英语100篇精读荟萃（中级篇）31a

时间：2007-09-17 07:20:02

（单词翻译:单击）

Passage Thirty-one (The Causes of European Separation in 16th Century)
For a thousand years and more, the people of Europe had fought about many things, but they had been united in believing one thing: that there existed a single “Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church” of which the Bishop1 of Rome, under the title of the Pope, was the visible and recognizable head in succession to St. Peter. But in 1517 a German monk2, Martin Luther, challenged certain Catholic teachings and renounced3 his obedience4 to the papacy. Others had followed him, including Henry VIII.
Thus Europe was divided in every which way, the southern and eastern two-thirds still Catholic, the northern and western one-third what was coming to be called Protestant, though English-ruled Ireland solidly Catholic and the Spanish-ruled Netherlands, particularly the northern part approximating to modern Holland, grew increasingly Protestant; while in virtually every country, whether officially Catholic or Protestant, those of the contrary faith fiercely attempted to convert their neighbors and equally fiercely resisted their neighbor’s attempts to convert them. For this there was no simple, friendly solution to be reached on the principle of live-and-let-live. Each party believed that it had hold of the truth, the only truth that mattered, the one that led to eternal salvation5, and its adversaries6 clung to falsehood which must necessarily head to eternal damnation: not only for themselves but for all who should permit them to survive and infect others with their errors. Toleration, even reasonable discussion, was impossible. God and the devil could not mix. Just as Elizabeth was to ardent7 Catholics that Jezebel, so to earnest Protestants the Pope was “that wolfish bloodsucker,” and their Catholic fellow-creatures mad dogs, toads8 and other such vermin to be cleansed9 off the face of the earth.
These feelings, dangerous enough in themselves, were made more so by questions of geography and money. The Catholic countries bordering on the Mediterranean10 were by far the richest. From the beginning of the Middle Ages the Republic of Venice had controlled the trade routes to the East, bringing the wares11 carried out of Persia, China and the Indies by camel to her depots12 in Syria and reloading them in her high, gorgeously painted vessels13 for transshipment to Italy and beyond. Since the end of the fifteen century, first Portugal by sailing round Africa to India, then Spain by the discovery of America, had likewise been in a position to bring for sale to Europe all the rare and wonderful things for which Europe longed-silks and precious woods, sugar and spices, gold and silver, works of exquisite14 art and strange animals from peacock to tigers. In 1494, two years after Columbus’s first voyage to America, Pope Alexander VI had divided the unexplored world beyond the seas between Spain and Portugal as reward for their enterprise and to keep them from fighting. The other countries had respected this division so long as they remained Catholic.

1.    The best title for this passage is
[A]. The History of Europe in 16th Century.
[B]. The Religious History of Europe in 16th Century.
[C]. The Causes of European Separation in 16th Century.
2.    What does we learn from the passage?
[A]. The Pope had the supreme15 power in religion before reform.
[B]. The Pope had the greatest power in every thing outside religion.
[C]. The Pope was the real king in Europe then.
[D]. The Pope was the real ruler in Europe then.
3.    What did the sentence “The other countries had respected this division so long as they remained Catholic” imply?
[A]. It implied this division could not be respected long.
[B]. It implied this division would not face a challenge.
[C]. It implied this division would be respected forever.
[D]. It implied the power of the Pope would never decline.
4.    Which of the following is not mentioned as a cause to deepen the dangerous feelings?
[A]. Money. [B]. Geology. [C]. Religion. [D]. Geography.

