As cultural symbols go, the American car is quite young. The Model T Ford was built at the Piquette Plant in Michigan a century ago, with the first rolling off the assembly line(装配线) on September 27, 1908. Only eleven cars were produced the next month. But eventually Henry Ford would build fifteen million of them.
Modern America was born on the road, behind a wheel. The car shaped some of the most lasting aspects of American culture: the roadside diner, the billboard, the motel, even the hamburger. For most of the last century, the car represented what it meant to be American—going forward at high speed to find new worlds. The road novel, the road movie, these are the most typical American ideas, born of abundant petrol, cheap cars and a never-ending interstate highway system, the largest public works project in history.
In 1928 Herbert Hoover imagined an America with “a chicken in every pot and a car in every garage.” Since then, this society has moved onward, never looking back, as the car transformed America from a farm-based society into an industrial
The cars that drove the American Dream have helped to create a global ecological disaster. In America the demand for oil has grown by 22 percent since 1990.
The problems of excessive(过度的)energy consumption, climate change and population growth have been described in a book by the American writer Thomas L. Friedman. He fears the worst, but hopes for the best.
Friedman points out that the green economy(经济)is a chance to keep American strength. “The ability to design, build and export green technologies for producing clean water, clean air and healthy and abundant food is going to be the currency of power in the new century.”
1.Why is hamburger mentioned in paragraph 2?
A. To explain Americans’ love for travelling by car.
B. To show the influence of cars on American culture.
C. To stress the popularity of fast food with Americans.
D. To praise the effectiveness of America’s road system.
2.What has the use of cars in America led to?
A. Decline of economy. B. Environmental problems.
C. A shortage of oil supply. D. A farm-based society.
3.What is Friedman’s attitude towards America’s future?
A. Ambiguous. B. Doubtful.
C. Hopeful. D. Tolera
高三英语阅读理解困难题
As cultural symbols go, the American car is quite young. The Model T Ford was built at the Piquette Plant in Michigan a century ago, with the first rolling off the assembly line(装配线) on September 27, 1908. Only eleven cars were produced the next month. But eventually Henry Ford would build fifteen million of them.
Modern America was born on the road, behind a wheel. The car shaped some of the most lasting aspects of American culture: the roadside diner, the billboard, the motel, even the hamburger. For most of the last century, the car represented what it meant to be American—going forward at high speed to find new worlds. The road novel, the road movie, these are the most typical American ideas, born of abundant petrol, cheap cars and a never-ending interstate highway system, the largest public works project in history.
In 1928 Herbert Hoover imagined an America with “a chicken in every pot and a car in every garage.” Since then, this society has moved onward, never looking back, as the car transformed America from a farm-based society into an industrial
The cars that drove the American Dream have helped to create a global ecological disaster. In America the demand for oil has grown by 22 percent since 1990.
The problems of excessive(过度的)energy consumption, climate change and population growth have been described in a book by the American writer Thomas L. Friedman. He fears the worst, but hopes for the best.
Friedman points out that the green economy(经济)is a chance to keep American strength. “The ability to design, build and export green technologies for producing clean water, clean air and healthy and abundant food is going to be the currency of power in the new century.”
1.Why is hamburger mentioned in paragraph 2?
A. To explain Americans’ love for travelling by car.
B. To show the influence of cars on American culture.
C. To stress the popularity of fast food with Americans.
D. To praise the effectiveness of America’s road system.
2.What has the use of cars in America led to?
A. Decline of economy. B. Environmental problems.
C. A shortage of oil supply. D. A farm-based society.
3.What is Friedman’s attitude towards America’s future?
A. Ambiguous. B. Doubtful.
C. Hopeful. D. Tolera
高三英语阅读理解困难题查看答案及解析
While Peking Opera is widely regarded as a symbol of Chinese culture, it has been losing young audiences due to its __________ outdated style and slow rhythm.
A. responsibly B. relatively
C. plainly D. deliberately
高三英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析
— How is everything going on with you in the UK?
