The American self-image is spread with the golden glow of opportunity. We think of the United States as a land of unlimited possibility, not so much a classless society but as a place where class is mutable(可变的) -- a place where brains, energy and ambition are what count, not the environment of one’s birth. However, we are not who we think we are.
The Economic Mobility Project, an ambitious research led by Pew Charitable Trusts, looked at the economic fortunes of a large group of families over time, comparing the income of parents in the late 1960s with the income of their children in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Here is the finding: The “rags to riches” story is much more common in Hollywood than on Main Street. Only 6 percent of children born to parents with family income at the very bottom move to the top.
That is right, just 6 percent of children born to parents who ranked in the bottom of the study sample, in terms of income, were able to bootstrap their way into the top. Meanwhile, an incredible 42 percent of children born into that lowest are still stuck at the bottom, having been unable to climb a single rung of the income ladder.
It is noted that even in Britain -- a nation we think of as burdened with a hidebound(顽固的，死板的) class system(阶层体系) -- children who are born poor have a better chance of moving up. When the studies were released, most reporters focused on the finding that African-Americans born to middle-class or upper middle-class families are earning slightly less, in inflation-adjusted(扣除通胀后的) dollars, than did their parents.
One of the studies indicates, in fact, that most of the financial gains white families have made in the past three decades can be attributed to(归功于) the entry of white women into the labor force. This is much less true for African-Americans.
The picture that emerges is of a nation in which, overall, “the current generation of adults is better off than the previous one”, as one of the studies notes.
The median(中值的) income of the families in the sample group was $55,600 in the late 1960s; their children’s median family income was measured at $71,900. However, this rising tide has not lifted all boats equally. The rich have seen far greater income gains than have the poor.
Even more troubling is that our nation of America as the land of opportunity gets little support from the data. Americans move fairly easily up and down the middle rungs(横档) of the ladder, but there is “stickiness at the ends” -- four out of ten children who are born poor will remain poor, and four out of ten who are born rich will stay rich.
1.What did the Economic Mobility Project find in its research?
A. Children from low-income families are unable to move up to the top.
B. Hollywood actors and actresses can get rich easily.
C. The rags to riches story is more fiction than reality.
D. The rags to riches story is only true for a small minority of whites.
2.According to the passage, the author probably agrees that America should____.
A. perfect its self-image as a land of opportunity
B. have a lower level of upward mobility than Britain
C. enable African-Americans to earn more than whites
D. encourage the current generation to work harder than their parents
3.Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage?
A. The US is a land where brains, energy and ambition are what count
B. Inequality remains between whites and blacks in financial gains.
C. Middle-class families earn slightly less with inflation considered.
D. Children in lowest-income families manage to climb a single rung of the ladder.
4.What might be the best title for this passage?
A. Social Upward Mobility. B. Incredible Income Gains.
C. Inequality in Wealth. D. America Not Land of Opportunity
高二英语阅读理解困难题
The American self-image is spread with the golden glow of opportunity. We think of the United States as a land of unlimited possibility, not so much a classless society but as a place where class is mutable(可变的) -- a place where brains, energy and ambition are what count, not the environment of one’s birth. However, we are not who we think we are.
The Economic Mobility Project, an ambitious research led by Pew Charitable Trusts, looked at the economic fortunes of a large group of families over time, comparing the income of parents in the late 1960s with the income of their children in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Here is the finding: The “rags to riches” story is much more common in Hollywood than on Main Street. Only 6 percent of children born to parents with family income at the very bottom move to the top.
That is right, just 6 percent of children born to parents who ranked in the bottom of the study sample, in terms of income, were able to bootstrap their way into the top. Meanwhile, an incredible 42 percent of children born into that lowest are still stuck at the bottom, having been unable to climb a single rung of the income ladder.
It is noted that even in Britain -- a nation we think of as burdened with a hidebound(顽固的，死板的) class system(阶层体系) -- children who are born poor have a better chance of moving up. When the studies were released, most reporters focused on the finding that African-Americans born to middle-class or upper middle-class families are earning slightly less, in inflation-adjusted(扣除通胀后的) dollars, than did their parents.
One of the studies indicates, in fact, that most of the financial gains white families have made in the past three decades can be attributed to(归功于) the entry of white women into the labor force. This is much less true for African-Americans.
The picture that emerges is of a nation in which, overall, “the current generation of adults is better off than the previous one”, as one of the studies notes.
