You might not know it, but there is something...

You might not know it, but there is something wonderful at your fingertips. You can make people happier, healthier and more hard-working just by touching their arms or holding their hands.

Doctors say that body contact is a kind of medicine that can work wonders. When people are touched, the quantity of hemoglobin (血红蛋白)－a type of matter that produces the red color in blood increases greatly. This results in more oxygen reaching every part of the body and the whole body benefits. In experiments, bottle-fed baby monkeys were separated from their mothers for the first ten days of life. They became sad and negative. Studies showed the monkeys were more probable to become ill than other babies that were allowed to stay with their mothers.

Human babies react in much the same way. Some years ago, a scientist noticed that some well-fed babies in a clean nursery became weak. Yet babies in another nursery were growing healthily, even though they ate less well and were not kept as clean. The reason, he concluded, was that they often had touches from nurses.　　　　　　

Experiments show that most people like being touched. And nearly all doctors believe touch helps to reduce patients' fear of treatment. Of course there is time when a touch is not welcome. But even if we don't like being touched, a smile can make us feel better. Smiling increases blood flow and starts the production of "happy brain" chemicals. So let's have a big smile and don't forget to keep in touch.

1.Which of the following is NOT true?

A. Everyone knows that body contact can make people happier.

B. People may work harder because of body contact.

C. Your fingertips can do something.

D. People may not understand the importance of touching.

2.According to the passage _____.

A. human brains need oxygen and blood supply now and then

B. touches from doctors and nurses have nothing to do with treatment

C. new-born baby monkeys should stay away from their mothers

D. not all the people like being touched

3.The word "benefits" in the second paragraph probably means _____.

A. to be useful or helpful

B. to get something useful or helpful

C. to be ill

D. to be hurt

4.The best title for the passage might be _____.

A. Why People Touch    B. Smile and Touch

C. Wonders of Touch    D. Touch or Not

高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

Ever wonder why sometimes a hug is all you need ? You can’t explain it , but there’s just something comforting about being in your wife’s arms after a rough day or giving mom a hug after a long time apart .

A new study says the warm feeling in a hug is more than just skin deep . Researchers from the University of California , Berkeley believe that this loving feeling could have anti-aging benefits .

Oxytocin , sometimes referred to as the “ love hormone（荷尔蒙）” or the “ trust hormone , ” is responsible for those indescribable feelings we get when we’re bonding with a lover or a loved one .

Levels of the hormone drop as we age , and evidence suggests that could be a contributing factor to the deterioration of our bodies as we age . Muscle loss in particular is one of the major side effects of aging , with our bodies losing up to 5 percent of our muscle mass each decade past our 30s .

In the study , published in the journal Nature Communications , researchers injected oxytocin into older mice with muscle damage . The older mice had lower levels of the homeone than younger mice initially . But after nine days , the older mice who were given the hormone healed better than those who did not . In fact , their ability to repair muscle damage was up to 80 percent that of the younger mice .

The results were not only fast-acting , but provide hope for future uses of the hormone in a variety of anti-aging capacities . “ This is good because it demonstrates that extra oxytocin improves aged tissue stem cells（组织干细胞）without making muscle stem cells divide uncontrollably , ” study co-author Wendy Cousins said in a statement .

Previous uses of anti-aging molecules have also been associated with higher cancer risk , but researchers are hopeful that oxytocin can be useful in humans without this risk . In the future , researchers of Berkeley say oxytocin could be used to fight other age-related health issues by improving bone health and even being used as an alternative to hormone replacement therapy .

Now go out and give someone a hug .

1.According to the passage , oxytocin __________ .

A. decreases when people get older

B. creates loving feeling on the skin

C. leads to the great loss of muscles

D. can be used in humans without any risk

2.The underlined word “ deterioration ” in Paragraph 4 probably refers to the state of __________ .

A. getting fatter　　　　 B. becoming worse or less

C. growing stronger　　　 D. dividing uncontrollably

3.What can be learned from the research ?

A. All the older mice healed faster in the research .

B. Older mice healed better than younger ones after 9 days .

C. Extra oxytocin in older mice controlled muscle cell division .

D. Mice with oxytocin injection improved the ability to repair muscle damage .

4. What can be a suitable title for the passage ?

A. When Do We Need A Hug ?

B. A New Anti-aging Product

C. Hugs Having Healing Power

D. How Can We Grow Muscles ?

高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

Have you ever wondered what the longest word in the English language is? Believe it or not, there’s no simple answer to the question. You might think it would be as easy as opening a dictionary and looking for the longest word. However, it’ s far more complicated than that.

