How cool can libraries be in an era(时代) of iPods and Kindles? More than you think. Only if you now where to go.
Central Library: Seattle, Washington, United States
The Central Library in Seattle is modern and fashionable and has tourists from around the world paying visits and taking tours. It was designed by Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas and American designer Joshua Ramus. Tours began in 2006, two years after its opening.The library holds various art exhibitions, book signings and other events, while visitors can stop by the chocolate cart for a coffee and scan through the gift shop anytime.
Trinity College Library: D.ublin, Ireland
The Trinity College Library in Dublin is the oldest library in Ireland, founded in 1592 by Queen Elizabeth I. It is the largest single library in the world, also known as the Long Room, which contains more than 200,000 of the library’s oldest books. The Long room houses one of the oldest harps (竖琴) in Ireland. Dating to the 15th century, the old harp is the model for the symbol foreland.
Geisel Library: University of California, San Diego, United States
At first glance, it looks like a spaceship. Architect William Pereira, who helped design actual space launch facilities at Cape Canaveral in Houston, Texas, designed the library in 1970. It has been featured in sci-fi films, short stories and novels. The library hosts “Dinner in the Library,” which invites readers for cocktails, and also a special speech from well-known authors.
Bishan Public Library: Singapore
Located in the heart of Bishan, the award-winning Bishan Community Library spans 4,000 square meters. It was designed to look like a tree house. The colorful pods (吊舱) that stick out of one side of the building represent books sticking from a bookshelf. Inside the library, these pods offer private spaces for reading. Its ceiling-high glass windows also make it fun to watch people walking and reading from inside the building.
1.If you want to enjoy a movie, you can go to ________.
A.Central Library B.Geisel Library
C.Bishan Public Library D.Trinity College Library
2.What makes Bishan Public Library different from the others?
A.It has very large glass windows. B.It has ever won a prize for its size.
C.Queen Elizabeth I founded the library. D.It is the largest single library in the world.
3.What is the author’s purpose in writing this passage?
A.To encourage readers to visit these libraries.
B.To make an advertisement about these libraries.
C.To offer some information about these libraries.
D.To tell readers the importance of visiting libraries.
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题
How cool can libraries be in an era(时代) of iPods and Kindles? More than you think. Only if you now where to go.
Central Library: Seattle, Washington, United States
The Central Library in Seattle is modern and fashionable and has tourists from around the world paying visits and taking tours. It was designed by Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas and American designer Joshua Ramus. Tours began in 2006, two years after its opening.The library holds various art exhibitions, book signings and other events, while visitors can stop by the chocolate cart for a coffee and scan through the gift shop anytime.
Trinity College Library: D.ublin, Ireland
The Trinity College Library in Dublin is the oldest library in Ireland, founded in 1592 by Queen Elizabeth I. It is the largest single library in the world, also known as the Long Room, which contains more than 200,000 of the library’s oldest books. The Long room houses one of the oldest harps (竖琴) in Ireland. Dating to the 15th century, the old harp is the model for the symbol foreland.
Geisel Library: University of California, San Diego, United States
At first glance, it looks like a spaceship. Architect William Pereira, who helped design actual space launch facilities at Cape Canaveral in Houston, Texas, designed the library in 1970. It has been featured in sci-fi films, short stories and novels. The library hosts “Dinner in the Library,” which invites readers for cocktails, and also a special speech from well-known authors.
Bishan Public Library: Singapore
Located in the heart of Bishan, the award-winning Bishan Community Library spans 4,000 square meters. It was designed to look like a tree house. The colorful pods (吊舱) that stick out of one side of the building represent books sticking from a bookshelf. Inside the library, these pods offer private spaces for reading. Its ceiling-high glass windows also make it fun to watch people walking and reading from inside the building.
1.If you want to enjoy a movie, you can go to ________.
A.Central Library B.Geisel Library
C.Bishan Public Library D.Trinity College Library
2.What makes Bishan Public Library different from the others?
A.It has very large glass windows. B.It has ever won a prize for its size.
C.Queen Elizabeth I founded the library. D.It is the largest single library in the world.
3.What is the author’s purpose in writing this passage?
A.To encourage readers to visit these libraries.
B.To make an advertisement about these libraries.
C.To offer some information about these libraries.
D.To tell readers the importance of visiting libraries.
