英文练习题答案

A 1. John Koshak believed that the chance of his house surviving the storm was not slim for the following reasons: For one thing, the house was 23 feet above sea level, much higher than his former home which was demolished by Hurricane Betsy; for another, he was reluctant to abandon his home because his business was right there; that is, the supplies and other stuff related to his business were all stored in the house. 2. They filled bathtubs and pails in case that the water mains were damaged. Besides, they checked the batteries for radio and flashlights and the fuel for the lantern as they might need them in the event of power failure. A generator was necessary because they could wire light bulbs to it and prepared a connection to the refrigerator. 3. They found it impossible to escape both by car or on foot. The car’s electricity system ha been killed by water and the water was rising inch by inch up the steps as the first-floor outside walls collapsed so that the water became too deep for them to flee on foot. 4. As John watched the water inch its way up the steps, he felt a strong sense of guilt because he blamed himself for underestimating the power of the hurricane and thus endangering the whole family by his wrong decision not to flee to safer inland. 5. Grandmother Koshak asked the children to sing because she thought this would lessen tension and boost the morale of everyone. 6. A hurricane party was the one held by vacationers to enjoy the unusual and impressive spectacle of the hurricane in the fancy Richelieu Apartments from where they would be safe and be able to observe the process of the natural phenomenon closely with a clear and broad view. It happened that these vacationers were eventually found missing and the Richelieu Apartments ceased to be their refuge from the hurricane. Rather, the powerful hurricane smashed the apartments apart. 7. The hurricane caused great property loss, but the whone family survived the hurricane. What Grandmother Koshak meant is that human lives are more important and valuable than material possessions. 8.They managed to make their life return to normal and started rebuilding their community without delay. B 1. This piece of narration is organized as follows: introduction, development, climax, and conclusion. The first 6 paragraphs are introductory paragraphs, giving the time, place, and background of the conflict---man versus hurricane. These paragraphs also introduce the characters in the story. 2. The writer focuses chiefly on action but he also clearly and sympathetically delineates the characters in the story, such as the protagonist John Koshak, Jr. 3. Man and hurricanes make up the conflict. 4. The writer builds up and sustains the suspense in the story by describing in detail and vividly the incidents showing how the Koshaks and their friends struggled against each onslaught of the hurricane. 5. The insertion of Paragraph19 and 20 as proof of the ravaging power of the other force---the hurricane in the conflict so that man’s triumph over the hurricane became moramazing and admirable. 6. The story reaches its climax in Paragraphs 26 and 27 and from then on the story moves rapidly to its conclusion. 7. Yes, it is. Because the writer states his theme or the purpose behind his story in the reflection of Grandmother Koshak: “We lost practically all our possessions, but the family came through it. When I think of that, I realize we lost nothing important.” After all, human lives are more important and valuable than material possessions. 8. By using the elliptical and short sentences, the writer tries to display how tense the atmosphere becomes as the hurricane strikes at the house and how decisive and deterined the protagonist appears in face of the disaster. III. Paraphrase 1. We’re 23 feet above sea level. 2. The house has been here since 1915, and no hurricane has ever caused any damage to it. 3. We can make the necessary preparations and survive the hurricane without much damage. 4. Water got into the generator and put it out. It stopped producing electricity, so the lights also went out. 5. Everybody go out through the back door and run to the cars. 6. The electrical systems in the car had been destroyed/ruined by water. 7. As John watched the water inch its way up the steps, he felt a strong sense of guilt because he blamed himself for endangering the whole family by deciding not to flee inland. 8. Oh God, please help us to get through this storm safely. 9. Grandmother Koshak sang a few words alone and then her voice gradually grew dimmer and stopped. 10. Janis didn’t show any fear on the spot during the storm, but she revealed her feelings caused by the storm a few nights after the hurricane by getting up in the middle of the night and crying softly. IV A 1. main: a principal pipe or line in a distributing system for water, gas, electricity, etc. 2. sit o