Are people happier in nature with blue skies overhead and fresh green grass underfoot? Could noisy streets, crowded with cars and people, make us unhappy?
The possible mental health problems of city living affect a lot of people. The World Health Organization estimates(估计)that 56 percent of the world's population lived in urban areas in 2019. The WHO adds that that amount will increase to 66 percent by 2050. People often move to cities for better jobs and more cultural activities. But are they putting themselves at risk? Maybe. Experts at the American Psychiatry Association say that “natural environments or green spaces” do much good to our mental health.
Many studies have shown that nature can calm us and make us feel happy. Nature, experts say, can also help us learn better. And experiencing nature helps people recover from the mental tiredness that comes from day-to-day work. On the other hand, mental health experts say some research suggests that city living might hurt our mental health. But they cannot say exactly why.
What are the specific aspects of the urban environment which causes some people to develop mental illness? Andrea Mechelli, a doctor at Kings College, London, states, “There have been studies where people were literally taken out of an urban environment into a rural (乡村的) environment and their symptoms would improve. And we also see that the greater the city is, the greater the risk is.” Mechelli say that someone who lives in a city is three times more likely to develop psychological problem than someone living in the country.
Kings College researchers, along with city planners, land and building designers and others wanted to learn more about city living and mental illness. So, they created a smartphone app called Urban Mind. They say they wanted to understand how different parts of the urban environment affect mental wellbeing(健康).
The researchers found that being outdoors, seeing trees, hearing birdsong, seeing the sky, and feeling in contact with nature were associated with higher levels of mental well-being. They also found that these seeming effects of nature were especially strong in those individuals at greater risk of mental health problems. The Urban Mind Project team says it hopes “the results will inform future urban planning and social policy aimed at improving design and health.”
1.Why is the question raised in the first paragraph?
A.To introduce the topic of the text.
B.To show the background of the text.
C.To ask the readers to learn the study.
D.To raise the readers' interest in happiness.
2.What does Mechelli find during his study?
A.People are attracted by the blue skies and green grass.
B.People are more content with their city life.
C.More and more people are interested in taking risks in cities,
D.City people are more likely to develop mental problems than country people.
3.What is expected of the Urban Mind research result?
A.More people will choose to live in the countryside.
B.It will bring more concern about people s mental health.
C.It will contribute to future urban planning and social policies.
D.People will be helped to improve their mental illness.
4.What is the main idea of the text?
A.Urban Mind measures the level of mental wellbeing.
B.City living may be harmful to people’s mental health.
C.Living in the countryside is better than in the city.
D.Different scientists hold different opinions on the effects of city living.
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题
Are people happier in nature with blue skies overhead and fresh green grass underfoot? Could noisy streets, crowded with cars and people, make us unhappy?
The possible mental health problems of city living affect a lot of people. The World Health Organization estimates(估计)that 56 percent of the world's population lived in urban areas in 2019. The WHO adds that that amount will increase to 66 percent by 2050. People often move to cities for better jobs and more cultural activities. But are they putting themselves at risk? Maybe. Experts at the American Psychiatry Association say that “natural environments or green spaces” do much good to our mental health.
Many studies have shown that nature can calm us and make us feel happy. Nature, experts say, can also help us learn better. And experiencing nature helps people recover from the mental tiredness that comes from day-to-day work. On the other hand, mental health experts say some research suggests that city living might hurt our mental health. But they cannot say exactly why.
What are the specific aspects of the urban environment which causes some people to develop mental illness? Andrea Mechelli, a doctor at Kings College, London, states, “There have been studies where people were literally taken out of an urban environment into a rural (乡村的) environment and their symptoms would improve. And we also see that the greater the city is, the greater the risk is.” Mechelli say that someone who lives in a city is three times more likely to develop psychological problem than someone living in the country.
Kings College researchers, along with city planners, land and building designers and others wanted to learn more about city living and mental illness. So, they created a smartphone app called Urban Mind. They say they wanted to understand how different parts of the urban environment affect mental wellbeing(健康).
The researchers found that being outdoors, seeing trees, hearing birdsong, seeing the sky, and feeling in contact with nature were associated with higher levels of mental well-being. They also found that these seeming effects of nature were especially strong in those individuals at greater risk of mental health problems. The Urban Mind Project team says it hopes “the results will inform future urban planning and social policy aimed at improving design and health.”
1.Why is the question raised in the first paragraph?
A.To introduce the topic of the text.
B.To show the background of the text.
C.To ask the readers to learn the study.
D.To raise the readers' interest in happiness.
