2010 was a good year for American farmers. They earned about eighty-two billion dollars. That is almost one-third more than that they earned last year. And it is twenty-six percent higher than the ten-year average. Values for grain and oilseed crops are up about three percent from last year. The value of animal production is up by almost seven percent.
In 2011, farm exports are expected to break the all-time high set in 2008.The Agriculture Department says exports in 2011 could top one hundred and twenty-six billion dollars. The largest buyer of agricultural products is expected to be Canada. But farm exports to China are predicted to come within five hundred million dollars of Canadian purchases. Secretary Vilsack says countries in Southeast Asia and the Middle East are also buying more from American farmers.
Poor growing conditions overseas played an important part in higher prices for American crops in 2010.Charlotte Hebe brand is chief executive of the International Food and Agricultural Trade Policy Council in Washington. She said drought(干旱)conditions had a big effect over the summer. She said,“There were horrible weather problems, not just in Russia but also in some of the other former Soviet Union countries.”
Wheat prices rose after Russia stopped wheat exports,although Russia later eased the ban(禁令).“Wheat used to be America’s top crop. What’s interesting,though,is that wheat production has actually become less over the past few years because corn has become the most popular crop,”said economist Charlotte Hebebrand.
Corn is mostly fed to animals. But Miss Hebebrand said with the recent increase in wheat prices, American farmers might plant more wheat again. Corn and wheat are the two largest crops supported by the government.
1.We know that compared to 2009,in 2010 American farmers——.
| A．planted less corn | B．planted morn crops |
| C．planted morn wheat | D．earned more money |
2.What does the Agriculture Department expect in 2011?
| A． Agriculture exports will continue to increase. |
| B． China will be the largest buyer of agriculture products |
| C． America will export food to every country around the world |
| D． Southeast Asian countries will start buying food from America |
3.What is implied in Paragraph 3?
| A． America farming also was greatly affected in 2010 |
| B． Russia was not the country most affected by drought in 2010 |
| C． Weather problems helped raise prices for American crops in 2010 |
| D． American crops were the most expensive around the world in 2010 |
4.We can infer that in the past few years American farmers——
| A． reduced crop exports |
| B． increased corn production |
| C． increased wheat production |
| D． increased investment in farming |
5.According to what Miss Hebebrand said, we know American farmers will ——
| A．stop feeding corn to animals |
| B．export most of their corn |
| C．try to increased wheat production |
| D．try to get more support from the governmet |
高二英语阅读理解困难题
2010 was a good year for American farmers. They earned about eighty-two billion dollars. That is almost one-third more than that they earned last year. And it is twenty-six percent higher than the ten-year average. Values for grain and oilseed crops are up about three percent from last year. The value of animal production is up by almost seven percent.
In 2011, farm exports are expected to break the all-time high set in 2008.The Agriculture Department says exports in 2011 could top one hundred and twenty-six billion dollars. The largest buyer of agricultural products is expected to be Canada. But farm exports to China are predicted to come within five hundred million dollars of Canadian purchases. Secretary Vilsack says countries in Southeast Asia and the Middle East are also buying more from American farmers.
Poor growing conditions overseas played an important part in higher prices for American crops in 2010.Charlotte Hebe brand is chief executive of the International Food and Agricultural Trade Policy Council in Washington. She said drought(干旱)conditions had a big effect over the summer. She said,“There were horrible weather problems, not just in Russia but also in some of the other former Soviet Union countries.”
Wheat prices rose after Russia stopped wheat exports,although Russia later eased the ban(禁令).“Wheat used to be America’s top crop. What’s interesting,though,is that wheat production has actually become less over the past few years because corn has become the most popular crop,”said economist Charlotte Hebebrand.
Corn is mostly fed to animals. But Miss Hebebrand said with the recent increase in wheat prices, American farmers might plant more wheat again. Corn and wheat are the two largest crops supported by the government.
1.We know that compared to 2009,in 2010 American farmers——.
| A．planted less corn | B．planted morn crops |
| C．planted morn wheat | D．earned more money |
2.What does the Agriculture Department expect in 2011?
| A． Agriculture exports will continue to increase. |
| B． China will be the largest buyer of agriculture products |
| C． America will export food to every country around the world |
| D． Southeast Asian countries will start buying food from America |
3.What is implied in Paragraph 3?
| A． America farming also was greatly affected in 2010 |
| B． Russia was not the country most affected by drought in 2010 |
| C． Weather problems helped raise prices for American crops in 2010 |
| D． American crops were the most expensive around the world in 2010 |
4.We can infer that in the past few years American farmers——
| A． reduced crop exports |
| B． increased corn production |
| C． increased wheat production |
| D． increased investment in farming |
5.According to what Miss Hebebrand said, we know American farmers will ——
| A．stop feeding corn to animals |
| B．export most of their corn |
| C．try to increased wheat production |
| D．try to get more support from the governmet |
高二英语阅读理解困难题查看答案及解析
阅读理解（20题，共40分）
Farmer John and Farmer Bob were neighbours. For more than 30 years, they had been getting along very well.
