No matter how long your life is, you will, at best, be able to read only a few books of all that have been written, and the few you do read should include the best. You can be pleased with the fact that the number of such is relatively small.

It is to be expected that the selections will change over time. Yet there is a surprising uniformity(一致性) in the lists which represent the best choices of any periold. In every age, the list makers include both ancient and modern books in their selections, and they always wonder whether the moderns are up to the great books of the past.

What are the signs by which we may recognize a great book? The four I will mention may not be all there are, but they are the ones I’ve found most useful in explaining my choices over the years.

Great books are probably the most widely read. They are enduring best sellers. Gone With the Wind has had relatively few readers compared to the plays of Shakespeare or Don Quixote. It would be reasonable to estimate that Homer Sliad has been read by at least 25,000,000 people in the last 3000 years.

Great books are popular, not pedantic. They are not written by specialists about specialties for specialists. Whether they are philosophy or science, or history or poetry, they treat of human, not academic problems. They are written for men, not professors. To read a textbook for advanced students, you have to read an elementary textbook first. But the great books can be considered elementary in the sense that they treat the elements of any subject matter. They are not related to one another as a series of textbooks, graded in difficulty or in the technicality of the problems with which they deal.

Great books are always contemporary, the most readable and instructive.

Great books deal with the continuously unsolved problems of human life. There are mysteries in the world that mark the limits of human knowing and thinking. Inquiry not begins with wonder, but usually ends with it also. Great minds acknowledge mysteries only honestly. Wisdom is encouraged, not destroyed, by understanding its limitations.

1. Which is NOT the criterion in the following when considering a great book?

  A. Although not a best seller, it must be the most widely read.

  B.A great book can be read without any effort.

  C. Great books are never out of date.

  D. Great books will not disappoint you if you try to read them well.

2. According to the author, Gone With the Wind is      .

  A. a best seller                      B. disliked by readers who like Shakespeare

  C. read more often than Don Quixote    D. a great book

3. In the passage the underlined word“pedantic”means         .

  A. showing the feelings, esp, those of kindness, which people are supposed to have

  B. serving as practical examples

  C. being elementary

  D. paying too much attention to details in books

4. The best title for this passage is         .

  A. Great Books in Your Life           B. Great Books in Your Specialty

  C. How to Find a Great Book?         D. What Is a Great Book?

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科目：高中英語 來源：2013屆福建省福州市第三中學(xué)高三第二次月考英語試卷（帶解析） 題型：閱讀理解

As you grow rapidly through your teenage years, you will experience a lot lf changes．The changes may seem difficult and they may seem to happen quickly. Don’t panic! You will deal successfully with them! You are a young adult now!
With more responsibility, you will find more freedom to make your own choices. This is a time to be well informed about own choices. This is a time to be well informed about your choices so that you can make healthy balanced decisions that will help shape your future. You may already know your career path or you may have no idea at all what you want to do. Both situations are fine! Work hard and the right opportunity will present itself to you.
Young adulthood means greater freedom and more choices. You will probably want to be independent. But try not to shut your family out of your life. You should learn to think of others even though you are old enough to look after yourself. Your family have been with you since you came into this world.
It is also perfectly natural in this time for you to spend more time with your friends than your family. Choose your friends wisely. A true friend will stand by you no matter what happens.
This period is a part of the life cycle. There are some people who will be with you throughout life’s journey and there will be some people with whom you part and go separate ways. Leaving school can be hard. The reality is that you may not ever see all of your classmates again.
You are a young adult. It is your life. No one can live it for you. The choices that you make from now on will be your choices. So making the right choices will be important to you. Life is for living. Enjoy your life wisely!
【小題1】The best title for this passage would be       ．

A．The Choices in LifeB．The Key to Success
C．Say Goodbye to the PastD．Becoming a Young Adult
【小題2】Who do the underlined words “ some people”(Paragraph 5)probably refer to?
A．your parentsB．your classmatesC．true friendsD．your relatives
【小題3】The author thinks teenage years are      ．
A．a(chǎn) period of complete freedom
B．too hard for young people to get through
C．a(chǎn)n important time for the young to make the right choices
D．a(chǎn) very important period for young students to leave their parents
【小題4】Who is the passage mainly written for?
A．Teenagers．B．Teachers．C．Young parents．D．Adults．

