Question

    They say that "travel is the best teacher" and there is no better example of this idea than the Ming dynasty travel writer and geographer Xu Xiake (1587-1641). His book The Travel Notes of Xu Xiake, not only encouraged a love of travelling among Chinese people but provided important scientific information about the country's land and geography.

Born into a wealthy Jiangyin family, Xu became interested in books about different places at an early age and wanted to travel. When he was 18, however, Xu's father died and so, it seemed, did his travelling dreams. He now was responsible for the family farm and taking care of his 60-year-old mother as tradition required.

But his mother had different ideas. Understanding her son's love of travel and valuing the knowledge he could get from such experiences, this modern-thinking woman refused to keep her son at home. She agreed that Xu could travel for three months every year, when there was less farm work.

So at the age of twenty and with his mother's support, Xu set off for the first time, leaving behind not only his mother but his new wife as well. He would repeat this goodbye each year for most of the next 30 years. During this time, he travelled throughout the Ming kingdom, carefully studying the lands he passed through and recording his experiences and many discoveries in a diary. This diary, which once had over 500,000 words, would finally become The Travel Notes of Xu Xiake.

Although rich, Xu avoided comfortable travel, preferring to go almost everywhere on foot. This way he could research the environment in detail and get a true picture of the natural world. Many of his trips were to hard-to-reach mountain areas, and through wild forests where few people lived. His willingness to face hardships came at a cost however. Progress was slow and tiring and he was frequently sick, robbed and beaten during his journeys.

Sadly Xu became seriously ill during his last and longest journey, a 4-year trip through the Southwest of China. He died in 1641, soon after returning to his hometown for the last time. When his diary was finally printed years after his death, much of it had been destroyed or lost. Although incomplete, it still made Xu a travelling legend (传奇人物) around the world.

1.Which of the following best describes Xu's mother?

A.Strict but interesting. B.Supportive and open-minded.

C.Helpful and hardworking. D.Kind but uneducated.

2.Xu preferred walking during his travels because ______.

A.it gave him the chance to meet different kinds of people

B.it helped him to save money and travel for a longer time

C.it allowed him to see and study the environment in detail

D.it was the only way to reach the places he was interested in

3.What is true about Xu's book The Travel Notes of Xu Xiake?

A.It was the first travel book ever written in China.

B.It made Xu very famous during his lifetime.

C.It was mainly about the different people of China.

D.It was only made public after Xu died.

4.What is the best title for the passage?

A.Xu Xiake's Life Story B.Xu Xiake's Discovery

C.Xu Xiake's Travelling Experience D.Xu Xiake's Book

5.What is the correct order for the following events from Xu's life?

a. He went on his first journey.

b. His book was finally printed.

c. He returned to his hometown for the last time.

d. He developed an interest in books about other places.

e. He started managing the family farm after his father died.

A.a-e-d-c-b B.d-e-a-b-c C.d-e-a-c-b D.e-d-a-b-c

Answer

1.B

2.C

3.D

4.A

5.C

【解析】

这篇短文主要讲述了明代旅行作家和地理学家徐霞客的生平事迹。

1.

推理判断。根据文中“But his mother had different ideas. Understanding her son's love of travel and valuing the knowledge he could get from such experiences, this modern-thinking woman refused to keep her son at home. She agreed that Xu could travel for three months every year, when there was less farm work. ” 但他的母亲有不同的想法。了解到儿子对旅行的热爱，并重视他从这些经历中获得的知识，这位现代思维的女性拒绝让儿子呆在家里。她同意徐每年可以出差三个月，那时农活比较少。可知，徐霞客的母亲是一位有着支持和开放的思想的女士。故选B。

2.

细节理解。根据文中“Although rich, Xu avoided comfortable travel, preferring to go almost everywhere on foot. This way he could research the environment in detail and get a true picture of the natural world. ” 虽然很有钱，但徐霞客拒绝舒适的旅行，他宁愿步行去几乎所有的地方。这样他就可以对环境进行详细的研究，并对自然世界有一个真实的了解。可知，这使他能够详细地观察和研究环境。故选C。

3.

细节理解。根据文中“When his diary was finally printed years after his death, much of it had been destroyed or lost. ” 当他的日记在他死后的几年里终于被印刷出来时，很多日记已经被毁或丢失。可知，徐霞客的《徐霞客游记》仅仅是在徐死后才公开的。故选D。

4.

标题归纳题。通读整篇短文可知，这篇短文主要讲述了明代旅行作家和地理学家徐霞客的生平事迹。故选A。

5.

篇章结构。根据文中“Born into a wealthy Jiangyin family, Xu became interested in books about different places at an early age and wanted to travel. ” 徐霞客小时候就对介绍不同地方的书籍产生了兴趣，并想去旅行；根据文中“When he was 18, however, Xu's father died and so, it seemed, did his travelling dreams. He now was responsible for the family farm and taking care of his 60-year-old mother as tradition required. ”可知，他父亲去世后，他开始经营家庭农场；根据文中“So at the age of twenty and with his mother's support, Xu set off for the first time, leaving behind not only his mother but his new wife as well. ” 于是，在20岁那年，在母亲的支持下，徐第一次出发了，不仅留下了母亲，还留下了他的新妻子；根据文中“He died in 1641, soon after returning to his hometown for the last time. ” 他于1641年去世，在最后一次回到家乡后不久；根据文中“When his diary was finally printed years after his death, much of it had been destroyed or lost.”当他的日记在他死后的几年里终于被印刷出来时，很多日记已经被毁或丢失。可知选项C是正确的：正确顺序是：他对介绍其他地方的书产生了兴趣；他父亲去世后，他开始经营家庭农场；他开始了他的第一次旅行；他最后一次回到家乡；他的书终于印出来了。故选C。