Music for Humans and Humpback Whales

As researchers conclude in Science, the love of music is not only a universal feature of the human species, but is also deeply fixed in complex structures of the human brain, and is far more ancient than previously suspected.

In the articles that discuss the field of bio-musicology, the study of the biological basis for the creation and appreciation of music, researchers present various evidence to, show that music-making is at once an original human "business", and an art form with skillful performers throughout the animal kingdom.

The new reports stress that humans hold no copyright on sound wisdom, and that a number of nonhuman animals produce what can rightly be called music, rather than random sound. Recent in-depth analyses of the songs sung by humpback whales show that, even when their organ would allow them to do otherwise, the animals converge on the same choices relating to sounds and beauty, and accept the same laws of song composition as those preferred by human musicians, and human ears, everywhere.

For example, male humpback whales, who spend six months of each year doing little else but singing, use rhythms (節(jié)奏) similar to those found in human music and musical phrases of similar length—a few seconds. Whales are able to make sounds over a range of at least seven octaves (八度音階), yet they tend to move on through a song in beautiful musical intervals, rather than moving forwards madly. They mix the sounds like drums and pure tones in a ratio (比例) which agrees with that heard in much western music. They also use a favorite technique of human singers, the so-called A-B-A form, in which a theme is stated, then developed, and then returned to in slightly revised form.

Perhaps most impressive, humpback songs contain tunes that rhyme. "This suggests that whales use rhyme in the same way we do: as a technique in poem to help them remember complex material," the researchers write.

1.The underlined words "converge on" in Paragraph 3 probably means ________.

A. tend towards B. refer to

C. turn into D. put forward

2.Which of the following shows the advanced musical ability in humpback whales?

A. They can remember complex material.

B. They can create pleasing patterns of music.

C. They can make sounds like drums continuously.

D. They can sing along with rhythms of western music.

3.What is the main idea of the article?

A. Animals are able to compose and enjoy music like humans.

B. Human beings borrow ideas in music from humpback whales.

C. Humpback whales are skillful performers in the animal kingdom.

D. Music-making, an ancient activity of both humans and animals.

4.The main purpose of the passage is to ________.

A. argue and discuss B. inform and explain

C. compare and advertise D. examine and assess

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科目：高中英語(yǔ) 來(lái)源：2015-2016學(xué)年甘肅甘谷一中高二上學(xué)期期末英語(yǔ)試卷（解析版） 題型：閱讀理解

Why does most of the world travel on the right side today? Theories differ, but there's no doubt Napoleon was a major influence. The French have used the right since at least the late 18th century. Some say that before the French Revolution, noblemen drove their carriages on the left, forcing the peasants to the right. Regardless of the origin, Napoleon brought right-hand traffic to the nations he conquered, including Russia, Switzerland and Germany. Hitler, in turn, ordered right-hand traffic in Czechoslovakia and Austria in the 1930s. Nations that escaped right-hand control, like Great Britain, followed their left-hand tradition.

The U.S. has not always been a nation of right-hand drivers; earlier in its history, carriage and horse traffic travelled on the left, as it did in England. But by the late 1700s, people driving large wagons pulled by several pairs of horses began promoting a shift (改變) to the right. A driver would sit on the rear (后面的) left horse in order to wave his whip (鞭子) with his right hand; to see opposite traffic clearly, they travelled on the right.

One of the final moves to firmly standardize traffic directions in the U.S. occurred in the 20th century, when Henry Ford decided to mass-produce his cars with controls on the left ( the reason was stated in a 1908 catalog: the convenience for passengers exiting directly onto the edge, especially if there is a lady to be considered).Once these rules were set, many countries eventually adjusted to the right-hand standard, including Canada in the 1920s, Sweden in 1967 and Burma in 1970.The U.K. and former colonies such as Australia and India are among the Western world's few remaining holdouts(堅(jiān)持不變者).Several Asian nations, including Japan, use the left as well—though many places use both right-hand-drive and left-hand-drive cars.

1.Why did people in Switzerland travel on the right?

