The small unframed painting called “Fisherman” was signed by a little-known Italian artist, Maveleone (1669-1740). When it was sold recently in New York for $27,000, the seller, Mr. Oliver Pitt, was asked to explain how the picture had come into his possession.
Pitt said, “I didn’t know it was so valuable. I’m not an art expert. Photography is my hobby. I bought ‘Fisherman’ in Italy in 1970 for $140. The picture was dirty, and I couldn’t see the artist’s signature. But anyway it wasn’t the picture that I liked. I bought it because of the frame. ”
“It’s a most unusual frame, made of tiny, silvery sea-shells. They are set in such a way that they reflect perfect light onto the surface of a picture. I now have a photograph of my wife in that frame, and I’ll never part with it.”
“When I returned to New York I showed the painting in its frame to a customs officer. I told him that I had paid $140 for it but admitted I didn’t know its actual worth. The customs man valued it at $140, and I was asked to pay duty on that value. I did so, there and then. ” 
“Later, I took off the frame, and that uncovered Maveleone’s signature. My wife suggested in fun that the painting might be a valuable one, so I cleaned it and put it up for sale.”
As a result of this explanation, Oliver Pitt had to appear in court. He was accused of knowingly making a false statement of the value of a picture so as to cheat the Customs Department.
Pitt was not happy. “I told the truth as I knew it then,” he said, “What else could I say?”
And then the judge agreed with him. “The Customs Department is to be responsible,” he said, “for making a true valuation of goods brought into the country, so that the correct amount of duty may be charged. Mr. Pitt did not cause or try to cause the mistake that was made. He paid the duty that was demanded. If, now, the Customs Department finds that its valuation was not correct, it cannot be allowed to have another try. Pitt is not guilty”.
小題1:When Oliver Pitt bought the picture, ________.
A．it was unframedB．Maveleone signed the deal
C．he suggested that it was valuableD．it was the frame that attracted him
小題2: From the passage we can infer that if Maveleone had been a well-known artist,        _.
A．the painting would have cost much more than $ 140
B．he wouldn’t have sold his painting
C．the customs officer wouldn’t have been cheated
D．Pitt wouldn’t have had the intention to buy any of his paintings
小題3: Pitt took off the frame probably in order to        _.
A．clean the painting to put it up for sale
B．look for the artist’s signature
C．use it for his wife’s photograph
D．find the painting’s true value
小題4:Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the story?  
A．In the end Pitt was asked to pay the correct amount of duty.
B．In the end Pitt sold the frame of the painting at an even higher price.
C．In the end the Customs Department had no right to revalue the painting.
D．In the end Pitt’s wife was regarded as an expert because of her wise suggestion.
小題1:D小題1:A小題1:C小題1:C
略
練習冊系列答案
相關習題

科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：完形填空

完形填空（共20小題；每小題1.5分，滿分30分）
When I was in Germany, one day at Christmas-time I went to a post office to send a letter. To my (36)______ I found people queuing some paces away from the person at the savings deposit window.
(37)_____so? Each did his business (38)_____ but the line never moved a step (39)_____. I was very (40)____, so I walked to the window to find out the cause. There was a notice on which was written “Thank you for your (41)_____for other's privacy”—a polite (42)_____to keep people away from nosing into other's (43)_____ (money matters are regarded as privacy in Western countries). I was deeply impressed by the (44)____ and stayed a while to watch: they were waiting so (45)____ at a distance that they seemed quite (46) _____to the practice. The (47)____ thing happened at a public telephone box. (48)_____ waiting for their turns always kept their distance—enough to be out of (49)____ . It's another typical example!?
From then on I (50)____ to watch their ways of doing things, manners, treatment (51)____ towards others. And I found the Germans always mindful of other's privacy. They avoided putting others in an embarrassing(窘迫)situation. For instance, they never (52)____ about age, incomes or the place to buy such a coat, (53)_____would they comment on the others or jewelry others wore. Their laws (54)_____ reading diaries or opening letters without permission. That shows (55) ____matters are not allowed to be disturbed．
小題1:
A．sorrow
B．anger
C．delight
D．surprise
小題2:
A．Why
B．How
C．What
D．Where
小題3:
A．in secret
B．with care
C．in turn
D．by turns
小題4:
A．slower
B．nearer
C．farther
D．longer
小題5:
A．curious
B．angry
C．interested
D．impatient
小題6:
A．care
B．respect
C．help
D．search
小題7:
A．voice
B．phrase
C．warning
D．sentence
小題8:
A．pockets
B．savings
C．needs
D．affaris
小題9:
A．word
B．sight
C．people
D．matters
小題10:
A．honestly
B．anxiously
C．nervously
D．calmly
小題11:
A．used
B．familiar
C．uncomforable
D．polite
小題12:
A．interesting
B．strange
C．same
D．different
小題13:
A．They
B．These
C．Those
D．That
小題14:
A．sight
B．hearing
C．touch
D．question
小題15:
A．went on
B．took care
C．paid attention
D．took charge
小題16:
A．moving
B．shown
C．facing
D．offered
小題17:
A．asked
B．heard
C．worried
D．learned
小題18:
A．so
B．nor
C．not only
D．if
小題19:
A．appreciate
B．stop
C．hate
D．forbid
小題20:
A．public
B．personal
C．small
D．important
 

