D
LONDON—Archaeologists have discovered a smaller prehistoric(史前) site near Britain’s famous circle of standing stones at Stonehenge.
Researchers have named the site “Bluehenge” after the color of the 27 Welsh stones that were laid to make up a path. The stones have disappeared, but the path of holes remains.
The new circle, unearthed over the summer by researchers from Sheffield University, represents an important find, researchers said Saturday. The site is about a mile away from Stonehenge.
Bluehenge, about 80 miles southwest of London, is believed to date back to about the time Stonehenge was built, about 5,000 years ago.
Mike Parker Pearson of Sheffield University said he believed the path and stonehenge itself were linked to rituals(仪式) of life and death.
Mike Parker suggested that the ancient funerary rituals began at a different circle site known as “Wood-henge”, which represented the world of the living. The bodies of the dead were then brought down the River Avon to Bluehenge, which represented death, and were finally carried along a ceremonial route known as the Avenue to Stonehenge.
Bournemouth University Professor Tim Darvill, an expert on Stonehenge, told Britain’s Dail Mail that Bluehenge “adds to the richness” of the ancient site’s story.
“This henge is very important because it forms part of the picture of ceremonial monuments in the area and puts Stonehenge into context,” Darvill was quoted(引述) as saying. “It’s no longer Stonehenge standing alone, but it has to be seen in context with the landscape.”
53.How many henges are mentioned in this passage?
A.Two B.Three C.Four D.Five
54.Who believed the Stonehenge is related to ancient ritual of death?
A.Archaeologists from London B.Welsh researchers
C.Mike Parker Pearson D.Professor Tim Darvill
55.What does the underlined sentence “It’s no longer Stonehenge standing alone, but it has to be seen in context with the landscape.” in the last paragraph mean?
A.Stonehenge has noting to do with Bluehenge
B.Woodhenge represented the world of living in ancient times.
C.Bluehenge represented death
D.Stonehenge, Woodhenge and Bluehenge should be studied together
56.From the passage we can learn that ______.
A.researchers have named the site “Bluehenge,” because they have found blue huge stones there
B.funerary rituals were carried out along the path starting from Woodhenge, River Avon to Bluehenge, finally Stonehenge.
C.Bluehenge is 1 mile away from London
D.Bluehenge dates back to 2000 BC
高三英语阅读理解简单题
D
LONDON—Archaeologists have discovered a smaller prehistoric(史前) site near Britain’s famous circle of standing stones at Stonehenge.
Researchers have named the site “Bluehenge” after the color of the 27 Welsh stones that were laid to make up a path. The stones have disappeared, but the path of holes remains.
The new circle, unearthed over the summer by researchers from Sheffield University, represents an important find, researchers said Saturday. The site is about a mile away from Stonehenge.
Bluehenge, about 80 miles southwest of London, is believed to date back to about the time Stonehenge was built, about 5,000 years ago.
Mike Parker Pearson of Sheffield University said he believed the path and stonehenge itself were linked to rituals(仪式) of life and death.
Mike Parker suggested that the ancient funerary rituals began at a different circle site known as “Wood-henge”, which represented the world of the living. The bodies of the dead were then brought down the River Avon to Bluehenge, which represented death, and were finally carried along a ceremonial route known as the Avenue to Stonehenge.
Bournemouth University Professor Tim Darvill, an expert on Stonehenge, told Britain’s Dail Mail that Bluehenge “adds to the richness” of the ancient site’s story.
“This henge is very important because it forms part of the picture of ceremonial monuments in the area and puts Stonehenge into context,” Darvill was quoted(引述) as saying. “It’s no longer Stonehenge standing alone, but it has to be seen in context with the landscape.”
53.How many henges are mentioned in this passage?
A.Two B.Three C.Four D.Five
54.Who believed the Stonehenge is related to ancient ritual of death?
A.Archaeologists from London B.Welsh researchers
C.Mike Parker Pearson D.Professor Tim Darvill
55.What does the underlined sentence “It’s no longer Stonehenge standing alone, but it has to be seen in context with the landscape.” in the last paragraph mean?
A.Stonehenge has noting to do with Bluehenge
B.Woodhenge represented the world of living in ancient times.
C.Bluehenge represented death
D.Stonehenge, Woodhenge and Bluehenge should be studied together
56.From the passage we can learn that ______.
A.researchers have named the site “Bluehenge,” because they have found blue huge stones there
B.funerary rituals were carried out along the path starting from Woodhenge, River Avon to Bluehenge, finally Stonehenge.
