When one loves one’s Art no service seems too hard.
Joe was a man with a genius for art. Delia did things in six octaves(音阶) promisingly.
Joe and Delia became in love with one of the other, or each of the other, as you please, and in a short time were married – for (see above), when one loves one’s Art no service seems too hard.
They began housekeeping in a flat. It was a lonesome flat, but they were happy; for they had their Art, and they had each other.
Joe was learning painting in the class of the great Magister — you know his fame. His fees are high; his lessons are light — his high–lights have brought him fame. Delia was studying under Rosenstock — you know his reputation as a disturber of the piano keys.
They were mighty happy as long as their money lasted.
After a while Art flagged. Everything going out and nothing coming in, money was lacking to pay Mr. Magister and Rosenstock their prices. When one loves one’s Art no service seems too hard. So, Delia said she must give music lessons to make the ends meet.
For two or three days she went out looking for pupils. One evening she came home overjoyed “Joe, dear,” she said, cheerfully, “I’ve a pupil. And, oh, the loveliest people! General — General Pinkney’s daughter Clementina — on Seventy-first street.”
“That’s all right for you, Dele,” said Joe, “but how about me? Do you think I’m going to let you work while I play in the regions of high art?”
Delia came and hung about his neck.
“Joe, dear, you are silly. You must keep on at your studies. It is not as if I had quit my music and gone to work at something else. While I teach I learn. I am always with my music.”
“All right,” said Joe. “But I may sell some of my pictures as well.”
The next few weeks, they both busied themselves with their own business and brought back a ten, a five, a two and a one — all legal tender notes — and laid them beside each others’ earnings.
One Saturday evening Joe reached home first. He spread his $18 on the table and washed what seemed to be a great deal of dark paint from his hands.
Half an hour later Delia arrived, her right hand tied up in a shapeless bundle of wraps and bandages.
“How is this?” asked Joe. Delia laughed, but not very joyously. “Clementina,” she explained, “insisted upon a Welsh rabbit(一种奶酪) after her lesson. In serving the rabbit she spilled a great lot of it, boiling hot, over my wrist. Nothing serious, dear.”
“What time this afternoon did you burn your hand, Dele?”
“Five o’clock, I think,” said Dele. “The iron — I mean the rabbit came off the fire about that time.”
“Sit down here a moment, Dele,” said Joe. “What have you been doing for the last few weeks, Dele?” he asked.
She braved it for a moment or two with an eye full of love and stubbornness, but at last down went her head and out came the truth and tears.
“I couldn’t get any pupils,” she wept. “I got a place ironing shirts in that big Twenty-fourth street laundry. A girl in the laundry set down a hot iron on my hand this afternoon. I think I did very well to make up both General Pinkney and Clementina. What made you ever suspect that I wasn’t giving music lessons?”
“I didn’t,” said Joe, “until tonight. And I wouldn’t have then, only I sent up this cotton waste and oil from the engine-room this afternoon for a girl upstairs who had her hand burned with a smoothing-iron. I’ve been firing the engine in that laundry for the last few weeks.”
“And then you didn’t …” said Delia
And then they both looked at each other and laughed, and Joe began:
“When one loves one’s Art no service seems …”
But Delia stopped him with her hand on his lips. “No,” she said – “just ‘When one loves.’”
1.What can we know about the couple from the story?
A. They both became famous for their talents in art.
B. Studying from famous teachers contributed most to their poverty.
C. Art helped them out of the poverty they were faced with.
D. They turned out to be working at the same laundry.
2.What qualities of the couple’s are best conveyed in the story?
A. considerate and giving.
B. faithful and romantic.
C. intelligent and economical.
D. hardworking and loyal.
3.What does the underlined word “flagged” most probably mean?
A. Became weaker.
B. Displayed its power.
C. Went in a wrong direction.
D. Returned to its original condition.
4.Which of the following does NOT give readers a clue that the couple were telling white lies?
A. Joe washed what seemed to be a great deal of dark paint from his hands.
B. Delia’s right wrist was tied up in a shapeless bundle of wraps and bandages.
C. Delia said she must give music lessons to make the ends meet.
D. “The iron – I mean the rabbit came off the fire about that time” said Dele.
5.What can serve as the best title of this story?
