Earlier this month, the Obama Administration called for increased protection of the world’s most southern continent, Antarctica. Scientists say climate change and human activity have increasingly led to the melting of massive pieces of Antarctic ice. The disappearance of ice will not only affect wildlife in the area such as seals and penguins. The melting will also cause oceans and seas around the world to rise.
This represents a major threat, especially to coastal areas. For example, the ancient city of Venice, Italy has long been threatened by rising sea levels. The situation is made worse by the fact that its ancient buildings, built on a body of water called a lagoon( 淡水湖), are slowly sinking. When the city was founded about 1,600 years ago, the level of the Adriatic Sea was almost two meters lower than it is today.
Rising sea levels are not the only threat. The salty water is also destroying Venice’s famous buildings and artworks. The Italian government is trying to fix the problem with the construction of a seven-billion-dollar system of moving flood barriers.
Climate change is also leading to the melting of ice in other areas, such as Mount Kilimanjaro in northeastern Tanzania. It is the highest point in Africa, measuring almost 6,000 meters. The mountain supports five vegetation zones and many kinds of animals.
The ice glaciers on the mountain are disappearing very quickly. This will have a bad effect on the mountain’s ecosystems and on Tanzania’s travel industry. Also, a valuable record of thousands of years of weather history will also be lost if the ice melts. Scientists study pieces of glacier to understand weather patterns from thousands of years ago.
In the United States, the icy masses in Glacier National Park in Montana may soon completely disappear because of climate change. In 1850, there were an estimated 150 glaciers in the more than 400,000 hectare park.
There are 26 glaciers remaining today. Scientists estimate that the glaciers will be gone by 2030. Warming temperatures are also threatening the many kinds of plants and animals that live in this mountain ecosystem.
1. The writer developed the passage mainly by______.
A.giving examples | B.listing reasons |
C.making comparisons | D.using quotations |
2. How many glaciers disappeared since 1850 in Glacier National Park?
A.150. | B.26. | C.400,000. | D.About 124. |
3. According to the passage, what has been affected in Italy by rising sea levels?
A.Many kinds of plants and animals died out in Italy. |
B.Venice’s famous buildings and artworks are being destroyed completely. |
C.The ice glaciers on the mountain are disappearing very quickly. |
D.Its ancient buildings could be drowned. |
4. What could be the best title for the passage?
A.Climate Change |
B.The Melting of Massive Pieces of Antarctic Ice |
C.Visiting Endangered Places around the World |
D.The disappearing of the Ice Glaciers |
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题
Earlier this month, the Obama Administration called for increased protection of the world’s most southern continent, Antarctica. Scientists say climate change and human activity have increasingly led to the melting of massive pieces of Antarctic ice. The disappearance of ice will not only affect wildlife in the area such as seals and penguins. The melting will also cause oceans and seas around the world to rise.
This represents a major threat, especially to coastal areas. For example, the ancient city of Venice, Italy has long been threatened by rising sea levels. The situation is made worse by the fact that its ancient buildings, built on a body of water called a lagoon( 淡水湖), are slowly sinking. When the city was founded about 1,600 years ago, the level of the Adriatic Sea was almost two meters lower than it is today.
Rising sea levels are not the only threat. The salty water is also destroying Venice’s famous buildings and artworks. The Italian government is trying to fix the problem with the construction of a seven-billion-dollar system of moving flood barriers.
Climate change is also leading to the melting of ice in other areas, such as Mount Kilimanjaro in northeastern Tanzania. It is the highest point in Africa, measuring almost 6,000 meters. The mountain supports five vegetation zones and many kinds of animals.
The ice glaciers on the mountain are disappearing very quickly. This will have a bad effect on the mountain’s ecosystems and on Tanzania’s travel industry. Also, a valuable record of thousands of years of weather history will also be lost if the ice melts. Scientists study pieces of glacier to understand weather patterns from thousands of years ago.
In the United States, the icy masses in Glacier National Park in Montana may soon completely disappear because of climate change. In 1850, there were an estimated 150 glaciers in the more than 400,000 hectare park.