A. They had used the right-hand traffic since the 18th century.

B. Rich people enjoyed driving their carriages on the right.

C. Napoleon introduced the right-hand traffic to this country.

D. Hitler ordered them to go against their left-hand tradition.

2.Of all the countries below, the one that travels on the right is ______.

A. Austria B. England C. Japan D. Australia

3.Henry Ford produced cars with controls on the left ______.

A. in order to change traffic directions in the U.S.

B. so that passengers could get off conveniently

C. because rules at that time weren't perfect

D. though many countries were strongly against that

4.According to the passage, which of the following is TRUE?

A. Before the French Revolution, all the French people used the right.

B. People in Britain and the U.S. travel on the same side nowadays.

C. The Burmese began to travel on the right in 1970.

D. All the Asian nations use the left at present.

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科目：高中英語(yǔ) 來(lái)源：2015-2016學(xué)年山東省臨沂市高一6月月考英語(yǔ)試卷（解析版） 題型：閱讀理解

I know what you’re thinking: pizza? For breakfast? But the truth is that you can have last night’s leftovers in the morning if you want to.

I know lots of women who don’t have breakfast, and they have many different excuses for doing it. Some say they don’t have time, others think they’re “saving” calories (卡路里), still others just don’t like breakfast food.

But eating in the morning is very important when you’re trying to lose weight. Eating just about anything from 300 to 400 calories would be better than nothing at all.

Breakfast is one meal I never miss, and the same goes for most weight loss success stories. Research shows that eating breakfast keeps you from overeating later in the day. Researchers found that those who don’t have breakfast have a bigger chance of gaining weight than those who regularly have a morning meal.

So eat something in the morning, anything. I know plenty of friends who end up having no breakfast altogether, and have just coffee or orange juice. I say, try heating up last night’s leftovers-it may sound crazy, but if it works for you, do it! I find if I tell myself, “You can always eat it tomorrow,”I put away the leftovers instead of eating more that night. Try it...you may save yourself some pre-bedtime calories. And watch your body gain the fat-burning effects.

1.The word “l(fā)eftovers” in Paragraph 1 probably means ________.

A. pizza topped with fruit

B. things left undone

C. food remaining after a meal

D. meals made of vegetables

2.According to the last paragraph, it is important to ________.

A. be careful about what you eat

B. eat something for breakfast

C. heat up food before eating it

D. eat calorie-controlled food

3.What can we infer from the text?

A. Many people have wrong ideas about breakfast.

B. Working women usually have breakfast in a hurry.

C. There are some easy ways of cooking a meal.

D. Eating vegetables helps save energy.

4.The text is written mainly for those ________.

A. who go to work early

B. who go to bed late

C. who eat before sleep

D. who want to lose weight

5.What does the author advise the readers to do?

A. Better eat up all the food at dinner in the night.

B. Better eat less in the night.

C. Better eat leftovers in the morning.

D. Better get up late and eat nothing in the morning in order to burn more calories.

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科目：高中英語(yǔ) 來(lái)源：2015-2016學(xué)年遼寧省協(xié)作校2高二下學(xué)期期末考試英語(yǔ)試卷（解析版） 題型：七選五

根據(jù)短文內(nèi)容，從短文后的選項(xiàng)中選出能填入空白處的最佳選項(xiàng)。選項(xiàng)中有兩項(xiàng)為多余選項(xiàng)。

Things to Keep in Mind before Moving to New York City

1. So, reading up on New York’s history, facts, statistics, facilities, etc, is always a good idea. Learn about the culture, how to deal with people, taxi drivers, manners, or lack of manners that is exhibited there, and so on. It is always best to know what exactly you are getting into rather than landing there and getting a complete shock.

Before you buy your clothes or shoes, you always try them out first, right? In the same way, before you move to New York, you need to visit it for a couple of days, just do that you can see what the city is like. 2.

The best and worst thing about New York is that this city is controlled by money. 3. Then, you need to set aside (留出) an amount for emergencies only. If you are moving to New York with a job, or are planning to get a job once you are in the city, then you need to make sure that your salary covers up all your expenses and the amount that you would set aside for emergencies.

