题目列表(包括答案和解析)
We called her the "Lemon Lady" because of the sour-puss face she always presented to the public
and because she grew the finest lemons we had ever seen, on two huge trees in her front garden. We
often wondered why she looked so sour and how she grew such lemons -but we could find out nothing
about her. She was an old lady - at least 70 years of age, at a guess, perhaps more.
One day we answered an advertisement for a flat to rent, as we had been asked to leave ours as
soon as we could, and when we went to the address given, it was the house of the Lemon Lady.
She didn't "unfreeze" during the whole of our interview. She said the flat would not be ready for
occupation for about a month; that she had 45 names on her list and might add more before she would
select the people to suit her best. She was just firm and austere, and I gathered that we were not likely
to be the ones selected.
As my husband and I were leaving, I said, "How do you grow those wonderful lemons?" She gave
a wintry smile, which transformed her whole expression and made her look sweet and somehow pitiful.
"I do grow nice lemons," she replied. We went on to tell her how much we had always admired them
every time we had passed, and she opened up and told us quite a lot about this fruit. "You know the
general theory of pruning(修剪), I suppose?" She asked.
"Oh," said my husband, "I understand about pruning fruit trees and roses, but you must not prune
lemons, or so I understand." He added these last words when he saw from the Lemon Lady's expression
that he had said the wrong thing.
"No," said the Lemon Lady, "you must not prune lemons unless you want them to grow like mine.
What is the reason for pruning?"
"Well, to cut off dead or diseased wood; to prevent one branch chafing another; to let the sunlight
into the center of the bush and to promote the growth of the more virile buds."
"Very nicely put," said the Lemon Lady. "And why do you think that lemons are better with dead
or diseased wood on them; why should you not let sunlight into them; why should allowing many sickly
buds to develop make it a healthier tree?"
"I hadn't thought about it at all," confessed my husband rather shamefacedly, as he prides himself on
being an original thinker, and here he was allowing an old lady to out-think him. "Everyone here said you
mustn't prune lemons, so I thought it must be right."
We thanked her for the information and left, on much better terms with her than we would have ever
thought possible. We even felt quite a degree of affection towards her.
In the course of the next three weeks we saw several places that might have been to let but which for
various reasons we could not get. Eventually we got a place that suited us very well and I returned to tell
the Lemon Lady that we would not be needing her flat.
She was very nice and gave me afternoon tea. She said in her precise and careful style, "I'm glad you
have a house for the sake of your little boy, because a flat is no place for a child, especially a boy. But
for my own sake, I'm very sorry. I had decided to let you have the flat because I think we could have
got on very well together and because you liked my lemons."
As I left, she handed me a bag with two huge lemons in it. They were the most magnificent I have
ever seen. As I looked back from the gate and saw her sweet smile, I wondered why we had called
her the Lemon Lady.
As my husband said to me afterwards, "No one could do anything so well as she grew those lemons,
without being very proud of the accomplishment, and our touching on them was a good point in
psychology." We have used that idea to good effect several times since then.
At the house we did rent was a dying old lemon tree. My husband shook his head sadly as he gazed
at it. "Too late for treatment, I'm afraid," he said, but he set to and pruned it ruthlessly. We were in that
house for four years and from the second year onward, we each had the juice of a lemon every morning,
and when we left we took with us two 60-pound cases of lemons from the tree, and after we left a friend wrote and asked why we hadn't picked the lemons before we left.
We still call her the Lemon Lady, but the term is now one of pure affection. (825 words)
第二节：完形填空（共20小题；每小题1.5分，满分30分）
阅读下面短文，掌握其大意，然后从16-35各题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中，选出最佳选项。
The Price of a Dream
I grew up poor—living with my wonderful mother. We had little money, but plenty of love and attention. I was 16 and energetic. I understood that no matter how poor a person was, he could still 17 a dream.
My dream was 18 . By the time I was sixteen, I started playing baseball. I could throw a ninety-mile-per-hour fastball and 19 anything that moved on the football field.
I was also 20 . My high school coach was John, who not only believed in me, but also taught me 21 to believe in myself. He 22 me the difference between having a dream and remaining true to that dream. One particular 23 with Coach John changed my life forever.
A friend recommended me for a summer job. This meant a chance for money in my pocket—money for a new bike, new clothes and the 24 of savings for a house for my mother. Then I realized I would have to 25 up summer baseball to handle the work schedule, and that meant I would have to tell John I wouldn’t be playing.
When I told John, he was 26 as I expected him to be. “You have your whole life to work,” He shouted. “Your 27 days are limited. You can’t afford to waste them.” I stood before him with my head 28 , trying to think of the right 29 that would explain to him why my dream of buying my mom a house and having money in my pocket was worth facing his 30 in me.
“How much are you going to make at this job, son?” He asked. “3.5 dollars an hour,” I replied.
“Well,” he asked, “is $ 3.5 an hour the price of a dream?”
