Beavers(河狸) are a very unique species in the ...

Beavers(河狸) are a very unique species in the world of nature and wildlife——they are architects. Their dams are fine examples of engineering.

A pair of beavers will build a dam, using branches, mud and stones, across a river. The water held back by the dam flows over the bank on either side of the river, flooding the nearby ground and forming a pond. At some point in the pond the beavers then build their home, which is called a lodge. This consists of a cone-shaped(锥状的) pipe of branches and sticks of two to six feet in length held together with mud and stones, the top of which projects above the waterline. It serves as a shelter from the bad weather, a safety from enemies and a base for food supplies to be drawn upon in winter.

From an engineering point of view the lodge could hardly be improved. Not only does it contain a central room just above water level, which is accessible only through underwater tunnels, but it also has “walls”, one or more escape tunnels and an air hole at the top, which controls the temperature inside and gives air-conditioning. It is altogether a clever piece of construction, with all modern conveniences. It is, in fact, better protected against the effects of flooding than many human houses.

Trees are essential to beavers. They eat the bark on the upper branches. But they must first fell the trees, using their four front teeth. With these sharp tools, it takes only a few minutes to cut down a tree.

The engineering skill of beavers is to a large extent a result of their ability to use their front paws as hands. A female will carry her young held under her chin(下巴) with her front paws, walking on her hind legs. A similar method is used by all beavers when transporting stones or mud, although they also carry such materials on their broad flat trails. The fore-paws are also used for digging and for dragging heavier pieces of wood.

1.Which of the following pictures best illustrates the beaver’s lodge?

A. 　　　 B.

C. 　　　 D.

2.Which of the following sentences is Not the reason why trees are important to beavers?

A. They live on the barks on the upper branches of trees.

B. They use trees’ branches to build dams.

C. They build their lodge with the branches.

D. They us branches to transport mud and stones.

3.The underlined word “fell” in Paragraph 4 probably means ________.

A. move away        B. cut down            C. cut up            D. move about

4.This text is mainly about ________.

A. the beaver’s lodge

B. the beaver’s engineering skills

C. the beaver’s dam

D. the beaver’s intelligence

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

Humans are naturally drawn to other life forms and the worlds outside of our own. We take delight in the existence of creatures and even whole societies beyond our everyday lives.

This sense of wonder is universal. Look at the efforts that scientists have made to find out whether life of some kind exists on Mars, and the popularity of fantasy(幻想) literature or movies like The Lord of the Rings. This sense of wonder draws us to each other, to the world around us, and to the world of make-believe. But have we gone so far in creating worlds of fantasy that we are missing the pleasure of other worlds that already exist all around us?

Human beings, as biologists have suggested, possess an inborn desire to connect with and understand other life forms. However, people, especially in big cities, often lead rather isolated lives. In a study of British schoolchildren, it was found that children by age eight were much more familiar with characters from television shows and video games than with common wildlife. Without modern technology, a small pond could be an amazing world filled with strange and beautiful plants, insects, birds, and animals. When we lack meaningful interaction(交互) with the world around us, and sometimes even with our families and friends, we seek to understand and communicate with things that exist only in our imaginations or on a computer screen.

The world of make-believe is not necessarily bad. But when the world of fantasy becomes the only outlet(出路) for our sense of wonder, then we are really missing something. We are missing a connection with the living world. Other wonderful worlds exist all around us. But even more interesting is that if we look closely enough, we can see that these worlds, in a broad sense, are really part of our own.

1.The popularity of The Lord of the Rings proves________

A. the close connection between man and the fantasy world

B. the wonderful achievements of fantasy literature

C. the fine taste of moviegoers around the world

D. the general existence of the sense of curiosity

2.What can we infer from the underlined sentence in Paragraph 3?

A. People are far less familiar with the world of fantasy.

B. The world around us could serve as a source of wonder.

C. The world of fantasy can be mirrored by a small and lively pond.

D. Modern technology prevents us from developing our sense of wonder.

3.If our sense of wonder relies totally on the world of make-believe, we will________

A. fail to appreciate the joy in our lives

B. be confused by the world of make-believe

C. miss the chance to recognize the fantasy world

D. be trapped by other worlds existing all around us

4.What is the main purpose of the passage?

