Dear Economist,
My newly-wedded wife and I are deeply in love.There is, however, one issue that threatens the happiness of our marriage.I absolutely insist on shopping at Walmart.My wife, meanwhile, would rather avoid Walmart at all costs.
I have recently tried to convince her that not only does Walmart offer the lowest prices known to man, but that the chain is also a force for good―lower prices mean better standards of living for all consumers, increased global trade means a tighter-knit(紧密团结的) international community, and efficient operations translate into higher productivity growth for the economy.My wife complains about poor labour policies, the “fact” that Walmart squeezes suppliers, and that it puts local shops out of business.
Who is right? Will our marriage survive?
Brian Gee
Dear Brian,
I have to agree with you about Walmart.Jason Furman, then an economist at New York University, now an adviser to President Obama, famously argued in 2005 that Walmart was unwittingly (不知不觉地) a progressive success story.The chain’s prices don’t much affect me (I prefer Whole Foods) but Furman estimated that they benefited low-and-middle-income Americans to the sum of around $250 billion a year.
Walmart does not pay much, so it may depress wages.Then again, it may increase wages by offering jobs to the otherwise-unemployed.Either way, the benefits of low prices to Walmart shoppers far outweigh any seemingly reasonable costs to Walmart employees.And while it is true that Walmart employees tend to be poor, the same is true of Walmart shoppers.
Armed with this information you can face your wife with confidence.You are sure to win the conversation.The divorce is likely to be more argued.
Economist
1.What concerns Brian Gee so much that he wrote the letter?
A.His wife refuses to shop at Walmart. |
B.They are faced with a divorce. |
C.They can’t afford the costs of shopping at Walmart. |
D.They are in conflict about shopping at Walmart. |
2.Brian Gee’s wife tends to hold the opinion that _________.
A.it is wrong for Walmart to depress its employees’ wages |
B.consumers’ lives have improved thanks to Walmart |
C.Walmart’s business operation increases productivity in economy |
D.Walmart’s business increases global trade |
3.What can be inferred from the reply letter?
A.Some employees accept the low pay to keep the job. |
B.Walmart appeals to only poor consumers and poor employees. |
C.Employees suffer from Walmart’s low prices more than consumers. |
D.Jason Furman, a New York University economist, spoke highly of Walmart. |
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题
Dear Economist,
My newly-wedded wife and I are deeply in love.There is, however, one issue that threatens the happiness of our marriage.I absolutely insist on shopping at Walmart.My wife, meanwhile, would rather avoid Walmart at all costs.
I have recently tried to convince her that not only does Walmart offer the lowest prices known to man, but that the chain is also a force for good―lower prices mean better standards of living for all consumers, increased global trade means a tighter-knit(紧密团结的) international community, and efficient operations translate into higher productivity growth for the economy.My wife complains about poor labour policies, the “fact” that Walmart squeezes suppliers, and that it puts local shops out of business.
Who is right? Will our marriage survive?
Brian Gee
Dear Brian,
I have to agree with you about Walmart.Jason Furman, then an economist at New York University, now an adviser to President Obama, famously argued in 2005 that Walmart was unwittingly (不知不觉地) a progressive success story.The chain’s prices don’t much affect me (I prefer Whole Foods) but Furman estimated that they benefited low-and-middle-income Americans to the sum of around $250 billion a year.
Walmart does not pay much, so it may depress wages.Then again, it may increase wages by offering jobs to the otherwise-unemployed.Either way, the benefits of low prices to Walmart shoppers far outweigh any seemingly reasonable costs to Walmart employees.And while it is true that Walmart employees tend to be poor, the same is true of Walmart shoppers.
Armed with this information you can face your wife with confidence.You are sure to win the conversation.The divorce is likely to be more argued.
Economist
1.What concerns Brian Gee so much that he wrote the letter?
A.His wife refuses to shop at Walmart. |
B.They are faced with a divorce. |
C.They can’t afford the costs of shopping at Walmart. |
D.They are in conflict about shopping at Walmart. |
2.Brian Gee’s wife tends to hold the opinion that _________.
