高三英語文學(xué)名著閱讀題1.RockyrelationshipJaneAusten(1775-1817),UK

Otherfamousworks:SenseandSensibility《理智與情感》Emma《愛瑪》《傲慢與偏見》表現(xiàn)英國(guó)等級(jí)制度下的愛情觀。

ROMANCESareamongthemostpopularkindsofstories.Itisn’tdifficulttoseewhy,asfindingamanorwomantospendtherestofone’slifewithissomethingalmostallpeoplewant.Storiesaboutrelationshipscanbetragedies(悲劇),likeShakespeare’sRomeoandJuliet.Theycanalsobecomedies,likeJaneAusten’sPrideandPrejudice(1813).Thisnoveliscertainlyoneofthefunniestandmostcharmingromancesinworldliterature.

ButPrideandPrejudicealsohasasadmessage.Inthenovelthereisaclearsenseoftheunequalopportunitiesmenandwomenenjoyinlife.

Itisastoryabouttherichbutsnobbish(自命不凡的)MrDarcyandthesmart,butdifficultandproudElizabethBennet.Elizabethisoneoffivedaughterswholivewiththeirparentsinrespectable(尚可的)butratherpoorconditionsinHertfordshire,nearLondon.TheybelongtoaclassofpeopleinEnglandcalledthelandedgentry.Membersofthelandedgentrycanberich,ortheycanbenotsorich.TheBennetsarenotsorich.Themoneydifficultiesofthefamilydrivethestoryofthenovel.

Manypeopleknowthefamousopeningsentenceofthebook:“Itisatruthuniversallyacknowledged,thatasinglemaninpossessionofagoodfortune,mustbeinwantofawife.”Thisisofcourseaveryironic(諷刺的)remark.Whatisreallytrueinthetimeofthenovelisthis:Singlewomenfrompoorerfamiliesareveryinterestedinamanwithagoodfortune,orevenjustalittlemoney.Sincetheycannotpaytheirownwayinlife,theymustfindahusband.

Becauseofthis,MrsBennetisdesperatetofindhusbandsforherdaughters.Theywillthennolongerbeaburdenonher.

Intheend,ElizabethandDarcyovercometheobstaclesintheirwaytoenduptogether.ElizabethteachesDarcytobelessprejudiced(懷有偏見的),andsheherselflearnstobealittlelessproud.Jane,theoldestBennetdaughter,andherlover,CharlesBingley,alsogetengaged(訂婚).Lydiafindsherselfahusbandtoo–thegood-for-nothingGeorgeWickham.ThesemarriagesgiveAusten’snovelahappyending.

Butifthishumorousentertainmentendswithmarriages,asallromancesdo,weshouldalsonotforgetthosewhodonotfindhusbands,liketheBennetdaughtersKittyandMary.NorshouldweforgetCharlotteLucas,whomarriesthehorribleWilliamCollinssimplybecauseshehastoandwantstohelpherparentsfinancially.

PrideandPrejudiceshowsthatforeveryluckyJaneandElizabethBennet,whomarryhappilyinthenovel,therewereadozenotherwomeninAusten’stimewholivedwithouttheircontentment(滿意).1.Whatisthemainpurposeofthistext?

A.Toanalyzewhyromancesareamongthemostpopularkindsofstories.

B.ToinformthereaderabouttheimpactofJaneAusten’sPrideandPrejudice.

C.ToexplainwhatmakesPrideandPrejudicestandoutinworldliterature.

D.TotellusaboutwhatinspiredJaneAustentocreatePrideandPrejudice.

2.WhichofthefollowingisTRUE?

A.ElizabethisproudbeforeMrDarcybecauseshehasabetterfamilybackgroundthanhim.

B.MrDarcybecomeslessprejudicedwhenhehasabetterunderstandingofElizabethandherfamily.

C.ThenovelhasahappyendingbecausetheBennetdaughtersallmarryhappilyastheirmotherwishes.

D.Thenovelisaboutthestrugglesofagroupofyoungwomenwhobravelyfightforequalrightswithmen.

3.InPrideandPrejudice,youngwomenaredescribedas_____.

