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Feeling blue about world? “Cheer up.” Says science writer Matt Ridley．”The world has never been a better place to live in, and it will keep on getting better both for humans and for nature．”
Ridley calls himself a rational optimist—rational, because he’s carefully weighed the evidence; optimistic, because that evidence shows human progress to be both unavoidable and good．And this is what he’s set out to prove from a unique point of view in his most recent book．The Rational Optimist．He views mankind as grand enterprise that on the whole, has done little but progress for 100,000 years．He backs his finding with hard facts gathered through years of research．
Here’s how he explains his views．
1) Shopping fuels invention
It is reported that there are more than ten billion different products for sale in London alone．Even allowing for the many people who still live in poverty, our own generation has access to more nutritious food, more convenient transport, bigger houses, better ears, and of course, more pounds and dollars than any who lived before us．This will continue as long as we use these things to make other things. The more we specialize and exchange, the better off we’ll be．
2）Brilliant advances
One reason we are richer, healthier, taller, cleverer, longer-lived and freer than ever before is that the four most basic human needs -food, clothing, fuel and shelter- have grown a lot cheaper．Take one example．In 1800 a candle providing one hour’s light cost six hours’ work．In the 1880s the same light from an oil lamp took 15 minutes’ work to pay for．In 1950 it was eight seconds．Today it’s half second．
3）Let’s not kill ourselves for climate change
Mitigating（减轻）climate change could prove just as damaging to human welfare as climate change itself．A child that dies from indoor smoke in a village, where the use of fossil-fuel（化石燃料）electricity is forbidden by well - meaning members of green political movements trying to save the world, is just as great a tragedy as a child that dies in a flood caused by climate change．If climate change proves to be mild, but cutting carbon causes real pain, we may well find that we have stopped a nose - bleed by putting a tourniquet（止血带）around our necks．
1.What is the theme of Ridley’s most recent book?
A．Weakness of human nature．
B．Concern about climate change．
C．Importance of practical thinking．
D．Optimism about human progress．
2.How does Ridley look at shopping?
A．It encourages the creation of things．
B．It results in shortage of goods．
C．It demands more fossil fuels．
D．It causes a poverty problem．
3.The candle and lamp example is used to show that________．
A．oil lamps give off more light than candles
B．shortening working time brings about a happier life．
C．advanced technology helps to produce better candles．
D．increased production rate leads to lower cost of goods．
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
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Science fiction writers create imaginary worlds. The way things work in your imaginary worlds will be based on actual science. So it’s important for you to be familiar with the scientific principles and inventions that are related to your creation. For example, if you’re writing about human living on a planet with zero gravity, then you need to know the effects of zero gravity on the human body.
Then you have to figure out the exact rules of your imaginary worlds. And you have to follow them. If humans are able to breathe underwater in Chapter 1, your character can’t drown in a swimming pool in Chapter 3. The issue here is maintaining your readers’ trust. That means the readers are willing to pretend along with you. If you start out with an ordinary detective novel and then throw in someone breathing underwater in the 6th chapter, you will pull the readers out of their imagination. The same thing happens if you change the rules halfway.
Part of your preparation work for the novel is to map out its worlds in great detail. You should decide the following issues: the history of the world, the geography, what possibilities it offers, how everything works in this new reality, and how all of these factors affect the way your characters think, feel, and react to things. You don’t have to tell your readers all the rules in the first chapter. But you have to let readers know enough to understand what’s going on. This also allows you to work out logical problems and contradictions before you start writing.
When you are writing, remember to make it feel real. You are inviting readers to visit a new world. They will want to be able to see, hear, feel, smell, and even taste what it’s like. Whether your novel is about a world without disease or an undiscovered planet, help your readers feel like they’re actually there.
1.What’s the relationship between actual science and science fiction?
A. Science fiction promotes the development of actual science.
B. Science fiction often reflects the development of actual science.
C. Actual science limits the imagination described in science fiction.
D. Actual science provides basic principles for science fiction.
2.The second paragraph is mainly developed by .
A. making comparisons B. giving examples
C. following the time order D. analyzing causes
3.Which of the following statements is TRUE?
