Question

It was a bitter cold evening in northern Virginia many years ago. The old man’s beard was glazed by winter’s frost while he waited for a ride across the river. The wait seemed endless. His body became numb and stiff from the frigid north wind.

It was long before he heard the faint, steady rhythm of hooves (馬蹄) along the frozen path. Anxiously watching several horsemen coming up, he let the first one pass by without any effort to get his attention, then another passed by, and another. Finally, the last rider drew near where the old man sat like a snow statue when old man caught his eyes and said, “Sir, would you mind giving an old man a ride to the other side?”

Stopping his horse, the rider replied, “Sure! Jump aboard.” Seeing the old man unable to lift his half-frozen body from the ground, the horseman got down to help him. The horseman took him not just across the river, but to his destination just a few miles away.

As they approached the tiny but cozy cottage, the horseman’s curiosity caused him to inquire, “Sir, I noticed you let several other riders pass by without making an effort to secure a ride. Then I came up and you immediately asked me for a ride. I am curious why, on such a bitter night, you would wait and ask the last rider. What if I had refused and left you here?”

The old man looked the rider straight in the eyes and replied, “I reckon I know people pretty good. I looked into the eyes of the other riders and immediately found no concern for my situation. It would have been useless even to ask them for a ride. But when I looked into your eyes, your gentle spirit would welcome the opportunity to give me assistance in my time of need.”

Those heart-warming comments touched the horseman deeply. “I’m so grateful for what you have said,” he told the old man. “May I never get too busy in my own affairs that I fail to respond to the needs of others with kindness and compassion.”

With that, Thomas Jefferson turned his horse around and made his way back to the White House.

1.Why didn’t the old man ask the previous riders for a ride?

A. Because he was waiting for the last rider.

B. Because his efforts failed to get their attention.

C. Because he assumed they had no concern for him.

D. Because he was too numb to lift his half-frozen body.

2.What caused the last rider to stop and help the old man?

A. the old man’s poor situation

B. kindness and sympathy

C. his own affairs

D. The old man’s warm comments

3.What do you know about the old man?

A. He gave the last rider an opportunity to help.

B. He lived in a cozy cottage a few miles away.

C. He judged people by looking into their eyes.

D. He recognized the president at first sight.

4.Which can be the best title of this text?

A. look into your eyes B. compassion of a great man

C. the last rider to help D. return to the White House

Answer 1

1.C

2.B

3.C

4.B

【解析】

試題分析：在一個寒冷的傍晚，一個老人等待過路的騎者帶他過河。然而好幾個騎者過去了，老人都無動于衷。當最后一個騎者過來的時候，老人請求他的幫助。他們順利的到達了目的地。騎者很好奇的問老人為什么不尋求前面幾個人的幫助。老人回答說沒有在他們的眼中看到關心，而從這個騎者的眼中看到了關心。而這個騎者正是托馬斯·杰斐遜。

1.C細節理解題。根據第五段第二句I looked into the eyes of the other riders and immediately found no concern for my situation.可知老人沒有請求前面騎者的幫助是因為他在這些騎者的眼中沒有看到關心。故選C。

2.B推理判斷題。根據文章內容可以推斷出最后一個騎者幫助老人是處于本身的善良和同情老人。故選B。

3.C推理判斷題。根據文章第五段內容可知，老人是從他們眼神判斷人的。故選C。

4.B標題判斷題。文章中幫助老人的人是一個偉大人物托馬斯·杰斐遜，他是一個非常善良和具有同情心的人。故B選項作為文章標題最合適。

考點：考查故事類短文閱讀