高二英语试题1234.docVIP

高二英语能力提升(15) 2016. 11 第二部分：阅读理解（共两节，满分40分） 第一节（共15小题；每小题2分，满分30分） 阅读下列短文，从每题所给的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中，选出最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。 A Benjamin Franklin was born into a large family. His father, Josiah, was a candle maker. His father wanted him to take over the family business when he grew up, but he wasnt interested. To help Ben decide on a career, Josiah took him on long walks around Boston so he could observe men doing the work of their trade. Benjamin learned how to do many things during these excursions, but he didnt want to pursue any of the trades. When Ben was twelve years old his father sent him to his older brother James, who was a printer. Ben worked twelve hours a day in the printing shop, but still found time to educate himself. Though he only had two years of formal schooling, he taught himself foreign languages and read books on grammar, science, and math. Later Ben went to Philadelphia. He started his own successful printing business and published a newspaper. People frequently quote from his sayings such things as, Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise and A penny saved is a penny earned. He invented the Franklin stove which provided better heat for their homes. He refused to patent the Franklin stove and the lightning rod because he thought more people would benefit from the inventions if he did not patent them. He proved that lightning and electricity are the same thing using a kite, string, and key in a thunderstorm. His experiments earned him fame. He was also awarded honorary degrees from Harvard and Yale even though he lacked formal schooling. He also worked to put an end to slavery in America long before others took up the cause. Some say when he died in 1790 the whole world went into mourning. 20,000 people honored him at his funeral in Philadelphia. 21. What does the underlined word excursions mean in the passage? A. courses B. careers C. tours D. trades 22. How did the author desc