Unit 8 Literature Topic Talk
一、填空
1.He is not the kind of child who is likely to be cowed into _____________(submit).
2.It's the second time that John __________(hold) an art exhibition.
3.It was the first time that he __________(visit) my hometown.
4.This is the second time that Jason and his parents _________(come) to China.
5.The exhibition tells the ____________(absorb) story of the steam age.
6.These kids are so ____________(absorb) in their studies that I just sit back.
7.I hadn't figured ____________ getting home so late.
8.We figured ____________ plane tickets and hotel bills, but forgot to add the cost of meals.
9.Such was his fortune, and he was obliged to submit _____________ it.
10.Absorbed ____________ his thoughts, the scientist didn't notice what had happened before him.
二、语法填空
Adam's high school life started. He finds it a bit ①_________(challenge) to get used to the life in senior high school. First ,he had to think about the courses he wanted to take. ②_________ the help of the school adviser, he selected some courses suitable ③_________ him, such as math, English, chemistry and Chinese. He is good at English, which is the reason ④_________ he decides to ⑤_________ (sign) up for advanced literature. Besides, Adam ⑥_________ (choose)extra-curricular activities. He was depressed that the coach discouraged him from joining the school football team because of his poor football playing skills. But he has made up his mind ⑦_________ (improve)so that he can make ⑧_________ team next year. Adam decides to study harder as a senior high school student and get used to being ⑨_________ (responsibility) for a lot more. Though ⑩_________ (feel) a little worried and depressed, he is confident that he can keep up with his classmates.
三、阅读理解
A competition making up Versailles literature was launched on Sina Weibo recently. So what is Versailles literature
Actually, the term has nothing to do with the French palace nor with literature. It came from The Rose of Versailles, a Japanese manga series about aristocratic(贵族化的) life at the palace of Versailles in France in the late 18th century, and was coined by a Chinese influencer earlier this year. Known as humblebragging, it is a boast(吹牛) disguised as a complaint. "I have too many houses. How can I decide which one to decorate " and "I thought I lost weight this morning. So disappointed when I realized it was because I took off the huge diamond ring my boyfriend gave me last night" are some examples of Versailles literature. The intention is to show off—usually things of materialistic values, yet one ought to pretend that's not the point.
As the 19th century English author Jane Austen famously wrote, "Nothing is more deceitful(欺诈的) than the appearance of humility(谦逊)." The psychology behind humblebragging is to be recognized for one's successes and be liked by others at the same time, according to scholars. In her article titled Why do people hate humblebragging published in Psychology Today, psychologist Dr. Susan Krauss Whitbourne at the University of Massachusetts Amherst noted that humblebragging is a "strategy in pursuit of respect" because it draws attention to one's accomplishments in a circuitous way.
However, studies on social media users show that humblebragging as a self-promotion strategy does not work. In the essay Humblebragging: A distinct and ineffective self-presentation strategy, the University of North Carolina researcher Ovul Sezer and Harvard University scholars Francesca Gino and Michael Norton concluded from their research that humblebraggers are perceived more negatively than straight braggers due to the former's insincerity. "The critical factor differentiating the two groups of people is sincerity. People don't like braggers, but they at least see them as more sincere than humblebraggers," said Francesca Gino.
So, how can we annoy humblebraggers back "Just pretend you don't get whatever it is they try to show off," a netizen advised. "And respond with genuine sympathy for their complaints."
1.Which of the following statements is typical of "Versailles literature"
A.You know who my father is My father is Li Gang.
B.Got five offers to date. I'm at a loss which to choose.
C.It's a headache how to make my son tidy up his room regularly.
D.I'm fed up with living in the countryside with no shopping malls around.
2.What is the psychology behind humblebragging
A.To win others' sympathy. B.To earn others' admiration.
C.To show his/her sincerity. D.To mask his/her complaint.
3.What does the underlined world "circuitous" in Paragraph 3 probably mean
A.Roundabout. B.Straightforward.
C.Ambiguous. D.Double-edged.
4.What can't be inferred from the passage
A.Braggers are relatively more sincere than humblebraggers.
B.Humblebragging is an artificial appearance of being humble.
C.To respond with real sympathy will discourage humblebraggers.
D.If you want to be perceived positively, avoid using Versailles literature.
