Today, bicycles are elegantly simple machines that are common around the world. Many people ride bicycles for recreation, whereas others use them as a means of transportation. The first bicycle was invented in Germany in 1818. Because it was made of wood, it wasn’t very strong nor did it have pedals (脚踏板).Riders moved it by pushing their feet against the ground.
In 1839, Kirkpatrick Macmillan, a Scottish blacksmith, invented a much better bicycle. Macmillan’s machine had iron-covered wheels to keep them from getting worn down. He also used foot-operated levers, similar to pedals, so his bicycle could be ridden at a quick pace. It didn’t look much like the modem bicycle, though, because its back wheel was substantially larger than its front wheel. Although Macmillan’s bicycles could be ridden easily, they were never produced in large numbers.
In 1861, Frenchman Pierre Michaux and his brother Ernest invented a bicycle with an improved pedal mechanism. They called their bicycle a velocipede,but most people called it a “bone shaker” because of the effect of the wood and iron frame. Despite the impolite nickname, the velocipede was a hit. After a few years, the Michaux family was making hundreds of the machines annually, mostly for fun-seeking young people.
Ten years later, James Starley , an English inventor, made several innovations that revolutionized bicycle design. He made the front wheel many times larger than the back wheel, put a gear on the pedals to make the bicycle more efficient,and lightened the wheels by using wire spokes. Although this bicycle was much lighter and less tiring to ride, it was still clumsy, extremely top-heavy,and ridden mostly for entertainment.
It wasn’t until 1874 that the first truly modern bicycle appeared on the scene. Invented by another Englishman, H. J. Lawson, the safety bicycle would look familiar to today’s cyclists. The safety bicycle had equal-sized wheels, which made it easier to ride. Lawson also attached a chain to the pedals to drive the back wheel. By 1893,the safety bicycle had been further improved with air-filled rubber tires, a diamond-shaped frame, and easy braking. With the improvements provided by Lawson; bicycles became extremely popular and useful for transportation. Today, they are built, used, and enjoyed all over the world.
1.This passage was most likely written in order to _____.
A.compare bicycles used for different purposes
B.describe the problems early bicycle makers experienced
C.persuade readers to use bicycles for transportation
D.tell readers about the early history of the bicycle
2.Macmillan covered the wheels of his bicycle with iron to _____
A.add weight to the bicycle
B.make the bicycle easier to ride
C.allow the wheels to last longer
D.let the bicycle be more comfortable
3.Which of the following bicycle types was invented by James Starley?
4.Which of the following statements is true according to the passage?
A.Two hundred years ago,bicycles did not exist.
B.The first bicycle could be ridden at a very quick pace.
C.The Michaux brothers called their bicycle a “bone shaker”.
D.Macmillan’s machine had wheels with rubber tires.
5.The information about bicycles in this passage is arranged according to _____.
A.importance B.time C.place D.Interest
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题
Today, bicycles are elegantly simple machines that are common around the world. Many people ride bicycles for recreation, whereas others use them as a means of transportation. The first bicycle was invented in Germany in 1818. Because it was made of wood, it wasn’t very strong nor did it have pedals (脚踏板).Riders moved it by pushing their feet against the ground.
In 1839, Kirkpatrick Macmillan, a Scottish blacksmith, invented a much better bicycle. Macmillan’s machine had iron-covered wheels to keep them from getting worn down. He also used foot-operated levers, similar to pedals, so his bicycle could be ridden at a quick pace. It didn’t look much like the modem bicycle, though, because its back wheel was substantially larger than its front wheel. Although Macmillan’s bicycles could be ridden easily, they were never produced in large numbers.
In 1861, Frenchman Pierre Michaux and his brother Ernest invented a bicycle with an improved pedal mechanism. They called their bicycle a velocipede,but most people called it a “bone shaker” because of the effect of the wood and iron frame. Despite the impolite nickname, the velocipede was a hit. After a few years, the Michaux family was making hundreds of the machines annually, mostly for fun-seeking young people.
Ten years later, James Starley , an English inventor, made several innovations that revolutionized bicycle design. He made the front wheel many times larger than the back wheel, put a gear on the pedals to make the bicycle more efficient,and lightened the wheels by using wire spokes. Although this bicycle was much lighter and less tiring to ride, it was still clumsy, extremely top-heavy,and ridden mostly for entertainment.
