DuolingoOver 70 million people have registere...

Duolingo

Over 70 million people have registered with Duolingo, a free and incredibly well-designed language learning app. Though not a replacement for proper language tuition, the app is a fun way to get the basics, or to keep yourself fresh on grammar and vocabulary, before a trip abroad. Just like a computer game, the app guides you through levels that you need to complete before advancing, and you gain experience points along the way.

* Free, iOS and Android, duolingo.com

XE Currency（货币）

XE is the go-to site for currency conversions on the web, so it’s no surprise that its app is so popular: with over 20 million downloads since launch. It has lots of business-oriented features, such as rates for previous metals and historic charts, but for the traveler it is most useful for the simple fact that it’s able to convert every world currency. It also functions offline by saving the latest updated rates.

* Free, iOS and Android, xe.com

App in the Air

App in the Air is a smart, straightforward, flight tracking app that has the best coverage of airlines and airports. It will keep you updated about flight status even if you don’t have internet coverage and help you manage your time at the airport, breaking down each flight into four stages: check in, boarding, takeoff and landing time.

* Free, iOS and Android, appintheair.mobi

Wolfram Sun Exposure

There are a few apps out there that help you manage your time in the sun safely, but this one offers the most detailed information to keep you informed. You enter your skin type and it calculates how long you can spend sunning yourself before getting burned, based on the time of day, where you are and the strength of sun cream you’re wearing. It also provides UV forecasts for your location.

* £0.79, iOS

1.If you want to know the information about the change rate of money, you can turn to　　　　 for help.

A.Wolfram. B.App in the Air.

C.XE Currency. D.Duolingo.

2.About these apps, which of the following is TRUE?

A.All of these four can be used in the same system.

B.Duolingo is an unbelievable gaming app where you gain experience points along the way.

C.You can learn the latest news about the flights with limited connectivity in App in the Air.

D.Your time in the sun safely is influenced by the brand of sun cream you’re applying.

3.The passage is intended for　　　　 .

A.teenagers. B.travelers.

C.businessmen. D.guides.

高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

Millions of British people have ditched the traditional ‘thank you’ and replaced it with the less formal ‘cheers’, according to a survey.

Although the average person will say ‘thank you’ nearly 5,000 times a year, one in three are more likely to throw in a ‘cheers’ or ‘ta’ where it’s needed, rather than risk sounding old fashioned.

One in 20 now say ‘nice one’ instead, while younger generations are more likely to offer a ‘cool’ than a ‘thank you’.‘Merci’, ‘fab’ and even ‘gracias’ were also listed as common phrases to use, as was ‘much appreciated’.

One in twenty who took part in the survey of 2,000 people by the Food Network UK for Thank You Day, which is marked on November 24, 2011, said a formal ‘thank you’ was now not often needed in everyday conversation. More than one in ten adults said they regularly won’t say thank you if they are in a bad mood. Most people declared that saying thank you was something drilled into them by their parents. A huge 70 percent of those questioned will say thank you to a person’s face without even meaning it, while a fifth avoid saying it when they know they should — on at least two occasions every day.

It seems our friends and family get the brunt (压力) of our bad manners with half admitting they’re not good at thanking those closest to them — many justifying (为…辩解) the lack of thanks because their family ‘already know I’m grateful’.

When spoken words won’t do, it falls to a nice text to do the job for most people. A third will still send a handwritten thank-you note — but 45 percent admit it’s been more than six months since they bothered to send one.

A quarter of British people say thank you with food, with 23 percent cooking a meal to show their appreciation to someone. Another 15 percent bake a cake.

It follows that 85 percent of people will be annoyed at not getting the gratitude (感激) they feel they should receive.

1.Most of the people who took part in the survey say that they say “thank you” _____.

A．when they are in good mood

B．completely out of habit

C．when they feel truly grateful

D．purely out of politeness

2.The underlined word “ditched” in Paragraph 1 means “________”.

A．given up          B．used             C．shared            D．grasped

3.It can be learned from the passage that _______.

A．different ways of expressing gratitude are all fashionable

B．people should avoid saying “thank you” nowadays

C．a thank-you note is still appreciated by most people

D．people in a bad mood never say “thank you”

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

A．Most people express their gratitude to others by buying food for them.

B．About fifty percent of people try not to say thank you when they should.

C．Most people may feel natural when they fail to receive others’ gratitude.

D．Many people think it unnecessary to say thanks to their family members.

