All around the world,an increasing number of ...

All around the world,an increasing number of people are spending their time taking part in online volunteering projects.What encourages them to help strangers without expectation of money or even thanks?

Radha Taralekar helped teach Imelda how to protect herself from HIV,though the two have never met,and neither knows the other's name.Taralekar received no payment for the job.For Taralekar,the project gave her the chance to use her professional experience."I want to serve people with my medical knowledge,"she said.For some, the inspiration to volunteer online was far more personal.After losing his wife to cancer,Tony Selman spent many hours online helping Cancer Research to collect information on the illness."Seeing how painful she was when my wife was dying,I decided to help scientists find a way to treat cancer,"he said.

Interests and hobbies are also one of the reasons.Sam Luk joined other online volunteers to try to help the police solve murder cases.The police posted them online,calling for volunteers to help them to make sense of the messages."I am interested in this and I love Sherlock Holmes,"said Luk.

For writer Clay Shirky,some large online volunteering projects help millions of people,giving him a sense of achievement.He helps write Wikipedia,the world's biggest encyclopedia（百科全书）,which is written by people willing to use their professional knowledge.

1.We can know that Radha Taralekar may be a　　　 .

A. teacher　　 B. doctor

C. writer　　 D. policewoman

2.Why did Tony Selman decide to help Cancer Research?

A. He had much time to spend online.

B. He saw many people die of cancer.

C. His wife was dead because of cancer.

D. He became a member of Cancer Research.

3.Sam Luk volunteered to help the police because of　　　 .

A. his interests and hobbies　　 B. his duty of work

C. money in return　　 D. a sense of achievement

4.How many reasons why people help strangers online are mentioned in the text?

A. One.　　 B. Two.

C. Three.　　 D. Four.

高一英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

The number of overweight people around the world is increasing. For example, in China the number rose from 9 percent to 15 percent between 1989 and 1992. The increases in Latin America and Europe were similar. However, the most worrying statistic is the increase in the number of overweight children. In America, almost 33 percent of children under five are overweight. In some parts of Europe, the rate is almost 30 percent. Even developing countries have problems. In Egypt, Chile and Armenia, for example, the rate is over 5 percent.

The problem is the change in our diets combined with the change in our lifestyles. We used to eat whole grains, vegetables, and fruit. Now we eat foods that contain a lot of fat and sugar. Experts(专家) say that it isn't surprising that people eat too much of the wrong foods. Everywhere we look there are advertisements for high-calorie, high-fat foods. These foods are low in nutrition but also low in cost. In other words, they may not be good for us, but they are really cheap. Some experts call this a toxic-food(有毒的食品) environment. Most of us do not realize this unhealthy environment. Therefore, we believe if we are fat, it's our responsibility. This is not completely true.

Today, many food companies are focusing on developing countries. In 1998, one soft-drink company told its employees that "Africa is a land of chance for us." The largest American fast-food company opens five new restaurants every day; four of them are located outside the United States.

It is terrible to think that we may soon live in a world where everyone eats fast food and drinks soda. However, it is not unavoidable. Governments should educate their people about the dangers of eating the wrong food. This is particularly important for tomorrow's adults.

1.The numbers in Paragraph 1 are used to show ________.

A. the overweight problem　　 B. the increase in population

C. the effects of being overweight　　 D. the problems in developing countries

2.It can be inferred from the text that food advertisements ________.

A. cause food prices to rise　　 B. often give people useful information

C. affect the development of the food industry　　 D. are partly responsible for overweight people

3.What is the text mainly about?

A. Advertisements and life.　　 B. Being overweight and its reasons.

C. Modern lifestyles and their effects.　　 D. Being overweight and the environment.

高一英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

People around the world are superstitious about numbers; even those ancient Greeks believed that all numbers and their multiples had some mystical significance.

Those numbers between 1 and 13 were in particular to have a powerful influence over the affairs of men.

