Have you dreamed of building your own machine? Do you wish you could invent something new? Here we look at a few British inventions of recent times.
Adaptable glasses
Do you wear glasses? If so, can you imagine life without them? In 1985, Joshua Silver, a professor at Oxford University, asked himself, “Can I invent a pair of glasses that could be changed by the wearer?” He designed two plastic lenses(透鏡)that are filled with a special liquid. Using syringes(注射器)you change the liquid between the lenses until you can see clearly. The glasses are not beautiful but they are easy to use and cheap to make.
The wind-up radio
When you switch your TV on tonight, think about all those people without electricity. Thinking about this, Trevor Baylis came up with the idea of designing a radio that could be powered by hand. In common with Joshua Silver he wanted his invention to be cheap and easy to use. He wanted even the poorest people in developing countries, who don’t have electricity and cannot afford batteries, to use it. The radio has a generator (發(fā)電機(jī)) which is powered by turning a handle. In 1996 it won a BBC Design Award for Best Protect and Best Design.
The Dyson cleaner
In many homes around the world you can see a cleaner that looks like a spaceship. This is the Dyson vacuum (真空) cleaner which uses something called “cyclonic separation” to separate the dirt. You do not need a bag for your cleaner and it does not get blocked so it is very practical. The idea came to Sir James Dyson after he kept having problems with his vacuum cleaner. He decided he could design a better one and in 1993 he opened his own factory. The Dyson is now one of the best-selling cleaners in the UK and Dyson is believed to have earned over a billion pounds.
The Zapata fly-board
Ever dreamed of zooming through the water and leaping in the air like a dolphin? Now you can thanks to a fly-board, built by water sports enthusiast Frank Zapata. With it you can dive back in the water and out again. It’s possible to jump to incredible heights out of the water — over 30 feet. The basic fly-board model comes in at £4,200.
So keep dreaming and inventing. One day you might get it right.
小題1:What can we learn about Adaptable glasses?
A.They are very expensive.B.The inventor is a student.
C.The glasses are fragile.D.They don’t look very nice.
小題2:Which invention won an award?
A.Adaptable glasses.B.The wind-up radio.
C.The Dyson cleaner.D.The Zapata fly-board.
小題3:The Dyson cleaner was invented with the purpose of _________.
A.helping people use cleaners more easily
B.making Dyson a rich businessman
C.keeping the house cleaner than before
D.taking the place of human cleaners

小題1:D
小題2:B
小題3:A

試題分析:你是否夢想過制造屬于自己的機(jī)器?你想發(fā)明一些新東西嗎?這里是一些當(dāng)代的英國發(fā)明。文章主要介紹了四種發(fā)明創(chuàng)造。
小題1:根據(jù)最后一句“The glasses are not beautiful but they are easy to use and cheap to make.”可知,可調(diào)整的眼鏡不美觀,但是使用方便,制作便宜。故選D。
小題2:根據(jù)“In 1996 it won a BBC Design Award for Best Protect and Best Design.”可知,the wind-up radio獲過獎。故選B。
小題3:根據(jù)“You do not need a bag for your cleaner and it does not get blocked so it is very practical.”和“He decided he could design a better one”可知,這種吸塵器很實用,發(fā)明它的目的是為了更容易使用。故選A。
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科目:高中英語 來源:不詳 題型:閱讀理解