A.proudandsnobbish

B.smartandcharming

C.aburdenontheirparents

D.havingprejudiceagainsttherich

2.Killingtolive

SuzanneCollins(1962-),US

Otherfamousworks:TheUnderlandChronicles《地底王國(guó)》系列

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THEHungerGamesbooks(2008-2010)byUSauthorSuzanneCollinsaresetinaNorthAmericanfuturewhichisverysimilartotherealNorthAmericanpresentinsomeways.Inthisworld,theUSisnomore.Inthenewnation,“Panem”,aCapitolrulesover12otherdistricts.Lifeinthedistrictsishungryandalwaysastruggle,completelydifferenttothewealthenjoyedbythepeopleoftheCapitol.

TheCapitolholdsanannual(一年一度的)“HungerGames”.ThegamesareacombinationofancientRomangladiatorial(角斗的)contestsandmodernrealityTVshows.Theplayersareyoungpeoplefromthedistricts.Asintheancientgames,thesemoderngladiatorsfightbattlestothedeathwitheachother.AndasinourownrealityTVshows,thewhole“entertainment”isfilmedliveforaTVaudience.

AlthoughtheHungerGamesareentertainmentfortheCapitol,theyarepunishmentforthedistrictsforarebellion(叛亂)thatfailed.Butoverthecourseofthebooksweseehowthatrebellionisinspiredagainbyaheroicnewplayer,whoturnsthetablesonthetyrants(暴君)inpower.

SheisateenagercalledKatnissEverdeen,fromDistrict12.Sheisabraveandintelligentperson.Shebecomesacontestantinthe74thHungerGames,asdoesPeetaMellark,aboyfromthesameplacewhohasacrushonKatniss.

Thefirstbookfollowsthesetwoastheyfighttheirwaythroughtheearlyrounds,whichinvolveyoungpeoplehavingtofighteachothertothedeath.KatnissandPeetabothdowell,provingthemselvestobebetterfightersthantheothers.Arulechangeinthecompetitionthenallowscontestantstoteamup,andfromthenonKatnissandPeetafighttogether.Astheybeatallcomers,theybelievethattheyhavesurvivedthechallengeoftheHungerGames.Butanotherrulechangeforcesthemtofightagainsteachother.KatnissandPeetamanagetofoil(挫敗)thisbyplanningasuicidepact(自殺協(xié)議),givingtheauthoritiesnochoicebuttoallowthemtolive.

ButKatnissandPeetaprovetobemorethanahitwithTVviewers.TheybringbackthespiritofrebellionintheDistricts.TheotherbooksintheseriestellthetaleofthisrevolutionagainsttheCapitolandtheincreasinglyimportantrolesthecentralcharactersofKatnissandPeetaplayinit.

TheHungerGamesbooksgettheirpowerfromspeakingindirectlyaboutourownworld.TheyspeaktoyoungAmericansbecauseofagrowingsenseofinequalityinUSsocietyandthefearamongtheyoungthattheirfutureswillbeastruggle.Butthestoriesmaywellberelevantforawideraudience.WhichofthefollowingisTRUEabouttheHungerGames,accordingtothearticle?

A.Theyareheldeverydecade.

B.Theyareheldtopunishthedistrictsfortheirrebellion.

C.TheyareentertainmentforboththeCapitolandotherdistricts.

D.WinnersoftheHungerGamesreceivealotofprizesfortheirefforts.

2.Whathappensduringthe74thHungerGames?

A.KatnissandPeetateamupandmanagetogetthoughtheearlyrounds.

B.WhenKatnissandPeetadefeatalltheothercontestants,thegamesareoverforever.

C.KatnissandPeeta’sclaimthattheywillcommitsuicidetogethersavesbothofthemintheend.

D.KatnissandPeetafightagainsteachotheruntilthelastrounds.

3.Accordingtothearticle,TheHungerGamesbooks______.

A.aresetintheUSofthefuture

B.speakdirectlyaboutourworldtoday

C.showthatyoungAmericansaremorerebelliousthanever

D.mayalsoappealtoaudiencesbeyondNorthAmerica

3EyretakeschargeCharlotteBronte(1816-1855),UK

Otherfamousworks:Shirley《謝利》Villette《維萊特》《簡(jiǎn)·愛》講述女性勇敢追求平等自由的非凡歷程。

THISwhirlwind(跌宕起伏)ofanovelhasatitscenterachild,laterayoungwoman,ofintelligenceandpassionate(熱情的)feeling.InthepagesofJaneEyre(1847)wejointheheroineJaneasshegoesonajourneythroughalifemadeupofthemostchallengingexperiences.

