You may have never heard of Lanthanum, Cerium or Neodymium, but these elements (元素) and others known as “rare earth” play a major role in modern technology. They can actually be found in many places on the earth, but not in quantities that can be mined. Only a few countries — China, America, India, Australia, Brazil and Malaysia have any that can be mined enough to be traded.
Even though some of these elements such as Cerium are as abundant as Copper, they are not found in concentrated amounts on the earth’s surface. They are often mixed together with other metals, which makes extraction (提取) of these elements an expensive and an environmentally messy process. It was due to this reason that the term “rare earth” was invented.
Rare earth metals are used widely in our life. Rechargeable car batteries, computers, iPhones, DVD players, computer monitors, televisions, lighting, lasers, glass polishing, and superconductors all use quantities of rare earth metals. Also, with the advancement in “green” technology like solar panels, these shiny materials are becoming more important than ever. An average electric car uses 10 pounds of Lanthanum for its rechargeable battery!
America has large deposits (存储量) of rare earths and has one of the first mines. It was openedin Southern California in 1940. The element “Europium” was the first metal to be separated in quantity for use in color televisions. However, in the 1980’s and 1990’s, as China started producing these elements in Inner Mongolia, the mines in America and elsewhere could not keep pace. The mine in Mountain Pass, California also failed environmental regulations and shut down in 2002.
Now, recognizing the importance of having more than one supplier of this important resource, other rare earth owning countries like India and Australia are either dusting off their rare earth mines or speeding up their production. It is believed that the debate over rare earths will become louder in the coming months and years.
1.What can we learn about rare earths?
A. They are actually as abundant as Copper.
B. They can be mined easily as other metals.
C. They can only be found in a few countries.
D. They are not really as rare as they are named.
2.Compared with China, America .
A. paid more attention to Europium
B. has larger deposits of rare earths
C. started producing rare earths earlier
D. has more rare earth mines
3.It can be inferred from the text that rare earths .
A. are now in great demand
B. can now be used in few fields
C. are harmful to the environment
D. will soon be replaced by other metals
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题
You may have never heard of Lanthanum, Cerium or Neodymium, but these elements (元素) and others known as “rare earth” play a major role in modern technology. They can actually be found in many places on the earth, but not in quantities that can be mined. Only a few countries — China, America, India, Australia, Brazil and Malaysia have any that can be mined enough to be traded.
Even though some of these elements such as Cerium are as abundant as Copper, they are not found in concentrated amounts on the earth’s surface. They are often mixed together with other metals, which makes extraction (提取) of these elements an expensive and an environmentally messy process. It was due to this reason that the term “rare earth” was invented.
Rare earth metals are used widely in our life. Rechargeable car batteries, computers, iPhones, DVD players, computer monitors, televisions, lighting, lasers, glass polishing, and superconductors all use quantities of rare earth metals. Also, with the advancement in “green” technology like solar panels, these shiny materials are becoming more important than ever. An average electric car uses 10 pounds of Lanthanum for its rechargeable battery!
America has large deposits (存储量) of rare earths and has one of the first mines. It was openedin Southern California in 1940. The element “Europium” was the first metal to be separated in quantity for use in color televisions. However, in the 1980’s and 1990’s, as China started producing these elements in Inner Mongolia, the mines in America and elsewhere could not keep pace. The mine in Mountain Pass, California also failed environmental regulations and shut down in 2002.
Now, recognizing the importance of having more than one supplier of this important resource, other rare earth owning countries like India and Australia are either dusting off their rare earth mines or speeding up their production. It is believed that the debate over rare earths will become louder in the coming months and years.
1.What can we learn about rare earths?
A. They are actually as abundant as Copper.
B. They can be mined easily as other metals.
C. They can only be found in a few countries.
D. They are not really as rare as they are named.
2.Compared with China, America .
A. paid more attention to Europium
B. has larger deposits of rare earths
C. started producing rare earths earlier
D. has more rare earth mines
3.It can be inferred from the text that rare earths .