Summer school is something a kid will never forget. For some, it's a way to advance past their classmates. For most, summer school is a requirement in order to graduate with their classmates. I can remember being forced into taking a summer school course. It was not the school that forced me into this awkward situation, it was my mother.
I was a 16-year-old kid in a new school. My school did not offer summer courses so I had to take my course at an alternative school in the city. It was an experience I will never forget. I was not concerned with making friends. I was there to get credit(學(xué)分)for a course that I should have received for the previous semester. It was my doing that landed me in the situation and it was important that I understood this.
The fees were the lowest but the experience was amazing. I enjoyed I didn’t miss the day. The course was from Monday to Friday for an entire month. I passed the course with an A. I was thrown into an awkward situation but actually enjoyed it. My friends didn't even know I took the course. Most of them were still sleeping by the time my course ended each day.
Awkward situations are so important for personal growth. This situation made me feel more independent. I made friends. I finally understood what sacrifice and hard work were all about. While attending college, I remembered how much I enjoyed summer school and I chose to take summer school in my first three years of college. Some kids get pushed too much but some don't get pushed enough. I was never pushed enough.
Enable your children to struggle for success. If your child needs summer school you explain to them why it's important. Some parents are surprised by the situation and may want to be more involved in their children’s education. Follow through and follow up.
小題1:Most students go to the summer school in order to ____.
A.find good jobs
B.become top students in their class
C.have a chance to make more friends
D.graduate successfully on time
小題2:What made the author go to summer school for the first time?
A.What he had done.B.His mother's wish.
C.His own requirement.D.Study competition.
小題3:Which of the following was NOT the benefit got by the author through attending summer school?
A.It helped him get rid of bad habits.
B.It helped him make new friends.
C.It helped him understand what sacrifice and hard work were.
D.It increased his independence.
小題4:From the last paragraph we can learn that the author _______.
A.does not like summer school at all even though it is useful
B.thinks summer school is unnecessary for children
C.encourages parents to make their children attend summer school
D.is against forcing children to attend summer school

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科目:高中英語 來源:不詳 題型:完形填空

Graduation day is a major accomplishment for anyone in high school. After      your whole life in classrooms, though, what will be next? For some people, graduation is the        time they ever want to see a        again. For others, it is the next step in their education. And the few that are not       either way yet will most likely either go on to college or go into the military. There are always a few people in every        class that don't know what to do,        if you make a good choice, you will not be one of them.
Some of those people that decide that they never want to       a classroom again will most likely       some sort of simple jobs. Others will either find a way aside from school to better themselves,       through travel or giving back to the community.
High school graduates that already have their futures        0ut are pretty rare. They are the       who have been preparing for college from the first day that they         high school. They most likely applied early to the schools that they were interested       and have already dedicated themselves to the career        they want. Most of them will become doctors, lawyers, and business people, etc.
The last group of people is the biggest. It is the students who _     know that they want to do something but have no idea what. Some of them will _      the military and proudly serve our country. Others will go on t0       , take basic courses, and then decide what they want to major in. There will be some students even         to a technical school to learn a specific     that they can contribute to the workforce.        is a stepping stone that can lead you on to better things if you will let it.
小題1:
A.costingB.spendingC.takingD.paying
小題2:
A.lastB.firstC.onlyD.special
小題3:
A.classmateB.teacherC.classroomD.blackboard
小題4:
A.worriedB.a(chǎn)fraidC.gladD.sure
小題5:
A.learningB.graduatingC.trainingD.cooking
小題6:
A.but B.a(chǎn)ndC.orD.then
小題7:
A.noticeB.lookC.watchD.see
小題8:
A.set upB.turn upC.take upD.look up
小題9:
A.eitherB.neitherC.bothD.a(chǎn)ll
小題10:
A.decided B.chosenC.plannedD.realized
小題11:
A. parentsB. studentsC. teachersD. friends
小題12:
A.retumed B.reachedC.wentD.entered
小題13:
A.inB.onC.forD.with
小題14:
A.whoB.thatC.whatD.where
小題15:
A.evenB.everC.onlyD.very
小題16:
A.joinB.takeC.needD.a(chǎn)ttend
小題17:
A.factoryB.officeC.shopD.college
小題18:
A.working onB.going onC.keeping onD.tuming on
小題19:
A.a(chǎn)bilityB.talkC.skillD.job
小題20:
A.Imagination B.EducationC.LearningD.Graduation

