After a decade of being rigidly pegged to the US dollar, China‘s currency is finally free. Well, sort of. The People‘s Bank of China announced a new value, 8.11 to the dollar, strengthening the Yuan by about two percent. Something the Bush Administration has been pushing for and a move economists has been saying China need to make for its own good. “The aim of the Chinese move is not to satisfy US politicians, but to start a very important regime changes and revaluation process. ” Here are some of the details. Instead of being pegged to the dollar, the yuan is now linked to a number of foreign currencies. But the bank didn‘t indicate which ones. It will trade within a 0.3 percent band; the Central Bank also said that the trading range will be adjusted when necessary. US Federal Reserve Chairman Allen Greenspan called the reform “a good first step”. But in many analysts‘ minds, China still has a long way to go. “And the economic cycle in China is not necessarily fully coordinated with the world economy and therefore, it is just imperative for China to pursue an independent monetary policy. ” As recently as Tuesday, US President Bush had called China‘s currency regime a difficulty in his country‘s trade relationship with China. News of Beijing‘s move was welcomed by the White House. “This is a step that we are encouraged by and the president‘s encouraged by because it is a step toward adapting a more flexible market-based currency system. ” Strengthening the yuan could make US products slightly cheaper in China while the American and other consumers may end up paying more for Chinese goods. It will also strengthen the purchasing power of Chinese companies seeking to invest overseas. Chinese officials had long insisted they would eventually reform the exchange rate system when the time was right. And they also made no secret of the fact that they‘d do it when no one is expecting it. Now the world‘s markets will be watching to see how much this first step can cool China‘s red-hot economy, which grew at 9.5% last quarter, and they‘ll also be watching to see whether it will be enough to temper Washington‘s concerns about its 162 billion dollars‘ trade deficit with China.
在高考阅读理解题中,事实细节题占很大的比例,2004年北京卷考查了6个事实细节题,全国卷也考查了7,8个此类题型,由此可见,做好这类题,对考生能取得高分至关重要。此类题主要考查考生对文章(或某一段落)中某一些特定细节或文章的重要事实的理解能力。比较容易的事实理解题是考生可以从文章中直接找到答案的,他们是由who, what, which, where, when, why, how等疑问词提出的问题,答案容易在文章中辨认。但是更多的细节题往往不是直接用文章中的原词,原句,而是换用同义词或不同句式来表达。另外,此类题目有时需要考生根据文中的信息通过自己的归纳总结能对图表进行辨别,能对发展顺序进行判断,能对细节进行比较以及能对具体情况进行计算。做这类题时,考生经常会出现这样的情况,即文章本身似乎读懂了,但题却做错了,这往往还是因为未能正确理解基本的事实与细节,做这类题目时必须注意以下几点。(1)问到what, when, which, where等具体细节时,往往有according to the author(passage)这样的限制语,回答时,一定要以文章所谈到的内容为据,而不要凭自己的观点和经验去选择不符合文章内容的答案。(2)如果问的内容是由数字表示的事实或细节,比如时间,价格,次数,人数等,答案往往要经过计算才能回答,不要轻易从文中直接找出数字,文中直接出现的数据有可能只是其中之一,而要把文中出现的数字都要找到,确定它们之间的关系之后,再做出最后选择,以免理解错误。(3)如果问题中含有否定意义的词语,如有not, except for, least, never等,要特别留心,不要理解错了,而选相反的答案。
解题策略
1. 事实细节判断题
Exercise.
For almost two months Dominic York, a 23-year-old hairdresser, wandered about hospitals all night, wearing a white coat and pretending he was a doctor. Yesterday he proudly claimed in court that despite his complete lack of medical experience or qualifications, he had saved several people’s lives. He had even been allowed to assist a surgeon during an emergency operation on a patient who was about to die on something she had swallowed.
Q: York was proud of the fact that ________.
