Art robbery and art forgery (仿造) are both major themes in crime movies and literature.In the 2012 comedy movie Gambit, British actor Colin Firth plays an art curator who cheats his abusive boss into buying a fake Monet. In reality, art crimes are no less interesting and exciting.
According to The New York Times, over the past 15 years, Glafira Rosales fooled two local commercial art galleries into buying 63 false works of art for more than $30 million.She passed off fake paintings as works by 20th century modernist masters such as American artists Mark Rothko and Jackson Pollock.But in fact, these so called “newly discovered works” were all produced by a single man, a Chinese immigrant named Qian Peishen.
The art world was shocked by Rosales' deception.But to the public, it was amusing and most satisfying to see wealthy people get tricked.
So what decides the value of a piece of art? Is it beauty? Is it the artist's talent and craftsmanship? Or is it just because the artist is famous?
We should take beauty out. If the buyers were buying paintings only for their beauty, they'll be content displaying good fakes on their walls. They wouldn't be so upset when a forgery is exposed.
The art market claims that great artists are inimitable, and that this inimitability justifies the absurd price of their works. We can't deny that most famous artists are good at what they do, but forgers like Qian show that their works are imitable.Otherwise, the difference between the original and the copycats would be obvious and Rosales would not be able to fool anyone.
According to an article in the Economist, expensive paintings are what economists call positional goods. They are valuable because other people can't have them. With other goods, a higher price reduces demand.But art turns down the laws of economics. “When the goods that is really being purchased is evidence that the buyer has paid a lot, price increases cause demand to boom,” explained the article.
That's why scarcity and authenticity are so important in the art market. Artists sometimes forget this.Demien Hirst, the British pop artist, is famous for his spot paintings. But they dropped in value when it became clear that they had been produced in quantities so vast that nobody knew how many were out there.The art market lost faith in these paintings because no one could be sure which of them were authentic and which were fake.
【小题1】The first paragraph is meant to tell the readers that ________.
A.movies and literature will be popular with art involved in them |
B.art crimes are as interesting and exciting in reality as in movies |
C.Gambit is a good movie with art forgery as the major theme |
D.real art crime in reality can be adapted into popular films |
A.The public. |
B.Glafira Rosales. |
C.Qian Peishen. |
D.Mark Rothlo and Jackson Pollock. |
A.Those who buy only for its beauty. |
B.Those who buy for its inimitability. |
C.Those who 'buy for its authenticity. |
D.Those who buy for its scarcity. |
A.They are valuable goods. |
B.High prices reduce the demand of art goods. |
C.High prices increase the demand of art goods. |
D.They are produced in quantities to satisfy people. |
【小题1】B
【小题2】A
【小题3】A
【小题4】C
解析文章大意:艺术偷盗和艺术仿造是文学和电影的两大主题。而现实世界中,其精彩和刺激,一点也不输给影视作品。
【小题1】B 推理判断题。由第一段最后一句话“In reality, art crimes are no less interesting and exciting.”可推知。
【小题2】A 细节理解题。由文章第三段第二句话“But to the public, it was amusing and most satisfying to see wealthy people get tricked.”可知。
【小题3】A 细节理解题。由第五段后两句话“If the buyers were buying paintings only for their beauty, they'll be content displaying good fakes on their walls. They wouldn't be so upset when a forgery is exposed.”可知,对于购买艺术品只为欣赏美的人来说,艺术品的真假不那么重要。
【小题4】C 推理判断题。由倒数第二段最后一句话“When the goods that is really being purchased is evidence that the buyer has paid a lot, price increases cause demand to boom”可知。
科目:高中英语 来源: 题型:阅读理解
In 2006, a large number of new Internet sites became popular around the world. Some of these are for communication, others for entertainment(娱乐).
The blog is one form of communication that increased in popularity. Through these personal websites(网址), people can share their lives, ideas and opinions on the Internet. People of all ages have their own blogs. For young people, they are a way to show their writing and other forms of self-expression. Blogs also connect people with other people who have the same interests. For example, teachers use blogs to share ideas with other teachers’, as well as experiences and concerns about their work.
