Today we tell about the expression “down to earth”．Down to earth means being open and honest．It is easy to deal with someone who is down to earth．Such people could be important members of society, but they do not consider themselves to be better than others who are less important．They do not let their importance “go to their heads.” Someone who lets something go to his head feels he is better than others．He has a “big head.”
A person who is filled with his own importance and pride is said to have “his nose in the air．”O(jiān)ften the person who has a big head and his nose in the air has no reason to feel better than others．
Americans use another expression that is similar in some ways to down to earth---“both feet on the ground.” Someone with both feet on the ground is a person with a good understanding of reality．She has what is called “common sense.” She does not allow her dreams to block her understanding of what is real．
The opposite kind of person is one who has his “head in the clouds.” Someone with his head in the clouds is a person whose mind is not on what is happening in real life．Such a person may be called a “daydreamen.”
The person who is down to earth usually has both feet on the ground．But the opposite is not always true．Someone with both feet on the ground may not be as open and easy to deal with as someone who is down to earth．
When we have both our feet firmly on the ground，and when we are down to earth，we do not have our noses in the air．We act honestly and openly to others．And our lives are like the ground below up—solid and strong．
小題1:He who considers himself to be better and more important than others is likely to       .
A．have his head in the cloudsB．be easy to deal with
C．have a “common sense” D．have “a big head”
小題2:Which of the following expressions is similar to “down to earth”?
A．“his nose in the air”B．“go to his head”
C．“both feet on the ground”D．“daydreamer”
小題3:The passage is mainly about          ．
A．some popular American expressionsB．how to be down to earth
C．why to be honest and openD．how to deal with someone who is down to earth

小題1:D
小題1:C
小題1:A

小題1:細(xì)節(jié)題：從第一段的句子：Someone who lets something go to his head feels he is better than others．He has a “big head.”可知選 D
小題1:細(xì)節(jié)題：從倒數(shù)第二段的句子：The person who is down to earth usually has both feet on the ground．可知down to earth和has both feet on the ground．意思相近，選C
小題1:文章介紹了一些美國很流行的習(xí)語。選A
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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

The year is 2094．It has been announced that a comet (彗星) is heading towards the Earth．Most of it will miss our planet , but two pieces will probably hit the southern half of the Earth．
On 17 July , a piece four kilometers wide enters the Earth’s atmosphere (大氣層) with a massive explosion．About half of the piece is destroyed , but the remaining part hits the South Atlantic at 200 times the speed of sound．The sea boils and a huge hole is made in the sea bed．Huge waves are created and spread outwards from the hole．The wall of water , a kilometer high , rushes towards southern Africa at 800 kilometers an hour．Cities on the African coast are totally destroyed and millions of people re drowned．
Before the waves reach South America , the second piece of the comet lands in Argentina．Earthquakes and volcanoes are set off in the Andes Mountains．The shock waves move north into California and all around the Pacific Ocean．The cities of Los Angeles , San Francisco and Tokyo are completely destroyed by earthquakes．Millions of people in the southern half of the earth are already dead, but the north won’t escape for long．Because of the explosions , the sun is hidden by clouds of dust , temperatures around the world fall to almost zero．Crops are ruined．The sun won’t be seen again for many years．Wars break out as countries fight for food．A year later , no more than 10 million people remain alive．
Could it really happen ? In fact , it has already happened more than once in the history of the Earth．The dinosaurs were on the Earth for over 160 million years．Then 65 million years ago they suddenly disappeared．Many scientists believe that the Earth was hit by a piece of object in space．The dinosaurs couldn’t live through the cold climate that followed and they died out．Will we meet the same and ?
小題1:What is mainly described in the passage ?
A．A historic discovery．B．An event of imagination
C．A research on space．D．A scientific adventure．
小題2:When the first piece hits the South Atlantic , it causes          ．
A．a(chǎn)n earthquake B．damages to cities
C．a(chǎn)n Earth explosion D．huge waves
小題3:Why can’t the northern half of the earth escape for long ?
A．Because the land is covered with water
B．Because the light and heat from the sun can not reach the earth．
C．Because people there can not live at the temperature of zero．
D．Because wars break out among countries．
小題4:By giving the example of dinosaurs , the author tries to prove        ．
A．a(chǎn)nimals could not live in the cold climate
B．what happened 65 million years ago was an invented story
C．the human beings will die out in 2094
D．the Earth could be hit by other objects in space

