题目内容
his living for 15 years by selling false signatures of Americans. Spring was born in England in 1813 and arrived
in Philadelphia in 1858 to open a bookstore. At first he became rich by selling his small but real collection of
early U.S. autographs (手稿). Discovering his ability at copying handwriting, he began imitating signatures of
George Washington and Ben Franklin and writing them on the title pages of old books. To lessen the chance
of detection (察觉), he sent his forgeries to England and Canada for sale.
Forgers have a hard time selling their products. A forger can't deal with a respectable buyer but people
who don't have much knowledge in the field. Forgers have many ways to make their work look real. For
example, they buy old books to use the aged paper of the title page, and they can treat paper and ink with
chemicals.
In Spring's time right after the Civil War, Britain was still fond of the Southern states, so Spring invented
a respectable maiden lady known as Miss Fanny Jackson, the only daughter of General "Stonewall" Jackson.
For several years Miss Fanny's financial problems forced her to sell a great number of letters and manuscripts
(手稿). Spring had to work very hard to satisfy the demand. All this activity did not prevent Spring from dying
in poverty, leaving sharp-eyed experts the difficult task of separating his forgeries from the originals.
B. There was less chance of being detected there.
C. Britain was Spring's birthplace.
D. The prices were higher in England and Canada.
B. Signatures of George Washington and Ben Franklin
C. Southern manuscripts and letters
D. Civil War battle plans
B. persons who aren't experts
C. book dealers
D. owners of old books
B. A little - known girl who sold her father's papers to Robert Spring.
C. Robert Spring's daughter.
D. An imaginary person created by Spring.
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