2.What does Mechelli find during his study?
A.People are attracted by the blue skies and green grass.
B.People are more content with their city life.
C.More and more people are interested in taking risks in cities,
D.City people are more likely to develop mental problems than country people.
3.What is expected of the Urban Mind research result?
A.More people will choose to live in the countryside.
B.It will bring more concern about people s mental health.
C.It will contribute to future urban planning and social policies.
D.People will be helped to improve their mental illness.
4.What is the main idea of the text?
A.Urban Mind measures the level of mental wellbeing.
B.City living may be harmful to people’s mental health.
C.Living in the countryside is better than in the city.
D.Different scientists hold different opinions on the effects of city living.
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
We are naturally drawn to friends and colleagues with familiar voices, scientists have found．People prefer those who have a similar accent，intonation and tone of voice to themselves , they discovered．
Previous research has focused on how masculine or feminine a voice sounds．Men with deeper voices and women with slightly higher voices were thought to sound more attractive，because they suggest a bigger or a smaller body．
But the new study，published by a linguistics(语言学)expert in Canada，suggests there is a
more complex mechanism(机制)at play．Dr Molly Babel, from the University of British Columbia in Canada, said，“The voice is an amazingly flexible(灵活的)tool that we use to construct our identity．Very few things in our voices are changeless，so we felt that our preferences had to be about more than a person’s shape and size．’’
She recorded 30 volunteers’ voices and asked each to rate the others’ attractiveness on a scale of one to nine．Each participant was from western America，with similar accents．The people we assessed were all in the same dialect group，but they showed that dialect to different degrees．
“We seem to like people who sound like we sound，we like people who fit within what we know，”Dr Babel said．She also found that breathy voices in women－typified by the famous American actress Marilyn Monroe－were seen as more attractive．
The breathy tone，caused by younger and thinner vocal cords(声带)，implied youthfulness
and health A creaky voice，suggesting a person has a cold，is tired or smokes，was seen as unattractive．The participants preferred men who spoke with a shorter average word length and deeper voices．
The linguist，whose work is published in the journal PLOS One，said，“Once you’re outside of a certain range of familiarity，novel and exotic sounding voices might become more attractive．We also have to keep in mind we find some accents more preferable than others because of social fixed ideas．”
1.In terms of voice preferences，the new findings highlight_______.
A．body size and shape B．shorter word length
C．thicker vocal cords D．the same social groups
2.Dr. Molly Babel mentions Marilyn Monroe in order to________.
A．evaluate a creaky voice
B．explain her new findings
C．challenge previous research
D．promote the actress’s reputation
3.According to the passage，who would most probably have a creaky voice?
A．An old lady with a silvery voice．
B．A young lady with a thin voice．
C．A deep-voiced man with a dry throat．
D．A little man with a quiet and gentle voice．
4.What can be inferred from the last paragraph?
A．People favor familiar accents when in a new place．
B．People might have a preference for different accents．
C．Voice preferences have no link to long-held belief．
D．Voice preferences are influenced by sex differences．
5.The main purpose of the passage is to________.
A．encourage men to use shorter words and talk less
B．inform readers of the findings of voices
C．argue against women’s breathy way of speaking
D．compare male voices with female voices
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
Parents and the Young
It is natural that young people are often uncomfortable being with their parents. They say that their parents don’t understand them. 1. And they tend to feel that their parents are too serious and too strict with their children, seldom giving their children a free hand.
Parents often find it difficult to win their children’s trust. And they always forget how they themselves felt when young. 2. It is one of their ways to show that they have grown up. But older people worry more easily; most of them plan things ahead.
Young people often make their parents angry with their choice in clothes, in entertainment and in music. 3. It is just that they feel cut off from the older people’s world, into which they have not yet been accepted. That’s why young people want to make a new culture of their own, which makes their parents worried and upset.
Sometimes you are so proud of yourself that you do not want your parents say “yes” to what you do. 4. It is natural enough, after being a child for so many years, when you were completely under your parents’ control.
5. When your parents see that you have a high sense of responsibility, they will certainly give you the right to do what you want to do.
A. So how should you understand that?
B. But they do not mean to cause any trouble.
C. All you want is to be left alone and do what you like.
D. If you plan to handle your life, try to win your parents over.
E. They think that their parents don’t keep pace with modern ways.
F. You will have better success if you ask before you really start doing it.
G. For example, young people like to act on the spot without much thinking.
高二英语七选五中等难度题查看答案及解析
People who are confident really seem to be naturally outstanding and just seem to do everything with more style than others. ________1.________It is a habit that everyone can develop in life. Try these simple tips to drill and build up your confidence:
1. Admit your shortcomings calmly.
Do not try to flee from them or cover them. Face them bravely.________2.________ Fight against them every day until the day when you could break away and conquer them.
