内容正文:
2025年时文阅读095
Passage 1 Venice's famous winged lion statue is actually Chinese, scientists say
意大利专家发现“威尼斯之狮”来自中国 词数 350 阅读时间 6分钟
The famous and mysterious Winged Lion of Venice statue has stood on top of a column in Venice's well-known St Mark's Square for more than 700 years.
The ancient 3,000-kilogram bronze lion was long believed to have been made in the "near East", likely in Syria or the Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia, around the year 300 BC.
After studying the metal, however, scientists at Italy's University of Padua found that the statue was actually created in China during the Tang Dynasty (618-907). At that time, it was used as a tomb guardian, but later it was brought to Europe.
"It is possible that Marco Polo's father and uncle, during the four years they spent at the court of Kublai Khan on their first journey, were responsible for getting the sculpture," the researchers said, noting that the trip by the European explorers to the ruler's court Emperor Shizu of Yuan likely took place between 1264 and 1268.
In addition to discovering that parts of the bronze came from China, scientists also found that the 4-meter-long, 2.2-meter-tall statue originally had horns and longer ears, with a nose more like that of a Chinese lion statue than a European one. They said it looks as if the statue was "discreetly and laboriously refitted" to make it look more like the Lion of St Mark, the patron saint of Venice.
They also suggested that the statue may have been transported more than 9,500 kilometers along the Silk Road trade route between Asia and Europe.
"Venice is a city full of mysteries, but one has been solved," Massimo Vidale from the University of Padua told the Press Association. However, "when the sculpture arrived in Venice, where it was reworked, who did it, or when it was placed on the column where it is still seen today" are still unknown, he said.
Despite these unknowns, the scientists say that tests on the lead in the metal show clearly that the statue came from China. "We can now also read it as a symbol of the impressive connectedness of the medieval world," they added.
词汇积累
1. mysterious adj. 神秘的,难以理解的 同根词:mystery n. 神秘的事物;谜
She wondered who had sent her the mysterious email. Their motives remain a mystery.
2. column n. 圆形石柱,纪念柱 用法:column还可以表示“(报纸、杂志上的)栏目,专栏”
The churches have classical columns and decoration. I always read her column in the local paper.
3. route n. 线路,路途 用法:route作名词也可指“固定线路;途径,渠道”
The shortest route home is along the shore.
A college education is often the best route to a good job.
4. symbol n. 标志,象征;符号,记号 用法:a symbol of sth ......的象征
同根词:symbolic adj. 有象征意义的;符号的 The dove is a universal symbol of peace.
The red cross symbol was painted on each side of the vehicle.
长难句分析
1. In addition to discovering that parts of the bronze came from China, scientists also found that the 4-meter-long, 2.2-meter-tall statue originally had horns and longer ears, with a nose more like that of a Chinese lion statue than a European one.
分析:
① 本句的主句为:scientists also found that ...,that引导宾语从句;
② 第一个that也引导宾语从句,作discovering的宾语;
③ 划线部分为介词短语作伴随状语。
释义:除了发现部分青铜来自中国之外,科学家们还发现,这座长4米、高2.2米的雕像原本有角和更长的耳朵,其鼻部形态也更接近中国石狮雕像,而非欧洲石狮的样子。
阅读理解
1. What was the traditional belief about the Winged Lion statue?
A. It was used as a tomb guardian. B. It was created in the "near East".
C. It was a gift from the Emperor of Yuan. D. It was transported by Marco Polo's relatives.
2. Why was the statue's appearance remade
according to the scientists' assumption?
A. To match Westerners' artistic taste. B. To make it look like the Lion of St Mark.
C. To reduce its weight for column placement. D. To repair the damaged parts of the statue.
3. What do scientists believe this discovery means?
A. More mysteries in Venice will be solved.
B. Yuan Dynasty had direct trade with Venice.
C. The medieval world was somehow connected.
D. Chinese culture was popular in medieval Venice.
Passage 2 Zhong Kui is the new star of the next 'Black Myth' game
钟馗,黑神话的“又一把火” 词数 362 阅读时间 6分钟
On Aug 20, the game industry was taken by surprise when Chinese game developer Game Science revealed the first trailer for Black Myth: Zhong Kui, the second part in the Black Myth series following the global hit Black Myth: Wukong.
