The Beagle BrigadeReturn to the United States...

The Beagle Brigade

Return to the United States from a trip abroad, and your luggage will get inspected by the U. S. Department of Agriculture’s Beagle Brigade. Working with human canine officer partners, the beagles sniff out potential threats to American agriculture.

An orange or apple, for example, might harbor a Mediterranean fruit fly. Hams could carry a disease such as hog cholera. These and other pests could destroy farmer’s crops and livestock. “Once we introduce something that is not part of the environment, there may riot be any controls for it in the environment,” notes USDA’s Lisa Davis at the National Dog Detector Training Center in Orlando, Florida. “The best thing for us to do is to prevent it from coming across the border and becoming established. ’’

When a beagle sniffs specific food odors, it signals its partners by sitting. The human officer then investigates. When the dog is right—which happens 90 percent of the time——it gets an edible treat.

“The dog is not out there working,” explains Davis. “It’s out there playing. It’s a game to the dog.” The handlers give the beagles plenty of food and loving. They make sure they get first-class medical attention, too. When the dogs finally retire after 9 to 11 years, the USDA finds caring homes for them. It’s a dog’s life indeed!

How well does the Beagle Brigade do its job? “On average,” notes Davis, “each year our 54 teams prevent around 75,000 prohibited, restricted items.” Since even one infested (为患的) item could cause widespread destruction, that’s a great result for America’s agricultural environment.

1.According to the article, what is a problem with agricultural products brought into the United States by passengers traveling from abroad?

A. They generate similar types of food odors.

B. They are difficult to identify, even with trained dogs.

C. They must be inspected before being allowed to enter the country.

D. They may carry something that could harm the agricultural environment.

2.According to the article, how does the beagle signal that it has found a suspicious food product?

A. By barking at its partner.　　 B. By begging for a treat.

C. By sitting next to the item.　　 D. By playing a game.

3.How is the beagle congratulated for finding a specific food product?

A. The handler praises it with a hug.

B. The beagle gets to play for a few hours.

C. The beagle gets to retire to a caring home.

D. The handler gives it an edible reward.

4.In the article, the author supports the use of the Beagle Brigade by　　　 .

A. providing statistics about the number of items detected by the dogs

B. showing that the dogs enjoy discovering prohibited items

C. pointing out that good homes are found for the dogs when they retire

D. praising the fact that the dogs work for a government agency

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

A woman from Japan was telling a friend about her trip to the United States.The woman had visited major businesses and investment companies in New York City and Chicago.

“I studied English before I left home，”she said.“But I still was not sure that people were speaking English.”

Her problem is easy to understand.Americans in business are like people who are in business anywhere.They have a language of their own.Some of the words and expressions deal with the special areas of their work.Other expressions are borrowed from different kinds of work such as the theater and movie industry.

One such saying is “get your act together”．

When things go wrong in a business，an employer may get angry.He may shout，“Stop making mistakes.Get your act together.”

Or，if the employer is calmer，he may say，“Let us get our act together.”

Either way，the meaning is the same.Getting your act together is getting organized.In business，it usually means to develop a calm and orderly plan of action.

It is difficult to tell exactly where the saying began.But，it is probable that it was in the theater or movie industry.Perhaps one of the actors was nervous and made a lot of mistakes.The director may have said，“Calm down，now.Get your act together.”

Word expert James Rogers says the expression was common by the late 1970s.Mister Rogers says the Manchester Guardian newspaper used it in 1978.The newspaper said a reform policy required that the British government get its act together.

Now，this expression is heard often when officials of a company meet.One company even called its yearly report，“Getting Our Act Together.”

The Japanese visitor was confused by another expression used by American business people.It is cut to the chase.

She heard that expression when she attended an important meeting of one company.One official was giving a very long report.It was not very interesting.In fact，some people at the meeting were falling asleep.

Finally，the president of the company said，“Cut to the chase.”

Cut to the chase means to stop spending so much time on details or unimportant material.Hurry and get to the good part.

Naturally，this saying was started by people who make movies.Hollywood movie producers believe that most Americans want to see action movies.Many of their movies show scenes in which the actors chase each other in cars，or in airplanes or on foot.

Cut is the director’s word for stop.The director means to stop filming，leave out some material，and get to the chase scene now.

So，if your employer tells you to cut to the chase，be sure to get to the main point of your story quickly.

1.After the woman visited the United States she might feel that ________.

A．her English was poor

B．it’s easy to master English

C．it’s difficult to make money

D．people there weren’t very friendly

2.In which situation could the words “get your act together” be used?

A．A task is completed successfully.

B．Players perform badly in a match.

C．Audience is satisfied with the actor’s performance in a movie.

D．Visitors make a tiresome and unpleasant trip to someplace.