A. A Service of Art B. The Love for Art
C. A Service of Love D. No Art No Love
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题
When one loves one’s Art no service seems too hard.
Joe was a man with a genius for art. Delia did things in six octaves(音阶) promisingly.
Joe and Delia became in love with one of the other, or each of the other, as you please, and in a short time were married – for (see above), when one loves one’s Art no service seems too hard.
They began housekeeping in a flat. It was a lonesome flat, but they were happy; for they had their Art, and they had each other.
Joe was learning painting in the class of the great Magister — you know his fame. His fees are high; his lessons are light — his high–lights have brought him fame. Delia was studying under Rosenstock — you know his reputation as a disturber of the piano keys.
They were mighty happy as long as their money lasted.
After a while Art flagged. Everything going out and nothing coming in, money was lacking to pay Mr. Magister and Rosenstock their prices. When one loves one’s Art no service seems too hard. So, Delia said she must give music lessons to make the ends meet.
For two or three days she went out looking for pupils. One evening she came home overjoyed “Joe, dear,” she said, cheerfully, “I’ve a pupil. And, oh, the loveliest people! General — General Pinkney’s daughter Clementina — on Seventy-first street.”
“That’s all right for you, Dele,” said Joe, “but how about me? Do you think I’m going to let you work while I play in the regions of high art?”
Delia came and hung about his neck.
“Joe, dear, you are silly. You must keep on at your studies. It is not as if I had quit my music and gone to work at something else. While I teach I learn. I am always with my music.”
“All right,” said Joe. “But I may sell some of my pictures as well.”
The next few weeks, they both busied themselves with their own business and brought back a ten, a five, a two and a one — all legal tender notes — and laid them beside each others’ earnings.
One Saturday evening Joe reached home first. He spread his $18 on the table and washed what seemed to be a great deal of dark paint from his hands.
Half an hour later Delia arrived, her right hand tied up in a shapeless bundle of wraps and bandages.
“How is this?” asked Joe. Delia laughed, but not very joyously. “Clementina,” she explained, “insisted upon a Welsh rabbit(一种奶酪) after her lesson. In serving the rabbit she spilled a great lot of it, boiling hot, over my wrist. Nothing serious, dear.”
“What time this afternoon did you burn your hand, Dele?”
“Five o’clock, I think,” said Dele. “The iron — I mean the rabbit came off the fire about that time.”
“Sit down here a moment, Dele,” said Joe. “What have you been doing for the last few weeks, Dele?” he asked.
She braved it for a moment or two with an eye full of love and stubbornness, but at last down went her head and out came the truth and tears.
“I couldn’t get any pupils,” she wept. “I got a place ironing shirts in that big Twenty-fourth street laundry. A girl in the laundry set down a hot iron on my hand this afternoon. I think I did very well to make up both General Pinkney and Clementina. What made you ever suspect that I wasn’t giving music lessons?”
“I didn’t,” said Joe, “until tonight. And I wouldn’t have then, only I sent up this cotton waste and oil from the engine-room this afternoon for a girl upstairs who had her hand burned with a smoothing-iron. I’ve been firing the engine in that laundry for the last few weeks.”
“And then you didn’t …” said Delia
And then they both looked at each other and laughed, and Joe began:
“When one loves one’s Art no service seems …”
But Delia stopped him with her hand on his lips. “No,” she said – “just ‘When one loves.’”
1.What can we know about the couple from the story?
A. They both became famous for their talents in art.
B. Studying from famous teachers contributed most to their poverty.
C. Art helped them out of the poverty they were faced with.
D. They turned out to be working at the same laundry.
2.What qualities of the couple’s are best conveyed in the story?
A. considerate and giving.
B. faithful and romantic.
C. intelligent and economical.
D. hardworking and loyal.
3.What does the underlined word “flagged” most probably mean?
A. Became weaker.
B. Displayed its power.
C. Went in a wrong direction.
D. Returned to its original condition.
4.Which of the following does NOT give readers a clue that the couple were telling white lies?
A. Joe washed what seemed to be a great deal of dark paint from his hands.
B. Delia’s right wrist was tied up in a shapeless bundle of wraps and bandages.
C. Delia said she must give music lessons to make the ends meet.
D. “The iron – I mean the rabbit came off the fire about that time” said Dele.
5.What can serve as the best title of this story?