A.it is wrong for Walmart to depress its employees’ wages |
B.consumers’ lives have improved thanks to Walmart |
C.Walmart’s business operation increases productivity in economy |
D.Walmart’s business increases global trade |
3.What can be inferred from the reply letter?
A.Some employees accept the low pay to keep the job. |
B.Walmart appeals to only poor consumers and poor employees. |
C.Employees suffer from Walmart’s low prices more than consumers. |
D.Jason Furman, a New York University economist, spoke highly of Walmart. |
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
My father lived a long life and was deeply loved by his wife, three children, eleven grandchildren and a large number of friends. He was smart and quick- headed. When I asked if he’d like to join me on Virgin Airlines, I remember him ____replying: "Why not? It's as close to heaven as I'll ever get"
While he could always make us ____ he was also quiet, considerate and full of wonderful ____for us so that we could do better.
When I was a child, I____ myself to the change in Dad's loose drawer --- I didn't see it as stealing, but rather as just borrowing without a ____ to give back - and bought chocolate from our local corner shop.
One day, while ____the shop with my father, the shopkeeper questioned my ____spending habits: "'Now I don ' t want to get him into any____, Mr Branson, but I don' t know where young Richard is getting all his ____ from. He's becoming my best customer--- I ____ he isn't stealing it.”
Dad ____ by looking her straight in the eyes and saying loudly, “ Madam, how dare you____my son of stealing?”
After we left the shop, my father never spoke a word about the ____ However, his deliberate____ for the rest of the day expressed everything. The way he ____ the situation taught me a hugely effective lesson. I learned that the power of the____ words can be frighteningly influential.
His____ my honesty was more ____than if he had scolded me. I also learned the power of ____ and second chances. And these lessons have ____ me a lot in both life and work.
1.A. nervously B. deliberately C. sensitively D. humorously
2.A. calm B. laugh C. benefit D. reflect
3.A. advice B. patience C. expectation D. appreciation
4.A. led B. sent C. helped D. attracted
5.A. dream B. receipt C. way D. plan
6.A. visiting B. discussing C. exploring D. progressing
7.A. reasonable B. flexible C. usual D. common
8.A. debt B. trouble C. honor D. change
9.A. confidence B. pleasure C. pride D. money
10.A. know B. hope C. admit D. remember
11.A. responded B. exploded C. attacked D. comforted
12.A. express B. inform C. accuse D. warn
13.A. question B. incident C. trip D. shopkeeper
14.A. absence B. sadness C. anger D. silence
15.A. put up with B. kept away from C. dealt with D. lived through
16.A. unspoken B. proper C. meaningful D. enjoyable
17.A. discovering B. losing C. defending D. exhibiting
18.A. concerned B. powerful C. annoying D. frightening
19.A. communication B. friendship C. blame D. forgiveness
20.A. grasped B. benefited C. expressed D. surprised
高二英语完形填空中等难度题查看答案及解析
Dear Amy,
My husband is a loving, creative and sensitive person who is 15 years my senior. (I am in my mid-30s.)
Now I still struggle with my ups and downs, and he is still broke. I have continually asked my husband to get a job. I know he’s trying, but even a part-time job at a convenience store would make ends meet. His former profession as a freelance(自由职业的) producer dropped off with the economy, and while he tries hard to find work in his field, he is extremely unwilling to accept the fact that he may need to get a “regular”job.
I love him very much, but I can’t continue to keep my frustration(沮丧)bottled up. I tell myself I’m going to leave him if he doesn’t find work, but I really want to stay together. How should I handle this?
Round the Bend
Dear Round,
Having been a freelancer for many years, I assure you (and him) that the true meaning of freelancing is that you have the freedom to accept a variety of jobs, as well as the responsibility to make a living between jobs. Freelancers teach, tend bar, sell things door to door and do anything it takes to bring home the money. Volunteering is also a wonderful way to keep busy and meet new people.
