专题十五 阅读理解之社会生活、说理议论类

1.【2015·湖北卷】A

“I see you’ve got a bit of water on your coat,” said the man at the petrol station. “Is it raining out there?”“No, it’s pretty nice,” I replied, checking my sleeve. “Oh, right. A pony(马驹) bit me earlier.”

As it happened, the bite was virtually painless: more the kind of small bite you might get from a naughty child. The pony responsible was queuing up for some ice cream in the car park near Haytor, and perhaps thought I’d jumped in ahead of him.

The reason why the ponies here are naughty is that Haytor is a tourist-heavy area and tourists are constantly feeding the ponies foods, despite sighs asking them not to. By feeding the ponies, tourists increase the risk of them getting hit by a car, and make them harder to gather during the area’s annual pony drift(迁移).

The purpose of a pony drift is to gather them up so their health can be checked, the baby ones can be stooped from feeding on their mother’s milk, and those who’ve gone beyond their limited area can be returned to their correct area. Some of them are also later sold, in order to limit the number of ponies according to the rules set by Natural England.

Three weeks ago, I witnessed a small near-disaster a few mils west of here. While walking, I noticed a pony roll over on his back. “Hello!” I said to him, assuming he was just rolling for fun, but he was very still and, as I got closer, I saw him kicking his legs in the air and breathing heavily. I began to properly worry about him. Fortunately, I managed to get in touch with a Dartmoor’s Livestock Protection officer and send her a photo. The officer immediately sent a local farmer out to check on the pony. The pony had actually been trapped between two rocks. The farmer freed him, and he began to run happily around again.

Dartmoor has 1,000 or so ponies, who play a critical role in creating the diversity of species in this area. Many people are working hard to preserve these ponies, and trying to come up with plans to find a sustainable(可持续的) future for one of Dartmoor’s most financially-troubled elements.

51.Why are tourists asked not to feed the ponies?

A. To protect the tourists from being bitten

B. To keep the ponies off the petrol station

C. To avoid putting the ponies in danger

D. To prevent the ponies from fighting

52.One of the purposes of the annual pony drift is ______________.

A. to feed baby ponies on milk

B. to control the number of ponies

C. to expand the habitat for ponies

D. to sell the ponies at a good price

53.What as the author’s first reaction when he saw a pony roll on its back?

A. He freed it from the trap

B. He called a protection officer

C. He worried about it very much

D. He thought of it as being naughty

54.What does the author imply about the preservation of Dartmoor’s ponies?

A. It lacks people’s involvement.

B. It costs a large amount of money

C. It will affect tourism in Dartmoor.

D. It has caused an imbalance of species

【考点定位】夹叙夹议文阅读

【名师点睛】夹叙夹议文是近几年高考经常涉及的一类文体，文章一方面叙述事情，另一方面又对事情加以评论，此类文章一般先提出论点，然后以事例说明论点，最后得出结论，或者一边叙述事情经过，一边对事情加以分析评论，文章最后一段用一句概括性的话点明主题，将叙述和议论有机地结合起来，其中“叙”是“议”的基础，“议”是“叙”的渗透和延伸。考生要注意在通读全文的基础上弄清文章结构，阅读时重点要放在议论部分，因为该部分表达了作者的观点或看法，是文章的精髓。理解了作者的观点和看法，也就把握了全文的主要内容。本文难度不大，通过作者与小马的“亲密接触”介绍了英国达特穆尔荒原淘气的矮种马，散发出浓浓的英伦风。

2.【2015·湖北卷】C

Hilversum is a medium-sized city between the major cities of Amsterdam and Utrecht in the Gooi area of North Holland, the Netherlands. Unlike most of the Netherlands, Hilversum is actually in a hilly area with the soil mostly consisting of sand. Once called the Garden of Amsterdam, it still attracts travelers to come over to cycle and walk through the surrounding forests. They visit it for a relaxing day off from the urban madness. For Dutch people, Hilversum is all about textile (纺织) and media industries, and modern architecture.

