《2025年5年中考3年模拟英语北京专版》

二、阅读理解
C篇
题源2024西城一模　话题自我认识　体裁说明文　词数390左右　难度★★★★　建议用时10min　分数$_/6 $
Have you ever wondered why you are good at noticing things in your environment that are possibly dangerous? Defensive circuits, one of our brain systems, detect(察觉)signs that might suggest threats (威胁) and prepare the body to take quick action, therefore increasing our chances of staying alive.
　　Our defensive circuits are always on the lookout for things that might be threats.
　　They look for certain features of objects(物体)that make those objects stand out from the other things around them. Objects with these features are given priority in our brains; that is, we pay attention to them before other things. So, how exactly does our threat detection work?
　　First, the presence of a feature that could suggest a threat grabs, or catches, our attention very quickly—it is an automatic(自动的)process. Threat detection happens so quickly because the threat information does not have to go all the way around the cortex(大脑皮层). You can think of this as a shortcut through the brain, which gives us more time to avoid possible threats.
　　Once we look at something that might be a threat, we often find looking away to be very difficult—the threatening object holds our attention. This process is also automatic, and its advantage is that it gives us more time to collect additional details about the possible threat. Those details are important for understanding whether we are facing a real threat and deciding how to best deal with the situation.
After we have recognized the possible threat, our brains must often make up for the time we've spent examining it—we need to avoid paying attention to the threat, and then we can look around and process the rest of the environment. This can help us find additional threats, or find a way out.
　　Once we detect a threat, the defensive circuits prepare our body to take action. We make changes to our emotions(for example, feeling fear) and body functions(such as speeding up our heartbeat). Together, these changes allow us to act properly in threatening situations, increasing the likelihood that we will get away without being harmed.
　　There are differences between people on how easily the defensive system is activated. Some of us are frightened more easily than others, and it takes less to activate the defensive circuits. This, however, can be problematic. Overly sensitive defensive circuits might stop working as they should when overused.
1. What can we learn about the defensive circuits?
A. They watch out for possible danger.
B. They help us remember threat features.
C. They promise us a happy and healthy life.
D. They easily stand out from other brain systems.
2. What do our brains do to make up for the time spent examining possible danger?
A. Create additional details immediately.
B. Activate a shortcut through the cortex.
C. Push our body to make lasting changes.
D. Redirect our attention to the rest of the environment.
3. Which would be the best title for the passage?
A. How does your brain work in various situations?
B. What makes us different when it comes to facing threats?
C. Why are we overly sensitive to certain threatening objects?
D. What happens in your brain when you notice something frightening?

答案： 1.A 2.D 3.D

D篇
题源2024顺义一模　话题心理探究　体裁说明文　词数430左右　难度★★★　建议用时10min　分数$_/8 $
When Helen Keller was nineteen months old, a brief illness made her both deaf and blind. With such limitations, how could Keller ever be expected to find happiness?
Because happiness has been considered a personal concept, it is difficult to define(定义). Many people throughout history have tried. Greek scientist and philosopher Aristotle wrote, “Happiness depends upon ourselves", which is not a definition but an observation that individuals are responsible for their own happiness. Roman statesman and philosopher Lucius Seneca wrote of a particular quality of happiness, saying, “True happiness is to enjoy the present, without anxious dependence upon the future."
　　Is there a scientific basis(基础) for happiness? Researchers suggest happiness is a matter of
perspective: Truly happy individuals construe(理解) life events and daily situations in ways that seem to maintain their happiness, while unhappy individuals construe experiences in ways that seem to reinforce unhappiness. Basically, this means the way you choose to remember events and situations affects your happiness.
　　Some research concludes happiness is made up of three parts: pleasure, engagement and meaning. Pleasure involves things that give physical and emotional joy, such as playing a sport or seeing beautiful art. Engagement involves positive interactions(互动) with other people, such as studying or working with people whose company you enjoy. Meaning relates to feeling that your work is useful and important to others.
　　Even with scientific rationalization(合理化), questions remain. For example, are younger people happier than older people? In fact, the opposite seems to be true. This may be because younger people tend to experience higher levels of negative emotions, such as anxiety and anger. The young also have less control over their lives because they lack both independence and the ability to make many of their own decisions.
　　Perhaps the most important question is whether you can change how happy you are. Studies of identical twins suggest that genetics accounts for about half of your happiness level. Your quality of life influences about 10 percent of your happiness. That means about 40 percent of your happiness is determined by your choices and actions.
　　From this explanation, we can see that one way you can make yourself happier is to set goals. Keller had a definition of happiness in keeping with this idea. She felt happiness did not come from simply trying to satisfy your own desires but rather by contributing your time and skills to improve the world in some way.
　　Even if you are unable to achieve a goal that makes the world better in some small way, simply trying will likely give your life meaning and, at the same time, happiness.
4. Why does the writer mention the words of Aristotle and Seneca?
A. To show what is the definition of happiness.
B. To suggest that we should enjoy the present.
C. To explain why we can choose to be happy or not.
D. To stress that people have different ideas about happiness.
5. What can you learn from the passage?
A. People should communicate with others positively.
B. The young may prefer to make decisions on their own.
C. Your happiness influences the way to understand your life.
D. Your happiness largely depends on the situation of your life.
6. According to Helen Keller, you may feel happier when you ______.
A. choose your dream school
B. do clean - up in your neighborhood
C. watch your favorite movie
D. talk with your closest friends
7. Which of the following would be the best title for the passage?
A. A Special Quality of Happiness
B. The Positive Effect of Happiness
C. The True Meaning of Happiness
D. A Scientific Basis of Happiness

答案： 4.D 5.A 6.B 7.C