Amy
Dear Amy,
“Joan” was a 50-year-old reader who wants to spend her parents’ gift (money) on a trip to India. Her retirement fund(退休金) is less than half of what she will need for retirement. It’s also clear that she hasn’t budgeted monthly for car repairs and other out-of-pocket expenses. In your answer, you encourage her to go.
She’s 50 and the clock is ticking! How will she feel about the trip she took when she turns 70 when she can’t afford to retire? Maybe there are other ways she can experience Indian food, culture, history and art without spending the entire sum of money. When her “health slows her down.” she may wish she had kept a rainy-day fund.
Realistic Reader
Dear Realistic,
Your argument is very logical and realistic, but there are also times when you have to go for it. I hope she does.
Amy
1.Who might be Amy?
A. A reporter of a health magazine.
B. A kind-hearted friend of Joan’s.
C. An advisor offering people career advice.
D. An editor of “Ask Amy” section of a magazine.
2.What makes Miss Round so upset?
A. Her husband doesn’t love her as much as when they met.
B. Her husband doesn’t earn enough money to support the family.
C. Her husband fails to take the responsibility of feeding his family.
D. Her husband has a hard time finding a “regular” job in his former field.
3.Amy suggested Joan ________.
A. go for her dream of traveling to India
B. experience Indian culture at home
C. save money for retirement
D. refuse her parents’ gift money
4.According to Realistic Reader, when Joan retires she would feel ___ about her trip if she took it now.
A. worthwhile B. regretful C. excited D. sad
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
I made ________ acquaintance of my wife I the university and I fell in ______ love with heart first sight.( )
A.an; 不填 B.the; a
C.the;不填 D.an; a
高二英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析
Dear Amy, My in-laws are all the products of failed marriages, so there are blood relatives and step relatives to deal with on both sides of the aisle. For years, my in-laws have told my children that my wife’s stepmother’s grandchildren are their cousins. This alone is not true, since these kids are only involved in our lives due to marriage. I just keep talking to my kids and explaining to them the way the family tree works and that these kids are not their cousins. At one point, my oldest son got mad and told one of these kids that he was not his real cousin, and then my in-laws confronted my son about what he said. They were apparently upset about it. Amy, I am not going to create a world that does not exist. They are stuck on taking in these kids that have zero actual blood relation to them at all. I stand my ground on this, and my wife just thinks that I am being an ass. Your thoughts? Disturbed Dad |
Disturbed Dad, Before you spend the rest of your life carefully studying a family tree at every potluck dinner, remember that “family” isn’t some exclusive club that you get to join by having two or more of the same biological relatives. People in highly functioning and inclusive families will tell you that all you have to do to be a part of any family is to be considered part of the family. This means being included, regardless of your biological status, and reveling in relationships that are auntlike, grandparent-like or cousinlike. It is wise to explain truthfully all of these many and varied relationships to your children, but to use loaded terms like “real family” only underlines your emotional ignorance about relationships. Your in-laws are doing a wonderful thing accepting these children, so put down the genealogy chart and apologize. After all, if we follow your logic, then your in-laws shouldn’t be accepting you as family either; you aren’t related to them by blood, so you aren’t their “real family.” The good news is, if you continue to treat your wife’s family this way, you won’t have to worry about keeping the blood relatives and the step-relatives in this family straight — given your lack of good manners, these family members might disregard you in favor of someone who is more open, accepting and inclusive. Amy |
1.The Disturbed Dad’s in-laws were upset because _______.
A. they all had failed marriages B. they knew of the Dad’s thoughts
C. one of the grandsons got mad D. some kids had no blood relation
2.What’s Amy’s attitude towards the Disturbed Dad’s opinion?
A. Objective. B. Negative.
C. Doubtful. D. Cautious.
3.Amy may agree that _______.
A. the Dad shouldn’t be narrow-minded about the family tree
B. it’s necessary to consider biological relationships in a family
C. the Dad shouldn’t be accepted as family by their in-laws
D. it’s good news for the family members to disregard the Dad
高二英语阅读理解困难题查看答案及解析
Dear Laura,
I just heard you tell an old story of gift giving and unselfish love in your program. You doubted whether such unselfish love would happen in today’s world. Well, I’m here to give you____.
