Two summers ago, Spencer Seabrooke stepped of...

Two summers ago, Spencer Seabrooke stepped off the edge of a cliff and out into the air. He was held up by a narrow band of fabric, three centimetres wide. The slackline (扁带) went over a deep channel on the top of Stawamus Chief Mountain in Squamish, Canada. The plan was to walk across without safety equipment. The ground was 290 metres below Seabrook’s feet. A fall meant death. The walking distance of 64 metres would mark a world record in free solo slacklining.

“You’re standing on nothing,” Seabrooke said at the time. “Everything inside your body is telling you this is wrong.” Several steps into the crossing, Seabrooke looked down. He lowered his body to steady himself and reached with his hands to hold the slackline. He suddenly turned over but hung on. He righted himself, let out a few screams, and stood again. He had walked the same slackline-with assistance-many times before. Finally, he crossed in four minutes and made it.

Slacklining became known in the early 1980s, around the rock climbing scene at Yosemite National Park in California. Scott Balcom, in 1985, was the first to walk on a 17-metre highline on Lost Arrow Spire, the valley bottom some 880 metres below. Charles “Chongo” Tucker, who has been living in Yosemite for a long time, was there in slacklining’s earliest days. Later, in 1994, he was one of the next people to walk the Lost Arrow Spire highline. “As scared as I was, it was as cool as anything I’ve ever done in my life,” said Tucker.

Seabrooke grew up in Peterborough, Canada, in love with the outdoors. He saw a documentary in 2012 that was about Andy Lewis, a slackliner and free solo pioneer who performed at the Super Bowl. Seabrooke was attracted and devoted himself to the sport. Three years later, he walked his record free solo highline on the Stawamus Chief.

The attention Seabrooke won led to work, everything from commercials to paid appearances at slackline festivals from Poland to China. “When you step out into the air, there’s something so clean about it,” said Seabrooke. “Height makes it real.”

1.What do we know about Seabrooke’s slacklining experience two years ago?

A.It was record-breaking.

B.It was done in Yosemite.

C.It involved materials for security.

D.It presented no challenge to him.

2.What did Seabrooke’s words in Paragraph 2 imply?

A.He was very confident.

B.He made a wrong decision.

C.Slacklining was a dangerous sport.

D.Slacklining was done without any support.

3.What was Tucker’s attitude to slacklining?

A.Negative. B.Ambiguous.

C.Frustrated. D.Favorable.

4.What encouraged Seabrooke to start slacklining?

A.The Super Bowl.

B.A slackline festival.

C.Its commercial promise.

D.A slackliner’s performance.

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

Two years ago I fell off the steps of a bus while climbing down and twisted my ankle. What followed was the usual way that is common in the US. A few hours later I was treated and discharged. What was uncommon was that I received extra care while going to ER(emergency room) and while I was in the hospital.

People were kind to me, men and women alike. They wheeled me into a private room instead of making me wait in the crowded waiting room. Someone came and asked me if the temperature is OK. When I said I was cold, he brought me a blanket and some magazines, in case I got bored. The nurses stopped by, making pleasant chats with me. People always came to ask me if I was in too much pain and if I needed anything…

There were other people who were brought in while I was waiting. Patients groaning in pain were given the care they needed and then ignored. My injury was not the priority, so while I was not pushed to the front of the line, my several hours’ stay in the hospital was made as pleasant as possible. Why would people do that? They gave others care, while I got kindness.

Like any other good looking, healthy, independent person, man or woman, it looks as if the world is nicer to rich people, and the world is nicer to attractive people. I’m not in the dating world. It’s not about free drinks and gifts. It’s about people being nice.

I’m grateful for any positive behavior because I know this is temporary. Eventually I will join the groups of the elderly, the weak and the seemingly unattractive. One thing I refuse to do is to make excuses for being attractive. I know it’s temporary. I know it’s the luck of the draw and I know that I’m just one of the many. Does it matter to my husband, my mother and my kids what I look like? No. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.

1. What caused the author into deep thought?

A. She was given less care in the hospital.

B. Patients were only given physical care in the hospital.

C. She didn’t get treatment immediately in the hospital.

D. Other patients in the hospital didn’t get the same kindness as her.

2.What can we know about the author?

