A book is so much more than mere ink and pape...

A book is so much more than mere ink and paper. So insist French booksellers, who for nearly four decades successfully persuade the government to keep the forces of the free market at bay. A law passed in 1981 bans the sale of any book at anything other than the price decided by its publisher. Authorities are cracking down on those trying to sell the latest Thomas Piketty or J.K Rowling at a discount.

The fixed-price rule is meant to keep customers loyal to their local bookshop and out of the control of supermarkets and corporations. But the arrival of e-commerce and e-readers has promoted questions worthy of their own tomes(大部头著作). Can you fix the price of a book if it is part of an all-you-can-read subscription service? Are audio-books books at all? And what of authors who self-publish?

Changes have been made to preserve the principle of “one book, one price”. In 2011, the rule began to apply to digital tomes. Free delivery by online sellers was prohibited because it implied a subsidy(补贴) on the delivered books (encouraging online sellers to charge only €0.01 for postage). But a new challenge to the policy is proving more difficult to deal with.

Used books are exempted from the pricing rule. Third-party sellers on Amazon are accused of using this as a way to apply forbidden discounts: selling brand-new books as “second hand” to make them cheaper. So fans can purchase a copy of the latest Michel Houellebecq novel Serotonine for 11.71 pounds on Amazon, roughly half of its original price. Its seller claims it is in “perfectly new” condition.

Amazon claims its practices are legal. But books sellers are upset, and their political allies with them. “This is a major concern,” said Franck Riester, the culture minister, at a bookseller’s conference this week. He says new laws may be needed.

Defenders of the fixed-price principle (which has spread to other parts of Europe) say it helps keep independent bookshops alive. Others are not so sure. Books are expensive in France — an odd way to encourage people to buy more.

1.What was the function of the law passed in 1981?

A.To stop publishers from publishing poor books.

B.To prevent the random price of books in the market.

C.To help book consumers benefit from the free market.

D.To encourage French booksellers to sell cheaper books.

2.What’s implied about the arrival of e-commerce and e-readers in Paragraph 2?

A.It greatly changed people’s reading habits.

B.It challenged the principle of “one book, one price”.

C.It weakened the ties between publishers and authors.

D.It provided local booksellers with some new opportunities.

3.What does the underlined part “are exempted from” in Paragraph 4 mean?

A.are involved in. B.are threatened by.

C.are consistent with. D.are unrestricted by.

4.What is Franck Riester’s attitude towards those third-party sellers’ practices on Amazon?

A.He is hopeful of them. B.He is uncertain of them.

C.He disapproves of them. D.He is indifferent to them.

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

Although the United States covers so much land and the land produces far more food than the present population needs, its people are by now almost entirely an urban society. Less than a tenth of the people are engaged in agriculture and forestry(林业), and most of the rest live in or around towns, small and large. Here the traditional picture is changing: every small town may still be very like other small towns, and the typical small town may represent a widely accepted view of the country, but most Americans do not live in small towns any more. Half the population now lives in some thirty metropolitan areas(large cities with their suburbs ) of more than a million people each – a large proportion than in Germany or English, let alone France. The statistics(统计) of urban and rural population should be treated with caution because so many people who live in areas classified as rural travel by car to work in a nearby town each day. As the rush to live out of town continues, rural areas within reach of towns are gradually filled with houses, so that it is hard to say at what moment a piece of country becomes a suburb. But more and more the typical American lives in a metropolitan rather than a small town environment.

1.If now America has 250 million people．how many of them are engaged in agriculture and forestry?

A．About 25 million．　　　　 B．More than 25 million．

C．Less than 25 million．　 D. Less than 225 million．

2.Which of the following four countries has the smallest proportion of people living in metropolitan areas?

A．United States　 B．Germany　 C．France　 D．England

3.What’s the meaning of the word “metropolitan” in the middle of the passage?

