One of the most popular beliefs in parenting ...

One of the most popular beliefs in parenting is the so﹣called Mozart effect， which says that listening to music by the Austrian composer Wolfgang Mozart can increase a child's intelligence． Some pregnant women have even gone so far as to play Mozart recordings on headphones pressed against their bellies． And it's not hard to see how Mozart's name became associated with accelerated development． He was history's greatest child genius， performing astonishing music for kings and queens at an age when many of us were content with tuneless singing "I'm a Little Teapot"．

So， if you have kids or you're expecting to have them， how seriously should you take the Mozart effect？ Will the child who doesn't listen to Mozart in the cradle （摇篮） be limited to an ordinary life？ Are you a bad parent if your kids don't know about any works of Mozart？

Relax． There is no scientific evidence that listening to Mozart improves children's cognitive abilities． The whole idea comes from a small study done in 1993， which found that college students who listened to Mozart's Sonata for Two Pianos in D Major （K 448）showed some improvement in a test of spatial （空间的） skills． This finding was later described as something extremely amazing by a musician， Don Campbell， in a book． Campbell's claims about the super powers of Mozart's music were repeated endlessly in the media and fueled a craze for Mozart﹣based enrichment activities． In 1998， for example， the governor of Georgia in the USA requested funds to send classical﹣music CDs to all parents of newborns in the state．

Since then， scientists have examined the claim that Mozart increases intelligence and found no evidence for it． The original experiment with college students was reviewed in 1999， and the increase in the students' spatial skills was found to be negligible． In 2007 the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research asked a team of experts to examine the scientific literature regarding Mozart and child development， and they found no reason to believe that it increased intelligence．

1.People relate Mozart to children's intelligence development because he　　　 　．

A.owned extraordinary music talent.

B.could perform music as a child.

C.offered music to pregnant women.

D.was an royal Austrian composer.

2.What can we know about the small study in 1993？

A.It added to the popularity of Mozart's music．

B.It found no evidence for supporting Mozart effect．

C.It helped college students make academic progress．

D.It urged Georgia's governor to spread classical music．

3.What does the underlined word "negligible" probably mean？

A.Sudden．

B.Insignificant．

C.Average．

D.Steady．

4.What can be the best title for the text？

A.New Findings： Mozart Effect to Be Proved.

B.Secrets Uncovered： History of Mozart Effect.

C.Does Listening to Mozart Make Kids Smarter？

D.How Does Mozart Improve Kids' Intelligence？

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

Amsterdam Destination Guide

Amsterdam is one of the most popular travel destinations in the world, famous for its beautiful canals, top art museums and cycling culture.

Must-See Attractions

Most visitors begin their Amsterdam adventure in the Old Centre, which is full of traditional architecture, shopping centers and coffee shops. Don't miss the Dam Square and the areas around Spui and Nieuwmarkt. You'll also want to check out Amsterdam's Museum Quarter in the South District，which is great for shopping and having a picnic in the Vondelpark, The top museums to visit are the Rijksmusuem, the Ann Frank House, and the Van Gogh Museum.

If You Have Time

There are several other unique districts in Amsterdam, and you should try to explore as many of them as time allows. The Canal Ring is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that was originally built to attract wealthy home owners and is a center for celebrity spotting and nightlife today. The Plantage area has most of the city's museums, including the Jewish Historical Museum，the Scheepvaart Museum，and the botanical gardens.

Transportation

Travelers should be aware that Amsterdam Airport Schiphol is one of the busiest airports in the world. This airport is located about 15 kilometers southwest of city center. You can catch a train from Schiphol to Amsterdam Central Station, which has many connecting routes. It's typically not a good idea to drive a car to the city center because traffic is very busy and parking is difficult to find. Cycling is incredibly popular here, and it's easy to find cheap bike rentals around town. Amsterdam has a flat place and is a great city to explore on foot.

Recommended Restaurants

Amsterdam is a top destination for foodies，so it can incredibly difficult to narrow down your dining choices. You are sure to find a restaurant that suits your taste.

1.Which place do most visitors see first in Amsterdam?

