2015·湖北·E)

　　Science has a lot of uses. It can uncover laws of nature, cure diseases, make bombs, and help bridges to stand up. Indeed science is so good at what it does that there's always a temptation(誘惑) to drag it into problems where it may not be helpful. David Brooks, author of The Social Animal: The Hidden Sources of Love, Character，and Achievement, appears to be the latest in a long line of writers who have failed to resist the temptation.

　　Brooks gained fame for several books. His latest book The Social Animal, however, is more ambitious and serious than his earlier books. It is an attempt to deal with a set of weighty topics. The book focuses on big questions: What has science revealed about human nature? What are the sources of character? And why are some people happy and successful while others aren't?

　　To answer these questions, Brooks surveys a wide range of disciplines(學科).Considering this, you might expect the book to be a dry recitation of facts. But Brooks has structured his book in an unorthodox(非常規(guī)的)，and perhaps unfortunate, way. Instead of introducing scientific theories, he tells a story, within which he tries to make his points，perhaps in order to keep the reader's attention.So as Harold and Erica, the hero and heroine in his story, live through childhood, we hear about the science of child development, and as they begin to date we hear about the theory of sexual attraction. Brooks carries this through to the death of one of his characters.

　　On the whole，Brooks's story is acceptable if uninspired. As one would expect, his writing is mostly clear and, to be fair, some chapters stand out above the rest. I enjoyed, for instance，the chapter in which Harold discovers how to think on his own. While Harold and Erica are certainly not strong or memorable characters, the more serious problems with The Social Animal lie elsewhere. These problems partly involve Brooks's attempt to translate his tale into science.

　　文章大意：本文講述了當今許多作家如布魯克斯喜歡往他們的書里插入并不適用的科學理論，以增加書的吸引力，同時對其作品進行了評論。

　　9.The author mentions the functions of science at the beginning of the passage to________.

　　A.illustrate where science can be applied

　　B.demonstrate the value of Brooks's new book

　　C.remind the reader of the importance of science

　　D.explain why many writers use science in their works

　　答案：D　推理判斷題。根據文章第一段第三句及第四句可知，科學功能強大，以至于人們很容易將科學和那些與之無關的問題扯到一起，許多作家就沒能抵制住科學的誘惑而往他們的書里插入科學理論。故選D項。

　　10.According to the author, which of the following could be a strength of the book?

　　A.Its strong basis. B.Its convincing points.

　　C.Its clear writing. D.Its memorable characters.

　　答案：C　細節(jié)理解題。根據文章最后一段第一句及第二句可知，布魯克斯的書缺乏創(chuàng)意但還能接受，公平地說，他的文章大部分很清楚，一些章節(jié)與其他章節(jié)相比脫穎而出。故一本書只要能清楚地敘述就是這本書的優(yōu)勢，故選C項。

　　11.What is the author's general attitude towards the book?

　　A.Contradictory. B.Supportive.

　　C.Cautious. D.Critical.

　　答案：D　推理判斷題。根據文章最后一段第四句及第五句可知，布魯克斯對書中的主人公刻畫不夠深刻，部分更嚴重的問題在于他試圖將他的故事譯成科學語言。從作者的語氣可看出作者對該書持批判態(tài)度，故選D項。

　　12.What is the author likely to write about after the last paragraph?

　　A.Problems with the book.

　　B.Brooks's life experiences.

　　C.Death of the characters.

　　D.Brooks's translation skills.

　　答案：A　推理判斷題。根據文章最后一段第五句可知，布魯克斯的書中部分更嚴重的問題在于他試圖將他的故事譯成科學語言，故接下來作者會闡述該書其他的問題。故選A項。

　　(四)由文章內容或結構判斷出處

　　(2015·重慶·C)

　　Lakelander　 ·2 hours ago

　　Today，a man talked very loud on his phone on a train between Malvern and Reading，making many passengers upset.I wonder how he would react if I were to read my newspaper out loud on the train.I have never had the courage to do it，though.

　　Pak 50　·57 minutes ago

　　Why not give it a try?Perhaps you should take lessons on a musical instrument.The late musician Dennis Brain is said to have asked a fellow train passenger to turn off his radio.When his request was refused，he took out his French horn (號) and started to practise.

　　Angie O'Edema　·42 minutes ago

　　I don't see how musical instruments can help improve manners in public.Don't do to others what you wouldn't like to be done to yourself.Once，a passenger next to me talked out loud on his mobile phone.I left my seat quietly，giving him some privacy to finish his conversation.He realised this and apologised to me.When his phone rang again later，he left his seat to answer it.You see，a bit of respect and cooperation can do the job better.

　　Taodas　·29 minutes ago

　　I did read my newspaper out loud on a train，and it turned out well.The guy took it in good part，and we chatted happily all the way to Edinburgh.

　　Sophie 76　·13 minutes ago

　　I have not tried reading my newspaper out loud on a train，but，several years ago，I read some chapters from Harry Potter to my bored and noisy children.Several passengers seemed to appreciate what I did.

　　文章大意：本文是從論壇上截取的關于不文明現象的討論，主要講述了一位名叫Lakelander的網友在論壇上描述了自己遇到的不文明現象后，眾人發(fā)表的關于自己經歷的不文明現象的描述和看法。

　　13.The passenger made an apology to Angie O'Edema because ______.

　　A.he offered his seat to someone else

　　B.he spoke very loudly on his phone

　　C.he refused to talk with Angie

　　D.he ignored Angie's request

　　答案：B　細節(jié)理解題。由題干中出現的核心詞匯Angie O'Edema得知答案在第三小節(jié)。根據...a passenger next to me talked out loud on his mobile phone.說明他旁邊的乘客很大聲地在打電話，之后提到He realized this and apologized to me.可知他因大聲打電話而道歉，故選B項。

　　14.Who once read a newspaper out loud on a train?

　　A.Pak 50. B.Angie O'Edema.

　　C.Taodas. D.Sophie 76.

　　答案：C　細節(jié)理解題。根據第四小節(jié)第一句話I did read my newspaper out loud on a train...說明是Taodas這個人做過這件事，故答案應選C項。

　　15.What is the discussion mainly about?

　　A.How to react to bad behavior.

　　B.How to kill time on a train.

　　C.How to chat with strangers.

　　D.How to make a phone call.

　　答案：A　主旨大意題。根據文章的五個小節(jié)得知本文主旨。Laketander發(fā)起討論，看大家對不文明行為的反應，后面幾個評論皆在討論該主題。因此，該討論主要圍繞的是人們面對不文明行為時該如何反應。故選A項。

　　16.Where is the passage most probably taken from?

　　A.A webpage. B.A newspaper.

　　C.A novel. D.A report.

　　答案：A　推理判斷題。根據圖片頭像、網名、文章開頭的Join the discussion以及每小節(jié)上的發(fā)布時間，得知這篇文章來自于網絡上的一個論壇。故選A項，意為“網頁”。