2. Dress for self-confidence.
________3.________And therefore pay attention to your dress, display your unique physical advantages and exhibit your best image. In addition, on formal occasions such as a business conference or a wedding ceremony, elegant dressing contributes to building your confidence.
3.________4.________
You should break your routine that deals with the work passively(被动地). Concentrate your efforts immediately on overcoming it, because it will make your restless mind at ease and build your self-confidence.
4. Be positive.
Feel pity neither on yourself nor on others. If you are used to hating and accusing yourself, others would tend to do that and believe it. Instead, you should speak positively about yourself, your progress, and your bright future. ________5.
A. Your appearance could put you into embarrassment or increase your confidence.
B. Then talk about them to a reliable mate, a friend or a family member.
C. Actually, true self-confidence is neither born nor acquired overnight.
D. Build your confident vocabulary.
E. By doing so, you would encourage your growth in a positive direction.
F. Don’t put off what you eventually have to do.
G. Don’t judge a person by appearance.
高二英语其他题中等难度题查看答案及解析
In 1956 Phoenix, Arizona, was a city with boundless blue skies. One day as I walked around the house with my sister Kathy’s new parakeet （小鹦鹉）on my finger, I wanted to show Perky 36 the sky looked like. Maybe he could make a little bird 37 out there. I took him into the backyard, and then, to my 38 , Perky flew off. The enormous（巨大的）, blue sky swallowed up my sister’s blue 39 and suddenly he had gone, clipped wings and all.
Kathy managed to 40 me. With fake optimism（乐观）, she even tried to reassure（安慰）me that Perky would find a new 41 . But I was far too clever to 42 that such a thing was possible.
Forty years later, I watched my own 43 growing. We shared their activities, spending soccer Saturdays in folding chairs with the 44 of the kids’ friends, the Kissells. The two families went camping around Arizona together. We became the 45 of friends. One evening, the game was to tell Great Pet stories. One person claimed（宣称）to 46 the oldest living goldfish. Someone else had a psychic dog. 47 Barry, the father of the other family, took the floor and 48 that the Greatest Pet of All Time was his blue parakeet, Sweetie Pie.
"The best thing 49 Sweetie Pie," he said, "was the 50 we got him. One day, when I was about eight, out of the clear, blue sky, a little blue parakeet just 51 down and landed on my finger."
When I was finally able to 52 , we examined the amazing evidence（证据）. The dates, the locations and the pictures of the bird all 53 . It seems our two families had been 54 long before we ever met. Forty years later, I ran to my sister and said, "You were 55 ! Perky lived!"
1. A. what B. how C. which D. where
2.A. food B. nest C. friend D. family
3.A. joy B. horror C. disappointment D. satisfaction
4. A. pleasure B. sadness C. treasure D. sense
5.A. forgive B. comfort C. help D. delight
6.A. parent B. home C. master D. life
7.A. imagine B. suppose C. doubt D. believe
8. A. birds B. happiness C. worries D. children
9.A. parents B. birds C. interests D. games
10.A. first B. best C. last D. happiest
11. A. catch B. find C. buy D. have
12.A. Suddenly B. Fortunately C. Then D. However
13.A. announced B. said C. told D. hoped
14. A. in B. about C. of D. on
15. A. day B. place C. way D. story
16. A. floated B. slipped C. settled D. went
17. A. think B. speak C. interrupt D. explain
18.A. came up B. turned up C. turned out D. matched up
19. A. known B. fastened C. connected D. introduced
20.A. right B. wrong C. silly D. mad
高二英语完型填空中等难度题查看答案及解析
Sports can help you keep fit and get in touch with nature. However, whether you are on the mountains, in the waves, or on the grassland, you should be aware that your sport of choice might have great influence on the environment.
Some sports are resource-hungry. Golf, as you may know, eats up not only large areas of countryside, but also tons of water. Besides, all sorts of chemicals and huge amounts of energy are used to keep its courses(球场) in good condition. This causes major environmental effects. For example, in the dry regions of Portugal and Spain, golf is often held responsible for serious water shortage in some local areas.
