With Chinese consumers hit by quarantine (隔离期)and travel restrictions as well as just cautious about going out to the shops due to the coronavirus epidemic(流行病),companies in China are experimenting with new tricks to make sales.
Oil giant Sinopec — keen to get customers back in their cars and help farmers due to roadblocks — launched a new project last month called "zerotouch" vegetable sales at its 6,000 gas stations in 147 Chinese cities. Consumers place and pay for orders on the app and when they drive up, gas station employees put the vegetables into their car trunk, eliminating any need for human-to-human contact.
"The coronavirus outbreak has made it difficult for people to shop as before," said Li Hong, vice president of Sinopec's convenience store sales division. "Travel demand has been falling, but demand for food is pretty rigid."
Mengniu Dairy, China's dairy producer, is racing to add more vending machines to the 10,000 it currently has, saying the epidemic has driven unexpectedly strong demand for the sales channel. Its system allows customers to order products like milk and yoghurt online which can then be picked up from their local vending machine. "The virus outbreak has decreased consumption for dairy products as people are unwilling to go to the supermarket," said Meng Fanjie, head of the company's Communist Party committee. Luckin Coflfee, a competitive rival to Starbucks, now also offers the sanitizer (消毒) products (e.g. hand soap) besides coffee. Liu Xingliaging, an independent retait analyst, said, however, that Luckin's strategy would have only a modest impact. “At best some users will place an order when they buy coffee, but nobody is deliberately choosing the Luckin app just to buy sanitizer.”
1.According to the passage, why did some companies adopt new selling methods?
A.Citizens were not allowed to go out.
B.The demand for travel and food declined sharply.
C.The coronavirus epidemic changed people's way of life.
D.Companies desired to grasp the chance to defeat their competitors.
2.What does the underlined word "eliminating" in Paragraph 2 most probably refer to?
A.meeting B.removing
C.decreasing D.limiting
3.The passage is written mainly to .
A.illustrate the difficulty caused by the coronavirus epidemic
B.explain the changes made by some companies in the epidemic
C.describe the challenges some companies met during the epidemic
D.reveal the intelligence people showed in the coronavirus epidemic
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
London, New York, Tokyo and Paris these famous cities have a commanding influence on the world economy and are home to millions of people, as well as internationally famous arts, culture and educational institutions. But they are hardly representative of the rest of the world’s cities. While 54% of the global population live in cities, around half of those live in cities that have 500,000 inhabitants or fewer.
These “ordinary” cities can be overlooked by politicians, investors, researchers and big businesses. But they are dynamic places with many layers of social, cultural and economic significance. After experiencing a period of post-industrial decline, many such cities are considering urban regeneration (再生) programmes.
But that doesn't mean they have to follow the same path as other urban areas. In fact, the research into urban development has found that ordinary cities can avoid some of the ill effects of regeneration, by embracing what makes them unique.
At the turn of the century, city leaders became increasingly interested in the idea of the “creative city,” The idea was to encourage a “creative class” of talented workers to make their homes and businesses in cities, by creating urban spaces that are open, inclusive and diverse, as well as attractive and technologically advanced.
“Regeneration” became a buzzword associated with these types of strategies, which seek to repurpose seemingly disused or rundown spaces to support an economy led by creative and technological industries. The apparent success of creative city policies was seen in post-industrial centres such as Detroit, US, following investments in cultural, artistic and musical urban renewal.
Such policies swiftly became the go-to strategy for seemingly “ordinary” post-industrial cities around the world, even resulting in new rankings that pit cities against each other, based on criteria including entrepreneurship (创业精神), urban leadership and “liveability”. Having plenty of former industrial spaces that can be adapted for new uses, and a desire to be noticed on the national or global stage, encourages investment in urban regeneration from both public and private sources.
Yet regeneration programmes inspired by the creative city agenda can cause problems. Property developers (地产开发商) and foreign investors have recognized the economic potential of real estate(房地产) in “creative” cities. This has led to rocketing land costs, and many low-income residents have felt the effects of being displaced from their homes.
Yet as more cities seek to emphasize their cultural assets(资产), city leaders and policy makers must be aware of the negative impacts that can arise if local residents are not central to the decision-making process. This emphasizes the need to consider local contexts and communities before operating copycat creative policies.
1.Some famous cities can’t represent the rest of the world's cities in that____________.
A.they are always ignored by politicians, researchers and businessmen
B.they accommodate millions of people but don't contribute to the world economy.
C.about a quarter of global population live in middle-sized and small cities.
D.not all famous arts, culture and educational organizations are distributed there.
2.What measure was probably taken by cities like Detroit to promote city development?
