A
Little Women is the best-known work of author Louisa May Alcott. Published after the end of the Civil War, the book is about the lives of the author and her sisters. Although it was her most successful work, it was not her first.
Alcott began writing at the age of 20, when she published her poem “Sunlight”. Throughout her early career, she wrote many poems and short stories for magazines. At the age of 22, she began to write fairy tales, romantic thrillers, and other novels, mostly to earn money. At a time when few opportunities were open to women, Alcott supported women’s right to work. With her small income, she had long provided for her family.
When the Civil War broke out, Alcott, at the age of 30, joined the war effort to fight against slavery. She had originally wished to serve as a soldier. However, women were not allowed in battle at that time. As a result, she became a Civil War nurse. Alcott’s work as a nurse served as a milestone (里程碑) in her writing career.
In December of 1862, she left New England to work in the Union Hotel Hospital in Washington, DC. There were few supplies, and doctors performed operations without painkillers. The conditions for patients and doctors were terrible. Within a few weeks, Alcott herself became so ill that she nearly died. She returned home and recovered slowly over a period of months.
As soon as her health improved, Alcott started a new project. The letters she had sent home became the basis of a newspaper series about her experience as a Civil War nurse. She wrote about her tasks, the wounded soldiers she looked after, and the difficulties they faced. The series, Hospital Sketches, was a success, which received praise from readers and critics (评论家) at the same time. Although her best-known work was yet to come, the success of Hospital Sketches marked the achievement of her dream to become a popular author.
【文章大意】这是一篇人物传记。短文介绍了作家路易莎·梅·奥尔科特的个人经历, 这些经历为她在写作事业上的成功奠定了基础。
21. In her early 20s, Alcott wrote mostly to ______.
A. make money to support her family
B. fight against slavery
C. remember her experiences in the war
D. set up a milestone in her career
【解析】选A。细节理解题。由第二段“At the age of 22, she began to write fairy tales, romantic thrillers, and other novels, mostly to earn money”可知, 22岁时, 她开始写童话、浪漫惊悚小说和其他小说, 主要是为了赚钱。所以在她20岁出头的时候, 奥尔科特写作主要是为了养家糊口。
22. Why was Alcott’s experience as a nurse important to her writing?
A. Because she saved many wounded soldiers.
B. Because she almost lost her life in the hospital.
C. Because she won the right to fight against slavery.
D. Because she got many materials for her later books.
【解析】选D。细节理解题。由最后一段“She wrote about her tasks, the wounded soldiers she looked after, and the difficulties they faced. The series, Hospital Sketches, was a success, which received praise from readers and critics at the same time. Although her best-known work was yet to come, the success of Hospital Sketches marked the achievement of her dream to become a popular author. ”可知, 她写下了她的任务, 她照顾的受伤士兵, 以及他们面临的困难。《医院速写》获得了成功, 同时得到了读者和评论家的好评。尽管她最著名的作品还没有问世, 但《医院速写》的成功标志着她成为一名受欢迎作家的梦想实现了。所以作为一名战地护士的经历, 为她后期作品的创作积累了重要的素材, 才使得《医院速写》获得了成功。故奥尔科特当护士的经历对她的写作很重要是因为这让她为以后所写的书积累了很多的素材。
23. What can we know about Alcott from the last two paragraphs?
A. Her hospital was well equipped.
B. She didn’t return to the hospital after recovery.
C. She wrote letters for a newspaper.
D. No one thought badly of her Hospital Sketches.
【解析】选B。推理判断题。由倒数第二段“She returned home and recovered slowly over a period of months. ”以及最后一段“As soon as her health improved, Alcott started a new project. The letters she had sent home became the basis of a newspaper series about her experience as a Civil War nurse. She wrote about her tasks, the wounded soldiers she looked after, and the difficulties they faced. ”可知, 她回到家里, 经过几个月的时间, 慢慢恢复了健康。奥尔科特的健康一好转, 她就开始了一项新的计划。她寄回家的信成为报纸上一系列关于她作为内战护士经历的报道的基础。她写下了她的任务, 她照顾的受伤士兵, 以及他们面临的困难。所以奥尔科特在恢复健康之后从事了写作, 并没有回到战地医院。
