高三英语阅读理解限时训练_4
高考英语晚自习限时练习

高三英语晚自习限时训练【3月31日晚限制:不超过65-70分钟】【六选四阅读+语法填空+选词填空+阅读理解+小作文+读后续写】姓名:__________ 班级:___________一、六选四阅读1.Read the following passage. Fill in each blank with a proper sentence given in the box. Each sentence can be used only once. Note that there are two more sentences than you need.A. The animals, to some extent, become tools to us.B. Although violence against zoo animals is often reported, the issue of animalwelfare has aroused little attention recently.C. By taking a selfie, you show that you're part of that experience.D. The comparison between caged animals and wild ones are appealing to people.E. Similar incidents are a regular occurrence in natural settings.F. The common factor is that some people are not respecting animal.of a Jaguar (美洲虎) enclosure at Wildlife World Zoo, Arizona. The jaguar ripped into her arm. Bystanders pulled her away before the animal could injure her further. She's fine-so is the jaguar.This isn't the first time a story of a person acting rudely to get close to a wild animal made headlines. Last year, a man jumped into a lion enclosure at a zoo for a close-up photo. Multiple tourists in Yellowstone National Park have been attacked by bison (野牛) whenthey've gotten too close for a photo.It's common sense not to get close to wild animals that can hurt you. It's why zoos have barriers -sometimes multiple walls-to keep people separated from animals. Signs posted everywhere state the obvious warning. Keep your hands off the cage."Yet animals have become less real to us," says an environmentalist. We see exotic animals most frequently in managed settings like zoos. People are trying to take advantage of their rarity to show off on social media and ignore their fierceness.Media often normalize interaction with dangerous animals. Seeing a man like "Lion Whisperer" Kevin Richardson regularly play-fight with lions on TV, may send the message that these animals aren't so dangerous after all.Social media are also perfectly positioned to contribute to the rise of animal selfies.Getting likes and comments provide instant satisfaction. Your self-esteem actually gets a temporary boost. To hold onto that feeling, people may go to more and more extremes to showcase the most exciting versions of themselves. It may not be enough to get a photo of a beautiful, dangerous animal from outside a cage.People's careless approach can put the animal's safety at risk as well. Zoo animals often must be killed to protect the person who's entered their space. In fact, thrill-seekers actively endanger the lives of animals. with the zoo environment, they take it for granted that animals are there for people, ignoring the fact that animals and humans are both equal existents in the nature.二、语法填空阅读下面短文,在空白处填入1个恰当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。
【练习】2021届高三英语下学期限时训练一有详解

高三英语限时训练一总分65分第一部分:阅读理解(共两节,满分30分)第一节(共7个小题:每小题2.5分,满分17.5分)AWhat do the random, scribbled(潦草的)drawings crowding the margins(页边空白)of most high school students’ papers mean? When a student is caught doodling(乱画)in class, he will probably be criticized for daydreaming. But doodling while listening can help with remembering details, rather than implying that the mind is wandering, according to a study published in the scientific journal Applied Cognitive Psychology.In an experiment conducted b y the Medical Research Council’s Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit in Cambridge,40 subjects were asked to listen to a two-minute tape giving several names of people and places. Half of the participants were asked to shade in shapes on a piece of paper at the same time, without paying attention to neatness, while the rest were given no such instructions. After the tape had finished, all participants in the study were asked to recall the names of people and places. The doodlers recalled on average 7.5 names of people and places, compared to only 5.8 by the non-doodlers.“If someone is doing a boring task, like listening to a dull telephone conversation, they may start to daydream.” said study researcher, Professor Jackie Andrade, of the School of Psychology, U niversity of Plymouth. “Daydreaming distracts them from the task, resulting in poorer performance. A simple task, like doodling, may be enough tostop daydreaming without affecting performance on the main task.”“In psychology, tests of memory or attention will often use a second task to selectively block a particular mental process. If that process is important for the main task, then performance will be weakened. But my research suggests that in everyday life doodling may be something we do because it helps to keep us on track with a boring task, rather than being an unnecessary distraction(分心)that we should try to resist doing.” said Andrade.Dan Ware, a social study teacher, used to consider doodling a distraction from learning, but after teaching kids with all personality types he learned scribbling away during lectures helps certain students remember more information. “In my first few years of teaching, I thought, ‘Well, this kid isn’t paying attention. He’s daydreaming.’ But I had some really powerful experiences with students and came to understand in many cases that was their way of focusing, and those students were probably paying more attention than other students.” Ware said.1. What do we know about the participants involved in the experiment?A. Some were asked to note down the information neatly.B. Some were asked to memorize the names they would hear.C. Some were instructed to listen to the tape with full attention.D. Some were instructed to make random drawings on paper.2. Which of the following will both Jackie Andrade and Dan Ware agree with?A. Doodling helps some people focus.B. Doodling makes a dull task interesting.C. Students who doodle perform poorly.D. Students who doodle lack concentration.3. What is the best title of the text?A. Daydreaming Can Sharpen Study SkillsB. Doodling Can Help Memory RecallC. A Wandering Mind Improves ProductivityD. Distractions Harm Academic PerformanceBShyness is the cause of much unhappiness for a great many people. Shy people are anxious and self-conscious; that is, they are concerned about their own appearance and actions too much. Negative thoughts are constantly occurring in their minds: What kind of impression am I making? Do they like me? Do I sound stupid? Am I wearing unattractive clothes?It is obvious that such uncomfortable feelings must affect people unfavorably. A person’s self-concept is reflected in the way he or she behaves and the way a person behaves affects other people’s reactions. In general, the way people think about themselves has a deep effect on all areas of their lives.Shy people, who have low respect, are likely to be passive and easily influenced by others. They need faith that they are doing "the right thing". Shy people are very sensitive to criticism. It makes them feel inferior(自卑). They also find it difficult to be pleased by praises because they believe they are unworthy of praise. A shy person may respond to a praise with a statement like this one: "You’re just saying that to make me feel good. I kn ow it’s not true."It is clear that, while self-awareness is a healthy quality, overdoing it is harmful.Can shyness be completely got rid of, or at least reduced? Fortunately, people can overcome shyness with determination since shyness goes hand in hand with lack ofself-respect. It is important for people to accept their weaknesses as well as their strengths. Each one of us has his or her own characteristics. We are interested in our own personal ways. The better we understand ourselves, the easier it becomes to live up to our chances for a rich and successful life.4. The first paragraph is mainly about ____________. .A. the cause of shynessB. the effect of shyness on peopleC. the feelings of shy peopleD. the questions in the minds of shy people5. According to the writer, self-awareness is ____________.A. harmful to peopleB. a weak point of peopleC. the cause of unhappinessD. a good characteristic6. What is the shy people’s reaction to praise?A. They are pleased by it. B They feel it is not true.C. They are very sensitive to it.D. They feel they are worthy of it.7. We can learn from the passage that shyness ____________.A. blocks our chances for a successful lifeB. helps us to live up to our full developmentC. enables us to understand ourselves betterD. has nothing to do with lack of self-respect第二节七选五(共5小题,每小题2.5分,满分12.5分)根据短文内容,从短文后的选项中选出能填入空白处的最佳选项,选项中有两项为多余选项。
