Edgar Allan Poe was an American writer who he...

Edgar Allan Poe was an American writer who helped shape the course of American literature. His life was full of tragedies, but he had the great influence on the 19th-century American literature and continues to influence writers to this day.

The early life of Edgar Allan Poe was quite unhappy. Born in 1809, Poe was not yet three years old when his parents died. Adopted by a wealthy family, he got into trouble at school. He entered the United States Military Academy at West Point, but he dropped out without graduating. His misery (不幸) continued to his adult life. Later, because of a failed marriage, he suffered from mental illness. He was so upset about real life that he turned to writing. Expressing himself in an unreal and imaginary world was his only comfort.

The tragedies in Poe’s life influenced the tone, style and contents of his writing. His stories usually include death, which help build his reputation as a master of “dark” literature. In his The Tell-Tale Heart, the main character goes crazy and kills his roommate while in The Black Cat, the main character kills his cat in a fit of madness.

Poe died at the age of 40 in 1849. His life is short, but his influence is very great. Poe is credited with (被誉为) creating crime fiction, and many say he contributed greatly to the appearance of science fiction. Fascinated (着迷) by the scientific theories and new inventions of his time, he wrote about imaginary societies in the future. Writers such as Arthur Conan Doyle, the author of Sherlock Holmes, regarded Poe as the father of detective fiction. Jules Verne, a French writer who helped popularize science fiction, said Poe’s work had a direct influence on the stories he wrote.

1.Poe began to write to _________.

A.earn his living B.find comfort in writing

C.build a good reputation D.create a beautiful world

2.It can be learnt that Poe’s works often reflect ________.

A.soldiers’ life B.his own life stories

C.a sense of peace D.some political problems

3.Which can best show Poe’s influence on literature according to the last paragraph?

A.His creation of crime fiction. B.His unique writing experience.

C.His creation of scientific theories. D.His contribution to new inventions.

4.What’s the best title of the text?

A.American literature and writers B.Escape from real life and find comfort

C.Edgar Allan Poe: a misunderstood poet D.Edgar Allan Poe：a tragic yet talented writer

高二英语阅读理解简单题查看答案及解析

Edgar Alan Poe was and is an abnormal figure among the major American writers of his period. It seems to have been true of Poe that no one could look at him without seeing more than they would wish.

Poe published The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket in 1838,his only novel. Its importance is suggested by the fact that his major work comes after it. The Narrative’s shortcomings are sometimes considered to be the fact that it was written for money, as it surely was, and as almost everything else Poe wrote was also. This is not exceptional among writers anywhere, though in the case of Poe it is often treated as if his having done so were disgraceful. Be that as it may, the Narrative makes its way to a peak as strange and powerful as anything to be found in his greatest tales.

The word that reoccurs most importantly in Poe's fictions is horror. His stories are often shaped to bring the narrator and the reader to a place where the use of the word is reasonable, where the word and the experience it arouses are explored or by implication defined. Perhaps it is because Poe's tales test the limits of mental health and good manners that he is both popular and criticized.

The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym has the grand scale of the nineteenth-century voyage of discovery, and a different and larger scale in the suggestions that appear as the voyage goes on. The Narrative is frequently compared with Moby-Dick, published thirteen years later, after Poe’s death. Poe uses whiteness as a highly ambiguous symbol, by no means to be interpreted as purity or holiness or by association with any other positive value. There is blackness, too, in The Narrative, specifically associated with the populations that live in the regions nearest the South Pole. The native people in Tasmania, the island south of Australia, were said by explorers and settlers to be black, and were in any case, with the word “black,” swept into the large category of those related to displacement, exploitation, and worse.

Something very like the occupation of Kentucky by white settlers lies behind the events that bring Pym to the far-sighted conclusion of his narrative. In the early years of the nineteenth century the British began what made the native people of Tasmania die out, who had tried to resist white invasion of their island. Such occupations were, of course, a major business of Europeans, or whites, almost everywhere in the world at the time Poe wrote. They, were boasted of as progress. It would have required unusual sensibility in Poe to have taken a different, very dark view of the phenomenon. But he was an unusual man. And the horror that fascinated him and gave such dreadful unity to his tales is often the unavoidable, conflict of the self by a perfect justice, the exposure of a guilty act in a form that makes its reveal a falling back of the mind against itself.

Young Pym is simply telling a story of a kind popular at the time, a voyage adventure lived out beyond the farthest reaches of exploration. The story is disturbed by its own deeper tendencies, the rising through this surface of the kind of recognition that must find expression in another form of literature. As his ship approaches the region of the South Pole, Pym notes the mildness of the climate, coolly listing the resources of the islands, which were assumed by such voyagers to be there for the taking.

