英美文学基础知识.doc

Text 1Nobody ever stopped him in the street to say, with gladsome looks, My dear Scrooge, how are you?When will you come to see me?No beggars implored him to bestow a trifle, no children asked him what it was oclock, no man or woman ever once in all his life inquired the way to such and such a place, of Scrooge. Even the blind mens dogs appeared to know him; and when they saw him coming on, would tug their owners into doorways and up courts; and then would wag their tails as though they said, No eye at all is better than an evil eye, dark master.1. Who is the author of this passage?2. From which novel is this passage taken?3. Why would no children like to ask Mr. Scrooge the time?4. What does the author mean by the sentence No beggars implored him to bestow a trifle?5. What is the reaction of the blind mans dog when it encountered Mr. Scrooge?参考答案1. Charles Dickens2. A Christmas Carol3. Because Mr. Scrooge is a mean-spirited miserly person.4No beggars would ask him for money5. When they saw him coming on, the dogs would tug their owners into doorways and up courts; and then would wag their tails, telling their owners that this man is an evil person.Text 2I tried to sleep; but my heart beat anxiously, my inward tranquility was broken. The clock, far down in the hall, struck two. Just then it seemed my chamber-door was touched, as if fingers had swept the panels in groping a way along the dark gallery outside. I said, Who is there? Nothing answered. I was chilled with fear.All at once I remembered that it might be Pilot, who, when the kitchen door chanced to be left open, not infrequently found his way up to the threshold of Mr Rochesters chamber: I had seen him lying there myself in the mornings. The idea calmed me somewhat: I lay down. Silence composes the nerves; and as an unbroken hush now reigned again through the whole house, I began to feel the return of slumber. But it was not fated that I should sleep that night. A dream had scarcely approached my ear, when it fled affrighted, scared by a marrow-freezing incident enough.This was a demoniac laugh low, suppressed, and deep uttered, as it seemed, at the very keyhole of my chamber door. The head of my bed was near the door, and I thought at first the goblin-laugher stood at my bedside or rather, crouched by my pillow. But I rose, looked round, and could see nothing; while, as I still gazed, the unnatural sound was reiterated, and I knew it came from behind the panels. My first impulse was to rise and fasten the bolt; my next, again to cry out, Who is there? Questions1. From which novel is the extract taken?2. What time of the day did the marrow-freezing incident happen?3. What words did the author use to describe the laugh she heard?4. What did the narrator I observe after she rose from her bed?5. What does the author mean by as an unbroken hush now reigned again through the whole house, I began to feel the return of slumber?参考答案1. Jane Eyre2. It was around two in the morning / It was after midnight.3. It was a demoniac laugh- low, suppressed, deep or unnatural, goblin-laughter, etc.4. The narrator looked around but she could see nothing.5. Since the whole house turned quiet /silent, I began to feel sleepy again.Text 3A stout slow man sat in his office waiting. His face was fatherly and benign, and his eyes twinkled with friendship. He was a caller of good mornings, a ceremonious shaker of hands, a jolly man who knew all jokes and yet who hovered close to sadness, for in the midst of a laugh he could remember the death of your aunt, and his eyes would become wet with sorrow for your loss. This morning he had placed a flower in a vase on his desk, a single scarlet hibiscus, and the vase sat beside the black velvet-lined tray in front of him. He was shaved close to the blue roots of his beard, and his hands were clean and his nails polished.His door stood open to the morning, and he hummed under his breath while his right hand practiced legerdemain.He rolled a coin back and forth over his knuckles and made it appear and disappear, made it spin and sparkle.The coin winked into sight and as quickly slipped out of sight, and the man did not even watch his own performance.The fingers did it all mechanically, precisely, while the man hummed to himself and peered out the door.Then he heard the tramp of feet of the approaching crowd, and the fingers of his right hand worked faster and faster until, as the figure of Kino filled the doorway, the coin flashed and disappeared.1. Who is the author of this passage?2. From which novel is this passage taken from?3. How is the stout man described in this passage?4. Why does the author describe the coin in detail?5. Do you think this stout man is a kind and generous person?参考答案1. John Steinbeck2. The Pearl3. The man is described as a very kind and generous person. The author describes his kind facial expression, his polite speeches, and his interesting behaviours.4. Coin is closely related to money. The man plays the coin very skilfully and even mechanically. This shows that he is an experienced businessman.5. No. He pretends to be a kind man, but in effect, he is an evil person.Text4Ralph looked at him dumbly.For a moment he had a fleeting picture of the strange glamour that had once invested the beaches.But the island was scorched up like dead wood Simon was dead and Jack had . The tears began to flow and sobs shook him.He gave himself up to them now for the first time on the island; great, shuddering spasms of grief that seemed to wrench his whole body.His voice rose under the black smoke before the burning wreckage of the island; and infected by that emotion, the other little boys began to shake and sob too.And in the middle of them, with filthy body, matted hair, and unwiped nose, Ralph wept for the end of innocence, the darkness of mans heart, and the fall through the air of the true, wise friend called Piggy.The officer, surrounded by these noises, was moved and a little embarrassed.He turned away to give them time to pull themselves together; and waited, allowing his eyes to rest on the trim cruiser in the distance.1. Who is the author of this passage?2. From which novel is this passage taken from?3. What does the end of the story indicate?4. What happened to Ralph in the extract?5. What does pull themselves together (Line2, paragraph 2) mean?