In the USA the high school graduation ceremon...

In the USA the high school graduation ceremony is of great 1. (important). 12th grade students, or seniors, who are about 17 or 18 years old, look forward to 2. (attend) this event.

The graduation ceremony itself takes place at the end of May or beginning of June, which usually 3. (include) music awards, and a guest speaker. After the speech, students walk to the front of the room to receive their diplomas from the headmaster. Students start preparing for graduation a long time 4. it happens. They order rings designed 5. (special) for their class.

Another tradition is to have their photographs 6. (take). These photographs are used 7. the class yearbook, which is a printed book about all the students in the school. Students have special cards called announcements printed to send to friends and relatives to tell them about their graduation. The cards often include 8. invitation to the ceremony. If you receive it, you should send a present 9. money to the graduate. A few weeks before the ceremony, the students are measured the cap that they will wear at the ceremony. After the ceremony, 10. (family) usually have graduation parties for friends and relatives. It’s a day and a night that high school seniors remember for a long time.

高二英语完形填空中等难度题查看答案及解析

High school graduation is worth celebrating. It marks a big change in the lives of young adults. However, it ought to mean even more. It ought to mean that the graduate is ready for college or career.

In a report issued last year, we found that almost half of recent Illinois high school graduates required remedial courses(补习课) upon enrolling(注册) a community college. These courses require time and money to complete, yet offer no credits toward a degree. Too often, students never get through those remedial courses and end up dropping out of college.

Why is the remediation rate so high? A large part of the reason is that we have not set high enough standards for what our students need to learn from kindergarten to high school. They simply aren’t equipped with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed.

The same is true for careers. In Illinois, good jobs continue to go vacant(空缺) even while we are trying hard to go through tough economic times. This is due largely to the mismatch between the skills and knowledge we provide our students with and what employers in a modern economy need workers to know.

The good news is that in Illinois we have a plan to help get our students ready for life in the real world. We have already taken an important first step by becoming one of the 45 states to adopt the Common Core State Standards and have begun introducing them to classrooms this year. The new standards provide fewer, clearer and higher benchmarks(标准) for academic progress. They focus on deeper knowledge required at each grade level, give teachers the opportunity to explore topics fully and ensure students can apply what they’ve learned.

Research shows that when expectations are raised, students rise to meet them. Adapting to higher standards and raising expectations may prove challenging, but they are the steps we must take so that our students are successful in high school and prepared for college and careers. Readiness is worth a celebration.

1.According to the passage, in most cases, students taking part in remedial courses ___.

A．come from wealthy families

B．leave college before finishing their courses

C．are offered credits toward a degree

D．are likely to develop their academic interest

2.The author uses the third and fourth paragraphs to __.

A．provide solutions to the rising remediation rate

B．show the present situation of unemployment in Illinois

C．suggest knowledge learned in school be put into practice

D．explain why students aren’t prepared for college and a career

3.Which of the following statements about the Common Core State Standards is TRUE?

A．They were first adopted in Illinois.

B．More benchmarks are required.

C．They benefit teachers as well as students.

D．They ensure students’ success in college.

4.Based on the last paragraph, what is the author’s attitude to raising expectations of students?

A．Supportive                            B．Critical

C．Doubtful                              D．Worried

高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

Mrs. Obama spoke to the graduates of Martin Luther King Jr. High School on Saturday in her only high school commencement (毕业典礼) speech this year. The ceremony took place in the gymnasium of Tennessee State University.

The first lady told the 170 graduates that she spent too much of her time in college focusing on academic achievements. While her success in college and law school led to a high­profile job, she said, she ended up leaving to focus on public service. “My message to you today is that don't waste a minute living someone else's dream,” she said. “It takes lots of real work to discover what brings you joy and you won't find what you love simply by checking mailboxes or surfing the Internet.”

She said MLK reminded her of her own high school experience in Chicago.“My No.1 goal was to go to a high school that would push me and challenge me,” she said. “I wanted to go somewhere that would celebrate achievements.” “Unfortunately, schools like this don't exist for every kid,” she said. “You are blessed.”