查看答案和解析>>

科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：完形填空

完形填空（共20小題；每小題1.5分，滿分30分）
閱讀下面短文，從短文后各題所給的四個選項（A、B、C和D）中，選出可以填入空白處的最佳選項，并在答題卡上將該項涂黑。
It had been a tiring day and I was looking forward to a quiet evening. My __36__ would not be back until late and I had __37__ to sit comfortably in a chair in the _38___ room and read a good book. I put the children to bed _39__ and prepared a cup of coffee for myself. Soon I was seated comfortably with my__40___ in front of me and the sandwich and the cup of coffee on a small table beside me.
I was just beginning to __41__ the food when the telephone rang. I put down my book and hurried to __42___ it. By the time I got back to the living room, my coffee was__43__. I ate the sandwich and begin__44___ cold coffee with the book _45___ open to the front page. _46___ there was a loud knock at the front_47___. It surprised me so much that I spilled (灑)some coffee on my skirt. The man at the door was looking __48___ a certain address and __49___ me to  give him some information. It _50___ me a long time to explain something to him. After that , I sat down again and __51__ to read a whole page without further interruption(打擾) --- until the baby woke up. He started __52__ at the top of his voice, __53__ I run upstairs quickly. He was still awake at 11 o’clock when my husband came back. I really wanted to throw something __54____ him when he asked me if I had spent a ___55____ evening.
小題1:
A．motherB．husbandC．childrenD．sister
小題2:
A．saidB．toldC．decidedD．considered
小題3:
A．livingB．bedC．readingD．waiting
小題4:
A．lateB．earlyC．quicklyD．slowly
小題5:
A．babyB．dogC．TVD．book
小題6:
A．watchB．seeC．eatD．listen
小題7:
A．receiveB．takeC．holdD．answer
小題8:
A．coldB．hotC．goneD．missing
小題9:
A．findingB．drinkingC．changingD．throwing
小題10:
A．yetB．alreadyC．stillD．was
小題11:
A．HeavilyB．AngrilyC．CertainlyD．Suddenly
小題12:
A．doorB．windowC．streetD．room
小題13:
A．atB．forC．upD．after
小題14:
A．wantedB．likedC．suggestedD．hoped
小題15:
A．spentB．costC．tookD．used
小題16:
A．finishedB．allowedC．beganD．managed
小題17:
A．cryingB．shoutingC．singingD．talking
小題18:
A．andB．soC．asD．till
小題19:
A．toB．onC．atD．for
小題20:
A．troublingB．busyC．sadD．happy

