With the explosion of consumer choices in recent history, the latest must -haves would surely need to be upgraded more often than every 10 years. In 2002 a computer and basic mobile phone would have been enough for most people, but now? The public need a trendy notebook computer and a smart phone with WiFi connection to feel they are up -to -date. So when will we have enough things? When will we finally be happy? Well, it looks like the things we buy today will barely keep us satisfied for a few months.
In the eyes of some psychologists, far from making us happy, greater consumer choice creates many serious psychological problems. A fundamental principle of the society is that more freedom is better and more choice in the marketplace means more freedom. Therefore more choice leads to more happiness. This is not the case, however.
Imagine you go to a cafe offering chocolate and vanilla ice cream. You choose the chocolate and eat it happily. But what if the cafe serves 50 kinds of ice cream? You choose chocolate and then start to worry, maybe blueberry would have been better, perhaps the half-fat ice cream would have been healthier. Stupid me all these choices and I didn’t make the best one!
In China’s major cities we have now passed the point where more consumer choice is making us happier. We are annoyed by all the options we have, disappointed because our expectations are so high and angered at ourselves when we don’t make a perfect choice every time.
A newspaper reporter tells a story about traveling on a plane with high -speed Internet access. He thought this was amazing---- the newest piece of technology he had heard of. Then the service went down. The man next to him was angry and swore. The reporter thought, “How quickly the world owes him something he knew existed only 10 seconds ago!”
1.What is the text mainly talking about?
A. Hi-tech and consumer needs.
B. Computers and smart phones.
C. Wireless products and WiFi connection.
D. Diverse choices and consumer satisfaction.
2.What may some psychologists think of the consumer demand in the café?
A. Variety leads to unhappiness.
B. More choice means more freedom.
C. The consumer has mental problems.
D. The shop provides too many choices.
3.Why was the man next to the reporter quite annoyed?
A. Someone owed him money.
B. The air hostess offered poor service.
C. The net connection was interrupted.
D. The pleasure lasted only 10 seconds.
4.What does the underlined word “swore” in the last paragraph probably mean?
A. Fell asleep. B. Said rude words.
C. Made promises. D. Became amazed.
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题
With the explosion of consumer choices in recent history, the latest must -haves would surely need to be upgraded more often than every 10 years. In 2002 a computer and basic mobile phone would have been enough for most people, but now? The public need a trendy notebook computer and a smart phone with WiFi connection to feel they are up -to -date. So when will we have enough things? When will we finally be happy? Well, it looks like the things we buy today will barely keep us satisfied for a few months.
In the eyes of some psychologists, far from making us happy, greater consumer choice creates many serious psychological problems. A fundamental principle of the society is that more freedom is better and more choice in the marketplace means more freedom. Therefore more choice leads to more happiness. This is not the case, however.
Imagine you go to a cafe offering chocolate and vanilla ice cream. You choose the chocolate and eat it happily. But what if the cafe serves 50 kinds of ice cream? You choose chocolate and then start to worry, maybe blueberry would have been better, perhaps the half-fat ice cream would have been healthier. Stupid me all these choices and I didn’t make the best one!
In China’s major cities we have now passed the point where more consumer choice is making us happier. We are annoyed by all the options we have, disappointed because our expectations are so high and angered at ourselves when we don’t make a perfect choice every time.
A newspaper reporter tells a story about traveling on a plane with high -speed Internet access. He thought this was amazing---- the newest piece of technology he had heard of. Then the service went down. The man next to him was angry and swore. The reporter thought, “How quickly the world owes him something he knew existed only 10 seconds ago!”
1.What is the text mainly talking about?
A. Hi-tech and consumer needs.
B. Computers and smart phones.
C. Wireless products and WiFi connection.
D. Diverse choices and consumer satisfaction.
2.What may some psychologists think of the consumer demand in the café?
A. Variety leads to unhappiness.
B. More choice means more freedom.
C. The consumer has mental problems.
D. The shop provides too many choices.
3.Why was the man next to the reporter quite annoyed?
A. Someone owed him money.
B. The air hostess offered poor service.
C. The net connection was interrupted.
D. The pleasure lasted only 10 seconds.
4.What does the underlined word “swore” in the last paragraph probably mean?
A. Fell asleep. B. Said rude words.
C. Made promises. D. Became amazed.
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
With the explosion of consumer choices in recent history, the latest must-haves would surely need to be upgraded more often than every 10 years. In 2002 a computer and basic mobile phone would have been enough for most people, but now? The public need a trendy notebook computer and a smart phone with WiFi connection to feel they are up-to-date. So when will we have enough things? When will we finally be happy? Well, it looks like the things we buy today will barely keep us satisfied for a few months.
In the eyes of some psychologists, far from making us happy, greater consumer choice creates many serious psychological problems. A fundamental principle of the society is that more freedom is better and more choice in the marketplace means more freedom. Therefore more choice leads to more happiness. This is not the case, however.
