This may be sad to hear, but the number of Britain’s famous red telephone boxes has been falling for decades. The phone box is iconic (标志性的) to foreign fans of Britain and visitors to the country. There are still many left to enjoy, however.
There is deep feeling for the bright red iron-and-glass boxes with the Queen’s coat of arms. The places that still have the red box are mostly small and in the countryside. In these places, the phone box may be a symbol of community, as well as a landmark.
But there are still several cities, including London, that still have original red phone boxes in place.
For tourists, they probably make the perfect background for a selfie (自拍照). Visit London any day in the summer and you’ll see people with their smart phones taking photos with the red box behind them. People who receive the photo will have no trouble guessing where the selfie was taken.
Ever since mobile phones became more widespread, there has been less and less point in public phones. But although the red boxes are no longer popular places to make a call from, new uses are being found for them all the time. The famous design created by Giles Gilbert Scott back in 1924 lives on, but in ways the British architect would never have imagined.
Some of the new ways the phone boxes are being used are quite unusual. For example, some have been changed into tiny coffee shops. Others are hat stores. In one remote area of the country, a red box that had not been used for a long time has been turned into a small lending library.
Even back in their heyday in the last century, phone boxes were put to other uses. Some people even used them as toilets in an emergency.
But for many, they were a safe place to hide if you were caught up in the rain. Britain’s weather is unpredictable: sun one moment, heavy rain the next. So if you are planning to visit the UK and want the perfect British selfie, standing inside a red telephone box in a rainstorm may be your best bet.
1.According to the author, the red phone boxes in Britain are special because .
A. they can be put into different kinds of use
B. they are only found in the British countryside
C. they hold great meaning to some British communities
D. they have a deep connection with the royal family
2.We can learn from the article that British red phone boxes .
A. are mostly made of wood and glass
B. first appeared in big cities such as London
C. were designed by a British architect in the 1930s
D. are not used much for phone calls these days
3.The underlined word “heyday” in the second to last paragraph probably means .
A. a popular time B. a bad time
C. an unusual time D. a happy time
4.The purpose of the last paragraph is to .
A. explain how to deal with Britain’s changeable weather
B. describe a common way of making use of a red phone box in the UK
C. advise visitors to take a selfie standing inside a red telephone box
D. show how to use a red phone box in the case of an emergency
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题
This may be sad to hear, but the number of Britain’s famous red telephone boxes has been falling for decades. The phone box is iconic (标志性的) to foreign fans of Britain and visitors to the country. There are still many left to enjoy, however.
There is deep feeling for the bright red iron-and-glass boxes with the Queen’s coat of arms. The places that still have the red box are mostly small and in the countryside. In these places, the phone box may be a symbol of community, as well as a landmark.
But there are still several cities, including London, that still have original red phone boxes in place.
For tourists, they probably make the perfect background for a selfie (自拍照). Visit London any day in the summer and you’ll see people with their smart phones taking photos with the red box behind them. People who receive the photo will have no trouble guessing where the selfie was taken.
Ever since mobile phones became more widespread, there has been less and less point in public phones. But although the red boxes are no longer popular places to make a call from, new uses are being found for them all the time. The famous design created by Giles Gilbert Scott back in 1924 lives on, but in ways the British architect would never have imagined.
Some of the new ways the phone boxes are being used are quite unusual. For example, some have been changed into tiny coffee shops. Others are hat stores. In one remote area of the country, a red box that had not been used for a long time has been turned into a small lending library.
Even back in their heyday in the last century, phone boxes were put to other uses. Some people even used them as toilets in an emergency.
But for many, they were a safe place to hide if you were caught up in the rain. Britain’s weather is unpredictable: sun one moment, heavy rain the next. So if you are planning to visit the UK and want the perfect British selfie, standing inside a red telephone box in a rainstorm may be your best bet.
1.According to the author, the red phone boxes in Britain are special because .
A. they can be put into different kinds of use
B. they are only found in the British countryside
C. they hold great meaning to some British communities
D. they have a deep connection with the royal family
2.We can learn from the article that British red phone boxes .
A. are mostly made of wood and glass
B. first appeared in big cities such as London
C. were designed by a British architect in the 1930s
D. are not used much for phone calls these days
3.The underlined word “heyday” in the second to last paragraph probably means .
A. a popular time B. a bad time
C. an unusual time D. a happy time
4.The purpose of the last paragraph is to .
A. explain how to deal with Britain’s changeable weather
B. describe a common way of making use of a red phone box in the UK
C. advise visitors to take a selfie standing inside a red telephone box
D. show how to use a red phone box in the case of an emergency
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
“Check it again, you need to be sure.”This culture rule may sound , but it is one of the most powerful culture rules. I took a lot of things for granted. In fact, I used to people who often check things, such as their car engine oil, the house security, even the children in the bedroom. I didn’t realize that this rule would cost me dearly.
