They may seem like ordinary people by day but...

They may seem like ordinary people by day but in their spare time, these office, shop and school workers bring history to life. During the week they work in shops, offices, clinics and schools, but at weekends they transform into Vikings, Romans and Medieval peasants. The world of re-enactment (重演) is booming with more and more men and women taking up the hobby of travelling to bygone times.

Factory manager of a busy printers, Brett Freeman, 46, from Nottingham, changes into “Padmore,” a Victorian street-seller selling stationery (文具).

Already a veteran (老兵) of military re-enactments, Brett joined the “Ragged Victorians” when middle-age kicked in. “I was too old to portray a soldier but I wanted to get back into the hobby and the Ragged Victorians looked the best in terms of being genuine.”

At his first event, group members gave him “loaner gear” and a year to research his character. His teeth blackened with theatrical stain, in top hat and floppy coat, Brett looks every bit his Victorian image.

Seeking inspiration, Brett dipped into the works of Victorian journalist, Henry Mayhew, who wrote about the working people of London.

“My character is inspired by the description of a stationer in Mayhew’s London Labour and London Poor. I mixed that up with my own background in print, and local historical sources to create street stationer, Padmore, which is the name of my Victorian great-great grandfather.”

“Getting into kit (装备) helps immensely and once you are in the public area you try to remain in character wherever possible.” For extra authenticity, Brett combines his language with Victorian selling patter (顺口溜), replacing the word “envelope” with “hangflups.”

“Re-enacting is great fun, but we’re always glad of a hot shower and a comfortable bed at the end of the weekend,” says Brett. “Normal life can seem very dull after a particularly good weekend. It would be wonderful to go back in time for a visit, but studying the period as I have done, makes you realise just how hard life was for our ancestors.”

1.Why does Brett choose to be a Victorian street-seller?

A.He has already played a veteran.

B.Portraying a soldier no longer fit him.

C.He is a manager of a busy printers.

D.His blackened teeth make it real.

2.What does the underlined phrase “loaner gear” in paragraph 4 mean?

A.Stage costume lent to him. B.Money paid on loan.

C.Adequate time. D.An assistant.

3.Which of the following words can best describe Brett?

A.Brave and careful. B.Kind and positive.

C.Humorous and caring. D.Serious and devoted.

4.Where can you probably find the above passage?

A.In a research report. B.In a magazine.

C.In a travel brochure. D.In an advertisement.

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

It may seem as if Mother's Day was invented by a company named Hallmark, but people have been taking time on the calendar to give a shout-out to Mom for a long time. The Greeks and Romans had mother goddess festivals — although their celebrations didn't involve the menfolk taking their underappreciated mothers out to dinner. A more recent tradition wasMothering Sunday, which developed in the British Isles during the 16th century. On the fourth Sunday in April, young men and women who were living and working apart from their families were advised to return to their mothers’ houses.

Mother's Day as it is observed in the United States started in the 1850s with Ann Jarvis, a West Virginia woman who held “Mothers' Work Days” to promote health and hygiene(卫生) at home and in the workplace. During the Civil War, Jarvis organized women to improve sanitary conditions for soldiers on both sides, and after the war she became a peacemaker, furthering the cause by bringing together mothers of Union and Confederate soldiers and promoting a Mother's Day holiday.

Jarvis's work inspired another 19th-century woman, Julia Ward Howe. In 1870 Howe published her “Mother's Day Proclamation”, which envisioned the day not as appreciation of mothers by their children but as an opportunity for women to exercise their collective power for peace. Howe started holding annual Mother's Day celebrations in Boston, her hometown, but after about a decade she stopped footing the bill and the tradition faded away.

It was Jarvis's daughter Anna who succeeded in getting Mother’s Day recognized as a national holiday. After her mother died, in May 1905, Anna started holding yearly ceremony on the anniversary and conducting a tireless PR campaign to have the day made a holiday. In 1908 she succeeded in enlisting the support of John W anamaker, the Philadelphia department store magnate and advertising pioneer, and by 1912 West Virginia and a few other states had adopted Mother's Day. Two years later, President Woodrow Wilson signed a resolution declaring the second Sunday in May a national holiday.

