Consumers are getting more sensible and buy o...

Consumers are getting more sensible and buy only________they need in spite of all the advertisements they see.

A. that    B. what    C. which    D. whether

高二英语单项填空困难题查看答案及解析

More and more Italians are leaving their country because they can not get a job. One in every three Italians say they are willing to go abroad, sometimes even to other continents to get work. Currently, about 300,000 young Italians may be living abroad.

Although emigration has always been a choice for Italians, especially for those who left the country at the beginning of the twentieth century, more young Italians think leaving their home country is the only way to escape economic difficulty. These young Italians, however, are not poor farmers or laborers but bright university graduates and other talented young people.

Many of them want to go to richer places, like northern Europe, but they are also prepared to go elsewhere. Most of them describe a feeling of unhappiness and frustration. They are not sure which direction their country is heading and feel no longer proud of being Italians.

Many leave because they think that getting a good job is possible in other countries where all doors are open to you if you are young and dynamic. However, in Italy everything is boring and old-fashioned. Italy’s economic system is largely based on family structures and the elderly who don’t want to give up power. Corruption(腐败) is also a big problem that simply won’t go away.

The Italian government is aware of the problem and says it must create new opportunities for its younger generation. But even if it starts working on a new style economy right away it may take years before things in Italy really change. The government has already passed laws which will make it easier for doctors, lawyers and other academics to start a career in Italy.

Many economic experts claim that Italy is doing a lot for its older generation but very little for its youth. For example, it spends little on housing, childcare but a lot on pensions.

1.Some people are leaving Italy mainly because they _____ .

A. want to get a job                B. want to travel abroad

C. prefer working abroad            D. no longer love their country

2.The Italian government _____ .

A. is blind to the problem of emigration

B. encourages young Italians to go abroad

C. has taken some measures to change the situation

D. promise to offer more jobs to young Italians soon

3.Many economic experts think that the Italian government should _____ .

A. do more for its youth

B. try to improve its economy

C. stop its youth from going abroad

D. solve the problem as soon as possible

4.What problem is Italy facing?

A. Most of its laborers are old.

B. There aren’t any truly talented youngsters.

C. The government officials’ attitude is old-fashioned.

D. People with power are doing illegal and dishonest things.

5.Which of the following might be the best title for the passage?

A. Italian emigration history

B. More care for old Italians

C. Young Italians are leaving Italy

D. The influence of economic difficulty

高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

It is becoming a growing trend that more and more consumers across the country are using cashless payment methods. The rapid development of third-party mobile payment tools is helping to boost cashless payments across the country, said Dong Ximiao, a researcher at the Renmin University of China.

Transactions (交易) involving third-party mobile payments rose by 46.8 percent in the first quarter of 2017 compared with the previous quarter to 18.8 trillion yuan, according to a report released in May.

Although there were 3.4 billion third-party payment accounts in total in China in 2016, China is not the first country to seek a cashless society. Developed states like Sweden, Denmark and Singapore are also witnessing that increase.

However, the rapid development of cashless payments does not mean there are no challenges and criticisms. Alibaba’s Hema store, where customers can shop, dine and order commodities for delivery from their mobile phones via Alipay, have come into the spotlight recently. Media reports said that consumers can’t purchase goods with cash there, which would be considered illegal.

Alipay and WeChat Pay, the nation’s two major third-party mobile payment tools, also launched campaigns this month to encourage more merchants and customers to use cashless payment methods, which caused concerns over whether cash will soon disappear.

“Some offline sellers refuse to accept cash, which impacts the natural circulation of yuan,” said Dong. He emphasized that a cashless society would not mean that cash would completely disappear. As the economy grows, the circulation of cash is still very huge, noted Dong. Also, it’s important to remember that nearly half of China’s population live in rural areas, especially in undeveloped western regions, unable to enjoy innovation (革新) brought by the Internet, Dong said. And when it comes to China’s senior citizens, most of them prefer to use cash in their daily lives, he added.

