The invention of steel frames in the late 180...

The invention of steel frames in the late 1800s meant that the walls did not carry the weight of a structure. This development meant that suddenly much taller buildings were possible, and they could be built quickly. Skyscrapers had been born, and they were about to change the face of our cities.

Since 1901 the world’s tallest building had always been a skyscraper and until 1974 this was always in New York. Only after the end of the century did the tallest building appear outside North America, with the opening of the first building to be more than half a kilometer tall, Taipei 101.

Tall building are seen as a symbol of success and status by many but they are not always popular with local residents. The construction of the Shard, the tallest building in London and in the entire European Union, has been highly controversial. It is only a few hundred meters across the River Thames from the Tower of London--one of the oldest and most famous landmarks in London.Many feel that such modern constructions should not be built near to historic sites.

London residents should hope that the opening of the Shard doesn’t lead to a major downtown in their economy. The Empire State Building was finished in 1931, very soon after Wall Street crashed. The Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur were built in 1988, just after the Asian financial crisis. The Burj Khalifa in Dubai was opened in early 2010, and shortly afterwards the emirate’s（酋长国的）investment company collapsed.

The Burj Khalifa might be the tallest structure in the world currently but its status is under threat from numerous planned buildings around the world. One tower which will probably never be built is the 4km high X-Seed 4000 in Tokyo. It was designed in 1995 to attract publicity rather than as a serious proposal, but who knows when such fanciful ideas could become a reality? The Burj Khalifa is more that double the height of the Empire State Building, and surely no one in 1931 would have imagined that.

1.What make the building of skyscrapers possible?

A.The using of the steel frames.

B.The improvement of the wall material.

C.The changing of the city face.

D.'The increase of the building height.

2.What is most Londoners' attitude towards the construction of the Shard?

A.Supportive. B.Uncooperative.

C.Acceptable. D.Critical.

3.How is paragraph 4 developed?

A.By analyzing possible reasons. B.By stating general characters.

C.By providing typical examples. D.By listing practical proposals.

4.What is the best title for the text?

A.Skyscrapers: symbol of success B.Skyscrapers: ideal buildings

C.The sky's fanciful ideas and reality D.The sky's the limit

高三英语阅读理解困难题查看答案及解析

When film was first invented in the late 1800s and early 1900s, movie-goers could actually see images of far-away places, like China, and that fueled interest in the area. Throughout history, many Chinese Americans are devoted in this area. Now, the back room of the Formosa Cafe looks like a museum that honors the works of Chinese Americans and their contributions to Hollywood.

Chinese stereotypes（刻板印象）

Stereotypes of the Chinese in America were strengthened by the otherness of U.S. China towns in the late 1800s and early 1900s.There was an idea that the Chinese was the “yellow peril”, who you couldn’t trust. And that resulted in the character called Fu Manchu. Fu Manchu was an evil character who wanted to destroy the western world. He appeared in movies and in a television series. In 1926 , Charlie Chan, a Chinese investigator from Hawaii, appeared for the first time in a movie. This created a different , yet still problematic Asian stereotype.

“Yellow face” actors

Charlie Chan and Fu Manchu may have been Chinese characters, but the actors were usually white men made up to look like Asian. Actors Sidney Toler, Roland Winters and Ross Martin all played Charlie Chan. Yellow face meant they actually yellowed up their skin. White actors just played the lead characters in The Good Earth, a 1937 film about Chinese farmers. Asian actors had parts in the film, but they needed bankable actors , however , there were no Asian American bankable actors.

China factors

Over the years, Asian and Chinese Americans did find work in Hollywood, and a few earned a star on the Hollywood Walk for Fame. Hollywood is also changing the way it presents the Chinese culture. As the biggest market for movies outside the U. S, Hollywood has been making films that will not offend movie goers in China or the country’s government. The industry has been careful not to show the Chinese as evil. Co-productions between Hollywood and Chinese companies put Chinese characters and China in a favorable or satisfactory way.

