California has been facing a drought(干旱) for ...

California has been facing a drought(干旱) for many years now, with certain areas even having to pump freshwater hundreds of miles to their distribution system. Luckily, new research has found deep water reserves under the state which could help solve their drought crisis. Previous drilling of wells could only reach depths of 1,000 feet, but due to new pumping practices, water deeper than this can now be extracted(抽 取). The team at Stanford investigated the aquifers(地下蓄水层) below this depth and found that reserves may be three times what was previously thought.

The aquifers range from 1,000 to 3,000 feet below the ground, which means that pumping will be expensive and there are other concerns. The biggest concern of pumping out water from this deep is the gradual settling down of the land surface. As the water is pumped out, the vacant space left is compacted(压实) by the weight of the earth above.

Even though pumping from these depths is expensive, it is still cheaper than desalinating (脱盐) the ocean water in this coastal state. Some desalination factories exist where possible, but they are costly to run and can need constant repairs. Wells are much more reliable sources of freshwater, and California is hoping that these deep wells may be the answer to their severe water shortage.

One problem with these sources is that the deep water also has a higher level of salt than shallower aquifers. This means that some wells may even need to undergo desalination after extraction, thus increasing the cost. The result of a thorough study of groundwater from over 950 drilling logs has just been published. New estimates of the water reserves in the state now go up to 2,700 billion cubic meters of freshwater.

1.How could California’s drought problem be solved according to some researchers?

A.By building more reserves of groundwater.

B.By drawing water from the depths of the earth.

C.By developing more advanced drilling machines.

D.By improving its water distribution system.

2.What is mentioned as a consequence of pumping water from deep underground?

A.The sinking of land surface. B.The harm to the ecosystem.

C.The damage to aquifers. D.The change of the climate.

3.What does the author say about deep wells?

A.They run without any need for repairs. B.They are the final solution to droughts.

C.They are entirely free from pollution. D.They provide a steady supply of freshwater.

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

California has been facing droughts for many years, with certain areas even having to pump freshwater hundreds of miles to their distribution system. The problem is growing as the population of the state continues to expand. New research has found deep water reserves under the state which could help solve their drought crisis. Previous drilling of wells could only reach depths of 1,000 feet, but due to new pumping practices, water deeper than this can now be extracted (抽取). The team at Stanford investigated the aquifers (地下蓄水层) below this depth and found that reserves may be three times what was previously thought.

It is profitable to drill to depths more than 1,000 feet for oil and gas, but only recently in California has it become profitable to pump water from this depth. The aquifers range from 1,000 to 3,000 feet below the ground, which means that pumping will be expensive and there are other concerns. The biggest concern is the gradual setting down of the land surface. As the water is pumped out, the vacant space left is pressed by the weight of the earth above.

Even though pumping from these depths is expensive, it is still cheaper than desalinating (脱盐) the ocean water in the largely coastal state. Some desalination plants exist where possible, but they are costly to run and can need constant repairs. Wells are much more reliable sources of freshwater, and California is hoping that these deep wells may be the answer to their severe water shortage.

One problem with these sources is that the deep water also has a higher level of salt than shallower aquifers. This means that some water may even need to be desalinated after extraction, thus increasing the cost. Research from the study of groundwater has just been published. New estimates of the water reserves now go up to 2,700 billion cubic meters of freshwater.

1.According to the text, what causes the water crisis in California?

A.Previous drilling of wells. B.The messy distribution system.

C.Constant droughts in the area. D.The adoption of new pumping practices.

2.The research teams think it ________ to extract water from deeper aquifers.

A.expensive but practical B.reliable and profitable

C.cost-free but demanding D.cheap and environment-friendly

3.What is mentioned as a consequence of extracting water from deep underground?

A.The damage to aquifers. B.The sinking of land surface.

C.The decrease in operation costs. D.The negative effects on the climate.

4.What is the author’s purpose in writing the text?

A.To encourage people to save water.

B.To promote the seawater desalination.

C.To introduce a new way of extracting freshwater.

D.To draw people’s attention to the droughts in California.

