湖北省2023-2024学年高二上学期期末英语汇编：阅读理解（含解析）

湖北省2023-2024学年高二上学期期末英语试题汇编：
阅读理解
湖北省荆门市2023-2024学年高二上学期期末英语试题
阅读下列短文，从每题所给的A、B、C和D四个选项中选出最佳选项。
A
Some libraries use unique architecture to encourage visitors to settle down with a new book, or use roving (流动的) libraries to bring books to hard-to-reach populations. However they achieve it, these novel libraries are keeping the magic of reading alive.
Macquarie University Library (Sydney, Australia)
Featuring a green roof, this building, made from recycled materials, was designed to imitate the look of a eucalyptus tree. It is also an art form, using robot cranes to bring requested books to the front desk.
The Camel Library Service (North Eastern Province, Kenya)
To deal with low literacy rates in the desert of Kenya, the government created a roaming library composed of nine camels bringing books to villages. The library travels four days a week serving the region’s disadvantaged people.
Bishan Library (Singapore)
With glass pods of various colors sticking out of the building randomly, this library, built in 2006, is meant to create comfortable yet airy nooks (角落) for reading throughout the building. At the same time, a more wide-open children’s room on the basement level invites interaction while preventing noise from filtering (过滤) upward.
Seikei University Library (Tokyo, Japan)
Libraries are usually known for their quiet atmosphere, but this one encourages conversation. Pritzker Prize-winner Shigeru Ban designed the library with space-age, free-standing soundproofed pods (系统) to respect those who need uninterrupted study, while also being beneficial to other methods of learning; they serve as perfect spots for study groups and lively discussions.
1. Who would probably choose to visit Macquarie University Library
A. Animal lovers. B. Talkative people.
C. Noisy children. D. Environmental protectors.
2. Which library offers services on the move
A. Bishan Library. B. Seikei University Library.
C. Macquarie University Library. D. The Camel Library Service.
3. What do the last two libraries have in common
A. They ban lively group discussions. B. They have special sound-proof design.
C. They provide a space for kids to read. D. They win prizes for designing in architecture.
B
For Cruz, who grew up in Peru’s mountainous region of Cuzco, fog represents a massive opportunity. As a boy, he had to hike for more than an hour every day across hills to collect water from the nearest source. But over time, he realized that during the rainy season, droplets of water would gather in the large leaves of banana trees. So one day he and his father tried to build a canal system with the leaves to collect water and it turned out a success. But afterwards, he moved to Lima at the age of 25.
There, shocked by the water shortages and expensive water supply that some of the city’s poorest residents were faced with, Cruz set up El Movimiento Peruanos sin Agua in 2005. The idea was to deploy the method he learned in his hometown on a larger scale, which would provide free, independently sourced and easily accessible water to those who needed it most. He began installing (安装) a traditional fog catcher model developed in the 1980s.
At the highest point of Los Tres Miradores, there is a curious set of large structures that resemble a fleet of ships in the sky. They are so-called “fog ted devices, made of high density Raschel polyethylene and spanning several meters wide, are lined up at the top of a misty mound and linked by a network of tubes that lead to storage containers. The 40 fog catchers there provide enough water for 180 families, whether to bathe, clean, drink or to irrigate crops on small garden patches.
Supporters believe that fog catchers have the potential to improve water supply for communities around the world among the ever-challenging circumstances. German researcher Lummerich says, “They are cheap, easy to construct.” In a world searching for water supply systems, it is one important puzzle piece that can make an essential difference locally.
However, there are some issues. For one, fog catchers require space, which is not always easy to come by in cities, let alone urban slums. At the same time, fog catchers must be properly cleaned and maintained to stay effective. Most crucially, appropriate climate conditions are required. Fog isn’t everywhere.
4. What does the underlined word “deploy” probably mean in paragraph 2
A. Employ. B. Adjust. C. Design. D. Study.
5. What does paragraph 3 mainly talk about
A. The reason why Cruz installed fog catchers.
B. The difficulties of constructing a canal system.
C. The installation and benefits of fog catchers.
D. The inspiration Cruz gained to build a canal system.
6. What is the biggest challenge associated with the use of fog catchers
A. High costs. B. Public opposition.
C. Space limitation. D. Climate conditions.
7. What’s the best title for the text
A. Urban Areas: A Struggle for Sufficient Water
B. Innovative Water Collection Techniques in Peru
C. The Global Water Crisis and Possible Solutions
D. Fog Catchers: A Local Solution with Global Potential
C
When temperatures rise, humans sweat, dogs pant (喘息), and cats… don’t move enough to overheat Well, partially. Cats, which need to maintain an internal body temperature of 101°F to 102°F, have several methods for keeping cool in sweltering weather.
It’s a misconception that cats sweat through their paws to cool themselves off. As summer wears on you might see moist paw prints, but as veterinarian Kimberly May told The Washington Post, “Any secretions (分泌物) there or from their nose, mouth, or tongue are not for sweating; they’re for protection and moisture and are insufficient to cool the blood.”
Instead, cats recreate the sweating process—which is similar to human’s via evaporation (蒸发)—by grooming themselves regularly. The saliva (唾液) from their tongues acts like sweat that cools their body when it evaporates—which is why you can also help cool your cat down by using a damp washcloth to lightly wet their fur. In extreme weather, cats will also pant, but unlike dogs who pant regularly to keep themselves cool, a panting cat is a sign of more dangerous over-heating or other serious diseases.
And if you’re tempted to shave your fur friend to help keep him cool—don’t!
“Fur acts as a thermal regulator to slow down the process of heat absorption” James H. Jones, an expert in comparative animal exercise physiology and thermoregulation at the University of California at Davis, told The Washington Post.
Fur coats are highly evolved—in the winter they keep animals warm, but in the summer, they work both to protect delicate skin from the sun and slow dehydration, Jones notes that, according to research, shaved camels performed worse in the deserts than those with their fur undamaged.
But even with these methods for keeping cool, cats also need to stay indoors to keep comfortable. So even though they evolved from wild ancestors and are able to tough it out, leave the air conditioner or a fan on for your cats when you go out, and make sure to leave them plenty of water.
8. What is the common misunderstanding of how cats cool themselves off
A. Cats pant regularly to keep themselves cool.
B. Cats rarely know how to cool themselves down.
C. Cats sweat through their paws to cool themselves off.
D. Cats produce secretions from their tongue for protection.
9. How does the author clarify cats’ recreating the sweating process
A. By making comparison. B. By analyzing data.
C. By explaining cause and effect. D. By listing numbers.
10. Why are shaved camels mentioned in the last but one paragraph
A. To show the camels are resistant to heat.
B. To emphasize the importance of the fur coats.
C. To illustrate the fur coats are highly evolved.
D. To prove the fur coats unnecessary in summer.
11. What’s the main idea of the article
A. Changing people’s wrong views on cats’ cooling.
B. Telling us to help cats cool themselves in summer.
C. Uncovering the secrets of cats cooling themselves off.
D. Comparing cats with other animals on keeping cool.
D
Dopamine (多巴胺), known as the “source of pleasure”, is a chemical that is released in the brain and provides people with a feeling of reward and motivation. Now, China’s young people are seeking to wear that joyfulness on their bodies, giving rise to the fashion craze—“dopamine dressing style”. Mainly characterized by bright colors, this dressing style is described by many Chinese netizens as “healing” and “a mood booster”. It is part-fashion, part-mindfulness.
