Shane Gero, a scientist at Aarhus University in Denmark, spent 6 years studying sperm whales (抹香鲸), which communicate through very loud clicks. He found that sperm whales in the Caribbean Sea had different clicks from those in the Pacific Ocean. He even “translated” the clicks from a group of Caribbean sperm whales, believing them to say, “I’m from the Caribbean, are you?”, reported National Geographic. As well as being used for communication, the clicks also allow whales to develop a relationship with one another, according to Gero.
Apart from sperm whales, other animals like wolves and apes also have different regional accents. Researchers analyzed the howls of different species of wolves. They found that red wolves, Arctic wolves and other wolves have howls that vary in pitch (音调). In other words, they have their own dialects.
According to Darcy Kelley from Columbia University, most animals learn their accents naturally. For example, macaques (猕猴) start speaking their dialect as soon as they are born. Scientists placed some macaques in a new environment where their playmates all spoke a different dialect. But the macaques still spoke their own dialect. Their environment had no influence on their communication, according to the Washington Post.
“In most species, communication appears to have a genetic basis,” Kelley explained in the Washington Post. “However, among a small number of species, animals can learn from others and develop their own accents.”
Fruit flies are a good example. According to Science Daily, they send messages through their wing movements. Scientists found that fruit flies can only communicate efficiently with others of the same species. However, they can learn new dialects by spending time around other species.
“A proper accent is vital to mating and warning the coming of enemies, which is the basis of protecting themselves,” Kelley told the Washington Post. A species can’t risk changing their own dialect and learning a new one.
1.What does the author want to show by talking about the sperm whales at the beginning?
A.Animals have different dialects.
B.Sperm whales live in different oceans.
C.Animals can speak different local languages.
D.Whales communicate through clicking noises.
2.Why do researchers believe that wolves have their own dialects?
A.Wolves are wild animals using language.
B.Wolves live in different areas of the world.
C.There are different kinds of wolves in the world.
D.Wolves of different kinds howl at different pitches.
3.According to Kelley, what can dialects help animals to do?
A.Have a better chance of survival.
B.Fight with other species for food.
C.Communicate with other species better.
D.Pass on information to the next generation.
高一英语阅读理解中等难度题
Shane Gero, a scientist at Aarhus University in Denmark, spent 6 years studying sperm whales (抹香鲸), which communicate through very loud clicks. He found that sperm whales in the Caribbean Sea had different clicks from those in the Pacific Ocean. He even “translated” the clicks from a group of Caribbean sperm whales, believing them to say, “I’m from the Caribbean, are you?”, reported National Geographic. As well as being used for communication, the clicks also allow whales to develop a relationship with one another, according to Gero.
Apart from sperm whales, other animals like wolves and apes also have different regional accents. Researchers analyzed the howls of different species of wolves. They found that red wolves, Arctic wolves and other wolves have howls that vary in pitch (音调). In other words, they have their own dialects.
According to Darcy Kelley from Columbia University, most animals learn their accents naturally. For example, macaques (猕猴) start speaking their dialect as soon as they are born. Scientists placed some macaques in a new environment where their playmates all spoke a different dialect. But the macaques still spoke their own dialect. Their environment had no influence on their communication, according to the Washington Post.
“In most species, communication appears to have a genetic basis,” Kelley explained in the Washington Post. “However, among a small number of species, animals can learn from others and develop their own accents.”
Fruit flies are a good example. According to Science Daily, they send messages through their wing movements. Scientists found that fruit flies can only communicate efficiently with others of the same species. However, they can learn new dialects by spending time around other species.
“A proper accent is vital to mating and warning the coming of enemies, which is the basis of protecting themselves,” Kelley told the Washington Post. A species can’t risk changing their own dialect and learning a new one.
1.What does the author want to show by talking about the sperm whales at the beginning?
A.Animals have different dialects.
B.Sperm whales live in different oceans.
C.Animals can speak different local languages.
D.Whales communicate through clicking noises.
2.Why do researchers believe that wolves have their own dialects?
A.Wolves are wild animals using language.
B.Wolves live in different areas of the world.
C.There are different kinds of wolves in the world.
D.Wolves of different kinds howl at different pitches.
3.According to Kelley, what can dialects help animals to do?
A.Have a better chance of survival.
B.Fight with other species for food.
C.Communicate with other species better.
D.Pass on information to the next generation.
高一英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
Recently, scientists are reported to have grown a living human “brain”. The team at Aston University in UK created tiny bunch of cells which act like a mini nervous system.
They believe it could help find a cure for worse mental conditions like Parkinson’s disease. Professor Michael Coleman is leading the research program. He explained, “We are aiming to be able to study the human brain at the most basic level, using an actual living human cell system. Cells have to be alive and operating efficiently to enable us to really understand how the brain works.” The experiment involves changing cells from a cancer tumor (肿瘤)and making them behave like brain cells.
