The year 1400 opened with more peacefulness than usual in England. Only a few months before, Richard II, weak, wicked, and treacherous—had been deposed, and Henry IV declared king in his stead. But it was only a seeming peacefulness, lasting for but a little while; for though King Henry proved himself a just and a merciful man—as justice and mercy went with the men of iron of those days—and though he did not care to shed blood needlessly, there were many noble families who had been benefited by King Richard during his reign, and who had lost some what of their power and prestige from the coming in of the new king.
Among these were a number of great lords who had been degraded from their former titles and estates, from which degradation King Richard had lifted them. They planned to fall upon King Henry and his followers and to massacre them during a great tournament which was being held at Oxford. And they might have succeeded had not one of their own members betrayed them.
But Henry did not appear at the lists, whereupon, knowing that he had been lodging at Windsor with only a few attendants, the conspirators marched there against him. In the meantime, the king had been warned of the plot, so that instead of finding him in the royal castle, they discovered through their scouts that he had hurried to London, and that he was marching against them at the head of a considerable army. So nothing was left but fight. One and another, they were all caught and some killed. Those few who found friends faithful and bold enough to afford them shelter dragged those friends down in their own ruin.
1.What does the author seem to think of King Henry?
A.He was the best king England had ever had. B.He was unfair and cowardly.
C.He was just as evil as King Richard. D.He was a better ruler than King Richard.
2.How did King Henry find out about the plot?
A.His scouts discovered it. B.He saw the conspirators coming.
C.One of the conspirators told him. D.He found a copy of the conspirators' plan.
3.How did the conspirators find out that Henry was in London?
A.They saw him leave Windsor. B.Henry's attendants told them.
C.They saw him at the tournament. D.Their scouts told them.
4.Why did the nobles wish to kill Henry?
A.Henry had taken away power given to them by Richard.
B.Henry was weak, wicked, and treacherous.
C.Henry had needlessly killed members of their families.
D.Henry had killed King Richard.
5.It can be inferred that Richard II's reign was______.
A.peaceful B.corrupt C.democratic D.illegal
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1.【答案】D。
【解析】本题可参照第一段。从中可知，对亨利的评价是“公正、富有同情心”等，可以推知他的统治相对于理查德来说更好一些。因此D项为正确答案。
2.【答案】C。
【解析】本题的依据是第二段最后一句“And they might have succeeded had not one of their own members betrayed them.”据此可知，C项为正确答案。
3.【答案】D。
【解析】本题的依据是文中第三段的“they discovered through their scouts that he had hurried to London”。从中可知D正确。
4.【答案】A。
【解析】本题的依据是第一段的“there were many noble families who had been benefited by King Richard during his reign, and who had lost some what of their power and prestige from the coming in of the new king.”从中可知，A项为正确答案。
5.【答案】B。
【解析】从文中可知，贵族在理查德时代享有特权与权力，可推知当时是非常腐败的。A、C两项明显不对，D文中未提到，只有B符合文意。
