真题实战
2016年真题
The Theory of Everyone
If Stephen Hawking lives until the year 2017，he will have lived more than 50 years longer than his doctors expected.When he was a college student，doctors discovered that he had a rare disease.This disease causes a gradual disintegration（分解）of the nerve cells in the brain cells that regulate voluntary muscle activity.Death almost always occurs within two or three years.
Today Stephen Hawking cannot walk or speak.He cannot move his arms or his head.He cannot taste or smell anything.And yet this man is Professor of Mathematics at Cambridge University，a position held by the famous scientist Isaac Newton in 1669.
Hawking is often described as the greatest scientist since Albert Einstein，but to the world outside science，he is also known as the man who made scientific theory understandable.His book， A Brief History of Time，has sold over eight million copies.
He says that since he does not have to think about his body or do any of the things other men have to worry about，such as washing the car or working in the yard，he can dedicate all of his time to thinking.This puts him in the perfect position to find the answer to the question that he has dedicated his life to.His question is：Is there a complete theory of the universe and everything in it？
Despite his tremendous physical disabilities，he has already made some very important discoveries about the origin of the universe，how the universe holds together，and how it will probably end.He has also been able to explain the secrets of“black holes”in space.Now he is looking for a set of rules that everything in our universe must obey.He calls it the Theory of Everything.He thinks that someone will have found the answer within the next 20 years.
If Stephen Hawking is able to find his Theory of Everything，he will have given the world the opportunity to understand things that will change the whole nature of science and probably also the way we live.
16.Stephen Hawking will be 50 years old by 2017.
A.Right B.Wrong C.Not mentioned
17.Stephen Hawking suffers from a rare brain disease.
A.Right B.Wrong C.Not mentioned
18.Stephen Hawking is Professor of Mathematics at Cambridge University.
A.Right B.Wrong C.Not mentioned
19.A Brief History of Time is very difficult for students to understand.
A.Right B.Wrong C.Not mentioned
20.Stephen Hawking has much time to think because he doesn't have to work.
A.Right B.Wrong C.Not mentioned
21.Stephen Hawking has spent around ten years explaining the secrets of universe.
A.Right B.Wrong C.Not mentioned
22.The Theory of Everything is about the rules that everything in the universe follows.
A.Right B.Wrong C.Not mentioned
2015年真题
ADHD Linked to Air Pollutants
Children have an increased risk of attention problems，seen as early as grade school，if their moms inhaled（吸入）a certain type of air pollution when they were pregnant.That’s the finding of a new study.Released when things aren’t burned completely，this pollution is known as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons，or PAHs.The biggest sources of these PAHs：the burning of fossil fuels， wood and trash.
Frederica Perera works at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health in New York City.She researches how exposure to things in the environment affects children’s health.In a new study，she and her team studied the exposure to air pollution of 233 nonsmoking pregnant women in New York City.Because burning tobacco can spew（排放）PAHs into the air and lungs， Perera’s team focused on nonsmokers.The researchers wanted to probe（探查）other sources of PAHs，ones that would have been hard for an individual to avoid.
The team started by testing the blood of each woman during pregnancy.The reason：Any PAHs in a woman’s blood would also be available to the baby in her womb.Nine years later，the researchers investigated signs of attention problems in these children，now age 9.They asked each child’s mother a series of questions.These included whether her child had problems doing things that needed sustained（长期的）mental effort，such as homework or games with friends.The scientists also asked if the kids had trouble following instructions or made frequent，careless mistakes.All of these can be symptoms of a disorder called Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder，or ADHD.About one in 10 U.S.children has ADHD.Among the women studied，traffic and home heating were the primary sources of air pollution exposure，Perera and her team suspect. Some of these women had low levels of PAHs in their blood.Others had high levels.Those with high levels were five times as likely to have children who showed attention problems by age 9.The new findings were published on November 5 in the journal PLOS ONE.
16.Perera and her team chose nonsmoking pregnant women all over America.
A.Right B.Wrong D.Not mentioned
17.The main purpose of the research was to find out how exposure to PAHs played a role in
harming the subjects’physical health.
A.Right B.Wrong D.Not mentioned
18.Nonsmoking mothers were selected because the effect of smoking on PAHs was unclear.
A.Right B.Wrong D.Not mentioned
19.The blood of each woman was tested once a month during pregnancy.
A.Right B.Wrong D.Not mentioned
20.Kids with ADHD commonly fail in school.
A.Right B.Wrong D.Not mentioned
21.The women with high levels of PAHs in their blood were more likely to have kids with ADHD.
A.Right B.Wrong D.Not mentioned
22.Traffic and home heating were considered to be the biggest sources of PAHs for the subjects in the research.
A.Right B.Wrong D.Not mentioned
2014年真题
So Many“Earths”
The Milky Way（银河）contains billions of Earth-sized planets that could support life.That’s the finding of a new study.It draws on data that came from NASA’s top planet-hunting telescope.
