CALCUTTA, India Mar 24, 2006 (AP) — One of the world’s oldest creatures, a giant tortoise believed to have been about 250 years old, has died in the Calcutta zoo where it spent more than half its long life.
Addwaita, which means “the one and only” in the local Bengali language, was one of four Aldabra tortoises brought to India by British sailors in the 18th century. Zoo officials say he was a gift for Lord Robert Clive of the East India Company, who was instrumental in establishing British colonial rule in India, before he returned to England in 1767. Long after the other three tortoises died, Addwaita continued to thrive, living in Clive’s garden before being moved to the zoo in 1875.
“According to records in the zoo, the age of the giant tortoise, Addwaita, who died on Wednesday, would be about 250 years,” said zoo director Subir Chowdhury. That would have made him much older than the world’s oldest documented living animal: Harriet, a 176-year-old Galapagos tortoise who lives at the Australia Zoo north of Brisbane, according to the zoo’s Web site. She was taken from the island of Isla Santa Cruz by Charles Darwin in the 19th century.
Aldabra tortoises come from the Aldabra atoll in the Seychelle islands in the Indian Ocean, and often live to more than 100 years of age. Males can weigh up to 550 pounds. Addwaita, the zoo’s biggest attraction, had been unwell for the last few days, said local Forest Minister Jogesh Burman.
“We were keeping a watch on him. When the zoo keepers went to his enclosure on Wednesday they found him dead,” Burman said.
1. According to the passage, Addwaita ________.
A. was sent to India as a gift by British government
B. was sent to India by British sailors in 1767
C. lived together with three other Aldabra tortoises in India
D. belonged to Lord Robert Clive for some time
2. By now, the oldest animal in the world is about at ________.
A. 176 years old B. 100 years old C. 250 years old D. 200 years old
3. In the last few days before Addwaita died, he ________.
A. had been sent to hospital for treatment
B. had been playing with travelers
C. had been found not better than before
D. had stayed in his enclosure for days
4. What would be the best title for the passage?
A. An Old Aldabra Tortoise Died in India
B. A Remarkable Life: Tortoise Dies at 250
C. A Special Kind of Tortoise — Addwaita
D. The Oldest Animal Aldabra Tortoise Died
高二英语阅读理解简单题
CALCUTTA, India Mar 24, 2006 (AP) — One of the world’s oldest creatures, a giant tortoise believed to have been about 250 years old, has died in the Calcutta zoo where it spent more than half its long life.
Addwaita, which means “the one and only” in the local Bengali language, was one of four Aldabra tortoises brought to India by British sailors in the 18th century. Zoo officials say he was a gift for Lord Robert Clive of the East India Company, who was instrumental in establishing British colonial rule in India, before he returned to England in 1767. Long after the other three tortoises died, Addwaita continued to thrive, living in Clive’s garden before being moved to the zoo in 1875.
“According to records in the zoo, the age of the giant tortoise, Addwaita, who died on Wednesday, would be about 250 years,” said zoo director Subir Chowdhury. That would have made him much older than the world’s oldest documented living animal: Harriet, a 176-year-old Galapagos tortoise who lives at the Australia Zoo north of Brisbane, according to the zoo’s Web site. She was taken from the island of Isla Santa Cruz by Charles Darwin in the 19th century.
Aldabra tortoises come from the Aldabra atoll in the Seychelle islands in the Indian Ocean, and often live to more than 100 years of age. Males can weigh up to 550 pounds. Addwaita, the zoo’s biggest attraction, had been unwell for the last few days, said local Forest Minister Jogesh Burman.
“We were keeping a watch on him. When the zoo keepers went to his enclosure on Wednesday they found him dead,” Burman said.
