南京市2017度第一学期高三期中考英语

南京市2017度第一学期高三期中考英语

南京市2017～2018学年度第一学期期中考试 英语第Ⅰ卷(三部分　共85分)‎ 第一部分　听力(共两节，满分20分)‎ 第一节(共5小题；每小题1分，满分5分)‎ 听下面5段对话。每段对话后有一个小题，从题中所给的A、B、C三个选项中选出最佳选项。听完每段对话后，你都有10秒钟的时间来回答有关小题和阅读下一小题。每段对话仅读一遍。‎ ‎(　　) 1. Who is coming for tea?‎ A. Mark. 　　　　　　　　　B. John. 　　　　　　　　　C. Tracy. ‎ ‎(　　) 2. What will the man do next?‎ A. Stay for dinner. B. Go to the railway station. C. Prepare for the dinner. ‎ ‎(　　) 3. What does the man come for?‎ A. A dinner. B. A meeting. C. A party. ‎ ‎(　　) 4. What size does the man want?‎ A. 9. B. 35. C. 39.‎ ‎(　　) 5. What are the speakers talking about?‎ A. Life in Southeast Asia. B. Weather conditions. C. A holiday plan. ‎ 第二节(共15小题；每小题1分，满分15分)‎ 听下面5段对话或独白，每段对话或独白后有几个小题，从题中所给的A、B、C三个选项中选出最佳选项，听每段对话或独白前，你将有时间阅读各个小题，每小题5秒钟。听完后，各小题将给出5秒钟的作答时间。每段对话或独白读两遍。‎ 听第6段材料，回答第6、7题。‎ ‎(　　) 6. Why doesn't the man want to book the seats downstairs?‎ A. They are too expensive. B. They are uncomfortable. C. They are too close to the stage. ‎ ‎(　　) 7. When does the man plan to see the performance?‎ A. On October 1st. B. On October 21st. C. On October 25th. ‎ 听第7段材料，回答第8、9题。 ‎ ‎(　　) 8. What's the complaint of the man's neighbor?‎ A. Loud noise. B. Bad sleeping room. C. An important meeting. ‎ ‎(　　) 9. What were the man and his friends about to do?‎ A. Change a room. B. Apologize to their neighbor. C. End their activity. ‎ 昕第8段材料，回答第10至12题。‎ ‎(　　)10. What is Miss Lan going to work as in Ola city?‎ A. A doctor. B. A nurse. C. A teacher. ‎ ‎(　　)11. What worries Miss Lan so much?‎ A. She has no friends in Ola. B. The work in Ola is hard to do. ‎ C. The people in Ola are not friendly. ‎ ‎(　　)12. How will Miss Lan keep in touch with Mr Huang after she arrives in Ola?‎ A. By email. B. By phone. C. By letter. ‎ 听第9段材料，回答第13至16题。‎ ‎(　　)13. Why did the man miss the woman's phone call yesterday?‎ A. His phone was turned off. B. He was taking a shower. ‎ C. He didn't take his phone with him. ‎ ‎(　　)14. What did the woman do yesterday?‎ A. She went shopping. B. She went to a concert. C. She played computer games. ‎ ‎(　　)15. Why did the woman call the man?‎ A. To invite him to her wedding. B. To ask something about Megan. ‎ C. To invite him to her sister's wedding.‎ ‎(　　)16. When will the woman pick up the man next Saturday?‎ A. At 13：00. B. At 13：20. C. At 14：00. ‎ 听第10段材料，回答第17至20题。‎ ‎(　　)17. What does Alexandra Grace work for?‎ A. New Zealand Embassy in Beijing. 　　　　　　B. QS World University Ranking System. ‎ C. The Multicultural Environment Organization. ‎ ‎(　　)18. What stops some students choosing New Zealand for study?‎ A. Its environment. B. Its size. C. Its population. ‎ ‎(　　)19. What's the total yearly cost for a Chinese student to study in a New Zealand university?‎ A. 20，000 dollars. B. 25，000 dollars. C. 45，000 dollars. ‎ ‎(　　)20. What message about New Zealand does the speaker mainly convey?‎ A. Its multicultural environment is good for tourists. ‎ B. Its higher education is suitable for Chinese students. ‎ C. Its breathtaking scenery is absolutely worth seeing. ‎ 第二部分　英语知识运用(共两节，满分35分)‎ 第一节　单项填空(共15小题；每小题1分，满分15分)‎ 请认真阅读下面各题，从题中所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中，选出最佳选项。‎ ‎(　　)21. While walking along the icy river banks, we could see cracks in the ice ________ in all directions. ‎ A. radiating　　 　　　B. dividing　　 　　　C. splitting　　　 　　D. tearing ‎(　　)22. For the advertised position, the company offers a(n) ________ salary and benefits package. ‎ A. generous B. plentiful C. abundant D. sufficient ‎(　　)23. While ________ the National Congress of Communist Party, President Xi instructed the party never to forget ________ we started and then we can accomplish our mission. ‎ A. addressing; where B. sponsoring; when C. delivering; when D. dismissing; where ‎(　　)24. If your families each want to see a different movie, suggest a compromise ________ they pick a movie everyone can agree on. ‎ A. where B. that C. which D. what ‎(　　)25. When traveling, you are advised to take traveler's checks, which provide a secure ________ to carrying your money in cash.