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A native of Florida, U. S. , Hannah Herbst, 17, uses water power to deal with energy poverty. Herbst has risen to fame with the development of BEACON, an ocean energy probe that seeks to offer a stable power source to developing countries by using untapped energy from ocean currents.
She told Teen Vogue , " I was really involved in theater and athletics and I'm still really into those things. When I was in the seventh grade, I was put into a summer camp. The minute I got there I realized that I was the only girl in the program. I wanted to quit at that moment. But my dad told me, ' Just try it. ' I tried it for that day and it changed my life. ”
“At the camp, we started building the robots, which is something I had never done before but many of the boys had, and I realized it was a platform for problem-solving. We were solving simple tasks like how to push a robot off a platform. Learning from my partners as well as online articles about how to program and build was really interesting to me," said Herbst.
Later that year, she received a letter from her pen pal, Ruth, who lives in Ethiopia, and learned that she was living in energy poverty with minimal access to electricity and medical supplies. " I knew that I wanted to do something to help, so I created BEACON, she said.
The device is made from 90% recycled materials easily found throughout the world, including 2-liter bottles and recycled spoons. It costs $ 12 to make and can produce enough electricity to power an LED light. Hannah imagines BEACON being used in developing countries to power pumps for fresh water and she is working on polishing it to get it available to people all over the world.
1.What advice does Herbst most likely give to teens by her camp experience?
A.Quilting to gain more.
B.Giving something a go.
C.Developing various interests.
D.Avoiding favorable conditions
2.What kind of summer camp did Herbst join in the seventh grade?
A.Athletic. B.Literature.
C.Theater. D.Engineering.
3.Which words can best describe Hannah Herbst?
A.Energetic and kind. B.Helpful and creative.
C.Generous and modest. D.Careful and adventurous.
4.What can we know about BEACON?
A.It is a powerful LED light.
B.It's made without any cost.
C.Its materials are accessible.
D.It has been put on the market.
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
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Seven species of carp(鲤鱼) native to Asia have been introduced into United States waters in recent decades, but it's four in particular－bighead, black, grass and silver－that worry ecologists, biologists, fishers and policymakers alike. Introduced in the southeast to help control weeds and parasites in aquaculture (水产养殖) operations, these fish soon spread up the Mississippi River system where they have been crowding out native fish populations not used to competing with such aggressive invaders. The carps' presence in such numbers is also harming water quality and killing off sensitive species.
Asian carp are strong to jump over barriers such as low dams. They lay hundreds of thousands of eggs at a time and spread into new habitat quickly and easily. Also, flooding has helped the fish expand into previously unattainable water bodies. And fishers using young carp as live bait have also helped the fish's spread, as they have boats going through locks up and down the Mississippi.
The federal government considers the Asian carps to be annoying species and encourages and supports “active control” by natural resources management agencies. Federal and state governments have spent millions in tax dollars to prevent the carp from making their way into the Great Lakes, but an underwater electric fence constructed to keep them out has not worked as well as hoped, and policymakers are reviewing other options now.
In the meantime, state and federal agencies are monitoring the Mississippi and its branches for Asian carp and testing various barrier technologies to prevent their further spread. For instance, the National Park Service is cooperating with the state of Minnesota's Department of Natural Resources to construct new dams that are high enough to prevent Asian carp from jumping over. The Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee has funded DNA monitoring in potentially affected water bodies whereby researchers can determine whether the troublesome fish are present just by the biological footprints they leave behind. Individuals can do their part by not transporting fish, bait or even water from one water body to another, and by emptying and washing boats before moving them between different water bodies.
1.Asian carp have been introduced to the USA in order to ________.
A．improve water quality
B．help sensitive species
C．control the number of native fishes
D．control the ecosystem in aquaculture
2.The measure to keep Asian carp out of the Great Lake but proved not good is ________.
A．testing various barrier technologies
B．construction of an underwater electric fence
C．Emptying and washing boats before using them.
D．monitoring the Mississippi and its branches for Asian carp
3.It is suggested from the passage that ________.
A．aquaculture operations are dangerous to the water bodies
B．scientific technology is useless in preventing Asian carp spreading
C．both the state and the individuals can make efforts to keep out Asian carp
D．Asian carp have successfully invaded the Mississippi and the Great Lakes
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
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An estimated 60 percent of cats and 50 percent of dogs in the U. S. are overweight or obese, so chances are that your pet needs to lose weight rather than pack on some pounds. It's not always easy to tell if your pet could afford to lose few, but there are some other signs that can tip you off. One important factor the waist, "Most people don't know what a normal cat should look like," says Romine. "But cats should have waists, too." The vet says you should be able to feel your pet's ribs（肋骨） through its coat, and when you look down at them, they should have an hourglass（沙漏）shape---just like person.
