Question

    I was about 30 years old and was working as a firefighter in the South Bronx’s Engine Co. 82. It was a restful Sunday and between alarms I rushed to the office to read a copy of the New York Times. I read an article on the Book Review section which openly stated what I thought to be a calumny — that William Butler Yeats had gone beyond his Irishness and was forever to be known as a universal poet. As I read it, my blood began to boil.

There were few things I was more proud of than my Irish root, and ever since I first picked up a book of his poems from a shelf when I was in the military, Yeats had been my favorite Irish writer, followed by Sean O’Casey and James Joyce.

I grabbed a piece of paper and wrote out a letter of anger to the editor. Throughout Yeats’ poetry, his view of the world and the people in it was basically Irish. He had lived his life and written his poetry in a truly Irish way. It was annoying to think Irishness was something to be transcended (超越).

I don’t know why I felt it my duty to safeguard the reputation of the world’s greatest poet. I just knew that I had to write that letter.

After my letter got published, I received a letter from The New Yorker, asking for an interview. When my article Fireman Smith appeared in that magazine, the editor of a large publishing firm called me, asking if I was interested in writing a book about my life. I had little confidence to write a whole book, though the subject was worthy. I wrote Report From Engine Co. 82 in six months, and it sold really well. In the years that followed, I wrote three more best-sellers.

Being a writer had been far from my expectations. How had it happened? I often found myself thinking about it, and my thoughts always came back to that letter to the New York Times. For me, the writing was a natural consequence of the passion (热情) I felt and the subjects represented the great values burning within me as I wrote.

Over the years, my five children have come to me with one dilemma or another. My answer is always the same. Think about what you’re feeling and measure the heat of the fire in your heart, for that is your passion. Your education and your experience will guide you toward making a right decision, but your passion will enable you to make a difference in whatever you do. That’s what I learned the day I stood up for Ireland’s greatest poet.

1.Why did the author write to New York Times?

A.To present his love for literature.

B.To spread Irish culture to the world.

C.To show off his writing.

D.To defend the reputation of an Irish poet.

2.What does the underlined word “calumny” in Paragraph 1 probably mean?

A.A false statement. B.A great honor.

C.A total lie. D.A good reason.

3.Which statement is true according to the text?

A.The author thinks Yeats is more universal than Irish.

B.The author’s passion is the key to his success in writing.

C.Yeats’s poems inspires the author to be a writer.

D.The author believes education and experience count most.

4.Which of the following can be the best title for the text?

A.Yeats, my Irish hero

B.My writing career

C.A letter that changed my life

D.Honesty is the best policy

Answer

1.D

2.A

3.B

4.C

【解析】

本文是一篇记叙文，作者给《纽约时报》写信捍卫爱尔兰诗人Yeats的名誉，没想到这封信改变了作者的一生，从此走上了写作的道路。

1.细节理解题。根据第三段中的“I grabbed a piece of paper and wrote out a letter of anger to the editor. I don’t know why I felt it my duty to safeguard the reputation of the world’s greatest poet.”和第四段中的“I don’t know why I felt it my duty to safeguard the reputation of the world’s greatest poet.”可知，作者拿起一张纸，愤怒地向编辑写了一封信。作者认为自己有责任维护世界上最伟大的诗人的声誉。由此可知，作者给《纽约时报》写信是为了捍卫爱尔兰诗人Yeats的名誉。故选D。

2.词义猜测题。根据第一段中的“that William Butler Yeats had gone beyond his Irishness and was forever to be known as a universal poet. As I read it, my blood began to boil.”及第三段中的“wrote out a letter of anger to the editor”可知，那篇文章公开说Yeats超越了他的爱尔兰身份，作者读的时候热血沸腾并且很生气。因此作者认为这种说法是一种诽谤，由此可知，划线词意为“一个不当的评价”。故选A。

3.细节理解题。根据倒数第二段中的“For me, the writing was a natural consequence of the passion I felt”可知，对作者来说写作是他所感受到的激情产生的自然结果。因此作者认为他写作事业取得成功的关键在于他的激情。故选B。

4.标题判断题。通读全文可知，作者给《纽约时报》写信捍卫爱尔兰诗人Yeats的名誉，没想到这封信改变了作者的一生，他从此走上了写作的道路。因此C项（改变“我”一生的一封信）符合文章内容，可以作为标题。故选C。