When John was growing up, other kids felt sorry for him. His parents always had him weeding the garden, carrying out the garbage and delivering newspapers. But when John reached adulthood,he was better off than his childhood playmates. He had more job satisfaction, a better marriage and was healthier. Most of all, he was happier. Far happier.
These are the findings of a 40-year study that followed the lives of 456 teenage boys from Boston. The study showed that those who had worked as boys enjoyed happier and more productive lives than those who had not. “Boys who worked in the home or community gained competence(能力)and came to feel they were worthwhile members of society, ” said George Vaillant, the psychologist(心理学家)who made the discovery. “And because they felt good about themselves, others felt good about them.”
Vaillant’s study followed these males in great detail. Interviews were repeated at ages 25, 31and 47. Under Vaillant, the researchers compared the men’s mental-health scores with their boyhood-activity scores. Points were awarded for part-time jobs, housework, effort in school, and ability to deal with problems.
The link between what the men had done as boys and how they turned out as adults was surprisingly sharp. Those who had done the most boyhood activities were twice as likely to have warm relations with a wide variety of people, five times as likely to be well paid and 16 times less likely to have been unemployed. The researchers also found that IQ and family social and economic class made no real difference in how the boys turned out.
Working—at any age—is important. Childhood activities help a child develop responsibility, independence, confidence and competence—the underpinnings(基础)of emotional health. They also help him understand that people must cooperate and work toward common goals. The most competent adults are those who know how to do this. Yet work isn't everything. As Tolstoy once said, “One can live magnificently in this world if one knows how to work and how to love, to work for the person one loves and to love one's work.”
1.What do we know about John?
A.He received little love from his family.
B.He had few childhood playmates.
C.He enjoyed his career and marriage.
D.He was envied by others in his childhood.
2.Vaillant’s words in Paragraph 2 serve as _______.
A.a description of personal values and social values
B.an analysis of how work was related to competence
C.an example for parents' expectations of their children
D.an explanation why some boys grew into happy men
3.Vaillant's team got their findings by _______.
A.recording the boys' effort in school
B.comparing different sets of scores
C.evaluating the men's mental health
D.measuring the men's problem solving ability
4.What can be inferred from the last paragraph?
A.Competent adults know more about love than work.
B.Emotional health is essential to a wonderful adult life.
C.Love brings more joy to people than work does.
D.Independence is the key to one's success.
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题
When John was growing up, other kids felt sorry for him. His parents always had him weeding the garden, carrying out the garbage and delivering newspapers. But when John reached adulthood,he was better off than his childhood playmates. He had more job satisfaction, a better marriage and was healthier. Most of all, he was happier. Far happier.
These are the findings of a 40-year study that followed the lives of 456 teenage boys from Boston. The study showed that those who had worked as boys enjoyed happier and more productive lives than those who had not. “Boys who worked in the home or community gained competence(能力)and came to feel they were worthwhile members of society, ” said George Vaillant, the psychologist(心理学家)who made the discovery. “And because they felt good about themselves, others felt good about them.”
Vaillant’s study followed these males in great detail. Interviews were repeated at ages 25, 31and 47. Under Vaillant, the researchers compared the men’s mental-health scores with their boyhood-activity scores. Points were awarded for part-time jobs, housework, effort in school, and ability to deal with problems.
The link between what the men had done as boys and how they turned out as adults was surprisingly sharp. Those who had done the most boyhood activities were twice as likely to have warm relations with a wide variety of people, five times as likely to be well paid and 16 times less likely to have been unemployed. The researchers also found that IQ and family social and economic class made no real difference in how the boys turned out.
Working—at any age—is important. Childhood activities help a child develop responsibility, independence, confidence and competence—the underpinnings(基础)of emotional health. They also help him understand that people must cooperate and work toward common goals. The most competent adults are those who know how to do this. Yet work isn't everything. As Tolstoy once said, “One can live magnificently in this world if one knows how to work and how to love, to work for the person one loves and to love one's work.”