A. Of a large city with its suburbs．

B．Of small and large towns．

C．Of urban areas．

D．Of rural areas．

4.　 According to the passage，what can we learn about small towns in the United States?

A．Most small towns become gradually crowded．

B．Small towns are still similar to each other．

C．As the traditional picture is changing，towns are different．

D .Small towns are turning into large cities．

5.Why is it hard to say when a piece of country becomes a suburb?

A.Because they are the same．

B．Because the rush takes place too quickly．

C．Because the process is gradual．

D．Because more and more Americans live in metropolitan areas．

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

Although the United States covers so much land and the land produces far more food than the present population needs，its people are by now almost entirely an urban society Less than a tenth of the people are engaged in agriculture and forestry(林业)，and most of the rest live in or around towns，small and large．Here the traditional picture is changing：every small town may still be very like other small towns，and the typical small town may represent a widely accepted view of the country，but most Americans do not live in small towns any more．Half the population now lives in some thirty metropolitan areas(1arge cities with their suburbs、of more than a million people each—a larger proportion than in Germany or England，let alone France．The statistics(统计)of urban and rural population should be treated with caution because so many people who live in areas classified as rural travel by car to work in a nearby town each day．As the rush to live out of town continues．rural areas within reach of towns are gradually filled with houses，so that it is hard to say at what moment a piece of country becomes a suburb But more and more the typical American lives in a metropolitan rather than a small town environment．

1.If now America has 250 million people．how many of them are engaged in agriculture and forestry?

A．About 25 million.

B．More than 25 million.

C．Less than 25 million.

D．Less than 225 million

2.Which of the following four countries has the smallest proportion of people living in metropolitan areas?

A．United States.

B．Germany.

C．France.

D．England.

3.What’s the meaning of the word“metropolitan”in the middle of the passage?

A．Of a large city with its suburbs.

B．Of small and large towns.

C．Of urban areas.

D．Of rural areas.

4.According to the passage，what can we learn about small towns in the United States?

A．Most small towns become gradually crowded.

B．Small towns are still similar to each other.

C．As the traditional picture is changing，towns are different.

D．Small towns are turning into large cities.

高三英语阅读理解简单题查看答案及解析

Surprising uses for lemons

Lemons are tasty and healthy, but they are simply so much more than for making lemonade. 1.

◇Lemons are used to refresh and clean a cutting board.

With garlic and onions being used widely in cooking, the struggle of washing the unpleasant smell out of a cutting board is something many people can relate to. But not only that, the cutting board can be home to all sorts of harmful bacteria.

2. Cut one in half and press the fruit against the board, wipe hard until the juices flow over the board, wash and enjoy your lemon-fresh cutting board.

◇Lemons are used to unclog a drain（疏通排水管）.

First, several lemons are squeezed for their juices into a cup, then the drain is washed with boiling water before being filled with half a box of baking soda（苏打）. Lemon juice is poured over the baking soda, causing it to bubble. 3.

◇Another part of your kitchen you can clean with lemons is your microwave.

Putting some lemon juice into a cup of water and microwaving for 5 minutes not only loosens up stains in the microwave so they are easily wiped away, but leaves a fresh smell behind.

◇4.

If you are lucky enough to have a dishwasher in your house, you can freshen things up by putting a few lemon slices into your dishwasher.

◇Lemons can be used to create a homemade face scrub（磨砂膏）.

First, you need three tablespoons of olive oil, the juice of a lemon, two tablespoons of honey and half a cup of sugar.5. After the time is up, wash to brighten your skin.

A.Luckily, life has brought us lemons.

B.After 15 minutes, water flows smoothly.

C.Here are some different uses for the fruit.

D.Then combine, apply and leave on the face for 15 minutes.

E.Lemons can get rid of unpleasant smells in the kitchen.

F.Lemons can be put into your dishwasher to freshen things up.

G.Cut a lemon and squeeze it over the rubbish before throwing it away.

