In a classic episode (片段）of The Simpsons, Hom...

In a classic episode (片段）of The Simpsons, Homer's class reunion ends in shame when one of Homer’s guilty secrets is exposed: he never graduated from high school. To get his diploma, he must pass a science test. As he sits down to retake the exam, he holds one of his trademark dialogues with his brain. “All right，brain. You don’t like me and I don’t like you. But let’s just do this and I can get back to killing you with beer.”

Many a true word is spoken as a joke. Homer Simpson’s Everyman character really is an Everyman. For most people, engaging in the kind of effortful thinking that is required to pass a science test feels too much like hard work. It is so much easier to quit and let the brain’s autopilot take over.

And no wonder. Evolution has blessed the human brain with all kinds of mental shortcuts that make life manageable. If we had to think about every action or weigh up every decision, we would break down. As a result, certain ideas and modes of thinking come naturally to us, such as effortless thinking.

But at huge cost. Our mental shortcuts work fine at the level of individuals and small-scale societies, but in an increasingly interconnected and globalized world, they are a danger to society. Effortless thinking is at the root of many of the modern world’s most serious problems: terrorism，hatred, inequality and religious extremism. All are caused by people disengaging their critical thinking and going with their gut (非理性的）feeling.

Everybody is capable of gut feeling, but also of the critical thinking. Both thinking styles are needed to make the world go round. Unfortunately, the latter requires training that is unavailable or unappealing to many people.

One of the bright spots in 2017 was the start of a movement called the March For Science. Those who believe in the power of science need to keep on marching, or give more power to people who don’t much like their own brains — or other people’s.

1.What does the author want to convey through Homer's story?

A.Feeling is very important.

B.Drinking beer is harmful to one’s brain.

C.High school seniors should work hard.

D.Most people hate effortful thinking like Homer.

2.What is the fourth paragraph mainly about?

A.Our mental shortcuts function well.

B.Effortless thinking is expensive for people.

C.Effortless thinking is dangerous to society.

D.People prefer effortless thinking to critical thinking.

3.What does the author think of critical thinking?

A.It makes the world go round.

B.It needs necessary training.

C.It works fine at the level of personal affairs.

D.It leads to the March For Science in 2017.

4.What is the best title for the text?

A.We Need to March Towards Science

B.Thinking Contributes to Social Problems

C.Effortless Thinking Is Out of Date

D.Critical Thinking Is Urgently Needed

高三英语阅读理解困难题查看答案及解析

In a growing number of English classes, teachers are leaving the classic novels on the shelf and letting students select the books they read. Supporters say that the new approach, called reader’s workshop, helps develop a love for reading in students who are bored by classic literature. They argue that the best way to motivate students to read more is to offer them more choices.

Not all educators are on the same page, however. They worry that students who choose trendy, less challenging titles over the classics won’t be exposed to the great writing and key themes of important works of literature.Student reporters Donald and Sarah express their ideas about this new approach.

Donald thinks that we should turn the page. Students should be allowed to select the books they read in English class. He says he and his classmates are allowed to pick their own books in class. That makes them more focused, and they look forward to class time. Tristin, a classmate of his at Clinton Middle School agrees. “I’m reading books that I want to read, which makes class more fun and interesting,” he says. Offering students a choice may also improve test scores. Studies by Professor John Guthrie of the University of Maryland found that students in grades 4 through 6 who had some choices in the books they read showed improved reading comprehension skills during testing. Giving students the chance to decide what they read helps build a lifelong love for reading. Isn’t that what we want for our students?

Sarah holds a different view. She thinks teachers know more about books than students do. When an English teacher assigns a book, he or she keeps in mind the reading level of most students in the class. Students who choose their own books might be cheating themselves by picking books that are not up to their reading level or that are too difficult. Furthermore, a whole class can discuss a book it reads together. That makes it easier for some kids to understand what they are reading. “The students wouldn’t be able to hold a meaningful conversation if they were all reading different books,” says Kristin, an English teacher at Fleetwood Area Middle School. “If they read the same book, their conversations would be more in-depth.”

1.What’s the meaning of the underlined sentence “Not all educators are on the same page”?

2.Donald thinks that the new approach could __________.

3.Sarah thinks that the new approach might __________.

4.Who has the same attitude towards the new approach with Kristin?

5.The author develops the text mainly by __________.

高三英语阅读理解困难题查看答案及解析

In a growing number of English classes, teachers are leaving the classic novels on the shelf and letting students select the books they read. Supporters say that the new approach, called reader’s workshop, helps develop a love for reading in students who are bored by classic literature. They argue that the best way to motivate students to read more is to offer them more choices.

Not all educators are on the same page, however. They worry that students who choose trendy, less challenging titles over the classics won’t be exposed to the great writing and key themes of important works of literature.

