In springtime, many Americans take on a major project: cleaning their homes from top to bottom. We often call this kind of work "spring cleaning." Part of spring cleaning often involves clearing out clutter (杂物). We do away with things we no longer need.
If we are to believe the many stories on Marie Kondo, the Queen of Clean, clutter adds unnecessary stress to our lives. Clutter is holding us back from our dreams and goals. 1.
An expert on the subject, Sabine Kastner of Princeton University, has been studying how the brain processes clutter for 20 years. The media, Kastner says, often writes about clutter in a very simple, black-and-white way: Clutter affects the mind and we need to clear it out. But it is much more complex than that. For starters, our brains are designed to deal with clutter. Very early in the development of our eyesight, we begin to group objects that we see. 2.
According to Kastner, there is not a one-size-fits-all solution. 3. In fact, some people need to see their work. If something is carefully put away, to them it does not exist anymore. Out of sight, out of mind. For other people, objects can stimulate their creativity and give them ideas.
4. Kastner notes that some people may get distracted by having lots of things around them. These people may need more organization and less clutter to work well.
5.Whether the area is cluttered or clear-they work the same. And for others it may depend on the project. For administrative work, they might need a clear workspace. But for more creative projects, they may need many things around them. It is complex.
A.But is it true?
B.What is working and what is not?
C.Some people do not care either way.
D.This helps us to structure our environment.
E.People need to be able to design their workplaces.
F.The idea that an uncluttered workplace is better, is not universally true.
G.However, other people are unable to work in a cluttered environment.
高三英语七选五中等难度题
Many Americans take their summer vacations in August. President Obama and his family are among them. This August the first family visited the Florida Gulf Coast. The president wants to promote tourism in the area after the BP oil spill (漏油). The first family took a ten-day vacation on Martha’s Vineyard, an island off the coast of Massachusetts.
Martha’s Vineyard is known for the sailing, sunsets and its tall cliffs overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. The island is about 13 kilometers off the coast and is less than 260 square kilometers. Homes designed like those of earlier times line the streets of Edgartown, Oak Bluffs and Vineyard Haven. These are the major towns on Martha’s Vineyard.
For most of the year, the population of Martha’s Vineyard is about 15 000. In summer, more than 100 000 people crowd the island. In addition to the Obamas, you might see some Hollywood stars and other rich and famous people. Many visitors return year after year.
During warm weather the Vineyard is a good place for many different activities. People can play golf or catch fish. They can ride in sailboats or motor boats. They can waterski and swim. They can take quiet walks along sandy beaches and among the thick green trees.
One of the popular places for families with children is the Flying Horses Carousel in Oak Bluffs. It is the oldest continually operated merry-go-round ride in the United States. The colorful wood horses that turn in a circle were created in 1876. One of the best places for children to swim is the Joseph A. Sylvia state beach. The water there is warmer and calmer. Families also enjoy the Felix Neck Wildlife Sanctuary where they can observe much of the island wildlife.
Visitors watch the sunsets sitting on the beach and on rocks in the fishing village of Menemsha. As the sun goes down in the sky it paints yellow, red, and other colors on the clouds. Fishing boats rise and fall with the waves. Bells sound to help guide the boats to land as darkness covers the water.
Historians say British mapmaker Bartholomew Gosnold first made a map of the island for the rulers of England in 1602. Gosnold named the island to honor his baby daughter, Martha. The Vineyard part of the name came from the many wild grape vines Gosnold found on the island. Later, King Charles of England gave the island to businessman Thomas Mayhew of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, whose son established the first European settlement on the island in 1642. By the middle of the nineteenth century, ships from the American mainland began bringing visitors to the island. Big hotels were built near the edge of the water. Martha’s Vineyard was on its way to becoming the visitors center that it is today.
1..
We can infer that ______.
A. the BP oil spill has a negative effect on the tourism along the Florida Gulf Coast
B. the BP oil spill has contributed to the tourism along the Florida Gulf Coast
C. President Obama went to the Florida Gulf Coast to deal with the BP oil spill
D. this was the first time that President Obama and his family had taken the vacation on Martha’s Vineyard
2..
Which month is the peak time for tourism in Martha’s Vineyard?
A. January. B. August. C. December. D. March,
3..
If children want to see wild animals, the family should go to ______.
A. the Flying Horses Carousel B. the Sylvia state beach
C. the fishing village of Menemsha D. the Felix Neck Wildlife Sanctuary
4..
