“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, 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: According to the passage, when he worked on his dictionary, Noah Webster did all of the following EXCEPT______.A.dropping “u” in all the British words | B.changing “centre” into “center” | C.adding local words | D.expressing his opinion. | 小题2: When did Noah Webster probably begin his project of the dictionary?A.In 1758 | B.In 1783 | C.In 1800 | D.In 1828 | 小题3: Why did Noah Webster create these differences in his dictionary?A.Because he wanted to make English simple and easy. | B.Because he wanted American English to have it own characteristics(特征). | C.Because he wanted to make American English the best in the world. | D.Because he wanted to show that the USA is stronger than the UK. | 小题4: Which of the following word can best describe Noah Webster’s work?A.Interesting | B.Boring | C.Unfinished | D.Meaningful | 小题5: Which of the following would probably be the best title for the passage?A.Webster | B.American identity | C.The shaper of American English | D.Spelling difference between American and British English. |
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小题1: A 小题2: C 小题3: B 小题4: D 小题5: C |
小题1: 从第二段 He dropped the British “u” in some words.可知答案A。含有All,every等太绝对意义词的表达一般不准确。 小题2: 从第四段第一句Webster spent 28 years on the project before completing the 70,000-word dictionary in 1828 可得出答案;1828-28=1800 小题3: 从第二段 to make American identity stronger及第四行Webster believed that Americans should have their own dictionary, rather than rely on British versions可知Webster希望美式英语要有自身的特色 小题4: 从最后一段Joshua Kendall写的传记中的对Webster高度评价可以看出:Webster的工作是有意义的。 小题5: 主旨大意题。首先排除明显错误的选项BD,A为干扰项,AC说的是同一个人,但C答案更具概括性,针对性,醒目性。 点评:本文介绍了Webster花费长时间致力于编撰字典,改良英语,使美式英语要有自身的特色及他的工作的重大意义。文章主要考查细节题 |
核心考点
试题【“Colour” and “color”, “favourite” and “favorite”···Have you ever wondered why Am】;主要考察你对
题材分类等知识点的理解。
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举一反三
Henry Ford was the first person to build cars which were cheap,strong and fast.He was able to sell millions of models because be could produce them in large numbers at a time;that is,he made a great many cars of exactly the same kind.Ford’s father hoped that his son would become a farmer,but the young man did not like the idea and he went to Detroit(底特律)where he worked as a mechanic(机械师).By the age of 29,in 1892,he had built his first car.However,the car made in this way,the famous “Model T” did not appear until 1908-five years after Ford had started his great motor car factory.This car showed to be well-known that it remained unchanged for twenty years.Since Ford’s time,this way of producing cars in large numbers has become common in industry and has reduced the price of many goods which would otherwise be very expensive. 小题1: Henry Ford was the man to built _____ cars.A.cheap and strong | B.cheap and long | C.fast and expensive | D.strong and slow | 小题2: Ford was able to sell millions of cars,because_____.A.he made many great cars | B.his cars are many | C.he made lots of cars of the same kind | D.both A and B | 小题3: The young man became a mechanic,_______.A.which was his father’s will | B.which was against his own will | C.which was against his father’s will | D.which was the will of both | 小题4: The “Model T” was very famous_____.A.before 1908 | B.between 1982 and 1908 | C.before 1892 | D.after 1908 | 小题5: Ford built his own car factory______A.in 1903 | B.in 1908 | C.in 1913 | D.in 1897 |
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A man accused of failing to return more than 700 children’s books to five different libraries in the county was released from prison after a book publisher agreed to post his bond(保释金)of $1,000.The publisher said.“There’s a story here.This is a man who loves books.He just can’t let go of them.He hasn’t stolen a single book.So what’s the crime ? We think that Mr.Banish has story to tell.We plan to publish his story.” When asked why he didn’t return the books, Mr.Banish said,”Well,how could I? They became family to me.I was afraid to return them,because I knew that kids or dogs would get hold of these books and chew them up,throw them around,tear the pages,spill soda on them,get jelly﹙糊状物﹚ on them,and drown them in the toilet. He continued,“Books are people,too! They talk to you,they take care of you,and they enrich you with wisdom,humor and love.A book is a guest in my home.How could I kick it out? I repaired tor n﹙撕破的﹚ pages.I dusted them with a soft clean cloth.I turned their pages so they could breathe and get some fresh air.” “Every week I reorganized them on their shelves so they could meet new friends,My books were HAPPY books.You could tell just by looking at them.Now they’re all back in the libraries,on the lower shelves,on the floors,at the mercy of all those runny-nosed kids I can hear them calling me.I need to rescue them.Excuse me.I have to go now.” 小题1:Why was the man put into prison?A.Because the book publisher persuaded the police to do so. | B.Because he stole 700 children’s books from the five different libraries. | C.Because he refused to return the books that he had borrowed. | D.Because he wanted to publish his story. | 小题2:From the passage we can learn that the man is A.a thief | B.a writer | C.crazy about books | D.unfortunate | 小题3:What might happen after the man was set free?A.He might stop borrowing books. | B.He might start a library of his own. | C.He might go on borrowing books from libraries. | D.He might return all his books. | 小题4:What is mainly talked about in this passage?A.A funny thief who loves stealing books. | B.A person who refuses to return borrowed books and wants to look after them. | C.A person who is crazy about books so he keeps stealing them from the library. | D.A person who may have some mental problems |
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Michel is a young girl who works for the police 21 a handwriting expert. She has helped 22 many criminals by using her special talents When she was fourteen, Michel was already 23 interested in the differences in her friends" 24 that she would spend hours 25 them. After 26 college she went to France for a 27 two-year class in handwriting at the School of Police Science. Michel says that it is 28 for people to hide their handwriting. She can discover 29 of what she needs to know simply 30 looking at the writing with her own eyes, 31 she also has machines 32 help her make 33 different kinds of paper and ink. This knowledge is often 34 great help to the police. Michel believes that handwriting is a good 35 of what kind of person the 36 is. "I wouldn"t go out with a fellow 37 I didn"t like his handwriting.” She says. But she 38 she fell in love with her future husband, a young policeman 39 she studied his handwriting. It is later proved to be 40 , however.
