Buying insurance (保險(xiǎn)) is a way in which people can protect themselves against large losses. Protection against fire is one kind of insurance. Large numbers of people pay small sums of money to an insurance company. Although thousands of people have paid for fire insurance, only a few will lose their homes by fire. The insurance company will pay for these homes out of the small sums of money it has collected.
The first modern fire insurance company was formed in London, England, in the 1760s. A great fire had just destroyed most of the city, and people wanted protection against further losses. The first company grew rapidly. Soon other companies were founded in other areas.
Benjamin Franklin helped form the first fire insurance company in America in 1752, and then a new kind of insurance for farmers was suggested. The new insurance would provide protection against the loss of crops from storms.
Later on another new insurance company was started in America. This company, which offered life insurance, collected small sums of money regularly from many different men. If a man died, his family was given a large sum of money.
Over the years, insurance companies have offered new kinds of insurance protection. The new kinds of insurance cover losses from such accidents as car and plane crashes. Today, most people have some kind of insurance.
【小題1】Who helped set up the first company in America?

A．Benjamin Franklin. B．Businessmen.
C．The first insurance company in London. D．Farmers.
【小題2】Insurance means ____.
A．Protection against the losses from the storms
B．protection against illness
C．Protection against accidents
D．a(chǎn)ll of the above
【小題3】The first modern insurance company offered ____.
A．life insurance B．fire insurance C．a(chǎn) new kind of insuranceD．both A and B
【小題4】Why do most people buy some kind of insurance today?
A．Insurance will keep their homes from burning.
B．People can protect themselves against large losses.
C．Insurance will pay for safety.
D．The insurance companies grow rapidly.


【小題1】A
【小題2】D
【小題3】B
【小題4】B

解析試題分析：本文主要介紹了保險(xiǎn)業(yè)的誕生發(fā)展以及人們買保險(xiǎn)的原因�，F(xiàn)在有很多人買保險(xiǎn)的原因是在遇到巨大損失時(shí)，有保障。
【小題1】細(xì)節(jié)題，根據(jù)Benjamin Franklin helped form the first fire insurance company in America in 1752, and then a new kind of insurance for farmers was suggested.可知在美國，本杰明.富蘭克林幫助建立了第一個(gè)公司， 故選A。
【小題2】細(xì)節(jié)題，根據(jù)Buying insurance (保險(xiǎn)) is a way in which people can protect themselves against large losses.以及全文內(nèi)容，可知保險(xiǎn)可以保障人們暴風(fēng)雨造成的損失，疾病的賠償以及事故的賠償，故選D。
【小題3】細(xì)節(jié)題。根據(jù)The first modern fire insurance company was formed in London, England, in the 1760s.可知現(xiàn)代第一個(gè)保險(xiǎn)公司提供火災(zāi)保險(xiǎn)。故選B。
【小題4】細(xì)節(jié)題。根據(jù)Buying insurance (保險(xiǎn)) is a way in which people can protect themselves against large losses.可知現(xiàn)在有很多人買保險(xiǎn)的原因是在遇到巨大損失時(shí)，有保障。故選B 。
考點(diǎn)：考查說明類短文

練習(xí)冊系列答案
相關(guān)習(xí)題

科目：高中英語 來源： 題型：閱讀理解

(2013·高考北京卷，C)Although being famous might sound like a dream come true，today’s stars，feeling like zoo animals，face pressures that few of us can imagine.They are at the center of much of the world’s attention.Paparazzi (狗仔隊(duì)) camp outside their homes，cameras ready.Tabloids (小報(bào)) publish thrilling stories about their personal lives.Just imagine not being able to do anything without being photographed or interrupted for a signature!
According to psychologist Christina Villarreal，celebrities－famous people－worry constantly about their public appearance.Eventually，they start to lose track of who they really are，seeing themselves the way their fans imagine them，not as the people they were before everyone knew their names.“Over time，”Villarreal says，“they feel separated and alone.”
The phenomenon of tracking celebrities has been around for ages.In the 4th century B．C.，painters followed Alexander the Great into battle，hoping to picture his victories for his admirers.When Charles Dickens visited America in the 19th century，his sold­out readings attracted thousands of fans，leading him to complain (抱怨) about his lack of privacy.Tabloids of the 1920s and 1930s ran articles about film­stars in much the same way that modern tabloids and websites do.
Being a public figure today，however，is a lot more difficult than it used to be.Superstars cannot move about without worrying about photographers with modern cameras.When they say something silly or do something ridiculous，there is always the Internet to spread the news in minutes and keep their “story” alive forever.
If fame is so troublesome，why aren’t all celebrities running away from it? The answer is there are still ways to deal with it.Some stars stay calm by surrounding themselves with trusted friends and family or by escaping to remote places away from big cities.They focus not on how famous they are but on what they love to do or whatever made them famous in the first place.
Sometimes a few celebrities can get a little justice.Still，even stars who enjoy full justice often complain about how hard their lives are.They are tired of being famous already.
【小題1】It can be learned from the passage that stars today________.

