Research on embryonic stem cells (胚胎干细胞) is d...

Research on embryonic stem cells (胚胎干细胞) is debatable because it requires the destruction of live human embryos.

Supporters find it easy to minimize the significance of this fact because the embryos are only a few days old—nothing more than “blastocysts (胚泡)”.

But if it’s OK to destroy 5-day-old embryos to further scientific inquiry, is it OK to destroy embryos that are five weeks old? Five months? Eight months? Science can’t answer that question.

You don’t have to be part of the pro-life group to have concerns about this kind of scientific research. James Thomson, the University of Wisconsin biologist has said, “If human embryonic stem cell research does not make you at least a little bit uncomfortable, you have not thought about it enough.” However, the president’s new order suggests we should not think too much.

Recently, supporters of embryonic stem cell research called on president to allow experiments using “surplus (多余的)” fifty frozen embryos in fertility clinics, arguing that they would be disposed of anyway. But Obama didn’t limit his new policy to these fertilized eggs.

On the contrary, he left open the possibility of funding studies using embryos created specifically so their cells can be harvested. He did, however, reject another option. “We will ensure,” he said, “that our government never open the door to the use of cloning for human reproduction. It is dangerous, profoundly wrong and has no place in our society, or any society.”

But this position is hard to square with his claimed approach. On one hand, the president says his policy is “about letting scientists do their jobs, free from pressure”. On the other, he will use pressure to keep them from doing reproductive cloning.

What this policy means is simple: It may be permissible for scientists to create cloned embryos and kill them. It’s not permissible to create cloned embryos and let them live. Their cells may be used for our benefit, but not for their own.

It’s the policy that is risky not just to days-old human embryos. The rest of us are sure to receive important medical benefits from this research one day. But we may lose something even more important in a moral sense.

1.It’s implied in the fourth paragraph that pro-life group ________.

A. support the research on embryonic stem cells

B. don’t agree with any kind of scientific research

C. agree with James Thomson’s opinion

D. rarely think of the consequences of embryonic stem cell research

2.The underlined phrase “square with” in the passage is closest in meaning to ________.

A. find a square tool for                B. be in line with

C. quarrel with                            D. pay off

3.Which of the following statement is TRUE according to the passage?

A. The author thinks there’s a big difference between a 5-day embryo and a 8-month embryo.

B. In Obama’s policy, embryonic researchers can only use surplus embryos in fertility clinics.

C. President Obama hasn’t expressed his attitude toward human reproductive cloning.

D. The research on embryonic stem cells may bring people medical benefits in the future.

4.The author thinks the policy is worrying because ______.

A. the research is against the law

B. we may suffer morally for the research

C. scientists are not really working without pressure

D. ban on human cloning is in the long run harmful to human development

高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

Letter to the Editor

A heated debate is currently going on in our town. Should we allow the cinema to be constructed in the Havenswood Shopping Center? There is just one large area left to build on, and the theater would use up all of that space. Some people are excited at the idea of finally having our own movie theater. Others would rather travel ten miles to the nearest theater to keep our quiet town the way it is. They say it is enough to have Marvin’s Movie Video Rentals. After all, Marvin’s store keeps thousands of the latest videos.

There are certainly benefits to renting videos. For one thing, you can plan your own schedule when it is convenient for you. You can relax on your sofa, and take a break whenever you need one. You can also talk to others without bothering any strangers seated nearby. In addition, it is a less expensive way to view a movie, especially if more than one person is watching the video.

On the other hand, seeing a movie in a theater is an experience all its own. First, you can see the movie on a wide screen as the filmmaker intended. To be viewed on a television screen, a film must be changed in some way to make it smaller. One is the “pan-and-scan method, which involves removing some of the details in the picture. The other way, called “letterboxing, keeps the image the way it is on the big screen, with one annoying exception; because the big-screen style is wide, the same picture on a television screen must be long and narrow.

Another problem is sound. The sound from a television cannot compare with the sound system in a theater. Your experience of a movie improves when you can clearly hear all of the sounds. Furthermore, at home, viewing companions often talk during a movie, which makes you miss out on what’s happening in the film.

Besides, having a movie theater will not mean that you can’t still go to Marvin’s! You will just have a choice that you didn’t have before. Isn’t it time for Havenswood residents like me to enjoy a little progress?

1.Who is the author probably?

