Grandma Moses is among the most famous twentieth-century painters of the United States, yet she did not start painting until she was in her late seventies. As she once said to herself: " I would never sit back in a rocking chair, waiting for someone to help me." No one could have had a more productive old age.
She was born Anna Mary Robertson on a farm in New York State, one of five boys and five girls. At twelve she left home and was in domestic service until, at twenty--seven, she married Thomas Moses, the hired hand of one of her employers. They farmed most of their lives, first in Virginia and then in New York State, at Eagle Bridge. She had ten children, of whom five survived; her husband died in 1927.
Grandma Moses painted a little as a child and made embroidery (刺绣) pictures as a hobby, but only changed to oils in old age because her hands had become too stiff to sew and she wanted to keep busy and pass the time. Her pictures were first sold at the local drugstore and at a market and were soon noticed by a businessman who bought everything she painted. Three of the pictures exhibited in the Museum of Modern Art, and in 1940 she had her first exhibition in New York. Between the 1930"s and her death, she produced some 2,000 pictures: detailed and lively portrayals of the country life she had known for so long, with a wonderful sense of color and form. "I think really hard till I think of something really pretty, and then I paint it" she said.
小题1:According to the passage, Grandma Moses began to paint because she wanted to_______.| A．make herself beautiful | B．become famous | | C．earn more money | D．keep active |
小题2:Grandma Moses spent most of her life ________.| A．nursing | B．painting | C．farming | D．embroidering |
小题3:The underlined word “portrayals ” means ________.
A. expressions B explanations C. descriptions . D. impressions
小题4:From Grandma Moses" description of herself in the first paragraph, it can be inferred that she was ________.| A．pretty | B．nervous | C．rich | D．independent |
小题5:Which of the following would be the best title for the passage?| A．The Children of Grandma Moses. | B．Grandma Moses: Her Life and Pictures. | | C．Grandma Moses: Her Best Exhibition. | D．Grandma Moses and Other Older Artists. |
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小题1:D
小题２:C
小题３:C
小题４:D
小题５:B |
试题分析：本文主要是关于 Grandma Moses简略的自传和她的艺术生涯，她的作品艺术价值。
小题1:根据短文所述， Grandma Moses 开始学画画是因为她想保持活力。本题为一般推理题，需要从字里行间找答案。在这篇文章的第一段中，曾经引用她的一句话：“ I would never sit back in a rocking chair, waiting for someone to help me.”所以她画画的目的是为让自己多活动，而非其它原因。选D
小题２:Grandma Moses 把大部分时间花在耕作上。本题为一般理解题，只要仔细阅读，很容易从字里行间找到答案。在第二段中间一句话“… They farmed almost of their lives…”，可以看出她一生中大部分时间用于 farming。选C
小题３:语义测试题。根据上下文可以看出这是详细的生动的描述。选C
小题４:从第一段 Grandma Moses 的自述中可以推断出她具有独立性。本题为判断分析题，需要根据关键词语进行推断。在第一段中的那句话，可以看出来，她有 very strong sense of independence.故选D
小题５:本题考察对整篇文章的综合概括能力。整篇文章都是关于 Grandma Moses 简略的自传和她的艺术生涯，故选B
点评：解此类题需要结合上下文提供的语境和信息进行简单的概括和判断。同时要从字里行间看出主人翁的性格特点。 |
核心考点
试题【Grandma Moses is among the most famous twentieth-century painters of the United 】；主要考察你对
题材分类等知识点的理解。
[详细]举一反三
阅读下面短文，掌握其大意，然后从1－15各题所给的A、B、C和D项中，选出最佳选项。
On Thursday afternoon Mrs Clarke locked the door and went to the women`s club as usual. It was a pleasant way of passing time for an old woman who lived 1____
When she came home she sensed something 2____ . Had someone got in? The back door and the windows were all locked and there was no 3____ of forced entry (进入). Had anything been taken? She went from room to room, checking , and found her camera and spare watch missing.
The following Thursday she went out at her usual time, but didn`t go to the club. 4___ , she took a short walk in a park nearby and came home, letting herself in through the back door. She settled down to wait and see what would 5____
It was 4 o"clock when the front doorbell rang. Mrs Clarke was 6____ tea at the time. The bell rang again, and 7____she heard her letter box being pushed open .8____the kettle (壶) of boiling water, she moved quietly towards the door. A piece of wire appeared through the letterbox, and then a 9____ . The wire turned and caught around the knob (圆形旋钮) on the doorlock. Mrs Clarke raised the kettle and poured the water over the hand. 10____was heard outside as the 11____ fell to the floor and the hand was pulled back, which was 12____ by the sound of running feet.
