A

My father wasn't a king, he was a taxi driver, but I am a prince-Prince Renato II, of the country Pontinha, an island fort on Funchal harbour. It's in Madeira,Portugal, where I grew up. It was discovered in 1419.

In 1903, the king of Portugal sold the land to a wealthy British family, the Blandys, who make Madeira wine. Fourteen years ago the family decided to sell it forjust ?25,000, but nobody wanted to buy it either. I met Blandy at a party. and he asked if I'd like to buy the island. Of course I said yes,but I had no money-I was just an art teacher.I tried to find some business partners, who all thought I was crazy.So I sold some of my possessions,put my savings together and bought it.Of course, my family. my friends-all thought I was mad.

When the King originally sold the island,he signed a document, selling all the “possessions and the dominions”of the island.It means I can do what I want with it-I could start a restaurant, or a cinema but nobody thought someone would start a country.So that's what I did:I decided it would be my island, about the size of a one-bedroom house.

I have both a Portuguese passport and one for Pontinha (where my passport number is 0001).There are four citizens: me, my wife, my son and my daughter.I am the police, the gardener,everything.I am whatever I want to be-that's the dream,isn't it?If l want to have a national flag,it could be blue today,red tomorrow.I can change it any time.Of course,my power is only absolute here, where I am the true sovereign.

I don't live in my country full time, but I am often there.My family sometimes drops by, and other people come every day because the country is free for tourists to visit; I never close for bad weather.Sometimes I come here when I'm feeling lively,after a few drinks.

Madeira is surrounded by water,but for some reason we all have to pay to swim in the ocean now,at the swimming spots.However.I have my island,which means I can come swimming whenever I want-it's as if someone has given me the key to the waters.

Our lives are gone in a flash.All change in the world begins with something very small, and this is my country-just a small island.

1.How did the author get the island?

A.It was a present from Blandy.

B.The king sold it to him.

C.He inherited from his father.

D.He bought it from Blandy.

2.It can be learned from the passage that____.

A.the author made his living by driving

B.the author's wife supported to buy the island

C.blue and red are the main colors of his national flag

D.people can travel around the island free of charge

3.What did the author do with his island?

A.He set up a restaurant.

B.He started a cinema.

C.He founded his own country.

D.He opened a swimming pool.

4.From his own experience, the author wanted to tell the readers that____.

A.you can change your life through small things

B.you should buy your own country and become a king

C.becoming a real ruler is of much fun

D.life is too short, so enjoy it to the fullest

A man may usually be known by the books he reads as well as by the company he keeps; for there is a companionship of books as well as of men; and one should always live in the best company, whether it be of books or of men.

A good book may be among the best of friends. It is the same today that it always was, and it will never change. It is the most patient and cheerful of companions. It does not turn its back upon us in times of adversity or distress. It always receives us with the same kindness; amusing and instructing us in youth, and comforting and consoling us in age.

Men often discover their affinity (密切关系) to each other by the mutual love they have for a book just as two persons sometimes discover a friend by the admiration which both entertain for a third. There is an old proverb, “Love me, love my dog.” But there is more wisdom in this: “Love me, love my book.” The book is a truer and higher bond of union. Men can think, feel, and sympathize with each other through their favorite author. They live in him together, and he in them.

A good book is often the best urn(瓮) of a life enshrining the best that life could think out; for the world ofa man’s life is, for the most part, but the world of his thoughts. Thus the best books are treasuries of good words, the golden thoughts, which, if remembered and cherished, become our constant companions andcomforters.

Books possess an essence of immortality. They are by far the most lasting products of human effort.

Temples and statues decay, but books survive. Time is of no account with great thoughts, which are as fresh today as when they first passed through their author’s minds, ages ago. What was then said and thought still speaks to us as vividly as ever from the printed page. The only effects of time have been to filter out the bad products; for nothing in literature can long survive but what is really good.

1.A good book may be among the best of friends because_____.

A. it changes over the past of time

B. it contains all kinds of knowledge

C. it doesn’t betray us when we are in trouble

D. it comforts us in youth and instructs us in age

2.“Love me, love my book” in paragraph 3 probably means _______?

A. If you love me, you must reading books.

B. The book can be a bond between friends.

C. I love books as much I love friends.

D. If you love the author, you will love his books.

3.Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?

A. Time can tell whether a literature is good or bad.

B. All books are our constant companions and comforters.

C. Temples, statues and books cannot stand the test of time.

D. The world of a man’s thoughts is what his life is all about.

4.The best title for this passage can be.

A. Reading Books

B. A Good Book

C. Our Best Friend

D. Companionship of Books

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