四、阅读理解（每小题1.5分，满分30分）
阅读下列短文，从每题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中，选出最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
The easy way out isn’t always easiest. I learned that lesson when I decided to treat Doug, 
my husband of one month, to a special meal. I glanced through my cookbook and chose a menu 
which included homemade bread. Knowing making the bread would take time, I started on it as 
soon as Doug left for work. As I was not experienced in cooking, I thought if a dozen was good, two dozen would be better, so I doubled everything. As Doug loved oranges, I also opened a can of orange and poured it all into the bowl. Soon there was a sticky dough (面团) covered with ugly yellowish marks. Realizing I had been defeated, I put the dough in the rubbish bin outside so I wouldn’t have to face Doug laughing at my work. I went on preparing the rest of the meal, and, when Doug got home, we sat down to Cornish chicken with rice. He tried to enjoy the meal but seemed disturbed. Twice he got up and went outside, saying he thought he heard a noise. The third time he left, I went to the window to see what he was doing. Looking out, I saw Doug standing about three feet from the rubbish bin, holding the lid up with a stick and looking into the container. When I came out of the house, he dropped the stick again, he held the lid up enough for me to see. I felt cold. But I stepped closer and looked harder. Without doubt it was my work. The hot sun had caused the dough to double in size and the fermenting yeast (酵母) made the surface shake and sigh as though it were breathing. It looked like some unknown being from outer space. I could see why Doug was so shaken. I had to admit what the ‘living thing’ was and why it was there. I don’t know who was more embarrassed (尴尬) by the whole thing --- Doug or me.
1. The writer’s purpose in writing this story is ____________.
A. to tell an interesting experience 
B. to show the easiest way out of a difficulty  
C. to describe the trouble facing a newly married woman  
D. to explain the difficulty of learning to cook from books  
2. Why did the woman’s attempt at making the bread turn out to be unsuccessful?      _________
A. The canned orange had gone bad.      
B. She didn’t use the right kind of flour.  
C. The cookbook was hard to understand.     
D. She did not follow the directions closely.  
3. Why did the woman put the dough in the rubbish bin?      _________
A. She didn’t see the use of keeping it.  
B. She meant to joke with her husband.  
C. She didn’t want her husband to see it.      
D. She hoped it would soon dry in the sun.  
4. What made the dough in the bin look frightening?      _________
A. The rising and falling movement.         B. The strange-looking marks.  
C. Its shape.                        D. Its size.