A.Using culture and art as a driving force.
B.Forcing low-income residents to move.
C.Following the same path as some big cities.
D.Encouraging industrial investment continuously.
3.What does the author want to stress in the passage?
A.Cities should copy regeneration programmes.
B.Cities should compete with each other based on some criteria.
C.Cities should seek financial support from sources around the world.
D.Cities should consider regional factors before using creative policies.
4.What does the passage mainly talk about?
A.Ordinary cities successfully avoid ill-effects of development.
B.Ordinary cities don' t have to copy trends to regenerate.
C.Ordinary cities are trying to recover from post-industrial decline.
D.Ordinary cities are dynamic places with social importance.
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
Mother Nature has it figured out. She’s designed a master scheme that connects plants and animals, all working in concert to keep every living thing in balance.
This is especially obvious in places like central Africa and in South American tropical rainforests where certain animals help keep trees safe and healthy, which is critical as trees absorb vast amounts of planet-warming carbon pollution.
Recent research warns that losing the creatures that nurture trees puts forests in danger. This, by extension, is helping to accelerate dangerous climate change.
In central Africa for example, elephants eat fast-growing trees, making room for those that grow more slowly. The slow-growing trees with their very dense wood store more carbon than the thinner, faster-developing ones Without elephants, more carbon would accumulate in the atmosphere, worsening climate change according to a new study that used computer models to project what could happen if elephant populations continue to decrease or become extinct.
Africa may once have contained 10 million elephants from the Mediterranean to the Cape, in every habitat except extreme desert. In 1970, there may have been a million left. By the end of the 1980s, there were half that number, mostly killed for the ivory trade, "said Stephen Blake, assistant professor of biology at St. Louis University.
By killing elephants, poachers (偷猎者) rob slow growing trees of their guardian. They also slow the growth of new trees. Elephants blaze(开辟) trails and disperse(散播) seeds as they look for food. “Elephants are basically the gardeners of the forest,” Blake said. They disperse over 100 species of seeds, and disperse more of them over longer distances than other dispersers.”
Blake, who has spent nearly 20 years in Africa working in elephant research and conservation, mourns their fate, describing them as “a complex society of intelligent, caring, emotional animals who respect their grandmothers and mourn their dead” and condemns those who neglect their duty to save them.
“We will go to Mars-there is no doubt-humans are too smart not to,” he said. “Yet we do not have the wisdom to protect elephants and their forest environment that do so much for our physical, spiritual, and emotional well-being.
1.Elephants help keep slow-growing trees safe and healthy by________.
A.providing living space for them.
B.dispersing seeds when searching for food.
C.decreasing in number and reducing carbon accumulation.
D.protecting them in the forest from being cut down.
2.What can we infer from the last paragraph?
A.The world is changing at a faster speed than before.
B.People are intelligent enough to protect the environment.
C.What we have done to protect elephants is far from satisfactory.
D.Animals are so smart that they care much about the well-being of humans.
3.Which of the following is the best title of the passage?
A.Elephants are in danger of dying out in the near future.
B.Elephants are fighting climate change in ways humans can’t.
C.Animals are assumed to be the gardeners of the forest.
D.Animals are accelerating dangerous climate change.
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
Researchers have long known that lack of sleep can cause weight gain and increase other health risks. But for those who force themselves out of bed every weekday after too few hours of sleep, they always hope that turning off the alarm on weekends will repay the weekly sleep debt and change any ill effects around completely.
New research published in Current Biology destroys those hopes. Despite complete freedom to sleep in during a weekend recovery period, participants in a sleep laboratory who were limited to five hours of sleep on weekdays gained nearly three pounds over two weeks. They also experienced metabolic disruption (新陈代谢紊乱). Weekend recovery sleep had some benefits after a single week of lack of sleep. However, those gains were wiped out when people went back into their old schedule the next Monday.
“These health effects are long-term,” said Kenneth Wright at the University of Colorado at Boulder, who oversaw the work. “It’s kind of like smoking once was. People would smoke and wouldn’t see an immediate effect on their health, but now they will say that smoking is not a healthy lifestyle choice. I think “catch-up” sleep is in the early phase of where smoking used to be.”
Michael Grandner, at the University of Arizona, said the study highlights that people need to stop thinking of sleep as a balance sheet (资产负债表). Considerably cutting calories all week and then bingeing on (无节制地吃) a giant pizza on Saturday would not restore balance. That is essentially what people are doing when they skip sleep on weekdays with the idea that they can make up for it on the weekend.
The study suggests people should put sleep first — cutting out the optional “sleep stealers” such as watching television shows or spending time on electronic devices. Even when people do not have a choice about losing sleep due to tight schedules, they should think about sleep first in the same way they would a healthy diet or exercise.