‎ A. substitute B. replacement C. preference D. alternative ‎(　　)26. My grandma said, not even ________ her iphone, she ________ what life would be like to today. ‎ A. looking down upon; would never imagined B. looking down upon; would never have imagined C. looking up from; would never imagine D. looking up from; would never have imagined ‎(　　)27. In that country, guests tend to feel they are not highly ________ if the invitation to a dinner party is extended only three or four days before the party date. ‎ A. admired B. regarded C. expected D. worshiped ‎(　　)28. He asked his sister to look after his children ________ his death. ‎ A. in the event of B. in view of C. on account of D. on the edge of ‎(　　)29. The 19th congress of the Communist Party, ________ at a time when the world is facing growing uncertainties, is widely expected to bring positive energy to global wellbeing. ‎ A. held B. being held C. to be held D. having been held ‎(　　)30. The old lady died, leaving her son an orphan. But the money she left ________ for life. ‎ A. put him up B. put him away C. set him up D. set him aside ‎(　　)31. Our TV sets sell well, but ten years ago no one could have imagined such a big share in the market that they ________. ‎ A. were to have B. had had C. were having D. had ‎(　　)32. I have reached where I am today, thanks to my friends' consistent support, ________ nothing would have been possible. ‎ A. without which B. without whom C. by which D. by whom ‎(　　)33. it is not ________ much the language as the background that makes the book difficult to understand. ‎ A. so B. as C. that D. very ‎(　　)34. Those ________ the original plan were requested to ________ better ones. ‎ A. opposed to; put forward B. objected to; put forward C. opposing to; come up D. objecting to; come up ‎(　　)35. —Don't ________ like this. You know I can't give you confidential information. ‎ ‎—OK. That's a pity. ‎ A. go with the flow B. put me on the spot C. get the ball rolling D. be down in the dumps 第二节　完形填空(共20小题；每小题1分，满分20分)‎ 请认真阅读下面短文，从短文后各题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中，选出最佳选项。‎ The most significant truth about children is that they disappear. Slowly, gradually, but __36__. Children are like clocks, marking the passage of time with each new stage of growth. To see a child disappear—or __37__， to become aware of their disappearance—is to become aware of losing something you have loved more than anything you have loved in your life before, __38__ will again. ‎ As our children grow, we are also __39__ the passing of a role—of ourselves as protectors, indispensable, loved passionately with the need only children and lovers can __40__ us. Think of how these processes of mourning are recorded in songs, my favourite of which, by Nanci Griffith, __41__ me to tears. And yet I go back to it again and again. Why? What are the tears for?‎ They are tears, partly, for loss. __42__， they are simply sentimental—or at least, __43__. Because all life is connected with loss. __44__ is what makes life beautiful and worth living. All that comes and goes away is the heart of beauty. Children are simply the most vivid examples of such cases. ‎ So, there are many kinds of tears. We weep at a sad song about children growing up partly because the process __45__ us as tragic. But they may also be tears of the recognition of __46__， because this profound changing brings us closely into touch with the heart of life itself. ‎ The idea that we are losing love as our children grow is not true. The love I feel for my two eldest daughters, in their 20s now, has never __47__ with the passing of time. They are independent now. Yet when I look at them sometimes, I feel exactly the same emotion I felt when ‎ they were __48__ walking. ‎ We do not lose our children—not __49__ we are very unlucky, or very bad parents. If our desires to __50__ our children really took root, and were acted out, it would be a disaster. Overparented children could not __51__ leave home, ever. ‎ We must learn to let go. And __52__ they, too, must let go, as their parents __53__ out of this life, at first gradually then entirely. I have already “lost” my children many times—as babies, as toddlers, as infants. Each time, they are made anew—and yet are always, __54__， the same. Parallel changes are happening to me, too, if I am doing it right. __55__， I am always losing my children only in the sense that I am always losing myself. ‎ ‎(　　)36. A. permanently B. eventually C. absolutely D. occasionally ‎(　　)37. A. instead B. otherwise C. rather D. else ‎(　　)38. A. but B. so C. while D. or ‎(　　)39. A. mourning B. celebrating C. stressing D. worshipping ‎(　　)40. A. deliver B. pay C. offer D. show ‎(　　)41. A. inspires B. thrills C. burdens D. reduces ‎(　　)42. A. As usual B. As such C. As expected D. As follows ‎(　　)43. A. unnecessary B. fundamental C. unconditional D. artificial ‎(　　)44. A. Ambiguity B. Gravity C. Frequency D. Inconsistency ‎(　　)45. A. challenges B. regards C. strikes D. describes ‎(　　)46. A. dilemma B. beauty C. ambition D. virtue ‎(　　)47. A. separated B. substituted C. wrestled D. compromised ‎(　　)48. A. barely B. merely C. simply D. thoroughly ‎(　　)49. A. if B. unless C. although D. until ‎(　　)50. A. get through to B. catch up on C. hold on to D. date back to ‎(　　)51. A. apparently B. intentionally C. emotionally D. randomly ‎(　　)52. A. on and on B. time from time C. one by one D. by and by ‎(　　)53. A. pass B. wander C. migrate D. run ‎(　　)54. A. in that case B. at some level C. at no time D. by all means ‎(　　)55. A. On top of that B. No wonder C. On the other hand D. In other words 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。‎ A Public speaking fills most people with dread. Humiliation is the greatest fear; selfexposure and failing to appeal to the audience come a close second. Women hate it most, since girls are pressurized from an early age to be concerned with appearances of all kinds. ‎ Most people have plenty of insecurities, and this seems like a situation that will bring them out. If you were under pressure to be perfect, you are terrified of failing in the most public of ways. ‎ While extroverts will feel less fear before the ordeal, it does not mean they will necessarily do it better. Some very shy people manage to shine. When I met the British comedian Julian Clary, he was shy and cautious, yet his TV performances are perfect. ‎ In fact, personality is not the best predictor of who does it well. Regardless of what you are like in real life, the key seems to be to act yourself. ‎ Actual acting, as in performing the scripted lines of a character other than yourself, does not do the job. While politicians may limit damage by having carefully rehearsed, written scripts to speak from, there is always a hidden awareness among the audience that the words might not be true. ‎ Likewise, the incredibly perfect speeches of many American academics are far from natural. You may end up buying their book on the way out, but soon afterwards, it is much like fast food, and you get a nameless sense that you've been cheated. ‎ Although, as Earl Spencer proved at his sister Princess Diana's funeral, it is possible both to prepare every word and to act naturally. A script rarely works and it is used to help most speakers. ‎ But, being yourself doesn't work either. If you spoke as if you were in your kitchen, it would be too authentic, too unaware of the need to communicate with an audience. ‎ I remember going to see British psychiatrist R．D. Laing speak in public. He behaved like a seriously odd person, talking off the top of his head. Although he was talking about madness and he wrote on mental illness, he seemed to be exhibiting rather than explaining it. ‎ The best psychological place from which to speak is an unselfconscious selfconsciousness, providing the illusion of being natural. Studies suggest that this state of “flow”， as psychologists call it, is very satisfying. ‎ ‎(　　)56. “This” in paragraph two refers to ________. ‎ A. insecurity. B. sense of failure. C. public speaking. D. pressure. ‎ ‎(　　)57. What is the author's view on personality?‎ A. Personality is the key to success in public speaking. ‎ B. Outgoing persons are better public speakers. ‎ C. Shy persons have to learn harder to be good speakers. ‎ D. Factors other than personality ensure better performance. ‎ ‎(　　)58. In the last paragraph the author recommends that ________. ‎ A. you forget about your nervousness B. you feel natural and speak naturally ‎ C. you may feel nervous, but appear naturally D. you may pretend yourself to be natural ‎ B One of the few successes of truth against propaganda(宣传，鼓吹) in recent years has been the rebranding of the “sharing economy” as the “gig economy”. ‎ Marketing geniuses from Silicon Valley want us to believe the adhoc sale of labour is a form of utopian paradise, where capitalistic relations are replaced by egalitarianism(平等主义) and “sharing”. The phrase “gig economy” has rightly refocused the debate onto the implications for jobs and labour rights. ‎ But the victory has only been halfwon. Too many people still talk about the casualisation(雇佣临时工制) of work as an innovation, as an impersonal, technological and irresistible force to which we must adapt if humanity is to continue its march into the future. Instead of moving back to more