A. It is necessary to do some scientific experiments before writing science fiction.
B. It is more difficult to write science fiction than ordinary detective novels.
C. Readers of science fiction actually pretend the writers’ rules are true.
D. It is great to leave some contradictions in your science fiction.
4.The passage is mainly about .
A. how to do scientific research B. how to raise interest in science
C. what to expect from science fiction D. how to write science fiction
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
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We all have our own tricks to cheer up when we’re feeling down; these little tricks can make you feel a little bit happier every day. While there are certainly happy memories tied up in the wedding ring you and your spouse (配偶) purchased together years ago or your teddy bear from childhood, new research finds that we typically feel calmer and experience a greater sense of well-being when we focus on a place that reminds us of happier times rather than a thing, even if it holds great value.
The report, called Places That Make Us, was conducted by the United Kingdom’s National Trust (NT) and Surrey University’s researchers. Experts performed functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) (功能磁共振成像) scans on 20 volunteers and conducted an online survey of 2,000 people to better understand this deep draw toward special places.
“Working with leading researchers and academics, and using cutting-edge fMRI brain technology, we examined how places affect people, how they become special, and why we feel a pull towards them,” explained Nino Strachey, head of research for the NT.
The 20 volunteers were shown images of landscapes, houses, and other locations, as well as personally meaningful objects. Measuring their brain activity, the researchers found that it was the places, as opposed to the objects, that caused the brain to get the most excited.
Volunteers were also interviewed at great length two times, once at home and the other time at their special place. The research made discoveries that had never known before — the favorite places aroused feelings of belonging, physical and emotional safety, and an intense internal pull to the place.
Dr. Andy Myers weighed in on the findings, saying, “For the first time we have been able to prove the physical and emotional benefits of place, far beyond any research that has been done before.”
1.How was the research conducted?
A. By performing fMRI on 2,000 volunteers.
B. By measuring the participants’ brain activity by fMRI.
C. By doing rough interviews with the participants.
D. By showing meaningful objects to the participants.
2.How would the author feel about the findings of the study?
A. It is pioneering. B. It is baseless.
C. It is imperfect. D. It is unbelievable.
3.Which of the following can replace the underlined phrase “weighed in on” ?
A. Made a comment on. B. Looked down on.
C. Was opposed to. D. Made fun of.
4.What does the text mainly talk about?
A. Everyone has his way to be happy.
B. Valuable places can make people happy.
C. Teddy bears are best memories of children.
D. Meaningful objects lead to greater well-being.
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
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The first person in the world to receive two facial transplants says he is feeling well, three months after his latest groundbreaking operation.
Jerame Hamon had his first transplanted face removed last year after signs of rejection following a treatment with an antibiotic (抗生素) during a cold.
The 43 year old remained in a hospital in Paris without a face for two months while a compatible donor was sought.
He said: “The first face I accepted immediately. This time it’s the same.”
Mr. Hamon suffers from neurofibromatosis (多发性神经纤维瘤), a genetic condition that spoiled his face severely.
His first transplant, in 2010, was a success, but he caught a common cold in 2015 and was given antibiotics. The drug was incompatible with the immunosuppressive (免疫制疫的) treatment he was having to prevent a rejection of the transplanted material.
The first signs of rejection came in 2016 and last November, the face, suffering from the death of most of cells, had to be removed.
Mr. Hamon lived without a face in a room at Georges-Pompidou hospital in Paris without being able to see, speak or hear until January, when a face donor was found and the second transplant carried out.
To avoid further rejection, Mr. Hamon—dubbed “the man with three faces” by French media ―had special treatment to clean the blood prior to the transplant.
His new face remains smooth and motionless, and his skull, skin and features are yet to be fully matched. But he is positive about his recovery.
“If I hadn’t accepted this new face it would have been terrible. It’s a question of identity… But here we are, it’s good, it’s me,” he told AFP news agency from the hospital, where he is still recovering.
The hours-long operation was led by Prof Laurent Lantieri, a specialist in hand and face transplants who carried out Mr. Hamon’s initial surgery eight years ago.
“Today, we know that a double transplant is practicable, it’s no longer in the field of research,” he told Le Parisien newspaper.
