There are some Christmas traditions between t...

There are some Christmas traditions between the United Kingdom and the United States.

Letters to Santa Claus

In the United States, kids usually write letters to Santa and put them in the mailbox. However, in England we throw them directly into the fire. We don't plan to make kids cry because burning the letters can send them to the North Pole where Santa can read your Christmas wishes in the smoke. It may seem strange but it does save on postage.

Hanging stocking

Traditionally, American kids hang stockings around the fireplace for Santa to fill with presents. But in the UK. we hang stockings around the bed; being surrounded by presents is a fantastic way to wake up on Christmas morning.

Christmas pudding

Americans prefer to have pumpkin and pecan pies for the Christmas dessert; while we British are fond of Christmas pudding. which is a cake flavored with dried fruits and spices.

Dealing with Christmas tree

We British chose to take down the Christmas trees and the decorations within 12 days of Christmas, because we hold the belief that keeping then beyond that time can bring bad luck. This is probably a tradition that Americans should consider adopting. I have seen people keep their old, brown, dry and withered Christmas trees until almost July 4.

1.How do the British people deal with "Letters to Father Christmas"?

A.Emailing them to Santa. B.Hiding them in the mailbox.

C.Putting them in the stockings. D.Throwing them straight into the fire.

2.Why do the British take down the Christmas tree as early as possible?

A.To stop it from drying B.To expect good luck.

C.To save money. D.To reuse it for the next year.

3.What do Christmas traditions between Britain and America have in common?

A.Writing letters to Santa. B.Making pumpkin pudding.

C.Hanging stockings around the bed. D.Keeping Christmas trees for months.

高二英语阅读选择简单题查看答案及解析

Christmas in the United States is traditionally a time of gift-giving and family gatherings. But small towns across the country have their own traditions.

Middleburg, a small town in the state of Virginia, is known for its horses. For more than 50 years, Middleburg has organized a yearly Christmas parade. Men and women ride horses through the woods and fields. They follow hunting dogs as they search for a wild fox. But first, these hunters ride in the yearly parade, wearing their bright red hunting clothes and hats.

John Hale, a citizen of Middleburg says many city people visit his town. “We have a lot of people from an urban area that come to visit, but it incorporates a lot of the old traditions.” The night-time hayride is one such tradition. Small groups gather under the moonlight on an open wagon (四轮马车) filled with hay (干草). The passengers sing as farm horses pull the wagon slowly across the fields.

There are some newer traditions, too. Trey Matheu works at the nearby Salamander Resort. He says a visit to Middleburg is a chance to slow down for a day. He says Middleburg can be a calming, peaceful place without tension.

“Middleburg is an opportunity to take a step back, to take a deep breath, and understand that even though life is moving on at a very fast pace, there’s really an opportunity where you’re allowed to step off for a little bit.”

Parade organizers say more than 13,000 people attend even in below freezing weather. But if you ask, you will hear many different reasons why people come to watch the parade:

“I come here because I’m from a small town. I like how everybody comes together.”

“I live right down that street, right there. And that’s my dog.”

Middleburg looks its best at Christmastime. That may be why so many people return each year.

1.At Christmas, people in Middleburg usually ________.

A.visit friends and families B.ride in the annual parade

C.feed farm horses with hay D.hunt for dogs in the woods

2.According to Trey Matheu, why do people visit Middleburg?

A.To enjoy the fresh air. B.To escape competition.

C.To relax themselves. D.To challenge themselves.

3.What do we know about the small town Middleburg?

A.It attracts many people each year. B.It makes a large money from tourism.

C.It doesn’t respect Christmas traditions. D.It is a good place for family gatherings.

4.Which of the following can be the best title for the text?

A.Middleburg’s Christmas Parade B.A Small Town Known for Horses

C.Newer Traditions at Christmastime D.Christmas Traditions in Middleburg

高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

People give gifts in almost all societies. Some gifts are expensive, as they may take months to create. Others are of less ______ , such as birthday cards. In some cultures, there are certain rules about gift exchange. In Pakistan, for example, there is a tradition called “taking giving”. It ______ this way：You give the newly-married couple a gift, and they “repay（回报）”you with a gift of higher value. Then you give the couple another gift. This one should be worth the difference between the first two gifts.

Today presidents usually bring gifts when they ______ a foreign leader. Leaders bring gifts to strengthen relationships between ______ .

Gifts can also send special messages. For example, gifts can tell people that we are thinking of them and that we want them to feel_______ . Sometimes a gift makes us remember the giver. The gift keeps the_____ of a special person and a special relationship alive．

There is no doubt about the good side of gift giving. That is why some people don’t ______ the idea that modern gift giving is very wasteful. It is ______ that there is an emotional benefit for people who exchange gifts. That is surely enough of a reason for the tradition to continue.

