高考英语阅读理解一则

　　大家知道，学习英语就要学习英美文化、英美习俗等，同时，这也是高考英语阅读理解的一个重要方面。那么，你了解美国的文化吗？你知道其主要特点吗？读读本文吧，它会从一个侧面告诉你美国文化的特点是什么——

　　Who are these people rushing by you in the street? More than 215 million people now call America “home”, but most of them can trace their families back to other parts of the world. If you look at the names on shop windows, you will see that Americans come from many different lands. The idea that these people, who once were strangers to the United States, have lost the customs and cultures of their original countries and have become “American” is really not true. In fact, what exists in America is more often a kind of “side-by-side” living in which groups of people from other countries often have kept many of their customs and habits. They join the general American society only in certain areas of their lives—such as in schools, business, and sports—but they keep many of their own native customs and manners socially and at home. This living “side-by-side” has both advantages and disadvantages. Sometimes it may cause disagreements to develop between groups whose ways of life are very different from one another. however, there are also great advantages that come from the variety of cultures brought by settlers from other lands. There is great freedom of choice among ideas and dress, food, and social customs in America. Everyone can find some part of his or her familiar world in the United States, in churches, music, food, national groups, or newspapers.

　　1. More than 215 million people call America “home” because_______.

　　A. they buy their houses there              B. they settle there now

　　C. they get married there                     D. they were born there

　　2. “Side-by-side” living style means _______.

　　A. making friends with native people

　　B. keeping their own customs while sharing American ones in certain areas

　　C. the groups of people who live nearby

　　D. that they get closer to American society

　　3. according to the passage, people in the USA ________.

　　A. share American customs and culture

　　B. live in a kind of “side-by-side” society

　　C. keep their own customs and habits firmly

　　D. make no choice to accept American customs

　　4. Which of the following statements is true?

　　A. They always stick to their own customs and habits.

　　B. “Side-by-side” living style is not suitable.

　　C. They face the society they are not familiar with.

　　D. The advantages coming from the variety of cultures make life in America colorful.

　　5. Which title of the following can best take the place of “Different Cultures in America”?

　　A. Advantages and Disadvantages.

　　B. Different Customs and Habits.

　　C. Home for the People.

　　D. “Side-by-side” Living Style in America.

　　【答案与解析】美国文化的总体特点是兼容性强、包容性强、开放性强，许多人称美国文化为“熔炉文化”，本文从一个侧面证明了这一观点。

　　1. 选B。推理判断题。从however, there are also great advantages that come from the variety of cultures brought by setters from other lands可知以美国为家的人主要是已经定居在美国，即答案选B。

　　2. 选B。推理判断题。从They join the general American society only in certain areas of their lives—such as in schools, business, and sports—but they keep many of their own native customs and manners socially and at home. This living “side-by side” has both advantages and disadvantages (他们在某些方面融入美国社会，但他们同时也保留自己民族的文化和风俗)可知答案B正确。

　　3. 选B。事实细节题。从In fact, what exists in America is more often a kind of “side-by-side” living in which groups of people from other countries often have kept many of their customs and habits可知答案B正确。

　　4. 选D。推理判断题。从文章最后对多种文化并存优点的分析，可推知这种局面使生活在那里的异国人可以自由选择生活方式，使生活丰富有色彩，故答案选D。

　　5. 选D。主旨大意题。文章主要讲了美国多种文化并存的原因及优缺点，故最佳标题为D。