Disease, poverty, hate, love-Charles Dickens' stories opened his readers' eyes to the most important themes of his age．Two hundred years on, his stories still speak volumes across the world, proving that Dickens' legacy （遺產(chǎn)） was far greater than just "great literature"．
February 7 marks the 200th anniversary of the writer's birthday．To mark this date, BBC writer Alex Hudson listed six things Dickens gave the modern world．Let's take a look at two of them．
A while Christmas
Dickens is described as "the man who invented Christmas" -not the religious festival, but the cultural aspects that we associate with the festive （喜慶的） season today．
In the early 19th century, Christmas was barely worth mentioning, according to critic and writer Leigh Hunt．The committee which ran the Conservative Party even held ordinary business meetings on Christmas Day - unthinkable in the West nowadays, when everyone, but the most necessary workers takes at least three days off．
Many people believe that Dickens' popular depictions（描繪） of the festive period became a blueprint for generations to come．In his classic novel, A Christmas Carol, he not only put forward the idea of snow at Christmas,but also painted a picture of glowing warmth-“home enjoyments, affections and hopes"．
In his biography of Dickens, Peter Ackroyd wrote, "Dickens can be said to have almost single-handedly created the modern idea of Christmas．"
"Dickensian" poverty
Dickens was one of the first to take an honest look at the underclass and the poor of Victorian （the period during British Queen Victoria's reign from 1837 to 1901） London．
He helped popularize the term "red tape" to describe situations where people in power use needless amounts of bureaucracy （官僚作風(fēng)） in a way that particularly hurts the weaker and poorer members of society．
"Dickensian" has now become a powerful word for describing an unacceptable level of poverty．In 2009, when the president of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers in the UK wanted to talk about deprivation in some areas, of Britain, she did not use words like "terrible" or "horrific", but rather described it as "life mirroring the times of Dickens"．
小題1:What is the main idea of the article?
A．Charles Dickens' impact on the world．
B．An introduction to Charles Dickens' classic novels．
C．Charles Dickens' amazing characters．
D．Why Charles Dickens is popular across the world．
小題2:Why is Dickens called "the man who invented Christmas"?
A．Because he created the religious festival.
B．Because one of his novels helped to shape Christmas celebrations．
C．Because many of his novels have something to do with Christmas．
D．Because he was the first man to have proposed celebrating Christmas．
小題3:According to the article, the phrase “red tape” refers to __.
A．rules or procedures that are required to accomplish a task
B．a(chǎn) situation in which poor members of society are hurt
C．conflict between people in power and weaker people
D．pointlessly time-consuming official procedures
小題4:What can we infer from the passage?
A．Dickens is still popular today in Britain．
B．everyone takes at least three days off at Christmas．
C．Dickens invented Christmas
D．Dickens gave the modern world six things．

小題1:A
小題2:B
小題3:D
小題4:A

試題分析：文章介紹了狄更斯對現(xiàn)代社會的兩個重要影響。
小題1:主旨題：從第二段第二句：To mark this date, BBC writer Alex Hudson listed six things Dickens gave the modern world.為紀(jì)念這個日子，BBC作家亞歷克斯·哈德遜列舉了狄更斯帶給現(xiàn)代世界的六件事，可知主要講的是狄更斯對整個世界的影響，故選A。
小題2:細(xì)節(jié)題：由第五段“he not only put forward the idea of snow at Christmas, but also painted a picture of glowing warmth – “home enjoyments, affections and hopes”.”他不僅提出了圣誕節(jié)雪的想法，還描繪出一幅溫暖發(fā)光的圖畫“家庭中的生活、感情和希望”以及第六段“Dickens can be said to have almost single-handedly created the modern idea of Christmas.”狄更斯可以說一手創(chuàng)造了現(xiàn)代圣誕節(jié)。故選B。
小題3:推斷題：由倒數(shù)第二段“He helped popularize the term “red tape” to describe situations where people in power use needless amounts of bureaucracy (官僚作風(fēng)) in a way that particularly hurts the weaker and poorer members of society.”可知red tape的意思是官方辦事時的繁文縟節(jié)，故選D。
小題4:推斷題：由Two hundred years on, his stories still speak volumes across the world, proving that Dickens’ legacy（遺產(chǎn)） was far greater that just “great-literature”兩百年過去了，他的故事仍在世界范圍內(nèi)意義深遠(yuǎn)，證明了狄更斯的遺產(chǎn)不僅僅只是偉大文學(xué)而已.故選A。
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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