— Quite well. Not so smoothly as I hoped, _____.
A. instead B. though C. either D. too
高三英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析
How is everything going on with you in the UK?
— Quite well. Not so smoothly as I hoped, _____.
A. instead B. though C. either D. too
高三英语单项填空简单题查看答案及解析
Don't let the child who is ________ go to school.
A.so young as to B.not old enough to C.not old enough D.too young to
高三英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析
One of the most traditional features of American culture is to respect the self-made man — the man who has risen to the top through his own efforts, usually beginning by working with his hands. While the leader in business or industry or the college professor occupies a higher social position and commands greater respect in the community than the common laborer or even the skilled factory worker, he may take pains to point out that his father started life in America as a farmer or laborer of some sort.
This attitude toward manual(体力的) labor is now still seen in many aspects of American life. One is invited to dinner at a home that is not only comfortably but even luxuriously (豪华地) furnished and in which there is every evidence of the fact that the family has been able to afford foreign travel, expensive hobbies, and college education for the children; yet the hostess probably will cook the dinner herself, will serve it herself and will wash dishes afterward, furthermore the dinner will not consist merely of something quickly and easily assembled from contents of various cans and a cake or a pie bought at the nearby bakery. On the contrary, the hostess usually takes pride in careful preparation of special dishes. A professional man may talk about washing the car, digging in his flowerbeds, painting the house. His wife may even help with these things, just as he often helps her with the dishwashing. The son who is away at college may wait on table and wash dishes for his living, or during the summer he may work with a construction gang on a highway in order to pay for his education.
1.From the second paragraph of this passage we can find that _______.
A. Hagner busies herself by following a trend
B. Hagner doesn't spend much time on her full-time job
C. Hagner is interested in sports and music
D. Hagner wastes much time helping her children's lessons
2.British parents, as the writer described in this passage, _______.
A. treat their children as sports players
B. give their children little time to develop freely
C. bring up their children in a simple way
D. pay no attention to their children's lessons
3.The writer's opinion about after-school clubs is that ________.
A. activities in the country are too competitive
B. children should attend four clubs at a time
C. clubs should have more subjects for school children
D. some clubs result in competitive pressures
4.The last paragraph tells us that in Britain _______.
A. parents used to take their children to every club
B. parents have all benefited from children’s clubs
C. parents used to be wise on how to raise children
D. parents have come to know the standard of education
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
As self — driving cars come closer to being common on American roads, much of the rhetoric (说辞) promoting them has to do with safety. About 40,000 people die on U. S. roads every year, and driver errors are linked to more than 90 percent of crashes. But many of the biggest advocates of autonomous vehicles aren’t car companies looking to improve the safety of their existing products. Huge backing for self - driving technologies is coming from Silicon Valley giants like Google and Apple.
Those of us who have studied the relationship between technology and society tend to look more carefully at the motivations behind any technological push. In this case, it’s clear that in addition to addressing safety concerns, Silicon Valley firms have a strong incentive (动机) to create a new venue for increasing the use of their digital devices. Every minute people spend on their mobile phones provides data - and often money - to tech companies.
At present, digital devices and driving are in conflict: There are serious, often fatal, consequences when drivers use smartphones to talk or to text. Regulators and safety advocates look to resolve dial conflict by banning phone use while driving - as has happened in virtually every state. But the tech companies are taking a different approach. The obvious answer for Silicon Valley is creating an antomobile in which continuous cellphone use no longer poses a threat to anyone.
In recent years, the amount of time adults spend on their mobile devices has grown rapidly. At the moment, it’s around four hours a day for the average adult in the U. S. However, that rapid growth is likely to slow down as people run out of time that ’ s available for them to use their devices. Unless, of course, there’s a new block of time that suddenly opens up. The average American now spends about 48 minutes in a car every day, a sizable opportunity for increased cellphone use.
