How can the appearance of a product be more important than what it does? The battle between form and function rose again when James Dyson, British inventor of the Dyson vacuum（真空）cleaner that has sold in millions around the world, resigned as chairman of London's Design Museum． It is widely believed that Mr．Dyson felt that the museum put too much stress on style and fashion at the expense of serious industrial design．
Mr．Dyson accused the museum of not keeping true to itself． He may be right, but these days, museums everywhere can no longer afford to be unique centers of scholarship and learning．Among competition for sponsorship, they must use exhibitions of populist culture, nice cafes and shops or, best of all, a new building by Frank Gehry to increase visitor numbers．
On the one hand, some producers can be too old-fashioned and too concerned with the importance of product engineering and the functionality of their goods．On the other hand there are those who believe that how a product looks is more important．Design is indeed a broad term, involving both function and form．Typically, in any given product area, it changes from the former to the latter． Clothing is a good example．But surely you would have to be a very shallow person to think something's appearance was more important than what it did．
Today nearly all goods at any given price-point do much the same job．So almost the only way producers can differentiate their products from those of their competitors is to create some sort of emotional connection with the consumer, which could be through the visual appeal of the product or its packaging; or the imagery（意象）created by advertising. And what of the Dyson vacuum cleaners? Mr. Dyson may believe that people buy these machines because of the graphs showing their superior suction(喝酒), but most vacuum cleaners do a good job; the main reason people pay extra for a Dyson is because it is a vacuum cleaner with a trendy brand. With its inside workings exposed, it is a bit like a Richard Rogers building with all its pipes shown in bright colors on the outside instead of being hidden inside. Functional it may be, but it is a bit of a trick, too．
1.Mr. Dyson left the Design Museum because he thought the museum ．
A. didn't increase the number of visitors
B. couldn't provide scholarships for learners
C. hadn't great appeal for serious industrial designs
D. wasn't loyal to its original purpose of learning
2.Speaking of clothing, the underlined word "latter" refers to ．
A. affording protection
B. indicating one's identity
C. making someone beautiful
D. providing warmth
3.What is the author's opinion in Paragraph 4?
A. A product with convenient packaging sells well．
B. The majority of consumers prefer to buy branded goods．
C. Emotion contributes much to the development of advertising industry．
D. Most similarly priced products are of a comparable standard．
4.The author believes that people buy the Dyson vacuum cleaner because ．
A. it has a fashionable range
B. it has very good suction
C. it sells well around the world
D. it is invented by James Dyson
5.What is the author's attitude towards the form of a product?
A. Optimistic B. Skeptical
C. Objective D. Disapproving
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题
How can the appearance of a product be more important than what it does? The battle between form and function rose again when James Dyson, British inventor of the Dyson vacuum（真空）cleaner that has sold in millions around the world, resigned as chairman of London's Design Museum． It is widely believed that Mr．Dyson felt that the museum put too much stress on style and fashion at the expense of serious industrial design．
Mr．Dyson accused the museum of not keeping true to itself． He may be right, but these days, museums everywhere can no longer afford to be unique centers of scholarship and learning．Among competition for sponsorship, they must use exhibitions of populist culture, nice cafes and shops or, best of all, a new building by Frank Gehry to increase visitor numbers．
On the one hand, some producers can be too old-fashioned and too concerned with the importance of product engineering and the functionality of their goods．On the other hand there are those who believe that how a product looks is more important．Design is indeed a broad term, involving both function and form．Typically, in any given product area, it changes from the former to the latter． Clothing is a good example．But surely you would have to be a very shallow person to think something's appearance was more important than what it did．
Today nearly all goods at any given price-point do much the same job．So almost the only way producers can differentiate their products from those of their competitors is to create some sort of emotional connection with the consumer, which could be through the visual appeal of the product or its packaging; or the imagery（意象）created by advertising. And what of the Dyson vacuum cleaners? Mr. Dyson may believe that people buy these machines because of the graphs showing their superior suction(喝酒), but most vacuum cleaners do a good job; the main reason people pay extra for a Dyson is because it is a vacuum cleaner with a trendy brand. With its inside workings exposed, it is a bit like a Richard Rogers building with all its pipes shown in bright colors on the outside instead of being hidden inside. Functional it may be, but it is a bit of a trick, too．
1.Mr. Dyson left the Design Museum because he thought the museum ．
A. didn't increase the number of visitors
B. couldn't provide scholarships for learners
C. hadn't great appeal for serious industrial designs
D. wasn't loyal to its original purpose of learning
2.Speaking of clothing, the underlined word "latter" refers to ．
A. affording protection
B. indicating one's identity
C. making someone beautiful
D. providing warmth
3.What is the author's opinion in Paragraph 4?
