Something that has always interested me about...

Something that has always interested me about Abraham Lincoln is，not surprisingly，his sense of humor. As far as I can tell，he's the first American President to have one．

That's because the term“sense of humor” really wasn't in common usage until the eighteen-sixties and seventies．In the eighteen-forties and fifties，it was called“the sense of the ridiculous," and didn't have the positive connotations（隐含意义）that“sense of humor" has today. Back then，what was ridiculous was what invited ridicule（讥笑）．Funniness and cruelty went hand in hand．Of course，they still do a lot of arm-in-arm walking in our day as well．

Lincoln’s humor was very different because，for one thing，it was actually "humor＂as what the word meant in his time. We don't make the distinction between "wit（风趣）”and "humor”anymore; but in the nineteenth century people did．Wit was unpleasant and offensive while humor was pleasant and sympathetic．It’s the difference we note now when we distinguish between "laughing with”and“laughing at．”Lincoln was much more about "laughing with”than "laughing at．”And when“laughing at，”it was often himself he was teasing.

In the famous Lincoln-Douglas debates，when Douglas accused Lincoln of being two-faced，Lincoln replied，referencing his plain looking，“Honestly，if I were two-faced，would I be showing you this one？”And，in a way，Lincoln's face itself tells us much about his sense of humor．

You can comb through thousands of photographs of politicians，soldiers，and the like from Lincoln's time and not find a single smile．

True, the long exposures（曝光）required for photographs of that time made smiling difficult．Yet Lincoln alone，as far as I can tell，overcame that difficulty.

Interestingly, while having a sense of humor，or at least the appearance of one provided by comedy writers has become a necessary characteristic for an American President in our time，in the nineteenth century，too much humor was considered problem.  And that was the case for Lincoln．A journalist covering the Lincoln-Douglas debates commented that“I could not take a real personal liking to the man，owing to an inborn weakness. . .that he was extremely, fond of jokes，anecdotes，and stories．”

1.We can infer from Paragraph 2 that＿＿

A .the American President could influence the use of English

B. the term "sense of humor”wasn't invented until the 1860s

C .what is funny to someone might be offensive to someone else

D. the concept of humor remains the same despite the passing of time

2.The underlined words“this one”in Paragraph 4 refer to＿＿．

A. Lincoln's unattractive face

B. Lincoln's sense of humor

C. the debate they were having

D.cruelty that went with funniness

3.We rarely see people from Lincoln's time wear smile in their photos because＿．

A. being humorous was considered inappropriate

B. they found it quite funny to smile before camera

C. not smiling for photographs was the fashion

D. photography technology then was not advanced

4.What might the writer think of the journalist covering the Lincoln-Douglas debates？

A. His comment accurately reflected his time

B. He created a false picture of Lincoln

C. He was prejudiced and self-centered

D. He was brave to point out Lincoln's weakness

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

There’s something about Minot that I’m always going to carry with me. When it got hit last year by the worst flooding in its history, there was this feeling of helplessness. You just watched this water slowly rise and flood the city. It was heartbreaking. But this is a community of people that are extremely strong and not afraid to roll up their sleeves and work to get it back to normal.

I’ve tried to bring as much awareness to Minot as I can, and raise as much money as I can. We held a concert last year, where my wife singer Fergie talked her band the Black Eyed Peas into coming in and doing a benefit concert. From it we raised $2 million towards the rebuilding effort, which was really cool. We won a contest for Oak Park as well, to start rebuilding on that.

Roosevelt Park Zoo is one of my oldest memories. I remember having a birthday party there as a kid. We used to go to look at the monkeys and other animals in the summer when it was open. But after last year’s flood, it was almost washed away, and they’ve got go start from scratch. I think the $25,000 dollars is a great start, but we’re going to have to raise a lot more to get it back to right. Luckily, the community itself is developing, so it’s just a matter of those doing whatever they can to help can to help the community to get it back to normal. However, it’s going to be a number of years for a third of the homes were lost. That will take a long time to heal, and if anyone in the world can get through it, it’s the people in Minot.