1.Why is the back room of the Formosa Cafe mentioned?

A.To show appreciation for Chinese American filmmakers.

B.To display the richness of Chinese American films.

C.To attract more customers to enjoy coffee in the Formosa Cafe.

D.To recommend a place to mover goers to learn Chinese American films.

2.What can be known about Charlie Chan?

A.He could be found in a TV series.

B.He was an actor bearing evil reputation.

C.He represented investigators from Hawaii.

D.He wasn’t much appreciated by movie-goers then.

3.What can be concluded about Chinese American films?

A.Chinese actors were preferred in casting Chinese roles.

B.They focused on evil Chinese eager to ruin America.

C.China factors are positively viewed in them.

D.They have been introducing Chinese stereotypes.

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

In late January of 2018, Chicago experienced the coldest temperatures that the city has seen in decades.

A group of homeless people that live in an area called Tent City were left outside directly ________ to the deadly weather. 34-year-old Candice Payne, a managing broker (经纪人) from a local company, was ________ enough to have shelter from the dangerous conditions. ________, she couldn’t stop thinking about the homeless people in the area who had nowhere to go.

“It was 50℃ below, and I knew I had to take ________,” Payne told The New York Times. She started thinking of different ________ that could possibly work. Eventually, she ________ to see if there were any rooms available at ________ hotels that she could ________ for the night for the people ________ in the street. So without wasting any time, Payne got on the ________ and started calling hotels in the area.

“Finally, the Amber Inn was nice enough to ________ me to buy the rooms for the homeless,” Payne said. Without ________, she purchased 30 rooms for the night with her credit card. She ________ reached out to people on her Instagram account asking if anyone would like to ________ with either paying for more rooms or ________ the homeless people to the inn.

She got immediate ________ that surprised her. Strangers ________ their cars and S.U.V.s. They also ________, which helped Payne pay for a total of 60 rooms for five nights.

Payne’s ________ act made news across the country, however, she said, “I am a regular person. I ________ it with so many others’ help.”

1.A.exposed B.contributed C.used D.adjusted

2.A.old B.lucky C.proud D.strange

3.A.In short B.Therefore C.However D.For example

4.A.care B.shelters C.chances D.action

5.A.directions B.ways C.results D.areas

6.A.required B.promised C.decided D.agreed

7.A.unique B.comfortable C.local D.remote

8.A.rent B.purchase C.discover D.entered

9.A.found B.walking C.working D.stuck

10.A.phone B.bus C.glasses D.coat

11.A.persuade B.remind C.convince D.allow

12.A.preparation B.imagination C.hesitation D.permission

13.A.then B.still C.just D.again

14.A.pay off　　 . B.help out C.speak out D.take off

15.A.transporting B.accompanying C.devoting D.inviting

16.A.rewards B.responses C.achievements D.benefits

17.A.sold B.repaired C.searched D.volunteered

18.A.presented B.performed C.repeated D.donated

19.A.selfless B.regular C.extra D.natural

20.A.reached B.understood C.made D.impressed

高三英语完形填空中等难度题查看答案及解析

Andrew Carneigie, known as the King of Steel, built the steel industry in the United States, and, in the process, became one of the wealthiest men in America. His success resulted partly from his ability to sell the product and partly from his policy of expanding during periods of economic decline, when most of his competitors were reducing their investments. Carnegie believed that individuals should progress through hard work, but he also felt strongly that the wealthy should use their fortunes for the benefit of society. He opposed charity, preferring instead to provide educational opportunities that would allow others to help themselves. “He who dies rich, dies disgraced”, he often said. Among his more noteworthy contributions to society are those that bear his name, including the Carnegie Institute of Pittsburgh, which has a library, a museum of fine arts, and a museum of national history. He also founded a school of technology that is now part of Carnegie-Mellon University. Other philanthropic(慈善的) gifts are the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace to promote understanding between nations, the Carnegie Institute of Washington to fund scientific research, and Carnegie Hall to provide a center for the arts. Few Americans have been left untouched by Andrew Carnegie’s generosity. His contributions of more than five million dollars established 2,500 libraries in small communities throughout the country and formed the nucleus of the public library system that we all enjoy today.

