B

Bridge too far?

In 1883, a creative engineer NAMED John Roebling was inspired to build a spectacular bridge connecting New York and Long Island. However, bridge-building experts throughout the world thought this an impossible feat(伟大) and told Roebling to forget the idea. It just could not be done, they said. It was not practical. It had never been done before.

Roebling could not get rid of the vision(景象) he had in his mind of this bridge. He thought about it all the time and he knew deep in his heart that it could be done. He had to share his dream with someone else. After much discussion and persuasion he managed to convince his son Washington, an up-and-coming engineer, that the bridge could in fact be built.

Working together for the first time, father and son developed concepts(概念) of how it could be accomplished and how obstacles could be overcome. With great excitement and inspiration about the challenge before them, they hired a team of workers and began to build their dream bridge.

The project started well, but after just a few months, John Roebling died in a tragic(悲剧性的) accident onsite(现场的). Washington was injured and suffered brain damage, which meant he could no longer walk, talk or even move.

Many people saw this as a bad sign and felt that the project should be scrapped(废弃), since the Roeblings were the only ones who knew how the bridge could be built. In spite of his handicap(残疾), however, Washington was never discouraged and still had a burning desire to complete the bridge. His mind was as sharp as ever.

For 13 years, Washington tapped out his instructions with his finger on his wife’s arm, until the bridge was finally completed. Today, the spectacular Brooklyn Bridge stands in all its glory as a monument(纪念物) to one man’s unbeatable spirit and determination not to be defeated by circumstances(环境). It is also a monument to the engineers and their teamwork, and to their faith in a man who was considered mad by half the world.

It stands as a celebration of the love and devotion of Washington’s wife, who for 13 long years patiently translated the messages of her husband and told the engineers what to do.

55. Why did Roebling decide to build the bridge even though most people were against the idea?

A. Because he firmly believed that it could be done.

B. Because he had great support from his son Washington.

C. Because he liked to do things that most people disagreed with.

D. Because he desired to be the best bridge-building engineer in the world.

56. Which of these things did NOT occur as a result of the accident?

A. John Roebling lost his life.

B. Washington was seriously injured.

C. Many people were discouraged.

D. Washington had to give up the project.

57. We can conclude from the passage that Washington’s wife was .

A. wise and brave B. honest and capable

C. patient and faithful D. kind and warm-hearted

58. What does the author intend to tell us with this story?

A. Success doesn’t come without hard work.

B. We should be devoted to our jobs and family.

C. We should not consider anything to be impossible.

D. You should always do things that people disagree with.

C

He met her at a party. She was so outstanding, many guys chasing after her, while he was so normal, nobody paid attention to him.

At the end of the party, he invited her to have coffee with him, she was surprised but due to being polite, she promised. They sat in a nice coffee shop, he was too nervous to say anything, she felt uncomfortable, and she thought to herself, "Please, let me go home..."

Suddenly he asked the waiter, "Would you please give me some salt? I'd like to put it in my coffee." Everybody stared at him, so strange! His face turned red but still, he put the salt in his coffee and drank it. She asked him curiously, "Why you have this hobby?" He replied, "When I was a little boy, I lived near the sea, I liked playing in the sea, I could feel the taste of the sea, just like the taste of the salty coffee. Now every time I have the salty coffee, I always think of my childhood, think of my hometown, I miss my hometown so much, I miss my parents who are still living there." While saying that tears filled his eyes. She was deeply touched. That's his true feeling, from the bottom of his heart. A man who can tell out his homesickness, he must be a man who loves home, cares about home, has responsibility of home... Then she also started to speak, spoke about her faraway hometown, her childhood, her family.

That was a really nice talk, also a beautiful beginning of their story. They continued to date. She found that actually he was a man who meets all her demands; he had tolerance, was kind hearted, warm, careful. He was such a good person but she almost missed him! Thanks to his salty coffee! Then the story was just like every beautiful love story, the princess married to the prince, and then they were living the happy life... And, every time she made coffee for him, she put some salt in the coffee, as she knew that's the way he liked it.