A. A Service of Art B. The Love for Art
C. A Service of Love D. No Art No Love
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
When one loves one’ s Art no service seems too hard.
Joe was a man with a genius for art. Delia did things in six octaves(音阶) promisingly.
Joe and Delia became in love with one of the other, or each of the other, as you please, and in a short time were married–for (see above), when one loves one’ s Art no service seems too hard.
They began housekeeping in a flat. It was a lonesome flat, but they were happy; for they had their Art, and they had each other.
Joe was learning painting in the class of the great Magister–you know his fame. His fees are high; his lessons are light–his high–lights have brought him fame. Delia was studying under Rosenstock–you know his reputation as a disturber of the piano keys.
They were mighty happy as long as their money lasted.
After a while Art flagged. Everything going out and nothing coming in, money was lacking to pay Mr. Magister and Rosenstock their prices. When one loves one’s Art no service seems too hard. So, Delia said she must give music lessons to make the ends meet.
For two or three days she went out looking for pupils. One evening she came home overjoyed
“Joe, dear,” she said, cheerfully, “I’ ve a pupil. And, oh, the loveliest people! General– General Pinkney’ s daughter Clementina–on Seventy-first street.”
“That’s all right for you, Dele,”said Joe, “but how about me? Do you think I’m going to let you work while I play in the regions of high art?”
Delia came and hung about his neck.
“Joe, dear, you are silly. You must keep on at your studies. It is not as if I had quit my music and gone to work at something else. While I teach I learn. I am always with my music.”
“All right,” said Joe. “But I may sell some of my pictures as well.”
The next few weeks, they both busied themselves with their own business and brought back a ten, a five, a two and a one–all legal tender notes–and laid them beside each others’ earnings. One Saturday evening Joe reached home first. He spread his $18 on the table and washed what seemed to be a great deal of dark paint from his hands. Half an hour later Delia arrived, her right hand tied up in a shapeless bundle of wraps and bandages.
“How is this?” asked Joe. Delia laughed, but not very joyously. “Clementina,” she explained, “insisted upon a Welsh rabbit(一种奶酪) after her lesson. In serving the rabbit she spilled a great lot of it, boiling hot, over my wrist. Nothing serious, dear.”
“What time this afternoon did you burn your hand, Dele?”
“Five o’clock, I think,” said Dele. “The iron–I mean the rabbit came off the fire about that time.”
“Sit down here a moment, Dele,” said Joe. “What have you been doing for the last few weeks, Dele?” he asked.
She braved it for a moment or two with an eye full of love and stubbornness, but at last down went her head and out came the truth and tears.
“I couldn’t get any pupils,” she wept. “I got a place ironing shirts in that big Twenty-fourth street laundry. A girl in the laundry set down a hot iron on my hand this afternoon. I think I did very well to make up both General Pinkney and Clementina. What made you ever suspect that I wasn’ t giving music lessons?”
“I didn’t,” said Joe, “until tonight. And I wouldn’t have then, only I sent up this cotton waste and oil from the engine-room this afternoon for a girl upstairs who had her hand burned with a smoothing-iron. I’ve been firing the engine in that laundry for the last few weeks.”
“And then you didn’ t …” said Delia.And then they both looked at each other and laughed, and Joe began: “When one loves one’s Art no service seems …”
But Delia stopped him with her hand on his lips. “No,” she said– “just ‘When one loves’.”
1.What can we know about the couple from the story?
A. They both became famous for their talents in art.
B. Studying from famous teachers contributed most to their poverty.
C. Art helped them out of the poverty they were faced with.
D. They turned out to be working at the same laundry.
2.What qualities of the couple’s are best conveyed in the story?
A. considerate and giving. B. faithful and romantic.
C. intelligent and economical. D. hardworking and loyal.
3.What does the underlined word “flagged” most probably mean?
A. Became weaker. B. Displayed its power.
C. Went in a wrong direction. D. Returned to its original condition.
4.Which of the following does NOT give readers a clue that the couple were telling white lies?
