Question

    I lived in Port Stewart, one of the small villages on the coast. I rented a small room at the top of an old two-storey Victorian house. From its window I could look out on the grey, ever-restless ocean,1.

An old retired couple lived in two rooms on the ground floor. Mr. Paul was in his eighties and I remember him going for his nightly walk accompanied by his walking stick. 2. I heard him occasionally in his own-room. His wife would sit quietly in the kitchen beside the fire constantly knitting(织毛活)and offering me cups of tea as 1 came in from the pub or back from studying.

3.I was not surprised, aware even then that age can be cruel. But what moved me most was his rapid worsening, the fact that I never again saw him walking bent double against the wind.

4.The fact that I was only aware of this old man's illness through his rasping( 刺耳的) cough and his wife's nursing him gave the house an air of heavy sadness.

One evening, I came in from the cold and went straight to the kitchen to heat myself at the fire. Mrs.Paul sat alone. There was a silence I couldn't under-stand. 5. “Would you like a cup of tea?” I asked. She looked up slowly and l remember her old but still quite beautiful face as she said calmly and without emotion: “My husband is dead.”

A.Mr. Paul became ill suddenly.

B.Late into the night I could hear him coughing.

C.His walking stick was always lying in the hall.

D.She was friendly and enjoyed a cup of tea with me.

E.It took her some time to acknowledge me coming into the room.

F.I never saw the old man at any other time apart from on these walks.

G.I can still remember the view from the window and the constant changes in the sea.

Answer

1.G

2.F

3.A

4.B

5.E

【解析】

这是一篇记叙文。文章主要记叙了作者在Port Stewart期间，遇到了一对退休的老夫妇，记叙了与他们相处的过程，后来保罗先生突然生病了，每晚都在咳嗽，最后从Paul 夫人的口中得知Paul 先生去世了。

1.

根据上文From its window I could look out on the grey, ever-restless ocean.可知从它的窗口，我可以看到灰色的，永远不平静的海洋。由此可知，本句承接上文继续说明窗外的景色。故G选项“我仍然记得窗外的景色和不断变化的大海”符合上下文语境，故选G。

2.

结合上文 Mr. Paul was in his eighties and I remember him going for his nightly walk accompanied by his walking stick.可知，Paul 已经八十多岁了，我记得他每天晚上都拄着拐杖散步。由此可知，该空应该和 Paul 的散步有关。F项谈及到了 Paul 散步，承接上文，符合语境。故F选项“除了这几次散步外，我在其他时间从未见过这位老人”符合上下文语境，故选F。

3.

根据下文 I was not surprised, aware even then that age can be cruel. 可知，“我”并不感到惊讶，即使在那个时候，我也意识到年龄可能是残酷的。由此可知，A项谈及到了 Paul 的突然生病，这和下文年龄的残酷形成呼应，符合语境。故A选项“Paul先生突然生病了”符合上下文语境，故选A。

4.

根据下文 The fact that I was only aware of this old man's illness through his rasping (刺耳的) cough and his wife's nursing him gave the house an air of heavy sadness. 可知，事实上，我只是通过这个老人的剧烈咳嗽和他妻子的护理才知道他生病了，这使这所房子显得十分悲伤。由此可知，本句应当是提到了老人半夜的咳嗽声。故B选项“深夜我还能听到他咳嗽”符合上下文语境，故选B。

5.

根据前文One evening, I came in from the cold and went straight to the kitchen to heat myself at the fire. Mrs. Paul sat alone. There was a silence I couldn't understand.可知一天晚上，我从寒冷中走了进来，径直走进厨房，在炉火旁取暖。保罗夫人独自坐着。一片寂静让我无法忍受。以及后文 “Would you like a cup of tea?” I asked.由此可知，下文作者问 Paul 太太需不需要一杯茶，说明作者后来进了房间。故E选项“她过了一会儿才让我进了房间”符合上下文语境，故选E。