exploitative form of labour relations, driven by the wealthy people who own and operate companies, we are told the “gig economy” is merely the inevitable outcome of inventions like the smartphone. ‎ The two main flagbearers for the “gig economy” in the UK are Uber, a taxi company, and Deliveroo, a food delivery startup. Both use mobile technology to control their workers and careful legal arrangements to avoid giving them the fights and protections due to employees. ‎ Uber is older. It was founded in 2009 and launched in the UK in 2012. Deliveroo, a British business, has only been around for four years. Both were born after the financial crisis and economic decline, which put millions of people out of work and depressed real wages for more than a decade. ‎ These services rely on a number of things: the existence of smartphones that enable the requests to be made and responded to; digital mapping technology so people know where to go; algorithims(算法) that make the most efficient matching and routing choices; and buckets of cash to grease the wheels until there is sufficient selfsustaining supply and demand. Most importantly, Uber, Deliveroo, and other ondemand service providers rely on an ample supply of drivers/couriers to respond to requests quickly. ‎ The key question for any discussion about the gig economy, therefore, is whether the scarcity of wellpaid, stable jobs is a bigger factor in its rise than the emergence of mobile phones with precision mapping technology. ‎ If we are to have a conversation about how society must adapt to the unavoidable “rise of the gig economy”， we will also have to ask what exactly has been invented and what is simply a conscious choice by investors and entrepreneurs to escape laws that exist to protect workers. ‎ We also have to question whether something fundamental about the nature of life has changed in the 21st century. Set wages and hours, along with sick pay and holiday, have a simple purpose: They provide people with the predictability and stability they need to live and plan their lives. Workers with “flexible” pay are just as exposed to the inflexible costs of food and rent as they were before the “gig economy” was dreamt up. ‎ It may be that this new form of work is superior, and that the old world of regular pay cheques is a cruel restraint on human ingenuity and creativity. But until that can be shown, we shouldn't have a conversation about how we can adjust to this change in our economy. We should have a conversation about whether we want the change in the first place. ‎ ‎(　　)59. What is the author's attitude towards the development of “gig economy”？‎ A. Supportive. B. Doubtful. C. Critical. D. Uncertain.‎ ‎(　　)60. Which factor doesn't contribute to the foundation of these services?‎ A. Existence of smartphones. B. Advanced technology. ‎ C. Efficient matching and choosing. D. Legal regulations. ‎ ‎(　　)61. Which does the author value most when considering nature of life?‎ A. Fixed wages and perfect system. B. Quick responses to requests. ‎ C. Equality in labor relations. D. Sense of predictability. ‎ ‎(　　)62. Which statement is incorrect according to the passage?‎ A. “Gig economy” may be welcomed by certain entrepreneurs. ‎ B. “Gig economy” does good to casualisation in terms of labour fights. ‎ C. It's wrong to advocate “gig economy” in our society. ‎ D. There are a number of risks relating to employment law in “gig economy”. ‎ C Can electricity cause cancer? In a society that literally runs on electric power, the very idea seems absurd. But for more than a decade, a growing group of scientists and journalists has pointed to studies that seem to link exposure to electromagnetic(电磁的) fields with increased risk of leukemia and other malignancies. The implications are unsettling, to say the least, since everyone comes into contact with such fields, which are generated by everything electrical. ‎ Because evidence on the subject is inconclusive and often contradictory, it has been hard to decide whether concern about the health effects of electricity is reasonable. ‎ Now the alarmists have gained some qualified support from the U．