In January 2017, snow began’ to fall across t...

In January 2017, snow began’ to fall across the Apennines. From his home in the Rome suburbs, Edward watched the weather with concern. He and his wife, Caroline, had planned an overnight getaway to the hotel. But now he wondered whether they should go with the road covered with snow. Edward phoned the hotel, whose owner, Del Rosso, advised Edward to use chains on his tyres.

After a short talk, Edward and Caroline decided to make the trip. By the time they neared the resort (度假胜地) six hours later, they were battling a total whiteout. When they finally reached the hotel, they were cold and exhausted. They checked into their room, trying to forget their long day in the car.

Suddenly, the hotel began to shake. The windows rattled, and the water in the tub spilt over the edges. An earthquake with a magnitude of 5. 7 had struck the mountain. Edward had had enough. “Let’s get out of here,” he told his wife, dressing quickly. They were about to head to the parking lot when the snow on the mountain began to slide.

Martin, the resort’s caretaker, had been working in the tiny boiler hut about 30 yards from the main building when he noticed something abnormal. Standing on an empty snowfield, he gazed at a trail of complete destruction — it was as if a giant rake (耙子) had been dragged down the mountain, pulling down beech trees, crushing cars, chewing up everything in its path.

Finding a signal with his phone seemed to take forever. In fact, it took two hours before Martin finally spoke with the chief of the region’s rescue team.

“We’re coming,” Crocetta promised.

“How long will it take?” asked Martin.

“Five or six hours.”

Eight hours after Martin had talked to Crocetta, the rescuers finally arrived. There was no movement anywhere — no human sound, just rubble (碎石).Edward lay in a coffin-sized pocket of air beneath 30 feet of snow, ice, and rubble. He could hear nothing of what was happening at the surface. Shock had set in, and he felt no pain, no hunger, no cold. Each time Edward awoke, he faced a new terrible reality: he was buried alive. Despair suddenly seized him. He asked himself, who is going to save us?

Nick and three other rescuers kept digging on, breaking blade after blade on their circular saws (圆锯), battling toward a faint cell signal detected deep in the ruins. Suddenly they heard a voice. They silenced their saws and listened. It was Edward. He was still fading in and out of consciousness. A vision of his wife stayed with him, an angel of mercy, he thought. She assured him he would be OK.

“Edward, we are here!” Nick shouted, ten feet above where the trapped man lay.” Are you injured? Are you bleeding?”

As the voices and the buzzing of saws grew louder, Edward became more alert. “Where is my wife?”

“We put her in the car because it’s cold,” Nick lied.

At last, at around six in the morning, Nick’s saw broke through a final thick layer of insulation (隔绝). He pointed his light toward the opening and spotted Edward’s back. Nick could see how the angled beams had created a cocoon that prevented Edward from being crushed to death. Those near him had not been so lucky: Squeezed in the space with him were the bodies of two women — one supporting his head, one curled (卷曲) beneath his left leg.

Rescuers raised the concrete beams off Edward’s limbs with a jack (千斤顶). “You are a superhero,” Nick said as he reached beneath Edward’s armpits and gently lifted him out of his tomb.

Five days after his rescue, Edward was given the heartbroken news that his wife had died. Her body had been found, crushed by debris, near where Edward had been trapped. The angel who had appeared to him in his dreams had, somehow, never left his side.

1.Edward was advised to use chains on his tires in order to 　　　 .

A.protect the tyres

B.reduce the risk of slipping

C.make the car stronger

D.put on the weight of the car

2.What did Martin see after noticing something abnormal?

A.A beautiful scenery of snow.

B.The cars crushed by the trees.

C.A giant rake dragged down the mountain.

D.The snow swallowing everything on its way.

3.It took Martin two hours to get in touch with the rescue team because 　　　　 .

A.his phone was out of power

B.the signal was not strong enough

C.he was too scared to make the call

D.the line was too busy to get through

4.What was Edward’s condition after he was trapped?

A.He was lucky to be safe and sound.

B.He was optimistic and waiting for the rescue patiently.

C.He was in a bad state and came back to life once in a while.

D.He was seriously injured and out of consciousness completely.

5.Nick lied to Edward when he asked about his wife because 　　　 .

A.he didn’t want Edward to lose hope

B.he was a dishonest rescuer and often lied to others

C.he wanted to play jokes with Edward to relax him

D.he wanted to distract his attention to reduce his pain

6.What does the author want to convey to us?

A.Rescuers are true superheroes.

B.Where there is life, there is hope.

C.Love can help a man survive a disaster.

D.A snow crash goes hand in hand with an earthquake.