A. A product with convenient packaging sells well．
B. The majority of consumers prefer to buy branded goods．
C. Emotion contributes much to the development of advertising industry．
D. Most similarly priced products are of a comparable standard．
4.The author believes that people buy the Dyson vacuum cleaner because ．
A. it has a fashionable range
B. it has very good suction
C. it sells well around the world
D. it is invented by James Dyson
5.What is the author's attitude towards the form of a product?
A. Optimistic B. Skeptical
C. Objective D. Disapproving
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
How cool can libraries be in an era(时代) of iPods and Kindles? More than you think. Only if you now where to go.
Central Library: Seattle, Washington, United States
The Central Library in Seattle is modern and fashionable and has tourists from around the world paying visits and taking tours. It was designed by Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas and American designer Joshua Ramus. Tours began in 2006, two years after its opening.The library holds various art exhibitions, book signings and other events, while visitors can stop by the chocolate cart for a coffee and scan through the gift shop anytime.
Trinity College Library: D.ublin, Ireland
The Trinity College Library in Dublin is the oldest library in Ireland, founded in 1592 by Queen Elizabeth I. It is the largest single library in the world, also known as the Long Room, which contains more than 200,000 of the library’s oldest books. The Long room houses one of the oldest harps (竖琴) in Ireland. Dating to the 15th century, the old harp is the model for the symbol foreland.
Geisel Library: University of California, San Diego, United States
At first glance, it looks like a spaceship. Architect William Pereira, who helped design actual space launch facilities at Cape Canaveral in Houston, Texas, designed the library in 1970. It has been featured in sci-fi films, short stories and novels. The library hosts “Dinner in the Library,” which invites readers for cocktails, and also a special speech from well-known authors.
Bishan Public Library: Singapore
Located in the heart of Bishan, the award-winning Bishan Community Library spans 4,000 square meters. It was designed to look like a tree house. The colorful pods (吊舱) that stick out of one side of the building represent books sticking from a bookshelf. Inside the library, these pods offer private spaces for reading. Its ceiling-high glass windows also make it fun to watch people walking and reading from inside the building.
1.If you want to enjoy a movie, you can go to ________.
A.Central Library B.Geisel Library
C.Bishan Public Library D.Trinity College Library
2.What makes Bishan Public Library different from the others?
A.It has very large glass windows. B.It has ever won a prize for its size.
C.Queen Elizabeth I founded the library. D.It is the largest single library in the world.
3.What is the author’s purpose in writing this passage?
A.To encourage readers to visit these libraries.
B.To make an advertisement about these libraries.
C.To offer some information about these libraries.
D.To tell readers the importance of visiting libraries.
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
—How can I get more information about your products?
—_____ to call the sales office or visit our website.
A. Go ahead B. You are wanted C. You need D. You are welcome
高二英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析
Nothing else ______ more important than water in the place like a desert.
A. we can’t find B. can’t we find
C. can we find D. we can find
高二英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析
Women, as all research suggests, are far more critical of their appearance than men. Most of them are likely to feel dissatisfied with their reflection in the mirror.
It is quite possible that men looking in the mirror are either pleased with what they see or indifferent. Research shows that men generally have a much more positive body-image than women---if anything, they may tend to over-estimate their attractiveness. Some men looking in the mirror may literally not see the flaws in their appearance.
Why are women so much more self-critical than men? Because women are judged more on their appearance than men, and standards of female beauty are considerably higher and more inflexible. Women are continually bombarded (轰炸) with images of the “ideal” face. And constant exposure to idealized images of female beauty on TV, magazines and billboards makes exceptional good looks seem normal and anything short of perfection seem abnormal and ugly. It has been estimated that young women now see more images of outstandingly beautiful women in one day than our mothers saw throughout their entire adolescence.
Also, most women trying to achieve the impossible standards of female beauty have in fact become progressively more unrealistic during the last century. In 1917, the physically perfect woman was about 5 feet 4 inches tall and weighed nearly 10 stone. Even 25 years ago, top models and beauty queens weighed only 8% less than the average women, now they weigh 23% less. The current media ideal for women is achievable by less than 5% of the female population---and that’s just in terms of weight and size. If you want the ideal shape, face etc., it’s probably more like 1%.
1.The passage is mainly to _____________.
A．compare different views on beauty between women and men
B．tell us that standards of female beauty are very high
C．explain why women are more critical of their appearance than men
D．show us that women pay more attention to their appearance than men
2.Which of the following is NOT the reason why women are more critical of their appearance?
A．People pay more attention to their appearance than men’s.
B．The criterion (标准；准则) used to judge women’s beauty is more critical and less changeable.
