Uncertainty spreads through our lives so thoroughly that it dominates our language. Our everyday speech is made up in large part of words like probably, many, soon, great, little. What do these words mean?Such verbal expression is not necessarily to be criticized. Indeed, it has a value just because it allows us to express judgments when a precise quantitative statement is out of the question.
We have been trying to pin down by experiments what people mean by these expressions in specific contexts, and how the meanings change with age. For instance, a subject is told “There are many trees in the park” and is asked to say what number the word many mean to him. Or a child is invited to take “some” sweets from a bowl and we then count how many he has taken. We compare the number he takes when he is alone with the number when one or more other children are present and are to take some sweets after him, or with the number he takes when told to give “some” sweets to another child.
First, we find that the number depends, of course, on the items involved. To most people some friends means about five, while some trees means about twenty. However, unrelated areas sometimes show parallel values. For instance, the language of probability seems to mean about the same thing in predictions about the weather and about politics: the expression “is certain to” (rain, or be elected) signifies to the average person about a 70 percent chance; “is likely to”, about a 60 percent chance; “probably will” about 55 percent.
Secondly, the size of the population of items influences the value assigned to an expression. Thus, if we tell a subject to take “a few” or “ a lot of” glass balls from a box, he will take more if the box contains a large number of glass balls than if it has a small number. But not proportionately more: if we increase the number of glass balls eight times, the subject takes only half as large a percentage of the total.
Thirdly, there is a marked change with age. Among children between six and fourteen years old, the older the child, the fewer glass balls he will take. But the difference between a lot and a few widens with age. This age effect is so consistent that it might be used as a test of intelligence.
小题1: What’s the right attitude towards the words like probably, many, soon?| A．They are inaccurate and we should avoid them. | | B．They are necessary since we cannot be always precise. | | C．They should be criticized because there are too many of them. | | D．Their value is not yet clear since we don’t know their meaning. |
小题2: Why do we do experiments with the words “many” and “some”?| A．To prove people are insensitive to these words. | | B．To prove the words dominate our everyday speech. | | C．To find out how the meanings vary with age and contexts. | | D．To find out whether the words can mean a precise quantity. |
小题3: Which of the expressions means a larger chance in weather broadcast?| A．Possible | B．Probable | C．Be likely to | D．Be certain to |
小题4: Which of the following will least definitely influence the number of items a kid takes out of a box when he is invited to take “some”?| A．Whether the quantity of items is large or small. | | B．Whether the items are candies or toys. | | C．Whether the kid is a toddler or a youngster. | | D．Whether the kid is alone or accompanied by other children. |
小题5: What will tell us about the intelligence of a child?| A．The consistency of picking up a certain glass ball. | | B．How many glass balls he will take when he’s asked to. | | C．The difference between a lot and a few when he takes glass balls. | | D．Whether there are marked changes in his first pick and second one. |
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小题1:B
小题2:C
小题3:D
小题4:D
小题5:C |
试题分析：
小题1:B 推断题。由第一段最后一句Indeed, it has a value just because it allows us to express judgments when a precise quantitative statement is out of the question.可知，这些单词在我们表达时候是必要的因为我们说话不可能总是准确的
小题2:C 推断题。根据第一段第一句Uncertainty spreads through our lives so thoroughly that it dominates our language.可知这些单词支配着我们的日常用语
小题3:D细节题。根据第三行倒数二，三行the expression “is certain to” (rain, or be elected) signifies to the average person about a 70 percent chance; “is likely to”, about a 60 percent chance; “probably will” about 55 percent.可知，is certain to 的可能性最大
小题4:D细节题。根据第三段第一句First, we find that the number depends, of course, on the items involved.
小题5:C推断题。根据文章最后一段：But the difference between a lot and a few widens with age. This age effect is so consistent that it might be used as a test of intelligence.可知C选项符合题意
点评：文章主要讲述了一些英语常用单词和我们日常生活中语言表达之间的联系。文章集中考察了细节题和推断题，考生在作答时，一定要注意文章中的细节，同时注意提高阅读速度。 |
核心考点
试题【 Uncertainty spreads through our lives so thoroughly that it dominates our langu】；主要考察你对
题材分类等知识点的理解。
[详细]举一反三
This little story I’m about to tell you happened when I was 11 years old, and I’ll never forget it.