The first lady told the graduates that failure may be a part of their college careers, and that how they respond to difficulties determines what they will become. “That's when you find out what you're really made of in those hard times,” she said. “But you can only do that if you're willing to put yourself in a position where you might fail. Overcoming difficulties has been a mark of many great people,” she said. “Oprah Winfrey was demoted(降职) from her first job as a news reporter, and now she doesn't even need a last name,” she said of media giant Oprah Winfrey. “And then there's this guy Barack Obama. I could take up a whole afternoon talking about his failures. He lost his first race for Congress,” the first lady joked, “and now he gets to call himself my husband.”

1.When choosing her high school, Mrs Obama 　　　　　　　　 .

A. wanted to study law

B. was pushed to make a choice

C. failed to find an ideal school

D. was willing to meet challenges

2.By mentioning Oprah's example, Mrs Obama wanted to tell the graduates 　　　　　　　　 .

A. to be brave enough to risk failing

B. to work hard to get promoted

C. to start as a news reporter

D. not to waste time doing what they dislike

3.Where can you probably find this text?

A. In a news report.

B. In a politics book.

C. In a graduation paper.

D. On Mrs Obama's blog.

4.What do we know about Mrs Obama from the text?

A. She is a graduate of Tennessee State University.

B. This is the first time she has given a speech to graduates.

C. She complained about her school life in her speech.

D. She is enthusiastic about public service.

高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

Alabama
Students in Alabama take the Alabama High School Graduation Exam, which consists of multiple-choice questions. In the classroom, Alabama high school students must prove specific skills in English and take certain math classes.
Among the 2013 U.S. News Best High Schools in Alabama, two were awarded gold medals, 16 received silver medals and 72 were considered bronze medal schools. One of the gold medal schools, Loveless Academic Magnet Program High School, lies about 90 miles south of Birmingham in the state capital of Montgomery, within the Montgomery County School District.
Alaska
To graduate, Alaska high school students must get at least 21 credits, including a half credit in Alaska history. Alaska judges students from the third grade through senior grades. Students first take the Alaska High School Graduation Qualifying Examination at the tenth grade. It includes math, reading and writing skills.
10 schools were awarded silver medals and 21 received bronze medals among the U.S. News Best High Schools in 2013. While Alaska's capital is Juneau, several of the state's Best High Schools are in or near Anchorage, in the Anchorage School District.
Delaware
Delaware students have a high GPA（平均绩点）and 10 hours of community service. If they hand in their FAFSA（自愿联邦奖学金）by a certain date, they may get the Inspire Scholarship, which helps pay for tuition at Delaware State University. Before they go to college, however, students must pass the Delaware Student Testing Program Exams.
Among the Delaware schools in the 2013 U.S. News Best High Schools, there are three silver medal schools and four bronze medal schools. The top school in the state is Delmar Senior High School. It is part of the Delmar School District and is about 50 miles from Delaware's capital, Dover.
1.What's the passage mainly about?

A．The introduction to the Best High Schools in three states.

B．The different examinations in several high schools.

C．Scholarships in the Best High Schools in three states.

D．The things students should do before going to college.

2.It can be inferred from the text that______.

A．students with a high GPA can get the Inspire Scholarship

B．reading and writing skills are included in the tests in all the schools

C．Alabama has the most best high schools of the three states

D．at least 21 credits are needed to graduate from all the schools

3.Which of the following in TRUE according to the passage?

A．The High School Graduation Exams are multiple-choice questions.

B．Both the gold medal schools in Alabama are in its capital.

C．There were 21 silver medal schools in Alaska in all.

D．Delmar Senior High school is the best in Delaware.

4.Alaska's graduation exam is different from the others' in the aspect that______.

A．it includes all the subjects the students learn

B．it includes its own state history as well

C．it includes math, reading and writing skills

D．it includes 10 hours of community service

5.The Inspire Scholarship is a prize______.

A．that any student in gold medal schools can apply for

B．that is given to the top students in gold medal schools

C．that helps to pay for tuition at Delaware State University

D．that is very difficult to get for students in silver medal schools

高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

I’m a 20-year-old boy, and the following is my story.