A. Joe washed what seemed to be a great deal of dark paint from his hands.
B. Delia’s right wrist was tied up in a shapeless bundle of wraps and bandages.
C. Delia said she must give music lessons to make the ends meet.
D. “The iron–I mean the rabbit came off the fire about that time” said Dele.
5.What can serve as the best title of this story?
A. A Service of Art B. The Love for Art
C. A Service of Love D. No Art No Love
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
I used to hate running. It seemed too hard, and pushing outside my comfort zone was not what I was ________ to do. My husband Charles had been a serious competitive ________ for many years. After our marriage, he wouldn’t ________talk- ing about how much he missed it. So he picked it up again, and after about a year, I started to ________ him at the track. Just a few weeks later, Charles________ us both up for a five-kilometer race. I ________ about doing it. It was too soon.
But on race day, there I was. The gun ________. Thousands of runners pushed forward. The first kilometer was tough. “I don’t think I’m gonna make it.” I was already breathing ________ and painfully aware of the group of runners pounding past me. “No, you’re doing great,” said Charles. He was trying to encourage me, to get me focused on something else _______ my discomfort. “I can’t,” I said, barely audibly (听得见地). He tried a ________ way to persuade me. “Just make it to that house and let’s see how you __________.”
After another minute I saw the three-kilometer mark. All I could think of was that I was dying and that my husband made me _______. Miserable doesn’t even begin to describe how I felt. “You’ll be fine. You’ve got less than a kilometer to go.” I rounded a corner, and saw both sides of the street ________ with people watching the race, all cheering the runners on. I willed my ________ to keep going. Then I looked up and saw the clock. The seconds ticking away gave me ______. I knew that if I ____
finished this race I would achieve something. ________, I straightened up and kicked it. I had my arms held higher when I passed through the finish line. A volunteer ________ a medal around my neck.
“You did great! I’m so proud of you!” Charles was ________ that I’d made it. “That was AMAZING! I want to do another race. This running stuff is amazing!” I proudly ________ my medal as we walked to the post-race festivities. My lungs and my comfort zone both expanded.
1.A. accepted B. permitted C. pushed D. raised
2.A. runner B. policeman C. doctor D. lawyer
3.A. regret B. mind C. stop D. forget
4.A. follow B. attend C. join D. urge
5.A. signed B. gathered C. involved D. registered
6.A. commented B. hesitated C. wondered D. enquired
7.A. went off B. went out C. broke off D. broke out
8.A. smoothly B. heavily C. quickly D. abruptly
9.A. or rather B. more than C. rather than D. better than
10.A. pleasant B. reasonable C. casual D. different
11.A. react B. describe C. feel D. realize
12.A. ashamed B. painful C. embarrassed D. nervous
13.A. rich B. loose C. ready D. thick
14.A. arms B. mind C. heart D. legs
15.A. strength B. patience C. expectation D. wisdom
16.A. formally B. immediately C. normally D. actually
17.A. However B. Therefore C. Yet D. Instead
18.A. rewarded B. handed C. put D. presented
19.A. thrilled B. amused C. shocked D. frozen
20.A. enjoyed B. hugged C. kept D. seized
高三英语完形填空中等难度题查看答案及解析
I used to hate running. It seemed too hard, and pushing outside my comfort ______ was not something I was raised to do.
In fact, I wouldn’t have become a(n)______ if it weren’t for my husband Charles He had been a ______ competitive runner for many years. After our marriage, he wouldn’t stop talking about how much he ______ it.
So he picked it up again, and after about a year, I started to join him at the ______. Just a few weeks later, Charles signed us both up for a five-kilometer race. I ______ about doing it. It was too soon.
But on race day, there I was.
The gun went off Thousands of runners ______.
The first kilometer was tough. I was already breathing ______ and painfully aware of the group of runners____ past me.
After another minute I saw the three-kilometer ______.All I could think of was that I was ______.
I rounded a comer, and saw both sides of the street______ with people watching the race, all cheering the runners on. I ______ my legs to keep going.
Then I looked up and saw the clock. The ______ ticking away gave me an incentive(助力). I knew that if I had ______ finished this race I would have achieved something, So, I ______ up, and kicked it.
I had my arms ______ higher when I passed through the finish line. A volunteer put a(n) ______ around my neck.
