, is that “nurture” is at least as important as “nature.” __54__, a supportive environment will do far more for a child’s prospects of success than any inborn gifts. This is a message that most of us will find __55__ — even if we haven’t won the gene lottery, our fate is still in our own hands. 41. A. make
B. challenge B. harmony B. practice
C. support
D. dismiss D. response
42. A. excellence 43. A. education 44. A. satisfied
C. negotiation
C. fortune D. character
B. concerned
B. practically
C. decorated
D. gifted
D. primarily D. relief
45. A. preciously 46. A. break 47. A. doubted
C. previously C. partnership
B. association
B. concluded C. mentioned D. applauded
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48. A. accomplishment B. treasure 49. A. adapting 50. A. carries 51. A. creative 52. A. essential 53. A. Unlikely
B. attaching
C. diligence
D. inspiration
D. devoting
C. linking
B. leaves B. reliable B. suitable B. Similarly
C. owes C. natural C. possible C. Hopefully
D. connects D. active D. feasible
D. Unfortunately
D. In addition
54. A. To sum up B. In other words
C. For example
55. A. misleading B. puzzling
Section B （22分）
C. comforting D. amusing
Directions: Read the following three passages. Each passage is followed by several questions or unfinished statements. For each of them there are four choices marked A, B, C and D. Choose the one that fits best according to the information given in the passage you have just read.
A
If scientists could create a pill that let you live twice as long while remaining free of diseases, would you take it ?
If one considers only the personal benefits that longer life would bring, the answer might seem like a no-brainer: People could spend more time with loved ones; watch future generations grow up; learn new languages or try different careers.
But what about society as a whole ? Would it be better off if life spans were doubled? The question is of growing importance, and serious debate about it goes back GCLA’s School of Public Health, answered the question with a firm “Yes”. A doubted lifespan, Stock said, would “give us a chance to recover from our mistakes, lead us towards longer-term thinking and delay the start of expensive diseases of aging. It would also raise productivity through adding to our prime years.”
Callahan, a co-founder of the Hastings Center in New York, didn’t share Stock’s enthusiasm. For one thing, he said, doubling life spans won’t solve any of our current social problems. “We
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have war, poverty, all sorts of issues around, and I don’t think any of them would be at all helped if people lived longer,” Callahan said in a telephone interview. “The question is , ‘What will we get as a society?’ I suspect it won’t be a better society.”
Other point out that a doubling of the human lifespan will affect society at every level. Ideas about marriage and work will change in fundamental ways, they say, as will attitudes toward the young and the old.
56. In Paragraph 2, “a no-brainer” most probably refers to ____.
A. something coming to mind naturally B. someone unwilling to think C. something difficult to bear in mind D. someone having a low IQ
57. According to Stock, a doubled lifespan would result in people____.
A. thinking less frequently B. having fewer diseases of aging C. making more mistakes D. working productively longer
58. Which of the following might be the best title of the passage?
A. Aging: Burden or Treasure
B. Base of Society: the Old or the Young C. Longer Lives: For or Against D. A Doubled Lifespan: Possible or Not
B
ATTENTION, ALL OUR NEW STUDENTS
Welcome to West Lakes Institute of Technology. You are strongly advised to adhere to the
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following three basic rules on this, your first day, of the second semester:
1. Wear your pre-admission student number on your lapel(衣服的翻领) at all times. 2. Do not enter any classrooms where classes are already in progress.
3. When asked to produce basic information about yourself, be ready to show your green enrollment acceptance advice slip.
Students who have pre-paid the enrollment fee
From 9:00 am to 10:00 am (no later) you should visit the foyer of the Old Chapel building to receive your new student information kit. Once you have your kit, you are not required until 10:30 am, so you can relax in the Student Center until you are called over the PA system. Students who are yet to pay the enrollment
Go directly to the Admissions Centre and be prepared to pay your enrollment fee ($150---cash only) to the New Admissions Officer. You will be asked for your address and your pre-admission student number (the number on your green enrollment acceptance advice slip). Note that this is NOT the number which is later displayed on your student card. Once you have paid your enrollment fee, follow the instruction above for students who have pre-paid their fee. Student Cards
Student cards will not be issued until Thursday. Photographs, however, will be taken on Monday afternoon. Make your way to the Library at the following times: 1:00pm----Film and Photographic Arts 3:15pm----Hotel & Hospitality 1:45pm----Marketing 4:00pm----Fashion & Design 2:30pm----Travel & Tourism 4:45pm ----all other Art students Photographs of students in all other courses will be taken Tuesday afternoon. Welcome Address
The Director of the college will address all new students in the Main Hall at around 10:45 am. When you hear the announcement that directs you to assemble in the Main Hall, make your way swiftly past the canteen area, through the courtyard and into the Hall. No food or drinks are allowed in the Main Hall. Lunch
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上海市金山中学2016-2017学年高二英语下学期期末考试试题（重点资料）.doc
