The tradition of birthday parties started in ...

The tradition of birthday parties started in Europe a long time ago. It was feared that evil spirits were particularly attracted to people on their birthdays. To protect them from harm, friends and family would come to stay with the birthday person and bring good thoughts and wishes. Giving gifts brought even more good cheer to keep away from the evil spirits. This is how birthday parties began.

The following are some countries' birthday traditions:

Canada —Greasing(涂) the nose with butter. In Atlantic Canada, the birthday child's nose is greased for good luck.

China —Noodles for lunch. The birthday child pays respect to his/her parents and receives a gift of money. Friends and relatives are invited to lunch and noodles are served to wish the birthday child a long life.

England —Fortune telling cakes. Certain symbolic（象征性的）objects are mixed into the birthday cake as it is being prepared. If your piece of cake has a coin in it, then you will be rich.

Italy—Pulling ears. The child's ears are pulled as many times as how old they are turning.

Japan-New clothes. The birthday child wears entirely new clothes to mark the occasion.

New Zealand—Birthday claps. After the birthday cake is lit, the happy birthday song is sung loudly and often out of tune and then the birthday person receives a clap for each year they have been alive and then one for good luck.

The United States—Cake, candles and song. A cake is made, and candles are put on top based on how old the person is.

1.The first paragraph mainly talks about _________

A. where the tradition of birthday parties started

B. how to keep away from evil spirits

C. why gifts must be given to the birthday person

D. how birthday parties started.

2.According to the passage, in which country do the birthday children receive a gift of money?

A. England　　 B. China

C. Ireland　　 D. Japan

3.Which of the following is NOT true?

A. In New Zealand, an eight-year-old birthday child receives eight claps in all.

B. In Italy, people will pull the birthday children’s ears.

C. In England, objects mixed into the birthday cake are meaningful.

D. In the US, the number of candles means the age of the birthday person.

4.Which of the following groups is true about birthday celebrations in different countries?

a. China-eating noodles　 　　　　　　　　　　　　　

b. Canada-bumping on the floor

c. England-coin in the birthday cake　　 　　　　　

d. Japan-- butter-greased nose

e. Italy--- pulling ears　　　　　　　　　　 　　

f. America--- cake with candles on top

A. a, b, c, f　　 B. b, c, d, e

C. c, d , e ,f　　 D. a, c , e , f

高一英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

The tradition of birthday parties started in Europe a long time ago. It was feared that evil(邪恶的) spirits were particularly attracted to people on their birthdays. To protect them from harm, friends and family members would come to stay with the birthday person and bring good thoughts and wishes. Giving gifts brought even more good cheer to keep away from the evil spirits. This is how birthday parties began.

The following are some countries’ birthday traditions:

Canada---Putting butter on the nose. In Atlantic Canada, the birthday child’s nose is put butter on for good luck.

China---Noodles for lunch. The birthday child pays respect to his / her parents and receives a gift of money. Friends and relatives are invited to lunch and noodles are served to wish the birthday child a long life.

England---Money cakes. Certain symbolic(象征性的) objects are mixed into the birthday cake as it is being prepared. If your piece of cake has a coin in it, you will be rich.

Ireland---Birthday bump(碰撞). The birthday child is lifted upside down and “ bumped” on the floor for good luck.

Italy---Pulling ears. The child’s ears are pulled as many times as how old he / she is turning.

Japan---New clothes. The birthday child wears new clothes to mark the occasion.

New Zealand---Birthday claps. After the candles are hit, the happy birthday song is sung loudly and often out of tune and then the birthday person receives a clap for each year he / she has been alive and then one for good luck.

The United States---Cake, candles and the birthday song. A cake is made, and candles are put on top based on how old the person is.

1.The first paragraph mainly talks about 　　　　　 .

A. why there are so many birthday traditions

B. how birthday parties started

C. how to keep away from evil spirits

D. why gifts must be given to the birthday person

2.According to the passage, in which country can the birthday children probably receive a gift of money?

A. China.　　　　　　 B. England.

C. Ireland.　　　　　 D. Japan.

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

A. In New Zealand, an eight-year-old birthday child receives eight claps in all.

B. In Ireland, bumping the birthday child means good luck to him/her.

C. In England, coins are the only things that can be made into a birthday cake.

D. In Italy, the birthday child’s ears are pulled when he/she is lifted upside down.

4.The birthday traditions of New Zealand and the United States share all the following in common EXCEPT　　　　　 .

