They say money doesn’t grow on trees. But it certainly appears to do so on the mysterious coin-studded(嵌满) trunks dotted around the UK’s woodland. The strange phenomenon of old trees with coins fixed firmly all over their bark has been spotted on trails from the Peak District to the Scottish Highlands. The coins are usually knocked into felled (砍伐的) tree trunks using stones by passers-by, who hope it will bring them good fortune.
These fascinating spectacles often have coins from centuries ago buried deep in their bark and warped by the passage of time. The tradition of making offerings to gods at wishing trees dates back hundreds of years, but this combination of the man-made and the natural is far more rare. It used to be believed that god’s spirits lived in trees, and they were often decorated with sweets and gifts — as is still done today at Christmas. The act is like tossing money into ponds for good luck, or the trend for couples to attach “love padlocks” to bridges and fences to symbolize lasting romance. Some pubs, such as the Punch Bowl in Askham, Cumbria, have old timbers with splits in them into which coins are forced for luck. There are seven felled tree trunks with coins pushed into them in the picturesque village of Portmeirion, in Wales.
Meurig Jones, an estate manager at the tourist destination, told the BBC, “We had no idea why it was being done when we first noticed the tree trunk was being filled with coins. I did some detective work and discovered that trees were sometimes used as ‘wishing trees’. In Britain it dates back to the 1700s — there is one tree somewhere in Scotland which apparently has an old coin stuck into it. ” He said that a sick person could press a coin into a tree and their illness would go away. If someone then takes the coin out though, it’s said they then become ill. We haven’t made it known at all, it’s just happened,” he added. “It’s quite amazing really.” In Scotland, there is also a legend about a kissing tree. If a young man could drive a nail into a tree with one blow, he earned a kiss from his sweetheart.
1.What was the real reason why in UK people knocked coins into the old trees?
A.It was hoped that it would bring them good future and make the trees more beautiful.
B.Nobody knew why there was such a strange custom that it could make them lucky.
C.It might come from the tradition of making offerings to gods hundreds of years ago.
D.It was said that god’s spirits lived in trees and doing so could please the gods of the trees.
2.The underlined part in Paragraph 2 may mean ____________.
A.this combination of the man-made and the natural is far from realistic.
B.the mysterious phenomenon of old trees with coins is rarely seen in the world.
C.people wanted to make the works of art with the help from the forces of nature.
D.the appearance of trees would be nicer than their original.
3.The passage mainly tells us that________.
A.some people attached “love padlocks” to bridges and fences to symbolize lasting romance
B.a particular way in which people made good wishes is still popular in the UK
C.visitors tossed money into ponds for good luck just as they knocked coins into the trees
D.a long history of a strange phenomenon of old trees with coins in the UK
4.Which of the following can be used as the best title for the passage?
A.Who Says Money Doesn’t Grow on Trees?
B.Do Trees with Some Coins Become Valuable?
C.Is It Really Amazing to Have Coins Fixed into Trees?
D.What Is the Purpose of Knocking Coins into Trees?
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题
They say money doesn’t grow on trees. But it certainly appears to do so on the mysterious coin-studded(嵌满) trunks dotted around the UK’s woodland. The strange phenomenon of old trees with coins fixed firmly all over their bark has been spotted on trails from the Peak District to the Scottish Highlands. The coins are usually knocked into felled (砍伐的) tree trunks using stones by passers-by, who hope it will bring them good fortune.
These fascinating spectacles often have coins from centuries ago buried deep in their bark and warped by the passage of time. The tradition of making offerings to gods at wishing trees dates back hundreds of years, but this combination of the man-made and the natural is far more rare. It used to be believed that god’s spirits lived in trees, and they were often decorated with sweets and gifts — as is still done today at Christmas. The act is like tossing money into ponds for good luck, or the trend for couples to attach “love padlocks” to bridges and fences to symbolize lasting romance. Some pubs, such as the Punch Bowl in Askham, Cumbria, have old timbers with splits in them into which coins are forced for luck. There are seven felled tree trunks with coins pushed into them in the picturesque village of Portmeirion, in Wales.
Meurig Jones, an estate manager at the tourist destination, told the BBC, “We had no idea why it was being done when we first noticed the tree trunk was being filled with coins. I did some detective work and discovered that trees were sometimes used as ‘wishing trees’. In Britain it dates back to the 1700s — there is one tree somewhere in Scotland which apparently has an old coin stuck into it. ” He said that a sick person could press a coin into a tree and their illness would go away. If someone then takes the coin out though, it’s said they then become ill. We haven’t made it known at all, it’s just happened,” he added. “It’s quite amazing really.” In Scotland, there is also a legend about a kissing tree. If a young man could drive a nail into a tree with one blow, he earned a kiss from his sweetheart.
