主题一 历史与传统

本刊试题研究中心

Ⅰ.阅读理解

Born in 1902, Harry Beck was an English engineering draftsman (绘图员) who brought about a small revolution in the early 1930s when he created a completely new map of the London Undergroun D.

Before Beck's design, early maps were usually drawn to a geographically accurate scale (比例). Map designers simply placed the subway lines on standard maps of the city streets.These maps clearly showed the subway lines that reached the areas outside the centre of London, but they made it difficult to make out the busy lines that joined directly under central London.

In the 1930s,Beck came up with a solution that would not take the geographical accuracy into account. He created a map that was a scaled-down linear diagram of the subway lines. More a basic outline of the lines than a true-to-life map, it didn't tell travelers about how far it actually was between two points. Beck's map had a clean structure with coloured lines.His idea was to create the plainest guide to show travelers how to get from one station to another.

It's not clear what inspired him to start the project;he wasn't asked to do it,but likely developed his design in his free time, while between jobs. It was more a presentation of his being creative, in seeing a problem and coming up with an answer to it, than a response to public deman D.

His design was then presented to the London Passenger Transport Board,whose members refused to accept it, feeling that not showing relative distances between stations was silly and unreasonable. Still, after a time, in order to increase subway ridership and therefore earn more money, the Board decided to print a limited number of copies. Gradually,Beck's map became a huge success.

For most of his life, Beck continued to make small improvements to the diagram, but he kept its basic designs and ideas. His clear diagrammatic method of mapping has been generally accepted and followed in the field of information design not only in London but also around the worl D.

1.What is the disadvantage of early subway maps?

A.They were not drawn to scale.

B.They were hard to draw.

C.They were not user-friendly.

D.They were seldom update D.

2.Which aspect of a subway map did Beck focus on?

A.Its simplicity. B.Its vivid details.

C.Its completeness. D.Its geographical accuracy.

3.What do we know about Beck's map from paragraphs 4 and 5?

A.It was created accidentally.

B.It was an immediate success.

C.It was a reflection of his creativity.

D.It was designed to meet public needs.

4.How did Beck contribute to the world?

A.He changed the construction of subways.

B.He inspired designers to improve the subway.

C.He made the first scaled-down linear map.

D.He provided a model for the design of subway maps.

Ⅱ.补全信息

Celebrate!

Piñatas

Noodles

Business birthdays

Name days

Islamic New Year

A.You have to eat them in one piece.

B.They go out for a meal to celebrate.

C.Companies hold parties and send cards.

D.They give presents,such as sweets and foo D.

E.It breaks and the sweets fall out on to the groun D.

F.This is one of the two important festivals in this country.

G.In Greece,name days are more important than birthdays.

Ⅲ.完形填空

1.A.guilt B.ability C.electricity D.opportunity

2.A.caused B.stoppedC.changed D.improved

3.A.adjusted B.absorbed C.abandoned D.advertised

4.A.empty B.hungry C.wealthy D.temporary

5.A.owners B.creators C.donators D.consumers

6.A.dropped B.recovered C.doubled D.exploded

7.A.Enormously B.Eventually C.Especially D.Exceptionally

8.A.in charge of B.in case of C.in advance of D.in search of

9.A.travelers B.defenders C.entertainers D.newcomers

10.A.researching B.observing C.escaping D.exploring

11.A.mixture B.future C.adventure D.departure

12.A.bored B.filled C.loaded D.decorated

13.A.arms B.faces C.hands D.shoulders

14.A.accused B.founded C.discovered D.certificated

15.A.judge B.control C.support D.forgive

Ⅳ.语法填空

Undoubtedly, Britain is a nation of hat wearers. From taking off hats 1.launching mortar boards (学位帽) in the air, hats have long been associated with ceremonies and practices.Even the history of the country can 2.________(tell)through hats.

Dating back to medieval England, the flat cap 3.________(become) a symbol of working-class culture in the 19th and 20th centuries. The Edwardian era was 4.________golden age of hats, when the decorations of hats became even more delicate, ranging from flowers, birds to fruits. The pork pie hat, 5.________started in the mid-19th century, was the choice for many well-dressed Victorian citizens.Decades later,it 6.________(gradual)became a key feature of London street style. But by the 1960s, hats faded out of people's sight because of the rise of private 7.________（car）. It was the Royal Wedding held in 2011 8.________contributed to the return of hat wearing. For example, Hat Works Museum—the only museum in Stockport featured in hats and hat making—is 9.________(popular)than ever,with a great increase among its visitors.

What marks Britain out on the world stage is the large number of hats of different shapes and colors. The 10.________(various) of hats in Britain reflects its multicultural background and rich cultural heritage.

Ⅴ.书面表达

假定你是李华，你所在的学校将在本周末举办”英国文化展”。请你根据以下要点给英国朋友Peterson写一封信，邀请他前来给你们做一次讲座。

1.讲座的目的及内容；

2.讲座的时间及地点。注意：

1.词数80左右；

2.可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。

Dear Peterson,

Our school is planning to hold a culture show of the UK this weekend._______________

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Yours,

Li Hua

Ⅵ.读后续写

阅读下面材料，根据其内容和所给段落开头语续写两段，使之构成一篇完整的短文。

Scout could clearly remember the night she had to leave her home in Polan D. It was the beginning of World War Ⅱand her family had to escape as soon as possible.She quickly packed a suitcase with a few pieces of clothing,her diary,her most prized treasure,and a silk scarf.Scout and her best friend,Betty,had persuaded their parents to buy them matching scarves, which they took as a symbol of their friendship. Scout didn't know she was going to America and would not return.

Scout kept that special silk scarf for many years.One day she decided to give it to her granddaughter, Eliza, to wear for her first job interview for good luck. Scout was afraid that Eliza would lose the scarf, but her granddaughter promised,“Don't worry, Grandma. Nothing will happen to your scarf. You'll see that it's going to bring both of us luck.” And with that,Eliza kissed her grandmother and left for the interview.

Leaving the interview, Eliza felt confident that she had got the jo C. So she decided to celebrate it by going to a restaurant.Sitting at her table,Eliza felt an elderly woman staring at her for a long time.

“I'm sorry.Do I know you?” Eliza aske D.

“I'm sorry, dear, but you remind me of my best friend,” the old woman replie D.“She looked like you and used to wear a scarf just like yours.” Eliza listened carefully, with her eyes and mouth wide open. She had heard stories of her grandmother's best friend and knew the meaning of the scarf. Could this woman be Betty, her grandmother's childhood friend?

注意：续写词数应为150左右。

Paragraph 1:

Then the old woman introduced herself,“My name is Betty.”_____________________

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Paragraph 2:

The old woman agreed.___________________________________________________

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