Question

One of the best-loved American writers was William Sydney Porter, or O.Henry. From 1893 he lived with his family in a house in Austin, Texas, which is now a museum. Visitors to Austin can see the house. It was saved from destruction (破壞) and turned into a museum in1934. The museum is a good way to learn about the interesting life of the American writer.

William Porter rented this house in Austin and lived there with his wife Athol and daughter Margaret for about two years. Many objects in the museum belonged to the Porters. Others did not. An important piece in the room is the original photograph over here. It was taken there in the house about 1895. The piano there goes back to the 1860s. His wife took lessons on it when she first moved to Austin.

Porter did not start his career as a successful writer. He worked at a farm, land office and bank. He also loved words and writing. The museumm has a special proof of Porter’s love of language --- his dictionary. It is said that he had read every word in that dictionary.

Later William Porter was forced to leave Austin because he was charged with financial wrongdoing at the bank and lost his job. Because he was afraid of a trail (審判), he left the country secretly. But he returned because his wife was dying. After her death, he faced the trial and became a criminal. He served three and a half years in a prison in Ohio.

William Porter would keep his time in prison a secret. But there was one good thing about it. It provided him with time to write. By the time he was freed, he had published 14 stories and became well known as O.Henry.

Porter later moved to New York City and found great success there. He published over 180 stories in the last eight years of his life.

1.O.Henry’s house in Austin has been well kept up till now so that ____.

A. Americans can explore their history

B more visitors will be attracted to Austin

C. visitors can learn about O.Henry’s life

D. it can show the way of life in the 1860s

2.What do we know about the piano in the house?

A. It was hated by Porter’s daughter.

B. It has a long history of about 150 years.

C. Porter’s wife gave music lessons on it.

D. Porter usually created music on it.

3.How does the museum prove (證明) Porter was fond of language?

A. With a dictionary he used.

B. With the records they keep.

C. Using the books they wrote.

D. Using the photograph they keep.

4.Why did Porter escape from Austin?

A. He didn’t want to lose his job.

B. He didn’t want to make trouble.

C. He meant to save his wife’s life.

D. He was charged with a crime.

5.From the last two paragraphs we know that _______.

A. Porter became famous suddenly

B. Porter spent his time in prison writing

C. Porter suffered a lot from his time in prison

D. life in prison provided what he could write for Porter

 

Answer 1

【答案】

 

1.C

2.B

3.A

4.D

5.B

【解析】

試題分析

本文是一篇人物傳記，介紹了歐亨利成為美國著名作家的經過：因為財務問題被捕入獄，但是監獄給了他充裕的寫作時間；文章還介紹了由歐亨利故居改建而成的博物館。博物館陳列了一些歐亨利夫婦用過的物品，成為人們了解歐亨利生活的好去處。

1.細節題。依據文章第一段最后一句話The museum is a good way to learn about the interesting life of the American writer.可知，博物館是人們了解歐亨利生活的好途徑。the museum由O.Henry故居改建而成。故C項正確。

2.細節題。由文章第二段The piano there goes back to the 1860s.可知，鋼琴歷史可以追溯到19世紀60年代。A,D兩項文中無依據；C項錯誤。原文說鋼琴是作家太太用來學習鋼琴(take lessons)而非教鋼琴課(give lessons)的。故答案為B.

3.細節題。由文章第三段The museumm has a special proof of Porter’s love of language --- his dictionary.可知，歐亨利用過的詞典是他喜愛寫作的特別證據之一。故A項正確。

4.細節題。由文章第四段前兩句可知。作家涉嫌財務罪錯、因害怕審判而秘密逃離。故答案為D.

5.細節題。由文章倒數第二段It provided him with time to write.可知，監獄給他提供了寫作的時間。A項錯用副詞suddenly.作家到出獄時出版小說14篇因而成名，歷時三年半；C項文中無依據；D項錯誤。監獄為他提供了寫作時間而非寫作素材。故B項正確。

考點：人物傳記。