单选题
"I delight in Buckingham Palace", said Queen Victoria, when she moved in three weeks after ascending to the throne. Today the 40-acre secluded garden contains specimen shrubs, trees and a large lake. Eight to nine thousand people visit it during the annual garden parties.
It took George Ⅳ, on becoming King in 1820, and John Nash, Surveyor-general to GeorgeⅣ when he was Prince Regent, many years to turn the house into a sumptuous palace. Nash demolished the North and South wings and rebuilt them. He constructed Marble Arch as a grand entrance to the enlarged courtyard. As work continued, Nash let his costs run away with him, and Parliament complained. Joseph Hume, an English politician and reformer fighting for financial retrenchment, said, "The Crown of England does not require such splendour. Foreign countries might indulge in frippery, but England ought to pride herself on her plainness and simplicity." Nevertheless, elegance reigned.
Queen Victoria was crowned in 1837. When she moved in, Buckingham Palace became, for the first time, the official London residence of Britain's sovereigns. There wasn't a room large enough for grand entertainments, so in 1853 — 1855, Queen Victoria ordered the Ballroom built. 122 feet long, 60 feet wide and 45 feet high, it is, today, used for many events such as the State Banquet, the Diplomatic Reception, and memorial concerts. This is the site of Investitures, where the Queen (who was crowned in 1952) presents the recipients of British honours with their awards. During World War Ⅱ, a chapel, converted by Queen Victoria from Nash's conservatory, was bombed. Prince Philip oversaw its rebuilding as the Queen's Gallery, home to a rotating collection of art from the Royal Collection. The Gallery, currently in the process of renovation, will reopen in 2002 for the Queen's Golden Jubilee.
More than 600 rooms, including 52 Royal and guest bedrooms, 188 staff bedrooms, 92 offices and 78 bathrooms comprise the castle's assets. But the "room" best known around the world is the Balcony where the Royal family' gathers on celebratory and solemn occasions to be seen by their subjects.
The Palace is more than a home for the Royals. It is the official administrative headquarters of the monarchy and contains the Offices of their staff. It is the place where all Royal ceremonies and official banquets are held. Government ministers, top civil servants and heads of state visit to carry out their duties. It brings a whole new meaning to the phrase "working from home".
单选题 What was the result of Joseph Hume's fighting for financial retrenchment?
【正确答案】 B
【答案解析】[解析] 这是道上下文理解题。连词的用法其实就是对上下文的理解。本题主要考查的是连词的用法。从第二段的最后一句话“The Crown of England does not require such splendour. Foreign countries might indulge in frippery, but England ought to pride herself on her plainness and simplicity. Nevertheless, elegance reigned.”(但是，保持了优雅。)通过nevertheless转折，点出了下面要讲的内容。故选B。
单选题 According to the passage, which of the following is NOT supposed to be held in the Ballroom?
【正确答案】 C
【答案解析】[解析] 这是道细节题。这道题目主要是用排除法，答案在第三段中就可以找到。要回答这种类型的题目，需要从文中找到选项中的词，如果没有，那就是这题目的答案。这道题要注意的也就是这点，文中指的是不应该的部分，所以可以看出Banquets，Diplomatic Receptions，Investitures都出现了，就是没有religious serviceg，故选C。
单选题 According to "the Queen's Golden Jubilee" (Para.3), how long has been the reign of the Queen?
【正确答案】 D
【答案解析】[解析] 这是道比较题。说是道比较题主要是指它是一道算时间差的题目，根据前后两个时间，然后相减这样就可以得知这道题的答案了。这个题目主要考的是时间差的计算问题。解题句是第三段的where the Queen (who was crowned in 1952)，本段提到女王1952年即位，故2002是她当政50周年纪念。故选D。
单选题 Why does Buckingham Palace bring a new meaning to the phrase "working from home"?
【正确答案】 B
【答案解析】[解析] 这是道细节题。从文中最后一段可以得出答案。“The Palace is more than a home for the Royals. It is the official administrative headquarters of the monarchy and contains the offices of their staff. It is the place where all Royal ceremonies and official banquets are held. Government ministers, top civil servants and heads of state visit to carry out their duties. It brings a whole new meaning to the phrase 'working from home'.”(皇宫现在不仅仅意味着是皇室的家。它是君主管理的总部，这里有他下属的办公室。在这里，所有的皇室典礼和正式的晚宴都在这里举行。政府官员，最高的公务员和每个国家领导访问都会在这里举行，这给它带来了全新的意义。)根据上下文来看，在这段话之前文章讲的是白金汉宫是皇室的住宅，而这段话递进了一步，指出不仅仅是住宅，同时也是皇室工作和接待外宾的地方，所以有了“在家工作”的说法，故选B。
单选题 According to the passage, which is the most famous place in Buckingham Palace?
【正确答案】 D
【答案解析】[解析] 这是道细节题。这道题的解题句是倒数第二段的“but the 'room' best known around the world is the Balcony where the Royal family gathers on celebratory and solemn occasions to be seen by their subjects.”最闻名世界的是阳台，皇室家族聚集在这参加他们臣民可以看见的庆典和庄严的场合。故选D。