Question

When we do something, we all have our own plans. Some people are born planners. I can’t claim (宣称) to be one of that kind of people. Most of the time, I try to at least expect what might go wrong. I have taken to making lists and, although I’m not yet achieving perfection, I usually manage to achieve goals. But there are times when even the best plans do not succeed. All that is left then is to smile and to make or do something using whatever is found.

Hanukkah (光明节) came early this year, perhaps too soon after Thanksgiving to allow us to prepare well. During the first night of Hanukkah, the Hanukkah candles were nowhere to be found in the entire Dallas area where we lived. Birthday candles wouldn’t work! The tall long thin candle fell in small drops. “What would our ancestors do?” I thought. “What shall I do now? That’s where ingenuity comes from. Don’t be nervous and worried. Never let missing candles spoil a family celebration.” Later what we did find was a bag of tea lights. The long, silver bread tray became the base for our tea lights. The younger ones were wide-eyed and happy as Grandpa lit the first tea light and all recited the blessing. We sat at the dining table, happy to be together and the food was plentiful.

No matter how imperfect it is, the fact that families gather to share a special event, an event that has held meaning for so many generations of families, is the meaning itself and forms the important part of the observance (仪式). What we need to remember, and to carry with us, is the knowledge that togetherness is much better than all other concerns.

1.How does the author feel about perfect planning according to Paragraph 1?

A. It should be an aim when we are doing things.

B. It is well worth considering carefully.

C. It often takes too much great effort.

D. It plays an important part in our daily life.

2.From the passage, what can we infer?

A. We should know well about our limited weaknesses.

B. We should make the most of the available resources.

C. We should get well prepared for the coming festival.

D. We should feel confident about our own abilities.

3.What does the underlined word “ingenuity” in the second paragraph mean?

A. Courage.    B. Curiosity.    C. Custom.    D. Creativity.

4.What does the author think highly of?

A. Personal abilities.    B. Personal experience.

C. Family reunion.    D. Cultural difference.

Answer

1.A

2.B

3.D

4.C

【解析】本文是一篇记叙文。本文通过作者的亲身经历说明，完美的计划应该是一个目标，不要让生活中不完美的事情破坏了家庭团聚的美好氛围，最大的利用可获得的资源，把不完美变完美。

1.推理判断题。由第一段I have taken to making lists and, although I’m not yet achieving perfection, I usually manage to achieve goals.可知，作者认为当我们做事情时，“完美的计划应该是一个目标”，尽力去达到，故选A。

2.细节理解题。由第一段All that is left then is to smile and to make or do something using whatever is found.可知，我们应该最大的利用可获得的资源，故选B。

3.词义猜测题。在光明节所需要的蜡烛买不到，生日蜡烛又不行的时候，作者问自己“What would our ancestors do?”（我们的祖先怎么办？），所以可知That’s where ingenuity comes from.这句话的意思是“那正是灵感的来源”，“ingenuity”的意思是“灵感、创造力”，故选D。

4.推理判断题。由最后一段What we need to remember, and to carry with us, is the knowledge that togetherness is much better than all other concerns.可知，我们应该更多地去关注家庭的团聚，所以作者高度评价家庭团聚，选C。