If you’ve spent any amount of time boating, fishing, or bird-watching at lakes and rivers, you have most likely seen fishes jumping out of the water. I have seen it many times. Certainly, fishes will exit water in desperate attempts to escape enemies. Dolphins take advantage of the behavior, forming a circle and catching the frightened fishes in midair. But just as we may run fast from fun or from fear, different emotions might motivate fishes to jump.
Mobula rays (蝠鲼) aren’t motivated by fear when they throw their impressive bodies — up to a seventeen-foot wingspan (the distance from the end of one wing to the end of the other) and a ton in weight — skyward in leap of up to ten feet. They do it in schools of hundreds. They usually land on their bellies, but sometimes they land on their backs. Some scientists think it might be a way of removing parasites (寄生虫). But I think that the rays are enjoying themselves.
In the clear waters of Florida’s Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge, I watched several schools of fifty or more mullets(鲻鱼) moving in beautiful formation. Their well-built bodies were most evident when they leaped from the water. Most of the time I saw one or two leaps by a fish, but one made a series of seven. They usually land on their sides. Each jump was about a foot clear of the water and two to three feet in length.
Nobody knows for sure why the fish leaps. One idea is that they do it to take in oxygen. The idea is supported by the fact that mullets leap more when the water is lower in oxygen, but is challenged by the likelihood that jumping costs more energy than is gained by breathing air. It is hard to imagine they will feel any fresher when back in water.
Might these fishes also be leaping for fun? There is some new evidence. Gordon M. Burghardt recently published accounts of a dozen types of fishes leaping repeatedly, sometimes over floating objects — sticks, plants, sunning turtle — for no clear reason other than entertainment.
1.What can we say about the dolphins in Paragraph 1?
A.They have great escaping skills. B.They are easily frightened.
C.They are very clever. D.They love jumping.
2.What do the ray and the mullet have in common when jumping?
A.Both do it in groups. B.Both land on their bellies.
C.Both jump many feet out of water. D.Both make leaps one after the other.
3.What’s the author’s attitude towards the idea mentioned in Paragraph 4?
A.Anxious. B.Indifferent.
C.Approving. D.Questionable.
4.Why do fishes leap according to Gordon?
A.To remove parasites. B.To amuse themselves.
C.To take in more oxygen. D.To escape enemies.
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
One of the most important things that has happened to me occurred long before I was aware of it. As the story goes, I was three days old and Mom was singing “The Name Game” song to me: “Christine- Bo-Bean-Banana-Fanna-Fo-Feen.” By day four, I was given a new name — Christine-Bo-Bean, or just Bo-Bean to my mother. Now, I am Bo to her and close friends.
Why is this nickname so important to me? I once read a book with a passage about True Names which explains that when a person’s true name is spoken, she has a distinct aura (光环) around her. Although I have been Bo to my mother all my life, I recently discovered that my true name is not on my birth certificate; it’s the name that is as unique and memorable as I am.
People usually know me as Christine. They still see me as a quiet, bookish child. They don’t know who I am now. My most recent hopes, fears, goals, dreams and opinions escape their notice; it is easier to think of me as I was. In their minds, they have a box labeled “Christine” in which I fit neatly, and as Christine, I was content with the perfect packaging.
Those who call me Bo or Bo-Bean really know me. They remember who I was and realize I have changed. Bo is a tight squeeze in the old “Christine” boxes. The Bo I am is ever-changing, ever-growing and ever-learning.
When I was Christine, I was quiet, and easily scared. I feared groups, meeting new people and sharing my opinions. I was more comfortable with a book than my best friend. As Christine, I thought everyone was better than I was.
As Bo, I still love my books, but I want to discuss them. As Bo, my dream is to live where I can experience new things and meet new people. I dream about being alone on a stage lit by a single spotlight; I have that confidence now. I am equal to those I once saw as better than me.
A name shouldn’t make such a difference, but sometimes, when a person finds his or her True Name, they develop a new shine visible to friends, family and especially themselves.
I can’t always be Bo. Sometimes exposing myself is still scary and I feel too nervous; I want to hide in those old boxes. Mostly, however, I am ready for the world. So, just call me Bo.
1.When was the author given a nickname?
A.When she was three years old.
B.On the fourth day after she was born.
C.On the arrival of some close friends.
D.When mom first sang “ The Name Game”.
2.What do the people know about the author as Christine?
A.They think the author is active and crazy.
B.They care about the author’s most recent feelings.
C.They don’t realize the author has changed.
D.They don’t know the author has a new name.
3.What kind of person was the author in the past?
A.She showed no interest in reading.
