We were ordinary people taking the bus every day that summer.During the early morning rides，we sat sleepily on our seats.One of the passengers was a small grey man to the center for senior citizens.He walked with a stoop(驼背) and a sad look on his face.We paid little attention to him.
Then one July morning he said good morning to the driver and smiled to us before sitting down.The driver nodded politely，the rest of us being silent.The next day，the old man boarded the bus energetically，smiled and said loud，“Good morning！”Some of us looked up，amazed，and murmured“Good morning”．The following weeks we were more surprised.Our friend was dressed in a nice old suit with the thin hair carefully combed.He said good morning to us every day and we gradually began to nod and talk to each other.One morning he had a bunch of wild flowers in his hand.The driver smilingly asked，“Have you got yourself a girlfriend？”He nodded shyly，“She lives at the center.”The other passengers whistled and clapped at him.Charlie bowed before sitting down.
Every morning after that Charlie always brought a flower.Some regular passengers began bringing him flowers for his bunch.Everyone smiled and joked about it.
But one morning he didn’t turn up.When he wasn’t there the following days，we started wondering if he was sick or...We stopped at the center for senior citizens.The staff told us he was fine，but he hadn’t been coming that week.One of his very close friends had died at the weekend.They expected him back on Monday.How silent we were on the rest of the way to work!
The next Monday he was waiting at the stop，stooping a bit more and a bit more grey.Inside the bus was a silence，all of us sitting with our eyes filled with tears and wild flowers in our hands.
【解题导语】 本文是一篇记叙文。原本寂静的车厢因一位老人友爱、热情的举动变得活跃起来，热情是可以感染他人的。在老人情绪低落时，也收到了来自他人的关爱。
1．The old man boarded the bus energetically probably because ．
A．he bought a bunch of flowers
B．he got to know other passengers
C．he fell in love with a lady
D．he had a sweet dream
C 解析：推理判断题。根据第二段倒数第三、四句并结合第一段内容可推知，这个老人之所以这么精力充沛可能是因为他恋爱了。故选C项。
2．What change did the old man bring to the early morning bus?
A．The passengers were silent.
B．The bus was full of life.
C．The passengers were sleepy.
D．The bus was punctual.
B 解析：推理判断题。根据文中的“we sat sleepily on our seats”“the rest of us being silent”“Some of us looked up，amazed，and murmured‘Good morning’”．“we gradually began to nod and talk to each other”并结合第三段内容可知，老人的行为感染了车上的每一个人，让车里充满活力。故选B项。
3．Why didn’t the old man turn up for several days?
A．He was in sorrow for the loss of his friend.
B．He wondered whether others cared about him.
C．He had a quarrel with the staff of the center.
D．He wasn’t himself for the cold weather.
A 解析：推理判断题。根据倒数第二段第四、五句并结合上文的描述可推知，是因为老人的朋友去世了，他非常悲伤，所以老人这几天没有乘车去老年中心。故选A项。
4．What can we infer from the story?
A．Only love can affect others’ emotions.
B．The old man’s passion inspires others.
C．The passengers didn’t care about others’ feelings.
D．The center for senior citizens is a good place for love.
B 解析：推理判断题。原本冷漠、疏离的乘客因一位老人友爱、充满热情的举动，让车厢不再寂静，乘客们开始相互交流、开玩笑；由此可推知，老人的热情鼓舞了他人。故B项正确。