Anaesthetist Bernard Cholley said: “Anyone who loses their face and then has to wait for a possible and imagined transplant for an unknown length of time—that’s something that nobody has ever had to go through here.”
“I’m amazed by the courage of a patient who has been able to get through such a different experience.”
The first face transplant was carried out in 2005 in northern France. Since then, some 40 operations have been performed around the world.
1.What is the meaning of the word “compatible” (underlined in Paragraph 3)?
A. accessible B. adaptable C. adjustable D. acceptable
2.From the passage we can learn that ________.
A. Mr. Hamon has fully recovered from his new operation
B. Prof Laurent Lantieri carried out two face surgeries on Mr. Hamon
C. Mr. Hamon is the first one in the world to receive a face transplant
D. Mr. Hamon received his second face transplant in 2016
3.What is the correct order of what happened to Mr. Hamon?
a. His first transplanted face had to be removed.
b. He was given antibiotics.
c. He suffers from neurofibromatosis.
d. He received the first transplant.
e. He caught a common cold.
A. cdeba B. ebdca C. cbdea D. ecbda
4.What is the best title of this passage?
A. A man with two faces B. Prof Laurent Lantieri success stories
C. Successful Double Transplants D. A groundbreaking operation
高二英语阅读理解困难题查看答案及解析
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The world seems gloomy (阴沉的) and gray when you’re feeling blue. In fact, being down might even affect how you perceive (感知) the colour blue. A recent study about colour was published in the journal Psychological Science. It shows a direct connection between a person’s ability to perceive colour and their emotions.
Psychologists have long known that emotions can affect the way people perceive things. That’s in part because chemicals from your brain might affect how you process what you see. “Color is such an important part of our experience,” says lead author Christopher Thorstenson, a psychologist at the university of Rochester, in New York. There’s reason, he says, that sad people commonly describe the world as “colourless” and “gray”, and happy people use words like “bright” and “colorful”.
In the experiment, the researchers randomly assigned people to one of two groups. People in the sadness group watched a sad scene from The Lion King. Those in the “amusement” group watched a comedy.
Everyone was then asked to look at red, yellow, green, and blue patches (斑点) that had been changed to a grayish colour. “Some of the patches are pretty difficulty to make out,” Thorstenson admits he says it takes some time to figure out their shade. People were scored on how accurate their colour perception was. Then they completed an emotional evaluation.
The result? Sad people had a hard time seeing the difference between shades along the blue-yellow colour axis (色轴). But they did not have problems seeing colours in the red-green spectrum (光谱). Thorstenson says this could be the result of an evolutionary need to see red as a response to anger.
Thorstenson says these results highlight the possible important of dopamine in sight. Dopamine is a chemical that sends signals to the brain. Researchers are hoping to focus more on dopamine in the future. “We know dopamine affects how we see colours, too,” Thorstenson says “How we feel can really influence how we see the world around us” he says.
1.According to paragraph 2, how people describe the world reflects ________.
A. how they feel B. how they think
C. their world view D. their language skills
2.In the experiment, the participants were asked to watch different programs so as to ________.
A. check their feelings B. influence their moods
C. develop their interests D. test their personalities
3.Why were the patches made grayish in the experiment? ________
A. To make them look prettier
B. To make them hard to recognize
C. Because it changed the participants’ attitudes
D. Because it was good for the participants’ eyes
4.Which colour is easier to recognize for sad people? ________
A. Blue B. Yellow
C. Red D. Gray
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
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go after head for cheer up to one????s relief be in good spirits
look back on forget about keep...company
1.After the conference Chairman Xi ________the leaders of other countries ________when they had a rest.
2.They were so busy that they even ________their own meals.
3.________those hard time now, I don’t feel regretful at all.
4.The army ________despite the uncomfortable conditions.
5.________your goals and don’t be afraid to meet with difficulties.
6.Come, ________, old man; there’s no use losing heart.
7.When word about this got round, people quickly ________the spot.
8.Much ________, our performance was fully appreciated by the audience, mostly college students.
高二英语完成句子中等难度题查看答案及解析
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From July to October every year, about a quarter of the world’s blue whales feed in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California. But the whales currently face a major threat in their favorite feeding area. Ships carrying cargo (货物）sail in the same area at the same time. All too often, the whales’ paths and the ships’ travel lines overlap (重叠), and a ship will hit a whale.