C．Idealized images of female beauty are constantly shown in different media.
D．Women tend to pursue perfection by nature.
3.Which statement is true about men?
A．Few men will feel pleased when they are looking themselves in the mirror.
B．Men looking in the mirror usually ignore the flaws in their appearance.
C．It is likely that men will consider themselves more attractive than they really are.
D．Men don’t care about their body image.
4.Nowadays, if an average woman weighs 110 pounds, then a physically perfect woman should weigh about _________.
A．85 pounds B．101 pounds C．90 pounds D．135 pounds
5.What can be inferred from the last paragraph?
A．Most women try to achieve the standards of beauty.
B．The standards of female beauty. in the past were more easily achieved than today.
C．Women are more unrealistic in their pursuit of beauty than men.
D．Less than 5% of the female population can achieve the current media ideal for women.
高二英语阅读理解困难题查看答案及解析
Waste can be seen everywhere in the school. Some students ask for more food than they can eat and others often forget to turn off the lights when they leave the classroom. They say they can afford these things. But I don’t agree with them.
Waste can bring a lot of problems. Although China is rich in some resources(资源), we are short of others, for example, fresh water. It is reported that we will have no coal or oil to use in 100 years. So if we go on wasting our resources, what can we use in the future and where can we move? Think about it. I think we should say no to the students who waste things every day. Everybody should stop wasting as soon as possible.
In our everyday life, we can do many things to prevent waste from happening, for example, turn off the water taps when we finish washing, turn off the lights when we leave the classroom, try not to order more food than we need, and so on. Little by little, everything will be changed. Waste can be stopped one day, if we do our best.
1.Which is not mentioned in this passage?
A. Fresh water. B. Forest. C. Oil. D. Coal.
2.What may happen in 100 years?
A. We may still have enough oil.
B. We may still have enough coal.
C. We may have a little oil.
D. We may have no coal or oil to use.
3.Which of the following is right?
A. Waste brings problems.
B. Waste can bring no problem.
C. China is rich in fresh water.
D. Students never waste things.
4.Which is the best title of this passage?
A. Stop Wasting
B. School life
C. Waste in the School
D. Rich Resources in China
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
Animals are more ____ to the environment than human beings, which is how they survive.
A. sensitive B. attractive
C. cruel D. committed
高二英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析
However important we may regard school life to be, we can’t ignore the fact that children spend more time at home than in the classroom. Therefore the great influence of parents can’t be ignored or discounted by the teacher. They can become strong supports of the school or they can consciously or unconsciously prevent the school from accomplishing its aims.
Administrators have been aware of the need to keep parents apprised of the newer methods used in schools. Many principals have conducted workshops explaining such matters as the reading readiness program and developmental math.
Moreover, the classroom teacher can also play an important role in explaining to parents what they should do. The informal tea and the many interviews carried on during the year, as well as new ways of reporting pupils’ progress, can significantly aid the interchanged of ideas between school and home.
Suppose that a father has been drilling Junior in arithmetic processes night after night. In a friendly interview, the teacher can help the parent change his method. He might be persuaded to let Junior participate in discussing he family budget, buying the food, using a measuring cup at home, setting the clock, calculating mileage on a trip and engaging in scores of other activities that have a mathematical basis.
If the father follows the advice, it is reasonable to assume that he will soon realize his son is making satisfactory progress in math and at the same time, enjoying the work.
Too often, however, teachers’ conferences with parents are devoted to unimportant accounts of children’s wrongdoing, complaints about laziness and poor work habits, and suggestions for punishments and rewards at home.
What is needed is a more creative approach in which the teacher, as a professional advisor, plants ideas in parents’ minds for the best use of the many hours that the child spends out of the classroom. In this way, the school and the home join forces in fostering the fullest development of youngsters’ competence.
1.The underlined phrase “keep parents apprised of” (Line 1, Para. 2) probably means to let parents ________.
A．judge B．know C．design D．develop
2.What is the purpose of the schools’ informal tea and interviews?
A．To improve the relationship between teacher and parents.
B．To explain to parents the change of the school curriculum.
C．To report students’ misdoings and suggestions for punishments.
D．To help develop good communication between school and home.
3.Why does the author provide all example in Paragraph 4？
A．To help parents to know the importance of home activities.
B．To show how the teacher can guide in home training.
C．To prove parents all non professional advisors.
D．To advice parents to teach kids math at home.
4.From the passage we learn that the author________.
A．thinks teachers should do better as professionals
B．is worried about children’s performance at home
C．is satisfied with the present state of school education
D．believes time spent out of the classroom has been wastedw.
