Question

Five boys are suspected of starting a fire that destroyed their school on the eve of the new term. Police said yesterday that five boys — one aged 11, two 12-year-olds, one aged 13 and one 15 — arrested on suspicion of starting the fire had been released until later this month. Parents said the five pupils all attended St Mary’s.

Pupils witnessed their schoolwork being destroyed in the fire at Leyland St Mary’s Catholic Technology College in Lancashire. The 1950s science block was reduced to the ground in Sunday’s fire, which created clouds of smoke visible for miles. It is reported that the library and sports hall were also destroyed beyond repair. Strong winds and a shortage of water prevented 125 firemen trying to bring it under control. Firefighters were expected to remain at the scene until late this afternoon. Staffs were due to attend the school yesterday for an inset(培训)day, and pupils pupils were to return for lessons after the holidays today.

St Mary’s head teacher Kathy McNicholas fought back the tears as she watched her school go up in flames last night. She said, “This is so upsetting to watch. It’s heartbreaking. It’s very distressing for the staff and the children. Everyone had been looking forward to coming back for the new school year.” Finding somewhere around 730 children won’t be easy. A few of the staff have turned up to see if there is anything they can do and they have all been shocked and saddened by what has happened. “It’s tragic because we have only just had a lot of refreshment work done to the school during the summer break. It was a big investment. The community around here very much looks after its school.”

Plans were being drawn up to provide alternative classrooms for 730 children, with parents warned to keep them at home for at least the rest of the week.

1. Which part of St Mary’s Catholic Technology College was burned to the ground in the fire?

A. The library.         B. Sports hall.

C. The science block.   D. The passage doesn’t tell us.

2.The underlined word “distressing” in the third paragraph can be replaced by “    ”.

A. excited       B. surprised

C. annoyed      D. embarrassed

3.From the whole passage, we can know that       .

A. the education of England is worse

B. St Mary’s Catholic Technology College had no trouble finding enough classrooms

C. a shortage of money prevented more than 100 firemen controlling the big fire

D. the pupils had to stay at home before the alternative classrooms were found

4.What’s the main idea of the passage?

A. Five boys started a fire that destroyed their school.

B. The firemen failed in controlling the fire.

C. The staff and the children were upset.

D. The school planned to take measures to solve the problem.

Answer

1.C

2.C

3.D

4.A

【解析】

试题分析:在新学期开始的前一天晚上，五个男孩子被怀疑纵火烧掉了他们学校的大楼。这五个男孩子中其中一个年龄11岁，两个12岁，另外两个分别是13岁和15岁。由于一些原因大火没能被控制住，直到把科教楼烧毁，图书馆也被烧的无法修复，致使开学时间不得不推迟。

1.C细节理解题。根据文章第二段内容The 1950s science block was reduced to the ground in Sunday’s fire,可知选C。

2.C词意猜测题。从文章第三段内容This is so upsetting to watch. It’s heartbreaking.可知老师非常伤心，从下文也可以知道同学们一直期待着新学期返回学校，看到这种场景他们又难过又生气，选C。

3.D 细节理解题。根据文章末段with parents warned to keep them at home for at least the rest of the week.可知在学校找到可以代替的教室前，孩子们不得不呆在家里，选D。

4.A主旨大意题。本文是一篇报道，文章开头提出Five boys are suspected of starting a fire that destroyed their school on the eve of the new term.。然后在下文中详细介绍了事情的过程和严重后果，由此判断A选项内容能够体现文章中心，选A。

考点：考查新闻报道类短文阅读