查看答案和解析>>

科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：完形填空

：完形填空 （共20小題；每小題1分，滿分20分）
請認真閱讀下面短文，從短文后各題所給的A、B、C和D四個選項中，選出最佳選項，并在答題卡上將該項涂黑。
Soon Tommy’s parents, who had recently separated (分居), would arrive for a meeting on his failing schoolwork and  小題1:  behavior. Neither parent knew that I had called up   小題2: . 
Tommy, an only child, had   小題3: been happy, cooperative, and an excellent student. How could I make his father and mother  小題4:  that his recent failing grades   小題5:  a brokenhearted child’s reaction to his respected parents’ separation and possible   小題6: ?
Tommy’s mother came in and   小題7: one of the chairs I had placed near my desk. Then the father   小題8:  and was surprised to see his wife. They pointedly ignored each other.
As I gave a detailed   小題9: of Tommy’s behavior and schoolwork, I prayed for the   小題10:  words to bring these two together to help them see what they were doing to their son.   小題11:  somehow the words wouldn’t come.
I found a crumpled (弄皺的), tear-stained  小題12:  in the back of Tommy’s desk. Writing covered both sides, a single  小題13:  scribbled (亂寫) over and over.
Silently I smoothed it out and gave it to Tommy’s mother. She read it and then without a word   小題14: it to her husband. He frowned. Then his face softened. He studied the scribbled words for  小題15:  seemed a future life.
At last he folded the paper carefully and   小題16: his wife’s hand. She wiped the tears from her  小題17: and smiled up at him. I also couldn’t keep back tears, but  小題18: seemed to notice.
In this way I used the words to  小題19:  that family. On the sheet of yellow copy paper   小題20:  with the painful outpouring of a small boy’s troubled heart, it said, “Dear Mother; Dear Daddy; I love you. I love you. I love you.”
小題21:
A．satisfyingB．excitingC．disappointingD．surprising
小題22:
A．the othersB．the otherC．another oneD．each other
小題23:
A．neverB．rarelyC．alwaysD．usually
小題24:
A．hopeB．believeC．promiseD．trust
小題25:
A．stood forB．looked forC．cared forD．made for
小題26:
A．happinessB．crueltyC．selfishnessD．divorce
小題27:
A．gotB．tookC．satD．seated
小題28:
A．reachedB．satC．arrivedD．went
小題29:
A．accountB．recordC．writingD．paper
小題30:
A．commonB．excitingC．mistakenD．right
小題31:
A．So B．AndC．ButD．Then
小題32:
A．letterB．sheetC．messageD．schoolwork
小題33:
A．wordB．articleC．phraseD．sentence
小題34:
A．threwB．took C．handedD．picked
小題35:
A．whichB．as ifC．whatD．when
小題36:
A．reached forB．hunted forC．kept offD．searched for
小題37:
A．facesB．eyesC．headD．nose
小題38:
A．bothB．neitherC．eitherD．none
小題39:
A．reuniteB．uniteC．satisfyD．keep
小題40:
A．linedB．coloredC．writtenD．covered

查看答案和解析>>

科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：完形填空

“We’ve been good friends for so many years. And I don’t think you meant to do that ...” I said to myself， looking at Jack， my friend who was running across the 　36　  field.
How I wish I could join them！ But it was impossible because of the pain in my left foot， caused by Jack.
I first met Jack in a football match in the elementary school. When my team looked as if we were 　37　， Jack， who was watching， volunteered to join us. He was so confident and skilled that we won. From then on， Jack and I often played together and became best friends.
But something happened before an important football match between Class Six and my class. My class had so many good players that we had to 　38　  the best ones. Jack and I were in  the same  team. The match was close in the first half. I saw my chance and was ready to score a goal. Suddenly， Jack 　39　  me. He slid to stop the ball， but collided  with my left foot. I knew I had lost the chance to score and was 　40　  the field. But what really hurt me was that Jack didn’t say sorry.  And when some of my teammates said he did it on purpose to 　41　  me from scoring， I felt even 　42　.
Now I stand here， with tears in my eyes. I don’t want to 　43　  those words but I don’t know how to persuade myself they are 　44　 . Then everything changes when Jack scores and wins！ How excited I am！
While I am still 　45　  in excitement， someone pats my shoulder. It is Jack， with a smile on his face. “I’m sorry that you can not join in because of my 　46　  . But you see， Jason， we beat them！ No matter whether you joined in or not， you’ve made a contribution. Come on， let’s celebrate！” Suddenly， I am 　47　  by the players. The sunshine is so bright that I close my eyes. Riding high above my teammates， I feel so happy. And I know the  friendship  between Jack and me will last forever.
小題1:
A．basketball B．volleyballC．badminton D．football
小題2:
A．lost B．winningC．leading D．beaten
小題3:
A．replace B．awardC．decide onD．call in
小題4:
A．ran intoB．ran toC．ran across D．ran away
小題5:
A．sent awayB．carried offC．stuck toD．hold on
小題6:
A．break B．interrupt C．make D．keep
小題7:
A．amusedB．comfortableC．depressedD．scared
小題8:
A．believe B．sayC．denyD．hear
小題9:
A．right B．falseC．true D．bad
小題10:
A．lost B．fallenC．caught D．drawn
小題11:
A．score B．prideC．reason D．carelessness
小題12:
A．raised up B．pulled awayC．picked up D．pushed off

