About five to seven million people who lived in England spoke English at the end of the 16th century. Later in the next century, people from England overcame other parts of the world and because of that, English began to be spoken in many other countries. Today, more people speak English as their first, second or a foreign language than ever before.
Look at this example:
British Betty: Would you like to see my flat?
American Amy: Yes. I’d like to come up to your apartment.
So why has English changed over time? All languages change and develop when cultures meet. At first the English spoken in England between about AD 450 and 1150 was very different from the English spoken today. It was based more on German than the English we speak at present. Then between about AD 800 and 1150, English became less like German because those who ruled England spoke first Danish and later French. These new settlers improved the English language and especially its vocabulary. So by the 1600’s Shakespeare was able to make use of a wider vocabulary than ever before.
Finally by the 19th century the language was settled. At that time two big changes in English spelling happened: first Samuel Johnson wrote his dictionary and later Noah Webster wrote The American Dictionary of the English Language. The latter gave a separate identity to American English spelling.
English now is also spoken as a foreign or second language in South Asia. For example, India has a very large number of fluent English speakers because Britain ruled India from 1765 to 1947. During that time English became the language for government and education. Today the number of people learning English in China is increasing rapidly.
1.When did English begin to be spoken in many other countries?
A. In 16th century.
B. In 17th century.
C. In 18th century.
D. In 19th century.
2.Shakespeare could use a wider vocabulary than ever before because English_______.
A. developed when new settlers came to Britain
B. was based on Germany during the 5th century
C. became the language for government and education
D. was spoken wide all over the world
3.Which of the following is true according to the passage?
A. British settlers moved to America in the 18th.
B. It’s easy for Chinese people speak fluent English.
C. English once became the official language in India.
D. English was influenced by Danish invaders in AD 450 .
4.What showed the differences of American English spelling?
A. Samuel Johnson’s dictionary B. Shakespeare’s books
C. French ruler’s language D. Noah Webster’s dictionary
5.For what purpose does the author write the passage?
A. To settle English in many countries.
B. To understand English-speaking people.
C. To describe the development of English.
D. To tell people changes of American English.
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题
About five to seven million people who lived in England spoke English at the end of the 16th century. Later in the next century, people from England overcame other parts of the world and because of that, English began to be spoken in many other countries. Today, more people speak English as their first, second or a foreign language than ever before.
Look at this example:
British Betty: Would you like to see my flat?
American Amy: Yes. I’d like to come up to your apartment.
So why has English changed over time? All languages change and develop when cultures meet. At first the English spoken in England between about AD 450 and 1150 was very different from the English spoken today. It was based more on German than the English we speak at present. Then between about AD 800 and 1150, English became less like German because those who ruled England spoke first Danish and later French. These new settlers improved the English language and especially its vocabulary. So by the 1600’s Shakespeare was able to make use of a wider vocabulary than ever before.
Finally by the 19th century the language was settled. At that time two big changes in English spelling happened: first Samuel Johnson wrote his dictionary and later Noah Webster wrote The American Dictionary of the English Language. The latter gave a separate identity to American English spelling.
English now is also spoken as a foreign or second language in South Asia. For example, India has a very large number of fluent English speakers because Britain ruled India from 1765 to 1947. During that time English became the language for government and education. Today the number of people learning English in China is increasing rapidly.
1.When did English begin to be spoken in many other countries?
A. In 16th century.
B. In 17th century.
C. In 18th century.
D. In 19th century.
2.Shakespeare could use a wider vocabulary than ever before because English_______.
A. developed when new settlers came to Britain
B. was based on Germany during the 5th century
C. became the language for government and education
D. was spoken wide all over the world
3.Which of the following is true according to the passage?
A. British settlers moved to America in the 18th.
B. It’s easy for Chinese people speak fluent English.
C. English once became the official language in India.
D. English was influenced by Danish invaders in AD 450 .
4.What showed the differences of American English spelling?
A. Samuel Johnson’s dictionary B. Shakespeare’s books
C. French ruler’s language D. Noah Webster’s dictionary
5.For what purpose does the author write the passage?
