Thomas Cook, a 178-year-old British travel co...

Thomas Cook, a 178-year-old British travel company, declared bankruptcy （破 产） early Monday morning, ________operations and leaving thousands of tourists stuck around the world.

A.substituting B.subscribing C.suspending D.squeezing

高三英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析

The British government declared that a ''proper piece of work'' was being carried out to look into the possibility of linking Scotland to Northern Ireland via a bridge spanning the Irish Sea. At the moment, the leading candidates for the locations of the route are Portpatrick on the Scottish coast and Larne on the Northern Irish coast.

Length aside, there are a number of other significant challenges that such an enormous project would raise. For example, there’s the depth of the sea, which at times reaches 300 metres, and the large spans that would be required to let any ships pass under the bridge safely, explained Ian Firth, a structural engineer at the Institution of Civil Engineers.

''One solution might be to use floating foundations. '' he said. ''You have a floating pontoon(水上浮台) held below the surface of the water.You still have to get down there and drill holes in the rock down below, but you're now just tying it down with some cables. Then the floating platform is held below the waves----you don't want it at the surface because then you’re getting wave action and tidal action. You stand your bridge structures on those floating platforms. That’s the sort of thing that potentially could be doable. ''

Even so, such a structure would still leave those travelling across it at the mercy of high winds and heavy rain, even taking into account any weather shielding measures that could be fitted. However, there may be another solution.

''There's another type of floating structure, a submerged(水下的) floating tunnel. It’s not through the rock but under the water, '' said Firth. ''You attach it down, shall we say 20 metres below the water, so that ships can go happily across the top of it, but the thing is actually floating. If you're in your car, you’re driving, in effect, through a tunnel. That is a very interesting, and I think really quite potentially practical solution. ''

But it's early days and there are many factors to consider, such as the ability of the transport links either side of the crossing to cope with additional traffic, and the fact that it may be more efficient to upgrade the existing ferry infrastructure, before any kind of design work could begin.

''At the moment it is an idea and not much more than that. To begin with, we'd need a pre-feasibility study which looks at what the options are so that we can actually frame the range of a feasibility(可行性) study, '' said Firth, ''After that people like me could go away and turn over what the options are. I believe it's possible. But 'possible' and 'affordable' are two different things. I’m not trying to put numbers to it, but it is eye-wateringly expensive, and nothing like it has been attempted before. But we're in the business of finding solutions to challenges. We civil structural engineers are good at that kind of thing. ''

1.From Paragraphs 1 and 2, engineers may focus efforts on the ______ of the bridge-to-be.

A.cost B.location

C.structure D.reliability

2.What might be the major drawback to the first solution?

A.It is impossible to build a bridge on floating platforms.

B.It takes much labor to tie floating platforms with cables.

C.Wave and tidal action can easily destroy floating platforms.

D.Traffic flow will be subject to severe weather conditions.

3.What can we learn from Firth's words in the last paragraph?

A.Bridge construction is more of an assumption than a detailed plan.

B.Engineers have reached a consensus on the feasibility of the project.

C.They are trying to update the structural design to control costs.

D.Previous similar attempts do help them draw up a feasible plan.

4.Which of the following might be the best title of the passage?

A.Why not float?

B.A bridge too far?

C.Overlooking the Irish Sea

D.Meeting new Scottish friends

高三英语阅读理解困难题查看答案及解析

I guess she meant that if you’re middle aged and don’t have a car then you are a loser. How arrogant (傲慢) and ignorant！

Unfortunately, there are still people who think that way: that somehow public transport is only for the poor. And the rest have a right to their cars. Some wealthy folk in the West look down on buses and boast (吹嘘) about how many years it has been since they last traveled by one.

How sad is that? Our roads are packed with cars and the air is full of the pollution they emit (排放). But still, many car users are unwillingly to get on a bus or a bike or a train to take themselves to work.

It’s convenient to drive, they’ll say. Buses are so unreliable, they’ll claim. And trains are expensive ---- at least in the UK.

It’s an attitude which may have to change. It doesn’t make sense to drive a car in a city where there’s a public transport system. Also, these rush hour commuters (往返上班者) usually travel alone.

