“It is a dreadful thing to be poor a fortnight before Christmas, ” said Clorinda, with the mournful sigh of seventeen years.
Aunt Emmy smiled. Aunt Emmy was sixty, and spent the hours she didn’t spend in a bed, on a sofa or in a wheel chair; but Aunt Emmy was never heard to sigh.
“The gifts which money can purchase are not the only ones we can give,” said Aunt Emmy gently, “nor the best, either.”
“Oh, I know it's nicer to give something of your own work,” agreed Clorinda, “but materials for fancy work cost too. That kind of gift is just as much out of the question for me as any other.”
“That was not what I meant,” said Aunt Emmy.
“What did you mean, then?” asked Clorinda, looking puzzled.
Aunt Emmy smiled.
“Suppose you think out my meaning for yourself,” she said. “That would be better than if I explained it. Besides, I don't think I could explain it. Take the beautiful line of a beautiful poem to help you in your thinking out: 'The gift without the giver is bare.”
“I'd put it the other way and say, 'The giver without the gift is bare,” said Clorinda. “That is my predicament(窘境)exactly. Well, I hope by next Christmas I'll not be quite bankrupt. I'm going into Mr. Callender's store down at Murraybridge in February. He has offered me the place, you know.”
“Won't your aunt miss you terribly?” said Aunt Emmy gravely. “I think she would rather have your companionship than a part of your salary, Clorinda,” said Aunt Emmy. “But of course you must decide for yourself, dear.”
“Well, I must say bye-bye and run home.” Clorinda lived just across the road from Aunt Emmy in a tiny white house behind some huge willows. But Aunt Mary lived there too--the only relative Clorinda had, for Aunt Emmy wasn't really her aunt at all. Clorinda had always lived with Aunt Mary ever since she could remember.
Clorinda puzzled over Aunt Emmy's meaning for days. Then all at once it came to her. On Christmas Day, Clorinda went over to Aunt Emmy's.Aunt Emmy was lying on the sofa before the fire, and Clorinda sat down beside her.
“I've come to tell you all about it,” she said. “Aunt Emmy, I thought for days over your meaning ... And then one evening it just came to me. At first I didn't think I could give some of them, and then I thought how selfish I was. I would have been willing to pay any amount of money for gifts if I had had it, but I wasn't willing to pay what I had. I got over that, though, Aunt Emmy. Now I'm going to tell you what I did give.”
“First, there was old Aunt Kitty. You know she was my nurse when I was a baby. She is always glad when I go to see her, but I've never gone except when I couldn't help it. She is very deaf, and rather dull and stupid, you know. Well, I gave her a whole day. I took my knitting yesterday, and sat with her the whole time and just talked and talked. She was so pleased and proud; she told me when I came away that she hadn't had such a nice time for years. ”
“Then there was ... Florence. You know, Aunt Emmy, we were always intimate friends until last year. Then Florence once told Rose Watson something I had told her in confidence. I found it out and I was so hurt. I couldn't forgive Florence, and I told her plainly I could never be a real friend to her again. Florence felt badly, because she really did love me, and she asked me to forgive her, but it seemed as if I couldn't. Well, Aunt Emmy, that was my Christmas gift to her ... my forgiveness.”
“I gave Aunt Mary her gift this morning. I told her I wasn't going to Murraybridge, that I just meant to stay home with her. She was so glad--and I'm glad, too, now that I've decided so.”
“Your gifts have been real gifts, Clorinda,” said Aunt Emmy. “Something of you--the best of you--went into each of them.”
“I didn't forget you, Aunt Emmy,” she said, as she unpinned the paper.
There was a rosebush. Aunt Emmy loved flowers. She put her finger under one of the roses and kissed it.
“It's as sweet as yourself, dear child,” she said tenderly. “And it will be a joy to me all through the lonely winter days. You've found out the best meaning of Christmas giving, haven't you, dear?”
“Yes, thanks to you, Aunt Emmy,” said Clorinda softly.
