“Two centuries ago, Lewis and Clark left St. Louis to explore the new lands acquired in the Louisiana Purchase,” George W. Bush said, announcing his desire for a program to send men and women to Mars. They made that journey in the spirit of discovery. America has ventured forth into space for the same reasons.”
Yet there are vital differences between Lewis and Clark’s expedition and a Mars mission. First, they were headed to a place where hundreds of thousands of people were already living. Second, they were certain to discover places and things of immediate value to the new nation. Third, their venture cost next to nothing by today’s standards. A Mars mission may be the single most expensive non-wartime undertaking in U.S. history.
Appealing as the thought of travel to Mars is, it does not mean the journey makes sense, even considering the human calling to explore. And Mars as a destination for people makes absolutely no sense with current technology.
Present systems for getting from Earth’s surface to low-Earth orbit are so fantastically expensive that merely launching the 1,000 tons or so of spacecraft and equipment a Mars mission would require could be accomplished only by cutting health-care benefits, education spending, or other important programs—or by raising taxes. Absent some remarkable discovery, astronauts, geologists, and biologists once on Mars could do little more than analyze rocks and feel awestruck(敬畏的) staring into the sky of another world. Yet rocks can be analyzed by automated probes without risk to human life, and at a tiny fraction of the cost of sending people.
It is interesting to note that when President Bush unveiled his proposal, he listed these recent major achievements of space exploration pictures of evidence of water on Mars, discovery of more than 100 planets outside our solar system, and study of the soil of Mars. All these accomplishments came from automated probes or automated space telescopes. Bush’s proposal, which calls for reprogramming some of NASA’s present budget into the Mars effort, might actually lead to a reduction in such unmanned science—the one aspect of space exploration that’s working really well.
Rather than spend hundreds of billions of dollars to hurl tons toward Mars using current technology, why not take a decade or two or however much time is required researching new launch systems and advanced propulsion (推进力)? lf new launch systems could put weight into orbit affordably, and advanced propulsion could speed up that long, slow transit to Mars, the dream of stepping onto the red planet might become reality. Mars will still be there when the technology is ready.
1.What do Lewis and Clark’s expedition and a Mars mission have in common?
A.Instant value.
B.Human inhabitance.
C.Venture cost.
D.Exploring spirit.
2.Bush’s proposal is challenged for the following reasons except that .
A.its expenditure is too huge for the government to afford.
B.American people’s well-being will suffer a lot if it is implemented
C.great achievements have already been made in Mars exploration in America
D.unmanned Mars exploration sounds more practical and economical for the moment
3.Which cannot be concluded from the passage?
A.Going to Mars using current technology is quite unrealistic.
B.A Mars mission will in turn promote the development of unmanned program.
C.Bush’s proposal is based on three recent great achievements of space exploration
D.The achievements in space exploration show how well unmanned science has developed.
4.What is the main idea of the passage?
A.Risky as it is, a Mars mission helps to retain Americas position as a technological leader.
B.A Mars mission is so costly that it may lead to an economic disaster in America.
C.Someday people may go to Mars but not until it makes technological sense.
D.A Mars mission is unnecessary since the scientists once there won’t make great discoveries.
高二英语阅读理解困难题
“Two centuries ago, Lewis and Clark left St. Louis to explore the new lands acquired in the Louisiana Purchase,” George W. Bush said, announcing his desire for a program to send men and women to Mars. They made that journey in the spirit of discovery. America has ventured forth into space for the same reasons.”
Yet there are vital differences between Lewis and Clark’s expedition and a Mars mission. First, they were headed to a place where hundreds of thousands of people were already living. Second, they were certain to discover places and things of immediate value to the new nation. Third, their venture cost next to nothing by today’s standards. A Mars mission may be the single most expensive non-wartime undertaking in U.S. history.
Appealing as the thought of travel to Mars is, it does not mean the journey makes sense, even considering the human calling to explore. And Mars as a destination for people makes absolutely no sense with current technology.
Present systems for getting from Earth’s surface to low-Earth orbit are so fantastically expensive that merely launching the 1,000 tons or so of spacecraft and equipment a Mars mission would require could be accomplished only by cutting health-care benefits, education spending, or other important programs—or by raising taxes. Absent some remarkable discovery, astronauts, geologists, and biologists once on Mars could do little more than analyze rocks and feel awestruck(敬畏的) staring into the sky of another world. Yet rocks can be analyzed by automated probes without risk to human life, and at a tiny fraction of the cost of sending people.
It is interesting to note that when President Bush unveiled his proposal, he listed these recent major achievements of space exploration pictures of evidence of water on Mars, discovery of more than 100 planets outside our solar system, and study of the soil of Mars. All these accomplishments came from automated probes or automated space telescopes. Bush’s proposal, which calls for reprogramming some of NASA’s present budget into the Mars effort, might actually lead to a reduction in such unmanned science—the one aspect of space exploration that’s working really well.