1.Why do people hope to sleep longer on weekends?
A.To avoid some debt concerns. B.To cure some illness.
C.To get some health benefits. D.To get complete freedom.
2.What can we infer about weekend recovery sleep from Kenneth Wright?
A.It has the long-term benefits. B.It hides some potential harm.
C.It causes smoking problems. D.It contributes to losing weight.
3.What does the text suggest people do about sleep?
A.Sleep well every day. B.Guarantee weekly sleeping hours.
C.Make up for missing sleep. D.Stop watching TV shows before bed.
4.What can be a suitable title for the text?
A.Weekend “Catch-Up Sleep” Is a Lie.
B.Watch out for "Sleep Stealers".
C.Sleep and Smoking are alike.
D.Lack of Sleep Does No Good.
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
I have been reading about Leonardo da Vinci for decades, and in 1994 I bought one of the notebooks, in which Leonardo recorded his thoughts and outlined ideas.
What does a Renaissance(文艺复兴) artist have to do with optimism? For me, the connection is innovation. I feel optimistic about the future because I know that advances in human knowledge have improved life for billions of people, and I am confident they will keep doing so. Although I am no art expert, everything I have learned about Leonardo leads me to believe he was one of the most innovative thinkers ever.
Today of course Leonardo is most famous for paintings like the Mona Lisa and The Last Supper. But in his mind, Leonardo was not primarily a painter. He thought of himself as an engineer first. In a letter to the ruler of Milan listing his strengths, sent in the early 1480s, Leonardo mentioned ten different skills — designing bridges, tunnels, for example — before adding at the end that he could also paint.
Leonardo was a never-ending learner. He studied everything he could see: the flow of water, the way smoke rises through the air, how a bird uses its tongue. And he had insights that were ahead of his time. He was the first person to correctly explain why you can see light between the two points of a crescent moon, the phenomenon we now call earthshine.
Scientific inquiries like these were essential to Leonardo’s art. He was able to give the Mona Lisa that mysterious look on her face because he had studied all the muscles involved in smiling. In The Last Supper, he could make the perspective lines (透视线) work perfectly because he had spent countless hours understanding how our eyes see objects at a distance. By examining his surroundings so closely, Leonardo was able to develop new techniques that advanced his field and described the world in a way no one had ever seen before. In other words, he was an innovator.
1.In what way does Leonardo da Vinci make the author feel optimistic about future?
A.The creativity he represents. B.His famous paintings.
C.The outline of his notebook. D.His engineering achievements.
2.What can we learn about Leonardo da Vinci according to the text?
A.He desires to know more at all times.
B.He is able to raise difficult questions.
C.He has a strong desire for achievement.
D.He is able to learn and understand things fast.
3.What does the last paragraph focus on?
A.Which fields Leonardo was expert in.
B.Why Leonardo is regarded as an innovator.
C.What made the Mona Lisa and The Last Supper stand out.
D.How Leonardo applied scientific theories to his paintings.
4.Which of the following can best summarize Leonardo da Vinci according to the text?
A.Curious about arts. B.Talented in many fields.
C.Determined in science. D.Skilled in paintings.
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
When I first catch sight of Greta Thunberg, it is eight in the morning, and a small crowd has already gathered. It is a Friday, her day of protest, and the 16-year-old is standing outside the parliament(议会) building, next to a sign saying “School strike for climate” in Swedish.
This is the 26th week of her protest, which has taken place every Friday since school started last August. Her goal is to bring Sweden in line with the 2016 Paris Agreement, which promises to limit global warming to below 2℃, compared with pre-industrial levels.
Over the past six months, Greta has rocketed to a level of fame and influence that pretty much nobody, including herself, expected. Her protest was quickly highlighted by the media. Then came a TED talk and an invitation to address last December’s U.N. climate talks in Poland.
While Greta may seem an unlikely climate activist, it was not entirely accidental that she became one. Like many children, Greta watched educational films about the melting Arctic and the fate of the polar bears and the marine mammals bloated (肿胀) with plastic. But unlike other children, she couldn’t let them go. “I became very affected. I began thinking about it all the time.” said Greta.
Greta began researching climate change and has been staying on the topic for six years. She has stopped eating meat and buying anything that isn’t necessary. In 2015, Greta stopped flying on airplanes, and a year later, her mother followed her example, giving up an international performing career. The family has started growing their own vegetables on his own garden outside the city. To meet me in central Stockholm, Greta and her father rode their bikes for about half an hour, although the family has an electric car that they use only when necessary.
