Do you know mulch? Mulch is a protective cover of material that is spread on top of soil. It is usually made out of organic material, like crop waste. Farmers may keep the remains of corn or other crops on top of the soil. This creates mulch on the soil surface. The plant remains help protect the soil against wind and water damage. Mulching is one of the best things people can do for their plants. It also helps keep the soil from getting dry, and reduces the need for watering plants. It also limits temperature changes in the soil. And it stops unwanted plants, or weeds, from growing.
Organic mulch improves the condition of soil. As the mulch breaks down, it provides material which keeps the soil from getting hard. This improves the growth of roots and increases the movement of water through the soil. It also improves the ability of the soil to hold water. Organic mulch contains nutrients for plants. It also provides good environment for earthworms and other helpful living things in the soil.
It is easy to find organic mulch materials. Cut-up leaves and small pieces of tree bark can be used. Grass cuttings are also a good mulch for plants. Mulch from news- papers works well in controlling weeds.
The best time to add mulch depends on your goal. Mulch provides a thick barrier between the soil and the air. This helps to reduce temperature changes in the soil. As a result, mulched soil will be cooler than other soil in the summer. In winter, the mulched soil may not freeze as deeply as other soil. The best time is after the ground has frozen, but before the coldest weather arrives. Spreading mulch before the ground has frozen may attract small animals searching for a warm place to spend the winter. Delaying the spreading should prevent this problem. The animals will probably find another place to live.
【小题1】The author tells us the following EXCEPT ______.
| A．what mulch is and its advantages |
| B．the best time to add mulch |
| C．the bad effects of mulch |
| D．what can be mulch on the soil surface |
| A．tree barks | B．plastic | C．grass cuttings | D．cut-up leaves |
| A．improve the condition of soil |
| B．improve the ability of the soil to hold water |
| C．provide a good environment for earthworms |
| D．improve the growth of roots and increase the movement of water through the soil |
| A．the best time to add mulch is in spring and summer |
| B．the best time to add mulch is after the coldest weather arrives |
| C．the best time to add mulch is exactly the same time of each year |
| D．choosing the best time to add mulch can avoid attracting small animals |
【小题1】C
【小题2】B
【小题3】A
【小题4】D
解析试题分析：文章介绍了农业中覆盖层的一些知识。覆盖层是置于植物周围土壤上助其生长的枯树叶、小树枝或粪肥等。覆盖层不但能够改良土壤环境，而且随着覆盖层的分解，它还能避免土壤的硬化问题。此外覆盖层也有助于水分的保持，但是添加覆盖层的时间也是有讲究的。
【小题1】C细节理解题。文章第一段介绍了mulch是什么，第二段介绍了mulch的好处，第三段讲用什么来充当mulch，第四段提到添加mulch的最佳时间，而对于mulch的坏处文中没有涉及，由此可知答案选C。
【小题2】B细节理解题。根据第三段Cut-up leaves and small pieces of tree bark can be used. Grass cuttings are also a good mulch for plant可知碎树叶、小树枝和碎草都可以用作mulch，故答案选B。
【小题3】A细节理解题。根据It also improves the ability of the soil to hold water可知护根或者覆盖层可以起到改良土壤的作用，所以答案选A。
【小题4】D细节理解题。根据末段Spreading mulch before the ground has frozen may attract small animals searching for a warm place to spend the winter. Delaying the spreading should prevent this problem可知在地面上冻以后添加覆盖层会避免小动物选择温暖的覆盖层过冬，所以选择最佳时间能避免这个问题，故答案选D。考点：考查社会科学类短文阅读。
新题型全程检测期末冲刺100分系列答案科目：高中英语 来源： 题型：阅读理解
For some people, music is no fun at all. About four percent of the population is what scientists call “amusic.” People who are amusic are born without the ability to recognize or reproduce musical notes (音调). Amusic people often cannot tell the difference between two songs. Amusics can only hear the difference between two notes if they are very far apart on the musical scale.
As a result, songs sound like noise to an amusic. Many amusics compare the sound of music to pieces of metal hitting each other. Life can be hard for amusics. Their inability to enjoy music set them apart from others. It can be difficult for other people to identify with their condition. In fact, most people cannot begin to grasp what it feels like to be amusic. Just going to a restaurant or a shopping mall can be uncomfortable or even painful. That is why many amusics intentionally stay away from places where there is music. However, this can result in withdrawal and social isolation. “I used to hate parties,” says Margaret, a seventy-year-old woman who only recently discovered that she was amusic. By studying people like Margaret, scientists are finally learning how to identify this unusual condition.
