Our first welcome to Britain wasn’t from the staff of Heathrow Airport or the coach driver who took us to our new city and new home for the next three weeks. It was, in fact, the noisy and energetic seagulls full of songs that flew down to us. When leaving from the plane exits, we still could hear their loud and clear songs through the glasses. It was unbelievable that they lifted our spirits and cheered us up after our stupidly long and awful journey.
These seagulls welcomed us into the new home with open wings. If they could speak instead of merely squawking, I’m sure we would have established some bright and harmonious relationship. They liked to hover overhead around with childlike greetings or just simply walk fearlessly close to our feet. Some of us saved bread our host family prepared for these friends and really enjoyed their company.
But my hostess, Julie, doesn’t think so. Strangely enough, she couldn’t give any reasons. The squawk-proof double-glazing that is closed explains. Perhaps she prefers to sleep with her windows open but she always fails to do that, because those birds seem to enjoy staying up till next morning, doing nothing but scream. And they decide to keep doing so every single night. Furthermore, every time she has to wash the marble floor of the gardens, Julie would look up around, curse the seagulls for droppings and say to me with a sad smile, “They are friendly to you.”
But stop thinking that she hates the creatures and never plans to have a change, because there is another side to her evident feelings towards the birds. Every time we go shopping, Julie never forgets to put a big bag of wild birdseed into her carriage which costs quite more than milks or juices for one week. I can see what it goes for since she refills the wild bird feeder before a big hurry to drive to work every morning and when working she knows what is happening back at home — seagulls are enjoying the seed.
I’m leaving soon and not likely, though I hope not, to get back to see my friends here in England in the future. I said I would miss all friends living here including the seagulls. And when Julie was refilling the feeder again, she said, “They’re nice but they are not my friends.”
21. According to the first paragraph, we can know that ___________.
A.people in Britain didn’t welcome the newcomers |
B.the seagulls were all the more energetic and friendly than the local people |
C.the author felt surprised to find seagulls shortly after the plane landed |
D.the author’s spirits sank at the sight of noisy and stupid seagulls |
22. What does
“The squawk-proof double-glazing” underlined in Paragraph 3 refer to?
A.A window used to keep noise out. | B.Birdseed used to feed the seagulls. |
C.A net used for capturing birds. | D.A cage used for keeping birds. |
23. Julie said the seagulls were nice but not her friends for the following reasons
EXCEPT that________.
A.the seagulls were the source of noise every night | B.her garden became dirty due to the seagulls |
C.the seagulls were friendly to her guests | D.the birdseeds cost her large amounts of money |
24. The passage is most possibly taken from _________.
A.a popular science book about birds | B.a travel brochure for London |
C.a guidebook on how to feed the birds | D.a magazine about travelling |