There are many superstitions(迷信) in Britain, but one of the most widelyheld is that it is unlucky to walk under a ladder—even if it means stepping off the pavement into a busy street!
①Walking under a ladder
If you must walk under a ladder you can avoid bad luck by crossing your fingers and keeping them crossed until you've seen a dog. Alternatively, you must lick your finger and make a cross on the toe of your shoe, and not look again at the shoe until the mark has dried.
②Umbrella
Another common superstition is that it is unlucky to open an umbrella in the house—it will either bring misfortune to the person that opened it or to the household. The superstition could date from the old time when its purpose was to act as a sunshade. If opened indoors, it might be considered to be an attack on the sun. Anyone opening an umbrella indoors in fine weather is unpopular, as it inevitably brings rain!
③Number 13
The number 13 is said to be unlucky for some, and when the 13th day of the month falls on a Friday, anyone wishing to avoid an inauspicious event had better stay indoors.
④Seven years bad luck
The worst misfortune that can befall you is caused by breaking a mirror, as it brings seven years of bad luck! The superstition is supposed to have originated in ancient times, when mirrors were considered to be tools of the gods.
⑤Black cat
In the UK, black cats are generally considered lucky in the UK, even though they are connected with witchcraft(巫术):You are said to be lucky if a black cat crosses your path.
1.Which experience is considered to be lucky according to the passage?
A. walking under a ladder
B. opening an umbrella in the house
C. breaking a mirror
D. a black cat crossing your path
2.Which of the followings is RIGHT in UK according to the passage?
A. Opening an umbrella in the rain is not acceptable or unpopular.
B. Black cats are generally considered unlucky because they have something with witchcraft.
C. Bad luck brought by walking under a ladder cannot be avoided using certain ways.
D. If you are to open a clothes store on May 13 in Britain, you had better change the date.
3.Which two superstitions are related to history?
A. ①② B. ②④
C. ④⑤ D. ③④
4.It can be inferred from the passage that ________.
A. breaking a mirror will cause bad luck because it shows your disrespect(不敬)for the God
B. crossing your fingers and keeping them crossed can help avoid bad luck brought by walking under a ladder
C. number 13 is always unlucky in any situation
D. opening an umbrella indoors might be considered to be an attack on the sun
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题
There are many superstitions(迷信) in Britain, but one of the most widelyheld is that it is unlucky to walk under a ladder—even if it means stepping off the pavement into a busy street!
①Walking under a ladder
If you must walk under a ladder you can avoid bad luck by crossing your fingers and keeping them crossed until you've seen a dog. Alternatively, you must lick your finger and make a cross on the toe of your shoe, and not look again at the shoe until the mark has dried.
②Umbrella
Another common superstition is that it is unlucky to open an umbrella in the house—it will either bring misfortune to the person that opened it or to the household. The superstition could date from the old time when its purpose was to act as a sunshade. If opened indoors, it might be considered to be an attack on the sun. Anyone opening an umbrella indoors in fine weather is unpopular, as it inevitably brings rain!
③Number 13
The number 13 is said to be unlucky for some, and when the 13th day of the month falls on a Friday, anyone wishing to avoid an inauspicious event had better stay indoors.
④Seven years bad luck
The worst misfortune that can befall you is caused by breaking a mirror, as it brings seven years of bad luck! The superstition is supposed to have originated in ancient times, when mirrors were considered to be tools of the gods.
⑤Black cat
In the UK, black cats are generally considered lucky in the UK, even though they are connected with witchcraft(巫术):You are said to be lucky if a black cat crosses your path.
1.Which experience is considered to be lucky according to the passage?
A. walking under a ladder
B. opening an umbrella in the house
C. breaking a mirror
D. a black cat crossing your path
2.Which of the followings is RIGHT in UK according to the passage?
A. Opening an umbrella in the rain is not acceptable or unpopular.
B. Black cats are generally considered unlucky because they have something with witchcraft.
C. Bad luck brought by walking under a ladder cannot be avoided using certain ways.
D. If you are to open a clothes store on May 13 in Britain, you had better change the date.
3.Which two superstitions are related to history?
A. ①② B. ②④
C. ④⑤ D. ③④
4.It can be inferred from the passage that ________.