A. To show us the hidden beauty in our world.

B. To warn us not to get lost in the fantasy world.

C. To argue against the misuse of the sense of wonder.

D. To discuss the influence of the world of make-believe.

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

Crown shyness(树冠羞避) is a mysterious natural phenomenon in which the crowns of some tree species do not touch each other, but get separated by a gap clearly visible from ground level. The effect usually occurs between trees of the same species, but has also been observed between trees of different species.

There are many theories going around, most of which make sense, but no one has been able to prove without the shadow of a doubt why some trees avoid touching each other.

In his 1955 book Growth Habits of the Eucalypts, Australian forester M.R. Jacobs writes that the growing tips of the trees are sensitive to abrasion(擦伤), which results in crown shyness phenomenon. This theory was also supported by Dr. Miguel Franco. Some experiments have shown that if trees displaying crown shyness are artificially prevented from swinging in the wind and touching each other, they gradually fill up the gaps between them.

But while the above theory is arguably the most widespread, it’s certainly not the only one. Some scientists have suggested that crown shyness is a mechanism to stop the spreading of leaf-eating insects. These pests have been known to work together and create structures that extend up to 10 cm off of tree branches in order to reach other plants, so the gaps are the trees’ natural defense method.

One Malaysian scholar studied many trees, but found no traces of abrasions, despite their clear crown shyness. Instead, he suggests that the growing tips of the trees were sensitive to light levels and stopped growing when they got too close to other trees. Plants are able to sense how close they are to other plants and in order to get more light, they give off some chemical element to stop other trees from growing too close.

Whatever the reason, one thing is for sure: plants are more intelligent than people used to think.

1.What can we know about crown shyness?

A. It can cause abrasion between trees.

B. It only happens between the same species.

C. It has been discovered for only half a century.

D. No agreement has been reached about its real cause.

2.What will happen if trees showing crown shyness are stopped from swinging?

A. The trees will stop growing and even die.

B. The gaps between the trees will grow wider.

C. The crown shyness phenomenon will disappear.

D. The gaps between the trees will remain the same.

3.What’s tree’s reaction when attacked by pests according to the text?

A. Swinging less in the wind

B. Leaving space between their crowns

C. Spreading their branches and leaves

D. Stopping growing for a period of time

4.Which statement might the Malaysian scholar agree with?

A. Trees have special ways to attack others.

B. Some insects stop trees growing too close.

C. Trees compete with their neighbors for light.

D. Trees won’t touch each other to avoid diseases.

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

Different Kinds of Birds

Avocets

There are 4 different species of Avocet found around the world-Pied Avocet , Red-necked Avocet, Andean Avocet, and American Avocet. This bird is found in North and South America, Europe, and even Australia. This long-legged bird has webbed feet and an upturned, thin bill.

Bald Eagles

The bald eagle is found in wetlands and near coastlines. They have very large and broad wings, with a broad tail. The head and tail are white in color, which is the major distinguishable factor of the bald eagle. The long, hooked bill is yellow in color. They feed on fish, ducks, rabbits, geese, etc.

Eastern Bluebirds

These are around 61／2 inches in length .Such birds are found mainly in gardens woodlands, and orchards with the arrival of spring. Male Eastern Bluebirds are bright blue on the upper half and have a white belly. Female Eastern Bluebirds have a grayish head with shades of blue as well. New York and Missouri have named this creature as their state bird.

Flamingos

These pink-bodied birds with a unique beak, are generally found in large groups. The beaks are capable of removing mud before they can eat their food. Flamingos can be found in many African countries, areas of Florida, and one particular type of species is found only in the Andean highlands.

Kingfishers

There are over 90 various species of Kingfishers found in the woodland areas as well as wetlands across the world. They are excellent divers when it comes to catching fish in the rivers. Their pointed bills are what help them bag the catch. Kingfishers have good eyesight whether they are in air or underwater.

