In 2016, designer Liz Ciokajlo received a tas...

In 2016, designer Liz Ciokajlo received a task from the Museum of Modern Art (Moma) in New York: revisit the Moon Boot, a fluffy-looking snowshoe inspired by the footwear used by the Apollo astronauts.

Launched in 1972 at the height of the lunar missions, the Moon Boot is an icon of the 20th Century’s “plastic age” and the museum administrators wanted a new take on it.

Ciokajlo set out to reimagine it. She knew only a biomaterial would work in a “post-plastic age”, but the designer also wanted a new destination to inspire it. Our generation’s space travel obsession is not the Moon, she thought, but the red planet Mars. And Mars allows you to really think outside of the box.

The task led her to an amazing biomaterial that had already attracted the attention of engineers innovating m building materials and of top space agencies like NASA and ESA. Her final design, a tall, female, rough-looking boot, can be made on board a spaceship with almost only human sweat and a few fungus spores (真菌孢子), ideal for a seven-month trip to Mars with limited check-in luggage.

This magic biomaterial is mycelium (菌丝体), the vegetative part of the fungus It looks like amass of white thread-like structures, each called hyphae. Collectively, these threads are called mycelium and are the largest part of the fungus.

Mycelium has amazing properties. It is a great recycler, as it feeds off a substrate to create more material, and has the potential of almost limitless growth in the right conditions. It can endure more pressure than conventional concrete without breaking. It is a known insulator and fire-retardant and could even provide radiation protection on space missions.

On Earth it’s currently used to create ceiling panels, leather, packaging materials and building materials, but in outer space it stands out for its architectural potential, says artist and engineer Maurizio Montalti, who has teamed up with Ciokajlo.

For her revisited boot, Ciokajlo wanted to use the human body as the source for some of the building materials and decided to employ sweat. Reusing sweat is not entirely new in space exploration but a novelty approach for footwear. She thinks it might make astronauts feel closer to home during the long journey to Mars.

The design is still hypothetical, because the real boot submitted for Moma　 and currently in display at the London Design Museum　 did use mycelium but not human sweat, as their deadline was too tight, but the science checks out.

1.The sentences “‘Mars has always been a place where you can dream. It is a place where you can reimagine how to live on Earth.’ Ciokajlo says.” w should be put__________.

A. between Para. 1 and Para.2　　 B. between Para. 2 and Para.3

C. between Para.3 and Para.4　　 D. between Para. 4 and Para.5

2.According to the passage, which of the following Doesn’t belong to the characteristics of mycelium?

A. It can be recyclable.

B. It can protect people from radiation.

C. It can grow without limit whatever the condition.

D. Compared with conventional concrete, it can endure more pressure.

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

A. The new design will be used for moon exploration.

B. It will be some time before the new design is put into actual use.

C. Mycelium has been currently widely used, especially in outer space.

D. Human sweat wasn’t used in the design because of some drawbacks.

4.The author takes a(n) ___________attitude towards the new design.

A. optimistic　　 B. indifferent　　 C. objective　　 D. doubtful

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

This was the first real task I received in my new school. It seemed simple: go on the Internet and find information about a man named George Washington. As I searched the name, I found that there were two famous people having the same name who looked completely different! One invented hundreds of uses for peanuts, while the other led some sort of army across America. I stared at the screen, wondering which one my teacher meant. I called my grandfather for a golden piece of advice; let the coin decide. I flipped (掷) a coin and Ah! Tails (背面)! My report would be about the great man who invented peanut butter, George Washington Carver.

Weeks later, I stood in front of the classroom and proudly read my homework. But things started to get strange. I looked around the room, only to find my classmates with big smiles on their faces and tears in their eyes and my stone-faced teacher. I was completely lost. “What could be causing everyone to act this way?”

Oh well, I dropped the paper and sat down at my desk, burning to find out what I had done wrong. As a classmate began his report, it all became clear, “My report is on George Washington, the man who started the American War of Independence.” The whole world became quiet! How could I know that my teacher meant that George Washington?

Of course, my subject result was awful. Sad but fearless, I decided to turn this around. I talked to the headmaster Miss Lancelot, but she said firmly: No re-dos; no new score. I felt that it was not fair, and I believed I deserved a second chance. So I threw myself heartily into my work for the rest of the school year. Ten months later, I sat in the headmaster’s office again, but this time a completely different conversation. I smiled and flashed back to the terrible moment at the beginning of the year as the headmaster told me I was good enough to skip (跳过) the 6th grade and started the 7th grade next term.

1.People in the class acted strangely because ________.

A.I was too proud of my homework

B.I mistook what the homework was about

C.the whole world suddenly became quiet

D.the teacher’s face turned to a stone

2.We can infer from the passage that ________.

