1、2020-2021年湖北省部分学校最新期中英语高二下学期试题精选汇编-阅读理解湖北省鄂东南省级示范高中教育教学改革联盟学校2020-2021学年高二下学期期中联考英语试题第一节（共 15 小题；每小题 2.5 分，满分 37.5 分）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。AThere are many options for free video conferencing apps. Heres our short list of the best ones, where they shine and where they fall short.Google
2、 HangoutsThe free video chat app from Google is a great example of a consumer-grade app. It integrates with Gmail and Google Calendar, making it easier for users to operate.Up to10 participants can join the live conference with a plug-in application. And as it doesnt support dual stream video and co
3、ntent, some users complain that the video is not clear or reliable.SkypeThe app, developed by Microsoft, gives10 users access to a conference. Its worth noting that Microsoft is integrated with Skype.A plug-in application is required. Advanced features are fascinating, but only available for paid su
4、bscription.ZoomThe free video conferencing solution from Zoom provides a service for group video calls with over 100 participants. The Zoom Basic plan allows users to have 40-minute calls with a handful of features like screen sharing, local recording and camera filters.A plug-in application is nece
5、ssary. All calls, which are limited to 40 minutes or less, are secured. LifesizeLifesize has been in the video conferencing industry for long. By setting up a free account with Lifesize, you can quickly start a free video call with up to 25 participants. It is web-based and doesnt require downloads
6、or an application on your devices. Guests can join the live call right from the website by clicking on your personal meeting ID link.To use the additional features like 300-way calling, Microsoft integrations and 4K video conference room systems requires a paid subscription.1. Which aspect of Google
7、 Hangouts is not satisfactory?A. User capacity.B. Video quality.C. Stream video.D. Technical support.2. Which app offers a ten-minute conference service with 30 people for free?A. Zoom.B. Skype.C. Google Hangouts.D. Lifesize.3. What is special about Lifesize?A. It integrates with Microsoft.B. It is
8、completely free of charge.C. No application is needed for participants. D. There is no time limit to its conferences.BDear Editors of Macquarie Dictionary,My name is Wendy, a second generation Chinese-Australian migrant and a mother of two young children. Im writing to express my disappointment in o
9、ne of Macquarie Dictionarys entries, namely the definition of the word “monolid”.In both the paper version(7th edition)and online version of the Dictionary, Macquarie defines “monolid” as: “An upper eyelid without a fold, perceived by some in Asia to give an appearance of laziness. ” This definition
10、 has disturbed me and many Asians living in Australia. Linguistically, the term “monolid” is a pretty unbiased description of a physical characteristic that involves no feelings, common to over 50% of people of East Asian origin. Its no different to other terms describing a physical feature includin
11、g “blonde” or “freckle”.Take a minute and consider this. Would it be appropriate if the definition of “blonde” became “having fair or light-colored hair, thought by some in Western countries as possessing little or no intelligence”? Or would it be appropriate if the definition of “freckle” was “a sm
12、all brownish spot in the skin or face, thought by some as creating an ugly appearance”?In addition, it is also inappropriate that Macquarie Dictionary a dictionary of choice by many Australian schools defines a term in a way which may create negative racial connection for Australian children of East
13、 Asian origin. Both my kids are born with monolids, a constant reminder of their cultural background. It therefore breaks my heart to imagine a scene where they turn to the dictionary to find that their physical feature is associated with “laziness”. What if they get teased by their school friends t
14、hat they are born “lazy”? What if my sensitive older son starts hating himself and his race classification for being associated with something negative?For the reasons above, I urge Macquarie Dictionary to adjust the current definition of “monolid”.Looking forward to hearing from you.Regards, Wendy4
15、. The authors purpose of writing this letter is.A. to ask for an apology about the wrong doing to the people with monolidsB. to offer advice on how to define a wordC. to express dissatisfaction with a definitionD. to give examples of defining physical features5. What does underlined word “unbiased”
16、in paragraph 2 probably mean?A. Precise.B. Public.C. Subjective.D. Objective.6. What is the function of paragraph 3?A. Supporting the authors position.B. Raising the authors concern.C. Attacking the dictionary .D. Introducing two words in the dictionary.7. In what way is the author worried about her
17、 children?A. They might get into bad habits and be lazy.B. They might become victims of the definition.C. They might have monolids.D. They might choose to use the dictionary.CThe lights go down, music plays, and a young woman on a bike at the front of the class encourages students to spin faster and
18、 harder. When the lights go back on, the students on the bikes pull out their notebooks, and its clear that this is not SoulCycle. Instead, its a first-of-its-kind business school course at Fordham University that is taught on spin bikes in a university.“Its the first class that I mention to anybody
19、 when anybody asks me what classes Im taking,” said Amanda Vopat, 22, a business administration major. “I think people are really excited about it.”The 75-minute, twice-weekly course is the brainchild of Julita Haber, a business school professor at Fordham. “I have been introducing movement and fitn
20、ess in my classes for the past seven years,” she said. “I found the spin class would really allow students to exercise while a professor lectures at the same time.”The course the students are taking while cycling is no joke. Managing Professional Relationships is an upper-level business school cours
21、e taken primarily by juniors and seniors. The students are fully instrumental in each class, selecting the music, leading stretches before and after class and leading the intervals during the class.Haber stops her lecture every 20 minutes throughout the class. While one student turns off the lights,
22、 another student turns up the music and a third student goes to a bike in the front of the class to lead their classmates in high-intensity interval that lasts two to three minutes, just enough to re-energize the students.“Its a fantastic way of engaging students and as a professor, as a teacher, th
23、ats really gratifying,” she said. “They dont have their smartphones, and they dont have laptops so they are physically engaged and also mentally engaged in what is being said.”The course is the first of its kind at Fordham, and Haber believes it is also a first across the United States. She has auth
24、ored research on the unique classroom approach, which she calls fitness integrated(综合的) learning.Donna Rapaccioli, the head of Fordhams Gabelli School of Business, described how students were “energized” by the class and said Fordham was open to expanding it to other courses. “Definitely,” Rapacciol
