Question

O. Henry was a pen name used by an American writer of short stories. His real name was William Sydney Porter. He was born in North Carolina in 1862.  As a young boy he lived an exciting life. He did not go to school for very long, but he managed to teach himself everything he needed to know. When he was about 20 years old, O. Henry went to Texas, where he tried different jobs. He first worked on a newspaper, and then had a job in a bank. When some money went missing from the bank, O. Henry was believed to have stolen it. Because of that, he was sent to prison. During the three years in prison, he learned to write short stories. After he got out of prison, he went to New York and continued writing. He wrote mostly about New York and the life of the poor there. People liked his stories, because the stories finished with a sudden change at the end, to the readers' surprise.

1.People enjoyed reading O. Henry's stories because _______.

A. they had surprising endings.

B. they were easy to understand.

C. they showed his love for the poor.

D. they were about New York City.

2.O. Henry went to prison because _______.

A. people thought he had stolen money from the newspaper.

B. he broke the law by not using his own name.

C. he wanted to write stories about prisoners.

D. people thought he had taken money that was not his.

3.What do we know about O. Henry before he began writing?

A. He was well-educated.

B. He was very good at learning.

C. He was devoted to the poor.

D. He was not serious about his work..

4.Where did O. Henry get most material for his short stories?

A. His life inside the prison.

B. The newspaper articles he wrote.

C. The city and poor people in New York.

D. His exciting early life as a boy.

Answer

1.A

2.D

3.B

4.C

【解析】

试题分析：本文介绍了美国著名的短篇小说大师欧亨利的一生，他的写作生涯，他的作品的特点等。

1.A细节理解题。根据文章最后2行People liked his stories, because simple as the tales were, they would finish with a sudden change at the end, to the reader’s surprise.可知他的作品都有一个出人意料的结尾。这正是人们喜欢他的作品的原因，故A正确。

2.D细节理解题。根据文章5,6行. When some money went missing from the bank, O. Henry was believed to have stolen it. Because of that, he was sent to prison.可知人们怀疑他偷了钱，所以把他送进监狱。故D正确。

3.B细节推理题。根据During the three years in prison, he learned to write short stories和He did not go to school for very long, but he managed to teach himself everything he needed to know. 可知他善于学习，他自学了很多知识，在监狱里学会了写短篇小说。故B正确。

4.C细节理解题。根据文章倒数第二行He wrote mostly about New York and the life of the poor there.可知纽约普通人的生活是他的写作材料。故C正确。

考点：人物传记类短文阅读。