In history, Hilversum was largely an agricultural area. Daily life was marked by farming, sheep raising and wool production. A railway link to Amsterdam in 1874 attracted rich traders from Amsterdam to Hilversum. They build themselves large villas (别墅) in the wooded surroundings of the town. One of the families moving in was the Brenninkmeijers, currently the wealthiest family of the Netherlands. They moved in after big success in the textile industry and aided a substantial textile industry in Hilversum. But the textile boom lasted only several decades. The last factory closed in the 1960s.

The change to a media economy started in 1920, when the Nederlandse Seintoestedllen Fabriek (NSF) established a radio factory in Hiversum. Most radio stations called in the large villas in the leafy areas of the town. Television gave another push to the local economy. Hilversum became the media capital of the Netherlands, and Dutch televison stars moved into the leafy neighborhoods surrounding the town.

In the early 1900s, modern architcts W.M. Dudok and J. Duiker placed hundreds of remarkable buildings in Hilversum. These modern architectural masterpieces (杰作) are so many that Hilversum almost feels like an open air museum. Dudok alone shaped most 20th century Hilversum and approximately 75 buildings in 1928-1931. It has wide international fame and is included in many architecture textbooks. The building has a remarkable shape and looks like a combination of “blocks”. Actually, one may start his journey of modern architecture by walking or biking the W.M. Dudok Architectural Route in Hilversum.

59.Hilversum is different from most of the Netherlands in that ______.

A. it has a large population

B. it is cut off from big cities

C. it has many beautiful gardens

D. it is in a hilly area with sandy soil

60.What was the greatest contribution of the Brenninkmeijers to Hilversum?

A. Building a railway link to Amsterdam

B. Helping its textile industry to develop

C. Constructing large villas for the poor

D. Assisting its agricultural industry

61.The beginning of the media industry in Hilversum was marked by the establishment of ______.

A. a radio factory

B. the medial capital

C. a radio station

D. a TV station

62.What is known about W.M. Dudok’s Hilversum Town Hall?

A. It consists of approximately 75 buildings

B. It looks like an open air museum in the city

C. It is a classic example in architecture textbooks

D. It has shaped most of 20th century Hilvesum.

【解析】

试题分析：本文是一篇说明文。介绍了荷兰Hilversum这一地区的地貌特征、工业发展和现代建筑。

59. D细节理解题。根据首段第二句“Unlike most of the Netherlands, Hilversum is actually a hilly area …”可知Hilversum不同于荷兰其他地方之处在于它属于沙土丘陵地带。故选D项。

60.B细节理解题。根据第二段倒数第三句“They moved in after big success in the textile industry and aided a substantial textile industry in Hilversum”可知Brennikmeijers为Hilversum 的纺织业做出了巨大的贡献。故选B项。

61.A细节理解题。根据第三段首句“The change to a media economy started in 1920, … established a radio factory in Hilversum”可知Hilversum传媒业兴起的兴起是以一家无线电厂的建立为标志的。故选A项。

62.C推理判断题。根据最后一段倒数第三、四句“His master piece… It has wide international fame and is included in many architecture textbooks”可知W. M. Dudok‘s Hilversum Town Hall是建筑教科书中的一个典范。故选C项。

【考点定位】说明文阅读

【名师点睛】说明文用平实的语言客观地解释或探讨各种问题，如机器的制造过程、自然或社会现象产生的原因、工程项目的规划或问题的解决方案等，介绍自然科学、社会科学领域的最新成果，社会经济发展过程中出现的新生事物等。本文虽短短几段，却囊括了荷兰小镇Hilversum的前世今生，把一个不怎么出名的小城栩栩如生地呈现在中国读者的眼前。

3.【2015·湖北卷】E

Science has a lot of uses. It can uncover laws of nature, cure diseases, make bombs, and help

bridges to stand up. Indeed science is so good at what it does that there’s always a temptation(诱惑) to drag it into problems where it may not be helpful. David Brooks, author of The Social Animal: The Hidden Sources of Love, Character,and Achievement, appears to be the latest in a long line of writers who have failed to resist the temptation.

