题目

阅读理解    After retirement, Michael Kennedy could have chosen to take walks around his seaside home. Instead, the former mechanical engineer engaged himself in the toughest task of his life - keeping the thundering waves of the Norfolk coast.    The 73-year-old has spent the past 14 years building his own sea wall at Hunstanton, piling up rocks picked from the sandy beach to slow the erosion （侵蚀）of the soft limestone （石灰岩）and chalk cliffs. It's estimated that Michael has shifted 200 tons of stone in the last 14 years.    “It's a real labour of love because I come down here whatever the weather, in spring, summer, autumn and winter,” said the divorced father of two. “It keeps me fit and I love it.”    Mr Kennedy moved to the area after retiring from the London Underground. Nicknamed Fred Flintstone by locals, he tries to move at least 40 pounds of rocks in two-hour sessions which he finishes by 2 pm.    Everything he collects is placed into piles at the foot of the cliffs. Larger rocks go at the bottom to provide the main line of defence and smaller ones are placed at the top. He also picks up rubbish and prides himself on having created a spotless, stone-free sandy beach for holidaymakers to enjoy.    The work goes on six days a week. Saturdays are his day off so that the Chelsea “fanatic” can watch football and other sports. However, there are signs that he is becoming a victim of his own success, as the number of stones has dwindled significantly in recent months.    “It's confusing, Mr Kennedy said. “Usually every year the stones just come in with the sea but this year we haven't had any.” He added, “I hope to still be doing it when I'm 100 but perhaps just four days a week instead of six.”    Town mayor Peter Mallam said Mr Kennedy had become “quite a local legend”. “It's fascinating. Everyone knows of the old guy who collects the stones. He's done a sterling effort.” （1） What do we know about the sea wall built by Michael Kennedy? A . It was constructed with the help of the locals. B . The construction work began in his seventies. C . It was made of 40 pounds of rocks altogether. D . It was built to protect the limestone and chalk cliffs. （2） The author of this passage uses the word “victim” （Paragraph 6） in a（n）    way. A . humorous B . admiring C . sympathetic D . ironic （3） The underlined word “dwindled” in Paragraph 6 can be replaced by    . A . shortened B . decreased C . multiplied D . lengthened （4） What is the author's purpose in writing the text? A . To describe a unique sea wall. B . To introduce a local legend. C . To recommend a retirement lifestyle. D . To call on the public to build more sea walls. 答案： D A B B

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