It was at my friend Jenny’s house after 36 one day, and we were doing our homework. While I was there, a friend of Jenny’s mom came over to 37. I didn’t know her name or 38 what her face looked like. I just 39 her hands, her voice and the lesson I 40 from her.
I can’t forget that she 41 her hands to introduce herself. It was so 42, I thought, rich fine skin; then I heard her saying, “Oh no, that is not 43 you shake hands. Let me teach you.” She didn’t do that at all in a condescending (屈尊的) manner. 44 that, I just remember her voice explaining the 45 of a good handshake of conveying (传达) a 46 sense of self-belief, of looking the other person in the eyes, and of making a warm 47. Hearing her friendly words, I first understand what being 48 meant.
I admired her for 49 time to teach me about one of the important things in life. I was grateful for her not talking down to me 50 I was 11 and didn’t know much. I also felt somewhat admired by the way she 51 me. It felt good to be talked to as a(n) 52, rather than as an 11-year-old child. I also 53 her telling me that if someone isn’t aware of something you should show him or her the right direction; don’t be afraid to 54 your knowledge.
I think of her every time I meet someone 55, and I’m so thankful for her little lesson.
| 小题1: | | A．breakfast | B．work | C．sleep | D．school |
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| 小题2: | | A．read | B．check | C．visit | D．live |
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| 小题3: | | A．even | B．certainly | C．ever | D．simply |
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| 小题4: | | A．watch | B．remember | C．hold | D．seize |
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| 小题5: | | A．learned | B．selected | C．wanted | D．discovered |
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| 小题6: | | A．raised up | B．hung up | C．reached out | D．put out |
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| 小题7: | | A．pale | B．beautiful | C．rough | D．small |
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小题8:A whom B .why C .when D. how
| 小题9: | | A．After | B．Before | C．During | D．Through |
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| 小题10: | | A．necessity | B．style | C．importance | D．rule |
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| 小题11: | | A．weak | B．positive | C．different | D．special |
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| 小题12: | | A．friend | B．voice | C．heart | D．atmosphere |
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| 小题13: | | A．respected | B．noticed | C．served | D．praised |
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| 小题14: | | A．having | B．taking | C．arranging | D．keeping |
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| 小题16: | | A．treated | B．protected | C．encouraged | D．required |
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| 小题17: | | A．boy | B．student | C．teacher | D．adult |
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| 小题18: | | A．hated | B．minded | C．appreciated | D．understood |
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| 小题19: | | A．test | B．share | C．increase | D．control |
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| 小题20: | | A．healthy | B．smart | C．familiar | D．new |
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Apollo 11, carrying Neil Armstrong, Edwin Aldrin and Michael Collins, was launched on 16 July, 1969. Five days later they stepped down onto the moon.
Neil Armstrong
On the way there: Of all the wonderful views we had, the most impressive to me was on the way to the Moon when we flew through its shadow. We were still thousands of miles away, but close enough so that the Moon almost filled our window. The moon appeared blue-grey. It seemed almost as if it were showing us its roundness, its similarity in shape to our Earth, in a sort of welcome. I was sure it would be a hospitable（好客的） host. It had been waiting for its first visitors for a long time.
After touch down: The sky is black, you know. It’s a very dark sky, but it still seemed more like daylight than darkness as we looked out the window. It’s a very strange thing but the surface looked very warm and inviting. It seemed to be tan(棕褐色). It’s hard to explain that, because later when I held the material in my hand, it wasn’t tan at all. It was black, grey and so on.
Edwin Aldrin
On the Moon: The blue color of my boots has completely disappeared now into this soil—still don’t know what color to describe this other than grayish(灰色的) cocoa.
Back on board: The moon was a very natural and pleasant environment in which to work. On the Moon, in one-sixth gravity, you have a strong feeling of being somewhere. As we did our experiments, some objects we threw away would go in a slow, lazy manner.
