AcharacteristicofAmericanculturethathasbecomealmostatraditionistorespecttheself-mademan&mdashthemanwhohasrisentothetopthroughhisownefforts，usuallybeginningbyworkingwithhishands.Whiletheleaderinbusinessorindustryorthecollegeprofessoroccupiesahighersocialpositionandcommandsgreaterrespectinthecommunitythanthecommonlaboreroreventheskilledfactoryworker，hemaytakepainstopointoutthathisfatherstartedlifeinAmericaasafarmerorlaborerofsomesort.

Thisattitudetowardmanual（体力的）laborisnowstillseeninmanyaspectsofAmericanlife.Oneisinvitedtodinneratahomethatisnotonlycomfortablybutevenluxuriously（豪华地）furnishedandinwhichthereiseveryevidenceofthefactthatthefamilyhasbeenabletoaffordforeigntravel，expensivehobbies，andcollegeeducationforthechildrenyetthehostessprobablywillcookthedinnerherself，willserveitherselfandwillwashdishesafterward，furthermorethedinnerwillnotconsistmerelyofsomethingquicklyandeasilyassembledfromcontentsofvariouscansandacakeorapieboughtatthenearbybakery.Onthecontrary，thehostessusuallytakesprideincarefulpreparationofspecialdishes.Aprofessionalmanmaytalkaboutwashingthecar，digginginhisflowerbeds，paintingthehouse.Hiswifemayevenhelpwiththesethings，justasheoftenhelpsherwiththedishwashing.Thesonwhoisawayatcollegemaywaitontableandwashdishesforhisliving，orduringthesummerhemayworkwithaconstructiongangonahighwayinordertopayforhiseducation.

小题1:Fromparagraph1，wecanknowthatinAmerica（）（）.

A.peopletendtohaveahighopinionoftheself-mademan

B.peoplecanalwaysrisetothetopthroughtheirwonefforts

C.collegeprofessorswingreatrespectfromcommonworkers

C.peoplefeelpainfultomentiontheirfathersaslabors.

小题2:Accordingtothepassage，thehostesscooksdinnerherselfmainlybecause（）（）.

A．servantsinAmericanarehardtoget

B．shetakesprideinwhatshecandoherself

C．shecanhardlyaffordservants

D．Itiseasytoprepareamealwithcannedfood

小题3:Theexpressionwaitontableinthesecondparagraphmeans（）（）.

A．workinafurnitureshopB．keepaccountsforabar

C．waittolaythetableD．servecustomersinarestaurant

小题4:Whichofthefollowingmayserveasthebesttitleofthepassage?

A．ARespectableSelf-madeFamilyB．AmericanAttitudetowardManualLabor

C．CharacteristicsofAmericanCultureD．TheDevelopmentofManualLabor
答案
小题1:A

小题2:B

小题3:D

小题4:B
解析
本文介绍了崇尚自我奋斗，尊重体力劳动的美国文化。

小题1:细节题。根据AcharacteristicofAmericanculturethathasbecomealmostatraditionistorespecttheself-mademade我们可以了解到，崇尚自我奋斗是美国文化的特点。

小题2:推断题。根据Thisattitudetowardmanual（体力的）laborisnowstillseeninmanyaspectsofAmericanlife.（在美国生活的方方面面，尊重体力劳动态度的现象仍然随处可见），可以推断女主人亲自下厨，是因为她以能做这样的体力活而自豪。

小题3:词义猜测题。waitontable意为服务顾客，注意其后的washingdishes也有一定的暗示意义，故答案为D。

小题4:主旨题。纵观全文，文章主要讲了美国崇尚自我奋斗，尊重体力劳动的文化习惯。故答案为B。

考点名称：政治经济类阅读

政治经济类文章的概念：

要做好这类阅读，平时就要注意了解国内外发生的政治经济大事，掌握一定背景知识，对这类文章的叙述特点及内容安排有一定了解，还要扩展这方面的词汇。阅读这类文章，要抓住文章的核心，即文章整体和各段主要在说什么，也要注意段落之间的逻辑关系。