Mintu Roy, a farmer in India’s West Bengal state, has been dreaming of living in a house shaped like the famous RMS Titanic ship since he was a small child growing up in Kolkata.  

“Most of my childhood was spent in Kolkata, around the Bowbazar area,” Mintu Roy told Indian reporters visiting his home. “The time of Durga Puja is one of my fondest memories. One year, I was so impressed with a Titanic-shaped pandal (敬奉神灵的临时棚舍) that I wanted to make a memorable home for me and my family. I decided to one day build my own house to resemble the large luxurious passenger ship. ”

  After moving to various parts of India in search of employment and a better life, Roy settled in West Bengal and began making plans to begin the construction of his dream house. But finding someone to help him build a Titanic-shaped house proved easier said than done. Most construction engineers didn’t believe in his vision and those who did requested more money than the farmer had to pay. So he ultimately decided to design and build it himself.

After going to Nepal for three years to study masonry (砖石建筑), Mintu Roy started working on his unique 3-storey house. He has been at it for 13 years now, because he lacked the funds to complete it sooner, but he hopes to one day live inside it with his family.

“Though we have not kept the record of how much money has been spent so far, I guess it should not be less than $182,000,” Mintu’s wife, Iti, said. “We were very poor and after the birth of my daughter, we started hiring land on lease (租借) from others and started growing vegetables. But this is my husband’s dream, so it is mine and the children’s. We all want to help him accomplish that.”

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1.What inspired Mintu Roy to build the unusual-looking house?

A His family’s wish.

B A religious structure.

C His poor childhood.

D Some sweet memories.

解析：选B。B细节理解题。根据第二段的“I was so impressed with a Titanic-shaped pandal that I wanted to make a memorable home for me and my family.”可知，敏图·罗伊(Mintu Roy)对一个泰坦尼克号形状的临时棚舍印象深刻，于是他想为他和家人建造一个难忘的家。即这个敬奉神灵的宗教建筑激发了敏图·罗伊建造这座不同寻常的房子。故选B。

2.What does the underlined word “resemble” mean in Paragraph 2?

A Replace.

B Change.

C Add to.

D Look like.

解析：选D。D词义猜测题。结合第一段的“a house shaped like the famous RMS Titanic ship”可知，敏图·罗伊想住在一座造型像泰坦尼克号游轮的房子里，因此可知，他决定建造一所像这艘豪华游轮的房子。故选D。

3.Why couldn’t Mintu Roy finish building the house soon?

A Because it was difficult to design and build it.

B Because no engineers could help him build it.

C Because he didn’t have enough money to do it.

D Because his family didn’t want to move into it.

解析：选C。C细节理解题。根据第三段的“requested more money than the farmer had to pay”以及第四段的“because he lacked the funds to complete it sooner”可知，敏图·罗伊缺钱。故选C。

4.What’s the family’s attitude to Mintu Roy building the Titanic-shaped house?

A Critical.

B Supportive.

C Doubtful.

D Surprised.

解析：选B。B推理判断题。根据最后一段最后两句“But this is my husband’s dream, so it is mine and the children’s. We all want to help him accomplish that.”可知，敏图·罗伊的妻子和孩子们都想拥有这样的房子，他们想帮助敏图·罗伊完成他的梦想。由此可知这家人支持敏图·罗伊修建这所房子。故选B。