Christmas is long gone. and Valentine’s Day is a distant memory. That means it's a slow time for jewelers, and a good time for you to make a purchase. Whether you’re out shopping for gold, or silver, here fife a few things you need to know:
What determines price?
The purity of the metal is one of the elements that determines the price. Gold purity is indicated with a stamp of 10K, 14K, 18K, or 24K. And different countries have their own standards. For example, for a piece to be considered gold in the US, it must be at least 10K. In Britain and Canada: 9K. In Italy and France: l 8K. Anything over l 8K is really too soft for everyday wear. That’s why jewelry stores in the US sell mostly 14K.
How much can you expect to pay?
That depends on the weight of the metal and the gemstone(宝石). So keep that in mind, especially when buying online. To keep yourself from getting ripped off, ask yourself the following:
●How long has the company been around?
●What is its return policy?
● Is the jewelry featured on the website visible from all directions?
● Is the company transparent with the gram weights and the size of the gemstones?
Yellow gold? White? Rose?
Yes, it's confusing, and while this is largely a personal decision, there fife a few things to keep in mind. For starters. white or rose gold costs about l 0% more than yellow gold. If you want the “look for less”, consider gold. plated jewelry. “Gold plated” and “gold overlay” mean the same thing and guarantee a thicker layer of finish than “vermeil” which is a flash finish that is thinner and less consistent, but more affordable. Buy vermeil finished pieces you want for a season or two just to follow the fashion. For pieces you want to wear for a lifetime, solid gold is best.
What about sterling silver(标准纯银)?
Sterling silver has been。an alternative for white gold during the difficult economy, and while it used to be more popular with just the younger these days it has much more mass appeal. So much so that retailers are now offering fine gemstones with silver--something you used to see only with gold.
Keep in mind that in the US. the sterling silver standard is 92.5% real silver. Don’t buy it if there isn’t a “925” stamp on it. And keep in mind that the lower price you’re paying for silver means more maintenance. To keep silver jewelry from becoming less shiny, consider keeping a piece of chalk in your jewelry box.
1.According to the passage, the underlined phrase “getting ripped off” in Paragraph 3 probably means “_______”.
A.being charged B.being cheated C.being affected D.being attracted
2.Which of the following is relatively good for only wearing a short time?
A.A 14K necklace. B.A gold-plated ring.
C.A vermeil ear ring. D.A gemstone necklace.
3.We call infer from the last paragraph that silver jewelry should be kept ________
A.in a dry place B.in a cold place C.in a wet place D.in a hot place
4.The author writes the passage mainly to ________.
A.encourage young people to buy fashionable jewelry
B.tell people the best time to purchase gold and silver
C.introduce the real value and popularity of gold and silver
D.inform people of the factors to consider in buying jewelry
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题
Christmas is long gone. and Valentine’s Day is a distant memory. That means it's a slow time for jewelers, and a good time for you to make a purchase. Whether you’re out shopping for gold, or silver, here fife a few things you need to know:
What determines price?
The purity of the metal is one of the elements that determines the price. Gold purity is indicated with a stamp of 10K, 14K, 18K, or 24K. And different countries have their own standards. For example, for a piece to be considered gold in the US, it must be at least 10K. In Britain and Canada: 9K. In Italy and France: l 8K. Anything over l 8K is really too soft for everyday wear. That’s why jewelry stores in the US sell mostly 14K.
How much can you expect to pay?
That depends on the weight of the metal and the gemstone(宝石). So keep that in mind, especially when buying online. To keep yourself from getting ripped off, ask yourself the following:
●How long has the company been around?
●What is its return policy?
● Is the jewelry featured on the website visible from all directions?
● Is the company transparent with the gram weights and the size of the gemstones?
Yellow gold? White? Rose?
