A
(2021·嘉兴模拟)
Have you heard a story about Oliver Wendell Holmes and got what he meant? He once attended a meeting in which he was the shortest man present. “Doctor Holmes, ” joked a friend. “I should think you would feel rather small among us big fellows. ”“I do, ” smiled Holmes. “I feel like a dime(一角硬币) among a lot of pennies. ”
I ever believed only such a person like Holmes could think that way. But I was proven wrong.
Yesterday I watched a huge flight of geese winging their way south through one of those beautiful sunsets that colored the entire sky for a few moments. I saw them as I rested against the lion statue in front of the Chicago Art Institute, where I was watching the Christmas shoppers hurry along Michigan Avenue.
When I looked sideways, I noticed that a bag lady, standing a few feet away, had also been watching the geese with great attention. Sensing someone was looking at her, she cast a sideways look. Our eyes met and we smiled silently acknowledging the fact that we had shared an amazing sight, a symbol of the secret of the struggle to survive. I overheard the lady talking to herself as she walked away. Her words, “Life treats me kindly”, nearly made my jaw drop.
Was the lady, this homeless street beggar, being kidding or even mindless? No. I believed the sight of the geese had reminded her of, however briefly, the difficult and unpleasant reality of her own struggle. I realized later that moments such as this one provided her with great comfort and encouragement; it was the way she survived the hardness of the street. Her smile was real.
The sight of the geese was her Christmas present. It was proof that hard work mattered. It was all she needed. I envy her.
【文章大意】本文讲述了作者通过奥利弗·温德尔·霍姆斯的故事和一位流浪女人的话, 告诉我们一个道理: 不幸的生活需要乐观的思想才能给生活带来甜意。
1. From the story in Paragraph 1, we can know that Holmes was _________.
A. patient B. rude C. wise D. awkward
【解析】选C。推理判断题。根据第一段He once attended a meeting in which he was the shortest man present. “Doctor Holmes, ” joked a friend. “I should think you would feel rather small among us big fellows. ” “I do, ” smiled Holmes. “I feel like a dime among a lot of pennies. ” 可推断出霍姆斯用自己的聪明才智化解了尴尬, 说明霍姆斯很聪明。故选C。
2. What surprised the author most the day he watched the geese?
A. The bag lady’s remarks on her life.
B. The secret of the survival of the geese.
C. People’s enthusiasm for Christmas gifts.
D. The beautiful sunset and the colorful sky.
【解析】选A。细节理解题。根据第四段Her words, “Life treats me kindly”, nearly made my jaw drop. 可知, 作者看鹅的那天最让他吃惊的是流浪女对自己生活的评论。故选A。
3. What does the author envy the bag lady?
A. Her unusual experiences as a street beggar.
B. Her great pride in what she worked hard at.
C. Her friendly ways of getting on with strangers.
D. Her positive attitude towards her own struggle.
【解析】选D。推理判断题。根据倒数第二段I realized later that moments such as this one provided her with great comfort and encouragement; it was the way she survived the hardness of the street. 及最后一段The sight of the geese was her Christmas present. It was proof that hard work mattered. It was all she needed. I envy her. 可推断出作者羡慕流浪女对自己奋斗的积极态度。故选D。
