Disease, poverty, hate, love—Charles Dickens’ stories opened his readers eyes to the most important themes of his age. Two hundred years on, his stories still speak volumes across the world, proving that Dickens’ legacy(遺產(chǎn)) was far greater than just “great literature”
February 7 marks the 200th anniversary of the writer’s birthday. To mark this date, BBC writer Alex Hudson listed six things Dickens gave the modern world. Let’s take a look at two of them.
A white Christmas
Dickens is described as “the man who invented Christmas”—not the religious festival, but the cultural aspects that we associate with the festive season today. In the early 19th century, Christmas was barely worth mentioning, according to critic and writer Leigh Hunt. The committee which ran the Conservative Party even held ordinary business meetings on Christmas Day – unthinkable in the West nowadays, when everyone but the most necessary workers takes at least three days off.
Many people believe that Dickens’ popular descriptions of the festive period became a blueprint for generations to come. In his classic novel, A Christmas Carol, he not only put forward the idea of snow at Christmas, but also painted a picture of glowing warmth –“ home enjoyments, affections and hopes”.
In his biography of Dickens, Peter Ackroyd wrote: “ Dickens can be said to have almost single-handedly created the modern idea of Christmas.”
“Dickensian” poverty
Dickens was one of the first to take an honest look at the underclass and the poor of Victorian (the period during British Queen Victoria’s reign from 1837 to 1901) London.
He helped popularize the term “red tape” to describe situations where people in power use needless amounts of bureaucracy(官僚作風) in a way that particularly hurts the weaker and poorer members of society.
“Dickensian” has now become a powerful word for describing an unacceptable level of poverty. In 2009, when the president of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers in the UK wanted to talk about deprivation in some areas of Britain, she did not use words like “terrible” or “horrific”, but rather described it as “l(fā)ife mirroring the times of Dickens”. 
小題1:What is the main idea of the article?
A.An introduction to Charles Dickens’ classic novels.
B.Charles dickens’ impact on the world.
C.Charles Dickens’ amazing characters.
D.Why Charles Dickens is popular across the world.
小題2:Why is Dickens called “the man who invented Christmas”?
A.Because he created the religious festival.
B.Because many of his novels have something to do with Christmas.
C.Because one of his novels helped to shape Christmas celebrations.
D.Because he was the first man to have proposed celebrating Christmas.
小題3:According to the article, the phrase “red tape” refers to _______.
A.rules or procedures that are required to accomplish a task
B.a(chǎn) situation in which poor members of society are hurt.
C.conflict between people in power and weaker people
D.pointlessly time-consuming official procedures

小題1:B
小題2:C
小題3:D
經(jīng)過兩百年,狄更斯的作品仍然給現(xiàn)代的人們帶來深刻影響;并且也揭示了當時的社會現(xiàn)象。
小題1:根據(jù)第一段中“his stories still speak volumes across the world, proving that Dickens’ legacy(遺產(chǎn)) was far greater than just “great literature””可知,他的作品到現(xiàn)在仍然是非常棒的。
小題2:根據(jù)第五段中“...in his biography of Dickens, Peter Ackroyd wrote: “ Dickens can be said to have almost single-handedly created the modern idea of Christmas...”可知他的作品讓圣誕節(jié)流行了起來,成為正式的節(jié)日。
小題3:根據(jù)倒數(shù)第二段中“...describe situations where people in power use needless amounts of bureaucracy(官僚作風) in a way that particularly hurts the weaker and poorer members of society....”可知此處講的是當權的人的官僚作風,即D沒有意義的一些費事的程序。
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

