Passage 1

A wealthy Persian Prince loved good stories. The older he grew, the fonder he became of them. But he always regretted they had to have an end. So he decided to give half his wealth and his beautiful daughter to the man who could tell him a story without an end. Anybody who failed would be sent to prison for life. The risk was so great that nobody came to the palace to tell the Prince a story for a whole year. Then one day, a tall, handsome young man came and said he wanted to tell a story that would go on forever. The Prince agreed but warned him what would happen if he failed. 'The risk is worth your fair daughter,' the young man replied poetically (得体地). He then began this well-known story:
'Once upon a time there was a certain King who feared famine. So he ordered his men to build an enormous storehouse, which he filled with corn. Then, when it was up, made water-proof and fire-proof, the King felt happy. But one day he noticed a small hole in the roof and as he looked at it, a locust came out with a grain of corn. A minute later, another locust came out with another grain of corn. Then a third locust with another grain of corn. Then a fourth locust, flying at great speed, pushed through the hole and came out with two grains of corn. Then a fifth locust came and...'
'Stop,' shouted the Prince. 'I can't,' answered the young man. 'I must go on until I tell you what happened to each grain of the corn.' 'But that will go on forever.' The Prince protested. 'Exactly,' the young man replied, and he smiled as he turned towards the Prince's beautiful young daughter.

单选题

The Prince always felt regretted about story because ______.

【正确答案】 C

【答案解析】

题干的意思是：为什么国王对故事感到遗憾?在文章第一段的第三句话(But he always regretted they had to have an end)明确给出了答案。另需明确这句话中的两个指代和一个短语：“he”指“Prince”，“they”指“stories”，而“have an end”指“结束、结局”，所以选C项。

单选题

The young man risked to tell an endless story to the Prince for ______.

【正确答案】 B

【答案解析】

题干的意思是：这个年轻人为什么要冒险给国王讲这个没有结尾的故事?实际上是问这个年轻人的目的，这在文中并没有明确表示出来。由第一段第四句话得知国王将以一半的财富和他的女儿为代价。而当年轻人成功之后，他将目光转向了国王漂亮的女儿(最后一句话)，并没有再次提及国王的财富。由此可以推断年轻人最主要的目的应该是得到国王的女儿。所以选B项。

单选题

The young man would be sent to prison ______ if he failed to tell a story without an end.

【正确答案】 A

【答案解析】

题干的意思是：如果这个年轻人没能讲出一个没有结局的故事，他将会入狱多久?这是国王的诺言，如果讲故事的人成功了将会得到财富和他的女儿；如果失败了将在狱中度过余生。由第一段第五句话得知“for life”就是“forever”。所以，选A项。

单选题

In order to prevent famine, the King asked to build ______.

【正确答案】 A

【答案解析】

题干的意思是：为了抵御饥荒，国王要建造什么?这是年轻人讲的故事中的一个小细节，仔细阅读不难发现答案在第二段的第二句话。如果不知道“storehouse”的意思，可由后半句的定语从句推测。所以，选A项。