25、i answered when asked if Habers course represents the future of learning.8. What might SoulCycle be?A. A health club.B. A repair shop.C. A bicycle store.D. A music studio.9. What do we know about the business school course?A. It lasts seventy-five minutes without breaks.B. It was originally thought
26、up by Julita.C. It was taught in a university gym once every 2 weeks.D. It is open to all students at Fordham University.10. Which of the following is correct according the passage?A. Haber has introduced the spin class seven years before.B. Students pull out their notebooks while riding the spin bi
27、kes.C. Haber is satisfied with her course.D. The course has become popular in the US.11. How did Donna Rapaccioli sound?A. Humorous and clever.B. Hopeful and cheerful.C. Serious and friendly.D. Proud and confident.DImagine how youd feel if you had to get more than 9,000 tons of junk out to the sidew
28、alk. Thats how much trash is floating around in space. In fact, theres about 4 million pounds flying over our heads in low-Earth orbit. Daan, a Dutch artist, and his team at Space Waste Lab have come up with a creative plan that could clear up space junk in a spectacular fashion.Most space waste com
29、es from dead satellites and rockets. Functioning satellites are the backbone of the information systems that keep our world running smoothly. But all the satellites eventually become obsolete within just a few decades. When they die out, theres the problem of them drifting in outer space, collecting
30、 in what scientists call the “graveyard orbit.”Maybe youre thinking, “Why should I care about garbage 12,500 miles above me?” Well, all that fun stuff that satellites help beam down to usmobile games, Instagram, cat videoscould be shut down by space waste. Lots of old junk floating around up there,
31、plus new satellites added each year, means more and more high-speed collisions. And when chunks of junk crash into one another, they break apart into millions of pieces, quickly building up speed and turning into fast-moving objects, which are dangerous to operational satellites as well as astronaut
32、s working on the International Space Station.Space waste is a problem thats escalated so much; some scientists say that by 2050 well be forced to stop launching new spacecraft altogether, including new satellites. Think about that for a minute. When the last satellites finally become disused, GPS, c
33、ell phones, and the Internet will no longer function.So we have to find a way to deal with this space garbage, and Daan pictures a sort of trash pickup, which involves groups of small spacecraft casting large nets into orbit that would collect space debris (碎片) and send it back toward Earth at top s
34、peed. Heres the best partwhile reentering Earths atmosphere, the pieces of junk would burn up all at once, creating a light show similar to hundreds of shooting stars falling in the night sky. A spectacle indeed!To get ready for such an amazing effort, Space Waste Lab has been traveling to major cit
35、ies across Europe and enlightening the public on the problem of the junk in space. But Daan doesnt just talk about ways to relieve the problemhes created something a little grander than that. In October 2018, his team launched Space Waste Lab Performance, an outdoor art exhibition that shows the loc
36、ation of each piece of space trash using large lasers that make each debris look a bit like a star wandering slowly and silently over the sky, allowing viewers to wave and say, “Hallo, space trash!”12. Where can you probably read this passage?A. in a science magazineB. in a geography textbookC. in a
37、 fashion magazineD. in a space travel guidebook13. According to the passage, which sentence best replaces the question mark in the diagram?A. There is more junk floating in space each year as new satellites are added.B. Satellites can help people track the weather and find new locations.C. Working s
38、atellites can be damaged and astronauts can be hurt.D. The Space Waste Lab Performance can show people where satellites are located.14. Which of the following best supports the idea that space waste should be dealt with very soon？A. Sentences B. Sentence C. Sentence D. Sentence 15. Which of the foll
39、owing might be the best title of the passage?A. Space Junk Harms Digital SystemsB. Test of Waste Collection NetsC. A New Glimpse into Outer SpaceD. Artists Proposal to Save Space【答案】BACCDABABCDACBD湖北省荆、荆、襄、宜四地七校考试联盟2020-2021学年高二下学期期中联考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。AThe Best Art Competitions
40、to Enter in 2021Check out our guide to some of the best art contests to enter this year.Acrylic Works 9Prize: $2,000 first prize, $1,000 second prize Entry Fee: $45Requirements: Open to artists in the United States and Canada Closing Date: October 18, 2021For the Acrylic Works 9 competition, the org
41、anizers are looking for the best in acrylic (丙烯酸) painting of a variety of styles and subjects. The entries will be judged in two rounds according to artistic technique, design and creative elements, as well as overall impression and impact. Winners works will be shown in Artists magazine.Splash 23P
42、rize: $2,000 first prize, $1,000 second prize Entry Fee: $45Requirements: Open to artists in the United States and Canada Closing Date: June 14, 2021For the Splash 23 contest, the organizers are looking for original watercolor paintings. Each entry must be painted with watercolor. However, some mino
43、r use of other mediums may be acceptable. Top paintings of winners will appear in a special edition of Watercolor Artist magazine.The Lumen Prize for Digital ArtPrize: $4,000 first prize Entry Fee: $48 for two worksRequirements: Open to artists worldwide Closing Date: June 8, 2021This digital art co
44、mpetition is organized by Lumen Art Projects Ltd, a non-profit organization thats aimed at providing new opportunities for digital artists around the world. Categories include Still, Moving Image, 3D/ Interactive and Artificial Intelligence.California Award Prize: $3,000 first prize Entry Fee: FreeR
45、equirements: Open to artists in California Closing Date: July 31, 2021Hosted by the Brea Gallery, the competition intends to provide a great opportunity for all artists based in the state of California. All artworks will be considered. And there is also a solo (单独的) show opportunity for artists who
46、submit a body of work containing 5-10 pieces.10. What does Acrylic Works 9 and Splash 23 have in common?They are open to all artists.A. They focus on different styles.B. The winners paintings will appear in a magazine.C. The deadlines of the competitions are both in October.11. Which competition wil
47、l be open to the widest range of artists?A. Splash 23.B. Acrylic Works 9.C. California Award.D. The Lumen Prize for Digital Art.12. Why does the Brea Gallery hold the competition?A. To offer opportunities for artists in the US.B. To inspire creative ideas in paintings.C. To provide a solo show for a
