全国中考英语阅读冲刺(五)人物事件篇

SectionV人物事件篇

Passage42

BillClintontookoffice（就职）onJanuary20,1993andbecamethe42ndU.S.

President（，总统）.HeisthefirstU.S.presidentwhowasbornafterWorldWarI

I.HeisalsooneoftheyoungestofallU.S.presidents.

Clintonwasborninapoorfamily.Threemonthsbeforehewasborn,hisfat

her,WilliamBlats,died.Whenhewassmall,hismotherremarried（再婚）Norger

Clinton,sotheboy'sfamilynamewaschanged.

Inthesummerof1963,ClintonwasaskedtovisitthecityofWashington.D

uringhisvisit,hemetPresidentKennedyintheWhiteHouse.Atthattime,he

wantedtobecomeapresident,andnowheis!

1.Clintonbecamethe42ndU.S.presidentwhenhewas.

A.thirtyB.aboutfortyC.forty-sevenD.37yearsold

2.Clinton'sfatherdied.

A.after1946B.beforeClintonwasbornC.beforeWorldWarIID.whenCli

ntonwasyoung

3.Whywastheboynamechanged?

A.BecausehebecameapresidentB.Becausehisfamilywasverypoor

C.BecausehisfatherwasdeadD.BecausehismotherremarriedNorgerC

1inton

4.In1963ClintoncametothecityofWashington___.

A.totakepartinanexamB.forhisholidaysC.foravisitD.tohavea

meetingwithKennedy

5.WhichoneofthefollowingisNotright?

A.EverybodycanvisitthepresidentintheWhiteHouse

B.AlltheU.S.presidentsworkintheWhiteHorse

C.ClintonwantedtobecomeapresidentafterhesawPresidentKennedy

D.TheWhiteHouseisinthecityofWashington

Passage43

EVERYTHINGhastwosides.OnesideofSARSisalreadyclear.Itisadeadly

disease,whichcausesfear.Therewere2,601cases（病例）recordedontheChin

esemainlandonApril24,accordingtogovernmentreport.115peoplehavedied

andnumberskeeprising.

But,thereisanotherside.

SARSisareminder（提醒）ofhowfragilelifecanbe.Suddenly,it'snotj

usttheoldpeoplewhoarethinkingaboutdeath.Everyonenowrealizestheremi

ghtnotalwaysbeatomorrow.

WangXinying,astudentinTaiyuan,ShanxiProvincecameintocontact（接司虫）

withasuspected（疑似）SARSpatientinmid-April.Hewastoldtostayathome

foratleasttwoweeks."WatchingTVaboutmoreandmoreSARSpatientsdying,

Ineverknewthatdeathcouldbesoclose.Lifeisvaluable（珍贵的）andI'mg

oingtotreasure（珍惜）everysingleday,f,hesaid.

SARSteachespeopletobegrateful,bothfortheirownlivesandforothers.

Doctorsandnurses,forexample,havetospendalltheirtimewithinfected

（被感染的）patients.Asaresult,morethanonefifthofSARScasesinChinaar

emedicalworkers.

XuBing,astudentofBeijingNo.5MiddleSchoolwantstobeadoctorint

hefuture."Althoughtheycertainlyknowthedangers,doctorsandnurseskept

workinghardonsavingpeople'slives.I'mdeeplymovedbywhattheyhavedon

e.Ithinktheyarerealheroes.nhesaid.

SARSalsoteachessympathy（同情）.Thepastfewweekshavebeenterriblefo

rChinesepeople.ButtherearefarworsethingsthanSARSinthisworld,such

aswar,earthquakesandrobberies.ThinkoftheIraqis,whohavebeenlivingte

rriblelivesfor20years.ThinkofhowtheAmericansfelton9.11.

Andfinally,SARSoffersthechancestogrow.Alldifferentkindsofpeople

andthegovernmentsarejoiningtogethertoworkinthisdifficulttime.When

thispasses,Chinaanditspeoplewillhavelearnedgreatlessons.

