While jewelry made from gold can be beautiful...

While jewelry made from gold can be beautiful, most people admit that wearing the heavy metal over long periods of time can get a little annoying. Now, researchers from Swiss university ETH Zurich have created a new form of lightweight gold that weighs five to ten times less than traditional 18-carat gold—which typically consists of 75 percent gold and 25 percent copper—but has the same purity.

The researchers began by mixing gold with water, salt, protein fibers and other materials. They then replaced the water with alcohol and placed the mixture inside a high-pressure carbon dioxide (CO2) box. The reaction between the gas and alcohol transformed the golden plastic into a light material that can be heated to melt and made into whatever form was needed. "This gold has some characteristics of plastic,” says team leader Raffaele　　　　　　　　 Mezzenga, professor of Food and Soft Materials at ETH Zurich.

In addition to being lighter, the "plastic” gold has other advantages over traditional forms. It can be melted into shape at about 105 degrees Celsius, much lower than the 1,064 degrees Celsius required to melt pure 24-carat gold. The metal's firmness can be easily adjusted by changing the components at the beginning of the process. It is also much easier to vary the color. "As a general rule, our approach lets us create almost any kind of gold we choose, in line with the desired properties, says Mezzenga.

The researchers, who published their study in the journal Advanced Functional Materials on January 10, 2020, believe the new lightweight gold will be able to replace the metallic version in most traditional applications, including jewelry and watches. However, given that most buyers associate high-quality gold with weight, that may take some time. But the material will undoubtedly be beneficial for use inside electronic devices, chemical catalysts (催化剂),and even radiation shielding.

1.Why do many people find the traditional gold annoying?

A.It costs too much。

B.Its purity is too low.

C.It feels too heavy to wear long.

D.Its beauty lasts a short time,

2.What is the second paragraph mainly about?

A.The functions of the "plastic" gold.

B.The components of the "plastic” gold.

C.The characteristics of the "plastic” gold.

D.The production process of the "plastic" gold.

3.Which is the "plastic" gold's advantage over the traditional gold?

A.It is easier to process.

B.It is more widely used.

C.It has a lower temperature.

D.It is more convenient to get.

4.Where is this text most likely from?

A.A diary. B.A guidebook.

C.A novel. D.A magazine.

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

While we all try to find happiness, sometimes we still end up feeling low. While most people can control this feeling, low moods can stay with some, leading to depression. About 322 million people suffered from depression in 2015, according to a report by the World Health Organization in February. This is more than 4 percent of the world’s population.

Depression is described by the WHO as a mental disorder. It has several symptoms including sadness, loss of interest and feelings of low self-worth. In severe cases, depression may even lead to suicide.

The number of people living with depression is increasing. The WHO reported a rise of 18.4 percent between 2005 and 2015. Young people are a group known to suffer with depression. “The pressures on today’s youth are like no other generation, perhaps,” Dan Chisholm, an official of WHO, told Reuters.

In China, depression among young people is on the rise, Zhu Zhuohong, a psychology professor with the Chinese Academy of Sciences, told Xinhua News Agency. Competition to outperform others, especially in education, can cause a lot of pressure for Chinese youth.

Almost 1.2 million Chinese people aged 15 to 24 suffer from depression, according to a report released by British science journal The Lancet in May.

Luckily, more and more efforts are being made to deal with this problem. This year’s World Health Day, held on April 7, will focus on depression. The day will highlight (强调) the “Depression: let’s talk” campaign. The campaign aims to make sure that people with depression both seek and get help.

1.According to the passage, what was the population of the world in 2015?

A. About 322 million.　　 B. About 128.8 million.

C. About 8050 million.　　 D. About 18.4million.

2.Which symptom is the worst among several symptoms?

A. Suicide.　　 B. Loss of interest.

C. Sadness.　　 D. Feelings of low self-worth.

3.What does the 3rd paragraph tell us?

A. The pressures on today’s youth are the same as other generations.

B. The pressures on today’s youth are not the same as other generations.

C. The pressures on today’s youth are bigger than other generations.

D. The pressures on today’s youth are not bigger than other generations.

4.What cause a lot of pressure for Chinese youth?