Dopamine dressing is nothing new. In fact, a study published in 2012 found that when participants were asked to wear clothing that held some symbolic meaning, their perceived (感知的) confidence increased. The study determined that clothing can have a direct impact on their psychological process.
Another 2015 study found that the outfits we wear can directly influence how we think. It suggested that dressing in a certain way can influence the way we make decisions. “What we wear is how we show ourselves to those we interact with—we are influenced by their reaction to it. If we are well received, it builds up our confidence and can eventually affect our wellbeing.” one of the leading researchers, Mair added.
Actually, dopamine dressing is different for everyone. It’s about wearing the clothes that make you feel good. It could be joggers and a sport shirt; it could be your favorite pair of jeans; or it could be that dress you were saving for a special occasion. In a word, it’s ok to wear anything that can boost your mood.
Color psychologist Karen Haller said: “Color is a great way to lift our spirits and boost our moods in an instant. Our confidence can be boosted when we wear colors that we love and feel good in. We instinctively feel and behave differently when we take the colors in through our eyes and through the part of our brain where our emotions reside.” Ultimately, dopamine dressing is whatever makes you feel good.
12. What makes the dopamine dressing a real hit according to paragraph 1
A. Its featuring only bright colors. B. Its healing and boosting function.
C. Its impacting on people’s confidence. D. Its allowing people to wear differently
13. What can we infer from the two studies mentioned in the passage
A. Dopamine dressing is simply a new concept of dressing.
B. Dopamine dressing is beneficial to our mental health.
C. Dopamine dressing has little to do with our decision making.
D. Dopamine dressing can drive us to interact with more people.
14. Which of the following can be considered as dopamine dressing
A. All the students wear school uniform on Mondays.
B. My father has to put on a heavy coat in cold weather.
C. Jack often follows the trend to buy clothes in dark colors.
D. The girl chooses her favorite skirt for her birthday party.
15. Why does the author write the article
A. To demonstrate a pleasant dressing style.
B. To convince us to buy more fashionable clothes.
C. To arouse our curiosity of the dopamine dressing.
D. To promote more people to accept dopamine dressing.
湖北省黄冈市2023-2024学年高二上学期期末英语试题
阅读下列短文，从每题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中选出最佳选项。
A
Do you know there are apps that make it easy to help others, our planet, and ourselves so we lead more giving and meaningful lives Check out four of the best ones and spring into action!
Be My Eyes
This app connects visually-challenged people in need of some help with sighted people with a few minutes of spare time to offer through video calls. The help needed may be something like finding a missing object in the home. This app is available in over 150 countries and in more than 150 languages. Volunteers register and detail which languages they speak. When someone needs help, a message reminder appears on their device.
Zooniverse
Want to help with cutting edge global research Zooniverse is an app with millions of registered volunteers that lets you become a citizen researcher! Help professional scientific researchers through your mobile device or the companion website. Global volunteers don’t have a scientific background but their contribution is highly valued.
My Selfless Act
This is a social networking site and app promoting the idea of giving back to the community through volunteering. It offers information on local volunteering opportunities globally and encourages the sharing of ideas and activities.
Aloe Bud
Created by someone who struggles with his mental illness, routine and remembering daily self- care, Aloe Bud is a welcoming and simple self-care pocket companion app. It gently reminds users about self-care activities in physical, mental and emotional needs. These reminders relate to anything from drinking enough water to taking screen breaks to maintaining connections.
21. What is Be My Eyes intended to do
A. To help people with visual barrier.
B. To participate in the sourcing project.
C. To provide digital sourcing to research.
D. To contribute to the companion website.
22. Which one is not related to Aloe Bud
A. Mental wellness. B. Daily routine.
C. Self-care activities. D. Emotional reminder.
23. What do the four apps have in common
A. Promoting the quality of people’s lives.
B. Reminding users about self-care activities.
C. Helping professional scientific researches.
D. Encouraging the sharing of ideas and activities.
B
A simple haircut can be a major stress or for someone with cognitive or physical disabilities. Loud noises from hair dryers and strong smells can trigger a person with autism (自闭症), and just getting in the door can be tough for anyone in a wheelchair. But one Minnesota stylist is looking to change that by opening an accessible salon.
With a nine-year-old stepdaughter, Maddy, who uses a wheelchair because of spina-bifida (脊柱裂), Cat Rongitsch knows firsthand how inaccessible spaces like hair salons can be. “We’ve been dragged through back doors or expected to carry her down stairs or use freight elevators because they’re not prepared to accommodate her,” says Rongitsch, who also has a three-year-old daughter who might have high-functioning autism, though she hasn’t been tested yet.
Rongitsch already makes haircut house calls to kids who find traditional salons stressful. “Everyone is desperate for a safe place that will not be a crazy meltdown experience, and oftentimes that means calling down to someone’s house,” she says. “Going anywhere else seems unimaginable.” But Rongitsch dreams of a place where anyone can feel safe and comfortable getting a haircut outside the home.
Rongitsch is making plans to open Dignified Beauty in St. Paul, Minnesota. The doors and walkways would have plenty of room for wheelchairs, and textured floors would make it easy for visually impaired people to navigate.
A spa-like atmosphere at Dignified Beauty would be less triggering to people with autism. Loud top-40 hits would be replaced with soft classical music (if anything). Stylists would use quiet hair dryers and soft voices. Fidget toys (解压玩具) and blankets would be on hand to help people stay calm. Safe spaces would be available if anyone felt overwhelmed by sound, smell, or touch.
As for the staff, Rongitsch would look to hire people with “a heart full of love for each individual,” she says. Stylists would learn how to handle customers who don’t like others touching their hair. They would also give every client the same level of dignity, which is particularly important to Rongitsch, who’s seen strangers ignore Maddy. “They’re not sure if it’s a physical disability or mental disability loo, so they will talk to me and not her,” says Rongitsch. “That issue is the biggest with her: just being acknowledged as a person.”
