【三年高考真题】最新三年英语高考真题分项汇编——专题05《阅读理解记叙文》（2023新高考地区专用）

专题05阅读理解记叙文

新高考真题全收录

2022年新高考II卷之B篇

We journalists live in a new age of storytelling, with many new multimedia tools. Many young people don’t even realize it’s new. For them, it’s just normal.

This hit home for me as I was sitting with my 2-year-old grandson on a sofa over the Spring Festival holiday. I had brought a children’s book to read. It had simple words and colorful pictures — a perfect match for his age.

Picture this: my grandson sitting on my lap as I hold the book in front so he can see the pictures. As I read, he reaches out and pokes (戳) the page with his finger.

What’s up with that? He just likes the pictures, I thought. Then I turned the page and continued. He poked the page even harder. I nearly dropped the book. I was confused: Is there something wrong with this kid?

Then I realized what was happening. He was actually a stranger to books. His father frequently amused the boy with a tablet computer which was loaded with colorful pictures that come alive when you poke them. He thought my storybook was like that.

Sorry, kid. This book is not part of your high-tech world. It’s an outdated, lifeless thing. An antique, like your grandfather. Well, I may be old, but I’m not hopelessly challenged, digitally speaking. I edit video and produce audio. I use mobile payment. I’ve even built websites.

There’s one notable gap in my new-media experience, however: I’ve spent little time in front of a camera, since I have a face made for radio. But that didn’t stop China Daily from asking me last week to share a personal story for a video project about the integration of Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei province.

Anyway, grandpa is now an internet star — two minutes of fame! I promise not to let it go to my head. But I will make sure my 2-year-old grandson sees it on his tablet.

4. What do the underlined words “hit home for me” mean in paragraph 2?

A. Provided shelter for me.  B. Became very clear to me.

C. Took the pressure off me.  D. Worked quite well on me.

5. Why did the kid poke the storybook?

A. He took it for a tablet computer.  B. He disliked the colorful pictures.

C. He was angry with his grandpa.  D. He wanted to read it by himself.

6. What does the author think of himself?

A. Socially ambitious.  B. Physically attractive.

C. Financially independent.  D. Digitally competent.

7. What can we learn about the author as a journalist?

A. He lacks experience in his job.  B. He seldom appears on television.

C. He manages a video department.  D. He often interviews internet stars.

2022年1月浙江卷之A篇

For nearly a decade now, Merebeth has been a self-employed pet transport specialist. Her pet transport job was born of the financial crisis（危机）in the late 2000s. The downturn hit the real estate （房地产）firm where she had worked for ten years as an office manager. The firm went broke and left her looking for a new job. One day, while driving near her home, she saw a dog wandering on the road, clearly lost. She took it home, and her sister in Denver agreed to take it. This was a loving home for sure, but 1, 600 miles away. It didn't take long for Merebeth to decide to drive the dog there herself. It was her first road trip to her new job.

Merebeth's pet delivery service also satisfies her wanderlust. It has taken her to every state in the US except Montana, Washington and Oregon, she says proudly. If she wants to visit a new place, she will simply find a pet with transport needs there. She travels in all weathers. She has driven through 55 mph winds in Wyoming, heavy flooding and storms in Alabama and total whiteout conditions in Kansas.

This wanderlust is inherited from her father, she says. She moved their family from Canada to California when she was one year old, because he wanted them to explore a new place together. As soon as she graduated from high school she left home to live on Catalina Island off the Californian coast, away from her parents, where she enjoyed a life of sailing and off-road biking.

It turns out that pet transporting pays quite well at about $30 000 per year before tax. She doesn't work in summer, as it would be unpleasantly hot for the animals in the car, even with air conditioning. As autumn comes, she gets restless—the same old wanderlust returning. It's a call she must heed alone, though. Merebeth says, "When I am on the road, I'm just in my own world. I've always been independent-spirited and I just feel strongly that I mush help animals. *'

1. Why did Merebeth changed her job?

A. She wanted to work near her home.

B. She was tired of working in the office.

C. Her sister asked her to move to Denver.

D. Her former employer was out of business.

2. The word "wanderlust" in paragraph 2 means a desire to _________?

A. make money. B. try various jobs.

C. be close to nature. D. travel to different places.

3. What can we learn about Merebeth in her new job?

A. She has chances to see rare animals.

B. She works hard throughout the year.

C. She relies on herself the whole time.

D. She earns a basic and tax-free salary.

2021年新高考I卷之B篇

By day, Robert Titterton is a lawyer. In his spare on stage beside pianist Maria Raspopova — not as a musician but as her page turner. “I’m not a trained musician, but I’ve learnt to read music so I can help Maria in her performance.”