"For some overweight pets, you may want to switch to new food entirely; foods with 'light' or 'healthy weight' labels usually have an increased fiber content to help the dog or cat feel fuller," Romine notes. "Another option is to feed them less of the food they currently cat," Freeman suggests. "Make sure you're reducing table scraps（残羹剩饭）and high-calorie treats like pet biscuits," she says.
It's important to figure out what your pet's ideal weight is as you're helping them to lose. Romine advises working with your vet to get the right number, and if you're following the portion guidelines often printed on food labels, feed them the amount of food associated with the weight you want them to be, rather than the weight they currently are.
Food isn't the only factor that can impact your pet's weight. Romine stresses the importance of exercise in keeping your pet healthy. For cats, just 10 minutes of indoor play each day can make a difference. For dogs, letting them out in the backyard to do their business is not enough. You'll have to exercise with your dog to really get them moving.
1.What is the problem with the pet from the text?
A.It needs to lose weight. B.It needs have waists
C.It needs to pack on pounds. D.It needs to be more energetic.
2.Which food can help overweight pets?
A.The food with an decreased fiber. B.The food from table scraps.
C.The food with "light" labels. D.The food with new label.
3.What is an important factor to keep pets healthy?
A.A partner. B.Exercise.
C.Pet biscuits. D.Protein.
4.From which is the text probably taken?
A.A biology textbook. B.A travel brochure.
C.A recipe book. D.pet magazine.
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
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Officials in the Midwestern U. S. town of Joplin, Missouri, say the death from Sundays’ big tornado reaches 116 and that search efforts continue for possible survivors trapped in rubble (碎石). Search and rescue teams are conducting their third sweep through the nearly 10 kilometer – long and one – kilometer wide area of destruction left by the tornado. They are working as quickly as possible while weather conditions remain relatively stable. More storms are forecast for the area.
Joplin Fire Chief Mitch Randles said there are areas with large piles of rubble that might hold survivors. “We are still finding individuals. We did rescue seven individuals from underneath rubble yesterday and, of course, we are also finding dead folks as well.” Said more folks and that is why we are doing these searches. We want to make every opportunity that we can to find everybody that is in the rubble and that has survived to this point.”
Randles said the current sweep involves a slower pace that previous searches and that he plans a fourth search, possibly on Wednesday, using specially trained dogs. “We are searching every structure that has been damaged or destroyed in a more in-depth manner, “he said.” I have dogs and dog handlers coming from all over the country do help us in that effort.”
Joplin City Manager Mark Rohr said the Red Cross and other volunteer organizations are helping people who were left homeless by the tornado and that the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA, is on hand to help. “Joplin is a great city. We have suffered a great loss, “said Rohr.” We will recover and we will recover strongly and we have a lot of help and a lot of volunteers to make that easier.”
The tornado that struck Joplin was classified by the Natioonal Weather Service as an F – 4, with winds of more than 300 kilometers per hour. It lasted only 20 minutes, but it killed more that 100 people, injured more than 400 others, and destroyed or heavily damaged some 2,000 homes, businesses, churches and a hospital. Authorities have registered more than 1,700 calls about missing people and they hope to resolvemost of those cases soon, as victims are identified and survivors come forth and reunite with loved ones.
This was the worst tornado to strike the United States in 60 years. It was the latest in a wave of violent storms that have swept Midwestern and southern states in recent weeks, leaving more than 300 people dead an causing more than $2 billion dollars in damage.
1.What kind of disaster (灾害)of this article is talking about?
A．tornado B．earthquake C．flood D．drought
2.The best headline for this newspaper article would be________.
A．Difficulties in the Rescue
B．The Great Loss Brought by the Tornado
C．Search for Survivors After the Disaster
D．Worst Tornado in the USA
3.The word “resolve” in Para 5 probably means________.
A．cover B．settle C．overcome D．challenge
4.The number of death caused by the tornado that struck Joplin reached more than________.
A．100 B．300 C．400 D．1,700
5.From the text, it can be inferred that________.
A．many victims might be under the ruins
B．it was impossible to find out survivors
C．the tornado lasted several weeks
D．the bad weather influenced the rescue greatly
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
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In a study published in the U. S. journal Science, researchers from the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences(CAAS) and the University of Florida identified the chemical combinations and genetic recipe for better tomato flavor(味道).
