Lecture-related events which are free and open to the public will be held in the National Gallery of Art. Seating is available on a first-come, first-seated basis. Registration is not required. Don't miss an event!
Lecture One: The Moon in the Age of Photography
August 20 at 2:00, 2020
West Building Lecture Hall
Mia Fineman, department of photographs, Metropolitan Museum of Art
2019 marks 50 years since Apollo 11 landed on the moon on July 20, 1969, capturing the attention of viewers worldwide who eagerly awaited the first photographs taken onsite. Mia Fineman explores the fascinating history of the moon imaging.
Lecture Two: Conversation with Oliver Lee Jackson
September 15 at 2:00, 2020
East Building Auditorium
Oliver, artist, has created a complex body of work which masterfully weaves together visual influences ranging from the Renaissance to modernism. His works are drawn from his study of African cultures and American jazz.
Lecture Three: Photography and Nation Building in the Nineteenth Century
October 6 at 2:00, 2020
East Building Auditorium
Makeda Best, master of Photography, Harvard Art Museums. In this lecture, Makeda Best will explore the function of slavery and enslaved people in visual narratives about the Civil War.
Lecture Four: Sydney J. Freedberg Lecture on Italian Art
December 8 at 2:00, 2020
West Building Lecture Hall
The Sydney J. Freedberg Lecture on Italian Art features several scholars presenting original research on modern Italian art. This annual lecture series began in 1997 and is named after the great specialist of Italian art Sydney J. Freedberg (1914- 1997).
1.When and where will Lecture Two be delivered?
A.August 20, 2020; West Building Lecture Hall.
B.September 15, 2020; East Building Auditorium.
C.August 20, 2020; East Building Auditorium.
D.September 15, 2020; West Building Lecture Hall.
2.In which lecture may you learn about the function of slavery?
A.Lecture One. B.Lecture Two.
C.Lecture Three. D.Lecture Four.
3.What do the four lectures have in common?
A.They are all delivered annually. B.Registration is not required for all of them.
C.Each of them involves several scholars. D.Admission fee is needed for each of them.
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
Ever since Donald Trump was elected the president of the US, the entire Trump family has been put under a microscope. In China, the spotlight has been mainly focused on Trump and his daughter Ivanka. She is described on WeChat as an extremely influential role model with stunning beauty, a successful career, and a happy family. She leads a dream life that a million girls would kill for. Yes, she was born with a silver spoon in her mouth. But she got where she is by herself.
There are always articles that say people born into wealthy families are better looking and have a better family background than you, but these people do work harder than you. Are you a loser if you were raised in an ordinary family? Should you feel guilty that you sleep eight hours a day because Ivanka sleeps five?
If you just want to keep a stable nine-to-five job, does it mean you are not ambitious? How about if you don’t work out or eat healthy, does that mean you will not find your Mr. or Miss Right? There is a tendency in media nowadays to encourage elitism. They are trying to brainwash young people into thinking that they should invest a huge amount of time and money in bodybuilding and appearance enhancement so as to improve the quality of their life and join the elites. But what’s the disadvantage of being of average quality? Do you really need to go to the gym five days a week unless you are a gym maniac (狂人)? Do you really need to break your neck and sacrifice to earn your first pot of gold only to worry constantly about how to be accepted into high society later?
Don’t let the idea of elitism get to you. Everybody has a right to live the life they want. Human beings should not be judged as a success or failure based on whether they are a part of the elite or not. As long as you lead a happy and comfortable life, why bother to chase after other people’s shadows? Choose your own life path and go for it.
1.The author mentions the example of Ivanka to .
A.stress the importance of family background in one’s growth
B.emphasize beauty plays a decisive role in one’s career
C.show it is one’s own effort that counts in success
D.express sympathy for those less fortunate people
2.What do the underlined words “kill for” in paragraph 1 mean?
A.Have a burning desire for. B.Show a strong hatred for.
C.Feel dissatisfied with out of envy. D.Attempt to escape from in reality.
3.What’s the author’s opinion of an ordinary office clerk?
A.He’d better follow the tendency encouraged by the medium.
B.He needs to invest time and money in changing himself.
C.He’s fine as long as he lives happily and comfortably.
D.He ought to have stronger motivation for success.
4.What is the message mainly conveyed in the story?
