Question

Pha?thon stood impatiently at the heavy golden doors. He ordered the guards, Month and Year, to let him approach his father’s throne. As the doors opened slowly, the sun’s rays almost blinded him. Pha?thon protected his eyes and felt his way toward Apollo’s throne. “Come here, my son. Follow my voice,” Apollo’s voice echoed. “What is so urgent that you have my guards hurrying to do your bidding?”

　　　 “Father, I have a problem. All of my friends have been teasing me. They don’t believe that you’re my father or that you make the sun rise and set,” complained Pha?thon.

　　 Apollo replied, “Oh? That problem again? Well, just to prove it to your friends once and for all, I will satisfy any wish you desire.”

　　　 “Really? Then I have only one wish,” answered Pha?thon. “I’d like to drive your chariot and make the sun rise tomorrow morning!”

　　 Apollo was horrified. “No, not that! No one but me can drive the chariot. The horses are too powerful!”

　　 “You said I could have anything,” murmured Pha?thon.

　 Bound by his promise, Apollo had to agree. His heart was sick with worry as he ordered Dawn to prepare the horses, Hour and Day, to the Golden Chariot. Pha?thon could hardly wait to jump in the driver’s seat and take the reins(韁繩). He hoped all his friends were watching the sky and waiting for him through the stars.

　 “Wait, my son! There are things you need to know!” cried Apollo.

“Oh, Father! You worry too much. I’ve often seen you drive. I know what to do,” Pha?thon answered.

　　　 Apollo hurried to give directions. “You have never driven my chariot before. You must make the horses stay on the path. If you are too low, you will scorch the earth and large land on it could be thrown into a world of fire.”

　　　 “I know, Father. Now watch me take off!” shouted Pha?thon.

　　 Dawn stepped back and released the horses go. The horses were filled with excitement. The sky begged for Dawn’s light, so she ran toward the horizon to make the darkness fade. As Pha?thon was about to get on, Apollo took him by the arm and said, “Please listen to me! If you go too high, you will warm the cold depths of the heavens, and the Bear or Snake or the Scorpion (天蝎星座) will come alive!”

　　　 Pha?thon just laughed. “My friends are waiting. I’ve got to go!” he shouted.

　　　 With that, the chariot was off. It was a wild ride. Hour and Day were difficult to control. Pha?thon did not have his father’s strong arms or years of experience. The horses wove from side to side and jumped up and down through the heavens, hitting everything in their way. The sun bounced along behind the chariot like a basketball. It scratched the stars and slipped along mountaintops, leaving burnt remains behind. Pha?thon’s friends ran for cover as they watched. Just as his father had warned him, the figures in the sky began to move. Suddenly the Scorpion appeared suddenly before him, but Pha?thon dashed by in time. The Snake struck out and bit a wheel off the chariot.

　　 Apollo, seeing the destruction, rushed up toward the heavens, but he was too late! The Bear had waken up from his icy hibernation and seized Pha?thon before his father could reach him. Apollo took hold of the reins and finally regained control of Hour and Day, but it was years before the earth’s mountaintops were white with snow again. The scorched areas became deserts where very little would grow. Pha?thon became a part of the stars alongside the Bear, where his father could regretfully keep an eye on him.

67. Which word can be used to replace the underlined word “scorch”?

　　　 A. Scratch　　　　　　　　　 B. Burn　　　　　　　　 C. Hit　　　　　　　　　 D. Destroy

68. What caused Apollo to allow Pha?thon to drive the chariot?

　 A. Apollo wanted to protect Pha?thon from teasing.

　 B. Pha?thon dared to approach Apollo’s throne.

　 C. Apollo was bound by his promise to Pha?thon.

　 D. Apollo asked Pha?thon to do it as a favour.

69. It can be concluded that this passage is mainly about the conflict between ______.

　 A. Goodness and Evil 　　　　　　　　　　　 B. Man and Nature　　　　　　　

　 C. Strength and Weakness 　　　　　　　　 D. Wisdom and Inexperience

70. From what point of view is the passage told?

　A. First person, Apollo 　　　　　　　　　　 B. Third person, limited

C. Third person, unnamed　　　　　　　　　 D. Third person, Dawn

Answer 1

BCDC