For as long as there have been gifts, we naturally make choices based on the recipient (接受者). But what if we have been wrong all along and that we could turn things around, which not only made gift buying easier, but the recipient happier?
In 2015, psychologists Lauren Human and Lara Aknin conducted an online survey, which suggested that when people buy gifts, they prefer to choose something based on the recipient’s personality and tastes. Most people also said that they preferred receiving gifts bought with them in mind: gifts for them.
But Human and Aknin wondered if this approach to giving failed to take advantage of the way we connect as people. So they sent 78 volunteers into a shopping centre before Mother’s Day. Half were told to buy a card that “reveals(揭示) your knowledge of the recipient” while the others set out to buy a card that “reveals your true self”. After the purchase, the givers who had thought partly of themselves reported feeling emotionally closer to their mothers.
To find out how that approach goes down with recipients, the psychologists did another test, asking more than 100 students to choose a song on iTunes to give to a friend, partner or family member. Each half of the group received the same instructions as the card buyers. Results revealed that recipients of songs that revealed something of the givers felt closer to them than those who received gifts bought only with them in mind.
Human and Aknin suggest it might apply to all gifts. “If building stronger social connections is the underlying (潜在的)goal” of a gift and surely it should be — then we “may well be advised to offer more self-reflective gifts”. In short, for a present to be meaningful, you need to give away a bit of yourself, even if there is a risk that the gift might not so closely suit the recipient’s practical needs or tastes as one acquired purely with that in mind.
Moreover, giving something of oneself can be a safer act, the psychologists added. Because it reduces the risk of revealing poor knowledge of a recipient by attempting to buy something that fits their character — and failing.
But a note of caution here: what the research does not examine is the potential risk in repeated, unsympathetic giver-centered giving, which, according to Human and Aknin “could signal self-obsession” — and nobody wants to reveal that about themselves.
1.From the Mother’s Day card test, we can conclude that .
A.gifts chosen with the giver in mind work well on the giver
B.most people choose gifts with the recipient in mind
C.most people choose gifts based on their personal tastes
D.gifts chosen with the giver in mind work well on the recipient
2.What does the author think is the significance of gift giving?
A.Making the giver’s life happier.
B.Showing one’s knowledge of the recipient.
C.Establishing and strengthening social connections.
D.Meeting the recipient’s practical needs.
3.Which of the following is Human and Aknin’s advice on gift giving?
A.Choose gifts that reflect more of yourself.
B.Just focus on your own tastes when choosing gifts.
C.Buy something that fits the recipient’s character most.
D.Be careful not to signal your true personality.
4.Which is the best title of this passage?
A.The tradition of gift giving B.The purpose of gift giving
C.The effect of gift giving D.The psychology of gift giving
高二英语阅读理解困难题
For as long as there have been gifts, we naturally make choices based on the recipient (接受者). But what if we have been wrong all along and that we could turn things around, which not only made gift buying easier, but the recipient happier?
In 2015, psychologists Lauren Human and Lara Aknin conducted an online survey, which suggested that when people buy gifts, they prefer to choose something based on the recipient’s personality and tastes. Most people also said that they preferred receiving gifts bought with them in mind: gifts for them.
But Human and Aknin wondered if this approach to giving failed to take advantage of the way we connect as people. So they sent 78 volunteers into a shopping centre before Mother’s Day. Half were told to buy a card that “reveals(揭示) your knowledge of the recipient” while the others set out to buy a card that “reveals your true self”. After the purchase, the givers who had thought partly of themselves reported feeling emotionally closer to their mothers.
To find out how that approach goes down with recipients, the psychologists did another test, asking more than 100 students to choose a song on iTunes to give to a friend, partner or family member. Each half of the group received the same instructions as the card buyers. Results revealed that recipients of songs that revealed something of the givers felt closer to them than those who received gifts bought only with them in mind.
Human and Aknin suggest it might apply to all gifts. “If building stronger social connections is the underlying (潜在的)goal” of a gift and surely it should be — then we “may well be advised to offer more self-reflective gifts”. In short, for a present to be meaningful, you need to give away a bit of yourself, even if there is a risk that the gift might not so closely suit the recipient’s practical needs or tastes as one acquired purely with that in mind.
Moreover, giving something of oneself can be a safer act, the psychologists added. Because it reduces the risk of revealing poor knowledge of a recipient by attempting to buy something that fits their character — and failing.
But a note of caution here: what the research does not examine is the potential risk in repeated, unsympathetic giver-centered giving, which, according to Human and Aknin “could signal self-obsession” — and nobody wants to reveal that about themselves.
1.From the Mother’s Day card test, we can conclude that .
A.gifts chosen with the giver in mind work well on the giver
B.most people choose gifts with the recipient in mind
C.most people choose gifts based on their personal tastes
D.gifts chosen with the giver in mind work well on the recipient
2.What does the author think is the significance of gift giving?
