Many of us spend part of each day surrounded by strangers, whether on our daily commute (上下班往返), or sitting in park or cafe. But most of them remain just that-strangers. However, new evidence has shown that plucking up (鼓起) the courage to strike up conversation might be good for our health.
Nicholas Epley from the University of Chicago and Juliana Schroeder from the University of California are behavioural scientists. They wanted to know whether solitude is a more positive experience than interacting with strangers, or if people misunderstand the consequences of distant social connections. They found that many people feel uncomfortable and frightened talking to others and their research suggested that when we make an initial conversation “we consistently underestimate (低估) how much a new person likes us.” It seems we think that all the things could go wrong and why someone wouldn’t want to talk with us.
Their research involved an experiment with a group of Chicago commuters and found that “every participant in our experiment who actually tried to talk to a stranger found the person sitting next to them was happy to chat.” From this and other research, the conclusion is that connecting with strangers is surprisingly pleasant and it has a positive impact on our wellbeing. It’s true that talking can make you feel happier and happiness can lead to better mental health.
However, if you’re’ an introvert (性格内向者), the thought of speaking to someone new might make you anxious. But the American research found “both extroverts (性格外向者) and introverts are happier when they are asked to behave in an extroverted manner.” So maybe, if you’re a loner, it’s time to come out of your shell and make some small talk with a stranger-it could be the beginning of a new friendship.
1.What does the underlined word“solitude”in paragraph 2 mean?
A.Being calm. B.Being pleasant. C.Being alone. D.Being healthy.
2.Why might we not want to speak to a stranger?
A.Because we don’t trust a new person.
B.Because we can’t find a common topic.
C.Because we like distant social connections.
D.Because we carry a negative voice in our head.
3.What could help start a new friendship?
A.Making a small talk. B.Sitting next to a stranger.
C.Sharing personal details. D.Behaving in polite manner.
4.Which of the following is the best title for the text?
A.How to be an extrovert. B.Talking to strangers.
C.How to speak to strangers. D.Making new friends.
高一英语阅读选择困难题
Many of us spend part of each day surrounded by strangers, whether on our daily commute (上下班往返), or sitting in park or cafe. But most of them remain just that-strangers. However, new evidence has shown that plucking up (鼓起) the courage to strike up conversation might be good for our health.
Nicholas Epley from the University of Chicago and Juliana Schroeder from the University of California are behavioural scientists. They wanted to know whether solitude is a more positive experience than interacting with strangers, or if people misunderstand the consequences of distant social connections. They found that many people feel uncomfortable and frightened talking to others and their research suggested that when we make an initial conversation “we consistently underestimate (低估) how much a new person likes us.” It seems we think that all the things could go wrong and why someone wouldn’t want to talk with us.
Their research involved an experiment with a group of Chicago commuters and found that “every participant in our experiment who actually tried to talk to a stranger found the person sitting next to them was happy to chat.” From this and other research, the conclusion is that connecting with strangers is surprisingly pleasant and it has a positive impact on our wellbeing. It’s true that talking can make you feel happier and happiness can lead to better mental health.
However, if you’re’ an introvert (性格内向者), the thought of speaking to someone new might make you anxious. But the American research found “both extroverts (性格外向者) and introverts are happier when they are asked to behave in an extroverted manner.” So maybe, if you’re a loner, it’s time to come out of your shell and make some small talk with a stranger-it could be the beginning of a new friendship.
1.What does the underlined word“solitude”in paragraph 2 mean?
A.Being calm. B.Being pleasant. C.Being alone. D.Being healthy.
2.Why might we not want to speak to a stranger?
A.Because we don’t trust a new person.
B.Because we can’t find a common topic.
C.Because we like distant social connections.
D.Because we carry a negative voice in our head.
3.What could help start a new friendship?
A.Making a small talk. B.Sitting next to a stranger.
C.Sharing personal details. D.Behaving in polite manner.
4.Which of the following is the best title for the text?
A.How to be an extrovert. B.Talking to strangers.
C.How to speak to strangers. D.Making new friends.
高一英语阅读选择困难题查看答案及解析
Small talk – the likes of “What do you have there? Popcorn?” or “The weather today is beautiful, isn’t it?” – is meaningless and a waste of time, according to some people. But scientists believe that it is actually more useful than it may appear to be.
