Becket not only traveled light, he lived light. In all the world he owned just the clothes he stood up in, a full suitcase and a bank account. Arriving anywhere with these possessions, he might just as easily put up for a month or a year as for a single night. For long stays, not less than a month, he might take a furnished flat, sometimes even a house. But whatever the length, he rarely needed anything he did not have with him. He was, he liked to think, a self-contained person.
Becket had one occasional anxiety: the suspicion that he owned more than that would fit comfortably into the case. The feeling, when it came, was the signal for him to throw something away or just leave it lying about. This was the automatic fate of his worn-out clothes for example. Having no use for choice or variety, he kept just a raincoat, a suit, a pair of shoes and a few shirts, socks and so on. no more in the clothing line. He bought and read many books, and left them wherever he happened to be sitting when he finished them. They quickly found new owners.
Becket was a professional traveler, interested and interesting. He liked to get the feeling of a place by living in it, reading its newspapers, watching its TV, discussing its affairs. Though Becket s health gave him no cause for alarm, he made a point of seeing a doctor as soon as he arrived anywhere. "A doctor knows a place and its people better than anyone", he used to say. He never went to see a doctor. he always sent for one. that, he found, was the quickest way to confidences, which came out freely as soon as he mentioned that he was a writer. 来源:www.examda.com Becket was an artist as well. He painted pictures of his places and, when he had gathered enough information, he wrote about them. He sold his work, through an agent, to newspapers and magazines. It was an agreeable sort of life for a good social mixer, and as Becket never stayed anywhere for long, he enjoyed the satisfying advantage of paying very little in tax.
1. What do we know about Becket s possessions? [A] He had enough baggage to stay for one night. [B] He carried all of them around with him. [C] He had thrown or given them away. [D] He left most of his things at home when he travelled.
2. Becket took over a flat when _____. [A] there were no suitable hetels [B] he meant to stay somewhere for several nights [C] he was sure of staying a year or more [D] he expected not to move on for a month at least
3 How did Becket feel about taxation? [A] It worried him,so he kept moving from place to place. [B] He hated it,so he broke the tax laws. [C] He was pleased he could honestly avoid it. [D] He felt ashamed of not paying taxes. 来源:www.examda.com
4. If anything worried Becket,it was _____. [A] the thought of having too much baggage [B] his habit of leaving things lying about [C] the fact that he owned so little [D] the poor state of his clothes
5. Becket did not keep books because _____. [A] he had not interest in literature [B] the books he read belonged to other people [C] he had no room in his case for them [D] he preferred to give them to his friends