单选题 The truth is, when we say of a gentleman that he lives elegantly on nothing a year, we use the word "nothing" to signify something unknown; meaning simply, that we don't know how the gentleman in question defrays the expenses of his establishment. Now, our friend the colonel had a great aptitude for all games of chance; and exercising himself, as he continually did. with the cards, the dice-box, or the cue, it is natural to suppose that he attained a much greater skill in the use of these articles than men can possess who only occasionally handle them. To use a cue at billiards well is like using a pencil, or a German flute, or a small-sword-you can not master any one of these implements at first, and it is only by repeated study and perseverance, joined to a natural taste, that a man can excel in the handling of either. Now, Crawley, from being only a brilliant amatcaur had grown to a consummate master of billiards. Like a great general, his genius used to rise with the danger, and when the luck had been unfavourable to him for a whole game, and the bets were consequently against him, he would, with consummate skill and boldness, make some prodigious hits which would restore the battle, and come a victor at the end, to the astonishment of everybody-of everybody, that is, who was a stranger to his play. Those who were accustomed to see it were cautious how they staked their money against a man of such sadder, resources, and brilliant and overpowering skill.
At games of cards he was equally skillful; for though he would constantly lose money at the commencement of an evening, playing so carelessly and making such blunders, that newcomers were often inclined to think meanly of his talent; yet when roused to action, and awakened to caution by repeated small losses, it was remarked that Crawley's play became quite different, and that he was pretty sure of beating his enemy thoroughly before the night was over. Indeed, very few men could say that they ever had the better of him.
His successes were so repeated that no wonder the envious and the vanquished spoken sometimes with bitterness regarding them. And as the French say of the Duke of Wellington. who never suffered a defeat, that only an astonishing series of lucky accidents enabled him to be an invariable winner; yet even they allow that he cheated at Waterloo, and was enabled to win the last great trick: so it was hinted at headquarters in England. that some foul play must have taken place in order to account for the continuous success of Colonel Crawley.
Though Frascati and the Salon were open at that time in Paris. the mania for play was so widely spread, that the public gambling-rooms did not suffice for the general ardour, and gambling went on in private houses as much as if there had been no public means for gratifying the passion. At Crawley's charming little reunions of an evening this fatal amusement commonly was practiced-much to good natured little Mrs. Crawley's annoyance. She spoke about her husband's passion for dice with the deepest grief; she bewailed it to everybody who came to her house. She besought the young fellows never, never to touch a box; and when young Green, of the Rifles, lost a very considerable sum of money, Rebecca passed a whole night in tears, as the servant told the unfortunate young man, and actually went on her knees to her husband to beseech him to remit the debt, and burn the acknowledgment. How could he? He had lost just as much as himself to Blackstone of the Hussars, and Count Punter of the Hanoverian Cavalry. Green might have any decent time; but pay? -of course he must pay-to talk of burning IOU's was child's play.
Other officers, chiefly young-for the young fellows gathered round Mrs. Crawley-came from her parties with tong faces, having dropped more or less money at her fatal card tables. Her house began to have an unfortunate reputation. The old hands warned the less experienced of their danger. Colonel O'Dowd, of the regiment, one of those occupying in Paris, warned Lieutenant Spooney of that corps. A loud and violent fracas took place between the infantry-colonel and his lady, who were dining a the Caré de Paris. and Colonel and Mrs. Crawley, who were also taking their meal there. The ladies engaged on both sides. Mrs. O'Dowd snapped her fingers in Mr. Crawley's face, and called her husband "no better than a blackleg", Colonel Crawley challenged Colonel O'Dowd, C. B. The commander-in-chief hearing of the dispute sent for Colonel Crawley, who was getting ready the same pistols, "which he shot Captain Marker, " and had such a conversation with him that no duel took place. If Rebecca had not gone on her knees to General Tufto, Crawley would have been sent back to England; and he did not play, except with civilians, for some weeks after.

单选题 Colonel Crawley was compared to the Duke of Wellington mainly because
[A] they were both lucky.
[B] they were both English.
[C] they were both extraordinary in winning wars.
[D] they might both win with hidden tricks.

单选题 What might be the reason why Mrs. O'Dowd quarreled with Mrs. Crawley?
[A] Her husband was attracted by Mrs. Crawley.
[B] She was cheated by Mrs. Crawley.
[C] Her husband lost money to Colonel Crawley.
[D] Colonel Crawley refused to pay the debt.

