Question

Hercule Poirot looked over the small gate which gave admission to Pine Crest. It was a modern nicely-built house. It was on a hill top, and the hill top was planted with a few sparse pines. It had a small neat garden and a large elderly man was watering with a big tin.

Spence’s hair was now grey all over. He had not shrunk much in girth（围长）, though. He stopped watering and looked at the visitor at the gate. Hercule Poirot stood there without moving.

“God bless my soul,” said Spence. “It must be. It can’t be but it is. Yes, it must be Hercule Poirot!”

“Aha,” said Poirot, “you remember me. I’m grateful.”

Spence abandoned the watering can and came down to the gate.

“What brings you down here?”

“What has brought me to many places in my time,” said Poirot, “and what once a good many years ago brought you to see me. Murder, Spence.”

“I’m done with murder since I retired,” said Spence, “except in the case of weeds. Killing weeds is never easy as you think, something’s always wrong. How did you know where to find me?” he asked as he opened the gate and Poirot passed through.

“You sent me a Christmas card. It had your new address on it.”

“Ah yes, so I did. I’m old-fashioned, you know, I like to send round cards at Christmas time to a few old friends. I’m an old man now.”

“We both are.”

“Not much grey in your hair,” said Spence.

“I take care of my hair with a bottle,” said Poirot. “There is no need to appear in public with grey hair unless you wish to do so. By the way, why have you come to live in Woodleigh Common?”

“As a matter of fact, I came here to join forces with a sister of mine. She lost her husband, her children are married and living abroad. So I moved in here. Pensions（退休金）don’t go far nowadays, but we do comfortably living together.”

1.From their dialogue, we can learn about _______.

A. their common friends   B. Spence’s sister’s characters

C. their relationship   D. Poirot’s recent life

2.Which statement is TRUE according to the passage?

A. Spence used to deal with murder.

B. Poirot didn’t care about his appearance.

C. Spence moved to join his sister for lack of money.

D. Poirot came specially to reunite with his old friend.

3.From the passage we can infer that they might _______ next.

A. meet Spence’s family    B. discuss about a murder

C. visit Spence’s new homeD. water the garden together

Answer

1.C

2.A

3.B

【解析】

试题分析: 文章通过两个人的对话，告诉我们Spence退休后和姐姐住在乡村，Hercule Poirot来见Spence是为了一个杀人犯。

1.C细节题 根据第三段提到“God bless my soul,” said Spence. “It must be. It can’t be but it is. Yes, it must be Hercule Poirot!”我们可以推断出两人是过去认识的，但是多年未见了，但是从文章中不能看出他们是朋友，也不知道Spence姐姐的性格，也未提到Poirot最近的生活。选C。

2.A细节题 根据第八段提到“I’m done with murder since I retired,” said Spence, 可知Spence过去是和杀人犯打交道的选A

3.B推理题 根据第七段提到 What has brought me to many places in my time,” said Poirot, “and what once a good many years ago brought you to see me. Murder, Spence.”可知Hercule Poirot来见Spence是为了一个杀人犯，所以接下来应该谈论这个杀人犯，选B

考点: 故事类短文。