Two things changed my life: my mother and a white, plastic, daisy bike basket. I have thought long and hard about it and it’s true. I would be a different person if my mom hadn’t turned a silly bicycle accessory (配件) into a life lesson I carry with me today.
It was summer and, one day, my mother drove me to the bike shop to get a tire fixed — and there it was in the window. White, shiny, plastic and decorated with daisies, the basket seemed so appealing and I knew I had to have it.
“Mom, please can I please, please get it? I’ll do extra chores for as long as you say. I’ll do anything, but I need that basket. Please, Mom. Please?”
“You know,” she said, gently rubbing my back while we both stared at what I believed was the coolest thing ever, “If you save up, you could buy this yourself.”
“By the time I make enough it’ll be gone!’
“Maybe Roger here could hold it for you,” She smiled at Roger, the bike guy.
“For that long? He can’t hold it for that long, Mom. Someone else will buy it. Please, Mom, please?”
“There might be another choice,” she said. My mother bought the beautiful basket and put it safely out of reach in some hiding place I couldn’t find. Each week I eagerly counted my growing nest egg earned by extra work here and there (washing the car, helping my mother make dinner, delivering milk around the neighborhood). And then, weeks later maybe, I counted, re-counted and jumped for joy. Oh, happy day! I made it! I finally had the exact amount we’d agreed upon.
Days later, the unthinkable happened. A neighborhood girl I’d played with millions of times appeared with the exact same basket fixed to her shiny, new bike that already had all the bells and whistles. I rode my bike fast home to tell my mother about this disaster, this horrible turn of events.
And then came the lesson I’ve taken with me through my life: “Honey, your basket is extra-special,” Mom said, gently wiping away my hot tears. “Your basket is special because you paid for it yourself.”
1.In Paragraph 1, the writer shows a sense of _________.
A.loneliness B.gratitude C.brightness D.regret
2.The writer finally got the basket she desired by _________.
A.waiting and sharing B.crying and begging
C.working and saving D.borrowing and returning
3.What lesson did the mother want to teach her children?
A.The fruit of one’s labor tastes sweeter. B.After rain comes fair weather.
C.Hard work leads to success. D.Tolerance and patience bring happiness.
高二英语阅读理解简单题查看答案及解析
As we all know, there are plenty of different parks to visit in the UK. All theme parks in Britain have cafes, restaurants, picnic areas and gift shops, so you’ll still have plenty to see and do when you and the kids have been on enough rides. There are usually smaller “funfair” rides and games as well, so younger children won’t get bored. Several theme parks also have other attractions next to them, e.g. water parks often open all year round, unlike the theme parks.
Whenever you are in Britain, there’s likely to be a theme park within one or two hours’drive, bus ride or train journey. Several theme parks even have accommodation (膳宿) so you can stay for a day or two if you want to make a trip into a short holiday.
Prices for UK theme parks vary considerably; some have an entrance price which allows you to go on all the rides, while in others you have to pay for every ride individually. It can also make a difference whether you go during peak time or not. For example, tickets always cost more during school holidays and weekends than they do during the weekdays.
Theme parks always get very busy during the summer months, so if you don’t like crowds it’s usually a good idea to go earlier or later in the year!
If you’re thinking of visiting a UK theme park, it’s worth having a look for special offers on tickets. Products such as chocolate bars and cereals sometimes have “buy one get one free” offers on theme park tickets, so keep a look out in shops and supermarkets.
1.This passage mainly talks about all the following EXCEPT ________.
A.things to do B.prices for theme parks
C.rules to obey D.special offers
2.If you go to the theme park during the weekdays, you’ll probably ________.
A.have to spend more B.save some money
C.have a good time D.get something free
3.According to the passage, what should you do if you are tired of crowds in the theme park?
A.Avoid the busiest months.
B.Go earlier or later in the daytime.
C.Choose one with few visitors.
D.Go there when no one is in it
4.The best title for the text would be ________.