A．a(chǎn)re often misunderstood by the public 
B．can no longer have their privacy protected 
C．spend too much on their public appearance 
D．care little about how they have come into fame 
【小題2】What is the main idea of Paragraph 3?
A．Great heroes of the past were generally admired. 
B．The problem faced by celebrities has a long history. 
C．Well­known actors are usually targets of tabloids. 
D．Works of popular writers often have a lot of readers. 
【小題3】What makes it much harder to be a celebrity today?
A．Availability of modern media. 
B．Inadequate social recognition. 
C．Lack of favorable chances. 
D．Huge population of fans. 
【小題4】What is the author’s attitude toward modern celebrity?
A．Sincere. B．Sceptical. 
C．Disapproving. D．Sympathetic. 

查看答案和解析>>

科目：高中英語 來源： 題型：閱讀理解

It is winter in many parts of the world. For some areas, that means snow. Maybe even lots of snow. If you don’t have to drive in it or remove it, snow can be very beautiful. When snow covers everything around you, the world looks like a “winter wonderland”. That is the name of a very popular song about winter. Richard Smith and Felix Bernard wrote the song back in 1934. There are hundreds of recordings of this happy song.
But winter is not always such a beautiful and happy time. It’s cold outside. You try hard to keep warm. The days are darker and shorter. The sun rarely shines. The leaves on the trees are brown. It isn’t surprising that some people are sad in winter. And some people dream about being somewhere else where it’s warm and pretty—like the state of California. The Mamas and the Papas recorded this famous song “California Dreaming”.
During the 1960s, many other famous rock groups released songs about winter. Here is a poetic song by Simon and Garfunkel called “A Hazy Shade of Winter”. They sing about life and hope and possibilities.
In 1968, the group Blood, Sweat and Tears recorded this gentle, sad song about winter. They sing about a lost love and forgotten memories in “Sometimes in Winter”.
In the early 1990s, Tori Amos wrote and recorded the beautiful song called “Winter”. She enjoyed singing about winter when she was a child.
Finally, on a happier note comes this song written and recorded by Fountains of Wayne in 2003. They sing about a snowstorm in a New England town. Nothing unusual there. But instead of being sad or tense about the snow, they write a song about it.
【小題1】When is snow beautiful?

A．When people drive in it.
B．When people don’t have to take it away.
C．When it has snowed heavily.
D．When people sing in the snow.
【小題2】According to the second paragraph, winter is ________ .
A．beautiful and happy
B．happy and warm
C．lovely and hopeful
D．cold and sad
【小題3】Which of the songs can bring us hope of life?
A．Winter Wonderland.
B．California Dreaming.
C．A Hazy Shade of Winter.
D．Sometimes in Winter.
【小題4】What does the passage mainly talk about?
A．Songs about winter.
B．Different ideas about winter.
C．Winter in different areas.
D．Winter is cold but happy.

查看答案和解析>>

科目：高中英語 來源： 題型：閱讀理解

Among various programs, TV talk shows have covered every inch of space on daytime television. But no two shows are more opposite in content, while at the same time standing out above the rest, than the Jerry Springer and Oprah Winfrey shows.
Jerry Springer could easily be considered the king of "rubbish talk". The show takes the ever-common talk show titles of love, sex, cheating, and hate, to a different level. Clearly, the Jerry Springer show is about the dark side of society, yet people are willing to eat up the troubles of other people's lives.
Like Jerry Springer, Oprah Winfrey takes the TV talk show to its top. But Oprah goes in the opposite direction. The show is mainly about the improvement of society and different quality of life. Contents are from teaching your children lessons, managing your work week, to getting to know your neighbors.
Compared to Oprah, the Jerry Springer show looks like poisonous waste being poured into society. Jerry ends every show with a "final word". He makes a small speech about the entire idea of the show. Hopefully, this is the part where most people will learn something very valuable.
Clean as it is, the Oprah show is not for everyone. The show's main audience are middle-class Americans. Most of the people have the time, money and ability to deal with life's tough problems. Jerry Springer, on the other hand, has more of a connection with the young adults of society.
【小題1】Compared with other TV talk shows, both the Jerry Springer and the Oprah Winfrey shows are _______.