A. birthday cake　　　　 B. birthday candles

C. birthday claps　　　　 D. birthday song

5.In which section of a website does the passage probably appear?

A. Tech&Science.　　　　 B. Entertainment.

C. Careers&Jobs.　　　　 D. Culture.

高一英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

The tradition of birthday parties started a long time ago. People thought that there was a special danger from evil (邪恶的) spirits, so friends and family came together to bring good thoughts and wishes and even presents. 1. But as time went by, children and then adults began to have their own birthday celebrations. There are some traditions — such as sending birthday cards, blowing out the candles on a birthday cake and singing the “Happy Birthday” song, which you can find almost anywhere, any time. 2.

In many English-speaking countries, a twenty-first birthday cake often has a key on top. 3. The key means that the young person is now old enough to leave and enter the family home at any time they want to!

In the past in parts of Europe, men who reached the age of thirty and were still single, had to clean the stairs of the City Hall. This way every girl could see that the man didn’t have a girlfriend. 4.

After the age of thirty, many people prefer to forget their birthdays rather than celebrate them … children often bring Mum (or Dad) breakfast in bed. 5. It’s also a day when your friends and family have to pay if you go out for drinks or a meal!

A. Birthday traditions are around the world.

B. At one time, only kings had birthday parties.

C. Or the cake itself is sometimes in the shape of a key.

D. It’s traditional to give flowers and enjoy a special meal.

E. Family members put many sweets on the birthday cake.

F. They could also see how good he was at cleaning the house!

G. Others are more specific to certain ages and certain countries.

高一英语七选五中等难度题查看答案及解析

Experiments of this kind _______in both the U.S. and Europe well before the Second World War started.

A．have conducted                        B．have been conducted

C．had conducted                         D．had been conducted

高一英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析

Garden parties are one of the traditions that began in the United Kingdom and France a number of centuries ago. Both the British and French versions have roots in the weekend getaways that were enjoyed by the upper classes. In the afternoons and evenings, the grounds of the estates (房产) would be softly lit with candles and lanterns, food prepared and set in long buffet tables for the guests, and comfortable seating always within reach.

People tended to dress up for these types of outdoor events, which made them quite a festive occasion. String bands often provided a graceful melody that served as one of the ways that the elegant tone of the occasion was set and maintained.

Today, the concept lives on around the world. No longer just an event for the well to do, the garden party is a weekend gathering in many neighborhoods. Neighbors are invited to come enjoy the outdoors by attending a cookout, complete with plenty of grilled food, lots of seating, and usually plenty to drink. It is not unusual for a few simple games to be available as well, depending on the size of the space. Music does not necessarily have to be provided by a live band anymore, although some people prefer the chatter and laughter of people enjoying themselves to any type of musical accompaniment.

The modern version can be very free form, or use a special occasion or theme as the basis for the event. For example, a birthday is a great reason to throw this type of party. Major patriotic holidays often provide the theme, with the decorations revolving around the national colors and other symbols. Fun times, such as Valentine’s Day or and Easter egg hunt, can also be the reason for putting together a party. As long as the event takes place outdoors, has people to interact, and includes food and drink, the event is complete.

1.Why did the upper classes hold garden parties centuries ago?

A. To entertain themselves.

B. To get away from home.

C. To show off their estates.

D. To know other upper class people.

2.What do we know about garden parties that are held today?

A. They are still held mainly for the rich.

B. They have very different concepts now.

C. They always have live band performances.

D. They can be enjoyed by common people.

3.What can we infer from the last paragraph?

A. Garden parties have become informal today.

B. Garden parties have various themes today.

C. Garden parties are usually held on birthdays.

D. Garden parties are not always held outdoors.

4.Which of the following could be the best title for the text?

A. History of Garden Parties

B. Garden Parties Today

C. Customs of Garden Parties

D. Garden Parties

高一英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

My reason for starting our family tradition of reading in the car was purely selfish: I could not bear listening to A Sesame Street Christmas for another 10 hours. My three children had been addicted to this cassette（磁带）on our previous summer road trips.

