A
Once many years ago,I pulled a family out of a burning car somewhere in Wyoming.Last week I received a telephone call from a woman who could not stop crying as she told me that one of my stories had saved her son from committing suicide.In closing she called me a hero.
That got me thinking about what a hero is.Was I a hero because I pulled a family from a burning car?If so,how could I be a hero just because I wrote a story that saved someone’s life?
Today I decided to look up the word “hero” in the dictionary to see exactly what it meant.It read “a person who does something brave”.As I read on,it also said “a person who is good and noble”.
That statement impressed me more than the part about being brave.So I thought about something very important.Say I was walking into the local Wal-Mart Store and I happened to open,and hold the door for someone as a courtesy.As they passed me by,I say,“How are you today?”Most of the time that would be no big deal,but this time let’s say it was for someone who was deeply depressed and near the end of the rope.That may have very well been the only kindness or courtesy shown to them in a very long time.
Having been near “the end of my rope”,after my marriage of twenty years ended,I was in such a condition.I was within hours trying to get enough courage to end the pain and misery.When I returned home,someone had sent me a card in the mail which told me how much they would appreciate me as a friend.That wonderful card probably saved my life.That person,without even knowing it,saved a life and became a hero.
Gee,who would have ever thought that anyone can become a hero,and possibly saved a life just by being kind and polite to others?The best part of all is that becoming a hero is free to all who wish to wear such an honor.
21Which of the following would be the best title for this passage?
A.Why Should You Be A Hero?
B.What Exactly Is A Hero?
C.I Am A Hero
D.Everyone Is A Hero
答案:B
解析:主旨大意题。全篇均体现作者对于“英雄”概念的理解。
22From the first paragraph we know that .
A.the woman was just the one from the family I pulled out
B.one of my stories prevented the woman’s son from ending his life
C.the woman couldn’t help crying because I had saved her life
D.the writer was called a hero who had saved a family from an accident
答案:B
解析:细节理解题。由第一段内容可知妇女因为“我”救了她的儿子而向“我”道谢并称“我”为英雄。
23The underlined word “courtesy” in Paragraph 4 means the behavior that is .
A.polite and respectful
B.brave and fearless
C.smart and considerate
D.cute and kind
答案:A
解析:词义猜测题。主动为别的顾客开门体现了一种很优雅的尊重,因此选A项。这是作者对于“英雄”行为的具体理解。
24After the writer got divorced, .
A.he devoted all his life to helping the poor
B.he led a very happy life
C.he led an extremely unhappy and uncomfortable life
D.he found much pleasure in supporting the homeless
答案:C
解析:细节理解题。由文章的第五段可知,作者结束了二十年的婚姻生活后,几乎处于崩溃的边缘。