Yes, it's confusing, and while this is largely a personal decision, there fife a few things to keep in mind. For starters. white or rose gold costs about l 0% more than yellow gold. If you want the “look for less”, consider gold. plated jewelry. “Gold plated” and “gold overlay” mean the same thing and guarantee a thicker layer of finish than “vermeil” which is a flash finish that is thinner and less consistent, but more affordable. Buy vermeil finished pieces you want for a season or two just to follow the fashion. For pieces you want to wear for a lifetime, solid gold is best.
What about sterling silver(标准纯银)?
Sterling silver has been。an alternative for white gold during the difficult economy, and while it used to be more popular with just the younger these days it has much more mass appeal. So much so that retailers are now offering fine gemstones with silver--something you used to see only with gold.
Keep in mind that in the US. the sterling silver standard is 92.5% real silver. Don’t buy it if there isn’t a “925” stamp on it. And keep in mind that the lower price you’re paying for silver means more maintenance. To keep silver jewelry from becoming less shiny, consider keeping a piece of chalk in your jewelry box.
1.According to the passage, the underlined phrase “getting ripped off” in Paragraph 3 probably means “_______”.
A.being charged B.being cheated C.being affected D.being attracted
2.Which of the following is relatively good for only wearing a short time?
A.A 14K necklace. B.A gold-plated ring.
C.A vermeil ear ring. D.A gemstone necklace.
3.We call infer from the last paragraph that silver jewelry should be kept ________
A.in a dry place B.in a cold place C.in a wet place D.in a hot place
4.The author writes the passage mainly to ________.
A.encourage young people to buy fashionable jewelry
B.tell people the best time to purchase gold and silver
C.introduce the real value and popularity of gold and silver
D.inform people of the factors to consider in buying jewelry
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
Valentine’s Day is named for Saint Valentine an early Christmas churchman who reportedly helped young lovers. Valentine was killed for his Christian beliefs on February 14 more than 1700 years ago, but the day that has his name is even earlier than that.
More than 2,000 years ago, the ancient Romans celebrated a holiday for lovers. As part of the celebration, girls wrote their names on pieces of paper and put them in a large container. Boys reached into the container and pulled one out. The girl whose name was written on the paper became his lover or sweet heart for a year.
Lovers still put their names on pieces of paper and they sent each other Valentine’s Day cards that tell of their love. Sometimes they also sent gifts, like flowers of chocolate candy. Americans usually send these gifts and cards through the mail system. But some used another way to send this message. They have it printed in a newspaper. The cost is usually a few dollars. Some of the messages are simple and short “Jane, I love you very much”. Others say more. This one, for example, “Dan, Roses are red. Violets are blue. I hope you love me as much as I love you. Forever. May.”
Most of the newspapers that print such messages are local, but USA Today is sold throughout the United States, and 90 other countries as well. This means someone can send a Valentine message to lover in a far-away city or town almost anywhere in the world. These messages cost 80 dollars and more. An employee of USA Today says readers can have a small heart or rose printed along with their messages this year. Will this kind of Valentine’s Day message reach the one you love? Well, just make sure he or she reads the newspaper.
1. When was the day named after Valentine?
A. More than 1700 years ago before Valentine’s death
B. More than 2000 years ago
C. On February 24
D. It is not mentioned in the passage.
2. Which is not true about the Roman holiday?
A. Girls put into a container large pieces of paper with their own names on them.
B. Boys and girls became sweet hearts by chance
C. Girls and boys were not lovers for a year.
D. It was celebrated as a holiday for lovers
3. What is the cost of printing a message to show one’s love? It’s _______________.
A. a few dollars B. 80 dollars, and more C. very expensive
D. a few dollars in a local newspaper and 80 dollars in USA Today
4. What can be inferred from the passage?
A. The ancient Roman girls were more open and easy-going than boys
B. Valentine was killed for helping lovers
C. Readers of USA Today can send roses to their lovers along with printed messages
D. Valentine was honored by people for his firm Christian belief and warm heart
5. What is the purpose of the passage?
A. To briefly introduce the origin of Valentine’s Day and the modern style.
B. To advertise for USA Today.
C. To tell you that Americans are open to express their love
D. To sell roses on Valentine’s Day.
高三英语阅读理解简单题查看答案及解析
With more recognition than Halloween and less than Christmas, Valentine’s Day as an imported festival faces a dangerous situation in China, where it’s caught between forces of tradition and fashion. Valentine’s Day has a natural enemy in China. And it is not the Chinese equivalent, which falls on the seventh day of the seventh month on the lunar calendar, usually around half a year away from Feb. 14. It is the Spring Festival, also known as the Chinese New Year, that will influence the Feast of Saint Valentine.
