After her husband had gone to work, Mrs. Richards sent her children to school and went upstairs to her bedroom. She was too 1 to do any housework that morning, 2 in the evening she was going to an interesting fancy dress party (化装舞会) with her husband. What she 3 was a terrible genie (妖怪) and as she had made that special dress of hers the night before, she was anxious to try it on. 4 the dress was just a big piece of old cloth which was red, green, black and white, it would be very effective (有效的) to make her like a real genie. After putting it on, Mrs. Richards went downstairs happily. She wanted to find out 5 it would be comfortable to wear.

　　Just as Mrs. Richards was entering the dining-room there was a 6 at the door. She thought that it 7 be the baker (面包师). She had told him to come straight in if she 8 to open the door and leave the bread on the kitchen table. Now not wanting to 9 the poor man, Mrs. Richards quickly 10 in the small storeroom under the stairs. She heard the front door open and a man came in. When Mrs. Richards 11 that it was the man from the electricity board (供电局) who had come to read the meter (电表), she walked out of the hiding-place on a sudden and tried to explain the matter, saying with a smile, “It’s only 12 ! It is not 13 for you to be 14 !” But it was too late. The man let out a sharp cry (发出尖叫) and jumped back several paces (步) . Then he ran away, 15 the door behind him with great force and noise.

　　1. A. angry B. ready C. frightened D. excited

　　2. A. for B. but C. so D. and

　　3. A. wanted to see B. wanted to play C. was afraid to see D. was afraid to play

　　4. A. Though B. But C. And D. If

　　5. A. that B. how C. whether D. when

　　6. A. knock B. voice C. man D. baker

　　7. A. may B. must C. wouldn’t D. couldn’t

　　8. A. not B. had C. tried D. failed

　　9. A. see B. frighten C. help D. scold (责怪)

　　10. A. went B. lay C. appeared D. hid

　　11. A. thought B. wondered C. imagined D. realized

　　12. A. me B. you C. game D. play

　　13. A. good B. necessary C. late D. early

　　14. A. off B. here C. afraid D. sorry

　　15. A. pushing B. locking C. knocking D. shutting

　　名师点评

　　这是一个幽默故事，看后令人忍俊不禁。也许Mrs. Richards的化装技巧太捧了，也许，查表员的胆子也太小了——大白天的怎么可能有鬼呢?不过，如果你遇到这种情况，那会怎么样呢?

　　答案简析