Happy Shakespeare Day!
The 23rd April is World Book Day, but did you know that it is also Shakespeare Day? Everybody has heard of Shakespeare, but do you know many plays he wrote? Have you heard of many of his poetry?
Shakespeare’s plays fit into three categories: tragedies, comedies and histories. Perhaps his most famous play is the tragedy story of Romeo and Juliet, which deals with two young lovers who are forbidden to marry by their parents. Other tragedies include Hamlet, a play about a vengeful ghost Othello, about an army general who is manipulated(操纵) into killing his wife, and Macbeth(麦克白). If you’ve seen Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban written which is sung in the Great Hall after the Sorting Ceremony. These words come from the Witches in Macbeth!
Shakespeare’s comedies include Much Ado About Nothing, A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Twelfth Night. Twelfth Night is a play about confusing identities. Two twins are shipwrecked and the sister, Viola, dresses up as her brother, Sebastian, who she thinks is dead. It’s hilarious, because the brother reappears without Viola realizing and there’s a big love triangle going on: Viola is in love with the Duke Osino, who is in love with Olivia, who falls in love with Sebastian, except she doesn’t realize that Sebastian is actually Viola dressed up! Everybody falls in love with the wrong person, but it is all made right in the end.
The history plays, such as Antony and Cleopatra, Richard III and Henry V are based on the lives of real historical people. Antony and Cleopatra is a story about a doomed romance in ancient Egypt. Cleopatra becomes Antony’s mistress and Antony becomes so obsessed with her that he loses his military might. Cleopatra kills self by letting a snake bite her after Egypt’s army has been defeated by Octavius and Antony kills himself too.
Shakespeare’s plays can be very heavy going sometimes. Some of the themes they deal with are heavy and complex, so they almost always contain a lighter subplot with characters who aren’t closely linked to the characters in the main plot. They are often used in tragedies to lighten the mood of the play and to keep the audience interested in the main plot.
1.What can we learn about Shakespeare’s tragedies?
A. Romeo and Juliet is perhaps the most famous play of all time.
B. Hamlet tells us a story of two young lovers dead in the end.
C. The army general Othello kills his wife in person purposely.
D. Macbeth gives J.K. Rowling some inspiration in her writing.
2.What is not a probable ending in Twelfth Night?
A. Viola and Sebastian reunited. B. Osino and Viola got marred.
C. Osino and Olivia got married. D. Sebastian and Olivia got married.
3.Characters in the lighter subplot of Shakespeare’s plays are often used to_____.
A. deal with the heavy and complex themes
B. distinguish the characters in the main plot
C. make the mood of the play softer than before
D. interest the audience in the subplot to the great extent
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题
Happy Shakespeare Day!
The 23rd April is World Book Day, but did you know that it is also Shakespeare Day? Everybody has heard of Shakespeare, but do you know many plays he wrote? Have you heard of many of his poetry?
Shakespeare’s plays fit into three categories: tragedies, comedies and histories. Perhaps his most famous play is the tragedy story of Romeo and Juliet, which deals with two young lovers who are forbidden to marry by their parents. Other tragedies include Hamlet, a play about a vengeful ghost Othello, about an army general who is manipulated(操纵) into killing his wife, and Macbeth(麦克白). If you’ve seen Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban written which is sung in the Great Hall after the Sorting Ceremony. These words come from the Witches in Macbeth!
Shakespeare’s comedies include Much Ado About Nothing, A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Twelfth Night. Twelfth Night is a play about confusing identities. Two twins are shipwrecked and the sister, Viola, dresses up as her brother, Sebastian, who she thinks is dead. It’s hilarious, because the brother reappears without Viola realizing and there’s a big love triangle going on: Viola is in love with the Duke Osino, who is in love with Olivia, who falls in love with Sebastian, except she doesn’t realize that Sebastian is actually Viola dressed up! Everybody falls in love with the wrong person, but it is all made right in the end.
