Question

In 1863, the great novelist Jules Verne wrote a novel called Paris in the Twentieth Century. In the book he used the full power of his great ability to forecast the coming century. Unfortunately, the manuscript (手稿) was lost until his great-grandson happened to discover it lying in a safe where it had been carefully locked away for almost 130 years. Realizing what a treasure he had found, he arranged to have it published in 1994, and it became a bestseller at once.

Back in 1863, kings still ruled the ancient world in Europe, with so many poor people working in the fields. And steam power was just beginning to change the world. But Verne predicted that Paris in 1960 would have glass skyscrapers, air conditioning, TV, high-speed trains, gas-powered vehicles, and even something similar to the Internet. Verne descibed life in modem Paris almost without any mistakes.

Just two years later Verne made another amazing prediction. He wrote From the Earth to the Moon, in which he predicted the details of the task that sent several astronauts to the moon 100 years later in 1969. He correctly predicted the size of the space capsule, the number of astronauts who would carry out the task, the weightlessness that the astronauts would experience, and the final landing in the ocean.

How was Jules Verne able to predict 100 years into the future successfully? Although he was not a scientist himself, Verne often turned to scientists, asking them questions about their opinions of the future. He collected a vast amount of information about the great scientific discoveries of his time. Verne realized that science would make it possible for many amazing things to appear in the future. The secret of his successful prediction was his belief in the power of science to change society.

1.Paris in the Twentieth Century is a novel that       .

A. was published long after it was finished

B. didn’t sell well when published at first

C. took Jules Verne five years to finish

D. people thought badly of at first

2.The third paragraph is mainly about       .

A. the requirements of being an astronaut

B. how From the Earth to the Moon was created

C. what From the Earth to the Moon is about

D. the differences between the earth and the moon

3.According to the text, Jules Verne       .

A. could predict what would happen to someone

B. was a great scientist and novelist

C. had Paris in the Twentieth Century published in 1994

D. showed strong interest in writing and science

4.What would be the best title for the text?

A. The early life of Jules Verne

B. Jules Verne: A writer ahead of his time

C. Jules Verne’s opinions about science

D. Jules Verne’s inventions came true

Answer

1.A

2.C

3.D

4.B

【解析】

本文是一篇记叙文，介绍了法国著名的作家凡尔纳，在100多年前就对未来科技的发展做出了精准的预测，并写下了多本预测未来的书籍，书中内容与未来的科技发展非常吻合。可以说他是一个有前瞻性的作家。

1.细节理解题。根据文章第一段首尾句In 1863, the great novelist Jules Verne wrote a novel called Paris in the Twentieth Century. Realizing what a treasure he had found, he arranged to have it published in 1994, and it became a bestseller at once.可知这本书是1863年写的，但直到1994年才被出版。故A项正确。

2.段落大意题。根据第三段第二句He wrote From the Earth to the Moon, in which he predicted the details of the task that sent several astronauts to the moon 100 years later in 1969.可知在凡尔纳写了一本名为《From the Earth to the Moon》的书，本段其余内容都是叙述这本书中的内容。故C项正确。

3.推理判断题。根据最后一段第二句Although he was not a scientist himself, Verne often turned to scientists, asking them questions about their opinions of the future.可知凡尔纳对科学非常感兴趣，经常询问科学家关于科学的各种信息，后来又写了多本书籍，可知他对科学和写作非常感兴趣。故D项正确。

4.主旨大意题。本文介绍了法国著名的作家凡尔纳，在100多年前就对未来科技的发展做出了精准的预测，并写下了多本预测未来的书籍，书中内容与未来的科技发展非常吻合。可以说他是一个有前瞻性的作家。故B项正确。