027-2020高中英语复习之阅读理解科普说明文
科普说明文是高考阅读理解中的重点与难点,特点是科技词汇多，
句子长且结构复杂，理论性和逻辑性又都较强，话题陌生且枯燥，
表达方式专业化, 因此看这类文章觉得是雾里看花。
科普说明文
1.文章中词汇的意义比较单一、稳定、简明，不带感情色彩，
具有单一性和准确性的特点。综观整篇文章可以明显看出，它
没有文学英语中常采用的排比、比喻、夸张等修饰手段，一词
多义的现象也不多见。
2.句子结构较复杂，语法分析较困难。为了描述一个客观事物，
严密地表达自己的思想，作者经常会使用集多种语法现象与一
体的长句。
3.常使用被动语态，强调动作的承受者。
4. 常使用双重否定句
科普说明文主要特点
标题(Headlines):文章中心思想高度而又精辟的概括，高考
这类阅读理解材料一般也不给标题，而要同学们选择标题
导语(Introductions):一般位于整篇文章的首段
背景(Background):交待一个事实的起因
主体(Main body):对导语概括的事实进行详细叙述
结尾(Ends):往往也是中心思想的概括，并与导语相呼应，
命题者常在此要设计一道推理判断题。
结构:
要做好这类阅读理解题，先要掌握这类文章的特点和结构，
真正读懂并理解它。
其次，工夫在课外，平时一定要多读科技幻想类文章
比如：太空与海洋、创造与发明、计算机发展、人类未来、
动物世界等。特别是从网上搜寻一些取材原版、内容时新、
语言鲜活的科技幻想类材料阅读。这样长期坚持，既可以
增长知识、开阔视野，又可以扩充科技词汇，还能提高解
决这种的能力,何乐而不为？
备考提醒
看首段确定主题，解决文章大意以及写作目的类的题目。如果有
however, yet 之类的词，要关注转折词后的内容。
Before birth, babies can tell the difference between loud
sounds and voices. They can even distinguish their mother's
voice from that of a female stranger. But when it comes to
embryonic learning (胎教)，birds could rule the roost. As
recently reported in The Auk: Ornithological Advances, some
mother birds may teach their young to sing even before they
hatch(孵化). New-born chicks can then imitate their mom's
call within a few days of entering the world.
本文的主题句_____________________________________.
预测下文讲什么______________________________.
攻略一：看首段，明主题
Before birth, babies can tell the difference between loud
sounds and voices. They can even distinguish their mother's
voice from that of a female stranger. But when it comes to
embryonic learning (胎教)，birds could rule the roost. As
recently reported in The Auk: Ornithological Advances, some
mother birds may teach their young to sing even before they
hatch(孵化). New-born chicks can then imitate their mom's
call within a few days of entering the world.
本文的主题句: Babies can tell the difference between loud
sounds and voices.
预测下文讲什么: An example will be given to show a new-born
chick imitate his mom's call.
说明文一般说明以下内容： New findings, new
products , new problems, new phenomenon
说明文一般有固有的模式，了解固有模式有助于对文
章的整体把握。
攻略二: 理框架，抓整体
科普说明文，先要明白说明什么对于研究，要明白研究的目的，研究过
程以及研究得出的结论。划出研究得出的结论性的词，如：
suggest,show,find,turn out
1.提出观点（新发现） 2.解释观点(新发现) 3.实验（方法、结果、用途）
4.展望
典型外刊科技说明文结构
Before birth,babies can tell the difference between loud sounds and voices.They can even distinguish their mother's
voice from that of a female stranger.But when it comes to embryonic learning（胎教），birds could rule the roost. As
recently reported in The Auk:Ornithological Advances,some mother birds may teach their young to sing even before they
hatch(孵化). New-born chicks can then imitate their mom's call within a few days of entering the world.
