Several years ago, Waze Mobile co-founder Ehu...

Several years ago, Waze Mobile co-founder Ehud Shabtai received a special gift from his girlfriend: a GPS device. The expensive gift was supposed to be helpful. But straight out of the box, it was already out of date.

Shabtai, a coding enthusiast, had an immediate action to reinvent it. Shabtai’s idea is to build an app. With monthly 80 million active users globally and nearly 400,000 superusers who function much like Wikipedia volunteer editors (editing maps rather than words), Waze Mobile caught people’s eyes as a revolutionary approach to navigation (导航). Waze’s value mainly lies in its high rate of user involvement. Unlike traditional navigation apps that simply show directions, Waze asks its users to report accidents and other road conditions in real time, so other users can avoid the traffic by using another route.

The goal behind Waze’s approach is a great one: not just avoid the traffic jam, but end it altogether. Waze is finding new ways to put its loyal and active user base to use to make that dream a reality, including a plan to make carpooling (拼车) cool.

To be sure, traffic jams are troubling people all over the world. Waze has been quietly ahead of the game for some time. In 2013, when Waze was just a small digital-mapping business with limited resources, it had something other competitors didn’t: richer GPS guidance thanks to its stream of live traffic reports from users. These users were the basis of Shabtai’s plan to improve his GPS device constantly: the app could be perpetually updated by users, anywhere and anytime.

Waze Carpool is going straight to the heart of traffic jams, trying to get more drivers off the road and into carpooling. The app has already connected tens of thousands of drivers willing to share information, and that trend could be the answer to a traffic-free future.

1.What did Shabtai do when he found his girlfriend’s gift out of date?

A.He improved it. B.He took it apart.

C.He put it away. D.He used it away.

2.What makes Waze Mobile different from traditional navigation apps?

A.It has the most users. B.It can show directions.

C.Most users help edit its words. D.It reports road conditions in real time.

3.What does the underline word “perpetually” in Paragraph 4 probably mean?

A.Slowly. B.Carefully.

C.Greatly. D.Continually.

4.What is mainly talked about in the text?

A.The rise of Waze Carpool. B.An advanced navigation app.

C.The development of GPS. D.The challenge Waze Mobile faces.

高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

Several years ago, while attending a communication course, I experienced a most unusual process. The instructor asked us to list__36__ in our past that we felt __37__ of, regretted, or incomplete about and read our lists aloud.

This seemed like a very __38__ process, but there’s always some __39__soul in the crowd who will volunteer. The instructor then __40__ that we find ways to __41__ people, or take some action to right any wrong doings. I was seriously wondering how this could ever __42__ my communication.

Then the man next to me raised his hand and volunteered this story: “Making my__43__, I remembered an incident from high school. I grew up in a small town. There was a Sheriff __44__ of us kids liked. One night, my two buddies（同伴） and I decided to play a __45__ on him.

After drinking a few beers, we climbed the tall water tank in the middle of the town, and wrote on the tank in bright red paint: Sheriff Brown is a s.o.b. (畜生). The next day, almost the whole town saw our glorious __46__. Within two hours, Sheriff Brown had us in his office. My friends told the truth but I lied. No one __47__ found out.”

“Nearly 20 years later, Sheriff Brown’s name __48__ on my list. I didn’t even know if he was still __49__. Last weekend, I dialed the information in my hometown and found there was a Roger Brown still listed. I tried his number. After a few __50__, I heard, “Hello?” I said, “Sheriff Brown?” Paused. “Yes.” “Well, this is Jimmy Calkins.”

“And I want you to know that I did it.” Paused. “I knew it!” he yelled back. We had a good laugh and a __51__ discussion. His closing words were: “Jimmy, I always felt bad for you __52__ your buddies got it off their chest, but you were carrying it __53__ all these years. I want to thank you for calling me...for your sake.”

Jimmy inspired me to __54__all 101 items on my list within two years, and I always remember what I learned from the course: It’s never too late to __55__the past wrongdoings.

