Imagine turning on the GPS and seeing an imag...

Imagine turning on the GPS and seeing an image of your car from above. As the car drives, the map follows along in real time, informing you of any traffic, pedestrians, animals or other things nearby. Routes and names of road appear over the live stream. It's like the map has come to life.

This type of map isn't available yet. But it could be very soon. In 2014, the WorldView-3 satellite was sent into space. Even though it orbits Earth at more than 370 miles (600km) away, it can take images of objects on Earth that are just 10 inches (25cm) across. Looking all the way from outer space, it can make out a smart phone held in your hand. It can tell what types of cars are travelling down a road. But it can't identify your face or read the cars' license plate numbers.

According to some reports, this satellite and other US satellites have the technology to take even sharper images, with a resolution of up to around 4 inches (10cm). But US law forbids making these super-sharp pictures public. But the idea that anybody might be able to spy on the entire Earth in such detail may seem scary. Live, high-detail satellite mapping could be used to keep tabs on anybody at any time, without the person's knowledge. Ray Purdy of University College London told CNN that he couldn't imagine what this could mean for privacy. "Most satellites are commercially owned, so if you have money, you can have that imagery. It means anyone can spy on anyone." he said.

At the same time, live, detailed maps of the Earth's surface could aid humanity in amazing ways. Satellite images can help experts track storms as they form and chart their paths. At high detail, live maps of a disaster area could quickly reveal people in need of rescue as well as the safest routes in or out. Satellites images are already helping the police catch illegal fishing operations. Higher detail may make it possible to catch other criminals in the act. The images could also make it easier for farmers to watch over their crops or for scientists to find minerals. Also, these images play a very important role in monitoring the health of forests and other landscapes.

What do you think? Would you like to see everyone accessing high-detail live maps of the Earth's surface? Please share your idea with us on the website.

1.How does the author introduce the topic of the passage?

A.By telling a story.

B.By supposing a situation.

C.By making a comparison.

D.By using a research finding.

2.What can the WorldView-3 satellite do?

A.Tell how a person looks.

B.Identify what a pedestrian is holding.

C.Help farmers sow seeds for their crops.

D.Read a running car's license plate number.

3.What kind of feeling was expressed in Ray Purdy's words?

A.Regret.

B.Excitement.

C.Concern.

D.Sympathy.

4.What's the best title of the passage?

A.Anyone can spy on anyone

B.Criminals have nowhere to hide

C.More satellites into space: good or bad?

D.A live map of everywhere on Earth:scary or cool?

高二英语阅读理解困难题查看答案及解析

Imagine looking out of your window and seeing a whale swim by.That's the sight that surprises New York City residents recently.In the past years,humpback whales have been spotted in the two rivers surrounding the island of Manhattan,the Hudson River and the East River.1.

Experts say that river cleanup efforts have improved water quality and led to an increase in the number of fish there.Fish are on the humpback's menu.2.The sighting is also an encouraging sign that conservation efforts are helping humpback whales come back.In 1973,the species was listed as the endangered.Now scientists say humpback whales are making a comeback.

By the middle of the 20th century,hunting whales for profit had nearly wiped out many whale species.In 1973, the U.S. set up the Endangered Species Act.People were no longer allowed to hunt them in the U.S. waters.In 1982, the International Whaling is illegal worldwide.3.Last September,it was announced that nine groups of humpback whales are no longer endangered.Four groups are still endangered and a fifth is threatened.

4.The number of them is growing particularly faster in the Southern Hemisphere like Tasman Sea and Coral Sea.And the number of humpback whales in Hawaii has made an amazing recovery.In 1966,there were fewer than 1,500 humpbacks there.Today there are about 10,000.But humpbacks in other parts of the world are still struggling.

5.“We still have a lot of work to do,”says Angela Somma,head of NOAAS Fisheries’ endangered Species division.“But with the right protection,the number of humpback whales should continue to grow.

A.Those efforts to save whales are paying off.

B.People are frightened when seeing whales in the river.

C.Last year,one even swam past where the mayor lives.

D.Today there are about 100,000 humpback whales worldwide.