A.Every man is the architect of his own fortune.
B.Follow your own course and let people talk.
C.Laziness in youth spells regret in old age.
D.He who does not advance loses ground.
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
COURTESY PAUL BOZYMOWSKI-Three New York City police officers paid for a woman’s groceries rather than arresting her.
As temperatures approached 90 degrees in New York City last July 4th, three police officers ducked into a Whole Foods Market to get something cold to drink. What they walked into was a heated human drama.
Once inside, the cops, Lt. Louis Sojo and Officers Esanidy Cuevas and Michael Rivera, were approached by a store security guard who asked for help with a suspected shoplifter. The woman in question didn’t have the look of a career criminal. She was obviously scared, and her cheeks were wet with tears.
The cops peeked inside her bag. “All we saw was containers of food.” Cuevas told CBS New York.
"I’m hungry," she explained quietly.
Caught red-handed, the woman no doubt expected to be sentenced to jail for the crime of being hungry while poor. But the cops had other ideas. “We’ll pay for her food,” Sojo told the surprised security guard.
There’d been no discussion among the three men. It went unsaid. Instead, they picked up the woman’s bag and accompanied her to a cash register, where each took out $10 to pay the tab. She would not be arrested today.
All the woman could do was weep in gratitude. Covering her face with a kerchief and drying her eyes, she repeated, “Thank you, thank you.”
She wasn’t the only one touched by this act of mercy. “It was a very beautiful, genuine moment,” says Paul Bozymowski, who was at the store. He was so taken by what he’d witnessed that he posted a photo on Twitter for all to see.
But attention was never what the officers sought. They were driven by a far more common emotion. As Sojo told CNN, “When you look at someone’s face and see that they need you and they’re actually hungry, it’s pretty difficult as a human being to walk away from something like this.”
1.What can be learnt about the woman from the passage?
A.She had stolen in the shop several times before.
B.She was caught on the spot by three police officers.
C.She was found innocent and would not be arrested.
D.She was forced to commit the crime due to the dilemma of life.
2.Paul Bozymowski posted a photo on Twitter to .
A.appeal for sympathy for the people in need B.express his gratitude to the police officers
C.show more people the cops’ act of kindness D.record the unforgettable moment in his life
3.What drove the three police officers to pay for the woman?
A.Their great devotion to work B.A deep sense of being human
C.The attraction of the public attention D.Their different attitude towards shoplifting
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
In the United States,the baby boomer generation(婴儿潮一代) include those who were born in the time after World War II. Those babies have retired or are now reaching the retirement age. As these adults age, many of their adult children worry about how to take care of their aging parents. In the United States it is not common for several generations to live under one roof. Once children grow up and get married, they move out, leaving their aging parents to care for themselves. When these aging parents can no longer take care of themselves because of age or illness, it is not uncommon for adult children in the US to place their elderly parents in a nursing home.
A nursing home is a place that offers care for the elderly and ill. As the name suggests,nursing homes have professionals including nurses, doctors and social workers to help aging adults deal with the challenges of daily life. And their mental health could be guaranteed for elderly people to get relaxed, accompanied by those of the same age. Most nursing homes also have social activities for the elderly to participate in and keep active. These activities range from games to dance classes, and movie nights. Nursing homes are supposed to provide three nutritious meals for their residents.
Nursing homes are controversial, however. There have been cases across the country of staff in nursing homes treating the elderly residents badly and even robbing them. There are different states and federal agencies that are supposed to oversee(监管) nursing homes. Some people feel that it should be the responsibility of family members, especially adult children, to care for their aging or sick parents. However, many adult children have their own children and families to take care of, and do not have the means to care for their elderly parents; others worry about medical skills needed if their elderly parents are seriously ill. And these problems of caring for parents are bothering more and more adults in the US at present.
1.The first paragraph mainly about___________.
A.when the baby boomer generation in the US were born
B.whether the elderly and their children should live together
C.why Americans put their elderly parents in nursing homes
D.how Americans look after their aging parents differently
2.How many advantages of nursing homes are mentioned?
A.Three. B.Four.
C.Five. D.Six.
3.What’s the writer’s attitude toward sending parents to nursing homes?
A.Indifferent. B.Understandable.
C.Favorable. D.Disapproving.
4.What’s the purpose of the text?
A.To discuss how to care for aging parents.
