The definition of the standard kilogram is almost entirely wrong. Getting that definition right is a challenge that has tried the patience and intelligence of scientists for decades.
Scientists use just seven basic units to define all the other quantities we use — quantities such as speed or electric power. All of those basic units except the kilogram are themselves defined according to natural properties（屬性）that are beyond human control.
For example, the standard second (time) is defined as a specific number of vibration（振動(dòng)）of a type of radiation sent out by atoms of a special metal. The standard metre (length), in turn, is defined as the length of the path light travels under certain conditions.
Not so the kilogram. This orphan of the basic unit family is simply the mass of a small platinum-iridium alloy cylinder（鉑—銥合金筒）locked away in a container maintained by the International Bureau of Weights & Measures in Sevres, France, near Paris. Official bodies around the world have copies of the cylinder.
Embarrassingly, the last time the copies were brought to Sevres for a checkup in the 1980s, officials found that some copies had gained about 20 parts per billion in weight compared to the master cylinder since the previous checkup in the 1940s. This implies that the master cylinder itself may be an inconstant standard.
Several efforts in several different countries are under way to redefine the kilogram according to basic physical quantities such as counting the actual number of atoms of a specific substance in a kilogram or the electromagnetic（電磁的）force that balances a kilogram mass against gravity. A project of the latter type at the laboratories in Gaithersburg, Md., hopes eventually to define mass by means of electrical units.
So far, none of these redefinition projects has borne fruit. They require the very accuracy of measurement and control of experimental conditions. The slightest influence — even a tiny change in weather — can ruin results. You’ve got to hand it to scientists who are willing to devote many years to such painstaking — but extremely important — research.
小題1: Compared with other basic units, the kilogram is ____.
A．a(chǎn)s accurate as other basic units
B．not universally accepted in the world
C．not defined according to natural properties
D．defined in the same way as other basic units
小題2:The author introduced the examination of copies of a platinum-iridium alloy cylinder in the 1980s to indicate that ____.
A．the causes of weight changes had been found
B．such kind of checks had been carried out regularly
C．the changes in weight challenged the definition of the kilogram
D．the consequences of such changes were great in research
小題3: According to the passage, to define the weight of mass by means of electrical units ____.
A．is the only way to redefine the kilogram scientifically
B．has been accepted as the only possible redefinition project
C．is not as complicated as people understand
D．has been considered by some scientists as a better approach
小題4: Which of the following cannot be concluded from the passage?
A．Scientists will achieve success in redefining the kilogram in the near future
B．Some scientists are trying to redefine the kilogram according to basic physical quantities.
C．The redefining of the standard kilogram is quite complicated and can be affected by a number of factors.
D．A number of experiments are being carried out to redefine the kilogram.
小題1:C小題1:C小題1:D小題1:A
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科目：高中英語(yǔ) 來(lái)源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

For many years Henry had been a journalist. He had worked on many international newspapers and magazines and traveled over the world.
Henry had witnessed war and natural disasters such as floods, earthquakes and erupting volcanoes ( 火山爆發(fā)).
He had reported on serious accidents such as major fires and airline crashes.
He had seen every kind of terrible crime and strange event there was.
He had met and written about some of the most unusual people in the world.
In fact, there wasn’t much that Henry had not seen or done.
Now he was retired from journalism(新聞業(yè)). He owned a very expensive restaurant and spent his days talking to his wealthy and important customers. He liked to say that nothing surprised him.
One day he was sitting at the bar in his restaurant when a big gorilla(大猩猩) walked in and asked for a table.
Henry showed no surprise. He took the gorilla to a table and handed him a menu. He treated him politely and pretended there was nothing at all strange about having a gorilla in his restaurant.
The gorilla looked through the menu and ordered a salad.
Henry served the gorilla his salad personally, knowing that his waiters and waitresses would be too frightened.
At last the gorilla finished his salad and asked for the bill.
Henry wrote out the bill and handed it to the big animal.
The gorilla studied it, shook his head sadly then gave Henry fifty dollars.
“Thank you,” Henry said, and then to make conversation, he added, “we don’t get many gorillas in this restaurant.”
“At fifty dollars for a salad,” the gorilla said, “I’m not surprised.”
小題1:According to the story, Henry had________.
A．had the most exciting experiencesB．told the longest stories
C．made historyD．caused accidents
小題2:One day when a gorilla came into the restaurant, Henry was_____.
A．very surprised by the gorillaB．not disturbed(煩憂) by the gorilla
C．very interested in the gorillaD．scared of the gorilla
小題3: From the sentences “Henry served the gorilla his salad personally, knowing that his waiters and waitresses would be too frightened” you can learn that______.
A．his staff were not brave peopleB．Henry didn’t normally serve customers
C．the gorilla had eaten there beforeD．the gorilla was careful with his money

