2. 职称英语
  3. (1) One of these, concerning which I have said little, is the escaped convict

(1) One of these, concerning which I have said little, is the escaped convict

游客2023-11-28  29
问题    (1) One of these, concerning which I have said little, is the escaped convict (囚犯) upon the moor (沼泽). There is strong reason now to believe that he has got right away, which is a considerable relief to the lonely householders of this district. A fortnight (两星期) has passed since his flight, during which he has not been seen and nothing has been heard of him. It is surely inconceivable that he could have held out upon the moor during all that time. Of course, so far as his concealment goes there is no difficulty at all. Any one of these stone huts would give him a hiding-place. But there is nothing to eat unless he were to catch and slaughter one of the moor sheep. We think, therefore, that he has gone, and the outlying farmers sleep the better in consequence.
   (2) We are four able-bodied men in this household, so that we could take good care of ourselves, but I confess that I have had uneasy moments when I have thought of the Stapletons. They live miles from any help. There are one maid, an old manservant, the sister, and the brother, the latter not a very strong man. They would be helpless in the hands of a desperate fellow like this Notting Hill criminal, if he could once effect an entrance. Both Sir Henry and I were concerned at their situation, and it was suggested that Perkins the groom (马夫) should go over to sleep there, but Stapleton would not hear of it.
   (3) The fact is that our friend, the baronet (准男爵) , begins to display a considerable interest in our fair neighbour. It is not to be wondered at, for time hangs heavily in this lonely spot to an active man like him, and she is a very fascinating and beautiful woman. There is something tropical and exotic about her which forms a singular contrast to her cool and unemotional brother. Yet he also gives the idea of hidden fires. He has certainly a very marked influence over her, for I have seen her continually glance at him as she talked as if seeking approbation for what she said. I trust that he is kind to her. There is a dry glitter in his eyes, and a firm set of his thin lips, which goes with a positive and possibly a harsh nature. You would find him an interesting study.
   (4) He came over to call upon Baskerville on that first day, and the very next morning he took us both to show us the spot where the legend of the wicked Hugo is supposed to have had its origin. It was an excursion of some miles across the moor to a place which is so dismal that it might have suggested the story. We found a short valley between rugged tors (石山) which led to an open, grassy space flecked over with the white cotton grass. In the middle of it rose two great stones, worn and sharpened at the upper end, until they looked like the huge corroding fangs (尖牙) of some monstrous beast. In every way it corresponded with the scene of the old tragedy. Sir Henry was much interested and asked Stapleton more than once whether he did really believe in the possibility of the interference of the supernatural in the affairs of men. He spoke lightly, but it was evident that he was very much in earnest. Stapleton was guarded in his replies, but it was easy to see that he said less than he might, and that he would not express his whole opinion out of consideration for the feelings of the baronet. He told us of similar cases, where families had suffered from some evil influence, and he left us with the impression that he shared the popular view upon the matter.
   (5) On our way back we stayed for lunch at Merripit House, and it was there that Sir Henry made the acquaintance of Miss Stapleton. From the first moment that he saw her he appeared to be strongly attracted by her, and I am much mistaken if the feeling was not mutual. He referred to her again and again on our walk home, and since then hardly a day has passed that we have not seen something of the brother and sister. They dine here tonight, and there is some talk of our going to them next week. One would imagine that such a match would be very welcome to Stapleton, and yet I have more than once caught a look of the strongest disapprobation in his face when Sir Henry has been paying some attention to his sister. He is much attached to her, no doubt, and would lead a lonely life without her, but it would seem the height of selfishness if he were to stand in the way of her making so brilliant a marriage. Yet I am certain that he does not wish their intimacy to ripen into love, and I have several times observed that he has taken pains to prevent them from being tete-a-tete (两人间的私下谈话). By the way, your instructions to me never to allow Sir Henry to go out alone will become very much more onerous (艰巨的) if a love affair were to be added to our other difficulties. My popularity would soon suffer if I were to carry out your orders to the letter.
   (6) The other day—Thursday, to be more exact—Dr. Mortimer lunched with us. He has been excavating a barrow at Long Down, and has got a prehistoric skull which fills him with great joy. Never was there such a single-minded enthusiast as he! The Stapletons came in afterwards, and the good doctor took us all to the Yew Alley, at Sir Henry’s request, to show us exactly how everything occurred upon that fatal night. It is a long, dismal walk, the Yew Alley, between two high walls of clipped hedge, with a narrow band of grass upon either side. At the far end is an old tumble-down (摇摇欲坠的) summer-house. Half-way down is the moor-gate, where the old gentleman left his cigar-ash. It is a white wooden gate with a latch. Beyond it lies the wide moor. I remembered your theory of the affair and tried to picture all that had occurred. As the old man stood there he saw something coming across the moor, something which terrified him so that he lost his wits, and ran and ran until he died of sheer horror and exhaustion. [br] According to Para. 2, the author was worried about the Stapletons’ safety because______.
选项 A、four strong and violent people lodged with the family
B、the family lived far away only with several neighbors nearby
C、both men in the family were either elderly or weak
D、the brother refused the suggestion on sending one servant there
答案 C
解析 推断题。文章第二段第一句提到，作者一想到斯泰普尔顿这家人就感到不安。接下来解释了原因：这家人住在几英里之外，孤立无援；家中有一位女仆，一位上了年纪的男仆，以及兄妹二人，但哥哥并非孔武有力之人；这位诺丁山逃犯一旦闯进门，他们落入这样的亡命之徒手中，只会束手无策。由此可知这家只有两名男性，男仆上了年纪，斯泰普尔顿不强壮，故[C]为正确答案，同时排除[B]；该段第一句还指出我们四个身强力壮的男人一起住在这所房子里，但并不是借住在斯泰普尔顿家，故排除[A]；该段最后一句提到斯泰普尔顿不愿听从“我”和亨利爵士提出的让马夫珀金斯去他们那边睡觉的建议，但这是作者担心斯泰普尔顿家安全后提出的建议，而非担心的原因，故排除[D]。
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