A. a surgeon let him watch an operation.
B. He could perform some duties of a doctor.
C. He had cheated doctors for so long.
D. People thought he could become a real doctor.
Key: B
2. 计算题
SandeenMukerji was on his first visit to Thailand but would leave the “Land of smiles”with a frown and an empty pocket.
A stone’s throw from the GrandPalace in Bangkok, the 26-year-old Canadian ran into a monk in a robe. The monk told him that the attraction he was hoping to visit had been closed.
The monk then introduced Mukerji to a jewellery store instead. On the way there, three different people told him that it was the last day of a once-a-year, tax-free jewellery promotion to encourage tourism.
They said that tourists can make a lot of money by buying gems (宝石)in Thailand and selling them once at home.
Two hours later, Mukerji had spent US $ 1250 on a set of almost worthless jewellery.
“The whole process took me by surprise. They take advantage of your greed. ”he said.
In fact, Mukerji is just one of a huge number of tourists who are cheated by the promise of making a fortune. The scam (诡计)brings Thailand more than US $10 million each year.
Q 1 How many people at least together cheated Sandeen Mukerji?
A. TwoB. ThreeC. FourD. Five
Key: D
Q2: Suppose everyone who was cheated lost as much as Mukerji did, how many visitors to Bankok would be cheated each year?
In the 19th century England people liked to go to the seaside. In those days, ladies wore long bathing dresses, and men wore bathing suits. Women did not walk about on the beach in their bathing dresses. They hired a bathing machine. A bathing machine was used for changing in, and for taking the bather down to the sea. It cost 2 pence to hire a machine and an attendant. When she had paid, the bather climbed up the back steps and got into the bathing machine. Then she changed into her bathing dress. When she had changed, the machine was pulled down to the sea. The bathing machine stopped in the water and the bather went down the front steps into the water. If she didn’t want to get into the sea, the attendant pulled her in.
Q: In 19th century people who used the bathing machine usually did the following things. Which is the right order for doing them?
Every object has weight. But the center of its weight is not always in the middle of the object. If the top of an object is heavier than its bottom, it will fall over easily. We say that its center of gravity is high. But if the bottom is heavier, it won’t fall easily. Then we say that its center of gravity is low.
Look at the first picture. This empty box must fall over, because its center of gravity (C)is not above the line of its bottom. (AB)
Now look at the second picture. There is some heavy iron in the bottom of this box. It will not fall, because its center of gravity is above its bottom.
Which of the following is true / not true according to the passage?
Which of the following is mentioned / not mentioned in the passage?
Exercise :
One word that sums up our age better than any other— whether “our age”is “the technological age”of western countries or the “modernizing age”of China— is the word CHANGE. But has change not always been present? True, but never before at such a breakneck speed. Today it is more than just change. It is unprecedented change. In such a world reading provides the best tool we have for keeping up and for avoiding future shock in a world continually being remade.
Q: Which of the following is not true?
A. Western countries and China are being remade.
B. Reading will help understand our age.
C. The present age and future world are continually changing.
3. Which of the following conclusions can we draw according to the passage?
4. The writer probably feels that ______.
5. The passage implies, but doesn’t directly state that ______.
解题策略
1. 细节推理题
When she looked ahead, Florence Chadwick saw nothing but a solid wall of fog. Her body was numb. She had been swimming for nearly sixteen hours. Already she was the first woman to swim the English Channel in both directions. Now at age of 34, her goal was to become the first woman to swim from Catalina Island to the California coast.
On that fourth of July morning in 1952, the sea was like an ice bath and the fog was so dense. She could hardly see her support boats. Sharks cruised toward her long figure, only to be driven away by rifle shots. Against the frigid grip of the boat, she struggled on, hour after hour, while millions watched on national television.
Alongside Florence in one of the boats, her father and her trainer offered encouragement. They told her it wasn’t much farther. But all she could see was fog. They urged her not to quit. She never had …until then. With only a half mile to go, she asked to be pulled out.