If The Narrative were a conventional story, the immense roar and the towering flames might attract the notice of a passing sail—and there would be no need for a note explaining its lacking an ending. But the force of the narrative carries it beyond the fate of individuals, toward an engagement with a reality beyond any temporary human drama.

1.What does the underlined part in Paragraph 1 mean?

A. Allan Poe was a famous America writer of his period.

B. People expect too much of the American writer—Alan Poe.

C. Unlike other writers, Allan Poe is a unique and unusual writer.

D. People think Poe is a popular novelist like other famous writers.

2.Where is the novel The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym probably set?

A. In the South Pacific.　　 B. In Australia.

C. At the South Pole.　　 D. In Kentucky.

3.Which of the following can describe the characteristic of The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym?

A. Poverty is the main theme of the novel.

B. The novel is full of justice elements.

C. Blackness can possibly be felt in the novel.

D. Whiteness is the obvious symbol of the novel.

4.Which of the following might be taken from the novel The Narrative?

A. “One of these adventures was related by way of introduction to a longer narrative.”

B. “Gordon Pym’s father was a respectable trader at Nantucket, where Pym was born.”

C. “The wind, as I before said, blew freshly from the southwest. The night was very cold.”

D. “Pym at length hit upon the idea of working on the terrors and guilty conscience of the mate.”

5.Which of the following statements is True according to the passage?

A. The Narrative is an adventurous story written in a conventional way.

B. The Narrative is considered one of Alan Poe's famous novels.

C. Allan Poe was misunderstood to write The Narrative for money.

D. Readers might not understand why The Narrative ended so abruptly.

高二英语阅读理解困难题查看答案及解析

Here is a story telling an American general (将军) who was a very important figure in the American army during the First World War. Everybody in the Untied States knew him and many people wished to have a picture or something of his in their homes.

Soon after the war the general returned to Washington. One day he went to a dentist (牙医) and had six teeth pulled out. A week later the general heard that his teeth were being sold in curiosity shops (古玩店) at $5 each. On each of the teeth there was a label (标签) with the name of the general and words, “Buy these teeth and show them to your friends at home.” The general got angry. He rushed to his office and ordered six officers to go around the city and buy all his teeth.

The officers went out and visited every curiosity shop in the capital. They were away from the office all day. In the evening they returned and put on the table in front of the general the teeth they had bought. They had collected 175 teeth.

1.The general’s teeth were sold in ____.

A.the museum

B.the special shops selling some rare and interesting things

C.the department store

D.the hospital

2.In the evening, the officers went back with all the teeth which cost _____.

A.$785 B.$1, 050

C.$157 D.$875

3.The general felt ____ when he heard his teeth were sold.

A.happy B.excited

C.sad D.angry

4.The general ordered his men to____.

A.look for his teeth and buy all of them

B.arrest the dentist at once

C.make all the shops stop selling teeth

D.buy all the teeth in all the shops

高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

Here is a story told about an American general who was a very important figure in the American army during the First World War. Everybody in the United States knew him and many people wished to have a picture or something of his in their homes.

Soon after the war the general returned to Washington. One day he went to a dentist and had six teeth pulled out. A week later the general heard that his teeth were being sold in shops at $5 each. On each of the teeth there was a label with the name of the general and words: “buy these teeth and show them to your friends at home.” The general got angry. He rushed to his office and ordered six officers to go around the city and buy all his teeth.

The officers went out and visited every shop in the capital.They were away from the office all day. In the evening they returned and put on the table in front of the general the teeth they had bought. They had collected 175 teeth.

1.The general returned to Washington ______.

A. during the war　　　　　　　 B. after civil war

C. after 1945　　　　　　　　　　 D. after 1918

2. The general’s teeth were sold in ______.

A. the museum

B. the special shops selling some rare and interesting things

C. the department store

D. the hospital

3.The general ordered his men to _____________．

A. arrest the dentist

B. look for all his teeth and buy all of them

C. visit all the shops selling teeth

D. buy all the teeth in all the shops

4. In the evening, the officers went back with all the teeth which cost ______.

A. $ 785　　　　　　　　　　 B. $ 1,050

C. $ 157　　　　　　　　　　 D. $ 875

高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

O. Henry was a pen name used by an American writer for short stories. His 36 name was William Sydney Porter. He was born in North Carolina in 1862. As a young boy he lived an exciting life. He did not go to school for very long, 37 he managed to 38 himself everything he needed to know. When he was about 20 years old, O. Henry 39 to Texas, where he tried different 40. He first worked on a newspaper, and then had a job in a bank. When some money went missing from the bank, O. Henry was believed to have 41 it. Because of that, he was sent to 42. During the three years in prison, he learned to 43 short stories. After he got out of prison, he went to New York and 44 writing. He wrote mostly about New York and the life of the poor there.