As a result, transport authorities in the UK are looking at solutions to city center congestion (拥堵).

One is to increase the number of parking spaces at out-of-town railway stations. More motorists (乘汽车的人) can then leave their cars and travel into the city by train.

Light rail or tramways are another environmentally friendly solution. Many cities across Europe have installed light rail or tramway systems.

The subway in London is used by everyone, rich and poor. It’s the quickest way of getting around the city, whatever your bank balance.

And then there are the cycle hire schemes you find in many modern cities. In London and Paris, you can hire a bike by the hour to get you where you need to go.

While commuters in Beijing abandon their bicycles for cars, cycling to work grows in popularity in the West.

Many cyclists are willing to pay more than 10,000 yuan for their bicycles. Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, is often pictured cycling to work. David Cameron, the British prime minister, cycled to the House of Commons before he became leader. These days he takes the prime ministerial limousine (豪华轿车).

1.. According to the article, some British people, like the upper class woman, think that ________.

A. buses are inconvenient                B. bus services are unnecessary

C. having a car is a sign of success         D. only the upper class should have cars

2. Which of the following measures is taken by transport authorities in the UK to solve city center congestion?

A. The development of cycle hire schemes.

B. Increasing the number of parking spaces in the city center.

C. Installing light rail or tramway systems in out-of-town areas.

D. Banning commuters from traveling alone during rush hour.

3.The author mentions the example of Boris Johnson in the last paragraph to ________.

A. express his respect for the mayor of London

B. point to the growing popularity of cycling to work in the West

C. criticize Beijing commuters for abandoning their bicycles for cars

D. show that cars are still the most common means of transportation for famous people in Britain

4. Which of the following might the writer agree with?

A. The British prime minister should give up his limousine.

B. Beijing commuters should learn from British commuters.

C. British solutions to public transport problems are inadequate.

D. Many car owners need to change their attitudes if the traffic problem is to

高三英语阅读理解困难题查看答案及解析

After 30 years 1._____ a pilot, Captain Peter Elliott got to fly holiday-makers on a Thomas Cook flight from Birmingham, UK, to Tenerife, Spain with his daughter.

Senior First Officer Laura Elliott 2.____(fly) for six years but has never before got to work with her father.　 “It’s my dream to be able to fly with my Dad,” she said.

It had seemed unlikely that the pair would ever co-pilot 3._____ same aircraft because Miss Elliott learned to fly on Airbus planes when she joined the company in 2009, and her father flew Boeings. However, after Peter Elliott, 59, retrained to fly Airbuses, their dream of flying together came true.

Miss Elliott, 30, became interested in flying when4.____(inspire) by her father with a trial flight as her birthday present. Miss Elliott said: “Becoming a pilot was never something I had considered. It was only when my Dad bought me a trial flight for my 18th birthday5.____ I considered following in my Dad’s footsteps.”

The pair finally sat in the cockpit (驾驶员座舱) together and Mr Elliott made an announcement to passengers6.___ the flight made it a special day for him as he was flying with his daughter.

Miss Elliott recalled the flight, 7.____(say), “I was initially nervous and he kept asking 8._____ I was nervous or not. It was like going for a driving lesson with him. Thankfully, everything went smoothly and the passengers loved it. If it ever happens again, I will definitely be a lot9.____(relaxed).”

高三英语语法填空中等难度题查看答案及解析

听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。

1.Where does Thomas Manning work?

A. In the Guinness Company.　　 B. At a radio station.　　 C. In a museum.

2.Where did the idea of a book of records come from?

A. A bird-shooting trip.　　 B. A visit to Europe.　　 C. A television talk show.

3.When did Sir Hugh's first book of records

A. In 1875.　　 B. In 1950.　　 C. In 1955.

4.What are the two speakers going to talk about next?

A. More records of unusual facts.　　 B. The founder of the company.

C. The oldest person in the world

高三英语短文困难题查看答案及解析

听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。

1.Where does Thomas Manning work?

A. In the Guinness Company.

B. At a radio station.

C. In a museum.

2.Where did the idea of a book of records come from?

A. A bird-shooting trip.

B. A visit to Europe.

C. A television talk show.

3.When did Sir Hugh’s first book of records appear?

