Question

In films, spies(间谍) are lucky people. They are smart and adventurous. But a real spy’s life is not that exciting. They must live a life of lies. Their work is dangerous and they may have to pay for it with their lives. American spy Nathan Hale (1755-1776) was one of these people.

Why does someone want to be a spy? Some do it for their country. Some for money. Some just love it. Nathan Hale became a spy for the first reason. He lived during the American Revolution (革命). He and his people fought the British army.

In 1774, Hale joined the American army. Before that, he was a school teacher. Two years later, he chose to be a spy. He had to get information from the British army. He went to the city where the British army was staying. He told them that he was a school teacher and wanted to find a new job. As a young spy, Hale didn’t have enough experience. He had told his secret to somebody else. But that person sold him out to the British army. He tried to get information for the American army. Hale finally got something important and decided to go back. He hid some papers in his boots. He went to the river bank and waited for a boat to pick him up. However, British soldiers caught Hale at the river bank and found the papers in his boots.

Hale died on Sept 22, 1776. His final words were: “I only regret(后悔) I have but one life to lose for my country.” He died at the age of 21.

1.Why did Nathan Hale become a spy?

A. For fun.    B. For money.    C. For himself.    D. For his country.

2.What does the underlined word “adventurous” in Paragraph 1mean?

A. 爱撒谎的    B. 爱冒险的    C. 爱冲动的    D. 爱幻想的

3.According to the article, which of the following is TRUE?

A. Nathan Hale was a spy for the British army.

B. Nathan Hale joined the army at the age of 19 years old.

C. Nathan Hale worked as a teacher for 2 years.

D. Nathan Hale had rich experience as a spy.

4.What was the correct order in which these events happened?

①Hale joined the American army.

②Hale got information for the American army.

③British soldiers caught Hale.

④Hale became a school teacher.

⑤Hale told his secret to somebody else.

A. ①④②③⑤    B. ①④②⑤③    C. ④①⑤②③    D. ④①②③⑤

5.What do Nathan Hale’s final words mean?

A. He regretted that he had to die for his country.

B. He felt scared to die at such a young age.

C. He wished to continue working for his country.

D. It’s unfair that his country didn’t bring him a reward.

Answer

1.D

2.B

3.B

4.C

5.C

【解析】短文讲述了美国间谍内森·黑故事。黑尔加入美国军队之前曾是一名学校教师，然后做了一名间谍，由于经验不足，把秘密告诉了别人，正当他为美国军队搜集了一些重要的情报打算返回的时候被英国军队抓获，英勇献身，年仅21岁。

1.细节理解题。根据短文中的句子“Why does someone want to be a spy? Some do it for their country. Some for money. Some just love it. Nathan Hale became a spy for the first reason.”可知，内森·黑尔选择当间谍是为了自己的祖国，故答案选D。

2.词意猜测题。根据短文中的句子“Their work is dangerous and they may have to pay for it with their lives.”可知，做间谍的工作很危险，他们可能不得不为此付出代价。因此猜测划线部分的意思是“爱冒险的”，答案选B。

3.细节判断题。根据短文中的句子American spy Nathan Hale (1755-1776)，In 1774, Hale joined the American army. Nathan Hale1755年出生，1774年参军，也就是19岁参军，故B答案正确。

4.句子排序题。根据短文的故事情节可知，黑尔加入美国军队之前曾是一名学校教师，然后做了一名间谍，由于经验不足，把秘密告诉了别人，正当他为美国军队搜集了一些重要的情报打算返回的时候被英国军队抓获，英勇献身。故正确的顺序为C。

5.细节理解题。I only regret(后悔) I have but one life to lose for my country.我唯一遗憾的是仅有一次生命可以献给我的祖国，也就是希望能够继续为自己的祖国出力，故答案选C。