Section 1: Literary Fundamental (50 points, 5 points each)
1． Match the works with their writers.
1) The Pearl
2) A Christmas Carol
3) Jane Eyre
4) Lord of the Flies
5) Heart of Darkness
Choose the correct answer.
2．Heart of Darkness opens in what physical setting?
A boat on the Congo river.
A boat on the Thames River.
The company’s offices in Brussels.
The Outer Station.
3．What is the proper word that can be used to describe Scrooge at the beginning of A Christmas Carol?
Cool-headed.
Warm-hearted.
Miserly.
Brave
4．____ is the evil character in the novel The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde.
Dr Jekyll
Mr Hyde
Mr Utterson
Frankenstein
5．In Lord of the Flies, a group of boys survive _______ during a nuclear war.
shipwreck
a storm
an air-crash
an earthquake
6．_________is a novel about the strength, endurance and cunning intelligence of one man pitted against the forces of nature.
The Pearl
Lord of the Flies
Heart of Darkness
Old Man and Sea
Section 2: Reading Comprehension (50 points, 5 points each)
Read the extracts and choose the best answer to each question.
Text 1
External heat and cold had little influence on Scrooge. No warmth could warm, no wintry weather chill him. No wind that blew was bitterer than he, no falling snow was more intent upon its purpose, no pelting rain less open to entreaty. Foul weather didn’t know where to have him. The heaviest rain, and snow, and hail, and sleet, could boast of the advantage over him in only one respect. They often ‘came down’ handsomely, and Scrooge never did.
Nobody ever stopped him in the street to say, with gladsome looks, ‘My dear Scrooge, how are you? When will you come to see me?’ No beggars implored him to bestow a trifle, no children asked him what it was o’clock, no man or woman ever once in all his life inquired the way to such and such a place, of Scrooge. Even the blind men’s dogs appeared to know him; and when they saw him coming on, would tug their owners into doorways and up courts; and then would wag their tails as though they said, ‘No eye at all is better than an evil eye, dark master.’
7．From which novel is the text taken?
Heart of Darkness
A Christmas Carol
Lord of the Flies
8．Which of the following summarizes the method of characterisation?
Through the protagonist’s thoughts.
Through the words of the others.
Through the narrator’s exposition.
9．Scrooge is portrayed as _______ in Paragraph 1.
rude but generous
a cold miser
warm-hearted and optimistic
10．The underlined sentence in paragraph 2 can be paragraphed as _____.
No beggars would ask him for even a tiny little money
No beggars would leave him alone
No beggars would seek his company
11．Which of the following statements best summarizes the text?
The text creates a positive impression of Scrooge.
The text describes the physical features of Scrooge.
The text conveys the anti-social character of Scrooge.
Text 2
The dealers did not glance at one another nor at the pearl. The man behind the desk said, “ I have put a value on this pearl. The owner here does not think it fair. I will ask you to examine this – this thing and make an offer. Notice,” he said to Kino, “I have not mentioned what I have offered.”
The first dealer, dry and stringy, seemed now to see the pearl for the first time. He took it up, rolled it quickly between thumb and forefinger, and then cast it contemptuously back into the tray.
“Do not include me in this discussion,”he said dryly. “I will make no offer at all. I do not want it. This is not a pearl – it is a monstrosity.” His thin lips curled.
Now the second dealer, a little man with a shy soft voice, took up the pearl, and he examined it carefully. He took a glass from his pocket and inspected it under magnification. Then he laughed softly.
“Better pearls are made of paste,”he said. “I know these things. This is soft and chalky, it will lose its color and die in a few months. Look –.” He offered the glass to Kino, showed him how to use it, and Kino, who had never seen a pearl’s surface magnified, was shocked at the strange-looking surface.
The third dealer took the pearl from Kino’s hands. “One of my clients likes such things,” he said. “I will offer five hundred pesos, and perhaps I can sell it to my client for six hundred.”
Kino reached quickly and snatched the pearl from his hand. He wrapped it in the deerskin and thrust it inside his shirt.
The man behind the desk said, “I’m a fool, I know, but my first offer stands. I still offer a thousand. What are you doing?” he asked, as Kino thrust the pearl out of sight.
“I am cheated,”Kino cried fiercely. “My pearl is not for sale here. I will go, perhaps even to the capital.”
Now the dealers glanced quickly at one another. They knew they had played too hard; they knew they would be disciplined for their failure, and the man at the desk said quickly, ‘I might go to fifteen hundred.’
But Kino was pushing his way through the crowd. The hum of talk came to him dimly, his rage blood pounded in his ears, and he burst through and strode away. Juana followed, trotting after him.
12．The text is taken from ______.
Heart of Darkness
The Pearl
Lord of the Flies
13．It is obvious that the three dealers _________.
conspired together to cheat Kino.
were not interested in Kino’s pearl.
didn’t know much about the shapes and sizes of pearls.
14．Which of the following is true of the third dealers?
He wanted to pay Kino only after his clients had paid him
He just went through the prearranged plot with other buyers.
He was not interested in Kino’s pearl.
15．In context, the word “played” is closest in meaning to ______.
behaved playfully
conspired together to cheat
bargain playfully
16．The sentences in the last paragraph suggest that _____.
the dealers and the crowd became angry and they pushed Kino out of the shop
Kino’s wife had a violent temper and tended to get angry easily
Kino was angry beyond words and was becoming violent in his anger