A.The Old Center. B.The Dam Square,

C.Spui and Nieuwmarkt, D.The Museum Quarter.

2.What do we know about the Canal Ring?

A.It was built by rich people. B.It is a beautiful natural river,

C.Many famous people live here. D.Visitors here are all museum lovers.

3.How can you get to the city center from the airport?

A.By bike. B.By train,

C.By car. D.By bus.

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

Coffee is one of the most popular drinks throughout the world today. In fact, according to some estimates, over 30% of all adults in the world drink coffee at least once a day on the average.　 Coffee contains a kind of drug called caffeine. Caffeine is a chemical that stimulates (刺激) the nerves of the body. Drinking coffee tends to make people a little bit more awake―at least for a short time―because of this stimulating effect on the nervous system. A cup of coffee has, on the average, about 3% caffeine in it.

One story of the discovery of the coffee plant relates to this effect of caffeine. According to the story, coffee was discovered in East Africa. The story says that coffee was first found by a goat farmer named Kaldi. This was about the year 850. Kaldi was leading his animals through the mountains and the goats were stopping repeatedly to eat the plants near the path. Suddenly, some of the goats started jumping up and down in a very strange way. Kaldi figured out that the goats were acting this way because of the plants they were eating. Kaldi himself tried eating some of the green beans (豆荚) that the goats had been eating. He, too, felt the stimulating effect of the beans.　　 Kaldi wanted to prove what had happened, so he picked some of the beans and took them back to the village, where he told his story.

The green bean got the name "Kaffa" and later "coffee" because the beans were discovered in a place called Kaffa in Africa. Then for years, people used to eat a few of the green Kaffa beans when they were in the mountains and needed extra energy to do their work. It was later found that the coffee beans could be picked and then dried until they turned brown, and then they could be stored. If the beans were dried and stored, they could be used at any time.

1.What is the purpose of drinking coffee?

A. To become more awake.　　　 B. To become more healthy.

C. To become more happy.　　　 D. To become more clever.

2.How did the goats react after eating the plants?

A. They fell asleep.

B. They could not find their way home.

C. They started jumping up and down.

D. They wanted to eat more.

3.Why did the green bean get the name "Kaffa"?

A. Because Kaldi loved his home village very much.

B. Because Kaldi's goats loved the green bean very much.

C. Because the beans were discovered in a place by this name.

D. Because the beans could be picked and dried.

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

One of the most popular activities enjoyed by Americans is spending time in forests and walking along paths through the country.This activity，called hiking，has led to the creation of paths throughout the United States.

One of the longest is the Appalachian National Scenic Trail.The trail is the first completed part of the National Trails System.The trails system was established by Congress and the president in 1968.The Appalachian Trail is more　 than 3,400 kilometers long.It starts in the northeastern state of Maine and ends in the southeastern state of Georgia.The trail goes through 14 states.They are Maine，New Hampshire，Vermont，Massachusetts，Connecticut，New York，New Jersey，Pennsylvania，Maryland，West Virginia，Virginia，Tennessee，North Carolina，and Georgia.

The path takes walkers through the Appalachian Mountains.They extend from the Canadian province of Quebec to the southern American state of Alabama.

The Appalachian Mountains are among the oldest on Earth.They first began forming about one thousand million years ago.During the millions of years since then，the mountains were changed and reformed by the forces of water and wind.Ice also changed the mountains，making many of them smaller and digging valleys and lakes among them.Many different kinds of trees grow along the trail.And many different kinds of animals live in the forests along the trail.

Lands along the trail are protected by the federal government and by state governments.Some parts are not protected by the government directly.Instead，they are protected by legal agreements with private owners willing to permit people to walk across their property.

Walkers on the Appalachian Trail pass through some of the great valley systems of the mountains.They can look down into these beautiful valleys and see farms and forests stretching across the land for many kilometers.Farmland in the valleys is rich and productive.And some of the great events in American history took place in the valleys.For example，one of the great battles of the American Civil War was fought in the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia.

1.The Appalachian Trail________.

