Why is the Sky Blue?
On a clear sunny day, the sky above us looks bright blue. In the evening, the sunset puts on a brilliant show of reds, pinks and oranges. Why is the sky blue? What makes the sunset red?
To answer these questions, we must learn about light, and the Earth's atmosphere.
MIT used parts of this article in their online class!
Table of Contents
The Atmosphere
The atmosphere is the mixture of gas molecules and other materials surrounding the earth. It is made mostly of the gases nitrogen (78%), and oxygen (21%). Argon gas and water (in the form of vapor, droplets and ice crystals) are the next most common things. There are also small amounts of other gases, plus many small solid particles, like dust, soot and ashes, pollen, and salt from the oceans.
The composition of the atmosphere varies, depending on your location, the weather, and many other things. There may be more water in the air after a rainstorm, or near the ocean. Volcanoes can put large amounts of dust particles high into the atmosphere. Pollution can add different gases or dust and soot.
The atmosphere is densest (thickest) at the bottom, near the Earth. It gradually thins out as you go higher and higher up. There is no sharp break between the atmosphere and space. Learn more about the .
Light Waves
Light is a kind of energy that radiates, or travels, in waves. Many different kinds of energy travel in waves. For example, sound is a wave of vibrating air. Light is a wave of vibrating electric and magnetic fields. Electromagnetic WavesIt is one small part of a larger range of vibrating electromagnetic fields. This range is called the electromagnetic spectrum.
Electromagnetic waves travel through space at 299,792 km/sec (186,282 miles/sec). This is called the speed of light.
The energy of the radiation depends on its wavelength and frequency. Wavelength is the distance between the tops (crests) of the waves. Frequency is the number of waves that pass by each second. The longer the wavelength of the light, the lower the frequency, and the less energy it contains.
Colors of Light
Visible light is the part of the electromagnetic spectrum that our eyes can see. Light from the sun or a light bulb may look white, but it is actually a combination of many colors. We can see the different colors of the spectrum by splitting the light with a prism.
The spectrum is also visible when you see a rainbow in the sky.
The colors blend continuously into one another. At one end of the spectrum are the reds and oranges. These gradually shade into yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet. The colors have different wavelengths, frequencies, and energies. Violet has the shortest wavelength in the visible spectrum. That means it has the highest frequency and energy. Red has the longest wavelength, and lowest frequency and energy.
Light in the Air
Light travels through space in a straight line as long as nothing disturbs it. As light moves through the atmosphere, it continues to go straight until it bumps into a bit of dust or a gas molecule. Then what happens to the light depends on its wave length and the size of the thing it hits.
Dust particles and water droplets are much larger than the wavelength of visible light. When light hits these large particles, it gets reflected, or bounced off, in different directions. The different colors of light are all reflected by the particle in the same way. The reflected light appears white because it still contains all of the same colors.
Gas molecules are smaller than the wavelength of visible light. If light bumps into them, it acts differently. When light hits a gas molecule, some of it may get absorbed. After awhile, the molecule radiates (releases, or gives off) the light in a different direction. The color that is radiated is the same color that was absorbed. The different colors of light are affected differently. All of the colors can be absorbed. But the higher
frequencies (blues) are absorbed more often than the lower frequencies (reds). This process is called Rayleigh scattering. (It is named after Lord John Rayleigh, an English physicist, who first described it in the 1870's.)
Why is the Sky Blue?
The blue color of the sky is due to Rayleigh scattering. As light moves through the atmosphere, most of the longer wavelengths pass straight through. Little of the red, orange and yellow light is affected by the air.
However, much of the shorter wavelength light is absorbed by the gas molecules. The absorbed blue light is then radiated in different directions. It gets scattered all around the sky. Whichever direction you look, some of this scattered blue light reaches you. Since you see the blue light from everywhere overhead, the sky looks blue.
As you look closer to the horizon, the sky appears much paler in color. To reach you, the scattered blue light must pass through more air. Some of it gets scattered away again in other directions. Less blue light reaches your eyes. The color of the sky near the horizon appears paler or white.
Why is Space Black? Why is the Sunset Red?
On Earth, the sun appears yellow. But what if you were out in space? What color would it be?