Scientists say that the brains of amusics are different from the brains of people who can appreciate music. The difference is complex, and it doesn’t involve defective hearing. Amusics can understand other nonmusical sounds well. They also have no problems understanding ordinary speech. Scientists compare amusics to people who just can’t see certain colors.
Many amusics are happy when their condition is finally diagnosed. For years, Margaret felt embarrassed about her problem with music. Now she knows that she is not alone. There is a name for her condition. That makes it easier for her to explain. “When people invite me to a concert, I just say, ‘No thanks, I’m amusic,’” says Margaret. “I just wish I had learned to say that when I was seventeen and not seventy.”
【小题1】Which of the following is true of amusics?
| A．Listening to music is far from enjoyable for them. |
| B．They love places where they are likely to hear music. |
| C．They can easily tell two different songs apart. |
| D．Their situation is well understood by musicians. |
| A．dislikes listening to speeches | B．can hear anything nonmusical |
| C．has a hearing problem | D．lacks a complex hearing system |
| A．her problem with music had been diagnosed earlier |
| B．she were seventeen years old rather than seventy |
| C．her problem could be easily explained |
| D．she were able to meet other amusics |
| A．Amusics’ strange behaviours. |
| B．Some people’s inability to enjoy music. |
| C．Musical talent and brain structure. |
| D．Identification and treatment of amusics. |
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科目：高中英语 来源： 题型：阅读理解
Among all the fast growing science and technology, the research of human genes, or biological engineering as people call it, is drawing more and more attention now. Sometimes it is a hot topic discussed by people.
The greatest thing that gene technology can do is to cure serious diseases that doctors at present can almost do nothing with, such as cancer and heart disease. Every year, millions of people are murdered by these two killers. And to date, doctors have not found an effective way to cure them. But if the gene technology is applied, not only these two diseases can be cured completely, bringing happiness and more living days to the patients, but also the great amount of money people spend on curing their diseases can be saved, therefore it benefits the economy as well. In addition, human life span(寿命) can be prolonged. www.zxxk.com
Gene technology can help people to give birth to healthy and clever children. Some families, with the English imperial family being a good example, have hereditary(遗传的) diseases. This means their children will for sure have the family disease, which is a great trouble for these families. In the past, doctors could do nothing about hereditary diseases. But gene technology can solve this problem perfectly. The scientist just need to find the wrong gene and correct it, and a healthy child will be born.
Some people are worrying that the gene research can be used to manufacture human beings in large quantities. In the past few years, scientists have succeeded in cloning a sheep, therefore these people predict that human babies would soon be cloned. But I believe cloned babies will not come out in large quantities, for most couples in the world can have babies in very normal way. Of course, the government must take care to control gene technology.
【小题1】What does “these two killers” in the second paragraph refer to?
| A．Gene technology and another treatment of the two diseases. |
| B．The two murderers who killed the cloned baby. |
| C．The two diseases of cancer and heart disease. |
| D．Hereditary diseases and cancer. |
| A．How gene technology can be applied in the field of treating hereditary diseases. |
| B．Gene technology can be used to clone human babies. |
| C．Gene technology can help people to give birth to a baby. |
| D．Gene technology can help the English imperial family out. |
| A．Using gene technology, people with hereditary diseases can have more living days. |
| B．Using gene technology, the scientist finds the wrong gene and corrects it. |
| C．Using gene technology, human babies can be cloned. |
| D．Doctors can cure cancer and heart disease with the help of gene technology. |
| A．Expressing the writer’s idea that gene technology will benefit people. |
| B．Telling people the disadvantages of gene technology. |
| C．Telling the readers that gene technology will not benefit people. |
| D．Explaining that gene technology will also do harm to the humanity. |
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科目：高中英语 来源： 题型：阅读理解
About 35 percent of British adults sleep with teddy bears. Many more share a bed with a partner or spouse. Others still co - sleep, alongside children in a family bed.
But lying with your iPad? A recent survey by marketing agency Rosette found that 68 percent of tablet owners use the device in the bedroom, more than in any other location. The living room took a close second place, at 63 percent, reports AdAge. com, and only 45 percent of respondents said they use their tablets on the go.
But bringing devices into the bedroom is a bad idea, if quality rest is your goal. One of the most important factors of sleepiness is darkness, which signals to the brain that it’s time to start speeding up production of the sleep - inducing hormone melatonin. But as the New York Times points out, in our modern world, we are exposed to light long after the sun sets. While any type of light can disturb your sleep, the blue wavelength light given off by cell phones, laptops, tablets and other gadgets is particularly troublesome. Research shows that this blue light causes alertness so decisively that it can actually be used to fight tiredness.