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科目:高中英語 來源:不詳 題型:閱讀理解

Life is to be enjoyed. There’s no point in giving up something you enjoy unless you get something back that’s even better. When people eat more healthfully, exercise, quit smoking, and manage stress better, they find that they feel so much better that it reconstructs the reason for making these changes from fear of dying to joy of living. The latest studies show that when you exercise and eat right:
YOUR BRAIN receives more blood flow and oxygen, so you become smarter, think more clearly, have more energy, and need less sleep. Two studies showed that just walking for three hours per week for only three months caused so many new neurons (神經(jīng)細(xì)胞) to grow that it actually increased the size of people’s brains!
YOUR FACE receives more blood flow, so your skin glows more and wrinkles less. You look younger and more attractive. In contrast, an unhealthy diet, chronic emotional stress and smoking reduce blood flow to your face so you age more quickly. Smoking accelerates aging because nicotine causes your arteries (動脈) to narrow down, which decreases blood flow to your face and makes it wrinkle earlier. This is why smokers look years older than they really are.
YOUR GENES change. In May, a study was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences showing that changing your lifestyle changes your genes.
YOUR TELOMERES (染色體端粒) get longer. Telomeres are the ends of our chromosomes (染色體) that control how long we live. As telomeres become shorter, then cells age more quickly, thus shortening your life.
Besides, one of the most interesting findings in the study was that the mothers’ awareness of stress was more important than what was really occurring in their lives. The researchers gave the women a questionnaire and asked them to rate on a three-point scale how stressed they felt each day, and how out of control their lives felt to them. The women who were aware that they were under heavy stress had significantly shortened and damaged telomeres compared with those who felt more relaxed. On the contrary, some of the women who felt relaxed despite raising a disabled child had more normal-appearing telomeres.
In other words, if you feel stressed, you are stressed; if you feel fine, you are fine.
小題1:Which of the following are good for lengthening one’s life, according to the passage?
① eat healthy food ② drink plenty of water ③ take exercise ④ get up early
⑤ go to sleep early ⑥ release one’s stress
A.①③⑥B.①②③C.①⑤⑥D.③④⑥
小題2:The underlined words “your skin glows” in Paragraph 3 are closest in meaning to _________.
A.your skin becomes white as there is plenty of sunshine
B.your skin becomes smooth as there is much blood in it
C.your skin looks pink as you are healthy
D.your skin becomes soft as you exercise enough
小題3:In the author’s opinion, when you exercise and eat right, you will experience some changes EXCEPT _________.
A.brains becoming clevererB.faces having fewer wrinkles
C.a(chǎn)rteries turning narrowerD.genes being changed
小題4:From the last but one paragraph we learn that _________.
A.mothers will have more damaged telomeres if they raise a disabled child
B.mothers don’t know how to handle stress effectively
C.some women were asked to fill out a questionnaire about educating children
D.mothers’ positive attitudes are the key to managing their stress
小題5:The best title for the passage would be _________.  
A.Eat better, live betterB.Feel better, live longer
C.Less stress, fewer diseasesD.Smoke more, age sooner

