Scotland has long been characterized as a lan...

Scotland has long been characterized as a land of romance. It contains ruins of many ancient castles and abbeys，and there is an attractive beauty in its mountains，long deep valleys，and ribbon lakes.Each year those things attract a great number of tourists.

Numerous islands line the coast.In the north are two large groups，the Orkney Islands and the Shetland Islands.Close to the west coast are the Inner and Outer Hebrides groups，and the islands of Arran and Bute.

The land may be divided into three regions: the Highlands in the north，the Central Lowlands and the Southern Uplands.

The Highlands are wild and picturesque(如画的)． A long valley called Glenmore crosses the Highlands from southwest to northeast.

In the south of the Highlands are the Grampian Mountains，highest in the British Isles. Ben Nevis，the highest peak，rises to 1,243 meters.Ben Lomond rises from the shore of Loch Lomond，Scotland's largest freshwater lake.

The Central Lowlands run from southwest to northeast and the greatest length is nearly 145 kilometers.The soil here is fertile，and there are four coalfields underlying the area.In the east is Edinburgh，Scotland's historic capital city，and in the west is Glasgow. Almost 90 percent of Scotland's population live in the Lowlands.

In the Southern Uplands, the hills are generally less than 600 meters high. Their rounded or flat tops are often capped with dark peat(泥炭). Along the slopes are plants like grass and heather(石南花).

1.According to the text, all the following things attract many tourists to Scotland EXCEPT ________.

A．ruins of ancient castles and abbeys

B．mountains and valleys

C．various animals and plants

D．ribbon lakes

2.From the passage we know that ________.

A．Scotland's islands mainly lie in the north

B．the Highlands have rich soil

C．Ben Lomond is near Scotland's largest freshwater lake

D．the Shetland Islands lie on the west coast of Scotland

3.Most Scottish people live in ________.

A．the Highlands                    B．the Central lowlands

C．the Southern Uplands                D．the Orkney Islands

4.The author's aim of writing this passage is ________.

A．to attract people to visit Scotland

B．to describe the beautiful scenery of Scotland

C．to show people the history of Scotland

D．to introduce Scotland generally

高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

B　 Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, and has long been a favorite destination of tourists from all over the world, as well as an important cultural and political center．

With its museums, shops, wonderful historic castle, and many pubs and restaurants, there are many things for visitors to enjoy all year round．And of course, as it is in Scotland, there are a wide range of whiskies to try!

However, there is more to Edinburgh than historic monuments and tourism．Each year, the Edinburgh Festival takes place in the city．In late summer, for three weeks, the festival presents classical music, theater, opera and dance at six major theaters and concert halls—and several smaller ones—throughout the city．Whatever your cultural tastes, you are sure to find something to enjoy．、

Local talent is always represented at the Edinburgh Festival giving Scottish composers and playwrights the opportunity to showcase their work and gain recognition from a wider audience．

In addition, orchestras (管弦乐队) and theater companies come from all over the world to perform at the prestigious (有名望的) festival．Last year saw the arrival of orchestras from the United States and Germany．

The festival has now become an important part of Scotland’s economy as well as its culture．Last year’s festival generated over ￡130 million expenditure in Edinburgh alone, and across Scotland nearly 2,900 jobs exist as a direct result of the festival．

The festival is so popular that it has become, in some ways, a victim of its own success．The huge interest in performing there led to the setting up of a rival (竞争的) festival, the Edinburgh Fringe Festival．Fortunately, demand for live entertainment during the summer is so great that both festivals continue to thrive (兴旺)．

The Fringe tends to feature mostly comedy and experimental works．Yet it can lead to great things ---- many famous and successful comedians and artists, such as Rowan Atkinson, better known as TV’s Mr．Bean, started their careers in small venues at the Fringe．

1.Which of the following statements is NOT true according to the passage?

A．The festival is economically important for Scotland．

B．Many people in Scotland rely on the festival for their jobs．

C．Local performers challenge bands from all over the world．

D．One is sure to find something to enjoy during the festival．

2.What does the underlined part “a victim of its own success” most probably mean?

