"Life is speeding up. Everyone is getting unwell."

This may sound like something someone would say today. But in fact, an un-known citizen who lived in Rome in AD 52 wrote it.

We all love new invention .They are exciting, amazing and can even change our lives.

But have all these developments really improve the quality of our lives?

Picture this: You're rushing to finish your homework on the computer. Your mobile phone rings, a QQ message from your friend appears on the screen, the noise from the television is get- ting louder and louder. Suddenly the computer goes blank and you lose all your work.. Now you have to stay up all night to get it done. How calm and happy do you feel?

Inventions have speeded up our lives so much that they often leave us feeling stressed and tired .Why do you think people who live far away from noisy cities, who have not telephones, no cars, not even any electricity often seem to be happier ? Perhaps because they lead simpler lives.                                      

One family in the UK went “back in time "to see what life was like without all the inventions we have today. The grandparents, with their daughter, and grandsons Benjamin, 10, and Tomas, 7, spent nine weeks in a 1940s house. They had no washing machine, microwave, computer or mobile phones.        

The grandmother, Lyn, said, "It was hard physically, but not mentally.” She believed life was less materialistic．"The more things you have , the more difficult life becomes .”She said．The boys said they fought less to fight over, such as their computer. Benjamin also noticed that his grandmother had changed from being a "trendy (時(shí)髦的) , beer-drinking granny , to one who cooked things."

Here are some simple ways to beat the stress often caused by our inventions!

Don't be available all the time. Turn off your mobile phone at certain times of the day .Don't check your e-mail every day.

Don't reply to somebody as soon as they leave a text message just because you can. It may be fun at first, but it soon gets annoying.

1．The passage is mainly about________.       

    A．problem with technology

    B．improvements of our life with technology

    C．the important roles technology plays in our everyday life

    D．major changes which will be likely to happen to technology

2．The writer quoted (引用) what a citizen in ancient Rome said at the beginning of the story in order to________.

    A．share a truth about life

    B．tell us what life was like long time ago

    C．make us wonder what causes such a thing to happen

    D．point out that you experience some big problems and they may be the same

3．Why did the family choose to spend some time in a 1940's house? Because ________.

    A．they liked to live simple lives

    B．they were curious about how people lived without modern inventions

    C．they were troubled by modern inventions

    D．living in a different time would be a lot of fun for them

4．What do you think the underlined word "available" in the first suggestion offered by the writer mean?

    A．Busy on line.                                B．Free.                       

       C．Be able to.                        D．Be found by others

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科目：高中英語(yǔ) 來(lái)源： 題型：閱讀理解

請(qǐng)閱讀下列應(yīng)用文及相關(guān)信息, 并按照要求匹配信息。請(qǐng)?jiān)诖痤}卡上將對(duì)應(yīng)題號(hào)的相應(yīng)選項(xiàng)字母涂黑。

首先，請(qǐng)閱讀下列圖書簡(jiǎn)介：

A. Beacon of Hope: A Guide to Internal Truth 

It tells the story of an alcoholic who becomes a psychologist and her spiritual journey. It is interesting to hear the story from both that of an alcoholic and an addictionologist. Her voice is very clear. The role of spirituality and recovery is the emphasis of the book. If you are in recovery this book would be helpful. Like an extended story from "Came to Believe".

B. Jonathan Livingston Seagull

HE is just a seagull, but he has inspired millions of people, including US president Barack Obama, basketball superstar Kobe Bryant and late king of pop Michael Jackson.

    The reason why a seagull can have such universal appeal is based on a simple fact. Each of us has the desire to be more than just ordinary. We see in Jonathan our longing for a higher purpose to life. But most of us remain part of the flock since “most gulls don’t bother to learn more than the simplest facts of flight — how to get from shore to food and back again”. With failure, hunger, storms, loneliness and misunderstandings to face, one can easily give up.
C. Yes Man - Movie Tie-In

Recently single, Danny Wallace was falling into loneliness and isolation. Until one day, when a stranger on a bus advised, "Say yes more." At that moment, Wallace vowed to say yes to every offer, invitation, challenge, and chance. For a year.