Janehastoendurecrueltyandhardship.Butshealsohastobetruetoherspirit,whichtellshernottoliveanythingotherthanthehappy,fulfilled(圓滿的)lifeshefeelsthatsheandallothershavetherighttolive.

Thefirstpartofthenovelshowsorphan(孤兒)Jane’searlylifewithheruncle’sfamily.Sheisill-treatedandverylonely.However,theschoolthatsheissentto,LowoodInstitution,isworse.ItisrunbyacruelmannamedMrBrocklehurst,whotreatsallthegirlsbadly,andJaneparticularlyso.ButJanetriumphsoverBrocklehurst,andwhenshefinallyleavesLowood,afteraperiodworkingasateacherthere,sheisaneducatedandaccomplished(有成就的)youngwoman.

Shebecomesagoverness(女家庭教師)atThornfieldHall,wheresheisresponsibleforeducatingyoungAdeleVarens.ItistherethatJanemeetsthemasterofThornfield,Adele’sfather,MrRochester.Rochesterisafierceandeccentric(古怪的)type.Heisnothandsome,butsomehowveryattractive.HeandJanegetonverywelltogetherbecauseof,ratherthandespite,thefactthattheyarealwaysarguing.MrRochesterproposes(求婚)toJane,butthemarriagedoesnotgoahead.Itturnsoutthatheisstillmarried.SheisforcedtoleaveThornfieldwhensherefuseshisrequestthatsherunawaywithhimtoFrance.

Janesoonfindsherselflivingadesperatelife.Homelessandreadytofacedeath,sheistakeninbyStJohnRivers.Janeadmiresthismanforhiscommitment(獻(xiàn)身)togood,butshealsofindshimrigid(刻板的)andcold.ItturnsoutheandJanearedistantlyrelated.WhenJaneinherits(繼承)moneyfromoneoftheirrelativeswhileRiversreceivesnone,shegenerouslysharesthemoney.Butsheturnsdownhisproposalofmarriage.

Inthefinalactofthebook,authorCharlotteBrontetakesJanebacktoThornfieldandherbelovedMrRochester.Inthisact,sheresolves(解決)theproblemsthathavepreventedtheunionofJaneandMrRochester.ThemainproblemisthefirstMrsRochester,whoismadandkeptintheattic(閣樓).Afterafirethatleadstoherdeath,andtheblindingandmaiming(殘廢)ofMrRochester,heandJanecanmarry.

ThefactthatRochester,nowdisabled,nowneedsJane,iscrucial.Heisnolongerher“master”.Janeisafeminist(女權(quán)主義的)heroine.ThemostpassionatepartofthebookmaybeJane’sinsistence(堅(jiān)持)thatshehasherownrights.Inthefinalpages,Janefamouslyaddressesus:“Reader,Imarriedhim.”ItwasJane’sdecision,andthehappymarriagethatsheandRochesterhavetogetherisonlypossiblebecausetheyareequals.1.WhichofthefollowingstatementsaboutJane’searlylifeisTRUE?

A.SheisbornanorphanandbroughtupbyLowoodInstitution.

B.Heruncleistheonlypersonwhotreatsherwithloveandrespect.

C.Shenevergivesup,eventhoughtheschoolmasteratLowoodInstitutiontreatsherbadly.

D.JanedropsoutofLowoodInstitutionandlaterbecomesateacher.

2.JaneleavesThornfieldbecause______.

A.shecan’tbearMrRochester’sstrangemanners

B.sherefusesMrRochester’soffertoescapetoFrancetogetmarried

C.shehasgottenboredwiththeargumentswithMrRochester

D.shefindsoutthatMrRochesterisgoingafterhermoney

3.Accordingtothearticle,whatmakesJaneEyreafeministheroineisthat______.