高三英语阅读理解困难题查看答案及解析

Your Car Is Ready for Take-off

The flying car has been talked about for many years，but now it appears that the idea is about to become a reality.

An international company has built a two-seater plane that, at the touch of a button ，transforms into a car perfectly suitable for driving on public roads. It has been designed so that the wings fold up automatically； and it takes just 15 seconds to switch between flying and driving. With its wings fully open and the propeller(螺旋桨）spinning, it can take off from any airfield.

Flying cars are quicker than traditional ones for travelling from city to city，and they can run on ordinary fuel. Another big advantage is that they are cool ，like something you would see in an action film. At the moment ₉ however, the flying car’s wheels are illegal to leave the ground. That is not because of technical reasons or problems with the design. It is because the various road and aircraft authorities simply cannot agree on whether it is a car or a plane.

“The government and the authorities have never thought seriously about a flying car, says Alan Price ，the president of the company that has developed it. “I wanted a car that could fly and drive ，but it is difficult to find an organization prepared to insure the vehicle against accidents.

Nevertheless _? the company hopes to produce and deliver its first flying car soon. The company already has orders for 40 of them. The majority the potential customers are older and some are retired。There have even been orders from some people who have no pilot's license.

The flying car will cost around $ 200_.000. “For an airplane _， that^’s a very reasonable price， but for a car, It's quite expensive，” explains Alan. “But it just is not possible to make a $ 10，000 flying car yet. ”

This latest means of transport will not become a mass-market item in the near future，but in the long term it has the potential to change the way you travel. It will become no more expensive than driving your car on the motorway. Travel time could be reduced by more than half.

So the next time you are told to fasten your seat belt, it may be to prepare for take-off.

1.We know from the passage that the flying car______

A．has to run on special fuel                 B．will replace traditional planes

C．is popular with the rich                   D．can shift between two forms

2.The flying car is presently forbidden to take off because______.

A．many people think driving it not very safe

B．it’s hard to decide whether it's a car or a plane

C．the government and the authorities don’t accept it

D．there are still some technical problems to be solved

3.We can learn from the passage that______.

A．few people will be able to afford a flying car

B．flying cars may share the market in the future

C．traffic jams will disappear because of flying cars

D．driving a flying car doesn’t require a pilot’s license

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

The flying car has been talked about for many years, but now it appears to become a reality.

An international company has built a two-seater plane that, at the touch of a button, transforms into a car perfectly suitable for driving on public roads. It takes 15 seconds to switch between flying and driving. With its wings fully open and the propeller(螺旋桨) spinning, it can take off from any airfield.

Flying cars are quicker than traditional ones, and they can run on ordinary fuel. Another big advantage is that they are cool, like something you would see in an action film. At the moment, however, the flying car’s wheels are illegal to leave the ground. That is not because of technical reasons or problems with the design. It is because the various road and aircraft authorities simply cannot agree on whether it is a car or a plane.

Nevertheless the company hopes to produce and deliver its first flying car soon. The company already has orders for 40 of them. The majority potential customers are older and some are retired. There have even been orders from some people who have no pilot’s license.

The flying car will cost around $ 200,000. “For an airplane, that’s a very reasonable price, but for a car, it’s quite expensive,” explains Alan. “But it just is not possible to make a $ 10,000 flying car yet.”

This latest means of transport will not become a mass-market item in the near future, but in the long term it has the potential to change the way you travel. It will become no more expensive than driving your car on the motorway. Travel time could be reduced by more than half.

So the next time you are told to fasten your seat belt, it may be to prepare for take-off.

1.We know from the passage that the flying car 　　　　 .

A. has to run on special fuel

B. will replace traditional planes

C. is popular with the rich

D. can shift between two forms

2.The flying car is presently forbidden to take off because 　　　　 .

A. many people think driving is not very safe

B. it’s hard to decide whether it’s a car or a plane

C. the government and the authorities accept it

D. there are still some technical problems to be solved

3.According to the passage, we can learn 　　　　 .

