We considered a list of the best American books. Here are five that may help accurately show the national character. Most from a century or so ago, they still entertain, teach, and inspire:

Moby-Dick by Herman Melville

First published in 1851, the adventure stories of Captain Ahab and his monomaniacal(偏执的) pursuit of the white whale draw us into a universe full of fascinating characters and stories.

The Education of Henry Adams by Henry Adams

Published in 1918, the book was an autobiography. Born in one of America’s most famous political families, Adams provides insight into his family, including his experience as private secretary to his father, minister to England during the American Civil war.

Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman

When Whitman published Leaves of Grass in 1855, he wanted to accurately describe the American experience and reflect the great changes in the American literary world that had taken place during his lifetime.

Poems by Emily Dickinson

An enthusiastic poet whose works have had considerable influence on modern poetry, Dickson’s frequent use of dashes, occasional capitalization(大写) of nouns, and unconventional metaphors(隐喻) have contributed to her reputation as one of the most inventive poets of the 19^th century American literature. However, most of her poems were not published during her lifetime.

The Song of Hiawatha by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

First published in 1855, this is Longfellow’s most popular and most recognized poem, the heroic life and death of a magic American Indian, sent by the Great Spirit to guide the nations in the ways of peace.

1.Walt Whitman wrote Leaves of Grass in order to _______.

A. show his talent and heroic life to us

B. draw us into a fascinating universe

C. provide insight into his family

D. reflect the great changes in the American literary world

2.If you want to read a story about a magic American Indian, you can read _______.

A. Moby-Dick             B. The Song of Hiawatha

C. Poems                 D. Leaves of Grass

3.Which statement is TRUE according to the passage?

A. Because the five books are from a century or so ago, they can’t teach and inspire us.

B. Herman Melville was considered as one of the most inventive poets of the 19^th century American literature.

C. The Education of Henry Adams is a non-fiction book.

D. Of the five books, Moby-Dick was published last.

4.Why did the author write the passage ?

A. To introduce several best \American books to readers .

B. To make an advertisement for a book store .

C. To tell stories of several famous writers .

D. To talk about some knowledge about literature.

 

阅读下面短文，根据所读内容在文后第76至第85小题的空格里填上适当的单词并将答案转写到答题卡上。
注意：每空仅填一个单词。
The ancient religions of the Greeks and Romans were based on myths. Originally the word meant “spoken words” or stories. Nowadays myths refer to tales without a kernel of truth, or fantasies.
In nearly every civilization people tried to control their surroundings and the things happening around them to make them less threatening. In prehistoric cultures myths were used to explain natural phenomena. Ancient civilizations saw the earth as the goddess because of its fertility. Other phenomena like wind, lightning and thunder also were brought into connection with supernatural forces. The people felt themselves surrounded by gods and completely dependent.
The Greek myths also originated in that manner, but had more functions. They also explained the beginning of the world and the origin of man. Furthermore, the myths kept alive the memories of the foundation of important cities as well as the heroic deeds of civilizations and individuals. The tales of heroes, human beings with often supernatural capacities, gave men examples of perfection. During the whole Classical Period people believed the myths, but over time they came to be taken less and less seriously.
During the Greek Period myths were spread by word of mouth. The singing of mythical events was an important aspect of religious ritual. Many singers traveled around and sang the tales they heard on their way.
The first collection of myths was the work of Homer. He was blind, and to survive he collected traditional stories and let them been written down by others. The books of his that we know are the Iliad and the Odyssey. The first author to write about the beginning of the world and its deities was Hesiod in the 18the century.

Title: 【小题1】_____ of Myths
Meaning	【小题2】________	They meant “spoken words” or traditional stories.
	Nowadays	They meant something that people believe but which doesn’t 【小题3】_____ or is false.
【小题4】____ and Status	Prehistoric cultures	They were used to explain aspects of the natural world and supernatural phenomena.
		People felt completely dependent on 【小题5】_____.
	Classical period	Besides explaining natural phenomena, they also ①explained how the world began and how the man came into 【小题6】______; ②【小题7】________ the foundation of important cities and good deeds; ③dealt with supernatural beings and heroes.
		People believed in them but were not【小题8】___ about them gradually.
Forms	Oral myths	They were usually sung in religious rituals or by 【小题9】___ singers.
	【小题10】____ myths	The representative authors are Homer and Hesiod.

