Question

Like many men at some point, I dream about opening a bar. I plan to call it Work Out. It will cater to married women in need of a little fun. On Friday nights, they will be able to come here and enjoy themselves.

See, I have a gift for business. I am, as my wife Zsa Zsa likes to note, “A man with a million ideas, none of them very good.” Speaking of Zsa Zsa, she is fed up with this plain little life I’ve made for us——too many kids, too many chores, mind – numbing debt. The other day, she said she thought we needed a new family car. “Sure. How about an 87 Lincoln?” I said, and saw my dear Zsa Zsa age about 20 years, and become her mother right before my eyes.

Yes, money is our madness. Last year, we thought we had found a little cushion when I published a book about the life here in suburban America. It sold 12 copies——six of them to my mother. Four other copies went to various aunts and uncles, who used them for martini coasters (杯垫), then sold them at yard sales. The two remaining copies went to perfect strangers. (I think I owe you dinner, whoever you are. Call me, OK? We’ll arrange something.)

When the book didn’t take off, I wrote a TV show. Then I penned a short novel based on the earlier TV idea that didn’t sell. Currently, I am at work on a set of encyclopedias(百科全书). In a month, I plan to sell them door-to-door.

Such is the life of a writer, sending off the most personal thoughts possible to his hard drive. I am a writer, but also the breadwinner in my family. I’m at the keyboard at 6 almost every morning, hoping to tap out one idea——just one——that will take us up the hill, to the mountain, to the top.

1.According to the passage, the author is leading a/an______ life.

A. enjoyable B. wealthy

C. hard D. comfortable

2.By saying “Sure. How about an 87 Lincoln?”, the author_______ .

A. promised it to his wife

B. was showing off their fortune

C. thought his wife would like it

D. was just joking

3.What was the result of the book the author mentioned in the 3rd paragraph?

A. It didn’t sell well at all

B. He sold it door – to – door.

C. He made a lot of money from it.

D. It was really a cushion for his family.

4.What does the underlined word “cushion” mean ?

A. Comfortable seat. B. Financial help.

C. Unexpected success. D. Best-selling book.

5.From the account above, which of the following statements is true?

A. He has a real gift for business.

B. He isn’t serious enough about life.

C. He is a hard – working writer.

D. His wife is satisfied with their plain life.

Answer 1

1. C

2. D

3. A

4. B

5. C

【解析】

试题分析：钱是我最想要的东西，因为有了钱，一家人的生活才会改善，妻子才会舒心、不再辛苦。但是我不会赚钱，不会做生意，只是一个心怀梦想的勤奋的期待成功的小作家。

1.细节理解题。根据she is fed up with this plain little life I’ve made for us——too many kids, too many chores, mind – numbing debt. 可知，作者的生活过得很艰难。所以选C。

2.

3.It sold 12 copies 和When the book didn’t take off, I wrote a TV show.可知，书不成功。选A。

4.

5.

考点：人物和社会类阅读。