SAT阅读练习题:Reading Comprehension Test 4.

SAT阅读练习题:Reading Comprehension Test 4

10 mins - 7 questions

The excerpt is taken from a novel. Mr. Harding, now an old man, has lost his position as the Warden of a hospital for old men. He has just come from an unsuccessful interview with Mr. Slope concerning his reappointment to the position.

Mr. Harding was not a happy man as he walked down the palace pathway, and stepped out into the close. His position and pleasant house were a second time gone from him; but that he could endure. He had been 5 schooled and insulted by a man young enough to be his son; but that he could put up with. He could even draw from the very injuries which had been inflicted on him some of that consolation which, we may believe, martyrs always receive from the injustice of 10 their own sufferings. He had admitted to his daughter that he wanted the comfort of his old home, and yet he could have returned to his lodgings in the High Street, if not with exultation, at least with satisfaction, had that been all. But the venom of the chaplain&aposs 15 harangue had worked into his blood, and sapped the life of his sweet contentment.

&aposNew men are carrying out new measures, and are carting away the useless rubbish of past centuries!&apos What cruel words these had been- and how often are 20 they now used with all the heartless cruelty of a Slope! A man is sufficiently condemned if it can only be shown that either in politics or religion he does not belong to some new school established within the last score of years. He may then regard himself as rubbish 25 and expect to be carted away. A man is nothing now unless he has within him a full appreciation of the new era; an era in which it would seem that neither honesty nor truth is very desirable, but in which success is the only touchstone of merit. We must 30 laugh at everything that is established. Let the joke be ever so bad, ever so untrue to the real principles of joking; nevertheless we must laugh - or else beware the cart. We must talk, think, and live up to the spirit of the times, or else we are nought. New men and new 35 measures, long credit and few scruples, great success or wonderful ruin, such are now the tastes of Englishmen who know how to live! Alas, alas! Under such circumstances Mr. Harding could not but feel that he was an Englishman who did not know how to 40 live. This new doctrine of Mr. Slope and the rubbish cart sadly disturbed his equanimity.

&aposThe same thing is going on throughout the whole country!&apos &aposWork is now required from every man who receives wages!&apos And had he been living all 45 his life receiving wages, and doing no work? Had he in truth so lived as to be now in his old age justly reckoned as rubbish fit only to be hidden away in some huge dust-hole? The school of men to whom he professes to belong, the Grantlys, the Gwynnes, are 50 afflicted with no such self-accusations as these which troubled Mr. Harding. They, as a rule, are as satisfied with the wisdom and propriety of their own conduct as can be any Mr. Slope, or any Bishop with his own. But, unfortunately for himself, Mr. Harding had little 55 of this self-reliance. When he heard himself designated as rubbish by the Slopes of the world, he had no other resource than to make inquiry within his own bosom as to the truth of the designation. Alas, alas! the evidence seemed generally to go against him.

1. The main cause of Mr. Harding’s unhappiness as he leaves the Bishop’s Palace is

A. the loss of his house B. the loss of his position C. the need to live with his daughter D. the thought-provoking words of the chaplain E. the injustice he has suffered

2. It can be inferred that Slope is

A. the chaplain B. the Bishop C. a foreigner D. a politician E. a young writer

3. The word ‘equanimity’ (line 41) most nearly means

A. status B. happiness C. justice D. complacency E. composure

4. It can be inferred that Mr Harding is especially disturbed because he

A. does not feel himself to be old B. is offended by the young man’s impertinence C. believes no one else feels as he does D. believe his life’s work has been worthwhile E. feels there may be some truth in regarding himself as ‘rubbish’

5. Mr. Harding differs from others of his ‘school’ (line 49) because they

A. do not believe Slope B. have never been called ‘rubbish’ C. are sure their conduct is irreproachable D. have already examined their consciences sat E. feel that Mr. Harding is not one of them

6. The tone of the sentence &aposNew men....live&apos (lines 34-37) is

A. objective B. ironic C. derogatory D. expository E. ambivalent

7. The first two sentences of paragraph 3 relate the

A. words of Mr. Slope B. thoughts of Mr. Harding C. view of the old school of men D. viewpoint of the author E. opinions of all young men

本套SAT阅读练习题参考答案在下一页

SAT Reading Comprehension Test 4参考答案

1.Correct Answer: D

Explanation:

The main cause of Mr. Harding’s unhappiness is to be found in the first paragraph. At the end of the paragraph we find, "But the venom of the chaplain&aposs harangue had worked into his blood, and sapped the life of his sweet contentment." This clearly indicates that it is the chaplain’s harangue (harsh words) that has upset him. Hence answer D.