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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

Singapore Flyer was launched in 2008 and states to hold the current title for the world’s biggest observation wheel, full 30 meters taller than the London Eye observation wheel in London! Soaring 165 meters, Singapore Flyer offers a whole view of Singapore’s important tourist attractions including the scenic Marina Bay.
Singapore Flyer is also popular for providing an attractive range of shopping and dining choices. Among its greatest dining choices is the Singapore Flyer Sky Dining, one of the most exciting dining experiences you will ever come across.
Singapore Flyer Sky Dining is the first ever in the world to offer a full service in the sky. To top it all you are presented with best menus created by award-winning cooks from all over the world.
The sky dining doesn’t stop from there. You will gain fast boarding flights, in other words, no more waiting in line to board an observation capsule (機(jī)艙). You can enjoy the service of an in-flight host along with a nice three-course fine dining menu.
Be ready to enjoy yourself in the air-conditioned glass capsule where you will be served a welcome drink, an appetizer (開胃品) along with the main course. From the capsule you will see the night skyline of Marina Bay, Merlion Park, Raffles Place, Empress Place and Padang, bathed in exciting colors. And not just once but you will get to see these very interesting sights twice, during your almost one hour long special dining experience.
Up to five couples can book a small room and there are even choices to book an entire room for you and your partner. The sky dining experience begins from the VIP waiting room where you will be served with tasty desserts and drinks of your choice. You can see the Singapore Flyer conveniently from one of the top hotels in Singapore like M Hotel Singapore.

小題1:At Singapore Flyer, tourists can ___________.
A．do some shopping and have dinner
B．enjoy some interesting sights just once
C．enjoy a wonderful 30-minute dining experience
D．get a whole view of all the Singapore’s tourist attractions
小題2:Which of the following statements is TRUE about Singapore Flyer?
A．It is the second biggest observation wheel in the world.
B．The menus are created by native cooks.
C．It provides fast boarding service.
D．There are no special rooms for couples.
小題3:The underlined phrase in the third paragraph probably means “___________”.
A．What’s moreB．At the top of it
C．What’s worseD．From top to bottom
小題4:The three-course dining menu at Singapore Flyer usually includes the following EXCEPT___________.
A．a(chǎn) welcome drinkB．the main course
C．a(chǎn)n appetizerD．tasty desserts
小題5:Which of the following can be the best title of this passage?
A．Virtual TourismB．A Guide to Singapore Flyer
C．Eating at Singapore FlyerD．The future of Singapore Flyer

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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