高二英语阅读理解简单题查看答案及解析
It often appears that we have more to gain by speaking than by listening. One big advantage of speaking is that it gives you a chance to _____ others' thoughts and actions. Whatever your goal is — to have a boss hire you, to ____others to vote for the person of your choice or to describe the ____ you want your hair cut ...the key to success seems to be the ____ to speak well.
Another ____ advantage of speaking is the chance it provides to ____ the admiration, respect, or linking of others. Tell jokes, and everyone will think you're really a ____ man. Tell them all you know，and they'll be ____ by your wisdom. But keep quiet, and it seems as if you are a ____ person.
Finally，talking gives you the ___ to release(释放) energy in a way that listening can't. When you're ____, the chance to talk about your problems can often help you feel better. In the same way, you can often ___ your anger by letting it out orally. It is also helpful to ___your excitement with others by talking about it, ____ keeping it inside often leaves you feeling as if you might burst.
____ it is true that talking does have many advantages，it's important to ____ that listening can do good to listeners, too. As you'll soon read, being a good listener is one good way to __ others with their problems; and what better way is there to have others ____ you? As for controlling others, it may be true that it's hard to be persuasive while you're listening, but your ___ to hear others out will often make them open to your ideas ____. Listening is often reciprocal(互惠的). “You get what you give.”
1.A. guess B. control C. disturb D. tease
2.A.insist B．advise C．persuade D. suggest
3.A.idea B．plan C．means D. way
4.A.habit B．energy C．power D.ability
5.A.obvious B．easy C．new D．special
6.A. catch B．gain C．remain D．declare
7.A.successful B．simple C．wise D．stupid
8.A.affected B．moved C．instructed D．impressed
9.A.fruitless B．homeless C．worthless D．senseless
10.A.pleasure B．course C．opportunity D．duty
11.A.in trouble B．in danger C．in debt D．in silence
12.A.reduce B．extend C．deepen D．widen
13.A.control B．share C．enjoy D．remove
14.A.or B．so C．for D．though
15.A.s B. When C. Since D. While
16.A.suppose B．aware C．realize D．imagine
17.A.fail B．cure C．hurt D．help
18.A.appreciate B．listen to C．envy D．support
19.A.kindness B．favour C．willingness D．concern
20.A.by turns B．in return C．in turn D．in order
高二英语完形填空中等难度题查看答案及解析
It often appears that we have more to gain by speaking than by listening. One big advantage of speaking is that it gives you a chance to control others’ thoughts and actions. Whatever your goal is — to have a boss hire you, to 36 others to vote for the person of your 37 or to describe the 38 you want your hair cut ... the key to success seems to be the 39 to speak well.
Another 40 advantage of speaking is the chance it provides to 41 the admiration, respect, or liking of others. Tell jokes, and everyone will think you’re really a 42 man. Tell them all you know, and they’ll be 43 by your wisdom. But keep quiet, and it seems as if you are a 44 person.
Finally, talking gives you the 45 to release (释放) energy in a way that listening can’t. When you’re 46 , the chance to talk about your problems can often help you feel better. In the same way, you can often 47 your anger by letting it out orally. It is also helpful to 48 your excitement with others by talking about it, 49 keeping it inside often leaves you feeling as if you might burst.
While it is true that talking does have many advantages, it’s important to 50 that listening can do good to listeners, too. As you’ll soon read, being a good listener is one good way to 51 others with their problems; and what better way is there to have others 52 you? As for controlling others, it may be true that it’s hard to be persuasive while you’re listening, but your 53 to hear others out will often make them open to your ideas 54 . Listening is often reciprocal (互惠的). “You get what you 55 .”
36. A. insist B. advise C. persuade D. suggest
37. A. friend B. relation C. choice D. leader
38. A. idea B. way C. means D. plan
39. A. resource B. energy C. power D. ability
40. A. obvious B. easy C. new D. special
41. A. gain B. grasp C. remain D. seize
42. A. successful B. simple C. wise D. stupid
43. A. affected B. impressed C. instructed D. moved
44. A. fruitless B. priceless C. worthless D. senseless
45. A. pleasure B. course C. duty D. chance
46. A. in trouble B. in danger C. in debt D. in silence
47. A. reduce B. lengthen C. deepen D. widen
48. A. control B. share C. enjoy D. remove
49. A. or B. so C. for D. though
50. A. suppose B. notice C. realize D. imagine
51. A. fail B. cure C. hurt D. help
52. A. appreciate B. listen to C. envy D. support
53. A. kindness B. favor C. willingness D. eagerness
54. A. by turns B. in return C. in turn D. in order
55. A. lose B. ask for C. need D. give
高二英语完型填空简单题查看答案及解析