Supermarket shelves are filled with plant-based alternatives to cow milk, including soy, nut, and coconut milk. These products are popular with consumers who cannot drink cows’ milk for health reasons, as well as with those concerned about animal welfare and environmental sustainability. While the dairy-free(非乳制的) options work well with cereal or in coffee, they fail miserably when it comes to making milk-based products like cheese or yogurt. However, these shortcomings may soon be a thing of the past, thanks to a new company in California, which has figured out how to create animal-free milk in a laboratory!
Perumal Gandhi and Ryan Pandya founded the company in 2014 after becoming increasingly annoyed with the lack of cows’ milk-free alternatives, particularly for cheese. For Gandhi, who stopped consuming animal products five years earlier due to environmental and animal welfare concerns, the motivation to create a better alternative stemmed from his love of cheesy pizza. Pandya was spurred into taking action after being forced to eat some “really bad” dairy-free cream cheese on his sandwich.
The two MIT biomedical engineering scientists decided to join forces to create a more realistic alternative to dairy-based products. In their university lab, the pair spent nine months first isolating(分离) cow DNA then inserting it into yeast. This genetic modification enabled the yeast to produce the necessary milk proteins. The final step of the process involved mixing the proteins with some plant nutrients and fats.
The dairy-free milk not only tastes like the real thing but is also healthier, has a longer shelf life and, most important of all, is Earth friendly. According to the company’s website, when compared to conventional(传统的) milk production, their process uses 65% less energy, creates 84%o less greenhouse gas emissions and requires 91% less land and an amazing 98% less water! Best of all, since it contains real milk proteins, the product behaves like the cow-produced version, which means vegetarian consumers will no longer have to deal with soggy cheese on their sandwiches and pizzas.
The company plans to bring their creation to market later this year and their first product will most likely be cheese since there are already numerous good cows’ milk alternatives available to consumers.
1.The underlined word "those" in paragraph 1 refers to_______.
A. alternatives B. people
C. products D. reasons
2.What can be inferred from paragraph 4?
A. The dairy-free products cannot be stored for a long time.
B. The new products will taste better than dairy-based ones.
C. Cow farming causes considerable environmental damage.
D. The dairy-free milk will be more expensive than cow’s milk.
3.Which of the following can be the best title for the text?
A. Healthier Cheese B. New Milk Saves Planet
C. Fresher Milk, Better Future D. Making Milk without Cows
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
The following ads come from UW (University of Washington) newspaper called The Daily.
1.If you are looking for a job only for the summer, how many choices do you have?
A.One. B.Two.
C.Three. D.Four.
2.Which of the following is TRUE according to the ads?
A.If you are good at swimming, you can try a job at 206-555-3989.
B.All the companies advertising on the Daily are trustworthy.
C.As a student, you don't need to pay a deposit when renting rooms.
D.The fees for parking near University of Washington are the same.
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
People have many different ways to relax during break time at work or school. Smartphones are probably the number one choice for a quick mental vacation. Although it might seem like a good time, looking at your cellphone may damage your mental power, according to a recent psychological study from Rutgers University in the United States.
For the study, more than 400 students were asked to finish a set of 20 word puzzles. Halfway through the task, the students were divided into three groups. One group was allowed to take a break and use cellphones to buy things online. The second group was asked to have a rest and buy things using a computer. The last group didn't take any break at all.
Interestingly, the group that used their cellphones during the break went back to work feeling the most tired and least motivated to continue. They also had the hardest time solving the remaining word puzzles. The cellphone group took 19 percent longer to finish the rest of the task,and solved 22 percent fewer problems than those in the other break conditions combined.
Terri Kurtzberg, co-author of the study, explained that they assumed looking at cellphones during a break would be no different from any other break---but instead, the phone may cause increasing levels of distraction(分心)that make it difficult to return focused attention to work tasks.
"Cellphones may have this effect because even just seeing your phone activates thoughts of checking messages, connecting with people, access to ever-refilling information and more, in ways that are different from how we use other screens like computers, and laptops," Kurtzberg told Science Daily.
So, during your next break, try putting your smartphone away. Go out for a walk, get to know your classmates or even take a nap(小憩).You may be surprised by the results!
