Next month, I’m traveling to a remote area of...

Next month, I’m traveling to a remote area of Central Africa and my aim is to know enough Lingala — one of the local languages — to have a conversation. I wasn’t sure how I was going to manage this — until I discovered a way to learn all the vocabulary I’m going to need. Thanks to Memrise, the app I’m using. It feels just like a game.

“People often stop learning things because they feel they’re not making progress or because it all feels like too much hard work,” says Ed Cooke, one of the people who created Memrise. “We’re trying to create a form of learning experience that is fun and is something you’d want to do instead of watching TV.”

Memrise gives you a few new words to learn and these are “seeds” which you plant in your “greenhouse”. When you practice the words, you “water your plants”. When the app believes that you have really remembered a word, it moves the word to your “garden”. And if you forget to log on, the app sends you emails that remind you to “water your plants”.

The app uses two principles about learning. The first is that people remember things better when they link them to a picture in their mind. Memrise translates words into your own language, but it also encourages you to use “mems”. For example, I memorized motele, the Lingala word for “engine”, using a mem I created — I imagined an old engine in a motel (汽车旅馆) room.

The second principle is that we need to stop after studying words and then repeat them again later, leaving time between study sessions. Memrise helps you with this, because it’s the kind of app you only use for five or ten minutes a day.

I’ve learnt hundreds of Lingala words with Memrise. I know this won’t make me a fluent speaker, but I hope I’ll be able to do more than just smile when I meet people in Congo. Now, I need to go and water my vocabulary!

1.What does Ed Cooke make an effort to do with Memrise?

A. Create memorable experiences.

B. Make progress with hard work.

C. Master languages through games.

D. Combine study with entertainment.

2.What do the underlined words “water your plants” in Paragraph 3 refer to?

A. Learning new words.　　 B. Being a Memrise user.

C. Logging on to the app.　　 D. Taking care of your garden.

3.How does Memrise work?

A. By linking different mems together.

B. By putting knowledge into practice.

C. By offering human translation services.

D. By applying an associative memory approach.

4.What is the author’s attitude towards Memrise?

A. Positive.　　 B. Doubtful.

C. Uncaring.　　 D. Disapproving.

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

Next month, I’m traveling to a remote area of Central Africa and my aim is to know enough Lingala — one of the local languages — to have a conversation. I wasn’t sure how I was going to manage this — until I discovered a way to learn all the vocabulary I’m going to need. Thanks to Memrise, the application I’m using. It feels just like a game.

“People often stop learning things because they feel they’re not making progress or because it all feels like too much hard work,” says Ed Cooke, one of the people who created Memrise. “We’re trying to create a form of learning experience that is fun and is something you’d want to do instead of watching TV.”

Memrise gives you a few new words to learn and these are “seeds” which you plant in your “greenhouse”. When you learn the words, you “water your plants”. When the application believes that you’ve really memorized a word, it moves the word to your “garden”. And if you forget to log on, the application sends you emails, reminding you to “water your plants”.

The application uses two principles about learning. The first is that people memorize things better when they link them to a picture in their mind. Memrise translates words into your own language, but it also encourages you to use “mems”. For example, I memorized motele, the Lingala word for “engine”, using a mem I created — I imagined an old engine in a motel (汽车旅馆) room.

The second principle is that we need to stop after studying words and then repeat them again later, leaving time between study sessions. Memrise helps you with this, because it’s the kind of application you only use for five or ten minutes a day.

I’ve learnt hundreds of Lingala words with Memrise. I know this won’t make me a fluent speaker, but I hope I’ll be able to do more than just smile when I meet people in Congo. Now, I need to go and water my Vocabulary!

1.What does Ed Cooke make an effort to do with Memrise?

A. Create memorable experiences. B. Make progress with hard work.

C. Learning words instead of watching TV. D. Combine study with entertainment.

2.What are you doing when you “water your plants”?

A. Logging on to the application. B. Being a Memrise user.

C. Practising the vocabulary. D. Moving words to your garden.

3.How does Memrise work?

A. By linking different mems together. B. By putting knowledge into practice.

C. By offering human translation services. D. By applying an associative memory approach.

4.What is the author’s attitude towards Memrise?

A. Doubtful. B. Positive.

C. Uninterested. D. Negative.

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

The okapi is a mammal living above the equator in one of the most biodiverse areas in central Africa. The animal was unknown to the western world until the beginning of the 20th century, and is often described as half-zebra, half-giraffe, as if it were a mixed-breed creature from a Greek legend. Yes its image is prevalent in the Democratic Republic of Congo-the only country in the world where it is found living in the world. The okapi is to Congo what the giant panda is to China or the kangaroo to Australia.

Although the okapi has striped markings resembling those of zebras’, it is most closely related to the giraffe. It has a long neck, and large, flexible ears. The face and throat are greyish white. The coat is a chocolate to reddish brown, much in contrast with the white horizontal stripes and rings on the legs and white ankles. Overall, the okapi can be easily distinguished form its nearest relative. It is much smaller (about the size of a horse) and shares more external similarities with the deer than with the giraffe. While both sexes possess horns in the giraffe, only males bear horns in the okapi.

