Four years into my Ph.D. program, my hands st...

Four years into my Ph.D. program, my hands started to go numb each night as I slept. I didn't think much of it at the time. Then one night, while sound asleep, I somehow mistook my numb arm for a snake. I threw myself out of bed and woke in a panic. I later discovered that this nighttime event wasn't simply a strange dream.

At that time, I was working toward my Ph.D. and training to be a clinical psychologist. There was never enough time to occupy myself fully in my world. The exams constantly worried and even scared me.

Later that year, while discussing a patient's symptoms with a neurologist(神经学家), I realized that my anxiety could be the direct cause of the numbness in my hands. There was a certain irony(讽刺) in that realization. I'd spent years learning about psychological tools for dealing with stress and anxiety.But until then it never occurred to me that I, too, was experiencing an abnormal level of stress and anxiety.

Now, I specialize in helping take a healthier approach to dealing with the pressures of academics.I've seen firsthand how many of them possess inner voices demanding perfection and telling them that the sacrifices are necessary for success.

My message to those I work with is that being overworked and stressed-out is unhealthy.Achievements and health can be both gained. So, when your inner alarm bells send you a warning signal-or when snakes attack in the night-don't hesitate; take action.

1.What happened to the author?

A.A snake bit him when he was sleeping.

B.He frequently had strange dreams at night.

C.He could do whatever he wanted in a clinic.

D.Numbness in his arms attacked him due to huge stress.

2.The author's anxiety comes from　　　　

A.his academic work B.his lack of sleep

C.his social relationship D.his demand for perfection

3.What can we learn from the last two paragraphs?

A.He now realizes academics is of no benefit.

B.A large number of people arc forced to be perfect.

C.Warning signals mean it's time to stop being over-stressed.

D.Achievements make it impossible for people to keep healthy.

高二英语阅读选择中等难度题查看答案及解析

For high school leavers starting out in the working world, it is very important to learn particular skills and practice how to behave in an interview or how to find all internship(实习). In some countries, schools have programs to help students onto the path to work. In the United States, however, such programs are still few and far between.

Research shows that if high schools provide career-related courses, students are likely to get higher earnings in later years. In Germany, students as young as 13 and 14 are expected to do internships. German companies work with schools to make sure that young people get the education they need for future employment.

But in America, education reform (改革) programs focus on how well students do in exams instead of bringing them into contact with the working world. Harvard Education school professor Robert Schwartz has criticized education reformers for trying to place all graduates directly on the four-year college track. Schwartz argued that this approach leaves the country’s most vulnerable(易受影响的) kids with no jobs and no skills.

Schwartz believed that the best career programs encourage kids to go for higher education while also teaching them valuable practical skills at high school. James Madison High School in New York, for example, encourages students to choose classes on career-based courses. The school then helps them gain on-the-job experience in those fields while they’re still at high school.

However, even for teens whose schools encourage them to connect with work, the job market is daunting. In the US, unemployment rates for 16-to 19-year-olds are above 20 percent for the third summer in a row. “The risk is that if teenagers miss out on the summer job experience, they become part of this generation of teens who had trouble in landing a job,” said Michael, a researcher in the US.

1.What’s the main idea of the text?

A.Arguments about recent US education reform.

B.Tips on finding jobs for high school leavers.

C.The lack of career-based courses in US high schools.

D.Advice for American high school leavers.

2.According to Robert Schwartz, _________.

A.there is no need for kids to go for higher education in the US

B.teenagers in the US can’t miss out on the summer job experience

C.education reform should focus on students’ performance in exams

D.students should get contact with the working world at high school

3.The underlined word “daunting” in Paragraph 5 most probably means __________.

A.discouraging B.interesting

C.creative D.unbearable

4.What can be inferred from the text?

A.High school leavers with no practical skills can’t find a job at all.

B.Unemployment rates for US teenagers remain high at the moment.

C.Students with career-based courses never have problems finding a job.

