“They tell me that you’d like to make a statue(塑像) of me-is that correct, Miss Vinnie Ream?”
The deep, gentle voice helped calm the nervous girl. Asking a favor of the President of the United States was no casual matter, especially for a seventeen-year-old girl.
“Yes, sir,” she replied, her dark eyes meeting his. “I wouldn’t have duo ask you, but my teacher, Mr. Mills, says I am ready. I plan to make it in an admirable manner. “
President Lincoln smiled. “Painters, sculptors-they’ve all tried to make the best of this ordinary face, but I’m afraid there’s not much hope. What did you have in mind, Miss Ream? A bust(半身像)?”
Before Vinnie could say yes, the President hurried on, a shade of apology in his voice.
“Of course-I shouldn’t have asked. A full-length pose would be much too big a project for a young woman your size. “
Vinnie’s face turned red. She realized she looked like a child, with her tiny figure. “Small does not mean weak, sir,” she defended herself. “I was born in the country of Wisconsin. I’ve driven teams of horses and carried water. Making a full-length clay(粘土) figure would not exhaust my strength-and that is what I intend to do!”
The President’s eyes, brightened at her show of spirit. “Sorry, madam, I have underestimated you as I didn’t know your background.”
But his smile faded as he rubbed his beard with bony fingers, in thought. “Miss Ream,” he sighed, “I’d like to let you do it, but as you know, we are in the middle of a war. How could I possibly take the time to pose for a sculpture now? I hardly have a minute to myself.”
Vinnie glanced around and noted the size of his office. “I work quickly,” she said. Her voice was soft but confident as she pointed to the corner near the windows. “If I were to bring my clay here and work for three hours every afternoon, I could complete most of the project while you are at your desk.”
The President seemed to consider her idea seriously. He got up and shook Vinnie’s hand warmly, “I’ve heard that you are a talented young woman, and I have found you charming and intelligent as well. I cannot make my decision immediately, but you will hear from me soon.”
The very next day, Vinnie received an invitation from the President.
