George Bernard Shaw, the greatest and funnies...

George Bernard Shaw, the greatest and funniest British dramatist of the first half of the 20th century, was born in Dublin, Ireland on July 26th, 1856. His early life was not happy. His father was a

Selfish man who drank too much and could not support his family properly. His mother was a disappointed, unhappy woman who found more pleasure in studying music than in her children. Shaw and his two sisters received little love and attention from their mother while they were young. At the age of ten Shaw entered school. At first he was the best student, but soon he was at or near the bottom of his class.

Although he did not like school, Shaw was a good, bright, curious student. His lifelong interest in everything from music and art to machines and medicine began at school. The interests of this tireless schoolboy were literature and music. He often entertained his classmates with stories he read.

Early at the age of fifteen, he went to work in an office. He did well as an office clerk, but after five years he decided that he wanted to be a writer. He left Ireland and went to London, where he began to write seriously. Seventy-four years later the great dramatist died.

1.What’s the main idea of this passage?

A. It’s a story about George Bernard Shaw　　 B. It refers to George Shaw’s mother.

C. George Bernard Shaw was telling his schooling.　　 D. The remark is connected with all the dramatists in Britain.

2.What does the underlined word “selfish” in the first paragraph mean?

A. Impossible　　 B. Reasonable　　 C. Remarkable　　 D. Irresponsible

3.Shaw grew up____.

A. without his parent’s love　　 B. in the school.

C. with his sisters’ help　　 D. in a hungry family.

4.Shaw’s mother____, so she took an interest in music.

A. had little knowledge　　 B. was disappointed with her husband

C. couldn’t look after her children　　 D. hoped to be an actress.

高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

George Bernard Shaw(1856,07-1950,11) was an Irish dramatist, literary critic, and socialist. During his career Shaw wrote more than sixty plays. He was uniquely honored by being awarded both a Nobel Prize(1925) for his contribution to literature and an Oscar(1938) for Pygmalion. Shaw was a free-thinker, defender of women's rights, and advocate of equality of income.

George Bernard Shaw was born in Dublin, where he grew up in something close to genteel poverty. His father, George Carr Shaw, was in the wholesale grain trade. Lucinda Elisabeth Shaw, his mother, was the daughter of a landowner. She was 16 years younger than her husband. George Carr was a drunkard -his example made his son become a teetotaler(禁酒主义者). When he died in 1885, his children and wife did not attend his funeral. Young Shaw and his two sisters were brought up mostly by servants. Shaw's mother eventually left the family to teach music, singing in London. When she died in 1913, Shaw confessed to Mrs. Patrick Campbell: "I must write to you about it, because there is no one else who hates his mother."

Boy and man, he was always bitterly opposed to schools and teachers, saying "Schools and schoolmasters, as we have them today, are not popular as places of education and teachers, but rather prisons and turnkeys in which and by whom children are kept to prevent them disturbing and chaperoning (陪伴) their parents."

1.What did Shaw do about his father’s behavior?

A. Shaw’s father set a good example to him

B. Shaw hated his father’s behavior and didn’t drink any wine.

C. Shaw followed his father and drank wine every day

D. His father’s behavior made Shaw think drinking was a good thing

2.By Shaw’s words according to the passage, we know ________.

A. he really hated his mother

B. his mother really loved her children

C. he really loved his mother

D. finally, he forgave his mother

3.The underlined word “turnkeys” in the last paragraph means ________.

A. someone who guards prisons

B. a prison house

C. a teaching house

D. someone who was put into prison

4.What’s the main idea of the last paragraph?

