What was the best gift I ever received? Well, I’m a music lover, so I’d have to say it was either a Spotify subscription or my top-of-the-range Sony MDR-7506 headphones. Together they’ve provided me with countless hours of high-quality audio accompaniment. Growing up in a loving, well-off family in one of the richest countries in the world, what more could I want?
Giving gifts to loved ones is great: it’s a rewarding way to spread joy and strengthen friendships and family ties. But at this time of year I’m always reminded of how many people not only get no presents but also lack the basics to allow them to live healthy lives. For me, luxury headphones were the perfect gift; for the world’s poorest, it would be nutritious food, clean water and health care.
The poorest 10% of the world’s population, some 700 million people, live on less than $1.90 per day. And that’s adjusting for local purchasing power: they live on what $1.90 would buy in the
U.S. Faced with this kind of budget, and often geographically isolated, they are forced to eat whatever they can find and drink and wash in unsafe water. They can only pray that they don’t succumb to malnutrition, malaria or any number of other diseases that, while perfectly curable in rich countries, frequently ruin or end lives in the developing world.
I don’t seek to make anyone feel guilty for exchanging luxury goods with the people they love. But it seems to me that there’s another type of giving that is, if anything, even more profound: giving the basics of life to those most in need. Sure, you might not get a thank-you letter(who does these days?), but you’ll have done something extraordinary.
However, I’m not just interested in people giving more to charity(although that is important). I’m also passionate about people giving smarter, because where you give can make a huge difference on the impact you’ll have.
What do I mean by that? Well, to start with, there’s a reason I’ve been talking about the developing world. Even average earners in the West are incredibly rich compared with the global poor, so a sum of money considered moderate for some could make a huge difference in the poorest countries.
That’s not to say that all developing world poverty-relief charities ate good at making a difference—that’s certainly not the case. Plenty of money donated in good faith is lost to local corruption, poor administration or programs of intervention that sound great in theory but don’t achieve much in practice. As a result, it’s crucial to look at the effectiveness of the work a charity does before committing your money. How much good does it achieve for each dollar donated? Is there robust evidence for the impact of its programs?
It’s not always easy for people to find the answers, but they are vital questions to ask. That’s why there are now organizations devoted to finding and promoting the best charities. As part of the effective-altruism(利他主义) movements, they are dedicated to helping people make the biggest possible difference with their donations.
I love my music, and I love my headphones. But this year, the best gift I could get is to see as many people as possible giving generously to the most effective charities in the world.
1.What does the phrase “succumb to”(paragraph 3, line 5)mean?
A.be unaffected by B.cease opposition to
C.be unconnected with D.help to cause
2.Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage?
A.The author thinks that people giving luxury gifts to the ones they love should feel guilty.
B.The author believes that there is nothing more he wants because he grows up in very rich family.
C.The author argues that compared with those poor, an ordinary worker in the West doesn’t earn much.
D.The author says that some diseases which might be deadly in poor countries can be cured in developed countries.
3.Which of the following statements can you possibly infer from the passage?
A.People used to receive a letter of compliment from the receiver after they donated money to charities.
B.Giving smarter means that those who donate should know clearly how the charity works with the government.
C.Some charity programs fail to achieve much and seem to be less effective because they are not very practical.
D.The organizations devoted to finding the best charities aim to appeal to people to donate more money.
4.Which of the following is the best title of the passage?
A.Giving the basics of life to those in need
B.Giving best gifts to your beloved ones
C.Making the best gift count
D.The effective-altruism movement
高三英语阅读理解困难题
What was the best gift I ever received? Well, I’m a music lover, so I’d have to say it was either a Spotify subscription or my top-of-the-range Sony MDR-7506 headphones. Together they’ve provided me with countless hours of high-quality audio accompaniment. Growing up in a loving, well-off family in one of the richest countries in the world, what more could I want?
Giving gifts to loved ones is great: it’s a rewarding way to spread joy and strengthen friendships and family ties. But at this time of year I’m always reminded of how many people not only get no presents but also lack the basics to allow them to live healthy lives. For me, luxury headphones were the perfect gift; for the world’s poorest, it would be nutritious food, clean water and health care.
