The basics of infrastructure designIt is righ...

The basics of infrastructure design

It is rightly pointed out various intellectuals that the lifestyle of today is vastly different from that of the earlier times especially in terms of its pace. Lifestyle of today is remarkably fast paced and so in order to catch up with such a pace of life, the adoption of smart and time saving methods is of real significance. Well, the highways have certainly contributed in this direction and have made our lives a lot easier. Thanks to the modern flyovers and expressways, a single route can be accessed by twice the number of vehicles at the same time.

These facilities and supplies have made our lives double free but it needs to be realized that designing and constructing it is a very complex and a long process. You have to hold fast to the various rules of designing, government standards and most importantly, their safety and usability for the people. In the end it is a joint effort of a number of skilled engineers, scientists and statisticians. The material that is used in the construction is finalized after it undergoes certain tests for evaluating their qualities like hardness, roughness, thickness and all that is required.

Some of the points you have to take care of while laying an infrastructure design are as follows:

The basic layout (布局) of the road — At this level of planning, various civil engineers have meetings to figure out the basic requirements of the road like thickness of the asphalt (沥青), the size of lanes, distance to be covered, degree of curves and much more. These fundamental points help them decide the further line of action.

The prior steps — Before any work is stated over the basic plan layout, there are various preparations to be made like placing road signs, the removal of trees that may prove to be dangerous in the event of a storm or other natural causes, the positioning of fire hydrants (消防栓) based on special designs to be useful when required, etc.

Inclusion of safety barriers — The safety barriers are placed on almost all roads and highways that are made over or near to rivers and cliffs. These barriers keep the vehicles from moving into the traffic in instances of accidents. These should also be designed in advance of placing them on a road and the design should be such that it makes minimum impact upon the people sitting in the car. These include supplies like side rails and light poles.

Asphalt pavement marking — It is the process of using a reflective material to indicate various important points on the road like lanes, turns, passing areas, two way and one way roads.

Though the smooth and wide highways constructed in big cities seem to be very attractive for the drivers, the ease of use is also the cause of accidents. Cars rushing at extremely high speeds and insecure change of lanes are a common sight on the highways. With the help of novel infrastructure design engineers, we can make the best possible use of highways. If these are designed properly and sign boards are placed at the required points, a number of road accidents can be avoided.

高三英语填空题困难题查看答案及解析

When we go out traveling,we need either a map or GPS to point us in the right direction.But bumblebees（大黄蜂）have neither of these things,yet they still know the best route.Why is that?

It turns out that these hard-working little bees try many possible passages before picking out the best one and remembering it the next time they journey out.They learn from“trial and error”,according to a study by scientists from the University of London.

We use it all the time in our daily lives—trial and error is a helpful problem-solving method.It is the basic concept of“learning from your mistakes”.Most of the time,we fail on our first try,so we analyze the failure,make adjustments and try again.After repeating this a few times,we finally get things right.

This might sound a bit tiring,but it’s certainly effective and it works for bumblebees.

In the study,scientists set up five artificial flowers in a field.Each one of them was fitted with motion-triggered（运动触发的）cameras and had landing platforms with drops of sugar in the middle to attract the bees.

At first,scientists noticed the bees’ flying routes were long and complex.But after they gained enough experience,they gradually got to their destination quicker.Every time a bee tried a new route that was shorter than the route it had tried before,it was likely to use it again.Otherwise the new route would simply be given up and another one was tested.

“The speed at which they learn through trial and error is quite extraordinary for bumblebees,as this complex behavior was thought to be one that only larger-brained animals have,”Professor Lars Chittka,leader of the study,told Sciencedaily.com.

In fact,the smart bumblebees don’t try every possible route.Normally,they would only try about 20 out of the 120 possible routes to visit the flowers.

More interestingly,scientists found that if they removed a flower,bees would continue looking at that location,even if it has been empty for a long time.“It seems bees don’t easily forget a fruitful flower,”Chittka said.

1.The bumblebees are good at finding the best route because ________.

A. they have relatively smaller brains

B. their body parts function like GPS

C. they try out different routes and remember the best ones

D. they take the trouble of testing every possible route

2.The author explains the bumblebees’ behavior of trial and error by ________.

A. using numbers　　 B. making a metaphor（比喻）

C. making comparisons　　 D. talking about human behavior

3.The study led by professor Lars Chittka suggests that ________.

A. bumblebees try to keep their flying routes long and complex

B. every new route the bumblebees take is shorter than the one they take before

C. bumblebees are familiar with every flying route they have taken before

D. scientists find it unbelievable that bumblebees learn from their mistakes so quickly

4.What is the main point of the article?