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科目：高中英語(yǔ) 來(lái)源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

Research shows that humans switch from selfish to unselfish behavior when they are watched. Do you?
A picture of a set of eyes on a computer screen can cause a change in the way people act. Even images of eyes on a charity donation, collection box encourage people to be unselfish, because people put more money in a
collection box that has a picture of eyes on it than they do when a flower symbol is on the box.
Manfred Milinski from the Max-Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology in Germany and Bettina Rockenbach of the University of Berlin, the authors of a new study, found that people act better when they are being watched because they feel they will be rewarded for good behavior. Their report also referred to other research showing that this response of behaving well when watched is somehow coded into humans and people respond this way unconsciously, or without realizing it.
It is not just humans that act unselfishly when they are being watched. A fish called the grooming fish cleans other fish. When other fish are around, it is gentler. When no other fish are around, however, the grooming fish bites chunks from the fish it is supposed to be cleaning.
The researchers suggest that the best way to get people to behave in the correct way is to make them feel watched. This could be the reason for the success of a famous American army poster. On it was a picture of an elderly man staring fiercely and pointing, it appeared, to the person who was looking at the poster. Under the picture was the caption 'I Want You' It encouraged hundreds of thousands of young American men to join the army during the Second World War to fight the Germans and Japanese.
小題1:.
According to the report, why does a person behave better when he feels he is being watched?
   
A．He does not want to be shamed by others.
B．He needs to show he is a good person.
C．He desires others to like him more.
D．He feels he will receive some social reward.
小題2:.
．What is the text mainly about?
A．It describes changed behavior when observed.
B．It details ways to control people's behavior.
C．It tells how to make people work harder.
D．It discusses different advertising methods.
小題3:.
According to the text, which of the following statements is true?
A．People pretend to behave better when they are watched.
B．Fish bite other fish in a fish tank when they are alone.C．People donate more money when they feel they are watched.
D．Soldiers fought better during World War II because of a poster.
小題4:.
．Where would the study described in the text most likely be found?
A．In a newspaper.B．In a scientific journal.
C．In an advertising magazine.D．In a science textbook.

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科目：高中英語(yǔ) 來(lái)源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解


There is a definite possibility that the climate of the world may be changing. Some scientists imagine that this could even mean the beginning of another ice age. The effects of such a change in climate on the human population of the world would be startling（驚人的）.
Recent research suggests that the general warming trend of the past hundred years or so may be coming to an end. During the past ten years, meteorologists tell us the average temperature of the Earth has dropped about one degree Fahrenheit. This does not seem like much, but it could have effects on wind and rain patterns which influence the overall weather picture. If these patterns change a lot, it could mean that certain regions of the world may continue to have long droughts while others will possibly suffer from widespread flooding.
What regulates（調(diào)節(jié)）the climate is not exactly known. Meteorologists believe that clouds may be an important factor in regulating the amount of solar heat held by the Earth, which in turn determines the temperature of the planet. Another possibility is that man’s industrial and agricultural methods may be affecting the natural weather patterns. However, the weather is not understood well enough for scientists to say for certain what is happening to the climate and what side effects this will actually have on the world’s population.
小題1:According to the passage, the climate of the world seems to    .
A．be getting colderB．be getting warmer
C．remain the same in the past ten yearsD．have good effects on the world’s population
小題2:Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?
A．Man’s activities have no effect on the climate.
B．Another ice age will come soon.
C．People don’t care about the changing climate.
D．Scientists are not yet sure about the reason for the changing climate.
小題3:A meteorologist is a person who        .
reads weather forecasts on radio or television 
B. thinks there will be another ice age
C. studies and knows about the weather       
D. believes there will be widespread flooding
小題4: Which of the following may be the factor(s) that affect(s) the natural weather patterns?
A．Clouds.B．The amount of heat the Earth receives.
C．Man’s industrial and agricultural methods.D．All of the above.
小題5:The best title for the passage would be         .
A．Droughts and Floods.B．Meteorologists
C．The Changing ClimateD．Solar Heat

