Question

Paul was a rich young man. When his father died, he left Paul a beautiful forest manor (庄园). Unfortunately, before Paul could sell it for a lot of money, a lightning strike (雷击) caused a fire that destroyed it. Watching the beautiful green trees turned into ash (灰烬) overnight, Paul felt his heart break.

In order to bring back the forest manor’s beauty, Paul tried to borrow money from a bank. But the bank refused him, for the bank didn’t believe he’d pay it back. Then he felt too frustrated to eat or drink. So he hid himself in his room for days. His wife was worried about him and suggested he take a break outside.

Paul went for a walk. When he turned the first corner, he saw a store with lots of people. They were lining up to buy charcoal (木炭) used for winter heating.

        Then Paul’s eyes lit up. He ran home and hired some charcoal workers to process the forest’s burnt trees into charcoal. As soon as his charcoal went on the market, it was sold out quickly. Soon, he sold more than 1,000 boxes of charcoal and made much money.

        The following year in the spring, he used the money to buy a large number of little trees. After a few years, the forest manor that everyone thought had disappeared came to life again.

1.Paul wanted to borrow money from a bank because _________.

A. he wanted to buy some charcoal for winter heating

B. he wanted to use the money to make his manor beautiful again

C. he didn’t want to use the money his father left him

D. he didn’t want to borrow money from others

2.The word "frustrated" in Paragraph 2 probably means _______________.

A. 失意沮丧的    B. 斗志昂扬的    C. 神采奕奕的    D. 义愤填膺的

3.Which of the following is NOT true?

A. Paul got the forest manor from his grandfather.

B. Paul’s wife suggested he take a break and go outside.

C. Charcoal was highly needed for winter heating at the market.

D. Paul made some money by selling charcoal made from the burnt forest.

4.What does the writer mainly want to tell us through the passage?

A. Lots of things are unexpected in the business world.

B. Avoiding the facts doesn’t solve problems.

C. If you don’t help yourself, then nobody else will help you, either.

D. There is something good even in an unpleasant situation.

Answer

1. B

2. A

3. A

4. D

【解析】

这个小故事讲的是保罗继承的庄园毁于大火，但这不一定就是绝境，后来保罗靠着里面的木炭挣了些钱，最后让这座庄园复原，说明即使在不愉快的情况下也会有一些好事会发生。

1.句意：保罗想要从银行借钱，因为他想用这笔钱让他的庄园再次美丽。A.他想购买一些用于冬季取暖的木炭；B.他想用这笔钱让他的庄园再次美丽；C.他不想用他父亲留给他的钱；D.他不想向别人借钱。原文“In order to bring back the forest manor’s beauty, Paul tried to borrow money from a bank.”（为了还原这座森林庄园的美丽，保罗试图从银行借钱），故选B。

2.句意：第2段中的“frustrated”一词可能意味着“失意沮丧的”。A.失意沮丧的B.斗志昂扬的C.神采奕奕的D.义愤填膺的。原文“But the bank refused him, for the bank didn’t believe he’d pay it back.”（但是银行拒绝了他，因为银行不相信他能还钱）可以推出他的心情应该是“失意沮丧的”，故选A。

3.句意：以下哪项不正确？A.保罗从祖父那里得到了森林庄园。B.保罗的妻子建议他休息一下再去外面。C.市场上冬季取暖非常需要木炭。D.保罗通过出售烧焦森林制成的木炭赚了一些钱。原文“When his father died, he left Paul a beautiful forest manor”（他的父亲去世的时候，给保罗留下了一座漂亮的森林庄园）说明选项A不正确。原文“His wife was worried about him and suggested he take a break outside.”（他的妻子担心他，并建议他去外面休息一下。）说明选项B正确。原文“As soon as his charcoal went on the market, it was sold out quickly.”（他的木炭一进入市场就很快就卖光了。）说明市场需要木炭，选项C正确。原文“he sold more than 1,000 boxes of charcoal and made much money.”（他卖了1000多箱木炭，赚了不少钱。）说明选项D正确，故选A。

4.句意：作者主要想通过这段文章告诉我们什么？A.很多事情在商业世界都是出乎意料的。B.逃避事实并不能解决问题。C.如果你不帮助自己，那么其他人也无法帮助你。D.即使在不愉快的情况下也有一些好的东西。这个小故事讲的是保罗继承的庄园毁于大火，但这不一定就是绝境，后来保罗靠着里面的木炭挣了些钱，最后让这座庄园复原，说明即使在不愉快的情况下也会有一些好事，故选D。