A.the headmaster didn’t like the writer at all

B.the writer’s classmates felt sad at his mistake

C.the writer knew little about American history

D.the writer’s grandpa was a very wise man

3.Which of the following proverbs can best describe the main idea of this story?

A.Seeing is believing.

B.Where there is a will, there is a way.

C.One is never too old to learn.

D.A friend in need is a friend indeed.

高三英语阅读理解简单题查看答案及解析

Most teenagers in Britain receive pocket money from their parents. A report by the Bank of Scotland interviewed over 1,000 young people in Britain and found that 77% get pocket money. Different families give different amounts of pocket money. The average for eight-to-fifteen-year-olds in the UK is about ￡6 a week. Children in Scotland receive slightly more than the national average and Londoners get the most. Teenagers, logically, get more money than younger children. Some fifteen-to-nineteen-year-olds receive more than ￡100 a month. The report found that many children save at least a quarter of their weekly pocket money and that more boys than girls save their money. Lots of young people have to do housework to get their pocket money. They help at home with jobs like cleaning and cooking.

A part-time job is a choice for teenagers who don’t have pocket money or who want to earn extra money. About 15% of teenagers have a job. Popular part-time jobs for teenagers include delivering newspapers, shop work, and working in a restaurant or café. There are strict government laws about working hours. Only children over 13 can work (there are some exceptions, for example, for actors.) On a school day they can work a maximum of 2 hours a day but not during school hours. At weekends and during school holidays they can work longer hours. The national minimum wage for people aged 16-17 is ￡3.57 per hour. 18-year-olds must earn a minimum of ￡4.83. There isn’t a national minimum waged for people under 16.

In Britain some children and teenagers have a bank account. There is no legal age limit at which you can open a bank account but a bank manager can decide whether to allow a child or young person to open an account. Parents can put pocket money directly into their child’s bank account and then children can use it to pay for things without carrying money.

Saving or spending pocket money, working part-time and dealing with banks are all parts of the process of becoming a financially independent adult and having to earn and look after your own money.

1.The pocket money for a child in Scotland per week may be _____.

A. ￡4　　　　 B. ￡6　　　　　　 C. ￡8　　　　　 D. ￡10

2.Which of the following is true according to the passage?

A. More girls than boys save pocket money.

B. Children under 13 are not allowed to work.

C. Most British teenagers have a part-time job.

D. A 16-year-old can work 6 hours on Saturdays.

3.The best title of the passage is _____.

A. Finance and Independence

B. Eyes on Your Pocket Money

C. The Importance of Part-time Jobs.

D. British Teenagers and Their Pocket Money

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

The summer of 1975 I’d just graduated from college in Southern California and received a Ford Car for a 36  present. I had my first job, in Los Angeles. One Sunday night, thinking myself a very 37  gown-up, I 38  my uncle’s place in South Laguna after a visit, 39 admitting to him that I had less than an eighth of a tank of gas and no 40  to buy more on the way to L.A. I pulled onto the Pacific Coast Highway and watched the 41  move down as I headed north. When the engine started giving off strong smells, I 42 into a gas station. There was no self-serve then; there were no credit cards, no ATMs.

I 43 the guy at the station. I could write him a check for gas, I said, or I could 44  in my car and try to walk to a town with a   45 the next morning. As he was informing me that I could sleep in my car but he’d have me arrested, a station wagon pulled up to the next  46 . The driver—a thin, plain, middle-aged guy—overheard the tail end of my 47 request. As the attendant went to 48  him, he nodded at me. “49 her tank first,” he said.

“Really?” I said. 50 bloomed. “Oh, thank you. Thank you. But please. I just need two  51 worth. I just need to get home.”

“Fill it,” he 52  to the attendant. Then he turned to me, “You’ll do the same one day, for someone else.”

I keep looking for someone unlucky, hoping to save her 53 on the road. Meanwhile, in case she never shows up, I try for other acts of 54 kindness. That quiet driver is always at the pump a few feet away, instructing the attendant to fill mine 55 .

