The search for beauty lasts centuries.Paintin...

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The search for beauty lasts centuries.Paintings of Egyptians1.(date) back to 4,000 years show both men and women painting their nails and wearing make-up.In the 18th century,wealthy French noblemen2.(wear) wigs（假发）of long and white hair to make3.(them) attractive.Today people continue to devote a lot of time and money 4.their appearance.
But what exactly is beauty?It's difficult to describe it clearly,and we know it when we find it.Our5.(aware) of it may start from an early age.In a study,six-month-old babies6.(show)a series of photographs.The faces in the pictures had been rated by attractiveness.Babies spent more time looking at the attractive faces than the unattractive ones.
For better or worse,beauty plays7.role in our life.But it is8.(extreme)difficult to describe exactly what makes a person attractive to another.Although there are certain physical traits9.(consider) universally appealing,it is also true that beauty does not always keep to a single standard.Beauty really is,10.the saying goes,in the eye of the beholder（旁观者）.

高二英语短文填空中等难度题查看答案及解析
The Enigma (谜）of Beauty
The search for beauty spans（跨度） centuries and continents．Paintings of Egyptians dating back over 4，000 years show both men and women painting their nails and wearing makeup．In 18th-century France，wealthy noblemen wore large wigs (假发）of long，white hair to make themselves attractive．Today，people continue to devote a lot of time and money to their appearance.
There is at least one good reason for the desire to be attractive：beauty is power．Studies suggest that good-looking people make more money，get called on more often in class，and are regarded as friendlier.
But what exactly is beauty? It's difficult to describe it clearly，and yet we know it when we see it．And our awareness of it may start at a very early age．In one set of studies，six-month-old babies were shown a series of photographs．The faces on the pictures had been rated for attractiveness by a group of college students．In the studies，the babies spent more time looking at the attractive faces than the unattractive ones.
The idea that even babies can judge appearance makes perfect sense to many researchers．In studies by psychologists，men consistently showed a preference for women with larger eyes，fuller lips，and a smaller nose and chin while women prefer men with large shoulders and a narrow waist．According to scientists，the mind unconsciously tells men and women that these traits —the full lips，clear skin，strong shoulders —equal health and genetic well-being.
Not everyone thinks the same way，however．" Our ideas can be changed by all sorts of expectations —mostly cultural，" says C． Loring Brace，an anthropologist at the University of Michigan．What is considered attractive in one culture might not be in another．Look at most Western fashion magazines：the women on the pages are thin．But is this "perfect" body type for women worldwide? Scientists' answer is no; what is considered beautiful is subjective and varies around the world． They found native peoples in southeast Peru preferred shapes regarded overweight in Western cultures.
For better or worse，beauty plays a role in our lives．But it is extremely difficult to describe exactly what makes one person attractive to another．Although there do seem to be certain physical traits considered universally appealing，it is also true that beauty does not always keep to a single，uniform standard． Beauty really is，as the saying goes，in the eye of the beholder.
1.People's ideas about beauty ________.
A. have existed since ancient times
B. can be easily described
C. have little influence on a person's success
D. are based upon strict standard.
2.In Paragraph 3，the babies in the study ________.
A. were rated for their appearance
B. were entered in a beauty contest
C. were shown photos of a group of college students
D. were able to tell attractive faces from unattractive ones
3.The underlined word “traits” in Paragraph 4 probably means ________.
A. qualities　　 B. measurements
C .judgments　　 D. standards
4.We can learn from the passage that ________.
A. the ideas of beauty vary as people grow up
B. the search for beauty is rooted in lack of confidence
C. the standards for beauty are based on scientific researches
D. the understanding of beauty depends on cultural backgrounds