This educational method was first observed in 2012 by Sonia KIeindorfer,a biologist at Flinders University in South
Australia,and her colleagues.Female Australian superb fairy wrens were found to repeat one sound over and over again
while hatching their eggs,When the eggs were hatched,the baby birds made the similar chirp to their mothers—a sound
that served as their regular “feed me!”call.
To find out if the special quality was more widespread in birds, the researchers sought the redbacked fairy
wren,another species of Australian songbird.First they collected sound data from 67 nests in four sites in Queensland
before and after hatching.Then they identified begging calls by analyzing the order and number of notes.A computer
analysis blindly compared calls produced by mothers and chicks,ranking them by similarity.
It turns out that baby red-backed fairy wrens also emerge chirping like their moms. And the more frequently mothers
had called to their eggs,the more similar were the babies’ begging calls. In addition,the team set up a separate experiment
that suggested that the baby birds that most closely imitated their mom’s voice were rewarded with the most food.
This observation hints that effective embryonic learning could signal neurological(神经系统的)strengths of children to
parents.An evolutionary inference can then be drawn.”As a parent,do you invest in quality children,or do you invest in
children that are in need?”KIeindorfer asks.”Our results suggest that they might be going for quality.”
无关紧要的词汇"跳过去"Skip insignificant words在考试中，
有百分之十的生词都不会干扰你做题。(思考：下列句子那些成
分可以省去不看)Before birth, babies can tell the
difference between loud sounds and voices. They can
even distinguish their mother's voice from that of a
female stranger. But when it comes to embryonic
learning (胎教)，birds could rule the roost. As recently
reported in The Auk: Ornithological Advances, some
mother birds may teach their young to sing even
before they hatch(孵化).
攻略三：突破生僻词汇
Before birth, babies can tell the difference between
loud sounds and voices. They can even distinguish their
mother's voice from that of a female stranger. But
when it comes to embryonic learning (胎教)，birds
could rule the roost. As recently reported in The Auk:
Ornithological Advances, some mother birds may teach
their young to sing even before they hatch(孵化).
This educational method was first observed in 2012 by
Sonia Kleindorfer, a biologist at Flinders University in
South Australia, and her colleagues. Female Australian
superb fairy wrens were found to repeat one sound
over and over again while hatching their eggs.
This educational method was first observed in 2012
by Sonia Kleindorfer, a biologist at Flinders
University in South Australia, and her colleagues.
Female Australian superb fairy wrens were found to
repeat one sound over and over again while
hatching their eggs.
猜出影响阅读的词汇根据对比确定词义Before birth, babies
can tell the difference between loud sounds and voices.
They can even distinguish their mother's voice from
that of a female stranger. But when it comes to
embryonic learning (胎教)，birds could rule the roost. As
recently reported in The Auk: Ornithological Advances,
some mother birds may teach their young to sing even
before they hatch(孵化).New-born chicks can then their
mom's call within a few days of entering the world.
根据对比确定词义Before birth, babies can tell the
difference between loud sounds and voices. They can
even distinguish their mother's voice from that of a
female stranger. But when it comes to embryonic
learning (胎教)，birds could rule the roost. As recently
reported in The Auk: Ornithological Advances, some
mother birds may teach their young to sing even before
they hatch(孵化).New-born chicks can then their mom's
call within a few days of entering the world.
be the best
根据解释确定词义
When the eggs were hatched, the baby birds made the similar
chirp to their mothers—a sound that served as their regular
"feed me!" call.To find out if the special quality was more
widespread in birds, the researchers sought the red-backed
fairy wren, another species of Australian songbird. It turns out
that baby red-backed fairy wrens also emerge chirping like
their moms.
When the eggs were hatched, the baby birds made the
similar chirp to their mothers—a sound that served as
their regular "feed me!" call.
To find out if the special quality was more widespread in
birds, the researchers sought the red-backed fairy wren,
another species of Australian songbird.
It turns out that baby red-backed fairy wrens also emerge
chirping like their moms.
