The first time a tortoise walked through my hut at Middle Camp on Aldabra Atoll, I was amazed. I grabbed my camera and carefully positioned myself to take this wildlife encounter. The second time: same thing. The third time: I picked up my phone and took a snapshot. By the fourth or fifth time, I didn't even look when I felt something bump into me. I knew what it was.
I was there to shoot a story about island restoration（修复）in the Seychelles, far off the east coast of Africa in the Indian Ocean. Until roughly the middle of the past century, the small island nation showed signs of real environmental killing—local vegetation（植被）cleared to make way for coconut plantations, foreign rats and mice running uncontrolled, native sea turtles and giant tortoises being exploited. Biodiversity seemed destroyed. But then the country experienced a shift in conservation awareness — and the giant Aldabra tortoises are among its most visible signs.
Every morning when I woke up and walked outside the hut, I had to remind myself that I hadn't traveled back in time. I could see flightless Aldabra rails, coconut crabs the size of dinner plates, and giant tortoises—roughly four feet long and weighing up to 550 pounds—just wandering around. The number of sharks in the bay was crazy. Frigatebirds and boobies（鲣鸟）nested in the mangroves（a kind of tree）. When we left our hut doors open, which we often did to let in air, the tortoises would walk right through.
In the late afternoon or early evening, whenever they'd finished eating, the tortoises would drop themselves down and fall asleep with their heads outstretched. That made nighttime trips to the outhouse perilous. To get there, we'd have to go 200 feet into the mangroves, negotiating what I called the tortoise slalom （之形障碍）trail.
It was a track without a pattern, because of course they picked different places to sleep every night. Avoiding them was important: Falling headfirst over a tortoise onto the sharp coral rock could lead to serious injury on an island far from medical facilities.
Nothing was easy on Aldabra, and much of it was insanely difficult. Yet living among the tortoises in this primordial place, in one of the last spots where reptiles still rule; was one of the happiest times of my life.
1.How did the author feel about his final meeting with the tortoise in his room?
A.Calm B.Excited C.Concerned D.Disturbed
2.What made the wildlife on the island suffer during the last century?
A.Introducing foreign species. B.Killing too many rats and mice.
C.Planting lots of coconut trees. D.Repairing the building on the island.
3.What does the author intend to do in paragraph 3?
A.To stress the importance of their work.
B.To introduce how large the tortoises are.
C.To present his daily routine on the island.
D.To show how the wildlife is diverse on the island.
4.Which can best replace the underlined word "perilous" in the 4th paragraph?
A.risky . B.competitive C.successful D.interesting
5.What might be the suitable title for this passage?
A.Island fills with curious tourists.
B.Tortoises rule on this isolated island.
C.Efforts are made to protect the environment.
D.Aldabra is heaven for wild animals.
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题
The first time a tortoise walked through my hut at Middle Camp on Aldabra Atoll, I was amazed. I grabbed my camera and carefully positioned myself to take this wildlife encounter. The second time: same thing. The third time: I picked up my phone and took a snapshot. By the fourth or fifth time, I didn't even look when I felt something bump into me. I knew what it was.
I was there to shoot a story about island restoration（修复）in the Seychelles, far off the east coast of Africa in the Indian Ocean. Until roughly the middle of the past century, the small island nation showed signs of real environmental killing—local vegetation（植被）cleared to make way for coconut plantations, foreign rats and mice running uncontrolled, native sea turtles and giant tortoises being exploited. Biodiversity seemed destroyed. But then the country experienced a shift in conservation awareness — and the giant Aldabra tortoises are among its most visible signs.
Every morning when I woke up and walked outside the hut, I had to remind myself that I hadn't traveled back in time. I could see flightless Aldabra rails, coconut crabs the size of dinner plates, and giant tortoises—roughly four feet long and weighing up to 550 pounds—just wandering around. The number of sharks in the bay was crazy. Frigatebirds and boobies（鲣鸟）nested in the mangroves（a kind of tree）. When we left our hut doors open, which we often did to let in air, the tortoises would walk right through.
