Birds’ feathers are some of the most striking...

Birds’ feathers are some of the most strikingly variable animal characteristics that can be observed by the eyes. The patterns that we see in birds’ feathers are made up of combinations of scales, bars, and spots.

We already know why birds have colored feathers. Generally, the color of feathers may protect a bird from being noticed by the enemy in the environment, or it can make a bird more appealing to potential mates by helping them to stand out. These aspects are well known. A greater mystery has been how the patterns are created.

Dr. Ismael Galván and his team studied the color of feathers to see what types of colors were present in birds’ complex feather patterns. The study shows they mainly consist of two types of colors: melanin（黑色素）, which produce a range of black, grey, brown, and orange color, and carotenoids（类胡萝卜色素）, which are used to create brighter colors.

Birds cannot produce carotenoids on their own. For feathers with bright colors, birds must consume food items that contain these paints, and the carotenoids circulate through the blood and to the feather. Melanin, on the other hand, is produced by special cells in the birds’ bodies.

The team found that about 32% if the species studied have complex color patterns, with the vast majority of these complex patterns produced by melanin rather than carotenoids. If the birds were artists, they would use carotenoids as a broad brush to produce color patches, with melanin as a detail paint brush to produce more complex designs.

But a few birds are exceptions to this rule: Three bird families do have complex patterns without melanin.

1.What does the underlined word “it” in paragraph 2 refer to?

A. The environment.　　 B. The color.

C. The feather.　　 D. The enemy.

2.What will happen if birds can’t get enough carotenoids?

A. They’ll gradually die out.　　 B. Their color will be less bright.

C. They will get caught eventually.　　 D. They’ll be discovered more easily.

3.What rule can we get from paragraph 5?

A. All birds have complex color patterns.

B. Birds are expert in painting colors.

C. Melanin plays a greater part in bird colors.

D. Carotenoids can bring 32% of the color patterns.

4.Which can be the best title for the text?

A. How Do Birds Get Their Colors　　 B. Which Color Is Common to Birds

C. How Do Birds Tell Different Colors　　 D. Why Birds Have Colored Feathers

高一英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

Some people like wearing fashionable clothes; _______ some birds like brilliant feathers.

高一英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析

Some people like wearing fashionable clothes; ______, some birds like bright feathers.

高一英语单项填空简单题查看答案及解析

Camping with kids

The protected lands of the National Parks are some of the most amazing destinations(目的地)to view nature. Here are some of the best national parks for kids.

Grand Canyon National Park

Grand Canyon National Park is a true must-see destination. During the summer months both the South and North Rim are open. The South Rim is busier, but the lodges(小屋)along this side are worth the time to explore. The North Rim offers some great backcountry(偏远地区)activities.

Mesa Verde National Park

Mesa Verde National Park is a great spot to enjoy some of Colorado's amazing archeological (考古的)sites. This park celebrates the history of the Pueblo people in the southwestern United States. Visitors will find over 4,000 archeological sites at Mesa Verde, including 600 cliff dwellings（悬崖屋）.

Grand Teton National Park

Grand Teton National Park is open all year round and offers a wide variety of activities for the whole family as well as summer classes for children. During the winter visitors can enjoy skiing and snowshoeing. In addition, for the most adventurous visitors, Grand Teton National Park has amazing backcountry camping and rock climbing.

Yosemite National Park

Yosemite National Park is an amazing destination for travel enthusiasts, especially rock climbers, and families alike. If you are looking for a less visited spot, Hetch Hetchy is a perfect destination.

1.What do we know about the South Rim?

A.It is closed in summer.

B.It is worthwhile to visit its lodges.

C.It attracts fewer visitors than the North Rim.

D.It offers more activities than the North rim.

2.Which is the best destination for history-lovers?

A.Grand Canyon National Park. B.Grand Teton National Park.

C.Mesa Verde National Park. D.Yosemite National Park.

3.What do Grand Teton National Park and Yosemite National Park have in common?

A.They have few activities in summer. B.They are both crowded places.

C.They are suitable places for rock climbing. D.They provide kids with summer classes.

高一英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

Earthquakes strike without warning and are among the most destructive natural disasters. Keeping calm and proper reaction can sometimes save your life. To ride out an earthquake, remember the phrase “drop, cover, and hold on.” 1.

1. Move away from buildings, street lights, power lines, and bridges.

2. As soon as the ground begins shaking, try to get as far away as possible from any nearby structures. Do not seek shelter under a bridge or overpass.