America's child movie star Shirley Temple Black died late Monday evening at the age of 85. Her fans in China are also deeply saddened. Temple is just one example of movie stars that China adored, and still adores. Here's our editor's pick of the top movie stars who have influenced China.
1. Sylvester Stallone
Oh, Rambo! The first strong American man that China knew. His accented English, easily recognizable even for someone who doesn't speak English, and his eyes that never seemed to smile, makes him someone whom cannot be forgotten. He represented the strong American image, and even stirred a boxing and bodybuilding fever in China.
2.Charlie Chaplin (April 16, 1889 – December 25, 1977)
In the 20th century, it is not too much to say that Einstein made the greatest contributions to science, and not many would disagree that Chaplin did the same for film. He was the first actor that introduced comedy to most Chinese viewers, and politically, he was also a close friend of China’s. His silent films broke the barrier of language and his form of art was recognized by all. It will be a difficult task to find a person in China who does not recognize Chaplin, even today.
3. Shirley Temple ( April 23, 1928 – February 10, 2014)
When Chinese audiences saw this adorable child star for the first time on screen, Shirley Temple had already lived for more than half a century. In her movies, she was always alone or in trouble, but this adorable little blonde(金發(fā)女郎) could always resolve anything with her kindness, push away the fogginess and bring about light. The brand "Shirley Temple" was a product of the Great Depression. People watched her act to forget their hardships as Temple entertained the poor, the rich, adults and children alike. Several decades later, when her films were screened in China, the effects were the same.
4. Audrey Hepburn( May 4, 1929 – January 20, 1993)
She will forever be the princess in Chinese people's hearts. Even to this day, a large number of tourists go to Rome to visit the Mouth of Truth with their lovers and eat ice cream on the Spanish Steps. Her sense of style seems to never go out of style. When she was alive, she was living perfection. Even after her death, she has remained an icon. That's something that only Audrey Hepburn is capable of.
小題1:According to the passage, who was most known for comedy in China?
A．Sylvester StalloneB．Charlie ChaplinC．Shirley TempleD．Audrey Hepburn
小題2:What can we learn from the passage?
A．Sylvester Stallone taught boxing and bodybuilding and caused a fever in China.
B．Charlie Chaplin was China’s close friend because he introduced comedy to China.
C．Audrey Hepburn’s movie made the Mouth of Truth and the Spanish Steps popular.
D．Shirley Temple’s works can only help Americans forget hardships and enjoy life better.
小題3:What does the underlined word “icon” mean in the passage?
A．symbolB．signC．mysteryD．heroine
小題4:In which part can we most probably read this passage?
A．ArtB．ColumnsC．Music & TheaterD．Film &TV

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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