B.To ask the government to oversee nursing homes.
C.To prove nursing homes do more harm than good.
D.To show problems faced by American adult children.
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
Want to pick up that new best-seller for your flight, but not sure you want to spend the money?
This will change your mind.
If you’ve done a lot of traveling, you’ve probably noticed that the bookstores at airports all look pretty similar. They’ve all got familiar logos, the walls of inviting plane snacks, and, of course, the towers of new hardcover books. Chances are you’ve wanted to grab one of those books for the plane ride. However, those hardcover books are a little pricey. Is it worth it to splurge, just to relieve the midair boredom?
Yes it is—because of a cool program that these bookstores have in place. These similar airport stores are all owned by the company Paradies Lagardère, and all of those stores take part in what’s called the “Read and Return program.” It’s exactly what it sounds like. Whenever you buy one of those books, you’ve got six months to finish it and bring it back to the same, or another, Paradies Lagardère location. When you do that, you get half your money for the original purchase back.
If you’re going on a trip, buy that book you’ve been dying to read. When you go back to the airport for the return trip, bring the book back with you and get half the money back. While you’re still in the bookstore, go ahead and get that other book you’ve been dying to read. Or the sequel to the book you read on the way there. Either way, your boredom on the flight back will be cured. And it gets better: the book you gave back will be re-sold for half price! Here’s what you can get for free at an airport.
There are two things you do need to make sure of. You have to bring back the receipt to get your money back. Also, the book needs to be in decent condition. But other than that, this program couldn’t be easier. In a way, it’s like a buy-one-get-one-half-off deal for books. Or get two books for the price of one-and-a-half. Either way, count us in.
1.What does the underlined word “splurge” in paragraph 2 mean?
A.Spend the money. B.Take the effort.
C.Take the trouble. D.Spend the time.
2.How does the “Read and Return program” run?
A.You can read books for free in any Paradies Lagardère store.
B.You can buy books for half price in airport bookstores.
C.You need to return the book to the same store where you buy it.
D.You can get half your money back if you return the book timely.
3.What can we learn from the last paragraph?
A.It is difficult to take part in the program.
B.The receipt is necessary if you want to return the book.
C.The program is popular with readers.
D.The program runs successfully.
4.Why does the author write this passage?
A.To encourage people to read on airplanes.
B.To introduce Paradies Lagardère company.
C.To advertise the “Read and Return program”.
D.To show the advantages of reading on airplanes.
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
If the three Rs (reduce, reuse and recycle) is a guideline to save the planet, garbage-sorting is where the efforts start. Since May 1, Beijing has started to carry out mandatory garbage-sorting in new efforts to better protect the environment. Under the new regulation, residents are required to classify household waste into four categories: kitchen, recyclable, hazardous and other waste. People who fail to sort their garbage properly can be fined from 50 to 200 yuan, reported Xinhua.
Some residential communities in Beijing have introduced rewards to encourage residents to sort their garbage. According to Xinhua, residents can earn points by classifying their domestic waste correctly and then exchange the points they accumulate for daily necessities such as soap.
Garbage sorting practices have reached over 70 percent of housing estates in 18 cities, including Shanghai, Xiamen and Hangzhou, according to the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development. Shanghai first enacted a mandatory garbage-sorting regulation in July 2019 and has had a 90 percent compliance (服从) rate among its housing estates.
According to a report by 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 completely sorting their waste, the report noted. According to Xinhua, it’s partly because many people lack the willingness to sort their own waste. Also, some previous garbage regulations didn’t include fines for people who failed to obey them.
“It’s a must to have a legal guarantee to promote garbage sorting,” Liu Jianguo, a professor from Tsinghua University, told China Daily, “Aside from China, many countries like Germany, Spain and Britain, also ask people to sort waste into specific categories. In Japan, there is a fixed time for the sorting of each kind of garbage and littering.”
1.What can we learn about the new regulation in Beijing?
A.It hasn’t been put into use yet.
B.Residents can sort the garbage as they like.
C.People can get money if they classify their domestic waste correctly.
D.Those who can’t sort the garbage as the new rule requires shall be fined.
2.What’s the problem in garbage sorting in China?
A.Most people are unaware of its importance in protecting environment.
B.Some people don’t want to take the trouble to sort the garbage.