B.She took pleasure in finding new things.
C.She loved reading and sharing books with friends.
D.She lacked confidence and preferred to be alone.
4.What can be a suitable title for the text?
A.Bo — the True Name
B.A Unique Name
C.Remember the Past
D.The Meaning of Nickname
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
Recently there was a major discovery in the scientific research—the mapping of all DNA in a human gene is complete. Several years ago, it seems an impossible task for scientist to accomplish. All this progress in science leads us to believe that the day when human being will be cloned is not far away. Human cloning has always been a topic of argument in terms of morality (道德) or religion.
Taking a look at why cloning might be beneficial, among many cases, it is arguable that parents who are known to be at risk of passing a genetic limitation to a child could make use of cloning. Moreover, cloning would enable women who can't get pregnant to have children of their own.
Cloning humans would also mean that organs could be cloned, so it would be a source of perfect transfer organs. This surely would be greatly beneficial to millions of unfortunate people around the world who are expected to lose their lives due to organ problems. It is also arguable that a ban on cloning may be unlawful and would rob people of the right to reproduce and limit the freedom of scientists.
However, arguments against cloning are also on a perfectly practical side. Primarily, I believe that cloning would step in the normal "cycle" of life. There would be a large number of same genes, which reduce the chances of evolution, since it may be difficult for living creatures to naturally adapt to the ever-changing environment, which will result in ultimate disappearance. Furthermore, cloning would make the uniqueness that each one of us possesses disappear. Thus, leading to creation of genetically engineered groups of people for specific purposes and, chances are that those individuals would be regarded as "objects" rather than people in the society.
Scientists couldn't surely guarantee that the first cloned humans will be normal. Thus this could result in introduction of additional limitations in the human "gene-pool".
Regarding such arguable topics in "black or white" approach seems very innocent. We should try to look at all "shades" of it. I believe that cloning is only legal if its purpose is for cloning organs; not humans. Then we could regard this as for "saving life" instead of "creating life". It is believed that cloning humans is morally and socially unacceptable.
1.What's the author's opinion on cloning?
A.Cloning should be entirely banned.
B.Cloning should be used in creating life.
C.Cloning will take away the right to reproduce.
D.Cloning is acceptable if it is used for cloning organs.
2.Which of the following shows the structure of the passage?
A. B.
C. D.
3.Where is the text probably from?
A.A story book. B.A magazine.
C.A science fiction. D.A novel.
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
New App Helps People Remember Faces
Large gatherings such as weddings and conferences can be socially overwhelming. Pressure to learn people’s names only adds to the stress. A new facial-recognition app could come to the rescue, but privacy experts recommend proceeding with caution.
The app, called SocialRecall, connects names with faces via smartphone cameras and facial recognition, potentially avoiding the need for formal introductions. “It breaks down these social barriers we all have when meeting somebody,” says Barry Sandrew, who created the app and tested it at an event attended by about 1,000 people.
After receiving an invitation to download SocialRecall from an event organizer, the user is asked to take two selfies and sign in via social media. At the event, the app is active within a previously defined geographical area. When a user points his or her phone camera at an attendee’s face, the app identifies the individual, displays the person’s name, and links to his or her social media profile. To protect privacy, it recognizes only those who have agreed to participate. And the app's creators say it automatically deletes users’ data after an event.
Ann Cavoukian, a privacy expert who runs the Privacy by Design Center of Excellence praises the app’s creators for these protective measures. She cautions, however, that when people choose to share their personal information with the app, they should know that “there may be unintended consequences down the road with that information being used in another context that might come back to bite you.”
The start-up has also developed a version of the app for individuals who suffer from prosopagnosia, or “face blindness,” a condition that prevents people from recognizing individuals they have met. To use this app, a person first acquires an image of someone’s face, from either the smartphone’s camera or a photograph, and then tags it with a name. When the camera spots that same face in real life, the previously entered information is displayed. The collected data are stored only on a user’s phone, according to the team behind the app.
1.SocialRecall is used to ________.
A.take photos B.identify people
C.organize events D.make friends
2.Paragraph 3 is mainly about ________.
A.how the app works
B.how the app was created
C.what makes the app popular
D.what people can do with the app
3.SocialRecall helps people with prosopagnosia by ________.
A.giving names to the photos kept in their smartphones
B.collecting information previously entered in the phone
C.providing the information of a person when they first meet
D.showing the person’s information when it spots a stored face
4.What can we learn about SocialRecall from the passage?
A.It may put people’s privacy at risk.
B.It has caused unintended consequences.
C.It can prevent some communication disorders.