A．more interesting. B．unusually popular.
C．more detailed. D．more formal.
【小題2】Though the social problems Jerry Springer talks about appear unpleasant, people who watch the shows ________.
A．show disbelief in them. B．a(chǎn)re ready to face up to them.
C．remain cold to them. D．a(chǎn)re willing to get away from them.
【小題3】Which of the following is likely to be a topic of the Oprah Winfrey show?
A．A new type of robot. B．National hatred (憎恨).
C．Family income planning. D．Street accident.
【小題4】What is the advantage of the Jerry Springer show?
A．The show exposes the dark sides of society.
B．The show pours poisonous waste into society.
C．Jerry sums up (總結(jié)) the whole idea of the show.
D．Jerry talks about the improvement of society.

查看答案和解析>>

科目：高中英語 來源： 題型：閱讀理解

A good friend of mine lives about one hour away. I called her last week and found out that she wasn’t doing well at work, which would make the following year a little more difficult. After hanging up the phone, I decided to offer to help her, but I couldn’t think of what to do. However, opportunities come themselves when you’re not even looking for.
A few days later, some friends and I happened to be eating desserts at a restaurant in her city. As we were looking at the menu, I turned to my friends and asked them if they wanted to join in a game. After explaining the idea, they decided to take 15 minutes to make someone’s day. We ordered an extra dessert, wrote a note, added a smile card and were off. However, there was one problem: I had no idea where she was.
Therefore, it was time to rely on the network. I called up a friend and got him to call her to see what she was doing and found out that she was at work.
We drove to her work place and one of my friends became the delivery(投遞)person.He went in to look for my friend, found her, didn’t really answer her questions and walked out, saying he’s simply a delivery person.
He ran out quickly and I bent down as we drove by to make sure she didn’t follow him out. Afterwards, all of us had this huge smile on our faces. We felt as if we had just planned a surprise party or something.
A simple opportunity turned into a moment that many of us can now share.
【小題1】Why is the following year a little more difficult for the author’s friend?

A．Because she lives too far away from work.
B．Because she was out of work.
C．Because she didn’t do well at work.
D．Because she failed a test.
【小題2】In Paragraph 2, the underlined phrases “make someone’s day” probably means “make someone________”.
A．satisfied B．busy C．sad D．happy
【小題3】The author got to know where her friend was by________.
A．a(chǎn)sking her friend herself by phone
B．a(chǎn)sking another friend to call her
C．a(chǎn)sking what she was doing directly
D．a(chǎn)sking her friend herself on the Internet
【小題4】When given the dessert, the author’s friend________.
A．refused the offer B．knew the entire thing
C．a(chǎn)sked some questions D．followed the delivery person out
【小題5】The author and her friends might feel________at last.
A．joyful B．thankful C．pitiful D．fearful

查看答案和解析>>

科目：高中英語 來源： 題型：閱讀理解

The number of speakers of English in Shakespeare’s time is estimated(估計(jì)) to have been about five million. Today it is estimated that some 260 million people speak it as a native language, mainly in the United States, Canada, Great Britain, Ireland, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. In addition to the standard varieties of English found in these areas, there are a great many regional and social varieties of the language as well as various levels of usage that are employed both in its spoken and written forms.
In fact, it is impossible to estimate the number of people in the world who have acquired an adequate(足夠的) working knowledge of English in addition to their own languages. The purpose for English learning and the situations in which such learning takes place are so varied that it is difficult to explain and still more difficult to judge what forms an adequate working knowledge for each situation.
The main reason for the widespread demand for English is its present-day importance as a world language. Besides serving the indefinite needs of its native speakers, English is a language in which some of important works in science, technology, and other fields are being produced, and not always by native speakers. It is widely used for such purposes as meteorological(氣象的) and airport communications, international conferences, and the spread of information over the radio and television networks of many nations. It is a language of wider communication for a number of developing countries, especially former British colonies. Many of these countries have multilingual populations and need a language for internal communication in such matters as government, commerce, industry, law and education as well as for international communication and for entrance to the scientific and technological developments in the West.
【小題1】What would be the best title for this passage?