1.What did the study find about using cellphones during breaks?
A.It could affect one's relationships with others.
B.It could reduce one's ability to solve problems.
C.It could make people more motivated at work.
D.It could be beneficial both physically and mentally.
2.What can we learn about cellphones from Kurtzberg's words?
A.They have become a necessary part of people's lives.
B.Their negative influence is almost impossible to avoid.
C.They may make it hard for people to concentrate on work.
D.They may influence people in the same way as computers do.
3.Why does looking at cellphones during a break cause increasing levels of distraction?
A.Because it makes people sleepy.
B.Because it does harm to people's brains.
C.Because it activates thoughts of using cellphones.
D.Because it reminds people of their unhappy experiences.
4.What does the author suggest people do during break time?
A.Turn off their cellphones. B.Keep their cellphones out of sight.
C.Keep their cellphones face down. D.Replace cellphones with laptops.
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
If you live in Shanghai, you might have to take a "lesson" in sorting garbage(垃圾分类), as the city recently introduced new garbage-sorting regulations(条例). It's now required that people should sort garbage into four categories, namely recyclable, harmful, dry and wet waste. However, if people fail to sort their garbage properly, they can be fined up to 200 yuan.
More cities are introducing similar regulations, following the practice in Shanghai. By the end of 2020, garbage-sorting systems will have been built in 46 major Chinese cities, including Beijing and Shenzhen, reported People's Daily.
According to a study by the Policy Research Center for Environment and Economy, under the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, over 90 percent of the public believe that garbage sorting is important for the protection of the environment. However, garbage sorting is still a big problem in China. Only 30 percent of participants said they think they are adequately(充分地)sorting their trash, the study noted.
According to Xinhua News Agency, it's partly because many people lack the willingness to sort their own waste. In the past, some previous garbage regulations didn't give clear fines for people who failed to sort garbage.
"It's a must to have a legal guarantee to promote garbage sorting." Liu Jianguo, a professor from Tsinghua University, told China Daily.
Liu Xinyu, a researcher of the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences, told China Daily that the importance of the new regulations in Shanghai is to change the past voluntary action into compulsory action for everyone.
Aside from China, many other foreign countries have also introduced garbage-sorting regulations. In Japan, waste sorting has become a basic survival skill. In Germany too, people are asked to sort waste into specific categories. For example, in Berlin, people have yellow bins(垃圾桶)for plastic and metals and blue bins for paper and cardboard.
1.What do we know about garbage sorting in Shanghai?
A.It sets an example for many other cities in China.
B.People should put their garbage into two categories.
C.People will be fined 200 yuan each time they break the regulations.
D.Shanghai is the only city to introduce garbage-sorting regulations in China.
2.What is the current situation of garbage sorting in China?
A.Some people can properly sort their garbage.
B.Few people know the importance of garbage sorting.
C.People are not happy with the current garbage sorting regulations.
D.China's garbage-sorting problem is the most serious in the world.
3.Which of the following best explains "compulsory" underlined in paragraph 6?
A.Willing. B.Motivated.
C.Selected. D.Forced.
4.What is the main idea of the text?
A.Why garbage sorting is important.
B.How other countries sort garbage.
C.Garbage sorting has started in China.
D.The world's garbage problem is becoming worse.
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
All eyes were on Jack Ma. The chairman of Alibaba Group Holding Ltd stepped down on Teachers' Day from leading the e-commerce giant he founded 20 years ago.
"I still have lots of dreams to go after." Ma wrote in an open letter last year to announce his parting. "The world is big, and I am still young, so I want to try new things." The 55-year-old businessman showed that he was ready for new things by arriving at his farewell panty(欢送会)dressed up like a rock star.
In fact, his rags-to-riches(白手起家的)story is a good example of doing something different. Visiting the United States in 1995, Ma saw the internet and had the idea of setting up his own trading website. In 1999, he founded Alibaba with a group of friends in a shared apartment, struggling for years to get it off the ground. With all the challenges, the company slowly brought e-commerce to China.
Although his success has inspired a number of Chinese tech businessmen. Ma pointed out that the key is having a dream. "It's the dreams that keep us never afraid of setbacks(挫折)."Ma said in a video posted on Sept 9.