1.Whatdoes,Everyonenowrealizestheremightnotalwaysbeatomorrow”

mean?

Itmeanslifeiseasytoandwemustourlife.

2.HowlongwasWangXinyingtoldtostayathome?

Hewastoldtostayathomeforabouta.

3.Whycanmedicalworkersbeeasilyinfected?

Becausetheyhavetobewithinfectedpatientsand.

4.Whatdowelearninthedifficulttime?

Welearnnothingisdifficultifwe.

Passage44

MarcoPolowasborninVenicein1254.Hewasthemostfamouswesternerto

visitAsiaduringthemiddleAges.Hewroteabookabouthistravels.Inhisbo

okhewroteallthethingshesawandheard.Manypeoplereadthebookbutfew

believedwhatMarcoPolosaid.Hespokeofstrangepeopleandplacesthatnobod

yknewaboutatthattime.

Asayoungman,MarcoPolodecidedtotraveltogetherwithhisfather.Itt

ookthemmorethanthreeyearstotraveltoChina.HebecametheChineseempero

r'sfriend.HelearnedtheChineselanguagewhenhetraveledaroundandtalked

tomanypeople.BeforehereachedtheageofthirtyhewasmadeaChineseoffic

ial.

Afternearlyseventeenyearsintheeast,Marcoandhisfatherpreparedto

returnhome.WhentheyfinallyarrivedinVenice,theirfamilyandfriendswere

surprisedtoseethemagain.Theyhadbeenawayforalmost25years.

1.WhatmadeMarcoPolofamousduringthemiddleAges?

A.HistraveltoAmerica.B.Histravelinthewest.C.HistravelinAsia.

D.HisvisittoVenice.

2.WhatdidMarcoPolowriteaboutinhisbook?

A.HowhetraveledtoChinawithhisfather.B.Somethingtoodifficultfo

rpeopletounderstand.

C.SomestrangepeopleandplacesD.Somethingthathadbeenknowntopeop

leformanyyears.

3.MarcoPoloworkedasaChineseofficialin.

A.1254B.1284C.1271D.1279

4.WhichofthefollowingistherightorderduringMarco'stravel?

edwithhisfatherb.wasmadeaChineseofficial

c.wroteabookabouthistraveld.becameChineseemperor?sfriend

e.returnedtoVenice

A.c-a-d-b_eB.c_a-b_d-eC.a_b-d-e_cD.a-d-b-e-c

Passage45

Typhoons（台风）inthenorthernpartoftheworldhavegirls,names.Somet

imestheyhaveverybeautifulnames.Roseisaprettynamebuttherewasnothin

gprettyaboutTyphoonRose.ItwastheworsttyphoontohitHongKonginteny

ears.

ItbegantoraininthemorningofMonday,August16th,1971.Atteno'clo

ckinthemorning,TyphoonRosewasstill130milesawaybutalreadythewindw

asblowingpeopleJsumbrellaaway.Thewindbecamestrongerandstronger.The

typhoonshelters（避风港）weresoonfullofboats.Shipsthatweretoobigtog

oinsidethesheltersputdownmoreanchors（锚）.Someverybigshopswentout

tosea.Itissaferforabigshoptobeatseainatyphoonbecauseitcannot

beblownontorocks.KaiTakAirportclosed.Noplaneswereabletotakeoffor

land.At9:00intheevening,allthelightswentout.

Noonesleptwellthatnight.Itisdifficulttosleepinsuchbadweather.

InTyphoonRose,morethanonehundredpeopledied.229peoplewerehurtan

d66ofthesehadtogotohospital.1500losttheirhomes.ThepeopleofHong

KongwillnotquicklyforgetTyphoonRose!

l.What'strueaccordingtothepassage?

A.Typhoonsallovertheworldhavegirls'names.

B.Typhoonswithprettynamesareusuallybeautiful.

C.TyphoonRoseonlyhitHongKong.