A month after I graduated from high school in August, 2007, I was coming home from swim practice in the training centre of the city and was involved in a car accident. I was so seriously injured that I was in a coma for more than two months at Prince Georges Hospital.

I suffered a lot from the experience of dying eight times during my coma and I couldn’t open my mouth to talk or to communicate when I eventually came around. At that time, it seemed that walking was never going to happen again due to all the extreme injuries. Just like my body, my dreams were completely destroyed. But I was not going to let my injuries stop me from realizing my dreams.

After receiving a total of 15 operations and 36 blood transfusions, I had to make every great effort to learn to talk, eat, walk, shower, and live on my own again. When I was out of hospital, I still had to go to outpatient therapy（门诊治疗） in Waldorf, Maryland. After I spent a few months in a wheelchair, I took baby steps to walk on my own. It was a miracle that I was able to walk again, but I still wanted to prove that I could not only walk, but also run. When it came true, I wanted to get back into the pool again. After having a few lung tests, I was able to go in the pool a little bit each week. After a few months of swim training, I began my freshman year at St. Mary’s College of Maryland and then became a proud member of the swim team.

By telling my story, I want to make a positive influence on the world. I am just trying to live each day to the fullest and inspire other people never to give up their dreams no matter how bad a situation is to them. I remember when I was still in my hospital bed: I would have my mom and dad push me round in my wheelchair to the other rooms to see the other patients and chat with them and their family members. I wanted to let them know that everything was going to be okay. Somehow, things would work out for the best.

1.The underlined word “coma” in Paragraph 2 probably has the meaning of “_______”.

A. operation       B. unconsciousness     C. treatment       D. emergency

2.According to Paragraph 3, it can be inferred that the author _______.

A. was unable to talk or communicate        B. was in despair

C. faced physical and mental challenges     D. felt anxious about his state

3.In the last paragraph, the author mainly wants to show _______.

A. his positive influence on other patients    B. his meaningful life

C. his purpose of sharing his story          D. his great achievements

4.The best title for the passage would be “_______”.

A. Attitude is everything                 B. Actions speak louder than words

C. Everything happens for a reason         D. A good beginning is half done

高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

I'm a 20-year-old boy,and the following is my story.

A month after I graduated from high school in August,2007,I was coming home from swim practice in the training centre of the city and was involved in a car accident.I was so seriously injured that I was in a coma for more than two months at Prince Georges Hospital.

I suffered a lot from the experience of dying eight times during my coma and I couldn't open my mouth to talk or to communicate when I eventually came around.At that time,it seemed that walking was never going to happen again due to all the extreme injuries.Just like my body,my dreams were completely destroyed.But I was not going to let my injuries stop me from realizing my dreams.

After receiving a total of 15 operations and 36 blood transfusions,I had to make every great effort to learn to talk,eat,walk,shower,and live on my own again.When I was out of hospital,I still had to Go to outpatient therapy in Waldorf,Maryland.After I spent a few months in a wheelchair,I took baby steps to walk on my own.It was a miracle that I was able to walk again,but I still wanted to prove that I could not only walk,but also run.When it came true,I wanted to get back into the pool again.After having a few lung tests,I was able to go in the pool a little bit each week. After a few months of swim training,I began my freshman year at St.Mary's College of Maryland and then became a proud member of the swim team.

By telling my story,I want to make a positive influence on the world.I am just trying to live every day to the fullest and inspire other people never to give up their dreams no matter how bad a situation is to them.I remember when I was still in my hospital bed,I would have my mom and dad push me round in my wheelchair to the other rooms to see the other patients and chat with them and their family members.I wanted to let them know that everything was going to be okay.Somehow,things would work out for the best.

1.The underlined word "coma" in Paragraph 2 probably has the meaning of "　　　　 ".

A. operation　　 B. unconsciousness

C. treatment　　 D. emergency

2.According to Paragraph 3,it can be inferred that the author　　　　 .

A. was unable to talk or communicate　　 B. was in despair

C. faced physical and mental challenges　　 D. felt anxious about his state

3.In the last paragraph,the author mainly wants to show　　　　 .