去枝叶，留主干
找连词，划分句
还真相，降难度
看标点，理思路
攻略四：破译长难句
找出句子的主干以及修饰成分
1. When the eggs were hatched, the baby birds made the
similar chirp to their mothers—a sound that served as their
regular "feed me!" call. 2. This educational method was first
observed in 2012 by Sonia Kleindorfer, a biologist at Flinders
University in South Australia, and her colleagues. 3. In
addition, the team set up a separate experiment that
suggested that the baby birds that most closely imitated
their mom's voice were rewarded with the most food.
1. When the eggs were hatched, the baby birds made the
similar chirp to their mothers—a sound that served as their
regular "feed me!" call. 2. This educational method was first
observed in 2012 by Sonia Kleindorfer, a biologist at Flinders
University in South Australia, and her colleagues. 3. In
addition, the team set up a separate experiment that
suggested that the that most closely imitated
their mom's voice were rewarded with the most food.
判断类型: 细节题？推理题？
弄懂题干, 定位原文,转换信息
攻略五：判断转换
What are Kleindorfer's findings based on? A.
Similarities between the calls moms and chicks B. The
observation of fairy wrens across Australia C. The data
collected from Queensland's locals. D. Controlled
experiments on wrens and other birds.
What are Kleindorfer's findings based on? A.
Similarities between the calls moms and chicks B. The
observation of fairy wrens across Australia C. The data
collected from Queensland's locals. D. Controlled
experiments on wrens and other birds.
先弄懂题干的意思, 到文中定位, 用排除法逐个排除This educational
method was first observed in 2012 by Sonia Kleindorfer,
Female Australian superb fairy wrens were found to repeat
one sound over and over again while hatching their eggs.
When the eggs were hatched, the baby birds made the similar
chirp to their mothers—a sound that served as their regular
"feed me!" call. To find out if the special quality was more
widespread in birds, the researchers sought the red-backed
fairy wren, another species of Australian songbird. It turns
out that baby red-backed fairy wrens also emerge chirping like
their moms.
判断题目类型：细节题？推理题？which指什么？
Embryonic learning helps mother birds to identify the baby
birds which _____？According to these rules, what
statement shouldn't we choose?
A. can receive quality signals B. are in need of
trainingC. fit the environment better D.
make the loudest call
Embryonic learning helps mother birds to identify the baby
birds which _____？According to these rules, what
statement shouldn't we choose?
A. can receive quality signals B. are in need of
training
C. fit the environment better D. make
the loudest call
注意：
中心词背离文章主题思想的备选项文中无依据
(not mentioned)说法太绝对或太片面(too
narrow)的观点
偷换概念
直接选取文中的原句(fact)或原词
1.语篇的行文思路图式结构2.语篇中的事
实和态度的区分3.语篇的衔接词
but,besides, also...4.段落的展开手段：举
例、对比、解释5.语篇的修辞手法：反讽、
幽默、排比
阅读时，读什么？
DNA left at a crime scene could be used in the future to build up a picture of an offender's face,
which was revealed tonight.A first step towards genetic mugshots has been taken by researchers in the
US who link specific DNA markers with face shapes. To identify the genes, they focused on known mutations(突变) that
cause changes of the face and head. Normal versions of these genes were found to influence individual features. For
instance, one gene affected the lips, another the shape and configuration of bones around the eyes, and a third the
appearance of the midface and skull. In total, 20 genes had "significant effects" on facial appearance.Lead
scientist Professor Mark Shriver, from the Pennsylvania State University, said, "We use DNA to
match to an individual or identify an individual, but we can get so much more from DNA.
Currently we can't go from DNA to a face, or from a face to DNA, but it should be possible." The
implications are farreaching, raising the possibility of creating a data bank of facial types based on
genetic markers. DNA from a crime scene could then be used to produce a rough image of the
face of an offender or victim. Such genetic mugshots may be more reliable than
computergenerated "Efits" based on witnesses' memory. Other uses of the technique might
include proving the identities of fathers in paternity cases, or visualizing our remote ancestors
from fossil DNA.
