Magic is believed to have begun with the Egyptians, in 1700 BC. A magician named Dedi of Dedsnefu was reported to have performed for the pharaoh, or the king. He was also known to have entertained the slaves who built the pyramids. The "Cups and Balls" trick which he was particularly good at is still performed by magicians all over the world today.

The ancient Greeks and Romans were also fascinated by the idea of magic. Actually, one of their main interests was the art of deception（欺騙）. This explains why at that time the priests（神父） even built magic devices into their temples. These devices made it possible for doors to open by themselves and wine to flow magically out of statues' mouths. This was done mainly to convince people that the priests were powerful.

Magic, however, was not well accepted before the 1800s. Magicians were thought of as freaks（怪物） and were only allowed to perform in a circus（馬戲團）. It was in the 19th century that the magician Robert Houdin came along and changed people's views and attitudes about magic. It was also because of Robert Houdin that many magicians were able to add Dr. or MD to their names. Today magicians try hard to find new ways to show their practiced skills. Magic is now entertainment for families all over the world.

What would be the best title for the passage?

A. Magical Tricks                                  B. The History of Magic

C. Magic as Entertainment                         D. A Great Magician

In ancient Greece, what did the priests do to show people they had unusual power?

A. They performed magical tricks to entertain people.

B. They made the statues in the temples drink wine as they wished.

C. They treated the people with wine flowing down from statues' mouths.

D. They built magic devices in the temples to make doors open by themselves.

What did people think of magic before 1800?

A. Magic should be used only in temples.

B. Magic could only be performed in a circus.

C. Magic was performed by freaks and doctors.

D. Magic was the major daily activity for the pharaohs.

Which of the following statements is true?

A. Magic began about 3,700 years ago.                    

B. Dedi of Dedsnefu performed magic for kings only.

C. Robert Houdin was the first magician to perform magic.

D. The "Cups and Balls" trick has been performed for about 1,700 years.

【小題1】B

【小題1】D

【小題1】B

【小題1】A


解析:

略

練習冊系列答案
相關習題

科目：高中英語 來源： 題型：閱讀理解

People turn to magic(魔力)chiefly as a form of insurance--that is, they use it along with actions that actually bring results. For example, hunters may use a hunting charm(咒語). But they also use their hunting skills and knowledge of animals. The charm may give hunters the extra confidence they need to hunt even more successfully than they would without it. If they shoot a lot of game(獵物), they credit the charm for their success. Many events happen naturally without magic. Crops grow without it, and sick people get well without it. But if people use magic to bring a good harvest or to cure a patient, they may believe the magic was responsible. 

People also tend to forget magic's failures and to be impressed by its surface successes. They may consider magic successful if it appears to work only 10 per cent of the time. Even when magic fails, people often explain the failure without doubting the power of the magic. They may say that the magician made a mistake in reciting the spell or that another magician cast a more powerful spell against the magician.

Many anthropologists(人類學家) believe that people have faith in magic because they feel a need to believe in it. People may turn to magic to reduce their fear and uncertainty if they feel they have no control over the outcome of a situation. For example, farmers use knowledge and skill when they plant their fields. But they know that weather, insects, or diseases might ruin the crops. So farmers in some societies may also plant a charm or perform a magic rite to ensure a good harvest.

16.From the passage, we can learn that the writer of the passage may be _______.

A. a hunter     B. a farmer     C. a magician    D. an anthropologist

17.Which of the following can best serve as the title of the passage?

A. Magic and Hunting.          B. Magic and Farming.

C. Why Magic Works?          D. Why People Believe in Magic?

18. The underlined word “spell”(Paragraph 2) most likely means______.

A. magic words.    B. magic events.    C. words or expressions     D. magicians.

19. People believe in magic because________.

A. magic powers are greater than natural powers

B. magic can turn dreams into reality

C. they are not sure of themselves  

D. magic can bring good results

20. Which of the following statements is NOT true according to the passage?

A. Even though magic fails, believers in magic will explain the reason.

B. Believers in magic usually overstate the power of magic.

C. People use magic to reduce their uncertainty and give them extra confidence

D. Magic can solve problems people can’t deal with in a natural way.

查看答案和解析>>

科目：高中英語 來源： 題型：閱讀理解

Here’ s an unusual story: a diamond ring

 was recently found in an egg. The    

magician, Liu Qian, discovered it, in front          

of an audience of millions at CCTV’ s Spring

Festival Gala. Liu’ s magic tricks have made the centuries-old art of magic fashionable once again, and made him the hottest magician in China.