C.Only residents in big cities can sort the trash correctly.
D.The government doesn’t have enough money to support garbage sorting.
3.What can we infer from Liu Jianguo’s words?
A.It’s difficult to carry out garbage sorting in China.
B.Some laws in garbage-sorting are needed.
C.People in developed countries can better sort the garbage.
D.We should learn from Japan.
4.What’s the best title of the passage?
A.Garbage sorting, a new start in China B.New regulations in Beijing
C.Argument on garbage sorting D.How to sort domestic garbage
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
Many of us would like to spend all of our time helping dogs in need, but it can be hard to carve out that kind of time. Well, one man, Eugene Bostick, decided that when he retired, he would devote the rest of his life to helping homeless dogs feel loved.
Eugene Bostick was fortunate enough to be able to retire at the ripe age of 65 after working his entire life on his farm. His farm was located at the end of a dead-end street, and he noticed that people would, unfortunately, abandon their dogs on the farm and race off.
Eugene refused to see these pets suffer, and he quickly picked up these abandoned dogs, giving them food and taking them to the vet to make sure they were spayed and neutered.
Eugene’s farm has all kinds of animals, such as horses and goats, so these dogs have plenty of other animals to play with.
Over the last 20 years, Eugene has shown his kindness by taking on these abandoned pets, but he also saw the chance to offer them a bit of adventure. After spotting a neighbor transporting rocks behind his tractor using barrels, he realized he could do the same for his dogs. Eugene got to work to make his own train, and made sure to add some pleasant pillows so his furry friends could travel in comfort. The dogs quickly got on the train, and together, they spent hours traveling around town and through the forests nearby.
After they were spotted around town, one neighbor took a picture of Eugene that went viral, and a GoFundMe page was started that gained plenty of donations. Eugene was amazed by everyone’s generosity, and was happy to see others help these abandoned animals feel loved. Eugene will continue to care for his dogs, and we should all follow his lead!
1.What can we learn from the passage?
A.Eugene wished to retire ahead of time to care for homeless dogs.
B.People would race to the farm to pick up homeless dogs.
C.Eugene and the vet took in many abandoned dogs together.
D.Eugene’s idea for the barrel train was inspired from his neighbor.
2.What’s people’s attitude to Eugene’s act?
A.Supportive. B.Unconcerned.
C.Doubtful. D.Astonished.
3.Which words can be used to describe Eugene?
A.Serious and hardworking. B.Caring and adventurous.
C.Rich and generous. D.Playful and Childish.
4.What can be the best title for this passage?
A.A retired man’s life B.Lucky dogs
C.Train for homeless dogs D.How to help homeless dogs
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
Innovative Designs for Accessibility
Deadline: 2020-04-30
Award: $ 7,500 CAD
Open to: University students
The Innovative (创新的) Designs for Accessibility student competition challenges students across Canada to use their creativity to develop innovative, cost-effective and practical solutions to accessibility barriers for people with disabilities. (Read more)
Clean Tech Competition
Deadline: 2020-04-13
Award: $ 28,000
Open to: Students 13-15 years old
The Clean Tech Competition is a unique, worldwide research and design challenge for pre-college youth. The competition is designed to build a deeper understanding of STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) related concepts, recognize outstanding talent, and prepare the next generation of globally competitive innovators. (Read more)
Agile Robotics Competition
Deadline: 2020-04-10
Award: $ 17,500
Open to: Adults
Agile Robotics Competition is a simulation-based (仿真) competition designed to promote agility(灵活) in industrial robot systems by employing the latest advances in artificial intelligence and robot planning. The competition will be held virtually (虚拟的), so there is no need to travel to compete. The competition will use the Gazebo simulation tool. (Read more)
Wearable Robotics Innovation Challenge
Deadline: 2020-04-24
Award: $ 5,000
Open to: Everyone
The Wearable Robotics Association is inviting entries that represent the most innovative new ideas in wearable robotic technology. The review committee will select as many as ten finalists. The one considered to be the most innovative will be announced at the conference and will receive $ 5,000 to accelerate the new technology. (Read more)
1.Which competition favors competitors with a creative mind in helping the disabled?
A.Innovative Designs for Accessibility. B.Clean Tech Competition.
C.Agile Robotics Competition. D.Wearable Robotics Innovation Challenge.