参考答案1. William Golding:2. Lord of the Flies3. There is no suggestion that everything is going well at the end of the story.It is an inconclusive conclusion. It is true that the boys have been rescued, but it seems that the threat of war and chaos is still going on.4. Ralph at the end of the story cannot control his feelings for he has no way to go and he has experienced so many things on the island.5. It means to To regain their composure, to regain their calmness.Read the extracts and give brief answers to the questions below.Text 1Lady Bracknell: What is your income?Jack: Between seven and eight thousand a year.Lady Bracknell (makes a note in her book): In land, or in investments?Jack:In investments, chiefly.Lady Bracknell: That is satisfactory. What between the duties expected of one during ones lifetime, and the duties exacted from one after ones death, land has ceased to be either a profit or a pleasure. It gives one position, and prevents one from keeping it up. Thats all that can be said about land.Jack: I have a country house with some land, of course, attached to it, about fifteen hundred acres, I believe; but I dont depend on that for my real income. In fact, as far as I can make out, the poachers are the only people who make anything out of it.Lady Bracknell: A country house! How many bedrooms? Well, that point can be cleared up afterwards. You have a town house, I hope? A girl with a simple, unspoiled nature, like Gwendolen, could hardly be expected to reside in the country.Jack: Well, I own a house in Belgrave Square, but it is let by the year to Lady Bloxham. Of course, I can get it back whenever I like, at six months notice.Lady Bracknell: Lady Bloxham? I dont know her.Jack: Oh, she goes about very little. She is a lady considerably advanced in years.Lady Bracknell: Ah, nowadays that is no guarantee of respectability of character.What number in Belgrave Square?Jack: 149.Lady Bracknell (shaking her head): The unfashionable side. I thought there was something.However, that could easily be altered.Jack: Do you mean the fashion, or the side?Lady Bracknell (sternly) : Both, if necessary, I presume.(The Importance of Being Earnest )Questions1. Why does Lady Bracknell prefer investments to land? Identify a quotation to support this.2. What are Lady Bracknells main criteria for choosing a husband for her daughter?3. Do you agree or disagree with the statement “Lady Bracknell is portrayed as a terrible snob”? Use details from the extract to support your ideas.参考答案1. She feels that land involves too many expenses during life, and is then taxed heavily after ones death. She says, “It gives one position, and prevents one from keeping it up.”2. Income, property (land and houses) and family connections.3. (Possible answer) Yes, she is a terrible snob. She has too high an opinion of herself. She implies that, because she does not know Lady Bloxham, that lady hardly exists. In her reasoning, only people she knows are worth knowing! She speaks disparagingly of No.149 Belgrave Square, one of the richest districts of London as being on the unfashionable side. She even suggests that it is in her power to change the fashion or the side of the square where Jacks house is.Text2Inspector:Youre not even sorry now, when you know what happened to the girl?Mrs. Birling:Im sorry she should have come to such a horrible end.But I accept no blame for it at all.Inspector:Who is to blame then?Mrs. Birling:First, the girl herself.Sheila (bitterly):For letting Father and me have her chucked out of her jobs!Mrs. Birling: （Question 1） Secondly, I blame the young man who was the father of the child she was going to have.If, as she said, he didnt belong to her class, and was some drunken young idler, then thats all the more reason why he shouldnt escape.He should be made an example of.If the girls death is due to anybody, its due to him.Inspector:And if her story is true - that he was stealing money -Mrs. Birling (rather agitated now):Theres no point in assuming that -Inspector:But suppose we do, what then?Mrs. Birling:Then hed be entirely responsible - because the girl wouldnt have come to us, and been refused assistance, if it hadnt been for him -Inspector:So hes the chief culprit anyhow.Mrs. Birling:Certainly.And he ought to be dealt with very severely -Sheila (with sudden alarm): （Question 2） Mother - stop - stop!Birling:Be quiet, Sheila!Sheila:But dont you see -Mrs. Birling (severely):Youre behaving like an hysterical child tonight. (Sheila begins crying quietly.Mrs. Birling turns to Inspector)And if youd take some steps to find this young man and then make sure hes compelled to confess in public his responsibility - instead of staying here asking quite unnecessary questions - then you would be doing your duty.Inspector (grimly):Dont worry, Mrs. Birling.I shall do my duty.