Albert Hofmann was a Swiss Scientist who was ...

Albert Hofmann was a Swiss Scientist who was fascinated by nature. This led him to a career in chemistry in which he sought answers to his uncertainties. He worked at Sandoz Laboratories where he nurtured his research work, and there he made a lot of success by working with various plants and changing them into something useful. He became famous when he became the first person to produce lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) (迷幻药). In addition, he was also the first person to taste it and learn about its hallucinogenic (勾起幻觉的) effects. He was deeply connected to the nature and argued that LSD, besides being useful for psychiatry(精神病学), could also be used to promote awareness of mankind’s place in nature. However, he was disappointed that his discovery was being carelessly used as a drug for entertainment. Because of his discovery, LSD fans have fondly called him “The father of LSD”. Besides carrying out his scientific experiments, he also authored numerous books and more than 100 scientific articles. In 2007, he featured in a list of the 100 greatest living geniuses(天才), published by The Telegraph Newspaper.

Childhood & Early Life

Albert Hofmann was born in Baden, Switzerland, on January 11, 1906. He was the eldest of four children. His father was a poor toolmaker in a factory and they lived in a rented apartment. He spent much of his childhood outdoors, and grew up with a very deep connection with nature.

He had mind-blowing experiences in childhood, wherein nature was changed in magical ways that he didn’t understand. These experiences caused questions in his mind, and chemistry was the scientific field which allowed him to understand them.

He studied chemistry at Zurich University, and his main interest is the chemistry of plants and animals. At 23, he earned his Ph. D with honors.

1.What led Albert Hofmann to a career in chemistry?

A. His nature.　　　　　 B. His father. C. His family.　 D. His interest.

2.It’s likely that Albert Hofmann produced LSD in __________.

A. Baden B. a factory　　 C. Sandoz Laboratories　　 D. Zurich University

3.From the passage, we know the discovery of LSD __________.

A. was being wrongly used　　　　

B. was not useful for psychiatry

C. made Albert Hofmann surprised　

D. could change mankind’s place in nature

4.Which can be inferred about Albert from the passage?

A. He has four brothers or sisters.

B. He has found many useful plants.

C. He lived up to more than 100 years.

D. He only concentrated on scientific experiments.

高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

（2015·浙江）Albert Einstein was born in 1879. As a child, few people guessed that he 　　　 a famous scientist whose theories would change the world.

A. has been　　 B. had been

C. was going to be　　 D. was

高二英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析

When Albert Einstein was young, he was a quiet child who spent much of his time alone. He was slow to talk and had difficulty in learning to read.

When Albert was five years old, his father gave him a compass. Albert was filled with wonder when he discovered that the compass needle always pointed in the same direction ---- the north. He asked his father and his uncle what caused the needle to move. Their answers were difficult for Albert to understand. Yet he spent a lot of time thinking about them. He said later that he felt something must be hidden behind things.

Albert didn’t like school. The German schools of that time were not pleasant. Students couldn’t ask questions. Albert said he felt as if he were in prison..

One day Albert told his uncle Jacob how much he hated school, especially mathematics. His uncle told him to solve mathematical problems by pretending to be a policeman. “You are looking for someone,” he said, “but you don’t know who he is. Call him X. Find him by using your mathematical tools.”

Albert learned to love mathematics. He was studying the complex mathematics of calculus while all his friends were still studying simple mathematics. Instead of playing with his friends he thought about things such as “What would happen if people could travel at the speed of his light?”

Albert wanted to teach mathematics and physics. He graduated with honors, but it was a pity that he could not get a teaching job.

1.According to Paragraph 2, we can learn that Albert Einstein ________.

2.Why did Albert Einstein hate school?

3.What does the underlined word ‘complex’ probably mean?

4.We can learn from the passage that ________.

高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

Like many other small boys, I was fascinated by cars, not least because my oldest brother was a bit of a car guy and subscribed to cool magazines like Car and Driver and Motor Trend. Every so often, one of those magazines would run an article on the “Car of the Future”. They featured unconventional styling and things like small nuclear reactors as power sources. Yet, frankly, my car doesn’t do anything that my brother’s Studebaker didn’t do. It goes, it stops, it burns gasoline, it plays music. I still have to steer it, and it still runs into things if I don’t steer it carefully.

