Question

Find a balance between the heart and mind

Sense and sensibility was written by British author Jane Austen. It shows two sisters’ love experiences and their complicated marriages. The novel offers the contrast between sense and sensibility in a humorous way.

The elder sister, Elinor Dashwood, is the perfect representation of sense. She always refrains from expressing her emotions, even when she finds out that Edward, her lover, was engaged to another woman. Meanwhile, Marianne Dashwood is the perfect representation of sensibility. She is idealistic. When she is confronted with the nonchalance of her lover John Willoughby, Marianne is greatly annoyed.

Besides the themes of sense and sensibility, the novel also depicts the status of women in that era. Elinor and Marianne used to live with their parents. But, when their father passes away, the family’s property is passed down to their father’s son born out of wedlock. The sisters and their mother don’t have money and have to rely on their distant relative.

Due to their poor status, Willoughby, Marianne’s former lover, eventually marries a woman who does not have as much taste or elegance but who is rich.

The author showed readers the importance of money rather romance in this era. Marriages often depend on the financial situations of either side.

As the story evolves, Elinor and Marianne learn from each other. Marianne learns more self-restraint, and she marries her long-time admirer Colonel Brandon. Elinor is finally able to better express her emotions, and gets married with her lover Edward.

Through their parallel experience of love loss, the sisters learn that sense must mix with sensibility if they are to find personal happiness in a society where status and money govern the rules of love.

1.What is the theme of the novel Sense and Sensibility?

A.Sense should mix with sensibility. B.Status and money govern marriages.

C.Real love is never a selfish emotion. D.There is no true love in the real world.

2.What is paragraph 3 mainly about?

A.The sisters’ family background. B.The loss of Dashwood’s property.

C.The rules of love in Austin’s era. D.Women’s social position in Austin’s era.

3.Which of the following is true according to the text?

A.Edward gets married to a rich woman. B.Colonel Brandon admires Elinor at first.

C.Finally Elinor finds her true happiness. D.Marianne marries Willoughby in the end.

4.What type of writing is the text?

A.A news report. B.A book review.

C.A biography. D.A movie poster.

Answer

1.A

2.D

3.C

4.B

【解析】

这是一篇说明文。《理智与情感》是英国作家简·奥斯汀的作品。它展示了两姐妹的爱情经历和她们复杂的婚姻。小说以幽默的方式呈现了理性与感性的对比。文章主要介绍了这本书的一些人物关系和故事情节，想要传达的主题是通过类似的失去爱的经历，书中的姐妹们认识到，如果她们想在一个地位和金钱主宰爱的社会中找到个人幸福，理智就必须与感性相结合。

1.

细节理解题。根据第三段中Besides the themes of sense and sensibility, the novel also depicts the status of women in that era.可知除了理性和感性的主题，小说还描绘了那个时代女性的地位。以及最后一段Through their parallel experience of love loss, the sisters learn that sense must mix with sensibility if they are to find personal happiness in a society where status and money govern the rules of love.可知通过类似的失去爱的经历，姐妹们认识到，如果她们想在一个地位和金钱主宰爱的社会中找到个人幸福，理智就必须与感性相结合。由此可知，《理智与情感》的主题是理智应该与感性相结合。故选A。

2.

主旨大意题。根据第三段Besides the themes of sense and sensibility, the novel also depicts the status of women in that era. Elinor and Marianne used to live with their parents. But, when their father passes away, the family’s property is passed down to their father’s son born out of wedlock. The sisters and their mother don’t have money and have to rely on their distant relative.可知除了理性和感性的主题，小说还描绘了那个时代女性的地位。Elinor和Marianne过去和父母住在一起。但是，当他们的父亲去世后，家族的财产会传给他们父亲的非婚生子女。这对姐妹和她们的母亲没有钱，不得不依靠她们的远亲。由此可知，第三段的主要内容是Austin时代女性的社会地位。故选D。

3.

细节理解题。根据倒数第二段中Elinor is finally able to better express her emotions, and gets married with her lover Edward.可知Elinor终于能够更好地表达她的情感，并与她的情人爱德华结婚。由此可知，C选项“Elinor终于找到了她真正的幸福”正确。故选C。

4.

推理判断题。根据第一段Sense and sensibility was written by British author Jane Austen. It shows two sisters’ love experiences and their complicated marriages. The novel offers the contrast between sense and sensibility in a humorous way.可知《理智与情感》是英国作家简·奥斯汀的作品。它展示了两姐妹的爱情经历和她们复杂的婚姻。小说以幽默的方式呈现了理性与感性的对比。结合文章主要介绍了这本书的一些人物关系和故事情节，想要传达的主题是通过类似的失去爱的经历，书中的姐妹们认识到，如果她们想在一个地位和金钱主宰爱的社会中找到个人幸福，理智就必须与感性相结合。由此可推知，文章是一篇对《理智与情感》这本书的书评。故选B。