Mr. Titterton is chairman of the Omega Ensemble but has been the group’s official page turner for the past four years. His job is to sit beside the pianist and turn the pages of the score so the musician doesn’t have to break the flow of sound by doing it themselves. He said he became just as nervous as those playing instruments on stage.

“A lot of skills are needed for the job. You have to make sure you don’t turn two pages at once and make sure you find the repeats in the music when you have to go back to the right spot.” Mr. Titterton explained.

Being a page turner requires plenty of practice. Some pieces of music can go for 40 minutes and require up to 50 page turns, including back turns for repeat passages. Silent onstage communication is key, and each pianist has their own style of “nodding” to indicate a page turn which they need to practise with their page turner.

But like all performances, there are moments when things go wrong. “I was turning the page to get ready for the next page, but the draft wind from the turn caused the spare pages to fall off the stand,” Mr. Titterton said, “Luckily I was able to catch them and put them back.”

Most page turners are piano students or up-and-coming concert pianists, although Ms. Raspopova has once asked her husband to help her out on stage.

“My husband is the worst page turner,” she laughed. “He’s interested in the music, feeling every note, and I have to say: ‘Turn, turn!’ “Robert is the best page turner I’ve had in my entire life.”

24. What should Titterton be able to do to be a page turner?

A. Read music. B. Play the piano.

C Sing songs. D. Fix the instruments.

25. Which of the following best describes Titterton’s job on stage?

A. Boring. B. Well-paid.

C. Demanding. D. Dangerous.

26. What does Titterton need to practise?

A. Counting the pages. B. Recognizing the “nodding”.

C. Catching falling objects. D. Performing in his own style.

27. Why is Ms Raspopova’s husband “the worse page turner”?

A. He has very poor eyesight. B. He ignores the audience.

C. He has no interest in music. D. He forgets to do his job.

2021年新高考II卷之B篇

I have worked as a keeper at the National Zoo, Paris for 11 years. Spot and Stripe are the first tiger cubs that have ever been born here. Globally, a third of Sumatran cubs in zoos don't make it to adulthood, so I decided to give them round-the-clock care at home.

I've got two children—the younger one, Kynan, was extremely happy about the tigers arriving - but all of us really looked forward to being part of their lives and watching them grow. I wasn't worried about bringing them into my home with my wife and kids. These were cubs. They weighed about 2.5 kg and were so small that there was absolutely no risk.

As they grew more mobile, we let them move freely around the house during the day, but when we were asleep we had to contain them in a large room, otherwise they'd get up to mischief. We'd come down in the morning to find they'd turned the room upside down, and left it looking like a zoo.

Things quickly got very intense due to the huge amount of energy required to look after them. There were some tough times and I just felt extremely tired. I was grateful that my family was there to help. We had to have a bit of a production line going, making up “tiger milk”, washing baby bottles, and cleaning the floors.

When Spot and Stripe were four months old, they were learning how to open doors and jump fences, and we knew it really was time for them to go. It was hard for us to finally part with them. For the first few days, Kynan was always a bit disappointed that the cubs weren't there.

I'm not sad about it. I'm hands-on with them every day at the zoo, and I do look back very fondly on the time that we had them.

4. Why did the author bring the tiger cubs home?

A. To ensure their survival. B. To observe their differences.

C. To teach them life skills. D. To let them play with his kids.

5. What do the underlined words “get up to mischief” mean in paragraph 3?

A. Behave badly. B. Lose their way. C. Sleep soundly. D. Miss their mom.

6. What did the author think of raising the tiger cubs at home?

A. Boring. B. Tiring. C. Costly. D. Risky.

7. Why did the author decide to send Spot and Stripe back to the zoo?

A. They frightened the children. B. They became difficult to contain.

C. They annoyed the neighbours. D. They started fighting each other.

2021年新高考II卷之C篇

A British woman who won a S1 million prize after she was named the World's Best Teacher will use the cash to bring inspirational figures into UK schools.

Andria Zafirakou,a north London secondary school teacher, said she wanted to bring about a classroom revolution (变革). “We are going to make a change, ”she said.“I’ve started a project to promote the teaching of the arts in our schools.”