A. As a boy Shaw liked to go to school.

B. Shaw highly praised schools and teachers.

C. Shaw thought schools were prisons where children couldn’t be with their parents.

D. When Shaw grew up, he began to hate schools and teachers.

高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

The British economy is showing the greatest signs of stress since the Eurozone crisis and fears of a double-dip recession（衰退）six years ago, as worrying reports show the steepest fall in manufacturing（制造业）output and the greatest degrees of pessimism among employers since 2012. Concerns over Brexit（英国脱欧）and a slowdown for high street spending are among the major factors contributing towards 2018 being the worst time in six years for British firms planning to take on new staff, according to a closely watched survey conducted by the employment firm ManpowerGroup.

Watched by the Bank of England and the government for early warnings of hiring increases or downturns, the quarterly poll（季度民意调查）of about 2,000 major employers from nine different industry sectors across the UK found a net balance of only 4% planning to hire more staff rather than cutting back.

The weakest outlook from the survey was reserved for the banking and finance industry, which recorded the worst outlook since the depths of the financial crisis almost a decade ago, suggesting job cuts may be on the way over the summer.

The barometer（晴雨表）of hiring sentiment comes as Britain’s factories unexpectedly recorded the sharpest drop in output for more than five years in April. Pointing to fewer orders for steel used in infrastructure（基础设施）projects and a wider slowdown in demand for British goods at home and abroad, the Office for National Statistics said manufacturing output fell by 1.4% in April from the previous month. Economists had forecast modest growth of 0.3%.

Although the situation does not appear to be as severe this year, forecasts issued by the National Institute of Economic and Social Research on Monday suggest the UK has done little to bounce back from heavy snowfall earlier in 2018. Putting the growth rate for GDP at only 0.2% in the three-month period to May, up from 0.1% in the same period ending in April, Niesr’s head of UK macroeconomic forecasting, Amit Kara, said: “Economic growth has slowed materially since the start of this year and it continues to remain weak.”

1.What can we learn from the first paragraph?

A. The British economy is booming now.

B. The British economy is going through a great depression.

C. People are not concerned about Brexit at all.

D. British firms are planning to take on new stuff.

2.Which of the following best explains the underlined word in paragraph 2?

A. development　　 B. demand

C. distribute　　 D. decline

3.What indicates that the hiring sentiment has come?

A. The recession in banking and finance industry.

B. The sharpest drop in output recorded by Britain’s factories.

C. GDP increasing at a rather low rate.

D. The surplus of British goods at home and abroad.

4.What is the Amit Kara’s attitude toward the current economic situation?

A. pessimistic　　 B. optimistic

C. indifferent　　 D. hopeful

高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

The famous British inventor George Stephenson was born in 1781 and died in 1848. One of his　　 important inventions was the train. He　　 his first train when he was forty-four years old. When he was experimenting with the　　 engine on the train, he met with　　 from the government, the newspapers and the gentlemen in the country. They said that the noise and the smoke would　　 cows, horses and sheep, that the　　 would burst or that the hot coals from it would　　　 their houses. At that time, 　　 people believed what they said.

George Stephenson　　 　　 the people that the train could go on small　　 　　 　 , could pull carriages　　 goods and passengers and there was　　 to them. It was a very　　 matter for him to　 　 them believe. However, after　　　 , he was able to do it; and the first train that　　 　　 by Stephenson himself　　 what he had said.

The first day　　　 the people along the way　　　 the noises of the train　　 and saw it running quickly to them, they ran back home as quickly as they could and closed their doors tightly, for they thought it a genius(妖怪).They did not dare to come out until it had passed.