高二英语完型填空极难题查看答案及解析

Several years ago, while attending a communication course, I experienced a most unusual process. The instructor asked us to list 　 in our past that we felt 　 of, regretted, or incomplete about and read our lists aloud.

This seemed like a very 38 process, but there’ s always some soul in the crowd who will volunteer. The instructor then 　 that we find ways to 　 people, or take some action to right any wrong doings. I was seriously wondering how this could ever 　 my communication.

Then the man next to me raised his hand and volunteered this story: “Making my 　 , I remembered an incident from high school. I grew up in a small town. There was a Sheriff 　 of us kids liked. One night, my two buddies and I decided to play a 　 on him.

After drinking a few beers, we climbed the tall water tank in the middle of the town, and wrote on the tank in bright red paint: Sheriff Brown is a s.o.b.(畜生). The next day, almost the whole town saw our glorious 　 . Within two hours, Sheriff Brown had us in his office. My friends told the truth but I lied. No one 　 found out.”

“Nearly 20 years later, Sheriff Brown’s name 　 on my list. I didn’t even know if he was still 　 . Last weekend, I dialed the information in my hometown and found there was a Roger Brown still listed. I tried his number. After a few 　 , I heard, “Hello?” I said, “Sheriff Brown?” Paused. “Yes.” “Well, this is Jimmy Calkins.”

“And I want you to know that I did it.” Paused. “I knew it!” he yelled back. We had a good laugh and a 　 discussion. His closing words were: “Jimmy, I always felt bad for you 　 your buddies got it off their chest, but you were carrying it 　 all these years. I want to thank you for calling me...for your sake.”

Jimmy inspired me to 　 all 101 items on my list within two years, and I always remember what I learned from the course: It’s never too late to 　 the past wrongdoings.

1.A. something    　　     B. anything    　     C. somebody    　     D. anybody

2.A. ashamed    　　         B. afraid　　　　     C. sure    　　　　     D. proud

3.A. private    　　         B. secret    　　　     C. interesting    　     D. funny

4.A. foolish    　　         B. polite    　　　     C. simple　　　　         D. brave

5.A. expected    　　         B. suggested    　     C. ordered    　　　　     D. demanded

6.A．connect with        B．depend on     C．make apologise to    D．get along with

7.A．improve            B．continue        C．realize             D．keep

8.A．notes            B．list            C．plan                D．stories

9.A．any                B．most            C．none                D．all

10.A．part            B．game            C．trick                D．record

11.A. view    　　　　     B. sign    　　　　     C. attention    　         D. remark

12.A. also    　　　　     B. even    　　　　     C. still    　　　　         D. ever

13.A. appears    　　         B. considers    　　     C. presents    　         D. remembers

14.A. angry    　　　　     B. happy    　　　　     C. doubtful    　         D. alive

15.A. words    　　　　     B. rings    　　　　     C. repeats    　　　　         D. calls

16.A. cold    　　　　     B. plain    　　　　     C. nervous    　　         D. lively

17.A. in case    　　         B. so long as    　      C. unless    　　　　     D. because

18.A. around    　　         B. out    　　　　     C. on    　　　　　　     D. away

19.A. build up    　　         B. make up    　　     C. clear up    　　         D. give up

20.A. regret    　　　　     B. forgive    　　     C. right    　　　　         D. punish

高二英语完型填空中等难度题查看答案及解析

Several years ago, Masaru Ibuka, chairman of Sony, was at a company planning a meeting. Suddenly he had a brilliant idea. He stopped the meeting and asked everyone present what would happen if Sony removed the recording function and speaker and sold headphones with a tape player instead. Almost everyone thought he was crazy. Still, Ibuka kept thinking about his idea and worked at improving it. The result, of course, turned out to be the wildly successful Sony Walkman.