“It’s ridiculous to question digital payment tools’ contribution toward financial development. In the long term, various payment methods will be used by consumers, and merchants should respect consumers’ payment habits,” Dong noted.

1.What does the underlined word “that” in paragraph 3 probably refer to?

A. Economic activity　　 B. Large amount of payment

C. Development of economy　　 D. Cashless payment

2.Why has Alibaba’s Hema store become a focus?

A. It fights against illegal activities.

B. Customers are not permitted to use cash there.

C. It provides comprehensive services.

D. It starts campaigns to encourage mobile payment.

3.Which of the following will Dong find reasonable?

A. Various payment methods ought to be respected.

B. People should be encouraged to use mobile payment.

C. Most elderly people have no access to mobile payment.

D. Mobile payment isn’t beneficial to a cost-effective society.

4.What is the text mainly about?

A. China’s cashless trend　　 B. The research on mobile payment

C. The reasons to use mobile payment　　 D. China’s cashless future

高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

Electric cars are dirty. In fact, not only are they dirty, but they might even be more dirty than their gasoline-powered cousins.

People in California love to talk about “zero-emissions (排放) vehicles”, but people in California seem to be clueless about where electricity comes from. Power plants mostly use fire to make it. Apart from the few people who have their roofs covered with solar cells, we get our electricity from generators (发电机). Generators are fueled by something----usually coal, oil, but also by heat generated in nuclear power plants. There are a few wind farms and geothermal (地热) plants as well, but by far we get electricity mainly by burning something.

In other words, those “zero-emissions” cars are likely coal-burning cars. Because the coal is burned somewhere else, it looks clean. It is not true. It's as if the California Greens are covering their eyes----“If I can't see it, it's not happening.” Gasoline is an incredibly (极其) efficient way to power a vehicle; a gallon of gas has a lot of energy in it. But when you take that gas (or another fuel) and first use it to make electricity, you waste a nice part of that energy, mostly in the form of wasted heat--at the generator, through the transmission lines, etc.

A gallon of gas may drive your car 25 miles. But the electricity you get from that gallon of gas won't get you nearly as far---so electric cars burn more fuel than gasoline-powered ones. If our electricity came mostly from wind or geothermal, or solar, then an electric car truly would be clean. But for political, technical, and economic reasons, we don't use much of those energy sources.

In addition, electric cars' batteries which are poisonous for a long time will eventually end up in a landfill (垃圾填埋场). And finally, when cars are the polluters, the pollution is spread across all the roads. When it's a power plant, though, all the junk is in one place. Nature is very good at cleaning up when things are not too concentrated, but it takes a lot longer when all the garbage is in one spot.

1.Which of the following words can replace “be clueless about” in Paragraph 2?

A. be familiar with.　　　　　　　　　　　　　 B. fail to understand.

C. be curious about.　　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. show their interest in.

2.The electricity we get from a gallon of gas may make our car run _________.

A. at least 25 miles　　　　 　　　　　　　　 B. more than 25 miles

C. less than 25 miles　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. as far as 25 miles

3.In the author’s opinion, compared with cars using gas, electric cars are more __________.

A. harmful　　　　　　　　　　　　 　　 B. expensive

C. efficient　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. environmentally-friendly

4.It can be inferred from the passage that __________.

A. electric cars’ batteries are no longer poisonous in the landfill

B. electric cars are not clean since we get electricity mainly by burning something

C. zero-emissions vehicles should be chosen to protect our environment

D. now electric cars are used more than their gasoline-powered cousins

高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

A lot more people are about to get a chance to buy Google Glass. It’s the Internet-connected eyewear that has become the hottest sale.

Google will sell the “Explorer” version(版本) of Glass to any U.S. person who places an online order for the device beginning at 9am. PDT April 15. The product will cost $1,500. Google is saying how many sets of Glass will be available during the limited-time offer.

This version of Glass, though, still isn’t the perfect product that Google hopes to sell in stores later this year.

For now, Google is still trying to recruit(招聘) more people willing to serve as volunteers for its attempt to build a wearable device that features some of the same feature as a smart phone. “ Our Explorers are moms, bakers, surgeons, rockers, and each new Explorer has brought a new view that is making Glass better,” Google said.

