Tom appeared on the sidewalk with a bucket of...

Tom appeared on the sidewalk with a bucket of whitewash and a long­handled brush. He stopped by the fence in front of the house where he lived with his aunt Polly. He looked at it, and all joy left him. The fence was long and high. He put the brush into the whitewash and moved it along the top of the fence. He repeated the operation. He felt he could not continue and sat down.

He knew that his friends would arrive soon with all kinds of interesting plans for the day. They would walk past him and laugh. They would make jokes about his having to work on a beautiful summer Saturday. The thought burned him like fire.

He put his hand into his pockets and took out all that he owned. Perhaps he could find some way to pay someone to do the whitewashing for him. But there was nothing of value in his pockets—nothing that could buy even half an hour of freedom. So he put the bits of toys back into his pockets and gave up the idea.

At this dark and hopeless moment, a wonderful idea came to him. It filled his mind with a great, bright light. Calmly he picked up the brush and started again to whitewash.

While Tom was working, Ben Rogers appeared. Ben was eating an apple as he walked along the street. As he walked along it, he was making noises like the sound of a riverboat. First he shouted loudly, like a boat captain. Then he said “Ding---Dong---Dong”， “Ding---Dong---Dong” again and again, like the bell of a riverboat. And he made other strange noises. When he came close to Tom, he stopped.

Tom went on whitewashing. He did not look at Ben. Ben stared a moment and then said: “Hello! I'm going swimming, but you can't go, can you？”

No answer. Tom moved his brush carefully along the fence and looked at the result with the eye of an artist. Ben came nearer. Tom's mouth watered for the apple, but he kept on working.

Ben said, “Hello, old fellow, you've got to work, hey？”

Tom turned suddenly and said, “Why, it's you, Ben! I wasn't noticing.”

“Say --- I'm going swimming. Don't you wish you could? But of course you'd rather work --- wouldn't you? Of course you would.”

Tom looked at the boy a bit, and said “What do you call work？”

“Why, isn't that work？”

Tom went back to his whitewashing, and answered carelessly.

“Well, maybe it is, and maybe it isn't. All I know is, it suits Tom Sawyer.”

“Oh come, now, you don't mean to say that you like it？”

The brush continued to move.

“Like it? Well, I don't see why I shouldn't like it. Does a boy get a chance to whitewash a fence every day？”

Ben stopped eating his apple. Tom moved his brush back and forth, stepped back to look at the result, added a touch here and there, and stepped back again. Ben watched every move and got more and more interested. Soon he said，“Say, Tom, let me whitewash a little.”

Tom thought for a moment, and was about to agree, but he changed his mind.

“No---no---it won't do, Ben. You see, Aunt Polly wants this fence to be perfect. It has got to be done very carefully. I don't think there is one boy in a thousand, maybe two thousand, that can do it well enough.”

“No---is that so? Oh come, now —let me just try. Only just a little.”

“Ben, I'd like to, but if it isn't done right, I'm afraid Aunt Polly … ”

“Oh, I'll be careful. Now let me try. Say —I'll give you the core of my apple.”

“Well, here --- No, Ben, now don't. I'm afraid …”

“I'll give you all of it.”

Tom gave up the brush with unwillingness on his face, but joy in his heart. And while Ben worked at the fence in the hot sun, Tom sat under a tree, eating the apple, and planning how to get more help. There were enough boys. Each one came to laugh, but remained to whitewash. By the time Ben was tired, Tom sold the next chance to Billy for a kite; and when Billy was tired, Johnny bought it for a dead rat —and so on, hour after hour. And when the middle of the afternoon came, Tom had won many treasures.

And he had not worked. He had had a nice idle time all the time, with plenty of company, and the fence had been whitewashed three times. If he hadn't run out of whitewash, Tom would have owned everything belonging to his friends.

He had discovered a great law of human action, namely, that in order to make a man or a boy want a thing, it is only necessary to make the thing difficult to get.

1.How many characters are mentioned in this story?

A. 4.　　　　 　 B. 5.　　　　　　

C. 6.　　　　　　 D. 7

2.Why did Tom take all his bits of toys out of his pockets?

