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The oddness of life in space never quite goes away. Here are some examples.
First consider something as simple as sleep. Its position presents its own challenges. The main question is whether you want your arms inside or outside the sleeping bag. If you leave your arms out, they float free in zero gravity, often giving a sleeping astronaut the look of a funny ballet（芭蕾）dancer. “I’m an inside guy,” Mike Hopkins says, who returned from a six-month tour on the International Space Station. “I like to be wrapped up.”
On the station, the ordinary becomes strange. The exercise bike for the American astronauts has no handlebars. It also has no seat. With no gravity, it’s just as easy to pedal violently. You can watch a movie while you pedal by floating a microcomputer anywhere you want. But station residents have to be careful about staying in one place too long. Without gravity to help circulate air, the carbon dioxide you exhale（呼气）has a tendency to form an invisible（隐形的）cloud around your head. You can end up with what astronauts call a carbon-dioxide headache.
Leroy Chiao, 54, an American retired astronaut after four flights, describes what happens even before you float out of your seat. “Your inner ear thinks you’re falling. Meanwhile your eyes are telling you you’re standing straight. That can be annoying－that’s why some people feel sick. “Within a couple of days truly terrible days for some－astronauts’ brains learn to ignore the panicky signals from the inner ear, and space sickness disappears.
Space travel can be so delightful but at the same time invisibly dangerous. For instance, astronauts lose bone mass’ That’s why exercise is considered so vital that National Aeronautics and Space Administration（NASA）puts it right on the workday schedule. The focus on fitness is as much about science and the future as it is about keeping any individual astronaut healthy. NASA is worried about two things: recovery time once astronauts return home, and, more importantly, how to maintain strength and fitness for the two and a half years or more that it would take to make a round-trip to Mars’
1.What is the major challenge to astronauts when they sleep in space?
A. Deciding on a proper sleep position.
B. Choosing a comfortable sleeping bag.
C. Seeking a way to fall asleep quickly.
D. Finding a right time to go to sleep.
2.The astronauts will suffer from a carbon-dioxide headache when .
A. they circle around on their bikes
B. they use microcomputers without a stop
C. they exercise in one place for a long time
D. they watch a movie while pedaling
3.Some astronauts feel sick on the station during the first few days because .
A. their senses stop working
B. they have to stand up straight
C. they float out of their seats unexpectedly
D. their brains receive contradictory messages
4.One of NASA’s major concerns about astronauts is .
A. how much exercise they do on the station
B. how they can remain healthy for long in space
C. whether they can recover after returning home
D. whether they are able to go back to the station
英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
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D
The oddness of life in space never quite goes away. Here are some examples.
First consider something as simple as sleep. Its position presents its own challenges. The main question is whether you want your arms inside or outside the sleeping bag. If you leave your arms out, they float free in zero gravity, often giving a sleeping astronaut the look of a funny balled （芭蕾）dancer. “I’m an inside guy,” Mike Hopkins says, who returned from a six-month tour on the International Space Station. “I like to be wrapped up.”
On the station, the ordinary becomes strange. The exercise bike for the American astronauts has no handlebars. It also has no seat. With no gravity, it’s just as easy to pedal violently. You can watch a movie while you pedal by floating a microcomputer anywhere you want. But station residents have to be careful about staying in one place too long. Without gravity to help circulate air, the carbon dioxide you exhale (呼气) has a tendency to form an invisible （隐形的）cloud around you head. You can end up with what astronauts call a carbon-dioxide headache.
Leroy Chiao, 54, an American retired astronaut after four flights, describes what happens even before you float out of your seat,”Your inner ear thinks your’re falling . Meanwhile your eyes are telling you you’re standing straight. That can be annoying—that’s why some people feel sick.” Within a couple days —truly terrible days for some —astronauts’ brains learn to ignore the panicky signals from the inner ear, and space sickness disappears.
Space travel can be so delightful but at the same time invisibly dangerous. For instance, astronauts lose bone mass. That’s why exercise is considered so vital that National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) puts it right on the workday schedule. The focus on fitness is as much about science and the future as it is about keeping any individual astronauts return home, and, more importantly, how to maintain strength and fitness for the two and a half years or more that it would take to make a round-trip to Mars.
1.What is the major challenge to astronauts when they sleep in space?
