8.The second Monday in October in the United States is Columbus Day.It is a federal holiday.The holiday honors the first visit to America by the Italian explorer Christopher Columbus.Columbus thought he could reach the Far East by sailing west across the Atlantic Ocean from Europe.
He was right.But he was also wrong.He thought the world was much smaller than it is.He did not imagine that another continent and another huge ocean lay between Europe and East Asia.
Columbus and his crew arrived in October 1492 on an island they called San Salvador,in today's Bahamas.Columbus believed these were the coastal islands of East Asia,and then called the Indies.That is why he called the people who lived on the islands"Indians."He refused to accept he was wrong about the geography,even though local plants where he explored were unknown in Europe or Asia,and native people did not understand any languages spoken in the East.
Many people have pointed out that Christopher Columbus never recognized where he really landed.Other European explorer.s did land in what is now the United States.But not Columbus.More importantly,some say,Columbus did not"discover"a new world:many native people already lived here.
Critics of Columbus Day also strongly object to the holiday because Columbus treated native people cruelly.He imprisoned some of the West Indians,forcing them to serve the Europeans or search for gold.He controlled parts of the population with violence and oppression.In addition,Columbus and his fellow European voyagers forced native people to accept Christianity.And,they brought new diseases that sickened and killed many of the native people.Columbus'arrival in the Caribbean was destructive to the people there.
Even though Columbus Day is one of the most doubtful holidays in the U.S.calendar,scholars say the origins of Columbus Day aimed to bring Americans together.In 1892,President Benjamin Harrison called on the country to observe Columbus Day,and to reflect on their achievements in the 400 years since Columbus landed in San Salvador.
32.Why did Columbus fail to reach the Far East?B
A.He went in the wrong direction of his voyage.
B.He lacked enough geographic knowledge.
C.Hrs theory proved to be wrong in practice.
D.He didn't have good enough imagination.
33.Which of the following best describes Columbus?C
A.Cautious.
B.Honest.
C.Stubborn.
D.Modest.
34.What does Paragraph 5 mainly talk about?A
A.Great harm Columbus brought to the native people.
B.Various Changes since Columbus landed there.
C.The way how Columbus controlled the native people.
D.Conflicts occurring between Columbus and the natives.
35.What was the original purpose of creating Columbus Day?C
A.To honour the United States.
B.To get relaxed from work.
C.To unite American people.
D.To show progress of America.
分析 本文属于说明文阅读,作者通过这篇文章主要向我们描述了哥伦布航行寻找新大陆的故事.
解答 32.B.细节题.根据文章内容,He thought the world was much smaller than it is.He did not imagine that another continent and another huge ocean lay between Europe and East Asia.哥伦布认为这个世界要比想要的小,但是他没有想到在欧洲和东亚之间隔着一个大陆和一个巨大的海湾,说明他对地理情况不大了解,结合选项,故选B
33.C.细节题.根据文章内容,."He refused to accept he was wrong about the geography,even though local plants where he explored were unknown in Europe or Asia,哥伦布拒绝接受他的地理知识方面有缺陷的事实…由此可知,他是一个固执的人,故选C
34.A.段落大意题.根据文章内容,He imprisoned some of the West Indians,forcing them to serve the Europeans or search for gold.He controlled parts of the population with violence and oppression.In addition,Columbus and his fellow European voyagers forced native people to accept Christianity.哥伦布监禁了一些西印度人,强迫他们去找金子,他还武力控制了一些人口.此外,他和他的团队还强迫当地人信仰基督教,这些都是哥伦布对当地人们的不好的行为,结合选项,故选A
35.C.细节题.根据文章内容,scholars say the origins of Columbus Day aimed to bring Americans together.学者说,哥伦布日最初创立的原因是为了团结美国人民,结合选项,故选C
点评 考察学生的细节理解和推理判断能力,做细节理解题时一定要找到文章中的原句,和题干进行比较,再做出正确的选择.在做推理判断题不要以个人的主观想象代替文章的事实,要根据文章事实进行合乎逻辑的推理判断.