(全国卷)高考英语二轮复习 强化技能限时训练(二)语法填空(有提示词类试题)阅读理解-人教版高三全册

强化技能限时训练(二)语法填空(有提示词类试题)+阅读理解(限时30分钟)Ⅰ.语法填空( A )1. She was put under house arrest two years ago but remained a powerful (symbolic) in last year’s election.2. She wished that he was as easy (please) as her mother,who was always delighted with perfume.3.As time went on,the old man’s health is getting from bad to (bad).4.The (tall) of the two girls is the girl I always talk about with you.5.Only (environment) problems are discussed at the meeting.6.It is a well-known fact that smoking is (harm) to our health.7.As we all know,English is (wide) used in our daily life.8. Mary felt (please),because there were many empty seats in the room.9. What was so (impress)about Jasmine Westland’s victory was that she came first in the marathon bare-footed.10. She turned off her phone and (rejoin) them at the table.答案与剖析:1.symbol 此题考查派生词的用法。
2021届江苏省常州市金沙高级中学高三下学期限时训练(一)英语试题(解析版)

江苏省常州市金沙高级中学2021届高三下学期限时训练(一)英语试题第一部分:阅读理解(共两节,满分30分)第一节(共7个小题:每小题2.5分,满分17.5分)AWhat do the random, scribbled(潦草的)drawings crowding the margins(页边空白)of most high school students’ papers mean? When a student is caught doodling(乱画)in class, he will probably be criticized for daydreaming. But doodling while listening can help with remembering details, rather than implying that the mind is wandering, according to a study published in the scientific journal Applied Cognitive Psychology.In an experiment conducted by the Medical Research Council’s Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit in Cambridge,40 subjects were asked to listen to a two-minute tape giving several names of people and places. Half of the participants were asked to shade in shapes on a piece of paper at the same time, without paying attention to neatness, while the rest were given no such instructions. After the tape had finished, all participants in the study were asked to recall the names of people and places. The doodlers recalled on average 7.5 names of people and places, compared to only 5.8 by the non-doodlers.“If someone is doing a boring task, like listening to a dull telephone conversation, they may start to daydream.” said study researcher, Professor Jackie Andrade, of the School of P sychology, University of Plymouth. “Daydreaming distracts them from the task, resulting in poorer performance. A simple task, like doodling, may be enough to stop daydreaming without affecting performance on the main task.”“In psychology, tests of memory or attention will often use a second task to selectively block a particular mental process. If that process is important for the main task, then performance will be weakened. But my research suggests that in everyday life doodling may be something we do because it helps to keep us on track with a boring task, rather than being an unnecessary distraction(分心)that we should try to resist doing.” said Andrade.Dan Ware, a social study teacher, used to consider doodling a distraction from learning, butafter teaching kids with all personality types he learned scribbling away during lectures helps certain students remember more information. “In my first few years of teaching, I thought, ‘Well, this kid isn’t paying attention. He’s daydreaming.’ But I had some real ly powerful experiences with students and came to understand in many cases that was their way of focusing, and those students were probably paying more attention than other students.” Ware said.1. What do we know about the participants involved in the experiment?A. Some were asked to note down the information neatly.B. Some were asked to memorize the names they would hear.C. Some were instructed to listen to the tape with full attention.D. Some were instructed to make random drawings on paper.2. Which of the following will both Jackie Andrade and Dan Ware agree with?A. Doodling helps some people focus.B. Doodling makes a dull task interesting.C. Students who doodle perform poorly.D. Students who doodle lack concentration.3. What is the best title of the text?A. Daydreaming Can Sharpen Study SkillsB. Doodling Can Help Memory RecallC. A Wandering Mind Improves ProductivityD. Distractions Harm Academic PerformanceBShyness is the cause of much unhappiness for a great many people. Shy people are anxious and self-conscious; that is, they are concerned about their own appearance and actions too much. Negative thoughts are constantly occurring in their minds: What kind of impression am I making? Do they like me? Do I sound stupid? Am I wearing unattractive clothes?It is obvious that such uncomfortable feelings must affect people unfavorably. A person’s self-concept is reflected in the way he or she behaves and the way a person behaves affects other people’s reactions. In general, the way p eople think about themselves has a deep effect on all areas of their lives.Shy people, who have low respect, are likely to be passive and easily influenced by others. They need faith that they are doing "the right thing". Shy people are very sensitive to criticism. It makes them feel inferior(自卑). They also find it difficult to be pleased by praises because they believe they are unworthy of praise. A shy person may respond to a praise with a statement like this one: "You’re just saying that to make me feel good. I know it’s not true."It is clear that,. while self-awareness is a healthy quality, overdoing it is harmful.Can shyness be completely got rid of, or at least reduced? Fortunately, people can overcomeshyness with determination since shyness goes hand in hand with lack of self-respect. It isimportant for people to accept their weaknesses as well as their strengths. Each one of us has hisor her own characteristics. We are interested in our own personal ways. The better we understandourselves, the easier it becomes to live up to our chances for a rich and successful life.4. The first paragraph is mainly about ____________.A. the cause of shynessB. the effect of shyness on peopleC. the feelings of shy peopleD. the questions in the minds of shy people5. According to the writer, self-awareness is ____________.A. harmful to peopleB. a weak point of peopleC. the cause of unhappinessD. a good characteristic6. What is the shy people’s reaction to praise?A. They are pleased by it. B They feel it is not true.C. They are very sensitive to it.D. They feel they are worthy of it.7. We can learn from the passage that shyness ____________.A. blocks our chances for a successful lifeB. helps us to live up to our full developmentC. enables us to understand ourselves betterD. has nothing to do with lack of self-respect第二节(共5小题,每小题2.5分,满分12.5分)根据短文内容,从短文后的选项中选出能填入空白处的最佳选项,选项中有两项为多余选项。
高考英语专题突破阅读理解限时精练1.doc

