Question

Robert Frost was one of America’s best known and most honored serious writers. But his fame came late in his life.

He was born in San Francisco, California in 1874. He lived in California during his early childhood. He was named after the chief Southern general in America’s Civil War. The general’s name was Robert Edward Lee. The poet was named Robert Lee Frost, because his father wanted to honor the general.

Someone once asked another American writer, Ernest Hemingway, how to become a writer. The best thing, he said, was to have an unhappy childhood. If this is true, Robert Frost’s childhood was unhappy enough to make him a very good writer. Robert Frost’s father was a reporter who wanted to be a politician. But he didn’t make it. He often drank too much wine and became angry. Robert was the victim (受害者) of his anger.

Robert Frost finished high school in 1891. After high school, Robert’s grandfather offered to pay his costs at Dartmouth College. But Robert left the school after a few months. He did not like it. He spent the next few years working at different jobs. At one time, he worked in a factory. Later, he repaired shoes. He was a teacher. He was a reporter. Always, he wrote poetry.

Robert Frost attended Harvard University for two years. After that, he returned to the many jobs he held before. For a while, Frost tried to take care of a farm in the state of New Hampshire. He was not a successful farmer. And he continued to write poetry. He said that until 1930, he earned only about ten dollars a year from writing.

In 1912, he decided to try to make a new start. He took his family to Britain. The cost of living was low. In Britain, Frost found a publisher for his first book of poems. The book was called A Boy’s Will. When it appeared in 1913, Frost received high praise from British readers. Praise was something he had not received in his own country.

Ezra Pound, another American poet living in Britain, read the poems and liked them very much. He wrote a magazine article about Frost. He also helped get Frost’s second book of poems published in America. That book was called North of Boston.

1.The followings are writers EXCEPT _____.

A. Robert Lee Frost    B. Robert Edward Lee

C. Ernest Hemingway    D. Ezra Pound

2.The passage wrote about Hemingway in order to show that _____.

A. he had great influence on Frost’s poetry and life

B. Frost’s poetry style was the same as Hemingway’s

C. Frost spent his childhood unhappily

D. Frost was unhappy because he was the victim of his father

3.What can we learn from the passage?

A. Robert Frost’s father was angry and drank a lot because he didn’t realize his dream.

B. Once Frost’s first book was published he gained great praise in his country.

C. After leaving Harvard University, he began to learn to write poetry.

D. Frost was found to have a gift in poetry while he studied in high school.

4.What’s the passage mainly about?

A. Roberl Frost’s unhappy childhood.    B. Roberl Frost’s first and second book.

C. Roberl Frost’s family and jobs.    D. Roberl Frost’s life and poetry.

Answer

1. B

2. C

3. A

4. D

【解析】

这是一篇人物介绍类阅读。文章主要讲述了罗伯特·弗罗斯特的生平和他写的一些诗歌。

1.细节理解题。结合The poet was named Robert Lee Frost，Someone once asked another American writer, Ernest Hemingway和Ezra Pound, another American poet living in Britain可知A. Robert Lee Frost C. Ernest Hemingway D. Ezra Pound都是作家，只有B项Robert Edward Lee 是个将军（general），故选B。

2.推理判断题。由第三段第二、三句“The best thing, he said, was to have an unhappy childhood. If this is true, Robert Frost's childhood was unhappy enough to make him a very goodwriter.”可知本文提到海明威是为了阐明正是有一个不幸的童年造就了罗伯特·弗罗斯特使他成为一位伟大的诗人，故选C。

3.细节理解题。由第三段倒数第二、三句“Robert Frost's father was a reporter who wanted to be a politician. He often drank too much alcohol and became angry.”可知罗伯特·弗罗斯特的父亲因实现不了自己的梦想而经常酗酒和生气，故选A。

4.主旨大意题。纵观全文以及由本文的主题句，即第一段第一句“Robert Frost was one of America's best known and most honored serious writers.”可知本文主要讲述了罗伯特·弗罗斯特的生平和他写的一些诗歌，故选D。