D.It is praised by users for its protective measures.
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
I am in my 40s,but today I look more like a teenage girl. Not because I'm wearing the latest fashion or having a wild hair day. It's because I have a pimple(青春痘) that looks like a volcano getting ready to erupt on my chin.
“Mom, what is that?” my 8-year-old daughter Lucy exclaimed, pointing at the ugly bump on my face.
My in-laws were visiting and brought me a box of chocolates-one of my favorite foods. Eating properly seemed like a good idea until I was alone with that box of chocolates! I enjoyed them greatly, and my pimple proved my enthusiasm clearly.
Food can be a large block for me. Broccoli(西蓝花)seldom appeals to me, but baked goods with sugar or crispy chips certainly do. I have no problem dipping a large spoon into a jar of peanut butter or frosting to satisfy my desires. But you won't catch me tasting a spoonful of cottage cheese for a late-night snack.
Please don't misunderstand me. There is certainly a place for celebration foods such as cake and ice cream. But a regular serving of daily junk food robs me of the nutrition offered in the foods I eat.
I know I feel better after eating an apple than I do after eating a candy bar. It's so easy in our society to eat processed food out of boxes, bags, and at the drive-thru. But that ease comes at a cost: We suffer physically. Our taste buds may be very, lack nutrition, which opens the door to diseases, I'm trying to ask myself a few questions before reaching for a snack or making a meal: Is this really food?
Is there something God made in it? Am I really hungry? Will I feel satisfied, but our bodies better after eating this?
1.What made the author feel she looked like a teenage girl?
A.Her wild hair. B.Her ugly face.
C.Her facial features. D.Her fashionable clothes.
2.What can be inferred from Paragraph 3?
A.The author eats chocolates as food.
B.Chocolates may cause her pimples.
C.The author's parents-in-law often visit her.
D.The author eats chocolates to cure pimples.
3.What do you think of the author's eating habit?
A.It lacks protein. B.It isn't delicious.
C.It makes her healthy. D.It isn't a balanced diet.
4.What is the author's attitude towards processed food?
A.Favorable. B.Optimistic.
C.Positive. D.Critical.
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
The 3D-printing industry is accelerating its efforts to help fight the new coronavirus and the disease it causes, COVID-19.
On Tuesday, HP announced it’s working with those who bought its 3D printers to make medical face shields, hands-free door openers and an adjuster for face masks for medical staff who often must wear them for hours. It’s also testing “hospital-grade” face masks meeting the higher-end FFP3 (过滤式面罩) standard and parts for simple emergency ventilators (呼吸机) and it’s looking into nasal swabs to test for COVID-19 infection. HP also is offering free downloads of its 3D-printed medical equipment designs.
Carbon, whose 3D printers are used to make everything from bicycle seats to teeth straighteners, said it plans to send face shield designs to its network of customers who’ve bought its 3D printers. Carbon co-founder and Executive Chairman Joseph DeSimone said on Monday the company expects to send the designs by early Tuesday.
3D-printcr makers typically sell their products to others that actually do the 3D printing. One such customer, Ford, said Tuesday that it’s made 1,000 face shields and shipped them to Michigan hospitals, with plans to make 100,000 face shields a week. It is also working with 3M and General Electric on respirator masks and ventilator designs.
The effort is one of several to apply 3D-printing technology to the fight against coronavirus. 3D printing isn’t as fast at churning out products as conventional mass production methods. But 3D printers are flexible and able to make many different parts anywhere there’s a printer and raw materials like the plastic resins Carbon printers use.
Some 3D-printing efforts have focused on ventilators, which expected to be in short supply with a surge of COVID-19 patients suffering from respiratory (呼吸器官) problems. Also in short supply arc N95 masks that can be useful in reducing the likelihood a wearer will spread COVID-19 to others.
Carbon’s DeSimone is cautious about the enthusiasm, though, saying that regulatory approval is important and that 3D-printcr enthusiasts shouldn’t be making components not intended for close human contact that might release unhealthy gases.
1.What is the passage mainly about?
A.An introduction about 3D-printing.
B.The 3D-printing industry’s efforts to help fight COVID-19.
C.The products that 3D-printing makers sell.
D.How 3D-printing makers produce medical equipment.
2.HP announced to help its customers to make the following products except for_____________.
A.medical face shields B.hands-free door openers
C.an adjuster for face masks D.emergency ventilators
3.Which of the following is true according to the passage?
A.Carbon’s company will finish its design after Tuesday.
B.Ford has made 1,000 face shields end plans to make 10,000 more in a week.
