C
The African elephant , the largest land animal remaining on earth , is of great importance to African ecosystem（生态系统）. Unlike other animals , the African elephant is to a great extent the builder of its environment . As a big plant-eater , it largely shapes the forest-and-savanna（大草原） surroundings in which it lives , therefore setting the terms of existence for millions of other animals that live in its habitat（栖息地）.
It is the elephant’s great desire for food that makes it a disturber of the environment and an important builder of its habitat . In its continuous search for the 300 pounds of plants it must have every day , it kills small trees and underbushes , and pulls branches off big trees . This results in numerous open spaces in both deep tropical forests and in the woodlands that cover part of the African savannas . In these open spaces are numerous plants in various stages of growth that attract a variety of other plant-eaters .
Take the rain forests for example . In their natural state , the spreading branches overhead shut out sunlight and prevent the growth of plants on the forest floor . By pulling down trees and eating plants , elephants make open spaces , allowing new plants to grow on the forest floor . In such situations , the forests become suitable for large hoofed plant-eaters to move around and for small plant-eaters to get their food as well .
What worries scientists now is that the African elephant has become an endangered species . If the elephant disappears , scientists say , many other animals will also disappear from vast areas of forest and savanna , greatly chaning and worsening the whole ecosystem .
64. What is the passage mainly about ?
A. Disappearance of African elephants .
B. Forests and savannas as habitats for African elephants .
C. The effect of African elephants’ search for food .
D. The eating habit of African elephants .
65. What does the underlined phrase “ setting the terms ” most probably mean ?
A. Fixing the time . B. Worsening the state .
C. Improving the quality . D. Deciding the conditions .
66. What do we know about the open spaces in the passage ?
A. They result from the destruction of rain forests .
B. They provide food mainly for African elephants .
C. They are home to many endangered animals .
D. They are attractive to plant-eating animals of different kinds .
67. The passage is developed mainly by_______.
A. showing the effect and then explaining the causes
B. pointing out similarities and differences
C. describing the changes in space order
D. giving examples
科目：高中英语 来源： 题型：阅读理解
If you give something to someone for free, will that person value it and use it? Development experts have debated this question for decades. Some think the act of paying causes people to value something and use it more.
Selling necessary health treatments, others argue, may deny them to the people who need them the most.
Consider, for example, chemically treated bed nets, which kill mosquitoes anti protect people against malaria(疟疾)while they are sleeping. William Easterly, an economist at New York University, believes this is one example of development having gone wrong. In a recent book, Professor Easterly suggests bed nets given free in Africa are often used for the wrong purpose. Yet, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends bed nets be given out free and used by whole communities. The success of a large free bed net campaign in Kenya led the WHO to announce this recommendation
This debate will likely influence social programs in the developing world. Many non-governmental organizations support the creation of self-supporting programs in poor countries. Goods and services are sold for a price to help these programs survive.
According to Rachel Glenerster, who runs a research lab doing development and poverty studies at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, her several studies have proven that small price changes have a big influence on the number of people who use a product. A price change will reduce the total amount of use of the product as well, she says. She has also found no evidence that the very act of paying for something changes how people use it.
As for a particular product among special populations, some development experts argue that pricing is useful. When it comes to bed nets, Miss Glenerster says research shows no evidence of this. People are just as likely to use a bed net whether they paid for it or not.
The debate among experts focuses on .
A. a special use of bed nets in Africa
B. the use of assistance-related products
C. the importance of social programs for the poor
D. a popular way to help the poor
According to some experts, certain health treatments .
A. can only be sold to the rich B. should be completely free
C. are too expensive D. are not needed by the poor
What can be inferred from Paragraph 2?
A. The WHO's advice may not be always practical.
B. Many Africans don't know the function of bed nets.
C. The case of Kenya is doubtful.
D. Bed nets given to Africans are poor in quality.
What may be the possible change in the social program according to the third paragraph?
A. Some of them may become financially independent.
B. Many of them will not be organized by the government.
C. Some of them will go to developed countries.
D. Most of them will be free of charge.
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科目：高中英语 来源： 题型：阅读理解
Many people like the feeling of the gentle wind in spring. Many like to see the falling leaves dancing in the wind in autumn. But sometimes, when the wind becomes a storm, it can be very destructive(具有破坏性的).
A series of such storms struck the US last month and caused very serious damage and human pain.
Every year, major storms cause many problems around the world. There is nothing people can do to stop these powerful forces of nature. But new techniques are helping scientists to predict(预测) how, when, and where big storms will happen. The more exact scientists’ warnings are, the better people can prepare for the storms.
Predictions are improving. “We’re gotten better over the years, especially the last few years,” says Phil Klotzbach, a scientist at an American university. How is a storm formed? Even if scientists know where a storm will happen, winds can suddenly change, carrying the storm to a new direction. “For a hurricane to happen, conditions have to be just right, ” Klotzbach says.
First, the ocean water needs to be warm enough so that it evaporates and rises into the air. As it rises, the vapor（水蒸气）cools and turns back into liquid. This process gives off heat. This produces energy like an engine that causes winds to increase. It drives the formation(形成) of a hurricane.
