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I’m about to begin my fifth season of tree planting. Each year, around this time, I have mixed feelings about the job. Never have I loved a job so much while hating it with equal measure. I mainly plant trees on the coast of British Columbia and get paid about 35 cents a tree. The job can be profitable. It gives planters the opportunity to lead a roaming (漫游的) lifestyle, with a temporary duty to spend a few months filling their bank accounts. But there are many challenges.
In the early hours of the morning, we join our teams and travel along rough roads deep into the woodlands. When stepping out of the trucks, often in the pouring rain, we’re faced with a steep chunk of land that’s just been logged (砍伐). I step into the rain and fill my bags with hundreds of tiny trees. Experienced tree-planters treat this more like a sport than a job, thus lighting up the mood.
Once our bags are full, we immediately charge up that hillside before feeling reluctant to go. We jump from log to log, and if they roll out from under our feet, we grab onto whatever within reach and swing around like monkeys. We push through stinging bushes. We stumble and fall constantly, always pushing ourselves to go faster among groups of insects that we often breathe in.
While tree planting, I come across someone else, a self I thought I knew. It is a person I try to come to peace with on those hillsides, during those strange days of isolation (隔绝) and deep thinking.
Tree planting is a lab of self-examination and growth, where you face the worst and the best in your nature and push yourself as hard as you can. And, a new version of yourself awaits at the end of the experience.
1.Which of the following is true about the writer’s job?
A.It is a bittersweet job to some degree.
B.He works 12 months a year.
C.He can make a fortune with this job.
D.He is stuck in a place all year round.
2.What challenges will they meet when planting trees?
A.They feel reluctant to collect tiny trees.
B.Workers’ mood needs to be lighted up on the truck.
C.They will have to help each other when planting trees.
D.The conditions are really tough on the hillside.
3.In what way has the writer benefited most by planting trees?
A.He has smoothed away many difficulties.
B.He has discovered a whole new himself.
C.He has developed tree-planting skills.
D.He has gained lifelong friendship.
高二英语阅读选择中等难度题查看答案及解析
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The traditional Chinese lunar calendar divides the year into 24 solar terms More than 2000 years ago, ancient Chinese people created this overall framework to mark the annual passage of time based on observations of the sun's motion. In the international meteorological field (国际气象界) the 24 solar terms are honored as “the fifth great invention of China”.
The 24 solar terms begins with Start of Spring followed by Rain Water, Insects Awaken...and ends up with Minor Cold and Major Cold. Summer Solstice and Winter Solstice are two days of the year with the longest and shortest amount of daylight respectively, while Spring Equinox and Autumn Equinox are days with the most balanced amount of daytime and nighttime. Through these four parts, a year is divided into four part: Spring Summer, Autumn and Winter.
In ancient times this system not only guided agricultural production, instructing farmers to expect the changes in temperature, spring planting and autumn harvest but also directed Chinese folk customs. For example, Winter Solstice was the first one set among 24 terms and later developed into a festival to worship Heaven and ancestors. Every year at Winter Solstice, emperors of Ming and Qing dynasties would go to the temple of Heaven to hold a ceremony to worship Heaven, for good weather for their crop, and peace and prosperity for the country.
Nowadays, the 24 solar terms could not only be applied to farming but also guide Chinese everyday life. They remind people to adapt to the changes in the seasons through suitable food and cultural rituals (文化仪式). Seasonal customs are sill the rage such as eating spring pancakes at Start of Spring, sweeping ancestors' tombs at Qing Ming, gaining weight to keep warm at Start of Autumn and eating nutritious food to store energy at Start of Winter. They have actually became important rituals in Chinese life.
The 24 solar terms is a common cognitive system among Chinese. It reflects the emotional bond, the wisdom and creativity of Chinese, who respect and live in harmony with nature.
1.How were the 24 solar terms created in ancient China?
A.They were the results of leaning from each other.
B.They were set based on the movements of the sun.
C.They were created according to the change of the weather.
D.They were gradually developed from the practical experience.
