高中英语真题： 2015 届高三上学期期中考试试卷试题.doc 一、阅读理解(共 5 题) 1.When Paul was a boy growing up in Utah, he happened to live near a copper smelter (炼铜厂 ), and the chemicals that poured out had made a wasteland out of what used to be a beautiful forest. One day a young visitor looked at this wasteland and called it an awful area. Paul knocked him down. From then on, something happened inside him. Years later Paul was back in the area, and he went to the smelter office. He asked if they had any plans or if they would let him try to bring the trees back. The answer from that big industry was “ No”.Paul then went to college to study the science of plants. Unfortunately, his teachers said th ere weren t any birds or squirrels to spread the seeds. It would be a waste of his life to try to do it. Everyone knew that, he was told. Even if he was knowledgeable as he had expected, he wouldn t get his idea accepted. Paul later got married but his dream would not die. And then one night he did what he could with what he had. As Samuel Johnson wrote, “ It is common to overlook what is near by keeping the eye fixed on something remote. Attainable good is often ignored by minds busied in wide ranges. ” Under the cover of darkness, he went secretly into the wasteland and started planting. And every week, he made his secret journey into the wasteland and planted trees and grass. For fifteen years he did this against the plain common sense. Slowly rabbits appeared. Later, as there was legal pressure to clean up the environment, the company actually hired Paul to do what he was already doing. Now the place is fourteen thousand acres of trees and grass and bushes, and Paul has received almost every environmental award Utah has. It took him until his hair turned white, but he managed to keep that impossible vow (誓言) he made to himself as a child. 21. When Paul was a boy, _. A. he had decided never to leave his hometown B. the economy of Utah depended wholly on the copper smelter C. he hit a young visitor because of his comments on the wasteland D. he stopped the copper smelter polluting the area 22. Paul went to college to study the science of plants, because _. A. he wanted to find out the best way to save the area himself B. he was interested in planting trees since he was young C. he wanted to get more knowledgeable people to help him D. he thought his knowledge would make his advice more convincing 23. What does the underlined phrase “ the plain common sense ” probably mean? A. It was impossible for trees to grow on the wasteland. B. His normal work and life would be greatly affected. C. No one would like to join him in the efforts. D. He had to keep everything he did secret. 24. The company hired Paul to plant trees and grass because_. A. they realized the importance of environmental protection B. what Paul was doing moved them C. Paul persuaded them to help him D. they had legal pressure 2.Music died here last spring, or rather, it was killed by members of the school committee who ignored the importance of music and drama as part of the high-school curriculum (课程). The committee decided that teaching students how to take a standardized test is more important than a curriculum in which students can explore their interests in the arts as well as academics. Because the school system is running out of funding, it needs to make sure that students pass the test or even more money will be lost. If students fail the state standardized test，it is not the fault of drama and music classesthey are failing because the “ academic” classes are not sufficient (充足的). It is painful to think of how many students will be discouraged from singing, acting, and playing instruments because school programs are no longer offered. Many families cannot afford private music lessons, and many potential musicians and artists may not find their calling if they are not exposed to it in school. The fact that the school committee thinks the arts are not worth the investment will certainly make some students believe the arts are not worth their time or support and the cycle will continue. Teaching for a test does not shape students into complete, well-rounded people. It blocks the natural sense to create and express feelings through artthere is more to life than the analytical thinking that math and English provide. What happens after a test? Sure, a student might graduate, but they will have limited knowledgecertainly not a good preparation for the real world. 25. Music and drama are not included in the high school curriculum mainly because _. A. the school committee pays no attention to them B. the school is afraid of losing financial support C. the students are not interested in both of them D. the state standardized test is more important 26. Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage? A. The sufficiency of the classes determines students performance in the mastery test. B. Quite a few students are discouraged from learning music and art in today s schoolsys