48、ll artists.D. To encourage local artists to take part.BI created Buddy Project when I was a 15-year-old girl. At the time, my best friend had been diagnosed with a mental health condition, and that was the first time I was made aware of what mental illness was. I wanted to learn more and create a go
49、od support system for her. Back then, I was also on Twitter because I had trouble making friends in school. I found a lot of people I related to online, and I found a community of friends based on my interests. I combined those two experiences and wanted to make a way for people to find a safe and l
50、oving community online. I wanted people to have a peer (同龄人) support system available to them and to feel accepted.When I started Buddy Project, I was in the ninth grade and only had free time after school. I intended it to be something I did part-time. I didnt really think that many people would be
51、 interested in it. On the first day, however, 3,000 people signed up. I realized then that that was not something I was just going to do as scheduled.Mental illness affects tens of millions of people in the United States each year, yet only half receive treatment, according to the National Institute
52、 of Mental Health. Mental health care is not always accessible or affordable, and that needs to be talked about. Even if the stigma (羞耻) surrounding mental illness decreased, the cost of treatment would still be a problem. Without help, there are some people who wont be able to receive the proper ca
53、re.Buddy Project started out by just raising awareness of mental health on social media. Then we became a non-profit, and since 2015 weve been trying to fundraise to help pay for others mental health treatments too. Weve mainly focused on raising money for people in our hometown of southeastern Penn
54、sylvania, but we want to expand and offer help throughout the United States.13. Paragraph 1 mainly tells us about how the author.A. sought ways to drive away loneliness.B. eventually found friendship online.C. came up with the idea for Buddy Project.D. helped her best friend with mental illness.14.
55、What went beyond the authors expectations?A. That her studies were badly influenced.B. That so many people participated in her project.That she could carry out the project part-time.C. That she had enough free time for her project.15. Whats the purpose of Paragraph 3?A. To explain the influence of m
56、ental health care.B. To show her positive attitude toward mental illness.C. To show the necessity of helping those with mental illness.D. To encourage lower costs of treatment for mental illness.16. What does Buddy Project plan to do in the future?A. Offer different types of mental health care.B. Fi
57、nd more ways to prevent mental illness happening.C. Raise awareness of mental health on social media.D. Help more people receive mental illness treatments.CThink of Japan in the spring, and the image that comes to mind is likely the countrys famous cherry blossoms, which experience a “peak bloom (开花
58、)” that only lasts a few days and have been honored in Japan for more than a thousand years. But this year, the cherry blossom season has come and gone in the blink of an eye, in one of the earliest blossoms on record - and scientists warn its a symptom of the larger climate crisis threatening ecosy
59、stems everywhere.Yasuyuki Aono, a researcher at Osaka Prefecture University, has from Kyoto back to 812 AD from historical documents and diaries. In the central city of Kyoto, cherry blossoms peaked on March 26, the earliest in more than 1,200 years, Aono said. And in the capital Tokyo, cherry bloss
60、oms reached full bloom on March 22, the second-earliest date on record.The peak bloom dates shift every year, depending on numerous factors including weather and rainfall, but have shown a general trend of moving earlier and earlier. “Cherry blooms are very temperature sensitive,” said Aono. “Flower
61、ing and full bloom could be earlier or later depending on the temperature alone,” he said. This years seasons in particular influenced the blossom dates, he added. The winter was very cold, but the spring came fast and unusually warm, so “the buds are completely awake after enough rest.”Their early
62、bloom, however, is just the tip of the iceberg of a worldwide phenomenon that could make natural systems and countries economies unstable, said Amos Tai, assistant professor of earth science at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. There are two sources of increased heat, which is the main factor mak
63、ing the flowers bloom earlier: urbanization（城市化）and climate change. With increased urbanization, cities tend to get warmer than the surrounding rural area, in what is called the heat island effect. But a bigger reason is climate change, which has caused rising temperatures across the region and the
64、world.These earlier dates arent just a matter of tourists scrambling to catch peak bloom before the petals all fall- it could have a lasting impact on entire ecosystems, and threaten the survival of many species.17. What is the purpose of mentioning the dates and figures in paragraph 2?A. To present
65、 “peak bloom” in Tokyo came earlier than in Kyoto.B. To suggest when cherry blossoms will bloom next year.C. To report the dates of “peak bloom” in different Japanese cities.D. To show cherry blossoms came out earlier this year than in the past.18. Why are scientists worried about the peak bloom mov
66、ing earlier and earlier?A.The blossom season this year is a sign of a larger global crisis.A. The weather will be too cold for the blossoms to last long enough.B. The earlier peak bloom will threaten the survival of many species.C. The earlier bloom could affect natural systems and countries economy
67、.19. What does the underlined word in the last paragraph mean?A. Deciding.B. Managing.C. Rushing.D. Marching.20. Which can be a suitable title for the text? A.The Japanese Climate CrisisA. Sooners Not Always Better Than LaterB. Cherry blossoms and Their ImpactC. The Early Blooming of Cherry Blossoms
68、DA new Dutch car company, Lightyear, announced its new car, Lightyear One concept earlier this week, which can constantly refill its power using the sun and travel a range of up to 800 km when fully powered. Thats just the start: The company claims that in sunny environments (say, Hawaii), the One c
69、ould potentially drive for months at a time between charges.The Lightyear team claims the car can fuel up with more than just sunshine. It is equipped to charge from a socket ( 插座), even a regular household power socket. Lightyear claims that just charging its car from a standard (3.7 kw) socket for
70、 an hour would give you 40 km worth of power.The solar power collected by the cars panels could be used to power more than just the One itself, allowing owners to connect the energy to their homes, devices, and even other electric cars. This is indeed a new idea.Its not exactly clear how the company
71、 plans to produce its breakthrough cars. The companys website includes some unclear language about a “completely newly-designed car” which will require a “revolutionary production process”. It mentions that industry partners have signed up to support the process, but doesnt offer any specific names.
