托福（TOEFL）考试阅读模拟试题（5）
William Sydney Porter (1862-1910), who wrote under the pseudonym of O. Henry, was born in North Carolina. His only formal education was to attend his Aunt Lina’s school until the age of fifteen, where he developed his lifelong love of books. By 1881 he was a licensed pharmacist. However, within a year, on the recommendation of a medical colleague of his Father’s, Porter moved to La Salle County in Texas for two years herding sheep. During this time, Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary was his constant companion, and Porter gained a knowledge of ranch life that he later incorporated into many of his short stories. He then moved to Austin for three years, and during this time the first recorded use of his pseudonym appeared, allegedly derived from his habit of calling “Oh, Henry” to a family cat. In 1887, Porter married Athol Estes. He worked as a draftsman, then as a bank teller for the First National Bank.
1. Why did the author write the passage?
(a) because it is a tragic story of a gifted writer
(b) to outline the career of a famous American
(c) because of his fame as America’s favorite short story writer
(d) to outline the influences on O. Henry’s writing
2. According to the passage, Porter’s Father was
(a) responsible for his move to La Salle County in Texas
(b) the person who gave him a life-long love of books
(c) a medical doctor
(d) a licensed pharmacist
3. The word “allegedly” in line 9 is closest in meaning to
(a) supposedly
(b) reportedly
(c) wrongly
(d) mistakenly
4. Which of the following is true, according to the passage?
(a) both of Porter’s wives died before he died
(b) Porter left school at 15 to become a pharmacist
(c) Porter wrote a column for the Houston Daily Post called “Rolling Stone”
(d) the first recorded use of his pseudonym was in Austin
5. The word “venture” in line 12 is closest in meaning to
(a) challenging experiment
(b) bold initiative
(c) speculative action
(d) sorry experience
6. The word “subsequent in line 14 is closest in meaning to
(a) resulting
(b) police
(c) alleged
(d) official
7. Porter lost all of the following when he went to prison EXCEPT his
(a) home
(b) wife
(c) job
(d) books
8. According to the author, how many stories did Porter write while in prison for three years?
(a) more than 300
(b) 35
(c) at least 12
(d) over 20
9. The author implies which of the following is true?
(a) Porter would probably have written less stories if he had not been in prison for three years
(b) Porter was in poor health throughout his life
(c) O. Henry is as popular in many other countries as he is in America
(d) Porter’s wife might have lived longer if he had not left her in Austin when he fled.
10. Where in the passage does the author mention a habit of Porter that was to become very useful for him later?
(a) lines 6-10
(b) lines
11-15
(c) lines 16-20
(d) lines 21-25
Questions 11- 21
11. What is the passage primarily about?
(a) Alexis de Tocqueville
(b) “Democracy in America”
(c) the progress achieved in America within about 40 years after adoption of the U.S. Constitution
(d) the impact of the book “Democracy in America”
12. All of the following fields of professional interest and activity are used to describe de Tocqueville EXCEPT
(a) philosopher
(b) author
(c) political scientist
(d) politician
13. According to the passage, when did de Tocqueville visit America
(a) 1830s
(b) 1831
(c) 1831-32
(d) 1835
14. The phrase “these traits” in lines 9-10 refers to
(a) observations
(b) how Americans think, feel, and act
(c) traditional American beliefs and values
(d) visible and meaningful observations
15. What in the passage is mentioned as being truly remarkable?
(a) many of his observations are still visible and meaningful today
(b) the book was so detailed and thorough after only such a comparatively short visit
(c) that the second volume should be so pessimistic in comparison with the first
(d) de Tocqueville’s powers of observation
16. The word “unique” in line 16 is closest in meaning to
(a) clearly identifiable
(b) outstanding
(c) unmatched
(d) positive
17. The word “neutral” in line 16 is closest in meaning to
(a) impartial
(b) careful
(c) important
(d) thorough
18. Which of the following can be inferred from the passage?
(a) the English don’t like the French
(b) the book was most important because it was the first time that American values had been clearly documented