1.A.power B.help C.fun D.value

2.A.works B.stands C.judges D.ends

3.A.discover B.like C.trust D.visit

4.A.countries B.cities C.villages D.families

5.A.lucky B.special C.safe D.strong

6.A.wealth B.happiness C.memory D.growth

7.A.turn down B.give up C.think over D.agree with

8.A.clear B.strange C.popular D.serious

高二英语完形填空中等难度题查看答案及解析

During these days, the United States is full of cars. There are still some families without cars, but some families have two or more ones. 1.They are also a necessary part of life.

Cars are used for business. They are driven to offices and factories by workers who have no other way to get to their jobs. When salesmen are sent to different parts of the city, they have to drive in order to carry their products. 2.

Sometimes small children must be driven to school. In some cities school buses are used only when children live more than a mile away from the school. 3.　 One mother drives on Mondays taking her own children and the neighbors’ as well. Another mother drives on Tuesdays, another on Wednesdays, and so on. 4.　 Men also form car pools, with three or four men taking turns driving to the place where they all work.

5. So more car pools should be formed in order to put fewer cars on the road and use less gas. Too many cars will lead to some problems such as accidents or environmental pollution. Something will have to be done about the use of cars. And the government should encourage the citizens to decrease the use of their cars as much as they can.

A. Too many cars are being driven.

B. This is called forming a car pool.

C. Cars are used for more than pleasure.

D. You can choose your car according to the use of it.

E. Farmers have to drive into the city in order to get supplies.

F. Still, it is not safe for young children to take the school bus.

G. When children are too young to walk too far, their mothers take turns driving them to school.

高二英语七选五中等难度题查看答案及解析

U.S. first lady Michelle Obama and her family have just ended their one-week trip in China. The whole world has paid attention to the two elegant and beautiful first ladies who have made a difference in the relationship between China and the U.S.A.

Mrs. Obama has visited the Forbidden City, the Great Wall, the Terracotta Warriors, and the pandas. She has tasted Peking Duck and experienced some other Chinese traditional culture. It is hoped that this trip to China can bring a real understanding of our eastern world to the first family of the United States.

Today, the number of exchange students between China and the U.S. has reached more than 4 million every year. There are more than 11,000 people traveling to and from each side of the Pacific. If the two countries can increase the exchange in travel, language, cuisine, and cultural understanding, this will help a lot in improving the understanding between the two countries.

Education was an important theme of Mrs. Obama’s visit, and it is crucial to the development of Sino-US relationship. China has an ancient tradition of placing a high value on education, and the first lady herself is an outstanding example of a person who changed her own destiny through education. She took education as the key theme of her speech at Peking University, encouraging students from the two countries to learn more about and get wider experience of each other.

1.The whole world has paid attention to the two wonderful ladies because ________.

A.they are elegant and beautiful

B.they have made a difference in the relationship between China and the U.S.A.

C.they pay attention to education

D.they hope students can learn from each other

2.Mrs. Obama has visited the following places except________.

A.Terracotta Warriors B.the Forbidden City

C.the Great Wall D.the Summer Palace

3.The theme of Mrs. Obama’s speech at Peking University is_________.

A.education B.understanding

C.Sino-US relationship D.exchange students

4.What might be the best title of this passage?

A.China’s First Lady Welcome U.S First Lady B.U.S First Lady Michal Obama visit China

C.The Two First Ladies Pay Attention to Education D.Two First Ladies Meet Happily in Beijing

高二英语阅读选择中等难度题查看答案及解析

There are some differences between American and British English, but do you know _____the differences came into being?

A.that B.what C.which D.how

高二英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析

Christmas Glow, RHS Wisley, Surrey

The garden is flowing with large lighted flowers. Some of the trees are brilliant, too. The glasshouse is decorated like a gingerbread house, and displays (展览) seasonal plants. There are lanterns around the lake. The cafe serves hot chocolate and apple juice.

●£9.90, adult £3.60, child

●20 Dec. to 2 Jan.

Festival of Light, Longleat Safari Park, Wiltshire

Longleat is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. Large lanterns take the shape of some of the park’s animals, and there are also lots of characters in Beatrix Potter’s book, such as Peter Rabbit, Jemima Puddle Duck, Squirrel Nutkin, to mark the 150th anniversary of the author’s birth. There is also a 20-metre-high birthday cake.

●£27.85, adult £20.65, child under-threes, free

●15 Dec. to 2 Jan.

Festival of Light, Enchanted Park, Gateshead

Enchanted Park is an interactive walk through Saltwell Park, just south of the town centre, along a trail of light with performances and sculptures. “The story being told is Midwinter Night’s Tale, inspired by the 400th anniversary of William Shakespeare’s death.” Visitors can join stories and songs with Santa, and attend decorating workshops.