Brooks gained fame for several books. His latest book The Social Animal, however, is more ambitious and serious than his earlier books. It is an attempt to deal with a set of weighty topics. The book focuses on big questions: What has science revealed about human nature? What are the sources of character? And why are some people happy and successful while others aren’t?

To answer these questions, Brooks surveys a wide range of disciplines（学科）. Considering this, you might expect the book to be a dry recitation of facts. But Brooks has structured his book in an unorthodox(非常规的), and perhaps unfortunate, way. Instead of introducing scientific theories, he tells a story, within which he tries to make his points, perhaps in order to keep the reader’s attention.So as Harold and Erica, the hero and heroine in his story, live through childhood, we hear about the science of child development and as they begin to date we hear about the theory of sexual attraction. Brooks carries this through to the death of one of his characters.

On the whole,Brooks’s story is acceptable if uninspired. As one would expect, his writing is mostly clear and, to be fair, some chapters stand out above the rest. I enjoyed, for instance, the chapter in which Harold discovers how to think on his own. While Harold and Erica are certainly not strong or memorable characters, the more serious problems with The Social Animal lie elsewhere. These problems partly involve Brooks’s attempt to translate his tale into science.

67.The author mentions the functions of science at the beginning of the passage to__________.

A. illustrate where science can be applied

B. demonstrate the value of Brooks’s new book

C. remind the reader of the importance of science

D. explain why many writers use science in their works

68.According to the author, which of the following could be a strength of the book?

A. Its strong basis.

B. Its convincing points.

C. Its clear writing.

D. Its memorable characters.

69.What is the author’s general attitude towards the book?

A. Contradictory.

B. Supportive.

C . Cautious.

D. Critical.

70.What is the author likely to write about after the last paragraph?

A. Problems with the book.

B. Brooks’s life experience.

C. Death of the characters.

D. Brooks’s translation skills.

【解析】

试题分析：本文是一篇议论文。文章先列举出科学的许多功能，接着指出科学有巨大的诱惑力，以致许多作家抵挡不住这种诱惑，在文学作品中运用到科学。并以Brooks的新书The social animal为例，批判地分析这本书的优势和不足。

67.D写作用意题。首段第一、二句首先列举出科学的许多功能，接着指出科学有巨大的诱惑力，以致许多作家抵挡不住这种诱惑，在文学作品中运用到科学。故选D项。

68.C推理判断题。根据最后一段中“…, his writing is mostly clear and , to be fair, some chapters stand out above the rest. I enjoyed,… ”可知作者认为写作思路清晰是这本书的一大优势。故选C项。

69.D观点态度题。最后一段中的链接词“while”之前是这本书的优势，其后作者指出了其不足。因此作者对这部书持批判的态度。故选D项。

70. A篇章结构题。文章最后一段中链接词“while”后面部分开始谈论这本书存在的问题。因此紧接着作者应该还是在写这本的不足。故选A项。

【考点定位】议论文阅读

【名师点睛】议论说理类文章具有以下特点：1．一般按提出问题、分析问题、解决问题的方法写作。作者一般从日常生活中的热点问题、社会上的重大问题、与读者息息相关的问题入手，即提出问题。然后，分析利弊，举例说明，推理判断，即分析问题。最后，阐述观点，提出办法，即解决问题。2．以作者的观点或情感为核心，对细节推理等方面进行考查。3．文章的主题一般是生活中的热点问题、重大问题或与生活息息相关的问题等。考生应注意抓住作者提出的观点、给出的例证及最后得出的结论。同时，理清作为论据的诸多事例和理由之

间以及它们和观点/结论之间的内在联系，把握文章的结构。

4.【2015·北京卷】D

Technological change is everywhere and affects every aspect of life, mostly for the better. However, social changes are brought about by new technology are often mistaken for a change in attitudes. An example at hand is the involvement of parents in the lives of their children who are attending college. Surveys (调查) on this topic suggests that parents today continue to be “very” or

“somewhat” overly-protective even after their children move into college dormitories. The same surveys also indicate that the rate of parental involvement is greater today than it was a generation ago. This is usually interpreted as a sign that today’s parents are trying to manage their children’s lives past the point where this behavior is appropriate.