Imagine you go to a café offering chocolate and vanilla ice cream. You choose the chocolate and eat it happily. But what if the café serves 50 kinds of ice cream? You choose chocolate and then start to worry, “maybe blueberry would have been better, perhaps the half-fat ice cream would have been healthier. Stupid me, all these choices and I didn’t make the best one! ”
In China’s major cities we have now passed the point where more consumer choice is making us happier. We are annoyed by all the options we have, disappointed because our expectations are so high and angered at ourselves when we don’ t make a perfect choice every time.
A newspaper reporter tells a story about traveling on a plane with high-speed Internet access. He thought this was amazing—the newest piece of technology he had heard of. Then the service went down. The man next to him was angry and swore. The reporter thought, “How quickly the world owes him something he knew existed only 10 seconds ago!”
1.What is the text mainly talking about?
A. Hi-tech and consumer needs.
B. Computers and smart phones.
C. Wireless products and WiFi connection.
D. Diverse choices and consumer satisfaction.
2.What may some psychologists think of the consumer demand in the café?
A. The consumer has mental problems.
B. More choice means more freedom.
C. Variety leads to unhappiness.
D. The shop provides too many choices.
3.Why was the man next to the reporter quite annoyed?
A. The net connection was interrupted. B. Someone owed him money.
C. The air hostess offered poor service. D. The pleasure lasted only 10 seconds.
4.What does the underlined word “swore” in the last paragraph probably mean?
A. Fell asleep. B. Said rude words.
C. Made promises. D. Became amazed.
高二英语阅读理解困难题查看答案及解析
This book gives a brief _______ of the history of the castle and details of the art collection in the main hall.
A.outline B.output C.operation D.organ
高二英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析
In _______ gesture to help preserve history, the locals are repairing _______ large percentage of the historic sites steadily.
A. the; the B. a; a C. the; a D. /; the
高二英语单项填空困难题查看答案及解析
Not until recently _______the development of tourist-related activities in the rural areas.
A. had they encouraged B. they had encouraged
C. they encouraged D. did they encourage
高二英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析
Some of the world’s most famous musicians recently gathered in Paris and New Orleans to celebrate the first annual International Jazz Day. UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) recently set April 30 as a day to raise awareness of jazz music, its significance, and its potential as a unifying voice across cultures.
Despite the celebrations, though, in the U.S. the jazz audience continues to shrink and grow older, and the music has failed to connect with younger generations.
It’s Jason Moran’s job to help change that. As the Kennedy Center’s artistic adviser for jazz, Moran hopes to widen the audience for jazz, make the music more accessible, and preserve its history and culture.
“Jazz seems like it’s not really a part of the American appetite.”Moran tells National Public Radio’s reporter Neal Conan “What I’m hoping to accomplish is that my generation and younger start to reconsider and understand that jazz is not black and white anymore. It’s actually color, and it’s actually digital.”
Moran says one of the problems with jazz today is that the entertainment aspect of the music has been lost. “The music can’t be presented today the way it was in 1908 or 1958. It has to continue to move, because the way the world works is not the same.” says Moran.
Last year, Moran worked on a project that arranged Fats Waller’s music for a dance party. “just to kind of put it back in the mind that Waller is dance music as much as it is concert music.” says Moran. “For me, it’s the recontextualization.”
In music, where does the emotion lie? Are we, as humans, gaining any insight (感悟) on how to talk about ourselves and how something as abstract as a Charlie Parker record gets us into a dialogue about our emotions and our thoughts? Sometimes we lose sight that the music has a wider context,” says Moran, “so I want to continue those dialogues. Those are the things I want to foster.”
1.What is the purpose of UNESCO to set April 30 as International Jazz Day?
A. To emphasize the significance of jazz.
B. To protect musical diversity.
C. To remember the birth of jazz.
D. To encourage people to study music.
2.What does the underlined word “that” in paragraph 3 refer to?
A. The production of jazz growing faster.
B. Jazz losing its appeal for the young.
C. The jazz audience becoming larger.
D. Jazz becoming more accessible.
3.What does Moran’s opinion on jazz imply?
A. It remains black and white.
B. It will disappear gradually.
C. It changes every 50 years.
D. It should keep up with the times.
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
We can offer you a place at one of the best universities in Britain. We’ll provide you with a choice of 150 first-class courses developed especially to enable you to study in your own time. All of these courses are backed by the Open University’s own special study method — OU Support Open Learning.
We’ll give you the support of a personal teacher, and the chance to meet your fellow students. You can study for a diploma, a degree or a postgraduate degree. Subjects available include: Computing, Business Management, Technology, Modern Languages, Social Sciences, English Law, Arts, Science, Mathematics, Education and Health & Social Welfare.
Whether you want to study to improve your career prospects or for your own personal interest, there’s almost certainly a course for you. If you haven’t studied for a while, we will help you get started. No previous training or degrees are required. All that is required is a willingness to learn. The OU is great value for money and you can pay monthly.
The OU leads the world in the use of new technology for learning, and a number of courses provide source material on CD-ROM. What else can the Open University offer you?