1.The author quoted(引述) “he who dies rich, dies disgraced” in the passage to show______.

A. He felt strongly that the wealthy should use their fortunes for the benefit of society.

B. He opposed charity.

C. The wealthy die from their fortunes

D. The wealthy die from not contributing to society.

2.Carnegie’s success includes following aspects EXCEPT_____.

A. his policy of expanding.

B. his ability to sell the product

C. his ability to produce the product

D. his hard work

3.Which of the following may NOT be philanthropic gifts to society according to the passage?____

A. the Carnegie Institute of Washington.

B. the Carnegie Institute of Pittsburgh.

C. the steel industry.

D. the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

4.What is the meaning of “Few Americans have been left untouched by Andrew Carnegie’s generosity.” in the passage?________

A. Few Americans have touched Andrew Carnegie’s generosity.

B. Many Americans have touched Andrew Carnegie’s generosity.

C. we all enjoy Andrew Carnegie’s generosity today.

D. Many Americans were given Andrew Carnegie’s generosity.

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

1.Which of the following statements is TRUE about the studio’s services?

A. Frames come in three different colors and sizes.

B. There is no need to make an appointment to take photos.

C. Photographs will be delivered within three business days.

D. Someone on the staff can help customers look good.

2.How much can non-club members save when they use the Fantastic Package Plan instead of buying the same products individually?

A. $20.　　 B. $30.

C. $40.　　 D. $50.

3.We can learn from the text that ______.

A. club members need to pay a $40 membership fee every year

B. as many as five pictures can be included in a Multi-image sheet

C. customers can receive a 20th anniversary discount until December 31

D. you must have a Fantastic Club membership to receive a free gift

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

1.Which of the following statements is TRUE about the studio’s services?

A.Frames come in three different colors and sizes.

B.There is no need to make an appointment to take photos.

C.Photographs will be delivered within three business days.

D.Someone on the staff can help customers look good.

2.How much can non-club members save when they use the Fantastic Package Plan instead of buying the same products individually?

A.$20. B.$30.

C.$40. D.$50.

3.We can learn from the text that ______.

A.club members need to pay a $40 membership fee every year

B.as many as five pictures can be included in a Multi-image sheet

C.customers can receive a 20th anniversary discount until December 31

D.you must have a Fantastic Club membership to receive a free gift

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

It was late in the afternoon, and I was putting the final touch on a piece of writing that I was feeling pretty good about. I wanted to save it, but my cursor(光标) had frozen. I tried to shut the computer down, and it seized up altogether. Unsure of what else to do, I yanked (用力猛拉) the battery out.

Unfortunately, Windows had been in the midst of a crucial（紧要关头） undertaking. The next morning, when I turned my computer back on, it informed me that a file had been corrupted and Windows would not load. Then, it offered to repair itself by using the Windows Setup CD.

I opened the special drawer where I keep CDs. But no Windows CD in there. I was forced to call the computer company's Global Support Centre. My call was answered by a woman in some unnamed, far-off land. I find it annoying to make small talk with someone when I don't know what continent they're standing on. Suppose I were to comment on the beautiful weather we've been having when there was a monsoon(季风) at the other end of the phone? So I got right to the point.

"My computer is telling me a file is corrupted and it wants to fix itself, but I don't have the Windows Setup CD."

"So you're having a problem with your Windows Setup CD." She has apparently been dozing and, having come to just as the sentence ended, was attempting to cover for her inattention.

It quickly became clear that the woman was not a computer technician. Her job was to serve as a gatekeeper. Her only duty, as far as I could tell, was to raise global stress levels.