Good ideas often start with a seemingly silly question. Bill Bowerman was making breakfast one day. As he stood there making waffles (华夫饼干)for his son, he wondered what would happen if he poured rubber into his waffle iron. Later ,he tried it and the result looked something like the bottom of most sports shoes we see today. Still, when he took this idea to several existing shoe companies, he was laughed at. In fact, every single company turned him down. Though rather discouraged, Bowerman insisted and went on to form his own company, making NIKE athletic shoes.

Sometimes good ideas grow out of frustration .When Fred Smith was a student at Yale University, he had some paperwork that he needed to have delivered across the country the next day. Smith was amazed to find out that overnight delivery was impossible. He sat for a long while, lost in thought. Why couldn’t there be a reliable overnight mail delivery service? He decided to design one. Smith did just that and turned his design into a class project.　 His business professor gave him only a C for his efforts. However, Smith was not through. He improved the idea in that class project and finally turned it into one of the first and most successful overnight mail service in the world — FedEx.

We know that each of these ideas led to a very successful product or service that has changed the way many of us live. The best questions are usually open-ended and are often silly, Children aren’t afraid to ask such questions, but adults frequently are. Think how different the world might be if people never asked “ silly” questions!

1.Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?

A. Sony Walkman achieved great success with its recording function and speaker.

B. Bill Bowerman was experimenting with rubber for large shoe companies.

C. Shoe companies rejected Bill Bowerman as they failed to see the potential of Nike.

D. Fred Smith got the idea of an overnight mail service from his own experience.

2.What do the three persons mentioned in the passage have in common?

A. They were all determined about carrying out their ideas.

B. They were good at answering other people’s silly questions.

C. They started their own company after discussing with others.

D. They had a very clear plan for their new ideas at the very start.

3.We can conclude from the passage that _______.

A. asking others for their silly questions leads to inventions

B. lots of creative ideas usually end up as “silly” questions

C. adults usually ask more silly questions than children

D. crazy ideas sometimes contribute to great inventions

4.The passage is mainly developed by_______.

A. analyzing possible reasons　　 B. presenting different opinions

C. providing typical examples　　 D. listing practical suggestion

高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

Several years ago, the Woburn Safari Park in England admitted to killing many monkeys. The park said that it cost too much to continue to feed the monkeys, so the animals were shot and left to die. This is just one of the many cases in which animals are mistreated and murdered by humans.

Animals should be able to live life in natural environments without any negative influences by humans. The first reason zoos should be banned is that tyrannizing and murder are becoming more and more popular in zoos worldwide. In 2007, the IDA(In Defense of Animals) came out with a top ten list of the worst places for an elephant to go. All ten of the American zoos have had elephants die there, because of mistreatment, such as improper diet,　 lack of exercise, and unsuitable living conditions.

Another example of mistreatment in zoos is illegal products made from animals. A tiger bone wine, banned in 1993, has been sold on the Chinese black market for several years now. Illegal trades like this are very easy because of the zoos. The third reason zoos should be illegal is that they can give visitors the wrong idea about animals. Animals will behave differently in the wild from how they will in a closed area. So, if someone came across an animal in the wild, they may think it is safe to approach the animal when it is not. People could easily get hurt.

Humans are animals too. What if animals got smart and decided to capture humans and put them in zoos? So in order to keep the circle of life and continue to have animals be a part of the world, humans must take basic steps to maintain the delicate balance between man and beast.

1.Why did the Woburn Safari Park kill many monkeys？

A.Because they got seriously ill. B.Because it took much money to keep them.

C.Because they behaved badly. D.Because they couldn't get on well with people.

2.The underlined word “tyrannizing” in Para. 2 means　 ______.

A.abuse B.kindness

C.influences D.cases

3.The passage is mainly developed by ______ .

A.following the order of time B.making comparison

C.analyzing the reasons D.providing statistics

4.What will be most probably talked about next？

A.What if animals decided to capture humans. B.How to protect animals effectively.

C.More example of mistreatment. D.How to create natural environments.

