The history of vacuum cleaners(真空吸尘器) in the UK dates back to the early 1900s.Hubert Cecil Booth started the first vacuum cleaner company in the UK, known as the British Vacuum Cleaner Company. It wasn’t long, however, before William Henry Hoover, who had already experienced success with his vacuum cleaners in America, made headway in the vacuum cleaner market in the UK and became more successful than Booth.
Hoover’s vacuum cleaners in the UK became such a success that ‘to hoover’ quickly became equal to vacuuming. Some of the earliest domestic vacuum cleaners in the UK used simple reusable cloth bag designs whereby the vacuum cleaner simply collected dust in the bag. Once the bag was full, you could empty and re-attach it to the vacuum cleaner.
For decades after their introduction, vacuum cleaners in the UK were a luxury item that only the upper class could afford. After World War II,however, they became common among the middle class.
This was especially true for vacuum cleaners in the UK, because the popularity of carpets means sweeping is not an easy or effective means of carpet cleaning.
In 1952, Hoover made the Constellation available to the public for the first time. Hoover designed it so that people could place the vacuum cleaner in the centre of the room and then work around it. After about 20 years of selling these vacuum cleaners in the UK, Hoover stopped the Constellation in 1975.
Advances to upright and cylinder(气缸) vacuum cleaners in the UK continued, enabling vacuum cleaners to become more efficient and effective. The 1990s saw the introduction of the first bagless domestic vacuum cleaners in the UK. Despite many industry fears consumers would not be prepared to pay the high price, bagless vacuum cleaners became a big success in the UK.
As for the future, vacuum cleaners in the UK are expected to become even more energy-efficient.
1.What can be inferred from the first paragraph?
A. Hoover entered the UK vacuum cleaner market before the 1900s.
B. Hoover’s vacuum cleaners were more advanced than booth’s.
C. Hoover’s vacuum cleaners were very popular in the UK market.
D. Vacuum cleaners were invented later in the UK than in America.
2.What was the cloth bag on the earliest domestic vacuum cleaners used for?
A. Decorating the vacuum cleaners.
B. Making the vacuum cleaners more efficient.
C. Lightening the vacuum cleaners.
D. Collecting dust.
3.What was the most remarkable characteristic of the Constellation?
A. It was only used by the upper class.
B. Its design allowed the user to work around it.
C. It was upright and it had a cylinder added to it.
D. Its price was extremely high at the time.
4.We can learn from the passage that bagless vacuum cleaners .
A. were so popular that they could fulfill all UK customers’ demands
B. were the most energy-efficient vacuum cleaners.
C. were not accepted by UK customers
D. were expensive when they made their first public appearance in the UK
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题
The history of vacuum cleaners(真空吸尘器) in the UK dates back to the early 1900s.Hubert Cecil Booth started the first vacuum cleaner company in the UK, known as the British Vacuum Cleaner Company. It wasn’t long, however, before William Henry Hoover, who had already experienced success with his vacuum cleaners in America, made headway in the vacuum cleaner market in the UK and became more successful than Booth.
Hoover’s vacuum cleaners in the UK became such a success that ‘to hoover’ quickly became equal to vacuuming. Some of the earliest domestic vacuum cleaners in the UK used simple reusable cloth bag designs whereby the vacuum cleaner simply collected dust in the bag. Once the bag was full, you could empty and re-attach it to the vacuum cleaner.
For decades after their introduction, vacuum cleaners in the UK were a luxury item that only the upper class could afford. After World War II,however, they became common among the middle class.
This was especially true for vacuum cleaners in the UK, because the popularity of carpets means sweeping is not an easy or effective means of carpet cleaning.
In 1952, Hoover made the Constellation available to the public for the first time. Hoover designed it so that people could place the vacuum cleaner in the centre of the room and then work around it. After about 20 years of selling these vacuum cleaners in the UK, Hoover stopped the Constellation in 1975.
Advances to upright and cylinder(气缸) vacuum cleaners in the UK continued, enabling vacuum cleaners to become more efficient and effective. The 1990s saw the introduction of the first bagless domestic vacuum cleaners in the UK. Despite many industry fears consumers would not be prepared to pay the high price, bagless vacuum cleaners became a big success in the UK.
As for the future, vacuum cleaners in the UK are expected to become even more energy-efficient.
1.What can be inferred from the first paragraph?
A. Hoover entered the UK vacuum cleaner market before the 1900s.
B. Hoover’s vacuum cleaners were more advanced than booth’s.
C. Hoover’s vacuum cleaners were very popular in the UK market.
D. Vacuum cleaners were invented later in the UK than in America.
2.What was the cloth bag on the earliest domestic vacuum cleaners used for?
A. Decorating the vacuum cleaners.
B. Making the vacuum cleaners more efficient.
C. Lightening the vacuum cleaners.
D. Collecting dust.
3.What was the most remarkable characteristic of the Constellation?
A. It was only used by the upper class.
B. Its design allowed the user to work around it.
C. It was upright and it had a cylinder added to it.
D. Its price was extremely high at the time.
4.We can learn from the passage that bagless vacuum cleaners .