According to a new study, these ship strikes have become a serious threat to the overall population of the world’s blue whales. Only about 10,000 of the creatures still exist worldwide. Blue whales are the largest known animals ever to live on Earth. Even so, if hit by a container ship, a blue whale will likely die from its injuries.
In 2007 alone, large ships killed five blue whales in the waters off San Francisco and Los Angeles, California. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) says that because there are so few whales already, losing three to five from the California whale population every year is a significant loss. “The estimated population of blue whales in this part of the Pacific is 2,500”, says Sean Hastings, a NOAA analyst. “So every whale counts toward this species moving off the endangered-species list.”
Now, marine scientists must figure out how to protect the whales from the giant container ships. One very simple program is already under way in the Santa Barbara Channel, a waterway that separates mainland California from the nearby Channel Islands.
The Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary has asked large container ships passing through the area to voluntarily slow down. Sailing slower will allow the ships‟ crew (船员）more time to change course before hitting a whale.
Several of the world’s largest shipping lines are set to participate in the new program. For every ship that passes through the Santa Barbara Channel at or below the reduced speed of 12 knots (海里/小时）, the company that owns the ship will be paid $2,500.
1.From Paragraph 1, we can know that_____.
A. people intend to illegally hunt blue whales for money
B. large ships often carrying goods may pollute the sea
C. the container ships may hit the blue whales frequently
D. there is fewer fish in blue whales‟ favorite feeding area
2.Why is the death of several whales regarded as significant loss to the world's blue whales?
A. Because the number of the blue whales is so small.
B. Because other blue whales will be scared away.
C. Because blue whales are the largest animals in the world.
D. Because many blue whales get killed throughout the year.
3.According to Sean Hastings, it’s inferred that .
A. the number of the blue whales is decreasing sharply.
B. the blue whales are still on the endangered-species list.
C. most of the world’s blue whales live in the Pacific Ocean.
D. blue whales are often disturbed by other endangered creatures.
4.What are the last three paragraphs mainly about?
A. The basic responsibility of a sailor.
B. Measures to protect the blue whales.
C. The world’s largest shipping lines.
D. Ways to slow down the speed of the ships.
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
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Many science fiction stories tell about explorers arriving in a new world. The explorers then use some kind of high-tech device to test for breathable air or signs of life. But here on Earth, science fiction is becoming reality through a new sampling technology called environmental DNA, or eDNA for short. Scientists can use it to identify rare species or estimate fish populations with just a little air or water.
Environmental DNA can be used in two ways. One is to identify the creatures that live in a certain place. The other is to confirm the presence or lack of a specific creature.
Caren Goldberg is one of the first biologists to take the technology from the testing stage to actually using it. She sees eDNA as a way to get answers more efficiently and with less destruction compared to traditional survey techniques. Until recently, scientists depended on snorkeling ( 潜水), netting or using an electric current to temporarily catch fish.
This newer way to identify what lives in the environment is becoming popular around the world. Animal experts in Vietnam are using the eDNA to find the last, wild Yangtze giant softshell turtles. One researcher on the Caribbean island of Trinidad is using the sampling technology to find endangered golden treefrogs. In Madagascar, it is being used to identify amphibian(两栖动物)diseases.
Ms Goldberg has used eDNA testing to confirm the local extinction (灭绝) of a leopard frog in the American state of Idaho. She has also been asked to document the spread of the New Zealand mudsnail in the state of Washington. The creature has been found in lakes and other waterways across the state.
Scientists working with the technology say they do not expect robots to replace field biologists anytime soon. But the old-fashioned field work could soon be more targeted.
1.Compared to traditional survey techniques, eDNA is more______.
A. complex B. eco-friendly
C. dangerous D. convincing
2.By using eDNA, Caren Goldberg has______.
A. succeeded in catching many fishes
B. found the existence of golden treefrogs
C. documented the spread of softshell turtles
D. confirmed the disappearance of the leopard frog in Idaho
3.What can we infer from the last paragraph ?
