单选题 The Englishman suspects all theories, philosophical (哲学的) or other. He suspects everything new and is reluctant to accept it at the very beginning, unless he is     25    by the force of circumstances to see that this new thing has advantages over the old. They do not consult historical     26    in order to decide what to do: They first learn the facts as they are; then they depend upon their own common sense, not at all upon their university learning or upon philosophical theories.
    It is difficult to get praise from the Englishman. A new idea, a noble action, and an     27    painting—any of these things will be admired and praised by every other people in Europe long before you can get Englishmen to praise. The Englishman all this time is trying to find fault. Why should he try to find fault? He has     28    the terrible caution of his ancestors in regard to mistakes. Unless it     29    him he is away from mistakes, he will not accept the new thing. He has learned     30    his ancestors taught him.
    The judgment of the Englishman by all other European peoples is that he is the most     31    , the most unreceptive (不愿意倾听的), and the most unfriendly among other peoples. Another typical character of English people is that they are the most     32    of all western peoples. If you ask a Frenchman, an Italian, a German, even an American, what he thinks about Englishmen, every one of them will have a common answer—Englishmen are so proud of themselves that it is difficult for them to accept things beyond their present conditions.
    But you would find upon the other hand that nearly all nations would speak     33    of certain other English qualities—energy, courage, honour. The friendship of an Englishman once gained is more strong and true than any other. It must be acknowledged that the English character is especially well fitted for the struggle. It is neither a lovable nor an agreeable character; it is not even kindly, for kindness is an emotional     34    , and the Englishman never likes to do things on the spur of the moment. But with all this, the character is a grand one, and its success has been the best proof of its value.
    A. arrogant
    B. caution
    C. compelled
    D. complied
    E. ensures
    F. exquisite
    G. grace
    H. highly
    I. importance
    J. impulse
    K. inherited
    L. invariably
    M. precedents
    N. resembles
    O. suspicious
问答题    
 
【正确答案】C。
【答案解析】空前的系动词is和空后的介词by提示，本空应填及物动词的过去分词，故C项compelled和K项inherited入选。reluctant to accept it中的it指代everything new，说明了在接受新事物的过程中，英国人并不是自愿的。因此，选项中的动词只有C项compelled(强迫)符合句意，为答案。
问答题    
 
【正确答案】M。
【答案解析】空前的形容词historical提示，本空应填名词。本段最后一句讲到，英国人在遇到问题时并不依赖以前的知识。由此可知，M项precedents符合句意，即：他们并不依赖于历史先例来决定该做什么。
问答题    
 
【正确答案】F。
【答案解析】空前的不定冠词an和空后的名词painting提示，本空应填以元音音素开头的形容词，故A项arrogant和F项exquisite入选。any of these things will be admired and praised中的these things指代前文的idea，action和painting。根据admire和praise可知，这三种事物都具有某种优点。因此，本空要填的形容词应该是能够突出painting的优点的，备选形容词中只有F项exquisite(精致的)符合要求，为答案。
问答题    
 
【正确答案】K。
【答案解析】本空所在句中，he为主语，the terrible caution为宾语，谓语不完整，故本空应填过去分词，与助动词has构成谓语。该段最后一句中的his ancestors taught him说明，英国人的这种性格特点是从他们的祖辈传下来的。选项中的动词inherited符合语义，故K项inherited(继承)为答案。
问答题    
 
【正确答案】E。
【答案解析】it为主语，him为宾语，且根据上下文的时态确定，本空应填动词的第三人称单数形式，故E项ensures和N项resembles入选。it指代后面出现的the new thing。因此可以看出，此句所要表达的是除非新事物能使他远离错误，否则他不会接受。此处动词能表现新事物对他的影响，由选项可以看出，E项ensures(确保)符合语义，为答案。
问答题    
 
【正确答案】B。
【答案解析】空前的he has learned为主、谓成分，空后的his ancestors taught him为修饰本空所填词的定语从句，因此可确定，本空应填名词，做宾语，故B项caution，G项grace，I项importance和J项impulse入选。结合the terrible caution of his ancestors和his ancestors taught him可判断，此处是单词复现，故B项caution(谨慎)为答案。
问答题    
 
【正确答案】O。
【答案解析】空后的两处“the most+形容词”提示，本空应填形容词。此处是讲别的国家的人对英国人的评价。由并列关系及前文讲英国人对任何事物都持怀疑态度这一性格特点，可以判断O项suspicious为答案。A项arrogant虽然也可以用在这个地方，但是综合上文的语义承接，此处答案为O项suspicious(怀疑的)。
问答题    
 
【正确答案】A。
【答案解析】空前的the most提示，本空应填形容词。由another typical character of English people可知下文是对英国人另一性格特点的描述。从so proud of themselves可以看出，此处的性格特点是骄傲，故A项arrogant(傲慢的)为答案。
问答题    
 
【正确答案】H。
【答案解析】空前的would speak和空后的of提示，本空应填副词，故H项highly和L项invariably入选。从but表示转折关系可以看出，此处是要描述他们性格中的优点。对这些优点，别国的人也是持肯定态度的，故H项highly为答案。speak highly of的意思是“高度评价”。L项invariably在此体现不出这种态度，故排除。
问答题    
 
【正确答案】J。
【答案解析】空前的an emotional提示，本空应填名词。此句for后面的部分都是解释为什么英国人的性格不是kindly。空后部分说英国人不喜欢凭一时冲动行事。由此可判断，kindness是一种冲动之下的选择，所以J项impulse(冲动)为答案。