S. Environmental Protection Agency. In the summary of a new scientific review, released last week, the EPA has raised what amounts to the most serious government warning to date. The agency tentatively concludes that scientific evidence “suggests a casual link” between extremely lowfrequency electromagnetic fields—those having very longwavelengths—and leukemia, lymphoma and brain cancer, while the report falls short of classifying ELF fields as probable carcinogens(致癌物), it does identify the common 60hertz magnetic field as “a possible, but not proven, cause of cancer in humans.” ‎ The report is no reason to panic—or even to lost sleep. If there is a cancer risk, it is a small one. The evidence is still so controversial that the draft caused a great deal of debate within the Bush Administration, and the EPA released it over strong objections from the Pentagon and the White House. But now no one can deny that the issue must be taken seriously and that much more research is needed. ‎ At the heart of the debate is a simple and wellunderstood physical phenomenon: When an electric current passes through a wire, it generates an electromagnetic field that has forces on surrounding objects. For many years, scientists dismissed any suggestion that such forces might be harmful, primarily because they are so extraordinarily weak. The ELF magnetic field generated by a video terminal measures only a few milligauss, or about onehundredth the strength of the earth's own magnetic field. The electric fields surrounding a power line can be as high as 10 kilovolts per meter, but the corresponding field induced in human cells will be only about I millivolt per meter. This is far less than the electric fields that the cells themselves generate. ‎ How could such insignificant forces pose a health danger? The consensus used to be that they could not, and for decades scientists concentrated on more powerful kinds of radiation, like Xrays, that pack sufficient force to knock electrons out of the molecules that make up the human body. Such “ionizing” radiations have been clearly linked to increased cancer risks and there are regulations to control emissions. ‎ But epidemiological studies, which find statistical associations between sets of data, do not prove cause and effect. Though there is a body of laboratory work showing that exposure to ELF fields can have biological effects on animal tissues, a mechanism by which those effects could lead to cancerous growths has never been found. ‎ The Pentagon is for from persuaded. In a 33page critique of the EPA report, Air Force scientists charge its authors with having “biased the entire document” toward proving a link. “Our reviewers are convinced that there is no suggestion that(electromagnetic fields) present in the environment induce or promote cancer，” the Air Force concludes. “It is astonishing that the EPA would lend its approval on this report.” Then Pentagon's concern is understandable. There is hardly a unit of the modern military that does not depend on the heavy use of some kind of electronic equipment, from huge groundbased radar towers to the defense systems built into every warship and plane. ‎ ‎(　　)63. The main idea of this passage is ________. ‎ A. studies on the cause of cancer B. controversial viewpoints in the cause of cancer C. the relationship between electricity and cancer D. different ideas about the effect of electricity on cancer ‎ ‎(　　)64. The viewpoint of the EPA is that ________. ‎ A. there is casual link between electricity and cancer B. electricity really affects cancer ‎ C. low frequency electromagnetism is just one of the causes of cancer D. low frequency electromagnetic field is a possible cause of cancer ‎(　　)65. Why did the Pentagon and White House object to the release of the report? Because ________．‎ A. it may cause a great deal of debate among the Bush Administration B. every unit of the modem military has depended on the heavy use of some kind of electronic equipment ‎ C. the Pentagon's concern was understandable D. they had different arguments ‎ ‎(　　)66. It can be inferred from physical phenomenon that ________. ‎ A. the force of the electromagnetic field is too weak to be harmful B. the force of the electromagnetic field is weaker than the electric field that the cells generate C. electromagnetic field may affect health D. only more powerful radiation can knock electron out of human body D Every street had a story, every building a memory. Those blessed with wonderful childhoods can drive the streets of their hometowns and happily roll back the years. The rest are pulled home by duty and leave as soon as possible. After Ray Atlee had been in Clanton (his hometown) for fifteen minutes he was anxious to get out. ‎ The town had changed, but then it