1. According to the passage, Addwaita ________.
A. was sent to India as a gift by British government
B. was sent to India by British sailors in 1767
C. lived together with three other Aldabra tortoises in India
D. belonged to Lord Robert Clive for some time
2. By now, the oldest animal in the world is about at ________.
A. 176 years old B. 100 years old C. 250 years old D. 200 years old
3. In the last few days before Addwaita died, he ________.
A. had been sent to hospital for treatment
B. had been playing with travelers
C. had been found not better than before
D. had stayed in his enclosure for days
4. What would be the best title for the passage?
A. An Old Aldabra Tortoise Died in India
B. A Remarkable Life: Tortoise Dies at 250
C. A Special Kind of Tortoise — Addwaita
D. The Oldest Animal Aldabra Tortoise Died
高二英语阅读理解简单题查看答案及解析
CALCUTTA, India Mar 24, 2006 (AP) — One of the world’s oldest creatures, a giant tortoise believed to have been about 250 years old, has died in the Calcutta zoo where it spent more than half its long life.
Addwaita, which means “the one and only” in the local Bengali language, was one of four Aldabra tortoises brought to India by British sailors in the 18th century. Zoo officials say he was a gift for Lord Robert Clive of the East India Company, who was instrumental in establishing British colonial rule in India, before he returned to England in 1767. Long after the other three tortoises died, Addwaita continued to thrive, living in Clive’s garden before being moved to the zoo in 1875.
“According to records in the zoo, the age of the giant tortoise, Addwaita, who died on Wednesday, would be about 250 years,” said zoo director Subir Chowdhury. That would have made him much older than the world’s oldest documented living animal: Harriet, a 176-year-old Galapagos tortoise who lives at the Australia Zoo north of Brisbane, according to the zoo’s Web site. She was taken from the island of Isla Santa Cruz by Charles Darwin in the 19th century.
Aldabra tortoises come from the Aldabra atoll in the Seychelle islands in the Indian Ocean, and often live to more than 100 years of age. Males can weigh up to 550 pounds. Addwaita, the zoo’s biggest attraction, had been unwell for the last few days, said local Forest Minister Jogesh Burman.
“We were keeping a watch on him. When the zoo keepers went to his enclosure on Wednesday they found him dead,” Burman said.
1.According to the passage, Addwaita ________.
A. was sent to India as a gift by British government
B. was sent to India by British sailors in 1767
C. lived together with three other Aldabra tortoises in India
D. belonged to Lord Robert Clive for some time
2.By now, the oldest animal in the world is about at ________.
A. 176 years old B. 100 years old C. 250 years old D. 200 years old
3.In the last few days before Addwaita died, he ________.
A. had been sent to hospital for treatment
B. had been playing with travelers
C. had been found not better than before
D. had stayed in his enclosure for days
4.What would be the best title for the passage?
A. An Old Aldabra Tortoise Died in India
B. A Remarkable Life: Tortoise Dies at 250
C. A Special Kind of Tortoise — Addwaita
D. The Oldest Animal Aldabra Tortoise Died
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
Hallmark arrived in my hometown of Calcutta, India when I was 16. On Valentine’s Day(情人节), I waited in line with many other teenagers just for a chance to get into the store. I remember wishing two things. One of them is that the good-looking boy whom I could see through the store window was picking out a gift for me. Unfortunately, Valentine’s Day passed and I received nothing but a lecture from my father on how Western capitalism(资本主义) was ruining your culture.
The next Valentine’s Day, I still didn’t have a boyfriend, but I did receive a greeting card from a secret admirer. I can’t remember what it exactly said inside the card, but it hardly mattered. I know I’m not the only one who’s had the blues because of being single on Valentine’s Day.
It’s not just on Valentine’s Day that I’m reminded of these feelings. One night, my friend and I were at the subway station in New York City waiting for the local to arrive. The station was mostly full of college students, and later an older couple walked in. Just at that moment, a street musician started playing She’s Only a Woman to Me. The couple began dancing around the station and lost in their own world. On the train, I found myself recalling the time when I was with a date at the subway station, and there he picked me up in his arms like I was a ballerina(芭蕾舞女演员).
My view of romance has changed from when I was 16 in Calcutta to now, 23, and living in Manhattan. This year, I won’t focus all my romantic expectations on one particular day. I’ll spend Valentine’s Day with friends in New York City. But I won’t try to hide somewhere or turn off my cellphone. Instead, I’ll help my coupled-up friends pack for their weekend trips to Rome.