Then their good relationship broke. It began with a small thing, then bitter words, and then weeks of silence. One morning Farmer John woke up to find a stream between the two farms. “It must be Bob,” John thought.
Then one day there was a knock on John’s door. He opened it to find a carpenter standing at the doorway.
“I’m looking for a few days’ work,” the carpenter said.
“I do have a job for you,” John said. “Look across the stream at that farm. That’s my neighbor Bob. He dug a stream between the two farms. I want you to build a fence—an 8-foot fence. I don’t want to see his place or his face any more. I don’t have such a neighbor!”
The carpenter said, “I think I know what to do, sir, and I’ll be able to do a job that pleases you.”
Farmer John helped the carpenter get the materials ready and then he was off for the day.
About sunset when the farmer returned, the carpenter had just finished his job. The farmer’s eyes opened wide. There was no fence there at all!
It was a bridge! And the neighbor, Bob, was coming across, with his hand outstretched(伸出). “Hi, John! You’re quite a fellow to build this bridge!”
Then they met in the middle, taking each other’s hands. “I’m terribly sorry for what I have said and done. We should be good to each other.” said Farmer Bob.
Then they turned to see the carpenter, who was ready to go. “No, wait! Stay a few days. I have a lot of other jobs for you,” said Farmer John. “I’d love to stay,” the carpenter said, “but I have more bridges to build.”
1. Just before the carpenter came, John and Bob ________ each other.
A. often fought with B. were friendly to
C. didn’t speak to D. never had bitter words with
2. Farmer John asked the carpenter to build a fence because ________.
A. he wouldn’t like to see Bob B. he didn’t want to do it himself
C. he wanted to protect his farm D. he wanted to find him something to do
3. What does the sentence “You’re quite a fellow to build this bridge!” mean?
A. John should build the bridge earlier
B. John was not good at building bridges.
C. John was foolish to build such a bridge.
D.] John was great to build this bridge.
4. What do you think of the carpenter?
A. Shy. B. Careless. C. Proud. D. Wise
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
Every year a flood of farmers arrive in Shenzhen for the money-making jobs they_____ before leaving their hometowns.
A. promised B. were promised
C. have promised D. have been promised
高二英语单项填空简单题查看答案及解析
The American newspaper has been around for about three hundred years. In 1721, the printer James Franklin, Benjamin's older brother, started the New England Courant, and that was what we might recognize today as a real newspaper. He filled his paper with stories of adventure, articles on art, on famous people, and on all sorts of political subjects.
Three centuries after the appearance of Franklin's Courant, few believe that newspapers in their present printed form will remain alive for long. Newspaper companies are losing advertisers, readers, market value, and, in some cases, their sense of purpose at a speed that would not have been imaginable just several years ago. The chief editor of the Times said recently, "At places where they gather, editors ask one another, 'How are you?', as if they have just come out of the hospital or a lost law case.” An article about the newspaper appeared on the website of the Guardian, under the headline “NOT DEAD YET.”
Perhaps not, but the rise of the Internet , which has made the daily newspaper look slow and out of step with the world, has brought about a real sense of death. Some American newspapers have lost 42% of their market value in the past three years. The New York Times Company has seen its stock drop by 54% since the end of 2004, with much of the loss coming in the past year. A manager at Deutsche Bank suggested that stock-holders sell off their Times stock. The Washington Post Company has prevented the trouble only by changing part of its business to education; its testing and test-preparation service now brings in at least half the company's income.
1.What can we learn about the New England Currant?
A. It is mainly about the stock market.
B. It marks the beginning of the American newspaper.
C. It remains a successful newspaper in America.
D. It comes articles by political leaders.
2.What can we infer about the newspaper editors?
A. They often accept readers' suggestions
B. They care a lot about each other’s health.
C. They stop doing business with advertisers.
D. They face great difficulties in their business.
3.Which of the following found a new way for its development?
A. The Washington Post B. The Guardian
C. The New York Times. D. New England Courant
4.How does the author seem to feel about the future of newspapers?
