The Globe was built in 1599 using timber from an earlier theatre, The Theatre, which had been built by Richard Burbage’s father, James Burbage, in Shoreditch in 1576. The first performance for which a firm record remains was Jonson’s Every Man out of His Humour — with its first scene welcoming the “gracious and kind spectators” — at the end of the year.
On 29th June 1613, the Globe Theatre went up in flames during a performance of Henry VIII. A theatrical gun, set off during the performance, misfired, burning the wooden beams and straws. According to one of the few surviving documents of the event, no one was hurt except a man whose burning breeches (炮后膛) were put out with a bottle of ale. It was rebuilt in the following year.
Like all the other theatres in London, the Globe was closed down by the Puritans in 1642. It was pulled down in 1644, or slightly later — the commonly cited document dating the act to 15 April 1644 has been identified as false — to make room for other buildings.
A modern reconstruction of the theatre, named “Shakespeare’s Globe”, opened in 1997, with a production of Henry V. It is an academic approximation of the original design, based on available evidence of the 1599 and 1614 buildings, and is located approximately 750 feet (230m) from the site of the original theatre.
1.How did the Globe Theatre begin to be on fire on 29 June 1613?
A.It was set fire to by a performer by design.
B.It caught fire by accident during a play.
C.A man put out breeches with a bottle of ale.
D.It was started by wooden beams and straws.
2.In what order is the text arranged?
A.Time B.Space
C.Importance D.Flashback
3.According to the passage all the plays were performed in the Globe Theatre EXCEPT ________.
A.James Burbage. B.Every Man out of His Humour
C.Henry VIII. D.Henry V
4.The passage is mainly about ________.
A.The popularity of the Globe Theatre. B.The construction of the Globe Theatre.
C.The function of the Globe Theatre. D.The history of the Globe Theatre.
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
Stories and movies often make bats into scary creatures that attack in the dark of night. In real life, however, most bats are harmless. A few are even helpful to humans.
Over 800 species or types of bats feast on troublesome insects that damage crops or spread disease. Another 400 or so bat species eat ripe fruit. These bats are very useful because they pollinate (授粉) flowers and disperse (分散) seeds. There are also a few species of larger bats that hunt small animals like mice, fish, and frogs. A very few even drink blood.
The blood drinkers are the three species of vampire bats. However, the vampire bat doesn’t suck blood. Instead, it makes a wound with its sharp teeth and then laps the blood up like a kitty. The animal victim usually sleeps through the entire process. While attacks on humans have occurred, the bats’ common targets are livestock and other animals. Interestingly, the vampire bat may become useful to humans. You see, a chemical in the bat’s saliva (唾液) thins blood and dissolves blood clots (血栓). Studies indicate this could be a great aid in treating people with strokes. In the future, medicine may be made from vampire bats’ saliva.
Some people think bats are birds, but they’re not. They have fur, not feathers. And their babies do not hatch from eggs; they’re born alive. Also, bats have mouths and noses; birds have beaks. Scientists put them in a special mammal group called Chiroptera.
1.Most species of bats eat ________.
A.ripe fruit B.mice and frogs
C.insects D.blood
2.Which of the following is TRUE about blood drinkers?
A.Vampire bats drink blood directly.
B.The bats’ uncommon targets are human beings.
C.A chemical in the bats is of great benefit treating heart disease.
D.Medicine has been produced from the bats’ saliva
3.What is the best title of the passage?
A.Blood Drinkers B.Vampire Bats
C.Amazing Bats D.Scary Creatures
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
The Internet has completely changed the workplace over the past three decades. Artificial Intelligence is now all set to do the same, and businesses that don't take advantage of the technology risk being left behind.
Global tech giants (巨头) like Amazon have been leading the change, and businesses of all sizes are now using the technology for employing and managing their staff.
Among them is L'Oreal. With about a million applicants for roughly 15,000 new positions each year, the company is using AI to hire.
“We really wanted to save time and focus more on quality, diversity and candidate experience. And AI solutions were the best way to go faster on these challenges, said Eva Azoulay, global vice-president of L'Oreal's Human Resources Department.
The company uses Mya, a chatbot, to save employers' time during the first stage of the process. It handles routine questions from candidates, and checks details such as availability and visa requirements. Should candidates make it to the next round, they’ll run into Seedlink, an AI software that scores applicants based on their answers to open-ended interview questions. These scores don't replace human judgment, said Azoulay, but they do pick out candidates who might not seem like obvious choices.
Early results have been promising. For one internship program, where 12,000 people apply for about 80 spots, employers claim they saved 200 hours of time while hiring the most diverse group to date.