1.A. graduation              B. birthday                    C. Christmas          D. wedding

2.A. independent         B. honest                   C. polite                    D. confident

3.A. reached               B. left                      C. witnessed               D. took

4.A. after                  B. without                  C. on                       D. by

5.A. time                   B. chance                   C. place                     D. cash

6.A. sun                    B. window                  C. needle                   D. clock

7.A. jumped               B. walked                             C. looked                   D. pulled

8.A. seized                 B. pushed                  C. begged                   D. warned

9.A. sit              B. sleep                     C. break                    D. fight

10.A. bank                 B. station                   C. hotel                     D. restaurant

11.A. door                B. garage          C. pump           D. town

12.A. planned             B. failed                    C. pretended              D. suggested

13.A. serve               B. attack                    C. charge                  D. treat

14.A. Open               B. Start                                 C. Fill               D. Heat

15.A. Anxiety              B. Nervousness             C. Caution                   D. Hope

16.A. miles’               B. hours’                   C. liters’                    D. dollars’

17.A. explained            B. repeated                C. threatened             D. ordered

18.A. night               B. car                       C. gas                       D. money

19.A. unwilling            B. unnecessary             C. random                  D. extra

20.A. immediately         B. quickly                   C. next            D. first5

高三英语完型填空中等难度题查看答案及解析

In the mid-2000s, Waze Mobile co-founder Ehud Shabtai received a cutting-edge (尖端的) gift from girlfriend: a GPS. 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 reaction to reinvent. Shabtai’s solution? To build an app. With 80 million monthly active users globally and nearly 400,000 superusers who function much like Wikipedia volunteer editors (editing maps rather than words), Waze Mobile caught the eye of Google as a revolutionary approach to navigation (导航).

Acquired by Google in 2013, 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 an alternative route.

The goal behind Waze’s approach is an ambitious one: not just avoid traffic, but end it altogether. Waze is finding new ways to put its loyal and active user base to use to make that vision 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 Google Maps and 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 solve for his GPS device’s “silent” hardware: he grounded the app in software that 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 carpools. The app has already connected tens of thousands of rideseekers with drivers willing to ferry them along a shared route, 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 anyway.

2.What sets Waze Mobile apart from traditional navigation apps?

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

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

3.What does the underlined word “perpetually” in paragraph 6 probably mean?

A.Difficultly. B.Carefully.

C.Greatly. D.Constantly.

4.What is mainly talked about in the text?

A.The rise of carpooling. B.An advanced navigation app.

C.The development of Google. D.Traffic problems in the world.

高三英语阅读理解困难题查看答案及解析

In the mid-2000s, Waze Mobile co-founder Ehud Shabtai received a cutting-edge (尖端的) gift from girlfriend: a GPS. 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 reaction to reinvent. Shabtai’s solution? To build an app. With 80 million monthly active users globally and nearly 400,000 superusers who function much like Wikipedia volunteer editors (editing maps rather than words), Waze Mobile caught the eye of Google as a revolutionary approach to navigation (导航).

Acquired by Google in 2013, 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 an alternative route.

The goal behind Waze’s approach is an ambitious one: not just avoid traffic, but end it altogether. Waze is finding new ways to put its loyal and active user base to use to make that vision 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 Google Maps and 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 solve for his GPS device’s “silent” hardware: he grounded the app in software that 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 carpools. The app has already connected tens of thousands of rideseekers with drivers willing to ferry them along a shared route, 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 anyway.

2.What sets Waze Mobile apart from traditional navigation apps?

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

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

3.What does the underlined word “perpetually” in paragraph 6 probably mean?

A. Difficultly.　　 B. Carefully.

C. Greatly.　　 D. Constantly.

4.What is mainly talked about in the text?

A. The rise of carpooling.　　 B. An advanced navigation app.

C. The development of Google.　　 D. Traffic problems in the world.

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

Australian Flag Designs by Readers of the Sun-Herald

We received dozens of responses after inviting readers to send in their designs for a new flag. The designs we received include:

James Anthony, Drummoyne

James reduces the Union Jack down in size and changes its shape to become a reminder of the British tradition rather than canceling it altogether. At the same time he suggests enlarging the stars of the Southern Cross. His design attempts to use the best of both worlds in a newly designed flag.

As he says, “the British part of the Australian Flag is too big and the Australian bits are too small. When you make the stars bigger the Australian flag can look impressive.”

Joe Bollen, Turranmurra

Joe’s flag has the main elements of a risen sun, white horizon(地平线), red earth at the base and the Southern Cross. He intends to make the risen sun a special Australian symbol on the flag. He believes it represents life. The Southern Cross shows that we live in the Southern Hemisphere. (半球)

Maria Ieraci, Sydney

Maria deleted the Union Jack but otherwise kept the flag as is with the Southern Cross and Federation Star. She says, ‘There is only one correct way to change the Australian flag” and that is “to drop the Union Jack ---- when Australia becomes a Republic”, which she hopes will be before 2010.

Ron Bennett, Sydney

Ron recommends using the Aboriginal colors but replacing their image of the sun with the map of Australia. He says, “Australia is unique being an island continent with an instantly recognizable outline at that” and “this will leave no doubt as to which country the flag belongs.”

1.Which of the four designs can remind you of the past of the country?