Though the game is still in early development, it has already driven gamers to explore its main character Zhong Kui, a figure from Chinese
mythology.
In Chinese folklore, Zhong Kui is often shown as a bearded man with bulging eyes and a fierce look. Legend has it that he was a scholar in the Tang Dynasty (618-907). After failing the imperial exam due to his fierce look, he took his own life. Later, the judge of the underworld made him "the king of ghosts" to fight demons.
However, scholars in the Song Dynasty (960-1279) believed Zhong Kui was the name of an ancient tool used to drive away evil spirits. Regardless of his true origin, Zhong Kui's image as a demon hunter has become deeply rooted in Chinese culture through folklore and tradition.
Unlike Wukong, who is well known to Western audiences, Zhong Kui introduces cultural nuances that may be unfamiliar to international players.
"In Western mythology, ghosts are typically seen as evil and harmful. However, in Chinese mythology, ghosts can be both good and bad. Zhong Kui, who fights ghosts and wards off evil, is himself a ghost, which may differ significantly from the Western perception of ghosts," Huang Fuhai from Shanghai Translators Association explained to Haibao News.
To help foreign audiences understand the character better, some game vloggers have compared Zhong Kui to "the Chinese equivalent of Van Helsing" because of his role in capturing and defeating evil spirits. Like Zhong Kui, Van Helsing is a famous hunter of monsters in Western stories.
Challenges often come with opportunities. Introducing a novel character like Zhong Kui offers plenty of space for imagination and creativity. Jiang Yao, CEO of the game review website Gcores, told the Global Times that Zhong Kui's image provides "a framework but is not fixed", allowing for significant creative freedom. "Only the unknown brings surprise; only challenges bring joy," said Game Science's CEO Feng Ji on Sina Weibo.
词汇积累
1. scholar n. 学者 同根词:scholarship n. 奖学金
He was the most distinguished scholar in his field.
She was awarded a scholarship to attend Columbia University.
2. root v. 生根,扎根 用法:be deeply rooted in 深深地扎根于......;
root也可作名词,表示“根,根茎;根源,原因”,
trace its roots back to ...(其根源、历史)追溯到......
Many of their customs are deeply rooted in ancient traditions.
3. ward off 避开,抵御,防止 常用语块:ward off illness/disease 预防疾病;
ward off dangers 避免危险 Such a thin padded coat cannot ward off the cold mountain wind.
4. defeat v. 战胜,击败
用法:defeat也可作名词,表示“失败,战败”,suffer a defeat 遭受失败
They defeated the Italian team and reached the final. You must learn to accept defeat with grace.
阅读理解
1. What did scholars in the Song Dynasty perceive Zhong Kui as?
A. A famous Tang Dynasty scholar. B. A fierce-looking man with big eyes.
C. A tool for warding off evil spirits. D. A demon hunter of the underworld.
2. According to Huang, how does Chinese mythology differ from Western mythology regarding ghosts?
A. Ghosts share origins with demons. B. Ghosts are more evil than good.
C. Ghosts may be positive figures. D. Ghosts can be more powerful.
3. What does Jiang Yao say about Zhong Kui's image?
A. It makes the game design easier. B. It restricts the game content.
C. It meets different players' needs. D. It gives creators room for interpretation.
Passage 3 A mineral found in a meteorite defies thermal laws
百年陨石中的矿物,正颠覆热传导认知 词数 376 阅读时间 6分钟
Centuries after it crashed into Germany in 1724, a meteorite has recently caught the attention of scientists. Inside it, a team from Columbia University in the US discovered a strange mineral that challenges all that we know about heat conduction.
The mineral is called tridymite. According to ScienceAlert, it is rarely found on Earth because it seems to only form under high-temperature conditions, like those found in magma. Surprisingly, there is plenty of it on Mars, as discovered by NASA's Curiosity rover in 2016.
