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2025-2026学年度第二学期期中考试高二英语试题
一、阅读理解
A
Was Albert Einstein a lone genius who reshaped physics entirely on his own A new book, About Time: Free Creations of the Human Mind, by historians Diana Buchwald and Michael Gordin, challenges this popular image.
The authors argue that the “solitary genius” is largely a myth — and Einstein is no exception. While acknowledging his extraordinary brilliance, they show that Einstein always worked within a broader scientific community. His special theory of relativity, for example, built upon the research of Hendrik Lorentz and Henri Poincaré. His explanation of the photoelectric effect drew from Max Planck’s work on energy quanta. Even his job at the Swiss Patent Office, often romanticized as an intellectual exile (放逐), actually kept him connected to cutting-edge electrical technologies.
The book also clears up several myths. Einstein was not a poor student; he excelled in mathematics. There is no evidence that he stole ideas from his first wife, Mileva Mari , though she was a capable physicist. His famous abandonment of “absolute time” was a brave combination of existing puzzles, not a bolt from the blue.
What makes this biography particularly valuable is its balanced treatment. The authors neither worship Einstein nor seek to “expose” him. Instead, they place him firmly within his historical and social context, showing that even the greatest scientific minds rely on collaboration and prior work. Concise yet insightful, About Time offers a refreshing corrective to the tired myth of the lonely genius.
1. What is the main argument of About Time
A．Einstein was not truly brilliant.
B．Einstein’s theories were overrated.
C．Einstein stole ideas from his wife.
D．Einstein relied on a scientific community.
2. Why does the author mention Einstein’s patent office job
A．To show he failed as a teacher.
B．To prove he was socially isolated.
C．To argue it was intellectually beneficial.
D．To contrast it with other scientists’ jobs.
3. What can be inferred about the book’s authors
A．They try to devalue Einstein’s status.
B．They value collaboration in science.
C．They focus on Einstein’s weaknesses.
D．They reject originality in research.
4. How is the book review organized
A．By presenting a myth and then challenging it.
B．By summarizing the book chapter by chapter.
C．By comparing it to other Einstein biographies.
D．By criticizing the book before praising it.
B
On Tecofreddag, Swedish families top their tacos with pineapple, cucumber, nuts and a yogurt sauce. That is just one way the world enjoys this beloved hand-held food.
But before tacos became an international hit, they took their first folds in Mexico. Authentic Mexican tacos use fresh tortillas made from ground corn or wheat, depending on the region. Corn has long been central to Mexican tradition, while wheat was favored by the invading Spanish due to its religion.
The word taco may come from the Aztec tlahco, meaning “half” or “in the middle.” However, historian Jeffrey Pilcher argues that the name more likely traces back to 18th-century Mexican silver miners, who used taco to describe the paper wrappings around gunpowder.
Tacos arrived in the United States with Mexican immigrants who came to work in mines and build railroads. The first written mention of tacos in a U.S. newspaper appeared in 1905, when tacos were still largely a working-class food sold at street stands in the Southwest.
The first taco restaurant, El Cholo, opened in Los Angeles in 1923. Taco Bell followed in 1962, at a time when most Americans were unfamiliar with tacos. By adapting tacos to the Anglo palate, Taco Bell made them accessible and affordable, leading to worldwide expansion.
Tacos can be filled to suit any taste. Regional favorites range from barbacoa (barbecue meat) to carne asada (steak) to pescado (fish). After the Spanish introduced pigs to the Yucatán in the 16th century, cochinita pibil (slow-cooked pork) tacos emerged. Later, Lebanese immigrants brought their own tradition, which gave rise to tacos al pastor — made with pork and pineapple.
Perhaps the best thing about tacos is that they can be whatever you want them to be. Whichever way they are filled, they are well worth the mess you will likely make as you bite into them.
5. Why does the author mention the Swedish version of tacos at the beginning
A．To show that tacos have been adapted to local tastes.
B．To prove that tacos are more popular in Europe than in America.
C．To compare Swedish and Mexican food cultures.
D．To explain the origin of the phrase “Taco Tuesday.”
6. According to Jeffrey Pilcher, the word “taco” most likely came from ______.
A．the Aztec language
B．Spanish religious terms
C．Mexican mining industry
D．Lebanese cooking traditions
7. What can be inferred about Taco Bell from the passage
A．It was the first restaurant to serve tacos in the US.
