Spain’sLiteraryGenius   Fourcenturiesago,theauthorofone...

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Spain’s Literary Genius

    Four centuries ago, the author of one of the greatest comedic characters in the world literature took his last breath. Miguel de Cervantes (1547-1616), the author of Don Quixote, is to the Spanish what Shakespeare is to the English and Dante is to Italians - a national literary icon.

    Cervantes’ book is still appreciated today, hundreds of years after its publication, because it’s a wonderfully truthful comedy. Don Quixote, like human beings generally, has great difficulty distinguishing reality from imagination. Readers may laugh at his strange behavior, but when we laugh, we laugh with recognition.

    The book records the adventures of Alonso Quijano, an older Spanish gentleman who loves romance novels. In truth, he reads far too many romances, and they have affected his mind. Quijano is so mixed up that he decides that he must become a knight himself. Imagine a comic book fan who decides to dress up as a superhero to fight crime, and you’ll get the picture.

Setting the scene

    Alonso Quijano reinvents himself as “Don Quixote de La Mancha”, an aristocratic（贵族的）name that suits his ambition of being a knight. Next, since every knight needs a horse, he finds himself an old one named Rocinante. But Rocinante is not exactly cut out for life as a knight’s horse. He’s tired from years of farm work. He’s unlikely to be of much help in any fight against an enemy.

    The heroes in the romances Quijano reads all had a lady to love. They were highborn, like the knights themselves. Quijano chooses Aldonza Lorenzo, a farmer’s daughter, to be his beloved. She becomes “Dulcinea del Toboso”, or “the sweet woman of Toboso”. How does Aldonza feel about Quijano’s attentions? She doesn’t feel much at all, actually. Aldonza is yet another byproduct of Quijano’s imagination, like so many things.

Finding a sidekick

    Now comes Cervantes’ second great creation: Sancho Panza. Once servant in Quijano’s house, Panza is promoted to the role of squire（随从）, because every self-respecting knight needs a squire. Panza has a sensible head on his shoulders, and he is a foil（衬托）to his foolish master.

    The pair faces many adventures, but none are as heroic as a knight’s should be. We laugh, rather than cry, as we read. Quijano tries to act on behalf of justice, but he doesn’t often succeed.

    Cervantes’ novel inspired a word that sums up Quijano’s romantic nature: “quixotic”. In English we use the word to describe someone who is idealistic but foolish in pursuit of his ideals. It is a mark of Cervantes’ genius that he was able to identify this trait and personify it using such a great comedic character. We should appreciate him for it on this significant occasion.

63.   On what occasion did the author write this review?

A. The 400th anniversary of the publication of Don Quixote.                   

B. An Italian Poet, Dante’s 800th birth anniversary.

C. An English genius, William Shakespeare’s 400th death anniversary.              

D. Miguel de Cervantes’ 400th anniversary of his death.

64.   Which role is Alonso Quijano most likely to identify with?

A. Miguel de Cervantes.                             B. Don Quixote de La Mancha.

C. Dulcinea del Toboso.                           D. Sancho Panza.

65.     What can be inferred from the passage?

A. Don Quixote’s failure of distinguish reality from imagination amuses the readers.

B. Quijano manages to bring justice to the world by means of force.

C. Quijano is a Spanish aristocrat with great ambition.

D. Reading romance novel will make people behave in a foolish way.

66.     According to the author, readers admire Cervantes and his masterpiece because            .

A. Cervantes is equal to Shakespeare and Dante as a national literary icon

B. Quijano’s adventure is romantic and heroic

C. Cervantes has a genius for personifying Quijano’s quixotic nature in a truthful comedy.

D. Quijano’s vivid imagination has brought other minor characters to life

【回答】

DBAC

知识点：阅读理解

题型：阅读理解