Traffic jam and cities, it seems, go hand in hand. Everyone complains about being stuck in traffic; but, like the weather, no one seems to do anything about it. In particular, traffic engineers, transportation planners, and public officials responsible for transportation systems in large cities are frequently criticized for failing to solve traffic jam.
But is traffic jam a sign of failure? Long queues at restaurants or theater box offices are seen as signs of success. Should transportation systems be viewed any differently? I think we should recognize that traffic jam is an unpreventable by-product of successful cities, and view the “traffic problem” in a different light.
Cities exist because they promote social interactions and economic transactions.
Traffic jam occurs where there are lots of people but limited spaces. Culturally and economically successful cities have the worst traffic problems, while decaying cities don’t have much traffic. New York and Los Angeles are America’s most crowded cities. But if you want access to major brokerage houses (經(jīng)紀(jì)行), you will find them easier to reach in crowded New York than in any other large cities. And if your firm needs access to post-production film editors or satellite-guidance engineers, you will reach them more quickly through the crowded freeways of LA than through less crowded roads elsewhere.
Despite traffic jam, a larger number and wider variety of social interactions and economic transactions can be made perfect in large, crowded cities than elsewhere. Seen in this light, traffic jam is an unfortunate consequence of prosperity, not a cause of economic decline and urban decay.
So while we can consider traffic jam as increasing costs on the areas of big cities, the costs of inaccessibility (交通不便) in uncrowded places are almost certainly greater.
There is no doubt that traffic jam brings the terrible economic and environmental damage in places like Bangkok, Jakarta, and Lagos. But mobility is far higher and traffic jam levels are far lower here in the US, even in our most crowded cities. That’s why, for now, we don’t see people and capital streaming out of San Francisco and Chicago, heading for cities like California, and Illinois.
53. We can conclude from the first paragraph that____.
A. traffic jam and weather are the two factors preventing the development of the big city
B. traffic jam seems to be very difficult to deal with
C. if traffic engineers try their best, traffic jam can be solved
D. public officials are always criticized for misusing their power
54. According to the passage, what’s the author’s opinion towards traffic jam?
A. In cities, traffic jam is unavoidable.
B. Traffic jam is both a sign of failure and a sign of success.
C. Traffic jam is the consequence of successful cities.
D. For a successful city, traffic jam is not unpreventable.
55. By saying “decaying” (in Para. 4), the writer probably means____.
A. declining                               B. developing
C. rich and successful                    D. strong and healthy
56. According to this article, which statement about “New York” and “Los Angeles” is true?
A. The traffic jam in the two cities has been worsened.
B. New York and Los Angeles are the least successful cities in the USA.
C. It is easier to reach major brokerage houses in the two cities than in other cities.
D. Despite the traffic jam in LA, you’ll find a satellite-guidance engineer more quickly there.
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科目:高中英語(yǔ) 來(lái)源:不詳 題型:完形填空


第II卷(兩部分,共35分)
第一部分 任務(wù)型閱讀
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Possession of Private Guns in the United States
Christmas is approaching. But shooting massacres (殘殺) cast a tragic shadow over the holiday season in the US.
On December 5, a gunman killed eight people, before taking his own life, at a shopping mall in Omaha, Nebraska. On December 9, five people, including the gunman, died in two attacks in Colorado.
While people are busy trying to discover the killers’ motives (動(dòng)機(jī)), another issue is causing heated debate in the country --- the weapon the killers used.
The US is one of just a few developed Western countries that allow private possession of guns. Any adult can buy army style weapons from a handgun to an AK-47.
“The right to own arms is a part of the Constitution (憲法). Many Americans believe it to be a fundamental freedom,” said Jonathan Haagen, who worked for Teens.
When the United States was still a group of colonies, they dealt with a lot of corruption (腐敗) from the British. Therefore, American people considered it a great danger for the government to have control of all the weapons. Private gun ownership was important in their fight for freedom.
However, with more and more killings in schools and shopping malls, lots of Americans argue that they should do away with the right to bear arms. But the National Rifle Association (NRA) said this position violates (違反) the Constitution.
The NRA is fond of saying it is not guns but people who kill. In some cases, this is true. But in many other cases, owning guns is what causes the murder. According to the US Department of Justice, more than 10,000 crimes a year are committed with guns.
Possession of Private Guns in the United States
Original belief
Present situation
It was (1)____ for the government alone to control all the weapons.
It was important for people to own private guns to (2)____
for freedom.
The US is one of the few Western countries where any (3)____ has the freedom to possess private weapons.
As a result, more than 10,000 crimes are committed with guns (4)_____. Three attacks alone in Nebraska and Colorado in December, for example, claimed altogether (5)____ people’s lives.
People have different (6)_____ towards owning private guns. 
Those in (7)____  of owning guns believe that it is the freedom given by the Constitution. Besides, the key factor in killing is (8)____ instead of guns.
(9)_____, those against owing private guns argue that the right to own guns should be removed, because a(n) (10)____ number of killings occur in schools and shopping malls.