“You did great! I’m so proud of you!” Charles was thrilled that I’d ______.
“That was amazing! I want to do another race.” I proudly hugged my medal as we started to walk to the post-race festivities. My lungs and my comfort zone both______.
1.A.block B.line C.emotion D.zone
2.A.wife B.coach C.expert D.runner
3.A.serious B.common C.casual D.sharp
4.A.hated B.missed C.admired D.trained
5.A.race B.department C.track D.ceremony
6.A.hesitated B.puzzled C.cared D.brought
7.A.slipped away B.backed off C.pushed forward D.came over
8.A.mildly B.shallowly C.gently D.heavily
9.A.running B.bending C.reaching D.pacing
10.A.symbol B.mark C.pattern D.campaign
11.A.hopeful B.speechless C.dying D.moving
12.A.stuck B.crowded C.provided D.directed
13.A.sunk B.bent C.shook D.willed
14.A.seconds B.titles C.criteria D.competitors
15.A.also B.actually C.just D.unfortunately
16.A.dressed B.came C.stayed D.straightened
17.A.kept B.crossed C.held D.tied
18.A.rope B.medal C.necklace D.award
19.A.got it B.meant it C.made it D.defeated it
20.A.trembled B.expanded C.ached D.erupted
高三英语完形填空中等难度题查看答案及解析
Risha loved school. However, there was one class Risha worried about more than any other—art. She didn’t know why she just wasn’t any good at , painting, or cutting.
Ms. Clay, the art teacher, stood at the front of the room. “Class, next Friday our school is going to have an art ,” she announced. Ms. Clay was a great teacher, and Risha liked her a lot. But this announcement made Risha . “Everyone in the school will create a piece of artwork to in the library. You can use the different types of artwork we have been studying.” Ms. Clay was quite excited when she spoke Risha found herself sinking lower in her chair.
Risha had the whole weekend to work on her project, she could not think of anything to do. On Monday, Risha felt frightened, so after school Risha asked Ms. Clay if she could write an art paper doing an art project.
“I understand this project you, Risha,” Ms. Clay said. “Just remember, you can
any kind of art you want.” Ms. Clay smiled at her. “Art is a person’s way of expressing his or her feelings—it isn’t always painting, drawing, or cutting. I know you will think of something very creative, and I can’t to see it.”
When Risha arrived home, she took out a piece of paper and a pencil. She Ms. Clay’s words. “Art is a person’s way of expressing his or her feelings.” Risha wrote the word “terrified” on her paper. She crumpled(把……揉成团) the paper and threw it to the side of her desk. Then Risha stared at the crumpled ball. It reminded her of a snowball. an idea struck her. Why not create a winter wonderland out of crumpled paper? Risha didn’t have to draw or paint or cut.
Risha crumpled lots of paper balls, glued them all together, and them on a big piece of hard paper to form a snowman. The snowman a hat made of black paper and a scarf made of red paper. And she even crumpled brown and green paper to create a forest. Her project was really wonderful.
On Friday, Risha carefully carried her project into the library. She noticed the and the nods from teachers and other students she put her work on a table. Ms. Clay walked over to Risha.
“You have created an original and amazing piece of artwork. I am so proud of you!” Ms. Clay said.
Risha was proud of herself too. Her pride when Ms. Clay placed a first-place star on her artwork. “Maybe I am a good after all,” Risha thought.
1.A. drawing B. writing C. cleaning D. spelling
2.A. lesson B. meeting C. collection D. competition
3.A. excited B. nervous C. satisfied D. surprised
4.A. paint B. sell C. donate D. show
5.A. before B. unless C. while D. because
6.A. and B. but C. or D. therefore
7.A. in case of B. because of C. instead of D. by means of
8.A. shocked B. encouraged C. pleased D. scared
9.A. refuse B. change C. create D. receive
10.A. wait B. afford C. come D. stand
11.A. noticed B. imagined C. remembered D. heard
12.A. Suddenly B. Seriously C. Lately D. Slowly
13.A. never B. even C. just D. nearly
14.A. knocked B. placed C. destroyed D. shared
15.A. showed B. owned C. wore D. kept
16.A. finished B. used C. improved D. uncompleted
17.A. doubt B. tears C. anger D. smiles
18.A. though B. since C. if D. as
19.A. disappeared B. grew C. exploded D. decreased
20.A. artist B. teacher C. organizer D. advertiser
高三英语完形填空中等难度题查看答案及解析
There was a king who loved art very much. One day a(n) came and said, "Please let me a picture on a wall." The king happened to have a big new hall . So he the artist to work on one of the walls.
