题目内容
Mark Twain is someone Americans are taught to love. Older relatives, English teachers and the media always praise him. But when you actually take the time to read The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, you find that his work is more wonderful than you could ever imagine.
The novel describes a young boy named Tom Sawyer growing up in a small town along the Mississippi River. He explores the countryside on a riverboat with his friends, falls in love with girls, starts secret clubs and searches for treasure. Twain’s idea of childhood is magical – a time of imagination, wonder and, of course, adventure.
More importantly, through the eyes of Tom Sawyer, Twain cleverly makes fun of US culture. For example, Tom hates going to church, and Twain uses scenes of Tom there to mock religion(宗教) and its old traditions.
Twain’s writing is full of these kinds of critical (批判的) points about culture and politics(政治). That’s why he is so loved in the US – he wasn’t afraid to state his opinions, and he did so clearly.
He also believed strongly in women’s right to vote in elections and gave a famous speech on the subject, called “Votes for Women”, in 1901.
“Tom was a great hero once more——the pet of the old, the envy of the young,” Twain writes in Tom Sawyer. But he could just as well be describing himself.
1.According to the writer, after reading The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, you are likely to think ___.
A. it’s not worth all the praise
B. it’s as wonderful as you imagined
C. it’s better to read it with teachers
D. it’s even better than you imagined
2.What is Paragraph 2 mainly about?
A. A brief(简要的) description of the novel.
B. Where Twain’s idea of childhood comes from.
C. How naughty and adventurous Tom Sawyer is.
D. What makes Tom Sawyer’s adventures so wonderful.
3.What does the underlined word “mock” mean?
A. make changes to B. make fun of
C. give reasons for D. give examples of
4. Why is Twain so loved in the US according to the article?
A. He supported women’s right to vote.
B. He wrote bad things about US wars abroad.
C. He criticized American culture and society(社会) clearly and cleverly.
D. He showed readers a magical childhood that everyone would love.
5. Which is the best title of this passage?
A. Mark Twain never stops laughing at US society
B. Mark Twain and Tom Sawyer
C. Mark Twain’s life
D. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
Trees should be pruned(修剪)when it is necessary. A good gardener will cut away the overgrown and unwanted branches(树枝). They can make the trees more beautiful and healthier. But sometimes we’d better leave the trees to grow in their own way. Because the inexperienced gardeners will damage(毁坏) the trees.
First， pruning may be done to make sure that trees in good shape or size. Maybe people want to get a tree of the right height and at the same time to help the growth of small side branches. Then people can make the tree’s appearance thick or give it a special shape.
Secondly， pruning may be done to make the tree healthier. You may cut out diseased or dead branches. The health of a tree may be encouraged by removing branches that are blocking up (封闭)the center and so stopping the free movement of air.
One result of pruning is that an open wound is left on the tree and this provides an easy chance for disease， but the wound will heal(愈合). Often there is a race between the healing and the disease as to whether the tree will live or die， so that there is a period when the tree is in danger. Every gardener should try to reduce that danger of death as soon as possible. It is important to make the area， which has been pruned， smooth and clean， because healing will be slowed down by roughness(粗糙). You should allow the cut surface to dry for a few hours and then pain it with one of the special materials. Pruning is usually done in winter， because you can see the shape of the tree clearly and also it is very unlikely(未必的) that the cuts you make will bleed. If this happens， it is impossible to paint them properly.
Pruning trees | |
A good gardener prunes a tree when it is 1. | |
2. for pruning trees | First， make the trees in 3. shape or size. |
Second， make the trees 4. | |
One 5. of pruning trees | An open wound is 6. on the tree and this 7. an easy chance to disease. |
Reduce the danger of the tree’s 8. | Make the wound 9. and clean. |
The danger of the death of a tree | Paint the wound 10. it dries. |
