Giacomo Puccini was born in 1858 and was a so...

Giacomo Puccini was born in 1858 and was a son of a musical director. __  51He is remembered as a master of opera.

52Many early forerunners of Impressionistic Music including Rimsky-Korsakov, Strauss, Schoenberg and Stravinsky, inspired him greatly.

Turandot, an opera based on an Italian drama by the same name, is by far considered to be one of Puccini’s most popular and most performed works.

It’s a pity that Puccini had no chance to watch his own great opera himself. 53

In this opera you can hear a traditional Chinese folk song, which is titled Molihua（茉莉花）or Jasmine Flower. _____54____ Among them the version sung in Jiangsu, a province in south China, is the most popular one. By admiring the jasmine flower, the song celebrates the sweetness and beauty of romantic love. 55    In 1804 the song was published in a book by a British diplomat(外交官), making it the first Chinese folk song that gained popularity outside China.

E. Turandot is performed regularly all over the world.

F. The opera was first performed in 1926, two years after Puccini’s death.

G. There are many different versions of Molihua or Jasmine Flower in different parts of China.

高二英语信息匹配中等难度题查看答案及解析

Edward Sims was born in 1892. He was the fifth child and only son of Herbert and Dora Sims. Herbert was a blacksmith(铁匠), and had a thriving trade making horseshoes. He was determined that his first-born son would follow him into the blacksmith. For this reason, Edward had to leave school at the age of 12,and worked with his father.

However, Edward was not cut out to be a blacksmith. Although he has an athletic body, he didn't have strong arms like his father, and he felt dizzy in the heat of the smithy.  When he tried to find alternative employment, he found it difficult because he had never learnt to read or write.

One day, he went for an interview at a solictior’s office. The job was a runner, taking documents from the office to other offices in the city. The solicitor was pleased to see that Edward was physically fit, but when he discovered that the young man couldn't read or write, he decided against employing him. "How can you deliver documents to other offices," he asked, "if you can't read the addresses on them?"

Bitterly disappointed, Edward left the building and went to wait for a tram to take him back to the suburb where his father’s smithy was. Next to the bus stop, a man was selling newspapers from a stand .

"Excuse me, son?" he said. "Would you look after my stand for a moment?"

For the next 20 minutes, Edward sold newspapers, lots of them. When the man came back, he was so delighted with his new assistant's honesty, that he offered him a job. Edward took it immediately.

In the next few months, the two men progressed from working on newspaper stands to selling newspapers, tobacco,confectionery（糖果点心）and other goods in a shop. Then they opened a second shop, and a third. Eventually, they had a chain of 25 shops in three cities.

Edward became very rich, so he employed a tutor to teach him to read and write. The tutor  was amazed at what Edward had achieved. "Imagine what you could do if you’d been able to read and write when you were younger!" he said.

“Yes!” said Edward. “I could have run myself to exhaustion delivering documents for a solicitor!”

1.What would be the best title for the text?

A．Success of illiterate newsboy

B．Local blacksmith becomes famous

C．The thriving trade of the blacksmith

D．Reading and writing-the road to success

2.What can you infer from the underlined expression “not cut out to be” in the second paragraph?

A．Edward Sims did not like being a blacksmith.

B．Edward Sims did not like working with his father.

C．Edward Sims was not strong enough and it made him feel ill.

D．Edward Sims was good at it but wanted to do another job.

3.When Edward applied for the job as a runner for a solicitor, ________.

A．the solicitor turned him down because he wasn’t intelligent enough

B．the solicitor offered him the job because he was so fit

C．the solicitor gave him the job but told him he had to learn to read

D．the solicitor didn’t offer him the job because he couldn’t read

4.Which of the following is NOT ture about Edward Sims?

A．He was such a good salesman that he went on to own 25 newsagent shops with another man.

B．The newspaperman liked him so much he gave him a job.

C．He ran himself into exhaustion delivering papers.

D．He learnt to read and write.

高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

The son of a piano producer, Elwyn Brooks White was born in Mount Vernon in a wealthy family．And he was raised with the mix of sophistication（富有经验）and common sense that would mark his writing．

After graduation, White spent a year as a newspaper reporter in New York City, then decided to drive across the country with a friend．The trip gave White a lifetime of anecdotes．“When they ran out of money," White's friend, James Thurber, noted, "they played for their supper and their gasoline on an interesting musical instrument that White had made out of some pieces of wire and an old shoe．"

When White returned to New York City in the mid-1920s, he spent a few years bouncing between advertising jobs and unemployment before trying his hand again at writing．Not very seriously, he sent some essays to a new magazine called The New Yorker．Since its founding in 1925, the magazine had struggled to find its niche, and White's work helped put The New Yorker on the map．His essays were funny and sophisticated; they spoke equally to socialites(社会名流）and cab drivers, professors and repairmen．Through his essays, which he wrote for nearly 50 years, White helped give The New Yorker its voice and identity．

In 1945, already a leading literary figure, White switched to his second occupation writing children's books．He moved from New York to a farm in Maine, where he raised chickens and geese． Seeking a way to amuse his nieces and nephews, White started to write stories for them．“Children were always after me to tell them a story and I found I couldn't do it," he said．“ So I had to get it down on paper．”

By the time he died from Alzheimer's disease in 1985, White's essays had appeared in more literary collections in colleges than those of any other writer．Many said his essays matched his personality: sophisticated without being simple, critical without being mean．

1.What do we learn from Paragraph 2?

