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(2020·阜阳高二测试)
Mark Twain (1835—1910)—we’ve all heard the name, but what makes him “the father of American literature” as classic US author William Faulkner once called him?
Mark Twain is someone Americans are taught to love. Older relatives, English teachers and the media always praise him. But when you actually take the time to read The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, you’ll find that his work is more wonderful than you could have ever imagined.
The novel describes a young boy named Tom Sawyer growing up in a small town along the Mississippi River. He explores the countryside on a riverboat with his friends, falls in love with girls, starts secret clubs and searches for treasure. Twain’s idea of childhood is magical—a time of imagination, wonder and, of course, adventure.
More importantly, through the eyes of Tom Sawyer, Twain cleverly makes fun of US culture. For example, Tom hates going to church, and Twain uses scenes of Tom there to mock religion and its old traditions. “Often, the less there is to justify a traditional custom, the harder it is to get rid of it,” he writes in one chapter.
Twain’s writing is full of these kinds of critical (批判的) points about culture and politics. That’s why he is so loved in the US—he wasn’t afraid to state his opinions, and he did so clearly. For instance, Twain didn’t like US wars abroad. In 1900, after the US invaded (入侵) the Philippines, Twain wrote in a newspaper article: “We do not intend to free, but to subjugate (征服) the people of the Philippines. . . We have gone there to conquer. ” He also believed strongly in women’s right to vote in elections and gave a famous speech on the subject, called “Votes for Women”, in 1901. “Tom was a glittering hero once more—the pet of the old, the envy of the young,” Twain writes in Tom Sawyer. But he could just as well be describing himself.
【语篇概述】本文讲述马克·吐温的小说《汤姆·索亚历险记》,以及马克·吐温的思想观点。
1. After reading The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, you are likely to think _______according to the author.
A. it’s not worth all the praise
B. it’s even better than you expected
C. it’s as wonderful as you expected
D. it’s better to read it with teachers
【解析】选B。 根据第二段最后一句But when. . . you could have ever imagined. 可以看出这部作品比你想象的更加精彩,故选B。
2. In the third paragraph, the author mainly _______.
A. indicates what makes Tom Sawyer’s adventures so wonderful
B. explains where Twain’s idea of childhood comes from
C. shows how naughty and adventurous Tom Sawyer is
D. gives a brief description of the novel
【解析】选D。根据第三段第一句The novel describes. . . 可知这一段主要介绍小说内容,故选D。
3. What does the underlined word “mock” in the fourth paragraph mean?
A. make fun of B. show respect for
C. give examples of D. give reasons for
【解析】选A。根据Tom hates going to church汤姆讨厌去教堂做礼拜,可知他应该是捉弄宗教,对宗教旧传统开玩笑,故选A。
4. Twain is so loved in the US because _______.
A. he showed readers a magical childhood that everyone would love
B. he criticized American culture and society clearly and cleverly
C. he wrote bad things about US wars abroad
D. he supported women’s right to vote
【解析】选B。 根据Twain’s writing is full of these kinds of critical points about culture and politics. That’s why he is so loved in the US. . . 可知马克·吐温的作品充满了对文化和政治的批判,这就是他在美国深受爱戴的原因,故选B。