Student reporters Donald and Sarah express their ideas about this new approach.

Donald thinks that we should turn the page. Students should be allowed to select the books they read in English class. He says he and his classmates are allowed to pick their own books in class. That makes them more focused, and they look forward to class time. Tristin, a classmate of his at Clinton Middle School agrees. “I’m reading books that I want to read, which makes class more fun and interesting,” he says. Offering students a choice may also improve test scores. Studies by Professor John Guthrie of the University of Maryland found that students in grades 4 through 6 who had some choices in the books they read showed improved reading comprehension skills during testing. Giving students the chance to decide what they read helps build a lifelong love for reading. Isn’t that what we want for our students?

Sarah holds a different view. She thinks teachers know more about books than students do. When an English teacher assigns a book, he or she keeps in mind the reading level of most students in the class. Students who choose their own books might be cheating themselves by picking books that are not up to their reading level or that are too difficult. Furthermore, a whole class can discuss a book it reads together. That makes it easier for some kids to understand what they are reading. “The students wouldn’t be able to hold a meaningful conversation if they were all reading different books,” says Kristin, an English teacher at Fleetwood Area Middle School. “If they read the same book, their conversations would be more in-depth.”

1.What’s the meaning of the underlined sentence “Not all educators are on the same page”?

A．Educators have different opinions.          B．Educators didn’t appear at the same time.

C．Educators wrote in different pages.          D．Educators didn’t agree with the author.

2.Donald thinks that the new approach could __________.

A．helped students be more focused in class

B．draw students to reading classic novels

C．make students less worried in English class

D．encourage students to red more challenging books

3.Sarah thinks that the new approach might __________.

A．help students improve reading comprehension skills

B．help students hold meaningful conversations in class

C．make some students read books not suitable for them

D．make some students ignore the important works of literature

4.Who has the same attitude towards the new approach with Kristin?

A．Donald.           B．Sarah.            C．Tristin.            D．John Guthrie.

5.The author develops the text mainly by __________.

A．listing cases                            B．making comparisons

C．following time order                     D．explaining causes and effects

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

Early in the Iliad, Homer's epic poem（史诗）about the legendary, Trojan War, there occurs a famous anecdote known as the catalogue of ships, which names all the Greek leaders and contingents(小分队) who came to fight at Troy. Before unfolding this impressive muster roll (花名册)，Homer makes a special, public appeal to the Muses to ensure he gets the facts right:

Tell me now, Muses, who have your homes on Olympus-- for you are goddesses, and ever-present, and know all things, and we hear only rumour: nor do we know anything

These lines reflect a central claim of epic poetry—that through the inspiration of the Muses, daughters of Memory, it can preserve the knowledge of people and the events of the past —a formidable power in the non-literate, oral cultures in which the Iliad evolved. The Iliad was composed around 750-700 BC, but its origins lie at least some five centuries earlier, deep in the Mycenaean Bronze Age---the world the Iliad poetically evokes.

The Iliad is keenly aware of its role as the keeper of memory, and credibility is central to its storytelling. The epic is a work of fiction, and relates the events of a few weeks in the tenth and final year of the Trojan War fought between Greeks and Trojans over beautiful Helen, the Greek queen who deserted her husband to elope with a Trojan prince. Its cast of characters includes not only warriors and their captives and families, but the immortal Olympian gods, who perform many supernatural acts in the course of their eager participation in the action around Troy.

The Iliad has the reputation for being an exclusively(专门地) male epic, weak on female characters, but to choose only one example—Homer's delicate characterization of Helen as a woman driven by reluctant remorseful(悔恨的) passion is as hauntingly（萦绕心头地）credible as any Anna Karenina.

Longinus, a scholar in the 1st Century AD wrote that in recording as he does the wounding of the gods, their quarrels, vengeance, tears, imprisonment and all their passions Homer has done his best to make the men in the Iliad gods and gods men. The scene between Achilles and Priam displays this inversion and crystallises what the Iliad poets had learned in the course of the epic’s Journey. That the gods we worship might not answer, and on occasion humanity must rise to fill their place. That glory is closely associated with painful loss. That the victor shares the humanity of the most vulnerable of the vanquished（战败者）; that there is no such thing as pure victory in war.

1.The Iliad about the legendary Trojan War, might date back to _______.

A. the third century BC　　 B. the seventh century BC

C. the eighth century BC　　 D. the thirteenth century BC

2.According to the passage,______________________________.

A. being reliable is essential to the storytelling of the Iliad

B. Trojan War between Greeks and Trojans lasted over a decade

C. Trojan War ended owning to the Olympian gods’ absence

D. beautiful Helen is a woman worth respecting in the Iliad

3.Why does the Iliad have the reputation for being an exclusively male epic?