阅读理解限时训练与解析A(5minutes)I found out one time that doing a favor for someone could get you into a lot of trouble. I was in the eighth grade at the time, and we were having a final test. During the test, the girl sitting next to me whispered something, but I didn’t understand. So I leaned over her way and found out that she was trying to ask me if I had an extra pen. She showed me that hers was out of ink and would not write. I happened to have an extra one, so I took it out of my pocket and put it on her desk.Later, after the test papers had been turned in, the teacher asked me to stay in the room when all the other students were dismissed(解散). As soon as we were alone she began to talk to me about what it meant to grow up; she talked about how important it was to stand on your own two feet and be responsible (负责任) for your own acts. For a long time, she talked about honesty and emphasized(强调)the fact that when people do something dishonest, they are really cheating (欺骗)themselves. She made me promise that I would think seriously(认真地)about all the things she had said, and then she told me I could leave. I walked out of the room wondering why she had chosen to talk to me about all those things.Later on, I found out that she thought I had cheated on the test. When she saw me lean over to talk to the girl next to me, it looked as if I was copying answers from the girl’s test paper. I trie d to explain about the pen, but all she could say was it seemed very very strange to her that I hadn’t talked of anything about the pen the day she talked to me right after the test. Even if I tried to explain that I was just doing the girl a favor by letting her use my pen, I am sure she continued(继续)to believe that I had cheated on the test.1. The story took place(发生)exactly ____ .A. in the teacher’s officeB. in an exam roomC. in the schoolD. in the language lab2. The girl wanted to borrow a pen, because ____ .A. she had not brought a pen with herB. she had lost her own on her way to schoolC. there was something wrong with her ownD. her own had been taken away by someone3. The teacher saw all this, so she asked the boy ____ .A. to go on writing his paperB. to stop whisperingC. to leave the room immediatelyD. to stay behind after the exam4. The thing(s) emphasized in her talk was(were) ____ .A. honestyB. sense of dutyC. seriousnessD. all of the above5. The boy knew everything ____ .A. the moment he was asked to stay behindB. when the teacher started talking about honestyC. only some time laterD. when he was walking out of the roomB(7minutes)Some kids start to drink alcohol (酒精) at a young age. They think it is part of becoming an adult. They also think drinking is not that bad because so many people do it. They feel it is not as bad as taking drugs (毒品). It is easy for kids to get liquor (酒精饮料)by using fake identification (伪造证件).Parents may start to notice a change in their child’s behavior if the child starts drinking. Kids who drink sometimes stop doing things they normally liked to do. They may keep telephone calls and meetings a secret and not want anybody to touch their things. They act moody (喜怒无常) and do not have the same eating and sleeping habits.Parents need to stay involved (牵涉) in their kids’ lives. They should talk to their children about their problems to be aware of any changes.Parents can be the best protection. Children who get a lot of love can feel good about themselves. It helps them resist(抵抗)doing bad things even when other kids are doing them. Parents can also help set a good example by not drinking and driving. They can have firm rules in the home that everyone follows.Give the children good ideas on how to say “no” to drinking, even when they are at a party. Try not to overreact or panic (惊慌) if the child tries alcohol. How you handle it can affect their attitude. It may be helpful to talk to other parents about setting up curfews (宵禁令) and rules about parties or other events.1. Which of the following is NOT the reason why some kids have an early start of drinking?A. They want to show their maturity (成熟) by drinking alcohol.B. Drinking alcohol is much cooler than taking drugs.C. They are affected by many other people around them.D. They can get liquor easily.2.According to the passage, what changes may happen to the kids who start drinking?A. Nothing serious will happen to them.B. They keep the same eating and sleeping habits.C. They can control their moods quite well.D. Sometimes they act secretly.3.According to the writer, if parents find their children try alcohol, they had better ________.A. punish them at onceB. ask the police for helpC. ask their children’s friends for helpD. set up curfews and rules about parties or other events with other parents4.Which is the main subject discussed in the passage?A.Teen health.B. Teen education.C.Teen drinkingD. Parents’ worries.C(6minutes)Everyday we go to school and listen to the teacher, and the teacher will ask us some questions. Sometimes, the classmates will ask your opinions of the work of the class. When you are telling others in the class what you have found out about these topics, remember that they must be able to hear what you are saying. You are not taking part in a family conversation or having a chat(闲谈)with friends—you are in a slightly unnatural situation where a large group of people will remain silent, waiting to hear what you have to say. You must speak so that they can hear you—loudly enough and clearly enough but without trying to shout of appearing to force yourself. Remember, too, that it is the same if you are called to an interview whether it is with a professor of your school or a government official who might meet you. The person you are seeing will try to put you at your ease(轻松)but the situation is somewhat(一点儿)different from that of anordinary conversation. You must take special care that you can be heard.1.When you speak to the class, you should speak ________.A.as loudly as possible B.in a low voiceC.loudly D.forcefullyually, when you speak to the class, the class is __________.A.noisy B.quiet C.having a rest D.serious3.The situation in the class is ________ that in your house.A.not very different from B.sometimes the same asC..sometimes not the same as D.not the same as4. If you are having a conversation with an official, the most important thing for you is _______. A.to show your ability B.to be very gentleC. to make sure that you can be heard D.to put the official at ease5.The main idea of this passage is ________.A.that we must use different ways at different situationsB.that we must speak loudlyC.that we must keep silent at any timeD.that we must talk with the classD(6minutes)Computers are very important to modern life.Many people think that in the future computers will be used in lots of everyday life.It is thought that we won’t have to go shopping because we will be able to get most things which are sold in shops on the Internet.There will be no more books because we will be able to get all texts from computers.The Internet will be used to play games, see films and buy food.Most telephone calls will be made by computers, too.Some people are glad about those new ways of shopping and communicating(交流).Others do not think that computers will replace(代替)our old ways.Some people think that one day we will not read books made of paper. Instead, we will buy and read books using computers, which will keep many different books in them at the same time.We won’t need to turn lots of pages and paper will be saved.Computerized (计算机化的) books will be used more and more.While many people say it is a pleasure to go into shops and look at things you want to buy.It is also unlikely that many people will want to read large texts on our computers. Because paper books will perhaps be more friendly.Maybe computers won’t