Umbrella is a “difficult” novel. But if you enjoy challenges, just read on because Umbrella, as a Booker Prize winner, is one you can’t miss.
The story itself is not difficult to follow. It concerns a woman named Audrey, a Lo ndoner who grows up during World War I, works in a military factory, and then survives an epidemic （傳染病）spreading through Europe between 1915 and 1926. She is admitted to a mental hospital in 1922, and remains there, mind out of time, until 1971, when a doctor named Zach Busner awakens the sleeping beauty with a special drug. And decades later-on April 8,2010, to be exact — Busner
thinks back on all this as he visits his old hospital.
The story also involves painful facts of how the mentally ill were
mistreated, and the careers of Audrey’s two brothers, one of whom
becomes a soldier in the Great War. Fans of World War I will not want
to miss the vivid descriptions of battlefields.
What makes Will Self’s novel challenging is how he tells his story.
Is opens in the spring of 1971 but thereafter time travels back and
forth between Audrey’s Edwardian childhood and 2010, jumping
mid-sentence from one era to another with no reminders to guide the reader. It is a new style many many modernists adopted, who thought that the old ways were not enough to show the great changes at the beginning of the 20th century.
This story isn’t new: Oliver Sacks dealt with the same sleeping sickness and its treatment in Awakenings. What’s appealing about Umbrella is that Self combines from with content perfectly, using modernist techniques. The readers may feel confused about the switch of time, it’s Self’s wild style that offers other delights – richly detailed settings that bring mental hospitals alive and much more than that.
Yes, “Umbrella” is a “difficult” novel, but it amply rewards the effort. 
66．The underlined phrase "mind out of time" in the second paragraph probably refers, to .
A．a way a person faces difficulties light-heartedly
B．a condition where a person is unconscious
C．a situation which makes someone embarrassed
D．an occasion where a person doesn't mind the time
67．What troubles the readers most when they are reading Umbrella?
A．The relations of the characters．
B．The abstract language．
C．The switch of time．
D．The settings of battlefields．
68．We can safely infer from Paragraph 4,______．
A．Self displays a fast-changing world to readers
B．Self created the style in which he wrote his story
C．Self avoided describing the scene of the war
D．Self’s style was followed by many other writers
69．Who else wrote a similar story besides Self?
A．Audrey． B．Zach Busner．
C．Oliver Sacks． D．Audrey's brother．
70．The novel Umbrella really attracts the readers because______．
A．the potential Self has as a modernist writer
B．the strange writing technique Self created
C．the new material Self chose for his story
D．the perfect combination of the form and content
科目：高中英語 來源：2012-2013學年山西省大同市實驗中學高一第一次月考英語卷（帶解析） 題型：完型填空
A few years ago, when I was about 14,I went out for a walk 31 a rainy summer day. I saw a man 32 small, dirty colthes. He had 33umbrella, and he was picking bottles out of bushes. When he found 34 ,he smiled and put it in his big bag. I thought,“I wish there 35 some way to help him. Well, I could give him my umbrella.” Then I walked to him 36 gave the umbrella to him.“You need this more than I 37 .” The man took it with 38 big smile on his face and said,“Thank you! Thank you!” And then I walked away 39 good, I turned around and saw him 40a lot more, even though he was still picking bottles from bushes. “It was just an umbrella.” I thought, not 41 that it was the kindness 42 made him happy.
A few weeks later I was walking on a sunny day, and 43 the same man with the same clothes, 44 the same big bag 45 of bottles. The only 46 was that my umbrella was right in the corner, looking47 he cherished（愛護） it. It was so clean.
It didn’t 48 that I couldn’t give the man a house and a job and I only did I was able to do. But 50made someone else happier, so that was enough.
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科目：高中英語 來源：2013屆廣東省廣寧縣廣寧中學高三2月月考英語試卷（帶解析） 題型：完型填空
My friends and I had just finished lunch at a hotel when it started to pour 1 . When it became lighter, I decided to get my car, which was 2 at my office three streets away.
My friends argued that I shouldn’t go, mainly because I was seven months pregnant then. I assured them that I’d be very 3 .
I walked out of the 4 and started making my way to the car. At the traffic junction, a van stopped and the passenger got off with an umbrella. Before I knew what was happening, he walked right beside me and told me he’d escort(護送) me to my 5 . I was very embarrassed and declined(辭謝), but he was very 6 .
During our 7 , he kept telling me to walk slower, as the ground was 8 . When we got to the car park, I 9 him and we parted ways. I did not get his 10 and may not even recognise him now. Did he 11 stop for me? I’ll never know.
So how did I pay it forward? I was at home when I 12 two Indian construction workers walking in the heavy rain. They were probably on their way to the construction 13 near my estate, which was a long walk in. I went out and passed them an umbrella. I told them they should take the umbrella and 14 it. They were very grateful and like me, probably wondered why a 15 was offering such kindness.