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科目：高中英語 來源：廣東省2010屆高三考前熱身測試試題英語 題型：閱讀理解


Ⅲ閱讀 (共兩節(jié)，滿分40分)
第一節(jié)閱讀理解 (共15小題；每小題2分，滿分30分)
閱讀下列短文，從每題所給的A、B、C和D項(xiàng)中，選出最佳選項(xiàng)，并在答題卡上將該項(xiàng)涂黑。
      The old shopkeeper led me through to the back of the shop．The room was filled with boxes and
photographs of people dressed in old-fashioned clothes，holding packages in their hands．
“Who are these-people?”I asked．   
“Satisfied customers，”answered young Mr. Hopkins．“We have a very wide choice of items for
sale．Whenever I serve a new customer, I always take their picture．”Mr. Hopkins pointed to an ancient
camera standing next to one wall．“Now, how can I serve you?”he added．
By this time，I had started to trust Mr. Hopkins and had begun to appreciate the lovely items on
sale. I needed to buy Christmas presents for my family and friends，and this seemed to be the perfect
place to purchase them．I spent a very pleasant hour being shown the commodities in Mr. Hopkins’shop．
No matter what I asked for, Mr. Hopkins found it for me．Finally, I bought an antique jewelry box，a pair
of riding boots，a leather-bound edition of the Complete Works of Mark Twain, and a sewing machine．
I was very excited that I had found such a good little shop．I promised Mr. Hopkins that l would
come back soon. “I will tell all my friends about your lovely place，”I told the shopkeeper．
“Please do not do that, sir" , said Mr. Hopkins．“This is a special place for special people．You must
keep this shop a secret．” Then he took my photograph and handed me the picture straight away．
“That was quick!”I exclaimed．I looked at the photograph．In the picture I looked proud and excited holding the presents I had bought in Mr. Hopkins’dusty shop．
On Christmas Day, my friends and relatives were delighted with the presents I had bought for them．
For weeks．my brother begged me to show him where to find this wonderful little shop．I finally agreed to take him to London to show him．   
When we arrived in London，we walked along Oxford Street，past the department store and
Found nothing．The little shop was no longer there．In its place was an empty space being used as a car
park．I checked the area again。There was the music shop，and there was the department store．In between
should have been Hopkins and Son, but it wasn’t there．
As l was staring at the place where the shop should have been, a old policeman came along．“Are
you looking for something sir?”he asked．
I turned and said“I am looking for a little shop called Hopkins and Son．I thought it was here．”
“Oh yes，”said the policeman．“There was a shop here once called Hopkins and Son．It sold all
sorts of things，but it was knocked down over 30 years ago．”
I looked again at the place where the shop had been．Then I reached into my pocket and took out
the photograph that Mr. Hopkins had taken of me holding my presents in the little shop．   
    “How strange”I exclaimed．
41．The photos in the back of the shop showed
A. the items that Mr. Hopkins had sold          B．Mr. Hopkins’family members
C．Mr. Hopkins’former customers           D．the antique paintings
42．How did the writer like the shop?
A．He found it a modem big shop．
B．He thought it a wonderful shop for all Christmas presents．
C．He thought it a good shop with an ancient camera．
D．He found it a dusty, old but friendly and lovely little shop．
43．Which of the following is true about the shop?
A．It was a well-known little shop in London。
B．It was a special shop selling special presents．
C．It was between a music shop and a department store．
D．It was knocked down a few weeks ago.
44．The word “the commodities’in the 4th paragraph means         ．
A．the goods in the shop                    B. the writer’s works
C．Mr. Hopkins' photographs                D．Some presents left by other customers
45．Which of the following is the best title of this passage?
A．Christmas Shopping                    B．Hopkins and His Son
C．The Strange Experience                 D．The Strange Little Shop 

