Question

I grew up in a troubled home in the 1970s, on the outskirts of downtown Orlando, Florida. Not far away, a three-story house attracted my eyes.

It was nothing like the one I lived in with my mother, a small dark place with rules about befriending others. “Don’t. Never, ever talk to anyone,” my mother said.

One day, in sixth grade, a black-haired woman was introduced to our class: Mrs. Reese. Reese explained that she was starting Spanish Club. She invited anyone interested in learning Spanish language and culture to stay after school.

I could not take my eyes off her bracelets(手镯) and shining rings. The bell rang, and to my shock, no one went up to Mrs. Reese. I was under strict orders to go straight home. But that day, I stayed. I asked Mrs. Reese when the club started.

“We could begin right now if you like,” she said with a smile. I felt beautiful. That day I learned that the house of my dreams was her house. I learned how to answer questions about my age and my favorite food in Spanish. And I learned, “Do you want to come over tomorrow for cooking lessons?”

I wanted to say “Yes”, but Mom’s words held me back.

I begged my mother all summer and into fall, well after Spanish Club had dissolved. I wept at night sometimes, so worried that Mrs. Reese and her family would move away.

At some point, I managed to wear my mother down and one Saturday afternoon. I rode out to Mrs. Reese’s house.

The details of that afternoon are marked in my mind: We had tea. She painted my toenails red. We made a garlicky picadillo. We spoke in Spanish. In Spanish, my voice was loud and romantic. This is the real me! I remember thinking.

My mother never permitted me another visit to Mrs. Reese’s house. But four decades later, I still remember that day and the life she showed me, proof of a possible future.

1.What kind of family was the author from?

A. Hard-up.    B. Two-parent.

C. Stress-free.    D. Disease-ridden.

2.Why did the author choose to join the club?

A. She wanted to stay longer at school.

B. She intended to comfort Mrs. Reese.

C. She was deeply attracted by Mrs. Reese.

D. She hoped to befriend the owner of her dreamt house.

3.The author went to Mrs. Reese’s house ________.

A. with the help of her tears

B. while no one was noticing

C. with her mother’s permission

D. just before the lady moved away

4.What did the author gain from Mrs. Reese?

A. The beauty of Spanish.

B. The wonder of a new world.

C. The power of self-confidence.

D. The importance of independence.

Answer

1.A

2.C

3.C

4.B

【解析】作者小时候遇到了Mrs. Reese，尽管母亲总是阻挠，但作者参加了Mrs. Reese组织的俱乐部，并想方设法去了一趟她的家，作者从她那里学到了许多东西和对世界新的认识。

1.A推理判断题。A. Hard-up手头紧的；B. Two-parent双亲的；C. Stress-free无压力的；D. Disease-ridden疾病丛生的；根据第二段It was nothing like the one I lived in with my mother, a small dark place with rules about befriending others.可知，作者的生活环境不好，家庭经济条件也不富裕。故选A。

2.C推理判断题。根据第四段I could not take my eyes off her bracelets(手镯) and shining rings.和“We could begin right now if you like,”she said with a smile. I felt beautiful. That day I learned that the house of my dreams was her house.可知，作者被老师的打扮、声音、微笑和房子吸引，故选C。

3.C细节推理题。根据倒数第三段At some point, I managed to wear my mother down and one Saturday afternoon. I rode out to Mrs. Reese’s house.可知，作者是想方设法得到母亲许可后去Mrs. Reese家的，故选C。

4.B推理判断题。根据第五段I learned how to answer questions about my age and my favorite food in Spanish.和倒数第二段We had tea. She painted my toenails red. We made a garlicky picadillo. We spoke in Spanish. In Spanish, my voice was loud and romantic. This is the real me! I remember thinking.可知，作者在Mrs. Reese那里学到了许多东西，再根据最后一段But four decades later, I still remember that day and the life she showed me, proof of a possible future.可知，是Mrs. Reese让他获得了对世界新的认识。故选B。