Unit 4 Pygmalion reading课时作业
Ⅰ.阅读理解
A
(2024·河南南阳一中月考)
One evening in February 2007，a student named Paula Ceely brought her car to a stop on a remote road in Wales.She got out to open a metal gate that blocked her path.That’s when she heard the whistle sounded by the driver of a train.Her Renault Clio was parked across a railway line.Seconds later，she watched the train drag her car almost a kilometer down the railway tracks.
Ceely’s near miss made the news because she blamed it on her GPS device(导航仪).She had never driven the route before.It was dark and raining heavily.Ceely was relying on her GPS，but it made no mention of the crossing.“I put my complete trust in the device and it led me right into the path of a speeding train，”she told the BBC.
Who is to blame here？Rick Stevenson，who tells Ceely’s story in his book When Machines Fail Us，points the finger at the limitations of technology.We put our faith in digital devices，he says，but our digital helpers are too often not up to the job.They are filled with small problems.And it’s not just GPS devices：Stevenson takes us on a tour of digital disasters involving everything from mobile phones to wireless key-boards.
The problem with his argument in the book is that it’s not clear why he only focuses on digital technology，while there may be a number of other possible causes.A map-maker might have left the crossing off a paper map.Maybe we should blame Ceely for not paying attention.Perhaps the railway authorities are at fault for poor signalling system.Or maybe someone has studied the relative dangers and worked out that there really is something specific wrong with the GPS equipment.But Stevenson doesn’t say.
It’s a problem that runs through the book.In a section on cars，Stevenson gives an account of the advanced techniques that criminals use to defeat computer-based locking systems for cars.He offers two independent sets of figures on car theft；both show a small rise in some parts of the country.He says that once again not all new locks have proved reliable.Perhaps，but maybe it’s also due to the shortage of policemen on the streets.Or changing social circumstances.Or some combination of these factors.
The game between humans and their smart devices is amusing and complex.It is shaped by economics and psychology and the cultures we live in.Somewhere in the mix of those forces there may be a way for a wiser use of technology.
If there is such a way，it should involve more than just an awareness of the shortcomings of our machines.After all，we have lived with them for thousands of years.They have probably been fooling us for just as long.
1.The underlined phrase “near miss” in Paragraph 2 can best be replaced by . A.close hit C.narrow escape
B.heavy loss D.big mistake
2.Which of the following would Rick Stevenson most probably agree with? A.Digital technology often falls short of our expectation. B.Modern technology is what we can’t live without. C.Digital devices are more reliable than they used to be. D.GPS error is not the only cause for Ceely’s accident. 3.In the writer’s opinion，Stevenson’s argument is . A.well-based C.puzzling
B.reasonable D.one-sided
4.What is the real concern of the writer of this article? A.The major causes of traffic accidents and car thefts. B.The human unawareness of technical problems. C.The relationship between humans and technology. D.The shortcomings of digital devices we use.
B
(2024·河南漯河高级中学期中)
The term “healthy obesity” has gained value over the past 15 years，but scientists have recently questioned its very existence.“Our new findings suggest that health measures may be necessary for all obese(肥胖的) individuals，even those previously considered to be metabolically(代谢的) healthy，” says study first author Mikael，“Since obesity is the major driver changing gene expression in fat cells，we should continue to focus on preventing obesity.”
Obesity has been a global problem，affecting approximately 600 million people worldwide and increasing the risk of heart disease，stroke，cancer，and so on.But in the 1970s and 80s，experts began to question the extent to which obesity increases the risk for these disorders.Later studies in the late 90s and early 2000s showed that some obese people show a relatively healthy life.
However，there are no accepted measures for measuring metabolically healthy obesity，and whether or not such a thing exists is now up for discussion.“Our study suggests that the idea of metabolically healthy obesity may be more difficult than thought，” Mikael says，“There doesn’t appear to be a clear line that separates obese subjects with high or low insulin(胰岛素) sensitivity，indicating that obesity is the major driver explaining the changes in gene expression.”
One limitation of the study is that it examined gene expression only in white fat cells，not other types.Moreover，all of the obese subjects were scheduled to experience obesity operations，so the findings may only apply to people with severe obesity.In future research，Mikael and his
group will track the study patients after surgery to determine whether weight loss normalizes gene expression responses.They will also look for specific genes linked to improved metabolic health in these people.
In the meantime，the study has an important take-home message.“Obese people may not be as metabolically healthy as previously believed，” Ryden says. 5.What does the underlined phrase “healthy obesity” mean? A.It can be healthy with obesity. B.Obesity is necessary to be healthy. C.Unhealthy people have no obesity. D.Health has something to do with obesity. 6.What leads to healthy obesity failing to prove true? A.Lack of related patients. B.Lack of genetic evidence. C.Lack of research funding. D.Lack of needed standards.
7.What advice can readers get from the passage? A.People should have a healthy lifestyle. B.People should accept obesity in a way. C.People should keep a balanced weight. D.People should avoid obesity operations.