实战练习1
The scientists wrote in the online journal Public Library of Science Genetics，"Such
predictive modelling could be forensically useful. For example, DNA left at crime
scenes could be tested and faces could be predicted in order to help to narrow the pool
of potential suspects. Further, our methods could be used to predict the facial features
of descendants, deceased ancestors, and even extinct human species. In addition, these
methods could prove to be useful diagnostic tools." The team developed a model
which first established a range of physical face shapes from people of mixed West
African and European ancestry from the US, Brazil and Cape Verde. Measurements were
taken of thousands of point coordinates on grids placed over 3D images of the
faces.Statistical methods were then used to determine the relationship between facial
differences and the effects of genders, ethnic ancestry and individual gene variants.
1．The underlined word "mugshots" in the second paragraph most probably means
"________"．A．different faces B．characteristics C．pictures of faces D．genders2．What can be
inferred from the passage?A．DNA has been used to build up a picture of an offender's face.B．It may be
much easier to catch criminals with the help of DNA.C．In all, 20 genes had"significant effects"on
facial appearance.D．One gene can affect more than one part of your face.3．According to Professor
Mark Shriver, we know________.A．they can merely match to an individual or identify an individualB．
there is a possibility of going from DNA to a faceC．DNA could be used to produce a rough image of an
offender's faceD．this technology is more reliable than computergenerated "Efits"4．What is the most
possible title of the passage?A．Creating a data bank of DNA B．Recognizing the DNA of criminalsC．
Predicting the locations of offences using DNAD．Building up an image of an offender's face from DNA
1．The underlined word "mugshots" in the second paragraph most probably means
"________"．A．different faces B．characteristics C．pictures of faces D．genders2．What can be
inferred from the passage?A．DNA has been used to build up a picture of an offender's face.
B．It may be much easier to catch criminals with the help of DNA.
C．In all, 20 genes had"significant effects"on facial appearance.D．One gene can affect more
than one part of your face.3．According to Professor Mark Shriver, we know________.A．they can
merely match to an individual or identify an individual
B．there is a possibility of going from DNA to a face
C．DNA could be used to produce a rough image of an offender's faceD．this technology is more
reliable than computergenerated "Efits"4．What is the most possible title of the passage?A．Creating a
data bank of DNA B．Recognizing the DNA of criminalsC．Predicting the locations of offences using
DNA
D．Building up an image of an offender's face from DNA
The extraordinary Eastgate Building in Harare, Zimbabwe's capital city, is said to be the
only one in the world to use the same cooling and heating principles as the termite mound(白
蚁堆)．Architect Mick Pearce used precisely the same strategy when
designing the Eastgate Building, which has no air conditioning and almost no
heating. The building—the country's largest commercial and shopping
complex—uses less than 10% of the energy of a conventional building of its
size. The Eastgate's owners saved 3.5 million on a 36 million building because
air conditioning plant didn't have to be imported.The complex is actually two
buildings linked by bridges across a shady, glassroofed atrium(天井) open to the air. Fans
suck fresh air in from the atrium, blow it upstairs through hollow spaces under the floors and
from there into each office through baseboard vents(通风口). As it rises and warms, it is
drawn out via ceiling vents and finally exists through fortyeight brick
chimneys.
实战练习2
During summer's cool nights, big fans blow air through the building seven times an
hour to cool the empty floors. By day, smaller fans blow two changes of air an hour
through the building to circulate the air which has been in contact with the cool
floors. For winter days, there are small heaters in the vents.This is all possible only
because Harare is 1,600 feet above sea level, and has cloudless skies, little dampness
and rapid temperature swings—days as warm as 31℃ commonly drop to 14℃ at
night."You couldn't do this in New York, with its fantastically hot summers and fantastically cold
winters，"Pearce said.The engineering firm of Ove Arup&Partners monitors daily
temperatures. It is found that the temperature of the building has generally stayed
between 23℃ and 25℃， with the exception of the annual hot period just before the
summer rains in October and three days in November, when a doorkeeper
accidentally switched off the fans at night. And the air is fresh—far more so than in
airconditioned buildings, where up to 30% of the air is recycled.