A student went to college(大學) after 36__ all his school examinations. There he put his name down for world geography, 37_ after the first day, he did not go to 38_ any more. The teacher noticed that this student was 39_ absent (缺課) and thought that he had changed to 40 class. He was very 41_ when he saw the boy's name on the list(名單) of students 42_ wanted to take the geography examination 43_ the end of the year.
The teacher had prepared a difficult examination paper, which covered 44 he had taught, and he was eager(急切) to see 45 this student answered the questions. He expected that his answer would be very 46_; but when he examined his paper carefully, he found only one small mistake in them.47_ this surprised him very much, he went through the paper 48_, but was still not able to find 49 one mistake, so he sent 50 the student to question him about his work..
When the student had 51 the room, the teacher said to him, “I know that you came to my class only once on the first day and that you have been absent from all the others. Yet I have found only one small mistake in your paper. 52_ is that?”
“Oh, I'm sorry about that mistake, sir,”answered the student. “After the examination, I realized 53 I ought to have written. I would not have made that mistake 54 I had not been confused(弄糊涂) by your 55_ lecture.”
小題1:
A.havingB.takingC.passingD.failing
小題2:
A.soB.butC.howeverD.a(chǎn)nd
小題3:
A.itB.lessonC.collegeD.class
小題4:
A.a(chǎn)lwaysB.onceC.neverD.sometimes
小題5:
A.a(chǎn)notherB.the otherC.otherD.others
小題6:
A.a(chǎn)ngryB.happyC.sorryD.surprised
小題7:
A.that heB.heC.whoD.whom
小題8:
A.inB.a(chǎn)tC.a(chǎn)fterD.by
小題9:
A.everythingB.somethingC.a(chǎn)nythingD.nothing
小題10:
A.whatB.whenC.howD.why
小題11:
A.goodB.fullC.niceD.bad
小題12:
A.ForB.AsC.SoD.Though
小題13:
A.two rimesB.twiceC.onceD.a(chǎn)gain once
小題14:
A.more thanB.a(chǎn)notherC.the otherD.second
小題15:
A.withB.toC.xD.for
小題16:
A.reached toB.a(chǎn)rrived toC.a(chǎn)rrived intoD.come into
小題17:
A.WhyB.WhatC.HowD.Which
小題18:
A.whereB.whyC.whatD.when
小題19:
A.unlessB.ifC.becauseD.a(chǎn)s
小題20:
A.firstB.lastC.latestD.certain

查看答案和解析>>

科目:高中英語 來源:不詳 題型:完形填空

Dorothy Brown was very happy as she sat in the theatre listening to the music.Today her little daughter Lauren was giving her   36  concert.She had been waiting for this   37  for years and years.“Now it is here at last,” she thought.“How beautiful her   38  is.”
The song made her   39  to the days when she was Lauren’s   40 .As a young   41 , Dorothy wanted to be a concert singer.She studied   42  in France, Italy and in the United States.“You can become a fine   43  in the future,” her teachers told her.“But you must be   44  to study hard and work for many years.There will be   45  time for anything but music in your life.”
Dorothy was   46  at that time and she was   47  that music was all she wanted or needed to   48  her life.For almost a year Dorothy   49  of nothing else.Then she   50  David, a young engineer travelling Europe.They soon fell in   51 .David asked her to be his  52 .Dorothy also wanted to marry David.But she loved   53 , too.She didn’t know what to do.David was against her being a singer.He said, “If you want to be a singer, you must forget about getting married.You can’t   54  do both.” Thus her days were gone and would never return.
Now Lauren became a singer instead of her, which was her   55 .
小題1:
A.sorryB.successfulC.firstD.wonderful
小題2:
A.danceB.momentC.showD.party
小題3:
A.voiceB.faceC.dressD.life
小題4:
A.think ofB.bring backC.go backD.come back
小題5:
A.a(chǎn)geB.friendC.motherD.teacher
小題6:
A.musicianB.pop starC.ladyD.girl
小題7:
A.FrenchB.musicC.pianoD.dance
小題8:
A.a(chǎn)ctressB.studentC.singerD.dancer
小題9:
A.preparedB.learningC.drivenD.waiting
小題10:
A.someB.a(chǎn)nyC.noD.enough
小題11:
A.eightB.eighteenC.eightyD.eighty-eight
小題12:
A.luckyB.sureC.a(chǎn)fraidD.fond
小題13:
A.fillB.liveC.leadD.take
小題14:
A.heardB.knewC.talkedD.thought
小題15:
A.saw offB.learned fromC.heard of D.met with
小題16:
A.loveB.feelingC.musicD.touch
小題17:
A.a(chǎn)ssistantB.teacherC.wifeD.student
小題18:
A.himB.engineeringC.herselfD.music
小題19:
A.certainlyB.possiblyC.onlyD.mainly
小題20:
A.thoughtB.hopeC.purposeD.will

