Believe it or not, in the United States, 40% ...

Believe it or not, in the United States, 40% of the toys _____ are for adults.

A. sold              B. selling           C. to sell           D. to be selling

高三英语单项填空困难题查看答案及解析

Did you ever wonder how some of your favorite foods, products or toys came about? Believe it or not, they may have been an accident, or a failure of some other intention．Below, we found three mistakes we're thankful for turned out to be what they are.

.1．Most historians hold that the Chinese invented fireworks in the 9th century when they discovered how to make gunpowder．Story has it that a Chinese cook accidentally mixed together what were then considered common kitchen items and noticed they burnt．When put tightly in a bamboo tube and lit, it blew up．

.2．In May of 1886, a law led John Pemberton, a pharmacist（药剂师）, to rewrite the formula（配方） for "Pemberton's French Wine Coca,” his popular headache treatment．Containing sugar instead of wine as a sweetener, the outcome became something for Coke, which was later mixed with carbonated water．His bookkeeper suggested the name Coca-Cola because he thought the two C’s would look good together, which is how what we call Coca-Cola, a world –wide drink came into being.

.3．During World War II, scientists at the University of Birmingham invented the magnetron—an important heat-producing part of the microwave oven（微波炉）．While working for Raytheon Corporation after the war, the American engineer Percy Spencer was testing the magnetron when a chocolate bar in his pocket melted．He went on to test other foods including popcorn kernels, and found it to be a much more efficient way to cook．In 1947 Raytheon came out with the first restaurant microwave oven, which was six feet tall and weighed 750 lbs．

1.The right time order of the three inventions, according to the passage, should be    _________.

A．fireworks, the microwave and Coca-Cola

B．fireworks ,Coca-Cola and the microwave

C．Coca-Cola , fireworks and the microwave

D．the microwave, Coca-Cola and fireworks

2.Percy Spencer found the microwave efficient in cooking when he was _______.

A．looking for a way to melt his chocolate

B．trying to know how a magnetron could cook

C．working to know how the magnetron works

D．asked to invent a restaurant microwave oven

3.What can we learn from the above invention stories?

A．Experiments make great inventors of our time.

B．Nothing is impossible if one tries each day.

C．Inventors come out of hard work at any time.

D．A small incident may lead to a great invention.

4.What’s the best title for the passage?

A．What great inventions they are!            B．Inventions from Three Countries.

C．Stories of Accidental Inventions.           D．The Human Inventions of time.

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

Who takes care of the elderly in the United States today? Many people wrongly believe that when people reach old age, their families place them in nursing homes. They are left there in the hands of strangers for the rest of their lives. Their grown-up children visit them only occasionally, but more often, they do not have any regular visitors. Actually this is not true. In fact, family members provide over 80 percent of the care that elderly people need.

Prof. Samuel Preston, a sociologist at the University of Pennsylvania, studied how the American family is changing. He reported that by the time the average American couple reaches 40 years of age, they have more parents than children. This statistic (统计) shows the change in life-styles and responsibilities of aging Americans. The average middle-aged couple can look forward to caring for elderly parents some time after their own children have grown up. Moreover, because people today live longer after an illness than people did years ago, family members must provide long-term care. These facts also mean that after care-givers provide for their elderly parents, who will eventually die, they will be old and may require care too. When they do, their spouses (配偶, 指夫或妻) will probably take care of them.

Because Americans are living longer than ever, more psychologists and social workers have begun to study care-giving to improve care of the elderly. They have found that all caregivers share a common characteristic: all caregivers believe that they are the best person for the job, for different reasons. One caregiver said that she had always been close to her mother. Another was the oldest child. In other words, they all felt that they could do the job better than anyone else. Social workers interviewed caregivers to find out why they took on the responsibility of caring for an elderly, dependent relative. They discovered three basic reasons. Many caregivers believed that they had the responsibility to help their relatives. Some stated that helping others made them feel more useful. Others hoped that by helping someone now, they would deserve care when they became old and dependent.