The project results from the difficulties many schools have in getting artists of any sort - whether an up-and-coming local musician or a major movie star - into schools to work with and inspire children.

Zafirakou began the project at Alperton Community School her place of work for the past twelve years. “I've seen those magic moments when children are talking to someone they are inspired by - their eyes are shining and their faces light up,” she said. “We need artists . more than ever in our schools."

Artist Michael Craig-Martin said: “Andria's brilliant project to bring artists from all fields into direct contact with children is particularly welcome at a time when the arts are being downgraded in schools." It was a mistake to see the arts as unnecessary, he added.

Historian Sir Simon Schama is also a supporter of the project. He said that arts education in schools was not just an add-on. “It is absolutely necessary. The future depends on creativity and creativity depends on the young. What will remain of us when artificial intelligence takes over will be our creativity, and it is our creative spirit, our visionary sense of freshness, that has been our strength for centuries."

8. What will Zafirakou do with her prize money?

A. Make a movie. B. Build new schools.

C. Run a project. D. Help local musicians.

9. What does Craig-Martin think of the teaching of the arts in UK schools?

A. It is particularly difficult. B. It increases artists' income.

C. It opens children's mind. D. It deserves greater attention.

10. What should be stressed in school education according to Schama?

A. Moral principles. B. Interpersonal skills.

C. Creative abilities. D. Positive worldviews.

11. Which of the following is a suitable title for the text?

A. Bring Artists to Schools B. When Historians Meet Artists

C. Arts Education in Britain D. The World's Best Arts Teacher

2021年1月浙江卷之A篇

More than 25 years ago, Saroo Brierley lived in rural（农村）India. One day, he played with his brother along the rail line and fell asleep. When he woke up and found himself alone, the 4-year-old decided his brother might be on the train he saw in front of him-so he got on.

That train took him a thousand miles across the country to a totally strange city. He lived on the streets, and then in an orphanage（孤儿院）. There, he was adopted by an Australian family and flown to Tasmania.

As he writes in his new book, A Long Way Home, Brierley couldn't help but wonder about his hometown back in India. He remembered landmarks, but since he didn't know his town's name, finding a small neighborhood in a vast country proved to be impossible.

Then he found a digital mapping program. He spent years searching for his hometown in the program's satellite pictures. In 2011, he came across something familiar. He studied it and realized he was looking at a town's central business district from a bird's-eye view. He thought, “On the right-hand side you should see the three-platform train station”—and there it was. "And on the left-hand side you should see a big fountain"-and there it was. Everything just started to match.

When he stood in front of the house where he grew up as a child, he saw a lady standing in the entrance. "There's something about me, " he thought—and it took him a few seconds but he finally remembered what she used to look like.

In an interview Brierley says, "My mother looked so much shorter than I remembered. But she came forth and walked forward, and I walked forward, and my feelings and tears and the chemical in my brain, you know, it was like a nuclear fusion（核聚变）. I just didn't know what to say, because I never thought seeing my mother would ever come true. And here I am, standing in front of her.”

38．Why was Brierley separated from his family about 25 years ago?

A．He got on a train by mistake.

B．He got lost while playing in the street.

C．He was taken away by a foreigner.

D．He was adopted by an Australian family.

39．How did Brierley find his hometown?

A．By analyzing old pictures.

B．By travelling all around India.

C．By studying digital maps.

D．By spreading his story via his book.

40．What does Brierley mainly talk about in the interview?

A．His love for his mother.

B．His reunion with his mother.

C．His long way back home.

D．His memory of his hometown.

2021年6月浙江卷

Leslie Nielsen’s childhood was a difficult one, but he had one particular shining star in his life — his uncle, who was a well-known actor. The admiration and respect his uncle earned inspired Nielsen to make a career (职业) in acting. Even though he often felt he would be discovered to be a no-talent, he moved forward, gaining a scholarship to the Neighborhood Playhouse and making his first television appearance a few years later in 1948. However, becoming a full-time, successful actor would still be an uphill battle for another eight years until he landed a number of film roles that finally got him noticed.

But even then, what he had wasn’t quite what he wanted. Nielsen always felt he should be doing comedy but his good looks and distinguished voice kept him busy in dramatic roles. It wasn’t until 1980 — 32 years into his career — that he landed the role it would seem he was made for in Airplane! That movie led him into the second half of his career where his comedic presence alone could make a movie a financial success even when movie reviewers would not rate it highly.