高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

Several years ago， a television reporter was talking to three of the most important people in America. One was a very rich banker， another owned one of the largest companies in the world， and the third owned many buildings in the center of New York.

The reporter was talking to them about being important.

“How do we know if someone is really important？” the reporter asked the banker.

The banker thought for a few moments and then said， “I think anybody who is invited to the White House to meet the President of the United States is really important.”

The reporter then turned to the owner of the very large company. “Do you agree with that？” she asked.

The man shook his head， “No. I think the President invites a lot of people to the White House. You’d only be important if while you were visiting the President， there was a telephone call from the president of another country， and the President of the US said he was too busy to answer it.”

The reporter turned to the third man. “Do you think so？”

“No， I don’t，” he said. “I don’t think that makes the visitor important. That makes the President important.”

“Then what would make the visitor important？” the reporter and the other two men asked.

“Oh， I think if the visitor to the White House was talking to the President and the phone rang， and the President picked up the receiver， listened and then said， ‘It’s for you.’ ”

1.There are _______ in this passage.

A．two men and two women                 B．three men and one woman

C．three women and one man                D．four women

2.The banker thought _______.

A．he was really important because he was a rich banker

B．the visitor to the White House was really important

C．the visitor who met the President of the United States

D．the reporter was really important

3.The owner of the very large company thought _______.

A．she was really important because she owned one of the largest companies

B．the banker was really important

C．the owner of many buildings in the center of New York was really important

D．the visitor would be really important if while he was visiting the President， the President would not answer any telephone call

4.The owner of many buildings thought _______.

A．he was really important because he owned many buildings in the center of New York

B．the owner of the very large company was really important

C．the visitor was really important if he talking to the President and the President received a telephone call for the visitor

D．the person who worked in the White House was really important

5.The best title of the passage is ________ .

A．Who’s more important,the President or me?

B．White House and the President.

C．The richer the more important.

D．How to be an important person.

高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

Several years ago, I had to replace a receptionist for my unit. Before I advertised for the position, I was approached by another manager, and asked if I would consider a transfer from his staff instead of opening a new competition. My natural question was to ask who he wanted me to consider and why.

It appeared from his description of this employee, Maria, that she was having a lot of problems performing her duties and had difficulties with her boss and did not appear to respond to any attempts he, the manager, had made to settle the issues. Now, after listening to his explanation, I really had severe doubts. What crossed my mind, after this discussion, was that he wanted me to take a problem off his hands.

I told him I would think about it and would let him know the next day. As promised, after thinking more about this potential performance issue, I decided that I would agree to speak with Maria privately before I made any decision.

And, what I found out during this interview, left me deep in thought. As it turned out, the performance issue appeared to result from working for a boss who never extended a good morning greeting, never gave a word of encouragement, and was constantly changing the work load and routines. The end result was a totally ruined employee who was unconfident and hated to see a new work day start.

I decided to accept her transfer to my unit. What started out as a shy, withdrawn and frightened employee turned out to be one of the most productive and loyal employee that I had ever worked with. Maria couldn’t do enough and was constantly asking for more responsibility. I was more than happy to give her what she needed – praise for work well done, respect as a person, and encouragement for doing well in anything she dealt with.

Sometimes we are guilty of holding others back from accomplishing or doing, or developing as they should or could. It may be a wise idea that we all look in the mirror, from time to time, to see what we are really like.

1.What can we learn about the writer from the first paragraph? _____

A. He is a manager in the company.

B. He doesn't like his receptionist.

C. He likes to compete with others.

D. He wants to find another position.

2.After hearing his colleague's description of Maria, the writer thought that Maria ____.

A. attempted to settle the issues

B. was a problem to her boss

C. shouldn't stay in the company

D. could get on well with others

3.Why did Maria fail to perform well in her previous job? _____

A. Her previous job was not suitable for her.

B. She had difficulty responding to her manager.

C. Her boss didn't inspire her working enthusiasm.

D. Her boss showed no trust in her ability.

4.The writer probably believes that a good boss should _____.