A.Making the giver’s life happier.
B.Showing one’s knowledge of the recipient.
C.Establishing and strengthening social connections.
D.Meeting the recipient’s practical needs.
3.Which of the following is Human and Aknin’s advice on gift giving?
A.Choose gifts that reflect more of yourself.
B.Just focus on your own tastes when choosing gifts.
C.Buy something that fits the recipient’s character most.
D.Be careful not to signal your true personality.
4.Which is the best title of this passage?
A.The tradition of gift giving B.The purpose of gift giving
C.The effect of gift giving D.The psychology of gift giving
高二英语阅读理解困难题查看答案及解析
Natural herbal medicines have been a part of the medicine world for a long time. 1. Some people use them for therapeutic (治疗的) purposes while others use them for medicinal purposes.
2. That is because the ingredients (成分) are natural and therefore have very few side effects when they’re taken. Nowadays, different doctors are advocating for the use of herbal medicine for the well—being and the health of the body.
The main purpose of natural Herbal medicines is to help the body return to its normal state so that it can be restored wholly. 3. For instance, they can restore the body’s natural balance and health in cases where the body is sick or has low immunity. They work by making the immune system (免疫系统) function well and also promote the well - being of the body before any illness sets in. They can make one better at remembering something as they improve blood circulation to the brain. Additionally, natural herbal medicines can reduce anxiety, depression, exhaustion, stress, etc. 4.
Despite many advantages of natural herbal medicines, you should take something into account when you use them. For instance, don’t use them in cases where the conventional drugs are supposed to be used. 5. That is because getting the correct dosage (剂量) and also the exact type of drug for the particular disease is of vital importance.
A. Thus, they help your nerves calm down.
B. The use of herbs is widely known to be safe.
C. Different cultures have used them in various ways.
D. Historically, the Chinese people used them to treat illness.
E. Moreover, it’s a good idea to consult your doctor before using them.
F. Different herbs will work differently and bring desirable healing effects.
G. Herbal medicine is an effective means of helping humans stay healthy.
高二英语七选五中等难度题查看答案及解析
_____ I have a dream to become a singer,I don't have a gift for music．
A．As long as B．Now that
C．Even though D．In case
高二英语单项填空困难题查看答案及解析
What makes us happy?
There has long been an opinion that money buys happiness. However, although “we really, really tired that for a couple of generations, it didn’t work,” said Francine Jay, author of The Joy of Less, A Minimalist Living Guide: How to Declutter, Organize, and Simplify Your Life.
Thanks to a travel- inspired revelation (启发), Jay has been happily living a simpler life for 12 years. “I always packed as lightly as possible, and found it exhilarating (令人高兴的) to get by with just a small carry-on bag,” she told CNN. “I thought if it feels this great to travel lightly, how amazing would it be to live this way? I wanted to have that same feeling of freedom in my everyday life.”
Jay decided to get rid of all her excess(额外的) possessions and live with just the essentials. “I wanted to spend my time and energy on experiences, rather than things.”
Jay is a follower of a movement called “minimalism(极简主义)”. Growing numbers of people have been attracted to this lifestyle all over the world. They share the same feeling of disappointment with modern life and a desire to live more simply. Minimalists are typically progressive and concerned about the environment, Leah Watkins, a lead researcher at Otago University in New Zealand, told Stuff magazine in March.
But many simply experienced unhappiness caused by owning too many possessions. Depression with the materialism of our world isn’t new. English romantic poet Willian Wordsworth summed up how dispiriting this was back in 1802, at the beginning of the industrial age, when he wrote: “Getting and spending, we lay waste our powers”. His preference was to go back to nature. Closer to our own times, the hippies(嬉皮士)of the 1960s also sought to “drop out ”of modern life.
And for many minimalists, their key is to unload. Without objects, they “believe people are forced more and more into the present moment and that’s where life happens,” wrote Stuff. But does simplicity ever feel like a sacrifice?
“It’s eliminating the excess—unused items, unnecessary purchases—from your life. Well, I may have fewer possessions, but I have more space…Minimalism is making room for what matters most,” said Jay.
And “the real questions”, according to Duane Elgin, US social scientist, are “what do you care about?” and “What do you value?” He told CNN: “It is important for people to realize minimalism isn’t simply the amount of stuff we consume. It is about our families, our work, our connection with the larger world, our spiritual dimension. It is about how we touch the whole world. It is a way of life.”
1.What inspired Francine Jay to live a simple life？
A. A book she came across.
B. A follower of minimalism she met on a trip.
C. The pleasure she enjoyed from traveling lightly.
D. Her desire to keep up with modern life.
2.According to Leah Watkins，a typical minimalist tends to________.
a. be fed up with materialism
b. like saving and visiting nature often
c. be disappointed with his or her current life
d. be environmentally friendly and live with fewer things
A. a, b B. a, d C. a, b ,c D. b, c, d
3.The underlined word"eliminating"in the second-to-last paragraph probably means_______.
