A
Gene Wolfe is one of the most admired and respected American science fiction and fantasy writers. He is also a productive writer of outstanding short fiction, which is collected in many volumes over the last forty years, most recently in The Best of Gene Wolfe.
Although Wolfe is not as wellknown to readers as he once was, he has been the receiver of great praise, including three World Fantasy Awards, two Nebulas, and eight Hugo Award nominations (提名). Scifi author Harlan Ellison has called him, “no less than one of the finest, most original writers in the world today”， and the Encyclopedia of Science Fiction names him “quite possibly the most important” writer in the field of science fiction.
Born in 1931, New York, Gene Wolfe moved frequently as a child, but spent most of his growingup years in Texas. Wolfe began writing fiction in 1956, selling his first story, The Dead Man, to Sir magazine in 1965. He produced a vast amount of short fiction during the 1960s and 1970s, many of which were published in Damon Knight's Orbit anthologies. In 1972 Wolfe's groundbreaking The Fifth Head of Cerberus appeared. The story of human conquest (征服) upon two distant planets, the book examines issues of identity, individuality, and the results of colonialism upon both the colonized and the colonizer. The novel was later listed in David Pringle's 1985 list of The 100 Best Novels in science fiction for the period 1949－1984.
Many of his novels, The Shadow of the Torturer included, rely on a diary or letter to tell his story. In addition, Wolfe's early interest in mystery novels shines through in his ability to drop cleverly hidden clues (线索) that allow the reader to grasp at the possible narrative behind the narrative.
By 1984 Wolfe was able to retire and devote himself fulltime to his writing. Yet despite (尽管) all this, and despite the continuing respect of his colleagues, his work has become somewhat unfamiliar. Wolfe's admirers hope this fact will be at least somewhat improved by his most recent offering, The Wizard Knight, which falls within the fantasy type that is currently popular.
语篇解读：文章主要介绍了美国科幻、奇幻小说家吉恩·沃尔夫。
1．What is Harlan Ellison's attitude toward Gene Wolfe?
A．Concerned. B．Sympathetic.
C．Admiring. D．Regretful.
解析：选C 观点态度题。由第二段中的“Scifi author Harlan Ellison has called him, ‘no less than one of the finest, most original writers in the world today’”可知，科幻作家Harlan Ellison对吉恩·沃尔夫赞誉有加。
2．What do we know about The Fifth Head of Cerberus?
A．It was well received.
B．It was Gene Wolfe's first novel.
C．It was published in Sir magazine.
D．It was coauthored by David Pringle.
解析：选A 推理判断题。由第三段中的“The novel was later listed in David Pringle's 1985 list of The 100 Best Novels in science fiction for the period 1949－1984”可知，吉恩·沃尔夫的《刻耳柏洛斯的第五个头》受到读者的好评。
3．Which has great influence on Gene Wolfe's writing style?
A．His understanding of life.
B．His childhood experiences.
C．His colleagues' suggestions.
D．His love for mystery fiction.
解析：选D 推理判断题。由倒数第二段中的“Wolfe's early interest in mystery novels shines through in his ability ...”可知，吉恩·沃尔夫早期对推理小说的兴趣极大影响了他的写作风格。
