二、故事类
(1)
In the last fifty years, a lot of people have left Europe and gone to live in Australia. One of them was a Hungarian man. He lived in Australia for a long time, and he had a lot of good friends there. He always said to them, “Australia is beautiful, but Hungary is beautiful, too.” Then one year he said to his friends, “I?m going to go back to Hungary to visit my home town.” All his friends said to him, “We want to go with you, because you often say Hungary is a beautiful country, and we want to visit it.” The Hungarian Australian took his friends from Sydney to Rome in a big plane, and then they went from Rome to Budapest in a train as they wanted to see the mountains, and the villages and the towns.
They stayed in Budapest nearly a week, and they liked it very much. One day they went to the zoo in Budapest and saw two kangaroos there.
These Australians were very happy because kangaroos were from their home town. They said to them, “Come here, old friends! Come and see your Australian brothers!” But the kangaroos did not move.
But then the Hungarian Australian spoke to them in Hungarian, “Come here!” he said, and both of the kangaroos ran to him. The other Australians laughed and said, “Look at that. They?re Australians, but they only know Hungarian!” 1. The Hungarian moved to Australia _______.
A. last year B. a few years ago C. about 50 years ago D. over 100 years ago 2. The Hungarian wanted to go back to Hungary to _______. A. see the kangaroos B. his home town C. visit his old friends there D. pay a visit to the zoo 3. How did they get to Budapest from Sydney? A. By air and by train. B. By ship. C. By air. D. By train. 4. Kangaroo is a kind of famous _______ in Australia. A. animal B. tree C. language D. plant
(2)
When my father was getting ready for work, our house was ruled by knocks and words. He used to come downstairs to breakfast.
The morning paper lay beside his plate. He always read the “Deaths” first, and then he knocked once on the table. One of my sisters brought his bread, already buttered for him. Usually he said nothing, but once I heard him say, “I love you very much, Edith. I would love more if you buttered my bread on both sides. ” He read the paper all through breakfast.
Two knocks on the table meant “I am ready for my tea.” If a single knock followed that meant, “More bread, please.”
After breakfast he said, “Boots.” The paper was spread(展开) for him over the back of an arm-chair. Yesterday?s paper was put on the chair for his feet, and his boots were brought to him, freshly cleaned. He read standing at the same time putting on his boots. With one boot finished he said, “Bus.” At that point one of the girls went outside to the garden gate and waited there. Her job was to stop a bus when it came. It came early sometimes and it had to wait for my father. “Overcoat, hat.” One of my sisters had already brushed his overcoat. Now she held it open for him. Another girl came with his hat, nicely brushed. “Handkerchief, pipe(烟斗). ” They were brought and put, with his tobacco(烟草), into his pocket. He looked out of the window and said either “Walking stick” or “Umbrella”. It was handed to him. Ready now, he was still reading the paper. He didn?t put it down until he heard the shout “Bus coming!” Then he kissed my mother and went out. The girls breathed freely.
How lucky a man was to have a wife and five daughters at home! 1. When the father made the first knock, he meant _______.
A. he had begun to read the morning newspaper B. he was made to feel sad by the” Deaths” news C. he would start to read the other parts of the paper D. his breakfast should begin 2. What does “Edith” mean?
A. A kind of bread. B. One of the writer?s sisters. C. The writer. D. The writer?s mother. 3. All the daughters were quite busy in the morning because _______.
A. their father never helped them B. their father always gave different instructions at the same time
C. each of them had to start and finish her job just on time D. they were not clever or quick enough to do their jobs
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4. What was the father?s favorite?
A. Reading newspaper. B. Having bread buttered on both sides. C. Giving instructions. D. Being clean and tidy. 5. From the story we may see that _______.
A. the father was so lazy that he hardly did anything B. the father was the “centre” of the family C. Every girl in the family was afraid to do wrong because they didn?t know clearly enough what to do D. The father was hated by all his daughters
(3)
I?ve loved my mother?s desk since I was just tall enough to see above the top of it as mother sat doing letters. Standing by her chair, looking at the ink bottle, pens and white paper, I decided that the act of writing must be the most wonderful thing in the world.
