ANIMALS have always been used to represent certain human characteristics. Countries also use animals as symbols. From eagles to lions, many countries use an animal to show its national spirit and character.
The image of an eagle is on the US President’s flag, and on the one-dollar bill. The bald eagle is a large, powerful, brown bird with a white head and tail. The term “bald” does not mean that this bird lacks feathers. Instead, it comes from the old word piebald, that menas, “marked with white”.
The US declared that the eagle was its national bird in 1782. It was chosen because of “its long life, great strength, and noble looks”.
A few eagles have even become American heroes. An eagle named “Old Abe”, the mascot of a Wisconsin troop of soldiers during the Civil War, traveled 14,000 miles with its men. He was often shot at by the enemy, but survived 42 battles.
But, one of the Founding Fathers, Benjamin Franklin didn’t agree with the choice. “The bald eagle … is a bird of bad moral character, like those among men who live by robbing, he is generally poor, and often very messy,” he argued. Franklin wanted the turkey as the country’s national bird.
If Americans chose their national symbol deliberately, the symbol of England arose out of history.
King Herry Ⅰ(1068-1135) was a brave warrior but also wise. His appreciation for the rule of law earned him the nickname the Lion of Justice. He was the first English King to use a lion as a royal symbol, which is popularly known as the “king of the jungle”. By the year Richard Ⅰ, known as “The Lionheart” for his bravery, came to the throne in 1189, the famous Three Lions badge had been formed. Now it can be seen on the shirts of England’s sports teams.
Although people might not think of lions when they think of England, everyone knows about the Australian kangaroo. Legend has it that the kangaroo gets its name from an early meeting between local aborigines and white settlers. When asked by the Europeans what these strange-looking animals were, a native replied “kangaroo”, meaning “I don’t understand you.”
The kangaroo is an individualistic animal. Although it does gather in groups, the kangaroo is not a herd animal. If a group is attacked, individuals run off in different directions. Australians think the kangaroo represents positive values, such as individual responsibility and pride.
1.The general idea of this passage should probably be __________ .
A. animals are friends of human beings
B. nearly all the countries have an animal as their national animal
C. animals’ good values are always used to show a country’s national spirit and character
D. certain human characteristics are the same as some animals, so some countries love animals
2.Which is NOT true about the animal of the “bald eagle”?
A. It was Benjamin Franklin who made the bald eagle as the national animal of the USA.
B. The term “bald” means “marked with white”.
C. The bald eagle can show American national spirit and character.
D. “Old Abe” was even an American hero.
3.The reason why the lion was made as the national animal of the United Kingdom was that ______ .
A. it could always be used to represent certain human characteristics of England
B. the Kings of England loved lions
C. there are many lions in England
D. lions are “king of the jungle”
4.What good values can the kangaroo show as national spirits?
A. Group. B. Respect of others.
C. Not understanding D. Positive values.
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题
ANIMALS have always been used to represent certain human characteristics. Countries also use animals as symbols. From eagles to lions, many countries use an animal to show its national spirit and character.
The image of an eagle is on the US President’s flag, and on the one-dollar bill. The bald eagle is a large, powerful, brown bird with a white head and tail. The term “bald” does not mean that this bird lacks feathers. Instead, it comes from the old word piebald, that menas, “marked with white”.
The US declared that the eagle was its national bird in 1782. It was chosen because of “its long life, great strength, and noble looks”.
A few eagles have even become American heroes. An eagle named “Old Abe”, the mascot of a Wisconsin troop of soldiers during the Civil War, traveled 14,000 miles with its men. He was often shot at by the enemy, but survived 42 battles.
But, one of the Founding Fathers, Benjamin Franklin didn’t agree with the choice. “The bald eagle … is a bird of bad moral character, like those among men who live by robbing, he is generally poor, and often very messy,” he argued. Franklin wanted the turkey as the country’s national bird.
If Americans chose their national symbol deliberately, the symbol of England arose out of history.