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
The iPhone, the iPad, the iPod : each of Apple’s products sounds cool and has become a fad (时尚). Apple has cleverly taken advantage of the power of the letter “i” — and many other brands are following suit. The BBC’s iPlayer — which allows Web users to watch TV programs on the Internet — adopted the title in 2008. A lovely bear — popular in the US and UK — that plays music and video is called “iTeddy”. A slimmed-down version of London’s Independent newspaper came out last week under the name “i”.
In general, single-letter prefixes have been popular since the 1990s, when terms such as e-mail and e-commerce first came into use.
Most “i” products are aimed at young people and considering the major readers of Independent’s “i”, it is no surprise that they’ve selected this fashionable name.
But it’s hard to see what’s so special about the letter “i” . Why not use “a”, “b” or “c” instead? According to Tony Thorne, head of the Language Center at King’s College, London, “i” works because its meaning has become ambiguous. When Apple uses “i”, no one knows whether it means Internet, information, individual or interactive, Thorne told BBC Magazines. “Even when Apple created the iPad, it seems it didn’t have one clear definition ,” he says.
“However, thanks to Apple, the term is now associated with portability (轻便).” adds Thorne.
Clearly the letter “i” also agrees with the idea that the Western World is centered on the individual. Each person believes they have their own needs, and we love personalized products for this reason.
Along with “Google” and “Twitter”, readers of BBC Magazines voted “i” as one of the top 20 words that have come to define the last decade.
But as history shows, fads come and go. From the 1900s to 1990s, products with “2000” in their names became fashionable as the year was associated with all things advanced and modern. However, as we entered the new century, the trend inevitably（不可避免地）disappeared.
1.People use iPlayer to ____________.
A. listen to music B. make a call C. watch TV programs online D. read newspapers
2.We can infer that the Independent’s “ i ” is aimed at _____________.
A. young readers B. old readers C. fashionable women D. engineers
3. Nowadays, the “i” term often reminds people of the products that are ______________.
A. advanced B. portable C. recyclable D. environmentally friendly
4.The author of the passage would probably agree that _______________.
A. “i” products are often of high quality B. all “i” products have something to do with Internet
C. the popularity of “i” products may not last long D. iTeddy is a live bear
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
Each one of us is a wonderful being. Encouragement can the hidden ability and wonder in an individual. Telling others constantly that they are the useless, stupid, and uncreative only the possibility of their improvement. But if we were to the encouragement technique in our praises, chances are that we would make others realize their .
An old man was picking fish from the shore and throwing them back into the sea. A young man this and said, “For the past two hours you are throwing fishes into the sea. But there are so many fishes around. Can you make a difference to all of them?” The old man smiled, yet another fish, threw it into the sea and said, “I have made difference to this fish.”
Constantly encourage yourself and encourage others. Let this be your and duty. Believe in them, and life will have meaningful . With such a purpose you will have no time to be depressed. The act of yourself and others will be a source of joy.
“But I am so . Can I make a difference to the world?” asked the man. It is said, “What a little lamp can do, the great Sun cannot; it can shine in the .”
A pilot while flying realized that he direction. It was dark and difficult for him to land. The was running out. There was a great . Suddenly he saw a heavy truck on the expressway; its headlight beam him to make out the path. Using expressway as runway, he . He said to himself, “I am sure the truck driver would not have realized that the truck’s headlights many lives”.
In the same way, we may not know how we can to others. What is important is our intention to contribute.
1.A. lose B. lack C. inspire D. appreciate
2.A. destroys B. adds C. creates D. gains
3.A. discover B. study C. employ D. improve
4.A. goal B. dream C. fault D. potential
5.A. sure B. busy C. worth D. foolish
6.A. observed B. praised C. opposed D. heard
7.A. really B. specially C. quickly D. frequently
8.A. set up B. ran up C. picked up D. went up
9.A. progress B. habit C. result D. benefit
10.A. stories B. tasks C. friends D. purposes
11.A. encouraging B. trusting C. enjoying D. appreciating
12.A. helpful B. meaningful C. unimportant D. unlucky
13.A. morning B. night C. sky D. hole
14.A. missed B. found C. mistook D. lost
15.A. fuel B. money C. strength D. patience
16.A. comfort B. surprise C. pleasure D. danger
17.A. advised B. helped C. taught D. requested
18.A. escaped B. failed C. landed D. appeared
19.A. killed B. saved C. risked D. cost
20.A. turn B. contribute C. point D. prefer
高二英语完形填空中等难度题查看答案及解析
This kind of stone _____ cool in summer and warm in winter.