1.A. very　　　　 B. a lot　 　 C. much 　　　　 D. most

2.A. bought 　　　 B. made 　　　　 C. introduced 　　　 D. did

3.A. electrical B. atomic 　　　　 C. oil　　 　　 D. steam

4.A. troubles 　　　 B. success 　　 C. people 　　　　 D. pleasure

5.A. buy 　　　　 B. kill　　　　 C. interest 　　　　 D. take away

6.A. smoke 　　　 B. noise 　　　　 C. engine 　　　　 D. driver

7.A. pull down 　　 B. blow away 　 C. pass 　　　　　　 D. set fire to

8.A. few 　　　　 B. most 　　　　 C. only a few 　　　 D. the rich

9.A. said 　 B. spoke 　　 C. warned 　　　　 D. told

10.A. roads 　　　 B. rivers 　　　　 C. rails　　　　 D. steam

11.A. full of 　　　 B. short of 　　 C. empty of 　　　　 D. without

12.A. dangerous 　 B. no great danger　 C. a lot of danger 　　　　　 D. few danger

13.A. difficult B. easy　　　　　　 C. pleasant 　　　　 D. light

14.A. get 　 B. cause 　　　　 C. force 　　　　 D. make

15.A. some time 　 B. sometime 　　　　 C. a few times 　　　 D. sometimes

16.A. was driven B. was sold　　　　　 C. was pulled 　　　 D. helped

17.A. believed B. seemed 　　 C. proved　　　　　　　　　 D. sensed

18.A. when　　　　 B. of 　　　　　　　　 C. while 　　　　　　　　　 D. for

19.A. caught sight of 　 B. listened to 　 C. thought 　 D. heard

20.A. in the distance B. nearby 　　 C. on the far D. from the distance

高二英语完形填空中等难度题查看答案及解析

完形填空 （20分）

The famous British inventor George Stephenson was born in 1781 and died in 1848. one of his _21_ important inventions was the train. He _22_his first train when he was forty-four years old. When he was experimenting with the _23_ engine on the train, he met with _24_ from the government, newspapers and the gentlemen in the country. They said that the noise and the smoke would _25_ cows, horses and sheep, that the _26_ would hurtle(炸飞) or that the hot coals from it would _27_their houses. At that time, _28_ people believed what they said.

George Stephenson _29_ the people that the train could go on small _30_, could pull carriages _31_goods and passengers and there was _32_ to them. It was a very _33_ matter for him to _34_ them believe. However, after _35_, he was able to do it; and the first train that _36_ by Stephenson himself _37_ what he had said.

The first day _38_ the people along the way _39_ the noises of the train _40_ and saw it running quickly to them, they ran back home as quickly as they could and closed their doors tightly, for they thought it a genius. They did not dare to come out until it had passed.

2.made   B. bought   C. introduced   D. did

10. A.reads    B. rivers    C. steam    D rails

高二英语完型填空简单题查看答案及解析

Kenneth Williams 1. (consider) one of the greatest British comedy actors of the twentieth century. His voice, as his outstanding gift, actually defended him as a 2. (perform). Williams would often spend weeks 3. (decide) how a character should sound and this “voice” determined his approach to each role. 4. even after he had chosen his “voice”, he didn’t always stick to it. In the middle of a single performance, he would occasionally change the tone or speed of his speech, for 5. (great) comic effect. While still a beginner, he felt he should be given the freedom to do as he wished on stage and often 6. (ignore) his directors’ instructions. This greatly annoyed some directors, who refused 7. (work) with him. Sometimes, he would completely ignore the script and make up his own lines during performance. Although he was proud of his ability to go “off script”, he became extremely angry if other actors tried to do the same, 8.(argue) that they were simply not good at it. Williams loved to make his audience laugh. When performing a scene 9. there were few laughs, he would often make up 10. own jokes, which always entertained the audience, but sometimes also ruined the scene.

高二英语语法填空中等难度题查看答案及解析

The British people are among the world’s greatest readers of newspapers．It’s been the custom ever since most people could read．

But why do people want to do nothing but read while traveling to work in a train? Perhaps they are tired, or else they sit behind a newspaper to shut themselves off from the world．All the same, most men would notice a woman struggling with a heavy case and jump up to help her and a pretty girl sitting opposite wouldn’t escape their attention either．In this case a paper is useful because they can have a good look at her from behind it without her knowing．Perhaps they do nothing but read．There are stories of girls and young men who met in the rush hours, got married, and went on traveling in the same train hand in hand．