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科目:高中英語 來源:不詳 題型:閱讀理解

How to be Prepared
Electricity, water, gas and telephone may not be working after an earthquake. The police and fire department are likely to be tied up. You should be prepared to take care of yourself for at least three days, preferably for a week.
This list can also be applied to other disasters, such as floods or wildfires.
1. food and water (a gallon a day per person)
2. a first aid kit
3. a fire extinguisher suitable for all types of fires
4. flashlights, a portable radio extra batteries
5. blankets, clothes, shoes and money (ATMs may not work)
6. baby and pet food
It’s also a good idea to decide beforehand how and where your family will reunite if separated during a quake and to conduct in-home practice drills.
During an Earthquake
If you are indoors, stay there. Get under and hold onto a desk or table, or stand against an interior wall. Stay away from exterior walls, glass, heavy furniture, and stay away from windows and outside walls and do not use the elevator.
If you are outside, get into the open, stay into the open, stay away from buildings, power lines or anything else that could fall on you.
If you are driving, move the car out of traffic and stop, avoid parking under or on bridges or overpasses, Try to get clear of trees, light posts, signs and power lines.
If you are in a crowded public place, avoid panicking and do not rush for the exit. Stay low and cover your head and neck with your hands and arms.
After an Earthquake
If the phone is working, only use it in case of emergency. Likewise, avoid driving if possible to keep the streets clear for emergency vehicles.
Be aware that items may fall out of cupboards or closets when the door is opened, and also that chimneys can be weakened and fall with touch. Check for cracks and damage to the roof and foundation of your home.
Listen to the radio for important information and instructions. Remember that aftershocks, sometimes large enough to cause damage in their own right, generally follow large quakes.
If you leave home, leave a message telling friends and family your location.
小題1:Which of the following items is unnecessary to prepare before an earthquake?
A.BatteriesB.CashC.MedicineD.Creditcard
小題2:When an earthquake comes,you should ______. 
A.hideyourselfinthekitchen
B.rushfortheexitimmediately
C.stayawayfromheavyobjects
D.callthepolicerightaway
小題3:When an earthquake is over,you should______. 
A.driveacartotakeyourfamilytothesafeplace
B.checkthesecurityofyourhome
C.callyourrelativestotellthemyouaresafe
D.clearupthemessassoonaspossible.
小題4:Which of the following sentences is true according to the passage? 
A.You’dbettermakeitclearhowandwhereyourfamilywillreuniteifseparatedduringaquakeafterthequakehappens.
B.Ifyouareindoors,getintotheopen.
C.Ifyouareinacrowdedpublicplace,avoidpanickinganddorushfortheexit.
D.Ifthephonestillworks,onlyuseitwhennecessary.
小題5:What does the underlined word “aftershock ” mean? 
A.Alessseriousquakefollowingalargeearthquakeinthesamearea.
B.Afurtherreactionfollowingtheshockofadeeplydisturbingthing.
C.Amessonehastodealwithafteraterriblething.
D.Aninstructionthegovernmentgivestosolveproblems.

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科目:高中英語 來源:不詳 題型:閱讀理解

In her new book, “The Smartest Kids in the World,” Amanda Ripley, an investigative journalist, tells the story of Tom, a high-school student from Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, who decides to spend his senior year in Wroclaw, Poland. Poland is a surprising educational success story: in the past decade, the country raised students’ test scores from significantly below average to well above it. Polish kids have now outscored American kids in math and science, even though Poland spends, on average, less than half as much per student as the United States does. One of the most striking differences between the high school Tom attended in Gettysburg and the one he ends up at in Wroclaw is that the latter has no football team, or, for that matter, teams of any kind.
That American high schools lavish more time and money on sports than on math is an old complaint. This is not a matter of how any given student who plays sports does in school, but of the culture and its priorities. This December, when the latest Program for International Student Assessment(PISA) results are announced, it’s safe to predict that American high-school students will once again display their limited skills in math and reading, outscored not just by students in Poland but also by students in places like South Korea, Belgium, the Netherlands, Finland, Singapore, and Japan. Meanwhile, they will have played some very exciting football games, which will have been breathlessly written up in their hometown papers.
Why does this situation continue? Well, for one thing, kids like it. And for another, according to Ripley, parents seem to like the arrangement, too. She describes a tour she took of a school in Washington D.C., which costs thirty thousand dollars a year. The tour leader—a mother with three children in the school—was asked about the school’s flaws. When she said that the math program was weak, none of the parents taking the tour reacted. When she said that the football program was weak, the parents suddenly became concerned. “Really?” one of them asked worriedly, “What do you mean?”
One of the ironies of the situation is that sports reveal what is possible. American kids’ performance on the field shows just how well they can do when expectations are high. It’s too bad that their test scores show the same thing. 
小題1:Tom decides to spend his senior year in Poland because _______.
A.he intends to improve his scores
B.Polish kids are better at learning
C.sports are not supported at schools in Gettysburg
D.there are striking differences between the 2 countries
小題2:According to Paragraph 2, we know that _______.
A.PISA plays a very important role in America
B.little time is spent on sports in Japanese schools
C.American high schools complain about sports time
D.too much importance is placed on sports in America
小題3:The underlined sentence in the last paragraph means _______.
A.low expectations result in American students’ poor PISA performance
B.high expectations push up American students’ academic performance
C.American students’ academic performance worries their parents a lot
D.lacking practice contributes to American students’ average performance
小題4:The purpose of this article is to _______.
A.compare Polish schools with those in America
B.call on American schools to learn from the Polish model
C.draw public attention to a weakness in American school tradition
D.explain what is wrong with American schools and provide solutions

