Question

My son and I were trying to sell the house we had repaired, but in the barn（谷仓）there were bats and they would not leave. The barn was their home. They told us so in their own way they hung for the season. “Don’t worry about it, Dad.” Patrick said. “They keep down the mosquitoes（蚊子）.”

Unfortunately they also kept the buyers away. When we had asked a person to sell the house for us he had refused to show it because of the bats. “Bats are popular,” Patrick comforted me. “They are ecological.” “Isn’t there a machine you can buy that produces high-frequency sounds to keep bats away?” “ I don’t know,” said Patrick. “But I like bats, and whoever buys this house will probably like them too.’ “Probably?” I hated that word. “How many bats are there, anyway?” “I counted about 90 last night,” said Patrick. “They were dropping out from under the edge of the roof.” “You mean there are more------outside?” “They’re everywhere, Dad. But look at it this way. When the cold weather comes, they’ll be off to Mexico. Maybe in the spring we can keep them out. Don’t worry about it,” he said for the

the hundredth time. “It’s not a problem.”

The bat expert I called was even more active than Patrick. “I think you’ve got a large number there,” he said in wonder. “I’ve been trying to attract bats to our house for 25 years. A single bat ears up his weight in mosquitoes and black flies three times every night. You’ve a very lucky man.” I offered to share my luck with him. He could take them away. “Bats have a remarkable homing instinct（本能）,” he said. “They’d fly straight back even if I transported them 100 miles. Once they have settled, you can’t stop them from coming back.” I was silent.

Finally we managed to rent the house to a young family, who were also interested in buying it. “What about the bats?” I said to Patrick. “Oh, they love the bats,” he said. “No mosquitoes. No black flies. It’s one of the things that attracted them.” “Do you think they will really buy the house?” “Probably? Well, if they do, I suppose I’ll have to admit that I was wrong.” “You mean you’re going to eat your words?”

“Yes. I am.”

1.What was the problem the author had with his house?

A. Bats were living in the barn and wouldn’t go away.

B. The author and his son couldn’t sleep well because of the bats

C. The author and his son might be able to stay for the season.

D. The house was still badly in need of repair.

2.What did Patrick suggest the author should do to stop the bats living in the barn?

A. Buy a high-frequency machine.

B. Close the barn in the spring.

C. Reduce the number of mosquitoes.

D. Move them one hundred miles away.

3.What happened to the house in the end?

A. Some people agreed to rent the house.

B. The author failed to find anybody who wanted to live in the house

C. The bat expert made the decision to buy the house.

D. The bats left the house for Mexico in the spring.

4.Why did the author think he might have to “eat his words”?

A. He felt sorry for the bats.

B. He was happy about selling the house.

C. He realized they might be wrong about the bats’ actions

D. He might be mistaken about being unable to sell the house.

 

Answer 1

1.A

2.B

3.A

4.D

【解析】

试题分析:本文讲作者在整理房子以便出售的时候，发现谷仓里有一大群赶不走的蝙蝠。为此房子一直卖不出去，作者很忧愁，而儿子却很乐观。最后终于有一家年轻人愿意租房子，而且也不嫌弃蝙蝠。

1. 细节题。根据第一段My son and I were trying to sell the house we had repaired, but in the barn（谷仓）there were bats and they would not leave. 可知在整理房子的时候，谷仓里有一大群不愿离开的蝙蝠。故选A。

2. 细节题。根据第二段When the cold weather comes, they’ll be off to Mexico. Maybe in the spring we can keep them out.可知Patrick建议可以趁冬天蝙蝠迁去墨西哥春天再回来的时候关闭谷仓不让它们进去。故选B。

3. 细节题。根据第四段Finally we managed to rent the house to a young family, who were also interested in buying it.可知最终房子还是被一家年轻人租去了。故选A。

4. 推理题。根据前文可知作者想尽办法也没赶走蝙蝠，认为房子会因为大群蝙蝠而卖不出去，最后却有人愿意租房子。故选D。

考点：考查故事类短文阅读