2.What’s the aim of Clean Tech Competition?
A.To make a research about STEM.
B.To encourage university students to be innovators.
C.To help students prepare for the university.
D.To find talented teenagers and develop their ability to innovate.
3.What can we know about the four competitions?
A.They are open to everyone. B.Every competitor can get an award.
C.They are held in April. D.They are held virtually.
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
We assume exercise improves our mental health. But what kind of exercise works best? Researchers analyzed the effect of different types of exercise. They looked at the link between physical activities and mental health and found team sports were the best, followed by cycling, either on the road or a stationary bike. Physical activities typically performed in groups, such as team sports and gym classes, provided greater benefits than running or walking.
Researchers rated mental health based on a survey. It asked respondents how many days in the previous month their mental health was “not good” due to stress, depression or problems withemotions. People who played team sports like soccer and basketball reported 22.3% fewer poor mental-health days than those who didn’t exercise. Those who ran or jogged fared 19% better, while those who did household chores 11.8% better.
They found team sports may have an extra benefit because of the social component, and yoga or tai chi can promote mindfulness, which is often touted as beneficial for mental health.
The researchers also found that those who exercise between 30 and 60 minutes had the best mental health, with 45 minutes the optimal duration. Exercising three to five times a week correlated with fewer dark days. “Over 90 minutes of exercise and there isn’t an extra benefit,” Dr. Chekroud said.
The study analyzed the exercise habits and mental health of 1.2 million US adults, based on self-reported answers to survey questions from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It wasn’t a randomized controlled study and just an association between exercise and better mental health. It can’t explain if poor mental health causes people to exercise less or exercise causes people to have better mental health.
1.Which exercise will best help to cheer up the depressed?
A.Running and jogging outdoors. B.Playing soccer and basketball.
C.Doing some household chores. D.Cycling or riding a stationary bike.
2.What do the researchers say about team sports?
A.They boost self-esteem. B.They offer inner peace.
C.They involve interaction. D.They help achieve goals.
3.What Dr. Chekroud said means that_______.
A.more exercise isn’t always better
B.exercise habits decide mental health
C.exercise leads to better mental health
D.mental health causes people to exercise
4.What can be a suitable title for the text?
A.What sports work best for mental health? B.More exercise, better mental health!
C.Less exercise, poor mental health! D.What is the good effect of exercise?
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
Can you think of a day without music? We can hear music everywhere: in the streets and at home, over the radio and on TV, in the shops and in the parks. People all over the world are fond of music. They listen to music, they dance to music, and they learn to play musical instruments.
Music isn’t’ only combination of pleasant sounds. It is an art which reflects life. There are lot of different kinds of music. Some of them appeared long ago, and some are modern. Folk music appeared long ago, but it is still alive. Folk songs are very pleasant to listen to. Classical music is often associated with the music of the past. Rap is a modern musical style where the singer speaks or shouts the words in time to music with a steady beat.
Great Britain has produced more popular music stars than any other country. British groups often set new trends in music. New styles, groups and singers continue to appear. Many of the new bands have been able to use changes in technology to develop their music such as computerised drum machines, synthesisers and other electronic instruments.
Tastes differ. So people’s musical interests range from pop and rock music to classical music and opera. My favourite style of music is pop music, because it is full of energy. When I listen to pop music it makes me remember happy times and forget the problems of everyday life. I also enjoy listening to classical music. The music I hate is heavy metal, I find it noisy. When I listen to this style of music it presents to my mind pictures of dark days. My mother and father agree with my tastes in music. Though they prefer to listen to classical, they think that modern music is not too bad.
Music appeals to our hearts. It comforts our souls and enriches our minds. Music is beauty in sounds; it is our magic source of inspiration.
1.What is the first paragraph mainly about?
A.Several types of music. B.Different musical tastes.
C.The development of musical styles. D.The importance of music in our lives.
2.How is the second paragraph developed?
A.By giving examples. B.By analysing reasons.
C.By describing courses. D.By making comparisons.
3.Why does the author like pop music?
A.It is played with electronic instruments. B.It is characterised by a steady beat.
C.It is loud and strong. D.It sounds energetic.
4.What is the author’s parents’ attitude towards his musical taste?
A.Doubtful. B.Supportive.
C.Dissatisfied. D.Unconcerned.
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析