题型:阅读选择 题类: 难易度:普通
江苏省连云港市赣榆初级中学等2024年联考中考三模英语试题
The end of the year is drawing near, and winter is in full activity. The season brings along with its strong winds and snow — an environment that's never comfortable to be in.
This unpleasant and even frightening part of winter can be often seen in literature. In Shakespeare's King Lear (1606), the king has given away his kingdom and been driven out by his two ungrateful daughters. He is out in the winter cold, suffering (遭受痛苦) things that are usually saved for the poorest and most unlucky human beings.
The winter is bad enough for Lear, but being driven out by his family is worse. A song from another Shakespeare's play, As You Like It(1599), is fitting for this poor old man's situation: "Blow, blow, thou winter wind/Thou art not so unkind/As man's ingratitude (忘恩负义)". Here, winter is used to bring out the ugliness of inhumanity (无人性). There aren't many things that are worse than winter, according to Shakespeare.
Once winter became less of a danger to human beings, it became more positive in literary works. Since Charles Dickens, the representation of the season in literature often has something to do with happy Christmas celebrations.
The cold of the winter weather provides a contrast (对比) to the fun going on indoors.
Dickens' A Christmas Carol (1843) was the start of this, but Christmas is still a common, cheery element (元素) in stories that feature winter scenes today. Consider the joy felt by Harry Potter and his friends in J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (1997) as they sit down for their festive meal:
"Harry had never in all his life had such a Christmas dinner. A hundred fat, roast turkeys; mountains of roast and boiled potatoes; platters of chipolatas; tureens of buttered peas, silver boats of thick, rich gravy and cranberry sauce."
It is almost as much a pleasure to read about the meal as it might have been to eat it.
Although winter still isn't the most cheerful season in novels and poems, it's safe to say that writers have surely "warmed up" since Shakespeare's days.
Have you ever seen the treasures at Sanxingdui?
The number one divine tree (神树) is one of the most famous of them. It includes three parts: a base, the tree itself and a dragon. The base is made to be like a mountain, rising on three sides. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} The dragon is winding (弯曲) its way down to the mountain. The divine tree is divided into three levels. There are three branches on each level. And each branch spreads in two directions. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}
Some people think the Number one divine tree is the tree Fusang in the book "Classic of Mountains and Seas". It describes there live nine birds carrying the sun from east to west in Fusang tree. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} Every day, one bird takes off from the Fusang tree in the east and flies to the Ruomu tree in the west.
It's said that there are in total of ten birds. But on the divine tree there are only nine, so where's the tenth? There are two different ideas. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} However, most people believe the tenth bird isn't there because it is its turn to fly west, carrying the sun.
{#blank#}5{#/blank#} Maybe they wanted to use it to connect heaven and earth. They wanted to reach higher and communicate with the gods. At the same time, they hoped to receive gods'ideas.
A. They take turns to finish this job. B. What did the people at that time expect of this divine tree? C. One bird stands on the upward branch, while some fruit point downwards. D. The divine tree is growing from the mountain top and reaching to the heaven (上天). E. The divine tree is a symbol of life and can make people in good heath condition. F. Since the top of the divine tree is missing, it is possible that there is another bird there. |
Did you find or lose anything? Here are some lost and found notices.
Lost My pencil case. It's yellow and white. Please call Sonia at 388-7900. | |
Lost Yesterday, I lost a book. Its name is Journey to the West. It's my favourite book. If you find it somewhere, can you return it to me? I'm Jim. And I'm from Class 8, Grade 7. | |
Found We found a schoolbag at the school gate. It's blue. There are some crayons in it. Is that yours? Call Linda at 868-3599. | |
Found A white dog. Strong and lively. Found on 15th June near the park. Call Jane at 979-8633 or send an email to 234566@mail.com. |
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