Guinness World Records has long been recording some of the most amazing and astonishing travel and tourism facts. Here we are sharing some of the most unbelievable record-breaking accounts, all fully fact-checked and Guinness-approved.
Largest Ice Structure—The Ice Hotel in Sweden
Each year, the ice hotel in Jukkasjarvi, Sweden, is rebuilt from blocks of frozen ice from the nearby River Torne. Covering an area of 5,500 square metres, the hotel is unsurprisingly open seasonally, from December to March, when it melts away. In 2015, the hotel celebrated its 25th anniversary, complete with an ice bar, an ice church and ice bedrooms—one even featured a London Tube carriage made entirely of ice.
Tallest Waterfall—Angel Falls, Venezuela
The largest waterfall by vertical(垂直的) area may be Victoria Falls, which sit on the border between Zimbabwe and Zambia, but it’s South America that’s home to the world’s tallest.
Angel Falls, located in Bolivar, Venezuela, has an impressive, uninterrupted drop of 807 metres.
It was actually named after the American pilot, Jimmie Angel, who first recorded it in his logbook on November 16, 1933.
Largest Area of Glowing Sea—Indian Ocean, near Somalia
Bioluminescence(生物体发光) is the production and emission of light by a living thing and can be used to explain the surprising phenomenon(现象)of “glowing oceans.”
It was in 1995 that scientists detected glowing sea in the Indian Ocean—just off the coast of Somalia-via satellite, The water was more than 250 kilometres long, and it was all thanks to the bacteria called phytoplankton.
Most Expensive Hotel Room—The Royal Penthouse Suite at Geneva’s Hotel President Wilsom
This particular suite is just the ticket, costing as much as US$83,000(£53,760)per night.
But the high price will gain you access to 12 bedrooms and 12 marble bathrooms across 18,000 square feet.
1.Where is the tallest waterfall situated?
A. Between Zimbabwe and Zambia.
B. In South America.
C. In northern Europe.
D. In South Africa.
2.What can we learn about the largest area of glowing sea?
A. It was first recorded in 1933.
B. It was named after an American pilot.
C. It was first detected by satellite.
D. It is the only sea that is glowing.
3.What can you experience if you go to the Royal Penthouse Suite at Geneva’s Hotel President Wilson?
A. The most beautiful natural scenery.
B. The most expensive and luxurious suite.
C. The largest and most powerful waterfall.
D. The largest rooms.
4.Where might we find this text?
A. In a cultural book.
B. In a travel magazine
C. In a fashion magazine.
D. In an instruction book
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题
Guinness World Records has long been recording some of the most amazing and astonishing travel and tourism facts. Here we are sharing some of the most unbelievable record-breaking accounts, all fully fact-checked and Guinness-approved.
Largest Ice Structure—The Ice Hotel in Sweden
Each year, the ice hotel in Jukkasjarvi, Sweden, is rebuilt from blocks of frozen ice from the nearby River Torne. Covering an area of 5,500 square metres, the hotel is unsurprisingly open seasonally, from December to March, when it melts away. In 2015, the hotel celebrated its 25th anniversary, complete with an ice bar, an ice church and ice bedrooms—one even featured a London Tube carriage made entirely of ice.
Tallest Waterfall—Angel Falls, Venezuela
The largest waterfall by vertical(垂直的) area may be Victoria Falls, which sit on the border between Zimbabwe and Zambia, but it’s South America that’s home to the world’s tallest.
Angel Falls, located in Bolivar, Venezuela, has an impressive, uninterrupted drop of 807 metres.
It was actually named after the American pilot, Jimmie Angel, who first recorded it in his logbook on November 16, 1933.
Largest Area of Glowing Sea—Indian Ocean, near Somalia
Bioluminescence(生物体发光) is the production and emission of light by a living thing and can be used to explain the surprising phenomenon(现象)of “glowing oceans.”
It was in 1995 that scientists detected glowing sea in the Indian Ocean—just off the coast of Somalia-via satellite, The water was more than 250 kilometres long, and it was all thanks to the bacteria called phytoplankton.
Most Expensive Hotel Room—The Royal Penthouse Suite at Geneva’s Hotel President Wilsom
This particular suite is just the ticket, costing as much as US$83,000(£53,760)per night.
But the high price will gain you access to 12 bedrooms and 12 marble bathrooms across 18,000 square feet.
1.Where is the tallest waterfall situated?
A. Between Zimbabwe and Zambia.
B. In South America.
C. In northern Europe.
D. In South Africa.
2.What can we learn about the largest area of glowing sea?
A. It was first recorded in 1933.
B. It was named after an American pilot.
C. It was first detected by satellite.
D. It is the only sea that is glowing.
3.What can you experience if you go to the Royal Penthouse Suite at Geneva’s Hotel President Wilson?