1.____ most probably mean the same.

A. Bill and beak　　 B. Head and beak　　　 C. Bill and belly　　　　　　 D. Leg and feet

2.Which of the following is true?

A. Eastern Bluebirds are all blue in color.

B. Avocets can be found around the world.

C. The white head and tail make Bald Eagles distinguishable.

D. More Kingfishers can be found in wetlands than in the woodland areas.

3.Birds that can be found only in the Andean highlands are ________.

A. Bald Eagles　　　　　　　　　　　　

B. Female Eastern Bluebirds

C. Andean Avocets　　　　　　　　　　

D. one special type of Flamingos

4.It can be inferred from the passage that what Bald Eagles and Kingfishers have in common is their____.

A.habitats　　 B. shapes　　 C. ability to catch fish　　 D. eyesight in air or under water

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

There are about fifteen hundred languages in the world. But   36  a few of them are very   37  .English is one of these. Many, many people use it, not only in England and the U.S.A., but in other parts of the world. About 200,000,000 speak it as their own language. It is difficult to say how many people are learning it as a  38  language. Many millions are   39   to do so. Is it easy or difficult to learn English? Different people may have different   40   Have you ever   41  ads of this kind in the newspapers or magazines? "Learn English in six weeks, or your   42  back..." "Easy and funny! Our records and tapes   43  you master your English in a month.   44   the first day your   45  will be excellent. Just send …"Of course, it never    46  quite like this.

The only language that seems easy to learn is the mother tongue. We should   47  that we all learned our own language well when we were    48  . If we could learn English in the same way, it would not seem so difficult.   49   what a small child does. He listens to what people say. He tries what he hears. When he is using the language, talking in it,   50  in it all the time. Just imagine how much   51  that gets!

So it is  52  to say that learning English is easy, because a good command of English   53  upon a lot of practice. And practice needs great effort and   54  much time. Good teachers, records, tapes, books, and dictionaries will   55  . But they cannot do the student's work for him.（词数278）

高三英语完型填空中等难度题查看答案及解析

Rivers are one of our most important natural resources. Many of the world’s great cities are located on rivers, and almost __1_______ country has at least one river __2_______(flow) through it that plays __3________ important part in the lives of its people.

Since the beginning of history, people _4______________ (use) rivers for transportation. The longest one in the United States is the Mississippi, and the lifeline of Egypt is the Nile. __5_____________ transportation, rivers give water to drink, water for crops, and chances for fun and recreation （消遣，娱乐活动）for the people __6________________ live along their banks.

However, large cities and industries that are located on rivers often make problems. As the cities grow __7____________ size and industries increase in number, the water in the rivers becomes __8_____________ (pollute) with chemicals and other materials. People come to kwon the __9_____________ (important) of doing more to keep their rivers clean __10_____________ they want to enjoy the benefits of this natural resource.

高三英语填空题简单题查看答案及解析

In a Chinese modern dance competition on TV one very unique couple won one of the top prizes.The lady，in her thirties，was a dancer who had ____ since she was a little girl.Later in life，she lost her entire left arm in an accident and fell into a state of ____ for a few years.

Someone then asked her to coach a children’s dancing group.From that point on，she realized that she could not ____ dancing.So，she started to do some of her old routines，but，having lost her arm，she had also lost her ___.It took a while before she could even make simple turns and spins without ____.

Then a few months later she ____ a man in his twenties who had lost a leg in an accident.She was determined to find him and ____ him to dance with her.He had never danced.And to dance with one leg...He said，“Are you ____ with me？No way！”

But，she didn’t ____，and he agreed to think about it.“I have nothing else to do anyway，” he thought.Then she started to ____ him dancing.The two ____ a few times because he had no concept of using muscle，how to ___ his body，and knew none of the ____ things about dancing.When she became ____ and lost patience with him，he would walk out.____，they came back together and started training ____.

They hired a choreographer(舞蹈指导) to ___ routines for them.She would fly high (held by him) with both arms (a sleeve for an arm) flying in the air.He could bend ____ by one leg with her leaning(倚靠) on him，etc.

