Harvard researchers have created a tough, low...

Harvard researchers have created a tough, low-cost, biodegradable(可生物降解的) material inspired by insects’ hard outer shells. The material’s inventors say it has a number of possible uses and someday could provide a more environmentally friendly alternative(替代物) to plastic. The material, made from shrimp(虾)shells and proteins produced from silk, is called “shrilk”. It is thin, clear, flexible and strong.

A major benefit of the material is its biodegradability. Plastic’s toughness and flexibility represented a revolution in materials science during the 1950s and 1960s.　 Decades later, however, plastic’s very durability(耐用性) is raising questions about how appropriate it is for one-time products such as plastic bags, or short-lived consumer goods, used in the home for a few years and then cast into a landfill（垃圾池） where they will degrade for centuries. What is the point of making something that lasts 1,000 years?

Shrilk has great potential, the inventors said. Materials from which it is made are plentiful in nature, fond in everything ranging from shrimp shells, insect bodies to living plants that makes shrilk low cost, and its mass production possible should it be used for products demanding a lot of material.

Work on shrilk is continuing in the lab. The inventors said the material becomes flexible when wet, so they’re exploring ways to use it in wet environments. They’re also developing simpler production processes, which could be used for non-medical products, like for computer cases and other products inside the home. They’re even exploring combining it with other materials like carbon fibers, to give it new properties.

1. Paragraph 1 of the passage is mainly about shrilk’s ______________.

A. remarkable design

B. interesting name

C. major features

D. basic elements

2.What has become a concern about plastic?

A. Using it properly

B. Producing it cheaply

C. Developing its properties quickly

D. Evaluating its contributions fairly

3.According to the inventors, shrilk has great potential partly because _________ .

A. it can help plastic degrade

B. it can be found in living things

C. its mass production has been realized

D. its raw materials are plentiful in nature

4. What are the inventors doing in the lab?

A. Replacing carbon fibers with shrilk

B. Testing shrilk’s use in wet conditions

C. Making shrilk out of used household goods.

D. Improving shrilk’s flexibility for medical purposes

5. Which of the following can be the best title for the passage?

A. Recent Progress in Environment Protection

B. Benefits of Insects in Scientific Research

C. The Harm of One-time Products

D. A possible Alternative Plastic

高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

Harvard University health policy researcher Ellen Meara says scholars have found some clues as to why some groups of people have more or less disease than others. She says one important factor in people's health is the amount of education they have.

In her most recent paper, Meara looked at data from the United States census(人口普查). These counts of people occur every 10 years. Meara and her colleagues examined data from several decades.

Meara says they found that in 1990, a 25-year-old who only had some secondary school could expect to live for a total of 75 years. In 2000, a 25 year old with some secondary education could also expect to live to the age of 75.

In contrast, for a better educated 25-year-old, they could expect to live to the age of 80 in 1990. Someone with a similar education level in the year 2000 could expect to live to be more than 81 years, 81.6 years to be exact.

Meara says, not only do better-educated people live longer to begin with, but in the past ten years, more educated people have made gains in the length of their lives. Meanwhile, the life expectancy hasn’t changed for less educated people.

Some of these gains can be explained. Meara says researchers know that people who are more educated are more likely to quit smoking cigarettes, or not start at all, compared to people with less education.

“I think it’s a reminder not to be satisfactory,” Meara says. “Just because a population overall appears to be getting healthier, it doesn't always mean that those advantages and successes that many people have enjoyed really extend into all parts of the population. And I think that's something to really pay attention to regardless of whether you live in the US or elsewhere.”

Meara points out that education can often determine income — people with more education frequently make more money. This makes them aware of health care, and purchase other resources and services that can keep them healthier. But the data on income do not show that people who make more money are automatically healthier. Meara says education is key. People need to be educated in order to take advantage of opportunities for better health.

Title: The Amount of Education 1. ____________ to People’s Health.

高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

Scientists at Harvard University have recycled a kidney(‘肾)-in a rat. The researchers removed a kidney from a dead rat. Later, the renewed kidney was put into a living rat. It wasn't perfect. It did, however, show signs of working like a kidney should.

"It's really beautiful work," Edward Ross, a kidney researcher at the University of Florida in Gainesville, told Science News. He didn't work on the new study.

