I travel a lot, and I find out different “styles”(风格) of directions every time I ask “How can I get to the post office?”
Foreign tourists are often confused(困惑的) in Japan because most streets there don’t have names; in Japan, people use landmarks(地标) in their directions instead of street names. For example, the Japanese will say to travelers, “Go straight down to the corner. Turn left at the big hotel and go past a fruit market. The post office is across from the bus stop.”
In the countryside of the American Midwest, there are not usually many landmarks. There are no mountains, so the land is very flat; in many places there are no towns or buildings within miles. Instead of landmarks, people will tell you directions and distances. In Kansas or Iowa, for example, people will say, “Go north two miles. Turn east, and then go another mile.”
People in Los Angeles, California, have no idea of distance on the map; they measure distance in time, not miles. “How far away is the post office?” you ask. “Oh,” they answer, “it’s about five minutes from here.” You say, “Yes, but how many miles away is it?” They don’t know.
It’s true that a person doesn’t know the answer to your question sometimes. What happens in such a situation? A New Yorker might say, “Sorry, I have no idea.” But in Yucatan, Mexico, no one answers “I don’t know.” People in Yucatan believe that “I don’t know” is impolite. They usually give an answer, often a wrong one. A tourist can get very, very lost in Yucatan!
1.When a tourist asks the Japanese the way to a certain place, they usually ______.
A.describe the place carefully |
B.show him a map of the place |
C.tell him the names of the streets |
D.refer to recognizable buildings and places |
2.What is the place where people measure distance in time?
A.New York. | B.Los Angeles. | C.Kansas. | D.Iowa. |
3.People in Yucatan may give a tourist a wrong answer ______.
A.in order to save time | B.as a test |
C.so as to be polite | D.for fun |
4.What can we infer from the text?
A.It’s important for travelers to understand cultural differences. |
B.It’s useful for travelers to know how to ask the way properly. |
C.People have similar understandings of politeness. |
D.New Yorkers are generally friendly to visitors. |
高二英语阅读理解困难题查看答案及解析
Goldie’s Secret
She turned up at the doorstep of my house in Cornwall. No way could I have sent her away. No way, not me anyway. Maybe someone had kicked her out of their car the night before. “We’re moving house.”; “No space for her any more with the baby coming.” “We never really wanted her, but what could we have done? She was a present.” People find all sorts of excuses for abandoning an animal. And she was one of the most beautiful dogs I had ever seen.
I called her Goldie. If I had known what was going to happen I would have given her a more creative name. She was so unsettled during those first few days. She hardly ate anything and had such an air of sadness about her. There was nothing I could do to make her happy, it seemed. Heaven knows what had happened to her at her previous owner's. But eventually at the end of the first week she calmed down. Always by my side, whether we were out on one of our long walks or sitting by the fire.
That's why it was such a shock when she pulled away from me one day when we were out for a walk. We were a long way from home, when she started barking and getting very restless. Eventually I couldn't hold her any longer and she raced off down the road towards a farmhouse in the distance as fast as she could.
By the time I reached the farm I was very tired and upset with Goldie. But when I saw her licking (舔) the four puppies (幼犬) I started to feel sympathy towards them. “We didn't know what had happened to her,” said the woman at the door. “I took her for a walk one day, soon after the puppies were born, and she just disappeared.” “She must have tried to come back to them and got lost,” added a boy from behind her.
I must admit I do miss Goldie, but I've got Nugget now, and she looks just like her mother. And I’ve learnt a good lesson: not to judge people.
1.How did the author feel about Goldie when Goldie came to the house?
A.Shocked. | B.Sympathetic. | C.Annoyed. | D.Upset. |
2.In her first few days at the author's house, Goldie ________.
A.felt worried | B.was angry |
C.ate a little | D.sat by the fire |
3.Goldie rushed off to a farmhouse one day because she ________.
A.saw her puppies |
B.heard familiar barking |
C.wanted to leave the author |
D.found her way to her old home |
4.The passage is organized in order of ________.
A.time | B.effectiveness | C.importance | D.complexity |
高二英语阅读理解困难题查看答案及解析
Are billionaires good with exams as well as their money? Or are they more likely to have escaped school at the first opportunity and worked their way up to make their fortunes?
A study of the educational background of some of the world’s wealthiest people shows that they are much more likely to have gone to university, and they are more likely to have a postgraduate degree(硕士或博士研究生学位) than no degree at all.
It doesn’t give much support for the image of self-taught entrepreneurs (企业家), who rely on their own wisdom rather than higher education.
The study, by insurance company GoCompare, examined the educational background of people appearing in the top 1 00 billionaire lists by Forbes magazine over the past 20 years.