A. in the future few people will be able to afford a flying ear

B. owning two kinds of driving licenses is of great importance

C. because of the appearance of the flying car, traffic jams will disappear

D. flying cars may share the market in the future

4.What’s the best title of the passage?

A. Your Car Is Ready for Take-off

B. Flying Car Will Be the Leading Means of Transportation

C. Affording a Flying Car Is a Necessity

D. The Advantages of Flying Cars

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

For many businessmen online education has been a dream. Now it has come true. The investment (投资) in higher education, whether financial or in terms of time, has long been impossible for many of them. But well-known educational institutions have chosen to deliver an internet-based program, and these barriers have been lifted.

That is good news for people eager to improve themselves and is more attractive to employers. It is also a benefit to industry with better qualified candidates applying for jobs at every level.

Having the benefits of a higher qualification without going to the university campus is attractive to many students. Campus study means greater cost, while online programs are flexible and save time, whether at home or at work. Students can achieve their degrees without causing too much disruption to their career or home life.

In addition to affordable, flexible classes and greater convenience, students also have access to the online learning resources of many of the world’s top educational institutions. They can also communicate with their tutors no matter what time it is or whether either party is away for any reason.

This has opened up the possibility of getting a qualification from a university or college that many students could only have dreamed of in the past. It also allows specialists to get the precise qualifications and focus on their studies. As well as seeing the increase of applicants from lower-incomes and housewives, studying online in the US is even becoming popular with younger people of college age.

Employers have become increasingly welcome and positive to online qualifications as more candidates earn them, especially if they’re properly approved by the US Department of Education.

US institutions have led the way in online education provision. Many top US colleges and universities offer a range of online programs that are highly respected and in every way perfectly fit for adults who need to combine their studies with a working life.

1.According to Paragraph 1, many US colleges and universities________.

A．have begun to lift the barriers to financial investment

B．have had a dream of offering online education

C．have begun to run an internet-based program

D．have gained financial investment

2.Why do people choose online education?

A．They can find jobs more easily than on-campus graduates.

B．They can get qualifications from US Department of Education.

C．They can invest money in different courses provided online.

D．They can save money and arrange their time and courses freely.

3.The underlined word “disruption’’ in the third paragraph probably mean________.

A．interruption       B．attention          C．attraction         D．dissatisfaction

4.Which would be a good title for the passage?

A．Adult Education Online

B．Top US Universities Offering Online Education

C．The Best of USA’s Online Education

D．Online Education Taking the Place of Campus Education

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

For many businessmen online education has been a dream. Now it has come true. The investment (投资) in higher education, whether financial or in terms of time, has long been impossible for many of them. But well-known educational institutions have chosen to deliver an internet-based program, and these barriers have been lifted.

That is good news for people eager to improve themselves and is more attractive to employers. It is also a benefit to industry with better qualified candidates applying for jobs at every level.

Having the benefits of a higher qualification without going to the university campus is attractive to many students. Campus study means greater cost, while online programs are flexible and save time, whether at home or at work. Students can achieve their degrees without causing too much disruption to their career or home life.

In addition to affordable, flexible classes and greater convenience, students also have access to the online learning resources of many of the world’s top educational institutions. They can also communicate with their tutors no matter what time it is or whether either party is away for any reason.

This has opened up the possibility of getting a qualification from a university or college that many students could only have dreamed of in the past. It also allows specialists to get the precise qualifications and focus on their studies. As well as seeing the increase of applicants from lower-incomes and housewives, studying online in the US is even becoming popular with younger people of college age.

Employers have become increasingly welcome and positive to online qualifications as more candidates earn them, especially if they’re properly approved by the US Department of Education.

US institutions have led the way in online education provision. Many top US colleges and universities offer a range of online programs that are highly respected and in every way perfectly fit for adults who need to combine their studies with a working life.

1.According to Paragraph 1, many US colleges and universities________.

A．have begun to lift the barriers to financial investment

B．have begun to run an internet-based program

C．have had a dream of offering online education

D．have gained financial investment

2.Why do people choose online education?