2.What is a common feature of Spring Equinox and Autumn Equinox?
A.They both have the same amount of day and night.
B.They were set only for guiding agricultural activities.
C.They both play the role in dividing a day into day and night
D.They are the days on which the length of a day is longer than night.
3.What does the underlined word in Paragraph 4 probably mean?
A.Cheer B.Honor. C.Appreciation. D.Fashion.
4.What’s the text mainly about?
A.The reasons for the recognition of the 24 solar terms.
B.The invention of the 24 solar terms in ancient China.
C.The origin and influence of the 24 solar terms in China
D.The ways to handle the relationship between human and nature.
高二英语阅读选择中等难度题查看答案及解析
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— When shall we go planting trees in the hill?
—______ it begins to rain, so they don’t need watering.
A. Not until B. While C. Till D. Unless
高二英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析
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On numerous drives with my mom through my childhood, she would suddenly pull over the car to examine a flower by the side of the road or rescue a beetle from danger while I, in my late teens and early twenties, sat impatiently in the car.
Though Mother's Day follows Earth Day, for me, they have always been related to each other. My mom has been ''green'' since she became concerned about the environment. Part of this habit was born of thrift(节俭). Like her mother and her grandmother before her, mom saves glass jars, empty cheese containers and reuses her plastic bags.
Mom creates a kind of harmonious relationship with wildlife in her yard. She knows to pick the apples on her trees a little early to avoid the bears and that if she leaves the bird feeders out at night, it is likely that they will be knocked down by a family of raccoons(浣熊). Spiders that make their way into the house and are caught in juice glasses will be set loose in the garden.
I try to teach my children that looking out for the environment starts with being aware of the environment. On busy streets, we look for dandelions(蒲公英)to fly in the wind; we say hello to neighborhood cats and pick up plastic cups and paper bags. This teaching comes easily, I realize, because I was taught so well by example. Mom didn’t need to lecture; she didn't need to beat a drum to change the world. She simply slowed down enough to enjoy living in it and with that joy came mercy and an instinct(直觉)for protection.
I am slowing down and it isn't because of the weight of my nearly forty years on the planet, it is just out of my concern for the planet itself. I've begun to save glass jars and reuse packing envelopes. I pause in my daily tasks to watch the squirrels race each other in the trees above my house.
Last summer, I planted tomatoes in my yard. With the heat of August around me, I enjoyed my tomatoes while sitting on my low wall. I immediately wanted to share with my mom.
1.Why does the author say Earth Day is connected with Mother's Day?
A.Because Mother's Day falls shortly after Earth Day.
B.To stress that all the older women are environmentalists.
C.To stress how much her mother cares about the environment.
D.Because her mother asks her to be kind to nature on Mother’s Day.
2.Which of the following is NOT related to Mom's ''green life''?
A.Picking dandelions on busy streets. B.Rescuing a beetle from some danger.
C.Setting a caught spider free in the garden. D.Saving glass jars and empty cheese containers.
3.We can infer from the article that ________.
A.the author's mother is very impatient with her children
B.The author's mother knows how to live in harmony with nature
C.the author's mother knows how to keep the wildlife off her yard
D.the author's mother used to lecture her to protect the environment
4.The change order of the writer's attitude towards her mom's behavior should be ________.
A.doubtful—critical—positive B.approving—doubtful—negative
C.understanding—critical—approving D.negative—understanding—approving
高二英语阅读选择困难题查看答案及解析
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“A blue whale's heart is as big as a Volkswagen Beetle(大众甲壳虫),” I told a group of wide-eyed, open-mouthed second-graders. “It is so big that you could walk around inside of it.” Then I asked a big question-“Why does a blue whale have such a big heart?”—and let the adventure begin.
I was bringing SOLE to my classroom-the Self-Organized Learning Environment.
My students began their investigations and, after 40 minutes, they shared their discoveries.
“Blue whales can call to each other over almost a thousand miles.” said Heavenly. “They need a big heart to talk to each other.”
