Question

A Christmas Carol was written by Charles Dickens. The first 6,000 copies of the book were sold out in a week. And the book has inspired many plays and movies. The first play was put on in 1844. The first two movies were silent films made in 1901 and 1908. Since then, the story has been remade more than 60 times for television and cinema. What makes such a tale so attractive? Audiences have always loved a good plot, a villain(反面人物) who harms other people or breaks the law, and the ending of right over wrong. The book offers all three.

The book tells the story of a man named Ebenezer Scrooge. He is mean（自私的） and cruel（冷酷的）to his clerk and turns away his only living relative. One night, Scrooge is visited by three spirits. The first shows scenes from Scrooge’s youth that led to this present state. The second takes him to the homes of his clerk and his nephew. Here Scrooge sees that people can be happy without lots of money. The spirit also shows him the desperate poor people of London. The third spirit shows Scrooge will die alone, and no one will care if he continues to live as he has. At last the message is understood, and Scrooge repents. He becomes generous（慷慨的）and caring to all around him, especially to his clerk’s sick son, Tiny Tim.

Every year, thousands of people watch A Christmas Carol. Why? They may be touched by its lessons on the true meanings of wealth and happiness. They may enjoy the special effects and feelings or watching every year may be just a habit. Viewers never seem to grow tired of the old miser(守财奴), Scrooge, and his dramatic message of hope and change.

1.What do we know about the book A Christmas Carol?

A.It was written in the early 19th century.

B.Dickens completed the book in a week.

C.It has been adapted（改编）for cinema and television.

D.It didn’t attract readers when published for the first time.

2.The third spirit shows Scrooge________.

A.where he will die and who will care about him B.how others care about his present life

C.when and how he will die alone D.what his future life will be like

3.The underlined part “Scrooge repents” probably means________.

A.Scrooge feels sorry for what he has done B.Scrooge does things as he did before

C.Scrooge is angry with the three spirits D.Scrooge gives the three spirits a hand

4.What can we infer from the passage?

A.A Christmas Carol was written by Charles Dickens.

B.One night Scrooge is visited by three spirits.

C.People are tired of the old miser, Scrooge.

D.Christmas is a time to forgive (宽恕) and to be generous.

Answer

1.C

2.D

3.A

4.D

【解析】

本文是一篇记叙文，介绍了大文豪查尔斯·狄更斯的作品《圣诞颂歌》。该书讲述了刻薄冷酷的斯克鲁奇在圣诞节遭遇了各种惊奇事件，让他从一个守财奴转变为大善人的故事。

1.

细节理解题。根据“Since then, the story has been remade more than 60 times for television and cinema”，可知它被改编为电视剧和电影，故选C。

2.

细节理解题。根据“The third spirit shows Scrooge will die alone, and no one will care if he continues to live as he has”，可知第三个圣灵给他展示了他凄凉的晚年与死亡，故选D。

3.

词句猜测题。根据后文“He becomes generous（慷慨的）and caring to all around him”他发生了改变，不再像之前那么刻薄冷酷，可推知此处表示他对自己以前做过的事感到惭愧与后悔，故选A。

4.

推理判断题。根据小说的故事内容是讲述了一个刻薄冷酷的守财奴在圣诞节有所悔过、发生转变、变得慷慨仁慈，可推测圣诞节是一个宽恕和慷慨的节日，故选D。