E.The extra food in the rivers is mainly what’s attracting the whales.

F.Scientists have carried out further research on the number of the whales.

G.Scientists say that the focus needs to be on the whales that are still struggling.

高二英语七选五中等难度题查看答案及解析

You're riding in the car on this family vacation. Suddenly your dad slows down. And you may see the following：

1. Bubblegum Alley

San Luis Obispo, California

Some call it art; others call it just plain gross. Bubblegum Alley is covered from top to bottom with wads of chewed gum, a tradition that was started mysteriously by locals in the 1950s. Some artists even created images of funny faces and the American flag.

2. Blue Whale

Catoosa, Oklahoma

Not ready to dive the depths of the ocean to see a blue whale? No problem. Just visit this 80-foot-long cement beast, which even has a slide and diving board so visitors can take a dip in the pond. When the artist died, the whale fell into disrepair. Neighbors couldn't stand to see the grinning whale fall apart, so they fixed it and now keep it bright with gallons of blue paint.

3. Lonesome Legs

Amarillo, Texas

Just what are these large legs doing in a cow pasture? According to artist Lightnin' McDuff,　 they　 represent a poem　 about a traveler who finds a bodiless statue of an Egyptian pharaoh (法老) called Ozymandias. Using concrete over a steel frame, McDuff constructed the legs to appear as if they were　 made of weathered sandstone. And the socks? A prankster (恶作剧的人) keeps adding them—even though McDuff always removes　 the unwanted addition.

4. Giant Penguin

Cut Bank, Montana

Bundle up (使……穿暖)when you visit　 this statue, because temperatures here can get　 as low as 47 degrees below zero. As a nod to the frosty conditions, a local businessman built the 27-foot-tall penguin out of 10,000 pounds of concrete. The creator left for warmer weather, but the statue—7 times the height of a real emperor penguin—still stands, welcoming visitors to its chilly home.

1.What led to the formation of the Bubblegum Alley?

A. Artists made it by creating images of funny faces and the American flag.

B. It’s covered with pieces of chewed gum.

C. It spread for some unknown reason.

D. Artists guided this trend.

2.The following are descriptions about these sites, which is TRUE?

①The Blue Whale has been ruined.

②Visitors can entertain in the whale.

③The socks were added by the designer.

④The legs were made of weathered sandstone.

⑤The penguin is located in a very cold area.

⑥The statue of penguin is 6 times higher than a real emperor penguin.

A. ①②③

B. ④⑤⑥

C. ①④⑤

D. ②⑤⑥

3.What impression of these sites does the author give you?

A. Funny.

B. Strange.

C. Amazing.

D. Usual.

高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

When you turn on the radio, you hear an advertisement. When you watch television, you hear and see an advertisement. If you turn the pages of a newspaper or magazine, again you find an advertisement. If you walk down the street, you see one advertising board after another. All day, every day, people who want to sell you something compete to catch your attention. As a result, advertisements are almost everywhere.

In the West, advertisements are the fuel that makes mass media work. Many TV stations, newspapers, magazines, radio stations are privately owned. The government does not give them money. So where does the money come from? From advertisements. Without advertisements, there would not be these private businesses.

Have you ever asked yourself what advertising is? Through the years, people have given different answers to the question. For some time it was felt that advertising was a means of “keeping your name before the public”. And some people thought that advertising was “truth well told”. Now more and more people describe it in this way: Advertising is the paid , nonpersonal, and usually persuasive description of goods, services and ideas by identified sponsors(出资者) through various media.

First, advertising is usually paid for. Various sponsors pay for the advertisements we see, read, and hear over the various media. Second, advertising is nonpersonal. It is not face to face communication. Although you may feel that a message in a certain advertisement is aimed directly at you. In reality, it is directed at large groups of people. Third, advertising is usually persuasive. Directly or indirectly it tells people to do something. All advertisements try to make people believe that the product, idea, or service advertised can do good to them. Fourth, the sponsor of the advertisement must be identified. From the advertisement, we can see if the sponsor is a company, or an organization, or an individual. Fifth, advertising reaches us through traditional and nontraditional mass media. Included in the traditional media are newspapers, magazines, radio, television, and films. Nontraditional media includes the mail, matchbox covers and billboards.

