Beatrix Potter was a great English writer and artist, best known for her children’s books featuring animal characters such as in the children’s classic -- The Tale of Peter Rabbit.
Beatrix was born into a rich London-based family where she was tutored by very strict private teachers and so spent her youth isolated from other youngsters.
During her youth she had a lot of pets and spent vacations in Scotland and also the Lake District. It was at the Lake District that she developed a love of wildlife. She studied the area’s natural wonders carefully and painted them continuously. But her old-fashioned, Manchester-born parents discouraged her intellectual improvement, thinking it inappropriate for a young lady. However, her study and watercolour paintings of wild mushrooms made her widely respected within the field of biology.
In her 30’s, Beatrix Potter wrote the remarkably successful kid’s book, The Tale of Pew Rabbit. Close to that time she became secretly engaged to her publisher Norman Warne. This caused a great disagreement with her parents, who did not approve of Beatrix getting married to somebody of lower social status. Sadly, Warne died before the marriage ceremony.
Ultimately Beatrix Potter began writing and also illustrating (绘图) kid’s books full-time. Using profits from her books, Beatrix grew to bee economically independent of her parents and was eventually in a position to buy Hill Top Farm in the Lake District. She extended the property with additional purchases of neighbouring land over time. In her 40’s, Bestrix married William Heelis, a local lawyer. She ended up being a sheep breeder and farmer while continuing to publish as well as illustrate books for children. In all she authored 23 publications.
Beatrix died on December 22, 1943, and left the majority of her property to the National Trust. Her books carry on selling well globally, in many different languages. Her stories have been retold in numerous formats including a ballet, movies, and cartoons.
Such is her reputation, and that of the characters from her publications, that many Beatrix Potter statues have been created. These tiny Beatrix Potter statues which include pretty much all the actual characters in her publications have bee highly valued by art collects and fans of her literature throughout the world.
【小题1】 What can we learn about Beatrix Potter’s early life?A．She learned drawing skills from her tutors.B．She was very sociable and outgoing.C．She was greatly inspired by the beauty of nature.D．She was encouraged to think creatively and independently.【小题2】Why did Beatrix Potter’s parents oppose the idea of her marriage to Norman Warne?A．They did not believe she was mature enough to get married.B．They thought Warne was only interested in Beatrix Potter’s wealth.C．They believed that the couple’s characters were mismatched.D．They considered Warne to be too mon for their daughter.【小题3】According to the passage, which part of the UK did Beatrix Potter love most?A．Manchester.B．Scotland.C．The Lake District.D．London.【小题4】In which of the following areas did Beatrix Potter show an interest during her life?A．Writing, biology, farming.B．Drawing, nature, ballet.C．Movies, farming, drawing.D．Writing, mushrooms, travel.【小题5】What is the function of the last two paragraphs of the passage?A．To describe the consequences of Beatrix Potter’s death.B．To present the lasting cultural influence of Beatrix Potter and her works..C．To show the changes in attitude towards Beatrix Potter’s works over the past years.D．To criticize the mercialization of Beatrix Potter’s characters since her death.C
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(答案→)C
解析：
【小题1】细节题：从第三段的During her youth she had a lot of pets and spent vacations in Scotland and also the Lake District. It was at the Lake District that she developed a love of wildlife. She studied the area’s natural wonders carefully and painted them continuously. 说明她被自然的美丽激励了。C
【小题2】推理题：从第四段的This caused a great disagreement with her parents, who did not approve of Beatrix getting married to somebody of lower social status.说明父母不愿意让她嫁给地位比她低的人，也就是：他们认为Warne太普通了配不上他们的女儿。故选D。
【小题3】细节题：从第五段的was eventually in a position to buy Hill Top Farm in the Lake District.看出她最喜欢的是在Lake District.的生活。C项正确。
【小题4】归纳题：从第一句话Beatrix Potter was a great English writer and artist 看出她在写作上的兴趣，第三段的her study and watercolour paintings of wild mushrooms made her widely respected within the field of biology.看出她在生物学方面的兴趣。从第五段She ended up being a sheep breeder and farmer看出她对农业的兴趣。A正确。
【小题5】主旨题：从最后两段的内容，特别是最后一段的These tiny Beatrix Potter statues which include pretty much all the actual characters in her publications have bee highly valued by art collects and fans of her literature throughout the world.看出她深远的文化影响。B正确。