A．A prestigious band for its successful performance．

B．An unsuccessful performance without good preparation．

C．An orchestra from another country performing in Edinburgh．

D．A festival that causes trouble for itself because of great success．

3.What we can learn from the passage is that ________．

A．the Edinburgh Festival attracts audience across the world

B．both festivals win good recognition from a wide audience

C．the Fringe was set up in the hope of accepting the challenge

D．many comedians and artists took off overnight at the Fringe

4.Which of the following can be the best title for this passage?

A．Edinburgh ------ A City of Culture

B．Edinburgh ------ A Tourist Attraction

C．Edinburgh ------ A Political Center

D．Edinburgh ------ A Place to Try Whiskies

高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

Jealousy is such a powerful emotion that at least one study has characterized it as the third leading cause of non-accidental homicide(杀人) in all cultures. In a recently published study, researchers experimented with dogs to see whether they, like humans, have the nature of jealousy.

In an experiment, the authors took 36 dogs---along with their owners---and observed the dogs’ behavior as their masters interacted with three non-living objects. One object was a children’s book, which they read aloud; another object was a plastic pumpkin lantern; and the third was a mechanical stuffed dog that gave out a bark when the owner pressed a button.

Former studies concluded that babies were probably capable of jealousy. In the experiment, their mothers showed attention to a life-like doll instead of their child, and other objects. The babies were reportedly more likely to respond with “negative” behavior if their mother turned to pay her attention to the doll.

In the dog experiment, authors instructed the dog owners to push the bark button on the stuffed dog’s head, and then speak to it sweetly, while ignoring their own dog. After that, they showed attention to the pumpkin lantern, and read the children’s book, while also ignoring their dog.

It is interesting to see the dogs were far more likely to act aggressively when their owners spoke to the stuffed dog than when they paid attention to the other objects. One-fourth of the dogs snapped at the stuffed dog, while only one dog snapped at the lantern or the book. The dogs were also more likely to push or touch their owners as they interacted with the mechanical dogs, and tried to get in between the owner and the stuffed dog more frequently than the other objects.

“One possibility is that jealousy developed in species of many young relying on the parents, the young compete for parental resources such as food, attention, care, and affection,” the authors wrote.

1.Why does the author include the experiment with babies in the passage?

A. To tell us that the babies are also jealousy.

B. To show that the experiment was scientific.

C. To draw the conclusion through comparison.

D. To show us that the babies are very clever.

2.What behavior probably shows that the babies have the emotion of jealousy?

A. Smiling at the doll.

B. Struggling and crying.

C. Always keeping quiet

D. Appearing scared

3.How did most of the dogs react when the owners interacted with the mechanical dog?

A. They pushed or touched the owners.

B. They snapped at the mechanical dog.

C. They disturbed the owners and the mechanical dog.

D. They acted aggressively to their owners.

4.What can be the best title of the passage?

A. Development of jealousy in species

B. Jealousy leads to terrible results

C. Analysis of jealousy in species

D. Research proves dogs’ jealousy

高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

. As a result of destroying the forests, a large ___ _ of desert

___　　　　 covered the land.

A.number; has B.quantity; has C.number; have D.quantity; have

高二英语单项填空简单题查看答案及解析

As a result of destroying the forests, large ____ of desert ____ covered the land.

高二英语单项填空简单题查看答案及解析

As a result of destroying the forests, _____ of desert _____ covered the land.

A. a large number; has    B. large quantities; has

C. a large quantity; has  D. a great deal; have

高二英语单项填空简单题查看答案及解析

In recent decades, social isolation has been recognized as a major risk to our health and long life. It’s twice as bad for you as being overweight and nearly as bad as smoking. The rising number of people who say they are affected, across a wide range of ages, is shocking. In reality, you can suffer the ill effects of loneliness even if you are not socially isolated.

Comedian Robin Williams made a striking observation in 2014: “I used to think the worst thing in life was to end up all alone. It’s not. The worst thing in life is to end up with people who make you feel all alone.” Tracking large groups over time indicates that perceived（感知的）social isolation carries its own risk for morbidity（发病率）and mortality.