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科目：高中英語 來源：2013-2014學年浙江省五校高三第一次聯考英語試卷（解析版） 題型：閱讀理解
On his bench in Madison Square Soapy moved uneasily, and he realized the fact that the time had come for him to provide against the coming winter.
The winter ambitions of Soapy were not of the highest. In them there were no dreams of Mediterranean voyages or blue Southern skies. Three months on the Island was what his soul desired. Three months of assured board and bed and good company, safe from north winds seemed to Soapy the most desirable thing.
Just as the more fortunate New Yorkers had bought their tickets to Palm Beach each winter, Soapy had made his arrangements for his annual journey to the Island. And now the time had come.
There were many institutions of charity in New York where he might receive lodging and food, but to Soapy’s proud spirit the gifts of charity were undesirable. You must pay in humiliation of spirit for everything received at the hands of mercy. So it was better to be a guest of the law.
Soapy, having decided to go to the Island, at once set about accomplishing his desire. He left his bench and went up Broadway. He stopped at the door of a glittering cafe. He was shaven and his coat was decent. If he could reach a table in the restaurant, the portion of him that would show above the table would raise no doubt in the waiter’s mind. A roasted duck, with a bottle of wine, a cigar and a cup of coffee would be enough. Such a dinner would make him happy, for the journey to his winter refuge.
But as Soapy entered the restaurant door, the head waiter’s eye fell upon his shabby trousers and old shoes. Strong hands pushed him in silence and haste out into the street.
Some other way of entering the desirable refuge must be found.
At a corner of Sixth Avenue Soapy took a stone and sent it through the glass of a glittering shop window. People came running around the corner, a policeman at the head of them. Soapy stood still, with his hands in his pockets, and smiled at the sight of the policeman.
“Where is the man that has done that?” asked the policeman.
“Don’t you think that I have had something to do with it?” said Soapy, friendly.
The policeman paid no attention to Soapy. Men who break windows don’t remain to speak with policemen. They run away. He saw a man running and rushed after him, stick in hand. Soapy, disgusted, walked along, twice unsuccessful.
On the opposite side of the street was a restaurant for people with large appetites and modest purses. Soapy entered this place without difficulty. He sat at a table and ate beefsteak and pie. And then he told the waiter he had no money.
“Go and call a cop,” said Soapy. “And don’t keep a gentleman waiting.”
“No cop for you,” said the waiter. “Hey!”
Then Soapy found himself lying upon his left ear on the pavement. He arose with difficulty, and beat the dust from his clothes. Arrest seemed a rosy dream. The Island seemed far away.
After another unsuccessful attempt to be arrested for harassing a young woman, Soapy went further toward the district of theatres.
When he saw a policeman standing in front of a glittering theatre, he thought of “disorderly conduct”. On the sidewalk Soapy began to sing drunken songs at the top of his voice. He danced, cried, and otherwise disturbed the peace.
The policeman turned his back to Soapy, and said to a citizen, “It is one of the Yale boys celebrating their football victory. Noisy, but no harm.”
Sadly, Soapy stopped his useless singing and dancing. The Island seemed unattainable. He buttoned his thin coat against the north wind.
In a cigar store he saw a well-dressed man who had set his silk umbrella by the door. Soapy entered the store, took the umbrella, and went out with it slowly. The man with the cigar followed hastily.
“My umbrella,” he said.
“Oh, is it?” said Soapy. “Well, why don’t you call a policeman? I took your umbrella! Why don’t you call a cop? There stands one on the corner.”
The umbrella owner slowed his steps. Soapy did likewise. The policeman looked at them curiously.
“Of course,” said the umbrella man, “well, you know how these mistakes occur…if it’s your umbrella I hope you’ll excuse me – I picked it up this morning in a restaurant – if it’s yours, I hope you’ll…”
“Of course it’s mine,” said Soapy.
The ex-umbrella man retreated. The policeman hurried to help a well-dressed woman across the street.
Soapy threw the umbrella angrily. He was angry with the men who wear helmets and carry clubs. They seemed to regard him as a king who could do no wrong.
At last Soapy stopped before an old church on a quiet corner. Through one window a soft light glowed, where, the organist played a Sunday anthem. For there came to Soapy’s ears sweet music that caught and held him at the iron fence.
The moon was shining; cars and pedestrians were few; birds twittered sleepily under the roof. And the anthem that the organist played cemented Soapy to the iron fence, for he had known it well in the days when his life contained such things as mothers and roses and ambitions and friends.
The influence of the music and the old church produced a sudden and wonderful change in Soapy’s soul. He thought of his degraded days, dead hopes and wrecked faculties.
And also in a moment a strong impulse moved him to battle with his desperate fate. He would pull himself out of this pit; he would make a man of himself again. Those sweet notes had set up a revolution in him. Tomorrow he would be somebody in the world. He would…
Soapy felt a hand on his arm. He looked quickly around into the broad face of a policeman.
“What are you doing here?”
“Nothing.”
“Then come along,” said the policeman.
“Three months on the Island,” said the Judge the next morning.
