We’ve learned bees can understand zero and do basic math. Now a new study shows their tiny insect brains may be able to connect symbols to numbers.
Adrian Dyer, a professor in the RMIT University, said the research showed brains far smaller than humans’ could know numbers. “Humans learn numbers as children, but being able to recognize what numbers really represent needs a certain level of cognitive (认知的) ability,” Dyer says, “Studies have shown primates (灵长类动物) and birds have this ability, but this is the first time we’ve seen this in insects.”
It’s important for humans to do the research. There are 86 billion neurons (神经元) in humans’ brains. Bees only have less than a million. If bees have the ability to learn something difficult to understand like human-made symbolic language, this will open up exciting new paths for future communication between humans and animals.
Studies have shown that a number of animals have been able to learn symbols of numbers, including parrots and monkeys. Monkeys were taught Arabic numbers and could order them correctly. An African grey parrot called Alex was able to learn numbers and could do simple calculation.
Understanding how tiny brains of bees manage information opens paths to technology, which is good for the future design of computing (计算) systems.
1.What does Adrian Dyer say about the research?
A.The finding of the research is first seen in insects.
B.Humans’ brains are the biggest on the earth.
C.Birds can be as clever as primates.
D.Bees are cleverer than birds.
2.What do we know about the research?
A.Humans may find a new path to communicate with animals.
B.Bees have more neurons than monkeys.
C.Insects have the ability to communicate with humans.
D.Bees can solve basic math problems.
3.Who is Alex according to the text?
A.A child. B.A monkey.
C.An expert. D.A parrot.
4.What’s the main idea of the text?
A.Bees can communicate with other animals.
B.Bees can attach symbols to numbers.
C.Some animals can do math problems.
D.Bees can make communication with humans.
高一英语阅读理解困难题查看答案及解析
Elephants on the coast of Thailand are acting strangely. They stamp their feet and signal toward the hills. The sea draws back from the beaches. Fish fall heavily in the mud. Suddenly, a huge wave appears. This is no ordinary wave. It is a tsunami (海啸)!
Tsunami waves are larger and faster than normal surface waves. A tsunami wave can travel as fast as a jet plane and can be as tall as a ten-story building. Imagine dropping a stone into a pond. The water on the surface ripples (起涟漪). A tsunami is like a very powerful ripple. Tsunamis begin when the ocean rises or falls very suddenly. Large amounts of seawater are displaced. This movement causes huge waves.
If a tsunami happens, there must be some kind of force that causes the ocean water to become displaced. Most tsunamis are caused by underwater earthquakes. However, volcanoes, landslides (塌方), large icebergs, and even meteorites (陨石) are able to cause one of these giant waves.
Tsunamis are extremely powerful. Ordinary waves lose power when they break. Tsunami waves can remain powerful for several days. Because tsunami waves are so strong, they can kill people, damage property, and completely ruin an ecosystem in just one hour.
Scientists have no way of predicting when a tsunami will hit. However, if a powerful enough earthquake happens, scientists can send out a warning or a watch. A warning means that a tsunami will very likely hit soon. A watch means that conditions are favorable for a tsunami. When people are informed of a watch or a warning, they have more time to prepare. It is best not to get caught unaware when a tsunami is on the way!
1.Why are elephants acting strangely before the Tsunamis?
A.They dislike the huge wave.
B.They are afraid of the big fish.
C.They can sense something out of the ordinary.
D.They see the ocean drawing back from the beaches.
2.What does the underlined word “displaced” in paragraph 2 mean?
A.Moved out of normal place. B.Pushed by human force.
C.Pulled to great heights. D.Hung down quickly.
3.Why do Tsunamis cause so much destruction?
A.They are not familiar to most people.
B.They are very powerful and long-lasting.
C.They break on the coast, unlike normal waves.
D.They are caused by underwater earthquakes.
4.What is this text mainly about?