There are 26 glaciers remaining today. Scientists estimate that the glaciers will be gone by 2030. Warming temperatures are also threatening the many kinds of plants and animals that live in this mountain ecosystem.
1. The writer developed the passage mainly by______.
A.giving examples | B.listing reasons |
C.making comparisons | D.using quotations |
2. How many glaciers disappeared since 1850 in Glacier National Park?
A.150. | B.26. | C.400,000. | D.About 124. |
3. According to the passage, what has been affected in Italy by rising sea levels?
A.Many kinds of plants and animals died out in Italy. |
B.Venice’s famous buildings and artworks are being destroyed completely. |
C.The ice glaciers on the mountain are disappearing very quickly. |
D.Its ancient buildings could be drowned. |
4. What could be the best title for the passage?
A.Climate Change |
B.The Melting of Massive Pieces of Antarctic Ice |
C.Visiting Endangered Places around the World |
D.The disappearing of the Ice Glaciers |
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
Earlier this summer, Carol LeResche got the phone call she’d been waiting for. A tourist was picking zucchini (西葫芦) at Thorne Rider Park. “It’s exactly what we hoped would happen when we put in the food forest,” explained LeResche, the park’s food forest founder. In May, he received a $ 3,500 fund. The money was to help turn a former park into an edible (可食用的) landscape. It’s a place where all of the fruits, vegetables and nuts are free for the taking.
Unlike some parks with strict “no picking” policies, food forests are designed to provide colorful crops. People are encouraged to harvest them. “We think it’s important to put public food in public spaces,” she said. The desire to know more about where our food comes from is one of the reasons there is a real trend toward agriculture into neighborhoods and communities. There, people can participate in tours and classes or relax among the fruit trees. Food forests provide different kinds of fresh produce more than we can buy.
Food forests are based on a model valuing sustainable and mostly self-sufficient agricultural production. The food forest model requires less chemical fertilizer and less labor than traditional agriculture. An edible forest is designed to develop without pesticides or weeding.
Since the concept is relatively new, and it takes at least three years for fruit and nut trees and berry bushes to start producing meaningful amounts of fresh food, it’s hard to know whether food forests will have an impact on food deserts. Volunteer-driven projects can fall apart if the group loses interest. Lack of funding can also be problematic. Pests also are an often-cited concern.
After all and above all, LeResche explained, food forests are about a lot more than food. “We also want to provide a gathering space that is productive and beautiful where people can develop a relationship with each other and get connected.”
1.Compared with common food bought, what is special about the food in edible forests?
A. It tastes better. B. It has more varieties.
C. It has funny appearances. D. It’s produced free of fertilizer.
2.What is stressed in Paragraph 4?
A. Food forests may disappear soon.
B. Food forests have a long way to go.
C. Food forests waste lots of natural resources.
D. Food forests seem imaginary and impossible.
3.As for LeResche, what is the most important role of food forests?
A. A way to relax and entertain. B. A way to solve food shortage.
C. A way to be thankful for nature. D. A way to meet and make friends.
4.What is the author’s purpose in writing the text?
A. To call help. B. To raise money.
C. To compare and argue. D. To inform and introduce.
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
President Obama has said that he had discussed his administration's desire for _____ orderly change to _____ more open government in Egypt.
A./; the B.an; a C.the ; / D.the ;an
高三英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析
Earlier this month, the United States Library of Congress named Katherine Paterson the national ambassador for young people’s literature.
She is only the second person to hold the position. She replaces writer Jon Scieszka,who had served since two thousand eight.
The librarian of Congress, James Billington, said Miz Paterson “represents the finest in literature for young people”. He spoke of the importance of reading in the lives of America’s young people.Miz Paterson has written more than thirty books. She is among only five writers to have won two Newbery Medals. These are among the most important children’s book awards in the United States.
“Bridge to Terabithia” won a Newbery Medal in nineteen seventy-seven. Her book “Jacob Have I
Loved” won the award in nineteen eighty-one.