C.Bluehenge is 1 mile away from London
D.Bluehenge dates back to 2000 BC
高三英语阅读理解简单题查看答案及解析
Using modern technology, archaeologists (考古学家) have recently discovered about 200 Mayan artifacts (玛雅古器) in Mexico, which surprisingly, appear to have been untouched for up to 1,000 years. The artifacts were found inside a cave in ruins of the ancient Mayan city of Chichen Itza on Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula.
The lead researcher on the project is Mexican archaeologist Guillermo de Anda. He called the cave a “scientific treasure”.
The findings included bone pieces and burnt offering materials. In addition, incense burners, vases, plates and other objects were discovered. Some items included the portrait of Tlaloc, the rain god of central Mexico.
The cave where the objects were found is so unique. It is part of a cave system known as Balamku. The cave is long, narrow and dark. It is about three kilometers east of the main pyramid of Kukulkan. It sits at the center of Chichen Itza which is the stone city described by the United Nations as “one of the greatest Mayan centers of the Yucatan Peninsula.”
The cave sits about 24 meters underground, with areas connected by passages. Some of the passages were so narrow that researchers had to climb in or pull themselves through. The team has so far explored about 460 meters of the cave, and is unsure how far it stretches. The team plans to continue exploring the cave. The found artifacts will not be removed, but studied inside.
The team accidentally found the artifacts while exploring Chichen Itza in an effort to learn more about its underground water system. The new discovery will help scientists better understand the history, culture, lives and beliefs of people who lived in Chichen Itza, especially in the boom years.
Archaeologists believe there may be another cave hidden under the pyramid of Kukulkan that could be connected to the latest find. “Let’s hope God will lead us there,” Guillermo de Anda said. “That is part of the reason why we are entering these sites to find a connection to the natural well under the Kukulkan.”
1.What’s amazing about the Mayan artifacts discovered in Mexico?
A.The long history and perfect state.
B.The digging time and location.
C.The current high price.
D.The variety of usage.
2.What is paragraph 4 mainly about?
A.The features of the cave. B.The findings in the cave.
C.The ancient cave system. D.The origin of Mayan centers.
3.What is the significance of the new discovery?
A.It can help scientists register cultural relics.
B.It can encourage archaeologists to form work beliefs.
C.It can help scientists further learn about Mayan civilization.
D.It can arouse the interest of Mexicans in archaeology.
4.What will archaeologists do next according to the last paragraph?
A.Dig wells under the Kukulkan.
B.Move the findings to another cave.
C.Find the cause of groundwater disappearance.
D.Try to find another cave under the pyramid of Kukulkan.
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
ARCHAEOLOGISTS(考古学家) GUIDED BY laser images of a remote region of northern Guatemala have discovered 20-foot-high walls, watchtowers, and other evidence that ancient Maya societies had been annoyed by warfare threat over many years. The finds have upended long-established impressions of a civilization that it tamed the jungle and built thriving cities,then declined and disappeared quietly beneath the dense tropical forest.
Among the most surprising discoveries was a large stone complex now called La Cuemavilla. Built on a steep ridge, the heavily fortified site included high walls. Moats which serves as the largest defensive system ever discovered in the region.
This was surprising says an archaeologist, "because we had a tendency to romanticize Maya warfare as something that was largely ritualized. But the fortifications were seeing suggest an elevated level of antagonism over centuries. Rulers were so deeply alarmed that they felt the need to invest in all these hilltop fortifications. There is an almost visible sense of fear in this landscape.
All these findings owe credit to PACUNAM LIDAR Initiative, a laser survey of some 800 square miles of the Maya Biosphere Reserve in northern Guatemala. Using revolutionary Laser technology, the survey revealed the long-hidden ruins of a sprawling pre-Columbian civilization that was far more complex and interconnected than most Maya specialists had supposed.
Guided by the new Laser treasure maps, the LIDAR team deployed through the jungle over the past year to conduct hands-on investigations of more than a dozen of the most promising sites-most of which would have been imperceptible without LIDAR.
"You could walk over the top of a major ruin and miss it, "says an archaeologist who's part of the PACUNA project. But LIDAR picks up the patterns and makes the features pop out with surprising clarity.
Three-dimensional maps generated by the survey yielded surprises even at Tikal, the largest and most extensively explored archaeological site in Guatemala. The ancient city was at least four times bigger than previously thought, and surrounded by a massive ditch and fortified base stretching for miles.
Archaeologists stress that LIDAR, for all its utility, will never see below the ground or yield direct dates of occupation. “we still need to dig and hack our way through the jungle, but now we have a very accurate map to guide us.
