London’s newest skyscraper (摩天大樓)is called the Shard and it cost about 430 million pounds to build. At a height of almost 310 metres, it is the tallest building in Europe. The Shard has completely changed the appearance of London. However, not everyone thinks that it is a change for the better.
The Shard was designed by the famous Italian architect Renzo Piano. When he began designing the Shard for London, Piano wanted a very tall building that looked like a spire (尖頂)? He wanted the glass surfaces to reflect the sky and the city. The sides of the building aren’t regular. So the building has an unusual shape. It looks like a very thin，sharp piece of broken glass. And that is how the building got the name: the Shard. Piano says that the spire shape of the Shard is part of a great London tradition. The shape reminds him of the spires of the churches of London or the tall masts (桅桿）of the ships that were once on the river Thames.
The Shard has 87 floors. At the top, there is an observatory. At the moment the building is empty, but eventually there will be a five-star hotel. There will also be top quality restaurants, apartments and offices.
Before building work began, a lot of people didn’t want the Shard though the plans were approved. Now they are still unhappy about the Shard. Some critics say that such a tall skyscraper might be good in a city like New York, but not in London. They say that the best thing about the Shard is its spire shape. But that is the only thing. There is no decoration, only flat surfaces. The Egyptians did that 4,500 years ago. They also think the Shard is too big for London. It destroys the beauty of the city.
Other critics don’t like what the Shard seems to represent. They say that the Shard shows how London is becoming more unequal. Only very rich people can afford to buy the expensive private apartments and stay in the hotel. But the people who live near the Shard are among the poorest in London. So the Shard seems a symbol of the division in society between the very rich and the poor.
The Shard now dominates the London skyline. It is not certain, however, that ordinary London citizens will ever accept it as a valuable addition to the city.
小題1:London’s newest skyscraper is called the Shard because of ._____
A. its cost
B  its size
C .its shape
D .its height
小題2:When he designed the Shard, Piano wanted it to ._____
A．change London’s skyline
B．inherit London’s tradition
C．imitate the Egyptian style
D．a(chǎn)ttract potential visitors
小題3:The critics who refer to social division think the Shard_______    .
A．is only preferred by the rich
B．is intended for wealthy people
C．is far away from the poor area
D．is popular only with Londoners
小題4:Which would be the best title for the passage?
A．The Shard: Cheers and Claps
B．The Shard: Work of a Great Architect
C．The Shard: New Symbol of London?
D．The Shard: A Change for the Better?

小題1:C
小題2:B
小題3:B
小題4:D

【文章大意】這是一篇夾敘夾議的議論文。文章講述了倫敦新建了歐洲最高的被稱之為“the Shard”的摩天大樓，成為了倫敦的新標(biāo)志，然而對此卻有不同的觀點(diǎn)，尤其是對新的摩天大樓代表的階層更是有絡(luò)繹不絕的批評之聲。
小題1:C考查細(xì)節(jié)理解。根據(jù)文章第二段“He wanted the glass surfaces to reflect the sky and the city. The sides of the building aren’t regular. So the building has an unusual shape”可知正是因?yàn)樗耐庑涡碌哪μ齑髽遣疟环Q作為“the Shard”.故C正確。
小題2:B考查細(xì)節(jié)理解。根據(jù)文章第二段“Piano says that the spire shape of the Shard is part of a great London tradition ”可知Piano希望摩天大樓更多承載的是倫敦的傳統(tǒng)，故B正確。
小題3:B考查細(xì)節(jié)理解。根據(jù)文章第五段“Only very rich people can afford to buy the expensive private apartments and stay in the hotel. …So the Shard seems a symbol of the division in society between the very rich and the poor.”可知批評者認(rèn)為它只是代表了有錢的富人，也成為了窮人與富人的區(qū)分和界限，故B正確。
小題4:D考查文章標(biāo)題。根據(jù)文章第一段“However, not everyone thinks that it is a change for the better ”可知文章是在探究與闡述對新的摩天大樓所帶來的變化究竟是怎樣的，故利用這樣的話題作為標(biāo)題很鮮明直接，故D正確。
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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