72、Lightyears founders arent new to the solar car, which makes the One slightly more believable than other new concepts with little real-world data to support them. The company was started by five former members of Solar Team Eindhoven, the group that created the four-seat, solar-powered car Stella whi
73、ch hit the US streets back in 2014.You can order the One in advance now in the EU and US, but, unsurprisingly, it wont come cheap. Reserving a One will allow you to get a discount if you pay by the month and the final cost is expected to be119,000.The company wont produce the One on a large scale (
74、规模). Therefore, it wont cause industry giants like Tesla to lose any sleep just yet, and Lightyear still has to prove it can change its experimental technology into a fully realized consumer experience. If the company succeeds, however, we could be looking at a new future of cars, directly powered b
75、y the sun.21. Which affects the Ones longest range most?A. Road conditions.B. Weather conditions.C. The weight it bears.D. The way it is charged.22. What does the underlined word “This” in Paragraph 3 refer to?A. The electric car.B. The solar-powered car.C. The electricity-powered device.D. The mobi
76、le power-sharing system.23. Why is the Stella solar-powered car mentioned?A. To explain the principle of the One.B. To prove the advantages of the One.C. To compare different eco-friendly cars.D. To show the background of the Ones creators.24. Which best describes the authors attitude to the One in
77、the text?A. Hopeful.B. Worried.C. Doubtful.D. Surprised.【答案】21-23 CDD24-27 CBCD28-31 DACB32-35 BDDA湖北省宜城一中等五校联考2020-2021学年高二下学期期中考试英语试题第二部分 阅读（共两节，满分 50 分）第一节 （共 15 小题；每小题 2.5 分，满分 37.5 分）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，并在答题 卡上将该项涂黑。AIf youre not one of the 1.9 million British holidaymakers who we
78、nt on a cruise last year, dont miss it this year! Weve rounded up all of the best packages for you, as well as some of our top favourite deals.US Transatlantic, 629 per person: Sail 13 nights with stops including Boston, NewYork. Price is on a full-board basis and includes accommodation as well as o
79、n-board entertainment and activities.Cuba, 400 per-person: Sail five nights on board Majesty of the Seas with stops in Havana, Cuba and Mexico. Price is on a full-board basis and includes accommodation as well as on-board entertainment and activities.Paying extra 177 per-person, you can enjoyupgradi
80、ng to Ocean View based on an interior cabin（船舱）.Portugal, Spain and Italy, 479 per-person: Sail seven nights with stops includingMadeira and Malaga on a full-board basis. Price includes meals, late-night snacks, luxury en-suite(带浴室的)accommodation, all on-board activities and entertainment.European c
81、ities, 579 per-person: Sail on board MSC Meraviglia from Barcelona to visit Marseille, Genoa, Civitavecchia, Palermo and Valetta, and make most of MSCs all-inclusive drinks package including coffee, cocktails, wine, beer, spirits and soft drinks. Price is on a full-board basis with two people sharin
82、g a cabin.While there are many great deals available to customers, the cruise industry often has some of its best deals months in advance. Cruise lines are looking to change the way the booking system works so the prices go up closer to the departure.21. How much should a couple pay for Cuba with th
83、e Ocean View cabin?A. 577.B. 800.C. 977.D. 1154.22. Which cruise offers various drinks?A. US Transatlantic.B. Cuba.C. Portugal, Spain and Italy.D. European cities.23. What can be learned from the text?A. The booking system has improved greatly.B. Its better for customers to book a cruise ahead of ti
84、me . C. The cruise industry will reduce prices during holidays.D. Customers can get the best bargains just before the departure.BI left university with a good degree in English Literature, but no sense of what I wanted to do. Over the next six years, I was treading water, just trying to earn an inco
85、me. I tried journalism, but I didnt think I was any good, then finance, which I hated. Finally, I got a job as a rights assistant at a famous publisher. I loved working with books, although the job that I did was dull.I had enough savings to take a year off work, and I decided to try to satisfy a de
86、ep-down wish to write a novel. Attending a Novel Writing MA course gave me the structure I needed to write my first 55,000 words.It takes confidence to make a new-start theres a dark period in-between where youre neither one thing nor the other. Youre out for dinner and people ask what you do, and y
87、oure too ashamed to say, “Well, Im writing a novel, but Im not quite sure if Im going to get there.” My confidence dived. Believing my novel could not bepublished, I put it aside.Then I met an agent（代理商）who said I should send my novel out to agents. So,I did and, to my surprise, got some wonderful f
88、eedback. I felt a little hope that I might actually become a published writer and, after signing with an agent, I finished the second half of the novel.The next problem was finding a publisher. After two-and-a-half years of no income, just waiting and wondering, a publisher offered me a book deal th
89、at publisher turned out to be the one I once worked for.It feels like an unbelievable stroke of luck of fate, really. When you set out to do something different, theres no end in sight, so to find myself in a position where I now have my own name on a contract（合同）of the publisher to be a published w
90、riter is unbelievably rewarding（有回报的）.24. What can be inferred from the first paragraph？A. I was seeking to find an admirable job. B. I was waiting for good fortune .C. I was being aimless about an appropriate job. D. I was doing several jobs for more at a time.25. Why did the author begin to write
91、a novel?A. Because the author wanted to finish the writing course. B. Because the author aimed to fulfill his dream.C. Because the author would like to meet readers needs. D. Because the author intended to earn more money.26. How did the author feel halfway with the novel?A. UnsureB. AshamedC. Confi