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The science projects, science experiments, science fair projects & ideas,science articles and all other material on this website are covered by copyright laws and may not be reproduced without permission.解析试题分析：考查词义辨析。A宽阔（形容词）；B在船上，在飞机上，在车上（副词）；C在国外（副词）；D板（名词）；句意：心就像太空一样宽阔，善良就像海洋一样深厚。本句中要使用形容词broad与后面的deep形成呼应。故A正确。考点：考查词汇辨析点评：词汇辨析是每次试卷中必然出现的题型，所以平时一定要把词汇放在句中进行记忆。在复习词汇的时候，要依据语言的横向组合和纵向聚合，按照点-线-面顺序，构建知识网络环境，对知识内容进行巩固、深化和提升，这样才能提高复习知识点的效率。这样，再做单项填空题时，就会觉得游刃有余。对于英语中的词汇用法，平时要多归纳总结，词汇用法的特殊语法规则更要特别记忆。最好把词汇放在句子中，连同句子一起记忆，这样能够加强记忆。
请在这里输入关键词：
科目：高中英语
来源：浙江省新昌中学2012届高三上学期期中考试英语试题
　　Psychology(心理学)has a new application in the field of medicine．Many doctors, together with their patients, are looking for alternative methods of treatment of physical problems．In large hospitals, modern therapy(疗法)seems to focus on the physical disease．Patients may feel they are treated like broken machines．Some doctors have recognized this as a problem．They are now using psychological therapy, in which the patient is working with the doctors against the disease with the help of medicine．The patient does not wait for the medicine and treatment to cure him or her, but instead the patient joins in the fight．
　　The doctor knows that a disease affects a patient's body physically．The body of the patient changes because of the disease．He is not only physically affected, but also has an emotional response to the disease．Because his mind is affected, his attitude and behavior change．The medical treatment might cure the patient's physical problems, but the patient's mind must fight the emotional ones．For example, the studies of one doctor, Carl Simonton, M．D．have shown that a typical cancer patient has predictable attitudes．She typically feels depressed, upset, and angry．Her constant depression makes her acts unfriendly toward her family, friends, doctors, and nurses．Such attitudes and behaviors prevent recovery．Therefore, a doctor's treatment must help the patient change that．Simonton's method emphasizes treatment of the “whole” patient．
　　The attitude of a cancer patient receiving radiation therapy, an X-ray treatment, can become more positive．The physician who is following Simonton's psychological treatment plan suggests that the patient imagine that he or she can see the tumor(肿瘤)in the body．In the mental picture, the patient "sees" a powerful beam of radiation like a million bullets of energy．The patient imagines the beam hitting the tumor cells and causing them to shrink．For another cancer patient, Dr．Simonton asks him to imagine the medicine going from the stomach into the bloodstream and to the cancer cells．The patient imagines that the medicine is like an army fighting the diseased cells and sees the cancer cells gradually dying and his blood carry away the dead cells．Both the medical therapy and the patient's positive attitude fight the disease．
　　Doctors are not certain why this mental therapy works．However, this use of psychology does help some patients because their attitudes about themselves change．They become more confident because they use the power within their own minds to help stop the disease．
　　Another application of using the mind to help cure disease is the use of suggestion therapy．At first, the doctor helps the patient to concentrate deeply．The patient thinks only about one thing．He becomes so unaware of other things around him that he is asleep, or rather in a trance(催眠状态)．Then the physician makes “a suggestion” to the patient about the medical problem．The patient's mind responds to the suggestion even after the patient is no longer in the trance．In this way, the patient uses his mind to help his body respond to treatment．
　　Doctors have learned that this use of psychology is helpful for both adults and children．For example, physicians have used suggestion to help adults deal with the strong pain of some disease．Furthermore, sometimes the adult patient worries about her illness so much that the anxiety keeps her from getting well．The right suggestions may help the patient to stop being anxious．Such treatment may help the patient with a chronic(慢性的)diseases．Asthma(哮喘)is an example of a chronic disorder．Asthma is a disease that causes the patient to have difficulty in breathing．The patient starts to cough and sometimes has to fight to get the air that he or she needs．Psychology can help relieve the symptoms of this disorder．After suggestion therapy, the asthma patient breathes more easily．
　　Physicians have learned that the psychological method is very useful in treating children．Children respond quickly to the treatment because they are fascinated by it．For example, Dr．Basil R．Collison has worked with 121 asthmatic children in Sydney, Australia, and had good results．Twenty-five of the children had excellent results．They were able to breathe more easily, and they did not need medication．Another forty-three were also helped．The symptoms of the asthma occurred less frequently, and when they did, they were not as strong．Most of the children also felt better about themselves．Doctors have also used suggestion to change habits like nail-biting, thumb-sucking, and sleep-related problems．
　　Many professional medical groups have accepted the medical use of psychology and that psychology has important applications in medicine．
What does the passage mainly discuss?
How suggestion therapy benefits adults and children．
How modern therapy focuses on the disease．
Responses from the medical world．
How to use the mind against disease．
How does psychological therapy work?
The patient waits for the medicine and treatment to cure him．
The doctor uses medical treatment to cure the patient's problems．
The doctor, the medicine, and the patient work together to fight disease．
The patient uses his mind to cure himself．
What can we learn from the studies of Carl Simonton, M．D．?
The medical treatment can cure the patient's mental disease．
The treatment of a patient by treating the body and the mind is necessary．
The mental treatment is more important than medical treatment．
Few patients have emotional response to the disease．
The use of psychological therapy is helpful to some patients in that ________．
the medical effect is better with psychological therapy than without it
the patients can see a powerful beam of radiation hitting their tumor cells
the patients' attitudes towards themselves have changed
the patients are easy to accept the methods the doctors use to treat them
It can be learned from the passage that suggestion therapy cannot be used
to ________．
help adults deal with the strong pain of some diseases
help the patients with chronic diseases
help change some bad habits
help cure patients of insomnia(失眠症)
According to the passage, which of the following remains unknown so far?
The value of mental therapy．
The effectiveness of suggestion therapy．
The working principle of suggestion therapy．
The importance of psychology in medical treatment．
科目：高中英语
题型：阅读理解
Every object tells a story. Even the most ordinary objects can present to us powerful images. Sometimes it is the ordinary nature of these objects that actually makes them so extraordinary. Such is the case with an old leather shoe in a museum in Alaska. At first glance it does not look like much. It is a woman’s shoe of a style popular in the 1890s. But what is unique(独特的) about this shoe is where it was found. It was discovered on the Checkout Pass, the famous trail used by the people seeking gold in Alaska. Who it belonged to or why it was left there is not known. Was it perhaps dropped by accident as the woman climbed up the 1500 stairs carved outface? Or did she throw away goods that she didn’t need in order to travel lighter?
