Have you ever seen a real night sky that looks like Van Gogh’s Starry Night? I hope not! So, why would an artist paint the sky this way? Perhaps I can answer that with another question. When you’re happy, why do you sing instead of speaking? Or when you’re in love, why do you speak of roses and honey? When we do these things, we, too are artists. We’re using something that goes beyond a mere scientific description in order to communicate our feelings more powerfully than straightforward words can. So consider for a moment that Van Gogh might not have been hallucinating on the night he painted this. Maybe he felt something so powerful that he had to go beyond the familiar to express it.
I hope I’m reminding you of something you already know as I describe the experience of being outside at night under a crystal clear sky that makes everything seem clean and refreshing. So you look up. And suddenly you see the sky that you’ve seldom seen before. It’s not just the same old dark night sky tonight. Instead, the blackness is a deep, rich blue that is more bottomless than any ocean. The stars are not spots of light but brilliant, magical diamonds that dance like tiny angels. In just this special moment, the sky is somehow alive, and it seems to speak to you silently about the meaning of infinity.
Now look at the painting again. Can you see something of what makes this such a famous and well-loved image? But there’s more here than that. Van Gogh painted this while he was quite struck down by a mental disease. It is natural to imagine that he frequently battled the fear that he would never escape his prison to true freedom. It is natural for us to imagine this because each of us has faced our own personal prison, whether it be disease, the loss of a loved one, serious financial problems … In such moments it is tempting to give up to despair and collapse in hopelessness.
Looking at this painting, I imagine Van Gogh in just such a moment of despair, when he is struck by the memory of one of those amazing night skies. He recalls the sense that he is not alone, that there is a living, infinite world with rich colorful creatures and scenes all around.
And so the sky flows across the canvas full of vitality and power. The stars don’t just sparkle; they explode. Looking closer, we notice that the earth itself seems to respond to the movement in the sky, forming its own living waves in the mountain and rolling trees. In the sleepy village, the windows of the houses glow with the same light that brightens the universe. The giant trees at the left seem to capture the joy by stretching upwards toward the sky.
What a tremendous message of hope there is in this masterpiece! Even if our troubles persist, the world around us assures us that life is worth living. That’s what the angels sing about. Doesn’t it make you want to sing, too?
1.Looking at the painting Starry Night, we can see all the following except ________.
A. the singing angels B. the giant trees
C. the sleeping village D. the sparkling stars
2.Van Gogh does NOT describe a feeling of ________ through the Starry Night.
A. happiness B. vitality C. power D. despair
3.What is the main purpose of this passage?
A. To explain how Van Gogh painted the Starry Night.
B. To tell us how to appreciate the Starry Night.
C. To prove Van Gogh was in a hallucinating state of mind while painting the picture.
D. To show us the beauty of the sky on a Starry Night.
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题
Have you ever seen a real night sky that looks like Van Gogh’s Starry Night? I hope not! So, why would an artist paint the sky this way? Perhaps I can answer that with another question. When you’re happy, why do you sing instead of speaking? Or when you’re in love, why do you speak of roses and honey? When we do these things, we, too are artists. We’re using something that goes beyond a mere scientific description in order to communicate our feelings more powerfully than straightforward words can. So consider for a moment that Van Gogh might not have been hallucinating on the night he painted this. Maybe he felt something so powerful that he had to go beyond the familiar to express it.
I hope I’m reminding you of something you already know as I describe the experience of being outside at night under a crystal clear sky that makes everything seem clean and refreshing. So you look up. And suddenly you see the sky that you’ve seldom seen before. It’s not just the same old dark night sky tonight. Instead, the blackness is a deep, rich blue that is more bottomless than any ocean. The stars are not spots of light but brilliant, magical diamonds that dance like tiny angels. In just this special moment, the sky is somehow alive, and it seems to speak to you silently about the meaning of infinity.
Now look at the painting again. Can you see something of what makes this such a famous and well-loved image? But there’s more here than that. Van Gogh painted this while he was quite struck down by a mental disease. It is natural to imagine that he frequently battled the fear that he would never escape his prison to true freedom. It is natural for us to imagine this because each of us has faced our own personal prison, whether it be disease, the loss of a loved one, serious financial problems … In such moments it is tempting to give up to despair and collapse in hopelessness.