At the same time, another artist came and asked to work on the wall. He promised he would make the same picture as the first artist’s looking at the first artist’s work. The second artist asked to have a thick curtain between the two walls neither of them could see each other.
The following day they began to work. The first artist brought in a(n) supply of paint, oil, water and so on. The second one came with a and a bucket (桶).
A month later, the first artist’s work was completed, and the second artist said, "My wall is too!"
The king went to the first artist’s wall. He was pleased with it and gave the artist a large of money. He then asked people to open the curtain.
! Each line was the same as that on the opposite wall.
The king was quite satisfied and gave him double money. However, he how the second man had made it.
"I just the wall with the cloth," the man said .The wall was made of white marble (大理石). He made it shine like a mirror. The reflection (倒影) of the first painting up on it!
The is a reflection of you too. If you are sad, the world will be sad. If you are happy, the world will be happy.
1.A. editor B. artist C. server D. actress
2.A. put B. copy C. paint D. get
3.A. created B. destroyed C. founded D. built
4.A. allowed B. realized C. persuaded D. Decided
5.A. same B. similar C. opposite D. ordinary
6.A. with B. under C. upon D. without
7.A. put up B. put back C. put away D. put on
8.A. even if B. so that C. as if D. in case
9.A. common B. artificial C.extra D. regular
10.A. mirror B. cloth C. stick D. curtain
11.A. present B. free C. ready D. useful
12.A. see B. touch C. research D. Cover
13.A. number B. total C. amount D. many
14.A. Amazing B. Exciting C. Famous D. Valuable
15.A. probably B. exactly C. certainly D. hardly
16.A. knew B. warned C. noticed D. wondered
17.A. drew B. faced C. displayed D. wiped
18.A. briefly B. naturally C. safely D. correctly
19.A. set B. added C. showed D. took
20.A. story B. world C. king D. painter
高三英语完形填空中等难度题查看答案及解析
When I was young, I belonged to a club that did community service work. There was one specific 36 that was unusual for me. I spent three or four hours handing out warm dinner to the homeless 37 in the streets. After that I went to a homeless shelter not far from the Bay Bridge.
I was in high school and at the time my sister was too young to 38 . She wanted to help, 39 she made many chocolate chip cookies for me to 40 and hand out to people. When getting to the shelter, I passed out the 41 . I began making sandwiches and 42 them with the crowd. I had the containers with my sister’s 43 in them and began to 44 around, offering them to anyone near me.
I approached an 45 gentleman and said, “ Sir, would you like a cookie?” He stopped and turned around, looked at me and said, “What did you say? Did you call me sir?” I told him I had, and his eyes 46 a little bit and said, “ No one has 47 called me sir.’ So he was completely moved.
It 48 me.
I explained I had been raised that 49 color and social status, everyone deserved respect. It 50 me to think that just because he was homeless, no one 51 him the honor. It broke my heart. I just didn’t understand 52 no one ever called him sir. I had never thought that anyone was below me because I wasn’t raised that way. Every 53 person deserves to be treated with respect. Years later, I still carry that memory and the 54 it taught me. Sometimes, what we take for granted can 55 make a difference in someone’s life.