A.What to Do in the Theme Park B.Theme Parks in the UK
C.Visiting the Theme Park D.Introduction to Famous Theme Parks
高二英语阅读理解简单题查看答案及解析
Listening looks easy, yet hard to master. Don’t worry. Here we’ve collected four books to help you to be a good listener.
The Good Listener by James E. Sullivan
The book points out how our poor listening hurts others and how much we can heal(使……好受些)a person just by listening and understanding his/her feelings. It also gives suggestions on how we can improve our listening and how we can share so others will understand us better.
Just Listen by Mark Goulston
This book is about listening and giving responses. Just Listen is a good how-to guide to becoming a better face-to-face communicator. It reveals(揭露)how to make a powerful first impression, how to respond positively and more. If you deal with difficult people around you, this is a must-read for you to not only understand them but also make them feel understood.
Power Listening by Bernard T. Ferrari
Poor listening can lead to poor business decisions. The book focuses on corporate(团体的)listening. It’s great for anyone who leads groups through decision and design. The author offers a step-by-step guide to turn readers into active listeners.
The Lost Art of Listening by Michael P. Nichols
What is it that keeps so many of us from really listening? Nichols answers the question. The book is filled with real-world examples that show easy-to-learn techniques for becoming a better listener. The techniques enable us to break through misunderstandings and conflicts in our relationships.
1.Who gives helpful guides on listening and responding?
A.Mark Goulston B.James E. Sullivan
C.Bernard T. Ferrari D.Michael P. Nichols
2.Which book is useful to a general manager of a company?
A.Just Listen B.Power Listening
C.The Good Listener D.The lost Art of Listening
3.What do we know about the four books?
A.They are based on the author’s experience.
B.They are written in the same style.
C.They provide real-life stories.
D.They share the same theme.
高二英语阅读理解简单题查看答案及解析
Events at The University of Manchester
Telescope Walking Tours
We’ll be hosting our popular Telescope Walking Tours daily from 5 July to 5 August, 2020. You can join one of our friendly Explainers as they take you for a walk around the base of the impressive Lovell Telescope. You’ll explore its amazing history and discover some of its ground-breaking research. Walking Tours last about 45 minutes, will take place indoors if wet, and are available on a drop-in basis.
Art Basket
Are you and your family hungry to get creative? Pick up a picnic basket with a difference.
Come to our Oxford Road or Parkside entrance and pick up one of our special baskets—free and available at any time during gallery opening hours, daily from 31 May to 31 August, 2020. Pack your basket full of art materials and head off to our galleries. Come back later, and we’d love to see what you’ve clone.
Elizabeth Price
Bringing together many new and well-known works, including drawings, sculptures and videos, the exhibition will start on 1 March, 2020 and it runs till 25 May, 2020.
Her Turner Prize winning THE WOOLWORTHS CHOIR of 1 979 , remembering that terrible fire in Manchester, will be shown in the city for the first time.
Children’s Story Competition
From “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” and “Charlotte” Web” to “Spiderman”, insects have inspired countless much-loved stories and comics. Enter your ideas into our story competition lasting from 5 March to 1 J line, 2020. Winners in each age category will be chosen by experts and professional writers and will be featured in a special exhibition publication in summer 2020.
1.What can you do on Telescope Walking Tours?
A.To experience a space walk.
B.To take exercise indoors or outdoors.
C.To learn some knowledge of astronomy.
D.To explore the historic buildings on foot.
2.When will the exhibition event close?
A.On May 25, 2020. B.On August 5, 2020.
C.On June 1, 2020. D.On August 31, 2020.
3.Which event will last longest?
A.Telescope Walking Tours. B.Art Basket.
C.Elizabeth Price. D.Children’s Story Competition.
高二英语阅读理解简单题查看答案及解析
A newly-married Sweden couple on a four-month honeymoon were hit by a series of natural disasters, such as the Australian floods, Christchurch earthquake and Japanese tsunami.
Stefan and Erika Svanstrom left Stockholm, Sweden, on December 6 and were immediately trapped in Munich, Germany, due to one of Europe’s worst snowstorms. Traveling with their baby daughter, they flew on to Cairns in Australia which was then struck by one of the most fierce cyclones(龙卷风)in the nation's history. From there, the couple were forced to shelter for 24 hours on the cold floor of a shopping centre with 2500 others.