24. What can we know about Rongitsch from the first 3 paragraphs
A. She has a nine-year-old daughter who uses a wheelchair.
B. She sometimes calls on at someone’s house to make haircuts.
C. She owns an available Dignified Beauty in St. Paul, Minnesota.
D. Her daughter has been diagnosed with high-functioning autism.
25. What service can people with autism enjoy at Dignified Beauty
A. Passionate music.
B. Devices for relieving stress.
C. Immoderate equipment.
D. Thrilling movies with tense plots.
26. Which of the following best describes Rongitsch
A. Positive and selfless.
B. Elegant and ambitious.
C. Optimistic and devoted.
D. Considerate and insightful.
27. What can be the suitable title for the text
A. Rongitsch — A Kindhearted Stylist with Love for Individual
B. People with Disabilities Deserve Dignity as Healthy People
C. A Salon Accessible to People with Disabilities to Be Opened by a Woman
D. Rongitsch and Her disabled Daughters Long for Being Acknowledged as a Person
C
While you’re hiding away the Christmas presents, animals are storing food for the winter! Many animals “cache” (贮藏) or hide food for time to come, similar to how we stock our pantries with food. In the winter months, caching allows animals to survive when food is scarce.
Some animals, such as bobcats and mountain lions, leave dead animals’ bodies for short periods of time buried beneath surrounding vegetation. Other animals, such as rodents and birds, store seeds for long periods of time in places they’ll return to weeks or even months later.
Hiding food throughout an animal’s home range is known as scatter hoarding. This keeps the caches low and less enticing to any potential thieves. However, this technique requires a good memory, as the food is often in dozens, if not hundreds, of different locations.
Another caching technique involves animals collecting food in only a couple of places, referred to as larder hoarding. These caches are often found in cavities such as a hollow tree or a hole in the ground. They are easier to find but require lots of defensive measures.
Here are some of the animals that cache in the Peach State:
Birds such as chickadees nuthatches, titmice and jays can store hundreds of seeds in a single day. Each seed is placed in a different location, and they usually remember where each is, even months later. Flying squirrels store a variety of seeds, nuts and acorns in their nests and in trees. These nocturnal squirrels will even bury seeds in the ground. It is believed that a single lying squirrel can store over 15,000 seeds in a year! Moles trap live earthworms underground. The mole bites the earthworm’s head off, and colder temperatures slow the earthworm down. If the weather warms up before the mole has a chance to consume its prey, however, earthworms can regrow their heads and tunnel their way to freedom.
28. In what respect are the first two paragraphs similar
A. Using comparison as a method of exposition.
B. Stressing the importance of storing to animals.
C. Revealing differences in food storage among different animals.
D. Discussing the threat seasonal change brings to animals’ survival.
29. What does the underlined word “enticing” in Paragraph 3 mean
A. Familiar. B. Harmful. C. Appealing. D. Suffient.
30. What does the author think of larder hoarding
A. It is a test for animals’ memory.
B. It is time-saving and eco-friendly.
C. It can easily ensure caches’ safety.
D. It bring animals convenience as well as risk.
31. What can we know from the last paragraph
A. Moles take earthworms as their only food resource.
B. Chickadees adopt scatter hoarding to store their seeds.
C. A flying squirrel is better at storing seeds than any bird.
D. Earthworms have no chance of survival once bitten by moles.
D
Biological fieldwork can mean trips to exotic places. But the work itself can be depressing, especially when you are trying to track down complicated subjects. The most common method is to send a few eager graduate students armed with camera traps and several weeks of spare time. But perhaps not for much longer. A paper published in Current Biology, whose lead authors are Christina Lynggaard at the University of Copenhagen and Jan Gogarten at the Helmholtz Institute for One Health in Germany, suggests an easier method: simply swabbing (用拭子拭抹) nearby leaves for DNA.
The DNA in question is called “environmental DNA” (eDNA for short). It refers to all the genetic information that animals shed as they go about their daily business: breathing, urinating. moving around, or interacting with their environment in any way.
In recent years, gene-sequencing technology has become quick and sensitive enough to pick out genetic sequences from this universal eDNA-particular animals, including humans. One way of doing so is to blow air through filters, then analyses them to see which creatures live in the surroundings.
Aware of that technique, Drs Gogarten and Lynggaard wondered if there might be a simpler approach. Air-sampling systems can take days to do their work. Maintenance must be done, and filters must be changed. But given that eDNA is literally blowing around ecosystems, the researchers wondered if it might be collected on leaves. The leaves of many plants are waxy (质地光滑) and somewhat sticky. The researchers theorized that eDNA might end up stuck to leaves and that it could subsequently be collected by swabbing them. They tested their theory in the dense rainforests of Kibale National Park, in Uganda.
The swabs revealed the presence of 26 birds, 24 mammals, one amphibian and one fish, with each swab containing DNA from eight animals on average. More than half the samples were good enough to work out the precise species they came from.
32. When can biological fieldwork be discouraging
A. You’re tracing down complex issues.
B. You’re exploring exotic destinations.
C. You’re making trips to unfamiliar fields.
D. You’re appointing graduates to send camera traps.
33. What assumption did the researchers make about eDNA
A. It can be tested in distant rainforests.
B. It might be gathered by swabbing leaves.
C. It might end up to be a little smooth and sticky.
D. It can literally center on ecosystem protection.
34. How does the author present the research findings
A. By making a comparison.
B. By analyzing the cause.
C. By giving some examples.
D. By providing some figures.
35. What is this passage mainly talking about
A. A new system to swab leaves.
B. A convenient way to track animals.
C. A novel method to identify samples.
D. A special technique to sequence genes.
湖北省武汉市2023-2024学年高二上学期期末考试英语试卷
阅读下列短文，从每题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中选出最佳选项。
A
Italki works with Emmersion and Oxford Online Placement Test to provide online language tests for language learners.
Test contents:
Italki Language Test is powered by Emmersion, which offered two kinds of test contents, Emmersion Speaking test and Emmersion Grammar test. The Emmersion Speaking test is available for 7 languages: English, French, Spanish, German, Japanese, Portuguese and Italian, and is mostly designed to use neutral accents and not focus on a specific dialect. However, the Spanish test uses a Latin American accent, and the Portuguese test leans towards a Brazilian accent. The Emmersion Grammar test is available for 5 languages: English, French, Spanish, German, and Italian.
OOPT, Oxford Online Placement Test includes an English Grammar test.
Expiration (有效期):
1. OOPT is valid for a year from the purchase date.
2. Italki Language test is valid for 1 year after purchase. You can take up to 4 times tests within one purchase. To take the test, you need to activate (激活) it to start. Italki Language Test won’t limit you to activate the same language for these 4 tests. You can choose any available language you want to activate each time.
What should I prepare before taking the Italki Language Test
A stable internet connection.
An updated internet browser. Chrome is recommended, but here, you’ll find a list of compatible (可兼容的) browsers and equipment, including mobile devices and computers: https://support.emmersion.ai/support/solutions/articles/60000703287-device-and-browser-requirements.
A quiet environment with little or no background noise.
A headset with a built-in microphone (Optional).