Soon after resolving to be more open to what the universe had to offer, Danny wins $45,000 and becomes a television executive...and a minister. He gives spare change to anyone who asks. Invents things. Travels the globe. Nods a lot. And finds that romance isn't as complicated as it seems.

Yes Man is inspiring proof that a little willingness can take anyone to the most wonderful of places.

D. Life of Pi

Life of Pi is the story of a 16-year old Indian boy adrift at sea for 227 days with only a dangerous Bengal tiger for a companion. Pi Patel's journey, and survival through the use of his wits and sheer determination, is one that grabs you and never lets go. It's a story that seems both too real and surreal at the same time. Yann Martel is a master story teller and he weaves a tale that is entertaining and thought-provoking and at the end, he challenges you to believe it all. A top-notch read. From our review, "Life of Pi is a delicious treat to savor."

E. Texas Tables

Whether you're entertaining for a party or serving up fast casual meals for the family, this triple-tested Junior League cookbook is a must have, top shelf resource. Harmonized with personal stories and culinary tips, you’ll want to read it first and cook second.

F. PADDINGTON BEAR

Here’s the story of how a smallish bear from “Darkest Peru” is discovered amid the bicycles and luggage of Paddington Station, in the middle of London, by Mr. and Mrs. Brown who had only planned on picking up their children from school. Luckily for all concerned, the Browns were just the sort of people to welcome a lost bear to their family.

請(qǐng)閱讀以下讀者的信息, 然后匹配讀者與適合他/她們的圖書:

66. Brian is frustrated with the people he works with and the job itself. Negative feelings loneliness are making him unhappy. He is expecting to retrieve his energy and passion for life with the help of an inspiring book.

67. Candy’s marriage seems to bring her more trouble than happiness. Her husband is particular about the food she cooks. She thinks she needs some help; hopefully a good cookbook will be her savior.

68. Austin used to have no purpose in life. Now he has realized he shouldn’t go on like this. He wants to read something that may direct him to find a higher purpose to life and live a more meaningful life.

69. Amanda’s summer vacation is on the way. What she wants to do most is to borrow some really interesting adventurous books from the school library to relax herself after a whole term of tiring studies.

70. Andrew used to drink excessively, but the death of his uncle, also an alcoholic, shocked him. He wants to quit drinking and is still struggling. He is dying for something, like a book, to give him some spiritual instructions.

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科目：高中英語(yǔ) 來(lái)源： 題型：閱讀理解

Michael is the kind of guy you love to hate．He is always in a good  36 and always has something  37  to say．

     If an employee was having a bad day, Michael was there telling the  38  how to look on the positive side of the situation．Seeing this style really made me  39  , so one day I went up to Michael and asked him, "I don' t  40  ．You can' t be positive all the time．How do you do it?"

     Michael replied, each morning I  41 and say to myself 'Mike, you have two  42 today．You can choose to be in a  43  mood or be in a bad mood．' I  44  to be in a good mood．Each time something bad happens, I can choose to be a  45  or choose to learn from it．I choose to learn from it．"

     "Yeah, right．It isn't that easy．" I protested．

     "Yes it is, " Michael said．"Life is all about choices．You choose how you react  46 situations and how people will affect your mood．You choose to be in a good mood or bad mood．The bottom line is: It's your choice  47  you live life．"

     Several years later, I heard Michael was involved in a serious 48 , falling off 60 feet from a communications tower．After l8 hours of surgery, and weeks of intensive  49  , Michael recovered．When I asked him what had  50  his mind as the accident took place．

     "The first thing that went through my mind was the well being of my soon-to-born daughter," Michael replied．"Then, as I  51  on the ground, remembered I had two choices: I could choose to live or I could choose to  52  ．I chose to live．"

     Michael lived, thanks to the skill of his doctors, but also  53  his amazing attitude．

     I learned from him  54  every day we have a choice to live fully． 55 is everything．