A．is more than four thousand three hundred kilometers long

B．starts in the northern state of Maine

C．goes through more than fourteen states

D．ends in the southeastern state of Georgia

2. The Appalachian Mountains________.

A．are the first completed part of the National Trails System

B．began forming one million years ago

C．were changed by natural forces like water，wind and ice

D．were around by valleys and rivers and famous for its scenery

3. The lands along the trail________.

A．are protected entirely by either the federal government or state governments

B．are mainly protected by legal agreements with private owners

C．can be visited by travelers freely only under the permission of owners

D．are protected by both the federal government and state governments

4.What is mainly described in the last paragraph?

A．The Appalachian Mountains have some great valley systems.

B．Farms and grasslands stretch across the valleys for many kilometers.

C．One of the American independence battles was fought in the Shenandoah Valley.

D．Lakes in the Appalachian Mountains are one of the most beautiful sights.

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

Griffith Observatory (天文台) is a national leader in public astronomy, and one of the most popular attractions in Los Angeles. It is located on the southern slope (山坡) of Mount Hollywood in Griffith Park at 1,134 feet above sea level.

Visitors may drive to the Observatory and park in its parking lot or on nearby roads. No reservation (预定) is required to visit. Parking is limited, and the busiest times are weekend. Buses, taxis, and carpools are welcome. LADOT provides weekend public bus service from the Sunset/Vermont Metro Red Line station.

Griffith Observatory is open six days a week. Admission and parking are free.

Hours of Operation

Tuesday---Friday　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 12:00 noon---10:00 p.m.

Saturday---Sunday　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 10:00 a.m.---10:00 p.m.

Monday　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 Closed

Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day　　　　　 Closed

Samuel Oschin Planetarium

The Samuel Oschin Planetarium theater offers 8 to 10 live, half-hour presentations each day. There are usually four different shows from which to choose.

Shows are presented every 60 to 90 minutes. Check the website, information desks, or the box office for each day’s show times. Late seating is not permitted.

Samuel Oschin Planetarium tickets must be purchased at the Observatory and are only available on the day of the show. The ticket prices for shows are：

Adults　 (13-59 years old)　　　 $7.00

Children (5-12 years old)　　　　 $3.00

Seniors (60 years and older)　　 $5.00

Students　　　　　　　　　　　　　 $5.00

Children under 5 years will be admitted only to the first show each day.

Hearing assist devices are available upon request.

Public Telescopes

Free public telescopes are available each evening the Observatory is open and skies are clear. The Zeiss telescope on the roof is generally open by 7:00 p.m.. All observing must be completed by 9:45 p.m..

1.What can we learn about Griffith Observatory according to the passage?

A. It is open all the year around.

B. It is mostly visited at weekends.

C. It becomes famous because of Hollywood.

D. It is the most attractive place in Los Angeles.

2.Which of the following best describes the Samuel Oschin Planetarium theater?

A. Hearing assist devices are provided to seniors.

B. The shows there generally last 60 to 90 minutes.

C. Visitors are required to be seated before the show starts.

D. The tickets for its shows can be bought through the website.

3.To watch the show, a young couple with a 7-year-old son should pay________.

A. $13.00　　 B. $15.00

C. $17.00　　 D. $20.00

4.Which of the following is charged?

A. Parking.　　 B. Telescopes.

C. Hearing assist devices.　　 D. LADOT bus service.

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

— “Man From the Stars” is one of the most popular South Korean TV plays in China nowadays.

— But I’m afraid it can’t interest ______.

A. somebody        B. everybody             C. nobody        　　     D. anybody

高三英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析

Tea is one of the most popular1.(drink)in the world. You make it by pouring hot water over the2. (dry)leaves of a tea plant. For centuries people believed that tea could cure illnesses, and they used it as medicine. Today scientists know that tea contains chemicals that prevent cells from3.(die). Most teas have caffeine in them, a substance that makes you feel more active. Some people have problems drinking tea because it can cause　　 4.(sleepless).

The tea plant grows best in tropical and temperate places5.rain falls throughout the year. Teas can be grown from sea level6.about 2,000 metres, but the best quality grows in higher regions.