A. She is an attractive lady.

B. She shows great pity to old patients.

C. She doesn’t like free drinks or gifts.　　

D. She was treated unequally in the hospital.

3.Which of the following does the author agree with?

A. The hospital should treat attractive patients in preference to others.

B. The positive behavior that being attractive brings can last long.

C. Old patients should get much more care from the hospital.

D. Being attractive means nothing to the people truly important to you.

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

All through the long summer vacations, I sat on the edge of the street and watched enviously the other boys on the block play baseball. I was never asked to take part even when one team had a member missing — not out of special cruelty, but because they took it for granted I would be no good at it.

I would never forget the wonderful evening when something changed. The baseball ended about eight or eight thirty when it grew dark. Then it was the custom of the boys to sit at a little stoop (门廊), mostly talking about the games played during the day and of the game to be played tomorrow. Then long silences would fall and the boys would wander off one by one. It was just after one of those long silences that my life as an outsider changed. I can no longer remember which boy it was that summer evening who broke the silence with a question; but whoever he was, I nod to him gratefully now. “What’s in those books you’re always reading?” he asked casually. “Stories,” I answered “What kind?” asked somebody else without much interest.

Nor do I know what drove me to behave as I did, for usually I just sat there in silence, glad enough to be allowed to remain among them; but instead of answering his question, I told them for two hours the story I was reading at the moment. The book was Sister Carrie. They listened bug-eyed and breathless. I must have told it well, but I think there was another and deeper reason that made them so keen an audience. Listening to a tale being told in the dark is one of the most ancient of man’s entertainments, but I was offering them as well, without being aware of doing it, a new and exciting experience.

The next night and many night thereafter, a kind of unspoken ritual (仪式) took place. As it grew dark, I would take my place in the center of the stoop and begin the evening’s tale. Some nights, in order to taste my victory more completely, I cheated. I would stop at the most exciting part of a story by Jack London or Bret Harte, and without warning tell them that that was as far as I had gone in the book and it would have to be continued the following evening. It was not true, of course; but I had to make certain of my new-found power and position. I enjoyed the long summer evenings until school began in the fall.Other words of mine have been listened to by larger and more fashionable audiences, but for that tough and athletic one that sat close on the stoop outside the candy store, I have an unreasoning love that will last forever.

1.Watching the boys playing baseball, the writer must have felt _____.

A.special and different

B.bitter and lonely

C.pleased and excited

D.disturbed and annoyed

2.The writer feels grateful even now to the boy who asked the question because the boy _____.

A.broke the long silence of that summer evening

B.liked the book that he was reading

C.invited him to join in their game

D.offered him an opportunity that changed his life

3.According to Paragraph 3, story-telling was popular among the boys basically because _____.

A.the story was from a children’s book

B.the boys had few entertainments after dark

C.listening to tales was an age-old practice

D.the boys didn’t read books by themselves

4.Sometimes the writer stopped at the most exciting part of a story to _____.

A.experience more joy of achievement

B.play a mean trick on the boys

C.add his own imagination to the story

D.help the boys understand the story better

5.What is the message conveyed in the story?

A.Reading is more important than playing games.

B.Friendship is built upon respect for each other.

C.One can find his position in life in his own way.

D.Adult habits are developed from childhood.

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

The Shiants, remote, cliff-edged islands off the coast of Scotland are home to 350,000 seabirds. This is the starting point for National Geographic contributor Adam Nicolson’s new book, The Seabirds Cry. Celebrating 10 species in detail, he describes the unbelievable recovery of seabirds and the many adaptations that have enabled them to survive and navigate the oceans, while sounding a loud call for their conservation among severely falling numbers.

Speaking from his home in Sussex, England, Nicolson explains why guillemot (海雀) colonies are information exchange centers: how new research is showing that those long-distance travelers. The shearwaters, "smell" their way across the globe; and what we can do to support seabird populations.