One example comes when you are on a train or a plane. The thought of talking to the stranger sitting beside you can be scary, because you know the conversation is sure to be awkward. But a study by the University of Chicago in the US found that people who chat to strangers enjoy a better ride than those who sit in silence or occupy themselves with their phones.
In the study, researchers asked people at Chicago train stations to start conversations with fellow travelers. Most of them refused to do so at first because they expected not to get a friendly answer. But the result turned out to be just the opposite – most strangers were not only willing to be talked to, but also pleasant to talk to.
“Human beings are social animals,” Nicholas Epley, one of the lead researchers, told Live Science. “Other people are people, too. And it turns out that they’d like to get to know you.”
Apart from making you happier, small talk with strangers can also help you feel connected to your surroundings. Previous studies found that when people are frequently smiled at, made eye contact with and spoken to at coffee shops, they tend to have a stronger sense of belonging instead of feeling like they are being ignored and left out.
And if you are already comfortable enough to make small talk with strangers, you should try to develop it into something “bigger”.
A 2010 study proved that having a deep and meaningful conversation gives you even more happiness than small talk. Participants in the study – 79 college students – reported after the four-day experiment that they were much happier when they had a third as much small talk and twice as many in-depth conversations.
But deep conversations can start with small talk, can’t they? So the first step is to start talking, no matter how casual the topic is. And who knows, maybe an opening line as simple as “I like your hat” could lead to a serious conversation in which you learn something new from a stranger.
1.What is the reason for the result of the study by the University of Chicago, according to Nicholas Epley?
A.Most people are nice to strangers.
B.People are naturally curious about others.
C.People are afraid of loneliness or boredom.
D.People try to show their good side to strangers.
2.Which of the following is a benefit of small talk according to the passage ?
A.Wasting less time. B.Getting rid of useless contacts.
C.Coping with smart phone addiction. D.Feeling like you are a part of your surroundings.
3.What does something “bigger” mean in the passage?
A.Privacy B.Small talk C.Sensitive topics D.In-depth conversations
4.What is the author’s attitude toward small talk?
A.Positive. B.Negative. C.Doubtful. D.Passionate.
高一英语阅读选择中等难度题查看答案及解析
Humans were designed to stand upright. And yet in this modern world, too many of us spend our days with our heads lowered for a simple reason: we’re staring at the tiny screen of a smart phone.
People spend an average of 2 to 4 hours each day with their neck bent while shooting off emails or texts. That’s 700 to 1,400 hours a year. The success of social media has led to a rapid development of bad smart phone posture（姿势）.
The average adult head weighs 10 to 12 pounds when it’s in the upright position. However, because of the gravity, bending your head at a 15 degree puts 27 pounds of pressure on your spine(脊椎)；a 30 degree neck bend could equal 40 pounds of pressure; a 45 degree bend adds the force of 49 pounds, according to the research from Dr. Kenneth Hansraj from New York. These stresses may lead to many problems.
It’s no secret that correct posture is better for your back. According to the researchers, good posture is described as ears aligned(成一条直线) with the shoulders. In proper alignment, spinal stress disappeared. It is the best position for the spine. Standing tall doesn’t just make you look better; it improves your health, too. Other studies have found good posture has even been connected to ways of behaving. People who have poorer posture often have poorer physical and emotional health.
The researchers describe bad posture as “the head in a forward position and the shoulders dropping forward in a rounded position”. Bad posture has been connected to many medical problems, including headaches and other problems, depression and heart disease. This is why Hansraj said it’s important to be mindful of your smart phone posture. Though it is nearly impossible to avoid the technologies that cause these problems, people should make an effort to look at their phones with a correct posture.
1.Through the underlined sentence in paragraph 2, the author wants to show that _______.
A. the social media have its bad side
B. the social media have made a great success
C. people have to use social media unavoidably
D. more and more people are using smart phones
2.What does the third paragraph mainly tell us?
A. It’s healthy to bend your back regularly.
B. Your back is getting exercise as you bend it.
C. The average weight of an adult head always changes.
D. The more you bend your neck, the more stresses your spine gets.
3.Where does the text most probably come from?
A. A text book.
B. An advertisement.
C. A health report.
D. A book review
高一英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
It is a sad truth that any health crisis (危机) will lead to a large outbreak of misinformation.
In the 80s, 90s, and 2000s we saw the spread of dangerous lies about AIDS - from the belief that the HIV virus was created by a government laboratory to the idea that it could be treated with goat’s milk. These claims increased risky behaviour and worsened the crisis.
