Lucky is the man who has no “skeleton in his closet”. When a man has done something in his life that he is ashamed of, that he wants to hide, he is said to have a “skeleton in his closet”. Some people may have more than one skeleton.
As we have noted many times, it is hard to find out how these expressions begin. Sometimes, we get some hard facts. But more often we have to depend on guesswork. And that is true of this phrase, which came from England.
Before 1932, English law did not permit a doctor to cut open a dead human body for scientific examination, unless it was the corpse(尸体) of an executed(处决) criminal.
But when it became legal, more and more doctors demanded skeletons for a more scientific study of medicine. It was helping in the advance of modern medicine. The demand had become so strong that men began to rob tombs and sell skeletons to doctors at high prices.
We are told that a doctor would usually buy just one skeleton for scientific study. It became very important in his work. But he had to keep it hidden because most people objected to keeping such a thing. As a rule, the doctor would keep his skeleton in some dark corner where it could not be seen, or hide it in a closet.
After a time, people began to suspect(怀疑) every doctor of hiding a skeleton in the closet. From this suspicion, the phrase “a skeleton in the closet” took on a broader, more general meaning to describe anything that a man wanted to keep others from discovering. It could be proof of a criminal act, or something much less serious. Well, that is one theory.
One writer, however, believes that the phrase might have come from something that really happened. It is his guess that a hidden closet in some old English country home may have turned up a real skeleton, clear proof of some old family shame or crime. Well, one man’s guess is as good as another. But this sounds like a story by the great French novelist, Balzac.
Baizac tells us of a man who suspected his wife of having a lover. The husband comes home by surprise. But she hears him and quickly hides her lover in the closet of her bedroom. He enters her room and asks her if she is hiding her lover. He says he will not open the door to the closet if she promises him there is no one there; He will believe her. She answers firmly that she is not hiding anyone in the closet.
The husband then begins to build a solid brick wall against the closet. His wife watches, knowing that her lover will never come out alive. But she will not change her story and admit her guilt.
1. Which of the following situations is suitable for using the phrase “skeleton in the closet” ?
A. You have stolen something precious and don’t want it discovered.
B. You are a doctor and have to keep a skeleton for research.
C. If you have cut open a dead human body for scientific examination you should keep the skeleton secret.
D. You have done a crime or done something foolish, but you want to keep other from discovering it.
2. From the text we know that there are _______ theories about how the phrase “skeleton in the closet” came into being.
A. one B. two C. three D. four
3. In Chinese the world “skeleton” means _______.
A. 尸体 B. 标本 C. 收藏 D. 骷髅
4. Which of the following is right according to the text?
A. In the 20th century, doctors realized the importance of anatomy(解剖) in the development of medicine.
B. The doctors of the ancient times liked to collect as many skeleton as possible.
C. The thieves stole skeletons from tombs in order to help the doctors.
D. It was legal that corpses of anybody were cut open for scientific examination in history.
5. From the story Balzac told we know that the wife’s lover must have become _______.
A. a corpse B. a phrase C. a skeleton D. a secret
1----5 DBDAC
本文列举两个故事诠释 “skeleton in the closet” 之义。
1. D。推断题。根据 When a man has done something in his life that he is ashamed of, that he wants to hide, he is said to have a “skeleton in his closet” 可知 “skeleton in the closet” 的意思是一个人想隐藏自己感到羞愧的事,由此可推知犯了罪或做了傻事而又不想让别人知道的符合 “skeleton in the closet”,故选 D。
2. B。细节题。阅读全文得知本文用了两个故事来解释这个短语,一是英国医生用死尸来进行医学研究;二是法国作家 Balzac 讲述的是丈夫将妻子的情人封死在墙里,由此可知B为正确答案。
3. D。词义猜测题。从该词的源处得知它与死尸有关,再从倒数第三段 It is his guess that a hidden closet in some old English country home may have turned up a real skeleton可推测其义为 D。
4. A。细节题。根据全文可知B、C、D是错误的,再从 It became very important in his work可知 A 为正确答案。
5. C。推断题。根据最后一段The husband then begins to build a solid brick wall against the closet. His wife watches, knowing that her lover will never… 得知她的情人将死在墙里,自然成为骷髅了。故选C。
科目:高中英语 来源: 题型:054
完形填空
A newspaper reporter's job can be very interesting. He meets all kinds of people and lives quite 1 life. He is on the rush for newspaper all the time, then after several years he 2 get a desk job, and life becomes a bit more settled.
