Shylock held his knife and told Antonio to get ready.
“Wait!” exclaimed Portia. “You will not do anything that is not written in the contract(合同). Is that right, Shylock?”
“Yes, that’s right,” said Shylock. He wondered what the wise young judge was going to say.
“Well,” said the young judge, “I have read the contract carefully, and it does not say anything about taking his blood. It says ‘a pound of flesh’. You can take your pound of flesh, but you may not take one drop of his blood. If you take any of his blood, the duke(公爵)will take everything you own!”
Now it was Graziano’s turn to bless the judge and call him wise.
“Did you hear that, Shylock ?” he asked, “What a wise judge.”
“You wanted justice(公正),” Portia told Shylock, “and you will have more justice than you wanted.”
Shylock didn’t want to give everything he owned to the duke. He decided not to take his pound of flesh. He said he would take the money.
“Give me ninety thousand dollars,” he said, “and I will have mercy on the Merchant(商人)and let him go.”
Bassanio was happy to give him the money. He was very pleased that his friend Antonio would not die.
Portia, however, had more to say, “Wait!” she said again. “He does not want the money. It is not written in the contract, and he said he would not do anything that was not written in the contract. Shylock, you can take your pound of flesh, just as the contact says. Why are you waiting?” she asked.
Shylock said he just wanted to have his money back. “Just give me the money I lend you. I wouldn’t even ask for interest(利息).” he said. He was beginning to feel sick. Bassanio was ready to give it to him, but again Portia stopped him.
32. What was Shylock NOT allowed to take?
A.Flesh. | B.Blood. | C.Mercy(怜悯). | D.Interest. |
33. How did Portia help Antonio?
A.By her cleverness. | B.By her kindness. |
C.With the support of her friends. | D.With the help of her family. |
34. Which of the following is TRUE?
A.Graziano wanted to give the money to Shylock. |
B.Shylock insisted that he would take a pound of flesh. |
C.Portia asked Shylock to get the pound of flesh quickly. |
D.Both Graziano and Shylock thought Portia was a wise person. |
35. What can you infer(推断)from the passage?
A.Shylock didn’t get what he wanted. |
B.Antonio lost his life according to the contact. |
C.The duke took everything Shylock owned. |
D.Portia didn’t come up with new ideas to help Antonio. |