Kidneys are bean-shaped and act like guards in the body. They clean the blood by removing waste and extra water. Every day, an adult's kidneys filter(过滤) enough blood to fill a bathtub half full. Along the way, they produce eight cups of urine(尿) from that waste and water. When a person's kidneys fail, all of that waste stays in the body. Such patients can quickly become very sick and die, unless they are regularly connected to a machine that filters their blood.

At any given time, about 100,000 people in the United States are waiting for a replacement kidney. But healthy donated kidneys are difficult to get. Either a living person must donate one, or a kidney must be removed from someone who just died and earlier had agreed to the donation. In either case, people receiving new kidneys face the risk that their bodies will reject the donated ones.

But there may be another option.　 Researchers use knowledge of living things to grow or improve tissue that can aid human health. Harald Ott's team at Harvard started with a "used" kidney.

Scientists added kidney cells from rats and blood vessel cells from people to the matrix（母体）. These cells attached themselves and began to multiply. Before long, they formed new kidney tissue.

The scientists placed this renewed kidney into another rat. There it produced a small amount of urine. This experiment shows that the lab-grown kidney can do at least some of the work performed by a healthy kidney.

The results are a promising first step toward helping people with serious kidney problems. "This is still very early, but they've come a long way," Ross said.

1.What can we infer from Paragraph l?

A. Biology is a new and helpful science.

B. It's hard to put the rebuilt kidney into the rat.

C. Kidneys are very important to our life.

D. A used kidney may be recycled for new life.

2.What does Paragraph 3 mainly talk about?

A. The relationship between kidneys and health.

B. The difficulty of curing serious kidney diseases.

C. The function and importance of kidneys.

D. The methods of curing kidneys diseases.

3.For what purpose does the author use the figure 100,000 in Paragraph 4?

A. To stress used kidneys are hard to get.

B. To show the great need for healthy kidneys.

C. To explain many American people get kidney diseases.

D. To call on people to donate kidneys.

4.Which of the following is true according to the text?

A. The scientists are satisfied with the result of the experiment.

B. Ross is a kidney expert who is involved in the experiment.

C. The function of the renewed kidney is the same as a healthy kidney.

D. The renewed kidney produced a great deal of urine.

高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

Weather could power the next generation of smart windows. Researchers have created glass by harvesting energy from wind and precipitation(降水).The approach offers an alternative to other smart windows powered by batteries, solar panels, and even standard power outlets. “The creation represents a new kind of renewable energy source”, says Liming Dai, a nanomaterial engineer at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, who was not involved in the research.

Smart glass, which changes its characteristics to block out light or heat, has been around for decades. Common examples include glare-fighting rearview(后视) car mirrors and windows that change color for energy savings and privacy. But many are expensive, and people are still looking for eco-friendly ways to power the windows. Batteries and plug-in outlets aren’t apparently “green”, and built-in solar panels can cloud or hide parts of the glass.

In experiments, the glass produced up to 130 milliwatts per square meter, enough to power a pacemaker or a smart phone while it’s asleep, the team reported online last month in ACS Nano. This output might suit many applications, such as being a power source for home or office electronics, says co-developer and scientist Zhong Wang of the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta Since their first project in 2012, a light-up sidewalk powered by footsteps, he and his colleagues have miniaturized their generators to create everything from self-cleaning keyboards to sensors for security systems.

But Wang and colleagues still have more work to do before this smart glass is ready for commercialization. Now, the glass has no way to store the energy it creates. To solve this problem, Dai says, transparent supercapacitors(超级电容器) could be placed into the glass without decreasing visibility.

For now, the team wants to improve the energy efficiency of their nanogenerators. These tiny power plants can convert about 60% of the mechanical energy that they encounter into electricity. “The output power is a constant goal,” Wang says. “Free energy surrounds us, and anything can happen if you take control of it."

1.What is unique about the smart glass?

A.It can protect privacy. B.It is more expensive.

C.It is powered by weather. D.It can block out light and heat.

2.What is the main idea of paragraph 3?

A.The research history of Zhong Wang.

B.The experimental process of Zhong Wang.

C.The research theory of Zhong Wang’s team.

D.The experimental findings of Zhong Wang's team.

3.What is the drawback of the smart glass?

A.It cannot suit the supercapacitors. B.It cannot keep its produced electricity.

C.It cannot power a smart phone. D.It cannot change its color according to weather.

4.Which of the following best explains “convert” underlined in the last paragraph?

A.Transform. B.Consume.

C.Waste. D.Reserve.