A. Because it focuses only on men and war.

B. Because too few females were well depicted.

C. Because its cast of characters includes only males.

D. Because Helen was described as a passionate woman.

4.Which of the following statements doesn’t agree with the author’s idea?

A. Pure victory in war does not exist at all.

B. Glory is naturally accompanied with saddening loss.

C. The victor gains everything without any emotional loss.

D. Both the victor and the vanquished share the same humanity.

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

What do the speakers think of the classic literature class?

A.Difficult. B.Easy. C.Interesting.

高三英语短对话简单题查看答案及解析

A.She’s learned a lot from the literature class.

B.She’s written some books about world classics.

C.She’s met some of the world’s best writers.

D.She’s just back from a trip around the world.

高三英语短对话中等难度题查看答案及解析

Movie Nights at the Museum brings you classic movies in a classic location. Each film has been chosen for its connection to an area of our knowledge.

We start this movie season with ocean-inspired cinema to celebrate the arrival of the noble blue whale in the Museum’s typical hall, the site for the series.

So get your popcorn, take your seat, and settle in for Movie Nights at the Museum.

Jaws

Did you know that great whites actually find the taste of human flesh not tasty? However, this legendary Steven Spielberg thriller sees a giant great white shark cause destruction on the shores of a New England beach town in the mid-1970s.

Free Willy

Did you know that the killer whale is not a whale? It’s actually a dolphin. In this heart-warming 90s classic, orphan Jesse makes friends with a trapped killer whale and does whatever it takes to return him to his family and ocean home.

Finding Nemo

Contrary to popular belief, fish are actually good at remembering things. Follow young clownfish Nemo, taken unexpectedly from his Great Barrier Reef home, and his father and forgetful partner who go on a brave journey to find him, in this charming Disney adventure.

The Little Mermaid

In this classic Disney tale of a mermaid princess who dreams of becoming human, Ariel falls in love with a handsome prince, much to the sadness of her father and long-suffering friends. But did you know that a fish is actually brown and flat, with both eyes on one side of its body?

Ticket: £ 28, Member: £ 25.

1.In which movie do fish memorize things well?

A. Jaws.　　 B. Free Willy.

C. Finding Nemo.　　 D. The Little Mermaid

2.Who helps a whale return to his home?

A. Ariel.　　 B. Jesse.

C. Nemo.　　 D. Steven.

3.Who will most likely be interested in the passage?

A. A scientist on farming.

B. A director of war movies.

C. A teenager liking ocean life.

D. A farmer hating cruel animals.

高三英语阅读理解简单题查看答案及解析

In the classic marriage vow (誓约), couples promise to stay together in sickness and in health. But a new study finds that the risk of divorce among older couples rises when the wife- not the husband –becomes seriously ill.

“Married women diagnosed with a serious health condition may find themselves struggling with the impact of their disease while also experiencing the stress of divorce, " said researcher Amelia Karraker.

Karraker and co-author Kenzie Latham analyzed 20 years of data on 2, 717 marriages from a study conducted by Indiana University since 1992. At the time of the first interview, at least one of the partners was over the age of 50.

The researchers examined how the onset (发生) of four serious physical illnesses affected marriages. They found that, overall, 31% of marriages ended in divorce over the period studied. The incidence of new chronic ( 慢性的) illness onset increased over time as well, with more husbands than wives developing serious health problems.

“We found that women are doubly vulnerable to marital break-up in the face of illness,” Karraker said, "They’re more likely to be widowed, and if they’re the ones who become ill, they’re more likely to get divorced.

While the study didn't assess why divorce is more likely when wives but not husbands become seriously ill. Karraker offers a few possible reasons. “Gender norms and social expectations about caregiving may make it more difficult for men to provide care to sick spouses(配偶),”　 Karraker said. "And because of the imbalance in marriage markets, especially in older ages, divorced men have more choices among prospective partners than divorced women.”

Given the increasing concern about health care costs for the aging population, Karraker believes policymakers should be aware of the relationship between disease and risk of divorce.

“Offering support services to spouses caring for their other halves may reduce marital stress and prevent divorce at older ages.” she said. “But it's also important to recognize that the pressure to divorce may be health-related and that sick ex-wives may need additional care and services to prevent worsening health and increased health costs.”

1.What can we learn about marriage vows from the passage?

A.They may not guarantee a lasting marriage.

B.They are not taken seriously any more.

C.They are as binding as they used to be.

D.They may help couples tide over hard times.

2.What did Karraker and co-author Kenzie Latham find about elderly husbands?

A.They are generally not good at taking care of themselves.

B.They can become increasingly vulnerable to serious illnesses.

C.They can develop different kinds of illnesses just like their wives.

D.They are more likely to contract serious illnesses than their wives.

3.Why is it more difficult for men to take care of their sick spouses according to Karraker?