A. are now in great demand
B. can now be used in few fields
C. are harmful to the environment
D. will soon be replaced by other metals
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
You may have never heard of Lanthanum, Cerium or Neodymium, but these elements (元素) and others known as “rare earth” play a major role in modern technology. They can actually be found in many places on the earth, but not in quantities that can be mined. Only a few countries — China, America, India, Australia, Brazil and Malaysia have any that can be mined enough to be traded.
Even though some of these elements such as Cerium are as abundant as Copper, they are not found in concentrated amounts on the earth’s surface. They are often mixed together with other metals, which makes extraction (提取) of these elements an expensive and an environmentally messy process. It was due to this reason that the term “rare earth” was invented.
Rare earth metals are used widely in our life. Rechargeable car batteries, computers, iPhones, DVD players, computer monitors, televisions, lighting, lasers, glass polishing, and superconductors all use quantities of rare earth metals. Also, with the advancement in “green” technology like solar panels, these shiny materials are becoming more important than ever. An average electric car uses 10 pounds of Lanthanum for its rechargeable battery!
America has large deposits (存储量) of rare earths and has one of the first mines. It was opened in Southern California in 1940. The element “Europium” was the first metal to be separated in quantity for use in color televisions. However, in the 1980’s and 1990’s, as China started producing these elements in Inner Mongolia, the mines in America and elsewhere could not keep pace. The mine in Mountain Pass, California also failed environmental regulations and shut down in 2002.
Now, recognizing the importance of having more than one supplier of this important resource, other rare earth owning countries like India and Australia are either dusting off their rare earth mines or speeding up their production. It is believed that the debate over rare earths will become louder in the coming months and years.
1.What can we learn about rare earths?
A. They are actually as abundant as Copper.
B. They can be mined easily as other metals.
C. They can only be found in a few countries.
D. They are not really as rare as they are named.
2.Compared with China, America _____.
A. paid more attention to Europium
B. has larger deposits of rare earths
C. started producing rare earths earlier
D. has more rare earth mines
3.It can be inferred from the text that rare earths _____.
A. are now in great demand
B. can now be used in few fields
C. are harmful to the environment
D. will soon be replaced by other metals
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
You may have never heard of Ladislao Biro, but you have certainly heard of the pen he invented—the ballpoint pen, or biro. Before Biro invented his pen, people wrote with fountain pens. The ink smudged(弄脏) and blotted and the pens sometimes leaked. In the 1930s Biro was a magazine editor in Budapest in Hungary. He noticed that the inks which the magazine’s printers used dried very quickly. Biro wondered if quick-drying inks could be used in pens. He came up with the idea of a tube of ink with a free-moving ball on the end. As a person wrote, the ball collected ink from the tube and rolled it on to the paper. The pen would be cheap and could be thrown away when the ink ran out.
Biro began to work on his invention, but before he could patent it the Second World War broke out. Biro left war-torn Europe and fled to Buenos Aires in Argentina. There, he and his brother Georg, who was a chemist, began to improve the pen. In the early 1940s Biro began to manufacture his new pen, the biro. In 1944, he sold his invention to another company, who began to mass-produce the pen for the British and American armed forces.
Biro was pleased that his pen was popular, but he did not gain much from his invention. The biro was later sold to the French firm, Bic, who now sell twelve million pens a day. Biro sank into obscurity in South America. His name, however, has become a household word.
48. The reasons for the popularity of ballpoint pens are these EXCEPT that_______.
A. the inks dried very quickly B. they were cheap
C. they were easy to carry around D. they were mass-produced
49. Which of the following is the correct order of the events that happened to Biro?
a. applied for patent for first ballpoint pen
b. began to manufacture pens
c. fled from Hungary to escape Nazis
d. sold his invention
A. a c d b B. c d a b C. a c b d D. c a b d
50. The underlined part “sank into obscurity”(last paragraph) is closest in meaning to“_______”.
A. became unknown to many people B. became popular with people
C. lost interest in business D. lost a lot of money
51. What does the passage mainly tell us about Biro?
A. He is successful in business. B. He is an important inventor.
C. He is a famous magazine editor. D. He is a popular writer.
高三英语阅读理解简单题查看答案及解析
Tensions have erupted over some barren rocks in the Pacific that you may never have heard of, but stay tuned—this is a boundary dispute(争端) that could get ugly and some day have far-reaching consequences for China, Japan, Taiwan and the United States.