A. Deciding on a proper sleep position
B. Choosing a comfortable sleeping bag
C. Seeking a way to fall asleep quickly
D. Finding a right time to go to sleep.
2.The astronauts will suffer from a carbon-dioxide headache when _____.
A. the y circle around on their bikes
B. they use microcomputers without a stop
C. they exercise in one place for a long time
D. they watch a movie while pedaling
3.Some astronauts feel sick on the station during the first few days because _____.
A. their senses stop working
B. they have to stand up straight
C. they float out of their seats unexpectedly
D. whether they are able to go back to the station
4.One of the NASA’s major concerns about astronauts is _____.
A. how much exercise they do on the station
B. how they can remain healthy for long in space
C. whether they can recover after returning home
D. whether they are able to go back to the station
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
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The belief that new technologies are causing the death of work is the idea that never goes away. Despite evidence to the contrary, we still view technological change today as being more rapid and dramatic in its consequences for work than ever before. But this is nothing new. People have always viewed the technological changes that take place during their lives the most dramatic and dangerous that ever happened in history.
In the 1930s, the British economist（经济学家）John Maynard Keynes predicted the widespread use of electricity would produce a world where people spend most of their time doing nothing. In the United States during the 1960s, the government repeatedly investigates fears that automatic machines would permanently reduce the amount of work available, In 1988, one Australian historian claimed that at least a quarter of the workforce would be without jobs within 10 years because of computers.
Of course, none of these disasters came to pass in the United Kingdom, the United States and Australia, or anywhere else.
Yet today, we are seeing the return of these predictions, with some experts claiming the world of work once more undergoing radical and unprecedented change. They argue that robots and other workplace technologies are causing a reduction in the total amount of work available, or are bringing a more rapid pace substitution of machines for humans has been seen previously.
But there is a little evidence to support such beliefs, Statistics show that the percentage of people in work, the number of hours they work, and how frequently they change jobs have remained remarkably constant over the past 20 years.
This stability should not come as a surprise, There are good reasons why we should not expect new technologies to cause the death of work. New technologies always cause job losses, but that is only part of the story. What also needs to be understood is how they increase the amount of work available.
One way this happens is through the increases in incomes that accompany the use of new technologies. With the introduction of these technologies, good and services can be produced faster, which results in higher real incomes for workers. Higher incomes then increase demand for other products and consequently more workers are needed to make them. Additionally, while new technologies are likely to substitute for some types of workers, they will also increase demand for other types of workers, especially those with higher level skills and expertise.
So, the end of work is no closer today than at any time in the past. But there is still a need to keep disproving the prediction, to reduce people’s fears.
1.What is the function of the second paragraph?
A. To explain the importance of developing new technology.
B. To give historical examples of unnecessary fear about new technology.
C. To argue that technological dangers are becoming more serious.
D. To show how technology affected employment in the past.
2.How can employment statistics over the past 20 years best be described?
A. Confusing B. Reliable
C. Stable D. Variable
3.According to paragraph 7, why does demand for products often increase after new technology is introduced?
A. Productivity improvements help raise workers’ salaries.
B. There is more demand for new skills in the economy.
C. There are more goods for people to choose from.
D. Higher quality goods at lower prices encourage consumption.
4.What is the author's opinion about the introduction of new technology?
A. It does not have an effect on most people’s jobs.
B. Its danger to peoples employment possibilities is overstated.
C. It usually leads to a significant increase in employment.
D. Its benefits are usually not worth the introduction.
高二英语阅读理解困难题查看答案及解析
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The belief that new technologies are causing the death of work is the idea that never goes away. Despite evidence to the contrary, we still view technological change today as being more rapid and dramatic in its consequences for work than ever before. But this is nothing new. People have always viewed the technological changes that take place during their lives as the most dramatic and dangerous that ever happened in history.
In the 1930s, the British economist(经济学家) John Maynard Keynes predicted the widespread use of electricity would produce a world where people spend most of their time doing nothing. In the United States during the 1960s, the government repeatedly investigates fears that automatic machines would permanently reduce the amount of work available. In 1988, one Australian historian claimed that at least a quarter of the workforce would be without jobs within 10 years because of computers.
Of course, none of these disasters came to pass in the United Kingdom, the United States and Australia, or anywhere else.
Yet today, we are seeing the return of these predictions, with some experts claiming the world of work is once more undergoing radical（激进的）and unprecedented（前所未有的） change. They argue that robots and other workplace technologies are causing a reduction in the total amount of work available, or are bringing a more rapid pace of substitution of machines for humans than has been seen previously.