1.The underlined word “Hallmark” in Paragraph 1 probably refers to a .
A.city | B.street | C.store | D.man |
2.We can infer that in the opinion of the writer’s father .
A.his daughter should have received a gift |
B.people in India shouldn’t celebrate Valentine’s Day |
C.people in India should welcome Western culture |
D.his daughter should know more about capitalism |
3.According to Paragraph 2, if someone has the blues, he or she is probably .
A.lucky | B.angry | C.excited | D.sad |
4.What is implied in the passage?
A.The writer now has a boyfriend. |
B.The writer now is afraid of Valentine’s Day. |
C.The writer will go to Rome with her coupled-up friends. |
D.The writer’s attitude towards Valentine’s Day has changed. |
高二英语阅读理解简单题查看答案及解析
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia – One of the world’s most famous fossils (化石) – the 3.2 million-year-old Lucy skeleton (骨骼) unearthed in Ethiopia in 1974 – will go on an exhibition tour abroad for the first time in the United States, officials said Tuesday.
Even the Ethiopian public has only seen Lucy twice. The Lucy on exhibition at the Ethiopian National Museum in the capital, Addis Ababa, is a replica while the real remains are usually locked in a secret storeroom. A team from the Museum of National Science in Houston, Texas, spent four years discussing with the Ethiopians for the U.S. tour, which will start in Houston next September.
“Ethiopia’s rich culture of both the past and today, is one of the best kept secrets in the world,” said Joel Bartsch, director of the Houston museum.
The six-year tour will also go to Washington, New York, Denver and Chicago. Officials said six other U.S. cities may be on the tour. But they said plans had not been worked out.
Travelling with Lucy will be 190 other fossils.
Lucy, her name taken from a Beatles song that played in a camp the night of her discovery, is part of the skeleton of what was once a 3.5-foot-tall ape-man (猿人).
1.The author writes this text mainly to .
A. introduce a few U.S. museums B. report a coming event
C. discuss the value of an ape-man D. describe some research work
2.What does the words “a replica” in Paragraph 2 refer to?
A. A copy of the skeleton. B. A photograph of Lucy
C. A painting of the skeleton. D. A written record of Lucy.
3.How many cities has Lucy’s U.S. tour plan already included?
A. Eleven. B. Six. C. Five. D. Four.
4.What was the skeleton named after?
A. An ape-man. B. A camp. C. A singer. D. A song.
高二英语阅读理解困难题查看答案及解析
The London Underground is one of the best transport networks in the world with around 24 million journeys made each day, so it is important that everything runs smoothly. Remember the following to travel like a Londoner.
Keep right on escalator(自动梯)
London Underground asks that you stand on the right when using the escalators and leave the left free for others to walk down. If you are traveling in a big group, or with lots of shopping bags, stand and stay right and let others pass you---it will speed up the process and be a more pleasant journey for everyone!
Remember the “rush hour”
The tube network is very busy during the rush hour. You can expect the trains and stations to be overcrowded between 7:30 and 9:30 in the morning and between 17:00 and 19:00 in the evening.
Move down the platform to find more space
As you enter the station platform, you will often find more room if you walk down to the end of the platform. Here, the train carriages are usually the emptiest as well.
Carry a bottle of water in warmer moths
The London Underground is over 150 years old and although the trains have been modernized, many still lack air conditioning and cooling units. Make sure you take a bottle of water with you, especially in the summer, as the long tube journeys can get very hot.
Keep your personal belongings safe
Like any large city be cautions of pickpockets operating in the busy stations and tubes. Carry a bag with zips and keep your personal belongings and valuable items in it to avoid becoming the victims of theft.
Plan your journey on the London Underground in advance with a free tube map. Click here to download.
1.What can we know about the London Underground from the text?
A. It is used by about 24 million people every week
B. Its rush hour is around 10:00 am on weekends
C. It has a history of more than one and a half centuries.
D. It is enjoyable for people to travel on it all year round..
2.What should we do when taking the London Underground?