1.A. case B. chance C. event D. accident
2.A. out B. far C. away D. off
3.A. participate B. decide C. choose D. go
4.A. however B. but C. yet D. so
5.A. enjoy B. eat C. collect D. take
6.A. papers B. meals C. books D. gifts
7.A. shared B. provided C. helped D. returned
8.A. dishes B. fruits C. cookies D. sandwiches
9.A. walk B. turn C. run D. show
10.A. well-dressed B. innocent C. old D. modest
11.A. watered B. cried C. opened D. closed
12.A. never B. ever C. still D. yet
13.A. encouraged B. attracted C. struck D. defeated
14.A. in spite of B. regardless of C. in case of D. because of
15.A. persuaded B. saddened C. frightened D. moved
16.A. handed B. offered C. reminded D. promised
17.A. what B. how C. whether D. why
18.A. single B. usual C. ordinary D. normal
19.A. lesson B. class C. truth D. reality
20.A. possibly B. nearly C. really D. usually
高三英语完型填空中等难度题查看答案及解析
It seems that there is no middle ground when it comes to cats. People either love them or hate them. These feelings are not new either. All through history, cats have been worshiped or hated. A study of ancient writings and evidence found in tombs indicates that for the past 5,000 years, cats have been kept as pets in China, Arabia, Egypt, and India. However, this isn’t very long compared to dogs, which have been domesticated for 50,000 years. Still, while the period in which cats have been domesticated may be quite short, it has definitely had its high and low points.
Cats were at their highest position of domesticated life in ancient Egypt. There were more cats living in Egypt during the time of the pharaohs than in any other place in the world since that time. This high number of cats was probably due to the laws protecting them. Cats were associated with the moon goddess, Bast, so the Egyptians worshiped them as holy animals. If anyone was caught killing a cat, the person could be put to death. Families in Egypt also mourned the death of a cat and had the body of the dead cat wrapped in cloth before it was finally laid to rest. This respect for cats carried over to the Roman Empire where cats were the only animals allowed into temples. This fact was probably due to the ability of cats to keep the temples free of mice and rats. With the coming of the Dark Ages in Europe, the place of cats in society took a turn for the Empire, Christians began to associate cats with pegan (异教徒) beliefs. Cats had a reputation as helpers of witches. When a person was accused of being a witch, a cat would often be put on trial with the person. The cat would be tortured(拷打) to try and make the person tell the truth, and usually the cat and the person would end up being burned in a bonfire or drowned. Bonfires of collected cats were not uncommon during this time.
The days of hunting witches have ended, but other myths about cats still hold out. For a while, people in some places used to bury live cats under new buildings for good luck. As well, many people today continue to believe that black cats bring bad luck. If a black cat walks in front of a person, that person must take extra care in the near future to watch out for dangerous situations. Regardless of superstition(迷信), cats remain a popular pet today. Some cat experts believe that a cat never truly be domesticated because it may turn wild and run away at any time. However, this claim has not put people off keeping cats in their homes. A third of homes in the United States have cats, and one out of every three of these homes keeps both a dog and a cat. Especially in large cities, many people in small apartments have found that cats make much better pets than dogs.
Cats may not be worshiped as gods any more, but there are people who seem to think of their cat as their children. These cat owners will do almost anything to keep their pets healthy and happy. For those cat owners who have always wondered what their pets are trying to tell them, a Japanese company may have come up with the perfect invention. In 2003, the Takara Company announced the Meowlingual, a cat translation device. The Meowlingual uses a microphone, display, and cat voice analyzer to analyze a cat’s meows to determine which of 200 phrases a cat is trying to say.
According to a company spokesperson, “… cat owners all over the world have been telling Takara, ‘ We want a cat translator!’” Now, the company “is making their dream come true by bringing in a new era of communication between cat lovers and their pets.”
1.Which of these is NOT discussed in the passage?
A.the status of cats throughout history
B.the evolution of different species of cats
C.the popularity of the cats today
D.communication between cats and their owners
2.The second paragraph mainly describes_______.
A.how Bast became a goddess.
B.the low point in the history of cats
C.the high point in the history of cats
D.the reason why cats are such good hunters
3.How were cats treated in Europe during the Dark Ages?
A.as farm animals B.as food C.as magical creatures D.as honored guests
4.According to the passage, what percentage of people in the United States keep both a cat and a dog?
A.about 10 percent B.nearly 25 percent C.about 33 percent D.close to 50 percent
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
Hardly _ when they realized that it was too late to catch the last train.
A.the clock had struck twelve
B.the clock had been struck twelve
C.had the clock been struck twelve
D.had the clock struck twelve
高三英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析
Hardly _ when they realized that it was too late to catch the last train.
A. the clock had struck twelve
B. the clock had been struck twelve
C. had the clock been struck twelve
D. had the clock struck twelve
高三英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析