A. To settle English in many countries.
B. To understand English-speaking people.
C. To describe the development of English.
D. To tell people changes of American English.
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
Contrary to popular belief, people who sleep six to seven hours a night live longer, and those who sleep eight hours or more die younger, according to the latest study ever conducted on the subject. The study, which has tracked the sleeping habits of 1.1 million Americans for six years, weakens the advice of many sleep doctors who have long recommended that people get eight or nine hours of sleep every night.
“There’s an old idea that people should sleep eight hours a night, which has no more scientific basis than the gold at the end of the rainbow,” said Daniel Kripke, professor of psychiatry（精神病学）at the University of California at San Diego who led the study published in a recent copy of JAMA Psychiatry.
The study was not designed to answer why sleeping longer may be harmful or whether people could extend their lifespan by sleeping less.
But Kripke said it was possible that people who slept longer tended to suffer from short-term absence of sleeping, a condition where weak breathing puts stress on the heart and brain. He also stressed that the need for sleep was similar to that for food, where getting less than people want may be better for them.
The study quickly caused warnings and criticism（批评）, with some sleep experts saying that the main problem of America’s sleep habits was deprivation（剥夺）, not sleeping too much.
“None of this says sleep kills people,” said Daniel Buysse, a psychiatrist at the university of Pittsburgh Medical Center.
“You should sleep as much as you need to feel awake, alert and attentive the next day,” Buysse added. “I’m much more concerned about people short-changing themselves on sleep than people sleeping too long.”
“Sleeplessness produces a variety of health consequences that were not measured in the study,” critics said.
1.The traditional idea about sleeping is that ________.
A. people who sleep longer die younger
B. people who sleep less than six or seven hours live longer
C. people need to sleep less to keep healthy
D. people need to sleep eight or nine hours a night
2.Which of the following statements does NOT agree with the study made by the American scientists according to the passage?
A. People can extend their lifespan by sleeping less.
B. Sleeping longer may be harmful to people’s health.
C. People should sleep as much as they need to keep awake, alert and attentive.
D. It is possible that people who sleep longer tend to suffer from short-term absence of sleeping.
3.“The gold at the end of the rainbow” mentioned in the passage shows that ________.
A. sleeping is quite valuable in our lives
B. the traditional idea that people should sleep eight hours a night has no scientific basis at all.
C. sleeping longer is as valuable as the gold at the end of the rainbow.
D. the idea of long sleeping hours comes from the gold at he end of the rainbow.
4.What is the best title for this passage?
A. A new idea challenges the scientists
B. Sleep less, live longer
C. Sleep more, die younger
D. A new idea about sleeping causes criticism
高二英语阅读理解简单题查看答案及解析
In England recently three foreign gentlemen came to a bus stop and waited. About five minutes later, the bus they wanted came along. They were just going to get on when suddenly there was a loud noise behind them. People rushed onto the bus and tried to push them out of the way. Someone shouted at them. The bus conductor came rushing down the stairs to see what all the trouble was about. The three foreigners seem all at sea and looked embarrassed. No one had told them about the British custom of lining up for a bus that the first person who arrives at the bus stop is the first person to get on the bus.
Learning the language of a country isn't enough. If you want to have a pleasant visit, find out as much as possible about the manners and customs of your host country. You will probably be surprised just how different they can be from your own. A visitor to India would do well to remember that people there consider it impolite to use the left hand for passing food at table. The left hand is supposed to be used for washing yourself. Also in India, you might see a man shaking his head at another to show that he doesn't agree. But in many parts of India a shake of the head means agreement. Nodding your head when you are given a drink in Bulgaria will most probably leave you thirsty .
In that country, you shake your head to mean 'yes'— a nod means 'no'. At a meal in countries on the Arabic Peninsula, you will find that your glass is repeated refilled as soon as you drink up. If you think that you have had enough, you should take the cup or glasses in your hand and give it a little shake from side to side or place your hand over the top.
In Europe it is quite usual to cross your legs when you are sitting talking to someone even at an important meeting. Doing this in Thailand, however, could bring about trouble. Also, you should try to avoid touching the head of an adult ——it's just not done in Thailand.
1.The British people tried to push the three gentlemen out of the way, because the gentlemen _______.
A. were foreigners B. didn't have tickets
C. made a loud noise D. didn't line up for the bus
2.According to the article, if you want to have a pleasant journey in a foreign country, you should _________.