1.What do we know about John?
A.He received little love from his family.
B.He had few childhood playmates.
C.He enjoyed his career and marriage.
D.He was envied by others in his childhood.
2.Vaillant’s words in Paragraph 2 serve as _______.
A.a description of personal values and social values
B.an analysis of how work was related to competence
C.an example for parents' expectations of their children
D.an explanation why some boys grew into happy men
3.Vaillant's team got their findings by _______.
A.recording the boys' effort in school
B.comparing different sets of scores
C.evaluating the men's mental health
D.measuring the men's problem solving ability
4.What can be inferred from the last paragraph?
A.Competent adults know more about love than work.
B.Emotional health is essential to a wonderful adult life.
C.Love brings more joy to people than work does.
D.Independence is the key to one's success.
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
1.His (抱负)is to work in the computer industry when he grows up.
2.He was forced to r as chairman for the great losses he had made。
3.Their school life is quite busy for them to have no time to sit (闲坐着) gossiping.
4.I am feeling not good, and I’d like to be alone for a moment.
5.With the (分发) of food and medicine to the flooded area, they all let out a sigh of relief.
6.That frightened scream nearly made me feel s to death.
7.I will a you whenever you are in trouble and help you through the hard time.
8. to you on winning the first prize in the final competition.
9.Do you know the gentleman who (捐赠) a large sum of money to the charity?
10.I loved to listened to their talking to each other ,even though I couldn’t p in them.
高二英语单词拼写中等难度题查看答案及解析
When Charles Strattion was five, he stopped growing. His mother took him to see the famous showman, P. T. Barnum, and thought a small person would be the perfect addition to his show. He hired Charles’ parents along with him, and they traveled around the world together.
He gave the two-foot-tall Charles a new name, general Tom Thumb. He taught Tom how to sing, dance, act, and tell jokes. When he felt Tom was ready to perform on stage, he made up ads. To stir up great interest, he said that Tom was eleven years old and had come from England.
Tom’s act was very popular and brought in a lot of money. By the time Tom was an adult, he had grown very rich. He had become a billionaire at the age of twenty-five.
Fortunately for Tom, Mr. Barnum added more little people to his show, and Tom became lucky in love as well. One of the little people was Lavinia Warren, a school teacher. Tom was able to win her love, and they married.
The ceremony and reception were the talk of the town. They were attended by many rich and famous people and by about two thousand guests. Crowds filled the street of New York to have a look at their tiny wedding carriage. The couple even met with President Abraham Lincoln on their honeymoon, just before going to live in Tom’s house in Connecticut.
Their wedding, which took place during the Civil War, provided a welcome escape from the sad problems of war. Not willing to let this bit of sunshine fade, communities throughout the country held Tom Thumb’s weddings. In these weddings, small boys and girls, all dressed up, went through marriage ceremony for fun.
1.“the talk of the town” means________.
A.they were in the newspaper
B.people spread many rumors about them
C.they were the most popular things happening
D.they were discussed in a city meeting
2.What does the author think about Tom Thumb’s wedding?
A.People gave it too much of their attention.
B.It helped people cheer up in a dark time
C.It was funny and ridiculous
D.Tom and Lavinia were stupid.
3.Which of the following is the best description of the fact that Tom was smart?
A.He became a billionaire at twenty-five
B.He learned how to sing, dance, and act at a very young age.
C.He met with President Lincoln during his honeymoon
D.He married a school teacher.
4.It was very funny when Tom danced on a wooden plate held by a person who was eight feet tall because________.
A.the wooden plate would make it sound as of Tom were tap dancing
B.it made Tom feel taller
C.the eight-foot-tall man was the only tall person Tom trusted
D.the difference between them would make Tom look even smaller
5.What does the author imply in the last paragraph?
A.Weddings always make people feel full of sunshine
B.People are always disappointed during wartime
C.Entertainment can serve an important purpose
D.People should be married even if they are small
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
When Charles Strattion was five, he stopped growing. His mother took him to see the famous showman, P.T.Barnum, and thought a small person would be the perfect addition to his show. He hired Charles’ parents along with him, and they traveled around the world together.
