Culture and CuisineThe United States is known...

Culture and Cuisine

The United States is known for jazz and blue jeans．But travel to Paris and ask your average French citizen about American cuisine (烹饪) and he’s likely to answer，“ McDonalds．” Ask the same thing of any American citizen on any American street and I’m afraid you’d get the same answer，or something close to it．

Hamburgers and hotdogs and fries are all fine，but with American malls and other outlets standardizing everything from clothing to food，the sad truth is that American cuisine is becoming more homogeneous―all the same―no matter where you live．True，many Americans are eating more varied foods these days，but these are largely the cuisines of immigrant groups，and they are quite likely to be affected by homogenization of American cuisine．

So what exactly is American cuisine？ Well，to some extent it is a reflection of our melting pot culture，meaning that Europeans made huge contributions in the form of wheat，dairy products，pork，beef and poultry．But American cuisine also includes products that once were known only to the New World，including potatoes，corn，pumpkin，sweet potatoes，and peanuts．

The one region of the country where you still find all these things in daily use is the Deep South．The South lost the Civil War，but children of the southerners are winning the battle to preserve and advance their cooking traditions—and in this case one of the few cuisines can truly be called American，which is why we’re pleased to have Low Country cuisine in this issue of food creation．That’s right，grits and gravy are back in a big way in cities like Charleston and Savannah．Truth is，they never really left，but up until a decade ago Low Country cuisine was more common at home than in restaurants．

In fact，a large number of tourists now go to the lower Atlantic region in order to experience this extraordinary cuisine for themselves．Time will tell whether Low Country cuisine becomes popular in other regions of the country in the way that，say，Italian cuisine has，but it’s amazing and heartening to see one of our true cultural treasures enjoying renewed popularity in these increasingly homogeneous times．

1.According to the passage，American cuisine impresses people as being _______．

A．dull and changeless

B．rich and various

C．popular and delicious

D．disagreeable and unpleasant

2.It can be seen that the writer feels regretful that _______．

A．cuisines of other countries play a more important role in America

B．American cuisine has become increasingly lacking in variety

C．American cuisine tends to vary because of immigration

D．American cuisine is being changed by foreign cuisines

3.From the passage，we know that grits and gravy _______．

A．were cooked with new materials after the Civil War

B．are gaining popularity in the south of America

C．were more popular over ten years ago

D．are seldom served in restaurants

4.What’s the writer’s attitude towards the renewal of Low Country cuisine in America？

A．Concerned and cautious．

B．Hopeless and doubtful．

C．Positive and supportive．

D．Critical and disapproving．

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

The United States Congress is responsible for making and approving federal laws—rules that everyone in the country must follow.But exactly how do those laws get made? The process is not easy，and it takes a long time.

A law begins when someone puts forward an idea.The idea can come from anyone，but it has to get to a U.S.lawmaker who wants it to become legislation.In time，the idea is further developed into a written proposal，called a bill.

Then，a member of Congress officially proposes the bill.After the bill is introduced，it is sent to a small group of lawmakers，called a“committee”.Sometimes committee members seek more information about the proposal by holding hearings.Sometimes the committee changes the bill.Sometimes it decides not to take any action.In that case，we say lawmakers“table”the bill，or let it“die in committee”.

But now and then，the bill is offered to lawmakers not on the committee.Those lawmakers debate the bill further.They might change the bill again.Finally，the full House or Senate votes on the bill.If it does not earn the majority of votes，the bill does not advance.

Finally，the agreed-upon bill is sent to the president.If the president signs it，the bill becomes a law.If the president does nothing and Congress is officially meeting，the bill becomes a law.But if the president does nothing and Congress is not in session，the bill does not pass.Or the president can officially reject the bill.If that happens，the bill is not stopped.Instead，it is returned to both the Senate and the House.If two-thirds of the senators and two-thirds of the House members approve the bill once again，even with the president objecting，they turn the bill into a law.

1.Who is the first to propose a bill?

A. A lawyer.

B. A citizen.

C. A member of Congress.

D. A committee member.

2.When does a bill finally become a law?

A. After it is sent to a committee.

B. When the president signs it.

C. After it returns to the Congress.

D. While Congress is not in session.

3.What can be inferred from the text?