“They swim all over the world,” said Ki'ara. “So they need a big heart to be their motor.”
“They swim together in pairs.” said Amare. “So they need huge hearts to care for each other.”
“Yeah,” said Isaac. “That's true. It takes a huge heart to care for somebody.”
“Hmmm,” I said. “How can we have big hearts for each other instead of small hearts?”
Then the students made a list of it.
I was teaching compassion—to model ways we can care for each other and other living things. This SOLE lesson took a beautiful turn when Amaze connected the heart of the blue whale to community and to caring.
Perri Klass, in a brief essay for the New York Times titled “Understanding How Children Develop Compassion”, writes about the importance of modeling compassion to children so those things are part of their experience long before they know the word.
Around my school, however, nine out of 10 families live in a destructive poverty that makes it difficult to model compassion, to nurture community and caring. My students often come to school knowing more about the survival of the fittest than the survival of the kindest. Yet here were my 7 and 8-year-olds working together in a community, talking about caring for each other and exploring ways we can have big hearts instead of small hearts for each other.
On that day, the blue whale and the second-graders modeled compassion for all of us. This SOLE lesson brought heart to my classroom.
1.How did the students get the answer in the SOLE class?
A.By looking at a blue whale. B.By finding the answer themselves.
C.By questioning each other. D.By taking a dangerous a trip.
2.What was the list made by the students about?
A.The ways to care for each other. B.The ways to learn from each other.
C.The disadvantages of having small hearts. D.The importance of having big hearts.
3.What does the underlined part “the survival of the fittest” imply?
A.The students were used to SOLE lessons. B.The students were mostly from poor families.
C.The students had too much to do at school. D.The students were fond of working together.
4.Which of the following can be the best title for the text?
A.SOLE Lessons-a Way to Care for Each Other
B.Discoveries about a Blue Whale's Heart
C.How Blue Whales Taught Children about Compassion
D.How Children Learned Science in SOLE Lessons
高二英语阅读选择中等难度题查看答案及解析
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Trees are commonly cut down for wood and paper. 1.. The unique chemical process that trees and plants use to turn light energy from the sun into oxygen is known as photosynthesis (光合作用).
2.
The production of oxygen is a result of photosynthesis, but it is not the main purpose of this process. 3.. Plants create their own food through photosynthesis. During this process, a plant’s roots absorb water from the ground, and its leaves take in light energy and carbon dioxide. The plant uses these elements to make fats and proteins that are then used to maintain the plant’s life.
The process of photosynthesis
The first step in photosynthesis is using the sun’s energy. During this process, chlorophyll (叶绿素) absorbs the light energy of the sun. The energy from the sun then acts upon the water absorbed by the roots of the plant. Carbon dioxide sent into the atmosphere by animals and humans is then absorbed by the plant’s leaves and paired with the hydrogen to produce sugar. The sugar is turned into plant food. 4..
Threats to tree photosynthesis
5.. Today, only about 30 percent of Earth’s land is covered in trees. This is contributing to global warming since trees are necessary to consume the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Experts believe planting trees is vital in order to ensure the preservation of the delicate balance that enables photosynthesis.
A.The purposes of photosynthesis
B.The advantages of photosynthesis
C.In fact, oxygen is simply a by product
D.It is also responsible for giving plants their green color
E.During this process, extra oxygen is produced and released
F.The trees that change carbon dioxide into oxygen are disappearing rapidly
G.But the greatest value of trees comes from their ability to turn the sun’s energy into chemical energy
高二英语七选五中等难度题查看答案及解析
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The following are a few places recommended(推荐) by tourists.
Pololu Valley
Lying along the North Kohala Coast,it is home to the island's most beautiful sandy beaches with pleasant weather. Head east on the Akoni Pule Highway and drive to the end of the road before parking at the Pololu Valley Overlook where the trail(小径) begins. The hike(步行) is short at 2.5miles round-trip, but it has a couple of very steep sections that will get your heart beating fast.