1.The author helped Minot fight against the flood by______.

A. donating as much money as the could

B. raising money for it through various activities

C. calling for the people’s awareness to stay calm

D. asking his wife’s band to play to comfort the people

2.The author helped rebuild Roosevelt Park Zoo mainly because______.

A. it was important for the children

B. many performances were held there

C. it reminded him of his happy childhood

D. it was destroyed the most seriously by the flood

3.Which of the following did the author show to us in the text?

A. His deep love to his hometown

B. The ways of helping each other in the flood

C. The difficulty of rebuilding homes in his hometown

D. His worry about the future life of the people in Minot

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

My friend John always has something to tell me. He knows so much that 21  men have to have older and more worldly wise men to tell them, 22 , who to trust, how to care for others and how to live life 23  the fullest.

Recently, John lost his 24  Janet. For eight years she fought against cancer, but in the end her sickness had the last 25 . One day John took out a folded piece of 26  from his wallet. He had found it, so he told me, when he 27  up some drawers at home.

It was a 28  love letter Janet had written. The note could look like a school girl’s scrawls(潦草地写，乱涂) about her dream guy. 29  the letter was written by a woman who had had seven children, a woman who fought for her life and who 30  only had a few months left to live.

It was 31    a beautiful recipe (处方，食谱) for how to keep a marriage together. Janet’s 32 of her husband begins like this, “Loved me. Took care of me. Worried about me.”

“Helped me when I was ill.” The next 33  reads. After that she turned 34 the paper and added “Warmth. Humor. Kindness. Thoughtfulness.” And then she writes about the husband she has 35 with and loved most in her life. “36 there when I needed you.” The last words she wrote 37  all the others. I can see her for me when she added thoughtfully “Good friend.”

I stand beside John now, and cannot pretend to know how it feels to lose someone who is as close to 38  as Janet was to him. I need to 39  what he has to say much more than he needs to talk.

“John,” I ask. “How do you stick together with someone through 38 years—not to mention the sickness? How do I know 40 I can bear to stand by my wife’s side if she becomes sick one day?”

“You can.” he says quietly, “ If you love her enough, you can.”

1.A. old            B. wise        C. young            D. foolish

2.A. for instance       B. at no time   C. in that case  D. as a matter of fact

3.A. in             B. to          C. at          D. for

4.A. friend        B. colleague        C. wife     D. sister

5.A. possibility        B. chance      C. hope             D. word

6.A. handkerchief       B. cloth            C. leather          D. paper

7.A. fixed          B. looked           C. tidied           D. put

8.A. small         B. long        C. descriptive      D. talkative

9.A. So             B. But          C. And              D. While

10.A. probably     B. surely      C. certainly        D. definitely

11.A. only         B. firstly          C. lastly           D. also

12.A. imagination       B. description      C. dream        D. expectation

13.A. letter       B. note             C. line       D. paragraph

14.A. away          B. down         C. off         D. over

15. A. lived        B. dealt            C. quarreled  D. argued

16.A. Constantly        B. Always       C. Never        D. Seldom

17.A. take the place of     B. get rid of       C. take away    D. sum up

18.A. me            B. Janet            C. John             D. you

19.A. speak up          B. repeat           C. discuss          D. hear

20.A. why           B. where            C. if           D. when

高三英语完型填空中等难度题查看答案及解析

How far would you walk to learn about something that interested you? When he was young, Jacob Lawrence often walked more than sixty　 　 　 from his home in the Harlem section of New York City to the Metropolitan Museum of Art．Jacob wanted to be a（n）　 　 　 ，and he believed that studying the famous paintings　 　 　 in that museum would help him．