92、dentD. Embarrassed27. What is the best title for the passage?A. Good luck makes a difference. B. Hard work can lead to success. C. The early bird catches the worm.D. It pays to stick to ones dream.CThe transatlantic car carrier, Oceanbird, is being designed by Wallenius Marine, aSwedish shipbuilder,
93、with support from the Swedish government.With a capacity(容量) of 7,000 vehicles, the 650 foot-long vessel will have a similar size to ordinary car carriers, but it will look totally different. The ship will have five “wing sails”, with each being 260 feet tall. These sails are capable of turning 360
94、degrees, and it can be shortened to 195 feet in order to pass under bridges or withstand rough weather.Although the general theory of wing sails is not new, designing the Oceanbirds sails has been a challenge, says Mikael Razola, the research project manager for Oceanbird. “Thats because these are t
95、he tallest sails that have ever been constructed. The top of the sails will be more than 100 meters above the water surface. At such a height, the wind direction and speed change a lot,” says Razola.To better understand the atmospheric conditions(大气条件) at this height, Wallenius putsensors on top of
96、its existing vessels to gather data of wind. “All of this information has helped us make the most of the power available in the wind and design an efficient wing vessel,” says Razola.With its special sails, Oceanbird will outperform conventional car carriers in the aspect of exhaust emission. Nowada
97、ys, the shipping industry is under pressure to reduce emissions of CO2 and other greenhouse gases. According to the International Maritime Organization, the UN body that regulates global shipping, shipping accounted for 2.89% of global manmade greenhouse gas emissions in 2018. And in the same year,
98、this organization introduced amandatory( 强 制 的 ) 50% reduction of total annual greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.Oceanbird is designed to exceed(超过) the target-Wallenious said the ship would emit 90%less CO2 than other car carriers.With a stop speed of about 10 knots, Oceanbird will be slower than st
99、andard car carriers, which can travel at 17 knots. It will take around 12 days, instead of the standard seven to cross the Atlantic. “This long journey will require some scheduling changes as well as acceptance from carmakers,” said Razola. “But the response so far has been very positive.”Researcher
100、s in Wallenious have built a 7-meter model of Oceanbird which will sail in Stockholms archipelago to gather data that will help finalize the ships design. “It will take around three years to launch the full-size version. Our ambition is to see Oceanbird sailing in2024,” Razola said.28. What is Parag
101、raph 2 mainly about?A. The design of Oceanbird. B. The capacity of Oceanbird.C. The operating method of wing sails.D. The sailing conditions for car carriers.29. What brings challenges to the design of Oceanbirds sails?A. The lack of financial support. B. The lack of previous theories.C. The wind co
102、nditions at different heights. D. The tough weather on the Atlantic Ocean.30. What will Wallenious do in the future according to Paragraph 6?A. Increase the sailing speed.B. Arrange a scientific sailing schedule.C. Handle the conflicts between carmakers. D. Use standard ships instead of Oceanbird31.
103、 Which of the following best describes Oceanbird?A. Giant and inconvenient. B. Low-cost but inefficient.C. High-capacity and high-speed.D. Well-designed and environment-friendly.DPlastic garbage is one of the worlds biggest environmental headaches. Some plastic items like water bottles and shopping
104、bags can last for hundreds of years after being thrown away, with all this plastic rubbish disrupting ecosystems and disturbing the habitats of wildlife.There have been several projects to help control plastic production, but researchers may have found a natural way to get rid of the products.Waxwor
105、ms, which are confusingly classed as caterpillars(毛毛虫), are the honey beesworst nightmares, as they lay their eggs inside their hives(蜂巢). Amateur beekeeper Federica Bertocchini decided to use plastic bags to protect the hives, however she was dumbfounded when she discover the insects were able to e
106、at holes into the sides of the bags.The beekeepers surprising findings sparked a study. Bertocchini, from the Spanish National Research Council, teamed up with scientists from Cambridge University to perform some tests.When the team put about one hundred waxworms into a standard UK plastic shopping
107、bag, they began feasting. After about 12 hours theyd eaten roughly 92 milligrams of the bag.In all, this isnt huge amount, but its a lot faster than other natural ways. Last year, researchers found a specific type of bacteria( 细 菌 )could eat plastic, but at a rate of 0.13 milligrams a day, making th
108、is is a massive jump in the search for a natural way to dispose(处理) plastic.The team is still not 100 percent sure how the worms do what they do, but theyre heralding this as an important first step to get rid of pollution.Luckily, while that team works out the answer, plastic manufacturers have fou
109、nd a way to make their products much more environmentally friendly. There are three types of environmentally friendly plastics: bioplastics(which are made from corn starch), biodegradable plastics(which break down quicker) and recycled plastic.Hopefully with these new products, we will get closer to
110、 a society that is less harmful to the environment.32. Why is plastic garbage a huge environmental headache?A. Because some plastic bottles can stay on the street for many years.B. Because this kind of rubbish will do great damage to the environment for years.C. Because more and more plastic bags wi
111、ll make the environment look dull and ugly. D. Because the plastic rubbish will make the wild life get worse than before.33. What does the underlined word “dumbfounded” mean in the third paragraph?A. Shocked.B. Frightened.C. Embarrassed.D. Uncomfortable.34. How do the waxworms deal with the plastic?