I wanted to do something very ____ for my fifteen-year-old son, who has always been the perfect child. He ____ all summer to earn enough money to buy a used motorcycle. Then, he spent hours and hours on it ____ it looked almost new. I was so ____ of him that I bought him the shiniest helmet (头盔) and a riding outfit (装备).
I could ____ wait for him to open up his gift. In fact, I barely slept the night before. Upon awakening, I went to the kitchen to ____ the coffee, tea, and morning goodies. In the living room was a beautiful keyboard with a ____: “To my wonderful mother, all my love, your son.”
I was so____. It had been a long-standing joke in our family that I wanted a piano so that I could____lessons. “Learn to play the piano, and I’ll get you one.” was my husband’s ____.
I stood there shocked, crying a river, asking myself how my son could ____ this expensive gift.
Of course, the ____ awoke, and my son was thrilled (激动的) with my reaction. Many kisses were ____, and I immediately wanted him to ____ my gift.
As he saw the helmet and outfit, the look on his face was not ____ what I was expecting. Then I ____ that he had sold the motorcycle to get me the keyboard.
Of course I was the proudest mother ____ on that day, and my feet never hit the ground for a month.
So I wanted you to know, that kind of love still ____ and lives even in the ever-changing world of me, me, me!
I thought you’d love to ____ this story.
Yours,
Hilary
P.S. The next day, my husband and I bought him a new “used” already shiny motorcycle.
1.A.hope B.advice C.support D.courage
2.A.polite B.similar C.special D.private
3.A.played B.studied C.traveled D.worked
4.A.after B.before C.unless D.until
5.A.sure B.fond C.proud D.confident
6.A.perhaps B.really C.almost D.hardly
7.A.prepare B.cook C.set D.serve
8.A.note B.notice C.word D.sign
9.A.disturbed B.confused C.astonished D.inspired
10.A.give B.take C.draw D.teach
11.A.reason B.request C.comment D.response
12.A.present B.afford C.find D.order
13.A.neighbor B.building C.room D.house
14.A.exchanged B.experienced C.expected D.exhibited
15.A.tear B.open C.check D.receive
16.A.purely B.basically C.obviously D.exactly
17.A.realized B.remembered C.imagined D.supposed
18.A.only B.still C.ever D.even
19.A.works B.exists C.matters D.counts
20.A.send B.publish C.share D.write
高二英语完形填空中等难度题查看答案及解析
Dear Laura,
I just heard you tell an old story of gift giving and unselfish(无私的) love in your program. You doubted that such unselfish love would happen in today’s world. Well, I’m here to give you 21 .
I wanted to do something very 22 for my fifteen-year-old son, who has always been the perfect child. He 23 all summer to earn enough money to buy a used motorcycle. Then, he spent hours and hours on it 24 it looked almost new. I was so 25 of him that I bought him the shiniest helmet(头盔) and riding outfit(全套装备).
I could 26 wait for him to open up his gift. In fact, I barely slept the night before. Upon wakening, I went to the kitchen to 27 the coffee, tea, and morning goodies. In the living room was a beautiful keyboard with a 28 : “To my wonderful mother, all my love, your son.”
I was so 29 . It had been a long-standing joke in our family that I wanted a piano so that I could 30 lessons. “Learn to play the piano, and I’ll get you one” was my husband’s 31 .
I stood there shocked, crying a river, asking myself how my son could 32 this expensive gift.
Of course, the 33 awoke, and my son was thrilled with(对…感到激动) my reaction. Many kisses were 34 , and I immediately wanted him to 35 my gift.
As he saw the helmet and outfit, the look on his face was not 36 what I was expecting. Then I 37 that he had sold the motorcycle to get me the keyboard.
Of course I was the proudest mother 38 on that day, and my feet never hit the ground for a month.
So I wanted you to know, that kind of love still 39 and lives even in the ever-changing world of me, me, me!
I thought you’d love to 40 this story.
