A
There is a certain atmosphere surrounding somebody who lives in Washington. Everybody seems to think that you know more about what is going on, and a fellow who makes his home in Washington can look forward to being invited to lots of parties.
I discovered this when I went up to New York recently. At the first dinner party, everyone was most interested in what was going on in Washington and I was quite honest and admitted I had no idea. Not only did this disappoint the people I was dining with, it also made them angry. They couldn’t believe that I didn’t know and assumed I wasn’t telling the truth.
When I was leaving, the hostess told me, “We didn’t expect you to tell us everything, but I see no reason why you have to protect the Administration.” I decided then I would have to come up with some inside information, or I would have to pay for my own meals in New York
So the next morning I went through all the morning papers and took time to watch TV for what had happened recently. When I arrived at the party, I was well prepared to discuss almost anything. “What do they say about taxes in Washington?” a lawyer asked.
“I’ve heard there will probably be a tax cut next year,” I said.
“Can you tell us what the President plans to do about Latin America?”
“I’m sorry!” I said, “There are some things the President discusses with me that I just can’t talk about in public.”
“Quite true,” the lawyer agreed, “You’ve probably told us more than you should anyway.”
For the next three days I had more invitations to dinner parties than I could accept. But it has been quite a strain. I have to go on reading so many newspapers and watching so many TV shows from Washington that sometimes I wonder if it’s worth the trouble.
1. At the first dinner party the people were disappointed and angry because________.
A. the author did not tell them the truth
B. the author refused to pay for the dinner
C. the author did not offer any inside information
D. the author showed no interest in what they discussed
2. How did the author get well prepared for the next party?
A. He tried to catch up on the latest events.
B. He had secret discussions with the President
C. He learned how to protect the Administration.
D. He consulted the lawyer about taxes in Washington.
3. What does the underlined word “strain” in the last paragraph mean?
A. Burden. B. Pleasure.
C. Shame. D. Responsibility.
【答案】1. C 2. A 3. A
【解析】
【分析】
这是一篇记叙文。主要介绍了作者参加聚会的经历，起初作者在聚会上并不受欢迎，然后通过阅读报纸积累最新时政信息并与人交流而成为聚会受欢迎者，却最后表达了太多聚会反而成为一种负担的感慨。
【1题详解】
细节理解题。根据文章第二段的Not only did this disappoint the people I was dining with, it also made them angry. They couldn’t believe that I didn’t know and assumed I wasn’t telling the truth.这不仅让和我一起吃饭的人失望了，还让他们很生气。他们不敢相信我不知道，还以为我说的不是实话。第三段第1句When I was leaving, the hostess told me, “We didn’t expect you to tell us everything, but I see no reason why you have to protect the Administration.” (当我离开的时候，女主人告诉我，“我们没期待你会把一切都告诉我们，但我看不出你有什么理由要保护管理层。”)可知，与作者一起参加聚会的人希望作者可以讲述一些与他们讨论话题相关的消息，但作者对此一无所知的态度令他们失望。故选C项。
【2题详解】
细节理解题。根据文章第四段第1，2句So the next morning I went through all the morning papers and took time to watch TV for what had happened recently. When I arrived at the party, I was well prepared to discuss almost anything. (所以第二天早上，我浏览了所有的早报，花时间看了看电视，看看最近发生了什么。当我到达聚会时，我已经准备好讨论几乎所有的事情。)可知，作者已经意识到参加聚会意味着参与讨论最近发生的新闻事件，通过阅读报纸，看电视了解信息为聚会做准备。故选A项。
【3题详解】
词义猜测题。根据文章最后一段划线单词所在句子But it has been quite a strain.由But 开头，是本段中心句，之后第3句I have to go on reading so many newspapers and watching so many TV shows from Washington that sometimes I wonder if it’s worth the trouble. (我不得不继续读那么多报纸，看那么多来自华盛顿的电视节目，以致于有时我在想是否值得如此麻烦。)对其论述解释，可知，需要花时间读报纸，看电视可能已经成为作者的麻烦负担，结合语境，strain 可以理解为麻烦负担。故选A项。
【点睛】词义猜测题主要考查根据上下文推测生词和短语的能力,突出考查对语境的分析和把握的能力。有时可以选择用语境猜测语义利用上下文推测词义，即利用生词附近的内容推断生词词义。比如文章第3小题：
3. What does the underlined word “strain” in the last paragraph mean?
A. Burden. B. Pleasure.
C. Shame. D. Responsibility.
For the next three days I had more invitations to dinner parties than I could accept. But it has been quite a strain. I have to go on reading so many newspapers and watching so many TV shows from Washington that sometimes I wonder if it’s worth the trouble.
此划线单词所在句子为本段第二句，且为but 句，可以看作为中心句，之后句子对其进行阐释说明，结合语境之后句中的“trouble”可以看作为其同义词，因此strain为麻烦，负担的含义。故选项A正确。
