一、谈谈阅读理解
阅读是高考的重点和难点。阅读理解在高考试卷中占分40分，如果加上完型填空题（有人称之为缺词阅读）30分，那就是70分，占了将近总分的一半。高考之所以重视阅读理解，是因为阅读是一种比较高级的语言能力，它是获取更综合、更复杂、更精确信息的必要手段。阅读能力也是做好其他题型，如听力、单项填空、短文改错和书面表达的基本因素。阅读理解的考核是在语篇中进行的，也易于考查观察、判断、推理与综合的能力。
阅读理解题一般考五篇文章，包括故事、科普文章、新闻报道、议论文和应用文（如广告、产品说明、电报等）。五篇文章加上所问问题，总单词量在2000个左右，要求在35分钟内完成。阅读速度平均为每分钟60个词。
做好阅读理解题的必备条件：
1、能迅速看准每一句的结构，找出主句的主语、谓语和宾语。
2、有一定的词汇量和分辨词义词性的能力。
3、能灵活运动所学过的语法和词汇知识，对影响意思理解的复合句、非谓语动词短语、关联词语、后置定语、省略、替代和跳跃等语言现象做出正确判断。
4、有良好的思维能力。会边看边加工所得到的信息，从而做出正确的推理判断，综合概括，准确理解表面意思和深层含义。
5、会精读，也会跳读和略读。
6、具有相当的阅读实践经验和良好的语感。
7、对英美文化有一定了解。
在准备阅读理解测试时，要明确阅读的能力是靠大量阅读的实践练出来的。有志于提高阅读水平的同学，应该每天坚持读三四篇文章，日积月累，才能逐步提高阅读水平。读的时候要注意精读与泛读相结合。精读的文章力求弄懂每一句话，每一个词，必要时要请教老师，翻查词典。泛读的文章，一般是难度较小的文章，只求理解文章大意，有些词甚至句子不懂也没关系，尽量不查词典，这样可以保证一定的速度和量。泛读对培养语感，提高速度有很大好处。可惜有同学不重视泛读，以为阅读就是逐字读，这其实是片面的。
二、练习与解析
（1）
In 1901, H. G. Wells, an English writer, wrote a book describing a trip to the moon. When the explores（探险者）landed on the moon, they discovered that the moon was full of underground cities. They expressed their surprise to the “moon people” they met. In turn, the “moon people” expressed their surprise.“Why,” they asked, “are you traveling to outer space when you don’t even use your inner space?”
H. G. Wells could only imagine travel to the moon. In 1969. human beings really did land on the moon. People today know that there are no underground cities on the moon. However, the question that the “moon people” asked is still an interesting one. A growing number of scientists are seriously thinking about it.
Under ground systems are already in place. Many cities have underground car parks. In some cities, such as Tokyo, Seoul and Montreal, there are large underground shopping areas. The “Chunnel”,a tunnel（隧道）connecting England and France, is now complete.
But what about underground cities? Japan’s Taisei Corporation is designing a network of underground systems, called “Alice Cities.”The designers imagine using surface space for public parks and using underground space for flats, offices, shopping, and so on. A solar dome（太阳能穹顶）would cover the whole city.
Supporters of underground development say that building down rather than building up is a good way to use the earth’s space. The surface, they say, can be used for farms, parks, gardens, and wilderness. H. G. Wells’“moon people” would agree. Would you?
1. The explorers in H. G. Wells’story were surprised to find that the “moon people”
________.
A. knew so much about the earth
B. understood their language
C. live in so many underground cities
D. were ahead of them in space technology
2. What does the underlined word “it” (Paragraph 2) refer to?
A. Discovering the moon’s inner space.
B. Using the earth’s inner space.
C. Meeting the “moon people” again.
D. Traveling to outer space.
3. What sort of underground systems are already here with us?
A. Offices, shopping areas, power stations.
B. Tunnels, car parks, shopping areas.
C. Gardens, car parks, power stations.
D. Tunnels, gardens, offices.
4. What would be the best title for the text?
A. Alice Cities-cities of the future
B. Space travel with H. G. Wells
C. Enjoy living underground
D. Building down, not up
1. C 2. B 3. B 4. D
1. 解答本题时，可从开头段中the explorers登上月球后的发现找出线索：… they discovered that the moon was full of underground cities，也就是本题题干与选项C结合而成的说法：The explorers… to find that the “moon people” lived in so many underground cities。
2. 注意此句重心在后，强调的是：… you don’t even use your inner space，也即选项B所说的Using the earth’s inner space。
3. 通过跳读迅速将探索范围缩小到第3段，其主题句即为Under ground systems are already in place，然后列出这些systems的名称：car parks, large underground shopping areas, a tunnel。
4. 短文开头explorers与moon people之间的对话中即已点明use inner space，也就是build down这一主题；结尾段中则更为明确地将全文主题(underground development)解释为building down rather than building up is a good way to use the earth’s space,，由此可以确定本题答案为D。
（2）
LONDON (Reuters) - Organic fruit, delivered right to the doorstep. That is what Gabriel Gold prefers, and he is willing to pay for it. If this is not possible, the 26-year-old computer technician will spend the extra money at the supermarket to buy organic food.