But guess what? All of these things are subject to change in the not-so-distant future. It will still go and stop, but it may not burn gasoline, I may not have to steer it, and it may be a lot better at not running into things.

Airbags aren't the be-all and end-all in safety. In fact, considering the recent news about people occasionally being killed by their airbags in low-speed collisions (碰撞),they obviously still need some development. But they aren't going away, and in fact, you can expect to see cars appearing with additional, side-impact airbags, something some European car manufacturers already offer.

Better than systems to minimize (使减少到最低限度) injury in the event of an accident， however, are systems that minimize the likelihood of an accident happening in the first place. Future cars may be able to eliminate many of the major causes of accidents, including drunk-driving, tailgating (与前车距离过近) and sleepiness. Cars could be equipped with sensors that can detect alcohol in a driver's system and prevent the car from being started, for example. Many accidents are caused by people following the car in front too closely. As early as next year, you'll be able to buy cars with radar-equipped control systems. If the radar determines you're closing too quickly with the car in front, it will ease up on the throttle (油门). For city streets, expect other radar devices that will give advance warning that the car in front of you has slowed abruptly (突然地) and you should step on the brakes-or that may even brake for you.

Will cars eventually be able to drive themselves? There's no reason to think it won't be technically possible, and Mercedes is working on a system that can brake, accelerate and steer a vehicle down a highway on its own. Nobody really expects people to give up all control to their cars, but such systems could be used as failsafe systems to keep cars on the road and bring them safely to a stop even if the driver suddenly became disabled.

1.Why was the author fascinated by cars?

A. Because other small boys liked to own a car of their own, too.

B. Because he read exotic things about cars in his brother's magazines.

C. Because his oldest brother loved to take him to places in his car.

D. Because he subscribed to cool car magazines.

2.By saying "my car doesn't do anything that my brother's Studebaker didn’t do", the author means that_____.

A. my car is far better than my brother's

B. my car is not as good as my brother's

C. not much has changed in the performance of cars so far

D. much improvement has been made in the design of cars recently

3.Which of the following statements is true of airbags?

A. They are in need of further improvement.

B. They are going to disappear gradually.

C. They kill people instead of protecting them in low-speed collisions.

D. They are a standard feature of European cars.

4.According to the author, what will future cars do if the sensors detect alcohol in the driver's system?

A. They will give a warning in advance.

B. They will brake automatically.

C. They will ease up on the throttle.

D. They will not start.

5.Which of the following statements is true according to the last paragraph?

A. People will give up all control to their cars.

B.Cars will be able to drive themselves.

C. No cars will ever break down on the roads.

D. Cars will all be equipped with failsafe systems.

高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

The 1980s was called the “Me Decade” because for many this time was marked by a fascination with the self. The idea that each person has a self may seem natural to us, but this concept is actually quite new. The idea that each human life is unique developed between the 11th and 15th centuries in Europe. Before that time, individuals were considered in relation to a group, and even today, many eastern cultures place more emphasis on the importance of a collective self than on a unique and independent self.

Both eastern and western cultures see the self as divided into an inner, private self and an outer, public self. But where they differ is in terms of which part is seen as the “real you.” Western culture tends to promote the idea of individuality—a self that is separated from other selves. In contrast, many eastern cultures focus on an inter-independent self that gets its diversity in large part from inter-relationship with others.

For example, a Confucian(孔子) idea stresses the importance of “face”—other people’s views of the self and keeping up one’s desired status in their eyes. In the past, some Asian cultures developed clear rules about the specific clothes and even colors that people in certain social classes and occupations were allowed to display, and these live on today in Japanese style manuals. This style of dress is at odds with such western practices as “casual Fridays,” which encourage employees to dress informally and express their unique selves.