2. Crouch down low in a wide open area until the shaking stops.

Once you've made your way away from nearby structures, get on your hands and knees and cover your head. See if there are any objects nearby to use as a shield (遮蔽物）, such as a trash can lid. 3.

3. 4.

As you go out after the earthquake, be careful of broken glass, rubble, downed power lines, fallen trees, and any other potential danger. Check yourself and anyone nearby for injuries. If necessary,perform first aid and call emergency services.

4. Get to higher ground if you're on the shore or near a dam.

Earth quakes can cause tsunamis, so put distance between yourself and the coast. If a shaking lasts more than 20 seconds, 5. Get to ground that's at least 100 ft (30 m)above sea level or 2 miles (3.2 km)from the shore.

A.Drop to your hands and knees under a table or desk.

B.Watch out for danger as you observe your surroundings.

C.If possible, grab a pillow, sofa cushion, or another object to cover your face and head.

D.Here are four tips helping you survive an earthquake if you are outdoors.

E.Don't wait for an alarm or warning to escape.

F.The most dangerous locations during an earthquake are areas immediately around buildings.

G.If none are available, cover your head and neck with your hands and arms.

高一英语七选五简单题查看答案及解析

Earthquakes are among the most destructive (破坏性的)natural disasters. It can strike without warning. The earthquake safety tips below will increase your chances of surviving an earthquake.

If you are indoors, stay there. Quickly move to a safe location in the room such as under a strong desk or a strong table. 1.You can also get to a corner formed by two walls with your arms over your head. Avoid taking cover near windows, large mirrors, or hanging objects.

2. Don’t take shelter under a tree, street lights, electric poles or tall buildings. Run to open spaces and move away from the nearby buildings to avoid anything falling on you. Remember that most of the people who die in earthquakes are killed by falling buildings, broken glass and flying objects.

If you are driving, slow down smoothly and stop on the side of the road.3.You should also avoid stopping on or under bridges. Stay in your car.

If you are in the event of getting trapped in ruins during an earthquake, don’t panic. Instead, cover your mouth with a piece of clothing. Use your cellphone to call for help if possible. Don’t shout. Shouting can cause you to breathe in dust. 4.

Be prepared for aftershocks. They can happen in the first hours after the earthquake. 5.Therefore, if you are not in a safe place after the first shock, you should move quickly but carefully to a safer place.

A. Try to move about or kick up dust.

B. This can protect you from falling objects.

C. If you are outdoors, move to the nearby buildings.

D. However, sometimes they even happen months later.

E. Avoid stopping under power lines, trees and large signs.

F. If you happen to be outside during an earthquake, move to an open area.

G. Try to gain the attention of the rescuers by tapping on a nearby wall or pipe.

高一英语七选五简单题查看答案及解析

Listening test is one of the most important parts of the English exam. Here are some tips for you.

Before you start to listen, you need to relax. Don’t be stressed out. And try to read the questions. These questions usually help you understand the conversation or the passage.

Then listen carefully to the first sentence. It usually tells you the main idea of the passage. When you’re listening, try to do some thinking and take some notes, such as:

☆What happened?

☆When, where, and how?

☆What does the speaker want to tell us?

In this way, you may understand the passage better.

Please remember not to think about one or two words for a long time. When you hear some words you don’t know, don’t spend too much time on them. Very often, you’ll find out what they mean later when you go on with the listening.

1.This passage mainly talks about_________.

A. tips on listening

B. tips on speaking

C. tips on reading

D. tips on writing

2.It’s better for you to keep ________when you start to have a listening test.

A. excited　　　　　　 B. relaxed

C. stressed out　　 D. worried

3.We should listen to the first sentence carefully, because it usually tells us________.

A. the answers to the questions

B. where to write the answers

C. the main idea of the passage

D. how much time left (剩余) for the listening test

4.When you’re listening, it’s important for you to_________.

A. remember every word

B. take some notes

C. understand all the words

D. think about one or two words for a long time

5.The _______ usually help(s) us understand(理解) the passage(文章) better.

A. questions　　 　 B. first sentence

C. notes　　　　　　 D. A, B and C

高一英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

France has the most beautiful castles throughout Europe. Here are some of the best French castles to visit. You’ll surely want to visit one of them during your travels in France. Have a look and enjoy!