5．Why was Eastgate cheaper to be built than a conventional building?A．It was designed in
a smaller size. B．No air conditioners were fixed in.C．Its heating system was less advanced.
D．It used rather different building materials.6．What does the underlined word "it" refer
to in Paragraph 3?A．Fresh air from outside. B．Heat in the building.C．A hollow
space. D．A baseboard vent.7．Why would a building like Eastgate not work efficiently
in New York?A．New York has less clear skies as Harare. B．Its dampness affects the
circulation of air.C．New York covers a larger area than Harare. D．Its temperature changes
seasonally rather than daily.8．The data in the last paragraph suggests Eastgate's temperature
control system________.A．allows a wide range of temperatures B．functions well for most
of the yearC．can recycle up to 30% of the air D．works better in hot seasons
5．Why was Eastgate cheaper to be built than a conventional building?
A．It was designed in a smaller size. B．No air conditioners were fixed in.C．Its heating
system was less advanced. D．It used rather different building materials.6．What does the
underlined word "it" refer to in Paragraph 3?A．Fresh air from outside. B．Heat in
the building.C．A hollow space. D．A baseboard vent.
7．Why would a building like Eastgate not work efficiently in New York?
A．New York has less clear skies as Harare. B．Its dampness affects the circulation of air.C
．New York covers a larger area than Harare. D．Its temperature changes seasonally rather
than daily.8．The data in the last paragraph suggests Eastgate's temperature control
system________.A．allows a wide range of temperatures B．functions well for most of the
year
C．can recycle up to 30% of the air D．works better in hot seasons
Researchers at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory(APL) in
Howard County, Maryland have designed a new humanlike robot. Its name is Roho
Sally. The machine can be controlled from a distance and can be used to do work that is
dangerous for human beings.Roho Sally has two long arms with humanlike hands. She
can use her fingers to pick up small objects, examine them in detail and do most things
that human hands can do. Each finger contains a tiny motor, capable of squeezing 20
pounds of pinch force, enough to defuse a bomb under the direction of an operator.
She sits on a metal base with wheels that let her move around, turn in tight spaces and
climb over small objects.Mike McLoughlin is the main investigator for the Applied
Physics Laboratory's Prosthetics Programme."The purpose of that programme is to
develop prosthetic arms that have all the capability of your natural arms, and you do
all the complex motions that you can do with the natural arms—with the robot."
实战练习3
It was a difficult job. Mr McLoughlin says the device had to have many small
motors to have the ability to do what a human hand does. It also needed to
have humanlike strength. The thumb was especially difficult because it
permits the hand to hold objects. And everything had to fit into a space about
the size of a human hand.The next problem, he says, was to figure out how to
control the artificial hand."So we had to figure out how to make the
connection between the brain and this arm."For searchandrescue duties, Roho
Sally will be operated by a human being using a wireless machine that is far
from the robot. The operator will also wear special gloves and glasses. The
glasses permit the operator to see the robot's hands, even though they are far
away.Mr McLoughlin says this kind of robots could be used in what he calls
"dull, dirty or dangerous" situations where fine human finger movements are
required. He says the technology is not ready for everyday application, but he
predicts that within five years we will see some wonderful improvements.
9．The underlined word "defuse" in Paragraph 2 is
closest in meaning to "________"．A．remove B．discover
C．equip D．produce10．According to Paragraph 2, which
picture is Roho Sally?
A． B． C． D.
9．The underlined word "defuse" in Paragraph 2 is
closest in meaning to "________"．
A．remove B．discover C．equip D．produce10．
According to Paragraph 2, which picture is Roho Sally?
A． B． C． D.
