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中考指导小组资料汇编 阅读填空专题
A
In recent times, the COVID-19 pandemic has changed the age-old habit of shaking hands. It is most widely used as a greeting, but when did shaking hands become the standard greeting?
The handshake dates all the way back to the 9th century BC. King Shalmanesar III ruled over Assyria, an empire（帝国）of the ancient Middle East. Archaeologists（考古学 家 ）found a throne base from that time. It shows two people holding hands. In the 5th century BC, in Greece, this was a symbol of peace, showing that neither person carried a weapon. The handshake also makes an appearance in Homer’s ancient poem, the lliad（荷马 史诗）. In it, two characters “shook each other’s hands” .
However, these handshakes were not used as greetings. The earliest reference to a handshake greeting is in 16th century novels by French writer Francois Rabelais, says Dutch sociologist Herman Roodenburg.
Even so, the most widely-accepted theory about the handshake’s origin is that it survived through a group called the Quakers, who worked for equality and peace. As the movement spread, so did the handshake, eventually becoming standard among the working class in the mid-1700s.
However, this was not the case everywhere, according to Roodenburg. Some French people described it as a vulgar（平民）English greeting, so many maintained（维持）“la bise”, the traditional kiss on two cheeks, which was widely used until the COVID-19 outbreak. In many countries, people have started touching elbows or ankles to greet each other instead of shaking hands, as this is believed to be less dangerous.
Title:The history of handshakes
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Different 1 |
What happened |
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In the 9th century BC |
A throne base found by archaeologists shows two persons holding hands. |
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In the 5th century BC |
Greek people thought the handshake was a symbol of peace. Also, the handshake 2 in Homer’s lliad. |
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In the 16th century |
In Francois Rabelais ’ novels the handshake was 3 considered as a way to greet each other. |
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In the mid-1700s |
The handshake 4 standard among the working class. |
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Shaking hands was widely used around the world until the COVID-19 outbreak. Instead, people in many countries think it’s 5 to touch elbows or ankles as a greeting. |
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Keys:1.periods/times 2.appeared 3.first 4.became 5.safer
B
The pilot, Antoine De Saint-Exupery, who wrote The Little Prince, died long ago, but the fictional pilot, who told the story, is as alive today as he was many years ago, along with his Prince, the fox, the rose and the snake.
This timeless tale touches upon childhood and growing up. It opens
with the reminder: All grown-ups were once children －but few of them remember it. The pilot in this story loses that part of himself. After a stay in the desert with the little prince, he finds his inner child again. It is a simple story with life lessons. Here are some.
One only understands the things that one tames（驯服）. Seeing the thousands of roses that look just like his rose makes the prince feel as if he was tricked by his flower. The fox shows him taming someone takes time. The prince understands the nature of relationships: the time he has wasted on his rose makes her so important.
The fox, as his parting gift, shares his secret with the prince: “One can see rightly with the heart. What is essential (very important and necessary) is invisible (not be seen) to the eye.” When the pilot shows his picture about the snake eating the elephant, adults only see it as a hat. Adults can’t see what’s inside the snake. What is on the surface is not what matters. This truth sets the little prince free. He decides to join his rose back on his planet.
Has he returned to his planet and his rose? The ending exists in the imagination of every reader as well as the pilot. After all, it is a book with something for everyone.
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Why is The Little Prince a book for everyone? |
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Reasons |
Supporting details |
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Atimeless tale |
l The Little Prince remains an 1 classic novel. l The book talks about childhood and growing up. The pilot forgets he was once a child as he grows up. After a stay with the little prince in the desert, he finds the 2 part of himself. |
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A simple story with life lessons |
l One only understands the things that one tames. It takes time to tame someone. What really matters to the prince is his 3 because he has “wasted” time on her. l What is essential is invisible to the eye. Adults 4 the pilot’s picture for a hat because they can’t look beyond the surface. What matters is what’s inside. After learning the truth, the prince decides to return to his planet. |
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An open-ended story |
It allows the readers and the pilot to 5 their endings of the book. |
Keys:1.all-time 2.lost 3.rose 4.mistake 5.imagine
C
Cars powered by gasoline were sold for many years before hybrid vehicles that use gasoline, electricity, and solar energy. Car companies are now making cars that are fully powered by electricity only. How do these electric cars measure up to（符合标准）traditional gasoline cars?
Electric and gasoline vehicles look similar on the outside. They have
very different parts under their hoods, though. Electric cars have one main moving part: the motor. But gas cars literally have hundreds of parts, often requiring frequent maintenance （保养）. Having fewer parts makes the electric car cheaper to maintain and less likely to have mechanical problems.
Electric vehicles are energy efficient, also making them cheaper to operate. It costs about $1.00 to travel 43 miles in an electric car, which is a clear contrast to a gas car, which costs about $1.25 to go 18 miles. Basically, an electric car can go twice as far as a gas car for the same price.
Electric vehicles do not have tailpipe emissions, making them more friendly to the environment, too.
While some details make electric cars seem attractive, other details aren’t as favorable. For example, some electric cars can travel only 60 to 120 miles on a full charge（充电） . Most gas cars can drive hundreds of miles on a full tank.
An electric car has to stop more often to get recharged. Therefore, a gas car would be a better option（选择）if you have to drive far. And electric cars aren’t as convenient（方便 的 ）to power up a gas cars are. There are plenty of gas stations, but not many charging stations for electric cars. Then, once an electric car reaches a charging station, it can take up to six hours to charge.
There are certainly benefits to both electric cars and gasoline cars. It’s good to know that there is an option.
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Electric cars vs Gasoline cars |
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Introduction |
With the appearance of electric cars, people wonder whether electric cars can achieve the 1 standards as gasoline cars. |
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Similarity |
Electric cars and gasoline cars look similar on the outside. |
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2 |
Electric cars l Having fewer parts reduce the costs of their maintenance and the 3 of having mechanical problems. l Compared with gasoline cars, electric cars are more energy-saving, making them cheaper to operate. l Having no tailpipe emissions, they are more environmentally friendly. l It takes more time for electric cars to get charged. Gasoline cars l Gas cars can cover a 4 distance on a full tank than electric cars on a full charge. l Gas cars are more convenient to power up. |
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Conclusion |
Both electric cars and gasoline cars have their own benefits, which provides people with a 5 . |
Keys:1.same 2.Differences 3.possibility/possibilities 4.longer 5.choice