According to the National Sleep Foundation, 95 percent of Americans use some device, whether it’s a TV, laptop, cell phone or other products, within an hour of killing time. “Artificial light exposure between dusk and the time we go to bed at night push our sleeping sense to a later hour - making it more difficult to fall asleep,” said Charles Czeisler, Ph. D. , M. D. , chief of the division of sleep medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston.
Instead, experts recommend turning off all devices an hour before bedtime and finding another method for relaxation, like reading a book, taking a warm bath or performing a series of calming yoga poses. It’s also a good idea to exercise and lay off the caffeine several hours before bedtime.
【小题1】 According to a recent survey, most tablet owners use their iPad ________.
| A．in the living room | B．in the bedroom |
| C．in the office | D．on the move |
| A．The light from cell phones is harmful |
| B．Modern people have trouble falling asleep |
| C．Darkness can create a good sleeping environment |
| D．Blue light can prevent sleepiness decreasing |
| A．dream of it | B．stay awake | C．feel sleepy | D．become tired |
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科目：高中英语 来源： 题型：阅读理解
[1] As adolescents(青少年), having a meaningful effect on the world can seem like an impossible task for the simple fact of being kids. Changing the world does not only mean finding a cure for cancer, eliminating poverty, or finding the origin of humanity, but recycling a piece of paper as well. Going Green is a practical way that adolescents can have a real, meaningful influence in the world. There are numerous options of how individuals can change their lifestyles to be more eco-conscious(有生态环保意识的). What follows are three simple ways young adolescents can go green and change the world.
1. Recycle
[2] According to a Wire & Twine online article, 63 million newspapers come out every day and of those 44 million are thrown away; recycling the Sunday newspaper alone we could save half a million trees a week.
[3] The age of technology constantly creates new phones, iPods, or new computers. Many will stand in line for hours if not days to get their hands on the new piece of technology, but what happens with the old ones once they are replaced? Nothing, according to Earth911 about 75% of the old devices sit in the back of a drawer collecting dust. By taking them to the local stores that collect them, they go to poor people which in turn removes them from landfills(垃圾填埋场) where the phones explode because of the lead and lithium-ion(锂离子) the phones contain.
2. Go vegetarian one day a week
[4] Instead of breaking down the pros and cons(利弊) of the vegetarian lifestyle into a long boring paragraph, here are some astonishing facts on going vegetarian for only one day. According to Noam Mohr, a physicist at the New York University, the United States would save 100 billion gallons of water which is enough to supply all homes in New England for about 4 months.
[5] The United States would save 70 million gallons of gas which is enough to fuel all the cars of Canada and Mexico combined and still have some to spare. The United States could prevent 3 million tons of soil erosion(侵蚀), 4.5 million tons of animal wastes, and about 7 tons of ammonia emissions (氨排放). The Environmental Defense concludes with the most interesting fact: if the entire population gives up one meal of chicken, the amount of carbon dioxide accumulated would be the same amount if more than half a million cars were taken off U.S. roads.
3. 第6题
[6] Most drink bottled water because of the common view that bottled water is healthier than regular tap water; actually, 25% of bottled water comes from regular tap water and all that is done extra is it going through a filter(过滤器). Tap water has higher regulations from the FDA (Food and Drug Administration美国食品药品管理局) than bottled water does. Companies do not need to list where they got the water from, how they purify the water, or what chemicals their plastic water bottles contain. Plastic bottles do not get recycled 90% of the time which results in 1.5 million tons of plastic in landfills which take thousands of years to rot. Not only are you drinking the same water as that in your house but also paying extra. The average 24-pack of bottled water cost $3.97 at the local Wal-Mart and a reusable water bottle cost between $4.99-$7.99; just imagine how much money could be saved if reusable water bottles replaced plastic water bottles.
[7] Changing the world for a positive has to start somewhere and while it may be hard and at times it may seem as if the small changes that are being done are not affecting the world, keep in mind what Margaret Mead once said, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”
【小题1】What’s the whole passage mainly talked about?
