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选择性必修第四册 Unit 4 Never too old to learn
Ⅰ.阅读理解
A
The first essay I wrote for my history of English class was perfect ，at least from my
perspective.I had worked on it constantly and couldn’t wait to get my grade back.I handed it in
with pride.
Two weeks later，I received my grade：a D．The pages were covered in red writing，
pointing out errors.There must have been a mistake.
University started later for me than most.The opportunity wasn’t available when I was
younger—too many kids in our family and too little money.But I never stopped wondering what
university would have been like.I was in my 40s when I sent in my application and as a part-time
student，I will be in my 60s before I’m finished.That’s my goal.
What’s it like to be the old guy in a class full of 20-year-olds? It’s strange.They pretty
much ignored me，and I ignored them.They also ignored each other.However，after we had more
group work together，people started to communicate.Although I was an English major，some of
my favorite classes were unrelated electives.Courses in art history and Greek and Roman history
were fascinating.I was eager to do well.
I arranged a meeting to discuss my essay grade and arrived 10 minutes early to meet the
teacher’s assistant.I was ready to argue for the brilliance of my paper.However，she quickly
explained to me that the paper failed to make a strong argument.The mark remained.
While I kept studying and kept learning，I learned to love two dozen writers I had never
heard of before and explored types of literature I had never examined.Eventually，I learned how to
write an essay in proper academic prose.
University is different when you are a senior，part-time student.If you are there to establish a
career or because your parents force you to go，there are other pressures.For me，it’s just
learning.Whether I’m learning remotely or in person，it makes the world a bigger，richer place.
1．How did the writer feel after receiving the grade of his first essay?
A．Hopeless. B．Pleased. C．Excited. D．Surprised.
2．Why did the writer start university later than others?
A．His application was refused.
B．His teacher disliked his essay.
C．His health did not meet the standard.
D．His family was not rich enough.
3．What helped the writer in writing a proper academic essay?A．Strong curiosity. B．Constant efforts.
C．Great pressure. D．Remarkable creativity.
4．Which would be the best title for the passage?
A．Practice Makes Perfect
B．Not All That Shines Is Gold
C．Where There Is a Will，There Is a Way
D．Action Speaks Louder Than Words
B
Science fiction has always been the source of all sorts of wonderful ideas about what life
might be like in years to come.Writers，film-makers and video game designers have all turned
their imaginations to the effects technology might have on our future.Now it seems like we’re
finally catching up with some of these futuristic ideas thanks to nanotechnology.
Nanoscience focuses on the study of tiny molecules—only one billionth of a meter in size.For
years，nanoscience has explored ways of applying this research to different types of technology，
and recently it has begun to engender more and more diverse and fascinating developments.
Imagine a substance with the ability to heal any wound almost immediately.This is a common
feature in video games：when characters suffer injuries，a gel(凝胶) is applied which heals them
and prolongs(延长) their lives.Not long ago，it seemed impossible to recreate this in real life.But
now，by extracting polysaccharide polymers(多糖聚合物) from the cell walls of plants，scientists
have created a gel which will hold a wound together and rapidly stop any bleeding without the need
for pressure to be applied.Although not yet available in hospitals，this gel is likely to help medical
professionals treat patients with serious injuries more effectively.
While some advances in nanotechnology might improve our health and safety，others could
have the opposite effect.In the food industry，nanoparticles(纳米粒子) are already in use to
improve the appearance of products.The problem is，nanoparticles are more reactive in the body，
and no tests have been done to check their safety.In effect ，we are all part of a real-life
experiment.Will they help or hurt? Nobody knows.
What is clear is that nanotechnology has huge potential for shaping our lives in the coming
decades.Even if we can’t see it with our eyes ， we will surely see the impact on our
surroundings，and perhaps our bodies.In the future，the lines between reality and science fiction
are likely to become even more blurred.
5．What does the underlined word “engender” in paragraph 2 mean?
A．Focus on. B．Bring about. C．Slow down. D．Deal with.
6．What do we know about the gel mentioned in paragraph 3?