He gave the two-foot-tall Charles a new name, general Tom Thumb. He taught Tom how to sing, dance, act, and tell jokes. When he felt Tom was ready to perform on stage, he made up ads. To stir up great interest, he said that Tom was eleven years old and had come from England.
During the show, Tom fought battles pretendedly with tall people. He also danced upon a wooden plate held by a person who was eight feet tall.
Tom’s act was very popular and brought in a lot of money. By the time Tom was an adult, he had grown very rich. He had become a billionaire at the age of twenty-five.
Fortunately for Tom, Mr. Barnum added more little people to his show, and Tom became lucky in love as well. One of the little people was Lavinia Warren, a school teacher. Tom was able to win her love, and they married.
The ceremony and reception were the talk of the town. They were attended by many rich and famous people and by about two thousand guests. Crowds filled the streets of New York to have a look at their tiny wedding carriage. The couple even met with President Abraham Lincoln on their honeymoon, just before going to live in Tom’s house in Connecticut.
Their wedding, which took place during the Civil War, provided a welcome escape from the sad problems of war. Not willing to let this bit of sunshine fade, communities throughout the country sponsored “Tom Thumb” weddings. In these weddings, small boys and girls, all dressed up, went through marriage ceremony for fun.
1.“the talk of the town” means _________ .
A.they were in the newspaper |
B.people spread mean rumors about them |
C.they were the most popular things happening |
D.they were discussed in a city meeting |
2.What does the author think about Tom Thumb’s wedding?
A.People gave it too much of their attention. |
B.It helped people cheer up in a dark time. |
C.It was funny and ridiculous. |
D.Tom and Lavinia were stupid. |
3. Which of the following is the best clue to the fact that Tom was smart?
A.He became a billionaire at twenty-five. |
B.He learned how to sing, dance, and act at a very young age. |
C.He met with President Lincoln during his honeymoon. |
D.He married a school teacher. |
4. It was very funny when Tom danced on a wooden plate held by a person who was eight feet tall because ________ .
A.the wooden plate would make it sound as if Tom were tap dancing |
B.it made Tom feel taller |
C.the eight-foot-tall man was the only tall person Tom trusted |
D.the difference between them would make Tom look even smaller |
5. What does the author imply in the last paragraph?
A.Weddings always make people feel full of sunshine. |
B.People are always disappointed during wartime. |
C.Entertainment can serve an important purpose. |
D.People should be married even if they are small. |
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
When Charles Stratton was five, he stopped growing.His mother took him to see the famous showman, P.T.Barnum.Mr..Barnum thought a small person would be the perfect addition to his show.He hired Charles' parents along with him, and they traveled the world together.
He gave the two-foot-tall Charles a name, General Tom Thumb. He taught Tom how to sing, dance, act and tell jokes.When he felt Tom was ready to perform on stage, he made up ads.To stir up great interest, he said that Tom was eleven years old and had come from England.
During the show, Tom fought battles pretendedly with tall people.He also danced upon a wooden plate held by a person who was eight feet tall.Tom's act was very popular and brought in a lot of money.By the time Tom was an adult, he had grown very rich.He had become a billionaire at the age of twenty five.
Fortunately for Tom, Mr..Barnum added more little people to his show, and Tom became lucky in love as well.One of the little people was Lavinia Warren, a schoolteacher.Tom was able to win her love, and they married.
The ceremony and reception were the talk of the town.They were attended by many rich and famous people and by about 2000 guests.Crowds filled the streets of New York to have a look at their tiny wedding marriage.The couple even met with President Abraham Lincoln on their honeymoon just before going to live in Tom's house in Connecticut.
Their wedding, which took place during the Civil War, provided a welcome escape from the sad problems of war.Not willing to let this bit of sunshine fade, communities throughout the country sponsored "Tom Thumb" weddings.In these weddings, small boys and girls, all dressed up, went through marriage ceremony for fun.