Did Nielsen then feel content in his career? Yes and no. He was thrilled to be doing the comedy that he always felt he should do but even during his last few years, he always had a sense of curiosity, wondering what new role or challenge might be just around the comer. He never stopped working, never retired.

Leslie Nielsen’s devotion to acting is wonderfully inspiring. He built a hugely successful career with little more than plain old hard work and determination. He showed us that even a single desire, never given up on, can make for a remarkable life.

1. Why did Nielsen want to be an actor?

A. He enjoyed watching movies. B. He was eager to earn money.

C. He wanted to be like his uncle D. He felt he was good at acting.

2. What do we know about Nielsen in the second half of his career?

A. He directed some high quality movies. B. He avoided taking on new challenges.

C. He focused on playing dramatic roles. D. He became a successful comedy actor.

3. What does Nielsen’s career story tell us?

A. Art is long, life is short. B. He who laughs last laughs longest.

C. It’s never too late to learn. D. Where there’s a will there’s a way.

We live in a town with three beaches. There are two parts less than 10 minutes’ walk from home where neighborhood children gather to play. However, what my children want to do after school is pick up a screen — any screen — and stare at it for hours. They are not alone. Today's children spend an average of four and a half hours a day looking at screens, split between watching television and using the Internet.

In the past few years, an increasing number of people and organisations have begun coming up with plans to counter this trend. A couple of years ago film-maker David Bond realised that his children, then aged five and three, were attached to screens to the point where he was able to say “chocolate” into his three-year-old son’s ear without getting a response. He realised that something needed to change, and, being a London media type, appointed himself “marketing director from Nature”. He documented his journey as he set about treating nature as a brand to be marketed to young people. The result was Project Wild Thing, a film which charts the birth of the World Network, a group of organisations with the common goal of getting children out into nature.

“Just five more minutes outdoors can make a difference,” David Bond says. “There is a lot of really interesting evidence which seems to be suggesting that if children are inspired up to the age of seven, then being outdoors will be on habit for life.” His own children have got into the habit of playing outside now: “We just send them out into the garden and tell them not to come back in for a while.”

Summer is upon us. There is an amazing world out there, and it needs our children as much as they need it. Let us get them out and let them play.

4. What is the problem with the author’s children?

A. They often annoy their neighbours. B. They are tired of doing their homework.

C. They have no friends to play with D. They stay in front of screens for too long.

5. How did David Bond advocate his idea?

A. By making a documentary film. B. By organizing outdoor activities.

C. By advertising in London media. D. By creating a network of friends.

6. Which of the following can replace the underlined word “charts” in paragraph 2?

A. records B. predicts C. delays D. confirms

7. What can be a suitable title for the text?

A. Let Children Have Fun B. Young Children Need More Free Time

C. Market Nature to Children D. David Bond: A Role Model for Children

2020年全国II卷之D篇

I have a special place in my heart for libraries. I have for as long as I can remember. I was always an enthusiastic reader, sometimes reading up to three books a day as a child. Stories were like air to me and while other kids played ball or went to parties, I lived out adventures through the books I checked out from the library.

My first job was working at the Ukiah Library when I was 16 years old .It was a dream job and I did everything from shelving books to reading to the children for story time.

As I grew older and became a mother, the library took on a new place and an added meaning in my life. I had several children and books were our main source(来源) of entertainment. It was a big deal for us to load up and go to the local library, where my kids could pick out books to read or books they wanted me to read to them.

I always read ,using different voices ,as though I were acting out the stories with my voice and they loved it !It was a special time to bond with my children and it filled them with the wonderment of books .

Now, I see my children taking their children to the library and I love that the excitement of going to the library lives on form generation to generation.

As a novelist, I’ve found a new relationship with libraries. I encourage readers to go to their local library when they can’t afford to purchase a book. I see libraries as a safe haven(避风港) for readers and writers, a bridge that helps put together a reader with a book. Libraries, in their own way, help fight book piracy(盗版行为) and 1 think all writers should support libraries in a significant way when they can. Encourage readers to use the library. Share library announcements on your social media. Frequent them and talk about them when you can.