Now the experienced businessman is looking to focus on education. What can he offer? "I'm not going to teach English; I'm not going to teach business. But I'm going to teach young people how to face challenges," he told Bloomberg News.
Skilled sailors were never made on calm waters. As Ma said. "Today is cruel. Tomorrow is crueler. But the day after tomorrow is beautiful."
1.What did Jack Ma announce on Teachers' Day?
A.His retirement from Alibaba. B.His plan to return to teaching.
C.His dream of becoming a rock star. D.His plan to enlarge his online business.
2.What is Paragraph3 mainly about?
A.The important role of Alibaba.
B.How Ma got the idea for his business.
C.Difficulties Ma went through to found Alibaba.
D.How Ma inspires others to do something different.
3.What does Ma think dreams mean to us?
A.Dreams can lead us to offer more to society.
B.Dreams can give us confidence and courage.
C.Dreams can guide us to further our education.
D.Dreams can push us to set up new businesses.
4.What can be inferred from the last paragraph?
A.Practice can help people succeed.
B.Confidence is the key to success.
C.Challenges allow us to develop new abilities.
D.Good conditions can't help people grow and learn.
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
When travelers are planning their trips to Thailand, they usually go to the well-known places. Here, three lesser-known Thai cities that you should absolutely put on your bucket list.
Mae Hong Son
Where it is: On the border of Thailand and Myanmar, in the mountainous Thai province of the same name.
Why should you go: Because of its nearness to Thailand, visiting Mae Hong Son might feel like experiencing a little bit of Myanmar---there are some cultural shared areas, and it's unlike anything or anywhere else on the planet.
Sukhothai
Where it is About 230 kilometers north of Bangkok, Sukhothai is characterized by its relative remoteness.
Why should you go: Sukhothai is a UNESCO world Heritage City, due to lots of ancient temple ruins.
In fact, the city was the birthplace of Thai architecture and culture, so if you want to get a good taste of Thailand's history, there's nowhere better to be.
Khao Lak
Where it is: On Thailand's south-central coast. "Khaolak" translate in English to "Lak mountain". which is the highest peak in the area's hilly region.
Why should you go: If you are seeking a bit of peace, quiet, and serenely calm beachfront, Khao Lak is the place to go. It's a change of pace from many of Thailand's other cities, which are exciting, colorful, and bustling---and who doesn't need a moment to recharge every now and again?
1.Who will be most interested in Sukhothai?
A.Mountaineers B.History lovers
C.Artists D.Music lovers
2.What is the typical feature of Khao Lak?
A.It's calm and peaceful. B.It's exciting and bustling.
C.It's busy and noisy. D.It's rich and colorful.
3.Where does this text probably come from?
A.A business magazine. B.A science textbook.
C.A travel brochure. D.A news report.
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
Tobacco has long been recognized as a huge health threat. It is known to cause lung and heart problems to many long-term users. According to the World Health Organization, 3,000,000 people die early each year because of tobacco use, including 890,000 deaths from second-hand smoke exposure.
E-cigarettes, an alternative (替代品) to smoking, have become popular. Also known as vaporizers (汽化器), they are electric devices that heat liquid nicotine into a vapor that can he taken in. This vapor is less harmful to inhale than smoke. For example, it does not produce tar (焦油), which can build up in a smoker’s lungs. Inhaling vapor - called vaping - is not without its own risks, however. Exposure to nicotine during youth can lead to addiction and cause long-term harm to brain development. The vapor may also contain harmful things. The Center for Disease Control has linked vaping to more than 805 cases of lung disease and 12 deaths so far in the US.
Vaping has greatly increased in popularity in the US, especially among teenagers. About 37 % of US high school seniors were reported vaping in 2018, up from 28% the year before, Harvard Health Publishing reported. Michael Blaha, a researcher at the Johns Hopkins Ciccarone Center for the Prevention of Heart Disease, listed 3 reasons that contributed to vaping’s popularity among young people. First, many teens eve that vaping is less harmful than smoking. Second, ecigarettes have a lower per-use cost than traditional cigrattes. Finally, e-cigarettes come in a wide range of sweet flavors, like apple pie and watermelon.
