Everything has its root. “Holiday”, is no exception. The origin of “holiday” is easy to see, coming from “holy day”, a day of particular religious significance, often celebrating the life of a saint (圣徒), during which no work was to be done. As far back as the 11th century, “holidays”, especially the major feast days, were times of “celebration and amusement”, as the Oxford English Dictionary puts it.
The number of holidays steadily increased during the Middle Ages, until a medieval Englishman would have had the luxury of 40 to 50 days a year off work, depending on where he lived, in addition to a free day on Sundays.
During the Reformation, Henry VIII abolished most of the holidays partly because of the Protestant (新教徒的) suspicion of saints, but more practically, because, according to historian Eamon Duffy, “A large number of holidays were making the people poor by limiting agriculture.” The people took a different view and organized a protest march—the Pilgrimage of Grace—partly to protect their days off.
Though at first the religious and festive senses of holiday were combined, the word gradually came to be used for any kind of relaxing break from work. As the word was drawing away from a religious society, the number of authorized holidays was reduced, until by 1834 most workers had only four official days off a year, in addition to Sundays. Many factory workers amplified this time by staying home on “Saint Monday” to recover from what they had gotten up to the day before.
By the late 19th century, employers were compromising and offering half-day Saturdays, the beginning of the “weekend”, a term first used in 1879. In 1908, an innovative mill in New England gave its employees all of Saturday off, and the practice of their getting the whole Saturday off spread widely during the Great Depression as a way to keep employment up. It took 400 years, but finally workers could enjoy as many holidays as they had in the 15th century.
1.What was the word “holiday” originally intended for?
A. Economy. B. Entertainment.
C. Religion. D. Politics.
2.What’s the main reason for Henry VIII’s ending most holidays according to Eamon Duffy?
A. His people required a thorough reformation.
B. He didn’t believe in God and saints.
C. People took no interest in the agriculture due to them.
D. Large numbers of holidays stood in the way of the agriculture.
3.Which can best replace the underlined word “amplified” in paragraph 4?
A. lengthened B. wasted
C. shortened D. guaranteed
4.When did most employees get the whole Saturday off?
A. In 1879. B. During the Great Depression.
C. In 1908. D. In the 15th century.
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题
Everything has its root. “Holiday”, is no exception. The origin of “holiday” is easy to see, coming from “holy day”, a day of particular religious significance, often celebrating the life of a saint (圣徒), during which no work was to be done. As far back as the 11th century, “holidays”, especially the major feast days, were times of “celebration and amusement”, as the Oxford English Dictionary puts it.
The number of holidays steadily increased during the Middle Ages, until a medieval Englishman would have had the luxury of 40 to 50 days a year off work, depending on where he lived, in addition to a free day on Sundays.
During the Reformation, Henry VIII abolished most of the holidays partly because of the Protestant (新教徒的) suspicion of saints, but more practically, because, according to historian Eamon Duffy, “A large number of holidays were making the people poor by limiting agriculture.” The people took a different view and organized a protest march—the Pilgrimage of Grace—partly to protect their days off.
Though at first the religious and festive senses of holiday were combined, the word gradually came to be used for any kind of relaxing break from work. As the word was drawing away from a religious society, the number of authorized holidays was reduced, until by 1834 most workers had only four official days off a year, in addition to Sundays. Many factory workers amplified this time by staying home on “Saint Monday” to recover from what they had gotten up to the day before.
By the late 19th century, employers were compromising and offering half-day Saturdays, the beginning of the “weekend”, a term first used in 1879. In 1908, an innovative mill in New England gave its employees all of Saturday off, and the practice of their getting the whole Saturday off spread widely during the Great Depression as a way to keep employment up. It took 400 years, but finally workers could enjoy as many holidays as they had in the 15th century.
1.What was the word “holiday” originally intended for?
A. Economy. B. Entertainment.
C. Religion. D. Politics.
2.What’s the main reason for Henry VIII’s ending most holidays according to Eamon Duffy?
A. His people required a thorough reformation.
B. He didn’t believe in God and saints.
C. People took no interest in the agriculture due to them.
D. Large numbers of holidays stood in the way of the agriculture.
3.Which can best replace the underlined word “amplified” in paragraph 4?
A. lengthened B. wasted
C. shortened D. guaranteed
4.When did most employees get the whole Saturday off?
A. In 1879. B. During the Great Depression.
C. In 1908. D. In the 15th century.
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
They say chocolate makes everything better, and apparently wagyu beef is no exception. For the past 10 years, the Mayura Station Farm in southern Australia has been feeding its wagyu cattle chocolate and other sweets mixed with their regular feed, and the results have been shocking.