32. Which word best describes the author’s relationship with books as a child?

A. Cooperative. B. Uneasy. C. Inseparable. D. Casual.

33. What does the underlined phrase “an added meaning” in paragraph 3 refer to?

A. Pleasure from working in the library.

B. Joy of reading passed on in the family.

C. Wonderment from acting out the stories.

D. A closer bond developed with the readers.

34. What does the author call on other writers to do?

A. Sponsor book fairs. B. Write for social media.

C. Support libraries. D. Purchase her novels.

35. Which can be a suitable title for the text?

A. Reading: A Source of Knowledge

B. My Idea about writing

C. Library: A Haven for the Young

D. My Love of the Library

2020年1月浙江卷之A篇

I never knew anyone who’d grown up in Jackson without being afraid of Mrs. Calloway our librarian. She ran Jackson’s Carnegie Library absolutely by herself. SILENCE in big black letters was on signs hung everywhere. If she thought you were dressed improperly, she sent you straight back home to change your clothes. I was willing；I would do anything to read.

My mother was not afraid of Mrs. Calloway. She wished me to have my own library card to check out books for myself, She took me in to introduce me. “Eudora is nine years old and has my permission to read any book she wants from the shelves, children or adults,” Mother said.

Mrs. Calloway made her own rules about books. You could not take back a book to the library on the same day you`d taken it out；it made no difference to her that you’d read every word in it and needed another to start. You could take out two books at a time and two only. So two by two, I read library books as fast as I could go, rushing them home in the basket of my bicycle. From the minute I reached our house, I started to read. I knew this was extreme happiness, knew it at the time.

My mother shared this feeling of mine. Now, I think of her as reading so much of the time while doing something else. I remember her reading a magazine while taking the part of the Wolf in a game of "Little Red Riding Hood" with my brother's two daughters. She'd just look up at the right time, long enough to answer– in character –"The better to eat you with, my dear," and go back to her place in the magazine article.

21. Which of the following best described Mrs. Calloway?

A. diet. B. Strict. C. Humorous. D. Considerate.

22. What do the underlined words "this feeling" refer to in the last paragraph?

A. Desire to read. B. Love for Mrs. Calloway.

C. Interest in games. D. Fear of the library rules.

23. Where is the text probably from?

A. guidebook. B. an autobiography. C. a news report. D. book review.

2020年北京卷之C篇

For the past five years, Paula Smith, a historian of science, has devoted herself to re-creating long-forgotten techniques. While doing research for her new book, she came across a 16th-century French manuscript（手稿）consisting of nearly 1,000 sets of instructions, covering subjects from tool making to finding the best sand.

The author's intention remains as mysterious（神秘）as his name; he may have been simply taking notes for his own records. But Smith was struck mainly by the fact that she didn't truly grasp any of the skills the author described. "You simply can't get an understanding of that handwork by reading about it," she says.

Though Smith did get her hands on the best sand, doing things the old-fashioned way isn't just about playing around with French mud. Reconstructing the work of the craftsmen（工匠）who lived centuries ago can reveal how they viewed the world, what objects filled their homes, and what went on in the workshops that produced them. It can even help solve present-day problems: In 2015, scientists discovered that a 10th-century English medicine for eve problems could kill a drug-resistant virus.

The work has also brought insights for museums, Smith says. One must know how on object was made in order to preserve it. What's more, reconstructions might be the only way to know what treasures looked like before time wore them down. Scholars have seen this idea in practice with ancient Greek and Roman statues. These sculptures were painted a rainbow of striking colours. We can't appreciate these kinds of details without seeing works of art as they originally appeared-something Smith believes you can do only when you have a road map.

Smith has put the manuscript's ideas into practice. Her final goal is to link the worlds of art and science back together: She believes that bringing the old recipes to life can help develop a kind of learning that highlights experimentation, teamwork, and problem solving.

Back when science—then called “the new philosophy”—took shape, academics looked to craftsmen for help in understanding the natural world. Microscopes and telescopes were invented by way of artistic tinkering（修补）, as craftsmen experimented with glass to better bend light.

If we can rediscover the values of hands-on experience and craftwork, Smith says, we can marry the best of our modern insights with the handiness of our ancestors.

38. How did Smith, feel after reading the French manuscript?

A. Confused about the technical terms.

B. Impressed with its detailed instructions.

C. Discouraged by its complex structure.

D. Shocked for her own lack of hand skills.

39. According to Smith, the reconstruction work is done mainly to _____________.

A. restore old workshops B. understand the craftsmen

C. improve visual effects D. inspire the philosophers

40. Why does the author mention museums?

A. To reveal the beauty of ancient objects.

B. To present the findings of old science.

C To highlight the importance of antiques.