查看答案和解析>>

科目:高中英語 來源:不詳 題型:閱讀理解

Galaxy saw a man and a woman who communicated with the sign language at the train station when she was on the way home one evening. She noticed that the woman asked the mon for the direction. He told her that he did not know. Galaxy decided to help them. She had learned the sign language when she served as a volunteer in the deaf and mute(聾。﹕chool. Then she showed the woman the direction and left her email address to them in case they needed her help later.
She received an email from that man the next day. Kazrim was his name. Galaxy replied his mail sincerely. They both started chatting online soon after and began seeing each other. Although they only communicated with the sign language, it never bothered her.
Galaxy was fond of him gradually. Obviously, Kazrim was the same too. He presented Galaxy with a bunch of sunflowers and asked her sincerely, “Are you willing to be my girlfriend?” Galaxy was pleasantly surprised. She requested him to give her some time to persuade her parents.
As she had expected, her parents were very angry after they had learned of their love story. Galaxy explained, “Kazrim is an excellent and a very optimistic person. He has a very positive attitude towards life and work. He cares for others always. He is 100% better than the normal. Moreover, the mute is still a human. He should possess a perfect and wonderful love. ”
Her parents asked to see him, then. The very worried Galaxy took Kazrim home a few days later. When they were on the train, Kazrim told her, ‘‘I’m going to tell your parents I’ll be looking after you well with all my life!” Galaxy was deeply moved.
As soon as they had entered the house, Galaxy introduced him to her parents. She said, ‘‘This is Kazrim.” Just right after her speech, an unbelievable thing happened. Kazrim threw the gift away and held her in his arms tightly.
He said, “YOU CAN TALK?” It was the same question that Galaxy wanted to ask, too.
The four people were shocked all of a sudden. As a matter of fact, Kazrim always believed that Galaxy was a mute and he still fell in love with her deeply.
小題1:How did Galaxy and Kazrim get to know each other?
A.They met each other by chance.
B.They were introduced to each other,
C.They once studied at the same university.
D.They both served in a special needs school.
小題2:How did Galaxy probably communicate with Kazrim before she took him home?
A.Writing words on paper.
B.Using the sign language.
C.Judging from his expression.
D.Speaking her native language.
小題3:What did Galaxy expect her parents to do?
A.To have a talk with Kazri.
B.To prepare for her marriage.
C.To treat Kazrim as a normal man.
D.To accept Kazrim as her boyfriend.
小題4:What can we learn about the two young people from the passage?
A.They fell in love at the first sight.
B.They cheated each other to win love.
C.They mistook each other for being mutes.
D.They ignored the anger of Galaxy’s parents.