In a day he may have to interview the prime minister of a foreign country, and the next day he may be writing 3 a football match. Sometimes he may be so 4 that he has hardly any time to sleep. And 5 other times he may go on for days 6 out for news, and yet return 7 empty hands.
In the beginning, a reporter has to 8 a very wide field. After the early years, he becomes more specialized(专门的)in his work. 9 example, he may finally 10 to write only on politics or sports. Some newspapers have book reviewers. Their job is 11 . They read the 12 books and then write reviews on the ones they like. Then there are those 13 write on films. So they get to see them even 14 they are shown in the cinema. 15 lucky, you would say!
A newspaper reporter's job can also be very 16 . A number of them have died rushing from one place to another and if there is a flood or a riot(暴乱)they may get 17 or even be killed. Three years ago there was a reporter 18 camera was broken by a group of men, 19 they were angry with him for taking their pictures. Dangerous or not, one thing is certain, and that is, their job is always 20 .
(1)A.a happy |
B.an easy |
C.a busy |
D.a simple |
(2)A.must |
B.need |
C.has to |
D.may |
(3)A.to |
B.about |
C.down |
D.with |
(4)A.excited |
B.tired |
C.busy |
D.asleep |
(5)A.at |
B.in |
C.on |
D.from |
(6)A.looks |
B.looking |
C.looked |
D.looking |
(7)A.by |
B.in |
C.of |
D.with |
(8)A.plough |
B.work |
C.cover |
D.develop |
(9)A.Take |
B.An |
C.Follow |
D.For |
(10)A.beAgreed |
B.beAsked |
C.be hoped |
D.be enjoyed |
(11)A.pleasing |
B.pleased |
C.hard |
D.easy |
(12)A.oldest |
B.newest |
C.earliest |
D.latest |
(13)A.that |
B.whom |
C.who |
D.which |
(14)A.after |
B.until |
C.unless |
D.before |
(15)A.WhatA |
B.How |
C.So |
D.Too |
(16)A.dangerous |
B.difficult |
C.exciting |
D.safe |
(17)A.hurting |
B.to hurt |
C.hurted |
D.hurt |
(18)A.that |
B.which |
C.whose |
D.whom |
(19)A.although |
B.since |
C.but |
D.because |
(20)A.known |
B.unable |
C.interesting |
D.successful |
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科目:高中英语 来源: 题型:054
The Japanese pay much attention to the luck of telephone numbers. The bath houses, for example, like to use 4626, because when 1 in Japanese, it has the 2 pronunciation as “have a good bath”. 3 the clothes shops and the butcher’s like 4129 better than 4 number because this number can either be read as “good dress” 5 “good meat”.
Since these numbers are 6 with something 7 , people can remember them very 8 , so they have 9 advertisements for shops.
On the other hand, 10 are also telephone numbers which are regarded as forbidden 11 the Japanese people. 1564, for example, has the sound of “kill people” 12 the number 4219 has 13 of “people die”.
At 14 , there are about forty-four million 15 in Japan, yet it is almost 16 for everyone to get a lucky telephone number. So these 17 have become commodities (商品) and can be 18 as goods. The 19 can reach as 20 as 222 thousand Japanese yen (日元).