A. Because he was tired and wanted to play with his toys.

B. Because he wanted to throw his toys away.

C. Because he wanted to give his toys to his friends.

D. Because he wanted to know if he could buy help with his toys.

3.Tom was about to agree to let Ben whitewash when he changed his mind because ________.

A. Tom wanted to do the whitewashing by himself

B. Tom planned to make Ben give up his apple first

C. Tom was unwilling to let Ben do the whitewashing

D. Tom was afraid Ben would do the whitewashing better

4.We can learn from the passage that ________.

A. Tom was interested in whitewashing the fence

B．Tom had a lot of friends who are ready to help others

C. Tom was unwilling to whitewash the fence, but he managed to let other boys do it for him

D. Tom was good at whitewashing the fence, so he looked at the result of his work with the eye of an artist

5.What made Ben Rogers eagerly give up his apple and offer to brush the fence for Tom?

A. His warm heart and kindness to friends.

B. Tom's threat.

C. His curiosity about Tom's brushing job.

D. Aunt Polly's idea.

6.Which of the following is the most suitable title for this passage?

A. The Happy Whitewasher

B. Tom And His Fellows

C. Whitewashing A Fence

D. Make The Things Difficult To Get

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

Tom appeared on the sidewalk with a bucket of whitewash and a long-handled brush. He stopped by the fence in front of the house where he lived with his aunt Polly. He looked at it, and all joy left him. The fence was long and high. He put the brush into the whitewash and moved it along the top of the fence. He repeated the operation. He felt he could not continue and sat down.

He knew that his friends would arrive soon with all kinds of interesting plans for the day. They would walk past him and laugh. They would make jokes about his having to work on a beautiful summer Saturday. The thought burned him like fire.

He put his hand into his pockets and took out all that he owned. Perhaps he could find some way to pay someone to do the whitewashing for him. But there was nothing of value in his pockets —nothing that could buy even half an hour of freedom. So he put the bits of toys back into his pockets and gave up the idea. At this dark and hopeless moment, a wonderful idea came to him. It filled his mind with a great, bright light. Calmly he picked up the brush and started again to whitewash.

While Tom was working, Ben Rogers appeared. Ben was eating an apple as he walked along the street. As he walked along, he was making noises like the sound of a riverboat. First he shouted loudly, like a boat captain. Then he said “Ding-Dong-Dong”, “Ding-Dong-Dong” again and again, like the bell of a riverboat. And he made other strange noises. When he came close to Tom, he stopped.

Tom went on whitewashing. He did not look at Ben. Ben stared a moment and then said: “Hello! I’m going swimming, but you can’t go, can you?”

No answer. Tom moved his brush carefully along the fence and looked at the result with the eye of an artist. Ben came nearer. Tom’s mouth watered for the apple, but he kept on working.

Ben said, “Hello, old fellow, you’ve got to work, hey?”

Tom turned suddenly and said, “Why, it’s you, Ben! I wasn’t noticing.”

“Say —I’m going swimming. Don’t you wish you could? But of course you’d rather work — wouldn’t you? Of course you would.”

Tom looked at the boy a bit, and said “What do you call work?”

“Why, isn’t that work?”　 Tom went back to his whitewashing, and answered carelessly.

“Well, maybe it is, and maybe it isn’t. All I know is, it suits Tom Sawyer.”

“Oh come, now, you don’t mean to say that you like it?”　 The brush continued to move.

“Like it? Well, I don’t see why I shouldn’t like it. Does a boy get a chance to whitewash a fence every day?”

Ben stopped eating his apple. Tom moved his brush back and forth, stepped back to look at the result, added a touch here and there, and stepped back again. Ben watched every move and got more and more interested. Soon he said,

“Say, Tom, let me whitewash a little.”

Tom thought for a moment, was about to agree; but he changed his mind.

“No —no —it won’t do, Ben. You see, Aunt Polly wants this fence to be perfect. It has got to be done very carefully. I don’t think there is one boy in a thousand, maybe two thousand, that can do it well enough.”

“No —is that so? Oh come, now —let me just try. Only just a little.” “Ben, I’d like to, but if it isn’t done right, I’m afraid Aunt Polly … ”

“Oh, I’ll be careful. Now let me try. Say —I’ll give you the core of　 my apple.”