A.How to guard against tsunamis. B.Differences between wave types.
C.What to do with tsunami waves. D.Causes and effects of tsunamis.
高一英语阅读理解困难题查看答案及解析
Jim Denevan is an amazing artist whose work is admired by all, but owned by none — that’s because all of Jim’s art is created on an unusual canvas (画布) — the soft sand. He sometimes spends days working on a piece, only to see it washed away by the sea or a storm and that is just the way he likes it.
Denevan discovered his artistic talents about ten years ago, when he was wandering aimlessly on the beach with a stick. He ended up drawing a 12-foot-long fish. Since then, Jim has traveled over 1,800 miles while creating over 600 pieces of sand art.
Over the years, his drawings have become bigger, but the tools he uses haven’t changed — All he needs is a stick, a garden rake (耙) and most importantly, his lively imagination!
Just like any good artist, Jim is quite particular about the “quality” of his canvas, sometimes walking for miles, in search of perfect sand. His latest piece of work, which is also the world’s largest freelance (自由职业的) drawing, was created in the desert sands of Nevada. It took Jim three trips, eight days and over 100 miles of walking to create this 3-mile work of art. It took the storm just one night to destroy it! However, Jim says he actually enjoys watching the waves or rain wash his paintings away.
Jim’s art has become very popular over the years and was even the topic of a documentary named “Sandman” in 2005. Jim Denevan is not just about art in the sand — he is also an excellent cook and founder of an organization called “Outstanding in the Field”, whose motto (座右铭) is to celebrate food at its source. Accordingly, group dining events are held outdoors on farms, with the diners being treated to a delicious meal. The events, which are held in different farms throughout America, are always sold out the minute the schedule is announced.
1.What do we know about Denevan?
A.He used to be a cook.
B.He has a gift for creating sand art.
C.He puts his work on show regularly.
D.He showed artistic talents at a very young age.
2.What can we learn from the text?
A.Denevan walks a lot to complete his work.
B.It is not hard for Denevan to find suitable sand.
C.It takes a long time for the storm to destroy Denevan’s work.
D.Denevan is very particular about his drawing tools.
3.What does Denevan enjoy about his work according to the text?
A.Walking a long distance. B.Waiting for the storm to come.
C.Looking for a suitable canvas. D.Watching nature destroy his work.
4.Which of the following can best describe Denevan?
A.Generous. B.Open-minded.
C.Imaginative. D.Traditional.
高一英语阅读理解困难题查看答案及解析
Do you jump out of bed early, wide awake and ready to start your day?If so, you would be called an “early bird”. Perhaps, you hate the sound of your alarm clock each morning and have little energy until afternoon. If so, you're probably a “night owl”.
Most people can be divided into such two groups, but what makes us this way?And is one better than the other?There are different opinions.
Usually, early risers have been praised as hard-working while those who prefer to get up late are considered lazy. Most people believe the early bird catches the worm.
Yet some scientists now believe “night owls” can really focus(集中) longer and produce more than early risers.
Research has found that the early bird does not always get the worm. In a Belgian study, both “morning people” and “evening people” were watched during their normal asleep and awake routines(常规).After 10 hours of being awake, the “evening people” became more alert(思维敏捷的). However, the “morning people” became sleepy and less focused. Researchers believe the reason for this difference is that night owls receive a last-minute increase from their brains. This added energy allows them to stay alert for longer periods of time.
Environment, lifestyle, activities and childhood routines all may have an effect on sleeping habits, yet genetics(遗传学)may play the biggest role.
It is possible to change your sleeping habits through regular bedtimes, early exercise and by avoiding midnight snacks. But if you're happy rising early or staying up late, you're probably doing what works best for your own personal body clock.
1.The author introduces the subject by ________.
A.telling an interesting story
B.giving different opinions
C.showing research results
D.asking a question
2.What does the underlined sentence in Paragraph 3 really mean?