A mechanical failure recently put that Kepler space telescope out of service.Kepler had played a big role in creating a census of planets orbiting some 170，000 stars.Its data have been helping astronomers predict how common planets are in our galaxy.The telescope focused on hunting planets that might have conditions similar to those on Earth.
The authors of a study published in The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences conclude that between 14 and 30 out of every 100 stars with a mass and temperature similar to the Sun may host a planet that could support life as we know it.Such a planet would have a diameter at least as large as Earth’s but no more than twice that big.The planet also would have to orbit in a star’s habitable zone.That’s where the surface temperature would allow any water to exist as liquid.
The new estimate of how many planets might fit these conditions comes from studying more that 42，000 stars and identifying suitable worlds orbiting them.The scientists used those numbers to extrapolate（推算）to the rest of the stars that the telescope could not see.
The estimate is rough，the authors admit.If applied to the solar system，it would define as habitable a zone starting as close to the Sun as Venus and running to as far away as Mars.Neither planet is Earthlike（although either might have been in the distant past）.Using tighter limits，the researchers estimate that between 4 and 8 out of every 100 sunlike stars could host an Earth-sized world.These are ones that would take 200 to 400 days to complete a yearly orbit.
Four out of every 100 sunlike stars doesn’t sound like a big number.It would mean，however， that the Milky Way could host more than a billion Earth-sized planets with a chance for life.
16.The Kepler space telescope has been in service for 15 years.
A.Right B.Wrong C.Not mentioned
17.The main task of the Kepler space telescope is to find out planets with similar conditions to Earth’s.
A.Right B.Wrong C.Not mentioned
18.The planet that could support life might be a little bit smaller than Earth.
A.Right B.Wrong C.Not mentioned
19.The Earth is a planet orbiting in the Sun’s habitable zone.
A.Right B.Wrong C.Not mentioned
20.The new finding is based on a thorough study of 170，000 stars on the Milky Way.
A.Right B.Wrong C.Not mentioned
21.The estimate of the number of planets that could support life is not very accurate.
A.Right B.Wrong C.Not mentioned
22.This is the first research finding about the planets with a chance for life.
A.Right B.Wrong C.Not mentioned
答案与解析
2016年真题解析
16.B。题干：Stephen Hawking到2017年就50岁了。根据题干关键词50和2017可以定位到原文的第一段第一句，可知“如果Stephen Hawking活到2017年，那么他就比医生预期的多活了50年”，因此题干内容与原文不符合，故答案为B。
17.B。题干：Stephen Hawking患了一种很少见的大脑病。根据rare brain disease可以定位到第一段的第二句和第三句，大意是“当他还是大学生的时候，医生发现他患有一种罕见的病，这种病会导致大脑细胞中的那些控制肌肉活动的神经细胞逐渐分解”，由此可知他患的是一种肌肉萎缩病，题干信息与原句信息不一致，故答案选B。
18.A。题干：Stephen Hawking是剑桥大学的数学教授。根据Mathematics和Cambridge University定位到第二段最后一句，大意是“他是剑桥大学的数学教授，牛顿1669年也曾担任该职”，题干内容与原文符合，故答案为A。
19.B。题干：《时间简史》对学生来说很难理解。根据关键词A Brief History of Time和difficult to understand可以定位到第三段中的“...he is also known as the man who made scientific theory understandable.His book，A Brief History of Time，has sold over eight million copies.”，即“众所周知，他让科学理论简单易懂。他的书《时间简史》一书已经卖了800多万本”，题干内容与原文不符合，所以该题答案为B。