change these two habits.1.Which is the main idea of this passage?A. People like going shoppingB. Reading books is importantC. Computers are importantD. Computer can be used to play games2.There will be no more books because________.A. There is no paper in the future.B. People don’t like reading books.C. They are very expensive.D. We can read passages from computers.3.Which of the following is TRUE?A. We can see films by computers.B. People all like to go shopping by computers.C. We can’t buy anything using computers.D. All the people like reading books from computers.4. Which of the following is mentioned (提到) in the passage?A. Computers can help us e-mail our friends.B. We can chat by using computers.C. Computers can help us make telephone calls.D. We can listen to the music by computers.E(5minutes)1. If an Englishman who has worked in China for 3 years comes to English Newspaper office toask for the job in April, he will _____.A. get the jobB. not get the jobC. be a good editorD. not be useful2. If three adults and six students went to watch the match, the tickets would cost them _____ yuan.A. 165B. 135C. 196D. 2553. Which of the following is NOT TRUE?A. The shopping center is at NO. 6 Xidan road.B. The telephone number of English Newspaper is 3890666.C. The match was between Beijing Team and Guo'an Team.D. Xu Genbao is a coach.【答案及解析】A.1. B 故事发生在考试进行期间,故选B。
高考英语二轮复习 限时专题训练 文化型阅读理解

语鹅市安置阳光实验学校专题限时训练(二十五) [文化教育型阅读理解](限时:每篇7分钟)(一)There are many famous museums throughout the world where people can enjoy art. Washington D .C.has the National Gallery of Art (美术馆); Paris has the Louvre; London, the British Museum. Florida International University (FIU) in Miami also shows art for people to see. And it does so without a building, or even a wall for its drawings and paintings.FIU has opened what it says is the first computer art museum in the United States. You don’t have to visit the University to see the art. You just need a computer linked to a telephone.You can call the telephone number of a University computer and connect your own computer to it. All of the art is stored in the school computer. It is computer art, produced electronically (采用电子手段) by artists in their own computers. In only a few minutes, your computer can receive and copy all the pictures and drawings.Robert Shostak is director of the new computer museum. He says he started the museum because computer artists had no place to show their work.A computer artist could only record his pictures electronically and send the records, or floppy discs (软盘), to others to see on their computers. He could also put his pictures on paper. But to print good pictures in paper, the computer artist needed an expensive laser (激光) printer.Robert Shostak says the electronic museum is mostly for art or computer students at schools and universities. Many of the pictures in the museum are made by students. Mr Shostak says the FIU museum will make computer art more fun for computer artists because more people can see it. He says artists will enjoy their work much more if they havean_audience. And the great number of home computers in America could mean a huge audience for the electronic museum.( )1.The main purpose of this text is to give information about________.A.famous museums through the worldB.a computer art museum in Miami, U.S.A.C.art exhibitions in Florida International UniversityD.latest development in computer art( )2.To see the art in FIU museum, your special needsinclude________.A.floppy discsB.a computer and a printerC.pictures and drawings on paperD.a computer connected to the museum by telephone line( )3.What are stored in this museum?A.Paintings drawn by means of computer.B.Different styles of paintings.C.Old paintings.D.Drawings done by art students of FIU.( )4.The museum was started when________.A.Robert Shostak wanted to do something for computer scientists B.Robert Shostak wanted to help computer artistsC.art students needed a place to show their worksD.computer scientists wanted to do something about art( )5.The words “an audience” in the last paragraph here refer to ________.A.art studentsB.owners of computersC.exhibits in the museumD.those who can enjoy art(二)Most young people enjoy some forms of physical activities. It may be walking, cycling or swimming, or in winter, skating or skiing. It may be a game of some kind, football, hockey, golf, tennis, or it may be mountaineering.Those who have a passion (热情,激情) for climbing high and difficult mountains are often looked upon with astonishment. Why are men and women willing to suffer cold and hardship, and to take risks on high mountains? This astonishment is caused probably by the difference between mountaineering and other forms of activities to which men give their leisure.Mountaineering is a sport and not a game. There are no manmade rules, as there are for such games as golf and football. There are, of course, rules of a different kind, which would be dangerous to ignore, but it is this freedom from manmade rules that makes mountaineeringattractive to many people. Those who climb mountains are free to use their own methods.If we compare mountaineering with other more familiar sports, we might think that one big difference is that mountaineering is not a “game”. We would be mistaken in this assumption. There are, it is true, no “matches” between “teams” of climbers, but when climbers are on a rock face linked by a rope on which their lives may depend, there is obviously teamwork.The mountain climber knows that he may have to fight forces that are stronger and more powerful than man. He has to fight the forces of nature. This sport requires high mental and physical capacities.C.it requires mental and physical qualitiesD.mountaineers depend on each other while climbing( )9.Which of the following is TRUE?A.Mountaineers compete against each other.B.Mountaineers compete against other teams.C.Mountaineers compete against nature.D.Mountaineers compete against international standard.( )10.What is the best title for the text?A.MountaineeringB.Mountain ClimbersC.Mountaineering Is Different From Golf And FootballD.Mountaineering Is More Dangerous Than Other Sports(三)Diana Jacobs thought her family had a workable plan to pay for college for her 21yearold twin sons: a combination of savings, income, scholarships, and a modest amount of borrowing. Then her husband lost his job, and the plan fell apart.“I have two kids in college, and I want to say ‘come home,’ but at the same time I want to provide them with a good education,” says Jacobs.The Jacobs family did work out a solution: They asked and received more aid from the schools, and each son increased his borrowing to the maximum amount through the federal loan (贷款) program. They will each graduate with $20,000 of debt, but at least they will be able to finish school.With unemployment rising, financial aid administrators expect to hear from more families like the Jacobses.More students are applyingfor aid, and more families expect to need student loans. College administrators are concerned that they will not have enough aid money to go around.At the same time, tuition(学费)continues to rise. A report from the National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education found that college tuition and fees increased 439% from 1982 to 2007, while average family income rose just 147%. Student borrowing has more than doubled in the last decade.