Latin and the works of Sophocles (索福克勒斯,诗人) a...

Latin and the works of Sophocles (索福克勒斯,诗人) are no longer the preserve of private schools thanks to a project that links professors with underprivileged teenagers.

The new project between King’s College London (KCL) and Newham Sixth Form College in east London offering lessons in Classics to bright senior-three students is now in its second year.

Students from disadvantaged backgrounds with high academic potential can attend the classes, which are designed to inspire and engage them in challenging topics that are often the preserve of private schools.

Lecturers cover subjects including ancient literature, religion, theology, Persian history and philosophy. Some teenagers from neighbouring state schools also attend. The students act out Greek plays such as Antigone by Sophocles and are encouraged to consider Classics as a degree.

Edith Hall, a Classics lecturer at KCL, said: “We wanted to enable the students from Newham to understand the richness and relevance of the classical world. They have a unique opportunity to engage with world-class lecturers,”

Juned Malek,19,who is in his first year at KCL, was introduced to literature, theology, history and philosophy by the classical outreach program when he was at Newham. He now helps to run it. He said the program was “essential in making the myths that surround studying Classics disappear, namely that it is an elitist (精英) subject or that it has limited career opportunities”.

The analytical skills that the degree develops are in high demand by employers, particularly investment banks and law firms.

He said all schools should teach Classics to give a “basic introduction of historical principles passed down through millennia”, adding: “A limited classical education leaves you stuck in the constant present, lacking the ability to use the past as a frame of reference when making decisions.”

1.Why do the professors start the project?

A.To control the study time.

B.To help the underprivileged students.

C.To help the talented students from KCL.

D.To inspire and engage all students in challenging topics.

2.According to the text, who may attend the classes?

A.A naughty student with no talent in study.

B.A bright student with a talent for music.

C.A clever student with disadvantaged background.

D.A talented student with private school learning background.

3.According to the text, which is one of the benefits of studying Classics?

A.Being admitted to the private school.

B.Having limited career choices.

C.Observing the life of the elitists.

D.Having reference when making decisions.

4.Which section in a magazine is this text most likely from?

A.Education. B.Technology.

C.Business. D.Science.

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

The exact work of ancient astronomers has led to a modern observation --- our days are longer than they used to be. Not that you’d noticed: The new research in the Proceedings of the Royal Society A shows that it takes the Earth a tiny bit longer these days to complete a single rotation (转动) than it did millions of years ago. It’s the kind of stuff that’s measured in milliseconds per century, but those milliseconds add up. Over the last thousands of years, they’d totaled several hours, which the Los Angeles Times puts this way, “If humanity had been measuring time with an atomic clock that started running back in 700 BC, today that clock would read 7 p.m. when the sun is directly overhead rather than noon. The atomic clock won’t lose a second for 15 billion years.” Maybe more remarkable is that the work is the result of a tireless 40-year research into ancient timekeeping records dating back 2,700 years.

Scientists led by Richard Stephenson of the UK’s Durham University have been studying Babylonian clay tablets, Chinese observations made through the use of water clocks, and Arab astronomical records that tracked solar and lunar eclipses(日/月食). “The most astonishing thing about this study is the fact that we have this information at all,” said a geographer not involved in the study. Researchers are still hoping to find observations from the Incas and the Maya, and to fill in their largest hole between 200 and 600 AD, but they’ve measured the Earth’s deceleration at 1.8 milliseconds per day per century. Given the moon’s gravitational effect on our oceans, the discovery that Earth is decelerating isn’t a surprise, notes the Christian Science Monitor, though astronomers had previously estimated a higher rate.

1.Why are days longer than before according to the text?

A. The earth rotates more and more slowly.

B. Humanity has got incorrect timekeeping records.

C. It takes longer for the earth to turn around the sun.

D. The lost milliseconds for centuries are added to our present days.

2.How did researchers come to the conclusion of the study?

A. By resetting the rotating time of the earth.

B. By referring to ancient timekeeping records.

C. By studying the moon’s gravitational effect on the oceans.

D. By measuring time again with an atomic clock.

3.What can we infer about the study from what the geographer said?

A. Geography theory supports the result of the study.

B. The geographer disagrees to the research conclusion.

C. The scientists’ research is meaningless.

D. It’s right to get geographers involved in the study.

4.What is the meaning of the underlined word “deceleration” in Paragraph 2?

A. Evolution.　　 B. Slowdown.

C. Enlargement.　　 D. Development.

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

The exact work of ancient astronomers has led to a modern observation --- our days are longer than they used to be. Not that you’d noticed: The new research in the Proceedings of the Royal Society A shows that it takes the Earth a tiny bit longer these days to complete a single rotation (转动) than it did millions of years ago. It’s the kind of stuff that’s measured in milliseconds per century, but those milliseconds add up. Over the last thousands of years, they’d totaled several hours, which the Los Angeles Times puts this way, “If humanity had been measuring time with an atomic clock that started running back in 700 BC, today that clock would read 7 p.m. when the sun is directly overhead rather than noon. The atomic clock won’t lose a second for 15 billion years.” Maybe more remarkable is that the work is the result of a tireless 40-year research into ancient timekeeping records dating back 2,700 years.

