She was known to millions as the "Queen of Crime" or the "Duchess (女公爵) of Death". But surprisingly, she hated violence and blood, and knew nothing of the weapons most often used in murder. "I don't think I dare look at a really horrible and damaged body," Agatha Christie once said. But her pen dared to travel where her eyes would not. In a 50-year writing career, Christie's murder stories made her the world's best-known mystery writer. She is outsold only by the Bible (《圣经》) and Shakespeare.

Her works have been turned into films and TV series, and a line of computer games is set to be released over the next six years.

"My grandmother liked to use new ways to reach people who wanted to enjoy her work," said Christie's grandson, Mathew Prichard. "Turning her stories into PC games allows us to introduce classic mysteries to new audiences."

Born in 1890 in England, Christie was educated at home and began her writing career while working as a nurse during World War I. She went on to produce 79 novels and numerous (大量的) short stories, dying at the age of 86. "With her knowledge of murder, Christie could have been a teacher at police academies," said one fan.

Her first novel, "The Mysterious Affair at Styles" (《斯泰尔斯庄园奇案》), also introduced Hercule Poirot, a retired Belgian (比利时的) police officer who starred in 30 of her works. Among the most popular are "Murder on the Orient Express" (《东方快车谋杀案》) (1934), and "Death on the Nile" (《尼罗河上的惨案》) (1937).

Poirot is a tidy little man with a funny-looking moustache, an egg-shaped head, and a high opinion of himself. He draws conclusions from observing the behavior of those around him, always managing to spot patterns that others cannot see. Poirot has become so famous that someone has even written his biography (传记), "The Life and Times of Hercule Poirot".

Starring in 17 novels, another Christie character, Miss Marple, is nearly as well known as Poirot. But while the Belgian uses his powers of observation, the old Miss Marple relies on her knowledge of human nature to solve crimes. As she once said, "Human nature is the same everywhere."

1. Agatha Christie was a ________ woman.

A. rich B. kind C. bold D. outstanding

2. Christie's murder stories ranked the ________ in sale amount.

A. second B. first C. third D. fourth

3. Christie's stories have been turned into ________ other forms.

A. two B. three C. four D. five

4. Christie's knowledge of murder was ________ .

A. poor B. rich C. limited D. poor

5. Poirot's success lies in his power of ________ while Miss Marple's success belongs to her knowledge of ________ .

A. observation； human nature

B. murder； imagination

C. imagination； murder

D. human nature； observation

(D)篇

1. D。归纳综合题，可用综合归纳法来解。认真阅读分析原文不难发现，Christie一生写了79部小说和大量短篇小说，当然是一个很出色的人。

2. C。推理判断题，可用逻辑推断法来解。由原文第一节末句可推出答案。

3. B。细节判断题，可用直接就题找文法来解。原文第二节体现答案。

4. B。推理判断题，可用逻辑推断法来解。由原文第四节"With her knowledge of murder, Christie could have been a teacher at police academies,"said one fan.可以推出答案。

5. A。细节判断题，可用直接就题找文法来解。原文末节But while the Belgian uses his powers of observation, the old Miss Marple relies on her knowledge of human nature to solve crimes. 体现答案。

完成句子（注意词性和时态）(每空1分,共20分。)
【小题1】我们现在都担心着她的安全。
Now, we ________ all ______________  __________ her safety.
【小题2】我们听说正在遭受一种怪病的折磨。
We heard that he ________   ______________  _________ a strange disease
【小题3】实际上，她是一个非常善良的人
_______  _________ , she is very kind.
【小题4】在昨天的会议上计划被提出来。
The plan ___________  ______ at the meeting yesterday.
【小题5】他刚刚从手术中恢复过来。
He has just ____________  __________ the opreation.
【小题6】漆黑的夜晚，风雨交加，电闪雷鸣，我全然被这种力量镇住了。
The dark, raining evening, the wind, the thundering clouds _________ me _____________
in their _____________
【小题7】她的母亲是一个很难相处的人。
Her mother is a woman hard to _______  ___________  ________ .
【小题8】从国外回来后， 他们在上海定居下来。
After returning from abroad, they ___________  _________ Shanghai.

完成句子（注意词性和时态）(每空1分,共20分。)

1.我们现在都担心着她的安全。

Now, we ________ all ______________  __________ her safety.

2.我们听说正在遭受一种怪病的折磨。

We heard that he ________   ______________  _________ a strange disease

3.实际上，她是一个非常善良的人

_______  _________ , she is very kind.

4.在昨天的会议上计划被提出来。

The plan ___________  ______ at the meeting yesterday.

5.他刚刚从手术中恢复过来。

He has just ____________  __________ the opreation.

6.漆黑的夜晚，风雨交加，电闪雷鸣，我全然被这种力量镇住了。

The dark, raining evening, the wind, the thundering clouds _________ me _____________

in their _____________

7.她的母亲是一个很难相处的人。

Her mother is a woman hard to _______  ___________  ________ .

8.从国外回来后， 他们在上海定居下来。

After returning from abroad, they ___________  _________ Shanghai.

翻译 (10分)

1. 你应该为你的迟到而向老师道歉。

_________________________________________________________________ .

2. 孩子们把Jon 的自行车藏起来捉弄他。

_________________________________________________________________ .

3. 我认为他不是一个讲信用的人。

__________________________________________________________________ .

4. 你不可以在医院里抽烟的。

__________________________________________________________________ .

5. 对不起我迟到了，我原应该来早点的。

_______________________________________________________________________ .

Translate the following sentences into English, using the words given in the brackets.(本大题做在答题纸上)

1.  不要浪费太多的时间玩游戏。 （ devote ）

2.  落日不断变化的色彩让那些年轻人都着了迷。（ be fascinated by ）

3.  尽管他有名声和财富，但他仍然是一个不幸福的人。  （ in spite of )

4.  服药期间如有异常情况发生，请立刻去看医生。 ( occur )

5.  他不该为这件事受到责备，毕竟他是个孩子。 （ blame ）