中学学科网（WWW.ZXXK.COM）-全国最大的教育资源门户网站。2017高考英语阅读理解解析版汇编（55）阅读理解。阅读下列短文，从每题所给的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中，选出最佳选项。Feelingblueabouttheworld?“Cheerup，”sayssciencewriterMattRidley.“Theworldhasneverbeenabetterplacetolivein，anditwillkeepongettingbetterbothforhumansandfornature.”Ridleycallshimselfarationaloptimist—rational，becausehe'scarefullyweighedtheevidenceoptimistic，becausethatevidenceshowshumanprogresstobebothunavoidableandgood.Andthisiswhathe'ssetouttoprovefromauniquepointofviewinhismostrecentbookTheRationalOptimist.Heviewsmankindasagrandenterprisethat，onthewhole，hasdonelittlebutprogressfor100,000years.Hebackshisfindingswithhardfactsgatheredthroughyearsofresearch.Here'showheexplainshisviews.1)ShoppingfuelsinventionItisreportedthattherearemorethantenbilliondifferentproductsforsaleinLondonalone.Evenallowingforthemanypeoplewhostillliveinpoverty，ourowngenerationhasaccesstomorenutritiousfood，moreconvenienttransport，biggerhouses，bettercars，andofcourse，morepoundsanddollarsthananywholivedbeforeus.Thiswillcontinueaslongasweusethesethingstomakeotherthings.Themorewespecializeandexchange，thebetteroffwe'llbe.2)BrilliantadvancesOnereasonwearericher，healthier，taller，cleverer，longerlivedandfreerthaneverbeforeisthatthefourmostbasichumanneeds—food，clothing，fuelandshelter—havegrownalotcheaper.Takeoneexample.In1800acandleprovidingonehour'slightcostsixhours'work.Inthe1880sthesamelightfromanoillamptook15minutes'worktopayfor.In1950itwaseightseconds.Todayit'shalfsecond.3)Let'snotkillourselvesforclimatechangeMitigating(减轻)climatechangecouldprovejustasdamagingtohumanwelfareasclimatechangeitself.Achildthatdiesfromindoorsmokeinavillage，wheretheuseoffassilfuel(化石燃料)electricityisforbiddenbywellmeaningmembersofgreenpoliticalmovementstryingtosavetheworld，isjustasgreatatragedyasachildthatdiesinafloodcausedbyclimatechange.Ifclimaicchangeprovestobemild，butcuttingcarboncausesrealpain，wemaywellfindthatwehavestoppedanosebleedbyputtingatourniquet(止血带)aroundournecks.人类的进步是无法阻挡的，是令人乐观。在《理性的乐观主义者》一书中，作者阐述了自己对于生活中的乐观现象，并且对于购物这样普通的日常行为所带来的积极影响都做了详尽的分析和描述。1．WhatisthethemeofRidley'smostrecentbook?A．Weaknessofhumannature.B．Concernaboutclimatechange.联系地址：北京市房山区燕化星城北里1号楼4-502邮政编码：102413联系电话：010-584252555842525658425257传真：010-89313898联系邮箱：czfw@zxxk.com第1页中学学科网（WWW.ZXXK.COM）-全国最大的教育资源门户网站。C．Importanceofpracticalthinking.D．Optimismabouthumanprogress.答案：D。理解判断题。从第二段的前两句话中，反复提到一个关键词“optimistic”以及信息句“becausethatevidenceshows...”；另外，“thisiswhathe'ssetouttoprove...”一句也正好清楚的表明了作者在本书中所以阐述的正是这个话题，正是与选项D的说法是一致的，即：人类的进步总是不可避免的。2．HowdoesRidleylookatshopping?A．Itencouragesthecreationofthings.B．Itresultsinshortageofgoods.C．Itdemandsmorefossilfuels.D．Itcausesapovertyproblem.答案：A。细节判断题。从“Shoppingfuelsinvention”一段正是反映了Ridley的观点：购物能够激发创造发明。选项A与之相吻合。3．Thecandleandlampexampleisusedtoshowthat________.A．oillampsgiveoffmorelightthancandlesB．shorteningworkingtimebringsaboutahappierlifeC．advancedtechnologyhelpstoproducebettercandlesD．increasedproduction...