However, greater parental involvement does not necessarily indicate that parents are failing to let go of their “adult” children.

In the context (背景) of this discussion, it seems valuable to first find out the cause of change in the case of parents’ involvement with their grown children. If parents of earlier generations had wanted to be in touch with their college-age children frequently, would this have been possible? Probably not. On the other hand, does the possibility of frequent communication today mean that the urge to do so wasn’t present a generation ago? Many studies show that older parents - today’s

grandparents - would have called their children more often if the means and cost of doing so had not been a barrier.

Furthermore, studies show that finances are the most frequent subject of communication between parents and their college children. The fact that college students are financially dependent on their parents is nothing new; nor are requests for more money to be sent from home. This phenomenon is neither good nor bad; it is a fact of college life, today and in the past.

Thanks to the advanced technology, we live in an age of bettered communication. This has many implications well beyondthe role that parents seem to play in the lives of their children who have left for college. But it is useful to bear in mind that all such changes come from the technology and not some imagined desire by parents to keep their children under their wings.

67. The surveys inform us of ______.

A. the development of technology

B. the changes of adult children’s behavior

C. the parents’ over-protection of their college children

D. the means and expenses of students’ communication

68. The writer believes that ______.

A. parents today are more protective than those in the past

B. the disadvantages of new technology outweigh itsadvantages

C. technology explains greater parental involvement with theirchildren

D. parents’ changed attitudes lead to college children’s delayedindependence

69. What is the best title for the passage?

A. Technology or Attitude

B. Dependence or Independence

C. Family Influence or Social Changes

D. College Management or Communication Advancement

70. Which of the following shows the development of ideas in this passage?

【解析】

试题分析：以父母对于上大学的成年子女过度保护的问题为例，提出了科技带来的一些改变容易被误认为态度的改变的论点。

67.C 细节理解题。答案在第二段第二句话，parents today continues to be “very” or “somewhat”

overly-protective even after their children move into college dormitories”调查显示现在的父母在孩子上大学之后仍然非常或者某种程度上地过度保护子女。故选C。

68.C 观点态度题。第三段作者提出调查的结果并不能理解为现在的家长对孩子不放手，接下来的两段作者论述了出现这种结果的真正原因是科技的发展使得交流手段更丰富，成本更低廉。见第四段最后一句“Many studies show that older parents—today’s grandparents—would have called their children more often if the means and cost of doing so had not been a barrier。最后一段更是再次强调了这种观点。故选C。

69.A主旨大意题。由第一段第二句话得出。这种科技的改变容易被误认为态度的改变。第2-5段讨论到底是科技还是态度的改变。第6段再次明确表示是科技的改变。故选A。学优高考网

70.B 文章结构题。文章第一段是introduction，第二段是第一个论点，指出父母在子女生活中参与度提高的现象。第三段是第二个论点(关键词However)，指出通过调查并不能推断出父母未能对子女放手，分论点一是科技的进步导致父母对子女生活更多的参与，分论点二(关键词Furthermore)是子女经济不独立导致父母对子女生活的过多参与。最后一段总结。故选B。

【考点定位】议论文类阅读

【名师点睛】 要想读懂议论文、理解作者的写作意图，关键在于是否能够把握议论文的三要素。首先，论点是作者对所论述事件的基本看法和立场，找准论点有助于把握文章的整体方向和理解文章主题的深层内涵；理清论据材料的内容能够帮助读者更深层次地理解论点的含义；论据是作者组织、运用论据的手法。

5.【2015·北京】D

Freedom and Responsibility

Freedom’s challenge in the Digital Age is a serious topic. We are facing today a strange new world and we are all wondering what we are going to do with it.