For example, it is commonly said that luck, good or bad, comes in threes; if an accident happens, two more of the same kind may be expected soon afterwards.The arrival of a letter will be followed by two others within a certain period.

Another belief involving the number three has it that it is unlucky to light three cigarettes from the one match.If this happens, the bad luck that goes with the deed falls upon the person whose cigarette was the last to be lit.The ill-omen linked to the lighting of three things from one match or candle goes back to at least the 17th century and probably earlier.It was believed that three candles alight at the same time would be sure to bring bad luck; one, two, or four, were permissible, but never just three.

Seven was another significant number, usually regarded as a bringer of good luck.The ancient astrologers believed that the universe was governed by seven planets; students of Shakespeare will recall that the life of man was divided into seven ages.Seven horseshoes nailed to a house will protect it from all evil.

Nine is usually thought of as a lucky number because it is the product of three times three.It was much used by the Anglo Saxons in their charms for healing.

Another belief was that great changes occurred every 7th and 9th of a man's life.Consequently, the age of 63 (the product of nine and seven) was thought to be a very perilous time for him.If he survived his 63rd year he might hope to live to a ripe old age.

Thirteen, as we well know, is regarded with great awe and fear.The common belief is that this derives from the fact that there were 13 people at Christ's Last Supper.This being the eve of his betrayal, it is not difficult to understand the significance given to the number by the early Christians.

In more modern times 13 is an especially unlucky number of a dinner party, for example.Hotels will avoid numbering a floor the 13th; the progression is from 12 to 14, and no room is given the number 13.Many home owners will use 12 1/2 instead of 13 as their house number.

Yet oddly enough, to be born on the 13th of the month is not regarded with any fear at all, which just shows how irrational we are in our superstitious beliefs.

1.What does the underlined sentence mean?

A.If one good thing happens, two bad things will follow it.

B.If one bad thing happens, two good things will follow it.

C.If one good thing happens, two more good things will follow it.

D.Three good things and three bad things always come together.

2.According to the passage, which of the following groups of numbers will certainly bring good luck to people?

A.3 and 7　 B.7 and 9　 C.3 and 9　 D.3 and 13

3.What does the underlined word perilous in paragraphy 7 mean:

A.dangerous　 B.instable　 C.unlucky　 D.unhealthy

4.The ill luck associated with 13 is supposed to have its origin in ________.

A.legend

B.popular belief

C.religion

D.certain customs

5.What is the author's attitude towards people's superstitious beliefs?

A.His attitude is not clear.

B.He is strongly critical.

C.He is in favour of them.

D.He is mildly critical.

高一英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

People around the world are superstitious about numbers; even those ancient Greeks believed that all numbers and their multiples had some mystical significance.

Those numbers between 1 and 13 were in particular to have a powerful influence over the affairs of men.

For example, it is commonly said that luck, good or bad, comes in threes; if an accident happens, two more of the same kind may be expected soon afterwards. The arrival of a letter will be followed by two others within a certain period.

Another belief involving the number three has it that it is unlucky to light three cigarettes from the one match. If this happens, the bad luck that goes with the deed falls upon the person whose cigarette was the last to be lit. The ill-men linked to the lighting of three things from one match or candle goes back to at least the 17th century and probably earlier. It was believed that three candles alight at the same time would be sure to bring bad luck; one, two, or four, were permissible, but never just three.

Seven was another significant number, usually regarded as a bringer of good luck. The ancient astrologers believed that the universe was governed by seven planets; students of Shakespeare will recall that the life of man was divided into seven ages. Seven horseshoes nailed to a house will protect it from all evil.

Nine is usually thought of as a lucky number because it is the product of three times three. It was much used by the Anglo Saxons in their charms for healing.

Another belief was that great changes occurred every 7th and 9th of a man's life. Consequently, the age of 63 (the product of nine and seven) was thought to be a very perilous time for him. If he survived his 63rd year he might hope to live to a ripe old age.