D. To emphasise the values of hand skills.

41. Which would be the best title for this passage?

A. Craftsmen Set the Trends for Artists

B. Craftsmanship Leads to New Theories

C. Craftsmanship Makes Better Scientists

D. Craftsmen Reshape the Future of Science

2020年山东卷之B篇

Jenifer Mauer has needed more willpower than the typical college student to pursue her goal of earning a nursing degree. That willpower bore fruit when Jennifer graduated from University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and became the first in her large family to earn a bachelor's degree.

Mauer, of Edgar, Wisconsin, grew up on a farm in a family of 10 children. Her dad worked at a job away from the farm, and her mother ran the farm with the kids. After high school, Jennifer attended a local technical college, working to pay her tuition(学费), because there was no extra money set aside for a college education. After graduation, she worked to help her sisters and brothers pay for their schooling.

Jennifer now is married and has three children of her own. She decided to go back to college to advance her career and to be able to better support her family while doing something she loves: nursing. She chose the UW-Eau Claire program at Ministry Saint Joseph's Hospital in Marshfield because she was able to pursue her four-year degree close to home. She could drive to class and be home in the evening to help with her kids. Jenifer received great support from her family as she worked to earn her degree: Her husband worked two jobs to cover the bills, and her 68-year-old mother helped take care of the children at times.

Through it all, she remained in good academic standing and graduated with honors. Jennifer sacrificed(牺牲)to achieve her goal, giving up many nights with her kids and missing important events to study. ''Some nights my heart was breaking to have to pick between my kids and studying for exams or papers,'' she says. However, her children have learned an important lesson witnessing their mother earn her degree. Jennifer is a first-generation graduate and an inspiration to her family-and that's pretty powerful.

4. What did Jennifer do after high school?

A. She helped her dad with his work.

B. She ran the family farm on her own.

C. She supported herself through college.

D. She taught her sisters and brothers at home.

5. Why did Jennifer choose the program at Ministry Saint Joseph's Hospital in Marshfield?

A. To take care of her kids easily. B. To learn from the best nurses.

C. To save money for her parents. D. To find a well-paid job there.

6. What did Jennifer sacrifice to achieve her goal?

A. Her health. B. Her time with family.

C. Her reputation. D. Her chance of promotion.

7. What can we learn from Jenifer's story?

A. Time is money. B. Love breaks down barriers.

C. Hard work pays off. D. Education is the key to success.

2020年山东卷之C篇

In the mid-1990s, Tom Bissell taught English as a volunteer in Uzbekistan. He left after seven months, physically broken and having lost his mind. A few years later, still attracted to the country, he returned to Uzbekistan to write an article about the disappearance of the Aral Sea.

His visit, however, ended up involving a lot more than that. Hence this book, Chasing the Sea: Lost Among the Ghosts of Empire in Central Asia, which talks about a road trip from Tashkent to Karakalpakstan, where millions of lives have been destroyed by the slow drying up of the sea. It is the story of an American travelling to a strange land, and of the people he meets on his way: Rustam, his translator, a lovely 24-year-old who picked up his colorful English in California, Oleg and Natasha, his hosts in Tashkent, and a string of foreign aid workers.

This is a quick look at life in Uzbekistan, made of friendliness and warmth, but also its darker side of society. In Samarkand, Mr Bissell admires the architectural wonders, while on his way to Bukhara he gets a taste of police methods when suspected of drug dealing. In Ferghana, he attends  untain funeral(葬礼)followed by a strange drinking party. And in Karakalpakstan, he is saddened by the dust storms, diseases and fishing boats stuck miles from the sea.

Mr Bissell skillfully organizes historical insights and cultural references, making his tale a well-rounded picture of Uzbekistan, seen from Western eyes. His judgment and references are decidedly American, as well as his delicate stomach. As the author explains, this is neither a travel nor a history book, or even a piece of reportage. Whatever it is, the result is a fine and vivid description of the purest of Central Asian traditions.

8. What made Mr Bissell return to Uzbekistan?

A. His friends' invitation. B. His interest in the country.

C. His love for teaching. D. His desire to regain health.

9. What does the underlined word “that” in paragraph 2 refer to?

A Developing a serious mental disease.

B. Taking a guided tour in Central Asia.

C. Working as a volunteer in Uzbekistan.

D. Writing an article about the Aral Sea.

10. Which of the following best describes Mr Bissell's road trip in Uzbekistan?

A. Romantic. B. Eventful. C. Pleasant. D. Dangerous.

11. What is the purpose of this text?

A. To introduce a book. B. To explain a cultural phenomenon.

C. To remember a writer. D. To recommend a travel destination.