Long queues at cinemas buying hot tickets for blockbusters(巨片) will become rare as Beijing residents will be able to order film tickets via cell phone networks in a month.
Film ticket circulation service on cell phone, also called the “Green channel of film tickets ordering”, is aiming at lowing the cost of ticket circulation and easing the ticket distribution pressure on such popular film-watching days as summer and winter vacations or Valentine’s Day.
“People log onto the net through cell phones, then choose cinema seats, watch trailers, browse information for new films and read cinema introductions,” said Guan Zheng, the publicity chief of Xingmei Digital Media Company Ltd., the service provider.
“Film fans can enjoy various discount prices if they order tickets via cell phones,” Guan said.
Meanwhile, the cell phone ticket circulation platform provides subscribers general mobile phone services like jokes, videos, flashes, phone ring downloads and games.
The service is about to be put into trial at the Beijing-based Xingmei International Cinema for a month before being putting into use at other cinema chains both in and outside Beijing, as the service is going to be improved through gradual expansion, said Guan.
China’s film industry that is being restored has seen more and more enthusiastic moviegoers. Up to the end of 2009, China has had more than 5,000 specialized cinemas, among which there are 2,243 modern cinemas with 3, 668 silver screens and 56 cinema chains.
Currently, many people buy film tickets on the Internet or by phoning the cinema’s ticket office or simply queuing at the cinema gate. More people want to buy tickets on popular days like May Day holiday, National Day holiday or Valentine’s Day. Yet the inefficient ticket circulation system contributes the most to the failure.
小題1:What can we learn from the passage?
A．The price of the ticket ordered via cell phone will be lower.
B．Ordering tickets through the net can get good seats.
C．Few people would like to watch films on the net.
D．More and more people like to watch films on the net.
小題2:What does the underlined part “watch trailers” in the third paragraph mean?
A．You can watch films after downloading them.
B．You can watch commercial ads free of charge.
C．You can watch short ads for new movies.
D．You can watch films on the net at home.
小題3:What does the passage imply?
A．The service is only intended to put into use at the cinema in Beijing for a month.
B．China’s film industry saw the decreasing number of moviegoers by the end of 2009.[
C．The traditional ticket selling system makes it hard to get film tickets on popular days.
D．The green channel of tickets ordering is aiming at provides general mobile phone services..
小題4:The best title for the passage would probably be ________.
A．Rare Beijingers to watch films on the net
B．Few Beijingers to buy film tickets in line
C．Beijingers to watch films via cell phone
D．Beijingers to order film tickets via cell phone

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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

The Taj Mahal (泰姬陵) is a love story, a sad and beautiful one. If it didn’t exist, we would easily imagine that the story of its construction was simply a fairy tale. Three hundred years ago, there lived an Indian emperor called Shah Jahan. His wife was a beautiful and bright woman whom he loved greatly. Her title was Mumtazl Mahal: its shortened form Taj Mahal, means “pride of the palace”. In the year 1630 this beloved wife of the emperor died. He was so brokenhearted that he thought of giving up his throne. He decided out of his love for his wife, to build her the most beautiful tomb that had ever been seen.
He summoned the best artists and architects from India, Turkey, Persia and Arabia and finally, the design was complete. It took more than twenty thousand men working over a period of 18 years to build the Taj Mahal, one of the most beautiful buildings in the world.
The building itself stands on a marble platform 29 meters square and 6-7 meters high. Towers rise from each of the four corners. The Mahal itself soars another 61 meters into the air. It is an eight-sided building made of white marble.
The emperor planned to build an identical tomb of black marble for himself on the other side of the river connected by a silver bridge. However, his son put him into a prison in the palace before he could finish, and for the rest of his life, he could only gaze across the river at the tomb of his beloved wife.
小題1: The whole passage tells us about ______.
A．a(chǎn) beautiful fairy tale
B．the story of the Taj Mahal
C．white and black marble tombs made for two emperors
D．the love story of Emperor Shah Jahan and his wife
小題2:Which of the following statements is NOT true about the Taj Mahal?
A．It was completed quickly owing to the efforts of the best artists and workers.
B．A lot of people took part in the building work.
C．It is a magnificent building.
D．It is a tomb for the emperor’s beloved wife.
小題3: The emperor’s own tomb was designed to be ____________.
A．61 meters high B．eight-sidedC．black-coloredD．white-colored
小題4:The emperor _____________.
A．died soon after Taj Mahal died
B．was killed by his son
C．was beloved by his people
D．died after 1648

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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