Over 100, 000 people with “gold fever” made this trip hoping to become millionaires. Few of them understood that on their way they would have to cross a harsh wildness. Unprepared for such a dangerous journey, many died of starvation and exposure to the cold weather.
The Canadian government finally started requiring the gold seekers to bring one ton of supplies with them. This was thought to be enough for a person to survive for one year. They would carry their supplies in backpacks(背包) each weighin it usually took at least 40 trips to get everything to the top and over the pass. Whoever dropped the shoe must have been a brave and determined woman. Perhaps she was successful and made it to Alaska. Perhaps she had to turn back in defeat. No one will ever know for sure, but what we do know is that she took part in one of the greatest adventures in the 19th century.
1. The ordinary woman’s leather shoe is considered unusual because _______.&
A. it was an important clue to life in the past B. it was found on a famous trail
C. it at one time belonged to a VIP &&&&&&&&&&& D. it was a fashionable shoe at that time
2. According to this passage, many people who went to Alaska _______.&
A. eventually became millionaires &&&&&&&&&&&& B. brought with them many shoes
C. had conflicts with the Eskimos &&&&&&&&&&&&& D. were not properly equipped
3. The Canadian government made gold seekers bring one year’s supplies with them so that _______.
A. they would not die of hunger and cold
B. the army would have enough food for fighting a war
C. they would change these goods with the Eskimos
D. the supplies would make Alaska rich
4. No matter what happened to the woman who owned the shoe, _______.&
A. she must have lived a happy life
B. she certainly dropped the shoe on purpose
C. her adventurous spirit is definitely admired
D. her other shoes were equally fashionable
Listen carefully, working people, we would like to tell you something that could save your precious time and money! Best of all, it is free!
It’s “no”.
What do you ask? We’ll say it again: “No”.
Sweet and simple “no”.
Say “no” at your office and see how quickly that pile of work on your desk disappears.
“Saying ‘no’ to others means you are saying ‘yes’ to yourself, ” said Leslie Charles, a professional speaker from East Lansing, Michigan.
“Time is precious. People are spending money buying time. And yet we are willing to give up our time because we can’t say ‘no’.”
Susie Watson, a famous writer, said people who always say “yes” need to say “no” without guilt(内疚)or fear of punishment. “I would rather have someone give me a loving ‘no’ than an obligated(强制的) ‘yes’, ” she said.
Susie Watson says she feels “no” obligation to give an explanation when she says “no” either socially or professionally. Does she feel guilty about it? “Not at all, ” said Watson, who is director of advertising and public relations at Timex Corp in Middlebury, Conneticut. “Most people are afraid of saying ‘no’… My advice is to say ‘yes’ only if you don’t mean ‘no’.”
Watson said “no” is the most effective weapon against wasting time. “Every year there are more demands on your time… Other people are happy to use up your time, ” Watson said. Time saving appears to be “no’s” greatest friend.
“No” can be your new friend, a powerful tool to take back your life. “No” may even take you further in the business world than “yes”.
“No” is power and strength. “No” now seems completely correct. “Saying ‘no’ isn’t easy. But finally it’s greatly liberating,” Charles said. But, he added, a “no” project needs to be worked on every day because it is hard to change long-term habit.
But, he also warns: “Don’t go to extremes. Don’t find yourself saying ‘no’ to everything. In return you should learn to hear ‘no’.”
5. The sentence “Saying ‘yes’ to yourself” means _______.
A. you can have more time to play with others
B. you needn’t care about other’s feeling if you are happy
C. you are selfish and treat others rudely
D. you can deal with your business as you have planned
6. When you say “no” to others you should say it in a _______.
A. secret way　　　B. polite way
C. proud way　　　　　D. guilty way
7. In Watson’s opinion, people can save much time on condition that _______.
A. they say “no” at a suitable time
B. they say “no” as much as possible
C. they are afraid of saying “no” &&&
D. they make others angry at them
8. If a person says “no” to everything, the result he or she receive may be that he or she _______.
A. enjoys a wonderful life&&&& B. makes a lot of money
C. faces difficulty in life　　D. forgets to say “yes” in the end
A characteristic of American culture that has become almost a tradition is to respect the self-made man — the man who has risen to the top through his own efforts, usually beginning by working with his hands. While the leader in business or industry or the college professor occupies a higher social position and commands greater respect in the community than the common laborer or even the skilled factory worker, he may take pains to point out that his father started life in America as a farmer or laborer of some sort.
