Something that has always interested me about Abraham Lincoln is，not surprisingly，his sense of humor. As far as I can tell，he's the first American President to have one．
That's because the term“sense of humor” really wasn't in common usage until the eighteen-sixties and seventies．In the eighteen-forties and fifties，it was called“the sense of the ridiculous," and didn't have the positive connotations（隱含意義）that“sense of humor" has today. Back then，what was ridiculous was what invited ridicule（譏笑）．Funniness and cruelty went hand in hand．Of course，they still do a lot of arm-in-arm walking in our day as well．
Lincoln’s humor was very different because，for one thing，it was actually "humor＂as what the word meant in his time. We don't make the distinction between "wit（風(fēng)趣）”and "humor”anymore; but in the nineteenth century people did．Wit was unpleasant and offensive while humor was pleasant and sympathetic．It’s the difference we note now when we distinguish between "laughing with”and“l(fā)aughing at．”Lincoln was much more about "laughing with”than "laughing at．”And when“l(fā)aughing at，”it was often himself he was teasing.
In the famous Lincoln-Douglas debates，when Douglas accused Lincoln of being two-faced，Lincoln replied，referencing his plain looking，“Honestly，if I were two-faced，would I be showing you this one？”And，in a way，Lincoln's face itself tells us much about his sense of humor．
You can comb through thousands of photographs of politicians，soldiers，and the like from Lincoln's time and not find a single smile．
True, the long exposures（曝光）required for photographs of that time made smiling difficult．Yet Lincoln alone，as far as I can tell，overcame that difficulty.
Interestingly, while having a sense of humor，or at least the appearance of one provided by comedy writers has become a necessary characteristic for an American President in our time，in the nineteenth century，too much humor was considered problem.  And that was the case for Lincoln．A journalist covering the Lincoln-Douglas debates commented that“I could not take a real personal liking to the man，owing to an inborn weakness. . .that he was extremely, fond of jokes，anecdotes，and stories．”
【小題1】We can infer from Paragraph 2 that＿＿

A．the American President could influence the use of English
B．the term "sense of humor”wasn't invented until the 1860s
C．what is funny to someone might be offensive to someone else
D．the concept of humor remains the same despite the passing of time
【小題2】The underlined words“this one”in Paragraph 4 refer to＿＿．
A．Lincoln's unattractive face
B．Lincoln's sense of humor
C．the debate they were having
D．cruelty that went with funniness
【小題3】We rarely see people from Lincoln's time wear smile in their photos because＿．
A．being humorous was considered inappropriate
B．they found it quite funny to smile before camera
C．not smiling for photographs was the fashion
D．photography technology then was not advanced
【小題4】What might the writer think of the journalist covering the Lincoln-Douglas debates？
A．His comment accurately reflected his time
B．He created a false picture of Lincoln
C．He was prejudiced and self-centered
D．He was brave to point out Lincoln's weakness

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科目：高中英語(yǔ) 來(lái)源： 題型：閱讀理解

The writer Margaret Mitchell is best known for writing Gone with the Wind, first published in 1936. Her book and the movie based on it, tell a story of love and survival during the American Civil War. Visitors to the Margaret Mitchell House in Atlanta, Georgia, can go where she lived when she started composing the story and learn more about her life.
Our first stop at the Margaret Mitchell House is an exhibit area telling about the writer’s life. She was born in Atlanta in 1900. She started writing stories when she was a child. She started working as a reporter for the Atlanta Journal newspaper in 1922. One photograph of Ms. Mitchell, called Peggy, shows her talking to a group of young college boys. She was only about one and a half meters tall. The young men tower over her, but she seems very happy and sure of herself. The tour guide explains: “Now in this picture Peggy is interviewing some boys from Georgia Tech, asking them such questions as ‘Would you really marry a woman who works?’ And today it’d be ‘Would you marry one who doesn’t?’ ”
The Margaret Mitchell House is a building that once contained several apartments. Now we enter the first floor apartment where Ms. Mitchell lived with her husband, John Marsh. They made fun of the small apartment by calling it “The Dump ” .
Around 1926, Margaret Mitchell had stopped working as a reporter and was at home healing after an injury. Her husband brought her books to read from the library. She read so many books that he bought her a typewriter and said it was time for her to write her own book. Our guide says Gone with the Wind became a huge success. Margaret Mitchell received the Pulitzer Prize for the book. In 1939 the film version was released. It won ten Academy Awards, including Best Picture.
【小題1】 The book Gone with the Wind was _________.