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科目：高中英語 來源：四川省成都七中2010屆高三考前沖刺考試英語試題 題型：閱讀理解


It’s three devices in one.
iPhone is more than just a phone.                              
It combines three devices in one:
a revolutionary mobile phone, a widescreen iPod,
and a breakthrough Internet device.
All that and more makes it the best phone you’ll ever use.
Revolutionary Phone
With the Multi-Touch interface on iPhone, you can make a call simply by tapping a name or number in your contacts or favorites list, your call log, or just about anywhere. Visual(視覺的) Voicemail lets you select and listen to messages in whatever order you want — just like email.
Widescreen iPod
iPhone shows off your content — music, movies, TV shows, and more — on a beautiful 3.5-inch display. Add to your collection by downloading music and video wirelessly from the iTunes Store. Moves through songs and playlists with the touch of a finger. Even browse(瀏覽)your album artwork using Cover Flow.
Breakthrough Internet Device
iPhone uses fast 3G and Wi-Fi wireless connections to deliver rich HTML email, Maps with GPS, and Safari — the most advanced web browser on a mobile device. It has Google and Yahoo! search built in. And since iPhone multitasks, you can make a phone call while emailing a photo or surfing the web over a Wi-Fi or 3G connection.
It opens a whole new world of applications.
iPhone comes with some amazing applications. And you can choose from thousands more on the Application Store and download them with a tap. Your iPhone gets even better with every new application. Play games. Be more productive. Keep yourself entertained. No matter what you want to do on iPhone, there’s an application for that.
It works like no other phone.
With iPhone, Apple combined innovative(創(chuàng)新的)hardware features with the world’s most advanced mobile operating system to redefine what a mobile phone can do. Applications work together perfectly and they are at the same pace with your computer—whether you’re on a Mac or a PC. From its revolutionary Multi-Touch display to its intelligent keyboard to its smart sensors, iPhone is years ahead of any other mobile phone.
1. How can you add your music, movies, TV shows to your collection on the phone?
A. By using Voicemail to select what you want to add.
B. By downloading them from the iTunes Store.
C. By adding a new application from thousands more on the Application Store.
D. By using Google and Yahoo! search to search and then add them.
2. Which of the following is true?
A. You can’t deliver HTML email, Maps with GPS, and call at the same time. 
B. Multi-Touch interface makes it easy to make a phone call.
C. You can only listen to the messages in the fixed order.
D. Wi-Fi is the most advanced web browser on a mobile device.
3. What makes iphone different from other mobile phones is that______.
A. it has a world of new applications
B. it is a Widescreen iPod
C. it contains Breakthrough Internet Device
D. it redefines what a mobile phone can do

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科目：高中英語 來源：2013屆浙江省寧波市鄞州區(qū)高三5月適應(yīng)性考試英語試卷（帶解析） 題型：閱讀理解

Surprises often come in boxes. Birthday presents wrapped in colorful paper, brown paper packages mailed from a friend. No matter what kind of box it is, people like to open it up and see what's inside. In America, and in many other countries, one special kind of box contains the future. It's called a ballot box. What people put into the box on election day can change the course of history.
Elections are the lifeblood of a democracy. The word democracy literally means "the people rule," an important concept in American history. In the mid-1700s, England began passing laws that made the American colonies angry. The colonists had to pay more and more taxes and enjoyed less and less freedom. They felt the government of England didn't represent their interests. On July 4, 1776, the colonies declared their independence from England. They wanted to establish a democracy where people could have a voice in government.
An effective democracy holds regular elections. In America, elections are held every two years for members of Congress. In these elections, all seats in the House of Representatives and one-third of the Senate seats are up for grabs. In addition, every four years, voters go to the polls to elect the nation's president and vice-president. Voters also regularly cast their ballots for state and city government leaders and local school board members. Sometimes they also have to vote on a proposed law.
In the American electoral system, people don't really vote for presidential candidates. Instead, voters cast their ballots for "electors" who support each candidate. Each state has as many electors as the total number of its representatives in Congress. This equals two senators per state plus the number of its representatives in the House (which is based on the state's population). The candidate who has the most votes in a state wins all of the state's electors. To win the presidential election, a candidate must gain at least 270 of the 538 total electoral votes.
Over the years, the U.S. has made a number of election reforms. Some early reforms outlawed cheating, giving bribes and threatening voters. They also limited the amount of money candidates could receive from donors and spend on their campaigns. In 1870, black people gained the right to vote, and in 1920, that right was extended to women. In recent decades, laws against unfair rules for voting have been passed. No longer do people have to pay a special tax or pass a test in order to vote. In 1971, the voting age was lowered to 18. Other reforms made voting easier for the blind, the disabled and people who couldn't read. In some areas, ballots had to be printed in languages besides English.
In November, Americans will again elect those who will represent them in government. Although some citizens aren't even registered to vote--and some registered voters don't bother to go to the polls--most Americans exercise their right to vote. They realize that their future is wrapped up in a special package--the ballot box. It's a package that must definitely be "handled with care."
【小題1】According to the context, what does a “ballot box” mean in Chinese?