The history plays, such as Antony and Cleopatra, Richard III and Henry V are based on the lives of real historical people. Antony and Cleopatra is a story about a doomed romance in ancient Egypt. Cleopatra becomes Antony’s mistress and Antony becomes so obsessed with her that he loses his military might. Cleopatra kills self by letting a snake bite her after Egypt’s army has been defeated by Octavius and Antony kills himself too.
Shakespeare’s plays can be very heavy going sometimes. Some of the themes they deal with are heavy and complex, so they almost always contain a lighter subplot with characters who aren’t closely linked to the characters in the main plot. They are often used in tragedies to lighten the mood of the play and to keep the audience interested in the main plot.
1.What can we learn about Shakespeare’s tragedies?
A. Romeo and Juliet is perhaps the most famous play of all time.
B. Hamlet tells us a story of two young lovers dead in the end.
C. The army general Othello kills his wife in person purposely.
D. Macbeth gives J.K. Rowling some inspiration in her writing.
2.What is not a probable ending in Twelfth Night?
A. Viola and Sebastian reunited. B. Osino and Viola got marred.
C. Osino and Olivia got married. D. Sebastian and Olivia got married.
3.Characters in the lighter subplot of Shakespeare’s plays are often used to_____.
A. deal with the heavy and complex themes
B. distinguish the characters in the main plot
C. make the mood of the play softer than before
D. interest the audience in the subplot to the great extent
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
World Book Day falls on April 23rd every year，but do you know that it is also Shakespeare Day? Everybody may have heard of Shakespeare，but do you know how many plays he wrote?
Shakespeare’s plays have three kinds：tragedies，comedies and histories. His most famous play is the tragic story of Romeo and Juliet，which deals with two young lovers who are not allowed to marry by their parents. Other tragedies include Hamlet，Othello，and Macbeth.
Shakespeare’s comedies include Much Ado About Nothing ,A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Twelfth Night. Twelfth Night is a play about unclear identities. Two twins are shipwrecked (遭海难)and the sister，Viola，dresses up as her brother，Sebastian，who she thinks is dead. It’s funny，because the brother reappears and there’s a big love problem going on：Viola is in love with the Duke，who is in love with Olivia，who falls in love with Sebastian except that she doesn’t realize that Sebastian is actually Viola dressed up！Everybody falls in love with the wrong person，but it is all made right in the end.
Some of his history plays，such as Antony and Cleopatra，Richard III and Henry V, are based on the lives of real historical people. In Antony and Cleopatra，Cleopatra becomes Antony’s girlfriend and Antony becomes so crazy about her that he loses control of the army. Cleopatra kills herself in the end and Antony kills himself too.
Shakespeare’s plays can he very difficult sometimes. Some of the themes they deal with are heavy，so they almost always include a lighter subplot with characters that are not so important. They are often used in tragedies to lighten the mood of the play and to keep the audience interested in the main plot.
1.Which of the following plays is best－known to people?
A.Twelfth Night. B.Antony and Cleopatra.
C.Romeo and Juliet. D.Much Ado About Nothing.
2.Which is a comedy character according to the text?
A.Othello. B.Sebastian.
C.Antony. D.Hamlet.
3.What can we know about Shakespeare’s history plays?
A.Some of them are developed from real historical people.
B.There are only three famous history plays.
C.They are more difficult than tragedies and comedies.
D.Real historical events can he found in every history play.
4.What is the purpose of the subplot in Shakespeare’s plays?
A.To lead the development of the main plot.
B.To help the audience understand the plays.
C.To make the difficult plot of the plays simple.
D.To relax the audience and make them follow the main theme.
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
Shakespeare once wrote that all the world is a stage, but these days it's more like a movie set. Get to know some films to find fantastic film locations(地点) you should check out on your travels.
The Sound of Music
Austria's hills are certainly alive with the sound of music and tourists. Mozart may have been born in Salzburg, but The Sound of Music really put it on the map and now about 70 percent of people visit it because of the movie. Cross Residenzplatz Square and visit the Palace of Leopoldskron where the children in the film fell into the lake.
