Considered by many to be America's finest author,Jack London,whose name  was John Griffith Chaney,was born in San Fran?cisco,California,on January 12,1876. Much of his youth was spent in Oakland,California.

  Jack had little formal schooling. At first,he attended school only through the Sth grade,although he desired to read,educating himself at public libraries,especial?ly the Oakland Public Library. In later years ( mid-1890s) ,Jack returned to high school in Oakland and graduated. He was eventually admitted to University of Cali?fornia,Berkeley,but stayed only for six months,finding it to be "not alive enough".

  Jack's life experiences included being a labourer,factory worker,oyster pirate on the San Francisco Bay,member of the California Fish Patrol,sailor,railroad ho?bo,and gold miner. In his teens,he joined Coxey's Army in its famous march on WashingtonD. C. , and was later arrested for vagrancy (流浪罪) in Erie County,New York. As a journalist,Jack covered the Russo-Japanese War for the Hearst newspapers in 1904,and in 1914,he covered the Mexican Revolution for Collier's.

  It was during his crosscountry travels that he came to know about socialism. He became known as the "Boy Socialist of Oakland" because of his passionate (充满热情的) street corner speeches. In fact,he unsuccessfully ran for mayor of Oak?land several times as the socialist party candidate.

  In 1900,Jack married his maths tutor and friend,Bessie Maddern. It was a Vic?torian marriage typical of the time,based on "good breeding", not love. With Bess,he had two daughters—Joan and Becky. Following his separation from Bess three years later,he married his secretary,Charmian Kittredge,whom he considered his "Mate Woman" and with whom he found true love. Together,they played,travelled,wrote and enjoyed life. Their one child,Joy,only lived for thirtyeight hours. In 1907,with Charmian,Jack sailed the Pacific to the South Seas in the Snark,which became the basis for his book,The Cruise of the Snark,

5. Jack left University of California,Berkeley because he thought       .

   A. he did badly there

   B. it was not dynamic enough

   C. he was forced to do so

   D. it didn't have outstanding professors

6. Which of the following can best describe Jack London's life in his early years?

   A. Hard. B. Lucky. C. Comfortable. D. Happy.

7. Jack is a failure as         .

   A. a husband   B. a candidate

   C. an author   D. a journalist

8. Wc can learn from the passage that         .

   A. Jack London married Bessie Maddern due to religion

   B. Jack London had a happy life with Charmian Kittredge

   C. Jack London and Charmian Kittredge had two children

   D. Jack London didn't like schooling when he was young

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