D.Fortenyears,peopleinHongKonghavenJtseenaworsetyphoonthanTyp

hoonRose.

2.What'sthepossibleresultofTyphoonRose?

A.Lotsofbigshopswereblownontorocks.

B.Morethantwohundredpeoplelosttheirlivesandmanymorelosttheirho

mes.

C.Peopledidn,tsleepwellinsuchbadweather.

D.Peopleturnedoffthelightsat9:00intheevening.

3.ThepeopleofHongKongwillnotquicklyforgetTyphoonRosebecause_

A.itcausedtheterriblelossesB.theydidn,tsleepwellthatnight

C.TyphoonRosewasn'tasprettyasitsname

D.theycouldn,tfindtheirshipsafterthetyphoon

4.Somebigshopsdidn'tgoinsidethesheltersbecause.

A.theyhadmoreanchorsB.itissaferoutside

C.theywereoutatseaandtheyweren'tfastenoughtoreachtheshelters

whenTyphoonRosecame

D.itwastooexpensiveforbigshopstogoinsidetheshelters

5.Thispassageismainlyabout.

A.thenamesoftyphoonsB.typhoonsinHongKingC.TyphoonRoseD.the

typhoons

Passage46

TherewasonceamancalledMr.Flowers,andflowerswerehisonlyjoyin1

ife.Hespentallhisfreetimeinoneofhisfourglass-housesandgrewflower

sofeverycolor,withlonganddifficultnames,forcompetitions（比赛）.Hetr

iedtogrowaroseofanewcolortowinthesilvercup（银杯）fortheRoseof

theYear.

Mr.Flowers,glass-houseswereveryneartoamiddleschool.Boysofaroun

dthirteenofagewereoftentempted（弓I诱）tothrowastoneortwoatoneofM

r.FlowersJglass-houses.SoMr.Flowersdidhisbesttobeinornearhisgla

ss-housesatthebeginningandendoftheschoolday.

Butitwasnotalwayspossibletobeonwatchatthosetimes.Mr.Flowersh

adtriedinmanywaystoprotecthisglass,butnothingthathehaddonehadbe

enuseful.Hehadbeentoschooltoreporttotheheadmaster;butthishadnot

doneanygood.Hehadtriedtodriveawaytheboysthatthrewstonesintohisg

arden;buttheboyscouldrunfasterthanhecould,andtheylaughedathimfro

mfaraway.Hehadevenpickedupallthestonesthathecouldfindaroundhis

garden,sothattheboyswouldhavenothingtothrow;buttheysoonfoundother

s.

AtlastMr.Flowershadagoodidea.Heputupalargenotice（布告）madeo

fgood,strongwood,somemetersawayfromtheglass-houses.Onithehadwritt

enthewords:DONOTTHROWSTONESATTHISNOTICE.Afterthis,Mr.Flowershadn

ofurthertrouble;theboysweremuchmoretemptedtothrowstonesatthenotic

ethanattheglass-houses.

1.ItwasMr.Flowers'hopeto.

A.buildglass-housesinhisfreetimeB.growtheRoseoftheYearinas

ilvercup

C.winasilvercupforgrowingaroseofanewcolor

D.growarosewiththelongestname

2.Boyswereoftentemptedto.

A.throwstonesatMr.Flowers'glass-houseB.throwstonesatMr.Flower

sfromtheirschool

C.beinornearbyMr.FlowersJglass-housesD.playwithMr.Flowersnear

hisglass-houses

3.Mr.Flowersstayedinornearbyhisglass-houses.

A.attimeswhenschool-boyswerewalkingnearthem

B.alltheschooldaywhentherewerenoboysabout

C.wherehecouldnotbeseenbytheboyspassing

D.inhisfreetimeatthebeginningandendoftheschoolday

4.Mr.Flowershadtriedtotoprotecthisglass.