3.According to the text，the expression “get one’s act together” ________.

A．was first used by a Japanese businesswoman

B．was forbidden to be used in the government policy

C．originally came from a yearly report of a company

D．was commonly read by readers in a newspaper in 1978

4.What do the sayings “get your act together” and “cut to the chase” have in common?

A．Their use.　                         B．Their meaning.

C．Their origin.　                         D．Their popularity.

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

118. The United States is trying to _______ the serious problems resulting from the energy crisis.

高三英语单项填空简单题查看答案及解析

More than a quarter of the energy in the United States goes to moving people and goods from one place to another.

A．using            B．used             C．to use           D．use

高三英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析

Tim Ma's parents came to the United States from Taiwan in the 1970s. They opened a restaurant. It was not a success. They found success in America, however, in computers and engineering. In part because of their own experiences, Ma's parents hoped he would study to become an engineer or doctor. They wanted financial security for their child.

Growing up, Ma considered many professions – writer, fireman, even president. But he had a sense early on... ―I didn't want to　 be an engineer. However, Ma did well in math and science classes in high school and he ended up choosing to study electrical engineering in college.

Several engineering jobs later, though, Ma had a change of heart. He wanted to leave the engineering world behind and enter the restaurant business. It was in his blood. After all, his parents had owned a Chinese restaurant in Arkansas. His uncle also owned one in New York.

His parents, Ma says, could not understand why he would want to leave such a good job to open a restaurant. They had worked long hours but their own restaurant still failed. They kept asking, ―Why?

But Ma remained certain. He was going to do things differently than his parents. He was able to learn from their one major mistake as restaurant owners – they knew very little about the art of cooking. So, at age 30, Ma left engineering and returned to school – cooking school.

Ma soon learned that he enjoyed cooking. In 2009, Ma opened his first restaurant in Virginia. It is called Maple Avenue. At Maple Avenue, Ma cooked, cleaned the ovens, fixed equipment and paid bills. He worked long hours, seven days a week. His long hours paid off. Ma opened his fourth restaurant last year, Kyirisan in Washington, D.C.

Kyirisan's success is due to the creative menu and food, Ma says. But mostly it just comes from completely hard work. ―I think in this country you can create your own success, just by working hard. Not because you're smarter than anybody, not because you're more creative than anybody, just by working hard. And I think that's why a lot of people end up coming to America.

1.Why did Ma’s parents want him to become an engineer or doctor?

A. Their family had found success in engineering for generations.

B. They were tired of running a restaurant.

C. They thought it financially secure to be an engineer or doctor.

D. They wanted him to try a career different from theirs.

2.Why do a lot of people come to America?

A. They can learn many things. B. They can run their business creatively.

C. They can choose jobs freely. D. They can succeed through hard work.

3.What can be the best title for the text?

A. A suitable job B. Follow your heart

C. A successful business D. Create your own business

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

Tim Ma's parents came to the United States from Taiwan in the 1970s. They opened a restaurant. It was not a success. They found success in America, however, in computers and engineering. In part because of their own experiences, Ma's parents hoped he would study to become an engineer or a doctor. They wanted financial security for their child.

Growing up, Ma considered many professions — writer, fireman, even president. Ma did well in math and science classes in high school. And he ended up choosing to study electrical engineering in college. Several engineering jobs later, though, Ma had a change of heart. He wanted to leave the engineering world behind and enter the restaurant business. It was in his blood. After all, his parents had owned a Chinese restaurant in Arkansas. His parents could not understand why he would want to leave such a good job to open a restaurant.

He wanted to study the fundamentals of cooking so that he could work as a chef in his own restaurant. Ma enrolled at the International Culinary Center in New York, where he received training in French cooking. “I have never cooked through my entire life up until this point.” Ma soon learned that he enjoyed cooking and he discovered it was similar to engineering. “Professional cooking is consistency, efficiency, cleanliness and it's all about the process of things which you know my background in engineering was. ”

In 2009, Ma opened his first restaurant in Virginia. His long hours paid off. Ma opened his fourth restaurant last year in Washington, D.C. He mixes his training in French cooking with his Chinese heritage to create new dishes. “I think in this country you can create your own success, just by working hard. Not because you're smarter than anybody, just by working hard. And that's why a lot of people end up coming to America.”

1.Why did Tim Ma's parents expect him to be an engineer or a doctor?

A.Because he can have enough money to support himself.

B.Because they wanted him to achieve their unfinished dream.

C.Because he has a great interest in math and science.

D.Because these two jobs both have high social statues.

2.What was Ma's parents' attitude towards his job changing?

A.Supportive. B.Unfavorable.

C.Neutral. D.Skeptical.

3.What does Tim Ma think about cooking?

A.It is something like engineering.

B.Cooking is all about cleaning.

