I got interested in the idea of standing desk...

I got interested in the idea of standing desks about a year ago. The health advantages of standing instead of sitting for eight hours a day are clear, so when the company Ergotron invited me to review their WorkFit C-Mod Dual Desk, I jumped out of my chair---really.

After several hours putting the desk together, I finally got to try it out. The standing desk had a desktop that I could use for writing.

At first I absolutely loved it. Standing during the day instead of sitting was fantastic. Although I felt more tired after all that standing during the day, I knew the health benefits were worth the slight discomfort. However, after the initial novelty (新奇)of the desk wore off, I realized that I could not use it in the long term.

It was just not practical. While using the desk for a month , I could definitely foresee problems arising from using it full time.

I enjoy having a lot of things on my desk. The standing desk just did not have enough room for all of my things.

I can easily foresee awkward situations when I put that desk in an office space. When someone comes into your office, does your guest have to stand as well? If you office is big enough, maybe you have room for two chairs for you and a visitor, which is great. Yet for the ordinary worker in a small office, the standing desk creates a very awkward situation.

Additionally, the amount of money I would have to spend to replace my current workspace with a standing desk was another issue. The desks I have looked at were highly expensive.

Yes, spending the day standing can offset(抵消) many of the negative effects of too much sitting, but we humans are designed for movement. Through activity changes like taking the stairs instead of the elevator, you can easily increase the time you spend on your feet. Best of all, those options are completely free.

1.When the author was asked to try the standing desk out, he was ____.

A．excited           B．surprised          C．unhappy          D．uninterested

2.When first using the standing desk, the author ___.

A．thought it was boring                    B．thought it was wonderful

C．felt less tired than usual                  D．felt quite uncomfortable

3.According to the author, a standing desk ____.

A．takes up too much space                  B．is suitable for long-term use

C．is cheaper than traditional desks            D．is impractical though good for health

4.What does the author mainly tell us in the text?

A．How to use the standing desk.              B．What he does during the workday.

C．His opinion on the standing desk.           D．The advantage of the standing desk.

高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

Public speaking is a common cause of stress for everyone. The idea of standing in front of a large group with all eyes on you can make you feel fearful in almost all kinds of situation, for example giving a presentation in class, proposing a toast at dinner or making a work-related presentation. It seems to be a fear that’s impossible to overcome. If you have ever experienced this, you know while the anxiety may develop at the actual event, it is a feeling that begins much earlier than the actual day. There are many ways you can work on your confidence and prepare yourself for a public speaking event.

A consultant specializing (专门研究) in presentation skills can help you to overcome your sense of panic. Working with a consultant does not indicate that you have a major problem; it is only an approach to receiving guidance on relaxation strategies, such as deep breathing, which can help you deal with public speaking problems with ease.

Consultants can also help you work on your confidence. Confidence is extremely important in public speaking as it lets a speaker sound more convincing. Even well-established public speakers practice techniques such as meditation (沉思冥想) to calm themselves before a public appearance.

It’s well worth the time and effort to overcome the fear of public speaking, particularly if talks and presentations are part of your work description. Keep in mind that many of those around you are also struggling with this fear of public speaking. It will help you to become an able speaker if you can prepare beforehand. For example, you can put in time on planning your presentation in detail and practicing it many times in secret. As you get more and more familiar with your material, you’ll be able to fine-tune (微调) the details of your presentation and this will make you a confident speaker. Your speech will become excellent in terms of style and content.

Remember that the more you get into this pattern of feeling good about yourself, the stronger you will feel about approaching events when you have to make a speech. You can also work on physical details such as adjusting your tone (音调) before the presentation by doing some warm-up exercises.

In a word, believing in yourself and presenting yourself well can help you deeply impress your audience. And after a few speeches you’ll notice yourself overcoming the sense of panic that you now feel in public speaking situations.

高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

Humans have long been interested greatly in the idea of being able to walk on water. Sadly, biological facts prevent us ever realizing this dream without artificial aid—we simply weigh too much, and all our weight pushes down through our relatively small feet, resulting in a lot of pressure that makes us sink.

However, several types of animals can walk on water. One of the most interesting is the common basilisk Basilicus basilicus, a lizard (蜥蜴) native to Central and South America. It can run across water for a distance of several meters, avoiding getting wet by rapidly hitting the water's surface with its feet. The lizard will reach a speed of 20 steps per second to keep moving forward. For humans, we would need huge feet that we could bring up to our ears in order to create enough “hitting”.

But fortunately there is an alternative: cornflour(玉米淀粉). By adding enough of this common thickening agent to water (and it does take a lot), you can create a special mixture that doesn't behave like normal water. Now, if the surface of the water is hit hard enough, particles(微粒) in the water get together for a moment to make the surface hard. Move quickly enough and put enough force into each step, and you really can walk across the surface of this adequately thick liquid of cornflour.