“Well, here —No, Ben, now don’t. I’m afraid …”

“I’ll give you all of it.”

Tom gave up the brush with unwillingness on his face, but joy in his heart. And while Ben worked at the fence in the hot sun, Tom sat under a tree, eating the apple, and planning how to get more help. There were enough boys. Each one came to laugh, but remained to whitewash. By the time Ben was tired, Tom sold the next chance to Billy for a kite; and when Billy was tired, Johnny bought in for a dead rat —and so on, hour after hour. And when the middle of the afternoon came, Tom had won many treasures.

And he had not worked. He had had a nice idle time all the time, with plenty of company －and the fence had been whitewashed three times. If he hadn’t run out of whitewash, Tom would have owned everything belonging to his friends.

He had discovered a great law of human action, namely, that in order to make a man or a boy want a thing, it is only necessary to make the thing difficult to get.

1.Why did Tom take all his bits of toys out of his pockets?

A. Because he is tired and wanted to play with his toys.

B. Because he wanted to throw his toys away.

C. Because he wanted to give his toys to his friends.

D. Because he wanted to know if he could buy help with his toys.

2.Tom was about to agree to let Ben whitewash when he changed his mind because ____________.

A. Tom wanted to do the whitewashing by himself

B. Tom planned to make Ben give up his apple first

C. Tom was unwilling to let Ben do the whitewashing

D. Tom was afraid Ben would do the whitewashing better.

3.What made Ben Rogers eagerly gave up his apple and offer to brush the fence for Tom?

A. His warm heart and kindness to friends.　　　　　　　　　

B. His curiosity about Tom’s brushing job.

C. Tom’s threat.　　　　　　　　　 　　　　　　　　　 　　　　　　　　　 　　　　　　　　　 　　　　　　　　　 　　　　　　　　　 　　　　　　　　　

D. Aunt Polly’s idea.

4.Which of the following is the most suitable title for this passage?

A. The Happy Whitewasher 　　　　　　　　　 　　　　　　　　　 　　　　　　　　　 　　　　　　　　　

B. Tom And His Fellows

C. Whitewashing A Fence　　　　　　　　　 　　　　　　　　　 　 　　　　　　　　　 　　　　　　　　　 　　　　　　　　　

D. How To Make The Things Difficult To Get

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

Tom appeared on the sidewalk with a bucket of whitewash and a long-handled brush. He stopped by the fence in front of the house where he lived with his aunt Polly. He looked at it, and all joy left him. The fence was long and high. He put the brush into the whitewash and moved it along the top of the fence. He repeated the operation. He felt he could not continue and sat down.

He knew that his friends would arrive soon with all kinds of interesting plans for the day. They would walk past him and laugh. They would make jokes about his having to work on a beautiful summer Saturday. The thought burned him like fire.

He put his hand into his pockets and took out all that he owned. Perhaps he could find something to pay someone to do the whitewashing for him. But there was nothing of value in his pockets. So he put the bits of toys back into his pockets and gave up the idea.

At this dark and hopeless moment, a wonderful idea came to him. It filled his mind with a great, bright light. Calmly he picked up the brush and started again to whitewash.

While Tom was working, Ben Rogers appeared. Ben was eating an apple as he walked along the street. When he came close to Tom, he stopped.

Tom went on whitewashing. He did not look at Ben. Ben stared a moment and then said: “Hello! I’m going swimming, but you can’t go, can you?”

No answer. Tom moved his brush carefully along the fence and looked at the result with the eye of an artist. Ben came nearer. Tom’s mouth watered for the apple, but he kept on working.

Ben said, “Hello, old fellow, you’ve got to work, hey?”

Tom turned suddenly and said, “Why, it’s you, Ben! I wasn’t noticing.”

“I’m going swimming. Don’t you wish you could? But of course you’d rather work. You seem to like it very much.”

“Like it? Well, I don’t see why I shouldn’t like it. Does a boy get a chance to whitewash a fence every day?”

