Ⅲ. 阅读理解(每小题2分, 满分14分)

A

I bought a jasmine plant for my office. When I bought it, I was told it would bloom (开花) and the sweet smell would fill my office. I had the plant for two months, and every day I looked at it, but there weren’t any flowers or pleasant smell. I was not happy, so I gave the plant to my friend Linda.

One day, another friend Mary called and invited me to her office. When I walked in, her jasmine flowers surprised me. I reached out to touch the flowers. Mary cut some and gave them to me. I couldn’t help smelling them. Surrounded by the sweet smell of only a handful of these flowers, I suddenly understood something.

Mary bought her plant the same time I did. It took a year for her jasmine to bloom. I was so impatient for mine to bloom; regretfully, I gave it away.

In a way my life is like the jasmine plant. I need to be patient and let things happen.

Last Sunday Linda told me that she was going abroad the next week. Before she left, she returned the plant to me. This time I am going to wait. I have learned that when we want something in our life, we have to be patient. I am slowly learning to have that patience to wait for my jasmine to bloom.

46. Before she gave the jasmine away, the writer had it for .

A. one day B. one year

C. two weeks D. two months

47. When the writer saw Mary’s jasmine, she felt .

A. unhappy B. peaceful

C. hopeful D. surprised

48. What has the writer learned from her experience?

A. Patience is needed in life.

B. Flowers can make life better.

C. Friendship is necessary for us.

D. Jasmine can be a wonderful plant.

“My dear lady,” says Holmes. “You’re shivering. Are you cold? Do you want a cup of hot tea?”

“I’m not cold,” the woman replies, “I fear for my life!”

“We are here to help you. Don’t worry about anything. I don’t know you. But I know many things about you. For example, I know how you travel. You come to London by train. You also ride to the train station on a horse-drawn wagon (马车). ”

“Why, yes. You’re right. But how do you know these things?”

“I see a return ticket in your glove. I see fresh mud on the left arm of your dress. Now tell us your problem. ”

“My name is Helen Stoner,” she states. “My mother and father are dead. I am living with my stepfather, Dr Grimesby Roylott. He comes from a rich family. But they are no longer rich. They have nothing except a small piece of land and a huge old house. We are living in the house. Dr Roylott is using my mother’s money for expenses (开支). Part of it was for my sister and me. It was for our marriages. ”

Holmes is sitting in his chair. His eyes are closed. He is listening carefully to Helen’s story. He hears every detail.

Helen continues, “My stepfather has no friends. He fights with everyone. He is strong and gets angry quickly. Everyone is afraid of him. ”

“He has no friends at all?”asks Holmes.

“No. He talks to no one except the gypsies. They are poor people who travel from place to place. A band of gypsies is staying on our land right now. ”

“Are you and your sister afraid of the gypsies?”

“My dear Mr. Holmes. You are making me so sad. My sister is dead. That is why I am standing here in this room. ”

49. Paragraph 6 beginning with “My name is. . . ” is mostly about .

A. Helen’s dead sister

B. Helen’s trip to London

C. the house Helen lives in

D. Helen’s stepfather and the family

50. What is Holmes doing while Helen is telling her story?

A. Walking slowly. B. Listening carefully.

C. Standing sadly. D. Writing quickly.

51. Which of the following can best describe the gypsies according to the passage?

A. They are very rich.

B. They are afraid of other people.

C. They live on a horse-drawn wagon.

D. They move from one place to another.

52. The passage is probably from .

A. a novel B. a guide

C. a poem D. an advertisement