Question

    I once heard this tale in India, where it is told as if true—though any naturalist would know it couldn’t be. The country is India. A colonial official and his wife are giving a large dinner party. They invite army officers and their wives, and a visiting American naturalist.

A spirited discussion springs up between a young girl who says women are no longer the jumping on a chair at the sight of a mouse and an army officer who disagrees and says, “A woman’s  reaction in any crisis is to scream. And a man has more control than a woman.”

The American scientist does not join in the argument but sits and watches the faces of the other guests. As he stares, he sees a slight strange expression come over the face of the hostess. She gestures to the servant standing behind her chair and whispers to him. The servant’s eyes widen. He turns quickly and leaves the room. Of the guests, none except the American notices this or sees the servant place a bowl of milk on the balcony just outside the open glass doors.

In India, milk in a bowl means only one thing: bait (诱饵) for a snake. The American understands there must be a snake in the room. His eyes move across the room but see nothing. He realizes the snake can only be in one place — under the table.

His first reaction is to jump back and warn the others. But he knows any sudden movement will frighten the animal into striking. He speaks quickly, the tone of his voice so arresting that it quietens everyone. “I want to know what control everyone here has. I will count three hundred—that’s five minutes — and not one of you is to move a muscle. Ready!”

The 20 people sit like stone images while he counts. He is saying, “—two hundred and eighty—”  When out of the corner of his eyes, he sees the snake make for the bowl of milk. Four or five screams ring out as he jumps to close the balcony doors.

“There is your proof!” the host shouts. “A man has just shown us perfect self-control.”

“Just a minute,” the American says, turning to his hostess, “How did you know that snake was in the room?” With a faint smile coming across her face she replies: “Because it was lying across my foot.”

1.What can we conclude from the passage?

A.Women are afraid of mice.

B.The army officer’s opinion is wrong.

C.The American suggests playing a game for entertainment.

D.The hostess has had previous experience catching snakes.

2.Choose the right order of the events given in the passage.

a. The American’s eyes sweep the room but he sees nothing.

b. The American suggests the guests playing a game.

c. Following the instructions, the servant puts out some milk.

d. The hostess is staring ahead, a slight strange look appearing.

e. The American shuts the balcony doors safely, and several screams are let out.

f. The snake edges its way to the bowl of milk.

A.d,c,a,b,f,e B.a,b,c,e,f,d

C.d,f,a,b,c,c D.f,e,c,a,d,b

3.Who has real self-control according to the passage?

A.The American. B.The army officer.

C.The girl. D.The hostess.

4.What may be the best title for the passage?

A.A Heated Argument B.A Striking Dinner Party

C.An Unbelievable Story D.A Smart Hostess

Answer

1.B

2.A

3.D

4.B

【解析】

这是一篇记叙文。短文叙述了在一场宴会上，关于男人和女人自控力的的激烈讨论，该讨论以一条蛇的出现以及男人和女人们对此不同的反应而结束。

1.

推理判断题。根据第二段“A woman’s reaction in any crisis is to scream. And a man has more control than a woman.”可知这位军官的观点是“一遇到危急情况，女人的反应便是尖叫。而男人虽然也可能想叫，但比起女人来，自制力却略胜一筹”。根据倒数第三段“Four or five screams ring out as he jumps to close the balcony doors.”当他跳起来关上阳台的门时，四五声尖叫响起。根据最后一段“With a faint smile coming across her face she replies: “Because it was lying across my foot.”女主人脸上闪出一丝淡淡的微笑，回答说：“因为它当时正从我的脚背上爬过去。由此判断出这位军官的观点是错误的。故选B项。

2.

细节理解题。根据第三段As he stares, he sees a slight strange expression come over the face of the hostess. the servant place a bowl of milk on the balcony just outside the open glass doors.当他凝视的时候，他看到女主人的脸上掠过一丝奇怪的表情。仆人把一碗牛奶放在阳台上，就在打开的玻璃门外面。根据第四段 His eyes move across the room but see nothing.他的眼睛扫视了一下房间，但什么也没看见。根据第五段“I want to know what control everyone here has. I will count three hundred—that’s five minutes — and not one of you is to move a muscle. Ready!”我想了解一下在座的诸位到底有多大的克制能力，我数三百下——也就是五分钟——你们谁都不许动一动。动者将罚款五十卢比。准备好。根据第六段When out of the corner of his eyes, he sees the snake make for the bowl of milk. Four or five screams ring out as he jumps to close the balcony doors.从眼角的余光里，他看到蛇正向那碗牛奶走去。当他跳起来关上阳台的门时，四五声尖叫响起。由此可知正确的顺序为d,c,a,b,f,e。故选A项。

3.

推理判断题。根据最后一段“With a faint smile coming across her face she replies: “Because it was lying across my foot.”女主人脸上闪出一丝淡淡的微笑，回答说：“因为它当时正从我的脚背上爬过去。由此推断出，女主人更有自控能力。故选D项。

4.

主旨大意题。根据第一段A colonial official and his wife are giving a large dinner party. They invite army officers and their wives, and a visiting American naturalist.某殖民地官员和他的夫人正举行盛大的晚宴。他们邀请军官和他们的夫人，另外还有一位来访的美国博物学家。 根据第二段A spirited discussion springs up between a young girl who says women are no longer the jumping on a chair at the sight of a mouse and an army officer who disagrees and says, “A woman’s reaction in any crisis is to scream. And a man has more control than a woman.”席间，一位年轻的女士同一位少校展开了热烈的讨论。年轻的女士认为妇女已经有所进步，不再像过去那样一见到老鼠就吓得跳到椅子上，少校则不以为然。 他说：“一遇到危急情况，女人的反应便是尖叫。而男人虽然也可能想叫，但比起女人来，自制力却略胜一筹。根据倒数第三段“Four or five screams ring out as he jumps to close the balcony doors.”当他跳起来关上阳台的门时，四五声尖叫响起。根据最后一段“With a faint smile coming across her face she replies: “Because it was lying across my foot.”女主人脸上闪出一丝淡淡的微笑，回答说：“因为它当时正从我的脚背上爬过去。所以短文的最佳标题为“引人注目的宴会”。故选B项。