King Herry Ⅰ(1068-1135) was a brave warrior but also wise. His appreciation for the rule of law earned him the nickname the Lion of Justice. He was the first English King to use a lion as a royal symbol, which is popularly known as the “king of the jungle”. By the year Richard Ⅰ, known as “The Lionheart” for his bravery, came to the throne in 1189, the famous Three Lions badge had been formed. Now it can be seen on the shirts of England’s sports teams.
Although people might not think of lions when they think of England, everyone knows about the Australian kangaroo. Legend has it that the kangaroo gets its name from an early meeting between local aborigines and white settlers. When asked by the Europeans what these strange-looking animals were, a native replied “kangaroo”, meaning “I don’t understand you.”
The kangaroo is an individualistic animal. Although it does gather in groups, the kangaroo is not a herd animal. If a group is attacked, individuals run off in different directions. Australians think the kangaroo represents positive values, such as individual responsibility and pride.
1.The general idea of this passage should probably be __________ .
A. animals are friends of human beings
B. nearly all the countries have an animal as their national animal
C. animals’ good values are always used to show a country’s national spirit and character
D. certain human characteristics are the same as some animals, so some countries love animals
2.Which is NOT true about the animal of the “bald eagle”?
A. It was Benjamin Franklin who made the bald eagle as the national animal of the USA.
B. The term “bald” means “marked with white”.
C. The bald eagle can show American national spirit and character.
D. “Old Abe” was even an American hero.
3.The reason why the lion was made as the national animal of the United Kingdom was that ______ .
A. it could always be used to represent certain human characteristics of England
B. the Kings of England loved lions
C. there are many lions in England
D. lions are “king of the jungle”
4.What good values can the kangaroo show as national spirits?
A. Group. B. Respect of others.
C. Not understanding D. Positive values.
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
Zoos have traditionally been built in a certain way: Animals on the inside, humans on the outside, peering in. This separation is good in theory—humans and animals need to be protected from one another—but terrible in practice, as animals end up living in an environment far from a natural habitat. A new plan for a Zoo in Denmark wants to reverse those roles, giving animals more freedom in captivity while effectively placing humans inside protective barriers.
Called Zootopia, the conceptual design has the goal of turning the safari(野外观兽旅行)style zoo into a place where animals determine interaction—not humans. “Try to imagine if you asked the animals what they would like. What would they decide?” says the director of the project. “They want their nature back, so to speak, and we are going to try to create that”.
In Zootopia, animals will wander free around the perimeter while humans observe, hidden away from view in underground passageways and naturalistic architecture structures. Visitors can watch lions through an underground enclosure disguised as a hill. They'll peek out at giraffes through windowed houses built into the side of a hilly plains. Outside of the main circular entrance, there will be no traditional buildings. “We want to take away human influence,” said Zootopia's designers.
The main challenge, of course, is to design the zoo in a way that the enclosure is still there but it's not visible. The two-phase plan, which will cost around $200 million, is still in the improving and approval phase; it'll be at least five years until we see any work finished on the park, and it's likely to take upwards of 10 years before it opens. Can the animals wait that long?
1.Why does a zoo in Denmark plan to create Zootopia?
A.to protect animals from humans.
B.to provide animals with a natural habitat.
C.to provide humans with more freedom in the zoo.
D.to protect humans and give animals enough freedom.
2.Different from traditional zoos, in Zootopia .
A.animals enjoy full freedom. B.there will be no conventional buildings.
C.humans watch animals without being noticed. D.humans can interact with animals at their will.
3.What can we infer from the last paragraph?
A.It’s tricky to design the enclosure.
B.Zootopia is now under construction.
C.There is a long way to go before Zootopia operates.
D.Zootopia arouses people’s concern about animals.
4.What is the passage mainly about?
A.the future of Zootopia B.the development of Zootopia
C.the fall of traditional zoos D.the concept of a cage-free zoo
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
Maybe you don’t think animals have certain mental powers which human beings do not have.But the truth is that some of them have instincts,and besides this,I am sure they can feel certain things we humans cannot.A personal experience showed me this.
Some years ago,I had a dog named Howard.From the time when he was a puppy,he was timid,so we named him Howard,sounding like “coward”!He was especially afraid of thunderstorms.At the first flash of lightning or crash of thunder,he would run whining into his house and hide under a table.