Chateau de Versailles

The Chateau de Versailles is about 20kms southwest of Paris. When the castle was built, Versailles was a small village. Today, however, it is a famous area in Paris. The castle was built as a small hunting lodge (乡间小屋) for Louis XIII in the 1620s. Years later, he made it bigger. Later, louis XIV also made it larger, making it one of the largest palaces of the world.

Chateau de Chambord

The Chateau de Chambord is one of the largest castles around the world. It sits in the Loire Valley. Being at the heart of Europe’s largest enclosed wooded park, Chambord, it was built for King Francis I to serve as a hunting lodge. It is one of the world’s most well-known castles in the world because of its French Renaissance (文艺复兴) building.

Chateau de Chenonceau

As one of the most famous castles in the Loire Valley, the castle was built during the 11th century on the River Cher. It was passed through many bands. The castle was not destroyed during the French Revolution because it was the only bridge across the river for many miles.

Chateau de Chantilly

This historic castle sits in the town of Chantilly, France. This beautiful castle is made up of two buildings: the Petit Chateau built around 1560 for Anne de Montmorency, and the Grand Chateau which was destroyed during the French Revolution and rebuilt in the 1870s. There are many interesting pieces of 17th century history about the castle. Every two years a fireworks competition is held in the castle gardens.

1.What makes the Chateau de Chambord special?

A.Its long history. B.Its wealthy owner.

C.Its building style. D.Its fireworks competition.

2.Why did the Chateau de Chenonceau manage to get through the French Revolution?

A.It was far from Paris. B.It played a very important role.

C.It hid in the Loire Valley. D.It was built by a famous French king.

3.Which castle has a fireworks show every two years?

A.The Chateau de Chantilly. B.The Chateau de Chenonceau.

C.The Chateau de Chambord. D.The Chateau de Versailles.

高一英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

Some of the planet’s most precious animals and plants are disappearing, according to the World Conservation Union (IUCN). The group, based in Switzerland, works with governments and experts to protect threatened species. On September 12, the IUCN released its Red List, a list of species at greatest risk of extinction.

The list includes 41,415 animals and plants. The IUCN says that habitat destruction, hunting and other causes threaten one in four mammals, one in eight birds and one in three amphibians(两栖动物).

Who is to blame?

Scientists believe that 99 percent of threatened species are at risk because of human activity. “We are losing animals and plants at a high rate,” says Julia Marton-LefEevre, director general of the IUCN. “We need to change our behavior.” Warmer oceans and over-fishing are changing sea life. This year for the first time corals(珊瑚) made their appearance on the list. The gharial, a crocodile living in India and Nepal, has lost almost 60 percent of its population in the last 10 years. It is a victim（受害者）of habitat destruction.

Still, the news is not all bad. Thanks to efforts made to protect it, the Mauritius echo parakeet, a bird once endangered, has seen an increase in its population. “This shows that protection methods can work,” says Marton-LefEevre. “That’s the message we want to send to young people.”

In China the new reserve（保护区）itself is part of green efforts that have seen more than 2,400 nature reserves of various kinds being set up, covering more than 15 percent of the nation's land area, official figures showed.

"The country's natural resources(资源) have benefited from conservation," said Lei Guangchun, director of the nature reserve department of Beijing Forestry University. "It is a big increase nowadays compared with other countries." Lei said.

The total areas of China’s natural reserves have covered 1.38 million km2, which accounts for 15.4% of China’s area, higher than both the world average（平均水平） of 11% and the rate in most developed countries.

Li Zhong, an official in charge of the nature reserves office with the State Forestry Administration, thought it was important to increase investment（投资） in such reserves at all levels.

1.What do we know about the IUCN?

A. A union for listing animals and plants on the earth

B. A group of volunteers who are interested in wildlife

C. An organization concerning the protection of rare species' survival

D. A government made up officials, scientists and experts

2. What can be concluded from the passage?

A. All the protection methods can’t work.

B. The IUCN does most of the protection.

C. The efforts China makes has paid off.

D. Enough is done in wildlife protection.

3.Which of the following is not the cause of the disappearance of the animals?

A. Bad weather     B. Over-hunting    C. Warmer oceans    D. Habitat destruction

4.Which of the sentence is NOT true?

A. China has been paying great attention to protecting the natural resources.

B. China has set up a lot of natural reserves.

C. The natural reserves in China cover more than 15 percent of the nation's land area.

D. The rate of China's natural reserves is lower than the average of the world.

高一英语阅读理解简单题查看答案及解析

－Have you any oranges and apples ?

－________ .

高一英语单项填空简单题查看答案及解析