Finding a neighbourhood in New York is the key to actually enjoying your stay there. If you are moving to the city due to work, then look for living accommodations close to your workplace. 4. Do you see yourself living in a place that is quiet, like the Upper West Side or East Side, or do you want noisy setups, like the East Village, Lower East Side, or West Village?

Give the city a chance, make some good memories, and enjoy your stay there. Be safe wherever you go, and don’t’ worry too much. 5.

A. The easiest way to survive in New York is to have a friend who knows this city really well.

B. Once you are in New York, you would never want to leave it.

C. Before you move to any city, it is always best to know a little about the city.

D. To start with, you will need to make a budget.

E. You need to decide what kind of neighborhood you want.

F. Take a tour of the city and try to imagine yourself living there.

G. The experience of moving to New York depends on how the city treats you and what you make of the city.

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科目：高中英語(yǔ) 來(lái)源：2015-2016學(xué)年遼寧省瓦房店市高一下學(xué)期期末考試英語(yǔ)試卷（解析版） 題型：語(yǔ)法填空

閱讀下面材料，在空白處填入適當(dāng)?shù)膬?nèi)容（1個(gè)單詞）或括號(hào)內(nèi)單詞的正確形式。

Everyone needs to know how to prevent a fire. It is also important to know what to do when it 1. (break) out.

Every year，over 11,000 people 2. (kill) or injured in house fires. These fires could have been avoided. Smokers who are 3. (care) cause about 200 deaths and over 6,000 fires. More than of those 4. die in fires are poisoned or harmed by smoke．

If fire happens, do not attempt to fight the fire unless it is small. Try putting out a small fire with water. If 5. fire has spread or if the flames are more than 20 inches high, shut the door on it, warn everyone else in the building and tell them to get out. You should leave and dial 911 for the fire department.

Before 6. (go) into a room, check the door. If the handle or the door is hot, do not open it! Instead, put clothing or a wet towel at the bottom of it to keep smoke out. If the door is not hot, open it 7. (slow). If there is a rush of smoke heat, close it again and shout to warn 8. (other) inside.

Now open the window and shout “Fire!”. See whether you can drop safely to the ground. Use this 9. your escape course if you can. If you are not on ground level, break your fall by pushing a mat out first. Lower yourself at arm’s 10.(long) before dropping. Once outside，stay out outside and make sure the fire department is called．

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科目：高中英語(yǔ) 來(lái)源：2015-2016學(xué)年遼寧省大石橋市高二6月月考英語(yǔ)試卷（解析版） 題型：完形填空

閱讀下面短文，從短文后各題所給的四個(gè)選項(xiàng)中，選出可以填入空白處的最佳選項(xiàng)。

Down-to-earth means someone or something that is honest, practical and easy to deal with. It is _________ to find someone who is down-to-earth. A person who is down-to-earth is easy to talk to and _________ other people as equals. A down-to-earth person is just the _________ of someone who acts important and proud．

Down-to-earth persons _________ be important members of society. _________ they don’t let their importance “go to their heads”. They do not _________ themselves to be better persons than others of less importance. Someone who is filled with his own importance and pride, often without cause, is _________ to have “his nose in the air”. There is _________ way a person with his nose in the air can be down-to-earth.

Americans _________ another expression that means almost the same as down-to-earth. The expression is “both-feet-on-the-ground”. Someone with both-feet-on-the-ground is a person with a good _________ of reality. He _________ what is called “common sense”. He may have 52 , but he does not allow them to_________ his knowledge of what is real. The opposite kind of 54 is one who has hid “head-in-the-clouds”. A man with his head-in-the-clouds is a dreamer whose _________ is not in the real world．

_________ , such a dreamer can be brought back to reality. _________ words from a teacher can usually get a day-dreaming student to put both feet back on the ground．Usually, the person who is down-to-earth is very _________ to have both feet on the ground． _________we have both our feet firmly on the ground, we are down-to-earth, and we act honestly and openly _________ others. Our lives are like the ground below us, said and strong.