In the late afternoon or early evening, whenever they'd finished eating, the tortoises would drop themselves down and fall asleep with their heads outstretched. That made nighttime trips to the outhouse perilous. To get there, we'd have to go 200 feet into the mangroves, negotiating what I called the tortoise slalom （之形障碍）trail.
It was a track without a pattern, because of course they picked different places to sleep every night. Avoiding them was important: Falling headfirst over a tortoise onto the sharp coral rock could lead to serious injury on an island far from medical facilities.
Nothing was easy on Aldabra, and much of it was insanely difficult. Yet living among the tortoises in this primordial place, in one of the last spots where reptiles still rule; was one of the happiest times of my life.
1.How did the author feel about his final meeting with the tortoise in his room?
A.Calm B.Excited C.Concerned D.Disturbed
2.What made the wildlife on the island suffer during the last century?
A.Introducing foreign species. B.Killing too many rats and mice.
C.Planting lots of coconut trees. D.Repairing the building on the island.
3.What does the author intend to do in paragraph 3?
A.To stress the importance of their work.
B.To introduce how large the tortoises are.
C.To present his daily routine on the island.
D.To show how the wildlife is diverse on the island.
4.Which can best replace the underlined word "perilous" in the 4th paragraph?
A.risky . B.competitive C.successful D.interesting
5.What might be the suitable title for this passage?
A.Island fills with curious tourists.
B.Tortoises rule on this isolated island.
C.Efforts are made to protect the environment.
D.Aldabra is heaven for wild animals.
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
Our guide was excellent! He walked us through all the local villages and took extra time at the end to enjoy a local dinner. He stayed with us longer than he was obliged（迫使） to and made this a fantastic experience.
Tour snapshot
Travel is all about the street food these days, and why not? It’s fresh, fast, cheap and a great way to crack into the local scene. Join this Hanoi tour to source the best street eats from markets, food carts, street cafes and other hard-to-find-but-totally-worth-the-effort secret spots.
Highlights
Sample delicious Vietnamese cuisine just like the locals do — on the street
Stroll through hidden alleyways and bustling markets of Hanoi’s charming old quarter
Learn more about Hanoi’s unique food culture
Try local specialties with influences from French and Chinese cuisine
Take in a spectacular night view of Hoan Kiem lake from a secret cafe
Schedule details
Duration: 2.5 hours
Meeting point: Sacombank ATM Machine – No. 1 Dong Xuan street (front entrance of Dong Xuan Market, Corner of Dong Xuan St with Cau Dong St)
Starting time: 5. 00 PM
Ending point: Café Pho Co – 11 Hang Gai St, Hoan Kiem
1. What did the guide do?
A. He showed visitors around by car.
B. He took many photos of visitors.
C. He stayed with visitors for extra time.
D. He enjoyed breakfast with visitors.
2.What does the underlined word “snapshot” mean in the passage?
A. A photograph taken quickly and casually.
B. A brief impression of something.
C. An attempt to score in a game.
D. An act of firing a gun.
3. During the tour, we can enjoy ______.
A. various local food
B. charming mountain landscapes
C. many rare animals
D. French and Chinese cuisine
4. We can infer from the passage that the ending time of the tour is ______.
A. 5. 00 PM B. 5. 30 PM
C. 7. 05 PM D. 7. 30 PM
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
Our guide was excellent! He walked us through all the local villages and took extra time at the end to enjoy a local dinner. He stayed with us longer than he was obliged（迫使） to and made this a fantastic experience.
Tour snapshot
Travel is all about the street food these days, and why not? It’s fresh, fast, cheap and a great way to crack into the local scene. Join this Hanoi tour to source the best street eats from markets, food carts, street cafes and other hard-to-find-but-totally-worth-the-effort secret spots.
Highlights
Sample delicious Vietnamese cuisine just like the locals do — on the street
Stroll through hidden alleyways and bustling markets of Hanoi’s charming old quarter
Learn more about Hanoi’s unique food culture
Try local specialties with influences from French and Chinese cuisine
Take in a spectacular night view of Hoan Kiem lake from a secret cafe
Schedule details
Duration: 2.5 hours
Meeting point: Sacombank ATM Machine – No. 1 Dong Xuan street (front entrance of Dong Xuan Market, Corner of Dong Xuan St with Cau Dong St)
Starting time: 5. 00 PM
Ending point: Café Pho Co – 11 Hang Gai St, Hoan Kiem
1.What did the guide do?
