Question

It happened to me recently that I was telling someone how much I had enjoyed reading Barack Obama’s DreamsfromMyFather and how it had changed my views of the current US president.The person I was talking to agreed with me that it was，in his words，“a wonderfully written book”. However，he then proceeded to talk about Mr Obama in a way that suggested he had no idea of his background at all.I sensed that I was talking to a book liar.

And it seems that he is not the only one.Clearly two thirds of people have lied about reading a book which they haven’t.In the World Book Day survey，DreamsfromMyFather is at number 9.The survey lists top ten books，and various authors，which people have lied about reading.As I’m not one to lie too often，I’ll admit here and now that I haven’t read the entire ten books.But I am pleased to say that I have read the book at number one，GeorgeOrwell’s 1984.I think it’s absolutely outstanding.

Asked why they lied，the most common reason was to impress someone they were speaking to.This could be difficult if the conversation became more in­depth!

The World Book Day survey also has some other interesting information in it.It shows that many people lie about having read classical works by Jane Austen，the Bronte sisters，Charles Dickens and so on.But when asked which authors they actually enjoy，they named J．K.Rowling，Jilly Cooper，and Stephen King (ah，the big sellers，in other words)．Forty­one percent of people asked admitted they turned to the back of the book to read the end before finishing the story.

So which books have you lied about reading—if any—and which is your favourite?

1.The main reason why people lie about reading is to________.

A．make fun of the listener

B．impress the listener

C．please the listener

D．interest the listener

2. The underlined word“proceeded” in the passage probably means “________”.

A．wanted                               B．happened

C．continued                             D．stopped

3.What does the World Book Day survey show?

A．Nearly half of the people surveyed didn’t read through a whole classical book.

B．People don’t like DreamsfromMyFather and GeorgeOrwell ’s 1984.

C．Few people lie about having read classical works by Jane Austen.

D．People usually enjoy reading books by Charles Dickens.

4. What is the best title for the passage?

A．Are You a Book Liar?                     B．Readers Are All Liars

C．World Book Day                        D．Dreams from My Father

 

Answer 1

【答案】

1.B

2.C

3.A

4.A

【解析】

試題分析：本文講述的很多人都說謊是自己讀過某本書，文章中分析了這樣做的原因，以及一個調查報告的具體的信息。

1.B 細節題。根據文章第三段第一行Asked why they lied，the most common reason was to impress someone they were speaking to.可知他們說謊的原因是他們想給對方留下好的印象。故B正確。

2.C 推理題。根據The person I was talking to agreed with me that it was，in his words，“a wonderfully written book”. However，he then proceeded to talk about Mr Obama in a way that suggested he had no idea of his background at all.I sensed that I was talking to a book liar.

可知我這個人聊關于這DreamsfromMyFather這本書，開始的時候對方說他也讀過這本書。但是當我們繼續聊下去的時候，我發現他沒有讀過這本書，故該詞是指繼續的意思。故C正確。

3.A 細節題。根據文章倒數第2段最后2行Forty­one percent of people asked admitted they turned to the back of the book to read the end before finishing the story.可知接近一半的人都沒有徹底讀過一本書。故A正確。

4.A 主旨大意題。本文講述的很多人都說謊是自己讀過某本書，文章中分析了這樣做的原因，以及一個調查報告的具體的信息。故A正確。

考點：社會現象類短文閱讀

點評：本文講述的很多人都說謊是自己讀過某本書，文章中分析了這樣做的原因，以及一個調查報告的具體的信息。測試考生在閱讀基礎上的邏輯推理能力，要求考生根據文章所述事件的邏輯關系，對未說明的趨勢或結局作出合理的推斷；或根據作者所闡述的觀點理論，對文章未涉及的現象、事例給以解釋。考生首先要仔細閱讀短文，完整了解信息，準確把握作者觀點。