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科目:高中英語(yǔ) 來(lái)源:不詳 題型:完形填空


In order to be a success in the American business world, you must “get along” with people. You must learn to conduct yourself in such a way _1_ you earn the affection and respect of others._2_ we have already pointed out, Americans_3_ business and pleasure. Therefore, learning how to _4_ informally can be a help with your American business _5_.Americans like to talk about a _6_of different topics—sports, politics, cars, popular movies and television shows and personal interests. Many large American cities have sports teams. If you are _7_ with Americans in the United States, it would be a good idea to _8_out about the local sports teams so that you can _9_ in the almost inevitable discussions about “how our _10_ will do this year” .Politics can be a _11_ topic unless everyone is of the same mind _12_.Limit your discussions to asking questions of your friends. Most Americans are _13_ owners and some are even obsessive about the subject. You can contribute _14_talking about cars you have owned or by _15_ information you have read in automotive magazines. Americans watch television almost every night and attend movies regularly,
_16_ naturally television shows and the _17_ movies become topics for discussions. If you are unable to _18_ American television or attend American movies, reading the _19_ section of such magazines as Time News week will keep you up to date on _20_is popular in America.
1. A. which         B. where        C. as           D .that
2. A. While         B. Since        C. As           D. Because
3. A. mix           B. enjoy        C. like          D. manage
4. A. conduct        B. appear       C. behave       D. chat
5. A. friends            B. efforts      C. contacts      D. companies
6. A. bit               B. total        C. group        D. number
7. A. meeting           B. working     C. living        D. playing
8. A. find              B. learn        C. go           D. stay
9. A. work            B. participate    C. succeed      D. break?
10. A. group           B. business      C. company     D. team
11. A. common         B. sensitive     C. special.       D daily
12. A. politically        B. economically  C. professionally D. personally
13. A. house           B. car          C. business      D. land
14. A. to              B. toward       C. by           D. through
15. A. collecting        B. sharing       C. gathering     D. analyzing
16. A. so              B. therefore     C. thus          D. hence
17. A. interesting       B. exciting      C. excellent      D. latest
18. A. witness          B. look         C. watch        D. glance
19. A. entertainment     B. sports        C. business      D. movie
20. A. which           B. that          C. what         D. as

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科目:高中英語(yǔ) 來(lái)源:不詳 題型:閱讀理解