A.sheneverlosesherfaithinlifeevenduringhardtimes

B.shebecomesawelleducatedandaccomplishedwomanthroughherownefforts

C.sheisdeterminedinseekingequalrightswithmen

D.shemanagestogettheupperhandinherrelationshipwithMrRochester

4.Biggerthanmagic

JKRowling(1965-),UK

Otherfamousworks:TheCasualVacancy《偶發(fā)空缺》

TheCuckoo’sCalling《布谷鳥的呼喚》（該書是羅琳以化名RobertGalbraith出版的偵探推理小說系列的第一本）《哈利·波特》講述小巫師們共同成長(zhǎng)、戰(zhàn)勝邪惡的故事。

INthe1960stheBritishpopstarJohnLennonclaimedthathisgroup,TheBeatles,werebiggerthanJesus.JKRowlinghasneversaidanythingsoarrogantaboutHarryPotter,butifshedid,shemayhavemorereasonstosayitthanLennondid.

SincethefirstHarryPotterstorywaspublishedin1997,thekidinglasseswithagiftformagichasbecomeagloballegend.Thisfictional(虛構(gòu)的)boymaybethemostfamouschildontheplanet.

Harry’sparentswerekilledbyLordVoldemort,whoalsotriedtokillthebabyHarrybutfailed.HeleftHarrywithascar(傷疤)intheshapeofalightningboltonhisforehead.VoldemortisHarry’senemy.Theentireepic(史詩(shī)般的)storyofthebooksisgivenshapebythebattlebetweenHarryandVoldemort.Itendsasitbegan,withthetwofacingeachother,onerepresentinggood,theotherevil.

Butbeforewereachthatpoint,theauthorRowlinghasawholemagicalworldtocreate.Harryistakenawayfromthecareofhisguardians,theunpleasantDursleys,andiseducatedinordertobecomeanelite(杰出的)wizardatHogwartsSchool.Therehemeetshistwoclosestfriends,RonaldWeasleyandHermioneGranger,andmanyeccentric(奇怪的)teachersandmentors.

Althougheachofthesevenbookscanbereadasitsownadventure,youonlygetthefull“Pottereffect”byreadingallthewaythrough,fromHarryPotterandthePhilosopher’sStone(1997)toHarryPotterandtheDeathlyHallows(2007).

TheHarryPotterbooksarepopularwithsomanybecausetheyareadventures.Wereadadventuresbecausetheyallowustoimagineanexcitinglifewecan’tliveourselves.

Ontheotherhand,though,westillneedourheroestobealittlebitlikeus,andHarryandhisyoungfriendsarelikeusinmanyways.

Theyaregrowingup,likeus,andtheyexperiencetheupsanddownsontheway.DuringtheyearsthatmanyyoungpeoplespendwithHarry,theyexperiencetheirfirstromances,andthismakesHarry’sownteenageaffairmoreinterestingtothem.

Butit’sthetaleofHarryversusVoldemortthatkeepsusgoingwiththeseclassicsofchildren’swritingtotheend,ourarrivalatthatmomentwhenVoldemortisdefeatedand,ofcourse,Harrytriumphs.

However,itisnotthroughspecialwizardingskillsthatHarrywinsout,butanactofsacrifice.Here,onemightsay,Harry,likemanywesternfictionalcharactersbeforehim,islikeJesus.Throughhisselflessness,hebecomesaheroandmakessurethereisgoodintheworld.1.WhichofthefollowingabouttheHarryPotterstoriesisTRUE?

A.Afterhisparentsarekilled,Harryistakencareofbythewarm-heartedDursleys.

B.VoldemortfailstomurderHarryPotterbecauseheisprotectedbyhismagicalscar.

C.Attheendofthestory,HarrydefeatsVoldemortbysacrificinghimself.

D.ThesevenHarryPotterbookscannotbeunderstoodifyoureadthemontheirown.

2.Accordingtothearticle,whyaretheHarryPotterstoriespopular?

A.Theyarealllight-heartedandmakereadersfeelrelaxed.

B.Theyshowacombinationofjusticeandlove.

C.Theyfocusonteenagers’growingpains.

D.Theyremindusofpartsofourselvesandinspireustoimaginelivinganexcitinglife.

3.Accordingtothearticle,itis_____thatgivesshapetothestoryoftheHarryPotterbooks.

