阅读理解——中考版

A

One evening Robert was on his way home from the railway station. When he turned round a corner, he heard footsteps behind him and he thought someone was coming near. He began to walk faster. The footsteps became faster, too. He slowed down. The footsteps also slowed down. Now he was sure that he was being followed. He tried to hide. Still the footsteps followed him. He didn’t know how to save himself, so he jumped over a fence and found himself in a cemetery (墓地), throwing himself down on one of the tombs.

The man behind followed. Robert could hear the man jump over the fence. Thoughts of thieves or murderers filled his mind. Robert stood up and faced the man who was following him. “What do you want?” he asked. “Why are you following me?”

“Hi, man” said the stranger. “Do you always go home like this, or are you taking some special exercise tonight? I want to go to Mr Black’s and don’t know the way. The station master told me to follow you as you live next door. Excuse me for asking, but is there still a long way to go?”

(  ) 1. The man followed Robert        .

A. to see who could walk faster

B. to see who did exercise better  

C. to ask him some questions

D. to go to visit his friend

(  ) 2. Robert jumped over the fence so that he could

       .

A. save himself 

B. find a place to hide himself  

C. make sure if he was followed 

D. face the man in cemetery

(  ) 3. When they were in the cemetery, Robert        .

A. threw the man down himself          

B. knew that the man was a murderer  

C. knew what the man had followed him for  

D. was sure he was much stronger than the man

(  ) 4. From the passage we know        .

A. Robert often did exercise in the evening  

B. Robert’s house was far away from the station  

C. the station master lived next door to Robert  

D. the man knew Mr Black, but he didn’t know Robert

(  ) 5. According to the story, what would happen next?

A. The man was taken to Mr Black’s.

B. The man killed Robert.  

C. Robert took the man to the police.

D. Robert ran away as quickly as he could.

B

There are a number of idioms connected with weather.

We say that it’s “raining cats and dogs” when we describe a heavy rain.

Has it ever rained cats and dogs? I don’t think so. The phrase comes from ancient Egypt. There, cats and dogs were believed to be companions (陪伴) of the gods who ruled over the weather.

If a person says “Mary is under the weather”, it means she is not feeling very well. For example: “What’s wrong?” “I’m a bit under the weather.” She probably has a cold, which will go away quickly. We can also say, “It’s nothing serious. I’m just a bit under the weather.” Being “under the weather” reminds us that a quick change in the weather can affect our health and the way we feel.

A fair-weather friend means someone who is only a friend when times are good. But if you are in trouble, he or she usually won’t help you. For example: When Joe was rich, everybody in town was his best friend. But after he lost his money, most of them turned out to be fair-weather friends who pretended that they didn’t even know him.

There are two sentences connected with weather: “Peter’s making heavy weather of writing his essay, but John finished his several days ago.”; “It’s brass monkey weather, because it’s 20 degrees below zero outside.” Can you guess what the two sentences mean?

(  ) 6. When we have a cold, we can say we are        .

A. under the weather    

B. raining cats and dogs

C. making heavy weather

D. fair-weather friends

(  ) 7. “Make heavy weather of something” means to take

        time than necessary to do something.

A. less           B. more         C. fewer     D. easier

(  ) 8. “Brass monkey weather” means        .

A. very cold weather           B. very hot weather  

C. snowy                 D. rainy

(  ) 9. The underlined words mean “_____” in Chinese.

A.生死朋友            B.患难朋友  

C.故友                   D.不能共患难的朋友

(  )10. What’s the best title for the passage?

A. The History of Weather Idioms

B. Weather Idioms and Friends

C. Weather Idioms in Life

D. Weather Idioms and Animals

C

100,000 people have learned to speak another language with PARLA

The “PARLA” method allows you to study wherever and whenever you want. We send you tapes and books, and by listening, repeating and reading, you can learn to speak the language that you choose fluently in a month! There are 20 languages to choose from. To find out more, mail the form. below to us and we’ll send you our free information pack.

Welcome to Our School!

We are the world’s largest and most experienced Home Study School.

Over the last 20 years nearly two million people have improved their study habits and lives by learning with us. Before you start to study the language you want to learn in our school, you will receive a package with books and tapes, and the address of your personal teacher. During your course you will send your work to your teacher every week. Your teacher will correct it and talk to you about it on the telephone. Once a month, you will go to seminars where you can meet other students.

After 6 months, you will be able to speak fluently!

Call 0406386 5723 for more information.

(  )11. According to the first advertisement, how do people learn another language with PARLA?

A. By listening, repeating and reading.

B. By listening and writing.

C. By listening and chatting.

D. By speaking , reading and writing.

(  )12. If you want to learn another language in a month, you can        .

A. send a form. to the PARLA school.

B. call 0406386 5723 for more information

C. visit the PARLA school

D. go to Home Study School

(  )13. The underlined word “seminar” may be a        .

A. person      B. book         C. class      D. map

(  )14. According to the second advertisement, you can study        .

A. at school               B. in your home

C. in your teacher’s house  

D. in the teacher’s office

(  )15. What is the similarity (共同之处) about the two advertisements?

①They are both about learning languages.

②When you begin to study, you will receive some books and tapes.

③You can get more information about the advertisement.

④About 100,000 people got to the two schools to study.

A.①②③④ B.①②③   C.①②    D.①③

D

One day I happened to meet an Englishman in the street and soon we began to talk. As I was talking about how I was studying English, the foreigner seemed to be very surprised, gently shaking his head and saying “You don’t say!” I was puzzled, and I thought, “Perhaps this is not a right topic to talk about.” So I said to him, “Well, shall we talk about the Great Wall? Have you ever been there?

“Certainly!Everyone back home will laugh at me if I leave here without seeing it. The Great Wall is wonderful!” “Yes, it is one of the wonders in the world. And people of many countries have come to visit it.” As I went on with it, he stopped me again, “You don’t say!”

I couldn’t help asking, “Why do you ask me not to talk about it?”

“Well, I didn’t ask you to do so,” he answered, greatly surprised.

“Didn’t you say ‘You don’t say’?” I asked again.

Hearing this, the foreigner laughed loudly. He began to explain, “ ‘You don’t say’ means ‘Really’. Perhaps you know little about English idioms.”

Wow! How foolish I was! Since then I have been careful with English idioms.

16. Why was the writer puzzled soon after he began to talk with the foreigner?

17. What made the foreigner laugh?

　                                                                      18 Where do you think the story probably happened?　

　                                                                      19. How many times was the writer puzzled?

20. What does the English idiom “You don’t say” mean?