After 40 years, he passed away, left her a letter which said, "My dearest, please forgive me, forgive my whole life's lie. This was the only lie I said to you -- the salty coffee. Remember the first time we dated? I was so nervous at that time, actually I wanted some sugar, but I said salt. It was hard for me to change so I just went ahead. I never thought that could be the start of our communication! I tried to tell you the truth many times in my life, but I was too afraid to do that, as I have promised not to lie to you for anything... Now I'm dying, I'm afraid of nothing so I tell you the truth, I don't like the salty coffee, what a strange bad taste... But I have had the salty coffee for my whole life! Since I knew you, I never feel sorry for anything I do for you. Having you with me is my biggest happiness for my whole life. If I can live for the second time, still want to know you and have you for my whole life, even though I have to drink the salty coffee again."

Her tears made the letter totally wet. Someday, someone asked her, "What's the taste of salty coffee?" She replied, "It's sweet."

59. Why did the man ask the waiter for some salt?

A. Because he wanted to drink salty coffee.

B. Because he was too nervous and made the wrong request.

C. Because he wanted to recall his life near the sea.

D. Because he wanted to show his homesickness.

60. Which of the following can best serve as the title of the passage?

A. a lifelong lie B. a sweet lie C. Salty coffee D. Late-coming truth

61. When asked about the taste of salty coffee, why did she reply "It's sweet”?

A. Because the taste is really sweet .

B. Because it reminded her of her husband.

C. Because it is what her husband liked.

D. Because salty coffee has brought her sweet memories.

62. How did the man changed the woman’s attitude towards him?

A. By moving her B. By persuading her

C. By expressing his feelings D. By inviting him to have coffee

D

The Medicine For Inflation

For years, prices have risen in China for many reasons. However, inflation (通货膨胀) has not badly affected people's lives because living standards have improved. Inflation is not an unbeatable beast. In fact, economists from all over the world have found ways to stop or reduce it. There are now several methods of controlling inflation.

Reduce the amount of money being issued

Many experts believe inflation happens because too much money is printed. The more money the central bank issues, the more inflation there is. Therefore, the most important thing to do for any government is to control the amount of money being issued.

Cut down on government spending and increase government income

Over-spending and over-expanding of governments can make inflation worse. Therefore it is helpful to reduce the size of big government bodies, cut down on their spending and pay fewer and smaller subsidies (津贴) to prevent inflation from accelerating.

Slow down the increase of salaries

It seems that giving bigger salaries to workers helps them manage when prices of their shopping are going up. In fact, as salaries increase, the central bank will have to issue more money to pay for the increase. Thus, increasing salaries may not be so good as it sounds. It's like cheating. Salaries should only be increased if workers produce more.

Increase bank interests

Interest increases can make more people put more money into banks. At the same time, enterprises take out fewer loans. Demand for money on the whole is lower.

Keep prices under strict control

Prices can be lowered by setting a ceiling--the highest prices--for most goods and freezing prices on most goods.

63. The word "issue" in Paragraph 3 means ____.

A. use B. print C. quarrel D. invent

64. The writer uses "medicine" to stand for ____.

A. ways to reduce inflation B. reasons for inflation

C. something to treat patients D. prices without control

65. What is probably the best way to reduce inflation?

A. No money will be issued. B. Salaries will be reduced.

C. More products will be produced. D. Prices will be controlled.

66. The article does not mention _____ as a way of reducing inflation.

A. controlling prices B. adjusting bank interests

C. controlling the amount of money being issued

D. improving people's living standards

E

Duke Ellington is known as one of the most important composers(作曲家) of his time, and his works have been enjoyed for more than 80 years by music lovers all over the world. During his lifetime Ellington turned musical sounds into many compositions, mostly in the style known as jazz.

The Early Years

Edward Kennedy Ellington was born in 1899 in Washington, D. C. It wasn’t until Ellington was a teenager that his interest in music grew. He taught himself to play the piano by listening to local piano players. Sometime around 1916 Ellington began playing the piano at high school parties. Ellington realized that he enjoyed entertaining people with his music. He soon became a very popular musician, playing at parties and other events in the Washington area. Young adults seemed especially delighted by the modern pieces he composed.