1.What can be inferred from the second paragraph?
A.Industry in Sweden is developing too fast.
B.School climate education remains to be improved.
C.The climate around the world has increased by 2℃.
D.Sweden should do more to meet the Paris Agreement.
2.Why did Greta become the focus of media attention?
A.She was expected to be famous.
B.She was invited to the TED talk.
C.She skipped school for the protest.
D.She was active in the protest as a child.
3.What makes Greta devoted to climate activities?
A.The educational programs.
B.Her speech at U.N. climate talks.
C.Her great concern about climate change.
D.The protest of “School strike for climate”
4.What happened after Greta became a climate activist?
A.She moved to the countryside.
B.She had an eco-friendly life.
C.She followed her mother’s example.
D.She gave up her work for her research.
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
The sound of music
The Calgary Folk Music Festival (25-28 July) was born 40 years ago, and has grown from a grassroots event to a celebration that brings together thousands of musicians, artists and fans. The festival is held in Princes Island Park and its relaxed, welcoming atmosphere makes it a great spot in the sun while enjoying some quality folk music.
Want to keep the music playing? Head to Studio Bell, where the new National Music Centre hosts regular exhibitions and concerts.
Green city
Though it’s a relatively short drive to the legendary Rocky Mountains, Calgary itself is also filled in greenery.
A comprehensive network of urban pathways offers walkers and cyclists an urban oasis and an eco-friendly way to get around the city’s neighborhoods. Take a slow walk or cycle downtown along the riverside or walk across the futuristic Peace Bridge to explore the urban village,of Kensington. Alternatively, take in the scenic views and sunshine by rafting(乘筏) down the mighty Bow River instead.
From farm to patio
Calgary is home to a farm-to-table scene. Discover the whitewashed brick walls and nose-to-tail philosophy in the Model Milk, while plant-lined ceilings and a vegetable menu await in bright and airy Ten Foot Henry.
Calgarians take their beer as seriously as their steak and it wouldn’t be summer in Calgary without a good patio-hopping session. Start off at 17th Avenue institution The Ship & Anchor, then make your way to Cold Garden. Don't fancy walking? Explore the city’s craft-beer scene by bike with Urban Pedal Tours.
1.What can we learn about the Calgary Folk Music Festival?
A.It lasts three days in July every year.
B.It is a celebration for grassroots musicians.
C.It has a history of less than 40 years
D.It draws more and more folk music lovers.
2.How many ways are recommended to get around this green city?
A.One B.Two.
C.Three. D.Four
3.What is the underlined phrase "a good patio-hopping session" in the last paragraph about?
A.Taking a bike trip. B.Drinking beer.
C.Visiting the Model Milk. D.Making craft.
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
You might easily gain access to fresh fruit and vegetables, but this isn’t the case in some parts of America. The U. S. has many areas that are considered as food deserts, which are defined as parts of the country short of fresh fruit, vegetables and other healthy food, usually found in poor areas.
Food deserts are urban areas where the nearest grocery store is more than 1 mile away, and rural areas where the nearest grocery store is more than 10 miles away. According to the USDA, 19 million Americans — or 6.2% of the population — live in places that can be considered as food deserts.
The issue isn’t necessarily about the difference in cost between healthy and unhealthy foods in these areas but it’s about a lack of access to healthy choices at all. And, with the lack of healthy food choices, these areas typically have a large supply of unhealthy foods sold at fast-food companies and convenience stores.
Eating unhealthy foods can lead to overweight, which puts people at risk for all kinds of major health issues, including high blood pressure, heart disease, and some cancers.
But some people, especially those who cannot afford a car, are stuck with eating what’s readily available. In the case of food deserts, it’s usually the type of food that can lead to overweight. Studies have shown that this is likely to be a problem in low-income areas. When money is not enough, people tend to buy foods that last longer and remove food waste, which is a waste of their limited income.
Lack of access is only one part of the problem, however. The bigger issue was likely the lack of education and nutritional knowledge in these communities, which prevents people with lower incomes from understanding the benefits of healthy eating.
While overweight is a significant issue in these communities, the cost of unhealthy eating isn’t just physical. A study found that 71 billion dollars in healthcare costs due to chronic (慢性的) diseases could be saved through healthier eating.
1.What can we infer from the first two paragraphs?
A.6.2% of the Americans live in poor areas.
B.Some parts of the USA lack fresh vegetables.
C.Some people in America don’t need fresh fruit.
D.People in the food deserts buy fresh vegetables easily
2.Why can fast-food companies sell large amounts of unhealthy food in the food deserts?
A.These areas are rich in unhealthy food materials.
B.The fast food sold in the food deserts are of lower cost.
