8."Colour"and"color","favourite"and"favorite""-Have you ever wondered why Americans spell those words without a"u"?Is it because they are lazy?
Of course not.In fact,the difference in spelling was created by Noah Webster(1758-1843).He is a teacher who reformed English to make American identity stronger.Linguists celebrated his 250th birthday on October 16,2008.After the Revolutionary War(1775-1783),Webster believed that Americans should have their own dictionary,rather than rely on British versions.He dropped the British"u"in some words.And he changed"centre"into"center"for children to learn English by spelling words more like they sounded.
Webster wasn't shy about expressing his opinions.In defining(定義) preposterous (unreasonable),he wrote:"A Republican government in the hands of females is preposterous."
Webster spent 28 years on the project before completing the 70,000-word dictionary in 1828 with his American-style spellings.He also added local words.His dictionary was widely used in schools.Linguists believed it helped a new nation achieve unity and cultural independence at a time when most were focused on political freedom.
"He was the shaper of our language and the shaper of American identity,"said Joshua Kendall,who is working on a biography about Webster."He at last got us united through our language.
66.According to the passage,when he worked on his dictionary,Noah Webster did all of the following EXCEPTA.
A.dropping"u"in all the British words
B.changing"centre"into"center"
C.a(chǎn)dding local words
D.voicing his opinion
67.When did Noah Webster probably begin his project of the dictionary?C
A.In 1758. B.In 1783. C.In 1800. D.In 1828.
68.Why did Noah Webster create these differences in his dictionary?B
A.Because he wanted to make English simple and easy.
B.Because he wanted American English to have its own characteristics.
C.Because he wanted to achieve political freedom.
D.Because he wanted to show that the USA is stronger than the UK.
69.Which of the following words can best describe Noah Webster's work?D
A.Interesting B.Boring C.Unfinished D.Meaningful
70. Which of the following would probably be the best title for the passage?C
A.Webster's dictionary
B.American identity
C.The shaper of American English
D.Spelling differences between American and British English.
分析 文章介紹了Noah Webster,他編制字典,研究美式英語,希望美式英語有自己的特點而盡力改變美式英語,為美國公民謀福利.
解答 66.A.細節(jié)理解題.根據(jù)文章"He dropped the British"u"in some words"可知,只有部分單詞的u被去掉了.從文章第二,三,四段提到ABC的內(nèi)容.故選A.
67.C.推理預測題.根據(jù)文章第二段"Webster spent 28 years on the project before completing the 70,000-word dictionary in 1828 with his American-style spellings"可知,Webster 花了28年時間編制字典,在1828年完成,則按時間往前推,可知答案是1800.故選C.
68.B.推理預測題.從第二段的句子:He is a teacher who reformed English to make American identity stronger.可知是希望美式英語有自己的特點.故選B.
69.D.推理預測題.從第四段的句子:"His dictionary was widely used in schools.Linguists believed it helped a new nation achieve unity and cultural independence at a time when most were focused on political freedom."可知,Webster的工作是很有意義的.故選D.
70.C.主旨大意題.文章介紹了Noah Webster 如何改變美式英語的,最后一段對他的評價是He was the shaper of our language and the shaper of American identity,故選C.
點評 本文是考察學生歷史文化類閱讀理解文章.這類文章常涉及歷史、文化、法制、宗教等方面的文學藝術(shù)、發(fā)明創(chuàng)造、文化遺產(chǎn)保護、宗教與文化、風俗與習慣、道德與法制、中外文學名著節(jié)選、等等.這類材料的命題點往往落在主旨大意題、事實細節(jié)題上