The expensive shops in a famous arcade¹ (有拱廊的街道) near Piccadilly were just opening. At this time of the morning, the arcade was almost empty. Mr. Taylor, the owner of a jewellery shop was admiring a new window display. Two of his assistants had been working busily since 8 o'clock and had only just finished. Diamond necklaces and rings had been beautifully arranged on a background of black velvet² (丝绒). After gazing at the display for several minutes, Mr. Taylor went back into his shop.

The silence was suddenly broken when a large car, with its headlights on and its horn blaring (喇叭响声), roared down the arcade. it came to stop outside the jeweller's. One man stayed at the wheel two others with black stockings over their faces jumped out and smashed³ the window of the shop with iron bars. While this was going on, Mr. Taylor was upstairs. He and his staff began throwing furniture out of the window. Chairs and tables went flying into the arcade. One of the thieves was struck by a heavy stature⁴, but he was too busy helping⁵ himself to diamonds to notice any pain. The raid⁶ (袭击) was all over in three minutes, for the men scram-bled back into the car and it moved off at an unbelievable speed. Just as it was leaving, Mr. Taylor rushed out and ran after it throwing ashtrays⁷ (烟灰缸) and vases, but it was impossible to stop the thieves. They had got away with thousands of pounds worth of diamonds.

Choose the correct answer.

1. The expensive shops in ____ were just opening.

A. Piccadilly's famous arcade

B. a Piccadilly famous arcade

C. a famous Piccadilly arcade

D. the famous arcade of Piccadilly

2. Had one of the thieves not been so busy taking the diamonds, he ____ the blow.

A. would feel

B. had been feeling

C. had felt

D. would have felt

3. While Mr. Taylor was admiring the new window display ____.

A. his two assistants were arranging jewellery in the window

B. some thieves were arranging

C. he was standing⁸ inside his shop

D. his staff were finishing their work for the day

4. The car headlights were on and its horn blaring ____.

A. as the thieves wanted to warn people out of their way

B. as a special signal to the assistants

C. as the thieves could see where they were going

D. to break the early morning silence.

5. The thieves chose Mr. Taylor's shop because ____.

A. it was early in the morning and not many shop were open

B. they didn't expect Mr. Taylor and his staff to try and stop them

C. it usually had a great deal of valuable jewellery on display

D. they had a very fast car to get away in

Keys: CDBAC