It is one of the most annoying words in the English language and it seems there is no escaping it．The word “huh?” is in worldwide use, a study found．
Researchers discovered that languages spoken in countries from Ghana and Laos to Iceland and Italy all include ‘‘huh?”, or something that sounds very like it. They said that while the study may sound silly，the word is an absolutely necessary part of speech．Without it and similar words，it would be impossible to show that we haven’t heard or understood what had been said and this would lead to constant misunderstandings．
But while other words used in the same context，such as ‘‘sorry'’ or‘ ‘what”，vary widely across languages，“huh?” remains unchanged．
The Dutch researchers carefully studied ten languages from around the world，including Siwu, which is spoken in Ghana, and an Australian Aboriginal language，as well as Italian，Spanish，Dutch and Mandarin Chinese．
They analyzed tapes of recorded conversations for words that sounded like ‘‘huh?” and were used to request that whatever had just been said be repeated．All contained a version of ‘‘huh?”．The word was also found in another 21 languages．While there were subtle differences in each country, all sounded basically the same．
This is surprising because normally unrelated languages will use very different words to describe the same thing．For instance，the Japanese for “dog’’ is ‘‘inu”，while the French is‘ ‘chien”．It is thought that languages around the world have developed their own version of “huh?’’ because the sound is quick and simple to form，as well as being easily understood．
The researchers，said that it might seem unimportant to carry out scientific research into a word like “huh?'’ but in fact this little word is an essential tool in human communication．They also have an answer for those who claim that ‘‘huh?’’ isn’t a word．They say that it qualifies because of the small differences in its pronunciation in different languages．It also can be considered a word because it’s something we learn to say，rather than a grunt or cry that we are born knowing how to make．
小題1:According to researchers，the word “huh?” is very important in speech because of       .
A．its important function in communication
B．its simple and easy sound and spelling
C．its popularity in every language
D．its stable meaning in language development
小題2:If you hear someone you’re speaking to say “huh?”, what should you do?
A．You should apologize to her for speaking in a low voice．
B．You should invite her to share her different views politely．
C．You should try to say what you’ve just said again in a clearer way．
D．You should ask her to repeat what she says before that.
小題3:The main method used in the research of “huh?” was_____________．
A．comparing different words with the same meaning in different languages
B．interviewing language experts in universities
C．talking with people from ten different countries
D．a(chǎn)nalyzing the recorded conversations in different languages
小題4: According to researchers，‘‘huh?” should be considered a word rather than a sound because  __________ .
A．it is pronounced quite differently around the world
B．it is something humans learn to say
C．there is a clear and consistent spelling of the word
D．it is listed in most dictionaries

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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

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)。
Young adult filmmakers all hope to show their works in international festivals like Sundance and Toronto. But what about really young filmmakers who aren’t in film school yet and aren’t, strictly speaking, even adults?
They are at the heart of Wingspan Arts Kids Films Festival, tomorrow, in a setting any director might envy: Lincoln Center. Complete with “red carpet” interviews and various awards, the festival has much in common with events for more experienced moviemakers, except for the age of the participants: about 8 to 18.
“What’s really exciting is that it’s film for kids by kids,” said Cori Gardner, managing director of Wingspan Arts, a nonprofit organization offering youth arts programs in the New York area. This year the festival will include films not only from Wingspan but also from other city organizations and one from a middle school in Arlington, Virginia. “We want to make this a national event,” Ms. Gardner added.
The nine shorts to be shown range from a Claymation biography of B.B. King to a science fiction adventure set in the year 3005. “A lot of the material is really mature,” Ms. Gardner said, talking about films by the New York City branch of Global Action Project, a media arts and leadership-training group. “The Choice is about the history of a family and Master Anti-Smoker is about the dangers of secondhand smoke.” Dream of the Invisibles describes young immigrants’ feelings of both belonging and not belonging in their adopted country.
The festival will end with an open reception at which other films will be shown. These include a music video and full-length film whose title is Pressures.
1. Wingspan Arts Kids Film Festival ____.
A. is organized by a middle school
B. is as famous as the Toronto Festival
C. shows films made by children
D. offers awards to film school students
2. Which of the following is true of Wingspan Arts?
A. It helps young filmmakers to make money.
B. It provides arts projects for young people.
C. It’s a media arts and leadership-training group.
D. It’s a national organization for young people.
3. The underlined word “shorts” in Paragraph 4 refers to _____.
A. short trousers  B. short kids   C. short films   D. short stories
4. Movies to shown in the festival ____.
A. cover different subjects.
B. focus on kids’ life
C. are produced by Global Action Project
D. are directed by Ms. Gardner
5. At the end of this film festival, there will be ____.
A. various awards    B. “red carpet” interviews
C. an open reception  D. a concert at Lincoln Center