Fun though all this may sound, it's still rather messy and better read about in theory than carried out in practice. If you must do it, then keep the water wings(救生圈) ready in case you start to sink—and take a bath afterward!

1.Walking on water hasn't become a reality mainly because humans _________.

A. are not interested in it

B. are afraid to make an attempt

C. have not invented proper tools

D. have biological limitations

2.What do we know about Basilicus basilicus from the passage?

A. It is light enough to walk on water.

B. It can run across water at a certain speed.

C. Its huge feet make it able to stay above water.

D. Its unique skin keeps it from getting wet in water.

3.What is the function of the cornflour according to the passage?

A. To help the liquid behave normally.

B. To turn the water into solid.

C. To create a thick liquid.

D. To make the water move rapidly.

4.What is the author’s attitude toward the idea of humans’ walking on water?

A. It is risky but beneficial.

B. It is impractical though possible in thoery.

C. It is crazy and cannot become a reality.

D. It is interesting and worth trying.

高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

In front of the house _____ with a history of 100 years.

A. does a tall stand    B. stands a tall tree

C. a tall tree is standing   D. a tall tree stands

高二英语单项填空困难题查看答案及解析

My previous home had a stand of woods behind it and many animals in the backyard.That first year,I______feeding peanuts to the blue jays,then the squirrels.The squirrels had no______coming up right to me for them. As the months went by, the rabbits saw that I was no______and didn’t escape.When I threw carrot slices(薄片)，they even came for a nibble(啃).Slowly they came to______me,and by the end of the year they were eating out of my hand.
　　 That second year,the rabbits______me,and one would even sit up for slices!While I was feeding them,I______that a groundhog who used to run away was now talking an______interest in this food situation.I carefully extended a long______,with a keen eye on those teeth,and______,there were times I would have the groundhog sitting next to a rabbit,both munching(津津有味的咀嚼) On carrots.A few months later,while______,she would even turn her back to me.______When she was facing away, I reached out and______scratched（搔）her back with my finger,She didn’t move.

By year three,the rabbits and the groundhog were back.The groundhog______didn’t have a problem with me scratching her back,and I got an ides,I’d always______,while slicing up carrots,that the end looked like a cap.______one day, just to see what she would do ,I gently______one on top of the groundhog’s head.Again,not a______,The next time, I had my camera ready to record what you see here,one of several dozen such pictures,______she had a slice to eat,she never______the one of her head.It was a fair______—I got a pleasure,and she had yet another tasty treat.

1.A. avoided　　 B. started　　 C. canceled　　 D. suggested

2.A. business　　 B. fun　　 C. problem　　 D. privilege

3.A. help　　 B. cheat　　 C. threat　　 D. exception

4.A. trust　　 B. miss　　 C. admire　　 D. appreciate

5.A. feared　　 B. ignored　　 C. discovered　　 D. remembered

6.A. proved　　 B. decided　　 C. noticed　　 D. understood

7.A. extreme　　 B. increasing　　 C. additional　　 D. inspiring

8.A. squirrel　　 B. rabbit　　 C. peanut　　 D. carrot

9.A. before long　　 B. long ago　　 C. over and over　　 D. all over again

10.A. eating　　 B. playing　　 C. sitting　　 D. sleeping

11.A. Next　　 B. Once　　 C. Soon　　 D. Lately

12.A. carefully　　 B. suddenly　　 C. violently　　 D. patiently

13.A. also　　 B. thus　　 C. just　　 D. still

14.A. thought　　 B. doubted　　 C. admitted　　 D. recognised

15.A. While　　 B. Or　　 C. So　　 D. For

16.A. fixed　　 B. placed　　 C. hung　　 D. kept

17.A. tremble　　 B. move　　 C. delay　　 D. hesitation

18.A. Even if　　 B. Ever since　　 C. As far as　　 D. So long as

19.A. welcomed　　 B. required　　 C. bothered　　 D. expected

20.A. trade　　 B. competition　　 C. task　　 D. affair

高二英语完形填空困难题查看答案及解析

To Whom It May Concern:

My husband and I got married in 1965 and for the first ten years of our marriage I was very happy to stay home and raise our three children. Then four years ago, our youngest child went to school and I thought I might go back to work.

My husband was very supportive and helped me to make my decision. He emphasized all of the things I can do around the house, and said he thought I could be a great success in business.

After several weeks of job-hunting I found my present job, which is working for a small public relations firm. At first, my husband was very proud of me and would tell his friends , "My clever little wife can run that company she's working for."

But as his joking remark approached reality, my husband stopped talking to me about my job．I have received several promotions and pay increases , and I am now making more money than he is. I can buy my own clothes and a new car. Because of our combined incomes, my husband and I can do many things that we had always dreamed of doing , but we don't do these things because he is very unhappy.