How long will the test take
The test will ask you 40-45 questions, which should take 15 minutes to 30 minutes.
However, it depends on you. The computerized adaptive testing adapts to the examinee’s level. There isn’t a set number of questions, and the questions won’t always be the same. For the OOPT test, please make sure that you click “submit” to complete your test within the one-hour time limit. Otherwise, you won’t get a score as the exam didn’t finish in time.
1. How many foreign languages are available for a Spanish student in an Emmersion Grammar test
A. one B. four C. five D. seven
2. Which is a must for a Italki Language test
A. A quiet environment.
B. The Chrome browser.
C. A computer.
D. A headset with a built-in microphone.
3. What else should you pay attention to when taking a test
A. Accents are not acceptable in the test.
B. You should stick to one language for tests within one purchase.
C. The numbers of questions in the test are not fixed.
D. You should click “submit” within 45 minutes in an OOPT text.
B
“Are you okay ” My brother Matthew asked from the driver’s seat as we hung upside down, trapped by our seat belts and covered in sand. Off-roading (越野驾驶) on 85,000 acres of dunes (沙丘) in California had become our tradition. I felt the blood rushing to my head, my heart pounding like the loud bass in a car. It reminded me of the four bass-loving brothers who lived across from us growing up. As a little girl, I often wondered if Matthew and I would ever have their friendship.
When Matthew found out he was to have a baby brother, he was over the moon. But to everyone’s surprise, “It’s a girl!” His disappointment was obvious.
As soon as I could walk, my big brother was everything to me, my idol. But to him, I was an annoyance, though he found comfort in tormenting (捉弄) me. Yet, I put up with it, waiting for moments when he’d reach out from his loneliness.
The sibling relationship is unique, and it’s often the longest relationship we have in our entire lives. After learning that I missed him, Matthew unexpectedly invited me to visit him at university.In his room, he handed me a drink. We didn’t need many words; as siblings, we had a simple way of chatting.
He knew about my struggles — the family secrets — and became my rock. When I was excluded from the family Thanksgiving, he refused to attend without me. Instead, we had dinner — just the two of us.
My big brother, once a tormentor, had become my protector and friend. But after our off-roading accident, I saw him differently — vulnerable and unprotected. “Are you okay Are you bleeding ” I checked his injuries. The man I’d seen as strong was now human, fragile.
As we got ourselves back upright, I realized it was time for me to be his protector. Our shared bond had grown even deeper. I looked at my big brother, and we both smiled. Without him, my life would be unimaginably different. It was my turn to protect him. Thankfully, we had let each other in.
4. Why did the author’s heart pound like the loud bass
A. Because she was reminded of the four brothers who loved loud bass.
B. Because she admired the friendship between the four bass-loving brothers.
C. Because she was trapped in the upside-down car.
D. Because she liked listening to the loud bass in a car.
5. What does the underlined phrase “over the moon” mean in paragraph 2
A. Land on the moon.
B. Greatly delighted.
C. Totally disappointed.
D. Extremely exhausted.
6. Why my brother became my rock
A. He was excluded from the family Thanksgiving.
B. He knew his own struggles and family secrets.
C. He supported me when I was not included in the family gathering.
D. He refused to attend the family Thanksgiving party with me.
7. Which of the following can best describe my brother
A. Creative and brave.
B. Ambitious and romantic.
C. Courageous and humorous.
D. Thoughtful and protective.
C
It was a quiet morning in the library, and we librarians were enjoying a rather loud chat. Suddenly, a patron (常客) marched up to us, gave us an annoyed “Shush!” and went back to her seat. How strange for a group of librarians to be shushed by a patron! Shouldn’t it be the other way around
Well, it’s complicated. If you’re like me, a middle-aged woman, you probably remember libraries as places of silent reading. These days, however, libraries are more like active community centers.
In the past, most libraries didn’t focus much on programs for kids whose age made it impossible for them to be quiet on demand. But growing knowledge about the importance of kids and teens learning through hands-on experiences has since caused a sea change in how libraries connect with young readers. Now libraries begin offering interactive programs for kids, including crafts, board games, and story times. These types of programs certainly aren’t designed to be silent.
Along with more programs for ever-younger children, technology today has played a part in the transformation of libraries into places where both kids and adults can use computers, make something on a 3D printer and more. In addition, many libraries now offer programs for adults, who can participate in in book discussion, learn calligraphy, and even take college classes.
Of course, libraries still need peaceful phones. These days, many libraries have glassed-off study rooms or quiet areas. They are also less noisy in the early afternoons, after morning children’s programs and before the after-school kid crowd arrive.
It’s clear to me now that on the day my colleagues and I were shushed by a patron, we should have been using our “library voices” as we talked. Still, it’s unlikely that libraries will ever return to the days when they were places of silence. There’s just too much fun and learning happening.
8. How did the author respond to the patron’s behavior
A. She approved of it. B. She was disappointed at it.
C. She hesitated about it. D. She was astonished at it.
9. What is paragraph 3 mainly about
A. The past and the present of libraries. B. The reason for the change of libraries.
C. The activities for young children in libraries. D. The connection between libraries and readers.
10. What can we learn about today’s libraries
A. They heavily depend on technology. B. They offer online programs for adults.
C. They still provide silent reading places. D. They care much about time arrangement.
11. What would be the best title for the text
A. Libraries Should be Loud B. Reading Can be Fun in Libraries
C. Libraries Make Learning Happen D. Library Programs Target Children
D
Recently, scientists have succeeded in creating the world’s first mental images of objects and landscapes from human brain activity by using artificial intelligence (AI) technology, local media reported.
The team of scientists from the National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology (QST) and other organizations was able to produce rough images of a leopard, with a recognizable mouth, ears and spotted pattern, as well as objects like an airplane with red lights on its wings, Kyodo News reported Saturday.
The technology, known as “brain decoding,” enables the visualization of perceptual (感知的) contents based on brain activity, and could be applied to the medical and welfare fields, the report said.
Participants were shown 1,200 images of objects and landscapes, with the relationship between their brain signals and the images analyzed and quantified using functional magnetic resonance (磁共振) imaging. The same images were input into the generative AI to learn their correspondence with the brain activity.
The technology could be used in the development of communication devices and to gain an understanding of the brain mechanisms of illusion and dreams, according to the researchers.
QST researcher Kei Majima said humans have used microscopes and other devices to view a world that was invisible to the naked eye, but they have not been able to step inside a person’s mind, noting this is the first time for humans to peer inside another person’s mind.
The findings were published recently in the online edition of the international scientific journal Neural Networks.