11．What can we learn about the prosthetic arms according to
the passage?A．They are expected to function as well as natural ones.B．
They have many large motors controlled by robots.C．They have humanlike
strength to control the robot.D．They are connected with human brains.12
．Which of the following is TRUE about Robo Sally according to Mr
McLoughlin?A．Its operator doesn't need any equipment.B．It has been
widely used in everyday life in the USA.C．It can work in situations which
are dangerous for humans.D．It has made much money for the designers.
11．What can we learn about the prosthetic arms according to
the passage?
A．They are expected to function as well as natural ones.B．
They have many large motors controlled by robots.C．They have humanlike
strength to control the robot.D．They are connected with human brains.12
．Which of the following is TRUE about Robo Sally according to Mr
McLoughlin?A．Its operator doesn't need any equipment.B．It has been
widely used in everyday life in the USA.
C．It can work in situations which are dangerous for humans.D
．It has made much money for the designers.
A Walk through the Amazon rainforest today and you will find it is steamy, warm, damp and
thick. But if you had been around 15, 000 years ago, during the last ice age, would it have been the
same? For more than 30 years, scientists have been arguing about how rainforests like the Amazon
might have reacted (反应) to the cold, dry cli?mates of the ice ages, but until now, no one has
reached a satisfying answer.Rainforests like the Amazon are important for mopping up CO2 from the
atmos?phere and helping to slow global warming. Currently the trees in the Amazon take in around
500 million tons of CO2 each year: equal to the total amount of CO2 giving off in the UK each year.
But how will the Amazon react to future climate change? If it gets drier, will it still survive and
continue to draw down CO2? Scientists hope that they will be able to learn in advance how the
rainforest will manage in the future by understanding how rainforests reacted to climate change in
the past.Unfortunately, getting into the Amazon rainforest and collecting information are very
difficult. To study past climate, scientists need to look at fossilized pollen, kept in lake muds. Going
back to the last ice age means drilling deep down into lake sediments(沉淀物) which requires
specialized equipment and heavy machinery. There are very few roads and paths, or places to land
helicopters and aero planes. Rivers tend to the easiest way to enter the forest, but this still leaves
vast areas between the rivers com?pletely unsampled (未取样). So far, only a handful of cores have
been drilled that go back to the last ice age and none of them provide enough information to prove
how the Amazon rainforest reacts to climate change.
实战练习4
1. The underlined phrase "mopping up" in the second paragraph means
"______". A. cleaning up B. taking in C. wiping out D. giving out
2. How will the Amazon rainforest react to future climate change?
A. It'll get drier and continue to remove CO2.
B. It'll remain steamy, warm, damp and thick.
C. It'll get warmer and then colder and drier.
D. There is no exact answer up to present.
3. What's the main idea of the last paragraph?
A. It's important to drill deep down into lake sediments to collect
information. B. It's impossible to prove how climate changes in the
Amazon rainforest. C. It's hard to collect information for studies of the
past climate in the Amazon rainforest. D. It's necessary to have
specialized equipment and machinery to study the past climate.
4. The best title for this passage may probably be _____.
A. Studies of the Amazon B. Climates of the Amazon
C. Secrets of the Rainforests D. Changes of the Rainfores
1. The underlined phrase "mopping up" in the second paragraph means
"______". A. cleaning up B. taking in C. wiping out D. giving out
2. How will the Amazon rainforest react to future climate change?
A. It'll get drier and continue to remove CO2.
B. It'll remain steamy, warm, damp and thick.
C. It'll get warmer and then colder and drier.
D. There is no exact answer up to present.
3. What's the main idea of the last paragraph?
A. It's important to drill deep down into lake sediments to collect
information. B. It's impossible to prove how climate changes in the
Amazon rainforest. C. It's hard to collect information for studies of the
past climate in the Amazon rainforest. D. It's necessary to have
specialized equipment and machinery to study the past climate.
4. The best title for this passage may probably be _____.
A. Studies of the Amazon B. Climates of the Amazon
C. Secrets of the Rainforests D. Changes of the Rainfores
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