A rainy day can be a chance to recharge. Whil...

A rainy day can be a chance to recharge. While you relaxed on the sofa with a movie, the raindrops falling on your windows might one day provide the power for your TV. This is the idea behind an invention that harvests energy from water.

The technology is based on the triboelectric (摩擦电的)effect. An engineer at the University of Hawaii, David Ma knew that it’s possible to generate electricity by rubbing two things together. So, he thought, “Why don’t we use water?”

A drop of water sliding across a surface coated with two different materials would generate enough friction to create an electrical charge. By placing metal wires that the drop of water touched as it moved, it should be possible to harvest electricity, he reasoned.

It worked. In fact, the researchers lit up 15 LED bulbs with a single moving water drop.

This is not the first time that scientists have got electricity from water-generated friction( 摩 擦 ). Earlier experiments, though, harvested the charge produced in a surface by a sliding drop of water. There, the surface had acted as an electrode(电极). This is different. The energy of friction is being harvested from the water itself.

“It turns out,” Ma says, “the charge in the water drop is way more than the charge produced in the other electrode.” In fact, his team’s model generated almost 100 times more power than previous experiments from a single drop of water.

“The technology could someday power phones, sensors or other small electronics,” says Christopher Oshman, an engineer at the Colorado School of Mines. “This work is a step toward harvesting the energy of moving objects all around us, including ourselves, to power the electronic appliances we use every day,” he says.

Ma has shown that the technology can work in a lab, Oshman says. Next, the Colorado researcher would like to see it tried on a larger scale, such as on an umbrella.

1.How did the author introduce the topic of the text?

A.By telling a story.

B.By raising a question.

C.By giving an example.

D.By imagining a situation.

2.What does the underlined word “it” in Paragraph 3 refer to?

A.The wire. B.The drop of water.

C.The surface. D.The electricity.

3.What is unique about Ma’s technique compared with earlier experiments?

A.The water itself acts as an electrode.

B.It is based on the triboelectric effect.

C.It produces electricity from water-made friction.

D.It uses a surface coated with two different materials.

4.What does Oshman say about Ma’s technology?

A.It has a promising future.

B.It will do well on an umbrella.

C.It works well in the real world.

D.It will replace batteries someday.

高三英语阅读理解困难题查看答案及解析

While your pet fish may appear to be ignorant of your presence, chances are that it knows you extremely well and can probably even identify you from a crowd of human faces! At least, that is the conclusion reached by scientists the University of Oxford in the U.K. and the University of Queensland in Australia, following an extensive study of the archerfish (喷水鱼), a species of tropical fish that can be found all the way from India to Indonesia, the Philippines, and Australia.

The ability to distinguish between human faces is a complex task. That’s because we all have the same basic features — two eyes sitting above a nose and a mouth. It’s only the subtle differences that make humans distinct from one another. Since this requires a combination of both visual sense and memory, researchers had always assumed that it was a skill possessed only by those with complicated brains, i.e., humans, a few select animals — such as horses, cows, dogs, monkeys and some birds, like pigeons.

To test if this assumption was accurate, a team of scientists led by Dr. Cait Newport, Marie Curie Research Fellow in the Department of Zoology at Oxford University, decided to study fish. The aquatic (水生的) animals have small brains that lack the neocortex（大脑新皮层）, or neocortex-like structure, believed to help recognize the subtle differences between human facial features.

The team began by presenting four archerfish with images of two human faces. Initially, the fish spat randomly at both. However, they soon learned that pouring water at the one selected by the researchers earned them a food treat. After that, they focused primarily on that image. The researchers then took the experiment one step further, by introducing 44 other human faces to the mix.

To the researcher’s astonishment, the trained archerfish were able to recall the learned image almost 81% of the time. And this accuracy improved to 86% when the researchers made the identification even harder, by replacing the colored photos with a set of black and white images and hiding the shape of the head.

1.What is the conclusion of the study made by the scientists from the universities?

A. Some fish may ignore your presence.

B. Some fish can recognize your faces.

C. Some fish have complicated brains.

D. Some fish have large brains.

2.What does the underlined word “it” in Paragraph 2 refer to?

A. The ability to distinguish between human faces.

B. A combination of visual sense and memory.

C. The ability of memorizing complicated things.

D. The ability of telling beasts from birds.

3.In the experiment, the researchers trained the archerfish _______.