The real disagreement between East and West probably took place over a century ago, when China’s door was forced open by Western powers and Chinese scholars supported westernization as a means to strengthenour nation’s ability to compete. The introduction of the solar calendarand Western measurements was both an acknowledgment of their influence and an effort to be accepted by the world order.
For a full century, we have had two systems running in parallel. When it comes to the eventual outcome, practicality usually beats all other concerns. Laws can help, such as the three traditional festivals of Tomb Sweeping, Dragon Boat and Mid-Autumn gaining legal status in 2008 and giving every Chinese citizen a day off, but laws cannot push what people have no feelings for. So, the celebration or boycott of imported holidaysor homegrown ones should be no cause for worry. If they are irrelevant, no social media will change the public’s mind; and if they are accepted, there must be a need which they happen to satisfy.
Since we have no global Qin Shihuang to force one system on every country, we can always rely on a dual(双重) approach by which we share with the outside world on one hand but preserve our own ways of life on the other.
1. What does the author say about Valentine’s Day in China?
A. It is better received than Christmas.
B. It brings potential danger to people.
C. It becomes increasingly popular.
D. It happens to have a natural enemy.
2. The underlined word “equivalent” in the first paragraph refers to ________.
A. theChinese Valentine’s Day
B. theSpring Festival
C. fashion
D. custom
3. Which of the following can decide what to celebrate according to the author?
A. Laws. B. Media. C. Needs. D. Tradition.
4. The author believes that ________.
A. the conflict between East and West causes more trouble
B. two different systems of festivals can co-existin China
C. westernization is a symbol of a nation’s competitive ability
D. homegrown festivals are more important than imported ones
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
Valentine’s Day is on Feb. 14, and Chinese call it “lovers day”. I don’t think the translation is an accurate one, since it doesn’t only belong to lovers. Valentine’s Day is for expressing affection of all sorts. But it is uniquely for the romantically involved who shine the brightest, who spend the most money, whose hearts are the most engaged.
When I was b boy, my mother would buy enough cheap cards with ugly drawings of butterflies and little rabbits and honeybees for me to give one to every kid in my class, about 20 or so. The cards came in bags, and each card had a few foolish words-“Be Mine” or “I like you” or “You’ve Got My Heart” or the uninteresting words, “Hi, Valentine!” I would sign my name on the cards quickly and the name of one of my classmates on each easily-broken envelope. I would lick (舔)each one shut, but they were so cheap that the envelopes rarely had enough glue. On Valentine’s Day, I would take the cards to school-everyone did. We would have a party in our classroom, with cupcakes(杯形蛋糕)and juice and tiny candy hearts, which also had Valentine messages printed on them-“You’re sweet” or “Cupid(爱神丘比特)”or “Love”.
Ah, love! That’s the Valentine’s Day message: love. No one knows for certain the origin of the holiday. Several, Catholic victims were named Valentine, but it’s difficult to separate legend from fact. One story tells of a priest(牧师)named Valentine who was imprisoned and may have been stoned to death around 270 for performing marriages in going against the orders of the Roman Emperor Claudius II. But it’s hard today to find any religious connection.
1.From the first paragraph, why does the author say that we Chinese call Valentine’s Day “lovers’ day ”is not accurate?
A.Because only lovers would spend it. |
B.Because it is only spent on Feb. 14. |
C.Because it doesn’t only belong to lovers. |
D.Because only those rich people could enjoy it. |
2.A priest named Valentine was stoned to death for the sake of________.