National Geographic has just kicked off Year of the Bird with a cover story by Jonathan Franzen titled "Why Birds Matter ". The beginning of Year of the Bird is beneficial to birds. Nicolson said, "Ill ask you the same question-why? For me, these seabirds are symbols of uniqueness. There is so much on the land where the rest of the living world seems to be controlled by us, but when you go to seabird colonies, there is this pumping, loud and raging uniqueness. It's a glance of the untouched world. ”

“The reason why it's untouched is that, until recently, we have not controlled the oceans that the seabirds depend on. More of them have survived in greater numbers than most other creatures in the developed world, where huge amounts of the animal kingdom have been removed by us. And so one reason these birds matter is that they are symbols of what the world might be if we hadn't done so much damage to it. "He added.

“Seabirds also tend to disappear; they’re not reliably of our world, due to their migration and habits of life. Very deep in our consciousness is a sense that they are ambassadors from another world. And witnessing and feeling that is, I think, one of the great enlargers of life.” Nicolson explained.

1.What is the book The Seabirds Cry mainly about?

A. Seabirds on an island.　　 B. The extinction of seabirds.

C. The importance of seabird.　　 D. Seabirds in the author's hometown.

2.What can we learn from Nicolson’s speech?

A. The wisdom of seabirds.　　 B. Ways to protect seabird.

C. Migration routes of seabirds.　　 D. The harder situation of seabirds.

3.What does the underlined phrase "kicked off" in paragraph 3 mean?

A. Watched out for　　 B. Cut across

C. Expressed　　 D. Started

4.Which is a lucky thing for seabirds in Nicolson’s view?

A. The sea is too large to be polluted.

B. The sea isn't entirely governed by humans.

C. The seabirds are able to fit the environment.

D. The seabirds are living in the developed world.

高三英语阅读理解困难题查看答案及解析

(2013·威海两校模拟)________ the earth to be flat, many feared that Columbus would fall off the edge of the earth.

A．Having believed　 　　　　　　　　　　　 B．Believing

C．Believed　         　　　　　　　　　　 D．To believe

高三英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析

________ the earth to be flat, many feared that Columbus would fall off the edge of the earth.

A．Having believed　     B．Believing

C．Believed　     D．To believe

高三英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析

Do you like sitting on the edge of your seat? How about falling off it laughing? If so, "Rush Hour 1" is the perfect movie for you. Although it didn’t get the best reviews, it is perfect for those who like a good comedy.

Just as in the first "Rush Hour," Inspector Lee (Jackie Chan) and LAPD Detective James Carter (Chris Tucker) are partners. This time, they are on vacation in China and Carter is looking for a good time, but they are on the job again when a bombing at the American Embassy kills two customs agents. Lee and Carter go to look for a suspect named Ricky Tan. For Lee this is a serious case because Tan killed his father. Will Carter and Lee be able to capture Tan?

Another reason to see this movie perhaps is for the thrilling action, which includes karate fights with Jackie Chan. One of my favorite scenes shows Carter and Lee in a massage parlor (店堂) when everything goes crazy.

"Rush Hour 2" is, of course, really funny with Chris Tucker in the lead role. Chan and Tucker have many clever jokes and remarks. Some of the jokes aren’t enjoyed by the critics, but most will find them entertaining.

With no doubt, the movie was great. I was filled with anxiety about what was going to happen next. Many critics say that sequels (续集) are not as good as the original but this one is great. I especially enjoyed it because the special effects are minimal so everything looks as though it actually happened. The lighting effect is great as well as the sound.

So, if you are looking for a great action movie that leaves you at the edge of your seat and makes you laugh quite a bit, you should rush to see “Rush Hour 2.”

1.According to the author, "Rush Hour 2" is a perfect movie particularly ______.

A．full of special effects

B．with the best actors

C．full of humors

D．with great lights

2.In "Rush Hour 2”, the two leading roles are on duty again because ______.

A．their vocation in China is limited to a short term

B．inspector Lee doesn’t want to have a good time

C．the American Embassy in China was attacked

D．a suspect named Ricky Tan killed Lee’s father

3.In Rush Hour series, the following are usually included EXCEPT _____.

A．thrilling actions                         B．maximal special effects

C．karate fights                           D．clever jokes and remarks

4.If "Rush Hour 3" is shot, what kind of the movie will it be? ______.

A．Stage tragedy                          B．Action movie

C．Soap opera                            D．Situational comedy

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

Do you like sitting on the edge of your seat? How about falling off it laughing? If so, "Rush Hour 1" is the perfect movie for you. Although it didn’t get the best reviews, it is perfect for those who like a good comedy.