A. praise and award his employees a lot

B. respect, praise and encourage his employees

C. greet his employees and give them much work

D. always give his employees guidance in working

高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

Several decades of years ago, I ran a service station and roadhouse on the main road between Melbourne and Adelaide. One very cold, wet night at about 3∶30 a.m., there was a　 ___ on the front door of our house. A young man, wet from ____ to toe, explained that he had ____ out of petrol about 30 km up the road. He had left his pregnant wife and his two children ____ at the car and said that he would hitchhike(搭便车) back.

Once I had ____ a can with petrol, I took him back to his car where his two-year-old and four-year-old children were both ____　 , saying that they were cold. Once the car had started, I suggested that he　 ____ me back.

Before leaving, I had turned the heater　 ____ in the roadhouse, so that when we went in, it was nice and ____ .While the little ones played and ran ____ , I prepared bread and butter for the children, and hot chocolate for the ____ .

It was about 5 a.m. before they　 ____ .The young fellow asked me how much he　 ____ me and I told him that the petrol pump(加油泵)had　 ___ $15.He offered to pay “call-out fee”, but I wouldn’t accept it.

About a month later, I received a　 ____ from Interstate, a large bus company that we had been trying to　 ___ to stop off at our roadhouse for a long time. It　 ____ out that the young fellow I had helped was its general manager, the most ____ person in the company.

In his letter, he thanked me again and ____ me that, from then on, all their buses would stop at my service station. In this　 ____ , a little bit of kindness was rewarded with a huge amount of benefits.

1.A. kick　　 B. hit　　 C. beat　　 D. knock

2.A. shoulder　　 B. finger　　 C. hand　　 D. head

3.A. used　　 B. driven　　 C. run　　 D. come

4.A. behind　　 B. away　　 C. out　　 D. over

5.A. poured　　 B. supplied　　 C. filled　　 D. equipped

6.A. crying　　 B. sleeping　　 C. fighting　　 D. quarreling

7.A. ring　　 B. allow　　 C. follow　　 D. lead

8.A. off　　 B. on　　 C. over　　 D. in

9.A. hot　　 B. neat　　 C. attractive　　 D. warm

10.A. inside　　 B. around　　 C. along　　 D. nearby

11.A. guests　　 B. drivers　　 C. adults　　 D. customers

12.A. arrived　　 B. left　　 C. disappeared　　 D. ate

13.A. paid　　 B. gave　　 C. offered　　 D. owed

14.A. exhibited　　 B. appeared　　 C. shown　　 D. calculated

15.A. letter　　 B. call　　 C. notice　　 D. check

16.A. force　　 B. get　　 C. hope　　 D. requite

17.A. turned　　 B. pointed　　 C. found　　 D. worked

18.A. successful　　 B. generous　　 C. powerful　　 D. serious

19.A. persuaded　　 B. praised　　 C. convinced　　 D. informed

20.A. business　　 B. lesson　　 C. case　　 D. aspect

高二英语完形填空中等难度题查看答案及解析

Several decades of years ago, I ran a service station and roadhouse on the main road between Melbourne and Adelaide. One very cold, wet night at about 3∶30 a.m., there was a______ on the front door of our house. A young man, wet from______ to toe, explained that he had______ out of petrol about 30 km up the road. He had left his pregnant wife and his two children______ at the car and said that he would hitchhike(搭便车) back.

Once I had_____a can with petrol, I took him back to his car where his two-year-old and four-year-old children were both______, saying that they were cold. Once the car had started, I suggested that he______me back.

Before leaving, I had turned the heater______ in the roadhouse, so that when we went in, it was nice and______.While the little ones played and ran_____ , I prepared bread and butter for the children, and hot chocolate for the______.