hadn't. On the highways leading in, the cheap metal buildings and mobile homes were gathering as tightly as possible next to the roads for maximum visibility. This town had no zoning whatsoever. A landowner could build anything with no permit, no inspection, no notice to nearby landowners, nothing. Only hog farms and nuclear reactors required approvals and paperwork. The result was a slashandbuild clutter that got uglier by the year. ‎ But in the older sections, nearer the square, the town had not changed at all. The long shaded streets were as clean and neat as when Ray wandered them on his bike. Most of the houses were still owned by people he knew, or if those folks had passed on, the new owners kept the lawns clipped and the shutters painted. Only a few were being neglected. A handful had been abandoned. ‎ This deep in Bible country, it was still an unwritten rule in the town that little was done on Sundays except go to church, sit on porches, visit neighbours, rest and relax the way God intended. ‎ It was cloudy, quite cool for May, and as he toured his old turf, killing time until the appointed hour for the family meeting, he tried to dwell on the good memories from Clanton. There was Dizzy Dean Park where he had played little League for the Pirates, and here was the public pool he'd swum in every summer except 1969 when the city closed it rather than admit black children. There were the churches—Baptist, Methodist, and Presbyterian—facing each other at the intersection of Second and Elm like wary sentries, their steeples competing for height. They were empty now, but in an hour or so the more faithful would gather for evening services. ‎ The square was as lifeless as the streets leading to it. With eight thousand people, Clanton was just large enough to have attracted the discount stores that had wiped out so many small towns. But here the people had been faithful to their downtown merchants, and there wasn't a single empty or boardedup(被木板封住的) building around the square—no small miracle. The retail shops were mixed in with the banks and law offices and cafes, all closed for the Sabbath. ‎ He inched through the cemetery and surveyed the Atlee section in the old part, where the tombstones were grander. Some of his ancestors had built monuments for their dead. Ray had always assumed that the family money he'd never seen must have been buried in those graves. He parked and walked to his mother's grave, something he hadn't done in years. She was buried among the Atlees, at the far edge of the family plot because she had barely belonged. ‎ Soon, in less than an hour, he would be sitting in his father's study, sipping bad instant tea and receiving instructions on exactly how his father would be laid to rest. Many orders were about to be given, many decrees and directions, because his father(who used to be a judge) was a great man and cared deeply about how he was to be remembered. ‎ Moving again, Ray passed the water tower he'd climbed twice, the second time with the police waiting below. He grimaced at his old high school, a place he'd never visited since he'd left it. Behind it was the football field where his brother Forrest had romped over opponents and almost became famous before getting bounced off the team. ‎ It was twenty minutes before five, Sunday, May 7. Time for the family meeting. ‎ ‎(　　)67. From the first paragraph, we get the impression that ________. ‎ A. Ray cherished his childhood memories B. Ray had something urgent to take care of ‎ C. Ray may not have a happy childhood D. Ray cannot remember his childhood days ‎(　　)68. Which of the following adjectives does NOT describe Ray's hometown?‎ A. Lifeless. B. Religious. C. Traditional. D. Quiet. ‎ ‎(　　)69. Form the passage we can infer that the relationship between Ray and his parents was ________. ‎ A. close B. remote C. tense D. impossible to tell ‎(　　)70. According to passage, which of the following statement is true?‎ A. Clanton witnessed the systematic development in urban construction. ‎ B. It was no miracle that retail business in Clanton survived and thrived. ‎ C. Ray's father was very considerate towards family members. ‎ D. Punctuality was valued in Ray's family. ‎ 第Ⅱ卷(两部分　共35分)‎ 第四部分　任务型阅读(共10小题；每小题1分，满分10分)‎ 请认真阅读下列短文，并根据所读内容在文章后表格中的空格里填入一个最恰当的单词。‎ 注意：每个空格只填1个单词。