高二英语限时训练九 牛津版

高二英语限时训练九Domestic (驯养的) horses now pull ploughs, race in the Kentucky Derby, and carry police. But early horses werent tame (驯服的) enough to perform these kinds of tasks. Scientists think the first interactions humans had with horses were far different from those today.Thousands of years ago, people killed the wild horses that lived around them for food. Over time, people began to catch the animals and raise them. This was the first step in domestication.As people began to tame and ride horses, they chose to keep those animals that had more desirable characteristics. For example, people may have chosen to keep horses that had a gentle personality so they could be ridden more easily. People who used horses to pull heavy loads would have chosen to keep stronger animals. Characteristics like strength are partly controlled by the animals genes. So as the domesticated horses reproduced, they passed the characteristics on to their young. Each new generation of houses would show more of these chosen characteristics.Modern day horse breeds come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. This variety didnt exist in the horse population before domestication. The Shetland horse is one of the smallest breedstypically reaching only one meter tall. With short, strong legs, the animals were bred to pull coal out of mine shafts (矿井) with low ceilings. Huge horses like the Clydesdale came on the scene around 1700. People bred these heavy, tall horses to pull large vehicles used for carrying heavy loads.The domestication of horses has had great effects on societies. For example, horse were important tools in the advancement of modern agriculture. Using them to pull ploughs and carry heavy loads allowed people to farm more efficiently. Before they were able to ride horses, humans had to cross land on foot. Riding horses allowed people to travel far greater distance in much less time. That encouraged populations living in different areas to interact with one another. The new from of rapid transportation helped cultures spread around the world. Before domestication horses were _.A. caught for sports B. hunted for food C. made to pull ploughs D. used to carry people. The author uses the Shetland horse as an example to show _.A. it is smaller than the Clydesdale horseB. horse used to have gentle personalitiesC. some horses have better shaped than othersD. horses were of less variety before domestication. Horses contributed to the spread of culture by _.A. carrying heavy loadsB. changing farming methodsC. serving as a means of transportD. advancing agriculture in different areas. The passage is mainly about _.A. why humans domesticated horsesB. how humans and horses needed each otherC. why horses came in different shapes and sizesD. how human societies and horses influenced each otherDear Hamilton,We are fortunate that in such a large, high-pressure office we all get along so well. You are one of the people who keep the social temperature at such a comfortable setting. I dont know anyone in the office who is better liked than you.You can perhaps help with this. The collection of contributions towards gifts for employees personal-life events is becoming a little troubling. Certainly, the group sending of a gift is reasonable now and then. In the past month, however, there have been collections for two baby shower gifts, one wedding shower gift, two wedding gifts, one funeral（葬礼）remembrance, four birthday gifts, and three graduation gifts.Its not only the collected-from who are growing uncomfortable (and poor), but the collected-for feel uneasy receiving gifts from people who dont know them outside the office, who wouldnt even recognize their graduating children, their marrying daughters and sons, or their dead relatives.This is basically a kind gesture (and one that people think well of you for), but the practice seems to have become too wide-ranging and feels improper in todays office setting.Thank you for understanding. The underlined word “contributions” probably means _.A. money B. suggestions C. reports D. understanding. Hamilton is expected to _.A. show more kindness.B. discontinue the present practiceC. quit being the organizer for gift givingD. know more about co-workers families. This is basically a letter of _.A. apology B. sympathyC. appreciation D. dissatisfactionWhen it comes to friends, I desire those who will share my happiness, who possess wings of their own and who will fly with me. I seek friends whose qualities illuminate（照亮）me and train me up for love. It is for these people that I reserve the glowing hours, too good not to share.When I was in the eighth grade, I had a friend. We were shy and “too serious” about our studies when it was becoming fashionable with our classmates to learn acceptable social behaviors. We said little at school, but she would come to my house and we would sit down with pencils and paper, and one of us would say: “Lets start with a train whistle today.” We would sit quietly together and write separate poems or stories that grew out of a train whistle. Then we would read them aloud. At the end of that school year, we, too, were changing into social creatures and the stories and poems stopped.When