A. Robots will replace scientists soon.
B. Some scientists are against using eDNA.
C. The old-fashioned field work may disappear.
D. Many biologists are unwilling to do the field work.
4.What is the best title for the text?
A. Science Fiction Becomes Reality for Species Surveys
B. Biologists Explore Space with the Help of eDNA
C. Scientists Found Methods to Test for Signs of Life
D. New Technologies Are Presented in Science Fictions
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
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根据短文内容,从短文后的选项中选出能填入空白处的最佳选项,选项中有两项为多余选项。
Some Ways to Cheer Up
Feeling a little blue? Here are ten fast and easy ways to smile.
①Exercise
When you exercise, your brain gives out a chemical called endorphins(内啡肽).This chemical makes you feel happier. 1.
②Play outside
Leave your apartment and go outside. Sun and fresh air are good for you.
③Breathe
If you can’t go to the gym, try taking deep breaths. 2.
④Play pop music
Westlife, Backstreet Boys, S.H.E....who doesn’t like a little mindless pop? Listening to upbeat, happy music will make you smile. Singing along won’t hurt either.
⑤Laughter is the best medicine
3. Children laugh around 400 times a day. Adults only laugh about 20 times a day. What happened? Be a kid for a day: play games, watch funny movies, or read jokes online.
⑥4.
Chocolate has special natural chemicals that make you happy. Besides, it tastes so good!
⑦Draw
Be an artist! Draw, paint, or make something. Even if it is not perfect, being creative relieves stress.
⑧Get a dog
Dogs are cute, energetic, and fun. Plus, studies show that people with pets live longer and people with dogs live the longest!
⑨Have a heart-to-heart talk
If something is upsetting you, it is a good idea to talk about it. Call a friend or relative. 5.
⑩Think positive
Close your eyes and think of a beautiful scene or a time when you were happy and feeling good.
A. Laughing is the best way to improve your mood.
B. Everyone likes laughing.
C. The youth like chatting online.
D.A good chat is a great way to feel better fast.
E. Power of chocolate
F. Breathing deeply will relax your muscles and give you energy.
G. That is just another reason why exercise is good for you.
高二英语七选五中等难度题查看答案及解析
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The Writers' Strike：Making the Best of the Worst
By now you are probably feeling the effects of the TV writers' strike－the decision of television writers to stop working. With few new TV shows, I present to you a list of shows available on DVD worth your viewing time to keep you going during this painful period.
Arrested Development is one of the funniest and most clever shows ever to have appeared on network TV. With a most perfect cast, the show sets out to cover the daily happenings of the Bluth family, a group of selfish staff who manage to still put family first.
For more comedy goodness, I recommend one of the sharpest comedies to have ever aired－30 Rock. Starring Tina Fey and Alec Baldwin, two stars with impressive comic timing，the show gives you a glimpse into the making of a sketch show(幽默短剧), similar to Saturday Night Live, from the funny writers to the selfcentered cast all the way up to the boss.
If you are looking for something more serious, or perhaps more juicy, Friday Night Lights might be more to your liking. If you are a fan of football, this show is probably for you. If you are a fan of great drama，both soapy and serious，this show is probably for you. If you are a fan of goodlooking people, this show is definitely for you.
If those shows were not enough for you, might I recommend a show with a more heartpounding excitement? The Amazing Race, after twelve seasons, still remains one of the most exciting shows on TV. Teams of two travel the globe with little to no money and experience farout adventures in an attempt to remain the last team standing.
1.If you are fond of soapy TV shows, you will probably choose to watch________.
A．Friday Night Lights
B．30 Rock
C．The Amazing Race
D．Saturday Night Live
2.From the DVD shows listed above, we can learn that________.
A．two teams won the amazing race
B．football fans enjoy The Amazing Race
C．the Bluths care about their family though selfish
D．30 Rock and Saturday Night Live have nothing in common
3.The author writes the passage to tell us that________.
A．the effects of the TV writers' strike are great
B．the strike puts TV shows in the worst situation
C．watching DVD is a good choice during the strike
D．we should choose DVD shows according to our tastes
4.The passage is most probably taken from ________
A．a book review B．a newspaper C．a film poster D．a DVD menu
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析