Now, we are surrounded with unreal news - this time around Covid-19 (新冠肺炎). The Economist in March 2020 found 13% of Americans believed Covid-19 was a trick while 49% believed the virus might be man-made. While you might hope that greater brainpower or education would help us to tell facts from lies, it is easy to find examples of many educated people falling for false information. Kelly Brogan, who has a degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, has refused clear evidence of the virus’s danger in countries like China and Italy and even questioned the health officials.
Part of the problem arises from the nature of the messages themselves. As BBC Future has described in the past, suppliers of false news can make their message feel “truthy” through a few simple tricks, which discourages us from using our critical thinking skills.
For example, a simple image alongside a statement increases our trust in its accuracy (准确)---even if it is only partly related to the statement. Moreover, even the simple repetition of a statement can increase the “truthiness” by increasing feelings of familiarity.
These tricks have long been known by peddlers (传播者) of misinformation, but today’s social media make the spread more easily. Recent evidence shows that many people share information on the Internet without even thinking about its truthfulness and ignoring the obvious question: is it true?
1.How does the author support his ideas in the text?
A.By giving examples. B.By making comparisons.
C.By doing scientific research. D.By explaining statistical data.
2.The author mentions Kelly Brogan in paragraph 3 to prove that ________.
A.Covid-19 is not real but may be man-made
B.plenty of false news crowds into people’s daily life
C.even well-educated people may not tell facts from lies
D.countries like China and Italy have suffered greatly these days
3.People are most likely to believe the false news when ________.
A.it’s unfamiliar to them B.it’s attached with clear evidences
C.it carries several messages at a time D.it includes pictures and repeated statements
4.What’s the main idea of the last paragraph?
A.Many people share false information to attract more followers.
B.Fake news peddlers have long tricked people into ignoring truth.
C.Some tricks prevent people from applying critical thinking skills.
D.It’s today’s social media that speed up the spread of misinformation.
高一英语阅读选择中等难度题查看答案及解析
One night recently, I was driving down a two-lane highway at about 60 miles an hour. A car approached from the opposite direction at about the same speed. As we passed each other, I caught the other driver’s eye for only a second. I wondered whether he might be thinking, as I was, how dependent we were on each other at that moment. I was relying on him not to fall asleep, not to be put off by a phone conversation, not to cross over into my lane and bring my life to a sudden end. Though we had never spoken a word to each other, he relied on me in just the same way.
Multiplied a million times over, I believe that is the way the world works. At some level, we all depend upon one another. Sometimes that dependence requires us simply not to do something like crossing over the double yellow line. And sometimes it requires us to act cooperatively, with friends or even with strangers.
As technology shrinks our world, the need increases for cooperative action among nations. In 2003, doctors in five nations were quickly organized to identify the SARS virus, which saved thousands of lives. The threat of international terrorism has shown itself to be a similar problem, one requiring coordinated action by police and intelligence forces across the world. We must recognize that our fates (命运) are not ours alone to control .
In my own life, I’ve put great stock in personal responsibility. But, as the years have passed, I’ve also come to believe that there are moments when one must rely upon the good faith and judgment of others. So, while each of us faces the case of driving alone down a dark road , what we must learn is that the approaching light may not be a threat , but a shared moment of trust.
1.The author considers ________ very important.
A.driving alone on a dark road B.shared trust and cooperation
C.cooperation to identify SARS virus D.independence of people
2.The author said that they depended on each other in the same way because ________.
A.the approaching car was very dangerous
B.they both drove their car at a terrific speed
C.it was dark and the road was not wide enough
D.he might be killed out of the other’s careless driving
3.From the second paragraph, we know the author drew the important lesson from ________.
A.only one experience B.many friends and strangers
C.a driver on a dark road D.many similar experiences
4.The need for cooperation increases because _________.
A.terrorism can happen everywhere
B.the SARS virus spread quickly
C.peoples’ fates can’t be controlled by themselves
D.the world has become smaller
5.We can infer from the last paragraph that the author has ________.
A.had a change on his viewpoint of life
B.counted upon himself alone in everything
C.had no trust in others’ good faith and judgment
D.believed in one’s own personal responsibility
高一英语阅读选择中等难度题查看答案及解析
Are some people born clever, and others born stupid? Or is intelligence developed by our environment and our experiences? Strangely enough, the answer to both these questions is yes. To some extent our intelligence is given to us at birth, and no amount of special education can make a genius out of a child born with low intelligence. On the other hand, a child who lives in a boring environment will develop his intelligence less than one who lives in rich and varied surroundings. Thus the limits of a person's intelligence are fixed at birth, but whether or not he reaches those limits will depend on his environment. This view, now held by most experts, can be supported in a number of ways.
