Question

Moby Dick,or The Whale,of which only 5 copies were sold in the year of its first publication,has been recognized as one of the greatest masterpieces of the twentieth century novels across the world.Yet its author,Herman Melville,was not blessed enough to change his fate as the great work did.

Herman was born into an upper class New York family in 1819,but he had to drop out of school at the age of 15due to bankruptcy （破产）of the family.He struggled for living by working as a clerk at a bank,a farmer and a primary school teacher,but did not manage to hold on quite long to any of the jobs.And in 1841,he turned himself a whaling sailor on a big whaler.

In the next three years,his sailor’s life was torn apart by betrayal,injury,living with anthropophagi（食人族）， love,killing,imprisonment,prison break,which did not bear the expected fruit of fortune or being a captain.

At the age of 25 ,Herman returned to America,starting his writing career.During the following five years,he published five novels,among which was Moby Dick,but none of the works brought him any fame or sense of success.

He had to live up with his poor life,supported by regular financial help from his father in-law.Not much changed even after his father-in-law assisted him onto a post at the customhouse(海关).His self-doubt whether he should fight to write as an author disturbed Herman for the rest of his life till his death in 1899,which is suggested in his wife’s diary.And his wife described his several struggles where he fought bitterly back to his desk to pick up his pen.

1.Which of the following statements is TRUE about Moby Dick according to the passage?

A. It came out as a published novel in the twentieth century.

B. It was not recognized as a great work until the twentieth century.

C. It was not for sale until the twentieth century.

D. It was adampted from the passage?

2.What can be inferred from the passage?

A. Herman chose his life on purpose to make himself a great writer.

B. Herman’s parents had scheduled those failures in his life to make him a man.

C. Herman did not offer the best of himself to foresee and avoid those series of misfortune.

D. Herman’s insufficient capability to fight problems he was faced with might result.

3.What is the first working element that built Herman up be a most outstanding writer?

A. His rich life experience and perseverance. B. His sharp sense to observe and think.

C. Help from his wife and father-in-law. D. His brilliant language talent and skill.

4.What can we learn from Herman’ life story?

A. There is no much point struggling and working too hard in one’s like.

B. Never invest too much of yourself into what others have the power to judge.

C. Never trust decisions that have been made by others.

D. Never doubt yourself but stick to what you are committed to.

Answer 1