(2013·高考遼寧卷,D)“Indeed,”George Washington wrote in his diary in 1785,“some kind of fly,or bug,had begun to eat the leaves before I left home.”But the father of America was not the father of bug.When Washington wrote that,Englishmen had been referring to insects as bugs for more than a century,and Americans had already created lightningbug(螢火蟲).But the English were soon to stop using the bugs in their language,leaving it to the Americans to call a bug a bug in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.
The American bug could also be a person,referring to someone who was crazy about a particular activity.Although fan became the usual term,sports fans used to be called racing bugs,baseball bugs,and the like.
Or the bug could be a small machine or object,for example,a bugshaped car.The bug could also be a burglar alarm,from which comes the expression to bug,that is,“to install (安裝) an alarm”.Now it means a small piece of equipment that people use for listening secretly to others’ conversations.Since the 1840s,to bug has long meant“to cheat”,and since the 1940s it has been annoying.
We also know the bug as a flaw in a computer program or other design.That meaning dates back to the time of Thomas Edison.In 1878 he explained bugs as“l(fā)ittle problems and difficulties”that required months of study and labor to overcome in developing a successful product.In 1889 it was recorded that Edison“had been up the two previous nights discovering ‘a(chǎn) bug’ in his invented record player.”
【小題1】We learn from Paragraph 1 that ________.
A.Americans had difficulty in learning to use the word bug |
B.George Washington was the first person to call an insect a bug |
C.the word bug was still popularly used in England in the nineteenth century |
D.both Englishmen and Americans used the word bug in the eighteenth century |
A.Explanation. | B.Finding. |
C.Origin. | D.Fault. |
A.the misunderstanding of the word bug |
B.the development of the word bug |
C.the public views of the word bug |
D.the special characteristics of the word bug |
科目:高中英語 來源: 題型:閱讀理解
An idea that started in Seattle's public library has spread throughout America and beyond. The concept is simple: help to build a sense of community in a city by getting everyone to read the same book at the same tome.
In addition to encouraging reading as a pursuit (追求) to be enjoyed by all, the program allows strangers to communicate by discussing the book on the bus, as well as promoting reading as an experience to be shared in families and schools. The idea came from Seattle librarian Nancy Pearl who launched (發(fā)起)the "If All of Seattle Read the Same Book " project in 1998. Her original program used author visits, study guides and book discussion groups to bring people together with a book, but the idea has since expanded to many other American cities, and even to Hong Kong.
In Chicago, the mayor(市長)appeared on television to announce the choice of To Kill a Mockingbird as the first book in the "One Book, One Chicago" program. As a result, reading clubs and neighbourhood groups sprang up around the city. Across the US, stories emerged of parents and children reading to each other at night and strangers chatting away on the bus about plot and character.
The only problem arose in New York, where local readers could not decide on one book to represent the huge and diverse population. This may show that the idea works best in medium-sized cities or large towns, where a greater sense of unity(一致)can be achieved .Or it may show that New Yorkers rather missed the point ,putting all their energy
And passion into the choice of the book rather than discussion about a book itself.
Ultinatel was Nancy points out, the level of success is not measured by how many people read a book, but by how many people are enriched by the process. or have enjoyed speaking to someone with whom they would not otherwise have shared a word.
【小題1】 What is the purpose of the project launched by Nancy?
A.To invite authors to guide readers. |
B.To encourage people to read and share. |
C.To involve people in community service. |
D.To promote the friendship between cities. |
A.They had little interest in reading. |
B.They were too busy to read a book. |
C.They came from many different backgrounds |
D.They lacked support from the local government |
A.In large communities with little sense of unity |
B.In large cities where libraries are far from home |
C.In medium-sized cities with a diverse population |
D.In large towns where agreement can be quickly reached |
A.exchanged ideas with each other |
B.discussed the meaning of a word |
C.gamed life experience |
D.used the same language |
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科目:高中英語 來源: 題型:閱讀理解
If Confucius(孔子)were still alive today and could celebrate his September 28 birthday with a big cake, there would be a lot of candles. He’d need a fan or a strong wind to help him put them out.