A. The most beautiful natural scenery.
B. The most expensive and luxurious suite.
C. The largest and most powerful waterfall.
D. The largest rooms.
4.Where might we find this text?
A. In a cultural book.
B. In a travel magazine
C. In a fashion magazine.
D. In an instruction book
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
How long can a person live?How tall can a human being grow?The Guinness（吉尼斯）World Records book lists many of the greatest records1.the greatest potentials（潜能）.But it's a fossil record.It speaks only to what has been done,not how much can2.(do),which is why it has to be constantly updated（更新）.
Take the3.(surprise )case of the British middle-distance runner Roger Bannister for example.In the 1950s, experts said4.the human body could not run a mile in less than four minutes.Then Bannister came along in 1954 and proved it could5.act be run in 3:59.4.Once Bannister broke the imaginary barrier,6.(sudden )the floodgates opened;scores of runners started besting（击败）the four-minute mark every year,each one7.(fast) than the last. How fast does a human have the ability8.(run)the mile today?We honestly don't know.That is why we hold our 9.(breathe )during every Olympics.
All we know10.(be)that this kind of change is possible.Keep this in mind the next time you feel stuck or challenged.Just because it hasn't been done before doesn't mean it's impossible.
高二英语短文填空中等难度题查看答案及解析
Question: Which program is in Guinness World Records as the world’s longest running TV quiz show? Answer: “It’s Academic.”
“It’s Academic” is a Saturday morning program for high school students. The show has been broadcast in the Washington area for fifty years. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton competed on the show when she was a teenager. Teams from local schools are questioned about subjects like history, literature, math, science, religion, politics and sports.
Sophie was a TV producer in the 1950s. She started “It’s Academic” after local school officials asked her to create a program that showed outstanding students.
The show’s host, 84-year-old Mac McGarry, who has hosted “It’s Academic” since the beginning, says, “When we first started, the young people from various countries were not evident so much. Now, each program presents young people from all over the world, at least descendants (后裔) from people all over the world.”
Mac McGarry said, “Every time I look up, I see people who are just seventeen years old. And I think, ‘Well, I must not be growing older at all. They are full of enthusiasm. I really have to become more active to keep up with them.’” More than 20,000 students have appeared on the show. Mac McGarry has asked more than 200,000 questions and gotten more than a few funny answers.
Kelly Reeder led the team from Rockville High School in Maryland last year. Her school has won the championship on “It’s Academic” several times. She says, “We have put in a lot of effort over the years. It’s a really huge honor to end up on the A Team. My friends who are on ‘It’s Academic’ think it’s cool that I’m the captain of the A Team, but my friends who are not on ‘It’s Academic’ think it’s kind of funny.”
1.We learn from the text that “It’s Academic” .
A. was started half a century ago
B. was produced by Hillary Clinton
C. is broadcast across the US every week
D. is a TV show based on Guinness records
2.Sophie created the program originally to .
A. pick out outstanding students
B. focus on students’ schoolwork
C. attract more TV viewers
D. accomplish a given task
3.In Paragraph 4, McGarry mainly wants to say .
A. the show was not popular at first
B. they overcame difficulties in the beginning
C. the teams in the show are quite different now
D. the show becomes the longest running TV show
4.By saying “I must not be growing older at all”, McGarry means that she .
A. will have to retire soon
B. hopes to go on with the work
C. feels younger together with teenagers
D. worries about her health condition
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
For years, my time spent in the shower could have got me a mention in Guinness World Records as the shortest time taken to bathe. I hurried up during this process.
One day, however, while at a party, I heard an artist friend telling everybody that his idea came while he was having a shower. “What about you?” he asked, “Don’t you get your creative thoughts from the same place?”
“I’m in and out in a hurry,” I told him proudly. “I have no time to waste!”
“What a pity,” he said. “That’s the place where you need to slow down; plenty of great thoughts come from there!” I tried it out. I slowed down the whole process, started enjoying the warm water, taking a little longer to soap myself and even spending more time just enjoying the process, and realized how much I had missed in hurrying up all these years.
A woman told me how much stress her friend was suffering from and how she sought to convince her that she needed to find ways to relax. She gave her a videotape on stress management and relaxation techniques, and encouraged her to watch it right away. Fifteen minutes later, her friend handed back the tape. “It was good,” she said, but I don’t need it.”
“But it’s a 70 - minute video,” the woman replied, “You couldn’t have watched the whole thing.”
“Yes, I did,” her friend said. “I put it in fast - forward!”
A major social problem of the 21st century is Hurry Sickness. We hurry through work. We swallow fast food. We complain that we don’t have enough time. We race through the days and weeks until one day we look back in amazement and comment, “My god, how the years flew by!” Then we realize the heavy price we have paid for traveling fast.
