Question

【題目】 Americans recognize that there is a past on which the present rests. But they have not developed their sense of the depth of time as much as this has been done in the Middle East and South Asia. The Arab looks back two to six thousand years for his own origins. History is used as the basis for almost any modern action. The chances are that an Arab won’t start a talk or a speech or analyze a problem without first developing the historical aspects of his subject. The American assumes that time has depths but seldom stresses the importance of it.

The American never questions the fact that time should be planned and future events should be fitted into a schedule. He thinks that people should look forward to the future and not talk too much on the past. His future is not very far ahead of him. Results must be obtained in the foreseeable future—one or two years or, at the most, five or ten. Promises to meet deadlines and appointments are taken very seriously. There is real punishment for being late and for not keeping commitments in time. The American thinks it is natural to calculate the value of time. To fail to do so is unthinkable. The American calculates how much time is required to do everything. “I’ll be there in ten minutes.” “It will take six months to finish that job.” “I was in the Army for four and a half years.”

The Americans, like so many other people, also use time as a link that chains events together. If one event occurs on the heels (緊接著) of another, they will certainly try to find a causal relationship between them. If A is seen around the area of B’s murder shortly after the crime has been committed, they automatically form a connection between A and B. However, events which are separated by too much time are difficult for them to connect in their minds. This makes it almost impossible for them as a nation to engage (從事) in long-range planning.

【1】How do Americans see past time according to the first paragraph?

A.It’s worthless.B.It’s limited.

C.It reflects today.D.It helps start a talk.

【2】What does the underlined phrase “to do so” in paragraph 2 refer to?

A.To calculate the value of the past.

B.To figure out the importance of time.

C.To plan a schedule for future events.

D.To meet deadlines and appointments.

【3】When will Americans chain two events together?

A.When common evidence is found.

B.When A is found near the scene of B’s crime.

C.When the two events happen one by one.

D.When one event happens long after another.

【4】What does the author mainly want to tell Americans to do?

A.See time further.B.Be punctual.

C.Study the past time.D.Make a long-range plan.

Answer 1

【答案】

【1】C

【2】B

【3】C

【4】A

【解析】

本文是篇議論文。本文作者通過(guò)講述美國(guó)人對(duì)時(shí)間的看法，認(rèn)為美國(guó)人認(rèn)識(shí)到，現(xiàn)在取決于過(guò)去，他們沒(méi)有意識(shí)到將來(lái)的時(shí)間的重要性，作者想強(qiáng)調(diào)要看重未來(lái)的時(shí)間不要看著過(guò)去。

【1】

推理判斷題。根據(jù)第一段第一句Americans recognize that there is a past on which the present rests.可知美國(guó)人認(rèn)識(shí)到，現(xiàn)在取決于過(guò)去。由此可推知，美國(guó)人認(rèn)為今天的某些事情是過(guò)去的一種反映。故選C。

【2】

詞義猜測(cè)題。根據(jù)上文The American thinks it is natural to calculate the value of time.可知美國(guó)人認(rèn)為理解時(shí)間的價(jià)值是很自然的�？芍�上文講的是美國(guó)人認(rèn)為“理解時(shí)間的價(jià)值”是“自然的”，也就是美國(guó)人看重時(shí)間的重要性，不去理解時(shí)間的重要性是不可想象的。由此可知，劃線短語(yǔ)to do so指的是“理解時(shí)間的重要性”。故選B。

【3】

細(xì)節(jié)理解題。根據(jù)第三段中If one event occurs on the heels (緊接著) of another, they will certainly try to find a causal relationship between them.可知如果一件事緊跟著另一件事發(fā)生，他們肯定會(huì)試圖找出它們之間的因果關(guān)系。由此可知，當(dāng)兩個(gè)事件一個(gè)接一個(gè)發(fā)生時(shí)，美國(guó)人會(huì)把這兩件事聯(lián)系在一起。故選C。

【4】

推理判斷題。根據(jù)第二段中He thinks that people should look forward to the future and not talk too much on the past.可知他認(rèn)為人們應(yīng)該展望未來(lái)，不要過(guò)多談?wù)撨^(guò)去。以及最后一段中This makes it almost impossible for them as a nation to engage (從事) in long-range planning.可知這使得他們作為一個(gè)國(guó)家?guī)缀醪豢赡苓M(jìn)行長(zhǎng)期規(guī)劃。由此可推知，作者通過(guò)講述美國(guó)人對(duì)時(shí)間的看法，認(rèn)為美國(guó)人總是認(rèn)為時(shí)間都將成為過(guò)去，他們沒(méi)有意識(shí)到將來(lái)的時(shí)間的重要性，作者想強(qiáng)調(diào)要看重未來(lái)的時(shí)間不要看著過(guò)去，所以推測(cè)出作者建議更長(zhǎng)遠(yuǎn)地看待時(shí)間。故選A。