1.A. read B. listen C. hear D. look
2.A. English B. strange C. different D. same
3.A. For B. Neither C. Either D. Both
4.A.any B.rest C.other D.any other
5.A.but B.or C.as D.and
6.A.joined B.connected C.fixed D.mixed
7.A.to do B.useful C.nice D.important
8.A.hard B.slowly C.much D.easily
9.A.become B.been C.had D.made
10.A.these B.they C.those D.there
11.A.for B.by C.with D.to
12.A.but B.because C.as D.while
13.A.sound B.meaning C.that D.this
14.A.times B.present C.last D.first
15.A.shops B.Japanese C.telephones D.numbers
16.A.possible B.impossible C.easy D.necessary
17.A.telephones B.goods C.shops D.numbers
18.A.used B.made C.sold D.stored
19.A.yen B.money C.telephone D.prices
20.A.valuable B.big C.high D.large
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科目:高中英语 来源:英语教研室 题型:054
Since these numbers are 6 with something 7 , people can remember them very 8 , so they have 9 advertisements for shops.
On the other hand, 10 are also telephone numbers which are regarded as forbidden 11 the Japanese people. 1564, for example, has the sound of “kill people” 12 the number 4219 has 13 of “people die”.
At 14 , there are about forty-four million 15 in Japan, yet it is almost 16 for everyone to get a lucky telephone number. So these 17 have become commodities (商品) and can be 18 as goods. The 19 can reach as 20 as 222 thousand Japanese yen (日元).
1.A. read B. listen C. hear D. look
2.A. English B. strange C. different D. same
3.A. For B. Neither C. Either D. Both
4.A.any B.rest C.other D.any other
5.A.but B.or C.as D.and
6.A.joined B.connected C.fixed D.mixed
7.A.to do B.useful C.nice D.important
8.A.hard B.slowly C.much D.easily
9.A.become B.been C.had D.made
10.A.these B.they C.those D.there
11.A.for B.by C.with D.to
12.A.but B.because C.as D.while
13.A.sound B.meaning C.that D.this
14.A.times B.present C.last D.first
15.A.shops B.Japanese C.telephones D.numbers
16.A.possible B.impossible C.easy D.necessary
17.A.telephones B.goods C.shops D.numbers
18.A.used B.made C.sold D.stored
19.A.yen B.money C.telephone D.prices
20.A.valuable B.big C.high D.large
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科目:高中英语 来源: 题型:054
完形填空
There was a rich foreign merchant who had 4 wives. He loved the 4th wife the most and 1 her with best clothes and 2 her to delicious food.
He also loved the 3rd wife very much. He's very proud of her and always wanted to 3 her to his friends.
He, too, loved his 2nd wife. 4 the merchant faced some problems, he always turned to his 2nd wife and she 5 always help him out.
Now, the merchant's 1st wife had made great contributions to his business. However, the merchant did not love her and 6 she loved him deeply, he hardly took notice of her.
One day, the merchant fell ill. He knew that he was going to die 7 . He told himself,“Now I have 4 wives with me. 8 when I die, I'll be alone. How 9 I'll be!”
Thus, he asked the 4th wife,“I 10 you most. Now that I'm dying, will you 11 me and keep me company?” “No way!” replied the 4th wife and she walked away without another word.
The 12 merchant then asked the 3rd wife,“I have loved you so much for all my life. Will you follow me and keep me company?” “ 13 !”replied the 3rd wife.“Life is so good over here! I'm going to 14 when you die!”
He then asked the 2nd wife,“I 15 turned to you for help. Now I need you help again. Will you follow me and keep me company?” “I'm sorry, I can't 16 you out this time!”replied the 2nd wife.
Then a voice 17 out,“I'll leave with you. I'll follow you no matter 18 you go.”Brokenhearted, the merchant said,“I 19 have taken much better care of you while I could have !”
20 ,we all have 4 wives in our lives: our body, our possessions, our friends, and our soul. We should take good care of our soul all our life.