A．first published on a newspaper
B．a(chǎn)warded ten Academy Awards
C．written in “The Dump”
D．a(chǎn)dapted from a movie
【小題2】The underlined phrase “tower over” in Paragraph 2 is closest in meaning to_________.
A．be very pleased with
B．show great respect for
C．be much taller than
D．show little interest in
【小題3】Why did Ms. Mitchell stop working as a reporter according to the passage?
A．Because she was rich enough.
B．Because she was injured then.
C．Because her husband didn’t like it.
D．Because she wanted to write books.
【小題4】Which is the best title for the passage?
A．Gone with the Wind: A Huge Success.
B．Margaret Mitchell: A Great Female Writer.
C．An Introduction of the Margaret Mitchell House.
D．A Trip to Know Margaret Mitchell.

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科目：高中英語(yǔ) 來(lái)源： 題型：閱讀理解

Lying in the sun on a rock, the cougar（美洲豹）saw Jeb and his son, Tom, before they saw it. Jeb put his bag down quickly and pulled his jacket open with both hands, making himself look big to the cougar. It worked. The cougar hesitated, ready to attack Jeb, but ready to forget the whole thing, too.
Jeb let go of his jacket, grasped Tom and held him across his body, making a cross. Now the cougar’s enemy looked even bigger, and it rose up, ready to move away, but unfortunately Tom got scared and struggled free of Jeb.
“Tom, no!” shouted his father.
But Tom broke and ran and that’s the last thing you do with a cougar. The second Tom broke free, Jeb threw himself on the cougar, just as it jumped from the rock. They hit each other in mid-air and both fell. The cougar was on Jeb in a flash, forgetting about Tom, which was what Jeb wanted.
Cougars are not as big as most people think and a determined man stands a chance, even with just his fists. As the cougar’s claws（爪子）got into his left shoulder, Jeb swung his fist at its eyes and hit hard. The animal howled and put its head back. Jeb followed up with his other fist. Then out of the corner of his eye, Jeb saw Tom. The boy was running back to help his father.
“Knife, Tom,” shouted Jeb.
The boy ran to his father’s bag, while Jeb started shouting as well as hitting, to keep the cougar’s attention away from Tom. Tom got the knife and ran over to Jeb. The cougar was moving its head in and out, trying to find a way through the wall Jeb was making out of his arms. Tom swung with the knife, into the cougar’s back. It howled horribly and ran off into the mountains.
The whole fight had taken about thirty seconds.
【小題1】Why did Jeb pull his jacket open when he saw the cougar?

A．To get ready to fight. B．To frighten it away.
C．To protect the boy. D．To cool down.
【小題2】What do we know about cougars?
A．They are afraid of noises.
B．They hesitate before they hit.
C．They are bigger than we think.
D．They like to attack running people.
【小題3】Which of the following happened first?
A．The cougar jumped from the rock.
B．Tom struggled free of his father.
C．Jeb asked Tom to get the knife.
D．Jeb held Tom across his body.

