湖北省襄阳市第四中学2017-2018学年高二英语10月月考试题第卷第二部分 阅读理解（共两节，满分40分）第一节（共15小题；每小题2分，满分30分）阅读下列短文，从每题所给的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中，选出最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。A“Asias Challenge 2020” Essay PrizeDESCRIPTIONWhat is the most important challenge facing Asia over the next decade? Why? What should be done about it?The best answer in 3,000 words or less will win a prize of 2,500. Two runners-up will be awarded prizes of 1,000 each. These three prize winners will be invited to Singapore for an expenses-paid awards ceremony. The winning articles will be posted on Time.com.PURPOSEThe main purpose of the essay prize is to generate fresh ideas for tackling key challenges to Asias continued competitiveness and development, as well as encourage young professionals to make an impact on public policy and business in Asia. SELECTION CRITERIAThe essay will be judged according to creativity, innovation, rigor of research and writing, as well as achievability of idea. It can be focused on one or more areas relevant to Asia, such as macro-economics, business, international relations, trade and investment, education, healthcare, urban development, science and technology, and energy and the environment. The essay must be written in English. It should not have been previously published in English in a publication with broad international circulation.CANDIDATE REQUIREMENTSThe candidate authoring the essay must be under 32years of age as of December 31, 2010. The candidate must be an Asian national.SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTSThe essay should be submitted electronically to prizeasiabusinesscouncil.Org. by August 31, 2010. Prize winners will be announced in September 2010.The submission should contain the candidates full name, nationality, and month and year of birth. The essay should include a title and word count.21. What is the main purpose of the essay prize?A. To select young professionals of both ability and imaginationB. To predict the prospects(前景) of Asia in the next decadeC. To issue the challenges facing AsiaD. To inspire brilliant ideas for solving problems in Asia22.Which of the following statements is NOT true according to the passage?A. The winners of the essay prize can travel to Singapore for freeB. Articles published in local newspapers will not be acceptedC. Young people from Russia or Australia are excluded from the essay prizeD. The candidates article can deal with several aspects of developments in Asia23.The candidates article should be sent .A. by air mailB. by e-mailC. by surface mailD. by express mailBIt may not come as a surprise but the world as a whole is getting richer. Some people have more disposable(可支配的) income to spend on luxuries such as holidays, cars, TVs and smartphones. Recent data has shown that the number of people living in extreme poverty(贫穷) has halved in recent decades. So should we celebrate the fact that more of us now have a better standard of living?Maybe not. Whilst the gap between rich and poor in some countries is narrowing, there is still a lot of inequality in other places-some people have a lot of money and opportunities and others dont. A recent report by Oxfam and Credit Suisse revealed how divided many of us are when it comes to wealth. A lot of the money in the world is in the hands of very few people. In fact, 48% of global wealth is owned by the richest 1% of the population.But some countries are attempting to reduce this inequality and make the poor, less poor. According to David Bryer from Oxfam, Brazil has been taking some really sensible measures-measures around having more progressive(逐步发展的) tax, around investing in a higher minimum wage and investing in central public services. Having a higher minimum wage, can help people eat better and seek a better education. And more people with more money buy more things-and factories can produce more. In turn, a factory which produces more will need more workers. So, more jobs are created.Other wealthy individuals are doing their bit to help reduce inequality. Bill Gates, the founder of Microsoft, earned a lot of money from his company but when he retired, he and his wife Melinda, created a foundation to help the poor. He thinks that rich people should, of course, pay their taxes but he also advises that they should all look at taking their wealth and being philanthropic, both in their own country and to help the global poorest.Bill Gates feels that giving money to help poor people is fulfilling. But if other super-rich people dont want to experience this fulfilment then, according to Oxfam, very soon the wealthiest 1% will soon own more money than the rest of the worlds population.24.According to a recent report by Oxfam and Credit Suisse, .A. the gap between the rich and the poor is widening graduallyB. increased wealth helps people to reduce the inequalityC. people should be happy about the worlds getting richerD. a small number of people