Over time, many people have suggested many different words for the title of the longest word in English. How can that be? That’s because the first thing that people have different opinions on is what should be considered a word. Some of the words were simply made up to be the longest! For example, there is one really famous long word that most kids know. It comes from Disney’s movie Mary Poppins: supercalifragilisticexpialidocious, which means wonderful. But since that 34-letter word was made up simply to be sung as a song in a movie, should it count?

How about long words that actually describe something in the world? Scientists have come up with several possible choices. The name of a virus totals 1, 185 letters. There’s also a protein whose name totals 1, 909 letters. Should these win the title? “Not so fast!” say some people. Are these words ever actually used? Can they even be pronounced? And are they meaningful just because they are made up to be long?

If you’re wondering about some long words in common English, here are some examples. Those words include uncharacteristically (20 letters), deinstitutionalization (22 letters) and counterrevolutionaries (also 22 letters). Or perhaps the word “smiles” is the longest word in English. Sure, it has only six letters, but there is a “mile” between the first and the last letters!

1.What is the first thing to consider when we decide the longest word?

A.Whether it is a real word. B.Whether it can be pronounced.

C.Whether it is used in daily life. D.Whether it can be understood.

2.Why does the author mention the underlined questions in paragraph 3?

A.To express the writer’s concern. B.To compare different ideas.

C.To amuse readers. D.To show people’s doubt.

3.How does the author sound in the last paragraph?

A.Proud. B.Humorous.

C.Excited. D.Surprised.

4.The text is mainly about _________________________.

A.English words change a lot as time goes by

B.it is hard to decide what the longest word is

C.long words are often used in scientific fields

D.why we can’t understand some English words

高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

Believe it or not, there is always something nice to do on weekends. If you take some time to think about your weekends and plan them carefully, they may become more exciting, refreshing and as a result more rewarding.

Throughout weekends, you can join in endless activities. You may attend a weekend course to increase your knowledge, for example, listen to a lecture on ancient Egypt. You may also try various activities, such as short countryside trip, or you may want to go skiing on a cold winter weekend.

You may invite your best friend to a picnic, tell each other jokes and enjoy each other’s company or you may invite more friends to your weekend party and have one another give a talent show.

You can help out in a local library or nursing home and do some voluntary (义务的) jobs.

You can go to a sports ground or amusement centre to play various ball games and others. You may do weekend shopping alone or with somebody. Whatever you do, I hope you have a good weekend.

1.The passage mainly tells us ______.

A. why to plan weekends well

B. how to have a nice weekend

C. when to attend weekend activities

D. where to have a picnic with friends

2.The author suggests doing all the activities EXCEPT ______.

A. going skiing         B. doing some shopping

C. holding a party       D. going over lessons

3.According to the passage one can go to ______ as a volunteer.

A. a nursing home         B. a sports ground

C. a big company          D. a shopping centre

高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

You know Australia is a big country, but you may not know how easy it is to get around. The untouched beaches that go for miles and deserts that touch the horizon are just there, waiting to be reached and explored. The following are the different ways you can explore our vast country.

Getting around Australia

Air

Flying is the best way to cover large distances in a short time. You can spend more time on the Australia’s can’t-miss landscapes and relaxing lifestyle. Moreover, competition among airlines makes great flying fees available for you.

Drive

Australia has a vast network of well-maintained roads and some of the most beautiful touring routes in the world. You have no difficulty finding car rental companies at major airports, central city locations, suburbs and attractions.

Bus

Bus travel in Australia is comfortable, easy and economical. Buses generally have air conditioning, reading lights, adjustable seats and videos. Services are frequent, affordable and efficient.

Rail

Train travel is the cheapest and gives you an insight into Australia’s size and variety, all from the comfort of your carriage. Scheduled services are a great way to get quickly between our cities and regional centers.

Ferry

The Spirit of Tasmania runs a passenger and vehicle ferry service between Melbourne and Tasmania nightly. Extra services are running during summer rush hours. Sealink ferries connect South Australia and Kangaroo Island several times a day. Ferries connect suburbs in our capital cities.

Walk

With easy on the feet pedestrian streets, walking is a great way to get around our cities. Besides all the above, you can also experience some of the longest tracks and trails in the world in central Australia—impressive journeys of a thousand kilometers or more that can take several weeks to complete.

1.The underlined word “untouched” in the 1stparagraph means _____.

A.secure B.special

C.natural D.artificial

2.Which of the following is TRUE about travelling in Australia?

A.More travelers make the flying fees among airlines higher than before.

B.You can easily rent a car to explore its most beautiful touring routes.

C.Taking a bus tour is the most comfortable, economical and efficient way.

D.Train services can offer you more comfort than any other means of transport.

3.Ferry service between Melbourne and Tasmania usually runs ____.

A.only at night hours B.only during rush hours

C.several times a day D.Between different cities

4.From the passage, we know that ____.

