Question

【題目】We considered a list of the best American books-but we’d need a whole issue to do them justice. Here are five that help define the national character. Most from a century or so ago, they still entertain, teach, and inspire us.

Moby-Dick by Herman Melville

First published in 1851, the adventure stories of Captain Ahab and his monomaniacal(偏執(zhí)的) pursuit of the white whale draw us into a universe full of fascinating characters and stories.

The Education of Henry Adams by Henry Adams

Awarded the Pulitzer Prize in autobiography(自傳) in1918, descended from one of America’s most famous political dynasties, Adams provides insight into his family, including his experience as a private secretary to his father, minister to England during the American Civil war.

Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman

When Whitman published Leaves of Grass in 1855, he wanted to define the American experience-singing of the new country in a new voice, reflecting the great changes in the American literary world that had taken place during his lifetime.

Poems by Emily Dickinson

An enthusiastic poet whose works have had considerable influence on modern poetry, Dickinson’s frequent use of dashes, occasional capitalization(大寫) of nouns, and unconventional metaphors(隱喻) have contributed to her reputation as one of the most inventive(創(chuàng)新的) poets of the 19th century American literature.

The Song of Hiawatha by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

First published in 1855, this is Longfellow’s most popular and most recognized poem, the heroic life and death of a magic American Indian, sent by the Great Spirit to guide the nations in the ways of peace.

【1】Walt Whitman wrote Leaves of Grass in order to ______.

A. praise America and show the great changes in the American literary world

B. reflect the great changes in America that had taken place during his lifetime

C. give Americans encouragement in a new voice

D. show his talent and heroic life to us

【2】The underlined word “considerable” probably means “______”

A. satisfying B. exciting

C. inspiring D. great

【3】If you want to read a story about a magic American Indian, you can read ______.

A. Moby-Dick B. Leaves of Grass

C. Poems D. The Song of Hiawatha

【4】What’ s the purpose of the wirer writing this passage?

A. To make an advertisement for a bookstore.

B. To introduce several best American books to readers.

C. To tell stories of several famous writers.

D. To talk about some knowledge about literature.

Answer 1

【答案】

【1】A

【2】D

【3】D

【4】B

【解析】

本文是一篇說明文。介紹了我們認(rèn)為最好的美國圖書。它們能夠準(zhǔn)確地顯示民族性格。一個(gè)世紀(jì)以來一直娛樂、教育和激勵(lì)著人們。短文介紹了書的內(nèi)容，作者以及出版的情況。

【1】細(xì)節(jié)理解題。根據(jù)reflect the great changes in the American literary world that had taken place during his lifetime.反映了在美國文學(xué)上的變化，故選D。

【2】詞義猜測(cè)題。根據(jù)倒數(shù)第三段An enthusiastic poet whose works have had considerable influence on modern poetry, Dickinson’s frequent use of dashes, occasional capitalization(大寫) of nouns, and unconventional metaphors(隱喻) have contributed to her reputation as one of the most inventive(創(chuàng)新的) poets of the 19th century American literature. 作為一名熱情的詩人，他的作品對(duì)現(xiàn)代詩歌產(chǎn)生了相當(dāng)大的影響，狄金森經(jīng)常使用破折號(hào)，偶爾大寫的名詞，以及非傳統(tǒng)的隱喻，這些都使她成為19世紀(jì)美國文學(xué)中最具創(chuàng)造力的詩人之一。由此可知，劃線詞的意思是“相當(dāng)大的，重大的”。故選D。

【3】細(xì)節(jié)理解題。根據(jù)the heroic life and death of a magic American Indian,敘述了美洲印第安人的故事，故選B。

【4】細(xì)節(jié)理解題。根據(jù)短文的內(nèi)容可知主要給讀者介紹了幾本美國的書，故選A。