A．It can make people live longer.
B．It can replace the need for surgery.
C．It is designed for high-pressure situations.D．It is expected to be used in emergency treatment.
7．What does the author think about the effects of nanotechnology on food?
A．They are long-lasting. B．They are overestimated.
C．They are currently unclear. D．They are surprisingly beneficial.
8．What is the author’s attitude to nanotechnology?
A．Objective. B．Indifferent. C．Conservative. D．Disapproving.
Ⅱ.七选五
A future where insects make up a large part of the world’s diet is on the horizon.Despite the
unpleasant nature of such cuisine，insects have been considered a delicacy in some parts of world
for centuries.Their being low-fat and high-protein makes them a perfect choice for reducing hunger.
1
Animal protein from livestock(家畜)，such as cows，chicken and pigs，takes up 80 percent
of the entire world’s farmland，despite only making up less than one-fifth of calories consumed
globally. 2 Thus it would support a variety of biodiversity as nature intended.
Insects such as grasshoppers，meal worms and crickets are packed full of protein with much
higher vitamin levels than pork or beef. 3 Greenhouse gas emissions through this process are
also very little，with insect waste making excellent fertilizer(肥料) for agricultural soil.
It seems that insects are an ideal solution for many issues the world today is faced with. 4
Urban areas of Asia，Europe and North America are most likely to associate insects with dirt
instead of as a tasty meal.
Times are changing.The European Union last year declared that meal worms were safe for
human consumption.Cricket protein powder is also increasing greatly in popularity，with Canada
rapidly becoming the largest market for the product.
5 As we explore our solar system，efficient means of producing animal-based proteins
will become vital.None are more efficient space-wise than insects.And the colonies of the future
could well find themselves enjoying fried crickets with a pint of beer while watching the Martian
sunset.
A．They also have a host of environmental benefits.
B．Insects reproduce quickly and have high growth rates.
C．Unlike agriculture，insects produce far fewer greenhouse gases.
D．They require little space，water and technology to raise compared to livestock.
E．However，making them a delicious cuisine can be a challenge in several cultures.
F．By freeing up livestock space，huge expanses of land could be returned to nature.
G．A future where insects will become invaluable to space exploration is also upcoming.
Ⅲ.完形填空
(2024·湖南郴州模拟)
Most of us associate learning with younger people—kids in school and college or recentgraduates early in their careers.But at Udemy，an open university offering online courses，Artist
Anneke Camstra is 1 in the pursuit of lifelong learning and shows her potential for
teaching.She loves the 2 of gaining new knowledge and also loves 3 it with others.
She reaches countless people with her online courses and exposes them to what they can 4
on their own using animation software，such as GoAnimate and PowToon.Her 5 for teaching
on Udemy is “to get the tools to the people”．She hopes people can go such a long way to make
things that look 6 but still have their own voice.
Most of Anneke’s students start out thinking they’re not creative and can’t 7
.Anneke understands how 8 can get in the way of so many things people dream of doing.With
her five-day challenge courses，she helps them 9 the fear.Anneke loves the effect she has on
her 10 .What makes her more 11 of them is that they have gone from their first animation
to 12 their own works.
She encourages people of all ages， 13 older people，to develop their 14 for
life.Grandparents，for example，can learn to use GoAnimate and make animations together with
their grandkids.
As an older woman，teaching and having fun learning again，Anneke wants others later in
their 15 to catch up with her on this journey.
