Question

Before Alaska became part of the U.S., it had been owned by Russia. Trading posts and small settlements were scattered along the coast. The rest of land was left unexplored. The Russians were mainly interested in the wealth of furs from the vast herds of seals they found there.

By the mid-1800’s, most of the seal herds had been wiped out, and Russia no longer wanted to keep Alaska. William Seward, Secretary of State for President Johnson, believed the United States should buy Alaska from Russia. President Johnson wasn’t so sure it was a wise way to spend U.S. money, but he agreed to let Seward discuss it with the Russians. Acting quickly, Seward made a deal. On March 30, 1867, he signed an agreement for the U.S. to pay seven million dollars for the land.

Many people thought it was a foolish waste of America’s money. They called the deal “Seward’s folly”. Then gold was discovered in Alaska and public opinion changed quickly.

Seward did not live to see the true value of Alaska. He died in 1872, five years after making the purchase (購買). Each year, Alaska’s natural resources have brought in many times the $7,000,000 paid for it. Natural gas, coal, oil, lumber, seafood and other minerals, besides the gold first found, have made it a valuable addition to the United States. In 1959, Alaska became the 49th state of the United States.

1.The Russians wanted to sell Alaska because ______.

A．they thought it wasn’t a good place

B．they thought it didn’t belong to Russia

C．they couldn’t find enough seals there

D．they wanted to earn more money from the U.S.

2.When Seward signed the agreement, many people thought ______.

A．he wasted U.S. money                    B．it had its true value

C．it was a successful deal                   D．he was clever

3.Which of the following things was found first in Alaska? 

A．Gas.              B．Coal.             C．Oil.              D．Gold.

4.Before 1959, the United States had ______.

A．37 states          B．48 states          C．49 states          D．50 states

5.The best title for this passage would probably be ______.

A．Alaska, a beautiful place                  B．Alaska with natural resources

C．Alaska, home to seals                     D．Alaska, the 49th state of the U.S.

 

Answer 1

【答案】

1.C

2.A

3.D

4.B

5.D

【解析】

試題分析：本文主要講的是美國的第49個州，阿拉斯加的具體情況，是怎么樣成為美國的領土的，以及在阿拉斯加的資源等具體情況

1.C 細節(jié)題。根據(jù)第二段1,2行By the mid-1800’s, most of the seal herds had been wiped out, and Russia no longer wanted to keep Alaska.說明海豹被捕殺完了，俄羅斯人不希望再擁有阿拉斯加了，故C正確。

2.A 細節(jié)題。根據(jù)第三段1,2行Many people thought it was a foolish waste of America’s money. They called the deal “Seward’s folly”.說明很多人不同意的，認為這是在浪費錢財。故A正確。

3.D 細節(jié)題。根據(jù)文章最后一段Natural gas, coal, oil, lumber, seafood and other minerals, besides the gold first found, have made it a valuable addition to the United States說明黃金是最先被發(fā)現(xiàn)的，故D正確。

4.B 細節(jié)題。根據(jù)文章最后一行In 1959, Alaska became the 49th state of the United States.說明在1959年之前，美國有48個州，在1959年阿拉斯加成為第49個州，故B正確。

5.D 主旨大意題。本文主要講的是美國的第49個州，阿拉斯加的具體情況，是怎么樣成為美國的領土的，以及在阿拉斯加的資源等具體情況。故Ｄ正確。

考點：考查歷史知識類短文閱讀

點評：本文主要講的是美國的第49個州，阿拉斯加的具體情況。文章基本上是考查細節(jié)題，對此類題型考生可以首先從問題中找到關鍵詞，然后以此為線索，運用略讀及查閱的技巧在文中迅速尋找這一細節(jié)，找到后再把這一部分內(nèi)容仔細閱讀一遍，仔細比較所給選項與文中細節(jié)的細微區(qū)別，在準確理解細節(jié)的前提下，最后確定最佳答案。