If wind speeds reach 40 miles per hour, the system is called a “tropical storm”(热带风暴), and it gets a name. At 75 miles per hour, it becomes a hurricane.
Hurricanes that hit the US start when a thunderstorm forms off the coast of Africa. Storms also develop over tropical waters in other parts of the world.
On average, 60 or 70 storms form off Africa every year. About 10 of them get names. There are usually about six hurricanes. Two tend to be very big, with winds of 115 miles per hour or higher.
The hurricane season lasts from June to November. Ninety percent of all hurricanes hit in August, September, and October.
49. According to the passage, hurricanes usually ____.
A. form off the coast of Africa and America
B. travel at 40 miles per hour and get its name
C. cause sea winds to rise and blow over the sea
D. hit parts of the world in summer and autumn
50. The underlined word “evaporates” probably means “____”.
A. begins to move B. gets lost C. becomes hot D. changes into gas
51. Which of the following about the information of a hurricane is the correct order?
a. The ocean water evaporates and goes into the air.
b. Heat creates energy and causes winds to increase.
c. The vapor cools.
d. The ocean water is warm enough.
e. The vapor changes back into liquid.
f. This course gives out heat.
A.a, d, e, b, c, f B.a, b, c, f, d, e C.d, a, c, e, f, b D.d, a, b, c, e, f
52. According to the passage, the speed of the biggest two hurricanes reaches ____.
A.115 miles per hour B.110 miles per hour
C.75 miles per hour D.95 miles per hour
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科目：高中英语 来源： 题型：阅读理解
When most people think of tropical islands, lined with white sandy beaches and bright blue seas, it is often the Caribbean or South Pacific that comes to mind. But for Chinese tourists who want a taste of paradise on Earth there is a new place to consider.
Mauritius, an island lying off the southeast of Africa in the Indian Ocean, has just been added to China’s list of tourist destinations. Rich in history, natural beauty and culture, the island has been a popular destination for the world’s tourists for many years.
On December 15 a total of eight African countries were added to the list. The others are Tunisia, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Zambia and the Seychelles.
The island has passed through the controlling hands of a number of European powers, including Dutch, French and British. In 1968, Mauritius won its independence.
At present, over half the population of Mauritius is Hindu and another fifth is Muslim. Both groups are descendants(后裔) from workers brought to the island from India by the British. Some Chinese were also brought over to work. There are also descendants of African slaves and Franco-Mauritians, the original settlers of the island.
One of the best things about the island is the food. There is a mouth-watering mix of European, Chinese and Indian flavours and seafood is very popular. A typical Mauritian dinner might have Indian chicken curry, Chinese pork, British roast beef and French-style vegetables. Boiled rice is served with just about everything. All that is washed down with a plentiful supply of local beer and rum(朗姆酒).
The pleasant tropical climate and scenery provide the perfect setting to enjoy everything. The sea is full of colorful life that lives around the coral reef. This makes Mauritius a wonderful place for swimming and diving. The large number of interesting fish means it is also an exciting place for those who like to go fishing. (from www.nmet168.com)
5. Which of the following can’t be used to describe Mauritius?
A. Tropical island, white sandy beach and bright blue sea.
B. Beautiful scenery, rich history and culture.
C. Most of the people in Mauritius are black.
D. Delicious food mixed with eastern and western flavours.
6. Which group of the following topics is not discussed in the text?
A. Food and history. B. Scenery and population.
C. Location and sports. D. Natural resources and agriculture.
7. Which of the following is true?
A. Mauritius has something similar to the Caribbean or South Pacific.
B. Mauritius has a history of less than 40 years.
C. Mauritius has been a popular destination for Chinese tourists for many years.
D. The main food in Mauritius is local beer and rum.
8. The underlined word “This” in the last paragraph refers to ________.
A. Pleasant tropical climate B. Beautiful scenery
C. The sea with colorful life D. The coral reef
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科目：高中英语 来源：2014届广东佛山佛山一中高三10月段考英语卷（解析版） 题型：阅读理解
Can people change their skin color without suffering like pop king Michael Jackson? Perhaps yes. Scientists have found the gene that determines skin color.
The gene comes in two versions, one of which is found in 99 per cent of Europeans. The other is found in 93 to 100 per cent of Africans, researchers at Pennsylvania State University report in the latest issue of Science.
Scientists have changed the color of a dark-striped zebrafish（斑马鱼） to uniform gold by inserting a version of the pigment (色素) gene into a young fish. As with humans, zebrafish skin color is determined by pigment cells, which contain melanin (黑色素). The number, size and darkness of melanin per pigment cell determine skin color.
It appears that, like the golden zebrafish, light-skinned Europeans also have a mutation (变异) in the gene for melanin production. This results in less pigmented skin.
However, Keith Cheng, leader of the research team, points out that the mutation is different in human and zebrafish genes.
Humans acquired dark skin in Africa about 1.5 million years ago to protect bodies from ultra-violet rays of the sun (太阳光紫外线), which can cause skin cancer.