查看答案和解析>>

科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

As I was thinking about language learning the other day, the image of baking bread came into my mind. I compared some of the exercises and drills that we put ourselves through in order to learn a language to the various ingredients (原料) that go into baking a loaf of fresh bread.
Real language learning takes place in human relationships. No one sits down and eats a cup of flour, even if he is hungry and in a hurry. You don' t become bilingual (雙語的) by learning lists of vocabulary. You don' t become a speaker of a language by memorizing grammatical rules. You become bilingual by entering a community that uses that other language as its basic means of communication.
I am not suggesting that we can make bread without ingredients. Flour is necessary, as are yeast (酵母), salt, water and other ingredients. Vocabulary is part of any language and will have to be learned. Grammatical rules exist in every language and cannot be ignored. But merely combining the appropriate ingredients in the recommended proportions does not result in bread. At best, you only end up with a ball of dough (面團).
In order to get bread, you have to apply heat to the dough. And in language learning, that heat comes from the community. Anyone who has learned a second language has experienced that heat. It creeps up your neck when you ask the babysitter, “Have you already been eaten?” when you meant to say, ‘‘Have you already eaten?” When you try to say something quite innocent and the whole room bursts into laughter, you are experiencing the heat that turns raw dough into good bread.
Remember the old saying, “If you can’ t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen". This is where language learning often breaks down because we find the heat uncomfortable and we stop the baking process. In other words, we can' t stand the heat, so we get out of the kitchen.
However, the language learner who stays in the kitchen—in the heat—until the combined
ingredients are thoroughly transformed will enjoy the richness of a quality loaf of bread. He is glad that he did not "get out of the kitchen” at the important moment when the oven seemed too hot.
Now the baker enjoys good bread, seated at the table with family members and guests. However, he does not focus on "bread" but rather on enjoying the whole feast: fine salads, pastas, fresh vegetables, rich desserts and so on. And the language learner has arrived when he no longer needs to focus on language. Language merely becomes one element in the "feast" of membership in his chosen community.

查看答案和解析>>

科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

  The trend in everyday conversation is to use grandiose(夸大的)words．“Outstanding” is the
new “good,”  “amazing” is the new “OK, ” and “huge” is the new “big.”
I was in a restaurant in Washington D．C．last weekend and every question I asked was answered with exaggeration．
Me：How is the salmon?
Sever：Fantastic!
Me：Does it come with rice?
Sever：Absolutely!
Would a “good” and a “yes” have been enough? Of course!
My father is an average-sized man．He hasn’t gained weight or height for the past 30 years. Therefore, his size remains the same．However，in the same amount of time，his T-shirt size has gone from small to medium to large to extra large．
The reason for the exaggerated word is clear：we are bored with our lives. We want the next
—next thing now．Immediately!
And we also want others to think that we still care，that we can still be delighted，that we know that everything is just great．Even when deep inside we know it can’t be．Everything can’t be great．
I’m not a scientist，so many methods of proof leave little to be desired，or a lot to be desired，or an immensity(無限)．   
Listen to the voices around you．Listen to your own voices．There is nothing on the radio that is good or bad，weather is either beautiful or horrible．
Listen，the next time when someone asks you something and you agree，because when you
could simply say “yes”, instead you will say “absolutely’’ or “without doubt ” or “Oh，yeah，unquestionably ---- absolutely without doubt."
Have people forgotten what it is like to be OK? Simply OK with what they have and who they are? If everything is outstanding，if everything is the most amazing thing ever，is anything ever amazing at all?
小題1:By telling his experience in the restaurant，the author intends to ________．
A．show his interest in exaggerated words
B．prove that exaggerated words are widely used
C．blame the restaurant for using exaggerated words
D．tell us the food in the restaurant is extremely good
小題2:What do we know about the author’s father?
A．He has gained height and is now a tall man．
B．He likes following the fashion in clothing．
C．His weight is getting greater and greater．
D．The size of his T-shirt is described in exaggerated words．
小題3:．So many people like using exaggerated words because_________．
A．they are not satisfied with being normal
B．they don’t want to be looked down upon by others
C．they want to be different from others
D．they are brave in telling their true feelings
小題4:According to the passage，if you approve of something，you’d better say “________”．
A．fantasticB．perfectC．OKD．absolutely