The poorest 10% of the world’s population, some 700 million people, live on less than $1.90 per day. And that’s adjusting for local purchasing power: they live on what $1.90 would buy in the
U.S. Faced with this kind of budget, and often geographically isolated, they are forced to eat whatever they can find and drink and wash in unsafe water. They can only pray that they don’t succumb to malnutrition, malaria or any number of other diseases that, while perfectly curable in rich countries, frequently ruin or end lives in the developing world.
I don’t seek to make anyone feel guilty for exchanging luxury goods with the people they love. But it seems to me that there’s another type of giving that is, if anything, even more profound: giving the basics of life to those most in need. Sure, you might not get a thank-you letter(who does these days?), but you’ll have done something extraordinary.
However, I’m not just interested in people giving more to charity(although that is important). I’m also passionate about people giving smarter, because where you give can make a huge difference on the impact you’ll have.
What do I mean by that? Well, to start with, there’s a reason I’ve been talking about the developing world. Even average earners in the West are incredibly rich compared with the global poor, so a sum of money considered moderate for some could make a huge difference in the poorest countries.
That’s not to say that all developing world poverty-relief charities ate good at making a difference—that’s certainly not the case. Plenty of money donated in good faith is lost to local corruption, poor administration or programs of intervention that sound great in theory but don’t achieve much in practice. As a result, it’s crucial to look at the effectiveness of the work a charity does before committing your money. How much good does it achieve for each dollar donated? Is there robust evidence for the impact of its programs?
It’s not always easy for people to find the answers, but they are vital questions to ask. That’s why there are now organizations devoted to finding and promoting the best charities. As part of the effective-altruism(利他主义) movements, they are dedicated to helping people make the biggest possible difference with their donations.
I love my music, and I love my headphones. But this year, the best gift I could get is to see as many people as possible giving generously to the most effective charities in the world.
1.What does the phrase “succumb to”(paragraph 3, line 5)mean?
A.be unaffected by B.cease opposition to
C.be unconnected with D.help to cause
2.Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage?
A.The author thinks that people giving luxury gifts to the ones they love should feel guilty.
B.The author believes that there is nothing more he wants because he grows up in very rich family.
C.The author argues that compared with those poor, an ordinary worker in the West doesn’t earn much.
D.The author says that some diseases which might be deadly in poor countries can be cured in developed countries.
3.Which of the following statements can you possibly infer from the passage?
A.People used to receive a letter of compliment from the receiver after they donated money to charities.
B.Giving smarter means that those who donate should know clearly how the charity works with the government.
C.Some charity programs fail to achieve much and seem to be less effective because they are not very practical.
D.The organizations devoted to finding the best charities aim to appeal to people to donate more money.
4.Which of the following is the best title of the passage?
A.Giving the basics of life to those in need
B.Giving best gifts to your beloved ones
C.Making the best gift count
D.The effective-altruism movement
高三英语阅读理解困难题查看答案及解析
I have received many Christmas gifts over the years. The best gift I ever received was presented to me by a stranger. I never even knew his name and I only had contact with him for less than 60 seconds. His Christmas present to me changed the way I think about people and about Christmas.
I hate Black Friday sales. It’s often a gathering of people who are there for many different reasons. Some are looking for a deal on that one item for their loved one, or perhaps themselves. Their purposes completely have nothing to do with the festive time of year, and can just be summed up with one word, “Cheap!”
It was several years ago when my wife asked me to meet her at the local department store on Black Friday morning. They had advertised a child’s bike that she wanted to purchase for our son. We stood with a very large crowd, waiting for the manager to blow the whistle(口哨). I told my wife that if we got a bike, fine, but if we did not, I was OK with that too.
As the number of bikes began to gradually decrease, I saw my “polite” opportunity to reach my hands around the corner of one of the boxes. I lifted it and suddenly felt some mild resistance(阻力). I looked up to see one of the largest gentlemen I had ever seen in my life. Frightening was not the word to describe his appearance. He was wearing lots of straps of metal spiked leather(带有柳钉的皮带) around both arms and even his neck. Still, tattoos(纹身) were an obvious love of his.