A.pedestrian walking is a great way to travel between cities

B.walking in central Australia takes a long time

C.central Australia has the world’s longest railway line

D.you have to walk over a thousand kilometers in Australia

5.If you have only 5 days and want to visit Australia’s famous attractions that are far away from each other, which way of travelling best suits you?

A.By air. B.By car.

C.By bus. D.On foot.

高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

You know Australia is a big country, but you may not know how easy it is to get around. The untouched beaches that go for miles and deserts that touch the horizon are just there, waiting to be reached and explored. The following are the different ways you can explore our vast country.

Getting around Australia

Air

Flying is the best way to cover large distances in a short time. You can spend more time on the Australia’s can’t-miss landscapes and relaxing lifestyle. Moreover, competition among airlines makes great flying fees available for you.

Drive

Australia has a vast network of well-maintained roads and some of the most beautiful touring routes in the world. You have no difficulty finding car rental companies at major airports, central city locations, suburbs and attractions.

Bus

Bus travel in Australia is comfortable, easy and economical. Buses generally have air conditioning, reading lights, adjustable seats and videos. Services are frequent, affordable and efficient.

Rail

Train travel is the cheapest and gives you an insight into Australia’s size and variety, all from the comfort of your carriage. Scheduled services are a great way to get quickly between our cities and regional centers.

Ferry

The Spirit of Tasmania runs a passenger and vehicle ferry service between Melbourne and Tasmania nightly. Extra services are running during summer rush hours. Sealink ferries connect South Australia and Kangaroo Island several times a day. Ferries connect suburbs in our capital cities.

Walk

With easy on the feet pedestrian streets, walking is a great way to get around our cities.

Besides all the above, you can also experience some of the longest tracks and trails in the world in central Australia—impressive journeys of a thousand kilometers or more that can take several weeks to complete.

1.The underlined word “untouched” in the 1^st paragraph means _____.

A．secure           B．special            C．natural           D．artificial

2.Which of the following is TRUE about travelling in Australia?

A．More travelers make the flying fees among airlines higher than before.

B．You can easily rent a car to explore its most beautiful touring routes.

C．Taking a bus tour is the most comfortable, economical and efficient way.

D．Train services can offer you more comfort than any other means of transport.

3.Ferry service between Melbourne and Tasmania usually runs ____.

A．only at night hours                      B．only during rush hours

C．several times a day                      D．Between different cities

4.From the passage, we know that ____.

A．pedestrian walking is a great way to travel between cities

B．walking in central Australia takes a long time

C．central Australia has the world’s longest railway line

D．you have to walk over a thousand kilometers in Australia

5.If you have only 5 days and want to visit Australia’s famous attractions that are far away from each other, which way of travelling best suits you?

A．By air.            B．By car.            C．By bus.           D．On foot.

高二英语阅读理解简单题查看答案及解析

It may help you to know that there is no such thing as a perfect speech．At some point in every speech, every speaker says something that is not understood exactly as he has planned．Fortunately, the moments are usually not obvious to the listeners. Why? Because the listeners do not know what the speaker plans to say. They hear only what the speaker does say. If you lose your place for a moment, wrongly change the order of a couple of sentences, or forget to pause at a certain point, no one will be any the wiser．When such moments occur, don’t worry about them, Just continue as if nothing happened．

Even if you do make an obvious mistake during a speech, that don’t really matter. If you have ever listened to Martin Luther King’s famous speech – “ I have a dream”, you may notice that he stumble（结巴）his words twice during the speech．Most likely, however, you don’t remember．Why? Because you were fixing your attention on is message rather than on his way of speech-making. People care a lot about making mistakes in a speech because they regard speech-making as a kind of performance rather than as an act of communication. They feel the listeners are like judges in an ice-skating competition．But, in fact, the listeners are not looking for a perfect performer. They are looking for a well-thought-out speech that express the speaker’s ideas clearly and directly．Sometimes a mistake or two can actually increase a speakers’ attractiveness by making him more human．

As you work on your speech, don’t worry about being imperfect．Once you free your mind of this, you will find it much easier to give your speech freely．

1.

The underlined part in the first paragraph means that no one will ___________．

A．be smarter than you        B．notice your mistakes

C．do better than you          D．know what you are talking about

2.

You don’t remember obvious mistakes in a speech because ___________．

A．your attention is on the content

B．you don’t fully understand the speech

C．you don’t know what the speaker plans to say

D．you find the way of speech-making more important

3.

It can be inferred from the passage that ___________．

A．giving a speech is like giving a performance

B．one to two mistakes in a speech may not be bad

C．the listeners should pay more attention to how a speech is made

D．the more mistakes a speaker makes, the more attractive he will be

4.

What would be the best title of the passage?