A. learn the language of the country
B. understand the manners and customs of the country
C. have enough time and money
D. make friends with the people there
3.In India it is considered impolite ___________.
A. to use the right hand for passing food at table.
B. to pass food with the left hand.
C. to eat food with your hands.
D. to help yourself at table.
4.To cross one's legs at an important meeting in Europe is _______.
A. a common habit B. an important manner
C. a serious trouble D. a bad manner
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
In England recently three foreign gentlemen came to a bus stop and waited. About five minutes later, the bus they wanted came along. They were just going to get on when suddenly there was a loud noise behind them. People rushed onto the bus and tried to push them out of the way. Someone shouted at them. The bus conductor came rushing down the stairs to see what all the trouble was about. The three foreigners seem all at sea and looked embarrassed. No one had told them about the British custom of lining up for a bus that the first person who arrives at the bus stop is the first person to get on the bus.
Learning the language of a country isn't enough. If you want to have a pleasant visit, find out as much as possible about the manners and customs of your host country. You will probably be surprised just how different they can be from your own. A visitor to India would do well to remember that people there consider it impolite to use the left hand for passing food at table. The left hand is supposed to be used for washing yourself. Also in India, you might see a man shaking his head at another to show that he doesn't agree. But in many parts of India a shake of the head means agreement. Nodding (点头) your head when you are given a drink in Bulgaria will most probably leave you thirsty.
The British people tried to push the three gentlemen out of the way, because the gentlemen _______ .
A. were foreigners B. didn't have tickets
C. made a loud noise D. didn't line up for the bus
According to the article, if you want to have a pleasant journey in a foreign country, you should ________.
A. learn the language of the country
B. understand the manners and customs of the country
C. have enough time and money
D. make friends with the people there
In India it is considered impolite ________.
A. to use the right hand for passing food at table.
B. to pass food with the left hand.
C. to eat food with your hands.
D. to help yourself at table.
The best title (题目) for this article is ________.
A. People's Everyday Life
B. Mind Your Manners
C. Shaking and Nodding Head
D. Taking a Bus in England
高二英语阅读理解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
Can dogs and cats live in perfect harmony in the same home? People who are thinking about adopting a dog as a friend for their cats are worried that they will fight. A recent research has found a new recipe of success. According to the study, if the cat is adopted before the dog, and if they are introduced when still young (less than 6 months for cats, a year for dogs), it is highly probable that the two pets will get along swimmingly. Two-thirds of the homes interviewed reported a positive relationship between their cat and dog.
However, it wasn’t all sweetness and light. There was a reported coldness between the cat and dog in 25% of the homes, while aggression and fighting were observed in 10% of the homes. One reason for this is probably that some of their body signals were just opposite. For example, when a cat turns its head away it signals aggression, while a dog doing the same signals submission (屈服、投降).
In homes with cats and dogs living peacefully, researchers observed a surprising behavior. They are learning how to talk each other’s language. It is a surprise that cats can learn how to talk ‘dog’, and dogs can learn how to talk ‘cat’.
What’s interesting is that both cats and dogs have appeared to develop their intelligence. They can learn how to read each other’s body signals, suggesting that the two may have more in common than we previously suspected. Once familiar with each other’s presence and body language, cats and dogs can play together, greet each other nose to nose, and enjoy sleeping together on the sofa. They can easily share the same water bowl and in some cases groom (梳理) each other.
The significance of the research on cats and dogs may go beyond pets—to people who don’t get along, including neighbors, colleagues at work, and even world superpowers. If cats and dogs can learn to get along, surely people have a good chance.
1.What is the passage mainly about?
A. How cats and dogs develop their intelligence.
B. Whether cats and dogs can live in harmony.
C. What cats and dogs have in common.
D. Why cats and dogs can understand each other.
2.Some cats and dogs may fight when ________.
A. they are cold to each other
B. they look away from each other
C. they are introduced at an early age
D. they misunderstood each other’s signals
3.It is suggested in Para.4 that cats and dogs ________.
A. have common interests
B. have a common body language
C. are less different than we thought
D. are less intelligent than we expected
4.What can we human beings learn from cats and dogs?