C.Healthy food choices are unavailable in these areas.
D.People in these areas prefer unhealthy food to healthy food.
3.We can learn from Paragraph 5 that the low-income people______.
A.are less likely to have overweight problems
B.are not delighted to prepare food for themselves
C.have to buy food that can be preserved longer
D.are used to eating food donated by food companies
4.What stops people from understanding healthy eating benefits in the food deserts?
A.Their high healthcare cost due to the chronic diseases.
B.Their long established eating habits.
C.The government’s lack of financial support.
D.Their lack of education and knowledge in nutrition.
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
Winona Ryder was once one of Hollywood’ s biggest stars. During the 1990s, she received critical praise and box office success. And in 2000, she was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. But then it went wrong. In December 2001, she was arrested for shoplifting. She was caught leaving a Beverly Hills department store carrying thousands of dollars worth of clothes. Her sentence? 480 hours of community service in hospital. Afterwards, Winona quit acting for a few years. And she moved from los Angeles to San Francisco to get out of the spotlight. But now she’s on a comeback. She recently appeared in the award-winning Black Swan.
Bill Gates doesn’t seem like a bad boy. But on 29th April 1975 (just two weeks after founding Microsoft) he was arrested in Albuquerque, New Mexico. What for? Speeding and driving without a driver’s license. But Bill’s rap sheet doesn’t end there. In 1977 he was arrested again, this time for speeding, driving his Porsche through a stop sign road and, once again, driving without a license.
Bill has never commented on his wild past. But a Microsoft spokesperson said, “It’s well known that when Bill was young, he didn’t have a very good driving record.”
Can someone with a criminal record become president of the Unite States? They certainly can. And George W. Bush did. In 1976, the 30-year old Bush was drinking in a bar near his parents’ house. A few hours later, he decided to drive home. But on the way, a police officer pulled him over. Bush had been driving suspiciously slowly. The future president was arrested for drunk driving. Bush kept his arrest secret for 24 years. But it leaked to the press just before the 2000 presidential election (which he won). He admitted it was true and said he had learned his lesson that night.
1.What punishment was given to Winona Ryder after she was caught shoplifting?
A.She was forbidden acting for a few years.
B.She was put in prison for 480 hours.
C.She did community service for 480 hours.
D.She was forgiven for her outstanding acting skills.
2.What is the meaning of the underlined part “rap sheet”?
A.Criminal record. B.Careless behavior.
C.Sentence. D.Impolite behavior.
3.How did the police know George W. Bush was drunk driving?
A.The police were checking drunk driving and caught him by chance.
B.Bush was driving so slowly as to cause the police’ s suspicion.
C.Bush drove through a stop sign.
D.Bush drove in the wrong direction.
4.What is the passage mainly about?
A.Some famous people without morality.
B.Some famous people and their life stories.
C.Some interesting stories of famous people.
D.Some arrests of famous people.
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
Enjoy Movies on TV
Monday, Feb. 10
The Secret Life of Pets
In this lively cartoon hit, a pampered dog reluctantly befriends his owner’ s new dog after the pair are caught by Animal Control and fall in love with a revengeful rabbit. 7:30 p. m., Channel FXM
Tuesday, Feb. 11
Spider-Man: Far From Home
Peter Parker joins his high school’ s field trip to Europe, which gives him a chance to spin webs on a variety of Old World landmarks. Tom Holland and Zendaya co-star.6:45 p.m., Channel Starz
Wednesday, Feb.12
Open Water
Delivering almost as many shark scares as Jaws, the movie, full of thrillers, follows a husband and wife on a scuba tour (潜水) who are accidentally left in predator-infested waters.8 p.m., Channel TCM
Thursday, Feb. 13
Ghost
Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore co-star in a high-concept love story that has no right to succeed as a movie but does.8 p.m., Channel Epix
Friday, Feb.14
Casablanca
In perhaps the most romantic film ever, Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman play former lovers who meet again in Morocco.8 p.m., Channel TCM
Saturday, Feb. 15
Watchman
In the big-screen adaptation of Alan Moore’s landmark graphic novel, some super-heroes who’ve helped the world survive the Cold War through 1985 now secretly unite to solve the murder of one of their own. 6:30 p.m., Channel IFC
1.Those who are fond of little pets can see______.
A.The Secret Life of Pets B.Spider-man: Far From Home
C.Open Water D.Ghost
2.Which of the following movies is your best choice if you like graphic novel?
A.Open Water. B.Ghost.
C.Casablanca. D.Watchman.
3.The passage is a______.
A.movie review B.movie advertisement
C.guide on movies on TV D.movie poster
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析