题目内容
“Never ______ to hurt his feeling while I was expressing myself at the meeting,”
explained Mike.
A. did I expect B. had I expected C. I expected D. expected I
In a recent class I was asked “What is a short story?” My first answer was that it was something that could be read in one sitting and brought an illumination(启示)to the reader, sudden and golden like sunlight cracking(破裂, 砸开) through a heavy cloud. I went on to say that in my opinion a “real” short story was closer to poetry than to a novel.
Here are some definitions of the short story. My favorite is Benet's: “something that can be read in an hour and remembered for a lifetime”. One writer said, “The theme of a novel won't fit into the framework of a short story; It's like trying to squeeze a large painting done on a wall into the frame of a miniature (微型画)。 And as in a miniature painting, the details need to be sharp. ”
The short story is an example of one aspect of human nature. Often a character undergoes some event, something that offers him or her change. This is why it’s said that short stories usually “say something ”, often a small something, but sometimes delivered with such accuracy that the effect is strongly felt, even a life-moment for some readers, something similar to a religious experience or to witnessing a never-to-be-repeated scene in nature.
Ok, let’s form a definition here: A short story is an account, rarely over 10, 000 words or below 500 words-more commonly 1, 500 to 5, 000 words-a single-sitting read, but with enough time and weight to move the reader. It is narrow and focused to produce an effect through the story, most commonly through events affecting some change in an individual.
Writer Isabelle Allende once wrote: “Novels are, for me, adding up details, just work, work, work, then you're done. Short stories are more difficult-they have to be perfect, complete in themselves. ”
【小题1】The writer of the passage is probably a ______.
A.poet | B.painter | C.teacher | D.student |
A.at most 10, 000 words | B.below 500 words | C.over 5, 000words | D.around 2, 000 words |
A.experiences | B.discovers | C.discusses | D.appreciates |
A.Novels are too long for us to read. |
B.Short stories are too short for us to read. |
C.Short stories have more details than novels. |
D.Short stories are more perfect and difficult than novels. |
A.How Do You Write a Short Story? | B.What Exactly Is a Short Story? |
C.Is a Short Story Similar to Poetry? | D.Are Short Stories Perfect and Complete? |
The Mayan Indians lived in Mexico for thousands of years. The Maya were so bright that they achieved a lot. They had farms, temples and cities with many buildings. They knew much about nature and the world around them. This knowledge helped them to live a better life than most people of that time.
In ancient Mexico there were many small clearings in the forest. In each clearing was a village with fields of crops around it. The Maya planted seeds after they cleared the land. A farmer was able to grow crops that produced for several people. But not every Maya had to be a farmer. Some were builders or priests (祭司).
The Maya believed in many gods. They built large temples to honor them. Skillful workers built cities around these temples. It was difficult because they had to carry all of the building materials themselves. Today, many of these ancient Mayan cities and temples are still standing.
Although the Maya worked hard to build the beautiful cities, very few of them lived in them. Usually, only the priests lived in the cities. The other people lived in small villages in the forests. Their houses were much simpler. Most Maya lived a simple life close to nature.
Measuring time correctly was important to the Maya, so Mayan priests made a system to keep track of time. They wrote numbers as dots ( … ) and bars ( — ). They also made a calendar (日历). The year was divided into 18 months of 20 days each with five days left over.
Around the year 800, the Maya left their villages and beautiful cities, never to return. No one knows why this happened. They may have died from a deadly disease. They may have left because the soil could no longer grow crops. The lost secrets of the Maya are still beyond the reach of modern people. They are still one of our greatest mysteries (神秘).
【小题1】The Maya lived better than most people of their times because _____.
A.they had skillful workers |
B.they believed in many gods |
C.they knew better about nature |
D.they could measure time correctly |
A.the calendar was first invented by the ancient Maya |
B.the ancient Mayan cities and temples were well built |
C.the ancient Mayan people led a happy life in the cities |
D.the priests were not highly respected by the ancient Maya |
A.the Mayan people | B.the Mayan villages |
C.the Mayan cities | D.the lost secrets of the Maya |
A.The Life of the Maya | B.The Cities of the Maya |
C.The Mystery of the Maya | D.The Belief of the Maya |
Mr.Smith warned his daughter ______ after drinking.
A.to never drive |
B.never driving |
C.never to drive |
D.never drive |