C.You have to do the work consistently.

D.Efficiency is important in cooking.

4.Which of the following best describes Tim Ma?

A.Humorous and athletic.

B.Hard-working and determined.

C.Fashionable and aggressive.

D.Stubborn and devoted.

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

At schools across the United States，students often sit down to cafeteria lunches made from processed foods that are high in fat，sodium，and sugar．But kids at Public School(P．S．)216 in Brooklyn have a different dining experience．Principal Donna Neglia reports that her students love eating flesh fruits and vegetables．

P．S．216 participated in the Edible Schoolyard Project，a nonprofit program founded by Chef Alice Waters in 1995．The program that Waters created helps public schools across the country start on-site gardens and weave principles of healthy eating into the curriculum．Students grow and maintain crops，harvesting the fruits and vegetables for cafeteria meals．

Waters expressed her passion for the principles of the farm-to-table movement．She advised schools to connect with the farmers in their area and change their buying practices when planning meals for students．

Waters has long been inspiring people to care about where their food comes from．In 1993，she put forward the idea of a White House vegetable garden．It was not until 2009 that Michelle Obama started the garden in the backyard of the White House．She and members of the kitchen staff spent hours tending to the garden，often with help from local school children．

“That gave people a sense that she cared about children and cared about where our food comes from，”Waters said，praising the former First Lady’s concern for young people’s health．“We are just building this movement，and it is very exciting．”

“Through the Edible Schoolyard Project，students also learn about the benefits of healthy eating in the classroom．”Neglia said．“P．S．216 is teaching kids about careers in the food industry—such as farming and agriculture，nutrition，food safety，and the restaurant business．”

Similar classes are taking place around the country．So far，the Edible Schoolyard Project has reached more than 1 million students in more than 367 schools．“I'm thinking about the future of the planet，”Waters said．“I'm doing this for our generation．”

1.What’s the purpose of the Edible Schoolyard Project?

A. To reduce students’stress．

B. To let students eat healthy food．

C. To improve schools’environment．

D. To expect students to experience farming．

2.What can we learn from Paragraph 5?

A. The project made Waters famous,

B. Running a garden was too difficult for students．

C. Waters thought highly of what Michelle Obama did．

D. The former First Lady should care about young people．

3.From the text we can infer that___________．

A. P．S．216 belongs to the pioneers in the Edible Schoolyard Project

B. P．S．216 mainly teaches kids about careers in food industry

C. Waters’ project is not well received by me us schools

D. Waters had no difficulty in starting vegetable garden

4.What can be the best title for the text?

A. Students should eat healthily　　 B. A famous school—P．S．216

C. Processed foods should be advised　　 D. A chef helps create green schoolyards

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

Tim Ma's parents came to the United States from Taiwan in the 1970s. They opened a _____ . It was a failure. However, they found ____ in computers and engineering in America. In part because of their own ___ Ma's parents hoped he would study to become an engineer.

They wanted __ security for their child.

Growing up, Ma considered many ___, like writer, fireman, even president. But he had a sense early on. He didn't want to be a(n) ____.

Ma did well in math and science classes in high school. And he ____ choosing to study electrical engineering in college. Several engineering jobs later, though, Ma had a(n) __ of heart.

His parents could not understand why he would want to ____ such a good job to open a restaurant. They had worked long hours ___ their own restaurant still failed. But Ma remained _____. He was going to do things differently from his parents. He was able to learn from their one major ____ as restaurant owners - they knew very little about the art of cooking. Their chef ____ and opened a Chinese restaurant across the street which really put them in a bad situation.

So, at age 30, Ma left engineering and returned to school - cooking school. He received training in ____ cooking. In 2009, Ma opened his first restaurant, Maple Avenue, in Virginia. The restaurant ___ excellent cuisine.

At Maple Avenue, Ma worked long hours, seven days a week. His long hours _____.

Ma opened his fourth restaurant last year, Kyirisan in Washington, D.C. He __ his training in French cooking with his Chinese heritage (传承)to create __ dishes.

“Kyirisan's success is due to the __ menu and food”, Ma says. But a lot of it just comes from “pure hard ____ ” .

1.A.company B.school C.hospital D.restaurant

2.A.interest B.help C.success D.progress

3.A.feelings B.manners C.predictions D.experiences

4.A.financial B.personal C.physical D.psychological

5.A.plans B.ideas C.measures D.professions

6.A.doctor B.chef C.engineer D.teacher

7.A.ended up B.gave up C.set about D.carried on

8.A.operation B.change C.peace D.attack

9.A.choose B.win C.quit D.get

10.A.though B.but C.if D.so

11.A.certain B.silent C.calm D.anxious

12.A.habit B.practice C.point D.mistake

13.A.came B.left C.escaped D.cheated

14.A.Chinese B.American C.French D.Mexican

15.A.serves B.studies C.promotes D.develops

16.A.took off B.paid off C.ran out D.worked out

17.A.mixed B.improved C.simplified D.ignored

18.A.local B.new C.strange D.traditional

19.A.abundant B.main C.simple D.creative

20.A.life B.challenge C.work D.status

高三英语完形填空中等难度题查看答案及解析

It’s a white Christmas in the United States today, with snow falling from Seattle to Maine.