Blaha is most concerned that more teenagers are taking up vaping as a habit. “It’s one thing if you change from cigarette smoking to vaping. It’s quite another thing to start up nicotine use with vaping. And, it often leads to using traditional tobacco products down the road,” he said.
Governments around the world the divided about vaping. 39 countries and regions have banned the sale of e-cigarettes, according to the Global State of Tobacco Harm Reduction 2018. Last September, US President Donald Trump said the use of e-cigarettes might be negatively affecting young people and that it should be kept off the market until proved harmless.
1.The underlined word “inhale” in Paragraph 2 probably means “__________”.
A.blow away B.spread out
C.give off D.breathe in
2.In what way are e-cigarettes different from traditional tobacco products?
A.E-cigarettes do not produce tar.
B.E-cigarettes are not bad to smokers’ health.
C.E-cigarettes are less likely to cause nicotine addiction.
D.E-cigarettes do more harm to smokers’ brains than their lungs.
3.Why is vaping popular with young people according to Blaha?
A.Vaping is allowed at school.
B.Vaping makes them look cool.
C.They like the liquid taken from fruits.
D.They think it’s safer and cheaper than smoking.
4.What can we learn from Blaha’s words in Paragraph 4?
A.Those who smoke e-cigarettes tend to smoke tobacco later.
B.Vaping is more likely to attract teenagers than older people.
C.It usually takes a long time for smokers to enjoy e-cigarettes.
D.E-cigarettes should be encouraged to replace traditional tobacco products.
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
Last summer, over 12,000 fans packed London’s Wembley Arena. Thousands more watched online, shouting and cheering. Were they watching soccer? No, they were watching e-sports or competitive PC gaming.
Millions of people in the UK play PC games for fun. Some of them have become professionals, playing games as their full-time job. The prize at the Wembley event totaled 3 million pounds. It’s not easy being a professional gamer, though. They practice for 10 or more hours a day, 5 or 6 days a week. They do exercises like typing something and then trying to type it faster and faster. They also study videos of other players and plan ways to beat them.
Many people who play games also enjoy watching them. They often watch games on video sites like Twitch and YouTube, and in the UK there’s even a TV channel showing e-sports 24 hours a day. Matches can be exciting to watch. Just like in other sports, there are close games, last-minute victories and creative strategies (策略). Sometimes online viewers can interact with the players through instant messaging. For example, some supporters rename characters in the game with the names of their biggest supporters.
But are e-sports really sports? Are the players athletes? It’s easy to say, “No Way!” After all , professional gamers don’t need to run, jump or throw a hall. At the moment, the UK government classifies e-sports as a kind of game, not as a sport. But many people think that e-sports are sport. They say that players do need physical skills, especially hand-eye coordination (协调), quick action , accuracy and timing. In fact, the governments of China and South Korea do classify e-sports as sports, and professional gamers will soon be able to compete for medals at the 2022 Asian Games.
For many e-sports fans and players, though, the most important thing is that e-sports are growing in popularity and reputation. E-sports are not important at the moment. If e-sports are not probably be soon.
1.What do the British people think of e-sports?
A.They have a great passion for e-sports.
B.They are not willing to be professionals.
C.They prefer watching e-sports online to live.
D.They take e-sports just as a way of entertainment.
2.What are the first three paragraphs mainly about?
A.The fun of playing e-sports.
B.The popularity of e-sports in the UK.
C.How e-sports are different from traditional sports.
D.How to start a career as a professional e-sports gamer.
3.What do many people believe e-sports are sports?
A.They inspire people as much as other sports.
B.They share rules and strategies with other sports.
C.It takes players time and money to learn and practice.
D.Players need to develop physical skills to perform well.
4.What is the author’s attitude toward the future of e-sports?
A.Doubtful. B.Negative. C.Optimistic. D.Indifferent.
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
My son Leon’s passion (热爱) for surfing began at the age of 13. Before and after school each day, he put on his wet suit, picked up his equipment, swam out beyond the surf line and waited to be challenged by his friends.
