A Book Review—The Snake-Stone by Berlie Doherty
The setting: Urban England (the cities), but also rural England (the countryside) including remote English villages．
The theme: The main theme is a teenage research of self-discovery, in this case the search for a mother from whom the hero was separated at an early age．Its other concerns are love, getting on with others, being persistent and courageous and trying to deal with doubts, troubles and worries．As the book moves to a close, James’ swimming coach says to him: “You are not like a kid obeying instructions any more．You are diving like a young man who knows where he is going．”
The characters: James is the hero of the story．He is a championship diver, and has a comfortable life with his foster parents (养父母)．Yet he also has the qualities to take him on a long journey to find his birth mother．The other characters in The Snake-Stone, James’ parents, his diving instructor, best friend, the villagers, people he meets on his journey, are pictured realistically．
The turning point: The turning point in the story comes while James’ foster parents are away in London, and he wonders about the identity of his birth mother．The only clue he has is a fossil, “the snake stone” which she left behind along with a note on which she had written: “Take good care of Sammie．It was written on a torn envelope with parts of an address still there．
The journey: Instead of going to London, James decides to find his birth mother．With help from his geography teacher, James sets out for the remote country village where his mother might be found．James has painful, challenging, but also humorous and happy travels．The mother he finally meets, Anne, has a minor yet powerful voice in the novel．He comes to understand why she left him at a stranger’s door fifteen years before．Although the meeting is not long, it leaves him with a feeling of completeness．As a journey of self-discovery The Snake-Stone also provides its readers with a happy ending．Its hero says, on returning to his foster parents, “I was home．”
1.What is the main theme of the novel?
|
A．A journey of self-discovery． |
|
B．Life in the world of diving． |
|
C．Life with foster parents． |
|
D．A travel around the country． |
2. What do the coach’s words in Paragraph 2 suggest?
|
A．James is a successful diver． |
|
B．James is an independent young man． |
|
C．James is an outgoing young man． |
|
D．James is a hopeful swimmer． |
3. The snake stone in the novel is ．
|
A．a stone with an address on it |
|
B．a gift from the swimming coach |
|
C．a clue left by the birth mother |
|
D．a fossil left by the foster parents |
4.Which of the following is true about the novel?
|
A．The story has a sad ending． |
|
B．The story takes place in the city of London． |
|
C．The characters are vividly described． |
|
D．The turning point comes after the hero meets his birth mother． |
5.It can be concluded that James’ journey is _________．
|
A．disappointing |
B．boring |
|
C．comfortable |
D．worthwhile |
1.A
2.B
3.C
4.C
5.D
【解析】
试题分析：
1.A主旨题。题目中的关键词theme对应文章当中的第二段的第一句?The main theme is a teenage search of self-discovery。所以答案选A。
2.B句义理解。you are not like a kid obeying instruction any more. You are diving like a young man who knows where he is going.你并不再像个服从命令的小孩了?你现在是一个知道何去何从的男人。一般而言?句子的理解一定是从现象到本质?所以最表面的理解通常是错误的?故排除A,D选项。C是说他是一个外向的年轻男人?并未提及他的性格?故选择B?他是一个独立的男人
3.细节理解?用snake stone定位。可以看到两句话?第三段?The other characters in The Snack –Stone, James’s parents, his diving instructor, best friend, the villagers, people he meets on his journey, are pictured realistically.这句话对解题并没有用处。就再看到第四段的?The only clue he has is a fossil, ―the snake stone‖ which she left behind along with a note on which she had written, ―Take good care of Sammie.‖他拥有的唯一的一个线索就是一个化石---她所留下来的―the snake stone‖并且伴随着一张纸条?上面写着―照顾好Sammie‖。故选择C.—一个由他的亲生母亲留下来的线索。
4.细节判断题。这个故事有一个悲伤的结尾。?错误原因?文章第五段说The Snake-Stone also provides its readers with a happy ending. The Snake-Stone给读者提供了一个开心的结尾??B?这个故事发生在伦敦。?错误原因?文章第四段?Instead of going to London, James decides to find his birth mother.而不是去伦敦?James决定去找他的亲生母亲??C?角色都被生动的描述。?正确原因?文章第三段?The other characters in The Snack –Stone, James’s parents, his diving instructor, best friend, the villagers, people he meets on his journey, are pictured realistically.在The Snack –Stone,当中的其他角色?James的父母?他的潜水老师?最好的朋友?村民们?在他旅途当中遇见的人?都被描述的很真实。vividly described.对应着pictured realistically.??D?故事的转折点发生在英雄遇见自己亲生母亲之后。?错误原因?文章中第四段?The turning point in the story comes while James’ foster parents are away in London, and he wonders about the identity of his birth mother.在故事中的转折点发生在James的养父母离开在伦敦的时候?他很想知道他亲生母亲的身份C
5.归纳题。通过文章的最后一段Although the meeting is not long, it leaves him with a feeling of completeness. As a journey of self-discovery The Snake-Stone also provides its readers with a happy ending.可以得知?形容这个旅程的词一定不是负面的。所以排除A和B。剩下D有价值的?值得做的,和C舒适的。但由于James has painful, challenging, but also humorous, and happy travels.这句话当中说到了painful?也就意味着这一定不是舒适的。故选D
考点：考查一个书评?
点评：这篇书评的每段的内容都很明确?做题时要注意每段粗体开头的提示。以细节题的考查为主， 解此类题需要结合上下文提供的语境和信息进行简单的概括和判断。
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