When Scott de Bruin, managing partner at Mayura Station, returned to his father's farm in the Limestone coast of Australia, in 1998, he knew he wanted to do something special to make their beef stand out. But he didn't know exactly how he was going to do that, so he consulted a cattle nutrition specialist from Japan and spent two years experimenting with different feed before deciding on the final daily ration(配给量) for his wagyu cows – a special mix of regular feed, chocolate, gummy bears, strawberries and cream flavored gummy snakes. Each cow eats up to 2 kilograms of ground and partially broken chocolate delivered by Cadbury's every day.
Adding chocolate to the daily diet of cows at Mayura Station started out as a simple experiment, but it ended up making their luxury beef one of the most appreciated in the world. “Many of my customers come to enjoy Mayura beef two to three times a week. They love how the beef has the perfect balance of fat, rich flavor and tender texture(质地),” Michelin star chef Umberto Bombana told Forbes Magazine.
Shane Osborn, Head Chef and Co-Owner of Arcane Restaurant in Hong Kong, added that its unique sweetness, hint of nuttiness and buttery texture make Mayura beef “the ultimate steak”.
Asked if the milk chocolate has a negative effect on the cattle's health, Scott de Bruin says “No, unlike humans – who may start eating chocolates at a very young age for over several decades – these cattle (raised on chocolates for only four months) won't see the long-term negative effects of chocolates in their system.”
As you can imagine, Mayura luxury beef is not cheap. Forbes reports that a 10.5oz-steak sells for $288, but those who can afford it claim it's worth every penny.
1.What is the purpose of the first paragraph?
A. To promote the act. B. To present happiness.
C. To show the author’s shock D. To introduce the topic.
2.What did Bruin do after returning to his father’s farm in 1998?
A. He began to work hard. B. He started to do research.
C. He came to learn about cows. D. He worked for a Japanese specialist.
3.Why did many customers come to enjoy Mayura beef frequently?
A. Because his service is the first class.
B. Because the price of beef is rather low.
C. Because his beef tastes good and nutritious.
D. Because his advertisement is fairly good.
4.What does Bruin think of the influence of the milk chocolate on cattle?
A. It has no bad influence in the long term. B. It has long-term effects.
C. It has short-term effects. D. It makes him puzzled.
高三英语阅读理解困难题查看答案及解析
The First Try
Every girl dreams and Li Xie is no exception. She has read dozens of books on how to be a ballerina(芭蕾舞女演员). “Swan Lake” is her favorite. She hopes one day her dream will come true. She has taken ballet lessons and all her teachers confirm she is a good student.
One day she saw an advertisement that a famous ballerina group will be performing in her hometown. "I must meet up with the leader of the group and show him my skills," she whispered to herself. She dressed herself and hid in the dressing room. To her luck the leader entered and she timidly (胆怯地) knocked at the door. She bravely approached him and handed him a bunch of red roses. The thorns (刺) hurt her hand but she did not care about the pain. The leader observed her action as she told him her dream. "Alright, you dance and I will give you my conclusion." But half way through the dance he stopped her and said, "I'm sorry you're not good enough!" On hearing this Li Xie ran as fast as her legs could carry her and was ashamed. She gave up her dream.
Many years later, she heard that the same ballet group was performing in her town again. Bitter memories of the leader's crude words came flooding back to her. This time she was determined to find out why the leader had told her she was not good enough. This was his reply, "I tell this to every student." She angrily shot back, "You've ruined my life! 一 Then she got a further shock, "
"I remember your gift of roses and how the thorns(刺)had hurt your fingers but you carried on bravery. If you only had treated ballet like that and did not give up so easily; therefore, you still deserve my conclusion! "
1.What is “Swan Lake”?
A. a kind of food B. a song C. a ballet D. a book
2.Why did Li Xie go to meet up with the leader of the group?
A. She wanted to join the group.
B. She wanted to give him a gift.
C. She wanted to see the performance.
D. She wanted to show him her skills.
3.What do you think of Li Xie?
A. positive B. weak-willed
C. clever D. determined
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
Saint Patrick’s Day is a major holiday in Ireland, but the rest of the world has influenced its celebration as much as the Irish 1. (they). Most Americans think of Saint Patrick’s Day as a big party 2. (center) around drinking alcohol. But its 3. (origin) in Ireland were religious, says Mike Cronin, a professor of Irish history with Boston College of Massachusetts.