“If we go on this way for another 25 years, we won’t have an affordable system of higher education,” says Patrick M. Callan, president of the center. “The middle class families have been financing it through debt. They will send kids to college whatever it takes, even if that means a huge amount of debt.”Financial aid administrators have been having a hard time as many companies decide that student loans are not profitable enough and have stopped making them. The good news, however, is that federal loans account for about three quarters of student borrowing, and the government says that money will flow uninterrupted.( )11.According to Paragraph 1,why did the plan of the Jacobs family fail?A.The twins wasted too much money.B.The father was out of work.C.Their savings ran out.D.The family fell apart.( )12.How did the Jacobses manage to solve their problem?A. They asked their kids to come home.B. They borrowed $20,000 from the schools.C.They encouraged their twin sons to do parttime jobs.D.They got help from the schools and the federal government.( )13.Financial aid administrators believe that ________.A. more families will face the same problem as the JacobsesB. the government will receive more letters of complaintC.college tuition fees will double soonD. America’s unemployment will fall( )14.What can we learn about the middle class families from the text?A. They blamed the government for the tuition increase.B. Their income remained steady in the last decade.C.They will try their best to send kids to college.D. Their debts will be paid off within 25 years.( )15.According to the last paragraph, the government will________.A. provide most students with scholarshipsB. dismiss some financial aid administratorsC.stop the companies from making student loansD. go on providing financial support for college students专题限时训练(二十五)(一)本文讲述了位于迈阿密州的佛罗里达国际大学的电子艺术博物馆的与众不同。
专题2 阅读理解40

2012高考英语二轮复习专题限时训练专题2 阅读理解40(45分钟)ATess went to her bed room and pulled a glass jelly jar from its hiding place in the closet. She poured all the change out on the floor and counted it carefully. Three times, even. The total had to be absolutely exact. Then carefully placing the coins back in the jar and twisting on the cap, she slipped out the back door and made her way six blocks to the pharmacy(药房).She waited patiently for the pharmacist to give her some attention but he was too busy at this moment. So she took a quarter from her jar and banged it on the glass counter. That did it!“And what do you want?” the pharmacist asked in an annoyed tone of voice. “I’m talking to my brother from Chicago whom I haven’t seen in ages,” he said without waiting for a reply to his question.“Well, I want to talk to you about my brother,” Tess answered back in the same annoyed tone. “He’s really, really sick… and I want to buy a miracle.”“I beg your pardon?” said the pharmacist.“His name is Andrew and he has something bad growing inside his head and my Daddy says only a miracle can save him now. So how much does a miracle cost?”The pharmacist’s brother was a well dressed man. He bent down and asked the little girl, “What kind of a miracle does your brother need?”“I don’t know,” Tess replied with her eyes welling up. “I just know he’s really sick and Mommy says he needs an operation. But my Daddy can’t pay for it, so I want to use my money.”“How much do you have?” asked the man from Chicago.“One dollar and eleven cents,” Tess answered. “And it’s all the money I have.”“Well, what a coincidence. A dollar and eleven cents—the exact price of a miracle for little brother,” smiled the man.“Take me to where you live. I want to see your brother and meet your parents. Let’s see if I have the kind of miracle you need.”The pharmacist’s brother, Dr. Carlton Armstrong, a surgeon, was expert in neurosurgery(神经外科). The operation was completed without charge and it wasn’t long before Andrew was home again and doing well.Mom and Dad were happily talking about the chain of events that had led them to this place. “That surgery,” her Mo m whispered. “was a real miracle. I wonder how much it would have cost?”Tess smiled. S he knew exactly how much a miracle cost…one dollar and eleven cents…plus the faith of a little child.1. Tess took her money to the pharmacy to .A. pay for the doctor’s billB. buy her brother a miracleC. make a deal with the pharmacistD. see whether the money was enough2. How did Tess attract the pharmacist’s attention?A. She waited for a long time.B. She greeted the pharmacist.C. She hit the counter with a coin.D. She shouted at the pharmacist.3. It can be inferred that Andr ew’s operation would have been ______________.A. costlyB. dangerousC. seriousD. difficult4. The writer thinks it was that worked wonder and saved Andrew’s life.A. Tess’s moneyB. Dr. Armstrong’s kindnessC. Tess’s beliefD. Dr. Armstrong’s surgeryBBelow is from a book of facts.VITAL STATISTICS—MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENTS; CAUSES OF DEATHAbout 45,800people in t he US were killed in the motor vehicle accidents in 2005, according to pr eliminary figures from the National Safety Council, up 1% from the revised total for 2004. as the number of drivers (201.5 million) and vehicle miles driven (3 trillion) increased in 2005, the death rate per 100 million vehicle miles increased 1% to 1.54%.US Motor Vehicle Accidents, 2004, 2005Sources: National Safety Council; Natl. Highway Traffic Safety Admin.Deaths 2005 % change from 2004 Rate 2005All motor vehicle accidents……….. 45,800 +1 15.5Collision between motor vehicles…19,200 ─1 6.5Collision with fixed objects………. 13,700 +1 4.6Improper Driving Reported in Accidents 2000, 2002, 2005Source: National Safety CouncilPercentage of percentage of percentage offatal accidents injury accidents all accidentsType 2005 2002 2000 2005 2002 2000 2005 2002 2000 Improper driving……62.7 59.5 61.6 62.7 54.7 60.3 58.5 50.3 57.8 Speed too fast or unsafe…18.1 21.9 18.6 15.0 12.6 16.3 12.7 10.1 13.5Right of way……………… 12.2 17.4 10.1 17.5 18.9 19.9 14.3 16.4 20.1 Failed to yieldDisregarded signa l……… 1.4 4.0 8.2 2.5 3.3 1.3 1.7 3.4 2.2 Passed stop sign…………. 2.8 3.3 3.8 2.5 1.3 3.6 1.8 1.6 5.6 Drove left of center………. 8.0 5.7 0.7 2.2 0.9 1.1 1.6 0.7 1.0 Improper overtaking…….. 1.4 1.0 0.9 0.6 0.5 2.0 0.8 0.8 2.4 Made improper turn…….. 4.5 0.5 0.7 4.2 1.2 0.6 4.5 1.7 0.9 Followed too closely………. 1.0 0.4 0.9 6.8 2.8 4.3 8.7 3.8 5.7 No improper driving stated..37.3 40.5 38.4 37.3 45.3 39.7 41.5 49.7 42.2 Note: Based on reports from state traffic authorities, when a driver was under the influence of alcohol or drugs, the accident was considered a result of the driver’s physical condition—not a driving error. For this reason, accidents in which the driver was reported to be under the influence are included under “No improper driving stated”.The Leading Causes of Death in the US, 2004Source: National Center for Health Statistics, US Dept. Of Health ServicesNumber Death Rate % of deaths ALL CAUSESE ………………........... 2,397,615 826.5 100.01. Heart disease…………………….. 652,486 222.2 27.22. Cancer……………………………. 553,888 188,6 23.13. Stroke………………………….…. 150,074 51.1 6.35. In the US, people killed in all motor vechile accidents in 2005 was more than thetotal deaths in 2004.A. 3%B. 11%C. 4%D. 1%6. Among the leading causes of deaths in the US in 2004, “Accidents” took up .A. 27.2%B. 2.5%C. 9.2%D. 4.7%7. When a driver was under the influnce of acohol or drugs, the accident was includedunder .A. Other improper drivingB. Driving errorsC. No improper driving statedD. Improper drivingCCompulsive(强迫的)shoppers may have a new psychological excuse to blame for their wild shopping. Psychologists at the University of Canterbury in New Zealand are studying the “shop-till-you-drop” habit as a behavioral disorder similar to compulsive eating. Compulsive shoppers frequently buy more than they can afford or more than they need, and it causes them distress.