A. removing B. distinguishing C. accepting D. improving
4.Which of the following would Duane Elgin probably agree with？
A. Minimalism is a healthy lifestyle that is in conflict with modern life.
B. Minimalism means people have to sacrifice some pleasure to live simply.
C. Minimalism limits people's freedom to enjoy their lives to the fullest.
D. Minimalism enables people to reflect on what truly counts in their lives.
5.What was the author's main purpose in writing the text？
A. To argue whether money buys happiness.
B. To recommend one of Francine Jay's books.
C. To explore the trend of minimalism.
D. To give tips on how to lead a happy life.
高二英语阅读理解困难题查看答案及解析
What makes us happy?
There has long been a notion that money buys happiness. However, although“we really, really tried that for a couple of generations, it didn’t work,”said Francine Jay, author of The Joy of Less, A Minimalist Living Guide: How to Declutter, Organize, and Simplify Your Life.
Thanks to a travel-inspired revelation（启发），Jay has been happily living a simpler life for 12 years.“I always packed as lightly as possible, and found it delighting to get by with just a small carry-on bag,”she told CNN.“I thought if it feels this great to travel lightly, how amazing would it be to live this way? I wanted to have that same feeling of freedom in my everyday life.”
Jay decided to get rid of all her unnecessary possessions and live with just the essentials.“I wanted to spend my time and energy on experiences, rather than things.”
Jay is a follower of a movement called“minimalism（极简主义）”. Growing numbers of people have been attracted to this life-style all over the world. Minimalists are typically progressive and concerned about the environment, Leah Watkins, a lead researcher at Otago University in New Zealand, told Stuff magazine in March.
But many simply experienced unhappiness caused by owning too many possessions. Depression with the materialism of our world isn’t new. English romantic poet William Wordsworth summed up how dispiriting（令人消沉的）this was back in 1802, at the beginning of the industrial age, when he wrote:“Getting and spending, we lay waste our powers”. His preference was to go back to nature. Closer to our own times, the hippies（嬉皮士）of the 1960s also sought to“drop out”of modern life.
And for many minimalists, their key is to unload. Without objects, they“believe people are forced more and more into the present moment and that’s where life happens,”wrote Stuff.
But does simplicity ever feel like a sacrifice?
“It’s eliminating the excess—unused items, unnecessary purchases—from your life. Well, I may have fewer possessions, but I have more space…Minimalism is making room for what matters most,”said Jay.
And“the real questions”，according to Duane Elgin, US social scientist, are“what do you care about?”and“What do you value?”
He told CNN:“It’s important for people to realize minimalism isn’t simply the amount of stuff we consume. It’s about our families, our work, our connection with the larger world, our spiritual dimension. It’s about how we touch the whole world. It’s a way of life.”
1.What was the author’s main purpose in writing the text?
A.To argue whether money buys happiness.
B.To recommend one of Francine Jay’s books.
C.To explore the trend of minimalism.
D.To give tips on how to lead a happy life.
2.What inspired Francine Jay to live a simple life?
A.A book she came across.
B.A follower of minimalism she met on a trip.
C.The pleasure she enjoyed from travelling lightly.
D.Her desire to keep up with modern life.
3.According to Leah Watkins, a typical minimalist tends to ___.
A.be in love with materialism
B.like saving and visiting nature often
C.be disappointed with his or her current life
D.be environmentally friendly and live with fewer things
4.Which of the following would Duane Elgin probably agree with?
A.Minimalism is a healthy lifestyle that is in conflict with modern life
B.Minimalism means people have to sacrifice some pleasure to live simply
C.Minimalism limits people’s freedom to enjoy their lives to the fullest.
D.Minimalism enables people to reflect on what truly counts in their lives.
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
As long as there have been exams, students have found ways to cheat. Today the correct answers are just a few taps away on a smart phone. So countries have come up with new ways to stop the funny business. Some use metal detectors, surveillance (监控) cameras, and mobile phone jammers (干扰器).1.
Cheating in high school leaving exams got so bad in Mauritania and Algeria that this year the authorities turned off the Internet for the entire country. Algeria did so for at least an hour during tests (which last about a week).2.Other countries, such as Iraq, Uzbekistan and Ethiopia, have for years been shutting down the Internet during exam time.
In each country students are under high pressure to do well in the tests, which often determine whether they can continue their education at a good university.3.But high marks are rare. In Algeria only around half of students passed the exams in recent years. In Mauritania the rate is much lower.
4.Darrell West of the Brookings Institution, a think-tank, estimates that in 2015-2016 Internet shutdowns ordered by governments cost countries at least $2.4bn. 5.