It wasn't long, though, before whatever ideals the day was supposed to celebrate were buried under an amount of greeting cards and candy. By the 1920s Anna Jarvis was campaigning against the holiday she had been instrumental in creating. “I wanted it to be a day of emotionalism, not profit,” she said.

1.The first paragraph suggests that　　 .

A.mothers didn't get enough appreciation

B.Mother's Day was invented by Hallmark

C.young people returned to their mothers' houses

D.Greeks and Romans were the first to celebrate Mother's Day

2.Who plays the most important role in creating Mother's Day?

A.Ann Jarvis. B.Julia Ward Howe.

C.Woodrow Wilson. D.Anna Jarvis.

3.Why did Anna Jarvis object to Mother's Day at last?

A.Because it was an emotional day.

B.Because the festival was not profitable.

C.Because the celebrations went against the original spirit.

D.Because the day was buried under greeting cards and candy.

4.Which of the following would be the best title for the passage?

A.The Objection to Mother’s Day

B.The Argument on Celebrating Mother's Day

C.The Story Behind the Creation of Mother's Day

D.Different Form of Celebrations on Mother's Day

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

People typically wash their hands seven times a day in the United States, but they do it at a far higher temperature than is necessary to kill germs (病菌) , a new study says. The energy waste is equivalent to the fuel use of a small country.

Amanda R. Carrico, a research assistant professor at the Vanderbilt Institute for Energy and Environment in Tennessee, told National Geographic that hand washing is often “a case where people act in ways that they think are in their best interest, but they in fact have inaccurate beliefs or outdated perceptions.”

Carrico said, “It’s certainly true that heat kills bacteria, but if you were going to use hot water to kill them it would have to be way too hot for you to tolerate.”

Carrico said that after a review of the scientific literature, her team found “no evidence that using hot water that a person could stand would have any benefit in killing bacteria.” Even water as cold as 40°F (4.4°C) appeared to reduce bacteria as well as hotter water, if hands were scrubbed, rinsed（冲洗）and dried properly.

Using hot water to wash hands is therefore unnecessary, as well as wasteful, Carrico said, particularly when it comes to the environment. According to her research, people use warm or hot water 64 percent of the time when they wash their hands. Using that number, Carrico’s team calculated a significant impact on the planet.

“Although the choice of water temperature during a single hand wash may appear unimportant, when multiplied by the nearly 800 billion hand washes performed by Americans each year, this practice results in more than 6 million metric tons of CO2 equivalent emissions annually,” she said.

The researchers published their results in the July 2013 issue of International Journal of Consumer Studies. They recommended washing with water that is at a “comfortable” temperature, which they noted may be warmer in cold months and cooler in hot ones.

1. What’s the meaning of what Carrico told National Geographic in the second paragraph?

A. People are more concerned about their health and begin to wash their hands.

B. It’s important for people to wash their hands to keep healthy.

C. Generally, people’s hand washing behaviors and perceptions are not correct.

D. People like washing their hands very much.

2.The figures in the sixth paragraph are used to show that __________.

A. using hot water to wash hands has a bad influence on our planet.

B. air pollution has become more and more serious.

C. using hot water to wash hands is a waste of energy.

D. people should pay more attention to the environment around us.

3. This passage is organized in the pattern of __________.

A. fact and opinion

B. cause and effect

C. definition and classification

D. time and events

4.What can we learn from the passage?

A. It’s necessary and useful for people to wash their hands frequently every day.

B. We can wash our hands with water that is at a “comfortable” temperature.

C. Using cold water to wash hands is necessary and much healthier.

D. Hot water can’t kill germs.

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

People typically wash their hands seven times a day in the United States, but they do it at a far higher temperature than is necessary to kill germs (病菌) , a new study says. The energy waste is equivalent to the fuel use of a small country.