Some 2,500 years ago Greece discovered freedom. Before that there was no freedom. There were great civilizations, splendid empires, but no freedom anywhere. Egypt and Babylon were both In Greece, in Athens (雅典), a little city in a little country, there were no helpless masses. And Athenians willingly obeyed the written laws which they themselves passed, and the unwritten, which must be obeyed if free men live together. They must show each other kindness and pity and the many qualities without which life would be very painful unless one chose to live alone in the desert.The Athenians never thought that a man was free if he could do what he wanted. A man was

free if he was self-controlled. To make yourself obey what you approved was freedom. They were saved from looking at their lives as their own private affair. Each one felt responsible for the welfare of Athens, not because it was forced on him from the outside, but because the city was his pride and his safety. The essential belief of the first free government in the world was liberty for all men who could control themselves and would take responsibility for the state.

But discovering freedom is not like discovering computers. It cannot be discovered once for all. If people do not prize it, and work for it, it will go. Constant watch is its price. Athens changed. It was a change that took place without being noticed though it was of the extreme importance, a spiritual change which affected the whole state. It had been the Athenian’ s pride and joy to give to their city. That they could get material benefits from her never entered their minds. There had to be a complete change of attitude before they could look at the city as an employer who paid her citizens for doing her work. Now instead of men giving to the state, the state was to give to them. What the people wanted was a government which would provide a comfortable life for them; and with this as the primary object, ideas of freedom and self-reliance and responsibility were neglected to the point of disappearing. Athens was more and more looked on as a cooperative business possessed of great wealth in which all citizens had a right to share.

Athens reached the point when the freedom she really wanted was freedom from responsibility. There could be only one result. If men insisted on being free from the burden of self-dependence and responsibility for the common good, they would cease to be free. Responsibility is the price every man must pay for freedom. It is to be had on no other terms. Athens, the Athens of Ancient Greece, refused responsibility; she reached the end of freedom and was never to have it again.

But, “the excellent becomes the permanent”, Aristotle said. Athens lost freedom forever, but freedom was not lost forever for the world. A great American, James Madison, referred to: “The capacity (能力) of mankind for self-government.” No doubt he had not an idea that he was speaking Greek. Athens was not in the farthest background of his mind, but once man has a great and good idea, it is never completely lost. The Digital Age cannot destroy it. Somehow in this or that man’s thought such an idea lives though unconsidered by the world of action. One can never be sure that it is not on the point of breaking out into action only sure that it will do so sometime.

65. What does the underlined word “tyrannies” in Paragraph 2 refer to?

A. Countries where their people need help. B. Powerful states with higher civilization.

C. Splendid empires where people enjoy freedom. D. Governments ruled with absolute power.

66.People believing in freedom are those who________ .

A. regard their life as their own business B. seek gains as their primary object

C. behave within the laws and value systems D. treat others with kindness and pity

67.What change in attitude took place in Athens?

A. The Athenians refused to take their responsibility.

B. The Athenians no longer took pride in the city.

C. The Athenians benefited spiritually from the government.

D. The Athenians looked on the government as a business.

68.What does the sentence “There could be only one result.” in Paragraph 5 mean?

A. Athens would continue to be free.

B. Athens would cease to have freedom.

C. Freedom would come from responsibility.

D. Freedom would stop Athens from self-dependence.

69.Why does the author refer to Aristotle and Madison?