A.Harry’spurefriendshipwithRonandHermione

B.ourcuriosityabouttheworldofmagic

C.Harry’scharmingpersonality

D.thebattlebetweenHarryandVoldemort

5.Powerplayisnotagame

OrsonScottCard(1951-),US

Otherfamousworks:TheTalesofAlvinMaker《創(chuàng)者傳》

SpeakerfortheDead《死者代言人》

Homecomingseries《回家》系列小說

ENDER’SGame,a1985novelbyUSauthorOrsonScottCard,isateenageadventurestorythatispopularwiththetrainingprogramsoftheUSMarineCorps.TheCorpsgivesthenoveltothosewhocouldbecomeleadersbecauseofits“l(fā)essonsintrainingmethodology(方法),leadership,andethics”.

However,youdon’thavetobeplanningacareerintheUSmilitarytoenjoythestory,whichhasbeentranslatedintoChineseand30otherlanguages.

Thenovelissetinafutureinwhichtraveltoothergalaxiesisordinary.ButhumansinCard’snovelarestillobsessed(著迷的)withwar.OnEarth,thereisathree-wayfightbetweendifferenthumangroups,andthereisalsoawarwithanotherplanet,betweenhumansandinsectsknownastheBuggers.

Asthenovelopens,newforcesareintrainingtofighttheBuggers,whoareaconstantthreat.Theseforcesaremadeupofchildren.Onechild,EnderWiggin,istheheroofthestory.HissisterValentine,whoheiscloseto,andhisviolentbutbrilliantbrotherPeterarealsokeycharacters.

Enderandtheothercadets(軍校學(xué)員)aretrainedusinggamesthatbecomemoreandmorechallenging.Ender,stillunder10yearsofage,isquicklypromotedwhenheshowshowheartlesshecanbe.Whenaskedaboutwhyhe“killed”afellowcadetinthegame,forinstance,herepliesthatitsavedhimfutureproblems.ItisthisattitudethatmakesEnder’ssuperiorsthinktheyhaveagreatfutureleaderontheirhands.

AndsoitproveswhenEnder,usingadaringtactic(策略),managestodefeattheBuggers.However,Enderdoesnotknowthathehaswoninreallife,believingitwasagame.

TheliestoldtoEnderandothersareanexampleofthepoliticalthemesofthenovel,seeninthepowerplaysofdifferentgroupsonEarthand,later,betweenEnderandhisbrotherPeter.

Ender’sGamehasbeencriticizedforitsviolence,withsomeevenseeingEnderasaHitlerfigure.ButCarddisagreeswiththiscriticism,pointingoutthatEnderdoesn’tknowabouthisviolence,andisthereforemorallypure.

Itwouldseemclosertothetruthofthebooktosaythatitisaboutthewayhumanscanbeinfluenced–theolddoittotheyoung,andthepowerfuldoittotheweak.ItiscertainlyanovelthatmakesyouthinkaboutplanetEarthtoday,notjustinthefuture.Readthearticlecarefullyanddecidewhetherthefollowingstatementsaretrue(T)offalse(F).

1.ThebookEnder’sGamemainlyfocusesonbattlesbetweengroupsonEarth.()

2.Inthebook,itiscommonforhumanstotravelbetweenplanetsandgalaxies.()

3.EnderWigginhastwoviolentbutsupportivesiblings.()

4.Ender’scoldnesstowardhisenemiesmakeshissuperiorsbelievethathewillbeabrilliantleaderinthefuture.()

5.Withariskybutbravepieceofstrategy,EndermanagestowinthewaragainsttheBuggers.()

6.Thenovelexplorespoliticsandabusesofpower.()

7.Ender’sGamehasbeencriticizedforitsviolence,buttheauthorOrsonScottCarddisagreeswiththatcriticism.()

8.Thebookisaboutthewaythathumanscaninfluenceeachother.()6.Asad,sweetstoryJohnGreen(1977-),US

Otherfamousworks:LookingforAlaska《尋找阿拉斯卡》

AnAbundanceofKatherines《豐富的凱特林斯》

PaperTowns《紙上城市》《無比美妙的痛苦》：講述生命和愛情的美好與缺憾。

THEREhavebeentimeswhenauthorspatronized(遷就)theiryoungreadersbypretendingthatlifeiswithouttragedy.Butnowadays,booksforchildrenandyoungadultsaremoreseriousthaneverbefore.JohnGreen’sTheFaultinOurStars(2012)isonesuchbook.Itisaworkabouthowtwoyoungpeoplewithlife-threateningcancersfacetheirchallenges–together.

