一、談談閱讀理解
閱讀是高考的重點和難點。閱讀理解在高考試卷中占分40分，如果加上完型填空題（有人稱之為缺詞閱讀）30分，那就是70分，占了將近總分的一半。高考之所以重視閱讀理解，是因為閱讀是一種比較高級的語言能力，它是獲取更綜合、更復雜、更精確信息的必要手段。閱讀能力也是做好其他題型，如聽力、單項填空、短文改錯和書面表達的基本因素。閱讀理解的考核是在語篇中進行的，也易于考查觀察、判斷、推理與綜合的能力。
閱讀理解題一般考五篇文章，包括故事、科普文章、新聞報道、議論文和應用文（如廣告、產品說明、電報等）。五篇文章加上所問問題，總單詞量在2000個左右，要求在35分鐘內完成。閱讀速度平均為每分鐘60個詞。
做好閱讀理解題的必備條件：
1、能迅速看準每一句的結構，找出主句的主語、謂語和賓語。
2、有一定的詞匯量和分辨詞義詞性的能力。
3、能靈活運動所學過的語法和詞匯知識，對影響意思理解的復合句、非謂語動詞短語、關聯詞語、后置定語、省略、替代和跳躍等語言現象做出正確判斷。
4、有良好的思維能力。會邊看邊加工所得到的信息，從而做出正確的推理判斷，綜合概括，準確理解表面意思和深層含義。
5、會精讀，也會跳讀和略讀。
6、具有相當的閱讀實踐經驗和良好的語感。
7、對英美文化有一定了解。
在準備閱讀理解測試時，要明確閱讀的能力是靠大量閱讀的實踐練出來的。有志于提高閱讀水平的同學，應該每天堅持讀三四篇文章，日積月累，才能逐步提高閱讀水平。讀的時候要注意精讀與泛讀相結合。精讀的文章力求弄懂每一句話，每一個詞，必要時要請教老師，翻查詞典。泛讀的文章，一般是難度較小的文章，只求理解文章大意，有些詞甚至句子不懂也沒關系，盡量不查詞典，這樣可以保證一定的速度和量。泛讀對培養語感，提高速度有很大好處。可惜有同學不重視泛讀，以為閱讀就是逐字讀，這其實是片面的。
二、練習與解析
（1）
In 1901, H. G. Wells, an English writer, wrote a book describing a trip to the moon. When the explores（探險者）landed on the moon, they discovered that the moon was full of underground cities. They expressed their surprise to the “moon people” they met. In turn, the “moon people” expressed their surprise.“Why,” they asked, “are you traveling to outer space when you don’t even use your inner space?”
H. G. Wells could only imagine travel to the moon. In 1969. human beings really did land on the moon. People today know that there are no underground cities on the moon. However, the question that the “moon people” asked is still an interesting one. A growing number of scientists are seriously thinking about it.
Under ground systems are already in place. Many cities have underground car parks. In some cities, such as Tokyo, Seoul and Montreal, there are large underground shopping areas. The “Chunnel”,a tunnel（隧道）connecting England and France, is now complete.
But what about underground cities? Japan’s Taisei Corporation is designing a network of underground systems, called “Alice Cities.”The designers imagine using surface space for public parks and using underground space for flats, offices, shopping, and so on. A solar dome（太陽能穹頂）would cover the whole city.
Supporters of underground development say that building down rather than building up is a good way to use the earth’s space. The surface, they say, can be used for farms, parks, gardens, and wilderness. H. G. Wells’“moon people” would agree. Would you?
1. The explorers in H. G. Wells’story were surprised to find that the “moon people”
________.
A. knew so much about the earth
B. understood their language
C. live in so many underground cities
D. were ahead of them in space technology
2. What does the underlined word “it” (Paragraph 2) refer to?
A. Discovering the moon’s inner space.
B. Using the earth’s inner space.
C. Meeting the “moon people” again.
D. Traveling to outer space.
3. What sort of underground systems are already here with us?
A. Offices, shopping areas, power stations.
B. Tunnels, car parks, shopping areas.
C. Gardens, car parks, power stations.
D. Tunnels, gardens, offices.
4. What would be the best title for the text?
A. Alice Cities-cities of the future
B. Space travel with H. G. Wells
C. Enjoy living underground
D. Building down, not up
1. C 2. B 3. B 4. D
1. 解答本題時，可從開頭段中the explorers登上月球后的發現找出線索：… they discovered that the moon was full of underground cities，也就是本題題干與選項C結合而成的說法：The explorers… to find that the “moon people” lived in so many underground cities。
2. 注意此句重心在后，強調的是：… you don’t even use your inner space，也即選項B所說的Using the earth’s inner space。
3. 通過跳讀迅速將探索范圍縮小到第3段，其主題句即為Under ground systems are already in place，然后列出這些systems的名稱：car parks, large underground shopping areas, a tunnel。
4. 短文開頭explorers與moon people之間的對話中即已點明use inner space，也就是build down這一主題；結尾段中則更為明確地將全文主題(underground development)解釋為building down rather than building up is a good way to use the earth’s space,，由此可以確定本題答案為D。
（2）
LONDON (Reuters) - Organic fruit, delivered right to the doorstep. That is what Gabriel Gold prefers, and he is willing to pay for it. If this is not possible, the 26-year-old computer technician will spend the extra money at the supermarket to buy organic food.