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科目：高中英語(yǔ) 來(lái)源： 題型：閱讀理解

Throughout this long, tense election, everyone has focused on the presidential candidates and how they’ll change America. Rightly so, but selfishly, I’m more fascinated by Michelle Obama and what she might be able to do, not just for this country, but for me as an African-American woman. As the potential First Lady, she would have the world’s attention. And that means that for the first time people will have a chance to get up close and personal with the type of African-American woman they so rarely see.
　　Usually, the lives of black women go largely unexamined. The prevailing theory seems to be that we’re all hot-tempered single mothers who can’t keep a man. Even in the world of make-believe, black women still can’t escape the stereotype of being eye-rolling, oversexed females raised by our never-married, alcoholic (酗酒的) mothers.
　　These images have helped define the way all women are viewed, including Michelle Obama. Before she ever gets the chance to commit to a cause, charity or foundation as First Lady, her most urgent and perhaps most complicated duty may be simple to be herself.
　　It won’t be easy. Because few mainstream publications have done in-depth features on regular African-American women, little is known about who we are, what we think and what we face on a regular basis. For better or worse, Michelle will represent us all.
　　Just as she will have her critics, she will also have millions of fans who usually have little interest in the First Lady. Many African-American blogs have written about what they’d like to see Michelle bring to the White House—mainly showing the world that a black woman can support her man and raise a strong black family. Michelle will have to work to please everyone—an impossible task. But for many African-American women like me, just a little of her poise (沉著), confidence and intelligence will go a long way in changing an image that’s been around for far too long.
【小題1】Why does Michelle Obama hold a strong fascination for the author?

A．She serves as a role model for African women.
B．She possesses many admirable qualities becoming a First Lady.
C．She will present to the world a new image of African-American women.
D．She will pay closer attention to the interests of African-American women.
【小題2】What is the common stereotype of African-American women according to the author?
A．They are victims of violence.
B．They are of an inferior violence.
C．They use quite a lot of body language.
D．They live on charity and social welfare.
【小題3】What do many African-Americans write about in their blogs?
A．Whether Michelle can live up to the high expectations of her fans.
B．How Michelle should behave as a public figure.
C．How proud they are to have a black woman in the White House.
D．What Michelle should do as wife and mother in the White House.
【小題4】What does the author say about Michelle Obama as a First Lady?
A．However many fans she has, she should remain modest,
B．She shouldn’t disappoint the African-American community.
C．However hard she tries, she can’t expect to please everybody.
D．She will give priority to African-American women’s concerns.
【小題5】What do many African-American women hope Michelle Obama will do?
A．Help change the prevailing view about black women.
B．Help her husband in the task of changing America.
C．Outshine previous First Lady.
D．Fully display her fine qualities.

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科目：高中英語(yǔ) 來(lái)源： 題型：閱讀理解


My wife passed away a few years ago,and I went through the worst time in my life.I even wanted to kill myself.Just for kids,I had to continue to live and work as small-town doctor at my medical clinic in Hawaii.My kids had gone to live on the mainland,and I was alone.Then they asked me to have a family trip.On our trip, we turned on the TV at the motel and saw the second plane crash into the World Trade Center. Seeing it falling down, I said to my kids: “I’m going to Afghanistan”. And a few weeks later, international Medical Corps sent me to set up 20 clinics in provinces where people had no health care. In these field clinics surrounded by frightening shoots or deadly bombs, we were eventually serving 27,000 patients a month in a very busy schedule. Tired and nervous, I gradually had a sense of achievement, a sense of purpose, and my depression went away.
In the years to follow, I went to Indonesia after the tsunami, Pakistan after the earthquakes, Sudan after the civil war and Iraq after more and more bombs. Each time after disasters one after another, hundreds of people were killed, wounded and many more had to flee. We once set up movable clinics in an area with 19,000 refugees, and it was supposed to hold 13,000 originally. Flu broke out, one of the biggest killers of kids in refugee camps, and it spread like wildfire. Water and food were also serious problems. “Adventures or not?” I often asked myself.
When my wife passed away, I thought my life was done. But in reality, it was just getting started. At the end of her life, she went unconscious. I held her head in my hands and told her of all the places we would visit and the exciting adventures we would have.
I think about the moment many times during my “adventures”. I didn’t know how predictive those words would be. But I know that she is still with me.
【小題1】Where has the doctor been in the past few years?