Sixteen-year-oldHazelGraceLancasterhasacancerthathasspreadtoherlungs.AugustusWaters,17,haslostalegtocancer.Thetwomeetatasupportgroupandstartthemostimportantrelationshipoftheirlives.

Attheendofthemeeting,HazelandAugustusagreetoreadeachother’sfavoritebooks.HazelrecommendsAnImperialAffliction,aworkbyPeterVanHouten.Themaincharacterofthestory,Anna,hasacancerlikeHazel’s.ButwhenAugustusreadsthenovel,heisdisappointed.Itseemstohavenoending.WhathappenstoAnna?

HetriestomakecontactwithVanHoutentofindoutand,throughthewriter’sassistantLidewij,eventuallysucceedsintalkingtohimbye-mail.HazelalsocontactsVanHouten.Shewantsanswerstoo.However,theauthorsaysthathecannotexplainhisbookonlineandasksthattheytalkface-to-faceinTheNetherlands.

Hazel’sparentsdonotwantHazeltogo,butHazelandAugustusdomeetwithVanHouteninEurope.Heturnsouttobeanabusive(粗暴的)drunkardwhorefusestoanswerHazel’squestions.

Meanwhile,aromancehasdevelopedbetweenHazelandAugustus,althoughitispainfullyshort-lived.Augustusrevealsthathiscancerhasreturned,sothetimethatheandHazelcanspendtogetherisbrief.

AtAugustus’funeral(葬禮),HazelisshockedtoseeVanHouten.Hewantsforgiveness,andatthispiontweunderstandhowhecouldhavebehavedsobadlytowardtheyoungpeople:Hehaslostadaughtertocancer.

Still,theauthorandHazeldonotmakeupwithoneanother.Thishastowaitforan“actbeyondthegrave”.AugustushasfinishedtheunfinishedstoryforVanHouten,but,ashesaysinaletterthatturnsupafterhisdeath,heneedsVanHouten’sliterary(文學(xué)的)skillsbecausehecan’twritethestoryhimself.

Onemightthinkthatsuchastorywouldhavedifficultyfindingreaders.Thisisabook,afterall,inwhichthemajorityofthecharactersaresickanddying.Suchastoryisnotusuallyeveryone’scupoftea.TheFaultinOurStars,however,hasbeenahugesuccess,showingthatyoungpeopleshouldnotbepatronizedanylonger.Theyappreciatethatlifehasitstragicside,andcanengage(建立聯(lián)系)withthatfactinliterature.Accordingtothearticle,booksforchildrenandyoungadultsarenow______.

A.becomingmoreserious

B.fullofdeathsandtragedies

C.happierthaneverbefore

D.teachingchildrenhowtodealwithlife’stragedies

2.AfterreadingVanHouten’sAnImperialAffliction,Augustus______.

A.decidestofinishtheendingofthestoryalongwithHazel

B.iseagertoknowwhathappenstoAnnaintheend

C.invitestheauthortomeethimandtalkface-to-face

D.isgreatlyinspiredbythemaincharacterinthenovel

3.WhichofthefollowingaboutTheFaultinOurStarsisTRUE?

A.Ithashaddifficultyfindingreaders.

B.Thecharacterssucceedinfightingtheirdiseases.

C.Thereadersloveitmainlybecauseofitshappyending.

D.Ithasbeenahugesuccesseventhoughitshowsthetragicsideoflife.7.GrowingupwellCharlesDickens(1812-1870),UK

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ATaleofTwoCities《雙城記》

GreatExpectations《遠(yuǎn)大前程》體味大衛(wèi)·科波菲爾從苦難到幸福的一生。

“WHETHERIshallbetheheroofmyownlife,orwhetherthatstationwillbeheldbyanybodyelse,thesepagesmustshow.”SobeginsBritishauthorCharlesDickens’DavidCopperfield(1850),thenovelthathesaidwashis“favoritechild”amonghisworks.Still,weshouldreadthisbookasanovel,notasamemoir(回憶錄)ofDickens’life.

However,describinganovelofthislengthanddepth,whichcontainssomanycharactersandstories,itisofcourseonlypossibletogivehintsaboutwhyitissoloved.ReaditforyourselvestoseewhythisbookissuchaclassicofEnglishliterature.

