Penguins are flightless birds that spend half...

Penguins are flightless birds that spend half their time on land and half in the water.

1. They have dark and white feathers，and their wings have evolved into flippers(脚蹼).Most penguins feed on fish，squid and other forms of sea life caught while swimming.

2. They are mostly found in groups that include thousands of penguins.Penguins each have their own unique mating call，and they use that to locate their mate and chicks in such a large group.

Although almost all penguin species are native to the Southern Hemisphere, they are not found only in cold Antarctica.3. Several species are even found in the temperate zone, and one species，the Galátpagos penguin，lives near the equator(赤道).

Unfortunately, many penguin species worldwide are facing threats.The biggest is climate change and global warming. As the earth warms up，the sheets of ice have melted，and the algae(藻类)that grow under the ice decrease.The algae are eaten by tiny creatures called zooplankton. When there is a drop in zooplankton, it affects the fish that depend on it.4.

Another major threat is from oil spills. If coated with oil, penguins cannot float or swim in　 water. Also, if oil is swallowed, penguins will die from poison.5.

A.These birds are very social.

B.In fact, only a few of them live so far south.

C.Penguins are highly adapted for life in the water.

D.The biggest threat for penguins comes from humans.

E.They have a tendency to live in a community together.

F.As a result，penguins have less fish to eat and thus starve.

G.Others include overfishing，illegal egg harvesting，and natural enemies.

高三英语七选五中等难度题查看答案及解析

People spend half their time dreaming of getting rich, and the rest of their time thinking about all the things they ________ if they got rich.

A. will do　　 B. did　　 C. do　　 D. would do

高三英语单项填空困难题查看答案及解析

Atlantic puffins (海雀) spend most of their life at sea. When it's time to lay eggs, the birds gather on seaside cliffs. They dig into the ground to build nests. After a chick was born, it spends six weeks in the nest, feasting on fish supplied by its parents. Then the young bird must look after itself. It leaves the nest and flies to the sea.

But on Heimaey, an island off the coast of Iceland, human-made objects have disrupted the chicks’ trip to the ocean. Luckily, they are getting help from the children of Heimaey.

Instinct tells chicks to follow the light of the moon to the sea, but they are confused by Heimaey’s bright lights. Each year, a large number of them end up lost, or worse. Often, the birds are hit by cars or caught and eaten by cats.

Each breeding season, the children of Heimaey form search parties. They carry flashlights and cardboard boxes. “When you see a bird, you try to corner it and herd it into the box,” said Eldur Hansen. Eldur is 14 and he has caught several puffins this way. Each year, they rescue thousands of chicks. Children take rescued birds home. The next morning, they take them to the beach for release.

Before releasing the chicks, the children make a stop at the local aquarium, where the birds are weighed and tagged for tracking purposes. This helps scientists learn more about puffins.

Atlantic puffins are now listed as a rare species. That means they are likely to become endangered. The main reason is that the ocean’s supply of small fish is diminishing. This is tied to overfishing and rising ocean temperatures.

Erpur Hansen, Eldur Hansen’s dad, is with the South Iceland Nature Research Center. He said the children’s action was more important than ever. Thanks to data gathered with the children’s help, researchers have learned that chicks now weigh less than in previous years. That means they have a lower chance of survival. Researchers worry that puffins will die out if ocean temperatures continue to rise, but the children’s rescue inspires them.

1.What will a mother puffin do after a chick was born?

A.Catch fish to feed the chick. B.Stay in the nest for six weeks.

C.Leave the nest and fly to the sea alone. D.Lead the chick back to the sea at once.

2.What may disturb the chicks’ sense of direction on their way to the sea?

A.The cars. B.The children. C.The animals. D.The lights.

3.What does the underlined word “diminishing” in Paragraph 6 mean?

A.Changing. B.Decreasing. C.Accumulating. D.Abandoning.

4.How do the researchers compare the chicks’ weight?

A.Getting information from the library. B.Researching the colors of the chicks.

C.Studying the data collected by the children. D.Weighing the chicks adopted at the local aquarium.