A. White took the trip to realize his lifelong dream．

B. The trip had a lasting effect on White's personality．

C. The travelling companion found White's music talent．

D. White had many experiences to talk about after the trip．

2.The underlined part "its niche" means something that　　　　　　 ．

A. suits its sponsors' tastes

B. protects its social identity

C. helps to build its own style

D. voices its authors' concern

3.What do we know about White's works?

A. They originally came from the stories told by his nieces．

B. They were intended for people of different social status．

C. They helped The New Yorker find its position on the map．

D. They were chosen by college textbooks when they came out．

高二英语阅读理解简单题查看答案及解析

Florence Nightingale was born in a rich family. When she was young she took lessons in music and drawing, and read great books. She also traveled a great deal with her mother and father.

As a child she felt that visiting sick people was both a duty and a pleasure. She enjoyed helping them.

At last mind was made up. “I’m going to be a nurse,” she decided.

“Nursing isn’t the right work for a lady,” her father told her.

“Then I will make it so”, she smiled. And she went to learn nursing in Germany and France.

When she returned to England, Florence started a nursing home. During the Crimean War in 1854 she went with a group of thirty eight nurses to the front hospitals. What they saw there was terrible. Dirt and death were everywhere to be seen — and smelled. The officer there did not want any woman to tell him how to run a hospital, either. But the brave nurse went to work.

Florence used her own money and some from friends to buy clothes, beds, medicine and food for the men. Her only pay was in smiles from the lips of dying soldiers. But they were more than enough for this kind woman.

After she returned to England, she was honored for her services by Queen Victoria. But Florence said that her work had just begun. She raised money to build the Nightingale Home for Nurses in London. She also wrote a book on public health, which was printed in several countries.

Florence Nightingale died at the age of ninety, still trying to serve others through her work as a nurse. Indeed, it is because of her that we honor nurses today.

1.When she was a child, Florence _______.

A. loved to travel very much

B. knew what her duty in life was

C. loved to help the sick people

D. want to learn music and drawing in the future

2.During the Crimean War in 1854, Florence served in the front hospital where _______.

A. she earned a little money

B. work was very difficult

C. few soldiers died because of her work

D. she didn’t have enough food or clothes

3.Why was Florence honored by Queen Victoria?

A. She built the Nightingale Home for Nurses.

B. She wrote a book on public health.

C. She worked as a nurse all her life.

D. She did a great deal of work during the Crimean War.

4.The passage can best be described as _______.

A. the life story of a famous woman

B. a description of the nursing work

C. an example of successful education

D. the history of nursing in England

高二英语阅读理解困难题查看答案及解析

Larry Bird was born in 1965 in a small town in the Middle Western State of Indiana. He was tall, and good at playing basketball. He attended Indiana State University. Bird led the team into the College Basketball Championship Game.

After completing his college studies, Larry Bird began playing professional basketball for the Boston Celtics. He remained with the Celtics for all his professional career. During those 13 years, Larry Bird was named the Most Valuable Player of the Year three times. He scored more than 21, 000 points, and he played in 13 of the highest scoring games in his team’s history. Once he scored 60 points in just one game.

During his very successful basketball career, Larry Bird suffered a number of injuries. In 1989, he stopped playing because of pain in his feet. He returned in 1990, but the pain in his feet returned too. In the next two years he experienced more medical problems, and he missed many games.

Larry Bird did play on the Dream Team－the first Olympic Team with professional players. However, after winning the gold medal in Barcelona, he announced that he would retire from professional basketball. Larry Bird said he would have liked to play a little longer, but he could not because of his health problems. He also said it was a good time to leave the game. He wanted to be remembered as a winner.

1.The underlined word “scored” in the second paragraph means ________.

A. lost　　　　　 B. made　　　　 C.　 got　　　　　　 D. wrote

2.When he returned to his team in 1990, ________.

A. he still had a lot of medical problems caused by the previous（先前的）injuries

B. he played in all the following games for his team

C. he had recovered from a number of injuries

D. He didn’t play for his team any more

3.Which of the following statements is NOT true?