One day the owner of the supermarket I worked in asked me to make a(n) to the investors(投资者) whom we wanted to become partners with. I was given a month to it.
The day of the presentation arrived. I left home at 7 am with the intention of getting to the office . On the way , my car climbed over a bunch of rocks and I heard a loud noise. I stepped on the brake and got out of the car to check what happened: I had a flat tire.
“Oh dear, please not now .” I quickly ran behind the car to the spare tire, only to be again :there was none. I began to think of the moments when my wife would me to get one each time I drove the car out. But I was too to listen to her.
It was already 8 am and it seemed like I had only one left. I had to run to the supermarket. It should me about 45 minutes to get there . I the car and ran as fast as I could , hoping I would have the to get there on time .
it took me longer than I had expected. I arrived at the twenty minutes late. I to the guests for my lateness and did my best to give a good presentation. Finally, the supermarket the deal, but I was suspended(停职) for two months without pay.
1.A. familiar B. foolish C. simple D. difficult
2.A. make fun of B. pay attention to C. catch up with D. look up to
3.A. changing B. following C. signing D. disobeying
4.A.contribution B. analysis C. presentation D. comparison
5.A. apply for B. prepare for C. arrange for D. account for
6.A. early B. easily C. safely D. shortly
7.A. soft B. hard C. smooth D. rough
8.A.carefully B. lightly C. quickly D. bravely
9.A. check B. get C. move D. repair
10.A. shocked B. pleased C. bored D. confused
11.A. challenge B. remind C. help D. encourage
12.A. selfish B. sensitive C. stubborn D. independent
13.A.wish B. choice C. minute D. plan
14.A. give B. spare C. allow D. take
15.A. left B. passed C. rented D. stopped
16.A. condition B. idea C. luck D. goal .
17.A. Deliberately B. Unfortunately C. Strangely D. Consequently
18.A. market B. party C. office D. station
19.A. appealed B. reported C. referred D. apologized
20.A. accepted B. won C. offered D. finished
高二英语完型填空中等难度题查看答案及解析
You may be familiar with the following famous people, but have you heard of their graduation speeches, in which they either share their unforgotten experiences or give you some great inspiration(启迪).
●Michael Dell, University of Texas at Austin
And now you've accomplished something great and important here, and it's time for you to move on to what's next. And you must not let anything prevent you from taking those first steps. ... You must also commit to the adventure. Just have faith in the skills and the knowledge you've been blessed (赐予)with and go.
●J.K. Rowling, Harvard University
Half my lifetime ago ,I was striking an uneasy balance between my ambition and the expectation from my parents who were not rich...But what I feared most for myself at your age was not poverty(贫穷), but failure. The fact that you are graduating from Harvard suggests that you know little about failure, you might be driven by a fear of failure quite as much as a desire for success.
●Steve Jobs, Stanford University
Sometimes life's going to hit you in the head with a brick. Don't lose faith...Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work, and the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven't found it yet, keep looking, and don't settle.
●Bill Gates, Harvard University
We need as many people as possible to have access to the advanced technology to lead to a revolution in what human beings can do for one another. They are making it possible not just for national governments, but for universities ,smaller organizations, and even individuals to see problems, see approaches and deal with the world's inequities(不公平)like hunger, poverty, and so on.
1.What Michael Dell said is to urge us to________________________________________.
A. listen to our heart B. pursue our dreams
C. follow others' example D. learn from our mistakes
2.What did J.K. Rowling fear most when she was studying in university?
A. Poverty. B. Hunger.
C. Failure. D. Appearance.
3.Who wants to express "Keep looking for what you believe in"?
A. Michael Dell. B. J.K. Rowling.
C. Bill Gates. D. Steve Jobs.
4.What does Bill Gates suggest people do?
A. Make contributions to the environment.
B. Take responsibility for their own behavior.
C. Make joint efforts to rid some global problems.
D. Master as much advanced technology as possible.
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
Visitors to Britain may find the best place to sample local culture is in a traditional pub. But these friendly pubs can be dangerous places of potential gaffes(失礼) for the newcomers.
A team of researchers have discovered some of the unknown customs of British pubs-starting with the difficulty of getting a drink. Most pubs have no waiters-you have to go to the bar to buy drinks. A group of Italian youths were waiting 45 minutes before they realized they would have to fetch their own. This may sound inconvenient, but there is a hidden purpose.
