2.In English the spelling of words does not always represent the sound.So people say/rait/but spell it right or write,or even rite.Combinations of letters may be pronounced in many ways.And some words just seem to have too many letters.
For Americans things are a little bit easier,thanks to the work of Noah Webster,a teacher who graduated from Yale University in 1778.As a young man,he had fought against the British in the American War of Independence,and he felt that written English in the newly independent United States should have a distinctive American look.
So he began his work on American English.His first book,The Elementary Spelling Book,suggested simplifying the spelling of English words.The book was extremely popular.By the 1850s,it was selling one million copies a year,making it one of the most popular school books ever.
Many of the suggestions were quickly adopted.Center instead of centre,program instead of programme,and flavor instead of flavour.Others,however,such as removing silent letters like s in island or the final e in examine,were not.
Webster is best known for his American Dictionary of the English language,which first appeared in 1828.It introduced lots of new American words,with information about their pronunciation and use,and,of course,the new spelling.The British criticized the dictionary,but it quickly became a standard reference book in the States.Today,Webster's dictionary is still the number one dictionary for American students.
5.What is the text mainly about?D
A.Webster and his best sellers.
B.British and American English.
C.The history of American English.
D.The man who made spelling simple.
6.Which is the right order according to the text?C
①Webster graduated from Yale University.
②American Dictionary of the English language came out.
③Webster's book was selling one million copies a year.
④Webster took part in the American War of Independence.
A.②①③④B.③①②④C.④①③②D.①②③④
7.What can we learn from the text?A
A.All the spelling of words does not represent the sound.
B.The Elementary Spelling Book was published in the 1850s.
C.Webster's suggestions were accepted completely.
D.Webster's dictionary is the best all over the world.
8.What attitude do the British have towards Webster's dictionary?B
A.They thought highly of it.
B.They found fault with it.
C.They argued bitterly about it.
D.They followed the examples of it.
分析 文章主要講述美國偉大的字典編撰家Noah Webster對于英語拼寫發(fā)展的重大貢獻,他的努力使得英語拼寫變得更加的容易,而他編的書籍和字典也備受歡迎和產(chǎn)生了深遠影響.
解答 5.D.主旨大意題.根據(jù)文章的主旨大意可知,文章主要講述Noah Webster使得英語拼寫變得更加的容易.故D正確.
6.C.細節(jié)考查題.根據(jù)第二段"As a young man,he had fought against the British in the American War of Independence"可知他參加內(nèi)戰(zhàn)發(fā)生在大學畢業(yè)之前,原文用了had fought.由歷史知識也可以知道美國1776年獨立,獨立戰(zhàn)爭發(fā)生在大學畢業(yè)1778年之前.由第三段"By the 1850s,it was selling one million copies a year"可知,這一暢銷發(fā)生在大學畢業(yè)之后;由此通過排除法即可排出順序.故C正確.
7.A.細節(jié)理解題.根據(jù)文章首句In English the spelling of words does not always represent the sound.可知英語所有的拼寫不代表發(fā)音.故A正確.
8.B.細節(jié)理解題.根據(jù)文章最后一段The British criticized the dictionary,but it quickly became a standard reference book in the States.可知英國人是持批評態(tài)度的.故B正確.
點評 對于故事類的閱讀短文,要先通讀全文,然后帶著問題,再有針對性的研讀文中的具體段落,找出答題所需要的依據(jù),完成閱讀.本文主要考查細節(jié)理解題,要求學生有很強的分析能力.