It shows that 76 percent of these billionaires have a degree. Forty-seven percent of them have a bachelor’s (学士) degree, 23 percent a master’s (文/理科硕士) degree and 6 percent a doctorate(博士学位). The most popular subjects were the ones related to economics and engineering. There were many more studying sciences than arts.
The school attended by the global super rich are also much more likely to be world-class universities, rather than local ones. Harvard University is the single most likely name to be found on the resume(履历) of a billionaire, though one of the most famous names on the rich list, Bill Gates, dropped out of Harvard before finishing.
Stanford University in California and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have become the launchpads for a rising number of tech billionaires. Google’s co-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin were both postgraduates at Stanford. Borthers Charles and David Koch, who are among the world’s biggest oil tycoons, both got their bachelor’s and master’s degrees from MIT.
Among U.K. universities, the London School of Economics and Political Science and the University of Cambridge have the most multi-billionaires on the Forbes list, while Oxford has produced Rupert Murdoch.
1.The study has found all of the following EXCEPT .
A. most billionaires are not self-taught geniuses
B. billionaires are much more likely to have received higher education
C. nearly half of those on Forbes’ top 100 billionaire lists have a bachelor’s degree
D. there are more billionaires without degree at all than those with a master’s degree
2.Of the following subjects, what is the most likely to have been a college major of a billionaire?
A. Computer science. B. Art history.
C. English literature. D. Law.
3.What does the underlined word “launchpads” in Paragraph 7 mean?
A. Favorite places of famous people.
B. Effective starting points for a career.
C. Places on the Internet that help you find information.
D. Places where rockets and other spacecraft are sent into space.
4.Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the article?
A. The study was carried out by Forbes magazine.
B. A high percentage of the world’s richest people have a doctorate.
C. Rupert Murdoch went to the London School of Economics and Political Science.
D. Harvard University has produced more billionaires on the Forbes list than any other university.
高二英语阅读理解困难题查看答案及解析
It has been around for centuries, but up until very recently, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) wasn’t fully accepted abroad. Proof of this can be found in The Treatment (《刮痧》), a 2001 film that tells the story of a Chinese man in the US who’s accused of abuse after he uses guasha, a form of TCM treatment, to cure his grandson’s disease.
During the last 10 years or so, however, TCM has been getting increasingly popular all over the world. A report released by the State Council Information Office on Dec. 6 says this style of health care, which includes different forms like herbal medicine and exercise, has spread to 183 countries and regions.
“We have set up 10 TCM centers outside China, and all of them are popular among locals,” Wang Guoqiang, head of the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, said at a news conference on Dec 6. “Governments of 86 countries and regions have signed agreements with the Chinese government on TCM corporation.”
One of the reasons behind the growing popularity of TCM is the increase of scientific research into it. And after Tu Youyou-the Chinese scientist who discovered the anti-malaria (抗疟疾) drug qinghaosu (青蒿素)-won the Nobel Prize last year, TCM became even more famous internationally.
However, all these achievements in TCM don’t mean that it’s problem-free. Over the years, TCM has faced challenges in being able to prove that it has certain effects.
Some researchers have suggested TCM should be more exact and work together with Western medicine.
“Bringing together with Western medicine and TCM, rather than being in competition, is where the potential for great effects is,” said Bernhard Schwartlander, the China representative of the World Health Organization.
1.The film The Treatment is mentioned in the first paragraph is to .
A. introduce the film to readers
B. show TCM is increasingly popular
C. arouse readers’ interest in Western medicine
D. prove that TCM is not fully accepted in western countries
2.We can learn from the passage that .
A. TCM is not exact in curing diseases
B. 10 TCM centers abroad are all set up by locals
C. 86 countries have cooperated with China on TCM
D. Tu Youyou’s success contributes to the popularity of TCM
3.According to Bernhard Schwartlander, TCM should .
A. combine western medicine
B. face no challenge at all
C. give an exact description of its effects
D. complete with western medicine
4.Which of the following can be the best title of the passage?
A. A report on TCM B. Opinions about TCM
C. TCM & Western Medicine D. Traditional healing spreads
高二英语阅读理解困难题查看答案及解析
June 26, 2000—the Human Genome(基因组) Project, a great $3 billion, 15-year task aimed at drawing the genetic(遗传的)map of humans, is now more than 90 percent completed. The scientific and medical communities are very excited about the chances genetic research provides for getting rid of diseases and prolonging(延长) human life. But those communities and policy makers are also careful about the scientific door they are opening as the project uncovers the mysteries of life.