A. Not every bill can be turned into a law.

B. Anybody can put forward a proposal.

C. If“tabled”，the bill has to be voted on.

D. Once proposed，the bill can't be changed.

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

Andrew Carneigie, known as the King of Steel, built the steel industry in the United States, and, in the process, became one of the wealthiest men in America. His success resulted partly from his ability to sell the product and partly from his policy of expanding during periods of economic decline, when most of his competitors were reducing their investments. Carnegie believed that individuals should progress through hard work, but he also felt strongly that the wealthy should use their fortunes for the benefit of society. He opposed charity, preferring instead to provide educational opportunities that would allow others to help themselves. “He who dies rich, dies disgraced”, he often said. Among his more noteworthy contributions to society are those that bear his name, including the Carnegie Institute of Pittsburgh, which has a library, a museum of fine arts, and a museum of national history. He also founded a school of technology that is now part of Carnegie-Mellon University. Other philanthropic(慈善的) gifts are the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace to promote understanding between nations, the Carnegie Institute of Washington to fund scientific research, and Carnegie Hall to provide a center for the arts. Few Americans have been left untouched by Andrew Carnegie’s generosity. His contributions of more than five million dollars established 2,500 libraries in small communities throughout the country and formed the nucleus of the public library system that we all enjoy today.

1.The author quoted(引述) “he who dies rich, dies disgraced” in the passage to show______.

A. He felt strongly that the wealthy should use their fortunes for the benefit of society.

B. He opposed charity.

C. The wealthy die from their fortunes

D. The wealthy die from not contributing to society.

2.Carnegie’s success includes following aspects EXCEPT_____.

A. his policy of expanding.

B. his ability to sell the product

C. his ability to produce the product

D. his hard work

3.Which of the following may NOT be philanthropic gifts to society according to the passage?____

A. the Carnegie Institute of Washington.

B. the Carnegie Institute of Pittsburgh.

C. the steel industry.

D. the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

4.What is the meaning of “Few Americans have been left untouched by Andrew Carnegie’s generosity.” in the passage?________

A. Few Americans have touched Andrew Carnegie’s generosity.

B. Many Americans have touched Andrew Carnegie’s generosity.

C. we all enjoy Andrew Carnegie’s generosity today.

D. Many Americans were given Andrew Carnegie’s generosity.

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

Shirley Chisholm was best known as the first black woman elected to the United States Congress and the first black woman to run for president of the United States. However, her life was filled with much more than being the first black woman to do important things. She believed in being a person to fight for change. All her life, she worked to improve the lives of others.

Shirley was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1924. Though her parents had very little money, they wanted their daughters to get a good education and to have a better life. When Shirley was three years old they sent her and her sisters to live with their grandmother in Barbados. There Shirley received a good education from the British school system. She enjoyed the years with her grandmother. Shirley always remembered the words her grandmother spoke.

In 1934 Shirley moved back to Brooklyn. She continued to do very well in school. She later graduated from Brooklyn College with honors.In 1949, she married Conrad Chisholm who worked as a private investigator. Together they took part in local politics. Their marriage ended almost thirty years later.

As a young woman, Shirley decided to become a teacher.She believed she could improve society by helping children.She worked for seven years at a childcare center in the Harlem area of New York City.She attended Columbia University at night and received an advanced degree in early childhood education in 1952. She became known as an expert in children and early education.From 1959 to 1964 Shirley was an education official in the day care division of the city's office of child welfare.

In 1964 Shirley's political career began.She was elected to the New York State Assembly, where she served for four years.In 1968 she ran for the United States Congress and she succeeded. She became the first black woman elected to Congress.

Shirley was very different from other members of Congress.She looked different.Her hair was a big cloud of curls. She wore very large eyeglasses. And she had dark skin. Her voice was strong.She spoke with power.She said her greatest tool was her mouth. She was not afraid to say the things others would not say before Congress and the public.

1.From the passage，we learn that Shirley's parents believed that ________.

A．women played an important part in modern society

B．black people ought to have equal rights as whites

C．a good education was important for a child's future

D．the UK had a better education system than the USA

2.Who influenced Shirley most during her childhood?

A．Her father.　    B．Her mother.

C．Her sisters.　    D．Her grandmother.

3.How many of the following have been mentioned in the passage?

a．Her education.　    b．Her family.

c．Her marriage.　    d．Her political career.

e．Her political beliefs.　　    f．Her contribution to the USA.