Tea 7.(come)from the leaves and buds of tea plants. Wild plants can be up to 9 metres high but on tea plantations(茶园)they 8.(cut)back to a bush of about a metre in height so that workers can pull the leaves 9.(easy). It takes a plant three to five years before it is ready for plucking(采摘).

A plucker can harvest about 20 kg of tea a day. on large tea plantations the leaves are harvested by machines, 10.the quality of tea is higher when the leaves are plucked by hand.

高三英语短文填空困难题查看答案及解析

（湖南省怀化市2014年高三第二次模拟考试）26. — “Man From the Stars” is one of the most popular South Korean TV plays in China nowadays.

— But I’m afraid it can’t interest ______.

A. somebody        B. everybody             C. nobody        　　     D. anybody

高三英语单项填空简单题查看答案及解析

There is a popular belief among parents that schools are no longer interested in spelling. No school I have taught in has ever ignored spelling or considered it unimportant as a basic skill There are, however, vastly different ideas about how to teach it, or how much priority it must be given over in general language development and writing ability. The problem is, how to encourage a child to express himself freely and confidently in writing without holding him back with the complexities of spelling?

If spelling becomes the only focal point of his teacher's interest, clearly a bright child will be likely to "play safe". He will tend to write only words within his spelling range, choosing to avoid adventurous language. That's why teachers often encourage the early use of dictionaries and pay attention to content rather than technical ability.

I was once shocked to read on the bottom of a sensitive piece of writing about a personal experience: "This work is terrible! There are far too many spelling errors and your writing is illegible." It may have been a sharp criticism of the pupil's technical abilities in writing, but it was also a sad reflection on the teacher who had omitted to read the essay, which contained some beautiful expressions of the child's deep feelings. The teacher was not wrong to draw attention to the errors, but if his priorities had centered on the child's ideas, an expression of his disappointment with the presentation would have given the pupil more motivation to seek improvement.

1.Teachers differ in their opinions about ________.

A. the difficulties in teaching spelling

B. the necessity of teaching spelling

C. the complexities of the basic writing skills

D. the role of spelling in general language development

2.The expression "play safe" probably means “_______”.

A. to write carefully

B. to avoid using words one is not sure of

C. to do as teachers say

D. to use dictionaries frequently

3.Teachers encourage the use of dictionaries so that ______.

A. teachers will have less trouble in correcting mistakes

B. students will have more confidence in writing

C. students will be able to express their ideas more freely

D. students will learn to be independent of teachers

4. The major point discussed in the passage is ________.

A. the relationship between spelling and content of a composition

B. the importance of developing writhing skills

C. the correct way of marking compositions

D. the complexities of spelling

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

There is a popular belief among parents that schools are no longer interested in spelling. No school I have taught in has ever ignored spelling or considered it unimportant as a basic skill. There are, however, vastly different ideas about how to teach it, or how much priority（优先）it must be given over general language development and writing ability. The problem is, how to encourage a child to express himself freely and confidently in writing without holding him back with the complexities（复杂）of spelling.

If spelling becomes the only focal point of his teacher’s interest, clearly a bright child will be likely to “play safe”. He will tend to write only words within his spelling range, choosing to avoid adventurous language. That’s why teachers often encourage the early use of dictionaries and pay attention to content rather than technical ability.

I was once shocked to read on the bottom of a sensitive piece of writing about a personal experience: “ This work is terrible! There are far too many spelling errors and your writing is illegible（难以辨认的）.” It may have been a sharp criticism of the pupil’s technical abilities in writing, but it was also a sad reflection on the teacher who had omitted to read the essay, which contained some beautiful expressions of the child’s deep feelings. The teacher was not wrong to draw attention to the errors, but if his priorities had centered on the child’s ideas, an expression of his disappointment with the presentation would have given the pupil more motivation（动力）to seek improvement.

1.Teachers are different in their opinions about ___________.

2. The expression “play safe” probably means ____________.

3. Teachers encourage the use of dictionaries so that___________.

4. The writer seems to think that the teacher’s judgment on that sensitive piece of writing is____________.

5.The major point discussed in the passage is_____________.

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析