I am a writer. I spend a great deal of my time thinking about the power of language—the way it can evoke (喚起) an emotion, a visual image, a complex idea, or a simple truth.Language is the tool of my trade. And I use them all—all the Englishes I grew up with.
Born into a Chinese family that had recently arrived in California, I’ve been giving more thought to the kind of English my mother speaks. Like others, I have described it to people as “broken” English. But I feel embarrassed to say that. It has always bothered me that I can think of no way to describe it other than“broken”, as if it were damaged and needed to be fixed, as if it lacked a certain wholeness. I’ve heard other terms used, “l(fā)imited English,” for example. But they seem just as bad, as if everything is limited, including people’s perceptions(認(rèn)識)of the limited English speaker.
I know this for a fact, because when I was growing up, my mother’s “l(fā)imited” English limited my perception of her. I was ashamed of her English. I believed that her English reflected the quality of what she had to say. That is, because she expressed them imperfectly her thoughts were imperfect. And I had plenty of evidence to support me: the fact that people in department stores, at banks, and at restaurants did not take her seriously, did not give her good service, pretended not to understand her, or even acted as if they did not hear her.
I started writing fiction in 1985. And for reasons I won’t get into today, I began to write stories using all the Englishes I grew up with: the English she used with me, which for lack of a better term might be described as “broken” ; and what I imagine to be her translation of her Chinese, her internal (內(nèi)在的) language, and for that I sought to preserve the essence, but neither an English nor a Chinese structure. I wanted to catch what language ability tests can never show: her intention, her feelings, the rhythms of her speech and the nature of her thoughts.
【小題1】. The author used to think of her mother’s English as   .

A.impoliteB.a(chǎn)musing    
C.imperfectD.practical
【小題2】. Which of the following is TRUE according to Paragraph 3?
A.Americans do not understand broken English.
B.The author’s mother was not respected sometimes.
C.The author’s mother had positive influence on her.
D.Broken English always reflects imperfect thoughts.
【小題3】 The author gradually realizes her mother’s English is   .
A.well structuredB.in the old style
C.easy to translateD.rich in meaning
【小題4】 What is the passage mainly about?
A.The change of the author’s attitude to her mother’s English.
B.The limitation of the author’s perception of her mother.
C.The author’s misunderstanding of “l(fā)imited” English.
D.The author’s experiences of using broken English.


【小題1】C
【小題2】B
【小題3】D
【小題4】A

解析試題分析:本文是一篇記敘文,在文中作者講述了自己對母親所說語言的態(tài)度轉(zhuǎn)變過程。作者一家是移民到美國的中國人,所以母親說的英語不是地道,優(yōu)雅的美國英語,作者時常會對此感到尷尬。而且母親也因此而受到別人的不恭。但是后來當(dāng)作者寫作以后,他才逐漸意識到了母親語言中的豐富情感和內(nèi)容。
【小題1】C 細(xì)節(jié)理解題。A不禮貌的;B好笑的;C有瑕疵的,不完美的;D實(shí)際的。根據(jù)文章第二段內(nèi)容Like others, I have described it to people as “broken” English.可知作者認(rèn)為母親的英語是蹩腳的,是不完美的,選C。
【小題2】B 細(xì)節(jié)理解題。根據(jù)文章第三段people in department stores, at banks, and at restaurants did not take her seriously, …… or even acted as if they did not hear her.可知因?yàn)轷磕_的英語,作者的母親有時候會受到別人的不尊重,選B。
【小題3】D 細(xì)節(jié)理解題。根據(jù)文章首段內(nèi)容和末段I wanted to catch what language ability tests can never show: her intention, her feelings, the rhythms of her speech and the nature of her thoughts.可知當(dāng)作者在寫作中使用母親的語言時,逐漸意識到了母親所使用語言的魅力和內(nèi)涵,故答案選D。
【小題4】A主旨大意題。作者在小時候認(rèn)為母親的語言“broken”,而且提到母親的英語會感到尷尬“ embarrassed”,而后來在他的寫作中卻逐漸意識到了母親所說的樸素語言中的魅力,情感等(如第一段提到it can evoke an emotion, a visual image, a complex idea等),由此判斷作者在本文中主要講述了自己對母親所說語言的態(tài)度轉(zhuǎn)變過程,故答案選A。
考點(diǎn):考查故事類短文閱讀。

