They then re-checked the charts which had been carefully prepared to allow accurately for the increasing wind speeds during the climb-all trying to keep themselves occupied during that t[r]
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April the 3rd was the day we attempted to reach Mount Everest The morning saw us all up and rushing about the bungalow at daybreak We bumped down the nine miles of dusty track, each clutching a camera or one of the more delicate instruments to our chests in an endeavour to make our bodies absorb as many of the shocks from the bumpy track as possible The ground staff was already busy on our arrival The sheds where the aircraft were kept had been opened and the great machines were being manhandled out onto the tarmac The bottles of oxygen were careful placed in their clips and connected to the system The vertical cameras were fitted and tested; air frames and engines were inspected and tested in every detail
Pilots and observers fussed around the equipment, trying on oxygen masks which they had tried on many times before re-adjusting straps, electric leads and oxygen feed pipes that had already adjusted to a nicety They then re-checked the charts which had been carefully prepared to allow accurately for the increasing wind speeds during the climb-all trying to keep themselves occupied during that tense half-hour wait for the return of the reconnaissance machine
There had been so much preparation for this flight, and there was still so much of unknown about it, that the crews could not help being slightly affected by the general excitement Waiting is always unpleasant, and we were all relieved to see the reconnaissance machine diving down through the dust haze The Air Commodore who commanded it brought welcome news Though he had been unable to climb above the dust, he had been able to see towards the mountains through the top of the haze and there was a cloudless sky This was splendid: no cloud to mar the photography
We had promised not to attempt the flight if the wind exceeded 40 miles an hour, but this was the first time we had found the wind under 100 miles an hour We worked out the implications and reckoned that, provided we did not spend more than fifteen minutes at the summit, we could get back inside our petrol endurance We might wait for days and weeks and not get another opportunity The Air Commodore weighed the position carefully and gave the world “Go”
1 The author and his colleagues held their instruments close to their bodies because
A there were so many people in the car B the dust might have obscured their cameras C The surface of the track was very uneven D They wanted to protect themselves from bumps
2 When the members of the expedition arrived at the aerodrome , the ground staff was
A maneuvering the aircraft into position on the runway B attaching the clips to the bottles of oxygen
(2)D making final adjustments to the vertical cameras
3 The crews of the aircraft kept checking their equipment.
A To ensure that the straps on their oxygen masks were adjustable B To pinpoint the position of the reconnaissance plane
C To verify the accuracy of the wind speeds shown in their charts D To keep themselves busy until it was time to take off
4 For this expedition the pilots were equipped with
A A television system B A new type of aircraft C Breathing apparatus D Parachute equipment
5 During the reconnaissance flight the Air Commodore was able to
A Get close to the summit of Mount Everest B Observe the weather conditions above the dust C Take long-range photographs of the mountain D Send information back to the aerodrome
6 The purpose of this expedition to Mount Everest was to
A Investigate the atmosphere conditions on the mountain B Make an aerial survey of the summit
C Test the breathing apparatus at high altitude D Penetrate the dust haze surrounding the mountain SECOND PASSAGE
Standing alone at the Browns’ party, Anna Mackintosh thought about her husband Edward, establishing him clearly in her mind’s eye He was a thin man, forty-one years of age, with fair hair that was often untidy In the seventeen years they’d been married he had changed very little: he was still nervous with other people, and smiled in the same abashed away, and his face was still almost boyish
She believed she had failed him because he had wished for children and she had not been able to supply any She had, over the years, become neurotic about this fact and in the end, quite some time ago now; she had consulted a psychiatrist, a Dr Abbat, at Edward’s pleading
In the Browns’ rich drawing room, its walls and ceiling gleaming with a metallic surface of imitation gold, Anna listened to dance music coming from a tape recorder and continued to think about her husband
In a moment he would be at the party too, since they had agreed to meet there, although by now it was three-quarters of an hour later than the time he had stipulated
(3)not knowing a soul in the room
When she thought about it she felt hard don’t by, for although Edward was kind to her and always had been, it was far from considerate to be as late as this Because of her nervous condition she felt afraid and had developed a sickness in her stomach She looked at her watch and sighed
1 Why does Anna feel awkward at the party?
A Her husband’s nervousness affects her B She doesn’t like the Browns
C Her husband isn’t coming D She doesn’t know anybody
2 What makes Anna feel inadequate?
A Her bad relationship with her husband B Her husband’s youthful appearance C Her inability to have children D Her lack of success at parties
3 Anna starts to get angry because
A she resents the Browns’ wealth B she isn’t feeling very well
C her husband is usually more thoughtful D the Browns are only business acquaintances
4 Why did Edward want Anna attend the party?
A He was going to be late
B He wanted her to have more of social life C He needed her support