A. Avoid taking water along with the ride.
B. Standing on the right when using the escalators
C. Avoid taking a large number of shopping bags
D. Walk to the middle of the platform to find more space.
3.In order not to be stolen, you are advised to__________.
A. avoid traveling in a big group
B. avoid traveling during the rush hour
C. keep your valuables in a zipped bag.
D. stay away from busy stations and tubes
4.Where would you be most likely to find the text?
A. On a website. B. On a city map.
C. On a notice board. D. In a business report.
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
India now leads the world in smartphone growth. It saw a 55% increase in the number of smartphones in 2014. The number of Web users increased by 37 %. Smartphones were the source of 65 % of its Internet traffic and 41 % of its e-commerce, according to a report by the analyst Mary Meeker, titled “Internet Trends 2015”.
India’s Internet boom has started. Within three or four years, almost every adult in India will own a smartphone. They will be used to order goods, read news, monitor crop growth and so on.
Indian adults will be very interested in these devices just as young Americans are. 87 % of Americans between the ages of 18 and 34 who own smartphones say they never separate from these: “My smartphone never leaves my side.” Four out of five say that the first thing they do on waking is to reach for their smartphones. And three fifths believe that in the next five years everything will be done on mobile devices.
In the business world, the rise of mobile platforms is dramatically transforming many industries all over the world. What Indian software developers have to do is to start thinking about solutions to old problems by using all the features of these new devices. They need to take advantage of the unique properties of smartphones and tablets. As Indian software developers and enterprises master the smartphone, they will be able to export their solutions to the rest of the world.
This will make possible a new tech revolution that is greater than what created India’s IT industry in the 1980s and 1990s. We can expect the rapid transformation of India when a billion people become connected and have equal access to information and services.
1.Loads of numbers are used in Paragraph 1 to show _____________.
A. India’s smartphones increase most rapidly in the world
B. India has the most advanced IT industry in the world
C. India will be a superpower pretty soon
D. India will export new smartphones to the rest of the world
2.What will most young Americans do first the moment they wake up?
A. Read news. B. Shop online.
C. Get their smartphones. D. Check e-mails.
3.Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?
A. India is the largest mobile maker in the world.
B. Indian farmers use smartphones to monitor crop growth..
C. Indian software developers have made great profits by selling their products abroad.
D. India saw a great boom in IT industry some 30 years ago.
4.Which can be the best title of the text?
A. More people, more smartphones
B. No dream, every Indian owns a smartphone
C. At hand, India’s next tech revolution
D.A small smartphone, a big use
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
They once seemed more at home on the busy streets of Asia like Delhi, Calcutta and Bangkok but cycle powered rickshaws (人力车) can now be seen taking people across town in many European cities. Many people believe that rickshaws are a good way of experiencing a city close-up, while also cutting down on traffic jams and pollution. In Berlin, one of the first cities to introduce this new model of transport, more than 200 bike-taxis go along at 15km per hour, past many tourist attractions and city parks.
“It is completely environmentally friendly; we have new models with an engine to help the driver up the hills but they use renewable energy.” said a spokesman for VELOTAXI, the leading rickshaw company which has carried a quarter of a million people this year.
While the city still has 7,000 motor-taxis, rickshaw company officials say their taxis’ green ideas, speed and safety make them more than just a tourist attraction. While now increasingly out of fashion in Delhi, Berlin people have eagerly accepted the new fleet since their launch in 1997.
“It’s better than a taxi, better than a bus, better than the train,” said ULF Lehman, 36, as he leapt out of a rickshaw near the world famous Brandenburg gate. “ It feels so free.”
“ This is something out of the ordinary, you feel you are on holiday in Bangkok instead of Berlin,” said another traveler.
In Amsterdam, driver Peter Jancso said people like to be driven around in his bright yellow rickshaw and pretend to be a queen in a golden carriage. "I like my passengers to feel important," he said as he dropped off another passenger. Another visitor noted how cheap it was compared with a normal taxi.