The perception of isolation—from others of being in the social aspect—is not only a cause of unhappiness, it also signals danger. Fish have evolved to swim to the middle of their group when predators（捕食者）approach, mice housed in social isolation show sleep disruptions and reduced slow-wave sleep and prairie voles（田鼠）isolated from their partners then placed in an open field explore their surroundings less and concentrate on avoiding predators.

These behaviours reflect an increased emphasis on self-preservation in the social aspect. For instance, fish on the edge of a school are more likely to be attacked by predators because they are easier to isolate and prey upon. Such observations reflect a more general principle that perceived social isolation in social animals activates neural（神经系统的）, neuroendocrine （神经内分泌的）and behavioural responses that promote short-term self-preservation. However, these responses bring a cost for long-term health and well-being.

The range of harmful neural and behavioural effects of perceived isolation documented in adults include increased anxiety, hostility and social withdrawal; fragmented sleep and daytime tiredness; increased vascular resistance and changed gene expression and immunity; decreased impulse control; increased negativity and depressive symptoms; and increased age-related cognitive decline.

Sadly, to date, attempts to reduce loneliness have met with limited success. A series of randomized controlled trials showed that they had only a small effect. Among the four types of interventions（介人）examined, talking therapy that focused on inappropriate thought processes had the largest impact. Social skills training, social support and increased opportunities for social contact were much less effective.

1.What can we learn about social isolation from the first paragraph?

A. It exists mainly among adults.

B. More and more people are suffering it.

C. Its effect is more serious than smoking.

D. It’s the worst risk to our health and long life.

2.During perceived social isolation, animals will suffer bad health for ________.

A. focusing more on their own safety

B. being separated from their partners

C. adapting to the new surroundings

D. worrying about their lack of food

3.The fifth paragraph is mainly about ________.

A. causes of perceived isolation.

B. treatments for perceived isolation

C. bad effects of perceived isolation

D. the definition of perceived isolation

4.What is the most effective in helping suffers of perceived social isolation?

A. Giving them strong social support.

B. Communicate more and better with them.

C. Get them to attend some training courses.

D. Enlarge their circles of social network.

高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

In recent decades, social isolation has been recognized as a major risk to our health and long life. It’s twice as bad for you as being overweight and nearly as bad as smoking. The rising number of people who say they are affected, across a wide range of ages, is shocking. In reality, you can suffer the ill effects of loneliness even if you are not socially isolated.

Comedian Robin Williams made a striking observation in 2014: “I used to think the worst thing in life was to end up all alone. It’s not. The worst thing in life is to end up with people who make you feel all alone.” Tracking large groups over time indicates that perceived（感知的）social isolation carries its own risk for morbidity（发病率）and mortality.

The perception of isolation—from others of being in the social aspect-is not only a cause of unhappiness, it also signals danger. Fish have evolved to swim to the middle of their group when predators（捕食者）approach, mice housed in social isolation show sleep disruptions and reduced slow-wave sleep and prairie voles（田鼠）isolated from their partners then placed in an open field explore their surroundings less and concentrate on avoiding predators.

These behaviours reflect an increased emphasis on self-preservation in the social aspect. For instance, fish on the edge of a school are more likely to be attacked by predators because they are easier to isolate and prey upon. Such observations reflect a more general principle that perceived social isolation in social animals activates neural（神经系统的）, neuroendocrine（神经内分泌的）and behavioural responses that promote short-term self-preservation. However, these responses bring a cost for long-term health and well-being.

The range of harmful neural and behavioural effects of perceived isolation documented in adults include increased anxiety, hostility and social withdrawal; fragmented sleep and daytime tiredness; increased vascular resistance and changed gene expression and immunity; decreased impulse control; increased negativity and depressive symptoms; and increased age-related cognitive decline.

Sadly, to date, attempts to reduce loneliness have met with limited success. A series of randomized controlled trials showed that they had only a small effect. Among the four types of interventions（介入）examined, talking therapy that focused on inappropriate thought processes had the largest impact. Social skills training, social support and increased opportunities for social contact were much less effective.