Looking at this painting, I imagine Van Gogh in just such a moment of despair, when he is struck by the memory of one of those amazing night skies. He recalls the sense that he is not alone, that there is a living, infinite world with rich colorful creatures and scenes all around.
And so the sky flows across the canvas full of vitality and power. The stars don’t just sparkle; they explode. Looking closer, we notice that the earth itself seems to respond to the movement in the sky, forming its own living waves in the mountain and rolling trees. In the sleepy village, the windows of the houses glow with the same light that brightens the universe. The giant trees at the left seem to capture the joy by stretching upwards toward the sky.
What a tremendous message of hope there is in this masterpiece! Even if our troubles persist, the world around us assures us that life is worth living. That’s what the angels sing about. Doesn’t it make you want to sing, too?
1.Looking at the painting Starry Night, we can see all the following except ________.
A. the singing angels B. the giant trees
C. the sleeping village D. the sparkling stars
2.Van Gogh does NOT describe a feeling of ________ through the Starry Night.
A. happiness B. vitality C. power D. despair
3.What is the main purpose of this passage?
A. To explain how Van Gogh painted the Starry Night.
B. To tell us how to appreciate the Starry Night.
C. To prove Van Gogh was in a hallucinating state of mind while painting the picture.
D. To show us the beauty of the sky on a Starry Night.
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
IMAGINE that your parents have bought you the most advanced robot. He looks like a real person. He talks to you and plays with you. He can even think for himself and figure out what you need.
It may feel as if you have a considerate new brother who keeps you company all the time. But come to think of it, can you really trust him?
Ever since the first robot was created decades ago, scientists have kept thinking about the task of making robots more like humans. However, as they have gotten closer to that goal, doubts have grown. According to the BBC, Japanese robot designer Masahiro Mori argues that the more lifelike robots become, the more humans feel a connection to them. But once they become too similar to humans, people begin to feel uncomfortable.
This theory is what led to the creation of a brand new robot in Switzerland earlier this month. Roboy, as the new machine is called, has various human-like abilities such as hand-shaking and bicycle-riding, but instead of a skin-like covering, Roboy is wrapped in shiny white armor (盔甲) that clearly shows its robot status.
“As long as people can clearly see that the robot is a machine, even if they project their feelings into it, then they feel comfortable,” Rolf Pfeifer, the creator of Roboy from the University of Zurich, Switzerland, told the BBC.
But the problem that people have with robots is not just with the way they look. It also has to do with the roles that they play in our lives.
A survey last year of European Union countries showed that 88 percent of those interviewed agreed that robots are “necessary as they can do jobs that are too hard or dangerous for people”, such as space exploration and war fighting. But when it comes to taking care of children, 60 percent said that robots should not be allowed to participate, because as robots become more advanced and complicated, parents may tend to hand over too much responsibility to them.
No matter what, robots will soon enter our homes, Pfeifer said. What is not yet clear is whether they will act more like servants who work for us or companions who live with us.
1.What is the purpose of the text?
A. To introduce the newly-invented robot, Roboy.
B. To discuss problems related to designing robots.
C. To explore the roles robots will play in our future lives.
D. To argue what kinds of robots appeal to people more.
2.Why did Pfeifer make Roboy look like a robot?
A. To better protect it.
B.To make it look cool and modern.
C. To make it clearly different from a human.
D. To keep its price down.
3.Which best describes the author’s tone in the article?
A. Objective(客观的). B. Critical(批评的).
C. Admiring. D. Anxious.
4.Which of the following statements is true according to the passage?
A. The brand new robot in Switzerland can do everything human beings can.
B. Scientists have long been dreaming of creating human-like robots.
C. Robots in the future will serve as human beings’ good friends.
D. People won’t be comfortable with robots like a machine in the house.
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
Did you ever have one of those dreams that seemed to go on forever? I had one like that last night. I was walking down an old, side road _______I used to walk along as a teenager. I wasn’t quite _______ where I was headed, but I felt very determined to get there. Like in many _______, time seemed fluid and people seemed ageless. As I walked along I kept _______ people from both my _______ and my present. I saw both my Mom and my Grandma who had passed away and I was able to _______ them both one more hug. I ran into many childhood friends and we talked, joked, and laughed just like we were _______ again.