41. What gave Vinnie confidence to make her request of President Lincoln?
A. Her aggressive personality.
B. Mr. Mills’s encouraging remark.
C. President Lincoln’s gentle voice.
D. Her interest in a challenging job.
42. How did President Lincoln first respond to Vinnie’s request?
A. Pleased.
B. Thrilled.
C. Regretful.
D. Doubtful.
43. Vinnie confirmed her ability to make a full-length statue by highlighting ______.
A. her experience from other projects
B. her innocent childhood in the country
C. the heavy labor she had done before
D. the skill she picked up in Wisconsin
44. Vinnie wanted to choose the corner near the windows to ______.
A. achieve effects of natural lighting
B. keep all her tools within easy reach
C. observe the President at a right angle
D. avoid disturbing the president’s work
45. What message does the story convey?
A. A strong-willed soul can reach his goal.
B. Experience helps to promote excellence.
C. Ups and downs make one strong.
D. Devotion requires enthusiasm.
41. B 42. D 43. C 44. D 45. A
【解析】
这是一篇记叙文。文章主要记叙了Vinnie Ream向林肯总统提出给他做一个全身雕像的请求,一开始林肯总统对此表示怀疑,在Vinnie的不断努力争取后,最终第二天Vinnie收到了林肯总统的邀请。
【41题详解】
细节理解题。根据第三段中的“I wouldn't have dared to ask you, but my teacher, Mr. Mills, says I am ready. I plan to make it in an admirable manner. “可知,我本来不敢问你,但我的老师Mills先生说我准备好了。我打算用一种令人钦佩的方式来做这件事。由此可知,Mills先生的话给了Vinnie向林肯总统提出要求的底气。故选B。
【42题详解】
推理判断题。根据第五段中的“Of course- I shouldn't have asked. A full-length pose would be much too big a project for a young woman your size.”可知,当然-我不应该问的。对于你这种身材的年轻女性来说,全身雕像太大了。由此可推知,林肯总统首先对Vinnie的请求表示怀疑。故选D。
【43题详解】
细节理解题。根据第六段中的“I've driven teams of horses and carried water. Making a full-length clay figure would not exhaust my strength-and this is what I intend to do!”可知,我赶过马队,提过水。做一个全身雕像不会耗尽我的力量-我还正想这样呢!此可知,Vinnie通过强调她以前所做的繁重劳动,证实了她有能力制作一个全身雕像。故选C。
【44题详解】
推理判断题。根据倒数第四段中的“Miss Ream,” he sighed, “I'd like to let you do it, but as you know, we are in the middle of a war. How could I possibly take the time to pose for a sculpture now? I hardly have a minute to myself. “可知,总统提到自己没有时间摆姿势来让Vinnie做雕像。根据倒数第三段中的“Vinnie glanced around and noted the size of his office. “I work quickly,” she said. Her voice was soft but confident as she pointed to the corner near the windows. “If I were to bring my clay here and work for three hours every afternoon, I could complete most of the project while you are at your desk.”可知,Vinnie环顾四周,注意到了他办公室的大小。“我干得很快,”她说。她指着靠近窗户的那个角落,声音柔和而自信。“如果我把我的粘土带到这里来,每天下午工作三个小时,我就可以在你办公的时候完成大部分的项目。”由此可推知,上文中总统提到自己没有时间摆姿势来让Vinnie做雕像,于是Vinnie想选择靠近窗户的角落,是为了避免干扰总统的工作。故选D。
【45题详解】
推理判断题。根据文章主要记叙了Vinnie Ream向林肯总统提出给他做一个全身雕像的请求,一开始林肯总统对此表示怀疑,在Vinnie的不断努力争取后,最终第二天Vinnie收到了林肯总统的邀请。由此可推知,这个故事表达了意志坚强的人能达到目标的思想。故选A。
人物传记类文章的文体特征:
人物传记是记叙文体的一种,主要描写某人的生平事迹、趣闻轶事、生活背景、个性特征、成长奋斗历程等,包含记叙文的时间、地点、人物、事件等要素。其特点是以时间的先后或事件的发展为主线,空间或逻辑线索贯穿文章始终,脉络清楚,可读性较强。
人物传记类文章的阅读策略和解题技巧:
1、把握文体特征,注意写作手法如前文所述,人物传记是记叙文体的一种,因此在阅读时要把握好时间、地点、人物和事件这四大要素。
其次,还应该注意人物传记类文章的结构多按时间顺序排列,一般采用倒叙的写作手法,有时也采用插叙和补叙等手段。弄清楚人物传记类文章的特征和写作手法,能帮助考生在阅读和回答问题时做到高效省时、准确无误。
2、抓住题干关键词,采用寻读的方法查找细节描述事实细节题是人物传记类文章的主要题型,一般常见以下几种类型:
(1)对号入座题:
这种题的答案一般在原文中可以直接找到,只要读懂文章,掌握文章中的事实,如时间、地点、事件等细节问题,就能选对正确答案。
(2)词义转换题:
