第三部分：阅读理解(共15小题;每小题2分，满分30分)
请认真阅读下列短文，从短文后各题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中，选出最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
A
Volunteers wanted
Be a part of Micah House, our local mission opportunity! We need volunteers like YOU to make this program the BEST! Micah House kids need volunteers for homework, reading and recreation.
Times: Monday to Thursday, 3:00 to 4:00 pm for first to fifth grades, 4:00 to 5:30 pm for sixth grade and up.
Specific needs
Homework Helpers: 3:00 to 4:00 pm (first to fifth grades), 4:00-5:30 pm (sixth to twelfth grades).
Bible/Life Lessons Story Time Readers: 2:30-3:00 pm.
Recreation Time Leaders: 3:30-4:00 pm. Teach art, gardening, sewing, cooking etc. What are your loves? Share them with a child.
Literacy program needs
Helper on computers/printers when needed
Reading ability tester for students when needed
Listener when students read
Leader of a reading group two days a week
Drivers needed for field trips
Trips usually happen between 2:30 and 5:30 pm. Driver’s license, car insurance and background check required. Contact us for details if you are interested.
Great things happen through unity. Your participation shows your support of our mission. The time you spend helps kids’ lives, their financial futures and their family health. It also contributes to unity for the community.
Join with others who have seen the difference Micah House is making in the Redlands community. The chance to help a child is a great reward for both you and the kids.
Make an impact on the next generation!
Critical time: 3:00 to 4:00 pm
A typical day at Micah House
First track (first through fifth grade)
2:00 — 2:30 Check-in/Snack time 2:30 — 3:00 Story time
3:00 — 3:40 Homework/Tutoring 3:40 — 4:00 Recreation
4:00 First track ends
Second track (sixth through twelfth grades)
4:00 — 4:15 Check-in and Snacks
4:15 — 4:35 Story Time
4:35 — 5:30 Homework/Tutoring
If you have questions, contact: Armando at Micah House Chapel (909) 747-7447 or Lisa at Micah House Oxford (909) 747-0319.
56. From the text above, we can conclude that .
A. kids can choose either of the two tracks as they wish
B. bible story reading is not currently available for 12th graders
C. anyone with a driver’s license is welcome to join the field trips
D. volunteers must visit Micah House Chapel to apply for the positions
57. Which of the following people is most suited to the literacy program?
A. Judy, local library staff, free every evening
B. Heidi, babysitter, cannot read, free on weekends
C. Molly, English teacher, available on weekday afternoons
D. Ted, part-time programmer, available on weekday mornings
58. If Tom loves drawing and wants to volunteer for Micah House, he needs to be free from .
A. 2:30 — 3:00 B. 3:00 — 3:40 C. 3:40 — 4:00 D. 4:35 — 5:30
B
When Taking an Uber — Should You Tip or Not?
Taking an Uber car may no longer be a direct driver-passenger and guilt-free experience. The ride-sharing experience is about to get awkward.
With the wide application of the Internet, Uber, a new approach to your destination instead of taking an ordinary taxi, has become more popular recently. However, benefits won’t come without its fair share of drawbacks.
Uber drivers are a part of the so-called sharing economy: they use their own vehicles, receive customer reviews via the app’s five -star rating system and make their own hours. Unlike other services, Uber claimed that drivers all over the country could clearly alert customers that tipping is not included. Those drivers that expect to be tipped can make their wishes known. But the company is holding to its official no-tip-required line, according to its website. “Once you arrive at your destination, your fare is automatically charged to your credit card on file—there’s no need to tip.” Although drivers value their independence-the freedom to push a button rather than punch a clock, lack of a clear policy, however, leaves Uber drivers in a vulnerable (脆弱的) position: if they ask a customer for a tip or put up a sign, that customer could give the driver a low star-rating, and the driver could finally be deactivated from the app.
But has the company done a good job working with customers? Some observers say that this new grey area for tipping will create awkwardness about whether they should tip or not-something most Uber customers have not bad to deal with until now. Uber did not respond to customers’ comment, just leaving their rating in the air (ignoring it).
Providing an option to lip on an app sends a clear message to customers lo reach into their pockets. Nearly 30% people would be more likely to leave a tip if they were presented with a “no tip” button, according to Guinn’s 2015 survey of roughly 500 people. When people are presented with three tip choices—20%, 25% or 30%—they’re more likely to choose the middle option even if it’s more than the traditional 20%, according to a separate 2014 analysis of 13 million New York City taxi rides.
If the service is twice as expensive during a rain storm or public transport delay, the customer has the right not to tip. However, if the driver is extra helpful or avoids traffic to reach your destination in a more timely manner, you could give an extra tip, says Uber, who will leave tipping options in the hands of the consumer rather than the app.
59. Compared with taxi drivers, Uber drivers .
A. enjoy more freedom and choices B. support the company’s practice
C. clock up the miles while driving D. receive customers reviews directly
60. The underlined word “deactivated” in Paragraph 4 probably means .
A. removed B. degraded C. tracked D. Charged
61. From the survey we can conclude most customers .
A. would probably tip if there is an option
B. usually do as the “no tip” sign suggests
C. tip because of Uber drivers’ good service
D. are disappointed to reach into their pockets
62. What causes the awkwardness between Uber drivers and their customers?
A. Customers take advantage of the new grey area for tipping.
B. There is no specific policy from the Uber to follow.
C. It’s up to customers to decide the drivers’ earnings.
D. Customers tend to pay least among the 3 choices.
C
In recent years, China has witnessed the growth of luxury (奢侈品) brands. In this market, Chinese consumers are now the largest spenders. It’s clear that a new generation of young, materialistic people is increasingly relying on luxury brands to improve its self-image (自我形象).