A．The Difficulties of Learning English
B．International Communications
C．The Standard Varieties of English
D．English as a World Language
【小題2】Which of the following statements is NOT true?
A．Some 260 million people in the world have an adequate working knowledge of English.
B．There are some 260 million native speakers of English in the world.
C．It is almost impossible to estimate the number of people with an adequate working knowledge of English.
D．People learn English for a variety of reasons.
【小題3】According to the passage, what is the main reason for the widespread use of English?
A．It was popular during Shakespeare’s time.
B．It is used in former British colonies.
C．It serves the needs of its native speakers.
D．It is a world language that is used for international communication.
【小題4】What forms an adequate working knowledge of English?
A．The ability to read a newspaper.
B．Being able to speak several languages.
C．It is difficult to judge because it differs for each situation.
D．Being a native speaker.
【小題5】What type of developing countries would be most likely to use English?
A．Those geographically close to the United States.
B．Those interested in the culture of the United States.
C．Former colonies of Great Britain.
D．Countries where international conferences are held.

查看答案和解析>>

科目：高中英語 來源： 題型：閱讀理解

Don’t invite crime--take basic, sensible precautions. Your house and possession are valuable and must be properly protected. When you buy a lock, you buy time --- and this is the one thing a burglar can’t afford. Most thieves are casual opportunists to whom the best deterrents（遏制性因素） are delay and noise which could mean discovery. 
When you leave it, lock it!
First of all, fit security locks to all doors and windows and a safety chain on the front door. Secondly, use them! If you have any ladders or tools, don’t leave them lying about in the garden, lock them away. “Safe” or “secret” places for keys and valuables are not reliable - nine times out of ten, they are the first place a thief will look.
When you move house...
When you move into a new home even if it is fitted with security locks, change them. You don’t know who else may have keys.
Never let strangers into your house. An official - looking cap is not enough, ask for proof of identity and look at it carefully - if you are still not satisfied, don’t let the person in.
Valuables need special protection
Valuables should really be given special protection - preferably by leaving them with your bank. A small security safe works too, but not to the most determined burglar. It is also important to keep an up - to - date list of valuables and their descriptions. In the case of fine art, paintings, or jewelry, color photographs can sometimes be of assistance to the police if you are unfortunate enough to have them stolen. Enter the details on the back of the pictures. But don’t keep such documents in your house, keep them at the hank or with your insurance company.
Going on holiday?
Don’t talk about your holidays and future plans loudly in public. Do remember to cancel the milk and newspapers and also to draw curtains back.
Operate a “Good Neighbor” program to ensure that mail is taken in, the house is checked regularly and that lights are put on.
Call at your local police station and tell them you are going away. Make sure that they know how to contact you in case of trouble.
Don’t leave cash or valuables in the house—take them with you or put them in the bank．
【小題1】How should you deal with your ladders or tools?

A．You should leave them in the yard．
B．You should put them in the safe place and lock the door．
C．You should lean them against the tree in the yard．
D．You should take them apart．
【小題2】When moving into a new house，you are supposed to_______．
A．stop using the original lock
B．buy a safe
C．never let officials into your house unless he wears an official cap
D．stay away from strangers
【小題3】In case of your jewelry being stolen，you should do the following Except__________．
A．taking a color photo of it
B．keep them at the bank
C．keep the picture in your house
D．keep them with your insurance company
【小題4】When you are away for holidays，you_________．
A．should cancel your mail
B．shouldn’t leave your keys to your neighbors
C．shouldn’t make it known that your home is empty
D．should ask the police to check your house regularly