Although increasingly popular in Europe, it is the opposite in India, where hand-pulled rickshaws are considered inhuman and a symbol of India's backward past.
Nearly 500 bike-rickshaws are running in London and are not required to pay the city's road tax but things may change as other taxi drivers complain of unfair treatment.
1. Where are rickshaws becoming more popular?
A. Delhi, Berlin, Paris. B. Amsterdam, Bangkok, Delhi.
C. Athens, London, Berlin. D. Berlin, Amsterdam, London.
2.Why are rickshaws no longer as widely used in India as in the past?
A. They are a reminder of a bad period in India's history.
B. They have been banned because they are inefficient.
C. The streets of India are too crowded for them to move through easily.
D. Indians now prefer to travel by car because they are richer.
3.What does the underlined sentence "This is something out of the ordinary, you feel you are on holiday in
Bangkok instead of Berlin" suggest?
A. The passenger didn't like taking a rickshaw as it reminded him of Bangkok.
B. The passenger enjoyed being on holiday in Berlin more than in Bangkok.
C. The passenger was impressed when taking a rickshaw and considered it unusual.
D. The passenger disapproved of rickshaws because they were not original to Berlin.
4. What is the author's attitude towards rickshaws?
A. He gives no personal opinion.
B. He believes they will be of no use.
C. He thinks they will reduce pollution.
D. He thinks they are old-fashioned.
高二英语阅读理解简单题查看答案及解析
They once seemed more at home on the busy streets of Asia like Delhi, Calcutta and Bangkok but cycle powered rickshaws (人力车) can now be seen taking people across town in many European cities. Many people believe that rickshaws are a good way of experiencing a city close-up, while also cutting down on traffic jams and pollution. In Berlin, one of the first cities to introduce this new model of transport, more than 200 bike-taxis go along at 15km per hour, past many tourist attractions and city parks.
“It is completely environmentally friendly; we have new models with an engine to help the driver up the hills but they use renewable energy.” said a spokesman for VELOTAXI, the leading rickshaw company which has carried a quarter of a million people this year.
While the city still has 7,000 motor-taxis, rickshaw company officials say their taxis’ green ideas, speed and safety make them more than just a tourist attraction. While now increasingly out of fashion in Delhi, Berlin people have eagerly accepted the new fleet since their launch in 1997.
“It’s better than a taxi, better than a bus, better than the train,” said ULF Lehman, 36, as he leapt out of a rickshaw near the world famous Brandenburg gate. “ It feels so free.”
“ This is something out of the ordinary, you feel you are on holiday in Bangkok instead of Berlin,” said another traveler.
In Amsterdam, driver Peter Jancso said people like to be driven around in his bright yellow rickshaw and pretend to be a queen in a golden carriage. "I like my passengers to feel important," he said as he dropped off another passenger. Another visitor noted how cheap it was compared with a normal taxi.
Although increasingly popular in Europe, it is the opposite in India, where hand-pulled rickshaws are considered inhuman and a symbol of India's backward past.
Nearly 500 bike-rickshaws are running in London and are not required to pay the city's road tax but things may change as other taxi drivers complain of unfair treatment.
1.Where are rickshaws becoming more popular?
A. Delhi, Berlin, Paris. B. Amsterdam, Bangkok, Delhi.
C. Athens, London, Berlin. D. Berlin, Amsterdam, London.
2.Why are rickshaws no longer as widely used in India as in the past?
A. They are a reminder of a bad period in India's history.
B. They have been banned because they are inefficient.
C. The streets of India are too crowded for them to move through easily.
D. Indians now prefer to travel by car because they are richer.
3.What does the underlined sentence "This is something out of the ordinary, you feel you are on holiday in
Bangkok instead of Berlin" suggest?
A. The passenger didn't like taking a rickshaw as it reminded him of Bangkok.
B. The passenger enjoyed being on holiday in Berlin more than in Bangkok.
C. The passenger was impressed when taking a rickshaw and considered it unusual.
D. The passenger disapproved of rickshaws because they were not original to Berlin.
4.What is the author's attitude towards rickshaws?
