Question

IT is safe to say that George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950), the Irish-born writer, is more famous for being George Bernard Shaw than he is for his writings today. Few of Shaw’s more than 60 plays, novels and essays are performed or read anymore. And yet Shaw genuinely helped make our modern world. Although you’d be lucky to get a chance to see one of his dramas today, in his time he turned the theater into a vehicle for the discussion of social issues, not only in Britain but on the stage of the world. In a way Shaw was someone who created the modern culture of Britain.

Where the theater had been dominated by entertainment, Shaw used it to teach people the importance of paying attention to the issues of their day. The plight (苦难) of the poor and the working class, the situation of women and the institutions of society, such as the education system ---- Shaw was among the most well-known figures making these topics central to public debate. His first play, Widowers’ Houses (1892), deals with the question of slum (贫民窟) housing. His Mrs Warren’s Profession (1893) brought a controversial topic to the stage.
Shaw was an important mover and shaker in new political movements too. He was an early member of the Fabian Society, which argued for the socialist cause in the UK. Shaw was also the founder (in 1895) of one of the now most famous colleges in the world, the London School of Economics.
If few of his works have really stood the test of time, many of his quotations have become part of the furniture of the English language. “Youth is wasted on the young,” he wrote. He also knew how to sum up a political philosophy(哲学) in a few memorable words. For instance: “A government that robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend on the support of Paul.”
小题1: Shaw’s influence on the modern world comes mainly from ______.

A．the changes he brought to the British culture

B．his philosophies on the role of government

C．his awareness of social problems of his day

D．the support for the London School of Economics

小题2: Widowers’ Houses is a play that mainly focuses on ______.

A．the failure of the UK education system

B．the housing problems of poor people

C．robbery incidents in slum areas

D．socialist movements in the UK

小题3: By describing Shaw’s quotations as “part of the furniture of the English language”, the author means that Shaw’s words ______.

A．have become the best part of English

B．have greatly developed the English language

C．have made the English language philosophical

D．have become an inseparable part of the English language

小题4: Which of the following about George Bernard Shaw’s works is TRUE?

A．They should be adapted for modern readers.

B．They are mostly about the lives of working class.

C．They deal with important social issues of their day.

D．Most of them are still performed on the stage of the world today.

Answer 1

小题1:A
小题2:B
小题3:D
小题4:C

本文介绍了英国著名的George Bernard Shaw以及他对英国文化的影响，提到了他的作品对英国文化影响以及他的作品的特点。
小题1:A
【试题解析】推理题。根据文章第一段最后一句In a way Shaw was someone who created the modern culture of Britain.可知他最大的影响是对英国现代文化的影响。故A正确。
小题2:B
【试题解析】细节题。根据文章第二段倒数第二句His first play, Widowers’ Houses (1892), deals with the question of slum (贫民窟) housing.可知这边书是为了反映贫民窟里的住房问题的。故B正确。
小题3:D
【试题解析】推理题。根据本句If few of his works have really stood the test of time, many of his quotations have become part of the furniture of the English language. “Youth is wasted on the young,” he wrote.可知如果他的作品没有能够经历时间的挑战，但是他时候的一些话已经成为英语当中的一部分了。仍然在说明他对英国文化的影响。故D正确。
小题4:C
【试题解析】推理题。根据第二段1,2行Where the theater had been dominated by entertainment, Shaw used it to teach people the importance of paying attention to the issues of their day.可知他的作品通常教育人们要注意所在年代的一些重大事件。也就是是关于他那个年代的重要的社会问题。故C正确。
【长难句解析】
He was an early member of the Fabian Society, which argued for the socialist cause in the UK.
【翻译】他是早期费边社的成员，这个组织是支持英国的社会事业。
【分析】本句中有一个which引导的非限制性定语从句which argued for the socialist cause in the UK，which指代先行词the Fabian Society在定语从句中做主语，不能省略。也不能用that来代替。