B
你想成为小说里的人物吗？你希望自己是正面角色还是反面角色呢？
Nicky and I were just finishing our shopping. I looked at my list and told her, "I just need a couple of things from the chemist's." "All right," Nicky said. "While you're doing that, I'll just call in at the bookshop." And we agreed to meet again in a cafe.
When we met 15 minutes later, I found that Nicky looked quite excited.
"Did you find anything special?" I asked.
"Well, yes," Nicky nodded.
"What's all the mystery?" I asked. "Tell me all about it!"
"It isn't exactly a mystery, Kay," Nicky began. "Well, do you remember that woman who used to live opposite the church—Miss Hunter?"
"The one who used to wear funny clothes and had a large dog? Wasn't she an artist?"
"Well, yes," Nicky said. "She did paint—but only as a hobby. As a matter of fact, she was a writer—and I've just bought her latest book!" Nicky took the book out of her bag and passed it across the table. The title was "Death Comes to the Village".
"A detective story," I said. "Hey, do you think we're in it?"
"I'm pretty sure I am," Nicky said, looking rather pleased with herself. "You see, Miss Hunter and I were quite good friends and she often said she was going to put me into her next book!"
"Shall I have a look?" I asked. But Nicky picked the book up and put it in her bag. "I'd like to read it first," she said. "But I'll lend it to you, of course..."
Some time passed and I heard nothing from Nicky. I decided to ring her up and ask about the book. "Oh, that!" she said in a small voice.
"You don't sound very pleased," I said. "Weren't you in the book after all?"
"Yes," Nicky said. "I'm in the book all right! But who do you think I am? I'm the village post woman! I pass on all the gossip in the village! I even open letters sometimes! I'm the most unpleasant person in the whole book! That woman is no friend of mine, I can tell you!"
WORD BOX ＞＞
| the chemist's | 药店 | call in | 来访, 访问 |
| :------------ | :--- | :------ | :--------- |
| cafe | [ˈkæfeɪ] n. 小餐馆, 咖啡馆 | mystery | [ˈmɪstri] n. 神秘 |
| as a matter of fact= in fact | 事实上 | after all | 毕竟; 终究 |
COMPREHENSION CHECK UP ＞＞
Choose the best answer according to the passage.
(
B
) 1. Which of the following statements is NOT right?
A. Nicky wanted to be in Miss Hunter's book eagerly.
B. Miss Hunter was really Nicky's good friend.
C. Miss Hunter could paint and write as well.
D. Nicky found she was really in Miss Hunter's book.
(
A
) 2. According to the passage, which is the RIGHT order of the following events?
a. Kay and Nicky met at a cafe.
b. Nicky said she was really in the book.
c. Nicky bought a book by Miss Hunter.
d. Kay and Nicky went shopping together.
e. Nicky was happy because she thought she was in the book.
f. Kay rang Nicky and wanted to know how the book was.
A. d-c-a-e-f-b
B. a-d-c-f-e-b
C. d-a-b-c-e-f
D. a-c-b-e-f-d
(
C
) 3. What does the underlined word "gossip" in the last paragraph mean?
A. Something special.
B. Something important.
C. Bad words about others.
D. Letters and parcels.
(
D
) 4. What do the underlined words "That woman" in the last paragraph refer to?
A. The village post woman.
B. Kay.
C. Nicky.
D. Miss Hunter.
(
B
) 5. Which of the following would be the best title for the passage?
A. An interesting book
B. Friends
C. Shopping
D. Three women