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科目：高中英語(yǔ) 來(lái)源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

As a professor at a large American university, there is a phrase that I often hear from students: “I’m only a 1,050.” The unlucky students are speaking of the score on the Schoolastic Aptitude Test (SAT), which is used to determine whether they will be admitted to the college or university of their choice, or even if they have a chance to get a higher education at all. The SAT score, whether it is 800, 1,100 or 1,550, has become the focus at his time of their life.
It is obvious that if students value highly their test scores, then a great amount of their self-respect is put in the number. Students who perform poorly in the exam are left feeling that it is all over.The low test score, they think, will make it impossible for them to get into a good college. And without a degree from a prestigious university, they fear that many of life’s doors will remain forever closed.
According to a study done in the 1990s, the SAT is only a reliable indicator of a student’s future performance in most cases. Interestingly, it becomes much more accurate when it is set together with other indicators--like a student’s academic proficiency(學(xué)業(yè)水平).They will never be able to test things like confidence, efforts and willpower, and are unable to give us the full picture of a student’s potentialities. This is not to suggest that we should stop using SAT scores in our college admission process. The SAT is an excellent test in many ways, and the score is still a useful means of testing students. However, it should be only one of the many methods used.
小題1: The purpose of the SAT is to test students’ _________.
A．strong will
B．a(chǎn)cademic ability
C．full potentialities
D．confidence in school work
小題2: Students’ self-respect is influenced by their_______.
A．scores in the SAT
B．a(chǎn)chievements in mathematics
C．job opportunities
D．money spent on education
小題3:“ A prestigious university” in para.2 is most probably _______.
A．a(chǎn) famous school
B．a(chǎn) technical school
C．a(chǎn) traditional school
D．a(chǎn)n expensive school
小題4: The passage is mainly about_______________.
A．how to prepare for the SAT
B．stress caused by the SAT
C．American higher education
D．the SAT and its effects
小題5: What is the writer’s attitude towards the SAT?
A．Subjective
B．Objective
C．Critical
D．Approving

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科目：高中英語(yǔ) 來(lái)源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