• Northeast

Biting winds with snow swept the Northeast.

Earlier, up to 15 inches of snow fell during a snow storm in Maine, while up to one foot fell in New Hampshire. Winds reached 76 mph on Cape Cod, Massachusetts, while up to 61 mph winds tore through Long Island, New York. Falling snow collected on the runways at Boston’s Logan International Airport, causing temporary flight delays.

The wind was so severe in Pennsylvania and New Jersey that the annual (重演) of George Washington and his soldiers’crossing the Delaware River was canceled, the Washington Crossing Historic Park told ABC News.

• Midwest

Heavy lake effect snow fell in western Michigan.

The National Weather Service has issued a wind-chill warning and advisory (公告) from Montana to Michigan. Bitter cold air in the Midwest produced wind chills Monday morning as low as minus 48 degrees in North Dakota and minus 47 in northern Minnesota.

As this bitter cold made its way east overnight, it was expected to move over relatively mild Great Lakes, producing intense lake-effect snow bands capabie of producing 2 to 4 inches of snow in an hour.

• West Coast

That storm system moved overnight through the Rockies, bringing more snow and the threat of avalanches(雪崩). The National Weather Service has issued an avalanche warning for the Wasatch Range Mountains outside Salt Lake City.

1.Why was the annual reenactment of George Washington and his soldiers’crossing the Delaware River canceled?

A. Because the river was frozen.　　 B. Because the wind was too strong.

C. Because the snow was too thick.　　 D. Because the temperature was too low.

2.Which of the following is the bad weather that has set in according to the passage?

A. The avalanches.　　 B. A white Christmas.

C. A mess of people’s life.　　 D. Heavy snow, biting wind and chills.

3.What is the style of the passage?

A. Weather report.

B. News about the effect of bad weather.

C. News about bad weather.

D. A bad-weather warning and advisory.

高三英语阅读理解简单题查看答案及解析

Tim Ma's parents came to the United States from Taiwan in the 1970s. They opened a________. It was not a success. They found________in America, however, in computers and engineering. In part because of their own________, Ma's parents hoped he would study to become an engineer. They wanted________security for their child.

Growing up, Ma considered many________-writer, fireman, even president. But he had a sense early on. He didn't want to be a(n)________.

Ma did well in math and science classes in high school. And he________choosing to study electrical engineering in college. Several engineering jobs later, though, Ma had a(n)________of heart.

His________could not understand why he would want to leave such a good job to open a restaurant. They had worked long hours________their own restaurant still failed. But Ma remained________. He was going to do things differently than his parents. He was able to learn from their one major________as restaurant owners-they knew very little about the art of cooking. Their chef________and opened a Chinese restaurant across the street which really put them in a bad situation.

So, at age 30, Ma left engineering and returned to school-cooking school. He received training in________cooking. In 2009, Ma opened his first restaurant, Maple Avenue, in Virginia. The restaurant________excellent cuisine.

At Maple Avenue, Ma worked long hours, seven days a week. His long hours________. Ma opened his fourth restaurant last year, Kyirisan in Washington, D.C. He________his training in French cooking with his Chinese heritage (传承) to create________dishes.

Kyirisan's success is due to the________menu and food, Ma says. But a lot of it just comes from “pure hard________.”

1.A.company B.school C.hospital D.restaurant

2.A.interest B.help C.success D.progress

3.A.feelings B.manners C.predictions D.experiences

4.A.financial B.personal C.physical D.psychological

5.A.plans B.ideas C.measures D.professions

6.A.doctor B.chef C.engineer D.professor

7.A.ended up B.gave up C.turned out D.carried on

8.A.operation B.change C.trouble D.attack

9.A.colleagues B.friends C.parents D.relatives

10.A.though B.but C.if D.so

11.A.certain B.silent C.calm D.anxious

12.A.habit B.practice C.point D.mistake

13.A.came B.left C.escaped D.cheated

14.A.Chinese B.American C.French D.Mexican

15.A.serves B.studies C.promotes D.benefits

16.A.took off B.paid off C.ran out D.worked out

17.A.mixed B.improved C.simplified D.ignored

18.A.regional B.new C.side D.traditional

19.A.fixed B.main C.simple D.creative

20.A.life B.challenge C.work D.status

高三英语完形填空中等难度题查看答案及解析