For most caffeine(咖啡因)consumers, its main benefit is that it helps you get more done. This is what makes it unusual, says Stephen Braun, author of Buzz: The Science and Lore of Alcohol and Caffeine.
“Its appeal is that it helps us earn more money,” he adds. “What makes it different from other drugs is that it’s used as a productivity tool –– not for pleasure.”
Many of history’s creative minds have also been connected with a large amount of caffeine consumption (消耗).
According to one biographer, the French novelist and playwright Balzac drank as many as 50 cups of coffee a day. “Were it not for coffee one could not write, which is to say one could not live,” he once insisted.
For seven years, the film-maker David Lynch ate at the same Los Angeles diner every day, drinking up to seven sweetened cups of coffee “with lots of sugar” in one sitting, which he said would guarantee that “lots of ideas” arrived.
Ludwig van Beethoven was said to have painstakingly counted out exactly 60 coffee beans per cup when he brewed(煮)coffee.
Perhaps recent tales of caffeine excess (过量) featured the singer Robbie Williams, who reportedly consumed 36 cups of black coffee and 20 cans of Red Bull a day.
It is the routine task itself, as much as the stimulating(刺激的)effects of caffeine, that makes the process so important, says Mason Currey, author of Daily Rituals: How Artists Work. “A lot of artists use the process of making coffee as a gateway to the creative process,” he adds. “You need to get into the right mindset to do that sort of work, and the preparation process provides a focus.”
One problem with attempting to control caffeine, says Braun, is that it affects everyone differently –– it is impossible to work out a “safe” limit that works for everyone. “Eventually, you have to become your own scientist –– there isn’t an alternative to careful self-experimentation,” he says.
1.The examples of some famous people are given to show that _______.
A. most artists like drinking coffee
B. drinking coffee helps artists make more money
C. there’s a link between drinking coffee and creating ideas
D. drinking coffee makes artists become more successful
2.What leads to the artists’ creative process according to Mason Currey?
A. Being lost in thought. B. Drinking the coffee.
C. Brewing the coffee. D. Getting a good mindset.
3.What does Braun advise us to do in the end?
A. To drink less coffee.
B. Never to limit caffeine use.
C. To work out a safe level of caffeine use.
D. Never to take more coffee than you need.
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题
For most caffeine(咖啡因)consumers, its main benefit is that it helps you get more done. This is what makes it unusual, says Stephen Braun, author of Buzz: The Science and Lore of Alcohol and Caffeine.
“Its appeal is that it helps us earn more money,” he adds. “What makes it different from other drugs is that it’s used as a productivity tool –– not for pleasure.”
Many of history’s creative minds have also been connected with a large amount of caffeine consumption (消耗).
According to one biographer, the French novelist and playwright Balzac drank as many as 50 cups of coffee a day. “Were it not for coffee one could not write, which is to say one could not live,” he once insisted.
For seven years, the film-maker David Lynch ate at the same Los Angeles diner every day, drinking up to seven sweetened cups of coffee “with lots of sugar” in one sitting, which he said would guarantee that “lots of ideas” arrived.
Ludwig van Beethoven was said to have painstakingly counted out exactly 60 coffee beans per cup when he brewed(煮)coffee.
Perhaps recent tales of caffeine excess (过量) featured the singer Robbie Williams, who reportedly consumed 36 cups of black coffee and 20 cans of Red Bull a day.
It is the routine task itself, as much as the stimulating(刺激的)effects of caffeine, that makes the process so important, says Mason Currey, author of Daily Rituals: How Artists Work. “A lot of artists use the process of making coffee as a gateway to the creative process,” he adds. “You need to get into the right mindset to do that sort of work, and the preparation process provides a focus.”
One problem with attempting to control caffeine, says Braun, is that it affects everyone differently –– it is impossible to work out a “safe” limit that works for everyone. “Eventually, you have to become your own scientist –– there isn’t an alternative to careful self-experimentation,” he says.
1.The examples of some famous people are given to show that _______.
A. most artists like drinking coffee
B. drinking coffee helps artists make more money
C. there’s a link between drinking coffee and creating ideas
D. drinking coffee makes artists become more successful
2.What leads to the artists’ creative process according to Mason Currey?
A. Being lost in thought. B. Drinking the coffee.
C. Brewing the coffee. D. Getting a good mindset.
3.What does Braun advise us to do in the end?
A. To drink less coffee.
B. Never to limit caffeine use.
C. To work out a safe level of caffeine use.
D. Never to take more coffee than you need.
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
--Some people believe that English is one of the most important subjects for us students.
--It _______ . But things seem to be changing in recent years.
A. used to B. used to be
C. used to do D. was used to be
高二英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析
It’s well-known that meditation (冥想) has many benefits, but do you know how to practice it for a beginner?
Set a proper scene
Find a space for meditation.It should be private and quiet.Make sure the temperature is comfortable.Sit on a cushion (垫子) if the floor is uncomfortable.You may play soft music if you like.