Everyone has done experiments in high school laboratories, but have you ever thought about designing a satellite to explore space?
On Nov. 19, a team of students from Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in the US awed peers and even scientists by successfully launching a satellite.
The first satellite designed and built by high school students was sent up into space along with a record-setting. 28 other small ones on a rocket were sent from a NASA center in Virginia, CNN reported. It took the students seven years to build.
The students call their tiny satellite TJ3Sat, which is named after their school. It is just 10x10x12 centimeters and weighs only 0.89 kilograms, according to Orbital Sciences, a company which developed the rocket and supported the students’ project. It can be controlled with a smartphone.
Like most satellites, TJ3Sat can send and receive data. The small spacecraft is equipped with a voice synthesizer (合成器), which can switch text to voice and transmit those sounds back to Earth over radio waves, said Orbital officials. In this case, anyone can give it a try via the project’s website (school website) by submitting (提交) a text. The texts that get approved will be sent to the satellite, changed to voice and then broadcast back to Earth via radio waves.
“I can say ‘Go Colonials’ on our ground station and when it is on the other side of the world, in India, someone can hear ‘Go Colonials’over the radio,” the team explains on the website.
The satellite will stay in space for at least three months.
School principal Evan Glazer told The Washington Post that the project started in 2006 as an activity in the spare time. Later it became a research project for a select group of seniors.
At a time when American students are busy with SATs, the launch of the satellite shows what diligent teenagers can achieve when allowed to pursue their own curiosities, Glazer said.
“It used to be that kids growing up wanted to be an astronaut,” Andrew Petro, program executive (主管) for small spacecraft technology at NASA, said in a statement. “I think we might be seeing kids saying what they want to do is build a spacecraft. The idea here is that they really can do that.”
小題1: The underlined word “awed” in the second paragraph is closest in meaning to ___.
A．influencedB．a(chǎn)mazedC．delightedD．inspired
小題2: Which of the following statements about TJ3Sat is TRUE according to the article?
A．It took a group of students about a decade to build the satellite.
B．Besides TJ3Sat, 28 other small satellites were built by the students.
C．TJ3Sat can receive text messages that the students send into space, which it can change to voice messages and broadcast back to Earth.
D．TJ3Sat is expected to stay in orbit for the next year, sending out messages together with information about its position in space.
小題3: According to the article, the launch of the satellite _______.
A．is evidence of the advance of spacecraft technology
B．proves that hard-working teenagers can achieve a lot
C．shows the importance of extracurricular activities at school
D．has inspired many people to take an interest in space travel

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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

"Hey, don't read in the hallway. Your eyesight will be damaged." You must have heard such warnings many times. “Don’t read in poor light!” This is one of the common beliefs that are supposed to help us live a healthy life. Such beliefs are, however, without scientific basis(根據(jù)), according to a paper published recently in the British Medical Journal.
Do you believe in the following sayings?
Reading in poor light ruins your eyesight.
In poor light, you might blink (眨眼) more, suffer from drying and have trouble focusing. But most of eye experts believe it is unlikely to do any damage forever.
We must drink at least eight glasses of water a day.
In 1945, the Nutrition Council in US suggested that people need to drink 2.5 litres of water a day. But the water contained in food, particularly fruit and vegetables, as well as in milk, juice and soft drinks, also counts towards the total.
We only use 10 percent of our brains.
This idea appears as early as 1907. People have long argued about our power of self-improvement and our brains’ possible abilities. But X-rays show that no area of the brain is silent or inactive.
Shaving your legs causes hair to grow black faster and thicker.
This theory is also illusion. Studies say that shaving has no effect on the thickness or rate of hair growth. Just over time, the edge of hair gets worn away and thus the edge of long hair becomes finer (更細(xì)).
小題1:What does the paper say about some common beliefs?
A．They are useful knowledge in life.
B．They help us live in healthy ways.
C．They are well-known theories.
D．They do not have scientific basis.
小題2:Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage ?
A．People use 90 percent of their brains.
B．Shaving your legs will give you thicker hair.
C．Reading in poor light does harm to people’s eyes.
D．People need not less than eight glasses of water a day.
小題3:The underlined word “illusion” in the last paragraph probably means “_________”.
A．a(chǎn) wrong ideaB．a(chǎn) powerful evidence
C．a(chǎn)n interesting storyD．a(chǎn) clear instruction
小題4:This passage is most likely to be found in __________ .     
A．a(chǎn) newspaperB．a(chǎn) guide book
C．a(chǎn) history textbookD．a(chǎn)n advertisement