I am a fashionista too, at least in spirit — I love to look at clothes and shoes. But I don’t understand why people spend lots of money on designer labels.
When a young woman buys a handbag that costs two months of her salary, that’s a scary thing.
What’s interesting is that scientists have found that having luxury things doesn’t lead to happiness.
Study after study has shown that although we want material things, when we get them we don’t suddenly become “happy” people. In fact, a series of studies by Leaf Van Boven at the University of Colorado, US, has shown that individuals who spend money on travel and similar experiences get more pleasure than those who invest it in material things. That’s because experiences are more easily integrated into a person’s identity. If I travel to Yunnan, that adventure affects how I think in the future. My memories become a part of me.
Moreover, as Van Boven has observed, young people who pursue (追求) happiness through “things” are liked less by their peers (同龄人). People prefer those who pursue happiness through experiences.
It’s natural to want to express yourself through your appearance. So my advice is: create a look that isn’t tied to a designer label. Convey your own message. Take some lessons from the late Apple co-founder Steve Jobs. He was always in Levis jeans and a black turtleneck. Mark Zuckerberg, founder of Facebook, routinely appears in hoodies and sneakers. These people, successful people, have style. You don’t have to break the bank to send a message about who you are.
Take a trip. Go out into the world. Then come back and confidently create your own signature look.
63. What can we infer from the first three paragraphs?
A. The author enjoys buying luxury brands herself.
B. The author sees no point in spending money on material things.
C. The author is critical of youths tying their looks to designer labels.
D. The author finds it natural for fashionistas to follow fashion trends.
64. Leaf Van Boven’s studies showed that .
A. traveling changes a person’s identity greatly
B. people dislike those who love luxuries
C. experiences can bring people more happiness than luxuries
D. luxuries have a negative effect on people’s happiness
65. What is the author’s advice on expressing oneself?
A. Be selective about designer labels.
B. Create your own personal, unique style.
C. Choose styles that are simple and comfortable.
D. Try styles like Mark Zuckerberg’s.
66. The main purpose of the article is to .
A. persuade readers to invest in experiences instead of luxuries
B. prove how luxury leads to an unpleasant life
C. tell how to express yourself through appearances
D. report on a series of studies about luxuries and happiness
D
Pollution’s disastrous effects on the environment have become more obvious in recent years, leading to a movement to promote energy efficiency (效率), less reliance on fossil (化石的) fuels and a reduction in air and water pollution. Most scientists agree that such changes are necessary to protect our environment from further harm.
The construction industry consumes a large quantity of energy and resources and creates a huge amount of pollution. In the United States, building and development account for 39 percent of the country’s total energy use, 12 percent of total water consumption, 68 percent of total electricity consumption and 38 percent of carbon dioxide emissions (排放), according to the Environment Protection Agency.
Green buildings use less energy, water, create less waste and are healthier to live, work and go to school in than standard buildings. Builders of green buildings use techniques that use resources more efficiently during the entire building cycle — construction, restoration, operation, maintenance (维护) and demolition (拆毁) — than those who construct more regular buildings.
The environmental benefits of building green include the protection of ecosystems and biodiversity, improved air and water quality, less waste flowing into streams and the conservation of natural resources. Green buildings can also result in lower operating costs because they typically use less energy and fewer materials and improve indoor air quality, improving the health of people who live there.
The process of building green includes technical and artistic planning with nature conservation in mind. Building designs often reflect the surrounding environment and natural resources and use renewable building materials such as bamboo and straw. In addition, recycled resources found locally are used for green buildings, reducing the cost and air pollution associated with transporting materials long distances.
Careful site selection is important to minimize (最小化) human impact on the surrounding environment. For example, placing a structure in an area that allows it to take advantage of cool breezes (微风) and sunlight can reduce energy use and expenses. More energy and expense are needed for larger buildings as well, so it is important to build small.
Green roofs are another feature of green houses that reduce energy use and cost. These roofs are partially or completely covered with plants, which helps to keep heating and cooling costs low, prevent water running off and deal with pollutants.
Other features of green buildings often include energy and water conservation, recycling and waste reduction. In addition, renewable energy sources such as solar power, hydropower (水能) and wind power are used for heat and electricity, which greatly reduces costs and decreases the impact on the environment.
67. What is the text mainly about?
A. The necessity of promoting energy efficiency.
B. The process of building green buildings.
C. The benefits and features of green buildings.
D. Green buildings’ effects on the environment.
68. According to the text, green buildings refer to the buildings that .
A. produce no waste B. only use clean energy
C. are made of recycled materials D. use energy and resources more efficiently
69. Which of the following statements is TRUE about green buildings?
A. They rely on fossil fuels and solar power for heat and electricity.
B. Small buildings are less efficient in energy use than larger ones.
C. The ecosystem has to be considered when building a green building.
D. They are difficult to maintain and thus need more operating costs.
70. Green roofs are used because .
A. they fit the surrounding environment well
B. they are cheaper than other kinds of roofs
C. they can keep natural water for use in everyday life
D. they can help to control the temperature in the building well
