中考英语真题阅读（23）
中考英语真题阅读（23）
What are you holding in your hand while you are taking the examination? Right. A pen.
Though it is small, the pen has changed the history, improved the trade of countries, recorded events, carried news, and done far more work for human beings than all other tools.
Progress without it would have been almost impossible. The invention of the wheels, the introduction of steam engine(蒸汽机), the use of electricity, all these have changed the lives of millions of people, but the pen has done more. It has taken away mountains, and it has prepared the way for all progress and development of the society.
In the past the pen did all the work if you wanted to keep any writing for some time. The lawyers took up their pens and wrote the law of the country from the days when papyrus(纸莎草纸) was first used. The most famous letters in the world were written with a pen. It was with a pen that the greatest thinkers of all time wrote down their thoughts.
The pen is very utilitarian. We cannot sign a bill or write a letter or buy a house without our pen. An agreement is worthless till our name is written with a pen. The writers encourage the world with it. The students take their examinations with it as well.
Our coming into the world is recorded with a pen. Before we have been at school, our name is written on the name list with a pen. We cannot be married till we have signed. A pen records the important events in our life.
Let us remember that we hold in our hand the most powerful instrument which man owns. The pen is a magic tool. Whenever you use it, enjoy it.

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1.What is the writer trying to do in this passage?

A Describe what a pen looks like.

B Introduce the history of the pen.

C Advise people to prepare a new pen.

D Show the importance of the pen.

解析：选D。细节理解题。根据Progress without it would have been almost impossible.没有它进步是不可能的，but the pen has done more.但是钢笔做的更多，An agreement is worthless till our name is written with a pen.一份协议用钢笔写上我们的名字才有价值；可知作者尽力介绍钢笔的重要性，故选D。

2.The word “mountains” in the third paragraph refers to(指代) “something to _________ ”.

A explain the use of electricity

B lower the students’ scores

C stop the social development

D change the law of the country

解析：选C。推理判断题。根据第三段It has taken away mountains, and it has prepared the way for all progress and development of the society.可知这里的“山”指的是阻碍社会发展和进步的东西，故选C。

3.The lawyers started to write the law of the country _________.

A before their thoughts were changed

B when papyrus was first used

C as soon as they recorded their names

D after they took an important exam

解析：选B。细节理解题。根据The lawyers took up their pens and wrote the law of the country from the days when papyrus(纸莎草纸) was first used.可知纸莎草纸开始被使用时，律师写下了国家的法律，故选B。

4.The underlined word “utilitarian” in the passage means “_________”.

A cheap

B boring

C special

D useful

解析：选D。词义猜测题。根据第五段下文We cannot sign a bill or write a letter or buy a house without our pen. An agreement is worthless till our name is written with a pen. The writers encourage the world with it. The students take their examinations with it as well.可知钢笔非常有用，故选D。

5.What is the best title for this passage?

A A Powerful Tool

B An Important Law

C A Valuable Record

D An Exciting Event

解析：选A。主旨大意题。根据最后一段Let us remember that we hold in our hand the most powerful instrument which man owns. The pen is a magic tool. Whenever you use it, enjoy it.以及文章内容讲述钢笔的重要性，“一个强有力的工具”比较符合文章主旨，故选A。