Still, I kept walking, hoping to reach wherever I was headed. Around every turning, though, there was _______ new. I saw strangers _______ and stopped to help them. I met a smiling, old man who ________ shared his life’s wisdom with me and then I ________ passed it on to young children further down the road. With every ________steps it seemed there was a ________ adventure in learning and love. I never got to where I was going and ________ feeling like I had lived a lifetime in a single ________. It ________ me a bit that I never ________ where I was headed. ________ then I realized that this dream was a lot like our life. It is the walk that ________. You will meet a lot of wonderful people and go through a lot of ________ experiences.
1.A. what B. where C. that D. how
2.A. puzzled B. doubtful C. happy D. sure
3.A. roads B. dreams C. journeys D. nights
4.A. looking B. waiting C. searching D. meeting
5.A. future B. past C. family D. experience
6.A. show B. owe C. give D. ask
7.A. neighbors B. adults C. kids D. friends
8.A. anything B. something C. everything D. nothing
9.A. in need B. in delight C. with respect D. for certain
10.A. seriously B. hesitantly C. happily D. casually
11.A. lovingly B. unwillingly C. surprisingly D. jokingly
12.A. other B. little C. per D. few
13.A. dangerous B. familiar C. fresh D. similar
14.A. jumped up B. woke up C. lay down D. bowed down
15.A. life B. bed C. house D. night
16.A. comforted B. impressed C. reminded D. bothered
17.A. remembered B. planned C. reached D. lost
18.A. But B. Because C. So D. For
19.A. arrives B. happens C. works D. matters
20.A. valueless B. interesting C. common D. painful
高二英语完形填空困难题查看答案及解析
There are hundreds of visitors________in front of the Art Gallery to have a look at Van Gogh’s paintings．
A．wait B．to wait C．waited D．waiting
高二英语单项填空简单题查看答案及解析
Have you ever seen any students whose trousers hang so low that you can see their underwear?What do you think of that?Fashionable?Some of today’s teenagers are big fans of such a look．But recently this trend has been at the centre of an argument in Italian middle schools．
The headmaster of a school in central Italy has asked students to stop wearing low—rise jeans that expose underwear and parts of the body．His request came after a class trip．when he saw one boy’s baggy trousers slide to his feet．He pointed out that this way of dressing is not suitable for schoo1．
But in Italy，a nation that takes fashion very seriously，the suggestion caused a debate among parents．teachers and students．The issue is whether the head teacher’s request will limit students’ freedom—or whether dress in Italian schools is too casual(随意的)．
A parents’group praised the proposal in favour of good taste，while others advised schools to stop worrying about fashion and fix up old school buildings．
“We do not want to kick fashion out，’’ the headmaster explained．“But extremes of fashion like this are not right in schoo1．”Many other schools have now requested that their students also stop wearing such trousers．
Most students have simply ignored the request．Ludovica Gaudio,14,wore extremelv low trousers exposing orange underwear in class．It was cold，so she wore a matching orange scarf(围巾)．Another 14-year-old said she should probably respect the request，simply for practical reasons．”I don’t really feel comfortable in those sort of jeans”，said Sarah Lattanzi．”In winter，when dressed like that，it’s quite cold and I am afraid my stomach will ache．”
1.What leads to the argument in Italian middle schools?(no more than 5 words)
2.Why does the headmaster’s suggestion cause a debate in Italy?(no more than 12 words)
________
3.What does the headmaster encourage students to do?(no more than 7 words)
________
高二英语简答题困难题查看答案及解析
—Have you ever seen two leaves that are exactly the same?
—Never. Leaves differ ____ each other ____ size and shape.
A．from; in B．in; in C．in; from D．from; from
高二英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析
They aren’t great artists like Leonardo da Vinci or Vincent van Gogh, but their paintings are just as popular on Chinese social media, with millions of Chinese people willing to pay for them.