It is easy to show that intelligence is to some extent something we are born with. The closer the blood relationship between two people, the closer they are likely to be in intelligence. Thus if we take two unrelated people at random (随机地) from the population, it is likely that their degrees of intelligence will be completely different. If on the other hand we take two identical (完全相同的) twins they will very likely be as intelligent as each other. Relations like brothers and sisters, parents and children, usually have similar intelligence, and this clearly suggests that intelligence depends on birth.
Imagine now that we take two identical twins and put them in different environments. We might send one, for example, to a university and the other to a factory where the work is boring. We would soon find differences in intelligence developing, and this indicates that environment as well as birth plays a part. This conclusion is also suggested by the fact that people who live in close contact with each other, but who are not related at all, are likely to have similar degrees of intelligence.
1.Which of these sentences best describes the writer's point in Para. 1?
A.To some extent, intelligence is given at birth.
B.Intelligence is developed by the environment.
C.Some people are born clever and others born stupid.
D.Intelligence is fixed at birth, but is developed by the environment.
2.It is suggested in this passage that _________.
A.unrelated people are not likely to have different intelligence
B.close relations usually have similar intelligence
C.the closer the blood relationship between people, the more different they are likely to be in intelligence
D.people who live in close contact with each other are not likely to have similar degrees of intelligence
3.In Para. 1, the word "surroundings" means ________.
A.intelligence B.life
C.environments D.housing
4.The best title for this article would be________.
A.On Intelligence
B.What Intelligence Means
C.We are Born with Intelligence
D.Environment Plays a Part in Developing Intelligence
高一英语阅读选择中等难度题查看答案及解析
Nice Places in America
The Doaks’ House in Waterford, Ohio
In the small town of Waterford, Ohio, one local household stands out. One fall Saturday every other year or so, Roger and Shirley Doak open their doors for family, friends and strangers. Since the 1960s, they’ve turned a day devoted to making apple butter into an all-day event. They start the fire at dawn, then take turns stirring it, and have a buffet until sunset. By the end of the day, they’ve created apple butter together.
Pflugerville High School, Texas
In a school of about 2,300 people, students love each other, regardless of race or ability. Perhaps the school spirit comes from events like Pay It Forward Day, which rewards students for kindness or the Coats for Kids Drive, a competition challenging schools to donate the most coats-which Pflugerville has won for the past six years.
Oriole Park in Baltimore, Maryland
Sure, Oriole Park in Baltimore, Maryland, is a fun place to watch a baseball game with a family. But this stadium goes beyond rooting for the home team; it also roots for acts of kindness. During weekend games, one of the nicest students to catch our eye was a middle school boy named Thomas Moore who grew his hair long enough to donate it to children with cancer.
Rock Hall, Maryland
The sign to Rock Hall, Maryland, should be your first mark that you’ll be welcomed. It shows off the town’s motto, “Nice People Live Here.” And they aren’t just empty words. Take a walk around the town and you’ll see so many kind waves that strangers must think they’ve been mistaken for someone else.
1.What can you do when you attend the event in the town of Waterford, Ohio?
A.Donate clothes to strangers. B.Make your favourite apple juice.
C.Experience the friendly school life. D.Watch local people making apple butter.
2.What can we learn about the people in Rock Hall, Maryland?
A.They are easily mistaken in remembering people. B.They often ignore strangers.
C.They are friendly. D.They like walking around the town with strangers.
3.Which of the following is the most suitable place to enjoy a sports game?
A.Oriole Park in Baltimore, Maryland. B.Pflugerville High School, Texas.
C.The Doaks’ House in Waterford, Ohio. D.Rock Hall, Maryland.
高一英语阅读选择中等难度题查看答案及解析
Although American children still spend part of their days reading, they are spending less time doing it for pleasure than years ago, with large gaps(差距) in proficiency(熟练)，according to a recent report.
“It raises an alarm,” said Vicky Rideout, the lead author of the report. “We’re witnessing a really large drop in reading among teenagers and the speed of that drop is getting faster and faster.”