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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

According to an English newspaper, scientists could begin cloning human embryos in Britain in 2001. It is understood that the government has already agreed to use Frankenstein’s technology, believing the benefits are more important than ethical （倫理的）concerns .Researchers think it will be possible to grow brain tissue to cure the diseases that are likely to get worse as time passes like Alzheimer’s , and produce “spare part” organs like hearts and kidneys for transplant （移植）.
Ministers are aware that the change in the law will be as controversial as the law which legalized abortion (墮胎）more than 30 years ago. Some politicians reacted angrily , arguing that the government had already made up its mind without discussion. Church leaders and anti-abortion campaigners have long expressed their horror at the plans, arguing that even the earliest embryos are forms of human life.They believe that getting an embryo from cells is morally unacceptable . And it will also cause arguments about how far scientists should interfere with nature and lead to accusations that they  are “playing God”.
The cloning of human embryos to provide spare parts is regarded by most experts to be the most important step forward in the 21st century medicine. Scientists say treatment of diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s will be the first application of cloning. The ability to clone embryos was first achieved by scientists in Scotland in the late 1990s and now the ability to grow stem cells into tissues and organs is being developed by American researchers. Combining the two technologies will mean an end to long waits for organs from donors and problems caused by rejection (排異反應(yīng)） of transplanted tissues by the body.
Ian Wilmut, the man who cloned Dolly the sheep, has warned that British experts will go to America, where such work is legal, if the government does not permit it.
小題1:The government has decided to allow scientists to clone human embryos because they think that ____.
A．Frankenstein’s technology is advanced
B．Its advantages are more important than its disadvantages
C．Diseases like Alzheimer’s are a serious problem in their country
D．They can make a lot of money from it
小題2:The underlined word “they”in Paragraph 2 refers to ______.
A．MinistersB．Scientists
C．Church leadersD．Anti-abortion campaigners
小題3:Which of the following statements is NOT true according to the passage?
A．Most experts think that the cloning of human embryos is beneficial.
B．Politicians were in favour of the government’s decision.
C．It is legal for scientists to clone embryos in America now.
D．American researchers are developing the ability to grow stem cells into tissues and organs.
小題4:What’s the best title for this passage ?
A．Science of cloning.
B．Cloning and abortion
C．Cloning human embryos
D．the argument between politicians and scientists

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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

"This past year has been one of great celebration for many. The enthusiasm which greeted the Diamond Jubilee was, of course, especially memorable for me and my family.
　　It was humbling that so many chose to mark the anniversary of a duty which passed to me 60 years ago. People of all ages took the trouble to take part in various ways and in many nations. But perhaps most striking of all was to witness the strength of fellowship and friendship among those who had gathered together on these occasions.
　  On the barges and the bridges and the banks of the river there were people who had taken their places to cheer through the mist, undaunted by the rain. That day there was a tremendous sense of common determination to celebrate, triumphing(戰(zhàn)勝) over the elements.
　　That same spirit was also in evidence from the moment the Olympic flame arrived on these shores. The flame itself drew hundreds and thousands of people on its journey around the British Isles, and was carried by every kind of deserving individual, many nominated for their own extraordinary service.
As London hosted a splendid summer of sport, all those who saw the achievement and courage at the Olympic and Paralympic Games were further inspired by the skill, dedication, training and teamwork of our athletes. In pursuing their own sporting goals, they gave the rest of us the opportunity to share something of the excitement and drama.
We were reminded, too, that the success of these great festivals depended to an enormous degree upon the dedication and effort of an army of volunteers. Those public-spirited people came forward in the great tradition of all those who devote themselves to keeping others safe, supported and comforted.
For many, Christmas is also a time for coming together. But for others, service will come first. Those serving in our armed forces, in our emergency services and in our hospitals, whose sense of duty takes them away from family and friends, will be missing those they love.
　　At Christmas I am always struck by how the spirit of togetherness lies also at the heart of the Christmas story. A young mother and a dutiful father with their baby were joined by poor shepherds and visitors from afar. They came with their gifts to worship(崇拜) the Christ child. From that day on he has inspired people to commit themselves to the best interests of others.
This is the time of year when we remember that God sent his only son 'to serve, not to be served'. He restored love and service to the centre of our lives in the person of Jesus Christ.
It is my prayer this Christmas Day that his example and teaching will continue to bring people together to give the best of themselves in the service of others.
I wish you all a very happy Christmas. "
小題1:Who most probably is the maker of this speech?
A．Queen of Great Britain.B．King of Great Britain.
C．Prime Minister of Great Britain.D．Mayor of London.
小題2: What might be the main purpose of this speech?
A．To make a summary of what has been done in the past years.
B．To offer congratulations on the arrival of Christmas.
C．To hold an anniversary celebration of an event.
D．To express respect for and loyalty to God.
小題3:Which of the following is NOT mentioned by the speaker?
A．Enthusiasm and Friendship.
B．Dedication and effort.
C．Sacrifice and service.
D．Civilization and peace.
小題4:Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage?
A．The speaker was too busy to attend the 2012 London Olympic and Paralympic Games.
B．Volunteers played a key role in the success of the Diamond Jubilee.
C．The speaker showed great respect for those still at work at Christmas.
D．The strength of the Christmas story lies in the worship of Jesus Christ.