A. We should learn to live in harmony.
B. We should know more about animals.
C. We should live in peace with animals.
D. We should learn more body languages.
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
Can dogs and cats live in perfect harmony in the same home? People who are thinking about adopting a dog as a friend for their cats are worried that they will fight. A recent research has found a new recipe of success. According to the study, if the cat is adopted before the dog, and if they are introduced when still young (less than 6 months for cats, a year for dogs), it is highly probable that the two pets will get along swimmingly. Two-thirds of the homes interviewed reported a positive relationship between their cat and dog.
However, it wasn't all sweetness and light. There was a reported coldness between the cat and dog in 25% of the homes, while aggression and fighting were observed in 10% of the homes. One reason for this is probably that some of their body signals were just opposite. For example, when a cat turns its head away it signals aggression, while a dog doing the same signals submission.
In homes with cats and dogs living peacefully, researchers observed a surprising behavior. They are learning how to talk each other's language. It is a surprise that cats can learn how to talk ‘dog’ and dogs can learn how to talk ‘Cat’.
What's interesting is that both cats and dogs have appeared to develop their intelligence. They can learn how to read each other's body signals, suggesting that the two may have more in common than we previously suspected. Once familiar with each other's presence and body language, cats and dogs can play together, greet each other nose to nose, and enjoy sleeping together on the sofa. They can easily share the same water bowl and in some cases groom (梳理) each other.
The significance of the research on cats and dogs may go beyond pets ─ to people who don't get along, including neighbors, colleagues at work, and even world superpowers. If cats and dogs can learn to get along, surely people have a good chance.
1.Some cats and dogs may fight when ________.
A. they misunderstood each other's signals
B. they look away from each other
C. they are cold to each other
D. they are introduced at an early age
2.What is found surprising about cats and dogs?
A. They eat and sleep each other.
B. They learn to speak each other's language.
C. They observe each other's behaviors.
D. They know something from each other's voices.
3.It is suggested in Paragraph 4 that cats and dogs ________.
A. have common interests
B. have a common body language
C. are less different than was thought
D. are less intelligent than was expected
4.What can we human beings learn from cats and dogs?
A. We should live in peace with animals.
B. We should know more about animals.
C. We should learn to live in harmony.
D. We should learn more body languages.
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
Can dogs and cats live in perfect harmony in the same home? People who are thinking about adopting a dog as a friend for their cat are worried that they will fight. A recent research has found a new recipe for success. According to the study, if the cat is adopted before the dog, and if they are introduced when still young (less than 6 months for cats, a year for dogs), it is highly probable that the two pets will get along smoothly. Two-thirds of the homes interviewed reported a positive relationship between their cat and dog.
However, it wasn’t all sweetness and light. There was a reported coldness between the cat and dog in 25% of the homes, while aggression and fighting were observed in 10% of the homes. One reason for this is probably that some of their body signals are just opposite. For example, when a cat turns its head away it signals aggression, while a dog doing the same signals submission.
In homes with cats and dogs living peacefully, researchers observed a surprising behavior. They are learning how to talk each other’s language. It is a surprise that cats can learn how to talk ‘Dog’, and dogs can learn how to talk ‘Cat’.
What’s interesting is that both cats and dogs have appeared to develop their intelligence. They can learn to read each other’s body signals, suggesting that the two may have more in common than was previously suspected. Once familiar with each other’s presence and body language, cats and dogs can play together, greet each other nose to nose, and enjoy sleeping together on the sofa. They can easily share the same water bowl and in some cases groom (梳理) each other.
The significance of this research on cats and dogs may go beyond pets—to people who don’t get along, including neighbors, colleagues at work, and even world superpowers. If cats and dogs can learn to get along, surely people have a good chance.
1.Some cats and dogs may fight when ________.
A. they are cold to each other
B. they look away from each other
C. they misunderstand each other’s signals
D. they are introduced at an early age
2.What is found surprising about cats and dogs?
A. They eat and sleep together.
B. They observe each other’s behaviors.
C. They learn to speak each other’s language.
D. They know something from each other’s voices.
3.It is suggested in Paragraph 4 that cats and dogs ________.
A. have common interests
B. are less different than was thought
C. have a common body language
D. are less intelligent than was expected
4.What can we human beings learn from cats and dogs?