“It becomes a problem when you are out of control,” psychology lecturer Neville Blampiedsaid. “When you are feeling bad and blue, what do you do? Some pe ople eat chocolate cake and ice cream. Some people take the credit card and go out to the shop.” Bank managers understand the problem because they have to deal with people who have to be persuaded to stop using their cards drawing money.Compulsive shopping was first discovered in 1915, although it was then known as oniomania. Few studies have been done on the problem.An advertisement in a Christchurch paper, calling for people to take part in an experimental treatment program designed by Mr Wilson, attracted 10 replies. But the problem, said Mr Wilson, is “clearly not rare”. He thinks that compulsive shopping should not be treated with drugs. “As psychologists we are interested in non-drug treatments for behavioral difficulties,” Mr Wilson said.Compulsive eaters or shoppers get a kick from their habit. “Both activities provide an immediate kind of kick and you feel a bit better,” he said. “You have long-term problems, but human beings are extremely good at not seeing long-term problems and are very sensitive to short-term benefits,” he said.The aim of the treatment was to help people find better ways of managing their emotions. The program, consisting of 10 one-hour weekly lessons and two follow-up treatments, is loosely based on teaching stress management.“You often have to start to get people to correctly recognize their emotions. Not being able to know what you really feel weakens your ability to solve the problems connected with what’s making you feel that way,” Mr Wilson said.8. What is this article mostly about?A. Signs of compulsive shopping.B. Studies of compulsive shopping.C. comparison of compulsive shopping and compulsive eating.D. An experimental treatment program designed by Mr Wilson.9. The underlined word“it”in the first pa ragraph most probably refers to .A. a new psychological excuseB. compulsive eatingC. the study done by BlampiedD. the behavior of wild shopping10. Which of the following is considered important in treating compulsive shoppers?A. Teaching them to manage their money better.B. Teaching them to understand their emotions.C. Persuading them not to draw money from the bank.D. Treating them with right drugs.11. When the writer says that compulsive shoppers get a kick from their habit, he means thatthey .A. feel distressed after their wild shoppingB. feel better after treatment from psychologistsC. are better able to deal with stress problemsD. have a feeling of excitement after shoppingDAmerica has always had people of many different nationalities and languages. The 1990 census (人口普查) indicates that almost 14% of Americans speak a non-English language at home. Yet only 3% reported that they spoke English “not well” or “not at all ”. That means that slightly more than one out of 10 Americans could be considered bilingual. Besides that, many high school and college students—and even some elementary school students—are required to take a foreign language. Actually, a growing number of Americans are coming to appreciate the benefits of using different languages.Ethnic enclaves(少数民族聚居地) have preserved the language and culture of American immigrants. Some local residents can function quite well in their native language, without having to bother learning English. Regions such as southern Florida and the Southwest have numerous Spanish-speaking neighborhoods. In fact, Spanish speakers—numbering over 17 million—form the largest non-English linguistic group in America. But Chinese, Vietnamese, Italian, Polish and many other ethnic group add to the linguistic flavor of America. Foreign languages are so commonly used in some ethnic neighborhoods that visitors might think they are in another country!Although some Americans welcome this linguistic and cultural diversity, others have begun to fear that the English language is being threatened. Since the 1980s, the “English Only” movement has sought to promote legislation(立法)which would establish Engli sh as the “official language” and restrict the use of non-English language. However, some groups, including TESOL,the organization for Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Language, object to such “language restrictionism”. But so far, 19 states have passed “English Only” legislation, and the topic is the focus of an ongoing debate.Whether or not English is the official language of the United States, it remains the “language of wider communication”. Nearly everyone recognizes the need to develop the ability in using English in order to do well in America. Americans also recognize that English is the international language, and people with good English skills can get by in many international settings. On the other hand, in a world growing increasingly smaller, second language skills can be a great favor. They can build cross-cultural bridges and give people an edge in a variety of career field. Indeed, lack of foreign language skill can limit one’s chances for advancement and keep one in a cultural dead-end street.12. Ethnic groups have preserved their native languages because .A. their native languages are commonly used in their neighborhoodsB. ethnic groups are not allowed to speak EnglishC. ethnic groups can do very well in their native languagesD. ethnic groups don’t allow their natives to learn English13. The u nderlined word “bilingual” in paragraph 1 probably means.A. being able to speak two languagesB. being able to speak one languageC. being able to speak different languagesD. being able to speak many foreign languages14. Which of the following is TRUE about “English Only” movement?A. Its purpose was to establish a legislation of restricting the use of English.B. TESOL was in favor of “English Only” by objecting to “English plus”.C. It was launched because English was being threatened.D. A large majority of states supported the movemen t.15. What can be the best title of this passage?A. The English Only MovementB. Learn to speak EnglishC. English—an International LanguageD. Being BilingualEA villa (别墅) designed to resist earthquakes with “self-healing” cracks in its walls, thanks t o nanotechnology (纳米技术) applications with self-healing polymers (聚合物), is to be built on a Greek mountainside. The villa’s walls will include special particles that turn into a liquid when squeezed under pressure, flow into cracks, and then harden to form a solid material.The NanoManufacturing Institute (NMI), based in Leeds University, will play a key role in an EU project to construct the home by December 2010. The project, called “Intelligent Safe and Secure Buildings” (ISSB) is funded under the EU’s S ixth Framework program. This potentially life-saving scheme is led by German building manufacturer Knauf. The villa will be built in Amphilochia, in western Greece, where Knauf currently runs a manufacturing plant. If the experiment is successful, more tremor-resistant(防震)homes could be built in earthquake zones across the globe. NMI chief executive Professor Terry Wilkins said, “What we’re trying to achieve here is very exciting. We’re looking to use polymers in much tougher situations than ever before on a larger scale.” Monitors contained in the villa’s walls will be able to collect vast amounts of data about the building over time. Wireless sensors will record any stresses and vibrations, as well as temperature, humidity and gas levels.The walls are to be built from new load-bearing steel frames and high-strength gypsum(石膏)board. Prof Wilkins said, “If there are any problems, the intelligent sensor network will be able to alert residents immediately