Question

Renata Di Pietro was studying to be an opera singer. But at 23, while on a music scholarship at the University of Iowa in 1976, her sight began to fail. Soon, it became increasingly difficult to read scores and pick up hand signals from conductors, and the gifted singer was forced to drop out.

After moving to Cleveland, Georgia in 2005, Di Pietro relied on guide dogs to get around. Over the years, she became depressed when she’d lose one of the dogs, who had become her best friend, to old age or death. “It’s very painful, because you love each one,” she says.

In 2009, Di Pietro was intrigued by information from a friend that miniature horses typically live for at least 30 years and make calm and strong guides. She started with a male horse, but he was too hard to control. Angel came next, a mini white female horse Di Pietro has mostly trained herself. “Horses have the ability to avoid the things in the way,” she says. “If I am about to run into something, she slides her body in front of me.”

Di Pietro, now 59, has taught her guide horse to make some sounds with her hoof (馬蹄)when she comes to stairs. “Angel can find a chair and locate the nearest door for me,” Di Pietro says. Currently, she’s training Angel to pull her wheelchair and to fetch.

Despite her disability, Di Pietro still sings, performing with her husband, musician Carl Hummer, at special events. Angel is always by her side. “I fight a battle every day to take courage to engage the world,” Di Pietro says. “Angel is my warhorse. We fight that battle together.”

1.Why did Di Pietro have to give up her studying in the university?

A.She disliked her major in music.

B.She failed to get high scores.

C.She couldn’t understand hand signals from conductors.

D.She found it difficult to see things clearly.

2.What does the underlined word “intrigued” in Paragraph 3 probably mean?

A.Puzzled.        B. Interested.        C. Satisfied.         D. Frightened.

3.Angel can do a lot of things for Di Pietro now EXCEPT_________.

A.supporting her in case of her falling

B. helping her find a chair to sit on

C. keeping her company every day

D. fighting with her against others

4.Which of the following can best describe the author?

A.Caring and strong-minded.               B. Honest and responsible.

C. Kind and helpful.                      D. Ambitious and sensitive.

 

Answer 1

【答案】

 

1.D

2.B

3.D

4.A

【解析】

試題分析：文章介紹Di Pietro雖然因為視力問題，放棄大學的學習，但是她沒有放棄夢想，在Angel的幫助下，繼續追求著。

1.細節題：從第一段的句子：it became increasingly difficult to read scores and pick up hand signals from conductors, and the gifted singer was forced to drop out.可知Di Pietro因為很難看清楚所以放棄大學的學習，選D。

2.猜詞題：從后面的句子：She started with a male horse, 可知她對這種馬活的時間比較長和它們能帶路很感興趣。Intrigued和interested意思相近，選B

3.細節題：從第三段的句子：If I am about to run into something, she slides her body in front of me.”可知Angel可以在她要跌倒的時候幫她。從第四段的句子：Angel can find a chair and locate the nearest door for me,” 可知Angel可以幫她找到椅子坐下。從第五段的句子：Angel is always by her side可知Angel可以一直陪著她，沒有說Angel可以和她一起和別人打仗，選D

4.推理題：從文章的Over the years, she became depressed when she’d lose one of the dogs, who had become her best friend, to old age or death. “It’s very painful, because you love each one,” she says.可知她是有愛心的，從最后一句話“I fight a battle every day to take courage to engage the world,” Di Pietro says. “Angel is my warhorse. We fight that battle together.”可知她是意志力堅定的，選A

考點：考查人物傳記類短文