A. An editor of a newspaper.

B. The manager of the nearest theatre.

C. The owner of Marvin’s Movie Video Rentals.

D. A concerned citizen in Havenswood.

2.What is the advantage of renting videos?

A. It won’t take up the large area in the town.

B. People can enjoy better sound system.

C. There’s no strict limit to the viewing time.

D. People can fully concentrate on their movies.

3.In the author’s opinion, the construction of a theatre will _________.

A. save movie-goers’ money and time

B. offer people another experience

C. reduce the profit of the Movie Video Rentals

D. disturb the peace in the town

4.Which of the following shows the structure of the passage?

(①-⑤stand for the paragraphs in the article)

高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

_______ his research, man can set foot on the moon now.

A. Because               B. Thanks to                C. So as to                 D. In addition to

高二英语单项填空简单题查看答案及解析

A heated debate is currently going on in our town.Should we allow the cinema to be constructed in the Havenswood Shopping Center? There is just one large lot left to build on,and the theater would use up all of that space.Some people are excited at the idea of finally having our own movie theater.Others would rather travel ten miles to the nearest theater to keep our quiet town the way it is.They say it is enough to have Marvin’s Movie Video Rentals.After all,Marvin’s store keeps thousands of the latest videos.

There are certainly benefits to renting videos.For one thing,you can plan your own schedule when it is convenient for you.You can relax on your sofa,and take a break whenever you need one.You can also talk to others without bothering any strangers seated nearby.In additional,it is a less expensive way to view a movie compared to going to a theater.

On the other hand,seeing a movie in a theater is an experience all its own.First,you can see the movie on wide screen as the filmmaker intended.To be viewed on a television screen,a film must be changed in some way to make it smaller.One is the “pan-and-scan” method,which involves removing some of the details in the picture.The other way,called “letterboxing”,keeps the image the way it is on the big screen,with one annoying exception; because the big-screen version is wide,the same picture on a television screen must be long and narrow.

Another problem is sound.The sound from a television cannot compare to the sound system in a theater.Your experience of a movie improves when you can clearly hear all of the sounds.Furthermore,at home,viewing companions often talk during a movie,which makes you miss out on what’s happening in the film.

Besides,having a movie theater will not mean that you can’t still go to Marvin’s! You will just have a choice that you didn’t have before.Isn’t it time for Havenswood residents to enjoy a little progress?

1.The underlined word “lot” in Paragraph 1 means “__________”.

A. a great number　　 B. a complete group

C. an area of land　　 D. a result of chance

2.How does the author mainly state his point?

A. By using examples.　　 B. By making a comparison.

C. By carrying out a survey　　 D. By presenting different people’s view.

3.Why do some people think it is enough to have Marvin’s Movie Video Rentals?

A. Marvin’s store stocks lots of recent videos.

B. It’ very convenient to go to Marvin’s store.

C. the owner of the store is friendly and helpful.

D. It is more comfortable to see films at home than in the theater.

4.What is the author’s attitude towards building a new cinema?

A. Cautious.　　 B. Approving.　　 C. Doubtful.　　 D. Worried.

高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

阅读下面短文,根据所读内容在表格中的空白处填人最恰当的单词。 注意：每个空格只填一个单词。

A debate is a discussion about a subject on which people have different views. It’s a nice way of gaining a lot of knowledge and views on a topic, or situation that we aren’t either aware of, or haven’t really looked into in detail. It makes you more able to think critically and more confident in speaking. In addition, it helps in appreciating tolerance of others’ opinion and improves your listening skills.

A debate requires one to know how to use words and intelligence to overcome his or her opposing team members. To give great arguments during a debate, first you need to get your facts right. To make what you have in material for a debate contain facts, don’t just depend on the Internet, especially avoid just referring to one website for all your information. You are also required to refer to books, and make sure they’re authors of a high degree, since their materials have reference notes and extensive research projects done on what they are covering.

Second, you should be full of confidence. You need to show that you’re sure of what you’re saying , and point out how flawed their comeback arguments were. The only way to do this is to thoroughly know your material before heading on out to a debate session. Know your statistics, know your history and above all know names, dates and places. Make key notes to refer to. Don’t stammer (口吃), and also don’t level your gaze with your opponent or the rest of them. All this will help you keep confident.

At last, by no means should you lose your calmness, but keep your voice firm and raised enough to sound calm. A good team member should know how to keep his emotions in control as well as keep others under control in his/ her team.