But there is a little evidence to support such beliefs. Statistics show that the percentage of people in work, the number of hours they work, and how frequently they change jobs have remained remarkably constant over the past 20 years.
This stability should not come as a surprise. There are good reasons why we should not expect new technologies to cause the death of work. New technologies always cause job losses, but that is only part of the story. What also needs to be understood is how they increase the amount of work available.
One way this happens is through the increases in incomes that accompany the use of new technologies. With the introduction of these technologies, goods and services can be produced faster, which results in higher real incomes for workers. Higher incomes then increase demand for other products and consequently more workers are needed to make them. Additionally, while new technologies are likely to substitute for some types of workers, they will also increase demand for other types of workers, especially those with higher level skills and expertise.
So, the end of work is no closer today than at any time in the past. But there is still a need to keep disproving the prediction, to reduce people’s fears.
1.What is the function of the second paragraph?
A. To explain the importance of developing new technology.
B. To show how technology affected employment in the past.
C. To argue that technological dangers are becoming more serious.
D. To give historical examples of unnecessary fear about new technology.
2.How can employment statistics over the past 20 years best be described?
A. Confusing B. Steady
C. Reliable D. Variable
3.According to paragraph 7, why does demand for products often increase after new technology is introduced?
A. There are more goods for people to choose from.
B. There is more demand for new skills in the economy.
C. Productivity improvements help raise workers’ salaries.
D. Higher quality goods at lower prices encourage consumption.
4.What is the author’s opinion about the introduction of new technology?
A. It does not have an effect on most people’s jobs.
B. Its benefits are usually not worth the introduction.
C. It usually leads to a significant increase in employment.
D. Its danger to people’s employment possibilities is overstated.
高二英语阅读理解简单题查看答案及解析
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The belief that new technologies are causing the death of work is the idea that never goes away. Despite evidence to the contrary, we still view technological change today as being more rapid and dramatic in its consequences for work than ever before. But this is nothing new. People have always viewed the technological changes that take place during their lives as the most dramatic and dangerous that ever happened in history.
In the 1930s, the British economist(经济学家) John Maynard Keynes predicted the widespread use of electricity would produce a world where people spend most of their time doing nothing. In the United States during the 1960s, the government repeatedly investigates fears that automatic machines would permanently reduce the amount of work available. In 1988, one Australian historian claimed that at least a quarter of the workforce would be without jobs within 10 years because of computers.
Of course, none of these disasters came to pass in the United Kingdom, the United States and Australia, or anywhere else.
Yet today, we are seeing the return of these predictions, with some experts claiming the world of work is once more undergoing radical and unprecedented change. They argue that robots and other workplace technologies are causing a reduction in the total amount of work available, or are bringing a more rapid pace of substitution of machines for humans than has been seen previously.
But there is a little evidence to support such beliefs. Statistics show that the percentage of people in work, the number of hours they work, and how frequently they change jobs have remained remarkably constant over the past 20 years.
This stability should not come as a surprise. There are good reasons why we should not expect new technologies to cause the death of work. New technologies always cause job losses, but that is only part of the story. What also needs to be understood is how they increase the amount of work available.
One way this happens is through the increases in incomes that accompany the use of new technologies. With the introduction of these technologies, good and services can be produced faster, which results in higher real incomes for workers. Higher incomes then increase demand for other products and consequently more workers are needed to make them. Additionally, while new technologies are likely to substitute for some types of workers, they will also increase demand for other types of workers, especially those with higher level skills and expertise.
So, the end of work is no closer today than at any time in the past. But there is still a need to keep disproving the prediction, to reduce people's fears.
1.What is the function of the second paragraph?
A.To explain the importance of developing new technology.
B.To show how technology affected employment in the past.
C.To argue that technological dangers are becoming more serious.
D.To give historical examples of unnecessary fear about new technology.
2.How can employment statistics over the past 20 years best be described?
A.Confusing B.Reliable
C.Stable D.Variable
3.According to paragraph 7, why does demand for products often increase after new technology is introduced?
A.There are more goods for people to choose from.
B.There is more demand for new skills in the economy.
C.Productivity improvements help raise workers’ salaries.
D.Higher quality goods at lower prices encourage consumption.
4.What is the author’s opinion about the introduction of new technology?