答案以及解析
一、填空
1.答案:submission
2.答案:has held
3.答案:had visited
4.答案:have come
5.答案:absorbing
6.答案:absorbed
7.答案:on
8.答案:in
9.答案:to
10.答案:in
二、语法填空
答案:1. challenging2. With3. for4. why5. sign6. chose7. to improve8. the9. responsible10. feeling
解析:
(1)challenging.考查形容词。句意:他发现要习惯高中生活还是很有挑战性的。分析句子结构可知,这里符合"find+it+形容词+不定式"的用法,即空白处需要形容词作宾补,challenging"有挑战性的"符合题意。故填challenging。
(2)With.考查介词。句意:在学校顾问的帮助下,他选择了一些适合自己的课程。根据句意,此处为固定短语with the help of意为"在……的帮助下"。故填With。
(3)for.考查介词。句意:在学校顾问的帮助下,他选择了一些适合自己的课程。be suitable for意为"对……来说合适"。故填for。
(4)why.考查定语从句。句意:他擅长英语,这就是他决定报高级文学的原因。分析可知,空处引导定语从句,先行词为reason,关系词代替它在从句中作原因状语,应用关系副词why。故填why。
(5)sign.考查不定式。句意:他擅长英语,这就是他决定报高级文学的原因。根据固定短语decide to do sth."决定做某事"可知,此处应用不定式作宾语,不定式符号to后接动词原形。故填sign。
(6)chose.考查时态。句意:除此之外Adam选了课外活动。结合上下文,陈述过去的事情,应用一般过去时。故填chose。
(7)to improve.考查不定式。句意:但是他已经下定决心提高(球技),这样他才能在明年入选球队。根据短语make up one's mind to do sth."下定决心做某事"可知,此处应用不定式。故填to improve。
(8)the.考查冠词。句意:但是他已经下定决心提高(球技),这样他才能在明年入选球队。此处特指学校的足球队,应用定冠词the。故填the。
(9)responsible.考查形容词。句意:Adam决定作为一个高中生要更加努力学习并对更多事情负起责任。此处应用形容词作表语,be responsible for"对......负责"。故填responsible。
(10)feeling.考查现在分词。句意:尽管有点担忧和焦虑,但他相信自己能跟上班里的同学们。分析可知,此处应用非谓语动词作状语,"他"和"感觉"之间是主动关系,用现在分词。故填feeling。
三、阅读理解
答案:1-4 BBAD
解析:1.推理判断题。根据文章第二段"Known as humblebragging, it is a boast(吹牛) disguised as a complaint. "I have too many houses. How can I decide which one to decorate " and "I thought I lost weight this morning. So disappointed when I realized it was because I took off the huge diamond ring my boyfriend gave me last night" are some examples of Versailles literature. The intention is to show off—usually things of materialistic values, yet one ought to pretend that's not the point.(这被称为谦虚自夸,是一种伪装成抱怨的自夸。"我的房子太多了。我怎么决定要装饰哪一个呢 "和"我以为今天早上我瘦了。"当我意识到是因为我把昨晚男朋友送给我的巨大钻石戒指摘下来的时候,我非常失望。"这些都是凡尔赛文学的例子。其目的是炫耀—通常是一些物质价值的东西,但人们应该假装这不是重点。)"可知,"凡尔赛文学"是指谦虚自夸,是一种伪装成抱怨的自夸,其目的是炫耀—通常是一些物质价值的东西。B项:(啊呀有五个人排着队想和我约会,我都不知道约哪个好)是教科书式的"凡尔赛文学"。故选B。
2.细节理解题。根据文章第三段"The psychology behind humblebragging is to be recognized for one's successes and be liked by others at the same time, according to scholars.(根据学者们的研究,谦虚自夸背后的心理是为了在获得成功的同时得到别人的认可和喜欢)"可知,谦虚自夸背后的心理是为了赢得别人的钦佩。故选B。
3.词句猜测题。根据上文"that humblebragging is a "strategy in pursuit of respect"(谦虚自夸是一种"追求尊重的策略")"可知,谦虚自夸是用自谦的方式来吹牛,是一种绕弯的方式。由此可推知,"because it draws attention to one's accomplishments in a circuitous way."意为"因为它以一种迂回的方式将人们的注意力吸引到一个人的成就上。",circuitous意为"迂回的"。A. roundabout迂回的; B. straightforward直接的; C. ambiguous模棱两可的; D. double-edged也有模棱两可的意思,还有双刃剑的(有利有弊的)意思。故选A。
4.推理判断题。注意题目问的是不能can't be inferred,定位到第四段"People don't like braggers, but they at least see them as more sincere than humblebraggers(人们不喜欢吹牛的人,但至少他们觉得这些人比谦虚自夸者更真诚。)"可知,A选项"吹牛的人要比谦虚自夸者更真诚"正确;第三段"nothing is more deceitful than the appearance of humility(没有什么比谦虚的外表更容易骗人的了)"对应B选项的"artificial appearance of being humble(谦虚的假象)";最后一段"So, how can we annoy humblebraggers back "Just pretend you don't get whatever it is they try to show off," a netizen advised. "And respond with genuine sympathy for their complaints."(那么,我们该如何回应这些谦虚的吹牛者呢 一位网友建议道:"他们想炫耀的是什么,你就假装什么都不懂吧。" "并对他们的抱怨报以真诚的同情。")"可知C项:(用真正的同情来回应会让谦虚的吹牛者泄气)正确;而文中没有提到如何被认可,所以D选项"如果你想被正面地看待,避免使用凡尔赛文学"从文中无法推出。故选D。
2