高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
Many artists late in the last century were in search of a means to express their individuality. Modern dance was one of the ways some of these people sought to free their creative spirit. The beginnings of modem dance were happening before Isadora Duncan, but she was the first person to bring the new dance to general audiences and see it accepted and acclaimed.
Her search for a natural movement form sent her to nature. She believed movement should be as natural as the swaying of the trees and the rolling waves of the sea. Her great contributions are in three areas.
First, she began the expansion of the kinds of movements that could be used in dance. Before Duncan danced, ballet was the only type of dance performed in concerts.　 In the ballet the feet and legs were emphasized, with virtuosity (技巧高超) shown by complicated, codified positions and movements. Duncan performed dance by using all her body in the freest possible way.　 Her dance stemmed from (源自) her soul and spirit. She was one of the pioneers who broke tradition so others might be able to develop the art.
Her second contribution lies in dance costumes (服装). She discarded corset, ballet shoes, and stiff costumes.　 These were replaced with flowing clothes, bare feet, and unlimited hair.　 She believed in the natural body being allowed to move freely, and her dress displayed this ideal.
Her third contribution was in the use of music. In her performances she used the symphonies (交响乐) of great masters, including Beethoven and Wagner, which was not the usual custom.
She was as exciting and eccentric in her personal life as in her dance.
1.. The best title for the passage would be“_________”.
A. Dance in the Twentieth Century　　　　　　
B. Artists of the Last Century
C. Natural Movement in Dance　　　　　　　　　　
D. A Pioneer in Modern Dance
2. According to the passage, nature meant_________ to Duncan.
A. something to conquer　　　　　 B. a model for movement
C. a place to find peace　　　　 D. a symbol of disorder
3. The paragraph following the passage most probably discusses_________.
A. Duncan’s further contribution to modern dance
B. The music customarily used in ballet
C. other aspects of Duncan’s life
D. audience acceptance of the new form of dance

高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
The search for life in the universe took a step forward last month with the opening of the Allen Telescope Array(艾伦望远镜阵列) in Hat Creek, California. The telescopes were partly made possible by a gift of twenty-five million dollars from Paul Allen. The total cost of the project is already fifty million dollars.
At present, there are 42 radio telescopes working at the Hat Creek observatory. The signals they receive are combined to create what is equal to a single, very large telescope. The telescope will be used to observe objects like exploding stars, black holes and other objects that are predicted but have not yet been observed. Seth Shostak of the SETI Institute says this is the first telescope whose main purpose is to search for signals from intelligent life in space. The SETI Institute is based in Mountain View, California. The organization supports the search for other life forms in the universe.
What makes the Allen Telescope Array unusual is that it can collect and study information from a wide area of the sky. In addition, the 42 telescopes can study information about several projects at the same time. That means studies of large areas of the sky can be made faster than ever before.
Some officials think the Allen Telescope Array will be completed in three more years. 350 individual radio telescopes are planned. The new abilities of the Allen Telescope Array will make searching for stars similar to the sun much faster.
An earlier search by SETI, Project Phoenix, studied about 800 stars to a distance of 240 light years. The project ended in 2004. With the Allen Telescope Array, astronomers hope to gather thousands of times more information in the search for life beyond our planet.
1.The main purpose of the Allen Telescope Array is          .
A．to serve for the research of weather predication
B．to prepare for the wars against life from the universe
C．to search for signals from intelligent life in space
D．to observe exploding stars, black holes and other objects
2.From this passage we know that         .
A．the 42 radio telescopes at Hat Creek observatory can work together
B．the total cost of the project came from Paul Allen
C．Hat Creek observatory can receive signals from all parts of the worm
D．Hat Creek observatory is operated by an American named Paul Allen
3.Which of the following is TRUE according to this passage?
A．The Allen Telescope Array takes much more room than former telescopes.
B．The Allen Telescope Array is still being built at present in the United States.
C．Another 42 radio telescopes will be fixed in the Allen Telescope Array.
D．The SETI Institute is against the search for other life forms in the universes.
4.With the help of the Allen Telescope Array,         .
A．astronomers can gather more information than before from other planets
B．humans will have more chances to live on other planets than before
C．humans will be able to find more natural resources on other planets
D．scientists will be able to find more natural resources from other planets

