Question

On April 8th, 2013, the world felt sorry because of the death of former British Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher, who died at the age of 87. Besides being the country’s longest leader (1979-1990) in the 20th century, she was the first woman to lead Britain. She worked hard and did well in her work, so she was called “Iron Lady”.

Whatever you think of Margaret Thatcher, the thing everyone does agree on is that she was a woman with great decisions. When she took over Britain in 1979, she led a country that was in economic trouble. She faced a lot of problems because of the poor economic position.

In order to make the country become strong again, Ms. Thatcher had to make some hard and special decisions like raising interest rates and even taxes at a time when most British people were living a hard life. In this way she led Britain to run out of economic troubles.

Early in her second term, just as things were looking a little better, she faced another problem — a strike by the British Miners Union. Once again, the Iron Lady stood her ground to stop the longest strike in the country’s history.

In 1982, Argentina said that they had owned the Falkland Islands since the 19th century. Britain, however, considered the islands to be one of their overseas dependent territories (领土).  Margaret Thatcher tried to talk about the problem with Argentines. But Argentines didn’t agree with her ideas, so Ms. Thatcher did what any strong leader would do — send in the British Army. It took 74 days, and on 14th June 1982, the Argentine army finally failed and Britain controlled the Falkland Islands again.

When Ms. Thatcher resigned in 1990, she left behind a country that was very strong. Unluckily, during the last few years of her life, something was wrong with her mind.  She hardly remembered anything that was happening around her and even what she had done during her wonderful lifetime.

1.Why did Margaret Thatcher decide to raise interest rates?

A. Because English people were very rich and happy.

B. Because she needed money to fight against Argentina.

C. Because Britain needed to run out of economic troubles.

D. Because people stored too much money in the banks.

2.How did Margaret Thatcher make her country control the Falkland Islands again?

A. She paid a lot of money for the islands.

B. She helped people on the islands a lot.

C. She sent many workers to the islands.

D. She sent in the British Army to the islands.

3.What was the matter with Ms. Thatcher after she resigned?

A. She couldn’t say anything at all.

B. She almost couldn’t remember anything.

C. She couldn’t walk at all.

D. She couldn’t hear anything at all.

4.It can be inferred from the passage that Ms. Thatcher was ________.

A. determined       B. sensitive

C. humorous         D. generous

Answer

1.C

2.D

3.B

4.A

【解析】

试题分析：文章讲述已经去世的英国前首相玛格丽特-撒切尔的生平重大事迹，她对英国经济的巨大贡献。人们把撒切尔夫人成称作铁娘子，通过对她的每一任期内所面对的问题以及做出的决定的描述得出她是一个对英国具有重大影响的人。

1.】 C细节理解题。In order to make the country become strong again, Ms. Thatcher had to make some hard and special decisions like raising interest rates and even taxes at a time when most British people were living a hard life. 提高利率的原因即目的，找到in order to 引导的目的状语，即是第二段开头，说明是为了是英国的经济变强。故选C。

2. D 细节理解题。找到英国夺回了福克兰群岛的方法。so Ms. Thatcher did what any strong leader would do — send in the British Army，也就是派遣了军队去收复他们的领土。故选D。

3.】 B 推理判断题。在她最后的几年里，something was wrong with her mind，她几乎不记得她周围发生的事情以及她曾经的辉煌，选B。

4. A 归纳推理题。第一段段末说她是一个很认真的人，第二段开头一句用“the thing everyone does agree on is that she was a woman with great decisions”来形容撒切尔夫人.充分说明她是“有决心的”，即A选项。

考点：考查日常生活类短文的阅读。