1.The main idea of this passage is that______．

A．people in Britain are great newspaper readers

B．why people read newspaper when they travel by train

C．people do nothing but read in a train

D．when people go to work in a train, they do different things

2.According to this passage, reading newspaper______．

A．is a custom just among men who can read  B．is something the British do only traveling in a train

C．is a daily activity most people enjoy      D．can help people in many ways

3.A man might be reading a newspaper in a train for the following reasons except that ______．

A．he is trying to get some business news     B．he wants to have a rest

C．he hopes to escape the attention of a pretty girl

D．he doesn’t want to talk with other people around him

4.The writer said that most men in the train would help a woman struggling with a heavy thing．The implication(含义) is that ______．

A．It is interesting for a man to help a woman in trouble

B．it is considered a man’s duty to offer help to a woman in need

C．the woman is too weak to carry a heavy case

D．men are often more interested in other things than reading newspapers, especially when women are in trouble

高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

※ Health, Wellness and the Politics of Food

9:00—9:45 a.m. Blue Tent

Panelists (成员)：Jami Bernard, David Kamp, Marion Nestle and Peter Singer.

Hosted by Denise Grady, science writer for the New York Times.

How does what we eat not only affect our bodies, but also the world？The food and nutrition experts debate the role that the diet plays in both personal and global health, and present a look at food politics.

※Sports Writing：For the Love of the Game

9:50—10:35 a.m.　 Blue Tent

Panelists：Christine Brennan, Ira Rosen, Joe Wallace and Joe Drape.

Hosted by William C. Rhoden, sports writer for the New York Times.

Whether catching that key moment of victory or defeat, or covering breaking news, sports writers are anything but audience. Listen as some professionals discuss the special experience in reporting of sports news.

※ The Art of the Review

11:15—12:00 a.m.　 Green Tent

Panelists: John Freeman, Barry Gewen, David Orr, Celia McGee and Jennifer Schuessler.

Hosted by Sam Tanenhaus, editor for the New York Times Book Review.

How much of an effect does the book review have on book sales？Join this group of critics(评论家) as they discuss the reality of book review and best­seller lists, and how they choose books for review.

※New York Writers, New York Stories

3:00—3:45 p.m.　 Green Tent

Panelists: Cindy Adams, Richard Cohen, RicKlass and Lauren Redness.

Hosted by Clyde Haberman, columnist (专栏作家) for the City Section of the New York Times.

Join this inspiring group of New York­centric writers as they talk about why New York is a gold mine of ideas for their work.

1.If you are free in the afternoon, you can attend_____________.

A. Health, Wellness and the Politics of Food

B. Sports Writing: For the Love of the Game

C. The Art of the Review

D. New York Writers, New York Stories

2.All the four activities above ______________.

A. are about writing 　　　　　 B. will last 45 minutes each

C. can be attended freely　　 D. will attract many readers

3. We can learn from the text that______________.

A. sports writers are a type of audience

B. the New York Times is popular

C. Denise Grady will discuss politics

D. book reviews may affect book sales

高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

George Gershwin, born in 1898, was one of America’s greatest composers. He published his first song when he was eighteen years old. During the next twenty years he wrote more than five hundred songs.

Many of Gershwin’s songs were first written for musical plays performed in theatres in New York City. These plays were a popular form of entertainment in the 1920s and 1930s. Many of his songs have remained popular as ever. Over the years they have been sung and played in every possible way — from jazz to country.

In the 1920s there was a debate in the United States about jazz music. Could jazz, some people asked, be considered serious music? In 1924 jazz musician and orchestra leader Paul Whiteman decided to organize a special concert to show that jazz was serious music. Gershwin agreed to compose something for the concert before he realized he had just a few weeks to do it. And in that short time, he composed a piece for piano and orchestra which he called Rhapsody in Blue. Gershwin himself played the piano at the concert. The audience were thrilled when they heard his music. It made him world-famous and showed that jazz music could be both serious and popular.

