9．Charles Dickens is often thought of as one of the greatest British writers．February 7marked the 200th anniversary of his birthday．Yet for many，his language is old-fashioned and his stories often improbable．Then why do so many people know and read Dickens today？
One reason is the British government's insistence that every child study a Dickens novel at school．Alongside William Shakespeare，Dickens is on every English literature school reading list．
His stories，though often long by today's standards，are great moral tales．They are filled with colorful characters．
Earlier this month，a ceremony was held in Portsmouth，where Dickens was born．Prince Charles said at the ceremony："…（Dickens） used his creative talents to campaign passionately for social justice…His characterization is as fresh today as on the day it was written．"
His books stand out from many other writers because of his insight （洞察力） into human nature．Dickens，like Shakespeare，tells us truths about human behaviour．They are as true in the 2Is1century as they were to his readers in the 19th century．
Readers have returned to Dickens'books again and again over the years to see what he has to say about their own times．
No surprise then that it was Dickens whom Britons turned to during the economic crisis in the last couple of years．Dickens helped them make sense of a world that was rapidly falling apart．The BBC adapted one of his less well-known novels，Little Dorrit，into a popular television drama that introduced many Brits to the novel for the first time．A dark story about greed and money，it was the perfect illustration of bad times．
As long as Dickens'novels have something to say to modern audiences，it seems likely that he will remain one of Britain's best-loved writers．
56．In the article，the author intends to tell usA．
A．why Dickens'novels still appeal to readers in modern times
B．that Dickens'works are no longer popular among young people
C．why the British government puts Dickens on school reading lists
D．that Dickens and Shakespeare's works are required for study at school
57．In Britain，people still read Dickens because ofB．
a）romance in his books
b）moral value in his books
c）his colorful characters
d）his insight into human nature
e）government education requirement
f）his description of the current economic crisis
A．a(chǎn)bdf B．bcde C．bdef D．a(chǎn)bed
58．We can infer from the article thatB．
A．it's better to read Dickens in time of difficulty
B．Dickens was a great social observer of his time
C．human nature seems worse during bad times
D．Dickens predicted economic crisis would happen
59．Which of the following statements is TRUE？
A．Dickens'novels are still of realistic significance to today's world．A
B．Dickens'novels are of greater value during economic crisis．
C．Dickens'works have gained more popularity than Shakespeare's．
D．Some of Dickens'less well-known novels have been discovered recently．
分析 本文是一篇議論文，主要講述的是狄更斯被認為最偉大的英國作家之一，狄更斯是一個敏銳的社會觀察家，他的作品洞察人性，作品針對現(xiàn)代社會具有很強的現(xiàn)實意義．現(xiàn)在有很多人了解和閱讀狄更斯的作品．
解答 56．A 推理判斷題．該題可從文章第一段最后一句話"Then why do so many people know and read Dickens today"可看出，文章主要介紹了為什么現(xiàn)在還有很多人了解和閱讀狄更斯的作品．故A項正確．
57．B 細節(jié)理解題．根據(jù)文章第二段中的"One reason is the British government's insistence that every child studies a Dickens novel at school．"，"His stories，though often long by today's standards，are great moral tales．"和"They are filled with colorful characters．"及第四段中的"His books stand out from many other writers because of his insight into human nature．"可知，b，c，d，e是人們?nèi)匀婚喿x狄更斯作品的原因．故B項正確．
58．B 推理判斷題．根據(jù)第三段中的"Dickens used his creative genius to campaign passionately for social justice…"；第四段中的"Dickens like Shakespeare tells us truths about human behavior．They are as true in the 21st century as they were to his readers in the 19th century．"以及第六段中的"A dark story about greed and money，it was the perfect illustration of bad times．"．可知，狄更斯是一個敏銳的社會觀察家：故B項正確．
59．A 推理判斷題．文章最后一段"As long as Dickens'novels have something to say to modern audiences，it seems likely that he will remain one of Britain's best-loved writers．"可知，狄更斯的作品針對現(xiàn)代社會，他依然可算是人們可敬的作家．即狄更斯的作品具有很強的現(xiàn)實意義．故D項正確．
點評 解答細節(jié)理解題時，一個常用的方法就是運用定位法，即根據(jù)題干和選項中的關(guān)鍵詞從原文中找到相關(guān)的句子，與選項進行比較從而確定答案；推理判斷題既要求學(xué)生透過文章表面文字信息推測文章隱含意思，又要求學(xué)生對作者的態(tài)度、意圖及文章細節(jié)的發(fā)展作正確的推理判斷，力求從作者的角度去考慮，不要固守自己的看法或觀點．
