Question

About 150 years ago, the person who sent the letter did not have to pay. The person who got the letter had to pay the postage (邮资) which cost a lot.

　　In a small village in England, “Here’s a letter for Miss Alice Brown,” said a mailman. “I’m Alice Brown,” a girl of about eighteen said in a low voice. The mailman gave her the letter.

　　Alice looked at the envelope(信封) for a minute, and then handed it back to the mailman.

　　“I’m sorry I can’t take it,” she said. “I don’t have enough money to pay the postage.”

　　The people standing around were very sorry for the girl. Then a gentleman came up to the mailman and paid the postage for Alice’s letter.

　　When the gentleman gave her the letter, she said with a smile, “Oh, thank you very much, sir. This letter is from my brother who went to London to look for jobs. I’ve waited a long time for this letter, but now I don’t need it. I don’t have to open the envelope because there is nothing inside.”

　　“Really?” the gentleman said in surprise. “How do you know that?” “He told me that he would put some signs on the envelope. Look, sir, this cross in the corner means that he is well, and this circle means he has found a job. That’s very good news.”

　　The gentleman was Sir Rowland Hill. He did not forget Alice and her letter.

　　He thought and thought for many years. “The postage has to be much lower,” he said at last. “What about a penny (便士) for a letter? And the person who sends the letter pays the postage. He has to buy a stamp and put it on the envelope.”

　　The government decided to adopt (采纳) the plan. The first stamp was put out in 1840. It was called the “Penny Black”. It had a picture of the Queen on it.

根据短文内容填空，每空填一词。

1. About 150 years ago, the person who sent the letter didn’t have to pay for the postage_________ the person who _________ the letter had to.

2.The gentleman felt very __________ when the girl said there wasn’t _________ inside the envelope.

3. Alice’s brother was such a _________ young man that he just put some ________ on the envelope to tell her sister he was well.

4.In 1840, the first stamp _________ the “Penny Black” was put out ________ a picture of the Queen on it.

5.After that, people needed to ________ a penny buying a _______ to send a letter.

 

Answer 1

1.while; got/received

2.surprised; anything

3.clever/smart; signs

4.called; with

5.spend; stamp

【解析】

试题分析：这是一篇关于付资邮票起源的历史小故事。故事发生在一百多年前的英国。当时的情况是，写信人不用付邮资，收信人在收到信件时才付邮资，且邮资十分昂贵。一位小姐收到男友的来信，看了看信封又交给了邮差。她说自己付不起钱。这时一位名叫Sir Rowland Hill的绅士替她付了钱。接下来，这位小姐便给大家讲了自己不拆开信的缘由和一个很感动人的故事。Sir Rowland Hill.从这件事上很受启发。他决定改变这种状况。后来政府采纳了Sir Rowland Hill.的建议，于是世界上第一枚付资邮票从些便产生了。

1.

2.

3.

4.根据文中原句The first stamp was put out in 1840. It was called the “Penny Black”. It had a picture of the Queen on it.（第一张邮票在1840年产生，它叫Penny Black，上面有女王的画像）可知此题需填called; with。

5.根据文中提示“What about a penny (便士) for a letter? And the person who sends the letter pays the postage. He has to buy a stamp and put it on the envelope.”（一便士一封信怎么样？邮信的人付邮资，他不得不买一张邮票放在信封上）可知此题应填spend; stamp。

考点：短文填空