阅读理解    Passage 4   Questions 36 to 40 are based on the following passage:   Washington Irving wasAmeriea's first man of letters to be known internationally. His works were received enthusiastically both in England and in the United States. He was, in fact, one of the most successful writers of his time in the country, and at the same time winning the admiration of fellow writers like Scott in Britain arid Poe and Hawthorne in he United States. The respect in which he was held partly owing to the man himself, with his warm friendliness, his good sense, his urbanity, his gay spirits, his artistic integrity, his love of both the Old World and the New. Thackeray described Irving as "a gentleman, who, though himself born in no very high sphere, was most finished, polished, witty ; socially the equal of the most refined Europeans." In England he was granted an honorary degree from Oxford--an unusual honor for a citizen of a young, uncultured nation--and he received the medal of the Royal Society of Literature.America made him ambassador to Spain.   Irving's background provides little to explain his literary aehievements.A gifted but delicate child, he had little schooling.He studied law, but without zeal, and never did practice seriously.He was immune to his strict Presbyterian home environment, frequenting both social gatherings and the theater.
单选题 The main point of the first paragraph is that Washington Irving was (  ).
【正确答案】 B
【答案解析】推理判断题。第一段第一句即中心句,概括了这一段的大意,即华盛顿?欧文是第一在国际上享有盛誉的美国文人,也就是说他不仅在自己的国家,而且在国外也获得巨大的成功,B与此最相符。段末提到了C,但也是为了说明他的成功,包括在B中。A表述不恰当;D文中没有提及。
单选题 What is implied by the mention of Scott, Poe and Hawthorne?
【正确答案】 C
【答案解析】句意理解题。这句提到的Scott,Poe和Hawthorne都是当时英国和美国最有名的作家,欧文的作品受到了他们的称赞,可以证明其作品具有很高文学艺术性。所以选C。
单选题 Which of the following best describes the effect of Irving's Presbyterian background on his life?
【正确答案】 D
【答案解析】事实细节题。文中最后一句话提到,严谨的基督教长老会的生活环境对他没有任何影响,他经常会光顾社交聚会和剧院。所以选D。
单选题 Which of the following best describes the effect of Irving's personal qualities on his literary Success ?
【正确答案】 C
【答案解析】事实细节题。第一段第四句中提到,他所受的尊重部分因为他本身的个性,如友好、文雅、快乐、艺术的正直性等,即他的个性对他文学道路上的成功有一定影响。所以选C。
单选题 Why might Irving's literary ability have been surprising to the English?
【正确答案】 B
【答案解析】推理判断题。第一段倒数第二句提到a young,uncultured nation是指当时的美国,可见当时的美国在英国人和欧洲人眼中是个年轻而又落后的国家,所以英国人没有料到在美国会出现如此优秀的作家。