A. by taking photos of fish

B. by improving people’s images

C. by rewarding them with food

D. by covering their heads

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

Being able to learn to relax can be very important, especially if you have a stressful life. When you build up too much tension without being able to control or release it, over time, 　 1.　 can develop some serious health problems.

If you want to learn 　　 2.　　 to relax, one simple way is to remind yourself that most of the things that we worry about never even happen. It is good to think ahead to make sure that future problems don’t show up, 3.　 many people spend a lot of time worrying about things that are totally out of their control. Learn to relax by only focusing on things you 　 4.　　 control. Relaxing doesn’t always mean sitting back and 　 5.　 doing anything. If you have things to do, you can do them in a relaxed manner.

You can still relax and do all the things you need to do. Just 　 6.　 you have demands and responsibilities, it doesn’t mean you have to do everything in 　　 7. stressed manner. The key is to simplify your life. Just relax by focusing 　 8. the moment.

高三英语语法填空中等难度题查看答案及解析

Being　 able　 to　 learn　 to　 relax　 can　 be　 very　 important,　 especially　 if　 you　 have　 a　 stressful　 life.　 When　 you　 build　 up　 too　 much　 tension　 without　 being　 able　 to　 control　 or　 release　 it,　 over　 time,　 　　 1.　　　　 can　 develop　 some　 serious　 health　 problems.

If　 you　 want　 to　 learn　 　　　　 2.　　　 to　 relax,　 one　 simple　 way　 is　 to　 remind　 yourself　 that　 most　 of　 the　 things　 that　 we　 worry　 about　 never　 even　 happen.　 It　 is　 good　 to　 think　 ahead　 to　 make　 sure　 that　 future　 problems　 don’t　 show　 up,　 　　 3.　　　　 many　 people　 spend　 a　 lot　 of　 time　 worrying　 about　 things　 that　 are　 totally　 out　 of　 their　 control.　 Learn　 to　 relax　 by　 only　 focusing　 on　 things　 you　 　　 4.　　　　 　 control.　 Relaxing　 doesn’t　 always　 mean　 sitting　 back　 and　 　　　 5.　　　 doing　 anything.　 If　 you　 have　 things　 to　 do,　 you　 can　 do　 them　 in　 a　 relaxed　 manner.

You　 can　 still　 relax　 and　 do　 all　 the　 things　 you　 need　 to　 do.　 Just　 　　　 6.　　 you　 have　 demands　 and　 responsibilities,　 it　 doesn’t　 mean　 you　 have　 to　 do　 everything　 in　 　　　　 7.　　 stressed　 manner.　 The　 key　 is　 to　 simplify　 your　 life.　 Just　 relax　 by　 focusing　 　　 8.　　　 the　 moment.

高三英语语法填空中等难度题查看答案及解析

You don’t have to ask Barack Obama what it is like to be a president-elect．Chances are you can be one, too, and it won’t take more than 30 years’ efforts to achieve that．

A new computer game, Commander in Chief, offers the chance to step into the president’s shoes and see whether you can do a better job running the country than he can．

The video game will be available on January 20, the day Obama is sworn in （宣誓就职） as president．

So what will you do in the game?

Like Obama, your early task is to select members of the Cabinet（内阁）from 250 personality types．Then you immediately face internal（国内的）and external（对外的） challenges．Every decision you make has an in-game consequence．

“You can put your own political theories into action and see the domestic（国内的）and international effect,” said the lead designer Louis-Marie Rocques．

Internal decisions involve managing budgets, security, education, health care and discussion over many proposed laws．You also have to respond to critics．Every decision has a consequence, which changes the political environment．For example, raising taxes will raise criticisms and protests while lowering taxes means you will have less money to play with．

What about external decisions? Well, you have to deal with military issues, global economics, trade agreements, and spending time lobbying（游说）other presidents．You can determine the course of world events by invading（侵略）a neutral country, or toppling（推翻）an unfriendly country but then you must face the economic, political, and military consequences．

Don’t want to be president of the US? The game also lets you become virtual（虚拟的）leader of other countries including France, Germany, Spain and Russia．

1.The purpose of writing this passage is mainly to________．

A．show you how hard it is to be the newly-elected president, Barack Obama

B．explain why the video game is so popular among American citizens

C．introduce to you one special computer game, Commander in Chief

D．inform how designers developed the interesting computer game

2.Which of the following items belongs to internal affairs in the game?       A．Managing budgets, responding to critics and military issues．

B．Managing budgets, raising taxes and trade agreements．

C．Health care, discussing proposed laws and lowering taxes．

D．Education, security and lobbying other countries．

3.Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?