Thirteen, as we well know, is regarded with great awe and fear. The common belief is that this derives from the fact that there were 13 people at Christ's Last Supper. This being the eve of his betrayal, it is not difficult to understand the significance given to the number by the early Christians.

In more modern times 13 is an especially unlucky number of a dinner party, for example. Hotels will avoid numbering a floor the 13th; the progression is from 12 to 14, and no room is given the number 13. Many home owners will use 12 1/2 instead of 13 as their house number.

Yet oddly enough, to be born on the 13th of the month is not regarded with any fear at all, which just shows how irrational we are in our superstitious beliefs.

1.What does the underlined sentence mean?

A. If one good thing happens, two bad things will follow it.

B. If one bad thing happens, two good things will follow it.

C. If one good thing happens, two more good things will follow it.

D. Three good things and three bad things always come together.

2.According to the passage, which of the following groups of numbers will certainly bring good luck to people?

A. 3 and 7.            B. 7 and 9.            C. 3 and 9.            D. 3 and 13.

3.What does the underlined word perilous in paragraph 7 mean ________.

A. dangerous        B. instable            C. unlucky            D. unhealthy

4.The ill luck associated with 13 is supposed to have its origin in ________.

A. legend        B. popular belief        C. religion        D. certain customs

高一英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

The world’s elderly population is increasing. The number of older people ---those age 60 years or older ---is expected to double by 2050 and is growing faster than all younger age groups across the globe. That comes with an increasing need for caregivers which can provide 24-hour care, not only at hospitals or nursing homes, but also at private homes.

Already, caregiving robots are programmed to ask questions a nurse would ask and can keep an eye on patients for falls. These robotic assistants are expected to become increasingly marketable and reach 450,000 by 2045 because of the expected caregiver shortage in the USA.

“Unluckily, the hard structure of present caregiving robots prevents them from a safe human-robot interaction(互动), limiting their assistance to only social interaction and not physical interaction,” said Ramses Martinez, an assistant professor in Purdue’s College of Engineering . “After all, would you leave babies or old people in the hands of a robot?”

Recent advances in material science have enabled the production of soft robots with deformable (可变形的) bodies or the ability to reshape when touched , but today the complex design prevents the use of this technology at home .

However, Martinez and other researchers have developed a new design method which shows promise in enabling the production of soft robots using a 3D printer.

“The soft machines move like humans. Their ability to change their body structure and movement to adapt ( 适应 ) to a wide variety of environments will improve caregiving greatly,” says Martinez .

The researchers are looking for partners to test and bring their technology to market.

1.What does the underlined word “That” in Paragraph 1 refer to?

A.The younger age group

B.The group of older people

C.The population across the globe

D.The growth of the elderly population

2.What is the disadvantage of the present caregiving robots?

A.They can’t provide safe physical interaction

B.They can’t communicate with patients

C.They can’t watch patients for falls

D.They can’t provide 24-hour care.

3.What do we know about Martinez’s new design method?

A.It requires a special kind of 3D printer.

B.It makes the production of soft robots simpler.

C.It has been put onto the market.

D.It is hard for users to master.

4.What is the text mainly about?

A.The robot industry in the future

B.Effects of population ageing

C.Robots for the elderly created with 3D printers

D.The development of caregiving robots

高一英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

More and more people around the world are getting tattoos (纹身). In the United States a large number of people aged 25 to 40 get tattoos. A third of all Americans between 18 and 25 have a tattoo. In Britain a fifth of all adults are tattooed. Tattooing has become an important industry as well. Today, there are more than 50,000 tattoo artists in the US alone.

Even famous people such as Angelina Jolie and David Beckham have some kind of tattoo on their bodies. According to researchers many people tattoo themselves as a sign of individuality (个性). They want to express themselves and show others who they are. Other forms of body art are also on the rise.

Today, tattoos are widely accepted in society. That hasn’t always been the case. Tattoos used to be connected with criminals (罪犯), lower class people or certain groups like sailors and motorcycle gangs. While tattooing was once only for men, more and more women are now getting tattoos.