C.3D printers arc more flexible than traditional mass production methods.
D.Most 3D-printings focus on making ventilators and N95 because of their short supply.
4.What can be inferred from the last paragraph?
A.3D-printing may release unhealthy gases.
B.DeSimone is cautious about 3D-printing.
C.Carbon’s company didn’t gain regulatory approval of making medical equipment.
D.3D printers aren’t enthusiastic about making components designed for close human contact.
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
Dutch author Marieke Lucas Rijneveld has become one of the youngest writers to be shortlisted (列入候选) for a Booker prize, after their debut novel (处女作)made the final line-up for the International Booker.
Rijneveld. a rising star in Dutch literature, is 28― lightly older than British author Daisy Johnson was when she was shortlisted for the Booker prize in 2018 age 27. The author, who identifies as male and uses the pronouns they/them, was shortlisted after a six-hour virtual (虚拟的) judging meeting for the £50,000 prize, which is shared equally between writer and translator, for The Discomfort of Evening, translated by Michele Hutchison. The novel, tells of a girl whose brother dies in a skating accident and draws from Rijneveld’s own experiences: when they were three, their 12-year-old brother was knocked over and killed by a bus.
“Rijneveld’s language renders (重现) the world again, revealing the shocks and violence of early youth through the angle of a Dutch dairy farm. The strangeness of a child looking at the strangeness of the world is in it,” said judges of the work.
“The Discomfort of Evening is one of six novels in the running for the International Booker, each of which,” said chair of judges Ted Hodgkinson, “restlessly reinvents (重 塑)received narratives, from foundational myths to family folklore, plunging us into discomfiting and delightful encounters with selves in a state of transition (过渡)”.
Hodgkinson chaired a panel (专家组)of five judges who selected the shortlist from 124 submissions. The coronavirus pandemic meant their meeting had to be virtual, but Hodgkinson said he and his panel still managed to discuss the line-up for more than six hours.
The winner will be announced on 19 May.
1.We can learn from the 2nd paragraph that_____________.
A.Rijneveld is a young male writer.
B.Rijneveld and the translator Michele Hutchison will share the $50,000 prize.
C.Daisy Johnson was the youngest writer shortlisted for a Booker prize this year.
D.The Discomfort of Evening is partly adapted from Rijneveld’s own experiences.
2.Which can we infer from the passage?
A.Rijneveld’s brother died from a skating accident.
B.The judges of the work speak highly of Rijneveld’s language.
C.Six novels reveal the shocks and violence of early youth on a Dutch dairy farm.
D.Hodgkinson and his panel were unhappy to discuss the line-up online for over six hours.
3.Why did the panel have a virtual judging meeting?
A.Because of the coronavirus pandemic.
B.Because there were too many submissions.
C.Because it was more effective online.
D.Because the judges lives too far away from each other.
4.What is the most suitable title of the passage?
A.Booker prize winner will be announced
B.Rijneveld, one of the most youngest Booker winner
C.International Booker prize shortlist led by 28-year-old’s debut
D.The Discomfort of Evening a novel running for the International Booker
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
2 Killed in Knife Attack in French Town Under Lockdown
In what was described as a potential terrorist attack, a knife-wielding man killed two people and wounded five others on Saturday morning in a town in southern France with only a few shops open under a national lockdown to prevent the coronavirus pandemic (新冠肺炎).
The attacks took place about 11 a.m. local time outside a bakery and other shops. Witnesses said that the suspect yelled, “Allahu akbar!" as he lunged at his victims, according to France Bleu. The assailant (行凶者)randomly attacked bystanders on the street, first cutting the throat of a man in his 40s in front of his companion and his son, in the center of Romans-sur-Isere, just south of Lyon, according to the French authorities and news media.
He then attacked two workers and a customer inside a tobacco store before heading to a butcher’s shop. The suspect, a 33-ycar-old man of Sudanese origin, was arrested by the police as he was "found on his knees on the sidewalk while praying in Arabic," said the country’s antiterrorism prosecutor’s office, which is handling the investigation into the attack. At the man’s home, investigators found religious writings in which the author complained of living in a "country of infidels (没有信仰的)the prosecutors said in a statement.
The suspect—who the French news media said was an asylum-seeker (避难者)from Sudan—was not immediately identified by name. President Emmanuel Macron vowed that "light would be shed on this odious (可 憎的)act which casts a shadow on our country, which has already been severely tested in recent weeks. "
1.Where docs the attacker come from?
A.Iraq B.Saudi Arabia C.France D.Sudan
2.The first victim was accompanied with when he was attacked.