We fight about little things and my husband is very critical of me in front of our friends. For the first time in our marriage, I think there is a possibility that our marriage may come to an end．

I love my husband very much, and I don't want him to feel inferior, but I also love my job．I think I can be a good wife and a working woman, but I don't know how .Can you give me some advice? Will I have to choose one or the other or can I keep both my husband and my new career?

Please help.

"Distressed"

1.The letter was most probable written ________.

A．in 1975            B．around 1980                                 C．four years ago D．in 1965

2.Her husband ________ when she first found her present job．

A．was very critical of her                  B．felt disappointed

C．was proud of her                             D．was happy but critical

3.What does the underlined word "promotion" mean?

A．scolding           B．criticism         C．prize                 D．advancement

4.As her income increased, ________.

A．she found a gap emerged between her and her husband

B．she bought more clothes and a house

C．she did the many things she and her husband dreamed of

D．she felt very proud of herself

高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

To Whom It May Concern:

My husband and I got married in 1965 and for the first ten years of our marriage I was very happy to stay home and raise our three children. Then four years ago, our youngest child went to school and I thought I might go back to work.

My husband was very supportive and helped me to make my decision. He emphasized all of the things I can do around the house, and said he thought I could be a great success in business.

After several weeks of job-hunting I found my present job, which is working for a small public relations firm. At first, my husband was very proud of me and would tell his friends , "My clever little wife can run that company she's working for."

But as his joking remark approached reality, my husband stopped talking to me about my job．I have received several promotions and pay increases , and I am now making more money than he is. I can buy my own clothes and a new car. Because of our combined incomes, my husband and I can do many things that we had always dreamed of doing , but we don't do these things because he is very unhappy.

We fight about little things and my husband is very critical of me in front of our friends. For the first time in our marriage, I think there is a possibility that our marriage may come to an end．

I love my husband very much, and I don't want him to feel inferior, but I also love my job．I think I can be a good wife and a working woman, but I don't know how .Can you give me some advice? Will I have to choose one or the other or can I keep both my husband and my new career?

Please help.

"Distressed"

1.The letter was most probable written ________.

2.Her husband ________ when she first found her present job．

3.What does the underlined word "promotion" mean?

4.As her income increased, ________.

高二英语阅读理解简单题查看答案及解析

My husband and I got married in 1965 and for the first ten years of our marriage I was very happy to ______ home and raise our three children.Then four years ago，our youngest ______ went to school and I thought I might go back to ______.

My husband was very ______and helped me to make my decision.He pointed out all of the things I can do around the ______，and said he thought I could be a great ______ in business.After several weeks of job­hunting，I found my ______job，which is working for a small public relations firm.At first，my husband was very ______ of me and would tell his friends，“My clever little wife can ______ that company she’s working for.”

But as his joking words were close to ______，my husband stopped talking to me about my job.I have received several promotions and pay increases，and I am now ______ more money than he is.I can buy my ______ clothes and a new car.Because of our joint incomes，my husband and I can do many things that we had always ______ of doing，but we don’t do these things because he is very ______.

We ______ about little things and my husband is very critical of me in front of our friends.For the first time in our marriage，I think there is a possibility that our marriage may come to a(n) ______.

I love my husband very much，and I don’t want him to ______ lower，but I also love my job.I think I can be a good wife and a working woman，but I don’t know ______.Can you give me some ______？Will I have to choose one or the other or can I keep both my ______ and my new career?

1.A. look　　 B. stay　　 C. see　　 D. study

2.A. person　　 B. man　　 C. child　　 D. lady

3.A. school　　 B. factory　　 C. study　　 D. work

4.A. restricted　　 B. opposite　　 C. disappointed　　 D. supportive

5.A. group　　 B. house　　 C. firm　　 D. husband

6.A. success　　 B. failure　　 C. mother　　 D. helper

7.A. awkward　　 B. convenient　　 C. useful　　 D. present

8.A. warm　　 B. fond　　 C. proud　　 D. comfortable

9.A. run　　 B. walk　　 C. hire　　 D. sell

10.A. awareness　　 B. beliefs　　 C. reality　　 D. ambition

11.A. making　　 B. building　　 C. producing　　 D. growing

12.A. cheap　　 B. own　　 C. important　　 D. incredible

13.A. agreed　　 B. believed　　 C. dreamed　　 D. supposed

14.A. unhappy　　 B. confident　　 C. discouraging　　 D. certain

15.A. communicate　　 B. strike　　 C. fight　　 D. change

16.A. absence　　 B. end　　 C. exam　　 D. question

17.A. gain　　 B. add　　 C. feel　　 D. suffer

18.A. what　　 B. where　　 C. why　　 D. how

19.A. duties　　 B. advice　　 C. fun　　 D. enjoyment

20.A. husband　　 B. child　　 C. friendship　　 D. boss

高二英语完形填空简单题查看答案及解析

Years ago, in a small fishing village in Holland, a young boy taught the world about the rewards of unselfish service.