A. were so popular that they could fulfill all UK customers’ demands
B. were the most energy-efficient vacuum cleaners.
C. were not accepted by UK customers
D. were expensive when they made their first public appearance in the UK
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
It just may be the world’s most costly vacuum cleaner ( 吸尘器). The price of CleanSpace One is eleven million dollars. But yet, it has a big job to do. Recently, researchers in Switzerland said they planned to build this new cleaning machine.
CleanSpace One will not be for use in homes or businesses. It will be shot into space to help remove thousands of pieces of space junk floating around up there.
Last year, we reported on the problem of space junk. Over time, many unused spacecraft have hit each other far above the Earth. Big pieces break into thousands of small pieces. Sometimes they fall back into the atmosphere (大气层) and burn up. But when they do not, it creates big problems.
Scientists fear that if something is not done to remove these objects, it may soon become too dangerous to send people and machines into space. There is a large chance that they might hit some of this junk. So that is why the Swiss researchers are developing the new machine.
CleanSpace One is not really a vacuum cleaner. It will not be used to take away space junk. But scientists plan to move it close to an old satellite that is no longer being used. Then a claw-like instrument will catch the satellite, and force it back through the atmosphere. There, the satellite will be destroyed by the heat of friction (摩擦) with the air.
Researchers say that all they need to do is slow down the speed of some of these unwanted objects. Once they begin to move more slowly, they will fall back to the Earth. There is little chance that they will fall through the atmosphere and harm the people or things below.
1.Space junk is created when .
A. unused spacecraft hit each other
B. people in space throw away rubbish
C. a new spaceship is sent up
D. an old spaceship creates friction with the air
2.What’s the danger of space junk?
A. It will pollute space.
B. It will hurt people on the Earth.
C. It will hit a spaceship.
D. It will burn in the atmosphere.
3.Unwanted objects will fall back to the Earth when .
A. they are made to move slowly
B. they meet other objects in space
C. they are not used for years
D. they are near the atmosphere
4.The passage is most probably a .
A. science research paper B. science fiction story
C. newspaper ad D. science news report
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
In China, the history of people planting and using bamboo can date back to as far as 7,000 years. As early as the Shang Dynasty, bamboo was being used in ancient people’s daily lives. It was used for food, clothing, housing, transportation, 1. (music) instruments and even weapons.
The 2. (apply) of bamboo in science and technology is thrilling. In 251 BC, Li Bing, in Sichuan, 3. (lead) the local people in building the Dujiang Weirs(都江堰), the first irrigation network in the world, in which bamboo played 4. important role. The world’s oldest water pipe was also 5. (make) of bamboo. During the Han Dynasty, the people in Sichuan 6. (success) sank a 1600-metre-deep well with thick bamboo ropes. This technology did not spread to Europe 7. the 19th century, and it was by using the technology 8. the Americans drilled the first oil well in Pennsylvania in 1859.
In Chinese culture, bamboo is well-known as 9. of the “four gentlemen” in plants. To many famous men, bamboo is a symbol of goodness and honesty. It is always closely related to people of positive spirits. Bamboo culture contributes to encouraging people to hold on when 10. (face) tough situations.
高二英语语法填空中等难度题查看答案及解析
What do you think of the proposal that improvement ____ in the type of vacuum cleaner?
A. be made B. will be made C. would be made D. has to be made
高二英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析
The Coolest Inventions
An Oceans Vacuum(吸尘器)
There’s a collection of plastic trash in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. It’s bigger than Texas and growing. The way to clean it up now is to catch it with nets. That is both costly and slow. Instead, the Ocean Cleanup Project proposes a 62-mile-long floating barrier that would use natural currents to trap trash. If next year’s trials succeed, a full cleanup operation would aim to start in 2020. It could reduce the trash by 42% over 10 years.
Easy-On Shoes
In 2012, Matthew Walzer, a high school student with a disability, sent a note to Nike. “My dream is to go to college,” he wrote, “without having to worry about someone coming to tie my shoes every day.” Nike assigned a design team to the challenge. This year, they came out with their solution: the FlyEase. The basketball shoe can be fastened with one hand. A pair of Nike FlyEase shoes sells for $130.
An Airport for Drones (无人机)
As Amazon, Google, and others get ready for drone delivery service, there is one big question: What kinds of home bases will their drones have? Rwanda, in Africa, may have the answer. There, workers will soon start work on three “drone ports”. The goals is to make it easier to transport food, medical supplies, electronics, and other goods through the hilly countryside. Construction is set to be completed in 2020.
1.What’s the advantage of the Oceans Vacuum?
A. It can be put into wide use soon B. It can grow year by year
C. It can tear plastic into pieces D. It can be a money-saver
2.What do we know about Nike?
A. It provides customer-friendly services
B. It is designing new shoes frequently
C. It offers free shoes to the disabled
D. It responded to Matthew’s request passively
3.Why is Rwanda setting up “drone ports”?
