Mark Twain (1835-1910) – we’ve all heard the name, but what makes him “the father of American literature” as classic US author William Faulkner once called him?
Mark Twain is someone Americans are taught to love. Older relatives, English teachers and the media always praise him. But when you actually take the time to read The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, you find that his work is more wonderful than you could’ve ever imagined.
The novel describes a young boy named Tom Sawyer growing up in a small town along the Mississippi River. He explores the countryside on a riverboat with his friends, falls in love with girls, starts secret clubs and searches for treasure. Twain’s idea of childhood is magical – a time of imagination, wonder and, of course, adventure.
More importantly, through the eyes of Tom Sawyer, Twain cleverly makes fun of US culture. For example, Tom hates going to church, and Twain uses scenes of Tom there to mock religion (宗教) and its old traditions. “Often, the less there is to justify a traditional custom, the harder it is to get rid of it,” he writes in one chapter.
Twain’s writing is full of these kinds of critical (批判的) points about culture and politics. That’s why he is so loved in the US – he wasn’t afraid to state his opinions, and he did so clearly. For instance, Twain didn’t like US wars abroad. In 1900, after the US invaded (入侵) the Philippines, Twain wrote in a newspaper article: “We do not intend to free, but to subjugate (征服) the people of the Philippines… We have gone there to conquer.” He also believed strongly in women’s right to vote in elections and gave a famous speech on the subject, called “Votes for Women”, in 1901.
“Tom was a glittering hero once more – the pet of the old, the envy of the young,” Twain writes in Tom Sawyer. But he could just as well be describing himself.
1.According to the author, after reading The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, you are likely to think _____.
A. it’s even better than you expected
B. it’s as wonderful as you expected
C. it’s better to read it with teachers
D. it’s not worth all the praise
2.What is Paragraph 3 mainly about?
A. A brief description of the novel.
B. Where Twain’s idea of childhood comes from.
C. How naughty and adventurous Tom Sawyer is.
D. What makes Tom Sawyer’s adventures so wonderful.
3.What does the underlined word “mock” mean?
A. make changes to B. make fun of
C. give reasons for D. give examples of
4.Why is Twain so loved in the US according to the article?
A. He wrote bad things about US wars abroad.
B. He supported women’s right to vote.
C. He criticized American culture and society clearly and cleverly.
D. He showed readers a magical childhood that everyone would love.
Now, it’s time for some brief news items.
Teens Go Online
Some 13 million European children under 18 use the Internet for schoolwork, games and music according to research done by Nielsen’s “Net-rating”. The study covered Britain, Germany, France, Italy and Spain. Experts advised parents to limit the time their kids on line and keep them away from chat rooms.
Chat to the magic Mum
British author J.K.Rowling, mother of magic boy Harry Potter, will do an Internet interview about her new book ”Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” on June 26. Before the event, children are invited to send their questions about Harry to the website. The book will hit stores in the US and UK on June 21 and will arrive in China in August.
School Soldiers
Russian school students will have to do basic military training (军训) in their final year of school, the government has decided．The lesson will include learning to fire guns, marching drills and how to deal with a chemical, nuclear or biological attack. The activity is seen as part of a drive toward the education of their love for their country.
_____________________
Is it hard for you to get up early and get ready for classes? Some students at Winter Park High School just roll out of bed in their pajamas(睡衣) and go to class in their own bedrooms. Of course, their teachers and classmates do not see them because all their class work is on the computer. The Florida High School, the state’s only online school, has 250 students who are taking classes at home by computer. Students in this first online program take classes in algebra(代数), American government , chemistry, computer, economics, and web-page design. They also have to go to regular school to attend other classes.
1.Why will Russian school students have basic military training?
A. To get ready for being a military.
B. To learn to protect themselves.
C. To gain some military knowledge.
D. To develop their love for the country.
2.About Florida High School, which of these facts is true?
A. Some of the students have to attend classes at home instead of in the school.
B. There are altogether 250 students who take classes in the classrooms.
C. At the online school, 250 students are taking classes not only by computer.
D. Students can’t take classes in algebra, chemistry, computer and so on.
3.The news from Florida can be given a title “ ” .
A. Get up Late B. Online School
C. Magical Computers D. No Teachers
4.What is the second news item mainly about?
A. J.K.Rowling will have an Internet interview.
B. Children will meet Harry Potter’s mother.
C. The Harry Potter book will be sold on the Internet.
D. The Harry Potter book will arrive in China in early June.
“Let the world know China and let China know the world.” I can’t remember exactly where I have seen this slogan(口号) in Beijing. Considering the simple fact of the wish people have for learning foreign languages and the number of people going abroad each year, everyone can tell how hard China and Chinese people are trying to know the world. But I didn’t know how equally important and urgent(迫切的) it is for the world to know China until I came to the UK.
In the self-introduction during our first class in a PhD course, when I told them I wanted to finish the degree as soon as I could and then go back to China, the British students looked at me in both surprise and disbelief. Their idea is that everybody who comes to the UK, including the Chinese, will stay here to look for a better life and that this is the only place where one can find a better life.
When I asked my friend for advice about buying a new car, she looked at me, asking in surprise, “A new car?” Later I found out that her surprise was because of the popular image of Chinese students: either too poor or too economical.
When we Chinese students for the first time joined the monthly performance hour of the department and sang some traditional songs and gave a short humorous introduction, all the teachers and students were surprised. To them, Chinese students are so serious and shy. These ideas have been because of the fact that Chinese students are sometimes not seen among the students.