When I watched this I didn’t ____ realize that she was missing an arm ___ I was focusing on the guy with only one leg.Really quite amazing!

1.A.operated                          B．played

C．trained　                         D．competed

2.A.relief　                             B．depression

C．confusion　                     D．recovery

3.A.learn　                             B．understand

C．forget　                         D．face

4.A.chance　                         B．balance

C．advantage                      D．promise

5.A.following　                         B．checking

C．noticing　                         D．falling

6.A.heard of　                         B．searched for

C．came across　                     D．waited for

7.A.require                              B．allow

C．lead　                         D．persuade

8.A.arguing　                         B．joking

C．discussing　                     D．agreeing

9.A.carry on　                         B．give up

C．settle down　                     D．set off

10.A.teach　                         B．show

C．leave　                         D．watch

11.A.broke up                          B．gave in

C．put off　                         D．returned back

12.A.change　                         B．present

C．improve　                         D．control

13.A.important　                         B．interesting

C．basic                          D．special

14.A.excited　                         B．annoyed

C．moved　                         D．shocked

15.A.Unfortunately　                     B．Eventually

C．Generally                      D．Jokingly

16.A.seriously　                         B．differently

C．publicly　                         D．gradually

17.A.discover　                         B．arrange

C．perform　                         D．design

18.A.raised　                         B．kept

C．supported　                     D．carried

19.A.still　                             B．hardly

C．nearly　                         D．even

20.A.because                         B．if

C．before　                         D．though

高三英语完型填空中等难度题查看答案及解析

Our world natural park is one of the most famous parks in the world. Millions of visitors from different countries visit this park each year. In order to protect it, please do as follows:

◆Protect the natural and cultural heritage. Don’t damage or deface any buildings, displays and other facilities. Take care of all plants. Put rubbish in the bins provided.

◆Take care when you are going up and down steps or stairs and when you are walking nearby the waters.

◆Please buy tickets before entering the scenic spot. One ticket is only for one person.

Adult：＄60 per ticket.

Children over 6 and under 18: half price.

People over 60 and children under 6: free.

◆If you are going into the wooded and hilly lands，for your own safety，please go with three people at least and don’t take any tinder(易燃物）along with you. The hill is steep, so please take care of yourself.

◆This scenic spot is the reserve of water source: No fishing，swimming，washing and any behaviors that are harmful to the water source. Meanwhile, please follow the management rules of the scenic spot conscientiously.

◆Opening time：

From Monday to Friday: 8:00 a. m.～18:00 p.m.

From Saturday to Sunday: 6:00 a. m. ～24:00 p. m.

◆Small animals such as rabbits，peacocks，squirrels，frogs must be taken care of. None of them shall be killed.

If you have any trouble in visiting our world natural park, please call 477-866-7044．

Our staff will do our best to help you.

1.How much will be paid for a 65-year-old man with his 8-year-old grandson?

A.＄30.　 B. Free.　　　　　　　　 C.＄60.　　　　　　　　 D.＄120.

2.On weekends，the opening time is　　　　 hours longer than weekdays.

A. 4　　 B. 6　　　　　　　　　 C. 10　　　　　　　　　 D. 8

3.Which of the following can you do in the natural park?

A. taking some tinder　　　　　　 B. hiking

C. damaging some facilities　 D. littering

4.Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage？

A. Tourists can have a swim in the water.

B. Tourists can hike alone in the hilly lands.

C. Small animals are under protection in the park.

D. Children can play with small animals and take some away.

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

Our world natural park is one of the most famous parks in the world. Millions of visitors from different countries visit this park every year. In order to protect it，please do as follows：

◆Protect the natural and cultural heritage. Don’t damage or deface any buildings，dis-plays and other facilities. Take care of all plants. Put rubbish in the bins provided.

◆Take care when you are going up and down steps or stairs and when you are walking nearby the waters.

◆Please buy tickets before entering the scenic spot. One ticket is only for one person. A-dult：＄60 per ticket. Children over 6 and under 18，half price. People over 60 and children un-der 6 are free.