B
South Korea has offered about 10,000 tons of corn to North Korea, in what would be the first official aid to its hungry neighbor for almost two years.The South also offered 20 tons of milk powder and medicine for children, pregnant women and other vulnerable people, its unification ministry said.The proposed shipmen would be through the Red Cross.It would be the first official one since a conservative government came to power in Seoul in February 2008.The South Korean administration of President Lee Myung-bak has linked major assistance to progress on denuclearisation.
However, after months of bitter hostility, the communist North began making peace overtures(提議,提案) to the South in recent months.Persistent media reports have also said the two sides have held preliminary talks about a possible summit.
The amount of food aid on offer is tiny relative to the needs in what the United Nations recently described as the famine-hit North.A third of North Korean women and young children are malnourished(營(yíng)養(yǎng)不良的) and the country will run short of almost 1.8 million tons of food this year, the United Nations World Food Program said in a report last month.The unification ministry admitted it was far less than needed but said the North must mend relations before shipments could be increased.
"We cannot say 10,000 tons is sufficient in view of North Korea's food shortage and other conditions," said ministry spokeswoman Lee Jong-Joo."We are providing purely humanitarian aid," she said.
"There is no change in our position that massive food aid depends on how relations between the two Koreas develop," she said.North Korea has yet to respond to the latest offer, made through the Red Cross.But Yonhap news agency said it was likely co-ordinated in advance before the announcement.
Last year the South offered 50,000 tons of corn, but the North rejected the shipment amid high tensions.
North Korea has relied on food aid from China, South Korea and aid agencies to feed millions of its people since a famine in the 1990s resulted in the deaths of hundreds of thousands.
50.How would North Korea be offered about 10,000 tons of corn from South Korea?
A.North Korea would buy corn from South Korea.
B.North Korea would exchange with South Korea.
C.The offer would be through the Red Sea..
D.The offer would be through an international organization
51.About whether South Korea would go on offering assistance, we can infer from the passage that________________.
A.they would go on without any condition
B.they would go on if there was a famine in North Korea
C.it depended on how their relation would develop
D.it depended on whether North Korea needed it
52.How did North Korea survive since a famine in the 1990s?
A.They depended on the international aid from all other countries
B.They developed their agriculture to increase the production
C.They expanded the agricultural land
D.They relied on food aid from China, South Korea and aid agencies
53.What is the main idea of the passage?
A. It’s about the aid to South Korea from North Korea
B.It tells about the help between South Korea and North Korea
C.It’s about the help to the Poor
D.It tells about an action of the Red Cross

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科目:高中英語(yǔ) 來(lái)源:不詳 題型:閱讀理解



第三部分閱讀理解(共20小題;每小題2分,滿分40分)
Housing is always an important comcern,and things were no different back in Canada`s early days.The nailve population had several answers to the housing problem.
The igloo if a house built of ice or snow and is still in use today in more primitive areas of  Canada`s north.The Inuit people find them the best type of housing,eSpecially when away from home on hunting or fishing trips.The igloos used o such trips are smaller and only temporary homes to be used for a few nights at most.Igloos are domeshaped(圓頂形的)and made of blocks of ice or snow.First a hole is dug out in the snow and this forms the lower part of the igloo.Then the blocks of ice or snow are built in a slope inwards and upwards from this base.Often a short tunnel leads to the door.This prevents the cold winds and snow blowing into the structure.
Tipis(or tepees)are the conical(圓錐形的)tents used by the majority of native People
across America.Some Canadian aboriginal people still prefer them to other types of housing. These structures are formed by a frame of poles covered with,usually,iether buffalo hide(水牛皮)or birch bark(樺樹皮).A hole at the top lets out the smoke from the cooking fires.Native people mostly travel from place to place,following their food supple across the countryside.Tepees are easy to taKe down,carry and put up at the next stopping place.
Another type of house iS the long house.This is exactly what the name suggests-a long narrow building that could house ten to twenty families.Built of poles covered with hides,there houses are common to the Iroquois people of 0ntario and NeW York.These structures are also on the West Coast by the Squeamish Indians.They are usually occupied by an exended family and divided into individual rooms,each with its own cooking fire.They are decorated with totem emblems (圖騰標(biāo)志)and a totem pole by the front door tells the history of the family.
56.Which of the following pictures matches with the igloo?
57.The short tunnel leading to the door of an igloo is used to__________.
A.catch the animals              B.decorate the igloo
C.fasten the igloo         D.keep the gloo warm
58.Which of the following about a tiPi is NOT true?
A.It has a hole at the top.
B.It is made of poles covered with hides.
C.lt can be easily carried everywhere.
D.It has a firm base made of ice.
59. The underhned word "They" in the last paragraph refers to "________".
A.Squeamish Indians     B.Long houses
C.Families              D.Individual rooms
6o. Where can we most probably read this passage?
A.In a medical journal. B.In a science report.
C.In a culture magazine.D.In a biology textbook.