So “let the world know China” should no longer remain an empty slogan. It is something we all should do, home and abroad, and something we should do with confidence and openness.
1.In British students’ opinion, Chinese students come to the UK mainly because .
A. they want to get a British degree
B. the education in UK is the best in the world
C. they want to know more about British
D. they want to look for a better life in Britain
2.The general image of Chinese students in British students’ mind is_____.
A. very rich B. very common
C. very humorous D. very poor or economical
3.The British students think Chinese students were serious and shy because Chinese students_____.
A. always spoke poor English
B. didn’t show themselves bravely in public
C. didn’t have much money
D. had problem communicating with them
4.By writing the passage, the writer wants the reader _____.
A. to be as humorous as possible
B. to take away the empty slogan
C. not to be too poor or too economical
D. to show ourselves with confidence
A little boy selling magazines for school walked up to a house that people rarely visited. The house was very old and the owner hardly ever came out. When he did, he would not say hello to neighbors or passers-by, but simply glare at them.
The boy knocked on the door and waited, sweating from fear of the old man.
As he was ready to walk away, the door slowly opened. “What do you want?” the old man said.
“Uh, sir, I uh am selling these magazines and, uh, I was wondering if you would like to buy one.”
The old man just stared at the boy. The boy could see inside the old man’s house and saw that he had dog figurines (小雕像) on the fireplace. “Do you collect dogs?” the little boy asked.
“Yes, I have many collectibles in my house. They are my family here. They are all I have.”
The boy then felt sorry for the man, as it seemed that he was a very lonely soul. “Well, I do have a magazine here for collectors. It is perfect for you. I also have one about dogs since you like dogs so much.”
The old man was ready to close the door and said: “No, boy, I don’t need any magazines of any kind, now goodbye.”
The little boy was sad for the old man because he was alone in the big house. Then he thought of a little dog figurine that he had got some years earlier from an aunt. The boy headed back down to the old man’s house with it. He knocked on the door again and this time the old man came right to the door. “Boy, I thought I told you no magazines.”
“No, sir. I know that. I wanted to bring you a gift.” The boy handed him the figurine and the old man’s face lit up.
The old man was surprised and said: “Boy, you have a big heart. Why are you doing this?”
The boy smiled at the man and said: “Because you like dogs.”
From that day on, the old man started coming out of the house and greeting people. He and the boy became friends.
This simple nice act changed both of their lives forever.
1.How did the boy feel when he first knocked on the old man’s door?
A. Excited. B. Sad.
C. Frightened. D. Silly.
2.What can we learn from the article about the old man?
A. He preferred dog figurines to real dogs.
B. He longed for (渴望) friendship with others.
C. He found his neighbors unfriendly.
D. He was sad because he felt alone.
3.When the boy knocked on the door again, ________.
A. the old man was impatient with him
B. the old man refused to open the door
C. he didn’t think the old man would open it
D. he wanted to sell a magazine to the old man
4.With the story, the author tries to show us that _______.
A. smiling is the best way to make others feel comfortable
B. we should help strangers if they are angry
C. being kind to others can have a positive effect on our lives
D. you need to do something special if you want to make friends
In a small village, there lived a potter (陶工) who had a donkey. Every day his donkey would carry soil from the field to his house. the field was quite far off, the potter would under a tree midway, his donkey nearby.
One day, the potter to take the rope with which he tied the donkey every day. When he reached the , he thought, “How do I tie this donkey today? He might if I sleep.” The potter decided to lie down holding the donkey’s while sleeping.
But this way, neither the donkey nor the potter was able to take a rest. A saint (圣人), who to be passing by, saw the potter holding on to the donkey’s ears. When the potter told the saint what the was, the saint said: “Take the donkey to the place where you tie him every day. to tie him using an imaginary rope. I you he won’t run away.” The potter did what the saint had said.
He left the donkey and went to take a nap. When he woke up, to his and relief, he found the donkey standing in the place.
Soon the potter prepared to leave for . But the donkey did not . “What is wrong with this donkey?!” the potter in frustration.
, the potter saw the wise saint again. He ran up to the saint and told him about the donkey’s behavior. The saint said: “You tied up the donkey, but did you untie him? Go and pretend to untie the rope.” The potter the saint’s advice.
Now the donkey was ready to leave for home. The potter understood that his donkey was a bonded (被束缚的) donkey. The potter thanked the wise saint and went home with his donkey.
1.A. Though B. Unless C. Because D. While
2.A. stand B. rest C. sing D. dance
3.A. training B. walking C. feeding D. tying
4.A. forgot B. decided C. stopped D. agreed
5.A. stone B. tree C. bridge D. house
6.A. walk around B. lie down C. run away D. make noises
7.A. ears B. nose C. legs D. tail
8.A. failed B. tried C. happened D. managed
9.A. animal B. problem C. place D. result
10.A. Learn B. Consider C. Wish D. Pretend
11.A. promise B. believe C. warn D. remind
12.A. anger B. surprise C. regret D.disappointment
13.A. similar B. special C. same D. wrong
14.A. home B. field C. factory D. village
15.A. stand B. move C. run D. understand
16.A. laughed B. cheered C. replied D. cried
17.A. Strangely B. Luckily C. Finally D.Unfortunately
18.A. funny B. foolish C. common D. strange
19.A. offered B. followed C. refused D. recognized
20.A. sadly B. bravely C. seriously D. happily
The most important thing you must remember is that success doesn’t come ________ and that it’s the result of years of hard work.
A. in fact B. on purpose
C. by accident D. as usual
