单选题 Ask most people how they define the American Dream and chances are they"ll say, "Success. " The dream of individual opportunity has been home in American since Europeans discovered a "new world" in the Western Hemisphere. Early immigrants like Hector St. Jean de Crevecoeur praised highly the freedom and opportunity to be found in this new land. His glowing descriptions of a classless society where anyone could attain success through honesty and hard work fired the imaginations of many European readers: in Letters from an American Farmer (1782) he wrote, "We are all excited at the spirit of an industry which is unfettered (无拘无束的) and unrestrained, because each person works for himself... We have no princes, for whom we toil (干苦力活), starve, and bleed; we are the most perfect society now existing in the world. " The promise of a land where "the rewards of a man"s industry follow with equal steps the progress of his labor" drew poor immigrants from Europe and fueled national expansion into the western territories. Our national mythology (神话) is full of illustration of the American success story. There"s Benjamin Franklin, the very model of the self-educated, self-made man, who rose from modest origins to become a well-known scientist, philosopher, and statesman. In the nineteenth century, Horatio Alger, a writer of fiction for young boys, became American"s best-selling author with rags-to-riches tales. The notion of success haunts us: we spend million every year reading about the rich and famous, learning how to "make a fortune in real estate with no money down", and "dressing for success". The myth of success has even invaded our personal relationships: today it"s as important to be "successful" in marriage or parenthoods as it is to come out on top in business. But dreams easily turn into nightmares. Every American who hopes to "make it" also knows the fear of failure, because the myth of success inevitably implies comparison between the haves and the have-nots, the stars and the anonymous crowd. Under pressure of the myth, we become indulged in status symbols: we try to live in the "right" neighborhoods, wear the "right" clothes, and eat the "right" foods. These symbols of distinction assure us and others that we believe strongly in the fundamental equality of all, yet strive as hard as we can to separate ourselves from our fellow citizens. (403 words)
单选题 What is the essence of the American Dream according to Crevecoeur?
【正确答案】 D
【答案解析】解析：本题属于事实细节题。利用关键词“Crevecoeur”到文章第三句定位答案：“Crevecoeur praised highly the freedom and opportunity to be found in this new land．”答案为D。
单选题 By saying "the rewards of a man"s industry follow with equal steps the progress of his labor" (Lines 10~11, Para. 1), the author means______.
【正确答案】 A
【答案解析】解析：本题属于语义题。答案出处在第11行，此句前后都讲了新大陆是平等自由的，人们依靠努力和诚实劳动获得成功。选项A是这些观点的同义表达，一个人的获得是与他的劳动成正比的。因此答案为A。
单选题 The characters described in Horatio Alger"s novels are people who______.
【正确答案】 C
【答案解析】解析：本题属于事实细节题。根据关键词“Horatio Alger”我们找到如下表述：“Horatio Alger，a writer of fiction for young boys，became American’s best—selling author with rags—to-riches tales．”由此可知他写的故事描绘的人物是“rages—to-riches”，从贫穷到富有。答案为C。
单选题 It can be inferred from the last sentence of the second paragraph that______.
【正确答案】 B
【答案解析】解析：本题属于结论推断题。“The myth of success has even invaded our personal relationships：today it’s as important to be‘successful’in marriage or parenthoods as it is to come out on top in business．”(成功这个概念已经渗透到我们的人际关系中，无论是婚姻、父母关系，我们都希望与事业上一样成功。)答案为B。
单选题 What is the paradox of American culture according to the author?
【正确答案】 D
【答案解析】解析：本题属于事实细节题。题干问的是作者认为美国文化的矛盾在何处?“These symbols of distinction assure us and others that we believe strongly in the fundamental equality of all，yet strive as hard as we can to separate ourselves from our fellow citizens．”可见美国人在追求“平等”与“不同”方面是矛盾的。答案为D。