I often went for a walk with Howard.Once,as we were walking along a road,it began to rain.I quickly ran to a bus stop for shelter.The bus stop had a roof supported by metal poles.Soon after I had got there,Howard caught my trousers in his teeth and tried to pull me away.At first I was puzzled and a little angry at his behavior.But I decided to humor him and walked away from the shelter into the rain and started to go home.
When I was about two hundred metres from the shelter,there came a flash of lightning and soon after,there was thunder which nearly deafened me.Howard stopped walking and began whining.Thinking he was afraid,I bent to pick him up.As I straightened up,I glanced at the bus shelter we had just left.I was shocked to see that two of the poles were bent and the roof was lying on the ground,broken.The shelter had been struck by the bolt of lightning!
1.The author named his dog Howard mainly because of_______.
A. his timid characteristic
B. one of the author’s friends Howard
C. his loud sound
D. his strange behaviors
2.The reason why the author was puzzled and angry with the dog was that_______.
A. Howard had a strange behavior
B. Howard should be afraid of the metal poles
C. Howard should know the approaching of the terrible lightning
D. Howard bit his trousers in his teeth
3.Which of the following is true according to the passage?
A. Dogs are cleverer and better than men.
B. Dogs are usually afraid of thunderstorms.
C. Some animals can feel certain things humans cannot.
D. Dogs are naturally born heroes.
4.What can be inferred about the bus shelter from the passage?
A. It was about 200 meters from the author’s home.
B. It was destroyed in a rainy day.
C. Its roof was supported by wood poles.
D. It could produce blinding flash of lightning.
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
Maybe you don’t think animals have certain mental powers which human beings do not have. But the truth is that some of them have instincts, and besides this, I am sure they can feel certain things we humans cannot. A personal experience showed me this.
Some years ago, I had a dog named Howard. From the time when he was a puppy, he was timid, so we named him Howard, sounding like “coward”! He was especially afraid of thunderstorms. At the first flash of lightning or crash of thunder, he would run whining into his house and hide under a table.
I often went for a walk with Howard. Once, as we were walking along a road, it began to rain. I quickly ran to a bus stop for shelter. The bus stop had a roof supported by metal poles. Soon after I had got there, Howard caught my trousers in his teeth and tried to pull me away. At first I was puzzled and a little angry at his behavior. But I decided to humor him and walked away from the shelter into the rain and started to go home.
When I was about two hundred metres from the shelter, there came a flash of lightning and soon after, there was thunder which nearly deafened me. Howard stopped walking and began whining. Thinking he was afraid, I bent to pick him up. As I straightened up, I glanced at the bus shelter we had just left. I was shocked to see that two of the poles were bent and the roof was lying on the ground, broken. The shelter had been struck by the bolt of lightning!
1.The author named his dog Howard mainly because of_______.
A. his timid characteristic
B. one of the author’s friends Howard
C. his loud sound
D. his strange behaviors
2.The reason why the author was puzzled and angry with the dog was that .
A. Howard had a strange behavior
B. Howard should be afraid of the metal poles
C. Howard should know the approaching of the terrible lightning
D. Howard bit his trousers in his teeth
3.Which of the following is true according to the passage?
A. Dogs are cleverer and better than men.
B. Dogs are usually afraid of thunderstorms.
C. Some animals can feel certain things humans cannot.
D. Dogs are naturally born heroes.
4.What can be inferred about the bus shelter from the passage?
A. It was about 200 meters from the author’s home.
B. It was destroyed in a rainy day.
C. Its roof was supported by wood poles.
D. It could produce blinding flash of lightning.
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
阅读理解
17.Maybe you don’t think animals have certain mental powers which human beings do not have.But the truth is that some of them have instincts,and besides this,I am sure they can feel certain things we humans cannot.A personal experience showed me this.
Some years ago,I had a dog named Howard. From the time when he was a puppy,he was timid,so we named him Howard,sounding like “coward”!He was especially afraid of thunderstorms.At the first flash of lightning or crash of thunder,he would run whining into his house and hide under a table.