(He looks at his watch.)Mrs. Birling (triumphantly):Im glad to hear it.Inspector:No hushing up, eh?Make an example of the young man, eh?Public confession of responsibility - um?Mrs. Birling:Certainly.I consider it your duty.And now no doubt youd like to say good night.Inspector:Not yet.Im waiting.Mrs. Birling:Waiting for what?Inspector:To do my duty.Sheila (distressed):Now, Mother - dont you see?Mrs. Birling (understanding now):But surelyI meanits ridiculous (She stops, and exchanges a frightened glance with her husband.)Birling (terrified now):Look, Inspector, youre not trying to tell us that -that my boy - is mixed up in this -?Inspector (Question 3):If he is, then we know what to do, dont we?Mrs. Birling has just told us.Birling (thunderstruck):My God!But - look here -Mrs. Birling (agitated) :I dont believe it.I wont believe itSheila:Mother - I begged you and begged you to stop -(Inspector holds up a hand.We hear the front door.They wait, looking towards door.Eric enters, looking extremely pale and distressed.He meets their inquiring stares.(Curtain falls quickly.)Questions1. Read the underlines parts closely. What “horrible end” has come to the working-class girl?2. Why does Sheila say “MotherStopStop!”?3. How do you think the Inspector would say the lines in bold type (黑体部分) Sternly? Distressed? Or with sudden alarm?参考答案1She has committed suicide.2.Because Sheila can see where the Inspectors questions are leading. She knows that he will force her mother into a trap, so that she will condemn her own son.3.He would have said the lines sternly.Text3Elizabeth: I see what I see, John.Proctor: (Question 4_) You will not judge me more, Elizabeth. I have good reason to think before I charge fraud on Abigail, and I will think on it. Let you look to your own improvement before you go to judge your husband any more. I have forgot Abigail, and -Elizabeth: And I.Proctor: Spare me! You forget nothin and forgive nothin. Learn charity, woman. I have gone tiptoe in this house all seven month since she is gone. I have not moved from there to there without I think to please you, and still an everlasting funeral marches round your heart. I cannot speak but I am doubted, every moment judged for lies, as though I come into a court when I come into this house!Elizabeth: John, you are not open with me. You saw her with a crowd, you said.Now you -Proctor:Ill plead my honesty no more, Elizabeth.Elizabeth (now she would justify herself): John, I am only -Proctor: No more! I should have roared you down when first you told me your suspicion. But I wilted, and, like a Christian, I confessed. Confessed! Some dream I had must have mistaken you for God that day. But youre not, youre not and let you remember it! Let you look sometimes for the goodness in me, and judge me not.Elizabeth: I do not judge you. The magistrate sits in your heart that judges you. I never thought you but a good man, John - (with a smile) - only somewhat bewildered.Proctor (laughing bitterly): Oh, Elizabeth, your justice would freeze beer!（The Crucible. ）Questions1. What is the relationship between Proctor and Elizabeth?2. What kind of play does the extract belong to? The Theatre of social commentary or Historical drama?3.How do you interpret Proctors statement “Oh, Elizabeth, your justice would freeze beer”?4. How do you think Proctor would say the lines in bold type (黑体部分)? With a touch of pride？ With deep admiration ？Or with solemn warning？参考答案1. Proctor and Elizabeth are husband and wife. ORThey have mixed feelings towards each other. Elizabeth loves her husband yet she doesnt trust him; Proctor loves his wife yet he cannot bear to be accused all the time.2. Historical drama.3. Proctor meant to say that Elizabeth only wore the cloak of justice to hide her extreme frigidness and coldness.4. With solemn warning.Section 1.Match the writers with their worksWorks1. Hills like White Elephants2. I Have a Dream3. An Inspector Calls4. The Importance of Being Earnest5. The Pearl6. The Crucible7. A Christmas Carol8. The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde9. Eveline10. Of Studies11. The Rime of the Ancient Mariner12. Jane Eyre13. The Dumb Waiter14. Great Expectations15. Gettysburg Address16. The Old Man and the Sea17. Lord of the Flies18. The Mayor of Casterbridge19. The Heart of Darkness20. Leaves of GrassWritersA. Abraham LincolnB. Arthur MillerC. JB PriestleyD. Walt WhitmanE. Charles DickensF. Charlotte Bront?G. Ernest HemingwayH. Francis BaconI. John SteinbeckJ. Harold PinterK. James JoyceL. Oscar WildeM. Martin Luther KingN. Robert Louis StevensonO. Samuel Taylor ColeridgeP. Thomas HardyQ. William GoldingR. Joseph ConradSection2Decide whether the following statements are True (T) or False (F)1. Hamlet, Othello and King Learare well-known tragedies by William Shakespeare, together with Macbeth.2. Lady Bracknell is a comic character created by Oscar Wilde in his play The Importance of Being Earnest.3. The Importance of Being Ernest is a mystery play written by Oscar Wilde.4. AnInspector Callsbelongs to a class of drama known as theatre of Social Commentary.5. The play The Inspector Callsis aimed at exposing the hypocrisy of the British property-owning class.6. The play The Crucible is set in New England at the end of the 17th Century.7. Mr Hyde is an evil character created by Robert Louis Stevenson in his novel The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde.8. Scrooge is a character created by Oscar Wilde in his novel The Picture of Dorian Gray.9. The novel Great Expectations by Charles Dickens charts the growing up of the character Pip.10. The novel Heart of Darknessis a kind of moral fable addressing questions of social justice in the USA before the Civil Rights Movement.11. The novel Heart of Darkness exposes the corruption, cruelty and greed of the colonial system in Africa.12. The Old Man and the Sea is a novel about the s