A．Three.　    B．Four.

C．Five.　    D．Six.

4.In which order did the following events take place?

a．Her marriage to Conrad Chisholm ended.

b．She was elected to the New York State Assembly.

c．She became an education official.

d．She succeeded in running for the United States Congress.

e．She received an advanced degree in Columbia University.

A．e－c－b－d－a　    B．c－a－b－d－e

C．e－c－a－b－d　    D．e－c－b－a－d

5.The last paragraph mainly tells us about ________.

A．her political career

B．her political opinions

C．her typical style

D．her contribution in politics

高三英语阅读理解简单题查看答案及解析

Vijay Gupta is known to classical music lovers across the United States. He serves as first violinist for the Los Angeles Philharmonic. In that job, he often plays to large crowds, including many very rich people. When he is not performing, he organizes concerts for homeless people. “They have reminded me why I became a musician,” he said.

Last week, Gupta was recognized for being a founder and the artistic director of Street Symphony. The group has performed at homeless shelters, jails and halfway houses for about eight years. Gupta is among the 25 winners of the 2018 MacArthur Fellowship, commonly known as the “genius grant.” Each winner will receive $625,000 over five years to use as they wish. The money is coming from a private group, the John D. and Katherine T. MacArthur Foundation. It awards grants (补助金)to people whose work it considers exceptional and that “inspires hope in us all.” Gupta said he got the idea for Street Symphony while teaching Nathaniel Ayers, a trained musician whose mental illness led to homelessness.

Another winner is Rebecca Sandefur, an associate professor of sociology and law in the University of Illinois. The Associated Press says her research actively supports new ways to involve poor communities in the U.S. justice system.

47-year-old Sandefur created the first national mapping of civil legal aid providers. It shows which states had the financial resources to provide such aid and which did not. She also found that the cost of legal services is only one of the things preventing poor people from getting lawyers. Among the others are fears about unfairness in the legal system. Sandefur noted that a lot of attention has been paid to problems with the criminal justice system, but more attention must be paid to the civil side of the law, which also affects millions of people.

1.Why did Gupta win the award?

A.For his achievements in classical music.

B.For performing for large crowds.

C.For organizing a group playing for the homeless.

D.For the friendship with Nathaniel Ayers.

2.What do we know about MacArthur Fellowship?

A.It is founded by the government.

B.It offers $625,000 to 25 winners in 2018.

C.It allows the winners to use the money freely.

D.It awards people who make great contributions to society.

3.What was the extraordinary thing that Sandefur did?

A.She offered legal aids to the poor freely.

B.She made the legal system fairer.

C.She paid more attention to the criminal justice system.

D.She made it easier to get legal help for the poor.

4.What can be the best title for the text?

A.Grants winners, inspiring the poor.

B.The city homeless, in need of help.

C.Vijay Gupta, an extraordinary violinist.

D.MacArthur Foundation, awarding exceptional work.

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

Vijay Gupta is known to classical music lovers across the United States. He serves as first violinist for the Los Angeles Philharmonic. In that job, he often plays to large crowds, including many very rich people. When he is not performing, he organizes concerts for homeless people. 'They have reminded me why I became a musician, he said.

Last week, Gupta was recognized for being a founder and the artistic director of Street Symphony. The group has performed at homeless shelters, jails and halfway houses for about eight years. Gupta is among the 25 winners of the 2018 MacArthur Fellowship, commonly known as the “genius grant.” Each winner will receive $625,000 over five years to use as they wish. The money is coming from a private group, the John D. and Katherine T. MacArthur Foundation. It awards grants (补助金)to people whose work it considers exceptional and that “inspires hope in us all.” Gupta said he got the idea for Street Symphony while teaching Nathaniel Ayers, a trained musician whose mental illness led to homelessness.

The 31-year-old grant winner said he does not know yet how he will spend the money. He has been a performer since age seven and the award will give him "space to breathe, plan and look ahead.”

Another winner is Rebecca Sandefur, an associate professor of sociology and law in the University of Illinois. The Associated Press says her research actively supports new ways to involve poor communities in the U.S. justice system.

47-year-old Sandefur created the first national mapping of civil legal aid providers. It shows which states had the financial resources to provide such aid and which did not. She also found that the cost of legal services is only one of the things preventing poor people from getting lawyers. Among the others are fears about unfairness in the legal system. Sandefur noted that a lot of attention has been paid to problems with the criminal justice system, but more attention must be paid to the civil side of the law, which also affects millions of people.

