A
(2020·成都诊断)For six hundred years，the Tower of London’s most exotic(异国风情的) prisoners were animals.
The Royal Menagerie(动物园) began as a result of kings exchanging rare and strange animals as gifts.In 1235，Henry Ⅲ was delighted to be presented with three wildcats by the Holy Roman Emperor FrederickⅡ.These inspired him to start a zoo at the Tower. Henry’s “wildcats”，although described as leopards，were probably lions.These are the ancestors of the three lions that still appear on the England football team’s shirts today.
In 1251 the lions were joined by a “white bear” probably a polar bear—given by the King of Norway.In 1255, the King of France sent the first elephant ever seen in England and “people flocked together to see the novel sight”．Sadly，the elephant died in 1258.
Poor treatment and cramped conditions meant many of the animals did not survive for long.But the Royal Menagerie continued to grow.Edward Ⅰ created a permanent new home for the Royal Menagerie at the western entrance to the Tower，which became known as the Lion Tower.The terrifying sounds and smells of wild animals must have both impressed and scared visitors.
By 1622，the collection had been extended to include three eagles，two pumas，a tiger and a jackal，as well as lions and leopards，who were the main attractions.
However，the end of the Royal Menagerie came in the 1830s.Campaigners had begun to raise concerns，and the animals were expensive，occasionally dangerous and a nuisance to the guardsmen.The Duke of Wellington sent 150 of the beasts to a new zoo in Regent’s Park, today’s London Zoo.
Despite Alfred Cops’s best efforts to carry on，several further incidents including an escaped wolf and a monkey that bit a guardsman’s leg convinced King William Ⅳ to shut down the Royal Menagerie for good in 1835.The remaining animals were sold to zoos and travelling shows and the Lion Tower was later demolished.
【解题导语】 本文是一篇记叙文，主要讲述了著名的伦敦塔中皇家动物园的历史。
1．What do we know about the elephant presented in 1255?
A．It caused big trouble.
B．It received much attention.
C．It lived painfully in the Lion Tower.
D．It died before the polar bear came in.
B 解析：细节理解题。根据第三段第二句“In 1255，the King of France sent the first elephant ever seen in England and‘people flocked together to see the novel sight’．”可知，1255年，法国国王送给英国一头大象，英国人第一次见到大象，人们成群结队地去观看；据此可知，1255年被赠送的这头大象引起了很大的关注，故B项正确。
2．How many types of animals at the Royal Menagerie are mentioned in the text?
A．Eight. B．Nine.
C．Ten. D．Eleven.
C 解析：细节理解题。根据第二段第二句可知，该处提及“野猫”，很可能就是狮子；根据第三段第一句可知，该处提及“白熊”；根据第三段第二句可知，该处提及“大象”；根据第五段可知，到1622年，收藏范围扩大至包含三只鹰、两只美洲狮、一只老虎和一只胡狼、狮子和豹子；根据尾段第一句可知，该处提及狼和猴子；据此可知，该动物园中一共提及十种动物，故C项正确。
3．For what reason was the Royal Menagerie closed at last?
A．Security concerns.
B．The decline of tourism.
C．Pressure from campaigners.
D．The financial burden to raise the animals.
A 解析：细节理解题。根据尾段第一句“Despite Alfred Cops’s best efforts to carry on，several further incidents including an escaped wolf and a monkey that bit a guardsman’s leg convinced King William Ⅳ to shut down the Royal Menagerie for good in 1835.”可知，由于发生了危险事件，包括逃跑的狼和猴子咬人，故威廉四世终于决定永久关闭这家动物园，故A项正确。
4．Which is the best title for the text?
A．The Royal Menagerie
B．Gifts Presented to the King
C．Tourist Attractions in London
D．Miserable Life in the Lion Tower
A 解析：标题归纳题。通读全文可知，文章第一段为全文的主题句，结合全文内容可知，本文主要介绍了伦敦塔中的皇家动物园的历史，故A项最能概括文意。
【难句分析】 These are the ancestors of the three lions that still appear on the England football team’s shirts today.
分析：该句为主从复合句。句中“that still appear on the England football team’s shirts today”为that引导的定语从句，修饰先行词“the three lions”，引导词在从句中作主语。
译文：这些是现今仍出现在英格兰足球队的衬衫上的三只狮子的祖先。