The West got its first whiff of the okapi in 1890 when Welsh Journalist Henry Morton Stanley had puzzled over a strange “African donkey” in his book. Other Europeans in Africa had also heard of an animal that they came to call the “African unicorn.” Explorers may have seen the fleeting view of the striped backside as the animal fled through the bushes, leading to speculation that the okapi was some sort of rainforest zebra. Some even believed that the okapi was a new species of zebra. It was only later, when okapi skeleton was analyzed, that naturalists realized they had a giraffe on their hands.

In 1987, the Okapi Wildlife Reserve was established in eastern Congo to protect this rare mammal. But decades of political turbulence has seen much of the Congo’s natural resources spin out of the government’s control, and okapi numbers have fallen by 50 percent since 1995. Today, only 10,000 remain.

1.Which of the following is a picture of an okapi?

A. B.

C. D.

2.Which of the following descriptions is true about the okapi?

A.It is an important symbol of Congo.

B.It has been well protected since 1987.

C.It is a mystical creature from a Greek legend

D.It is more closely related to the zebra than the giraffe.

3.What does the underlined word“whiff”most likely mean in Paragraph 3?

A.Firm belief. B.Kind intention.

C.Strong dislike. D.Slight trace.

4.What can be inferred about Henry Morton Stanley?

A.He was the first Europeans to analyze okapi skeleton.

B.He had found many new species of animals in Africa.

C.He did not know the“African donkey"in his book was the okapi.

D.He had seen the backside of an okapi dashing through the bushes.

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

A Wonder Plant

Every rainy season, the mountain gorillas (大猩猩) of Central Africa migrate to the foothills and lower parts of the Virunga Mountains to feed on bamboo. For the 650 or so that remain in the wild, it’s a vital food source. 1. Gorillas aren’t the only locals keen on bamboo. For the people near the mountains, it’s a valuable raw material used for building houses and making household items. But in the past 100 years, resources have come under increasing pressure as populations have exploded and large areas of bamboo forest have been cleared to make way for farms.

2. All over the world, the ranges of many bamboo species appear to be reducing, endangering the people and animals that depend upon them. A report published by the UN Environment Programme has revealed just how profound our ignorance of global bamboo resources is.

Bamboo is a wonder plant. Its ecological role extends beyond providing food and habitat for animals. Bamboo tends to grow in stands made up of groups of individual plants that grow from root systems. Its extensive root systems are crucial in preventing water loss and soil erosion.3. In India 25% of paper produced is made from bamboo fiber, and in Brazil, 100,000 hectares of bamboo are grown for its production. Because of its flexibility and strength, it has traditionally been used in construction. Bamboo is often the only readily available raw material for people in many developing countries.

4. Ray Townsend, vice president of the British Bamboo Society, says, “Some plants are threatened because they can’t survive in the habitat—they aren’t strong enough or there aren’t enough of them, perhaps. But bamboo can take care of itself-it is strong enough to survive if left alone.5.” When forest goes, it is transformed into something else: there isn’t anywhere for forest plants such as bamboo to grow if you create a cattle grass land.

A. Sadly, this isn’t a single story.

B. It is the physical disturbance that is the threat to bamboo.

C. Until now, bamboo has been viewed as a second-class plant.

D. Without it, their chances of survival would be reduced significantly.

E. Besides, bamboo’s most immediate significance lies in its economic value.

F. More than a billion people rely on bamboo for either their shelter or income.

G. Despite bamboo’s value in economy and ecology, its situation is all the more worrying.

高三英语七选五中等难度题查看答案及解析

The doctor ____ is leaving for Africa next month.

高三英语单项填空简单题查看答案及解析

Peter will　 his post as the head of the travel agency at the end of next month.

A. take up 　　　　　 　　 B. put up

C. add up　　　 　　　　　　 D. break up

高三英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析

Peter will 　　　　 his post as the head of the travel agency at the end of next month.

A. take up　　　 B. put up

C. add up　　　 D. break up

高三英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析

Every year, groups of tourists travel to central US states like Oklahoma, Texas and Nebraska for their summer vacation. 1. They’re going to chase storms.

Once an activity only for scientists and adventurous types, storm chasing has now become an increasingly popular pastime for people from all over the world. 2. Storm chasers analyze weather reports and maps to locate an incoming storm before driving hundreds of miles toward it to witness a tornado in action.

The people going on these tours vary from curious first-time chasers looking for something different to storm chasing “addicts” like Nicholas Lee, a weather forecaster from the UK. 3. Now he saves up his vacation days to go storm chasing for three weeks every summer in the center of the US. It is the place well known for producing massive storms.

4. Since then the activity has continued to grow in popularity. Considering its potential dangers, it possesses, it is obviously not for everybody. And yet, more and more people are coming out doing the storm-chasing tours.

