How did we get the alphabet? It was a long process, covering thousands of years.
The first people to write things down carved symbols onto rocks or shells. These symbols represented people or things.
These people who lived a long time ago had simple lives with simple needs. One of the most basic needs was food. Before the introduction of agriculture, people were called HunterGatherers because they hunted animals and gathered nuts and berries for food. To tell each other about how to hunt animals or where to find them, these people drew on cave walls or on animal hides. Soon, people were growing their own crops. They were also using a system of symbols to stand for people, places and things. The best ancient example of this was found in Egypt, where hieroglyphs (象形字) were used. These people believed in many different gods. Each god had its own symbol. Symbols were also used to stand for water, buildings, food, and other parts of life.
But these picture drawings and hieroglyphs represented whole words, not just sounds. How did we get an alphabet? Recent research suggests that the idea of an alphabet was first used in Egypt about 1900 BC. Civilizations that traded with or fought against Egypt were exposed to this alphabet, and the idea spread.
The ancient Greeks adapted this alphabet and created their own. The ancient Romans polished it up to a state almost like our modern alphabet. The idea of stringing letters together to make words was born. You can see by looking at letters from the Roman alphabet that these letters survive almost unchanged in our modern English alphabet.
This was the case in the Western world. Actually, a similar thing also happened in the East. You can see many examples in such areas’ language development.
1.Why did HunterGatherers use drawings?
A.To assist them in searching for food.
B.To put a series of symbols into a system.
C.To warn their companions to hide safely.
D.To record some methods of growing crops.
2.What does the development of the alphabet reflect?
A.The difficulties ancient people have learning languages.
B.The different kinds of religious beliefs in the same god.
C.The poor living conditions and agricultural development.
D.The needs of ancient people to survive and communicate.
3.How did the ancient Romans influence the alphabet?
A.They made improvements to it.
B.They created it all by themselves.
C.They managed to keep it unchanged.
D.They turned it into the modern one.
4.What will the author probably write about next?
A.The effects of the alphabet on global languages.
B.Why the alphabet grew better in Western world.
C.How the alphabet appeared in the Eastern world.
D.A number of examples of language evolution.
高三英语阅读选择中等难度题
How did we get the alphabet? It was a long process, covering thousands of years.
The first people to write things down carved symbols onto rocks or shells. These symbols represented people or things.
These people who lived a long time ago had simple lives with simple needs. One of the most basic needs was food. Before the introduction of agriculture, people were called HunterGatherers because they hunted animals and gathered nuts and berries for food. To tell each other about how to hunt animals or where to find them, these people drew on cave walls or on animal hides. Soon, people were growing their own crops. They were also using a system of symbols to stand for people, places and things. The best ancient example of this was found in Egypt, where hieroglyphs (象形字) were used. These people believed in many different gods. Each god had its own symbol. Symbols were also used to stand for water, buildings, food, and other parts of life.
But these picture drawings and hieroglyphs represented whole words, not just sounds. How did we get an alphabet? Recent research suggests that the idea of an alphabet was first used in Egypt about 1900 BC. Civilizations that traded with or fought against Egypt were exposed to this alphabet, and the idea spread.
The ancient Greeks adapted this alphabet and created their own. The ancient Romans polished it up to a state almost like our modern alphabet. The idea of stringing letters together to make words was born. You can see by looking at letters from the Roman alphabet that these letters survive almost unchanged in our modern English alphabet.
This was the case in the Western world. Actually, a similar thing also happened in the East. You can see many examples in such areas’ language development.
1.Why did HunterGatherers use drawings?
A.To assist them in searching for food.
B.To put a series of symbols into a system.
C.To warn their companions to hide safely.
D.To record some methods of growing crops.
2.What does the development of the alphabet reflect?
A.The difficulties ancient people have learning languages.
B.The different kinds of religious beliefs in the same god.
C.The poor living conditions and agricultural development.
D.The needs of ancient people to survive and communicate.
3.How did the ancient Romans influence the alphabet?
A.They made improvements to it.
B.They created it all by themselves.
C.They managed to keep it unchanged.