YouTube is another Internet site that became more popular last year. This website lets anyone create, share and watch short videos. These include videos of people singing or dancing, or animals doing funny things. Three young men created YouTube almost two years ago as a personal video sharing service. They recently sold it to Google for more than one and a half billion dollars.
Games and entertainment also became a larger part of the Internet last year. One Internet social site is called Second Life. It is an online world in which computer users create a new self and live a different life. They get married, build homes, operate businesses, buy and sell goods, work, play and attend school.
People also take part in fantasy sports leagues with the help of the Internet. A fantasy sport is a game in which each member of a group acts as the owner of a team. Each owner creates a team of real-life professional players to compete against other teams in the league. More than fifteen million American adults play fantasy sports. The industry earns more than one billion(十亿) dollars each year from publications, memberships and other costs.
【小题1】The passage is mainly about __________.
A.the most popular Internet technology in 2006 |
B.some new ways for people to communicate or have fun on the Internet |
C.one online game called Second Life |
D.the high price of playing online |
A.Three young men. | B.Google. |
C.Computer users. | D.Yahoo. |
A.The people who are interested in blogs. |
B.The people who play games on YouTube. |
C.The people who play Second Life. |
D.The people who are created in Second Life. |
A.Teachers can share ideas, experiences and concerns about their work with other teachers on any website. |
B.More than fifteen million American teenagers play fantasy sports. |
C.Second Life helps people get married, buy and sell goods, work, play and attend school in real life. |
D.Fantasy sports, a game in which each member of a group acts as the owner of a team, is very popular around the world. |
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科目:高中英语 来源: 题型:阅读理解
Willi around 100 students scheduled to be in that 9 am Monday morning lecture, it is no surprise that almost 20 people actually make it to the class and only 10 of them arc still awake after the first IS minutes; it is not even a surprise that most of them are still in their pyjamas (睡衣). Obviously, students are terrible at adjusting their sleep cycles to their daily schedule.
All human beings possess a body clock. Along with other alerting (警报) systems, this governs the sleep/wake cycle and is therefore one of the main processes which govern sleep behaviour. Typically, the preferred sleep/wake cycle is delayed in adolescents, which leads to many students not feeling sleepy until much later in the evenings. This typical sleep pattern is usually referred to as the "night owl" schedule of sleep.
This is opposed to the "early bird" schedule, and is a kind of disorder where the individual tends to stay up much past midnight. Such a person has great difficulty in waking up in the mornings. Research suggests that night owls feel most alert and function best in the evenings and at night. Research findings have shown that about 20 percent of people can be classified as "night owls" and only 10 percent can be classified as "early birds" - the other 70 percent are in the middle. Although this is clearly not true for all students, for the ones who are true night owls this gives them an excellent excuse for missing their lectures which unfortunately fall before midday.
【小题1】What docs the author stress in Paragraph I?
A.Many students are absent from class. |
B.Students are very tired on Monday mornings. |
C.Students do not adjust their sleep patterns well. |
D.Students are not well prepared for class on Mondays. |
A.Most students prefer to get up late in the morning. |
B.Students don't sleep well because of alerting systems. |
C.One's body clock governs the sleep/wake cycle independently. |
D.Adolescents' delayed sleep/wake cycle isn't the preferred pattern. |
A.Criticised. | B.Grouped. | C.Organised. | D.Named. |
A.Functions of the body clock. |
B.The "night owl" phenomenon. |
C.Human beings' sleep behaviour. |
D.The school schedule of "early birds". |
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科目:高中英语 来源: 题型:阅读理解
They can be seen more frequently than ever before on college campuses, wearing flannel(法兰绒) and thickframed glasses while listening to music. One might find them playing unusual musical instruments, shopping at secondhand stores or expressing themselves in other unique ways.
They call themselves hipsters. Being “hip” used to mean following the latest fashion. But gradually the word has become a sign of “being cool, unique and unusual”.
Hipsters value independent thinking, progressive politics, an appreciation of creativity and intelligence. Hipsters take pains and pride in not being mainstream. However, their culture has become quite trendy. This irony(讽刺) is central to their culture and offers an interesting conflict.
“I do take things in the mainstream with a positive attitude,” says Ben Polson, a college student at Brown University. “But sometimes I also question what determines popularity, especially regarding music.” Polson represents many hipsters.