The report found that the percentage of nine-year-old children reading for pleasure once or more per week had dropped from 81 percent in 1984 to 76 percent in 2013, based on government studies. About a third of 13-year-olds and almost half of 17-year-olds reported in one study that they read for pleasure less than twice a year.
Of those who read or are read to, children often spend on average between 30 minutes and an hour daily with that activity, the report found. Older children and teenagers tend(倾向于) to read for pleasure for an equally long time each day.
Rideout warned that there may be differences in how people come across texts and the included studies may not take into account stories read on line or on social media.
The report also found that many young children are struggling with literacy(识字). Only about one-third of fourth grade students are “proficient” in reading and another one-third scored below “basic” in reading skills.
Despite the large percentage of children with below-basic reading skills, reading scores among young children have improved since the 1970s, according to one test that measures reading ability.
The reading scores among 17-year-olds, however, reminded relatively unchanged since the 1790s.
About 46 percent of white children are considered “proficient” in reading, compared with 18 percent of black children and 20 percent of Hispanic kids.
Those gap remained relatively unchanged over the past 20 years, according to the report.
“To go 20 years with no progress in that area is shameful”, Rideout said.
The report stresses some behaviors that have been tied to children being more frequent readers. Those behaviors include parents setting aside time to read with their children and parents reading themselves to model good behavior.
1.The figures in paragraph 3 show that_____.
A. fewer children read for pleasure.
B. older children are busier than young children.
C. teenagers are more interested in online reading.
D. more elder children gain pleasure from reading.
2.Which of the following is TRUE about the report findings?
A. The reading scores among older children have improved.
B. The reading scores among young children haven’t changed.
C. The gap between black children and white children has narrowed.
D. Black children have lower proficiency in reading than white children.
3.What is the Vicky Rideout’s attitude towards the report findings?
A. Uncaring. B. Doubtful.
C. Positive. D. Worried.
4.To make children frequent readers, parents should ______.
A. improve their reading skills.
B. read as many books as possible.
C. set a good example to their children.
D. spend more time with their children.
高一英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
It was a hot, sticky (闷热的)summer day in Texas and I was surrounded by laundry, loads of baby clothes all over the floor.I folded a towel, tears streaming down my face.My newborn Dillon, just a few weeks old, was sleeping peacefully beside me.My 4yearold Tanner was watching “Ninja Turtles”，laughing at the TV screen.
Meanwhile I was exhausted, with dark circles under my eyes and clothes dirty.I loved my baby boys more than anything.But this wasn't the life I'd pictured for myself.I was only 27 years old.Once upon a time, I'dhad dreams.I'd wanted to become a good journalist (记者)and photographer, not a stayathome mom, whose sleep was taken away, spent her days changing diapers (尿布)．I kept on folding...and the tears kept coming.What about my dreams and future?
The word “this is the most important job in the world” spread and I nearly dropped the towel I was folding.I looked around, but saw nobody there.Later I realized the voice must have come from the TV.I calmed down.I'd never thought a housewoman's job was the most important job in the world.I put the laundry aside, carried Tanner up in my arms and hugged him tight.From that day on, I was willing to do my housework and I made motherhood my top priority (优先考虑的事)even when I returned to the workforce as a journalist and photographer.
Of course, it wasn't all fun and games raising three children, especially after I gave birth to my third son, Noah.Anyhow, the laundry still gave me great joy to watch my children grow healthily.Now Noah is about to enter high school.And Tanner and Dillon both have become kind, courageous young men and graduated from the key colleges.Today I think raising a child is the most rewarding job.
1.Why did the writer cry?
A. It was too hot and sticky that day.
B. Her children always made trouble.
C. Too much housework made her very exhausted.
D. She lost hope because of the boring housework.
2.The writer knew，“raising a child is the most important job in the world”________．
A. while she dreamed
B. overhearing from TV
C. when she opened a book
D. as she was watching TV
3.What did the author get from the laundry?
A. The company of her children.
B. Physical exercise.
C. Her children's appreciation.
D. Great joy to see her children's growth.
4.We can learn from this passage that ________.
A. Tanner is four years older than his brother Noah
B. the writer was once a journalist
C. the writer's three children are all college students
D. the writer once hated her children because of unhappiness
高一英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
The old man was telling a funny story, surrounded by many kids, _________ with fascination.
A. all of whom listened B. all of whom listening
C. all of them listened D. all of them were listening
高一英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析