19.Each Indian tribe(部落) had a different language.Many Indians never learned any language except their own.Do you know how Indians from different tribes talked to each other?They had two ways to talk without sound.One way was by sign language;the other way by signals.
Sign language is a way of talking by using signs.Indians used sign language when they met strangers.In this way,they could find out whether the stranger was a friend or an enemy.In the Indian sign language,signs were made with the hands.One sign meant"man".Another meant"horse".To tell the time of day when something happened,an Indian pointed to the sky.He showed where the sun had been at the time.
Indians usually used signals when they wanted to send messages to someone far away.To make signals,an Indian might use a pony.He might use a blanket.Or he might use smoke,a mirror or fire arrows.
To signal that he had seen many animals,an Indian rode his pony in a large circle.Sometimes the Indian gave a signal like this and then went away to hide.This meant that there was danger.
The blanket signal was visible from far away.An Indian held the corners of a blanket in his hands.Then he began to swing the blanket from side to side in front of him.An Indian could send many different signals with his blanket.
He could also send many signals with a mirror.He usually used the mirror to warn someone of danger.Or he attempted to get the attention of a person far away.But he also used it to send messages in code.Of course,mirrors could be used only when the sun was shining.At night,Indians used fire arrows for signaling.
An Indian also sent signals with smoke.He made a small fire.Then he put grass or green branches on it.He held a blanket over the fire for a minute.When he removed the blanket from the fire,there was a cloud of smoke.The number of clouds of smoke told his message in code.
Now you can see that Indians didn't need to learn each other's language.They could talk to one another by using signals or sign language.
54.From the passage we can infer thatB.
A.Indian language was difficult to learn,so many Indians never learned it
B.among the Indian tribes there was no common spoken language
C.many Indians couldn't communicate with each other
D.Indians talked with each other only in two ways---sign and signal language
55.Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage?A
A.One or two clouds of smoke sent different message.
B.In Indian sign language,"man''meant friend and"horse"meant enemy.
C.If an Indian rode his pony in a large circle,it meant there was danger.
D.Signals with smoke could be used to send messages at night.
56.What is the best title of this passage?D
A.Indians'way of life B.Each Indian tribe had its own language
C.How to use signals and sign language D.Talking without sound.
分析 本文讲述了作者通印度各部落的人进行交流所使用得肢体语言和各种信号.
解答 54.B 细节题.根据第一段第一句"Each Indian tribe(部落) had a different language"每一个印第安部落(部落)有不同的语言,可知.故选B.
55.A 推断题.根据"In this way,they could find out whether the stranger was a friend or an enemy."通过这种方式,他们可以找出陌生人究竟是朋友还是敌人,可知B项错误;根据"To signal that he had seen many animals,an Indian rode his pony in a large circle.Sometimes the Indian gave a signal like this and then went away to hide.This meant that there was danger."以表示他看到很多动物,一个印度骑着小马在一个大圆圈.有时候,印度给了这样一个信号,然后就走了躲.这意味着有危险,可知C项错误;根据"At night,Indians used fire arrows for signaling."到了晚上,印第安人用火焰箭的信号,可知D项错误.故选A.
56.D标题概括题.根据最后一段"Now you can see that Indians didn't need to learn each other's language.They could talk to one another by using signals or sign language."现在你可以看到,印度人并不需要学习对方的语言.他们可以彼此对话,通过信号或手语.故选D.
点评 本文是历史文化类阅读理解.做这类题材阅读理解时要求考生对文章通读一遍,做题时结合原文和题目有针对性的找出相关语句进行仔细分析,结合选项选出正确答案.推理判断题也是要在抓住关键句子的基础上合理的分析才能得出正确答案,切忌胡乱猜测,一定要做到有理有据.