It was 1930,when many people were out of work, money was　 　 　 and people suffered a lot．Still the streets were　 　 　 with energy and color．As he walked through Harlem, Jacob looked hard at the people, the churches, and barbershops and so on．He　 　 　 those images in his mind, along with the images of paintings he saw in the　 　 　 ．

Jacob came from a poor family．His mother believed there was little chance　 　 　 her son could grow up to be a successful painter．She wanted him to aim for something more　 　 　 ．But Jacob's teacher, Alston, in an art program saw that he was talented．Alston　 　 　 him how to use paints to make stage sets．

As time passed, Alston let Jacob rent work space in his own studio． That was an exciting place for a young black man 　 　 　 to become an artist．Many creative people　 　 　 there to talk about art, literature and history．From their　 　 　 ,Jacob learned that history books often 　 　 　 the accomplishments of African Americans．He decided to paint a sel1es of pictures describing the story of a black hero．He 　 　 　　 Toussaint, who had helped free his people　 　 　 French ruling．

Many people admired Jacob's pictures, but he needed　 　 　 admiration．To help his family, he often had to work at jobs that　 　 　 him away from painting．Then something encouraging happened．An artist named Augusta got Jacob a job．For eighteen months, Jacob was given a　 　 　 to paint pictures． For the first time, he felt like a　 　 　 artist．

1.A． steps    B． blocks    C． buildings    D． avenues

2.A． artist    B． tutor    C． scholar    D． official

3.A． swinging    B． existing    C． hanging    D． twisting

4.A． blank    B． loose    C． tough    D． tight

5.A． lined    B． decorated    C． associated    D． filled

6.A． stored    B． received    C． created    D． remembered

7.A． museum    B． studio    C． church    D． street

8.A． whether    B． which    C． that    D． when

9.A． precious    B． practical    C． standard    D． flexible

10.A．recommendedB． reminded    C． provided    D． showed

11.A． hesitating    B． struggling    C． marching    D． participating

12.A． settled    B． wandered    C． gathered    D． rushed

13.A． experiencesB． performances    C． accents    D． conversations

14.A． acknowledgedB． accused    C． ignored    D． witnessed

15.A． chose    B． accepted    C． counted    D． employed

16.A． against    B． from    C． for    D． with

17.A． more than    B． rather than    C． other than    D．less than

18.A． broke    B． gave    C． permitted    D． took

19.A． award    B． title    C． salary    D． prize

20.A． permanent    B． popular    C． positive    D． professional

高三英语完型填空中等难度题查看答案及解析

How far would you walk to learn about something that interested you? When he was young,Jacob Lawrence often walked more than sixty___from his home in the Harlem section of New York City to the Metropolitan Museum of Art.Jacob wanted to be a(n)___,and he believed that studying the famous paintings___in that museum would help him.

It was 1930,when many people were out of work,money was tight and people suffered a lot.Still the streets were ___with energy and color.As he walked through Harlem,Jacob looked hard at the people,the churches,and barber shops and so on.He___those images in his mind,along with the images of paintings he saw in the museum.

Jacob came from a poor family.His mother believed there was little chance___her son could grow up to be a successful painter.She wanted him to aim for something more flexible.But Jacob’s teacher,Alston,in an art program saw that he was talented.Alston___him how to use paints to make stage sets.

As time passed,Alston let Jacob rent work space in his own studio.That was an exciting place for a young black man ___to become an artist.Many creative people gathered there to talk about art,literature and history.From their___,Jacob learned that history books often ignored the accomplishments of African Americans.He decided to paint a series of pictures describing the story of a black hero.He ____Toussaint,who had helped free his people____French ruling.

Many people admired Jacob’s pictures,but he needed____admiration.To help his family,he often had to work at jobs that____him away from painting.Then something encouraging happened.An artist named Augusta got Jacob a job.For eighteen months,Jacob was given a____to paint pictures.For the first time,he felt like a____artist.