“In recent years, consumers often complain that the modern tomato is less flavorful than it once was” said co-principal researcher Sanwen Huang. “Our results provide a practical road map for breeding tomato varieties with better flavor.”
For the study, a 170-person consumer group was created to evaluate 160 tomatoes representing 101 varieties, based on qualities such as “overall liking” and “flavor degree”. The results pointed to dozens of chemical compounds of interest, and further research using a statistical model discovered 33 flavor compounds connected with consumer liking, such as glucose(葡萄糖). The reason why modern tomatoes don’t taste good anymore is that a total of 13 of these flavor-associated compounds “were significantly reduced in modern varieties,” their paper wrote. Moreover, the researchers found that smaller fruit tended to have greater sugar content, suggesting that “selection for more sizable tomatoes has cost sweetness and flavor”.
Based on this knowledge, Huang and Professor Harry Klee of the University of Florida studied the whole genomes of 398 varieties of tomato, identifying about 250 positions of genes on a chromosome(染色体), which controlled tomato flavor.
“We’re just fixing what has been damaged over the last half century to push them back to where they were a century ago,” said Klee in a statement. “We can make the supermarket tomato taste noticeably better.” Klee said new tomato varieties with better flavor could be ready in three to four years. In addition, “the genes and pathways identified here in the tomato almost certainly point to pathways worth researching for improvement of flavor quality in other fruit crops,” they wrote.
1.According to the text, the study ________.
A. was carried out just through a survey
B. was conducted by Chinese researchers themselves
C. was completely focused on the genes of different tomatoes
D. was done with the background of declining flavor of tomatoes
2.The researchers have found that ________ in the study.
A. bigger tomatoes are much sweeter
B. some genetic positions affect the taste of tomatoes
C. some chemical compounds make tomatoes less tasty
D. a total of 13 flavor-associated compounds make tomatoes appealing in taste
3.What is the influence of the study according to the text?
A. The study lays the foundation for further researches to improve other fruit crops’ flavor.
B. The study makes it possible for us to have noticeably more tasty tomatoes next year.
C. The study provides a road for where to plant tomatoes with better flavor.
D. The study has fixed all the genes of existing tomatoes.
高三英语阅读理解困难题查看答案及解析
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Officials in the Midwestern U. S. town of Joplin, Missouri, say the death from Sundays’ big tornado reaches 116 and that search efforts continue for possible survivors trapped in rubble (碎石). Search and rescue teams are conducting their third sweep through the nearly 10 kilometer – long and one – kilometer wide area of destruction left by the tornado. They are working as quickly as possible while weather conditions remain relatively stable. More storms are forecast for the erea.
Joplin Fire Chief Mitch Randles said there are areas with large piles of rubble that might hold survivors. “We are still finding individuals. We did rescue seven individuals from underneath rubble yesterday and , of course, we are also finding dead folks as well.” Said mre folks and that is why we are doing these searches. We want to make every opportunity that we can to find everybody that is in the rubble and that has survived to this point.”
Randles said the current sweep involves a slower pace that previous searches and that he plans a fourth search, possibly on Wednesday, using specially trained dogs. “We are searching every structure that has been damaged or destroyed in a more in-depth manner, “he said.” I have dogs and dog handlers coming from all over the country do help us in that effort.”
Joplin City Manager Mark Rohr said the Red Cross and other volunteer organizations are helping people who were left homeless by the tornado and that the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA, is on hand to help. “Joplin is a great city. We have suffered a great loss, “said Rohr.” We will recover and we will recover strongly and we have a lot of help and a lot of volunteers to make that easier.”
The tornado that struck Joplin was classified by the Natioonal Weather Service as an F – 4, with winds of more than 300 kilometers per hour. It lasted only 20 minutes, but it killed more that 100 people, injured more than 400 others, and destroyed or heavily damaged some 2,000 homes, businesses, churches and a hospital. Authorities have registered more than 1,700 calls about missing people and they hope to resolve most of those cases soon, as victims are identified and survivors come forth and reunite with loved ones.
This was the worst tornado to strike the United States in 60 years. It was the latest in a wave of violent storms that have swept Midwestern and southern states in recent weeks, leaving more than 300 people dead an causing more than $2 billion dollars in damage.
1.The best headline for this newspaper article would be________.
A．Difficulties in the Rescue
B．The Great Loss Brought by the Tornado
C．Search for Survivors After the Disaster
D．Worst Tornado in the USA
2.The word “resolve” in Para 5 probably means________.
A．cover B．settle C．overcome D．challenge
3.The number of death caused by the tornado that struck Joplin reached more than________.
A．100 B．300 C．400 D．1,700
4.From the text, it can be inferred that________.