Other businesses have gone beyond employment and are using AI to help manage employees. Some UK firms have started using Isaak, a system designed by the London-based company StatusToday, to track how many hours staff spend online and the number of emails they receive. London real estate agent JBrown has been using this system since March. CEO James Brown said it helps the firm understand employees' habits and prevent them from overworking. “It enables us to solve bottleneck problems and relieve overburdened employees,” he said.
Despite these examples of good practice, there is still a long way for AI to reach its full potential (潜力), and the technology comes with risks. Another AI danger could be its impact on jobs through automation (自动化). McKinsey predicts AI could add $13 trillion to the global economy by 2030, with early adopters doubling their cash flow over that period. But the demand for repetitive (重复的) or digitally-unskilled jobs could drop by around 10%, the consulting firm said in a 2018 report.
1.What can we learn about AI technology from Paragraph 1?
A.It causes a great problem in workplace.
B.It will replace the Internet in the future.
C.It requires businesses to invest much money.
D.It will become a necessary part of business.
2.L'Oreal uses AI in its hiring process to________.
A.pick out the most suitable candidates directly
B.come up with more questions unlimitedly
C.improve the company's hiring efficiency
D.save money by replacing human judgment
3.Firms with the system Isaak can_______.
A.prevent their employees from surfing the Internet
B.force their employees to form good working habits
C.monitor the contents of all their employees' emails
D.help their employees avoid being overstressed at work
4.The passage is mainly developed by _______.
A.setting examples
B.making comparisons
C.examining differences
D.following the time order
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
Nature calms our stressed-out soul. Nature is the best medicine, but new research is showing how little time we need to set aside to harvest the benefits.
In one new study, researchers tried to find the most effective “dose” (药剂) of nature within the context of normal daily life. As more doctors prescribe (开药方) nature experiences for stress relief and other health benefits — sometimes referred to as a “nature pill”— the study's authors hoped to make the details of these treatments clear.
“We know that spending time in nature reduces stress, but until now it is unclear how much is enough, how often to do it, or even what kind of nature experience will benefit us,” says lead author MaryCarol Hunter in a statement. “Our study shows that for the greatest payoff, in terms of efficiently lowering levels of the stress hormone cortisone (压力荷尔蒙激素), you should spend 20 to 30 minutes sitting or walking in a place that provides you with a sense of nature.”
A nature pill can be a low-cost, low-risk way to curb the negative effects of urbanization and indoor lifestyle. To find the most efficient dosage, Hunter and her co-authors asked 36 city citizens to have nature experiences of at least 10 minutes three times per week over eight weeks.
Every two weeks, the researchers collected saliva (唾液) samples to measure levels of the stress hormone cortisone, both before and after the participants took a nature pill. The data showed that just a 20-minute nature experience was enough to significantly reduce cortisone levels. The effect was more efficient between 20 and 30 minutes, after which benefits continued to increase but at a slower rate.
That fits with the findings of another recent study, which found that spending 20 minutes in an urban park can make you happier, no matter whether you use that time to exercise.
For this study, 94 adults visited 3 urban parks in Mountain Brook, Alabama, completing a questionnaire about their subjective well-being before and after their visit. An accelerometer (加速计) tracked their physical activity.
A visit lasting 20 to 25 minutes showed the best results, with a roughly 64% increase in the participants' self-reported well-being, even if they didn't move a great deal in the park. That last point is particularly positive, since it means anyone can benefit from visiting a nearby park, whatever his or her age or physical ability.
“There is increasing pressure on green space within urban settings,” said a UAB professor Gavin Jenkins. “Planners and developers look to replace green space with residential (住宅的) and commercial property. The challenge facing cities is that there is increasing evidence about the value of city parks but we continue to see the disappearance of these spaces.”
1.The authors of the study expected to ______.
A.study the treatments of nature in detail
B.find an effective way to treat stress
C.introduce the benefits of “nature pill”
D.share some rewarding nature experiences
2.What does the underlined word “curb” in Paragraph 4 probably mean?
A.experience B.realize C.control D.produce
3.What does the first study mainly show?
A.We should stay in nature as long as possible.
B.Many health problems are caused by great pressure.
C.Lack of exercise may greatly increase cortisone levels.
D.A short period of time in nature is enough to reduce stress.
4.What does Gavin Jenkins want to express in the last paragraph?
A.Big cities should provide more sports facilities (设施).
B.City developers should spare more green spaces.
C.Visiting parks benefits people's physical health.