Success in New York

In 1923, when Ellington was almost 24 years old, he joined The Washingtonians, a five-piece group of musicians in Washington, and became the group’s leader in early 1924. In 1927 Ellington and his orchestra won an engagement(雇佣期)at Harlem’s famous Cotton Club. For the next three years, his orchestra played at the Cotton Club nearly every night.

The Influence of the Cotton Club

Working at the Cotton Club encouraged Ellington’s creativity. Since the shows changed every six months, he was challenged by the need to continually develop new material. He had to compose a wide variety of music to accompany the various acts in the Cotton Club shows and to adapt that music to the strengths and weaknesses of the players in his orchestra.

By 1928 the popular nightspot began radio broadcasts. From the broadcasts Ellington and his orchestra gained a national reputation.

On the Road

As Ellington’ s popularity increased, he realized that his orchestra could do well on concert tours. They left the Cotton Club in 1931 and toured America and Europe almost continually for the next 43 years. In addition to touring, Ellington made recordings and continued to compose music.

Duke Ellington played the piano, composed music, and led his famous orchestra for more than 50 years, until his death in 1974. Music lovers all over the world agree that the large quantity of music he created will be enjoyed for many years to come.

67. From the second paragraph, we know that Ellington ____________.

A. could sing as well as he played the piano

B. preferred mature audiences to young adults

C. had a natural talent for musical composition

D. learnt to play musical instrument from very young age

68. Which of the following can show us Ellington’s leadership ability?

A. Ellington was very popular at parties in the Washington area.

B. Ellington took the responsibility for a band for a long time.

C. Ellington did live radio broadcasts in New York City.

D. Ellington continually developed new material.

69. We may infer from the passage that ____________.

A. Ellington’s career took off overnight

B. Ellington loves touring around the world

C. Ellington could compose a wide variety of songs

D. Ellington had a great effect on the world of music

70. Which of the following shows the order in which the events happened in the story?

a. Ellington joined a five-piece group of musicians in Washington.

b. Ellington’s orchestra played at the Cotton Club.

c. Ellington and his orchestra gained a national reputation.

d. Ellington began playing the piano at high school parties.

e. Ellington’s orchestra went on concert tours.

A. d-b-a-e-c B. d-a-b-c-e C. a-d-b-c-e D. a-d-b-e-c

第四部分：书面表达(满分40分)

第一节：完成句子(共10小题;每小题1.5分，满分15分)

阅读下列各小题，根据括号内的汉语提示，用句末内的英语单词完成句子，并将答案写在答题卡上相应的括号内。

71. The plan ____________(提出) at yesterday’s meeting will not carried out this year for lack of money. (put)

72. Have you ever had a case (有人指责你) doing something bad while you are doing something good? (accuse)

73. (尽管不情愿)，he drove me to the railway station, just in time for the train. (as)

74. It is strange that her parents (居然同意了) her marrying an old man. (approve)

75. What do you think (是罪魁祸首) the fire? (blame)

76. (受到西方文化的熏陶) for so long, he has developed a sharp sense of fashion. (expose)

77. But for the fact (他病了)， we could have defeated their team. (fall)

78. “I’m proud of what I did but I was just doing (我所学的)”. John said . (teach)

79. With (一切到位)，we are waiting for the chairman to declare the games open. (place)

80. Hardly (我一告诉他) the good news when he burst out crying. (inform)

第二节：短文写作 (共1题;满分25分)

请参考以上放风筝的图片，写一篇有关风筝哲理的文章,可先谈风筝为什么能飞起来，再由此联系生活谈感想。

提示：风筝需要控制它的绳，如果没有它，……; 风筝需要推动它的风，如果没有它，……

要求：1. 不要描述以上图片;2. 词数120。

With the combination of the string and wind, the kite flies into the sky.

阅读理解

51-54 ADBC 55-58 ADCC 59-62 BCDA 63-66 BADD

67-70 CBDB

71. (that/which was) put forward.

72. in which/ where you were accused of/ where/in which someone accused you of

73. Unwilling as he was

74. should have approved of

75. is to blame for

76. Having been exposed/Exposed to western culture

77. that he fell ill

78. what I had been taught

79. everything in place

80. had I informed him of

【总结】高二英语期中试题就为大家整理到这儿了，同学们要好好学习，为高考做准备。想了解更多有关学习的知识，请继续关注精品学习网。

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