閱讀下面短文，從A、B、C、D四個(gè)選項(xiàng)中選出最佳選項(xiàng)，并在機(jī)讀卡上相應(yīng)番號(hào)處將該項(xiàng)涂黑。
People who show confidence really seem to have it made. They seize more rewarding careers, keep good relationships, and just seem to do everything with more styles than the rest of us.
So what is the secret? There isn’t one. Self-confidence is a skill and habit that anyone can learn to develop. And although people who are raised in an encouraging environment with confident role models have a hard start in self-confidence development, we all can learn to become more confident at any age.
Try these simple tips for practicing and increasing your self-confidence levels:
Dare to fail. Anybody who’s out there bravely performing is going to fail repeatedly. If you are not failing, you are not trying. So don’t take failure too hard or too personally. Just learn to deal with it and use its lessons to keep improving.
When in doubt, pretend you know what you are doing. Because, if you are confident of your abilities, by the time you have done it, you will be experienced.
Dress for success. You don’t have to be beautiful to be confident. Make the most of your own unique physical characters and weaken your disadvantages.
Listen to yourself. You are the only person who knows what’s right for you. Don’t put others’ opinions above your own inner voice.
Build a confident vocabulary. Stop putting yourself down and give up continually blaming your tiny weaknesses. Learn to show up your strong points and the world will learn to see and celebrate them with you.
Pass on the praise. Praise others for their virtues and strengths. This practice will not decrease your confidence, but help increase it.
小題1: The passage is written mainly __________.
A．to explain the definition of self-confidence
B．to explain the secret of self-confidence
C．to tell people how important self-confidence is
D．to tell people how to build self-confidence
小題2:The underlined word “one” in the second paragraph refers to __________.
A．the secret of self-confidence
B．the skill of self-confidence
C．the style of doing things
D．a(chǎn) rewarding career
小題3:The main idea of the sixth paragraph is __________.
A．to be confident means to have no disadvantages
B．taking full advantage of your physical characters will help you be confident
C．your unique characters will help you be confident and be successful
D．to be confident means to be beautiful
小題4:All the following are tips to increase your self-confidence level EXCEPT_________.
A．not to be afraid of failure
B．dress yourself properly
C．pretend to know everything
D．make your advantages more obvious
小題5:__________ will weaken your self-confidence.
A．Praising others for their strong points
B．Always following others’ advice to do things
C．Giving up blaming your weaknesses
D．Believing in yourself

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科目：高中英語(yǔ) 來(lái)源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

Finding the right school for your child is a process. You will want to read about the school, talk to any friends who are involved in the school and, most important of all, visit the school.
The first step in finding out about Indian Creek is to request an information packet. We will be happy to send you a packet containing a brochure(小冊(cè)子), the fee structure and an application. The packet should answer most of your general questions about the school.
In order to get a true sense of Indian Creek School, you should come for an Admission Tour, which includes a personal meeting focusing on your child, a tour of the building and the classrooms, and a discussion of the curriculum(課程).
This visit is no less important if the child for whom you are seeking admission is a teenager than if he or she is a three-year-old one. Every school has a different “school climate.” If you visit two or three schools, you will notice that each “feels” different. You know your child best and you will quickly develop a sense of whether a school is the right match or not.
●The initial point of entry for Indian Creek Students is at the pre-kindergarten level for three year olds.
●Children must be three years old by August 31st.
●We also have major points of entry from grade six to grade nine. At each of these levels, we open new sections and accept students in addition to those moving up from our own lower grades.
●There are scattered(零散的) openings available throughout the program due to attrition(學(xué)生流失). Once an opening occurs, students spend a day at ICS, part of which includes admission testing.
小題1: You can NOT get to know about ICS by ________.
A．getting an information packet
B．taking an admission tour
C．a(chǎn)sking friends involved in ICS
D．taking an admission test
小題2: During the Admission Tour, you can ________.
A．having a meeting with the children
B．decide on the design of the classrooms
C．talk with the school about the courses
D．choose the weather suitable for study
小題3: Which of the following is NOT accepted for ICS when there is no attrition?
A．A boy who will be 3 years old by July.
B．A fifth grader originally studying in ICS.
C．An eighth grader from another school.
D．A fourth grader from another school.
小題4: The text is intended for ________.
A．teachers
B．parents
C．kindergarteners
D．school kids

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科目：高中英語(yǔ) 來(lái)源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