1.What can we learn about social isolation from the first paragraph?

A. It exists mainly among adults.

B. It’s the worst risk to our health and long life.

C. Its effect is more serious than smoking.

D. More and more people are suffering it.

2.During perceived social isolation, animals will suffer bad health for ________.

A. focusing more on their own safety　　 B. being separated from their partners

C. adapting to the new surroundings　　 D. worrying about their lack of food

3.The fifth paragraph is mainly about ________.

A. causes of perceived isolation.　　 B. treatments for perceived isolation

C. bad effects of perceived isolation　　 D. the definition of perceived isolation

4.What is the most effective in helping suffers of perceived social isolation?

A. Giving them strong social support.

B. Communicate more and better with them.

C. Get them to attend some training courses.

D. Enlarge their circles of social network.

高二英语阅读理解困难题查看答案及解析

Tobacco has long been recognized as a huge health threat. It is known to cause lung and heart problems to many long-term users. According to the World Health Organization, 3,000,000 people die early each year because of tobacco use, including 890,000 deaths from second-hand smoke exposure.

E-cigarettes, an alternative (替代品) to smoking, have become popular. Also known as vaporizers (汽化器), they are electric devices that heat liquid nicotine into a vapor that can he taken in. This vapor is less harmful to inhale than smoke. For example, it does not produce tar (焦油), which can build up in a smoker’s lungs. Inhaling vapor - called vaping - is not without its own risks, however. Exposure to nicotine during youth can lead to addiction and cause long-term harm to brain development. The vapor may also contain harmful things. The Center for Disease Control has linked vaping to more than 805 cases of lung disease and 12 deaths so far in the US.

Vaping has greatly increased in popularity in the US, especially among teenagers. About 37 % of US high school seniors were reported vaping in 2018, up from 28% the year before, Harvard Health Publishing reported. Michael Blaha, a researcher at the Johns Hopkins Ciccarone Center for the Prevention of Heart Disease, listed 3 reasons that contributed to vaping’s popularity among young people. First, many teens eve that vaping is less harmful than smoking. Second, ecigarettes have a lower per-use cost than traditional cigrattes. Finally, e-cigarettes come in a wide range of sweet flavors, like apple pie and watermelon.

Blaha is most concerned that more teenagers are taking up vaping as a habit. “It’s one thing if you change from cigarette smoking to vaping. It’s quite another thing to start up nicotine use with vaping. And, it often leads to using traditional tobacco products down the road,” he said.

Governments around the world the divided about vaping. 39 countries and regions have banned the sale of e-cigarettes, according to the Global State of Tobacco Harm Reduction 2018. Last September, US President Donald Trump said the use of e-cigarettes might be negatively affecting young people and that it should be kept off the market until proved harmless.

1.The underlined word “inhale” in Paragraph 2 probably means “__________”.

A.blow away B.spread out

C.give off D.breathe in

2.In what way are e-cigarettes different from traditional tobacco products?

A.E-cigarettes do not produce tar.

B.E-cigarettes are not bad to smokers’ health.

C.E-cigarettes are less likely to cause nicotine addiction.

D.E-cigarettes do more harm to smokers’ brains than their lungs.

3.Why is vaping popular with young people according to Blaha?

A.Vaping is allowed at school.

B.Vaping makes them look cool.

C.They like the liquid taken from fruits.

D.They think it’s safer and cheaper than smoking.

4.What can we learn from Blaha’s words in Paragraph 4?

A.Those who smoke e-cigarettes tend to smoke tobacco later.

B.Vaping is more likely to attract teenagers than older people.

C.It usually takes a long time for smokers to enjoy e-cigarettes.

D.E-cigarettes should be encouraged to replace traditional tobacco products.

高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

As long as people have been telling stories, crones(丑陋的老太婆) have been scaring the wits out of children. “Nags(怨妇), witches, evil stepmothers, cannibals(食人妇). It’s quite dreadful,” says Maria Tatar, who teaches a course on folklore and mythology at Harvard. "But old women are also powerful—they're often the ones who can work magic.” In the Disney film Snow White, there’s a scene in which the beautiful, charming, wicked queen turns into an old hag and poisons Snow White so she'll sleep forever. The old lady in Hansel and Gretel wants to roast children in her oven and the witch in The Little Mermaid cuts out Ariel’s tongue.