1.What was the real reason why in UK people knocked coins into the old trees?
A.It was hoped that it would bring them good future and make the trees more beautiful.
B.Nobody knew why there was such a strange custom that it could make them lucky.
C.It might come from the tradition of making offerings to gods hundreds of years ago.
D.It was said that god’s spirits lived in trees and doing so could please the gods of the trees.
2.The underlined part in Paragraph 2 may mean ____________.
A.this combination of the man-made and the natural is far from realistic.
B.the mysterious phenomenon of old trees with coins is rarely seen in the world.
C.people wanted to make the works of art with the help from the forces of nature.
D.the appearance of trees would be nicer than their original.
3.The passage mainly tells us that________.
A.some people attached “love padlocks” to bridges and fences to symbolize lasting romance
B.a particular way in which people made good wishes is still popular in the UK
C.visitors tossed money into ponds for good luck just as they knocked coins into the trees
D.a long history of a strange phenomenon of old trees with coins in the UK
4.Which of the following can be used as the best title for the passage?
A.Who Says Money Doesn’t Grow on Trees?
B.Do Trees with Some Coins Become Valuable?
C.Is It Really Amazing to Have Coins Fixed into Trees?
D.What Is the Purpose of Knocking Coins into Trees?
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
—Mum, why can’t I have _____ new bike?
—Dear, you know, ______ money doesn’t grow on trees.
A. the; the B. a; / C. a; the D. /; the
高三英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析
—Mum, why can’t I have _____ new bike?
—Dear, you know, ______ money doesn’t grow on trees.
A. the; the B. a; / C. a; the D. /; the
高三英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析
Surely it doesn't matter where charities get their money from, but what ____ is what they do with it.
A. involves B. concerns
C. means D. counts
高三英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析
Most kids grow up learning they cannot draw on the walls. But it might be time to unlearn that training — this summer, a group of culture addicts, artists and community organizers are inviting New Yorkers to write all over the walls of an old house on Governor’s Island.
The project is called Writing On It All, and it’s a participatory writing project and artistic experiment that has happened on Governor’s Island every summer since 2013.
“Most of the participants are people who are just walking by or are on the island for other reasons, or they just kind of happen to be there,” Alexandra Chasin, artistic director of Writing On It All, tells Smithsonian.com.
The 2016 season runs through June 26 and features sessions facilitated by everyone from dancers to domestic workers. Each session has a theme, and participants are given a variety of materials and prompts and asked to cover surfaces with their thoughts and art. This year, the programs range from one that turns the house into a collaborative essay to one that explores the meaning of exile (流放).
Governor’s Island is a national historic landmark district long used for military purposes. Now known as “New York’s shared space for art and play,” the island, which lies between Manhattan and Brooklyn in Upper New York Bay, is closed to cars but open to summer tourists who flock for festivals, picnics, adventures, as well as these “legal graffiti (涂鸦)” sessions.
The notes and art scribbled (涂画) on the walls are an experiment in self-expression. So far, participants have ranged in age from 2 to 85. Though Chasin says the focus of the work is on the activity of writing, rather than the text that ends up getting written, some of the work that comes out of the sessions has stuck with her.
“One of the sessions that moved me the most was state violence on black women and black girls,” says Chasin, explaining that in one room, people wrote down the names of those killed because of it. “People do beautiful work and leave beautiful messages.”
1.What does the project Writing On It All invite people to do?
A.Unlearn their training in drawing.
B.Participate in a state graffiti show.
C.Cover the walls of an old house with graffiti.
D.Exhibit their artistic creations in an old house.
2.What did the project participants do during the 2016 season?
A.They were free to scribble on the walls whatever came to their mind.
B.They expressed their thoughts in graffiti on the theme of each session.
C.They learned the techniques of collaborative writing.
D.They were required to cooperate with other creators.
3.What kind of place is Governor’s Island?
A.It is a historic site that attracts tourists and artists.
B.It is an area now accessible only to tourist vehicles.
C.It is a place in Upper New York Bay formerly used for exiles.
D.It is an open area for tourists to enjoy themselves year round.