I often went for a walk with Howard. Once,as we were walking along a road,it began to rain.I quickly ran to a bus stop for shelter.The bus stop had a roof supported by metal poles.Soon after I had got there,Howard caught my trousers in his teeth and tried to pull me away.At first I was puzzled and a little angry at his behavior.But I decided to humor him and walked away from the shelter into the rain and started to go home.
When I was about two hundred metres from the shelter,there came a flash of lightning and soon after,there was thunder which nearly deafened me.Howard stopped walking and began whining.Thinking he was afraid,I bent to pick him up.As I straightened up,I glanced at the bus shelter we had just left.I was shocked to see that two of the poles were bent and the roof was lying on the ground,broken.The shelter had been struck by the bolt of lightning!
1.The author named his dog Howard mainly because of_______.
A. his timid characteristic
B. one of the author’s friends Howard
C. his loud sound
D. his strange behaviors
2.The reason why the author was puzzled and angry with the dog was that_______.
A. Howard had a strange behavior
B. Howard should be afraid of the metal poles
C. Howard should know the approaching of the terrible lightning
D. Howard bit his trousers in his teeth
3.Which of the following is true according to the passage?
A. Dogs are cleverer and better than men.
B. Dogs are usually afraid of thunderstorms.
C. Some animals can feel certain things humans cannot.
D. Dogs are naturally born heroes.
4.What can be inferred about the bus shelter from the passage?
A. It was about 200 meters from the author’s home.
B. It was destroyed in a rainy day.
C. Its roof was supported by wood poles.
D. It could produce blinding flash of lightning.
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
Cryonics is the practice of cooling dead organic tissue. This is used on humans or animals that have recently died. The hope is to bring them back to life in the near future. By law, it can only be performed on humans after they are legally dead. Many scientists and doctors think cryonics is totally morally unacceptable. However, there are also many who support cryonics.
Supporters of cryonics hope that future technology will improve. Molecular technology is especially hoped to reverse (逆转) the early stages of clinical death. It is hoped that this will enable the repair of tissue on a very tiny level. It could also allow damaged tissues and organs to regenerate. They also assume that disease and aging will one day be reversible.
These supporters want to store the memory and identity from the brain of people who have recently died. Cryonics attempts to do this by using liquid that preserves the brain. If this is done before cooling, it will prevent injury. This cooling liquid saves the fine cell structures of the brain where memory and identity exist.
Critics of cryonics think this process is a waste of time and money. They base their opinions on the current level of science. It is true that cells, tissues, blood vessels, and some small animal organs can be reversibly preserved. Some frogs can even survive for a few months in a partially frozen state if they are kept a few degrees above freezing. But this is not true cryopreservation. There is no proof that the identity and memory of a person can be restored after death has occurred.
Critics also think that if it were possible to bring dead people back to life, it would cause many social problems. Critics worry it would cause a huge overpopulation problem. Many also think trying to reverse death is immoral because it is against the will of their God.
1.What can we know about cryonics from paragraph 1?
A.Cryonics is used before people's death.
B.All scientists aren't in favor of the use of cryonics.
C.Laws forbid the use of cryonics on legally dead people.
D.Cryonics tries to cool dead organic tissue by using liquid.
2.What does the underlined word ''regenerate'' in paragraph 2 mean?
A.copy. B.return.
C.freeze. D.regrow.
3.Why do critics oppose the use of cryonics?
A.It will make people's memory lost.
B.Injury will occur during the process.
C.There is scientific uncertainty about it.
D.It goes along with their religious belief.
4.What is the main idea of the text?
A.The use of cryonics has a bright future.
B.Cryonics is still a controversial practice.
C.The practice of cryonics is limited by law.
D.There is an advance in medical technology.
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
Humans have been keeping animals as pets for tens of thousands of years, but Dr. Jean-Loup Rault, an animal scientist at the University of Melbourne in Australia, believes new companions are coming: robot pets.
“Technology is moving very fast,” Rault told ABC News, “The Tamagotchi in the early 1990s was really the first robotic pet, and now Sony and other big companies have improved them a lot.”