A．Some countries where he could set up clinics.
B．Some African countries where flu broke out.
C．The places where the earthquakes happened.
D．The places that the horrible disasters struck.
【小題2】How would the doctor describe his life after he had worked in Afghanistan?
A．Tired and troublesome. B．Busy and risky.
C．Meaningful and helpful D．Frightening and depressing.
【小題3】The underlined word “refugees” means people_______________.
A．who are robbed, killed, or wounded
B．who suffer from flu in movable clinics
C．who like to take adventures
D．who have lost homes because of disasters.
【小題4】Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?
A．the doctor’s wife encouraged him to work in foreign countries.
B．What the doctor said to his wife before her death became reality.
C．The doctor’s adventures made him understand the love of his wife.
D．With the true love of his wife, the doctor started to change his life.

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科目：高中英語(yǔ) 來(lái)源： 題型：閱讀理解

Jimmy is an automotive mechanic, but he lost his job a few months ago. He has good heart, but always feared applying for a new job.
One day, he gathered up all his strength and decided to attend a job interview. His appointment was at 10 am and it was already 8:30. While waiting for a bus to the office where he was supposed to be interviewed, he saw an elderly man wildly kicking the tyre of his car. Obviously there was something wrong with the car. Jimmy immediately went up to lend him a hand. When Jimmy finished working on the car, the old man asked him how much he should pay for the service. Jimmy said there was no need to pay him; he just helped someone in need, and he had to rush for an interview. Then the old man said, “Well, I could take you to the office for your interview. It’s the least I could do. Please. I insist.” Jimmy agreed.
Upon arrival, Jimmy found a long line of applications waiting to be interviewed. Jimmy still had some grease (油膩物) on him after the car repair, but he did not have much time to wash it off or have a change of shirt. One by one, the applicants left the interviewer’s office with disappointed look on their faces. Finally his name was called. The interviewer was sitting on a large chair facing the office window. Rocking the chair back and forth, he asked, “Do you really need to be interviewed?” Jimmy’s heart sank. “With the way I look now, how could I possibly pass this interview?” he thought to himself.
Then the interviewer turned the chair and to Jimmy’s surprise, it was the old man he helped earlier in the morning. It turned out he was the General Manager of the company.
“Sorry I had to keep you waiting, but I was pretty sure I made the right decision to have you as part of our workforce before you even stepped into the office. I just know you’d be a trustworthy worker. Congratulations!” Jimmy sat down and they shared a cup of well-deserved coffee as he landed himself a new job.
【小題1】Why did Jimmy apply for a new job?

A．He was out of work B．He was bored with his job
C．He wanted a higher positionD．He hoped to find a better boss
【小題2】What did Jimmy see on the way to the interview?
A．A friend’s car had a flat tyreB．a(chǎn) wild man was pushing a car
C．a(chǎn) terrible accident happened D．a(chǎn)n old man’s car broke down
【小題3】Why did the old man offer Jimmy a ride?
A．He was also to be interviewed B．He needed a traveling companion
C．He always helped people in needD．He was thankful to Jimmy
【小題4】How did Jimmy feel on hearing the interviewer’s question?
A．He was sorry for the other applicants
B．There was no hope for him to get the job
C．He regretted helping the old man
D．The interviewer was very rude

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科目：高中英語(yǔ) 來(lái)源： 題型：閱讀理解