2.The Southern Cross in some of the designs represents _________.

3.What does the Union Jack refer to?

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

—The students of Grade 9 in Changchun have to take part in the P. E. test from 2016.

—Yes,　　you want to pass it and be stronger, practice more.

A.until B.if C.unless D.or

高三英语单项填空简单题查看答案及解析

Dangwal was a teacher in Bankholi village from December 2016 till August 21th this year. The school is attended by about 200 children of seven villages. “I had spent nearly three years teaching children in this school and spending time with the villagers. They always considered me as a member of their own family. That is why when I told them that I have been sent to another school, they could not believe it,” said Dangwal.

On learning his leaving, the villagers told him that they would like to organize a “Goodbye” party for him, on which he agreed but placed a condition that “It should be a small one.” However, on the final day I was surprised to see a large number of villagers gathered near the school with drums. As soon as I stepped out of the school, children and women started crying by hugging me while asking me not to go. The love brought tears to my eyes as well,” Dangwal said.

Remembering his early days in the school, Dangwal said it was not easy for him to adjust but gradually he managed it. “In the six months, I faced some problems as the culture and language of the villagers in the area was different from mine. I learnt it, which helped me to get along with the children and villagers,” Dangwal recalled.

“He was not just a teacher of our children but one of us. He always stood with every villager in the hour of need. His leaving the school is a big loss for us,” one of the villagers, Mamta Rawat, said while praising Dangwal.

He was one of the few teachers who decided to live in the village where the school was located while most of the teachers would live at more comfortable places away from the village. This really touched us,” said another villager Harish Uniyal. “He would always be in our hearts,” Uniyal further added.

1.What is Dangwal’s requirement about the “Goodbye” party?

A.Villagers should gather near the school. B.Only a few people should be involved.

C.Drums should be brought there. D.Students shouldn’t cry.

2.What difficulty did Dangwal meet with at first?

A.He found it hard to get along with his students. B.The food there didn’t agree with him.

C.He had to teach about 200 students. D.He couldn’t understand the local language.

3.What does the underlined word “This” in the last paragraph refer to?

A.Dangwal was ready to help others.

B.Dangwal couldn’t hold back tears saying “goodbye”.

C.Dangwal didn’t mind the uncomfortable living conditions.

D.Dangwal made friends with the villagers.

4.What’s the text mainly about?

A.Students and villagers unwillingly part with Dangwal.

B.Dangwal’s working experience as a village teacher.

C.Dangwal feels culture shock in Bankholi village.

D.Another school welcomes Dangwal.

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

Alexandra Scott was born to Liz and Jay Scott in Manchester，Connecticut on January 18， 1996，the second of four children. Shortly before her first birthday，Alex was diagnosed with neuroblastoma，a type of childhood cancer.

On her first birthday， the doctors informed Alex’s parents that if she beat her cancer it was doubtful that she would ever walk again. Just two weeks later，Alex slightly moved her leg at her parents’ request to kick. This was the first indication that she would turn out to be a courageous and confident child with big dreams and big accomplishments.

By her second birthday，Alex was able to stand up with leg braces (支架）.She worked hard to gain strength and to learn how to walk. She appeared to be overcoming the difficul­ties， until the shocking discovery within the next year that her tumors (肿瘤)had started growing again. In the year 2000，the day after her fourth birthday，Alex received a stem cell transplant (干细胞移植）and informed her mother，“When I get out of the hospital I want to have a lemonade stand. ” She said she wanted to give the money to doctors to allow them to “help other kids，like they helped me.，，True to her word， she held her first lemonade stand later that year with the help of her older brother and raised an amazing $ 2，000 for “her hos­pital,

People from all over the world，moved by her story，held their own lemonade stands and donated the earnings to Alex and her cause. In August of 2004，Alex passed away at the age of 8，knowing that，with the help of others，she had raised more than $ 1 million to help find a cure for the disease that took her life. Alex’s family—including brothers Patrick，Eddie，and Joey—and supporters around the world are committed to continuing her inspiring cause through Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation (基金会）.

1. It can be learned from the text that Alex .

A. couldn’t walk until she was four

B. was the only daughter of the Scotts

C. held her first lemonade stand in 2001

D. was born with cancer

2.Why was Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation founded?

A. To promote her lemonade.

B. To set up a children’s hospital.

C. To attract public attention to her disease.

D. To collect money to help children with cancer.

3.What did the public do to support Alex and her cause?

A. They helped her sell lemonade.

B. They provided free stands for her.

C. They donated money to her foundation.

D. They donated stem cells for her operation.

4.Which of the following can best describe Alex?

A.Stubborn. B. Determined. C. Innocent. D. Energetic.

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析