練習(xí)冊系列答案
相關(guān)習(xí)題

科目:高中英語 來源: 題型:閱讀理解

In spite of the uncertainty of the economy, the movie industry has been stricken by a box-office outburst. Suddenly it seems as if everyone is going to the movies, with ticket sales this year up 17.5 percent, to $1.7 billion.
And it is not just because ticket prices are higher. Attendance has also jumped, by nearly 16 percent. If that pace continues through the year, it would amount to the biggest box-office increase in at least two decades.
Americans, for the moment, just want to hide in a very dark place. People want to forget their troubles, and they want to be with other people. Helping feed the outburst is the mix of movies, which have been more audience-friendly in recent months as the studios have tried to adjust after the discouraging sales of more serious films.
As she stood in line at the 18-screen Bridge theater complex here on Thursday to buy weekend tickets for “Jonas Brothers: The 3D Concert Experience,” Angel Hernandez was not thinking much about escaping reality. Instead, Ms. Hernandez, a Los Angeles parking lot attendant and mother of four young girls, was focused on one very specific reality: her wallet.
“Spending hundreds of dollars to take them to Disneyland is ridiculous right now,” she said. “For $60 and some candy money I can still be a good mom and give them a little fun.”
A lot of parents may have been thinking the same thing Friday, as “Jonas Brothers” sold out more than 800 theaters, and was expected to sell a powerful $25 million or more in tickets.
The film industry appears to have had a hand in its recent good luck. Over the last year or two, studios have released movies that are happier, scarier or just lessdepressing than what came before. After poor results for a rush of serious dramas built around the Middle East, Hollywood got back to comedies.
【小題1】Which of the following is not a reason for the improvement of the movie industry?

A.A growing number of people are going to the cinema.
B.People are richer with the development of economy.
C.More comedies are made than serious films.
D.People have to pay more to watch a movie.
【小題2】Ms. Hernandez purchased the movie tickets because ________.
A.she tried to escape reality B.she was a crazy movie fan
C.she was fond of Disneyland D.she wanted to please her kids
【小題3】According to the text, which of the following number is not used to describe the shooting up of the movie industry?
A.17.5% B.$1.7 billion C.$60 D.$25 million
【小題4】The passage is developed mainly by ________.
A.presenting the effect and analyzing the causes
B.following the order of time
C.describing problems and drawing a conclusion
D.making comparison of ideas

查看答案和解析>>

科目:高中英語 來源: 題型:閱讀理解

Saturday, March 24th
We have arrived in the hot, wet city of Bangkok. This is our first trip to Thailand(泰國). All the different smells make us want to try the food. We are going to eat something special for dinner tonight. The hotel we are staying in is cheap, and very clean. We plan to stay here for a few days, visit some places in the city, and then travel to Chiang Mai in the North.
Tuesday, March 27th
Bangkok is wonderful and surprising. The places are interesting. We visited the famous market which was on water, and saw a lot of fruits and vegetables. Everything is so colorful, and we have taken hundreds of photos already! Later today we will leave for Chiang Mai. We will take the train north, stay in Chiang Mai for two days, and then catch a bus to Chiang Rai.
Friday, March 30th
Our trip to Chiang Rai was long and boring. We visited a small village in the mountains. The village people here love the quiet life—no computers or phones. They are the kindest people I have ever met. They always smile and say “hello”. Kathy and I can only speak a few words of Thai, so smiling is the best way to show our kindness. I feel good here and hope to be able to come back next year.
【小題1】The diaries above show the writer’s ______ days in Thailand.

A.3 B.8 C.15 D.7
【小題2】It seems that visitors _________ in Bangkok.
A.often feel hungry B.can have a good time
C.can’t take any photos D.feel a little bored
【小題3】Which of the following is TRUE?
A.The writer left Chiang Mai for Chiang Rai by bus.
B.Chiang Mai is a beautiful city in the south of Thailand.
C.The writer is traveling alone in Thailand.
D.The writer will take a bus to Chiang Mai.
【小題4】The people in the village _______.
A.a(chǎn)re friendly to others B.like to speak English
C.hope to live in the cities D.live a very busy life
【小題5】What is the best title(標(biāo)題)for the whole diary?
A.My First Travel B.Traveling in Thailand
C. The Outside World D.My Trip to Chiang Mai

