Published in 1877, Black Beauty is one of the literature’s best-loved classics and is the only book Anna Sewell ever wrote.
In the book, Black Beauty, a horse, tells the story of his life in his own words. It is a story of how he was treated with kindness and love when he was young, but now his treatment changed at the hands of different owners. Black Beauty spent his young life with his mother on Farmer Grey’s farm. Farmer Grey is a good, kind man and the horses had a good life. His mother told him to be good and work hard. Black Beauty tried to follow this advice all his life.
First, he goes to live with Mr. Gordon and his family, who treat their horses well. He is cared for by a kind groom (马夫) called John, who never uses a whip (鞭子). Black Beauty saves Mrs. Gordon’s life when he runs fast to bring the doctor to her. The Gordons move abroad and Black Beauty was sold to Lord Westland. Things became totally different. Lady Westland made the horses wear reins (缰绳) so that they hold their heads up high. One day, a groom called Smith is left to look after the horses. He is drunk and rides Black Beauty very hard and uses a whip. Black Beauty loses a shoe and in the end falls. Smith is killed in the accident and Black Beauty stays alive but his legs are left a bad scar (伤疤) and Lord Westland decides to sell him.
Black Beauty’s next home is with a London cab driver Jerry Barker. Jerry and his family treat Black Beauty very well, but the work is hard and the hours are long. Jerry becomes ill and has to sell Black Beauty to a farmer. The farmer takes him to some women at Rose Hall. There, Black Beauty comes together again with a young groom who used to look after him at Mr. Gordon’s home. The women want to keep Black Beauty, so once again he has a kind and happy home.
39. From the first and second paragraph, we know _________.
A.the book Black Beauty is the only best-loved classic. |
B.the writer Anna Sewell wrote Black Beauty in her words |
C.Black Beauty lived a happy life on Farmer Grey’s farm |
D.Black Beauty didn’t need to work with his mother |
40. What might be the correct order of what happened in the story?
a. Black beauty met the young groom who used to look after him.
b. A doctor was brought to save Mrs. Gordon’s life in time.
c. Farmer Grey treated Black Beauty and his mum with kindness and love.
d. Black Beauty worked for long hours for Jerry.
A.a-b-c-d | B.b-a-c-d | C.c-b-d-a | D.a-d-c-b |
41. What does the underlined word they refer to (指代)?
A.Lady Westland’s grooms | B.Lady Westland’s horses |
C.Black Beauty and his mother | D.Black Beauty’s owners |
42. The passage is probably taken from _________.
A.a sports magazine | B.a book review | C.a science fiction | D.a travel report |