A. The author is hopeful about freedom.

B. The author is cautious about self-government.

C. The author is skeptical of Greek civilization.

D. The author is proud of man’s capacity.

70. What is the author’s understanding of freedom?

A. Freedom can be more popular in the digital age.

B. Freedom may come to an end in the digital age.

C. Freedom should have priority over responsibility.

D. Freedom needs to be guaranteed by responsibility.

【解析】

试题分析：这是一篇历史文化类说明文。文章讲述了自由的起源、演变和它在古代文化下的形态和缺陷，以及数字化世界给自由带来的挑战。

65. D词义猜测题。根据划线词所在句子后半句“one very powerful man ruling over helpless masses”可知tyrannies是指拥有绝对统治权的政府。故选D项。

66.C细节理解题。根据第三段内容可知，雅典人之所以能自由地生活在一起，是因为他们能够自愿在法律规定和价值体系下下从事一起活动。故选C项。

67.A细节理解题。根据第四段内容可知，雅典人后来态度发生了改变，因为他们开始认为政府应该为他们的劳动付费，给他们提供舒适的生活，而个人的自律和责任意识变得淡薄。故选A项。

68. B句意理解题。根据第五段第三句“If men insisted on being free from the burden of

self-dependence and responsibility for the common good, they would cease to be free”可知唯一的结果就是雅典人不再享有自由。故选B项。

69.A细节理解题。根据最后一段第二句“Athens lost freedom forever, but freedom was not lost forever for the world.”及“Athens was not in the farthest background of his mind, but once man has a great and good idea, it is never completely lost. The Digital Age cannot destroy it.”可知作者并没有因此而失去信心，相反对自由充满了希望。故选A项。

70.D观点态度题。作者通过雅典人对自由态度变化的对比，得出自由需要责任的保证这一结论，故选D项。

【考点定位】历史文化类说明文阅读

【名师点睛】 英语阅读属于跨文化交际活动,除语言因素外,它还受到中西文化差异的影响。考生既要扎实书本知识，也要广泛阅读，不断提高自己的知识广度，有意识地多了解文化背景知识，多关注社会热点，这样才能做到游刃有余。

6.【2015·广东】B

When I was nine years old, I loved to go fishing with my dad. But the only thing that wasn’t very fun about it was that he could catch many fish while I couldn’t catch anything. I usually got pretty upset and kept asking him why. He always answered, “Son, if you want to catch a fish, you have to think like a fish”, I remember being even more upset then because, “I’m not a fish!” I didn’t know how to think like a fish. Besides, I reasoned, how could what I think influence what a fish does?

As I got a little older I began to understand what my dad really meant. So, I read some books on fish. And I even joined the local fishing club and started attending the monthly meetings. I learned that a fish is a cold-blooded animal and therefore is very sensitive to water temperature.

That is why fish prefer shallow water to deep water because the former is warmer. Besides, water is usually warmer in direct sunlight than in the shade. Yet, fish don’t have any eyelids(眼皮) and the sun huts their eyes… The more I understood fish, the more I became effective at finding and catching them..

When I grew up and entered the business world, I remember hearing my first boss say, “We all need to think like sales people.” But it didn’t completely make sense. My dad never once said, “If you want to catch a fish you need to think like a fisherman.” What he said was, “You need to think like a fish.” Years later, with great efforts to promote long-term services to people much older and richer than me, I gradually learned what we all need is to think more like customers. It is not an easy job. I will show you how in the following chapters.