高三英语七选五中等难度题查看答案及解析

Although the United States covers so much land and the land produces far more food than the present population needs，its people are by now almost entirely an urban society Less than a tenth of the people are engaged in agriculture and forestry(林业)，and most of the rest live in or around towns，small and large．Here the traditional picture is changing：every small town may still be very like other small towns，and the typical small town may represent a widely accepted view of the country，but most Americans do not live in small towns any more．Half the population now lives in some thirty metropolitan areas(1arge cities with their suburbs、of more than a million people each—a larger proportion than in Germany or England，let alone France．The statistics(统计)of urban and rural population should be treated with caution because so many people who live in areas classified as rural travel by car to work in a nearby town each day．As the rush to live out of town continues．rural areas within reach of towns are gradually filled with houses，so that it is hard to say at what moment a piece of country becomes a suburb But more and more the typical American lives in a metropolitan rather than a small town environment．

1.If now America has 250 million people．how many of them are engaged in agriculture and forestry?

A．About 25 million．　　　 B．More than 25 million．

C．Less than 25 million． D. Less than 225 million

2.Which of the following four countries has the smallest proportion of people living in metropolitan areas?

A．United States．　　 B．Germany.

C．France．　　 　　　　 D．England．

3.What’s the meaning of the word“metropolitan”in the middle of the passage?

A.Of a large city with its suburbs．

B．Of small and large towns．

C．Of urban areas．

D．Of rural areas．

4.According to the passage，what can we learn about small towns in the United States?

A Most small towns become gradually crowded

B．Small towns are still similar to each other．

C．As the traditional picture is changing，towns are different．

D .Small towns are turning into large cities

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

Although the United States covers so much land and the land produces far more food than the present population needs，its people are by now almost entirely an urban society . Less than a tenth of the people are engaged in agriculture and forestry(林业)，and most of the rest live in or around towns，small and large．Here the traditional picture is changing：every small town may still be very like other small towns，and the typical small town may represent a widely accepted view of the country，but most Americans do not live in small towns any more．Half the population now lives in some thirty metropolitan areas(1arge cities with their suburbs、of more than a million people each—a larger proportion than in Germany or England，let alone France)．The statistics(统计)of urban and rural population should be treated with caution because so many people who live in areas classified as rural travel by car to work in a nearby town each day．As the rush to live out of town continues,rural areas within reach of towns are gradually filled with houses，so that it is hard to say at what moment a piece of country becomes a suburb. But more and more the typical American lives in a metropolitan rather than a small town environment．

1.If now America has 250 million people．how many of them are engaged in agriculture and forestry?

2.Which of the following four countries has the smallest proportion of people living in metropolitan areas?

3.What’s the meaning of the word “metropolitan” in the middle of the passage?

4.According to the passage，what can we learn about small towns in                           the United States?

A Most small towns become gradually crowded

B．Small towns are still similar to each other．

C．As the traditional picture is changing，towns are different．

D .Small towns are turning into large cities

5.Why is it hard to say when a piece of country becomes a suburb?

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

More than 33% of men and women say they have watched a TV show or movie that affected them so much that they considered _____.

A. breaking off                             B. breaking up

C. breaking down               D. breaking out

高三英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析

With child behavior, there is almost much more than it meets the eye. Because it occurs at so many different levels, child behavior that seems simple at one level can often be much more complex and meaningful at another.

For instance, a little child’s pattern of getting into cupboards, drawers and closed rooms, even after being told not to, is easily considered as bad behavior. When viewed at that level, the pattern is unacceptable and could lead to punishment. But it can be viewed at a more complex and meaningful level, namely child exploration. If a child regularly experiences an angry parent who seems determined to prevent any exploratory activities, the child will decide to continue to achieve future discoveries. When parents view this behavior as born out of natural curiosity rather than simple opposition, they are more likely to accept and appropriately monitor it. Although it may lead to warning responses to ensure the child’s safety, it is less likely to lead to punishment.

There are countless other examples. Holding a goldfish outside its bowl is foolish at one level but also can be seen as a young child’s attempt to express physical affection for a pet. Spending time with friends rather than family is selfish at one level but also indicates a teen’s need for independence.