Scientists led by Richard Stephenson of the UK’s Durham University have been studying Babylonian clay tablets, Chinese observations made through the use of water clocks, and Arab astronomical records that tracked solar and lunar eclipses(日/月食). “The most astonishing thing about this study is the fact that we have this information at all,” said a geographer not involved in the study. Researchers are still hoping to find observations from the Incas and the Maya, and to fill in their largest hole between 200 and 600 AD, but they’ve measured the Earth’s deceleration at 1.8 milliseconds per day per century. Given the moon’s gravitational effect on our oceans, the discovery that Earth is decelerating isn’t a surprise, notes the Christian Science Monitor, though astronomers had previously estimated a higher rate.

1.Why are days longer than before according to the text?

A.The earth rotates more and more slowly.

B.Humanity has got incorrect timekeeping records.

C.It takes longer for the earth to turn around the sun.

D.The lost milliseconds for centuries are added to our present days.

2.How did researchers come to the conclusion of the study?

A.By resetting the rotating time of the earth.

B.By referring to ancient timekeeping records.

C.By studying the moon’s gravitational effect on the oceans.

D.By measuring time again with an atomic clock.

3.What can we infer about the study from what the geographer said?

A.Geography theory supports the result of the study.

B.The geographer disagrees to the research conclusion.

C.The scientists’ research is meaningless.

D.It’s right to get geographers involved in the study.

4.What is the meaning of the underlined word “deceleration” in Paragraph 2?

A.Evolution. B.Slow down.

C.Enlargement. D.Development.

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

Modern equipment and no smoking are two of the things I like ______ working here. But whether to stay or leave is ___________.

高三英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析

Modern equipment and no smoking are two of the things I like ____ working here.

A. with                       B. over                             C. at                                D. about

高三英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析

Modern equipment and no smoking are two of the things I like ____ working here.

A. with         B. over            C. at           D. about

高三英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析

D

Annual holidays have become a luxury and are no longer a staple of family life, according to government research.

A getaway of a week or more is no longer considered essential by many families and is often beyond their reach, said the analysis of what parents and children say they really need. Fashionable clothes for the children, expensive birthday parties and lots of toys are also on the list of luxuries families don’t have to have. Instead, recession-hit parents are thinking of the future, and the things they want for their children centre around learning to behave properly, good education and good health.

Their picture of what a family ought to have includes a space to eat together away from the television, plenty of fruit and vegetables, and bicycles so children can get exercise.

The breakdown of necessities and luxuries was prepared by researchers from the Department for Work and Pensions(DWP) who were trying to establish an up-to-date picture of what parents say they really need.

Their findings show how families have scaled down their expectations in the face of economic difficulties — how parents are now concentrating their attention and money firmly on the long-term interests of their children. Many believe that while it is vital for a family to do things together, day trips or weekend breaks are enough.

Spending on furniture or decorating the house was also considered luxurious, unless the state of the home was so bad it became difficult to invite visitors in.

Instead, researchers said: A family home should have an area where the family can eat together, not on their laps in front of a television. Families should be able to go on outings, overnight trips and possibly short holiday: the fact of being able to share these experiences is more important than the precise activity and its cost.

71. It can be inferred that ______________.

A. a week or more holiday is considered beyond many families’ reach

B. children hardly ever need fashionable clothes and lots of toys

C. what a family should have is basic things that they must have

D. annual holidays were once considered necessary and vital

72. In the opinion of most parents, _____________.

A. families can watch TV together in order to keep up their relationship

B. day trips or weekend breaks are enough for families to share experiences

C. their expectations should be increased in the face of economic difficulties

D. a week’s holiday is an essential minimum during the financial crisis

73. Which of the following is TRUE of the researchers from the DWP?

A. They confirm many families still need at least a week away on holiday each year.

B. They learn it is insignificant for a family to do things with each other regularly.

C. They want to know what parents really need in the face of economic difficulties.

D. They found spending on furniture or decorating the house was thought valuable.

74. We can conclude from the last paragraph____________.

A. being able to share experiences is important for families

B. a family needs at least a week away on holiday each year

C. a family home should have a comfortable area to watch TV

D. going on outings and overnight trips is wasting time for families

75. What does the author mainly discuss in the text?

A. Cycling is very important for children’s health.

B. Family holidays once a year have become a luxury.

C. It is vital for parents to eat together with children.

D. Parents are concerned with children’s future.

高三英语阅读理解简单题查看答案及解析

Annual holidays have become a luxury and are no longer a staple of family life, according to government research．

A getaway of a week or more is no longer considered essential by many families and is often beyond their reach, said the analysis of what parents and children say they really need．Fashionable clothes for the children, expensive birthday parties and lots of toys are also on the list of luxuries families don’t have to have．Instead, recession-hit parents are thinking of the future, and the things they want for their children centre around learning to behave properly, good education and good health．