A.Those who get up early achieve their goals.
B.Early to bed, early to rise is good for health.
C.“Night owls” can focus longer than “early birds”.
D.“Early birds” are as hard-working as “night owls”.
3.What did the researchers find in a Belgian study?
A.Late risers become sleepier than early risers.
B.Early risers become as focused as later risers.
C.Late risers can think quickly after being awaken for 10 hours.
D.Early risers can think clearly after being awake for 10 hours.
4.What opinion does the author finally agree to?
A.People should get up early.
B.Whatever time suits you, it’s OK.
C.Staying up late is good for health.
D.It’s impossible to change one’s sleeping habit.
高一英语阅读理解困难题查看答案及解析
Have you ever dreamed of meeting top scientists in person? If so, what would you want to ask them? For Tan Fanglin, a 15-year-old girl from No.2 High School of East China Normal University in Shanghai, her dream of meeting top scientists has already come true.
In October, she attended the World Laureates Forum(论坛)for a second time. Tan was by far the youngest participant among the scientists invited to be at the meeting of the world's sharpest minds. Her discovery about the relationship between the Fibonacci sequence(菲波那契数列)and Bézout numbers has won her many prizes in youth innovation competitions. This finding has been praised by the famous Canadian mathematician, Professor Rankin. According to Guangming Daily, Rankin has been studying the same theme for five years but with no conclusions.
From a very young age, Tan has always been fascinated by mathematics. This is largely because of the influence of her father, who teaches mathematics in University. But she had not participated in any Mathematics Olympiad exams before. According to Xu Jun, Tan's head teacher from her middle and high school, she doesn't take after-school classes or too many extra exercises either. Her mastering of Further Mathematics and her good grades in school are thanks to the right study method.
Attending this forum enabled Tan to get more inspiration from top scientists. She asked Professor Miesenbock, the 2019 Warren Alpert Foundation Prize winner, what he considered were the best personal qualities for conducting scientific research. Miesenbock encouraged her not to lose her passion and love for what she does. He stressed that people all knew that even Thomas Edison went through hundreds of unsuccessful attempts before finally inventing the light bulb. Tan has met many barriers in her research and often feels upset. The words made Tan feel inspired. "I will keep my curiosity and interests in mathematics and overcome any obstacles(障碍)in my research," she told Chinese Business View.
1.What does the underlined word "fascinated" in the third paragraph mean?
A.threatened B.refused
C.discovered D.attracted
2.What do we know about Tan Fanglin?
A.Tan has realized her dream of meeting top scientists.
B.Tan is one of the youngest participants in the World Laureates Forum.
C.When she was young,she took part in many Mathematics Olympiad exams.
D.Tan's discovery has achieved a breakthrough after studying the theme for 5 years.
3.What can be inferred from the last paragraph?
A.Tan has seldom met obstacles in her research.
B.Tan often feels undefeated when meeting barriers.
C.Inspired by Miesenbock, Tan is determined to overcome difficulties in research.
D.Tan has the best personal qualities for conducting scientific research in Miesenbock's eyes.
4.What's the best title for the passage?
A.Top Minds Inspire Student.
B.Failure is the Mother of Success.
C.Loving What You Do, a Way to Success.
D.The Elder One Grows, the More He Gets.
高一英语阅读理解困难题查看答案及解析
“You’ll get square eyes!” my mother used to say as I sat for hour after hour glued to the TV. I ignored her, of course. Past-forward a few decades and now I’m the parent. My 5-year-old lives in a world where screens aren’t fixed pieces of furniture. You can’t even avoid them by going outside. Screens are not only in our pockets; they’re everywhere.
The concerns have grown with the screens. In the past decade, we have heard that they will damage our mental health. Many of us feel more distracted by them, feeling guiltier and more tired as a result.
