Question

    Toni Morrison was an American writer who received the Nobel Prize in Literature. Her novels. Beloved, Song of Solomon and others explored the way African-Americans search for freedom and identity in a country obsessed with skin color. Morrison was nearly 40 when she published her first novel The Bluest Eye in 1970. The Nobel Prize committee described her writing as language itself, a language she wants to liberate from race. Her novels discussed America's past, focusing on black history and the effects of slavery and racism. She culled her characters “the unfree at the heart of the democratic experiment”.

In 1988, she won the Pulitzer Prize for her novel Beloved, the story of a mother who kills her baby daughter rather than permit  her to be born  into slavery. It became a best-seller and was later made into a film with Oprah Winfrey. Many Americans admired her as the country's greatest living writer, including former President Barack Obama.

She was born in 1931. She attended Howard University, an all-black university in Washington, D. C. At Howard, she read African. British and American literature, including writers William Faulkner and Virginia Woolf. After a short marriage, she became a single mother of two sons and worked as a book editor in New York.

Several publishers rejected her first book The Bluest Eye but it impressed The New York Times' book critic John Leonard, who believed Morrison was an important new voice. He said her writing was “so charged with pain and wonder that the novel becomes poetry”.

Morrison enjoyed her literary fame and was proud of her Nobel Prize.

1.What are Toni Morrison's books mainly about?

A.Women's equality and rights. B.The development of America.

C.The literature of America. D.American history and racism.

2.Which of the following helped Toni Morrison receive the Pulitzer Prize?

A.Beloved. B.Song of Solomon.

C.The Bluest Eye. D.The New York Times.

3.Why is former President Barack Obama mentioned?

A.To show Barack Obama's support in literature.

B.To prove Toni Morrison' greatness as a writer.

C.To stress Toni Morrison' contribution to America.

D.To remind readers of the skin color of Barack Obama.

4.What can we infer from John Leonard's words?

A.He thought highly of Morrison. B.He rejected the book The Bluest Eye.

C.The book The Bluest Eye made him painful. D.Toni Morrison's book was hard to understand.

Answer

1.D

2.A

3.B

4.A

【解析】

这是一篇说明文。本文讲述了一个非裔美国作家Toni Morrison获得了诺贝尔奖，以及美国最高荣誉的故事。本文介绍了她的个人经历，她为她是非裔美国人以及获得诺贝尔奖而感到骄傲。

1.

细节理解题。根据第一段中The Nobel Prize committee described her writing as language itself, a language she wants to liberate from race. Her novels discussed America's past, focusing on black history and the effects of slavery and racism. 可知诺贝尔奖委员会称她的作品本身就是语言，她希望将语言从种族中解放出来。她的小说探讨了美国的过去，着重于黑人历史以及奴隶制和种族主义的影响。由此可知，Toni Morrison小说主要是关于美国历史和种族主义。故选D。

2.

细节理解题。根据第二段中In 1988, she won the Pulitzer Prize for her novel Beloved, the story of a mother who kills her baby daughter rather than permit her to be born into slavery.可知1988年，她的小说Beloved获得了普利策奖。小说讲述了一位母亲杀死自己年幼的女儿，而不是让她生下来当奴隶的故事。由此可知，Beloved帮助Morrison获得了普利策奖。故选A。

3.

推理判断题。根据第二段中Many Americans admired her as the country's greatest living writer, including former President Barack Obama.可知包括美国前总统奥巴马在内的许多美国人都钦佩她，认为她是美国最伟大的在世作家。由此可推知，文章美国前总统奥巴马，是为了证明Toni Morrison作为作家的伟大。故选B。

4.

推理判断题。根据倒数第二段Several publishers rejected her first book The Bluest Eye but it impressed The New York Times' book critic John Leonard, who believed Morrison was an important new voice. He said her writing was “so charged with pain and wonder that the novel becomes poetry”.可知几家出版商拒绝了她的第一本书《最蓝的眼睛》，但它打动了《纽约时报》的书评家John Leonard，他认为Morrison是一位重要的新声音。他说，她的作品“充满了痛苦和惊奇，以至于这部小说变成了诗歌”。由此可推知，John Leonard对Morrison评价很高。故选A。