●£8, adult £2, child under-fours, free

●11-27 Dec.

Christmas at Kew Gardens or London

Kew is a special place to visit at any time of the day or year, but the festive light show gives it a magical twist, as the mile-long trail through the garden is decorated with 60,000 lights. Some of the garden’s oldest and tallest trees are also beautifully lit along the way.

●£16, adult £10, child under-fours, free

●24 Dec. to 2 Jan.

1.Which of the following events last the longest?

A.Christmas Glow, RHS Wisley, Surrey.

B.Festival of Light, Longleat Safari Park, Wiltshire.

C.Festival of Light, Enchanted Park, Gateshead.

D.Christmas at Kew Gardens or London.

2.What can people do in Enchanted Park?

A.Learn to write stories. B.Play with wild animals.

C.Pay a visit to glasshouses. D.Sing songs with Santa.

3.How much should a woman and her 4-year-old twin children pay to visit Kew Gardens?

A.£16. B.£26. C.£36. D.£48.

高二英语阅读选择简单题查看答案及解析

Christmas bird – watching is popular in the U.S.A. When the holiday season comes, some Americans are likely to watch and count birds in the sky with great interest every day. This activity began in the early part of the last century. It has a one-hundred-year history. At that time, there was a so-called “holiday hunting” custom. In order to celebrate the holiday, the hunters went out to kill birds and beasts. By 1900, there were 27 bird lovers who decided to count birds instead of killing birds. Since then, Christmas bird-watching was held every year. It has been continued to the present.

There were 42000 people who took part in the bird-watching last Christmas, from December 16 the year before to January 3 next year. They were in the United States and Canada, central America, south America and the Caribbean, watching and counting birds in the sky. The whole viewing area was divided into 1600 points. Each birdwatcher was responsible for 25 meters, and was required to write down the types and quantities of birds within 24 hours.

A birdwatcher described what he had watched vividly in his diary—“ When I looked up, I saw a beautiful ‘landscape’ in the sky: Red-crowned cranes(丹顶鹤) were driving up in cunning wedges that split the air. They were so neatly arranged, coordinating their movements. I was excited and breathtaking. Interestingly, the “human” shape(人字行) always maintains 110° ” .

“Why do red-crowned cranes choose to use ‘human’ shape when flying in formation?” He continued, “In my opinion, there are four reasons: first, the ‘human’ shape can make red-crowned cranes use increasing air which is produced by each other’s wings when they are swinging in the sky. It can increase the glide time and save physical ability. Second, the ‘human’ shape will enhance communication among the birds. The orders and the relevant information issued by the lead bird can be conveyed to each member in this migratory group unimpeded, accurately, rapidly and conveniently. Third, such a formation will help to find the birds left behind because of feeling run down as fast as possible, so that the young, the weak, the sick birds can get everyone’s help and encouragement. Finally, the ‘human’ shape shows not only beauty but also unity. It can give enemies a deterrent.They will be terrified and did not dare to attack the birds.The migration security of the birds will be ensured.”

Environmental experts admired and evaluated Christmas bird-watching highly. They pointed out that it made perfect sense. On the one hand it could enhance the human awareness of environmental protection. On the other hand it could provide first-hand information on birds.

1.When did Christmas bird – watching begin?

A．Sometime during Christmas holiday.            B．At the beginning of 20th century.

C．In the early 19 th century.                          D．Since there was Christmas Day

2.What do bird – watchers do when they are bird – watching?

A．They kill birds and beasts.                          B．They watch birds and beasts.

C．They watch and count birds.                      D．They look at the sky and write diaries.

3.The following are all reasons for red – crowned cranes flying in “human” shape except ________.

A．they can help each other and ensure their safety

B．they can communicate with each other in order to reduce tiredness.

C．they can make use of the air produced by each other’s wings.

D．they can look stronger in case they come across enemies

4.This passage consists of five paragraphs. Please arrange the five main ideas of the paragraphs in order of their appearance in the passage.

a. How the bird – watchers divided their watching task and what was done.

b. How Christmas bird – watching came into being.

c. Christmas bird – watching is of great importance environmentally and scientifically.

d. A Christmas bird – watcher watched and was amazed by red – crowned cranes.

e. Red – crowned cranes fly in “human” formation for quite good reasons.

A．a – b – c – d – e B．b – c – e – d – a C．b- a – d – e – c   D．b – d – e – a – c

高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

Christmas bird – watching is popular in the U.S.A. When the holiday season comes, some Americans are likely to watch and count birds in the sky with great interest every day. This activity began in the early part of the last century. It has a one-hundred-year history. At that time, there was a so-called “holiday hunting” custom. In order to celebrate the holiday, the hunters went out to kill birds and beasts. By 1900, there were 27 bird lovers who decided to count birds instead of killing birds. Since then, Christmas bird-watching was held every year. It has been continued to the present.

