Benjamin Franklin only studied in school for two years. But he liked to read and write very much. Once he discussed a question with his friend in letters. His father found the letters and read them. He felt Ben did not express himself well. Nor did Ben make his meaning clear. He agreed that his father was right, From then on, he paid more attention to the style of his writing so that he could write better.
About that time he bought a copy of the British periodical(周刊) called The Spectator (《观察家》). He read it over and over. He thought the writing excellent, and wished, if possible, to write in the same style.
With this in mind, he studied some of the stories and made a note of the thought in each sentence. Then, a few days later, without looking at the magazine, he tried to write the stories. He tried to express each thought as fully as it had been expressed before. Then he compared his writing with the magazine. He found some of his faults in the compositions.
In this way he discovered he needed to know many more words. He felt that writing poetry would help him since that needed to use many different words which had the same meaning. So he turned some of the stories into poems; and after a time, he wrote them as stories again. He insisted on doing this for a long time.
He learned much from his efforts and went on to practise his writing. Then he became the first famous writer in American history.
1.Benjamin liked ______ very much when he was ______ .
A. languages; young B. writing; young C. writing; old enough D. languages; old enough
2.What did his father do to him?
A. He found his son’s letters written very well
B. He felt his son expressed himself very well
C. He told his son what he wrote wasn’t so good
D. He bought a copy of The Spectator for him
3.How did Benjamin practise writing?
(1) He studied the stories in the magazine and made notes.
(2) He rewrote some of the stories and tried to express their thought fully.
(3) He turned some stories into poems, and then turned them back again.
(4) He tried hard to publish his poems in the periodical The Spectator.
A. (1)(2)(3) B. (2)(3)(4) C. (1)(3)(4) D.(1)(2)(4)
The great 46 scientist, Charles Darwin, was born on February 12, 1809. His father was a well-known doctor, and 47 that his son also would become a doctor.
As a boy, Charles liked to go for walks in the fields and 48 , 49 nature and comparing what he saw with everything he had read in natural science books. He was fond 50 collecting animal and plant specimens 51 insects, birds, flowers and leaves.
At sixteen, Charles 52 Edinburgh University 53 . But he was interested in 54 . Then he was sent to Cambridge University, 55 he graduated in1831.
56 he heard that the ship Beagle(贝格尔号) was 57 to South America and wanted a naturalist. His biology professor advised him to go. He said the journey would be just the thing for Charles. So the Beagle left England in December 1831, Charles Darwin was 58 .
The expedition 59 almost five years. The Beagle 60 the waters near the east and west 61 of South America, and many other places. He 62 all kinds of plants and animals, which he sent home from the 63 he visited.
After returning from the expedition, Darwin continued his studies of changes in nature. Darwin understood that plants and animals do not 64 the same, that they always change.
By 1859 Darwin had finished his famous book “The Origin of Species”. It made a great noise in the word of science. Darwin was attacked by the 65 and even by some scientists. But later, more and more scientists agreed with him.
Darwin tirelessly continued his scientific studies until he died on April 19,1882.
|
1. |
A. American |
B. British |
C. German |
D. Italian |
|
2. |
A. hoped |
B. wanted |
C. wished |
D. required |
|
3. |
A. woods |
B. forests |
C. mountains |
D. countryside |
|
4. |
A. noticing |
B. watching |
C. looking over |
D. seeing |
|
5. |
A. at |
B. of |
C. with |
D. in |
|
6. |
A. for example |
B. like as |
C. such as |
D. like |
|
7. |
A. had been sent to |
B. was sent to |
C. was sent for |
D. had been sent for |
|
8. |
A. to find machine |
B. to study medicine |
C. to make medicine |
D. to study machine |
|
9. |
A. nature scene |
B. social history |
C. natural history |
D. biological lives |
|
10. |
A. from where |
B. in which |
C. from which |
D. at which |
|
11. |
A. Late |
B. Later |
C. After that |
D. From then on |
|
12. |
A. going on a trip |
B. traveling about |
C. about to a journey |
D. making a journey |
|
13. |
A. at board |
B. in ship |
C. on board |
D. on trip |
|
14. |
A. was lasted |
B. had lasted |
C. lasted |
D. had kept |
|
15. |
A. watched |
B, studied |
C. explored |
D. researched |
|
16. |
A. parts |
B. land |
C. coasts |
D. beaches |
|
17. |
A. got |
B. collected |
C. caught |
D. fed |
|
18. |
A. ports |
B. cities |
C. places |
D. towns |
|
19. |
A. remain |
B. show |
C. mean |
D. make |
|
20. |
A. government |
B. relatives |
C. Church |
D. professors |
--How are the things in your village?
--Modern farming methods have been brought ______ and the villagers are _______ now than before.
A. up…well off B. in… badly off C. about…worse off D. in…better off
Do you have any ________on forbidding drunk driving ?
A. account B. summary C. belief D. comment
She is a woman of great knowledge, _______ much can be learned.
A. in whom B. about whom C. of whom D. from whom
--Is there anything else that I can do for you?
--No, thanks. I’m very ________ with what you have done for me.
A. satisfied B. pleased C. content D. All of the above