查看答案和解析>>

科目：高中英語 來源： 題型：閱讀理解

How did your friendships begin? Most start with a short conversation on a random day. Asking about a homework assignment in class or complaining about your painful legs after playing in a soccer game, you found your best pal by accident.
“Small talk is where all your relationships begin,” Forbes magazine summed up.
The following is a five-step guide to making small talk from Bernardo J. Carducci, the director of the Shyness Research Institute at Indiana University Southeast, US. Let’s have a look.
Getting started
Begin by talking about the setting, such as the weather outside or the room you are in (“It’s cold in here, isn’t it?”). The purpose of talking about the setting is to show the other person that you are willing to make a conversation.
②The personal introduction
You should mention something about yourself, such as your name. A good personal introduction helps move the conversation forward.
③Looking for topics
At this point, you and your conversation partner need to find common ground. This is a good time to ask questions or to refer back to things you’ve said or heard earlier. Don’t worry if it gets quiet. The other person is probably just thinking of something to say.
④Expanding the topic
The goal is to keep the conversation going. At every stage, you should be careful not to talk too much. But don’t let the other person dominate the conversation either. If that starts to happen, mention something about yourself when he or she takes a breath.
⑤A polite ending
When ending a conversation, let the person know you’ll be leaving soon, express gratitude for the conversation and set the stage for a future conversation. For example, you could say, “I really must be going soon, but I had a great time chatting with you. I really liked hearing your opinion about that new movie. Here’s my phone number. Call or text me if you know of any other movies you think I might enjoy.”
【小題1】According to the article, starting by talking about the setting is meant to ________.

A．find common groundB．impress the other person
C．make a conversationD．make the room warmer
【小題2】What does the underlined word “dominate” mean in Tip④?
A．interruptB．controlC．a(chǎn)dapt D．simplify
【小題3】When ending a conversation, you’d better ________.
A．talk about how much you want to keep talking
B．show that you’ve not enjoyed the talk
C．mention a specific movie that you love
D．give your opinion about the other person’s earlier comments
【小題4】The main purpose of the article is to ________.
A．encourage students to make more friends
B．give students tips on making small talk
C．introduce popular topics for students
D．teach students how to create friendships

查看答案和解析>>

科目：高中英語 來源： 題型：閱讀理解

Father was a hardworking man who delivered bread as a living to support his wife and three children. He spent all his evenings after work attending classes, hoping to improve himself so that he could one day find a better paid job. Except for Sundays, Father hardly ate a meal together with his family. He worked and studied very hard because he wanted to provide his family with the best that money could buy.
Whenever the family complained that he was not spending enough time with them, he reasoned that he was doing all this for them. Though he often longed to spend more time with his family, he weighed his contribution to his family above everything else.
The day came when the examination results were announced. To his joy, Father passed, and with distinctions too! Soon after, he was offered a good job as a senior supervisor which paid handsomely.
Like a dream come true, Father could now afford to provide his family with life’s little luxuries like nice clothing, fine food and vacation abroad.
However, the family still did not get to see Father for most of the week. He continued to work very hard, hoping to be promoted to the position of manager. In fact, to make himself a worthily candidate for the promotion, he took another course in an open university.
Again, whenever the family complained that he was not spending enough time with them, he reasoned that he was doing all this for them. Though he often longed to spend more time with his family, he weighed his contribution to his family above everything else.
Father’s hard work paid off and he was promoted. Happily, he decided to hire a maid to relieve his wife from her domestic tasks. He also felt that their three-room flat was no longer big enough. It would be nice for his family to be able to enjoy the facilities and comfort of a condominium.    Having experienced the rewards of his hard work many times before, Father resolved to further his studies and work at being promoted again. The family still did not get to see much of him. In fact, sometimes Father had to work on Sundays entertaining clients.
Over again, whenever the family complained that he was not spending enough time with them, he reasoned that he was doing all this for them. Though he often longed to spend more time with his family, he weighed his contribution to his family above everything else.
As expected, Father's hard work paid off again and he bought a beautiful condominium overlooking the coast of Singapore. On the first Sunday evening at their new home, Father declared to his family that he decided not to take any more courses or pursue any more promotions. From then on he was going to devote more time to his family, and it was a promise.
Father did not wake up the next day.
【小題1】Father worked and studied very hard because ________.

A．he had to support his family
B．he wanted to bring his family a better life
C．he was enthusiastic in attending classes
D．he had to so as to reduce his family’s complaint
【小題2】What CAN’T Father get through his hard work?
A．Better housing B．Higher education C．Family time D．Vacation abroad
【小題3】How would the family feel when "Father did not wake up the next day"?
A．To their joy, Father can have a good rest in the end.
B．Thank God, Father can stay home with them.
C．They should have stopped Father from working so hard.
D．There is no point working hard for a better life.
【小題4】What is the function of the italicized(斜體)paragraphs in this passage?
A．To imply a sad ending to the story.
B．To show how stubborn Father was.
C．To make readers feel how hard Father worked.
D．To make readers show sympathy for Father.

查看答案和解析>>

同步練習(xí)冊答案