Take a moment to loosen up.Remember that the goal of meditation is to relax.Loosen your clothing, remove your shoes and have a good stretch.Do your best to ease any muscle tension that might keep you from achieving relaxation.Make an effort to relax your facial muscles.
Focus on your breath
Sit down in the space you’ve prepareD. Close your eyes and breathe.Each time you breathe in, count “one”.Each time you breathe out, count “one”.The idea is to strengthen being in the moment — the last breath doesn’t matter, and the next one doesn’t matter; only this one matters.
Feel your breath inflate (胀大) your lungs and push on your diaphragm (隔膜).Feel how sweet it is to inhale the fresh air.As you do this, your body will gradually begin to relax and all of your attention will be centered within your minD.
Return to real life
Once you feel fully centered in your mind, allow yourself to gradually drift back to real life.Move your fingers and toes and slowly wake your body up.Open your eyes and remain there for a few minutes until your senses come back, and then slowly stand up.
Even if you can’t make it fully into your mind, you still get some benefits from it.If you want to feel better, you just need to practice.Set about 10 minutes around the same time every day and repeat this exercise.
1.The text is about _________.
A. steps in practicing meditation for beginners
B. tips on how to breathe slowly
C. the benefits of practicing meditation
D. the best way to stay relaxed
2.Which of the following can best fill in the blank?
A. Forget yourself.
B. Prepare yourself for it.
C. Avoid being disturbed.
D. Pay attention to your inner self.
3.The underlined word “inhale” in the text can be replaced by “__________”.
A. look for
B. take in
C. keep away
D. think of
4.To gain greater benefits of meditation, beginners are advised to __________.
A. do some exercise in advance
B. listen to some popular music
C. practice it every day
D. spend a long time in practicing it
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
It’s well-known that meditation (冥想) has many benefits, but do you know how to practice it for a beginner?
Set a proper scene
Find a space for meditation.It should be private and quiet.Make sure the temperature is comfortable.Sit on a cushion (垫子) if the floor is uncomfortable.You may play soft music if you like.
Take a moment to loosen up.Remember that the goal of meditation is to relax.Loosen your clothing, remove your shoes and have a good stretch.Do your best to ease any muscle tension that might keep you from achieving relaxation.Make an effort to relax your facial muscles.
Focus on your breath
Sit down in the space you’ve prepared.Close your eyes and breathe.Each time you breathe in, count “one”.Each time you breathe out, count “one”.The idea is to strengthen being in the moment — the last breath doesn’t matter, and the next one doesn’t matter; only this one matters.
Feel your breath inflate (胀大) your lungs and push on your diaphragm (隔膜).Feel how sweet it is to inhale the fresh air.As you do this, your body will gradually begin to relax and all of your attention will be centered within your mind.
Return to real life
Once you feel fully centered in your mind, allow yourself to gradually drift back to real life.Move your fingers and toes and slowly wake your body up.Open your eyes and remain there for a few minutes until your senses come back, and then slowly stand up.
Even if you can’t make it fully into your mind, you still get some benefits from it.If you want to feel better, you just need to practice.Set about 10 minutes around the same time every day and repeat this exercise.
1.The text is about _________.
A.steps in practicing meditation for beginners
B.tips on how to breathe slowly
C.the benefits of practicing meditation
D.the best way to stay relaxed
2.Which of the following can best fill in the blank?
A.Forget yourself.
B.Prepare yourself for it.
C.Avoid being disturbed.
D.Pay attention to your inner self.
3.The underlined word “inhale” in the text can be replaced by “__________”.
A.look for
B.take in
C.keep away
D.think of
4.To gain greater benefits of meditation, beginners are advised to __________.
A.do some exercise in advance
B.listen to some popular music
C.practice it every day
D.spend a long time in practicing it
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
It seems that he is always pretty _________ in most cases, for his judgment always goes with strong evidence.
A. subjective B.objective C. persuasive D. logical
高二英语单项填空简单题查看答案及解析
It is not how much we do but how much love we put into what we do_____benefits our work most.
A. who B. which C. that D. what
高二英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析
It is not how much we do but how much love we put into what we do _____ benefits our work most.
A.when B.that C.what D.how
高二英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析
Most students develop a fear of tests. It is mainly because they lack self-confidence. Fortunately, overcoming your fear of tests is not difficult, as long as you follow the tips below:
1 Those who think that they are not well-prepared are usually those who fear tests the most. As long as you know that you have studied well and for long enough, you will be successful.
2 As long as you have studied well, you will be more confident of your ability to succeed in the test.
3 This way, you know what to prepare for and you can gain confidence about how well you will do in the test.
You should know that tests only measure your ability, not your intelligence. So, even if you think you will do badly in one test, be sure that there are other tests to come in which you can do better. 4
5 However, with the right attitude and preparation, you can overcome your fear of tests through the use of these tips.
A. Ask your teacher beforehand about the material that is going to be covered in the test.
B. Be confident of yourself.
C. Only if you overcome your fear can you achieve much in the tests.
D. Make sure that you are well-prepared.
E. Never be afraid of the coming test.
F. As long as you think that there is another tomorrow, you can overcome your fear of this one test.
G. A fear can be a hurdle (障碍) to success.
高二英语信息匹配困难题查看答案及解析
It is becoming a growing trend that more and more consumers across the country are using cashless payment methods. The rapid development of third-party mobile payment tools is helping to boost cashless payments across the country, said Dong Ximiao, a researcher at the Renmin University of China.