A.It does not have an effect on most people’s jobs.
B.Its benefits are usually not worth the introduction.
C.It usually leads to a significant increase in employment.
D.Its danger to peoples employment possibilities is overstated.
高三英语阅读理解困难题查看答案及解析
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There are a lot of differences in life in the US that you can only learn by living here. However, we will try to introduce you to some of the more important cultural differences.
Personal Space
When two people are talking to each other, they tend to stand a distance apart. Each person has an invisible boundary (界限) around their body into which other people may not come.
Interestingly，the average personal distance varies from culture to culture. Americans tend to require more personal space than in other cultures. So if you try to get too close to an American during your conversation, he or she will feel that you are “in their face” and will try to back away.
Try to avoid physical contact while you are speaking, since this may also lead to discomfort.
Tipping(小费)
Restaurants do not include a service charge in the bill, so you should tip the waiter 15% of the total bill. If service is slow or particular bad, some Americans will tip only 10%. If service is particularly good, it is appropriate to tip 20%. If service is so bad that you will never eat in the restaurant again, leave two cents. It tells the waiter that you haven’t forgotten to leave a tip. Tipping is only appropriate in restaurants which offer table service. You do not tip the cashier in a fast food restaurant.
Gestures
To wave goodbye or hello to someone, raise your hand and wave it from side to side, not front to back. Wave the whole hand, not just the fingers. Waving the hand front to back or the fingers up and down means “no”, “stop”, or “go away’. Holding your hand up with the palm facing forward but no movement means “stop”.
If you want to point at an object, extend the index finger and use it to point at the object. It is not polite to point at people.
Although showing your fist with the thumb up or your open hand with the tips of the thumb and index finger together forming an “O” means “OK”， these are stereotypes (老套). Americans understand these gestures, but they are mainly used by actors in movies, not in real life.
1. If an American to whom you are speaking backs away a little, you’d better __________.
A. not try to close the gap B. stop talking with him or her
C. back away too D. ask him or her what happened
2.Which of the following statements is TRUE when you eat out in the US?
A. The tip always ranges from 10% to 20% of the total bill.
B. You needn’t leave a tip if you will never eat in the restaurant.
C. It’s unnecessary to tip the waiter in a restaurant.
D. Tipping is not necessary in fast food restaurants.
3.Which of the following gestures is not used in Americans’ daily life?
A B. C. D.
.
4.We can learn from the passage that in the US ___________________.
A. it’s natural to touch each other in a conversation.
B. it’s polite to leave a tip though the service is bad.
C. there is only one gesture meaning “stop”.
D. Americans use the same gesture to point at people and objects.
高二英语阅读理解困难题查看答案及解析
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Here are a few of our favorite entries so far in our “Your Life: The Reader’s Digest Version” contest. After reading these, head over to Facebook and submit (提交) your own story about a special moment or lesson that shaped your life.
“There’s Always a John”
By Darla Boyd
My first year of teaching, there was a kid named John in my class. John was difficult to control and he nearly drove me crazy. While talking about him one day, an old teacher put his hand on my shoulder and said, “There will always be a John. Your job is to lean, to discover what make him different and help him grow better.” The next year, there was indeed another John. In the last 20 years, I’ve learned to enjoy all the kids like John. That advice taught me that there is something to appreciate in everyone.
“An Early Key Lesson”
By Elaine West
Before I began my first teaching job, my mother, a teacher of 30 years, gave me a very special gift, five simple words that have had an effect on my entire life: “Make friends with the janitor (门卫).” Her wisdom taught me the respect for all types of characters and continue to enrich my life to this day. Just five little words but what an impact they can have when you take them to heart.
“Raising Mommy”
By Jan Davis
Being a mother can always present challenges and rewards. Someone told me early in my parenting career that “Children will teach you everything you need to know”. Being a mother is being raised. Our children become our advisers. Their dreams become our professors, as we are taking notes carefully. The sounds of their laughter and smiles on their faces are a great reward to us or bring us great joy. Their tears remind us that it is okay to fail, wipe the tears away and try again.
1.What did the old teacher mean by saying “There will always be a John”?
A. There are always difficult students like John.
B. John will always be an ordinary student.
C. It is important to change John.
D. John is a very common name.
2.What did Elaine West’s mother advise her to do?