高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

Millions of people nowadays use Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat to converse with their friends. They use Skype to bridge long distances and Twitter to interact with public figure. But as more of our lives move online, are Internet-based interactions sufficient for a fulfilling life?

There have been considerable warnings about the drawbacks of online interactions. Some scholars have realized that our devotion to the screens is detracting from face-to-face conversations. For instance, a study showed that children who had been spending time with television and computers for a long period of time were significantly worse at recognizing nonverbal（非语言的）psychological suggestions in a conversation than those who had just five days without screens.

But there is another side to the argument: A 2015 Pew Foundation report found that teenagers use online interactions to strengthen their friendships. Plus, 57% of teenagers reported that they’d made friends online. Amori Milkami, a psychology professor at the University of British Columbia, has conducted several studies on online interactions and tells that the nature of online communication is changing as young people treat social networks in an entirely different ways.

Too much research tends to mix all online interactions together, she says, instead of distinguishing between positive, meaning conversations and more superficial, negative exchanges. According to her, online communities can be especially useful for people who have an unusual concern and live in isolated areas, and so are unlikely to meet people with similar concerns in person.

“The major good aspect of online interactions compared to in-person ones is that social network allow users to interact with so many people at once. Whether or not that’s positive or negative depends on the type of friends you have. It’s possible to get the same level of achievement from online interactions as it is from in=person friends,” says Mikami. “This might be hard for older adults to believe and it might not be possible for them, because they might not feel comfortable having those kinds of deep online interactions. To them, the online world will always be more superficial. But young people really see it differently.”

As the nature of online interactions continually evolve, it’s difficult to definitely establish whether or not social media friendships alone are sufficient. But for those who don’t have strong in-person support groups, the value of online communities shouldn’t be dismissed.

1.The underlined part in Paragraph 2 probably means that the screens are ______.

A.becoming more and more appealing

B.controlling what people talk about with each other

C.making face-to-face conversations less efficient

D.changing the way people communicate with each other

2.What is the advantage of online interactions according to Milkami?

A.More positive topics will be focused on.

B.Communication efficiency will be improved.

C.People will feel more comfortable with communicating.

D.People will have more in-depth communication with others.

3.Which of the following will the author agree with?

A.Compared with the real world, the online communities are superficial.

B.It is impossible to know whether social media friendships are sufficient.

C.Teenagers can depend on online interactions to strengthen their friendships.

D.The importance of online communities should be considered for some people.

高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

Blogs(博客) have become an important part of life. Millions of people have blogs. Perhaps you would like to have one; you would like to improve your blog; perhaps you would like to make your blog as a means of earning money or attracting more people. Whatever your aim is, this course shows you how to become better bloggers. You will learn how to find the right tone for your blog, set it up and keep it, write something that are effective and worth reading, and attract people from all over the world to your blog. While it’s simple to start a blog, it takes energy and skill to do it really well, as is true of any kind of writing.

Among the topics covered: introduction to the blog, the benefits of blogging, focusing on your blog concept, how to set up and keep a page, tips for effective blog writing and drawing visitors to your blog.

Course offered

How to blog

In this four-week course, a blogging expert will guide you through the process of designing, setting up, writing, and improving a blog. Each student will talk with the expert on blog, then set up a “live” blog and introduce it to the rest of the class for suggestions. Students will also have chances to ask the expert questions.

Online classes

Tuition(学费): $ 125.　　　　 Registration(注册): $ 25.

Each class is strictly limited to 25 students aged 18 and up.

1.In the course, you will learn something Except _________.

A. focusing on your blog concept B. how to set up a blog

C. the benefits of blogging D. how to follow others’ blog

2.What do we know about the course?

A. There are more than 25 students in each class.

B. The course is intended for teenagers under 18.

C. It will cost you $ 150 to learn the course.

D. New lectures are given each day.

3.The passage is mainly about _________.

A. an online course about how to blog B. an online plan on writing

C. an online program about blog history D. an online competition in writing blogs

高二英语阅读理解简单题查看答案及解析

Auckland is New Zealand’s largest urban area with a population of just over a million people. It is not, however, the capital, although it was at one time, until the capital moved to Wellington. Auckland is the center of commerce and industry, and is perhaps the most energetic, prosperous and multicultural city in New Zealand.

The city’s landscape is decided by volcanic hills, the twin harbors, bays, beaches and islands. Its nickname “the city of sails” is very suitable. Auckland has more boats for each person than anywhere else in the world.

