阅读理解。
The Mother Goose stories, so well known to children all over the world, are commonly said to have been
written by a little old woman for her grandchildren. According to some people, she lived in Boston, and her
real name was Elizabeth Vergoose. Her son-in-law, a printer named Thomas Fleet, was supposed to have
published the famous nursery stories and rhymes (押韵诗) in 1719. However, no copy of this book has ever
been found, and most scholars doubt the truth of this story-and doubt, moreover, that Mother Goose was ever
a real person. They point out that the name is a direct translation of the French "Mere L'oye'. In 1697 the
Frenchman Charles Perrault published the first book in which this name was used. The collection contains
eight tales, including"Sleeping Beauty", "Cinderella", and "Puss in Boots". But Perrault did not originally make
up these stories； they were already quite popular in his day, and he only collected them.
In 1729 there appeared an English translation of Perrault's collection, Robert Samber's Histories or Tales
of Past Times, Told by Mother Goose (London, 1729), which introduced "Sleeping Beauty", "Little Red Riding-
hood", "Puss in Boots", "Cinderella" and other Perrault's tales to English-speaking audiences. These were fairy
tales(童话). John Newbery published a book of English rhymes, Mother Goose's Melody, or, Sonnets for the
Cradle (London, undated, 1765), which switched the focus from fairy tales to nursery rhymes, and in English
this was until recently the primary meaning for Mother Goose. A book of poems for children entitled Mother
Goose's Melody was published in England in 1781, and the name"Mother Goose" has been associated with
children's poetry ever since.
1. What was thought to have happened in 1719?
A. Thomas Fleet published the Mother Goose stories.
B. The Mother Goose stories were translated into French.
C. Charles Perrault published the first Mother Goose stories.
D. Elizabeth Vergoose collected the first Mother Goose stories.
2. The author of the Mother Goose stories is _____.
A. Elizabeth Vergoose
B. Thomas Fleet
C. Charles Perrault
D. still uncertain
3. Which of the following is the correct order to describe the event according to the passage?
a. Charles Perrault published his book containing eight popular tales.
b. John Newbery switched the focus from fairy tales to nursery rhymes.
c. The book introducing"Cinderella" to English speakers came out.
d. A book of poems Mother Goose's Melody was published in England.
A. c-b-a-d
B. c-a-d-b
C. a-c-b-d
D. a-d-c-b
5. Today when people talk about Mother Goose, they refer to _____.
A. the French "Mere L'oye"
B. children's poetry
C. a kind of animal
D. a printer of Boston
