Question

A new family moved in next door and I got to meet the mother of the family, Lydia.

Lydia is Korean, and her family moved to our city so her husband could go to graduate school. We started talking, and she was apologetic about how bad her English was, but I didn’t care. I knew how hard it was to learn a second language. I enjoyed chatting with Lydia as we watched our kids play.

It was what came next that challenged me: Lydia asked if I’d be willing to help her with her English.

Now, I am not a teacher. I admire teachers, and I’m grateful for teachers, and it’s because I admire what they do so much that I was very, very sure that I couldn’t do it myself.

But Lydia was sure that she wanted my help. I was doubtful. I wasn’t sure my “help” was even worth being called by that name.

But because she asked me, I said “yes.”

And that was the beginning of 过 friendship. Lydia and I spent afternoons sitting together and reading the newspaper, and as we did, she asked me questions when she had them — questions about language, yes, but also questions about the new culture she found herself in.

In turn, I asked my own questions, growing curious about her home country and culture. We bonded over our shared faith and our struggles as mothers of kids with special needs. When I complimented (恭维)her cooking, she began to teach me about Korean food, eventually leading to a shared trip to explore the Korean grocery stores in our city.

Because of Lydia, I learned more about my own hometown than I ever could have learned by myself.

I’m still not sure that I’m any good as a teacher. But I’m grateful I said “yes” when my neighbor asked me to help her with her English. That meant spending extra time with my neighbor, and that extra time meant she didn’t remain just my neighbor. She became my friend.

1.What was Lydia sorry about?

A. Her bad English.    B. Her carelessness.

C. Nobody teaching her English.    D. Her poor life in a new place.

2.What can be concluded from the fourth paragraph?

A. The author admired teachers.

B. The author wanted to be a teacher.

C. The author didn’t want to help Lydia.

D. The author was not confident in helping Lydia.

3.Why was the author grateful at the last paragraph?

A. She managed to learn English well.

B. She made friends with her neighbor.

C. She learned how to cook Korean food.

D. She realized her dream of being a teacher.

4.What can we learn from the passage?

A. No pains, no gains.

B. A friend in need is a friend indeed.

C. To help others is to help ourselves.

D. Where there is a will, there is a way.

Answer

1. A

2. D

3. B

4. C

【解析】

本文是一篇哲理文章。通过作者的亲身经历告诉我们“帮助别人就是帮助自己”。

1.细节理解题。根据第一段中We started talking, and she was apologetic about how bad her English was,可知，Lydia遗憾的是她的英语不好。故选A。

2.推理判断题。根据第三段中But Lydia was sure that she wanted my help. I was doubtful. I wasn't sure my "help" was even worth being called by that name.根据第三段可知作者没有信心帮助Lydia。故选D。

3.细节理解题。根据最后一段中But I'm grateful I said "yes" when my neighbor asked me to help her with her English. That meant spending extra time with my neighbor, and that extra time meant she didn't remain just my neighbor.可知，作者之所以感激是因为她与她的邻居成了朋友。故选B。

4.C

主旨大意题。根据文章最后两句That meant spending extra time with my neighbor, and that extra time meant she didn't remain just my neighbor. She became my friend; 可知，帮助别人也就是帮助自己。故选C。