A. Because they are receptive to new technology
B. Because there are too many drones
C. Because they’re easier to construct than roads
D. Because road travel there is rough
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
The art of paper-cutting in China may date back to the second century, since paper 1. (invent) by Cai Lun in the Eastern Han Dynasty in China. As paper became more affordable, paper-cutting became one of the most important 2. (type) of Chinese folk art. Later, 3. different regions adopting their own cultural styles, this art form spread to other parts of the world. 4. (usual), the artworks are made of red paper, as red is associated with 5. (happy) in Chinese culture, but other colors are also used.
With 6. (it) long history, paper-cutting, 7. originated in China, has been very popular among the ordinary Chinese people. People put up papercuts on walls, windows and doors at wedding ceremonies or festivals 8.(strengthen) the cheerful atmosphere.
Chinese papercuts are rich in content. The auspicious (吉祥的)designs symbolize good luck and the avoidance of evil, The child, lotus (莲花) and bat designs suggest a family with 9.large number of children and grandchildren. Birds, livestock, fruit, fish and worms are also familiar objects 10. (accept) by Chinese farmers. In a word, papercuts used in different occasions have different meanings,
高二英语语法填空中等难度题查看答案及解析
In the north of our town _______, which dates back to the Ming Dynasty.
A.an old temple stands B.stands an old temple
C.does an old temple stand D.an old temple does stand
高二英语单项填空困难题查看答案及解析
In the north of our town _______, which dates back to the Ming Dynasty.
A.an old temple stands B.stands an old temple
C.does an old temple stand D.an old temple does stand
高二英语单项填空困难题查看答案及解析
In the past few years, he has collected a lot of ancient coins, _______ date back to the Ming and Qing Dynasties.
A. most of them B. most of that C. most of which D. most of those
高二英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析
Coffee has a history dating back to at least the 9th century and has been a catalyst for social interaction across cultures and eras. Originally discovered in Ethiopia, coffee beans were brought into the Middle East by Arab traders, spreading to Egypt, Yemen, Persia, Turkey, and North Africa by the 15th century. Muslim merchants eventually brought the beans to the thriving port city of Venice, where they sold them to wealthy Italian buyers. Soon, the Dutch began importing and growing coffee in places like Java and Ceylon (largely through slave labor), and the British East India Trading Company was popularizing the beverage in England. Coffee spread across Europe and even reached America.
Where there has been coffee, there has been the coffeehouse. From the 15th century Middle Eastern establishments where men gathered to listen to music, play chess, and hear recitations from works of literature, to Paris' Cafe le Procope where luminaries of the French Enlightenment such as Voltaire, Rousseau, and Diderot came to enjoy a hot cup of joe, coffeehouses have traditionally served as centers of social interaction, places where people can come to relax, chat, and exchange ideas.
The modern coffee shop is modeled on the espresso and pastry-centered Italian coffeehouses that arose with the establishment of Italian-American immigrant communities in major US cities such as New York City's Little Italy and Greenwich Village, Boston's North End, and San Francisco's North Beach. New York coffee shops were often frequented by the Beats in the 1950's. It wasn't long before Seattle and other parts of the Pacific Northwest were developing coffee shops as part of a thriving counterculture scene. The Seattle-based Starbucks took this model and brought it into mainstream culture.
Although coffeehouses today continue to serve their traditional purpose as lively social hubs in many communities, they have noticeably adapted to the times. Rediscovering their purpose as centers of information exchange and communication, many coffee shops now provide their customers with internet access and newspapers. It has become extremely common to see someone sitting at a Starbucks listening to music or surfing the web on his or her laptop. Coffee stores today also maintain a fairly identifiable, yet unique aesthetic: wooden furniture and plush couches, paintings and murals drawn on walls, and soft-lighting combine to give coffee shops the cozy feeling of a home away from home.
Today, big business retail coffee shops are expanding quickly all over the world. Starbucks alone has stores in over 40 countries and plans to add more. Despite its popularity, Starbucks has been criticized and labeled by many as a blood-sucking corporate machine, driving smaller coffee shops out of business through unfair practices. This has even spawned an anti-corporate coffee counterculture, with those subscribing to this culture boycotting big business coffee chains. Increasingly popular coffee stores such as The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf are also giving Starbucks some stiff competition. In any case, it seems pretty clear that coffee has weaved itself into the fabric of our consumer-oriented culture.
1. Which of the following is the correct order of coffee spreading in history?
①Egypt ②America ③the Middle East ④Netherlands ⑤Venice
A. ①③④②⑤ B. ③①⑤④② C. ①⑤④③② D. ③②⑤④①
2.We can infer from the passage ________.
A. Starbucks has beaten all the competitors
B. there are no changes in the development of coffee culture
C. the taste of coffee has changed a lot
D. Starbucks has some effect on the development of coffee culture
3.The famous coffeehouse “Starbucks” originally come from _______.
A. Seattle B. Ethiopia C. Java D. France
4. Nowadays, if you come to a coffeehouse, you can _______.
A. play chess with other customers
B. enjoy delicious dishes from South America
C. surf the internet
D. watch a TV play
高二英语阅读理解简单题查看答案及解析