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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
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At a bright new building in Landover, Maryland, students are getting a crash course(速成课), in which they are learning how to spend，save and look after their money responsibly.
Tuesday marked the grand opening of the newest Junior Achievement Finance Park， where eighth-graders from Prince George’s County schools will use tablet computers to practice personal finance skills they have learned in class. An international study last year clearly showed that more than 1 in 6 U. S. teens is unable to make simple choices about how to spend their money.
The center, a mini city of stores, was created by Prince George’s County schools, Capital One Bank and Junior Achievement of Greater Washington. In fact the first Washington-area Finance Park opened in Fairfax County, Virginia, five years ago. Altogether there are 17 finance parks nationwide, and one is planned to open in Montgomery County, Maryland.
Before coming to a finance park, students have lessons on how to save and invest, how to read a bank statement and how to make sense of debit (借记）and credit cards. They put their skills to the test when they walk inside. Students are given a career, salary, debt and family situation, and then they are required to have to put together a monthly budget (预算）.
Budgeting can be tricky. Students need to figure out how much to spend on groceries, rent, transportation and even entertainment. They shop with virtual (虚拟的）money，making a change in their budgets according to different situations they may go into.
When asked about the practice，LaChelle King，a teacher at Benjamin Tasker Middle School in Bowie, said the center was exciting and surprising for her students. One of the kids said, " Now I know why my mom gets mad at me when I ask her to buy me things!"
1.In the crash course，students learn to ___________.
A.make money B.spend money
C.develop finance knowledge D.make a monthly budget
2.The finance park is________________________.
A.a center where students practice finance skills
B.a park where people can buy what they need
C.a bank where people can borrow or save money
D.a classroom where students learn finance skills
3.The underlined phrase“make sense of”in the fourth paragraph means "___________ ’’ .
A.stand up for B.keep away from
C.get ready for D.have an understanding of
4.The last paragraph tries to tell us___________ .
A.U.S. teens need a lot of things in daily life
B.U. S. mothers don’t know how to spend money
C.teachers also learn a lot from the crash courses
D.the crash courses have a good effect on students
高一英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
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When Debbie Parkhurst choked (呛，噎) on a piece of apple at her Maryland home, her dog jumped in, landing hard on her chest and forcing the piece of apple to pop out of her throat. Debbie Parkhurst’s husband, Kevin, was at his job at a chemical firm when she took a midday break from the jewelry shop and bit into an apple. When the Keesling family of Indiana were about to be overcome by carbon monoxide(CO), their cat clawed (抓) at wife Cathy’s hair until she woke up and called for help.
For their timely acts, Toby, a golden 2 -year-old dog, and Winnie, a gray-eyed American shorthair, were named Dog and Cat of the Year by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
Neither Parkhurst nor Keesling could explain their pets’ timely action, though Parkhurst suggested it might have been guided by God intervention (干预). “That’s what our veterinarian (兽医) said,” she said. “He wasn’t making a joke; he’s very serious, and now I have to agree with him.”
But both pets were themselves rescued in baby, Toby as a 4-week-old baby thrown into a garbage bin to die, and Winnie as a week-old baby hiding under a barn, so helpless that Keesling’s husband, Eric, had to feed her milk.
As the Keeslings recalled it, a gas-driven pump spread carbon monoxide through the house. By the time Winnie moved into rescue spot, the couple’s 14-year-old son, Michael, was already unconscious(无意识的). “Winnie jumped on the bed and was clawing at me, with a kind of angry noise,” Cathy Keesling said. “When I woke up I felt like a T-bar had hit me across the head.” State police and officers said the family was only minutes from death, judging by the amount of poisonous gas in the house.
1.How did Debbie’s dog helped her?
A.It barked loudly and took the piece of apple out.
B.It jumped onto her chest and pressed it, making the piece of apple out.
C.It put a hard thing on her chest to take the piece of apple out.
D.It broke the piece of apple and take it out.
2.We can know Debbie Parkhurst _______.
A.works in a chemical factory
B.was making jewelry when she had the accident
C.might have died without her pet’s help
D.was unconscious when her pet found her
3.Why did Winnie try to wake Cathy Keesling up?
A.Because there was danger in her house.
B.Because he was hungry and wanted milk.
C.Because another cat was clawing at Cathy angrily.
D.Because a T-bar was going to hit him.
4.From the passage we can infer that _______.