Parents are a child’s first teachers. But some parents never learned from good examples. In New York City, a nonprofit agency called Covenant House tries to help homeless young mothers become good parents.
The twelve or so teenagers who live at the shelter attend parenting classes four days a week. The class is called Mommy and Me. Teacher Delores Clemens is a mother of five and a grandmother. She teaches basic skills, like how to give a baby a bath and how to dress a baby depending on the season.
She remembers one student who learned from her mother not to pick up a crying baby. The mother said that would only make the child needy and overly demanding. Delores Clemens says, “that's not true. You have to hold your baby! He is crying for a reason. If you never pick him up, he's going to keep crying. Pick your baby up. Cuddle your baby. Hug him! And she started to do that. They just want a little cuddling and a little love. And it works!”
Delores Clemens says her students also learn how to be good mothers by letting themselves be mothered. Around three hundred fifty teenage mothers graduate from Covenant House's Mommy and Me class every year.
In class, with her baby son is Natasha. She lived on the streets. She is glad not only for the warmth and shelter of Covenant House. As she told reporter Adam Phillips, she is also glad for the help they offer in seeking a more secure life.
The World Health Organization says the United States has forty-one births for every one thousand girls age fifteen to nineteen. That is higher than other developed countries, as well as some developing ones. By comparison, northern neighbor Canada has fourteen births and southern neighbor Mexico has eighty-two.
小題1:What is the text mainly about?
A．Parents who are a child’s first teachers.
B．A class where teens learn mothering and are mothered.
C．A nonprofit agency that offers a more secure life.
D．A kind teacher who help homeless young mothers.
小題2:Covenant Houses’ Mommy and Me class is intended to _____.
A．help homeless young mothers become good parents
B．provide homeless young mothers with a warm shelter
C．help mothers in New York be good parents
D．teach some parents how to love their children
小題3:What can we know about Delores Clemens from the text?
A．She has a mother of five and a grandmother.
B．She thinks a crying baby should be picked up and hugged.
C．She teaches advanced skills on how to be good mothers.
D．She is very glad for the warmth and shelter of Covenant House.
小題4: According to the World Health Organization, which country has the highest births for girls age fifteen to nineteen?
A．CanadaB．the United States of AmericaC．MexicoD．Britain

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科目：高中英語(yǔ) 來(lái)源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

Never go into a supermarket hungry! This is a good piece of advice. If you go shopping for food before lunchtime, you’ll probably buy more than you plan to. Unfortunately, however, just this advice isn’t enough for consumers these days. Modern shoppers need an education in how and how not to buy things at the store. First, you check the weekly newspaper ads. Find out the items that are on sale and decide if you really need these things. In other words, don’t buy anything just because it’s cheaper than usual! “New and Improved!” or “All Natural” on the front of a package influence you. Instead, read the list of ingredients(contents) on the back. Third, compare prices: that is, you should examine the prices of both different brands and different sizes of the same brand.
Another suggestion for consumers is to buy ordinary items instead of famous brands. Ordinary items in supermarkets come in plain packages. These products are cheaper because producers don’t spend much money on packing or advertising. The quality, however, is usually as good as the quality of well-known name brands. In the same way, in buying clothes, you can often find high quality and low prices in brands that are not famous. Shopping in discount clothing stores can help you save a lot of money. Although these stores aren’t very attractive, and they usually do not have individual dressing rooms, not only are the prices low, but you can often find the same famous brands that you find in high-priced department stores.
Wise consumers read magazine ads and watch TV commercials, but they do this with one advantage: knowledge of the psychology behind the ads. In other words, well-informed consumers watch for information and check for misinformation. They ask themselves questions: Is the advertiser hiding something in small print at the bottom of the page? Is there any real information in the commercial, or is the advertiser simply showing an attractive image? With the answers to these questions, consumers can make a wise choice.
小題1:All the following statements are true about the phrase “ordinary items” in Paragraph 2 EXCEPT __________.
A．ordinary items never say “New and Improved” or “All Natural”
B．ordinary products are usually cheaper than famous brands
C．producers spend less money on packaging of ordinary items
D．the quality of ordinary items is usually as good as that of famous brands
小題2:What does the writer think about ads? __________
A．They are believable.B．They are attractive.
C．They are full of misinformation.D．They are helpful to consumers.
小題3:One of the author’s suggestions to consumers is __________.
A．to make use of ads
B．not to buy items with words like “New and Improved” or “All Natural”
C．to buy high quality items such as famous brands after lunch
D．to buy any ordinary items instead of famous brands
小題4:The author implies that __________.
A．going into the supermarket hungry, you may buy more than you plan to
B．the quality of ordinary items is usually high and the prices are relatively low
C．discount clothing stores are good places to go to
D．a(chǎn)ds sometimes don’t tell the truth

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