There are many famous writers in the English world, among whom Jane Austen (1775—1817) has been popular with all ages. But then Jane Austen wrote her novels in England, she was writing about a world that most of us would not recognize.
But today Austen’s books are in greater demand than ever. In the last ten years, five of the six novels have been made into Hollywood films, while her books continue to be bestsellers. So why is Austen still popular?
Richard Jenkyns, a professor of English at Oxford University, argues that her novels still appeal to people because they focus on issues that are as relevant today as they were when she wrote them. Her novels are about women trying to find a perfect husband, but also explore issues surrounding marriage, friendship and the family. “The plots are fairly timeless stories about human interaction which are familiar to us,” Jenkyns says.
The most famous book Austen wrote is Pride and Prejudice, a love story between Elizabeth Bennett and Mr. Darcy. At first the two characters do not get on. They finally fall in love, but still have to overcome opposition (反对) to their relationship from their families.
All of Austen’s books are easy to read, making them popular with children and adults, but they work on different levels so people can take what they need from them, author Kate Henry says.
Austen is often praised as the greatest romance writer in the English language, so it is surprising she remained unmarried. “Maybe she was too much of a romantic, waiting for a perfect man,” Henry says.
1.Which of the following can NOT explain why Austen is still popular?
A. Her novels are all about love and marriage.
B. Her novels still make sense to today’s people.
C. All her novels are easy to read.
D. Her novels benefit people of different reading levels.
2. The underlined word “relevant” in Paragraph 3 probably means ______.
A. strange B. related C. funny D. unimportant
3.According to Henry, Austen remained unmarried because ______.
A. she was used to the life of being single
B. the perfect man didn’t appears in her life
C. she was too busy to think of marriage
D. she was afraid of marriage
4.Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage?
A. More and more people like reading Austen’s novels.
B. Austen died when she was 42 years old.
C. Pride and Prejudice is a novel about love.
D. Austen is often regarded as the greatest writer in the English language.
In my whole childhood I focused on training to play professional soccer. Through the mid 90’s I 36 through Olympic training and on June 13,1997 I was 37 with a minor league team, when a 16-year-old boy ran a stop sign(闯红灯).That night 38 my life. I was on my motorcycle and got 39 by a car, partly disabling me six months. I lost most of my memory, 40 coma (昏迷)symptom and had to learn to 41 all over. During the coming 24 months of physical treatment I changed my 42 of life.
I began making 43 as if each day was my last day 44. Before the 45 , I was studying at a university. I was taught that the 46 of life was to study career skills and pursue financial 47. After returning from near death I went 48 searching. I traveled through the native reservation of the northern USA and witnessed the most extreme 49. I slowly realized there was so much more to 50 than just doing things for myself. I started listening to the people I met and 51 to help them any way possible.
Everywhere I stayed I met 52 people telling me stories about 53 the earth and making better use of nature’s energy. In 2005 my father quickly died from cancer and I 54 the desire to do much of anything for myself. I started looking for well-off people to aid those 55. I’ve accumulated a list of people nearing life threatening situations or those trying to make a major effect on the world and now I try to help them full time.
1.A. advanced B. fought C. looked D. won
2.A. playing B. working C. competing D. coming
3.A. corrected B. influenced C. destroyed D. changed
4.A. run B. hit C. knocked D. stuck
5.A. spread B. caught C. showed D. suffered
6.A. walk B. talk C. eat D. drive
7.A. duty B. view C. course D. dream
8.A. decisions B. discoveries C. promises D. studies
9.A. possible B. available C. present D. alive
10.A. event B. experience C. difficulty D. disaster
11.A. reality B. value C. purpose D. content
12.A. balance B. situation C. stability D. expense
13.A. head B. spirit C. heart D. soul
14.A. poverty B. anxiety C. anger D. simplicity
15.A. nature B. society C. life D. happiness
16.A. refused B. volunteered C. tended D. learned
17.A. wonderful B. famous C. wealthy D. cautious
18.A. developing B. exploring C. respecting D. understanding
19.A. realized B. controlled C. gained D. lost
20.A. in despair B. in need C. in touch D. in season
— The window must have taken you quite a lot of time that day.
— Right. They____ for weeks.
A. haven’t been cleaned B. hadn’t been cleaned
C. didn’t clean D. haven’t cleaned
Hearing the dog barking fiercely, away ______.
A. fleeing the thief B. was fleeing the thief
C. the thief was fleeing D. fled the thief
— Could you introduce me a high quality car?
— Ok. ______ well even on wet roads, this kind of car is very popular.
A. handling B. handled C. to handle D. being handled
______ was known to us all that Johnson had broken his promise _____ he would
give each of us a small gift.
A. As; which B. What; that C. It; that D. It; which
