Question

Rachel Louise Carson was born on May 27th, 1907 in Springdale, Pennsylvania. She grew up on a farm where she learnt about nature and animals. Rachel loved reading and writing stories when she was young. She even had a story published when she was only ten years old. One of Rachel’s favorite subjects was oceanology(海洋生物学).

Rachel attended college at the Pennsylvania College for Women where she majored in biology. She later got her master’s（硕士） degree in zoology from John’s Hopkins University. After graduation, Rachel taught for a while and then got a job at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. At first, she wrote for a weekly radio program that educated people on marine（海洋的） biology. Later, she became a marine biologist and chief editor of publications for the Fish and Wildlife Service. In addition to her work at the Fish and Wildlife Service, Rachel wrote articles for magazines about the ocean. In 1941, she published her first book called Under the Sea Wind. However, her second book, The Sea Around Us, made her famous. The Sea Around Us was published in 1951 and was on the New York Times bestseller list for 39 weeks. With the success of the book, Rachel quit her job at the Fish and Wildlife Service and concentrated on writing full-time.

After World WarⅡ, farmers began to use pesticides (农药) such as DDT on their crops. Rachel was concerned about the effects that large-scale spraying of DDT may have on the health of people as well as the environment. Rachel began to gather research material on pesticides and write a book about the subject.

Rachel spent four years gathering research material and writing the book. She named it Silent Spring referring to bird death due to pesticides and the spring being silent without their songs. Published in 1962, the book became very popular and brought the environmental issues of pesticides to the general public.

On April 14th, 1964, she died of breast cancer in her home in Maryland.

1.What did Rachel Louise Carson major in for her bachelor’s（学士） degree?

A. Oceanology.    B. Zoology.

C. Biology.    D. Engineering.

2.What is the right order of the following events about Rachel’s life?

a. She collected material for Silent Spring.

b. She taught for a while after graduation.

c. She gave up her job at the Service.

d. She had her first book published.

e. She became a marine biologist.

A. d-a-c-b-e    B. b-e-d-c-a

C. d-c-a-b-e    D. b-d-c-e-a

3.It can be inferred from the passage that _______.

A. Rachel showed a talent for writing at a young age

B. it took little effort for Rachel to write Silent Spring

C. it was Silent Spring that brought Rachel instant fame

D. Rachel is believed to be more a biologist than a writer

4.What type of writing is the article likely to be?

A. A short story.    B. A book review.

C. A biography.    D. A news report.

Answer

1.C

2.B

3.A

4.C

【解析】本文是一篇人物传记，介绍Rachel Louise Carson的一生经历。

1.C

细节理解题。根据第二段第一句Rachel attended college at the Pennsylvania College for Women where she majored in biology.可知Rachel Louise Carson主修生物，故选C。

2.B

推理判断题。根据第二段中After graduation, Rachel taught for a while and then got a job at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Later, she became a marine biologist可知Rachel毕业之后有一段时间教学，然后在the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Servic得到一份工作，后来成了海洋生物学家。再根据第二段中In 1941, she published her first book called Under the Sea Wind. 她出版了她的第一本书；With the success of the book, Rachel quit her job at the Fish and Wildlife Service and concentrated on writing full-time.随着书的成功她放弃了the Fish and Wildlife Service的工作，集中精力在写作上。可知正确顺序是B。

3.A

推理判断题。根据第一段中Rachel loved reading and writing stories when she was young. She even had a story published when she was only ten years old.可知Rachel在很小的时候就展示出写作天赋。根据句意可知选A。

4.C

推理判断题。纵观全文，特别是第一段第一句Rachel Louise Carson was born on May 27th, 1907 in Springdale, Pennsylvania和最后一段On April 14th, 1964, she died of breast cancer in her home in Maryland.可知本文在介绍Rachel Louise Carson的一生经历。故选C。