&&& This attitude toward manual(体力的) labor is now still seen in many aspects of American life. One is invited to dinner at a home that is not only comfortably but even luxuriously (豪华地) furnished and in which there is every evidence of the fact that the family has been able to afford foreign travel, expensive hobbies, and college educat yet the hostess probably will cook the dinner herself, will serve it herself and will wash dishes afterward, furthermore the dinner will not consist merely of something quickly and easily assembled from contents of various cans and a cake or a pie bought at the nearby bakery. On the contrary, the hostess usually takes pride in careful preparation of special dishes. A professional man may talk about washing the car, digging in his flowerbeds, painting the house. His wife may even help with these things, just as he often helps her with the dishwashing. The son who is away at college may wait on table and wash dishes for his living, or during the summer he may work with a construction gang on a highway in order to pay for his education.&&&
9. From paragraph 1, we can know that in America _________.
A. people tend to have a high opinion of the self-made man
B. people can always rise to the top through their won efforts
C. college professors win great respect from common workers
D. people feel painful to mention their fathers as labors.
10. According to the passage, the hostess cooks dinner herself mainly because _________.
A. servants in American are hard to get
B. she takes pride in what she can do herself
C. she can hardly afford servants
D. It is easy to prepare a meal with canned food
11. The expression “ wait on table” in the second paragraph means “_________”.
A. work in a furniture shop&&&&&&&& B. keep accounts for a bar
C. wait to lay the table&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& D. serve customers in a restaurant
12. Which of the following may serve as the best title of the passage?
A. A Respectable Self-made Family&&&&&& B. American Attitude toward Manual Labor
C. Characteristics of American Culture&&&&& D. The Development of Manual Labor
TODAY, Friday, November 12
JAZZ with the Mike Thomas Jazz Band at The Derby Arms. Upper Richmond Road West, Sheen.
DISCO Satin Sounds Disco. Free at The Lord Napier, Mort lake High St., from 8a. m. to 8p. m. Tel: 682—1158.
SATURDAY, November 13
JAZZ Lysis at The Bull’s Head, Barnes. Admission 60p.
MUSICAL HALL at The Star and Garter, Lower Richmond Road, Putney, provided by the Aba Daba Music Hall company. Good food and entertainment fair price. Tel: 789—6749.
FAMILY night out? Join the sing-along at The Black Horse. Sheen Road, Richmond.
JAZZ The John Bennett Big Band at The Bull’s Head, Barnes. Admission 80p.
THE DERBY ARMS, Upper Richmond Road West, give you Joe on the electric accordion(手风琴). Tel: 789—4536
SUNDAY, November 14
DISCO Satin Sounds Disco, free at The Lord Napier, Mort Lake High Street, from 8 a. m. to 8 p. m.
FOLK MUSIC at The Derby Arms. The Short Stuff and residents the Norman Chop Trio. Non-remembers 70p. Tel: 688—4626.
HEAVY MUSIC with Tony Simon at The Bull, Upper Richmond Road West, East Sheen.
THE DERBY ARMS, Upper Richmond Road West, give you Joe on the electric accordion.
13. Where and when can you hear the Mike Thomas Jazz Band?
A. At the Derby Arms on Friday.
B. At the Black Horse on Friday.
C. At the Star and Garter on Saturday.
D. At the Derby Arms on Sunday.
14. You want to enjoy the electric accordion on Saturday. Which telephone number do you have to ring to find out what time it starts?
A. 789—6749. &&&&&&&&&&& B. 789—4536. &&&& &&&&& C. 682—1158.& D. 688—4626.
15. You want to spend the Saturday by joining the entertainment with your family. Where should you go?
A. Disco at The Lord Napier.
B. The sing-along at The Black Horse.
C. The electric accordion at The Derby Arms.
D. Jazz at The Bull’s Head.
16. You want to spend the same day at two different places and don’t want to cross any street. Which of the following is your best choice?
A. The sing-along at the Black Horse and Jazz at The Bull’s Head.
B. The sing-along at The Black Horse and Folk Music at The Derby Arms.
C. Folk Music at The Derby Arms and Heavy Music with Tony Simon at The Bull.
D. Musical Hal lat The Star ＆Garter and Disco at The Lord Napier.
With only about 1, 000 pandas left in the world, China is desperately trying to clone(克隆) the animal and save the endangered species(物种). That’s a move similar to what a Texas A & M University researchers have been undertaking for the past five years in a project called “Noah’s Ark”.
Noah’s Ark is aimed at collecting eggs, embryos(胚胎), semen and DNA of endangered animals and storing them in liquid nitrogen. If certain species should become extinct, Dr. Duane Kraemer, a professor in Texas A & M’s College of Veterinary Medicine, says there would be enough of the basic building blocks to reintroduce the species in the future.
It is estimated that as many as 2, 000 species of mammals, birds reptiles will become extinct in over 100 years. The panda, native only to China, is in danger of becoming extinct in the next 25 years.
This week, Chinese scientists said they grew an embryo by introducing cells from a dead female panda into the egg cells of a Japanese white rabbit. They are now trying to implant the embryo into a host animal.
The entire procedure could take from three to five years to complete.
“The nuclear transfer(核子移植) of one species to another is not easy, and the lack of available(capable of being used) panda eggs could be a major problem,” Kraemer believes. “They will probably have to do several hundred transfers to result in one pregnancy (having a baby). It takes a long time and it’s difficult, but this could be groundbreaking science if it works. They are certainly not putting any live pandas at risk, so it is worth the effort,” adds Kraemer, who is one of the leaders of the Project at Texas A& M, the first-ever attempt at cloning a dog.
“They are trying to do something that’s never been done, and this is very similar to our work in Noah’s Ark. We’re both trying to save animals that face extinction. I certainly appreciate their effort and there’s a lot we can learn from what they are attempting to do. It’s a research that is very much needed.”