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

In January, 2017, snow began to fall across the Apennines. For days it came down, and the enormous drifts（雪堆）on the mountain grew taller by the hour.

In spite of the bad weather, Matrone and his wife decided to make the trip to the mountain resort and have an overnight getaway. Unfortunately, a small earthquake broke out that night, which caused an avalanche（雪崩）. The avalanche gathered speed and size, grabbing rocks and trees and anything else in its way as it roared down the mountain.

The snow-and the weight of everything it had brought down the mountain with it swept the hotel from its foundation and sent everything flying more than 100 yards away. Matrone was trapped 30 feet beneath the snow and ruins, unable to move. Every time he came to life from faint, he dreamed of walking alongside his wife.

Eight hours later, the rescuers arrived, The search work went on slowly. Finally, more than 30 hours after the search began, they heard something astonishing: a woman crying for help. Adriana and her son were the first to be rescued alive.

Finding the survivors electrified the rescuers. They tunneled quickly in the ruins. The rescue team had been working nonstop for more than two days when they heard a voice. It was Matrone. The angled beams had created a cocoon that prevented Matrone from being crushed（压）to death. Those near him had not been so lucky.

Rescuers raised the concrete beams off Matrone’s limbs and lifted him out. It was some 60 hours since the avalanche. He was one of 11 people out of 40 to have survived. Soon after, he was airlifted to a hospital in a nearby town.

Five days after his rescue, Matrone was given the heartbreaking news that his wife had died. Her body had been found near where Matrone had been trapped. The angel who had appeared in his dreams had never left his side.

1.What directly caused the hotel to be destroyed?

A.The snowfall. B.The earthquake.

C.The avalanche. D.The rocks and trees.

2.What is the probable meaning of the underlined word “electrified” in paragraph 5?

A.Made people feel satisfied.

B.Made people feel excited.

C.Equipped people with electronics.

D.Supplied people with electricity.

3.How long was Matrone trapped in the ruins?

A.More than 30 hours. B.About five days.

C.Less than 40 hours. D.About two and a half days.

4.What can be the best title for this text?

A.A Narrow Escape B.A Scary Night.

C.A Perfect Rescue D.A Dawn Avalanche.

高三英语阅读理解简单题查看答案及解析

The Ice and Snow Festival Highlights

It will fall upon January 1st, 2019 and last till the early March, 2019, Based on the theme of “Bright Pearl of the Crown of Ice and Snow”, a variety of activities about ice and snow, concerning tourism, culture, fashion and sport, will be open to all tourists.

1.Where can you go to see college students’ snow sculpture works?

A. Harbin Engineering University.　　 B. People’s Stadium.

C. Sun Island Scenic Area.　　 D. Friendship Palace.

2.Who is the 31st Sun Island Snow Sculpture Art Exposition intended for?

A. Newly-married couples.　　 B. The old.

C. College students.　　 D. The young.

3.Which event will last the longest time?

A. 2019 New Year Concert.

B. The 30th Hundred-Flower Dance Contest.

C. The 05th Group Wedding Ceremony on the Ice.

D. International Winter Swimming Inviting Competition.

高三英语阅读理解简单题查看答案及解析

In the famous fairy tale, Snow White eats the Queen's apple and falls victim to a curse（诅咒）;in Shakespeare's novel, Romeo drinks the poison and dies; some ancient Chinese emperors took pellets（药丸）that contained mercury（水银）, believing that it would make them immortal, but they died afterward.

Poison has long been an important ingredient in literature and history, and it seems to always be associated with evil, danger and death. But how much do you really know about poison?

An exhibition, The Power of Poison, opened last month at the American Museum of Natural History in New York, intended to give the audience a more vivid understanding of poison.

The museum tour starts in a rainforest setting, where you can see live examples of some of the most poisonous animals: caterpillars（毛毛虫）, frogs and spiders. Golden poison frogs, for instance, aren't much bigger than a coin, but their skin is covered with a poison that can cut off the signaling power of your nerves, and a single frog has enough venom to kill 10 grown humans.

"Poisons can be bad for some things," Michael Novacek, senior vice president of the museum, told NBC News. "Yet they can also be good for others."

A poisonous chemical found in the yew tree is effective against cancer, which is what led to the invention of a cancer-fighting drug called Taxol.

The benefits from natural poisons are not limited to just medicine. Believe it or not, many substances（物质）that we regularly ingest（摄入）-chili, coffee and chocolate-owe their special flavors or stimulating（提神的）effects to chemicals that plants make to poison insects.

1.What does the underlined word "immortal" in Paragraph 1 mean?

A. happy　　 B. not moral

C. living forever　　 D. sick

2.What is the main purpose of the exhibition The Power of Poison?

