57. How did the writer feel when she was riding for the first few miles in the car?

A. Warm　　　　　　　 B. Happy　　　　　　　 C. Worried　　　　　　　　　 D. Sleepy

56. Which of the following is not mentioned in the passage?

A. The weather of Britain is changeable.

B.　　 Summer in Britain is sometimes very hot.

C.　　 Lots of British people enjoy their holidays at the seaside.

D.　 The writer’s family expected to have fine days at the seaside.

55. The British people ______________.

A. talk much about weather　 B. don’t know how to talk about other things than weather

C. often enjoy talking about weather 　D. seldom think of changes in weather

54. The man’s life was saved because the tiger had jumped into the ____________.

A. river　　 　　　B. forest 　　　　　　　　　　 C. valley 　　　　　　　 D. mouth of the crocodile

C

Visitors to Britain are often surprised to find that the weather is an almost endless topic of conversation. This is not, as some people think, because the British are not bright enough to think of anything else to talk about, but because there is always a kind of surprise in the British climate. In England, we never know from one day to the next what is in store for us.

One year, we had a period of very hot weather in early June and decided to spend the weekend at the seaside. I packed the bags and got the children ready to leave. When at last everything was in the car, I sat down in the front seat, hot and tired, and gradually felt relaxed in the cool wind as my husband drove towards the coast. For the first few miles I thought happily of sea, sand and peace. But not for long, the sky began to cloud over and by the time we arrived it was a dark gray. We cooked supper and put the children to bed, hoping that the sun would shine next day.

Saturday was wet with a cold wind which reminded us sharply of winter, but we put on our raincoats and drove to the beach. It was wide, empty sand. We were not so brave; we went back to our little holiday house and sat round the fire playing indoor games. The following day was still wet and unfriendly and we were glad to go back to the comfort of home.

53. When the man shut his eyes, he thought he would _________.

A. sleep　　　　　　　　 B. be saved 　　　　　 C. escape　　　　　　　 D. die

52. He knew he was in great danger because the tiger was getting ready to ________ him.

A. attack　　　　　　　 B. hit 　　　　　　　　　 C. bite　 　　　　　　　 D. frighten

51. As a young man, the traveler enjoyed _________very much.

A. traveling　　　　　 B. hunting　 　　　　　 C. shooting　　　　　　 D. swimming

50. Everyone did some housework except _______.

A. Mrs. Ball　　　　　　　　 B. John　　　　　　　　　　　　 C. Peter　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. Tom

B

I was very fond of hunting when I was a young man. In the autumn of 1935, I was traveling in the northwest of India. One evening, after hunting in the forest all day, I was returning alone to the place where I had put up my tent. I was tired and hungry. It was getting darker and darker, and I was walking slowly along a narrow path. On my right was a wide river; on my left, a thick dark forest. All of a sudden, I saw two green eyes looking at me from among the trees. I knew it must be a man-eating tiger. The tiger was getting ready to jump on me.

My heart sank. What could I do? Should I jump into the river and hope to save my life by swimming? I looked to the right. In the river there was a big crocodile waiting to welcome me with its mouth wide open. I was so frightened that I shut my eyes. And I thought it would be the end of my life. I heard branches moving as the tiger roared and jumped. Just then I opened my eyes. What do you think had happened? The tiger had jumped right over me and now in the jaws of the crocodile.

49. ________ has repaired the chair.

A. Peter　　　　　　　　　　　 B. Tom　　　　　　　　　　　　 C. Mrs. Ball　　　　　　　　　 D. John

48. _______ helped Mrs. Ball to do the housework.

A. John　　　　　　　　　　　　 B. The girls　　　　　　　　　 C. the neighbours　　　　　 D. Mr. ball