专项提能计划——阅读理解（一）人物传记类(2011·高考山东卷·A)ArthurMiller(1915～2005)isuniversallyrecognizedasoneofthegreatestdramatistsofthe20thcentury.Miller’sfatherhadmovedtotheUSAfromAustriaHungary，drawnlikesomanyothersbythe“GreatAmericanDream”．However，heexperiencedseverefinancialhardshipwhenhisfamilybusinesswasruinedintheGreatDepressionoftheearly1930s.Miller’smostfamousplay，DeathofaSalesman，isapowerfulattackontheAmericansystem，withitsaggressivewayofdoingbusinessanditsinsistenceonmoneyandsocialstatusasindicatorsofworth.InWillyLoman,theherooftheplay，weseeamanwhohasgotintotroublewiththissystem.Willyis“burntout”andinthecruelworldofbusinessthereisnoroomforsentiment：ifhecan’tdothework，thenheisnogoodtohisemployer，theWagnerCompany，andhemustgo.Willyispainfullyawareofthis，andatalossastowhattodowithhislackofsuccess.Herefusestofacethefactthathehasfailedandkillshimselfintheend.Whenitwasfirststagedin1949，theplaywasgreetedwithenthusiasticreviews，anditwontheTonyAwardforBestPlay，theNewYorkDramaCritics’CircleAward，andthePulitzerPrizeforDrama.Itwasthefirstplaytowinallthreeofthesemajorawards.MillerdiedofheartfailureathishomeinRoxbury，Connecticut，ontheeveningofFebruary10,2005，the56thanniversaryofthefirstperformanceofDeathofaSalesmanonBroadway.56．WhydidArthurMiller’sfathermovetotheUSA?A．Hesufferedfromseverehungerinhishomecountry.B．Hewasattractedbythe“GreatAmericanDream”．C．Hehopedtomakehissonadramatist.D．Hisfamilybusinessfailed.57．TheplayDeathofaSalesman________.A．exposesthecrueltyoftheAmericanbusinessworldB．discussesthewaystogetpromotedinacompanyC．talksaboutthebusinesscareerofArthurMillerD．focusesontheskillsindoingbusiness58．WhatcanwelearnaboutWillyLoman?A．Hetreatshisemployerbadly.B．HerunstheWagnerCompany.C．HeisavictimoftheAmericansystem.D．Heisregardedasaherobyhiscolleagues.59．Afteritwasfirststaged，DeathofaSalesman________.A．achievedhugesuccessB．wonthefirstTonyAwardC．waswarmlywelcomedbysalesmenD．wasseverelyattackedbydramatists60．Whatisthetextmainlyabout?A．ArthurMillerandhisfamily.B．TheawardsArthurMillerwon.C．ThehardshipArthurMillerexperienced.D．ArthurMillerandhisbestknownplay.答案速查56.B57.A58.C59.A60.D破题思路本文向我们介绍了20世纪伟大的剧作家ArthurMiller以及他的代表作DeathofaSalesman。疑难剖析Whenitwasfirststagedin1949，theplaywasgreetedwithenthusiasticreviews，anditwontheTonyAwardforBestPlay，theNewYorkDramaCritics’CircleAward，andthePulitzerPrizeforDrama.(Paragraph3)整体上看，该句是一个由and连接的并列复合句，第一个分句中使用了when引导的时间状语从句，第二个分句是一个简单句，其宾语较为复杂。名师支招本文属于人物传记类文章，该类命题的题量也较大。文章中往往会出现关于该人物的大量细节信息，有些细节很直接，只需理解字面意思即可；有些则很间接，需要综合、归纳、推理才能得出。另外，虽然人物传记类文章的时间、空间或逻辑线索较清晰，但是为了提高难度，命题者往往使用倒叙或插叙等手段故意打乱故事的陈述次序，使行文的跳跃性增强，情节复杂化。如第58题，第二段第一句话告诉我们，《推销员之死》是对美国制度的有力的抨击，后面又告诉我们在这金钱至上的制度里，主人公因迷茫、失败最终“killshimself”，暴露了美国商业世界的残酷(exposesthecrueltyoftheAmericanbusinessworld)，由此可知他是美国制度的受害者。
