Question

【题目】阅读下列短文, 从每题所给的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中, 选出最佳选项。

Arthur Miller(1915-2005) is universally recognized as one of the greatest dramatists of the 20th century. Miller’s father had moved to the USA from Austria-Hungary, drawn like so many others by the “ Great American Dream”. However, he experienced severe financial hardship when his family business was ruined in the Great Depression (大萧条时期) of the early 1930s.

Miller’s most famous play, Death of a Salesman, is a powerful attack on the American system, with its aggressive way of doing business and its insistence on money and social status as indicators (标志) of worth. In Willy Loman, the hero of the play, we see a man who has got into trouble with his system, Willy is “burnt out” and in the cruel world of business there is no room for sentiment (情绪): if he can’t do the work, then he is no good to his employer, the Wagner Company, and he must go. Willy is painfully aware of this, and at a loss as to what to do with his lack of success. He refuses to face the fact that he has failed and kills himself in the end.

When it was first staged in 1949, the play was greeted with enthusiastic reviews, and it won the Tony Award for Best Play, the New York Drama Critics’ Circle Award, and the Pulitzer Prize for drama. It was the first play to win all the three of these major awards.

Miller died of heart failure at his home in Roxbury, Connecticut, on the evening of February 10, 2005, the 56th anniversary of the first performance of Death of a Salesman on Broadway.

【1】Why did Arthur Miller’s father move to the USA?

A. He suffered from severe hunger in his home country.

B. He was attracted by the “Great American Dream”.

C. He hoped to make his son a dramatist.

D. His family business failed.

【2】The play Death of a Salesman _____.

A. exposes the cruelty of the American business world

B. discusses the ways to get promoted in a country

C. talks about the business career of Arthur Miller

D. focuses on the skills in doing business

【3】What can we learn about Willy Loman?

A. He treats his employer badly.

B. He runs the Wagner Company.

C. He is a victim of the American system.

D. He is regarded as a hero by his colleagues.

【4】After it was first staged, Death of a Salesman _____.

A. achieved huge success

B. won the first Tony Award

C. was warmly welcomed by salesmen

D. was severely attacked by dramatists

【5】 What is the text mainly about?

A. Arthur Miller and his family.

B. The awards Arthur Miller won.

C. Arthur Miller and his best-known play.

D. The hardship Arthur Miller experienced.

Answer 1

【答案】

【1】B

【2】A

【3】C

【4】A

【5】C

【解析】

试题分析：本文属于人物传记，主要介绍了美国著名戏剧家Arthur Miller的生平故事以及的作品Death of a Salesman Death of a Salesman的详细信息。

【1】B 细节理解题。根据第一段第二句Miller’s father had moved to the USA from Austria-Hungary, drawn like so many others by the “ Great American Dream”.可知Miller的父亲和很多人一样都被“ Great American Dream”所吸引，才来到美国追求梦想。故B正确。

【2】A 推理判断题。根据第二段第二句In Willy Loman, the hero of the play, we see a man who has got into trouble with his system, Willy is “burnt out” and in the cruel world of business there is no room for sentiment (情绪): if he can’t do the work, then he is no good to his employer, the Wagner Company, and he must go.可知在Death of a Salesman的主角Willy Loman身上，体现出残忍的美国商业世界中的生存规则：如果不能给公司带来好处，就要被解雇，在美国的商业世界里，是没有情感可言的。故A正确。

【3】C 推理判断题。根据第二段最后两句Willy is painfully aware of this, and at a loss as to what to do with his lack of success. He refuses to face the fact that he has failed and kills himself in the end.可知在这个世界里Willy非常痛苦，最终他自杀了。说明他也是受害者。故C正确。

【4】A 细节理解题。根据文章第三段When it........it won the Tony Award for Best Play, the New York Drama Critics’ Circle Award, and the Pulitzer Prize for drama. It was the first play to win all the three of these major awards.可知这部作品上映以后，连续获得三个大奖，取得了巨大的成功。故A正确。

【5】C 主旨大意题。本文属于人物传记，主要介绍了美国著名戏剧家Arthur Miller的生平故事以及的作品Death of a Salesman Death of a Salesman的详细信息。ABD只是文章部分内容，具有片面性，故C正确。