In 1928, Gershwin went to Paris. He applied to study composition (作曲)with the well-known musician Nadia Boulanger, but she rejected him. She was afraid that classical study would ruin his jazz-influenced style. While there, Gershwin wrote An American in Paris. When it was first performed, critics (评论家)were divided over the music. Some called it happy and full of life, to others it was silly and boring. But it quickly became popular in Europe and the United States. It sill remains one of his most famous works.

George Gershwin died in 1937, just days after doctors learned he had brain cancer. He was only thirty-nine years old. Newspapers all over the world reported his death on their front pages. People mourned the loss of the man and all the music he might have still written.

1.Many of Gershwin’s musical works were ________.

A. written about New Yorkers　　 B. composed for Paul Whiteman

C. played mainly in the countryside　　 D. performed in various ways

2.What did Gershwin do during his stay in Paris?

A. He created one of his best works.　　 B. He studied with Nadia Boulanger.

C. He argued with French critics.　　 D. He changed his music style.

3.What do we learn from the last paragraph?

A. Many of Gershwin’s works were lost.

B. The death of Gershwin was widely reported.

C. A concert was held in memory of Gershwin.

D. Brain cancer research started after Gershwin’s death.

4.Which of the following best describes Gershwin?

A. Talented and productive.　　 B. Serious and boring.

C. Popular and unhappy.　　 D. Friendly and honest.

高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

George Gershwin, born in 1898, was one of America's greatest composers. He published his first song when he was eighteen years old. During the next twenty years he wrote more than five hundred songs.

Many of Gershwin's songs were first written for musical plays performed in theatres in New York City. These plays were a popular form of entertainment in the 1920s and 1930s. Many of his songs have remained popular as ever. Over the years they have been sung and played in every possible way — from jazz to country.

In the 1920s there was a debate in the United States about jazz music. Could jazz, some people asked, be considered serious music? In 1924 jazz musician and orchestra leader Paul Whiteman decided to organize a special concert to show that jazz was serious music. Gershwin agreed to compose something for the concert before he realized he had just a few weeks to do it. And in that short time, he composed a piece for piano and orchestra which he called Rhapsody in Blue. Gershwin himself played the piano at the concert. The audience were thrilled when they heard his music. It made him world­famous and showed that jazz music could be both serious and popular.

In 1928, Gershwin went to Paris. He applied to study composition (作曲)with the well­known musician Nadia Boulanger, but she rejected him. She was afraid that classical study would ruin his jazz­influenced style. While there, Gershwin wrote An American in Paris. When it was first performed, critics (评论家)were divided over the music. Some called it happy and full of life, to others it was silly and boring. But it quickly became popular in Europe and the United States. It still remains one of his most famous works.

George Gershwin died in 1937, just days after doctors learned he had brain cancer. He was only thirty­nine years old. Newspapers all over the world reported his death on their front pages. People mourned the loss of the man and all the music he might have still written.

1.Many of Gershwin's musical works were ________．

A.written about New Yorkers B.composed for Paul Whiteman

C.performed in various ways D.played mainly in the countryside

2.What do we know about the concert organized by Whiteman?

A.It proved jazz could be serious music.

B.It attracted more people to theatres.

C.It made Gershwin leader of the orchestra.

D.It caused a debate among jazz musicians.

3.What did Gershwin do during his stay in Paris?

A.He studied with Nadia Boulanger. B.He created one of his best works.

C.He argued with French critics. D.He changed his music style.

4.What do we learn from the last paragraph?

A.The death of Gershwin was widely reported.

B.Many of Gershwin's works were lost.

C.A concert was held in memory of Gershwin.

D.Brain cancer research started after Gershwin's death.

5.Which of the following best describes Gershwin?

A.Serious and boring. B.Talented and productive.

C.Popular and unhappy. D.Friendly and honest.

高二英语阅读理解困难题查看答案及解析