Tatar says old women villains(恶人) are especially scary because, historically, the most powerful person in a child’s life was the mother. “Children do have a way of splitting the mother figure into...the evil mother—who’s always making rules and regulations, policing your behavior, getting angry at you—and then the kind mother—the one who is giving and protects you, makes sure that you survive.”

Veronique Tadjo, a writer who grew up in the Ivory Coast, thinks there’s a fear of female power in general. She says a common figure in African folk tales is the old witch who destroys people’s souls. Still, they're not all bitter and evil hags. Elderly women in folk tales often use their knowledge and experience of the world to guide the troubled protagonist(主人公). Tadjo points to the Kenyan story Marwe In The Underworld about a girl who commits suicide by drowning herself and enters the Land of the Dead where she meets an old woman. “That old woman teaches her quite a lot of things,” Tadjo says. “And also, when Marwe starts longing for the world of the living, she helps her go back to the surface with a lot of riches. And we understand that Marwe has been rewarded for her goodness.” In other words: Do your chores and you’ll be rewarded. The point of these ancient tales, no matter what continent they come from, may have been to scare children into behaving.

Perhaps the scariest old woman character—the ugly Baba Yaga—comes from Russia. She’s bony with a hooked nose and long, iron teeth. Her hut(小屋) stands on chicken legs and she kidnaps children and eats them. Safe to say Baba Yaga has been making Eastern European children sleepless for centuries. In one interpretation, a mean stepmother sends the young girl Vasilisa to Baba Yaga's hut in the woods to get a candle. The girl is sure she’s being sent to her death. Baba Yaga forces her to cook and clean, and Vasilisa does everything she's told. In the end, the old crone gives her what she needs and sends her home. “You see this kind of double face of the hag,”Maria Tatar says. “On the one hand: aggressive, threatening. And on the other hand: sometimes to make sure that there is a happily ever after.”

There's that power again. In Japanese folklore, the Yama Uba(山姥) is an equally ambiguous old woman. She’s a mountain witch who, like Baba Yaga, lures people into her hut and eats them. But she'll also help a lost traveler. Noriko Reider is a professor at Miami University of Ohio who's done extensive research on Yama Uba stories. “She brings fortune and happiness,” Reider says. “She can also bring death and destruction for those who are not very good.”

According to Cuban-American writer Alma Flor Ada, in Hispanic(拉美地区的) culture old women are multi-talented. Ada is co-author of Tales Our Grandmas Told, which includes a story about Caliph’s son who becomes seriously ill. After “all of the best physicians in the land” fail to cure him, Caliph sends his messengers searching for help. Then one morning, an old woman arrives with this advice: To get well, the prince must wear the overcoat of a man who is truly happy. And of course it works.

1.What does the underlined phrase in Para 1 “scaring the wits out of children” mean？

A. making children frightened B. making children stupid

C. making children interested D. making children confused

2.Among all the characters mentioned, ________ is terribly treated by an old woman.

A. Caliph B. Marwe C. Ariel D. Vasilisa

3.The images of ________ show double faces of a hag by doing both good and evil things.

A. Snow White and The Little Mermaid B. Hansel and Gretel

C. Veronique Tadjo and Noriko Reider D. Baba Yaga and Yama Uba

4.About the cultural images of an old woman, ________ has a different view from others.

A. Maria Tatar B. Veronique Tadjo C. Noriko Reider D. Alma Flor Ada

5.All the following words can be used to describe Baba Yaga EXCEPT ________.

A. aggressive B. sensitive C. dreadful D. merciful

6.According to the passage, why are old women often the face of evil in fairy tales and folklore?

A. Because they are always nags, witches, evil stepmothers and cannibals.

B. Because they are scary by recalling the general fear of female power.

C. Because they are intended to scare children into behaving well.

D. Because they are multi-talented with the ability to work magic.

高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析