听力原文：
Passage One

Edgar Allen Poe, an American writer, was born in 1809. His parents were actors. Edgar was a baby when his father left the family. He was two years old when his mother died. He was taken into the home of a wealthy businessman named John Allen. He then received his new name, Edgar Allen Poe. As a young man, Poe attended the University of Virginia. He was a good student, but he liked to drink alcohol and play card games for money. As an unskilled game player, he often lost money. Since he couldn't pay off his gambling money, he left university and began working for magazines. He worked hard, yet he was not well paid, or well known. At the age of 27, he got married. For a time it seemed that Poe would find some happiness, but his wife was sick for most of their marriage, and died in 1847. Through all his crises, Poe produced many stories and poems which appeared in different publications, yet he didn't become famous until 1845, when his poem, The Raven, was published. There is a question, however, about Poe's importance in American Literature. Some critics say Poe was one of America's best writers, and even had a great influence on many French writers, but others disagree. They say Poe's work is difficult to understand and most of his writing describes man), unpleasant situations and events. Edgar Allen Poe died in 1849 when he was 40 years old. It is said that he was found dead after days of heavy drinking.

Q16：What happened to Edgar Allen Poe's family, when he was only two years old?

预读四道题的各选项，各选项都含有his和he，且涉及“他”的家庭情况、大学生活、作品情况，因此可猜测本文可能是一篇人物传记。
短文指出Edgar Allen Poe两岁时妈妈去世了，短文中的died与B)中的passed away为同义替换，故选B。人物传记和叙事文章，大多就文章中某些重点片段所提到的细节提问。

听力原文：
Passage One

Edgar Allen Poe, an American writer, was born in 1809. His parents were actors. Edgar was a baby when his father left the family. He was two years old when his mother died. He was taken into the home of a wealthy businessman named John Allen. He then received his new name, Edgar Allen Poe. As a young man, Poe attended the University of Virginia. He was a good student, but he liked to drink alcohol and play card games for money. As an unskilled game player, he often lost money. Since he couldn't pay off his gambling money, he left university and began working for magazines. He worked hard, yet he was not well paid, or well known. At the age of 27, he got married. For a time it seemed that Poe would find some happiness, but his wife was sick for most of their marriage, and died in 1847. Through all his crises, Poe produced many stories and poems which appeared in different publications, yet he didn't become famous until 1845, when his poem, The Raven, was published. There is a question, however, about Poe's importance in American Literature. Some critics say Poe was one of America's best writers, and even had a great influence on many French writers, but others disagree. They say Poe's work is difficult to understand and most of his writing describes man), unpleasant situations and events. Edgar Allen Poe died in 1849 when he was 40 years old. It is said that he was found dead after days of heavy drinking.

Q17：Why did Edgar Alien Poe leave the University of Virginia?

文中明确提到他离开弗吉尼亚大学是因为无法偿还赌债，故选C。短文中的since表原因。

听力原文：
Passage One

Edgar Allen Poe, an American writer, was born in 1809. His parents were actors. Edgar was a baby when his father left the family. He was two years old when his mother died. He was taken into the home of a wealthy businessman named John Allen. He then received his new name, Edgar Allen Poe. As a young man, Poe attended the University of Virginia. He was a good student, but he liked to drink alcohol and play card games for money. As an unskilled game player, he often lost money. Since he couldn't pay off his gambling money, he left university and began working for magazines. He worked hard, yet he was not well paid, or well known. At the age of 27, he got married. For a time it seemed that Poe would find some happiness, but his wife was sick for most of their marriage, and died in 1847. Through all his crises, Poe produced many stories and poems which appeared in different publications, yet he didn't become famous until 1845, when his poem, The Raven, was published. There is a question, however, about Poe's importance in American Literature. Some critics say Poe was one of America's best writers, and even had a great influence on many French writers, but others disagree. They say Poe's work is difficult to understand and most of his writing describes man), unpleasant situations and events. Edgar Allen Poe died in 1849 when he was 40 years old. It is said that he was found dead after days of heavy drinking.

Q18：What do some critics say about Edgar Allen Poe?

本文末尾提到批评家对Edgar Allen Poe作品的看法，其中提到“他的作品很难理解”，选项C的内容与此一致。

听力原文：
Passage One

Edgar Allen Poe, an American writer, was born in 1809. His parents were actors. Edgar was a baby when his father left the family. He was two years old when his mother died. He was taken into the home of a wealthy businessman named John Allen. He then received his new name, Edgar Allen Poe. As a young man, Poe attended the University of Virginia. He was a good student, but he liked to drink alcohol and play card games for money. As an unskilled game player, he often lost money. Since he couldn't pay off his gambling money, he left university and began working for magazines. He worked hard, yet he was not well paid, or well known. At the age of 27, he got married. For a time it seemed that Poe would find some happiness, but his wife was sick for most of their marriage, and died in 1847. Through all his crises, Poe produced many stories and poems which appeared in different publications, yet he didn't become famous until 1845, when his poem, The Raven, was published. There is a question, however, about Poe's importance in American Literature. Some critics say Poe was one of America's best writers, and even had a great influence on many French writers, but others disagree. They say Poe's work is difficult to understand and most of his writing describes man), unpleasant situations and events. Edgar Allen Poe died in 1849 when he was 40 years old. It is said that he was found dead after days of heavy drinking.

Q19：How did Edgar Alien Poe's life come to an end?

从短文末尾可知，Edgar Allen Poe是因为酗酒过度而死，故选D。grieve to death意为“过度悲伤而死”；commit suicide意为“自杀”；be shot dead意为“被枪杀”。