This country has high hills, _____ tops sprea...

This country has high hills, _____ tops spread out into green and moist fields _____ great numbers of sheep are fed.

A. whose, to which       B. of which, on which

C. their, that              D. whose, upon which

高三英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析

The COVID-19 pandemic has spread far and wide. Because of this, countries around the world have carried out containment measures to help stop the virus in its tracks. As more and more people stay inside to stay safe, the outside world seems to have become much quieter. In fact, scientists have seen this change in their research, too.

Seismologists—scientists who study earthquakes—have heard a lot less seismic (地震的) noise recently. Seismic noise is made from vibrations (震动) in the ground that are caused by things like ocean waves and human activity, such as construction work and traffic.

Thomas Lecocq, a scientist at the Royal Observatory of Belgium, located in Brussels, was the first to notice this phenomenon. According to Lecocq, the amount of seismic noise in Brussels has been reduced by about 30 to 50 percent since mid-March. Interestingly enough, this is around the same time Belgium started its containment measures.

Because of this reduction in background noise, scientists like Lecocq have been able to pick up on smaller earthquakes that some seismic stations—like the one in Brussels—wouldn’t have been able to before.

This phenomenon isn’t unique to Brussels, though. Once Lecocq shared his findings online, seismologists from all over the world echoed similar findings. Celeste Labedz, a graduate student at the California Institute of Technology, mentioned in a tweet that Los Angeles also experienced less background noise. “The drop is seriously wild,” she wrote. Researchers from the UK, France and New Zealand also noted a decrease in background noise since containment measures were put in place.

These global efforts to contain the COVID-19 virus have helped to shed light on seismic activity that may have gone unnoticed. It also shows that people are listening to health officials and following lockdown guidelines.

1.What did seismologists find out recently?

A.More smaller earthquakes are likely to happen.

B.Less seismic activity has been detected recently.

C.Reduced seismic vibration makes Earth quieter.

D.Seismic noise is caused by vibrations underground.

2.What can we learn from the text?

A.More seismic noise is being picked up.

B.More data on smaller earthquakes is being collected.

C.Scientists will shift their focus to smaller earthquakes.

D.Future big earthquakes can be more accurately predicted.

3.What does the underlined word “echoed” in paragraph 5 mean?

A.Questioned. B.Demanded.

C.Explored. D.Repeated.

4.What can we conclude from the last two paragraphs?

A.The drop in seismic noise is unique to Europe.

B.Seismic noise is mainly caused by human activity.

C.Many seismologists wanted tighter restrictions for their research.

D.The phenomenon proved that people are practicing social distancing.

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

Mulch is a protective cover of material that is spread on top of soil.It is usually made out of organic material, like crop waste.Farmers may keep the remains of maize or other crops on top of the soil.This creates mulch on the soil surface.The plant remains help protect the soil against wind and water damage.Mulching is one of the best things people can do for their plants.It also helps keep the soil from getting dry, and reduces the need for watering plants.It also limits temperature changes in the soil.And it stops unwanted plants, or weeds，from growing.

Organic mulch improves the condition of soil.As the mulch breaks down, it provides material which keeps the soil from getting hard.This improves the growth of roots and increases the movement of water through the soil.It also improves the ability of the soil to hold water. Organic mulch contains nutrients for plants.It also provides a good environment for earthworms and other helpful organisms in the soil.

It is easy to find organic mulch materials.Cut­up leaves and small pieces of tree bark can be used.Grass cuttings are also a good mulch for plants. Mulch from newspapers works well in controlling weeds.

The best time to add mulch depends on your goal.Mulch provides a thick barrier between the soil and the air.This helps to reduce temperature changes in the soil. As a result，mulched soil will be cooler than other soil in the summer.In winter, the mulched soil may not freeze as deeply as other soil.The best time is after the ground has frozen, but before the coldest weather arrives.Spreading mulch before the ground has frozen may attract small animals searching for a warm place to spend the winter.Delaying the spreading should prevent this problem.The animals will probably find another place to live.

1.The author tells us the following EXCEPT________.

A．what mulch is and its benefits

B．the best time to add mulch

C．what can be mulched on the soil surface

D．the bad effects of mulch

2.The following can be used as organic materials to make mulch EXCEPT________.

A．tree barks　    B．cut­up leaves

C．grass cuttings　    D．plastic

3.Which of the following is the benefit of mulch?

A．Protecting the soil against wind and water damage.

B．Keeping the soil wet and reducing the need for watering plants.

C．Reducing temperature changes in the soil and stopping unwanted weeds

growing.

D．All of the above.

4.The main idea of Paragraph 2 is that organic mulch can________.

A．improve the condition of soil

B．improve the ability of the soil to hold water

C．provide a good environment for earthworms

D．improve the growth of roots and increase the movement of water through the

soil

5.From the last paragraph, we know ________.