Rather than spend hundreds of billions of dollars to hurl tons toward Mars using current technology, why not take a decade or two or however much time is required researching new launch systems and advanced propulsion (推进力)? lf new launch systems could put weight into orbit affordably, and advanced propulsion could speed up that long, slow transit to Mars, the dream of stepping onto the red planet might become reality. Mars will still be there when the technology is ready.
1.What do Lewis and Clark’s expedition and a Mars mission have in common?
A.Instant value.
B.Human inhabitance.
C.Venture cost.
D.Exploring spirit.
2.Bush’s proposal is challenged for the following reasons except that .
A.its expenditure is too huge for the government to afford.
B.American people’s well-being will suffer a lot if it is implemented
C.great achievements have already been made in Mars exploration in America
D.unmanned Mars exploration sounds more practical and economical for the moment
3.Which cannot be concluded from the passage?
A.Going to Mars using current technology is quite unrealistic.
B.A Mars mission will in turn promote the development of unmanned program.
C.Bush’s proposal is based on three recent great achievements of space exploration
D.The achievements in space exploration show how well unmanned science has developed.
4.What is the main idea of the passage?
A.Risky as it is, a Mars mission helps to retain Americas position as a technological leader.
B.A Mars mission is so costly that it may lead to an economic disaster in America.
C.Someday people may go to Mars but not until it makes technological sense.
D.A Mars mission is unnecessary since the scientists once there won’t make great discoveries.
高二英语阅读理解困难题查看答案及解析
One day the employees of a large company in St Louis，Missouri returned from their lunch break and were greeted with a sign on the front door. The sign said：“Yesterday the person who has been hindering (阻碍) your growth in this company passed away. We invite you to join the funeral(葬礼) in the room that has been prepared in the gym.”
At first everyone was sad to hear that one of their colleagues had died，but after a while they started getting curious about who this person might be.
The excitement grew as the employees arrived at the gym to pay their last respects. Everyone wondered：“Who is this person that was hindering my progress? Well，at least he’s no longer here.”
One by one the employees got closer to the coffin(棺材) and when they looked inside it they became speechless. They stood over the coffin，shocked and in silence，as if someone had touched the deepest part of their soul.
There was a mirror inside the coffin：Everyone who looked inside it could see himself. There was also a sign next to the mirror that said. “There is only one person who can set limits to your growth：it is YOU.”
You are the only person who can revolutionize(彻底改变) your life. You are the only person who can influence your happiness，your realization and your success. You are the only person who can help yourself.
Your life does not change when your family changes，when your friends change，when your boss changes，and when your company changes.
Your life changes when YOU change，when you go beyond your limiting beliefs，when you realize that you are the only one responsible for your life.
1.The writer’s purpose in writing the article is to tell us that __________.
A．the harder we work，the more successful we will become
B．our work and life are closely connected with others
C．changing our lives is down to us
D．we will have a better future if people do not hinder our development
2.People were speechless when they looked inside the coffin because __________.
A．there was nothing but a mirror inside
B．they could see their own souls inside
C．their closest colleague lay inside
D．what was inside told a great truth
3.Who probably wrote the sign on the front door?
A．The company boss.
B．A worker who liked to make fun of others.
C．The director in charge of production.
D．A worker who wanted to teach others a lesson.
4.What can we conclude from the article?
A．The employees went to the gym to join the funeral.
B．The lesson the employees learned would influence them greatly.
C．The employees’ lives depended on the attitude of their boss.
D．The employees got angry after the funeral..
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
A team, _____ two doctors and three policemen, ____ sent to search for the missing explorers.
A. consists of; was B.consisting of; was
C. consisted of; was D. to be consisted of; were
高二英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析
Years ago in Scotland, the Clark family had a dream. Clark and his wife worked and 36 , making plans for their nine children and themselves to travel to 37 . It had taken years, and they had 38 saved enough money and had got passports (护照) and 39 for the whole family to the United States.
The entire family was filled with 40 about their new life. 41 , seven days before their departure, the youngest son was bitten by a dog. The doctor sewed up the boy but he42 ________a yellow sheet on the Clarks’ front door. 43 the possibility of rabies (狂犬病), they should be quarantined (隔离) for fourteen days.
The family’s 44 was destroyed. They would not be able to make the trip to America as they had 45 . The father, filled with disappointment and 46 , hurried to the dock to watch the ship leave — without the Clark family. 47 of disappointment came to the father. Five days 48 , the tragic news spread throughout Scotland — the mighty Titanic had sunk. The unsinkable ship had sunk, 49 many lives with it. The Clark family should have been on that ship, 50 because the son had been bitten by the dog, they were51 in Scotland. When Mr. Clark heard the news, he 52 his son and thanked him for saving the family. He thanked God for saving their lives and turning 53 he had felt was a(n) 54 into a blessing.