(1) A.wore |
B.bought |
C.dressed |
D.shared |
(2) A.gave |
B.treated |
C.provided |
D.sent |
(3) A.show off |
B.turn off |
C.show out |
D.turn out |
(4) A.Wherever |
B.However |
C.Whether |
D.Whenever |
(5) A.ought to |
B.could |
C.would |
D.might |
(6) A.since |
B.although |
C.once |
D.as |
(7) A.soon |
B.fast |
C.easily |
D.bitterly |
(8) A.So |
B.And |
C.But |
D.For |
(9) A.lonely |
B.friendly |
C.lovely |
D.funny |
(10) A.respected |
B.missed |
C.wanted |
D.loved |
(11) A.like |
B.catch |
C.help |
D.follow |
(12) A.sad |
B.hopeless |
C.anxious |
D.lucky |
(13) A.Yes |
B.No |
C.Sure |
D.OK |
(14) A.work |
B.leave |
C.remarry |
D.stay |
(15) A.seldom |
B.always |
C.sometimes |
D.often |
(16) A.advise |
B.demand |
C.suggest |
D.help |
(17) A.called |
B.cried |
C.came |
D.warned |
(18) A.how |
B.where |
C.when |
D.why |
(19) A.must |
B.need |
C.should |
D.may |
(20) A.Otherwise |
B.Therefore |
C.Anyway |
D.Actually |
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科目:高中英语 来源: 题型:阅读理解
认真阅读下面短文,掌握其大意,然后从36—55各题所给的四个选项(A、B、C和D)中,选出最佳选项,并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
You are travelling on an ocean ship when, suddenly a giant wave causes the ship to overturn. Hundreds of people die 36 , but you and several others 37 in the ballroom. Would you stay there and 38 for help? Or would you try, 39 the danger, to find your way out of the ship?
This is the 40 faced by the characters in the film “Poseidon”.
Trapped in the ballroom of the overturned ship, the 41 orders the surviving guests to wait for help. A small group of people 42 to accept this fate. They try to escape, knowing that there will be no way back 43 the captain locks the doors behind them.
At the time of the disaster, each of the characters is trying to overcome personal problems in their own lives. All must face their 44 and make life and death decisions.
Architect Richard Nelson is preparing to kill himself when the wave hits. He feels depressed over the 45 of his relationship with his partner. But he is forced to fight 46 his life, and learns to want to live again. He realizes he must 47 the past and not think too much about the bad.
Robert Ramsey, a fireman, decides to 48 his own life so that his daughter, Jen, 49 live. He swims to the ship’s control room 50 he must press a switch to change the direction of the ship.
He knows he will likely 51 in the process, but just as surely, he knows that it’s the only way his friends can escape. His actions give the others a chance to reach 52 . They escape from the ship just before it 53 , killing all those waiting inside and Jen’s father as well. All the characters who survive feel 54 to be alive, but they are also aware that their own 55 , bravery and determination saved their own lives.
36. A. gradually B. immediately C. finally D. individually
37. A. stay B. dance C. survive D. live
38. A. ask B. cry C. wait D. demand
39. A. despite B. in C. with D. except
40. A. position B. dilemma C. danger D. scene
41. A. director B. passenger C. sailor D. captain
42. A. refuse B. agree C. hesitate D. dislike
43. A. unless B. until C. once D. when
44. A. death B. survival C. courage D. fears
45. A. end B. departure C. failure D. difficulty
46. A. against B. for C. with D. over
47. A. let alone B. let out C. let go of D. let down
48. A. give out B. give away C. give in D. give up
49. A. might B. can C. would D. must
50. A. which B. there C. where D. then
51. A. succeed B. fail C. survive D. drown
52. A. home B. safety C. success D. destination
53. A. breaks B. explodes C. sinks D. overturns
54. A. relieved B. lucky C. relaxed D. happy
55. A. choices B. calmness C. fortune D. confidence
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