☆ The OU is in the top 15% of all UK universities for teaching quality.
☆ 25% of all British MBAs come from the OU.
☆ Over 30,000 employers have offered chances for their staff to study OU courses.
☆ 40,000 OU students study online from their home.
☆ There are 9-month courses and diplomas as well as degrees.
Send for your free instructions now.
Post to: The Open University, PO Box 625, Milton Keynes MK76 AA, U99LX.
1.The purpose of writing this passage is to _________.
A．introduce the best university inBritain
B．let the readers know the OU Support Open Learning
C．describe the new technology for learning in the Open University
D．attract students to the Open University
2.If you want to study in the Open University, you need ________.
A．a good study habit
B．some previous training
C．a willingness to learn
D．a degree from a good university
3.The Open University can offer you all of the following EXCEPT ______.
A．an MBA degree
B．high-quality teaching
C．a computer so you can study online from home
D．9-month courses and diplomas as well as degrees
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
We can offer you a place at one of the best universities in Britain. We’ll provide you with a choice of 150 first-class courses developed especially to enable you to study in your own time. All of these courses are backed by the Open University’s own special study method — OU Support Open Learning.
We’ll give you the support of a personal teacher, and the chance to meet your fellow students. You can study for a diploma, a degree or a postgraduate degree. Subjects available include: Computing, Business Management, Technology, Modern Languages, Social Sciences, English Law, Arts, Science, Mathematics, Education and Health & Social Welfare.
Whether you want to study to improve your career prospects or for your own personal interest, there’s almost certainly a course for you. If you haven’t studied for a while, we will help you get started. No previous training or degrees are required. All that is required is a willingness to learn. The OU is great value for money and you can pay monthly.
The OU leads the world in the use of new technology for learning, and a number of courses provide source material on CD-ROM. What else can the Open University offer you?
☆ The OU is in the top 15% of all UK universities for teaching quality.
☆ 25% of all British MBAs come from the OU.
☆ Over 30,000 employers have offered chances for their staff to study OU courses.
☆ 40,000 OU students study online from their home.
☆ There are 9-month courses and diplomas as well as degrees.
Send for your free instructions now.
Post to: The Open University, PO Box 625, Milton Keynes MK76 AA, U99LX.
1. The purpose of writing this passage is to _________.
A. introduce the best university in Britain
B. let the readers know the OU Support Open Learning
C. describe the new technology for learning in the Open University
D. attract students to the Open University
2. If you want to study in the Open University, you need ________.
A. a good study habit
B. some previous training
C. a willingness to learn
D. a degree from a good university
3. The Open University can offer you all of the following EXCEPT ______.
A. an MBA degree
B. high-quality teaching
C. a computer so you can study online from home
D. 9-month courses and diplomas as well as degrees
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
The history of modern art begins with Impressionism, a movement started in Paris in the mid-1800’s. At that time many artists painted in a very traditional way that involved spending hours in a studio, painstakingly (辛苦地) creating paintings that were extremely detailed. These paintings were sometimes of people or landscapes or historical events. In 1863, Edouard Manet exhibited his painting “Dejeuner sur l’erbe” at the Salon des Refuses. The painting caused a commotion (骚动), thus starting the Impressionist movement. Although Edouard Manet is the declared leader and founder of the group, he was not present at the first group exhibition or any of the other eight collective Impressionist shows. The movement gained more attention in the April of 1874 when Claude Monet, Auguste Renoir, Alfred Sisley, and Jean-Frédéric Bazille formed Society of Artists, Painters, Sculptors, Engravers and began exhibiting outside of the official salon. The same year, the term Impressionism was invented by criticizing (批评的) journalist Louis Leroy to describe their paintings, who worked for the magazine Le Charivari.
The Impressionists often paint out of doors and want to show how light and shadow fall on objects at particular times of the day. Their works are sometimes described as “captured moments” and are characterized by short quick brushstrokes (笔) of colour which, when viewed up close looks quite messy and unreal. If we step back from the Impressionist paintings, the colours are blended together by our eyes and we are able to see the painters’ subjects which often show colourful landscapes, sunlight on water as well as people busy with outdoor activities.
1.Before Impressionism, the works of artists were ________.
| A．quite abstract | B．very confusing |
| C．very detailed | D．quite controversial |
2.Who first started Impressionism? ___________
| A．Claude Monet. | B．Edouard Manet. |
| C．Auguste Renoir. | D．Alfred Sisley. |
3. The works of the Impressionists are best viewed ________.
| A．with imagination | B．at a distance |
| C．outdoors | D．in a studio |
4.The second paragraph is mainly about ______.
| A．the painting style of the Impressionists |
| B．how to describe the Impressionist paintings |
| C．the influences of the Impressionist paintings |
| D．the subjects of the Impressionist paintings |
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
The old man lived in a house, in front of which _____ with a history of 100 years.
A. does a tall tree stand B. stands a tall tree
C. a tall tree is standing D. a tall tree stands
高二英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析