“Trees were being knocked over and big branches were scattered across the streets,” Mr Svanstrom told Sweden’s Expressen newspaper. “We escaped by the skin of our teeth. It was so close an encounter with death.
They then headed south to Brisbane but the city was experiencing massive flooding, so they crossed the country to Perth where they narrowly escaped raging bush fires. The couple then flew to Christchurch, New Zealand, arriving just after a massive magnitude(震级)6.3 earthquake destroyed the city on February 22.
Mrs Svanstrom said, “When we got there the whole town was a war zone.”
“We could not visit the city since it was completely blocked off, so instead we traveled around before going to Japan.”
But days after the Svanstroms arrived. Tokyo was rocked by Japan’s largest earthquake since records began. “The trembling was horrible and we saw roofs fly off the buildings,” Mr Svanstrom said. “It was like the buildings were shaking back and forth.”
The family returned to Stockholm on March 29 after a much calmer visit to their last destination -China. But Mr Svanstrom - who also survived the destructive tsunami that hit southeast Asia in 2004 -said the marriage was still going strong. He added, “I know marriages have to endure some trials (考验),but I think we have been through most of them. We’ve certainly experienced more than our fair share of disasters, but the most important thing is that we're together and happy.”
1.Which of the following statements is NOT TRUE according to the passage?
A.The couple went to Perth because of the bush fire in Brisbane.
B.Christchurch, New Zealand was in ruins when the couple arrived.
C.The couple experienced the worst earthquake in Japan's hi story.
D.The couplet visit to China was comparatively uneventful.
2.Which of the following expressions can replace the underlined sentence?
A.We ran away in fear.
B.Our teeth were broken when we ran away.
C.We escaped with others' help.
D.We narrowly escaped death.
3.What is the real meaning of what Mr Svanstrom said after the honeymoon?
A.He dared not travel again in a period of time but would face any difficulty in his marriage.
B.He regarded the disasters as tests in their marriage and he felt they survived.
C.He thought they should share the suffering and would provide disaster relief to the affected areas.
D.He believed the horrible experience a sign that they should not be together.
4.Which of the following is the best title for the passage?
A.A Series of Natural Disasters
B.An Indifferent Journey
C.A Close Look at Disasters
D.The Unforgettable Honeymoon From Hell
高二英语阅读理解简单题查看答案及解析
September is the month for fashion, with four international cities hosting the fashion week. All eyes will turn to New York, London, Milan and Paris this month to see which city puts on the best show.
New York
New York Fashion Week (NYFW) Spring 2020 kicked off on September 4th, 2019 and ran for approximately eight days. NYFW is considered the most commercial and casual of the four. It is also the only event to allow some fashion school students to participate, bringing a fresh look to the runway.
London
London Fashion Week (LFW) Spring 2020 came on the heels of NYFW Spring 2020, starting on September 12th, 2019 and running through September 17th, 2019. Once considered a minor player among the “Big Four”, LFW can now command a list of big names as well as promising new designers. London fashion houses have a reputation for being very experimental and open to new ideas.
Milan
Fashion Week Spring 2020 moved to Milan on September 17th, 2019. This beautiful Italian city is home to some of the biggest fashion houses and designers in the fashion world, including Armani and Prada. Milan's fashion houses arc known for offering glamorous (富有魅力的)yet practical options.
Paris
The month of fashion made its way to France as Paris Fashion Week Spring 2020 began on September 23rd, 2019. Saving the best for last, Paris never fails to offer some of the most exciting shows of the season. World-famous brands like Chanel and Dior try to outdo one another with their latest designs. The word that best describes Paris Fashion Week is “elegant”.
1.When did New York Fashion Week Spring 2020 probably end?
A.September 4th. B.September 8th.
C.September 12th. D.September 13th.
2.Which city is likely to attract new designers who are fresh out of school?
A.Paris. B.New York.
C.London. D.Milan.
3.What can we learn from the four fashion weeks?