A.beonwatchinhisfreetimeB.asktheheadmasterforhelp

C.pickupallthestonesaroundhisgardenD.doalltheabove

5.Mr.Flowersgoodideawasto.

A.writesomewordsontheglassB.putupalargenoticetocoverhisglass

-houses

C.givetheboyssomethingelsetothrowstonesatD.sendforpolicemen

Passage47

Peopleoftensay,uChildrencan,tdomathproblem,it'sbecauseparents

can'tdotheirchildren'shomework."Here'sanexampletoshowwhatImean.

Theotherdaymydaughterbroughthomehermathhomework."Ihavetosubtr

act（减）179from202,”shesaid.

"It'squiteeasy,wIsaid.“Youputthe202overthe179.v

“Butweneeda10here.Whereisthe10?”

“Idon'tknowwherethe10is.Let'sjustsubtract179from202.Ninefr

omtwoisthree.Youcarryoneandaddittoseven.Eightfromzeroistwo.The

answeris23.”

“Wecan,tdoitthatway.Wehavetousethe10.”

“Well,I'mgoingtocallyourteachertoseehowshesubtracts179from2

02.”

Overthetelephone,IsaidthatIwashavingabitoftroublewiththehome

workshehadgiventomydaughter.Theteachersaid,“Intheright-handcolumn

（栏）wehaveunitsofone.Thetwointhatcolumncountsfortwoones.Thezero

inthecentercountsforzerotens.Thetwointheleft-handcolumncountsfor

hundreds.Areyouclear?”ButIdidn'tthinkIwasclear.

Ihungupandfoundmywaytothemedicinebox.Myheadwasnowhurting.I

startedputtingpillsofmedicineintomymouth."Howmanydidyoutake?”my

wifeasked."ItookoneandthenItookanother***1knowoneandonewastwo,b

utdon'taskmewhatitisnow.”

1.Thedaughterwantedtheotherday.

A.togiveherfatheralessonB.toshowhowdifficultmathwas

C.herfathertophoneherteacherD.herfathertohelpherwithherhomew

ork

2.Whichofthefollowingsentencesisnottrue?

A.Thefatherhadadifferentwaytodothemathproblem.

B.Thefathercouldn,tdohisdaughter*shomework.

C.Thedaughtercouldn,tunderstandherfatherJsway.

D.Thedaughterhadsometroubledoingthemathproblem.

3.Fromwhattheteachersaid,weknowthattheword“units“means

here.

A.wholenumberslessthan10B.wholethings

C.groupsoflessonsD.thesmallestnumbers

4.Whattheteachersaidmadethefather.

A.angryB.worriedC.sadD.tired

5.Canyouguesswhatwouldhappennextinthestory?

A.Thefatherwouldgotoschoolandbegintolearnmath.

B.Thefatherwouldbecomeveryillandhavetotakemoremedicine.

C.Thefatherwouldneverdohisdaughter*smathproblemsagain.

D.Thefatherwouldgototheschoolandfightwiththeteacher.

Passage48

Almosteveryonelikesdogs,andalmosteveryonelikestoreadaboutdogs.I

haveafriend.HehasabigpolicedogwiththenameJack.Policedogsarever

yclever.EverySundayafternoonmyfriendtakesJackforalongwalkinthepa

rk.Jacklikestheselongwalksverymuch.

OneSundayafternoonayoungmancametovisitmyfriend.Hestayedalong

time.Hetalkedandtalked.SoonitwastimeformyfriendtotakeJackforaw

alk.Butthevisitorstillstayed.Jackbecamemuchworried.Hewalkedaroundt

heroomseveraltimesandthensatdowninfrontofthevisitorandlookedath

im.Butthevisitorpaidnoattention（注意）toJack.Hewentontalking.Atlas

tJackgotangry.Hewentoutoftheroomandcamebackafewminuteslater.He

satdownagaininfrontofthevisitor,butthistimehetookthevisitor*sc

apinhismouth.

1.Theyoungvisitorstayedalongtimeinmyfriend'shouse,didn'the?