A. Satisfied B. Hopeful
C. Worried D. Surprised
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
I am an American living in France for twenty years. I used to complain about how the French were ______ for friendship. I had a(n)______ time making a living here.
When I came I felt a need to meet people,______ I went to the cinema night for women’s day. I was excited about the way to connect to French women through the ______ we would have after the film, perhaps to make friends and get more chance of ______.
Outside the cinema was a woman with long gray hair who had a slightly ______ smell and was asking for money. I ______ my wallet to give her a Euro and then something made me stop and enter into ______ with her. I said, “Look, people are seeing a film that could ______ your life. I’d rather buy you a ticket than give you money.”
So she came in,______ behind me because she said people ______ the theater didn't like her. She sat next to me in the cinema. Then I noticed some women were looking at me, with expressions of ______.
I encouraged the women to come the following night to an event. I ______ her to an agency that helped women in her ______. Then, a woman came towards me and said, “Did you buy a ticket for the woman?” When I said yes, she said, “Please come to the community center to ______ other employees there.”
This was the ______ of a deep friendship and colleague relationship. The woman I took to the cinema that night wasn’t ______. Actually, she was a secretary and spoke English.
For me, though, she was ______ my angel. I made a great friend ______ reaching out to her, also got a great job, and ______ myself of many previous negative judgments about the French.
1.A. suitable B. unavailable C. comfortable D. accessible
2.A. easy B. simple C. good D. hard
3.A. still B. so C. though D. but
4.A. argument B. puzzle C. discussion D. revision
5.A. work B. income C. friendship D. communications
6.A. strong B. delicious C. sweet D. strange
7.A. picked up B. put away C. handed out D. reached for
8.A. conversation B. research C. assistance D. collision
9.A. defend B. lead C. transform D. challenge
10.A. watching B. stepping C. hiding D. failing
11.A. coining B. running C. noticing D. building
12.A. excitement B. disappointment C. pride D. surprise
13.A. directed B. invited C. explained D. suggested
14.A. name B. place C. situation D. honor
15.A. introduce B. hire C. train D. meet
16.A. result B. end C. beginning D. case
17.A. homeless B. alone C. wealthy D. lonely
18.A. rather than B. more than C. other than D. less than
19.A. beyond B. except C. through D. from
20.A. warned B. reminded C. accused D. rid
高二英语完形填空中等难度题查看答案及解析
Benjamin West, the father of American painting, showed his talent for art when he was only six years of age. But he did not know about brushes before a visitor told him he needed one. In those days, a brush was made from camel’s hair. There were no camels nearby. Benjamin decided that cat hair would work instead. He cut some fur from the family cat to make a brush.
The brush did not last long. Soon Benjamin needed more fur. Before long, the cat began to look ragged (蓬乱). His father said that the cat must be sick. Benjamin was forced to admit what he had been doing.
The cat’s lot was about to improve. That year, one of Benjamin’s cousins, Mr. Pennington, came to visit. He was impressed with Benjamin’s drawings. When he went home, he sent Benjamin a box of paint and some brushes. He also sent six engravings (版画) by an artist. These were the first pictures and first real paint and brushes Benjamin had ever seen.
In 1747, when Benjamin was nine years old, Mr. Pennington returned for another visit. He was amazed at what Benjamin had done with his gift. He asked Benjamin’s parents if he might take the boy back to Philadelphia for a visit.
In the city, Mr. Pennington gave Benjamin materials for creating oil paintings. The boy began a landscape (风景) painting. William Williams, a well-known painter, came to see him work. Williams was impressed with Benjamin and gave him two classic books on painting to take home. The books were long and dull. Benjamin could read only a little, having been a poor student. But he later said, “Those two books were my companions by day, and under my pillow at night.” While it is likely that he understood very little of the books, they were his introduction to classical paintings. The nine-year-old boy decided then that he would be an artist.
1.How did Benjamin get the brushes at first?
A.He cut a camel’s air. B.He cut some fur from a cat.
C.He asked his father to buy them. D.An artist offered a hand to him.
2.What does the underlined sentence in paragraph 3 suggest?
A.The cat would be closely watched.
B.Benjamin would leave his home shortly.
C.Benjamin would have real brushes soon.
D.The cat would get some medical care.
3.What did Pennington do to help Benjamin develop his talent?
A.He took him to see painting exhibitions.
B.He sent him to a school in Philadelphia.
C.He provided him with painting materials.
D.He taught him how to make engravings.