17. The aim of “Noah’s Ark” project is to _______.
A. make efforts to clone the endangered pandas
B. save endangered animals from dying out
C. collect DNA of endangered animals to study
D. transfer the nuclear of one animal to another
18. According to Professor Kraemer, the major problem in cloning pandas would be the lack of _______.
A. available panda eggs&&&&&&&& B. host animals
C. qualified researchers&&&&&&&&&&& D. enough money
19. The best title for the passage may be _______.
A. China’s Success in Pandas Cloning &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
B. The First Cloned Panda in the World
C. Exploring the Possibility to Clone Pandas
D. China —the Native Place of Pandas Forever
20. From the passage we know that _______.
A. Kraemer and his team have succeeded in cloning a dog
B. scientists try to implant a panda’s egg into a rabbit
C. Kraemer will work with Chinese scientists in clone researches
D. about two thousand of species will probably die out in a century
科目：高中英语
来源：福建永安一中高考英语模拟试卷
题型：阅读理解
Scientists have long understood the key role that oceans play in controlling the Earth’s climate. Oceans cover 70 per cent of the surface of the globe and store a thousand times more heat than the atmosphere does. What’s newer is the understanding of how this key component(组成部分) of our climate system responds to global warming.A brake on global warming—for now One of the oceans’ most important climate functions is absorbing heat and carbon dioxide(CO2), one of the gases that causes global warming. Acting as something absorbing heat, the oceans have absorbed huge amounts of heat and CO2 in the last forty years. Fujita explains, “the oceans are saving us from faster climate change—they are putting a brake on the climate system.” “That’s the good news,” he adds. “The bad news is that the oceans only slow the atmospheric warming. Once the oceans come to balance with a greenhouse-gas warmed earth, the extreme heat will remain in the atmosphere and things will get much hotter.” But where and how the oceans release this slowly increased heat is uncertain. And as the ocean stores heat, fragile(脆弱的) underwater ecosystems are struggling. The most recent scientific report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change(IPCC) also notes with concern that the ocean is acidifying(酸化) because of increased absorption of atmospheric CO2. and thus causing a threat to shell-forming species.& Sharp increase in CO2 levels will cause further acidification of the ocean.Currents distributing heat Another important role the oceans play is that of distributor(散布者). Oceans deliver heat and life-sustaining nutrition around the globe. Just as blood tube bring oxygen and nutrition to cells in the human body, the ocean’s currents carry oxygen, nutrients and heat throughout the Earth. The ocean distributes 25 to 50 per cent of energy the planet receives from the sun. For example, the Gulf Stream carries heat across the Atlantic. This warm current gives northwestern European a milder climate that it would normally have so far north. A change to the ocean’s circulation patterns could throw Europe into a colder period, even as the rest of the world is experiencing warmer temperatures.【小题1】&We can infer from the passage that _______.A．the oceans cause global warmingB．the oceans stop global warmingC．the oceans release nutrients and heatD．the ocean ecosystems face more dangers【小题2】&From the passage we can learn that ocean’s currents _______.produce oxygen and
nutrients around&&&&&absorb 25-50% of
the energy from the sundistribute the
atmosphere hotter&&&&&&&&D.& change the ocean’s circulation patterns【小题3】&Which of the following are the results of the ocean absorbing heat and CO2? a. It causes further acidification.&&&&&&&&b. It makes the atmosphere hotter.c. It balances the oceans with a green-house gas.&d. It affects shell-forming species.&&e. It makes the oceans act as a heat sponge.&&&&&&&&&&&f. It controls the Earth’s climate.A．a-c-fB．a-d-fC．b-d-eD．b-c-e【小题4】&If the ocean’s circulation pattern changed, ______.A．Asia would suffer a hotter climate.B．Europe would become hotterC．the rest of the world would become warmer.D．the climate of Europe would become colder.
科目：高中英语
来源：北京市东城区2010届高三下学期综合练习（一）
题型：阅读理解
BThe man traveling in the back of the ambulance which was running at a high speed along the streets of Baltimore that morning in 2008 had no business to be alive．By everything that was reasonable，and there were plenty of such things before，he should have been very dead indeed．But he wasn’t．As the people in the hospital pointed out after they had examined him，he was only slightly hurt．Yet he had just fallen 150 feet down a hotel lift shaft（电梯通道）! Unknown to the man，two things had occurred which were to affect his life that day．On the thirteenth f1oor of the hotel, somebody had carelessly left the lift gate open．Down in the basement, a pipe had burst and，it had flooded the bottom of the lift shaft to a depth of two feet．Modern lifts have all sorts of fail-safe system to prevent accidents，but this was ancient equipment unreliable，slow，dangerous，and suitable material to recycle．The man had plenty of things to occupy his mind that morning. He had overslept. The hotel had forgotten to call him and now he was late for an important business appointment. He dressed quickly, shaved hurriedly, took hold of his briefcase and hurried off down the hotel corridor.Good! The life gate was open. The life must be there. He need not press the button and wait while the large, clumsy life made its way upwards. Without looking or thinking, he stepped out into space. The lift cage was, in fact, one floor above him on the fourteenth. The would which he had walked was a narrow space of not very fresh sir, ending 150 feet below in two feet of dirty water.The man fell, making his journey to the ground at a speed he had never dreamed of. Confused patterns, a rush of air, time enough to be afraid, split-second thoughts of death, then-crash!Perhaps this gave him the record for some sort of high-diving act. No doubt in future he always looked before he jumped. Certainly be learnt that this was no way to save time. The experts said that those two feet of water had saved his life.59．What do we learn about the man?A．He fell from the 13th floor.&&&&&& B．He was hit by an ambulance． C．He got caught in a serious flood．& D．He made a record for high-diving.60．By “……had no business to be alive”，the writer means that the man_______. A．had missed his business appointment&&&&& B．was alive with excitement C．was alive and this was surprising&&&&&& D．didn’t do any business61．Tile lift did not have a fail-safe system because it was____________. A．narrow&&&& B．slow& C．1arge D．old62．Which of the following was NOT the cause of the accident? A．A pipe burst．&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& B．The man overslept C．The hotel forgot to call him&&&&& D．Someone left the lift door open
科目：高中英语
来源：学年云南省高三上学期第二次月考英语卷
题型：完型填空
I ran across an old photo of him the other
day, thinking of some old things. He’s been dead for 25 years. His name was
Rex.