Pub culture is designed to promote sociability(社交)in a society known for its reserve. Standing at the bar for service allows you to chat with others waiting to be served. The bar counter is possibly the only site in the British Isles in which friendly conversation with strangers is considered entirely suitable and really quite normal behavior. “If you haven’t been to a pub, you haven’t been to Britain.” This tip can be found in a booklet, Passport to the Pub: The Tourists’ Guide to Pub Etiquette, a customers’ rule of conduct for those wanting to sample “a central part of British life and culture”.
The trouble is that if you do not follow the local rules, the experience may fall flat. For example, if you are in a big group, it is best if only one or two people go to buy the drinks. Nothing annoys the regular customers and bar staff more than a group of strangers blocking all access to the bar while they chat and hesitate about what to order.
1.The culture of pub in Britain is developed to ________.
A.encourage more people to consume drinks
B.encourage people to communicate with each other
C.form its own character of culture
D.attract more tourists to the pubs
2.If you don’t follow the local rules in a pub, ________.
A.you may fail to feel the local culture
B.you might get into a dangerous place
C.you won’t buy good local drinks
D.you may annoy the regular customers and bar staff
3.What may be the best title for the passage?
A.Manners in British Local Pubs
B.Self-service Pubs in Britain
C.British Local Pubs: Special Chat Places
D.Local Pub Culture in Britain
4.The underlined word “sample” in the first paragraph probably means “________”.
A.record B.test C.experience D.taste
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
Best friends may be priceless but the cost of keeping the relationship alive is £23,870.
According to a study, a BFF (best friends forever) does not come cheap with devoted friends spending £4,679 on birthday presents alone over a lifetime. And while it costs nothing to be a shoulder to cry on, big-hearted Britons go the extra mile and spend £168 on pick-me-ups(提神物品) to get their mate through a rocky patch (艰难时刻)like the breakup of a relationship.
There’s a further £242 spent on presents to show how much they mean from gifts bought on holiday to treats for no reason. And distance does not break up a close friendship as BFFs spend a whopping(巨大的) £18,000 on travel to see each other despite being miles apart because of university, jobs and marriage.
The study by cashback site TopCashBack found on average BEFs who marry can expect £431 spent on them and a further £283 on gifts when they have children. And they can rely on their pals to help out when they move houses as they will obtain £127 worth of housewarming presents and takeaways(a kind of food).
The survey based on a friendship lasting 40 years found more than eight in ten adults with a BFF felt their friendships were worth every penny.
TopCashback spokesperson Natasha Smith said: “Those friendships which stand the test of time are often the most important in our lives. However, they come at a cost. From train tickets once a month to flights and a new dress for a wedding on the Italian coast, the price paid for having a best mate can soon add up. But when we asked people to compare their friendship with the financial investment(投资), only 14% thought their friendship was equal to their investment with the vast majority thinking it was worth more."
1. What does the underlined word in Paragraph 2 mean?
A. generous B. ambitious
C. troublesome D. energetic
2.To keep the relationship, where do BEFs spend the most money?
A. Buying birthday presents.
B. Cheering up a friend in low spirits.
C. Paying for holiday gifts and other treats.
D. Going a particular distance to visit friends.
3.What is Natasha’s understanding of BEF friendship?
A. It’s costly and unaffordable.
B. It’s expensive but worthwhile.
C. It’s rewarding but hard to keep.
D. It’s changeable but worth possessing.
4. How is the passage developed?
A. By listing figures.
B. By giving examples.
C. By analying causes.
D. By making comparisons.
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
The government has taken some measures to solve the shortage of electricity, but it may be some time ______ the situation improves.
A. since B. when C. before D. unless
高二英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析
2008 will be remembered by us Chinese people as a year of sadness and happiness. May of the year sadly saw the Great Sichuan Earthquake, the worst earthquake in China over 30 years. It killed around 70,000 people. Tens of thousands were injured or went missing.
However, to our delight, China also hosted its first Olympic games that summer in Beijing. It was a very successful games with a great opening ceremony. 43 new world records and 132 new Olympic records were made. And China came out first with 51 gold medals.
1.When did the Great Sichuan Earthquake happen?
A.In 2005. B.In 2006. C.In 2007. D.In 2008.
2.About 70,000 people ______ in the earthquake.
A.were killed B.were injured
C.went missing D.went hungry
3.How many gold medals did China win at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games?
A.175. B.132. C.51. D.43.
4.We Chinese people were ______ in 2008.
A.sad B.happy C.neither sad nor happy D.both sad and happy
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
Choosing where to live may be one of the biggest decisions you’ll make when you move to Sydney, but you’ll have plenty of help.
Temporary arrival accommodation
Before you move to Sydney, we recommend that you book a temporary place to stay. Once you get here, you can look for longer-term accommodation.