 

Zhang Lili, a 29-year-old middle school teacher at the No 19 middle school in the city of Jiamusi in Northeast China's Heilongjiang province was crossing the road just outside the school's gate when a school bus suddenly came rushing toward nearby students at 8:38 pm on May 8, 2012.
"There were three buses at the school gate ready to pick up students, but the one in the back suddenly crashed into the second bus and pushed it into the first one. There were several students standing between the first and the second buses and they were about to be crushed," said Liu Ye, a student of No. 19 middle school.
"We were waiting to board the bus when suddenly it began moving toward the teachers and students. Zhang Lili immediately pushed the students out of the way, but unfortunately she didn't escape. The bus crushed her legs. " added Liu.
Zhang Lili was sent to hospital at about 9 pm and she was critically injured and her blood pressure was low. The situation was quite serious when rushed to hospital.
After consulting specialists, the doctors decided that the only way to save her life was cut off both of her legs.
Upon learning about the accident, the deputy mayor of the city, Sun Zhe, asked the hospital to "save the young teacher regardless of the cost"  
"If necessary, we will invite more specialists from the capital city, even from whole nation," said Sun.
Fortunately, after 58 hours of emergency medical attention after being transferred to the First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Zhang finally regained consciousness on May 15.
"But it cannot be ruled out that her condition may worsen, and the doctors are still working full out to save the heroic teacher," said Zhao Mingyan, ICU director at the hospital, where Zhang is now receiving treatment.
"Her courage moved all of our staff, and we will try our best to help the brave teacher in her future life. " said Wang Jianwei, the director of center.
The Ministry of Education has also named her "National Outstanding Teacher" and called on the country's educators to learn from her.
【小题1】What does the underlined word “it” in the third paragraph refers to ________.

A．the bus in the back	B．the bus in the middle
C．the bus in the front	D．the third bus

【小题2】What can be inferred from the remark of the deputy Mayor Sun Zhe?

A．Every possible means is being carried out to save the brave teacher.

B．It’s increasingly difficult to save the brave teacher.

C．The only way to save the brave teacher is to cut off her legs.

D．No more medical experts will be needed in the operation to save the brave teacher.

【小题3】What does the underlined sentence in the ninth paragraph attempt to tell us?

A．The woman teacher’s condition will definitely get worse.

B．There is little possibility that the woman teacher’s condition will improve.

C．It is obvious that the woman teacher will recover shortly after.

D．It’s likely that the woman teacher will suffer from a worse medical condition.

【小题4】Which of the following might be the best title for this passage?

A．National Outstanding Teacher	B．A Heroic Teacher
C．An Example of Top Teachers	D．An bus accident

Zhang Lili, a 29-year-old middle school teacher at the No 19 middle school in the city of Jiamusi in Northeast China’s Heilongjiang province was crossing the road just outside the school’s gate when a school bus suddenly came rushing toward nearby students at 8:38 pm on May 8, 2012.
“There were three buses at the school gate ready to pick up students, but the one in the back suddenly crashed into the second bus and pushed it into the first one. There were several students standing between the first and the second buses and they were about to be crushed,” said Liu Ye, a student of No.19 middle school.
“We were waiting to board the bus when suddenly it began moving toward the teachers and students. Zhang Lili immediately pushed the students out of the way, but unfortunately she didn't escape. The bus crushed her legs.” added Liu.
Zhang Lili was sent to hospital at about 9 pm and she was critically injured and her blood pressure was low. The situation was quite serious when rushed to hospital.
After consulting specialists, the doctors decided that the only way to save her life was cut off both of her legs.
Upon learning about the accident, the deputy mayor of the city, Sun Zhe, asked the hospital to “save the young teacher regardless of the cost”
“If necessary, we will invite more specialists from the capital city, even from the whole nation,” said Sun.
Fortunately, after 58 hours of emergency medical attention after being transferred to the First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Zhang finally regained consciousness on May 15.
“But it cannot be ruled out that her condition may worsen, and the doctors are still working full out to save the heroic teacher,” said Zhao Mingyan, ICU director at the hospital, where Zhang is now receiving treatment. “Her courage moved all of our staff, and we will try our best to help the brave teacher in her future life.” said Wang Jianwei, the director of center.
The Ministry of Education has also named her “National Outstanding Teacher” and called on the country’s educators to learn from her.
【小题1】What does the underlined word “it” in the third paragraph refers to ________.

