Light travels at a speed which is about a mil...

Light travels at a speed which is about a million times faster than the speed of sound. In one second, light travels about 300,000 km, but sound travels only 344m. You can get some idea of this difference by watching the start of a race. If you stand some distance away from the starter, you can see smoke come from his gun before the sound reaches your ears. This great speed of light produces some strange facts. Sunlight takes about 8 minutes to reach us. If you look at the light of the moon tonight, remember that the light rays（光线）left the moon 1.3 seconds before they reached you. The nearest star is so far away that the light which you can see from it tonight started to travel towards you four years ago at a speed of nearly 2 million km per minute. In some cases the light from one of tonight’s stars started on its journey to you before you were born.

Thus, if we want to be honest, we cannot say “The stars are shinning tonight.” We have to say, “The stars look pretty. They were shining four years ago but their light has only just reached Earth.”　

1.If you stand 200 meters away from a man who is firing a gun to start a race, you will find out that _____.

A. you can hear the gun before you see the smoke.

B. sound does not travel as fast as light.

C. the sound of the gun will reach you before the man fires his gun.

D. sound travels about a million times faster than light.

2.Sunlight clearly _____ than the light of the moon.

A. has to travel a greater distance　

B. moves less quickly

B. travels much more quickly　　

D. is less powerful

3.What does “it” in the second paragraph refer to?

A. moon light　　 　　　　　　　　　 B. light rays

C. the nearest star　 　　　　　　 D. the moon

4.The light of the nearest star you see tonight has been ______ for years.

A. on the earth　　　　　　　　　 B. on the moon　　

C. away from the sun　　　　　　 D. away from the star

高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

The Docklands Light Railway(DLR) took just three years to build at a cost of ￡77 million. It is London’s first Light Rail System, but its route follows that of a number of older lines, which carried the nineteenth century railways through the crowded districts of the East End.

The section of the line from the Tower Gateway Station to Poplar follows the line of one of London’s earliest railways, the London & Blackwell(1840), a cable-drawn railway(later converted to steam) which carried passengers to steam ships at Blackwell Pier, and provided transport for the messengers and clerks who went backwards and forwards between the docks and the city every day.

From Poplar to Island Gardens, a new line crosses high above the dock waters, and then joins the old track of the Millwall Extension Railway, built to service the Millwall Docks(1868) and to provide transport for workers in the local factories. This line was horse-drawn for part of its route, until the 1880s.

The Poplar to Stratford section of the DLR route was first developed by the North London Railway, built in the 1850s to link the West and East India Docks with the manufacturing districts of the Midlands and North of England. There were major railway works and sidings(岔线) at Bow until recently.

The trains are automatically controlled from a central computer, which deals with all signaling and other safety factors, as well as adjusting speeds to keep within the timetable; on board each vehicle, Train Captains, who are also fully qualified drivers, are equipped with two-way radios to maintain contact with central control. There are passenger lifts, and self-service ticket machines, at every station.

1.The history of the railway tells us that the DLR ______.

A.was begun in the nineteen century

B.follows some of the original line

C.will be finished in three years’ time

D.took three years longer than expected to complete

2.It appears that the Poplar to Stratford section of the DLR route was originally developed to ____.

A.make the transport of goods easier B.encourage trade abroad

C.promote the transport in England D.create employment at home

3.The trains on the DLR are controlled by ______.

A.drivers on the trains themselves B.two-way radios operated by the drivers

C.a computer on board the train D.a computer based elsewhere

高二英语阅读理解简单题查看答案及解析

The speed ______ Tom drives his car is too high.

A．in which          B．at which           C．at that            D．in what

高二英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析

— Our country is developing at an amazing speed!

—Yes. This is 　　　　 makes me feel so proud.

A. which　　 B. why

C. where　　 D. what

高二英语单项填空困难题查看答案及解析

Burn rate is the speed at which a startup business consumes money. My rate was $ 75,000  a month. Four months after my company was set up, I had only a quarter of the starting capital left in the bank.

Looking for guidance, I went to talk to my friend, Arthur Walworth about my new venture. “Times of great change always bring out the risk-takers,” he said. “And they leave winners and losers. My grandfather invested a lot of money in a project of Thomas Edison’ s that ended up in failure. ”

I was lost in thought at the notion(an idea or belief about something) of a Thomas Edison project ending in failure. Damn. It could happen to anybody! I must continue.

At that time CD-ROM sales had bombed, so investors were fleeing from the field. I didn’t turn away from mine entirely, but instead linked it to the internet.

My plan was to offer consumers descriptions of home-design products by using a special software and let them modify the designs. Then we can enable them to get online professional and constructional help to have their houses built, decorated and furnished according to their own choice.

To realize my plan I needed investors, so I continued to meet regularly with venture capitalists. One said I had a great idea. But I needed to test it. Get the money somewhere. To get this money from a venture capitalist is going to cost my wife and my children! He turned down my request.