Troy
Although the Palace of Troy was filmed on sets built at Shepperton Studios in the UK, most of the 2004 movie was shot in Malta and Baja California, Mexico. Malta with historic sites and beautiful blue waters was a good choice to replace Greece. Troy was shot at a host of locations, including Golden Bay, Hal Far as well as Fort Ricasoli(where the city of Troy was constructed). The Trojan horse from the film is now lying on the waterfront in Canakkale, Turkey.
Bridget Joneses Diary
Bridget Jones is brought to life as we watch the work and romance in London. Her special corner flat is above the Globe Tavern by Borough Market, one of the city's oldest and biggest food markets. According to The Telegraph, it would be highly unlikely that she could afford to buy a place like that today since it has risen in value by more than 240 percent.
Harry Potter
J. K. Rowling started writing the Harry Potter books while she was living in Edinburgh, Scotland, so it's no surprise that she set most of the story there. The Hogwarts Express travels through the Scottish Highlands and along the 31 meters high Glenfinnan Viaduct. The second highest waterfall in the UK, Steall Falls can be seen during Quidditch matches.
1.Which of the following films makes Salzburg famous?
A.The Sound of Music. B.Troy.
C.Bridget Jones's Diary. D.Harry Potter.
2.Where was the city of Troy built?
A.In Hal Far. B.In Fort Ricasoli. C.In Canakkale. D.In Golden Bay.
3.What is the similarity of the last two films?
A.Their theme is mainly about romance. B.Their authors lived in the same house.
C.Most of their stories were set in the UK. D.They cause the prices of houses to rise.
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
World Health Day is celebrated on 7 April to mark the anniversary of the founding of WHO in 1948．Each year a theme is selected for World Health Day that highlights a priority area of public health concern in the world．
The theme for 2013 is high blood pressure．
High blood pressure increases the risk of heart attacks, strokes（中风）．If left uncontrolled, high blood pressure can also cause blindness, irregularities of the heartbeat and heart failure．The risk of developing these complications is higher in the presence of other risk factors such as diabetes（糖尿病）．One in three adults worldwide has high blood pressure and this increases with age, from 1 in 10 people in their 20s and 30s to 5 in 10 people in their 50s．High blood pressure is most common in some low-income countries in Africa, with over 40% of adults in many African countries thought to be affected．
However, high blood pressure is both preventable and treatable．In some developed countries, prevention and treatment of it has brought about a reduction in deaths from heart disease．The risk of developing high blood pressure can be reduced by: reducing salt intake; eating a balanced diet; avoiding harmful use of alcohol; taking regular physical activity; keeping a healthy body weight; and avoiding tobacco use．
The final and most important goal of World Health Day 2013 is to reduce heart attacks and strokes, which includes as follows:
1．to raise awareness of the causes and consequences of high blood pressure;
2．to provide information on how to prevent high blood pressure
3．to encourage adults to check their blood pressure and to follow the advice of health-care professionals．
1.High blood pressure can cause medical problems like_____．
A．heart diseases, strokes and blindness．
B．strokes, heart failure and diabetes．
C．heart attacks, blindness and diabetes．
D．heart troubles, strokes and cancers．
2.Who are most likely to be affected by high blood pressure?
A．Those who are in their 20s．
B．Those who are in their 30s．
C．Those who are in their 40s．
D．Those who are in their 50s．
3.Which of the following can NOT reduce the risk of developing high blood pressure?
A．Less salt intake． B．Putting on weight．
C．Regular exercise． D．No smoking．
4.The text is mainly about______．
A．the theme for World Health Day 2013．
B．the causes of high blood pressure．
C．the treatment of heart attacks and strokes．
D．how to reduce the risk of high blood pressure．
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
World Health Day is celebrated on 7 April to mark the anniversary of the founding of WHO in 1948. Each year a theme is selected for World Health Day that highlights a priority area of public health concern in the world.