36& was
his favorite recreation(娱乐). He had so much 37 in the water as any person I have known.
You didn’t have to throw a stick in the water to 38 him to go in. Of
course, he would bring back a stick to you if you 39 throw one in.
That 40 me of that night, 41
he brought back a small box that he found somewhere--- how 42 nobody
ever knew. Since it was Rex, it 43 easily have been half a race. The box
wasn’t a good one. It was just a 44 old piece that somebody 45.
Still it was something he wanted, probably 46 there was some difficulty
in transportation（运输）. And that he thought could test his courage. We first knew about
his achievement when, deep in the night, we 47 him trying to get the box
up onto the porch(门厅). It sounded 48 two or three people were trying to tear the
house 49 . We came downstairs and turned on the 50 light. Rex was
on the top step trying to pull the thing up, but it had 51somehow. And
he was just holding his own(坚持着). I suppose he would have held his own 52 dawn if we hadn’t
helped him. The next day we carried the box miles away and threw it out. If we
had thrown it out in a 53 place, he would have brought it home again, as
a small token(象征)of
his strength in such matters. 54, he had been taught to carry heavy
wooden objects about and he was 55 of his skill.
difficulty
deserted(遗弃)
As a result
【解析】略
【题型】完型填空
【适用】一般
【标题】2011届云南省昆明三中高三上学期第二次月考英语卷
【关键字标签】人物传记类
11【题文】& With its budget of $80 million , John Woo as director, and
an all-star cast（明星云集的演员阵容）, Red Cliff is the most expensive and ambitious
Asian-financed film ever. Last week I saw the release of the second part, and
boy oh boy does it shows.
But watching the film as a foreigner I
felt I was missing out on something. Not knowing my Cao Cao's from my Zhou
Yu's, I was not even sure whom I wanted to win. Certainly after the opening
scene, in which Cao Cao is seen watching a game of Cuju, an ancient Chinese
variation of football, I knew who had my support. After all, any man who
enjoys his football is someone after my own heart. But after Cao Cao resorted
to some evil strategies against his enemies in the south, I wasn't so sure he
was the man I should be rooting for.
And there is a lot more to Red Cliff 2
than just extravagant battle scenes. The film does not take itself too
seriously. Conversations between leaders are littered with one-liners, many
of which had the audience in laughter. There is even enough to keep fans of
more romantic entertainment happy too. This includes a charming relationship
between a southern spy（侦探）and an innocent northern soldier. The characters' interaction
provides some genuinely heart-warming moments in the middle of the battle.
Clocking in at（结束于）around two hours, the
film certainly does justice to the history story. When I walked out the
cinema, I felt as drained（精疲力竭） as Cao Cao's soldiers must have 1,800 years ago.
41.By expressing “boy oh boy” in the first paragraph, the
author seems to show that _______.
A．the film characters are like boys who are childish.
B．the film provides amazing and surprising scenes for audience.
C．the film is suitable for younger boys to watch.
D．the film scene is so bloody that boys shouldn’t watch it.
42.When did the author change his
attitude toward Cao Cao?
A．When he read the history story about Cao Cao.
B．When he saw Cao Cao was watching a game of Cuju,
C．When he realized that Cao Cao took some bad measures to beat his
D．When he saw the romantic love story of Cao Cao and a southern spy.
43.The following factors of the film are
all mentioned in the passage except_______.
A．high budget
B．leading roles
C．actors and actress
D．conversations
44.From the passage we can infer
that_______.
A．the author is a football fan in a foreign country.
B．Cuju is the name of an ancient Chinese variation of football.
C．the film Red Cliff 2 lasts about two hours.
D．the author was very tired after about two hours’ battle.
【解析】略
【题型】阅读理解
【适用】一般
【标题】2011届云南省昆明三中高三上学期第二次月考英语卷
【关键字标签】新闻报道类
12【题文】Safety and Security Procedures
Your safety and the security of your
personal property are of the primary concern to those of us who welcome you
as our guest. We urge you to take advantage of the following suggestions.
YOUR VEHICLE
Lock your vehicle and do not leave money
or valuable items inside. We are not responsible for their loss.