To make me disappear, the woman gave me the phone number for Windows' creator, Microsoft. This is like giving someone the phone number for, I don't know, North America. Besides, the CD worked; I just didn't have it. No matter how many times I repeated my story, we came back to the same place. She was calm and polite.

When my voice hit a certain decibel (分贝), I was passed along, like a hot, irritable potato, to a technician.

"You don't have the Windows Setup CD, ma'am, because you don't need it," he explained cheerfully.

"Windows came preinstalled on your computer!"

"But I do need it."

"Yes, but you don't have it." We went on like this for a while. Finally, he offered to walk me through the use of a different CD, one that would erase my entire system. "Of course, you'd lose all your e-mail, your documents, your photos." It was like offering to drop a safe on my head to cure my headache. "You might be able to recover them, but it would be expensive." He sounded delighted. "And it's not covered by the warranty (产品保证书)!"  The safe began to seem like a good idea, provided it was full.

I hung up the phone and drove my computer to a small, friendly repair place I'd heard about. A smart, helpful man dug out a Windows CD and told me it wouldn't be a problem. An hour later, he called to let me know it was ready. I thanked him, and we chatted about the weather, which was the same outside my window as it was outside his.

1.Why did the author shut down her computer abruptly?

A．She had saved what she had written.

B．She couldn't move the cursor.

C．The computer refused to work.

D．The computer offered to repair itself.

2.Which of the following is the author's opinion about the woman at the Global Support Centre?

A．She sounded helpful and knowledgeable.

B．She was there to make callers frustrated.

C．She was able to solve her computer problem.

D．She was quick to pass her along to a technician.

3.According to the passage, the solution offered by the technician was_________________.

A．effective          B．economical        C．unpractical        D．unsatisfied

4. "It was like offering to drop a safe on my head to cure my headache" in the last but one paragraph means that_____________________.

A．the technician's proposal would make things even worse

B．the technician's proposal could eventually solve the problem

C．files stored on her computer were like a safe

D．erasing the entire system was like curing a headache

5.It can be inferred from the passage that the differences between the Global Support Centre and the local repair shop lie in all the followings except ________________.

A．efficiency         B．location           C．setup CDs         D．attitude

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

Danielle Steel, America's sweetheart, is one of the hardest working women in the book business. Unlike other productive authors who write one book at a time, she can work on up to five. Her research time before writing takes at least three years. Once she has fully studied her subjects, ready to dive into a book, she can spend twenty hours nonstop at her desk.

Danielle Steel comes from New York and was sent to France for her education. After graduation, she worked in the public relations and advertising industries. Later she started a job as a writer which she was best fit for. Her achievements are unbelievable: 390 million copies of books in print, nearly fifty New York Times best-selling novels, and a series of "Max and Martha" picture books for children to help them deal with the real-life problems of death, new hobbies and new schools. Her 1998 book about the death of her son shot to the top of the New York Times best-selling list as soon as it came out. Twenty-eight of her books have been made into films. She is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records for one of her books being the Times best-seller for 381 weeks straight.

Not content with a big house, a  loving family, and a view of the Golden Gate Bridge, Danielle Steel considers her readers to be the most important resource(资源) and has kept in touch with them by e-mail. While she is often compared to the heroines(女主人公) of her own invention, her life is undoubtedly much quieter. But, if she does have anything in common with them, it is her strength of will and her inimitable(独特的) style. There is only one Danielle Steel.

1.Children who have read "Max and Martha" picture books may know ______.

2.One of Danielle Steel's achievements is that ______.

3.We can learn from the passage that Danielle Steel _____.

高三英语阅读理解困难题查看答案及解析

Danielle Steel,America’s sweetheart,is one of the hardest working women in the book business.Unlike other productive authors who write one book at a time,she can work on up to five.Her research alone before writing takes at least three years.Once she has fully studied her subjects,ready to dive into a book,she can spend twenty hours nonstop at her desk.

