1 . The Chicago Fire of 1871 was the worst disaster of the 19th century.

The fire is said to have started one evening in Mrs. O’Leary’s barn (牲口棚) on the West Side of Chicago. Several hours after she milked her cow, it kicked over an oil lamp, and the cow started the fire. We do not know if the story is true, but we do know that the fire began in a barn on the West Side.

The fire spread quickly because of the wooden buildings, a strong wind, and a dry season. The fire lasted 27 hours and spread to all parts of the city. Other cities sent 25 fire companies to help put out the fire. Federal troops (联邦军队) were also used to help fight the fire and keep order, too. At last rain put out the fire.

There was a lot of damage. 90,000 people were homeless, and 18,000 buildings were destroyed. Property damage (财产损失) was almost 200 million dollars. In addition, about 300 people died.

People from all over the world helped Chicago by sending food and clothing. Within a month, 4,000 cottages (小屋) with two rooms had been built. In a few years, Chicago was completely rebuilt.

1. Which parts of the city were hurt by the fire?

A．The West Side.	B．The South Side and the East Side.
C．The North Side.	D．All sides.

2. How many people lost their lives in the fire?

A．90,000.

B．18,000.

C．almost 200.

D．about 300.

3. People who stayed in Chicago after the fire showed__________ .

A．courage

B．fear

C．weakness

D．laziness

4. What helped to spread and to end the fire?

A．A cow.

B．Firemen.

C．The weather.

D．Carelessness.

2 . Brownrigg is a London tour guide and leads walks through the capital all summer long, whatever the weather. His dozen or so routes range in topics from Harry Potter to the London Underground, but all have something in common. “I often end up talking about the weather,” he says. “It’s a national obsession (痴迷). I realised how much it has shaped London’s existence and history.”

Brownrigg’s Discovering Britain walk takes in several of the city’s famous landmarks, from the Tower of London lo the Shard, each stop exploring some of London’s extraordinary weather events.

We begin at the Monument Christopher Wren’s elegy to the Great Fire of London. With its pale stone column topped by a golden orb. the Monument was designed to look like a giant candle. It stands 202ft high, exactly 202ft away from where the lire began in Pudding Lane. Despite its size, the structure is dwarfed by (相形见绌) today’s surrounding tower blocks. Similarly, the causes behind the fire are sometimes overlooked. The Great Fire was a significant event in the City of London’s history, one that was shaped by the capitals geography. The spark was the weather.

As we enjoy some autumn sun beside the Monument, Brownrigg explains: “The summer of 1666 was unusually warm. At that time London was crammed (塞满) with wooden buildings, many only a few feet apart. A long, hot summer left them bone dry. Add stores of flammable materials including gunpowder left over from the Civil War and the city was a giant tinderbox.” It caught a light on 2 September when a bakery oven wasn’t cleaned properly. The inferno (特大火) lasted three days thanks to a strong breeze. Besides fanning the flames, the wind caused more mess by changing direction.

1. What does “it” refer to in paragraph 1?

A．Introducing the celebrities in London.	B．Talking about the weather.
C．Explaining the public transport.	D．Exploring the culture of Britain.

2. What does Brownrigg do mainly in each stop?

A．Admiring the special architecture.

B．Warning tourists of the public safety.

C．Paying a visit to the famous museums.

D．Probing some historical matters with weather.

3. How does the third paragraph develop?

A．By making a comparison.	B．By analyzing the important figures.
C．By offering some examples.	D．By describing the features of the buildings.

4. What can be inferred mainly from Brownrigg’s words in the last paragraph?

A．Showing the materials of the buildings.	B．Expressing the cause of the Great Fire.
C．Predicting the change of the weather.	D．Describing the surroundings of the bakery.