The islands in dispute are called the Senkaku chain by Japan, the Diaoyu islands by China, and the Diaoyutai by Taiwan. All three claim the islands, which are really just five small islands and three barren rocks northeast of Taiwan, 200 miles off the Chinese coast.
The latest conflict occurred when a Chinese fishing boat collided(碰撞) with two Japanese naval ships trying to stop it near the islands. The Japanese prevented the Chinese captain from leaving the place for questioning and the two countries have been exchanging angry protests.
The reason to worry is that nationalists in both China and Taiwan see the islands as unquestionably theirs and think that their government has been weak in claiming this authority.
So far, wiser heads have generally won the argument on each side, but at some point a weakened Chinese leader might try to gain the legal right with the public by pushing the issue and recovering the islands. It would be a dangerous game and would have a disastrous impact on China-Japan relations, but if successful it would raise the popularity of the Chinese government.
In reality, of course, there is zero chance that the U.S. will honor its treaty(条约) with Japan over a few barren rocks. We're not going to risk a nuclear conflict with China over some islands that may well be China's. But if we don't help, our security relationship with Japan will be at the breaking point.
So which country has a better claim to the islands? My feeling is that it's China, although the answer isn't clear-cut. Chinese navigational records show the islands as Chinese for many centuries, and a 1783 Japanese map shows them as Chinese as well. Japan purported to “discover” the islands only in 1884 and took control of them by force only in 1895 when it also grabbed Taiwan.
The best approach would be for China and Japan to agree to refer the dispute to the International Court of Justice, but realistically that won't happen. And since some believe that the area is rich with oil and gas reserves, the claims from each side have become more insistent.
As Chinese nationalism grows, as China's navy and ability to project power in the ocean gains, we could see some military conflicts over the islands.
Taken from NewYork Times
1.The underlined word “purported” (in Para.7) is closest in meaning to “_____”.
A. happened B. claimed C. pretended D. intended
2.The latest conflict referred to in the passage occurred because _____.
A. the Japanese government has bought the Diaoyu Islands from the Liyuans
B. two Japanese naval ships sailed in the Chinese sea around the Diaoyu Islands
C. the Japanese kept the captain of a fishing boat from returning for questioning
D. a fishing boat collided with two Japanese naval ships by design in the Japanese sea
3.Which of the following is the author's personal idea?
A. It is the two Japanese naval ships that are to blame for the conflict.
B. It is the Chinese captain of a fishing boat that is to blame for the conflict.
C. It is the U.S. that will honor its treaty with Japan over a few barren rocks.
D. It is China that has a better claim to the islands because of its navigational records.
4.What can be inferred according to the passage?
A. The claim from both sides has become more insistent.
B. Japan has navy and ability to power the Diaoyu Islands.
C. China is developing so quickly that it will declare a war on Japan.
D. The dispute between China and Japan has put the U.S. in a dilemma.
高三英语阅读理解简单题查看答案及解析
I have never heard about a “Fashion Week” outside of New York, London or Milan. But then one just happens to turn up in Bishkek in Kyrgyzstan. Actually, I’m ignorant of all those countries in Central Asia, whose names are always ending in “stan.” For decades, even centuries, Central Asia has been out of focus, a blank on the map of empires. Just as the introduction from Turusbek Mamashov, from the Tourism agency of the president of the Kyrgyz Republic, says, “Throughout this Fashion Week project, we need to create a revolution in the minds of our people, preparing the country for the international tourism market. It is an opportunity as well as an investment.” What he says is right. If you just give it a glimpse (一瞥), you’ll find out that the flavor (风情) of the Silk Road is still there.
As part of the route for Silk Road traders and migrating tribes through its epic(史诗的) history, Kyrgyzstan, like other Central Asian countries, is a vast place of desert, grassland and mountain ranges. It is not widely known that Kyrgyzstan is the Tang Dynasty poet Li Bai’s birthplace.
Bishkek, the place holding Fashion Week, is the capital and industrial center of independent Kyrgyzstan. It is a relaxed, handsome place with wide streets and large amounts of greenery. Especially in the autumn of November, the yellow leaves falling everywhere make the whole city a legend in fall. The mountains are just at its rear, in that case a unique scene of picturesque beauty is composed by snow-white peaks, lakes and the urban Landscape.