1.A．pleasant B．sad C．common D．surprising

2.A．meets B．welcomes C．receives D．a(chǎn)ccepts

3.A．case B．kind C．opposite D．example

4.A．must B．may C．should D．will

5.A．But B．So C．For D．And

6.A．wish B．expect C．desire D．consider

7.A．said B．told C．a(chǎn)sked D．made

8.A．some B．a(chǎn) C．no D．every

9.A．discover B．find C．make D．use

10.A．understanding B．wish C．reason D．expectation

11.A．demands B．lacks C．has D．likes

12.A．fortunes B．dreams C．a(chǎn)chievements D．disadvantages

13.A．block B．protect C．own D．gain

14.A．idea B．people C．a(chǎn)ttitude D．person

15.A．mind B．life C．body D．head

16.A．Always B．Therefore C．However D．Sometimes

17.A．Sharp B．All C．No D．Bad

18.A．possible B．probable C．likely D．a(chǎn)ble

19.A．Though B．Since C．When D．Unless

20.A．towards B．for C．over D．onto

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科目：高中英語(yǔ) 來(lái)源：2015-2016學(xué)年遼寧大連第十一中學(xué)高一下學(xué)期第一學(xué)段考試英語(yǔ)試卷（解析版） 題型：閱讀理解

閱讀下列短文，從每題所給的四個(gè)選項(xiàng) (A．B．C和D)中，選出最佳選項(xiàng)，并在答題卡上將該項(xiàng)涂黑。

A

One morning, my husband Jerry went back to the kitchen as he just finished loading his car. “I guess filling my thermos(保溫瓶) is all that I have left to do, and then I’m off.” Down the drain(下水道) went the hot water that had been warming his thermos.

With a nostalgic(懷舊的) look on his face, he softly said: “Anytime I fill my thermos I think of your mom.” The tone in his voice was so tender(溫柔的) as he spoke of my mother, who is sadly no longer with us.

“Oh honey, I know she’s watching and listening right now with a big smile on her face,” I responded, tears in my eyes.

One morning years ago when we were leaving, mother watched as Jerry was to fill his thermos. Mom then casually said, ‘Jerry, if you filled your thermos with hot water and let it sit a while, your coffee would stay hot for longer then.” With her simple suggestion, his face showed that he was shocked by his own lack of common sense. Well, of course it would!

He poured out the small amount of coffee already in the thermos and refilled it with boiling hot water. Then he poured the water and refilled it with hot coffee. Mom smiled as Jerry did so.

Words of wisdom from a loving mother-in-law made an impact(影響) that will never be forgotten. She never dreamed her words would be a treasured and everlasting memory in the heart of her son-in-law.

The lasting memories don’t necessarily come from major moments in life. Memories are often made during those small, ordinary times. Life is about small moments we share with friends and loved ones.

1.Which word best describes the author’s feeling in Paragraph 3?

A. Concerned B. Confused

C. Interested D. Touched

2.The underlined part “don’t necessarily” is similar in meaning to ________.

A. out of the question

B. possibly but uncertainly

C. certainly and absolutely

D. without any doubt

3.The message that the story intends to convey（傳達(dá)） is ______.

A. that lasting memories come from small things

B. how valuable a mother’s advice is to her children.

C. what a wise woman the mother is to her son-in-law

D. why we should respect our parents and listen to them.

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科目：高中英語(yǔ) 來(lái)源：2015-2016學(xué)年湖南省張家界市高一上學(xué)期期末聯(lián)考英語(yǔ)（A）試卷（解析版） 題型：閱讀理解

Dear Editors,

On my way to work every morning I drive by a farm where I can see some horses off in the distance in the woods. They are there every single morning no matter how cold or rainy or windy it is. There is a shed(牲口棚）on the farm, but it doesn’t look to me that the horses are ever taken into the shed. Is this right? I don’t think horses should be treated like this.

Sam

Dear Sam,

Thanks for taking an interest in these horses. Problems about the care of horses are different from cats and dogs. Think of wild horses that spend their whole lives outdoors finding whatever food and shelter（遮蔽物）they can on their own. The point is that horses don’t require as much shelter as a lot of other farm animals. However, that doesn’t mean that they don’t need some shelter.

