It was an early morning in summer. In the streets, sleepy-eyed people were　moving quickly towards their　1　. This was the beginning of another　2　day in New York City. 　3　this day was to be different.

　　Waiting　4　the crowded streets, on top of a　5　110 stories high, was Philippe Petit. This Frenchman was about to　6　a tightrope (绷索)between the two towers of the World Trade Center.

　　Philippe took his first　7　with great care. The wire held. Now he was　8　he could do it.　9　only a balancing pole(平衡杆), Philippe walked his way along 131 feet.

　　Soon the rush-hour　10　began to notice, what a　11　! The tightrope was 1350 feet above the street. Philippe made seven trips, back and forth(来回). He wasn't pleased with just　12　. At times, he would turn, sit down, and　13　go on his knees. Thousands of people watched him with their hearts beating fast.

　　After the forty-five-minute　14　, Philippe was taken to the police station. He was asked　15　he did it. Philippe said, "When I see two tall buildings, I walk."

　　1. A. jobsB. homesC. buses D. offices

　　2. A. work B. cold

　　C. same D. ordinary

　　3. A. And B. SoC. But D. Then

　　4. A. for B. in C. by D. above

　　5. A. house B. room

　　C. wall D. building

　　6. A. throw B. walk

　　C. climb D. fix

　　7. A. act B. landing C. step D. trip

　　8. A. sure B. uncertain

　　C. glad D. happy

　　9. A. Through B. Against

　　C. With D. On

　　10. A. streets B. crowds

　　C. travellers D. city

　　11. A. safety B. pleasure

　　C. wonder D. danger

　　12. A. walking B. staying

　　C. acting D. showing

　　13. A. almost B. even

　　C. often D. rather

　　14. A. show B. trick

　　C. try D. program

　　15. A. how B. why

　　C. whetherD. when

　　答案及简析：

　　Philippe 是一个走钢丝成瘾的杂技演员。一天早晨，匆匆忙忙去上班的人们突然发现纽约世贸中心的两幢高楼之间上空有一个人影在移动，原来是Philippe在走钢丝。本文讲述了他走钢丝的过程，事后他被带到警察局。

　　1. A。此题考查学生是否具有一定的生活常识。有工作的人并非都拥有办公室。

　　2. D。从下文this day was to be different(这一天要与平常不同)可知，此空应填ordinary。

　　3. C。从下文内容可知。

　　4. D。从第二自然段内容可推知这一答案。

　　5. D。本句意为"在110层高的楼顶"。

　　6. B。walk a tightrope是"走绷索"的意思。学生答题时应注意，walk既是及物动词，又是不及物动词。

　　7. C。take one's first step是惯用法，意为"迈出第一步"。

　　8. A。根据上文的语境可知，在成功地迈出了第一步之后，菲利普"确信"他可以走绷索了。

　　9. C。with only a balancing pole意为"只拿一根平衡杆"，此处with = holding。

　　10. B。不久，高峰期的"人群"开始注意楼顶发生的一切。

　　11. C。根据下句所述，该题的最佳答案为C。在1350英尺高的楼顶表演绝技，真是"奇迹"。

　　12. A。从下文At times he would turn，sit down and go on his knees可知。

　　13. B。菲利普对在绷索上往返似乎不太满意，他时而转身，时而坐下，"甚至"跪在绷索上。

　　14. A。本句意为"45分钟的表演过后，菲利普被带到了警察局。"此处show是指"走绷索这种表演"。

　　15. B。本句意为：当问到他为何要这样做时，菲利普答道，"我看到两座高楼，我就走过去了。"

　　(文/严建英；　英语辅导报初三版03--04学年度第46期；版权归英语辅导报社所有，独家网络合作伙伴新浪教育，未经许可，不得以任何形式进行转载。)