小题1:What impressed Neil Armstrong most?| A．The moon filling their window. | | B．Seeing the shape of the moon | | C．Flying through the shadow of the moon. | | D．The five—day flight to the moon. |
小题2:What did Armstrong find very strange on the moon?| A．The color of the sky. | B．The surface of the moon | | C．The gravity on the moon. | D．The daylight on the moon. |
小题3:Edward Aldrin described the soil as ________.| A．tan | B．gray | C．black | D．grayish cocoa. |
小题4:What can be said about Edward Aldrin? | A．He landed on the moon alone. | | B．He was sent to the moon by Apollo 11. | | C．He didn’t notice the gravity of the moon. | | D．He found it impossible to work on the moon. |
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Beginning college is exciting: new ideas to explore, new challenges to meet and many decisions to make．Your future begins here．
However, you will find college life is different from your previous school environment. Many of us can be easily overwhelmed（压垮）by the details of running a well-balanced life．While some of us may have the know-how, I guess there are more of us who can benefit from learning about the experiences of others who have walked the college halls before you．
The following you may find of use about life on campus．
* Plan well．There are so many new things to do at a new college or university．Give yourself time to make new friends and become familiar with the campus, but don’t forget why you are there．Give some time for social activities and manage your time wisely．
* If you don’t have a “system” for planning your time now（like a day timer, a computer data book）, get one．Most of all, don’t depend on your memory．
* Don’t miss the guidelines．The restrictions, rules and regulations of all kinds can usually be found in your student handbook．Consider them well-balanced food for thought．What dates are important? What pieces of paper need to be handed in? What can/ can’t you do in class? What can/ can’t you do in your student residence? Who has right for what? What do you need to complete to graduate?
* Write the word “STUDY” on the walls of our bedroom and bathroom, and maybe it will help to write it on a piece of paper and stick it on the telephone, TV and the kitchen table．Consider this—you are paying thousands of dollars for your courses. You pay every time you have to repeat or replace a course．
* Build your identity．This is the time for you to decide what to do and what not to do．Take as much time as you need to explore new ideas．Do not be afraid of the beyond．This is learning to make good choices．
小题1:What is the main purpose of the passage?| A．To describe the importance of college life． | | B．To explain why college life is exciting． | | C．To offer advice on college life． | | D．To persuade you to go to college． |
小题2:According to the passage, why is it exciting to begin college life?| A．Because you prepare for your future career and life there．． | | B．Because you will no longer be afraid of the beyond． | | C．Because you will have more freedom at college． | | D．Because professors there will provide you with many new ideas． |
小题3:The underlined word “know-how” refers to___________________________．| A．an understanding of how things are going at college | | B．college halls where rules and regulations are presented | | C．practical knowledge about how to behave and what to do at college | | D．an environment completely different from the one you’re used to |
小题4:According to the passage, college students ___________________________ ．| A．needn’t learn from those who went to college before them | | B．should know what they have fought for on campus | | C．spend as much time as possible on social activities | | D．are supposed to repeat or replace at least one course |
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However urban life strikes you, cities worldwide have been growing ever more rapidly. Some of this growth has occurred in the developed world, but the most dramatic increase has been in the Third World. Almost all the world’s population growth over the next 30 years will take place in the cities of developing countries
By the year 2030, for the first time in history, 60 percent of the world’s people will be living in cities.
This is actually good news in some ways. “Cities are the fundamental building blocks of prosperity,” says Marc Weiss, chairman of the Prague Institute for Global Urban Development, “ both for the nation and for families.” Industrial and commercial activities in urban areas account for between 50 and 80 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP) in most countries of the world“ there’s the crazy notion that the way to deal with a city’s problems is to keep people out of them,”Weiss continued. “But the problems of the rural life are even more serious than those of the city.” For better or worse, urban-watchers are clear on one point: The quality of life for most people in the future will be determined by the quality of cities. Those cities will be bigger than ever. And yet, population numbers by themselves don’t determine a city’s prospects; after all, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and Hamburg, Germany, have the same population. Nor is explosive growth necessarily the determining factor. “City problems,” one authority points out, “mostly have to do with weak, ineffective, and usually unrepresentative city governments.”