A. He showed visitors around by car.
B. He took many photos of visitors.
C. He stayed with visitors for extra time.
D. He enjoyed breakfast with visitors.
2.What does the underlined word “snapshot” mean in the passage?
A. A photograph taken quickly and casually.
B. A brief impression of something.
C. An attempt to score in a game.
D. An act of firing a gun.
3.During the tour, we can enjoy ______.
A. various local food
B. charming mountain landscapes
C. many rare animals
D. French and Chinese cuisine
4.We can infer from the passage that the ending time of the tour is ______.
A. 5. 00 PM B. 5. 30 PM
C. 7. 05 PM D. 7. 30 PM
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
I first met John at my sister’s wedding. He _________ with the bridegroom at the time.
A. was talking B. talked C. had talked D. had been talking
高三英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析
阅读下面材料，在空白处填入适当的内容（1个单词）或括号内单词的正确形式。
In the middle of April, if you walk through Jinghong, 1. capital of Xishuangbanna region in Yunnan Province , 2. (chance) are that you’ll get very, very wet. The Dai people will be celebrating their water-splashing festival from April 15 to 17, marking the new year for the Dai ethnic minority.
Lonely Planet, one of the world’s 3. (large) travel brands, has described what happens:“People race around the streets of Jinghong and the surrounding villages, soaking （浸透）every person 4. sight with buckets of water. ”
5. (tradition), water would be collected and poured only on family members as a symbolic way 6. (ensure) good luck in the coming year. Dai people believe that the wetter you get, the luckier you will be.
Although water 7. (play) a vital role in the celebration, there is much more to the festival , especially during the first two days 8. water splashing is comparatively kept under control, according to Lonely Planet. People wear their best clothes , while older women in nearby villages 9. (dress) in special costumes. They gather with their families and visit Dai temple . There, they wash the statues of Buddha with water, a practice 10. (know) as “Bathing the Buddha.”
高三英语语法填空中等难度题查看答案及解析
阅读下面材料，在空白处填入适当的内容（1个单词）或括号内单词的正确形式。
In the middle of April, if you walk through Jinghong, 1. capital of Xishuangbanna region in Yunnan Province, 2. (chance) are that you’ll get very, very wet. The Dai people will be celebrating their water-splashing festival from April 15 to 17, marking the new year for the Dai ethnic minority.
Lonely Planet, one of the world’s 3. (large) travel brands, has described what happens: “People race around the streets of Jinghong and the surrounding villages, soaking （浸透） every person 4. sight with buckets of water. ”
5. (tradition), water would be collected and poured only on family members as a symbolic way 6. (ensure) good luck in the coming year. Dai people believe that the wetter you get, the luckier you will be.
Although water 7. (play) a vital role in the celebration, there is much more to the festival, especially during the first two days 8. water splashing is comparatively kept under control, according to Lonely Planet. People wear their best clothes, while older women in nearby villages 9. (dress) in special costumes. They gather with their families and visit Dai temple. There, they wash the statues of Buddha with water, a practice 10. (know) as “Bathing the Buddha.”
高三英语语法填空中等难度题查看答案及解析
阅读下列材料，在空白处填人适当的内容（1个单词）或用括号内单词的正确形式。
In the middle of April, if you walk through Jinghong,1. capital of Xishuangbanna region in Yunnan province,2.(chance) are that you'll get very, very wet. The Dai people will be celebrating their water-splashing（泼水）festival from April 15 t0 17, marking the new year for the Dai ethnic minority.
Lonely Planet, one of the world's3.(large) travel brands, has described what happens: “People race around the streets of Jinghong and the surrounding villages, soaking（浸透）every person 4. sight with buckets of water.5. (tradition), water would be collected and poured only on family members as a
symbolic way6. (ensure) good luck in the coming year. Dai people believe that the wetter you get, the luckier you will be.