I started to return the box but he gently pushed it back in my direction and back into my hands. He then directed it into my shopping cart. He looked at me, smiled, and said, “Merry Christmas.” All the way home I was thinking that this moment was by far the best Christmas gift I had ever received. The kindness of a stranger that broke all prejudice(偏见) I may have had of certain types of people. The softness of a human heart can be seen in a simple act. I will never forget it.
1.What may be the best title of the passage?
A. The Best Christmas Gift.
B. A Child’s Bike.
C. Black Friday Sales.
D. A Handsome Stranger.
2.Why do many people go to Black Friday sales?
A. Because they can make money.
B. Because they hope to find a bargain.
C. Because it’s a way to celebrate Christmas.
D. Because it’s a place to get things free of charge.
3.What does the underlined word “purchase” mean in Paragraph 3?
A. devote
B. solve
C. buy
D. save
4.What can we learn from the passage?
A. All roads lead to Rome.
B. It’s never too old to study.
C. You cannot clap with one hand.
D. Men cannot be judged by their appearances
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
I have received many Christmas gifts over the years, The best gift I ever received was presented to me by a stranger. I never even knew his name and I only had contact with him for less than 60 seconds. His Christmas present to me changed the way I had thought about people and Christmas.
It was several years ago when my wife asked me to meet her at the local department store on Black Friday morning. They had advertised a child’s bike that she wanted to purchase for our son. We stood with a very large crowd, waiting for the manager to blow the whistle. After a while, the whistle blew. It was like throwing a bucket of fish into a tank of sharks. I told my wife that if we obtained a bike, fine, but i we did not, I was OK with that too,
As the shelf of bikes began to gradually decrease in size, I saw my polite opportunity to wrap my hands around the corner of one of the boxes. I lifted it off the box and suddenly felt some mild resistance. I looked up to see one of the largest gentlemen I had ever seen in my life. Threat was not the word to describe his presence. He was decorated with numerous belts of metal pointed leather around both arms and even his neck. Tattoos(文身) were an obvious passion of his.
I started to return anxiously the box but he gently pushed it back in my direction and back into my hands. He then directed it into my shopping cart. He look d at me, smiled, and said, “Merry Christmas. ”My wife and I went to the checkout, paid for the bike and went home. All the way home I was thinking that this moment was by far the best Christmas gift I had ever received. The kindness of a stranger that broke all previous views I may have had of stereotypes and prejudices. I will never forget the tenderness of a human heart in a simple act.
1.Why does the author view the gift as the best?
A. Because it was given by a stranger.
B. Because it was donated by a charity.
C. Because it improved his level of living.
D. Because it changed his opinion on people.
2.What can we know about the bike at that time?
A. It sold well that night.
B. It was attractive to women.
C. It was equipped with a whistle.
D. It was sold at a lower price on that morning.
3.What can we infer about the stranger with tattoos?
A. He was awful in appearance but kind in heart.
B. He was handsome and good-mannered.
C. He was big but cautious in behavior.
D. He was lovely and energetic.
4.What may be the best title for the text?
A. A True Gentleman I Met
B. The Best Gift I Ever Received
C. A Choice That Changed My View
D. A Stranger Who Gave Me a Gift
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
Over the years I have received many Christmas gifts. However, the best one I’ve ever received was presented by a________ I never knew his name and I only had______with him for less than 60 seconds, but the moment changed the_______I think about people and Christmas.
I______Black Friday sales. It’s often lots of people______the shops merely to pick up bargains. Their intentions are completely unrelated to the______time of year.
It was one Black Friday morning several years ago______my wife and I went to the local department store to purchase a child’s______for our son. W e stood with a very large crowd,_____ for the manage to blow the whistle. On hearing the______, people were all scrambling（争先恐后）to get the bargains. I______my opportunity and lifted one of the boxes containing bikes_______I felt some mild resistance. I looked______to see one of the largest gentlemen I’d ever seen in my life. “Frightening” was not the world to_______his presence. I unwillingly______the box but, to my surprise, he gently pushed it back in______direction. Our eyes made contact and he gave me a ____smile, saying, “Merry Christmas.” My wife and I went to the______and paid for the bike. All the way home I was thinking that this moment was much the best Christmas gift I’d ever received. A simple______of kindness from a stranger______all stereotypes（成见）and prejudices I may have had. I’ll never forget it.
