B(2025·南京第二十九中学期末)
The children were digging in the gravel pit(砂砾坑). The spade(铲子) struck something. "I think it was a rabbit-hole," said Jane. "There might be baby rabbits."
"Let's get it out," said Cyril. The hole grew larger. Suddenly Robert dropped his spade and knelt down(跪下) in the sand. "Look!" he cried. "You can see it now—it isn't a rabbit-hole—it's a sort of cave. Look!"
They all knelt down and looked. There certainly was something dark—a sort of hairy, furry darkness. Then suddenly this dark something moved and with one spring the Sand-fairy was out of the sand and sitting on the gravel.
It was exactly like a fat spider, or a mole(鼹鼠), or a rat—or perhaps more like all three mixed together. It had legs and arms and hands and feet like a monkey's, and its face was very like a monkey's too, except that it had ears like a bat's ears, and its eyes were on long stalks like a snail's eyes.
"Don't be frightened," said Anthea kindly. "We won't hurt you."
"I'm not frightened," said the Sand-fairy. "I'm only angry. You wake me up out of my thousand years' sleep."
"Who are you?" asked Robert.
"I'm a Psammead," it said angrily. "A sand-fairy. And I can give you anything you wish for—one wish a day, and the wish lasts till sunset."
"How perfectly lovely!" said Jane.
"Don't interrupt," said the Sand-fairy. "I must have my sleep out. I've been asleep since long before you were born, and I want to go on sleeping till long after you're dead."
"Please," said Anthea politely, "couldn't you give us just one wish now?"
The Psammead blew itself out and said, "Very well. What do you want?"
The children whispered together. Then Anthea said, "We wish we were all as beautiful as the day."
The Sand-fairy blew itself out still more, then suddenly collapsed(萎缩). "Done!" it said.
"And now go away and don't bother me."
They looked at each other. Nothing seemed changed. Then Jane cried, "Oh! Your faces—your clothes—everything!"
They were indeed beautiful—their faces perfect, their clothes changed into splendid silks and velvets. Excited and happy, they ran home to show Martha. But when she opened the door, she screamed, "Get away with you!" and slammed(砰地关上) it in their faces.
—Adapted from Five Children and It
6. How did the Psammead feel about being woken up from its sleep?
A. Angry. B. Excited. C. Happy. D. Afraid.
7. Why did Martha slam the door?
A. Because they were very dirty. B. Because they were too late.
C. Because she was angry at them. D. Because they looked strange to her.
8. 中考新考法 事件排序 What is the correct order of the story?
①A strange fairy came out of the sand. ②The children asked to become beautiful.
③The children's clothes and faces changed. ④The children were digging in the gravel pit.
⑤Nobody at home knew who they really were.
9. 中考新考法 推断文章主旨 What is the main theme of this passage?
A. The beauty of nature. B. The dangers of magic.
C. The value of hard work. D. The importance of family.
10. 中考新考法 推断文章后续发展 According to the passage, what will probably happen next?
A. Martha will not say sorry to the children.
B. The children will never make another wish.
C. The children will try making a different wish.
D. The Psammead will disappear and never return.