Amanda R. Carrico, a research assistant professor at the Vanderbilt Institute for Energy and Environment in Tennessee, told National Geographic that hand washing is often “a case where people act in ways that they think are in their best interest, but they in fact have inaccurate beliefs or outdated perceptions.”

Carrico said, “It’s certainly true that heat kills bacteria, but if you were going to use hot water to kill them it would have to be way too hot for you to tolerate.”

Carrico said that after a review of the scientific literature, her team found “no evidence that using hot water that a person could stand would have any benefit in killing bacteria.” Even water as cold as 40°F (4.4°C) appeared to reduce bacteria as well as hotter water, if hands were scrubbed, rinsed（冲洗）and dried properly.

Using hot water to wash hands is therefore unnecessary, as well as wasteful, Carrico said, particularly when it comes to the environment. According to her research, people use warm or hot water 64 percent of the time when they wash their hands. Using that number, Carrico’s team calculated a significant impact on the planet.

“Although the choice of water temperature during a single hand wash may appear unimportant, when multiplied by the nearly 800 billion hand washes performed by Americans each year, this practice results in more than 6 million metric tons of CO2 equivalent emissions annually,” she said.

The researchers published their results in the July 2013 issue of International Journal of Consumer Studies. They recommended washing with water that is at a “comfortable” temperature, which they noted may be warmer in cold months and cooler in hot ones.

1.What’s the meaning of what Carrico told National Geographic in the second paragraph?

A. People are more concerned about their health and begin to wash their hands.

B. It’s important for people to wash their hands to keep healthy.

C. Generally, people’s hand washing behaviors and perceptions are not correct.

D. People like washing their hands very much.

2.The figures in the sixth paragraph are used to show that __________.

A. using hot water to wash hands has a bad influence on our planet.

B. air pollution has become more and more serious.

C. using hot water to wash hands is a waste of energy.

D. people should pay more attention to the environment around us.

3.This passage is organized in the pattern of __________.

A. fact and opinion　　　　　　　　　　 B. cause and effect

C. definition and classification　　 D. time and events

4.What can we learn from the passage?

A. It’s necessary and useful for people to wash their hands frequently every day.

B. We can wash our hands with water that is at a “comfortable” temperature.

C. Using cold water to wash hands is necessary and much healthier.

D. Hot water can’t kill germs.

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

People typically wash their hands seven times a day in the United States, but they do it at a far higher temperature than is necessary to kill germs, a new study says. The energy waste is equivalent to the fuel use of a small country.Amanda R. Carrico, a research assistant professor at the Vanderbilt Institute for Energy and Environment in Tennessee, told National Geographic that hand washing is often “a case where people act in ways that they think are in their best interest, but they in fact have inaccurate beliefs or outdated perceptions.”

Carrico said, “It’s certainly true that heat kills bacteria, but if you were going to use hot water to kill them it would have to be a way too hot for you to tolerate.”

Carrico said that after a review of the scientific literature, her team found “no evidence that using hot water that a person could stand would have any benefit in killing bacteria.” Even water as cold as 40°F (4.4°C) appeared to reduce bacteria as well as hotter water, if hands were scrubbed, rinsed(冲洗)and dried properly.

Using hot water to wash hands is therefore unnecessary, as well as wasteful, Carrico said, particularly when it comes to the environment. According to her research, people use warm or hot water 64 percent of the time when they wash their hands. Using that number, Carrico’s team calculated a significant impact on the planet.

“Although the choice of water temperature during a single hand wash may appear unimportant, when multiplied by the nearly 800 billion hand washes performed by Americans each year, this practice results in more than 6 million metric tons of CO2 equivalent emissions annually,” she said.

The researchers published their results in the July 2013 issue of International Journal of Consumer Studies. They recommended washing with water that is at a “comfortable” temperature, which they noted may be warmer in cold months and cooler in hot ones.

1.What’s the meaning of what Carrico told National Geographic in the second paragraph?

