King Akbar was in the habit of putting riddles and puzzles to his people. He often asked ___1___ which were strange. His people had to use words in a ___2___ way to answer these questions.
Once Akbar asked a very strange question. He looked at his people. ___3___ he looked, one by one the heads began to hang low in search of an answer. It was at this moment that Bridal entered the palace. Birbal ___4___ the habit of the king. He understood the ___5___ at once and asked, May I know the question so that I can ____6___ for an answer?
Akbar said, How many crows(乌鸦) are there in the city?
___7___ even a moments thought, Birbal replied, There are fifty thousand five hundred and eighty nine crows, My Lord.
How can you be so ___8____? asked Akbar.
Birbal said, Make your men ___9___, My Lord. If you find more crows it means some have come to visit their relatives(亲戚) here. If you find ___10___ crows it means some have gone to visit their relatives somewhere else.
Akbar was pleased very much by Birbals wise answer.
1.A. questions B. help C. promises D. advice
2.A. common B. friendly C. clever D. silent
3.A. Though B. Because C. If D. As
4.A. knew B. developed C. hated D. doubted
5.A. order B. information C. danger D. situation
6.A. ask B. wait C. try D. reach
7.A. before B. without C. Through D. In
8.A. smart B. brave C. funny D. sure
9.A. catch B. discuss C. count D. visit
10.A. fewer B. larger C. faster D. older
参考答案：
1.A
2.C
3.D
4.A
5.D
6.C
7.B
8.D
9.C
10.A
【解析】短文大意：这篇短文主要介绍了国王阿卡巴经常问他的国民一些奇怪的问题，因此人们不得不想出各种方法来回答。一天当他问出一个奇怪的问题之后，波贝尔正好赶上，并巧妙地回答了他的问题，国王对这个答案很满意。
1.联系下文to answer these questions.描述，可知此处指的是问问题，故选A，问题。
2.形容词辨析。A.共同的，普通的;B. 友好的;C. 聪明的;D. 沉默地。结合语境可知此处指的是人们不得不用一种聪明的方式来回答他的问题。故选C。
3.连词辨析。A. 虽然，尽管;B. 因为;C.是否，如果;D. 随着，当时。结合语境可知此处指的是，当他看的时候，故选D。
4.动词辨析。39. A. 知道;B. 发展;C. 憎恨;D. 怀疑。联系下文描述，可知他知道国王这个习惯。故选A。
5.联系前文描述，可知此处指的是他立即明白了当时的情形，故选D，情况，形势。
6.动词辨析。41. A. 问，要求;B. 等待;C.尝试;D. 达到，伸出。联系上下文，可知此处指的是我可以尝试回答一下吗?故选C。
7.介词辨析。A. 在之前;B. 没有;C. 通过;D. 后接一段时间，表示在多久之后。联系下文，可知此处指的是甚至连一刻钟都没想，故选B，没有。
8.结合语境可知国王问的是，你为何如此确定?故选D，确信的。
39.动词辨析。A. 捕捉，赶上;B. 讨论;C. 数;D. 参观，访问。结合语境可知此处指的是让人数一数，故选C。
10.联系前一句描述，可知此处指的是更少的乌鸦。故选A，更少的。