Ben stopped eating his apple. Tom moved his brush back and forth, stepped back to look at the result, added a touch here and there, and stepped back again. Ben watched every move and got more and more interested. Soon he said,

“Tom, let me whitewash a little.”

Tom thought for a moment, was about to agree; but he changed his mind.

“No, no, it won’t do, Ben. You see, Aunt Polly wants this fence to be perfect. It has got to be done very carefully. I don’t think there is one boy in a thousand, maybe two thousand, that can do it well enough.”

“No — is that so? Oh come, let me just try. Only just a little.”

“Ben, I’d like to, but if it isn’t done right, I’m afraid Aunt Polly ...”

“Oh, I’ll be careful. Now let me try. I’ll give you half of my apple.”

“Well, here — No, Ben, now don’t. I’m afraid ...”

“I’ll give you all of it.”

Tom gave up the brush with unwillingness on his face, but joy in his heart. And while Ben worked at the fence in the hot sun, Tom sat under a tree, eating the apple, and planning how to get more help. There were enough boys. Each one came to laugh, but remained to whitewash. And when the middle of the afternoon came, Tom had won many treasures. The fence had been whitewashed three times. If he hadn’t run out of whitewash, Tom would have owned everything belonging to his friends.

He had discovered a great law of human action that in order to make a man or a boy want a thing, it is only necessary to make the thing difficult to get.

1.Why did Tom take all his bits of toys out of his pockets?

A. Because he was tired and wanted to play with his toys.

B. Because he wanted to exchange his toys with his friends.

C. Because he wanted to give his toys to his friends.

D. Because he wanted to know if he could buy help with his toys.

2. Tom was about to agree to let Ben whitewash when he changed his mind because ______.

A. Tom wanted to do the whitewashing himself

B. Tom planned to make Ben give up his apple first

C. Tom was unwilling to let Ben do the whitewashing

D. Tom was afraid Ben couldn’t do the whitewashing well.

3.We can learn from the passage that ______.

A. Tom was fond of whitewashing the fence

B. Tom had a lot of friends who were ready to help him

C. Tom managed to let other boys do the whitewashing for him

D. Tom was better at whitewashing the fence than others

4.Which of the following is the most suitable title for this passage?

A. The Happy Whitewasher

B. Tom And His Fellows

C. Whitewashing A Fence

D. How To Make Things Difficult To Get

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

In recent weeks , small groups of young people appeared on downtown sidewalks in Changsha, Beijing and other cities , holding signs with the words "free hugs ,and offered embraces to any passer-by who would care for one. "

Calling themselves " the hug league" ,they said they were inspired an international news story of a similar type and intended to promote human contact in the face of growing alienation(疏远）in urban china.

We Chinese ,contrary to what is shown in our love movies and television shows , rarely run into each other's arms and cry our hearts out .We are raised in a culture of emotional restraint(克制）。We mark our meetings and departures with a wave of hand and  a handshake of light touch . Not so long ago , even young lovers hugging in public places were considered rude.

But that doesn't mean we are immune(免疫的）to the wonderful feeling of human tactility(触感）。I remember my mother was visibly moved when I hold her hand for the first time while walking her across a busy street in the U.S. The circumstance made it more natural .But cultures don't evolve overnight ."It's hard to get rid of the old belief that man and woman shouldn't have any physical contact ,"some explained .In the late 1970s some feared that social dance would lead to sexual (侵扰）.But the awkwardness was overcome as more and more people came to accept dancing with partners who were not their spouses (配偶）as a perfectly normal form of recreation.

In this environment of changing social customs manners , how people act could be the working many factors ,including their personality.Some offer bear hugs to everyone they know while others would shiver at the thought of medical personnel touching them with a stethoscope(听诊器）。The line between proper and improper often shifts(移动）with the sands of circumstances.

Offering hugs to strangers on the street is too radical(激进的）a step to have any meaningful impact on our customs.If anything , the huggers should start with their loved ones.

