A
(2021·新高考八省联考卷)Magic is a form of entertainment that is based on pretending to do things that are impossible.The magician is a specially trained actor.He tries to make the audience believe that he has the power to do things which are against the laws of nature.
Magic shows are entertaining as long as the audience does not discover how the tricks are done.The magician usually depends on his skill with his hands，on his knowledge of psychology，and，sometimes，on mechanical devices(机械装置)．Since magic performance is meant to trick people，the use of psychology is important.The magician must keep people from noticing all the movements of his hands and from thinking about the secret parts of his equipment.He must also lead the audience to draw false conclusions.The magician's success depends on the fact that many things seen by the eye are not the things that matter.
Two basic magic tricks are making objects seem to appear and making objects seem to disappear.A combination of these two tricks makes for some interesting effects.For example，the magician puts a small ball under one of several cups.The ball then seems to jump from one cup to another or to change colour.What actually happens is that the magician，employing quick hand movements or a mechanical device，hides one ball.While doing this he talks to the audience and waves a brightly coloured cloth with one hand.The audience is too busy watching the cloth and listening to the magician's words to notice that his other hand is hiding the ball.
Another favourite trick is to cut or burn something，and then make it appear whole again.What actually happens is that the magician makes the cut or burned object disappear by quickly hiding it while the audience watches something else.Then he“magically” makes it appear whole again by displaying(展示) another object that has not been cut or burned.
【语篇解读】 本文是一篇说明文。文章介绍了一些魔术师表演的细节以及有关魔术的小技巧。
1．What is the author's main purpose in writing the text?
A．To promote a magic show.
B．To teach people to be magicians.
C．To explain the art of magic.
D．To praise the talents of magicians.
C [目的意图题。通过对文章主旨大意的理解以及文章最后两段讲述的魔术技巧可知，作者写这篇文章的主要目的是解释魔术的艺术。故选C项。]
2．Which of the following is important for a successful magic trick?
A．Moving stage equipment.
B．Directing the audience's attention.
C．Applying high technology.
D．Keeping the performance in secret.
D [细节理解题。通过第二段“Magic shows are entertaining as long as the audience does not discover how the tricks are done(只要观众不知道魔术是如何表演的，魔术表演就很有趣)．”以及“The magician must keep people from noticing all the movements of his hands and from thinking about the secret parts of his equipment(魔术师必须防止人们注意到他的手的所有动作和思考他的设备的秘密部分)．”可知，对演出保密对于魔术的成功很重要。故选D项。]
3．What does the author focus on in the last two paragraphs?
A．Providing examples.
B．Making a summary.
C．Drawing comparisons.
D．Explaining a concept.
A [推理判断题。通过倒数第二段“For example，the magician puts a small ball under one of several cups. The ball then seems to jump from one cup to another or to change colour(例如，魔术师把一个小球放在几个杯子中的一个的下面。然后球似乎从一个杯子跳到另一个杯子或改变颜色)．”以及最后一段“What actually happens is that the magician makes the cut or burned object disappear by quickly hiding it while the audience watches something else(实际发生的是，魔术师通过在观众观看其他东西时迅速隐藏它，使被切割或烧毁的物体消失)．”可以推知，在文章最后两段中，作者举了两个例子。故选A项。]
4．What can we infer from the text?
A．Mechanical devices are expensive.
B．Most magicians employ assistants.
C．It takes practice to perform magic.
D．Small objects are magicians' favourite.
C [推理判断题。通过文章第一段“The magician is a specially trained actor(魔术师是受过专门训练的演员)．”可推知，表演魔术需要练习。故选C项。]