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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

The meaning of the word “volunteer” may be a little different in different countries, but it usually means “one who offers his or her services．” There are many different ways in which people can volunteer, such as taking care of sick people, working in homes for homeless children, and picking up garbage from beaches and parks．Volunteers may work within their own countries or in other countries．They are often people with a strong wish to help those who are less fortunate than themselves．Volunteers don’t expect any kind of pay．
At the root of volunteering is the idea that one person may have the ability to offer services that can help other people．Tracy, a good friend of mine, however, recently came back from India with a new idea of what being a volunteer means．She worked for two and a half weeks in one of Mother Teresa’s homes in Calcutta．The following is her story．
“I first heard about Mother Teresa in my high school．We watched a video about her work in India and all over the world．I was so moved by her spirit to help others and her endless love for every human being that after I graduated from high school, I too wanted to try her kind of work．So with two friends I flew to Calcutta for a few weeks．”
“I was asked to work in a home for sick people．I helped wash clothes and sheets, and pass out lunch．I also fed the people who were too weak to feed themselves and tried to cheer them up．I felt it was better to share with them than to think that I have helped them．To be honest, I don’t think I was helping very much．It was then that I realized that I had not really come to help, but to learn about and experience another culture that helped improve my own understanding of life and the world．”
66．According to the text, a volunteer refers to a person who ______．
A．is willing to help those in need without pay  
B．can afford to travel to different places
C．has a strong wish to be successful          
D．has made a big fortune in life
67．Tracy started her work as a volunteer _______．
A．a(chǎn)fter she met Mother Teresa              
B．a(chǎn)fter she finished high school
C．when she was touring Calcutta            
D．when she was working in a hospital
68．Why did Tracy choose to be a volunteer?
A．She liked to work with Mother Teresa．     
B．She had already had some experience．
C．She was asked by Mother Teresa’s example．
D．She wanted to follow Mother Teresa’s example．
69．What is Tracy’s “new idea”（Paragraph 2） of being a volunteer?
A．Going abroad to help the sick．           
B．Working in Mother Teresa’s home．
C．Doing simple things to help the poor．      
D．Improving oneself through helping others．
70．What is the best title for the passage?
A．How To Be A Volunteer．             B．Voluntary Life In India．
C．A Different Meaning Of Volunteer．   D．Inspiration From Mother Teresa．

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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

Organic food, once considered something that only health fanatics desired, is now a regular feature at most supermarkets. And that has created a bit of a dilemma. On the one hand, you have a conventionally grown apple. On the other, you have one that’s organic. Both apples are firm, shiny and red. Both provide vitamins and fiber, and both are free of fat, sodium and cholesterol.
Conventionally grown food generally costs less, but is organic food a better choice? The advantages claimed for such foods over conventionally grown and sold food products are now being debated on a large scale. Supporters of organic foods ― a term whose meaning varies greatly ―are frequently telling the world that such products are safer and more nutritious than others.
The growing interest of consumers in the safety and nutritional quality of daily foods is a welcome development. However, much of this interest has been aroused by sweeping claims that the conventional food supply is unsafe or inadequate in meeting nutritional needs.
Almost daily, the public is surrounded by claims for “no-aging” diets, new vitamins and other wonder foods. There are numerous unsubstantiated(沒證實(shí)的) reports that natural vitamins are superior to man-made ones, that fertilized eggs are nutritionally superior to unfertilized eggs, that untreated grains are better than those treated with insect spray and the like.
Although most of these claims are not supported by scientific evidence, large amounts of written material about the benefits of organic foods makes it difficult for people to separate fact from fiction. As a result, claims that eating a diet consisting of organically grown foods prevents or cures disease or provides other benefits to health have become widely advertised and form the basis for people’s opinion.
One thing that most organically grown food products seem to have in common is that they cost more than conventionally grown foods. But in many cases consumers are misled if they believe organic foods can maintain health and provide better nutritional quality than conventionally grown foods. So there is real cause for concern if consumers, particularly those with limited incomes, distrust the conventional food supply and buy only expensive organic foods instead.
小題1:According to Paragraph 2, which of the following statements about organic food is true?
A．It hasn’t been used until recent years.
B．It has no agreed definition.
C．It is popular among producers.
D．It is accepted by most nutritionists.
小題2:In Paragraph 4, treated grains are examples of ________.
A．healthier foodB．organic food
C．conventionally grown foodD．expensive food
小題3:It can be inferred from the passage that ________.
A．most doctors believe organic foods prevent disease or provide other benefits to health
B．organic foods are actually less nutritious than conventionally grown foods
C．people cannot separate fact from fiction because of the TV advertisements
D．organic foods cost more but are not necessarily better than conventionally grown foods
小題4:According to the passage, many consumers are attracted by organic foods because they _____.
A．want to try something new
B．have carefully researched the products
C．value food safety and nutrition
D．expect to save some money
小題5:What is the author’s attitude towards the claims of organic foods?
A．Doubtful.B．Enthusiastic.
C．Supportive.D．Uninterested.