112、A. They make the plastic into honey.B. They help scientist develop new plastic.C. They eat the plastic in an environmentally friendly way.D. They work with some plastic factories to deal with plastic faster.35. What is the authors feeling about the future?A. The author is optimistic about the enviro
113、nment. B. There will be more plastic products.C. The waxworms will play a major role in the future.D. No one is 100 percent sure what the future will be like.【答案】2123 DDB 2427 CBAD 2831 ACBD3235 BACA 湖北省2020-2021学年部分高中联考协作体高二下学期期中考试英语试题第二部分 阅读理解（共两节, 满分50分）第一节（共15 小题;每小题2. 5分, 满分37. 5分）阅读下列短文, 从每题所给
114、的A、B、C和D四个选项中, 选出最佳选项。ASmith, Williams, Brown are common surnames that you will meet in Britain. However, you may come across some strange English surnames. The following surnames are rare, but they are real. GotobedYou are not going to meet many people with the surname “Go-to-bed”. The first record
115、ed person to have this surname was John Gotobedde of Cambridge in 1269. Professor Reaney, an authority on English surnames, explains the surname originated from people who had a bed, which was rare back in the 12th century. People were proud that they could afford to have a bed, thus adding it to th
116、eir name. Strange but true!OnionsThis surname, which was first popular in France and Ireland before coming over to the UK, dates back to l279 and identified （显示） a persons job. He was either a seller or a grower of the vegetable. NutterNutter means a crazy or silly person in spoken English. You woul
117、dnt usually call yourself a nutter, but its genuinely a surname that originates from Yorkshire and Lancashire. Its a variation of the old English surnames “Notere ”, which means a clerk, and “Nothard”, which means a person that keeps oxen. Hardmeatmight have guessed that “Hardmeat” must have somethi
118、ng to do with a family of butchers. In fact, it might just have been a misspelling of the village that the name came from, which was “Hardmead” in England. Wish they had a spellchecker back then!1. Which of the following surnames can tell a familys wealth?A. Nutter.B. Onions.C. GotobedD. Hardmeat.2.
119、 What do Onions and Nutter have in common?A. They originated in the UK.B. They mean silly people.C. They date from the l3th centuryD. They show the jobs.3. Where does the surname of Hardmeat come from?A. An incorrectly-spelt village name.B. A place famous for hard meat.C. A village without a spellch
120、ecker.D. A family of butchers.【答案】1. C 2. D 3. ABThe 2020 Nobel Prize in literature has been awarded to former U. S. Poet Laureate （桂冠诗人） Louise Gluck. The prize committee stressed “her unmistakable poetic voice that with plain beauty makes individual existence universal”. Gluck is the first America
121、n woman to win the award since Toni Morrison in 1993. Gluck, 77, joins a list of literary giants and previous Nobel Prize winners, including, in this century, Canadian short-story master Alice Munro, Chinese magical-realist Mo Yan, etc. Glucks work includes 12 collections of poetry and a couple of v
122、olumes of essays on literary writing. “ All are characterized by striving for（力求） clearness. Childhood and family life, the close relationship with families is a theme that has remained central to her, ” Anders Olsson, the chairman of the Nobel Committee for Literature, said. “ She seeks the univers
123、al, and in this she takes inspiration from myths（神话）and classical themes, ” Olsson added, citing her 2006 collection Averno, which the committee described as “ masterly ” for its “ visionary interpretation of the myth of Persephones fall into hell in the captivity （囚禁） of Hades, the god of death ”Gl
124、uck is a professor at Yale and a resident of Cambridge, and she also served as U. S. Poet Laureate from 2003 to 2004 and is no stranger to awards. She won the Pulitzer Prize in 1993 for her collection of poems titled The Wild Iris, in which “she describes the miraculous return of life after winter”,
125、 the Nobel Literature Committee said on Thursday. She also won the 2014 National Book Award for poetry for Faithful and Virtuous Night . In 2016, President Obama awarded the National Humanities Medal to Gluck in a White House ceremony. Being publicly shy, Gluck did not immediately give any comment a
126、bout the latest honor for her body of work, which spans more than half a century. In a 2012 interview, she acknowledged that prizes can make “ existence in the world easier ” but did not mean the immortality （不朽） of a true artist.4. What makes Glucks works popular according to the prize committee in
127、 Paragraph 1?A. Magical realism.B. The clue of the novel.C. Simple beauty.D. Fictional structure.5. Which of the following is the main theme Gluck uses in her works?A. Thought about classic myths.B. Life of childhood and family.C. Experience of personal life.D. Reflection on modern works.6. What do
128、the collections of poems Averno and The Wild Iris have in common?A. They won the same book awards.B. They have become best-sellers.C. They gave rise to Glucks fame.D. They talk about life and death.7. What does Gluck imply in the last paragraph?A. Being famous is important to a struggling writer.B.
129、Being rewarded is not that vital to a true artist.C. Being popular is not necessary for the writing.D. Being shy is not a weakness for a famous writer.【答案】4. C 5. B 6. D 7. BCYou may have heard the expression “crocodile tears” when it comes to someone who is not showing true emotion and is being ins
130、incere. While this may extend to the phrase, some research shows that crocodile tears may be more similar to ours than previously thought. In the study published in Frontiers in Veterinary Science, a group of researchers collected tears from a variety of animals including macaws, owls, parrots, hawk
131、s, sea turtles, tortoises and caimans. Additionally, they collected tears from 10 healthy humans. The tear samples were then examined and were found to be similar when it came to electrolyte (电解质) composition with one slight difference being in that bird and reptile (爬行动物) tears had a slightly highe
132、r concentration than other species. Additionally, in the tears of the sea turtles and owls, there were higher levels of protein found. Where variation eventually did come in was when the researchers examined how tears became solid as they dried. They found that the tears from different animals form
133、totally different patterns, much like snowflakes (雪花) each has individual and unique shape. They noticed that the turtles and caimans tears were especially different. They owed this to their adaptation (适应) in some way in order to be able to better function in their habitats. One note that the resea
134、rchers made was that the tear samples they collected were from captive (圈养的) animals, which could be completely different from animals found in the wild. However, the study still is one of the biggest studies of its kind in comparing tear compositions across varying species. Lead author Arianna P. O
135、ria from Brazil said, “This discovery is vital for understanding the evolution and adaptation processes, and is essential for the discovery of drugs to treat eye diseases. This knowledge helps in the understanding of the evolution and adaption of these species, as well as in their conservation. ”8.
