文章大意:本文节选自《威尼斯商人》,讲述安东尼奥的商船出事沉入到了海底,他的朋友希望他不要再有坏消息了;夏洛克的女儿私奔让他感觉很懊恼,但是听说安东尼奥出事后,他很高兴,他要安东尼奥还钱,如果不按时还钱,他就要从安东尼奥身上割下一磅肉,他说了他要割安东尼奥的肉的理由。
The news for Antonio was not good. The ship that sank (沉没) in the sea between England and France was his. Its valuable cargo(货物) lay at the bottom of the sea, and Antonio had lost his money. His friends hoped that there would be no more bad news for him.
Shylock was still angry about his daughter, Jessica, and the news for him was not good, either. He paid people to look for her, but they could not find her. They came back with news about his money she had spent and his jewels (珠宝) she had sold. All this made Shylock angrier and angrier.
However, when he heard that Antonio had lost a ship and all its valuable cargo, he was pleased. He decided that if Antonio could not pay back his debt (债务) when it was due (到期), he would make him pay the penalty. He would take one pound of his flesh (肉). He would choose the heart. Then Antonio would not be able to take business away from him any longer because he would be dead.
The news got worse for Antonio. He lost another ship in a storm near Tripoli. It was a very large ship and its cargo was very valuable. The ship and its cargo sat at the bottom of the sea. The news soon came to Venice, and Shylock was happier than ever. Now he would have revenge (复仇) on his old enemy. He looked forward to taking one pound of Antonio’s flesh.
“You will not take a pound of his flesh, will you?” Antonio’s friends asked Shylock. “What use is that? What can you do with it?”
“I can use it to go fishing,” he replied. “I can’t eat it, but it will make me feel good. He has often laughed at me when I lose money. He even laughs at me when I don’t lose money. He lends money to people for no interest and so he takes away my friends and my business. Why does he do this? It is only because I am a Jew. But a Jew is just another person. Don’t I have eyes and hands like he does? Don’t I have feelings and passions (激情) like he does? Don’t I eat the same food? Don’t the same weapon (武器) hurt me as hurt him? Don’t I get sick with the same illnesses as he does? Am I not cured (治愈) in the same way? Don’t I get hot in summer and cold in winter as he does? If you cut me, won’t I bleed (流血)? If you tickle (挠痒) me, won’t I laugh? If you poison (毒害) me, won’t I die? If you do me wrong, won’t I take revenge?”
—Taken from The Merchant of Venice
52. Why does Shylock become angrier and angrier?
A.Because Antonio’s ship sank in the sea. |
B.Because he lost lots of money and jewels. |
C.Because his daughter left him without telling him |
D.Because Antonio lent money to people for no interest. |
53. What does the underlined word “penalty” probably mean in Chinese?
54. Which is the right order of the events?
① Antonio lost a ship in a storm near Tripoli.
② Antonio borrowed some money from Shylock.
③ Antonio’s friends asked Shylock about the flesh.
④ Shylock paid some people to look for his daughter.
55. Which of the following might be the best title for the passage?
A.Antonio and His Ships | B.Shylock and His Daughter |
C.Shylock’s Flesh | D.Bad News for Antonio |