48. It can be inferred that a middle-aged couple in the US _______.

A. spend more time with their children than with their parents

B. depend on their children’s assistance in caring for the elderly

C. don’t pay more attention to their children than to their parents

D. spend more time taking care of their parents than before

49. The most common characteristic of caregivers is ______.

A. they all have professional qualifications in care-giving

B. they all believe themselves to be the best caregiver

C. they are the eldest child in the family

D. they are close to their parents

50. Which of the following is NOT a basic reason for care-giving?

A. Respect from other members of the family.

B. Prepayment for the care they will get in old age.

C. A feeling of being needed and helpful.

D. A strong sense of duty to the elderly.

51. What is the main idea of this passage?

A. Most old people in the US are living a happy life.

B. Most old people in the US live longer today after an illness than people did years ago.

C. Most elderly people in the US are taken care of by their families, who often find the experience satisfying.

D. Most elderly people in the US prefer living with their families to living nursing houses.

高三英语阅读理解简单题查看答案及解析

John was one of the top students in our class, but believe it or not, he_______ passed the English exam last term.(西安市)

A. easily                            B. actually                        C. successfully                 D. barely

高三英语单项填空简单题查看答案及解析

More than half of parents in the United States are helping , or have helped their adult children who have been hit by high unemployment and stagnant（无变化的）wages, according to a new survey. It showed that present economic conditions are discouraging young adults from leaving home and forcing those who have already gone, so - called boomerang children, to return.

“Parents are continuing their financial involvement longer than we expected,” said Ted Beck, the president and CEO of National Endowment for Financial Education (NEFE).

About 60 percent of parents questioned in the survey said they are helping their adult children who are no longer in school financially, providing housing and living expenses.

For an increasing number of adult children, the situation is bad. Two - thirds of adult children, aged 18 to 39, who are not in school said they faced tougher financial pressures than previous generations, according to the survey. And nearly one - third of parents agreed that it was easier for them to earn money than for their children.

Parents are helping their children out of genuine concern, and because they do not want to see them struggle. But Beck said that parents who make sacrifices to help their adult children should be cautious about their own finances.

“If you are taking on extra debt or delaying retirement to help your adult child, you could be making a mistake and putting your own financial future in danger.” Beck warned.

Boomerang children can also cause other problems for their parents. Thirty percent of parents said they had given up privacy since their adult children moved back home, while more than a quarter have taken on added debt, and ten percent have delayed retirement. But the survey also showed that 42 percent of adult children living at home are helping with the cooking and cleaning.

1.The underlined words “boomerang children” in the first paragraph likely means ________.

A. adult children visiting parents often

B. married adult children

C. adult children depending on parents for financial support

D. adult children independent and successful in life

2.What is Ted Beck’s suggestion to the parents?

A. Asking their children to help with the housework.

B. Leaving their children to struggle to live.

C. Being careful when helping their children financially.

D. Putting off their time of retirement.

3.According to the survey, we can know that ________.

A. about 50% of parents give money to their adult children to cover the daily cost

B. two - thirds of adult children are faced with financial problems in school

C. one - third of adult children earn money more easily than their parents

D. one in ten parents has delayed retirement

4.What is the main idea of the whole text?

A. Adult children are less independent.

B. Parents help support adult children.

C. Bad conditions affect children a lot.

D. Adult children like living with parents.

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

Young people in the United States do not have a strong understanding of the world and their place in it.

Two U. S.—based groups, the Council on Foreign Relations and the National Geographic, Society commissioned an online survey earlier this year. They wanted to know what young people educated in American colleges knew about geography, U. S. foreign policy, recent international events, and economics.

The survey was given to over 1,200 Americans between the ages of 18 and 26 years. All of them presently attending, or having previously graduated from, a 2-or 4-year college or university.

The average test score, out of 75 total possible answers, was 55 percent. The study identifies a few important problems. For example, only 30 percent knew that the only part of the U. S. government that can declare war is Congress. Only 60% of those taking the survey could identify Brazil on a world map.

Part of the problem, argue the organizers of the survey, is the internet. They say it is becoming harder to find high-quality information about world events amongst all the fake news and trivia which swamp the web. Forty-three percent of those questioned said they read about the news on Facebook.

Another problem is that most college courses do not require students to learn about international issues. If such information is not required, Richard Haass from the Council on Foreign Relations said, then the United States could have leaders like Gary Johnson. He was a recent presidential candidate who did not know about the Syrian city of Aleppo when a reporter asked him about it.

The survey results were not all bad. The young people also demonstrated a good understanding of climate change and renewable energy. And the majority of them said that international issues were becoming more important to them.

Haass says these findings suggest the need to find was to get good information to students, both in school and online. To help, the Council on Foreign Relations is creating a new program called CFR Campus, designed to help build knowledge about global issues.

1.What can we learn about the survey?

A. All the participants were recent university graduates

B. It was an online survey conducted by two US universities

C. Its aim is to figure out what the young people know about America

D. It was given to over 1,200 American people aged from 18 to 26

2.What’s one reason survey organizers give for young people’s lack of knowledge?

A. Young people are unwilling to travel abroad

B. The sources from which they get their information

C. The US university system is of poor quality

D. Their lack of interest in knowing more about the world

3.According to the survey, what topic did the young Americans understand best?

