首页
登录
职称英语
With the films prevalent across the whole world, however, most critical pl
With the films prevalent across the whole world, however, most critical pl
游客
2024-10-21
63
管理
问题
With the films prevalent across the whole world, however, most critical plot points in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone came from J. K. Rowling’s imagination. But Flamel and his powerful pebble were legendary long before Harry went to Hogwarts. The 14th-century alchemist created the philosopher’s stone (which was called "sorcerer’s stone" in US edition of Potter), with which he turned mercury to gold and gained eternal life altogether. But Flamel’s tale--like his stone and his science--was in fact no more than a magic.
The philosopher’s stone was the key to alchemy, the medieval predecessor to chemistry that aimed to cure all illnesses, make the elixir of life, and transmute base metals into gold. It may sound ridiculous. However, the last made perfect sense at the time. The Aristotelian theory of elements stated that all things consisted of fire, air, water, and earth. So a little shift in one metal’s composition could create gold.
Flamel was renowned as an alchemical success. In the year of 1382, after a period of 25 years of studying an ancient book written by "Abraham the Jew", he is said to have produced the philosopher’s stone. His texts, notably a deconstruction of the "Abraham" work, were standard reading for aspiring scientists like Isaac Newton.
Many alchemists believed that Flamel faked his death in the year of 1418 and that of his wife. Rumored sightings in the 18th century placed them even at the Paris Opera. As late as in the year of 1816 there were still reports of people searching Flamel’s former house for secrets of the mysterious stone.
Contemporary historians say a Nicolas Flamel did live in Paris in the 1300s and endowed many churches and hospitals with his wealth. But he was no alchemist at all. "He got his money in pedestrian ways-his wife’s earlier marriages, real estate speculation," says Lawrence Principe, author of The Aspiring Adept. The obvious error of time, the special style of the language, the diction of words, and the lack of earlier copies indicate that none of "his" writings originated prior to the 1500s.
"This sort of thing do happen in alchemy," says Bill Newman, author of alchemical history work Gehennical Fire. It was not rare that when an alchemist could not back up his ideas, he might publish them in the guise of a "lost" work. Flamel’s wealth made a good candidate for alchemical identity theft.
Flamel’s writings and sightings faded with alchemy’s prestage. And the closest anyone’s come to the philosopher’s stone is Rowling. In her hands, it has yielded not just gold but eternal (shelf) life as well. [br] What does the word "pedestrian" in Line 2, Para. 5 possibly mean?
选项
A、Secretive.
B、Illegal.
C、Ordinary.
D、Dishonest and mean.
答案
C
解析
词义理解题。文中说Flamel根本不是炼金术士。他利用pedestrian方法——即他妻子以前婚姻所得以及不动产投机生意,获得财富。这说明他获得财富的方法跟当时平常人一样,而不是依靠炼金来发财。选项C 正确。
转载请注明原文地址:https://tihaiku.com/zcyy/3811228.html
相关试题推荐
"Iwasalways______tospeakbytheleadersatacriticalmoment,"Mr.Verlocd
Withthefilmsprevalentacrossthewholeworld,however,mostcriticalpl
Withthefilmsprevalentacrossthewholeworld,however,mostcriticalpl
Withthefilmsprevalentacrossthewholeworld,however,mostcriticalpl
PerhapsthemostheatedargumentacrosstheUnitedStatestodayisthedeath
PerhapsthemostheatedargumentacrosstheUnitedStatestodayisthedeath
PerhapsthemostheatedargumentacrosstheUnitedStatestodayisthedeath
PerhapsthemostheatedargumentacrosstheUnitedStatestodayisthedeath
PerhapsthemostheatedargumentacrosstheUnitedStatestodayisthedeath
PerhapsthemostheatedargumentacrosstheUnitedStatestodayisthedeath
随机试题
"Cool"isawordwithmanymeanings.Itstraditionalmeaningisusedto【C1】_
Thetranslatormusthaveanexcellent,up-to-dateknowledgeofhissourcela
[A]proponents[I]hemp[B]regained[J]essential[C]cultivated[K]opponen
CollegesandUniversitiesarcinstitutionsofhighereducationthatofferpr
乙公司是一家从事大型项目建设的上市公司,近3年的公司年报显示,公司资产负债率一直
石材中所含的放射性物质可分为A、B、C三类产品,如用于旅馆门厅内墙饰面的磨光石板
人参对下丘脑-垂体-肾上腺皮质系统的作用是A.本身具有促皮质激素ACTH样作用B
为保障投资者利益,确保股指期货顺利推出,中国证监会、中国期货业协会、中国金融期货
为西方教育心理学的发展奠定基础,并确立了学科体系的是()在1903年发表的《教
关于总监理工程师负责制原则所体现的权责主体的说法,正确的是()。A.总监理工
最新回复
(
0
)