While many people in China will remember Confucius on his special day, few people in the United States will give him a passing(短暫的) thought. It’s nothing personal. Most Americans don’t even remember the birthdays of their own national heroes.
But this doesn’t mean that Americans don’t care about Confucius. In many ways he has become a bridge that foreigners must cross if they want to reach a deeper understanding of China.
In the past two decades, the Chinese studies programs have gained huge popularity in Western universities. More recently, the Chinese government has set up Confucius Institutes in more than 80 countries. These schools teach both Chinese language and culture. The main courses of Chinese culture usually included Chinese art, history and philosophy(哲學). Some social scientists suggest that Westerners should take advantage of the ancient Chinese wisdom to make up for the drawbacks of Westerners philosophy. Students in the United States, at the same time, are racing to learn Chinese. So they will be ready for life in a world where China is an equal power with the United States. Businessmen who hope to make money in China are reading books about Confucius to understand their Chinese customers.
So the old thinker’s ideas are still alive and well.
Today China attracts the West more than ever, and it will need more teachers to introduce Confucius and Chinese culture to the West.
As for the old thinker, he will not soon be forgotten by people in the West, even if his birthday is.
【小題1】The opening paragraph is mainly intended to ________
A.provide some key facts about Confucius |
B.prove the popularity of modern birthday celebrations |
C.show great respect for the ancient thinker |
D.a(chǎn)ttract the readers’ interest in the subject |
A.have a great interest in studying Chinese |
B.take an active part in Chinese competitions |
C.try to get high scores in Chinese exams |
D.fight for a chance to learn Chinese |
A.a(chǎn) biography | B.a(chǎn) history paper | C.a(chǎn) newspaper | D.a(chǎn) philosophy textbook |
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科目:高中英語 來源: 題型:閱讀理解
Usually, when your teacher asks a question, there is only one correct answer. But there is one question that has millions of correct answers. That question is “What’s your name?” Everyone gives a different answer, but everyone is correct.
Have you ever wondered about people’s names? Where do they come from? What do they mean?
People’s first names, or given names, are chosen by their parents. Sometimes the name of a grandparent or other member of the family is used. Some parents choose the name of a well-known person. A boy could be named George Washington Smith; a girl could be named Helen Keller Jones.
Some people give their children names that mean good things. Clara means “bright”; Beatrice means “one who gives happiness”; Donald means “world ruler”; Leonard means “as brave as a lion”.
The earliest last names, or surnames, were taken from place names. A family with the name Brook or Brooks probably lived near brook(小溪);someone who was called Longstreet probably lived on a long, paved road. The Greenwood family lived in or near a leafy forest.
Other early surnames came from people’s occupations. The most common occupational name is Smith, which means a person who makes things with iron or other metals. In the past, smiths were very important workers in every town and village.Some other occupational names are: Carter---a person who owned or drove a cart; Potter---a person who made pots and pans.
The ancestors of the Baker family probably baked bread for their neighbors in their native village. The Carpenter’s great-great-great-grandfather probably built houses and furniture.
Sometimes people were known for the color of their hair or skin, or their size, or their special abilities. When there were two men who were named John in the same village, the John with the gray hair probably became John Gray. Or the John was very tall could call himself John Tallman. John Fish was probably an excellent swimmer and John Lightfoot was probably a fast runner or a good dancer.
Some family names were made by adding something to the father’s name. English-speaking people added –s or –son. The Johnsons are descendants of John; the Roberts family’s ancestor was Robert. Irish and Scottish people added Mac or Mc or O. Perhaps all of the MacDonnells and the McDonnells and the O’Donnells are descendants of the same Donnell.
【小題1】Which of the following aspects do the surnames in the passage NOT cover?