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科目:高中英語 來源:不詳 題型:閱讀理解

Speaking in any language is all about imitating (模仿) other people. You want to be able to speak like native speakers do. Before you can form your own correct sentences, you first need to see lots of similar ones in the language you are learning.
When you speak in your native language, you don't have to think about the grammar or the words you use. Correct sentences just come to you. In fact, your brain uses sentences you've already seen or heard. If you want to speak a foreign language fluently, you have to learn it the way you learned your native language--- by massive(大量的) input.
Reading and listening will help you develop language intuition(直覺). It's all about putting lots of correct sentences in your head. Then your brain can imitate them, producing similar sentences to express the meaning you want. When you read and listen a lot, paying attention to useful vocabulary, you will soon start to use new words and phrases in your speaking and writing, and you will develop language intuition. You will start to feel what sounds good and what sounds bad --- just as you do in your native language.
It may seem like you need more time to learn a language by reading and listening, as opposed (相反的)to learning based on grammar rules. For example, to get a good feeling for the use of articles in English you need to read lots of sentences, analyzing them closely. Wouldn't it be easier to read a unit on articles in a grammar book? Well, the problem is that it takes lots of time to build a sentence when you have to think of grammar rules. When you talk to someone, you don't have time for that. The input-based approach may seem to be more demanding, but it's the only way to achieve fluency.
小題1:According to the passage, if you want to speak a foreign language like a native speaker, you must_________.
A.learn grammar very well
B.input many sentences in your head
C.read many books in the foreign language
D.write many compositions
小題2:Which of the following sentences can explain the meaning of language intuition?
A.Ability to understand a foreign language
B.Ability to use a foreign language without thinking about it
C.Ability to speak a foreign language
D.Ability to imitate a native speaker
小題3: In the author’s view, what plays an important role in developing language intuition?
A.Listening and Reading
B.Writing and Listening
C.Reading and Translating
D.Listening and Translating
小題4: According to the passage, which of the following statements is NOT true?
A.You can speak your native language without think about grammar
B.Before you can speak your native you must hear millions of sentences
C.The input-based approach is the only way to speak a language fluently
D.Grammar is no use at all

