The palm - forward (掌心向外) "V" sign, formed by raising and spreading the wrist two fingers, has three different meanings in American culture.
The most popular meaning of the "V" sign was invented in 1941 by a Belgian, Victor De Lavalaye. Wanting a symbol for resistance to the Nazi occupation, he came up with the single letter "V", which stood not only for his own first name, but also for English victory, Flemish virijheid, and French victoire. The symbolism of the sign spread very quickly, and Winston Churchill used it constantly in public appearance. Thus throughout the 1940s and 1950s, the gesture meant simply" victory " .
The second meaning came in the 1960s. Because of its military implication, American antiwar protestors used the sign sarcastically (讽刺地) against the arms, so that it became known as the "peace sign". In the 1970s, the "W' sign, which had lost its military implication, was a common greeting among freedom lovers , acid heads, political radicals, and ultimately, young people in general. So by about the middle of the 1970s, it no longer gave clue to the user's philosophy.
The third meaning is the oldest and least common. American children jokingly put " V" , which resembles "horns", behind friends-heads in group snapshot. They are unknowingly reproducing something that southern Europeans would find highly offensive. This mischief, called "horns of the Devil", is a variant of the European "horns" gesture, which is obscene （猥亵的). Here the "w' sign means "Your wife has been cheating on you or, when placed behind another's head, his wife has been cheating on him. "
In the United States, the gesture is typically given with the palm facing the viewer. The British use both this version and an older, palm - backward version ; the latter is obscene in American culture, and corresponds to the American "finger". Churchill got some surprised stares in 1941 when, evidently unaware of the mean usage, he gave the palm - backward "V" to British troops. In England today you could have to be a social hermit not to understand the distinction. Astonishingly, however, Margaret Thatcher repeated Churchill's error after her victory in the 1979 election.
1.What's the most popular meaning of the "V" sign?
A. Victory, B. Peace.
C. Cheat. D. Freedom.
2.Why did Churchill get some surprised stares according to the last paragraph?
A. He was proud of his troops.
B. He had wanted to be a hermit.
C. He wasn't insensible of the mean usage of the "V" sign.
D. He wanted to show congratulations to British troops.
3.What can be learned from the text?
A. The "V" sign simply means victory since 1941.
B. The "V" sign meaning peace was invented by a Belgian.
C. Thatcher made the same error as Churchill after her successful election.
D. American antiwar protestors used the sign to greet among freedom lovers.
4.What can we conclude from the passage?
A. It's never too old to learn.
B. Think well before you speak.
C. Actions speak louder than words.
D. Try to know culture diversity fully and regionally.
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题
The palm - forward (掌心向外) "V" sign, formed by raising and spreading the wrist two fingers, has three different meanings in American culture.
The most popular meaning of the "V" sign was invented in 1941 by a Belgian, Victor De Lavalaye. Wanting a symbol for resistance to the Nazi occupation, he came up with the single letter "V", which stood not only for his own first name, but also for English victory, Flemish virijheid, and French victoire. The symbolism of the sign spread very quickly, and Winston Churchill used it constantly in public appearance. Thus throughout the 1940s and 1950s, the gesture meant simply" victory " .
The second meaning came in the 1960s. Because of its military implication, American antiwar protestors used the sign sarcastically (讽刺地) against the arms, so that it became known as the "peace sign". In the 1970s, the "W' sign, which had lost its military implication, was a common greeting among freedom lovers , acid heads, political radicals, and ultimately, young people in general. So by about the middle of the 1970s, it no longer gave clue to the user's philosophy.
The third meaning is the oldest and least common. American children jokingly put " V" , which resembles "horns", behind friends-heads in group snapshot. They are unknowingly reproducing something that southern Europeans would find highly offensive. This mischief, called "horns of the Devil", is a variant of the European "horns" gesture, which is obscene （猥亵的). Here the "w' sign means "Your wife has been cheating on you or, when placed behind another's head, his wife has been cheating on him. "
In the United States, the gesture is typically given with the palm facing the viewer. The British use both this version and an older, palm - backward version ; the latter is obscene in American culture, and corresponds to the American "finger". Churchill got some surprised stares in 1941 when, evidently unaware of the mean usage, he gave the palm - backward "V" to British troops. In England today you could have to be a social hermit not to understand the distinction. Astonishingly, however, Margaret Thatcher repeated Churchill's error after her victory in the 1979 election.
1.What's the most popular meaning of the "V" sign?
A. Victory, B. Peace.
C. Cheat. D. Freedom.
2.Why did Churchill get some surprised stares according to the last paragraph?
A. He was proud of his troops.
B. He had wanted to be a hermit.
C. He wasn't insensible of the mean usage of the "V" sign.
D. He wanted to show congratulations to British troops.
3.What can be learned from the text?
A. The "V" sign simply means victory since 1941.
B. The "V" sign meaning peace was invented by a Belgian.
C. Thatcher made the same error as Churchill after her successful election.
D. American antiwar protestors used the sign to greet among freedom lovers.
4.What can we conclude from the passage?
A. It's never too old to learn.
B. Think well before you speak.
C. Actions speak louder than words.
D. Try to know culture diversity fully and regionally.
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
The form cannot be signed by anyone ________ yourself.(2011·全国Ⅰ)
A．rather than B．other than
C．more than D．better than
高三英语单项填空简单题查看答案及解析
The form cannot be signed by anyone _____ yourself.
A. rather than B. other than C. more than D. better than
高三英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析
The form cannot be signed by anyone ______ yourself.
A. rather than B. better than C. more than D. other than
高三英语单项填空困难题查看答案及解析
The form cannot be signed by anyone________yourself.