The median(中值的) income of the families in the sample group was $55,600 in the late 1960s; their children’s median family income was measured at $71,900. However, this rising tide has not lifted all boats equally. The rich have seen far greater income gains than have the poor.
Even more troubling is that our nation of America as the land of opportunity gets little support from the data. Americans move fairly easily up and down the middle rungs(横档) of the ladder, but there is “stickiness at the ends” -- four out of ten children who are born poor will remain poor, and four out of ten who are born rich will stay rich.
1.What did the Economic Mobility Project find in its research?
A. Children from low-income families are unable to move up to the top.
B. Hollywood actors and actresses can get rich easily.
C. The rags to riches story is more fiction than reality.
D. The rags to riches story is only true for a small minority of whites.
2.According to the passage, the author probably agrees that America should____.
A. perfect its self-image as a land of opportunity
B. have a lower level of upward mobility than Britain
C. enable African-Americans to earn more than whites
D. encourage the current generation to work harder than their parents
3.Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage?
A. The US is a land where brains, energy and ambition are what count
B. Inequality remains between whites and blacks in financial gains.
C. Middle-class families earn slightly less with inflation considered.
D. Children in lowest-income families manage to climb a single rung of the ladder.
4.What might be the best title for this passage?
A. Social Upward Mobility. B. Incredible Income Gains.
C. Inequality in Wealth. D. America Not Land of Opportunity
高二英语阅读理解困难题查看答案及解析
The Museum of Childhood is spread over 4 floors, with the first floor acting like a balcony around the edge of the building, so you can look down over the ground floor central hall with the shop, Information Desk, and Benugo Café.
The museum of Childhood is housed in a large Victorian building in east London. It has been on this site since 1872. It has undergone refurbishment (翻新) and reopened in 2006 and an elevator now makes all floors accessible.
This is not a quiet place and children are allowed to have fun here. Child safety is extremely important and a member of staff remains by the front door at all times. Also, note the “Code of Behavior” notices, which include: children under 12 must be supervised by an adult; no eating in the galleries, and no running.
Toy exhibits are in glass cases and there are plenty of low-level exhibits for younger children to see. The glass cases have lots of thought-inspiring questions on them to encourage discussion between adults and children. When you or the children need some quiet time, there are sofas at either end of the second floor with reading books available.
Pros: Many free activities for kids
Cons: Can be too warm inside
Visit Duration: 1.5 hours
Opening Hours: 10:00 a.m. – 5:45 p.m.
Last admission is 5:30 p.m.
The Museum is closed on 25 and 26 December and 1 January every year.
Admission: Admission to the Museum is free. There is a small charge for some activities.
1.In the Museum of Childhood, ______________.
A．people can reach any floor by elevator
B．there are sofas at either end of the first floor
C．there are exhibits on the museum history
D．the Information Desk can be found on each floor
2.The Museum of Childhood may be attractive to _________.
A．parents who only have children under 12
B．children who are fond of toy exhibits
C．parents and children who need quiet time
D．kids who like playing games with their parents
3.What is the disadvantage of the museum?
A．Low-level exhibits are too boring.
B．Children may feel slightly hot in it.
C．Parents have to stay with their kids.
D．No staff members attend to the kids.
4.What information can we get about the museum?
A．All the activities for children are free.
B．The museum is located in west London.
C．Children are allowed to enter after 5:30.
D．The museum is unavailable on Christmas Day.
高二英语阅读理解简单题查看答案及解析
The Museum of Childhood is spread over 4 floors, with the first floor acting like a balcony around the edge of the building, so you can look down over the ground floor central hall with the shop, Information Desk and Benugo Cafe.
The Museum of Childhood is housed in a large Victorian building in east London. It has been on this site since 1872. It had undergone refurbishment(翻新)and reopened in 2006 and an elevator now makes all floors accessible.(可达到的)
This is not a quiet place and children are allowed to have fun there. Child safety is extremely important and a member of staff remains by the front door at all times. Also, note the “Code of Behavior” notice, which include: children under 12 must be supervised by an adult; no eating in the galleries and no running.
Toy exhibits are in glass cases and there are plenty of low-level exhibits for younger children to see. The glass cases have lots of thought-inspiring questions on them to encourage discussion between adults and children. When you or the children need some quiet time, there are sofas at either end of the second floor with reading books available.
Pros: Many free activities for kids
Cons: Can be too warm inside
Visit Duration: 1.5 hours
Opening hours: 10: 00 am- 5: 45 pm
Last admission is 5:30 pm
The museum is closed on 25 and 26 December and 1 January every year.