Tattooing goes way back in history. In many parts of the world, people used tattoos for different purposes. The ancient Romans tattooed their slaves. Native Americans tattooed themselves as a sign of bravery. N Nazi Germany Jews were marked with a number to tell who they were.

Not only has tattooing itself become a big industry, but removing them is also on the increase. Many people just don’t realize that a tattoo lasts forever and at some time in their lives they may want to get rid of it. The cost of tattooing yourself usually depends on how large the tattoo is or how complex (复杂的) it is. Prices are usually from a hundred to over a thousand dollars.

1.What can you learn from the first paragraph?

A.Tattoos are now very popular.

B.Many tattoo artists are moving to America.

C.It is against the law to get tattoos in Britain.

D.Young adults around the world have a preference for tattoos.

2.What might be Angelina Jolie’s attitude towards tattooing?

A.She is worried about it. B.She thinks little of it.

C.She is interested in it. D.She has no idea of it.

3.According to the fourth paragraph, tattooing __________.

A.is still not accepted by women B.has a long history

C.is not good for our health D.usually costs a lot of money

4.It seems that the business of tattooing will __________.

A.Slow down B.disappear soon

C.become very hard D.continue growing

高一英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

Time is more precious than money for an increasing number of people who are choosing to live more with less—and liking it.

Kay and Charles Giddens, two lawyers, sold their home to start a B&B hotel. Four years later, the couple dishes out banana pancake breakfast, cleans toilets and serves homemade chocolate chip cookies to guests in a B&B hotel surrounded by trees on a hill known for colourful sunsets.

“Do I miss the freeways? Do I miss the traffic? Do I miss the stress? No,” says Ms. Giddens, “This is a phenomenon that’s fairly widespread. A lot of people are revaluating their lives and figuring out what they want to do. If their base is being damaged, what’s the payoff?”

Simple living ranges from cutting down on weeknight activities to sharing housing, living closer to work, avoiding shopping malls, borrowing books from the library instead of buying them, and taking a cut in pay to work at a more pleasurable job.

Vicki Robin, a writer, lives on a budget equal to a fifth of what she used to make. “You become conscious about where your money is going and how valuable it is,” Ms. Robin says, “You tend not to use things up. You cook at home rather than eat out…”

Janet Luhrs, a lawyer, quit her job after giving birth and leaving her daughter with a nanny for two weeks. “It was not the way I wanted to raise my kids,” she says, “Simplicity is not just about saving money; it’s about me sitting down every night with my kids to a candlelit dinner with classical music.”

Mrs. Luhrs now edits a magazine, Simple Living, which publishes tips on how to buy recycled furniture and shoes, organize potluck dinners instead of expensive receptions, and generally how to consume less.

Mrs. Luhrs explains, “It’s not about poverty. It’s about conscious living and creating the life you want. The less stuff you buy, the less money goes out of the door, and the less money you have to earn.”

1.Kay and Charles Giddens sold their home to ______.

A. pay off the debt

B. start a private hotel

C. cut down expenses

D. buy living necessities

2.Simple living includes ______.

A. building a home library

B. living in the countryside

C. enjoying a colourful night life

D. sharing housing with others

3.It can be learned from the passage that now Janet Luhrs ______.

A. spends more time with her kids

B. has an interest in classical music

C. works as a reporter of a magazine

D. helps people buy recycled clothes

高一英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

In 2006, a large number of new Internet sites became popular around the world. Some of these are for communication, others for entertainment(娱乐).

The blog is one form of communication that increased in popularity. Through these personal websites(网址), people can share their lives, ideas and opinions on the Internet. People of all ages have their own blogs. For young people, they are a way to show their writing and other forms of self-expression. Blogs also connect people with other people who have the same interests. For example, teachers use blogs to share ideas with other teachers’, as well as experiences and concerns about their work.