That simple question made 31 for me the difference between 32 something at once and having a 33 . I decided myself to play sports that summer and the ___34 year after I finished high school, I was hired by the Pittsburgh Pirates to play baseball, and was 35 a $ 20,000 contract. Finally, I bought my mother the house of my dream!
16. A. happy B. polite C. shy D. honest
17. A. live B. have C. make D. need
18. A. athletics B. music C. business D. money
19. A. kick B. play C. pass D. hit
20. A. right B. popular C. lucky D. honest
21. A. how B. why C. when D. whether
22. A. gave B. taught C. brought D. asked
23. A. accident B. matter C. problem D. experience
24. A. aim B. idea C. start D. purpose
25. A. keep B. end C. give D. pick
26. A. mad B. mournful C. frightened D. shameful
27. A. living B. playing C. working D. dreaming
28. A. moving B. nodding C. shaking D. hanging
29. A. answers B. excuses C. words D. ways
30. A. sadness B. regret C. hopelessness D. disappointment
31. A. direct B. clear C. straight D. bare
32. A. wanting B. changing C. dreaming D. enjoying
33. A. wish B. goal C. score D. desire
34. A. following B. same C. previous D. very
35. A. charged B. got C. offered D. presented
第二节：完形填空（共20小题；每小题1.5分，满分30分）
阅读下面短文，掌握其大意，然后从16-35各题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中，选出最佳选项。
The Price of a Dream
I grew up poor—living with my wonderful mother. We had little money, but plenty of love and attention. I was 16 and energetic. I understood that no matter how poor a person was, he could still 17 a dream.
My dream was 18 . By the time I was sixteen, I started playing baseball. I could throw a ninety-mile-per-hour fastball and 19 anything that moved on the football field.
I was also 20 . My high school coach was John, who not only believed in me, but also taught me 21 to believe in myself. He 22 me the difference between having a dream and remaining true to that dream. One particular 23 with Coach John changed my life forever.
A friend recommended me for a summer job. This meant a chance for money in my pocket—money for a new bike, new clothes and the 24 of savings for a house for my mother. Then I realized I would have to 25 up summer baseball to handle the work schedule, and that meant I would have to tell John I wouldn’t be playing.
When I told John, he was 26 as I expected him to be. “You have your whole life to work,” He shouted. “Your 27 days are limited. You can’t afford to waste them.” I stood before him with my head 28 , trying to think of the right 29 that would explain to him why my dream of buying my mom a house and having money in my pocket was worth facing his 30 in me.
“How much are you going to make at this job, son?” He asked. “3.5 dollars an hour,” I replied.
“Well,” he asked, “is $ 3.5 an hour the price of a dream?”
That simple question made 31 for me the difference between 32 something at once and having a 33 . I decided myself to play sports that summer and the ___34 year after I finished high school, I was hired by the Pittsburgh Pirates to play baseball, and was 35 a $ 20,000 contract. Finally, I bought my mother the house of my dream!
16. A. happy B. polite C. shy D. honest
17. A. live B. have C. make D. need
18. A. athletics B. music C. business D. money
19. A. kick B. play C. pass D. hit
20. A. right B. popular C. lucky D. honest
21. A. how B. why C. when D. whether
22. A. gave B. taught C. brought D. asked
23. A. accident B. matter C. problem D. experience
24. A. aim B. idea C. start D. purpose
25. A. keep B. end C. give D. pick
26. A. mad B. mournful C. frightened D. shameful
27. A. living B. playing C. working D. dreaming
28. A. moving B. nodding C. shaking D. hanging
29. A. answers B. excuses C. words D. ways
30. A. sadness B. regret C. hopelessness D. disappointment
31. A. direct B. clear C. straight D. bare
32. A. wanting B. changing C. dreaming D. enjoying
33. A. wish B. goal C. score D. desire
34. A. following B. same C. previous D. very
35. A. charged B. got C. offered D. presented
My son and I were trying to sell the house we had repaired but in the barn(谷仓)there were bats(蝙蝠)and they would not leave. The barn was their home. They told us so in their own way. They hung there in the barn and seemed determined to stay for the season. Don’t worry about it, Dad, " Patrick said. They keep down the mosquitoes(蚊子).”
Unfortunately they also kept the buyers away. when we had asked a person to sell the house for us he had refused to show it because of the bats. Bats are popular, “Patrick comforted me. They’re ecological(生态学的).”Isn’t there a machine you can buy that produces high frequency sounds to keep bats away?” “I don’t know,” said Patrick. But I like bats, and whoever buys this house will probably like them too. “Probably?” I hated that word. “How many bats are there ,anyway?” “I counted about 90 last night,” said Patrick. “They were dropping out from under the edge of the roof.” “You mean there are more — outside?” “They’re everywhere, Dad. But look at it this way. When the cold weather comes, they’ll be off to Mexico. Maybe in the spring we can keep them out. Don’t worry about it,” he said for the hundredth time. “It’s not a problem.”