Katherine Paterson’s books for children are often quite complex. “Bridge to Terabithia” includes
adult themes like depression and death. The book has caused debate because of its place on school
library bookshelves. Some parents think it is too adult for young children. Miz Paterson says the idea
for the book came from a real life experience. Her son’s best friend died in nineteen seventy-four
when she was struck by lightening.
Katherine Paterson is seventy-seven. She began writing as a young mother with three children. But
she says her interest in writing came as a surprise. As a child she had thought about becoming a
Christian religious worker in foreign countries like her parents were.
Katherine Paterson spoke to a gathering of children when she was named ambassador on January
fifth in Washington. She said: “Read for your life. Read for your life as a member of a family, as a part
of a community, as a citizen of this country and a citizen of the world.
1.The Newbery medal is designed for ______.
A. writers with best books for grown-ups B. children with best books on adult themes
C. writers with best books for children D. children with best books on nature
2.Which of the following is NOT true about the book Bridge to Terabithia?
A. Its topics include depression and death. B. It won a Newbery Medal in the 1980s.
C. Some people think it’s for adults only. D. The idea for it came directly from real life.
3.As a child, Katherine_______.
A. had bad relations with her parents B. showed great interest in writing books
C. hoped to take part in religious activities D. began writing books with serious themes
4.The national ambassador for young people’s literature as a position started in_____.
A. 1977 B. 1981 C. 2008 D. 2009
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
Earlier this month, the United States Library of Congress named Katherine Paterson the national ambassador for young people’s literature.
She is only the second person to hold the position. She replaces writer Jon Scieszka,who had served since two thousand eight.
The librarian of Congress, James Billington, said Miz Paterson “represents the finest in literature for young people”. He spoke of the importance of reading in the lives of America’s young people.Miz Paterson has written more than thirty books. She is among only five writers to have won two Newbery Medals. These are among the most important children’s book awards in the United States.
“Bridge to Terabithia” won a Newbery Medal in nineteen seventy-seven. Her book “Jacob Have I
Loved” won the award in nineteen eighty-one.
Katherine Paterson’s books for children are often quite complex. “Bridge to Terabithia” includes
adult themes like depression and death. The book has caused debate because of its place on school
library bookshelves. Some parents think it is too adult for young children. Miz Paterson says the idea
for the book came from a real life experience. Her son’s best friend died in nineteen seventy-four
when she was struck by lightening.
Katherine Paterson is seventy-seven. She began writing as a young mother with three children. But
she says her interest in writing came as a surprise. As a child she had thought about becoming a
Christian religious worker in foreign countries like her parents were.
Katherine Paterson spoke to a gathering of children when she was named ambassador on January
fifth in Washington. She said: “Read for your life. Read for your life as a member of a family, as a part
of a community, as a citizen of this country and a citizen of the world.
1. The Newbery medal is designed for ______.
A. writers with best books for grown-ups B. children with best books on adult themes
C. writers with best books for children D. children with best books on nature
2. Which of the following is NOT true about the book Bridge to Terabithia?
A. Its topics include depression and death. B. It won a Newbery Medal in the 1980s.
C. Some people think it’s for adults only. D. The idea for it came directly from real life.
3. As a child, Katherine_______.
A. had bad relations with her parents B. showed great interest in writing books
C. hoped to take part in religious activities D. began writing books with serious themes
4. The national ambassador for young people’s literature as a position started in_____.
A. 1977 B. 1981 C. 2008 D. 2009
高三英语阅读理解简单题查看答案及解析
It was the Olympic final day earlier this month, but this was an Olympics with a difference. Over the last five months, local and regional competitions have been held across Kenya for Maasai men of "warrior" age as part of the Maasai Olympics 2018. December 15 marked the final round with crowds gathering in Kimana, near the Amboseli National Park, about 200 km south of Narobi. Cash prizes and medals are in store for the winning individuals and communities.
International Charity Born Free Foundation is a main sponsor of the event which has been held every two years since 2012 to offer Maasai and warriors an alternative to(作为......
的替代)killing lions as part of their traditional ceremony. It was the idea of the Wildlife Charity Big Life Foundation and eight Maasai elders who wanted to "stop lion hunting by our warriors once and for all, making it a cultural taboo(禁忌)”.