D.City planners should invest more in the property.
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
Reading books and looking at pictures is great, but nothing facilitates (促进) learning like travel, especially for teenagers. Not only do they get to see a world beyond their neighborhood, they also get to experience it, feel it, taste it, hear it and better understand the world around them.
After nearly four decades in the classroom and traveling the world, Phyllis Duvall Bailey knew this perhaps better than anyone else.
Becoming involved in the work in AKA Sorority Inc in US, she worked to educate children about the United Nations. There was no doubt in Bailey's mind that the lessons would mean so much more if the students could see things for themselves.
Starting in 2015, Bailey, 82, set out to take her students to the UN Headquarters in New York City to give them a “Window Seat to the World”, and thus transformed them into global citizens.
Indeed, it is a great opportunity to give students national and international exposure. Since Bailey saw the students as future leaders, she was desperate to expose them to the UN, its mission, its agendas (议程) and its supporting organizations.
She decided to give $10, 000 of her own money to pay for the late June trip, enough to take 10 students aged 14-17 on a four-night stay in New York. There, they had guided tours of the UN Headquarters and the New York City Harbor (海港).
It was Quenyaun Payne's first trip to the city and Taylor Sappington's second. Payne, 17, is a senior at Mceachem High School in the state of Georgia, US. Sappington, 15, is a junior at Therrell High School in Atlanta, Georgia, US. Both said their visit to the UN was inspiring.
“I like not only how countries are working together but they're focused on common goals like global warming and keeping peace,” Sappington said.
Payne commented, “The trip was amazing. I'm so thankful Mrs. Bailey made it possible.”
Actually, there are a lot of people grateful for the retired teacher's effort. The United Nations Association of Atlanta recently gave Bailey its Humanitarian Award, and the United Nations Association of the US-awarded her with the National Education Award.
But Bailey wasn't looking for recognition or even gratitude. Over those four days in New York, she'd already felt it and seen it in the eyes of those 10 teenagers, Payne and Sappington included, who made the trip.
“It has been a real joy to get to see and watch their reaction to new experiences,” she said.
1.The underlined word “this” in Paragraph 2 refers to___.
A.the benefits of traveling B.good reading habits
C.new teaching methods D.the things teenagers like
2.How did Bailey help students?
A.She offered them voluntary opportunities at the UN.
B.She paid for trips that helped students see the world.
C.She paid for them to go to school in other countries.
D.She taught them some useful life-long reading skills.
3.What can we infer from Sappington's words?
A.He determines to work for the UN in the future.
B.He shows no interest in global affairs at all.
C.He finds the trip to the UN greatly instructive.
D.He wants to visit New York City once again.
4.What made Bailey most joyful according to the passage?
A.Students' gratitude. B.Social recognition.
C.Students' gains. D.Official awards.
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
Better known by his stage name KUN, Cai Xukun is a phenomenon, opening up the music industry in China.
Last year, after participating in the reality TV show Idol Producer, receiving the most votes from fans, the singer-songwriter rose to fame overnight. At just 21 years old, Cai has topped Chinese music charts with multiple singles.
On July 26, KUN released his newest single Young. Within just 20 seconds, it reached a million sales.
KUN wrote the song to share his understanding of youth. He mixed R&B and electronic beats (节拍) to make it more cheerful. A reviewer wrote on QQ Music, “When you listen to the song, you just seem to go back to youth again.”
The song was an early birthday present to himself which he celebrated on Aug 2. KUN also hopes that he always has the courage to pursue (追求) his love of music, no matter what people think. “My works are like my children and I have put my best effort into them.” he told the Global Times.
Indeed, KUN has written and produced most of his songs on his own. “I want every piece of my work to have my own spirit in it,” he told music website Soundigest, “I feel more enjoyment when I'm performing my own work.”
Although KUN loves performing onstage, when the lights go down, he prefers to fall back into his own world and darkness at night. “I always get inspired when it's quiet, late at night/' he told I-D magazine, “It's a great moment for me to create new things. Sometimes, I can write songs with a melody (旋律) I heard in a dream.”
To develop his introspection (反思) and find new inspiration, KUN attends different kinds of musical performances — from festivals to opera houses. “I just like to do everything, all for my music, all for my art,” he told I-D.
With such talent and dedication to music, it seems that KUN will continue to make his mark in the competitive Chinese music industry.
1.What do we know about KUN's newest single?
A.It earns him a birthday present.
B.It makes people feel happy and energetic.
C.It shows how he pursues his dream.
D.It combines jazz and electronic music.