Most of O. Henry's 45 are set in his own time, the early years of the 20th century. Many take place in New York City, and deal for the most part with ordinary 46: clerks, policemen, waitresses. O. Henry's short stories are well known 47 their wit, wordplay, warm characterization and clever twist endings. And his stories were 48 more playful and optimistic. People like his stories, 49 simple as the tales were, they would finish with a sudden change at the 50, to the reader's surprise.

1.

A. real            B. middle           C. first               D.last

2.

A. or             B.and               C. for                 D. but

3.

A. learn          B.teach             C. allow               D. turn

4.

A. went            B. lived             C. stayed             D.left

5.

A. stories         B. books             C. banks              D. jobs

6.

A. defended        B. stolen             C. preserved         D. reacted

7.

A.prison           B.homeland         C. neighbourhood        D. jungle

8.

A.read            B. write              C. tell                 D.take

9.

A. liked           B. believed          C. continued            D.stopped

10.

A. families        B.stories             C.fantasies             D. deeds

11.

A.things           B. writers            C. people              D. readers

12.

A. like            B. as                 C. to                  D. for

13.

A.very             B.less                C. so                  D. much

14.

A. when            B. how                C.because             D. so

15.

A. end             B. last               C. first               D. beginning

高二英语完型填空简单题查看答案及解析

O. Henry was a pen name used by an American writer of short stories. His real name was William Sydney Porter. He was born in North Carolina in 1862. As a young boy he lived an exciting life. He did not go to school for very long, but he managed to teach himself everything he needed to know. When he was about 20 years old, O. Henry went to Texas, where he tried different jobs. He first worked on a newspaper, and then had a job in a bank, when some money went missing from the bank O. Henry was believed to have stolen it. Because of that, he was sent to prison. During the three years in prison, he learned to write short stories. After he got out of prison, he went to New York and continued writing. He wrote mostly about New York and the life of the poor there. People liked his stories, because simple as the tales were, they would finish with a sudden change at the end, to the reader’s surprise.

1.In which order did O. Henry do the following things?

a. Lived in New York.　　

b. Worked in a bank.　　　　　

c. Travelled to Texas.

d. Was put in prison.　　

e. Had a newspaper Job.　　　

f. Learned to write stories.

A. e. c. f. b. d. a　　 B. c. e. b. d. f. a

C. e. b. d. c. a. f.　　 D. c. b. e. d. a f.

2.People enjoyed reading O. Henry’s stories because

A. they had surprise endings　　 B. they were easy to understand

C. they showed his love for the poor　　 D. they were about New York City

3.O. Henry went to prison because _____________ .

A. people thought he had stolen money from the newspaper

B. he broke the law by not using his own name

C. he wanted to write stories about prisoners

D. people thought he had taken money that was not his

4.What do we know about O. Henry before he began writing?

A. He was well-educated.　　 B. He was not serious about his work.

C. He was devoted to the poor.　　 D. He was very good at learning.

高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

O. Henry was a pen name used by an American writer of short stories. His real name was William Sydney Porter. He was born in North Carolina in 1862. As a young boy he lived an exciting life. He did not go to school for very long, but he managed to teach himself everything he needed to know. When he was about 20 years old, O. Henry went to Texas, where he tried different jobs. He first worked on a newspaper, and then had a job in a bank, when some money went missing from the bank O. Henry was believed to have stolen it. Because of that, he was sent to prison. During the three years in prison, he learned to write short stories. After he got out of prison, he went to New York and continued writing. He wrote mostly about New York and the life of the poor there. People liked his stories, because simple as the tales were, they would finish with a sudden change at the end, to the reader’s surprise.

1.In which order did O. Henry do the following things?

a. Lived in New York.　　 b. Worked in a bank.　　　　　 c. Travelled to Texas.

d. Was put in prison.　　 e. Had a newspaper job.　　　　 f. Learned to write stories.

A. e. c. f. b. d. a　　　　　 B. c. e. b. d. f. a　　　　　　 C. e. b. d. c. a. f.　　　　 D. c. b. e. d. a f.

2.O. Henry went to prison because　　　　　 .

A. people thought he had stolen money from the newspaper　　　　　　

B. he broke the law by not using his own name

C. he wanted to write stories about prisoners　　　　　　　　　　　　　　

D. people thought he had taken money that was not his

3.What do we know about O. Henry before he began writing?