The theme for 2013 is high blood pressure. High blood pressure increases the risk of heart attacks, strokes(中风). If left uncontrolled, high blood pressure can also cause blindness, irregularities of the heartbeat and heart failure. The risk of developing these complications is higher in the presence of other risk factors such as diabetes(糖尿病). One in three adults worldwide has high blood pressure and this increases with age, from 1 in 10 people in their 20s and 30s to 5 in 10 people in their 50s. High blood pressure is most common in some low-income countries in Africa, with over 40% of adults in many African countries thought to be affected.
However, high blood pressure is both preventable and treatable. In some developed countries, prevention and treatment of it has brought about a reduction in deaths from heart disease. The risk of developing high blood pressure can be reduced by: reducing salt intake; eating a balanced diet; avoiding harmful use of alcohol; taking regular physical activity; keeping a healthy body weight; and avoiding tobacco use.
The final and most important goal of World Health Day 2013 is to reduce heart attacks and strokes, which includes as follows:
1.to raise awareness of the causes and consequences of high blood pressure;
2.to provide information on how to prevent high blood pressure
3.to encourage adults to check their blood pressure and to follow the advice of health-care professionals.
1.High blood pressure can cause medical problems like_____.
A．heart diseases, strokes and blindness B．strokes, heart failure and diabetes
C．heart attacks, blindness and diabetes D．heart troubles,strokes and cancers
2.Who are most likely to be affected by high blood pressure?
A．Those who are in their 20s B．Those who are in their 30s
C．Those who are in their 40s D．Those who are in their 50s
3.Which of the following can NOT reduce the risk of developing high blood pressure?
A．Less salt intake B．Putting on weight C．Regular exercise D．No smoking
4.The text is mainly about______.
A．the theme for World Health Day 2013 B．the causes of high blood pressure
C．the treatment of heart attacks and strokes D．how to reduce the risk of high blood pressure
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
April 23 marks the 400th anniversary of William Shakespeare’s death. Organizations in Britain have planned numerous events to honor him.
In Stratford-upon-Avon, his birthplace, the tourism organization has a great number of free events, including performances of Shakespeare’s plays, and a dazzling fireworks display. And the BBC is broadcasting a live show from Stratfore-upon-Avon, celebrating Shakespeare’s widespread influence on the world. In England’s capital, the London Shakespeare Centre is holding a series of public performances, exhibitions and activities. It isn’t just England that honors the anniversary of the death of this extraordinary writer. In Washington, D.C., the Folger Shakespeare Library, which houses the world’s largest collection of documents relating to William Shakespeare, is displaying a series of exhibitions.
Shakespeare is probably one of the most famous authors and is considered a genius. He wrote around 37 plays and 154 sonnets(十四行诗), and his work has been translated into over one hundred languages! He penned beautiful metaphors(暗喻), serious dramas and amusing tales.
Shakespeare also invented many new terms and phrases. If someone’s behavior suggested they were not being honest and should not be trusted, Shakespeare called their actions suspicious. If someone was being silly and perhaps looking like a fool, Shakespeare found their actions laughable. And Shakespeare called people who offered their opinions on the quality of something critics. Today, for instance, food critics and film critics give audiences their opinions of foods and films. The familiar phrase “break the ice” comes from Shakespeare’s play The Taming of the Shrew. “The ice is broken” when a difficult conversation or meeting is calmed by some basic introduction, such as a simple game. More common words coined by Shakespeare include road, gossip, lonely, bump and hurry.
Four hundred years after his death, Shakespeare surely lives on，in everyday speech, as the most famous writer of all time!
1.The passage is mainly about ______.
A. the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death
B. the influence Shakespeare has on written English
C. the friends of William Shakespeare
D. Shakespeare’s colorful and fruitful life
2.Shakespeare is honored in the following ways except ______.