Proudly reading my words, I glanced around the room, only to find my classmates bearing big smiles on their faces and tears in their eyes. Confused, I glanced toward my stone-faced teacher. Having no choice, I slowly raised the report I had slaved over, hoping to hide myself. “What could be causing everyone to act this way?”
Quickly, I flashed back to the day Miss Lancelot gave me the task. This was the first real task I received in my new school. It seemed simple: go on the Internet and find information about a man named George Washington. Since my idea of history came from an ancient teacher in my home country, I had never heard of that name before. As I searched the name of this fellow, it became evident that there were two people bearing the same name who looked completely different! One invented hundreds of uses for peanuts, while the other led some sort of army across America. I stared at the screen, wondering which one my teacher meant. I called my grandfather for a golden piece of advice: flip (擲) a coin. Heads—the commander, and tails—the peanuts guy. Ah! Tails, my report would be about the great man who invented peanut butter, George Washington Carver.
Weeks later, standing before this unfriendly mass, I was totally lost. Oh well, I lowered the paper and sat down at my desk, burning to find out what I had done wrong. As a classmate began his report, it all became clear, “My report is on George Washington, the man who started the American Revolution.” The whole world became quiet! How could I know that she meant that George Washington?
Obviously, my grade was awful. Heartbroken but fearless, I decided to turn this around. I talked to Miss Lancelot, but she insisted: No re-dos; no new grade. I felt that the punishment was not justified, and I believed I deserved a second chance. Consequently, I threw myself heartily into my work for the rest of the school year. Ten months later, that chance unfolded as I found myself sitting in the headmaster’s office with my grandfather, now having an entirely different conversation. I smiled and flashed back to the embarrassing moment at the beginning of the year as the headmaster informed me of my option to skip the sixth grade. Justice is sweet!
【小題1】What did the author’s classmates think about his report?

A．Controversial.B．Ridiculous.
C．Boring.D．Puzzling.
【小題2】Why was the author confused about the task?
A．He was unfamiliar with American history.
B．He followed the advice and flipped a coin.
C．He forgot his teacher’s instruction.
D．He didn’t know why the teacher gave such a task.
【小題3】The underlined word “burning” in Para. 3 probably means _______.
A．a(chǎn)nnoyedB．a(chǎn)shamed
C．readyD．eager
【小題4】In the end, the author turned things around _______.
A．by redoing his task
B．through his own efforts
C．with the help of his grandfather
D．under the guidance of his headmaster

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科目：高中英語(yǔ) 來(lái)源： 題型：閱讀理解

As far back as he could remember，Larry had longed to go to Hollywood and become a film star．The young man’s hopes for success were broken again and again，however．Hollywood just did not seem interesting．When he first came to California，Larry had decided never to give up and return home without success．Therefore，he kept on trying．Someday，he told himself，his big opportunity would come．
Larry found a job parking cars for one of Hollywood’s big restaurants．His pay was elementary，but since the guests were kind enough to give him more money，he managed to make a living．One day he recognized an important film director driving into the parking lot （停車(chē)場(chǎng)） and getting out of his car．Larry had recently heard that the man was ready to make a new picture．
Larry got into the car and prepared to drive it on into the lot and park it．Then he stopped，jumped out，and ran over to the director．“Excuse me，sir，but I think it’s only fair to tell you that it’s now or never if you want me in your next picture．A lot of big companies are after me．”
Instead of pushing away the boy，the director laughed，then wrote something on a card and handed it to the young man．“Come and see me tomorrow．”
Larry got a small part in the director’s next film．He was on his way！
【小題1】Which of the following was Larry interested in?

A．Working as a waiter．B．Becoming a film star
C．Parking cars for film stars．D．Owing a big company
【小題2】Why did Larry find a job parking cars?
A．Because he liked the job．
B．Because the parking lot was near Hollywood．
C．To make a living and wait for the opportunity．
D．To see a lot of film stars and work for them．
【小題3】After reading the story what can we infer （推斷） about the film director ?
A．He wanted to laugh at Larry．
B．He recognized Larry at first sight．
C．He was kind and gave Larry a try．
D．He thought Larry would become a star．
【小題4】what does the word “elementary” mean in this passage?
A．基本的B．充足的C．較高的D．不達(dá)標(biāo)的
【小題5】“He was on his way”refers to the fact that ________．
A．he gave up and returned home
B．he began to work towards success
C．he took a journey to Hollywood
D．he had difficulty in playing the small part

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科目：高中英語(yǔ) 來(lái)源： 題型：閱讀理解

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