A. In 1875.　　 B. In 1950.　　 C. In 1955.

4.What are the two speakers going to talk about next?

A. More records of unusual facts.

B. The founder of the company.

C. The oldest person in the world.

高三英语短文简单题查看答案及解析

Charlotte Hollins faces a battle. The 23-year-old British farmer and her 21-year-old brother Ben are fighting to save farm that their father worked on since he was 14. Although confident they will succeed, she is aware of farming’s many challenges.

“You don’t often get a day off. Supermarkets put a lot of pressure on farmers to keep prices low. With fewer people working on farms it can be isolating,” she said. “There is a high rate of suicide and farming will never make you rich!”

Like others around the world, Charlotte’s generation tend to leave the farm for cities.

Oliver Robinson, 25, grew up in Yorkshire. But he never considered staying on his father and grandfather’s land. “I’m sure Dad hoped I’d stay,” he said. “I guess it’s a nice, straightforward life, but it doesn’t appeal to me. For young, ambitious people, farm life is hard.”

For Robinson, farming doesn’t offer much “in terms of money or lifestyle”. Hollins agrees that economic factors stop people from enjoying the rewards of farming. He describes it as a career that provides “for a vital human need”, allowing people to work “outdoors with nature.”

Farming is a big political issue in the UK. The “Buy British” campaigns urge consumers not to purchase cheaper imported foods. The 2001 foot and mouth crisis closed thousands of farms, stopped meat exports, and raised public consciousness about the troubles on UK farms.

Celebrity chef Jamie Oliver’s 2005 campaign to get children eating healthily also highlighted the issue.

This national concern gives hope to farmers competing with powerful supermarkets. While most people buy food from the big supermarkets, hundreds of independent Farmers’ Markets are becoming popular.

“I started going to Farmers’ Markets in direct defiance(违抗) of the big supermarkets. I seriously objected to the super-sizing of everything－what exactly do they put on our apples to make them so big and red? It’s terrible,” said Londoner Michaela Samson, 31.

1.What are the challenges that British farmers face according to Charlotte Hollins?

a. loneliness                       b. thin profits

c. a lack of good equipment        d. long working hours but slow results

A．abc              B．abd              C．acd              D．bcd

2.Why did Oliver Robinson refuse to stay on the farm?

A．He hoped for a simpler life

B．He was fed up with a hard farm life.

C．Farm life was too demanding though he liked it.

D．He hoped for something challenging and rewarding.

3.What happened in 2001 to the British beef farmers?

A．British people ate more British beef.

B．To be a beef farmer became profitable.

C．Diseaes dramatically reduced the amount of beef available.

D．Foreign farmers stopped selling beef to Britain.

4.Which of the following is an advantage of Farmers’ Markets?

A．Lower prices.                          B．Flexible sizes.

C．Convenient location.                     D．Healthier food.

5.What can we conclude from the last two paragraphs?

A．Things are improving for independent farms in the UK.

B．Farming in the UK can now match the powerful supermarkets.

C．Most British people are doubtful of food in supermarkets.

D．Most British people have realized the problems facing farms and begun to help save them.

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

Felicity Miller, a 32-year-old British woman, 1. has a Chinese husband, still remembers the 2.(excite) when she first learned to use the “red packet” function on WeChat in 2015. She sent and grabbed some red packets in her Chinese family’s group. The rule in her family was that the person who grabbed the 3.(high) amount sent the next. Attracted by the unique way of communicating, many foreigners 4.(join) in sending and grabbing red packets so far. Usually, the money in each packet is random. Thus the amount of money one can grab 5.(large) depends on his or her luck, from 0.01 yuan to less than 200 yuan. Many foreigners get more familiar 6. Chinese culture through “red packets”. Two years ago, when Felicity Miller was sent 5.20 or 8.88 yuan red packets, she had no clue about the 7.(hide) meanings. Now, she has known about them. However, the popularity of virtual red packets doesn’t stop people sending paper red packets 8.(contain) real cash during the Spring Festival. It 9.(call) lucky money. In Chinese tradition, people take lucky money for children as 10. blessing.

