Question

It was a Saturday morning, a day I believed would end in victory. For weeks, I had been preparing for the match at the county fairgrounds, sponsored(赞助) by our local riding club. My horse, Tonka, and I could run faster than any kid in the county, and I hoped to bring home a blue ribbon.

My mother usually drove me to the riding events, but on this day, my father planned to drop us off at the fairgrounds with the horse trailer(马车).

Although we never discussed it, my father’s struggle with alcoholism had become the silent center of our family life. My mother was paralyzed with fear and indecision. Her salary as a part-time nurse couldn’t possibly support four children. No one talked about alcoholism in those days, and it was my family secret.

We climbed on the trailer and my father pulled out of our driveway and headed toward the fairgrounds, picking up speed once we hit the main road. It wasn’t until we felt a big bump that I realized the trailer was out of control. The dream of my riding winner disappeared. Tonka lay on the floor, completely still. No words were possible. I knew he was dead.

Suddenly a man appeared. “Are you all right?” he asked. “Yes.” I answered, although I knew that nothing was all right. “Sit here on the grass,” he said. He bent down to look into the trailer. Tonka remained still. He touched Tonka and then turned to face me. ‘‘He is going to be OK. He has just been knocked unconscious.” He rubbed Tonka’s cheeks and gently pulling his ears. Tonka rose to his feet.

Our father was talking to a police officer. He was upset and in pain and took little notice of me. I looked back; the man was gone.

I never forgot him. He gave me strength and a sense of hope in a dark and frightening moment.

1.The writer went to the fairgrounds because he wanted to ___________.

A. take part in a horse racing    B. buy Mum a blue ribbon

C. join the local riding club    D. train his horse there

2.We can learn from the third paragraph that ___________.

A. the family kept silent at home    B. the family lived a secret life

C. Father was addicted to alcohol    D. Mum was physically disabled

3.What does “he’’ in the fourth paragraph refer to?

A. Father.    B. The stranger.

C. The horse.    D. The winner.

4.What does the author want to tell the readers through the story?

A. Once formed, bad habits are difficult to break.

B. Unexpected kindness is a light that shines in the darkness.

C. However mean your life is, meet it and live it.

D. Family is a place of encouragement, a safe harbor in the storms.

Answer

1. A

2. C

3. C

4. B

【解析】

这是一篇记叙文。本文讲述作者在准备参加骑马比赛时，不幸马被撞倒，出师未捷马先死，夺冠无望。后有陌生人说马只是失去意识，并救活了马。作者对此感激在心。

1.细节理解题。根据第一段的句子For weeks, I had been preparing for the match at the county fairgrounds, sponsored(赞助)by our local riding club可知，几周以来，作者一直都准备由当地骑马俱乐部赞助的一场在游乐场的比赛。故选A。

2.推理判断题。第三段句子提到Although we never discussed it, my father’s struggle with alcoholism had become the silent center of our family life．（虽然我们从没讨论过，但是我父亲的酗酒成为我们家庭生活沉默的中心。）可知，父亲有嗜酒习惯。故选C。

3.代词指代题。第四段句子Tonka lay on the floor, completely still．No words were possible．I knew he was dead（Tonka一动不动地躺在地上。我说不出话来。我知道他死了。）可推知，躺地上的是他家的马Tonka，他认为马死了。故选C。

4.主旨大意题。由文章最后一段He gave me strength and a sense of hope in a dark and frightening moment（他在我惊慌和黑暗的时刻给了我力量和希望）可知，作者经历爱马死而复生后，赞美陌生人给予的援手像黑暗中的光。故选B。