A. Bumblebees are as smart as large-brained animals.

B. Trial and error is an effective way to solve our daily problems.

C. A new discovery about how bumblebees find the best routes through trial and error.

D. How bumblebees remember the best routes,small as their brains are.

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

The infrastructure of a country is 　　　 makes everything run smoothly， including things like transport， irrigation， electricity， postal service， telephones and schools.

A.that  B.what  C.which   D.as

高三英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析

. Some of the scientists held the point ______ the book said was right.

高三英语单项填空简单题查看答案及解析

___ has already been pointed out is that grammar is not a set of dead rules.

A. As        B. It            C. What          D. Which

高三英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析

The basic flag of the United States is one of the world's oldest national flags．Only the basic flags of Austria,．Denmark, Great Britain, the Netherlands, Sweden, and Switzerland are older．

During the discovery and settlement of what is now the United States, the flags of various European nations were flown over the land, as symbols of possession．Later, in the Colonial and Revolutionary War periods, flags representing famous persons, places, and events were flown in the American Colonies．

The first official flag of the United States was created by Congress on June 14, 1777．It consisted of 13 alternate red and white stripes? and 13 white stars in a field of blue, representing the 13colonies that had declared their independence in 1776．Congress adopted a new flag of 15 stars and 15 stripes in 1795, to give representation to the two new states admitted into the Union, Vermont and Kentucky．

By 1817 there were 20 states in the Union, and it became apparent that adding one stripe for  each new state would destroy the shape of the flag．As a result．Congress in 1818 restored the original design of 13 stripes and provided that each state was to be represented by one star．In 1921 Preside William H．Taft made the first official provision for the arrangement of the stars．He ordered that there be six even rows of eight stars each．Previously the arrangement of the stars had

been left to the flag- maker's fancy．

The evolution of the stars and stripes reflects the growth of the United States．After the admission of Hawaii into the Union in 1959, the flag was officially changed for the 26th time since its creation．

There are many government flags flown in the United States in addition to the national flag．Among them are the president's and vice-president's flags and those of the federal  epartments and some federal agencies．Each state in the Union has an official flag．The United States Navy uses special flags for signaling．

1.The basic flag of the United States is _____．

A．the oldest national flag in the world

B．one of the world's oldest flags

C．the most beautiful flag in the West

D．as old as the basic flags of some European nations

2.Before the War of Independence the flags of various European nations flown over the land were symbols of________．

A．self- rule                                                                B．occupation

C．peace and friendship     D．independence

3.The first official flag of the United States was adopted _____．

A．before the Independence War

B．right after the Independence War

C．when independence was declared in 1776

D．during the War of Independence which ended in 1783

4.The 13 red and white stripes and13 white Stars represent____．

A．13 independent states

B．the colonies that declared independence in 1776．

C．the U．S．Congress

D．13 famous figures in the American colonies

高三英语阅读理解困难题查看答案及解析

Jacques-Yves Cousteau, the French explorer, once pointed out, “Population growth is the primary source of environmental damage.” Many experts are calling the growing problem of global waste a worldwide health crisis in that pollution from trash is not only harming the world’s oceans, air and soil but also endangering people’s health as well as the livelihood of all living creatures.

Reduce, reuse, recycle

Such a dilemma raises the question, is there a more responsible way of dealing with trash? Fortunately, there is. Living a zero-waste lifestyle is the way to go. One example of this is what’s often called the three R’s: reduce, reuse, recycle. Reducing the use of plastic containers as well as reusing and recycling bottles and cans decreases the amount of garbage being sent to landfills. As a result, less money is spent on waste management, and countries’ financial burdens are significantly relieved. Such positive effects on an economy is known as a circular economy.

Circular economy

Traditionally, manufacturers would make a product to be used and disposed of by consumers. This linear model of production offered no help in the fight against global waste. Alternatively, a circular economy was introduced. Once a product’s value is exhausted, the materials are recycled and returned to manufacturers. The outcome is less waste. One large-scale example of this is happening on the island of Taiwan.

4-in-1 Recycling Program

In 1997, Taiwan established its signature 4-in-1 Recycling Program, consisting of communities, recycling companies, government cleaning teams and the Recycling Fund. Residents separate their recyclable waste. The local government collection teams collect it. Recycling companies buy waste materials from them to make profits. Importers and manufacturers who are responsible for the recyclable products pay a fee into the Recycling Fund. The Recycling Fund is an essential aspect of the program used to subsidize(补贴) the recycling disposal system, support education and research and development as well as finance recycling efforts in the future.

Turning garbage into gold

By following a circular system, more products than ever are being manufactured using recycled materials. Environmentally-friendly decisions like these help to conserve natural resources, reduce pollution, save landfill space and even create new job opportunities. Recycling can truly turn garbage into gold.

1.According to the passage, the biggest challenge facing the world today is________ .