“Organic produce is always better,” Gold said. “The food is free of pesticides（農藥）, and you are generally supporting family farms instead of large farms. And more often than not it is locally（本地）grown and seasonal, so it is more tasty.” Gold is one of a growing number of shoppers buying into the organic trend, and supermarkets across Britain are counting on more like him as they grow their organic food business. But how many shoppers really know what they are getting, and why are they willing to pay a higher price for organic produce? Market research shows that Gold and others who buy organic food can generally give clear reasons for their preferences-but their knowledge of organic food is far from complete. For example, small amounts of pesticides can be used on organic products. And about three quarters of organic food in Britain is not local but imported（進口）to meet growing demand. “The demand for organic food is increasing by about one third every year, so it is a very fast growing market,” said Sue Flock, a specialist in this line of business.
1. More and more people in Britain are buying organic food because _______.
A. they are getting richer
B. they can get the food anywhere
C. they consider the food free of pollution
D. they like home-grown fruit
2. Which of the following statements is true to the facts about most organic produce sold
in Britain?
A. It grows indoors all year round.
B. It is produced outside Britain.
C. It is grown on family farms.
D. It is produced on large farms.
3. What is the meaning of “the organic trend” as the words are used in the text?
A. growing interest in organic food
B. better quality of organic food
C. rising market for organic food
D. higher prices of organic food
4. What is the best title for this news story?
A. Organic food- healthy, or just for the wealthy?
B. The making of organic food in Britain
C. Organic food- to import or not?
D. Good qualities of organic food
1. C 2. B 3. A 4. A
1. Gold 的話代表了英國消費者的認識，“… The food is free of pesticides…”也就是：they consider the food free of pollution.
2. 短文中與Most organic produce sold in Britain產地相關的內容，排除干擾選項，選定最佳答案。
3. 本題四個選項中均包含organic food（與主題相關，錯誤選項因而會構成干擾），但從所在句看，buying into the organic trend的主語是(a growing number of) shoppers，越來越多的人開始購買這種食品，當然意味著(the shoppers) have shown a growing interest in organic food。選項A表達的正是這樣一種形勢，應為最佳答案。
4. Organic food--- healthy（雖與人們所知有些出入，但大體如此）；or just for the wealthy?短文中有shoppers are willing to pay a higher price for organic produce，與此相符。
（3）
THEATRE
City Varieties
The Headrow, Leeds. Tel. 430808
Oct 10 – 11 only A night at the Varieties. All the fun of an old music hall with Barry Gryer, Duggle Brown, 6 dancers, Mystina, Jon Barker, Anne Duval and the Tony Harrison Trio. Laugh again at the old jokes and listen to your favourite songs.
Performances: 8 pm nightly.
Admission: ￡ 5； under 16 or over 60: ￡ 4.
York Theatre Royal
St Leonard’s Place, York. Tel. 223568
Sept 23 – Oct 17 Groping for Words – a comedy by Sue Townsend. Best known for her Adrian Mole Diaries, Townsend now writes about an evening class which two men and a woman attend. A gentle comedy.
Admission: First night, Mon: ￡ 2； Tues – Fri: ￡ 3.25 – 5.50； Sat: ￡ 3.50 – 5.75
Halifax Playhouse
King’s Cross Street, Halifax. Tel 365998
Oct 10 – 17 On Golden Pond by Ernest Thompson. This is a magical comedy about real people. A beautifully produced, well-acted play for everyone. Don’t miss it.
Performances: 7:30 pm.
Admission: ￡ 2. Mon: 2 seats for the price of one.
Grand Theatre
Oxford Street, Leeds. Tel. 502116
Restaurant and Café.
Oct 1 –17 The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, Aged 13. Sue Townsend’s musical play, based on her best-selling book.
Performances: Evenings 7:45. October 10 – 17, at 2:30 pm. No Monday performances.
Admission: Tues- Thurs: ￡ 2 – 5；Fri & Sat: ￡ 2 – 6.
1. Which theatre offers the cheapest seat?
A. Halifax Playhouse. B. City Varieties.
C. Grand Theatre. D. York Theatre Royal.
2. If you want to see a play with old jokes and songs, which phone number will you ring to book a seat?
A. 502116 B. 223568 C. 365998 D. 430808
3. We may learn from the text that Sue Townsend is ________.
A. a writer B. an actress C. a musician D. a director
1. A 2. D 3. A
1. 此處問及票價，涉及的關鍵詞Admission很可能是生詞，但完全可以憑借該詞之后的￡5；under 16 or over 60：￡4等內容推斷其含義為入場票價。Halifax Playhouse為：￡2. Mon：2seats for the price of one，應為最低價格。
2. 通過跳讀可以很快找到，本段開頭第二行有：Tel. 403808；本題答案已明，應該選D。
3. Sure Townsend首先出現在第二段里： a comedy by Sue Townsend…，Townsend now writes about…；這一人名還出現在最后一段里：Sure Townsend’s musical play, based on her best-selling book。這樣一些關于上演劇目的背景交待足以說明Sue Townsend的身份，應該是writer。