Question

In 1997, Mary gave a present of $500, 000 to the University of Southern Mississippi. She wanted to help poor students. It was a very generous thing to do. But her friends and neighbors were surprised. Mary was a good woman. She went to church. She was always friendly and helpful. But everyone in her town knew that Mary was not rich. In fact, she was poor.

How did a poor 89-year-old woman have so much money? Mary was born in 1908 in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. She had to leave school when she was eight years old to help her family. She took a job washing clothes. She earned only a few dollars a day. She washed the clothes by hand. Then she hung the clothes to dry. She did this for nearly 80 years. In the 1960s, she bought an automatic washer and dryer. But she gave them away. She did not think they got the clothes clean enough！At that time, many people started to buy their own washers and dryers. Mary did not have much work, so she started to iron clothes instead.

Mary never married nor had children. Her life was very simple. She went to work and to church. She read her Bible. She had a black-and-white television. But she did not watch it very much. It had only one channel.

Mary saved money all her life and eventually had about $800, 000. When she was 89, a lawyer helped her make a will. She left the money to the church, her relatives and the university. Mary wanted to help others. She did not think she was a special person. But then people found out about her present to the university. She received many honors. She even flew in an airplane for the first time！Mary died in 1999. She was a shy and ordinary woman who became famous.

1.Mary gave $500, 000 to the University of Southern Mississippi ________.

A. to surprise her friends and neighbors

B. to help the poor students

C. to prove she was a rich woman

D. to show her generosity

2.From the passage we can learn that ________.

A. Mary left school young to help support her family

B. Mary’s parents asked her to wash clothes for others

C. an automatic washer and dryer were too expensive for her

D. Mary started to iron clothes because she didn’t get other skills

3.Which of the following tells us Mary lived a very simple life?

A. She went to the church every day with friends.

B. She didn’t like others to buy an automatic washer.

C. She didn’t have much work to do.

D. She only had a black-and-white television with one channel.

4.What kind of person is Mary according to the passage?

A. Rich and friendly.    B. Hard-working and helpful.

C. Well-educated and special.    D. Poor and silly.

Answer

1.B

2.A

3.D

4.B

【解析】

这是一篇记叙文。本文叙述了一位善良的独身老人，她出生于一个贫困的家庭，在很小时就离开了学校，靠着给别人洗衣服挣钱补贴家用。在晚年捐给了南密西西比大学一大笔钱，用来帮助那些贫困的学生，也因此获得了许多的荣誉。

1.细节理解题。根据第一段的第二句She wanted to help poor students.可知，她想帮助那些贫穷的学生。故选B。

2.细节理解题。根据第二段She had to leave school when she was eight years old to help her family.可知，她在8岁的时候，就辍学来养家。故选A。

3.细节理解题。根据第三段Her life was very simple. She had a black-and-white television. But she did not watch it very much. It had only one channel.可知，她的生活很简朴，家里仅仅有一台黑白的电视机，并且只有一个台。故选D。

4.推理判断题。根据第二段She took a job washing clothes. She earned only a few dollars a day. She washed the clothes by hand.和Mary saved money all her life and eventually had about $800, 000.可知，她是一个勤劳的人；根据第一段In 1997, Mary gave a present of $500, 000 to the University of Southern Mississippi. She wanted to help poor students.和最后一段She left the money to the church, her relatives and the university. Mary wanted to help others.可知，她是一个乐于助人的人。故选B。