8.The second Monday in October in the United States is Columbus Day.It is a federal holiday.The holiday honors the first visit to America by the Italian explorer Christopher Columbus.Columbus thought he could reach the Far East by sailing west across the Atlantic Ocean from Europe.
He was right.But he was also wrong.He thought the world was much smaller than it is.He did not imagine that another continent and another huge ocean lay between Europe and East Asia.
Columbus and his crew arrived in October 1492 on an island they called San Salvador,in today's Bahamas.Columbus believed these were the coastal islands of East Asia,and then called the Indies.That is why he called the people who lived on the islands"Indians."He refused to accept he was wrong about the geography,even though local plants where he explored were unknown in Europe or Asia,and native people did not understand any languages spoken in the East.
Many people have pointed out that Christopher Columbus never recognized where he really landed.Other European explorer.s did land in what is now the United States.But not Columbus.More importantly,some say,Columbus did not"discover"a new world:many native people already lived here.
Critics of Columbus Day also strongly object to the holiday because Columbus treated native people cruelly.He imprisoned some of the West Indians,forcing them to serve the Europeans or search for gold.He controlled parts of the population with violence and oppression.In addition,Columbus and his fellow European voyagers forced native people to accept Christianity.And,they brought new diseases that sickened and killed many of the native people.Columbus'arrival in the Caribbean was destructive to the people there.
Even though Columbus Day is one of the most doubtful holidays in the U.S.calendar,scholars say the origins of Columbus Day aimed to bring Americans together.In 1892,President Benjamin Harrison called on the country to observe Columbus Day,and to reflect on their achievements in the 400 years since Columbus landed in San Salvador.
32.Why did Columbus fail to reach the Far East?B
A.He went in the wrong direction of his voyage.
B.He lacked enough geographic knowledge.
C.Hrs theory proved to be wrong in practice.
D.He didn't have good enough imagination.
33.Which of the following best describes Columbus?C
A.Cautious.
B.Honest.
C.Stubborn.
D.Modest.
34.What does Paragraph 5 mainly talk about?A
A.Great harm Columbus brought to the native people.
B.Various Changes since Columbus landed there.
C.The way how Columbus controlled the native people.
D.Conflicts occurring between Columbus and the natives.
35.What was the original purpose of creating Columbus Day?C
A.To honour the United States.
B.To get relaxed from work.
C.To unite American people.
D.To show progress of America.
分析 本文屬于說(shuō)明文閱讀,作者通過(guò)這篇文章主要向我們描述了哥倫布航行尋找新大陸的故事.
解答 32.B.細(xì)節(jié)題.根據(jù)文章內(nèi)容,He thought the world was much smaller than it is.He did not imagine that another continent and another huge ocean lay between Europe and East Asia.哥倫布認(rèn)為這個(gè)世界要比想要的小,但是他沒(méi)有想到在歐洲和東亞之間隔著一個(gè)大陸和一個(gè)巨大的海灣,說(shuō)明他對(duì)地理情況不大了解,結(jié)合選項(xiàng),故選B
33.C.細(xì)節(jié)題.根據(jù)文章內(nèi)容,."He refused to accept he was wrong about the geography,even though local plants where he explored were unknown in Europe or Asia,哥倫布拒絕接受他的地理知識(shí)方面有缺陷的事實(shí)…由此可知,他是一個(gè)固執(zhí)的人,故選C
34.A.段落大意題.根據(jù)文章內(nèi)容,He imprisoned some of the West Indians,forcing them to serve the Europeans or search for gold.He controlled parts of the population with violence and oppression.In addition,Columbus and his fellow European voyagers forced native people to accept Christianity.哥倫布監(jiān)禁了一些西印度人,強(qiáng)迫他們?nèi)フ医鹱,他還武力控制了一些人口.此外,他和他的團(tuán)隊(duì)還強(qiáng)迫當(dāng)?shù)厝诵叛龌浇,這些都是哥倫布對(duì)當(dāng)?shù)厝藗兊牟缓玫男袨椋Y(jié)合選項(xiàng),故選A
35.C.細(xì)節(jié)題.根據(jù)文章內(nèi)容,scholars say the origins of Columbus Day aimed to bring Americans together.學(xué)者說(shuō),哥倫布日最初創(chuàng)立的原因是為了團(tuán)結(jié)美國(guó)人民,結(jié)合選項(xiàng),故選C
點(diǎn)評(píng) 考察學(xué)生的細(xì)節(jié)理解和推理判斷能力,做細(xì)節(jié)理解題時(shí)一定要找到文章中的原句,和題干進(jìn)行比較,再做出正確的選擇.在做推理判斷題不要以個(gè)人的主觀想象代替文章的事實(shí),要根據(jù)文章事實(shí)進(jìn)行合乎邏輯的推理判斷.