Question

The drug store was closing for the night and Alfred Higgins was about to go home when his new boss approached him.

“Empty your pockets please, Alfred,” Sam Carr demanded in a firm voice.

Alfred pretended to be shocked but he knew he had been caught. From his coat he withdrew a make-up kit, a lipstick and two tubes of toothpaste.

“I’m disappointed in you, Alfred!” said the little gray-haired man.

“Sorry, sir. Please forgive me. It’s the first time I’ve ever done such a thing,” Alfred lied, hoping to gain the old man’s sympathy.

Mr Carr’s brow furrowed as he reached for the telephone, “Do you take me for a fool? Let’s see what the police have to say. But first I’ll call your mother and let her know her son is heading to jail.”

“Do whatever you want,” Alfred shot back, trying to sound big. But deep down he felt like a child. He imagined his mother rushing in, eyes burning with anger, maybe in tears. Yet he wanted to come quickly before Mr. Carr called the police.

Mr. Carr was surprised when Mrs. Higgins finally arrived . She was very calm, quiet and friendly. “Is Alfred in trouble?” she asked.

“He’s been stealing from the store,” the old man coolly replied.

Mrs. Higgins pulled out her hand and touched Mr. Carr’s arm with great gentleness as if she knew just how he felt. She spoke as if she did not want to cause him any more trouble. “What do you want to do, Mr.Carr?”

The woman’s calm and gentle manner disarmed the once-angry store-owner, “I was going to get a cop. But I don’t want to be cruel. Tell your son not to come back here again and I will let it go.” Then he warmly shook Mrs. Higgins’ hand.

Mrs. Higgins thanked the old ma for his kindness, then mother and son left. They walked along the street in silence. When they arrived home his mother simply said, “Go to bed, you fool.”

In his bedroom, Alfred heard his mother in the kitchen. He felt no shame, only pride in his mother’s actions. “She was smooth!” he thought. He went to the kitchen to tell her how great she was, but was shocked by what he saw.

His mother’s face looked frightened, broken. Not the cool, bright face he saw earlier. Her lips moved nervously. She looked very old. There were tears in her eyes.

This picture of his mother made him want to cry. He felt his youth ending. He saw all the troubles he brought her and the deep lines of worry in her grey face. It seemed to him that this was the first time he had ever really seen his mother.

1.Which of the following is true according to the passage?

A．It was the first time Alfred had stolen anything.

B．Mr. Carr set a trap to catch Alfred stealing.

C．Alfred tried to sound big to hide his fear.

D．Mr. Carr had planned to forgive Alfred from the beginning.

2.What does the underlined word “disarmed” probably mean?

A．annoyed

B．got over

C．convinced

D．made less angry

3.What was the mother’s attitude towards Alfred?

A．She felt disappointed with him.	B．She was strict with him.
C．She was supportive of him.	D．She was afraid of him.

4.What impressed Alfred most about his mother at the drugstore was_______.

A．how angry she was	B．how effective she handled Mr. Carr.
C．that she was able to save him	D．that she didn’t cry

5.From the last paragraph, we know Alfred________.

A．was no longer a youth.	B．felt proud of his mother
C．wanted his mother to be happy	D．felt guilty and regretful for his deed.

Answer

1.C

2.D

3.A

4.B

5.D

【解析】文章讲述的是一个孩子在店里偷东西，结果被抓住了，后来他的母亲把他带了回来，让他意识到了母亲的失望，和自己应当表现成熟一些了。

1.C 事实细节题，根据第七段“Do whatever you want,” Alfred shot back, trying to sound big可知

2.D 猜测词义题，根据该词后面的I was going to get a cop. But I don’t want to be cruel. Tell your son not to come back here again and I will let it go.” Then he warmly shook Mrs. Higgins’ hand可知，这让店主不那么生气了。

3.A 推理判断题，根据母亲回家后的一系列动作可知，母亲刚才是装的，其实她对儿子很失望，在回家后才表现出来。

4.B 事实细节题，根据倒数第三段的He went to the kitchen to tell her how great she was, but was shocked by what he saw可知，

5.D 推理判断题，根据He felt his youth ending. He saw all the troubles he brought her and the deep lines of worry in her grey face. It seemed to him that this was the first time he had ever really seen his mother可知，他意识到了自己不能再像小孩子一样了，他的内心充满了后悔和歉疚。