The apps and websites we can access on our phones have also sparked widespread concern. Big tech companies are also good at making use of our need for social recognition, hooking us on likes, retweets and follower counts. Social media has created a culture of mass narcissism (自恋), which has led many to worry about the emotional stresses on teenagers. A quick online search brings up dozens of papers linking screen use or social media with harmful effects on mental health, including depression and suicide.
Such statements are alarming. They are also widely believed, thanks to popular books like iGen by Jean Twenge, which claims that digital technology has ruined a generation. Yet, Amy Orben at the University of Oxford, who studies the impact of digital technology and social media in particular on mental health, holds different views. She claims that the underlying data can be used to tell different stories. She also spotted shortcomings in several large studies that claimed to show correlations (相关性) between the use of devices with screens and depression in users.
Twenge stands by her own finding, pointing in turn to what she considers flaws in Orben’s research methods. For David Max, at Royal College of Child Health in London, the effect of screen time and social media use on mental health remains speculative. “We cannot regard social media overall as good or bad,” says Davie. “We don’t know whether in individual cases social media is not responsible,” he says.
The explosion of mobile phone use has revolutionized our lives. I can download movies, write articles, communicate with my family and broadcast to the world all at the push of a button. Rather than impose constraints (限制), we should take a look at our use of screens and ask how they fit with the activities and lifestyle.
Every new technology with widespread impact has given rise to new fears. So the best bet may simply be to ask yourself what level of screen use makes you and those around you happy and try to stick to it. If you find yourself over addictive, don’t panic—and certainly don’t feel guilty. Nobody knows anything worth getting scared about.
1.According to the passage, people give likes, retweet or count followers to __________.
A.share one’s lifestyles B.show respect for others
C.seek social recognition D.relieve emotional stresses
2.The underlined word “speculative” probably means “__________”.
A.doubtful B.specific
C.important D.abstract
3.What can be learned from the passage?
A.Teenagers are more affected by screen use both physically and mentally.
B.Orben claims it is far too early to blame screen use for ruining a generation.
C.Big tech companies help to produce many research papers on mental health.
D.Twenge mainly introduces the overall benefits of digital technology in her books.
4.The passage is written to __________.
A.encourage readers to reduce the time of screen use
B.share different opinions on the effects of screen use
C.explain why screen use may have negative effects on people
D.relieve people’s concerns and worries about the use of screens
高一英语阅读理解困难题查看答案及解析
A vacation often means rest and relaxation, but more and more people are looking at traveling as an opportunity to help others and give back.
Don Germaise is a familiar face to many in Tampa Bay, but this former TV reporter’s life has changed a bit. “In the TV business you see the best and the worst the world has to offer, and at some point, it just occurred to me: I just need to do something to make the world a better place,” he explained.
He now travels the world, volunteering his time to help others. “Here’s the best part about a volunteer vacation. You’re not stuck at a hotel doing tours that everyone else does,” Germaise said. “You’re meeting regular people, living with regular people and helping regular people all over the world.”
Travel Writer Joe Miragliotta says that’s exactly why more people are spending time volunteering on vacation. “Travelers, especially millennials (千禧一代) like myself, are becoming more socially conscious when it comes to choosing where they go,” Miragliotta said. “They want to connect with the communities and causes they really care about.”
He recently took some time out of a trip to San Francisco to help out at a local farm. “Here, volunteers are growing healthy foods for the community, and they give it right back for free; and you know you can tend the vegetable gardens, help clean the orchard—lots of fun activities,” Miragliotta explained.
Volunteering doesn’t take up your entire vacation. You can do it for a few hours or even a few days. It’s all up to you. “With a kid...when you do something as simple as giving him or her a pencil when they never had a pencil for school, the look in their eyes is so unbelievable,” Germaise said. “It’s like they got an iPad for Christmas. It’s the greatest feeling in the world.”
1.What do vacations mean to Don Germaise?
A.Having a rest and relaxing. B.Getting an opportunity to travel.
C.Meeting and helping regular people. D.Reporting on what happens around the world.
