Exercises
A. Choose the best answer. Do not refer to the text.
The story of Two Boxes of Gold is told in two sections in this unit. The text is the first section. The main idea of the text is that _____. ( C )
(a) Herbert, asked by his boss to carry two boxes of gold to Naples, met Major Baxter and Levison, and he asked them to accompany him until they got to Lyons
(b) Herbert, carrying two boxes of gold to Naples, was followed by Major Baxter and Levison mysteriously as far as Fort Rouge
(c) Herbert, undertaking the urgent task of carrying gold to Naples, met Major Baxter and Levison on the way who became his traveling companions
(d) Herbert, going to Naples on some urgent business, made friends with Major Baxter and Levison who offered help whenever he needed
B. Comprehending the text.
Choose the best answer.
1. The Bank wanted Herbert to start for Italy at once on important business ______. ( B )
(a) because he had been married recently
(b) because he was regarded as the suitable person in the bank to do the job
(c) because he knew how to use a gun
(d) because he needed the money very much
2. When Herbert got on deck with Major Baxter and Levison, he was surprised because ______. ( D )
(a) he found that his two boxes were missing
(b) Mrs. Baxter was seasick and was not with her husband
(c) Mr. Levison tried to find out what was inside his two boxes
(d) he found four other boxes exactly like his
3. When Major Baxter said that one could not be too careful, he meant that ______. ( C )
(a) one shouldn't be careless
(b) one should be careful
(c) one should be as careful as one could
(d) one shouldn't be too careless
4. When Herbert had delivered his letters in Paris and was on his way back to his hotel, he was accompanied by ______. ( D )
(a) Mr. Levison
(b) Mr. Baxter
(c) Mrs. Baxter
(d) Mr. Lefebre
5. What frightened Herbert in his dream was ______. ( C )
(a) that his wife was in danger
(b) that he had forgotten where he had put the boxes
(c) that he had forgotten the words and was in the danger of losing his life
(d) there was a row of soldiers running after him
6. Levison was very angry while drinking champagne with Herbert ______. ( C )
(a) because he lost too much money
(b) because he didn't want someone to open the wine bottle for him
(c) because the Major broke the bottle of champagne
(d) because he didn't want the Major to join them
7. After the four people had played games for long enough, Mr. Levison started to talk about ______. ( C )
(a) his skill at playing cards
(b) his love stories
(c) his business
(d) his impression of the trip
8. Herbert began to be suspicious of the Major when ______. ( B )
(a) the latter told them the two words for his own letter-locks
(b) the latter said that something would happen before they got to Lyons
(c) the latter was scolded by his wife
(d) the latter started to talk about his business plans
9. When they were thirty-two kilometres from Lyons, ______. ( D )
(a) his boxes were found missing and Blamyre was very worried
(b) a wheel was broken and they changed trains immediately
(c) some people waited for them and took all the luggage off onto another van
(d) they had to wait for some time and have their luggage carried onto another van
10. Which of the following shows the route Mr. Herbert took so far?______. ( D )
(a) London — Paris — Dover — Lyons
(b) London — Paris－Lyons — Dover
(c) London — Dover — Lyons — Paris
(d) London — Dover — Paris — Lyons
C. Understanding vocabulary.
Choose the correct definition according to the context.
1.They are fastened with letter-locks and contained a quarter of a million pounds in gold. ( D )
(a) tired
(b) carved
(c) carried
(d) fixed firmly
2. I thought we might be going to have a rough journey across to France. ( B )
(a) expensive
(b) difficult
(c) long
(d) pleasant
3. That's the way you always spoil a journey. ( C )
(a) travel
(b) talk about
(c) ruin
(d) make
4. It is sometimes difficult, this accidental resemblance of luggage. ( A )
(a) likeness
(b) beauty
(c) color
(d) shape
5. Trade secrets should not be discussed in public. ( D )
(a) loudly
(b) carefully
(c) freely
(d) openly
6. A cab drew up and an Englishman got out. ( A )
(a) came to a stop
(b) passed by
(c) went to
(d) caught up
7. In another moment Levison caught my eye. ( A )
(a) attracted my attention
(b) was interested in me
(c) gazed at me
(d) hit me in the eye
8. That is, how to let out the heated air of the body, and yet at the same time to keep out the rain. ( B )
(a) run away from
(b) be safe from
(c) hope for
(d) be benefited by
9. He was full of stories about his days in India, always interrupted by his fussy, good-natured, managing wife. ( D )
(a) beautiful
(b) talkative
(c) pleasant
(d) too concerned about details
10. It would take a very clever thief several hours to work out even one of them. ( B )
(a) arrange
(b) find a way to open
(c) solve
(d) take away
11. I replied that I did and asked what time our train was due at Lyons. ( A )
(a) expected
(b) arrived
(c) stopped
(d) leaving
12. I am sure we shall have a breakdown before we get to Marseilles. ( A )
(a) a failure in operation
(b) an accident on the way
(c) a robbery on the train
(d) a good rest
D. Discussing the following topics.
1. What was Herbert asked to do when he met Mr. Schwarzmoor?
答案
Herbert was asked to take two boxes of gold to Naples. The two boxes contained 25 million pounds in gold. Herbert had to take this to Pagliavicini and Rossi, No, 172 Toledo, Naples via Lyons and Marseilles.
2. Herbert had a terrible dream on the train. What did the dream suggest?
The train started from Paris. On the half way Herbert fell asleep on the train. Meanwhile, he had a terrible dream in which he couldn't remember the words for opening the letter locks of the boxes. He also dreamed that when he had arrived at his destination, No.172 Toledo, Naples, he was ordered to speak out the words, or to tell the place where the boxes were hidden. Otherwise, he would be executed by shooting. A big earthquake took place in the city and a sea of fire rolled in through the window. Just at this time, Herbert woke up. As we know, dream activity may be provoked by external influences. Sometimes a dream may foretell something about the future. The dream Herbert had on the train might suggest that someone was interested in the two boxes Herbert carried and he would try every means to get the words which would open the letter locks. Because of this, Herbert would meet with various kinds of unexpected troubles and dangers on his way to his destination.
3. Which of the two was more suspicious, Major Baxter or Levison ? Give your reasons.
Personally speaking, I think Levison was more suspicious. The reasons I am going to give are as follows: 1) Levison carried four boxes which looked exactly like Herbert's. Levison might use these boxes to exchange with Herbert. Thus he could get the gold he wanted. 2) Wherever he went, Herbert seemed to be followed by Levison. It suggested that Herbert was kept watch on in secret by Levison. 3) Levison wanted to have some champagne with him. When he ordered another bottle of champagne, Levison didn't want to have the waiter open the bottle for him. He did it himself. So he could put some poison in the wine.