2.What does KUN usually do to get inspiration for music?
A.He goes to music shows.
B.He talks to famous singers.
C.He attends music classes.
D.He finds melodies in his dreams.
3.Which would best describe KUN?
A.Courageous and patient.
B.Talented and humorous.
C.Hardworking and creative.
D.Optimistic and outgoing.
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
The science fiction type of entertainment is considered by mot to be fathered by Jules Verne (A Journey to the Center of the Earth and Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea) and H. G. Wells (The Time Machine and The War of the Worlds). Sei-Fi, as it is commonly shortened, is a fictional story in which science and technology have a significant influence on the characters and plot. Many such works are guesswork about what the future holds and how scientific findings and technological advances will shape humankind.
Writing in the late 1800s, Jules Verne was remarkably successful in his 10 guesses about future technologies of air conditioning, automobiles, the Internet, television, and underwater, air, and space travel. Unbelievably, of all places from which to choose, Jules Verne guessed Tampa, Florida, USA as the launching site of the first project to the Moon, which was only 200 kilometers away from the actual 1969 location at Cape Canaveral, Florida.
One of the best-known science fiction books is Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell. Published in 1949, it was not meant as a prediction, but as a warning: Orwell was describing what he saw as the outcome of the ideas, trends, and emerging technologies of his time. Many invented terms from this novel have become common in everyday use, such as “big brother” and “doublethink”. Even the author’s name has been made into an adjective—Orwellian—and has become a warning descriptor for situations where privacy is lost and the individual has no power and is completely controlled by the government. Nineteen Eighty-Four was translated into sixty-five languages within five years of its publication, setting a record that still stands.
What helps bring science fiction into being is usually a new discovery or innovation. The author creates an analysis of the potential influence and consequences and then wraps it in a pleasant story. For example, the beginning of space exploration was followed a few years later by the Star Trek television program and movie series. The science fiction author’s self-determined role is search the world of future possibilities upon the road which we are traveling.
1.From the first paragraph, we know that science fiction might be ________.
A.a forecast of how a new discovery could influence mankind
B.a brief review of the present drawbacks of technology
C.a thoughtful look at the past and a prediction of the future
D.an analysis of how a new technology could be used to harm human.
2.Which of the following best describes Nineteen Eighty-Four?
A.A prediction of future technologies.
B.A warning of unfair and cruel ruling.
C.The motive of scientific development.
D.An imaginary perfect world of freedom.
3.From the passage we can learn that ________.
A.H.G. Wells predicted the Internet in the late 1800s
B.Nineteen Eighty-Four adopted some popular terms
C.Star Trek movie series were based on space exploration
D.Cape Canaveral was mentioned in Jules Verne’s fiction
4.According to the author, what is the role of science fiction in society?
A.A reference of technology.
B.A moral compass.
C.A record of science development.
D.A form of thinking about possibilities.
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
When it's five o'clock,people leave their office.The length of the workday,for many workers,is defined by time. They leave when the clock tells them they're done.
These days,the time is everywhere: not just on clocks or watches,but on cell-phones and computers.That may be a bad thing,particularly at work.New research shows on that clock-based work schedules hinder morale and creativity.
Clock-timers organize their day by blocks of minutes and hours.For example: a meeting from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m., research from 10 a.m.to noon,etc.On the other hand,task-timers have a list of things they want to accomplish.They work down the list,each task starts when the previous task is completed.It is said that all of us employ a mix of both these types of planning.
What,then,are the effects of thinking about time in these different ways? Does one make us more productive? Better at the tasks at hand? Happier? In experiments conducted by Tamar Avnet and Anne-Laure Sellier,they had participints organize different activities-from project planning,holiday shopping,to yoga-by time or to-do list to measure how they performed under "clock time" vs "task time".They found clock timers to be more efficient but less happy because they felt little control over their lives.Task timers are happier and more creative,but less productive. They tend to enjoy the moment when something good is happening,and seize opportunities that come up.
The researchers argue that task-based organizing tends to be undervalued and under-supported in the business culture.Smart companies,they believe,will try to bake more task-based planning into their strategies.
This might be a small change to the way we view work and the office,but the researchers argue that it challenges a widespread characteristic of the economy: work organized by clock time.While most people will still probably need,and be,to some extent,clock-timers,task-based timing should be used when performing a job that requires more creativity.It'll make those tasks easier,and the task-doers will be happier.
1.What does the author think of time displayed everywhere?
A.It makes everybody aware of time.
B.It is a convenience for work and life.
C.It may have a negative effect on creative work.