Admission: Admission to the Museum is free. There is a small charge for some activities.
1.
In the Museum of Childhood, ________.
A. people can reach any floor by elevator
B. there are sofas at either end of the first floor
C. there are exhibits on the museum history
D. the Information Desk can be found on each floor
2.
The Museum of Childhood may be attractive to ________.
A. parents who only have children under 12
B. children who are fond of toy exhibits
C. parents and children who need quiet time
D. kids who like playing games with their parents
3.
What is the disadvantage of the museum?
A. low-level exhibits are too boring.
B. Children may feel slightly hot in it.
C. Parents have to stay with their kids.
D. No staff members attend to the kids.
4.
What information can we get about the museum?
A. All the activities for children are free.
B. The museum is located in west London.
C. Children are allowed to enter after 5:30.
D. The museum is unavailable on Christmas Day.
高二英语阅读理解简单题查看答案及解析
Most of us would like to have glowing skin, especially as we get older. The good news is that you don’t have to wait until summer to catch some sun rays. Scientists have found eating plenty of fruit and vegetables is by far the best way to achieve a healthy, golden glow.
Dr. Ian Stephen said, “Most people think that the best way to improve their skin color is to get a suntan（棕褐色）. But our research shows that eating lots of fruit and vegetables is actually more effective.”
The team first assessed the skin color of people in relation to their diet. Those who ate more fruit and vegetables a day were found to have a more golden, yellow skin color. Those with a healthy glow had a higher presence of carotenoids（类胡萝卜素）, which play a role in the immune system. Carotenoids are commonly found in fruit and vegetables such an yellow and red peppers, spinach, apricots and melons.
The team then studied the relation between skin tone and attractiveness. They used specialist software to operate the skin color on the images of 51 faces to simulate（模拟）more or less carotenoids and suntans. Participants were then asked to adjust the skin color to make the faces look as healthy as possible. Given the choice between skin color enhanced by suntans and skin color enhanced by carotenoids, people preferred the carotenoids skin color.
The study shows that not only do people use skin color to judge how healthy other individuals are, but they are accurate when they make those judgments. While this study focus on Caucasian（白种人的）faces, it suggests this phenomenon may exist across cultures, since similar preferences for skin yellowness are found in an African population.
1.Which statement is TRUE according to the text?
A. Carotenoids are only found in the fruit.
B. Carotenoids are important in the immune system
C. Carotenoids can be improved by catching sun rays.
D. Carotenoids are the only factor that affects the skin color.
2.According to the text, people preferred _______.
A. the yellow skin color
B. the skin color as white as possible
C. the skin color enhanced by suntans
D. the skin color enhanced by carotenoids
3.What can we learn from the text?
A. Young girls should not eat many melons.
B. There’s no need to worry about our skin color.
C. We cannot judge a person from his appearance.
D. Skin color is a clue to judge whether a person is healthy or not.
4.What’s the author’s intention of writing this passage?
A. To show us how to get glowing skin.
B. To persuade us to get suntans every day.
C. To explain different diets in different cultures.
D. To share his experience of improving the skin.
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
With golden sunshine and a gentle breeze（微风）, autumn is the most beautiful seasons in the year. This is a great time to go outside and have fun. Go to a valley to see red maple trees,go and pick fruit in an orchard or find an open field to fly your kite in.
However, for many high school students, these great activities may be just a dream. With plenty of work to do, they spend all their hours indoors, struggling for a high mark in their exams. Of course, study is one of the most important things for teenagers. But life is definitely much more than that.
Sometimes we spend so much time studying that we forget how to make life wonderful. In doing so, we lose the real purpose of life —to be a valuable and happy person. To enjoy just how great it is to be alive, we have to put down our books and pens and look around us. Students, take some exercise to improve your health, talk with your parents and friends for understanding and walk around outside to refresh（振作）our body and mind.
Going out and enjoying the beautiful countryside often helps our creativity in our work. Chinese craftsman, Lu Ban created a saw to help woodworkers. But if he hadn’t walked outside, he would not have been inspired by a kind of toothed（锯齿状的）grass. We could also suppose if Newton hadn’t rested under that apple tree, then he wouldn’t have been hit by an apple, and his classic（经典的）theories would not have come out.
Going out is not only a break from hard work, but a chance to add to life experience. So come on, give your brain a good rest. Step out of the books and get your bag ready for an autumn outing. We are sure you will get much more than knowledge from the exciting journey.
1.In which paragraph does the writer make a summary about his opinion?