72.The writer think that __________

A free hug is not acceptable at present

B free hug is a proper custom in china

C offering hugs to strangers is nothing new in China

D man and woman should not have any physical contact

73.According to the passage , free hug_________

A was invented by some Chinese youths

B was introduced from other countries

C was intended to find lovers among the strangers

D was beneficial to a person's emotional health

74.The words "contrary to " in Paragraph 3 mean"_______"

A opposite to    B different from    C similar to     D the same as

75.The writer give the example of the social dance to ______

A prove that we are immune to the feeling of human touch

B indicate that the society is always changing

C show that many western customs are being accepted

D show that cultures don't evolve overnight

高三英语阅读理解简单题查看答案及解析

You’re rushing to work and a man ahead of you collapses on the sidewalk. Do you stop to help? In a study of by-standers, it was found that some people avert their gaze and keep on  walking rather than stop and get involved.

“There is a tendency to decide that no action is needed.” says a psychologist. “The first thoughts that pop into your mind often keep you from offering help. In order to take action, you have to work against them.” Here are some common thoughts that might prevent you from helping.

● Why should I be the one? I’m probably not the most competent（有能力的） person in this crowd. You might think someone older or with more medical knowledge should offer assistance.

● What if he doesn’t really need my help? The fear of embarrassment is powerful; no one wants to risk looking foolish in front of others.

● No one else looks concerned- this must not be a problem. We can follow the people around us, but most people tend to hold back their emotions in public.

“If you spot trouble and find yourself explaining inaction, force yourself to stop and evaluate the situation instead of walking on,” says the psychologist. “Then retry to involve other people; you don’t have to take on the entire responsibility of being helpful. Sometimes it’s just a matter of turning to the person next to you and saying, ‘It looks like we should do something.’ Or asking someone if an ambulance has been called and, if not, to call for one. Once you take action, most people will follow you.”

1.Which is NOT the common thought that stops you from helping others?

A．I’m not the very person capable of setting the problem.

B．It looks like we should do something.

C．It must not be a problem as no one else is concerned.

D．He doesn’t really need my help.

2.According to a study of by-standers, what will some people do when a man ahead falls down on the sidewalk?

A．They will call for help and then walk away.

B．They will stop and offer help.

C．They will turn away their eyes and go on walking.

D．They will laugh at him.

3.We learn from the last paragraph that if we spot trouble,________．

A．we should call the ambulance as soon as we can.

B．we should take on the whole responsibility and do something alone.

C．we should stop and evaluate the situation and try to make other people follow.

D．we should turn to other people and ask them to take on the responsibility

4.In order to offer others your timely help, you need to________．

A．ask others for help and call the police

B．get along well with the passers-by who spot the trouble

C．go directly to the police station

D．work against the first thoughts that prevent you offering help

5.The main purpose of the text is to tell readers________．

A．to give others a hand                    B．to be more competent

C．not to risk looking foolish                 D．to stop and evaluate the situation

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

You’re rushing to work and a man ahead of you collapses on the sidewalk. Do you stop to help? In a study of by-standers, it was found that some people avert their gaze and keep on  walking rather than stop and get involved.

“There is a tendency to decide that no action is needed.” says a psychologist. “The first thoughts that pop into your mind often keep you from offering help. In order to take action, you have to work against them.” Here are some common thoughts that might prevent you from helping.

● Why should I be the one? I’m probably not the most competent person in this crowd. You might think someone older or with more medical knowledge should offer assistance.

● What if he doesn’t really need my help? The fear of embarrassment is powerful; no one wants to risk looking foolish in front of others.

● No one else looks concerned- this must not be a problem. We can follow the people around us, but most people tend to hold back their emotions in public.

“If you spot trouble and find yourself explaining inaction, force yourself to stop and evaluate the situation instead of walking on,” says the psychologist. “Then retry to involve other people; you don’t have to take on the entire responsibility of being helpful. Sometimes it’s just a matter of turning to the person next to you and saying, ‘It looks like we should do something.’ Or asking someone if an ambulance has been called and, if not, to call for one. Once you take action, most people will follow you.”

56. Which is NOT the common thought that stops you from helping others?

A.I’m not the very person capable of setting the problenu.

B.It looks like we should do something.

C.It must not be a problem as no one else is concerned.

D.He doesn’t really need my help.

57. According to a study of by-standers, what will some people do when a man ahead falls down on the sidewalk?

A.They will call for help and then walk away.

