Fear is a fact of life everyone faces from ti...

Fear is a fact of life everyone faces from time to time. In most cases fear is a healthy reaction to a dangerous situation. But sometimes fear can be so extreme that it interferes with normal living. That is what happened to me driving cross-country last summer.

I’d agreed to help my brother, Mac, move from the East Coast to California. He would drive a rental truck loaded with his belongings and I would follow him in his car, then fly back. We figured it would be a simple trip, with four or five motel (motorists’ hotel) stops along the way.

Living and working in coastal Georgia for most of my life, I did not have a great deal of long-distance driving experience. Looking back on it today, I can see that I’d always felt a sudden, sharp pain of fear when driving over small bridges and along hilly highways. And as I was getting ready for the trip I had an unclear concern about the steep mountain roads that lay ahead. But I thought I would get used to them.

As we crossed some high bridges near the Blue Ridge Mountains on the first leg of our trip, a kind of breathlessness gripped me, a sinking, rolling feeling in the pit of my stomach. I tended to move slightly away from the edge of the roadway and the drop-off beyond. My knuckles (指关节) whitened from my tense grip on the steering wheel. At the end of each bridge, a great rush of relief would come over me, only to be replaced in short order by fear of the next obstacle.

When we stopped in Nashville the first night, I mentioned my feelings to Mac, who is the practical sort. “Oh, that’s nothing.” he said cheerfully. “Lots of people hale driving on mountain roads and high bridges. Just turn up the music on your radio and focus on that. Keep your mind occupied.”

1.Which is NOT the author’s attitude towards fear?

A. Fear can sometimes disturb your life.

B. It is natural to feel fear in everyday life.

C. In dangerous situations, fear may do good to your body.

D. Whenever you feel fear, you are likely to make a wrong decision.

2.How did the author and his brother go to California?

A. They rented a truck and drove it in turn.

B. The author and his brother drove different vehicles.

C. The author drove while his brother flew to California.

D. The author drove a rented car while his brother drove the truck.

3.To the author the trip is 　　　　 .

A. frightening　　 B. pleasant

C. exciting　　 D. exhausting

4.Mac asked his brother to turn on the radio and focus on that in order to let him 　　　　 .

A. keep using his brains

B. kill time during the long trip

C. think of other things instead of fear

D. enjoy the beautiful music along the way

高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

For children with cancer(癌),the facts of life include the facts of death.

There is always the fear that they might not live to grow up．Yet they realize that fighting cancer is the only way of beating it. So they fight．And sometimes, they win.It may take years．It certainly takes support from  parents and doctors.

Unfortunately, many parents can't deal with their child's illness．And doctors, no matter how caring, have other patients to care for. At times like these, the Children's Cancer Foundation can help. We are a group of Hong Kong doctors, nurses, psychologists, parents of children with cancer and concerned persons (有关人士).All of us are volunteers (offer one's help  without payment).We're with the children every day, listening to, and encouraging them.

We also advise parents, educate the public and send doctors overseas to study new cancer treatments. Our funding (providing money) has brought better equipment to the wards (large rooms of a hospital), and paid for special flats  where the children can recover.

We want to do even more．But to do it, we need your help. It will be money well spent．One who looks at our past achievements should prove that．

To the children, your contribution （贡献）will also be a show of support.A sign that you're behind them is just the sort of news that a six-year-old chlid with cancer needs to hear.

1.This passage is likely_________.

A. a story                     B. an advertisement

C. a report                    D. diary

2. Which of the following statements is true according to the passage?

A. the people who work for the children with cancer are not paid.

B. the Children's Cancer Foundation gets money from the children with cancer

C. every child can get help from the Children's Cancer Foundation.

D. only psychologists and parents of children with cancer are willing to help the children with cancer

3. The Children's Cancer Foundation _________.

A. has set up many hospitals.

B. is made up of many  volunteers  including doctors, nurses, psychologists and so on.

C. hasn’t done anything for the the children with cancer.

D.can’t help the children with cancer in many ways.

高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

I’m afraid to grow old—we’re all afraid. In fact, the fear of growing old is so great that every aged person is an insult and a threat to the society. They remind us of our own death, that our body won’t always remain smooth and responsive, but will someday betray(背叛) us by aging. The ideal way to age would be to grow slowly invisible, gradually disappearing, without causing worry or discomfort to the young. In some ways that does happen. Sitting in a small park across from a nursing home one day, I noticed that the young mothers and their children gathered on one side, and the old people from the home on the other.