查看答案和解析>>

科目:高中英語 來源: 題型:閱讀理解

Mom’s birthday present? It may be a difficult thing for some people, but for me, it is an easy thing. Mom loved flowers, so every year I sent her flowers. Actually she had a bed of irises (鳶尾花) in the backyard of her small, Indiana farm. They were beautiful. “Take some,” she said, “Dig some up and plant them on the side of your own house.”
But in my yard they became lacking in energy. A year passed, then two, but not one flower appeared. I cut back all their green leaves. I was tired of seeing them so lonely. Finally, I dug the irises up and threw them away.
About that time Mom died unexpectedly. My sister and I sold the farm. I never went back to see the irises. I just couldn’t stand seeing another family living in our home—Mom’s home. Autumn came, then winter. The following spring, as Mom’s birthday approached, I struggled with the question of how to remember her. I stared out of the window and saw a few stubborn irises in my side yard sprouting (發(fā)芽), —tall, thin but flowerless. Because of seeing them, I decided to order flowers as I always did on Mom’s birthday, and send them to my sister. I wished so badly I could still send flowers to Mom. But that was impossible.
On the morning of Mom’s birthday, I was in my car ready to work. Something in the yard caught my eye. The irises! One had bloomed with flowers, big, showy and purple, as lovely as they ever had been on Mom’s farm. I smiled and turned my eyes upward. I could no longer send flowers to Mom. But somehow, she’d been able to send them to me.
【小題1】According to the first paragraph, Mom ________.

A.didn’t like the presents from the author
B.wanted to give the author some flowers
C.lived with the author on an Indiana farm
D.got different birthday presents from the author every year
【小題2】At first, the irises in the author’s yard ________.
A.a(chǎn)ll died quickly
B.grew as well as on Mom’s farm
C.didn’t bloom at all
D.grew better than those on Mom’s farm
【小題3】What troubled the author?
A.She didn’t know how to grow irises.
B.She regretted they had sold Mom’s farm.
C.She couldn’t bear others living in Mom’s home.
D.She didn’t know what to do in memory of Mom.
【小題4】What can be learned from the last paragraph?
A.All the irises in the author’s yard bloomed.
B.The author went to see the irises in Mom’s yard.
C.It was Mom who took care of these irises in the author’s yard.
D.The author thought the blooming irises were gifts from Mom.

查看答案和解析>>

科目:高中英語 來源: 題型:閱讀理解

The following diaries were written by an Australian boy named Tony. He was on holiday with his family in South Asia.
27 December, 2007
This morning I read an e-mail about a boy in hospital looking for his father and I finally thought of a way to help. I took my camera to the hospital and took photos of the boy. Now I’m going to set up a website on my dad’s computer, upload the photos and add his name and information of the hospital. Hopefully it will help!
2 January, 2008
At the end of the trip, I learned that the boy found his father! His Swedish uncle saw the e-mail on my webpage and arranged the meeting. Is it my website that has made such a success? But at least I’ve done something.
We’re returning home tomorrow but I will remember the experience and tell my friends: No matter what we are, we can think of a way to help others.
【小題1】. Tony thought of the way to ______.

A.forget the experience
B.take photos of the travelers
C.set up a website for the hospital
D.help the boy find his father
【小題2】 ______ saw the e-mail and photos on the webpage and arranged the meeting.
A.The boy’s uncle B.Tony
C.Tony’s father D.The doctor
【小題3】 Tony was more likely to be ______ in South Asia.
A.living B.studying
C.shopping D.traveling
【小題4】 It can be learned from the diaries that ______.
A.people are willing to set up websites
B.Tony’s father worked in the hospital there
C.people can do something to help each other
D.Tony went there to look for his family members