查看答案和解析>>

科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

            Being the head of a high school for many years, I grew tired of budget meetings, fundingcuts, and many other administrative chores and started to dream of retirement．Sitting in trafficon a weekday morning, I would find my mind wandering．I would imagine spending time withmy grandchildren, quiet evenings with my wife, traveling, or rediscovering some great books．Itold myself that I wouldn't sign myself up for any committees, any classes, or anythingrequiring a schedule．
My first day of retirement came at last! I cooked a great breakfast for my wife and me,leisurely read the paper, cleaned a bit of the house, and wrote a few letters to friends．On thesecond day, I cooked breakfast, read the paper …On the third day, ...This is retirement? Itried to tell myself that it was just the transition, that those golden moments were right roundthe corner, and that I would enjoy them soon enough．But something was missing．
A former colleague asked a favor．A group of students was going to Jamaica to work withchildren in the poorest neighbourhood．Would I interrupt my newfound "happiness" and returnto the students, just this once? One trip．That's all．My bags were packed and by the door．
The trip was very inspiring．I was moved not only by the poverty I saw but also by thesense of responsibility of the young people on the trip．When I returned home, I offered to workone day a week with a local youth organization．The experience was so positive that I was soonvolunteering nearly full-time, working with students across North America to assist them intheir voluntary work．
Now，it seems, the tables have turned ．Some days I am the teacher, other days I am thestudent．These young people have reawakened my commitment to social justice issues bychallenging me to learn more about the situation in the world today, where people are still poorand suffer because of greed, corruption and war．Most importantly, they have given me theopportunity to continue to participate in helping to find solutions．In return, I help them do theircharitable projects overseas．I've gone from running one school to helping oversee theconstruction of schools in twenty-one countries!
小題1:What did the writer expect to do after he retired?
A．To stay away from busy schedules．B．To write some great books．
C．To do some voluntary work．D．To plan for his future．
小題2:Why did the writer decide to go to Jamaica?
A．He missed his students in that country．
B．He couldn't reflise his colleague's favor．
C．He was concerned about the people there．
D．He was not satisfied with his retired life．
小題3:The underlined part "the tables have turned" （Paragraph 5 ） means that thewriter  ．
A．improved the situation in his schoolB．felt happy to work with students again
C．became a learner rather than a teacherD．changed his attitude toward his retired life
小題4:What does the writer think of his retired life now?
A．Disappointing．B．Troublesome．
C．Promising．D．Meaningful．

查看答案和解析>>

科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

  On Christmas morning, I went to the Cockhedge Mall. People there were all busy buying their last minute requirements. I needed to buy a birthday card for my son-in-law whose birthday is the 29th of December. Picking up a few more things as well as my cared I went to join the line for the express checkout which was for people who only had a few items in a basket and not a trolley load. This line was next to the Customer Service desk.
Seemingly waiting quite a long time, I was jogged out of my thoughts by a voice behind me making comments on the things I bought.
It was so funny when I realized that she was describing the contents of my basket. The owner of the voice was a very pretty young lady. I said to her that I was going to buy a box of Christmas cookies but the only ones left were not to my liking. The lady told me that just opposite Cockhedge in Superdrug they had lots of cookies. I said, “I’m not going to bother now. I had enough of shops and I’m going home.”
The assistant from the Customer Service came across at this time saying “If there is anyone in the line with a few items in their basket, none of which needed to be weighed, I will check out their groceries at the desk.” Because I had the sprouts which needed to be weighted, the young lady accepted the offer and walked away waving goodbye.
Eventually my turn came at the checkout. I was walking away when I met my new friend once again who handed me a beautiful box of Christmas cookies. With a big hug she said “Hope you have a lovely Christmas.” She had been into Superdrug to buy me the cookies while I was still queuing in Cockhedge.
What a generosity to a stranger! I was so surprised you could have knocked me down with a feather. My Good Samaritan would never know what a joyful Christmas day I had with my family. Telling them this story, as we ate around the table, kept everyone spellbound.
小題1:The underlined word “spellbound” in the last paragraph probably means         .
A．interestedB．disappointedC．astonishedD．frightened
小題2:Which of the following could be the best title of the story?
A．A Piece of Lucky FeatherB．A Surprise Christmas Gift
C．The Boring Shopping ExperienceD．The Unforgettable Big Hug
小題3:How does the writer feel about the pretty young lady?
A．Worried.B．Satisfied.C．GratefulD．Proud.
小題4:What can we learn from the story?
A．Nobody is sure what will happen the next moment.
B．A simple action can bring other people happiness.
C．Being patient will decrease the waiting time.
D．Life without hope and faith is a full thing.

查看答案和解析>>

同步練習冊答案