A．How to Be a Perfect Speaker

B．How to Make a Perfect Speech

C．Don’t Expect a Perfect Speech

D．Don’t Expect Mistakes in a Speech

高二英语阅读理解简单题查看答案及解析

It may help you to know that there is no such thing as a perfect speech．At some point in every speech, every speaker says something that is not understood exactly as he has planned．Fortunately, the moments are usually not obvious to the listeners. Why ? Because the listeners do not know what the speaker plans to say. They hear only what the speaker does say. If you lose your place for a moment, wrongly change the order of a couple of sentences, or forget to pause at a certain point, no one will be any the wiser．When such moments occur, don’t worry about them. Just continue as if nothing happened．

Even if you do make an obvious mistake during a speech, that don’t really matter. If you have ever listened to Martin Luther King’s famous speech – “ I have a dream”, you may notice that he stumble（结巴）his words twice during the speech．Most likely, however, you don’t remember．Why? Because you were fixing your attention on its message rather than on his way of speech-making. People care a lot about making mistakes in a speech because they regard speech-making as a kind of performance rather than as an act of communication. They feel the listeners are like judges in an ice-skating competition．But, in fact, the listeners are not looking for a perfect performer. They are looking for a well-thought-out speech that expresses the speaker’s ideas clearly and directly．Sometimes a mistake or two can actually increase a speaker’s attractiveness by making him more human．

As you work on your speech, don’t worry about being imperfect．Once you free your mind of this, you will find it much easier to give your speech freely．

1.The underlined part in the first paragraph means that no one will ___________．

2.You don’t remember obvious mistakes in a speech because ___________．

3.It can be inferred from the passage that ___________．

4.What would be the best title of the passage?

高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

If you’ve never bought organic food, you might be wondering what’s so special about it. Is it really better for you? How does that work? This text will give you a short introduction to the subject.

Organic food is produced without the use of artificial fertilizers or pesticides (insect and bug killers) and many people buy it because they think it’s better for their health. Whether that’s true or not is still debated, but there are lots of other reasons for organic food. Intensive agriculture (集约型农业) gives us cheap and plentiful food, but it’s also one of the biggest sources of environmental pollution. According to a report by the World Resources Institute, half of all the chemical fertilizers ever produced have been used since 1984. Fertilizers — and the much more deadly pesticides and herbicides (weed killers) used with them — finally find their way into rivers and seas. Sometimes they break down harmlessly, but they’re just as likely to build up in creatures that eat them (including humans). Organic food, grown without artificial chemicals, is one way to help reduce the problem.

Many people find it puzzling that organic products are more expensive. After all, you’re doing away with expensive chemicals ... so shouldn’t they be cheaper? Organic farming is typically a more labor-intensive(劳动密集型) way of farming and that’s why it costs more. As a responsible (有责任的) consumer, it’s up to you to decide where to put your money. Are you happy to buy products that may have been grown in a harmful way? Are you willing to pay more to buy organic products that may help to protect the environment?

1.Which of the following does the author agree on?

A. Organic food is better for people’s health.

B. Organic food is better for the environment.

C. Organic food tastes better than traditional food.

D. Organic food can be produced in great amounts.

2.The underlined words “doing away with” in the last paragraph can best be replaced by “______”.

A. making use of B. getting rid of

C. keeping away from D. taking advantage of

3.What’s the author’s attitude towards organic food?

A. Doubtful. B. Uncertain.

C. Worried. D. Supportive.

高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

Tips for Developing Your Artistic Talent

Everyone has an artistic talent. You might not even know it. 1.. However, in fact, there are a lot of different ways to express your artistic side. You don't necessarily have to be a professional(专业人员). You can enjoy art just for its own value. Check out a few tips for developing artistic skills.

1. Art takes a variety of forms

Most people think that art can only be found in museums and is only for the elite(精英). You can look around you.2.. They may be found in nature, and even in usual advertisements and posters. Just start to look at such sides as line, color, composition and style.

2. Try things out

If you want to develop your artistic talent, start trying things out.3.

3. Appreciate

4.. Almost anything can be used for inspiration. Visit museums and galleries, or look at art books. When you look around you, you develop your artistic appreciation and use it to work on developing your own skills.

4.5.

Don't expect to create a masterpiece(杰作)with your first try. There must be mistakes. Many artists spent years studying and perfecting their skill. You might not want to reach their level, but don't feel shy about your work. Even if it's not perfect, it will be. Try out，learn from your mistakes, and improve your skills.

A. Take art classes

B. Don't be afraid to make mistakes

C. You'll find art and beauty are everywhere

D. You might have always thought that you don't have any skills in the arts

E. Another way to develop your artistic talent is to learn how to use your eyes

F. There are many things you can try from painting, costume, dance and singing

G. Discuss the art with other art lovers to see what they think and then form your own opinion

高二英语七选五中等难度题查看答案及解析