1.According to the passage, who are most probably paying for the advertisements?

A. Companies.       B. Organizations.           C. Individuals.     D. All of the above.

2.The existence of the privately owned mass media depends financially on______.

A. the government       B. their owners’ families       C. advertisements

D. the audience

3.Which of the following is considered nontraditional mass media?

A. Newspapers       B. The mail             C. Magazines            D. Films

4.According to the passage, which of the following statements about the features of advertisements is NOT true?

A. Advertising must be honest and amusing.

B. Advertising is meant for large groups of people.

C. Advertising tells people to do something directly or indirectly.

D. The sponsors are always mentioned in the advertisements.

高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

Many of us enjoy doing it: you turn on the camera on your mobile phone and hold it at a high angle, making your eyes look bigger and your cheek­bones more defined. You turn to your best side and click. There it is — your selfie.

Over the past year, “selfie” has become a well-known term across the globe. This August the Oxford diction­ary added the word to their online dic­tionary and defined it as: “A photograph that one has taken of oneself, typically with a smartphone or webcam and up-loaded to a social media website.”

Today it’s not difficult to find social networking pages full of photos people have taken of themselves and their friends. And selfie culture has become especially relevant for young people. As many as 91 percent of teenagers have posted photos of themselves online, according to a recent survey by the US Pew Research Center.

So what are the reasons for the rise of selfie culture?

“The cult (狂热) of the selfie celebrates regular people,” Pamela Rutledge, a profes­sor at the Massachusetts School of Professional Psychology, told Vogue magazine. “There are many more photo­graphs available now of real people than models.”

Posting selfies also allows you to control your image online. “I like having the power to choose how I look, even if I’m making a funny face,” Samantha Barks, 19, a high school student in the US, told Vogue.

In addition to self-expression and documentation, selfies “allow of a close friendship for long­-distance friends, because you can see each other’s faces every day”, wrote Casey Miller at The Huffmgton Post.

But US psychologist Jill Weber is concerned that selfies might lead to social problems, “There’s a danger that your self-esteem may start to be tied to the comments and ‘likes’ you get when you post a selfie, and they aren’t based on who you are — they’re based on what you look like,” Weber told Vogue. “When you get nothing or a negative response, your confidence can plummet.”

1.With the first paragraph, the author intends to 　　　　　 .

A. tell us the fun of taking a selfie

B. describe what a selfie is

C. introduce where the selfie came from

D. inform readers that the selfie is popular among teenagers

2.Why is selfie culture so popular according to the article?

a. It enables people to choose how they look.

b. It helps people improve their self-esteem.

c. It’s a chance for ordinary people to show off themselves.

d. It is believed to be a helpful way to develop a new friendship.

e. It is considered a good way to stay connected with friends that are far away.

A. a, c, e　　 B. b, c, d　 　　 C. a, b, c　 　　 D. b, d, e

3.What is Jill Weber’s attitude toward selfies?

A. She thinks they are a good form of self-expression and documentation.

B. She believes the disadvantages of selfies outweigh the advantages.

C. She is worried that people’s self-esteem might be affected by how others react to their selfies.

D. She thinks that selfies can help people learn about their friends based on who they really are.

4.The underlined word “plummet” in the last paragraph probably means 　　　　　 .

A. rapidly develop　 　　　　 B. greatly exaggerate　　

C. become dangerous　 　　 D. quickly fall

高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

After years of research and testing, the hybrid car was developed and put on the market. It’s an interesting and exciting new improvement in today’s world as we look for better ways to protect the quality of the air we breathe and conserve our natural resources.

The quality of our air is affected by many different things. But one of the largest sources of air pollution is the burning of fossil fuels such as coal and gasoline which are used to power a car’s engine. The EPA has set national standards to help control the level of harmful pollutants sent off into the air, and the automobile industry has acted by producing a hybrid car that uses less gas and therefore causes less pollution.