B．It helped introduce tacos to non-Mexican Americans.
C．It strictly follows authentic Mexican taco recipes.
D．It originated in Sweden before expanding globally.
8. What does the author mean by saying tacos “can be whatever you want them to be”
A．Tacos are easy to make at home.
B．Tacos have a long and complex history.
C．Tacos are popular in many different countries.
D．Tacos can be filled with a wide variety of ingredients.
C
From artificial intelligence algorithms that spot early cancers, to the “doctor-in-your-pocket” smartphone video consultation, a string of next-generation healthcare technologies are being unveiled at a rapid rate.
Such innovations have brought huge benefits to millions of patients. But the advantages of such digitization are not distributed equally.
Imagine this typical case. Dorothy and Bill are retired factory workers in their mid-70s. One day, an email comes through inviting Bill for his annual health check. But the subject line is unclear and the message is impersonal and hard to follow. As the couple have only ever received emails from their daughter before, they assume this message is junk mail and delete it. The result: Bill misses his check-up and runs out of blood pressure medication.
To navigate the digital health space, people like Dorothy and Bill will need not only better technology, but also the technical skills to operate it, such as being comfortable typing, using a mouse and interacting with drop-down menus.
Also key is “information literacy” the ability to recognise when information is needed (like an old address or login code) and how to provide it. Then there’s “health literacy” — the ability to find, understand and use health information and online health services.
However, as a major University of Oxford analysis showed, the more markers of disadvantage a person has (low income, older age, to list a few), the more difficult they’ll find accessing digital services.
Sadly, such inequalities are nothing new. In fact, it was 53 years ago that British doctor Julian Tudor Hart first proposed the “inverse care law”, a principle that argued people most in need of healthcare (the poor, the less well-educated, the older, the sicker) are least likely to receive it.
The digital “inverse care law” has no simple solutions. Those lacking the necessary digital skills may be willing to visit a library for computer training, but they shouldn’t be thought of as empty buckets that can be simply “topped up” with the complex set of skills they’ve missed out on.
9. What is the author’s purpose in mentioning the typical case in Paragraph 3
A．To call on retired workers to learn more technical skills.
B．To show the benefits of digitalization failed to cover all.
C．To highlight the significance of annual health check-up.
D．To reveal seniors’ helplessness when operating the machine.
10. What can we learn from this passage
A．Information literacy is harder to master than health literacy.
B．A string of outdated healthcare technologies were abandoned.
C．Those visiting a library for PC training will surely acquire digital skills.
D．It is difficult for people labeled as the poor are impossible to receive digital services.
11. What do the underlined words “topped up” mean in Paragraph 8
A．Mended.
B．Armed.
C．Filled.
D．Decorated.
12. Which of the following is the best title for the text
A．Technology Innovations: Are They Distributed Equally
B．Digital Healthcare: Are the Most in Need Being Excluded
C．Inverse Care Law: A Principle Emphasizing Inequality
D．Healthcare Technologies: Disadvantages Outweigh Advantages
七选五
Children are naturally curious. Watching a toddler test whether a ball will roll down a hill is to see science in action: observing, experimenting, and asking questions. Yet as kids grow older, many lose this drive to explore the “why” behind things. ____13____
According to psychologist Ryan F. Lei, one subtle but powerful factor is the language adults use. Many parents and teachers say things like “Let’s be scientists today!” or “You’re such a good scientist!” ____14____ While well-intended, these phrases frame science as an identity rather than a set of actions. One study found that four-year-old girls persisted longer in science activities when invited with “Let’s do science” instead of “Let’s be scientists.”
____15____ It has been found that children often hold stereotypes about who a “scientist” is. When asked to picture a scientist, many kids — exposed to media and social cues — often think of a white man in a lab coat. ____16____ Research shows that by high school, girls at the 80th percentile of science ability are just as likely to major in certain STEM fields as boys at the 20th percentile. That represents an unbelievable loss of potential talent.
The good news is that small changes in language can help. Focusing on science as something you do — observing, testing, discovering — rather than something you are can keep curiosity alive for all children, regardless of gender or background. ____17____ It might make all the difference.
A．This can backfire .
B．So why does this happen
C．The problem is easy to solve.
D．Why does identity-based language cause problems
E．Children are more interested in science than adults think.
