Question

    I was attending a party onenight given in Sir Ross’s honor; and during the dinner, the man sitting next to me told ahumorous story based on the quotation(引语): “There’s a divinity that shapes ourends, rough-hew them how we will.”

The storyteller mentioned that the quotation was from the Bible. He was wrong. I knewthat, and I knew it positively. There couldn’t be the slightest doubt about it. And so, to get afeeling of importance and display my superiority, I appointed myself as an unwelcome committee of one to correct him. He stuck to his guns. “What? FromShakespeare? Impossible! Absurd! That quotation was from the Bible.” And he knew it.

The storyteller was sitting on my right; and Frank Gammond, an old friend of mine,was seated on my left. Mr. Gammond had devoted years to the study of Shakespeare. Sothe storyteller and I agreed to submit the question to Mr. Gammond. Mr. Gammondlistened, kicked me under the table, and then said: “Dale, you are wrong. Thegentleman is right. It is from the Bible.”

On our way home that night, I said to Mr. Gammond: “Frank, you knew that quotation was from Shakespeare.” “Yes, of course,” he replied, “Hamlet, Act Five, Scene Two. But we were guests at a happy time, my dear Dale. Why prove to a man he is wrong? Is that going to make him like you? Why not let him save his face? He didn’t ask for your advice. He didn’t want it. Why argue with him? Always avoid your sharp angle.” The man who said that taught me a lesson I’ll never forget. I not only had made the storyteller uncomfortable, but also had put my friend in an embarrassing situation. How much better it would have been had I not become argumentative.

Nine times out of ten, an argument ends with each of the contestants more firmly convinced than ever that he is absolutely right.You can’t win an argument. You can’t because if you lose it, you lose it; and if you win it, you lose it.

1.What did the author do to get a feeling of importance at the party?

A. Tell a humorous story. B. Show off his rich knowledge.

C. Teach the storyteller a lesson. D. Correct the storyteller’s mistake.

2.Why did Frank Gammond kick the author under the table?

A. Because he was humorous and played tricks on the author.

B. Because he was thoughtful and wanted to stop the author.

C. Because he didn’t know much about the Bible.

D. Because he thought the author was really wrong.

3.How did the author feel about the event that happened at the party?

A. Regretful. B. Thankful.

C. Satisfied. D. Confused.

4.What can be the suitable title for the passage?

A. You Can’t Win an Argument B. You Can’t Make Mistakes in Public

C. Do Have an Open Mind D. Mind Your Manners at a Party

Answer

1.D

2.B

3.A

4.A

【解析】

本文是一篇议论文。文章论述的是“你不可能赢得争论。”十有八九，争论的结果是每个参赛者都比以往更坚定地相信自己是绝对正确的。你不可能赢得争论。你不能因为你失去了它，你就失去了它;如果你赢了，你就输了。

1.细节理解题。根据第二段中to get a feeling of importance and display my superiority, I appointed myself as an unwelcome committee of one to correct him.可知，作者在聚会上纠正说书人的错误获得一种重要感。故选D。

2.推理判断题。根据第三段中Mr. Gammond listened, kicked me under the table, and then said: “Dale, you are wrong. The gentleman is right. It is from the Bible.可知，Frank Gammond在桌子底下踢作者是因为他很有思想，想阻止作者。故选B。

3.推理判断题。根据第四段中The man who said that taught me a lesson I’ll never forget. I not only had made the storyteller uncomfortable, but also had put my friend in an embarrassing situation. How much better it would have been had I not become argumentative.可知，作者对晚会上发生的事很后悔。故选A。

4.主旨大意题。根据最后一段Nine times out of ten, an argument ends with each of the contestants more firmly convinced than ever that he is absolutely right. You can’t win an argument. You can’t because if you lose it, you lose it; and if you win it, you lose it.“十有八九，争论的结果是每个参赛者都比以往更坚定地相信自己是绝对正确的。你不可能赢得争论。你不能因为你失去了它，你就失去了它;如果你赢了，你就输了。”可知，本文最佳主题是You Can’t Win an Argument。故选A。