Question

Clara Barton, born on Christmas in 1821, is widely known as one of the most honored women in American history. She began teaching school when most teachers were men at that time. Later, she became one of the first women ever to be employed by the government.

Her career in helping the sick began when her brother David became her first patient. He fell down from the roof of a house when Clara was just 11 years old. She stayed by his side and looked after him for three years, learning how to give him all his medicines.

When the Civil War began in 1861, she immediately recognized that the poorly equipped soldiers needed help. Instead of waiting for others to step in, Clara collected necessary things on her own, asked the public for donations and learned how to store and distribute them to soldiers. She also read to the soldiers and wrote letters for them.

After the Battle of Cedar Mountain in northern Virginia in 1862, Clara arrived at a field hospital at midnight with a vehicle full of supplies. A doctor named Paul Smith at that hospital would later write, “I thought heaven had sent out an angel that night — her assistance arrived at exactly the right time.”

In 1869, Clara went to Europe and learned about the International Committee of the Red Cross. Upon her return to the United States, she successfully founded the American Red Cross. She led the organization for the next 23 years. Her last field mission (使命) as president of the American Red Cross was to help the victims of the 1900 Galveston hurricane. She did not retire (退休) from the American Red Cross until she was 83. True to her nature, Clara always went to where the need was the greatest.

Today, the American Red Cross continues the mission Clara started more than 100 years ago. With the help of thousands of volunteers, the American Red Cross provides relief to victims of disasters, as well as helps people prevent, prepare for and respond to all sorts of emergencies.

1.We can learn from Paragraph 2 that Clara Barton was _____.

A. honestB. caringC. talentedD. modest

2.After the Civil War broke out, Clara Barton _____.

A. joined the army and fought bravely

B. went to Europe for further study

C. continued to work as a teacher

D. did a lot to help soldiers

3.Seeing Clara Barton’s arrival, Dr. Smith must have felt _____.

A. excited and grateful

B. proud and joyful

C. shy and nervous

D. sad and sorry

4.What is mainly described in Paragraph 5?

A. The aim of the American Red Cross.

B. The importance of voluntary donations.

C. Clara Barton and the American Red Cross.

D. Clara Barton’s contribution to the Civil War.

Answer

1.B

2.D

3.A

4.C

【解析】

试题分析：本文讲述了Clara从小就是一位非常有同情心和爱心的女士，她在很小的时候就照顾生病的哥哥，在美国内战期间，她自己募捐，并帮助照顾士兵；之后她到欧洲学习红十字会，并创立了美国红十字会，为社会做出了巨大贡献。

1. 推理判断题。第二段主要讲Clara照顾生病的哥哥3年，这是她护理工作的开始。由此可知Clara是非常有同情心和爱心的，故选B。

2. 细节理解题。根据第三段Clara collected necessary things on her own, asked the public for donations and learned how to store and distribute them to soldiers. She also read to the soldiers and wrote letters for them.可知，Clara为士兵们筹集、储存分发物资，帮士兵们读信写信，所以她为士兵做了很多，故选D。

3. 推理判断题。根据第四段中A doctor named Paul Smith at that hospital would later write, “I thought heaven had sent out an angel that night — her assistance arrived at exactly the right time.”可知，医生看到Clara后很兴奋和感激，故选A。

4. 主旨大意题。第五段讲了Clara创立美国红十字会及她带领红十字会为社会所做的贡献，故选C。

考点：考查人物故事类短文阅读。

【名师点睛】

主旨大意题的解题思路与应试技巧

做这类题时常用略读法。快速阅读文章找出各个段落的主题句。把各个段落的主题句联系起来着眼于全文结构安排，了解文章的重心，就能概括出文章的中心。文章的标题是中心思想最精炼的表达形式，选择的标题意义范围要能涵盖全文，不能太大也不能太小。命题者在出这类题时，常常利用生活常识编造干扰项，把文中的细节当主旨，利用局部信息编造干扰项，编制超出文章范围的标题或不能涵盖文章中心意义的标题来考查考生的理解程度，考生要特别留意。

概括主旨的方法是：先看首尾或各段开头再看全文找主题句，若无明显主题句，就通过关键词句来概括(如议论文中寻找表达作者观点态度的词句，记叙文寻找概括情节和中心的动词或反映人物特点的形容词。) 。文中出现两种或两种以上的不同观点时，务必牢记作者的观点才是体现全文中心的。此时，要注意一些转折词，如but, yet, however, although, in spite of, by contrast, on the contrary等。当文章中表示相反的观点时，往往用到这些词。答题时要弄清哪个是作者的观点，排除迷惑性信息，准确归纳主旨大意。