A.Turning off the Internet is expensive.
B.Teachers try to help — in their own way.
C.Others have taken a more severe measure.
D.A splendid grade may mean a scholarship abroad.
E.Mauritania cut access from morning until evening on exam days.
F.For that kind of money, countries could even improve their schools.
G.With so many students cheating electronically, governments are taking extreme steps.
高二英语七选五中等难度题查看答案及解析
We hadn’t been out for long _________ she felt sick.
A．as B．while C．after D．before
高二英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析
There are many universities that have been in existence for a long time and are still very popular for their quality education. The following are three of them.
University of Oxford, England
Founded in: 1096
The foundation year of this university is around 1096. There is evidence of teaching being undertaken then. It gained a lot of popularity in the early 1167, as Henry II put a ban on English students from entering the University of Paris. It is regarded as one of the best places to get a higher education today, and it consists of 38 different colleges specializing in various fields of study.
University of Salamanca, Spain
Founded in: 1218
This is the oldest university in Spain, and is located in the town of Salamanca, west of Madrid. It is the third oldest university in Europe that has been in continuous operation since it was founded. Today, it is the most important institution in the world for studying humanities and languages, Christopher Columbus is said to have consulted with its scholars when he was seeking a route to India.
University of Padua, Italy
Founded in: 1222
This is the chief university of Italy. It was started as a law school. It is said to be founded in
1222 by a group of students and professors. Theology (神学) and law were the first subjects taught here. The fields of botany, history, and theater are the most well-known and pursued courses here, and it has established its greatness in the educated world. In 2015, it was ranked as the best university among all Italian educational institutions for higher education.
1.How did the University of Oxford become quite popular？
A.It received a lot of financial support from Henry II
B.It decided to run more courses to educate more students.
C.Henry II allowed the university to accept foreign students.
D.Henry II forbade English students to attend the University of Paris.
2.The writer mentions Christopher Columbus so as to tell us that _____.
A.Scholars in the University of Salamanca are knowledgeable
B.Columbus graduated from the University of Salamanca
C.Columbus was grateful for the help provided by the university
D.Some of his friends in the university held a farewell party for him
3.As for the University of Padua, we know that_____.
A.It is located in the west of Madrid
B.It is the third oldest university in Europe
C.Theology and law were the first subjects taught there
D.It is the premier institution in the world for studying humanities
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
We have such a long car journey tomorrow. Make sure we bring enough food and games _____ for 4 hours so the kids won’t get bored.
A．lasted B．lasting C．to last D．last
高二英语单项填空简单题查看答案及解析
The house next door had been empty for so long that we had quite forgotten what it was to have neighbours. One day, _______, a great furniture lorry drew up near our front gate and in a short time, all kinds of furniture were _______ on the pavement. A small car arrived, out of which came seven people: a man, a woman and five children of_______ages. The children hurried out and began laughing _______as the whole family moved into the house. Windows were_______ open; furniture was put into_______; and little faces looked curiously at us over the fence and disappeared. It was our first _______to the Robinsons.
Though we became good _______with our new neighbours, we often had causes to be made angry by them. Our garden became an unsafe place: little boys_______as cowboys or Indians would jump up from behind bushes, ________ wooden guns at us and ________us to put our hands up. Sometimes our lives were ________; at others, we were killed with a ________"Bang! Bang!"Even more dangerous were the arrows（箭）that occasionally came sailing ________the garden fence. But we did not________go in fear of our lives. The Robinsons were friendly and helpful and when we left for the holidays, we knew we had nothing to fear________our neighbours were around. We understood what it was like to have________in the long, friendless, winter evenings________Mr.Robinson would________in for a cup of tea and chat; or when Mr Robinson would________over the fence and talk endlessly with Father about gardening problems.
1.A. but B. therefore C. however D. strangely
2.A. unloaded B. removed C. loaded D. destroyed
3.A. the same B. various C. young D. middle
4.A. happily B. sadly C. astonishingly D. terribly
5.A. broken B. kicked C. forced D. pushed
6.A. place B. room C. order D. use
7.A. management B. introduction C. interview D. arrangement
8.A. enemies B. strangers C. friends D. relatives
9.A. looked B. pretended C. dressed D. worn
10.A. throw B. put C. fire D. point
11.A. ask B. order C. make D. lead
12.A. saved B. wasted C. devoted D. spared
13.A. soft B. sharp C. funny D. slow
14.A. on B. through C. over D. across
15.A. always B. every C. sometimes D. then
16.A. unless B. though C. so long as D. even if
17.A. fun B. cheers C. discussions D. company
18.A. while B. when C. as D. since
19.A. drop B. slip C. jump D. break
20.A. climb B. fall C. lean D. lie
高二英语完形填空中等难度题查看答案及解析