查看答案和解析>>

科目:高中英語 來源: 題型:閱讀理解

After ruling the tennis world for almost five years, Roger Federer is adjusting to life at NO.2. But, like any king whose throne has been taken away, the Swiss star is already planning secretly his return to power, beginning at this week’s US Open.
The problem is, many experts think he will never do it. They blame everything from age and tough competition to his racket and psychology.
For years Federer, 27, had enjoyed the view from the top. Competitors saw him as undefeated, and for the most part he was. However, before the 2008 season began, Federer had an illness that stole his strength and clearly affected his play on the court. Ever since, he has struggled to return to form, winning just two of his last 14 tournaments.
“Twenty-seven is an age when your body starts talking back to you.” tennis great John McEnroe told the New York Times.
Pancho Sefura, another tennis great, noted that Federer is also facing a maturing crop of young talents. “There are too many great players now,” he said, naming Britain’s Andy Murray, 21, and Latvia’s Ernests Gulbis, 20.
US magazine Sports Illustrated tennis columnist Jon Wertheim suggested that part of Federer’s problem could be his insistence on using a small racket. He says that the smaller head demands ball control. But we see time and again that racket makers try to get players to use a certain stick — one they would like to market to consumers and it has a negative effect the professional game.
Sports psychologist Jim Loehr told the Times that Federer is probably feeling “a sense of doubt” after being considered as undefeated for so long. If Federer is to recover his state of being undefeated, Loehr said he must overcome his doubt. “Federer doesn’t need fame and money. But he has to get better. He has to go to a whole new level. That’s the only way he stays in the game,” he said.
As for beginning his first Grand Slam in ages as the NO.2 seed, Federer said it might be for the best. “Five years almost, I was expected to win every tournament I entered,” he said, “so maybe Rafael Nadal now feels what I had to feel for a very long time. It will be interesting to see how he handles it.”
【小題1】What does the underlined sentence “your body starts talking back to you” in Para.4 mean?

A.Your body often argues with you.
B.You can do whatever you want.
C.Your strength is beginning to decline.
D.You are more easily to have quite terrible diseases.
【小題2】From the passage, we know the main reason why Federer’s throne was taken away is that _____.
A.he is becoming older and older.
B.he insisted on using a small racket.
C.he is facing a maturing crop of young talents.
D.he had an illness that stole his strength.
【小題3】What can be inferred from the passage?
A.Now it is Nadal who has replaced Federer as the No.1tennis player.
B.the racket makers aim at the players’ better performance in games.
C.It is impossible for Federer to return to power.
D.Federer has never won a Grand Slam before.
【小題4】What’s the best title of the passage?
A.Nadal — The No.1 Tennis Player
B.Federer — Always Undefeated
C.State of Mind Plays a Important Role
D.Federer Hopes to Recover His Magic

查看答案和解析>>

科目:高中英語 來源: 題型:閱讀理解

There were a thousand reasons not to stop.I was running late for a very important...well,whatever it was that I was running late for that day.Surely the Highway Patrol would be along soon,and it's their job to help stranded (擱淺) motorists,isn't it?
That made 1,004 reasons not to stop.And here was 1,005:I was the world's worst auto mechanic.The first time I tried to change my car's oil myself I did fine—until I forgot to put the new oil in.The boys down at the garage had a big laugh over that.
I'm not sure how much it would have helped that lady who was stranded by the side of the freeway if I had pulled over.So I drove on by,just like hundreds of other drivers on the freeway that day.Then suddenly I turned off at the next exit and made my way back to see if I could at least give her a lift or something.But by the time I got back to her,a Hispanic (西班牙的) gentleman had pulled in behind her,and was tinkering (修補(bǔ)) with her car's engine.
“Is there anything I can do to help?” I asked.
“No,thank you,”the lady replied.“This nice man says he can fix it.” After the man repaired it,the woman tried to give him some money,but he declined and waved as she drove off.It wasn't until we started walking toward our cars that I noticed he had five more reasons not to stop than I did;his family was sitting in the station wagon,waiting patiently.“Do you stop and help people like this often?”I asked.
“Somebody has to,”he said.“What's she going to do if nobody helps?”And for him,that was enough.
【小題1】By telling the story,the author intends to tell us ________.

A.we must help someone in trouble even if we have every reason not to do so 
B.if we don't have the necessary skills or knowledge,we can't help a person much 
C.what the person in trouble needs most is kindness rather than practical skills 
D.we much thank the person who has helped us when we are in trouble 
【小題2】What can we learn from the first two paragraphs?
A.The author once helped a person who was in trouble but was laughed at by a
boy. 
B.The author just wanted to find an excuse to stop to help the stranded lady. 
C.The author doubted whether he had the ability to give the lady some necessary
help. 
D.What the author was running late for made him very angry. 
【小題3】Why did the author make his way back at the next exit?
A.Because he wanted to see if anybody else had helped the lady out. 
B.Because he felt guilty about not helping the lady. 
C.Because he wanted to help the Hispanic gentleman fix the lady's car. 
D.Because he had thought of a way to help the lady. 

