Question

    Arthur Miller(1915-2005) is universally recognized as one of the greatest dramatists（剧作家） of the 20^th century. Miller’s father had moved to the USA from Austria-Hungary, drawn like so many others by the “Great American Dream”. However, he experienced severe financial hardship when his family business was ruined in the Great Depression (大萧条时期) of the early 1930s.

Miller’s most famous play, Death of a Salesman, is a powerful attack on the American system, with its aggressive way of doing business and its insistence on money and social status as indicators (标志) of worth. In Willy Loman, the hero of the play, we see a man who has got into trouble with his system, Willy is “burnt out” and in the cruel world of business there is no room for sentiment (情绪): if he can’t do the work, then he is no good to his employer, the Wagner Company, and he must go. Willy is painfully aware of this, and at a loss as to what to do with his lack of success. He refuses to face the fact that he has failed and kills himself in the end.

When it was first staged in 1949, the play was greeted with enthusiastic reviews, and it won the Tony Award for Best Play, the New York Drama Critics’ Circle Award, and the Pulitzer Prize for drama. It was the first play to win all the three of these major awards.

Miller died of heart failure at his home in Roxbury, Connecticut, on the evening of February 10, 2005, the 56^th anniversary of the first performance of Death of a Salesman on Broadway.

1.Why did Arthur Miller’s father move to the USA?

A. His family business failed.

B. He hoped to make his son a dramatist.

C. He was attracted by the “Great American Dream”.

D. He suffered from severe hunger in his home country.

2.What do we learn about Willy Loman in the play Death of a Salesman?

A. He is regarded as a hero by his colleagues.

B. He is a victim of the American system.

C. He runs the Wagner Company.

D. He treats his employer badly.

3.After it was first staged, Death of a Salesman _____.

A. achieved huge success

B. won the first Tony Award

C. was warmly welcomed by salesmen

D. was severely attacked by dramatists

4.What is the text mainly about?

A. Arthur Miller and his family.

B. The awards Arthur Miller won.

C. Arthur Miller and his best-known play.

D. The hardship Arthur Miller experienced.

Answer

1.C

2.B

3.A

4.C

【解析】

本文为说明文。本文主要讲述Arthur Miller的生平经历以及他的最有名的代表作Death of a Salesman的内容及评价。

1.细节理解题。从第一段“Miller’s father had moved to the USA from Austria-Hungary, drawn like so many others by the ‘Great American Dream’”可知米勒的父亲从奥匈帝国移居美国，像许多其他的人一样被“伟大的美国梦”所吸引。故选C。

2.推理判断题。上文情节中得知WillyLoman是戏剧中的一个角色，从第二段的内容，可知Willy Loman陷入到残酷的商业体系不能自拔以致最后自杀，说明他是美国体制的牺牲品。所以选B。

3.推理判断题。从倒数第二段“When it was first staged in 1949, the play was greeted with enthusiastic reviews, and it won the Tony Award for Best Play, the New York Drama Critics’ Circle Award, and the Pulitzer Prize for drama. It was the first play to win all the three of these major awards.”可知，这个戏剧一上映就获得许多奖项，可推断出《推销员之死》一登台就获得了巨大成功。故选A。

4.主旨大意题。综合全文，本文主要讲述Arthur Miller及他的最有名的戏剧。A没有提及，B和D 都是片面的。故选C。