雅思阅读真题（Part 1）
Part 1 · 最近考试：2026.8.30BC安徽开放大学
A
Long known as the "Queen of Gems", pearls possess a history and allure far beyond what today's wearer may recognize. Throughout much of recorded history, a natural pearl necklace comprised of matched spheres was a treasure of almost incomparable value, in fact, the most expensive jewelry in the world. Before the creation of cultured pearls in the early 1900s, natural pearls were so rare and expensive that they were reserved almost exclusively for the noble and very rich. The ancient Egyptians were particularly fond of their pearls. Many Egyptian leaders treasured pearls so much that they were often buried along with their cherished pearl collection. In the Orient and Persian Empire, pearls were ground into costly powders to cure anything from heart disease to epilepsy, with possible aphrodisiac uses as well. China's long recorded history also provides ample evidence of the importance of pearls.
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答案：C
原文定位：Regardless of the method used to acquire a pearl, the process usually takes several years. Mussels must reach a mature age, which can take up to 3 years, and then be implanted or naturally receive an irritant. Once the irritant is in place, it can take up to another 3 years for the pearl to reach its full size. Often, the irritant may be rejected, the pearl will be terribly misshapen, or the oyster may simply die from disease or countless other complications. By the end of a 5 to 10 year cycle, only 50% of the oysters will have survived. And of the pearls produced, only approximately 5% are of a quality substantial enough for top jewelry makers
答案：America
原文定位：Nowadays, the largest stock of natural pearls probably resides in India. Ironically, much of India's stock of natural pearls came originally from Bahrain. Unlike Bahrain, which has essentially lost its pearl resource, traditional pearl fishing is still practiced on a small scale in India
同义替换：「At present」↔「Nowadays」，「major remaining suppliers of natural pearls」↔「the largest stock of natural pearls probably resides in India」
答案：TRUE
原文定位：Often, these shells are ground oyster shells that are worth significant amounts of money in their own right as irritant‑catalysts for quality pearls. The resulting core is much larger than in a natural pearl
同义替换：「A cultured pearl's centre」↔「The resulting core」，「often significantly larger」↔「much larger」，「than that in a natural pearl」↔「than in a natural pearl」
答案：FALSE
原文定位：In general, cultured pearls are less valuable than natural pearls, whereas imitation pearls have almost no value
同义替换：「Imitation pearls」↔「imitation pearls」，「usually the same price」↔「have almost no value」，「natural ones」↔「natural pearls」
答案：NOT GIVEN
原文定位：Among cultured pearls, Akoya pearls from Japan are some of the most lustrous;The South Sea waters of Australia tend to produce the larger pearls
同义替换：「Akoya pearls from Japan」↔「Akoya pearls from Japan」，「glow more deeply」↔「most lustrous」，「South Sea pearls from Australia」↔「South Sea waters of Australia produce the larger pearls」
答案：D
原文定位：Size, on the other hand, has to do with the age of the oyster that created the pearl (the more mature oysters produce larger pearls) and the location in which the pearl was cultured. The South Sea waters of Australia tend to produce the larger pearls, probably because the water along the coastline is supplied with rich nutrients from the ocean floor. Also, the type of mussel being common to the area seems to possess a predilection for producing comparatively large pearls
答案：A
原文定位：The ancient Egyptians were particularly fond of their pearls. Many Egyptian leaders treasured pearls so much that they were often buried along with their cherished pearl collection. In the Orient and Persian Empire, pearls were ground into costly powders to cure anything from heart disease to epilepsy, with possible aphrodisiac uses as well
答案：B
原文定位：A cultured pearl undergoes the same process. The only difference between natural pearls and cultured pearls is that the irritant is a surgically implanted bead or piece of shell called Mother of Pearl
同义替换：「distinctions」↔「difference」
答案：Persia
原文定位：In the Orient and Persian Empire, pearls were ground into costly powders to cure anything from heart disease to epilepsy, with possible aphrodisiac uses as well
同义替换：「used pearls for medicine and philtres」↔「ground into costly powders to cure…」
答案：Mallorca
原文定位：The island of Mallorca in Spain is known for its imitation pearl industry
同义替换：「owns the reputation for」↔「is known for」，「imitation pearl industry」↔「imitation pearl industry」
答案：Australia
原文定位：The South Sea waters of Australia tend to produce the larger pearls, probably because the water along the coastline is supplied with rich nutrients from the ocean floor
同义替换：「produces the larger pearls」↔「produce the larger pearls」，「favourable environment along the coastline」↔「the water along the coastline is supplied with rich nutrients」
答案：Japan
原文定位：Among cultured pearls, Akoya pearls from Japan are some of the most lustrous
同义替换：「manufactures some of the most glistening cultured pearls」↔「Akoya pearls from Japan are some of the most lustrous」
答案：Bahrain
原文定位：Historically, the world's best pearls came from the Persian Gulf, especially around what is now Bahrain
同义替换：「In the past」↔「Historically」，「Persian Gulf」↔「Persian Gulf」，「produced the world's best pearls」↔「the world's best pearls came from」