54.Tolstoy intended to present Napoleon as a man who is 　　　　.

A.ill-mannered in dealing with foreign guests

B.fond of showing off his iron will

C.determined in destroying all of Europe

D.crazy for power and respect

53.What did Napoleon expect the Russian representative to do?

A.To walk out of the room in anger.

B.To show agreement with him.

C.To say something about the Tsar.

D.To express his admiration.

52.Napoleon was angry when receiving the Russian representative because 　　　　.

A.he thought he should be the one to make the peace terms

B.the Tsar’s peace terms were hard to accept

C.the Russians stopped his military movement

D.he didn’t have any more army to fight with

51.Tolstoy’s description of Napoleon in War and Peace is 　　　　.

A.far from the historical facts

B.based on the Russian history

C.based on his selection of facts

D.not related to historical details

47. The text is most likely to be found in a book about　　　　 .　　　 　

A. popular science　　　　　 　　　　　　　　B. historical events

C. successful people　　　　　 　　　　　　　D, Political systems

答案　 45.A　 46.A　 47.C

2008年高考题

Passage 1

(08·广东C篇)

Napoleon,as a character in Tolstoy’s War and Peace,is more than once described as having“fat little hands.”Nor does he “sit well or firmly on the horse.”He is said to be “undersized,”with “short legs” and a “round stomach”.The issue here is not the accuracy of Tolstoy’s description-it seems not that far off from historical accounts-but his choice of facts:other things that could be said of the man are not said.We are meant to understand the difference of a warring commander in the body of a fat little Frenchman.Tolstoy’s Napoleon could be any man wandering in the streets and putting a little of powdered tobacco up his nose-and that is the point.

It is a way the novelist uses to show the moral nature of a character.And it turns out that,as Tolstoy has it,Napoleon is a crazy man.In a scene in Book Three of War and Peace,the wars having reached the critical year of 1812,Napoleon receives a representative from the Tsar (沙皇),who has come with peace terms.Napoleon is very angry:doesn’t he have more army? He,not the Tsar,is the one to make the terms.He will destroy all of Europe if his army is stopped,“That is what you will have gained by engaging me in the war!”he shouts.And then,Tolstoy writes,Napoleon“walked silently several times up and down the room,his fat shoulders moving quickly.”

Still later,after reviewing his army amid cheering crowds,Napoleon invites the shaken Russian to dinner.“He raised his hand to the Russian’s...face,” Tolstoy writes,and “taking him by the ear pulled it gently...”.To have one’s ear pulled by the Emperor was considered the greatest honor and mark of favor at the French court.“Well,well,why don’t you say anything?”said he,as if it was ridiculous in his presence to respect any one but himself,Napoleon.

Tolstoy did his research,but the composition is his own.

46.Edmonds entered the world of politics first as 　　　　.　　　　 　

A. news secretary for a Congressman

B. a speechwriter for President Clinton

C. news secretary in the White House

D. a speechwriter for Secretary Donna Shalala

45. Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the text?

A. Edmonds proved himself to be good at writing at high school

B. Edmonds graduated from Morgan State University in 1967.

C. Edmonds was the first full-time speechwriter.

D. Edmonds served the White House after 2000.

63．Why did David decide to leave school and start working?

A．He received lots of job offers

B．He was eager to help his mother

C．He lost interest in school studies

D．He wanted to earn his own living

答案　 60.C　 61.A　 62.B　 63.C

Passage 4

(09·陕西B篇)

When people hear a president speak, they seldom think about others helping to shape the presentation(报告). Today, however, presidents depend on writers such as J. Terry Edmonds to help them communicate (交流) effectively. Edmonds is the first African American ever to work as a full-time speechwriter for a U. S. president; he is so the first African American to serve as director of speechwriting for White House. His is an all-American story of success. 　

Edmonds grew up in Baltimore, Maryland; his father drove a truck, and his mother worked as a waitress. A. great reader, Edmonds showed a gift for writing at his high

School, Baltimore City College After graduating in 1967 Edmonds went on to Morgan State University

Edmonds began his career in business, with jobs in public relations and communications. He joined the world of politics as news secretary for his congressman (国会议员) from Baltimore During Bill Clinton’s presidency,　 he wrote speeches for Health and Human Services　 Secretary Donna Shalala and worked in a number of job in the White House and in governmental departments President Clinton then appointed (任命)him to the office of directory of speechwriting Following the 2000 elections Edmonds returned to Morgan State University as the school’s special assistant to the president for 2001-2002

62．Why was David able to get the job in the company?

A．He had done well in all his exams

B．He had written some computer programs

C．He was good at playing computer games

D．He had learnt to use computers at school

61．What is one of the problems that David is facing now?

A．He is too young to get a credit card

B．He has no time to learn driving

C．He has very little spare time

D．He will soon lose his job