B. They will stop and offer help.

C. They will turn away their eyes and go on walking.

D.They will laugh at him.

58. We learn from the last paragraph that if we spot ttouble, ________．

A. we sbould call the ambulance as soon as we can.

B. we should take on the whole responsibility and do something alone.

C. we should stop and evaluate the situation and try to make other people follow.

D.we should turn to other people and ask them to take on the responsibility

59. In order to offer others your timely help, you need to________．

A. ask others for help and call the police

B.get along well with the passers-by who spot the trouble

C. go directly to the police station

D.work against the rirst thoughts that prevent you offering help

60. The main purpose of the text is to tell readers________．

A.to give others a hand                       B. to be more competent

C.not to risk looking foolish                D.to stop and evaluate the situation

高三英语阅读理解简单题查看答案及解析

You’re rushing to work and a man ahead of you collapses on the sidewalk. Do you stop to help? In a study of by-standers, it was found that some people avert their gaze and keep on  walking rather than stop and get involved.

“There is a tendency to decide that no action is needed.” says a psychologist. “The first thoughts that pop into your mind often keep you from offering help. In order to take action, you have to work against them.” Here are some common thoughts that might prevent you from helping.

● Why should I be the one? I’m probably not the most competent（有能力的） person in this crowd. You might think someone older or with more medical knowledge should offer assistance.

● What if he doesn’t really need my help? The fear of embarrassment is powerful; no one wants to risk looking foolish in front of others.

● No one else looks concerned- this must not be a problem. We can follow the people around us, but most people tend to hold back their emotions in public.

“If you spot trouble and find yourself explaining inaction, force yourself to stop and evaluate the situation instead of walking on,” says the psychologist. “Then retry to involve other people; you don’t have to take on the entire responsibility of being helpful. Sometimes it’s just a matter of turning to the person next to you and saying, ‘It looks like we should do something.’ Or asking someone if an ambulance has been called and, if not, to call for one. Once you take action, most people will follow you.”

1.Which is NOT the common thought that stops you from helping others?

A．I’m not the very person capable of setting the problem.

B．It looks like we should do something.

C．It must not be a problem as no one else is concerned.

D．He doesn’t really need my help.

2.According to a study of by-standers, what will some people do when a man ahead falls down on the sidewalk?

A．They will call for help and then walk away.

B．They will stop and offer help.

C．They will turn away their eyes and go on walking.

D．They will laugh at him.

3.We learn from the last paragraph that if we spot trouble, ________．

A．we should call the ambulance as soon as we can.

B．we should take on the whole responsibility and do something alone.

C．we should stop and evaluate the situation and try to make other people follow.

D．we should turn to other people and ask them to take on the responsibility

4.In order to offer others your timely help, you need to________．

A．ask others for help and call the police

B．get along well with the passers-by who spot the trouble

C．go directly to the police station

D．work against the first thoughts that prevent you offering help

5.The main purpose of the text is to tell readers________．

A．to give others a hand

B．to be more competent

C．not to risk looking foolish

D．to stop and evaluate the situation

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

1.Tom Holland now finds the first half of The Histories ___________.

A. off the point　　 B. culture-centered

C. really boring　　 D. quite entertaining

2.Which book does Tom Holland appreciate and try to copy its style?

A. The Histories　　 B. A Distant Mirror

C. The Guns of August　　 D. Moominsummer Madness

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

I'm on the phone with a frustrated customer, and a note appears on my computer screen: You are speaking slower than usual. Speed up. I do, and the message disappears, only to be replaced with another: Continuous Speaking — Finish your thought.

This is Cogito, an artificial intelligence program designed to help customer service workers communicate more clearly, empathize (产生共鸣) with frustrated callers, and improve their overall performance. Cogito listens to the tone, pitch, word frequency and other factors in customer service conversations. When it detects something wrong-an irritated customer, a call center agent taking too long to respond — it displays a note on the agent's computer telling them how to improve.

For anyone who's spent hours of their lives stuck on the phone with an unhelpful or very rude customer service agent, Cogito may seem. like a godsend. And some customer service agents using the software generally say they find it helpful. One employee says that Cogito helped her cut her average call time nearly in half, while another says it helped her speaking slow down.