Heat management is a major challenge in many technologies, from smartphone chips to rocket heat shields. How materials conduct heat affects their performance and how long they last, noted Interesting Engineering.
Heat conduction involves the flow of thermal energy through physical contact. When an object is heated, its particles get "excited" and begin to vibrate faster. They bump into nearby particles and pass some of the energy to them. This process continues throughout the object and other bodies in direct contact with it, resulting in the flow of heat from warmer to cooler areas.
However, not all materials are created equal in terms of thermal conductivity. One example is walking barefoot in winter: Bathroom tile feels colder than carpet even at the same room temperature, since tile takes heat away from our feet more quickly.
This difference comes from a material's microstructure. Crystals with particles that are neatly arranged usually allow heat to move efficiently, while non-crystalline materials with disordered structures lead to poor thermal conductors.
But both these groups of materials have one thing in common: Their thermal conductivity changes with temperature, though in different ways. Generally, as temperature rises, thermal conductivity decreases in crystals but increases in non-crystals, according to a Columbia University press release.
Tridymite, however, has a microstructure that falls between the usual two groups. This allows the material's thermal conductivity to remain virtually the same across a wide temperature range - from around -193 C to 107 C, said SciTechDaily.
This unique property could be especially valuable in the steel industry. In 2024, a total of around 1,885 million tons of steel were produced worldwide, according to Statista. Making 1 kilogram of steel creates about 1.3 kg of CO2. Using tridymite-based materials could improve heat control, making the industry greener.
词汇积累
1. mineral n. 矿物,矿物质
用法:mineral也可作形容词,表示“矿物的;含矿物的”,mineral resources 矿产资源
Minerals are often found deep in the ground.
A healthy diet should supply all the necessary vitamins and minerals.
2. conduction n.(热或电等能量的)传导
同根词:conduct v. 传导;组织,实施;n. 行为,举止
The material slows down heat conduction effectively.
Police conducted a thorough search of the building.
3. property n. 属性,特性,性质
常用语块:physical/chemical properties 物理或化学特性
用法:property还可表示“财物,财产;房产”
The properties of the soil influence the growth of the plants.
Children need to be taught to have respect for other people's property.
长难句分析
1. Inside it, a team from Columbia University in the US discovered a strange mineral that challenges all that we know about heat conduction.
分析:
① 本句的主句为:a team ... discovered a strange mineral;
② 第一个that引导定语从句,修饰先行词a strange mineral;
③ 第二个that也引导定语从句,修饰先行词all。
释义:美国哥伦比亚大学的一个团队在其内部发现了一种奇特的矿物质,这种矿物质挑战了我们对热传导的所有认知。
阅读理解
1. What is the main significance of the tridymite found in the meteorite?
A. It helps scientists further study Mars. B. It can be used to replace other minerals.
C. It provides new insights into heat conduction. D. It gives clues about the origin of meteorites.
2. What is paragraph 4 mainly about?
A. The process of heat conduction. B. The difficulties in heat management.
C. The flow of thermal energy in space. D. The factors affecting heat conduction.
3. What's special about tridymite's thermal conductivity?
A. It allows heat to flow more efficiently.
B. It increases steadily as temperature rises.
C. It decreases significantly at high temperatures.
D. It remains stable through temperature variations.
4. How might tridymite benefit the steel industry according to the passage?
A. It might strengthen steel. B. It might increase steel output.
C. It might save the production cost. D. It might help reduce carbon emissions.
Passage 4 More than just a race 词数 368 建议阅读时间 6分钟
It all started with a silly family argument about who could run the marathon the fastest. It was lighthearted at first, but within minutes, we were online, signing up for a full marathon - no real training plans, no second thoughts, just four stubborn people determined to prove each other wrong.
We had only three and a half weeks to train, and my longest run ever was 20 kilometers. However, I felt like challenging myself.
