When Oscar Pistorius was convicted (证明有罪的)murder last month, the judge described the case as a “human tragedy of Shakespearean proportions”. The Paralympic athlete’s fall from grace made this comparison appropriate: overcoming severe disability to reach “Olympian heights”, falling in love with a beautiful model, and, in a coincidence that wouldn’t be out of place in one of the plays, taking her life on Valentine’s Day. Mr. Pistorius’s tragic flaw was that he was an excessive paranoia（偏执狂）, which showed itself in an enthusiasm for guns.
Mr. Pistorius’s case is, indeed, peculiarly Shakespearean. But Justice Eric Leach, who delivered the judgment, is but one of those who have turned to the playwright in times of legal need. In 2012, Britain’s High Court quoted “King Lear” in a trial regarding a “threatening” joke on Twitter — they eventually overturned a conviction on the grounds that social-media users “are free to speak not what they ought to say, but what they feel”. A choice snippet of “Hamlet” (“a little patch of ground that hath no profit in it but the name”) was quoted in a 2008 boundary dispute. “Henry VIII” was called forth by Senator Sam Ervin Jr during the Watergate hearings. The condemnation of Dzokhar Tsarnaev, involved in the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings, was sealed with lines from “Julius Caesar”: “the evil that men do lives after them; the good is often buried with their bones.”
Lawyers’ love of Shakespeare is appropriate given that more of his lines are devoted to discussing law than any other profession. Some think his knowledge of the law was so detailed that the “real” Shakespeare must have been a lawyer. A study by Scott Dodson and Ami Dodson published last year set out to discover “the most literary justice” of those currently sitting(开庭), and which authors were regularly turned to for quotable wisdom. The “most abundant citer and the widest read” was found to be Antonin Scalia, and — no surprise — William Shakespeare topped the list of the often-quoted, along with Lewis Carroll. Both Shakespeare and Carroll accumulated sixteen references from five justices. Other popular authors among the bench were George Orwell, Charles Dickens, Aldous Huxley and Aesop.
The words of Shakespeare are likely to be sounded around courtrooms for decades to come as many universities — particularly in America and Britain — have included him in their law courses. Harvard Law School offers a seminar which focuses entirely on “justice and morality in the plays of Shakespeare”. King’s College London’s “Shakespeare and the Law” model is co-taught by the Literature and Law faculties, and explores “the role of the law in mediating the place of the individual within society”. There are sensible reasons behind this; the University of Southampton, in line with recent studies, states that it offers the opportunity to study law through a literary prism of Shakespeare, Dickens, Kafka and others in order to “help law students to become more ethically sharp”. A study argues that reading literary fiction makes people show empathy, challenge prejudice, and be more flexible in their decision-making. A literary sensibility enables lawyers to present clear, structured opinions and briefs.
But what is it about the work of Shakespeare, in particular, that lends itself to legal quotation and reflection? After all, as Robert Peterson pointed out in “The Bard and the Bench”, all 37 of Shakespeare’s plays have been quoted by American courts, in over 800 judicial opinions. One answer lies in the fact that Shakespeare’s status embodies high culture; quoting him seeks to invest the judgment with credibility and induce a sense of history. Mr. Peterson notes that this can “drive decisions in authentic ways”. Another option is Shakespeare’s universality — everyone has either read, or claims to have read, plays like “Hamlet”. His works have become globally shared; the term “Shakespearean tragedy” induces a rise-and-fall story even if the listener is not familiar with the works themselves. The horrifying details of Mr. Pistorius’s actions on that night, placed in a familiar Shakespearean frame, helps members of the court, and the public, to make sense of the unnecessary bloodshed.
1.Why is Oscar Pistorius mentioned in the first paragraph?
A. To introduce the topic of the passage.
B. To explain why he was announced guilty of murder.
C. To show the appropriateness of Shakespeare’s comparison.
D. To highlight how Shakespeare influenced his conviction.
2.What can be inferred from the passage?
A. Studying law makes people more flexible in making right decisions.
B. The quotation from Shakespeare in court will keep up in the following decades.
C. The accusation against Twitter was overturned by Britain’s High Court in 2012.
D. It is a must for law students in America and Britain to take courses in Shakespeare’s play.
3.Which of the following is closest in meaning to the underlined word “embodies” in the last paragraph?
A. Creates. B. Shapes.
C. Promotes. D. Represents.
4.The reason why Shakespeare is often quoted in court is that__________.
