THE BRONTE FAMILY

Yorkshire, England was the setting for two great novels (小说) of the 19th century. These were Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre and Emily Bronte’s Wuthering Heights. The youngest sister, Anne, was also a gifted novelist, and her books have the same extraordinary quality as her sisters’.

Their father was Patrick Bronte, born in Ireland. He moved with his wife, Maria Bronte, and their six small children to Haworth in Yorkshire in 1820. Soon after, Mrs. Bronte and the two eldest children died, leaving the father to care of the remaining three girls and a boy.

Charlotte was born in 1816. Emily was born in 1818 and Anne in 1820. Their brother Branwell was born in 1817. Left to themselves, the children wrote and told stories and walked over the hills. They grew up largely self-educated. Branwell showed a great interest in drawing. The girls were determined to earn money for his art education. They took positions as teachers or taught children in their homes.

As children they had all written many stories. Charlotte, as a young girl, alone wrote 22 books, each with 60 to 100 pages of small handwriting. Therefore, they turned to writing for income. By 1847, Charlotte had written The Professor; Emily, Wuthering Heights; and Anne, Agnes Grey. After much difficulty Anne and Emily found a publisher(出版商), but there was no interest shown in Charlotte’s book. (It was not published until 1859.) However, one publisher expressed an interest in seeing more of her works. Jane Eyre was already started, and she hurriedly finished it. It was accepted at once; thus each of the sisters had a book published in 1847.

Jane Eyre was immediately successful; the other two, however, did not do so well. People did not like Wuthering Heights. They said it was too wild, too animal-like. But gradually it came to be considered one of the finest novels in the English language. Emily lived only a short while after the publication of the book, and Anne died in 1849.

Charlotte published Shirley in 1849, and Villette in 1853. In 1854 she married Arthur Bell Nicholls. But only a year later, she died of tuberculosis(肺结核) as her sisters had.

We know from the text that      .

A. Jane Eyre was published in 1847    

B. Charlotte Bronte wrote 22 books in all

C. the Bronte sisters received good education     

D. Patrick Bronte helped his daughters with their writing

The underlined words “the other two” in the 5 th paragraph refer to      .

       A. Shirley and Villette   B. The Professor and Agnes Grey

       C. Agnes Grey and Wutheriing Heights   D. The Professor and wuthering Heights

What do we know about the Bronte sisters from the text?

       A. Their novels interested few publishers.

       B. None of them had more than two books published.

       C. None of them lived longer than 40 years old.

       D. Emily was the least successful of the three.

The royal family is a part of British history and cultural identity.
Up until the 17th century, people believed that the British king or queen had a “divine(天赐的)right” to rule. This was the idea that God chose the king or queen and that he or she was therefore above the law. However, this idea was challenged during the English Civil War, when King Charles the First was put in prison and then killed in 1649.
So what role does the British royal family have today?
The Queen is head of the UK and the Commonwealth. She has important formal duties that go with her different titles. As Head of State, for example, she represents the UK on visits abroad and invites other world leaders to visit the UK;as Head of the Armed Forces in name, only she can declare when the UK is at war or when a war is over. She has to sign many government and Commonwealth documents every day.
Although the royal family does the work for the UK, there are British people called“anti-monarchists(反君主制者)”who do not believe there should be a royal family. One criticism(批评意见)is that the British people should not have to pay for the royal family with their taxes(税).
Today, the royal family works hard to be relevant(相关的)in the modern world. The Queen still gives a speech to the nation on television at Christmas, but it gets less and less formal every year;now it is even available as a podcast(播客).
In 2005, after graduating from university, Prince William spent time teaching English in Uruguay, the sort of work many ordinary young British people do in their gap years.
【小题1】What can be concluded from the first two paragraphs?

A.The British king or queen is considered above the law.
B.The English Revolution put an end to the British royal family in 1649.
C.The British king or queen is no longer believed to rule by divine right.
D.The royal family didn’t play an important role in Britain in the 17 th century.
【小题2】Which of the following is among the formal duties of the Queen?
A.Traveling around the UK.
B.Declaring when the world is at war.
C.Inviting other leaders to have dinner with her.
D.Signing Commonwealth documents every day.
【小题3】With the example of Prince William in the last paragraph, the author intends to show that         .
A.Prince William is very popular in the UK
B.the royal family is trying to connect better with ordinary people
C.Prince William has made an effort to win young people’s admiration
D.many young British people do voluntary work
【小题4】It can be inferred from the passage that ___________.
A.the royal family doesn’t have to pay taxes
B.the British people are all in favor of the royal family
C.the British people can talk to the Queen through a podcast
D.the royal family attacks republicans through media and press

The royal family is a part of British history and cultural identity.