A. is being felt B. is felt C. feels D has been felt
高二英语单项填空简单题查看答案及解析
She was born to wealth and power in an era when money and politics were left to the men. Later, as The Washington Post’s publisher, Katharine Graham became one of America’s most powerful women.
Despite a privileged background, Katharine had to deal, while growing up, with the high demands her mother placed on her children. Katharine’s love of journalism, which she shared with her father, led to her career after college at The Washington Post, the newspaper her father bought in 1933. At the Post, Katharine met Phil Graham, a young, charming lawyer who became her husband. When, in 1945, Katharine’s father chose Phil over her to take over his struggling paper, Katharine didn’t object and stayed at home as a wife and mother of four.
While Phil’s successful efforts to restore the Post to prominence (显著) made the Grahams popular members of the Washington social scene, Katharine privately suffered tremendous pain from her husband’s increasingly abusive behavior and wild mood swings caused by severe depression. When Phil committed suicide (自杀), the 46-year-old Katharine found herself thrown into a new job, that of newspaper publisher. But determined to save the family paper for her children, Katharine rose to the challenge of running the Post, attending meetings in every department, working endlessly to prove herself to her critics, and becoming the toast of Washington.
In 1971, Katharine ordered the Post to print a copy of the Pentagon Papers, the top-secret documents disclosing the truth about the United States’ involvement in the Vietnam War. What’s more, her courageous decision and support for her journalists prepared the Post to break the most important political story in modern history: Watergate, one of the greatest scandals (丑闻) in American political history. Katharine managed to keep control over the most chaotic (disorder) of situations when it was reported, all the time insisting the news stories be accurate and fair. Watergate made the Washington Post an internationally known Paper and Katharine was considered as the most powerful woman in America.
1.
Katharine Graham was born in a time when women were not ________.
A. given the chance to receive education B. considered as intelligent as men
C. permitted to achieve their goals D. allowed to enter every field
2.
When her husband was chosen to take charge of the newspaper, Katharine Graham ________.
A. was strongly against the idea
B. was not happy to be rejected
C. was willing to take her share of responsibility
D. didn’t believe her husband would do a good job
3.
Which of the following statements is true?
A. It was Katharine Graham’s husband who made the greatest contributions to the Post.
B. When Katharine Graham first took over the Post, her critics doubted her ability.
C. Katharine Graham was successful in her career but suffered severe depression.
D. Katharine Graham was free to do whatever she liked in her early life.
4.
Which of the following would be the best title for the passage?
A. Ups and downs of The Washington Post.
B. Katharine Graham’s family life and career.
C. Katharine Graham: from housewife to successful publisher.
D. Katharine Graham: a woman who shaped American journalism.
高二英语阅读理解简单题查看答案及解析
Your schooldays should be some of the best and happiest days of your life. How can you gain the most from them, and ensure you do not waste this wonderful opportunity to learn?
Be positive about school. Don’t say things are difficult or boring. Be interested in school-life and your school subjects. Join lots of activities. Be quick to put your hand up. Go round the school with a big smile.
Expect to work. School is not a holiday camp. If you are not working, you are not learning, and you are wasting your time at school. Teachers cannot make everything enjoyable.
Keep fit. If you do not eat a good breakfast, you will be thinking about food in class. If you go to bed late and do not have enough sleep, you will be sleepy in class. Play some sports to keep your body strong.
Do today’s work today. Do not say you will do things tomorrow. If you get behind the class, it is very difficult to get back in front. You cannot finish a race if you rest all the time.
Don’t be too disappointed if things sometimes go badly. Everyone fails some tests, loses some matches and has bad days. Friends are not always perfect, and they sometimes say and do unpleasant things. Don’t let small problems seem very big and important.
Talk about problems. Sometimes they are only the result of misunderstanding. Don’t be too embarrasssed to ask for help. You are young. No one thinks you can do everything.
Plan your time. Don’t waste life lying in bed on Saturday morning. Go and play a sport, learn the piano, work on a project, read a book, practise English, or help someone with problems. There are always a lot of things to do.
Set targets. If your last grade was a D, work for a C. try to make progress bit by bit. Think of small targets: “I will speak in class four times this week”, “I will finish my project on Wednesday” or “I will get two more marks this week”.
Follow our advice, and have a happy school-life!
1.If Johnny wants to read comic(漫画) books, not textbooks, he needs to read ________.
A. Expect to work.
B. Do today’s work today.
C. Plan your time.
D. Don’t be too disappointed if things sometimes go badly.
2.According to the passage, which of the following statements is Not true?
