A wealthy Persian Prince loved good stories. The older he grew, the fonder
he became of them. But he always regretted they had to have an end. So he
decided to give half his wealth and his beautiful daughter to the man who could
tell him a story without an end. Anybody who failed would be sent to prison for
life. The risk was so great that nobody came to the palace to tell the Prince a
story for a whole year. Then one day, a tall, handsome young man came and said
he wanted to tell a story that would go on forever. The Prince agreed but warned
him what would happen if he failed. “The risk is worth your fair daughter,” the
young man replied poetically(有詩意地). He then began this well-known story:“Once
upon a time there was a certain King who feared famine. So he ordered his men to
build an enormous storehouse, which he filled with corn. Then, when it was up,
made water-proof and fire-proof, the King felt happy. But one day he noticed a
small hole in the roof and as he looked at it, a locust came out with a grain of
corn. A minute later, another locust came out with another grain of corn. Then a
third locust with another grain of corn. Then a fourth locust, flying at great
speed, pushed through the hole and came out with two grains of corn. Then a
fifth locust came and…”.“Stop,” shouted the Prince. “I can't,” answered the
young man. “I must go on until I tell you what happened to each grain of the
corn.” “But that will go on forever.” The Prince protested. “Exactly,” the young
man replied, and he smiled as he turned towards the Prince's beautiful young
daughter.
問題：
1.The Prince always felt regretted about stories because____.
A.he had too much wealth
B.there was a terrible famine
C.all stories have ends
D.there was no story-teller
【參考答案】C
[考點]事實細節題
【精析】C 題干的大意是：為什么這位國君對故事感到遺憾?根據第一段第三句“But he always regretted they had to have an end.”可知，因為故事都得有結尾，國君感到遺憾。故選C。
2. The young man risked telling an endless story to the Prince for____.
A.a great sum of money
B.the Prince's beautiful daughter
C.showing his bravery
D.both A and C
【參考答案】B
[考點]推理判斷題
【精析】B 題干的大意是：這個年輕人冒險給這位國君講一個沒有結尾的故事是為了。根據第一段倒數第二句和最后一段最后一句可推知，年輕人最主要的目的是得到國王的女兒。故選B。
3. The young man would be sent to prison_____ if he failed to tell a story without an end.
A.forever
B.for some time
C.for a while
D.for a year
【參考答案】A
[考點]事實細節題
【精析】A 題干的大意是：如果這個年輕人沒能講出一個沒有結局的故事，他將會入獄。根據第一段第五句“Anybody who failed would be sent to prison for life.”可知，失敗的人將終身監禁，for life=forever。故選A。
4. In order to prevent famine, the King asked to build____.
A.a huge storehouse
B.a large farm
C.a beautiful palace
D.a waterproof kitchen
【參考答案】A
[考點]事實細節題
【精析】A 題干的大意是：為了預防饑荒，國王要求建造。這是年輕人講的故事中的一個小細節，仔細閱讀不難發現答案在第二段的第二句中。根據第二段第二句可知，國王是要求建造一個大倉庫。故選A。
5.The thing the King noticed first in the roof was____.
A.a loaf
B.a small hole
C.a grain of corn
D.a locust
【參考答案】B
[考點]事實細節題
【精析】B 題干的大意是：國王首先注意到屋頂的。這也是年輕人講故事中的一個細節。根據第二段第四句“But one day he noticed a small hole in the roof…”可知，他首先發現了一個小洞。故選B。