D.US companies work with schools to prepare young people for future employment.

高二英语阅读选择中等难度题查看答案及解析

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

A Four-Year-Old Boy Convinced Father Is a Fool After 45th Hide-and-Seek Victory

GLENDALE, PENNSYLVANIA-Expressing embarrassment and disappointment over being the son of such a loser, local four-year-old Connor Heyward was convinced that his father, Craig Heyward, was a fool after losing 45 games of hide-and-seek. “God, this is bad. I’ve hidden behind that bush a dozen times, and he still can’t find me, “ said Connor, admitting that after finding his father crouched behind a chair half his size, he had started to worry he might grow up to be a “ complete idiot” just like his dad. “At first, I thought I might be really good at this game, but after succeeding in hiding underneath a clothes basket with visible holes, I realized the kind of game was not his cake. It’d be one thing if he were only bad at seeking, but so far, his best hiding spot was behind the back door. Who hides behind a door? There’s no strategy to it whatsoever. “

Reality of Fatherhood Never Truly Dawned on Man Until He Held Newborn Son’s Hospital Bill

MISSOULA, MONTANA-Describing how he suddenly found himself overwhelmed by a flood of intense emotions, local man Mike Bentzen told reporters the reality of fatherhood didn’t truly set in for him until the moment he held his newborn son’s hospital bill. “Wow, this is going to totally change my life,” said Bentzen as tears welled up in his eyes. “Some friends tell me about their experience, but you can’t understand what it feels like until you’re looking down at it in your own hands.” Bentzen reportedly started weeping softly as he sat down with his son’s hospital bill in his lap and began imagining how he would deal with this for the next 18 years.

1.Which of the following best describes Craig Heyward as a father?

A.Foolish. B.Childish. C.Loving. D.Embarrassed.

2.What made Mike Bentzen truly come to know the reality of fatherhood?

A.His plan for the future. B.His friends’ experience.

C.His overwhelming emotions. D.His newborn son’s hospital bill.

3.Where is this text most likely from?

A.A joke collection. B.A loca A Four-Year-Old Boy Convinced l newspaper.

C.A speech selection. D.A child-breeding guidebook.

4.What another story can be added to the text?

A.What to Read While Social Distancing

B.This Is What Your Dog’s Behaviors Really Mean

C.Police Chief Vows to Take Concrete Steps to Reduce Violence

D.Children’s Fondest Memories Times When Dad Trying to Make Up for Things

高二英语阅读选择中等难度题查看答案及解析

In my second year of high school, I took my first computer science course, which helped me realize I was interested in software. The idea of creating something from just lines of codes and logic was very fascinating. And I didn't put as much time into music as I used to, thinking practicing the piano was just a waste of time.

A year later, when I got back on the piano, I quickly noticed my musical ear was not as strong as it was before. I could no longer hear the difference between a perfect 4th and a perfect 5th or between a D and D flat. Then I had a firm decision to get my skills to where it used to be. After weeks of practicing, I didn't see much progress. I was extremely discouraged and felt that I would have to accept that I no longer will be able to play as well as I used to.

While watching hundreds of tutorials online on how to code in Swift I came up with an idea. What if I used the knowledge I gained from these tutorials to develop an app that would help train my musical ear. After hours of coding, I developed an app that would play a different series of notes, then the user would have to type in the corresponding notes to what they heard. When I was on the subway or had some extra time I could easily open up the app on my phone and use it to help my musical ear. In about 2 months, I regained the skills I lost.

This experience helped me see something that I never noticed before. Programming gives me a platform to express my ideas; in a similar way, playing the piano gives me a way to express my feelings. When playing through a song for the first time I hear many errors. Similarly, when I run my program for the first time there are usually many mistakes. In both of these cases, it takes patience to go through each measure or line to hear or find the error. I realized when I’m playing the piano I am also practicing my programming skills and vice versa.

1.What happened to the author a year ago?