1.How did people think of Maya before the discovery of the defense ruins?
A. It was the most advanced civilization in the history of mankind.
B. It was long under the threat of large-scale wars
C. Its rise and decline were under way peacefully
D. It was finally destroyed by a large-scale war
2.The underlined word antagonism is closest in meaning to ____.
A. misery
B. revolution
C. population decrease
D. opposition
3.Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage?
A. The military mechanism found in La Cuemavilla was intended for occupying more lands.
B. The new laser technology was mainly used to enlarge the original site size.
C. The LIDAR helps to avoid the traditional digging task in site exploration.
D. The Tikal site was found to be protected by certain defense works
4.The passage is mainly about ____.
A. people' s long-time misunderstanding of Maya civilization.
B. discovery of Maya military works aided by new explore technology
C. the finding of a big warfare resulting in the disappearance of Maya civilization
D. The various advantages of new technologies in the field of archaeology.
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
D
Stonehenge(巨石阵)may have been a prehistoric health center rather than a site for observing stars or a temple in honor of the dead, scientists said yesterday. New evidence unearthed at the World Heritage Site in more than 40 years suggests that the monument was a place where the diseased and injured went in groups, seeking cures.
After a two-week dig, scientists have concluded that Stonehenge was “the ancient healthcare centre of southern England” because of the existence of “bluestones”---the smaller columns of dolerite(辉绿岩)that formed an earlier stone structure.
By dating pieces of remains to around 7330BC, Tim Darvill, of Bournemouth University, and Goff Wainwright, of the Society of Amtiquaries have found that hunter-gatherers were at the site on Salisbury Plain 4,000 years earlier than thought. The first stage of Stonehenge, a round earthwork structure, was built around 3000BC. Professor Wainwright added: “I did not expect the degree of complexity we discovered. We’re able to say so much more about when Stonehenge was built and why---all of which changes our previous understanding of the monument.”
The research reveals the importance of the henge’s famous bluestones. Hundreds of bluestone chips gathered at the site have led the team to conclude that the bluestones were valued for their curing effects---the key reason that about 80 of them, each weighing up to 4 tons and a half, were dragged more than 150 miles from the Preseli Hills to Wiltshire. After years of research, Professors Darvill and Wainwright have concluded that, for thousands of years, the Preseli mountain range was home to magical health centers and holy wells.
Even today there are those who believe in the curing powers of the springs for coughs and heart disease, and people who use crystals and bluestones for self-curing. Radiocarbon tests have also revealed that the construction of the original bluestone circle took place around 2300BC, three centuries later than originally thought. Interestingly, on the same day died the “Amesbury Archer”---a sick traveler from the Swiss or German Alps who had an infected knee---whose remains were discovered about five miles from Stonehenge. The professors believe that he was a devoted religious person who was hoping to benefit from the curing powers of the monument.
63.Stonehenge is recently believed to be a place for people .
A.to recover from poor health B.to observe star movements
C.to hold religious ceremonies D.to gather huge bluestones
64.What can be inferred about Stonehenge from the passage?
A.The springs could cure coughs and heart disease best.
B.The new discovery was the same as what had been expected.
C.Some huge bluestones were not produced at Stonehenge.
D.The original bluestone circle was thought to be constructed around 2000BC.
65.The sick traveler in the passage is supposed to be .
A.a devoted religious person from Stonehenge
B.one of the earliest discoverers of Stonehenge
C.the first explorer to test the magical power of bluestones
D.a patient trying to cure his infection at Stonehenge
66.Which of the following might be the best title for the passage?
A.Stonehenge: A New Place of Interest B.Stonehenge: Still Making News
C.Stonehenge: Heaven for Adventurers D.Stonehenge: Still Curing Patients
高三英语阅读理解简单题查看答案及解析
Historians and archaeologists have defined periods of human history for centuries by the technologies or materials that made the greatest impact on society. This includes the Stone Age, the Bronze Age, and the Iron Age. But what age are we in now? That question can be answered with one word for some researchers. Plastics.
“Plastic has redefined our material culture and the artifacts we leave behind. It will be found in stratified(分层的) layers in our trash deposits(沉积层). ” That’s according to John Marston, an archaeologist.
The wide variety of synthetic polymers(合成聚合物) would not exist if it weren’t for human action. About six billion tons of plastics have been made and spread around the planet. They have been spread from forests to oceans ever since the first plastic polymers were invented.