1.Why did Gupta win the award?

A.For his achievements in classical music.

B.For performing for large crowds.

C.For organizing a group playing for the homeless.

D.For the friendship with Nathaniel Ayers.

2.What do we know about Mac Arthur Fellowship?

A.It is founded by the government.

B.It offers $625,000 to 25 winners in 2018.

C.It allows the winners to use the money freely.

D.It awards people who make great contributions to society.

3.What was the extraordinary thing that Sandefiir did?

A.She made it easier to get legal help for the poor.

B.She made the legal system fairer.

C.She paid more attention to the criminal justice system.

D.She offered legal aids to the poor freely.

4.Which can be the best title for the passage?

A.Grants winners, inspiring the poor

B.The city homeless, in need of help

C.Vijay Gupta , an extraordinary violinist

D.MacArthur Foundation, awarding exceptional work

高三英语阅读理解困难题查看答案及解析

As is known to all, the financial crisis firstly broke out in the United States,_____ the group of developed countries.

A. belonging to         B. belonged to  C. belongs to         D. is belonged to

高三英语单项填空简单题查看答案及解析

Music comes in many forms; most countries have a style of their own. The US is well known for jazz (爵士乐), which has gained world-wide popularity.

In contrast to classical (古典的) music, which follows formal European traditions, jazz is natural and free-form. It is full of energy, expressing the moods, interests, and feelings of the people. It has a modern sound that makes people very excited. In the 1920s jazz sounded like America. And So it does today.

The origins of this music are as interesting as the music itself. Jazz was produced by American blacks, who were brought to the Southern States as slaves. They were sold to plantation owners (种植园主) and forced to work long hours in the cotton and tobacco fields. This work was hard and life was short. When a Negro died, his friends and relatives formed a group to carry the body to the cemetery.

A band often went with them. On the way to the cemetery the band played slow and sad music. But on the way home the mood changed. Spirits lifted. Everybody was happy. Death had removed one of their members, but the living were glad to be alive. The band played happy music, which made everyone want to dance. It was an early form of jazz.

Music has always been important in their lives. Coming mainly from West Africa, the black men who were brought to America already possessed a rich musical tradition. This music centered on religious ceremonies (宗教的仪式) in which dancing, singing, clapping and stamping (顿足) to the beat of a drum were important forms of musical expression. As these people settled in to their fields, they made up work songs. Singing made the hard work go faster.

Another musical form that helped to develop jazz was the blues. Blues songs always describe something sad — an unhappy love affair, a money problem, bad luck. To this day, the expression “feeling blue” means being sad.

1.Through jazz, people can express______.

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

3.The underlined sentence “Spirits lilted,” suggested that______.

4.What should be the best tide for this passage?

A. A Light Music.

B. Black men’s Music.

C. The Origin of the Jazz Music.

D. The Popular Music—Jazz in the U.S.A.

5.Why did the band play happy music on the way home from the cemetery?

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

Joseph Goldberger was a doctor for the United States Public Health Service and he was an advocate for scientific and social recognition of the links between poverty and disease. In 1914, Goldberger was asked by US Surgeon General Rupert Blue to study a skin disease that was killing thousands of people in the South. The disease was pellagra (糙皮病)．

Goldberger traveled to the state of Mississippi where many people suffered from pellagra. He studied the victims and their families. Most of the people lived a hard life. The doctor came to believe that the disease didn’t pass on from one to another, but was instead related to food. He received permission from the state governor to test this idea at a prison. Prisoners were offered pardons if they took part. One group of prisoners received their usual foods, mostly corn products. A second group ate meat, fresh vegetables and drank milk. Members of the first group developed pellagra. The second group did not.

But some medical researchers refused to accept Goldberger’s idea. For the South, pellagra was more than simply a medical problem. There were other things, including Southern pride.

So Goldberger had himself injected (注射) with blood from a person with pellagra. He also took liquid from the nose and throat of a pellagra patient and put them into his own nose and throat. He even swallowed pills that contained skin from pellagra patients. An assistant also took part in the experiments. So did Goldberger’s wife. None of them got sick.