A.He realized his strength. B.He invented lines of codes.

C.He developed another hobby. D.He was too busy to practice piano.

2.Which of the following can best describe the author?

A.Determined and creative. B.Hard-working and gifted.

C.Easy-going and generous. D.Independent and energetic.

3.What can we infer about the author from the third paragraph?

A.He received musical training online.

B.He improved himself by studying online.

C.He got inspired from the tutorials online.

D.He made good use of the app he downloaded online.

4.What can the author learn from the experience?

A.He came to realize it is important to develop some good qualities.

B.He understood the meaning of the saying “practice makes perfect”.

C.He found programming and playing the piano have something in common.

D.He felt it necessary to improve himself in programming and playing the piano.

高二英语阅读选择中等难度题查看答案及解析

One of Britain's bravest women told yesterday how she helped to catch suspected police killer David Bieber—and was thanked with flowers by the police. It was also said that she could be in line for a share of up to £ 30,000 reward money.

Vicki Brown, 30, played a very important role in ending the nationwide manhunt. Vicki, who has worked at the Royal Hotel for four years, told of her terrible experience when she had to steal into Bieber's bedroom and to watch him secretly. Then she waited alone for three hours while armed police prepared to storm the building.

She said： “I was very nervous. But when I opened the hotel door and saw 20 armed policemen lined up in the car park I was so glad they were there. ”

The alarm had been raised because Vicki became suspicious （怀疑的）of the guest who checked in at 3 pm the day before New Year's Eve with little luggage and wearing sunglasses and a hat pulled down over his face. She said： “He didn't seem to want to talk too much and make any eye contact. ” Vicki, the only employee on duty, called her bosses Margaret, 64, and husband Stan McKale, 65, who phoned the police at 11 pm.

Officers from Northumbria Police called Vicki at the hotel in Dunston, Gateshead, at about 11:30 pm to make sure that this was the wanted man. Then they kept in touch by phoning Vicki every 15 minutes.

“It was about ten past two in the morning when the phone went again and a policeman said 'Would you go and make yourself known to the armed officers outside?' My heart missed a beat. ”

Vicki quietly showed eight armed officers through passages and staircases to the top floor room and handed over the key.

“I realized that my bedroom window overlooks that part of the hotel, so I went to watch. I could not see into the man's room, but I could see the passage. The police kept shouting at the man to come out with his hands showing. Then suddenly he must have come out because they shouted for him to lie down while he was handcuffed （戴上手铐）

1.Vicki became suspicious of David Bieber because ______ .

A.the police called her

B.he looked very strange

C.he came to the hotel without luggage

D.he came to the hotel the day before New Year's Eve

2.Vicki's heart missed a beat because ______.

A.the phone kept ringing

B.she would be famous

C.the policemen had already arrived

D.she saw 20 policemen in the car park

3.The whole event probably lasted about ______ hours from the moment David Bieber came to the hotel to the arrival of some armed officers.

A.6 B.8 C.11 D.14

4.David Bieber was most probably handcuffed in ______.

A.the passage B.his room

C.Vicki's bedroom D.the top floor room

高二英语阅读选择中等难度题查看答案及解析

My family had always been close and lucky. No one died and no one was sick. We were all living a happy life until my grandfather had cancer. No matter how much I told myself he might not die, somehow I still felt as if it was a death sentence. He fought so hard but died at 63. I honestly didn’t know how I dealt with. I never cried alone. I had the support of my family and teachers. I just remembered my grandfather’s wish that we should celebrate his life.

That’s how we came up with the idea for Hives (蜂房) for Lives — a business my sister and I started where all the profits (赢利) go to the American Cancer Society (ACS). During our first year we donated (捐赠) more than $2,000 to the ACS. The next year a man who belonged to my grandparents’ “bee club” gave his honey to us, and our little business grew. We sold at wine festivals, schools, and to anyone else who would buy! We had my uncle sell in California and my grandmother sell in Chicago. We have sold honey in 13 states — even in Puerto Rico! This year we donated more than $10,000 to the ACS and we’re hoping to do more next year. Hopefully our business will help research into the causes of cancer or just improve the life of someone with cancer.