12. Which of the following statement is TRUE
A. Scientists successfully drew the mental images of human activity.
B. Scientists managed to produce pictures of leopard which can be recognized.
C. By using this AI technology, scientists could draw any object even an airplane.
D. This technology has been applied widely in the world.
13. What’s the main idea of the paragraph 4
A. The conclusion of the research.
B. The procedure of the research.
C. The background of the research.
D. The importance of the research.
14. Which of the following statements is FALSE
A. It could be used in the medical field.
B. It could be used in the welfare area.
C. It could be used in the development of digital devices.
D. It could be used to understand the brain mechanisms of dreams.
15 What is the significance of the technology
A. To help people view a world that was invisible to the naked eye.
B. To be applied in the medical fields to cure heart diseases.
C. To generate AI images of objects and landscapes.
D. To provide the opportunity to look into people’s mind.
湖北省十堰市2023-2024学年高二上学期期末考试英语试题
阅读下列短文，从每题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中选出最佳选项。
A
If you dream about working and meanwhile travelling in different countries, we’ve made a list of jobs that allow you to tour around the globe while earning some money!
A Travel Nurse
If you’re in the medical field, becoming a travel nurse is a good option. A travel nurse in worldwide demand is well paid, so medical professionals can wear uniforms on any continent. The nursing assignments vary in the length of working time. You can enjoy accommodation payment and insurance benefits, but you have to work in the high-stress environment.
A Waiter
A waiter abroad is a popular choice for young travelers because some restaurants don’t require much precious experience or qualifications, but they do not have access to high health insurance. Many people do service work for a while to earn enough money to travel abroad for the rest of the year. It’s OK for those without family to deal with customers at night, but they can’t get high wages.
An English Teacher
English is one of the world’s most spoken languages, so there is always a demand for people who can teach it. Being an English teacher abroad often requires a TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) certification. There are some popular destinations for prospective teachers. However, as teachers abroad, especially part-time teachers, their salaries are not high.
An Oil Industry Worker
Oil industry is one of the highest paying fields for both skilled and unskilled workers, with plenty of opportunities to travel whether they fulfill a position in exploration or production. You can be a researcher or an engineer on deep sea drilling rigs (钻塔). The job is well paid, and you can help companies do less harm to the sea.
1. What should travel nurses do
A. Assign nursing tasks. B. Get a TEFL certification.
C. Pay for their own accommodation. D. Develop a good anti-pressure ability.
2. What’s the common feature of working as a waiter and an English teacher in traveling
A. The low pay. B. The prospective career growth.
C. Large health insurance benefits. D. Professional training opportunities.
3. Which job is best suited to a traveller wanting to contribute to the environment
A. A travel nurse. B. A waiter.
C. An English teacher. D. An oil industry worker.
B
Sarah was not an early riser. But what made the annoying early morning hours bearable was the comforting smell of fresh coffee floating in the air. Her favorite coffee shop was just a few minutes away from her apartment.
One sunny morning, Sarah rushed to get dressed. Having a job interview, she felt anxious, afraid to be late. She grabbed her car key, dashed out of the door and made her way to her familiar coffee shop as usual. As she joined the line of cars at the drive-through, the smell of roasted coffee beans and the thought of the first taste of coffee were her little daily luxury. The line inched forward, and soon, Sarah found herself at the drive-through window. She reached for her purse to pay, but before she could hand over her credit card, the coffee shop assistant smiled and said, “Your coffee has been covered by the car ahead of you.” Sarah was taken aback. “Really ” she asked, feeling astonished and grateful. The assistant nodded. The unexpected act of kindness put a smile on her face, making her upcoming interview feel a little relaxing.
As she exited the drive-through, Sarah glanced in her rear view mirror (后视镜) at the next car approaching the coffee shop window. An idea began to come into her mind. Maybe she could do the same and brighten someone else’s morning. She decided to return to the coffee shop. Inside, she approached the cashier and said, “I’d like to pay for the coffee of the person in the car behind me.” The assistant smiled and nodded again.
As Sarah eventually left the coffee shop, Sarah couldn’t help but wonder how the next driver would react. A wave of satisfaction washed over Sarah as she witnessed the continuation of the coffee chain. She knew she had just initiated a chain of generosity and kindness.
4. What can we learn about Sarah from the first two paragraphs
A. She led a life of luxury. B. She used to get up early.
C. She was nervous about the interview. D. She was new to the coffee shop.
5. Why did Sarah go back to the coffee shop
A. To find out who paid for her coffee. B. To order herself another cup of coffee.
C. To see what was exactly happening there. D. To buy coffee for the driver behind her.
6. How did Sarah feel when she finally left the coffee shop
A. Ambitious. B. Content. C. Awkward. D. Suspicious.
7. What is the text mainly about
A. A chain of coffee shops. B. An unforgettable interview.
C. The kindness from an assistant. D. The power of paying it forward.
C
A new study warns that more than a fifth of all reptile (爬行动物) species are threatened with extinction, which may have a bad impact on the planet.
The largest ever analysis of the state of the world’s reptiles, published in Nature, has showed that 21% of the reptile species are facing extinction. The study says from lizards to snakes, such a loss could have disastrous impacts on ecosystems around the world.
Although many reptiles live in dry environments such as deserts, most species occur in forests, where they suffer from threats such as logging of land for agriculture.30% of the forest-dwelling reptiles are at risk of extinction, compared with 14% in dry habitats. Hunting is also a major threat to reptiles, especially turtles and crocodiles, many of which are at risk of extinction. Another major contributing factor is the introduction of invasive species.
“If we removed reptiles, it could change ecosystems fundamentally, with unfortunate knock-on effects, such as increases in pest insects,” said Neil Cox, co-leader of the study. “Biodiversity, including reptiles, supports the ecosystem services that provide a healthy environment for people.”
Our hope is that this first-ever assessment of the world’s 10,000-plus reptiles helps put them in the spotlight and goes some way to highlighting this diversity, and just how much we have to lose. As well as controlling rats, mosquitoes and other pests, reptiles deliver many other benefits. “They help spread seeds, especially in island environments,” said researcher Hoffmann. “We’ve also achieved many medical advances from studies of reptiles.”
The results of the study are not all doom and gloom. Scientists have found, surprisingly, that if they set out to protect places where threatened birds, mammals and amphibians (两栖动物) live together, they’ll meanwhile protect many more threatened reptiles.
8 Which is the main concern raised by the new study
A. The overpopulation of reptiles. B. The loss of reptiles.
C. The sharp increase in reptile species. D. The disastrous influence of reptiles on nature.
9. How many factors causing the extinction of species are mentioned in paragraph 3
A. One. B. Two. C. Three. D. Four.
10. What did Neil Cox and Hoffmann both say about reptiles
A. Their benefits. B. Their habitats.
C. Their living habits. D. Their health problems.
11. What does the underlined phrase “doom and gloom” in the last paragraph mean
A. Disappointing. B. Odd. C. Satisfactory. D. Amazing.
D
In March, 2023, a group of computer scientists published an assessment of a new chatbot with artificial intelligence (AI). The team’s report drew global attention to one test in particular: We have a book, nine eggs, a laptop, a bottle and a nail, and please tell me how to pile them onto each other in a stable manner. This is a tough puzzle. Earlier versions of the chatbot gave silly and unreasonable answers. But the new chatbot’s unique answer helped set off the current global wave of AI advocacy and anxiety. It fueled debate about how large language models (LLMs) were able to perform creative tasks.