As I began to prepare for our next 500-mile car trip, I came across a book—Jim Trelease’s—The Read Aloud Handbook. This could be the answer to my problem. I thought. So I put Roald Dahl’s James and the Giant Peach into my bag. When I began to read aloud the tale of the boy who escapes the bad guys by hiding inside a giant peach, my three kids argued and fought with each other in their seats. But after several lines, they were attracted into the rhythm of the words and began to listen.

We soon learned that the simple pleasure of listening to a well-written book makes the long miles pas more quickly. Sometimes reading became the most interesting part of the trip. I read Wilson Rawls’s Summer of the Monkeys as we spent two days driving to the beach. We arrived just behind the power crews restoring（恢复）electricity after a tropical storm. The rain continued most of the week, and the beach was covered with oil washed up by the storm. When we returned home, I asked my son what he liked about the trip. He answered without hesitation “The book you read in the car.”

Road trips still offer challenges, even though my children now are teenagers. But we continue to read as we roll across the country. And I’m beginning to see tat reading aloud has done more than help pass the time. For at least a little while, we are not shut in our own electronic worlds. And maybe we've started something that will pass on to the next generation.

1.Why did the author start reading in the car?

A. She wanted to have a better journey.

B. She wanted to keep a family tradition

C. Her children were addicted to reading.

D. Her children were tired of the cassette.

2.How did the children react after the author read a few lines?

A. They kept fighting.　　 B. They hid themselves.

C. They soon settled down.　　 D. They read together aloud.

3.What can we learn about the author and her family’s trip to the beach?

A. They were caught in a storm.

B. They enjoyed reading on the road.

C. They had a good time on the beach.

D. They found reading boring.

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

A. Better Traveling than Reading　　 B. Books that Changed My Children

C. Road Trips Full of Challenges　　 D. Reading Makes Great Road Trips

高一英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

— Has Tim started? He said he would join in the party.

— He ____．He is a man of keeping his word.

A．could have left    B．must have left

C．can’t come           D．won’t be coming

高一英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析

Long long ago, there was a small village．This village had a 31 tradition．At the beginning of every year, any boy who had reached the age of majority (成年) was given land and money to build a home．The boy had to 32his home before winter．If his home failed to endure the cold weather in winter, the villagers could not 33 him in any way．

One 34, Paul and Marc reached their majority．They35their land and money and decided to search nearby villages for ideas on building their homes．In each village, they found the nicest 36 and talked to the owners．Each owner gladly offered37．

After Marc saw several homes, he38the best ideas and went back to his own land．Paul, however, continued collecting more ideas．Soon he had so many great ideas that he began to39  some of them．But he always believed he could find even better ideas in the next village．

Marc began building his home．He had several false starts, 40 his home gradually rose from his land．By fall, Marc had finished his home．It wasn't perfect，but it was strong and he could41it later. Paul enjoyed all the beautiful homes and 42with home owners．The first snow came and Paul, realizing he was running out of time, 43 back to his land．He built the best home he could in the time he had, but it was weak．The first winter storm destroyed his home and he froze to44．The villagers mourned for him．

Marc survived the winter．Each year, Marc searched for other good ideas he could use to make his own home look better．He became a leader in the village, 45  a family, and lived a happy, content life．

1.                A．strange         B．hopeful         C．literary   D．cultural

2.                A．find           B．make           C．complete D．buy

3.                A．help           B．encourage      C．scold D．persuade

4.                A．winter         B．summer        C．autumn   D．spring

5.                A．exchanged      B．received        C．recognized    D．advice

6.                A．girls           B．jobs            C．houses   D．presents

7.                A．rooms          B．drinks          C．attention  D．advice

8.                A．expected       B．gathered        C．created   D．understood

9.                A．forget          B．believe         C．replace   D．doubt

10.               A．because        B．although        C．but   D．so

11.               A．repair          B．rebuild         C．sell   D．improve

12.               A．conversations    B．achievements    C．struggles  D．arguments

13.               A．drove          B．rushed         C．flew  D．moved

14.               A．blindness       B．death          C．sadness   D．illness

15.               A．brought        B．earned         C．contacted  D．raised

高一英语完型填空中等难度题查看答案及解析

China, endowed with rich agricultural resources, has a long history of farming. The traditional farming practice with intensive(精细的) cultivation(耕作) as its essence is one of the most important achievements of the human civilization. The development of agriculture and rural areas in China is faced with many problems. The Chinese government has made a number of important policies and measures to cause a faster growth of farmers’ income and narrow the ever enlarging income gap between rural and urban residents as soon as possible mainly through finishing a strategy of balanced social and economic development. We’ll give top priority in all work to solving problems facing agriculture, farmers and rural areas, focusing on the following seven aspects.

