1 . “What if I told you that I murdered Basil?”
“You couldn’t murder anyone, Dorian. He probably fell into the Seine from a bus. By the way, where’s that wonderful portrait he did of you? Oh! I remember now. You told me years ago that you sent it to Selby Manor and that it got lost or stolen on the way. What a pity! I wanted to buy it. I wish I had now.” Lord Henry said.
“I never really liked it,” said Dorian.
“How have you kept your youth, Dorian? You must have some secret. I’m only ten years older than you are, and I’m wrinkled and old. Please, tell me your secret. To get back my youth, I’d do anything in the world, except take exercise, get up early, or be respectable.”
When Dorian arrived home that night, he sent his servant to bed, and sat down on the sofa in the library. Then he began to think about his life.
“I’ve been an evil influence on my friends, and I’ve ruined the lives of many good young people,” he thought, “Ah! Why did I pray for the portrait to grow old, and for me to stay young? I worshiped beauty and eternal youth, but they ruined me. It’s better not to think of the past. Nothing can change that. I must think of the future. James Vane is dead. Alan Campbell is dead, too. He shot himself one night in his laboratory.”
“I’m safe now,” he continued. “Basil painted the portrait that ruined my life. I can’t forgive him for that. Everything is the portrait’s fault.”
He began to wonder about the portrait. “If I’m good, maybe the portrait will become beautiful again,” he thought. “I’ll go and look.”
He took the lamp from the table and went upstairs. As he unlocked the door, he smiled. “Yes, I’ll be good,” he thought, “I won’t be frightened of this portrait any more.”
He went upstairs to the room and locked the door. Then he pulled the purple cloth off the portrait. He gave a cry of pain. The portrait was more horrible. His face looked more evil. There was new blood on the hand and on the feet.
Dorian trembled with fear. Dorian looked round the room and saw the knife that stabbed Basil Hallward. It was bright and shining.
“This knife killed the artist, and now it will kill the artist’s work,” he thought.
He grabbed the knife, and then he stabbed the portrait with it.
1. What do we know about Lord Henry from the passage?A.He doubted slightly whether Dorian murdered Basil. |
B.He would do whatever he could to get back his youth. |
C.The portrait he wanted to buy was stolen by Selby Manor. |
D.The truth about how Dorian kept his youth was hidden from him. |
A.Dorian admitted he was badly affected by his friends. |
B.Alan Campbell shot himself one night in his laboratory. |
C.Dorian blamed his sufferings on the portrait and Basil. |
D.Dorian wanted to kill himself so that the portrait could become normal. |
A.Admired. | B.Deserved. | C.Maintained. | D.Ignored. |
A.Because the portrait aroused too much curiosity of his friends. |
B.Because the portrait reflecting his soul made him suffer great pain. |
C.Because he was jealous of the portrait which would never grow old. |
D.Because he thought the portrait would take his youth and beauty away. |
1. Which statement is true according to “The Boy who could fly”?
A.Michael had a pair of wings when he was born. |
B.When in hospital, doctors gave Michael series of training to enable him to fly. |
C.Michael enjoyed his stay in the hospital because he was taken good care of. |
D.Everyone was happy when Michael returned home from the hospital. |
A.They wanted to make more films about Michael. |
B.They wanted to ask Sarah and George for a large sum of money. |
C.They wanted to find out why he could fly. |
D.They wanted Michael to steal something for them. |
A.Some government secrets that the terrorists want. | B.A check with a large sum of money. |
C.A tracking device to ensure his safety. | D.A letter to Michael from the police. |
A.Buck lived a happy life with Judge Miller. |
B.The law of club and tooth was made by the owner of the dog team. |
C.The primitive beast inside Buck was hidden until Thornton’s death. |
D.Buck was always gentle and friendly to other dogs. |
A.That winter was too cold, and there was too much snow. | B.They didn’t bring enough food. |
C.There had fewer dogs than they actually need. | D.They lacked order and discipline. |