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 (破坏) 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 (审判), 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 (证明) 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】

试题分析

本文是一篇人物传记，介绍了欧亨利成为美国著名作家的经过：因为财务问题被捕入狱，但是监狱给了他充裕的写作时间；文章还介绍了由欧亨利故居改建而成的博物馆。博物馆陈列了一些欧亨利夫妇用过的物品，成为人们了解欧亨利生活的好去处。

1.细节题。依据文章第一段最后一句话The museum is a good way to learn about the interesting life of the American writer.可知，博物馆是人们了解欧亨利生活的好途径。the museum由O.Henry故居改建而成。故C项正确。

2.细节题。由文章第二段The piano there goes back to the 1860s.可知，钢琴历史可以追溯到19世纪60年代。A,D两项文中无依据；C项错误。原文说钢琴是作家太太用来学习钢琴(take lessons)而非教钢琴课(give lessons)的。故答案为B.

3.细节题。由文章第三段The museumm has a special proof of Porter’s love of language --- his dictionary.可知，欧亨利用过的词典是他喜爱写作的特别证据之一。故A项正确。

4.细节题。由文章第四段前两句可知。作家涉嫌财务罪错、因害怕审判而秘密逃离。故答案为D.

5.细节题。由文章倒数第二段It provided him with time to write.可知，监狱给他提供了写作的时间。A项错用副词suddenly.作家到出狱时出版小说14篇因而成名，历时三年半；C项文中无依据；D项错误。监狱为他提供了写作时间而非写作素材。故B项正确。

考点：人物传记。