Question

Lee Kuan Yew emerged onto the international stage as the founding father of the state of Singapore, then a city of about 1 million. He developed into a world statesman who acted as a kind of conscience to leaders around the globe.

Fate initially seemed not to have provided him with a stage on which to achieve more than modest local success. In the first phase of decolonization, Singapore emerged as a part of Malaya. It was cut loose because of tensions between Singapore’s largely Chinese population and the Malay majority and, above all, to teach the city a lesson of dependency, Malaya undoubtedly expected that reality would cure Singapore of its independent spirit.

But great men become such through visions beyond material calculations. Lee challenged conventional wisdom by opting for statehood. The choice reflected a deep faith in the virtues of his people. He asserted that a city located on a sandbar with no economic resource to draw upon, and whose major industry as a colonial naval base had disappeared, could nevertheless thrive and achieve international reputation by building on its principal asset(财富): the intelligence, industry and dedication of its people.

A great leader takes his or her society from where it is to where it has never been ---- indeed, where it as yet cannot imagine being. By insisting on quality education, by suppressing corruption and by basing governance on merit. Lee and his colleagues raised the annual per capita income of their population from $500 at the time of independence in 1965 to roughly $55,000 today. In a generation, Singapore became an international financial center., the leading intellectual metropolis of Southeast Asia, the location of the region’s major hospitals and a favored site for conferences on international affairs. It did so by adhering to an extraordinary pragmatism: by opening careers to the best talents and encouraging them to adopt the best practices from all over the world..

Superior performance was one component of that achievement. Superior leadership was even more important. As the decades went by, it was moving ---- and inspirational ---- to see Lee., the mayor of a medium-size city, become a mentor of global strategic order.

The great tragedy of Lee’s life was that his beloved wife was felled by a stroke that left her a prisoner in her body, unable to communicate or receive communication. Through all that time, Lee sat by her bedside in the evening reading to her. He had faith that she understood despite the evidence to the contrary.

Perhaps this was Lee Kuan Yew’s role in his era. He had the same hope for our world. He fought for its better instincts even when the evidence was ambiguous. But many of us heard him and will never forget him.

1.Why did Lee Kuan Yew choose to lead Singapore to be independent?

A. He intended to act as a kind of conscience to leaders around the globe.

B. He determined his people shouldn’t be subjected to Malaya anymore.

C. He had considerable confidence in the value of the city’s assets.

D. He wanted Singapore to be the most powerful country worldwide.

2.From the underlined sentence in Paragraph2, we can know that ________.

A. Malaya expected Singapore to be powerful

B. Malaya had a desire to kick off Singapore

C. Malaya firmly believed Singapore would give in

D. Malaya didn’t think Singapore possessed independent spirit

3.The fourth paragraph is organized to ________.

A. illustrate how advanced Singapore has been today

B. demonstrate Lee Kuan Yew attached great importance to the talents

C. prove what a crucial decision Lee Kuan Yew once made

D. show the tremendous impact Lee Kuan Yew had on Singapore

4.Which of the following can best describe Lee Kuan Yew?

A. Stubborn and arbitrary

B. Aggressive and affectionate.

C. Demanding and bossy

D. Outspoken and humorous.

Answer

1.B

2.C

3.D

4.B

【解析】

试题分析:本文介绍了新加坡的开国功臣Lee Kuan Yew的事迹，他不仅有政治野心和能力，同时对待自己的家人也有温情的一面。

1.B事实细节题。根据短文In the first phase of decolonization, Singapore emerged as a part of Malaya. It was cut loose because of tensions between Singapore’s largely Chinese population and the Malay majority and, above all, to teach the city a lesson of dependency, 可知他想让新加坡独立是因为他不想让新加坡再顺从马来亚的统治了，故选B。

2.C句意理解题。根据Malaya undoubtedly expected that reality would cure Singapore of its independent spirit.But great men become such through visions beyond material calculations.可知本来马来西亚认为独立出去的新加坡很快会像他们低头，但事实并不是这样，故选C。

3.D段落大意题。根据短文A great leader takes his or her society from where it is to where it has never been ---- indeed, where it as yet cannot imagine being. 可知第四段是为了展示他带给新加坡的巨大的影响，故选D。

4.

考点：考查人物传记类短文阅读