小题1:The passage mainly discusses ______________.| A．Big cities. | B．City life. | C．Population. | D．Gross Domestic Product. |
小题2:According to the passage, in the year of 2030 _______.| A．there will be 21 cities having a population of more than 10 million. | | B．rural area will be extinct. | | C．most people will live in cities. | | D．the third world will keep abreast with the developed world. |
小题3:In the author’s opinion, _________.| A．better city, better life | | B．both urban and rural areas have a larger population | | C．the larger population, the faster a city develops | | D．both urban and rural areas have larger gross domestic products |
小题4:Which statement is NOT true according to the passage?| A．The developing countries develop faster than the developed countries. | | B．Cities contribute more to the GDP than the villagers. | | C．Some problems are more easily solved in cities than in country. | | D．It’s impossible to solve urban problems by getting people out of cities. |
小题5:The last paragraph implies that ____________.| A．Public services are ineffective. | | B．Cities are increasing too fast. | | C．Population is not linked with development. | | D．Government should be responsible for the problems in the cities. |
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通读下面短文，掌握其大意，然后在各题所给的A，B，C，D四个选项中，选出一个最佳答案。
One Saturday afternoon, a six-year-old girl went for a walk. She crossed a large area of grassland into the woods __36__ she realized that she was lost.
Sitting on a rock and __37__ what to do, she began crying. After a while. she__38__ to walk along a wide path lined with tall trees and thick bushes. __39__ it was getting dark, she saw a small, dark wooden house. She opened the door and __40__ stepped in. Suddenly, she heard a strange noise, and she ran out the door and back to the __41__. Cold and tired, she fell asleep near a __42__.
The girl’s parents were out and her dog, Laddy, was at home. Laddy __43__ that his mistress was in danger. He jumped __44__ a window, breaking the glass. He looked in the fields. But he couldn’t find his mistress anywhere. However, from the ground came a __45__ scent (气味) as he lowered his head. He __46__ the scent and walked across the grassland. Barking __47__ into the air, the dog __48__ through the woods until he found the __49__ . But the girl was not there, so he headed back to the woods. Much to his __50__ , he saw his mistress’ blue shirt in the distance. He __51__ over some bushes and saw the little stream, where the girl was __52__.When she opened her eyes and 53 her dog standing beside her, the girl said, “you 54 me, Laddy,” and she kissed him several times. Seeing their daughter and dog coming back, the parents burst into tears of 55 . That night Laddy had a hero’s supper: a huge meal of steak
| 小题1: | | A．since | B． while | C．before | D．as |
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| 小题2: | | A．wondering | B．forgetting | C．remembering | D．regretting |
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| 小题3: | | A．preferred | B． expected | C．failed | D．decided |
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| 小题4: | | A．Because | B．When | C．If | D．Until |
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| 小题5: | | A．hopelessly | B．carelessly | C．cautiously | D．unwillingly |
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小题6:A. trees B. woods C grasses. D. bushes
| 小题7: | | A．stream | B．rock | C．tree | D．house |
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| 小题8: | | A．heard | B．found | C．sensed | D．smelt |
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| 小题10: | | A．familiar | B．strange | C．terrible | D．pleasant |
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| 小题11: | | A．missed | B．discovered | C．followed | D．ignored |
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| 小题12: | | A．calmly | B．merrily | C． gently | D．loudly |
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| 小题13: | | A．wandered | B．looked | C．searched | D．travelled |
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| 小题14: | | A．girl | B．house | C． window | D．hero |
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| 小题15: | | A．satisfaction | B．disappointment | C．embarrassment | D．delight |
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| 小题16: | | A．jumped | B．climbed | C．walked | D．flew |
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| 小题17: | | A．awake | B．asleep | C． abandoned | D．available |
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| 小题18: | | A．saw | B．spotted | C．observed | D．watched |
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| 小题19: | | A．disturbed | B．comforted | C．rescued | D．scared |
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| 小题20: | | A．pain | B．shock | C． sorrow | D．relief |
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