YouTube is another Internet site that became more popular last year. This website lets anyone create, share and watch short videos. These include videos of people singing or dancing, or animals doing funny things. Three young men created YouTube almost two years ago as a personal video sharing service. They recently sold it to Google for more than one and a half billion dollars.

Games and entertainment also became a larger part of the Internet last year. One Internet social site is called Second Life. It is an online world in which computer users create a new self and live a different life. They get married, build homes, operate businesses, buy and sell goods, work, play and attend school.

People also take part in fantasy sports leagues with the help of the Internet. A fantasy sport is a game in which each member of a group acts as the owner of a team. Each owner creates a team of real-life professional players to compete against other teams in the league. More than fifteen million American adults play fantasy sports. The industry earns more than one billion（十亿） dollars each year from publications, memberships and other costs.

1.The passage is mainly about __________.

A. the most popular Internet technology in 2006

B. some new ways for people to communicate or have fun on the Internet

C. one online game called Second Life

D. the high price of playing online

2. Who is the owner of YouTube now?

A. Three young men.     B. Google.　　　 C. Computer users.　      D. Yahoo.

3.Whom does the underlined word “they” in Paragraph 4 refer to?

A. The people who are interested in blogs.　　

B. The people who play games on YouTube.

C. The people who play Second Life.　　　　　　　

D. The people who are created in Second Life.

4.What do we know from the passage?

A. Teachers can share ideas, experiences and concerns about their work with other teachers on any website.

B. More than fifteen million American teenagers play fantasy sports.

C. Second Life helps people get married, buy and sell goods, work, play and attend school in real life.

D. Fantasy sports, a game in which each member of a group acts as the owner of a team, is very popular around the world.

高一英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

In 2006, a large number of new Internet sites became popular around the world. Some of these are for communication, others for entertainment(娱乐).

The blog is one form of communication that increased in popularity. Through these personal websites(网址), people can share their lives, ideas and opinions on the Internet. People of all ages have their own blogs. For young people, they are a way to show their writing and other forms of self-expression. Blogs also connect people with other people who have the same interests. For example, teachers use blogs to share ideas with other teachers’, as well as experiences and concerns about their work.

YouTube is another Internet site that became more popular last year. This website lets anyone create, share and watch short videos. These include videos of people singing or dancing, or animals doing funny things. Three young men created YouTube almost two years ago as a personal video sharing service. They recently sold it to Google for more than one and a half billion dollars.

Games and entertainment also became a larger part of the Internet last year. One Internet social site is called Second Life. It is an online world in which computer users create a new self and live a different life. They get married, build homes, operate businesses, buy and sell goods, work, play and attend school.

People also take part in fantasy sports leagues with the help of the Internet. A fantasy sport is a game in which each member of a group acts as the owner of a team. Each owner creates a team of real-life professional players to compete against other teams in the league. More than fifteen million American adults play fantasy sports. The industry earns more than one billion（十亿）dollars each year from publications, memberships and other costs.

1.The passage is mainly about __________.

A. the most popular Internet technology in 2006

B. some new ways for people to communicate or have fun on the Internet

C. one online game called Second Life

D. the high price of playing online

2.Who is the owner of YouTube now?

A. Three young men. B. Google.

C. Computer users.　　 D. Yahoo.

3.Whom does the underlined word “they” in Paragraph 4 refer to?

A. The people who are interested in blogs.

B. The people who play games on YouTube.

C. The people who play Second Life.

D. The people who are created in Second Life.

4.What do we know from the passage?

A. Teachers can share ideas, experiences and concerns about their work with other teachers on any website.

B. More than fifteen million American teenagers play fantasy sports.

C. Second Life helps people get married, buy and sell goods, work, play and attend school in real life.

D. Fantasy sports, a game in which each member of a group acts as the owner of a team, is very popular around the world.

高一英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

An increasing number of people ________ the importance to physical exercise.

A. attach　　　　　　 B. appreciate

C. combine　　　　　　 D. permit

高一英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析