查看答案和解析>>

科目:高中英語 來源:不詳 題型:完形填空

I became a gardener when I was twelve. My early__36___of gardening may not have originated from my love for nature. It was to ___37____my parents.
At that time, we had a big yard in which a beautiful maple tree stood. But my mother often looked with __38___at this work of natural art. Those golden leaves seemed like tons of rubbish to her, “something else to ___39___!” Seeing the neighbors busy with gardening, my father ever thought it a waste of time.
At that age, I always did something___40___to whatever my parents did! If gardening were something they found____41___, I would plant a garden!
I planted some lily(百合花)seeds in the yard. But they failed to ___42___.I continued to plant sunflower seeds and roses. Wild ___43___ joy, I found the first rose bloom(開花).One by one, the flowers bloomed their heads off. __44___, I was touched by this land of wonder.
___45___, my parents showed no interest in my garden. My father even___46___at me because he found it was ___47___to move around my garden to the driveway. To my mother’s ___48__ , I put in her vase my real roses which, in her eyes, were simply weeds____49___flowers.
Regardless of their ___50___,I kept on planting my garden and ___51___to enjoy the pleasure of gardening. Plants make such good companions: they breathe, they bloom, they___52____to care and love.
It has been many years since I made my first garden out of my desire to ___53___my parents. Today I become known as Mrs. Greenthumbs, teaching gardening and hosting a gardening show which makes my parents feel very___54_ . And now I could say it is my affection for___55___that makes me a real gardener.
小題1:
A.memoryB.dreamC.intentionD.design
小題2:
A.pleaseB.changeC.helpD.a(chǎn)nnoy
小題3:
A.doubtB.a(chǎn)ppreciationC.surpriseD.excitement
小題4:
A.collect upB.care aboutC.clean upD.come in
小題5:
A.equalB.similarC.superiorD.opposite
小題6:
A.painfulB.valuableC.upsettingD.interesting
小題7:
A.come upB.break outC.hold onD.get through
小題8:
A.toB.withC.inD.by
小題9:
A.LuckilyB.CheerfullyC.RegularlyD.Eventually
小題10:
A.InsteadB.HoweverC.ThereforeD.Besides
小題11:
A.shoutedB.laughedC.glancedD.jumped
小題12:
A.convenientB.troublesomeC.enjoyableD.dangerous
小題13:
A.sadnessB.displeasureC.delightD.relief
小題14:
A.other thanB.more thanC.rather thanD.less than
小題15:
A.dislikeB.encouragementC.threatD.suggestion
小題16:
A.decidedB.stoppedC.continuedD.struggled
小題17:
A.devoteB.turnC.respondD.lead
小題18:
A.defeatB.satisfyC.respectD.challenge
小題19:
A.proudB.comfortableC.strangeD.disappointed
小題20:
A.freedomB.lifeC.growthD.nature

查看答案和解析>>

科目:高中英語 來源:不詳 題型:閱讀理解


American magician David Blaine left the glass box in which he had lived for 44 days without food on October 19, 2003. Hundreds of people came to watch the end of his starvation experiment, which has become one of London’s main tourist attractions.
Looking thinner and darker, 30-year-old Blaine was taken out of his box over the River Thames and immediately went to hospital. He was then slowly reintroduced to food, a process doctors say could be life threatening. He had been drinking only water since September 5.
A native of Brooklyn, New York, Blaine first became known as a street magician in the early 1990s. He soon found himself doing magic tricks in bars for the likes of American actor Leonardo DiCaprio and his super model friends.
Over the last decade Blaine has become famous with a combination of breathtaking magic and clever tricks aimed at getting a lot of attention. In 1999, he was buried in a coffin (棺材) for one week and, in 2000, he spent 62 hours in a giant block of ice. Last year he stood on top of a 25-meter pillar (柱子) in the center of New York for 35 hours before jumping into a pile of boxes.
“I think a lot of people are unable to accept that they’re able to do what they can do,” he said. “They don’t realize we can survive. The human being is an amazing creation.”
But he seems to have suffered from spending so long in the glass box. He said that at times he was unable to see, had serious back pains and lost his sense of taste.
小題1:It is         for David Blaine to eat food after such a long starvation.
A.pleasantB.deliciousC.dangerousD.important
小題2:Having spent such a long time in the glass box, he suffered the following EXCEPT that         .
A.he had become blindB.he had serious back pains
C.he lost his sense of tasteD.he was in weak health
小題3:Which of the following can best describe David Blaine?
A.Serious.B.Adventurous.C.Smart.D.Crazy.
小題4:Which of the following is NOT true about David Blaine?
A.Blaine immediately went to hospital after he was taken out of his box.
B.Blaine was born and brought up in England.
C.In Blaine’s opinion, people can create a wonder.
D.Blaine didn’t have any food for 44 days.