It wasn’t until 1874 that the first truly modern bicycle appeared on the scene. Invented by another Englishman, H. J. Lawson, the safety bicycle would look familiar to today’s cyclists. The safety bicycle had equal-sized wheels, which made it easier to ride. Lawson also attached a chain to the pedals to drive the back wheel. By 1893,the safety bicycle had been further improved with air-filled rubber tires, a diamond-shaped frame, and easy braking. With the improvements provided by Lawson; bicycles became extremely popular and useful for transportation. Today, they are built, used, and enjoyed all over the world.
1.This passage was most likely written in order to _____.
A.compare bicycles used for different purposes
B.describe the problems early bicycle makers experienced
C.persuade readers to use bicycles for transportation
D.tell readers about the early history of the bicycle
2.Macmillan covered the wheels of his bicycle with iron to _____
A.add weight to the bicycle
B.make the bicycle easier to ride
C.allow the wheels to last longer
D.let the bicycle be more comfortable
3.Which of the following bicycle types was invented by James Starley?
4.Which of the following statements is true according to the passage?
A.Two hundred years ago,bicycles did not exist.
B.The first bicycle could be ridden at a very quick pace.
C.The Michaux brothers called their bicycle a “bone shaker”.
D.Macmillan’s machine had wheels with rubber tires.
5.The information about bicycles in this passage is arranged according to _____.
A.importance B.time C.place D.Interest
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
Most Americans are worried about new technology. They are concerned that machines, including robots, will take over work now done by humans. These findings come from a new report by the Pew Research Center of Washington D. C.
About 75 percent of Americans questioned by Pew said automation will increase income inequality between the rich and the middle class and poor. And 64 percent of people expect automation to be so common in America that people will face difficulty finding things to do with their lives.
Some of the concerns about technology come from a distrust about whether machines will always make the right decision. Many Americans believe humans have better judgement in dealing with. complex matters. One example is selecting a person for a job. Three-quarters of Americans said they would not want to apply for a job that uses a computer program to choose the most qualified person.
“Most Americans want the government to limit automation. For example, 87 percent support a requirement that all driverless vehicles have a human in the driver’s seat who can take control when an emergency occurs. And 85 percent want to limit machines to mostly doing jobs that are dangerous or unhealthy for humans. And only 25 percent expect more jobs to come from automation,” Pew said.
Mark Zuckerberg, the co-founder of Facebook, spoke last May to graduating seniors from Harvard University in Massachusetts. His talk centered on the uncertain future facing young people. “Our generation will have to deal with tens of millions of jobs replaced by automation like self-driving cars and trucks.” Zuckerherg told the graduates.
Zuckerberg said young people had better launch(发起)projects that will bring both jobs and direct benefits to the people of the world. He said in his speech that 30000 people worked to put a man on the moon, and millions of people built the Hoover Dam as well as other great projects over the last 100 years.
1.What do many Americans think of technology according to paragraph 3?
A. Useful.
B. Effective.
C. Dangerous.
D. Undependable.
2.Why do Americans want a human in driverless vehicles?
A. To test the new technology.
B. To make a driver.
C. To ensure personal safety.
D. To entertain the passengers.
3.W hat did Zuckerberg encourage the students to do?
A. Refuse self-driving vehicles.
B. Create new job chances.
C. Focus on small projects.
D. Fight against robots.
4.Which of the following would be the best title for the text?
A. New Technology Creates More Jobs
B. New Technology Brings More Fairness
C. Americans Worry Machines Will Take Jobs
D. Robots Make Work Easy to Do for Workers
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
Americans are worried about new technology. They are concerned that machines. Including robots, will take over work now done by humans. These findings come from a new report by the Pew Research Center of Washington DC.
About 75 percent of Americans questioned by Pew said automation will increase income inequality between the rich and the middle class and the poor. And 64 percent of people expect automation to be so common in America that people will face difficulty finding things to do with their lives.
Some of the concerns about technology come from a distrust about whether machines will always make the right decision. Many Americans believe humans have better judgment in dealing with complex matters. One example is selecting a person for a job. Three quarters of Americans said they would not want to apply for a job that uses a computer program to choose the most qualified person.