As a seasoned young magician from Taiwan, Liu is popular worldwide for his magic shows. Countries he has performed in include the U

nited States, Japan, South Korea and the UK.

 Witnessing something impossible happen right before your eyes is the root of people’ s love for magic.

 Liu is known for his interaction(互動)with his audiences. He has a unique understanding of showmanship(演出技巧).

“It’ s actually thinking rather than one’ s manipulation（操作）skills; that is more important to achieving a successful magic show. We think carefully about how to design the shows creatively, to make them appear more interesting.  ”Liu said.

    Liu Qian’ s success dated back to his childhood. Born in 1976 in Taiwan, he found himself attracted to a magic toy in a shop when he was seven years old. At the age of 12, he won Taiwan’ s Youth Magic Contest, which was judged by the great American magician, David Copperfield.

Yet, Liu never planned on becoming a professional magician. He studied Japanese literature at university and only hoped to be an amateur  (業(yè)余的) magician in his spare time. However, his failure to find a proper job after graduation pushed him towards magic as a career.

    To refine his performing skills, he has performed on streets, roads and fields for passers-by, policemen and farmers.

     “Street shows are the biggest challenge for us magicians. We have to deal with unexpected situations and tough crowds, ” Liu said.

What does the underlined word  “seasoned ” in Paragraph 2 mean?

A. 季節(jié)性的        B. 剛出道的         C. 老練的         D. 職業(yè)的

The story is about_____.

A. how Liu Qian became China’ s hottest magician

B. why people love magic

C. what magic tricks are

D. how fashionable the magic is

People love to watch magic because_____.

A. they can’ t figure out the secret of magic

B. it arouses their curiosity

C. they love watching magicians make the impossible happen

D. it is a centuries-old art

Which of the following is the key reason that Liu Qian decided to make magic his career?

A. He was interested in magic when he was little.

B. He had won Taiwan’ s Youth Magic Contest.

C. He became an amateur magician in his spare time.

D. He couldn’ t find an acceptable job after graduation

From the story we know that______.

A. Liu Qian competed in many magic competitions

B. Liu Qian often invites audiences to be in his magic show

C. Liu Qian performs on streets in order to increase his fame

D. Liu Qian does street show to make money

查看答案和解析>>

科目：高中英語 來源： 題型：閱讀理解

What is the hottest topic at your school recently? In Hangzhou Yongjin Middle School, it’s money. The school held an activity called “making money” last weekend. About 200 students of Senior 1 and Senior 2 were divided into 30 teams. They went out to make money by selling things. What did they choose to sell? Some sold newspapers; some chose bottled water; some sold environmentally friendly shopping bags and bamboo(竹子) baskets.

Hu Qing’s team decided to sell some useful books in front of the Children Activity Center. They thought parents would like to buy the books for their children. But unfortunately, they met urban management officers (城管). The officers asked them to leave. “We played hide-and-seek (捉迷藏) with the officers for the whole morning” said Hu. “Finally we had to give up.”

Wang Bing and her team sold ice cream in a square. They didn’t meet any officers. But few people were interested in what they were selling. The team then put up a board saying “For Country Kids”. It worked. More people came to their stall (小攤). A foreigner even gave them 100 yuan. “He didn’t want any change. He said he wanted to help the children,” said Wang. “We were touched.” Later that day they gave the 100 yuan and more to the “Project Hope” office.

Meng Zhaoxiang and his team were luckier. They sold all their cakes in four hours, spending 39.5 yuan and getting back 80 yuan. They made 40.5 yuan. “It was not easy to make the money,” said Meng. “Some people just looked. Others just tasted but didn’t buy. Now I know how hard it is for our parents to make money.”

86. In Hangzhou Yongjin Middle School, what the students talk more about is ________.

A. the officers                         B. the kind foreigner

C. the activity called “making money”      D. the money they made last weekend

87. ________ took part in the activity.

