第三篇
The StreetViolinist （小提琴手）
I got up and dressed, stuck my violin under my jacket, andwent out into the streets to try my luck.I wandered about for an hour, lookingfor a likely spot, feeling as though I were about to commit a crime.Then Istopped at last under a bridge near the station and decided to have atry.
I felt tense and nervous.It was the first time, after all.I drew theviolin from under my coat like a gun.It was here, in Southampton, with trainsrattling （咔嗒咔嗒地行駛） overhead, that I was about to declare myself.One moment Iwas part of the hurrying crowds, the next I stood apart, my back to the wall, myhat on the pavement before me, the violin under my chin.
The first notes（音符） I played were loud and raw, like a declaration of protest, then theysettled down and began to run more smoothly and to stay more or less in tune.Tomy surprise I was neither arrested nor told to shut up.Indeed, nobody took anynotice at all.Then an old man, without stopping, surreptitiously （偷偷摸摸地） tosseda penny into my hat as though getting rid of some guilty evidence.
I workedthe streets of Southampton for several days, gradually acquiring the truths ofthe trade by trial and error.It was not a good thing, for instance, to let thehat fill up with money - the sight could discourage the patron: nor was it wiseto empty it completely, which could also confuse him, giving him no hint as towhere to drop his money.Placing a couple of pennies in the hat to start thething going soon became a regular ritual, making sure, between tunes, to hidemost of the earnings, but always leaving two pennies behind.
Old ladieswere most generous, and so were women with children, shopgirls, typists andbarmaids （酒吧女招待）.As for the men: heavy drinkers were always willing listenersand so were big guys with muscles.But never a man with a gentleman's hat,briefcase or dog: respectable types were the meanest of all.Except for retiredarmy officers, who would yell "Why aren't you working, young man?" and then tosssome money into the hat to hide their confusion.
41 How long did the authorwander about in the streets before he stopped under a bridge?
A Aday
B An hour
C All morning
D All afternoon.
42 The firsttime the author played the violin in the street, he expected
A he wouldbecome a great musician.
B he would get into trouble.
C people wouldbe happy to give him money.
D people would stop and listen.
43 Thefirst person who gave him money
A was an old lady.
B stopped andlistened for a while.
C dropped the money by mistake.
D didn't wantto be noticed.
44 According to the author, what is the best way toencourage people to give a street violinist money?
A To wear an attractivehat.
B To fill up the hat with money.
C To leave a couple of penniesin the hat.
D To empty the hat completely.
45 The retired armyofficers gave him money
A to show they were most generous.
B to showthey were most respectable.
C to hide their confusion.
D to showthey were rich.
The StreetViolinist （小提琴手）
I got up and dressed, stuck my violin under my jacket, andwent out into the streets to try my luck.I wandered about for an hour, lookingfor a likely spot, feeling as though I were about to commit a crime.Then Istopped at last under a bridge near the station and decided to have atry.
I felt tense and nervous.It was the first time, after all.I drew theviolin from under my coat like a gun.It was here, in Southampton, with trainsrattling （咔嗒咔嗒地行駛） overhead, that I was about to declare myself.One moment Iwas part of the hurrying crowds, the next I stood apart, my back to the wall, myhat on the pavement before me, the violin under my chin.
The first notes（音符） I played were loud and raw, like a declaration of protest, then theysettled down and began to run more smoothly and to stay more or less in tune.Tomy surprise I was neither arrested nor told to shut up.Indeed, nobody took anynotice at all.Then an old man, without stopping, surreptitiously （偷偷摸摸地） tosseda penny into my hat as though getting rid of some guilty evidence.
I workedthe streets of Southampton for several days, gradually acquiring the truths ofthe trade by trial and error.It was not a good thing, for instance, to let thehat fill up with money - the sight could discourage the patron: nor was it wiseto empty it completely, which could also confuse him, giving him no hint as towhere to drop his money.Placing a couple of pennies in the hat to start thething going soon became a regular ritual, making sure, between tunes, to hidemost of the earnings, but always leaving two pennies behind.
Old ladieswere most generous, and so were women with children, shopgirls, typists andbarmaids （酒吧女招待）.As for the men: heavy drinkers were always willing listenersand so were big guys with muscles.But never a man with a gentleman's hat,briefcase or dog: respectable types were the meanest of all.Except for retiredarmy officers, who would yell "Why aren't you working, young man?" and then tosssome money into the hat to hide their confusion.
41 How long did the authorwander about in the streets before he stopped under a bridge?
A Aday
B An hour
C All morning
D All afternoon.
42 The firsttime the author played the violin in the street, he expected
A he wouldbecome a great musician.
B he would get into trouble.
C people wouldbe happy to give him money.
D people would stop and listen.
43 Thefirst person who gave him money
A was an old lady.
B stopped andlistened for a while.
C dropped the money by mistake.
D didn't wantto be noticed.
44 According to the author, what is the best way toencourage people to give a street violinist money?
A To wear an attractivehat.
B To fill up the hat with money.
C To leave a couple of penniesin the hat.
D To empty the hat completely.
45 The retired armyofficers gave him money
A to show they were most generous.
B to showthey were most respectable.
C to hide their confusion.
D to showthey were rich.