A.his son B.his companion C.his wife and his son D.none
3.Which of the following statements is Not True according the passage?
A.The attack was in the street.
B.The suspect was an infidel man.
C.The suspect’s name wasn’t known to the French new media at first.
D.President Emmanuel Macron eared much about the case and promised to make it clear.
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
A recent study conducted by researchers from Canada's Wilfrid Laurier University found that the snakes actively seek out socialization with their peers (同伴),but also they are extremely particular about who they spend time with. However, snakes used to be thought of as solitary animals. They are seldom seen hanging out in groups.
A team of researchers led by Morgan Skinner and Dr. Noam Miller selected 40 non-poisonous garter snakes (袜带蛇). Ten were purchased from a snake keeper and the rest were caught in the wild. After marking each snake with a spot of color to allow for easy identification, the researchers placed ten snakes inside each of the four plastic shelters.
Skinner photographed each snake group twice a day before removing them from their shelters. After cleaning the areas thoroughly to rid them of any familiar smells, the reptiles were rearranged into different groups, and returned to the enclosure. A camera fixed over the shelters allowed the scientists to track the animals' movements for a total of eight days.
When Skinner and Miller analyzed the images, they found that regardless of where they were placed, the snakes always slipped back to their origin al "friends" forming groups of three or eight inside the small shelters. “They can tell others apart,” Miller said.
Gordon Burghardt, a biologist, says, "The study should help convince people that snakes have more social intelligence than most of us realize."
Miller believes the research could help with snake protection efforts. Endangered snake species relocated to safer habitats often leave these areas. Now, conservationists may be able to avoid that by transferring entire snake groups to the new location. Alternatively, they could also spray (喷洒)the new habitat with the species' smells to make transplants feel at “home."
1.What does the underlined word "solitary" mean in paragraph 1?
A.Causing fear. B.Existing only in small numbers.
C.Causing death or illness. D.Enjoying being alone.
2.What can we learn from the last paragraph?
A.The findings can contribute to snake conservation.
B.Snakes like to spray smells on the trees.
C.Snakes are easy to adapt to new locations.
D.Snakes tend to stay in safer habitats.
3.Which of the following proverbs can be used to describe the findings?
A.Barking dogs don't bite. B.The early bird catches worms.
C.Things of one kind come together. D.A friend in need is a friend in deed.
4.In which section of a newspaper may this text appear?
A.Entertainment. B.Science.
C.Education. D.Health.
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
Denmark is only about half the size of South Carolina, but it produces more of its electricity from wind than any other country in the world. Denmark now gets 47% of its electricity from wind, and there will be more to come, thanks to a combination of history and policy.
Paul la Cour was a scientist and inventor who experimented with early wind power machines at the start of the 20th century. So it's not surprising that Denmark invested in building wind power the earliest. Since the 1970s, Denmark has been investing in wind energy all over the country. In the 1980s, due to a strong movement opposing nuclear power plants, Denmark increased its production of clean energy even before many other countries considered it.
Even back in 2002, Denmark took climate change warnings seriously. They drew up policies, aiming to cut fossil-fuel emissions by 20 %, which they did via renewable energy investment. Some of the world's largest companies in the field—including Vestas, which builds turbines (涡轮机),and Orsted, which specializes in offshore wind projects—are Danish, so the country has an impact beyond its borders.
The huge impact of Denmark's wind industry is important. But Denmark is a small country, so while almost 50% of its electricity from wind is admirable, it's also minor in terms of entire global impact.
While Denmark gets half its electricity from 5,758 megawatts (MW) of capacity, Spain's 23,000 MW covers just 18 percent of its electricity supply as it's a much bigger country. China is the leader in wind energy at 221,000 MW, and the U. S. is the second in the world at about 96,000 MW.
At the encl of 2019, lawmakers in Den mark set a new goal: increasing the share of electricity coming from renewable power to 100%.
1.What can we know about Demark?
A.It is a leader in solar energy. B.It is a pioneer in clean energy.
C.It is a victim of climate change. D.It is an advocate of nuclear energy.
2.What is Denmark government's attitude towards fossil-fuel energy projects?
A.Indifferent. B.Opposed.
C.Positive. D.Ambiguous.
3.Which country produces the most wind energy in the world?
A.China. B.Spain.
C.The U. S. D.Denmark.
4.What is the best title for the text?
A.Denmark Has a Long History of Developing Renewable Power
B.Denmark's Government Pushes ahead with Fossil-fuel Projects
C.Denmark Has a Great Effect on World's Wind Power Equipment
D.Almost Half of Denmark's Electricity Comes from Wind Power
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析