A. his positive influence on other patients　　 B. his meaningful life

C. his purpose of sharing his story　　 D. his great achievements

4.The best title for the passage would be "　　　　 ".

A. Actions speak louder than words　　 B. Attitude is everything

C. Everything happens for a reason　　 D. A Good beginning is half done

高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

I’m a 20-year-old boy, and the following is my story．

A month after I graduated from high school in August，2007，I was coming home from swim practice in the training centre of the city and was involved in a car accident. I was so seriously injured that I was in a coma for more than two months at Prince Georges Hospital．

I suffered a lot from the experience of dying eight times during my coma and I couldn’t open my mouth to talk or to communicate when I eventually came around．At that time，it seemed that walking was never going to happen again due to all the extreme injuries. Just like my body，my dreams were completely destroyed. But I was not going to let my injuries stop me from realizing my dreams．

After receiving a total of 15 operations and 36 blood transfusions, I had to make every great effort to learn to talk，eat，walk，shower，and live on my own again．When I was out of hospital，I still had to go to outpatient therapy in Waldorf, Maryland．After I spent a few months in a wheelchair, I took baby steps to walk on my own．It was a miracle that I was able to walk again, but I still wanted to prove that I could not only walk, but also run. When it came true, I wanted to get back into the pool again．After having a few lung tests，I was able to go in the pool a little bit each week．After a few months of swim training，I began my freshman year at Mary’s College of Maryland and then became a proud member of the swim team．

By telling my story, I want to make a positive influence on the world．I am just trying to 1ive every day to the fullest and inspire other people never to give up their dreams no matter how bad a situation is to them. I remember when I was still in my hospital bed，I would have my mom and dad push me round in my wheelchair to the other rooms to see the other patients and chat with them and their family members．I wanted to let them know that everything was going to be okay. Somehow，things would work out for the best.

1.The underlined word “coma” in Paragraph 2 probably has the meaning of __________.

2.According to Paragraph 3, it can be inferred that the author ________.

3.What is the correct order of the following events?

a．went to outpatient therapy

b．received membership of the swim team

c．was pushed around to visit other patients

d．walked 1ike a baby

e．1earnt to live all by himself

4.In the last paragraph，the author mainly wants to show_______．

5.The best title for the passage would be“____________”

高二英语阅读理解困难题查看答案及解析

In Washington, DC, only 69 percent of public school students graduate from high school on time. Many factors influence that low rate. One of the most important ones is whether the people around the students expect them to succeed.

So, for the past 40 years, a DC organisation has stepped in to give around 10,000 students the support and positive environment they need to thrive (茁壮成长). This organisation, called Higher Achievement, provides students with a welcoming space, help with class work, and caring teachers. More than 95 percent of students who complete Higher Achievement graduate from high school on time.

Katherine Roboff is the group’s executive director in the DC area. She gives several reasons for the group’s success. One is timing. Higher Achievement does not work with students who are already in high school. It works with students in middle school. They start High Achievement at fifth or sixth grade—in the US, that is usually age 11 or 12.

Roboff says research shows that if students are doing well academically in eighth grade—around age 13—they will have a greater chance of graduating from high school and going to college. In other words, what happens in middle school has a huge impact. The years between ages 10 and 13 may affect a student’s future more than anything that happens academically in high school.

Roboff explains that students participate in Higher Achievement after school and during the summer, when public schools take a break of about two months. High Achievement students do homework, have community meetings, and work one-on-one with a mentor (导师).

“The purpose of the programme is to help them use those after school and summer hours to become better prepared academically and to develop their leadership skills and confidence so that by the time they get into eighth grade they are ready to get into some of the top high school.”

1.A little more than 30% of public school students in the US ______.

A. drop out of school

B. work hard at their lessons

C. can’t finish school on time

D. are expected to graduate from high school

2.What can we infer from the second paragraph?

A. Higher Achievement is a great success.

B. Higher Achievement works with college students.

C. Many students have doubts about the organisation.

D. Higher Achievement has spread throughout the US.

3.If students are doing well academically in eighth grade, ______.

A. they are certain to go to college

B. they are to succeed when they grow up

C. they don’t need any help in their studies

D. they are more likely to finish high school on time

4.What is the main aim of Higher Achievement?