查看答案和解析>>

科目:高中英語 來源:不詳 題型:閱讀理解

Below are Top 10 Scholarly Stars in America in 2011.
It’s not always about fame and fortune for these celebs – education is a priority in their lives. Find out what scholarly stars have earned degrees and diplomas or are returning to the classroom as you head back to school.
No. 10: James Franco
James has attended FOUR prestigious universities in his life: UCLA, New York University, Columbia University and Yale University. We hear he’s is so serious about school, he missed the Oscar nominations to attend class!
No. 9: Natalie Portman
Natalie Portman is so Ivy League: she graduated from Harvard University in 2003, thanks to her parents, who she says always made sure she put her studies before her acting.
No. 8: Haley Joel Osment
When students at NYU heard Haley Joel would be joining them as a freshman in 2006, they chalked the campus’ sidewalks with his famous Sixth Sense movie line: “I see dead people.”
No. 7: Emma Watson
Although Emma Watson put her education on hold to wrap up the Harry Potter film series, in July 2011 she announced that she was going back to school at Brown University to complete her degree.
No. 6: Dakota and Elle Fanning
Celeb sisters Dakota and Elle Fanning are stars on screen and in class. Dakota was her high school’s homecoming queen two years in a row while Elle, who still attends middle school, somehow manages to balance her acting career with math tests and gym class.
No. 5: Mara Wilson
Mara Wilson graduated from NYU in 2009. Mara, who played the adorable Nattie in Mrs. Doubtfire, eventually grew up and headed to New York to attend NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts; she graduated in 2009.
No. 4: Tyra Banks
Tyra Banks is known for being a savvy businesswoman, but even the best could use some formal training. She enrolled in Harvard Business School in 2011 and even went so far as to live in a dorm with her fellow classmates!
“We live in dorms,” confirmed the TV star. “I have my own room but we share a kitchen, living room and study area. It’s mandatory dorms. I freaked out. In the beginning I was like, ‘Oh yes, I’m going to Harvard and I’ll be at the Four Seasons down the street.’ And they were like, ‘Girl, you’re living in dorms!’”
No. 3: Shakira
Singer Shakira is resting her hips and giving her brain a workout at UCLA, attending classes on the history of western civilization so she could “l(fā)earn from the best”.
No. 2: Steven Spielberg
Director Steven skipped getting a formal education to be an unpaid intern at Universal Studios, where he learned his tricks of the trade. But eventually he did go back and earned his film degree in 2002.
No. 1: Danica McKellar
Danica McKellar is a math whiz. She used to be known for starring as Winnie Cooper in the Wonder Years, but Danica is also a UCLA graduate, math whiz and education advocate who’s written three best-selling books encouraging middle-school girls to have confidence and succeed in mathematics.
小題1:What Danica McKellar and Natalie Portman share in common is that ________.
A.both put their education in the first place
B.they graduated from the same university
C.the two actresses wrote best-selling books
D.both of them will abandon their acting
小題2:From the above, we can come to the conclusion that ________.
A.Spielberg received a formal film education before he turned director
B.both sisters Dakota and Elle have not finished middle school education
C.Tyra Banks is sharing the same room with her classmates in Harvard
D.Shakira and Haley Joel Osment are studying in university separately
小題3:The underlined word “ trade” in the passage is closest to ________.
A.businessB.corporationC.studioD.occupation
小題4:How many stars referred to in the material studied or will go to UCLA?
A.Three.B.Four.C.Five.D.Six.

