英语专业八级改错练习题及答案解析84
it is difficult to think of a nation as an abstract collection
of people living on a patch of territory. it is easier to think
of as a person. this is why we sometimes call great britain __1__
"britannia" and the united states "columbia", and think of
it as stately women. we also use masculine symbols in our __2__
personification of nations. in 1712 john arbuthont, a scot,
wrote a political satire in that the characters were supposed __3__
to be typical members of different nationalities. the englishman
was john bull. this name, which was sufficient flattering to be __4__
adopted generally, combined the most common english first
name with a last name indicated strength. john bull is usually __5__
pictured as a partly businessman with a union jack on his hatband.
after the american war of independence began in 1783, the united __6__
states was knownfor "brother jonathan". jonathan was a biblical __7__
name associated with simple people from rural areas, and it seemed
fitting since the united states is rural and unsophiscated, and since __8__
american considered their type of simplicity a virtue compared to __9__
the wickedness of european cities. it is possible, however, that the
name was originated with president george washington, who would __10__
often say, when faced with a hard problem, "let us consult brother
jonathan", referring to his secrectary, johnathan trumbull.
答案及解析:
1. of和as之间加上it
代替前文的a nation
2.it—both
指代上文的us和great britain
3.that—which
4.sufficient—sufficiently
修饰形容词用副词
5. indicated—indicating
6.began—ended
根据历史知识，美国独立战争开始于1776年7月4日（《独立宣言》发表），直到1783年英国正式承认美国独立才结束。
7. for—as
be known for意为“因......而众所周知”
8. is—was
美国过去曾是一个rural and unsophisticated的国家
9.to—with
compare to 意为“把......比作.......”compare with意为“与......比较，与.......匹敌，与......竞争”
10. 删掉name和originated之间的was