1．A.lacking B．disappointed C．engaged D．trapped
2．A.condition B．purpose C．method D．experience
3．A.combining B．mixing C．sharing D．connecting
4．A.accomplish B．observe C．send D．decorate
5．A.motivation B．influence C．effort D．request
6．A.effective B．obvious C．professional D．typical
7．A.imagine B．draw C．write D．play
8．A.concern B．anxiety C．desire D．fear
9．A.worry about B．get over C．focus on D．hold up
10．A.children B．colleagues C．students D．friends
11．A.proud B．careful C．ashamed D．afraid
12．A.examining B．describing C．buying D．creating
13．A.absolutely B．eventually C．fortunately D．especially
14．A.curiosity B．humor C．generosity D．responsibility
15．A.tasks B．lives C．dreams D．thanks
Ⅳ.语法填空
(2024·广东名校联盟大联考)
China’s Ministry of Education released a notice that it has decided to set up a national
university for the aged，with an 1. (intend) to handle the aging society and build a
lifelong learning society.The National University for the Aged will be merged(合并) with the Open University of
China，2. lifelong school for adult learners.The Open University of China is an
educational system 3. (cover) both urban and rural areas of the country and is
composed 4. one headquarters in Beijing,45 branches and 3,735 learning centers.
5． (base) on the Open University of China，the National University for the
Aged is a national education resource-sharing platform for senior citizens aged 60 or
above,6._____________ curriculum extensively ranges from foreign languages and computer skills
to photography，cooking and other skills.
Considering the better physical condition of senior citizens and 7. (they)
extended life expectancy，care for them should not 8. (limit) to material security and
medical insurance.Providing education for them can enrich their spiritual lives.
9． (current)，crimes including telecom fraud(电信诈骗) targeting the elderly
are increasing，making it necessary 10. (popularize) the knowledge in this field
among the elderly.
Ⅴ.读后续写微写作
“Go home and ask your mummy about your blind brother! I am surprised you didn’t know
that he is as blind as a bat！” Hearing Nathan’s words，I wanted to land a blow on him for
making fun of my two-year-old brother，David，but I was more desperate to find out the truth.
With a misty vision，I ran home as fast as I could.Still out of breath，I questioned，“Is
David blind？” Mother turned to me with tears in her eyes.“Yes，he’s born blind.” It was a
heartbreaking moment.I knew clearly the dream of showing David my cool soccer moves or
playing videogames with him ended cruelly.“Why did you keep the truth from me? I often
wondered why he didn’t look at me or why he was always tripping over things and I thought it
was because he was still too young...” Before I could continue any further，mother hugged me
and cried，“I’m sorry，Caleb.Dad and I just didn’t know how to tell you.”
Suddenly ， it struck me that David was blind but he could still hear the whole
conversation.Not wanting him to be affected by it，I stopped crying and went forward and
embraced him.“I love you so much，David.” Worry crept upon me: How hard life would be for
him!
Little did I know that David was to inspire me so greatly.
As David grew up，he was fairly strong-willed.Despite the challenges that he faced，he
continued to attend the school for visually impaired children.He insisted he would take the bus
home on his own.Often，he would walk through the main door looking sheepish and saying the
same phrase，“Sorry Mum，I am late.I boarded the wrong bus again.”
Tough as life was，there was always silver lining of misfortune.Despite not being able to
see，he could play a piece of music after listening to it being played once on the piano.He even
dreamed of playing solo(独奏) one day onstage.Luckily for him，the school had discoveredDavid’s extraordinary talent.
范文补全
One day ， David burst through the main door
excitedly.1.___________________________(不能隐藏他的高兴和兴奋)，he announced that the
school would like him to play solo at the school musical concert.The whole family was extremely
thrilled for him，for 2.__________________________________________(它是一个实现他的音
乐梦想的完美机会)．There was also a bit worry that he might suffer a blow in case of a failure，
which threw us into a hint of uneasiness.But we had faith in him.The following days witnessed him
repeatedly practicing the chosen music
skillfully.3.__________________________________________(然后到了他要上台的那个重要的
日子)．
Tapping the ground with his walking stick ， David entered the
stage.4._________________________________________________(脸上带着最灿烂的笑容)，
he walked towards the grand piano located in the middle of the stage.I sat up with anticipation，
heart filled with pride.His fingers flew on the keys as his music filled the air of the 500-seat concert
hall.After the last note was played,5. (整个大厅爆发出
了掌声)．David stood up and took a bow，smiling broadly as the spotlight shone brightly on
him.He would always be an inspiration to me.Through
him,6.__________________________________(我学到了不屈不挠的精神能克服挑战) and
David truly had that.