31. Why was the author upset in fishing trips when he was nine?

A. He could not catch a fish.

B. His father was not patient with him.

C. His father did not teach him fishing.

D. He could not influence a fish as his father did.

32. What did the author’s father really mean?

A. To read about fish.

B. To learn fishing by oneself.

C. To understand what fish think.

D. To study fishing in many ways.

33. According to the author, fish are most likely to be found _________.

A. in deep water on sunny days

B. in deep water on cloudy days

C. in shallow water under sunlight

D. in shallow water under waterside trees.

34. After entering the business world, the author found _________.

A. it easy to think like a customer

B. his father’s fishing advice inspiring

C. his first boss’s sales ideas reasonable

D. it difficult to sell services to poor people

35. This passage most likely comes from _________.

A. a fishing guide

B. a popular sales book

C. a novel on childhood

D. a millionaire’s biography

【解析】

试题分析：本文叙述了作者通过以父亲教授他钓鱼时，要像鱼一样思考，学会钓鱼的道理，告诉大家从事商业销售时要像消费者一样去思考。

31. A细节理解题。根据第一段的But that wasn‘t very fun about it was that he could catch many fish while I couldn‘t catch anything. I usually got pretty upset. 可知作者感到难过，是因为他捉不到一条鱼。故选A。

32. D推理判断题。根据The more I understood fish, the more I became effective at finding and catching them.“我越了解鱼，我越能有效的找到鱼，抓住鱼”可知此处父亲的意思是要我了解钓鱼的方法，故选D。

33. D推理判断题。根据That is why fish prefer shallow water to deep water可知鱼喜欢在浅水里，不喜欢在深水里，故排除AB两项。根据water is usually warmer in direct sunlight than in the shade. Yet, fish don‘t have any eyelids（眼皮）and the sun hurts their eyes.可知鱼喜欢呆在阴凉处，不喜欢呆在阳光直射的地方，故排除C项。D项水边树下的浅水处，是鱼喜欢呆的地方，故此处更有可能发现鱼。故选D。

34. B推理判断题。根据I gradually learned what we all need is to think more like customers“我逐渐了解我们需要像消费者一样去思考”这与父亲的“You need to think like a fish”相似，因此这是父亲的话给他的启发。故选B。

35. B推理判断题。根据It is not an easy job. I will show you how in the following chapters“这不是一份轻松的工作，我将在下面几章里向你们展示如何去做”，故推断这是在教授大家如何去销售的书。故选B。

【考点定位】故事类短文阅读。

【名师点睛】本文设计的问题主要是推理判断题。通过贯穿全文的“You need to think like a fish”通过讲述了钓鱼的方法，介绍了销售的技巧。充分考查了学生的语篇理解能力以及上下文的语境理解能力。第35题，具有引出下文的作用，也充分暗示了本文的主题。

7.【2015·广东】D

It was once common to regard Britain as a society with class distinction. Each class had unique characteristics.

In recent years, many writers have begun to speak the 'decline of class' and 'classless society' in Britain. And in modern day consumer society everyone is considered to be middle class.

But pronouncing the death of class is too early. A recent wide-ranging society of public opinion found 90 percent of people still placing themselves in particular class; 73 percent agreed that class was still a vital part of British society; and 52 percent thought there were still sharp class differences. Thus, class may not be culturally and politically obvious, yet it remains an important part of British society. Britain seems to have a love of

One unchanging aspect of a British person's class position is accent. The words a person speaks tell her or his class. A study of British accents during 1970s found that a voice sounding like a BBC newsreader was viewed as the most attractive voice, Most people said this accent sounded 'educated' and 'soft'. The accents placed at the bottom in this study, on the other hand, were regional（地区的）city accents. These accents were seen as 'common' and 'ugly'. However, a similar study of British accents in the US turned these results upside down and placed some regional accents as the most attractive and BBC English as the least. This suggests that British attitudes towards accent have deep roots and are based on class prejudice.

In recent years, however, young upper middle-class people in London, have begun to adopt some regional accents, in order to hide their class origins. This is an indication of class becoming unnoticed. However, the 1995 pop song 'Common People' puts forward the view that though a middle-class person may 'want to live like common people' they can never appreciate the reality of a working-class life.

41. A recent study of public opinion shows that in modern Britain ________.

A. it is time to end class distinction

B. most people belong to middle class

C. it is easy to recognize a person’s class

D. people regard themselves socially different

42. The word stratification in Paragraph 3 is closest in meaning to ________.

A. variety

B. most people belong to middle class