Plastics are one of the most significant changes that humans have made to the Earth’s makeup. Most plastics don’t easily degrade. This only adds to the problem. Recycling isn’t an adequate solution. Not all types of plastic are easily recyclable. And there are only a few recycling plants that can process all varieties of plastic.
According to Debra Winter, writer for The Atlantic, this means that many of the materials thrown into recycling bins can cross the planet several times before they are processed. They are made into rugs, sweaters, or they are used to make other bottles. Millions of tons of plastics are recycled every year, but millions more end up in landfills or the ocean. The problem has reached the point where it’s possible that in just a few decades there might be more plastic in the world’s oceans than fishes.
“Plastics have a supposed lifespan of over 500 years, so it’s safe to say that every plastic bottle you have used exists somewhere on this planet, in some form or another,” Winter writes.
The damage may already be done. It may be too late for human populations worldwide to change their plastic using ways. So the Plastic Age might soon take its place next to the Bronze Age and the Iron Age in the history of human civilization.
1.Why do people call our age the Plastic Age?
A.Because plastics are not naturally made.
B.Because humans create plastics.
C.Because plastics influence the world greatly.
D.Because historians and archaeologists think so.
2.According to the passage, how are most plastics dealt with currently?
A.They are recycled.
B.They are degraded.
C.They are thrown away.
D.They are made into bottles.
3.What is the author’s attitude to the Plastic Age?
A.Negative. B.Ambiguous.
C.Favorable. D.Unconcerned.
4.What is the main idea of this passage?
A.Plastics have ruined our environment.
B.We must stop using plastics altogether.
C.Human beings are in the Plastic Age.
D.Plastics are significant to human development.
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
Peterson, a great archaeologist, said: “Archaeologists have been extremely patient because we were led to believe that the ministry was ________ this problem, but we feel that we can't wait any longer.”
A. looking out B. bringing out C. carrying out D. sorting out
高三英语单项填空简单题查看答案及解析
Though ______, many laws of nature exist.
A. not having been discovered B. having not been discovered
C. not having discovered D. having not discovered
高三英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析
It seems that electronic devices just keep getting smaller. Scientists in the United States have announced the creation of the first transistor with only two dimensions(二维).
A transistor is a small electronic device that transfers or carries electronic current. Scientists hope these new 2D transistors will be used for building high-resolution(高分辨率)displays that need very little energy.
Two groups of scientists created these 2D transistors. They report that the transistors are only a few atoms thick.
Usually transistors are made with the element silicon(硅). Computer processors, memory chips, TV screens and other electronic devices contain billions of silicon-based transistors. But these very small electrical parts have certain limitations.
Dimitris Ioannou is an electrical engineering professor at George Mason University. He says the traditional transistor has been improved as much as it can be.He adds that researchers have been looking for new materials with special features and they want transistors to be seen through and soft.
“If the layers are very thin, the transistor can become flexible, so it doesn't have to be rigid(坚硬的), like it would be in a silicon chip. So people can think of applications like wearable electronics, television screens and other things,” said Ioannou.
These new transistors can also carry higher current. They also can move the current much faster than traditional transistors. This is important for high-definition screens.
Dimitris Ioannou says the scientific success could prove very useful in the future. "Now, how good and how useful it will be, it's still in the stage of research, but it certainly is an advance," said Ioannou.
1.Which of the following statements about the newly created transistor is TRUE?
A. They are expected to be used in high-resolution displays.
B. The transistors are made with the element silicon.
C. They are rigid, just like traditional transistors.
D. They have already been put into actual use.
2.What does the underlined sentence in Paragraph 5 mean?
A. The traditional transistors have been changed into two-dimensional ones.
B. Many of the traditional transistors have been improved over the years.
C. The traditional transistor has been developed to its fullest.
D. The traditional transistor has been developed quite well.
3.What is Dimitris Ioannou's attitude towards the creation of the new transistors?
A. Negative. B. Neutral.
C. Indifferent. D. Positive.
高三英语阅读理解困难题查看答案及解析
It seems that electronic devices just keep getting smaller. Scientists in the United States have announced the creation of the first transistor with only two dimensions(二维).
A transistor is a small electronic device that transfers or carries electronic current. Scientists hope these new 2D transistors will be used for building high-resolution(高分辨率)displays that need very little energy.
Two groups of scientists created these 2D transistors. They report that the transistors are only a few atoms thick.
Usually transistors are made with the element silicon(硅). Computer processors, memory chips, TV screens and other electronic devices contain billions of silicon-based transistors. But these very small electrical parts have certain limitations.