4.Williams’ two books helped Benjamin to ______.
A.make up his mind to be a painter
B.appreciate landscape paintings
C.get to know other painters
D.master the use of paints
5.What is the passage mainly about?
A.The friendship between Benjamin and Pennington.
B.The beginning of Benjamin’s life as an artist.
C.Williams’ influence on Benjamin.
D.Benjamin’s visit to Philadelphia.
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
About 20 years ago, I was lucky to teach a disabled young woman named Audrey. Not only was she good at math and science, but she was also very in art. She could draw and paint beautifully. When Audrey graduated from university, she got two , one in fine arts and one in chemistry. Not too many people do well in two such areas of study. 根据上文：one in fine arts and one in chemistry.
Just before her high school graduation, Audrey me a wonderful gift. It was a watercolour painting of a mother and her baby. A tear from the mother’s eye as she looked at her child. Under the painting, Audrey had these words: “The deep love from Mother, me, touches another.” What a beautiful gift! I had the piece of art framed and in my office.
Years passed with many from one office to another and I the painting. Last year, after about eight years of not knowing where it was, I a phone call from a former colleague who said she had of mine. It was the picture Audrey had painted for me 18 years earlier. When cleaning out a storage room, she had my gift.
I was struck that the gift came back. I knew Audrey very well. When she was four years old, Audrey had a serious . What’s worse, her father left the house. It was her mother who brought her up with much trouble. She it but was disabled.
To , it is just a painting, but to me it shows how a mother’s love has helped a talent and how its pushes me ahead.
1.A. interested B. talented C. buried D. absorbed
2.A. degrees B. choice C. chances D. jobs
3.A. similar B. distinguishingC. differentD. scientific
4.A. gave B. promised C. afforded D. presented
5.A. sank B. flooded C. escaped D. fell
6.A. quietly B. lovingly C. warmly D. gently
7.A. described B. marked C. written D. signed
8.A. past B. on C. with D. through
9.A. hung B. decoratedC. painted D. added
10.A. migrations B. movesC. turnsD. circles
11.A. left B. forgot C. lost D. ignored
12.A. accepted B. made C. dialed D. received
13.A. something B. booksC. giftsD. letters
14. A. searched B. discoveredC. observed D. touched
15.A. ancient B. colorful C. precious D. abstract
16.A. symptom B. fault C. heart D. disease
17.A. survivedB. recoveredC. struggledD. managed
18.A. someone elseB. anyone elseC. everyone elseD. nobody else
19.A. encourage B. become C. developD. practise
20.A. energy B. force C. strength D. power
高二英语完型填空中等难度题查看答案及解析
The American local food movement has been all about buying seasonal food from nearby farmers. Now, thanks to the Web, it is expanding to include far-away farmers too. A new start-up, Foodzie, is an online farmers market where small food producers and growers can sell their products.
Foodzie was started by Mr LaFave and two of his friends, who met during college at Virginia Tech, where they would pay frequent visits to farmers markets. Last year, while living in North Carolina, one of them, Emily Olson, now 24, came up with one idea. She was working as a brand manager for a gourmet grocery chain and realized that people who enjoyed fine food but didn’t work in the business had no way to discover handmade foods outside their local farmers markets. Small farmers had no way of finding or selling to faraway customers, either.
Mr LaFAve and the third co-founder, Nik Bauman, both 25, worked in corporate sales and software development. “With business, food and computer science backgrounds, we figured we had everything we needed.” Mr LaFAve said.
The three quit their jobs, and opened this site to the public in December and the site has had 43,000 visitors in the past month. So far, 29 sellers have opened shops and 41 are in the process of opening them. The founders recently hired a fourth employee to help Ms Olson recruit(吸收) new food producers at farmers markets and food shows. Mr LaFAve is convinced that the recession(经济衰退) will not reduce people’s interest in buying locally grown and handmade food. “There is misunderstanding that all these foods are more expensive than mass-produced alternatives,” he said. “People are pouring their heart and soul into these products, and they are of the highest quality. ”
1. The passage is mainly about _______________.
A. how an online farmers’ market works
B. the American local food movement
C. three youths starting an online farmers’ market
D. the reasons why people are interested in local food
2.Why did the founders start the online farmers’ market?
A. Because it met the need of the market.
B. Because the founders were interested in seasonal food.
C. Because some people wanted to buy locally grown food.
D. Because farmers wanted to sell their foods.
3. The underlined word in Paragraph 2 can be used to describe ______________.
A. food of high quality B. terrible food C. food of low fat D. fried food
4.The founders of the site employed another person to help _______________.