高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

Things have been kind of tough lately for Shannon Baker and her little family. They have each other’s parents and young daughter and for that they are 　　 . But she and her husband are both currently　　　　 . And their car is in great need of 　　　　 . And then there is the matter of their second child, who is 　　　　 soon. So things are a little tense for the Baker family these days.

When Shannon and her daughter were walking through a store 　　　　 lot recently, Shannon picked up an envelope from the ground that 　　　　 $4,000 in cash. There were a 　　　　 of different interpretations (explanations) that could be considered. Was this a kind of good　　　　　 ? Could it be an attempt by the universe to balance everything? Could it be simply a gift from God? Shannon didn’t know. The only thing she knew was that the cash in that envelope　 　　 to someone else. Oh, and one other thing she knew: Her young daughter was 　　 　　 　 . “My kid was standing right there 　　　 I found it,” Shannon told WLS-TV in Chicago. “So basically I wanted to teach my daughter how to be 　　　　 . And for me that was enough.”

Never mind the bills that were 　　　　 , or the car that needed to be fixed, or the baby that would come soon. And forget that when she 　　　　 the money over to the police she was told that there was actually nothing illegal if she 　　　　 it.

The police were able to return the money to the person who 　　　　 it: an old woman. And one can imagine the 　　　　 and relief she felt when the police handed the lost envelop back to her. “She came to my house and she was almost in tears, 　　　　 me,” Shannon said. “She gave me a hug and an envelope with a small 　　　　 in it. But the amount, large or small, wasn’t 　　　　 . What was important was the opportunity to teach my daughter honesty.”

1.A. restricted　　 B. grateful　　 C. sensitive　　 D. upset

2.A. disappointed　 B. appreciated　 C. unemployed　 D. removed

3.A. cash　　　 B. protection　　 C. repair　　　　 D. sale

4.A. sick　　 B. due　　　　　　　 C. desperate　　 D. dull

5.A. parking　　　　　　 B. gathering　　　　　　　 C. cleaning　　 D. begging

6.A. participated　　　　　 B. contained　　　　　　 C. charged　　 D. paid

7.A. number　　　　　　　　 B. deal　　　　　　　　 C. handful　　 D. flood

8.A. expense　　 B. prize　　 C. hope　　 D. luck　

9.A. pointed　　 B. reacted　　 C. responded　　 D. belonged

10.A. watching　　 B. urging　　　　　　　　 C. laughing　　 D. affecting

11.A. before　　 B. though　　 C. because　　 D. when

12.A. honest　　 B. loyal　　 C. ripe　　 D. humorous

13.A. passing by　　 B. giving away　 C. showing off　　　　　 D. piling up

14.A. watched　　 B. turned　　 C. got　　 D. collected

15.A. checked　　 B. made　　 C. kept　　 D. promoted

16.A. sent　　 B. disliked　　 C. lost　　 D. generated

17.A. respect　　 B. anxiety　　 C. tension　　 D. joy

18.A. comforting　 B. congratulating　 C. offending　　 D. thanking

19.A. amount　　 B. present　　 C. envelope　　 D. option

20.A. important　　 B. necessary　　 C. evident　　 D. Essential

高二英语完形填空中等难度题查看答案及解析

Car dealers also have a tough time in bad economy. Therefore，they have to ________ their business model to overcome the difficulties.

A. admit           B. adjust          C. replace          D. remove

高二英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析

In every significant relationship, there comes a time when you have to ask the tough questions: what’s the deal with the mysterious fifth pocket on our favorite jeans?

To find out, we called in the experts: Korie Lovette and John Cunningham ,two merchandise mangers for Wrangler jeans. “The fifth pocket was introduced in the 1800s as a protective sleeve for cowboys’ pocket watches,” Lovette told TODAY Style. “Although the pocket is rarely used for watches today, standard jeans are still being produced in a way that can accommodate a size 16 pocket watch.”

We haven’t seen a pocket watch since the last time we watched “Castaway” , but Cunningham insists that the pocket has plenty of modern uses. “Today, men use them for pocket knives or loose change, while women might use it to hold lipstick,” he said. “Over the past couple years, it has become an increasingly popular spot to store technology devices such as cell phones or iPods.”

And then, of course, there is the issue of aesthetic(美感). “A classic pair of jeans would look incomplete without the fifth pocket,” Cunningham explained. “It’s a tradition; an authentic construction of the jean. It was product innovation before that was a famous item. We keep the fifth pocket for the typical completeness of our jeans.”

