The art of reading fiction is largely a matter of inferring meanings. To infer means to understand facts which are not directly stated---only suggested. Inference is one of the commonest ways of knowing things: a child holds his knee and cries; this action implies his feeling; an observer infers that the child is hurt. To infer accurately in everyday life requires caution in observing; to infer skillfully in fiction requires caution in reading; both require disciplined imagination.
The short-story reader can expect to find certain basic elements in any story. For example, all stories involve a person or persons, in a particular setting, faced with a demand for a response. The response called for may be a physical action, such as defeating an adversary(对手) or escaping from a danger; or it may be a mental action, such as adjusting to others or within oneself. In either case, the short story is a description in two ways: first, it shows the motives for a given human action; second, it makes a point about the general human situation. Such descriptions, however, rather than being stated directly, usually are implied by the elements of the story.
When the reader of a story understands all the facts and their interrelationships, he is ready to infer the significance of the story as a whole---its comment on the human situation. This comment, or theme, is the seed from which the story grew. It is also the idea by which all the separate elements of the story are governed, while these in turn further shape and modify the theme. In addition to action, character, and setting, these elements include structure, mood, tone, and point of view.
Fiction reading requires an awareness of all the ways in which a story communicates. It also requires attention to detail. What the author provides is a network of points which serve as clues to his meaning. He invites the reader to develop the meaning by inference, actually to create much of the story himself and so make it part of his own experience.
1.According to the author, "infer" means ________ .
A. knowing facts beyond the statement
B. looking for more evidences for the statement
C. finding out a different meaning from the statement
D. adding some facts to the statement
2.What is inferring in fiction based on?
A. Readers’ guessing.
B. The basic elements of the story.
C. The setting of the story.
D. The interrelationships between people in the story.
3.What is the implied meaning of the last sentence?
A. Inferring can really help the reader develop imagination and enrich himself.
B. Inferring can help the reader write a story of his own.
C. The reader should look for an experience described in the story he reads.
D. The experience described in the story will leave a great impact on its reader.
4.What is the main idea of this passage?
A. Inferring is an art of writing.
B. Inferring is a need in fiction writing.
C. Inferring is the basic skill in reading fiction.
D. Inferring is common in reading.
Motorists over the age of 75 face compulsory tests of their eyesight and ability to drive under proposals being considered by ministers.
The biggest overhaul of motoring law in a generation could also lead to all drivers having to give assurances of their fitness to get behind the wheel every 10 years.
Other changes under consideration include issuing daylight driving licenses for motorists with night blindness, together with stricter checks on all drivers whose medical condition brought a threat to other road users.
It is understood that the proposals will be part of a review of the law governing the medical fitness of drivers that will be announced publicly by the summer.
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency is dealing with a rising number of motorists who are concerned that they have conditions---from failing eyesight to epilepsy---that could affect their driving.
In 2006, the DVLA dealt with 600,000 motorists whose physical ability to drive needed to be recertified（重新认证）, a 20 per cent rise on the previous year. With an ageing population, the biggest challenge is dealing with the rising number of elderly motorists. By 2021, there will be an estimated three million drivers over the age of 70 on Britain’s roads.
Drivers must renew their licenses at the age of 70 and every three years thereafter. The applicant is legally required to tell the DVLA of any conditions that could weaken their ability behind the wheel.
Ministers have ruled out a compulsory maximum age for driving but will instead rely on tightening up the checks on motorists over the age of 75. The most likely option would be tests to ensure motorists were fit to drive. They would include an eyesight test and a cognitive（认知） test that would prove a driver's ability to react to road signs, driving conditions, pedestrians and vehicles.
However, checks are likely to be tightened at all ages. The strictest controls are expected to be imposed（强制）on motorists of any age who have had a heart attack or stroke. They could have to produce a doctor's approval to resume（重新得到）driving. Anyone making a false declaration would be guilty of a criminal offence.
1.Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage?
A. The new motoring law will come into effect by the summer．
B. Drivers over the age of 75 must renew their licenses every three years．
C. Doctors will decide whether one can get their driving licenses．
D. Drivers at all ages will be expected to provide their medical condition．
2.What is the biggest challenge to the traffic safety in Britain according to the writer?
A. Ageing population． B. Increasing number of cars．
C. Increasing number of elderly motorists． D. Driving conditions．
3.The underlined word “overhaul” in Paragraph 2 means _______．
A. change B. consideration C. concern D. challenge
4.What can be inferred from the passage?
A. There will be more and more aged drivers in Britain．
B. Anyone can get a driving license as long as he/she is in good health．
C. Health tends to decline as one gets old．
D. It will be guilty to make a false declaration．
Immediately I got up and dressed, I stuck my violin under my jacket and went out into the streets to try my . I wandered about for an hour, looking for a likely , feeling as though I were about to commit a crime. Then I at last under a bridge near the station and decided to have a try.
I felt tense and . It was the first time, after all. I drew the violin from under the jacket like a gun. It was here, in Southampton, with trains rattling overhead, that I was about to myself. One moment I was part of the hurrying crowds, the next I stood apart, my back to the wall, my hat on the before me, the violin under my chin.
The first notes I played were loud and raw, like a declaration of protest, then they settled down and began to run more _ and to stay more or less in tune. To my ,I was neither arrested nor told to shut up. Indeed, nobody took any at all. Then an old man, without stopping at all, dropped a penny into my as though getting rid of some guilty evidence.
I worked the streets of Southampton for several days, gradually obtaining the truth of the by trial and error. It was not a good thing, for instance, to let the hat fill up with money---the sight could a kind-hearted man; nor was it wise to it completely, which could also confuse him, giving him no hint as to where to his money. Placing a couple of pennies in the hat to start the thing going soon became a practice and I made sure, between tunes, to take off most of the earnings, but always leaving two behind.
Old were most generous, and so were women with children, shop girls and barmaids. As for men, heavy drinkers were always willing listeners and so were big guys with muscles. But a man with an expensive hat, briefcase or dog: respectable types were the least of all. Except for retired army officers, who would shout "Why aren't you , young man?" and then would over-tip to cover up their confusion.
1.A. violin B. artC. skill D. luck
2.A. station B. spot C. street D. bridge
3.A. playedB. wandered C. stopped D. sat
4.A. nervous B. excited C. lostD. strange
5.A. shame B. show C. damage D. declare
6.A. wall B. bridge C. pavement D. road
7.A. smoothly B. slowly C. angrily D. roughly
8.A. excitement B. sorrow C. astonishment D. surprise
9.A. money B. pity C. notice D. rest
10.A. hat B. pocket C. hand D. bag
11.A. people B. tradeC. performance D. music
12.A. encourage B. helpC. support D. discourage
13.A. fill B. empty C. tear D. hide
14.A. make B. get C. drop D. earn
15.A. modern B. regular C. timely D. economic
16.A . pennies B. dollars C. pounds D. euros
17.A. workers B. teachers C. doctors D. ladies
18.A. never B. often C. always D. sometimes
19.A. generous B. comfortable C. handsome D. selfish
20.A. playing B. working C. cheating D. shopping
–I’m quite nervous about tomorrow’s oral English Test.
--_________.
A. You are great. B. It’s no brainer.
C. I’ll cross my fingers for you. D. Forget it.
Doctor Smith has made another wonderful discovery, _______ great importance.
A. which I think is of B. which I think it is of
C. which is I think D. I think which is
The suit _______him quite well_______the color was a little brighter.
A. fit; except that B. fitted; except for
C. matched; besides D. suited; aside from