A.Places where people lived. | B.People’s characters. |
C.Talents that people possessed. | D.People’s occupations. |
A.owned or drove a cart | B.made things with metals |
C.made kitchen tools or containers | D.built houses and furniture |
A.Beatrice Smith | B.Leonard Carter |
C.George Longstreet | D.Donald Greenwood |
A.later generations | B.friends and relatives |
C.colleagues and partners | D.later bosses |
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科目:高中英語 來源: 題型:閱讀理解
When you go to St. Petersburg, the number of attractions can seem large. If you are short of time, or just want to make sure to hit the highlights, these are the top must-see sights in St.Petersburg.
●The Hermitage Museum
The Hermitage Museum is one of the most important sights to see for any visitor to St.Petersburg.There are lots of different paintings by the old masters in the Hermitage.Prepare to come face-to-face with classic Western artists.
●Kizhi Island
Kizhi Island is an open-air museum of wooden architecture from the Karelia Region of Russia.These impressive structures are made entirely without nails - the wood fits together with joints and grooves(溝槽).
●Peterhof
Peterhof is as beautiful as it is fun.You’ll be charged for admission, but go to Petethof when the fountains are working—during the day in the summer.They are shut off in winter evenings.
●The Church of Our Savior on the Spilt Blood
Love it or hate it, the Church of Our Savior on the Spilt Blood in St.Petersburg is an enthralling must-see sight.The beautiful look may make y our eyes brighten, and the painting inside the church will make you say “Wow!”
●The Bronze Horseman Statue
The so-called Bronze Horseman is a part of Russian culture and a symbol of St.Petersburg.Made famous by Alexander Pushkin, this statue of Peter the Great sitting on his horse can truly show Peter the Great’s influence on the Russian idea of greatness.
【小題1】If you are interested in paintings, you’d better go to .
A.Peterhof and Kizhi Island |
B.the Hernatage Museum and Peterhof |
C.Kizhi Island and the Church of Our Savior on the Spilt Blood |
D.the hermitage Museum and the Church of Our Savior on the Spilt Blood |
A.visitors can visit Peterhof for free |
B.the buildings of Kizhi Island are made of wood |
C.the fountains in Peterhof can be seen all year round |
D.the largest collection of Russian arts is in the Hermitage Museum |
A.show the wonderful history of Russia |
B.persuade artists to study St.Petersburg |
C.recommend the famous buildings in Russia |
D.introduce the must-see sights in St.Petersburg |
A.to save more time | B.to learn more knowledge |
C.to go to the high buildings | D.to visit the most interesting sights |
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科目:高中英語 來源: 題型:閱讀理解
We’ve reached a strange-some would say unusual-point.While fighting world hunger continues to be the matter of vital importance according to a recent report from the World Health Organization (WHO),more people now die from being overweight,or say,from being extremely fat,than from being underweight.It’s the good life that’s more likely to kill us these days.
Worse,nearly l8 million children under the age of five around the world are estimated to be overweight.What’s going on?
We really don’t have many excuses for our weight problems.The dangers of the problem have been drilled into us by publichealth campaigns since 2001 and the message is getting through—up to a point.
In the 1970s,F(xiàn)inland,for example,had the highest rate of heart disease in the world and being overweight was its main cause.Not any more.A publichealth campaign has greatly reduced the number of heart disease deaths by 80 per cent over the past three decades.
Maybe that explains why the percentage of people in Finland taking diet pills doubled between 2001 and 2005,and doctors even offer surgery of removing fat inside and change the shape of the body.That has become a sort of fashion.No wonder it ranks as the world’s most bodyconscious country.
We know what we should be doing to lose weight—but actually doing it is another matter.By far the most popular excuse is not taking enough exercise.More than half of us admit we lack willpower.
Others blame good food.They say:it’s just too inviting and it makes them overeat.Still others lay the blame on the Americans,complaining that pounds have piled on thanks to eating too much Americanstyle fast food.