Although water 7. (play)a vital role in the celebration, there is much more to the festival, especially during the first two days 8. water splashing is comparatively kept under control, according to Lonely Planet. People wear their best clothes, while older women in nearby villages9. (dress) in traditional outfits（服装）.They gather with their families and visit Dai temples. There, they wash the statues of Buddha（佛教）with water, a practice10. (know) as ”Bathing the Buddha".
高三英语语法填空中等难度题查看答案及解析
About this time every year, I get very nostalgic(怀旧的). Walking through my neighborhood on a fall afternoon reminds me of a time not too long ago when sounds of children filled the air, children playing games on a hill, and throwing leaves around in the street below. I was one of those children, carefree and happy. I live on a street that is only one block long. I have lived on the same street for sixteen years. I love my street. One side has six houses on it, and the other has only two houses, with a small hill in the middle and a huge cottonwood tree on one end. When I think of home, I think of my street. Only I see it as it was before. Unfortunately things change. One day, not long ago, I looked around and saw how different everything has become. Life on my street will never be the same because neighbors are quickly grown old, friends are growing up and leaving, and the city is planning to destroy my precious hill and sell the property to contractors.
It is hard for me to accept that many of my wonderful neighbors are growing old and won’t be around much longer. I have fond memories of the couple across the street, who sat together on their porch swing almost every evening, the widow next door who yelled at my brother and me for being too loud, and the crazy old man in a black suit who drove an old car. In contrast to those people, the people I see today are very old neighbors who have seen better days. The man in the black suit says he wants to die, and another neighbor just sold his house and moved into a nursing home. The lady who used to yell at us is too tired to bother any more, and the couple across the street rarely go out to their front porch these days. It is difficult to watch these precious people as they near the end of their lives because at once I thought they would live forever.
The “comings and goings” of the younger generation of my street are now mostly “goings” as friends and peers move on. Once upon a time, my life and the lives of my peers revolved around home. The boundary of our world was the gutter at the end of the street. We got pleasure from playing night games or from a breathtaking ride on a tricycle. Things are different now, as my friends become adults and move on. Children who rode tricycles now drive cars. The kids who once played with me now have new interests and values as they go their separate ways. Some have gone away to college like me, a few got married, two went into the army, and one went to prison. Watching all these people grow up and go away makes me long for the good old days.
Perhaps the biggest change on my street is the fact that the city is going to turn my precious hill into several lots for now homes. For sixteen years, the view out of my kitchen window has been a view of that hill. The hill was a fundamental part of my childhood life; it was the hub of social activity for the children of my street. We spent hours there building forts, sledding, and playing tag. The view out of my kitchen window now is very different; it is one of tractors and dump trucks tearing up the hill. When the hill goes, the neighborhood will not be the same. It is a piece of my childhood. It is a visual reminder of being a kid. Without the hill, my street will be just another pea in the pod.
There was a time when my street was my world, and I thought my world would never change. But something happened. People grow up, and people grow old. Places changes, and with the change comes the heartache of knowing I can never go back to the times I loved. In a year or so, I will be gone just like many of my neighbors. I will always look back to my years as a child, but the place I remember will not be the silent street whose peace is interrupted by the sounds of construction. It will be the happy, noisy, somewhat strange, but wonderful street I knew as a child.
1.The writer finds it hard to accept the fact that _____________.
A. many of his good neighbors are growing old
B. the lady next door who used to yell at him and his brother is now a widow
C. the life of his neighbors has become very boring
D. the man in his black suit even wanted to end his own life
2.The biggest change on the writer's street is _____________.
A. removing the hill to make way for residential development
B. the building of new homes behind his kitchen window
C. the fact that there are much fewer people around than in the past
D. the change in his childhood friends' attitude towards their neighborhood
3.What does the writer mean by saying “my street will be another pea in the pod”?
A. his street will be very noisy and dirty
B. his street will soon be crowded with people
C. his street will have some new attractions
D. his street will be no different from any other street
4.Which could be a good title for the passage?