136、How does the author introduce the topic in Paragraph 1?A. He warns us of people who have crocodile tears.B. He talks about some insincere people.C. He explains to readers why crocodiles cry.D. He uses the expression “crocodile tears”.9. What can you learn from Paragraphs 2 and 3?A. Tears of sea turt
137、les and owls contain more protein than other species.B. Bird and reptile tears have different electrolyte composition.C. The tears of humans and animals are the same.D. There is no discovery in tears of 10 healthy humans.10. Whats the main discovery of the research?A. Snowflakes each have individual
138、 and unique shapes.B. Wild animals are different from captive animal in tear composition.C. Turtles and caimans tears were not the same.D. Different tears show different solid types when dried11. What is the passage mainly about?A. The new discovery about crocodile tears.B. The research about tears
139、from animals.C. The importance of studies about animal tears.D. The study on differences between animals and humans.【答案】8. D 9. A 10. D 11. BDWe already know that eating too much salt can lead to heart disease. But could it also affect our mind? Scientists found that a high-salt diet could cause cog
140、nitive impairments （认知损 伤） in mice, and it could produce the same effect on humans. Dr Costantino Iadecola, director of the Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, said they fed the mice eight to sixteen times their normal salt intake （摄入量） and then tested the mice. After about three months,
141、the mice had a big change in their behaviour. Mice are very curious, and they like to look for new things. However, the tested mice lost the ability to identify （识别） a normal object. When the mice were put in their cage and asked to find a quiet spot, they did not remember where the quiet spot was.
142、Then when the mice were building a nest, which is something the mice do daily, they were unable to do so. The research suggested humans would experience a similar response. Studies have shown Australians eat around double the recommended amount of salt each day, most of it coming from processed food
143、. Dr Iadecola said the estimated two teaspoons of salt the average Australian eats each day could affect the brain function in the long term. However, the decline might not be as obvious as in the mice, who were given extremely high levels of salt. “ But probably over years and perhaps decades as op
144、posed to （相对于） a few months for the mice even lower levels of salt may have a terrible effect, ” Dr Iadecola said. “ High levels of salt cause serious immune （免疫的） changes in the organs in and around the stomach, resulting in an almost autoimmune （自身免疫的） effect on the brain. It is part of a growing
145、body of evidence that we really are what we eat, ” Bryce Vissel, director of the Centre for Neuroscience at the University of Technology Sydney, said. “Those changes in turn cause all sorts of responses in the body, which over time certainly lead to cognitive impairments. ”12. Which can describe the
146、 tested mice?A. They forgot some routine things.B. They became smarter than ever.C. They remain quiet all day.D. They were quick at finding objects.13. What does the decline in Paragraph 3 refer to?A. the good effect of high levels of salt intake on AustraliansB. the good effect of high levels of sa
147、lt intake on miceC. the bad effect of high levels of salt intake on miceD. the bad effect of high levels of salt intake on Australians14. What does the last paragraph mainly focus on?A. Studies carried out by Bryce Vissel.B. Immune changes brought about by diet.C. Links between salt intake and brain
148、 damageD. Effects of daily diets on human behaviour.15. What does the text suggest?A. Brain health counts much.B. A low-salt diet is to be advocated.C. The body never tells a lie.D. Heart disease can be prevented.【答案】12. A 13. D 14. C 15. B湖北省孝感市普通高中协作体2020-2021学年高二下学期期中联考英语试卷第二部分 阅读理解（共两节，满分50分）第一节
149、（共15小题；每小题2.5分，满分37.5分）阅读下列短文，从每篇短文后所给各题的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中，选出最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。AI began to grow up that winter night when my parents and I were returning from my aunts house , and my mother said that we might soon be leaving for America.We were on the bus then.I was crying，and some people on the bus wer
150、e turning around to look at me.I remember that I could not bear the thought of never hearing again the radio program for school children to which I listened every morning.I do not remember myself crying for this reason again.In fact，I think I cried very little when I was saying goodbye to my friends
151、 and relatives.When we were leaving I thought about all the places I was going to seethe strange and magical places I had known only from books and pictures.The country I was leaving and never to come back was hardly in my head then.The four years that followed taught me the importance of optimism(乐
152、观), but the idea did not come to me at once.For the first two years in New York I was really losthaving to study in three schools as a result of family moves.I did not quite know what I was or what I should be.Mother remarried，and things became even more complex for me.Some time passed before my ste
153、pfather and I got used to each other.I was often sad, and saw no end to “the hard times”.My responsibilities in the family increased a lot since I knew English better than everyone else at home.I wrote letters, filled out forms，translated at interviews with Immigration officers(移民局官员), took my grand
154、parents to the doctor and translated there，and even discussed telephone bills with company representatives.From my experiences I have learned one important rule: Almost all common troubles go away at last！Something good is certain to happen in the end when you do not give up，and just wait a little！I
155、 believe that my life will turn out all right，even though it will not be that easy.21.How did the author get to know America？A.From radio programs.B.From her mother.C.From books and pictures.D.From her relatives.22.Upon leaving for America the author felt.A.excitedB.confusedC.worriedD.amazed23.For t
156、he first two years in New York，the author.A.often lost her wayB.did not think about her futureC.got on well with her stepfatherD.studied in three different schoolsBA storm hit Houston, Texas, on Tuesday. It brought heavy rains and rising floodwaters. By Tuesday night，some parts of the city had recei
157、ved 10 inches of rain. Police and firefighters helped people move to safe places. They also saved people from cars and buses that were stuck on roads.Certain areas around Houston were hit really hard. In just four hours，more than seven inches of rain fell in Sugar Land in the southwest of Houston. C
158、ars could not pass through any of the areas main roadways. On Twitter，Sugar Land city officials asked people to get to high ground.Tuesdays rain hit parts of Texas that Hurricane Harvey had already damaged almost two years ago. Hurricane Harvey in August, 2017 was the second most costly hurricane in