A．the best time to add mulch is in spring and summer

B. the best time to add　 mulch　 is after the coldest weather arrives

C．the best time to add mulch depends on weather

D．choosing the best time to add mulch can avoid attracting small animals

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

As you climb into the hill country, the roads get dustier and rougher, and fewer cars can be seen. Phonxay is one of the poorest districts of Laos, and many of its villages are only accessible by footpath. Our destination this hot morning is a concrete water tank that can be found just off the road. A UK organization helped to build it six years ago, and in the nearby village of Thapho, where clean drinking water is scarce, it has made a big difference. The tank feeds six taps which in turn give water to over 800 people---it has improved things for almost every family, from schoolchildren to grannies.

But lately, we were told, the clean water supply has come under pressure from new arrivals, people who have come down from the hill areas, and there are concerns that there will not be enough clean water to go round.

There are also serious worries about resources in Laos. The Chinese are building a 400km railway link, which could transform the landlocked country. About 150,000 Chinese workers will be involved. What will this do to local clean water supplies? How will the workers be fed?

The vast majority of Laotians live on farms. But with foreign investors wanting to buy up land, local people will have to be moved to make room for them. Heavily dependent on both foreign aid and foreign investment, Laos still falls well behind its neighbours, although its economy has grown at about 6% a year in the last decade. Its biggest economic problem is the lack of locally trained skilled workforce.

But there are reasons to be hopeful for the future. Laos is beautiful, and foreign tourism continues to grow: fortunately so far the fast-food chains and coffee bars common elsewhere are nowhere to be seen. Although all local media are government-run, the Internet is not controlled and the BBC and CNN are available to those with satellite dishes.

The government has also achieved impressive results in rural development, with communities benefiting not just from cleaner water but the construction of new schools and regular visits from medical teams. Poverty will not be history in Laos within the next decade, but with small steps forward and a bit of outside help, the country could find itself out of the UN’s least-developed category by 2020.

1.What is putting pressure on the local supply of clean water?

A. Dust from the road is making the water dirtier.

B. There are too many taps accessing the water.

C. The population of the area is growing fast.

D. The coming summer will dry up rivers and lakes.

2.According to the passage, which of the following is NOT a reason for Laos to be hopeful?

A. There are no fast-food restaurants in the country.

B. Laos has a variety of tourist attractions.

C. Information on the Internet is freely accessible.

D. The government owns all local media.

3.What is the most serious limitation on Laos’ economic growth?

A. The lack of local skilled workers.

B. A poor transportation system.

C. Too much foreign aid.

D. Too many foreign workers.

4.What is the best title for the passage?

A. Laos: slow-developing nations

B. Laos: small steps forward

C. Laos: least-developed land

D. Laos: landlocked country

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

The idea started in Standlake and ________ throughout the country.

A.had been spread B.has spread C.had spread D.has been spread

高三英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析

Adrian’s hard work _________. He graduated with good grades and got into a top high school.

A. paid off          B. paid back      C. paid for       D. paid out

高三英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析

The news spread quickly across the country　　 Chang’e-I has become a planet of the moon ,　　 is really a breakthrough for China’s outer space technology.

A．which; which 　　　　 B．that ; that

C．that ; which　　 　　　 D．which ; that

高三英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析

This year’s Newsweek list of the top 100 high schools shows that today those with fewer students are rising.

Ten years ago, when the first Newsweek Top School List based on college-level test participation was published, only three of the top 100 schools had graduating classes smaller than 100 students. This year there are 22.

Fifty years ago, they were the latest thing in educational reform: big, modern high schools outside the cities with thousands of students. Big schools meant economic efficiency, a greater choice of courses, and better football teams. But only years later did we understand that it involved the difficulty of strengthening personal connections between teachers and students. SAT scores began dropping; on average, 30% of students did not complete high school in four years, a figure that rose to 50% in poor city neighborhoods. High schools for a variety of reasons seemed to have made little progress.

Size isn’t everything, but it does matter, and the past decade has seen a noticeable trend toward smaller schools. This has been partly due to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which has invested $1.8 billion in American high schools, helping to open about 1,000 small schools — most of them with about 400 kids, each with an average enrollment of only 150 students per grade. About 500 more are on the drawing board. Districts all over the country are taking notice, along with mayors in cities like New York, Chicago and San Diego. And most noticeable of all, there is the phenomenon of large urban and suburban high schools that have split up into smaller units of a few hundred.

Hillsdale High School in San Mateo, California, is one of those ranking No.423 — among the top 2% in the country. In 2003, Hillsdale remade itself into three “houses”. 300 students arriving ninth graders are randomly assigned to one of the houses, where they will keep the same four core subject teachers for two years before moving on to another for 11th and 12th grades. Teachers meet with students in groups of 25, five mornings a week, for open-ended discussions of everything from homework problems to bad Saturday-night dates. The advisers also meet with students privately and stay in touch with parents. Along with the new structure came the percentage of freshmen taking biology jumped from 17 to 95.”It was rough for some. But by senior year, two-thirds have moved up to physics,” says Jeff Gilbert. “Our kids are coming to school in part because they know there are adults here who know them and care for them.”

But not all schools show advances after downsizing, and it remains to be seen whether smaller schools will be a cure-all solution.

