In the evening she would go to a fancy dress party with her husband. She wanted to dress up as a ghost and as she had made her costume the night before, she was impatient to try it on. Though the costume consisted only of a sheet, it was really splendid. After putting it on, She went downstairs to find out whether it would be comfortable to wear. ?

    Just as Mrs Richards was entering the dining-room, there was a knock on the front door. She knew it must be the baker. She had told him to come straight in if ever she failed to open the door and to leave the bread on the table. Not wanting to frighten the poor man, she quickly hid in the small store-room under the stair. She heard the front door opened and heavy footsteps in the hall. Suddenly the door of the store-room was opened and in came a man. Mrs Richards realized it must be the man from the Electricity Board who had come to read the meter. She tried to explain the situation, saying “It’s only me. ”but it was too late, the man let out a cry and jumped back several paces. When Mrs Richards walked towards him, he fled, losing the door heavily behind him.

Ⅰ Choose the best answer according to the passage.

1. The reason for Mrs Richards’ excitement that day was that____.

A. she had sent her children to school

B. she was to attend an evening party ?

C. she wouldn’t do any housework that morning ?

D. she had made a special costume the night before

2. Mrs Richards went downstairs with the costume on so as to____.

A. made sure that the costume fitted her well?

B. frighten the person who was knocking on the door ?

C. find out if she had finished the costume   ?

D. receive the bread and do some cooking

3. The man who was knocking at the door was____.

A. a  baker  B. a thief  C. her husband  D. an electricity man

4. What did the man do after he knocked on the front door?

A. He entered just as Mrs Richards had told him to.?

B. He did not do anything as Mrs Richards had expected him to.?

C. He stepped directly towards the meter.?

D. He went straight in so as to find Mrs Richards.

5. The man ____ and that made him cry out and run away.

A. thought he must have met a ghost

B. recognized Mrs Richards ?

C. found out Mrs Richards was walking towards him ?

D. thought that Mrs Richards must have recognized him

Ⅱ Complete the following sentences according to the passage.

1. She went downstairs ____ whether it would be comfortable to wear. ?

2. Suddenly the door of the store-room was opened and____.

1.ghost ?n.? 灵魂，幽灵?

2.costume ?n.? 化装服，戏服?

Greatest genius often lies concealed. 真人不露相。???

答案与详解

Ⅰ 1. B    2. A    3. C    4. B    5. A     ?
Ⅱ 1. to find out           2. in came a man