A．many victims might be under the ruins
B．it was impossible to find out surviors
C．the tornado lasted several weeks
D．the bad weather influenced the rescue greatly
高三英语阅读理解简单题查看答案及解析
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The news media in the U. S. consist of radio, television and newspapers. Together they are everywhere on the lives of many Americans and influential on their daily routines. Many Americans begin their day by reading the newspaper or watching a morning news program on television while drinking their coffee. 1. Throughout the day the news is broadcast repeatedly on the radio and television.
In the evening news is a main feature on television with up to two hours of news in the early evening and more news late at night. For those who prefer reading, the evening newspaper offers the reader the possibility of reading the news others see and hear on television.
2. It is up to the general public to choose what to read, watch or listen to. Therefore, the media must have sensitivity to the interests of the public.
News is a big business. However, it is a very competitive business, as each station or each newspaper competes for audiences and readers. 3. When an item becomes news worthy, such as an election or a war, Americans will become familiar with the details as the news media try to be as informative as possible. 4.
The news media report the same news items regarded as the most interesting and impressive. 5. However, most Americans would not criticize their news media too harshly. The truth of the news media is generally acknowledged and accepted by the American public.
A. Americans don’t have to pay for the services.
B. The news media are free of government control.
C. But the result is that the news becomes repeated.
D. Sometimes they have to bear boring advertisements.
E. Each tries to present the news Americans want to know.
F. While driving to work, the news can be heard on the car radio.
G. Listeners, viewers or readers might find it difficult to be selective.
高三英语七选五困难题查看答案及解析
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The U. S. Postal Service (USPS) is losing billions of dollars a year. The government company that delivers "small mail" is losing out to email and other types of electronic communication. First-class mail amount fell from a high point of 104 million pieces in 2000 to just 64 million pieces by 2014.
Congress permits the 600.000-empIoyee USPS to hold a monopoly (垄断) over first-class and standard mail. The company pays no federal, state or local taxes; pays no vehicle fees; and is free from many regulations on other businesses. Despite these advantages, the USPS has lost $52 billion since 2007, and will continue losing money without major reforms.
The problem is that Congress is preventing the USPS from reducing costs as its sales decline, and is blocking efforts to end Saturday service and close unneeded post office locations. USPS also has a costly union-dominated workforce that slows the introduction of new ideas or methods down. USPS workers earn significantly higher payment than comparable private-sector workers. The answer is to privatize the USPS and open postal markets to competition. With the rise of the Internet, the argument that mail is a natural monopoly that needs government protection is weaker than ever.
Other countries facing declining letter amounts have made reforms Germany and the Netherlands privatized their national postal companies over a decade ago, and other European countries have followed suit. Britain floated shares of the Royal Mail on its stock exchange in 2013. Some countries, such us Sweden and New Zealand, have not privatized their national postal companies, but they have opened them up to competition.
These reforms have driven efficiency improvements in all of these countries. Additional number of workers have been reduced, productivity has risen and consumers have benefited. Also, note that cost-cutting measures—such as closing tone post offices—are good for both the economy and the environment.
Privatization and competition also encourage new changes. When the USPS monopoly over "extremely urgent" mail was stopped in 1979, we saw an explosion in efficient overnight private delivery by firms such as FedEx.
The government needs to wake up to changing technology, study postal reforms abroad and let businessmen reinvent our out-of-date postal system.
1.What do we know about the USPS?
A. Its great competitor is the delivery firm FedEx.
B. It is an old public service open to competitions.
C. Its employees don't pay federal, state or local taxes.
D. It has complete control of first-class and standard mail.
2.The author mentions some other countries in Paragraph 4 to __________.
A. explain the procedures of reform to the USPS
B. show the advantages of private postal services
C. set some examples for the government to learn from
D. prove the situation is very common around the world
3.The author probably that the USPS __________.
A. needs government’s protection as ever
B. can work together with other businesses
C. must be replaced by international companies
D. should be sold out and become a private service
4.Which of the following shows the development of ideas in this passage?
A.
B.
C.
D.
I: Introduction CP: Central point P: Point
Sp: Sub-point (次要点) C: Conclusion
高三英语阅读理解困难题查看答案及解析
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Last year, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that 55 million people in the U. S. are “gig workers" which is more than 35 percent of the U. S. workforce. That number is projected to jump to 43 percent by 2020.
People are drawn to gig work（零工）because it brings in a little extra income without a major time commitment. And recent technologies like Skype, Slack, and Dropbox have made the gig life a reality, giving you maximum freedom, an ideal work-life balance, and the chance to pursue your passions.