20.A。题干：Stephen Hawking有很多时间思考因为他不需要工作。根据think和work可以定位到第四段第一句，大意是“他说因为他不必考虑他的身体或者做其他人担忧的事情，比如洗车或收拾院子，所以他可以将全部的时间投入到思考之中”。由此可知，题干信息和原文一致，所以答案选A。
21.C。题干：Stephen Hawking花了大约十年的时间来解释宇宙的奥秘。根据ten years和secrets of universe定位到第五段中的“He has also been able to explain the secrets of‘black holes’in space.”，大意是“他能够解释太空中黑洞的奥秘”，但是并未提及花了多长时间，所以该题为C。
22.A。题干：万物理论是关于宇宙中的一切所遵循的规则。根据题干关键词Theory of Everything 和rules可以定位到第五段“Now he is looking for a set of rules that everything in our universe must obey.He calls it the Theory of Everything.”，即“现在他正在研究宇宙万物所必须遵循的一套规则，并将其称之为万物理论”，题干信息和原文一致，所以答案选A。
2015年真题解析
16.B。题干：Perera和她的团队挑选了来自全美国的不吸烟的妇女。利用题干关键词Perera和nonsmoking可以定位到文章第二段第二句，意为“她和她的团队研究了纽约市233名非吸烟的孕妇暴露在空气污染中的情况”，由此可知只是纽约市而非全美国，题干所述与原文信息不一致，故该题答案为B。
17.B。题干：研究的主要目的是发现暴露于PAHs对研究对象的身体健康如何造成伤害。利用题干关键词purpose of research和harm the physical health可以定位到文章第二段最后一句，意为“研究者想探查PAHs的其他来源”，由此可知题干所述与原文信息不一致，故该题答案为B。
18.B。题干：选择不吸烟的妈妈们是因为吸烟对于PAHs的影响还不清楚。利用题干关键词nonsmoking mother和effect of PAHs可以定位到文章第二段倒数第二句，指选择不吸烟的孕妇妈妈是“因为吸烟会导致环芳香烃（PAHs）排入空气中或吸入肺中，所以她们的团队关注不吸烟者”，由此可知吸烟对于PAHs的影响是清楚的，所以题干所述与原文信息不一致，故该题答案为B。
19.C。题干：每个孕女每个月都要验血一次。利用题干关键词blood和once a month进行定位，发现没有once a month的相关信息，由此可知该题答案为C。
20.C。题干：患有ADHD的孩子通常在学校学业不好。利用题干关键词kids with ADHDs和school进行定位，发现没有相关信息，由此可知该题答案为C。
21.A。题干：血液中有较多PAHs的妇女所生的孩子更可能会患有ADHD。利用题干关键词levels of PAHs和have kids with ADHD可以定位到最后一段的倒数第二句，意为“血液中含有较多PAHs的女性所生的孩子到9岁时，孩子出现注意力不集中问题的概率提高了五倍”，由此可知题干所述与原文信息一致，所以该题答案为A。
22.A。题干：对研究对象来说，交通和家庭采暖被认为是PAHs的最主要的来源。利用题干关键词traffic and home heating可以定位到最后一段的第一句，意为“在所研究的妇女中，交通和家庭采暖是主要的空气污染的来源”，由此可以推知交通和家庭采暖是PAHs的主要来源，所以该题答案为A。
2014年真题解析
16.C。题干：Kepler太空望远镜已经使用15年了。利用题干关键词Kepler和15进行定位，发现第二段谈及“A mechanical failure recently put that Kepter space telescope out of service”，即“技术的故障使得Kepler太空望远镜不能再使用了”，但是没有提及Kepler太空望远镜的使用时间，故答案为C。
17.A。题干：Kepler太空望远镜的主要任务就是找到与地球情况类似的行星。利用题干关键词Kepler和Earth等可以定位到第二段“The telescope focused on hunting planets that might have conditions similar to those on Earth.”。由此可知，题干信息与原句信息一致，故答案为A。
18.B。题干：能支持生命的行星可能比地球要小一点。利用题干关键词support life和smaller进行定位，可以定位到第三段“...14 and 30 out of every 100 stars with a mass and temperature similar to the Sun may host a planet that could support life as we know it.Such a planet would have a diameter at least as large as Earth’s but no more than twice that big.”，即“据我们所知，每100颗恒星之中约有14～30颗恒星有着与太阳相似的体积和温度，可能支持行星上的生命，这样的行星直径至少与地球直径一样大或者最大不超过地球直径的两倍”。由此可知，题干信息与原句信息不一致，故答案为B。
19.A。题干：地球是一颗围绕太阳的可居住区域内的轨道运行的行星。利用题干关键词orbit和habitable zone等可以定位到第三段“The planet also would have to orbit in a star’s habitable zone.”，即“这样的行星也必须在恒星的可居住区域内的轨道运行”，并结合上一句可知，能支持生命的行星需要在像太阳这样的恒星的可居住区域内运行。由此可知，题干信息与原句信息一致，故答案为A。
20.B。题干：新发现是基于对银河系中170000颗恒星的全部研究。利用题干关键词new finding和170，000并结合题目顺序与段落顺序一致的原则，可以定位到第四段“The new estimate of how many planets might fit these conditions comes from studying more than 42，000 stars...”，即“有关多少行星符合这种情况的预测是来自对42000多颗恒星的研究……”。由此可知，题干信息与原句信息不一致，故答案为B。
21.A。题干：关于可以支持生命的行星数量的预测是不准确的。利用题干关键词estimate和accurate等可以定位到第四段和第五段“The new estimate of how many planets might fit these conditions...The estimate is rough，the authors admit.”，即“这项对于符合这些情况的行星的数量的预测……作者承认这种预测是比较粗略的”。由此可知，题干信息与原句信息一致，故答案为A。
22.C。题干：这是有关行星中可能有生命存在的最早研究。利用题干关键词first和chance for life等可以定位到最后一段“It would mean，however，that the Milky Way could host more than a billion Earth-sized planets with a chance for life.”，即“但是这意味着银河系中有超过十亿颗地球大小的行星都有生命存在的可能性”，但是没有提及是否是最早的发现，故答案为C。