"As soon as we understood the idea for the Maasai Olympics, we were attracted by the excitement, and inspired by the complete sense of this great plan," said Born Free Foundation's CEO Howard Jones. "As human populations grow and our wants seem to increase, with little sympathy for those other species with whom we share the planet, the pressing needed for coexistence is urgent. And examples of how this may be achieved are few and far between."
"About 2,000 lions remain in Kenya, and Born Free works to monitor the population, ease human-wildlife conflict and promote coexistence. "added Jones. “The Maasai live and work alongside lions and other wildlife, so they play a key role in their protection and conservation. However, the Maasai also have a 500-year-old tradition of hunting lions when men reach warrior age."
The Maasai Olympics were developed to encourage young men to compete in an organized sports competition based on their traditional warrior skills. They compete in six events (5,000 m, 800m, 200m, high jump, etc.) and there are also two events (1,500m and 100m) for women. As well as the competitive element, the event also aims to educate local people about conserving lions and other wildlife, and the importance of human-wildlife coexistence and tolerance.
1.What do we know about the Maasai Olympics according to the text?
A.They are only accessible to men.
B.They had been held four times by 2018.
C.They are held in the Amboseli National Park.
D.They honour winners with the title of hero.
2.What can we learn about the Maasai Olympics traditional ceremony?
A.It is primitive and unacceptable.
B.It is a proof of their being sympathetic.
C.It is the result of human-wildlife conflict.
D.It is highly regarded by Born Free Foundation.
3.Which of the following might NOT be the aim of Born Free Foundation?
A.To change the lifestyle of lions in Kenya.
B.To ease human-wildlife conflict in Kenya.
C.To monitor the population of lions in Kenya.
D.To promote coexistence of humans and lions in Kenya.
4.What does Howard Jones try to express in Para. 4?
A.Humans and wildlife cannot benefit each other.
B.The Maasai should not interfere with wildlife.
C.Humans should live in harmony with wildlife.
D.The Masssai should not give up their old tradition.
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
The new automobile fuel economy standards formally adopted by the Obama administration on Thursday will produce a series of benefits: reduced dependence on foreign oil, fewer greenhouse gas emissions(排放), and consumer savings at the pump.
This was truly a moment to celebrate. But it was tempered by the fact that some in Congress are trying to cancel the laws that made the new standards possible.
The standards will require automakers to build passenger cars, sport-utility vehicles and minivans that average 35.5 miles per gallon by 2016 — a 30 percent increase over today’s cars, and the biggest single jump in fuel economy since the original standards were adopted in the 1970s. Cars will cost more, but the government estimates that consumers will save an average of $3,000 in fuel over the life of a new vehicle.
The standards will also place the first-ever limits on automobile greenhouse gas emissions, and are expected to reduce emissions by 21 percent by 2030 compared with what the output would have been without the standards. Because emissions from passenger vehicles represent about one-fifth of America’s greenhouse gases, this is a step forward for the planet.
The automakers, who fought the rules until they went broke(破产), have come to accept this as a step forward as well. A single national standard provides regulatory certainty, and they’ve got to get more efficient to survive.
However, some in Congress seemed determined to roll back the laws that got us here. Senator Lisa Murkowski, a Republican from Alaska, and several other senators have added a challenge to the federal government’s authority to regulate greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act — not just from automobiles but from other sources. The Supreme Court gave the Environmental Protection Agency that authority three years ago, and the new emissions standards would have been impossible without it.
There has also been talk in the Senate of eliminating California’s special authority under the Clean Air Act to set more aggressive motor vehicle standards than the federal limits. California used that authority to pass a law in 2002 setting greenhouse gas emissions limits for cars sold there. It was the first law of its kind in this country, and it provided the drive and the foundation for the new nationwide standards.
What all of these opponents mean to do is to roll back history and the hard-won environmental protections it has produced. That would be a huge mistake.