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

Spend the least time on those things that are completely_______, and figure out what you can do practically to make a difference．

A．out of shape　　 B．out of control

C．out of practice D．out of touch

高三英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析

What makes Americans spend nearly half their food dollars on meals away from home? The answers lie in the way Americans live today. During the first few decades of the twentieth century, canned and other convenience foods freed the family cook from full-time duty at the kitchen range. Then, in the 1940s, work in the wartime defense plants took more women out of the home than ever before, setting the pattern of the working wife and mother. Today about half of the country’s married women are employed outside the home. But, unless family members pitch in with food preparation, women are not fully liberated from that housework. Instead, many have become, in a sense, prisoners of the completely cooked convenience meals. It’s easier to pick up a bucket of fried chicken on the way home from work or take the family out for pizzas or burgers than to start opening cans or heating up frozen dinners after a long , hard day. Also, the rising divorce rate means that there are more single working parents with children to feed. And many young adults and elderly people, as well as unmarried and divorced mature people, live alone rather than as part of a family unit and don’t want to bother cooking for one.

Fast food is appealing because it is fast, it doesn’t require any dressing up, it offers a “fun” break in the daily outline, and the outlay of money seems small. It can be eaten in the car--- sometimes picked up at a drive-in window without even getting out---or on the run. Even if it is brought home to eat, there will never be any dirty dishes to wash because of the handy disposable (一次性的) wrappings. Children, especially, love fast food because it’s finger food, no struggling with knives and forks, no annoying instructions from adults about table manner.

1.Americans enjoy fast food mainly because __________.

A. it can be eaten in the car

B. it is much more tasty than home-made food

C. one only uses his fingers while eating it

D. it is time-saving and convenient

2.It can be inferred that children __________.

A. want to have more freedom at table

B. never wash dishes after each meal

C. are good at using forks and knives while eating

D. take eating time as a fun break

3. Many Americans are eating out and not cooking at home partially because __________.

A. they want to make a change after eating the same food for years at home

B. the food made outside home tastes better than food cooked at home

C. many of them live alone and don’t like taking trouble to cook

D. American women refuse to cook at home due to women’s liberation movement

4.According to the text, a drive-in window is a __________.

A. car window from which you can see the driver

B. window in the restaurant from which you get your takeout in the car

C. place where you check the mechanic condition of your car

D. place where you return the used plates after eating

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

Birds that are half-asleep—with one brain hemisphere (半球) alert and the other sleeping—control which side of the brain remains awake, according to a new study of sleeping ducks.

Earlier studies have documented half-brain sleep in a wide range of birds. The brain hemispheres take turns sinking into the sleep stage characterized by slow brain waves. The eye controlled by the sleeping hemisphere keeps shut, while the wakeful hemisphere’s eye stays open and alert. Birds also can sleep with both hemispheres resting at once.

Decades of studies of bird groups led researchers to predict extra alertness in the end-of-the-row sleepers which tend to be attacked more easily. Sure enough, the end birds tended to watch carefully on the side away from their companions. Ducks in the inner spots showed no preference for gaze direction.

Also, birds napping at the end of the line depend on single-hemisphere sleep, rather than total relaxation, more often than inner ducks did. Turning 16 birds through the positions in a four-duck row, the researchers found that compared with 12 percent for birds in internal spots, outer birds half-asleep during some 32 percent of napping time.

“We believe this is the first evidence for an animal behaviorally controlling sleep and wakefulness at the same time in different regions of the brain,” the researchers say.

The results provide the best evidence for a long-standing assumption that single-hemisphere sleep evolved as creatures scanned for enemies. The preference for opening an eye on the lookout side could be widespread, he predicts. He’s seen it in a pair of birds napping side-by-side in the zoo and in a single pet bird sleeping by a mirror. The mirror-side eye closed as if the reflection were a companion and the other eye stayed open.

Useful as half-sleeping might be, it’s only been found in birds and such water animals as dolphins, whales, and seals. Perhaps keeping one side of the brain awake allows a sleeping animal to surface occasionally to avoid drowning.