高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
The faces of the four U. S. presidents on Mount Rushmore will likely last for centuries. But at a newly opened exhibit in Japan, you can catch them only for about eight months. This year, the annual sand sculpture event at the Sand Museum in Tottori, Japan, is focused on another country. This is the 10th anniversary of the event. Artists came from 19 countries to shape sand into different sculptures that represent events in U. S. history and American landmarks.
Tottori is a remote city in western Japan. In the past, not many tourists traveled to it. To attract more visitors, Tottori officials decided to use a natural resource: sand. They decided to create a sand museum that would house a series of sand sculptures based on different geographic areas of the world. The sand from each year’s exhibition is used again the next year. The project has been a success. About 500,000 people visit the museum during the eight months. Some return year after year to see the new sculptures.
The city is now a popular spot for sand sculpture artists too. Sculptors from around the world come to Tottori each spring, spending a few weeks working on their masterpieces. They use special tools to smooth the sandy surfaces, cut angles and details. They use only sand and water to create the huge sculptures, some of which tower over their creators.
Originally, the artists built their creations outside. But the works lasted less than two months outdoors. So the museum built a permanent structure 10 house the artworks, which extended their life to eight months. Now many more tourists get to see the sculptures. Still, the fact that this art is not permanent is part of the appeal. The temporary sculptures reflect the Japanese value of appreciating the fleeting（稍纵即逝）nature of the world.
Tottori is not the only Japanese town that shows temporary art like this. Sapporo, in northern Japan, hosts a similar exhibit in the winter, using snow instead of sand. Thai will be just about the time that the U. S. sand sculpture exhibition is taken apart, and the sand is saved for next year’s show.
1.Why is sand sculpture event held every year in Tottori?
A. To show the wonderful artworks of the city.
B. To show the diverse culture of the city.
C. To represent the character of the city.
D. To attract more visitors to the city.
2.What do the exhibits in Tottori and Sapporo show?
A. The changing seasons offer artists chances to create arts.
B. Temporary art is the most welcomed art form in Japan.
C. Natural works of art are popular all over the world.
D. The sand is more popular to artists than the snow.
3.What can we know about the sand exhibit from the text?
A. New sand will be used in the next year’s show.
B. It has been held in more than 19 countries so far.
C. Mare artists show interest in creating arts in sand.
D. The fact that the exhibition lasts a short time makes it more attractive
4.What is the best title of this text?
A. The Popularity of Sand
B. Sand Museum in Japan
C. A Special Sand Exhibition
D. Artists’ Contribution to the World

高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
Mr. Li was out of touch last week. The police ________ for him since.
A. have been searching　　　　 B. were searching
C. had searched　　　　　　　 D. has searched