A. Environmental matters　　 B. Geographic information

C. Foreign relations　　 D. Government organizations

4.In which column of a newspaper could we find this article?

A. Economics　　 B. Entertainment

C. Politics　　 D. Education

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

Young people in the United States do not have a strong understanding of the world and their place in it.

Two U. S.— based groups, the Council on Foreign Relations and the National Geographic, Society commissioned an online survey earlier this year. They wanted to know what young people educated in American colleges knew about geography, U. S. foreign policy, recent international events, and economics.

The survey was given to over 1,200 Americans between the ages of 18 and 26 years. All of them presently attending, or having previously graduated from, a 2- or 4-year college or university.

The average test score, out of 75 total possible answers, was 55 percent. The study identifies a few important problems. For example, only 30 percent knew that the only part of the U. S. government that can declare war is Congress. Only 60% of those taking the survey could identify Brazil on a world map.

Part of the problem, argue the organizers of the survey, is the internet. They say it is becoming harder to find high-quality information about world events amongst all the fake news and trivia which swamp the web. Forty-three percent of those questioned said they read about the news on Facebook.

Another problem is that most college courses do not require students to learn about international issues. If such information is not required, Richard Haass from the Council on Foreign Relations said, then the United States could have leaders like Gary Johnson. He was a recent presidential candidate who did not know about the Syrian city of Aleppo when a reporter asked him about it.

The survey results were not all bad. The young people also demonstrated a good understanding of climate change and renewable energy. And the majority of them said that international issues were becoming more important to them.

Haass says these findings suggest the need to find was to get good information to students, both in school and online. To help, the Council on Foreign Relations is creating a new program called CFR Campus, designed to help build knowledge about global issues.

1.What can we learn about the survey?

A.All the participants were recent university graduates.

B.It was an online survey conducted by two US universities.

C.Its aim is to figure out what the young people know about America.

D.It was given to over 1,200 American people aged from 18 to 26.

2.What’s one reason survey organizers give for young people’s lack of knowledge?

A.Young people are unwilling to travel abroad.

B.The sources from which they get their information.

C.The US university system is of poor quality.

D.Their lack of interest in knowing more about the world.

3.According to the survey, what topic did the young Americans understand best?

A.Environmental matters. B.Geographic information.

C.Foreign relations. D.Government organizations.

4.In which column of a newspaper could we find this article?

A.Economics. B.Entertainment.

C.Politics. D.Education.

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

Young people in the United States do not have a strong understanding of the world and their place in it.

Two US-based groups, the Council on Foreign Relations and the National Geographic Society, conducted an online survey last year. They wanted to know what young people in American colleges knew about geography, U.S. foreign policy, recent international events, and economics.

The survey was given to over 1,200 Americans between the ages of 18 and 26 years. All of them presently attending, or having previously graduated from, a 2- or 4-year college or university.

The average test score, out of 75 total possible answers, was 55 percent. The study identifies a few important problems. For example, only 30 percent knew that the only part of the U.S. government that can declare war is Congress. Only 60% of those taking the survey could identify Brazil on a world map.

Part of the problem, argue the organizers of the survey, is the Internet. They say it is becoming harder to find high-quality information about world events amongst all the fake news and trivia which swamp the web. Forty-three percent of those questioned said they read about the news on Facebook.

Another problem is that most college courses do not require students to learn about international issues. If such information is not required, Richard Haass from the Council on Foreign Relations said, then the United States could have leaders like Gary Johnson. He was a recent presidential candidate who did not know about the Syrian city of Aleppo when a reporter asked him about it.

The survey results were not all bad. The young people also demonstrated a good understanding of climate change and renewable energy. And the majority of them said that international issues were becoming more important to them.

Haass says these findings suggest the need to find ways to get good information to students, both in school and online. To help, the Council on Foreign Relations is creating a new program called CFR Campus, designed to help build knowledge about global issues.

1.What do we know about the survey?

A. The participants were all recent university graduates.

B. It was an online survey conducted by two US universities.

C. It was given to over 1,200 American people aged from 18 to 26.

D. It aimed to find out what the young people know about America.

2.What’s one reason survey organizers give for young people’s lack of knowledge?

A. The poor quality of the US university system.

B. Young people’s unwillingness to travel abroad.

C. The sources from which they get their information.

D. Their lack of interest in knowing more about the world.

3.What topic did the young Americans understand best according to the survey?

A. Government organizations.　　 B. Geographic information.

C. Foreign relations.　　 D. Environmental matters.

4.In which column of a newspaper could we find this article?