Although far from finished, researchers hope the false brain cells will give them a greater understanding of how real brains work. This, in turn, could significantly further research into conditions which affect the brain. Neil Hunt, chief leader of the research group, said, “It is still very early days, but in the future the research could lead to a useful tool for looking into dementia (痴呆).”
The technique could also provide a way to carry on animal test and is being supported by the Humane Research Trust (HRT). The scientists predict that over the next ten years a million people will develop dementia. Professor Coleman believes their findings could change this. He said, “We hope our research will provide scientists with a new and highly relational human experimental model to help them understand the brain better and develop new drugs to control the related disease. However, the biggest challenge at present is that we are greatly short of fund, which will slow our research.”
1.UK scientists grow a living human “brain” in order to ______.
A. separate cells from a cancer tumor
B. discover how human brain really works
C. make use of living human cell system
D. study the structure of human brain
2.According to Neil Hunt, research into brain cells ______.
A. will help treat some diseases in nerve system
B. will influence the brain growth in many ways
C. will get finished as early as possible
D. will make people discover dementia
3.From the last paragraph, we can know that ______
A. the technique provided by HRT is not fully developed
B. the research program lacks financial support
C. animal tests are no longer allowed by law
D. a million people suffer from brain diseases
4.The text is meant to ______.
A. tell us about an important achievement in medical research
B. introduce the progress of drugs for dementia
C. tell us about health problem in nerve system
D. introduce a research program in human's brain
高一英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
At a comedy night at Johns Hopkins University in Maryland, members of the school's comedy(喜剧) club bring lots of laughter to their classmates with funny speeches and humorous body movements. These college student comedian’s humour entertains busy, young people and eases their stress.
Yet the club member Ariella Shua says comedy is serious work. Every comedy starts as an individual project-- each member writes their own material. Then they try it out in weekly club meetings where all club members read the material, going joke by joke and seeing what works and what doesnt. Nothing unsatisfactory will be compromised(妥协). In this way comes a satisfying comedy.
Ariella joined the club last year. Now she does not go anywhere without bringing something on which she can take notes. ''Whenever I just have a thought in my head or when I see something or overhear someone saying something in the library, I just put it down, '' Ariella explained. ''when I'm trying to write my own set, I go through that…to see if there is anything in there that I can use. ''
Club president Nicholas Scandura finds writing one of the many skills he has developed since joining the club. ''Writing jokes takes a lot of critical thinking.'' he said. The club gives its members a sense of community. When they meet, they share funny experiences. tell jokes and laugh.
Harry Kuperstein discovered the club was a natural fit. Noticing the funny qualities of different situations improved his way of looking at the world. Becoming an active member also helped him work on the future skills he'll need as a medical doctor. ''Having jokes ready to go might help smooth these interactions and make you a better public speaker, '' he said.
1.What can a successful comedy be described as?
A.A group effort B.A personal project
C.A satisfying task D.A compromised result
2.What habit has Ariella formed since joining the club?
A.Creating her own style.
B.Going to the library regularly
C.Taking notes in class
D.Becoming a good observer
3.How can the club help Harry in his opinion?
A.By easing his stress of being a doctor
B.By preparing the ground for his career.
C.By changing his way of communication
D.By developing his interest in public speaking
4.What can be a suitable title for the text?
A.Laughter Is Serious Work
B.Humor Is an Edge in Jobs
C.Comedy Comes with Learning
D.Clubs Influence One's World View
高一英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
My cousin ________in Beijing University at present, after which she will work in Beijing.
A.educated B.has been educated
C.is being educated D.was educated
高一英语单项填空简单题查看答案及解析
After ________in the research for so many years,the scientist succeeded in finding the result at last.
A.buried B.being buried C.having buried D.having been buried
高一英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析
Back in 1981 I was working at the University of Bonn in Germany. I______some time off in early May to visit a friend in Viterbo. in central________
The train stopped in Rome. I was ____ , as my hotel was close to the railway station. The next morning. I______to visit as many of the famous Roman landmarks as possible.
The following day I headed back to the______, planning to take a short ride to Viterbo. When I arrived at the station and tried to______the correct platform, I quick realized that the station was _____for an upgrade (升级). For a moment my mind went______.My biggest______my luggage一my suitcase and hand luggage were heavy, so I couldn't______about easily. I dragged my suitcase about 100 meters to a nearby worker. A tall man of about 50 years of age was working there and I______myself and asked where the nearest station was. I am sure that he did not understand me______. but he could easily guess that I was looking for a station. He ____, but I did not understand.
He smiled and said something,____ I guessed to mean "Come along!" He opened the door of his car, motioned to me to get______and then drove for a few minutes to the next station. I got out, unloaded my luggage, then shook his hand with______. He smiled back and drove away.