Although we may not always understand, all things 55 for a reason.
1.A. spent B. counted C. saved D. played
2.A. America B. Europe C. Japan D. Africa
3.A. instantly B. obviously C. originally D. finally
4.A. cars B. ships C. tickets D. rooms
5.A. creativity B. excitement C. surprise D. imagination
6.A. However B. Besides C. Instead D. Otherwise
7.A. signed B. brought C. hung D. raised
8.A. Apart from B. In spite of C. As for D. Because of
9.A. passport B. ship C. house D. dream
10.A. imagined B. planned C. admitted D. claimed
11.A. tension B. courage C. anger D. doubt
12.A. Information B. Tears C. Letters D. News
13.A. later B. after C. late D. over
14.A. saving B. leaving C. taking D. killing
15.A. so B. or C. and D. but
16.A. left behind B. given out C. turned away D. taken over
17.A. envied B. called C. blamed D. hugged
18.A. when B. what C. that D. why
19.A. sacrifice (牺牲) B .experience C. comedy D. misery (痛苦)
20.A. remain B. disappear C. happen D. exist
高二英语完型填空困难题查看答案及解析
A team, ________two doctors and three policemen ,was sent to search for the lost explorers.
A.consisting of B.consists of C.consisted of D.to be consisted of
高二英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析
A team, ________two doctors and three policemen ,was sent to search for the lost explorers.
A. consisting of B. consists of C. consisted of D. to be consisted of
高二英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析
Helen Thayer，one of the greatest explorers of the 20th century，loves challenges. She says，"I like to see what's on the other side of the hill." She has gone almost everywhere to do that.
In 1988，at the age of 50，she became the first woman to travel alone to the North Pole. She pulled her own sled (雪橇) piled with 160 pounds of supplies，and during her trip no one brought her fresh supplies. Accompanied (陪伴) only by her dog Charlie，she survived cold weather and meetings with polar bears. In fact，Charlie saved her life when one of them attacked her. Near the end of her trip，a forceful wind blew away the majority of her supplies. The last week of the trip，she survived on a handful of nuts and a little water each day.
Helen goes to challenging places not only for adventure，but also for education. Before her Arctic journey，she started a website called Adventure Classroom. On the site，she shares her adventures in order to motivate (激发) students. She explains，"Although kids often see the world in a negative way，without hope for their future，we work to inspire them to set goals，plan for success and never give up..."
Helen grew up in New Zealand. Her parents were athletes and mountain climbers. Following her parents' example，she climbed her first mountain at 9. Later，she climbed the highest mountains in North and South America，the former USSR and New Zealand.
In 1996，she took on another challenge--the Sahara Desert. She and her husband，Bill，walked 2,400 miles across it！In 2001，she and Bill traveled on foot from west to east through the Gobi Desert in Mongolia. They hope to travel in mainland China into Sichuan and Tibet to study pandas this year.
Helen plans to continue taking trips. She'll use her explorations，writing，photography and environmental work to create programs for her Adventure Classroom website. She wants to inspire her students never to stop facing challenges!
1.We learn from Paragraph 2 that ________.
A. Helen Thayer is the first person to reach the North Pole
B. Helen Thayer ate nothing during the last week of her trip
C. Charlie prevented Helen being attacked by polar bears
D. Helen Thayer traveled to the North Pole together with her husband
2.Why does Helen travel to different places worldwide?
A. For education. B. For fun.
C. For money. D. For fame.
3.Which is the best title for the text?
A. The Woman Who Loves Adventure B. A Famous Woman
C. A Woman Mountain Climber D. The Owner of Adventure Classroom
4.Which of the following places has Helen not visited yet?
A. The North Pole B. The Sahara Desert
C. The Gobi Desert D. Sichuan and Tibet
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
３１ｓｔ Ｏｃｔｏｂｅｒ —— A team of British explorers has announced they are going to the North Pole to measure the ice cap’s thickness. The exploration will take ground-based readings (仪表的读数) of an ice formation which most scientists agree is shrinking at an alarming rate.
Explorer Pen Hadow’s three-member team will pull a sled-fixed radar device, which measures ice density every eight centimeters, 2,000 kilometers across the Arctic and will produce millions of readings.
They will leave in February, 2008 and will face temperatures of -50℃ on a journey that will take up to 120 days. They have been testing their equipment in Britain and Canada.
Hadow is excited about the prospects (前景), “For the first time we will be able to transmit video images — webcam film of the expedition — as it unfolds so people can track us, and the whole idea is to engage as many people as we can in what we’re doing.”
New fallen snow on top of the ice makes ground-based measurements more accurate than satellite data.