A. Competition between young generations.

B. Competition to outperform others.

C. Competition to perform better than others in education.

D. Education to avoid disorders.

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

While we all try to find happiness, sometimes we still end up feeling low. While most people can control this feeling, low moods can stay with some, leading to depression. About 322 million people suffered from depression in 2015, according to a report by the World Health Organization in February. This is more than 4 percent of the world’s population.

Depression is described by the WHO as a mental disorder. It has several symptoms including sadness, loss of interest and feelings of low self-worth. In severe cases, depression may even lead to suicide.

The number of people living with depression is increasing. The WHO reported a rise of 18.4 percent between 2005 and 2015. Young people are a group known to suffer with depression. “The pressures on today’s youth are like no other generation, perhaps,” Dan Chisholm, an official of WHO, told Reuters.

In China, depression among young people is on the rise, Zhu Zhuohong, a psychology professor with the Chinese Academy of Sciences, told Xinhua News Agency. Competition to outperform others, especially in education, can cause a lot of pressure for Chinese youth.

Almost 1.2 million Chinese people aged 15 to 24 suffer from depression, according to a report released by British science journal The Lancet in May.

Luckily, more and more efforts are being made to deal with this problem. This year’s World Health Day, held on April 7, will focus on depression. The day will highlight (强调) the “Depression: let’s talk” campaign. The campaign aims to make sure that people with depression both seek and get help.

1.According to the passage, what was the population of the world in 2015?

A. about 322 million　　 B. about 128.8 million

C. about 8050 million　　 D. about 18.4million

2.Which symptom is the worst among several symptoms?

A. suicide　　 B. loss of interest

C. sadness　　 D. feelings of low self-worth

3.What does the 3rd paragraph tell us?

A. The pressures on today’s youth are the same as other generations.

B. The pressures on today’s youth are not the same as other generations.

C. The pressures on today’s youth are bigger than other generations.

D. The pressures on today’s youth are not bigger than other generations.

4.What cause a lot of pressure for Chinese youth?

A. Competition between young generations

B. Competition to outperform others

C. Competition to perform better than others in education

D. Education to avoid disorders

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

While we all try to find happiness, sometimes we still end up feeling low. While most people can control this feeling, low moods can stay with some, leading to depression. About 322 million people suffered from depression in 2015, according to a report by the World Health Organization in February. This is more than 4 percent of the world’s population.

Depression is described by the WHO as a mental disorder. It has several symptoms including sadness, loss of interest and feelings of low self-worth. In severe cases, depression may even lead to suicide.

The number of people living with depression is increasing. The WHO reported a rise of 18.4 percent between 2005 and 2015. Young people are a group known to suffer with depression. “The pressures on today’s youth are like no other generation, perhaps,” Dan Chisholm, an official of WHO, told Reuters.

In China, depression among young people is on the rise, Zhu Zhuohong, a psychology professor with the Chinese Academy of Sciences, told Xinhua News Agency. Competition to outperform others, especially in education, can cause a lot of pressure for Chinese youth.

Almost 1.2 million Chinese people aged 15 to 24 suffer from depression, according to a report released by British science journal The Lancet in May.

Luckily, more and more efforts are being made to deal with this problem. This year’s World Health Day, held on April 7, will focus on depression. The day will highlight (强调) the “Depression: let’s talk” campaign. The campaign aims to make sure that people with depression both seek and get help.

1.According to the passage, what was the population of the world in 2015?

A. about 322 million　　 B. about 128.8 million

C. about 8050 million　　 D. about 18.4million

2.Which symptom is the worst among several symptoms?

A. suicide　　 B. loss of interest

C. sadness　　 D. feelings of low self-worth

3.What does the 3rd paragraph tell us?

A. The pressures on today’s youth are the same as other generations.

B. The pressures on today’s youth are not the same as other generations.

C. The pressures on today’s youth are bigger than other generations.

D. The pressures on today’s youth are not bigger than other generations.

4.What cause a lot of pressure for Chinese youth?