Bartholomew Gosnold named the island Martha in honor of _______.
A. his mother B. the king of England
C. his daughter D. his father
高三英语阅读理解困难题查看答案及解析
C
The creative projects of World Food Program (WFP) focused on preventing hunger from taking hold in the future and breaking the cycle of hunger. Here are some of the ways in which we work to prevent hunger in the future:
School Meals
As well as directly addressing hunger, School Meals projects encourage families to keep their children in school and help them build better futures. If children aren’t hungry they will concentrate on their lessons. With a solid education growing children have a better chance of finding their own way out of hunger. These projects benefit girls especially. For more information: www.wfp.org/schools meals.
Food for Assets（有用的人）
WFP’s Food for Assets projects provide the hungry with food to lay the foundation for a better tomorrow. When poor farmers no longer have to worry about the next meal, they have the time and energy to build irrigation（灌溉） systems that can increase production. Similarly, Food for Training projects allow the poor to devote time to learning skills that will sustain（维持） them economically in the future. For more information: www.wfp.org/food-assets.
HIV/AIDS
WFP uses its food rations(配给) to reduce the blow of HIV and AIDS. The agency distributes its rations to people living with HIV and AIDS, so they can keep providing for their families for longer and have time to transfer vital knowledge and skills to the growing number of AIDS children--the next generation of food providers in developing countries. For more information: www.wfp.org/hiv-aids.
Purchase for Progress
WFP buys large amounts of food in developing countries. It has this purchasing power and uses it to help poor farmers contact reliable markets where they can get competitive prices for their produce. With secure markets, farmers will be encouraged to produce more and innovate(创新).The knock-on effect is producing more food for everyone. For more information: www.wfp.ofp/purchase-progress.
1.The text is written with the purpose of ____.
A. seeking solutions to some hot issues
B. introducing some of WFP’s projects
C. raising money for the people in need
D. calling readers’ attention to the poor
2.The farmers who want to receive some training should visit_____.
A.www.wfp.org/hiv-aids
B.www.wfp.org/food-asset
C.www.wfp.org/purchase-progress
D.www.wfp.org/school-meals
3.AIDS children can benefit from food rations in that_____.
A. they no longer go hungry
B. they can take care of their parents
C. they don’t have to worry about food
D. they can learn more skills from their parents
4.By buying large amounts of food in developing countries, WFP aims to ____.
A. help farmers to increase their income
B. encourage farmers to produce more food
C. introduce new ways of farming to farmers
D. motive farmers to plant different kind of crops.
高三英语阅读理解简单题查看答案及解析
Go anywhere in China on________ clear day in springtime and you’re bound to see people flying ________kites. It’s a favorite outdoor activity in China.
A．a; the B．a ;/ C．the; / D． the; the
高三英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析
Due to the policy of free highway fees on major holidays, too many passenger cars are trapped on the highways, causing heavy traffic jams, some even _________ for several hours.
A. held up B. broken up C. taken up D. given up
高三英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析
–Can you give me some advice on what major I should take at college?
–______. We can talk about it over lunch.
A．Never mind B．With pleasure
C．In that case D．Make yourself at home
高三英语单项填空简单题查看答案及解析
China is casting such a huge shadow on the United States that many Americans are struggling to learn Chinese in order to maintain their competitive edge, "Interest in learning Chinese among American youth and their parents has grown dramatically in the past five years," said Vivien Stewart at the Asia Society, a US group trying to bridge the gap between Americans and people of Asia and the Pacific．
China, the world's most popular nation, is critical to the United States because it is a leading trader, consumer and investor- Its political influence is also rising across the globe．It has replaced the United States as the world's largest consumer and become the second largest economy in the world after the superpower status and its telling effects politically, economically and culturally are driving the interest to learn the language, experts say．
From kindergartens to high schools, studies by the Asia Society show, there is a "rapid rise" in interest among pupils to study the Chinese language．
Even though the US State Department has stressed the Chinese language "critical " to national prosperity and security, the "current infrastructure （基础设施）to support recruitment （招生） of students and teachers as well as the growth of high quality programs is -badly inadequate," an Asia Society study says．The Society has set a target of having at least 5% of American high school students learning Chinese by 2015．"Millions of Chinese are learning English, but only 24,000 Americans are learning Chinese," said Andrew Corcoran of the San Francisco - based Chinese American International School．
The most popular languages after English in the United States at present are Spanish and French.