【小题1】Clorinda felt anxious before Christmas because___________.
| A．She had to leave Aunt Mary |
| B．She didn’t know what kind of Christmas gifts she should buy |
| C．She had not enough money to buy Christmas gifts |
| D．She had no time to make a proper decision |
| A．A gift is valued by the mind of the giver. |
| B．Forgiveness is a gift for the giver and the receiver. |
| C．You cannot buy love or respect with expensive gifts. |
| D．Think twice before you give gifts to somebody |
| A．Passion | B．Sympathy | C．Kindness | D．Company |
| A．respectfully | B．confidently | C．secretly | D．willingly |
| A．cute and joyful | B．kind-hearted and emotional |
| C．optimistic and wise | D．gentle and timid (羞怯的) |
| A．A Special Christmas | B．Clorinda’s Gifts |
| C．Aunt Emmy | D．Clorinda’s Choice |
【小题1】C
【小题2】A
【小题3】D
【小题4】C
【小题5】C
【小题6】B
解析试题分析：文章讲述Clorinda因为没有钱买礼物在圣诞节前感到焦虑，Aunt Emmy,对Clorinda说了一句话，并让她自己想这句话的含义，想了几天后，Clorinda终于想通了真正的礼物不是用钱，而是用自己的方式给了周围的人礼物和快乐。
【小题1】细节题：从第一段的句子：“It is a dreadful thing to be poor a fortnight before Christmas，可知Clorinda在圣诞节前感到焦虑是因为她没有钱买礼物，选 C
【小题2】句意理解题：Aunt Emmy,对Clorinda说：'The gift without the giver is bare.”并让她自己想这句话的含义，想了几天后，她终于想通了这句话的真正意思，她没有用钱，而是花心思给了周围的人快乐，所以这句话的意思是“因为给与者的用心礼物才珍贵”，选A
【小题3】细节：从文章的句子; Well, I gave her a whole day. I took my knitting yesterday, and sat with her the whole time and just talked and talked.可知Clorinda给Aunt Kitty 的礼物是陪伴。选D
【小题4】猜词题：从文章的句子：Then Florence once told Rose Watson something I had told her in confidence. I found it out and I was so hurt.可知Florence 将Clorinda 秘密告诉她的事情告诉了Rose Watson ，所以Clorinda感到很受伤，“in confidence”是“秘密地”，选C
【小题5】推理题：从文章第二段的内容：可知Aunt Emmy 是乐观的，从她对Clorinda 说的话，可知她是很明智的，选C
【小题6】标题确定题：文章是围绕Clorinda 对于圣诞礼物的担忧，选择，给与礼物来展开叙述的，所以选B
考点：考查故事类短文
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小学生10分钟应用题系列答案科目：高中英语 来源： 题型：阅读理解
Alone in the wilderness. Nothing but jungle. A world of shadow with the rays of light falling like blonde hair from the crowns of the giant trees. Jungle in the midday sun. Everything motionless. Not a sound from sky or earth. Complete silence. Only some coconuts falling, at long intervals, very far away. The world reduced to the soft touch of cool grass along my naked back, and a sweet smell of rich soil and vegetation. Stretched out with closed eyes beside my heavy burden of fruit and firewood, I enjoyed the feeling of fresh blood streaming through every part of my body and fresh jungle air filling every corner of my lungs.
Resting motionless, I could see the sun through my closed eyelids, alone in the sky, as lonely as I, and as motionless and silent as everything else. The earth had surely stopped turning and somewhere on this planet there was supposed to be roaring traffic in busy streets. What a crazy, unbelievable thought!
Another coconut fell, to make the world come to a complete standstill. I had to roll over onto my stomach to feel that at least I could move and make noises. Then I found company. A little brown ant was struggling to find its way with a bit of dry straw through the jungle of leaves and grass below my nose. I wondered if I could give the little fellow a lift with its burden, but it showed not the slightest sign of tiredness and struggled on with all six legs, head first or head last, waving its feelers energetically as if the trip had just started. Who ever saw a tired ant? Tiredness, disagreeable tiredness, is restricted to hunted animals, slaves and modern man. It is as great an effort for an office clerk to walk five blocks with a loaded brief-case as it is for a jungle-dweller to cross a valley with a goat on his back. It is as hard to get up and climb or run when you have been seated for years as it is to get up and walk when you have been in bed for months. The body is strange. Spare it, and you get really tired for almost nothing; use it, and almost nothing makes you really tired.