Years later, during her final illness, mother kept different things for my sister and brother. “But the desk,” she said again, “is for Elizabeth.”
I never saw her angry, never saw her cry. I knew she loved me; she showed it in action. But as a young girl, I wanted heart-to-heart talks between mother and daughter.
They never happened. And a gulf opened between us. I was “too emotional(易动感情的)”. But she lived “on the surface”. As years passed and I had my own family. I loved my mother and thanked her for our happy family. I wrote to her in careful words and asked her to let me know in any way she chose that she did forgive me.
I posted the letter and waited for her answer, none came.
My hope turned to disappointment, then little interest and, finally, peace it seemed that nothing happened. I couldn?t be sure that the letter had even got to Mother. I only knew that I had written it, and I could stop trying to make her into someone she was not.
Now the present of her desk told me, as she?d never been able to, that she was pleased that writing was my chosen work. I cleaned the desk carefully and found some papers inside — a photo of my father and a one-page letter, folded(折叠) and refolded many times.
Give me an answer, my letter asks, in any way you choose, Mother, you always chose the act that speaks louder than words.
1. The writer began to love her mother?s desk _______.
A. after Mother died B. before she became a writer C. when she was a child D. when mother gave it to her 2. The passage shows that _______.
A. Mother was cold on the surface but kind in her heart to her daughter B. Mother was too serious about everything her daughter had done C. Mother cared much about her daughter in words D. Mother wrote to her daughter in careful words. 3. The world “gulf” in the passage means _______.
A. deep understanding between the old and the young. B. different ideas between the mother and the daughter. C. free talks between mother and daughter. D. part of the sea going far in land. 4. What did Mother do with her daughter?s letter asking for forgiveness?
A. She had never received the letter. B. For years, she often talked about the letter. C. She didn?t forgive her daughter at all in all her life. D. She read the letter again and again till she died. 5. What?s the best title of the passage? A. My letter to Mother B. Mother and Children C. My Mother?s Desk D. Talks between Mother and me.
(4)
After giving a talk at a high school, I was asked to pay a visit to a special student. An illness had kept the boy home, but he had expressed an interest in meeting me, and it would mean a great deal to him. I agreed.
During the nine-mile drive to his home, I found out something about Matthew. He had muscular dystrophy(肌肉萎缩症). When he was born, the doctor told his parents that he would not live to see five, then they were told he would not make it to ten. Now he was thirteen. He wanted to meet me because I was a gold-medal power lifter, and I knew about overcoming obstacles and going for my dreams.
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I spent over one hour talking to Matthew. Never once did he complain or ask, “Why me?” He spoke about winning and succeeding and going for his dreams. Obviously, he knew what he was talking about. He didn?t mention that his classmates had made fun of him because he was different. He just talked about his hopes for the future, and how one day he wanted to lift weight with me.
When we finished talking, I went to my briefcase and pulled out the first gold medal I won and put it around his neck. I told him he was more of a winner and knew more about success and overcoming obstacles than I ever would. He looked at it for a moment, then took it off and handed it back to me. He said, “You are a champion. You earned that medal. Someday when I get to the Olympics and win my own medal, I will show it to you.”
Last summer I received a letter from Matthew?s parents telling me that Matthew had passed away. They wanted me to have a letter he had written to me a few days before: Dear Rick,
My mom said I should send you a thank-you letter for the picture you sent me. I also want to let you know that the doctors tell me that I don?t have long to live anymore. But I still smile as much as I can.
I told you someday I was going to the Olympics and win a gold medal. But I know now I will never get to do that. But I know I?m a champion, and God knows that too. When I get to Heaven, God will give me my medal and when you get there, I will show it to you. Thank you for loving me.
Yours,
Matthew
1. The boy wanted to meet the author because _______. A. he was interested in weight lifting C. he admired the author very much A. Why do you come to see me?