1.The passage mainly tells the readers that _____,
A．China is getting under a shadow from USA
B．American competitive edge is shaking
C．Americans object to learning Chinese
D．Chinese appeals to more Americans
2.Based on the context, what does the underlined word "inadequate" （in Paragraph 5） mean?
A．leading B．interesting
C．disappointing D．promising
3.According to the text which of the following is TRUE?
A．Culture can have an effect on exciting persons'
B．USA has got the high quality current
C．Chinese ranks 4th on the American Language
D．Politics decides language studying
4.What might be the most suitable title for this passage?
A, US Government Requires its People to Learn Chinese
B．Chinese Gains its Popularity with Most Americans
C．China's Economy Helps to Spread its Language
D．Americans Show Interest Learning Chinese
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
A major new development in system of work in Britain is taking place. Flexible working hours, or “Flextime”, are catching on fast, and trend is continuing. In 1973, over 500 organizations had adopted the idea, and by 1974, this number had risen to over 200,000.
Flexible working hours were invented in Germany in the late 1960’s, but reached Britain only in 1972. The system allows workers to start and finish work whenever they want, with only two requirements. These are, firstly, that all workers must present for certain “key” times in the day, and secondly, that all workers must work an agreed total number of hours per week.
The system had proved a total success wherever it has been tried. A survey of 700 workers on flexible hours showed three main advantages: a better balance between working and private life, avoidance of the need to travel during rush hours and the ability to finish a certain task before leaving.
From the employer’s point of view, the system tends to increase productivity, reduce labour turnover and give workers a greater sense of duty. At first, “Flexible” was mainly confined to white-collar workers, but it is now being applied to manual workers too.
1.According to “Flextime” system, workers need not _________.
A．work at the same time B．work all the weekdays
C．work hard D．ask for leave when being absent
2.“Key” time is a period when _________.
A．visitors come to the plants
B．all workers must be at work
C．employers go round in the workshop
D．rush hours are over
3.No matter where it is used, this system has proved _________.
A．entirely effective B．totally correct
C．a complete failure D．quite difficult
4.One of the great advantages of “Flextime” for workers is that they _________.
A．have a great sense of duty B．can avoid busy traffic
C．can get higher pay D．can avoid working hard
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
Would you like to be a king or queen? To have people waiting on you hand and foot? Many Americans experience this royal treatment every day. How? By being customers. The American idea of customer service is to make each customer the center of attention. Need proof? Just listen to the commercials. Most of them sound like the McDonald’s ad: “We do it all for you.” Actually, not all stores in America roll out the red carpet for their customers. But wherever you go, good customer service means making customers feel special.
People going shopping in America can expect to be treated with respect from the very beginning. Most places don’t have a “furniture street” or a “computer road” which allow you to compare prices easily. Instead, people often “let their fingers do the walking” through the store hot lines. From the first “hello”, customers receive a satisfying response to their questions. This initial contact can help them decide where to shop.
When customers get to the store, they are treated as honored guests. Customers don’t usually find store clerks sitting around watching TV or playing cards. Instead, the clerks greet them warmly and offer to help them find what they want. In most stores, the clear signs that label each department make shopping a breeze. Customers usually don’t have to ask how much items cost, since prices are clearly marked. And unless they’re at a flea market or a yard sale, they don’t bother trying to bargain.
When customers are ready to check out, they find the nearest and shortest checkout lane. But as Murphy’s Law would have it, whichever lane they get in, all the other lanes will move faster. Good stores open new checkout lanes when the lanes get too long. Some even offer express lanes for customers with 10 items or less. After they pay for their purchases, customers receive a smile and a warm “thank you” from the clerk. Many stores even allow customers to take their shopping carts out to the parking lot. That way, they don’t have to carry heavy bags out to the car.
1. By quoting (引用) the McDonald’s ad: “We do it all for you”, the author intends to_______.
A. suggest that customers believe what commercials say deeply
B. show readers the American idea on good customer service
C. express all the stores pay much attention to the customers
D. persuade readers to choose the stores with ads correctly
2. In the USA, what may you do at first if you want to do some shopping?
A. To visit a professional street with lots of similar stores.
B. To compare prices in many shops in the same street.
C. To make phone calls and get better shopping choices.
D. To receive other customers’ answers to the questions.
3. The Underlined words “a breeze” in Para.3 most probably means _________.
A. an easy job B. a trouble C. a funny thing D. a boring task
4. Which of the followings shows American stores offer convenience to customers in this passage?
A. The store clerks don’t usually sit around watching TV or playing cards.
B. Some stores offer price bargain to the customers like a yard sale.
C. The clerks give customers a smile and a warm “thank you” after paying.
D. Some stores open new checkout lanes when the lanes are crowded.
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
Would you like to be a king or queen? To have people waiting on you hand and foot? Many Americans experience this royal treatment every day. How? By being customers. The American idea of customer service is to make each customer the center of attention. Need proof? Just listen to the commercials. Most of them sound like the McDonald’s ad: “We do it all for you.” Actually, not all stores in America roll out the red carpet for their customers. But wherever you go, good customer service means making customers feel special.
