Free Gaokao Classical Chinese Reading Comprehension Questions and Answers — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Read the following passage from 《送东阳马生序》: 余幼时即嗜学。家贫，无从致书以观，每假借于藏书之家，手自笔录，计日以还。天大寒，砚冰坚，手指不可屈伸，弗之怠。录毕，走送之，不敢稍逾约。以是人多以书假余，余因得遍观群书。
What is the meaning of the character "致" (zhì) in the phrase "无从致书以观"?
- To write (写作)
- To send (送达)
- To obtain/acquire (取得) (Correct answer)
- To cause (导致)
Correct answer: To obtain/acquire (取得)
In this context, "致" means to obtain or acquire. The author is stating that because his family was poor, he had no way to get books to read. The other options represent different, incorrect meanings of the character.
Question 2: Which of the following is the most accurate translation of "手指不可屈伸，弗之怠"?
- My fingers could not bend, so I had to be lazy. (手指不能屈伸，所以我只能懈怠)
- My fingers were so stiff they could not bend, but I did not slacken because of it. (手指冻僵了不能弯曲伸直，但我没有因此而懈怠) (Correct answer)
- I could not stretch my fingers, and this was not lazy. (我不能伸展手指，这不是懒惰)
- My fingers were bent and could not be stretched, so I stopped. (我的手指弯曲不能伸直，所以我停止了)
Correct answer: My fingers were so stiff they could not bend, but I did not slacken because of it. (手指冻僵了不能弯曲伸直，但我没有因此而懈怠)
This sentence describes the extreme cold: the author's fingers were too stiff to bend. "弗之怠" is an inversion of "弗怠之", meaning "did not slacken because of this". Therefore, the best translation captures both the physical hardship and his perseverance.
Question 3: What character trait of the author is primarily highlighted by the sentence "录毕，走送之，不敢稍逾约"?
- His physical strength (体力好)
- His intelligence (聪明才智)
- His humility (谦虚)
- His trustworthiness and punctuality (守信守时) (Correct answer)
Correct answer: His trustworthiness and punctuality (守信守时)
This sentence means "After finishing the copying, I would run to return it, not daring to be even slightly late." This action demonstrates his strong sense of responsibility and trustworthiness, which was crucial for people to continue lending him books. While diligence is shown, the focus on returning the book on time specifically points to his reliability.
Question 4: According to the passage, what was the main reason the author was ultimately able to "遍观群书" (read a wide range of books)?
- He eventually saved enough money to buy books.
- He earned people's trust through his diligence and punctuality, so they were willing to lend him books. (Correct answer)
- He had a very good memory and only needed to read each book once.
- He found a wealthy patron who provided him with books.
Correct answer: He earned people's trust through his diligence and punctuality, so they were willing to lend him books.
The passage links his ability to borrow more books directly to his behavior. The sentence "以是人多以书假余" means "Because of this, many people lent books to me." The "this" refers to his diligent copying and punctual returning of books, which established his reputation as trustworthy.
Question 5: Which of the following statements about the function word "以" in the passage is correct?
- It means "using" (用) in all instances.
- It means "because" (因为) in all instances.
- Its meaning and grammatical function are different in each of the three instances mentioned. (Correct answer)
- It is a preposition in the first two cases and a conjunction in the last.
Correct answer: Its meaning and grammatical function are different in each of the three instances mentioned.
The word "以" has multiple functions. In "以观", it means "in order to" (表目的). In "以是", it means "because of this" (表原因). In "以书假余", it introduces the object, meaning "(take) books and lend them to me" (表处置). Therefore, its meaning and function are different in each case.
Question 6: How should the unpunctuated sentence "每假借于藏书之家手自笔录计日以还" be correctly punctuated to show its grammatical structure?
- 每假借于藏书之家，手自笔录，计日以还。 (Correct answer)
- 每假借，于藏书之家手自，笔录计日以还。
- 每假借于藏书之家手，自笔录计日，以还。
- 每假借于藏书，之家手自笔录，计日以还。
Correct answer: 每假借于藏书之家，手自笔录，计日以还。
The sentence describes a sequence of actions: first, borrowing from collectors ("假借于藏书之家"); second, copying by hand ("手自笔录"); third, returning it on the agreed day ("计日以还"). Pauses are needed to separate these distinct actions, making the sentence clear and logical.
