单选题 Directions: After reading the following passage, you will find 5 questions or unfinished statements, numbered 36 to 40. For each question or statement there are 4 choices marked A), B), C) and D). You should make the correct choice and mark the corresponding letter on the Answer Sheet with a single line through the center.
In Washington D. C. , 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue is a very special address. It is the address of the White House, the home of the president of the United States.
Originally the White House was gray and was called the presidential Palace. It was built from 1792 to 1800. At this time, the city of Washington itself was being built It was to be the nation's new capital city. George Washington, the first president, and Pierre Charles L' Enfant, a French engineer, chose the place for the new city. L' Enfant then planned the city. The president's home was an important part of the plan.
A contest was held to pick a design for the president's home. An architect named James Hogan won. He designed a large three-story house of gray stone.
President Washington never lived in the Presidential Palace. The first president to live there was John Adams, the second president of the United States, and his wife Mrs. Adams did not really like her new house. In her letters, she often complained about the cold. Fifty fireplaces were not enough to keep the house warm!
In 1812 the United States and Britain went to war. In 1814 the British invaded Washington. They burned many buildings, including the Presidential Palace.
After the war James Hoban, the original architect, partially rebuilt the president's home. To cover the marks of the fire, the building was painted white. Before long it became known as the White House.
The White House is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the United States. Every year more than 1.5 million visitors go through the five rooms that are open to the public.

单选题 The White House was built in Washington______.

A. because a French engineer was invited to design it
B. because President George Washington liked to live in it
C. because the British invaders lived in it in 1812-1814
D. because it was to be the nation' s capital city

【正确答案】 D

【答案解析】[答案精解] 题干意为“白宫建在华盛顿是因为…”。该题为细节题。由第二段第四句“…the city of Washington itself was being built. It was to be the nation's new capital city.”可以看出是因为华盛顿即将成为国家的首都。

单选题 The Presidential Palace was______.

A. painted gray and white
B. made of gray stone
C. made of white stone
D. made very warm in winter

【正确答案】 B

【答案解析】[答案精解] 题干意为“这个总统的宫殿是…”。该题为细节题。由第三段最后一句“He designed a large three-story house of gray stone.”可以看出这个总统的宫殿是由灰色的石头建成的。

单选题 The president's home and the city of Washington were______.

A. built by the American army
B. built by the British troops
C. planed by George Washington
D. planned by the French

【正确答案】 D

【答案解析】[答案精解] 题干意为“白宫和华盛顿城市都是…”。该题为细节题。由第二段最后三句可以看出白宫和华盛顿都是由法国工程师设计的。

单选题 The original home of the president needed to be rebuilt______.

A. because John Adams' wife did not like it
B. because it was cold in winter even with 50 fireplaces
C. because it had burned down during the war
D. because George Washington was not willing to live in it

【正确答案】 C

【答案解析】[答案精解] 题干意为“总统最初的家要重建是因为…”。该题为细节题。由第五段最后一句“They burned many buildings. including the Presidential Palace.”可以看出是因为被烧毁了。

单选题 The new presidential home was painted white to______.

A. cover the marks of fire
B. attract tourist from France
C. to please Mrs. John Adams
D. keep it warm in winter

【正确答案】 A

【答案解析】[答案精解] 题干意为“总统的新家被涂成白色是为了…”。该题为细节题。由第六段第二句“To cover the marks of the fire. the building was painted white.”可以看出涂成白色是为了掩盖被火烧的痕迹。