F．Next time you invite a child to explore, try saying: “Let’s do science!”
G．If a child does not share that identity, they may feel science is not for them.
二、完形填空
Riccardo Monte had worked for eight years as an architect in London. But it wasn’t making him ___18___. So, in 2016, he took himself up into a cabin in the Italian Alps where he’d spent many memorable childhood summers and gave himself time to ___19___.
The 100m space, he admits, “was nothing like a home” when he first ___20___. Within the 80cm-thick stone walls, ___21___ around 1750, lay stone-flag walls. It wasn’t a domestic space, but it felt “really right”, his wife says.
Wanting to retain the historic feel of the building, Monte left the stone walls as they were. But to make it more comfortable, he ___22___ altered the feel and design of the space, designing industrial-sized window frames to allow more soft mountain ___23___ to filter in.
He put his ___24___ skills to different uses. In the kitchen he constructed a wooden cube with a mirrored surface, in which their bathroom is hidden. And outside, to give them ___25___ in summer, he created a pergola (凉亭).
Surprisingly, it was this outdoor project that gave him the idea for a ___26___. To make sure that the pergola poles didn’t ___27___ or get eaten by insects, he charred (烧焦) them, as farmers around here have done for centuries. The effect on the wood was so ___28___ that he started to experiment with burning other wooden surfaces. And soon he had so many clients wanting his ___29___, raw, black furniture — that ___30___ began to come in from around the world.
All the items that decorate the spaces, of course, are ___31___. Above the door hangs one of the most precious pieces of all. The ___32___ and white landscape was drawn by him using the charcoal left over from a wood fire. “It’s all in that landscape,” he says. “Mountains, trees, fire.”
18. A．rich B．skilled C．famous D．happy
19. A．struggle B．thrive C．think D．dream
20. A．landed B．investigated C．appeared D．explored
21. A．decorated B．constructed C．damaged D．painted
22. A．subtly B．abruptly C．cautiously D．slightly
23. A．wind B．light C．insects D．birds
24. A．drawing B．constructing C．woodworking D．hand-crafting
25. A．comfort B．relief C．water D．shade
26. A．creation B．work C．device D．business
27. A．burn B．rot C．burst D．shrink
28. A．self-evident B．immediate C．beautiful D．far-reaching
29. A．simple B．complicated C．obscure D．unknown
30. A．inquiries B．supplies C．lists D．orders
31. A．abstract B．random C．personal D．pleasant
32. A．blue B．grey C．black D．red
三、语法填空
Chinese calligraphy is more than just writing Chinese characters. It is ___33___ unique art form which vividly reflects the spiritual ___34___ (deep) of Chinese culture. Over thousands of years, calligraphy ___35___ (consider) as one of the most important skills for scholars and intellectuals.
The tools ___36___ (use) in calligraphy are known as the “Four Treasures of the Study”: brush, ink, paper, and inkstone. Each brush is carefully crafted, ___37___ the way the brush is held and moved determines the style of the characters. A calligrapher must pay attention to every stroke to create a ___38___ (harmony) composition.
There are several major styles of calligraphy, including seal script, clerical script, regular script, running script, and cursive script, among ___39___ regular script is the most commonly used in daily life because it is clear and easy ___40___ (read). Cursive script, on the other hand, allows for more freedom and expression. ___41___ is required to practice calligraphy is not only skill but also inner peace. Many people believe that it helps them develop patience and concentration. Even today, a large number of Chinese people, young and old, practice calligraphy ___42___ a way to connect with their cultural heritage.