B. he wanted to get a gold medal D. he wanted the author to know him B. Why do I have to stay at home?
2. The underlined part in the third paragraph probably means “_______.” C. Why does the disease fall on me D. Why not give a gold medal to me 3. We can infer from the passage that _______. A. Matthew is a determined boy
B. Rick used to have the same disease
C. Matthew became a champion finally D. Rick regarded Matthew as normal 4. The boy refused the author?s medal because _______. A. he was not worthy of it
B. he would not be pitied by others
C. he knew he would die soon D. he thought he himself could earn one in the future
(5)
Maggie was very glad that James was not a frequent visitor to the house. In the children?s opinion, they had something that they couldn?t explain or understand about him and that excited their imagination. He stirred Maggie?s anger, however, so that she often said to her husband, “It?s a mercy that brother of yours doesn?t come oftener.”
In fact James came once a year, unexpectedly, around eight o?clock in the evening, and he stayed for six hours of close discussion with his brother. His arrival was a signal to the children that their bedtime would be delayed. Not that he ever spoke to them or played with them. He took no notice of them, as if he was unable to see children, at least until the time came for him to go. Indeed, after his first greeting and a careless kiss, James took no notice of Maggie either, except to add, “You?ll be getting on with the supper, Maggie.” Such was his regard for her.
Maggie paid him back in her own way. She kept the children up, the four of them, to keep her company, she said, but of course they sang and made a noise and broke the endless sound of James? voice. Very late, they dropped off to sleep in their chairs. Then, when James was about to go, Maggie woke them up and so more or less forced him to part with four shillings before he left. That gave her some satisfaction, for James, though rich, was unwilling to give or share what he had. He always went home by the last train, just after two o?clock.
Maggie?s children secretly stared at their uncle. They could not forget that he had, in their mother?s words, “lost two wives and taken a third.” They wondered about those two unfortunate, lost ladies. They asked each other what their fate(命运) had been, and if neither could ever be found again. James never brought his third wife with him nor ever mentioned her. The
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children decided that he must be so frightened of losing her that he never allowed her outside the door.
1. Maggie never prepared anything special for James because _______. A. he was a man difficult to please B. she never knew when he was coming
C. she was too busy looking after her children D. he never stayed long enough for a meal 2. What do we know about James? behaviour? A. He was a kind man, with love for the family. 3. Maggie felt pleased when _______.
A. she paid James the money that she owed him
B. James gave some money to the children
C. she had to wake James up to catch his train D. James thanked her for the nice supper 4. The children did not realize that two of James? wives _______.
A. were dead B. suffered from loss of memory C. had run away from him D. might reappear one day
(6)
A man walked into a restaurant and asked for a glass of water. Then the girl in the restaurant pulled out a gun and shot him dead. Why? People asked to give reasonable explanation for the strange happening. All kinds of suggestions were made.
She was able to recognize him as a dangerous prisoner who ran away from the prison; she thought he was to rob her; she misheard what he said; asking for a glass of water had a special meaning for her and so on. All these explanations showed that the gun was used on purpose(有目的) to harm the man. The idea was easily accepted.
In fact, the explanation was that the man had an attack of hiccups(严重打嗝). It so happened that the girl in the restaurant knew that a great and sudden fear could get rid of hiccups. But she didn?t know the gun happened to be loaded(上子弹) that day.
1. The man asked for a glass of water because ______. A. he was too thirsty B. he was walked into a restaurant C. he wanted to kill himself D. he was having an attack of hiccups
2. The girl used a gun to the man because _______.
A. she wanted to kill him B. she hated him
C. what the man said had a special meaning D. she wanted to give him a sudden and great fear
3. Why did the man have an attack of hiccups? A. Because he ate too much. B. Because he was too old. C. Because he ate too fast. D. The passage didn?t tell us. 4. Which is TRUE to the passage?