Papakolea Beach
The hike to Papakolea Beach will take you 2.5 miles each way to one of the world’s only green sand beaches. Drive along South Point Road and look for “Green Sand Beach” signs, then follow the road on foot to the beach below. The hike will take at least one hour each way with no shade, so don't forget your water, hiking footwear and sunscreen!
Hawaii Tropical Botanical Gardens
Take the self-guided hike through the gardens for a mile or two, passing by more than 2,000 different species of native Hawaiian plants, flowers and trees. The gardens are only open from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, with admission ending at 4:00 pm. Also, entry costs $20 for adults, $5 for children ages 6 to 16, and free for children under six.
Mauna Loa Lookout
The Mauna Loa Trail begins an 18-mile uphill to the top of the volcano—but don’t worry, you'll only need to hike a couple of miles to get there. This is the largest volcano on earth and the weather here is changing rapidly. Snow or driving rain are possible at any time of year. High altitude storms can occur without warning. You’d better pay attention to the local weather forecast or weather information on the website before hiking.
1.What do the first two places have in common?
A.The beaches are attractive. B.The weather is unique.
C.The hike is dangerous. D.They’re fit for cycling.
2.Who are interested in Hawaii Tropical Botanical Gardens?
A.Animal lovers. B.Bird hunters. C.Plant lovers. D.Journalists.
3.What are you advised to do to visit Mauna Loa Lookout?
A.Cover 18 miles to the volcano. B.Hike with experienced visitors.
C.Try to avoid visiting the volcano. D.Get the weather information in advance.
高二英语阅读选择中等难度题查看答案及解析
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Suppose that we lined up our roughly 14 million United States businesses in order of size, starting with the smallest, along an imaginary road from San Francisco to New York. There will be 4,500 businesses to the mile, or a little less than one per foot. Suppose further that we planted a flag each business. The height of the flag pole represents the yearly volume of sales (销量) , each $ 10, 000 in sales in shown by one foot of pole.
The line of flagpoles is a very interesting sight. From San Francisco to about Reno, it is almost unnoticeable, a row of poles about a foot high. From Reno eastward the poles increase in height until, near Columbus, Ohio - about four - fifths of the way across the nation - flags fly about 10 feet in the air.
But as we approach the eastern terminus (终点) , the poles suddenly begin to mount (升高) . There are about 300, 000 firms in the country with sales over $ 500, 000. These firms take up the last 75 miles of the 3,000 - mile road. There are 200, 000 firms with sales over $ 1 million. They take up the last 50 miles. Then there are 1, 000 firms with sales of $ 50, 000, 000 or more. They take up the last quarter of a mile before the city limits, flags flying at cloud height, 5 , 000 feet up .
At the very gate of New York, on the last 100 feet of the last mile , we find the 100 largest industrial firms . They have sales of at least $ 1.5 billion, so that their flags are already miles high. Along the last 10 feet of road , there are 10 largest companies . Their sales are roughly $ 10 billion and up : their flags fly 190 miles in the air , almost in the stratosphere (平流层) .
1.What is the author’s main purpose in this passage?
A.To tell the reason why the largest firms are in New York.
B.To show the geographical distribution (分布) of the United States businesses.
C.To provide a general idea of the size of businesses in the United States.
D.To tell us how the United States businesses are arranged.
2.What’s the correct order of the following places from east to west?
A.San Francisco, Reno, New York, Columbus.
B.San Francisco, Reno, Columbus, New York.
C.New York, Columbus, Reno, San Francisco
D.New York, Reno, Columbus, San Francisco
3.Among the four parts of the imaginary road , which part , considering all the firms in it , has the largest total volume of sales ?
A.The last 75 miles. B.The last 50 miles.
C.The last 100 feet of the last mile. D.The last quarter of a mile
4.Which of the following diagrams (图表) shows the right order of size of the US businesses , according to the text ?
S =" San" Francisco R =" Reno" C =" Columbus" N =" New" York H =" height" F = feet
A.
B.
C.
D.