--sydney.edu.au/accommodation/short-term
On-campus-residential colleges (fully catered饮食全包的)
The University has eight residential colleges on the Camperdown/Darlington Campus, including International House, a residential community of global scholars. Colleges provide comfortable, fully furnished single rooms and daily meals, along with sporting, cultural, leadership and social programs. They also include on-site tutorials(辅导课) in addition to campus-based classes.
--sydney.edu.au/colleges
On-campus residences (self-catered饮食自理的)
The University has two self-run residences—Queen Mary Building (QMB) and Abercrombie Student Accommodation—on the Camperdown/Darlington Campus. Both just under a year old, they house up to 1000 students. These residences provide modern single-study rooms with large common living, learning and study spaces, shared kitchens, a theatre, gyms, soundproofed music rooms, art studios, sky lounges and rooftop gardens.
--sydney.edu.au/campus-life/accommodation/live-on-campus.html
Off-campus living
More than 90 percent of our students live off campus. The University is close to many dynamic and multicultural suburbs such as Annandale, Newtown, Chippendale and Glebe. A great place to search is our large online database of properties.
--sydney.edu.au/campus-life/accommodation/live-off-campus.html
1.Where can you find a place to live temporarily?
A. On “sydney.edu.au/colleges”.
B. On “sydney.edu.au/accommodation/short-term”.
C. On “sydney.edu.au/campus-life/accommodation/live-on-campus.html”.
D. On “sydney.edu.au/campus-life/accommodation/live-off-campus.html”.
2.What do students living in QMB have access to?
A. Their own kitchens. B. On-site tutorials. C. Daily meals. D. Gyms.
3.What is the most popular choice among students?
A. Living off campus. B. Living in fully catered houses on campus.
C. .Living in host families. D. Living in self-catered flats on campus.
高二英语长对话简单题查看答案及解析
If ever a drink were invented to satisfy the thirst of social media, this may be it.
With its fantastic name, bright pink and blue twist topped with a pillow of whipped cream, Starbucks’ new Unicom Frappuccino(独角兽星冰乐) practically asks to be posted on social media.
And a glimpse at Twitter shows Unicom Frappuccino is indeed gaining attention.
So what's in it? As Starbucks describes it: “A sweet dusting of pink powder, mixed into a Frappuccino with mango syrup and layered with a pleasantly sour blue drizzle. It is finished with vanilla whipped cream and a sprinkle of sweet pink and sour blue powder topping.”
A look at the ingredients reveals a list less fantastic. The pink powder is actually sugar and "Fruit and Vegetable Color.”
Starbucks advertises the drink “,as rare as a unicorn." But unicorn food is actually a thing. The BBC reports, it's fashionable to post pictures of rainbow colored food which reminds of the fairy tale creature.
Rainbow sushi, anyone?
As for the Unicorn Frappuccino, Lori Aquino said the drink caught her eye on social media. Then people at work were talking about it. “I saw it was coming out today, so I decided to try it,” Aquino said at a Washington D.C. Starbucks. “I'll probably put it on Snapchat or Instagram.”
She bought one to share with her two coworkers.
And the opinion?
“It’s kind of nasty,” Aquino said.
Letitia Winston agreed: "Nope. That will not be something I come looking for."
But Moriam Animashaun was more forgiving. "It's not bad,” she said, “It's just really sweet.”
A 16-ounce medium, or a grande in Starbucks speak, comes in at 410 calories, 59 grams of sugar and 16 grams of fat.
One thing the women agreed on was the drink’s appearance. “It’s pretty," said Animashaun.
“It looks nice," agreed Winston.
And in the age of likes, snaps and tweets, the fantasy image may be all that matters.
The Unicom Frappuccino is available April 19 through April 23 at participating stores in the United Stales, Canada and Mexico.
1.What do we learn about Starbucks’ new Unicom Frappuccino from the passage?
A. The customers are attracted to try it by its fantastic name only.
B. Lori Aquino first learned about the drink from her coworkers and then saw it get popular on social media,
C. You can purchase a Unicom Frappuccino at any Starbucks store in North America from April 19 to April 23.
D. The author may agree that the fantasy image helps the Unicorn Frappuccino gain great popularity.
2.What was Lori and her co-workers’ reaction after they tasted the Unicom Frappuccino themselves?
A. They thought it was good value for the money.
B. They thought it lived up to their expectations,
C. They agreed that the look of the drink was attractive.
D. They thought it was the very drink they were looking for.
3.Which do you think is most probably the title for this passage?
A. Unicom Frappuccino is Coming Soon
B. Unicorn Frappuccino is Getting Popular
C. Unicom Frappuccino: A Digital Age Drink
D. Unicorn Frappuccino: An Eye-catching Healthy Drink
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
The number of poems connected with scenery by the lake is reduced to 10, half of famous poets like Li Bai used to create.
A. them B. that
C. which D. what
高二英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析