A. open new shops in faraway markets
B. buy locally grown and handmade food
C. find more food outside their local farmers’ markets
D. find more food growers to open shops on their site
5.About the three founders, we know that ________________.
A. they are of the same age B. to start the website they gave up their work
C. they used to be colleague D. they majored in farming at college
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
Many American youngsters earn their own allowance（零花钱）by doing temporary jobs for their neighbors. Babysitting is one of the common of these jobs. Most couples do not have maids or relatives living with them, and they need to have someone watch the children if they want to go out.
Another way is by mowing lawn in summer and clearing snow from sidewalks and driveways in winter. Many people mow their own lawns，but often people prefer to give the job to a neighbor’s child. In winter, snow clearing from streets and highways is the government’s responsibility. Homeowners or tenants, however, must clear sidewalks and driveways. Since clearing snow is very tiring, many people prefer to hire teenagers for this job rather than do it themselves.
Besides, many American teenagers usually work two to three hours after school and all day on Saturday or Sunday at the local supermarket. They work as cashiers or stockroom clerks. Or they help customers carry things to their cars. Other favorite jobs are waiting on tables in restaurants or working part-time at stores or gas stations.
By earning their own allowance，teenagers acquire a feeling of independence and a sense of responsibility which prepares them for a productive life in society.
1.What does “babysitting” mean in the first paragraph?
A. Watching a baby when its parents are out. B. Working as a maid.
C. Sitting with a baby. D. Selling something.
2.How do American youngsters earn their allowance? Which one is NOT one of the ways?
A. By mowing lawn in summer.
B. By clearing snow from sidewalks and driveways in winter.
C. By working two to three hours after school and all day on Saturday or Sunday.
D. By doing some housework for the family.
3.When it comes to clearing snow，what do many people like to do?
A. Hire teenagers for this job rather than do it themselves
B. They do it themselves.
C. They hire their own children to do so
D. They don’t clean it at all.
4.What is the advantage of youngsters earning allowance?
A.They acquire a feeling of independence.
B. They acquire a sense of responsibility.
C. The actions prepare them for a productive life in society.
D. All of the above.
5.Who will clear the snow on the streets?
A. The inhabitants. B. The neighbors
C. The government. D. The police.
高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
Coffee drink is widespread. When people argue about whether coffee is good for health, they’re usually thinking of the health of the coffee drinker. Is it good for your heart? Does it increase blood pressure? Does it help you concentrate? However, coffee affects the health of the human population in other ways, too.
Traditionally, coffee bushes were planted under the shade of taller trees. However, more and more farmers in Latin America are deforesting the land to grow full sun coffees. At first, this increases production because more coffee bushes can be planted if there aren’t any trees. With increased production come increased profits.
Unfortunately, deforesting for coffee production immediately decreases the local wildlife habitat, because native birds nest and hide from predators（捕食者）in the tall trees and migrating birds rest there.
Furthermore, in the long term, the full-sun method also damages the ecosystem because more chemical fertilizers and pesticides（杀虫剂）are needed to grow the coffee. The fertilizers and pesticides kill insects that eat coffee plant, and then the birds eat the poisoned insects and also die. The chemicals kill or sicken other animals as well, and can even enter the water that people will eventually drink.
Fortunately, farmers in Central and South America are beginning to grow more coffee bushes in the shade. We can support these farmers by buying coffee with such labels as "shade-grown" and "bird-friendly".
Sure, these varieties might cost a little more. But we're paying for the health of the birds, the land, ourselves, and the planet. I think it’s worth it.
1.Which opinion does the author agree with?
A. People should buy full-sun coffee.
B. Shade-grown coffee should be supported.
C. Farmers should change the places to grow coffee.
D. Pesticides should be forbidden in coffee planting.
2.Compared with the traditional method, what advantage does the full-sun method have?
A. It can protect the ecosystem.
B. It can promote people's health.
C. It can provide mare nests for birds.
D. It can increase the production of coffee.
3.How do farmers get more land to grow full-sun coffee?
A. They cut down trees.
B. They move to other countries.
C. They turn grassland into farmland.
D. They buy more land from other farmers.
4.What can we learn from the passage?
A. It is quite worthwhile to buy shade-grown coffee at any cost.
B. Farmers all have realized the importance of protecting the environment now.
C. South American farmers are taking action to plant coffee in the traditional way.
D. The full-sun method does good to the health of human beings in the long run.
高二英语阅读理解困难题查看答案及解析