SAT是标准化考试,考生需要基于大量的正确题目的解法来构建良好的SAT“语感”,使得自己能够快速解读考试中的信息。
This passage is from Lydia Minatoya, The strangeness of Beauty. ○ c 1999 by Lydia Minatoya. The Setting is
Japan in 1920. Chie and her daughter Naomi are members of the House of Fuji, a noble family.Akira came directly, breaking all tradition. Was that it? Had he followed form—had he asked his mother to speak to his father to approach a go-between—would Chie have been more receptive?
He came on a winter’s eve. He pounded on the door while a cold rain beat on the shuttered veranda, so at first Chie thought him only the wind. The maid knew better. Chie heard her soft scuttling footsteps, the creak of the door. Then the maid brought a calling card to the drawing room, for Chie.
Chie was reluctant to go to her guest; perhaps she was feeling too cozy. She and Naomi were reading at a low table set atop a charcoal brazier. A thick quilt spread over the sides of the table so their eggs were tucked inside with the heat.
“Who is it at this hour, in this weather?” Chie questioned as she picked the name card off
the maid’s lacquer tray.
“Shinoda, Akira ,Kobe Dental College;”She read.
Naomi recognized the name. Chie heard a soft intake of air.
“I think you should go,” said Naomi.
Akira was waiting in the entry. He was in his early twenties, slim and serious, wearing the
black military-style uniform of a student. As he bowed-his hands hanging straight down, a black cap in one, a yellow oil-paper umbrella in the other-Chie glanced beyond him. In the glistening
surface of the courtyard’s rain-drenched paving stones, she saw his reflection like a dark double.
“Madame,” said Akira, “forgive my disruption, but I come with a matter of urgency.”
His voice was soft, refined. He straightened and stole a deferential peek at her face.
In the dim light his eyes shone with sincerity. Chie felt herself starting to like him.
“Come inside, get out of this nasty night. Surely your business can wait for a moment or
two.”
“I don’t want to trouble you. Normally I would approach you more properly but I’ve received
word of a position. I’ve an opportunity to go to America, as dentist for Seattle’s Japanese
community.”
“Congratulations,” Chie said with amusement. “That is an opportunity, I am sure. But how
am I involved?”
Even noting Naomi’s breathless reaction to the name card, Chie had no idea. Akira’s message, delivered a formal speech, filled her with maternal amusement. You know how children
speak so earnestly, so hurriedly, so endearingly about things that have no importance in an adult’s mind? That’s how she viewed him, as a child.
It was how she viewed Naomi. Even though Naomi was eighteen and training endlessly in the arts needed to make a good marriage, Chile had made no effort to find her a husband.
Akira blushed.
“Depending on your response, I may stay in Japan. I’ve come to ask for Naomi’s hand.”
Suddenly Chie felt the dampness of the night. “Does Naomi know anything of your….ambitions?”
“We have an understanding. Please don’t judge my candidacy by the unseemliness of this proposal. I ask directly because the use of a go-between takes much time. Either method comes down to the same thing: a matter of parental approval. If you give your consent, I become Naomi’s Yoshi. We’ll live in the House of Fuji. Without your consent, I must go to America, to secure a new home for my bride.”
Eager to make his point, he’d been looking her full in the face. Abruptly, his voice turned gentle. “I see I’ve startled you. My humble apologies, I’ll take no more of your evening. My address is on my card. If you don’t wish to contact me, I’ ll reapproach you in two week’s time.
Until then, good night.”
He bowed and left. Taking her ease, with effortless grace, like a cat making off with a fish.
“Mother?” Chie heard Naomi’s low voice and turned from the door. “He has asked you?”
The sight of Naomi’s clear eyes, her dark brows gave Chie strength. Maybe his hopes were preposterous.
“Where did you meet such a fellow? Imagine! He thinks he can marry the Fuji heir and take her to America all in the snap of his fingers!”
Chie waited for Naomi’s ripe laughter.
Naomi was silent. She stood a full half-minute looking straight into Chie’s eyes. Finally, she
spoke. “I met him at my literary meeting.”
Naomi turned to go back into the house, then stopped.
“Mother.”
“Yes?”
“I meant to have him.”
*A man who marries a woman of higher status and higher status and takes her family’s name
1. Which choice best describes what happens in the passage?
(A) One character argues with another character who intrudes on her home.
(B) One character receives a surprising request from another character.
(C) One character reminisces about choices she has made over the years.
(D)One character criticizes another character for pursuing an unexpected course of action.