Danielle Steel comes from New York and was sent to France for her education.After graduation,she worked in the public relations and advertising industries.Later she started a job as a writer which she was best fit for.Her achievements are unbelievable:390 million copies of books in print,nearly fifty New York Times best-selling novels, and a series of “Max and Martha” picture books for children to help them deal with the real-life problems of death,new hobbies and new schools. Her 1998 book about the death of her son shot to the top of the New York Times best-selling list as soon as it came out.Twenty-eight of her books have been made into films.She is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records for one of her books being the Times best-seller for 381 weeks straight.

Not content with a big house,a loving family,and a view of the Golden Gate Bridge, Danielle Steel considers her readers to be the most important resource(资源) and has kept in touch with them by e-mail.While she is often compared to the heroines(女主人公) of her own invention,her life is undoubtedly much quieter.But,if she does have anything in common with them,it is her strength of will and her inimitable style.There is only one Danielle Steel.

1.Danielle Steel is different from other writers in that ________.

A. she can write several books at the same time

B. she often does some research before writing a book

C. she is one of the most popular American women writers

D. she can keep writing for quite a long time without a break

2.Children who have read “Max and Martha” picture books may know ________.

A. how to deal with affairs at school

B. what to do if Max and Martha die

C. what to do when new babies are born into their families

D. how to solve the difficult problems in their writing classes

3.One of Danielle Steel’ achievements is that ________.

A. some TV plays were based on her books

B. her picture books attracted a lot of young men

C. one of her books became a best-seller in 1998

D. she wrote the Guinness Book of World Records

4.We can learn from the passage that Danielle Steel ________.

A. lives an exciting life                                                      B. values her readers a lot

C. writes about quiet women                                          D. is pleased with her achievements

5.What does the underlined word “inimitable” mean?

A. hardworking                                                         B. attractive

C. strange                                                                  D. unique

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

Danielle Steel,America’s sweetheart,is one of the hardest working women in the book business.Unlike other productive authors who write one book at a time,she can work on up to five.Her research alone before writing takes at least three years.Once she has fully studied her subjects,ready to dive into a book,she can spend twenty hours nonstop at her desk.

Danielle Steel comes from New York and was sent to France for her education.After graduation,she worked in the public relations and advertising industries.Later she started a job as a writer which she was best fit for.Her achievements are unbelievable:390 million copies of books in print,nearly fifty New York Times best-selling novels,and a series of “Max and Martha” picture books for children to help them deal with the real-life problems of death,new babies and new schools.Her 1998 book about the death of her son shot to the top of the New York Times best-selling list as soon as it came out.Twenty-eight of her books have been made into films.She is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records for one of her books being the Times best-seller for 381 weeks straight.

Not content with a big house,a loving family,and a view of the Golden Gate Bridge,Danielle Steel considers her readers to be the most important resource(资源) and has kept in touch with them by e-mail.While she is often compared to the heroines(女主人公) of her own invention,her life is undoubtedly much quieter.But,if she does have anything in common with them,it is her strength of will and her inimitable(独特的) style.There is only one Danielle Steel.

1.Danielle Steel is different from other writers in that _______.

A.she can write several books at the same time

B.she often does some reasearch before writing a book

C.she is one of the most popular American women writers

D.she can keep writing for quite a long time without a break

2.Children who have read “Max and Martha” picture books may know _______.

A.how to deal with affairs at school

B.what to do if Max and Martha die

C.what to do when new babies are born into their families

D.how to solve the difficult problems in their writing classes

3.One of Danielle Steel’s achievements is that _______.

A.some TV plays were based on her books

B.her picture books attracted a lot of young men

C.one of her books became a best-seller in 1998

D.she wrote the Guinness Book of World Records

4.We can learn from the passage that Danielle Steel _______.

A.lives an exciting life                        B.values her readers a lot

C.writes about quiet women                  D.is pleased with her achievements

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析