1.Being Left-handed in a Right-handed World
The world is designed for right-handed people,but why does a tenth of the population prefer the left?(36)D
The answer to it remains a bit of a mystery.Since scientists have noticed that left-handedness tends to run in families,it's assumed that left-handedness has a genetic(基因的) component to it.(37)A In fact,identical twins,who share the same genes,can sometimes prefer to use different hands.There are also plenty of theories on what else might determine which hand you write with,but many experts believe that it's kind of random.
Historically,the left side and left-handedness have been considered a negative thing by many cultures.(38)C In some areas,the left hand became known as the"unclean"hand.In many religions,the right hand of God is the favored hand.For example,Jesus sits at God's right side.God's left hand,however,is the hand of judgement.Various activities and experiences become rude or even signs of bad luck when the left hand becomes involved.In some parts of Scotland,it is considered bad luck to meet a left-handed person at the start of a journey.(39)F A person giving directions will put their left hand behind them and even physically try to point with their right hand if necessary.In some Asian countries,eating with the left hand is considered impolite.
(40)G People come to realize that left-handedness is natural.People even noticed that many famous people are left-handed,including Benjamin Franklin,Leonardo Da Vinci,and Charlie Chaplin.Some researchers find out that lefties are more creative and can deal with abstract thinking better.The left-handedness is more easily adaptable to the right-handed world as well.Being left-handed is no longer a sad story now; instead,it is a wonderful gift or maybe it is something you should take pride in.
A.In other words,left-handers are born that way.
B.Left-handedness used to be regarded as a disability.
C.The unfavorable associations of the use of the left hand among cultures are varied.
D.Why do they prefer to use their left hand rather than their right hand for routine activities?
E.Why do some parents force their left-handed children to become right-handed when writing?
F.In Ghana,pointing,gesturing,giving or receiving items with the left hand is considered rude.
G.Fortunately,nowadays most societies and cultures no longer reject left-handedness like before.
分析 本文屬于說明文閱讀,作者通過這篇文章主要向我們描述了左撇子的社會形式,人們開始意識到左撇子是很正常的,人們不再排斥左撇子.
解答 36.D 本題考查前后句子的聯(lián)系,根據(jù)前文The world is designed for right-handed people,but why does a tenth of the population prefer the left?可知此處是以問句引出下文,而且本文主要講述的是左撇子,故選D.
37.A 本題考查前后句子的聯(lián)系,根據(jù)前文Since scientists have noticed that left-handedness tends to run in families,it's assumed that left-handedness has a genetic(基因的) component to it.可知左撇子的形成有基因的原因,也就是說左撇子是天生如此,故選A.
38.C 本題考查前后句子的聯(lián)系,根據(jù)前文Historically,the left side and left-handedness have been considered a negative thing by many cultures.可知在許多文化背景下,左撇子被認為是消極的,不好的,因此與文化有關(guān),故選C.
39.F 本題考查前后句子的聯(lián)系,根據(jù)前文In some parts of Scotland,it is considered bad luck to meet a left-handed person at the start of a journey.可知在蘇格蘭的一些地區(qū),在旅行開始時,遇到一個左撇子的人被認為是不吉利的,因此后文應(yīng)當講述在其他國家的事,故選F.
40.G 本題考查前后句子的聯(lián)系,根據(jù)最后一段可知本段主要講述了現(xiàn)在人們開始意識到左撇子是很正常的,人們不再排斥左撇子,故選G.
點評 七選五閱讀是完成性閱讀,和完形填空很類似,不同的是一個選詞,一個選句子.解題時,要注意上下文語境,充分考慮信息詞(選項中和空格前后句子中相同或相近的詞),選出最符合語境的句子.