Yours,
Hilary
P.S. The next day, my husband and I bought him a new “used” already shiny motorcycle.
1.A. hope B. advice C. support D. courage
2.A. polite B. similar C. special D. private
3.A. played B. studied C. traveled D. worked
4.A. after B. before C. unless D. until
5.A. sure B. fond C. proud D. confident
6.A. perhaps B. really C. almost D. hardly
7.A. start B. cook C. set D. serve
8.A. note B. notice C. word D. sign
9.A. disturbed B. confused C. astonished D. inspired
10.A. give B. take C. draw D. teach
11.A. reason B. request C. comment D. response
12.A. present B. afford C. find D. order
13.A. neighbor B. building C. home D. house
14.A. exchanged B. experienced C. expected D. exhibited
15.A. tear B. open C. check D. receive
16.A. purely B. basically C. obviously D. exactly
17.A. realized B. remembered C. imagined D. supposed
18.A. only B. still C. ever D. even
19.A works B. exists C. matters D. counts
20.A. send B. publish C. share D. write
高二英语完型填空简单题查看答案及解析
Please help! I live in Germany with my wife and three kids. My parents live in the UK. I want my kids to have as much contact with their grandparents as possible. The kids all use e-mail, Skype and SMS but my parents won’t. I’ve bought them a laptop, paid for broadband, given them both mobile phones and a digital camera, but they won’t use them. My parents say they hate computers and new technology. What can I do with these “technophobes”?
Daniel, Buremburg, Germany
Actually, the original technophobes were the Luddites, a group of cloth workers in 19th century Britain during the Industrial Revolution. The Luddite cloth workers, who traditionally made cloth by hand, were worried that machines were going to take away their jobs and way of life. These machines could make cloth much faster and cheaper than humans. In 1811 and 1812 the Luddites destroyed the machines that they hated so much, but the British government supported the factory owners. Many Luddites were arrested. Charlotte Bronte’s novel Shirley will tell your parents all about it.
Laura, Valencia, Spain
Laura makes some interesting points, I think. Technophobes has been a common theme in science fiction. Frankenstein, one of the first science fiction, is a warning of what could happen if humans began to experiment with human life.
Freda, Copenhagen, Denmark
One thing you could try is to find hardware that is designed for older people to use. An example is the mobiles made by the US company, Jitterbug. Instead of icons and menus the Jitterbug phones ask users simple “yes/no” questions and have larger keypads. The company realized that there are potentially 100 million older users in the US alone.
Graham, Patras, Greece
1.The underlined part “the technophobes” in the passage refers to ______.
A. those who are ready to try new technology
B. those who are addicted to the Internet
C. those who refuse to use modern technology
D. those who are devoted to inventing new things
2.Which of the following is TRUE of the Luddites?
A. They called themselves the technophobes.
B. They got full support from their factory owners.
C. They preferred to keep their traditional working methods.
D. They were killed by the government.
3.Who has put forward a practical and useful suggestions?
A. Laura. B. Freda. C. Daniel. D. Graham.
4.The passage is probably taken from _____.
A. a personal blog B. a letter between friends
C. a personal diary D. a speech on new technology
5.What can we infer from the passage?
A. Daniel would buy her parents a novel written by Shirley.
B. Charlotte Bronte wrote about technophobes in her novel Shirley.
C. Daniel would buy her parents cell phones with icons and menus.
D. Daniel worried about her children using e-mails.
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
The story happened in India. An official and his wife are giving a large dinner party. They are seated with their guests-officers and their wives, and a visiting American-in their dining room.
A heated discussion springs up between a young girl who says that ______have grown out of the jumping-on-a-chair-at-the-sight-of-a-mouse era (时代)and a major who says that they haven't.
"A woman's ______in any crisis (危机)," the major says, "is to scream. And ______a man may feel like it,he has that ounce (盎司)more of ______than a woman has."
The American does not join in the argument. He sees a(n)______expression come over the face of the _____, She is ______straight ahead, her muscles tightening slightly. She ______to the native boy standing behind her chair and ______something to him. The boy's eyes _____; he quickly leaves the room.