　　　 Whenever a youngster would run over to the “wrong” side, chasing a ball or just trying to cover all the available space, the old people would lean forward and smile. But before any communication could be established, the mother would come over, murmuring embarrassed apologies, and take her child back to the “young” side.

　　　 Now, it seemed to me that the children didn’t feel any particular fear and the old people didn’t seem to be threatened by the children. The division of space was drawn by the mothers. And the mothers never looked at the old people who lined the other side of the park. These well-dressed young women had a way of sliding their eyes over, around, through the old people; they never looked at them directly. The old people may as well have been invisible; they offended the aesthetic eye of the mothers.

　　　 My early experiences were somewhat different; since I grew up in a small town, my children had more of a nineteenth-century flavor. I knew a lot of old people, and considered some of them friends.

1.People are afraid of growing old because it is usually associated with ______.

A. insult　　　　　 B. threat　　　　　　 C. death　　　　　 D. betrayal

2.In the author’s opinion, it is a perfect way to ______.

A. grow old slowly and then die unnoticed

B. grow old suddenly and then die

C. shut oneself up from others when growing old

D. remain young all one’s life and then die suddenly

3.It can be inferred that young mothers would try to keep their children away from the old because ______.

A. they feared their children might hurt the old

B. they didn’t like their children to take up the space belonging to the old

C. they felt it was wrong to play balls near where the old stayed

D. they didn’t want their children to have anything to do with the old

4.The author believes the division between the old and the young is _____.

A. made by people　　　　　　　　　　 B. understandable

C. formed naturally　　　　　　　　　 D. traditional

5.From the passage, we learn that the author ______.

A. used to have the same experience as the young have today

B. has never been afraid of getting old

C. was quite free to know and befriend old people in his childhood

D. both B and C

高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

Everyone wants to achieve true happiness in life. But the biggest factor holding most of us back is actually our ownselves. The Huffington Post released a list of seven mistakes we need to let go of in order to become happier people. Let’s take a look.

1.Placing too much emphasis on fulfillment (成就感)

Those who put a lot of pressure on themselves to be happy feel more lonely on a daily basis than those who do not, according to research conducted at the University of Denver, US.

2. Keeping it all in

Keeping it all together during tough times can hurt you. Crying is the body’s emotional response to outside triggers (诱因).By suppressing it, you may be damaging your mental and physical health.

3. Looking at your smart phone all the time

Connecting with others may be the key to happiness, but a recent University of Michigan study found that the more time participants spent on social networking sites, the less happy they felt.

4. Not moving

It’s no secret that a healthy lifestyle is a big part of happiness. Something as simple as a walk can help you increase your creativity and expose you to essential vitamins.

5. Not reflecting on the past

In a 2013 study on nostalgia (怀旧) and emotion, participants reported a higher sense of physiological comfort when they looked back on the past. Affection for heartwarming memories helps people relate their past experiences to the present in order to create a greater sense of meaning.

6. Resisting change

A study on the psychology of choices shows that the human brain naturally tries to avoid loss—but that resistance can cause stress. Whether it’s fear of the unknown or fear of losing what you currently have, the pressure to hold on to the present can harm your future life satisfaction.

7. Not being mindful

Setting aside time for meditation (沉思) allows your body to relax, cultivates an attitude of gratitude and lowers your stress level, according to researchers at University of California, Los Angeles, US.

1.What is the main purpose of the article?

A. To inform readers of the benefits of being happy.

B. To explain why our happiness depends on our own actions.

C. To point out the things we do that prevent us from being happy.

D. To discuss some typical characteristics of happy people.

2.The underlined word “suppressing” in the third paragraph is closest in meaning to 　　 .

A. speaking of 　　　 B. holding back

C. thinking about　 D. taking no notice of

3.According to the article, to be a happy person, it is important for us to 　　 .

A. set goals and achieve as much as we can

B. avoid recalling the past

C. do exercise in our spare time

D. spend more time on social networking sites

4.According to the article, meditation is helpful mainly because 　　 .

A. it increases our creativity

B. it makes us less afraid of the unknown

C. it helps us relax and thus reduce our stress

D. it allows us to relate our past experiences to the present

高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

Everyone wants to achieve true happiness in life.But the biggest factor holding most of us back is actually our ownselves.The Huffington Post released a list of seven mistakes we need to let go of in order to become happier people.Let’s take a look.

1.Placing too much emphasis on fulfillment (成就感)

Those who put a lot of pressure on themselves to be happy feel more lonely on a daily basis than those who do not,according to research conducted at the University of Denver,US.