A. The man just ran away from a prison. B. The man wanted to rob the girl.
C. The girl misheard what the man said. D. It is the girl?s kind help that happened to kill the man. (7)
Here is a question I have often asked at dinner parties:
You?re on an island with only one other person, your best friend. He?s dying of cancer. In his final days, he tells you, “I have 100,000 dollars in a bank back home. When I die, make sure my son goes to medical school.” Then he dies. But his son is a no-good playboy who has no interest in going to medical school and will waste that money away in a very short time. But your son is entering college, and he is willing to become a doctor. Which one do you give the money to for medical school? I?ve asked this question of everyone from the president of a famous university to an ordinary young soldier, and it has never failed to get a discussion going. Everyone has an opinion, most of them different, but all of them correct. Sometimes this one topic lasts the whole evening.
1. Which of the following is TRUE to the passage?
A. Only the clever people can answer the question rightly. B. Some people refuse to answer such a silly question.
C. Everyone at the dinner party seems to be interested in the question. D. Most of the people have the same answer.
2. What the writer often says at dinner parties is _______.
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B. He was unselfish, especially towards his brother.
D. He was rude to his sister-in-law
C. He was anxious to please the family, especially the children.
A. not a true story B. a true story C. a strange story D. just a joke
3. Why does the writer often ask people such a question? Because ______.
A. he wants to find the answer for a research B. he is interested in such a question C. he likes to make fun of people at parties
D. he wants to offer people a topic in which everyone could say something 4. Which of the following decisions is most likely NOT correct?
A. You give the money to your friend?s son. B. You give the money to your son for medical school.
C. You keep the money for your future medical care. D. You keep the money for your friend?s son.
(8)
Is there a strange something high up in the world?s tallest mountains? If so, is it a big bear? Is it a monkey? Or is it a kind of man?
No one knows. This mystery(谜) has puzzled the world for years.
In 1887, a mountain climber found large footprints(脚印) in the snow. They looked like the footprints of a very large man. But men don?t walk without shoes in the snow!
In 1906, other climbers saw more than footprints. Far away they saw a very large animal standing on two legs. As they watched, it ran very quickly.
Fifteen years later, newspapers, had new stories about the “something”. A mountain climber said he had seen the “snow man” walk slowly across the snow, far below him. He said it looked like a very large man.
From then on, more and more people had stories to tell. But not until 1951 did a mountain climber bring back pictures of large footprints. His pictures showed clearly that the snowman walked on two legs, so it was not a bear or a monkey. Could it be an ape(猿) man? The mystery grew! And the mystery keeps growing. Some day we may find out just what it is that makes the large footprints.
1. The passage is about _______.
A. some mountain climbers B. some strange animals C. some large footprints D. the mystery of the snowman 2. Why were people interested in the footprints?
A. They were footprints of a large bear. B. They looked like the footprints of a large man. C. They were found in the snow. D. They were found in the world?s tallest mountains. 3. The pictures of large footprints were taken by a mountain climber in _______. A. 1887 B. 1906 C. 1921 D. 1951
4. Why did the mystery grow when a mountain climber brought back pictures of the large footprints? A. They were footprints of an ape man. B. They were footprints of a snowman. C. The pictures showed clearly how the snowman walked.
D. The pictures showed clearly how an ape man walked on two legs.
5. Since a mountain climber first found the large footprints in the snow, the mystery of the snowman has puzzled the world for ______ years.
A. over one hundred B. ninety-five C. Eighty D. fifty (9)
When Laura reached school-going age the discussions about moving became more urgent(紧迫的). Her father did not want the children to go to school with the village children and for once her mother agreed with him. Not because, as he said, they ought to have a better education than they could get at Lark Rise; but because he feared they would tear their clothes and catch cold and get dirty heads going a mile and a half to and from the school in the village. So empty cottages in the market town were examined and often it seemed that the next week or the next month they would be leaving Lark Rise for ever; but again each time something would happen to prevent the removal, and gradually a new idea came up. To gain time, their father would teach the two eldest children to read and write, so that, if asked by the School Attendance Office, their mother could say they were leaving the small village shortly, and in the meantime, they were being taught at home.
So their father brought home two copies of Mavor?s First Reader and taught them the alphabet; but just as Laura was beginning on words of one syllable(音节), he was sent away to work on a distant job, only coming home at weekends. Laura, left at the c-a-t s-u-t-s on the m-a-t?s stage, then had to carry her book round after her mother as she went about her housework,
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