申論題

II. Open-ended Question (5 points per question)
1. Present 5 cloze test questions in this passage, with answers.
As one of the most renowned French writers from the Romantic period, Victor Hugo’s literary impact has cemented his place in history. It took him 17 years to complete Les Misérables, a novel in which he speaks passionately about social injustice.
The novel follows the lives of several characters, with its focus set on the struggles of ex-convict Jean Valjean. Arrested for stealing a loaf of bread to feed his starving family, Jean Valjean was forced to serve a harsh sentence. Although he strove to regain his faith in the world after his release, he didn’t seem to be treated fairly. He had suffered numerous ruthless insults by the time he encountered the bishop of Digne, whose generous and merciful act helped Valjean realize life was not a bed of roses and that he couldn’t turn over a new leaf until he cast out the hatred he had for the world. Yearly later, Cossette, whom he adopted and treated as though she were his real daughter, fell in love with a student revolutionary, Marius. In order not to stain the young couple with his own criminal history, Valjean chose to leave. It was not until Valjean’s final moments that Cossette and Marius learned how much he had done for them.
Though criticized greatly at the time, Les Misérables has remained Hugo’s enduring work, being adapted for stage, film, as well as television and causing social change in his own time and beyond. By weaving human emotion and drama into the social and political conflict of nineteenth century France, the novel is littered with examples of conscientious actions motivated by the desire to improve the lives of others through love, forgiveness and compassion. Such is the impact of this novel that people all over the world pay tribute to this literary master.