Question

阅读下列短文，从各题所给的A.B.C.和D项中选出最佳的选择，并在答题卡上将该选项涂黑.

It may be hard to believe, but the American Revolution(革命)—the war that freed the American states from British control—began over a cup of tea. Tea was not the only thing that caused the war, of course, but it played a very big part.

The British people’s love of tea is well-known. When the British won control over mush of North America in the early 1700s, they brought their tea- drinking habits with them. Tea quickly became the continents most popular drink. As tea could not be grown locally, just as in Britain, it was shipped into the country—mostly from India.

In the early 1700s, the Britain government made a special deal with the East India Company, as an English trading company. They agreed that no other company was allowed to bring tea to Britain or any country controlled by Britain, including America. It was a great deal for the East India Company, since it meant that the company could decide whatever price it wanted for its products. And it always decided on a high price!

In North America, the local people did not like having to pay such high prices. Instead of overpaying for tea from the British, they turned to Dutch traders, who secretly brought tea to the country that was just as good—and much less expensive. Although this broke the law, the American people didn’t care. They got the same cup of tea at a much lower price.

The East India Company, however, didn’t like this at all. By the 1760s, they were losing millions of pounds each year to Dutch traders—a huge amount of money in a time when ￡60 a year was considered a good income. Instead of reducing their prices to compete with the Dutch, the company asked the British government for help and the government agreed.

In 1767, the British introduced new law that increased the prices of all goods which were brought into America. These laws helped make the East India Company even richer and forced local people to pay much more for everything. The American leaders asked the British government not to do so, but the British refused to listen. These unfair laws increased Americans’ anger about British rule and the rest, as they say, is history.

1.In the early 1700s where did most tea drunk in America come from?

A. China  B. India  C. America  D. Britain

2.The underlined word “it” in Paragraph 3 refers to________.

A. the tea maker

B. the American government

C. the British government

D. the East India Company

3.Why did may Americans begin to buy tea from the Dutch traders?

A. The tea was much cheaper.

B. The tea was a lot healthier.

C. They could buy it more easily.

D. They didn't want to support the British.

4.What did the East India Company do to stop losing money?

A. It reduced the price of its tea.

B. It improved the taste of its tea.

C. It introduced a new kind of tea.

D. It asked the British government for help.

5.What is the passage mainly about?

A. Tea trade in eighteenth-century America.

B. The relationship between America and Britain.

C. A reason for the start of the American Revolutionary War.

D. The introduction of British tea-drinking habits into America.

Answer

1.B

2.D

3.A

4.D

5.C

【解析】

试题分析：本文是记叙文，讲述了美国独立革命的一个重要原因——茶，可谓是“茶引发的一场革命”。英国对美国实行殖民统治的同时带去了喝茶的习惯，但由于英国政府允许一家公司操纵茶叶市场并导致茶价等物价上涨，最终美国人民不堪重负发动革命战争。

1.B细节理解题。根据As tea could not be grown locally, just as in Britain, it was shipped into the country—mostly from India.可知当时美国的咖啡豆来自Indian。故选B。

2.D细节理解题。根据It was a great deal for the East India Company, since it meant that the company could decide whatever price it wanted for its products.可知“那个公司总是定个高价”。故选D。

3.A细节理解题。根据从第四段的第三行“that was just as good - and much less expensive”可知因为那里的茶比较便宜，故选A。

4.D细节理解题。根据从第五段的最后一句“the company asked the British for help and the government agreed.”可知，请求英国政府帮忙，故选D。

5.C主旨大意题。根据本文讲述了美国革命爆发的其中一个重要原因——茶。该文属于说明文，首段已给出了全文的中心句。故选C。

考点：文化类短文阅读。