The real dangers of storm chasing are not just being swept up by a tornado. When a large tornado is predicted for the day, a number of storm chasers will drive to that high-risk area, causing serious traffic jams, which makes it harder to access the perfect spot to witness a tornado. The escape routes will be too congested as well. 5. Take the tornado that touched down near El Reno, Oklahoma in 2013. More than 150 people were injured, and 20 killed in it, including Tim Samaras, an experienced storm chaser plus his son and another partner.

Despite the increasing interest in storm chasing, it is still a very non-mainstream hobby.

A.Sometimes it can be life-threatening.

B.He went on his first storm-chasing tour in 2015.

C.But these people are not looking for sunshine or sightseeing.

D.He cannot wait to see that happening at any time soon.

E.Storm chasing was first popularized by the 1996 film Twister.

F.It means going to“high risk areas”where severe weather occurs.

G.How did potentially deadly weather become a popular tourist attraction?

高三英语七选五中等难度题查看答案及解析

The next long vacation might be still months away, but it’s never too early to tailor a good travel plan.

Planning ahead with discount air tickets and hotel booking sites may bring you the prize of an overseas adventure. Here, 21^st Century offers some tips on how to plan a cheap, creative travel route.

Book a budget flight

________1.________ Discount airlines tend to increase their fare as the plane fills up and early reservations are usually rewarded with the lowest fares.

Most major domestic airlines offer discount tickets for off-peak travel. China Southern Airlines now provides favorable group purchase ticket deals to attract tourists to cities like Hong Kong and Guilin. ________2.________

Another way is to search for a cheap ticket on the websites of low-cost airlines, which offer you very low fares though less comfort.

The budget airline has a long history in the West. It’s also called a no-frills carrier(经济型航班)for doing away with traditional free services, such as food and drinks. They charge you extra for catering on board, or securing a seat. ________3.________

Popular airline routes

Air Asia: The Malaysian-based airline flies form seven cities in China including Tianjin, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Chongqing, Hangzhou, Guilin and Shenzhen in the Chinese mainland, and provides trips to cities such as Paris and London. ________4.________ Many tickets are priced under 1500 yuan.

Southwest Airlines: If you go traveling in the US you can take this low-cost airline based in Texas.

Find a cheap 5-star service hotel

________5.________ It’s a great idea to look for YHA（Youth Hostels Associa-tion）backpackers, or Bed ＆ Breakfast deals online.

A．It can transfer you to most South East Asian countries.

B．So you have to read more discount information before boarding.

C．The key to getting any good-priced plane ticket is to reserve the flight early.

D．So it’s wiser to take hand luggage because many budget airlines put a fee on checked in luggage.

E. Air China and Beijing Capital Airlines offer tickets with as much as 75 to 80 percent discounts.

F. Like airline tickets, the price for a budget hotel depends on when you book it: the earlier, the cheaper.

G. Get your holiday off to a flying start by booking a cheap flight to hundreds of destinations ebookers offers.

高三英语信息匹配中等难度题查看答案及解析

Should we allow modern buildings to‑ be built next to older buildings in a historic area of　 a city? In order to answer this question, we must first examine whether people really want to preserve the historic feel of an area. Not all historical buildings are attractive. However, there may be other reasons for example, economic (经济的) reasons-why they should be preserved. So, let us assume that historical buildings are both attractive and important to the majority of people. What should we do then if a new building is needed?

In my view, new architectural styles can exist perfectly well alongside an older style. Indeed, there are many examples in my own home town of Tours where modern designs have been placed very successfully next to old buildings. As long as the building in question is pleasing and does not dominate (影响) its surroundings too much, it often improves the attractiveness of the area.

It is true that there are examples of new buildings which have spoilt (破坏) the area they are in, but the same can be said of some old buildings too. Yet people still speak against new buildings in historic areas. I think this is simply because people are naturally conservative(保守的)and do not like change.

Although we have to respect people's feelings as fellow users of the buildings, I believe that it is the duty of the architect and planner to move things forward . If we always reproduced what was there before,we would all still be living in caves . Thus , I would argue against copying previous architectural styles and choose something fresh and different , even though that might be the more risky choice.

1.What does the author say about historical buildings in the first paragraph?

A. Some of them are not attractive.

B. Most of them ate too expensive to preserve.

C. They are more pleasing than modern buildings.

D. They have nothing to do with the historic feel of an area.

2.Which of the following is true according to the author ?

A. We should reproduce the same old buildings.

B. Buildings should not dominate their surroundings.

C. Some old buildings have spoilt the area they are in.

D. No one understands why people speak against new buildings.

3.By “move things forward ” in the last paragraph , the author probably means“　　　　 ”

A. Destroy old buildings

B. Put things in a different place

C. Choose new architectural styles

D. Respect people’s feelings for historical buildings

4.What is the main purpose of the passage?

A. To explain why people dislike change.

B. To warn that we could end up living in caves.

C. To admit how new buildings have ruined their surroundings.

D. To argue that modern buildings can be built in historic areas.

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析