When lessknown bands become popular, they often lose their former fan base in exchange for a new one. There is a famous hipster saying that goes, “I used to like that band before it got popular,” Polson quoted.
According to Polson, bands' music changes when they go mainstream. They become less experimental, doing things just to save popularity and fans. The original elements that we were drawn to slowly disappear for the sake of popularity.
Many young adults have started to view hipsters' outlook as cool and they are adopting hipsters' antimainstream culture mind to themselves. This has led to specialized brands, stores and music for the hipster consumers. But on the other hand, some such stores, including clothing labels Urban Outfitters and American Apparel, have gained mainstream popularity. This has seemingly made the antimainstream culture become weaker.
“A lot of people that are selfdefined hipsters aren't really hipsters. They're just trying to act as hipsters to seem cooler,” says Amanda Leopold, a college student from Oberlin College, US. Although Leopold has many unusual tastes and seems quite individualist, she refuses to classify herself as a hipster.
【小题1】In the passage, hipsters refer to people ________.
A.who are fans of pop music |
B.who study in different colleges |
C.who appear cool and unusual |
D.who try to attract others |
A.hipsters are the pioneers of the mainstream |
B.hipsters are unhappy with the mainstream |
C.hipsters' culture exists mainly in music field |
D.hipsters' culture can also become popular |
A.Urban Outfitters and American Apparel are famous clothing labels. |
B.Hipster consumers have more specialized brands, stores and music. |
C.Antimainstream culture can gain mainstream popularity. |
D.The culture of hipsters is becoming more and more terrible. |
A.in an ironic voice | B.in an objective voice |
C.in an angry voice | D.in a funny voice |
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科目:高中英语 来源: 题型:阅读理解
A dentist’s office may not be everyone’s idea of a perfect holiday destination.But a growing number of Europeans are travelling abroad for medical treatment to save money,or maybe to combine a visit to the doctor with some sightseeing,creating a potential but fastgrowing market for traditional tour operators.
“It was simply cheaper for me to go to a dentist in Hungary,” said a 42yearold physical therapist from Berlin.He chose the clinic near Budapest from an Internet advertisement,attracted by hundreds of euros in savings compared with the same treatment in Germany.He was happy to find when he got there that the clinic was clean,the staff qualified and the work thorough.
People travel abroad for medical treatment for various reasons:it’s cheaper,they face a long wait at home,or the treatment they want is not available in their own country.The Britishbased Medical Tourist Company refers about 100 patients a year to hospitals in India for treatments.And Chief Executive Premhar Shah reports rapid growth in demand from customers in Africa,where it can be harder to find wellequipped medical facilities for complex surgeries.
Some patients who have immigrated may prefer to return to be close to their families when they undergo surgery.“People will want to take the opportunity to seek treatment in places where they have relatives who might be able to look after them.I’m seeing that especially with younger people from eastern Europe,” said a professor at the University of Oxford.
For some,there is the attraction of free treatment abroad.British lawmakers have called for tighter checks on patients arriving for treatment,out of concerns that foreign citizens are travelling to Britain to take advantage of the free service.
The global medical tourism market is believed to be worth $40 billion to $60 billion and growing at about 20 percent per year.
【小题1】The 42yearold physical therapist was satisfied with________in Hungary.
A.the price instead of the service |
B.the service instead of the price |
C.both the price and the service |
D.neither the price nor the service |
A.Four. | B.Five. |
C.Six. | D.Seven. |
A.more Africans want to travel abroad |
B.more Europeans want to travel to Africa |
C.more Britons want to travel to India |
D.no one would come to Great Britain |
A.get cheaper medical service |
B.be looked after by relatives |
C.have better medical treatment |
D.enjoy free medical treatment |
A.Overseas sightseeing. | B.Hospital treatment. |
C.Medical tourism. | D.Travelers’ health problems. |
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科目:高中英语 来源: 题型:阅读理解
What would it be like to take a walk on the surface of Mars? If you could design the tallest building in the world, what would it look like? Do you dream of being the next J.K. Rowling? This summer, you can experience all of these things, and more. All you need is an Internet connection and your imagination.
