Question

Born in Detroit, Michigan, on January 10^th, 1928. Philip Levine was formally educated in the Detroit public school system. After graduation from university, Levine worked a number of industrial jobs, including the night work in factories, reading and writing poems in his off hours. In 1953, he studied at the University of Iowa. There, Levine met Robert Lowell and John Berryman, whom Levine called his “one great guide”.

About writing poems, Levine wrote: “I believed even then that if I could change my experience into poems I would give it the value and honor that it did not begin to have on its own. I thought too that if I could write about it, I could come to understand it: I believed that if I could understand my life——or at least the part my work played in it——I could write it with some degree of joy, something obviously missing from my life.”

Levine published (出版) his first collection of poems. On the Edge in 1961, followed by Not This Pig in 1968. Throughout his life Levine published many books of poems, winning many prizes. A review said: “Levine writes poems about the bravery of men, physical labor, simple pleasures and strong feelings, often set in working-class Detroit or in central California, where he worked or lived.”

He taught for many years at California State University, Fresno and served as Distinguished Poet in Residence for the Creative Writing Program at New York University. After retiring from teaching, Levine divided his time between Brooklyn, New York, and Fresno, California, until his death on February 14^th, 2015. His final poem collection, The Last Shift, as well as a collection of essays (短文) and other writings, My Lost Poets: A Life in Poetry, were published in 2016.

1.How did Levine make a living right after graduation from his university?

A. He worked as a full-time writer.

B. He worked as a worker in factories.

C. He worked as a teacher in university.

D. He worked as a great guide in writing.

2.According to Levine’s words, he thought_______.

A. he had lived the life he wanted

B. poems made him misunderstand life

C. his life was valueless and dishonorable

D. poems could give him much pleasure

3.What was the main subject of Levine’s poems?

A. The scenes of his hometown

B. Love stories

C. The imaginary future

D. Life of common people.

4.Which poem collection was published after his death?

A. The Last Shift    B. Not This Pig

C. My Lost Poets: A Life in Poetry    D. On the Edge

Answer

1. B

2. D

3. D

4. A

【解析】

本文是一篇人物介绍。文章主要介绍了美国著名诗人菲利普·莱文。

1.细节理解题。根据文章第一段After graduation from university, Levine worked a number of industrial jobs, including the night work in factories, reading and writing poems in his off hours.可知，莱文大学毕业之后，他在多家工厂当过工人。故选B。

2.细节理解题。根据文章第二段I believed that if I could understand my life-or at least the part my work played in it-I could write it with some degree of joy, something obviously missing from my life.可知，莱文可以带着一定程度的喜悦来写诗歌，说明诗歌可以给他带来很多乐趣。故选D。

3.推理判断题。根据文章第三段A review said: “Levine writes poems about the bravery of men, physical labor，simple pleasures and strong feelings, often set in working-class Detroit or in central California, where he worked or lived.”可知，莱文写的诗歌都是关于体力劳动的、以他工作或生活的底特律或加利福尼亚中部工人阶层为背景，从而推断出，莱文诗歌的主题是普通人的生活。故选D。

4.细节理解题。根据文章最后一段After retiring from teaching, Levine divided his time between Brooklyn, New York, and Fresno, California, until his death on February 14, 2015. His final poem collection, The Last Shift, as well as a collection of essays(短文)and other writings, My Lost Poets, A Life in Poetry, were published in 2016.可知，莱文于2015年去世，而他最后的诗集《最后一班》在2016年出版。故选A。