2.Keeping it all in

Keeping it all together during tough times can hurt you.Crying is the body’s emotional response to outside triggers (诱因).By suppressing it,you may be damaging your mental and physical health.

3.Looking at your smartphone all the time

Connecting with others may be the key to happiness,but a recent University of Michigan study found that the more time participants spent on social networking sites,the less happy they felt.

4.Not moving

It’s no secret that a healthy lifestyle is a big part of happiness.Something as simple as a walk can help you increase your creativity and expose you to essential vitamins.

5.Not reflecting on the past

In a 2013 study on nostalgia (怀旧) and emotion,participants reported a higher sense of physiological comfort when they looked back on the past.Affection for heartwarming memories helps people relate their past experiences to the present in order to create a greater sense of meaning.

6.Resisting change

A study on the psychology of choices shows that the human brain naturally tries to avoid loss—but that resistance can cause stress.Whether it’s fear of the unknown or fear of losing what you currently have,the pressure to hold on to the present can harm your future life satisfaction.

7.Not being mindful

Setting aside time for meditation (沉思) allows your body to relax,cultivates an attitude of gratitude and lowers your stress level,according to researchers at University of California,Los Angeles,US.

1.What is the main purpose of the article?

A.To inform readers of the benefits of being happy.

B.To explain why our happiness depends on our own actions.

C.To point out the things we do that prevent us from being happy.

D.To discuss some typical characteristics of happy people.

2.The underlined word “suppressing” in the third paragraph is closest in meaning to 　　 .

A.speaking of　 B.holding back

C.thinking about D.taking no notice of

3.According to the article,to be a happy person,it is important for us to 　　 .

A.set goals and achieve as much as we can

B.avoid recalling the past

C.do exercise in our spare time

D.spend more time on social networking sites

4.According to the article,meditation is helpful mainly because 　　 .

A.it increases our creativity

B.it makes us less afraid of the unknown

C.it helps us relax and thus reduce our stress

D.it allows us to relate our past experiences to the present

高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

We all have our ways of marking time. As a photographer, my life is measured from one story to the next. My oldest son was born in the middle of a long story about the Endangered Species Act. My daughter came along with a pack of gray wolves.

Twenty stories later, though, it’s the story in Alaska that I’ll remember best. It was the story about the loss of wilderness — and the story during which my wife Kathy got cancer. That’s the one that made time stand still. I stopped taking pictures on the day when she found that tumor (肿瘤). Cruelly, it was Thanksgiving. By Christmas, she had become very weak. Some days she was so sick she couldn’t watch TV.

Early examination saves time. But ours was not early. By the time you can feel it yourself, it’s often bigger than the doctor want it to be.

Cancer is a thief. It steals time. Our days are already short with worry. Then comes this terrible disease, unfair as storm at harvest time. But cancer also has the power to change us, for good. We learn to simplify, enjoying what we have instead of feeling sorry for what we don’t. Cancer even made me a better father. My work had made me a stranger to my three kids. But now I pay attention to what really matters. This is not a race. This is a new way of life and new way of seeing, all from the cancer.

In the end each of us has so little time. We have less of it than we can possibly imagine. And even though it turns out that Kathy’s cancer has not spread, and her prognosis (诊断) is good, we try to make it all count now, enjoying every part of every day.

I’ve picked up my camera again. I watch the sky, searching for beautiful light. When winter storms come, Kathy and I gather our children and take the time to catch snowflakes (雪花) on our tongues. After all, this is good. This is what we’re living for.

1.As a photographer, the author used to ______

A. leave his daughter with a pack of gray wolves

B. devote much more to his career than his family

C. miss a great many important historical moments

D. express his love for his family in a special way

2.Why did the author decide to stop taking pictures?

A. To cure his own disease.

B. To leave the wilderness alone.

C. To seek a better position.

D. To spend more time with his wife.

3.What is the biggest change the cancer has brought to the author?

A. He takes his work more seriously

B. He has become a stranger to his children.

C. He treasured every bit of time with his family

D. He focuses more on medical care.

4.The author and his family catch snowflakes on their tongues probably because ______.

A. they regard that as a way to enjoy life

B. snowflakes are what they feed on

C. the snowflakes taste very good

D. there is beautiful light in the snowflakes

高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

The thief trapped in the house _____ from the window but the fear of falling to his death scared him not to do so.

A. managed to escape        B. tried to run

C. attempted to escape     D. tried escaping

高二英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析

From the beginning rivers have played an important part in life of man. Man of the earliest times used the rivers as a means of travel. Today rivers still serve as a great waterway for the transport and people.