A. Competition between young generations

B. Competition to outperform others

C. Competition to perform better than others in education

D. Education to avoid disorders

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

Paper is a cheap and accessible medium that can produce beautiful results. To most people, making a paper plane could be one of the simplest things to do. It’s the simplest and easiest form of paper art. And paper art can be traced back to Japan, where it originated over a thousand years ago. However, there’s a special minority who takes paper art to the next level, magically turning the plain white or colored paper into some of the most amazing artworks. Check out the following artists and their works!

The Danish artist Peter Callesen is famous for his talent in combining the minimalism(极简的) of a white sheet of paper with the complexity of carefully cut and folded paper and uses the two to build out some pleasing works.　

The British artist Su Blackwell often goes to secondhand bookstores — to look for materials with which she can carve out delicate sculptures. The models look as if they “grow” naturally from the pages of the books. The artist finds inspiration from the book title or a paragraph or picture inside and then spends months carefully slicing each one into an eye-catching paper model. Her old book sculptures sell for up to￡5,000 each.

By carefully folding simple pieces of paper, German artist Simon Schubert creates amazing masterpieces. He turns paper into architectural masterpieces by folding a simple piece of paper to shape the creases(摺缝), then unfolding it to show the fascinating artwork.

Another master of paper-folding is Jen Stark. Her artwork is often in the form of colorful caves and topographic(地形的) maps. Using her vivid imagination and a special knife, she is a modern day magician who turns humble materials like construction paper and glue into fantastic, complicated sculptures that puzzle the eyes. Her work draws inspiration from nature.

1.According to the passage, paper art ________.

A. is about plane-folding　　　　 B. is most prosperous in Japan

C. dates back to 1000 B.C.　　　　 D. is now on a new level

2.The British artist mentioned in the passage ________.

A. combines the minimalism and complexity of paper

B. often gets inspired by secondhand books

C. makes architectural masterpieces with Simon Schubert

D. is a magician who uses simple paper materials

3.According to the passage, Jen Stark _______.

A. is from Germany

B. uses paper to build complicated shapes

C. creates things too puzzling to understand

D. works also as a magician

4.What does the underlined word “humble” in the last paragraph probably mean?

A. common and popular　　　 B. simple and cheap

C. useless and priceless　 D. numb and meaningless

5.What can we learn from the artists?

A. Every dog has its day.

B. All that glitters are not gold.

C. One can't make brick without straw.

D. The greatness may come from ordinariness.

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

根据短文内容，从短文后的选项中选出能填入空白处的最佳选项。

选项中有两项为多余选项。

Most people know that chocolate is made from cocoa and that the origins of chocolate can be traced back to Central and South America. 1. But how did chocolate go from being the food of the gods to being the food of love?

2. They established the first cocoa plantation and used the cocoa beans as the main ingredient in a dark, bitter drink that we would call “chocolate”. The Mayas believed that chocolate had mystical properties. 3. In fact, cocoa beans were used as a form of currency that was worth its weight in gold.

Spanish conquistador Hernando Cortez was the first European explorer to realize cocoa’s commercial possibilities. 4. In 1529, Cortez returned Spain and introduced chocolate——as a drink mixed with sugar, vanilla, and cinnamon——to European society.

It caught on, especially with the nobility. As its popularity spread, people found new ways to make and use chocolate. 5. Whether it is in delectable desserts or crunchy candy, people all over the world are still in love with chocolate.

A. But cocoa also had commercial value.

B. But not all the people all over the world love cocoa.

C. For centuries, the native there regarded cocoa as a gift from the gods.

D. When he arrived in the New World in 1519, he soon established his own cocoa plantation.

E. Around A. D. 600, the Mayas were the main aboriginal group in Central America.

F. These days, chocolate is enjoyed as both a tasty treat and a romantic indulgence.

G. Doctors said cocoa plays an active part in medicine.

高三英语其他题困难题查看答案及解析

Can you be too beautiful? It is hardly a problem that most of us have to bother — as much as we might like to dream that it were the case.

Yet the blessings and curses of beauty have been a long-standing interest in psychology. Do those blessed with shiny faces and an attractive body live in a cloud of appreciation — or does it sometimes pay to be ordinary? At the most basic level, beauty might be thought to carry a kind of halo (光环) around it; we see that someone has one good quality, and by association, our deep mind may assume that they have other good ones too.

