2. The most important idea behind the kind of party planning described here is that______.

　A. it brings parents and children closer together

　B. guests play a part in the preparation of a party

　C. parents are spared the trouble of sending invitations

　D. it provides a subject of conversation

1. The main purpose of writing this text is ________.

　A. to share information about party planning　　

　B. to introduce the joys of a birthday party

　C. to announce a business plan

　D. to sell a service

5.B 通观全文，开头点题后，通篇在谈作家Kit Williams为其作品Masquerade设计了一项寻宝的活动，读者Ken Roberts如何追根溯源，获得成功。

(2)

　A child’s birthday party doesn’t have to be a hassle；it can be a basket of fun, according to Beth Anaclerio, an Evaston mother of two, ages 4 and 18 months.

　“Having a party at home usually requires a lot of running around on the part of the parents, and often the birthday boy or girl gets lost in wild excitement. But it really doesn’t have to be that way,” said Anaclerio. Last summer, Anaclerio and her friend Jill Carlisle, a Northbrook mother of a 2-year-old, founded a home party-planning business called “A Party in a Basket.” Their goal is to help parents and children share in the fun part of party planning, like choosing the subject or making a cake, while they take care of everything.

　Drawing on their experiences as mothers, they have created(制作)10 ready-to-use, home party packages. Everything a family needs to plan a party, except the cake and ice cream, is delivered to the home in a large basket.

　“Our parties are aimed for children 2 to 10,” Anaclerio said, “and they’re very interactive(互动)and creative in that they build a sense of drama based on a subject. For example, at the Soda Shoppe party the guests become waiters and waitresses and build wonderful ice cream creations.”

　The standard $ 200 package for eight children includes a basket filled with invitations, gifts, games and prizes, paper goods, a party planner and the like. For more information, call Anaclerio at 708-864-6584 or Carlisle at 708-205-9141.

4.C 首先比较A、B、C、D四个选项中排序的异同，确认开头两项为ab，db，还是ba。从短文中确认a在前；缩小范围看第二步，比较b，d，应该是d；至此答案已明：a-d…

3.B In her honor是回答本题的关键信息，指的就是to show respect for Henry VIII’s first wife

2.C 循序查找另外三个与故事相关的线索，体会本文作者描述幸运读者Ken Roberts寻宝过程时的语气变化：其中，第二段第3句为His success came from the fact that he had gained an important clue at the start…而后联系到“One of Six to Eight”--也就是Katherine of Aragon。

1.D 最重要的线索为them之前的动词mislead，由其语义可以断定，其后为“人”而非“物”，答案为readers (of…)

5. What is the subject discussed in the text?

　A. An exciting historical event.　　 B. A modern treasure hunt.

　C. The attraction of Masquerade.　　 D. The importance of logical thinking.

4. Which of the following describes Roberts’ logic in searching for the hare?

　a. Henry VIII’s six wives

　b. Katherine’s burial place at Kimbolton

　c. Williams’ childhood in Ampthill

　d. Katherine of Aragon

　e. stone crosses in Ampthill Park

　A. a-b-c-d-e　 B. d-b-c-e-a　 C. a-d-b-c-e　 D. b-a-e-c-d

3. The stone crosses in Ampthill were built ________.

　A. to tell about what happened in 1773　　

　B. to show respect for Henry VIII’s first wife

　C. to serve as a roadsign in Ampthill Park

　D. to inform people where the gold hare was