A.Yes,hewas.B.Yes,hedid.C.No,hewasn't.D.No,hedidn,t.

2.Jackbecameworriedbecause.

A.hewantedtogooutforawalkB.hewantedtoplaywithhim

C.hedidn'tknowtheyoungmanD.hewantedtoeatsomething

3.Jacksatdowninfrontofthevisitorbecausehewanted.

A.thevisitortotalkwithhimB.tojointhetalk

C.toshowthevisitorhowcleverhewasD.thevisitortoleavethehouse

soon

4.Thevisitorwentontalkingand.

A.hepaidnoattentiontohiscapB.hedidn,tlikeJack

C.hedidn'tknowthathiscapwastakenawaybyJackD.hepaidnoattent

iontoJack

5.AtlastJacktookinhismouth.

A.foodB.nothingC.thevisitorJscapD.thevisitor,sbag

Passage49

WatsonwonhismostimportantgameandbecameSouthernChessMaster（大师）

in1977.Hewasgiventhesilvercup.

“Itisn'trightlymine,“hesaid,whenhewasholdingthecup.”“Itwa

swontwoyearsagowhenIwasonholidayin…”

“Afamilywasstayingatmyhotelatthattime.Mrs.Prig,themother,was

toldthatIplayedchess;andshebeggedmetogiveheryoungsonagame.‘He'

sonlyten.'shesaid,‘I'vebeentoldthatheplaysquitewell.’

“Well,asyoucanguess,Iwasn'ttoohappy.Aplayerlikestheopponent

（对手）toplayaswellashedoes.ButitwasholidaytimeandIagreedtoplay.

Weplacedtheboard（棋盘）inthegarden.Thegamebegan.Ihopeditwouldbe

quick----andsoitwas.

uIsoonknewthatDavidPrigwasnolearner.Aftertenminuteshissisterc

ameoutsideandbegantoplaytennisagainstawall.Theboyseemedtoloseint

erestinourgame.Hemovedapiece（棋子）withoutcare.Igavemyattentionto

theboard.

“Callmewhenyouareready,Mr.Watson,“hesaid.

WhenIwasready?Ilookedup.Hehadgoneofftoplaywithhissister.Is

tudiedtheboard,andfoundIwasdrivenintocorner.SoitwentonwithDavid:

aquickmove,thentennis,backtotheboard,thenbacktohissister.Mydiff

icultconditionbecameimpossibletochange.Iwasbeaten.Oh,soeasily,bya

ten-year-oldchessplayer.Hewasthewinner----intwenty-eightminutes.

“DavidPrig,anametoremember.Ihadachancetousehisgametoday,and

itwonthiscupforme.Tohim,ofcourse,itisonlyoneofahundred,orperh

apsathousand,winninggames.”

1.WhenMr.Watsonsaid,“Itisn'trightlymine.Itwaswon・••”,hemean

ttwoyearsbefore.

A.hehadplayedchesswithalittleboyfortwenty-eightminutes

B.hehadhadachancetotakepartinanimportantgame

C.hehadlearnedhowtoplaychessfromachild

D.hehadlearnedagoodgamefromachild

2.Beforethegame,Mr.Watsonwasquitesurethat.

A.theboyplayedaswellashedidB.hewouldbeSouthernChessMaster

twoyearslater

C.hecouldwinthegameeasilyD.theboywouldwinthegamequickly

3.WhydidDavidplaytenniswhilehewasplayingchesswithWatson?

Becausehe.

A.hadnointerestinplayingchesswithadults(成年人)B.wasnotgooda

tplayingchess

C.likedplayingtennismuchbetterthanplayingchess

D.playedchessmuchbetterthanWatson

4.Fromthestory,weknowthat.

A.DavidPrigwastherealwinnerB.Mr.Watsonwastherealwinner

C.neitherofthemwastherealwinnerD.bothofthemweretherealwin

ners

5.WhichofthefollowingisNOTtrue?