The device has a small screen attached above the right eye. A user can check e-mails, see Twitter post or get directions without having to use a phone. It can also take hands-free photos and video through voice-activated(声控的) commands. The ability to record images so easily has raised safely concerns about drivers wearing Glass. The lawmakers have to draw up new rules forbidding use of the device in moving vehicles.

Google regards Glass as a breakthrough(突破). It will make it easier for people to surf the Internet while on the go. They also hope that the device could help police officers, firefighters, doctors and reporters do their jobs better.

1.What is special about Google Glass?

A. People can only order it online.

B. It’s cheaper than the ordinary glasses.

C. People can explore the Internet with it.

D. It doesn’t contain any actual glass in the future.

2.Google is still trying to recruit more volunteers to _____________.

A. improve their products

B. sell their products

C. advertise their products

D. wear their products

3.We can use Google Glass to do the following EXCEPT_____________.

A. check e-mails　　　　　　　 B. make a call

C. take video　　　　　　　　　 D. find your way

4.What problem may Google Glass bring to people?

A. Its screen is too small for people to surf the Internet.

B. It may cause traffic accidents if people use it while driving.

C. Users must use their hands to take photos.

D. It is difficult for many people to learn to use.

高二英语阅读理解困难题查看答案及解析

For most caffeine(咖啡因)consumers, its main benefit is that it helps you get more done. This is what makes it unusual, says Stephen Braun, author of Buzz: The Science and Lore of Alcohol and Caffeine.

“Its appeal is that it helps us earn more money,” he adds. “What makes it different from other drugs is that it’s used as a productivity tool –– not for pleasure.”

Many of history’s creative minds have also been connected with a large amount of caffeine consumption (消耗).

According to one biographer, the French novelist and playwright Balzac drank as many as 50 cups of coffee a day. “Were it not for coffee one could not write, which is to say one could not live,” he once insisted.

For seven years, the film-maker David Lynch ate at the same Los Angeles diner every day, drinking up to seven sweetened cups of coffee “with lots of sugar” in one sitting, which he said would guarantee that “lots of ideas” arrived.

Ludwig van Beethoven was said to have painstakingly counted out exactly 60 coffee beans per cup when he brewed(煮)coffee.

Perhaps recent tales of caffeine excess (过量) featured the singer Robbie Williams, who reportedly consumed 36 cups of black coffee and 20 cans of Red Bull a day.

It is the routine task itself, as much as the stimulating(刺激的)effects of caffeine, that makes the process so important, says Mason Currey, author of Daily Rituals: How Artists Work. “A lot of artists use the process of making coffee as a gateway to the creative process,” he adds. “You need to get into the right mindset to do that sort of work, and the preparation process provides a focus.”

One problem with attempting to control caffeine, says Braun, is that it affects everyone differently –– it is impossible to work out a “safe” limit that works for everyone. “Eventually, you have to become your own scientist –– there isn’t an alternative to careful self-experimentation,” he says.

1.The examples of some famous people are given to show that _______.

A. most artists like drinking coffee

B. drinking coffee helps artists make more money

C. there’s a link between drinking coffee and creating ideas

D. drinking coffee makes artists become more successful

2.What leads to the artists’ creative process according to Mason Currey?

A. Being lost in thought.　　　　 B. Drinking the coffee.

C. Brewing the coffee.　　　　 　　 D. Getting a good mindset.

3.What does Braun advise us to do in the end?

A. To drink less coffee.　　

B. Never to limit caffeine use.

C. To work out a safe level of caffeine use.

D. Never to take more coffee than you need.

高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

Americans are buying more products and services than ever before through the Internet, and the popularity of online sales is likely to spread to other countries. Online sales now represent as much as one-tenth of all retail(零售) sales in the United States，which has led traditional stores to seek new ways to keep their customers loyal.

