【正确答案】：
1.  A MASTERPIECE IN AMERICAN LITERATURE, THE GREAT GATSBY EVOKES A HAUNTING MOOD OF A GLAMOROUS, WILD TIME THAT SEEMINGLY WILL NEVER COME AGAIN. BESIDES, THE LOSS OF AN IDEAL AND THE DISILLUSIONMENT THAT COMES WITH THE FAILURE ARE EXPLOITED FULLY IN THE PERSONAL TRAGEDY OF A YOUNG MAN WHOSE “INCORRUPTIBLE DREAM” IS “SMASHED INTO PIECES BY THE RELENTLESS REALITY.”
2.  GATSBY IS A MYTHICAL FIGURE WHOSE INTENSITY OF DREAM PARTAKES OF A STATE OF MIND THAT EMBODIES AMERICA ITSELF; GATSBY IS THE LAST OF THE ROMANTIC HEROES, WHOSE ENERGY AND SENSE OF COMMITMENT TAKES HIM IN SEARCH OF HIS PERSONAL GRAIL; GATSBY’S FAILURE MAGNIFIES TO A GREAT EXTENT THE END OF THE AMERICAN DREAMS. HOWEVER, THE AFFIRMATION OF HOPE AND EXPECTATION IS SELF-ASSERTED IN FITZGERALD’S ARTISTIC MANIPULATION OF THE CENTRAL SYMBOL IN THE NOVEL, THE GREEN LIGHT. 
【题目解析】：本题考查的是《了不起的盖茨比》的作品地位与影响以及作品主人公的特点和其折射出的现实意义。1. 《了不起的盖茨比》是美国文学的杰作，它唤起了一种令人难以忘怀的、迷人的、狂野的、似乎永远不会再来的时代氛围。此外，理想的丧失和失败带来的幻灭在一个年轻人的个人悲剧中得到了充分的体现，他的廉洁的梦想被无情的现实粉碎。2. 盖茨比是一个神话人物，他的梦的强度体现了美国自身的精神状态；盖茨比是最后一个浪漫的英雄，他的精力和责任感带他去寻找他个人的圣杯；盖茨比的失败在很大程度上放大了美国梦的终结。然而，在菲茨杰拉德对小说《绿光》中中心符号的艺术把握中，对希望和期待的肯定是不言而喻的。