A. he is universally recognized as a productive playwright
B. the quotation from him adds credibility to the judgment
C. there are many professional legal terms in his works
D. Shakespearean tragedy is globally read by people
5.How is the passage mainly developed?
A. By listing data. B. By presenting examples.
C. By analyzing phenomena. D. By making comparisons.
6.Which of the following is the most suitable title for the passage?
A. Why Lawyers Love Shakespeare
B. Famous Quotations from Shakespeare
C. How Shakespeare Created Popular Works
D. The Most Influential Playwright in History
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题
When Oscar Pistorius was convicted (证明有罪的)murder last month, the judge described the case as a “human tragedy of Shakespearean proportions”. The Paralympic athlete’s fall from grace made this comparison appropriate: overcoming severe disability to reach “Olympian heights”, falling in love with a beautiful model, and, in a coincidence that wouldn’t be out of place in one of the plays, taking her life on Valentine’s Day. Mr. Pistorius’s tragic flaw was that he was an excessive paranoia（偏执狂）, which showed itself in an enthusiasm for guns.
Mr. Pistorius’s case is, indeed, peculiarly Shakespearean. But Justice Eric Leach, who delivered the judgment, is but one of those who have turned to the playwright in times of legal need. In 2012, Britain’s High Court quoted “King Lear” in a trial regarding a “threatening” joke on Twitter — they eventually overturned a conviction on the grounds that social-media users “are free to speak not what they ought to say, but what they feel”. A choice snippet of “Hamlet” (“a little patch of ground that hath no profit in it but the name”) was quoted in a 2008 boundary dispute. “Henry VIII” was called forth by Senator Sam Ervin Jr during the Watergate hearings. The condemnation of Dzokhar Tsarnaev, involved in the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings, was sealed with lines from “Julius Caesar”: “the evil that men do lives after them; the good is often buried with their bones.”
Lawyers’ love of Shakespeare is appropriate given that more of his lines are devoted to discussing law than any other profession. Some think his knowledge of the law was so detailed that the “real” Shakespeare must have been a lawyer. A study by Scott Dodson and Ami Dodson published last year set out to discover “the most literary justice” of those currently sitting(开庭), and which authors were regularly turned to for quotable wisdom. The “most abundant citer and the widest read” was found to be Antonin Scalia, and — no surprise — William Shakespeare topped the list of the often-quoted, along with Lewis Carroll. Both Shakespeare and Carroll accumulated sixteen references from five justices. Other popular authors among the bench were George Orwell, Charles Dickens, Aldous Huxley and Aesop.
The words of Shakespeare are likely to be sounded around courtrooms for decades to come as many universities — particularly in America and Britain — have included him in their law courses. Harvard Law School offers a seminar which focuses entirely on “justice and morality in the plays of Shakespeare”. King’s College London’s “Shakespeare and the Law” model is co-taught by the Literature and Law faculties, and explores “the role of the law in mediating the place of the individual within society”. There are sensible reasons behind this; the University of Southampton, in line with recent studies, states that it offers the opportunity to study law through a literary prism of Shakespeare, Dickens, Kafka and others in order to “help law students to become more ethically sharp”. A study argues that reading literary fiction makes people show empathy, challenge prejudice, and be more flexible in their decision-making. A literary sensibility enables lawyers to present clear, structured opinions and briefs.
But what is it about the work of Shakespeare, in particular, that lends itself to legal quotation and reflection? After all, as Robert Peterson pointed out in “The Bard and the Bench”, all 37 of Shakespeare’s plays have been quoted by American courts, in over 800 judicial opinions. One answer lies in the fact that Shakespeare’s status embodies high culture; quoting him seeks to invest the judgment with credibility and induce a sense of history. Mr. Peterson notes that this can “drive decisions in authentic ways”. Another option is Shakespeare’s universality — everyone has either read, or claims to have read, plays like “Hamlet”. His works have become globally shared; the term “Shakespearean tragedy” induces a rise-and-fall story even if the listener is not familiar with the works themselves. The horrifying details of Mr. Pistorius’s actions on that night, placed in a familiar Shakespearean frame, helps members of the court, and the public, to make sense of the unnecessary bloodshed.
1.Why is Oscar Pistorius mentioned in the first paragraph?
A. To introduce the topic of the passage.
B. To explain why he was announced guilty of murder.
C. To show the appropriateness of Shakespeare’s comparison.
D. To highlight how Shakespeare influenced his conviction.
2.What can be inferred from the passage?