A．彩票箱B．投票箱C．禮品箱D．保險(xiǎn)箱
【小題2】Democracy means that ____.
A．People couldn’t have a voice in a government.
B．In America, elections are held every four years for members of Congress.
C．Democracy is the lifeblood of elections.
D．Basically “ the people rule”, and it’s very important in American history.
【小題3】How will the votes distributed if Romney got 20 votes while Obama received 17 votes in California in the election?
A．Romney will win 20 votes in California.
B．Obama will win 20 votes in California.
C．Romney will win 37 votes in California.
D．Obama will win 37 votes in California.
【小題4】 Which one is RIGHT about election reforms?
A．People have to pay a special tax to vote.
B．There are bribes and threatening in elections now.
C．People above eighteen years old can vote now.
D．The disabled or the blind have tough access to voting.
【小題5】 What’s the main idea of this passage?
A．Birthday boxes in the U.S. B．Election systems in the U.S.
C．Election reforms in the U.S.D．Democracy in the U.S.

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科目：高中英語 來源：2011-2012學(xué)年福建省三明一中高二下學(xué)期第一次月考英語試卷（帶解析） 題型：閱讀理解

One morning more than thirty years ago, I entered the Track Kitchen, a restaurant where everyone from the humblest(卑微的) to the most powerful came for breakfast. I noticed an empty chair next to an elderly, unshaven man, who looked somewhat disheveled. He was wearing a worn-out hat and was alone. I asked if I might join him. He agreed quietly and I sat down to have my breakfast.
We cautiously began a conversation and spoke about a wide rang of things. We never introduced ourselves. I was concerned that he might have no money and not be able to afford something to eat. So as I rose to go back to the counter and buy a second cup of coffee, I asked,
“My I get you something?”
“A coffee would be nice.”
Then I bought him a cup of coffee, we talked more, and he accepted another cup of coffee. Finally, I rose to leave, wished him well, and headed for the exit. At the door I met one of my friends. He asked,
“How did you get to know Mr. Galbreath?”
“Who?”
“The man you were sitting with. He is chairman of the Board of Churchill Downs.”
I could hardly believe it. I was buying, offering a free breakfast, and feeling pity for one of the world’s richest and most powerful men!
My few minutes with Mr. Galbreath changed my life. Now I try to treat everyone with respect, no matter who I think they are, and no matter another human being with kindness and sincerity.
【小題1】What does the underlined word “disheveled” mean?

A．Unfriendly.B．Kind. C．Elegant.D．Untidy.
【小題2】The author bought coffee for the old man because      .
A．he wanted to start a conversation
B．he thought the old man was poor
C．he intended to show his politeness
D．he would like to thank the old man
【小題3】How did the author probably feel after he talked with his friend?
A．Surprised.B．Pitiful.C．Proud. D．Regretful.
【小題4】What is the message mainly expressed in the story?
A．We should learn to be generous.
B．It is honorable to help those in need.
C．We should avoid judging people by their appearances.
D．People in high positions are not like what we expect.

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