Up until the 17th century, people believed that the British king or queen had a “divine(天赐的)right” to rule. This was the idea that God chose the king or queen and that he or she was therefore above the law. However, this idea was challenged during the English Civil War, when King Charles the First was put in prison and then killed in 1649.

So what role does the British royal family have today?

The Queen is head of the UK and the Commonwealth. She has important formal duties that go with her different titles. As Head of State, for example, she represents the UK on visits abroad and invites other world leaders to visit the UK;as Head of the Armed Forces in name, only she can declare when the UK is at war or when a war is over. She has to sign many government and Commonwealth documents every day.

Although the royal family does the work for the UK, there are British people called“anti-monarchists(反君主制者)”who do not believe there should be a royal family. One criticism(批评意见)is that the British people should not have to pay for the royal family with their taxes(税).

Today, the royal family works hard to be relevant(相关的)in the modern world. The Queen still gives a speech to the nation on television at Christmas, but it gets less and less formal every year;now it is even available as a podcast(播客).

In 2005, after graduating from university, Prince William spent time teaching English in Uruguay, the sort of work many ordinary young British people do in their gap years.

1.What can be concluded from the first two paragraphs?

A.The British king or queen is considered above the law.

B.The English Revolution put an end to the British royal family in 1649.

C.The British king or queen is no longer believed to rule by divine right.

D.The royal family didn’t play an important role in Britain in the 17 th century.

2.Which of the following is among the formal duties of the Queen?

A.Traveling around the UK.

B.Declaring when the world is at war.

C.Inviting other leaders to have dinner with her.

D.Signing Commonwealth documents every day.

3.With the example of Prince William in the last paragraph, the author intends to show that         .

A.Prince William is very popular in the UK

B.the royal family is trying to connect better with ordinary people

C.Prince William has made an effort to win young people’s admiration

D.many young British people do voluntary work

4.It can be inferred from the passage that ___________.

A.the royal family doesn’t have to pay taxes

B.the British people are all in favor of the royal family

C.the British people can talk to the Queen through a podcast

D.the royal family attacks republicans through media and press

 

A plane crash in Western Russian killed Polish President Lech Kaczynski and the other 96 political and military officials on board on April 10. The accident has led to huge national mourning in Poland. But it may provide an opportunity for reconciliation (和解) between Poland and Russia, countries that have a troubled relationship.

Many from the political elite were lost in the crash. Beside the president, the dead include the army chief of Staff, the head of National Security Bureau, the national bank president, the deputy foreign minister and other members of parliament.

The Polish delegation was heading to Russia to mark the 70 th anniversary of the Katyn Massacre (屠杀) when the accident occurred. In 1940, about 22,000 Polish soldiers, intellectuals, and officials captured after the Soviet Army invaded Poland in 1939, were killed secretly by Soviet police in the forest of Russia’s Katyn.

The Katyn Massacre had been a sensitive topic between the countries. The former Soviet Union always denied responsibility for the massacre. It was not until 1992 that Russian released archived documents about the killing.

Katyn is merely a short chapter in Poland and Russia’s long and troubled history. In the 18 th century, along with Prussia, (then an important part of Germany) and Austria. Russia participated in three carve – ups of Poland. In 1795, after the third carve – up, the country was erased from the map of Europe. It was in 1918 that Poland regained its independence. But in 1939, at the beginning of the World War II, it was invaded by Germany and the Soviet Union under a secret pact. After the war, Poland became a communist country with close ties to the Soviet Union.

In 1989, Poland switched to capitalism and pursued a pro – West position. The most recent tension between the two countries was in 2008. That year, Poland decided to have a US missile shield (导弹防御系统) on its soil, while neighboring Russia threatened to aim missiles at Poland.

But the plane crash has created a chance for reconciliation, with Russia sharing the sadness of Poland. Russia has declared April 12 a day of mourning for the victims. Flags flew at half – mast in Moscow. And earlier on April 7, Russia Prime Minister Vladimir Putin became the first Russian leader to mark the anniversary of the massacre.