1.A. steps　　 B. blocks　　 C. buildings　　 D. avenues

2.A. artist　　 B. tutor　　 C. scholar　　 D. official

3.A. swinging　　 B. existing　　 C. hanging　　 D. twisting

4.A. lined　　 B. decorated　　 C. associated　　 D. filled

5.A. stored　　 B. received　　 C. created　　 D. remembered

6.A. whether　　 B. which　　 C. that　　 D. when

7.A. recommended　　 B. reminded　　 C. provided　　 D. showed

8.A. hesitating　　 B. struggling　　 C. marching　　 D. participating

9.A. experiences　　 B. performances　　 C. accents　　 D. conversations

10.A. chose　　 B. accepted　　 C. counted　　 D. employed

11.A. against　　 B. from　　 C. for　　 D. with

12.A. more than　　 B. rather than　　 C. other than　　 D. less than

13.A. broke　　 B. gave　　 C. permitted　　 D. took

14.A. award　　 B. title　　 C. salary　　 D. prize

15.A. permanent　　 B. popular　　 C. positive　　 D. professional

高三英语完形填空困难题查看答案及解析

How far would you walk to learn about something that interested you? When he was young, Jacob Lawrence often walked more than sixty　　 from his home in the Harlem section of New York City to the Metropolitan Museum of Art．Jacob wanted to be a（n）　　 ，and he believed that studying the famous paintings　　 in that museum would help him．

It was 1930,when many people were out of work, money was　　 and people suffered a lot．Still the streets were　　 with energy and color．As he walked through Harlem, Jacob looked hard at the people, the churches, and barbershops and so on．He　　 those images in his mind, along with the images of paintings he saw in the　　 ．

Jacob came from a poor family．His mother believed there was little chance　　 her son could grow up to be a successful painter．She wanted him to aim for something more　　 ．But Jacob's teacher, Alston, in an art program saw that he was talented．Alston　　 him how to use paints to make stage sets．

As time passed, Alston let Jacob rent work space in his own studio． That was an exciting place for a young black man 　　 to become an artist．Many creative people　　 there to talk about art, literature and history．From their　　 ,Jacob learned that history books often 　　 the accomplishments of African Americans．He decided to paint a sel1es of pictures describing the story of a black hero．He 　　　 Toussaint, who had helped free his people　　 French ruling．

Many people admired Jacob's pictures, but he needed　　 admiration．To help his family, he often had to work at jobs that　　 him away from painting．Then something encouraging happened．An artist named Augusta got Jacob a job．For eighteen months, Jacob was given a　　 to paint pictures． For the first time, he felt like a　　 artist．

1.A．steps B． blocks C． buildings D． avenues

2.A．artist B． tutor C． scholar D． official

3.A．swinging B． existing C． hanging D． twisting

4.A．blank B． loose C． tough D． tight

5.A．lined B． decorated C． associated D． filled

6.A．stored B． received C． created D． remembered

7.A．museum B． studio C． church D． street

8.A．whether B． which C． that D． when

9.A．precious B． practical C． standard D． flexible

10.A. recommendedB． reminded C． provided D． showed

11.A．hesitating B． struggling C． marching D． participating

12.A．settled B． wandered C． gathered D． rushed

13.A．experiencesB． performances C.　　 accents　　　　　　 D． conversations

14.A．acknowledgedB． accused C． ignored D． witnessed

15.A．chose B． accepted C． counted D． employed

16.A．against B． from C． for D． with

17.A．more than B． rather than C． other than D．less than

18.A．broke B． gave C． permitted D． took

19.A．award B． title C． salary D． prize

20.A．permanent B． popular C． positive D． professional

高三英语完形填空中等难度题查看答案及解析

This is Mr．Smith, ________ I think has something interesting to tell you．

高三英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析

. I feel the thing that’s exciting to me about this work is finding ways to do something in the space of an evening ________ people can sit through to deal with large concerns.