A．Those who want to be a president one day will get a taste of their private life．

B．The first task in the game is to form the Cabinet consisting of 250 members．

C．The video game has hit the stores in America and enjoys sales success．

D．Like a real president, the players will face challenges at home and abroad

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

It can be tough to pull kids away from their computers and mobile devices these days. While they' re playing games, wouldn't it be great if they could be learning at the same time? Good educational apps offer fun challenges that teach specific grade - level skills. Here are four that combine fun and learning.

Understanding Math ( $ 3.99 ； iOS)

Understanding Math goes beyond basic comprehension to gain a deeper understanding of the whys and hows of math. The app tracks your child's progress to determine strengths and weaknesses in different skill areas, and you can customize (订制) your child's learning experience to suit the needs.

Word Creativity Kit ( $2.99； iOS)

Word Creativity Kit aims not only to make creative writing fun but also build up grammar rules. The app presents a series of words from seven categories, such as space or fantasy. Kids add their own words to finish the complete thoughts that these words have inspired.

Barefoot World Atlas ( $4.99； iOS)

Barefoot World Atlas helps kids learn about geography and world cultures with a touch of the screen. Each region features a set of sub - topics, from wildlife and natural features to native people ,landmarks, and architecture. These facts and illustrations are delivered in photographs, sounds, and hundreds of mini videos.

My Grades & Homework ( $0.99； iOS)

A combination of grades and homework tracker, My Grades & Homework can help your child stay organized and on top of the progress in school. A convenient calendar and course list format and offer a glance at your child' s assignment schedule that he or she might not normally get from standard homework planners.

1.Which app is beneficial to children's writing skills?

A.Understanding Math. B.Word Creativity Kit.

C.Barefoot World Atlas. D.My Grades Homework.

2.What is the common part of the four apps?

A.They need purchasing when downloaded.

B.They help children improve their grades.

C.They make studies fun because of mini videos.

D.They inform parents of their children's progress.

3.What is the purpose of the text?

A.To wish readers to bing in more similar apps for children.

B.To encourage parents to allow their students to play apps.

C.To design the educational apps to combine fun and learning.

D.To introduce four educational apps for readers to buy and use.

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

It can be tough to pull kids away from their computers and mobile devices these days. While they're playing games, wouldn't it be great if they could be learning at the same time? Good educational apps offer fun challenges that teach specific grade-level skills. Here are 4 that combine fun and learning.

Understanding Math---Addition and Subtraction ($3.99; iOS)

Understanding Math---Addition and Subtraction goes beyond basic comprehension to instill a deeper understanding of the whys and hows of math. The app tracks your child's progress to determine strengths and weaknesses in different skill areas, and you can customize your child's learning experience to suit the needs.

Word Creativity Kit ($52.99; iOS)

Word Creativity Kit aims to make creative writing fun while also build up grammar rules. The app presents a series of words from seven categories, such as space or fantasy. Kids add their own words to finish the complete thoughts that these words have inspired.

Barefoot World Atlas ($4.99; iOS)

Barefoot World Atlas helps kids learn about geography and world cultures with a touch of the screen. Each region features a set of subtopics, from wildlife and natural features to native people, landmarks, and architecture. These facts and illustrations are delivered in photographs, sounds, and hundreds of mini videos.

My Grades & Homework (S0.99; iOS)

A combination of grades and homework tracker, My Grades & Homework can help your child stay organized and on top of the progress in school. A convenient calendar and course list format offer a glance at your child's assignment schedule that he/she might not normally get from standard homework planners.

1.What is the common part of the four apps?

A.They can encourage children to study harder.

B.They cam help parents know their children's progress.

C.They can make study fun by mini videos.

D.They can be installed into iOS operation systems

2.What is the purpose of the text?

A.To encourage parents to allow their students to play apps.

B.To wish readers to bring in more similar apps for children.

C.To introduce 4 educational apps for readers to buy and use.

D.To design the educational apps to combine fun and learning.

高三英语阅读理解简单题查看答案及解析

Relax yourself every day, ________ you'll be too tired to get good grades.

A. and            B. or            C. for             D. but

高三英语单项填空简单题查看答案及解析

Relax yourself every day,________ you'll be too tired to get good grades.

A．and              B．or               C．for               D．but

高三英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析

Cooking together gives us a chance to relax and _______ each other's days.

A.throw light on B.catch up on C.keep contact with D.set foot in

高三英语单项填空简单题查看答案及解析