There was no time to we_____ names. I understood that he was in the_______of his work. I was______ so much by his generosity(慷慨)that I have never forgotten him. He was working and could have easily_____ me but, instead, he chose to help.
Thank you. Mr Italy!
1.A. took B. need C. pass D. get
2.A. Bonn B. Germany C. Italy D. Rome
3.A. unhappy B. lucky C. surprised D. shocked
4.A. went over B. looked around C. turned away D. set out
5.A. station B. hotel C. university D. city
6.A. build B. locate C. leave D. go
7.A. closed B. removed C. designed D. named
8.A. crazy B. fire C. wild D. blank
9.A. concern B. problem C. complaint D. mistake
10.A. come B. get C. move D. talk
11.A. enjoyed B. expressed C. repeated D. excused
12.A. proper B. quickly C. finally D. immediately
13.A. laughed B. added C. replied D. explained
14.A. what B. where C. which D. why
15.A. off B. in C. over D. past
16.A. regret B. sorry C. congratulations D. thanks
17.A. spell B. exchange C. choose D. remember
18.A. middle B. form C. absence D. face
19.A. worried B. shocked C. excited D. moved
20.A. trusted B. ignored C. driven D. informed
高一英语完形填空中等难度题查看答案及解析
Monty Hempel is a professor of environmental science at Redlands University in California. He studies ecological literacy-or ecoliteracy (生态素养) for short. Ecoliteracy is the ability to think about and understand the natural processes that make life possible.
Monty Hempel says ecoliteracy gives people knowledge about environmental problems. But he says it does not always work to get them to change their behavior.
Mr. Hempel wrote part of the World watch Institute’s latest State of the World report. He says in his article, “Some people think that ecoliteracy is just a green form of science literacy. And what I have tried to ask is whether that’s enough. In other words, what an ecologically literate person needs to know might include things like the cycles and the flows, the energy systems, all of those kind of things that we would call the science of ecology.”
“That doesn’t seem to lead to action to protect our environment — to protect our life — support system to the level that we need to. Just because that we know, a lot about the environment doesn’t mean that we actually act to save it. After all, actions speak louder than knowledge.”
He adds that people may not be very worried about environmental problems if they seem far away. “Some people call it psychological distance. A lot of climate issues (问题) are worse in the Arctic and most of us don’t spend time in the Arctic. And so, there^ a certain distance. But there’s also a distance that’s happening in the world as it urbanizes (城市化) - people spending more time in front of screens and less time out in nature. We become, if you will, disconnected from the natural systems that used to be the key to success for a human being.”
To help children discover the wonders of nature, children should learn about nature in school, he adds. But he also points out there is a high mountain for people to climb from knowledge to action.
1.From what Monty Hempel says in Paragraph 3, we learn that .
A. ecoliteracy is more than a green form of science literacy.
B. people have learnt more knowledge about ecoliteracy.
C. ecoliteracy can greatly affect how nature works.
D. people with enough knowledge will better protect the environment.
2.In Mr. Hempel’s opinion, which is the most important for environment protection?
A. Knowledge. B. Action.
C. Green living theory. D. Psychological distance.
3.Mr. Hempel thinks people may show no concern about some environmental problems because .
A. they lack knowledge on environment protection.
B. they are closely connected with the nature.
C. the problems are not serious at all.
D. the problems seem to be far away.
4.What can be inferred from the last paragraph?
A. It is the best way to learn about nature in school.
B. Climbing a high mountain is a good way to exercise.
C. It is easier to understand environment protection than to carry it out.
D. people should first collect waste in the mountains to protect the environment.
高一英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
Renowned British physicist Stephen Hawking died peacefully at his home in the British university city of Cambridge in March 14 at age 76.
Hawking, whose 1988 book “A Brief History of Time” became an unlikely worldwide bestseller and cemented (奠定) his superstar status, dedicated his life to unlocking the secrets of the Universe. He held the post of Lucasian Professor of Mathematics at the University of Cambridge, which is a position that was once held by Sir Isaac Newton.
Born in 1942 in Oxford, where his parents spent the final months of pregnancy to avoid the bombings of London, Hawking was said to have been a good student although it wasn’t until he was in his 20s that his true potential began to really shine through. Having initially wanted to study Mathematics, Stephen Hawking chose, instead, to read natural sciences with emphasis on Physics.
Having found University life boring, so much so that he joined the University rowing team to relieve the boredom, it was only following an oral examination that he was awarded a first class degree.
While at Cambridge, Hawking was diagnosed with a motor neurone (神经元)disease. He was initially given two to three years to live. The illness gradually robbed him of mobility, leaving him confined to a wheelchair, almost completely paralysed and unable to speak except through his trademark voice synthesiser (合成器).