1.The underlined words "talk of the town" means________.
A. it was in the newspaper
B. it was the most popular topic
C. people spread bad rumors about it
D. it was discussed in a city meeting
2.Which one of the following statements is true according to the text?
A. Charles mother took him to see the famous showman because he stopped growing.
B. Tom had to fight with others during the show.
C. Tom’s wedding ceremony helped people cheer up in a dark time.
D. Tom and his mother came from England.
3.What is the main idea of the last paragraph?
A. Weddings always make people feel full of sunshine.
B. People are always disappointed during war time.
C. Entertainment can serve an important purpose.
D. People should be married when they are small children.
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
When Charles Stratton was five, he stopped growing. His mother took him to see the famous showman, P. T. Barnum. Mr. Barnum thought a small person would be the perfect addition to his show. He hired Charles’ parents along with him, and they traveled the world together.
He gave the two-foot-tall Charles a name, General Tom Thumb. He taught Tom how to sing, dance, act and tell jokes. When he felt Tom was ready to perform on stage, he made up ads. To stir up great interest, he said that Tom was eleven years old and had come from England.
During the show, Tom fought battles pretendedly with tall people. He also danced upon a wooden plate held by a person who was eight feet tall. Tom’s act was very popular and brought in a lot of money. By the time Tom was an adult, he had grown very rich. He had become a billionaire at the age of twenty five.
Fortunately for Tom, Mr. Barnum added more little people to his show, and Tom became lucky in love as well. One of the little people was Lavinia Warren, a schoolteacher. Tom was able to win her love, and they married.
The ceremony and reception were the talk of the town. They were attended by many rich and famous people and by about 2000 guests. Crowds filled the streets of New York to have a look at their tiny wedding marriage. The couple even met with President Abraham Lincoln on their honeymoon just before going to live in Tom’s house in Connecticut.
Their wedding, which took place during the Civil War, provided a welcome escape from the sad problems of war. Not willing to let this bit of sunshine fade, communities throughout the country sponsored(发起) “Tom Thumb” weddings. In these weddings, small boys and girls, all dressed up, went through marriage ceremony for fun.
1.“Talk of the town” means .
A. it was in the newspaper
B. people spread bad rumors about it
C. it was the most popular happenings
D. it was discussed in a city meeting
2.What does the author think about Tom’s wedding?
A. It helped people cheer up in a dark time.
B. People gave it too much of their attention.
C. It was funny and ridiculous.
D. Tom and Lavinia were stupid.
3.Tom would dance on a wooden plate held by a person who was eight feet tall because .
A. the wooden plate would make it sound as if Tom was dancing
B. it made Tom look taller
C. the eight–foot–tall man was the only tall person Tom trusted
D. the difference between them would make Tom look even smaller
4.What is the main idea of the last paragraph?
A. Weddings always make people feel full of sunshine.
B. People are always disappointed during war time.
C. Entertainment can serve an important purpose.
D. People should be married when they are small children.
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
Mark felt that it was time for him, to take part in his community, so he went to the neighborhood meeting after work. The area’s city councilwoman (女议员) was leading a discussion about how the quality of life was decreasing. The neighborhood faced many problems.
Mark looked at the charts taped to the walls. There are charts for parking problems, crime, and for problems in vacant buildings. People were supposed to suggest solutions to the councilwoman.
It was too much for Mark. “The problems are too big,” he thought. He turned to the man next to him and said, “I think this is a waste of my time. Nothing I could do would make a difference here.”
Mark thought some more on his way to the bus stop. “People should just take care of themselves,” he decided. “That’s enough to do. I can’t take on all the problems of the world.”
