Question

It was the small hours of the morning when we reached London Airport. I had phoned London

20090327

from Amsterdam, and there was a hired car to meet, but there was one more unfortunate happening before I reached my flat. In all my travels I have never, but for that once, been required by the British customs to open a single bag or to do more than state that I carried no goods to declare. It was, of course, my fault; the extreme tiredness and nervous tension of the journey had destroyed my diplomacy （处事之道）. I was, for whichever reason, so tired that I could hardly stand, and to the question, “have you read this?” I replied with extreme foolishness, “yes, hundreds of times.”

“And you have nothing to declare?”

“Nothing.”

“How long have you been out of this country?”

“About three months.”

“And during that time you  have bought nothing?”

“Nothing but what is on the list I have given you.”

He seemed momentarily at a loss, but then he attacked. The attack, when it came, was completely unexpected.

“Where did you get that watch?”

I could have kicked myself, two days before, when playing water games with a friend in the bath, I had forgotten to take off my ROLEX OYSTER, and it had, not unnaturally, stopped. I had gone into the market and bought, for only six pence, an ugly time piece that made a strange noise. It had stopped twice, without any reason, during the journey.

I explained, but I had already lost face. I produced my own watch from a pocket, and added that I should be grateful if he would confiscate（没收）the replacement.

“It is not a question of confiscation, ” he said, “there is a fine for failing to declare dutiable goods. And now may I please examine that Rolex?”

It took another quarter of an hour to persuade him that the Rolex was not contraband(走私品); then he began to search my luggage.

1．The writer arrived at London airport        .

       A．at one o’clock in the morning                B．late at night

       C．in the early morning                             D．early in the evening

2．From the questions asked by the customs officer we can infer that      .

       A．he wanted to embarrass the writer

       B．he was just doing his duty

       C．he must have noticed the writer’s ugly watch

       D．he must have noticed the writer’s tiredness

3．Why did the writer buy the watch in the market?

       A．It was a Rolex.                                    B．His own watch didn’t work.

       C．He didn’t like his own watch at all.        D．The watch was cheap.

4．What do you suppose will probably happen to the writer in the end?

      A．He will be let go through the customs without any punishment.

       B．He will be given a fine as a punishment.

       C．His Rolex will be confiscated.

       D．His cheap watch will be confiscated.

Answer 1

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