| A．Ways to protect environment. | B．Ways to become powerful. |
| C．The importance of recycling. | D．The importance of saving water. |
| A．Changing the world involves many questions. |
| B．It’s not easy to change the world. |
| C．Changing the world is not so difficult. |
| D．We can actually do everything. |
| A．About 44%. | B．About 63%. | C．About 70%. | D．About 75%. |
| A．does a lot of reasoning | B．uses many facts |
| C．borrows VIPs’ phrases | D．puts forward new ideas |
| A．Much water and gas would be saved. | B．Much land would be spared. |
| C．More animals would survive. | D．More cars would be on the roads. |
| A．Drink healthy water | B．Produce bottled water |
| C．Give up bottled water | D．Reuse tap water |
| A．They think it’s cheaper. |
| B．They think it’s healthier. |
| C．They think it’s more fashionable. |
| D．They think it’s environmental friendly. |
| A．We should find a proper time to start action |
| B．Small changes will make big differences. |
| C．Personal efforts will not affect the world. |
| D．A small group of people matters. |
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科目：高中英语 来源： 题型：阅读理解
Baekeland and Hartmann report that the " short sleepers" had been more or less average in their sleep needs until the men were in their teens. But at about age 15 0r so, the men voluntarily began cutting down their nightly sleep time because of pressures from school, work, and other activities. These men tended to regard their nightly periods of unconsciousness as bothersome interruptions in their daily routines.
In general, these "short sleepers" appeared ambitious, active, energetic and cheerful. They stuck to their opinions, and were very sure about their job choices..They often held several jobs at once, or worked full-or part-time while going to school. And many of them had a strong urge to appear "normal" or " acceptable" to their friends and colleagues.
When asked to remember their dreams, the " short sleepers" did poorly. More than this, they seemed to prefer not remembering. Similarly, their usual way of dealing with psychological problems was not to admit that the problem existed, and then to keep busy in the hope that the trouble would go away.
The sleep patterns of the " short sleepers" were similar to, but less extreme than, sleep patterns shown by many mental patients categorized as manic (躁狂者).
The "long sleepers" were quite different indeed. Baekeland and Hanmann report that these young men have been lengthy sleepers since childhood. They seemed to enjoy their sleep, protected it, and were quite concemed when sometimes they didn't have their desired 9 hours of nightly bed rest. They tended to remember their dreams much better than the " short sleepers". Many of the "long sleepers" were shy, anxious, quiet, nervous, passive, mildly depressed, and unsure of themselves ( particularly in social situations) . Several openly stated that sleep was an escape from their daily problems.
【小题1】From the passage, we can leam that .
| A．"short sleepers" need less sleep by nature |
| B．"long sleepers" sleep a longer period of time during the day |
| C．many "long sleepers" preserve their sleeping habit formed during their childhood |
| D．many " short sleepers" have to reduce their nightly sleep time because of busy work |
| A．sleep is a good way to escape from the reality |
| B．sleep is not so important as their daily activities |
| C．sleep affects their judgment on some important things |
| D．sleep is the best way to deal with psychological troubles |
| A．do not know how to relax properly |
| B．are more unlikely to run into mental problems |
| C．are full of energy even under the pressures of life |
| D．often pay little attention to the consequences of inadequate sleep |
| A．appear disturbed | B．become energetic |
| C．feel dissatisfied | D．be extremely unhappy |
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科目：高中英语 来源： 题型：阅读理解
All too often, a choice that seems sustainable(可持续的)turns out on closer examination to be problematic. Probably the best example is the rush to produce ethanol(乙醇) for fuel from corn. Corn is a renewable resource —you can harvest it and grow more, almost limitlessly. So replacing gas with corn ethanol seems like a great idea.
One might get a bit more energy out of the ethanol than that used to make it, which could still make ethanol more sustainable than gas generally, but that’s not the end of the problem. Using corn to make ethanol means less corn is left to feed animals and people, which drives up the cost of food. That result leads to turning the fallow land –including, in some cases, rain forest in places such as Brazil—into farmland, which in turn gives off lots of carbon dioxide (CO) into the air. Finally, over many years, the energy benefit from burning ethanol would make up for the forest loss. But by then, climate change would have progressed so far that it might not help.
You cannot really declare any practice “sustainable” until you have done a complete life-cycle analysis of its environmental(环境的) costs. Even then, technology and public keep developing, and that development can lead to unforeseen and undesired results. The admirable goal of living sustainably requires plenty of thought on an ongoing basis.
【小题1】What might directly cause the loss of the forest according to the text?
| A．The growing demand for energy to make ethanol |
| B．The increasing carbon dioxide in the air |
| C．The greater need for farmland |
| D．The big change in weather. |
| A．the energy benefit | B．the forest loss |
| C．climate change | D．burning ethanol |
| A．impractical | B．acceptable | C．admirable | D．useless |
| A．Technology | B．Sustainability |
| C．Ethanol energy | D．Environmental protection |
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科目：高中英语 来源： 题型：阅读理解
As rain begins to fall from the clouds, it is very pure. However, as it falls through the air it dissolves some of the gases in the air ,It also collects bits of dust and microbes(微生物)that are floating in the air, When the rain reaches the ground it begins to pick up more dust and dirt, Many kinds of mineral substances dissolve in the water ,Sand and nud cannot dissolve in water.
