SAT閱讀:Reading Comprehension Test3 參考答案

　　1.Correct Answer: A

　　Explanation:

　　Re-read lines 1-10, where you will find that the poetry lover under thirty is an introvert, unhappy, and unpopular at school. Lines 6-7 tell us that while he is at school he is conscious that he is inferior. This answer A is best.

　　2.Correct Answer: B

　　Explanation:

　　The main purpose is found from an overview of the whole passage. Here he is clearly talking about his early attachment to the poetry of Hardy. Hence, answer B.

　　3.Correct Answer: D

　　Explanation:

　　Re-read the relevant sentence and choose a word or phrase to replace ‘contingent’. Here, in "knowing no other society than the contingent", we can substitute ‘that he finds himself in at the present’ for ‘the contingent’. Hence, ‘immediate’ will fit.

　　4.Correct Answer: C

　　Explanation:

　　The introvert is ultimately lucky because he is ‘the best adapted to an industrial civilization..... and learned how to draw upon the resources of his inner life.’ (Lines 13-16). Therefore, ‘cultivated inner resources’ in answer C makes this the best answer.

　　5.Correct Answer: E

　　Explanation:

　　The ‘authentic poetic note’ is mentioned in line 35. This ‘note’ is defined before the extracts (lines 22-27). ‘Art for him will be something infinitely precious, pessimistic, and hostile to life.’ This indicates a gloomy, negative feeling, which suggests ‘melancholy’ might be appropriate. Also it must ‘counsel stoic resignation’. From the ‘resignation’ we obtain the idea of ‘acceptance’ in answer E.

　　6.Correct Answer: D

　　Explanation:

　　It is clear that Hardy was the first poet to whom the author responded strongly (lines 39-46). He also tells us that these first feelings cannot be entirely destroyed (line 39). Hence, answer D.

　　7.Correct Answer: D

　　Explanation:

　　The author uses metaphor (lines 46-49). The latter part of the extract is about personal experience. He generalizes about poetry lovers and adolescents in the first part of the excerpt. He compares his father and Hardy. But he does not make classical allusions. (An allusion is an indirect reference). Since this is an ‘except’ question, we are looking for something he does not do. Hence Answer D.

　　8.Correct Answer: C

　　Explanation:

　　He quotes the extracts to illustrate what he means by the ‘authentic poetic note’ that strikes an adolescent. Hence, answer C.

　　9.Correct Answer: A

　　Explanation:

　　Edward Thomas is mentioned as a poet whom the autjor admired along with Hardy after 1924. (Hardy had to ‘share his kingdom’ with Thomas.) And so we can safely say that the author admired him.

　　10.Correct Answer: A

　　Explanation:

　　Sandburg is mentioned as an example of the ‘contemporary scene’ (line 51). This indicates that ‘modern poet’ in A is correct.

　　11.Correct Answer: C

　　Explanation:

　　The author mentions that Hardy was ‘sometimes monotonous and sentimental in expression’(line 57). The word ‘monotonous’ is paraphrased in ‘lacking in variety’ in answer C. This is, therefore, the correct answer. (Note that when you qualify your position, you moderate your argument or introduce a ‘but’ or ‘however’ into the argument. The author is overall very positive about Hardy, but here qualifies his position by mentioning a fault.)

　　12.Correct Answer: A

　　Explanation:

　　In the last sentence the author indicates that Hardy’s appearance suggested ‘ emotion.... deeper and more faithful .... ". Hence, answer A (deep and lasting feelings.)