A. Don’t treat students differently.
B. Take care of janitors.
C. Respect people from different backgrounds.
D. Don’t judge people by appearance.
3.Which of the following would Jan Davis most probably agree with?
A. A mother should be given more care.
B. A mother improves herself greatly in parenting.
C. Being a mother has more challenges than rewards.
D. Children should realize the dreams of their parents.
4.The text is most probably a(n) .
A. notice inviting contributions. B. introduction to a contest.
C. ad for three new books. D. poster about a lecture.
高一英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
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Tom’s parents are away for 2 days. So he goes shopping in the supermarket. He makes a shopping list. There are lots of people in the supermarket. He plans(计划) to make sandwiches for his lunch. He buys bread and butter. Then he buys ham and cabbages. He also buys two kilos(千克) of apples. They are 5 yuan a kilo. The apples look good. He has everything on his shopping list. Then he goes home.
根据短文内容，完成下题
1.Tom’s parents are away ______.
A. for 3 days B. for 2 days
C. for 4 days D. for 1 week
2.What does Tom plan to make?
A. Bread. B. Sandwiches.
C. Bread. D. Butter .
3.How much are the apples?
A. 5 yuan. B. 2 yuan. C. 8 yuan. D. 10 yuan.
4.Tom doesn’t buy ______.
A. bread B. butter
C. fish D. cabbages
5.Does Tom have everything on his list？
A. Yes, he does. B. No, he isn’t.
C. Yes, he is. D. Yes, he doesn’t.
七年级英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
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For the British, the home is private place in which he or she goes to hide away from the troubles of life. It is very seldom that one would be invited to a British person’s home. It is rude to knock on a person’s door if you are not invited. If you are invited, don’t ask to see more than the downstairs that your British host invites you into. Never ask how much the house or any of the items in if cost.
To the American, most of them want their home to be a place where they can entertain (款待) and share their lives with their friends. They may be delighted to give you a full tour of their houses. They may also be pleased when you show your interest and pleasure in their houses.
Both British and American people will engage in quite a bit of chat and a drink or two before the meal is served. After the first mouthful, you should say how delicious the food is and ask something about it. Remember, never eat with your mouth open and make very little noise while eating. It would be nice of you to help your host in any way. Maybe offer to pour some drinks or clear up after the meal.
1.If your British friend invites you to his home, you can _________.
A．see anything you like
B．ask how much his house is
C．ask the cost of any of the items in it
D．only see the downstairs that you are invited into
2.When you show your interest and pleasure in American people’s house, they may be _________.
A．angry B．happy C．sad D．worried
3.What does the underlined “engage in” mean in Chinese?
A．陷入 B．参与 C．回避 D．限制
4.What’s the main idea of the passage?
A．Some manners on visiting British and American people’s home.
B．Different table manners between British and American people.
C．Different ideas about the home between British and American people.
D．Different ideas about how to get along well with neighbors between British and American people.
九年级英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
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For the British, the home is private place in which he or she goes to hide away from the troubles of life. It is very seldom that one would be invited to a British person’s home. It is rude to knock on a person’s door if you are not invited. If you are invited, don’t ask to see more than the downstairs that your British host invites you into. Never ask how much the house or any of the items in if cost.
To the American, most of them want their home to be a place where they can entertain (款待) and share their lives with their friends. They may be delighted to give you a full tour of their houses. They may also be pleased when you show your interest and pleasure in their houses.
Both British and American people will engage in quite a bit of chat and a drink or two before the meal is served. After the first mouthful, you should say how delicious the food is and ask something about it. Remember, never eat with your mouth open and make very little noise while eating. It would be nice of you to help your host in any way. Maybe offer to pour some drinks or clear up after the meal.
1. British people _______ invite friends to their home.
A. often B. always C. seldom D. never
2.If your British friend invites you to his home, you can ____.
A. see anything you like B. ask how much his house is
C. ask the cost of any of the items in it D. only see the downstairs that you are invited into
3.When you show your interest and pleasure in American people’s house, they may be __.
A. angry B. happy C. sad D. worried
4.What does the underlined “engage in” mean in Chinese?
A. 陷入 B. 参与 C. 回避 D. 限制
5. What’s the main idea of the passage?
A. Some manners on visiting British and American people’s home.
B. Different table manners between British and American people.
C. Different ideas about the home between British and American people
D. Different ideas about how to get along well with neighbors between British and American people
九年级英语阅读理解困难题查看答案及解析