A．They can find jobs more easily than on-campus graduates.

B．They can get qualifications from US Department of Education.

C．They can save money and arrange their time and courses freely.

D．They can invest money in different courses provided online.

3.The underlined word “disruption’’ in the third paragraph probably mean________.

A．dissatisfaction      B．attention          C．attraction         D．interruption

4.Which would be a good title for the passage?

A．Adult Education Online

B．The Best of USA’s Online Education

C．Top US Universities Offering Online Education

D．Online Education Taking the Place of Campus Education

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

The slogan “a dog is for life, not just for Christmas” has been going strong for 27 years now. Dogs and cats have been popular Christmas gifts in the gifts in the UK and Europe for many years. But some people still haven’t quite got the message.

The slogan still holds good. Some 105,000 dogs were rounded up by local government last year because they had been abandoned, many of them shortly after the festival season.

The main reason given by owners for handing their dogs over to the Dogs Trust is that the dogs need more attention than they can give; behavioral problems and moving home are also reasons given.

But Eleanor Silk, the Trust’s communications director, says, “It’s often four or five months after Christmas, in early summer, when owners find that the dog has got too big and too active, or it hasn’t been trained properly and has caused damage around the home.”

In any case, some organizations that help pets are quick to point out that if you are serious about getting a puppy(小狗) as a pet, Christmas is not the time to do it. Puppies need to get used to their new surroundings, to be introduced to a routine, and to be looked after like small children. It’s hard to meet any of these needs at Christmas. What’s more, pulling a puppy out of a Christmas stocking in itself sends the wrong message to children. It encourages children to think of the puppy as a toy, rather than a responsibility.

Appreciating what you’re taking on with a dog can be a sobering (清醒的) realization. “For life” means thinking about the effect they’ll have on your life. It also infers you will need to care for the dog for its whole life.

1.What would be the best title for the passage?

A．Dogs and Cats—the Most Popular Christmas Gifts.

B．A pet is for Life, Not just for Christmas.

C．How to Take Care of Your Pets over Christmas.

D．Let’s Help Those Abandoned Pets

2.According to the passage, which of the following is NOT a reason for pets to be abandoned?

A．Pets spread some diseases.

B．Pets damage some things in the house.

C．The owners can’t take good care of the pets.

D．The owners have to move to other places.

3.The underlined words “rounded up” in Paragraph 2 mean “________”.

A．given out as gifts

B．thrown away

C．gathered into one place

D．raised to make money

4.The fifth paragraph mainly tells us________.

A．how to take best care of Christmas pets

B．the right time to have a puppy as a pet

C．the reasons why Christmas is not the time to get a pet

D．the worries about Christmas pets from organizations that help pets

5.Why is the author against the idea of putting a dog in the Christmas stocking as a Christmas gift?

A．Because these dogs can still cause damage.

B．Because children will not take dogs seriously.

C．Because children don’t like to have dogs as Christmas gifts.

D．Because a Christmas stocking is not big enough to put a dog in.

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

For years, the automobile industry has been testing vehicles that use hydrogen as fuel. Now, people across the United States have had a chance to see and even drive cars that get power from hydrogen fuel cells (燃料电池).

But the hydrogen fuel cell is not a new idea. The fuel cell was first invented by Sir William Grove of Britain in 1839. Since then, many different designs, have been invented. There is one place where fuel cells are a proven technology: in space. The American space agency used fuel cells in its Apollo spaceships in the twentieth century.

The most useful fuel cell for transportation purposes is the Polymer Electrolyte Membrane, or P.E.M. fuel cell. It is simple and can operate at temperatures of sixty to eighty degrees Celsius. That is much lower than other fuel cell designs. A P.E.M. fuel cell has two sides divided by a thin membrane (膜). Hydrogen gas is forced through one side where it comes in contact with a reactive material containing the metal platinum(铂). The membrane separates the electrons(电子) from the protons(质子) in the hydrogen atoms. The protons pass through it to the other side of the fuel cell. But the electrons are captured to do work; like powering a motor. Oxygen from the air is forced into the other side of the fuel cell. There, the gas meets the protons that have passed through the membrane. They combine to form water and heat. A single fuel cell does not produce a lot of electricity. But when many fuel cells are combined, they can produce enough electricity to power a vehicle. The product of the chemical reaction that powers fuel cells is water. This makes fuel cells a very clean technology.