BythecloseofitspagesDavidhasbecome“theheroofhisownlife”.Heisasuccessfulwriter(likehiscreator),heishappilymarried,andhehasafamily.ButithastakenalongstruggleforDavidtoreachthispoint.Anearly,perfectchildhoodfallsapartwiththeentryofstepfatherEdwardMurdstone,oneofthemostmemorablebullies(橫行霸道的人)inallofDickens’work.

AfterthedeathofDavid’smother,Murdstonehascontroloverhisstepson’slife.HesendshimtoLondontoworkforhisowncompany.InLondonDavidliveswithMrMicawberandhislargefamily.Micawberisloveableandfun,butirresponsiblewithhismoney,puttinghisfamilyinadesperatesituation.LikeDickens’father,uponwhomheisbased,Micawberissenttodebtors’prison.

AttheotherendofthescalefromMrMicawberisUriahHeep,anemployeeofDavid’slandlord.Heisahorriblefigure.DavidcommentsthathavingshakenHeep’shandheimmediatelywantedtowipeitclean.ButHeepisnotsimplyphysically,butalsomorallydisgusting(令人惡心的).Whilenevermissinganopportunitytosayhowhumble(謙遜的)heis,heschemesandcheats.EventuallyheiscaughtbyMicawberwhouncoversHeep’splottoruinhisemployer.

AmongthemanycharactersDickenscreatedforDavidCopperfield,HeepandMicawberbelongtooppositegroups.Therearethecharacterstoadmireandthentherearethosewhoonemustbeonthelookoutfor–theywillharmyouandyourlovedones.Thisdoesnotmeanthatagood-heartedcharacteriswhollyagoodrolemodel,though,northatallcharactersaresimplygoodorevil.

ThesecrettoDavid’sbecoming“theheroofhisownlife”isthathelearnshowtojudgeonhisown.Readthearticlecarefullyanddecidewhetherthefollowingstatementsaretrue(T)offalse(F).

1.ThenovelDavidCopperfieldisactuallyamemoirofDickens’ownlife.()

2.ItisveryeasytotellgoodcharactersfromevilonesinDavidCopperfield.()

3.DavidCopperfieldisamongCharlesDickens’favoriteworks.()

4.DavidCopperfieldhasamiserablechildhood,especiallyafterthedeathofhismother.()

5.DavidCopperfield,thenovel’smaincharacter,endsupwithahappyfamilyandasuccessfulcareer.()

6.DickensusedhispersonalexperiencewhenhecreatedthecharacterofMrMicawber.()

7.DavidCopperfieldissenttoLondonbyhisstepfathertoworkforUriahHeep,ahumbleandhonestemployer.()

8.DickenswritesDavidCopperfieldtoteachreadershowtomaketherightjudgmentsinlife.()

8.Fightingonthefarm

GeorgeOrwell(1903-1950),UK

Otherfamousworks:InsidetheWhale《鯨魚之中》

ShootinganElephant《獵象》

NineteenEighty-Four《一九八四》

ANIMALFarmbyBritishAuthorGeorgeOrwellwaspublishedin1945.

Theyearissignificant(重要的),as1945markedtheendofWorldWarII.Germanywasdefeated,butassoonasonewarended,anotherbegan:theColdWar.

TheColdWaristhetermusedforthelargelynon-violentwarbetweentheSovietUnionanditsallies(盟友)inEasternandCentralEurope,andtheUnitedStatesanditsalliesinWesternEurope.

Therewasalotoffearintheworldduringtheseyears,shownintheWestbyverystrongAnti-Russianfeeling.

Duringthistime,AnimalFarmwasanincrediblysuccessfulbook.Thebookisabrief“fairytale”which,despiteitsanimalcharactersandstory,isafable(寓言)aboutthe“evil”SovietUnionanditsleader.Untilhisdeathin1953,JosephStalinwasthefigurewhorepresentedmostWesterners’worstfearsaboutRussiaanditsthreattothem.

Thestoryisaboutafarmonwhichtheanimalsdecidethattheyhavehadenoughoftheoppressive(欺壓的)ownerMrJones.TheyoverthrowJonesandstarttorunthefarmbythemselves.

Twopigs,SnowballandNapoleon,leadtheanimals’revolution.NapoleonisveryclearlymeanttostandforStalin,andinthebookheisthevillain(惡棍).First,hegetsridofhisrivalSnowball.Afterwards,hegraduallymakessurethatonl