Wife? Children? I hardly remembered them.

I was working nonstop---struggling to turn the key in the lock, to find the right way ahead. The pressure was terrible. It was just at this time that my parents and sisters stepped up. Two hundred thousand dollars. A lot of money to them, invested in this crazy son and brother without a moment’s hesitation. Dad and Mom had driven out from Chicago and seen the passion in my little office and the trouble at home.

With their help my company survived and has been prospering ever since.

1.When the author’s company started operation, he had _______ .

A. $ 450,000    B.$ 400,000   C.$ 350,000     D. $ 300,000

2.Arthur implies that to start a business in times of change, people have to _______ .

A. rely on famous people all be time   B. invest as much money as possible

C. face the risks of possible failure    D. think about nothing but success

3.The author’s company was engaged in _______

A. furniture design and production      B. online home-design service

C. traditional home designing          D. home decoration business

4. Faced with a very unfavorable market situation, the author decided  _______  .

A.  to improve his service       B.  to start a new business

C. to withdraw his money        D. to reduce his investment

高二英语阅读理解简单题查看答案及解析

Any habit ______ slows down your silent reading to the speed at which you speak, or read aloud, is inefficient.

A．which            B．/                C．that              D．who

高二英语单项填空简单题查看答案及解析

The number of speakers of English in Shakespeare’s time is estimated to have been about five million. Today it is estimated that some 260 million people speak it as a native language, mainly in the United States, Canada, Great Britain, Ireland, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. In addition to the standard varieties of English found in these areas, there are a great many regional and social varieties of the language as well as various levels of usage that are employed both in its spoken and written forms.

In fact, it is impossible to estimate the number of people in the world who have acquired an adequate working knowledge of English in addition to their own languages. The purpose for English learning and the situations in which such learning takes place are so varied that it is difficult to explain and still more difficult to judge what forms an enough working knowledge for each situation.

The main reason for the widespread demand for English is its present-day importance as a world language. Besides serving the various needs of its native speakers, English is a language in which some of important works in science, technology, and other fields are being produced, and not always by native speakers. It is widely used for such purposes as meteorological (气象的) and airport communications, international conferences, and the spread of information over the radio and television networks of many nations. It is a language of wider communication for a number of developing countries, especially former British colonies . Many of these countries have multilingual populations and need a language for internal communication in such matters as government, commerce, industry, law and education as well as for international communication and for entrance to the scientific and technological developments in the West.

1.Which of the following statements is NOT true?

A.It is likely to tell the number of people with an enough working knowledge of English.

B.There are some 260 million native speakers of English in the world.

C.Apart from the standard English，there are other forms of Englishes.

D.People all around the world learn English for a variety of reasons.

2.According to the passage, what is the main reason for the widespread use of English?

A.It was popular during Shakespeare’s time.

B.It is used in former British colonies.

C.It is a world language that is used for international communication.

D.It serves the needs of its native speakers.

3.What forms an enough working knowledge of English?

A.Being a multilingual.

B.Being a native speaker.

C.The ability to read a newspaper.

D.It is difficult to judge because it differs for each situation.

4.What type of developing countries would be most likely to use English?

A.Those geographically close to the United States.

B.Former colonies of Great Britain.

C.Those interested in the culture of the United States.

D.Countries where international conferences are held.

5.What would be the best title for this passage?

A.The Difficulties of Learning English B.International Communications

C.The Standard Varieties of English D.English as a World Language

高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

London’s newest skyscraper(摩天大楼)is called the Shard and it cost about 430 million pounds to build．At a height of almost 310 meters，it is the tallest building in Europe．The Shard has completely changed the appearance of London．However，not everyone thinks that it is a change for the better．

The Shard was designed by the famous Italian architect Renzo Piano．When he began designing the Shard for London，Piano wanted a very tall building that looked like a spire(尖顶)．The sides of the building aren’t regular．So the building has an unusual shape．And that is how the building got the name：the Shard．Piano says that the spire shape of the Shard is part of a great London tradition．The shape reminds him of the spires of the churches of London or the tall masts(桅杆)of the ships that were once on the river Thames．

The Shard has 87 floors．At the moment the building is empty，but finally there will be a five-star hotel．There will also be top quality restaurants，apartments and offices．

Before building work began，a lot of people didn’t want the Shard though the plans were approved．Now they are still unhappy about the Shard．Some critics say that such a tall skyscraper might be good in a city like New York，but not in London．They say that the best thing about the Shard is its shape．But that is the only thing．There is no decoration，only flat surfaces．The Egyptians(埃及人)did that 4，500 years ago．