Firstly we’ll promote faster increase of farmers’ income. Secondly we’ll protect and increase the overall capacity of grain production. Thirdly we will continue to promote strategic restructuring of agriculture. Fourthly we’ll actively promote progress in agro-science and enhance work of agricultural high-tech and key research programs, and increase its reserve level. Fifthly we’ll further open agriculture to the outside world and actively develop agricultural trade with other countries. Sixthly we’ll speed up the transfer of rural labors and develop rural secondary and tertiary(第三的) industries. Seventhly we’ll continue to deepen rural reforms.

Priorities(优先权) will be placed on reform of rural land system, tax and administrative charges, grain distribution system and rural financial system. However, agricultural development has difficult tasks and a long way to go. The road ahead is by no means smooth. Nevertheless , China’s agriculture will give full play to its advantages, overcome any difficulties, enter a new stage of development and match towards a brighter new future in the new century!

1.What’s the China’s ancient civilization?

A.The rich agricultural resources.

B.The intensive cultivation.

C.The capacity of grain production.

D.The strategy of balanced development.

2.What does the underlined word “enhance ” in Paragraph 2 mean?

A.weaken B.design C.strengthen D.effect

3.What policy do you think is the most important?

A.Promoting faster increase of farmers’ income.

B.Protecting the capacity of grain production.

C.Promoting strategic restructuring of agriculture.

D.Continuing to deepen rural reforms.

4.What kind of future does China have?

A.The future road ahead is smooth.

B.China’s advantages can not overcome any difficulty.

C.China won’t enter a new stage of reform.

D.China will have a brighter future.

高一英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

For a long time, the traditional method of identifying liars was to watch their body language, including facial expressions.

What if the person appears to be nervous? Is the person unable to look me in the eye? Is he or she look around the room? What about other nervous movements, such as fidgeting（坐立不安）or shifting from side to side? Many people—from parents to police officers and airport security personnel—depend on this method. But does a person’s body and face reveal the truth? Not according to a new study.

Talking, it seems, is the best way to smoke out a liar. That is what researchers in the United Kingdom found out recently. Their investigation took place at one place where lying can get you into big trouble—an airport.

The researchers asked volunteers to pretend they were real passengers and then lie to airport security agents. Some of the agents used spoke conversation-based methods to question these make-believe passengers. Others depended instead on the person’s body language, like lack of eye contact and showing signs of nervousness. The agents talking with the passengers were 20 times more likely to catch the liars. The study found that these conversation-based techniques can help you recognize when a person is lying to you. Like many methods, this conversation method has a name. It is called Controlled Cognitive Engagement or CCE, for short.

The British government partly financed this study. The American Psychological (APA) published the findings. Body language cannot be trusted. Using body language and facial expressions to catch someone in a lie is really hard. And it only works, seemingly, by chance.

Thomas Ormerod is the head of the School of Psychology at the University of Sussex in England. On the APA website, he reported that the “suspicious-signs method”—or using body language—“almost completely fails” in finding lies.

1.What are the questions in Paragraph 2 intended to do?

A. Show traditional ways to recognize a liar.

B. Launch a survey among readers.

C. Show the writer’s puzzlement.

D. Invite the readers to think twice.

2.What should volunteers in the investigation do?

A. Answer questions only using words.

B. Pretend to be airport security agents.

C. Act as passengers as researchers required.

D. Communicate with researchers by talking.

3.Which would be the best way to find out a liar according to the study?

A. Looking him in the eye.

B. Asking open-ended questions.

C. Making use of body language.

D. Observing his facial expression.

4.What will the author continue to talk about based on the passage?

A. Misunderstandings of catching a liar.

B. The “suspicious-signs” method.

C. How the CCE method works.

D. The new concept of CCE.

高一英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析