A hybrid car is a combination of a regular car that runs on gasoline and an electric car that is battery powered. Some people tend to think that since the hybrid car is partially electric, you have to plug it in to charge it. But that’s not how it works. The 144 volt battery pack is actually recharged( 充电 ) through the energy that is produced when the car’s brakes are used. This is referred to as “regenerative braking”, because it generates electricity.

Although the hybrid car still runs on gasoline most of the time, this helps it use less gas than a regular car. When the driver stops at a traffic light, the engine automatically ( 自动地；机械地 )shuts off to save fuel. Then, as soon as the driver puts the car in gear and touches the gas pedal, the engine starts back up.

Have you ever ridden in a car with someone who ran out of gas? That probably wouldn’t happen if you were riding in a hybrid car. It flashes a warning on its computer screen that says, “I am low on gas”. When it completely runs out, the warning reads, “YOU ARE NOW OUT OF GAS!” Then the electric power supply kicks in to let the driver travel a few more miles to a gas station.

1.According to the passage, the word “hybrid” refers to ________.

A. a high tech discovery　　 B. energy saving

C. a new invention　　　　　　 D. a combination of two things

2.“Regenerative braking” is an important process of the hybrid car because ________.

A. it allows the car to come to a quick stop

B. it gives the driver a smoother ride

C. it produces energy to charge the battery

D. it can control the speed of the car

3.Which of the following is right about the EPA?

A. They designed hybrid cars.

B. They outlawed (宣布……为不合法) the burning of fossil fuels.

C. They set important guidelines that help control pollution.

D. Their main purpose is to protect endangered plants and animals.

4.Which of the following is the reason for developing hybrid cars?

A. They use less gas than regular cars.

B. They’re safer to drive than most cars.

C. They’re more modern than other cars.

D. They cost less than regular cars

高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

Imagine yourself on a boat looking out at the horizon and all you can see is the water meeting the sky with no land in sight and you are sailing straight ahead to meet the world. Jesse Martin does not have to imagine: he is living in it.

On Dec. 7, 1998, at 17 years old, Jesse set sail from Melbourne, Australia on his boat, attempting to become the youngest person to sail alone and nonstop around the world. He sailed south of New Zealand, through the South Pacific, around South America, north on the Atlantic, back south past Africa, through the Indian Ocean and back to Melbourne. Even as a young child, Jesse had been an adventurer who traveled all over Europe and Asia with his parents. Born in Munich, Germany in 1981, he moved to Australia with his family when he was only two years old. They moved close to a rainforest in Cow Bay, about 3,500kms north of Melbourne, where they built a small house with no electricity or running water. Jesse grew up at the beach enjoying the outdoors to its fullest. At 14, he sailed for the first time with his father and brother, Beau. It was after this trip that he began to dream about sailing around the world.

Jesse’s family played an important role. “I was made to believe I could do anything, although there were others that were not so encouraging or supportive” he says. “People that I looked up to, respected and trusted told me I couldn’t. Thankfully, I trusted myself. There were people that said that the boat couldn’t be ready by the time I had to leave.” However, through perseverance(坚持不懈) and belief in himself, he was able to do what many told him was impossible.

On Oct.31, 1999, more than 10 months after he set sail, Jesse Martin went down in history as the youngest person to sail around the world alone, nonstop and unassisted.

1.By encouraging readers to imagine a sailing experience, the author wants to __________.

A. show how difficult it is to be a sailor　　 B. describe what Jesse’s sailing is like

C. show how wonderful Jesse’s life is　　 D. describe what a sailor’s life is like

2.What can you know from paragraph 2?

A. Jesse was the first person who had sailed alone around the world.

B. Jesse traveled all over Europe and Asia with his parents when he was 17.

C. Jesse was born in Melbourne and grew up at the beach.

D. Jesse grew up in a small house with no electricity or running water.

3.What made Jesse decide to sail alone around the world according to the passage?

A. His childhood adventure experiences.　　 B. His journeys to Europe.

C. His love for outdoor activities.　　 D. His first sailing trip with his family.

4.What can we learn from Jesse Martin’s story?