Q: What does “She never had…”in the third paragraph mean?
Frank Smithson woke up and leaned over to turn off the alarm clock. “Oh, no! ”he thought to himself, “Another at that office a boss who shouts at me all the time. ”As Frank went downstairs his eyes fell on a large brown envelop by the door. He was overjoyed when he opened it and read the letter inside. “Bigwoods Football Pools(足球赌博公司)would like to congratulate you. You have won half a million pounds. ”
Frank suddenly came to life. The cigarette fell from his lips as he let out a shout that could be heard halfway down the street. At Frank arrived at work. “Please explain why you are so late, ”his boss said. “Go and jump in the lake, replied Frank. I have just come into a little money so this is a good-bye. Find yourself someone else to shout at. ”
That evening Frank was smoking a very expensive Havana cigar (雪茄)when a knock was heard on the door. He rushed to the door. Outside were two men, neatly dressed in gray suits.
“Mr. Smithson, ”one of them said, “We are from Bigwoods Pools. I’m afraid there’s been a terrible mistake…”
Q: On hearing “… there’s been a terrible mistake…”Frank was most likely to be ______.
People are always talking about “the problem of youth”. If there is one which I take leave to doubt, then it is older people who create it, not the young themselves. Let us get down to the base and agree that the young are after all human beings--people just like their elders. There is only one difference between an old man and a young one: the young man has a glorious future before him and the old one has a proud history behind him; and maybe that is where the rub is.
When I was a teenager, I felt that I was just young and uncertain. I was a new boy in a high school, and I would have been very pleased to be regarded as something so interesting as a problem. For one thing, being a problem gives you a certain identity (身份), and that is one of the things the young are busily engaged in seeking.
I find young people exciting. They have an air of freedom, they are not anxious social climbers and they have no devotion to material things. All this seems to me to link them with life and the origin of things. All that is in my mind when I meet a young person. He may be conceited, ill-man-nered, rash or childish, but I don’t turn for protection to dull cliches (陈词滥调)about respect for elders as if only age were a reason for respect. I accept that we are equals, and I will argue with him, as an equal, if I think he is wrong.
Exercise
What’s the writer’s attitude to young people?
A. He has got an positive attitude towards young people.
B. He look down upon the young.
C. He thinks the young are childish and rude.
D. He has got a negative attitude towards the young.
We are in the computer age. We often see computers at work. They are especially useful in automatic control, date processing and solving complicated problems. And they are finding their way into the home. The part played by computers is becoming even more important with each passing day.
More and cleverer computers will continue to appear. They will run faster, have more functions and work more skillfully. They will take over more tasks from us, helping to change the face of our world. Some people even think that sooner or later computers will replace us.
However …
Q: Which of the following statements is most likely to be talked about in the third paragraph?
A. Computers will soon stop developing.
B. Computers are as clever as man.
C. Many people like computers very much.
D. I don’t think computers will replace very much.
Sport not only is physically challenging, but it can also be mentally challenging. Criticism from coaches, parents, and other teammates, as well pressure to win can create an excessive (过度的)amount of anxiety or stress for young athletes. Stress can be physical, emotional, or psychological and research has indicated that it can lead to burnout. Burnout has been described as dropping or quitting of an activity that was at one time enjoyable.
The early years of development are critical years for learning about oneself. The sport setting is one where valuable experiences can take place. Young athletes can, for example, learn how to work together with others, make friends, and gain other social skills that will be used throughout their lives. Coaches and parents should be aware, at all times, that their feedback to youngsters may take their parents’ and coaches’ criticisms to heart and find a flaw (缺陷)in them.
Coaches and parents, should also be careful that young sport participation doesn’t become the work for children. The outcome of the game should not be more important than the process of learning the sport and other life lessons. In today’s youth sport setting, young athletes may be worrying more about who will win instead of enjoying themselves and the sport. Following a game, many parents and coaches direct their attention on the outcome and find fault with young people’s performances. Research indicates that positive reinforcement (加强)motivates and has a effect on learning than criticism. Again criticism can create high levels of stress, which can lead to burnout.