Ranking schools is always controversial. Over the years this system has been criticized for its simplicity — list of top U.S. high schools was made merely according to the proportion of students taking college-level exams. This year a group of 38 superintendents (地区教育主管) from five states wrote to ask that their schools should be excluded from the calculation. “It is impossible to know which high schools are ‘the best’ in the nation,” their letter read. “Determining whether different schools do or don’t offer a high quality of education requires a look at many different measures, including students’ overall academic accomplishments, their later performance in college, and taking into consideration the unique needs of their communities.”

1.What can we learn about the schools sponsored by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation?

A. They are often located in poor neighborhoods.

B. They are popular with high-achieving students.

C. They are mostly small in size.

D. Another 150 schools invested by the Foundation are planned to be set up.

2.According to Jeff Gilbert, the classes at Hillsdale were set up so that students could ______.

A. tell their teachers what they did on weekends

B. experience a great deal of pleasure in learning

C. maintain closer relationships with their teachers

D. deal with the demanding biology and physics courses

3.Newsweek ranks high schools according to ______.

A. their students’ academic achievement

B. the number of their students admitted to college

C. the size and number of their graduating classes

D. their college-level test participation

4.What attitude does the author have towards the present trend in high school education?

A. Subjective.                      B. Objective.                                 C. Indifferent.                      D. Disapproving.

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

A. Providing Good Education for Baby Boomers

B. Top School List Winning National Support

C. Small Schools Rising in popularity

D. Students Meeting Higher Academic Standards

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

Diets have changed in China — and so too has its top crop. Since 2011,the country 1.（grow）more corn than rice. Corn production has jumped nearly 125 percent over 2. past 25 years, while rice has increased only 7 percent.

A taste for meat is 3. (actual) behind the change: An important part of its corn is used to feed chickens, pigs, and cattle. Another reason for corn's rise: The government encourages farmers to grow corn instead of rice 4. (improve) water quality. Corn uses less water 5. rice and creates less fertilizer(化肥) runoff. This switch has decreased 6. (pollute) in the country's major lakes and reservoirs and made drinking water safer for people.

According to the World Bank, China accounts for about 30 percent of total 7. (globe)fertilizer consumption. The Chinese Ministry of Agriculture finds that between 2005—when the government 8. (start) a soil-testing program 9. gives specific fertilizer recommendations to farmers - and 2011, fertilizer use dropped by 7.7 million tons. That prevented the emission(排放) of 51.8 million tons of carbon dioxide. China's approach to protecting its environment while 10. (feed) its citizens "offers useful lessons for agriculture and food policymakers worldwide." says the bank's Juergen Voegele.

高三英语语法填空中等难度题查看答案及解析

My mother always told me, “You should explore your own country before stepping out into the world. ”However, it seems like a tough mission to travel all across its expansive surfaces. But luckily for me, Via Rail Canada offered youths between the ages of 18 and 25 the chance to ride the train across Canada for the month of July. The ticket was a bargain $150. My best friends Trevor, Joel and Jeremy and I immediately jumped at the opportunity and secured four tickets on the great Canadian railroad.

For a group of 20-year-olds, this was like the first flight of young birds from the nest. When we approached the train station in the morning, our 22-day adventure from Sudbury to Vancouver was to begin. Eyes baggy from lack of sleep, we jumped on board as if it was the train to Hogwarts in Harry Potter. Although the thought of three full days on those tracks covering close to 3, 000 kilometres crushed our spirits a little, what happened next caught us by surprise.

The three days on board turned into a summer camp on rails. At night, we would climb up the glass-domed train car, which gave us a scenic view of the starry night sky, untouched by the harmful light pollution. Before we knew it, the warm sun rays beating down on our faces woke us up for another day on the rails. To my surprise, a sea of golden grain fields dominated the landscape we were in the Canadian Prairies.

Another day slipped away and we set up for another night in the dome. And this time we were greeted by night sky painted by a fantastic thunderstorm. Lightning was striking at an incredible rate. The spectacular and memorable light show left everyone in the glass bubble in complete disbelief.

Arriving in the Rocky Mountains was one of the most surreal experiences of my life. Before the train adventure, if I could have skipped the travel and arrived at the destination, I would have. That is no longer true. I’ve learned that the journey can be more enjoyable than the destination.

1.What has made the author’s train adventure across Canada a reality?

A.The encouragement given by his mother. B.The appeal of the scenic views in the country.

C.The discount ticket offered by Via Rail Canada. D.His great courage to challenge a tough mission.

2.What can we infer about the young people from Paragraph 2 ?

A.They were excited about the coming train journey.

B.They left their parents for the first time in their life.

C.They never thought of having a train adventure.

D.They were hooked by the magic story of Harry Potter.

3.What does“the glass bubble”in the fourth paragraph refer to?

A.A brain in lack of imagination. B.The glass-domed train car.

C.A summer camp on the train. D.The sightseeing bus.

4.What did the author learn from the train adventure across Canada?

A.Opportunities are hard to get. B.Enjoying a journey counts a lot.

C.Splendid scenery attracts young people. D.The traveling experience is not real to him.

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析