Joseph Goldberger died of cancer in 1929. He was fifty­five years old. Several years later, researchers discovered the exact cause of pellagra: a lack of vitamin B3 known as niacin.

1.Who were likely to get pellagra according to Goldberger?

A.People in the south of America.

B.People having a poor diet.

C.People in prison.

D.People touching pellagra patients.

2.What did Goldberger want to prove by the experiments mentioned in Paragraph 4?

A.Pellagra wasn’t so terrible.

B.Pellagra could be cured.

C.Pellagra didn’t spread.

D.Pellagra wasn’t a medical problem.

3.Why did some medical researchers refuse to accept Goldberger’s idea?

A.Goldberger’s idea sounds ridiculous.

B.They have done their own research.

C.The result hurt their pride.

D.Goldberger didn’t do enough research.

4.Which words can be used to describe Goldberger?

A.Selfless and friendly. B.Devoted and determined.

C.Patient and expert. D.Stubborn and enthusiastic.

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

Most teenagers in the United States spend their time trying to make time for school, family and friends. But some choose bigger goals and make a difference in the world.

At age 15, Winter Vinecki has already had more _________ than most people have in their lifetime. Doctors discovered Winter’s fathers had a rare and _______ form of prostate cancer when she was nine years old. He died 10 months later. “When he was first diagnosed I immediately knew I had to do something to help him. That’s ______ I formed Team Winter for prostate cancer research and ______.” Winter Vinecki has raised almost 500,000 dollars. She has _______ prostate cancer education worldwide from Kenya to Mongolia_________ foot races called marathons, on seven continents. In the United States she travels _______ to talk about prostate cancer and _______ others to act. Winter Vinecki spoke recently at a conference in Los Angeles. “Prostate cancer is much more common, ________ the men don’t want to talk about it. So that’s why a nine-year-old girl had to go out there and start talking it for _______.”

Jack Andraka invented an inexpensive sensor that _______ cancers of the pancreas, ovaries and lungs. Jack is now 17and seeking patents for his latest inventions. He has developed low-cost water quality _______. They help identify and remove heavy metals and poisonous chemical from_____. “I hope to see them _______ in the developing nations.”

Sixteen-year-old Mary-Pat Hector saw a problem in her own community. She says too many young people were ________in gun violence. It kind of made her feel like she had to do something about it. So she started a _________ to educate young people about gun violence. “I just want the world to be a better place,” she said.

Mary-Pat hector, Jack Andraka, and Winter Vinecki say a ________ of supportive parents, the Internet and social media has helped them succeed; but Winter and Jack also created their inner ________. “Ｉthink the biggest thing for kids and adults is to never let age and gender be a _________ and to not just dream but dream big,” said Vinecki. “ Never let anyone else tell you ______.” Said Andraka. “Always keep going for your dream, so anything is possible.”

1.A. opportunities B. troubles　　 C. successes　　 D. risks

2.A. passive　　　　 B. sensitive　 C. aggressive　　 D. negative

3.A. when　　　　　　 B. because　　 C. where　　　　 D. How

4.A. development　 B. threat　　 C. panic　　　　 D. awareness

5.A. taken　　　　 B. received　　 C. searched　　 D. tested

6.A. through　　　 B. off　　　　　 C. over　　　　 D. beyond

7.A. officially　 B. continually　 C. peacefully　 D. temporarily

8.A. promise　　　　 B. pay　　　　 C. urge　　　　　 D. prefer

9.A. for　　　　　　 B. before　　 C. unless　　　　 D. but

10.A. her　　　　　 B. teenagers C. them　　　　 D. fathers

11.A. cures　　　 B. improves　　 C. prevents　　 D. identifies

12.A. experiments　 B. devices　 C. trials　　　　 D. data

13.A. body　　　　 B. water　　　　 C. land　　　　　　 D. food

14.A. carried　　 B. exposed　　 C. employed　　 D. handled

15.A. failing　 B. fleeing　　　 C. declining　　 D. dying

16.A. revolutionB. discussion　 C. business　　　 D. campaign

17.A. combinationB. convenience C. competence　 D. consideration

18.A. harmony　　 B. satisfaction　 C. selves　　 D. impressions

19.A. barrier　　 B. favor　　　　 C. benefit　　　 D. difference

20.A. all　　　　　　 B. no　　　　　 C. nothing　　　　 D. none

高三英语完形填空中等难度题查看答案及解析