A．the bus in the back	B．the bus in the middle
C．the bus in the front	D．the third bus

【小题2】What can be inferred from the remark of the deputy Mayor Sun Zhe?

A．Every possible means is being carried out to save the brave teacher.

B．It’s increasingly difficult to save the brave teacher.

C．The only way to save the brave teacher is to cut off her legs.

D．No more experts will be needed in the operation to save the brave teacher.

【小题3】What does the underlined sentence in the ninth paragraph attempt to tell us?

A．The woman teacher’s condition will definitely get worse.

B．It is obvious that the woman teacher will recover shortly after.

C．There is little possibility that the woman teacher’s condition will improve.

D．It’s likely that the teacher will suffer from a worse medical condition.

【小题4】Which of the following might be the best title for this passage?

A．National Outstanding Teacher	B．A Heroic Teacher
C．An Example of Top Teachers	D．An bus accident

A few years ago I received a postcard from a friend Jackson, who wrote, “I am skiing with abandon!” I believe he meant he was skiing skillfully, joyfully, peacefully and confidently. Although I have no hopes of ever skiing that way, I do dream of living with abandon. I believe that men and women through the ages who have led successful lives have captured these secrets of living life to the fullest.

1. Have a self you respect. This means having a deep sense of responsibility for your thoughts and actions. It means keeping your word, and being faithful to self, family and work. It means believing in what you do and working hard. It means setting your own standards, and not comparing yourself to others. It's not a question of being better than someone else; respect and integrity demand that you be better than you thought you could be.

2. Turn disappointments into strengths. Individuals who live with abandon have discovered that personal trials make them more sensitive and loving, while building character. They have learned that achievements worth remembering are stained (给...染色) with the blood of diligence and marked with the scars of disappointment.

The pages of history are filled with the heroic stories of men and women who overcame disabilities and difficulties to demonstrate victorious spirits. Raise him in extreme poverty, and you have an Abraham Lincoln. Make her blind and deaf, and you have a Helen Keller.

3. Enjoy life’s process, not just life’s rewards. We live in a goal-centered society that wants problems solved now. We want three-minute coffee, one-hour dry cleaning, and instant success. But to live with abandon, we must live one day at a time, enjoying the little victories, realizing that life is an endless journey in self-discovery and personal fulfillment.

4. Become involved in something bigger than yourself. I do not believe you will live happily if you set out to live life for yourself alone. Choose a cause bigger than you are and work at it in a spirit of excellence. It will become a part of you as you see your goals through to the end. Measure success not by what you've done, but what you could do.

Title：76.________ of enjoying life

Tips	Details
77. _______ yourself	It means: ☆ being very 78. ________ for your thoughts and deeds; ☆ keeping your promise, and having faith in yourself, family and work; ☆ having 79.________ in what you do and working hard; ☆ setting your own standards instead of comparing yourself to others.
Turn disappointments into strengths	☆ People 80. ________ with abandon believe personal trials make them sensitive and loving and are good for 81. ________ character. ☆ Examples of Abraham Lincoln and Helen Keller in history show 82. ________ can be made through diligence.
Enjoy the 83. ________ of life	☆ People are eager to succeed 84. ________ in the present goal-centered society. ☆ What we have to do is to enjoy our life journey by discovering ourselves and fulfilling our personalities.
Set a goal bigger than yourself	☆ Living life for yourself alone won’t make you happy. ☆ Success is not 85. ________ by the things you have done but your abilities.