A. Studying law makes people more flexible in making right decisions.
B. The quotation from Shakespeare in court will keep up in the following decades.
C. The accusation against Twitter was overturned by Britain’s High Court in 2012.
D. It is a must for law students in America and Britain to take courses in Shakespeare’s play.
3.Which of the following is closest in meaning to the underlined word “embodies” in the last paragraph?
A. Creates. B. Shapes.
C. Promotes. D. Represents.
4.The reason why Shakespeare is often quoted in court is that__________.
A. he is universally recognized as a productive playwright
B. the quotation from him adds credibility to the judgment
C. there are many professional legal terms in his works
D. Shakespearean tragedy is globally read by people
5.How is the passage mainly developed?
A. By listing data. B. By presenting examples.
C. By analyzing phenomena. D. By making comparisons.
6.Which of the following is the most suitable title for the passage?
A. Why Lawyers Love Shakespeare
B. Famous Quotations from Shakespeare
C. How Shakespeare Created Popular Works
D. The Most Influential Playwright in History
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
Last month, I said a final farewell to my lovely old dog, Oscar. I have been missing him terribly. Oscar went everywhere with me. He was my mascot of unconditional love, my loneliness relief and one of the big loves of my life.
Many scientific studies have shown that petting a dog and even having one nearby can reduce stress. Peter Wedderburn, a writer and veterinary surgeon, once said “Dogs become a central part of our lives, offering unconditional love, continual company and an alternative to loneliness. A dog is the ultimate loving companion.”
It’s no wonder I miss him. Oscar also gave structure to my day. His soft furry rub was my early morning wake-up call, plus his walks punctuated my day with a stress-relieving wander by the canal bank. Since his death, I have found myself lying in bed feeling a little low and unmotivated. I’m also spending hours at my desk and not getting out into the light all day.
I didn’t want my mood to spiral downwards, so I have started a new, gentle morning practice. I have decided to put my focus on lighting my fire----both literally and metaphorically. Mornings are cold on my canal boat, so what better way to heat things up than by creating a warming ritual(仪式).
As I piled up old newspapers, placed four logs on the pile and loaded up smokeless coal, I thought about the “fuel” I wanted to use today----the opportunities and tools available to me. Finally, I struck the match, which symbolized the “spark of inspiration”. As the fire started to burn, I wrote about someone or something that had inspired me as the flames slowly heated up the boat.
Oscar naturally lit up my days and life. Without him, I’m having to be more conscious about how I look after my mental health and mood, but I’m now starting to enjoy my new start to the mornings. I still miss my lovely dog, but I always end my morning practice by raising my mug of coffee in gratitude for the privilege of 13 years of love and light that he brought into my life. Love never dies.
1.Why does the author mention scientific studies and quotes from Peter Wedderburn?
A.To introduce the funny stories about Oscar.
B.To illustrate how attachment to dogs forms.
C.To emphasize her sorrow at Oscar’s death.
D.To contrast her love for a dog with others’
2.The underlined phrase “spiral downwards” in Paragraph 4 is closest in meaning to “_____”.
A.darken B.lift
C.improve D.swing
3.What did the warming ritual mean to the author?
A.It was a new routine which kept her warm in the morning.
B.She viewed it as a ceremony to mourn her beloved Oscar.
C.She intended the ritual to honor those that had inspired her.
D.It symbolized a departure from her downward feelings
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
When “Rise of the Planet of the Apes” was first shown to the public last month, a group of excited animal activists gathered on Hollywood Boulevard. But they weren’t there to throw red paint on fur-coat-wearing film stars. Instead, one activist, dressed in a full-body monkey suit, had arrived with a sign praising the filmmakers: “Thanks for not using real apes (猿)!”
The creative team behind “Apes” used motion-capture (动作捕捉) technology to create digitalized animals, spending tens of millions of dollars on technology that records an actor’s performance and later processes it with computer graphics to create a final image (图像). In this case, one of a realistic-looking ape.
Yet “Apes” is more exception than the rule. In fact, Hollywood has been hot on live animals lately. One nonprofit organization, which monitors the treatment of animals in filmed entertainment, is keeping tabs on more than 2,000 productions this year. Already, a number of films, including “Water for Elephants,” “The Hangover Part Ⅱ” and “Zookeeper,” have drawn the anger of activists who say the creatures acting in them haven’t been treated properly.