“It has been in the planning stage for a while,” said Hadow. “We spent the last two years developing impulse radar (冲击雷达), which normally is about 100 kilograms and hangs under an aircraft and so on. We’ve managed to get it down to about 4 kilograms. It’s the size of a briefcase and we are dragging it behind the sled as we go.”
The ice cap shrank enough in 2007 so that a pathway through the cap known as the Northwest Passage opened up during the melting of the Arctic summer.
Cambridge University’s Joao Rodrigues explains, “Thickness of the ice cap will determine how much solar radiation will be reflected and the heat exchange between the ocean and the atmosphere and it is thus a vital component (成分) of climate models.”
If warming trends continue, some experts predict that the Arctic Ocean could be ice-free during the summer within a few decades.
1.What would be the best title for the text?
A. Exploration to the North Pole.
B. Arctic ice cap shrinking.
C. Arctic ice survey announced.
D. Ground-based measurements of ice.
2.What is special about the exploration?
A. It will be broadcast live on the Internet.
B. Explorers will use a sled-fixed radar device.
C. Explorers will travel in extremely cold conditions.
D. Ground-based measurements are more accurate.
3.What is the purpose of the exploration?
A. To measure the ice cap’s thickness.
B. To study whether ice will disappear in the Arctic.
C. To make a film about the Arctic exploration.
D. To make people interested in what they are doing.
4.It can be inferred from the passage that ________.
A. ice in the Arctic will disappear in ten years
B. the exploration will last for half a year
C. Hadow spent two years developing a kind of radar, which is about 100 kilograms
D. if there is snow on ice, satellites can’t measure the ice thickness accurately enough
5.From the passage, we learn that ________.
A. the explorers will measure ice density every other centimeter
B. people will be able to follow the explorers and see what they are doing
C. people could go through the Northwest Passage in the 2007 Arctic summer
D. the equipment that Hadow’s team use will be tested in the United States
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
31st October —— A team of British explorers has announced they are going to the North Pole to measure the ice cap’s thickness. The exploration will take ground-based readings (仪表的读数) of an ice formation which most scientists agree is shrinking at an alarming rate.
Explorer Pen Hadow’s three-member team will pull a sled-fixed radar device, which measures ice density every eight centimeters, 2,000 kilometers across the Arctic and will produce millions of readings.
They will leave in February, 2008 and will face temperatures of -50℃ on a journey that will take up to 120 days. They have been testing their equipment in Britain and Canada.
Hadow is excited about the prospects (前景), “For the first time we will be able to transmit video images — webcam film of the expedition — as it unfolds so people can track us, and the whole idea is to engage as many people as we can in what we’re doing.”
New fallen snow on top of the ice makes ground-based measurements more accurate than satellite data.
“It has been in the planning stage for a while,” said Hadow. “We spent the last two years developing impulse radar (冲击雷达), which normally is about 100 kilograms and hangs under an aircraft and so on. We’ve managed to get it down to about 4 kilograms. It’s the size of a briefcase and we are dragging it behind the sled as we go.”
The ice cap shrank enough in 2007 so that a pathway through the cap known as the Northwest Passage opened up during the melting of the Arctic summer.
Cambridge University’s Joao Rodrigues explains, “Thickness of the ice cap will determine how much solar radiation will be reflected and the heat exchange between the ocean and the atmosphere and it is thus a vital component (成分) of climate models.”
If warming trends continue, some experts predict that the Arctic Ocean could be ice-free during the summer within a few decades.
１ What would be the best title for the text?
A. Exploration to the North Pole.
B. Arctic ice cap shrinking.
C. Arctic ice survey announced.
D. Ground-based measurements of ice.
２. What is special about the exploration?
A. It will be broadcast live on the Internet.
B. Explorers will use a sled-fixed radar device.
C. Explorers will travel in extremely cold conditions.
D. Ground-based measurements are more accurate.
３. What is the purpose of the exploration?
A. To measure the ice cap’s thickness.
B. To study whether ice will disappear in the Arctic.
C. To make a film about the Arctic exploration.
D. To make people interested in what they are doing.
４. It can be inferred from the passage that ________.
A. ice in the Arctic will disappear in ten years
B. the exploration will last for half a year
C. Hadow spent two years developing a kind of radar, which is about 100 kilograms
D. if there is snow on ice, satellites can’t measure the ice thickness accurately enough
５. From the passage, we learn that ________.
A. the explorers will measure ice density every other centimeter
B. people will be able to follow the explorers and see what they are doing
C. people could go through the Northwest Passage in the 2007 Arctic summer
D. the equipment that Hadow’s team use will be tested in the United States
高二英语阅读理解简单题查看答案及解析
My father left me with the feeling that I had to live for two people, and that if I did it well enough, I could make up for the life he should have had.
A. besides B. therefore
C. somehow D. otherwise
高二英语单项填空简单题查看答案及解析