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科目:高中英語(yǔ) 來(lái)源:不詳 題型:閱讀理解

.
Experts believe that there are about 40,000 different types of jobs in the world. Choosing the right one is a difficult job in itself.
“Finding a job” is not the same as “choosing a job”. Many young people end up in a job that they are not suited to. “Chance” may play a more important part than “decision”. So here are a few steps to help you think about jobs, which you might enjoy doing after school or university.
First, it is important to recognize what kind of person you are and which special qualities make you different from everyone else.
To examine your skills and abilities even further, ask yourself this question: in the following three areas — skills with people, skills with information or skills with things — which are your best skills?
You may have noticed something while you were doing this task. The point is that there is a difference between an interest and a skill. If you like are and enjoy looking at pictures, it is an interest. But if you can draw a horse that looks like a horse and not a big dog, that looks like a horse and not a big dog, that looks like a horse and not a big dog, that is a skill. The best job is one that uses your skills n something that you are interested in. in addition to this, it is an advantage if you believe that a particular job is worth doing in the world.
After that, the next step is research. To find out as much as possible about different kinds of work, go to the library and read books, magazines and newspapers. Ask your friends about the work they do. If you are interested in banking, it is better to talk to a bank clerk who is twenty –four, rather than a bank manager who is sixty –four. Do not rely on your parents’ friends for information. A younger person will be able to describe a normal day at work and tell you about the interesting or boring things when you first start working.
Finally, trust your own ideas and your own thinking! It is your own life, so find something that you enjoy doing.
61. The difference between “finding a job” and “choosing a job” lies in _______.
A. finding a job is a decision while choosing a job is a chance
B. finding a job is more important than choosing a job.
C. A job that you find is one who is more suitable for you than one that you choose
D. A job that you choose is based on your decision and suits you while one that you find often isn’t.
62. What is the first step to find a job that suits you well?
A. The first step is to recognize what kind of person you are and which special qualities make you different from everyone else.
B. The first step is to find out as much as possible about different kinds of work.
C. The first step is to ask your friends about the work they do.
D. The first step is to consider your parents’ advice.
63. All the things are ways of research about different kinds of work except______.
A. Go to library and refer to books.
B. Turn to your friends to help.
C. Turn to your parents’ friends for advice.
D. Talk to a younger person for information
64. If you are interested in banking, you should talk to a bank clerk who is twenty –four instead of a bank manager who is sixty –four because_________.
A. they will be able to describe a special day at work.
B. they are full-time workers and can tell you about the interesting or boring things at work.
C. it is easier to find a bank clerk than to find a bank manager. 
D. they are easier to get along with
65. Where does the passage probably appear?
A .A textbook    B. A newspaper   C. A TV programme   D. A magazine

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科目:高中英語(yǔ) 來(lái)源:不詳 題型:閱讀理解


Moving should be an exciting time — you’re off to a new home, maybe moving up to a larger home. But for many people, moving turns into a stressful experience. It doesn’t have to be that way. Some planning and a little research can make your next move the best one ever.
Organization is the key to a successful move, so lists are your friends. Write down all the details that you need, especially things that might be lost during the move.
Once you decide to move, start packing things immediately. You can find all the supplies you need, such as boxes, packing tape and more at truck rental outlets (租賃經(jīng)銷店) like Budget Truck Rental. The experts there can help you figure out how many and what types of boxes you’ll need.
About a month before your moving date, reserve (預(yù)定) your moving truck. The company you choose makes a big difference. Budget Truck Rental has 30,000 trucks nationwide for you to choose.
Take care of your mail. Stop by your local post office and write the new address where your mail should be sent. You’ll also want to change the address on any magazine subscriptions (訂購(gòu)) or other services you receive by mail.
Make sure you have a group of friends to help you move. If you still have some boxes to pack, your friends can help you put the boxes into the truck while you finish up.
48. The passage is mainly written for those who ______.
A. help others move to a new home
B. offer rental services to others
C. prepare to move to a new home
D. like outside activities
49. How many suggestions does the passage offer for your move?
A. Three.               B. Four.            C. Five.                 D. Six.
50. According to the passage, which of the following is necessary before the moving?
A. Plan your move well in advance.
B. Make sure everything is clean.
C. Pay your friends enough money.
D. Buy lots of magazines on moving.
51. According to the passage, Budget Truck Rental is a company that ______.
A. offers some free services
B. sends your magazines to your home
C. provides jobs for the people who want to move
D. helps to make your move easier

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科目:高中英語(yǔ) 來(lái)源:不詳 題型:閱讀理解