A. a great number of free events in Stratford-upon-Avon
B. a series of activities in the London Shakespeare Centre
C. a series of exhibitions in the Folger Shakespeare Library
D. a live show of Shakespeare in Washington, D.C.
3.According to the text, a simple game to make a difficult conversation easy is called ______.
A. an ice-breaker B. a suspicious man
C. a critic D. a laughable man
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
书面表达（满分25分）
“Man: Happy Earth Day!
Earth: Thank you, but only on April 22nd may people think of me!”
上面是人类和地球的一个简短的对白。
请根据对白，结合实际，以Making Every Day Earth Day 为题写一篇短文。
提示：1.地球的现状和存在的问题；
2.人们在“地球日”这天用什么行动关爱地球(比如：捡垃圾，做演讲等。)
3.号召人们把每一天都当作地球日，天天关爱地球。
注意：
1.词数100左右。
2.可适当增加细节以使行文连贯。
高二英语书面表达简单题查看答案及解析
书面表达
今年4月23日是第21个世界读书日（World Book Day or World Book and Copyright Day），请你以“I Like Reading”为题目写一篇稿,参加校学生会在读书日来临之际举办的征文活动。要点如下：
1. 你为什么喜欢读书；
2. 你喜欢哪一类的书（例如：历史、科学、文学等）？请给出至少两个理由。
注意：词数120左右。
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高二英语书面表达中等难度题查看答案及解析
今年4月23日是第21个世界读书日（World Book Day or World Book and Copyright Day），请你以“I Like Reading”为题目写一篇稿,参加校学生会在读书日来临之际举办的征文活动。要点如下：
1. 你为什么喜欢读书；
2. 你喜欢哪一类的书（例如：历史、科学、文学等）？请给出至少两个理由。
注意：词数120左右。
高二英语书面表达中等难度题查看答案及解析
Reading is of great importance. That's why World Book Day came into being. World Book Day ___________on April 23rd every year, which____________to encourage people, particularly teenagers, to discover the ___________of reading so that they can fall in love with books. It's also the day to____________honor to those great writers who produced remarkable works of literature and made great _________to human civilization.
Many countries celebrate World Book Day and the___________is yearly held in different ways. On that day, millions of school children can buy books at a much_______price than usual in any bookstore in England, ___________attracts a number of students to flood into bookstores for they can pay less money to buy the_________books. World Book Day is also_____________in China. More and more people_______into the libraries and bookstores to read______________books. Most of them do more reading on that day, _______________they can change the world by changing themselves______________reading.
Reading makes us_______________and learned. Reading helps us to follow the___________development of science and technology. Reading enables us to have a good___________of and have a better understanding of foreign cultures and______. Reading also is one of the most important ways to learn foreign languages. We all know it's difficult and almost____________to learn everything in the classroom, yet the ways English people are living and working today can be__________by reading.
1.A. appears B. approaches C. falls D. forms
2.A. aims B. fails C. remains D. prepares
3.A. laughter B. pleasure C. secrets D. skills
4.A. receive B. enjoy C. feel D. express
5.A. contributions B. progress C. trouble D. benefits
6.A. performance B. celebration C. activity D. design
7.A. higher B. cheaper C. lower D. dearer
8.A. that B. which C. where D. when
9.A. different B. same C. colorful D. interesting
10.A. shared B. expressed C. carried D. celebrated
11.A. crowd B. gather C. accompany D. return
12.A. simple B. rare C. various D. expensive
13.A. demanding B. pretending C. believing D. doubting
14.A. through B. with C. in D. on
15.A. hard-working B. skilled C. serious D. wise
16.A. fullest B. greatest C. latest D. slightest
17.A. collection B. introduction C. sense D. knowledge
18.A. exhibitions B. experiences C. habits D. customs
19.A. unfit B. impossible C. complicated D. forgetful
20.A. learned B. suggested C. accepted D. informed
高二英语完形填空中等难度题查看答案及解析