高三英语短文填空中等难度题查看答案及解析

A new study, conducted by British company Mindlab International, has found that listening to music at work increases accuracy and speed, The Telegraph reported. Perhaps, some parents disagree with this idea, saying, "Switch off the music and concentrate!" Well, if that's the case with your parents, you might now be able to convince them that you have science on your side.

The company gave 26 participants a series of different tasks for five days in a row, including spell checking, mathematical word problems, data entry, and abstract reasoning. The participants completed these tasks while listening to music or no music at all.

The results showed that while music was playing, 88% of participants produced their most accurate test results and 81% completed their fastest work. David Lewis, chairman of Mindlab International, told The Telegraph, "Music is a very powerful management tool if you want to increase not only the efficiency of your workforce but also their emotional state... they are going to become more positive about the work."

However, you may have a list of your favorite songs, but not all kinds of music match all homework. For maths or other subjects involving numbers or attention to detail, you should listen to classical music, the study found. In the study, pop music enabled participants to complete their tasks 58% faster than when listening to no music at all. If you are reviewing your English writing, pop music is the best choice, as it is the best kind for spell checking. It cut mistakes by 14%, compared to listening to no music. After finishing your homework, do you often take time to check your answers? Maybe, some dance music is suitable for you.

1.Which of the following can be the best title for the passage?

A. Music helps us to learn

B. We cannot live without music

C. Different music, different lives

D. Music in the classroom.

2.What did the participants have to do in the study？

A. Persuade their parents to listen to music.

B. Listen to the same music together.

C. Try their best to choose the most suitable music.

D. Finish tasks with music or without music at all.

3.What does the underlined word "they" refer to in Para 3？

A. tools　　 B. results

C. tests　　 D. participants

4.When you review your English writing, what kind of music is the best choice？

A. Classical music　　 B. Dance music

C. Pop music　　 D. Rock music

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

A 23-year-old British woman has invented a product she hopes will one day replace single-use plastic.

The new product is made by combining fishing waste and algae (水藻).It could be used to replace plastic bags or containers that people use once and throw away. Lucy Hughes created the material, called MarinaTex, for her final year project at the University.

MarinaTex is edible, to put it in another way, it can be tasted without danger. Hughes says it is also strong and stable. But unlike plastic, MarinaTex biodegrades (生物降解)in four to six weeks under normal conditions and does not pollute the soil. The inventor said she is concerned about the growing amounts of plastics in ocean waters. She noted one report that there would be more plastic than fish in the world's oceans by the year 2050. The United Nations estimates that 100 million tons of plastic waste has already been left in the oceans. Hughes also was investigating ways to reduce the amount of waste from the fishing industry. The industry produces an estimated 50 million tons of waste worldwide each year, UN officials say.

Examining fish parts left over from processing helped to give her the idea for a material that was useful and did no harm to the environment. “Why do we need to have hundreds of man-made polymers (聚合体)when nature has so many already available?" she asked. After months of testing, Hughes produced a strong, flexible sheet that forms at temperatures below 100 degrees Celsius. Inventor James Dyson said that MarinaTex is “stronger, safer and much more sustainable (可持续的)”than plastic. It is also easier to break down. Hughes will receive about $ 41,000 prize money as the first place winner of the James Dyson Award. She plans to use the money to further develop the product and ways to mass produce it. "Further research and development will ensure that MarinaTex evolves further, and becomes part of a global answer to the abundance of single use plastic waste," Dyson said.

1.What do we know about MarinaTex?

A.It is a safe seafood.

B.It is a kind of waste.

C.It is a new kind of plastic.

D.It is a safe material that can replace plastic.

2.What does the underlined word “edible" in paragraph 2 mean?

A.Useful. B.Eatable.

C.Replaceable. D.Delicious.

3.What gets Hughes to creat MarinaTex?

A.Her concern about the growing amount of plastic in ocean.

B.Her occupational habit of trying out new things.

C.Her hope to help develop the fishing industry.

D.Her desire to win the prize money.

4.What can we infer from the last paragrach?

A.We need to have hundreds of MarinaTex available.

B.Hughes produced MarinaTex without much effort.

C.MarinaTex will be a good solution to plastic waste.

D.Hughes is the first winner of the James Dyson Award.

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析