第三部分：阅读理解（共20小题；每小题2分，满分40分）
第一节：阅读下列短文，从每题所给的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中，选出最佳选项。
Since her husband died, Mrs. Jackson has lived alone in their big old suburban (郊区的) house. The house was bought by her husband almost fifty years ago.
For the sake of safety (为安全起见), her son has tried hard to ask her to sell the house and buy a new and small one in the town. But Mrs. Jackson doesn’t like the idea. She says that she has to look after her husband’s old house. But recently she often hears stories about unknown people stealing things around here.
That was a cold day before Christmas Eve. Around four o’clock in the afternoon, Mrs. Jackson was enjoying the Christmas music when someone knocked at the door. She heard the sound but didn’t move. Another knock. Who could it be? Mrs. Jackson was a bit afraid. She decided not to answer the door but keep waiting.
One minute another minute and yet another minute. Nothing happened and no more knocks. She walked quietly to the door, and listened. She heard nothing but the wind outside. She slowly unfastened the door and peeped (窥视) through the crack (小缝). She then gave a surprised cry and threw the door wide open! At the door she saw a tall, beautiful Christmas tree! In the tree stood a Christmas card with these words:
Merry Christmas!
Your new neighbor
56. The house bought by Mr. Jackson is _____.
A. in the town               B. small but new        C. outside the town        D. small and old
57. Mrs. Jackson doesn’t want to sell the house because _____.
A. it is almost fifty years old                             B. it is big and old
C. she likes to live alone in it                            D. her husband left it to her
58. Why didn’t she move when she heard the knock at the door?
A. Because she was enjoying the Christmas music.
B. Because she thought it might be an unknown person.
C. Because it was not her son.
D. Because she hadn’t decided to answer the door.
59. When she found it was a Christmas tree, she _____.
A. cried in surprise and pushed the door wide open                                       
B. was very excited      
C. threw the door away 
D. went out to stand in the tree