2.According to Joe Miragliotta, young people __________.
A.are becoming more socially conscious B.find it fun to help in vegetable gardens
C.enjoy taking care of the children around D.are trying to learn more about other people
3.What can be inferred from the last paragraph?
A.It only takes travelers a few hours to do volunteering.
B.Finding a way to help the people in need is not easy.
C.It is impossible for the kids to get an iPad for Christmas.
D.Making a small difference to people’s life is rewarding.
4.What’s the passage mainly about?
A.Millennials pay more attention to society.
B.Volunteer vacation is becoming a new trend.
C.Two travelers shared their experiences abroad.
D.Volunteers enjoy popularity among local people.
高一英语阅读理解困难题查看答案及解析
Teens have a busy morning schedule as they need to wake up and get moving very early in order to catch a bus and get to school by the required time.This means teens need to get their rest the night before or they will be too tired to learn anything at school.1.
When a teen falls asleep in class,two things happen: he/she misses what is being taught and he/she loses the respect for the teacher.He/She may also receive a consequence from the school,depending on the classroom discipline policy.2.
To prevent your teen from being sleepy in class,try these three tips:
*Set a time for "lights out" on school nights.This is never be any later than 10 p.m. and preferably 9 p.m.3. Soft music can be on and used to help calm your teen.
*Help your teen develop a night-time routine that involves activities that slow them down for the end of the day. 4.Turning off the computer and disconnecting from friends and the excitement of the day an hour before bedtime will also help your teen relax.
*5.This will reinforce(增强)what it feels like to be rested and capable of accomplishing what he/she wants.
A.Taking a bath and reading are two activities that work well.
B.What's worse,they may even fall asleep in class.
C.All of these things affect your teen's academic success and can be avoided.
D."Lights out" means the computer,television,lights and cell phone should be off.
E.While your teen keeps his/her goals in line with your expectations,he/she may have his/her own goals.
F.Set a good example and show him/her your love for learning.
G.Point out the positives after your teen has had a good night's rest.
高一英语阅读理解困难题查看答案及解析
It was winter but people were everywhere in London at the weekend. They were in T-shirts or sandals (凉鞋). Monday was another warm day, without a cloud in the sky, and in the late afternoon the light took on a magical, honey-coloured color. It brought to mind one of those summer evenings you experienced in childhood, when you’d be in the park all day and your parents let you stay out until bedtime, and you felt like you were doing something deliciously naughty just by being there.
It wasn’t early summer: it was February. And the entire developed world has been attacking the global ecosystem (全球生态系统) for many years, and that’s how we go into this pickle.
We should try to hold on to this fact that this is not supposed to be happening. Less than a month ago, there was a video of extreme ( 极 端 的 ) cold weather coming out of Chicago. Water poured from cups immediately froze on its way to the ground. OK, that was on the other side of the world, and its temperature was- 11℃ then.
On Monday, though, the temperature hit 20.3℃ in Ceredigion, West Wales: the highest February temperature ever recorded in Britain and the first time the temperature had reached 20℃ in winter.
This isn’t good, is it? The 10 hottest years on record have all happened within the past 20 years, the five hottest were the last five. Yet the beaches and the beer gardens fill up, while the papers describe the weather as wonderful. There were those who gave in to the heat wave a little too easily. They let themselves forget it was winter and found themselves, when the sun went down and the temperature dropped, suddenly shaking and unprepared for the cold. It feels uncomfortably like a symbol.
1.What does the author want to do in the first paragraph?
A.To introduce a beautiful summer.
B.To encourage kids to play outside.
C.To share his daily activities with us.
D.To describe the scene of a warm winter.
2.What does the underlined word pickle in Paragraph 2 mean?
A.Daily activity. B.Unusual place.
C.Difficult situation. D.Quick development.
3.Why is Chicago’s weather mentioned?
A.To compare it with that of London.