“I think it should improve relations between the two countries, as Russians feel our grief,” said Radek Sikorski, Pland’s foreign minister.

66.Put the following events in order of time.

①The Katyn Massacre

②Poland switched to capitalism.

③Russia divided Poland with Austria and Prussia.

④Poland became a communist country.

⑤Poland was invaded by the Soviet Army.

A.③①④⑤② B.③⑤①④②  C.①③⑤④②  D.①⑤②④③

67.After the accident, which of the following did Russia do to share the sadness of Poland?

A.Flags were lowed to half – mast in the capital city of Russia.

B.Russia threatened to aim missiles at Poland.

C.Russia declared the day when the accident happened a day of mourning for the victims.

D.Vladimir Putin marked the anniversary of the massacre.

68.Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?

A.The Katyn Massacre was the very beginning of Poland and Russia’s trouble relationship.

B.In 1939 about 22,000 Polish soldiers, intellectuals, and officials were killed by Soviet police in the forest of Russia’s Katyn.

C.Altogether 96 political and military officials were killed in the accident.

D.The relationship between Poland and Russia has not always been tense since the three carve – ups of Poland in the 18 th century.

69.It can be conclude from the article that        .

A.the relationship between Poland and Russia will be even tenser than before

B.Poland will cancel its plan to mark the anniversary of the Katyn Massacre

C.no Russian leaders have marked the anniversary of the massacre before, though Russia released the truth in 1992.

D.Poland will forgive Russians, for they showed great sympathy after the accident.

70.What would be the best title for the passage?

A.The troubled relationship between Russia and Poland.

B.Poland and Russia united by tragedy.

C.The 70 th anniversary of the Katyn Massacre.

D.A plane crash killing Polish president.

 

“Racism (种族歧视) is a grown-up disease,” declares the saying on Ruby Bridge’s website along with a photo of Mrs. Bridge today, a 6-year-old girl four decades ago. In the photo, she is walking up the steps of the William Frantz Public School in New Orleans, a little black girl accompanied by two officers who protect her on her way to school.

Her name then was Ruby Nell. It was Nov. 14, 1960. She was the first black child to enroll at this all-white elementary school according to the court order to desegregate in New Orleans schools. Her story is moving -- she was a very courageous child -- and remains a significant proof against intolerance (不宽容) of all kinds. Ruby’s photo brings out another powerful image on her website: Norman Rockwells symbolic painting for Look magazine on Jan. 14, 1964, “The Problem We All Live With.”

Rockwell was an illustrator of exceptional skill and charm. He produced a vast number of unforgettable images over a long career, many of them involving children. His American kids are innocent and appealing, but often, at the same time, decidedly naughty. His method was to photograph his models, and the resulting paintings were photographic. But it is revealing to see how the artist slightly changed facial expressions from photo to oil painting in order to make his paintings communicate with the viewer. Communication, even persuasion, lay at the back of his work; this was art for effect.

“The Problem We All Live With” belongs to Rockwell’s later work, when he began openly showing his strong belief in liberty. This is a highly persuasive image. Before he arrived at the final copy, one sketch (草图) shows the little girl closer to the two officers following her than to those in front. In the finished picture, the girl seems more determined, independent, and untouched. The unfriendly tomatoes thrown on the wall are behind her now, and she, is completely unaffected.

1.Ruby Nell was protected by officers on her way to school, because   .

A.she was a little fighter against racism

B.she was very young, short and timid

C.she was the first black to study in an all-white school

D.she was chosen by the com t0be’wi’th white children

2.According to the passage, “The Problem We All Live With” is a(n)     .

A.social program for American children

B.famous painting by Norman Rockwell

C.photo displayed on Ruby Bridges’ website

D.exhibition at the Norman Rockwell Museum

3.The word “desegregate” in paragraph 2 probably means“   ”.

A.fight against the white

B.end racial separation

C.struggle for freedom

D.stop the black-white conflict

4.The main topic of this passage is   .

A.how Rockwell encouraged Ruby to fight against racism

B.how Ruby won her fight to go to an all-white school

C.how Rockwell expressed his protest in .Iris work

D.how persuasive Rockwell’s earlier work of art is

 

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