People going shopping in America can expect to be treated with respect from the very beginning. Most places don’t have a “furniture street” or a “computer road” which allow you to compare prices easily. Instead, people often “let their fingers do the walking” through the store hot lines. From the first “hello”, customers receive a satisfying response to their questions. This initial contact can help them decide where to shop.
When customers get to the store, they are treated as honored guests. Customers don’t usually find store clerks sitting around watching TV or playing cards. Instead, the clerks greet them warmly and offer to help them find what they want. In most stores, the clear signs that label each department make shopping a breeze. Customers usually don’t have to ask how much items cost, since prices are clearly marked. And unless they’re at a flea market or a yard sale, they don’t bother trying to bargain.
When customers are ready to check out, they find the nearest and shortest checkout lane. But as Murphy’s Law would have it, whichever lane they get in, all the other lanes will move faster. Good stores open new checkout lanes when the lanes get too long. Some even offer express lanes for customers with 10 items or less. After they pay for their purchases, customers receive a smile and a warm “thank you” from the clerk. Many stores even allow customers to take their shopping carts out to the parking lot. That way, they don’t have to carry heavy bags out to the car.
1. By quoting (引用) the McDonald’s ad: “We do it all for you”, the author intends to_______.
A. suggest that customers believe what commercials say deeply
B. show readers the American idea on good customer service
C. express all the stores pay much attention to the customers
D. persuade readers to choose the stores with ads correctly
2.In the USA, what may you do at first if you want to do some shopping?
A. To visit a professional street with lots of similar stores.
B. To compare prices in many shops in the same street.
C. To make phone calls and get better shopping choices.
D. To receive other customers’ answers to the questions.
3.The underlined words “a breeze” in Para.3 most probably means _________.
A. an easy job B. a trouble C. a funny thing D. a boring task
4.Which of the followings shows American stores offer convenience to customers in this passage?
A. The store clerks don’t usually sit around watching TV or playing cards.
B. Some stores offer price bargain to the customers like a yard sale.
C. The clerks give customers a smile and a warm “thank you” after paying.
D. Some stores open new checkout lanes when the lanes are crowded.
5.Which of the following can be the best title of this passage?
A. Customer Service in America B. Excellent Stores in America
C. Shopping Rules in America D. Being King or Queen in America
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
1 Doha, Qatar
Qatar is currently involved in a major conflict with many other countries in the Middle Eastern region, but visitors to its capital , Doha, will still find themselves in the safest city in the world. It’s home to the Museum of Islamic Art, designed by I.M. Pei with inspiration from traditional Islamic architecture, which houses Islamic art from three different continents that have a history of over 1,400 years.
2 Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Dropping down from the top spot last year is Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, with a safety index of 88.03. While it has a population of just over 1 million, only 420,000 are actually citizens-whose average net worth is $17 million dollars. It is also home to the Sheikh Zzyed Mosque, the country’s largest, as well as many camel races.
3 Quebec City, Canada
Quebec City is one of the few cities in North America that still has its original city walls. One of the most romantic cities on the planet, its Old Town was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and as a city with just over 700,000 residents, it’s got a safety index of 85.36, landing it in the top three.
4 Osaka, Japan
Osaka is the best city in Japan for food, drinks, and nightlife, and it’s safer than ever. Make sure you visit Osaka Castle while you’re here, which has a park attached, or the nearby Momofuku Ando Instant Ramen Museum, where you can even customize(定制）your own Cup Noodles to take home.
1.In which city can you watch a special sports event?
A.Doha. B.Abu Dhabi.
C.Qubec City. D.Osaka.
2.What can you do in Qucbec City, Canada?
A.Appreciate Islamic art. B.Go to see castles.
C.Visit ancient city walls. D.Make the noodles you like
3.What do the cities have in common?
A.They have museums. B.They are romantic.
C.They have wealthy citizens. D.They are very safe.
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析