1.A. friend B. colleague C. stranger D. brother
2.A. fun B. argument C. conversation D. contact
3.A. way B. habit C. attitude D. pattern
4.A. enjoy B. forget C. hate D. expect
5.A. breaking into B. crowding C. getting into D. wandering
6.A. joyful B. discouraging C. annoying D. busy
7.A. since B. when C. before D. until
8.A. toy B. book C. box D. bike
9.A. preparing B. looking C. waiting D. crying
10.A. whistle B. bell C. screams D. cheers
11.A. missed B. saw C. offered D. quitted
12.A. Gradually B. Immediately C. Occasionally D. Suddenly
13.A. down B. up C. through D. forward
14.A. introduce B. state C. describe D. say
15.A. take away B. take down C. put away D. put down
16.A. his B. its C. my D. another
17.A. friendly B. regretful C. frightening D. special
18.A. exit B. checkout C. store D. stand
19.A. act B. behavior C. word D. movement
20.A. deepened B. replaced C. cleaned D. removed
高三英语完形填空中等难度题查看答案及解析
Have you ever received a gift that was so clearly not your taste that you wondered if perhaps it had been handed to you by mistake? Worse, have you ever given a present and watched your friend look as though she had opened the wrong box? Maybe she responded with a polite “Why, thank you,” but you knew you had missed the mark. Why do presents sometimes go wrong? And what do your choices (good and had) reflect about your personal qualities?
Choosing the right gift is an art, I believe. It calls for empathy－the ability to put yourself into someone else’s head and heart. We’re all able to do this; in fact, we’re born with a kind of natural empathy. After the earliest period of childhood, however, it needs to be reinforced（加强）－by our parents, teachers, friends .When it isn’t, we’re not able to understand other people’s feelings as sharply. This can show in the gifts we select, and so can many other emotional（情感的）qualities.
Think back to the presents you’ve given over the past year, the time and effort you put into your selection, how much you spent, your thoughts while you were shopping ,and your feelings when the receiver opened the package. Keep in mind that what you choose displays your inner world. Of course, you may express yourself differently with different friends, relatives, and other people you know.
We live in a society where exchanging presents is an important part of communication. Ignoring the tradition won’t make it go away. If you really dislike such a tradition, tell your friends ahead of time.
1.The underlined expression “you had missed the mark” means “you had failed to________”.
A. make her feel better
B. keep your friendship
C. receive a present in return
D. get the expected effect
2.Which of the following is the main idea of the second paragraph?
A. Natural empathy needs to be reinforced.
B. Emotional changes influence one’s choice of gifts.
C. Selecting the right gift is an ability people are born with.
D. Choosing gifts requires one to understand the receivers.
3.In the third paragraph, the author tells us that .
A. attention should be paid to the receiver’s responses
B. one learns from what he did in the past
C. the choice of girls reflects one’s emotional qualities
D. one should spend more time choosing gifts
4.The best possible title for this passage is “ ”.
A. Ways of Choosing Gifts
B. An Important Tradition
C. Exchanging Presents
D. Message in a Gift
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
Each of the 400 people received from their boss ________ gift—“Who moved my cheese？”， ________ bestseller in the US, which helped them understand how to deal with changes in their lives and work.
A．the; / B．a; / C．a; a D．the; a
高三英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析
Bach died in 1750, but it was not until the early 19th century____ his musical gift was fully recognized.
A. while B. though
C. that D. after
高三英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析
Bach died in 1750, but it was not until the early 19th century____ his musical gift was fully recognized.
A. while B. though C. that D. after
高三英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析
The singing group was so well received that the size of audience, ___ we had expected, was well over one hundred.
A. whom B. who C. as D. what
高三英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析
Bach died in 1750, but it was not until the early 19th century __________ his musical gift was fully recognized.
A.when B.which C.that D.how
高三英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析