By 2022, LLMs were being trained on as many as 17 trillion words of human-generated text, mainly from the Internet. It was certain that the new chatbot was exposed to functional fixedness (功能固着) problems in its training. The researchers were of course aware of that and invented the “eggs and laptop” puzzle to prevent the new chatbot from dishonestly copying an answer from the Internet. LLMs used language statistics only. No one had said how to pile these nine eggs on top of each other ever before. The extreme rarity of those words would tend to prevent LLMs from talking about piling eggs in unrealistic ways. One of the researchers that tested the new chatbot thinks it’s likely that an LLM trained on trillions of words creates a world model, and this is what gives it the “magical” extrapolation (外推) properties.
Are LLMs truly original or are they just plagiarists (剽窃者) The two statements may not be as different as they seem. There’s nothing entirely new under the sun. Edison did not invent the light bulb but improved it. Most so-called creators apply knowledge from different fields to a problem and arrive at a solution. It’s more a matter of making relevant connections than of inventing something completely new. If LLMs are indeed acquiring the ability to make relevant connections, that would be a historic but discomforting development.
12. What do we know about the new chatbot’s answer to the puzzle in paragraph 1
A. It was silly. B. It set people thinking.
C. It drew little attention. D. It highlighted language innovation.
13. Why did the researchers invent the “eggs and laptop” puzzle
A. To copy online answers. B. To stop the chatbot cheating.
C. To train humans to use language. D. To expose the chatbot to functional problems.
14. What does the author convey in the last paragraph
A. How an invention came into being. B. How Edison became successful in history.
C. Why Edison invented something entirely new. D. Why an invention required effort and opportunity.
15. What is the best title for the text
A. Will Robots Replace Humans B. Can Robots Develop Smoothly
C. Can AI Come Up With Anything Original D. Will AI Solve Magical And Difficult Problems
湖北省恩施州2023-2024学年高二上学期期末考试英语试题
阅读下列短文，从每题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中选出最佳选项。
A
Workshops at Confucius Institute
Are you looking to host an amazing China-themed event or celebrate a festival like Chinese New Year
Our cultural workshops are the perfect way to experience an exciting range of Chinese cultural activities.
Workshop topics
We offer a selection of workshops designed to introduce China, Based on the expectations of your group, we will design package of activities from a broad selection of topics below:
·Chinese Language Corner·Chinese calligraphy
·Chinese folk dance·Traditional Chinese stories
·Chinese arts and crafts·Games on Chinese customs
Workshop requirements
Our sessions that involve teaching with PowerPoint require an audio-visual-equipped teaching room. If you are booking calligraphy sessions, which is considered quite difficult to learn, we ask that one single space is provided for the day as the set up can take quite a lot of time.
Our dance workshops are best held in a large indoor space with audio equipment available to play the accompanying music or outdoors if the weather permits.
Fees
The length of our workshop sessions ranges from 30 to 50 minutes with one teacher for up to 30participants. We charge ?40 for each individual workshop session. If you’d like to have more than two workshop sessions, we would offer a 30 percent discount.
How to book
Please note that during the Chinese New Year period, workshops must be applied two weeks before the workshop date. During the rest of the year, workshops must be booked four weeks in advance. To contact us, please email or call us using the details below:
Email: confucius@manchester,ac.uk
Phone+44(0)161 275 8667
1. What do the workshop topics focus on
A. Chinese language learning classes. B. Chinese history stories.
C. Chinese cultural elements. D. Chinese traditions.
2. Why should a single place be kept for the day for calligraphy classes
A. The length of sessions is unsuitable. B. The whole content is challenging.
C. The number of participants is full. D. The preparation is time-consuming.
3. How much would be charged if you apply for 3 workshop sessions
A. ?40. B. ?84. C. ?36. D. ?120.
B
An immersive and slow-paced Citywalk is becoming trendy across China. In contrast to rushing past overcrowded tourist landmarks, the new trend has emerged as a popular alternative to explore bustling markets, ancient streets, and charming alleys at a leisurely pace.
The appeal of Citywalk caters particularly to the younger generation often caught up in demanding work schedules. As evidenced by the increasing popularity of hash tags like “City walk for vacation” on lifestyle sharing platform Xiaohong shu, with a staggering 465 million views and nearly 464, 600 engagements, the trend is truly capturing unbelievable attention.
Citywalk, or meandering through the urban landscapes, means the act of walking freely along city streets unburdened by exhaustive plans. It offers people an avenue to intimately experience urban culture and local traditions. Citywalk is not merely about sightseeing. It creates an opportunity for social interactions and deep connections with the cities. Citywalk routes are tailored to the specific interests of both out-of-town tourists and locals. For tourists, the focus is on sharing local customs and traditions, while for locals, discussions revolve around the city’s past, present, and future. The growing trend of Citywalk reflects a changing attitude towards life, embracing a warmer, more relaxed, and slower-paced lifestyle.
As Citywalk expands beyond first-tier cities like Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou, to second-and third-tier cities across the county, it brings fresh opportunities for the tourism industry, in such areas as dining, shopping, and accommodation.
Governments in Beijing and Shandong have recognized the potential of Citywalk, incorporating it into their action plans to promote cultural tourism and leisure activities. In Shanghai, public bus lines specially designed have been introduced to elevate the overall Citywalk for participants.
“By slowing down and delving into the narrow alleys, observing the lives of city residents, and immersing oneself in the context of museums and art galleries, one is entitled to embrace the pleasure of life,” said Luo Jun, a cultural tourism enthusiast.
4. What’s the main reason for the popularity of Citywalk among young people
A. It mainly focuses on urban sightseeing.
B. Social media offer many tempting videos.
C. Busywork schedule limits the choice of people.
D. Conventional tourist landmarks are losing charm.
5. What’s the meaning of underlined word “staggering” in the second paragraph
A. Astonishing. B. Rewarding. C. Embarrassing. D. Shrinking.
6. Which of the following statements is NOT Citywalk
A. An immersive route for foreigners to enjoy the alleys in Chengdu.
B. A holiday travel to hurriedly visit crowded landmarks in Shanghai.
C. A free walk including visiting museums and old towns in Qingdao.
D. A leisurely tour along Qiantang River to experience city transformation.
7. What have some governments done to promote Citywalk
A. Facilities in the museums have been enhanced.
B. Cooperation has been strengthened among cities.
C. Opportunities have been offered to third-tier cities.
D. Specific public transportation routes have been introduced.
C
Aeronautics (航空学) specialists from the University of South Australia spent months studying the dragonfly’s (蜻蜓的) night and creating 3D modele from digital images to build a winged drone (无人机). Study leader Javaan Chahl believes that winged drones based on the dragonfly’s shape and movement will simply be more flexible and energy efficient.