A.Sometimesyoungchildrencanbeatadultsinplayingchess.

B.Watsonthoughthecouldwinthegamequickly,andsohedid.

C.WatsonlearnedsomethingfromDavidandwonthesilvercup.

D.Watsonwouldneverforgetthenameoftheboy.

Passage50

阅读下面短文，把A—E五个句子填入文中空缺处，使短文内容完整正确。

Inthe13thcentury,thefamousItaliantraveler,MarcoPolo,traveledalo

ngwaytoChina.DuringhisstayinChina,hesawmanywonderfulthings.Oneof

thethingshediscoveredwasthattheChineseusedpapermoney.Inwesterncou

ntries,peopledidnotusepapermoneyuntilthe15thcentury.(1)

AChinesemancalledCaiLuninventedpaperalmost2,000yearsago.Hemade

itfromwood.(2)Hethenputthesepiecesofpapertogetherandmadethem

intoabook.

(3)____Weusealotofpapereveryday.Ifwekeeponwastingsomuchpape

r,therewillnotbeanytreesleftontheearth.Iftherearenotrees,therew

illbenopaper.Everyday,peoplethrowawayabout2,800tonsofpaper.Ittake

s17treestomakeonetonofpaper.Thismeansthatwearecuttingnearly48,0

00treeseveryday.

SinceittakesmorethanlOyearsforatreetogrow,wemuststartusingle

sspapernow.Ifwedon,t,wewillnothaveenoughtimetogrowmoretreestot

aketheplaceofthoseweuseforpaper.

(4)____Wecanusebothsidesofeverypieceofpaper,especiallywhenwea

remakingnotes.Wecanchoosedrinksinbottlesinsteadofthoseinpaperpack

ets.Wecanalsousecottonhandkerchiefs(手巾自)andnotpaperones.Whenwegos

hopping,wecanusefewerpaperbags.Iftheshopassistantdoesgiveusapape

rbag,wecansaveitandreuseitlater.

(5)Ifweallthinkcarefully,wecanhelpprotecttrees.Butweshould

doitnow,beforeitistoolate.

A.Nowpaperstillcomesfromtrees.B.Everyonecanhelptosavepaper.

C.However,peopleinChinabegantousepapermoneyinthe7thcentury.

D.Hetookthewoodfromtreesandmadeitintopaper.

E.Sohowcanwesavepaper?

Passage51

OnNovember18th,1908,threemenwentupinaballoon.Theystartedearly

inLondon.TheheadmanwasAugusteGaudron,andtheothertwomenwereTannara

ndMaitland.Theyhadabigballoon,andtheywerereadyforalongway.

Soontheyheardtheseabelowthem.Theywerecarryingtheusualrope,and

itwashangingdownfromthebasketoftheballoon.Attheendoftheropethe

yhadtiedametalbox.Thiscouldholdwater.Oritcouldbeempty.Sotheywe

reabletochangeitsweight.Theywerealsocarryingsomebagsofsand.

Afterthesunrose,theballoonwenthigher.Itwentupto3,000meters,an

dtheairwasverycold.Thewaterintheballoonbecameice.Snowfellpastth

emen'sbasket,andtheycouldseemoresnowontheground.Therewasalsosom

esnowontheballoon,andthatmadeitveryheavy.Itbegantogodowntowards

theground.Thementriedtothrowoutsomemoresand;butitwashard.Theyt

riedtobreaktheicysandwiththeirknives,butitwasnoteasy.Theworkwas

slowandtheywerestillfalling;sotheyhadtodropsomewholebagsofsand.

Oneofthemfellonanicylakebelowandmadeablackholeintheice.

Atlasttheypulledtheboxintothebasket.Itwasstillsnowing;sothey

climbedtogetawayfromthesnow.Theyroseto5,100meters!Everythingbecame

icy.Theyweresocoldthattheydecidedtoland.TheycamedowninPolandhea

vilybutsafely.Theyhadtraveled1,797kilometersfromLondon!