A. To give people more in-depth knowledge about poison.

B. To teach people how to handle poisonous animals.

C. To inform people about which animals are the most poisonous.

D. To show how poison has been used for medical treatment.

3.Which of the following statements about the Golden poison frog is TRUE according to the article?

A. Its skin can cut off the signaling power of your nerves.

B. It's about the size of a coin.

C. It's the most poisonous animal on display.

D. You can only see it in a rainforest setting of the museum.

4.The stimulating effects of coffee come from ________.

A. natural poison made by the plant

B. the substances that we regularly ingest

C. chemicals produced by poisonous insects

D. its special flavor

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

Damage to Ozone Layer Gets Worse

In the middle of winter, when snow is falling in many parts of the United States, scientists have sounded a warning to people who plan to spend many hours in the sun this summer．The warning: The sun's summertime rays are more dangerous than once thought.

A team of scientists from 80 nations recently reported to the United Nations that a layer of ozone（臭氧层）in the atmosphere, which protects humans from harmful levels of ultraviolet（紫外线）radiation, will be thinner over the United States this summer．The thinner layer allows more ultraviolet rays from the sun to reach Earth．The extra amount of ultraviolet radiation could cause an increase in the number of cases of skin cancer.

Scientists first became concerned about the layer in the mid-1980s when a hole was discovered in the layer above Antarctica during the winter．The hole was caused in chemicals used in refrigerators and air conditioners．When these chemicals are sent out into the atmosphere, they produce gases that destroy the ozone.

Concern about the protective ozone layer rose more recently when data from satellites and ground stations showed that ozone levels were dropping over areas other than Antarctica．Low ozone levels were recorded in the spring and summer over the United States and over other populated areas in the world.

Although many countries have already begun stopping the use of ozone-destroying chemicals, the new findings are expected to advance the timetable for a total ban of the chemicals.

1.The scientists have observed the ozone layer ______．

A．since 1980                     B．since last winter

C．for more than 20 years            D．for about one year

2.The ozone layer in the atmosphere can ______.

A．do a lot of good to human beings in many ways

B．protect humans from diseases caused by bad weather

C．do a lot of harm to human beings in the summer-time

D．protect humans from harmful levels of ultraviolet radiation

3.Scientists first found that there was a hole in the ozone layer ______.

A．above Arctic during the winter in the mid-1980s

B．above Antarctica during the winter in the mid-1980s

C．over somewhere in the north of the equator in 1980

D．over the USA in the summertime in the mid-1980s

4.The damage to the ozone layer was caused by ______.

A．the changeable weather          B．ozone-destroying chemicals

C．chemicals from refrigerators      D．chemicals from air conditioners

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

It’s a white Christmas in the United States today, with snow falling from Seattle to Maine.

• Northeast

Biting winds with snow swept the Northeast.

Earlier, up to 15 inches of snow fell during a snow storm in Maine, while up to one foot fell in New Hampshire. Winds reached 76 mph on Cape Cod, Massachusetts, while up to 61 mph winds tore through Long Island, New York. Falling snow collected on the runways at Boston’s Logan International Airport, causing temporary flight delays.

The wind was so severe in Pennsylvania and New Jersey that the annual (重演) of George Washington and his soldiers’crossing the Delaware River was canceled, the Washington Crossing Historic Park told ABC News.

• Midwest

Heavy lake effect snow fell in western Michigan.

The National Weather Service has issued a wind-chill warning and advisory (公告) from Montana to Michigan. Bitter cold air in the Midwest produced wind chills Monday morning as low as minus 48 degrees in North Dakota and minus 47 in northern Minnesota.

As this bitter cold made its way east overnight, it was expected to move over relatively mild Great Lakes, producing intense lake-effect snow bands capabie of producing 2 to 4 inches of snow in an hour.

• West Coast

That storm system moved overnight through the Rockies, bringing more snow and the threat of avalanches(雪崩). The National Weather Service has issued an avalanche warning for the Wasatch Range Mountains outside Salt Lake City.

1.Why was the annual reenactment of George Washington and his soldiers’crossing the Delaware River canceled?

A. Because the river was frozen.　　 B. Because the wind was too strong.

C. Because the snow was too thick.　　 D. Because the temperature was too low.

2.Which of the following is the bad weather that has set in according to the passage?

A. The avalanches.　　 B. A white Christmas.

C. A mess of people’s life.　　 D. Heavy snow, biting wind and chills.

3.What is the style of the passage?

