Question

    Since the time of Socrates, it has been widely said that art imitates life. In the case of literature, however, it would be more accurate to say that art reflects life. The writings of the Romantics were a natural result of life in 19th century America and American Romanticism was the first truly American literary movement, including a group of authors who wrote and published between 1820 and 1860.

The unique American history and landscape had a profound influence on the romanticists. Many were writing not long after the War of 1812. This was a time of growth and expansion and their idealism fueled high hopes for the infant nation. The country was moving westward into vast newly acquired territory. The frontier, both as a place and a concept, became an important representation of the American spirit.

While American Romanticism was a new attitude toward nature, it was also a new attitude toward people, promoting the solitary individual standing against society. Individualism is a typical American value and was central to their writings, which urged people to follow their inner knowing regardless of the pressure to conform.

Romantic writers rebelled against the idea that reason was the best tool for discovering truth. Instead, they deliberately explored feeling, imagination, fantasy, and belief. Their style took advantage of personal freedom in order to break through the wall separating the author and the reader, and gave the author the freedom to comment on the events in the story in novel ways.

Stylistically, the American romantics liked to experiment with form and the novel became an important vehicle for expression, unlike the European romantics who focused mainly on poetry. They also made clever use of symbols to refer to truths or knowledge that exist beyond rationality (合理性).

1.What increased hopes for the newly born America?

A.The War of 1812. B.The belief of romanticists.

C.The western territory. D.The history of America.

2.Which of the following is an ideal of American romantic writers?

A.Reason should be involved to find out truth. B.The author and the reader need to be separated.

C.Individuals should follow their heart. D.Nature is more important than humans.

3.What literary form did American romantics mainly adopt to express their ideas?

A.Poetry. B.Use of symbols. C.Novels. D.Drama.

4.What is the passage mainly about?

A.Advances in American history. B.The rebellion of Romantic writers.

C.A new attitude to people. D.Romanticism in American literature.

Answer

1.B

2.C

3.C

4.D

【解析】

这是一篇说明文。文章主要介绍了美国文学中的浪漫主义，说明了其对美国的影响、提倡的价值观和浪漫主义的表达形式。

1.细节理解题。根据第二段中This was a time of growth and expansion and their idealism fueled high hopes for the infant nation.可知这是一个增长和扩张的时期，他们的理想主义燃起了对这个新生国家的厚望。由此可知，浪漫主义者的信仰增加了新生美国的希望。故选B。

2.推理判断题。根据第三段中Individualism is a typical American value and was central to their writings, which urged people to follow their inner knowing regardless of the pressure to conform.可知个人主义是一种典型的美国价值观，也是他们作品的核心，敦促人们追随自己内心的认知，而不顾遵从的压力。由此可推知，C选项“每个人都应该跟随自己的心”是美国浪漫主义作家的理想。故选C。

3.细节理解题。根据最后一段中Stylistically, the American romantics liked to experiment with form and the novel became an important vehicle for expression, unlike the European romantics who focused mainly on poetry.可知在文体上，美国浪漫主义者喜欢尝试形式，小说成为了一种重要的表达工具，不像欧洲浪漫主义者主要关注诗歌。由此可知，美国浪漫主义主要采用小说的文学形式来表达他们的思想。故选C。

4.主旨大意题。根据第一段中The writings of the Romantics were a natural result of life in 19th century America and American Romanticism was the first truly American literary movement, including a group of authors who wrote and published between 1820 and 1860.可知浪漫主义作品是19世纪美国生活的自然结果，美国浪漫主义是第一个真正的美国文学运动，包括一群作家在1820年至1860年之间写作和出版。结合文章主要介绍了美国文学中的浪漫主义，说明了其对美国的影响、提倡的价值观和浪漫主义的表达形式。由此可知，这篇文章的主要内容是美国文学中的浪漫主义。故选D。