But if beauty pays in most circumstances, there are still situations where it can have opposite results. While attractive men may be considered better leaders, for instance, hidden sexist prejudices (偏见) can work against attractive women, making them less likely to be hired for high-level jobs that require power. And as you might expect, good-looking people of both sexes run into envy — one study found that if you are interviewed by someone of the same sex, they may be less likely to employ you if they judge that you are more attractive than they are.

More worryingly, being beautiful or handsome could harm your medical care. We tend to link good looks to health, meaning that illnesses are often taken less seriously when they affect the good-looking. When treating people for pain, for instance, doctors tend to take less care over the more attractive people.

To conclude, scientists point out that focusing too much on your appearance can itself be harmful if it creates stress and anxiety — even for those already blessed with good looks. “If you are crazy about attractiveness, it may affect your experience and interactions,” she says. It’s an outdated saying, but no amount of beauty can make up for a bad personality. As the writer Dorothy Parker put it so elegantly: “Beauty is only skin deep, but ugly goes clean to the bone.”

1.From paragraph 1, we can learn that　　　　　 .

A.some may be bothered by their unattractive appearance

B.most people are not afraid of being too beautiful

C.we might always dream about being bothered by others

D.being too beautiful can be a problem bothering everyone

2.Which is right according to the passage?

A.Doctors care more about beautiful patients.

B.Beautiful people tend to have a healthy body.

C.Attractive women and men have equal chance of leadership.

D.Focusing too much on your appearance can be harmful.

3.What’s the meaning of the underlined sentence in the last paragraph?

A.The more beautiful outside, the less beautiful inside.

B.Beauty can help make a better personality.

C.Beauty cannot make up for bad personalities.

D.Ugly people have more confidence in their personality.

4.What might be the best title for the passage?

A.What is Real Beauty? B.The Bad Effects of Beauty

C.Benefits of Beauty D.Beauty, a Blessing?

高三英语阅读理解简单题查看答案及解析

Can you be too beautiful? It is hardly a problem that most of us have to bother — as much as we might like to dream that it were the case.

Yet the blessings and curses of beauty have been a long-standing interest in psychology. Do those blessed with shiny faces and an attractive body live in a cloud of appreciation — or does it sometimes pay to be ordinary?

At the most basic level, beauty might be thought to carry a kind of halo (光环) around it; we see that someone has one good quality, and by association, our deep mind may assume that they have other good ones too.

Even in the courts, a pleasing appearance can work its magic. Attractive criminals are likely to get less strict sentences, or to escape punishment entirely; attractive plaintiffs (原告), meanwhile, are more likely to win their case and get bigger financial settlements. “It’s an effect seen everywhere,” says Walker.

But if beauty pays in most circumstances, there are still situations where it can have opposite results. While attractive men may be considered better leaders, for instance, hidden sexist prejudices (偏见) can work against attractive women, making them less likely to be hired for high-level jobs that require power. And as you might expect, good-looking people of both sexes run into envy — one study found that if you are interviewed by someone of the same sex, they may be less likely to employ you if they judge that you are more attractive than they are.

More worryingly, being beautiful or handsome could harm your medical care. We tend to link good looks to health, meaning that illnesses are often taken less seriously when they affect the good-looking. When treating people for pain, for instance, doctors tend to take less care over the more attractive people.

Ultimately, scientists point out that focusing too much on your appearance can itself be harmful if it creates stress and anxiety — even for those already blessed with good looks. “If you are crazy about attractiveness, it may affect your experience and interactions,” she says. It’s an outdated saying, but no amount of beauty can make up for a bad personality. As the writer Dorothy Parker put it so elegantly: “Beauty is only skin deep, but ugly goes clean to the bone.”

1.From paragraph 1, we can learn that _______.

A. some may be bothered by their unattractive appearance

B. most people are not afraid of being too beautiful

C. we might always dream about being bothered by others

D. being too beautiful can be a problem bothering everyone

2.Which is the benefit for beautiful people?