Be good at noticing things around you
when sightseeing or traveling. Stay in well-lit and heavily traveled areas.
Don’t display
large amounts of cash.
GUEST ROOM SECURITY
For additional security use the deadbolt
(插锁) provided on
your door and make sure the windows are locked. As an additional precautious
measure, please secure the secondary locks provided. Do not admit anyone to
your room without first making identification. A one-way viewer is provided
in your door to assist with identification. If there is any doubt about the
identity, please contact the Front Desk.
SAFETY BOXES
Do not leave money or valuables in your
room or vehicle. We provide free safety boxes for your use. Hotel is not
responsible for items left in room valued over $200.
Safeguard your key. Please do not leave
it in the door. Do not give your key to others or leave it unattended. Please
leave your key at the Front Desk when you check out.
Please report any suspicious activity, or
safety concerns to management.
Please familiarize yourself with the
nearest fire exits. Report fire or smoke to the hotel operator. In the
unlikely event of a fire, please move quickly and calmly to the nearest
safe exit and leave the building. Avoid the use of elevator.
49.The suggestions are most probably from
A．a hotel manager
B．a police officer
C．an experienced traveler
D．a tour guide
50.Which of the following is TRUE?
A．It is advised to travel to places where there are few people.
B．The hotel is not responsible for anything you lose.
report to the manager unless you are sure something is going wrong.
better use the deadbolt and the secondary locks for safety.
51. If you feel doubtful about a stranger
who knocks at the door, you should _____.
A．let the person in after you have got his/her name
B．open the door to check the person’s ID card
C．call the Front Desk to make sure
D．contact the local police for assistance
52.What does the underlined part “In the unlikely event of a
fire” mean?
A．In case a fire happens, though it is not very possible
B．If a fire happens when some big events are taking place.
C．In case a fire happens in a public building.
D．If a fire breaks out and it is getting out of control.
【解析】略
【题型】阅读理解
【适用】一般
【标题】2011届云南省昆明三中高三上学期第二次月考英语卷
【关键字标签】广告布告类
13【题文】The new iPhone 3G should please everyone. Its look and feel are only
slightly improved, but a faster network loads Web pages more quickly, true
GPS functionality allows it to easily find places nearby, and the new $199
price (down from $400) makes it an affordable luxury.
Before deciding whether to buy, however,
make sure you can actually take advantage of the iPhone 3G's high-speed data
network. 3G stands for third-generation, which in non-geek speak translates
to Web pages and mail messages that, ideally, load about three times faster
than on the original iPhone. Even better, 3G coverage enables you to make a
phone call and surf the Web at the same time. That's great, if you live or
work in a place where the 3G network of AT&T（美国电话电报公司）&(the sole wireless
carrier of the iPhone) is active. That's not so great in cities like New York
where AT&T's cellular coverage is awful. As one of my colleagues in New
York City, who bought the original iPhone, commented, &It's just a toy.
You can't make phone calls on it, so I carry my Verizon phone with me all the
The real fun begins when you tap on the
icon called &App Store& and start browsing the hundreds of add-on
applications that have been developed just for the iPhone. You'll find tons
of games (I like JirboBreak, a free game inspired by the Atari classic
Breakout) and mobile versions of popular websites like Pandora,
Facebook, MySpace and the New York Times. Most apps will cost you, but
the vast majority are $9.99 or less. The apps work on the old iPhones too,
but you'll enjoy them a lot more on the iPhone 3G because many of the
programs, including Yelp (local business reviews), Whrrl (mobile social
networking) and UrbanSpoon (restaurant reviews), use your exact location — provided by the iPhone 3G's
GPS chip — to
make recommendations. The apps also load much faster over the 3G network.
57.The new iPhone 3G has following
features except that _______
A．It looks and feels better
B．It has a faster network
C．It is easy to locate a place
D．It is too expensive for people to buy
58.Why do one of my colleagues carry
Verizon phone with him all the time? ______.
A．Because iPhone 3G is just a toy.
B．ecause he prefers Verizon phone better.
C．Because AT&T's cellular coverage is terrible there
D．Because Verizon phone enables him make a phone call and surf the
Web at the same time
59.Which of the following statements is
NOT true according to the passage. ____.
A．App Store will offer you great fun.
B．many apps have been developed for the iPhone.
C．Most apps are very expensive.
D．Pandora, Facebook, MySpace and the New York Times are
popular websites.
60.From the passage we know that the
attitude of the author toward iPhone 3G is _____.
A．doubtful
B．appreciative
C．optimistic
D．pessimistic
【解析】略
【题型】阅读理解
【适用】一般
【标题】2011届云南省昆明三中高三上学期第二次月考英语卷
【关键字标签】经济类
14【题文】Birds that are half-asleep—with one brain hemisphere (半球) alert and the other sleeping—control which side of the brain remains awake,
according to a new study of sleeping ducks.
Earlier studies have documented
half-brain sleep in a wide range of birds. The brain hemispheres take turns
sinking into the sleep stage characterized by slow brain waves. The eye
controlled by the sleeping hemisphere keeps shut, while the wakeful
hemisphere’s eye
stays open and alert. Birds also can sleep with both hemispheres resting at
Decades of studies of bird groups led
researchers to predict extra alertness in the end-of-the-row sleepers which
tend to be attacked more easily. Sure enough, the end birds tended to watch
carefully on the side away from their companions. Ducks in the inner spots
showed no preference for gaze direction.