◆If you are going into the wooded and hilly lands，for your own safety，please go with three people at least and don't take any tinder(易燃物）along with you. The hill is steep, so please take care of yourself.

◆This scenic spot is the reserve of water source: No fishing，swimming，washing and any behaviors that are harmful to the water source. Meanwhile，please follow the management rules of the scenic spot conscientiously.

◆Opening time：From Monday to Friday，8：00 a. m.～18：00 p. m.；From Saturday to Sunday，6：00 a. m:一24：00 p. m.

◆Small animals such as rabbits，peacocks，squirrels，frogs must be taken care of: None of them shall be killed.

If you have any trouble in visiting our world natural park，please call 477一866一7044．Our staff will do our best to help you.

1.How much will be paid for a 65-year-old man with his 8-year-old grandson?

A．Free.             B．＄30.             C．＄60.             D．＄120.

2.On weekends，the opening time is＿hours longer than weekdays.

A．4                B．6                C．8                D．10

3.From the passage，we can infer that the water in this park is＿．

A．clean             B．polluted           C．dangerous         D．colorful

4.Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage？

A．Tourists can hike alone in the hilly lands.

B．Small animals are under protection in the park.

C．Children can play with small animals.

D．Tourists can have a swim in the water.

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

Most groups of plants and animals are richer in species and more plentiful near the equator. In the ocean, that holds true for cold-blooded predators(掠食者). But warm-blooded predators are more diverse toward the poles and noticeably missing from several warm hot spots. Why?

John Grady, an ecologist, and his team considered the possibility—warm-blooded animals need a lot to fuel their metabolism(新陈代谢). Perhaps colder waters are just richer in small fish? But they found that at higher, colder places, there isn’t actually much more food around. It’s more that warm-blooded animals are eating a much bigger share of it than their cold-blooded competitors.

The real explanation is simple. An animal’s speed, swiftness, and intelligence depend on its metabolism, which in turn depends on its temperature. Since birds and mammals can keep heating their bodies in icy conditions, they remain fast and attentive. By contrast, the fish they hunt become slower and duller. At some tipping point of temperature, seals, dolphins, and penguins start outswimming their prey(猎物). They become more likely to come upon targets and outpace the cold-blooded predators of their own.

In Grady’s words, “Warm-bodied predators are favoured where preys are slow, stupid and cold.” That’s why sharks and other predatory fish dominate near the equator, but colder waters are the kingdom of whales and seals. By keeping food to themselves in the poles, these creatures can then specialize on specific types of prey, which makes them more likely to split into separate species. The killer whales of the North Pacific, for example, include mammal-eating transients and fish-eating, year-round residents.

But the world is changing. It’s likely that the surface of the oceans will warm by 2 to 3℃ within this century. Grady’s team estimates that every time the ocean’s surface warms by 1℃, populations of sea mammals will fall by 12%, and populations of seals and sea lions will fall by 24%.

But “predictions are hard,” Donna Hauser from the University of Alaska Fairbanks notes. “Polar bears are losers of a warming world, but some populations are still doing well. Some groups of whales have changed the timing of their migrations; others are hunting in deeper, colder waters. These changes might make sea mammals more adaptable to changing climates. Maybe they just need to find the places where fish remain slow, stupid and cold.”

1.Why are there more types of warm-blooded predators near the poles?

A. Because there is more food.

B. Because there are fewer enemies.

C. Because they are faster and wiser.

D. Because they consume less energy.

2.The author mentions the killer whales to show ______.

A. the benefit of biological evolution

B. food preference of different sea mammals

C. the distinction of specific types of predators

D. the advantage of constant body temperature

3.What is Donna Hauser’s attitude towards the future of the sea mammals?

A. Positive. B. Negative.

C. Neutral. D. Sceptical.

4.Which is the best title for the passage?

A. Are the Poles Heaven for Sea Predators?

B. How Do Sea Mammals Track Their Prey?

C. Why Do the Warm-Blooded Like Food Cold?

D. Is the World Too Hot for the Warm-Blooded?

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析