1. According to the passage , what does the author believe about the self?

A. Many eastern cultures see the self connected with others.

B. Those born in the 1980s are generally most self-centered than others.

C. The concept that each person has a self may seem strange to eastern cultures

D. Western cultures regard the self as an outer, public self while eastern cultures don’t.

2. What does the 2nd paragraph mainly talk about?

A. How eastern and western cultures see the self.

B. Eastern cultures contrast sharply with western cultures

C. Both eastern and western cultures appreciate the importance of self

D. Eastern cultures are as important as western cultures

3. A Japanese dress code is mentioned in the last paragraph to _________.

A. explain the importance of “face”   B. say how traditional the Japanese are

C. emphasize the importance of eastern cultures

D. show how eastern cultures see the self in relation to others

4. The underlined phrase “at odds with” most probably means_______.

A. in agreement with                B. in disagreement with

C. in comparison with                D. in need of

高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

There was once a famous scientist who made several important discoveries. Once he was asked how he could be so creative. He replied that it all came from an experience he had with his mother when he was 2 years old. He was trying to take a bottle of milk out of the refrigerator. But the bottle was too slippery（滑的）and he dropped it. The kitchen floor was covered in milk.

Instead of shouting at him or punishing him, his mother said, “Robert, what a great and wonderful mess you have made! I have never seen such a huge puddle of milk. Would you like to play in the milk for a few minutes before we clean it up?”

So he did. After a few minutes, they cleaned it up together. Then his mother said, “This was a failed experiment in how to carry a big bottle of milk with two tiny hands. Let’s fill the bottle with water and see if you can find a way to carry it without dropping it.”

The little boy learned that if he held the bottle at the top near the lip with both hands, he could carry it without dropping it. What a wonderful lesson!

The scientist then added that it was at that moment that he knew he didn’t need to be afraid to make mistakes. He learned that mistakes are just opportunities to learn something new.

1.Robert made a mess on the kitchen floor by _____.

A.doing an experiment

B.dropping a bottle of milk

C.throwing bottles around

D.drinking a bottle of milk

2.What did Robert’s mother do after he made the mess?

A.She showed him a huge puddle of milk.

B.She shouted at him and punished him.

C.She asked him to clean the kitchen.

D.She allowed him to play in the mess.

3.Which of the following words best describes Robert’s mother?

A.Hardworking.

B.Careful.

C.Smart.

D.Protective.

4.With this story, the author tries to _____.

A.tell readers how much he loved his mother

B.suggest that we should treat life as a big experiment

C.show that scientific discoveries come from everyday life

D.tell readers that they should keep an open mind about mistakes

高二英语阅读理解简单题查看答案及解析

Archimedes was a great scientist who lived in Greece long,long ago.He was so wise that even the king was his friend.

One day the king asked him,"How do you like my new crown?It's all gold."The king continued,"I gave a man gold to make this crown.But I think he may have kept some of it.”

“You are a wise man,”the king went on.“Find out if this crown is all gold.That way I will know if the man kept some of my gold.”

Archimedes thought about the crown for a long time.Then,one day he had an idea.He thought of it as he stepped into his bathtub.He saw that the water ran out over the sides.

"I've got it!"he yelled.He jumped out of his bathtub.He ran all the way to the king's home even without dress.

Archimedes asked the king for a piece of gold."It must be the same size as the one you gave the man,”he said. Then he filled a tub with water.In it he put the piece of gold.The water rose.He then took the gold out.He put the crown in the tub.The water rose even higher than before.That should not have happened!The crown and the piece of gold should have taken up the same space in the tub.Something had been added to the crown.It may have been silver. It may have been something else.But the crown was not all gold.

Archimedes’s idea was so clever that it is still used today.And he went on to learn many other things.But he sometimes got his ideas in strange places.

1.What does the underlined word "it" in Paragraph 2 refer to?

A. The crown　　 B. The bathtub.

C. Silver.　　 D. Gold.

2.What inspired Archimedes to come up with the idea?

A. The bright color of the crown.　　 B. The King’s encouraging words.

C. The water running over the bathtub.　　 D. The bathtub awarded by the king.

3.Why did Archimedes go to the king's home without dress?