A.Toby and Winnie are dangerous
B.all pets are useful to people
C.we can’t never be too careful in our daily life
D.to help others sometimes can get reward
高一英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
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A special laboratory at the University of Chicago is busy only at night. It is a dream laboratory where researchers are at work studying dreamers. Their findings have discovered that everyone dreams from three to seven times a night, although in ordinary life a person may remember none or only one of his dreams.
While the subjects—usually students—sleep, special machines record their brain waves and eye movements as well as the body movements that signal the end of a dream. Surprisingly, all subjects sleep soundly.
Observers report that a person usually fidgets(烦躁不安) before a dream. Once the dream has started, his body relaxes and his eyes become more active, as if the curtain had gone up on a show. As soon as the machine shows that the dream is over, a buzzer wakens the sleeper. He sits up, records his dream, and goes back to sleep—perhaps to dream some more.
Researchers have found that if the dreamer is wakened immediately after his dream, he can usually recall the entire dream. If he is allowed to sleep even five more minutes, his memory of the dream will have disappeared.
1.According to the passage, researchers at the University of Chicago are studying ____.
A．contents of dreams B．dreamers while they dream
C．the meaning of dreams D．the progress of sleeping
2.Their finding has discovered that _____.
A．everyone dreams every night
B．dreams are easily remembered
C．dreams are likely to be frightening
D．One person dreams only one dream a night
3.The machines being used in the experiment record _____.
A．the depth of sleep
B．the subjects’ brain waves and eye movements
C．how many dreams a person has
D．what a sleeper dreams during his sleep
4.A person would be most likely to remember the dream that _____.
A．was of most interest to him
B．occurred immediately after he went to sleep
C．occurred just before he woke up
D．was the longest one to him
高一英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
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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
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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
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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
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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 strengthenedD. 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
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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
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Laura Sides was a psychology major at the University of Nottingham in 2004. She first noticed signs of her dad’s developing dementia(痴呆) when she moved to Nottingham. She said, "Dad was a doctor, so he knew exactly what had happened to him, but people try to hide it when they are ill. Then, I came home for my 21st birthday and arranged to meet him, but he never showed up as he’d forgotten. That’s when I knew something serious had happened."
So, aged 21, she decided to leave university and look after him herself. She lived close by, popping in every day to make sure he was eating, and that the house was tidy, before heading off to her work.
Besides challenging moments, there was a time when looking after her dad was a pure joy. "We’d wake up, I’d ask what he wanted to do that day, and however ridiculous the adventure is, off we’d go."
Sadly, in 2009, 5 years later, Laura lost her father. Before he died, Laura went to a hospital appointment with him, where doctors mentioned that his form of Alzheimer’s disease was genetic meaning there was a fifty-fifty chance that she had inherited it. For several years Laura agonised over whether to be tested, finally finding out in August 2017 that she has the APP gene, meaning that, like him, she will develop the condition within a decade.
At first, she struggled, feeling as if her life lacked purpose. Then, during a sleepless night in the summer of 2018, she decided at around 2 a.m. to enter the 2019 London Marathon sponsored by the charities Alzheimer’s Society and Alzheimer’s Research UK.
She hoped to start the conversation around early-onset Alzheimer’s disease and to encourage people to talk about it more openly. "I remember when Dad was ill, people wouldn’t know how to react, but I want to be honest and open," she added. "The more information we can get, the less of a taboo(忌讳) we will feel. That said, the support I’ve received so far after going public has been amazing — that’s what is carrying me through."
1.Laura noticed her father’s dementia when .
A.her father told her his condition in person
B.people nearby informed her of his father’s condition
C.her father forgot his own birthday party
D.her father forgot to attend her 21-year-old birthday party
2.The underlined word "agonised" in Paragraph 4 probably means .
A.excited B.struggled
C.shocked D.delighted
3.Laura started the open talk in the hope of .
A.getting people to talk about Alzheimer’s disease openly
B.earning some money to help treat her Alzheimer’s disease
C.making herself stronger to fight against Alzheimer’s disease
D.raising funds for charities Alzheimer’s Society and Alzheimer’s disease Research UK
4.Which words can best describe Laura?
A.Caring and positive. B.Careful and honest.
C.Patient and cautious. D.Devoted and modest.
高一英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
a generation that’s financially wiser and better equipped to manage their money through times of economic uncertainty.”
. the teaching of financial matters should be strengthened