D.They turned it into the modern one.
4.What will the author probably write about next?
A.The effects of the alphabet on global languages.
B.Why the alphabet grew better in Western world.
C.How the alphabet appeared in the Eastern world.
D.A number of examples of language evolution.
高三英语阅读选择中等难度题查看答案及解析
——How did you pass the challenging test?
——It was a long time________I found a series of suitable methods.
A. when B. until C. since D. before
高三英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析
It took us a long time ______Hawaii but we thought the journey was enjoyable.
| A．to get | B．getting | C．to reach | D．reaching |
高三英语单项填空简单题查看答案及解析
In the short time Steve and Zach had been inside their tent packing their tools, wind-blown flame had skipped from the top of one tree to another. The long dry summer had turned the forest into a matchbox.
“Let’s go! We can make it back to the river we crossed today!” Steve kept Brady on the lead and their heads down against the fire-wind. But Brady barked a sharp warning. Ahead of them lay a thick curtain of smoke across the track. They would never make it through that. The dog was pulling at his lead trying to draw them away from the smoke, and yet Steve was uneasy. It seemed to him that they were moving away from the river.
Suddenly, Zach cried. “Zach!” Steve shouted. “Are you OK? Where are you?” Then Brady pulled Steve down a sharp slope (坡). At its base, Zach was rubbing his ankle.
As Steve helped his friend to his feet, Brady lifted his head and snuffed (嗅) the smoke-laden wind. Next moment, the dog bounded away and disappeared. The boys shouted for him, but he didn’t come back. Steve couldn’t blame Brady for panicking. He himself wanted to run even though he didn’t have a clue which way.
Steve and Zach hadn’t gone far when there was a familiar bark, and Brady came bounding, stopped directly in front of Steve and hit him with his head, pushing him back toward the slope they’d just climbed. But Steve didn’t get it. Then Brady grabbed the boy’s jeans and started pulling. The message was clear, but Steve hesitated. Of course he remembered Brady saving his uncle’s life when the dog was much younger. Was he still sharp enough to get them through this?
Nearby, a pine went up in a whoosh of smoke. Brady pulled again, urgently. “OK, big guy,” Steve gritted (咬紧牙关). Brady led them back down the slope and into the trees. Not far from them fire was touching underbrush. Several times the big dog stopped. Often he changed directions. Steve was so tired that he just wanted to rest, but Brady wouldn’t have it. The dog bullied both boys to go on. How long they’d walked Steve had no idea. He was almost numb when he heard it-the wonderful sound of rushing water!
1.Why did Steve shout for Zach suddenly?
A.They got injured. B.They lost their dog.
C.They were trapped. D.They became separated.
2.What did Brady intend to do when he ran away from Steve?
A.To seek help. B.To find a way out.
C.To rescue Zach. D.To escape for life.
3.How did Steve feel after Brady pulled his jeans?
A.Uneasy. B.Impatient.
C.Numb. D.Uncertain.
4.What does the passage basically describe?
A.An adventure. B.An exploration.
C.An escape game. D.A training program.
高三英语阅读选择中等难度题查看答案及解析
(2014·江西红色六校高三第二次联考)—How did you pass the challenging test?
—It was a long time________I found a series of suitable methods.
A．when B．until
C．since D．before
高三英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析
--- Where did you get such a beautiful skirt?
--- It was at the department store ____ we used to shop.
A．that B．there C．where D．which
高三英语单项填空困难题查看答案及解析
―Where did you get to know her?
―It was on the farm we both once worked in the 1970s.
A. that B. which C. when D. where
高三英语单项填空简单题查看答案及解析
—That was rather a tough question. How did you get it right?
—To tell the truth, I just ________.
A. burnt the midnight oil B. was left to sink or swim
C. played it safe D. took a shot in the dark
高三英语单项填空困难题查看答案及解析
---Where did you get to know her?
---It was on the farm we worked.
A. that B. there C. which D. where
高三英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析
---Where did you get to know her?
---It was on the farm ________we both once worked in the 1970s.
A．that B．which C．when D．where
高三英语单项填空简单题查看答案及解析