Question

    If you’ve ever visited London, it’s likely that you’ve heard the loud chimes（鸣响）of Big Ben, the 157-year-old clock bell of the UK’s Houses of Parliament（议会）.

But on Aug 21, the world’s most famous bell fell silent. This is because the Palace of Westminster’s Elizabeth Tower, which houses Big Ben, needs to be repaired. The workers who’ll carry out the repairs don’t want their ears to be damaged by the sounds of the huge bell, reported BBC News. Big Ben won’t ring again regularly until 2021.

There’s been quite an emotional response to the move. Several members of parliament gathered in front of the Houses of Parliament to hear the bell’s last regular chime for four years. A few even shed tears, as if they were attending a friend’s funeral.

But a number of politicians are angry about the lengthy silencing of Big Ben, calling it a symbol of Britain, according to ABC News. And some members of public agree with it. “It’s our heritage,” David Dummigan, from Cumbria in the north of England, told The New York Times. “People come from all over the world to look at it and listen to it. It’s part of British history.” This kind of emotional reaction could be linked to “fears about Britain losing its voice and place in the world, which is part of the threat that comes from Brexit”, according to CNN. “The reality of losing a place at the top table is being made obvious,” it wrote.

Worries aside, fans of Big Ben will still be able to hear its unique chimes during special occasions such as New Year’s Eve. But if we do miss hearing Big Ben on a regular basis, we could always set its sound as our message tone.

1.Why did Big Ben fall silent?

A.To get Big Ben repaired.

B.To create a quiet environment for residents.

C.To protect the workers’ ears.

D.To remove some politicians’ anger about it.

2.What does the underlined word “it” in Paragraph 4 refer to?

A.Big Ben needs to be repaired.

B.Big Ben is a symbol of Britain.

C.The UK is losing its voice in the world.

D.Big Ben should ring on special occasions.

3.Why did Britons react emotionally?

A.Fears about Big Ben falling silent forever.

B.Threat coming from the rise of other countries.

C.Worries about not being able to visit Big Ben anymore.

D.Worries about the UK losing its influence on the world.

4.Which of the following can be the best title for the text?

A.Britons React Emotionally to Big Ben’s Silence.

B.Britons are Worried about the Fall of the UK.

C.Britain is Losing its Place at the Top Table.

D.Big Ben Falls Silent for Four Years.

Answer

1.C

2.B

3.D

4.A

【解析】

本文为说明文。如果你去过伦敦，你很可能听到过大本钟的巨大钟声。大本钟是英国议会大厦的大钟，已有157年的历史。但在8月21日，世界上最著名的钟沉默了。这是因为大本钟所在的威斯敏斯特伊丽莎白塔宫殿需要维修。据英国广播公司报道，将进行维修的工人们不希望他们的耳朵被巨大的钟声损坏。直到2021年，大本钟才会再次定期敲响。这一举动引起了公众的很大反应。

1.细节理解题。根据第一段中的This is because the Palace of Westminster's Elizabeth Tower, which houses Big Ben, needs to be repaired. The workers who'll carry out the repairs don't want their ears to be damaged by the sounds of the huge bell,可知，大本钟沉默是为了保护维修威斯敏斯特伊丽莎白塔宫殿的工人们的耳朵不被巨大的钟声损坏。故C选项正确。

2.词义猜测题。根据划线词所在句前一句But a number of politicians are angry about the lengthy silencing of Big Ben, calling it a symbol of Britain,（但是一些政界人士对大本钟的长时间沉寂感到愤怒，称它是英国的象征）可知，一些公众也同意它（它是英国的象征）。故B选项正确。

3.细节理解题。根据倒数第二段中的This kind of emotional reaction could be linked to “fears about Britain losing its voice and place in the world, which is part of the threat that comes from Brexit”, according to CNN.可知，这种情绪反应可能与对英国失去发言权和世界地位的担忧有关。故D选项正确。

4.标题判断题。通读全文可知，文章主要介绍了英国人对大本钟的沉默的强烈反应。故A选项正确。