When Rachel Ratelle saw a news video of a burned koala trying to climb a tree to safety in fire-ravaged (火灾肆虐的) Australia, she decided to do something about it.
She looked up wildlife rescue and relief agencies in Australia to find out what they needed most. Besides donations, many organizations asked for hand-sewn (手缝的) and knitted pouches (袋子) and wraps for koalas and other animals that were burned or had lost their homes and parents in the fires.
This idea attracted Ratelle, but there was just one problem.
“I’d never sewn in my life,” said Ratelle, 17, a senior at Rancho Buena Vista High School in Vista, US. “Giving money seemed like something too simple. But I wanted to directly help these animals by doing something myself, so I decided to learn how to sew.”
Over the next few months, Ratelle bought her own sewing machine and taught herself how to sew via videos online. Then she purchased 18 yards of fabric and sewed 25 pouches of different sizes and shipped them off to For Australian Wildlife Needing Aid (FAWNA), one of several relief organizations that have rushed to rescue koalas, kangaroos and other species suffering from burns.
A week later, she received a photo from FAWNA with a young joey (幼兽) in one of her larger pouches. “It made me feel like I contributed to the world and it showed how a simple act of kindness can go a long way,” said Ratelle, who hopes to study biology for a future career as a nurse practitioner.
“I plan to use my new sewing skills to help animals and people devastated (蹂躏) by natural disasters,” she said.
According to the World Wildlife Fund, it estimated that 1.2 billion animals have died, as a result of the bushfires, which have burned more than 26 million acres in Australia.
Several craft guild (手工业行会) websites around the world have mobilized (动员) for Australian relief by making the animal pouches. Karen Newberry and her two daughters Madison, 12 and Rochelle, 8, from San Diego also offered their help in such a way. For Newberry, “it was a big push that made we crafters, sewers to realize there’s something more we can do than just make things for ourselves,” she said.
1.What do the first two paragraphs mainly talk about?
A.What inspired Ratelle to learn to sew.
B.What is needed to save koalas and other species.
C.The poor living conditions of wild animals in Australia.
D.Different ways to help koalas and other animals in Australia.
2.How did Ratelle feel when she received a photo from FAWNA according to the text?
A.Proud. B.Calm.
C.Surprised. D.Disappointed.
3.The statistics (统计数字) in Paragraph 8 are used to show ______.
A.how frequent the bushfires are in Australia
B.how harmful the bushfires are in Australia
C.the great varieties of wild animals in Australia
D.the difficulties facing relief organizations in Australia
4.What do Newberry’s words in the last paragraph suggest?
A.People should stay united through difficult times.
B.Life is not easy for crafters and sewers in Australia.
C.It is challenging for crafters and sewers to do relief work.
D.Crafters and sewers can do more to help animals.
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
Courses & Curriculum of the College of Arts & Sciences in Cornell
The diversity of the courses you can take in the College of Arts & Sciences is extraordinary:
Academic Distribution Requirements
The College’s academic distribution requirements will include:
· effective writing
· foreign language beyond the introductory level
.· imaginative and critical thinking
To choose your courses for a semester, use the Class Roster. It shows the schedule of all classes offered in a particular term, along with class enrollment information and course details.
The Class Roster is updated frequently.
To plan your classes over your four years at Cornell, use the Courses of Study. It represents Cornell’s full catalog of courses and is published annually. It provides information on Cornell degree programs, requirements, policies and procedures.
If you need help, call 607-255-5004 for an appointment with an advising dean. Or contact a career counselor in the Arts & Sciences Career Development Center at 607-255-4166 to talk about your interests and how they can translate into a major and a future career.
A New Curriculum
On October 30, 2018, the College of Arts & Sciences faculty( 教员) approved a new undergraduate curriculum to be carried out over the next two to three years. The new curriculum focuses on the theme of exploration and reaffirms the college’s commitment to a liberal arts and sciences education. Students who have questions about the new curriculum can view the approved proposal on the Course Designer app of Cornell.
Innovative Learning
If you’re one of the 3,000 students across the university taking biology or physics at the College, you may be part of an innovative( 创新的) classroom project that uses active learning,a new model that is proving to be the quickest path to expert-level mastery.
Your education at Cornell will extend far beyond the classroom. You can join a faculty member’s research team on campus, conduct field study research in different states or spend a semester with Cornell in Washington D C. You could study abroad in one of more than 85 countries or develop your own research project through independent study. Give yourself the freedom to explore.
1.If you want to plan your courses over the long run, you can use the ______.
A.Class Roster B.Courses of Study
C.Course Designer D.Career Center
2.For students involved in an innovative classroom project, they ______.
A.may study a new model
B.are on the quickest way to be experts
C.will get more freedom during research project
D.have advantages of studying outside the classroom
3.The article is probably taken from ______.
A.a travel magazine B.a science report
C.a college website D.an academic journal
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
An advance in electronic publishing could make the ebook you are reading seem as dated as a silent film. Publishers hope to explore the growing success of ebooks by releasing versions with added soundtracks and musical accompaniments.
The noises in the first multimedia books released in Britain on Friday include rain hitting a window in a Sherlock Holmes tale. When the plot of a book reaches the most exciting part, background scores will create tension. In America, works by Shakespeare and Jane Austen have already been released with music and background noise so that, for example, readers can hear tea cups clinking in Mr. Darcy’s garden as they read Pride and Prejudice.
Supporters argue that sound effects are the next logical development for ebooks and will add excitement for younger readers. Critics, however, will argue that the noise will ruin the simple pleasure of having the imagination stimulated by reading.