So as the public conversation around autonomous cars highlights the safety advantages, don’t forget the tech industry ’ s powerful desire for more profits, which goes well beyond simply saving us from ourselves.
1.Who are responsible for most traffic accidents in America?
A. Car companies. B. Tech companies.
C. Drivers. D. Self - driving cars.
2.What is Silicon Valley’s motive for promoting self - driving technologies?
A. To make more money. B. To reduce traffic accidents.
C. To limit the use of digital devices. D. To support car companies.
3.What is the present - day solution to the conflict between digital devices and driving?
A. Teaching people traffic rules. B. Improving self-driving technologies.
C. Fixing digital devices in cars. D. Banning phone use while driving.
4.What does the underlined phrase “a new block of time” possibly refer to?
A. The working time. B. People’s spare time.
C. The time spent in the car. D. The time spent on mobile devices.
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
The United States Capitol Dome(圆顶) in Washington, DC, is recognized around the world as a symbol of the U.S. Government. Since last November, the dome has been surrounded by metal poles and heavy cloth as part of a repair project.
The last major repair work on the U.S. Capitol took place in 1960. Since then, the dome has become weathered and worn. The Architect of the Capitol group reports that the dome has more than 1,000 narrow breaks on its surface and other damage.
The dome was completed around 1863. U. S. Senate Historian Don Ritchie says the dome’s cast(石膏) iron frame is at special risk of weathering. “The capitol dome, being cast iron, has been hit by lightning countless times. And so the current construction is to repair the leaks, to fill the cracks, to take off extra layers of paint.”
Some recent visitors to the Capitol were unhappy about its current appearance. They had hoped to get a picture of the usually shining dome. Joyce said, “It was impressive, and very fantastic, and all white, but when I come here today, it is under construction so my family cannot see it clearly, it is kind of a disappointment.”
Others were more understanding of the repairs. Rick Jones, another visitor, said, “It’s a little inconvenient for us not to see the dome but you have to think about the future and the people will be coming to this place for centuries...and you know ,there just needs to be preventive maintenance(维护). I am not upset with that at all.”
The project is expected to take more than two years to complete. The dome should be ready for a new president in January 2017.
1.We can learn from the passage that the United States Capitol Dome is _______.
A. widely recognized as a symbol of the U.K. government.
B. surrounded by many repair projects
C. worn by being exposed to the weather
D. well maintained and in excellent condition
2. Which of the following is NOT included in the current construction?
A. To replace the cast iron frame.
B. To stop the leaks(渗漏).
C. To remove the old paint.
D. To fill up the narrow breaks.
3.What do we learn about the recent visitors to the Capitol ?
A. They could get a clear look at the dome.
B. They were all disappointed at the sight of the Capitol’s building.
C. They were impressed by the white dome’s fantastic beauty.
D. They held different views on the Capitol’s current appearance.
4.The text is most probably taken from ___________.
A. a book review B. a news report
C. a guide book D. a science report
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
Christmas is perhaps the most important holiday in American culture. On Christmas Eve, children sit out with parents in the living room hanging stockings, setting up a Christmas tree, eating candy canes, and setting up milk and cookies for Santa Claus. Perhaps the most beloved figure in American history, Santa Claus has become an important icon for Christmas.
I remember believing in Santa when I was a very young girl. However, as I grew older, I learned many facts that “proved” his existence as false. Always inquisitive by nature and very keen on the scientific method of experimentation, I was determined to use tests and observations to determine whether Santa Claus was real.