Q; The author’s purpose in writing the passage is to ________.
A. Teach young athletes how to avoid burnout.
B. Persuade young children not to worry about criticism.
C. Stress the importance of positive reinforcement to children.
D. Discuss the skill of mixing criticism with encouragement.
That night, the men of his own village came to the school. For a while no one said anything. At last Carlos spoke, “We want to thank you for being in our village. ”He said. “we want to thank you for teaching our children. ”
Ed looked at him. “I like teaching your children, ”he said.
“Then please don’t leave us, ”Carlos said.
Ed understood. Now he knew why the men were there. They had heard Ed talk about the other village. They thought he was going there to teach.
“But I am not leaving., ”Ed said. “This is my home as long as I’m in Ecuator. John. Kennedy No 1 is my school. ”
Q: What’s the main idea of the passage?
A. The school Ed had visited was a great school.
B. The men of the village wanted to thank Ed.
C. Ed liked teaching the children of the village he lived in.
D. Ed was loved and respected by the villagers of the village he worked in.
Social customs and ways of behaving change. Things which were considered impolite many years ago are now acceptable. Just a few years ago, it was considered impolite behavior for a man to smoke on the street. No man who thought of himself as being a gentleman would make a fool of himself by smoking when a lady was in a room.
Customs also differ from country to country. Does a man walk on the left or the right of a woman in your country? Or doesn’t it matter? What about table manners? Should you use both hands when you are eating? Should you leave one on your lap, or on the table?
The Americans and the British not only speak the same language but also share a large number of social customs. For example, in both America and England people shake hands when they meet each other for the first time. Also, most Englishmen will open a door for a woman or offer their seats to a woman, and so will most Americans. Promptness (守时)is important both in England and in America. That is, if a dinner invitation is for 7 o’clock, the dinner guest either arrives close to that time or calls up to explain his delay.
The important thing to remember about social customs is not to do anything that might make other people feel uncomfortable, especially if they are your guests. There is an old story about a man who gave a formal dinner party. When the food was served, one of the guests started to eat his peas with a knife. The other guests were amused or shocked, but the host calmly picked up his knife and began eating in the same way. It would have been bad manners to make his guest feel foolish or uncomfortable.
Exercise
Which of the following do you think is the best title for this passage?
1. 通过定义解释来推测词义。有时直接进行解释,但是更多的体现在使用一些词汇上,如is, or, that is to say, in other words, be called或破折号来表示。
Exercise
Archaeologist spent years studying and searching for remains of the Chinese civilization.
Key: Exercise
“terrible mistake…”
Key: 考古学家
Treating disease by bathing has been popular for centuries. Modern medical bathing or hydrotherapy, first became popular in Europe by the late 1700’s also became popular in the United States.
Key: medical bathing
2. 通过对比关系来推测词义,如利用反义词说明生词的含义,常用的对比关系的词汇常有but, however, on the one hand, on the other hand, for one thing, for another和众多反义词。
Exercise
The ruler had been so cruel and dishonest that after the revolution she was banished. A few members of the Senate opposed this decision, but the majority voted that the ruler should leave the country forever.
Key: 驱逐出境
3. 根据同类关系来推测词义。同类关系的内容通常由such as, like, for example等连词列举同类词汇来体现。
Exercise:
At forty-two he was in his prime and always full of energy.
Key: 盛年时期
4. 根据生活常识来猜测词义。猜测词义时需要上下文语境,结合自身生活经验进行逻辑推理。
Exercise:
The football game was getting more and more exciting, however, the old lady was still as dozy as she usually was.
One mistaken idea about business is that it can be treated as a game of perfect information. Quite the reverse, business, politics, life itself are games which we must normally play with very imperfect information.