Because the entire village lived on fishing, a volunteer rescue team was needed in case of emergency. One night, the winds36 , the clouds burst and a strong storm overturned a fishing boat at sea. The crew in trouble37 the SOS. The captain of the rescue rowboat team38 the alarm and the villagers39   in the town square overlooking the sea. When the team started their rowboat fought their way through the wild waves, the villagers waited   40 on the beach, holding lamps to41 the way back.

An hour later, the rescue boat reappeared through the fog and the42 villagers ran to greet them. Falling43 on the sand, the volunteers reported that the rescue boat could not hold any more44 and they had to leave one man behind. Even one more passenger would have surely45 the rescue boat and all would have been lost.

46 , the captain called for another volunteer team to47 the survivor. Sixteen-year-old Hans stepped forward. His mother grabbed his arm, crying, "please don't go. Your father48  in a shipwreck  (船只失事) 10 years ago and your elder brother, Paul, has been lost　　49 for three weeks. Hans, you are all I have left."

Hans replied, "Mother, I have to go. 50 everyone said I can't go, let someone else do it? Mother, this time I have to do my duty. When the call for service51 , we all need to take our turn and do our part. Hans kissed his mother, joined the team and52 into the night. "

Another hour passed, which seemed to Hans' mother like a century. 53   the rescue boat dashed through the fog with Hans standing up in the bow. 54 his hands, the captain called, "did you find the lost man?" 55 able to control himself, Hans excitedly cried back, "Yes, we found him. Tell my mother it's my elder brother, Paul!"

1. A. stilled         B. screamed       C. stopped       D. calmed

2. A. set about       B. sent out       C. came up with  D. took over

3.A. sounded       B. set            C. took         D. made

4. A. gathered       B. followed       C. fought       D. struggled

5. A. nervously      B. angrily        C. fearfully      D. happily

6. A. hope         B. light          C. expect        D. try

7.A. promising      B. hoping        C. cheering          D. standing

8.A. uncomfortable  B. exhausted      C. disturbed        D. painful

9. A. villagers       B. sailors         C. captains      D. passengers

10. A. pushed        B. pulled         C. overturned     D. settled

11. A. Anxiously      B. Strangely     C. Unexpectedly   D. Doubtfully

12. A. look after                                         B. look for       C. lookout          D. look on

13.A. died            B. pulled        C. went            D. interrupted

14. A. in the fire                      B. at sea         C. on strike     D. in the war

15. A. How about      B. What for      C. What if        D. What with

16.A. comes           B. goes           C. flies          D. climbs

17. A. appeared      B. disappeared    C. came           D. went

18. A. Therefore      B. Firstly       C. when           D. Finally

19.A. Making        B. Keeping          C. Showing        D. Cupping

20.A. Hardly    B. Only C. Seldom   D. Always

高二英语完型填空中等难度题查看答案及解析

In the long history of about 5,000 years, numerous Chinese traditional festivals were celebrated as the memory of gods or some significant days, some of which are passed down from generation to generation and people always practice special traditional activities in each festival,

Qingming Festival

Qingming Festival is on the 15th day after Spring Equinox (春分), round April 4 or April 5 every year. 1., They remove the weeds growing on the ancestors* tomb to make them clean, so this festival is also called Tomb-sweeping Festival. In some areas, people are forbidden to use the fire to cook the food, so they only eat the cool food. Thus, it is also named Hanshi Festival.

Double Ninth Festival

2.The Chinese character of September is the same as 9, so we get this special name. Chinese　 people, especially the north Chinese，climb the mountains to the peak to enjoy the wonderful perspective, and admire the beauty of chrysanthemum(菊花).

Winter Solstice(冬至).

Winter solstice is on around December 22 or 23 of solar calendar each year, From winter solstice on, the daytime will be longer and longer. 3.Chinese people in the northern region, eat dumplings-aad wonton(馄炖), while in the southern regions rice balls.

4.

In China, this festival is in late January or early Februaty, the last day of the Lunar year.

People celebrate it by having a family reunion dinner, setting off fireworks and staying up late. Breaking the dishes and bowls is a thing all the people scare(惊恐），but if you did it, you have to say: “sui sui ping an)”5.

A. Spring Festival.

B. New Year's Eve.

C. People always visit their friends and relatives*

D. People will go to worship(祭拜）their ancestors.

E. It is a pun(双关语), meaning you will be healthy every year.

F. It is celebrated on Sept. 9th of the Lunar Calendar, around October

G. It's a holiday which is regarded as important as the Spring Festival.

高二英语七选五困难题查看答案及解析