It is hard to tell from your letter whether the situation for these horses is unacceptable. Above all, do you know the people who own the horses well enough to just talk to them as a neighbor and express your concern (關(guān)注)? Maybe they will tell you that the horses do go in the shed at night.

If direct contact (聯(lián)系）is not a choice and you can see that the horses’ situation is poor, then call 911, report the situation and ask law enforcement officers (執(zhí)法官員) to look into it.

If you just can’t see enough to prove such a report, call the Oswego Court Humane Society on 207-1070 for help from the Large Animal Assistance Project (LAAP). A volunteer from the project will help solve the problem.

Speaking of volunteer assistance, since you appear to be a horse lover, why not talk to the LAAP about volunteer opportunities for you? It’s big job, but totally rewarding, and the project always needs knowledgeable horse people to help.

1.Sam writes to the editors in order to____________.

A. ask how to keep horses in changeable weathers.

B. discuss whether some horses are badly treated

C. express his strong interest in keeping horses

D. describe some beautiful horses he has seen

2.Compared with cats and dogs, horses ________.

A. need less shelter

B. prefer living indoors

C. can predict bad weathers

D. like finding food by themselves

3.What do the editors advise Sam to do first?

A. To call 911 for help

B. To find a volunteer from the LAAP

C. To contact the horses’ owner directly.

D. To call the Oswego County Humane Society.

4.In the last paragraph of the second letter, the editors_______.

A. hope Sam can be more knowledgeable

B. stress the importance of volunteering

C. encourage Sam to join the LAAP

D. suggest Sam change his job

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科目：高中英語(yǔ) 來(lái)源：2016屆江西省高三上學(xué)期第一次月考英語(yǔ)試卷（解析版） 題型：閱讀理解

Once Dr. Mellinkoff invited me to join him at the hospital to discuss interesting cases with his students. The case at hand was a Guatemalan man, aged 34, who had a fever and many other medical problems. His condition was not improving, and there was not much hope he would live.

Dr. Mellinkoff asked to see the patient. He introduced himself in Spanish and, in a very gentle voice, asked how he felt. The patient smiled and said everything was all right. Then the doctor asked if he was able to eat. The patient said that he had no desire to eat.

“Are you getting food you like?”

The patient said nothing.

“Do you get the kind of food you have at home?”

The answer was no.

The doctor put his hand on the man’s shoulder and his voice was very soft.

“If, you had food that you liked, would you eat it?”

“Yes, yes.” the patient said.

The change in the patient’s appearance couldn’t have been more obvious. Nothing was said, but it was easy to tell that a message had been sent and had also been received.

Later, the doctor asked why the Guatemalan man wasn’t getting food he could eat. One of the students said, “We all know how difficult it is to get the kitchen to make special meals.”

“Suppose, ” the doctor replied, “you felt a certain medicine was absolutely necessary but that our hospital didn’t carry it, would you accept defeat or would you insist the hospital meet your request?”

“I would probably insist, ” the student said.

“Very well, ” the doctor said. “You might want to try the same method in the kitchen. It won’t be easy, but I can help you. Meanwhile, let’s get some food inside this man as fast as possible, and stay with it. Or he’ll be killed by hunger. By the way, there must be someone among you who can speak Spanish. If we want to make real progress, we need to be able to talk with him.”

Three weeks later, Dr. Mellinkoff told me that the Guatemalan man had left the hospital under his own power. It takes more than medicine to help sick people; you also have to talk to them and make them comfortable.

1.The patient had no desire to eat because ________.

A. he was not hungry

B. he was seriously ill

C. he was given special meals

D. he was not satisfied with the food

2.According to the passage, we can conclude that ________.

A. the patient was from another country

B. the patient’s illness was caused by hunger

C. Dr. Mellinkoff performed an operation on the patient

D. the hospital failed to provide the right medicine for the patient

3.Which of the following words can be used to describe Dr. Mellinkoff?

A. Cold. B. Considerate. C. Curious. D. Confident.

4.What do you think Dr. Mellinkoff wanted to tell his students in this case?

A. Doctors should know their patients’ real problems.

B. Doctors should be able to speak foreign languages.

C. Doctors should try to improve their medical skills.

D. Doctors should give more medicine to patients.

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