One day, after one of my sister's long day in the clinic, she sank onto the couch and said, "I just went through a marathon of my own today." That stuck with me ever since. We often use the word "marathon" to describe the non-stop, exhausting days health care workers bear. I realized this race could mean something bigger.
In the months leading up to the race, my mother was diagnosed with a brain tumour, then underwent surgery and began her recovery. I witnessed first-hand the extraordinary care she received. I realized who the real marathoners were - the healthcare workers working impossible shifts and holding everything together for patients like my mom. I found my "why". I wanted to run to represent the people who cared for her.
So I started running in my scrubs - as a dental student I wear them regularly. I filmed everything - the good runs, the bad runs and the moments when I wanted to quit. But what I didn't anticipate was how many people would actually find the journey meaningful. By the day of the race, strangers, who only knew me from TikTok, were shouting words of encouragement. Some even told me they felt inspired to start running too.
Crossing that finish line wasn't just about beating my sisters. It was about becoming part of a large community of healthcare workers, runners and everyday people who show up, push through and keep going no matter what.
Running the race was my way to thank those healthcare workers running silent marathons every day. Thank you from the bottom of my heart - you made me the compassionate, resilient and committed caregiver I always aimed to be.
阅读理解
1. What initially motivated the author to run the marathon?
A. A desire to keep healthy. B. A competitive family bet.
C. His interest in running. D. His sister's encouragement.
2. Who did the author want to run for later?
A. His sick mother. B. A kind stranger.
C. The healthcare workers. D. His followers on TikTok.
3. What surprised the author on the day of the race?
A. The difficulty of running in scrubs. B. The impact his behavior had on others.
C. The unpopularity of his video content. D. The efforts other participants made.
4. What does crossing the finish line mean to the author?
A. Joining a supportive community. B. Fulfilling his running dream.
C. Gaining recognition from the public. D. Showing the importance of resilience.
Passage 5
阅读下面短文, 从每题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项。
A few years ago, I decided to improve myself and set two new Year's resolutions: to 1 regularly and to read one book per week. Unfortunately, my exercise plan 2 right at the start when I stepped on a branch and hurt my leg. 3 , my reading plan progressed well.
Later that year, during a long train trip with a friend, I 4 my reading challenge. I felt 5 with my progress and was happily discussing it, not concerned about others overhearing, as the 6 seemed ordinary.
At one point, an elderly couple stood up to get off the train. As they passed by, the woman 7 me a well-worn copy of The Man Who Was Thursday by GK Chesterton. She 8 at me without saying a word.
Before I could 9 , she was gone, and I couldn't even get a chance to express my 10 . That brief moment was our only 11 on the train. Her gift was totally 12 . She had no reason to give it to me and didn't ask for anything 13 .
Although I didn't 14 my goal of reading a book every week that year, I still finished around 30 books, far more than before. The Man Who Was Thursday became one of my 15 books and continues to have a special place on my bookshelf. That woman on the train had great taste.
1. A. study B. practice C. exercise D. work
2. A. changed B. continued C. started D. failed
3. A. Moreover B. Therefore C. Otherwise D. Nevertheless
4. A. accepted B. avoided C. mentioned D. recognized
5. A. patient B. satisfied C. familiar D. disappointed
6. A. speech B. trip C. page D. topic
7. A. told B. handed C. lent D. threw
8. A. smiled B. pointed C. shouted D. laughed
9. A. react B. accept C. approach D. believe
10. A. sincerity B. gratitude C. curiosity D. shock
11. A. conversation B. finding C. argument D. interaction
12. A. expensive B. boring C. unexpected D. different
13. A. in return B. in addition C. in advance D. in response
14. A. set B. share C. abandon D. achieve
15. A. perfect B. favorite C. oldest D. luxury
参考答案
Passage 1
阅读理解 1-3 BBC
Passage 2
阅读理解 1-3 CCD
Passage 3
阅读理解 1-4 CADD
Passage 4
阅读理解 1-4 BCBA
Passage 5
1-5 CDDCB 6-10 DBAAB 11-15 DCADB
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