Most Americans want the government to limit automation, For example, 87 percent support a requirement that all driverless vehicles have a human in the driver s scat who can take control when needed. And 85 percent want to limit machines to mostly doing jobs that are dangerous or unhealthy for humans. And only 25 percent expect more jobs to come from automation. Pew said,
Mark Zuckerberg, the co-founder of Facebook, spoke last May to graduating seniors from Harvard University in Massachusetts, His talk centered on the uncertain future facing young people. “Our generation will have to deal with tens of millions of jobs replaced by automation like self-driving cars and trucks,” Zuckerberg told the graduates,
Zuckerberg said young people will have to find projects that will bring both jobs and direct benefits to the people of the world. He said in his speech that 300,000 people worked to put a man on the moon, and millions of people built, the Hoover Dam as well as other great projects over the last 100 years.
1.What do Americans think of technology?
A. Useful.
B. Effective
C. Dangerous.
D. Undependable.
2.Which of the following do the majority of Americans want the government to do?
A. Use machines to do dangerous and harmful jobs.
B. Increase job chances by introducing machines
C. Select a person for a job by computer.
D. Get rid of all driverless vehicles.
3.What did Zuckerberg encourage the students to do?
A. Refuse self-driving vehicles.
B. Create new job chances.
C. Consider large projects.
D. Fight against robots.
4.Which of the following can be the best title for the text?
A. New Technology Creates More Jobs
B. New Technology Makes New Unfairness
C. Americans Worry Robots Will Take Jobs
D. Robots Make Work Easy to Do for Workers.
高三英语阅读理解困难题查看答案及解析
Urban legends are stories that are told and believed in many places.Too many places,in fact.It simply isn’t credible that the same unlikely events take place in so many different towns.For some reason,though,that particular set of events appeals to the imagination and the tale spreads.
A very common North American urban legend concerns a mad man in the woods.A dangerous mad man has escaped from a hospital for the mentally ill.At some point in his life he has lost a hand and it has been replaced by a hook.A boy and a girl are out dating,sitting in a car.They hear on the radio that the area is dangerous,so they drive off.When they arrive home they find a bloodstained hook hanging on the door handle of the car door next to the girl.
Missing kidney(肾)stories are fairly common.Of course,the details are variable.It might be a woman waking up in a strange hotel in Bangkok,or a man finding himself in a cold bath in Toronto.or a young man with faint memories of wild disco party,but they all find a flesh wound,and discover that one of their kidneys has been removed and,probably, sold.
The back seat killer has plenty of drama.A woman gets into her Car late at night.Another Car follows her, speeding,flashing lights and really frightening her.She gets home and keeps on pressing the horn.Her husband runs out.The chasing car stops.The husband demands to know why the driver has been frightening his wife.He says he saw a strange man get into the back of the car as the wife got in,and then hide.They go and look,and there is a dangerous mad man...
1.What is the writer’s attitude towards “urban legends”?
A.Curious. | B.Disgusted. | C.Frightened. | D.Doubtful. |
2.What can be inferred from the hook hanging on the Car door?
A.The mad man left it there as a warning. |
B.The mad man narrowly escaped being injured in a car accident. |
C.The mad man had just been about to attack the girl. |
D.The boy had meant to frighten the girl with it. |
3.What do we know about the three people mentioned in the third paragraph?
A.They had their kidney removed when they were unconscious. |
B.They sold their kidneys for profit. |
C.They were suffering loss of memories. |
D.They had been wounded before the accident. |
4.Why does the woman driver keep on pressing the horn?
A.To warn the other driver not to follow her. |
B.To give herself enough courage to face the danger. |
C.To made her husband aware of something urgent. |
D.To inform her family of her safe return. |
5.How should we describe the second driver in the 4th paragraph?
A.Crazy. | B.Dangerous. | C.Brave. | D.Helpful. |
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
How elegant and attractive our teacher is today!
—Yes. The red dress ____ her hidden beauty.
A. brings out B. takes out
C. lets out D. gives out
高三英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析
—How elegant and attractive our teacher is today!
—Yes. The red dress ____ her hidden beauty.
A. brings out B. takes out
C. lets out D. gives out
高三英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析
Engines are to machines ____ hearts are to animals.
A. as B. that C. what D. which
高三英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析
That’s the new machine ______ parts are too small to be seen.
A. that B. which C. whose D. What
高三英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析
That’s the new machine ______ parts are too small to be seen.
A.that | B.which | C.whose | D.What |
高三英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析
That’s the new machine ______ parts are too small to be seen.
A.that | B.which | C.whose | D.what |
高三英语单项填空简单题查看答案及解析