In some cases, it’s not so much the treatment of the animals on set in the studio that has activists worried; it’s the off-set training and living conditions that are raising concerns. And there are questions about the films made outside the States, which sometimes are not monitored as closely as productions filmed in the States.
1.Why did the animal activists gather on Hollywood Boulevard?
A.To see famous film stars.
B.To oppose wearing fur coats.
C.To raise money for animal protection.
D.To express thanks to some filmmakers.
2.What does paragraph 2 mainly talk about?
A.The cost of making “Apes.”
B.The creation of digitalized apes.
C.The publicity about “Apes.”
D.The performance of real apes.
3.What does the underlined phrase “keeping tabs on” in paragraph 3 probably mean?
A.Listing completely.
B.Directing professionally.
C.Promoting successfully.
D.Watching carefully.
4.What can we infer from the last paragraph about animal actors?
A.They may be badly treated.
B.They should take further training.
C.They could be traded illegally
D.They would lose popularity.
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
1
A government official was murdered last Friday and the police are collecting information that is ________ to the case.
A. similar B. devoted C. relevant D. addicted
高三英语简单题查看答案及解析
—Ang Lee won the Best Director Oscar at the 85th Academy Awards Ceremony.
—But when he was young, no one could have imagined how well he ____ in the world of entertainment.
A．would do B．was doing C．had done D．did
高三英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析
听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1.When did Daniel buy the house?
A.Last month. B.Two months ago. C.Three months ago.
2.What will Daniel plant in the garden?
A.Some grass. B.Flowers. C.Vegetables.
3.What is the probable relationship between the speakers?
A.Neighbors. B.Colleagues. C.Husband and wife.
高三英语长对话中等难度题查看答案及解析
When did the man have a tour in Mexico?
A. Last month. B. Four days ago. C. Last week.
高三英语短对话中等难度题查看答案及解析
When Athaya Slaetalid first moved from Thailand to the Faroe Islands, where winter lasts six months, she would sit next to the heater all day:
"People told me to go _________ because the sun was shining but I just said: 'No! Leave me alone, I'm very ________.'"
Moving here six years ago was tough for Athaya ________, she admits. She ________her husband Jan when he was working with a Faroese friend who had started a business in ________.
Jan knew ________ that bringing his wife to this very different ________, weather and landscape would be challenging.
"I had my ________, because everything she was leaving ________ everything she was coming to were opposites," he admits. "But knowing Athaya, I knew she would ________."
There are now more than 300 women from Thailand and Philippines living in the Faroes. It doesn't ________ like a lot, but in a population of just 50,000 people, they now ________ the largest ethnic minority in these 18 islands, located between Norway and Iceland.
In recent years the Faroes have experienced population ________, with young people leaving, often in search of education, and not returning. Women have ________ more likely to settle abroad. As a result, according to Prime Minister Axel Johannesen, the Faroes have a "gender deficit" with _________ 4,000 fewer women than men.
This, ________, has lead Faroese men to look ________ the islands for romance. Many, though not all, of the ________ women met their husbands online, some through commercial ________ websites. Others have made connections through social media networks or existing Asian-Faroese _________.
1.A. outside B. inside C. away D. off
2.A. hot B. cold C. warm D. cool
3.A. at last B. at once C. at first D. at length
4.A. would find B. had found C. would meet D. had met
5.A. Iceland B. Philippines C. Faroes D. Thailand
6.A. ahead schedule B. in advance C. without hesitation D. in particular
7.A. country B. nation C. culture D. minority
8.A. concerns B. conflicts C. beliefs D. problems
9.A. but B. and C. while D. when
10.A. make B. get C. handle D. cope
11.A. sound B. hear C. look D. appear
12.A. consist of B. belong to C. make up D. build up
13.A. decline B. increase C. boom D. failure
14.A. shown B. remained C. proved D. tended
15.A. mostly B. totally C. exactly D. approximately
16.A. however B. then C. actually D. instead
17.A. within B. faraway C. throughout D. beyond
18.A. European B. Asian C. foreign D. poor
19.A. knowing B. playing C. dating D. marrying
20.A. couples B. wives C. husbands D. families
高三英语完形填空中等难度题查看答案及解析
When Athaya Slaetalid first moved from Thailand to the Faroe Islands, where winter lasts six months, she would sit next to the heater all day:
"People told me to go _________ because the sun was shining but I just said: 'No! Leave me alone, I'm very _________.'"
Moving here six years ago was tough for Athaya _________, she admits. She _________her husband Jan when he was working with a Faroese friend who had started a business in _________.
