Question

Holmes said, “Somebody sent a letter with five pips (桔核) in it from India, and arrived seven weeks later to kill John’s uncle. Then they sent five pips from Scotland and arrived three days later to kill John’s father. Now they have sent five pips to John from London!”

“The letters are all from sea ports (海港). The writer was on a ship when he wrote the letters,” I replied.

“Very good, Watson! And John’s enemy is in London already!”

“Well, I hope they won’t kill young John,” I said.

But they did. The next morning, we read in the newspaper that a policeman found him die near Waterloo station. Holmes was very angry about it.

“He came to me for help and those men murdered him! I’m going to find them, if it’s the last thing I do!” he said to me, and he hurried out of the house.

At night, when he came back, he was tired, but pleased, he said, “I know the names of John’s enemies! And now I’m going to send them a surprise! This will frighten them!” He took five pips from an orange and put them in an envelope (信封). On it he wrote “S. H. for J. C.”

“I’m sending the pips to captain James Calhoun. His ship is called the Star. He and his men are sailing back to Georgia, USA.”

“How did you find him, Holmes?” I asked.

“Ship’s papers,” he said, “I’ve looked at hundreds of them today. Only one ship, the Star, was in the three ports at the right times, this morning the Star left London to sail back to Georgia. I found out that the captain and two of his men, all Americans, weren’t on the ship last night, so I’m sure they killed John. When they arrive in America, they’ll get the pips and then the police will catch them!”

1. Holmes was ________ about John’s death.

A. curiousB. angry

C. crazyD. worried

2.The Star left London for ________.

A. CanadaB. Australia

C. IndiaD. America

3. Who do you think the underlined letters “J. C.” stand for?

A. James CalhounB. James Columbus

C. John CalhounD. John Columbus

4. Which order is correct according to the story?

① John came to Holmes for help.

② John received a letter with five pips.

③ John was killed.

④ Holmes sent five pips to J. C.

A. ③①④②B. ③④①②

C. ④①③②D. ②①③④

Answer

1.B

2.D

3.A

4.D

【解析】

试题分析：本文叙述了约翰一家遇害了，约翰来求助福尔摩斯，福尔摩斯经过调查和分析，找到了杀害他们的凶手。于是福尔摩斯就给凶手James Calhoun写了一封信里面有5个桔核，等他们到了美国后就会收到这封信并同时也被警察抓住。

1.细节理解题。根据Holmes was very angry about it.可知福尔摩斯对这件事很生气，故选B。

2.细节理解题。根据His ship is called the Star. He and his men are sailing back to Georgia, USA.”

可知这艘船是去美国，故选D。

3.细节理解题。根据“I’m sending the pips to captain James Calhoun. 可知这封信是寄给James Calhoun 的，所以这个符号代表的是James Calhoun ，故选A。

4.细节理解题。根据第一段可知显示约翰收到了5个桔核，然后他来求助福尔摩斯，结果被杀了，于是福尔摩斯就想出来给James Calhoun一封信里面有5个桔核，故选D。

考点：考查故事类短文阅读。