Auckland has many volcanic hills, many of which currently afford great views of the city. And Auckland’s geography is such that shiny waters seem to attract people from every point. It is a water lovers’ best place, with some of the best beaches, swimming, diving, fishing, sailing, windsurfing and water sports in the country.

Wellington is the capital city of New Zealand. It is also the cultural, administrative and political center of the country. Two aspects of the city that will immediately strike any visitor are the harbor and hilly landscape. Everywhere you go, the sounds and the smell of the ocean hang in the air, and green hills and valleys wrap you in a bear-hug embrace. At night, Wellington offers a spectacular, shimmering(闪闪发光的) cityscape that is unlike almost anywhere else in the world. Even after seeing it for a hundred times, it takes your breath away.

Wellington is a scenic, windy and diverse place. It has some of the best museums, art galleries, restaurants, and coffee houses in the country. It is the storehouse for the nation’s historic, cultural and artistic treasures. Being the first place where European settlers arrived, it also boasts lots of historic streets and buildings.

Wellington is host to an excellent Festival of the Arts every two years.

1.What would be the best title for the passage?

A. The Landscape of New Zealand　　 B. The Capital of New Zealand

C. Auckland and Wellington　　 D. Welcome to New Zealand

2.Auckland is the best city in New Zealand for people to ______________.

A. study New Zealand culture　　 B. see green hills

C. visit historic streets and buildings　　 D. do water sports

3.What’s the author’s attitude towards the cityscape in Wellington?

A. Critical　　 B. Neutral

C. Preferable　　 D. Indifferent

高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

According to the Ministry of Health, 260 million Chinese people have chronic（慢性）diseases, and 85 percent of all deaths in China are caused by such diseases．Among them, cardiovascular（心血管的）disease has bothered more people than any other kind of chronic disease．

According to the WHO（World Health Organization), salt consumption（消耗）, one of the key causes of high blood pressure that can lead to cardiovascular disease, is much higher in China than in other countries．

Douglas Bettcher, the director of the WHO’s Tobacco Free Initiative, says, “The average Chinese person consumes about 12 to 14 grams （of salt) per day, while the suggestion of the WHO is consumption of less than 5 grams per day．High salt consumption is a major cause of cardiovascular disease and high pressure in China．

Changing the way that food is prepared could reduce salt consumption in China．

Another major risk factor in China is smoking．Dr Michael O’Leary, a representative of the WHO, says, “We know already that one million deaths in China are related to smoking, This is an enormous number．It means that we are seeing nearly 3000 deaths a day in China, or two deaths every minute, related to smoking．

According to O’Leary, about 26 percent of men who die from smoking-related diseases in China die before the age of 60．People who can still contribute a great deal, in other words, are dying too young．

China has tried to ban smoking , but more efforts are needed．

More than half of chronic diseases are preventable by changing lifestyles and reducing risks．The four key risk factors are: smoking, diets high in fats, salt and sugar, environments that prevent physical activities, and alcohol consumption．These are the areas on which efforts to make changes need to concentrate．

1.Which of the following is more in China than in other countries?

A．The amount of salt consumed

B．The number of deaths caused by high blood pressure．

C．The number of people with cardiovascular disease．

D．The number of people with high blood pressure．

2.According to the WHO, how much salt should a Chinese person consume?

A．About 12 to 14 grams per day．

B．Less than 5 grams per day．

C．About 17 to 19 grams per day．

D．About 7 to 9 grams per day．

3.Why does O’Leary mention “26 percent of men” in Paragraph 6?

A．To show China needs to try to ban smoking．

B．To show smoking causes the deaths of elderly people．

C．To show smoking causes the deaths of too many young people．

D．To show the number of smoking-related deaths in China is large．

4.What can be inferred from the last paragraph?

A．There are four causes of chronic diseases．

B．The change in lifestyles can prevent some chronic diseases．

C．No smoking or alcohol means no chronic diseases．

D．If we do physical activities, we will have no chronic diseases．

高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

Since Shanghai won the right to host the World Expo, over half a million people have volunteered to ___________in all the Shanghai Expo projects .

高二英语单项填空简单题查看答案及解析

Millions of people have been forced to leave their homes ______ the heavy storms and floods.

A. apart from              B. as a result               C. in regard to            D. due to

高二英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析

About 270 million people in rural areas in China have no ______ to safe drinking water.

A. entrance 　　 B. access　　 C. solutions　　 　 D. sources

高二英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析

The biggest cities in Canada only have about six million people while _______ in China are much larger.

A. these     B. those   C. ones       D. others

高二英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析