A.Paragraph 1. B.Paragraph 2.
C.Paragraph 4. D.Paragraph 5.
2.Why is going out a dream for many high school students?
A.They are unhappy to do so.
B.They have too much work to do for getting high marks in the exams.
C.Their parents don’t allow them to do so.
D.They think study is the most important thing for them.
3.The passage is developed mainly by______________.
A.describing the beautiful scenery in Autumn
B.pointing out the present situation of high school students
C.making predictions
D.reasoning and giving examples
4.What message can you learn from the passage?
A.Going out can make high school students get more.
B.Nature is power.
C.All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.
D.The author isn’t happy with our education at all.
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
The Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco，California is one of the world's most beautiful bridges. It is also one of the most visited places in the world. More than 1800 hundred million vehicles have used the bridge since it opened more than 70 years ago.
The bridge was painted “International Orange” because that color went well with the natural surroundings. The color also is easier to see in the heavy fog that often covers the area. But the Golden Gate Bridge was not named for its orange color. It was named for the body of water that it crosses, the Golden Gate Strait, which is the entrance to the San Francisco Bay from the Pacific Ocean
Planning for the bridge began in the 1920s when the area around San Francisco was growing. People living in the area needed another way to get to the city besides small ferries. Joseph Strauss was the chief engineer for the project. Work began in 1934.Mr.Strauss demanded the strongest safety protections in the history of bridge building. These included the first use of “hard hats” to protect the workers' heads and special glasses to protect their eyes. A special safety net was suspended under the bridge. This net saved the lives of 19 men during the construction.
The Golden Gate Bridge opened in 1937.It extends 1280 meters across the water. The total length is 2737 meters. It was the largest suspension bridge(吊桥)in the world until 1964.That is when the Verrazano Narrows Bridge opened in New York City. Today, the Golden Gate Bridge is the ninth longest suspension bridge in the world.
1.What was the Golden Gate Bridge named after?
A. The Strait it crosses B. The color of a paint
C. The local climate D. Its natural surroundings
2.How did people cross the Golden Gate Strait before the bridge was built?
A. By plane. B. By train.
C. By road. D. By boat.
3.Why was a special safety net suspended under the bridge?
A. Because it can protect the environment
B. Because it can prevent workers from falling
C. Because it can make construction easier
D. Because it can save building materials from falling
4.What do we know about Joseph Strauss?
A. He built the first suspension bridge in the world.
B. His safety measures were not of practical value.
C. He attached importance to the workers' safety.
D. He demanded strong measures to ensure the safety of the bridge.
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
A rainfores（雨林）is an area covered by tall trees with the total high rainfall spreading quite equally through the year and the temperature rarely dipping below 16℃.Rainforests have a great effect on the world environment because they can take in（吸收） heat from the sun and adjust （调节）the climate. Without the forest cover, these areas would reflect more heat into the atmosphere，warming the rest of the world .Losing the rainforests may also influence wind and rainfall patterns, potentially causing certain natural disasters（灾害） all over the world.
In the past hundred years, humans have begun destroying rainforests in search of three major resources (资源): land for crops, wood for paper and other products, land for raising farm animals. This action affects the environment as a whole. For example，a lot of carbon dioxide(二氧化碳)in the air comes from burning the rainforests. People obviously have a need for the resources we gain from cutting trees but we will suffer much more than we will benefit（受益）.
There are two main reasons for this. Firstly, when people cut down trees, generally they can only use the land for a year or two. Secondly, cutting large sections of rainforests may provide a good supply of wood right now, but in the long run （长远看）it actually reduces the world’ s wood supply.
Rainforests are often called the world’s drug store. More than 25% of the medicines we use today come from plants in rainforests. However, fewer than 1% of rainforest plants have been examined for their medical value. It is extremely likely that our best chance to cure diseases lies somewhere in （在于）the world’s shrinking rainforests.
1..．Rainforests can help to adjust the climate because they________.
| A．reflect（反射） more heat into the atmosphere |
| B．bring about high rainfall throughout the world |
| C．rarely cause the temperature to drop lower than 16℃ |
| D．reduce the effect of heat from the sun on the earth |
2..．What does the word “this” underlined in the third paragraph refer to?
| A．We will lose much more than we can gain. |
| B．Humans have begun destroying rainforests. |
| C．People have a strong desire for resources. |
| D．Much carbon dioxide comes from burning rainforests. |
3..What might be the best title for the text?
| A．How to Save Rainforests | B．How to Protect Nature |
| C．Rainforests and the Environment | D．Rainforests and Medical Development |
高二英语阅读理解简单题查看答案及解析
A rainforest is an area covered by tall trees with the total high rainfall spreading quite equally through the year and the temperature rarely dipping below l6℃. Rainforests have a great effect on the world environment because they can take in heat from the sun and adjust the climate. Without the forest cover，these areas would reflect more heat into the atmosphere, warming the rest of the world. Losing the rainforests may also influence wind and rainfall patterns，potentially causing certain natural disasters all over the world.