A.Each is open to school students.
B.Each shows its biggest brand.
C.Each offers practical options.
D.Each has its own characteristics.
高二英语阅读理解简单题查看答案及解析
Whale researchers believe they have found a new way to measure the amount of stress felt by whales when they experience serious threats, such as being hit by a ship, and they say the technique could help protect the huge sea creatures from dying off.
American Rosalind Rolland is the lead scientist on the project. She and her team are with the New England Aquarium in Boston, Massachusetts. They measured stress hormones (荷尔蒙 ) by studying baleen, a substance found in the upper part of the mouth of some kinds of whale. She explains that the baleen serves as a record that shows a spike in stress hormones when whales face dangers such as a changing climate and ship strikes. Scientists can then read these records, similar to reading the rings on a tree.
Understanding the information is important because whales who often feel stressed are less likely to be reproductive and more likely to become sick. That combination is not good for the whale population, which is already dangerously low.
The scientists did their work on a whale that had become trapped in fishing equipment, which some scientists estimate kills up to 300, 000 whales and dolphins annually. It was finally killed by Inuit hunters who found it trying to drag the fishing equipment. The hunters said the whale seemed to lack energy. When scientists examined the dead whale, they found its mouth showed an increase in stress hormones 20 times greater than normal.
Regina Asmutis-Silvia is a biologist with the Whale and Dolphin Conservation in Massachusetts. She didn’t participate in the research, but she says it is important. “We clearly understand that stress is bad for humans. We also need to understand that stress is bad for other animals, too,” she adds.
1.What does the text mainly tell us?
A.The dangers the whale often faces.
B.The measures to stop sea life being hit.
C.A discovery to measure stress on whales.
D.A way to protect the mouth of the whale.
2.Which of the following can best replace “spike” underlined in Paragraph 2?
A.Rise. B.Change. C.Crash. D.Slide.
3.What may a whale living a stressful life be like?
A.Calm and fierce. B.Unhealthy and unable to reproduce.
C.Uneasy and energetic. D.Sizeable and likely to lose appetite.
4.Why does the author mention the words by Regina?
A.To move on to another topic.
B.To stress the importance of the finding.
C.To tell the necessity of studying other animals.
D.To show the similarity between humans and animals.
高二英语阅读理解简单题查看答案及解析
In 2012, Kim Stemple was a special education teacher and a solid performer in her age group in marathons. And then she got sick. After three years of tests and treatments, the doctors figured out she has a rare mitochondrial disease that is causing progressive mental and physical health to go worse. They told her there was no cure and that this disease would take her life.
Yet Stemple kept running and competing in marathons. One day she was training for the Rock “n” Roll Marathon in Las Vegas when she became too sick to travel. The usually outgoing Stemple sunk into disappointment. But then she received a gift — it was a marathon medal given to her by a friend.
Stemple hung the medal near her hospital bed and it was an instant conversation starter with doctors, nurses and anyone who came to visit. That medal pulled Stemple out of her disappointment. And that gave Stemple the idea to start We Finish Together, an organization devoted to connecting runners who wish to donate medals with those who might appreciate them. Stemple pens a handwritten note of encouragement on each of the medals she gives away. Recipients have included hospital patients, residents of homeless shelters and even doctors and nurses who care for the very ill. “This gives them a connection to someone,” says Stemple. “If they receive a medal, they know someone cares.”
Can a simple medal really make a difference? Joan Musarra said yes, who suffered from a serious disease. “I opened my package containing my new medal and the notes of positive, warm thoughts. I was really excited,” she wrote to Stemple. “It means so much to me to feel that I am not alone.”
1.What can we infer about Stemple before she got too sick to exercise?
A.She was doubtful. B.She was courageous.
C.She was down-hearted. D.She was optimistic.
2.What inspired Stemple to found We Finish Together?
A.The patients’ request. B.The medals she won.
C.Her friend’s gift. D.The encouragement from doctors.
3.How does Stemple’s organization help people in need?
A.By having chats. B.By giving out recycled medals.
C.By contributing money. D.By connecting their relatives.