Studies of birds may offer unique insights into sleep. Jerome M. Siegel of the UCLA says he wonders if birds’ half-brain sleep “is just the tip of the iceberg.” He supposes that more examples may turn up when we take a closer look at other species.

1.According to the passage, birds often half sleep because ______.

A. they have to watch out for possible attacks

B. their brain hemispheres take turns to rest

C. the two halves of their brain are differently structured

D. they have to constantly keep an eye on their companions

2.What is implied about the example of a bird’s sleeping in front of a mirror?

A. An imagined companion gives the bird a sense of security.

B. Birds prefer to sleep in pairs for the sake of their security.

C. The phenomenon of birds napping in pairs is widespread.

D. A single pet bird enjoys seeing its own reflection in the mirror.

3.While sleeping, some water animals tend to keep half awake in order to ______.

A. alert themselves to the approaching enemy

B. emerge from water now and then to breathe

C. be sensitive to the ever-changing environment

D. avoid being swept away by rapid currents

4.By saying “just the tip of the iceberg”, Siegel suggests that ______.

A. half-brain sleep has something to do with icy weather

B. the mystery of half-brain sleep is close to being solved

C. most birds living in cold regions tend to be half sleepers

D. half-brain sleep may exist among other species

高三英语阅读理解困难题查看答案及解析

Birds that are half-asleep—with one brain hemisphere（半球）alert and the other sleeping—control which side of the brain remains awake, according to a new study of sleeping ducks．

Earlier studies have documented half-brain sleep in a wide range of birds．The brain hemispheres take turns sinking into the sleep stage characterized by slow brain waves．The eye controlled by the sleeping hemisphere keeps shut, while the wakeful hemisphere’s eye stays open and alert．Birds also can sleep with both hemispheres resting at once．

Decades of studies of bird groups led researchers to predict extra alertness in the end-of-the-row sleepers which tend to be attacked more easily．Sure enough, the end birds tended to watch carefully on the side away from their companions．Ducks in the inner spots showed no preference for gaze（注视）direction．

Also, birds napping at the end of the line depend on single-hemisphere sleep, rather than total relaxation, more often than inner ducks did．Turning 16 birds through the positions in a four-duck row, the researchers found that compared with 12 percent for birds in internal spots, outer birds half-asleep during some 32 percent of napping time．

“We believe this is the first evidence for an animal behaviorally controlling sleep and wakefulness at the same time in different regions of the brain,” the researchers say．

The results provide the best evidence for a long-standing assumption that single-hemisphere sleep evolved（发展）as creatures scanned for enemies．The preference for opening an eye on the lookout side could be widespread, he predicts．He’s seen it in a pair of birds napping side-by-side in the zoo and in a single pet bird sleeping by a mirror．The mirror-side eye closed as if the reflection were a companion and the other eye stayed open．

Useful as half-sleeping might be, it’s only been found in birds and such water animals as dolphins, whales, and seals．Perhaps keeping one side of the brain awake allows a sleeping animal to surface occasionally to avoid drowning．

Studies of birds may offer unique insights（深刻的理解）into sleep．Jerome M．Siegel of the UCLA says he wonders if birds’ half-brain sleep “is just the tip of the iceberg．” He supposes that more examples may turn up when we take a closer look at other species．

1.According to the passage, birds often half sleep because ______．

A．they have to watch out for possible attacks

B．their brain hemispheres take turns to rest

C．the two halves of their brain are differently structured

D．they have to constantly keep an eye on their companions

2.What is implied about the example of a bird’s sleeping in front of a mirror?

A．An imagined companion gives the bird a sense of security．

B．Birds prefer to sleep in pairs for the sake of their security．

C．The phenomenon of birds napping in pairs is widespread．

D．A single pet bird enjoys seeing its own reflection in the mirror．

3.While sleeping, some water animals tend to keep half awake in order to ______．

A．alert themselves to the approaching enemy

B．emerge（浮现）from water now and then to breathe

C．be sensitive to the ever-changing environment

D．avoid being swept away by rapid currents

4.By saying “just the tip of the iceberg”, Siegel suggests that ______．

A．half-brain sleep has something to do with icy weather

B．the mystery of half-brain sleep is close to being solved

C．most birds living in cold regions tend to be half sleepers

D．half-brain sleep may exist among other species

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

How much time did the man probably spend on the exam?