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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：完形填空

What seemed like an unplanned comment about Syria's chemical weapons (武器) had a major effect on world events this week. American Secretary of State John Kerry spoke last Monday at a press conference in London. He was reacting to questions about possible American action to answer a chemical weapons attack believed to be likely in Syria. One reporter asked the secretary whether there is anything Syria's president can do to avoid an American military (軍事的) strike.
"Sure, he can turn over every single bit of his chemical weapons to the international society in the next week."
Mr. Kerry made it clear that he was speaking theoretically, and did not expect anything like that to happen.
But Russia seized on the idea and persuaded Syria to do the same. That brought plans for American congressional (議會) votes on military action to a halt. President Obama has said he would accept a diplomatic settlement if it can be carried out. But that would likely take weeks, at least.
Mr. Obama has said the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad must be punished for breaking the nearly century old ban on the use of chemical weapons. He called for American action to prevent future use of chemical weapons in Syria. He suggested limited airstrikes on government targets. The airstrikes could happen quickly if Congress approves.
Joanna Kidd is a security expert with London's King's College. She says any move to place Syria's chemical weapons under international control would take a long time, if it could be done at all.
小題1:What does the author think of John Kerry’s statement at a press conference in London last Monday?
A．TheoreticalB．PracticalC．UnintendedD．Planned
小題2:What does the underlined word “halt” probably mean?
A．stopB．a(chǎn)ctionC．a(chǎn)ttentionD．debate
小題3:According to the passage, which of the following statement is TRUE?
A．Russia thinks there was a chemical weapons attack in Syria.
B．Russia is against the American military strike on Syria.
C．Obama believes that a diplomatic settlement is on the way.
D．American Congress will approve Obama’s limited airstrikes.
小題4:The belief shared by John Kerry and Joanna Kidd is________.
A．Bashar al-Assad’s administration should be punished for breaking the ban
B．Obama’s government has to prevent future use of chemical weapons in Syria
C．Syria's president can do nothing to avoid an American military strike
D．placing Syria's chemical weapons under international control is hard to achieve

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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