B.To attract more people to Chicago.
C.To show it is well-known for an online video.
D.To encourage more people to post videos online.
4.What can we infer from the last paragraph?
A.The author hoped people stayed indoors.
B.The author worries about global warming.
C.The papers misled the public in weather reports.
D.The papers asked the public to prepare for the cold.
高一英语阅读理解困难题查看答案及解析
Come and see the Snowman
Experience the magic of The Snowman in a whole new way this Christmas. Carrot Performers are the world’s most experienced performers of The Snowman film. They are delighted to be touring with their Christmas show again this December. The show will feature a live orchestra.
The concert will open with a Christmas Medley (集锦) followed by a fun introduction to the orchestra. All the instruments are presented in a fun way, offering young audience members the valuable experience of seeing – and hearing – the instruments individually.
Following this there will be one of two exclusive (独家的) films:
A Donkey’s Tale
The world premiere ( 首 映 ) of a brand new work created especially for us by Daniel Whibley. Set amidst the wild landscape (景色) of Connemara in the west of Ireland, it tells the heartwarming story of Dillon, an ordinary donkey with an extraordinary dream that takes him on a journey that will change his life.
The Bear and the Piano
This beautiful tale of music, friendship and adventure was first brought to the big screen in 2017. With music by Daniel Whibley played live by a professional orchestra, and a narration ( 旁 白 ) recorded by superstar Joanna Lumley this creation looks set to become a family favorite for the next generation.
● For CHESTER performances, please telephone: 01244 500959 (open 9-5 Mon-Sat)
● For WINCHESTER performances, please telephone: 01962 857275 (open 10-4 Mon-Fri, 11-4 Sat, closed Sunday and public holidays)
● For all other performances, please telephone: 0344 8000 410 (open 9-9 Mon- Sat & 10-5 Sundays and Bank Holidays. Calls will be charged at your local rate)
Tour dates & ticket prices
● Chester Cathedral (+A Donkey’s Tale)- 25/12/2018 2:00 pm
Center seats: Child (18 Months to 17 Years) £15; Adult £21
Rear seats: Child (18 Months to 17 Years) £11; Adult £19
Restricted (受限制的) view: Child (18 Months to 17 Years) £9; Adult £15
● Winchester Cathedral (+The Bear and the Piano)- 26/12/2018 5:00 pm
General Tickets: Child (18 Months to 17 Years) £16; Adult £19
Theatre Card Members: £16
● Beverley Minster (+The Bear and the Piano)- 27/12/2018 6:00 pm
Center seats: Child (18 Months to 17 Years) £15; Adult £20; Senior (Over 60) £15
North Aisle (走道): Child (18 Months to 17 Years) £10; Adult £16; Senior (Over 60) £10
South Aisle: Child (18 Months to 17 Years) £10; Adult £16; Senior (Over 60) £10
Rear seats: Child (18 Months to 17 Years) £12; Adult £18; Senior (Over 60) £12
● Durham Cathedral (+A Donkey’s Tale)- 28/12/2018 7:00 pm
Front seats: Child (18 Months to 17 Years) £16; Adult £20 Side Aisles: Child (18 Months to 17 Years) £14; Adult £18 Rear seats: Child (18 Months to 17 Years) £11; Adult £16
1.What do we know about the performances on The Snowman tour?
A.You can see three films with one ticket.
B.Joanna Lumley narrates A Donkey’s Tale.
C.It’s the premiere of The Bear and the Piano.
D.The Snowman is played live by a professional orchestra.
2.Which number should you call for the show at Durham Cathedral?
A.01244 500959. B.0344 8000 410.
C.01962 857275. D.01962 500959.
3.Where can you get a better ticket price with a membership card?
A.At Winchester Cathedral. B.At Durham Cathedral.
C.At Chester Cathedral. D.At Beverley Minster.
高一英语阅读理解困难题查看答案及解析