1.Threemenflewinaballoon.

A.morethanacenturyagoB.tovisitPolandC.fornearly1,800kilomete

rsD.toanothercity

2.Themetalboxwasusedfor.

A.changingweightB.carryingropesofthebasket

C.keepingdrinkingwaterD.carryingthebagsofsand

3.Whentheballoonwentuphigher,.

A.theysawthesungodownB.thetemperatureoftheballoonbegantof

all

C.theycouldseeablackholeonthegroundD.theymadeaholeinthebas

ketwiththeirknives

4.Theballoonlanded.

A.inaforeigncountryB.onalakeC.inLondonD.onthesea

5.Thethreemenhadtolandbecause・

A.theywereveryhungryB.theyhadnotenoughsand

C.theypulledtheboxintothebasketD.theyfelttoocold

Passage52

InasmallvillageinEnglandabout150yearsago,amailcoach（邮车）was

standingonthestreet.Aroundthecoachmanypeopleweretalkingtooneanothe

raboutit.

Mailcoachdidnotcometothatvillagesoofteninthosedays.Peoplehad

topayalotofmoneytogetaletter.Thepersonwhosenttheletterdidnoth

avetopay.Thepersonwhogottheletterhadtopaythepostage（邮资）.

“Here'saletterforMissAliceBrown,“saidthemailman.Everyoneturne

dtoagirlofabouteighteenwhowasstandingbythecoach."I'mAliceBrown,“

shesaidinalowvoice.Themailmangavehertheletter.

Alicelookedattheenvelopeforaminute,andthenhandeditbacktothem

ailman.

'TmsorryIcan,ttakeit,“shesaid."Idon,thaveenoughmoneyto

paythepostage.”

Thepeoplestandingaroundwereverysorryforthegirl.Theyweresilentf

orawhile.ThenagentlemancameuptothemailmanandpaidthepostageforAl

ice'sletter.

Whenthegentlemangavehertheletter,shesaidwithasmile,“Oh,thank

youverymuch,sir.ThisletterisfromtheyoungmanVmgoingtomarry.His

nameisTom.HewenttoLondontolookforwork.Hehastogetenoughmoneyfor

ourmarriage（结婚）.I'vewaitedalongtimeforthisletter,butnowdon't

needit.Idon'thavetoopentheenvelopebecausethereisnothinginside.”

“Really?”thegentlemansaidinsurprise.“Howdoyouknowthat?”“He

toldmethathewouldputsomesignsontheenvelope.Look,sir,thiscrossin

thecornermeansthatheiswell,andthiscirclemeanshehasfoundwork.Tha

t'sverygoodnews.”

ThegentlemanwasSirRowlandHill.HedidnotforgetAliceandherletter.

“Thepostagetobepaidbythereceiverhastobechanged,“hesaidtohi

mself.Hethoughtandthoughtformanyyears.Atlasthehadagoodplan.

“Thepostagehastobemuchlower,“hesaid."Whataboutapenny（便士）

foraletter?Andthepersonwhosendstheletterpaysthepostage.Hehastob

uyastampandputitontheenvelope.”

“Agoodidea!peoplesaidwhentheyheardofhisplan.

TheGovernmentdecidedtoadopt（采纳）theplan.Thefirstpostagestampwa

sputoutin1840.ItwascalledtheuPennyBlack”.IthadapictureoftheQ

ueenonit.

1.Thefirstpostagestampwasmade.

A.inEnglandB.inAmericaC.byAliceD.in1910

2.Thegirlhandedtheletterbacktothemailmanbecause・

A.shedidnotknowwhoseletteritwas

B.theletterhadalreadytoldherwhatshewantedtoknow

C.shecouldnotpaythepostage

D.thegentlemanpromisedtopaythepostageforher

3.WhenthegirlreturnedthelettertothemaiIman.

A.thepeoplearoundherfeltsorryforherB.thepeoplethoughtthatthe