A. Larry Bird began his career after his graduation from the college.

B. He lost interest in playing basketball after he retired.

C. Though he left the team, he didn’t feel too much regret.

D. He thought it a right decision to leave the team.

高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

Louis Pasteur

Louis Pasteur, one of the world's great scientists, was born in 1822, and died in 1895.While still a young boy, Louis Pasteur made his decision to become a scientist. He spent much of his life time studying the diseases of cattle, chickens and other tame animals. His wife learned to help him with his work. Almost everyone knows that Pasteur is the man responsible for finding a way of preventing milk from spoiling (变质). Not many people know he was the first to imagine and to prove that air we breathe is full of germs (细菌).  One of his greatest successes was finding a treatment for people and animals to prevent a disease called rabies (狂犬病). Louis Pasteur won many honors and could have got large amount of money. But Pasteur preferred to live simply. The real happiness of this unusual man came from his work. Louis Pasteur did so well in his life that the French government took up his work and created the Institute Pasteur in the year 1888.

1.According to the passage, which of the following statements is true?

2. From the passage, we know that Pasteur lived a simple life. This is because ________.

3.Why were many honors given to Louis Pasteur?

4. Pasteur could have got large amount of money if he had___________.

5.To Louis Pasteur the real happiness in his life was to __________.

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

Louis Pasteur, one of the world's great scientists, was born in 1822, and died in 1895.While still a young boy, Louis Pasteur made his decision to become a scientist. He spent much of his life time studying the diseases of cattle, chickens and other tame animals. His wife learned to help him with his work. Almost everyone knows that Pasteur is the man responsible for finding a way of preventing milk from spoiling (变质). Not many people know he was the first to imagine and to prove that air we breathe is full of germs (细菌).  One of his greatest successes was finding a treatment for people and animals to prevent a disease called rabies (狂犬病). Louis Pasteur won many honors and could have got large amount of money. But Pasteur preferred to live simply. The real happiness of this unusual man came from his work. Louis Pasteur did so well in his life that the French government took up his work and created the Institute Pasteur in the year 1888.

1.According to the passage, which of the following statements is true?

A．Pasteur was a scientist and doctor as well.

B．Pasteur lived for less than seventy years.

C．Everybody knows that Pasteur succeeded in finding a way of preventing milk from spoiling.

D．Pasteur's wife was of some help to him in his work..

2.From the passage, we know that Pasteur lived a simple life. This is because ________.

A．he earned little money.

B．he cared much about money.

C．what he really enjoyed was a simple life.

D．of all mentioned above.

3.Why were many honors given to Louis Pasteur?

A．Because he was the greatest scientist in the world.

B．Because he spent much of his life time studying the diseases of people .

C．Because he lived simply.

D．Because he was a great success as a scientist.

4.Pasteur could have got large amount of money if he had___________.

A．cared much about it.

B．made more discoveries.

C．lived a better life.

D．achieved more successes.

5.To Louis Pasteur the real happiness in his life was to __________.

A．study                                B．work

C．get large amount of money                D．raise tame animals

高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

Louis Pasteur, one of the world's great scientists, was born in 1822, and died in 1895.While still a young boy, Louis Pasteur made his decision to become a scientist. He spent much of his life time studying the diseases of cattle, chickens and other tame animals. His wife learned to help him with his work. Almost everyone knows that Pasteur is the man responsible for finding a way of preventing milk from spoiling (变质). Not many people know he was the first to imagine and to prove that air we breathe is full of germs. One of his greatest successes was finding a treatment for people and animals to prevent a disease called rabies (狂犬病). Louis Pasteur won many honors and could have got large amount of money. But Pasteur preferred to live simply. The real happiness of this unusual man came from his work. Louis Pasteur did so well in his life that the French government took up his work and created the Institute Pasteur in the year 1888.

1.According to the passage, which of the following statements is true?

A. Pasteur was a scientist and doctor as well.

B. Pasteur lived for less than seventy years.

C. Everybody knows that Pasteur succeeded in finding a way of preventing milk from spoiling.

D. Pasteur's wife was of some help to him in his work..

2.From the passage, we know that Pasteur lived a simple life. This is because ________.

A. he earned little money.                   B. he cared much about money.

C. what he really enjoyed was a simple life.     D. of all mentioned above.

3. Why were many honors given to Louis Pasteur?

A. Because he was the greatest scientist in the world.

B. Because he spent much of his life time studying the diseases of people .

C. Because he lived simply.

D. Because he was a rare success as a scientist.

4.Pasteur could have got large amount of money if he had___________.

A. cared much about it.       B. made more discoveries.

C. lived a better life.          D. achieved more successes.

5.To Louis Pasteur the real happiness in his life was to __________.

A. study                    B. work

C. get large amount of money   D. raise tame animals

高二英语阅读理解简单题查看答案及解析