A. All the students                     B. Some teachers

C. About 200 students of the three grades   D. Part of Junior 1 and Junior 2 students

88. Hu Qing’s team finally gave up because ________.

A. the parents didn’t like to buy the books

B. the Children Activity Center was too crowded

C. the officers didn’t allow them to sell anything there

D. the team played the game of the hide-and-seek the whole morning

89. Why did more people come to Wang Bing’s stall at last?

A. The team put up a magic board. B. A foreigner came up and helped them.

C. The people liked to help country kids.

D. The people were interested in their ice cream.

90. According to the passage the students learn ________.

A. it’s impossible for them to make money

B. it’s not easy for their parents to make money

C. it’s very important for them to make a living

D. it’s necessary for school to hold more activities in the future

查看答案和解析>>

科目：高中英語 來源：2012屆廣西桂林中學高三7月月考英語卷 題型：閱讀理解

There are three branches of medicine. One is called "doctor medicine," or "scientific medicine." Scientific doctors try to observe sicknesses, look for logical patterns, and then find out how the human body works. From there they figure out what treatments may work. This kind of medicine is believed to date from the 4th century BC. Although nowadays it is successful, in the ancient world this approach probably did not cure many patients.
A second kind of medicine is called "natural cures," or "folk medicine," in which less educated people try to cure sicknesses with various herbs. These folk healers also use observation and logic, but they are not so aware of it. They try things until they find something that seems to work, and then they keep doing that. Folk medicine flourished（繁榮） long before the development of scientific medicine and was more successful in ancient times than doctor medicine.
The third kind is called "health spas," or "faith healing." Sometimes this may be as simple as touching the holy man and being immediately healed. Other times, a magician may make you a magic charm, or say a spell, to cure you. Some religious groups organize special healing shrines（圣壇） for the sick. In these places people rest, get plenty of sleep, eat healthy food, drink water instead of wine, and exercise in various ways. They also talk to the priests and pray to the gods. If you are feeling depressed or you have been working too hard, going to these places may be just the right thing to make you feel better.
【小題1】Doctor medicine __________.

A．has a longer history than folk medicine
B．has been practiced for around 1,600 years
C．bases its treatments on observation and logic
D．was very successful in curing sicknesses in ancient times
【小題2】According to the passage, which of the following is NOT used in health spas?
A．Magic power. B．Various herbs. C．Religious faith. D．A healthy life style.
【小題3】According to the passage, which of the following statements is true?
A．Folk healers choose different herbs to cure diseases without any sound basis.
B．People who practice folk medicine need lots of formal education on herbs.
C．The success of folk medicine led to the development of doctor medicine.
D．Natural cures worked better than scientific medicine in ancient times.
【小題4】The author's primary purpose in this passage is to __________.
A．describe different types of medicine
B．argue for the importance of medicine in health care
C．show the crucial role religion plays in medical treatments
D．compare the educational background of three different types of patients

查看答案和解析>>

科目：高中英語 來源：2010-2011學年廣西桂林中學高三上學期12月月考英語卷 題型：閱讀理解

There are three branches of medicine. One is called "doctor medicine," or "scientific medicine." Scientific doctors try to observe sicknesses, look for logical patterns, and then find out how the human body works. From there they figure out what treatments may work. This kind of medicine is believed to date from the 4th century BC. Although nowadays it is successful, in the ancient world this approach probably did not cure many patients.

A second kind of medicine is called "natural cures," or "folk medicine," in which less educated people try to cure sicknesses with various herbs. These folk healers also use observation and logic, but they are not so aware of it. They try things until they find something that seems to work, and then they keep doing that. Folk medicine flourished（繁榮） long before the development of scientific medicine and was more successful in ancient times than doctor medicine.

The third kind is called "health spas," or "faith healing." Sometimes this may be as simple as touching the holy man and being immediately healed. Other times, a magician may make you a magic charm, or say a spell, to cure you. Some religious groups organize special healing shrines（圣壇） for the sick. In these places people rest, get plenty of sleep, eat healthy food, drink water instead of wine, and exercise in various ways. They also talk to the priests and pray to the gods. If you are feeling depressed or you have been working too hard, going to these places may be just the right thing to make you feel better.

1.Doctor medicine __________.

A．has a longer history than folk medicine

B．has been practiced for around 1,600 years

C．bases its treatments on observation and logic

D．was very successful in curing sicknesses in ancient times

2.According to the passage, which of the following is NOT used in health spas?

A．Magic power.

B．Various herbs.

C．Religious faith.

D．A healthy life style. 高#考￥資@源網(wǎng)

3.According to the passage, which of the following statements is true?

A．Folk healers choose different herbs to cure diseases without any sound basis.

B．People who practice folk medicine need lots of formal education on herbs.

C．The success of folk medicine led to the development of doctor medicine.

D．Natural cures worked better than scientific medicine in ancient times.

4.The author's primary purpose in this passage is to __________.

A．describe different types of medicine

B．argue for the importance of medicine in health care

C．show the crucial role religion plays in medical treatments

D．compare the educational background of three different types of patients

 

查看答案和解析>>

同步練習冊答案