Stephen Hawking led an incredible and well documented life. He was referred to in many TV programs, films, and even songs, and appeared as himself in a number of programs including Red Dwarf and the Big Bang Theory. His genius and wit won over fans from far beyond the world of astrophysics (天体物理学), earning comparisons with Albert Einstein and Sir Isaac Newton.
1.Which of the following is true about “A Brief History of Time”?
A. It is not popular with common readers. B. It is about the secrets of the universe.
C. It mainly deals with Mathematical problems. D. It was impossible to be a bestseller.
2.Why did Hawking join the University rowing team?
A. To improve his health. B. To make his university life less boring.
C. To improve his grade in university. D. To reduce the effect of his disease.
3.What do we learn about Stephen Hawking from the last paragraph?
A. He didn’t like to appear in any programs.
B. He is only recognized in the world of astrophysics.
C. He is not as famous as Albert Einstein and Sir Isaac Newton.
D. He was multi-talented.
4.What is the text mainly about?
A. Life and achievements of Stephen Hawking.
B. The death of Stephen Hawking.
C. Early life of Stephen Hawking.
D. Stephen Hawking and his work.
高一英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
An increase in students applying to study economics at university is being attributed to the global economic crisis awakening a public thirst for knowledge about how the financial system works.
Applications for degree courses beginning this autumn were up by 15% this January, according to UCAS, the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service. A spokesman for the Royal Economic Society said applications to do economics at A-level were also up.
Professor John Beath, the president of the society and a leading lecturer at St Andrews University, said his first –year lectures—which are open to students from all departments were drawing crowds of 400, rather than the usual 250.
“There are a large number of students who are not economics majors, who would like to learn something about it. One of the things I have done this year is to relate my teaching to contemporary events in a way that one hasn’t traditionally done.” He said.
University applications rose 7% last year, but there were rises above average in several subjects. Nursing saw a 15% jump, with people’s renewed interest in careers in the public sector(部门), which are seen as more secure in economic crisis.
A recent study showed almost two thirds of parents believed schools should do more to teach pupils about financial matters, and almost half said their children had asked them what was going on, although a minority of parents felt they did not understand it themselves well enough to explain.
Zack Hocking, the head of Child Trust Funds, said, “It’s possible that one good thing to arise from the downturn(衰退) will be a generation that’s financially wiser and better equipped to manage their money through times of economic uncertainty.”
1.Professor John Beath’s lectures are ___________.
A. given in a traditional way
B. connected with the present situation
C. open to both students and their parents
D. warmly received by economics
2.In the opinion of most parents, ___________.
A. economics should be the focus of school teaching
B. more students should be admitted to universities
C. the teaching of financial matters should be strengthened
D. children should solve financial problems themselves
3.What’s the main idea of the text?
A. Universities have received more applications.
B. Economics is attracting an increasing number of students.
C. College students benefit a lot from economic uncertainty.
D. Parents are concerned with children’s subject selection.
高一英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
In an effort to discourage people from using plastics, scientists have been hard at work inventing alternative packaging products.
The idea of using seaweed(海草) to make eco-friendly water bottles has been around for a few years. Recently, Ari Jonsson took his invention—a water bottle made from red seaweed—to show off at a festival. The bottles will only hold their shape as long as they are filled. As soon as these bottles are empty they will begin to break down, though they would be perfectly safe to eat. Ari Jonsson's bottles are a step closer to a widely used alternative to the current plastic ones.
The eatable water container is not the only product to add to our image of the future. Narayana Pessapaty has also created eatable spoons. After the success of his spoons, Mr. Pessapaty is ready to expand and introduce forks and chopsticks to his menu. His aim is to largely reduce the amount of plastic waste, which is a huge problem for waste sites all over the world, It is a product that may take up t0 500 years to break down, and recycling companies worldwide are struggling to deal with it.
Aside from the obvious benefits to the environment, this new packaging is also cheap to produce and therefore cheap to buy. Even better is the fact that similar eatable cutlery can be made at home, possibly a science project for children or just fun with friends. Why not experiment and create your own recipes?
1.Why do scientists invent alternative packaging products?
A. To make people's life more convenient.
B. To show off their inventive talents.
C. To change the way we picnic outside.
D. To reduce the amount of plastic waste.
2.What makes Art Jonsson's water bottles eco-friendly?
A. They can be made at home.
B. They are cheap to produce and buy.
C. They will hold their shape when they are filled.
D. They will break down themselves when empty.
3.What do Ari and Narayana's inventions have in common?
A. They are convenient to carry.
B. They are safe to eat.
C. They can be used for a short time.
D. They are heavier than plastics.
4.What can be inferred from this passage?
A. Home-made eatable cutlery is likely to be popular.
B. Eatable cutlery will completely replace plastics in the near future.
C. No recycling companies can break down plastic waste.
D. It's unsafe for individuals to invent eatable cutlery at home.
高一英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析