这种题常常是原文有关词语和句子的转换,而不能在原文中直接找到。它要求考生能理解原文中某个短语或句子的含义,从而找到与答案意思相同的词语和句子。
(3)是非题:
该题型俗称“三缺一”题型,即题目四个选项中有三个符合文章内容,剩下一个不符合。题干多为:Which of the following isTRUE?或者三个不符合文章内容,剩下一个符合,题干多为:Which of the following…isNOTtrue?或All the following are true EXCEPT
(4)排序题:
这种题要求考生根据动作发生的先后顺序和句子之间的逻辑关系,找出事件发生的正确顺序。可采用“首尾定位法”,即先找出第一个动作和最后一个动作,迅速缩小选择范围,从而快速选出正确答案。
(5)指代理解题:
一般是在人物或事物关系比较复杂的情况下使用的一种题型,所以理清人物及事物之间的逻辑关系是关键所在。可采用“逻辑关系梳理法”,使人物或事件关系清晰条理。不管题型如何,在做事实细节题时,可采用比较实用的方法一有目的的阅读。在阅读时,首先看题目要求我们理解什么细节,找出关键词,然后以此为线索,运用寻读的技巧迅速在文章里找出相应的段落、句子或短语。认真比较选项和文中细节的区别,在正确理解细节的前提下,确定最佳答案。这样一来,既提高了阅读的速度,又能确保答案的准确率。同时,建议阅读文章时把与答案相符的句子或短语用红线标示出来,标号注上是哪一题答案的相关句子,这样在检查时就不必重新阅读整篇文章了。
3、抽丝剥茧,推理判断深层含义推理判断题主要提问那些未曾在文中说明,但已特别暗示的内容,考查考生对文章的准确理解和判断。人物传记类文章常见的推理判断题型为:
(1)细节推断题:
要求考生根据语篇关系,推断具体细节,如时间、地点、人物关系、人物身份、事件等。一般可根据短文提供的信息,或者借助生活常识进行推理判断。
(2)因果推断题:
要求考生根据已知结果推测导致结果的可能原因。考生要准确掌握文章的内涵,理解文章的真正含义。
(3)人物性格、作者态度及观点判断题:
人物传记类文章中有些是考查考生对作者的主导思想、被描写人物的语气、言语中流露的情绪、性格倾向和作者或文中人物态度、观点等方面的理解题。推理判断题要求在理解原文表面文字信息的基础上做出一定推论和判断,从而得到文章的隐含意义和深层意义。解答此类题时,要注意:
(1)吃透文章的字面意思,从字里行间捕捉有用的提示和线索,这是推理的前提和基础。
(2)对文字的表面信息进俐宅掘加工,由表及里,由浅入深。从具体到抽象,从特殊到一般,通过分析、综合、判断等进行符合逻辑的推理。不能就事论事,断章取义,以偏概全。
(3)基于文章内容,以文章提供的事实和线索为依据,立足已知,推断未知。不能主观臆想,凭空想象,随意揣测,更不能以自己的观点代替作者的观点。
(4)把握句、段之间的逻辑关系,了解语篇的结构。要体会文章的基调,揣摸作者的态度,摸准逻辑发展的方向,悟出作者的弦外之音。
(5)注意文中所用词句的感情色彩,是讽刺性的,批评性的,赞成性的,还是反对性的,以便推测作者的观点和态度。
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In 1993, I had my first opportunity to visit
Toward the end of my three week trip I was invited by my young Russian host and friend Nicolai Vasilevich and his lovely wife Yulya out to dinner. At the end of a wonderful meal, Yulya asked if I would like a banana. I politely declined and thanked her, and explained I was most satisfied with the meal. But the whole while my mind was racing: “What do I do? Do I offer her a banana even though they are as close to her as they are to me? What is the polite thing to do?”
“Would you like a banana?” I asked Yulya.
“Yes,” she smiled, but made no attempt to take any of the three bananas in the fruit basket. “What now?” I thought.
“Which one would you like?” I asked awkwardly.
“That one,” she pointed at one of the bananas. Thinking about Russian politeness, I picked the banana Yulya had pointed at and peeled(去皮) it half way and handed it to her. Smiles in Yulya’s and Nicolai’s faces told me I had done the right thing. After this experience I spent much time letting the world know that in
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65. The author went to
A. visit a famous university B. work as an interpreter
C. offer some professional help D. do some agricultural work
66. The author decided to offer Yulya a banana because ________.
A. he sat closer to bananas B. he wanted to show politeness
C. she gave him one first D. he wanted to win her heart
67. How did the author probably feel after he saw the smiles in Yulya’s and Nicolai’s faces?
A. Awkward. B. Embarrassed. C. Surprised. D. Relieved.
68. The author told this story mainly to express that _________.
A. Russian politeness is rather difficult to understand
B. man should never peel a banana for a lady in
C. what people say about other culture may not be true
D. funny things may happen anywhere at any time