I rose to my feet. I had heard a horse neighing down in the valley. Above me, on the open highland plains, there were wild horses. But down in the valley there was never a horse unless there was a man on it. Somebody was making his way up the valley and my wife was alone.
【小题1】What’s the right order of the following events?
① I heard a horse neighing down in the valley.
② I went to the jungle.
③ I found an ant carrying a bit of dry straw.
④ I lay on the ground to have a break.
⑤ I picked fruits and chopped firewood.
| A．②③⑤①④ | B．⑤③②④① | C．②⑤④③① | D．⑤④③②① |
| A．He admired its attitude toward work. |
| B．He was amazed at its tireless efforts. |
| C．He showed sympathy for the little ant. |
| D．He was content to have it as a companion. |
| A．work harder than before | B．talk to the man on the horse |
| C．make his way home | D．stay in the valley |
| A．enjoyed being alone |
| B．experienced a world of quietness |
| C．missed his busy life in the city |
| D．had an unforgettable adventure |
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科目：高中英语 来源： 题型：阅读理解
Poet William Stafford once said that we are defined more by the detours (绕行路) in life than by the narrow road toward goals.I like this image.But it was quite by accident that I discovered the deep meaning of his words.
For years we made the long drive from our home in Seattle to my parents’ home in Boise in nine hours.We traveled the way most people do：the fastest，shortest，easiest road，especially when I was alone with four noisy，restless kids who hate confinement (限制) and have strong opinions about everything.
Road trips felt risky，so I would drive fast，stopping only when I had to.We would stick to the freeways and arrive tired.
But then Banner，our lamb was born.He was rejected by his mama days before our planned trip to Boise.I had two choices：leave Banner with my husband，or take him with me.My husband made the decision for me.
That is how I found myself on the road with four kids，a baby lamb and nothing but my everlasting optimism to see me through.We took the country roads out of necessity.We had to stop every hour，let Banner shake out his legs and feed him.The kids chased him and one another.They’d get back in the car breathless and energized，smelling fresh from the cold air.
We explored side roads，catching grasshoppers in waisthigh grass.Even if we simply looked out of the car windows at baby pigs following their mother，or fish leaping out of the water，it was better than the best ride down the freeway.Here was life.And new horizons (见识)．
We eventually arrived at my parents’ doorstep astonishingly fresh and full of stories.
I grew brave with the trip back home and creative with my disciplining technique.On an empty section of road，everyone started quarreling.I stopped the car，ordered all kids out and told them to meet me up ahead.I parked my car half a mile away and read my book in sweet silence.
Some road trips are by necessity fast and straight.But that trip with Banner opened our eyes to a world available to anyone adventurous enough to wander around and made me realize that a detour may uncover the best part of a journey－and the best part of yourself.
【小题1】Why did the author use to take freeways to her parents’home?
| A．It was less tiring. |
| B．It would be faster and safer. |
| C．Her kids would feel less confined. |
| D．She felt better with other drivers nearby. |
| A．relax in the fresh air |
| B．take a deep breath |
| C．take care of the lamb |
| D．let the kids play with Banner |
| A．Freeways are where beauty hides. |
| B．Getting close to nature adds to the joy of life. |
| C．Enjoying the beauty of nature benefits one’s health. |
| D．One should follow side roads to watch wild animals. |
| A．To give herself some time to read. |
| B．To order some food for them. |
| C．To play a game with them. |
| D．To let them cool down. |
| A．Charm of the Detour |
| B．The Road to Bravery |
| C．Creativity out of Necessity |
| D．Road Trip and Country Life |
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科目：高中英语 来源： 题型：阅读理解
After spending a year in Brazil on a student exchange program，her mother recalled，Marie Colvin returned home to find that her classmates had narrowed down their college choices.“Everyone else was already admitted to college，” her mother，Rosemarie Colvin，said from the family home.“So she took our car and drove up to Yale and said，‘You_have_to_let_me_in.'”