Hydrogen fuel cell cars have been slow to develop because of many technical problems that have to be solved. For example, it is unclear how long the membranes in P.E.M. fuel cells will last. Also, fuel cells need water for their chemical reactions. They must be designed to start easily at low temperatures and in dry climates. And smaller, less costly fuel cells must be designed before they can truly take the place of gasoline engines. Now more models of fuel cell vehicles are being tested than ever before. The threat of climate change and the high cost of oil have increased interest in these vehicles that do not cause pollution.

高三英语填空题中等难度题查看答案及解析

Has been a dream for 30 years but now the world’s first flying car is set to hit the roads this year.

Ever since the “Back to the Future” movies lit up our screens in the 1980s, designers have dreamt of cars that could take to the sky at the push of a button(按钮). And now pilots can order their own “roadable” plane for just￡127, 000.

The plane, which has fold-out wings that span 17. 5 feet, can be up to 115 mph. Back on the land, it can also travel at “highway speeds” in car mode(模式).

Fuelling(加燃料)the 19 feet long plane couldn’t be simpler—you just drive it into a petrol station and fill it up.

A spokeswoman said, “You can keep your ‘light-sport airplane’ in your garage. But because it needs a short runway to take to the air, you will have to drive to your local airport, fly up to 460 miles, land and drive directly to your destination(目的地). You will always be ready to drive or fly. ”

The spokeswoman added, “Never let bad weather change your trip. You can simply divert(使转向)and continue on the ground until the weather clears. ”

There’s no risk to you—this is only the chance for you to be the first at your home field to unfold(展开)your wings and fly into the future.

1.According to the text, the “roadable” plane　　.

A. can fly in the sky at “highway speeds” in car mode

B. is a kind of car with fold-out wings

C. is a little difficult to fuel　

D. can only travel on the highway

2.We can infer that in the “Back to the Future” movies　　.

A. there are some skillful pilots

B. pilots have no cars to drive

C. pilots can’t afford a “roadable” plane

D. cars can fly in the sky

3.What does the underlined word “it” in the 5th paragraph refer to?

A. Light-sport airplane.

B. Your garage.

C. The local airport.

D. A petrol station.

4.The last sentence of the text aims to　　.

A. call for people to buy the “roadable” plane

B. show people the use of the “roadable” plane

C. tell people only the “roadable” plane can fly in the future

D. ask people to unfold their wings and fly into the future

5.If you meet with a thunderstorm in your “roadable” plane in the skies, you can　　.

A. land in a nearby airport until it clears

B. turn back home until it clears

C. land and drive on the ground

D. fly high up to 460 miles

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

He is the man who for many people has been a role model. Now your biggest hero deserves a special day when you can express your thanks and let him know 1.__________ important he is to you.

The third Sunday of June – which 2.__________(fall) on June 19 this year – is Father’s Day.

The idea of Father’s Day came from【小题3__________ American woman called Sonora Smart Dodd in 1909. Dodd wanted a special day 3.__________(honor) her father. He raised six children by 4.__________ after his wife died. Dodd thought there needed to be a day to honor loving dads.

The first Father’s Day 5.__________(celebrate) on June 19, 1910. In 1924, US President Calvin Coolidge supported the idea of a 6.__________(nation) Father’s Day. Finally, in 1966, President Lyndon Johnson declared the third Sunday of June 7.__________ Father’s Day.

Here are some ways to show your love and respect:

* Send him a greeting card. Fathers prefer cards 8.__________ are not too emotional. So choose one that will make him laugh.

* If he has a computer, cover his desktop 9.__________ words like “I love you Dad”.

* A small present, such as a framed photo of your family, can make him feel like a king.

高三英语其他题中等难度题查看答案及解析