The point here is that child behavior is often exhibited in simple forms that can appear to be oppositional, selfish or generally unacceptable if viewed only at that basic level. However, when viewed at a more meaningful level, the same apparently simple behavior can be seen as something larger and potentially more adaptive. This doesn’t mean the behavior should be ignored, especially if it is inappropriate. But looking at the bigger picture of a child’s behavior, adults might gain a fuller understanding of what they’re dealing with, which can create more flexibility in how they respond.

1.According to Paragraph 1, we can know that child behavior ________.

A. is very changeable B. is inacceptable

C. occurs at different levels D. is fully understood by adults

2.The example in Paragraph 2 mainly shows that ________.

A. parents should properly punish child behavior

B. parents should keep children’s safety in mind

C. children’s behavior shows their interests

D. there are different attitudes to child behavior

3.What does the underlined sentence in Paragraph 2 most probably mean?

A. The child will insist on doing things with determination.

B. The child will have to make frequent decisions.

C. The child will make new discoveries in the future.

D. The child will develop a strong sense of achievement.

4.It can be inferred from Paragraph 3 that ________.

A. child behavior usually reflects a child’s need

B. what a child does can mean differently when seen from different aspects

C. children tend to do something to show their dependence to their parents

D. children spending time with friends show their selfishness

5.What does the writer suggest parents should do with a child’s behavior?

A. Have a positive attitude towards it.

B. Ignore the improper behavior.

C. View it at the basic level.

D. Watch over it from head to foot.

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

With child behavior, there is almost much more than it meets the eye. Because it occurs at so many different levels, child behavior that seems simple at one level can often be much more complex and meaningful at another.

For instance, a little child’s pattern of getting into cupboards, drawers and closed rooms, even after being told not to, is easily considered as bad behavior. When viewed at that level, the pattern is unacceptable and could lead to punishment. But it can be viewed at a more complex and meaningful level, namely child exploration. If a child regularly experiences an angry parent who seems determined to prevent any exploratory activities, the child will decide to continue to achieve future discoveries. When parents view this behavior as born out of natural curiosity rather than simple opposition, they are more likely to accept and appropriately monitor it. Although it may lead to warning responses to ensure the child’s safety, it is less likely to lead to punishment.

There are countless other examples. Holding a goldfish outside its bowl is foolish at one level but also can be seen as a young child’s attempt to express physical affection for a pet. Spending time with friends rather than family is selfish at one level but also indicates a teen’s need for independence.

The point here is that child behavior is often exhibited in simple forms that can be oppositional, selfish or generally unacceptable if viewed only at that basic level. However, when viewed at a more meaningful level, the same apparently simple behavior can be seen as something larger and potentially more adaptive. This doesn’t mean the behavior should be ignored, especially if it is inappropriate. But looking at the bigger picture of a child’s behavior, adults might gain a fuller understanding of what they’re dealing with, which can create more flexibility in how they respond.

1.According to Paragraph 1, we can know that child behavior ________.

A. occurs at different levels　　 B. is very changeable

C. is inacceptable　　 D. is fully understood by adults

2.The examples in the Paragraph 2 mainly shows that ________.

A. parents should properly punish child behavior

B. there are different attitudes to child behavior

C. children’s behavior shows their interests

D. parents should keep their children’s safety in mind

3.It can be inferred from Paragraph 3 that ________.

A. child behavior reflects a child’s need

B. children spending time with friends show their selfishness

C. what a child does can mean differently when seen from different aspects

D. children tend to do something to show their dependence to their parents

4.What does the writer suggest parents should do with a child’s behavior?

A. Have a positive attitude towards it.　　 B. Ignore the improper behavior.

C. View it at the basic level.　　 D. Watch over it from head to foot.

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

His uncle is a worker and has been working in the factory for more than ten years. _____.

高三英语单项填空简单题查看答案及解析