题文
The view over a valley of a tiny village with thatched (草盖的) roof cottages around a church, a drive through a narrow village street lined with thatched cottages painted pink or white, the sight over the rolling hills of a pretty collection of thatched farm buildings―these are still common sights in parts of England. Most people will agree that the thatched roof is an essential part of the attraction of the English countryside.Thatching is in fact the oldest of all the building crafts（工艺）practised in the British Isles. Although thatch has always been used for cottage and farm buildings, it was once used for castles and churches, too.
Thatching is a solitary（独自的）craft, which often runs in families. The craft of thatching as it is practised toady has changed very little since the Middle Ages. Over 800 full-time thatchers are employed in England and Wales today, keeping and renewing the old roofs as well as thatching newer houses. Many property owners choose thatch not only for its beauty but because they know it will keep them cool in summer and warm in winter.
In fact, if we look at developing countries, over half the world lives under thatch, but they all do it in different ways. People in developing countries are often unwilling to go back to traditional materials and would prefer modern buildings. However, they may lack the money to allow them to get the necessary materials. Their temporary mud huts with thatched roofs of wild grasses often only last six months. Thatch which has been done the British way lasts from twenty to sixty years, and is an effective defiance against the heat.
小题1:Which of the following remains a special feature of the English countryside?A．Narrow streets lined with pink or white houses.B．Rolling hills with pretty farm buildings.C．Cottages with thatched roofs.D．Churches with cottages around them.小题2:What do we know about thatching as a craft?A．It is a collective activity.B．It is practised on farms all over England.C．It is quite different from what it used to be.D．It is in most cases handed down among family members.小题3:Thatched houses are still preferred because of _________.A．their style and comfortB．their durabilityC．their easy maintenance D．their cheap and ready-made materials小题4:People in developing countries also live under thatch because ________.A．thatched cottages are a big tourist attractionB．thatched roof houses are the cheapest C．thatch is an effective defense against the heatD．they like thatched houses better than other buildings 题型：未知 难度：其他题型
答案
小题1:C
小题2:D
小题3:A
小题4:B
解析
本文介绍英国乡村的魅力中最重要的一部分茅草顶的房子，和它的制作是由单个的家庭来制作的，带茅草顶的房屋依然受到青睐的原因。
小题1:辨认事实题。本题询问下面的哪一项保留着英国乡村的独一无二的特征。由第1段最后一句“Most people will agree that the thatched roof i an essential part of the attraction of the English countryside．大多数人认为茅草顶是英国乡村的魅力中最重要的一部分”，我们可以得知，C为正确答案。
小题1:事实推理题。本题询问关于制作茅草顶这一门艺术，我们可以了解什么。由第3段第1句“Thatching is a solitary craft，which often runs in families．茅草顶制作是一门独自的艺术，通常由单个的家庭来制作。”可以推断出D为正确答案。
小题1:事实推理题。本题询问带茅草顶的房屋依然受到青睐是因为______。由第3段最后一句“Many property owner choose thatch not only for its beauty but because they know it will keep them cool in summer and warm in winter．许多业主选择茅草顶不仅因为它美丽而且因为他们知道它会使他们冬暖夏凉。”我们可以得知A为正确答案。
小题1:事实推理题。本题询问发展中国家的人民也住在茅草顶下是因为______。第4段第2和第3句提到，发展中国家的人民更喜欢现代的建筑物，但他们没有钱来进口必要的原料，因此我们可以推断B为正确答案。
点评：本文内容较为简单，要求考生在审题的时候准确定位考查内容，根据题目要求进行筛选和选择。
考点
据考高分专家说，试题“The view over a vall.....”主要考查你对 [政治经济类阅读 ]考点的理解。政治经济类阅读
政治经济类文章的概念：
要做好这类阅读，平时就要注意了解国内外发生的政治经济大事，掌握一定背景知识，对这类文章的叙述特点及内容安排有一定了解，还要扩展这方面的词汇。阅读这类文章，要抓住文章的核心，即文章整体和各段主要在说什么，也要注意段落之间的逻辑关系。
如何备考政治经济类阅读理解题：
【题型说明】政治经济类阅读文章是高考常选材料之一。该类文章时代气息浓郁，语言鲜活，但熟字新义词、超纲词及专业词语多，长句、难句多。政治类文章大多数是同学们感性趣的内容，读起来倒有似曾相识的感觉，经济类文章读起来就像是雾里看花，文章看完，一头雾水。再加之这类文章的命题侧重于词义猜测、推理判断和文章主旨，同学们对这类题材是望而生畏。
【备考策略】建立心理优势。针对不同体裁的文章，我们要采取相应的阅读方法和技巧。政治类文章多采用记叙文形式，我们可采取“顺读法”，以便抓关键语句，领会文章主旨；而经济类文章则多采用说明文形式，我们则可以采取“逆读法”，先读试题，再从文章中查找有用信息。若遇到的确难读的材料。千万不用着急，因为你觉得难，其他人也一定是同感。在高考前，我们就要有这种心理准备，高考试卷肯定有一、两篇难以阅读的材料。不过，我们平时可以有意识地从报刊杂志上找一些较难的阅读材料来阅读，以培养自己迎难而上的心理素质。
【答题方法】
1、寻找主干：
根据英语中五种基本句型结构，把句子中的主语、谓语、宾语、表语等主要成分找出来，其他成分如定语、状语、补语等则易于理解。找到了句子主干，句子的意思至少明白了一半。
2、剔除从句：
在一个长句中可能会出现若干个从句，在理解时，如果把各个从句剔除出来单独理解，然后把大意拼凑起来，整个长句的意思就会明白六、七分。
3、辨别分句：
一个长句如果是由几个并列、转折、递进、对比关系的分句组成，句中往往有表示这些分句关系的连接词，只要能弄清楚分句和分句之间的逻辑关系，再把各层分句的意思加以连贯，整个长句的句意基本上能跃然脑中。
4、寻找关键词：
如果一个句子看完，一点句意的感觉也没有，下下策就是抓住句中的关键词，通过关键词大体弄懂这个长句的意思。