A. All attractive plaintiffs have more chances to get away with punishment.

B. Women with pleasing appearance will always be considered as better leaders.

C. Good-looking people are often regarded as having many good qualities.

D. Beautiful criminals are more likely to persuade the judge and win the case.

3.The writer mentioned the underlined sentence in the last paragraph to _______.

A. persuade us to pay more attention to our looks from now on

B. suggest that beauty can help make a better personality

C. encourage us to focus more on improving our personality

D. ask ugly people to have more confidence in their personality

4.What might be the best title for the passage?

A. Beauty, a blessing?　　 B. Sexist Prejudice.

C. Real beauty.　　 D. Benefits Beauty holds.

高三英语阅读理解困难题查看答案及解析

Many people can’t learn lessons from the mistakes they’ve made_____they get hurt somehow.

A. whether　　　　 B. unless　　　 C. if　　　 D. as

高三英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析

Can you be too beautiful? It is hardly a problem that most of us have to bother—as much as we might like to dream that it were the case.

Yet the blessings and curses of beauty have been a long-standing interest in psychology. Do those blessed with shiny faces and an attractive body live in a cloud of appreciation—or does it sometimes pay to be ordinary?

Combing through decades of findings, social psychologists Lisa Slattery Walker and Tonya Frevert at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte have reviewed all the evidence to date and their conclusions are not what you might expect.

At the most basic level, beauty might be thought to carry a kind of halo(光环) around it; we see that someone has one good quality, and by association, our deep mind may assume that they have other good ones too.

Even in the courts, a pleasing appearance can work its magic. Attractive criminals are likely to get less strict sentences, or to escape punishment entirely; attractive plaintiffs, meanwhile, are more likely to win their case and get bigger financial settlements. “It’s an effect seen everywhere,” says Walker.

But if beauty pays in most circumstances, there are still situations where it can have opposite results. While attractive men may be considered better leaders, for instance, hidden sexist prejudices can work against attractive women, making them less likely to be hired for high-level jobs that require power. And as you might expect, good-looking people of both sexes run into envy—one study found that if you are interviewed by someone of the same sex, they may be less likely to employ you if they judge that you are more attractive than they are.

More worryingly, being beautiful or handsome could harm your medical care. We tend to link good looks to health, meaning that illnesses are often taken less seriously when they affect the good-looking. When treating people for pain, for instance, doctors tend to take less care over the more attractive people.

And the bubble of beauty can be a somewhat lonely place. One study in 1975, for instance, found that people tend to move further away from a beautiful woman on the pathway — perhaps as a mark of respect, but still making interaction more distant. “Attractiveness can convey more power over visible space—but that in turn can make others feel they can’t approach that person,” says Frevert. Interestingly, the online dating website OKCupid recently reported that people with the most beautiful pictures are less likely to find dates than those with less perfect pictures.

Ultimately, Frevert points out that focusing too much on your appearance can itself be harmful if it creates stress and anxiety — even for those already blessed with good looks. “If you are crazy about attractiveness, it may affect your experience and interactions,” she says. It’s an outdated saying, but no amount of beauty can make up for a bad personality. As the writer Dorothy Parker put it so elegantly: “Beauty is only skin deep, but ugly goes clean to the bone.”

1.From paragraph 1, we can learn that _______.

A.some may be bothered by their unattractive appearance

B.most people are not afraid of being too beautiful

C.we might always dream about being bothered by others

D.being too beautiful can be a problem bothering everyone

2.Which is the benefit for beautiful people?

A.Good-looking people are often regarded as having many good qualities.

B.Beautiful criminals are more likely to persuade the judge and win the case.

C.An attractive plaintiff has more chances to get away with punishment.

D.Women with pleasing appearance will always be considered as better leaders.

3.The writer mentioned the underlined sentence in the last paragraph to _______.

A.persuade us to pay more attention to our looks from now on

B.suggest that beauty can help make a better personality

C.encourage us to focus more on improving our personality

D.ask ugly people to have more confidence in their personality

4.What might be the best title for the passage?

A.Real Beauty B.Sexist Prejudice

C.Blessed with Beauty D.Beauty, a Blessing?

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析