A recent study by the Kaiser Family Foundation found that kids spend an average of 1 hour and 29 minutes online each day. Many kids like to use that time to chat with friends, play games or check emails. But the next time you get on the Web, try exploring the world instead. “With the Internet, you can go back 11,000 years in time, or go 11,000 kilometers across the planet.” said Russell, Web search expert of Google. “The whole scope of history and the world is open to you.”
There is a wealth of information to be found online. For example, if your family is going on vacation somewhere,do a quick online search on the area before you even get in the car. “What's the background of the place; what's the history?” says Russell. “I like to tell my kids, ‘Whenever you have a question, whenever you have a doubt, search it out.’”
Ready to launch a virtual journey of your own? Here are a few starting points to get you thinking and to help you on your way. You can invite your parents along for the ride, too. Always ask for permission before downloading programs and software onto your computer. And check with a parent or an adult before visiting a new Web site.
Navigate the world in 3D with Google Earth. Begin in outer space and zoom(快速移动) into the streets of any city, from Hong Kong to San Francisco. Or visit ancient monuments, watch the changing rainforests over time, and dive underwater to explore tropical reef.
With the Moon in Google Earth tool, you can walk in Neil Armstrong's famous footsteps. Take a guided tour of the moon's surface with Armstrong's fellow shuttle mate astronaut Buzz Aldrin.
When you're exploring that part of the solar system, hop on over to the Red Planet with Google Mars. There, you can move very quickly around the surface and see images from the Mars Rovers.
【小题1】The author uses questions in the first passage to ________.
A.introduce the topic of the paragraph |
B.question the possibility of realizing the dream |
C.attract the readers' attention |
D.let the readers answer it |
A.By taking the time shuttle. |
B.By making use of the Internet |
C.By watching 3D films. |
D.By finding a tourism company in Google. |
A.the students spent too much time on the Internet |
B.the students shouldn't chat and play games online |
C.the students could solve their problems through the line |
D.the students should learn knowledge instead of chatting online |
A.Encourage the kids to spend more time online. |
B.Encourage the kids to do some research on science. |
C.Encourage the kids to learn to use the computer. |
D.Encourage the kids to explore the world online. |
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科目:高中英语 来源: 题型:阅读理解
Travel Unaccompanied
Now many young people are traveling around the world on their own, not because they have no one to travel with, but because they prefer to go alone.
Kristina Wegscheider from California first traveled alone when she was at college and believes that it is something everyone should do at least once in their life. “It opens up your mind to new things and pushes you out of your comfort zone.” Wegscheider has visited 46 countries covering all seven continents.
In foreign countries, with no one to help you read a map, look after you if you get ill, or lend you money if your wallet is stolen. It is challenging. This is what drives young people to travel alone.It is seen as character building and a chance to prove that they can make it on their own.
Chris Richardson decided to leave his sales job in Australia to go traveling last year.He set up a website, The Aussie Nomad, to document his adventures. He said he wished he had traveled alone earlier. “The people you meet, the places you visit, or the things you do, everything is up to you and it forces you to grow as a person,” said the 30yearold.
Richardson describes traveling alone like “a shot in the arm”, which “makes you a more confident person that was ready to deal with anything”. He said: “The feeling of having conquered something on my own is a major part of what drives me each day when I'm dealing with a difficult task. I walk around with my head up because I know deep down inside that nothing is impossible if you try.”
The great 19th century explorer John Muir once said: “Only by going alone in silence can one truly get into the heart of the wilderness.”
【小题1】Which of the following will Kristina Wegscheider agree with?
A.Traveling alone is a necessary experience for everyone. |
B.It is more meaningful to travel in foreign countries. |
C.It is comfortable to travel around without a friend. |
D.Traveling abroad helps people to find new things. |
A.it will finally build your character |
B.you have to make things on your own |
C.you depend on yourself whatever happens |
D.it is hard for you to prove yourself to others |
A.He started traveling at an early age. |
B.He was once shot in the arm. |
C.His website inspires others a lot. |
D.He used to work as a salesman. |
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科目:高中英语 来源: 题型:阅读理解
What could be cuter than your puppy giving his doggy friend a kiss on the nose? Nothing, really. But is your dog actual-fly planting a kiss on his friend? Yes, but that’s only one of the reasons your dog may lick another dog’s nose. Here are some other reasons why your dog may lick another dog’s nose.