“Organic produce is always better,” Gold said. “The food is free of pesticides（农药）, and you are generally supporting family farms instead of large farms. And more often than not it is locally（本地）grown and seasonal, so it is more tasty.” Gold is one of a growing number of shoppers buying into the organic trend, and supermarkets across Britain are counting on more like him as they grow their organic food business. But how many shoppers really know what they are getting, and why are they willing to pay a higher price for organic produce? Market research shows that Gold and others who buy organic food can generally give clear reasons for their preferences-but their knowledge of organic food is far from complete. For example, small amounts of pesticides can be used on organic products. And about three quarters of organic food in Britain is not local but imported（进口）to meet growing demand. “The demand for organic food is increasing by about one third every year, so it is a very fast growing market,” said Sue Flock, a specialist in this line of business.
1. More and more people in Britain are buying organic food because _______.
A. they are getting richer
B. they can get the food anywhere
C. they consider the food free of pollution
D. they like home-grown fruit
2. Which of the following statements is true to the facts about most organic produce sold
in Britain?
A. It grows indoors all year round.
B. It is produced outside Britain.
C. It is grown on family farms.
D. It is produced on large farms.
3. What is the meaning of “the organic trend” as the words are used in the text?
A. growing interest in organic food
B. better quality of organic food
C. rising market for organic food
D. higher prices of organic food
4. What is the best title for this news story?
A. Organic food- healthy, or just for the wealthy?
B. The making of organic food in Britain
C. Organic food- to import or not?
D. Good qualities of organic food
1. C 2. B 3. A 4. A
1. Gold 的话代表了英国消费者的认识，“… The food is free of pesticides…”也就是：they consider the food free of pollution.
2. 短文中与Most organic produce sold in Britain产地相关的内容，排除干扰选项，选定最佳答案。
3. 本题四个选项中均包含organic food（与主题相关，错误选项因而会构成干扰），但从所在句看，buying into the organic trend的主语是(a growing number of) shoppers，越来越多的人开始购买这种食品，当然意味着(the shoppers) have shown a growing interest in organic food。选项A表达的正是这样一种形势，应为最佳答案。
4. Organic food--- healthy（虽与人们所知有些出入，但大体如此）；or just for the wealthy?短文中有shoppers are willing to pay a higher price for organic produce，与此相符。
（3）
THEATRE
City Varieties
The Headrow, Leeds. Tel. 430808
Oct 10 – 11 only A night at the Varieties. All the fun of an old music hall with Barry Gryer, Duggle Brown, 6 dancers, Mystina, Jon Barker, Anne Duval and the Tony Harrison Trio. Laugh again at the old jokes and listen to your favourite songs.
Performances: 8 pm nightly.
Admission: ￡ 5； under 16 or over 60: ￡ 4.
York Theatre Royal
St Leonard’s Place, York. Tel. 223568
Sept 23 – Oct 17 Groping for Words – a comedy by Sue Townsend. Best known for her Adrian Mole Diaries, Townsend now writes about an evening class which two men and a woman attend. A gentle comedy.
Admission: First night, Mon: ￡ 2； Tues – Fri: ￡ 3.25 – 5.50； Sat: ￡ 3.50 – 5.75
Halifax Playhouse
King’s Cross Street, Halifax. Tel 365998
Oct 10 – 17 On Golden Pond by Ernest Thompson. This is a magical comedy about real people. A beautifully produced, well-acted play for everyone. Don’t miss it.
Performances: 7:30 pm.
Admission: ￡ 2. Mon: 2 seats for the price of one.
Grand Theatre
Oxford Street, Leeds. Tel. 502116
Restaurant and Café.
Oct 1 –17 The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, Aged 13. Sue Townsend’s musical play, based on her best-selling book.
Performances: Evenings 7:45. October 10 – 17, at 2:30 pm. No Monday performances.
Admission: Tues- Thurs: ￡ 2 – 5；Fri & Sat: ￡ 2 – 6.
1. Which theatre offers the cheapest seat?
A. Halifax Playhouse. B. City Varieties.
C. Grand Theatre. D. York Theatre Royal.
2. If you want to see a play with old jokes and songs, which phone number will you ring to book a seat?
A. 502116 B. 223568 C. 365998 D. 430808
3. We may learn from the text that Sue Townsend is ________.
A. a writer B. an actress C. a musician D. a director
1. A 2. D 3. A
1. 此处问及票价，涉及的关键词Admission很可能是生词，但完全可以凭借该词之后的￡5；under 16 or over 60：￡4等内容推断其含义为入场票价。Halifax Playhouse为：￡2. Mon：2seats for the price of one，应为最低价格。
2. 通过跳读可以很快找到，本段开头第二行有：Tel. 403808；本题答案已明，应该选D。
3. Sure Townsend首先出现在第二段里： a comedy by Sue Townsend…，Townsend now writes about…；这一人名还出现在最后一段里：Sure Townsend’s musical play, based on her best-selling book。这样一些关于上演剧目的背景交待足以说明Sue Townsend的身份，应该是writer。