A
Many people criticise today's newspapers as sensationalist, satisfying the public's abnormal curiosity.But journalism a century ago was just as notorious (臭名昭著)．Publishers at that time routinely competed with each other for wild stories that could draw in the most readers.Meanwhile, it was an ideal atmosphere for a courageous reporter like Nellie Bly to spring into fame.
Bly, whose name was Elizabeth Cochran, had to work to make her way in the world.Different from many women of the time, however, she refused to let the working world scare her away.Her first big opportunity as a reporter came in 1885 after she wrote an angry letter denouncing the Pittsburgh Dispatch for an article it had run criticising women forced to work outside the home.The interested and excited editor hired Bly for her “spirit”， and soon she was investigating the situations of female factory workers.Bly cared less about their jobs than their lives after work — their amusements, their motivations, their fears and ambitions.She produced an article totally different from what other reporters of the time were writing: personal, thoughtful, meaningful.
By 1887 Bly had a job with the New York World, one of the leader papers of the day.She quickly became famous for undercover stories about women in a mental hospital.Soon she had investigated life as a maid, a chorus girl, and even a street girl.In her bestknown brave deeds, in 1890, Bly beat the famous “around the world in 80 days” trip Jules Verne had described in his novel.Travelling by steamship, train, even ricksha, Bly reported from each stop.A spellbound nation hung on every word.Only 25, Bly had become internationally famous.
【语篇解读】 本文是一篇记叙文。文章讲述了美国女记者Bly为了能调查清楚事实，扮成乞丐、女仆、神经病患者。她不顾自己安危的工作态度，让她成了美国历史上著名的女记者。
1．Bly's first newspaper job was ________．
A．with the New York World
B．with the Pittsburgh Dispatch
C．to interview mental patients
D．to experience life of chorus girls
B [细节理解题。根据第二段中的“Her first big opportunity as a reporter came in 1885 after she wrote an angry letter denouncing the Pittsburgh Dispatch for an article it had run criticising women forced to work outside the home.The interested and excited editor hired Bly for her ‘spirit’”可知，Bly写信谴责Pittsburgh Dispatch的文章，却因为她的勇气被主编雇用了。故选B项。]
2．What does the underlined word “denouncing” in Para.2 probably mean?
A．Praising. B．Questioning.
C．Informing. D．Condemning.
D [词义猜测题。根据该句中的“angry letter”可知，她信的内容是批评Pittsburgh Dispatch的文章。选项中和批评相近的选项是“condemn (谴责)”。故选D项。]
3．Which of the following best describes Nellie Bly?
A．Daring and practical.
B．Acute and confident.
C．Critical and dependent.
D．Calm and enthusiastic.
A [推理判断题。根据第一段中的“a courageous reporter like Nellie Bly”可知，她是勇敢的，再通过下文讲述她卧底去调查女性事件，说明她是实事求是的人。故选A项。]
