学位英语

Early Lighthouses in the United States

The first navigational lights in the New World were probably lanterns hung at harbor entrances. The first lighthouse was put up by the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1716 on Little Brewster Island at the entrance to Boston Harbor. Paid for and maintained by "light dues" levied (征收) on ships, the original beacon was blown up in 1776. By then there were only a dozen or so true lighthouses in the colonies. Little over a century later, there were 700 lighthouses.

The first light erected on the West Coast in the 1850s featured the same basic New England design: a Cape Cod dwelling with the tower rising from the center or standing close by. In New England and elsewhere, though, lighthouses reflected a variety of architectural styles. Since most stations in the Northeast were built on rocky eminences (高地), towers were not the rule. Some stood on pilings or stilts; some were fastened to rock with iron rods. Farther south, from Maryland through the Florida Keys, the coast was low and sandy. It was often necessary to build tall towers there — massive structures like the majestic lighthouse in Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, which was lit in 1870. At 190 feet, it is the tallest brick lighthouse in the country.

Notwithstanding differences in appearance and construction, most American lighthouses shared several features: a light, living quarters and sometimes a bell (or, later, a foghorn). They also had something else in common: a keeper and usually, the keeper's family. The keeper’s essential task was trimming the lantern wick (灯芯) in order to maintain a steady, bright flame. The earliest keepers came from every walk of life — they were seamen, farmers, mechanics, rough mill hands — and appointments were often handed out by local customs commissioners as political plums. After the administration of lighthouses was taken over in 1852 by the United States Lighthouse Board, an agency of the Treasury Department, the keeper corps gradually became highly professional.

1.Which of the following statements about early lighthouses in America is NOT true?

A.The first lighthouse was built in early 18th century.

B.The ships had to pay “light dues” to keep the lighthouse going.

C.The original beacon was once exploded for some unknown reasons.

D.There were only twelve so true lighthouses in the colonies in 1776.

正确答案:D

解析:问题问的是：关于美国早期的灯塔，以下说法哪个是错误的?从第一段的By then there were only a dozen or so true lighthouses in the colonies. 得出当时灯塔的数目在12个左右，并没有肯定说是12个，因此D的表述是错误的。

2.Massachusetts Bay Colony was mentioned to show that

A.the first lantern wicks were lightened there.

B.the first lighthouse in North America was built there.

C.the high light dues paid by the ships.

D.the administration of lighthouses was taken over there.

正确答案:B

解析:问题问的是：作者提到了马萨诸塞湾是为了向我们说明什么?从第一段的The first lighthouse was put up by the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1716. 得知主要是说明北美最早的灯塔建立在此地。

3.The tallest brick lighthouse in America is the one lit in

A.Massachusetts Bay Colony

B.New England.

C.Maryland and Florida.

D.North Carolina.

正确答案:D

解析:问题问的是：美国最高的砖灯塔建在何处?根据第二段的At 190 feet, it is the tallest brick lighthouse in the country. 得知全美最高的砖灯塔建在北卡罗来纳州的海特拉斯角。

4.What does the word “plum” (Para.3) mean?

A.Severe punishment.

B.Exciting exploration.

C.Fantastic occupation.

D.Terrible nightmare.

正确答案:C

解析:问题问的是：plum是什么意思?从第三段的表述The earliest keepers came from every walk of life — they were seamen, farmers, mechanics, rough mill hands — and appointments were often handed out by local customs commissioners as political plums. 得知各行各业的人们都承担过看灯塔的任务，足以说明这是一个很好的工作。

5.From the passage we know that the earlier lighthouse keeper usually

A.came from different kinds of jobs.

B.stayed in the living quarters alone.

C.was the professional one.

D.trimmed the lantern wick to be economical.

正确答案:A

解析:问题问的是：从文章中可以得知，早期的灯塔看守人经常怎么样?从第三段The earliest keepers came from every walk of life — they were seamen, farmers, mechanics, rough mill hands — and appointments were often handed out by local customs commissioners as political plums. 得知早期的灯塔看守人来自各行各业，所以A是正确的。

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