36．A．mood       B．sense       C．feeling      D．emotion

37．A．a(chǎn)ctive     B．positive    C．reactive    D．negative

38．A．trainee    B．interviewee     C．employee  D．bee

39．A．moved    B．interested        C．precious         D．curious

40．A．take it      B．hold it     C．make it    D．get it

41．A．make up B．take up    C．wake up         D．bring up

42．A．roads       B．choices     C．ways        D．methods

43．A．good B．pretty      C．nice D．smart

44．A．decide     B．choose      C．feel   D．require

45．A．cook        B．receiver    C．victim      D．leader

46．A．by     B．a(chǎn)gainst     C．with        D．to

47．A．what        B．that C．how  D．which

48．A．thing B．incident   C．a(chǎn)ccident    D．state

49．A．help  B．care        C．rest   D．holiday

50．A．gone through   B．broken through C．looked through D．read through

51．A．sat  B．lay    C．stood       D．lied

52．A．move       B．leave       C．die  D．remove

53．A．so long as       B．in case of        C．instead of       D．because of

54．A．what        B．how C．that   D．which

55．A．Attitude         B．Choice     C．Person     D．World

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科目：高中英語(yǔ) 來(lái)源：2012-2013學(xué)年湖北省七市（州）高三4月聯(lián)考英語(yǔ)試卷（解析版） 題型：閱讀理解

Forget hard work and perseverance. Getting ahead is as simple as tidying your desk.

According to a leading expert, having a cluttered environment reflects a cluttered mind, but the act of tidying up can help you be more successful. The advice comes from Jayne Morris, the resident"life coach" for NHS Online, who said it is no good just moving the mess around. In order to clear the mind, unwanted items must be thrown away to free your "inner world", she said.

Ms Morris, who claims to have coached celebrities to major business figures, said:“Clearing clutter from your desk has the power to transform your business. " How? Because clutter in your outer environment is the physical sign of all the clutter going on inside of you. " Clearing clutter has a chain effect across your entire life, including your work. Having an untidy desk covered in clutter could be stopping you achieving the business success you want. " She is sure cleaning up will be helpful even though some of history's biggest achievers lived and worked in messy conditions.

Churchill was considered untidy from a boy throughout his life, from his office to his artist's studio,and the lab where Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin was famously untidy.

Among the recommendations is that simply tidying a desk at work and an overflowing filing cabinet(陳列柜) will instantly have a positive impact on "your inner world. " Anything that is no longer used should not be put into storage but thrown away completely.

Keeping something in the loft, garage or other part of the house, does not help because it is still connected to the person "by tiny energetic li.nes", Ms Morris. claims.

She said, "The things in your life that are useful to you, that add value to your life, that serve a current purpose are charged with positive energy that refreshes you and enriches your life. But the things that you don't ever use and don't need anymore have the opposite effect on your energy.

Things that no longer fit or serve you, use up your energy. "

1.The underlined word "cluttered" (in Para.2) is closest, in meaning to __

A．messy            B．brief             C．complex          D．a(chǎn)ggressive

2.Which of the following statements does Ms Morris agree to?

A．Changing the position of staff frequently will help to build up a clear mind.

B．A tidy office will lead to a success in your business affairs in no time.

C．To have a free mind, we need to throw away unneeded items at times.

D．You can pack up your things in garage or loft to cheer you up.

3.According to Ms Morris, an untidy desk probably means that         

A．you are quite a failure

B．you are in a messy mind

C．you are toe tired to deal with it

D．you have achieved the business success

4.Which of the following would be the best title for the passage?

A．Less untidy, more successful.

B．How to improve your inner world.

C．Cleaning up makes you less intelligent.

D．Being bigger achiever needs more effort.

 

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科目：高中英語(yǔ) 來(lái)源：2012-2013學(xué)年遼寧省高三上學(xué)期第一次模擬考試英語(yǔ)試卷（解析版） 題型：閱讀理解

James Arruda Henry, a 98-year-old retired lobsterman, has written and published his first book, "In a Fisherman's Language", after learning to read at the incredible age of 91．

Mr. Henry spent most of his life without even his closest family members knowing he was illiterate (文盲）．Forced to quit school in the third grade to take some jobs, he kept the secret close to his chest - only telling to his late wife．

