话题17 历史与社会(国家与民族、历史、文化、名家名作等)
主题语篇阅读
Ⅰ.[2018·昌平二模] 完形填空
People Just Like Us
I was not interested in the school project on ancient cultures at all, especially things about Egypt (埃及), but Grace, my research partner, insisted the ancient Egyptians were interesting, and said I would 1 my mind for sure.
“Learning about these ancient people is so boring,” I said.
“It’s not! Don’t be sure until you’ve learned about them,” said Grace.
I had to say Grace had a 2 . So the next Saturday, I found myself at the Museum of Natural History, which had a big show on ancient Egypt.
“So ancient Egyptians were pretty undeveloped, right?” I asked Grace as we waited in line for our tickets. “I mean, they didn’t have much 3 , did they? Well, except for the pyramids (金字塔)—didn’t the Egyptian kings live in the pyramids?”
Grace just kept silent and pushed me forward.
The show set me straight about the pyramids. I learned that they were tombs (墓) of the ancient kings, not their 4 . I also found out the great pyramid at Giza was huge, standing 500 feet tall when it was first built!
As I walked farther, I was 5 to find a show on ancient sports. I saw paintings showing people playing a game with a ball. Just for a moment, I could 6 ancient Egyptian kids beside the Nile River hitting around a ball, just as I do with my friends. And the next show was all about how the ancient Egyptians treasured their children. A child was considered a great gift to the family.
“So what do you think of these 7 ancient people now?” Grace asked.
“You were right,” I said. “Ancient Egyptians are much more interesting than I 8 . In fact, I know just what title to give our project. We’ll call it ‘People Just Like Us’!”
( )1.A.keep B.change C.lose D.follow
( )2.A.word B.plan C.point D.way
( )3.A.technology B.difference C.confidence D.information
( )4.A.fields B.grounds C.schools D.homes
( )5.A.tired B.careful C.surprised D.nervous
( )6.A.explain B.picture C.show D.enjoy
( )7.A.boring B.impatient C.funny D.exciting
( )8.A.searched B.studied C.experienced D.expected
Ⅱ.[2019·海淀一模] 阅读理解
For years, the word “popular” has been demonized (妖魔化) and made the same as mini-skirt-wearing, hair-coloring cheerleader types like Regina George in Mean Girls. Today, teachers and parents inform children that being popular is irrelevant (不相干的), unnecessary and a sure shortcut to upset, misery, and death. And some people describe popular students as the ones most likely to burn out and end up as nobody, while their less well-liked counterparts enjoy a life of wealth and fame.
However, the Oxford English Dictionary defines (定义) popularity as: “The state or condition of being liked, admired, or supported by many people.” This sounds like a lovely thing, and is not related to such behaviors as “burn books” or “three-way phone calls” in Mean Girls.
In fact, it is a truth widely acknowledged that young people who feel liked or supported are more likely to obtain impressive achievements than those who feel lonely, unvalued, and irrelevant socially. So why, then, is popularity given such a bad name? Why is this state of well-likedness so demonized?
