Question

【题目】The main reason people come to America is said to be that they can chase the American Dream. Everyone has heard of it, and many have died fighting for it. The only thing is that there is no clear definition of the American Dream. It is not defined by one dream, but by all the opportunities that the United States offers. Since the founding of the United States, people have been striving to define the American Dream.

In the play Death of a Salesman, every character is trying to realize his own version of the American Dream. Willy feels that he has done so. He has spent his whole life as a not very successful salesman. As he gets older, he starts having conflicts with everyone in his life, and feels that only by killing himself will the people around him be able to finally be happy.

Bernard, on the other hand, feels that the American Dream can only be achieved through career success. He shows that through hard work and dedication he will be crowned with success.

The dialogue of the characters reveals the different attitudes they have toward the American Dream, and the reaction of Willy to the fact that Bernard is very successful while he is not.

Many people try to achieve the American Dream, but few actually do so. As with any goal, it takes hard work and dedication to achieve the American Dream. In Death of a Salesman, all aspects of this goal are examined. For the goal to be achieved, the dream must be an attainable one which is worth working toward. It also must be a dream that the professional world accepts and finds useful.

【1】The underlined word “striving” probably has the same meaning as “_________”.

A. trying hardB. giving up

C. bending downD. standing still

【2】According to the text, Death of a Salesman tries to tell us _________.

A. what the American Dream is like

B. why Willy decides to kill himself

C. about Bernard’s dedication to his work

D. the life stories of Willy and Bernard

【3】According to the author, Bernard is successful because _________.

A. he understands the real world

B. he knows how to take advantage of his knowledge

C. he works hard to achieve his goals

D. he is popular around the world

【4】What would be the correct structure of the text?

Answer 1

【答案】

【1】A

【2】A

【3】C

【4】B

【解析】

试题分析：人们为之奋斗的美国梦是什么，人们对美国梦有不同理解和做法。梦想应该是可达到的有用的，并且为之努力。

【1】A 猜测词义题。句意：自从美国成立人们就一直努力定义美国梦。划线词语striving意为“努力”，与A同义，故选A。

【2】A 推理判断题。根据文中第二段only by killing himself will the people around him be able to finally be happy.和第四段The dialogue of the characters reveals the different attitudes they have toward the American Dream, and the reaction of Willy to the fact that Bernard is very successful while he is not.可知，这个例子告诉我们人们心目中对美国梦的不同诠释，故选A。

【3】C 推理判断题。根据第三段Bernard, feels that the American Dream can only be achieved through career success. He shows that through hard work and dedication he will be crowned with success.可知，Bernard是按照自己理解的美国梦去努力的，他成功了，故选C。

【4】B 篇章结构题。文章开头提出人们为之奋斗的美国梦是什么，提出问题；然后用具体事例说明人们对美国梦的不同理解和做法；最后总结梦想应该是可达到的、有用的、能接受的，并且为之努力。结构为总-分-总，故选B。