4.What does Chasin say about the project?
A.It just focused on the sufferings of black females.
B.It helped expand the influence of graffiti art.
C.It has started the career of many creative artists.
D.It has created some meaningful artistic works.
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
Wang Chongrun calls himself a beggar, but says he doesn’t feel ashamed. He raises money not for himself, but for orphans whose parents died of AIDS. “I’ve given all my savings but more money is needed to pay for their medical treatments,” Wang said.
He was a doctor in a local clinic. He could have lived a happy life from his good job, but he didn’t. He raises money not for AIDS orphans by setting up “Caring family” for them in Nanyang, Henan Province in 2004. Wherever he goes, he carries a big bag filled with pictures of children and booklets on AIDS. He wants to make people more aware of AIDS to rid them of their fear.
Meanwhile he wants to arouse their feelings by showing them pictures of these children. It’s not so easy. Wang keeps turned a way by people because they don’t want to hear about AIDS. He said that his hearts hurt a lot when he saw kids who have no access to treatment.
It’s difficult for him to keep his “Caring Family”, an orphanage because of the lack of financing. He said “I don’t know how long we can continue, but.”
1.What is the best title of the passage? (Please answer within 10 words)
2.Which sentence in the passage can be replaced by the following one? People refuse him.
________
3.Please fill in the blank in the last paragraph with proper words or phrases to complete the sentence. (Please answer within 10 words).
________
4.What would you do if your fellow student were an AIDS student? (30 words)
________
5.Translate the underlined sentence in the second paragraph.
________
高三英语阅读表达中等难度题查看答案及解析
As we all know, it takes ten years to grow trees but a hundred to rear people, which means it will be ________ one becomes a useful person.
A.before long B.long after C.after long D.long before
高三英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析
Many people say they love birds, but some plant trees _________ some make cages.
A. until B. though C. unless D. while
高三英语单项填空简单题查看答案及解析
— Have you got time on Monday?
— ____
A.Of course not. | B.It’s certain. |
C.You can say that again. | D.Why? I’ll stay at home. |
高三英语单项填空简单题查看答案及解析
Preventing obesity (肥胖) and smoking can save lives, but it doesn’t save money, reported researchers. “It was a small surprise, for it is against the common belief,” said Pieter Van Baal, who led the study. “But it makes sense. If you live longer, then you cost the health system more.”
The researchers found that from age 20 to 56, obese people racked up (累计) the most expensive health costs. But on average, healthy people lived 84 years. Smokers lived about 77 years, and obese people lived about 80 years. Smokers and obese people tended to have more heart disease than healthy people. Therefore in the long run, the thin and healthy group cost about $417, 000, from age 20 on. Smokers cost about $326, 000 and obese people $371, 000.
“The result throws a bucket of cold water onto the idea, based on guesswork, that obesity is going to cost trillions of dollars,” said Patrick Basham, a professor of health politics. “If we’re going to worry about the future of obesity, we should stop worrying about its financial impact,” he said.
“The benefits of obesity prevention may not be seen immediately in terms of cost saving in tomorrow’s budget, but there are long-term gains,” said Van Baal. “These are often immeasurable when it comes to people living longer and healthier lives.” In the meanwhile, he said that governments should recognize that successful smoking and obesity prevention programs mean that people will have a longer chance of dying of something more expensive later in life.
“Lung cancer is a cheap disease to treat because people don’t survive very long. But if they are old enough to get Alzheimer’s (早老性痴呆症) one day, they may survive longer and cost more. We are not advising that governments stop trying to prevent obesity,” Van Baal said. “But they should do it for the right reasons.”
1.Among middle-aged people, who may cost the health system most?
A. Those who are heavy smokers.
B. Those who are overweight.
C. Those who are too thin.
D. Those who are suffering from heart attacks.
2.What can we know about the belief that obesity costs much?
A. It turns out to be incorrect.
B. It comes from scientific study.
C. It is based on medical evidence.
D. It has changed over the past years.
3.According to the text, governments prevent obesity for the purpose of _______.
A. reducing the risks of suffering cancer
B. weakening obesity’s financial impact
C. making sure of people’s long and healthy life
D. reducing the money spent on medical programs
4.What would be the best title for this text?
A. Recent Medical Study Shows Truth about Health
B. Preventing Obesity and Smoking May Cost More
C. Obesity and Smoking Lead to Expensive Diseases
D. Governments Change Attitude towards Obesity and Smoking
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析