Question

    A young boy was playing happily in front of his house when an old wise man turned up. The old man took him to a large rock and asked the boy to push against it with all his strength.（力量）

Then the boy did this after the school day. But every night when the boy returned home, he was feeling down—because he couldn’t move it a little though he was already sore and worn out.

A neighbor saw this and said to him, “You have been pushing against the rock for a long time,but it hasn’t moved. So, the task is impossible and you are a failure.” These words cut like a knife into the boy’s heart.

Then the neighbor added, “why do you keep doing this? Just have a try and that is enough.”

The boy didn’t say anything, but went to find the old man.

“Sir,” the boy said, “I have tried hard, putting all my strength to do what you have asked. However, after all this time, I haven’t even moved the rock a bit. What’s wrong with me? Why am I failing?” “ my boy, I told you to push against the rock with all your strength. Never did I ask you to move it. Remember: your task was to push. Look at yourself—your arms are strong; your back is shiny and brown; your hands are callused（使生茧）from constant pressure. Your abilities now surpass what you used to have. It is true that you haven’t moved the rock. But your task was to push and to exercise your faith. You have done a good job.”

1.What did the old man ask the boy to do?

A.To do more exercise to build strength.

B.To move the rock away.

C.To find out how strong he was.

D.To try his best to push the rock.

2.According to the neighbor’s words, we can know that______.

A.he thought the old man treated the boy badly.

B.he was touched by the boy and decided to help him.

C.he thought the boy was silly and he couldn’t finish his task.

D.he believed no one could move the rock.

3.The word “surpass” probably means “________” in Chinese.

A.超过 B.低估 C.损失 D.消耗

4.What can we infer from the passage?

A.The boy knew his task clearly and tried hard to do as told.

B.The boy never felt tired and upset though he failed many times.

C.All the neighbors thought the boy was totally a loser.

D.The old man expected to train a boy to be stronger.

5.The best the title of the passage could be “_______” .

A.A Hard Push B.Don’t Lose Faith C.Just Do the task D.Why Am I Failing

Answer

1.D

2.C

3.A

4.D

5.B

【解析】

这篇短文主要讲述了一个智者要求一个男孩去推那块石头，但是，他每次都不能推动，邻居们也笑话他，后来他又去请问智者，智者告诉他“这个任务是推石头和锻炼你的信念”。你做得很好。

1.细节理解。根据文中“The old man took him to a large rock and asked the boy to push against it with all his strength.” 老人把他带到一块大石头前，请男孩使劲推它。可知，智者让他去尽力推石头。故选D。

2.细节理解。根据文中“A neighbor saw this and said to him, “You have been pushing against the rock for a long time,but it hasn’t moved. So, the task is impossible and you are a failure.” These words cut like a knife into the boy’s heart.” 一个邻居看见了，就对他说：“你推着石头已经很久了，但它没有动。“所以，任务是不可能的，你是个失败者。”这些话像刀子一样刺痛了男孩的心。可知，邻居他认为那个男孩很傻，不能完成他的任务。故选C。

3.词句猜测。根据上文“Remember: your task was to push. Look at yourself—your arms are strong; your back is shiny and brown; your hands are callused（使生茧）from constant pressure.” 记住：你的任务是推动。看你自己，你的手臂强壮；你的背发亮，呈褐色；你的手因恒压而长出老茧。可知下文是“你现在的能力已经超过了以前的水平。”可知此处surpass的意思是“超过，超出”。故选A。

4.推理判断。根据文中“It is true that you haven’t moved the rock. But your task was to push and to exercise your faith. You have done a good job.” 你确实没有搬动那块石头。但你的任务是推石头和锻炼你的信念。你做得很好。可知，老人希望这训练使男孩变得更强壮。故选D。

5.标题归纳。A Hard Push使劲推；Don’t Lose Faith不要失去信心；. Just Do the task 只是做任务；Why Am I Failing我为什么失败。通读整篇短文可知，这篇短文主要讲述了那位老师让男孩推石头，是为了锻炼他的信念。使男孩变得更强壮和不会失去信心。故选B。