66. The following are the benefits of the new automobile economy standards EXCEPT ________.
A. reduced dependence on foreign oil
B. cancelling some of the laws
C. fewer greenhouse gas emissions
D. consumer savings at the pump
67. What goal is set for the year 2016?
A. Cars will cost more so fewer people will buy them.
B. There is a 30 percent increase in car manufacturing.
C. An average vehicle can go 35.5 miles with one gallon of gas.
D. Consumers will save an average of $3,000 in fuel per car.
68. The underlined word “it” in paragraph six refers to ________.
A. The Clean Air Act
B. The Supreme Court
C. The Environment Protection Agency
D. The federal government’s authority
69. What seems to be the root of the new automobile fuel economy standards?
A. California’s motor vehicle standards.
B. The Environment Protection Agency.
C. Some Senators, like Lisa Murkowski.
D. Greenhouse gas emissions.
70. According to the writer, the new automobile fuel economy standards will probably lead to the result that ________.
A. everyone wins
B. more cars will be sold
C. it would be a big mistake
D. nobody agrees
高三英语阅读理解简单题查看答案及解析
Earlier this month, the University of Glasgow in Scotland launched a course entitled: D'oh! The Simpsons Introduce Philosophy. The course's aim is to ease students into the typically heavy topic by relating it to the popular cartoon family.
"The Simpsons is one of the modern world's greatest cultural artifacts, partly because it is so full of philosophy," John Donaldson, creator of the course, told the BBC. "Aristotle, Kant, Marx, Camus and many other great thinkers' ideas are represented in what is arguably the purest of philosophical forms - the comic cartoon."
While this may seem like an unusual way to attract pupils to a traditionally dull topic, this class isn't the first of its kind. In 2009, Liverpool Hope University in the UK began offering a master's degree on the music of internationally known 60's group The Beatles, which still runs today. The following year, the UK's Durham University gave students the chance to enroll on a Harry Potter-themed module, covering contents such as "Gryffindor and Slytherin: prejudice and intolerance in the classroom" and "muggles and magic".
To some, these courses may seem like a waste of a valuable education, but Donaldson believes that packaging certain topics into something easier to relate to will enhance the learning experience, without distraction from the main subject. "Firstly, scholars want to be taken seriously by other scholars and ideas like this can be seen as not serious," he tells iNews. "There are definitely ways to incorporate popular culture into academic subjects that still remains substantial and doesn't take away from the quality of the ideas."
Already booked full, Donaldson's Simpsons class isn't meant to be taken as seriously, however. The lecturer says that his one-day course, which will pose philosophical questions around morality, free will, and religion by relating them to scenarios from The Simpsons, aims to introduce students to his area of expertise greatly while they have a bit of fun.
1.From Paragraph 2, we can learn that ______ .
A. many great thinkers appear in The Simpsons
B. The Simpsons contains many philosophical ideas
C. John Donaldson creates the cartoon The Simpsons
D. the main reason for The Simpsons' success is its philosophy
2.The third paragraph is developed mainly ______ .
A. by making a comparison
B. by following the order of time
C. by analyzing the process
D. by giving examples
3.What does the underlined word " scenarios" in the last paragraph mean? ______
A. Characters. B. Settings.
C. Plots. D. Images.
4.The passage mainly talks about ______ .
A. a creative philosophy course
B. a popular comic cartoon
C. a reform of traditional subjects
D. an enterprising lecturer
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
Earlier this month, two rock climbers achieved what many thought impossible: They climbed up the 3,000-foot-high Dawn Wall in Yosemite National Park without specialized equipment. Climbing without this equipment is called“free-climbing.”Until now, no one had free-climbed to the top of the rock face, which is a part of the mountain EI Capitan.
El Capitan, which means“the captain”or“the chief”in Spanish, has always presented a challenge to climbers. But the Dawn Wall, on the mountain’s southeast face, is a particularly difficult route to the summit (顶峰). It is a rock formation that is both steep and relatively smooth. This makes free-climbing the rock face seem almost impossible.
About seven years ago, professional climber Tommy Caldwell spotted a possible route up the wall. It took years of planning and preparation, but this month, Caldwell, 36, and his friend Kevin Jorgeson, 30, finally make the climb.