A. Because he went mad.　　 B. Because he was so excited.

C. Because of the hot weather.　　 D. Because of the local customs.

4.What's the author's the attitude towards Archimedes?

A. Favorable.　　 B. Unconcerned.

C. Disapproving.　　 D. Worried.

高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

Thomas Alva Edison was an American inventor, scientist and businessman who invented many things that greatly influenced life around the world, such as the phonograph, the motion picture camera, and a long-lasting, practical electric light bulb. Edison has been recognized as the creator of the first industrial research laboratory. It is he who came up with the concept of providing electricity for home. His first power station was on Manhattan Island, New York.

Edison was born in Milan, Ohio, and grew up in Port Huron, Michigan. He was the seventh and last child of his family. When he was young, Edison stayed at home and was taught by his mother. Edison recalled later, “My mother was the making of me. She was so true, so sure of me; and I felt I had someone to live for, someone I must not disappoint.” During his childhood, he suffered from scarlet fever which affected his hearing.

Young Edison sold candy and newspapers on trains running from Port Huron to Detroit, and he sold vegetables to supplement his income. These jobs, though insignificant, inspired him greatly. He realized that he had a talent for business. These talents eventually made him founder of 14 companies, including General Electric, which is still in existence and is the largest publicly traded company in the world.

Edison started as a telegraph operator and this was the field in which he came up with the first invention. The invention which first gained him fame was the phonograph in 1877. The invention seemed magical, as nothing similar had ever been thought of before. Funded by the successful sale of the telegraph at a price of $10,000, Edison built his own research laboratory in Menlo Park, New Jersey.

The laboratory expanded rapidly over the decade. In 1892, it was confirmed that Edison was the official inventor of the carbon microphones, which was used in all telephones. Although he attempted to make use of X-rays to take radiographs, he quit the project and admitted his fear of X-rays in public.

Thomas Edison died of diabetes at his home in New Jersey, on October 18, 1931 and in honor of his contributions, Life magazine (USA), in a special double issue in 1997, placed Edison first in the list of the “100 Most Important People in the Last 1000 Years”, noting that the light bulb he promoted “lit up the world”.

Title: Thomas Edison—an influential person in the American history

高二英语其他题中等难度题查看答案及解析

Nobel, who was born in Stockholm, is a great scientist famous for his dangerous experiments.

Nobel studied in the USA and then Russia between 1850 and 1859. After his return, he started researching into bombs. As is known, bomb is dangerous to life, but Nobel was working under that condition. Once a big explosion in his lab completely destroyed the lab and caused some deaths. After that he had to experiment on a boat in a lake. He received criticism and satire(讽刺), but he proceeded with the work rather than losing heart. From 1860s to 1880s, Nobel made many achievements and his inventions were first used in building roads and digging tunnels. Most of the bombs were safer and more possible to be controlled. Even at the end of the 20th century, we still used his methods.

Nobel had many patents in Britain and other European countries. He was quick to see industrial openings(机会) for his scientific inventions and built up over 80 companies in 20 different countries. Indeed his greatness lay in his outstanding ability to combine the qualities of an original scientist with those of a forward­looking industrialist.

But Nobel’s main concern was never with making money or even with making scientific discoveries. Seldom happy, he was always searching for a meaning to life, and from his youth, he had taken a serious interest in literature and philosophy. His greatest wish, however, was to see an end to wars, and thus peace between nations, and he spent much time and money working for this cause. To follow his will, a fund was set up to encourage people to make great progress in physics, chemistry, physiology(生理学), medicine, literature and peace. That’s the Nobel Prize which means great honor to a scientist.

1.Through his early experimental work, it is evident that ________.

2.In fact, his inventions were first used in ________.

3.Based on the passage, Nobel, as a scientist, ________.

4.Which of the following statements is true according to the passage?

高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

Freddy fell in love with Eliza，________by her beauty and charm.

A．fascinated         B．fascinating        C．to be fascinated   D．having fascinated

高二英语单项填空简单题查看答案及解析