A. rather than B. other than C. more than D. better than
高三英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析
After completing and signing it, please return the form to us in the envelope ________.
A. providing B. provided C. having provided D. provide
高三英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析
After completing and signing it, please return the form to us in the envelope ________.
A. providing B. provided C. having provided D. provide
高三英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析
The announcements by the NASA，in the form of several Web site postings and a video posted on YouTube，were in response to worries that the world will end on Dec．21，2012．
The doomsday(末日) rumour reached a high point with the release of the new movie “2012”，directed by Roland Emmerich．In the movie，Yellowstone blows up, showering the continent with black ash．Tidal waves wash over the Himalayas，where the governments of the planet have secretly built a ship which a select 400，000 people can ride out the storm．There are hundreds of hooks devoted to 2012，and millions of Web sites，depending on what combination of“2012”and“doomsday”you type into Google．All of it，astronomers say, is nonsense．“Most of what's claimed for 2012 relies on wishful thinking and ignorance of astronomy．”Ed Krupp， an expert on ancient astronomy，wrote in an article in the November issue of Sky＆Telescope．
“I get angry at the way people are being influenced and frightened to make money,” Morrison said．“There is no right to frighten children to make a buck．”suggested David Morrison，an astronomer at the NASA Ames Research Center in Moffett Field，Calif．He said he had been getting about 20 letters and e—mail messages a day from people as far away as India scared out of their wits．Morrison said he did not blame the movie for all this，as much as many other supporters of the Mayan prediction．But then，he said，“my doctorate is in astronomy，not psychology．”
In an e—mail exchange, Krupp said：“We are always uncertain about the future，and we always consume representations of it．We are always attracted by the romance of the ancient past．”A NASA spokesman，Dwayne Brown，said the agency did not comment on movies，leaving that to movie critics．But when it comes to science, Brown said, “we felt it was careful to provide a resource．”
If you want to worry，most scientists say，you should think about global climate change or nuclear war．But if ancient prophecies(预言)get you going，here are some things Morrison and the others think you should know．
64．Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage?
A．Dr．Morrison blamed the Movie“2011”for the panic it aroused in the public around the world．
B．People who watched the movie were seared and firmly believed that the end of the world was coming．
C．In terms of science it was better to provide evidence and theory at the same time．
D．Dr．Morrison thought it was not right to make money by frightening people．
65．It can be inferred from the text that ．
A．astronomers think that doomsday is likely to happen in the near future
B．the reason why the NASA posted web site postings was to make people interested in astronomy
C．scientists think we shouldn't worry about doomsday but show concern about environment protection
D．most astronomers agree that the world is not ending—at least anytime soon
66．Which of the following would be the best title?
A．A New Movie“2012” B．Is Doomsday Coming?
C．End-of-the-World Stories D．Astronomers Comment on Movies
67．What would the author probably discuss in the paragraph that follows?
A．Evidence that the Mayans thought something special would happen in 2012．
B．What will really happen in 2012．
C．The reason why there is no need to worry about doomsday．
D．Ancient stories about the end of the world．
高三英语阅读理解简单题查看答案及解析
The snow cap of Mount Kilimanjaro, famous in literature and beloved by tourists, initially formed some 11,000 years ago, but will be gone in two decades, according to researchers who say the ice fields on Africa’s highest mountain shrank by 80 percent in the past century.
Lonnie G. Thompson,one professor from Ohio State University, said measurements using modern navigation satellites show that the oldest ice layers on the famous mountain were deposited during an extremely wet period starting about 11,700 years ago.The mountain appears in literature, most notably Ernest Hemingway’s “The Snows of Kilimanjaro” and some ancient beliefs in Africa hold the mountain to be a sacred place.
But a temperature rise in recent years is destroying the 150-foot-high blocks of ice that gave Kilimanjaro its unique white cap.“The ice will be gone by about 2030,” said Thompson. The disappearing ice already has reduced the amount of water in some Tanzanian rivers and the government fears that when Kilimanjaro is bald of snow the tourists will stop coming.
“Kilimanjaro is the number one foreign currency earner for the government of Tanzania,” said Thompson. “It has its own international airport and some 20,000 tourists every year. The question is how many will come if there are no ice fields on the mountain.”
Africa was not alone in the global drought. Thompson said other records show that civilizations during this period collapsed in India, the Middle East and South America.
Researchers put markers on the ice field blocks in 1962 and Thompson said measurements using satellites show the summit of the ice has been lowered by about 56 feet in 40 years. The margin of the ice also has moved back more than six feet in the past two years, much smaller than before.
“That’s more than two meter’s worth of ice lost from a wall 164 feet (50 meters) high,” said Thompson. “That’s an enormous amount of ice.”
1.The snow cap of Mount Kilimanjaro ________.
A. will disappear in two centuries
B.first developed some 11,000 years ago
C. resulted in a temperature rise in recent years
D. has decreased to 80 percent over the past century
2.According to Thompson, the disappearing of the snow may mainly influence________.
A. the local water supply
B. the local tourism
C. the weather in the surrounding areas
D. the government foreign currency exchange
3.The underlined word “margin”inParagraph6 means__________.
A. center B. Top C. edge D. back
4.The writer’s tone in this article is___________.
A. concerned B. casual
C. doubtful D. angry
5.Which of the following can be the best title for this passage?
A.Risks of Visiting Mount Kilimanjaro
B. ASacred Place— Kilimanjaro
C. Africa’s Highest Mountain
D. Kilimanjaro Snow Cap May Melt Soon
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
Our government________the measures put forward by some experts at the meeting and decided to carry them out at once to prevent further air pollution in this area.
| A．agreed | B．approved |
| C．absorbed | D．allowed |
高三英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析