The National Trust in Britain, together with similar voluntary organization, plays an increasingly important part in the preserv

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问题      The National Trust in Britain, together with similar voluntary organization, plays an increasingly important part in the preservation for public enjoyment of the best land that is left unspoiled of the British countryside. Although the Trust has received practical and moral support from the government, it is not a rich government, supported by public taxes. It is a voluntary association of people who care for the unspoiled countryside and the ancient sites to preserve them for the permanent enjoyment of the public. It is a charity which depends for its existence on voluntary support from members of the public. It has 160 000 members in England, Wales and Northern Ireland who pay a small subscription each year, and its primary duties are to protect for the nation places of great natural beauty and places of historical interest and preserve them from the dangers of modern development and extinction.
     The attention of the public was first drawn to the dangers threatening the great old houses and castles of Britain by the late Lord Lothian, who in 1936 said that, as a result of taxation and estate duty, most of these ancient houses were under sentence of death. When he died he left his great seventh century house and all its contents to the Trust together with 4 500-acre park and estate surrounding it. This gift attracted wide publicity and it started the Trust’s" Country House Scheme". Under the scheme, with the cooperation of the government and thanks to the generosity of the general public, the Trust has been able to save and make accessible to the public about one hundred and fifty of these old houses, together with often very valuable contents. Whenever possible, the Trust seeks to maintain continuity and to preserve these as living realities rather than as dead museums. It is the view of the Trust that the families who give them to the nation and whose ancestors created them make the best possible curators.
     In addition to country houses and open spaces the Trust now owns some examples of ancient wind and water mills, gardens, Roman antiquities (遗迹), farms and small villages, as well as complete villages. In these villages no one is allowed to build, develop or disturb the old village environment and all houses maintain their original sixteen-century style. The public has free access to these areas and is only asked to respect the peace, beauty and wildlife.  
Lord Lothian said most of the ancient houses were ______.

选项 A、to be protected by the government
B、decaying through lack of money for their repair
C、kept in good condition for the time being
D、doomed to decay without good preservation

答案D

解析 推断题。该句提到,Lord Lothian曾经说过“由于税收和房地产遗产税,大多数占旧房屋都被判了死刑”。这里的含义是由于古屋的继承人不愿或无力承担各类税收,古屋无人保养维护,最终会衰败,故选D项。
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