Question

Junot Diaz, The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao

The winner in Culture critics’ survey is Junot Diaz’s first novel, about a bookworm called Oscar, who dreams of finding love. It also was named as the number-one book by the most critics. “It is a big deal for me to fall in love with a book whose topic is science fiction, fantasy and imagination,” says Elizabeth Taylor, the Chicago Tribune’s literary editor.

Edward P. Jones, The Known World

Set in 1855 on the plantation of Henry Townsend——born a slave, now a slave-owner—The Known World is a success, leading readers into a complex moral time without making simple judgments. Facing an early death, Townsend thinks about the future of his 50-acre Virginia plantation and the slaves he treats the way his former owner, now his teacher, taught him.

Hilary Mantel, Wolf Hall

Mantel’s boldly reimagined legend of 16th Century Europe, told from the point of Thomas Cromwell, winning the Man Booker and National Book Critics Circle awards, was adapted to the stage and has been filmed as a new BBC miniseries(短剧). Mary Ann Gwinn, Seattle Times book editor writes, “I have never felt so completely buried into a character’s mind, not to mention a long ago and far-away place.”

Marilynne Robinson, Gilead

Rev John Ames, a small town minister, describes his life and anti-slavery tradition to his young son in beautiful language in this first part of Robinson’s trilogy (along with Home and Lila). “I can’t think of a living novelist who writes more seriously and profoundly about religious faith, which has become an almost forbidden topic in modern literature,” writes Dawn Raffel, who ranked Gilead first on her list. Critic Karen R. Long says, “This multi-generational story tells a desire for transcendence (超越), and makes a case for spiritual life in the 21st century—its own kind of miracle. Gilead will be read in 100 years.”

1.What can we learn from the passage?

A. Oscar likes reading books.    B. Townsend worked in a church.

C. Rev John Ames likes farming.    D. Thomas Gromwell won an Oscar Award.

2.What does Mary Ann Gwinn think of the book “Wolf Hall”?

A. She thinks it’s too dull.    B. She doesn't like the character in the book.

C. She thinks it’s fascinating.    D. She doesn’t like some contents in the book.

3.Which of the following books will have a far-reaching influence in the future?

A. Gilead    B. Wolf Hall

C. The Known World    D. The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao

Answer

1.A

2.C

3.A

【解析】本文主要介绍了四本书。

1.细节理解题。根据第一段a bookworm called Oscar以及第三句“It is a big deal for me to fall in love with a book whose topic is science fiction, fantasy and imagination”可知，Oscar是书虫，热爱读书。故选A。

2.推理判断题。根据第三段“I have never felt so completely buried into a character’s mind, not to mention a long ago and far-away place.”可知，Mary Ann Gwinn认为自己从来没有如此沉迷过一本书，故推知她认为这本书是迷人的。故选C。

3.推理判断题。根据文章最后一句话Gilead will be read in 100 years可知，这本书将会在未来的100年中继续被读，所以这本书应该会对未来有深远的影响。故选A。