山东新高考高二英语时文阅读精练(含答案解析)

山东新高考高二英语时文阅读精练（含答案解析）AWhen Anna left her car outside Oxford on January 10th, she had little reason to think that criminals would take an interest in the 12-year-old car. Yet the next afternoon a group of thieves were spotted sawing off its catalytic converter(转换器). Such incidents have become more frequent across Britain as prices for palladium and rhodium(铑), metals contained in the devices, have rocketed. The price of rhodium has risen by 63% in the first three weeks of January alone, to $9,850 per ounce, around six times that of gold.Demand from carmakers is surging. More than four-fifths of global demand for rhodium comes from the automotive industry. The metal, together with platinum and palladium, helps turn toxic gases in a vehicle’s exhaust system into less harmful substances before they leave the tailpipe. Facing stricter emissions regulations around the world, carmakers are taking even more of a shine to these metals.Although the price of palladium has reached a record high, that of platinum has stayed relatively stable. The contrast reflects a shift in production towards petrol and hybrid cars, which tend to use greater quantities of palladium in their converters.Rhodium is used in both petrol and diesel cars. That is because it is especially good at cleaning up nitrogen oxides(氮氧化物), says Roger Breuer, an analyst at an investment firm. Another reason why its price is sky-high is the tightness of its supply. More than four out of every five ounces of rhodium are mined in South Africa. According to an analysis by Stantec, a consulting firm, a mine in the Waterberg region of South Africa due to begin development this year will produce 63% palladium, 29% platinum, 6.5% gold and just 1.5% rhodium.Rhodium is expected to remain in high demand this year. BASF, a German chemicals giant, reckons that Chinese carmakers’ demand for the metal will increase by 40% in 2020. But because electric vehicles do not use catalytic converters, demand in the longer term is far from assured. Rhodium could quickly lose its sheen.1. Why did the thief have an interest in Anna’s old car?A. Because her car looked good.B. Because her car was parked outside a college.C. Because the price of rhodium surged.D. Because the demand of converter increased.2. Why do carmakers need metals like rhodium, platinum and palladium?A. Because these metals make the car valuable.B. Because these metals are convenient to get.C. Because the price of these metals is relatively low.D. Because these metals help clean car emission.3. What can we learn from Paragraph 3?A. Neither petrol cars nor diesel cars need rhodium.B. The price of rhodium is believed to be low.C. Rhodium is mostly produced in South Africa.D. Sufficient supply leads to the high price of rhodium.4. According to the passage, what do you think of the future price of rhodium?A. The price of rhodium will continue rising.B. The price of rhodium may decline.C. The price of rhodium will not change.D. There isn’t a clear clue in the passage.BScientists Use Tiny Spring Magnets①to Harmlessly Dissolve MicroplasticsA University of Adelaide-led research team has developed a new approach to cleaning water sources of the microplastics that pollute them without harming nearby microorganisms. The researchers have developed a technique to break down the microplastics using tiny coil-shaped carbon-based magnets.Although often invisible to the naked eye, microplastics are very common pollutants. Microplastics adsorb organic and metal contaminants②as they travel through water and release these hazardous substances into organisms living near water when eaten, causing them to accumulate all the way up the food chain.To separate the microplastics, the researchers had to generate short-lived chemicals called reactive③oxygen species, which trigger chain reactions that chop the various long molecules that make up microplastics into tiny and harmless parts that dissolve in water. However, reactive oxygen species are often produced using heavy metals such as iron, which are dangerous pollutants in their own right and thus unsuitable in an environmental context.To get around this challenge, the researchers found a greener solution in the form of carbon nanotubes④laced⑤with nitrogen（氮）to help boost generation of reactive oxygen species. Shapedlike springs, the carbon nanotube catalysts⑥removed a significant part of microplastics from water samples in their lab over the course of just eight hours.“It turns out that the degradation⑦products of microplastic are completely harmless, and they can also be used as a carbon source for algae growth,” says project co-leader Dr. Xiaoguang Duan. “The microplastics are completely transformed into carbon dioxide or other harmless substances, and they will not cause any unpleasant or poisonous effects to microorganisms or fish or other animals in water.”Furthermore, the springs were able to remain stable themselves in the harsh oxidative⑧conditions needed for microplastics breakdown because the loop shape increases stability and maximizes reactive surface area. As a bonus, the minute springs became magnetic after the team included a small amount of manganese（锰）buried far from the surface of the nanotubes to prevent it from leaching into water.As no two microplastics are chemically quite the same, the researchers’ next steps will center on ensuring that the nanosprings work on microplastics of different compositions, shapes and origins. They also intend to continue to absolutely confirm the non-poison of any chemical compounds occurring as in between or by-products during microplastics’ breaking down.