单选题 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 philosoper's stone (called "sorcerer's" in U.S.editions of Potter ), with which he turned mercury to gold and gained eternal life. But Flamel's tale—like his stone and his science—was no more real 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. 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 1382, after 25 years of studying an ancient book 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 Flamel faked his 1418 death and that of his wife. Rumored sightings in the 18^th century placed them at the Paris Opera. As late as 1816 there were reports of people searching Flamel's former house for secrets of the 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. "He got his money in pedestrian ways—his wife's earlier marriages, real-estate speculation," says lawrence Principe, author of The Aspiring Adept. Anachronisms, style of language, and the lack of earlier copies indicate that none of "his" writings originated prior to the 1500s.
"This sort of thing happens in alchemy," says Bill Newman, author of alchemical history Gehennical Fire. When an alchemist couldn't 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 writings and sightings faded with alchemy's prestige. 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.

单选题 According to the passage, that Flamel gained eternal life with the aid of his powerful pebble ______.
A. came from J. K. Rowing's imagination
B. was legendary long before Rowling wrote the book
C. turned out to be a magic in Potter
D. was believed by many alchemists

单选题 The passage shows that alchemy in the medieval time ______.
A. established modern chemistry B. cured all the diseases
C. turned base metals to gold D. was taken as somewhat justifiable

单选题 It can be inferred that Flamel was believed ______.
A. to have spend 25 years with "Abraham the Jew"
B. to be the creator of the philosopher's stone
C. to be the founder of alchemy
D. to have cast light on Newtonian mechanics

单选题 The word "pedestrian" (in boldface in Paragraph 5 ) is closest in meaning to ______.
A. secret B. illegal C. ordinary D. dishonest

单选题 The last sentence of Paragraph 6, "Flamel's wealth" identity theft. " implies that ______. "
A. Flamel's wealth and his fame was exploited to promote alchemy
B. Flamel's made his fortune by deceiving all people including his wife
C. Flamel's pretended to be an alchemist and earned his living by that
D. Flamel's success in alchemy had much to do with his wealth