A.the rapid growth of population B.the overdeveloped manufacture

C.the world’s large amount of trash D.inappropriate use of plastic products

2.What is the aim of bringing in circular economy?

A.To save land and create wealth.

B.To minimize waste and restore used materials.

C.To support research and speed development.

D.To rid poor habits and encourage a new lifestyle.

3.Which of the following might be the best title for the text?

A.Zero-Waste, Full Recycle B.Circular Economy In Action

C.The World’s Recycling Companies D.A Worldsize Environmental Crisis

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

Some government officials in the USA have pointed out that the death of Osama Bin Laden means keen vigilance (警戒) _____ the end of terrorism.

A. more than　　　　 B. better than　　　　　　 C. other than　　 D. rather than

高三英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析

My mind went blank when I saw the gun pointing against the car window as we pulled out of the garage. This can’t be happening to me. Then I felt the gun, cold, against my head, and I heard my friend Jeremy saying, “What do you want? Take my wallet,” but at the time I thought of nothing.

I remember being a little annoyed when the gunman pulled me from the car by the hair. I remember the walk to the house --- Jeremy, me, the two men with two guns. I remember the fear and anger in the gunmen’s voices because Jeremy was being slow, and I remember wondering why he was being slow. I did not realize that Jeremy had thrown the keys into the bush. But I remember that sound of the gun hitting Jeremy’s head and the feeling as the man who had hold of my hair released me. And I remember the split second when I realized he was looking at Jeremy, and I remember wondering how far I could run before he pulled the trigger. But I was already running, and upon reaching the car across the street, I didn’t crouch(蹲伏) behind it but screamed instead.

I remember thinking there was something ridiculous and illogical about screaming “Help, help!” at eight o’clock on a Tuesday evening in December and changing my plea(恳求) to the more specific “Help, let me in, please let me in!” But the houses were cold, closed, unfriendly, and I ran on until I heard Jeremy’s screams behind me announcing that our attackers had fled.

The neighbors who had not opened their doors to us came out with baseball bats and helped Jeremy find his glasses and keys. In a group they were very brave. We waited for the police to come until someone said to someone else that the noodles were getting cold, and I said politely, “Please go and eat. We’re OK.”

I was happy to see them go. They had been talking of stricter sentences for criminals, of bringing back the death penalty(处罚) and how the President is going to clean up the country. I was thinking, they could be saying all of this over my dead body, and I still feel that stiffer sentences wouldn’t change a thing. In a rush all the anger I should have felt for my attackers was directed against these contented people standing in front of their warm, comfortable homes talking about all the guns they were going to buy. What good would guns have been to Jeremy and me?

People all over the neighborhood had called to report our screams, and the police turned out in force twenty minutes later. They were ill-tempered about what was, to them, much trouble about nothing. After all, Jeremy was hardly hurt, and we were hopeless when it came to describing the gunmen. “Typical,” said one policeman when we couldn’t even agree on how tall the men were. Both of us were able to describe the guns in horrifying detail, but the two policemen who stayed to make the report didn’t think that would be much help.

The policemen were matter-of-fact about the whole thing. The thin one said, “That was a stupid thing to do, throwing away the keys. When a man has a gun against your head you do what you’re told.” Jeremy looked properly embarrassed.

Then the fat policeman came up and the thin one went to look around the outside of the house. “That was the best thing you could have done, throwing away the keys,” he said. “If you had gone into the house with them…” His voice became weaker. “They would have hurt her” --- he twisted his head toward me --- “and killed you both.” Jeremy looked happier. “Look,” said the fat policeman kindly, “there’s no right or wrong in the situation. There’s just luck.”

All that sleepless night I replayed the moment those black gloves came up to the car window. How long did the whole thing last? Three minutes, five, eight? No matter how many hours of my life I may spend reliving it, I know there is no way to prepare for the next time --- no intelligent response to a gun. The fat cop was right. There’s only luck. The next time I might end up dead.

And I’m sure there will be a next time. It can happen anywhere, anytime, to anyone. Security is an illusion(幻觉); there is no safety in locks or in guns. Guns make some people feel safe and some people feel strong, but they’re fooling themselves.

1.When the writer saw the gun pointing against the car window, ________.

A. she felt very annoyed

B. she lost consciousness

C. she felt very much nervous

D. she lost the power of thinking

2.What most possibly drove the two gunmen away?

A. Jeremy’s fighting                                                  B. The author’s screaming

C. Their neighbour’s brave action                             D. The police’s arrival

3. When the author called for help, the neighbors didn’t come out immediately because ________.

A. they were much too frightened

B. they were busy preparing dinners

C. they needed time to find baseball bats

D. they thought someone was playing a trick

4.The author was happy to see the neighbors go because ________.