so they have time to escape.” If whole groups of houses are so constructed, we could use a larger network of sensors to get even more information. “If the house falls down, we have got hand-held devices that can be used over the rubble to pick out where the embedded(嵌入的)sensors are hidden to get some information about how the villa collapsed.” Also, we can get information abou t anyone who may be around, so it potentially becomes a tool for rescue.16. The aim of the passage is to .A. report a piece of interesting newsB. promote tremor-resistant homesC. inform us of the nanotechnology developmentD. tell us about a tremor-resistant home17. The villa can resist earthquakes because .A. it will be built on a special placeB. the cracks in its walls can be healed by the polymersC. the special particles can make its walls strongerD. the intelligent sensor network can tell people where there is a crack18. If the tremor-resistant home falls down, .A. rescue work can be done more quickly and accuratelyB. the intelligent sensor network will stop workingC. no one can be hurt in the earthquakeD. a warning signal will be given to other residents19. What Prof Wilkins said suggests that .A. he is doubtful about the projectB. he thinks the tremor-resistant home is perfectly designedC. he is confident in the tremor-resistant homeD. the tremor-resistant home still needs to be tested in a real situation20. It can be inferred from the passage that tremor-resistant home .A. is still being tried outB. is already under constructionC. has been in wide useD. will be put into wide use soonBCAC DDC BDBD AACD DBACA。
2009年高考英语二轮复习专项限时训练-阅读理解

2009年高考英语二轮复习专项限时训练·阅读理解A“Creativity is the key to a brighter future,” says education and business experts. Here is how schools and parents can encourage this important skill in children.If Dick Drew had listened to his boss in 1925, we might not have a product that we now think of as of great importance: a new type of tape. Drew worked for the Minnesota Mining Company. At work he developed a kind of material strong enough to hold things together. But his boss told him not to think more about the idea. Finally, using his own time, Drew improved the tape, which now is used everywhere by many people. And his former company learned from its mistake. Now it encourages people to spend 15 percent of their work time just thinking about and developing new ideas.Creativity is not something one is just born with, nor is it necessarily a character of high intelligence. The fact that a person is highly intelligent does not mean that he uses it creatively. Creativity is the matter of using the resources one has to produce new ideas that are good for something.Unfortunately, schools have not tried to encourage creativity. With strong attention to test results and the development of reading, writing and mathematical skills, many educators give up creativity for corr ect answers. The result is that children can give back information but can’t recognize ways to use it in new situations. They may know the rules correctly but they are unable to use them to work out practical problems.It is important to give children choices. From the earliest age, children should be allowed to make decisions and understand their results. Even if it’s choosing between two food items for lunch, decision-making helps thinking skills. As children grow older, parents should let their children decide how to use their time or spend their money. This is because the most important character of creative people is a very strong desire to find a way out of trouble.1. What did the company where Drew once worked learn from its mistake?A. They should encourage people to work a longer time.B. People should be discouraged to think freely.C. People will do better if they spend most of their work time developing new ideas.D. It is necessary for people to spend some of their work time considering and improving new ideas.2. According to the passage, creativity is ________.A. something that most people are born withB. something that depends mainly on intelligenceC. a way of using what one has learned to work out new problemsD. something that is not important to the character of a person at all3. Why do schools tend to fail to encourage creativity?A. They give children too many choices.B. They are not strict enough with children.C. They care too much about examination marks.D. They do n’t understand the importance of education.4. Which of the following skills is the most important in developing creativity?A. Reading.B. Writing.C. Mathematical skill.D. Decision-making.BA new study finds that the animal known as man’s best friend can also be a good friend to the heart. Researchers in California say they have found that even just a short visit with a dog helped ease the worries of heart patients.The study divided the patients into three groups. In Group A, a dog and a person visited each patient for twelve minutes. Patients in Group B received just a human visitor for twelve minutes. And members of Group C received no visitor, human or canine(犬的).The dogs would lie on the hospital bed so the heart patients could touch them. The researchers say some patients immediately smiled and talked to the dog and the human visitor. Dogs, in her words, “make people happier, calmer and feel more loved.”The researchers examined the patients before, during and after the visits. They measured stress levels based on blood flow and heart activity. They say they found a twenty-four percent decrease in the group visited by both a dog and a person. They reported a ten percent decrease in the group visited by a person only. There was no change in the patients without any visit. These patients, however, did have an increase in their production of the hormone epinephrine(epinephrine肾上腺素). The body produces epinephrine during times of stress.The increase was an average of seven percent. But the study found that patients who spent time with a dog had a seventeen percent drop in their levels of epinephrine. Patients visited by a human but not a dog also had a decrease, but only two percent.1. The author believes that _______.A. the dog can take the place of most medicinesB. the dog is the most popular pet for manC. the findings of the research cannot be trustedD. visits by a human work better than visits by a dog2. Which of the following best shows the stress level changes in the groups of patients? BACC3. From the research findings we may conclude that _______.A. the less the body produces epinephrine, the betterB. the longer a visit lasts, the happier the patient should beC. the patients enjoyed the dogs’ company more than the human visitors’D. it’s impossible for heart patients to recover without dogs’ visits4. Which of the following is the best title for the passage?A. Worried Heart PatientsB. Epinephrine and StressC. Good Friend to the HeartD. Three Groups of PatientsCAn Earthship is a home that is built of materials such as old tires and aluminum cans. It is the idea of a man named Michael Reynolds. Many Earthships are more or less self-sufficient because they provide their own heat, air and water. They often have gardens watered and fed by waste water. They are comfortable and ecologically friendly.The main material used in building Earthships is tires. Tires are plentiful andcan't be recycled like paper, plastic, and metal. While building supplies for most houses can be very expensive, old used tires are free.First, the tires are packed tightly with dirt. Each full tire weighs as much as400 pounds. The tires are then stacked like bricks. The walls are extremely strong. They also help keep an even temperature in the house (between 60 and 70 degrees) without heating and cooling systems.The walls inside the Earthship are made of aluminum cans that are held together by cement. Then they are coated with adobe or stucco.The roofs of Earthships are sloped so that rain and snow run into large tanks. These tanks hold all the water for the house, and pumps push the water through the pipes. Sometimes, water flows in certain areas of the house as waterfalls! Water that has been used is pumped out into the gardens where owners grow much of their own food.In most of these houses, the southern side has huge windows that take in winter sunlight as a source of heat. Summer sun does not come in through the south windows, so it doesn't get too hot in the summer. The house also has solar panels that gather energy for lights and hot water and cooking. The Earthships have all the comforts of a regular house without the high cost of electric bills!In a time when we are running out of energy resources, pollution is bad, and waste is piling up, Earthships are the best places to live in. For people who truly care about the environment,Earthships provide a great alternative to traditional houses. You won't be giving up any comforts, and the styles are attractive. We all hope that more and more people will build Earthships and take a huge step toward helping the environment and saving our planet.1.What is the main idea of this passage?A. Earthships are a good way to live and protect the environment.B. Tanks hold water collected from rain and snow.C. It's important to grow your own food in a vegetable garden.D. People who live in Earthships usually live in the desert.2.Which of the following is NOT explained in the passage?A. How an Earthship is built.B. What an Earthship is mainly made of.C. Why the Earthship is so called.D. How an Earthship is heated in winter.3.Which evidence best supports the idea that Earthships are environmentally friendly?A. They were invented by Michael Reynolds.B. Water that has been used is pumped out into the garden.C. They are comfortable and ecologically friendly.D. The tires are packed tightly with dirt.4. It can be inferred from the passage that ________.A. a large population are already living in EarthshipsB. the idea of Earthships will attract the attention of governmentsC. the materials for the Earthships will be harmful to the dwellers(居住者)D.the northern side of the Earthship has no window答案与解析(A)1. 答案:D解析:答案依据在文章第二段。
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现吨市安达阳光实验学校高三英语阅读理解限时训练(16) A Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis was one of the most private women in the world, yet when she went to work as an editor in the last two decades of her life, she revealed (展现) herself as she did nowhere else. After the death of her second husband, Greek shipping magnate(巨头)Aristotie Onassis, Jacqueline’s close friend and former White House social secretary Letitia Baldrige made a suggestion that she consider a career in publishing.After consideration, Jacqueline accepted it.Perhaps she hoped to find some ideas about how to live her own life.She became not less but more interested in reading.For the last 20 years of her life, Jacqueline worked as a publisher’s editor, first at Viking, then at Doubleday, pursuing a late-life career longer than her two marriages combined.During her time in publishing, she was responsible for managing and editing more than 100 successfully marketed books. Among the first books were In the Russian Style and Inventive Paris Clothes. She also succeeded in persuading TV hosts Bill Moyers and Joseph Campbell to transform their popular television conversation into a book, The Power of Myth. The book went on to become an international best-seller.She dealt ,too, with Michael Jackson as he prepared his autobiography,Moonwalk. Jacqueline may have been hired for her name and for her social
relations, but she soon proved her worth. Her choices, suggestions and widespread social relations were of benefit both to the publishing and to Jacqueline herself.In the books she selected for publication, she built on a lifetime of spending time by herself as a reader and left a record of the growth of her mind.Her books are the autobiography she never wrote. Her role as First lady, in the end, was overshadowed by her performance as an editor.However, few knew that she had achieved so much. 41.We can learn from the passage that Jacqueline ____________. A.was in charge of publishing 100 books B.gained a lot from her career as an editor C.promoted her books through social relations D.became fond of reading after working as an editor 42.The underlined sentence in the last paragraph probably means that . A.Jacqueline ended up as an editor rather than as First Lady B.Jacqueline was more successful as an editor than as First Lady C.Jacqueline’s life as First Lady was more colorful than as an editor D.Jacqueline’s role as First Lady was more brilliant than as an editor 43.What can be inferred from the passage? A.Jacqueline’s achievements were widely known B.Jacqueline’s two marriages lasted more than 20 years C.Jacqueline’s own publishing firm was set up eventually D.Jacqueline’s views and beliefs were reflected in the books she edited 44.The passage is mainly __________. A.a brief description of Jacqueline’s lifelong experiences B.an analysis of Jacqueline’s social relations in publishing C.a brief account of Jacqueline’s career as an editor in her last 20 years D.an introduction of Jacqueline’s life both as First Lady and as an editor B Pacing and Pausing Sara tried to befriend her old friend Steve's new wife, but Betty never seemed to have anything to say. While Sara felt Betty didn't hold up her end of the conversation, Betty complained to Steve that Sara never gave her a chance to talk. The problem had to do with expectations about pacing and pausing. Conversation is a turn-taking game. When our habits are similar, there's no problem. But if our habits are different, you may start to talk before I'm finished or fail to take your turn when I'm finished. That's what was happening with Betty and Sara. It may not be coincidental that Betty, who expected relatively longer pauses between turns, is British, and Sara, who expected relatively shorter pauses, is American. Betty often felt interrupted by Sara. But Betty herself became an interrupter and found herself doing most of the talking when she met a visitor from Finland. And Sara had a hard time cutting in on some speakers from Latin America or Israel. The general phenomenon, then, is that the small conversation techniques, like pacing and pausing, lead people to draw conclusions not about conversational style but about personality and abilities. These habitual differences are often the basis for dangerous stereotyping. And these social phenomena can have very personal consequences. For example, a woman from the southwestern part of the US went to live in an eastern city to take up a job in personnel. When the Personnel Department got together for meetings, she kept searching for the right time to break in--and never found it. Although back home she was considered outgoing and confident, in Washington she was viewed as shy and retiring. When she was evaluated at the end of the year, she was told to take a training course because of her inability to speak up. That's why slight differences in conversational style--tiny little things like microseconds of pause-can have a great effect on one's life. The result in this case was a judgment of psychological problems---even in the mind of the woman herself, who really wondered what was wrong with her and registered for assertiveness training.