Dimitris Ioannou is an electrical engineering professor at George Mason University. He says the traditional transistor has been improved as much as it can be.He adds that researchers have been looking for new materials with special features and they want transistors to be seen through and soft.
“If the layers are very thin, the transistor can become flexible, so it doesn't have to be rigid(坚硬的), like it would be in a silicon chip. So people can think of applications like wearable electronics, television screens and other things,” said Ioannou.
These new transistors can also carry higher current. They also can move the current much faster than traditional transistors. This is important for high-definition screens.
Dimitris Ioannou says the scientific success could prove very useful in the future. "Now, how good and how useful it will be, it's still in the stage of research, but it certainly is an advance," said Ioannou.
1.Which of the following statements about the newly created transistor is TRUE?
A. They are expected to be used in high-resolution displays.
B. The transistors are made with the element silicon.
C. They are rigid, just like traditional transistors.
D. They have already been put into actual use.
2.What does the underlined sentence in Paragraph 5 mean?
A. The traditional transistors have been changed into two-dimensional ones.
B. Many of the traditional transistors have been improved over the years.
C. The traditional transistor has been developed to its fullest.
D. The traditional transistor has been developed quite well.
3.What is Dimitris Ioannou's attitude towards the creation of the new transistors?
A. Negative. B. Neutral.
C. Indifferent. D. Positive.
高三英语阅读理解困难题查看答案及解析
A new study has found that North American migratory birds (候鸟)have been getting smaller over the past 40 years. Researchers say the finding suggests a warming climate could be affecting bird growth in North America - and across the world.
The study involved data on nearly 80,000 birds killed from 1978 to 2016 in the city of Chicago, Illinois. Researchers measured the size of the birds. The birds included in the study had died after crashing into buildings during the spring and fall migrations.
Fifty-two species of birds were studied. Most were different kinds of songbirds. These birds reproduce in cold areas of North America and spend their winters in areas south of Chicago. Over the 40-year period, body size decreased in all 52 species. The average body mass fell by 2. 6 percent. Leg bone length dropped by 2. 4 percent. The one area of growth was the wingspan, which increased by 1.3 percent. The researchers said the wing growth likely happened to permit the birds to continue making long migrations with smaller bodies.
Brian Weeks, a biologist at the University of Michigan's School for Environment and Sustainability, helped lead the research. He told the Reuters news agency that he believes the results show a clear link between a warming climate and the growth of the birds.
The study found a direct link between the average summer temperature and the body size of the birds. Dave Willard works with Chicago's Field Museum, which was in charge of measuring all the birds. He said nearly “ everyone agrees that the climate is warming, but examples of just how that is affecting the natural world are only now coming to light.” The study provides new evidence of worrisome developments for North American birds.
A study published in September documented a 29-percent drop in the bird population in the United States and Canada since 1970. The study said this represented a net loss (净亏损)of about 2. 9 billion birds. Weeks said the new study is the largest examination yet to measure body size reactions to warming temperatures involving a large, diverse group of species. “We had good reason to expect that increasing temperatures would lead to reductions in body size, based on previous studies,” Weeks added. “The thing that was shocking was how consistent it was. I was incredibly surprised that all of these species are responding in such similar ways.”
The researchers plan to continue studying the Field Museum data in an effort to find additional evidence to support their findings. They will also further examine the idea that an individual's physical development can change to fit changing environmental conditions.
1.In the study, the size and mass of birds fell but the wingspan increased, which .
A.permitted birds to fly higher and stronger
B.made birds' long migration with smaller bodies possible
C.could protect birds from being extinct in the world
D.made North American migratory birds more beautiful and charming
2.Which of the following statements about Dave Willard is CORRECT?
A.He conducted a research which proved the climate is warming.
B.He provided new evidence of worrisome developments for North American birds.
C.He works with Chicago's Field Museum and is in charge of measuring all the birds.
D.He agrees that evidence proving a link between global warming and nature is just revealed.
3.According to the text, what made Brian Weeks astonished?
A.All species are responding to global warming similarly.
B.His study was surprisingly consistent with other scientists' research.
C.Birds got smaller in all parts of their body with the temperature increasing.
D.All species surveyed became smaller in response to increasing temperatures.
4.What would be the best title for the text?
A.Birds Are Going to Die Out
B.Migratory Birds Are Getting Smaller
C.Climate Change May Be Causing Smaller North American Birds
D.Brian Week, A Great Biologist, Published A Study about Birds
高三英语阅读理解简单题查看答案及解析