A. she hated to listen to their empty talk

B. she did not want to become an object of pity

C. she was angered by their being late to come to her help

D. she wanted to be left alone with Jeremy to get over the shock

5.The police were rather angry because ________.

A. the author was not hurt and gave a false alarm

B. they thought it was a case of little importance

C. the author and Jeremy could not tell the police anything

D. the gunmen had already fled when they arrived on the scene

6.What the author wants to tell us is that ________.

A. neighbors are not helpful in moments of difficulty

B. the police are not reliable when one is in trouble

C. security is impossible as long as people can have guns

D. preventing robbers entering your house is the best choice

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

My mind went blank when I saw the gun pointing against the car window as we pulled out of the garage. This can't be happening to me. Then I felt the gun, cold, against my head, and I heard my friend Jeremy saying，“What do you want? Take my wallet，” but at the time I thought of nothing.

I remember being a little annoyed when the gunman pulled me from the car by the hair. I remember the walk to the house—Jeremy, me, the two men with two guns. I remember the fear and anger in the gunmen's voices because Jeremy was being slow, and I remember wondering why he was being slow. I did not realize that Jeremy had thrown the keys into the bush. But I remember that sound of the gun hitting Jeremy's head and the feeling as the man who had hold of my hair released me. And I remember the split second when I realized he was looking at Jeremy，and I remember wondering how far I could run before he pulled the trigger. But I was already running, and upon reaching the car across the street, I didn't crouch (蹲伏) behind it but screamed instead.

I remember thinking there was something ridiculous and illogical about screaming “Help, help！” at eight o'clock on a Tuesday evening in December and changing my plea(恳求) to the　 more specific “Help, let me in, please let me in！” But the houses were cold, closed, unfriendly, and I ran on until I heard Jeremy's screams behind me announcing that our attackers had fled.

The neighbors who had not opened their doors to us came out with baseball bats and helped Jeremy find his glasses and keys. In a group they were very brave. We waited for the police to　 come until someone said to someone else that the noodles were getting cold, and I said politely，“Please go and eat. We're OK.”

I was happy to see them go. They had been talking of stricter sentences for criminals, of　 bringing back the death penalty(处罚) and how the President is going to clean up the country. I　 was thinking, they could be saying all of this over my dead body, and I still feel that stiffer　 sentences wouldn't change a thing. In a rush all the anger I should have felt for my attackers was　 directed against these contented people standing in front of their warm, comfortable homes　 talking about all the guns they were going to buy. What good would guns have been to Jeremy　 and me?

People all over the neighborhood had called to report our screams, and the police turned out　 in force twenty minutes later. They were ill­tempered about what was, to them, much trouble　 about nothing.　 After all, Jeremy was hardly hurt, and we were hopeless when it came to　 describing the gunmen. “Typical，” said one policeman when we couldn't even agree on how tall　 the men were.　 Both of us were able to describe the guns in horrifying detail, but the two　 policemen who stayed to make the report didn't think that would be much help.

The policemen were matter­of­fact about the whole thing. The thin one said，“That was a　 stupid thing to do, throwing away the keys. When a man has a gun against your head you do　 what you're told.” Jeremy looked properly embarrassed.

Then the fat policeman came up and the thin one went to look around the outside of the　 house. “That was the best thing you could have done, throwing away the keys，” he said. “If you　 had gone into the house with them...” His voice became weaker. “They would have hurt her” ——he twisted his head toward me——“and killed you both.” Jeremy looked happier. “Look，” said the fat policeman kindly, “ there's no right or wrong in the situation. There's just luck.”

All that sleepless night I replayed the moment those black gloves came up to the car　 window. How long did the whole thing last? Three minutes, five, eight? No matter how many　 hours of my life I may spend reliving it, I know there is no way to prepare for the next time—no　 intelligent response to a gun. The fat cop was right. There's only luck. The next time I might end up dead.

And I’m sure there will be a next time.　 It can happen anywhere, anytime, to anyone.Security is an illusion(幻觉); there is no safety in locks or in guns. Guns make some people feel safe and some people feel strong, but they're fooling themselves.

1.When the writer saw the gun pointing against the car window，________.

A．she felt very annoyed

B．she lost consciousness

C．she felt very much nervous

D．she lost the power of thinking

2.What most possibly drove the two gunmen away?

A．Jeremy's fighting.

B．The author's screaming.

C．Their neighbour's brave action.

D．The police's arrival.

3.When the author called for help, the neighbors didn't come out immediately because________.

A．they were much too frightened

B．they were busy preparing dinners

C．they needed time to find baseball bats

D．they thought someone was playing a trick

4.What the author wants to tell us is that________.

A．neighbors are not helpful in moments of difficulty

B．the police are not reliable when one is in trouble

C．security is impossible as long as people can have guns

D．preventing robbers entering your house is the best choice

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析