I lived for a time in London, I had a friend, He was in despair(失望)and I was in despair. But our friendship was based on the idea in each of us that we would be sorry later if we did not explore this great city because we had felt bad at the time. We met every Sunday for five weeks and found many excellent things. We walked until our despairs disappeared and then we parted. We gave London to each other.For almost four years I have had remarkable friend whose imagination illuminates mine. We write long letters in which we often discover our strangest selves. Each of us appears, sometimes in a funny way, in the others dreams. She and I agree that, at certain times, we seem to be parts of the same mind. In my most interesting moments, I often think: “Yes, I must tell.”We have never met.It is such comforting companions I wish to keep. One bright hour with their kind is worth more to me than the lifetime services of a psychologist（心理学家），who will only fill up the healing（愈合的）silence necessary to those darkest moments in which I would rather be my own best friend. In the eighth grade, what the author did before developing proper social behavior was to _.A. become serious about her studyB. go to her friends house regularlyC. learn from her classmates at schoolD. share poems and stories with her friend. In Paragraph 3, “We gave London to each other” probably means _.A. our exploration of London was a memorable gift to both of usB. we were unwilling to tear ourselves away from LondonC. our unpleasant feeling about London disappearedD. we parted with each other in London. According to Paragraph 4, the author and her friend _.A. call each other regularlyB. have similar personalitiesC. enjoy writing to each otherD. dream of meeting each other. In the darkest moments, the author would prefer to _.A. seek professional help B. be left aloneC. stay with her best friend D. break the silence. What is the best title for the passage?A. Unforgettable ExperiencesB. Remarkable ImaginationC. Lifelong FriendshipD. Noble CompanionsIt had been some time since Jack had seen the old man. College, career, and life itself got in the way. In fact, Jack moved clear across the country in pursuit of his dreams. There, in the rush of his busy life, Jack had little time to think about the past and often no time to spend with his wife and son. He was working on his future, and nothing could stop him.Over the phone, his mother told him, “Mr. Belser died last night. The funeral is Wednesday.” Memories flashed through his mind like an old newsreel as he sat quietly remembering his childhood days.“Jack, did you her me?”“Oh, sorry, Mom. Yes, I heard you. Its been so long since I thought of him. Im sorry, but I honestly thought he died years ago,” Jack said.“Well, he didnt forget you. Every time I saw him hed ask how you were doing. Hed reminisce(回忆) about the many days you spent over his side of the fence as he put it,” Mom told him.“I told that old house he lived in,” Jack said.“You know, Jack, after your father died, Mr. Belser stepped in to make sure you had a mans influence in your life,” she said.“Hes the one who taught me carpentry. I wouldnt be in this business if it werent for him. He spent a lot of time teaching me things he thought were important Mom, Ill be there for the funeral,” Jack said.Busy as he was, he kept his word. Jack caught the next flight to his hometown. Mr. Belsers funeral was small and uneventful. He had no children of his own, and most of his relatives had passed away.The night before the had to return home, Jack and his Mom stopped by to see the old house next door one more time, which was exactly as he remembered. Every step held memories. Every picture, every piece of furniture Jack stopped suddenly.“Whats wrong, Jack?” his Mom asked.“The box is gone,” he said.“What box?” Mom asked.“There was a small gold box that he kept locked on top of his desk. I must have asked him a thousand times what was inside. All hed ever tell me was the thing I value most,” Jack said.It was gone. Everything about the house was exactly how Jack remembered it, except for the box, He figured someone from the Belser family had taken it.“Now, Ill never know what was so valuable to him,” Jack said sadly.Returning to his office the next day, he found a package on his desk. The return address caught his attention.“Mr. Harold Belser” it read.Jack tore open the package. There inside was the gold box and an envelope. Jacks hands shook as he read the note inside.“Upon my death, please forward this box and its contents to Jack Bennett. Its the thing I valued most in my life.” A small key was taped to the letter. His heart racing, and tears filling his eyes, Jack carefully unlocked the box. There inside he found a beautiful gold pocket watch. Running his fingers slowly over the fine cover, he opened it.Inside he found these words carved: “Jack, Thanks for your time! Harold Belser.”“Oh, My God! This is the thing he valued most”Jack held the watch for a few minutes, then called his assistant and cleared his appointments for the next two days. “Why?” his assistant asked. Why did Jack think Mr. Belser died years ago?A. College and career prevented him from remembering Mr. Bleser.B. Jack was too