A. The Past of My Street will Live Forever
B. Unforgettable People and Things of My Street
C. Memory Street Isn’t What It Used to Be
D. The Big Changes of My Street
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
My six-year-old granddaughter stared at me as if she were seeing me for the first time.”Grandma, you are an antique(古董),”she said. "You are old. Antiques are old. You are my antique."
I was not satisfied to let the matter rest there. I took out the Webster's Dictionary and read the definition(定义)to Jenny.I explained, "An antique is not only old, it's an object existing since or belonging to earlier times...a work of art... piece of furniture. Antiques are treasured,"I told Jenny as I put away the dictionary. "They have to be handled carefully because they sometimes are very valuable. In order to qualify as an antique, the object has to be at least 100 years old."
"I'm only 67,"I renunded Jenny.
We looked around the house for other antiques, besides me. There was a desk that was handed down from rone aunt to another and finally to our family. "It's very old,"I told Jenny.“I try to keep it polished and I show it off whenever I can. You do that with antiques."
There was a picture on the wall purchased at a garage sale. It was dated 1867. "Now that's an antique," I boasted. "Over 100 years old." Of course it was marked up and scratched and not in very good condition. "Sometimes age does that," I told Jenny. "But the marks are good marks. They show living, being around. That's something to display with pride. In fact, sometimes, the more an object shows age, the more valuable it can become." It was important that I believed this for my own self-esteem.
Our tour of antiques continued. There was a vase on the floor. It had been in my house for a long time. I was not certain where it came from but I didn't buy it new. One thing about antiques, I explained to Jenny, was that they usually had a story. They'd been in one home and then another, handed down from one family to another, traveling all over the place. They'd lasted through years and years. They could have been tossed away, or ignored. or destroyed, or lost. But instead, they survived.
For a moment, Jenny looked thoughtful. “l don't have any antiques but you," she said. Then her face brightened. "Could I take you to school for show and tell?"
"Only if I fit into your backpack," I answered. And then Jenny's antique lifted her up and embraced her in a hug that would last through the years.
1.Grandma read the definition of "antique" to Jenny in order to.
A．list all the important characteristics of antiques
B．tell Jenny the importance of protecting antiques
C．change Jenny's shallow understanding of antiques
D．express her disappointment at being called "antique"
2.Which of the following information did grandma convey to Jenny?
A．The desk reminded her of her dear relatives.
B．The marks on the picture showed its age and value.
C．There was usually a sad story behind each antique.
D．She planned to buy a new vase to replace the old one.
3.By saying "I don't have any antiques but you" (Paragraph 7), Jenny meant.
A．grandma was a treasure to her
B．antiques were rare and valuable
C．she had nothing but a few possessions
D．grandma and antiques had a lot in common
4.What can be inferred from the last paragraph?
A．Grandma was too old to lift Jenny up.
B．Jenny had a strong desire for grandma's love.
C．Jenny was too young to know grandma's humor.
D．Grandma had a deep long-lasting love for Jenny.
5.What can be the best title for the passage?
A．Jenny's Antique B．A Story of Antiques
C．A Tour of Antiques D．Grandma's Antique
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
My six-year-old granddaughter stares at me as if she is seeing me1.the first time."Grandma,you are an antique,because you are old,"she says.I explain,"An antique is not only just old; it's an object2.(belong) to earlier times.Antiques are valuable.”
We look around the house for antiques.There is a large desk that3.(hand) down from an aunt to our family. "It's very old,"I tell Jenny."I try to keep it4.(polish),and I show it off whenever I can."When Jenny5.(get) older, I might also tell her that whenever I look at the desk or touch it,I am reminded of the aunt who was dear to me.I remember myself as a little girl standing against this antique,6.(listen) to one of her stories.
Our tour of antiques continues.There is a picture on the wall,7.dates from 1867,and it is not in very good condition.There is a vase on the floor.I'm not certain where it came from,8.I didn't buy it new."The one thing about antiques,"I explain to Jenny,"is that they usually have a story."
For a moment Jenny looks9.(thought)."I don't have any antiques but you,"she says.Then10.(she)face brightens."Could I take you to school for our antiques show?"
高三英语短文填空中等难度题查看答案及解析