For the last few years, the genetic advances in the developing field of biotechnology have provides material for all kinds of work, but the developments of modern science in unlocking the secrets of the human genetic code have opened a world of possibilities for human health, as well as for the popular imagination.
While European and Japanese researchers are making rapid progress in decoding(解码) human DNA, the leading organization for genetic research is in the United States, which began in 1990, is “unlocking the code” of the human body to learn how to defeat fatal diseases. Already, the Human Genome Project has become widely known and praised for finding the genes connected with as yet(迄今) terrible diseases, and making progress toward separating the genes that show a sign of breast cancer or AIDS.
Once these genes are found and studied, researchers can develop new ways to attack infections, and genetic diseases. Medical companies are very interested in mapping the human genome, as they expect to develop a lot of new drugs for these illnesses.
1.Why did the scientists work hard at mapping the Human Genome?
A. Because the Human Genome can destroy many illnesses.
B. Because the Human Genome's completion can help them get rid of many diseases.
C. Because they wanted to be better known than others.
D. Because the Human Genome can provide a lot of chances of work.
2.Which country studied the genes most rapidly in the world?
A. Japan. B. Germany. C. The United States. D. China.
3.Which of the following is NOT true?
A. If the genes can be found, scientists can study many new ways to cure illnesses.
B. The scientists have made great progress in connecting the genes with the cancers.
C. Many medical companies show great interest in drawing the human genome map.
D. The United States began the Genes Study early in the 19th century.
4.The main idea of this article is about_________.
A. unlocking genetic code B. the genes' discovery
C. the great human genome D. the genes and the scientist
高二英语阅读理解困难题查看答案及解析
It’s obviously true that not all people like to work, but everyone likes to play. All over the world, men and women, young and old, enjoy recreational activities. So, beyond doubt, entertainment plays an important role in our daily lives. In modern society, there is a broad range of recreational activities—from online computer games to lovely picnics—that meet the needs of different groups of people. Therefore, it won’t be difficult for you to find some recreation to refresh your body and mind.
Recreational activities have a number of benefits, especially in this highly competitive society. They can help us relax, have fun and relieve stress. In fact, I believe there is no better way to get exercise and relieve stress than to take an active part in recreational activities. But can recreational activities do us harm? Of course they can. Let’s take TV as an example. There is no denying that TV offers access to the latest news and to useful knowledge, while providing us with entertainment. However, if we spend too much time watching TV, it will numb our mind and destroy our creativity, which is exactly the opposite of what we really want. What’s more, TV can also show some pornographic programs, which are absolutely unsuitable for us young students. So, just as the old saying goes, every coin has two sides, and watching TV is no exception.
As a student, I think recreational activities are very important for us. But this doesn’t mean we should take up whatever recreational activities are available. Instead, we should strike a balance between work and rest. We should have our own judgment, which means knowing what is good for us and what is not. And we should exercise self-control so as not to become addicted to them. I believe moderate recreational activity will benefit us in many ways and help us live a full, meaningful life.
1.Why does entertainment play an important role in people’s daily lives?
A. Because online computer games are popular with people.
B. Because entertainment can help people have fun instead of relieving stress.
C. Because people of all ages enjoy recreational activities.
D. Because it is easy and convenient to take up any recreational activity.
2.Which of the following statements is not counted as the disadvantage of TV?
A. People are addicted to watching TV.
B. TV provides people with the latest news.
C. Some programs are unsuitable for young students.
D. Spending too much time on it may destroy people’s creativity
3.In the author’s opinion, what is the proper attitude to recreational activities?
A. Spending as much time as we like watching TV.
B. Taking part in any recreational activities available.
C. Learning to control ourselves about entertainment.
D. Benefiting us by taking part in different activities.
高二英语阅读理解困难题查看答案及解析
Everybody hates it, but everybody does it. A recent report said that 40%of Americans hate tipping. In America alone, tipping is a $16 billion-a-year industry. Consumers acting politely ought not to pay more than they have to for a given service. Tips should not exist. So why do they? The common opinion in the past was that tips both rewarded the efforts of good service and reduced uncomfortable feelings of inequality. And also, tipping makes for closer relations. It went without saying that the better the service, the bigger the tip.
But according to a new research from Cornell University, tips no longer serve any useful function. The paper analyzes numbers they got from 2,547 groups dining at 20 different restaurants. The connection between larger tips and better service was very weak. Only a tiny part of the size of the tip had anything to do with the quality of service.
Tipping is better explained, by culture than by the money people spend. In America, the custom came into being a long time ago. It is regarded as part of the accepted cost of a service. In New York restaurants, failing to tip at least l5% could well mean dissatisfaction from the customers. Hairdressers can expect to get l5%-20%, and the man who delivers your fast food $2. In Europe, tipping is less common. In many restaurants the amount of tip is decided by a standard service charge. In many Asian countries, tipping has never really caught on at all. Only a few have really taken to tipping.