A.his not attending a ceremony on time. |
B.his stealing something from the church |
C.his rude words to Roman Emperor Claudius II |
D.his not obeying the orders by Roman Emperor Claudius II |
3.According to the passage, we can know Valentine’s Day may be related to________.
A.religion | B.sports | C.entertainment | D.art |
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
Valentine's Day is supposed to be about love and romance. But unfortunately, it can be just the opposite. Because of that, Feb. 15th starts the busy season for divorce lawyers, as people who were unhappy with their marriages heading into the day often decide that they no longer want to be with the one they used to love.
A study of divorce filings (档案) in New York, Illinois and California by AttorneyFee. com, a legal referral (推荐) site, found that February is the busiest month of the year for divorce filings, up about 18% from the average month. And those seeking referrals for a divorce lawyer on the site increase 38% following the holiday, with the biggest rise on the day after Valentine’s.
Another legal site, Avvo. com, reports a 40% increase in those seeking information and advice about divorce in the period right after Valentine’s Day.
“There's a very large number of people who are considering the divorce all the time, deciding whether or not to file," said Richard Komaiko, a co-founder of AttorneyFee. “On Valentine’s Day, this thing is carefully considered.”
Komaiko said February has factors other than the holiday that could lead to an increase in divorces. January is the busiest month of the year for bankruptcy (破产) filings, highlighting the financial problems that often divide couples. In addition, the cold weather of February can keep couples that are having trouble indoors and closer to each other, adding to problems.
But Alton Abramowitz, president of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, believes the holiday itself often worsen the relationship for couples who are having trouble. "There’s always the clients who come in a day or two after saying ‘I can’t believe it. I made this beautiful dinner for my husband for Valentine’s Day, but he called to say he was stuck in the office and then didn't come home at all.’" Abramowitz said, “the day can create problems that lead to them finally getting caught."
1.What makes Valentine’s Day convey the meaning opposite to love and romance?
A.Valentine's Day won't bring people love and romance.
B.Many divorce filings change the nature of Valentine's Day.
C.Couples having troubles tend to break up after Valentine's Day.
D.Divorce lawyers dislike the atmosphere of Valentine's Day.
2.According to the study made by AttorneyFee. com, divorce filings are ________.
A.occurring most after the new year B.less connected with Valentine's Day
C.more likely to be handled online D.at the height of popularity in February
3.People intending to divorce may make use of Valentine’s Day to ________.
A.reflect on the divorce B.take legal action
C.make negotiations D.put the divorce aside
4.According to Komaiko, why do divorces grow in number in February?
A.Because financial problems and cold weather may bring more problems.
B.Because the long winter holiday makes couples hard to get through.
C.Because the husband is too busy with work to spend the day with his wife.
D.Because Valentine’s Day gets couples into financial trouble.
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
The story happened long ago.A king____a prosperous country.One day,he____a trip to some distant areas of his country.When he was back to his palace,he complained that his feet were very____,because it was the first time that he had made such a long trip,and the road that he went through was very____and stony.He then____his people to cover every road of the entire country with leather.Definitely,this would need thousands of cows’ skin,and would____a huge amount of money.
Then one of his wise servants dared himself to tell the king,“Why do you have to spend that____amount of money?Why don’t you just cut a little piece of leather to cover your feet?”
The king was____,but he later agreed to his____,to make “shoes” for himself.
There is actually a____lesson of life in this story:to make this world a(n)____place to live,you had better change yourself—your heart,not the world.
This story has a great____on my future life.When I graduated from college,I found it was____to find a good job.For highpaid jobs in big cities,I didn’t have the qualities and working____they demand for lowerpaid jobs in countries or small towns,I didn’t want to apply.____I just stayed at home and complained.Those were really____days!Then one day I read the story in a newspaper,and I got to know that I needed to change my____.I took up a job in a small city.In the two years,I worked hard and____well with my coworkers.The two years’ experiences____the way for my future development.Now I am quite____with my position as a manager in a multinational corporation.
