Question

I was in a rush as always, but this time it was for an important date I just couldn’t be late for! I found myself at a checkout counter behind an elderly woman seemingly in no hurry as she paid for her groceries. A PhD student with not a lot of money, I had hurried into the store to pick up some flowers. I was in a huge rush, thinking of my upcoming evening. I did not want to be late for this date.

We were in Boston, a place not always known for small conversation between strangers. The woman stopped unloading her basket and looked up at me. She smiled. It was a nice smile –warm and reassuring –and I returned her gift by smiling back.

“Must be a special lady, whoever it is that will be getting those beautiful flowers,” she said.

“Yes, she’s special,” I said, and then to my embarrassment, the words kept coming out.

“It’s only our second date, but somehow I am just having the feeling she’s ‘the one’.” Jokingly, I added, “The only problem is that I can’t figure out why she’d want to date a guy like me.”

“Well, I think she’s very lucky to have a boyfriend who brings her such lovely flowers and who is obviously in love with her,” the woman said.” “My husband used to bring me flowers every week –even when times were tough and we didn’t have much money. Those were incredible days; he was very romantic and – of course – I miss him since he’s passed away.”

I paid for my flowers as she was gathering up her groceries. There was no doubt in my mind as I walked up to her. I touched her on the shoulder and said, “You were right, you know. These flowers are indeed for a very special lady.” I handed her the flowers and thanked her for such a nice conversation.

It took her a moment to realize that I was giving her the flowers I had just purchased. “You have a wonderful evening,” I said. I left her with a big smile and my heart warmed as I saw her smelling the beautiful flowers.

I remember being slightly late for my date that night and telling my girlfriend the above story. A couple of years later, when I finally worked up the courage to ask her to marry me, she told me that this story had helped to seal it for her –that was the night that I won her heart.

1.Why was the writer in a hurry that day?

A．He had to pick up some groceries.

B．He had to go back to school soon.

C．He was delayed by an elderly lady.

D．He was to meet his girlfriend.

2.What does the underlined se “her gift”(Paragraph 2) refer to?

A．Her smile. B．Her words.

C．Her flowers. D．her politeness.

3.Why did the writer give his flowers to the elderly lady?

A．She told him a nice story.

B．She gave him encouragement.

C．She allowed him to pay first.

D．She liked flowers very much.

4.What is the message conveyed in the story?

A．Flowers are important for a date.

B．Love and kindness are rewarding.

C．Small talk is helpful.

D．Elderly people deserve respecting.

Answer 1

1.D

2.A

3.B

4.B

【解析】

试题分析: 本文是一篇记叙文。有一次作者很匆忙地要去和女朋友约会，在买花的时候遇到一位买东西的老太太，作者告诉老太太他对那个女孩为什么爱他不是很自信，老太太给他讲了她和丈夫的故事，这给了作者很大的鼓励，让他变得自信，最后作者把鲜花送给老太太以此表示感激。最后作者约会虽然迟到，但却赢得了女朋友的芳心。

1.整篇文章描述可知作者那天很匆忙是因为他要去见他的女朋友，故选D。

2.词义猜测题。根据第二段最后一句It was a nice smile –warm and reassuring –and I returned her gift by smiling back. 这是一个好的温暖的安心的微笑，我也用微笑来回报她，可知“her gift”指的是她的微笑。故选A。

3.B细节理解题。根据第五段第二句“The only problem is that I can’t figure out why she’d want to date a guy like me.”可知作者对那个女孩为什么爱他不是很自信，又根据第六段老太太说的话可知是老太太的话给了作者鼓励，让他变得自信，所以作者把鲜花送给老太太以此表示感激。故选B。

4.从文章中我们可以知道老太太的话给了作者鼓励，让他变得自信，作者又把鲜花送给老太太以此表示感激。最后作者约会虽然迟到，但却赢得了女朋友的芳心。由此可知Love and kindness are rewarding. 爱和善良是有益的是这个故事传达给我们的信息。故选B。

考点：考查故事类短文阅读