It was about 5 a.m. before they______ .The young fellow asked me how much he______ me and I told him that the petrol pump(加油泵)had______ $15.He offered to pay “call-out fee”, but I wouldn’t accept it.

About a month later, I received a______ from Interstate, a large bus company that we had been trying to______to stop off at our roadhouse for a long time. It_____out that the young fellow I had helped was its general manager, the most______person in the company.

In his letter, he thanked me again and_____ me that, from then on, all their buses would stop at my service station. In this______, a little bit of kindness was rewarded with a huge amount of benefits.

1.A. kick　　 B. hit　　 C. beat　　 D. knock

2.A. shoulder　　 B. finger　　 C. hand　　 D. head

3.A. used　　 B. driven　　 C. run　　 D. come

4.A. behind　　 B. away　　 C. out　　 D. over

5.A. poured　　 B. supplied　　 C. filled　　 D. equipped

6.A. crying　　 B. sleeping　　 C. fighting　　 D. quarreling

7.A. ring　　 B. allow　　 C. follow　　 D. lead

8.A. off　　 B. on　　 C. over　　 D. in

9.A. hot　　 B. neat　　 C. attractive　　 D. warm

10.A. inside　　 B. around　　 C. along　　 D. nearby

11.A. guests　　 B. drivers　　 C. adults　　 D. customers

12.A. arrived　　 B. left　　 C. disappeared　　 D. ate

13.A. paid　　 B. gave　　 C. offered　　 D. owed

14.A. exhibited　　 B. appeared　　 C. shown　　 D. calculated

15.A. letter　　 B. call　　 C. notice　　 D. check

16.A. force　　 B. get　　 C. hope　　 D. requite

17.A. turned　　 B. pointed　　 C. found　　 D. worked

18.A. successful　　 B. generous　　 C. powerful　　 D. serious

19.A. persuaded　　 B. praised　　 C. convinced　　 D. informed

20.A. business　　 B. lesson　　 C. case　　 D. aspect

高二英语完形填空中等难度题查看答案及解析

One summer several years ago, my family was enjoying a barbecue on the beach. After the barbecue, my father-in-law invited me to go fishing.  Fishing was his hobby, but I 36 went fishing. We walked a little way along the beach and reached a rock by the shore, and I 37 the hook into the sea from there.  Frankly speaking, I am a (n)38 person, and although I had not felt a tug (猛拽) on the line, I reeled up the hook after five minutes or so. I had caught 39. It was a starfish. It trembled uneasily when I 40 the hook from its ugly mouth. I threw the starfish back into the sea. After another five minutes I caught another starfish and I threw it back again.

After a while, I caught yet another starfish. That was 41  time, and this time I really got angry. I hit the starfish on the rock 42 throwing it into the sea. I was not in the 43 to continue fishing any more.

When I was 44 the fishing tools, I noticed a little girl looking at the starfish on the rock. We 45 looks with each other. The little girl spoke to me in a 46voice. “Sir, would you mind if I 47 the starfish back into the sea?”“Not at all,” I replied. “"But you know, there are too many starfish in the sea, and they eat many shellfish. 48, they look so ugly. I don't like them.”

“I understand,” said the little girl. “But if the starfish cannot get back to the sea, it will be 49 by the sun and die. My dead grandfather once told me that there are no living creatures that have no right to exist in the world. God 50 every creature because it was needed by nature. Poisonous snakes, spiders, and starfish were born into this world with a certain 51 for their existence.”

“All right, dear, please throw the starfish back into the sea,” I said to the little girl, feeling 52. The girl picked up the starfish and gently put it into the sea, and she  53 at me and said, “Thank you, sir.”

Many people like "cute" creatures such as dogs, cats, and rabbits, while they tend to dislike “ugly” creatures such as snakes, spiders, and starfish.  However, the “cuteness” and “ugliness” of things are decided 54 only on one’s personal opinions. There are no living creatures that have no55  in the world-- this is what I learned from the little girl.

高二英语完型填空中等难度题查看答案及解析