Lynne Shaner used the Internet to buy everything she needed for her wedding and holiday gifts for her husband. Other than food, 90 percent of her purchases(购买的东西) were made on her home computer. “I find that, by being able to go online and opt for the things that I need to select and have them delivered to me right at my doorstep, I’m free from all the driving, all the crowds, all the noise, and I usually get a better selection.”

There are a lot of people like her. Experts say American online shopping hit records in both November and December. Fifty-seven percent of Americans have bought something electronically. Store owners worry that this growing amount of online sales will hurt their business. Cornell University marketing professor Ed McLaughlin says, “They should be worried. Anything that can move online will be sold online. And it's just a matter of time. However, traditional stores can keep their customers by selling goods like clothing, which buyers may want to see and try on before purchasing. The stores could also offer things that are difficult to ship. ”

Bill Martin, whose business helps stores learn about their customers, says, “Traditional stores offer a social experience that some people enjoy. There is still a lot of emotion in the buying decision that takes place, and you can't always get that on-line. It's a rather cold process. Traditional stores can provide goods for buyers more quickly than online stores. And some retailers are using websites to persuade people to visit their stores. ”

While online shopping worries some business owners, the only worry for delivery services like FedEx and UPS is keeping up with the number of packages. UPS Manager Dana Kline says her company is very busy at this time of year. UPS is so busy that it has filled 55,000 temporary worker positions during the holiday season.

1.According to Lynne Shaner, shopping online ________.

A. helps choose things she needs most

B. will replace traditional shopping soon

C. offer many benefits to customers

D. seldom provides a better selection

2.What does the underlined phrase “opt for” in the second paragraph mean?

A. choose           B. sell           C. design         D. purchase

3.Professor Ed McLaughlin thinks that _________.

A. online shopping has little effect on traditional stores

B. it is time for store owners to be anxious about their business

C. traditional stores can do nothing to stop challenges from online shopping

D. traditional stores should sell more things that are difficult to ship

4.What can we know from the fourth paragraph?

A. Online sales fail to offer customers sense of emotion.

B. Customers enjoy social experience when shopping online.

C. Traditional stores can help customers decide what to buy.

D. Customers can buy goods more quickly after visiting websites.

5.From the passage we can infer _______.

A. UPS has filled more worker positions than FedEx

B. business owners are concerned about delivery services

C. FedEx is keeping up with UPS on the number of packages

D. delivery services are facing more and more pressure from online sales

高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

The appeal of advertising to buying motives can have both negative and positive effects. Consumers may be convinced to buy a product of poor quality or high price because of an advertisement. For example, some advertisers have appealed to people’s desire for better fuel economy for their cars by advertising automotive products that improve gasoline mileage. Some of the products work. Others are worthless and a waste of consumers’ money.

Sometimes advertising is intentionally misleading. A few years ago a brand of

bread was offered to dieters (节食者) with the message that there were fewer calories in every slice. It turned out that the bread was not dietetic (适合于节食的), but just regular bread. There were fewer calories because it was sliced very thin, but there were the same number of calories in every loaf.

　On the positive side, emotional appeals may respond to a consumer’s real concerns. Consider fire insurance. Fire insurance may be sold by appealing to fear of loss. But fear of loss is the real reason for fire insurance. The security of knowing that property is protected by insurance makes the purchase of fire insurance a worthwhile investment for most people. If consumers consider the quality of the insurance plans as well as the message in the ads, they will benefit from the advertising.

　Each consumer must evaluate her or his own situation. Are the benefits of the product important enough to justify buying it? Advertising is intended to appeal to consumers, but it does not force them to buy the product. Consumers still control the final buying decision.