I feel like Hives for Lives is a way to honor my grandfather. Honor his love, his life, and his strength. With Hives for Lives reminding me of my grandfather every day, I feel as if I can move on in life, that he will always be alive in my heart and memories. It made me deal with his death, because I felt like I had truly honored his wish of celebrating his life.

1.From the first paragraph, we can learn ____.

A.the author’s grandfather had been ill for years

B.the author hadn’t thought his grandfather would die

C.the author showed little love towards his grandfather

D.the author’s grandfather had tried to fight against his disease

2.The purpose of the author’s starting Hives for Lives is NOT for _____.

A.improving his life B.honoring his grandfather

C.helping do research for cancer D.supporting people with cancer

3.How many states have they sold honey in? ______

A.13states B.10 states C.8states D.6states

4.What would be the best title for the text? ______

A.Turning sadness into hope B.The meaning of life

C.To my grandfather D.Living with cancer

高二英语阅读选择简单题查看答案及解析

I was never very neat, while my roommate Kate was extremely organized. Each of her objects had its place, but mine always hid somewhere. She even labeled (贴标签) everything. I always looked for everything. Over time, Kate got neater and I got messier. She would push my dirty clothing over, and I would lay my books on her tidy desk. We both got tired of each other.

War broke out one evening. Kate came into the room. Soon, I heard her screaming, “Take your shoes away! Why under my bed!” Deafened, I saw my shoes flying at me. I jumped to my feet and started yelling. She yelled back louder.

The room was filled with anger. We could not have stayed together for a single minute but for a phone call. Kate answered it. From her end of the conversation, I could tell right away her grandma was seriously ill. When she hung up, she quickly crawled under her covers, sobbing. Obviously, that was something she should not go through phone. All of a sudden, a warm feeling of sympathy rose up in my heart.

Slowly, I collected the pencils, took back the books, made my bed, cleaned the socks and swept the floor, even on her side. I got so into my work that I even didn’t notice Kate had sat up. She was watching, her tears dried and her expression one of disbelief. Then, she reached out her hands to grasp mine. I looked up into her eyes. She smiled at me, “Thanks.”

Kate and I stayed roommates for the rest of the year. We didn’t always agree, but we learned the key to living together: giving in, cleaning up and holding on.

1.How is Paragraph 1 mainly developed?

A.By analyzing causes.

B.By describing a process.

C.By showing differences.

D.By following time order.

2.What made Kate angry one evening?

A.She couldn’t find her books.

B.She heard the author shouting loud.

C.She got the news that her grandma was ill.

D.She saw the author’s shoes beneath her bed.

3.The author tidied up the room most probably because _______.

A.she wanted to show her care

B.she was asked by Kate to do so

C.she was scared by Kate’s anger

D.she hated herself for being so messy

4.What might be the best title for the story?

A.My Friend Kate

B.Hard Work Pays Off

C.How to Be Organized

D.Learning to Be Roommates

高二英语阅读选择简单题查看答案及解析

Kay and Charles Giddens sold their home to start a bed and breakfast. Four years later, the couple now dishes out banana pancake breakfasts, cleans toilets, serves homemade cookies to guests in a bed and breakfast surrounded by trees on a mountain known for colorful sunsets.

“Do I miss the freeways? Do I miss the traffic? Do I miss the stress? No,” says Ms. Giddens. “This is a phenomenon (现象) that’s fairly widespread. A lot of people are rethinking their lives and figuring out what they want to do.” Simple living ranges from cutting down on weeknight activities to sharing housing, living closer to work and commuting (通勤) less, avoiding shopping malls, borrowing books from the library instead of buying them, and taking a cut in pay to work at a more pleasurable job.