159、 US history. It caused $125 billion worth of damage in Texas. In the Houston area，36 people died and about 150,000 homes were flooded.Aspokesman forthe Harris County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management spoke with the Houston Chronicle. The spokesman said that this weeks rain is “not
160、 in any way a Harveylevel event.”But the worst may not be over yet. People will have a break from the heavy rain on Wednesday. According to the National Weather Service，the Texas Gulf Coast will continue to experience heavy rain later in the week.“Today should be our quietest over the next few days
161、for rainfall，” said Don Oettinger , a National Weather Service meteorologist (气象学家).Houston Fire Chief Samuel Peia warned，“As there is too much water on the ground，these are perfect conditions for flash floods，so we hope people are careful of what theyre doing and encourage them to stay home. Theres
162、 no sense in putting yourself，firefighters or anybody in danger needlessly.”24.What are Paragraphs 1 and 2 mainly about？A.Heavy floods hitting Houston.B.Flood prevention in Houston.C.Flood damage in Houston.D.People fighting floods in Houston.25.What do we know about Hurricane Harvey？A.It caused no
163、deaths or injuries.B.It did a lot of damage to Texas.C.It was less serious than this weeks rain.D.It was the biggest hurricane on record.26.What can we learn from the weather report of the National Weather Service？A.Fine days are coming.B.It will rain a little nonstop.C.Floods will continue.D.A hurr
164、icane is unavoidable.27.What did Samuel suggest local people do？A.Stay indoors.B.Join firefighters.C.Give up needless things.D.Comfort those who lost homes.CWhen faced with the decision to get out of bed or have a few more minutes of sleep，which do you choose？Believe it or not，that decision could ma
165、ke a world of difference in the rest of your day.About 85 percent of Americans use an alarm clock to wake up in the mornings， according to sleep researcher Till Roennenber. And while there are no official numbers on snoozing (打盹)， a quick survey of social media makes it clear that hitting the snooze
166、 button is a popular pastime.As to how the snooze button will affect your day，scientists have mixed opinions. Some scientists think people who hit the snooze button in the mornings are actually clever，creative and happy while some said that hitting the snooze button will ruin your life，or at the ver
167、y least your day. “I feel that hitting the snooze button has got to be one of the worst things that ever happened to human sleep，”researcher Jonathan Horowitz said. “The chances of you snoozing and actually experiencing a meaningful rest are close to zero.”According to some sleep experts，when hittin
168、g the snooze button，you are in fact confusing your body and mind，and throwing yourself into a deep state of being sleepy. The body needs some time to wake up，so，when returning to what will be a light sleep for a brief period of time， you are putting your body back into a sleep mode before waking it
169、again. At that point your body wont know what it wants，resulting in a sort of half awaken state.If you really want to take advantage of an alarm clock，the key is to form a healthy sleep cycle. Focus your efforts on getting enough sleep each night and waking up at the same time each day so that when
170、your alarm goes off you feel rested.28.What can we infer about hitting the snooze button from Paragraph 2？A.People do it just for fun.B.People take it seriously.C.It is a common practice.D.It is a bit childish.29.What do some sleep experts think of hitting the snooze button？A.It is meaningful in the
171、 long term.B.It makes people become lazy.C.It brings us a sense of satisfaction.D.It affects our body and mind.30.Whats the authors suggestion on getting the best out of alarms？A.Forming a good sleep habit.B.Trying to relax ourselves.C.Making use of willpower.D.Using an extra alarm.31.What is the be
172、st title for the text？A.Ways to keep refreshed in the morning.B.The snooze button and peoples character.C.How to avoid the light sleep mode？D.Should you rely on the snooze button？DAirport security is there to protect you, but it may also give you a cold -or worse . To all the places and surfaces wev
173、e been warned are covered with germsthe subway seat, airplane cabins, the ATMadd the airport security trays(托盘). The plastic security trays used at airport checkpoints around the globe and touched by millions of passengers as they drop shoes, smartphones, baggage and other items into them to clear X
174、-ray scannershave been found to have a variety of germs in them, including the ones responsible for the common cold, according to researchers in Europe. Scientists from the University of Nottingham in England examined frequently touched surfaces at Helsinki Airport in Finland during and after peak h
175、ours in the winter of 2016 and found rhinovirus, the source of the common cold in them. They found it on half the baggage trays, more than on any of the other surfaces they tested. It wasnt found on toilet surfaces at the airport. The findings could help improve public health strategies in the fight
176、 against the spread of infectious diseases worldwide. The European Union has funded a research project, called PANDHUB, on preventing the spread of“high-threat ” pathogens(病原体) on public transportation, and the study by the University of Nottingham is part of that project .The presence of germs in t
177、he environment of an airport has not been examined previously, said Niina Ikonen, who was involved in the study. Finavia, the company that operates Helsinki Airport, said in an email,“At Finavia airports, the hygiene(卫生) standards are applied in accordance with health officials requirementsall surfa
178、ces are cleaned daily and all security checkpoint trays, etc., are washed regularly. Washing your hands properly and coughing into a tissue or sleeve, especially in public places, can help minimize the risk of catching infectious diseases, said Jonathan Van-Tam, a professor at the University of Nott
179、ingham. These simple measures can help prevent the spread of germs and are most important in crowded areas like airports that have a high volume of people traveling to and from many different parts of the world. he added.32. What should air passengers do according to Van-Tam?A. Avoid touching other
180、people .B. Spend less time at the airport .C. Bring as little luggage as possible .D. Try to reduce the effect of their coughs .33. What is special about the study?A. It focuses onhigh-threat pathogens .B. It is the first to test for microbes on surfaces at airports.C. It has found a new way to cure
181、 infectious diseases .D. It has led to a research project called PANDHUB.34. What did Finavia express in the email?A. They explained why hygiene was important .B. They felt quite doubtful about the findings.C. They had recognized their mistakes .D. They had done what was required.35. What did the sc
182、ientists find at Helsinki airport?A. Airport security trays had a lot of germs in them.B. Wet surfaces offered good places for germs to live.C. Viruses spread quicker during and after peak hours.D. Airline passengers were more likely to catch a cold on planes.【答案】21 23 CAD 24 27 ABCA 2831 CDAD 3235 DBDA