A. breaking a mirror will cause bad luck because it shows your disrespect(不敬)for the God
B. crossing your fingers and keeping them crossed can help avoid bad luck brought by walking under a ladder
C. number 13 is always unlucky in any situation
D. opening an umbrella indoors might be considered to be an attack on the sun
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
London is one of the most expensive cities in the world to stay in, but there are many budget hotels that offer accommodation(膳宿) at a reasonable cost. Please take careful note of the facilities (设施) described for each budget hotel; the very cheapest accommodation may offer good budget deals but a minimum(最少量) of facilities. The higher the price per room, the greater the number and quality of facilities you can expect.
Arriva Hotel
This 2-star Arriva Hotel lies at the heart of the city centre--just a short walk from King’s Cross Tube station London’s famous attractions are all easily accessible by foot or public transport. A short stroll(闲逛) will bring you to the British Museum and the fashionable area of Bloomsbury.
With 75 en-suite rooms(浴室套间) available, the Arriva Hotel is a large budget hotel that offers accommodation for tourists at a very reasonable price. Also, Wi-Fi Internet(无线网络) connection is available in most rooms and a Continental(欧式) breakfast is included in the rates.
From: $ 50.00
Accommodation Rating: ★★
Beaconsfield Hotel
The Beaconsfield Hotel is situated on Green Lanes, North London, famous for its Turkish community. The Beaconsfield Hotel is housed in an attractive Victorian building, which is also home to a traditional pub(客栈, 酒馆)--if you want to experience real British culture, an afternoon in the pub is the place to do it! Manor House Station is just a short walk to Beaconsfield Hotel, so you will find traveling around the city quick and easy. The Beaconsfield Hotel offers ten comfortable rooms, each with a television, fridge and kettle.
There is a shared kitchen where you can prepare your meals. Bathroom facilities at Beaconsfield Hotel are also shared, but there are enough facilities for all guests to use.
From: $ 30.00
Accommodation Rating: unrated
1.What might be the purpose of writing the text?
A. To show the problems of London hotels.
B. To give warnings to some illegal hotels.
C. To blame the travel industry of London.
D. To tell us two budget hotels.
2.Budget hotels attract guests mainly because of their __________.
A. good service
B. low prices
C. convenient locations
D. accommodation conditions
3.Compared to the Arriva Hotel, the Beaconsfield Hotel ___________.
A. is smaller
B. is rated higher
C. is more expensive
D. is nearer to the city center
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
There are many thoughts on the origins of civilization. One of the major factors involved was the increase in population. The development of techniques, primarily irrigation and flood control, which permitted agriculture in special areas such as the flood plain of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, made possible the support of large population. Once populations reach a certain number, the older pattern of social organization breaks down and new ones develop. Specifically the older system, whereby each individual participated in food production and maintained a similar standard of living and whereby kinship(家属关系) served as the basic method of social organization, was replaced by the occupational division of labor, political and religious hierarchies(等级制度), public works such as road and public building construction, class systems, codes of law, markets, new forms of warfare, and urban centres. Allied with these important sociological traits are material traits, such as monumental architecture and the development of science and, in many cases, metallurgy(冶金学) and writing systems.
The earliest civilization, Sumer, developed in the Middle East. This was the Bronze Age of the Old World, during which people first developed the art of metallurgy, civilization also arose in other parts of the Old World, first in Egypt, China, and India, and later in Europe and Africa. At this time, civilization also developed independently in the New World, in the Mexican area and in Peru and its adjacent(邻近的) areas.
In the Old World the Bronze Age was followed by the Iron Age, which saw the rise and fall of great empires and the shift of power from the Middle East to Greece and Rome and then to Western Europe. In the 1700s the Industrial Age began, leading directly to the modern civilization of today.
46. The author of this passage __________________________________.
A. gives a comparison between ancient civilization and modern civilization
B. suggests that population increase is most important in the development of civilization
C. tries to explain how civilization developed in human history
D. explore the relation between agriculture and industry
47. According to the first paragraph, the increase in population __________________.
A. resulted in the development of agricultural technology
B. resulted from the breakdown of old social organization
C. caused the occupational division of labor
D. was impossible without the development of agriculture
48. The word “traits” in Paragraph One most likely means ____________________.
A. main appearances B. great achievements
C. distinguishing features D. outstanding successes
49. Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage?
