17.Once upon a time,science fiction was just a style among other styles.There were crime stories,there were horror stories,there was literary fiction-and there was science fiction.But today science themes dominate these other styles.It's difficult to think of much modern crime,horror or"serious"fiction that doesn't involve science.
And it's not just books.With every second movie and computer game having a sci-fi element,science fiction seems to have controlled our entire entertainment culture.It's clear that if we want to define science fiction we should relate it to the role that science plays in our lives.Perhaps the place to start is by noting when it began.
Although some experts have claimed to be able to trace sci-fi back to ancient times,it is more plausible to find it in initial form in the 19th century,when industrial societies arose.One of the features that set industrial societies apart from other kinds was the increasing part that science played in everyday life.Factories with vast machines turned out huge quantities of goods,which were transported by trains,motor vehicles and ships all over the world.Cities were built on the back of technology,with electricity in homes and hospitals helping everyone to lead healthier,more convenient lives.All of these changes had great effects not only on people's real lives,but on their imaginative ones.
Writers began to articulate these changing physical and mental landscapes,eventually giving science fiction a large and devoted fan base of especially young readers,who found that it spoke to their curiosity about the future that science would create.
But sci-fi reflected fears about science more than it did hopes.These typical early science fiction novel might be a UK novel like H.G.Wells'The War of the Worlds (1897).With great skill,Wells played upon the fears of technology by imagining Earth under threat by a civilization-that of men from Mars.
The science fiction of today expresses the impact of the computing revolution,robotics and our environmental challenges,while it is less concerned with"little green men from Mars"and other themes of past sci-fi.
Given that science,technology and politics are always intertwined (交织),contemporary science fiction often has a great deal to say about power.Many recent novels-like American Cory Doctorow's Little Brother (2008)-are concerned with government and security service"conspiracies (阴谋)"against the people,particularly as the revelations of whistleblowers like Edward Snowden sink in.This can give sci-fi writing a"skeptical"feel.
This underlines one of the features that remains constant between the beginnings of the empire of science fiction and its state today.
As then,so now:We want to read about how fearful the future will be,not how it will be a paradise (天堂).
32.The underlined word"dominate"in Paragraph 1probably means"D".
A.induce
B.represent
C.interfere
D.influence
33.What caused science fiction to appear in the 19th century?B
A.The curiosity of young readers about the future.
B.The changes that the industrial revolution brought about.
C.People's stretched imagination affected by their real life.
D.People's fears about science rather than hopes.
34.What is mostly conveyed in contemporary science fiction?C
A.Our earth is threatened by aliens from Mars.
B.Modern crime and horror are involved in science.
C.Power is a very important element to ensure security.
D.Entertainment culture and environmental issues are crucial.
35.What's the main idea of the passage?B
A.The impact of the science fiction.
B.The development of the science fiction.
C.The content of the science fiction.
D.The characteristic of the science fiction.
分析 短文主要介绍了科幻小说对其他文体的影响,并介绍其起源和现代科幻小说与以前的不同.
解答 32.D,词义猜测题,根据后一句It's difficult to think of much modern crime,horror or"serious"fiction that doesn't involve science,很难想到与科学无关的现代犯罪小说或恐怖小说,可以推测科学这个主题是影响着这些文体的,该词的意思是"影响",故答案为D.
33.B,细节理解题,根据句子Writers began to articulate these changing physical and mental landscapes,eventually giving science fiction a large and devoted fan base of especially young readers,who found that it spoke to their curiosity about the future that science would create可知,工业革命带来的种种变化使得19世纪出现了科幻小说,故答案为B.
34.C,细节理解题,根据句子contemporary science fiction often has a great deal to say about power可知,现代的科幻小说注重的是能力,故答案为C.
35.B,主旨大意题,短文主要介绍了科幻小说对其他文体的影响,并介绍其起源和现代科幻小说与以前的不同,因此主要讲的是科幻小说的发展,故答案为B.
点评 解答任务型阅读理解题,首先对原文材料迅速浏览,掌握全文的主旨大意.因为阅读理解题一般没有标题,所以,速读全文,抓住中心主旨很有必要,在速读的过程中,应尽可能多地捕获信息材料.其次,细读题材,各个击破.掌握全文的大意之后,细细阅读每篇材料后的问题,弄清每题要求后,带着问题,再回到原文中去寻找、捕获有关信息.最后,要善于抓住每段的主题句,阅读时,要有较强的针对性.对于捕获到的信息,要做认真分析,仔细推敲,理解透彻,只有这样,针对题目要求,才能做到稳、准.