As he neared the bus stop, Mark saw a woman carrying a grocery bag and a baby. She was trying to unlock her car, but she didn’t have a free hand. As Mark got closer, her other child, a little boy, suddenly darted into the street. The woman tried to reach for him, but as she moved, her bag shifted and the groceries started to fall out. Mark ran to take the boy’s arm and led him back to his mother. Then he picked up the groceries while the woman smiled in relief. ‘‘Thanks!” she said. “You’ve got great timing!”
“Just being neighborly,” Mark said. As he rode home, he glanced at the walls of the bus. On one of them was “Small acts of kindness add up.” Mark smiled and thought, “Maybe that’s a good place to start.”
1.It is known from the passage that .
A. Mark played an active part in community activities
B. the city councilwoman was responsible for the falling of life quality
C. visual aids were used to display the seriousness of problems
D. many people were discouraged by the many problems facing them
2.In Mark’s opinion, .
A. nobody was so able as to solve the problems
B. he was not in the position to solve such problems
C. many people were too selfish to think about others
D. he already had more than enough work to do
3.What is the implication of the Words on the bus wall?
A. You should be kind to your neighbors and they will treat you the same way.
B. Everyone can play his own part to make things better.
C. All small acts will add up to kindness.
D. It’s a small act to help a person in need.
4.The passage is mainly about .
A. how individuals can help make a difference
B. running a neighborhood meeting to solve its problems
C. citizens’ reactions to the problems they face
D. solving problems through group action
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
Mark felt that it was time for him to take part in his community, so he went to the neighborhood meeting after work. The area city council (委员会) woman was leading a discussion about how the quality of life was decreasing. The neighborhood faced many problems. Mark looked at the charts taped to the walls. There were charts for parking problems, crime, and for problems in vacant buildings. Mark read from the charts, “Police patrols(巡逻) cut back, illegal parking up 20%”. People were supposed to suggest solutions to the councilwoman. It was too much for Mark. "The problems are too big," he thought. He turned to the man next to him and said, "I think this is a waste of my time. Nothing I could do would make a difference here."
As he neared the bus stop on his way home, Mark saw a woman carrying a grocery bag and a baby. As Mark got closer, her other child, a little boy, suddenly dashed into the street. The woman tried to reach for him, but as she moved, her bag shifted (滑落), and groceries started to fall out. Mark ran to take the boy's arm and led him back to his mother. Then he picked up the groceries while the woman smiled in relief. "Thanks!" she said. "You've got great timing!" "Just being neighborly," Mark said. As he rode home, he glanced at the walls of the bus. On one of them was “Small acts of kindness add up.”, Mark smiled and thought, "Maybe that's a good place to start."
1.Why did Mark go to the neighborhood meeting?
A. To join in the neighborhood patrols.
B. To do something for his community.
C. To voice his complaints to the city council.
D. To collect suggestions for the community problems.
2.What was being discussed when Mark arrived at the neighborhood meeting?
A. The worsening in the quality of life.
B. The increase of police patrols at night.
C. The rebuilding of vacant buildings.
D. The violation(违反) of community regulations.
3.What did Mark think of the community’s problems?
A. They may take a long time to be solved.
B. They need to be solved with the assistance from the city.
C. They have to be dealt with one by one.
D. They are too big for single efforts.
4.Why did Mark smile on his ride home?
A. He had got some groceries at a big discount.
B. He had read a funny poster near his seat.
C. He had done a small deed of kindness.
D. He had caught the bus just in time.
高二英语阅读理解简单题查看答案及解析
When we found him, he was a sorry sight. His clothes were torn, his hands bleeding. Before we reached him, we saw him fall. He lay a moment. Then he pulled himself to his feet, walked unsteadily a few yards through the woods and fell again. After we got him out, we went back to find the gun that he had thrown down. His tracks showed that for two days he had circled in the forest, within 200 yards of the road. His senses were so dulled by fear and tiredness that he did not hear the cars going by or see the lights at night. We found him just in time.
This man, like others before him, had simply been frightened when he knew he was lost. What had been a near disaster might have turned out as only a pleasant walk, if he had made a few preparations before he stepped from the highway or off a known path.