4.Why did Musarra write the letter to Stemple?
A.To show the medal’s positive effect on her.
B.To discuss about their illnesses.
C.To relieve the symptoms of her illness.
D.To ask for another medal.
高二英语阅读理解简单题查看答案及解析
The Docklands Light Railway(DLR) took just three years to build at a cost of £77 million. It is London’s first Light Rail System, but its route follows that of a number of older lines, which carried the nineteenth century railways through the crowded districts of the East End.
The section of the line from the Tower Gateway Station to Poplar follows the line of one of London’s earliest railways, the London & Blackwell(1840), a cable-drawn railway(later converted to steam) which carried passengers to steam ships at Blackwell Pier, and provided transport for the messengers and clerks who went backwards and forwards between the docks and the city every day.
From Poplar to Island Gardens, a new line crosses high above the dock waters, and then joins the old track of the Millwall Extension Railway, built to service the Millwall Docks(1868) and to provide transport for workers in the local factories. This line was horse-drawn for part of its route, until the 1880s.
The Poplar to Stratford section of the DLR route was first developed by the North London Railway, built in the 1850s to link the West and East India Docks with the manufacturing districts of the Midlands and North of England. There were major railway works and sidings(岔线) at Bow until recently.
The trains are automatically controlled from a central computer, which deals with all signaling and other safety factors, as well as adjusting speeds to keep within the timetable; on board each vehicle, Train Captains, who are also fully qualified drivers, are equipped with two-way radios to maintain contact with central control. There are passenger lifts, and self-service ticket machines, at every station.
1.The history of the railway tells us that the DLR ______.
A.was begun in the nineteen century
B.follows some of the original line
C.will be finished in three years’ time
D.took three years longer than expected to complete
2.It appears that the Poplar to Stratford section of the DLR route was originally developed to ____.
A.make the transport of goods easier B.encourage trade abroad
C.promote the transport in England D.create employment at home
3.The trains on the DLR are controlled by ______.
A.drivers on the trains themselves B.two-way radios operated by the drivers
C.a computer on board the train D.a computer based elsewhere
高二英语阅读理解简单题查看答案及解析
Finland is offering free trips to people in need of happiness lessons
For the past two years, Finland has been named the happiest country in the world. Its citizens are relaxed and cheerful, enjoying life in a technologically advanced society. The Finns themselves owe(归功于) this to their connection with nature and their instinct(本能) to go outside whenever anxiety appears: “When others go to therapy(治疗), Finns put on a pair of rubber boots and head to the woods. A project called Rent A Finn will send a select number of guests to live in Finland for three days this summer. All travel and accommodation costs are covered, but you must be willing to be filmed throughout the experience.
Guest’s activities
Experience anything from visiting a national park to spending a weekend fishing at a real summer cottage, berry picking in the wilderness, enjoying a proper Finnish sauna(桑拿浴)一 basically all the things that we Finns love to do in nature and what makes Finland the happiest country worldwide.
Esko, mayor(市长) of a small town, will take you boating and teach you to play molkky, a Finnish throwing game. If you stay with Hanna, an IT professional, you’ll travel to her grandmother’s lakeside home outside Helsinki, where you’ll pick blueberries and eat traditional foods. Linda and Niko, who live on Uto, an island with a population of around 40, will take you sailing, show you the lighthouse, and camp out on an island.
Application
Now is the time to apply by filling out an online application form and filming a 3-minute video describing yourself, your connection to nature, and why you want to visit Finland. Submit, breathe deeply, and wait. I know what I’ ll be doing this weekend.
1.What do the Finns think mainly brings them happiness?
A.Getting close to nature.
B.Living in a rich country.
C.Remaining in high spirits.
D.Getting on well with others.
2.Who will lead guests to pick blueberries around a lakeside home?
A.Esko. B.Linda.
C.Hanna. D.Niko
3.What should you do if you want to join the project?
A.Complete a form online.
B.Make a video about Finland.
C.Pay the activity expenses in advance.
D.Learn how to make traditional Finnish food.
高二英语阅读理解简单题查看答案及解析