But when modern humans leave Africa to live in northern latitudes, they need more sunlight on their skin to produce vitamin D. So the related gene changes, according to Cheng.
Asians have the same version of the gene as Africans, so they probably acquired their light skin through the action of some other gene that affects skin color, said Cheng.
The new discovery could lead to medical treatments for skin cancer. It also could lead to research into ways to change skin color without damaging it like chemical treatment did on Michael Jackson.
1.The passage mainly tells us that ________.
A. people can not change their skin color without any pain
B. the new discovery could lead to research into ways to change skin color safely
C. pop king Michael Jackson often changed his skin color as he liked
D. scientists have found out that people’s skin color is determined by the gene
2.It can be inferred from the passage that ________.
A. nowadays people who want to change their skin color have to suffer a lot from the damage caused by the chemical treatment
B. Europeans and Africans have the same gene
C. the new discovery could help to find medical treatments for skin cancer
D. there are two kinds of genes
3.Scientists have done an experiment on a dark-striped zebrafish in order to ________.
A. find the different genes of humans’
B. prove the humans’ skin color is determined by the pigment gene
C. find out the reason why the Africans’ skin color is dark
D. find out the ways of changing people’s skin color
4.The reason why Europeans are light-skinned is probably that _____
A. they are born light-skinned people
B. light-skinned Europeans have mutation in the gene for melanin production
C. they have fewer activities outside
D. they pay much attention to protecting their skin
5.The writer’s attitude towards the discovery is ________.
A. neutral B. negative C. positive D. unconcerned
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科目：高中英语 来源：2010年江苏省高二上学期期中考试英语卷 题型：阅读理解
Coffee has a history dating back to at least the 9th century and has been a catalyst for social interaction across cultures and eras. Originally discovered in Ethiopia, coffee beans were brought into the Middle East by Arab traders, spreading to Egypt, Yemen, Persia, Turkey, and North Africa by the 15th century. Muslim merchants eventually brought the beans to the thriving port city of Venice, where they sold them to wealthy Italian buyers. Soon, the Dutch began importing and growing coffee in places like Java and Ceylon (largely through slave labor), and the British East India Trading Company was popularizing the beverage in England. Coffee spread across Europe and even reached America.
Where there has been coffee, there has been the coffeehouse. From the 15th century Middle Eastern establishments where men gathered to listen to music, play chess, and hear recitations from works of literature, to Paris' Cafe le Procope where luminaries of the French Enlightenment such as Voltaire, Rousseau, and Diderot came to enjoy a hot cup of joe, coffeehouses have traditionally served as centers of social interaction, places where people can come to relax, chat, and exchange ideas.
The modern coffee shop is modeled on the espresso and pastry-centered Italian coffeehouses that arose with the establishment of Italian-American immigrant communities in major US cities such as New York City's Little Italy and Greenwich Village, Boston's North End, and San Francisco's North Beach. New York coffee shops were often frequented by the Beats in the 1950's. It wasn't long before Seattle and other parts of the Pacific Northwest were developing coffee shops as part of a thriving counterculture scene. The Seattle-based Starbucks took this model and brought it into mainstream culture.
Although coffeehouses today continue to serve their traditional purpose as lively social hubs in many communities, they have noticeably adapted to the times. Rediscovering their purpose as centers of information exchange and communication, many coffee shops now provide their customers with internet access and newspapers. It has become extremely common to see someone sitting at a Starbucks listening to music or surfing the web on his or her laptop. Coffee stores today also maintain a fairly identifiable, yet unique aesthetic: wooden furniture and plush couches, paintings and murals drawn on walls, and soft-lighting combine to give coffee shops the cozy feeling of a home away from home.
Today, big business retail coffee shops are expanding quickly all over the world. Starbucks alone has stores in over 40 countries and plans to add more. Despite its popularity, Starbucks has been criticized and labeled by many as a blood-sucking corporate machine, driving smaller coffee shops out of business through unfair practices. This has even spawned an anti-corporate coffee counterculture, with those subscribing to this culture boycotting big business coffee chains. Increasingly popular coffee stores such as The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf are also giving Starbucks some stiff competition. In any case, it seems pretty clear that coffee has weaved itself into the fabric of our consumer-oriented culture.
1. Which of the following is the correct order of coffee spreading in history?
①Egypt ②America ③the Middle East ④Netherlands ⑤Venice
A. ①③④②⑤ B. ③①⑤④② C. ①⑤④③② D. ③②⑤④①
2.We can infer from the passage ________.
A. Starbucks has beaten all the competitors
B. there are no changes in the development of coffee culture
C. the taste of coffee has changed a lot
D. Starbucks has some effect on the development of coffee culture
3.The famous coffeehouse “Starbucks” originally come from _______.
A. Seattle B. Ethiopia C. Java D. France
4. Nowadays, if you come to a coffeehouse, you can _______.
A. play chess with other customers
B. enjoy delicious dishes from South America
C. surf the internet
D. watch a TV play
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