Also, birds napping at the end of the
line depend on single-hemisphere sleep, rather than total relaxation, more
often than inner ducks did. Turning 16 birds through the positions in a
four-duck row, the researchers found that compared with 12 percent for birds
in internal spots, outer birds half-asleep during some 32 percent of napping
believe this is the first evidence for an animal behaviorally controlling
sleep and wakefulness at the same time in different regions of the brain,” the researchers say.
The results provide the best evidence for
a long-standing assumption that single-hemisphere sleep evolved as creatures
scanned for enemies. The preference for opening an eye on the lookout side
could be widespread, he predicts. He’s seen it in a pair of birds napping side-by-side in the zoo and
in a single pet bird sleeping by a mirror. The mirror-side eye closed as if
the reflection were a companion and the other eye stayed open.
Useful as half-sleeping might be, it’s only been found in birds
and such water animals as dolphins, whales, and seals. Perhaps keeping one
side of the brain awake allows a sleeping animal to surface occasionally to
avoid drowning.
Studies of birds may offer unique
insights into sleep. Jerome M. Siegel of the UCLA says he wonders if birds’ half-brain sleep “is just the tip of the
iceberg.” He
supposes that more examples may turn up when we take a closer look at other
65.According to the passage, birds often
half sleep because ______.
A．they have to watch out for possible attacks
B．their brain hemispheres take turns to rest
C．the two halves of their brain are differently structured
D．they have to constantly keep an eye on their companions
66.What is implied about the example of a
bird’s sleeping
in front of a mirror?
A．An imagined companion gives the bird a sense of security.
B．Birds prefer to sleep in pairs for the sake of their security.
C．The phenomenon of birds napping in pairs is widespread.
D．A single pet bird enjoys seeing its own reflection in the
67. While sleeping, some water animals
tend to keep half awake in order to ______.
A．alert themselves to the approaching enemy
B．emerge from water now and then to breathe
C．be sensitive to the ever-changing environment
D．avoid being swept away by rapid currents
68.By saying “just the tip of the iceberg”, Siegel suggests that
A．half-brain sleep has something to do with icy weather
B．the mystery of half-brain sleep is close to being solved
C．most birds living in cold regions tend to be half sleepers
D．half-brain sleep may exist among other species
【解析】略
【题型】阅读理解
【适用】一般
【标题】2011届云南省昆明三中高三上学期第二次月考英语卷
【关键字标签】科普类
15【题文】People in China, as in other parts of the world, are waiting to
see how U.S. President-elect Barack Obama will deal with global problems such
as the current economic slowdown once he takes office. As Sam Beattie reports
from Beijing, there is widespread hope for closer U.S.-Chinese cooperation.
For many students in Beijing, Mr. Obama
symbolizes all that is possible in the United States. He's a popular winner
here, seen as a self-made man who has made it to the top.
&I think he is very charming, and a
president who can create a new era,& said Zhang Wei, a university
student. &I like him very much and most of my friends do too.& Ni
Weibo, another university student, agrees. &Sino-U.S. relations still
need more cooperation,& she said. &I think he will help take it to
a new era.&
China's President Hu Jintao congratulated
Mr. Obama within hours of his victory, saying he hoped bilateral ties could
be made stronger.
Political analysts here say China will be
looking for the incoming president to avoid contentious issues such as
Taiwan's independence, human rights and Tibet.
Instead, they say Beijing would like Mr.
Obama to focus on solving the global economic crisis, and to help China's
slowing economy by opening up U.S. markets.
But trade relations might be a
sticking point, says Renmin University's Professor of International
Studies, Shi Yinhong.
He warns, &There is a possibility
that President Obama will take some protectionist measures which China will
not accept, then trade disputes could develop to a degree that we have not
seen ever before.&
Despite making the headlines, Mr. Obama
faces some tough challenges in managing the U.S. relationship with China.
China is now a stronger and more confident country than the China his
predecessors dealt with. And in this time
of economic uncertainty, analysts say it's a country with which Mr. Obama
will want to maintain a good relationship.
73.What can we infer from the first three
paragraphs?
A．Mr. Obama was popular with many students in Beijing mostly
because he will take office soon.
B．Economic slowdown is the big problem that the world is facing
and looking forward to solve except US
C．China’s President Hu Jintao congratulated Obama on his victory within
D．Through Obama’s being elected, we can see all is possible in US and a new
relationship may come.
74.What is not mentioned in this passage?
A．What Barack Obama is expected to do in dealing with the US-China
relationship.
B．Why Barack Obama will maintain a good relationship with China.
C．How Barack Obama will deal with the current economic slowdown.
D．What image Barack Obama has given to Chinese people.
75. What does “ a sticking point”( in para.7 ) mean?
A．a twist point
B．a disputed point
C．a good beginning
D．a understanding point
76.What is the best title for this
A．US-Chinese Cooperation Under the Current Economic Slowdown
B．Obama, Seen As A Popular Winner In China
C．Chinese Want Stronger Ties With US Under Obama Administration
D．The Current Economic Problem faces China As Well As US
【解析】略
【题型】阅读理解
【适用】一般
【标题】2011届云南省昆明三中高三上学期第二次月考英语卷
【关键字标签】政治经济文化类
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