It wasn`t long 13____ the police caught the thief. And Mrs Clarke was greatly 14____ at the club for her successful 15____ .
| 小题1: | | A．lonely | B．alone | C．away | D．busily |
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| 小题2: | | A．terrible | B．uncomfortable | C．unusual | D．bad |
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| 小题3: | | A．information | B．show | C．sight | D．sign |
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| 小题4: | | A．Therefore | B．However | C．Instead | D．Again |
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| 小题5: | | A．appear | B．follow | C．happen | D．do |
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| 小题6: | | A．cooking | B．making | C．burning | D．serving |
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| 小题7: | | A．the next moment | B．for a while | C．in time | D．at once |
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| 小题8: | | A．Putting down | B．Laying aside | C．Picking up | D．Taking away |
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| 小题9: | | A．knife | B．hand | C．letter | D．key |
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| 小题10: | | A．A sad voice | B．A strange noise | C．A low shout | D．A sharp cry |
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| 小题11: | | A．key | B．kettle | C．doorlock | D．wire |
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| 小题12: | | A．followed | B．caused | C．produced | D．ended |
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| 小题13: | | A．before | B．since | C．until | D．when |
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| 小题14: | | A．surprised | B．praised | C．encouraged | D．supported |
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| 小题15: | | A．self-satisfaction | B．self-protection | C．self-respect | D．self-service |
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Once a man came to a wise man’s house and said, “ I have many bad habits. Which one of them should I 36 first?” The wise man said, “Never tell lies 37 always speak the truth.” The man 38 to do so and went home.
At night the man was about to go out to steal. Before setting out, he 39 for a moment about the promise he made to the wise man. “If he asks me where I have been, what shall I say? Shall I say I went out 40 ? No, I cannot say that. But nor can I 41 . If I tell the truth, everyone will start 42 me and call me a thief. I would be 43 for stealing.” So the man 44 not to steal that night, and gave up this 45 habit.
Next day, he 46 to drink wine. When he was about to do so, he said to himself. “What shall I say to the wise man 47 he asks me what I did during the day? I cannot tell a lie.” And so he gave up the 48 of drinking wine.
In this 49 , whenever the man thought of doing something bad, he 50 his promise to tell the truth at all times. 51 , he gave up all his bad habits and became a very 52 person.
Telling the truth is a very good 53 . If you always speak the truth, you can save yourself from a lot of 54 and become a person whom everyone 55 and favors.
Make a promise: I shall always speak the truth.
| 小题1: | | A．give in | B．join in | C．set up | D．give up |
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| 小题3: | | A．promised | B．persuaded | C．preferred | D．began |
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| 小题4: | | A．played | B．drank | C．recognized | D．thought |
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| 小题5: | | A．walking | B．stealing | C．studying | D．climbing |
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| 小题7: | | A．hating | B．catching | C．killing | D．believing |
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| 小题8: | | A．expected | B．hurt | C．ignored | D．punished |
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| 小题9: | | A．asked | B．forgot | C．decided | D．pretended |
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| 小题10: | | A．special | B．bad | C．unfair | D．funny |
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| 小题11: | | A．went | B．wanted | C．learnt | D．stopped |
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| 小题14: | | A．base | B．block | C．place | D．way |
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| 小题15: | | A．recognized | B．planned | C．remembered | D．broke |
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| 小题16: | | A．At present | B．Face to face | C．On purpose | D．One by one |
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| 小题17: | | A．strong | B．good | C．rich | D．calm |
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| 小题18: | | A．habit | B．custom | C．game | D．hobby |
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| 小题19: | | A．tests | B．hopes | C．trouble | D．pleasure |
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| 小题20: | | A．serves | B．cheats | C．dislikes | D．likes |
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"Colour" and "color"，"favourite" and "favorite"... Have you ever wondered why Americans spell those words without a "u"? Is it because they are lazy?
Of course not. In fact，the difference in spelling was created by Noah Webster (1758-1843). He is a teacher who reformed English to make American identity stronger. Linguists (语言学家) celebrated his 250th birthday on October 16. After the Revolutionary War (1775~ 1783)，Webster believed that Americans should have their own dictionary，rather than rely on British versions (版本). He dropped the British "u" in some words. And he changed "centre" into "center" for children to learn English by spelling words more like they sounded.
Webster wasn"t shy about expressing his opinions. In defining (定义) preposterous (unreasonable)，he wrote: "A republican government in the hands of females is preposterous."
Webster spent 28 years on the project before completing the 70,000-word dictionary in 1828 with his American-style spellings. He also added local words. His dictionary was widely used in schools. Linguists believed it helped a new nation achieve unity and cultural independence at a time when most were focused on political freedom.
"He was the shaper of our language and the shaper of American identity，"said Joshua Kendall，who is working on a biography (传记) about Webster. "He at last bonded (联合)us through our language."
小题1:Which of the following would probably be the best title for the passage? | A．The shaper of American English. | | B．American identity. | | C．Webster"s dictionary. | | D．Spelling differences between American and British English. |
小题2:According to the passage，when he worked on his dictionary, Noah Webster did all of the following EXCEPT .| A．voicing his opinion | B．changing "centre" into "center" | | C．adding local words | D．dropping "u" in all the British words |
小题3:Which of the following word can best describe Noah Webster’s work? | A．Interesting. | B．Meaningful. | C．Unfinished. | D．Boring. |
小题4:Why did Noah Webster create these differences in his dictionary? | A．Because he wanted to make English simple and easy. | | B．Because he wanted to show that the USA is stronger than the UK. | | C．Because he wanted to achieve political freedom. | | D．Because he wanted American English to have its own characteristics. |
小题5:When did Noah Webster probably begin his project of the dictionary? | A．In 1758. | B．In 1783. | C．In 1800. | D．In 1828. |
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We lived in a very quiet neighborhood. Earlier that evening my wife had asked me to go to the 1 to get some soft drinks. It seemed like this would be a good time to let my teenage daughter Holly practice her 2 , so I allowed her to go to the store in my truck.