A. Economics.　　 B. Education.

C. National Politics.　　 D. Entertainment.

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

Young people in the United States do not have a strong understanding of the world and their place in it.

Two US-based groups, the Council on Foreign Relations and the National Geographic Society, conducted an online survey last year. They wanted to know what young people in American colleges knew about geography, U.S. foreign policy, recent international events, and economics.

The survey was given to over 1,200 Americans between the ages of 18 and 26 years. All of them presently attending, or having previously graduated from, a 2- or 4-year college or university.

The average test score, out of 75 total possible answers, was 55 percent. The study identifies a few important problems. For example, only 30 percent knew that the only part of the U.S. government that can declare war is Congress. Only 60% of those taking the survey could identify Brazil on a world map.

Part of the problem, argue the organizers of the survey, is the Internet. They say it is becoming harder to find high-quality information about world events amongst all the fake news and trivia which swamp the web. Forty-three percent of those questioned said they read about the news on Facebook.

Another problem is that most college courses do not require students to learn about international issues. If such information is not required, Richard Haass from the Council on Foreign Relations said, then the United States could have leaders like Gary Johnson. He was a recent presidential candidate who did not know about the Syrian city of Aleppo when a reporter asked him about it.

The survey results were not all bad. The young people also demonstrated a good understanding of climate change and renewable energy. And the majority of them said that international issues were becoming more important to them.

Haass says these findings suggest the need to find ways to get good information to students, both in school and online. To help, the Council on Foreign Relations is creating a new program called CFR Campus, designed to help build knowledge about global issues.

1.What do we know about the survey?

A. The participants were all recent university graduates.

B. It was an online survey conducted by two US universities.

C. It was given to over 1,200 American people aged from 18 to 26.

D. It aimed to find out what the young people know about America.

2.What’s one reason survey organizers give for young people’s lack of knowledge?

A. The poor quality of the US university system.

B. Young people’s unwillingness to travel abroad.

C. The sources from which they get their information.

D. Their lack of interest in knowing more about the world.

3.What topic did the young Americans understand best according to the survey?

A. Government organizations.　　 B. Geographic information.

C. Foreign relations.　　 D. Environmental matters.

4.In which column of a newspaper could we find this article?

A. Economics.　　 B. Education.

C. National Politics.　　 D. Entertainment.

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

It’s not every day that United States history mixes with microbes (微生物) in the soil. But when the grassland on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. was replaced, it offered scientists the opportunity to study changes in the soil beneath.

The work focused on the bacteria present in the soil. To the researchers’ surprise, the communities of microbes did not change a lot before and after the replacement. These communities in the soil are known as the soil microbiome (微生物群).

“My lab is interested in how microbes can move around in the environment , and how they change and adapt as a result of this movement,” explains Jo Anne Crouch, the lead author of the study. “We thought that the new ‘imported ’turf (草皮) from New Jersey would introduce different communities of bacteria to the National Mall. However, we found that they weren’t significantly different.”

Crouch’s work focused on turf grass ，defined as a large area of green grass. It is made up of the grass, its roots, and the soil and microbes found with them.

Think of the soil microbiome as similar to the collection of microbes found in the human body. When the microbes are out of balance , it can make someone sick. Crouch says it’s the same for the soil microbiome. Many of the worst diseases in crops or other environments are linked with changes in the soil microbiome.

Additionally, Crouch says that even though the changes between the soils were small, scientists are also starting to appreciate that sometimes a really important microbe is a rare one. This means it would be hard to observe but could greatly affect how the groups function as a whole. “Agricultural areas and other natural spaces are highly and easily hurt by negative changes,” she says. “Microbiomes offer an almost entirely new opportunity to influence interactions among plants and microbes to improve plant productivity and health. ”

1.Why did the researchers feel surprised when they focused on the bacteria in the soil?

A. More bacteria appeared in the soil.

B. Microbes were replaced obviously.

C. Soil microbiome almost remained stable.

D. The soil microbiomes damaged the environment.

2.By studying the turf grass , what did Crouch and her team find?

A. Microbes grew faster in their own community.

B. Soil microbiomes were different in different places.

C. Turf grass adapted to the environment nearby very soon.

D. Similar communities of bacteria were brought by turf grass.

3.Why did the author mention the microbes in the human body?

A. To indicate the two play a similar role.

B. To prove they are both the causes of diseases.

C. To examine the environments people live in.

D. To analyze the changes of human microbes.

4.What does Crouch mean in the last paragraph?

A. Microbes are still as hard to observe as before.

B. Studies on microbiomes can be beneficial to agriculture.

C. Scientists are still puzzled about the effect of microbiomes.

D. Too many microbiomes in the soil mean no harm to plants.

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析