Some also blame their parents-their genes.But unfortunately,the parents are wronged because they’re normal in shape,or rather slim.
It’s a similar story around the world,although people are relatively unlikely to have tried to lose weight.Parents are eager to see their kids shape up.Do as I say-not as I do.
【小題1】What is the“strange”point mentioned in the first sentence?
A.The good life is a greater risk than the bad life. |
B.Starvation is taking more people’s lives in the world. |
C.WHO report shows people’s unawareness of food safety. |
D.Overweight issue remains unresolved despite WHO’s efforts. |
A.A lot of effective diet pills are available. |
B.Body image has nothing to do with good food. |
C.They have been made fully aware of its dangers. |
D.There are too many overweight people in the world. |
A.the cause of heart disease |
B.the fashion of body shaping |
C.the effectiveness of a campaign |
D.the history of a bodyconscious country |
A.Actions or Excuses? |
B.Overweight or Underweight? |
C.WHO in a Dilemma |
D.No Longer Dying of Hunger |
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科目:高中英語 來源: 題型:閱讀理解
America is a mobile society. Friendships between Americans can be close and real, yet disappear soon if situations change. Neither side feels hurt by this. Both may exchange Christmas greetings for a year or two, perhaps a few letters for a while — then no more. If the same two people meet again by chance, even years later, they pick up the friendship. This can be quite difficult for us Chinese to understand, because friendships between us flower more slowly but then may become lifelong feelings, extending (延伸) sometimes deeply into both families.
Americans are ready to receive us foreigners at their homes, share their holidays, and their home life. They will enjoy welcoming us and be pleased if we accept their hospitality (好客) easily.
Another difficult point for us Chinese to understand Americans is that although they include us warmly in their personal everyday lives, they don’t show their politeness to us if it requires a great deal of time. This is usually the opposite of the practice in our country where we may be generous with our time. Sometimes, we, as hosts, will appear at airports even in the middle of the night to meet a friend. We may take days off to act as guides to our foreign friends. The Americans, however, express their welcome usually at homes, but truly can not manage the time to do a great deal with a visitor outside their daily routine. They will probably expect us to get ourselves from the airport to our own hotel by bus. And they expect that we will phone them from there. Once we arrive at their homes, the welcome will be full, warm and real. We will find ourselves treated hospitably.
For the Americans, it is often considered more friendly to invite a friend to their homes than to go to restaurants, except for purely business matters. So accept their hospitality at home!
【小題1】The writer of this passage must be ______.
A.a(chǎn)n American | B.a(chǎn) Chinese | C.a(chǎn) professor | D.a(chǎn) student |
A.Friendships between Americans usually extend deeply into their families. |
B.Friendships between Americans usually last for all their lives. |
C.Americans always show their warmth even if they are very busy. |
D.Americans will continue their friendships again even after a long break. |
A.warmly welcomed at the airport |
B.offered a ride to his home |
C.treated hospitably at his home |
D.treated to dinner in a restaurant |
A.strict with time |
B.serious with time |
C.careful with time |
D.willing to spend time |
A.Friendships between Chinese |
B.Friendships between Americans |
C.Americans’ hospitality |
D.Americans’ and Chinese’s views of friendships |
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科目:高中英語 來源: 題型:閱讀理解
As an English teacher, I’ve been lucky enough to travel to many countries all over the world. I’ve seen people celebrate everything from the arrival of new babies to the delivery of new cars. I’ve attended weddings, parties and religious celebrations in countries such as Argentina and Japan, and I’ve noticed that gold---the metal or the colour of it---is always part of cultural events, traditions and celebrations.
It makes me wonder: Why do people love gold?
For some people, gold seems to be a status(地位)symbol. Indian businessman Datta Phuge loves gold so much that he even bought a shirt made of gold at a cost of $250,000. I’m not sure I’d spend so much money on a shirt, would you? But Datta Phuge has his reason .He explains,“ Some people want to own an Audi or a Mercedes. I choose gold.”
