第1单元本杰明•富兰克林1.Why did Franklin write his Autobiography?Key:Because that when he was young,he has“never had a pleasure in obtaining any anecdotes”of his ancestors,and he held that it was a great pity because he was curious about them.So,he thought that his son would also want to know the story of him and he himself also had responsibility to share it with his son.In addition,he thought that his experiences and success would give some useful advice to his son.With such consideration in mind,Franklin wrote his autobiography.2.what made Franklin decide to leave the brother to whom he had been apprenticed?Key:The altercation between Franklin and his brother made him decide to leave. His brother considered himself as Franklin’s master and treated him harshly and tyrannically.This kind of treatment annoyed Franklin,so he decided to leave.3.How did he arrive in Philadelphia?Key:He arrived in Philadelphia with great difficulties.At the very start,he set out in a boat for Amboy,and in crossing the bay he,along with his companions,met with a squall that tore the rotten sails to pieces and drove him upon Long Island. On approaching the island,they had to drop anchor and swim out their cabletowards the shore,etc.In a word,he went through many hardships on the way to Philadelphia.4.What features do you find in the style of the above selection?Key:This selection is written in the form of letters to his son.By this way,it can show the author’s honesty and frankness,which will make the reader stand close to him and actually feel and understand his emotions and experiences.Another feature is that this biography has a good narrative and reads like a story,which can arouse the readers’reading interest and curiosity.第2单元埃德加•爱伦•坡1.Who is the narrator?What wrong does he want to redress?Key:Montresor is the narrator.He had borne thousands of injuries of Fortunato as best he could,and he decides to take revenge on him.He must not only punish Fortunato but with impunity.2.What is the pretext he uses to lure Fortunato to his wine cellar?Key:He said to Fortunato that he got a pipe of Amontillado,and he was doubt about it,so he wanted someone to make sure for him.At the same time,he deliberately showed his doubts about Fortunato’s connoisseurship in wine and cared about his health,which firmed Fortunato’s decision to go with him to his wine cellar.3.What happens to Fortunato in the end?Key:He was locked in the cellar by Montresor,and can only wait for death.4.Describe briefly how Poe characterizes Montresor and Forcunato as contrasts？Key:Poe characterizes the two characters with striking contrasts between them in many aspects.Firstly,their names are endowed with opposite symbolic meanings: Montresor symbolizes“monstrous”,while Fortunato symbolizes“fortunate”. Montresor is the devil in the story,and Fortunato is fortunate through his life andmakes great fortune,but finally,he ends in a very unfortunate way,which is very ironical.Secondly,their clothes are very different:Fotrtunato“wore motley”, while Montresor put on“a mask of black silk”and drew“a roquelaire”closely about his st,their psychological activities and consciousness are in contrast:Montresor knows clearly what is going on and what will happen,while Fortunato is always kept in the dark till the end.第3单元拉尔夫•华尔多•爱默生1.What is the author’s attitude towards charity?Why does he hold such an attitude?Key:The author thinks that not all charity is good,especially when malice and vanity wear the coat of philanthropy.And it is not his obligation to give money to the poor.What’s more,he feels shameful when sometimes he succumbs and gives the dollar,and it is a wicked dollar.He objects to the charity.Because he thinks that people’s good actions,such as doing charity,are done as an apology or extenuation of their living in the world.However,he holds that people should not wish to expiate,but to live.2.According to the author,what do most people believe to be virtue?And what is real virtue?Key:Most people believe that virtues are rather the exception than the rule,and they are penances.The real virtue is the rule that people must do what concerns them rather than what the people think.3.Why does the author dislike“consistency”?Do you agree with him?Do you think that people should give up consistency?Key:Because that consistency scares us from self-trust,and makes us less confident.It also makes us have a reverence for our past act or word because theeyes of others have no other data for computing our orbit than our past acts,and we are loath to disappoint them.What’s more,a foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds,adored by little statesmen and philosophers and divines.And with consistency a great soul has simply nothing to do.It will ruin a man’s creativity.I cannot totally agree with him.Although I confess that there are some positive meanings in his proposal,I cannot neglect the positive aspects of consistency.Because that we sometimes need consistency to restrict people’s behaviors.For example,nature has its own law that we must follow,or we will violate the order of it.In my mind,whether people should give up consistency or not depends on the specific situation.That is,Keeping it firmly or giving it up is not wise choice. We should treat it case-by-case.4.What is the agreement of one’s actions?Why is it important for people? Key:The agreement of one’s actions is that the actions will be harmonious,no matter how unlike they seem.Because only with this agreement,can people be each honest and natural in their hour.Conformity explains nothing,and people’s genuine action will explain itself and their other genuine actions.So,it is important for people.。