Today, Ala-Too Square is the center of the poetic places worth seeing in Bishkek. The “White House,” the seat of the Kyrgyzstan Government, is just at the west of the square. Behind this is Panfilov Park, a great place to head for a national holiday. The State Museum of Fine Arts is opposite, which is also called the Gapar Aitiev Museum of Applied Arts, featuring Kyrgyz jewelry, rugs and works by local artists.
One of the joys besides the scenery is the openness of the people. Bishkek is a city without a big population but mainly good-natured people from many races, 47 percent are Russian and about a third are Kyrgyz. Most travelers vote Kyrgyzstan as the most appealing, accessible and welcoming of the former Soviet Central Asian republics. It is written by a tourist that Kyrgyzstan is the country Russians most desperately want to keep: hills always covered with grass and wild flowers. Kyrgyz men always ride a horse wearing a photogenic hat.
1. According to the passage, Kyrgyzstan used to be ___________.
A. an international fashion centre B. an important part of Silk Road
C. the focus of the world D. a vast desert land in Central Asia
2. The Fashion Week in Bishkek is supposed to __________.
A. start a revolution in Kyrgyzstan B. attract foreign investment to Kyrgyzstan
C. promote tourism in Kyrgyzstan D. celebrate the independence of Kyrgyzstan
3. Which of the statements is NOT ture according to the passage?
A. Bishkek is a crowded modern city surrounded by mountain ranges.
B. Panfilov Park is a popular destination for local people during holidays.
C. The majority of the population in Bishkek are Russian and Kyrgyz.
D. The famous poet Li Bai is thought to have been born in Kyrgyzstan.
4. What is the most important message the author wants to convey in the passage?
A. Reflections and thoughts on the glorious history of the Silk Road.
B. Feelings about the ongoing Fashion Week project in Bishkek.
C. The geographic features and imposing history of Kyrgyzstan.
D. The natural and cultural characteristics and attractions in Kyrgyzstan.
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
You probably have heard of many famous people like Marie Curie, but you may not have heard of Rachel Carson. Of the outstanding ladies listed below, who do you think was the most important woman of the past 100 years?
Jane Addams(1860-1935)
Anyone who has ever been helped by a social worker has Jane Addams to thank. Addans helped the poor and worked for peace. She encouraged a sense of community by creating shelters and promoting education and services for people in need . In 1931, Addams became the first American woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize.
Rachel Carson(1907-1964)
If it weren't for Rachel Carson, the environmental movement might not exist today. Her popular 1962 book Silent Spring raised awareness of the dangers of pollution and the harmful effects of chemicals on humans and on the world's lakes and oceans.
Sandra Day O'Connor(1930-present)
When Sandra Day O'Connor finished third in her class at Stanford Law School, in 1952, she could not find work at a law firm because she was a woman. She became an Arizona state senator(参议员) and ,in 1981, the first woman to join the U.S. Supreme Court. O'Connor gave the deciding vote in many important cases during her 24 years on the top court.
Rosa Parks(1913-2005)
On December 1, 1955, in Montgomery, Alabama, Rasa Parks would not give up her seat on a bus to a passenger. Her simple act landed Parks in prison. But it also set off the Montgomery bus boycott. It lasted for more than a year, and kicked off the civil-rights movement. "The only tired I was, was tired of giving in," said Parks.
1.What is Jane Addams noted for in history?
A. Her social work. B. Her lack of proper training in law.
C. Her efforts to win a prize. D. Her community background.
2.What is the reason for O'Connor's being rejected by the law firm?
A. Her lack of proper training in law. B. Her little work experience in court.
C. The discrimination against women. D. The poor financial conditions.
3.Who made a great contribution to the civil-rights movement in the US?
A. Jane Addams. B. Rachel Carson.
C. Sandra Day O'Connor D. Rosa Parks.
4.What can we infer about the women mentioned in the text?
A. They are highly educated. B. They are pioneers.
C. They are peace-lovers. D. They are truly creative.
高三英语阅读理解简单题查看答案及解析
You may have heard of the book Moby Dick(《白鲸记》), written by the American author Herman Melville. You may also know that Moby Dick is considered one of the greatest novels ever written. However, it might surprise you to find out Herman Melville was not always a highly regarded author.