A. We should learn to live in harmony.
B. We should know more about animals.
C. We should live in peace with animals.
D. We should learn more body languages.
高二英语阅读理解简单题查看答案及解析
Can dogs and cats live in perfect harmony in the same home? People who are thinking about adopting a dog as a friend for their cat are worried that they will fight. A recent research has found a new recipe of success. According to the study, if the cat is adopted before the dog, and if they are introduced when still young (less than 6 months for cats, a year for dogs), it is highly probable that the two pets will get along swimmingly. Two-thirds of the homes interviewed reported a positive relationship between their cat and dog.
However, it wasn’t all sweetness and light. There was a reported coldness between the cat and dog in 25% of the homes, while aggression(侵略，攻击性) and fighting were observed in 10% of the homes. One reason for this is probably that some of their body signals were just opposite. For example, when a cat turns its head away , it signals aggression , while a dog doing the same signals submission(屈服，顺从).
In homes with cats and dogs living peacefully, researchers observed a surprising behavior. They are learning how to talk each other’s language. It is a surprise that cats can learn how to talk ‘Dog’, and dogs can learn how to talk ‘Cat’.
What’s interesting is that both cats and dogs have appeared to develop their intelligence. They can learn how to read each other’s body signals, suggesting that the two may have more in common than we previously suspected. Once familiar with each other’s presence and body language, cats and dogs can play together, greet each other nose to nose, and enjoy sleeping together on the sofa. They can easily share the same water bowl and in some cases groom (梳理) each other.
The significance of the research on cats and dogs may go beyond pets ─ to people who don’t get along, including neighbors, colleagues at work, and even world superpowers. If cats and dogs can learn to get along, surely people have a good chance.
1.The underlined word swimmingly in Paragraph 1 is closest in meaning to _____.
A. early B. sweetly
C. quickly D. smoothly
2.Some cats and dogs may fight when _____.
A. they are cold to each other
B. they look away from each other
C. they misunderstood each other's signals
D. they are introduced at an early age
3.What is found surprising about cats and dogs?
A. They eat and sleep each other.
B. They observe each other's behaviors.
C. They learn to speak each other's language.
D. They know something from each other's voices.
4.What can we human beings learn from cats and dogs?
A. We should learn to live in harmony.
B. We should know more about animals.
C. We should live in peace with animals.
D. We should learn more body languages
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
Can dogs and cats live in perfect harmony in the same home? People who are thinking about adopting a dog as a friend for their cats are worried that they will fight. A recent research has found a new recipe of success. According to the study, if the cat is adopted before the dog, and if they are introduced when still young (less than 6 months for cats, a year for dogs), it is highly probable that the two pets will get along well. Two-thirds of the homes interviewed reported a positive relationship between their cat and dog.
However, it wasn’t all sweetness and light. There was a reported coldness between the cat and dog in 25% of the homes, while aggression and fighting were observed in 10% of the homes. One reason for this is probably that some of their body signals were just opposite. For example, when a cat turns its head away it signals aggression, while a dog doing the same signals means giving up.
In homes with cats and dogs living peacefully, researchers observed a surprising behaviour. They are learning how to talk each other’s language. It is a surprise that cats can learn how to talk “dog”, and dogs can learn how to talk “cat”.
What’s interesting is that both cats and dogs have appeared to develop their intelligence. They can learn to read each other’s body signals, suggesting that the two may have more in common than was preciously suspected. Once familiar with each other’s presence and body language, cats and dogs can play together, greet each other nose to nose, and enjoy sleeping together in the sofa. They can easily share the same water bowl and in some cases groom(梳理) each other.
The significance of this research on cats and dogs maygo beyond pets----to people who don’t get along, including neighbors, colleagues at work, and even world superpowers. If cats and dogs can learn to get along, surely people have a good chance.
1.Some cats and dogs may fight when_________.
A. they are cold to each other
B. they look away from each other
C. they misunderstand each other’s signals
D. they are introduced at an early age
2.What is found surprising about cats and dogs?
A. They eat and sleep together
B. They observe each other’s behaviors
C. They learn to speak each other’s language
D. They know something from each other’s voice
3.It is suggested in paragraph 4 that cats and dogs_______.
A. have common interests
B. are less different than was thought
C. have a common body language
D. are less intelligent than was expected
4.What can we human beings learn from cats and dogs?
A. We should learn to live in harmony
B. We should knows more about animals
C. We should live in peace with animals
D. We should learn more body languages
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析