阅读下面短文，掌握其大意，从每题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中，选出最佳选项。
Three years ago, the president of Harvard, Lawrence H. Summers, got into trouble for questioning women’s“intrinsic (内在的)aptitude (能力)”for science and engineering. Recently, a study paid for by America’s National Science Foundation has found that girls perform as well as boys on standardized math tests.
Although boys in high school performed better than girls in math 20 years ago, the researchers found that is no longer the case. The reason, they said, is simple: Girls used to take fewer advanced math courses than boys, but now they are taking just as many.
“Now that enrollment in advanced math courses is equalized, we don’t see gender differences in test performance,” said Marcia C. Linn of the University of California, Berkeley, a co-author of the study. “But people are surprised by these findings, which suggests to me that the stereotypes are still there.” The researchers looked at the average test scores of all students, the performance of the most gifted children and the ability to solve complex math problems. They found, in every category, that girls did as well as boys.
Janet Hyde, a professor at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, who led the study, said the stereotypes about girls and math, had taken a toll (造成伤害).
“The stereotype that boys do better at math is still held widely by teachers and parents,” hyde said. “And teachers and parents guide girls, giving them advice about what courses to take, what careers to pursue. I still hear anecdotes about guidance counselors (顾问)steering (指导)girls away from engineering, telling them they won’t be able to do the math.”
The study also analyzed the gender gap on the math section of the SAT. Since more girls than boys go to college, about 100, 000 more girls than boys take the test, including lower-achieving girls who bring down the girls’ average score.
1. What might be the reason to carry out the study?
A. To put Harvard University to shame for its president’s prejudice against girls. B. To find out if there’s any gender gap in science. C. To help girls to earn equal social status as boys.
D. To enroll more girls in advanced math courses in the university. 2. Which statement about people’s opinions of girls is NOT true?
A. People still find it hard to believe average girls perform in math as well as boys. B. Highly educated people are more likely to accept the fact that girls can do well in math. C. Many teachers and parents advise girls to avoid careers like engineering based on their talent. D. Some guidance counselors think careers related with math are not suitable for girls. 3. We can learn from the text EXCEPT ______.
A. girls used to perform worse than boys in math because they didn’t take as many advanced math courses
B. the stereotype about girls and math may lead to misguided choice of future careers C. the average lower scores of girls in SAT math test prove that boys do better in math
D. the public doesn’t accept outspoken prejudice against girls’ talent for math despite the stereotype 4. The main purpose of writing the passage is to______. A. report the findings of a research into girls’ math ability
B. criticize those who hold the wrong belief that girls cannot do well in math C. prove that the stereotype that girls do worse in math is wrong
D. help girls regain confidence in learning math well 【参考答案】1—4、BBCA
2016高考英语二轮：（寒假）阅读理解训练（18）及答案 A
On a sunny day last August, Tim heard some shouting. Looking out to the sea carefully, he saw a couple of kids in a rowboat were being pulled out to sea.
Two 12-year-old boys, Christian and Jack, rowed out a boat to search for a football. Once they'd rowed beyond the calm waters, a beach umbrella tied to the boat caught the wind and pulled the boat into open water. The pair panicked and tried to row back to shore. But they were no match for it and the boat was out of control.
Tim knew it would soon be swallowed by the waves.
\回忆). \the boys in a straight line.\
Tim took off his clothes and jumped into the water. Every 500 yards or so, he raised his head to judge his progress. \my life at risk.\the umbrella!\
Christian made much effort to take down the umbrella. Then Tim was able to catch up and climb aboard the boat. He took over rowing, but the waves were almost too strong for him.
\码头),\crashed over the boat, and it began to sink. \said.
Once they were in the water, Tim decided it would be safer and faster for him to pull the boys toward the pier. Christian and Jack were wearing life jackets and floated on their backs. Tim swam toward land as water washed over the boys' faces.
“Are we almost there?\After 30minutes, they reached the pier.
高考英语二轮：寒假阅读理解训练及答案_8