Melville’s first two novels, Typee and Omoo, were widely read and financially successfully. They were both exciting tales of adventures at sea and experiences with people in foreign lands. Melville became quite famous. However, upon the publication of his third book, Mardi, Melville’s popularity began to weaken. He was no longer interested in telling tales of pure adventure, and his writing took on a style that alienated(使疏远) the general reading public of his time.
Melville published Moby Dick in October of 1851. It was an original novel, combining aspects of sociology and philosophy, which confused readers by its complex symbolism. The book sold poorly.
Melville’s next book, Pierre, was almost completely disregarded by the public. Debt frustration and ill health finally forced Melville to take a low-paying job as a customs inspector. Eventually, Melville abandoned prose(散文) and began to write poetry.
The Civil War is the main subject of Melville’s poetry. He and his brother made a trip to the front line, and he published a book of poems, Battle-Pieces and Aspects of War, based on this experience.
Melville died in 1891 at the age of 72. At this point, his work had been completely forgotten by the public. His talent was to go unrecognized for the next thirty years. Then, in 1920s, his reputation began to improve as critics and readers rediscovered his work. Today Moby Dick is one of the best-known novels ever penned by an American author.
1.What were Melville’s first two novels mainly about?
A. His travel experience.
B. His successful communication skills.
C. Adventurous experiences in the front line.
D. Adventurous voyages and foreign experiences.
2.We can learn from the text that Moby Dick ________.
A. sold a little better than Pierre
B. was Melville’s favorite novel
C. was copied from other books
D. made Melville popular again
3.The text may be taken from ________.
A. a writing guide
B. a literary journal
C. a science magazine
D. a critical book on literature
4.What is the text mainly about?
A. The main works of Melville.
B. The skills in Melville’s writing.
C. The ups and downs of Melville.
D. The reason for Melville’s failure.
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
You may have heard of the book Moby Dick(《白鲸记》), written by the American author Herman Melville. You may also know that Moby Dick is considered one of the greatest novels ever written. However, it might surprise you to find out Herman Melville was not always a highly regarded author.
Melville’s first two novels, Typee and Omoo, were widely read and financially successfully. They were both exciting tales of adventures at sea and experiences with people in foreign lands. Melville became quite famous. However, upon the publication of his third book, Mardi, Melville’s popularity began to weaken. He was no longer interested in telling tales of pure adventure, and his writing took on a style that alienated(使疏远) the general reading public of his time.
Melville published Moby Dick in October of 1851. it was an original novel, combining aspects of sociology and philosophy, which confused readers by its complex symbolism. The book sold poorly.
Melville’s next book, Pierre, was almost completely disregarded by the public. Debt frustration and ill health finally forced Melville to take a low-paying job as a customs inspector. Eventually, Melville abandoned prose(散文) and began to write poetry.
The Civil War is the main subject of Melville’s poetry. He and his brother made a trip to the front line, and he published a book of poems, Battle-Pieces and Aspects of War, based on this experience.
Melville died in 1891 at the age of 72. at this point, his work had been completely forgotten by the public. His talent was to go unrecognized for the next thirty years. Then, in 1920s, his reputation began to improve as critics and readers rediscovered his work. Today Moby Dick is one of the best-known novels ever penned by an American author.
1.What were Melville’s first two novels mainly about?
A. His travel experience.
B. His successful communication skills.
C. Adventurous experiences in the front line.
D. Adventurous voyages and foreign experiences.
2.We can learn from the text that Moby Dick________.
A. sold a little better than Pierre.
B. was Melville’s favorite novel.
C. was copied from other books.
D. made Melville popular again.
3.The text may be taken from___________.
A. a writing guide
B. a literary journal.
C. a science magazine.
D. a critical book on literature.
4. What is the text mainly about?
A. The main works of Melville.
B. The skills in Melville’s writing.
C. The ups and downs of Melville.
D. The reason for Melville’s failure.
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
You may have heard of the book Moby Dick(《白鲸记》), written by the American author Herman Melville. You may also know that Moby Dick is considered one of the greatest novels ever written. However, it might surprise you to find out Herman Melville was not always a highly regarded author.