There are many environment-friendly sports. Power walking is one of them that you could take up today. You don't need any special equipment except a good pair of shoes; and you don't have to worry about resources and your purse. Simple and free, power walking can also keep you fit. If you walk regularly, it will be good for your heart and bones. Experts say that 20 minutes of power walking daily can make you feel less anxious, sleep well and have better weight control.
Whatever sport you take up, you can make it greener by using environment-friendly equipment and buying products made from recycled materials. But the final goal should be "green gyms". They are better replacements(代替物) for traditional health clubs and modern sports centers. Members of green gyms play sports outdoors, in the countryside or other open spaces. There is no special requirement for you to start your membership. And best of all, it's free.
1.Which of the following is the author most probably in favor of?
A. Motor racing in the desert.
B. Cycling around a lake.
C. Playing basketball in a gym
D. Swimming in a sports center.
2.The author uses power walking as an example mainly because_________.
A. it is an outdoor sport
B. it improves our health
C. it uses fewer resources
D. it is recommended by experts
3.What do we know about golf from the passage?
A. It is popular in Portugal and Spain.
B. It needs water and electricity to keep its courses green.
C. It pollutes the earth with chemicals and wastes.
D. It causes water shortages around the world.
4.The author writes the passage to ________.
A. show us the function of major sports
B. discuss the major influence of popular sports
C. encourage us to go in for green sports
D. introduce different types of environment-friendly sports
高二英语阅读理解简单题查看答案及解析
Sports can help you keep fit and get in touch with nature. However, whether you are on the mountains, in the waves, or on the grassland, you should be aware that your sport of choice might have great influence on the environment.
Some sports are resource-hungry. Golf, as you may know, eats up not only large areas of countryside, but also tons of water. Besides, all sorts of chemicals and huge amounts of energy are used to keep its courses (球场) in good condition. This causes major environmental effects. For example, in the dry regions of Portugal and Spain, golf is often held responsible for serious water shortage in some local areas.
There are many environment-friendly sports. Power walking is one of them that you could take up today. You don’t need any special equipment except a good pair of shoes; and you don’t have to worry about resources and your purse. Simple and free, power walking can also keep you fit. If you walk regularly, it will be good for your heart and bones. Experts say that 20 minutes of power walking daily can make you feel less anxious, sleep well and have better weight control.
Whatever sport you take up, you can make it greener by using environment-friendly equipment and buying products made from recycled materials. But the final goal should be “green gyms”. They are better replacements for traditional health clubs and modern sports centers. Members of green gyms play sports outdoors, in the countryside or other open spaces. There is no special requirement for you to start your membership. And best of all, it’s free.
1.Which of the following is the author most probably in favor of?
A. Cycling around a lake.
B. Motor racing in the desert.
C. Playing basketball in a gym.
D. Swimming in a sports center.
2.What do we know about golf from the passage?
A. It is popular in Portugal and Spain.
B. It causes water shortages around the world.
C. It pollutes the earth with chemicals and wastes.
D. It needs water and electricity to keep its courses green.
3.The author uses power walking as an example mainly because _________.
A. it is an outdoor sport
B. it improves our health
C. it uses fewer resources
D. it is recommended by experts
4.The author writes the passage to _________.
A. show us the function of major sports
B. encourage us to go in for green sports
C. discuss the major influence of popular sports
D. introduce different types of environment-friendly sports
高二英语阅读理解简单题查看答案及解析
Sports can help you keep fit and get in touch with nature .However, whether you are on the mountains, in the waves, or on the grassland, you should be aware that your sport of choice might have great influence on the environment.
Some sports are resource-hungry. Golf, as you may know, eats up not only large areas of countryside, but also tons of water. Besides, all sorts of chemicals and huge amounts of energy are used to keep its courses（球场） in good condition. This causes major environmental effects. For example, in the dry regions of Portugal and Spain, golf is often held responsible for serious water shortage in some local areas.
There are many environment-friendly sports. Power walking is one of them that you could take up today. You don’t need any special equipment except a good pair of shoes; and you don’t have to worry about resources and your purse. Simple and free, power walking can also keep you fit. If you walk regularly, it will be good for your heart and bones. Experts say that 20 minutes of power walking daily can make you feel less anxious, sleep well and have better weight control.
Whatever sport you take up, you can make it greener by using environment-friendly equipment and buying products made from recycled materials. But the final goal should be “green gyms”. They are better replacements for traditional health clubs and modern sports centers. Members of green gyms play sports outdoors, in the countryside or other open spaces. There is no special requirement for you to start your membership. And best of all, it’s free.