At dinner my son talked about how much he liked my truck. I 3 having it, but I said: “Guy, my heart is not set on that truck. I like it but it is just metal and won’t 4 forever. Never set your heart on anything that won’t last.
We were talking 5 we heard a loud noise. 6 hearing it, the whole family ran outside. My son shouted; “Dad! Dad, Holly crashed your truck!”
My heart sank and my mind was flooded with conflicting (矛盾的) thoughts. Was anyone hurt? Who else was 7? As I ran to the door, I heard a voice in my heart say: “Here is a chance to show Holly 8 you really love. She’ll never forget it.”
The 9 had happened in my own driveway. Holly had 10 my truck into our family van (搬运车). Because of her 11 , she had confused the brakes (刹车) and the gas pedal (油门). Holly was unhurt 12 but when I reached her, she was crying and saying “Oh, Dad, I’m sorry. I know how much you love this truck.” I held her in my arms as she cried.
Later that week a friend asked what had happened to my truck. I told her the whole story. Her eyes moistened (湿润) and she said: “That happened to me when I was a girl. I 13 my dad’s car completely. When I got home, my dad knocked me to the ground and began to 14 me.”
Over 40 years later, she still felt the 15 of the night, which was a deep wound on her soul.
I remember how 16 Holly was when she crashed our truck, and how I 17 her. One day, when Holly 18 on her life, I want her to know that I love her a thousand times 19 any piece of 20 .
| 小题1: | | A．kitchen | B．cupboard | C．store | D．refrigerator |
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| 小题2: | | A．shopping | B．training | C．driving | D．calculating |
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| 小题3: | | A．enjoyed | B．hated | C．admired | D．preferred |
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| 小题4: | | A．keep | B．stay | C．remain | D．last |
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| 小题5: | | A．while | B．when | C．before | D．since |
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| 小题6: | | A．In | B．On | C．Beyond | D．Without |
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| 小题7: | | A．filled | B．prepared | C．involved | D．relaxed |
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小题9:A affair B. event C. incident D. accident
| 小题10: | | A．drove | B．controlled | C．pulled | D．crashed |
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| 小题11: | | A．invitation | B．inexperience | C．independence | D．invention |
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| 小题12: | | A．fortunately | B．unfortunately | C．sadly | D．peacefully |
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| 小题13: | | A．hurt | B．harmed | C．destroyed | D．damaged |
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| 小题14: | | A．beat | B．defeat | C．break | D．fight |
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| 小题15: | | A．trouble | B．pain | C．stress | D．loss |
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| 小题16: | | A．concerned | B．careless | C．grateful | D．unfortunate |
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| 小题17: | | A．permitted | B．supported | C．comforted | D．persuaded |
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| 小题18: | | A．looks back | B．keeps back | C．hold back | D．turn back |
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| 小题19: | | A．as more as | B．as much than | C．more than | D．the same as |
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| 小题20: | | A．creation | B．equipment | C．quality | D．property |
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Gary Locke, 61, who comes from a Chinese background and even looks Chinese, became the new US ambassador（大使）to China.
“I can think of nobody who is more qualified than Gary Locke.” President Obama said. Locke’s new position is clearly a sign that US President is trying to improve relations with China.
When he made his first speech to the Chinese press in Beijing, Locke said,“I think ,being a Chinese-American, I have a greater understanding of the history and culture of China, but I am here as a representative of the US government.”
Before becoming ambassador to China, Locke was US secretary of commerce(商务部长). This means he has plenty of trade experience, which will be useful in building economic links between the two countries.
Locke’s grandfather went to the United States over a century ago to work as a houseboy for a family in Washington State in exchange for English lessons. His father moved to the US as a teenager.
“I’m going back to the birthplace of my grandfather ,my father and my mom, and I’ll be doing so as a devoted diplomat(外交官) for America，the country where I was born and raised,” Locke said.
小题1:President Obama thinks Gary Locke ________.| A．is the right person for the new position | | B．is still not too old to be an ambassador | | C．is not qualified as secretary of commerce | | D．can help improve US relations with Asia. |
小题2:What message did Locke express in his first speech in Beijing?| A．He is proud of his parents and his grandfather. | | B．He will work for both China and the United States. | | C．He will represent the US government. | | D．He was still not ready for his new job. |
小题3:Locke will benefit from his ________ as a former secretary of commerce.| A．trade experience | B．public relations | C．work training | D．government knowledge |
小题4:We learn from the text that Locke’s father ________.| A．worked as a houseboy for an American family | | B．was born in China. | | C．moved to the US as a baby. | | D．was not able to return to China |
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