The earthquake that shook Japan with historic strength on March 11th, 2011 created a tsunami wave ten meters high. The water washed away boats, cars and houses in coastal areas north of Tokyo. It also led to tsunami warnings across the Pacific.
Scientists recorded the magnitude(震級) of the earthquake at 8.9.The United States Geological Survey says it was the fifth largest earthquake since nineteen hundred. The largest, with a 9.5 magnitude, shook Chile in nineteen sixty.
The quake struck near the east coast of Honshu, Japan's main island. It was centered under the sea about one hundred thirty kilometers east of Sendai.The tsunami washed away whole neighborhoods in Sendai.
So far (April 4th), the tsunami has taken 12, 0009 people's life away.
Now Japanese are all trying to rebuild their hometown, but there are too many difficulties.
The first, Japan is the world's third largest importer(進(jìn)口商)of oil. The shortage of oil makes it almost impossible to carry the food, medicine and water to the quake area by cars.
The second, the Fukushima nuclear(核) power station was damaged by the March eleventh earthquake and tsunami. The extent of the problems is still not clear. Japan’s nuclear crisis(危機) may mean greater need of imported food.
小題1:The underlined word in Paragraph 1 means______ in Chinese.
A．地震B．核輻射C．海浪D．海嘯
小題2:The largest earthquake happened in ______.
A．TokyoB．the United StatesC．ChileD．Japan
小題3:Japanese are facing ______ kinds of problems when trying to rebuild their hometown.
A．one B．twoC．threeD．four
小題4:Why did the food, medicine and water can hardly carry to the earthquake area soon?
A．Because of the shortage of oil.
B．Because of the damage of the roads.
C．Because of the nuclear crisis.
D．Because of the tsunami.

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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

Consumers are being confused and misled by the hodge-podge(大雜燴) of environmental claims made by household products, according to a “green labeling” study published by Consumers International Friday.
Among the report’s more unacceptalbe findings – a German fertilizer described itself as “earthworm friendly”; a brand of flour said it was “non-polluting” and a British toilet paper claimed to be “environmentally friendlier”.
The study was written and researched by Britain’s National Consumer Council (NCC) for lobby group Consumers International. It was funded by the German and Dutch governments and the European Commission.
“While many good and useful claims are being made, it is clear that there is a long way to go in ensuring shoppers are adequately informed about the environmental impacts they buy,” said Consumers International director, Anna Fielder.
The 10-country study surveyed product packaging in Britain, Western Europe, Scandinavia and the United States. It found that products sold in Germany and the United Kingdom made the most environmental claims on average.
The report focused on claims made by specific products, such as detergent (洗滌劑), insect sprays and some garden products. It did not test claims, but compared them to labeling guidelines set by the International Standards Organization (ISO) in September, 1999. Researchers documented claims of environmental friendliness made by about 2,000 products and found many too vague or too misleading to meet ISO standards.
“Many products had specially designed labels to make them seem environmentally friendly, but in fact many of these symbols mean nothing,” said report researcher Philip Page.
“Laundry detergents made the most number of claims with 158. Household cleaners were second with 145 separate claims, while paints were third on our list with 73. The high numbers show how confusing it must be for consumers to sort the true from the misleading,” he said.
The ISO labeling standards ban vague or misleading claims on product packaging, because terms such as “environmentally friendly” and “non-polluting” cannot be verified. “What we are now pushing for is to have multinational corporations meet the standards set by the ISO,” said Page.
小題1:According to the passage, the NCC found it unacceptable that _______.
A．a(chǎn)ll the products surveyed claim to meet ISO standards
B．the claims made by products are often unclear and deceiving
C．consumers would believe many of the manufacturers’ claims
D．few products actually prove to be environment friendly
小題2:As indicated in this passage, with so many good claims, the consumers _______.
A．a(chǎn)re becoming more cautious about the products they are going to buy
B．a(chǎn)re still not willing to pay more for products with green labeling
C．a(chǎn)re becoming more aware of the effects different products have on the environment
D．still do not know the exact impact of different products on the environment
小題3:It can be inferred from the passage that the lobby group Consumer International wants to _______.
A．make product labeling satisfy ISO requirements
B．see all household products meet environmental standards
C．warn consumers of the danger of so-called green products
D．verify the effects of non-polluting products

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