8.Which can best describe the author’s intention in writing the passage? A.Compare，analyze and conclude. B.Show，appreciate，and persuade. C.Introduce，argue and advertise. D.Present，inform and inspire. Ⅱ.七选五
(2024·湖南重点名校大联考)
We eat in our cars，at our desks，on the go，and in front of the TV.We eat take-out，packaged and prepared meals.Why？Because it fits our not-enough-time-in-the-day lifestyles. 9 Well，I’m certainly not the first one to think it—or say it—but we all need to slow down.
Consumer trends around the globe show that over the past three decades people are purchasing more prepared foods at the grocery and eating out more than ever before.It’s predicted that we’ll spend more at restaurants in the coming years. 10 However，we’re getting less healthy.
While debates can be seen in different media over the food industry’s contribution to our growing waistlines and our health problems，the bottom line is this： 11 We can choose to eat a fast-food lunch on the go.We can throw a frozen meal in the microwave and call it
dinner.We can eat without thinking，in front of the tube，at our computers，and while driving a car.
12 Studies have shown meaningful links between family meals and kids’ mental and physical well-being.Eating sensibly doesn’t take much time or money，but it does require you to make a conscious decision to do so.Wrapped in endless work，appointments and social activities，we often fail to enjoy a relaxing meal with our families.
While it can be a challenge to always put healthy eating first，just do your best.Remember that the food you eat has a more significant impact on your health，weight and well-being than almost any other activity you do. 13 Every meal made at home—even just once or twice a week—is a step closer to a healthier body and a slower food lifestyle. A.Lunch is the biggest calorie intake when it comes to eating out. B.Treat it with the importance that it deserves，but start small. C.Our food matches our lives.
D.Purchase food locally and skip as many packaged items as you can. E.What we eat，where we eat and how we eat are all under our control. F.We’re consuming an increasing number of calories.
G.We can devote an hour of the day to enjoying a meal with our families. Ⅲ.语法填空
(2024·云南玉溪一中期中)
Online shopping is getting more and more popular in most cities，where people are able to make full use of the rapidly-developed Internet technology.
It is welcomed by most people due to 14. (vary) reasons.From the angle of the consumers，it can save much time for a person who 15. (have) little spare time to go shopping in the malls.By 16. (simple) clicking the mouse，they can get whatever they want while staying at home,17. may be tens of thousands of kilometers away from the online shops.For the retailers，it can cut some costs for those who don’t have much circulating funds.It also saves them the need to rent a house 18. (compare) with traditional trade style.19. ，there are still some disadvantages in online shopping.First，a face-to-face deal makes online shopping less 20. (rely) and trustworthy.Second，people will lose the fun of bargain.
21. is undeniable that shopping on the Internet has become an irresistible trend in modern society.It is of great importance that we make the relative laws with the rapid 22. (grow) of online shopping.Only in this way can we enjoy the pleasure and convenience of online shopping without the fear of 23. (cheat).
答案精析
Ⅰ.
语篇解读 文章讲述了一个因为导航仪出错而引起的事故，告诉大家现代化的仪器也会出问题。随着时代的发展，科技越来越先进，人类也越来越依赖科技，但有时候科技也会给人们带来麻烦和误导。所以我们应该正确处理好人类与科技的关系。 1.C [词义猜测题。根据文章第一段最后一句“Seconds later，she watched the train drag her car almost a kilometer down the railway tracks.”可知，她因为下车去开铁门而逃过一死。故此处near miss与C项narrow escape表示“九死一生，死里逃生”意思相同，故选C。]
2.A [推理判断题。根据文章第三段和第四段，特别是第三段第二句“We put our faith in digital device，he says，but our digital helpers are too often not up to the job.”可知，Rick Stevenson认为我们信任数码设备，但是往往，他们却不合我们的心意，所以数码技术常常没有达到我们的期望。词眼“expectation”和“faith”相关，故选A。]
3.D [推理判断题。根据文章第四段第一句“The problem with his argument in the book is that it’s not clearly...while there may be a number of other possible causes.”可推知，作者认为Rick Stevenson 只把焦点放在数码科技上，但是还应该有其他可能的原因。所以，他的观点是片面的，故应选D。]
4.C [主旨大意题。根据文章倒数第二段第一句“The game between humans and their smart devices is amusing and complex.”和最后一段可知，作者认为人类与高科技设备之间的关系很复杂，意在告诉我们作者真正关心的是科技与人类的关系，故选C。]
语篇解读 这篇短文介绍了肥胖是一个全球的问题，会增加一些疾病的风险，虽然没有公认的衡量健康型肥胖的标准，但是不会像以前那样认为肥胖对健康有好处。 5.A [词义猜测题。根据第一段中的“those previously considered to be metabolically(代谢的) healthy”可推知“healthy obesity”指的是肥胖对健康有好处。故选A。]
6.D [细节理解题。根据第三段第一句中的“there are no accepted measures for measuring
高中英语(人教版)选修八Unit 4 Pygmalion reading课时作业 (7)