A. He gives no personal opinion.
B. He believes they will be of no use.
C. He thinks they will reduce pollution.
D. He thinks they are old-fashioned.
高二英语阅读理解简单题查看答案及解析
The Great Wall of China, one of the greatest wonders of the world, was enlisted in the World Heritage by the UNESCO in 1987. Just like a gigantic dragon, the Great Wall winds up and down across deserts, grasslands and mountains, stretching about 6,700 kilometers from east to west of China. With a history of more than 2,000 years, some parts of the Great Wall are now in ruins or even entirely disappeared. However, it is still one of the most appealing attractions around the world.
No one can tell for sure when the building of the Great Wall was started, but it is popularly believed that it originated as a military fortification(要塞) against intrusion by tribes on the borders during the earlier Zhou Dynasty. Late in the Spring and Autumn Period, some states extended the defence work to prevent the attacks from other states.
It was not until the Qin Dynasty that the separate walls were connected to form a defensive system by Emperor Qin Shi Huang. After the emperor unified the country in 214 BC, he ordered the construction of the wall. It took about ten years to finish and the wall stretched from Gansu Province to Jilin Province. The wall not only served as a defence in the north but also symbolized the power of the emperor.
Further construction also experienced several dynasties. The present Great Wall in Beijing is mainly remains from the Ming Dynasty. Today, the Great Wall has become a must-see for every visitor to China. Few can help saying “Wow” when they stand on top of a beacon tower and look at this giant dragon. It has become a national pride of Chinese people.
1.The underlined word “appealing” probably means “______”.
A. huge B. attractive
C. ordinary D. moving
2.In the Qin Dynasty, ______.
A. the construction of the Great Wall was finished in 204 BC
B. the emperor wanted to invade other minor states
C. the defensive system of the Great Wall was separated
D. the Great Wall began its way from Jilin Province
3.According to the passage, the Great Wall _______.
A. is from the west to the east B. is as long as 6,700 miles
C. was built in several dynasties D. was begun in the Qin Dynasties
4.The best title for the passage probably is _______.
A. History of the Great Wall B. Culture of the Great Wall
C. Construction of the Great Wall D. Projection of the Great Wall
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
Orcas, or killer whales, are the largest of the dolphins and one of the world’s most powerful animals feeding on meat. They feast on marine mammals such as seals, sea lions, and even whales, employing teeth that can be four inches (ten centimeters) long. They are known to grab seals right off the ice. They also eat fish, squid (鱿鱼), and seabirds.
Though they often frequent cold, coastal waters, orcas can be found from the polar regions to the Equator (赤道).
Killer whales hunt in deadly groups, family groups of up to 40 individuals. There appear to be both permanent and temporary group populations of killer whales. These different groups may hunt different animals and use different techniques to catch them. Permanent groups tend to prefer fish, while temporary groups target marine mammals. All groups use effective, cooperative hunting techniques that some are similar to the behavior of wolf packs.
Whales make a wide variety of communicative sounds, and each group has various noises that its members will recognize even at a distance. They use echolocation (回波定位) to communicate and hunt, making sounds that travel underwater until they meet objects, then reflect back, showing their location, size, and shape.
Killer whales are protective of their young, and other adolescent females often assist the mother in caring for them. Mothers give birth every three to ten years, after a 17-month pregnancy.
Killer whales are immediately recognizable by their special black-and-white coloring and are the intelligent, trainable stars of many aquarium shows. Killer whales have never been widely hunted by humans.
1. Killer Whales do not feed on ______.
A. seabirds B. seals C. fishes D. seaweeds
2.【The following aspects about killers whales are mentioned except ______.
A. hunting B. communication C. weight D. habitats
3.We can conclude that ______.
A. people can find killer whales everywhere around the world
B. killer whales live in different groups and never live alone
C. by making sounds killer whales hunt and communicate
D. humans’ hunt has made killer whales being endangered
4.Killer Whale are often seen in some aquarium shows because ______.
A. they are able to be trained
B. they have special body colors
C. they must be protected
D. they have never been hunted
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析