高二英语阅读选择中等难度题查看答案及解析
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A little boy always thought of himself as the most unfortunate child in the world because polio (小儿麻痹症) made his leg lame and his teeth uneven. He seldom played with his classmates; when the teacher asked him to answer questions, he always lowered his head without a word.
One spring, the boy’s father asked for some seeds from the neighbor. He wanted to plant them in front of the house. He told his children to plant a seed each. The father said to them, “Whose seed grows best, I will buy him or her a gift.” The boy also wanted to get his father’s gift, but seeing his brothers and sisters watering the trees joyfully, anyhow, he hit upon an idea: he hoped the tree he planted would die soon. So watering it once or twice, he never attended to it.
A few days later, when the little boy went to see his tree again, he was surprised to find it not only didn’t become weak, but also grew some fresh leaves, and compared with the trees of his brothers and sisters, his tree appeared greener and more vital. His father kept his promise, bought the little boy his favorite gift and said to him, “From the tree you planted, you would become an outstanding botanist (植物学家) when you grew up.”
Since then, the little boy gradually became optimistic. One day, the little boy lay on the bed but couldn’t sleep. Looking at the bright moonlight outside the window, he suddenly recalled what the biology teacher once said, plants generally grow at night. Why not go to see the tree? When he came to the courtyard on tiptoe, he found his father was splashing something under his tree with a large spoon. All of a sudden, he understood: his father had been secretly fertilizing his small tree! He returned to his room, tears running down his face. Even if it is just a spoon of clear water, it can make the tree of life thrive.
1.It can be learned from paragraphs 1-2 that the little boy ______ .
A.was ambitious in spite of his disability
B.was disabled and therefore less confident
C.showed no interest in plants and quit watering the tree
D.felt lonely and unlucky due to the prejudice against him
2.Why did father help the little boy in the competition?
A.He intended to offer him a gift.
B.He believed that he is gifted in botany.
C.He attempted to give him more encouragement.
D.He wanted to help him adapt to his disability.
3.Which of the following might be the best title for the text?
A.The Best Nutrition of Life
B.A Precious Gift from Father
C.An Unforgettable Competition in Life
D.The Most Powerful Support for the Disabled
高二英语阅读选择中等难度题查看答案及解析
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Going to a British high school for one year was a very enjoyable and exciting experience for me. I was very happy with the school hours in Britain because school starts around 9 a.m.and ends about 3.30 p.m. This means I could get up an hour later than usual as schools in China begin before 8 a.m.
On the first day, the headmaster told us about the rules of the school. He also told us that the best way to earn respect from the school was to work hard and achieve high grades.This sounded like my school in China.
I had many teachers, among whom my favourite teacher was English literature teacher, Miss Burke. In our class there were 29 students. This is about the average size for British schools. We had to move to different classrooms for different classes. We also had different students in some classes, so it was difficult to remember all the faces and names.
My English improved a lot as I used English every day and spent an hour each day reading English books in the library. I also had an extra French class on Tuesday evenings. Cooking was really fun as I learned how to buy, prepare and cook food. British food is very different. British people eat lots of desserts after their main meal. They don’t seem to like fruit as much as Chinese students.
I was very lucky to experience this different way of life, and I hope that someday I can go back and study in Manchester again.
1.Why was the writer happy with the School hours?
A.Because he can get up as late as possible.
B.Because he can go to school before 8 a.m.
C.Because the school begins later than he had in China.
D.Because the school life begins early and ends late.
2.What made the writer feel difficult to remember the classmates?
A.Having lessons in different classes with different classmates.
B.Too many new students coming into the school.
C.The average size class having 29 classmates.
D.His new arriving and bad memory.
3.What does the writer think of his experience?
A.He thought it was satisfying. B.He thought it was difficult.
C.He believed it was fun. D.He believed it was full of luck.
4.Which can be the title of the passage?
A.How to Achieve High Grades. B.My School Life in UK.
C.Britain Schools and Teachers. D.My First at Britain School.
高二英语阅读选择中等难度题查看答案及解析