This may not sit well with pet lovers. After all, who would choose a plastic toy over a lovely puppy? But Rault argues that the robotic kind has a lot going for it: “You don’t have to feed it, you don’t have to walk it, it won’t make a mess in your house, and you can go on a holiday without feeling guilty.” The technology also benefits those who are allergic to pets, short on space, or fearful of real animals.
It’s not clear whether robot pets can replace real ones. But studies do suggest that we can bond with these smart machines. People give their cars names and kids give their toy animals life stories. It’s the same with robots. When Sony stopped its repair service for its robot dog Aibo in March 2014, owners in Japan held funerals.
As an animal welfare researcher, Rault is concerned about how robotic pets could affect our attitudes towards live animals. “If we become used to a robotic companion that doesn’t need food, water or exercises, perhaps it will change how humans care about other living beings,” he said.
So are dogs and cats a thing of the past, as Rault predicts? For those who grew up with living and breathing pets, the mechanical kind might not do. But for our next generation who are in constant touch with smart technology, a future in which lovely pets needn’t have a heartbeat might not be a far-fetched dream.
1.What does the underlined phrase “sit well with” means?
A. be refused by B. be beneficial to
C. make a difference to D. receive support from
2.What are the advantages of robot pets?
a. They are plastic and feel smooth.
b. Owners needn’t worry about them when going out.
c. They can help cure allergies.
d. They save space and costs.
A. ab. B. bc. C. bd. D. cd.
3.The passage mainly tells us ______.
A. the advantages of robot toys B. the popularity of robot pets
C. living pets are dying out D. robot pets are coming
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
Humans have been keeping animals as pets for tens of thousands of years, but Dr Jean-Loup Rault, an animal scientist at the University of Melbourne in Australia, believes new companions are coming: robot pets.
“Technology is moving very fast,” Rault told ABC News, “The Tamagotchi in the early 1990s was really the first robotic pet, and now Sony and other big companies have improved them a lot.”
This may not sit well with pet lovers. After all, who would choose a plastic toy over a lovely puppy? But Rault argues that the robotic kind has a lot going for it: “You don’t have to feed it, you don’t have to walk it, it won’t make a mess in your house, and you can go on a holiday without feeling guilty.” The technology also benefits those who are allergic to pets, short on space, or fearful of real animals.
It’s not clear whether robot pets can replace real ones. But studies do suggest that we can bond with these smart machines. People give their cars names and kids give their toy animals life stories. It’s the same with robots. When Sony stopped its repair service for its robot dog Aibo in March 2014, owners in Japan held funerals.
As an animal welfare researcher, Rault is concerned about how robotic pets could affect our attitudes towards live animals. “If we become used to a robotic companion that doesn’t need food, water or exercises, perhaps it will change how humans care about other living beings,” he said.
So are dogs and cats a thing of the past, as Rault predicts? For those who grew up with living and breathing pets, the mechanical kind might not do. But for our next generation who are in constant touch with smart technology, a future in which lovely pets needn’t have a heartbeat might not be a far-fetched dream.
1.What does the underlined phrase “sit well with” means?
A. be refused by B. be beneficial to
C. make a difference to D. receive support from
2.What are the advantages of robot pets?
a. They are plastic and feel smooth.
b. Owners needn’t worry about them when going out.
c. They can help cure allergies(过敏).
d. They save space and costs.
A. ab B. bc
C. bd D. cd
3.We can learn from the passage that___________.
A. Sony is the first company to produce robot pets Aibo.
B. People can develop strong bond(联系、关系) with their robot pets.
C. Rault thinks robot pets still have a long way to go.
D. Robot toys may help people care more about living beings.
4.The passage mainly tells us___________.
A. the advantages of robot toys B. the popularity of robot pets
C. living pets are dying out. D. robot pets are coming.
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
Humans have been keeping animals as pets for tens of thousands of years, but Dr Jean-Loup Rault, an animal scientist at the University of Melbourne in Australia, believes new companions are coming: robot pets.
“Technology is moving very fast,” Rault told ABC News, “The Tamagotchi in the early 1990s was really the first robotic pet, and now Sony and other big companies have improved them a lot.”