According to Michael Lynn, the Cornell papers’ author, countries in which people are more social or outgoing tend to tip more. Tipping may reduce anxiety about being served by strangers. And Mr. Lynn says, “In America, where people are expressive and eager to mix up with others, tipping is about social approval. If you tip badly, people think less of you. Tipping well is a chance to show off.”
1. This passage is mainly about ________.
A.different kinds of tipping in different countries |
B.the relationship between tipping and custom |
C.the origin and present meaning of tipping |
D.most American people hate tipping |
2.Which of the following best explains the underlined phrase “caught on” ?
A.become popular. | B.been hated. |
C.been stopped. | D.been permitted |
3. Among the following situations, in your opinion, who is likely to tip most?
A.A Frenchman just quarreled with the barber who did his hair badly in New York. |
B.An American just had a wonderful dinner in a well known restaurant in New York. |
C.A Japanese businessman asked for a pizza delivery from a Pizza Hut in New York. |
D.A Chinese student enjoyed his meal in a famous fast food restaurant in New York. |
4. We can infer from this passage that ________.
A.tipping is no longer a good way to satisfy some customers themselves |
B.tipping is especially popular in New York |
C.tipping in America can make service better now |
D.tipping has something to do with people’s character |
高二英语阅读理解困难题查看答案及解析
In our life, we have rarely expressed our gratitude to the one who’d lived those years with us.In fact, we don’t have to wait for anniversaries to thank the ones close to us—the ones so easily overlooked. If I have learned anything about giving thanks, it is this: give it now!While your feeling of appreciation is alive and sincere, act on it. Saying thanks is such an easy way to add to the world’s happiness.
Saying thanks not only brightens someone else’s world, but it also brightens yours. If you’re feeling left out, unloved or unappreciated, try reaching out to others. It may be just the medicine you need.
Of course, there are times when you can’t express gratitude immediately. In that case don’t let embarrassment sink you into silence—speak up the first time you have the chance.
Once a young minister, Mark Brian, was sent to a remote parish of Kwakiutl Indians in British Columbia. He had been told that the Indians did not have a word for thank you. But Brian soon found that these people had exceptional generosity. Instead of saying thanks, it is their custom to return every favor with a favor of their own, and every kindness with an equal or superior kindness. They do their thanks.
I wonder if we had no words in our vocabulary for thank you, would we do a better job of communicating our gratitude? Would we be more responsive, more sensitive and more caring?
Thankfulness sets in motion a chain of reaction that transforms people all around us—including ourselves, for no one ever misunderstands the melody of a grateful heart.
1.In the first paragraph the writer mainly encourages us ________.
A.to express our sincere thanks timely to those around us |
B.never to overlook our close friends in daily life |
C.to wait for a proper occasion to show our gratitude |
D.to increase the world’s happiness by saying thanks |
2. When we say something for what others do for us, it ______.
A.is good for both us and people who help us |
B.benefits the people who do something for us |
C.wastes our and our friends' time at the same time |
D.does harm to both us and people who help us |
3.According to the writer, ________ could be the best way to prevent ourselves from being left out.
A.seeing a doctor to find the right medicine we need |
B.expressing our gratitude in an easy way |
C.speaking up the moment we have the chance |
D.showing others actively we are willing to help them |
4.Mark Brain’s story is mentioned in the passage in order to show the fact that ________.
A.the Indians didn’t have any words for appreciation |
B.the Indians were particularly generous to others |
C.some people may express their gratitude through different approaches |
D.Mark Brain set the Indians an example to show saying thanks is very important |
高二英语阅读理解困难题查看答案及解析
China is home to the invention of silk and has a long tradition of producing fine materials for clothing. Not all clothing in ancient or contemporary( 当代的) China is made of silk, however. In fact, silk was only available to the wealthy classes(阶级) for much of China's history. Until the introduction of cotton during the Ming Dynasty, from the 14th to the 17th century, the poorer classes wore rough clothing made from fibers (纤维).
In ancient China, the tunic(无袖长袍)was particularly popular . Called hanfu(汉服), both men and women could be seen wearing tunics made of different materials. Women's tunics were long and loose(宽松的), extending all the way down to their feet and often cinched with a belt or rope to get tighter(紧). Men's tunics were shorter, usually only extending down to their knees. During the winter, both men and women would wear cotton jackets for warmth. In the winter, men would also wear pants (裤子) or ankle-length skirts into their clothes to keep warm and protect their legs against the cold winter conditions.