During an introduction, a shy and lower-ranking dog will lower his head, avoid direct eye contact and gently extend his tongue to lick the nose of a more confident and high-ranking dog. The first dog licks the nose of the second dog to simply make it know that:he comes in peace.
Dogs who are already friends will also trade kisses. Two strongly bonded dog pals will lick and clean each other. They give each other “dog kisses” showing friendship.
Puppies also “kiss” their mothers, but it's not a gesture of love. When puppies stop suckling(吸吮)their mothers’ tits for milk and start to eat semisolid(半固体)food instead;they lick their mothers’ mouths and noses in the hope of getting the mother to regurgitate(反哺) some semi-digested food.
So how to help your bashful dog make friends with other dogs? You can carefully select confident-but-friendly and good-tempered dogs to play with your shy dog, to help him develop his social skills. Also consider taking him to a special training class that focuses on socialization and positive training technique.
Do not disturb them when your two dogs play “kiss” briefly with each other. Sit back and enjoy this display of friendship. Then call them over and have them do a command such as “sit’’ or “shake paws”. Offer them treats as a reward for being good to each other.
If you foster(收养)a dog and have three or more resident dogs, introduce the foster dog to your brood dog one at a time and let muzzle licking between them happen naturally. Start with your least reactive or most friendly dog. Never force an in production between the dogs because this can deepen the foster dog’s submissiveness or spark a fight.
【小题1】We know a shy and lower—ranking dog licks the nose of a higher-ranking dog to .
A.ask the dog for help | B.show he is friendly |
C.show his anger | D.show his respect for him |
A.They seldom give each other kisses. |
B.They usually avoid direct eye contact. |
C.They like keeping their friendship a secret. |
D.They show their friendship by “dog kisses”. |
A.Shy. | B.Honest. | C.Lovely. | D.Little. |
A.Ask them to stay away from each other immediately. |
B.Ask them to shake tails. |
C.Ask them to have a fight. |
D.Give them a reward for being friends. |
A.tell us about a study he did recently |
B.explain why a dog kisses other dogs |
C.tell us how to raise dogs |
D.help us to make friends with dogs. |
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科目:高中英语 来源: 题型:阅读理解
Americans plan parties for many reasons. As in other cultures, many Americans attend parties for weddings and religious or national holidays. But some parties are especially American. For example, a group of neighbors may gather on their street to eat food, play music and visit with one another. This is called a block party. A woman might invite a group of women to a party called a baby shower for a friend who is about to give birth. Guests bring presents for the new baby.
Americans also attend tailgate parties. A tailgate is the back end of a truck or other vehicle that opens down. The tailgate parties are a big part of sports culture in the United States. Friends bring food and drink to a sports event. They eat together in the parking area of the sports stadium.
Birthday parties are also very popular. Many parents organize a party for their child around a theme. Birthday parties usually include gifts and a birthday cake with candles. In many parts of the United States, cupcakes have become a popular replacement for cakes.
Birthday parties can be low cost or very costly. Some parents take their children’s birthday parties very seriously, even when the child is too young to fully understand the celebration.
One group of parents started a website called Birthdays Without Pressure. They decided that some parents were under too much social pressure to plan costly parties for their children. The group sees this movement as an example of America’s culture of “too much stuff”. The group’s website gives suggestions on how to keep birthday celebrations simple, meaningful and fun without spending a lot of money. Their advice may be very helpful during this period of economic recession(萧条).
【小题1】What can be the best title for the passage?
A.Reasons for parties |
B.Birthdays without pressure |
C.American parties |
D.Different parties in the world |
A.5. | B.6. | C.7. | D.8. |
A.block | B.baby shower | C.sports | D.tailgate |
A.relieve people’s pressure |
B.have meaningful birthday parties with low cost |
C.make birthday parties meaningful and costly |
D.spread America’s culture |
A.Block party is especially American. |
B.Some parties in America are the same as in other countries. |
C.There’s a party for the mother before her new baby is born. |
D.Birthday parties are the most popular in America. |
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