A. People are more concerned about their health and begin to wash their hands.

B. It’s important for people to wash their hands to keep healthy.

C. Generally, people’s hand washing behaviors and perceptions are not correct.

D. People like washing their hands very much.

2.The figures in the passage are used to show that __________.

A. using hot water to wash hands has a bad influence on our planet.

B. air pollution has become more and more serious.

C. using hot water to wash hands is a waste of energy.

D. people should pay more attention to the environment around us.

3.This passage is organized in the pattern of __________.

A. fact and opinion　　 B. cause and effect

C. definition and classification　　 D. time and events

4.What can we learn from the passage?

A. It’s necessary and useful for people to wash their hands frequently every day.

B. We can wash our hands with water that is at a “comfortable” temperature.

C. Using cold water to wash hands is necessary and much healthier.

D. Hot water can’t kill germs.

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

Some people sit outside for hours without getting bitten by mosquitoes, but it always seems like you’re being eaten alive within minutes of stepping outdoors.

If this is you, you’re not alone. According to Smithsonian Magazine, around 20 percent of people in the world are especially tasty to mosquitoes. What about these people makes mosquitoes’ mouths water?

A popular myth claims that mosquitoes prefer certain blood types, but the fact is that they simply can’t tell what your blood type is from a faraway place. Jonathon Day, a professor of medical entomology (昆虫学) at the University of Florida in the US, told NBC it’s not complicated. “The two most important reasons a mosquito is attracted to you have to do with sight and smell.”

Mosquitoes are especially active in the late afternoon. While flying along, they use their sense of smell to find possible targets. They find victims (攻击对象) by smelling the carbon dioxide (CO2) breathed out by humans and animals. That’s why you commonly find them in crowded streets and parks.

Joop van Loon, an entomologist at Wageningen University in the Netherlands, told Live Science, “Mosquitoes start orienting (使......朝向) themselves to carbon dioxide and keep flying upwind as they sense higher concentrations (浓度).”

As a result, people who simply exhale (呼出) more of the gas over time – generally, larger people – have been shown to attract more mosquitoes than others. “This is why kids don’t get bitten as much ... as adults,” US professor Ted Rosen told Science Alert.

This love for CO2 can also put pregnant women at increased risk for mosquito bites, as they tend to exhale 21 percent more CO2 than people of the same age and size who aren’t pregnant.

In addition to carbon dioxide, the color of the clothes you wear also plays a role in attracting mosquitoes.

According to Live Science, mosquitoes can lock onto targets from up to 50 meters away. At this distance, what we wear has a huge effect. Due to their vision (视觉), people wearing dark colors are more likely to become targets.

Being bitten by mosquitoes is annoying, but don’t worry. Some simple tips can help ward them off. Scientists recommend that we use insect repellent (驱虫剂) and wear light-colored clothing.

1.How do mosquitoes locate their targets, according to the article?

A.By seeking out bright clothes.

B.By identifying different blood types.

C.By sensing an increase of carbon dioxide.

D.By following bigger crowds.

2.Why are pregnant women more likely to be bitten by mosquitoes?

A.Their larger size helps mosquitoes to see them.

B.They breathe out more CO2.

C.They are more likely to sweat.

D.Their body temperatures are higher.

3.How does the article advise you to avoid mosquitoes?

A.Exercise regularly.

B.Wear light-colored clothing.

C.Keep your skin dry and clean.

D.Stay indoors in the evening.

4.What’s the article mainly about?

A.A new finding about mosquitoes.

B.How people can avoid mosquito bites.

C.A popular myth about mosquitoes.

D.Why some people are more attractive to mosquitoes than others.

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

“Youth” is regarded by many people as a time in their life  _____ fun, passion, and imagination seem limitless.

A.that        B.which     C.when     D.where

高三英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析

Gallows humor(黑色幽默) may seem like a mistake, or at least in poor taste. But psychologists say that gallows humor can be an important way to relieve stress.“Humor makes you feel in control and it can give you that feeling that everything is okay even when it’s not,”says James M.Jones, a psychology professor at the University of Delaware.