Contemporary Chinese clothing is now made of many of the same materials as contemporary clothing found in other countries. Much of the traditional Chinese clothing produced now is made of cotton and silk, but generally contemporary Chinese clothing also contains synthetic (合成的) fibers in with the cotton and silk, such as nylon (尼龙). In addition, linen (亚麻布) is now commonly used in contemporary Chinese clothing, especially during the summer months because it is light and breathable.
1.In ancient China, only wealthy people could afford clothes made from______.
A. silk B. fiber C. cotton D. linen
2.Which of the following about hanfu(汉服) is mentioned in the text?
A. It was made from only one material.
B. Men's hanfu was shorter than women's.
C. People didn't wear it until the Ming Dynasty.
D. It was warm enough to help people against cold in the winter.
3.The underlined word "cinched" in the second paragraph is closest in meaning to "___".
A. 悬挂 B. 插入 C. 装饰 D. 拴,绑
4.What can we know from the text?
A. Linen is only used to make Chinese summer clothing.
B. Nylon was one material for ancient Chinese clothing.
C. Lots of contemporary Chinese clothing is made from synthetic fibers.
D. The materials for contemporary Chinese clothing are produced by other countries.
高二英语阅读理解困难题查看答案及解析
What makes us happy?
There has long been an opinion that money buys happiness. However, although “we really, really tired that for a couple of generations, it didn’t work,” said Francine Jay, author of The Joy of Less, A Minimalist Living Guide: How to Declutter, Organize, and Simplify Your Life.
Thanks to a travel- inspired revelation (启发), Jay has been happily living a simpler life for 12 years. “I always packed as lightly as possible, and found it exhilarating (令人高兴的) to get by with just a small carry-on bag,” she told CNN. “I thought if it feels this great to travel lightly, how amazing would it be to live this way? I wanted to have that same feeling of freedom in my everyday life.”
Jay decided to get rid of all her excess(额外的) possessions and live with just the essentials. “I wanted to spend my time and energy on experiences, rather than things.”
Jay is a follower of a movement called “minimalism(极简主义)”. Growing numbers of people have been attracted to this lifestyle all over the world. They share the same feeling of disappointment with modern life and a desire to live more simply. Minimalists are typically progressive and concerned about the environment, Leah Watkins, a lead researcher at Otago University in New Zealand, told Stuff magazine in March.
But many simply experienced unhappiness caused by owning too many possessions. Depression with the materialism of our world isn’t new. English romantic poet Willian Wordsworth summed up how dispiriting this was back in 1802, at the beginning of the industrial age, when he wrote: “Getting and spending, we lay waste our powers”. His preference was to go back to nature. Closer to our own times, the hippies(嬉皮士)of the 1960s also sought to “drop out ”of modern life.
And for many minimalists, their key is to unload. Without objects, they “believe people are forced more and more into the present moment and that’s where life happens,” wrote Stuff. But does simplicity ever feel like a sacrifice?
“It’s eliminating the excess—unused items, unnecessary purchases—from your life. Well, I may have fewer possessions, but I have more space…Minimalism is making room for what matters most,” said Jay.
And “the real questions”, according to Duane Elgin, US social scientist, are “what do you care about?” and “What do you value?” He told CNN: “It is important for people to realize minimalism isn’t simply the amount of stuff we consume. It is about our families, our work, our connection with the larger world, our spiritual dimension. It is about how we touch the whole world. It is a way of life.”
1.What inspired Francine Jay to live a simple life?
A. A book she came across.
B. A follower of minimalism she met on a trip.
C. The pleasure she enjoyed from traveling lightly.
D. Her desire to keep up with modern life.
2.According to Leah Watkins,a typical minimalist tends to________.
a. be fed up with materialism
b. like saving and visiting nature often
c. be disappointed with his or her current life
d. be environmentally friendly and live with fewer things
A. a, b B. a, d C. a, b ,c D. b, c, d
3.The underlined word"eliminating"in the second-to-last paragraph probably means_______.
A. removing B. distinguishing C. accepting D. improving
4.Which of the following would Duane Elgin probably agree with?
A. Minimalism is a healthy lifestyle that is in conflict with modern life.
B. Minimalism means people have to sacrifice some pleasure to live simply.
C. Minimalism limits people's freedom to enjoy their lives to the fullest.
D. Minimalism enables people to reflect on what truly counts in their lives.
5.What was the author's main purpose in writing the text?
A. To argue whether money buys happiness.
B. To recommend one of Francine Jay's books.
C. To explore the trend of minimalism.
D. To give tips on how to lead a happy life.
高二英语阅读理解困难题查看答案及解析