In the past hundred years，humans have begun destroying rainforests in search of three major resources（资源）: land for crops，wood for paper and other products，land for raising farm animals. This action affects the environment as a whole. For example，a lot of carbon dioxide（二氧化碳）in the air comes from burning the rainforests. People obviously have a need for the resources we gain from cutting trees but we will suffer much more than we will benefit.
There are two main reasons for this. Firstly，when people cut down trees，generally they can only use the land for a year or two. Secondly，cutting large sections of rainforests may provide a good supply of wood right now，but in the long run it actually reduces the world’s wood supply.
Rainforests are often called the world’s drug store. More than 25％ of the medicines we use today come from plants in rainforests. However，fewer than l％of rainforest plants have been examined for their medical value. It is extremely likely that our best chance to cure diseases lies somewhere in the world’s shrinking (萎缩的) rainforests.
1.Rainforests can help to adjust the climate because they .
A. reflect more heat into the atmosphere
B. bring about high rainfall throughout the world
C. rarely cause the temperature to drop lower than l6℃
D. reduce the effect of heat from the sun on the earth
2.What does the word “this” underlined in the third paragraph refer to?
A. We will lose much more than we can gain.
B. Humans have begun destroying rainforests.
C. People have a strong desire for resources.
D. Much carbon dioxide comes from burning rainforests.
3.It can be inferred from the text that __________________.
A. we can get enough resources without rainforests
B. there is great medicine potential in rainforests
C. we will grow fewer kinds of crops in the gained land
D. the level of annual rainfall affects wind patterns
4.What might be the best title for the text?
A. How to Save Rainforests
B. How to Protect Nature
C. Rainforests and the Environment
D. Rainforests and Medical Development
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
A rainforest is an area covered by tall trees with the total high rainfall spreading quite equally through the year and the temperature rarely falling below 16℃. Rainforests have a great effect on the world environment because they can take in heat from the sun and adjust the climate. Without the forest cover, these areas would reflect more heat into the atmosphere，warming the rest of the world. Losing the rainforests may also influence wind and rainfall patterns, potentially causing certain natural disasters all over the world.
In the past hundred years, humans have begun destroying rainforests in search of three major resources : land for crops, wood for paper and other products, land for raising farm animals. This action affects the environment as a whole. For example，a lot of carbon dioxide in the air comes from burning the rainforests. People obviously have a need for the resources we gain from cutting trees but we will suffer much more than we will benefit. There are two main reasons for this. Firstly, when people cut down trees, generally they can only use the land for a year or two. Secondly, cutting large sections of rainforests may provide a good supply of wood right now, but in the long run it actually reduces the world’ s wood supply.Rainforests are often called the world’s drug store. More than 25% of the medicines we use today come from plants in rainforests. However, fewer than 1% of rainforest plants have been examined for their medical value. It is extremely likely that our best chance to cure diseases lies somewhere in the world’s shrinking rainforests.
1. Rainforests can help to adjust the climate because they________.
A. reflect more heat into the atmosphere
B. bring about high rainfall throughout the world
C. rarely cause the temperature to drop lower than 16℃
D. absorb the heat from the sun, reducing the effect of heat from the sun on the earth
2. What does the word “this” underlined in the third paragraph refer to?
A. We will lose much more than we can gain.
B. Humans have begun destroying rainforests.
C. People have a strong desire for resources.
D. Much carbon dioxide comes from burning rainforests.
3. It can be inferred from the text that________.
A. we can get enough resources without rainforests
B. there is great medicine potential in rainforests
C. we will grow fewer kinds of crops in the gained land
D. the level of annual rainfall affects wind patterns
4.. What might be the best title for the text?
A. How to Save Rainforests?
B. How to Protect Nature?
C. Rainforests and the Environment.
D. Rainforests and Medical Development.
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
The education program ________ combining brain work with manual labor is being widely spread throughout the country.
A. to aim at B. aims at C. having aimed at D. aimed at
高二英语单项填空困难题查看答案及解析