Passage　7

Washington　Irving　was　America’s　first　man　of　letters　to　be　known　internationally.　His　works　were　received　enthusiastically　both　in　England　and　in　the　United　States.　He　was,　in　fact,　one　of　the　most　successful　writers　of　his　time　in　either　country,　delighting　a　large　general　public　and　at　the　same　time　winning　the　admiration¹　of　fellow　writers　like　Scott　in　Britain　and　Poe　and　Tarwthorne　in　the　United　States.　The　respect　in　which　he　was　held　was　partly　owing　to　the　man　himself,　with　his　warm　friendliness²,　his　good　sense,　his　politeness,　his　gay　spirits,　his　artistic³　integrity,　his　love　of　both　the　old　World　and　the　New　Thackery　described　Irving　as　a　"gentleman,　who,　though　himself　born　in　no　very　high　sphere,　was　most　finished,　polished,　witty⁴;　socially　the　equal　of　the　most　refined　Europeans".　In　England　he　was　granted　an　honorary　degree　from　Oxford⁵　---　an　unusual　honor　for　a　citizen　of　a　young,　uncultured　nation　---and　be　received　the　medal　of　the　Royal　Society　of　Literature;　America　made　him　ambassador　to　Spain.　Irving’s　background　provides　little　to　explain　his　literary　achievements.　A　gifted　but　delicate　child,　he　had　little　schooling⁶.　He　studied　law,　but　without　zeal⁷,　and　never　did　practice　seriously.　He　was　immune　to　his　strict　Presbyterian　home　environment,　frequenting　both　social　gatherings⁸　and　the　theater. 
What　is　the　most　proper　comment　on　Irving?[ANSWER]
A)His　works　were　very　popular　in　England　and　the　United　States.
B)He　was　respected　by　many　fellow　writers.
C)His　works　were　of　popularity　and　high　quality.
D)He　is　a　gentleman.

According　to　Thachery’s　description,which　of　the　following　statements　is　NOT　TRUE?[ANSWER]
A)Irving　tried　to　show　elegance⁹　in　society.
B)Irving’s　parents　were　not　aristocratic.
C)Irving’s　social　grace　were　unusual.
D)Irving　was　inferior　to　Europeans　of　refinement¹⁰.

Why　is　it　unusual　that　Irving　was　granted　an　honorary　degree　from　Oxford?[ANSWER]
A)Because　his　degree　was　honorary,rather　than　earned.
B)Because　he　was　not　so　successful　as　his　fellow　writers.
C)Because　he　was　from　America　which　was　a　country　with　young　history　and　less　culture.
D)Because　Oxford　was　a　famous　university　in　England.

What　is　true　about　Irving’s　background?[ANSWER]
A)His　background　had　provided　opportunity　for　his　literary　a　achievement.
B)He　spent　very　little　time　working　as　a　lawyer.
C)As　a　gifted　child,he　had　reveived　good　education.
D)His　religious　belief　helped　him　a　lot.

The　tone　of　the　author　can　be　said　to　be　_____.[ANSWER]
A)serious
B)mild
C)friendly
D)appreciative