A.They are more accustomed to receiving care.

B.They find it more important to make money for the family.

C.They think it more urgent to fulfill their social obligations.

D.They expect society to do more of the job.

4.What does Karraker think is also important?

A.Reducing marital stress on wives.

B.Stabilizing old couples' relations.

C.Providing extra care for divorced women.

D.Making men pay for their wives’ health costs.

高三英语阅读理解简单题查看答案及解析

Amazing Rafting Adventures

White water rafting is one of the classic, wild, activities in the outdoors. It is also an opportunity for an unbelievable family adventure. Around the country, there are several rivers—and rafting outfitters—that are perfectly suited to the entire family.

Here are three of the best:

New River Gorge, West Virginia

Rafting in West Virginia is renowned for its established infrastructure, reliability, and easy access. These things make it an obvious choice for a family vacation. Famous areas, including the New River Gorge, offer everything from lazy floats to intense Class IV runs.

READ MORE: Water Water Rafting: Top 5 U.S. Locations

Jackson Hole, Wyoming

Jackson Hole provides a full range of opportunities in the outdoors—and white water rafting is certainly one of them. Popular trips include the rough rapids of the Snake River and gentle floats in nearby Yellowstone National Park.

READ MORE: What You Need to Know Before Visiting Yellowstone National Park

Grand Canyon, Arizona

For really bold families, a multi-day trip down the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon is the penultimate adventure. Guided trips typically pack in boats-worth of supplies so the overnight adventures are far from “roughing it.” Instead, evenings are catered in a rugged luxury style, allowing everyone to rest up for the next day’s activities.

Whether looking for a casual float or a challenging adventure, white water rafting is a great option for any active family vacation.

1.What is the common feature of the three rafting adventures?

A. All three rafting rivers are suitable for the whole family.

B. All three rafting rivers are boring to access and reliable

C. All three rafting rivers are suitable for active families

D. All three rafting rivers offer overnight adventures

2.Which of the following about Grand Canyon, Arizona is NOT true?

A. A multi-day trip down the Colorado River is really challenging.

B. Really brave families will like to have a multi-day trip down the river

C. Everyone can rest for the next day’s activities.

D. People can only enjoy the rough rapids down the river

3.What is the author’s attitude to white water rafting?

A. Passive B. Encouraging  C. Discouraging D. Negative

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

Matt Haimovitz is 42 and a renowned cellist (大提琴手) in the world. He rushed into the classical music scene at the age of 12 after Itzhak Perlman, the famed violinist, heard him play.

But nothing in his family history explains where Haimovitz got his extraordinary talent. And that’s typical, Ellen Winner, a professor says.

“People are fascinated by these children because they don’t understand where their talent came from. You will see parents who say, ‘I wasn’t like this, and my husband wasn’t like this.’ It seems to sometimes just come out of the blue,” Winner says.

It’s not clear whether a prodigy’s （天才）brain is any different from the brains of other children, in part because there have been no study comparing the brains of prodigies to those of average people.

“But I believe that anything that shows up so early, without training, has got to be either a genetic or some other biological basis,” Winner says. “If a child suddenly at the age of 3 goes to the piano and picks out a tune and does it beautifully, that has to be because that child has a different brain.”

Children who are extremely gifted tend to be socially different, too, Winner says. “They feel like they can’t find other kids like themselves, so they feel strange, maybe even like a freak, and feel like they don’t have anybody to connect with. On the other hand, they also long to connect with other kids, and they can’t find other kids like themselves.”

As Haimovitz got older, he became frustrated. He wanted to play other kinds of music but felt constricted by the image and the expectations of the boy prodigy who played classical music and filled concert halls.

“When you start that early, you suddenly start to grow up in public, and I wanted to experiment,” Haimovitz says.

So he took his cello into punk rock clubs and coffee houses. He played Bach, Haydn and Hendrix. “My teacher was Leonard Rose, and we never played any 20th-century music. He didn’t like it. But once I was exposed to James Marshall “Jimi” Hendrix, Miles Dewey Davis El and others, I couldn’t really turn back. I wanted to know more,” he says.

1.According to some parents, prodigies’ extraordinary talent　　　　　 .

A. comes unexpectedly                     B. is inherited from parents

C. results from hard work                    D. is trained in early times

2.Winner seems to agree to the fact that ____.

A. average people have their particular brains

B. biology is the base of a different brain

C. a prodigy’s brain is superior to those of others

D. genes play an important role in a prodigy

3.According to the text, gifted children are 　　　　　 .

A. lonely　　             B. easy-going         C. innocent            D. social

4.The last paragraph is mainly about how Haimovitz was trying to 　　　　　 .

A. build up his friendship                        B. play different kinds of music

C. set up the image of a prodigy　　　　　　　　     D. perform classical music creatively

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析