Cogito has been launched to more than sixty call centers across the U. S. over the past year. The company behind the software, Cogito Inc., has raised more than $ 70 million. “We were 45 people a year ago,” says Cogito CEO Josh Feast, whose. company now has 150 employees. At MetLife, managers say that the program improved customer satisfaction by 13%，and helped agents (who take an average of 700 calls a week) to have more “human” conversations.

Such software as Cogito is unlikely to stop at the meeting room. But like other enterprise software, it could soon spread well beyond call centers and other offices and into our daily lives.

1.What's the purpose of Cogito program?

A.To speed up customer service workers' speaking.

B.To store the conversations between customers and agents.

C.To improve customer service agents' communication with callers.

D.To complain of frustrated callers.

2.What can we infer about Cogito in Paragraph 4?

A.Cogito bas been used by sixty call centers in the world.

B.The company behind the software benefits a lot from Cogito.

C.Josh Feast designed Cogito with the help of employees.

D.Customers weren't satisfied with MetLife's service without Cogito.

3.What's the future of Cogito according to the text?

A.It'll be part of our normal day-to-day life.

B.I'll spread into other offices.

C.I'll tell humans what to do.

D.I'll replace customer service agents.

4.Where is the text most likely from?

A.A novel. B.A brochure.

C.A guidebook. D.A magazine.

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

The first drawings on walls appeared in caves thousands of years ago. Later the Ancient Romans and Greeks wrote their names and protest poems on buildings. Modern graffiti seems to have appeared in Philadelphia in the early 1960s, and by the late sixties it had reached New York. The new art form really took off in the 1970s, when people began writing their names, or “tags”, on buildings all over the city. In the mid-seventies it was sometimes hard to see out of a subway car window, because the trains were completely covered in spray paintings known as masterpieces.

In the early days, the “taggers” were part of street crowds who were concerned with marking their territory(领地). They worked in groups called “crews” and called what they did “writing” — the term “graffiti” was first used by The New York Times and the novelist Norman Mailer. Art galleries in New York began buying graffiti in the early seventies. But at the same time that it began to be regarded as an art form, John Lindsay, the then mayor of New York, declared the first war on graffiti. By the 1980s it became much harder to write on subway trains without being caught, and instead many of the more established graffiti artists began using roofs of buildings.

The debate over whether graffiti is art or deliberate damage is still going on. Peter Vallone, a New York city councilor, thinks that graffiti done with permission can be art, but if it is on someone else’s property it becomes a crime. “I have a message for the graffiti destroyers out there,” he said recently, “and your freedom of expression ends where my property begins.” On the other hand, Felix, a member of the Berlin-based group Reclaim Your City, says that artists are reclaiming cities for the public from advertisers, and that graffiti represents freedom and makes cities livelier.

For decades graffiti has been a springboard to international fame for a few. Jean-Michel Basquiat began spraying on the street in the 1970s before becoming a respected artist in the 80s. The Frenchman Blek le Rat and the British artist Banksy have achieved international fame by producing complex works with stencils(模板), often making political or humorous points. Works by Banksy have been sold for over £ 100,000. Graffiti is now sometimes big business.

1.Why was the seventies an important decade in the history of graffiti?

A. That was when modern graffiti first became really popular.

B. That was when modern graffiti first appeared.

C. That was when graffiti first reached New York.

D. That was when graffiti first appeared on subway car windows

2.What does the underlined word “taggers” in the second paragraph mean?

A. Names of people who graffitied.

B. Building where paints were sprayed.

C. People who marked surface with graffiti.

D. People who were interested in graffiti.

3.What can we know from the third paragraph?

A. New Yorkers think graffiti is art.

B. Graffiti was accepted by officials completely.

C. Buildings can be covered with graffiti freely.

D. There were once advertisements on city surface.

4.What is the author’s final opinion about graffiti?

A. Graffiti has now become mainstream and can benefit artists.

B. Graffiti is not a good way to become a respected artist.

C. Some popular graffiti artists end up being ignored by the art world.

D. Some graffiti caused inconvenience to the local environment.

高三英语阅读理解困难题查看答案及解析