A. Weather report.

B. News about the effect of bad weather.

C. News about bad weather.

D. A bad-weather warning and advisory.

高三英语阅读理解简单题查看答案及解析

In the fall of 1988, I visited many Buddhist temples, but after a while they all began to fade from my memories. However, there was one temple that left a great impression in my heart.

It is called the Temple of the Golden Buddha. After walking around it and taking some photos, I walked over to a glass case, next to which was a typewritten page describing the history of this magnificent piece of art.

Back in 1957 a group of monks from a monastery(修道院) had to relocate a clay Buddha from their temple to a new location. The monastery was to be relocated to make room for the development of a highway. When the crane(吊车)began to lift it, the weight of was so large that it began to crack. What’s more, rain began to fall, The head monk decided to lower the statue back to the ground and cover it with a large oilcloth to protect it from the rain.

Later that evening the head monk went to check on the Buddha. He shined his flash- light under the oilcloth to see if the Buddha was staying dry. As the light reached the crack, he noticed a little beam shining back and thought it strange. As he took a closer look at this beam of light, he wondered if there might be something underneath the clay. He went to fetch a chisel and hammer from the monastery and began to chip away at the clay. As he knocked off pieces of clay, the little beam grew brighter and bigger. Many hours of labor went by before the monk stood face to face with the extraordinary solid-gold Buddha.

Historians believe that several hundred years before the head monk’s discovery, the army was about to invade the country. The monks, realizing that their country would soon be attacked, covered their precious golden Buddha with an outer covering of clay in order to keep their treasure from being robbed by the enemy.

Unfortunately, it appears that the enemy killed all the monks, and the well-kept secret of the golden Buddha remained uncovered until the day in 1957.

As I flew home I began to think to myself, “We are all like the clay Buddha covered with a shell of hardness created out of fear, and yet underneath each of us is a ‘golden Buddha’, agolden Christ, or a ‘golden spirit,’ which is our real self. Somewhere along the way, between the ages of two and nine, we begin to cover up our’ golden spirit,’ our natural self. Much like the monk with the hammer and the chisel, our task now is to discover our true spirit once again.”

1.What made the monks cover the Buddha with a large oilcloth?

A. Hiding it from being stolen.

B. Protecting it from the rain.

C. Protecting it from being damaged.

D. Avoiding being seen.

2.Why was the author greatly impressed by the golden Buddha?

A. Because he likes it very much.

B. Because it differs from others.

C. Because of its history.

D. Because of the protection of the monk.

3.What might be the best title of the passage?

A. Visiting Buddhist Temples

B. The Golden Buddha

C. Protecting Their Country

D. Relocating the Buddha

4.What advice is given to us according to the passage?

A. Covering up ourselves.

B. Finding the truth.

C. Discovering our true spirit.

D. Building up our belief.

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

In the fall of 2017, when Paula Aldridge needed to get a job, she found herself at a crossroads. The 50-year-old wasn’t sure she would ever work again, due to health issues.

But Aldridge’s life and career journey started to turn around after she connected with Goodwill of Central Iowa’s skills training programs. These programs are tailored to help people develop the kind of specific, real-world skills they need to get and keep a job, through a combination of detailed instruction and hands-on experience.

When Aldridge first connected with Goodwill in September 2017, she was dealing with several barriers to immediate employment. Transportation was challenging, as she didn’t have a driver’s license or own a car. Aldridge also had a limited work history with long employment gaps (间断) , meaning she missed out on learning important skills, such as working a credit card machine. On top of that, her physical health issues were also a problem.

According to Kayleigh Duff, a career specialist at Goodwill of Central Iowa, the biggest barrier Aldridge had to overcome was from within. “She said outwardly that she had all of this confidence and that she knew how strong a worker she was, but I don’t think she truly believed it herself.”

Thankfully, Aldridge had plenty of people on her side to provide motivation and guidance. She originally started off in the food service training program but was eager to enter the retail (零售) skills program, since she had previously worked at the Salvation Army and Subway. When Aldridge mentioned her interest in retail, Duff recognized that her go-getting attitude would be a perfect match for the program.

The seven-week retail skills training is a systematic program combining classroom instruction with on- the-job experience at a Goodwill store. As Aldridge progressed and graduated from the program, she became more confident in her abilities.

Duff said it was great to see how Aldridge grew into the devoted, driven worker she is today. “She has this strong desire, this longing to succeed. And she knows that she’s able to do that, although she has fallen short in the past.”

1.What can be learned about Goodwill’s training programs?

A.They combine theory with practice.

B.They guarantee a good job for participants.

C.They are designed mainly for the unemployed.

D.They were established in the autumn of 2017.

2.What was the biggest problem Aldridge faced according to Duff?

A.Poor health. B.Poor working skills.

