【语篇解读】　本文主要介绍了文学巨著《牛虻》的故事情节及其巨大的影响力。

1. What does the first paragraph mainly tell us?

A. The background of the novel.

B. Its popularity in the Soviet Union.

C. An abnormal phenomenon in translation.

D. The artistic achievement of the novel.

答案　B　[段落大意题。根据第一段的内容可知，本段主要介绍的是这部小说在苏联广受欢迎。故选B项。]

2. Why does Arthur escape to South America?

A. He fails to fight Austrian imperial rule.

B. He can't tolerate his family.

C. He doesn't succeed in committing suicide.

D. He is to be punished by the police.

答案　D　[细节理解题。根据第三段的"But he unconsciously betrays his comrades，after his private confession (忏悔)is relayed to the police"可知，亚瑟在不经意间背叛了他的同伴，因为他的私人忏悔被他人转述到了警方耳中。由此可知，他逃往南美洲是因为他将要被警方惩罚。故选D项。]

3. The underlined word "revere" in the last paragraph is closest in meaning to ________.

A. salute B. please

C. imitate D. condemn

答案　A　[词义猜测题。由文章最后一段可知，这部小说虽然在英国几乎无人知晓，但世界范围内的其他读者和作家却十分敬重小说的作者。本题做题的关键是要抓住表示转折的词yet。故选A项。salute "致敬"；please "取悦"；imitate "模仿"；condemn "指责"。]

4. What can we know about the novel The Gadfly from the passage?

A. It has been translated into 22 languages around the world.

B. It is unfamiliar to the British due to its horrible characters.

C. It receives a negative reaction in the English-speaking world.

D. It was completed in 1899 and is one of the most popular novels.