Transactions (交易) involving third-party mobile payments rose by 46.8 percent in the first quarter of 2017 compared with the previous quarter to 18.8 trillion yuan, according to a report released in May.
Although there were 3.4 billion third-party payment accounts in total in China in 2016, China is not the first country to seek a cashless society. Developed states like Sweden, Denmark and Singapore are also witnessing that increase.
However, the rapid development of cashless payments does not mean there are no challenges and criticisms. Alibaba’s Hema store, where customers can shop, dine and order commodities for delivery from their mobile phones via Alipay, have come into the spotlight recently. Media reports said that consumers can’t purchase goods with cash there, which would be considered illegal.
Alipay and WeChat Pay, the nation’s two major third-party mobile payment tools, also launched campaigns this month to encourage more merchants and customers to use cashless payment methods, which caused concerns over whether cash will soon disappear.
“Some offline sellers refuse to accept cash, which impacts the natural circulation of yuan,” said Dong. He emphasized that a cashless society would not mean that cash would completely disappear. As the economy grows, the circulation of cash is still very huge, noted Dong. Also, it’s important to remember that nearly half of China’s population live in rural areas, especially in undeveloped western regions, unable to enjoy innovation (革新) brought by the Internet, Dong said. And when it comes to China’s senior citizens, most of them prefer to use cash in their daily lives, he added.
“It’s ridiculous to question digital payment tools’ contribution toward financial development. In the long term, various payment methods will be used by consumers, and merchants should respect consumers’ payment habits,” Dong noted.
1.What does the underlined word “that” in paragraph 3 probably refer to?
A. Economic activity B. Large amount of payment
C. Development of economy D. Cashless payment
2.Why has Alibaba’s Hema store become a focus?
A. It fights against illegal activities.
B. Customers are not permitted to use cash there.
C. It provides comprehensive services.
D. It starts campaigns to encourage mobile payment.
3.Which of the following will Dong find reasonable?
A. Various payment methods ought to be respected.
B. People should be encouraged to use mobile payment.
C. Most elderly people have no access to mobile payment.
D. Mobile payment isn’t beneficial to a cost-effective society.
4.What is the text mainly about?
A. China’s cashless trend B. The research on mobile payment
C. The reasons to use mobile payment D. China’s cashless future
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
Is Your Diet Destroying the Environment?
A vegetarian diet is often praised for its health benefits. Studies have shown that vegetarians usually have lower levels of heart disease and a lower risk of diabetes than people who eat meat. What most people are less aware of, however, are the effects that a vegetarian diet can have on the environment.
Researchers from the Union of Concerned Scientists in the US recently studied how consumer behavior affects the environment. The study showed that meat consumption is one of the main ways that humans can damage the environment, second only to the use of motor vehicle.
Then, how can eating meat have a negative effect on the environment? For a start, all farm animals such as cows, pigs, and sheep give off methane (沼气) gas by expelling (排出) wind from their bodies. One cow can produce up to 60 liters of methane each day. Methane gas is the second most common greenhouse gas after carbon dioxide. Many environmental experts now believe that it is more responsible for global warming than carbon dioxide. It is estimated that 25% of all methane released into the atmosphere comes from farm animals.
Another way that meat production affects the environment is through the use of water and land. 2,500 gallons of water are needed to produce one pound of beef, whereas 20 gallons of water are needed to produce one pound of wheat. One acre of farmland used for crop production can produce 40,000 pounds of potatoes, 30,000 pounds of carrots, or 50,000 pounds of tomatoes.
Many people now see the benefits of switching to a vegetarian diet, not just for health reasons, but also because it plays a vital role in protecting the environment. However, some nutritionists advise against switching to a totally strict vegetarian, or vegan diet. They believe a vegan diet, which excludes all products from animal sources, such as cheese, eggs, and milk, can be short of many necessary vitamins and minerals our bodies need.
Today, many people know it’s important to take better care of their bodies and to use the earth’s resources more efficiently. As this understanding spreads, more people may realize that to help the environment and for the human race to survive, more of us will need to become vegetarians.
1.The underlined word “it” in Para.3 refers to ___________.
A.methane gas B.carbon dioxide
C.expelling wind D.greenhouse gas
2.Many figures are used in Para.4 to show ___________.
A.growing tomatoes has the highest production
B.crop production is better than meat production
C.meat production consumes too much water and land
D.farm animals are the main producer of the methane gas
3.What message does the passage want to convey?
A.Our diet is destroying the surroundings.
B.Raising farm animals affects the environment.
C.A vegetarian diet helps to protect the environment.
D.More and more people are becoming strict vegetarians.
高二英语阅读理解困难题查看答案及解析