Of the guests, none ______the American notices this or sees the boy place a bowl of milk just ______the open doors.
The American comes to with a start (惊跳).In India, milk in a bowl means only one thing-bait (诱饵)for a snake. He realizes there must be a cobra in the room ______he can't warn the others as the noise would frighten the cobra into _____.
He speaks calmly, "I want to know just what control everyone at this table has. I will count three hundred and not one of you is to move a(n)_____. Those who move will lose 50 rupees. Ready?"
20 people sit like stone images while he counts. He is saying "two hundred and eighty…" _____, out of the corner of his eye, he sees the cobra appear and ______the bowl of milk.______ring out as he jumps to slam the doors safely shut.
"You were _____. Major!" the host cries. "A man has just shown us an example of perfect self-control."
"Just a minute,the American says, turning to his hostess. "Mrs. Wynnes, how did you know that the cobra was in the room?"
A faint smile ______up the woman's face as she replies "Because it was crawling across my foot."
1.A. men B. women C. humans D. children
2.A. movement B. performance C. motivation D. reaction
3.A. while B. since C. unless D. as
4.A. carefulness B. selfishness C. control D. panic
5.A. amused B. strange C. blank D. puzzled
6.A. girl B. hostess C. major D. servant
7.A. staring B. sitting C. marching D. pointing
8.A. refers B. dashes C. walks D. gestures
9.A. explains B. whispers C. confirms D. offers
10.A. tighten B. soften C. widen D. lengthen
11.A. rather than B. other than C. more than D. less than
12.A. inside B. outside C. through D. into
13.A. for B. or C. so D. but
14.A. fleeing B. hiding C. striking D. jumping
15.A. person B. bowl C. eye D. muscle
16.A. after B. before C. once D. when
17.A. make up B. make out C. make for D. make off
18.A. Screams B. Shots C. Complaints D. Thanks
19.A. wrong B. right C. stubborn D. absurd
20.A. takes B. brings C. picks D. lights
高二英语完形填空简单题查看答案及解析
Dear Jorge,
Are you enjoying your break from school? My family are now in Sacramento, California. We are here paying a visit to visit to my aunt Gloria. We have been to the California State Capital Building, the nature center, and the zoo. I have seen many interesting things, but one stands out above the rest. This morning we drove from my aunt’s home to Calistoga to see California’s Old Faithful Geyser(老忠实泉). I had read about it in my book, Sightseeing in California; Where You Should Go.You have probably heard of Old Faithful, the geyser father north in Yellowstone National Park. This California geyser is sometimes called“ Little Old Faithful.”
When we arrived California’s Old Faithful was only a calm pool of water. The geyser didn’t look very deep. “ What’s the big deal?” I wondered. As I turned, I saw some steam rising from the water. Before I knew it, there was hot water shooting up about 60 feet into the air. We could not believe our eyes! It continued for almost three minutes.
Aunt Gloria told me that the water came from an underground river. She also said that the water temperature was about 95℃. This water can sometimes shoot 170 feet into the air.
My aunt said that other geysers around the world reach hotter temperatures and shoot water even higher than California’s Old Faithful Geyser. I’d love to learn more about this geyser and other geysers in different countries when I get home. I’ll see you soon!
Your friend,
Bennetto
1.According to the text, Bennetto ___________.
A. visited his aunt Gloria by himself.
B. had never heard of Old Faithful Geyser.
C. thought nothing of Old Faithful Geyser at first.
D. flew all the way from Sacramento to Calistoga.
2.The water Bennetto saw high in the sky _____________.
A. disappeared at once. B. was too hot to touch.
C. came from a deep sea. D. was 170 feet in height.
3.What was expressed in Bennetto's letter?
A. Anger B. Doubt C. Courage D. Excitement
4.Bennetto wrote the letter mainly to_____________.
A. talk about his holiday experiences.
B. ask Jorge to visit Old Faithful Geyser.
C. express his thankfulness to Aunt Gloria.
D. give Yellowstone National Park some advice.
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析