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  3. Few writers are as revered as Jane Austen. According to a poll in March, Pride and Prejudice—a romance without a single kiss—is

Few writers are as revered as Jane Austen. According to a poll in March, Pride and Prejudice—a romance without a single kiss—is

admin2022-04-28  71
问题     Few writers are as revered as Jane Austen. According to a poll in March, Pride and Prejudice—a romance without a single kiss—is the book Britons love most. Austen adaptations abound: the BBC is filming a new version of Sense and Sensibility written by Andrew Davies, whose 1995 Pride and Prejudice was a global success, and ITV has just shown three of her other five novels.
    But Janeites, as the author’s most avid devotees style themselves, have few relics to worship. Most of her letters were burned on her death, and a single sketch by her sister, Cassandra, showing her purse-lipped and in her night-cap, is the only generally acknowledged image of her face. That picture, now hanging in the National Portrait Gallery in London, depicts a woman so plain that it is often reworked for book covers.
    That is perhaps why there has been so much interest in a portrait by Ozias Humphrey, a minor society artist of the 18th century, which was auctioned in New York on April 19th by Christie’s. According to its owner, Henry Rice, a sixth-generation descendant of Miss Austen’s brother Edward, it shows Jane at about 14, and was commissioned by a great-uncle to help her marriage prospects.
    Not everyone is convinced that the picture is in fact of Miss Austen. The National Portrait Gallery has repeatedly declined to purchase it, citing supposed anachronisms in the subject’s costume and a tax stamp on the canvas. Its pre-auction valuation reflected this uncertainty: although $400,000-800,000 is far more than any of Mr. Humphrey’s works has achieved before now, a buyer who believed he was looking at Miss Austen would surely be prepared to pay more.
    The doubts expressed in London are one reason why the portrait was sold in New York. Another is that Americans are as keen on Miss Austen as Britons are. The BBC’s Pride and Prejudice was co-produced by A&E, an American cable channel, and another such channel, HBO, co-financed ITV’s adaptations. Versions of her books for the big screen have relied on American cash and not a few American actors.
    At the heart of each of the novels is a heroine—and a marriage. But unlike her heroines, Miss Austen remained single, and some wonder whether that sour-faced sketch by her sister tells us why. Becoming Jane, a recent Hollywood production, presents a different, highly speculative, explanation; a beautiful girl has her heart broken by a flighty Irishman and turns to writing for solace.
    Miss Austen herself rated her heroines’ other attributes more highly than their looks, on which she rarely spends more than a few unspecific words. The rest are devoted to what these women think and say, which is also what matters most about Jane Austen.
What can be said about the portrait of Austen in the National Portrait Gallery in London?
选项 A、It was done by Austen’s sister and was poorly painted.
B、It is the only portrait of Austen that is known to the public.
C、Copies of it have been made for use on book covers.
D、Austen was presented by her sister as an unattractive woman.
答案A
解析 细节题。题目问的是“对伦敦国家肖像画廊的奥斯汀的画像，我们可以有什么样的说法?”。由文章第二段第二句“Most of her letters were burned on her death，and a single sketch by her sister…”可知：该肖像是奥斯汀的姐姐所作的一幅素描，这与A项内容相符。另外，由下文可知：由乌西雅.汉弗莱所作的奥斯汀的另一幅画像被拍卖，这与B项内容不符。根据文章第二段最后一句中“That picture，…depicts a woman so plain that it is often reworked for book covers. ”可知：奥斯汀的肖像画被重新制作并使用在书籍封面上，这与C项内容不符。再由文章第六段第二句 “…and some wonder whether that sour—faced sketch by her sister tells US why. ”可知：肖像画上，奥斯汀的面容阴郁，而没说不吸引人，这与D项内容不符。故选A。
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