查看答案和解析>>

科目:高中英語 來源: 題型:閱讀理解

It's baseball season again,and Hank Snydder is back on the field.He has been back from the accident that kept him out of the game for the season last year,and that cost the Muggers last year's championship.Baseball fans in the city of Midvale are happy and George Brenner,the Muggers' owner,is happy too, because when Hank plays the team wins and the games sell out.“Last year's attendance was all time low when Hank was out,”said Brenner.“We're glad to have him back in uniform.”
Needless to say,the Muggers pay Hank well.But other teams have offered him a million dollars.Still,Hank has been faithful to the Muggers up to now.But there is a rumor(謠傳)that Hank might play for the Suffers of Sun City next year.A newspaper reporter asked Hank if there was any truth in it.He said.“Nothing has been decided,but I have to admit that I could be leaving Midvale after this season.”What about another rumor that Hank might be getting married? “That's true.” Hank replied,“and I'm very happy about it.”
There is no need to ask how Midvale or George Brenner would feel about losing Hank.But is Hank completely happy about the changes that may be taking place in his life? “Only one thing troubles me,”he said.“I've always loved the Muggers' blue uniforms.It will take me some time to get used to the Suffers' green and gold uniforms.”
【小題1】Hank Snydder didn't play for the Muggers last year because ________.

A.there were no baseball matches 
B.the club didn't pay him enough money 
C.other players had accidents 
D.something had happened to him 
【小題2】The Muggers didn't win the championship of last season ________.
A.because the players of the Muggers didn't take part in the games 
B.because of Hank Snydder's absence 
C.because all the players didn't try their best 
D.because the Muggers hadn't hoped to win it 
【小題3】Which of the following statements is not mentioned in the passage?
A.Hank Snydder still plays for the Muggers. 
B.Hank Snydder has been loyal to the Muggers. 
C.Hank Snydder might be getting married. 
D.Hank Snydder has some trouble with his partners. 
【小題4】If Hank Snydder joins the Suffers of Sun City next year,________.
A.the owner of the Muggers will feel happy 
B.the owner of the Muggers will require him to return all the money 
C.it may be a great loss to the Muggers 
D.he will play for the baseball team for nothing 

查看答案和解析>>

科目:高中英語 來源: 題型:閱讀理解

Jenny found her old bicycle at the back of the garage.It was a lot smaller than she remembered.When she sat on it and put her feet on the pedals,her knees nearly touched her chin. She then asked her dad for a new bicycle.
“Well,I’m sorry,but I can’t afford a bicycle now,“said Dad.“Why don’t you work and earn some money? You can save up for a bicycle yourself.”
Jenny began to work.That day she earned five dollars for cutting the grass and ten dollars for mowing the lawn for her dad.
That night Jenny went on the computer.She wrote“Gardening and Housework—Ten dollars an hour.Call Jenny at 23 Roseville Lane.“She decorated the page with pictures of cleaning and gardening equipment.She printed it fifty times.Then she posted the pages through all the doors on her street.
That week,Jenny was very busy! Lots of people had jobs to do,but they didn’t have time to do them.So they called Jenny.Every day,Jenny rushed home from schoo1.She did her homework quickly,and then she went out to work.
At the end of the week.she had$65! She told her father.
“That’s enough for a second hand bicycle.”he said.
“Yes,but if I work for one more week,I might have enough money for a new bike,“said Jenny.“In two more weeks,I could buy a really good bicycle! I think that's what I'll do. I want to have the best bicycle in the class,because I earn it myself!”
Jenny’s dad hugged her.“I think you learned something important.We appreciate things a lot more when we earn them.When we get something without earning it,we do not realize its true value.”
【小題1】What was the problem with Jenny’s old bicycle?

A.It was broken. B.It was too dirty. 
C.Jenny didn't like it. D.It was too small. 
【小題2】Why didn’t Jenny’s dad buy her a bicycle?
A.He wanted to teach her a lesson. 
B.He was too busy. 
C.He had just bought Jenny a birthday present. 
D.He didn’t think it was a good idea. 
【小題3】How much money did Jenny earn on the first day?
A.$10. B.$5. C.$65. D.$15. 
【小題4】How did Jenny tell her neighbors about her new business?
A.She mailed letters to them. 
B.She delivered messages by hand. 
C.she sent them an email. 
D.She talked to all her neighbors. 
【小題5】We can infer from Jenny’s words at the end of the story that she was ___________.
A.pleased because she had learnt a useful lesson 
B.grateful to her father for his advice 
C.optimistic about making more money 
D.disappointed because she couldn’t afford a new bicycle 

查看答案和解析>>

同步練習(xí)冊答案