Ⅱ.Reading comprehension(2×15=30)
(1)
Using a public telephone may well be one of the minor irritations of life, demanding patience,
determination and a strong possibility of failure, together on occasion with considerable unpopularity.
The hopeful caller (shall we call him George?) waits till six o’clock in the evening to take advantage of
the so-called ‘cheap rates’ for a long-distance call. The telephone box, with two broken panes of glass in the
side, stands at the junction of two main roads with buses, lorries and cars roaring past. It is pouring with rain
as George joins a queue of four depressed-looking people. Time passes slowly and seems to come to a
standstill while the person immediately before George carries on an endless conversation, pausing only to
insert another coin every minute or so.
Eventually the receiver is replaced and the caller leaves the box. George enters and picks up one of the
directories inside, only to discover that someone unknown has torn out the very page he needs. Nothing for it
but to dial Directory Enquiries, wait patiently for a reply (while someone outside bangs repeatedly on the
door) and finally note down the number given.
At last George can go ahead with his call. Just as he is starting to dial, however, the door opens and an
unpleasant-looking face peers in with the demand, ‘Can’t you hurry up?’. Ignoring such barbarity, George
continues to dial and his unwanted companion withdraws. At last he hears the burr-burr of the ringing tone,
immediately followed by rapid pips demanding his money, but he is now so upset that he knocks down the
coins he has placed ready on the top of the box. Having at last located them, he dials again: the pips are
repeated and he hastily inserts the coins. A cold voice informs him, ‘Grand Hotel, Chalfont Wells.’ ‘I’ve an
urgent message for a Mr Smith who is a guest in your hotel. Could you put me through to him? I’m afraid I
don’t know his room number,’
The response appears less than enthusiastic and a long long silence follows. George inserts more coins.
Then the voice informs him, ‘I’ve been trying to locate Mr Smith but the hall porter reports having seen him
leave about a minute ago.’
Breathing heavily, George replaces the receiver, just as the knocking on the door starts again.
21.The main intention of the passage is to provide（ ）
A. instructions about how to use a public call box
B. advice about how to deal with public telephone problems
C. criticism of the efficiency of the telephone system
D. an account of possible annoyances in using a public telephone
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