When Charles Stratton was five, he stopped growing. His mother took him to see the famous showman, P. T. Barnum. Mr. Barnum thought a small person would be the perfect addition to his show. He hired Charles’ parents along with him, and they traveled the world together.
He gave the two-foot-tall Charles a name, General Tom Thumb. He taught Tom how to sing, dance, act and tell jokes. When he felt Tom was ready to perform on stage, he made up ads. To stir up great interest, he said that Tom was eleven years old and had come from England.
During the show, Tom fought battles pretendedly with tall people. He also danced upon a wooden plate held by a person who was eight feet tall. Tom’s act was very popular and brought in a lot of money. By the time Tom was an adult, he had grown very rich. He had become a billionaire at the age of twenty five.
Fortunately for Tom, Mr. Barnum added more little people to his show, and Tom became lucky in love as well. One of the little people was Lavinia Warren, a schoolteacher. Tom was able to win her love, and they married.
The ceremony and reception were the talk of the town. They were attended by many rich and famous people and by about 2000 guests. Crowds filled the streets of New York to have a look at their tiny wedding marriage. The couple even met with President Abraham Lincoln on their honeymoon just before going to live in Tom’s house in Connecticut.
Their wedding, which took place during the Civil War, provided a welcome escape from the sad problems of war. Not willing to let this bit of sunshine fade, communities throughout the country sponsored(发起) “Tom Thumb” weddings. In these weddings, small boys and girls, all dressed up, went through marriage ceremony for fun.
【小题1】“Talk of the town” means　　　.

A．the wooden plate would make it sound as if Tom was dancing

B．it made Tom look taller

C．the eight–foot–tall man was the only tall person Tom trusted

D．the difference between them would make Tom look even smaller

A．Weddings always make people feel full of sunshine.

B．People are always disappointed during war time.

C．Entertainment can serve an important purpose.

D．People should be married when they are small children.

阅读理解

　　When Charles Stratton was five, he stopped growing. His mother took him to see the famous showman, P. T. Barnum. Mr. Barnum thought a small person would be the perfect addition to his show. He hired Charles' parents along with him, and they traveled the world together.

　　He gave the two - foot - tall Charles name, General Tom Thumb. He taught Tom how to sing, dance, act and tell jokes. When he felt Tom was ready to perform on stage, he made up ads. To stir up(激起)great interest, he said that Tom was eleven years old and had come from England.

　　During the show, Tom fought battles pretendedly with tall people. He also danced upon a wooden plate held by a person who was eight feet tall.

　　Tom's act was very popular and brought in a lot of money. By the time Tom was an adult, he had grown very rich. He had become a billionaire at the age of twenty-five.

　　Fortunately for Tom, Mr. Barnum added more little people to his show, and Torn became lucky in love as well. One of the little people was Lavinia Warren, a school teacher. Tom was able to win her love, and they married.

　　The ceremony (庆典) and reception were the talk of the town. They were attended by many rich and famous people and by about 2,000 guests. Crowds filled the streets of New York to have a look at their tiny wedding marriage. The couple even met with President Abraham Lincoln on their honeymoon just before going to live in Tom's house in Connecticut.

　　Their wedding, which took place during the Civil War, provided a welcome escape from the sad problems of war. Not willing to let this bit of sunshine fade(浅谈), communities throughout the country sponsored (主持)“Tom Thumb”weddings. In these weddings, small boys and girls, all dressed up, went through marriage ceremony for fun.

1．“Talk of the town”means ________.

[　　]

A．it was in the newspaper

B．people spread mean rumors(谣言) about it

C．it was the most popular happening

D．it was discussed in a city meeting

2．What does the author think about Tom Thumb's wedding?

[　　]

A．People gave it too much of their attention.

B．It helped people cheer up in a dark time.

C．It was funny and ridiculous(荒谬可笑的).

D．Tom and Lavinia were stupid.

3．Which of the following is the best clue to the fact that Tom was smart?

[　　]

A．He became a billionaire at twenty-five.

B．He learned how to sing, dance, and act at a very young age.

C．He met with President Lincoln during his honeymoon.

D．He married a school teacher.

4．Tom would dance on a wooden plate held by a person who was eight feet tall because ________.

[　　]

A．the wooden plate would make it sound as if Tom was tap dancing

B．it made Tom feel taller

C．the eight-foot-tall man was the only tall person Tom trusted

D．die difference between them would make Tom look even smaller

5．What is the main idea of the last paragraph?

[　　]

A．Weddings always make people feel full of sunshine.

B．People are always disappointed during war time.

C．Entertainment can serve an important purpose.

D．People should be married when they are small children.

The True Story of Treasure Island

It was always thought that Treasure Island was the product of Robert Louis Stevenson’s imagination. ___1___，recent research has found the true story of this exciting work.

Stevenson, a Scotsman, had lived　 2　 for many years in 1881 he returned to Scotland for a　 3　 . With him were his American wife Fanny and his son　 4　　 .

Each morning Stevenson would take them out for a long　 5　 over the hills. They had been　 6　 this for several days before the weather suddenly took a turn for the worse, Kept indoors by the heavy rain. Lloyd felt the days　 7　 . To keep the boy happy Robert asked the boy to do some　 8　 .

One morning, the boy came to Robert with a beautiful map of an island. Robert　 9　 that the boy had drawn a large cross in the middle of　 10　 . “What’s that?” he asked “That’s the　 11　 treasure “said the boy Robert suddenly　 12　 something of an adventure story in the boy’s　 13　 While the rain was pouring, Robert sat down by the fire to write a story. He would make the　 14　 a twelve-year-old boy just like Lloyd. But who would he the pirate（海盗）?

Robert had a good friend named Henley, who walked around with the　 15　 of a wooden leg. Robert had always wanted to　 16　 such a man in a story 17　 Long John Silver the pirate with a wooden leg, was　 18　 .

So thanks to a　 19　 .September in Scotland a friend with a wooden leg and the imagination of a twelve-year-old boy we have one of the greatest　 20　 stories in the English language.

难易度：难

1．A．However B．Therefore C．Besides D．Finally

2．A．alone　 B．next door C．at home D．abroad

3．A．meeting B．story　 C．holiday D．jib

4．A．Lloyd　 B．Robert C．Henley D．John

5．A．talk B．rest　 C．walk　 D．game

6．A．attempting B．missing C．planning　 D．enjoying

7．A．quiet　 B．dull　 C．busy　 D．cold

8．A．cleaning B．writing C．drawing D．exercising

9．A．doubted B．noticed C．decided D．recognized

10．A．the sea B．the house C．Scotland　 D．the island

11．A．forgotten B．buried C．discovered D．unexpected

12．A．saw B．drew　 C．made　 D．learned

13．A．book　 B．reply　 C．picture D．mind

14．A．star　 B．hero　 C．writer D．child

15．A．help　 B．problem C．use D．bottom

16．A．praise B．produce C．include D．accept

17．A．Yet B．Also　 C．But D．Thus

18．A．read　 B．born　 C．hired　 D．written

19．A．rainy B．sunny　 C．cool　 D．windy

20．A．news　 B．love　 C．real-life D．adventure