四、单词拼写
43. Only someone who is r________ and responsible can be trusted to handle such a challenging task.
44. With expert g________ from experienced tutors, we managed to complete the challenging research successfully.
45. He felt deeply e________ when he realized he had made a silly mistake in front of the whole class.
46. The c________ for the scholarship take both academic performance and practical ability into consideration.
47. Active reading skills can greatly strengthen your c________ of difficult passages in academic articles.
48. Due to the students’ passionate engagement, our school announced a two-day e________ of the activity.
49. We have made ________ (大量的) efforts to improve the quality of education over the past few years.
50. The beautiful dress was carefully ________ (缝制) by hand with soft and comfortable material.
51. Our professor is so ________ (知识渊博的) that he can answer almost all questions raised by students.
52. Immediate ________ (干预) is required to prevent the situation from getting worse and worse.
53. We didn’t ________ (预料) that the activity would attract so many participants from different cities.
54. A valid teaching ________ (资格) is a must for anyone who wants to work as a professional teacher.
55. Please tell me whether the information you provided is ________ (相关的) to the topic we are researching.
56. His wrong ________ (假设) led him to make a serious decision that he later regretted deeply.
57. Strong communication ________ (能力) plays a key role when you work in a team with different people.
五、书信写作
58. 假定你是李华，你校下周将举办“用英语讲中国故事”演讲比赛（“Chinese Stories in English” Speech Contest）。你发现目前选手选拔方式是每班选一名英语成绩最好的同学直接参赛。你认为这种做法存在一定的问题。请你给负责的外教Mr. Smith写一封邮件，内容包括：
1. 说明问题；
2. 提出建议。
注意：写作词数应为80个左右；开头结尾已给出，不计入总词数
Dear Mr. Smith,
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Yours,
Li Hua
六、读后续写
59. 阅读下面材料，根据其内容和所给段落开头语续写两段，使之构成一篇完整的短文。
My Irish Setter, Henry, was bred to be a show dog. But I saw something different in him from the start — his calm, welcoming presence and naturally mild nature. Instead of the show ring, I trained him to be a therapy dog. His job became visiting elementary school classes and listening to students read aloud to him. The children loved it, and so did he.
When a child sat down to read, Henry would lie quietly beside them, resting his chin on his paws. His big, dark eyes never wandered. He gave each reader his complete attention — ears slightly tilted forward, tail giving an occasional soft thump against the floor. He never corrected a mispronounced word or teased when someone stumbled. He just listened, steady and warm, as if every story was the most important one in the world. Sometimes he would gently rest his head on a child’s leg, or let out a soft, contented sigh. When the child finished a book, the best part came: placing a small treat on Henry’s nose. He would flip it up with a practiced flick and catch it in his mouth, earning giggles and cheers.
One day, a special education student joined us in the library. The boy was small, with downcast eyes and hands that fidgeted with the edges of his picture book. He sat stiffly on the floor, looking at the pages but not speaking. Slowly, the dog rose and lay down right next to the boy, pressing his warm side against the child’s leg. Then Henry turned his head and gently nudged (轻推) the boy’s hand with his wet nose — a small, silent invitation. The boy glanced at Henry, then back at his book. His lips moved silently at first. Then, barely above a whisper, he began to read.
His voice shook on the first few words. _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
The teacher whispered to me, “Amazing! It is the first time this student has ever read aloud.” ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
参考答案
一、阅读理解
1.D 2.C 3.B 4.A
5.A 6.C 7.B 8.D
9.B 10.D 11.C 12.B
七选五
13.B 14.A 15.D 16.G 17.F
二、完形填空
18.D 19.C 20.A 21.B 22.A 23.B 24.C 25.D 26.D 27.B 28.C 29.A 30.D 31.C 32.C
三、语法填空
33.a 34.depth 35.has been considered 36.used 37.and 38.harmonious 39.which 40.to read 41.What 42.as
四、单词拼写
43.reliable 44.guidance 45.embarrassed 46.criteria prehension 48.extension
49.substantial 50.sewn 51.knowledgeable 52.intervention 53.anticipate 54.qualification
55.relevant 56.assumption petence
五、书信写作范文
Dear Mr. Smith,
I’m Li Hua from Grade Two. I’m writing to point out some problems with the current selection rule for the speech contest.
Only picking the top student of each class ignores those who have rich stories to share but don’t get high English marks. Besides, it fails to offer more students a chance to practice public speaking.
I suggest holding class preliminary contests so all interested students can take part. In this way, more students will benefit from the activity.
I would appreciate it if you could consider my advice.
Yours,
Li Hua
六、读后续写范文
His voice shook on the first few words. Henry stayed absolutely still, never moving away or losing focus. Every time the boy paused nervously, the dog would give his hand a tiny soft lick to comfort him. Gradually the boy’s voice grew louder and more confident. He finished the whole picture book without stopping once, his nervousness gone completely.
The teacher whispered to me, “Amazing! It is the first time this student has ever read aloud.” I felt so proud of Henry for bringing such great change to the shy boy. From that day on, the boy came to read to Henry every week. The gentle dog’s company helped him build confidence little by little, and he slowly opened up to other classmates as well.

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