2.Correct Answer: A

Explanation:

From the first paragraph we learn that the chaplain has upset Mr. Harding (line 14). As we read paragraph two it becomes clear that Mr. Slope, who must be the chaplain, spoke the offending words. (Line 40, is one instance.)

3.Correct Answer: E

Explanation:

‘Equanimity’ as used in line 41, rers to Mr. Harding’s peace of mind. He is no longer satisfied with his own conduct. His composure has been disturbed. Hence, answer E.

4.Correct Answer: E

Explanation:

Mr. Harding is more disturbed than other people in a similar position might have been because, on examining his own conduct, he feels that there might be some truth in Slope’s words. (Read from line 48 to the end to confirm this view.)

5.Correct Answer: C

Explanation:

Other members of his ‘school’, " as a rule, are satisfied with the wisdom and propriety of their own conduct.....". (Line 51). From this we learn that they are always sure that they have not done anything that needs to be criticized. Hence we can say that they feel their conduct is irreproachable.

6.Correct Answer: B

Explanation:

The tone of the sentence (New men and newmeasures, long credit and few scruples, great success or wonderful ruin, such are now the tastes of Englishmen who know how to live!) is partly indicated by the exclamation mark. We are not expected to believe that ‘few scruples’ is a trait to be admired. The tone is ironic because it implies something different from what it says.sat

7.Correct Answer: A

Explanation:

The first two sentences are in inverted commas. They are part of the ‘harangue’ delivered by the chaplain, Mr. Slope.

SAT阅读练习题:Reading Comprehension Test 4

10 mins - 7 questions

The excerpt is taken from a novel. Mr. Harding, now an old man, has lost his position as the Warden of a hospital for old men. He has just come from an unsuccessful interview with Mr. Slope concerning his reappointment to the position.

Mr. Harding was not a happy man as he walked down the palace pathway, and stepped out into the close. His position and pleasant house were a second time gone from him; but that he could endure. He had been 5 schooled and insulted by a man young enough to be his son; but that he could put up with. He could even draw from the very injuries which had been inflicted on him some of that consolation which, we may believe, martyrs always receive from the injustice of 10 their own sufferings. He had admitted to his daughter that he wanted the comfort of his old home, and yet he could have returned to his lodgings in the High Street, if not with exultation, at least with satisfaction, had that been all. But the venom of the chaplain&aposs 15 harangue had worked into his blood, and sapped the life of his sweet contentment.

&aposNew men are carrying out new measures, and are carting away the useless rubbish of past centuries!&apos What cruel words these had been- and how often are 20 they now used with all the heartless cruelty of a Slope! A man is sufficiently condemned if it can only be shown that either in politics or religion he does not belong to some new school established within the last score of years. He may then regard himself as rubbish 25 and expect to be carted away. A man is nothing now unless he has within him a full appreciation of the new era; an era in which it would seem that neither honesty nor truth is very desirable, but in which success is the only touchstone of merit. We must 30 laugh at everything that is established. Let the joke be ever so bad, ever so untrue to the real principles of joking; nevertheless we must laugh - or else beware the cart. We must talk, think, and live up to the spirit of the times, or else we are nought. New men and new 35 measures, long credit and few scruples, great success or wonderful ruin, such are now the tastes of Englishmen who know how to live! Alas, alas! Under such circumstances Mr. Harding could not but feel that he was an Englishman who did not know how to 40 live. This new doctrine of Mr. Slope and the rubbish cart sadly disturbed his equanimity.

&aposThe same thing is going on throughout the whole country!&apos &aposWork is now required from every man who receives wages!&apos And had he been living all 45 his life receiving wages, and doing no work? Had he in truth so lived as to be now in his old age justly reckoned as rubbish fit only to be hidden away in some huge dust-hole? The school of men to whom he professes to belong, the Grantlys, the Gwynnes, are 50 afflicted with no such self-accusations as these which troubled Mr. Harding. They, as a rule, are as satisfied with the wisdom and propriety of their own conduct as can be any Mr. Slope, or any Bishop with his own. But, unfortunately for himself, Mr. Harding had little 55 of this self-reliance. When he heard himself designated as rubbish by the Slopes of the world, he had no other resource than to make inquiry within his own bosom as to the truth of the designation. Alas, alas! the evidence seemed generally to go against him.

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