That said, there are times when it makes sense to break with tradition for a more pleasing fit. “When Wrangler determines whether to include the fifth pocket or not, we look at the overall aesthetic of the figure,” said Lovette. “For women’s skinny jeans or leggings, we usually don’t include a fifth picket since the consumer will most likely be wearing a blouse that will cover the pocket.”

1.The original use of the fifth pocket is to ___________.

A. hold pocket knives　　 B. carry cowboys’ money

C. make the jeans more beautiful　　 D. protect cowboys’ pocket watches

2.What can we infer from the text?

A. Women usually like the fifth pocket on their jeans

B. Wrangler has some kinds of jeans without the fifth pocket

C. The fifth pocket was designed mainly for storing cell phones

D. The question about the fifth pocket is asked often between phones

3.What may be the best title for the text?

A. Is the extra pocket good or bad?　　 B. Is the fifth pocket to be changed?

C. The reasons for having that extra pocket　　 D. The styles of the fifth pocket

高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

Polar explorers have to be extremely _____ to bear the climate and other hardships.

高二英语单项填空简单题查看答案及解析

A new case study says Chinese companies face tough _____in the US and have a long way to go to be successful.

A. challenges     B. campaigns      C. motivations            D. dilemmas

高二英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析

On the very first day, God created the cow. He______ to the cow, “Today I have created you!______ a cow, you must go to the field with the______all day long. You will work all _____ under the sun! I will give you a life_____　 of 50 years.”

The cow objected, “What? This kind of a _____life you want me to live for 50 years? Let me have 20 years, and the 30 years I’ll give back to you.” So God agreed.

On the second day, God created the dog. God said to the dog, “What you are____　 to do is to sit all day by the door of your house. Any people that come in, you will have to______　 at them! I’ll give you a life span of 20 years.”

The dog objected, “What? All day long to______by the door? No way! I’ll give you _____ my other 10 years of life!” So God agreed.

On the third day, God created the monkey. He said to the monkey, “Monkeys have to______people. You’ve got to make them laugh and do monkey _____　 I’ll give you 20 years life span.”

The monkey objected. “What? Make them laugh? Do monkey faces and tricks? Ten years will______, and the other 10 years I’ll give you back.” So God agreed.

On the fourth day, God created______ and said to him, “Your job is to sleep, eat, and play. You will enjoy very much in your life. All you need to do is to enjoy and do nothing. This kind of life, I’ll give you a 20 year life span.”

The man objected. “What? ______ a good life! Eat, play, sleep, do nothing? Enjoy the best and you______me to live only for 20 years? No way, man! Why don’t we make a(n) _____? Since the cow gave you back 30 years, and the dog gave you back 10 years and the monkey gave you back 10 years, I will _____them from you! That makes my life span 70 years, right?” So God agreed.

AND THAT’S WHY...

In our first 20 years, we eat, sleep, play, enjoy the best and do nothing much. For the next 30 years, we______all day long, suffer and get to ____ the family. For the next 10 years, we entertain our grandchildren by making monkey faces and monkey tricks. And for the last 10 years, we stay at home, sit by the front door and bark at people!

1.A. spoke　　 B. said　　 C. told　　 D. talked

2.A. Be　　 B. With　　 C. Like　　 D. As

3.A. doctor　　 B. worker　　 C. farmer　　 D. teacher

4.A. year　　 B. time　　 C. day　　 D. night

5.A. span　　 B. length　　 C. width　　 D. distance

6.A. rough　　 B. tough　　 C. hardly　　 D. easy

7.A. accustomed　　 B. devoted　　 C. supposed　　 D. admitted

8.A. bark　　 B. knock　　 C. laugh　　 D. look

9.A. stand　　 B. seat　　 C. lie　　 D. sit

10.A. back　　 B. away　　 C. off　　 D. up

11.A. enrich　　 B. establish　　 C. entertain　　 D. encourage

12.A. job　　 B. tricks　　 C. work　　 D. move

13.A. make　　 B. enough　　 C. do　　 D. rich

14.A. woman　　 B. child　　 C. man　　 D. baby

15.A. So　　 B. Such　　 C. Much　　 D. Many

16.A. expect　　 B. face　　 C. think　　 D. hope

17.A. bargain　　 B. mistake　　 C. act　　 D. deal

18.A. take　　 B. bring　　 C. hold　　 D. set

19.A. rest　　 B. stay　　 C. work　　 D. enjoy

20.A. hold　　 B. provide　　 C. protect　　 D. support

高二英语完形填空中等难度题查看答案及解析