Chabl’s team used a special photography technique to classify the wing shapes of 75different dragonfly species from museum collections. Their wings are long, light and hard. Plus, their long bodies give them excellent stability and balance, making it possible for winged drones to deliver awkward loads and undertake long observation missions.
Investigating the way that dragonflies remain stable during flight actually reveals the rechniques they use to get themselves out of tricky situations. Dragonflies are found to be able to perform upside-down back flips to regain balance and normal flight when they find themselves upside down mid-air. This special skill can even be performed while dragonflies are unconscious, which means it is a passive stability mechanism similar in concept to planes that are designed to glide to safety with their engines turned off. Engineers are looking to copy the dragonfly’s wings to create safer drones that can right themselves.
Of course, not all attempts to build dragonfly-like drones are successful. TechJet’s air vehicle was supposed to operate as an aerial camera, observation and security drone, but it failed before production got underway. Similarly, Insectothopter, an American dragonfly spy drone built in the 1970s, was deserted,
Yet the principles behind winged drones are solid. In fact, NASA has settled on a nuclear-powered autonomous craft called Dragonfly to explore the surface of Saturn’s moon Titan in 2034. NASA’s project is actually an air vehicle rather than a winged drone, but engineers are still convinced they can crack the code of nature’s most gifted flying insect and revolutionize unmanned flight along the way.
8. Why did aeronautics specialists spend months studying the dragonfly’s flight
A. To build 3D models from digital images. B. To clarify the flexibility and efficiency of drones.
C. To make winged drones modelled after it. D. To display the shape and movement of the dragonfly.
9. The special skill of dragonflies is their ability to ________.
A. glide to safety B. avoid tricky situations
C. perform observation tasks D. adjust themselves to stay stable
10. What is the author’s attitude towards winged drones
A. Skeptical B. Supportive C. Opposed. D. Conservative.
11. Which can be a suitable title for the text
A. Winged Drones: Still a Long Way to Go
B. A Dragonfly’s Flying Technique: Ferfect for Drones
C. Javaan Chahl: An Innovative Leader of Aeronautics
D. The Code of Nature: A Solution to NASA’s Space Exploration
D
Have you ever had the urge to open a book and stick your nose straight into the pages The smell of old books can refresh any book lover. We don’t know why, but it is just pleasant to us.
Describing the smell can be a challerige. And mere adjectives will likely be of little use to future generations of historians trying to document, understand or reproduce the scent (气味) of slowly decaying (腐朽) books. Now, that task may have just gotten easier thanks to the Historic Book Odor Wheel.
In one experiment, researchers asked visitors at the historic library to characterize the scents they smelled. All the visitors selected words like “woody”, “smoky” and “earthy” from the list and described the smell’s intensity and perceived pleasantness. In another experiment, the study authors presented visitors to the Birmingham Museum with eight smells — one of which was an unlabeled historic book scent and seven were non-bookish, such as coffee. chocolate, fish market and dirty clothes. The researchers then had those museum-goers describe the historic book smell. The top two responses Chocolate and coffee. “You tend to use familiar associations to describe smells when they are unlabeled.” study author Cecilia Bembibre says.
The team even analyzed the volatile organic compounds(VOCs)in the book and the library. Using the data from the chemical analysis and visitors’ smell descriptions, the researchers created the Historic Book Odor Wheel to document the “historic library smell”. Main categories such as “sweet/spicy” fill the inner circle of the wheel; descriptors such as “chocolate/cream” fill the middle; and the chemical compounds likely to be the smelly source, like furfural, fill the outer circle.
The researchers want the book ad or wheel to be a tool that “untrained noses” can use to identify smells and the compounds causing them, which could address conservators’ concerns about material composition and historic paper conservation. And hopefully, smells of the past can be reproduced in the lab someday and museums and historians can use it to reconstruct a past we can no longer smell.
12. What phenomenon is described in the first paragraph
A. A strange reading habit. B. Addiction to reading books.
C. A dislike for smelling books. D. Fascination for smells of books.
13. How do people usually describe unlabeled smells
A. By referring to familiar items. B. By using adjectives to label them.
C. By linking them with food smells. D. By analyzing chemical components.
14. What is the function of the “Historic Book Odor Wheel”
A. To characterize smells. B. To store book smells.
C. To collect history books. D. To test different scents.
15. What is the potential future application of the study
A. Creating a whole new scent.
B. Sharpening sensory perceptions.
C. Restoring smells of historic documents.
D. Removing components of “old book smell”.
湖北省荆州市2023-2024学年高二上学期期末英语试题
阅读下列短文，从每题所给的 A、B、C、D四个选项中选出最佳选项。
A
Four Amusement Parks in Orlando
Universal’s Islands of Adventure
Opened in 1999, it is a unique amusement park with eight distinct themed islands for visitors to explore. There are countless rides, activities, and shows to be found throughout the islands. Costumed characters can often be found wandering through the park, making for some excellent photo opportunities.
Phone: 407-224-4233
Universal Studios Florida
If you’re a big movie fan, visiting it is a dream come true. The grounds are crowded with all sorts of exciting rides and attractions. Visitors will feel like they’ve been transported into their favorite fictional worlds. The park is also an operational movie andTV production facility, meaning that visitors might even have the chance to see a real film crew(工作人员) at work.
Phone: 407-363-8000
SeaWorld Orlando
With its many world-class aquariums(水族馆), it is one of the best places in the city to get up close and personal with the incredible marine(海生的) life that lives in the waters around Florida. Visitors will have the chance to see dolphins, sharks, turtles, and so on. It also offers roller coasters, rides for children, and valuable information about wildlife conservation.
Phone: 407-545-5550
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay
Sitting on a 335-acre property in Tampa, it offers thrilling amusement park rides, live entertainment for all ages, and has one of the largest zoos in the United States. More than12,000 different animals live in the park; many of these animals are native to Africa, and visitors can take exciting safari-style tours if they want to see the animals up close. Special events on how to protect wildlife are held throughout the year.
Phone: 813-884-4386
1. Which number should a film lover call
A. 407-224-4233. B. 407-363-8000.
C. 407-545-5550. D. 813-884-4386.
2. Where can you watch animals native to Africa
A. In SeaWorld Orlando. B. In Universal Studios Florida.
C. In Busch Gardens Tampa Bay. D. In Universal’s Islands of Adventure.
3. What do the last two parks have in common
A. They are intended for child tourists.
B. They focus on sea animal attractions.
C. They are among the largest zoos in the US.
D. They provide information on wildlife protection.
B
Each year, my kindergarten students in Armour, South Dakota, learn to identify hundreds of birds by sight and more than 50 species by their song or call. It started out simply enough. Bird-watching is my hobby, so about six years ago, I started sharing my love for birds with my students. I’ve always felt like it’s important to get kids outside and away from so many screens, and I consider this doing my part. And guess what They absolutely love it!
