I talk to strangers for a living and love the challenge of getting their stories published in newspapers.I've been married for years，but until six months ago，I could be a typical absent—minded husband.Often l was just nodding when l was supposed to.When my wife asked，“Did you even hear what I just said?”1 would defensively say，“of course I did!”
In January，I began to lose my voice.Doctors told me I needed surgery，or my throat would be permanently damaged.Total silence would be required for the first few weeks of my recovery.
Two hours after the surgery，my eyes filled with tears as my two-year-old son looked puzzled because l wouldn’t answer his questions.I wanted to talk but couldn’t.Luckily，I'd recorded myself reading some of his favorite books.That would come in handy the next couple of weeks.
It had never left.I'd just stopped noticing.I found myself understanding her better on topics I'd previously dismissed as “things I just don’t get as a guy”.I also realized my son wasn’t just talking nonstop but that he often had thoughtful things to say.Even while walking my dog in the woods near our home，I began hearing pleasant patterns in birdsongs.Before my surgery，I'd have spent those walks on my phone.
After several weeks，I was fully recovered. Conversation in our house is better now，not because I'm talking more.I’m just listening better and becoming less and less surprised that I like what I hear.
36题单选 According to the passage，the author is most likely a __________ . A.driver B.teacher C.doctor D.Journalist 参考答案：D
37题单选 What does the wife mean by asking “Did you even hear what I just said? ”in Paragraph 1 ?
A.Yon should listen to me. B.You didn’t want to talk with me.
C.You should tell me what I said just now. D.You didn’t have to nod while you were listening. 参考答案：A
38题单选 What is true of the author after the surgery? A.He was required to keep silent for the first few months B.He was worried about his recovery after the surgery. C.He was unable to communicate with his son. D.He was unwilling to talk to his wife. 参考答案：C
39题单选 What did the author realize after the surgery?
A.His wife was a talkative woman. B.His house was full of pleasant talks. C.His son didn’t like talking. D.His dog liked pleasant birdsongs. 参考答案：B
Coconut(椰子)is an unusual food for many reasons.It is one of the largest edible seeds produced by any plant.Its unusual contents also make it unique in the seed world—it consists of both “meat“ and “water” inside.The coconut meat is the white substance with which we are all familiar，as it is used extensively for cooking and flavorings;the coconut water is a white and sweet liquid. Portuguese(葡萄牙的) explorers gave the nut its name in the l5th century, referring to it as coco，meaning “ghost” in their language.The outside appearance of coconuts reminded them of a ghost’s face，and the tree has had that name ever since.
The coconut has varied uses.It is used to make various cooking oils for fast food restaurants around the world to make diet materials.The coconut fluid is a favorite drink in hot climates，providing a cool and refreshing beverage right off the tree.This water is also used by manufacturers of various sports drinks.Even the shell itself has many uses，including animal food and fertilizer.
And all these are only some of the uses found for the coconut fruit.The coconut tree，which produces the nut，also produces many useful things.It’s no wonder that the coconut tree has been taken as “the tree of life”.
40题单选 What does the underlined word“edible’in Paragraph 1 mean? A.Visible. B.Collectible. C.Available D.Eatable. 参考答案：D
41题单选 The coconut got its name because of __________ .
A.its hard shell B.its white color C.its ghostlike appearance D.its round shape 参考答案：C
42题单选 What is the passage mainly about? A.The history of coconut. B.Uses of coconut.
C.The discovery of coconut. D.Types of coconut seeds 参考答案：B
43题单选 What can be learned from the passage?
A.Coconut trees are useful plants. B.Coconut oil is rare and expensive.
C.Coconut trunks are houses for birds. D.Coconut fluid can become fertilizer. 参考答案：A
Most students choose “Homestay” accommodation when they study abroad：others select Homestay even if they are not on a study visit.Statistics show that it’s a form of accommodation gaining in popularity all the time.
But what is Homestay? And what makes it so popular?
Homestay means living with a family，or“host family”as we say.There are three ways of doing it：choose to learn English in a language school near to your Homestay location：have your English classes in the house with a member of the family who is a qualified teacher; select not to have classes at all when you visit——a popular choice if you want to do the tourist thing for example.
Even in their busy summer period the organizations that arrange the Homestays will always try to place you with the most suitable host family to match your requirements.Placement(安置)organizations think about location，interests，language level，eating requirements，allergies (过敏)and other requests you may have.
Though prices vary according to your needs，good quality Homestay accommodation can be relatively economical--and although you may be charged an extra amount of money if you want your Homestay in or near the city center.Even if you stay further out，you can expect your journey into the center not to exceed 30 minutes. Not only does Homestay accommodation represent value for money， it also gives you an excellent opportunity to practice English with your host family.This is a very important extra for students who like to speak as much English as possible. But if you plan to learn English，why not have your English classes in your host family. There’s no better way to learn English than this—the perfect combination of learning and accommodation combined with the cultural experience !