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科目:高中英語 來源:不詳 題型:閱讀理解

With the popularity of 3D movies over the past several years , there was no doubt that the technology would make its way into our homes, The question is: Is it really a technology that is going to stay with us , thus deserving an upgrade(升級) at this time?
Many families have recently bought a new TV set, and the idea of changing it just to take advantage of a technology in its infancy(初期)will put many people off the idea. Then there are the additional costs that come along with a 3Dset from needing to get a Blu-ray player that can process the signal to purchasing enough glasses for the entire family to be able to watch a program at the same time.
Another issue is that the glasses are expensive as well as complicated, and have also been known to cause headaches, none of which makes for a pleasant experience.
While manufacturers are working towards glasses-free technology, it just isn’t here yet, and it could be several years before it is commercially successful. That is one of main things that will keep 3D completely in the “fashion” zone for the time being . If the television manufacturers are willing to hold onto the idea until glasses-free choices are available—and they can reach a higher installed(安裝)user base—this might very well catch on. Everyone needs to remember, however, that these are businesses, and they are in it to make money. If 3D isn’t selling at the rate they are comfortable with, then they will dump it and move on to the next thing.
Many homes are filled with products that didn’t catch on rapidly and companies ended up leaving them with no support. Do you have an HD DVD player? Remember how the MiniDisc was supposed to replace the CD? For now, it’s easy to see how 3D televisions could join this list of technologies.
There is one upside to the 3D television problem: They have beautiful 2D images. Even if 3D goes away, you still have a great –looking screen and beautiful images. If you are in the market for a new TV and you can afford to drop the couple extra hundred dollars to buy one, you can view it as guaranteeing your purchase in case the technology proves to be effective.
小題1:We know from the text that 3D TV   .
A.is easy to operate
B.has been fully developed
C.has many products attached to it
D.has already replaced normal TV sets
小題2:What’s the main idea of paragraph 4?
A.3D is fashionable and expensive.
B.It’s hard for 3D to be commercially successful.
C.Television manufacturers’ only purpose is to make money.
D.It’s impossible to create glasses-free technology at the moment.
小題3:The examples of the HD DVD player and CD are to show   .
A.they are not necessary
B.they are bound to be replaced
C.3D TV might not be here to stay
D.3D technology needs improving
小題4:The underlined word “upside” in the last paragraph probably means    .
A.solutionB.exceptionC.characterD.benefit
小題5:What’s the author’s opinion on 3D TV?
A.He is critical of it.
B. He thinks highly of it.
C.It is more effective than expected.
D. It has more beautiful images than 2D.

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科目:高中英語 來源:不詳 題型:閱讀理解

While nature lovers across the world wish all humans to realize the significance of their natural surroundings ,many Australians are turning caring for the environment into a way of life.
Julie Astonis ,an Australian housewife in Brisbane is one such example, Even though autumn is approaching Australia’s Brisbane in April, one can still watch colorful blooming (盛開的)flowers in Julie’s little garden, as she tells that in her community, “Each of us has a beautiful yard, The whole community, from children to elderly people, takes care of the environment as if they are taking care of their own garden.”
“Gardening is the most popular club in our community,”she says, “A lot of retired people don’t just regularly organize gardening lectures, but also personally visit families in the community to provide gardening training , So you can see that flowers continue to bols-som in our gardens throughout the year.”
Talking about her people’s sense of care for the environment, Julie says when people in the community take along their dog, they always carry a garbage bag to deal with the dog’s waste, “In our community ,you will never experience the embarrassment of stepping on the dirty waste while you are walking on the grass,”says Julie with a smile,“Taking care of the dog’s waste can also help to develop children’s sense of responsibility!”
As to protecting water resources , the Australian government has made strict rules for families, Julie says, “We certainly would not use tap water to water the flowers!”She ways almost every family in her community has a huge tank used to store rainwater, which is later used as the resource of all outdoor water use, connect the water tank with their toilets.
小題1:From the first three paragraphs we learn that      .
A.gardening is popular in most part of Australia
B.April is a great time for people to enjoy flowers
C.it’s not easy to keep a garden without proper training
D.Julie’s community has a deep sense of caring for nature
小題2:Which of the following about Julie is true?
A.She takes pride in her community.
B.She once stepped on a dog’s waste.
C.She is quite in favor of raising a dog.
D.She finds it embarrassing to walk on the grass.
小題3:From what Julie says in the last paragraph, we know _________.
A.rainwater is not the best resource
B.her community owns a public tank
C.her community makes full use of resources
D.it is not necessary to water flowers very often
小題4:How many examples are given to show the caring for the environment in Australia?
A.TwoB.ThreeC.FourD.Five
小題5:What would be the best title for the passage?
A.Love nature, the Australian wayB.How Australians save resources
C.How Australians lead their life D.Protect nature, a must of life

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