There were 42000 people who took part in the bird-watching last Christmas, from December 16 the year before to January 3 next year. They were in the United States and Canada, central America, south America and the Caribbean, watching and counting birds in the sky. The whole viewing area was divided into 1600 points. Each birdwatcher was responsible for 25 meters, and was required to write down the types and quantities of birds within 24 hours.

A birdwatcher described what he had watched vividly in his diary—“ When I looked up, I saw a beautiful ‘landscape’ in the sky: Red-crowned cranes(丹顶鹤) were driving up in cunning wedges that split the air. They were so neatly arranged, coordinating their movements. I was excited and breathtaking. Interestingly, the “human” shape(人字行) always maintains 110° ” .

“Why do red-crowned cranes choose to use ‘human’ shape when flying in formation?” He continued, “In my opinion, there are four reasons: first, the ‘human’ shape can make red-crowned cranes use increasing air which is produced by each other’s wings when they are swinging in the sky. It can increase the glide time and save physical ability. Second, the ‘human’ shape will enhance communication among the birds. The orders and the relevant information issued by the lead bird can be conveyed to each member in this migratory group unimpeded, accurately, rapidly and conveniently. Third, such a formation will help to find the birds left behind because of feeling run down as fast as possible, so that the young, the weak, the sick birds can get everyone’s help and encouragement. Finally, the ‘human’ shape shows not only beauty but also unity. It can give enemies a deterrent.They will be terrified and did not dare to attack the birds.The migration security of the birds will be ensured.”

Environmental experts admired and evaluated Christmas bird-watching highly. They pointed out that it made perfect sense. On the one hand it could enhance the human awareness of environmental protection. On the other hand it could provide first-hand information on birds.

49．When did Christmas bird – watching begin?

A．Sometime during Christmas holiday.         B．At the beginning of 20th century.

C．In the early 19 th century.          D．Since there was Christmas Day

50．What do bird – watchers do when they are bird – watching?

A．They kill birds and beasts.          B．They watch birds and beasts.

C．They watch and count birds.     D．They look at the sky and write diaries.

51．The following are all reasons for red – crowned cranes flying in “human” shape except      .

A．they can help each other and ensure their safety

B．they can communicate with each other in order to reduce tiredness.

C．they can make use of the air produced by each other’s wings.

D．they can look stronger in case they come across enemies

52．This passage consists of five paragraphs. Please arrange the five main ideas of the paragraphs in order of their appearance in the passage.

a. How the bird – watchers divided their watching task and what was done.

b. How Christmas bird – watching came into being.

c. Christmas bird – watching is of great importance environmentally and scientifically.

d. A Christmas bird – watcher watched and was amazed by red – crowned cranes.

e. Red – crowned cranes fly in “human” formation for quite good reasons.

A．a – b – c – d – e         B．b – c – e – d – a         C．b- a – d – e – c D．b – d – e – a – c

高二英语阅读理解简单题查看答案及解析

Although there are no state controlled survival courses in Britain or the United States，there are various independent organizations offering similar activities．Students can participate(take part)in outdoor training courses through university clubs and societies．Anyone can register with such groups，which then organize courses，training and trips for all members．

One of the most popular outdoor training programmes in both the US and Britain is Outward Bound(户外训练)．It was founded in 1941 in Wales and attracts hundreds of thousands of adventurous types every year. The courses are intended to broaden minds through experiences that build confidence, self-esteem(自尊)and character．As well as specialist courses such as canoeing，leadership skills and sailing，participants can take part in week long adventure training camps which include a host of sports and survival training education skills．

Michael Williams，an American student，took part in an Outward Bound course last year．He said：“We learned lots of first aid skills，lots of natural history ,lots of environmental facts, and participated in a wildlife preservation programme．Beyond that，my favorite skills learned were sailing and rock climbing.”Courses can last up to 40 days and are open to anyone over the age of 14．Students must be in general good health，but do not need to be experienced in outdoor-sports．There is no selection process；everyone is welcome，although new participants are advised to pick a course matching their physical capacity．Most of the British courses take place in the Brecon Beacons in Wales．Another similar organization is the UK Survival School，which includes courses on learning to 1ive with the environment， sailing and  winter survival．On a basic survival weekend students will learn how to get water and food, how to make fire and cook with it，to find and build a shelter，control survival life support，how to cross rivers．Send off a distress signal，and to use compasses(指南针)by day and night．

According to the leaders，such adventures are “an awakening, an exploration into the unknown.”Outward Bound believes that participants will “use mind and body traveling some of the Earth’s roughest wilderness areas．”

1.In Britain and the United States，survival courses are popular with________．

2.The advantage of the training courses is that________.

3.In an Outward Bound course last year，the most exciting experience Michael Williams had was________.

高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析