(c) de Tocqueville was a slow writer
(d) de Tocqueville was primarily motivated by an interest in his own country
19. The word “glimpse” in line 20 is closest in meaning to
(a) overview
(b) glance
(c) brief understanding
(d) quick conclusion
20. According to the passage, “Democracy in America” consisted of how many volumes?
(a) one
(b) two
(c) three
(d) four
21. Which of the following is true, according to the passage?
(a) the visit lasted only five months
(b) the visit coincided with American industrialization
(c) the first part was published in 1835; the second part in 1840
(d) the second part was more optimistic than the first
1. Why did the author write the passage?
(a) because it is a tragic story of a gifted writer
(b) to outline the career of a famous American
(c) because of his fame as America’s favorite short story writer
(d) to outline the influences on O. Henry’s writing
2. According to the passage, Porter’s Father was
(a) responsible for his move to La Salle County in Texas
(b) the person who gave him a life-long love of books
(c) a medical doctor
(d) a licensed pharmacist
3. The word “allegedly” in line 9 is closest in meaning to
(a) supposedly
(b) reportedly
(c) wrongly
(d) mistakenly
4. Which of the following is true, according to the passage?
(a) both of Porter’s wives died before he died
(b) Porter left school at 15 to become a pharmacist
(c) Porter wrote a column for the Houston Daily Post called “Rolling Stone”
(d) the first recorded use of his pseudonym was in Austin
5. The word “venture” in line 12 is closest in meaning to
(a) challenging experiment
(b) bold initiative
(c) speculative action
(d) sorry experience
6. The word “subsequent in line 14 is closest in meaning to
(a) resulting
(b) police
(c) alleged
(d) official
7. Porter lost all of the following when he went to prison EXCEPT his
(a) home
(b) wife
(c) job
(d) books
8. According to the author, how many stories did Porter write while in prison for three years?
(a) more than 300
(b) 35
(c) at least 12
(d) over 20
9. The author implies which of the following is true?
(a) Porter would probably have written less stories if he had not been in prison for three years
(b) Porter was in poor health throughout his life
(c) O. Henry is as popular in many other countries as he is in America
(d) Porter’s wife might have lived longer if he had not left her in Austin when he fled.
10. Where in the passage does the author mention a habit of Porter that was to become very useful for him later?
(a) lines 6-10
(b) lines
11-15
(c) lines 16-20
(d) lines 21-25
Questions 11- 21
11. What is the passage primarily about?
(a) Alexis de Tocqueville
(b) “Democracy in America”
(c) the progress achieved in America within about 40 years after adoption of the U.S. Constitution
(d) the impact of the book “Democracy in America”
12. All of the following fields of professional interest and activity are used to describe de Tocqueville EXCEPT
(a) philosopher
(b) author
(c) political scientist
(d) politician
13. According to the passage, when did de Tocqueville visit America
(a) 1830s
(b) 1831
(c) 1831-32
(d) 1835
14. The phrase “these traits” in lines 9-10 refers to
(a) observations
(b) how Americans think, feel, and act
(c) traditional American beliefs and values
(d) visible and meaningful observations
15. What in the passage is mentioned as being truly remarkable?
(a) many of his observations are still visible and meaningful today
(b) the book was so detailed and thorough after only such a comparatively short visit
(c) that the second volume should be so pessimistic in comparison with the first
(d) de Tocqueville’s powers of observation
16. The word “unique” in line 16 is closest in meaning to
(a) clearly identifiable
(b) outstanding
(c) unmatched
(d) positive
17. The word “neutral” in line 16 is closest in meaning to
(a) impartial
(b) careful
(c) important
(d) thorough
18. Which of the following can be inferred from the passage?
(a) the English don’t like the French
(b) the book was most important because it was the first time that American values had been clearly documented
(c) de Tocqueville was a slow writer
(d) de Tocqueville was primarily motivated by an interest in his own country
19. The word “glimpse” in line 20 is closest in meaning to
(a) overview
(b) glance
(c) brief understanding
(d) quick conclusion
20. According to the passage, “Democracy in America” consisted of how many volumes?
(a) one
(b) two
(c) three
(d) four
21. Which of the following is true, according to the passage?
(a) the visit lasted only five months
(b) the visit coincided with American industrialization
(c) the first part was published in 1835; the second part in 1840
(d) the second part was more optimistic than the first
（责任编辑：zhongda）
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