《2025年5年中考3年模拟英语湖南专版》

Passage 3(2024 长沙二模)

As you read this passage, you probably have in front of you some paper, a pen and at least one pencil. Have you ever wondered how they were first made and where they came from?

The word “paper” comes from the name “papyrus”, a plant. The ancient Egyptians took the soft centre of this plant and added water to make a wet mixture which was then pressed together and hung up to dry. The resulting paper was strong but flexible and was used as writing materials in Greek and Roman times. However, it was the Chinese who invented what we now know as paper. The method, first in use about 2,000 years ago, also included pressing and drying wet materials to form paper. Many materials were used. It was not until the 19th century that paper became easy to make and cheap to buy.

The earliest pens were hollow reeds (空心芦苇) that were put into ink to produce a form of writing. By the 7th century, feathers had replaced the reeds and continued to be used until the appearance of the metal nib (钢笔尖). The ballpoint pen was developed in the first half of the 20th century by the Hungarian Bíró brothers.

From the time of the Romans, a metal stick, made of lead(铅), was used to write on papyrus. The lead left only a light mark and was later replaced by another soft substance called graphite(石墨). Unlike lead, graphite produced a much harder and heavier line. The graphite sticks, however, broke very easily. So an American cabinetmaker(家具木工) invented something a little like our modern pencil.

7.What does the underlined word “flexible” in Paragraph 2 mean?

A.柔韧的
B.复杂的
C.坚硬的

8.When did paper become easy to make and affordable?

A.In the 7th century.
B.In the 20th century.
C.In the 19th century.

9.Which of the following is the correct order of pens’ development?

A.feathers→hollow reeds→metal nibs→ballpoint pens
B.hollow reeds→feathers→metal nibs→ballpoint pens
C.hollow reeds→metal nibs→feathers→ballpoint pens

10.What’s the purpose of this passage?

A.To help us learn the development of paper, pens and pencils.
B.To encourage us to learn the creative spirit of ancient people.
C.To make us realize the importance of inventions around the world.

____ ____

答案： 7.A 词义猜测题。第二段第二句说明这种纸的做法,结合“The resulting paper was strong”可知,前面这种做法做出来的“纸”很结实,由but可知句意发生转折,因此推测出flexible意为“柔韧的”,故选A。 8.C 细节理解题。根据第二段的“It was not until the 19th century that paper became easy to make and cheap to buy.”可知,直到19世纪,纸张才变得容易制造,而且便宜。故选C。 9.B 细节理解题。根据第三段第一句可知最早的笔是空心芦苇;由第三段第二句可知,到公元7世纪,羽毛取代了芦苇,且一直被使用,直到金属钢笔尖出现;由第三段最后一句可知,20世纪上半叶,圆珠笔被发明出来。故选B。 10.A 写作目的题。通读全文可知,文章主要介绍了纸和几种笔的起源与发展。故选A。