高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

Scientific research depends on far-sighted people who can think outside the box. Such research is key to our understanding of the universe, the development of physical science, and our ability to enjoy world-changing technology products.

One such far-sighted people is John B. Goodenough, now 97, who developed the lithium-ion battery (锂离子电池) in the 1970s. Now, decades after his important breakthrough, Goodenough enters history as the winner of the Nobel Prize in chemistry of 2019. He shares the award with Akira Yoshino, 71, and M Stanley Whittingham, 77, who co-created the battery with Goodenough at the University of Oxford.

“Through their work, they have created the right conditions for wireless and fossil fuel-free society, and brought the greatest benefit to humankind,” said the Nobel Foundation.

Yet despite this rechargeable battery benefiting billions of people around the world every day, we too often take science for granted.

Indeed, the Nobel Committee - and even Goodenough himself - hadn’t seemed to appreciate the impact his research would have on future generation. “At the time we developed the battery, it was just something to do,” Goodenough told the Times Newspaper earlier this year. “I didn’t know what electrical engineers would do with the battery. I really didn’t anticipate cellphones, camera and everything else.”

As many have agreed - and Goodenough shows - the science of today is the technology of tomorrow. Goodenough’s invention is evidence of imagination being put to work for the greater good. For that, his research is good enough at last.

1.Why does Goodenough enter history?

A.Because he is the oldest man in the world.

B.Because he is a famous scientist.

C.Because he has won the Nobel Prize in chemistry.

D.Because he worked with other scientists.

2.The underlined word “anticipate” in Paragraph 5 is closest in meaning to _________.

A.show B.instruct C.expect D.invent

3.What can we learn from the text?

A.Goodenough’s invention has benefited human beings a lot.

B.Most people don’t take science for granted.

C.Goodenough discovered the lithium-ion battery in the1970s.

D.The Nobel Prize in chemistry in 2019 is awarded to Goodenough alone.

4.What would this passage most probably be?

A.story. B.An advertisement. C.A biography. D.A news report.

高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

–—　 It is unwise for some people to drive and talk on a cell phone.

–— _______. It's very dangerous.

A. I couldn't agree more　　 B. Not really

C. Good idea　 　　　　　　　 　 D. That's great

高二英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析

Jack is the right person you can rely on to ____ the research when you are on vacation for the next two weeks.

A. carry on 　　　　 B. focus on

C. take up　　　　 D. insist on

高二英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析

It is ______ great pleasure to meet the expert who is doing research on _________ archaeology.

A. / ;           B./; the         C. a; the          D. a; /

高二英语单项填空简单题查看答案及解析

Your friends' lives may look more exciting than yours on Facebook，but new research shows that is because they are faking(伪造)it.

A recent survey has found around two­thirds of people on social media post images(图像) to their personal information to make their lives seem more adventurous.And more than three quarters of those asked said they judged their peers(同龄人)based on what they saw on their Instagram，Snapchat or Facebook pages.

The British survey，by smartphone maker HTC，found that，in order to make our own pages and lives appear more exciting，six percent also said they had borrowed items to include in the images in order to pass them off as their own. More than half of those surveyed said they posted images of items and places purely to show off，causing_jealousy among friends and family.

Behavioural psychologist Hemmings said the trend was unsurprising due to the rise of social media.“We're living in a world of instant communication.”she said.“Fashion and style used to live and die in magazines；now people are in search of authentic （真实的），peer­to­peer recommendations as well，making social media an equal power house to magazines and newspapers.”

“With images being shared in an instant we desire to know what our friends are wearing，or what super stars are buying, as soon as they have got them.” Such is the influence of social media sites like Instagram,76 percent of those asked also said seeing items on social media influences them to buy them，with men more likely to take style advice and buy what they see.

1.How do some people make their lives appear more exciting?

A. By buying pictures.

B.　 By posting images.

C.　 By making up stories.

D.　 By risking their lives.

2.What does the word “jealousy” in Paragraph 3 mean?

A．Envy. 　　　 B．Conflict.　　　　 C．Adventure. D．Misunderstanding.

3.What can we learn from Jo Hemmings?

A．The trend reflects the development of social media.

B．Fashion and style no longer exist in magazines.

C．Magazines and newspapers are less important.

D．The trend is beyond people's expectation.

4.Which of the following best describes social media like Instagram?

A．Persuasive. B．Creative. 　　 C．Positive. 　　 D．Honest.

高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析