A. The Bronze Age is one of the earliest civilizations.
B. The Industrial Age started in the Middle East.
C. The Bronze Age developed into the Iron Age.
D. The use of metal instruments started from the Bronze Age.
50. Which of the following is NOT included in the expression “the Old World” used in the passage?
A. American continent. B. Both Western and Eastern Europe.
C. African continent. D. Asian countries.
高二英语阅读理解简单题查看答案及解析
There are many theories about the beginning of drama in ancient Greece. The one most widely accepted today is based on the assumption that drama evolved (演化) from ceremony. The argument for this view goes as follows.
In the beginning, human beings viewed the natural forces of the world --- even the seasonal changes --- as unpredictable, and they sought through various means to control these unknown and feared powers. Those measures which appeared to bring the desired results were then kept and repeated until they hardened into fixed ceremonies. Eventually stories arose which explained the mysteries of the ceremonies. As time passed some ceremonies were abandoned, but the stories, later called myths, remained and provided material for art and drama.
Those who believe that drama evolved out of ceremony also argue that those ceremonies contained the seed of theater because music, dance, masks, and costumes were almost always used. Furthermore, a suitable site had to be provided for performances and when the entire community did not participate, a clear division was usually made between the "acting area" and the "auditorium ". In addition, there were performers, and, since considerable importance was attached to avoiding mistakes in the performing of ceremonies, religious leaders usually took that task. Wearing masks and costumes, they often acted other people, animals, or supernatural beings, and imitated the desired effect --- success in hunt or battle, the coming rain, etc. as an actor might. Eventually such dramatic representations were separated from religious activities.
Another theory traces(追溯) the theater's origin from the human interest in storytelling. According to this view, tales (about the hunt, war, etc) are gradually developed, at first through the use of action and dialogue, and then through the assumption of each of the roles by a different person. A closely related theory traces theater to those dances that are primarily rhythmical and gymnastic or that are imitations of animal movements and sounds.
1.Which is the best title of the passage?
A. Religious activities in ancient Greece.
B. The ceremonies in ancient Greece.
C. Drama theories.
D. The origin of Greek Drama.
2.According to the passage, drama_______________.
A. was played in memory of ancient Greek ceremonies
B. was a form of ceremony played by ancient Greeks to control unknown powers
C. evolved out of ancient Greek ceremonies with time passing by
D. is one of the measures Ancient Greeks took to view natural forces
3.In tracing the beginning of drama, which of the following is not mentioned?
A. Planting. B. Religious ceremonies. C. Gymnastic. D. Storytelling.
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
There are many festivals in Guizhou Province. One of them is Dong New year, 1. falls in the eleventh lunar month after the harvest. In some villages, the festival 2.(take) place in the tenth month. Dong New Year is as 3.(importance) as the Spring Festival. In the days 4.(lead) up to the new year, the Dong people make new clothes, clean their houses, and make rice cakes. 5. the eve of the New Year, the prepare “cold dish” with bean curd and homemade vinegar. It 6. (give) as an offering to one’s ancestors. Dong New Year is 7. (usual) celebrated in many Dong villages in the area of Rongjiang in Guizhou Province. The exact date varies but falls during the period late October to early November. Public 8.(celebration) include the Lusheng Festival and water buffalo fighting.
Another one, Miao Sisters Festival, is celebrated from the 15th to the 17th day of the third lunar month calendar, when 9.(marry) women make a return to the homes of their mothers. At home, they prepare and eat 10. special kind of food, black rice cake. When they return to their own homes, they bring with them some of it and give it to their husbands as gifts.
高二英语语法填空中等难度题查看答案及解析
There are many places to go on safari in Africa, but riding a horse through the flooded waters of Botswana's Okavango Delta must rank as one of the world's most exciting wildlife journeys.
Several safari camps operate as the base for this adventure, providing unique rides twice a day to explore deep into the delta. The camps have excellent horses, professional guides and lots of support workers. They have a reputation for providing a great riding experience.
