四、阅读理解
SCENE 1
[
The first spirit takes Scrooge into the past. Scrooge sees himself as a young man. He is talking to his former girlfriend Belle.]
Scrooge: Our parents have always wanted us to marry.
Belle: I hope we can start a family soon. Why do you keep putting it off?
Scrooge: I do not have enough money yet. Marriage costs a great deal.
Belle: But two can live almost as cheaply as one. Wealth is not everything.
Scrooge: Nonsense. You will need food and clothing. You have no money of your own. Anyway, I have no time to spare. I must work late every day to earn more money.
SCENE 2
[The first spirit turns to Scrooge.]
First Spirit: She married another man and raised a lovely family. She lives a peaceful and happy life now. She was never rich, but her husband made enough to feed and shelter the whole family. That was all they needed.
SCENE 3
[The second spirit takes Scrooge to Bob Cratchit's house. Bob, his wife, Peter and their other children gather around Tiny Tim, who sits quietly with his small crutch (拐杖) beside him.]
Bob: He is weak and sickly. I fear his days are numbered.
Mrs Cratchit: We have little money to get proper care for him.
Peter: Perhaps you could ask Mr Scrooge to lend us some money. Maybe he will help.
Bob: I don't think he would. He knows we could never pay him back.
Mrs Cratchit: He has so much money. ▲ Doesn't he care about other people?
SCENE 4
[Scrooge turns to the second spirit.]
Scrooge: Spirit, tell me if poor Tiny Tim will die.
Second Spirit: I see an empty chair and a crutch left unused forever.
Scrooge: Oh, no, kind Spirit! Please tell me he will not die. He must not die.
—Adapted from A Christmas Carol
(
A
) 1. What do the underlined sentences in SCENE 1 tell us?
A. What the characters are doing. B. When and where each scene happens.
C. What the characters are saying. D. How many scenes there are in one act.
(
C
) 2. What can we infer (推断) about young Scrooge from SCENE 1?
A. He was totally against getting married.
B. He understood Belle's ideas completely.
C. He believed money could solve all problems.
D. He thought Belle would spend too much money.
(
C
) 3. Which sentence should go in " ▲ " in SCENE 3?
A. What is he curious about? B. What is he worried about?
C. Why isn't he generous? D. Why isn't he confident?
(
B
) 4. What feeling does Scrooge show in SCENE 4?
A. Touched. B. Regretful. C. Impatient. D. Calm.
(
C
) 5. What is the main purpose of the two spirits' visits?
A. To let Scrooge enjoy different family lives.
B. To help Scrooge find his lost girlfriend again.
C. To show Scrooge the results of his cold ways.
D. To ask Scrooge to take good care of his workers.