Other critics don’t like what the Shard seems to represent．They say that the Shard shows how London is becoming more unequal．Only very rich people can afford to buy the expensive apartments and stay in the hotel．But the people living near the Shard are among the poorest in London．So the Shard seems a symbol of the division(分化)in society between the very rich and the poor．

The Shard now dominates the London skyline．It is not certain，however，that ordinary London citizens will ever accept it as a valuable addition to the city．

1.London’s newest skyscraper is called the Shard because of_________．

A. its cost　　 B. its shape

C. its height　　 D. its size

2.When he designed the Shard，Piano wanted it to_________．

A. inherit London’s tradition　　 B. attract foreign visitors

C. copy the Egyptian style　　 D. change London’s skyline

3.The critics who refer to social division think the Shard_________．

A. is only preferred by the rich

B. is intended for wealthy people

C. is far away from the poor area

D. is popular only with Londoners

4.Which would be the best title for the passage?

A. The Shard：Cheers and Claps

B. The Shard：Work of a Great Architect

C. The Shard：New Symbol of London?

D. The Shard：A Change for the Better?

高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

Gravity signals that race through the ground at the speed of light could help seismologists(地震学家) get a better handle on the size of large, destructive quakes soon after they hit，a study suggests. The tiny changes in Earth’s gravitational field, created when the ground shifts, arrive at earthquake monitoring stations well before earthquake waves.

“The good thing we can do with these signals is have quick information on the magnitude (震级) of the quake,” says Martin Vaillée, a seismologist at the Paris Institute of Earth Physics.

Earthquake equipment in China and South Korea picked up gravity signals immediately after the magnitude-9. 1 Tohoku earthquake that destroyed parts of Japan in 2011. The signals appear as tiny accelerations on earthquake-recording equipment, more than a minute before the seismic waves show up.

“We can look before the earthquake waves arrive,” says Vallée. “If we see nothing, we can say that the quake that made these was maybe large, but not huge. If we see the signals, it means we really have a very big quake. ”

Had seismologists been monitoring for gravity changes, they might have realized sooner just how big the Tohoku earthquake was. A small increase in an earthquake’s magnitude means a large change in the energy released by the quake-and the destruction expected. That information is important for emergency responders as they decide what resources to arrange.

It’ll be a major contribution if gravitational waves can beat down the time needed to know that a big earthquake is big. But much work remains before gravity signals can be considered a reliable tool in the vital minutes after a big quake. A few extra minutes of warning can save lives, particularly in coastal areas where people can flee ahead of an incoming tsunami.

1.What can be judged if gravity signals appear on the equipment?

A. When earthquakes will take place.　　 B. When a terrible tsunami is coming

C. What degree an earthquake reaches.　　 D. How quickly a huge earthquake spreads.

2.How is the study of gravity signals progressing?

A. It’s already been used to predict quakes.　　 B. It is not getting along quite well.

C. It is gating on smoothly.　　 D. It needs further research,

3.What is the practical benefit of this discovery?

A. Predicting earthquakes successfully.

B. Offering a longer time to save lives.

C. Letting scientists better know earthquakes.

D. Replacing the present earthquake prediction.

4.Which of following can be the best title for the text?

A. Gravity signals could speedily warn of huge quakes

B. Scientists have more than one way to forecast quakes.

C. Human beings are no longer afraid of huge quakes.

D. Advanced technology could prevent huge quakes.

高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

The speed and convenience of modern travel means that destinations that used to take a long time to travel to can now be reached quickly and easily. Even though” faraway” countries may now seem closer thanks to air travel, they may still be different from your home country.________1.________Following are some fundamental rules that will make communication easier, and your trip more enjoyable.

2.________If you don not know the word for something in local language, or can not make yourself understood verbally, try drawing a picture, or pointing to an object.

Avoid topics of conversation that you think may be sensitive.________3.________.Feel free to show interest in the history and customs of the place you are visiting, but don’t ask too many questions about why things are done a certain way; you may offend the local people.

________4.________Kissing on the street or in public places is unacceptable behavior and should be avoided. If you are unsure of how to behave, watch the local people and copy them---if they don’t behave in a certain way, you probably shouldn’t either.

Finally, if you are traveling on business, or plan to stay with a host to family, and you wish to take a gift, do some research. ________5.________. One of the easiest ways to offend somebody is to give the wrong gift.

Wherever you go in the world, always be tolerant of the local customs. Avoid being critical; try instead to show respect for the values of the country you are in, even if you do not necessarily agree with them

A．Keep in mind that in many cultures, display affection in public is considered taboo.

B．Consider the main lifestyle of the country you plan to visit.

C．Never raise your voice in order to make yourself understood.

D．If a topic is sensitive in your own culture, it will more than likely be the same in other cultures.

E．The idea of the perfect gift varies greatly from country to country.

F．The opening of gifts is also treated very differently around the world.

G．Therefore, it is important to adapt your behavior not to offend the local people.

高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析