If you're thinking of joining the gig economy, it's never been easier. One of the great things about the gig economy is that you don't have a boss breathing down your neck. As a freelancer, you no longer have to cater to a company culture or work schedule that might cause physical or emotional stress. Instead, you get to choose the type of work you do and who you work with. But this degree of freedom requires a corresponding amount of discipline. With no boss to make sure you're on task, it's all on you.
A lot of gig workers start their careers by hopping on a project because the employer is desperate and in need of help. On the employer's end, it's tough to take on people for higher management positions when the pool of talent is full of gig workers who haven't been given an opportunity to improve their skills. Businesses have to evolve to learn how to account for an influx（(涌入）of temporary workers. It is harder for gig workers to become skilled and get promoted.
The workforce is becoming more advanced and educated by the day. You have to keep learning and keep up with industry trends to maintain a competitive edge. This is true even for people in traditional office settings, but it's critical if you're your own boss.
1.What made the gig life a reality?
A.Greater work-life balance. B.New technologies.
C.A little extra money. D.Maximum freedom.
2.What does the underlined phrase “breathing down your neck” in Paragraph 3 mean?
A.Making you unable to breathe freely.
B.Standing very close behind you.
C.Threatening you by saying something.
D.Monitoring you closely.
3.What can we infer from the last but one paragraph?
A.Employers should invest in training the temporary workers.
B.Gig workers start their jobs out of passion.
C.It's hard for employers to employ people for higher positions.
D.It's hard for gig workers to develop skills.
4.Which of the following can be the best title for the text?
A.The Strengths and Weaknesses of the Gig Economy
B.The Challenges of the Gig Economy
C.The Increase of the Gig Economy
D.The Reason for the Gig Economy
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
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In the U. S. state of Washington, a road called Interstate(州际公路；州际的)90 cuts through a wild mountainous area to reach the city of Seattle. For the area's many kinds of animals, busy high- way greatly limits their movements. Animals need to move to find food, to find mates, to find new places to live as their populations expand or just when conditions change, like a fire breaks out. Crossing I-90 – as the road is called – is a risky but sometimes necessary act. But soon, animals will have a safer choice. They will be able to go above it.
To help the animals, the state is finishing work on its largest - ever wildlife bridge. The 11-meter-tall, 20 - meter - wide bridge begins in the forest. It forms two arches above the highway, one for each direction of traffic. Workers are adding fencing anti plants to help guide the animals across the bridge，Two-meter-thick walls will help block noise from vehicles below. Scientists chose the area because it is within a natural migration(迁徙)path for some animals.
The I -90 bridge is part of a growing number of wildlife crossings across the United States. Some are fences, some are overland bridges，and some are underpasses. They all aim to keep drivers and animals away from each other.
A U. S. Transportation Department study found crashes between animals and humans rose year by year. The accidents made up about 5 percent of all crashes nationally, and cost the economy (经济)about ＄ 8 billion. Such costs come from car repaid, emergency room visits and removal of the dead animals on roads. Collisions between animals and drivers are rarely deadly to people. But they are often deadly to wildlife. The study also found that 21 endangered or threatened species in the U.S. are affected by vehicle hits. Bridges, underpasses and fencing reduce I he area's animal - driver collisions by 80 percent.
Most of the wildlife bridges are in western states. Many other areas also need such paths. But finding money for more crossings is“the- number - one problem”. Patty Garvey — Darda of the U. S. Forest Service has worked on the I - 90 crossing from the start of the project. She says the $ 6 - million bridge will one day pay for itself because the highway will not have to be fully or partly closed each time a large animal is struck. “If you shut clown Interstate 90, you shut down interstate trade. ” she adds.
1.What do we know about die I -90?
A. It goes from Washington D.C to Seattle,
B. It is dangerous for wild animals to cross.
C. It blocks the movements of wild animals.
D. It is the longest - ever highway in the world.
2.What is being done to help the animals?
A. Building a wildlife bridge to keep drivers and animals away.
B. Designing walls to protect animals from traffic accidents.
C. forming 2 arches, one for traffic and the other for animals.
D. Choosing a natural and safe area for wild animals to live in.
3.What can we learn from the study?
A. Traffic accidents went down gradually nationwide.
B. Most money was spent in rescuing wild animals,
C. Collisions are more deadly to wildlife than to people,
D. Some species no longer existed because of vehicle hits.
4.Which of the statements may Patty Garvey - Darda agree with?
A. The bridge costs too much money.
B. Animals won11 be struck by drivers.
C. The effort to build the bridge will pay off.
D. Collisions won't affect national trade at all.
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析