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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

Thomas Alva Edison (愛迪生)was awarded more patents（專利） on inventions than any other American. When he died in 1931, Americans wondered how they could best show their respect for him. One suggestion was that the nation observe a minute or two of total blackout(關(guān)閉，中斷). All electric power(電源) would be shut off in homes, streets, and factories. Perhaps his suggested plan made Americans realize fully what Edison and his inventions mean to them. Electric power was too important to the country. Shutting it off for even a short time would have led to complete confusion（混亂）. A blackout was out of the question.
On the day of Edison’s funeral (葬禮),many people silently dimmed(使暗淡) their lights. In this way they honoured the man who had done more than anyone else to the great force of electrity
小題1: This says that Thomas Edison __________.
A．was the only important American inventor
B．received the first American patent
C．received more patents than any other American
D．was the first American inventor
小題2: People decided to honor Edison when ________.
A．he made the first electric lightB．electric power was 100 years
C．the country realized electricity’s importanceD．he died in 1931
小題3: The suggested plan was to _________.
A．turn off the lights in factoriesB．observe a few minutes of total silence
C．dim all electric lightsD．shut off all electricity for a short time
小題4: The plan was never carried out because________.
A．not everyone wanted to honor Edison
B．it was too difficult
C．electric power was too important to the country
D．it honored only one of Edison’s inventions

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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

The dollar is becoming weaker and weaker. What effects will it have?
Look at the record­high price of oil. Even if the same amount of oil is being pumped out of the ground，since it is traded in dollars and the dollar has weakened，the price of oil has increased to make up for the lost value of the dollar，creating a sort of vicious cycle(惡性循環(huán))．
Oil­producing countries don't want to keep all the dollars they are getting for their oil，since it's declining in value，so they exchange their dollars for euros or other currencies. That pushes more dollars back out into currency markets，which in turn pushes down the dollar's value.
One expert told ABC News that Russia used to have 90 percent of its financial reserves in dollars. It now has 45 percent in dollars,45 percent in euros and 10 percent in British pounds.
In the US itself，the news is mixed. It's good，because it makes what we produce here cheaper to sell in foreign markets，and that in turn spurs(刺激) exports of our products around the world. That translates into more manufacturing and more jobs.
But a weak dollar is bad，because it leads to inflation (通貨膨脹) in this country. Imports from foreign countries will become more expensive，and in particular，oil will be more expensive. That puts pressure on businesses to increase prices for anything that uses oil or products that come from overseas. One benefit for American shoppers is that China has largely pegged its currency to ours，so that keeps the price of Chinese­made goods low and therefore，keeps a check on inflation.
小題1:Which of the following would be the best title for this passage?
A．Why is the dollar losing value?
B．What caused the weak dollar?
C．What to do with the weak dollar?
D．What effects will the weak dollar have?
小題2:With the dollar losing its value，oil­producing countries will do all of the following EXCEPT ________.
A．raising the price of oil
B．raising their production of oil
C．exchanging their dollars for other currencies
D．decreasing their financial reserves in dollars
小題3:It can be inferred that ________.
A．the American economy is having a hard time
B．Russia is making the situation worse on purpose
C．American export businesses would like a stronger dollar
D．Chinese­made goods remain as competitive as before in the USA

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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