The morning ride, when the guides take you to beautiful, shallow lakes full of water lilies, tends to be more active. It is unlike any other riding experience. With rainbows forming in the splashing water around you and the sound of huge drops of water bouncing off your body and face. It is truly exciting. You are very likely to come across large wild animals, too. On horseback it is possible to get quite close to elephants, giraffes and many other animals. The sense of excitement and tension levels rise suddenly though, as does your heart rate, as you move closer to them.
In the evening, rides are usually at a more relaxed and unhurried pace. With golden light streaming across the grassy delta and the animals coming out to eat and drink. Sedate though they are, rides at this time of day are still very impressive. As the sun's rays pass through the dust kicked up by the horses, the romance of Africa comes to life.
Back at the camp you can kick off your boots and enjoy excellent food and wine. Looking back on your day, you will find it hard to deny that a horseback Safari is as close as you will ever come to answering the call of the wild.
1.What does the underlined word “They” (in Para 2) refer to?
A. Flooded waters B. Wildlife journey
C. Unique rides D. Safari camps
2.What does the author find most exciting about a horse safari?
A. Seeing and feeling the real African life.
B. Enjoying good food and wine at the camp.
C. Being part of the scene and getting close to animals.
D. Hunting large animals just as our ancestors did.
3.What does the underlined word “sedate”(in Para 4) probably mean?
A. Slow and peaceful B. Wild and romantic
C. Hurry and thirsty D. Active and excited
4.The author introduced the riding experience in the Okavango Delta mainly by ___.
A. following space order B. making classifications
C.following time order D. giving examples
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
There are many places to go on safari in Africa, but riding a horse through the flooded waters of Botswana's Okavango Delta must rank as one of the world's most exciting wildlife journeys.
Several safari camps operate as the base for this adventure, providing unique rides twice a day to explore deep into the delta. The camps have excellent horses, professional guides and lots of support workers. They have a reputation for providing a great riding experience.
The morning ride, when the guides take you to beautiful, shallow lakes full of water lilies, tends to be more active. It is unlike any other riding experience. With rainbows forming in the splashing water around you and the sound of huge drops of water bouncing off your body and face. It is truly exciting. You are very likely to come across large wild animals, too. On horseback it is possible to get quite close to elephants, giraffes and many other animals. The sense of excitement and tension levels rise suddenly though, as does your heart rate, as you move closer to them.
In the evening, rides are usually at a more relaxed and unhurried pace. With golden light streaming across the grassy delta and the animals coming out to eat and drink. Sedate though they are, rides at this time of day are still very impressive. As the sun's rays pass through the dust kicked up by the horses, the romance of Africa comes to life.
Back at the camp you can kick off your boots and enjoy excellent food and wine. Looking back on your day, you will find it hard to deny that a horseback Safari is as close as you will ever come to answering the call of the wild.
1.What does the author find most exciting about a horse safari?
A. Seeing and feeling the real African life.
B. Enjoying good food and wine at the camp.
C. Hunting large animals just as our ancestors did.
D. Being part of the scene and getting close to animals.
2.What does the underlined word "sedate" probably mean?
A. Wild and romantic. B. Slow and peaceful.
C. Hurry and thirsty. D. Active and excited.
3.The author introduced the riding experience in the Okavango Delta mainly by ________.
A. following space order B. following time order
C. making classifications D. giving examples
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
Many of us already know about several American superstitions(迷信). Having a black cat cross your path, walking under a ladder, and breaking a mirror are all bad luck. In addition, there are many other superstitions that are worth knowing. Understanding them will keep you safe from evil spirits —if you believe in such things —and impress your American friends when you mention them.
Like the superstitions in other cultures, American superstitions often involve the things important in daily life, such as health, numbers, and marriage. For example, have you ever had a cough that would not go away? According to one American superstition, you should take a piece of your hair and put it between two slices of buttered bread. Next, feed this hair sandwich to a dog and say, “Eat well, you hound, may you be sick and I be sound.” This will trick the evil spirits and help your cough. It will also raise some eyebrows if you try it.
In American superstitions, the number three is very important. Often, Americas will say, “All things come in threes.” Three is lucky because it represents the traditional family: mother, father, and child. Therefore, gifts, letters, and guests will often arrive at your home in groups of three. However, it is also possible for bad events, like accidents and funerals, to come in threes as well.