The first year of tests happened when I was 5. I decided that if I stayed up all night on Christmas Eve, I could see if Santa really did come down the chimney. However, that was a futile attempt, I fell asleep that year. The next year, I was able to test if location was an issue with Santa’s deliveries. That year, my family spent Christmas with the family of one of my mother’s friends. At the time, I decided that if Santa was all-knowing he would know I wasn’t home. Sure enough, there was a pretty pink package waiting for me the next morning. At age 7, I came up with my ultimate test to see if Santa was real. That year, I didn’t send out my Christmas letter to Santa. On Christmas Eve, my mother dragged me to our local Wal-Mart and led me around the toy section. I refused to say a word, but did let my eye linger on a ballet set. I figured that “Santa” wouldn’t know what to get me because he shouldn’t be able to read my mind. However, mother would know everything that caught my eye in the store. If I got the ballet set the next morning, I would have my evidence. Christmas morning, there was the ballet set, sitting under the tree. As I didn’t use it much, mother ended up returning it a few days later. She claimed Santa was generous enough to leave a receipt. That was the end to my mission to discover the existence of Santa.
Now, I can look back on all of these with fond nostalgia(怀旧). The magic and mystery of it all made Christmas a fun time. Santa was a big part of my childhood.
1.Children do all the things on Christmas Eve except______
set up a Christmas tree
hang stockings and eat candy canes
prepare milk and cookies for Santa Claus
wait for Santa Claus with their parents
2. The underlined word “futile” means____
A. unreal B. unusual
C. unsuccessful D. unreasonable
3. How did the writer prove the existence of Santa Claus as false?
A. He stayed up all night on Christmas Eve and saw Santa come down the chimney.
B. He found that Santa was all-knowing and could make the deliveries accurate
C. He didn’t send out his Christmas letter but still got his Christmas present
D. He used the receipt left by Santa to return his present
4. The writer wants to tell us that_____
A. He proved the existence of Santa Claus as false.
B. Christmas and Santa is a part of his life as well as his child
C. Christmas plays an important role in American culture
D. Santa Claus is the most popular figure in American history
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
As self-driving cars come closer to being common on American roads, much of the rhetoric(说辞)promoting them has to do with safety. About 40,000 people die on U.S. roads every year, and driver errors are linked to more than 90 percent of crashes. But many of the biggest advocates of autonomous(自动的)vehicles aren’t car companies looking to improve the safety of their existing products. Huge support for itself-driving technologies is coming from Silicon Valley giants like Google and Apple.
Those of us who have studied the relationship between technology and society tend to look more carefully at the motivations behind any technologically push. In this case, it’s clear that in addition to addressing safety concerns, Silicon Valley firms have a strong incentive(动机)to create a new venue for increasing the use of their digital devices. Every minute people spend on their mobile phones provides data—and often money—to tech companies.
At present, digital devices and driving are in conflict: There are serious, often fatal, consequences when drivers use smartphones to talk or to text. Regulators and safety advocates look to resolve dial conflict by banning phone use while driving – as has happened in almost every state. But the tech companies are taking a different approach. The obvious answer for Silicon Valley is creating an automobile in which continuous cellphone use no longer poses a threat to anyone.
In recent years, the amount of time adults spend on their mobile devices has grown rapidly. At the moment, it’s around four hours a day for the average adult in the U.S. However, that rapid growth is likely to slow down as people run out of time that’s available for them up to use their devices. Unless, of course, there’s a new block of time that suddenly opens up. The average American now spends about 48 minutes in a car every day, a sizeable opportunity for increased cellphone use.
Sop as the public conversation around autonomous cars highlights the safety advantages, don’t forget the tech industry’s powerful desire for more profits, which goes well beyond simply saving us from ourselves.
1.Who are responsible for most traffic accidents in American?
A. Car companies. B. Drivers.
C. Tech companies. D. Self-driving cars.
2.What pushes Silicon Valley to promote self-driving technologies?
A. To make more money. B. To reduce traffic accidents.
C. To limit the use of digital devices. D. To support car companies.
3.What does the underlined phrase “a new block of time” possibly refer to?
A. The working time. B. People’s spare time.
C. The time spent in the car. D. The time spent on mobile devices.
4.What can we know from the passage?
A. We should teach people to strictly obey traffic rules.
B. The writer calls on us to look at autonomous cars wisely.
C. Car companies are the leading promoters of self-driving cars.
D. No solution to the conflict between mobile phone use and driving has been found yet.
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析