《2026年江苏13大市中考名卷优选38套英语》

D(2025 无锡滨湖一模)
When it comes to Chinese literature works about a mother's love, few can compete with Tang Dynasty poet Meng Jiao's poem Song of the Travelling Son. The poem presents a mother who sews clothes for her son by hand. Bathed in candlelight, she also worries about his travel away from home.
Meng's description of the mother shows the composition of the earliest form of the Chinese character "劳". Found on oracle bones(甲骨) from over 3,000 years ago, it was made up of two characters. There was "火(fire)" on top and "衣(clothes)" below, with three dots(点) that look like stitches. The lower part was later replaced by "力(strength)" and a form symbolizing a house appeared above. The Analytical Dictionary of Chinese Characters explains the form as "When a house is on fire, it takes hard work to put it out."
While the form of the character has been simplified, its meaning has expanded to refer to work, labour (劳动) or toil. It is also associated with feelings like fatigue(疲劳). Since ancient times, Chinese society has looked down upon those who sponge off others. In modern times, the idea that "labour is glorious(光荣的)" has taken root. People who work hard and make great contributions to their community or country are respected as model workers.
Since the 1980s, "劳" has become one of the five key qualities that China's education system seeks to cultivate in students, along with "德(virtue)""智(intelligence)""体(physical fitness)" and "美(appreciation for beauty)". Primary and middle school students typically have at least one hour of "labour class" each week for labour theory and skills.
However, cognitive(认知的) labour and manual (体力的) labour are not always considered equal. As ancient Chinese philosopher Mencius said, "Those who labour with their minds govern(统治), while those who labour with their strength are governed." Throughout history, many Chinese writers have had pity on people who worked hard to survive as poor farmers. In his poem Watching the Wheat Harvest, famous poet Bai Juyi expressed his shame at taking hundreds of kilograms of grain every year as his pay without doing any farm work.
No matter it is cognitive labour or manual labour, overwork can have serious results, which can cause illness or even death. To avoid such things, people are encouraged to achieve a balance between work and rest.
13. Which of the following is the earliest form of the Chinese character "劳"?

14. What does the underlined phrase "sponge off" in Paragraph 3 mean in the passage?
A. Laugh at.
B. Learn from.
C. Look after.
D. Depend on.
15. What can you learn from the passage?
A. The character "劳" meant fatigue in the very beginning.
B. Bai Juyi governed the poor farmers without getting paid.
C. Cognitive labour is considered to be equal to manual labour.
D. Chinese students are expected to have the five key qualities.
16. The main purpose of this passage is toB .
A. discuss the different types of labour in China
B. explore the cultural meaning of labour in China
C. introduce the history of the Chinese character "劳"
D. compare ancient and modern Chinese literature works

答案： D
文体:说明文
文章大意:本文从孟郊《游子吟》引入,介绍汉字“劳”的起源、演变及含义,讲述自古以来社会对劳动的看法,提到中国教育体系培养学生的五种关键品质中包含“劳”,还探讨了认知劳动和体力劳动的地位差异,呼吁人们平衡工作与休息。
13. B 细节理解。根据第二段中“Found on oracle bones from over 3,000 years ago, it was made up of two characters. There was ‘火(fire)’ on top and ‘衣(clothes)’ below, with three dots that look like stitches。”可知,最早的“劳”字由上“火”、下“衣”以及类似针脚的三个点组成。
14. D 词义猜测。根据第三段中“Since ancient times, Chinese society has looked down upon those who …”并结合语境可知,古代社会看不起那些依赖他人、不劳而获的人,sponge off意思是“蹭(饭等);白吃”,D项Depend on“依靠”与之意思相近。
15. D 细节理解。根据第四段中“Since the 1980s, ‘劳’ has become one of the five key qualities that China’s education system seeks to cultivate in students”可知,中国学生被期望具备五种关键品质。
16. B 主旨大意。通读全文可知,文章围绕汉字“劳”展开,介绍其含义、社会对劳动的看法等,主要目的是探索中国劳动的文化意义。