A
J．K. Rowling is a British author of the Harry Potter fantasy series.She completed much of her first work, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone in a poor situation, often planning out her chapters in cafés near her small apartment in Edinburgh.
Before penning the Harry Potter books, Rowling's life was one of struggle and loss.Her mother died in 1990 because of the multiple sclerosis (多发性硬化症)．Her first marriage ended just three years later.Unable to find work, Rowling struggled to support herself and her daughter on State Aid.Her financial conditions would not change until the late 1990s, when the Harry Potter series became a success beyond all expectations.Aided by the Scottish Arts Council, Rowling was able to complete her first novel, but primary encouragement from publishers was actually nonexistent.She was told to find a day job, and the UK publisher, Bloomsbury, firstly published only 1,000 copies of the novel, titled in the UK as Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone.
Within a half year of its publication in 1997, the novel achieved its first award, the Nestlé Smarties Book Prize.A few months later, it received the British Book Award for Best Children's Book of the Year.In 1998, Scholastic purchased (购买) publication rights, and Rowling, now on her third payment of the series, was enjoying great success.
The popularity of the series has made Rowling the most popular children's author ever.Both adults and children who show great interest in the books are eager for the publisher's next payment for Harry's adventures.
Queen Elizabeth Ⅱ honoured Rowling in 2000, titling her as an Officer of the Order of the British Empire.She remarried in 2001, to Dr Neil Murray, with whom she has two children.In her public life, she devotes time to causes dear to her, including supporting Amnesty International, and funding research on a medical treatment for multiple sclerosis.
语篇解读：本文是一篇人物传记。文章主要介绍了小说《哈利·波特》系列的作者——英国作家J.K. Rowling的生平。
1．How did Rowling make a living before the late 1990s?
A．By depending on her husband.
B．By receiving government support.
C．By working in a caf near her home.
D．By writing articles for local publishers.
解析：选B 细节理解题。根据第二段中的Rowling struggled to ...on State Aid.Her financial conditions ...until the late 1990s可知，Rowling在二十世纪九十年代末之前靠政府的救济生活。
2．Which of the following brought Rowling great success?
A．Receiving an award for the best author of the year.
B．Cooperating with the UK publisher Bloomsbury.
C．Selling the publication rights to Scholastic.
D．Winning the Nestl Smarties Book Prize.
解析：选C 细节理解题。根据第三段中的Scholastic purchased (购买) publication rights, and Rowling ...was enjoying great success可知，将版权出售给Scholastic带给Rowling巨大的成功。
3．What can we infer from the last paragraph?
A．Rowling works for the British royal family.
B．Rowling has done much for public charity.
C．Rowling suffers from multiple sclerosis.
D．Rowling stays single till now.
解析：选B 推理判断题。根据最后一段中的she devotes time to causes dear to her ...a medical treatment for multiple sclerosis可推断，Rowling为公共慈善事业做了不少事。
4．What is the main idea of the text?
A．J.K. Rowling's major works.
B．J.K. Rowling's extraordinary life.
C．J.K. Rowling's family background.
D．J.K. Rowling's inspiration for Harry Potter series.
解析：选B 主旨大意题。根据文章内容可知，本文主要讲述了英国作家J.K. Rowling不平凡的一生。