1.A.ruled B.controlled C.defeated D.disturbed
2.A.waited for B.called for C.went for D.hunted for
3.A.strange B.ugly C.dull D.painful
4.A.wide B.good C.rough D.smooth
5.A.asked B.ordered C.demanded D.advised
6.A.cost B.collect C.pay D.take
7.A.unconditional B.unusual C.unimportant D.unnecessary
8.A.puzzled B.pleased C.surprised D.disappointed
9.A.request B.suggestion C.question D.criticism
10.A.reasonable B.valuable C.sensitive D.different
11.A.happy B.doubtful C.interesting D.harmless
12.A.opinion B.lesson C.impression D.influence
13.A.boring B.urgent C.hard D.unfair
14.A.memory B.experience C.equipment D.condition
15.A.So B.Before C.But D.If
16.A.cheerful B.funny C.unlucky D.sad
17.A.plan B.attitude C.soul D.theory
18.A.cooperated B.dealt C.continued D.started
19.A.built B.constructed C.paved D.admitted
20.A.astonished B.devoted C.touched D.satisfied
高三英语完形填空中等难度题查看答案及解析
Christmas Day is a public holiday in England, _________ family member meet and have good meals.
A.which B.when C.that D.where
高三英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析
Though the NMET is drawing near day by day, I still find I have so much to learn , to revise, to memorize and to analyze but without enough time. Oh, dear, everything seems to be____.
A. in a row B. in a mess C. in a mass D. in a queue
高三英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析
Valentine’s Day is a day named ______ Valentine who was a priest in the third century Rome
A. of B. with C. after D. by
高三英语单项填空困难题查看答案及解析
Imagine waking up one day and finding that your beautiful local beach is no more—gone, its fine white sand swept away by an abnormal storm. You go about your daily business for 12 long years and then suddenly the beach is back, all its glory restored by another storm. This is what happened on the island of Achill, off the coast of Ireland, where people are celebrating the return of the beautiful Ashleam Bay beach that was taken from them in 2005.
That in itself is unusual enough, but the story gets even better! You see, another beach in Achill did a disappearing act once, but took much longer to return. The beach at Doonagh, located only six miles away from Ashleam Bay, was restored earlier in 2016 after waves created by spring storms had swept away all the sand in 1984, leaving just rock pools behind.
There is local legend that stretches back hundreds of years that says this beach at Ashlcam Bay returns for a short every seven years then disappears again. But this time around it took a bit longer than that. It was last seen in 2005 and it stayed for a few months at that time before it was washed away again.
As you can imagine, everyone on the island of Achill is thrilled to have their sandy beach back, and even though no one knows how long it’s going to be around for, they are making the most of the time they’ve got before it disappears again.
Some may be quick to believe climate changes cause the phenomenon, but that’s not the reason these two beaches in Achill keep disappearing, Dr Kevin Lynch, a geographer at NUT Galway, says that these occurrences are the result of hydrodynamics (流体力学) and sediment(沉积物) supply, rather than climate changes.
Regardless of what’s causing them, disappearing and reappearing beaches are just part of what makes nature so fascinating.
1.What is people’s reaction to the return of the Ashleam Bay beach?
A. Full of fear.
B. Quite delighted.
C. Very disappointed.
D. Extremely con fused.
2.What can we learn about the beach at Doonagh?
A. It is not located in Ireland.
B. It disappeared 12 years ago.
C. It once disappeared for more than 30 years.
D. It is just made up of rocks and pools.
3.According to the local legend, when should the Ashleam Bay beach have come back?
A. In 1982.
B. In 2012.
C. In 2016.
D. In 2018.
4.What does Dr Kevin Lynch think of the phenomenon?
A. Some abnormal storms lead to ocean’s enlargement,
B. It is hard to uncover the mystery of beach’s disappearing.
C. Climate changes can result in beaches disappearing completely.
D. Hydrodynamics and sediment supply cause two beaches to disappear.
高三英语阅读理解困难题查看答案及解析