小题2: | A.search | B.follow | C.judge | D.catch |
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小题3: | A.too | B.quite | C.so | D.extra |
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小题4: | A.handwriting | B.books | C.letter | D.tongues |
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小题5: | A.studying | B.writing | C.settling | D.uncovering |
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小题6: | A.attending | B.starting | C.stepping into | D.finishing |
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小题7: | A.powerful | B.special | C.natural | D.common |
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小题8: | A.impossible | B.main | C.safe | D.easy |
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小题9: | A.nothing | B.most | C.little | D.sight |
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小题12: | A.they | B.that | C.in which | D.those |
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小题15: | A.sign | B.test | C.means | D.habit |
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小题16: | A.thief | B.writer | C.criminal | D.policeman |
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小题17: | A.if | B.whether | C.unless | D.after |
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小题18: | A.tells | B.repeats | C.cries | D.adds |
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小题19: | A.after | B.before | C.so | D.and |
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小题20: | A.necessary | B.important | C.quite easy | D.all right |
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In earliest times, men considered lightning to be one of the great mysteries of nature. Some ancient people believed that lightning and thunder were the weapons of the gods. In reality, lightning is a flow of electricity formed high above the earth. A single flash of lightning 1.6 kilometres long has enough electricity to light one million light bulbs . The American scientist and statesman, Benjamin Franklin, was the first to show the connection between electricity and lightning in 1752. In the same year he also built the first lightning rod (避雷针). This device protects buildings from being damaged by lightning. Modern science has discovered that one stroke of lightning has a voltage (电压) of more than 15 million volts (伏特). A flash of lightning between a cloud and the earth may be as long as 13 kilometers, and travel at a speed of 30 million meters per second. Scientists judge that there are about 2,000 million flashes of lightning per year. Lightning hits the Empire State Building in New York City 30 to 48 times a year. In the United States alone it kills an average of one person every day. The safest place to be in case of an electrical storm is in a closed car. Outside, one should go to low ground and not get under tress. Also on,e should stay out of water and away from metal fences. Inside a house, people should avoid open doorways and windows and not touch wires or metal things. With lightning, it is better to be safe than sorry. 小题1:People once thought lightning came from ________.A.the gods | B.the earth | C.the sky | D.nature | 小题2:According to the passage what do you think all buildings need?A.Metal fences. | B.Machines. | C.Electricity. | D.Lightning rods | 小题3:Lightning can travel ________.A.as quickly as water | B.not so quickly as electricity | C.at very high speed | D.at very low speed | 小题4:Which of the following is NOT true?A.In the U.S about one person per day dies from lightning. | B.Swimming during a thunder storm is a good idea. | C.The Empire State Building frequently gets hit by lightning. | D.A closed car is the best place to be during an electrical storm. |
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There was a king who loved art very much. One day a(n) 36 came and said, "Please let me 37 a picture on a wall." The king happened to have a big new hall 38 . So he 39 the artist to work on one of the walls.
At the same time, another artist came and asked to work on the 40 wall. He promised he would make the same picture as the first artist’s 41 looking at the first artist’s work. The second artist asked to have a thick curtain 42 between the two walls 43 neither of them could see each other.
The following day they began to work. The first artist brought in a(n) 44 supply of paint, oil, water and so on. The second one came with a 45 and a bucket ( 桶).
A month later, the first artist’s work was completed, and the second artist said, "My wall is 46 too!"
The king went to 47 the first artist’s wall. He was pleased with it and gave the artist a large 48 of money. He then asked people to open the curtain.
49 ! Each line was 50 the same as that on the opposite wall.
The king was quite satisfied and gave him double money. However, he 51 how the second man had made it.
"I just 52 the wall with the cloth," the man said 53 .The wall was made of white marble ( 大理石). He made it shine like a mirror. The reflection (倒影) of the first painting 54 up on it!
The 55 is a reflection of you too. If you are sad, the world will be sad. If you are happy, the world will be happy. 小题1:A.editor | B.artist | C.server | D.actress | 小题2:小题3:A.created | B.destroyed | C.founded | D.Built | 小题4:A.allowed | B.realized | C.persuaded | D.Decided | 小题5:A.same | B.similar | C.opposite | D.ordinary | 小题6:A.with | B.under | C.upon | D.without | 小题7:A.put up | B.put back | C.put away | D.put on | 小题8:A.even if | B.so that | C.as if | D.only if | 小题9:A.special | B.strange | C.extra | D.regular | 小题10:A.mirror | B.cloth | C.stick | D.pen | 小题11:A.present | B.free | C.ready | D.useful | 小题12:A.see | B.touch | C.research | D.cover | 小题13:A.number | B.total | C.amount | D.many | 小题14:A.Amazing | B.Exciting | C.Famous | D.Valuable | 小题15:A.probably | B.exactly | C.certainly | D.hardly | 小题16:A.knew | B.warned | C.noticed | D.wondered | 小题17:A.drew | B.faced | C.displayed | D.wiped | 小题18:A.briefly | B.naturally | C.safely | D.correctly | 小题19:A.set | B.added | C.showed | D.took | 小题20:A.story | B.world | C.king | D.painter |
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