Their picture of what a family ought to have includes a space to eat together away from the television, plenty of fruit and vegetables, and bicycles so children can get exercise．

The breakdown of necessities and luxuries was prepared by researchers from the Department for Work and Pensions（DWP） who were trying to establish an up-to-date picture of what parents say they really need．

Their findings show how families have scaled down their expectations in the face of economic difficulties — how parents are now concentrating their attention and money firmly on the long-term interests of their children．Many believe that while it is vital for a family to do things together, day trips or weekend breaks are enough．

Spending on furniture or decorating the house was also considered luxurious, unless the state of the home was so bad it became difficult to invite visitors in．

Instead, researchers said: A family home should have an area where the family can eat together, not on their laps in front of a television．Families should be able to go on outings, overnight trips and possibly short holiday: the fact of being able to share these experiences is more important than the precise activity and its cost．

1.It can be inferred that ______________．

A．a week or more holiday is considered beyond many families’ reach

B．children hardly ever need fashionable clothes and lots of toys

C．what a family should have is basic things that they must have

D．annual holidays were once considered necessary and vital

2.In the opinion of most parents, _____________．

A．families can watch TV together in order to keep up their relationship

B．day trips or weekend breaks are enough for families to share experiences

C．their expectations should be increased in the face of economic difficulties

D．a week’s holiday is an essential minimum during the financial crisis

3.Which of the following is TRUE of the researchers from the DWP?

A．They confirm many families still need at least a week away on holiday each year．

B．They learn it is insignificant for a family to do things with each other regularly．

C．They want to know what parents really need in the face of economic difficulties．

D．They found spending on furniture or decorating the house was thought valuable．

4.We can conclude from the last paragraph____________．

A．being able to share experiences is important for families

B．a family needs at least a week away on holiday each year

C．a family home should have a comfortable area to watch TV

D．going on outings and overnight trips is wasting time for families

5.What does the author mainly discuss in the text?

A．Cycling is very important for children’s health．

B．Family holidays once a year have become a luxury．

C．It is vital for parents to eat together with children．

D．Parents are concerned with children’s future．

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

Modern equipment and no smoking are two of the things I like ____ working here.

高三英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析

No longer in the pink

Corals are comeback creatures. As the world froze and melted and sea levels rose and fell over 30,000 years, Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, which is roughly the size of Italy, died and revived five times. But now, thanks to human activity, corals face the most complex condition they have yet had to deal with.

According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate change, a rise in global temperatures of 1.5oC could cause coral reefs to decline 70-90%. The planet is about 1oC hotter than in the 19th century and its seas are becoming warmer, stormier and more acidic. This is already affecting relations between corals and the single-celled algae (海藻), which give them their color. When waters become unusually warm, algae float away, leaving reefs a ghostly white. This “bleaching” is happening five times as often as it did in the 1970s. Meanwhile the changing chemistry of the oceans makes it harder for corals to form their structures.

If corals go, divers and marine biologists are not the only people who will miss them. Reefs take up only a percent of the sea floor, but support a quarter of the planet’s fish diversity. The fish that reefs shelter are especially valuable to their poorest human neighbors, many of whom depend on them as a source of protein. Roughly an eighth of the world’s population lives within 100km of a reef. Corals also protect 150,000km of shoreline in more than 100 countries and territories from the oceans buffeting, as well as generating billions of dollars in tourism revenue.

Coral systems must adapt if they are to survive. They need protection from local sources of harm. Their eco-systems suffer from waste from farms, building sites and blast fishing. Governments need to impose tighter rules on these industrials, such as tougher local building codes, and to put more effort into enforcing rules against overfishing.

Setting up marine protected areas could also help reefs. Locals who fear for their livelihoods could be given work as rangers with the job of looking after the reserves. Visitors to marine parks can be required to pay a special tax, like what has been done in the Caribbean.

Many reefs that have been damaged could benefit from restoration. Coral’s biodiversity offers hope, because the same coral will grow differently under different conditions. Corals of the western Pacific, for example, can withstand higher temperatures than the same species in the eastern Pacific, which proves a way forward to encourage corals to grow in new spots.

1.According to the passage, what may happen to corals when waters become warm?

A.Turning white B.Getting pink

C.Being active D.Becoming colorful

2.According to the passage,corals can _______ the changing in the nature.

A.live with B.escape from

C.die in D.recovery from

3.According to Paragraph 4, the governments should__________.

A.carry out stricter rules on industries around the coast

B.call on volunteers to look after the marine reserves

C.reduce the number of visitors to the marine parks

D.ban people from fishing in the coral reef areas

4.What’s the main purpose of the passage?

A.To present the importance of coral reef to the world.

B.To introduce the severe effect on coral reef brought by climate change.

C.To propose governments to take action immediately to save coral reef.

D.To attract more attention to coral reef protection.

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析