Jan knew _________ that bringing his wife to this very different _________, weather and landscape would be challenging.
"I had my _________, because everything she was leaving _________ everything she was coming to were opposites," he admits. "But knowing Athaya, I knew she would __________."
There are now more than 300 women from Thailand and Philippines living in the Faroes. It doesn't __________ like a lot, but in a population of just 50,000 people, they now __________ the largest ethnic minority in these 18 islands, located between Norway and Iceland.
In recent years the Faroes have experienced population __________, with young people leaving, often in search of education, and not returning. Women have __________ more likely to settle abroad. As a result, according to Prime Minister Axel Johannesen, the Faroes have a "gender deficit" with __________ 4,000 fewer women than men.
This, __________, has lead Faroese men to look __________ the islands for romance. Many, though not all, of the __________ women met their husbands online, some through commercial __________ websites. Others have made connections through social media networks or existing Asian-Faroese __________.
1.A.outside B.inside C.away D.off
2.A.hot B.cold C.warm D.cool
3.A.at last B.at once C.at first D.at length
4.A.would find B.had found C.would meet D.had met
5.A.Iceland B.Philippines C.Faroes D.Thailand
6.A.ahead schedule B.in advance C.without hesitation D.in particular
7.A.country B.nation C.culture D.minority
8.A.concerns B.conflicts C.beliefs D.problems
9.A.but B.and C.while D.when
10.A.make B.get C.handle D.cope
11.A.sound B.hear C.look D.appear
12.A.consist of B.belong to C.make up D.build up
13.A.decline B.increase C.boom D.failure
14.A.shown B.remained C.proved D.tended
15.A.mostly B.totally C.exactly D.approximately
16.A.however B.then C.actually D.instead
17.A.within B.faraway C.throughout D.beyond
18.A.European B.Asian C.foreign D.poor
19.A.knowing B.playing C.dating D.marrying
20.A.couples B.wives C.husbands D.families
高三英语完形填空中等难度题查看答案及解析
At the World Economic Forum last month, President Trump drew claps when he announced the United States would respond to the forum's proposal to plant one trillion(万亿) trees to fight climate change. The trillion-tree idea won wide attention last summer after a study published in the journal Science concluded that planting so many trees was “the most effective climate change solution to date”.
If only it were true. But it isn't. Planting trees would slow down the planet's warming, but the only thing that will save us and future generations from paying a huge price in dollars, lives and damage to nature is rapid and considerable reductions in carbon release from fossil fuels, to net zero by 2050.
Focusing on trees as the big solution to climate change is a dangerous diversion(偏离). Worse still, it takes attention away from those responsible for the carbon release that are pushing us toward disaster. For example, in the Netherlands, you can pay Shell an additional 1 euro cent for each liter of regular gasoline you put in your tank, to plant trees to balance the carbon release from your driving. That's clearly no more than disaster slightly delayed. The only way to stop this planet from overheating is through political, economic, technological and social solutions that end the use of fossil fuels.
There is no way that planting trees, even across a global area the size of the United States, can absorb the huge amounts of fossil carbon released from industrial societies. Trees do take up carbon from the atmosphere as they grow. But this uptake merely replaces carbon lost when forests were cleared in the first place, usually long ago. Regrowing forests where they once grew can undo some damage done in the past, but even a trillion trees can't store enough carbon to head off dramatic climate changes this century.
In a sharp counter argument to last summer's Paper in Science, Justin Gillis wrote in the same journal in October that the study's findings were inconsistent with the dynamics of the global carbon cycle. He warned that “the claim that global tree restoration(复原) is our most effective climate solution is simply scientifically incorrect and dangerously misleading”.
1.What do we know about the trillion-tree idea?
A.It was published in a journal.
B.It was proposed last summer.
C.It was put forward by Trump.
D.It drew lots of public attention.
2.What is paragraph 3 mainly about?
A.A drawback of the tree planting strategy.
B.An example of balancing carbon release.
C.An anecdote of making a purchase at Shell.
D.A responsibility for politicians and economists.
3.What was Justin Gillis's attitude towards global tree restoration?
A.Indifferent. B.Opposed.
C.Hesitant. D.Supportive.
4.What is the best title for the text?
A.Contradictory Ideas on Tree Planting.
B.A Trillion Trees Come to the Rescue.
C.Planting Trees Won't Save the World.
D.The Best Solution to Climate Change.
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析