高三英语单项填空简单题查看答案及解析

Music is something that every person has his or her own specific opinion about. Different people have different tastes, and various types of music have many ways of leaving an impact (影响) on someone. It can be relaxing, angering, comforting, energizing, and many more.

There are so many types of music out there today. Rap, pop, rock, country, alternative, hardcore are some of the abundant types in the world. Music sends out either good or bad messages that have big impacts on how people act. People usually become friends with others who have the same taste. People may not want to associate with people who have different tastes in music because they’ll argue about what they think is better but it’s just their own opinions.

Rap and Rock music are two very important types of music in the world. The lyrics (歌词) sung or rapped by the artists can be things going on in their own personal lives. Music can also serve as a motivation for new ideas. When people listen to the new things out there, they learn different things going on in the world and they become more open minded because they’re exposed to different people like the artists.

People can use music to express themselves in ways it can’t be expressed through behavior, or art. You can usually tell how someone feels by the type of music he or she is listening to at the time. It’s a tool used by many. Groups of people around the world can come together and gather at concerts and shows to what their interests and liking are and you see how many people have similar likings as you.

1.What can we know about music according to the first paragraph?

A. All people like listening to music in some way.

B. Preference for music varies from person to person.

C. There are four kinds of impact music can bring about.

D. Different types of music have the same impact on people.

2.People are likely to become friends because of ________.

A. the same taste of music　　 B. the good impact of music

C. the attraction of different ideas　　 D. the arguments about music style

3.Music can serve as a motivation for new ideas by ________.

A. giving listeners controversial lyrics

B. setting up role models like the artists

C. opening listeners’ mind to new thoughts

D. impressing listeners with familiar images

4.What can we know from the last paragraph?

A. The music you like shows who you are.

B. Music expresses oneself better than behavior.

C. The music one listens to determines his or her feeling.

D. Music is tool to make different people become friends.

高三英语阅读理解简单题查看答案及解析

Barack Obama has never been shy about comparing himself with Abraham Lincoln. He did so when he announced his presidential election in Illinois, where both he and Lincoln served in the legislature (立法机关). "The life of a tall, thin, self-made Springfield lawyer tells us that a different future is possible." Obama said. "He tells us that there is power in words and that there is power in hope." Such comparisons have continued on big and small occasions, but the most important similarity, in Obama's mind, is how he plans to govern if elected.

Obama says he admires Doris Kearns Goodwin’s wonderful Lincoln biography, Team of Rivals. "He talks about it all the time." says a top assistant. "He is particularly interested in the idea that Lincoln successfully won the hearts of many people who had run against him for President, some of them even disagree with him firmly." "The lesson is that you shouldn't let your hatred get in the way of hiring absolutely the best people." says Obama. "I think American people are practical and so I have an interest in casting a wide net, seeking out people with a wide range of expert knowledge, including Republicans, for the highest positions in the government."

"I don't want to have people who just agree with me." He says. "I want people who are continually pushing me forward and I'd be very interested in having those sorts of Republicans in my government, especially people who can speed up a responsible and logical conclusion to the Iraq war."

1.According to Barack Obama, the biggest similarity between Lincoln and himself is ______.

A. they both lived Illinois          B. they served in the same office

C. both of them are black            D. they have the same idea in governing

2.Obama is willing to cooperate with those who disagree with him because_______.

A. he is interested in Republicans' ideas

B. he doesn't want to show his hatred to the public

C. they have the highest positions in the government

D. they may push him to make the right decisions

3.The author wrote the passage to _________.

A. compare Obama and Lincoln

B. help Obama to win more support

C. tell us something about Obama

D. announce Obama's political ideas

4.What can we infer from the passage?

A. Obama is a member of the Republicans.

B. The passage was written after the presidential election.

C. Doris Goodwin is one of Obama’s assistants.

D. In the end Lincoln was able to get the support of the people who once hated        him.

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析