A. If you are not interested in things at school, you are likely to feel bored.
B. It’s not a shame to have problems and need help sometimes.
C. You won’t make good progress unless you set big targets
D. Having enough food and sleep will help us study better.
3. Why do you think the writer thinks it is good to put up your hand in class?
A. Because you will impress your teacher most this way.
B. Because other students will admire you.
C. Because it means that you will enjoy school and learn more.
D. Because your parents will feel happy if you do so.
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
A hobby is an inverstment of time. It also can be an investment of money and commitment. Many people choose to developing more than one type of hobby. 1.When it comes to choosing the hobby, consider the following factors.
Hobbies are usually an activity of some sort that brings out a certain skill that you have. When you have a talent like painting or woodworking, it can be easy to determine which hobby suits your skill. 2. Skill can be developed and challenged as you go along. It is not a necessary requirement. A hobby is fitting because you love it, not because you’re a professional at it.
Some people particularly enjoy taking part in hobbies that they can do in a group with others. It can be a lot more fun to become a member of a hobby group than to sit alone in your basement. 3.It’s important to share interests and network with other hobby enthusiasts that do what you do.
Hobbies are generally an activity that you undertake because of the joy it brings you. Of course many people have discovered the joy that also comes with a hobby that earns you a living. 4.Just make sure you make the choice that fits your lifestyle and personal preference.
5. But most of the skilled hobbies like art, building or writing have a series of lessons or tutorials that you can take to further your skills. In some cases it’s a really good idea to take lessons, especially if you are clueless as to where or how to begin. Step by step books for most hobbies can often be found in bookstores as well.
A. However, hobbies don’t have to be skill related.
B. Most hobbies can easily be done within your own home, at your leisure.
C. Look one up or start your own.
D. Read hobby books to learn more about your chosen hobby!
E. Make a list of things that you enjoy or don’t know about.
F. It can be a necessary part of selecting the hobby that is right for you.
G. Whether it’s full time, part time or not at all, you must decide whether your hobby applies to you
高二英语七选五中等难度题查看答案及解析
A hobby is an investment of time. It also can be an investment of money and commitment. Many people choose to develop more than one type of hobby. 1. When it comes to choosing the hobby, consider the following factors.
Hobbies are usually an activity of some sort that brings out a certain skill that you have. When you have a talent like painting or woodworking, it can be easy to determine which hobby suits your skill. 2. Skill can be developed and challenged as you go along. It is not a necessary requirement. A hobby is fitting because you love it, not because you’re a professional at it.
Some people particularly enjoy taking part in hobbies that they can do in a group with others. It can be a lot more fun to become a member of a hobby group than to sit alone in your basement. 3. It’s important to share interests and network with other hobby enthusiasts that do what you do.
Hobbies are generally an activity that you undertake because of the joy it brings you. Of course many people have discovered the joy that also comes with a hobby that earns you a living. __4. Just make sure you make the choice that fits your lifestyle and personal preference.
5. But most of the skilled hobbies like art, building or writing have a series of lessons or tutorials that you can take to further your skills. In some cases it’s a really good idea to take lessons, especially if you are clueless as to where or how to begin. Step by step books for most hobbies can often be found in bookstores as well.
A. However, hobbies don’t have to be skill related.
B. Most hobbies can easily be done within your own home, at your leisure.
C. Look one up or start your own.
D. Read hobby books to learn more about your chosen hobby!
E. Make a list of things that you enjoy or don’t know about.
F. It can be a necessary part of selecting the hobby that is right for you.
G. Whether it’s full time, part time or not at all, you must decide whether your hobby applies to you.
高二英语其他题中等难度题查看答案及解析
Lie in bed, by an open window, and listen…
“No air conditioning? How can you sleep?” a friend asks, horrified. I tell her my family has decided to shut the air conditioner off and reduce our electric bill.
On this first night of our cost-cutting adventure, it's only 85 degrees. We're not going to suffer, but the three kids complain anyway.
They've grown up in 72-degree comfort, protected from the world outside.
“How do you open these windows?” my husband asks. Shaking the metal ribs(插销), he finally releases one. Bug bodies decorate the window shelf. As we spring the windows one by one, the night noises howl outside---and in.
“It's too hot to sleep,” my 13-year-old daughter complains. “I’m about to die from this heat,” her brother complains down the hall. “Just try it tonight,” I tell them. In truth I'm too tired to argue for long. My face is sweaty, but I lie quietly listening to the cricket choirs(合唱) outside that remind me of childhood.