Every American family has its own traditions on Thanksgiving Day, and mine is no different. Once the national holiday arrives, my mom rises early to make the meal. She puts a turkey in the oven, chops carrots and bakes pies. I’m sorry to say that the men in the family – my dad, my younger brother and myself – rarely pitch in to help. Our job is to wash the mountain of dirty dishes after the meal is over.
Around 2 pm every Thanksgiving Day, family members seat themselves around the kitchen table. Plates of turkey, vegetables, salad, rolls and pies cover it. At this point, we can hardly keep ourselves from drooling (流口水) all over our fancy clothes, but it’s not yet time to eat.
First, we must bow our heads, close our eyes and say a prayer of thanks aloud to God for giving us everything we have. Under normal circumstances, I would have no problem making a list of things I am thankful for. I grew up in a loving family. My parents, who aren’t wealthy, took out loans to help me pay for university.
But, the funny thing is, every time I sit down for Thanksgiving dinner and try to say a prayer of thanks, my mind usually goes blank. I think it has something to do with my growling (咕咕叫) stomach and all of that food sitting right there under my nose.
Eventually, though, we all finish our short prayers and dig in. To be sure, the day includes other highlights – visiting with family and watching football. But usually around 6 pm we are all ourselves stuffed like turkeys and thankful to have a nice warm bed to sleep in.
小題1:The purpose of the text is to ________.
A．tell what the family do for Thanksgiving Day
B．tell how the family spends Thanksgiving Day
C．introduce foods served on Thanksgiving Day
D．introduce the American Thanksgiving Day
小題2:On Thanksgiving Day the author’s family do the following except ________.
A．watching a movieB．making visits
C．having a big mealD．watching football
小題3:Why does the author’s mind usually “go blank” when saying a prayer of thanks?
A．He is too thankful to say a word.
B．His mind is on the food before him.
C．He feels too excited to speak.
D．He is shy to speak in public.
小題4:The underlined phrase “dig in” in the last paragraph is closest in meaning to “________”.
A．chat with othersB．make a hole
C．mix things upD．start eating
小題5:What can we conclude from the text?
A．On Thanksgiving Day, men do nothing but eat.
B．The author is a middle school student.
C．The author’s family is not rich, but it’s a loving one.
D．Thanksgiving Day falls on Thursday of December.

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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

Facebook means never having to say goodbye. The social media web site has earned a reputation for reconnecting old friends. Last week, a guy whom I hadn't seen since my bachelor party five years ago sent me a friend request. I accepted and waited for him to send me a greeting of some kind. He had sought me out, after all.
I learned from his profile that he was in a relationship and had a son. However, I'm pretty sure we won’t ever write wall-to-wall, let alone e-mail each other. But he'll remain a friend of online until one of us makes a point of removing the other from his official list.
My pool of friends consists of family members, college buddies, co-workers from past and present, and friends of friends. There are 35 in all. If I spent some time uploading old e-mail addresses, I'm confident that I could increase my friend count actually.
A person could make a mission out of reconnecting with childhood friends, former classmates, distant cousins, and those one would like to get to know better. And some people can even handle hundreds of on-screen relationships, keeping up with the daily happenings of their small army of companions. After all, there are worse fates than having too many friends.
Thanks to e-mail, the inability to schedule face-to-face meetings no longer means a friendship must come to a close. But even with e-mail, people will lose touch if one or both parties stop writing back. That's normal. People move from school to school, job to job, city to city. You never have to feel guilty for breaking away.
Every day, the masterminds of Web 2. 0 find new ways of making human communication easier. However, convenience can be a crutch. Some things shouldn't be simplified. When it comes to friendship, there can be no shortcuts.
小題1:According to Paragraph l, the web site is famous because _______.
A．it has an interesting name of “Facebook”
B．it helps people get in touch with old friends
C．it can send people a greeting of some kind
D．it reminds people of events in the past
小題2:From the second paragraph we can learn that the writer _______.
A．would write to the friend quite often
B．a(chǎn)sked the friend to e-mail him
C．did get some information about the friend
D．would keep in touch with the friend forever
小題3: Which of the following statements is NOT true?
A．There are 35 people in the author's list of friends right now.
B．The author communicates with all the 35 friends by e-mails.
C．The list of 35 friends doesn't include the old e-mail addresses.
D．It is not difficult for the author to increase his friend count.
小題4:What does the author think of the convenience of communicating on line?
A．The technology could not keep true friendship forever.
B．The social web site of Facebook means nothing at all.
C．There will be no ways of making real friends on line.
D．People will not lose friends with the help of the Facebook.