查看答案和解析>>

科目:高中英語 來源:不詳 題型:完形填空


Lightning flashed through the darkness over Sibson’s bedroom skylight(天窗).Sibson was shaken by a clap of thunder ____21___ he knew what was happening. The storm had moved directly _____22____ his two-story wooden house. Then he heard the smoke alarm beeping.
Sibson rushed down the stairs barefoot to     23     ; he opened the door to the basement(地下室), and flames      24     out. Sibson ran back upstairs to call 911 from his bedroom. “I felt      25      because the room had a separate outdoor stairway,” he explains.
But the phone didn’t work, and when he tried to go down the outdoor stairway, he was      26     by a wall of flames. Sibson realized he was trapped(困。.
Sibson’s house was three kilometers      27     the main road and was so well hidden by trees that he knew calling for help would be     28     .
Up a hill nearby lived Sibson’s neighbor, Huggons. He was lying in bed when something like a smoke alarm      29     his ears. He jumped out of bed, took his     30     and flashlight, and headed down the hillside toward the    31    . That was when he saw the rolling heavy smoke.
Huggons dialed 911, and the operator warned him not to    32   the house. But Huggons said, “There is no way I am going to listen to Sibson    33    and die in that fire.”
“Anyone there?” Huggons called out. Then he heard “Help! I’m trapped!” coming from the second floor balcony(陽臺). He entered the house, but soon had to run back to catch his     34    .
After one more    35   inside the house, Huggons gave up and     36   around back.
The wind parted the smoke just     37    for him to catch sight of Sibson. But there was no way to get to him. He    38   the flashlight into the woods and noticed a ladder. He took it over to the balcony and     39    Sibson down just as the second floor of the house fell off.
Sibson is still     40    when he tells the story. “ I was alone that night,” he says. “Then I heard the most beautiful sound in my life. It was Huggons.”
小題1:
A.beforeB.whileC.sinceD.until
小題2:
A.onB.inC.throughD.over
小題3:
A.hideB.waitC.checkD.escape
小題4:
A.movedB.gaveC.wentD.exploded
小題5:
A.safeB.worriedC.gladD.tired
小題6:
A.burnedB.stoppedC.shockedD.covered
小題7:
A.besideB.offC.a(chǎn)crossD.a(chǎn)long
小題8:
A.limitedB.falseC.fruitlessD.regretful
小題9:
A.struckB.missedC.touched D.passed
小題10:
A.coatB.keyC.basinD.phone
小題11:
A.noiseB.roadC.smokeD.danger
小題12:
A.searchB.enterC.leaveD.damage
小題13:
A.callB.rollC.screamD.sigh
小題14:
A.breathB.a(chǎn)ttentionC.ladderD.flashlight
小題15:
A.stayB.chanceC.thoughtD.a(chǎn)ttempt
小題16:
A.climbedB.circledC.lookedD.jumped
小題17:
A.clearB.openC.enoughD.fit
小題18:
A.ledB.putC.droveD.shone
小題19:
A.persuadedB.kickedC.pulledD.forced
小題20:
A.nervousB.surprisedC.proudD.thankful

查看答案和解析>>

科目:高中英語 來源:不詳 題型:閱讀理解

根據(jù)短文內(nèi)容,從短文后的選項中選出能填入空白處的最佳選項。選項中有兩項為多余選項。
Are you truly happy? Do you ever know what it means to be happy and what it takes to achieve happiness?   1 . The following are a few tips that I follow to create happiness in my life.
◆Make a plan for attaining goals that you believe will make you happy. Your moods will very likely increase if you are going after something you value.
◆Surround yourself with happy people. It is easy to begin to think negatively when you are surrounded by people who think that way.   2 .
◆When something goes wrong, try to figure out a solution instead of being absorbed in self pity. Truly happy people don’t allow setbacks to affect their mood because they know that with a little thought they can turn the circumstances back to their favor.
  3 . These few minutes will give you the opportunity to focus on the positive things in your life and will lead you to continuous happiness.
  4 . Whether you treat yourself to lunch, take a long relaxing bath or simply spend a few extra minutes on your appearance, you will be subconsciously(下意識)putting yourself in a better mood.
◆Finding the humor in situations can also lead to happiness. Find a way to make light of a situation that would otherwise make you happy.
◆Keeping healthy is another way to achieve happiness.   5  
A.What makes one person happy may be very different from what makes someone else happy.
B.On the contrary, if you are around people who are happy, their emotional state will be infectious.
C.Being overweight or not eating nutritious foods can have a negative effect on your mood.
D.These are important questions for anyone who is seeking happiness to ask themselves.
E. Spend a few minutes each day thinking about the things that make you happy.
F. There are some tips in life that lead to happiness.
G. It’s also important to take some time each day to do something nice for yourself.

查看答案和解析>>

同步練習冊答案