When people print a stamp, any error made on a stamp raises its value to stamp collectors. A mistake on one inexpensive postage stamp has made the stamp worth a million and a half times its original value. More than one hundred years ago in the British colony of Mauritius, a small island in the Indian Ocean, the mistake was made. In 1847 an order for stamps was sent to a London printer — Mauritius was to become the fourth country in the world to issue stamps. Before the order was filled and delivered, a ball was planned at Mauritius' s Government House, and stamps were needed to send out the invitations. A local printer was instructed to copy the design for the stamps. He accidentally inscribed the words "Post Office" instead of "Post Paid" on the several hundred stamps that he printed. Today there are only twenty-six of these misprinted stamps left-fourteen One Penny Orange-Reds and twelve Two Penny Blues. Because of the Two Penny Blues' rareness and age, collectors have paid as much as $ 16,800 for it.

单选题 Over a century ago, Mauritius______.

【正确答案】 D

【答案解析】解析：题干意为“一个世纪以前，毛里求______。”根据第二段第一句“(这个错误在一百多年前的毛里求斯——印度洋上的一个小岛——还是不列颠殖民地时就产生了。)”可知答案。

单选题 The mistake on the stamps was made______.

【正确答案】 A

【答案解析】解析：题目问“邮票的错误在哪里产生的?”根据第三段第二、三句“A local printer was instructed to copy the design for the stamps．He accidentally inscribed the words‘Post Office’instead of‘Post Paid’on the several hundred stamps that he printed．”可知答案。

单选题 The mistake on the locally printed postage stamps was in the______.

【正确答案】 D

【答案解析】解析：题干意为“当地印刷的邮票上的错误出现在______”。解题依据参见上题。“inscribed”意思为“题名”，故答案应为D。

单选题 Stamp collectors have paid $ 16,800 for______.

【正确答案】 A

【答案解析】解析：题目问“邮票收集者要付16，800美元来买______”。根据文章最后一段“Today there are only twenty—six of these misprinted stamps left--fourteen One Penny Orange—Reds and twelve Two Penny Blues．Because of the Two Penny Blues’rareness and age，collectors have paid as much as$16，800 for it．(现在只剩下26枚这种印刷错误的邮票——14枚橘红色的一便士邮票和12枚蓝色的两便士邮票。因为两便士蓝邮票数量稀少加上年代久远，收集者出价高达16，800美元一枚。)”可以判断，答案应为A。