This may not sit well with pet lovers. After all, who would choose a plastic toy over a lovely puppy? But Rault argues that the robotic kind has a lot going for it: “You don’t have to feed it, you don’t have to walk it, it won’t make a mess in your house, and you can go on a holiday without feeling guilty.” The technology also benefits those who are allergic to pets, short on space, or fearful of real animals.
It’s not clear whether robot pets can replace real ones. But studies do suggest that we can bond with these smart machines. People give their cars names and kids give their toy animals life stories. It’s the same with robots. When Sony stopped its repair service for its robot dog Aibo in March 2014, owners in Japan held funerals.
As an animal welfare researcher, Rault is concerned about how robotic pets could affect our attitudes towards live animals. “If we become used to a robotic companion that doesn’t need food, water or exercises, perhaps it will change how humans care about other living beings,” he said.
So are dogs and cats a thing of the past, as Rault predicts? For those who grew up with living and breathing pets, the mechanical kind might not do. But for our next generation who are in constant touch with smart technology, a future in which lovely pets needn’t have a heartbeat might not be a far-fetched dream.
1.What does the underlined phrase “sit well with” means?
A. be refused by B. be beneficial to
C. make a difference to D. receive support from
2.What are the advantages of robot pets?
a. They are plastic and feel smooth.
b. Owners needn’t worry about them when going out.
c. They can help cure allergies(过敏).
d. They save space and costs.
A. ab B. bc C. bd D.cd
3.We can learn from the passage that___________.
A. Sony is the first company to produce robot pets Aibo.
B. People can develop strong bond(联系、关系) with their robot pets.
C. Rault thinks robot pets still have a long way to go.
D. Robot toys may help people care more about living beings.
4.The passage mainly tells us___________.
A. the advantages of robot toys
B. the popularity of robot pets
C. living pets are dying out
D. robot pets are coming
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
Humans have been keeping animals as pets for tens of thousands of years, but Dr. Jean-Loup Rault, an animal scientist at the University of Melbourne in Australia, believes new companions are coming: robot pets.
“Technology is moving very fast,” Rault told ABC News, “The Tamagotchi in the early 1990s was really the first robotic pet, and now Sony and other big companies have improved them a lot.”
This may not sit well with pet lovers. After all, who would choose a plastic toy over a lovely puppy? But Rault argues that the robotic kind has a lot going for it: “You don’t have to feed it, you don’t have to walk it, it won’t make a mess in your house, and you can go on a holiday without feeling guilty.” The technology also benefits those who are allergic to pets, short on space, or fearful of real animals.
It’s not clear whether robot pets can replace real ones. But studies do suggest that we can bond with these smart machines. People give their cars names and kids give their toy animals life stories. It’s the same with robots. When Sony stopped its repair service for its robot dog Aibo in March 2014, owners in Japan held funerals.
As an animal welfare researcher, Rault is concerned about how robotic pets could affect our attitudes towards live animals. “If we become used to a robotic companion that doesn’t need food, water or exercises, perhaps it will change how humans care about other living beings,” he said.
So are dogs and cats a thing of the past, as Rault predicts? For those who grew up with living and breathing pets, the mechanical kind might not do. But for our next generation who are in constant touch with smart technology, a future in which lovely pets needn’t have a heartbeat might not be a far-fetched dream.
1.What does the underlined phrase “sit well with” means?
A. be refused by B. be beneficial to
C. make a difference to D. receive support from
2.What are the advantages of robot pets?
a. They are plastic and feel smooth.
b. Owners needn’t worry about them when going out.
c. They can help cure allergies.
d. They save space and costs.
A. ab B. bc C. bd D.cd
3.We can learn from the passage that___________.
A. Sony is the first company to produce robot pets Aibo.
B. People can develop strong bond with their robot pets.
C. Rault thinks robot pets still have a long way to go.
D. Robot toys may help people care more about living beings.
4.The passage mainly tells us___________.
A. the advantages of robot toys
B. the popularity of robot pets
C. living pets are dying out.
D. robot pets are coming.
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析