B
A new study suggests that the more teenagers watch television , the more likely they are to develop depression (抑郁)as young adults. But the extent to which TV may or may not be to blame is a question that the study leaves unanswered.
The researchers used a national long-term survey of adolescent health to investigate the relationship between media use and depression . They based their findings on more than four thousand adolescents who were not depressed when the survey began in 1995.
As part of the survey, the young people were asked how many hours of television or videos they watched daily. They were also asked how often they played computer games and listened to the radio.
Media use totaled an average of five and one-half hours a day. More than two hours of that was spent watching TV.
Seven years later, in 2002, more than seven percent of the young people had signs of depression. Their average age at that time was twenty-one.
Brian Primack at the Universtiy of Pittsburgh Medical School was the leading author of the new study . He said every extra hour of television meant an eight percent increase in the chances of developing signs of depression.
The researchers say they did not find any such relationship with the use of other media such as movies, video games or radio. But the study did find that young men were more likely than young women to develop depression given the same amount of media use.
Doctor Primack says the study did not explore if watching TV causes depression . But one possibility, like sports and socializing. It might also interfere with sleep, he says, and that could have an influence.
The study was just published in the Archives of General Psychiatry. In December, the journal Social Indicators Research published a study of activities that help lead to happy lives. Sociologists from the University of Maryland found that people who describe themselves as happy spend less time watching television than unhappy people. The study found that happy people are more likely to be socially active, to read, to attend religious services and to vote.
60.The average age of the depressed young people should be_______when they began to receive the survey.
A.21           B.15              C.14                D.20
61.According to the passage, which of the following can possibly lead to depression?
A.Swimming                           B.Attending a party
C.Attending religious services             D.Watching TV for a long time.
62.We can learn from the passage_______.
A.the survey lasted a short time
B.over 280 teenagers who received the survey became more or less depressed in 2002
C.men are more likely to become depressed than women
D.the study about the relationship between media use and depression was published in the journal Social Indicators Research
63.What is the best title for the passage?
A.Teens, television, depression
B.Depression—the common problem of teens
C.Problems of watching TV
D.Teens—a group enjoying watching TV

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科目:高中英語(yǔ) 來(lái)源:不詳 題型:閱讀理解

The world’s biggest Internet search engine,Google,has proven once again to be king of the Web.Users can download“Google Wi-Fi”software and then enjoy free Wi-Fi service available in some US cities since last Tuesday.
Wi-Fi is short for“Wireless Fidelity”(無(wú)線上網(wǎng)).It allows laptop computers and personal digital assistants to connect to the Internet at high speed by radio signal.
A person with a Wi-Fi enabled computer can connect to the Internet when near one of the network’s access points.The place covered by one or several access points is called a hotspot.Google has already set up two“hotspots”in the US city of San Francisco which provide a free Wi-Fi service.
The Wi—Fi technology even allows users to enjoy a free Internet phone service.
Some scientists argue that Wi-Fi may replace mobile phone networks.
Wi Fi is still limited to a few cities.where there are“hotspots”.But its capability (容量)of sending information has already done better than that of the mobile phone network,even that of 3G(Third Generation telecommunication technology).Some scientists have started to call Wi-Fi 4G.
In addition to a high speed Internet connection,Wi-Fi has other advantages com pared to mobile phones.Wi-Fi is global.The same Wi-Fi system works in different countries around the world.Different from using cell phones,you don’t need to change computers to use Internet phones when you go to other places and most importantly,many Internet phones cost you nothing at all.
45.Wi-Fi is not available in cities without             
A.a(chǎn) computer                     B.a(chǎn) radio                    C.a(chǎn) hotspot                    D.a(chǎn) cell phone
46.Which of the following is NOT the advantage of Wi-Fi?
A.The high speed Internet connection.
B.Many free Internet phones.
C.Using the same computers for Internet phones when you go to other places.
D.Used in all the US cities
47.Some scientists started to call Wi-Fi 4G,because        
A.it is the product of the Google's 4th generation
B.it is more capable of sending information than the mobile phone network
C.it has been used by more than four generations
D.Wi-Fi will surely take the place of the mobile phone network
48.Which of the following is the best title?
A.Third Generation Telecommunication Technology
B.Free call Service
C.Google Launches Free Wi-Fi Service
D.Google, King of the Web

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