The neighbor's dog howls. Probably a passing squirrel. It's been years since I've taken the time to really listen to the night.
I think about Grandma, who lived to 92 and still helped with my Mom's gardening until just a few weeks before she died. And then, I'm back there at her house in the summer heat of my childhood. I move my pillow to the foot of Grandma's bed and angle my face toward the open window. I turn the pillow, hunting for the cooler side.
Grandma sees me turn over and over. “If you'll just watch for the breeze(清风),” she says,“you'll cool off and fall asleep.” She cranks up the Venetian blinds(百叶窗). I stare at the filmy white curtain, willing it to move. Lying still, waiting, I suddenly notice the life outside the window. The bug chorus. Neighbors, porch-sitting late, speak in unclear words that calm me.“Mom, did you hear that?” my seven-year-old son cries. “I think it was an owl family.” “Probably,” I tell him. “Just keep listening…”
Without the working air conditioner, the house is oddly peaceful, and the unfiltered(未过滤的) night noises seem close enough to touch. I hope I'm awake tonight when the first breeze sneaks in.
1.What is the point the writer wants to make in the passage?
A. We should learn to save electricity.
B. A peaceful mind is important in modern life.
C. We should care about the outside world rather than one’s inner world.
D. Modern men live too comfortable a life.
2.The author talks about her grandmother and her childhood to show that _____
A. people used to live a hard life.
B. people at that time were hardworking.
C. she has learned a great deal from her grandma
D. it’s OK for people to live a simple life.
3.In the writer’s eyes, her children are _________________.
A. independent from parents’ protection
B. reliable because of parents’ love
C. lacking in real test of hardships in life
D. full of complaints against life
4.Which of the following title best suits the passage?
A. Waiting for the Breeze
B. An interesting Experience
C. Life at Present and Life in the Past
D. Different Times, Different Children
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
How can the appearance of a product be more important than what it does? The battle between form and function rose again when James Dyson, British inventor of the Dyson vacuum（真空）cleaner that has sold in millions around the world, resigned as chairman of London's Design Museum． It is widely believed that Mr．Dyson felt that the museum put too much stress on style and fashion at the expense of serious industrial design．
Mr．Dyson accused the museum of not keeping true to itself． He may be right, but these days, museums everywhere can no longer afford to be unique centers of scholarship and learning．Among competition for sponsorship, they must use exhibitions of populist culture, nice cafes and shops or, best of all, a new building by Frank Gehry to increase visitor numbers．
On the one hand, some producers can be too old-fashioned and too concerned with the importance of product engineering and the functionality of their goods．On the other hand there are those who believe that how a product looks is more important．Design is indeed a broad term, involving both function and form．Typically, in any given product area, it changes from the former to the latter． Clothing is a good example．But surely you would have to be a very shallow person to think something's appearance was more important than what it did．
Today nearly all goods at any given price-point do much the same job．So almost the only way producers can differentiate their products from those of their competitors is to create some sort of emotional connection with the consumer, which could be through the visual appeal of the product or its packaging; or the imagery（意象）created by advertising. And what of the Dyson vacuum cleaners? Mr. Dyson may believe that people buy these machines because of the graphs showing their superior suction(喝酒), but most vacuum cleaners do a good job; the main reason people pay extra for a Dyson is because it is a vacuum cleaner with a trendy brand. With its inside workings exposed, it is a bit like a Richard Rogers building with all its pipes shown in bright colors on the outside instead of being hidden inside. Functional it may be, but it is a bit of a trick, too．
1.Mr. Dyson left the Design Museum because he thought the museum ．
A. didn't increase the number of visitors
B. couldn't provide scholarships for learners
C. hadn't great appeal for serious industrial designs
D. wasn't loyal to its original purpose of learning
2.Speaking of clothing, the underlined word "latter" refers to ．
A. affording protection
B. indicating one's identity
C. making someone beautiful
D. providing warmth
3.What is the author's opinion in Paragraph 4?
A. A product with convenient packaging sells well．
B. The majority of consumers prefer to buy branded goods．
C. Emotion contributes much to the development of advertising industry．
D. Most similarly priced products are of a comparable standard．
4.The author believes that people buy the Dyson vacuum cleaner because ．
A. it has a fashionable range
B. it has very good suction
C. it sells well around the world
D. it is invented by James Dyson
5.What is the author's attitude towards the form of a product?
A. Optimistic B. Skeptical
C. Objective D. Disapproving
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析