The 36 works were painted by ordinary Chinese people who live with autism (自闭症) or cerebral palsy (脑瘫), aged from their early teens to late thirties. They all studied art at World of Art Brut Culture (WABC), which is a Shanghai-based non-profit organization (非贏利组织) for art education. The project was started by WABC and supported by the Tencent Charitable Foundation. Users could buy a digital copy of each painting by donating (捐赠) 1 yuan or more. By Aug 29, donations totaled more than 15 million yuan, with about 5.8 million people participating (参与).
“The paintings by these autistic kids and adults are beautiful: the style is similar to that of the Dutch artist Van Gogh. I’m really impressed by their talent,” Feng Li, a customer service officer in Shanghai, told the South China Morning Post.
However, the popular campaign also led to certain questions.
Li Laoxi, an experienced special education teacher in Hangzhou, said that based on his experience, people with autism could only draw a few lines or fill in colors under the guidance of their trainers. “Maybe there are some geniuses out there, but I’ve never met them”. Others questioned where the money would go, as the donations went to WABC instead of the painters. In response to these concerns, Miao Shiming, founder of WABC, said the money would be used to employ art teachers, buy supplies, and rent facilities. Meanwhile, Tencent said that all donation information would be open to the public.
1.What is the text mainly about?
A.An online painting exhibition. B.A non-profit organization.
C.A public donation. D.An online survey about paintings.
2.What does WABC do for people with autism?
A.It helps them cure autism. B.It provides art education for them.
C.It gives them money D.It offers schooling to them.
3.Why did Li Laoxi, an experienced special education teacher question the project?
A.Because he thought autistic people could not draw.
B.Because he doubted about the painting abilities of autistic people.
C.Because he didn’t trust the organization, WABC.
D.Because he believed the paintings were painted only by geniuses.
4.What is the author’s attitude towards the project?
A.Disappointed. B.Appreciated.
C.Worried. D.Objective.
高二英语阅读理解困难题查看答案及解析
----Please give me that book.
-----______
-----To have a look at it.
A.Here you are. B.What for? C.Really? D.What if?
高二英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析
Have you ever had a science class that you look forward to? It doesn’t happen often. But when you have a teacher like Mrs. Field, it’s more than a science class. It’s a science class where learning is easy and fun. There is no getting down to a huge textbook or listening to a teacher about something you don’t care about.
My experience with Mrs. Field didn’t start with science class, but with her as my tutor. I was always a weak reader and wasn’t getting any better. My parents told me I needed to be tutored. One day after school, I went into the library with my mom for my first tutoring time. I had no idea who was tutoring me. My mom practically had to drag me into the library. The first thing we did was to play a game to get to know each other and get rid of the awkwardness. We didn’t even play a reading game.
We also went around the library and I got to pick out a book I wanted to read. She didn’t make me read a boring textbook about something I didn’t care about. I didn’t even pick a book. I picked out a magazine about remote control cars. I thought to myself, how bad could it be? To my surprise, She told me even though I was reading a magazine, I was still reading. After the first magazine, she picked out a book she liked. I would read a chapter and then she would read a chapter to me, in this way I didn’t have to read for long periods of time.
As I got better and faster at reading, I was able to read two chapters in the same amount of time, which used to take me to read one chapter.
Reading is one of the most important things in high school and college to be successful. If it were not for her, I would not be the reader I am today !
1. The writer tutored by Mrs. Field because____________.
A. he was too shy to talk with others.
B. he found science fun but hard.
C. he was eager to learn science.
D. he lacked the skills of reading.
2. It can be inferred from the second paragraph that __________.
A. the writer knew Mrs. Field very well
B. the writer was unwilling to be tutored
C. the writer felt awkward to read in the library
D. the writer went to the library to play a reading game
3. At the library, the writer __________.
A. chose any book he was interested in
B. played a reading game with Mrs. Field
C. was asked to read one chapter after another
D. had to read textbooks rather than magazines
4.What’s the author’s feeling about Mrs. Field according to the last paragraph?
A. unsatisfied B. worried
C. grateful D. regretful
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
You ________ believe how wonderful Van Gogh’s “Sunflowers” is until you ________ it with your own eyes.
A．won’t … see B．don’t … will see
C．will … see D．do … will see
高二英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析