One aftenoon, the lifeguard reported over the phone to my husband Wilson that Leon’s eye was badly injured by his board. Wilson rushed him to the emergency room, where he received 26 stitches (缝线) from the comer of his eye to the bridge of his nose. I was on an airplane flying home from a meeting while Leons’ eye was being stitched. Wilson drove directly to the airport after they left the doctor’s office. He greeted me at the gate and told me Leon was waiting in the car.
“Leon?” I questioned. I remember thinking the waves must have been bad that day. “He’s been in an accident, but he’s going to be fine,” said my husband.
A traveling working mother’s worst nightmare (恶梦) had come true. I ran to the car so fast the heel of my shoe broke off. I swung open the door, to see that my youngest son had a patch (眼罩) over his eye and was leaning toward me crying, “Oh, Ma, I’m so glad you’re home.” I cried in his arms, telling him how awful I felt about not being there when the lifeguard called. “Its OK, Mom,” he comforted me. “You don’t know how to surf anyway.”
“What?” I asked, confused by his logic. “I’ll be fine. The doctor says I can go back in the water in 8 days,” said my son.
I wanted to tell him he wasn’t allowed to go near water again until he was 35, but instead I bit my tongue and hoped he would forget about surfing. For the next 7 days he kept pressing me to let him surf again. One day after I had repeated “No” to him for the 100th time, he beat me at my own game. “Mom, you taught us never to give up what we love,” he said. And I gave in.
Back then Leon was just a boy with a passion for surfing. Now he is a man with a responsibility. He ranks among the top 25 professional surfers in the world. Passionate people stick to what they love and never give up.
1.How did the author feel when she knew Leon was at the airport?
A.Delighted. B.Angry.
C.Excited. D.Surprised.
2.What did Leon do after being injured?
A.He still held onto his dream firmly.
B.He decided to follow his mom’s advice.
C.He felt like the accident was a nightmare.
D.He felt disappointed for being unable to surf for long.
3.Which of the following words can best describe Leon?
A.Brave and creative. B.Optimistic and reliable.
C.Responsible and humorous. D.Enthusiastic and determined.
4.What does the author mainly want to tell us through the passage?
A.Hard work will always pay off.
B.It’s dangerous for beginners to surf.
C.We should stick to our passions whatever happens.
D.Parents can’t care about children’s safety too much
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
Four Family-friendly Autumn Walks in the UK
With the coming of autumn, we have decided to make a list of autumn walks for you and the whole family. These places will include historic buildings, wonderful scenery and wildlife for all to enjoy.
Formby Nature Reserve, Liverpool Formby is a coastal town just north of Liverpool and is luckily one of the few places in Britain where there are a large number of red squirrels. Children will love the excitement of getting to see these cute animals. The paths are well protected, meaning they are fit for pushchairs. And dogs are allowed, too. | Hadrian’s Wall, Newcastle The 73-mile-long Hadrian’s Wall was completed by the Romans in 128 AD after 6 years’ building. Autumn walks along Hadrian’s Wall are an excellent way to educate children on the history of the British isles and really get up close to the styles of Roman buildings rather than just see it in a textbook! |
Lyme Park, Peak District Not only is Lyme Park home to many trees, it is also home to a group of medieval (中世纪的) red deer and a huge Edwardian country manor (庄园). This Peak District walk is quite fit for families, and along the way are playgrounds and tree houses, making sure that the little ones that you are with will never feel bored. | Lakeside Walk at Stowe, Buckinghamshire This place is on the outskirts of London and provides people with perfect chances to escape from the busy city lifestyle. The flat and wide path around the river makes it more than fit for pushchairs or wheelchairs. This walk is short in length, meaning it is a great way to introduce any young one to walking as a hobby. The walk is great all year round. |
1.Where can kids learn about the buildings of ancient Rome?
A.Lyme Park. B.Hadrian’s Wall. C.Lakeside Walk at Stowe. D.Formby Nature Reserve.
2.What do Formby Nature Reserve and Lyme Park have in common?
A.They have old manors. B.They allow pet dogs in.
C.They have cute animals. D.They provide play areas for kids.
3.What is special about the Lakeside Walk at Stowe?
A.It is a bit difficult for wheelchairs.
B.It is quite fit for long-walk lovers.
C.It is especially pleasant in autumn.
D.It is good for a quiet and relaxed stay.
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析