64. Which of the following is the author most probably in favor of?
A. Cycling around a lake. B. Motor racing in the desert.
C. Playing basketball in a gym. D. Swimming in a sports center.
65. What do we know about golf from the passage?
A. It is popular in Portugal and Spain.
B. It causes water shortages around the world.
C. It pollutes the earth with chemicals and wastes.
D. It needs water and electricity to keep its courses green.
66. The author uses power walking as an example mainly because______.
A. it is an outdoor sport B. it improves our health
C. it uses fewer resources D. it is recommended by experts
67. The author writes the passage to_______.
A. show us the function of major sports
B. encourage us to go in for green sports
C. discuss the major influence of popular sports
D. introduce different types of environment-friendly sports
高二英语阅读理解简单题查看答案及解析
Sports can help you keep fit and get in touch with nature. However, whether you are on the mountains, in the waves, or on the grassland, you should be aware that your sport of choice might have great influence on the environment.
Some sports are resource-hungry. Golf, as you may know, eats up not only large areas of countryside, but also tons of water. Besides, all sorts of chemicals and huge amounts of energy are used to keep its courses (球场) in good condition. This causes major environmental effects. For example, in the dry regions of Portugal and Spain, golf is often held responsible for serious water shortage in some local areas.
There are many environment-friendly sport. Power walking is one of them that you could take up today. You don’t need any special equipment except a good pair of shoes; and you don’t have to worry about resources and your purse. Simple and free, power walking can also keep you fit. If you walk regularly, it will be good for your heart and bones. Experts say that 20 minutes of power walking daily can make you feel less anxious, sleep well and have better weight control.
Whatever sport you take up, you can make it greener by using environment-friendly equipment and buying products made from recycled materials. But the final goal should be “green gyms”. They are better replacements for traditional health clubs and modern sports centers. Members of green gyms play sports outdoors, in the countryside or other open spaces. There is no special requirement for you to start your membership. And best of all, it’s free.
1. Which of the following is the author most probably in favor of?
A. Cycling around a lake.
B. Motor racing in the desert.
C. Playing basketball in a gym.
D. Swimming in a sports center.
2.What do we know about golf from the passage?
A. It is popular in Portugal and Spain.
B. It causes water shortages around the world.
C. It pollutes the earth with chemicals and wastes.
D. It needs water and electricity to keep its courses green.
3.The author uses power walking as an example mainly because ___________.
A. it is an outdoor sport
B. it improves our health
C. it uses fewer resources
D. it is recommended by experts
4.The author writes the passage to ____________.
A. show us the function of major sports
B. encourage us to go in for green sports
C. discuss the major influence of popular sports
D. introduce different types of environment-friendly sports
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
Sports can help you keep fit and get in touch with nature. However, whether you are on the mountains, in the waves, or on the grassland, you should be aware that your sport of choice might have great influence on the environment.
Some sports are resource-hungry. Golf, as you may know, eats up not only large areas of countryside, but also tons of water. Besides, all sorts of chemicals and huge amounts of energy are used to keep its courses (球场) in good condition. This causes major environmental effects. For example, in the dry regions of Portugal and Spain, golf is often held responsible for serious water shortage in some local areas.
There are many environment-friendly sports. Power walking is one of them that you could take up today. You don’t need any special equipment except a good pair of shoes; and you don’t have to worry about resources and your purse. Simple and free, power walking can also keep you fit. If you walk regularly, it will be good for your heart and bones. Experts say that 20 minutes of power walking daily can make you feel less anxious, sleep well and have better weight control.
Whatever sport you take up, you can make it greener by using environment-friendly equipment and buying products made from recycled materials. But the final goal should be “green gyms”. They are better replacements for traditional health clubs and modern sports centers. Members of green gyms play sports outdoors, in the countryside or other open spaces. There is no special requirement for you to start your membership. And best of all, it’s free.
1.Which of the following is the author most probably in favor of?
A. Cycling around a lake.
B. Motor racing in the desert.
C. Playing basketball in a gym.
D. Swimming in a sports center.
2.What do we know about golf from the passage?
A. It is popular in Portugal and Spain.
B. It causes water shortages around the world.
C. It pollutes the earth with chemicals and wastes.
D. It needs water and electricity to keep its courses green.
3.The author uses power walking as an example mainly because _________.
A. it is an outdoor sport
B. it improves our health
C. it uses fewer resources
D. it is recommended by experts
4.The author writes the passage to _________.
A. show us the function of major sports
B. encourage us to go in for green sports
C. discuss the major influence of popular sports
D. introduce different types of environment-friendly sports
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析