【正确答案】 C

【答案解析】推断题。第五段讲到O'Dowd太太对Crawley太太做}n侮辱性的手势，还说她的丈夫就是一个骗子。这一段的前半部分讲述的是由于很多人因为在Crawley太太家打牌，输钱给了Crawley上校，都是拉长了脸离开她的聚会。老手警告没有经验的人往她的家里打牌有输饯的危险。O'Dowd上校就是这样警告Spooney中尉的。由此我们可以推断，O'Dowd肯定曾经输钱给Crawley上校．他的太太对Crawley上校的太太做出侮辱性的手势．还称Crawley上校就是一个骗子，肯定是由于丈夫输钱，心中有一股恶气而做出的行为。答案为[C]。
[避错] 第一句中只讲述年轻人围聚在Crawley太太周围，而且是O'Dowd夫妇和Crawley夫妇争吵，O'Dowd太太肯定不是因为吃醋而与Crawley争吵，排除[A]；前面也并没有讲述任何O'Dowd太太曾经和Crawley太太有什么过结．而且她是说Crawley上校是个骗于，排除[B]；前面的段落都是极力说明Crawley上校赌技超群，无人能敌，别人欠他的赌债，所以不会是他输给O'Dowd钱，O'Dowd上校警告Spooney中尉在Crawley的家里打牌有输钱的危险，也说明了这一点，排除[D]。

单选题 All the following words can be used to describe Mrs. Crawley EXCEPT
[A] charming. [B] sympathetic. [C] social. [D] hypocritical.

【正确答案】 B

【答案解析】观点题。这一题可理解为在作者眼中，Crawley太太是个什么样的人。从文中没有看出[B]项所表达的意思。
[避错] 第五段第一句中讲到年轻的军官聚集在Crawley太太周围，这说明年轻的军官被她吸引，她一定具有魅力，她也应该是善于社交的人，她举办的晚问聚会被形容为charming，另外是在她的恳求之下，Tufto将军才收回成命，不把Crawley，上校遣返回英国，这使我们可以确定她很会交际，排除[A]，[C]；第四段中讲述一方面她在聚会上摆开牌桌，一方面又故作恼怒状，对别人说自己对于丈夫迷恋赌博有多痛心，告诫年轻人不要碰。当一个句为Green的年轻人输了一大笔钱后，仆人告诉这个年轻人，她整夜以泪洗面，跪着求丈夫免他的欠债，烧掉欠条。但是最终借口她丈夫也输了同样多的钱给别人，还是要这个年轻人还钱。作者评价谈烧掉欠条是小孩子的游戏，意为这是不可能的事。由此可判断，Crawley太太并不是真的富有同情心，只是惺惺作态、装好人罢了，排除[D]。

单选题 It is suggested in the passage that
[A] Colonel Crawley did not play games of chances often.
[B] although Colonel Crawley always won the games, he could not do well at the beginning.
[C] Mrs. Crawley persuaded her husband to return the money to some pitiful young fellows.
[D] fewer and fewer officers would play with Colonel Crawley.

【正确答案】 D

【答案解析】推断题。第五段前三句大意为很多人因为在Crawley太太家打牌输钱，拉长了脸离开她的聚会。她的房子渐渐有了霉运的名声。老手警告没有经验的人在她的家咀玩牌有输钱的危险。我们可以推断，长此以往，愿意和Crawley上校玩牌的人会越来越少。答案为[D]。
[避错] 第一段第二句讲到Crawley除了在所有的赌博项目上都有天赋，他还不断地练习纸牌、骰子和球杆，我们很自然地推想到他在用这些东西上所达到的造诣比那些只是偶尔才动动这些东西的人高得多，这就足以推断Crawley上校经常赌博，排除[A]；第三段第一句话明确地说Crawley上校存纸牌赌博上同样技艺精湛，尽管在晚上开始时他会不断输钱，打得如此漫不经心，犯一些愚蠢的错误，使得新来者认为他没有什么天赋，但当他振奋起来开始战斗，反复的小失误唤起了他的谨慎态度后，人们评价说Crawley的牌艺就变得十分不同，他有相当的把握在夜晚结束前彻底打败对手。很明显，他并不是没有能力在开始的时候打好，而是故意打得很糟糕，排除[B]；第四段中讲到仆人告诉哪个输了一大笔饯的年轻人Crawley太太整夜以泪洗面，跪着求丈夫免他的欠债，烧掉欠条。但是最终借口她丈夫也输了，同样多的钱给别人，还是要这个年轻人还钱。我们在第28题中也分析了Mrs. Crawley只是装装样子，不是真心同情那些输钱的年轻人，排除[C]。