Alyosha had been struck by Katerina Ivanovna's beauty when, three weeks before, Dmitri had first brought him, at Katerina Ivanovna's special request ,to be introduced to her. There had been no conversation between them at that interview, however. Supposing Alyosha to be very shy, Katerina Ivanovna had talked all the time to Dmitrito spare him. Alyosha had been silent, but he had seen a great deal very clearly. He was struck by the imperiousness, proud ease, and self-confidence of the haughty girl. And all that was certain, Alyosha felt that he was not exaggerating it. He thought her great glowing black eyes were very fine, especially with her pale, even rather sallow, longish face. But in those eyes and in the lines of her exquisite lips there was something with which his brother might well be passionately in love, but which perhaps could not be loved for long. He expressed this thought almost plainly to Dmitri when, after the visit, his brother besought and insisted that he should not conceal his impressions on seeing his betrothed.
"You'll be very happy with her, but perhaps—not tranquilly happy."
"Quite so, brother. Such people remain always the same. They don't yield to fate.
So you think I shan't love her forever."
"No; perhaps you will love her for ever. But perhaps you won't always be happy
with her."
Alyosha had given his opinion at the time, blushing, and angry with himself for having yielded to his brother's entreaties and put such "foolish" ideas into words. For his opinion had struck him as awfully foolish immediately after he had uttered it. He felt ashamed too of having given so confident an opinion about a woman
During his first visit with Katerina, Alyosha is best characterized as _________
A. curious but intimidated.
B. nervous and self-conscious.
C. reserved but observant.
D. impressed and flattered.
答案：C
解析：
Choice C is the best answer. Alyosha doesn't speakduring the meeting, but he
does pay attention,watching and listening to Katerina.
重点单词：
conceal [kən'si:l] vt. 隐藏，隐瞒，掩盖
exquisite ['ekskwizit] adj. 精挑细选的，精致的，细腻的，强烈的
critical ['kritikəl] adj. 批评的，决定性的，危险的，挑剔的
glowing ['gləuiŋ] adj. 灼热的，热情的，强烈的 动词 glow 的现在分词
impressed adj. 外加的;印象深刻的;了不起的;受感动的
haughty ['hɔ:ti] adj. 傲慢的
spare [spɛə] adj. 多余的，闲置的，备用的，简陋的
request [ri'kwest] n. 要求，请求
yield [ji:ld] n. 生产量，投资收益
conversation [.kɔnvə'seiʃən] n. 会话，谈话