Kindergartners are pretty amazing at identifying birds, especially by their songs. I find that younger children are naturally tuned into nature and have great curiosity about it. This became quite obvious once I began teaching about birds. You wouldn’t believe how easily these 5-years-olds learn to identify different species.
With every year that I’ve done this, the kids immediately get hooked. Then we have this common passion to share and build on it throughout the year. I’ve found that my students’ love of birds is a great way to get them more interested in writing, reading and story problems in math.
So how do I do it With identification(识别), I use a flash-card approach. We also use a Bird Bingo game that the kids love. Then I introduce one or two bird songs a day. Learning about bird songs is a lot like learning a foreign language. It teaches students to think in a different way by learning to recognize different sounds. The best part is that it makes them more aware of nature and which birds are in their area.
If you want to try teaching bird songs to your students, I’d suggest starting with the common backyard birds. Check out the All About Birds website, where you can look up the species, find photos and even play the bird songs right there!
4. What inspired the author to start teaching kindergartners about birds
A His love for bird-watching.
B. The science teaching standards.
C. The students’ curiosity about nature.
D. The students’ talent in identifying birds.
5. How did the author feel about his students’ speed of learning to identify birds
A. Annoyed. B. Amazed. C. Disappointed. D. Discouraged.
6. What does the underlined word “hooked” in Paragraph 3 mean
A. Interested. B. Challenged. C. Encouraged. D. Praised.
7. How does the author teach kindergartners to learn to identify different bird species
A. By listening to bird songs.
B. By studying bird photos on a website.
C. Through writing and reading exercises.
D. Through flash cards and a Bird Bingo game.
C
More than 3/4 of the Southeast Asia population is agriculture-based. Twice as much fish is consumed in this area compared to other forms of animal protein, reflecting the long coastlines and river environments of Southeast Asia. The staple food(主粮) throughout the area is rice, which has been planted for thousands of years. Rice serves as the basic staple food for more than half of the world’s population today.
In Asia, there are different styles of eating food. In India and the Middle East, as well as Southeast Asia, people eat food with their hands. It is a very direct way to experience the texture(口感) of the food, and people normally wash their hands before and after each meal. Normally, only the right hand is used, so that one knows to keep it especially clean. Generally, the foods to be eaten are placed on plates in the center of the mat or table, and people take food in small portions(一份) as they eat.
The exception to this pattern is Vietnam, where the influence of China was much stronger than anywhere else in Southeast Asia. Here, each person has chopsticks, and food is served and divided among people onto individual plates or into individual bowls. A similar pattern is found in other Asian countries where Chinese influence was especially strong,e. g. Japan, Korea and so on.
The influence of Western cultures is found not only in the use of tables and chairs in many modern Southeast Asian households, but also in the use of spoons and forks. Knives are not necessary, since meat and vegetables are cut into smaller portions before cooking or serving. A large spoon is held in the right hand, while the left hand is used to shovel food into the spoon.
8 What can be known from the first two paragraphs
A. Most of the Asians live in the cities.
B. Most people eat food with their hands throughout Asia.
C. Rice serves as the non-staple food in most areas in Southeast.
D. Southeast Asians eat more fish than other forms of animal protein.
9. What does the underlined word “it” in Paragraph 2 refer to
A. The food. B. The meal.
C. The right hand. D. The texture of the food.
10. In what aspect is Vietnam an exception
A. People there eat with their hands.
B. People take food from plates with chopsticks.
C. Food is served and shared into a large plate or bowl.
D. Japanese influence is seen more than Chinese influence.
11. What is mainly discussed in the last paragraph
A. Food culture in Western countries. B. The adoption of metal eating tools.
C. The introduction of seating furniture. D. Changes caused by Western cultures.
D
Most e-bikes have rechargeable lithium-ion (锂离子) batteries, the same that power smartphones and laptops. All these batteries have the potential to fail when damaged,overcharged or operated in extreme temperature conditions. E-bike batteries, though, are much bigger — between 50 to 100 times more — than the ones in our personal electronics,and pose a greater risk.
On May 20, a folding bike in a South London apartment began smoking, then within seconds a big fire erupted. According to Dom Ellis, deputy commissioner for the LondonFire Brigade, the bike’s owner purchased it second-hand to commute (通勤) to work and bought an aftermarket battery from an unclear online marketplace.
Lithium-ion batteries are popular because they’re easily rechargeable. But if something fails, they can overheat, said Anna Stefanopoulou, professor of mechanical engineering at the University of Michigan. This kicks off a bad cycle called thermal runaway. The melting battery materials fuel the flames, sending out more heat, and that heat also creates a flammable (易燃的) gas, she said. In other words, when a battery breaks down, the fire is self-sustaining (自我维持的) and hot.
Electric cars also contain lithium-ion batteries, but fires are less common compared with e-bikes. Cars have cooling systems and their batteries are more protected, she said. Any electric vehicle battery replacements would also likely take place through an authorized facility.
E-bikes, on the other hand, don’t have temperature regulators and their batteries are more exposed to the environment and possible impact, so minor manufacturing flaws (生产缺陷) can become problems, Stefanopoulou added. She said the cheaper batteries can suffer from flaws and low-quality control.
E-bike riders also tend to use their batteries more actively. A huge battery in an electric car can last more than 200 miles, and drivers top them off (加满) regularly. E-bike commuters are used to draining their batteries again and again throughout the week, which can add to the stress.
12. Why are e-bike batteries much more dangerous than the ones in personal electronics
A. They are of much larger.
B. They are of different materials.
C. They are easily overcharged or damaged.
D. They are operated in extreme temperature conditions.
13. What was the main problem with the folding bike causing a fire on May 20
A. It was purchased from another user second-hand.
B. It was produced by an unqualified manufacturer.
C. It was already out of date when second-hand bought.
D. Its original battery was replaced with an aftermarket one.
14. Why are electric car fires less common compared with e-bikes
A. Electric cars seldom use lithium-ion batteries.
B. Electric car batteries are not exposed to heat or fires.
C. Electric cars are equipped with battery-protection systems.
D. Electric cars are equipped with better lithium-ion batteries.
15. What can be a suitable title for this text
A. How to Protect E-bike Batteries
B. Why E-bike Batteries Break Down
C. Why E-bike Battery Fires Are Deadly
D. How to Prevent Fires from E-bike Batteries
答案
湖北省荆门市2023-2024学年高二上学期期末英语试题
【答案】1. D 2. D 3. B
【解析】
【导语】这是一篇应用文。本文介绍了几个新颖的图书馆，图书馆各有特色，有的让阅读更有趣，有的让更多的人有机