‎ Urbanization refers to the migration of the population from rural regions to towns and cities. Man has always moved to newer places in search of better opportunities and conveniences. Therefore, migration isn't a new phenomenon. And as the cities and towns harvest most of the benefits of innovations in the fields of science and technology, urbanization continues to take place. As a result, the cities and its suburbs spill over to the rural areas along their boundaries. This spread is termed as urban sprawl(扩展). ‎ Urban sprawl is linked to a number of factors. For instance, cheaper land and lower housing costs in the suburbs compared to urban centers have attracted many to settle in these areas. There ‎ has been an increase in public spending for the development of infrastructure like roads, water, and electricity in the suburbs, thus adding benefits to life in sprawl. The increase in family income of an average American has raised his standard of living. Owing a car and paying for gas to commute from the suburb to the city is affordable for many Americans. ‎ In addition, sprawl is characterized by low density populations and less traffic congestion. Therefore, even in the absence of any federal policies that would encourage the growth of sprawl, these centers have increased in number quickly due to the willingness of a growing number of people to live in sprawl, where they find life calmer and more peaceful than in the cities. ‎ Sprawl has been criticized for increasing public costs. Some view sprawl as a venue where public money is being spent on redundant infrastructure outside the urban areas at the cost of neglecting the infrastructure in the cities. People living in urban sprawl go to cities in their automobiles. This has resulted in heavier traffic on the roads, leading to traffic congestion, an increase in the levels of air pollution and automobilerelated accidents. Worse still, more and more sprawl residents tend to use their vehicles even for short distances. Such practices have, no doubt, led to an increase in overweight and high blood pressure in the population living in sprawl than those in the cities. ‎ Despite widespread antisprawl viewpoints, urban sprawl has its own benefits. With a considerable portion of the population preferring to live in sprawl, houses have become more affordable in cities. This is believed to have provided minorities and recent immigrants with better housing opportunities as well. ‎ Overall, urban sprawl is the latest stage of urbanization and is a phenomenon that can't be avoided. Just like every other process, urban sprawl has its own pros and cons. However, the negative effects of urban sprawl can be neutralized by monitoring their growth in a planned manner. ‎ Urban sprawl Concept Urban sprawl is the (71) ________ of a city or its suburbs to the rural areas. ‎ ‎(72) ________ ‎ Houses in sprawl are more (73) ________ to people. ‎ The development of the infrastructure in sprawl enables people to live more (74) ________. ‎ Sprawl is less (75) ________ and life is calmer and more peaceful. ‎ Disadvantages The sprawl population's (76) ________ on automobiles can result in security problems, (77) ________ issues and even health problems. ‎ Benefits With a large number of people moving to sprawl, the urban housing price is falling down, thus (78) ________ minorities and recent immigrants better housing opportunities. ‎ Conclusion Urban sprawl is a(n) (79) ________ phenomenon and it will develop (80) ________ if monitored in a planned way. ‎ 第二节　读写任务(共1小题；满分25分)‎ 阅读下面图文，并按要求写一篇150词左右的作文。‎ is spent in the US during December, much of it spurred by the holiday season shopping. ‎ Likely to cost about to solve the global water crisis—less than of what Americans spend in one holiday shopping period in December Ｋ for Christmas in 2017 ‎ ‎>　The average spending of Christmas shoppers in the US is pegged between ‎>　Apple will sell iPhones in the fourth calendar quarter of 2017Ｋ United States of America ‎ ‎40% think that Christmas is a good excuse to take time off and doesn't really have any meaning today but 34% do not agree with this. ‎ ‎83% agreed that Christmas is all about spending time with family and friends. ‎ ‎41% think that Christmas celebrates God's loves for humanity.‎ ‎24% disagreed with this thought. 　 United Kingdom ‎20% children between 5 and 7 years age think Christmas festivities celebrate Simon Cowell's birthday　‎ ‎36% don't know whose birthday is being celebrated ‎1. 用约30词概括图文主要内容；‎ ‎2. 用约120词写作下列内容：‎ ‎(1) 你认为圣诞节是否已经过分商业化并失去了其传统意义？‎ ‎(2) 结合实例，谈谈应如何传承传统节日文化。‎ ‎3. 文章中不得出现真实人名、学校名称；不得直接引用材料原文或试卷中已有片段。‎