正确答案:B
分析:文章讲述的是一个青年男子(Akira)喜欢上女孩(Naomi),于是向她的妈妈(Chie)请求将女儿嫁给他。这个请求让 Chie 感觉到很意外,因为从 30 行的 had no idea 可以看出,Chie 丝毫没有意识到这样的请求会发生。
2. Which choice best describes the developmental pattern of the passages?
(A) A careful analysis of a traditional practice
(B) A detailed depiction of a meaningful encounter
(C) A definitive response to a serious of questions
(D) A cheerful recounting of an amusing anecdote
正确答案:B
分析:文章聚焦于一个寒冷的晚上,年轻男子 Akira 到 Chie 家,希望能获得 Chie 的同意:将女儿嫁给自己。在整篇文章中,包含了背景环境描写(例如 winter’ eve和 cold rain ) 、人物描写(例如 Akira’s “soft, refined ” voice)和大量的情节描写。
3. As used in line 1 and line 41 , “directly” most nearly means
(A) frankly
(B) confidently
(C) without mediation
(D) with precision
正确答案:C
分析: “directly”本意是直接地。文章中,年轻男子 Akira 没有用任何的中间人或媒人,自己直接去找 Chie 提亲;这正是 C选项“没有调解人” (without mediation)的意思。C选项中mediation的意思是“调解” 。
4. Which reaction does Akira most fear from Chie?
(A) She will consider his proposal inappropriate
(B) She will mistake his earnestness for immaturity
(C) She will consider his unscheduled visit an imposition
(D) She will underestimate the sincerity of his emotions
正确答案:A
分析:因为 Akira 没有按照传统惯例使用媒人,因此他担心自己的行为会让对方感觉到不适。这种情绪在文章 63 行可以看到,Akira 对 Chie 说:Please don’t judge my candidacy by the unseemliness of this proposal,意为:请不要因为我这项提议的唐突而否决掉我成为您女婿的可能性。
5.Which choice provides the best evidence for the answer to the previous question?
(A) Line 21 (“His voice …refined”)
(B) Line 31-33 (“You …mind”)
(C) Line 40-41(“Please…proposal”)
(D) Line 45 (“Eager…face”)
正确答案:C
分析:见第 4 题分析内容。
6. In the passage, Akira addresses Chie with
(A) affection but not genuine love.
(B) objectivity but not complete impartiality.
(C) amusement but not mocking disparagement
(D) respect but not utter deference
正确答案:D
分析:根据文章描述,Akira 见到 Chile 后,对 Chile 先鞠躬(17 行的 bow),然后尊称其为夫人(20 行的 madame),还用尊重的眼神看着他(21 行的 deferential peek)这些行为举止都能体现出 Akira 对 Chie 是很尊重的。另一方面,Akira 在这整个请求过程中,表现出很坚定的决心,也说明他不是完全顺从。因为 D 选项中有 not utter deference,这似乎与 21 行的deferential peek 矛盾,但是大家要注意到 utter 就知道这不矛盾,希望各位同学能通过这道题研究 CB 的出题方式。
7. The main purpose of the first paragraph is to
(A) describe a culture
(B) criticize a tradition
(C) question a suggestion
(D) analyze a reaction
正确答案:D
分析:文章第一个段落一共 3 句话。第一句话说 Akira打破了传统来找 Chie,第二句话和第三句话是问句,假设 Akira如果遵循传统,那么 Chie 会不会更容易接受一些呢?这明显是对于 Chie 可能出现的反应的一种猜测和分析。
8. As used in line 2, “form” most nearly means
(A) appearance
(B) custom
(C) structure
(D) nature
正确答案:B
分析:按照我们之前的分析,follow form 是“遵循传统,遵循风俗习惯”的意思。
9. Why does Akira say his meeting with Chie is “a matter of urgency”(line 32)?
(A) He fears that his own parents will disapprove of Naomi.
(B) He worries that Naomi will reject him and marry someone else.
(C) He has been offered an attractive job in another country.
(D) He knows that Chie is unaware of his feeling for Naomi.
正确答案:C
分析: 文章当中, Akira解释他匆忙前来提前的原因是: 因为他收到一个去美国工作的 offer,他是否接受这个工作取决于他能否和 Naomi 结婚,因此他才很匆忙的没有使用任何媒人来直接征求 Chie 意见。因为使用媒人的话可能会耽误时间。
10. Which choice provides the best evidence for the answer to the previous question?
(A) Line 25(“I don’t …you”)
(B) Line 25-27(“Normally…community”)
(C) Line 37(“Depending …Japan”)
(D) Line 46(“I see…you”)
正确答案:B
分析:见第 9 题分析内容