Free climbers do use ropes and other basic safety equipment to catch them if they fall — and Caldwell and Jorgeson fell often. Before starting their climb, they broke down their route into 32 sections. Each section was based on a rope length called a“pitch.”The rope was secured into the rock face to catch the climbers if they fell.
Caldwell and Jorgeson’s goal was to climb the Dawn Wall without returning to the ground. If they fell, they had to start that pitch all over again. The two men started climbing on December 27. They slept in hanging tents, and a team of friends brought them food each day.
The men had spent years rehearsing (排练) the movements it would take to get through each pitch. They made it through the fist half of the climb relatively easily. But halfway up, Jorgeson ran into trouble. In one difficult spot, he fell each time he attempted to climb. After 10 days of trying, Jorgeson finally made it to the next pitch.
Getting through that troublesome pitch gave both climbers renewed energy. They finished the rest of the climb five days later, on January 14.
1.What does Paragraph 2 mainly explain?
A.Why the Dawn Wall is a hard challenge.
B.Why people prefer climbing El Capitan.
C.How to free-climb the Dawn Wall.
D.How El Capitan got its name.
2.To climb Yosemite’s Dawn Wall, Caldwell and Jorgeson .
A. received one year’s training
B. chose the nearest route
C. made thoughtful preparations
D. used special equipment
3.What can we learn about this world, s toughest climb?
A.It includes 32 different routes.
B.It is also the world, s highest climb.
C.It was once completed by Caldwell 7 years ago.
D.It took the two climbers 19 days to get to the top.
4.Which of the following words can best describe Jorgeson?
A.Proud but patient.
B.Cautious and friendly.
C.Brave and determined.
D.Imaginative but half-hearted.
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
Earlier this month, two rock climbers achieved what many thought impossible: They climbed up the 3,000-foot-high Dawn Wall in Yosemite National Park without specialized equipment. Climbing without this equipment is called “free-climbing.” Until now, no one had free-climbed to the top of the rock face, which is a part of the mountain EI Capitan.
EI Capitan, which means “the captain” or “the chief” in Spanish, has always presented a challenge to climbers. But the Dawn Wall, on the mountain’s southeast face, is a particularly difficult route to the summit (顶峰). It is a rock formation that is both steep and relatively smooth. This makes free-climbing the rock face seem almost impossible.
About seven years ago, professional climber Tommy Caldwell spotted a possible route up the wall. It took years of planning and preparation, but this month, Caldwell, 36, and his friend Kevin Jorgeson, 30, finally made the climb.
Free climbers do use ropes and other basic safety equipment to catch them if they fall—and Caldwell and Jorgeson fell often. Before starting their climb, they broke down their route into 32 sections. Each section was based on a rope length called a “pitch.” The rope was secured into the rock face to catch the climbers if they fell.
Caldwell and Jorgeson’s goal was to climb the Dawn Wall without returning to the ground. If they fell, they had to start that pitch all over again. The two men started climbing on December 27. They slept in hanging tents, and a team of friends brought them food each day.
The men had spent years rehearsing (排练) the movements it would take to get through each pitch. They made it through the first half of the climb relatively easily. But halfway up, Jorgeson ran into trouble. In one difficult spot, he fell each time he attempted to climb. After 10 days of trying, Jorgeson finally made it to the next pitch.
Getting through that troublesome pitch gave both climbers renewed energy. They finished the rest of the climb five days later, on January 14.
1.What does Paragraph 2 mainly explain?
A. Why the Dawn Wall is a hard challenge.
B. Why people prefer climbing EI Capitan.
C. How to free-climb the Dawn Wall.
D. How EI Capitan got its name.
2.To climb Yosemite’s Dawn Wall, what did Caldwell and Jorgeson do?
A. They received one year’s training
B. They chose the nearest route
C. They made thoughtful preparations
D. They used special equipment
3.What can we learn about this world’s toughest climb?
A. It includes 32 different routes.
B. It is also the world’s highest climb.
C. It was once completed by Caldwell 7 years ago.
D. It took the two climbers 19 days to get to the top.
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析