Psychologists say that just because you’re laughing doesn’t mean you’re wasting time. Occasional tease among colleagues, particularly if it is associated with the job, can inspire creativity, departmental cohesiveness(凝聚力) and performance.

“There are a lot of stresses out there,”says Ed Dunkelblau, a psychologist in Chicago.“Gallows humor is a way of making difficult things a little less difficult.”

This is as long as the humor is used for the right purpose. The main point of it should be inspiring people—not laughing at them. “Anything that would lift morale(士气) in terms of the company would be good humor,”says Thierry Guedj, a professor.

You want to give your employees and co-workers a sense of belonging, so don’t make observations that are aggressive. Most obviously, Dr. Guedj says, don’t make comments about people’s physical appearance or faith. If you have any doubt about its appropriateness, don’t go through with it.

Or you can take aim at the person that you know won’t be offended(冒犯): yourself. “If there’s going to be a joke or story, it should be you,”Mr Dunkelblau says.

“People with the ability to laugh at themselves can give other people permission to laugh at themselves, too,”Mr Jones says.“And if you can laugh at yourself, you feel better about yourself.”

1.According to the passage, gallows humor has the following functions EXCEPT________.

2.What is Ed Dunkelblau’s attitude towards gallows humor?

3.When people use gallows humor, they should________.

4.What can we infer from the passage?

高三英语阅读理解困难题查看答案及解析

NEW YORK - People who keep doing some work in their field after they retire may enjoy better physical and mental health than those who stop work completely or switch to another area of work, according to a U.S. study.

Researchers from the University of Maryland said the findings suggest that prospective retirees should consider moving into so-called "bridge employment" as a transition to full retirement.

"In essence, if someone is in a field where part-time work or self-employment is possible, he or she should consider it as they plan for retirement," researcher Dr. Mo Wang, an assistant professor of psychology, told Reuters Health.

For their study, Wang and his colleagues used data on more than 12,000 workers in a U.S. health study begun in 1992. Participants, who were between the ages of 51 and 61 at the outset, were surveyed every two years over a six-year period.

Overall, Wang's team found, people who went into some form of bridge employment reported lower rates of major diseases like high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes and arthritis during the study period than their counterparts who went straight into full retirement.

The findings were not explained by older age or worse initial health among people who opted for full retirement, the investigators report in the Journal of Occupational Health Psychology.

On top of their better physical health, "bridge" workers also tended to report fewer mental health problems, such as depression.

The same mental health benefits were not seen, however, when retirees took part-time work in other fields -- possibly, Wang said, because many of these people may have taken those jobs out of financial need rather than choice.

He noted that the lack of benefit could also stem from the fact that these retirees had to adjust to an unfamiliar job position or had to make lifestyle changes.

Bridge work, particularly in one's accustomed field, may benefit physical and mental health for a number of reasons, according to Wang.

In general, he explained, such work may help older adults maintain the active lifestyles they had during their careers and decrease any stress they might feel from the transition into retirement.  wwwWang said when it comes to mental health, for instance, bridge work may help by allowing people to keep some of the "role identity" that they have formed over their careers.

Staying active in general, not only through work, can also benefit retirees' physical health, Wang noted. He added, however, that any mental health benefits are likely to depend on the type of activity -- whether it is something that the person truly enjoys, and that helps ease any stress of moving into retirement.

"These findings," Wang said, "suggest that for retirees and prospective retirees, carefully considering whether to engage in bridge employment -- and if so, what types of bridge employment -- is quite important."

1. What does the underlined phrase “at the outset” mean?__________

2. People who went into some form of bridge employment have less chances to get the following diseases, EXCEPT___________.

3.Which of the following statement is WRONG?_________

4.What can we infer from the passage?________

5.Which is the best title of the passage?

高三英语阅读理解简单题查看答案及解析

The two football players seem like enemies on the field but _______ they are good

friends.

A. in return     B. in detail         C. in reality      D. in advance

高三英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析