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
as-piring scientists like Isaac Newton. Many alchemists
believed Flamel faked his 1418 death and that of his wife. Rumored sightings in
the 18th 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 not alchemist. "He go this 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 Five. 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's
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