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(2019·镇江一模)No one knew Prince Edward Street as well as Pierre Dupin.He had delivered milk to the families on the street for thirty years.For the past fifteen years a large white horse named Joseph pulled his milk wagon.Joseph was a gentle horse with beautiful spirit shining out of its eyes, so Pierre named him after Saint Joseph.
Every morning at five, Pierre arrived at the milk company's stables to find Joseph waiting for him, Pierre would call, “Good morning, my old friend.”， as he climbed into his seat, while Joseph turned his head toward the driver.And the two would go proudly down the street.Without any order from Pierre, the wagon would roll down three streets.Then it turned right for two streets, before turning left to Saint Catherine Street.The horse finally stopped at the first house on Prince Edward Street.There, Joseph would wait perhaps thirty seconds for Pierre to get down off his seat and put a bottle of milk at the front door.
Pierre knew every one of the forty families that got milk.The cooks knew that Pierre could not read or write; so, instead of leaving orders in an empty milk bottle, they simply sang out if they needed an extra bottle.
Pierre also had a wonderful memory.When he arrived at the stable he always remembered to tell Jacques, the foreman (领班) of the stables, “The Pacquins took an extra bottle this morning; the Lemoines bought a pint of cream ... ” Most of the drivers had to make out the weekly bills and collect the money.But Jacques, liking Pierre, never asked him to do this.
One day the president of the milk company came to inspect the early morning milk deliveries.Jacques pointed to Pierre and said：“See how the horse listens and how he turns his head toward Pierre? See the look in that horse's eyes? You know, I think those two share a secret.I have often felt it.He is getting old.Maybe he ought to be given a rest, and a small pension.”
“But of course，” the president laughed.“He has been on this job now for thirty years.All who know him love him.Tell him it is time he rested.He will get his pay every week as before.”
But Pierre refused to leave his job.He said his life would be nothing if he could not drive Joseph every day.“We are two old men，” he said to Jacques.“Let us wear out together.When Joseph is ready to leave, then I too will do so.”
Then one cold morning Jacques had terrible news for Pierre.Jacques said，“Pierre, your horse, Joseph, didn't wake up.He was very old, Pierre.” Jacques said softly.“He is over in his stall, looking very peaceful.Go over and see him.” Pierre took one step forward, then turned.“No ... no ... I cannot see Joseph again.You ... , you don't understand, Jacques.”
For years Pierre had worn a large heavy cap that came down low over his eyes.It kept out the bitter cold wind.Now,_Jacques_looked_into_Pierre's_eyes_and_he_saw_something_that_shocked_him.He_saw_a_dead,_lifeless_look_in_them.
“Take the day off, Pierre，” Jacques said.Pierre walked to the corner and stepped into the street.There was a warning shout from the driver of a big truck ... there was the screech (尖锐的刹车声) of rubber tires as the truck tried to stop.But Pierre heard nothing.
Five minutes later a doctor said, “He's dead ... , killed instantly.”
“I couldn't help it，” the truck driver said.“He walked in front of my truck.He never saw it, I guess.Why, he walked as though he were blind.”
The doctor bent down.“Blind？Of course, this man has been blind for five years.”He turned to Jacques, “Didn't you know he was blind？”
“No ... no ... ” Jacques said softly.“None of us knew.Only one ... only one knew — a friend of his, named Joseph ... It was a secret, I think, just between those two.”
语篇解读：本文主要描述了Pierre和他的马之间的故事。Pierre瞎了5年，仍然每天由他的马带着他去给村民送奶，但是大家都不知道这个秘密。
1．According to the first three paragraphs, we can know that ________.
A．Joseph was named after an unknown man
B．Pierre knew all the small streets in the city better than anyone else
C．Joseph managed to deliver milk by itself even without Pierre's company
D．Pierre and Joseph seemed to understand each other and cooperated very well
解析：选D 推理判断题。前三段中我们可以很明显的看到不需要主人Pierre Dupin的口令，Joseph也知道他们要去的地方。所以他们的配合非常的默契，合作得很好。
2．Why did Pierre refuse to leave his job?
A．He thought he was not old enough to retire.
B．The pension was too small to support his life.
C．He was unwilling to be separated from Joseph.
D．He wanted to get promoted to foreman.
解析：选C 细节理解题。根据第七段第二句“He said his life would be nothing if he could not drive Joseph every day.”可知，他不肯离职是因为他不愿意和Joseph分开。
3．Which of the following can best describe Pierre?
A．wellreceived and trustworthy
B．cruel and greedy
C．sensitive and humorous
D．creative and enthusiastic
解析：选A 推理判断题。根据全文的内容，特别是第六段的第二句“He has been on this job now for thirty years.All who know him love him.”以及Pierre对待老同事的态度可以看出Pierre是一个受欢迎，值得信任的人。
4．The underlined sentences imply that ________.
A．Jacques had known the fact that Pierre was blind for a long time
B．the death of Joseph drove Pierre to despair of life
C．Pierre wanted to commit suicide because of his blindness
D．Jacques was afraid to see Pierre's empty eyes
解析：选B 句意理解题。根据画线的这个句子的内容可知听到Joseph的死讯之后，别人从Pierre的眼睛里看到了死亡和没有生命，所以约瑟夫的死使皮埃尔对生活感到绝望。
5．Which of the following does NOT indicate Pierre's blindness?
A．Pierre knew every one of the forty families that got milk.
B．You know, I think those two share a secret.I have often felt it.
C．I cannot see Joseph again.You don't understand, Jacques.
D．For years Pierre had worn a large heavy cap that came down low over his eyes.
解析：选A 细节理解题。选项B、C、D中都有明显的表明Pierre是盲人的词汇，比如：I have often felt it；I cannot see Joseph again；a large heavy cap that came down low over his eyes。所以只能选A。
6．What is the best title for the passage?
A．A caring friend
B．A caring milk company
C．A secret of a horse
D．A secret for two
解析：选D 标题归纳题。通篇文章主要描写了Pierre和他的马Joseph每天形影不离，一起送牛奶，他们之间很默契。文章的最后写到马突然死了，Pierre也失去了生存的动力，后来在马路上被汽车撞死了。Pierre死了之后，周围的人才知道他已经瞎了5年。而Pierre瞎了这个秘密只有他和他的马知道，所以用“A secret for two”作为文章的标题比较合适。
