《考博英语阅读理解150篇详解》(其他类 作品介绍)【圣才出品】

Passage16作品介绍

Nathaniel Hawthorne’s writings are noteworthy for their perceptive exploration of the hidden motivations behind the puritan American heritage.Like many authors of his time,he faced great difficulties making a living,as his writings were not financially lucrative.In part,his financial status within the community significantly contributed towards the underlying message in his works.The powerful influence of the religious community in economic affairs of the day ordained that most respected and highly compensated callings were those that demonstrated strict physical discipline.As fiction writing did not fit within those guidelines,the young author found himself tom between the contrary needs of his family and those of his artistic aspirations.The resulting tensions are played out in the themes of his stories.

In the sense that his writings described the subtle motivations behind human behavior as guilt and anxiety resulting from the sins perpetrated against humanity, he adhered to the same morals as his Puritan predecessor.He differed from them in that he saw the potential consequences of all decisions resulting in either the chance possibility of regeneration or some form of humiliating punishment.This element of ambiguity in his works ran directly counter to the thoughts of his fundamentalist contemporaries who believed that all actions,and their consequences,were predetermined.

As he chose an allegorical style,his short stories were often situated in fantastic

settings with unlikely characters.It was not unusual for Satan to appear in his narrative disguised in a human form but possessing some defining characteristic such as cloven hooves and a tail.What marks these tales as unique to the author’s position is their suggestion that there may be contradictory meanings behind the actions of figures which initially appear to be cast in transparent roles.

His classic novel,The Scarlet Letter（1850）,concerned a case of adultery in Puritan community.The heroine,Hester Prynne,stands accused of the crime,but refuses to reveal the identity of her partner.The moral ambivalence inherent in the plot of the work is representative of the themes found throughout Hawthorne’s writing.

1.It can be inferred that the most powerful force in the social life of Hawthorne’s time was______.

A.literature

B.religion

C.money

D.tension

2.According to the passage,in what way were Hawthorne’s beliefs similar to those of the Puritans?

A.They allowed for moral ambiguities.

B.They saw all actions as predetermined.

C.They attributed guilt to regeneration.

D.They saw motivations arising from guilt.

3.The word“perpetrate”（in line2,Para.2）could best be replaced by______.

A.fought

https://www.sodocs.net/doc/a211723153.html,mitted

C.advocated

D.created

4.According to the passage,the themes found in The Scarlet Letter are______.

A.found in many examples of Hawthorne’s works

B.the key to solve its mystery

https://www.sodocs.net/doc/a211723153.html,mon among Hawthorne’s contemporaries

D.unique to the novel

5.What does this passage mainly discuss?

A.The writing of Nathaniel Hawthorne.

B.The life of Nathaniel Hawthorne.

C.The classic novel written by Nathaniel Hawthorne.

D.The relationship between Hawthorne and Puritanism.

【答案与解析】

1.B第一段句意为：社会宗教对当时经济事务影响很大，决定了最受尊敬和报酬最高的职

业是那些必须严格克己的职业。

2.D文章第二段第一句指出Hawthorne’s的作品里提到违背人性的犯罪的微小动机是由

guilt and anxiety导致的，他和his Puritan predecessor坚持的是the same morals，D项正确。

3.B根据该词上下文可推断。“perpetrate”意为“犯罪，作坏事”。

4.A文章最后一句指出，与《红字》类似的主题可在Hawthorne的其他作品中找到。

5.A文章主要谈论Hawthorne的作品，并未过多谈及选项B、C与D所提及的各方面。