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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

More people speak English than any other language except Chinese .English is the main language spoken in the United Kingdom，Ireland，Australia，New Zealand，Canada，the United States and some other countries. Altogether more than 450 million people speak English as their everyday language .Another 100 million or more speak at least some English. Most English words come from old Anglo­ Saxon，F(xiàn)rench，or Latin words.
Modern English developed through the efforts（努力） of literary(文學(xué)的)and political writings .Modern English was influenced by old English，the beginning of the university­ educated people，Shakespeare，the common language found in the middle of present­day England and an effort to show and standardize(使標(biāo)準(zhǔn)化)English.
British English，known as Standard English or Oxford English，underwent changes during the colonization(殖民)of North America and the creation（創(chuàng)建）of the United States .British English words changed into American English words，such as centre to center，metre to meter，theatre to theater and so on.
Until the 18th century，British and American English were very similar with almost no difference .Immigration（移民） to America by other English peoples changed the language by 1700.Noah Webster，author of the first authoritative(權(quán)威的)American English dictionary，created many changes.
小題1:Modern English developed through______.
A．the efforts of literary writingsB．the efforts of political writings
C．old ChineseD．both A and B
小題2:American English changed from______ during the colonization of North America and the creation of the United States.
A．British EnglishB．Standard EnglishC．Oxford EnglishD．a(chǎn)ll of the above
小題3:British English was almost similar to American English until the______ century.
A．20thB．19thC．18thD．17th
小題4:What is the title of the passage?
A．Why more people speak EnglishB．What modern English is
C．When British and American English had no differenceD．English and its development

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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

The CEO of Apple, Steve Jobs’ story about death
When I was 17, I read a quote that went something like: “If you live each day as if it were your last, someday you’ll most certainly be right.” It made an impression on me, and since then, for the past 33years, I have looked in the mirror every morning and asked myself, “If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?”
Remembering that I’ll be dead soon is the most important tool I’ve ever encountered（遇到）to help me make the big choice in life.
About a year ago I was diagnosed with cancer. The doctors told me this was almost certainly a type of cancer that was incurable, and that I would live no longer than three to six months. My doctor advised me to go home and get my affairs in order, which is my doctors’ code for preparing yourself to die.
I lived with that diagnosis all day. I was completely in despair. Later that evening, I had another biopsy（活組織檢查）and my wife told me that tumor turned to be curable with surgery. I had the surgery and I’m fine now.
This was the closest I’ve been to facing death. To tell the truth, no one wants to die. And yet death is the destination we all share. No one has ever escaped it. It clears out the old to make room for the new. Right now the new is you, but someday not too long from now, you will gradually become the old and be cleared away.
Your time is so limited that you shouldn’t waste it repeating someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma（教條）----which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most importantly, have the courage to follow your heart. It somehow already knows what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.
小題1:The doctor advised the author to go home and get his affairs in order because_________.
A．he had to rest at home
B．his disease was not serious at all
C．his disease couldn’t be cured
D．he had to wait for the result of the test
小題2: How did the author feel after the diagnosis?
A．AngryB．ExcitedC．OptimisticD．Hopeless
小題3:What does the author think of death?
A．He thinks it is nothing to be scared of.
B．He thinks it is not the end of life.
C．He thinks it is impossible to avoid.
D．He thinks it is the beginning of a new life
小題4: In the author’s opinion, we should ____________.
A. follow others’ advice
B. take no notice of diseases
C. take exercise and keep healthy
D have the courage to follow our heart

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