Question

James Cleveland Owens was the son of a farmer and the grandson of black slaves. His family moved to Cleveland when he was 9. There, a school teacher asked the youth his name.

“J.C., ”he replied.

She thought he had said “Jesse”, and he had a new name.

Owens ran his first race at age 13. After high school, he went to Ohio State University. He had to work part time so as to pay for his education. As a second year student, in the Big Ten games in 1935, he set even more records than he would in the Olympic Games a year later.

A week before the Big Ten Meet, Owens accidentally fell down a flight of stairs. His back hurt so much that he could not exercise all week, and he had to be helped in and out of the car that drove him to the meet. He refused to listen to the suggestions that he give up and said he would try, event by event. He did try, and the results are in the record book.

The stage was set for Owens victory at the Olympic Games in Berlin the next year, and his success would come to be regarded as not only athletic but also political. Hitler did not congratulate any of the African American winners.

“It was all right with me,” he said years later. “I didn’t go to Berlin to shake hands with him, anyway. ”

Having returned from Berlin, he received no telephone calls from the president of his own country, either. In fact, he was not honored by the United States until 1976, four years before his death.

Owens Olympic victories made little difference to him. He earned his living by looking after a school playground, and accepted money to race against cars, trucks, motorcycles and dogs.

“Sure, it bothered me, ”he said later. “But at least it was an honest living. I had to eat.”

In time, however, his gold medals changed his life. “They have kept me alive over the years,” he once said. “Time has stood still for me. That golden moment dies hard.”

1.In the Big Ten Meet, Owens ___.

A. hurt himself in the back    B. succeeded in setting many records

C. tried every sports event but failed    D. had to give up some events

2.We can infer from the text that Owens was treated unfairly in the US at that time because ___.

A. he did not talk to the US president on the phone    B. he was the son of a poor farmer

C. he was not of the right race    D. he did not shake hands with Hitler

3.When Owens says “They have kept me alive over the years”, he means that the medals ___.

A. have been changed for money to help him live on

B. have encouraged him to overcome difficulties in life

C. have made him famous in the US

D. have kept him busy with all kinds of jobs

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

A. Making a living as a sportsman    B. Golden Moment — a life time struggle

C. Jesse Owens, a great American athlete    D. How to be a successful athlete

Answer

1. B

2. C

3. B

4. C

【解析】

本文是一篇人物传记。这篇短文主要描述了美国的注明运动员杰西欧文斯的历史。他出生在一个黑人家庭，青年时代在体育方面取得了不凡的成就，是因为肤色问题，无论是在国外还是国内都受到了不公的待遇。

1.细节理解题。根据As a second year student, in the Big Ten games in 1935, he set even more records than he would in the Olympic Games a year later.描述,可知，在the Big Ten Meet中，欧文斯成功地创造了许多记录。故选B。

2.推理判断题。根据After returning from Berlin, he received no telephone calls from the president of his own country, either. In fact, he was not honored by the United States until 1976, four years before his death.描述,可知因为他的肤色问题,他那时在美国收到了不公的待遇。故选C。

3.推理判题。联系下文“Time has stood still for me. That golden moment dies hard.”描述,可知是这些奖牌给了他面对困难的勇气.。故选B。

4.主旨大意题。这篇短文主要描述了美国的著名运动员杰西欧文斯，故选A,杰西欧文斯——一个伟大的美国运动员。故选C。