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Passage Four
Questions 36 to 40 are based on the
following passage:
Paradise Lost is Milton's masterpiece. Its
story is taken from the Bible, about "the fall of man", that is, how
Adam and Eve are tempted by Satan to disobey God by eating the forbidden fruit
from the Tree of Knowledge, and how they are punished by God and driven out of
Paradise. In Milton's words, the purpose of writing the epic is to
"justify the ways of God to men", but apparently, Milton is uttering
his intense hatred of cruelness of the ruler in the poem. By depicting Satan
and his followers as well as their fiery utterance and brave actions, Milton is
showing a Puritan's（清教徒的）revolt against the dictator and against the
established Catholics and the Anglican Church.
In the poem God is no better than a cruel
and selfish ruler, seated on a throne with a group of angels about him singing
songs to praise him. His long speeches are not pleasing at all. He is cruel and
unjust in punishing Satan. His angels are stupid. But Satan is by far the most
striking character in the poem, who rises against God and, though defeated,
still persists in his fighting.
Adam and Eve shows Milton's belief in the
power of man. God denies them a chance to pursue for knowledge. It is this
longing for knowledge that opens before mankind a wide road to intelligent and
active life. It has been noted by many critics that Milton's revolutionary
feelings makes him forget religious doctrines（教条）. The angels who surround the God never
think of expressing any opinions of their own, and they never seem to have any
opinions of their own. The image of God surrounded by such angels resembles the
court of an absolute monarch（君主）. But Satan and his followers, who freely
discuss all issues in council, remind us of a Republican Parliament.
36.This passage is most probably ____.
A) a review of Milton's Paradise Lost
B) an introduction of what Paradise Lost is
about
C) a depiction of the cruelness of the
British ruler
D) part of an introduction to English
literature
37.According to the passage, Milton ____.
A) describes Satan as a Puritan
B) doesn't believe in God
C) is satisfied with the British ruler
D) calls on people to fight against the
dictator
38.In the poem, Satan is described as ____.
A) an evil person
B) contrary to what is depicted in the
Bible
C) selfish and cruel devil
D) a stupid ghost
39.Which of the following can NOT be
inferred from this passage?
A) If Adam and Eve had not eaten the
forbidden fruit, human being would be ignorant until now.
B) God acts like a dictator.
C) Satan and his followers are parliament
members in the poem.
D) The angels are depicted as stupid in the
poem.
40.According to this passage, Paradise Lost
is written for the purpose of ____.A) praising God for the creation of the world
B) criticizing the cruelness of British
ruler
C) changing people's unfavourable
impression of Satan
D) expressing his support for the fight of
Satan
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