Vicki Robin, a writer, tells us how she deals with the changes in her budget (预算), now far less than what she used to make.

“You become conscious of where your money is going and how valuable it is,” Ms. Robin says. “You tend not to use things up. You cook at home rather than eat out. You find your life is not a mess anymore, and you discover your living costs have gone way down.”

Janet Luhrs, a lawyer, quit her job after giving birth and leaving her daughter with a babysitter for two weeks. “It was not the way I wanted to raise my kids,” she says. “Simplicity is not just about saving money; it’s about me sitting down every night with my kids to a candlelit dinner with classical music.”

Ms. Luhrsnow edits a magazine called Simple Living, which publishes tips on how to buy recycled furniture and shoes, and organize potluck (家常便饭) dinners instead of fancy receptions.

“Simplicity is about conscious living and creating the life you want. The less stuff you buy, the less money goes out the door, and the less money you have to earn,” Ms. Luhrs explains.

1.How does Ms. Giddens feel about the life she is living now?

A. Bored.　　 B. Worried.　　 C. Satisfied.　　 D. Surprised.

2.What does the phenomenon Ms. Giddens mentioned refer to?

A. Serving others.　 　　　 B. Finding a new job.

C. Living a simple life.　 D. Opening a restaurant.

3.Janet Luhrs gave up her job as a lawyer in order to .

A. have one more baby girl

B. create her own magazine

C. make her career in music

D. spend more time with her kids

4.In which part of a newspaper will the text most probably appear?

A. Business. 　 B. Lifestyle.

C. Education.　　 D. Entertainment.

高二英语阅读理解简单题查看答案及解析

Kay and Charles Giddens sold their home to start a bed and breakfast. Four years later, the couple now dishes out banana pancake breakfasts, cleans toilets, serves homemade cookies to guests in a bed and breakfast surrounded by trees on a mountain known for colorful sunsets.

“Do I miss the freeways? Do I miss the traffic? Do I miss the trees? No,” says Ms. Giddens. “This is a phenomenon that’s fairly widespread. A lot of people are rethinking their lives and

figuring out what they want to do.”

Simple living ranges from cutting down on weeknight activities to sharing housing, living closer to work and commuting(通勤) less, avoiding shopping malls, borrowing books from the library instead of buying them, and taking a cut in pay to work at a more pleasurable job.

Vicki Robin, a writer, tells us how she deals with the changes in her budget, now far less than what she used to make.

“You become conscious of where your money is going and how valuable it is,”Ms. Robin says. “You tend not to use thing up. You cook at home rather than eat out. You find your life is not

a mess anymore, and you discover your living costs have gone way down.”

Janet Luhrs, a lawyer, quit her job after giving birth and leaving her daughter with a babysitter for two weeks.“It was not the way I wanted to raise my kids,”she says.“Simplicity is not just about saving money ; it’s about me sitting down every night with my kids to a candlelit dinner with classical music.”

Ms. Luhrs now edits a magazines called Simple Living, which publishes tips on how to buy recycled furniture　 and　 shoes, and organize potluck（家常便饭）dinners instead of fancy receptions.

“Simplicity is about conscious living and creating the life you want. The less stuff you buy, the less money goes out the door, and the less money you have to earn,” Ms. Luhrs explains.

1.How does Ms. Giddens feel about the life she is living now?

A. Bored　　 B. Worried

C. Satisfied　　 D. Surprised

2.What does the phenomenon Ms.Giddens mentioned refer to?

A. Serving others　　 B. Finding a new job

C. Living a simple life.　　 D. Opening a restaurant

3.Janet Luhrs gave up her job as a lawywer in order to _________.

A. have one more baby girl　　 B. create her own magazine

C. make her career in music　　 D. spend more time with her kids

4.In which part of a newspaper will the text most probably appear?

A. Business　　 B. Lifestyle

C. Education　　 D. Entertainment

高二英语阅读理解简单题查看答案及解析