高二英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析
For many centuries，countless scholars have asked the question：What is beauty? As designers update the latest fashions and artists create their masterpieces, what is considered beautiful changes at an alarming pace. Fifty years ago, the full-figured　 American actress Marilyn Monroe was a symbol of the American aesthetic(美学的)value；today, many Hollywood actresses different in appearance from Marilyn’s have taken her place. However，aesthetic values not only differ from generation to generation，but do so along cultural lines as well. Often, what is considered hating one civilization is just the aesthetic appeal in another. Thus it is difficult to give an absolute definition(定义)of beauty.
As fundamental(基础的)physicists，my colleagues and I like to believe that we are involved in a search for a beauty that affects definition. The beauty that we search for is not what is set up through the work of people and subject to the tastes, but rather what has been laid down by nature Physics allows its students to look past outer appearances，into a deeper beauty. As a human being, I am attracted by the visual appeal of a wave crashing on the beach. As a physicist, however I am able to see the deeper beauty of the physical laws that govern such a phenomenon.
In truth，since Albert Einstein put forward the idea that there might be one main physical theory that governs the universe，aesthetics have become a driving force in modern physics. Einstein and other later physicists have discovered that：Nature, as its most fundamental level，is beautifully constructed. The extraordinary simplicity (朴素)of the laws that govern the universe is really breathtaking. As Einstein said, it would seem more likely that we should find ourselves living in a “chaotic (无秩序曲)world，in no way graspable（能理解的） through thinking”. Yet we are now closer than ever to a full understanding of the universe’s beautiful clockwork. As new discoveries and technologies allow us to examine the physical world on deeper and deeper levels，we find that the beauty itself becomes much deeper.
1.The reference to “Marilyn Monroe” in Paragraph 2 mainly serves to___________.
A. provide an example of today’s beauty standards
B. show there is no fixed definition of aesthetics
C. compare traditions of the East to the West
D. discuss her abilities as an actress
2.When appreciating a wave crashing on the beach，a physicist sees the beauty of_____.
A. the visual attraction
B. the powerful sounds
C. the physical laws behind
D. the lovely creatures
3.Why are Albert Einstein’s words mentioned in Paragraph 3?
A. To detail the functions of physical laws.
B. To highlight the range of Einstein’s influence.
C. To show that Einstein doubted the beauty of physics.
D. To stress the very simplicity of the laws of the universe.
4.The passage is mainly to___________.
A. present a special way of seeing beauty
B. emphasize the influence of physics
C. discuss the awareness of cross-culture
D. argue the traditional ideas on value

高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
The last decade of the 20th century ___ the rapid, steady development of China in various fields.
A.was witnesses B.is witnessed C.had witnessed D.witnessed

高二英语单项填空简单题查看答案及解析
The artist Grandma Moses became famous for her simple, bright, cheerful paintings of American farm life．Her full name was Anna Mary Robertson Moses．But she was known to everyone as Grandma Moses because she did not begin to paint seriously until in her seventies．
Born on a farm in New York, Anna had little schooling．Her days were filled with farm chores．But she often found time to make pictures．Soon, however, she became too busy to draw or paint．At the age of 12, she went to work as a servant for a family nearby．She worked for other people for many years．Then, when she was 27, she married Thomas Moses, a farmer．And they began raising a family of their own．
Anna Moses could no longer do heavy farm work with age．Then, in her seventies, she began to paint in oils．Her pictures showed things she recalled from childhood-farm scenes, ice-skating, bringing home the Christmas tree．Later, she began to display her art at county fairs．Her pictures recorded a way of life that was quickly passing away．People everywhere loved these happy scenes, and soon her paintings were shown in art galleries．Grandma Moses became famous partially on account of her age, but mainly because her approach to art was modest and simple compared to many other painters of her time．Without formal training or even knowledge of Modernism, she relied on her own simple techniques to create her landscapes and scenes．She continued to paint almost until her death, on December 13, 1961 , at the age of 101．
The themes in her paintings provided the comfort of a rural life that many busy Americans treasured from their past．The threat of nuclear arms that appeared on television screens and in magazines had Americans starving for something more．Grandma Moses' art appealed to those who had lost hope for the future．Her classic paintings still appear on TV commercials, greeting cards, and magazine and book covers．
1.What can be inferred from the fact that Grandma Moses picked up a paintbrush?
A．She had no other ways to kill time．
B．Her friend and family suggested it．
C．She had had a love for painting since her childhood．
D．She needed to make a living by selling her paintings．
2.The key reason for her success is ___________.
A．her old age B．her plain style
C．her lack of training D．her modern knowledge
3.We can know from the passage that ______．
A．her paintings raised people's hope for the future
B．her paintings expressed the reality of her old age
C．many Americans were interested in purchasing art works
D．people wanted to get comfort by remembering grandmas

高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
He went to town _____sell one of his paintings.
A.on purpose B.on purpose to
C.for the purpose of D.on purpose of

高二英语单项填空简单题查看答案及解析