Symptoms of Hurry Sickness include stress and anxiety, bad relationships, lowered work performance and even disease. Some people don’t survive it. What’s the cure? Slow down, for life is so short and precious that we must live it well.
1.What was the advantage of taking a shower in the eyes of the artist friend?
A.Time was saved. B.Nothing was missed.
C.Great ideas flew away. D.Creative thoughts came.
2.What was the trouble with the woman’s friend?
A.She felt stressed. B.She found the tape useless.
C.She found no way to relax. D.She watched the tape too fast.
3.What are the major trouble people face in the 21st century in the writer’s eyes?
A.People run fast to work. B.Everything is done in a hurry.
C.People don’t have enough time. D.Time flies without being noticed.
4.How can the problem be settled?
A.By pacing down. B.By learning to survive.
C.By developing friendship. D.By performing good work.
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
John Otway
John Otway has been playing music and making records in the UK for more than 40 years. Over the years he has released more than ten albums. He has played hundreds of concerts. He has written two autobiographies. He has worked with some of the country’s best musicians and he has even made a film about his life. But despite all of this, most people have never heard of him.
Otway released his first record in 1972, but it was the Punk Movement a few years later that really gave him his big chance. Otway wasn’t the greatest musician but his songs were always fun, and his performances on stage were always entertaining - there was a good chance he would fall off the stage at least once in each show. The punks liked him, and in 1977 he had a small hit when his single Really Free made it to No. 27 in the UK top 40 charts. Otway really enjoyed his success but unfortunately, no more came. Not one of his records over the next 30 years was a hit.
Although he never had much commercial success, Otway had a lot of very loyal fans. When someone asked him what he would like for his 50th birthday, his reply was: “A second hit.” His fans went out and bought as many copies of the new single Bunsen Burner as they could. And in October 2002, Otway finally saw his wish come true. In a chart that featured international superstars like Pink, Will Young and Oasis, Bunsen Burner made it to No. 9. Many high street shops refused to sell the record, saying that Otway was too old and unattractive for the teenage market. Otway didn’t care. He celebrated his success with an appearance on TV’s biggest music show Top of the Pops.
These days John Otway continues to play his music around the country, and there are always plenty of people who are happy to go and watch him perform. He’s a great example for anyone who loves making music. You don’t have to be young, good-looking (or even very talented) to enjoy a long career in the music business.
1.From paragraph 1, we know that ________.
A.John Otway has released hundreds of albums
B.John Otway never worked with best musicians
C.John Otway has written hundreds of autobiographies
D.John Otway is not well-known in the UK as a musician
2.John Otway saw his wish come true when he released ________.
A.Really Free B.Bunsen Burner
C.Top of the Pops D.his first record
3.Why were some street shops unwilling to sell his single Bunsen Burner?
A.They thought it was terrible.
B.It wasn’t a very big hit.
C.John Otway didn’t want them to have it.
D.They thought teenagers would not like to buy it.
4.What can we learn from the passage?
A.Musicians have to be young and attractive.
B.Success isn’t important in our life.
C.We should be determined to do what we love.
D.Musicians do much better as they get older.
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
Natural herbal medicines have been a part of the medicine world for a long time. 1. Some people use them for therapeutic (治疗的) purposes while others use them for medicinal purposes.
2. That is because the ingredients (成分) are natural and therefore have very few side effects when they’re taken. Nowadays, different doctors are advocating for the use of herbal medicine for the well—being and the health of the body.
The main purpose of natural Herbal medicines is to help the body return to its normal state so that it can be restored wholly. 3. For instance, they can restore the body’s natural balance and health in cases where the body is sick or has low immunity. They work by making the immune system (免疫系统) function well and also promote the well - being of the body before any illness sets in. They can make one better at remembering something as they improve blood circulation to the brain. Additionally, natural herbal medicines can reduce anxiety, depression, exhaustion, stress, etc. 4.
Despite many advantages of natural herbal medicines, you should take something into account when you use them. For instance, don’t use them in cases where the conventional drugs are supposed to be used. 5. That is because getting the correct dosage (剂量) and also the exact type of drug for the particular disease is of vital importance.
A. Thus, they help your nerves calm down.
B. The use of herbs is widely known to be safe.
C. Different cultures have used them in various ways.
D. Historically, the Chinese people used them to treat illness.
E. Moreover, it’s a good idea to consult your doctor before using them.
F. Different herbs will work differently and bring desirable healing effects.
G. Herbal medicine is an effective means of helping humans stay healthy.
高二英语七选五中等难度题查看答案及解析
Google has been collecting tons of data about smartphone usage around the world.Here are some of the most surprising and interesting facts：
Android is most popular in Japan, with 55% of respondents(调查对象) using it, compared with 39% for iOS. Android is also number one in a few other countries, including New Zealand (41%), the US(40%), and China (38%)．
iOS is farthest ahead in Switzerland, with 52% usage vs 23% for Android.Other countries where iOS is far ahead include Australia (49% vs 25% Android), Canada (45% vs 23% Android and 23% Blackberry), and France (43% vs 25% Android)．
In Egypt, Windows Mobile is far more popular than iOS.13% of survey respondents use the Microsoft smartphone platform, behind Symbian (19%) and Android (14%). iOS is very far down at 4%.