Caroline Michel, chief executive of the literary agency, said the new generation of computer-literate readers was used to multiple sensory input. She said, “Young people have split computer screens where they may be watching television and replying to an email at the same time. If that’s what the market wants then we should respond to the market.”
Booktrack’s sound effects work by estimating the user’s reading speed. Each time you “turn” a page, the software reassesses where you have reached in the text and times the sounds to switch on accordingly. If the soundtrack becomes out of synch (同步), a click on any word will reset it.
Some authors fear that a soundtrack could destroy the peace and quiet of libraries and ruin the pleasure of reading. David Nicholls, author of One Day, the bestseller now released as a film, said, “This sounds like the opposite of reading. I have enough trouble reading an ebook because I’m constantly distracted by emails.”
Stuart MacBride, the crime writer whose novel Shatter the Bones was an ebook bestseller, sells 18% of his books as electronic downloads. He said, “If I’m reading, I will do the noise in my head. I don't need someone to tell me what tea cups clinking sounds like. That would irritate me.”
1.What’s the passage mainly about?
A.Opinions about ebooks with soundtracks.
B.Response to the need of the book market.
C.Reasons for traditional ebooks becoming outdated.
D.Suggestions on encouraging readers’ imagination.
2.What do publishers expect an ebook soundtrack to do?
A.Help to release an ebook as a film.
B.Make readers improve reading speed.
C.Add tension at a book’s exciting point.
D.Get readers familiar with the background.
3.What does the underlined sentences mean in Paragraph 6 ?
A.David enjoyed the pleasure of reading an ebook in the library.
B.Soundtrack would affect David’s concentration on reading an ebook.
C.David was constantly fascinated by checking emails when reading an ebook.
D.Soundtrack would destroy the content and characters of the story.
4.What do we know about Stuart MacBride?
A.He was a person who was easy to get irritated.
B.He didn’t like the clinking sounds of tea cups.
C.He was the most famous writer about crime stories.
D.He imagined sounds about the story when reading.
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
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
Auckland University Online Education — What to Expect
Most Auckland University (AU) online programs are 100 percent online so that students do not come to the school campus. Instead, AU has designed a media-rich, easy-to-use learning environment through a Learning Management System (LMS).
• Discipline (纪律)
With disciplined work habits, you are likely to succeed as an online student. It is up to you to log on to your course and meet your own deadlines.
• Time Management
In order to earn competitive grades, plan on spending a minimum of 20-25 hours a week on each course. AU courses operate on a seven-week schedule, with start dates in January, March, May, July, September and November. Students are able to complete two courses per semester by taking one seven-week course at a time.
• Professional Connections
Many of the AU faculty (教员)who teach online have connections to industry, so the online learning environment ensures access to diverse expertise and practice. It includes an extensive network of professionals in a variety of industries.
“I work as an IT manager. And right from the very beginning, every class I took was relevant to what I was doing at work. The wide range of courses gave me a strong foundation for my career development.”
—Jim Heilman, Computer Information Systems graduate
• Technology
It goes without saying that technology plays a vital role in online learning. You will need a high-speed Internet connection and basic computer skills. For specifics, please click here to visit our Technology page.
1.How long does it take to complete one course?
A.Seven weeks. B.One semester.
C.Several months. D.At least 20-25 hours.
2.What is the purpose of mentioning Jim Heilman?
A.To recognize an excellent graduate.
B.To set a good example to other learners.
C.To prove benefits of professional connections.
D.To show effective methods of online learning.
3.Where is the text probably taken from?
A.A course brochure. B.A college website.
C.An academic magazine. D.An online advertisement.
高二英语阅读理解简单题查看答案及解析
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
National Zoo in Australia
OPEN TIME
9: 30 am-5: 00 pm every day of the year, except Christmas Day.
TICKET PRICES
Children: 3-15 years $26
Students: 16 years or above with student card $40
Seniors Card: $40
Adults: $47
Family: 2 adults and up to 3 children: $130
CARERS FOR SPECIAL VISITORS
Carers for visitors with disabilities are admitted free of charge. Carers ID is required upon entry.
COMPANION CARD holders receive free entry, as well as their carers.
Please note, we aren’t a government funded zoo and don’t receive a subsidy (补贴) to accept many of the government concession (减价票).
GROUP RATES
If you are visiting the zoo in a group of 10 or more, you may qualify for our Special Group rates on General Entry prices.
DAILY ACTIVITIES & KEEPER TALKS
Make the most of your zoo visit and check out our daily keeper activities. There are great opportunities to see animals in action. Watch them enjoy a treat and interact with their keepers as they receive a feed.
On weekends and during school holidays, additional Keeper Talks are added to the schedule and visitors have the chance to meet or even feed some of our wonderful animals!
WALK ON THE WILDSIDE
Become a zoo keeper for a day with the ultimate all day wildlife experience.
ZOOVENTURE TOUR
Hand feed a tiger, and pat a rhino, which may be your most unforgettable experience.
GETTING HERE
BY CAR
We are located on Lady Denman Drive, next to Scrivener Dam. Find us on Google Maps.
BY PUBLIC TRANSPORT
Unfortunately, there are no bus services running to the zoo at present.
1.How much will a 70-year-old man pay ?
A.$ 40. B.$ 47.
C.$ 26. D.$ 130.
2.Which of the following may be the most unforgettable experience?
A.Being a zoo keeper. B.Feeding the tiger.
C.Talking with the keepers D.Watching animals in action.
3.What can be learned from the text?
A.People can take a free bus to the zoo.
B.Keeper Talks are available every day.
C.People caring for disabled people can visit for free.
D.Senior people have a free visit.
高二英语阅读理解简单题查看答案及解析