C.A lack of confidence. D.A lack of a driver’s license.

3.Why did Aldridge change her training program?

A.She wanted to attend a more systematic program.

B.She wanted to gain some hands-on experience.

C.She was more interested in retail.

D.She followed Duff’s advice.

4.What’s the main idea of the text?

A.A 50-year-old devotes herself to Goodwill.

B.Goodwill helps a 50-year-old turn her life around.

C.Goodwill training programs spring up around the world.

D.Success is closely linked to appropriate training programs.

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

Snow falls in the Earth’s extreme North and South throughout the year. However， the heaviest snowfalls have been reported in the mountains of other areas during winter. Snow is even known to fall near the Equator (赤道)，but only on the highest mountains.

Snow contains much less water than rain, but much of the water the world uses comes from snow. Melting snow provides water for rivers, electric power stations and agricultural crops. In the western United States, mountain snow provides up to seventy-five percent of all surface water supplies.

Snowfall helps to protect plants and some wild animals from winter weather. Fresh snow is made largely of air trapped among the snow crystals (晶体). Because the air has trouble moving, the movement of heat is limited. Snow also influences the movement of sound waves. The surface of the snow takes in, or absorbs, sound waves. As snow grows older or if there have been strong winds, it can become hard and flat. Then, the snow，s surface will help to send back sound waves.

Snow may be beautiful, but it can be deadly. It is responsible for the deaths of hundreds of people. Many people die in traffic accidents on roads covered with snow and ice or from being seriously stuck in the winter storm. Others die from heart attacks caused by too much physical activity out in the cold.

People may not be able to avoid living in areas where it snows often. However, they can avoid becoming victims of snowstorms. People should stop driving and stay at home until the storm has passed. People living in these areas should carry emergency supplies in their vehicle. These include food，emergency medical supplies，and extra clothing to stay warm and dry.

1.Mountain snowfall _____.

A．is heavier than that in the South and the North Poles

B．has never occurred near the Equator of the earth

C．brings less of the water the world uses than rain does

D．provides up to seventy—five percent of water supplies worldwide

2.Snow protects plants and wild animals from cold weather by _____.

A．supplying much more air                  B．limiting heat movement

C．absorbing strong winds                   D．sending back sound waves

3.Snow can be deadly mainly because it can _____.

A．cause road accidents

B．make people stuck in winter storms

C．lead to heart attacks

D．make people victims of snowstorms

4.What will the text probably tell us following the last paragraph? _.

A．How to drive during snowstorms

B．Where we can get emergency supplies

C．How to prevent heart attacks out in cold

D．Why we should stay warm and dry in winter

高三英语阅读理解简单题查看答案及解析

Looking for somewhere to go during the months of December, January and February? From snow-capped ski resorts to sunny islands, these are the hottest travel destinations to visit this winter.

St. Lucia

Longing for a tropical （热带的）getaway? Set your sights on St. Lucia. With Kayak reporting a 197 percent surge （激增）in interest, this Eastern Caribbean island nation is on the verge of blowing up.　Which shouldn't be a shock given that it delivers a mix of volcanic coastline, lush rainforests, dramatic mountains, coral reefs, and high-end resorts. Simply put： whether you're seeking romance or adventure, you'll find it in St. Lucia.

Mexico City, Mexico

With mouth-watering food, fashionable hotels, superb shopping, and tons of historic sites, Mexico City is definitely one to add to your list for the upcoming winter season. Since it's a major international airport, you can usually score flight deals.

New York City

While there's no bad month to experience the Big Apple, the frosty season is particularly magical. Guess that's why New York City ranks among the most searched winter travel destinations, according to Expedia. The most cherished attractions? The ice skating rink（溜冰场）at Rockefeller Center and sledding in Central Park.

Paris

“Many people frequent Paris in spring and summer,” reveals Hudson. “The trade-off for picture-perfect weather? Long lines at museums, plus a Metro chock-full of map-toting tourists. ” Based on Expedia data, the cheapest month to go to Paris is February. Our advice? Pack your most fashionable raincoat and let the winter sadness fade away in the City of Light.

1.Where will you go if you long for a risky trip?

A.St. Lucia. B.Mexico City, Mexico.

C.New York City. D.Paris.

2.What is special about Mexico City?

A.Its weather is always great.

B.It often offers discounted air tickets.

C.It provides magical experience in winter.

D.It is the most searched winter travel destination.

3.What can we learn about Paris?

A.It is a fashionable city.

B.Its climate is quite perfect.

C.Its winter sports are attractive.

D.It is a popular tourist destination in spring.

高三英语阅读理解简单题查看答案及解析