Saint Patrick lived in Ireland more than 2,000 years ago. He is 4. (wide) considered to have established Christianity in the country. The Church decided to honor him with a holy day. March 17, the date of his death,5. (choose) in the 17lh century.
St. Patrick is believed 6. (serve) in Ireland as a Catholic Bishop (主教). The average Irish person honored March 17 quietly. 7. (attend) church services was the main activity. In fact, most businesses that served alcohol would close in honor 8. the day. In the early 1900s, Ireland’s government made St. Patrick’s Day 9. official holiday. By the 1960s, towns across Ireland started celebrating the holiday with parades and music.
In Ireland today, St. Patrick’s Day is a four-day public celebration 10. includes parades, music, food, and games.
高三英语阅读理解困难题查看答案及解析
—Is there anything else I can get for you except the book?
— No. That _____ be it. Thanks a lot.
A. could B. must C. should D. might
高三英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析
The managers consider it is important that everything ________ by weekend.
A．will complete B．has completed
C．be completed D．is completing
高三英语单项填空困难题查看答案及解析
They would have fixed the telephone yesterday _________ it was a holiday.
| A．except | B．except for | C．except that | D．but for |
高三英语单项填空简单题查看答案及解析
________everything into consideration, the result is better than________.
A．Taking, excepted B．Taken, excepted
C．To take, excepting D．Taking, excepting
高三英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析
If you go on holiday in Italy, Spain or Greece, don’t be 1. (surprise) if everything is closed at noon. It’s not because the shops are suffering a hard time, but it’s because everyone is at lunch. In these Mediterranean countries, the locals take lunch very 2. (serious). In contrast to many other countries, lunch here is not a quick snack 3. (consume) in front of the computer or on the way to 4. meeting. It is the main event of the day and can last for several hours, 5. (cover) many courses.
Its origin is simple. Because of the hot climate in these countries, farmers thousands of years ago 6. (introduce) a rest during the hottest time of the day. They would have a big meal and then take a nap in 7. _ (prepare) for the remaining work.
Although most employees now work in cooled offices, many families, especially on weekends, still enjoy a luxurious lunch. 8., the focus is not only on the food. It is a social gathering 9. friends share food, and enjoy the company of others.
This approach to life and eating has many benefits. According to health experts, the Mediterranean diet is one of the 10. (health) in the world. Many people in Italy, Spain and Greece enjoy a long, healthy and happy life.
高三英语语法填空简单题查看答案及解析
Asia has long tradition of tea-drinking. And China is no exception.
However, lately more and more Chinese people are turning to a different . Coffee has become a/an popular choice of Chinese people living abroad and in the country's cities. In big cities such as Beijing, coffee shops seem to be on nearly every major street corner. These are not just selling drinks from Starbucks, the world-famous coffee company. Coffee businesses from South Korea and Britain are also in China.
Many young Chinese people drink coffee -- when meeting with friends. Yang Lin lives in the U.S. but comes from an area in China for growing tea. She used to drink tea while in China. But now, she says, she drinks both and for different reasons.
Yang Lin says she was a tea drinker when she was back in China. But she likes coffee and tea now. Drinking coffee for her is a social event. She and her co-workers like to sit in a café and talk over a cup of coffee. Tea, she says, is more about family . She grew up in Fujian province -- an area known for its tea. Ms. Yang says that as a child, her family would together in the evening and talk about the day's events over a steaming pot of tea. So now, the smell of Fujian tea brings back these family memories.
On average a person in China drinks about five cups of coffee a year. This information comes from the China Coffee Association Beijing. That is far below the world average of 240 cups a year. But the association says the amount of coffee that Chinese drink is by about 15 percent every year.
1.A.business B. drink C. attitude D. custom
2.A. abnormally B. necessarily C. thoroughly D. increasingly
3.A. huge B. ancient C. remote D. conservative
4.A. cities B. companies C. shops D. foreigners
5.A. producing B. earning C. operating D. struggling
6.A. passively B. deliberately C. elegantly D. socially
7.A. famous B. appropriate C. anxious D. beneficial
8.A. seldom B. only C. unwillingly D. never
9.A. completely B. gradually C. equally D. eventually
10.A. memories B.values C. possessions D. traditions
11.A. work B. gather C. cook D. pull
12.A. even B. still C. somehow D. hardly
13.A. rare B. tough C. lonely D. warm
14.A. information B. cost C. amount D. production
15.A. decreasing B. growing C. dividing D. profiting
高三英语完形填空中等难度题查看答案及解析