A. Half an hour.

B. 45 minutes.

C. One hour and a half.

高三英语短对话简单题查看答案及解析

Children now worry more about their parents spending too much time on their mobiles or computers than parents worry about their children. Those who order their children to switch off televisions, computers or mobile phones because they fear they are becoming addicted might need to take a long hard look at their own screen habits, new research shows.

Almost 70% of children think their parents spent too much time on their mobile phone, iPad or other similar devices, a research found. More than a third of children worry that their parents struggle to switch off from technology and a quarter of children surveyed openly accuse them of double standards when it comes to excessive (过多的) use of mobile devices, televisions and computers. One in five British children say their parents do not listen to them properly when they are together because they are so busy checking their emails or picking up work messages.

The survey was carried out by Opinion Matters, a research agency for the New Forest National Park Authority. The authority has recently begun providing facilities for visitors to hand in mobile phones, tablets and other devices for fear that technology is invading family life and making it impossible for people to appreciate nature properly because they never switch off.

Dr Richard Graham, a consultant adolescent psychiatrist and expert in technology addiction at Capio Nightingale Hospital in London, said there is growing evidence that children are finding their parents’ preoccupation with communication technology increasingly worrisome.

Four in ten of the children surveyed admitted that they sometimes communicate with their parents by text, email or social media even they are in the next room. The survey found that six in ten parents worry their children are spending too much time glued to small screens at home but almost seven in ten children have the same fear for their parents.

Dr Aric Sigman told the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health conference that parents who cannot switch off risk driving them to a lifelong dependency on screens with striking similarities to alcoholism. If so, I think, they will regret wasting the time supposed to be spend on their children before they grow up disappointed.

1.How many children questioned worry their parents spend too much time on screens?

A.One in three. B.One in four.

C.One in five. D.Almost seven in ten.

2.According to the Paragraph 3, we learn that _________.

A.screen habits are ruining family life

B.parents have trouble receiving work messages

C.children do not listen to their parents properly

D.parents are openly accused of double standards

3.According to Graham, what’s children’s attitude to their parents’ screen habits?

A.Approving. B.Doubtful.

C.Upset. D.Indifferent.

4.What is the main purpose of this passage?

A.To introduce the mobiles and computers to adults.

B.To advise parents to spend more time on their children.

C.To describe the difficulties today’s parents have met with.

D.To compare today’s parent-child relationship with that in the past.

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

读写任务

How many times have you heard the expression that most people spend more time planning their vacation than they do planning their lives. I would expand that expression by adding that most people spend more time "thinking" about their vacation than they do thinking about what's important in their life.

While rest and relaxation are a must in living a balanced life, it's now what we were created to do. After all, the Master Creator took his R&R (Rest and Recreation) on the seventh day, only after six days of "definitely directed thought."

Wallace D. Wattles, wrote "There is no labor from which most people shrink as they do from that of sustained and continuous thought; it is the hardest work in the world." And yet it is the first and primary labor of achievement.

What is your life's purpose or your personal mission statement? Is it written down? Do you review it and think about it often? Is your life organized around your purpose and a set of goals that support that purpose?

Without purpose and goals --- definitely directed thought --- you are like the proverbial "shop without a rudder(舵)." There is power in your purpose and in your goals. It is the power that takes you over obstacles, the fuel that pushes you toward the life you expect.

【写作内容】

1. 用约30个单词写出上文概要；

2. 用约120词发表你的观点，内容包括：

（1） 你如何规划中学以后的人生？为什么？

（2） 为了实现你的目标，你将如何行动？

【写作要求】

1. 写作过程中不能直接引用原文句子；

2. 作文中不能狐仙真是姓名和学校名称；

3. 不必写标题

【评分标准】

内容完整，语言规范，语篇连贯，词数适当。

高三英语书面表达中等难度题查看答案及解析