In ancient times, man settled near rivers or on river banks and built up large empires.

Water is nature’s most valuable gift to man. Man needs water to irrigate his crops, to cook and to wash. In nations all over the world, rivers mean life and wealth. They feed and clothe nations around them.

Water is also a source of energy and power. Man builds huge dams across the rivers to control the water for irrigation and get the energy needed to drive generators. The electrical power is then directed to homes, cities, factories and television stations.

Man uses water each day. In a small way rivers help to keep man in good health and provide for his amusements. Various forms of water sports keep man strong and healthy.

1.Rivers have been important to man______.

A. since the last century　　　　　　　　　　 B. since they came into being

C. since a few hundred years ago　　　　　　 D. since the beginning of BC

2.Man in old times traveled from one continent to another_______.

A. by sea　　　　　　 B. by air　　　　　　　 C. by train　　　　　 D. by bus

【小题3Generators are machines that are used_________.

A. to direct electrical　　　　 B. to control

C. to build dams　　　　　　　　　　 D. to produce electricity

高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

Definitions of literature have varied over time. In fact, it is a “culturally relative definition”. Once in Western Europe, literature indicated all books and writing. During the Romantic period, it began to refer to “imaginative” literature. Nowadays literature is seen as a term used to describe written or spoken material, including all the following.

Poetry uses rhythmic qualities of language to bring out meanings in addition to, or in place of, unimaginative surface meaning. Poetry has traditionally been distinguished from prose(散文) by its being set inverse (颠倒); prose is cast in sentences, poetry in lines.

Novel is typically written in a narrative (叙事) style and presented as a book. Novels tell stories, in which the characters and events are usually imaginary. The novel has been a part of human culture for over a thousand years, although its origins are somewhat debated. Regardless of how it began, the novel has remained one of the most popular and treasured examples of human culture and writing. It remains an essential part of the literary cultures of nearly all societies around the world.

Novella is classified as “Too short to be a novel, too long to be a short story”. There is no precise definition in terms of word or page count. Literary prizes and publishing houses often have their own arbitrary limits, which vary according to their particular intentions.

A short story is different from novels or novellas in that the plot is usually tied to one single chain of events. Because the reader must identify with a character quickly to become engaged, the tale is often told from the chief character’s point of view.

A drama refers to a play for the theatre, television or radio. It generally consists of chiefly dialogue between characters. It also uses dance to convey their message. Dramas usually aim at dramatic performance rather than at reading. In theater, a drama is presented by actors to an audience.

Good literary works depend on literary techniques. A literary technique can be used by authors in order to improve the written framework of a piece of literature, and produce specific effects.

Literary techniques include a wide range of approaches to crafting a work. The ability to let readers know what might happen in the future in an indirect way is possible through the technique foreshadowing. The practice of representing objects and qualities as human beings in literature is personification. Symbolism is the use of symbols to represent ideas.

高二英语填空题中等难度题查看答案及解析

In old times,  man considered lightning to be one of the great mysteries(神秘事物)of nature.  In fact a single flash of lightning 1. 6 kilometers long has enough electricity to light one million lamps.

The American scientist, Benjamin Franklin, was the first to suggest that lightning is in fact electricity formed between the earth and clouds high above. It happened in 1752. In the same year, he also built the first lightning rod(避雷针)to protect buildings from being struck by lightnings.

Modern science has discovered that lightning is very strong and powerful. A lightning between a cloud and the earth may be as long as 13 kilometers, and travels at a speed of 30 million meters per second.  Scientists have the opinion that there are about 2, 000 million flashes of lightning per year. In the United States alone, it kills almost one person per day.     The safest place to be in during an electrical storm is a closed car. Outside, one should go close to low ground for cover and not stop under a tree. Also one should stay out of water and away from metal fences. Inside a house people should keep away from open doorways and windows and not touch wires or metal things.

1.From this passage we know lightning is_______ .

A. one of the great mysteries of nature

B. electricity high above the earth

C. a kind of light

D. the sound from the clouds

2.In the US _______.

A. every person can see lightning every day

B. at least one person is killed by lightning every day

C. there are about 6 million flashes of lightning per year

D. about one person per day dies from lightning

3.During a lightning storm, it would be best if you _______.

A. stand under a tree  B. go outside  C. stay in a closed car   D. stop near windows

4.A lightning rod can _______.

A. prevent accidents caused by lightning

B. stop lightning

C. protect buildings from being washed away

D. delay the coming of lightning

高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析