44题单选 Homestay is an ideal choice for students who __________ . A.plan to visit relatives B.want to stay at home
C.plan to study overseas D.want to learn statistics 参考答案：C
45题单选 Who will consider students’requirements before their Homestay starts? A.The English teacher. B.The placement organization. C.The host family. D.The language school. 参考答案：B
46题单选 Which of the following is a key factor affecting the price of Homestay? A.Nationality of the host family. B.Eating habits of the host family. C.Students’language level. D.Students’specific needs. 参考答案：D
47题单选 What can be inferred from the passage? A.The author is in favor of Homestay accommodation. B.The author is doubtful about the safety of Homestay. C.The author finds Homestay arrangement complicated. D.The author finds Homestay accommodation expensive. 参考答案：A
Using 1ess energy around the home is easier than you might think，saving you money while creating a heathier，more comfortable living space for you and your family. Changing a few old habits can make an impact on your energy bill， your comfort and the environment. Here are some handy tips to make your house more energy-efficient. Lower the heat If your home has adjustable central heating，lowering the room temperature even slightly can make a difference. You may not feel it，but your wallet will. It is even more advisable to control temperatures at different times of the day.
Hang clothes out to dry If the weather allows it，head outside and dry your laundry on a clothesline. The sunlight will help eliminate bacteria and dust. While clothes dryers get the job done faster，they also use up energy.By hanging your clothes out you’ll be cutting greenhouse gases by about three kilograms per load.
Take advantage of natural light Installing large windows on the northern side of your house can help you make use of sunlight’s natural warmth. To stay cool indoors on hot summer days，install blinds(百叶窗) to block the heavy sun.Put your desk near the window，then you don’t need a lamp in the daytime.
Wrap(裹)your pipes Be sure your hot—water pipes are properly wrapped.In an average home，heating water accounts for more than one—quarter of the energy bill.Why let warmth go to waste before it reaches you?
Choose the right size for appliances(家用电器) When the time comes to replace appliances，select those that are both energy—efficient and of the appropriate size for your needs.Don’t buy bigger ones just because you can.
48题单选 What benefit may using less energy at home bring about?
A.Having a healthier living environment. B.Improving your work efficiency.
C.Keeping old habits unchanged. D.Enlarging your living space. 参考答案：A
49题单选 Which of the following is one of the advantages of hanging clothes out to dry?
A.It may help to build a greenhouse. B.It helps remove bacteria in clothes. C.It uses half the energy that clothes dryers do. D.It gets clothes dry much faster than clothes dryers. 参考答案：B
50题单选 What can be installed on the northern side of your house to make better use of natural light?
A.Blinds. B.Curtains. C.Windows. D.Shades. 参考答案：C
51题单选 Besides energy-efficiency，what else should be considered when replacing appliances?
A.Replacing time. B.Reasonable price. C.Good quality. D.Proper size. 参考答案：D
As we recently discovered，there is a Stepmother’s Day，though it is not on any official holiday calendar.So，it would be safe to assume that there is a similar day for step dads，too.
Right? Well，it depends on what you read.A Google search brought up posts that say，for example，“It’s on father’s day--father’s day is for fathers，step—fathers and people who are like fathers to you-it’s a day for making father figures feel special.”Further searching found a Stepfather’s Day Facebook page that says，“The unofficial Stepfather’s Day is the fourth Sunday of June.”
Unfortunately，as of the publishing of this article，only 30 people have “liked” the page.Considering that studies show 3.3 million men，or 11.1%of U.S.fathers，live with at least one stepchild，that’s only a drop in the ocean.
It’s interesting to note that there is a National Grandparents’ Day.President Jimmy Carter signed it into law in 1978.Law! While grandparents are undoubtedly special people in our children’s lives，they are often seen as the most loving family members.But what about the stepparents? The stepparents are the ones who are often the outsiders，the ones who have to endure the hurtful “You’re not my dad!” or “You’re not my mom!” And yet they never give up.
They do their best to overcome the inherent challenges of stepparents and be role models for their stepchildren.These unsung(未被颂扬的)family heroes deserve “official” days of honor.Perhaps if we are loud enough，President Obama，who had a stepfather himself，will sign into law National Stepmother’s Day and National Stepfather’s Day.
Are you with me? Follow me and get your voice heard.How cool it would be if we could make this happen!
52. What does the underlined word“that’’in Paragraph 1 refer to?
A.Father figures who are equally honored in the U.S.
B.30 people who support Stepfather’s Day on the Facebook page. C.3.3 million men who live with at least one stepchild in the world. D.11.1%of U.S.fathers who live with at least one stepchild in the U.S. 参考答案：B
53 .What did President Jimmy Carter sign into law in 1978 ?
A.The National Grandparents’Day. B.The National Grandchildren’s Day. C.The National Stepparents’Day. D.The National Stepchildren’s Day. 参考答案：A
54 .Which of the following is closest in meaning to the word“inherent”in paragraph 2 ?
A.Unbelievable. B.Tough C.Lasting. D.Inevitable. 参考答案：D 55 .What is the reason for setting an official holiday for stepparents?
A.Because they love their role as stepparents.
B.Because they are often treated as heroes in the family.
C.Because they deserve respect and honor as family members.
D.Because they are often seen as the most loving family members。 参考答案：C
成人高考英语专升本阅读理解40篇及答案