A family problem in his 90s sparked his encourage to restart his education．"He signed a document he could not read," Mr Henry's granddaughter said. And then, after hearing about George Dawson, a son of slaves who learned to read at the age of 98 and went on to write a book of his own, entitled "Life Is So Good" at the age of 101, Mr. Henry took up reading．

"If he can do it．I'm going to try," Mr. Henry said．Starting with his name, he eventually moved on to ABC’s and children's books. He put them down for four years after the tragic loss of his wife. But eventually he went back to reading and with the help of his tutor began to record his life．

He wrote about his family’s voyage from Portugal to the U.S. his many journeys at sea and how he was unable to save another fisherman who had fallen overboard. He became a carpenter and even a professional boxer - and eventually built his own home in Stonington Borough．

His life stories have become so popular, in fact, nearly 800 copies were sold in the first two weeks of the book's release last month．One thousand more have since been printed as requests for the book flood in from as far as Germany．And now even Hollywood producers have approached Mr. Henry about optioning the rights to his life story for a big screen adaptation．

1.Which of the following is true of Mr. Henry?

    A．He couldn't read when he was retired．

    B．He was not a good student at school．

    C．Only his family members knew he was illiterate．

    D．He published his book at the age of 91．

2.Mr. Henry made up his mind to study because he            ．

    A．had some trouble with his granddaughter

    B．couldn't sign the document he was given

    C．wanted to share his own experience with others

    D．was inspired by George Dawson's story

3.In his book, Mr. Henry didn't mention ____．

    A．his family story                     B．his school education

    C．his journeys at sea                  D．his work experiences

4.What's the main idea of the last paragraph?

    A．Nearly 800 copies of the book were sold．

    B．The book was sold well in Germany．

    C．His book was popular both at home and abroad．

    D．Hollywood has planned to adapt his book for a movie．

 

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科目：高中英語(yǔ) 來(lái)源：2013屆江西高樟豐宜四校高二下學(xué)期期末聯(lián)考英語(yǔ)試卷（解析版） 題型：閱讀理解

閱讀下面短文并回答問題，然后將答案寫到答題卡相應(yīng)的位置上（請(qǐng)注意問題后的詞數(shù)要求）。

    [1]Global difference in intelligence is a sensitive topic, long filled with a large number of different opinions. But recent data has indeed shown cognitive (認(rèn)知的) ability to be higher in some countries than in others. What's more, IQ scores have risen as nations develop --- a phenomenon known as the "Flynn effect". Many causes have been put forward for both the intelligence difference and the Flynn effect, including education, income, and even non-agricultural labor. Now, a new study from researchers at the University of New Mexico offers another interesting theory：intelligence may be linked to infectious-disease rates.

    [2]The brain, say author Christopher Eppig and his colleagues, is the "most costly organ in the human body". Brainpower consumes almost up to 90 percent of a newborn's energy. It's clear that if something affects energy intake while the brain is growing, the impact could be long and serious. And for vast parts of the globe, the biggest threat to a child's body -- and therefore brain ---is parasitic (由寄生蟲引起的) infection. These illnesses threaten brain development __________. They can directly attack live tissue, which the body must then try every means to replace. They can invade the digestive pipe and block nutritional intake. They can rob the body's cells for their own reproduction. And then there's the energy channeled (輸送) to the immune system to fight the infection.

    [3] Using data on national "disease burdens" (life years lost due to infectious diseases) and average intelligence scores, the authors found they are closely associated. The countries with the lowest average IQ scores have the highest disease burdens without exception. On the contrary, nations with low disease burdens top the IQ list.

    [4]If the study holds water, it could be revolutionary for our understanding of the still-confusing variation in national intelligence scores.

1.What is the main idea of the text? (no more than 10 words)

  ____________________________________________________________________

2.Complete the following statement with proper words. (no more than 4 words)

Those countries that have the___________ are always at the bottom of the IQ list.

3.Fill in the blank in Paragraph 2 with proper words. (no more than 5 words)

                                                                      

4.What can cause intelligence difference? (no more than 8 words)

                                                                     

5.What does the word "they" (Line 3, Paragraph 3) probably refer to? (no more

than 8 words)

                                                                    

 

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