1.Soapy regarded the Island as his winter ambition because _____.
A. he wanted to go on Mediterranean voyages and enjoy blue Southern skies
B. he wanted to spend the cold winter somewhere warm other than New York
C. he wanted to be put into prison to survive the coming winter
D. he wanted to buy a ticket to the Island to spend the cold winter
2.Which of the following is the reason for Soapy’s not turning to charity?
A. His pride gets in the way.
B. What the institutions of charity offer isn’t what Soapy needs.
C. He wants to be a citizen who obeys the law.
D. The institutions of charity are not located on the island.
3. How many times did Soapy try to accomplish his desire?
A. 4. B. 5. C. 6. D. 7.
4. From the passage, we can see what the two restaurants have in common is that _____.
A. they are both fancy upper class restaurants
B. neither of them served Soapy
C. they both drove Soapy out of the restaurant after he finished his meal
D. neither of them called cops
5.Hearing the Sunday anthem at the church, Soapy _____.
A. was reminded of his good old days and wanted to play the anthem again
B. was reminded of his unaccomplished ambition and was determined to get to the Island
C. was reminded of his disgraceful past and determined to transform himself
D. was reminded of his rosy dream and wished to realize it
6.By ending the story this way, the author means to _____.
A. show that one always gets what he/she wants with enough efforts
B. make a contrast and criticize the sick society
C. surprise readers by proving justice was done after all
D. put a tragic end to Soapy’s life and show his sympathy for Soapy
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科目：高中英語 來源：2015屆山西省大同市高一第一次月考英語卷（解析版） 題型：完型填空
A few years ago, when I was about 14,I went out for a walk 31 a rainy summer day. I saw a man 32 small, dirty colthes. He had 33umbrella, and he was picking bottles out of bushes. When he found 34 ,he smiled and put it in his big bag. I thought,“I wish there 35 some way to help him. Well, I could give him my umbrella.” Then I walked to him 36 gave the umbrella to him.“You need this more than I 37 .” The man took it with 38 big smile on his face and said,“Thank you! Thank you!” And then I walked away 39 good, I turned around and saw him 40a lot more, even though he was still picking bottles from bushes. “It was just an umbrella.” I thought, not 41 that it was the kindness 42 made him happy.
A few weeks later I was walking on a sunny day, and 43 the same man with the same clothes, 44 the same big bag 45 of bottles. The only 46 was that my umbrella was right in the corner, looking47 he cherished（愛護） it. It was so clean.
It didn’t 48 that I couldn’t give the man a house and a job and I only did I was able to do. But 50made someone else happier, so that was enough.
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科目：高中英語 來源：河南省2009-2010學年高一下學期5月月考英語試題 題型：完形填空
二. 完形填空(30分)
I will never forget one thing, mainly because I learned the meaning of kindness then.
A few years ago, I went running on a 16 day. It was my favorite activity because the 17 were so clean when it rained. 18 , I saw an old man with 19 clothes picking cans out of a rubbish bin. When I ran past him, I didn’t know 20 I should give him my umbrella. As I was thinking, I was still 21 . But I finally decided to give him my umbrella, as I knew he needed the umbrella much more than I needed it, 22 I ran back, gave him the umbrella and said, “You 23 this more than I do.” To my 24 , he took it with a big smile on his face and repeated, “Thank you! Thank you! God bless you.” I hadn’t expected he would 25 it so much. I walked away feeling 26 . I turned back one last minute and 27 him still smiling. “It was just an umbrella,” I thought, not 28 that it was the 29 that made him happy. He might feel that he wasn’t 30 in the world.
A few weeks later, when I was running on the same street on a bright sunny day, I 31 the same man who was in the same clothes sitting down resting. The only 32 was my umbrella right beside him, looking like he 33 it. It was very clean and neatly placed. At that moment, I realized it didn’t 34 that I couldn’t give him a house or a job. I only did what I was able to and it made a whole lot of 35 seem to go away.
16. A. snowy B. sunny C. cloudy D. rainy
17. A. parks B. paths C. streets D. gyms
18. A. Hopefully B. Unfortunately C. Surprisingly D. Suddenly
19. A. nice B. wet C. funny D. clean
20. A. whether B. when C. why D. how
21. A. smiling B. looking C. running D. walking
22. A. for B. when C. since D. so
23. A. care B. need C. enjoy D. like
24. A. excitement B. disappointment C. joy D. surprise
25. A. favor B. love C. appreciate D. admire
26. A. high B. good C. scared D. amused
27. A. saw B. heard C. imagined D. sensed
28. A. expecting B. watching C. realizing D. feeling
29. A. trust B. confidence C. respect D. kindness
30. A. small B. alone C. bothered D. useless
31. A. cared about B. called on C. passed by D.looked after
32. A. achievement B. sign C. choice D. difference
33. A. valued B. remembered C. honored D. washed
34.A change B. occur C. hurt D. matter
35.A.sadness B. suffering C. rudeness D. feeling
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