A. He was well-educated.　　　　　　　　　 B. He was not serious about his work.

C. He was devoted to the poor.    　　　　　　 D. He was very good at learning.

4.Where did O. Henry get most material for his short stories?

A. His life inside the prison.    　　　　　　 B. The newspaper articles he wrote.

C. The city and people of New York.    　 D. His exciting early life as a boy.

高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

O. Henry was a pen name used by an American writer of short stories. His real name was William Sydney Porter. He was born in North Carolina in 1862. As a young boy he lived an exciting life. He did not go to school for very long, but he managed to teach himself everything he needed to know. When he was about 20 years old, O. Henry went to Texas, where he tried different jobs. He first worked on a newspaper, and then had a job in a bank, when some money went missing from the bank O. Henry was believed to have stolen it. Because of that, he was sent to prison. During the three years in prison, he learned to write short stories. After he got out of prison, he went to New York and continued writing. He wrote mostly about New York and the life of the poor there. People liked his stories, because simple as the tales were, they would finish with a sudden change at the end, to the reader’s surprise.

1.In which order did O. Henry do the following things?

a. Lived in New York.   b. Worked in a bank.        c. Travelled to Texas.

d. Was put in prison.    e. Had a newspaper Job.      f. Learned to write stories.

A. c. e. b. d. f. a    B. e. c. f. b. d. a       C. e. b. d. c. a. f.   D. c. b. e. d. a f.

2.People enjoyed reading O. Henry’s stories because

A. they had surprise endings    B. they were easy to understand

C. they showed his love for the poor          D. they were about New York City

3.O. Henry went to prison because        .

A. people thought he had stolen money that was not his

B. he broke the law by not using his own name

C. he wanted to write stories about prisoners

D. people thought he had taken money from the newspaper

4.What do we know about O. Henry before he began writing?

A. He was well-educated.  B. He was not serious about his work.

C. He was devoted to the poor. D. He was very good at learning.

5.Where did O. Henry get most material for his short stories?

A. His life inside the prison.       B. The newspaper articles he wrote.

C. The city and people of New York.  D. His exciting early life as a boy.

高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

O. Henry was a pen name used by an American writer of short stories. His real name was William Sydney Porter. He was born in North Carolina in 1862. As a young boy he lived an exciting life. He did not go to school for very long, but he managed to teach himself everything he needed to know. When he was about 20 years old, O. Henry went to Texas, where he tried different jobs. He first worked on a newspaper, and then had a job in a bank. When some money went missing from the bank, O. Henry was believed to have stolen it. Because of that, he was sent to prison. During the three years in prison, he learned to write short stories. After he got out of prison, he went to New York and continued writing. He wrote mostly about New York and the life of the poor there. People liked his stories, because simple though the tales were, they would finish with a sudden change at the end, to the readers' surprise.

1.People enjoyed reading O. Henry's stories because_____

A. they had surprise endings.

B. they were easy to understand.

C. they showed his love for the poor.

D. they were about New York City.

2.O. Henry went to prison because_____

A. people thought he had stolen money from the newspaper.

B. he broke the law by not using his own name.

C. he wanted to write stories about prisoners.

D. people thought he had taken money that was not his.

3.What do we know about O. Henry before he began writing?

A. He was well-educated.

B. He was not serious about his work.

C. He was devoted to the poor.

D. He was very good at learning.

4.Where did O. Henry get most materials(素材) for his short stories?

A. His life inside the prison.

B. The newspaper articles he wrote.

C. The city and people of New York.

D. His exciting early life as a boy.

高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

O. Henry was a pen name used by an American writer of short stories. His real name was William Sydney Porter. He was born in North Carolina in 1862. As a young boy he lived an exciting life. He did not go to school for very long, but he managed to teach himself everything he needed to know. When he was about 20 years old, O. Henry went to Texas, where he tried different jobs. He first worked on a newspaper, and then had a job in a bank, when some money went missing from the bank. O. Henry was believed to have stolen it. Because of that, he was sent to prison. During the three years in prison, he learned to write short stories. After he got out of prison, he went to New York and continued writing. He wrote mostly about New York and the life of the poor there. People liked his stories, because simple as the tales were, they would finish with a sudden change at the end, to the reader’s surprise.

1. In which order did O. Henry do the following things?

a. Lived in New York.   b. Worked in a bank.       c. Travelled to Texas.

d. Was put in prison.    e. Had a newspaper Job.     f. Learned to write stories.

2.People enjoyed reading O. Henry’s stories because ________

3.O. Henry went to prison because________.

4.What do we know about O. Henry before he began writing?

5.Where did O. Henry get most material for his short stories?

高二英语阅读理解简单题查看答案及解析