John Lee had been sentenced to death for cruelly taking another person's life．On the morning of that chilly day in November 1884，the scene was set for his execution．The public executioner setup the gallows，a wooden framework used for hanging criminals．
At the specified hour，the rope was adjusted around Lee's neck．The executioner moved back and pulled the lever to open the trap-door．The prisoner's body was supposed to drop through the trap-door and he would hang on the gallows．To the surprise of everyone present，it failed to work．The executioner made a thorough check of the trap-door and found all to be in working order，so he pulled the lever again．Unfortunately，the trap-door did not move even slightly．The prisoner waited in agony and sweat began pouring down his face．The anxious executioner pulled the lever for the third time while everyone waited in anticipation．Still the trap-door remained closed．
John Lee became the only man in Britain to survive three attempts to hang him．When the matter was referred to the Home Secretary，he decided that Lee had suffered enough and commuted（减刑）the sentence to life imprisonment．
1．John Lee was to be executed because he had committed ____ ．
A．murder B．forgery C．treason D．massacre
2．The executioner pulled the lever ____ ．
A．after opening the trap-door B．while setting up the gallows
C．before putting the rope around Lee's neck D．when it was time to carry out the execution
3．The executioner checked the trap-door because it ____ ．
A．was not working B．was moving slightly C．could not be closed D．remained open throughout
4．Had the trap-door worked，John Lee would have ____ ．
A．died by hanging B．been locked in it C．escaped from prison D．survived the attempts to hang him
5．The Home Secretary's decision meant that John Lee would be ____ ．
A．executed ata later date B．sent to the gallows again C．released from prison immediately D．locked up in the prison for a long time
答案与解析：
1．A。从文章中的第一句话John Lee had been sentenced to death for cruelly taking another person's life．可知A答案正确。
2．D。从文章的第一、二自然段可看出A、B、C三个选项均为错误选项，判定D为正确答案。
3．A。从文意可知，the trap-door failed to work。
4．A。此句话使用的是虚拟语气。从第二自然段中的the prisoner's body was supposed to drop through the trap-door and he would hang on the gallows．说明了tap-door的用途，所以答案为A。
5．D。从最后一段的最后一句中的commuted（减刑）the sentence to life imprisonment．可知答案为D。此题考查同学们对life imprisonment的理解。