A. Life is an unusual adventure we should enjoy.　　 B. Failure is the mother of success.

C. A strong belief will make a person stronger.　　 D. Great interest contributes to success.

高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

I was driving in the car. It was raining. The car suddenly slid (滑) off of the__36__road and turned upside down. The roof of the car was damaged and my__37__was trapped in the window. I could not move it__38__the glass on my face and the pressure from the roof. I was__39__.It was still raining and I was afraid that the ditch (壕沟) I was in would__40__ with water. I was also afraid that the car would__41__as I could smell gasoline.

Then two male truck drivers came to me and tried to__42__me.They got a car jack and_43__the top of the car and released me. Then they __44__me out of the car. Two young women stepped forward and__45__to take me to the hospital. I immediately realized that I was_46__hurt.I had hurt my back and I was in a lot of__47__.At the hospital，I was X­rayed and the__48__told me that there was something serious.The__49__on my face were also done with and I was given pain__50__.

This__51__in the South in 1958，a time of segregation (种族隔离)__52__ “black” people and “white” people. As it happened，the two men and the two women who were so__53__to help me were all African Americans. Whoever they are，I__54__life has been good and kind to them as they were to me. I am always thankful to them and I will never__55__them.

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高二英语完型填空中等难度题查看答案及解析

One of the most important aspects of an image is color. People are very sensitive to color, and different colors have different effects on people .

In general , red is an exciting color , which creates an image of action, energy and danger. Red is also the most frequently used color in flags .Eighty percent of the world’s flags contain red. A study in “Germany showed that football teams wearing red are more successful .Blue is a very calm color .Business executives usually wear dark blue suits .Blue is also a peaceful color. The flag of the United Nations is light blue .Yellow is associated with openness and freedom. Green is a very relaxing color .Surgeons nowadays wear green ,because it’s less tiring than white .Black creates an image of power and authority .It can also be a very threatening color .Gangsters and vampires often wear black .white is a pure and strong color .This is one reason why doctors wear white coats .We trust them more .Grey is a very anonymous color .People wearing grey don’t want other people to notice them .Brown is the opposite of black .It’s warm and friendly ,while black is threatening .

1.What does the author mainly talk about in the passage?

A．Color and Character         B．Color and Image

C．Color and Occupation         D．People are sensitive to color

2.Which of the following is true about color according to the passage?

A．Eighty per cent of the world’s flags contain green.

B．Brown is the opposite of pink, presenting warmth.

C．Red creates an image of energy , danger and freedom.

D．Blue is a peaceful and calm color.

3.The underlined word “anonymous” roughly means ______

A．outstanding B．beautiful    C．exciting     D．unknown

高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

Each year there is an increasing number of cars on roads and streets as millions of new cars and trucks are produced. One out of every six Americans work at putting together the parts of cars, driving trucks, building roads or filling cars and trucks with gas. 1.. Because most Americans find they are using their cars in almost every aspect of their life. 2.. The polluted air becomes poisonous and dangerous to health.

3.. That’s what several of the large car factories have been trying to do. But to build a clean car is easier said than done. Progress in this field has been slow.

Another way is to take the place of the car engine by something else.4.. Many makers believe that it will take years to develop a practical model that pleases man.

To prevent the world from being polluted by cars, we’ll have to make some changes in the way many of us live. Americans, for example, have to cut down on the number of their total cars. They are encouraged to travel and go to work by bicycle. Bicycling is thought to help keep the air clean. But this change does not come easily. A large number of workers may find themselves without jobs if a car factory closes down.5..

Although cars have led us to a better life, they have also brought us new problems.

A. Americans know cars very well.

B. Americans won’t live without cars!

C. Inventors are now working on steam cars as well as electric cars.

D. However, the number of vehicles has continued to increase in recent years.

E. One way to get rid of the polluted air is to build a car that does not pollute.

F. Thus the problem of air pollution would become less important than that of unemployment.

G. However, some have realized the serious problems of the air pollution that is caused by cars.

高二英语七选五中等难度题查看答案及解析