Vocabulary
1.    Apostolic 罗马教皇的，2.    使徒的
3.    in succession to 继承，4.    接班
5.    Martin Luther 马丁·路德 1483——1546德国宗教改革家
6.    teachings 教义
7.    renounce 抛弃，8.    摈弃，9.    否认
10.    papacy 罗马教皇职位/制度，11.    这里指12.    罗马教皇
13.    cling to 坚持
14.    damnation 诅咒，15.    永远的处罚
16.    bloodsucker 吸血鬼
17.    depot 仓库，18.    补给站
19.    gorgeous 华丽的，20.    灿烂的，21.    辉煌的
22.    spice 香料
23.    enterprise 事业，24.    业绩，25.    功勋
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1 bishop AtNzd     
n.主教，（国际象棋）象
参考例句：
  • He was a bishop who was held in reverence by all.他是一位被大家都尊敬的主教。
  • Two years after his death the bishop was canonised.主教逝世两年后被正式封为圣者。
2 monk 5EDx8     
n.和尚，僧侣，修道士
参考例句：
  • The man was a monk from Emei Mountain.那人是峨眉山下来的和尚。
  • Buddhist monk sat with folded palms.和尚合掌打坐。
3 renounced 795c0b0adbaedf23557e95abe647849c     
v.声明放弃( renounce的过去式和过去分词 )；宣布放弃；宣布与…决裂；宣布摒弃
参考例句：
  • We have renounced the use of force to settle our disputes. 我们已再次宣布放弃使用武力来解决争端。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • Andrew renounced his claim to the property. 安德鲁放弃了财产的所有权。 来自《简明英汉词典》
4 obedience 8vryb     
n.服从，顺从
参考例句：
  • Society has a right to expect obedience of the law.社会有权要求人人遵守法律。
  • Soldiers act in obedience to the orders of their superior officers.士兵们遵照上级军官的命令行动。
5 salvation nC2zC     
n.（尤指基督）救世，超度，拯救，解困
参考例句：
  • Salvation lay in political reform.解救办法在于政治改革。
  • Christians hope and pray for salvation.基督教徒希望并祈祷灵魂得救。
6 adversaries 5e3df56a80cf841a3387bd9fd1360a22     
n.对手，敌手( adversary的名词复数 )
参考例句：
  • That would cause potential adversaries to recoil from a challenge. 这会迫使潜在的敌人在挑战面前退缩。 来自辞典例句
  • Every adversaries are more comfortable with a predictable, coherent America. 就连敌人也会因有可以预料的，始终一致的美国而感到舒服得多。 来自辞典例句
7 ardent yvjzd     
adj.热情的，热烈的，强烈的，烈性的
参考例句：
  • He's an ardent supporter of the local football team.他是本地足球队的热情支持者。
  • Ardent expectations were held by his parents for his college career.他父母对他的大学学习抱着殷切的期望。
8 toads 848d4ebf1875eac88fe0765c59ce57d1     
n.蟾蜍，癞蛤蟆( toad的名词复数 )
参考例句：
  • All toads blink when they swallow. 所有的癞蛤蟆吞食东西时都会眨眼皮。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • Toads have shorter legs and are generally more clumsy than frogs. 蟾蜍比青蛙脚短，一般说来没有青蛙灵活。 来自辞典例句
9 cleansed 606e894a15aca2db0892db324d039b96     
弄干净，清洗( cleanse的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句：
  • The nurse cleansed the wound before stitching it. 护士先把伤口弄干净后才把它缝合。
  • The notorious Hell Row was burned down in a fire, and much dirt was cleansed away. 臭名远场的阎王路已在一场大火中化为乌有，许多焦土灰烬被清除一空。
10 Mediterranean ezuzT     
adj.地中海的；地中海沿岸的
参考例句：
  • The houses are Mediterranean in character.这些房子都属地中海风格。
  • Gibraltar is the key to the Mediterranean.直布罗陀是地中海的要冲。
11 wares 2eqzkk     
n. 货物, 商品
参考例句：
  • They sold their wares at half-price. 他们的货品是半价出售的。
  • The peddler was crying up his wares. 小贩极力夸耀自己的货物。
12 depots 94513a1433eb89e870b48abe4ad940c2     
仓库( depot的名词复数 )； 火车站； 车库； 军需库
参考例句：
  • Public transportation termini and depots are important infrastructures for a city. 公交场站设施是城市重要的基础设施。
  • In the coastal cities are equipped with after-sales service and depots. 在各沿海城市均设有服务部及售后维修站。
13 vessels fc9307c2593b522954eadb3ee6c57480     
n.血管( vessel的名词复数 )；船；容器；（具有特殊品质或接受特殊品质的）人
参考例句：
  • The river is navigable by vessels of up to 90 tons. 90 吨以下的船只可以从这条河通过。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • All modern vessels of any size are fitted with radar installations. 所有现代化船只都有雷达装置。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
14 exquisite zhez1     
adj.精美的；敏锐的；剧烈的，感觉强烈的
参考例句：
  • I was admiring the exquisite workmanship in the mosaic.我当时正在欣赏镶嵌画的精致做工。
  • I still remember the exquisite pleasure I experienced in Bali.我依然记得在巴厘岛所经历的那种剧烈的快感。
15 supreme PHqzc     
adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的
参考例句：
  • It was the supreme moment in his life.那是他一生中最重要的时刻。
  • He handed up the indictment to the supreme court.他把起诉书送交最高法院。

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