February has long been a month of romance（浪漫）. With the sweet smell of roses in the air, romantic films hit cinemas and love stories fill newspapers and magazines.
On the 14th day, it is a custom for a boy to take his girlfriend out to dinner, buy her flowers and chocolates, write poems, sing to her or even spell out her name with rose petals! This is what you see on Valentine’s Day, a day named after Valentine who was a priest（牧師） in the third century Rome. When the emperor (皇帝) decided that single men could become better soldiers than those with wives, he didn’t allow marriage. But Valentine continued to perform（主持） marriage ceremonies（典禮） for young lovers in secret. When his actions were discovered, the emperor sentenced him to death. While in prison（監(jiān)獄）, it is said that Valentine fell in love with the daughter of his prison guard. Before his death, he wrote her a letter, which he signed （簽名）“From your Valentine”, an expression that is still  in use today. Valentine died for what he believed in and so he was made a Saint (圣徒), as well as becoming one of history’s most romantic characters.
Nowadays, Valentine’s Day is also popular among Chinese young people. Some students are planning to make Valentine’s cards for parents, teachers and friends. Others want to hold parties at which they will exchange small gifts and eat heart-shaped（心形的） cakes. The idea is to have fun and encourage people to share in the spirit of St. Valentine.
小題1:Why did the emperor in Rome not allow marriage in his country?
A．Because there were few women in his country at that time.
B．Because he wanted to control the birth rate.
C．Because there wasn’t enough food for so many people.
D．Because he thought men without wives could be better soldiers.
小題2:Valentine was put into prison because ______.
A．he killed one of the soldiers
B．he didn’t obey the emperor’s order
C．he stole a lot of food
D．he didn’t want to be a soldier
小題3:The last paragraph mainly tells us ______.
A．students in China send cards to their teachers
B．Valentine’s Day is also popular in China now
C．it is interesting to celebrate Valentine’s Day in China
D．it is a good idea to celebrate Valentine’s Day in China
小題4:The best title for this passage should be ______.
A．Valentine’s Day in ChinaB．A Brave Priest
C．Valentine’s DayD．A Romantic Man

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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

During the 1800s, African Americans worked long days in the fields of the American South．To ease their labor, they sang "field hollers" that they had brought from Africa．One person sang a line．Then a group of workers repeated it．The songs' words told of the hardships that people suffered．African Americans sang "shout spirituals", or joyous religious songs．They clapped their hands and stomped their feet to the music．
After the Civil War, the music changed dramatically．African American music, from ballads to church music, took new forms．It also adapted dance music, called "jump-ups"．which had great rhythm． Banjos became popular．A blues singer usually played a call and response with the banjo．By the early 1900s, the guitar had replaced the banjo as the main blues instrument．
Northern Mississippi - called the Delta - was the center of the blues tradition．By the 1920s, the Delta had many clubs, so-called juke joints．African Americans listened and danced to music in these clubs．Some of the greatest blues men and women performed there．
Blues have a soulful sound that is easy to recognize．The musical notes are often "bent"．That is, they are changed slightly to give a song more strength．Whatever their origin, these bent notes most often define the blues．
Lyrics are the words of a song．Blues lyrics describe everyday life．The lyrics, often about relationships between men and women, are often very intense and personal．They tell about sorrow and overwork．They tell about finding or losing love, having money or being broke, being happy or sad and lonely．The lyrics may use humor to describe life's trials and joys．They almost always use the rhythms of everyday speech．A typical blues stanza, or group of lyrics, has three lines．The second line repeats the first line．The third line has different words．
By the 1940s, large numbers of African Americans had left the Delta and moved north to work． Many settled in Chicago．There, a new kind of "electric", or "Chicago" blues began．Many of its themes were the same, but these blues had "wailing" electric guitars and harmonicas．The music had a steady, strong drumbeat．The loud, driving Chicago blues was excellent dance music．Chicago blues led to the birth of a new music style-rock and roll．
小題1:The "field holler" is a kind of music that came from ___．
A．the American South．B．Africa．
C．Chicago．D．Asia．
小題2:"Shout spirituals" and "field hollers" are similar in that both_____．
A．used banjos．B．were sung in church．
C．included call and response singing．D．expressed sadness．
小題3:A typical blues Stanza is made up of____．
A．three lines．B．a(chǎn) harmonica．
C．a(chǎn) driving beat．D．four lines．
小題4:One can conclude from the passage that the blues ___．
A．would have widespread without the juke joints of the Mississippi．
B．served as a form of communication and self-expression．
C．was successful only in the American South．
D．there were only greatest blues man performed in these clubs．
小題5:African Americans probably moved to Chicago because ____．
A．the South was too hot in summer．
B．they liked the Chicago blues．
C．there were more jobs there．
D．they wanted to create a new music style．

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