Just as in the first "Rush Hour," Inspector Lee (Jackie Chan) and LAPD Detective James Carter (Chris Tucker) are partners. This time, they are on vacation in China and Carter is looking for a good time, but they are on the job again when a bombing at the American Embassy kills two customs agents. Lee and Carter go to look for a suspect named Ricky Tan. For Lee this is a serious case because Tan killed his father. Will Carter and Lee be able to capture Tan?

Another reason to see this movie perhaps is for the thrilling action, which includes karate fights with Jackie Chan. One of my favorite scenes shows Carter and Lee in a massage parlor (店堂) when everything goes crazy.

"Rush Hour 2" is, of course, really funny with Chris Tucker in the lead role. Chan and Tucker have many clever jokes and remarks. Some of the jokes aren’t enjoyed by the critics, but most will find them entertaining.

With no doubt, the movie was great. I was filled with anxiety about what was going to happen next. Many critics say that sequels (续集) are not as good as the original but this one is great. I especially enjoyed it because the special effects are minimal so everything looks as though it actually happened. The lighting effect is great as well as the sound.

So, if you are looking for a great action movie that leaves you at the edge of your seat and makes you laugh quite a bit, you should rush to see “Rush Hour 2.”

1.According to the author, "Rush Hour 2" is a perfect movie particularly ______.

2.In "Rush Hour 2”, the two leading roles are on duty again because ______.

3.In Rush Hour series, the following are usually included EXCEPT _____.

4.If "Rush Hour 3" is shot, what kind of the movie will it be? ______.

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

51. Don’t put your cell (手机) _____ the edge of the table, or it will fall off

高三英语单项填空简单题查看答案及解析

It had been a long，hard，wonderful day.The two of us had walked from the sea’s edge through the length of a beautiful valley，climbed a superb mountain，travelled its narrow，rocky ridge(山脊)，and now stood on its final peak，tired，happy and looking for the perfect campsite.

The experienced backpacker has a natural feeling for such things，and our eyes were drawn to a small blue circle on the map，like an eye winking at us.We could not see it from where we were，but we followed our judgement and went down steeply until it came into view.

We were right.It was a calm pool，with flat grass beside it.Gently taking our packs off，we made the first of many cups of tea before pulling up our tent.Later that evening，over another cup of tea and after a good meal，we sat outside the tent watching the sunset over a sea dotted with islands，towards one of which a ferry was slowly moving.It is not always so perfect，of course.On another trip，with a different companion，a thoroughly wet day had ended at a lonely farm.Depressed at the thought of camping，we had knocked and asked if we could use a barn(谷仓) as a shelter.

Backpacking could be defined as the art of comfortable，self­sufficient(自给自足的) travel on foot.Everything you need is in the pack on your back，and you become emotionally_as_well_as_physically_attached_to_it.I once left my pack hidden in some rocks while I made a long trip to a peak I particularly wanted to climb.I was away for nearly three hours and ended up running the last stretch in fear that my precious pack would not be there.It was，of course.

The speed at which the backpacker travels makes this the perfect way to see any country.You experience the landscape as a slow unfolding scene，almost in the way it was made；and you find time to stop and talk to people you meet.I’ve learned much local history from simply chatting to people I met while walking through an area.At the end of a trip，whether three days or three weeks，there’s a feeling of achievement，of having got somewhere under your own power.

After years of going out walking just for the day，many people start backpacking simply through wanting to stay out rather than cut short a trip.

1.The writer and his companion knew there was a pool because ________.

A．they had been told about it

B．they could see it on the map

C．they had seen it earlier in the day

D．they could see it from the top of the mountain

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

A．The map.　     B．The pool.

C．The mountain.　     D．The campsite.

3.How did the writer and his companion feel at the end of the day?

A．They were too tired to put up their tent.

B．They wished they could have found a farm.

C．They were anxious about the coming weather.

D．They were delighted with the spot they’d found.

4.What does the writer mean by being “emotionally as well as physically attached to it ” in Paragraph 4?

A．It is more than just a practical aid.

B．He walks better when he is wearing it.

C．It is not a good idea to leave it anywhere.

D．He might die on the mountains without it.

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析