Mobile social networking is biggest in Mexico and Argentina, where 74% and 73% of users visit a social network daily. But mobile social is weak in Japan where 34% of users never visit a social network on their phone, and this figure rises to 41% in Brazil.
Watching video is most popular in Saudi Arabia, with 59% of respondents doing it daily. Number two is Egypt, with 41%.
Chinese users shop from their phones.59% of Chinese users do this, compared with only 41% in second place Egypt. Chinese users also love to write reviews.41% of them write a review of a local business after looking it up on their smartphone. Number two, Japan, is far behind, with only 24% of respondents doing this.
1.Which of the following best describes the usage of the smartphone operating systems in Egypt?
A．Windows Mobile＞iOS＞Symbian＞Android
B．Android＞Windows Mobile＞iOS＞Symbian
C．iOS＞Android＞Symbian＞Windows Mobile
D．Symbian＞Android＞Windows Mobile＞iOS
2.In which of the following countries is mobile social networking least popular?
A．Brazil. B．Japan. C．Mexico. D．Argentina.
3.In which section of a newspaper can we most probably read the passage?
A. Health. B. Environment.
C. Technology. D. Entertainment.
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
In a world where nearly 6 million fingerprint records of government employees are stolen in one computer hack, and where millions of people are victims of identity theft every year, the next step in cyber security may well be mapping your brain.
Researchers at Binghamton University, State University of New York arc working on a biometric （生物特征 识别的）system that records how your brain reacts to certain images. With a little more polishing, the scientists' brainchild could become the way you get into a safe deposit box, your office or past scanners at the airport. It could replace the password for your online banking, your email or your social media accounts.
They started their project by measuring the brain waves of 30 subjects. The subjects were fitted with a cap that had 30 electrodes （电极）attached to it, and then shown various images and symbols — celebrity faces, words, pictures of food --- on a computer screen in 200-millisecond bursts. The brain\ reaction was recorded.
The idea is that every time a person needs to use a “password", he or she goes through the same procedure, and the results are matched with their first-time reaction. If the "brainprint" is compromised --- like what happened with the fingerprint records --- then the system is merely reset by running another set of images and collecting a different set of brain waves。. "Even if that was stolen, you could just cancel it and record one to something else", says professor Laszlo.
Laszlo and her team have shown that their system can be 100 percent accurate. So one of the more difficult parts of making the system practical already has been overcome. Now, they're spending much time recording accurate brainprints with as few as three electrodes, which could make recording in the future as easy as wearing a pair of special glasses. They're also working with cheaper materials and different methods to see if they can bring the cost down.
1.What does the underlined word "brainchild" in paragraph 2 refer to?
A.The brain function. B.The fingerprint record.
C.The online password. D.The biometric system.
2.Why were the images and symbols shown to the subjects?
A.To check the brain's reaction.
B.To create their brainprints.
C.To match brainprints with pictures.
D.To connect brain waves to electrodes.
3.What will happen when a brainprint fails?
A.A new one will be set
B.A spare one will be made ready beforehand.
C.The users' identity will be stolen.
D.The fingerprint record will replace it.
4.What are the researchers doing with the program now?
A.Improving its accuracy.
B.Recording more brainprints.
C.Making it user-friendly.
D.Increasing the number of electrodes.
高二英语阅读理解困难题查看答案及解析
根据背诵内容填空
1.The Guinness world record for the fastest _________speed at the Tour de France was set in 1999 by the American ________Lance Armstrong.
2.The woman first bought a few small________. After a little time, she ________ one of the most expensive dresses in the shop.
3.Towards evening, the boat ________a rock and the girl jumped into the sea. Then she _______to the shore after spending the whole night in the water.
4.Some of the ________ found in the grave give us an idea of how he was dressed when he was_______.
5.In his _______Frank used to make _______parts for airplanes.
高二英语填空题困难题查看答案及解析
根据背诵内容填空 （每空1分，满分5分）
1. The Guinness world record for the fastest _________speed at the Tour de France was set in 1999 by the American ________Lance Armstrong.
2. The woman first bought a few small . After a little time, she one of the most expensive dresses in the shop.
3. Towards evening, the boat ________a rock and the girl jumped into the sea. Then she _______to the shore after spending the whole night in the water.
4. Some of the found in the grave give us an idea of how he was dressed when he was_______.
5. In his _______Frank used to make _______parts for airplanes.
高二英语其他题简单题查看答案及解析