For other people, gold is an investment(投資). The price of gold generally increases over time and in European markets, it reached even $1,500 per ounce in 2011.
And for many people, a family heirloom(傳家寶)brings together status and investment. My mother has a gold bracelet(手鐲)that was given to her by her grandmother who, in turn, inherited it from her own grandmother. It’s quite a heavy piece and probably worth quite a lot of money. But its mental value is greater than its value in dollars. It’s a beautiful object that holds many family memories. When the time comes, my mum will give the bracelet to me, and one day, I’ll pass it on to the younger generation.
Therefore, status and investment are good reasons to value gold. However, I think that the real reason why people love gold is that it can be made into beautiful objects. Think about Tutankhamen’s death mask. Have you ever seen anything so beautiful?
People love gold because it holds their minds, their imaginations and, above all, their hearts.
【小題1】The main idea of the first paragraph is that______.
A.the author has traveled to many countries |
B.people celebrate almost everything |
C.there are many ways to use gold |
D.people all over the world love gold |
A.gold is a status symbol to him | B.he loves this kind of shirt |
C.people there love gold so much | D.he is a successful businessman |
A.$1,550 | B.$1,500 | C.$1,450 | D.$1,600 |
A.it’s worth a lot of money | B.it brings status and investment |
C.it’s a beautiful object | D.it holds family memories |
A.it is a status symbol to some people |
B.it can be made into beautiful objects |
C.it can be passed on to the younger generation |
D.it can bring people a lot of money |
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科目:高中英語 來源: 題型:閱讀理解
Are you an optimist? Do you look at your glass and see it as half full? Do you believe that every cloud has a silver lining and that things generally turn out for the best? Do you believe that if something is meant to be, it will be? If you reply “yes” to all of these questions, then you are an optimist. You probably are enthusiastic, cheerful and outgoing. You may be successful at work and in love.
But you may be misguided because things don’t turn out for the best. You may believe that when one door closes another one opens (for example, you may fail to obtain a new job; another chance will come around soon). Wrong. When one door closes, another door slams (砰然關上) in your face. That’s bitter reality.
Now a book has been published which confirms what pessimists (悲觀者) have suspected all along. It’s called The Positive Power of Defensive Pessimism. Its author argues that defensive pessimism can lead to positive results. Defensive pessimism is a strategy used to manage fear, anxiety and worry. Defensive pessimists prepare for the things by setting low outcomes for themselves. They carefully consider everything that may go wrong and plan for ways to handle these problems. And this gives them a sense of control. Lawrence Sanno, a psychology professor, says, “What’s interesting about defensive pessimists is that they tend to be very successful people, so their low opinion of the situation’s outcomes is not realistic. They use it to motivate themselves to perform better.”
So far, so good. This is not rocket science. Defensive pessimists prepare carefully and consider what might go wrong, whether at work, on date or even in a sports game. It makes sense to have a back-up plan. There are many sayings in English urging caution. For example, “Don’t put all your eggs in one basket.” And “Don’t count your chickens until they hatch.” To have a confident and optimistic approach to life’s problems is good. But listen to what Woody Alien, the American comedian says, “Confidence is what you have before you understand the problem.”
There are pros and cons to being an optimist and a pessimist. Don’t feel bad if you see the glass half empty. You are a realist. But lighten up and hook up with someone who sees the same glass half full.
【小題1】What’s the passage mainly about?
A.The benefits of defensive pessimism. |
B.A book that has recently been published. |
C.The dangers of being too optimistic. |
D.How to become successful in life. |
A.there is no real proof | B.it is quite simple to understand |
C.the cost is not so high | D.it’s not a dangerous thing to do |
A.Whatever will be, will be. | B.The glass is half full not half empty. |
C.Don’t put all your eggs in one basket. | D.Every cloud has a silver lining. |
A.a(chǎn) realist | B.a(chǎn)n optimist | C.a(chǎn) defeatist | D.a(chǎn) scientist |
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