Question

Mark Twain is someone Americans are taught to love. Older relatives, English teachers and the media always praise (表扬) him. But when you actually take the time to read The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, you find that his work is more wonderful than you could ever imagine.

The novel describes a young boy named Tom Sawyer growing up in a small town along the Mississippi River. He explores the countryside on a riverboat with his friends, falls in love with girls, starts secret clubs and searches for treasure. Twain’s idea of childhood is magical – a time of imagination, wonder and, of course, adventure.

More importantly, through the eyes of Tom Sawyer, Twain cleverly makes fun of US culture. For example, Tom hates going to church, and Twain uses scenes of Tom there to mock religion and its old traditions.

Twain’s writing is full of these kinds of critical (批判的) points about culture and politics. That’s why he is so loved in the US – he wasn’t afraid to state his opinions, and he did so clearly.

He also believed strongly in women’s right to vote in elections and gave a famous speech on the subject, called “Votes for Women”, in 1901.

“Tom was a great hero once more – the pet of the old, the envy of the young,” Twain writes in Tom Sawyer. But he could just as well be describing himself.

1.According to the writer, after reading The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, you are likely to think _______.

A. it’s not worth all the praise

B. it’s as wonderful as you imagined

C. it’s better to read it with teachers

D. it’s even better than you imagined

2.What is Paragraph 2 mainly about?

A. A brief description of the novel.

B. Where Twain’s idea of childhood comes from.

C. How naughty and adventurous Tom Sawyer is.

D. What makes Tom Sawyer’s adventures so wonderful.

3.What does the underlined word “mock” mean?

A. make changes to B. make fun of

C. give reasons for D. give examples of

4.Why is Twain so loved in the US according to the article?

A. He supported women’s right to vote.

B. He wrote bad things about US wars abroad.

C. He criticized American culture and society clearly and cleverly.

D. He showed readers a magical childhood that everyone would love.

Answer 1

1.D

2.A

3.B

4.C

【解析】

试题分析：短文大意：这篇短文主要介绍了美国著名小说家马克吐温的小说和他的作品风格。

1. when you actually take the time to read The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, you find that his work is more wonderful than you could ever imagine.描述，可知当你度过汤姆索亚历险记之后，你会觉得他比想象中的好。故选D。

2.

3. importantly, through the eyes of Tom Sawyer, Twain cleverly makes fun of US culture.描述，可知此处指的是，讽刺了宗教和它的旧传统。故选B。

4. writing is full of these kinds of critical (批判的) points about culture and politics. That’s why he is so loved in the US – he wasn’t afraid to state his opinions, and he did so clearly. 描述，可知马克吐温的作品受欢迎的原因是他鲜明巧妙的批判了美国的社会和文化。故选C。

考点：考查人物传记类阅读。