A. To offer students advice.

B. To help student get into top schools.

C. To teach students how to behave at school.

D. To provide students with different activities.

高二英语阅读理解困难题查看答案及解析

When I was young, I left a high-school-teaching job to go graduate school again. In one of my first classes, I studied the poetry of Thomas Eliot. I felt hopeless when my high school Webster’s Dictionary tuned silent each time I tried to look up words like “estaminet” or “juvescence”. I needed a new book the Oxford English Dictionary, whose price was $300.

On a cold night, my husband and I set out for a bookstore in Atlanta. I breathlessly asked the clerk for my book, which was kept far behind the counter, paid quickly so that I would have no time to imagine people’s thoughts that I was mad, and rushed back to our truck, carrying the great weight of Oxford English Dictionary.

Don’t get me wrong: I never turn down a trip to the library, but I know that there is something mysterious and spiritual ---to own your own good books, and to spend your earthly money on a piece of heavenly art to pass it down to future generations.

I have been the recipient of many of these passed-down books. My father worked as a plumber, who was often busy repairing things like water pipes. He never made the extravagant (奢侈的) purchases as I did, but I remember his going to the Aspen Used Book store on the weekends. He would take hundreds of used books and trade them for wonderful sets of classics. He would also go in there and come out with how-to books about fixing the leaks. He would neatly arrange the classics in our basement where I, at the age of nine or ten, would spend all summer there reading Greek and Roman myths.

One day, I’ll have to leave my library, but I’m pleased to know that my children will have all my books about Southern literature and modern poetry. They might say, “Look, Mama surely loved Flannery O’Connor.” Or “I wonder why she had three copies of T.S. Eliot: Collected Poems?”

1.Why did the author feel hopeless about her high school dictionary?

A. It was out of date and of no use.

B. It failed to cover enough words.

C. It often gave wrong explanations.

D. It couldn’t offer the exact meaning.

2.What can be inferred from Paragraph 2?

A. The Oxford English Dictionary was very popular.

B. The author felt it an adventure to buy the dictionary.

C. The author regretted buying the dictionary at first.

D. Few people would buy the Oxford English Dictionary.

3.What do we know about the author’s father?

A. He was inspired to read books by his daughter.

B. He loved books despite not being well educated.

C. He improved his professional skills through books.

D. He spent lots of his salary buying wonderful book.

4.Which of the following can be the best title of the passage?

A. Books at all costs

B. Father’s special bookstore

C. The Oxford English Dictionary

D. Studying the poetry of T.S. Eliot

高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

In the modern society there is a great deal of argument about competition. Some value it highly, believing that it is responsible for social progress and prosperity (繁荣). Others say that competition is bad, that it sets one person against another, that it leads to unfriendly relationship between people.

I have taught many children who held the belief that their self-worth relied on how well they performed at tennis and other skills. For them, playing well and winning are often life-and-death affairs. In their single-minded pursuit (追求) of success, the development of many other human qualities is really forgotten.

However, others take an opposite attitude. In a culture which values only the winner and pays no attention to the ordinary players, they strongly blame competition. Among the most vocal are youngsters who have suffered under competitive pressures from their parents or society. Teaching these young people, I often notice that they have a desire to fail. They seem to choose failure by not trying to win or achieve success. By not trying, they always have an excuse: “I may have lost, but it doesn’t matter because I really didn’t try.” They don’t believe that if they had really tried and lost, such a loss would prove their worth. Clearly, this belief is the same as that of the true competitors who try to prove themselves. Both are based on the mistaken belief that one’s self-respect relies on how well one performs in comparison(比较) with others. Both are afraid of not being valued. Only as this basic and often troublesome fear begins to dissolve (缓解) can we discover a new meaning in competition.

1.What does this passage mainly talk about?

2.Why do some people value competition according to the passage?

3.The underlined phrase “the most vocal” in Paragraph 3 refers to_______.

4.What is the similar belief of the true competitors and those with a “desire to fail”?

5.Which point of view may the author agree to?

高二英语阅读理解简单题查看答案及解析