Part 3 Reading and Writing

VI.Reading Comprehension(共50分)

A) Choose the best answer(12分)

When we are talking about afternoon tea, what would you think of? A cup of tea, a piece of cake and a good mood, what a good enjoyment! But do you know how comes the afternoon tea?

We should thank for a lady, who had created the custom of afternoon tea in 1840. She was Anna. At that time, people of upper class usually had supper at around 8 o’clock in the evening. But Anna began to feel hungry at round 4 in the afternoon. This had left her a good long time of 4 hours. Therefore, she told the servant to bring a tray of bread, butter and cakes to her room during the afternoon. It became a habit of hers. Soon, she invited her friends to join her.

After Anna started enjoying the afternoon tea, women of the rich did the same in their homes and it later became a fashionable social event, giving a chance for people to meet new friends and get news or new stories.

The traditional afternoon tea usually contains a teapot of tea, several teacups and cakes. English tea is mainly India, which was originally transported by the East India Company.

Today, afternoon tea has been simplified(精简的) because of the change of lifestyle. People use tea bags instead of tea leaves. Cakes are no longer as various as those long time ago. They usually are some pieces of biscuits or cakes.

But if you want to experience a real English afternoon tea, I would advise you to go to Devonshire, where produces good cream and famous cream tea.

74. A lady called Anna created the custom of afternoon tea_________.

A) one evening   B)After supper     C) in the morning    D) in 1840

75. _______ usually felt hungry at round 4 in the afternoon.

A) Anna herself  B)Anna’s friends    C)Anna’s servant    D)people of upper class

76. During the late afternoon Anna’s servant doesn’t bring her _________.

A) a tray of tea   B) some bread      C) some tea bags    D) butter and cakes

77). The afternoon tea gives a chance for people to meet friends and ________.

A) sell teacups   B) live together      C) bring food in    D) get news or stories

78). English tea is mainly transported from __________.

A) America     B)Canada           C) India          D) France

79. which of the following statement is NOT TRUE according to the passage?

A) The change of lifestyle today has made afternoon tea simplified.

B) People like to use tea leaves instead of tea bags nowadays.

C) The afternoon tea offers more various cakes long time ago(than today).

D) The writer thinks Devonshire is a good place to experience a real English afternoon tea.

B) Choose the words or expressions to complete the passage(12分)

I was in a hurry as always, but this time it was for an important date I just couldn’t be late for! I found myself at a checkout counter behind an elderly woman seemingly in no hurry as she paid for her groceries. A PhD student with not a lot of money, I had hurried into the store to pick up some flowers.

I found myself at a checkout counter(柜台)    80   an elderly woman who was going to pay for her groceries（食品杂货）.   

The woman stopped emptying her basket and looked up at me. She smiled. It was a nice smile –warm and reassuring –and I smiled back.

“It must be a special lady to get those beautiful flowers,” she said.

“Yes, she’s special,” I said, and then to my surprise, the words kept  81 .

“It’s only our second date to meet, but somehow I am just having the feeling she’s ‘the one’. Jokingly, I added, “The only problem is that I can’t figure out  82   she’d want to date a guy like me.”

“Well, I think she’s very lucky to have a boyfriend who brings her such lovely flowers and who is clearly in love with her,” the woman said.” “My husband used to bring me flowers every week –even when times were  83   and we didn’t have much money. Those were unforgettable days; he was very romantic and – of course – I miss him since he’s passed away.”

I paid for my flowers as she was  84   her groceries. Almost immediately，I walked up to her and said, “You were right, you know. These flowers are indeed for a very special lady.” I handed her the flowers and thanked her for such a nice talk.

It took her a moment to realize that I was giving her the flowers I had just bought. “You have a wonderful evening,” I said. I left her with a big smile and my heart 85  as I saw her smelling the beautiful flowers.

I was a bit late for my date that night and told my girlfriend the above story. She smiled. Two years later she told me it was that night that I won her heart.

80. A)before          B)behind                 C)along               D)against

81. A)taking up      B)making a noise     C)putting out      D)coming out 

82. A)why              B)when                  C)who                D)where

83. A)wonderful     B)important             C)different         D)hard

84. A)choosing      B)leaving                 C)collecting        D)littering

85. A)became worse  B)warmed a lot     C)turned cold     D)went wrong