The bat expert I called was even more active than Patrick. I think you’ve got a large number there,” he said in wonder, I’ve been trying to attract bats to our house for 25 years. A single bat eats up his weight in mosquitoes and black flies three times every night. You’re a very lucky man.” I offered to share my luck with him. He could take them away. Bats have a remarkable homing instinct(本能),”he said, “They’d fly straight back even if I transported them 100 miles. Once they have settled, you can’t stop them from coming back.” I was silent.
Finally we managed to rent “(出租)the house to a young family, who were also interested in buying it. What about the bats?” I said to Patrick.
“Oh, they love the bats,” he said. “No mosquitoes. No black flies. It’s one of the things that attracted them.”
“Do you think they will really buy the blouse?”
“Probably.”
“Probably? Well, if they do ,I suppose I’ll have to admit that I was wrong.”
“You mean you’re going to eat your words?”
“Yes, I am.”
36. What was the problem the author had with his house?
A.?Bats were living in the barn and wouldn't go away.
B.?The author and his son couldn't sleep well because of the bats.
C.?The author and his son might be able to stay for the season.
D.?The house was still badly in need of repair.
37.?What did Patrick suggest the author should do to stop the bats living in the barn?
A.?He should buy a high frequency machine.
B.?He should move them one hundred miles away.
C.?He should reduce the number of mosquitoes.
D.?He should close the barn in the spring.
38.?Why did the author fall silent when he talked with the bat specialist?
A.?He felt sure about the situation.
B.?He found out that it would be impossible to remove the bats.
C.?He learned that he would be able to share his luck with the expert.
D.?He liked the advice given by the expert.
39?What happened regarding the house in the end?
A.?Some people agreed to rent the house.
B.?The author failed to find anybody who wanted to live in the house.
C.?The bat expert made the decision to buy the house.
D.?The bats left the house for Mexico in the spring.
40.?Why did the author think he might have to “eat his words”?
A.?He felt sorry for the bats.
B.?He might be mistaken about being unable to sell the house.
C.?He realized he might be wrong about the bats’ actions.
D.?He was happy about selling the house.
My son and I were trying to sell the house we had repaired but in the barn(谷仓)there were bats(蝙蝠)and they would not leave. The barn was their home. They told us so in their own way. They hung there in the barn and seemed determined to stay for the season. Don’t worry about it, Dad, " Patrick said. They keep down the mosquitoes(蚊子).”
Unfortunately they also kept the buyers away. when we had asked a person to sell the house for us he had refused to show it because of the bats. Bats are popular, “Patrick comforted me. They’re ecological(生态学的).”Isn’t there a machine you can buy that produces high frequency sounds to keep bats away?” “I don’t know,” said Patrick. But I like bats, and whoever buys this house will probably like them too. “Probably?” I hated that word. “How many bats are there ,anyway?” “I counted about 90 last night,” said Patrick. “They were dropping out from under the edge of the roof.” “You mean there are more — outside?” “They’re everywhere, Dad. But look at it this way. When the cold weather comes, they’ll be off to Mexico. Maybe in the spring we can keep them out. Don’t worry about it,” he said for the hundredth time. “It’s not a problem.”
The bat expert I called was even more active than Patrick. I think you’ve got a large number there,” he said in wonder, I’ve been trying to attract bats to our house for 25 years. A single bat eats up his weight in mosquitoes and black flies three times every night. You’re a very lucky man.” I offered to share my luck with him. He could take them away. Bats have a remarkable homing instinct(本能),”he said, “They’d fly straight back even if I transported them 100 miles. Once they have settled, you can’t stop them from coming back.” I was silent.
Finally we managed to rent “(出租)the house to a young family, who were also interested in buying it. What about the bats?” I said to Patrick.
“Oh, they love the bats,” he said. “No mosquitoes. No black flies. It’s one of the things that attracted them.”
“Do you think they will really buy the blouse?”
“Probably.”
“Probably? Well, if they do ,I suppose I’ll have to admit that I was wrong.”
“You mean you’re going to eat your words?”
“Yes, I am.”
36. What was the problem the author had with his house?
A.?Bats were living in the barn and wouldn't go away.
B.?The author and his son couldn't sleep well because of the bats.
C.?The author and his son might be able to stay for the season.
D.?The house was still badly in need of repair.
37.?What did Patrick suggest the author should do to stop the bats living in the barn?
A.?He should buy a high frequency machine.
B.?He should move them one hundred miles away.
C.?He should reduce the number of mosquitoes.
D.?He should close the barn in the spring.
38.?Why did the author fall silent when he talked with the bat specialist?
A.?He felt sure about the situation.
B.?He found out that it would be impossible to remove the bats.
C.?He learned that he would be able to share his luck with the expert.
D.?He liked the advice given by the expert.
39?What happened regarding the house in the end?
A.?Some people agreed to rent the house.
B.?The author failed to find anybody who wanted to live in the house.
C.?The bat expert made the decision to buy the house.
D.?The bats left the house for Mexico in the spring.
40.?Why did the author think he might have to “eat his words”?
A.?He felt sorry for the bats.
B.?He might be mistaken about being unable to sell the house.
C.?He realized he might be wrong about the bats’ actions.
D.?He was happy about selling the house.
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