Whatever sense of direction that a man may have, it’s still largely a question of observation. A skilled woodsman always keeps an eye on his surroundings. He notes the shape of a mountain, the direction water flows through a swamp, and the way a tree leans across a path. With these in mind, he is still likely to turn around many times, but he is seldom lost.
There are exceptions, of course, and once in a while a man does come across some strange problem that puts him into the “lost” situation. A rainstorm may catch him without a compass in his pocket. Darkness may find him in a rough area, where travel is dangerous without a light.
When this happens, the normal first reaction is the fear of being laughed at as a result of his poor knowledge in the woods. He may also be concerned about the inconvenience that he will cause his friends when he doesn’t show up. This false pride may lead him to keep on the move in a false effort to find his way against all difficulties.
The person who thinks ahead is seldom in great danger. He’ll be safe if he observes carefully, thinks ahead, and remains calm.
1.The writer suggested that if the man had not been found, ___________.
A. he would have been shot by a gun
B. he would have become confused
C. he would have been attacked by wild animals
D. he would have been in great danger
2.According to the text, if a person gets lost in the forest, at the very beginning, ___________.
A. he will worry about being laughed at
B. he will push himself to find his way out
C. he will feel sorry that he didn’t prepare well enough
D. he will feel it is convenient to ask for help from his friends
3.What is the most important when a person tries to find his way in the woods?
A. Intelligence. B. Observation.
C. Direction. D. Chance.
4.The writer tells the story of the lost man as an example of people who_________.
A. go into the woods by themselves
B. keep their head when they are in trouble
C. are frightened when they think they are lost
D. don’t know how to signal for help properly
高二英语阅读理解困难题查看答案及解析
The Pathfinder
When we found him, he was a sorry sight. His clothes were torn, his hands bleeding. Before we reached him, we saw him fall. He lay a moment. Then he pulled himself to his feet, walked unsteadily a few yards through the woods and fell again.
After we got him out, we went back to find the gun that he had thrown down. His tracks showed that for two days he had circled in the forest, within 200 yards of the road. His senses were so dulled by fear and tiredness that he did not hear the cars going by or see the lights at night.
We found him just in time.
This man, like others before him, had simply been frightened when he knew he was lost. What had been a near disaster might have turned out as only a pleasant walk, had he made a few preparations before he stepped from the highway or off a known path.
Whatever sense of direction that a man may have, it’s still largely a question of observation. A skilled woodsman always keeps an eye on his surroundings. He notes that the shape of a mountain, the direction water flows through a swamp, and the way a tree leans across a path. With these in mind, he may be turned around many times, but he is seldom lost.
There are exceptions, of course, and once in a while a man does come across some strange problem that puts him into the “lost” situation. A rainstorm or sudden blizzard may catch him without a compass(指南针)in his pocket. Darkness may find him in a rough area, where travel is dangerous without a light.
When this happens, the normal first reaction(反应)is the fear of being laughed at as a result of his poor knowledge in the woods. He may also be concerned about the inconvenience that he will cause his friends when he doesn’t show up. This false pride may lead him to keep on the move in a false effort to find his way against all difficulties.
The person who thinks ahead is seldom in great danger. He’ll be safe if he observes carefully, thinks ahead, and remains calm.
1 The author suggested that if the man had not been found, he would have __________.
A. been shot by a gun B. become confused
C. been attacked by wild animals D. been in great danger
2. According to the passage, if a person gets lost in the forest, at the very beginning, he would __________.
A. worry about being laughed at
B. push himself to find his way out
C. feel it is convenient to ask for help from his friends
D. be concerned about being frightened by wild animals
3. When a person tries to find his way in the woods, __________ is the most important
A. intelligence B. observation C. direction D. chance
4. The author tells the story of the lost man as an example of people who __________.
A. go into the woods by themselves
B. don’t know how to signal for help properly
C. are frightened when they think they are lost
D. notice everything when stepping from the highway
高二英语阅读理解简单题查看答案及解析