56. Advertising can persuade the consumer to buy worthless products by _________.

A. stressing their high quality

B. convincing him of their low price

C. maintaining a balance between quality and price

D. appealing to his buying motives

57. The reason why the bread advertisement is misleading is that ________.

A. thin slices of bread could contain more calories

B. the loaf was cut into regular slices

C. the bread was not genuine bread

D. the total number of calories in the loaf remained the same

58. The passage tells us that _______.

A. sometimes advertisements really sell what the consumer needs

B. advertisements occasionally force consumers into buying things they don’t need

C. the buying motives of consumers are controlled by advertisements

D. fire insurance is seldom a worthwhile investment

59. It can be inferred from the passage that a smart consumer should ________.

A. think carefully about the benefits described in the advertisements

B. guard against the deceiving nature of advertisements

C. be familiar with various advertising strategies

D. avoid buying products that have strong emotional appeal

60. The passage is mainly about ________.

A. how to make a wise buying decision

B. ways to protect the interests of the consumer

C. the positive and negative aspects of advertising

D. the function of advertisements in promoting sales

高二英语阅读理解简单题查看答案及解析

Are people less happy or more happy the older they get ? A study found that people generally become happier and experience less worry after age 50. In fact, it found that by the age of 85, people are happier with their life than they were at 18.

The finding came from a Gallup survey of more than 340,000 adults between the age of 18 and 85 in the United States.

Arthur Stone in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science at Stony Brook University in New York led the study. His team found that levels of stress were highest among adults between the ages of 22 and 25. Stress levels dropped sharply after people reached their fifties.

Happiness was highest among the youngest adults and those in their early seventies. But the people least likely to report feeling negative emotions were those in their seventies and eighties. The survey also found that men and women had similar emotional patternsas they grow older. However, women at all ages reported more sadness, stress and worry than men did.

The researchers also considered possible influences like having young children, being unemployed or being single. But they found that influences like these did not affect the levels of happiness and well-being related to age.

So why would happiness increase with age ? One theory is that, as people get older, they become more thankful for what they have and have better control of their emotions. They also spend less time thinking about bad experiences.

The original goal of the study was to confirm the popular belief that aging is connected with increased sleep problems. The survey did find an increase during middle age, especially in women. But except for that , people reported that they felt their sleep quality improved as they got older.

1.Old people may be happier probably because _________

A. their children have grown up.　　 B. they don’t have to work every day.

C. they can do whatever they like best.　　 D. they are most likely satisfied with life.

2.According to the survey, when will adults feel most stressful?

A. In their twenties.　　 B. In their fifties.

C. In their seventies.　　 D. In their eighties.

3.What may make Arthur Stone a bit surprised?

A. Women usually live longer than men.　　 B. Middle-age men mostly are very rich.

C. Old people usually have a better sleep.　　 D. Most of old people can’t sleep well at night.

4.Which of the following may be the topic of this passage ?

A. The difference between men and women.　　 B. Old people’s feeling of happiness.

C. The young people and the old people.　　 D. The connection of sleep and happiness.

高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

Are people less or more happy when they get older? A study in 2018 found that people generally become happier and experience less worry after age 50. In fact, it found that by the age of 85, people are happier with their life than they were at 18.

Arthur Stone in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science at Stony Brook University in New York led the study. His team found that levels of stress were the highest among adults between the ages of 22 and 25. 1.

Happiness was the highest among the youngest adults and those in their early 70's. But the people least likely to report feeling negative emotions were those in their 70’s and 80’s. The survey also found that men and women have similar emotional patterns as they grow older. 2.The researchers also considered possible influences like, having young children being unemployed or being single. Bu, they found that influences like these did not affect the levels of happiness and well-being related to age.

3. One theory is that, as people get older, they become more than thankful for what they have and have better control of their emotions. They also spend less time thinking about bad experiences.

4.In another study, people in their 80’s reported the fewest problems with the quality of their sleep. The original goal was to confirm the popular belief that aging is connected with increased sleep problems. 5.But except for that, people reported that they felt their sleep quality improved as they got older.

A.So why will happiness increase with age?

B.Researchers surveyed more than 150, 000 American adults.

C.At that time, the people were between the ages of 18 and 85.

D.Stress levels dropped sharply after people reached their 50's.

E.Happiness is not the only thing that apparently improves with age.

F.The survey did find an increase during middle age, especially in women.

G. However, women at all ages reported more sadness, stress and worry than men.

高二英语七选五困难题查看答案及解析