Melville’s first two novels, Typee and Omoo, were widely read and financially successfully. They were both exciting tales of adventures at sea and experiences with people in foreign lands. Melville became quite famous. However, upon the publication of his third book, Mardi, Melville’s popularity began to weaken. He was no longer interested in telling tales of pure adventure, and his writing took on a style that alienated(使疏远) the general reading public of his time.
Melville published Moby Dick in October of 1851. It was an original novel, combining aspects of sociology and philosophy, which confused readers by its complex symbolism. The book sold poorly.
Melville’s next book, Pierre, was almost completely disregarded by the public. Debt frustration and ill health finally forced Melville to take a low-paying job as a customs inspector. Eventually, Melville abandoned prose(散文) and began to write poetry.
The Civil War is the main subject of Melville’s poetry. He and his brother made a trip to the front line, and he published a book of poems, Battle-Pieces and Aspects of War, based on this experience.
Melville died in 1891 at the age of 72. at this point, his work had been completely forgotten by the public. His talent was to go unrecognized for the next thirty years. Then, in 1920s, his reputation began to improve as critics and readers rediscovered his work. Today Moby Dick is one of the best-known novels ever penned by an American author.
1.What were Melville’s first two novels mainly about?
A. His travel experience.
B. His successful communication skills.
C. Adventurous experiences in the front line.
D. Adventurous voyages and foreign experiences.
2.We can learn from the text that Moby Dick ________.
A. sold a little better than Pierre
B. was Melville’s favorite novel
C. was copied from other books
D. made Melville popular again
3.The text may be taken from ________.
A. a writing guide
B. a literary journal
C. a science magazine
D. a critical book on literature
4.What is the text mainly about?
A. The main works of Melville.
B. The skills in Melville’s writing.
C. The ups and downs of Melville.
D. The reason for Melville’s failure.
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
If you have never ever heard of pawpaw，you are not alone. Most Americans do not know of the fruit，although it is native to the United States. Once，however，it was one of the most popular fruits in North America. Happily，those who love the pawpaw are trying to return it to its former position in American foods.
The pawpaw is a kind of fruit that grows on trees found all over the eastern United States. It is similar in size to a typical mango. It has a dull green-colored skin，and a soft，almost creamy orange inside. Most people agree that the pawpaw tastes like a combination of bananas，apricots （杏）and mangos. Most people are very surprised by its sweet taste. The fruit has a very short harvest season，from two to three weeks in September and October.
The pawpaw has never been sold commercially. The fruit requires a very special environment-low，wet areas that sometimes flood. In addition，the fruit is good to eat for only two to three days after harvesting. This makes it hard to sell anywhere distant from the pawpaw trees.
Planters are again growing pawpaw trees and harvesting the fruit. In several states farmers have organized “pawpaw festivals” to reintroduce the food to people.
Farmers are trying to grow different kinds of paw paws that will be easier to ship and sell commercially. Donna and Jim Davis are pawpaw farmers in Westminster，Maryland. They told National Public Radio that they purchased their pawpaw trees in the 1990s and now sell the fruit at farmer markets and online.
So, who knows? Maybe the pawpaw will show up soon at a market near you.
1.What is the pawpaw's most outstanding nature?
A. It grows on trees all over the US.
B. Its sour taste is like an apricot.
C. It looks like a combination of bananas and mangos.
D. It is very rich in sugar.
2.Why is it difficult for the pawpaw to become a big business?
A. It has to be sold far from the pawpaw tree.
B. It is difficult to harvest in the low and wet areas.
C. It is hard to keep its freshness for long.
D. It needs expensive transportation to the market.
3.What do farmers do to deal with the disadvantage of paw paws?
A. They advertise on National Public Radio.
B. They plant improved pawpaw trees.
C. They organize pawpaw festivals.
D. They sell the fruit at farmer markets.
4.Which of the following can be the best title for the text?
A. A forgotten American fruit is becoming popular again.
B. Fruit of pawpaw plays an important part in America.
C. Most people have hardly eaten fresh paw paws.
D. A traditional fruit has changed people's diet.
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析