D.It clearly indicates the fast pace of modern life.
2.What did Tamar Avnet and Anne-Laure Sellier find in their experiments about clock-timers ?
A.They seize opportunities as they come up.
B.They always get their work done in time.
C.They have more control over their lives.
D.They tend to be more productive.
3.What do the researchers say about today's business culture?
A.It does not support the strategies adopted by smart companies.
B.It does not attach enough importance to task-based practice.
C.It places more emphasis on work efficiency than on workers’ lives.
D.It aims to bring employees' potential and creativity into full play.
4.What do the researchers suggest?
A.Task-based timing is preferred for doing creative work.
B.It is important to keep a balance between work and life.
C.Performing creative jobs tends to make workers happier.
D.A scientific standard should be adopted in job evaluation.
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
I always dreamed of studying abroad, to learn at a world-class university while further exploring the grounds on which these nations achieved new milestones of development with each passing day.
To study abroad after my graduation, I could not stop seeking my dream. To take the first step, I did some brainstorming and explored opportunities on the Internet and finally decided to go for China. There were a number of reasons behind it﹣its advanced education system and thousands of centuries of rich culture inspired me to study there. The primary one was my curiosity how a nation has left many nations behind in a short time at its fast pace of development.
So just like that, I applied, along with some of my friends, for a master’s degree program at Communication University of China. I was the only one who got selected in the said program and in addition, the Chinese Scholarship Council sponsored all of my expenses. This good news was welcomed by my family.
This is my seventh month in Beijing. In my experience so far, one thing that appeared to be missing was the internship(实习) which I tried to find because I want to work here after completion of my studies. After some struggles I was lucky enough to get the opportunity to work as an intern with the Center for China and Globalization(CCG). It's very exciting to work on their team as a researcher. Now I can proudly say that my decision to choose China as a study destination was the best decision I have ever made.
1.The writer writes the first paragraph mainly to ________.
A.encourage people to pursue dreams
B.summarize the main idea of the text
C.explain the reason for writing the passage
D.add some background information
2.What is the most important reason for the author coming to China?
A.China's rich culture.
B.His curiosity.
C.China's advanced education system.
D.His family's support.
3.What can we learn about the author from the last paragraph?
A.He is most proud of studying in China.
B.He wants to be a researcher in the future.
C.He plans to work in China after graduation.
D.He found a job upon arriving in Beijing.
4.What can be a suitable title for the text?
A.Learning and working in China
B.Travel experiences in China
C.Realization of dreams in China
D.Importance of having dreams
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
A new device (设备) called Orion is helping those who are blind to see. It does this in a new way by helping them experience the world around them.
Jason Esterhuizen lost his eyesight after a car accident. He never thought he would be able to see light or movement again. But now with the movement of a switch (开关), his world suddenly grew brighter.
He says, “I still can’t put it into words. I mean from being able to see absolutely nothing, it’s completely black, to all of a sudden seeing little flickers (闪烁) of light move around.” It is not full or normal sight, but Esterhuizen can move about in the world around him.
The new technology uses several parts. One is a small device placed in the brain. The other parts are a video camera on sunglasses and a processing device that can be carried in a person’s clothes. When the user points the camera, a signal goes to the processor (处理器) and then back to the glasses. The glasses then are in wireless communication with the device in the brain. The information causes a pattern to develop in the part of the brain. The pattern helps users sense or see movement and shapes of light. And it all happens in seconds.
Esterhuizen is one of just two people in the U.S. testing this technology. He says that “I can tell someone moving across the room, walking past me or walking away from me, or it’s a light against the wall. It is just amazing to have some form of functional vision again.” He adds that now he can do everyday activities around his home that he once could not. It is easier to walk outside.
The researchers believe that one day this technology could help people who have lost their vision because of illnesses like diabetes. It may also help those with poor vision or who were born blind.
1.Which of the following caused Esterhuizen to go blind ?
A.An illness. B.A car accident.
C.A brain damage. D.A genetic problem.
2.What can we know about sunglasses of the new technology?
A.They are put in the brain.
B.They are carried in the user’s clothes.
C.They are mainly used to protect a person’s eyes.
D.They communicate wirelessly with a small device.
3.What can we infer about Esterhuizen in paragraph 5?
A.He fully regains his sight.
B.He always do daily activities freely.
C.He feels delighted to see the world again.
D.He is the only one to test this technology.
4.What is the main idea of the text?
A.Orion makes homes brighter.
B.Orion functions as normal eyes.
C.A new equipment helps the blind see.
D.A new technology happens in seconds.
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析