Since water is so important to us, it is very important that the water we use should be clean , Otherwise, we might get some of the diseases that are carried by water Many microbes are harmful ,They are so small that we cannot see them ,These microbes must be removed or killed before the water is not clean, people who drink this water may get these diseases, Thus , to provide people with clean water, the government purifies the water.
Purification is a long process and consists of three stages: storing ,purifying and distributing ,The first stage is storing , Man-made lakes called reservoirs are used for this purpose ,Water from the rains ,other lakes, streams and rivers is collected in the reservoirs ,This water is usually dirty and muddy.
In the second stage shich is purifying , water from the reservoirs is filtered in a special pond, Stones, sand and other unwanted tiny things are caught in it, After that, tiny microbes are still present in the water ,These microbes are removed by “airing ”the water and by adding a chemical substance called chloring(氯)to the water ,This kills all the microbes in the water ,A fter this the water can be safely used for drinking.
The third stage is the distribution of the purified water to homes ,hospitals, offices ,factories and other places, This is done through a network of pipes of various sizes, These pipes must be make of a suitable material.
【小题1】From Paragraph 1, we can learn that
| A．Rain has contained gases when it forms in the clouds |
| B．Dust and microbes are dissolved in rain when rain falls on the ground |
| C．The closer rain is to the ground, the more impure things it contains |
| D．Sand and mud are things rain collects when it falls through the air |
| A．All the microbes in water are harmful so water must be purified |
| B．some diseases can spread through drinking water if it is not clean |
| C．Water is safe to drink if only harmful microbes are removed from it |
| D．it is the govrnment’s responsibility to make drinking water clean |
| A．It is used through the whole process of purification |
| B．Only rain water can be collected and stored in it |
| C．Water collected can be stored and filtered in it |
| D．Water from them contains a lot of impure substances |
| A．to air the water | B．to catch tiny things |
| C．to kill microbes | D．to remove harmful gases |
| A．A news report | B．A book review | C．A magazine article | D．A school paper |
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科目：高中英语 来源： 题型：阅读理解
Full face transplants are no longer science fiction fantasy, a leading surgeon has said, adding that they are technically practical but ethically（道德地）complex.
Peter Butler from London’s Royal Free Hospital called for a debate on the ethics of such an operation made possible by new drugs which stop the body’s immune (免疫）system rejecting a transplanted face. “It is not ‘can you do it?’ but ‘should we do it?’” he told the BBC. “The technical part is not complex, but I don’t think that’s going to be the very great difficulty. The ethical and moral debate is obviously going to have to take place before the first facial transplantation.”
The British Association of Plastic Surgeons will discuss the microsurgical procedure (微型外科技术), which could give new skin, bone, nose, chin, lips and ears from deceased donors to patients disfigured（毁容的）by accidents, burns or cancer. But surgeons could have trouble finding enough willing donors. Butler said his survey of doctors, nurses and members of the public showed most would accept a face transplant but few were willing to donate their own after dying.
Despite a number of ethical concerns, Christine Piff, who founded the charity Let’s Face It after suffering a rare facial cancer 25 years ago, welcomed the possibility of face transplants. She rejected the idea that the procedure would mean people would end up living with a dead person’s face. “There are so many people without faces, I have half a face… but we are all so much more than just a face… you don’t take on their personality. You are still you,” she told reporters. “If we can donate other organs of the body then why not the face. I can’t see anything wrong with it.”
【小题1】The underlined word “deceased” in the third paragraph probably means _________.
| A．living | B．dead | C．diseased | D．dying |
| A．who are dishonorable and shameless |
| B．who disagree with the full face transplant |
| C．who are seriously injured by an accident |
| D．who are disfigured by accidents, burns and cancer |
| A．Drugs are available to stop the body’s immune system rejecting a transplanted face. |
| B．There are some people who are willing to donate their faces after dying. |
| C．Most people accept the idea of face transplants. |
| D．It’s morally practical, though technically complex. |
| A．Christine Piff has been the first lucky patient to receive a face transplant. |
| B．Surgeons have difficulty finding enough willing donors. |
| C．The main difficulty with the operation lies in the matter of ethics and morality. |
| D．Nobody other than Christine Piff is quite in favor of the donation of organs. |
| A．First Facial Transplantation |
| B．Debate on the Ethics of Transplant |
| C．Face Transplant No Longer Science Fantasy |
| D．Let’s Face It |
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