“If plastic contaminants can be repurposed as food for algae growth, it will be a victory for using biotechnology to solve environmental problems in ways that are both green and cost-efficient.” Professor Wang says.CIf people are to travel extensively in space and set up bases on astronomical objects such as the Moon then they will need to make or find out there the things required to support life—including food, water and breathable air. Researchers are already working on ways to grow food in space, and icy deposits that could provide water are known to exist on some stars. Besides being available for drinking, such water could be split into its constituent elements of hydrogen and oxygen using electricity from solar panels. Such electrolysis(电解) is already the main way of making oxygen on the International Space Station. Now, though, a group of European researchers have discovered how to take water out of the loop. They have worked out how to generate oxygen by electrolysing regolith(风化层), the dusty material that covers the Moon’s surface.The European Space Agency announced on January 17th that a prototype oxygen-generatingplant using regolith has been set up at its research center in the Netherlands. Not only could such a machine use a readily available material to make breathable air for people living on the Moon, it could also be used to produce rocket fuel, says Beth Lomax, who is working on the project. Liquid oxygen is one of the main propellants employed in space rockets. A lunar refuelling station would be good for deep-space exploration because the Moon’s low gravity means less fuel is required for take-off.Oxygen, in the form of oxides, is the most abundant element in lunar regolith, accounting for 40-45% of its mass. That the element can be extracted(提取) from regolith was demonstrated successfully last year by Dr. Lomax and a group of colleagues working with Metalysis, a British company. Metalysis has developed a form of electrolysis that can extract high-value metals such as tantalum from powdered metal oxides mixed into a bath of molten salt. Although the process operates at around 900°C, it does not involve melting the materials, which would require much higher temperatures.1. How is oxygen mainly made in space?A. By boiling water.B. By electrolysing water.C. By heating regolith.D. By electrolysing regolith.2. Which of the following is NOT True about oxygen-generating plant in paragraph 2?A. This machine can produce air with regolith.B. This machine can produce rocket fuel.C. A prototype of this machine has been set up in Holland.D. This machine has already been set up in the moon.3. Where is this article most likely from?A. A guide book.B. A novel.C. A diary.D. A science magazine.DLeaving a Pet in a Hot Car Maybe Means a Broken Window New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed into law a measure expanding the number of public officials who can break into a vehicle to rescue an endangered pet from an extremely hot or cold car.Until now, only the police could escape liability①for damaging a vehicle in order to rescue a pet. The new law says firefighters and emergency medical professionals will not be liable when they help a pet.The new law is intended to speed up the rescue of pets since potential rescuers such as firefighters and EMTs will not have to wait for the police to arrive.Animal advocates had supported the measure before it became law."No animal deserves to die an agonizing②and unnecessary death in extreme heat conditions and from being trapped in a hot car," said Kitty Block, president and CEO of the Humane Society of the United States, in a blog post earlier this month. "With greater awareness and greater latitude for Samaritan interventions, we can make this world a safer and better one for our animal companions."Michigan State University has this rundown of state laws on leaving animals in hot cars.ECoronavirus (冠状病毒）cases spiked in the UK today, as health authorities confirm a total of 87 infections among British citizens, igniting fears of transmission within smaller communities. Coronavirus fears have intensified this week, as cases start to skyrocket in the UK.As coronavirus has continued its tour through the UK, authorities have stepped up calls for increased personal hygiene vigilance（卫生保健）.Public Health England said people should ensure they are regularly and thoroughly washing their hands for at least 20 seconds at a time to prevent infection. PHE has also advised people to keep their distance from suspected sufferers, as the main way it spreads is via droplets of bodily fluids. People release droplets into the air when they sneeze or cough, and they remain suspended until someone else breathes them in. Although the aerosol method is a virus’ core transmission mechanism, it can also spread through physical contact.One risk is that the virus enters the body after people get it on their hands, as it sticks to a range of surfaces. Authorities are currently unclear as to how long coronavirus can survive on different surfaces, but they have identified where people could contract COVID-19.The virus is surprisingly versatile, but the amount of it which survives often varies depending on the item.Ultimately this means the virus can spread via banknotes, although according to experts, thechances of contracting it from currency are low. Dr. Christine Tait-Burkard, a research fellow and expert in infection at the University of Edinburgh’s Roslin Institute said that people would not contract COVID-19 from a note unless “someone is using a banknote to sneeze in”. She said: “Coins are actually very bad environments for viruses to survive.” She also confirmed the chances of contracting the virus from an inanimate object are low, due to reduced concentrations. A press release from the bank said all banks would now disinfect cash under ultraviolet light and store it for 14 days before releasing it to customers. Authorities also took to cleaning other commonly touched surfaces, including elevator buttons and door handles.1.What does the underlined word“intensified”mean?A. Enhance.B. Weaken.C. Disappear.D. Emerge.2.Which of the following is the advice of PHE?A.No sneeze or cough in public.B.No physical contact with family.C.No contact with suspected patients.D.No concern for the personal hygiene.3.What can we learn from the passage?A.The survival time of coronavirus is not clear.B.Banknote has a great probability of transmission.C.Experts don't know where to contract coronavirus.D.Sneezing or coughing does not infect coronavirus.4.What is the author's purpose of writing this article?A.To advise the public not to panic.B.To tell a story about coronavirus.C.To help patients with coronavirus.D.To caution citizens against viruses.A【答案】1～4 CDCB【解析】本文是一篇说明文，说明金属铑价格上涨的现象及原因。