Another time people pay attention to superstitions is when they get married. During a wedding, brides must wear or carry “something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue”. The old and borrowed things will bring luck to the person who gives them to the bride. The new and blue things will bring good fortune to the bride herself. The next time someone you know is getting married, be sure to recite this phrase.
As it would be unlucky to discuss one more superstition, we will wind things up here. Keep your fingers crossed, and stay lucky!
1.The passage is most probably entitled .
A. American’s Bad Luck B. Cross-culture and Superstitions
C. American Superstitions D. Daily Life in Superstitions
2.The underlined sentence in the second paragraph “It will also raise some eyebrows if you try it.” means .
A. when you try it, the dog will raise its eyebrows.
B. you will make people surprised when you try this trick
C. only if you raise your eyebrows can the trick work
D. you will believe in the trick after you try it
3. In American’s view, the number three is a(n) number.
A. lucky B. unlucky C. special D. ordinary
4. On the wedding, the bride often uses old and borrowed things so as to .
A. save some money for the wedding
B. bring good luck to the people who give them to the bride
C. give the good luck to the bride herself
D. pass the bad luck to others
5. After reading the passage, we may feel it is written in a tone.
A. formal B. serious C. humorous D. critical
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
One type of fish is named salmon(大马哈鱼). There are many different kinds of salmon, but almost all of them mate(交配) in a very strange way. They are born in small, freshwater rivers. They live in the river for a year, and then swim downstream to a bigger river and eventually to the ocean very quickly. While they live in the ocean, salmon are silver coloured.
After several years at sea, the salmon grow very long and heavy. Then, as if by magic, they all begin to swim home. Each salmon somehow remembers where it was born and the very same area in the small river.
It is a long, difficult journey home. Once the salmon enter fresh, they stop eating. They also change colours. Some salmon turn red, other brown and grey, and some turn pink. Some salmon grow a large bulge on their back, called a hump. These salmon fight to swim upstream against the current of sometimes very to avoid bears, birds, and fishermen
Finally, the salmon that survive mate in the same river in which they were born. Then, after all that work, they die! These salmon still play an important role. Their dead bodies help to provide nutrition(营养) to the animals that live in and around the river When their eggs hatch, the cycle will start again.
1.Which of the following do salmon NOT do when they reenter fresh water?
A. They change colours.
B. They stop eating.
C. They grow bulges on their backs.
D. They grow teeth.
2.Inferring from the passage, why do salmon eat a lot while they are in the ocean? Because_______
A. they need to have enough energy to return home
B. they never stop swimming
C. they are afraid of bears
D. the different water makes them hungry
3.Salmon return to fresh water in order to _______.
A. mate
B. provide nutrition to other animals
C. mate and provide nutrition to other animals
D. make a difficult journey
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
Newspapers in Great Britain vary greatly in their ways of carrying the news. There are serious papers for those who want to know about important happenings everywhere, both at home and abroad. There are popular newspapers for those who prefer entertainment to information.
The London newspaper that is best known outside Great Britain is probably the Times. It began in 1785, and has a high reputation for believable news and serious opinions on the news. It calls itself an independent paper, which means that it does not give its support to a particular political party. Its leading articles give the opinions of the editors, not those of the owners of the paper.
Letters to the editor are printed in the newspaper. These parts of the Times are always interesting. Most of the letters are serious subjects. But from time to time there will be long letters on the subject which is not at all serious, perhaps on a new fashion of dress, or the bad manners of the young people, compared with manners of thirty years ago.
1.If you want to get pleasure, please buy yourself .
A. a serious newspaper
B. foreign newspaper
C. any independent paper
D. a popular newspaper
2.The Times has been famous to outside Great Britain for years.
A. 19 B. 85 C. 221 D. 229
3.The Times is an independent paper because .
A. it supports no political parties
B. it is not controlled by the British Government
C. it gives special support to all the political parties.
D. the editor’s opinions are not examined by the owners of the paper
4.The writer tells us in this passage.
A. all kinds of newspapers in Britain
B. all kinds of news in English papers
C. how Times is liked by people
D. why Times is well-known
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析