“Impressed—she was a National Merit (全国英才) finalist who had picked up Portuguese in Brazil—Yale did, admitting her to the class of 1978，where she started writing for the Yale Daily News and decided to be a journalist，” her mother said.
On Wednesday，Marie Colvin,56，an experienced journalist for The Sunday Times of London，was killed as Syrian forces shelled the city of Homs.She was working in a temporary media center that was destroyed in the attack.
“She was supposed to leave Syria on Wednesday”，Mrs.Colvin said.“Her editor told me he called her yesterday and said it was getting too dangerous and they wanted to take her out.She said she was doing a story and she wanted to finish it.”
Mrs.Colvin said it was pointless to try to prevent her daughter from going to conflict zones.“If you knew my daughter，” she said，“it would have been such a waste of words.She was determined，she was enthusiastic about what she did，it was her life.There was no saying ‘Don't do this.' This is who she was，absolutely who she was and what she believed in：cover the story，not just have pictures of it，but bring it to life in the deepest way you could.”“So it was not a surprise when she took an interest in journalism，” her mother said.
【小题1】From the underlined sentence in Paragraph 1，we can infer that ________.
| A．Yale was her last choice |
| B．Yale must keep its promise to Marie Colvin |
| C．Marie Colvin was confident of herself |
| D．Marie Colvin was good at persuading |
| A．patience and confidence |
| B．honesty and curiosity |
| C．flexibility and creativity |
| D．determination and courage |
| A．d→e→c→a→b | B．c→b→e→d→a |
| C．e→d→c→b→a | D．b→c→d→e→a |
| A．knows her daughter very well |
| B．cares little about her daughter |
| C．dislikes the choice of her daughter |
| D．doesn't fully appreciate her daughter |
| A．Covering Stories in a Dangerous Conflict Area |
| B．Applying for Top Universities，a Successful Case |
| C．Recalling Her Daughter，a Journalist Killed in Syria |
| D．Choosing Lifelong Careers Based on Your Own Interest |
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科目：高中英语 来源： 题型：阅读理解
I was in a strange city I didn’t know at all, and what’s more, I could not speak a word of the language. On my second day I got on the first bus that passed, rode on it for several stops, then got off and walked on. The first two hours passed pleasantly enough, then I decided to turn back to my hotel for lunch. After walking about for some time, I decided I had better ask the way. The trouble was that the only word I knew of the language was the name of the street in which I lived, and even that I pronounced badly. I stopped to ask a newspaper-seller. He handed me a paper. I shook my head and repeated the name of the street and he put the paper into my hands. I had to give him some money and went on my way. The next person, I asked was a policeman. He listened to me carefully, nodded and gently took me by the arm. There was a strange look in his eyes as he pointed left and right and left again. I nodded politely and began walking in the direction he pointed.?
About an hour passed and I noticed that the houses were getting fewer and fewer and green fields were appearing on either side of me. I had come all the way into the countryside. The only thing left for me to do was find the nearest railway station.
【小题1】The writer preferred to walk back to his hotel because ________.
| A．he had no money to buy a ticket |
| B．he wanted to lose himself in the city |
| C．he tried to know the city in this way |
| D．it was late and there were no buses passing by |
| A．didn’t know where the hotel was |
| B．didn’t understand what the writer said |
| C．could understand what the writer said |
| D．didn’t want to take the money from the writer |
| A．was kind but didn’t understand the writer |
| B．told the writer where to take a train |
| C．knew what the writer really meant |
| D．was cold-hearted and didn’t help the writer |
| A．The writer got close to the hotel where he stayed. |
| B．The writer got to the hotel with the policeman’s help. |
| C．The writer found he was much farther away from the hotel. |
| D．The writer found the hotel in the direction the policeman pointed. |
| A．He didn’t know the city at all. |
| B．He couldn’t speak the language. |
| C．He went too far in the wrong bus. |
| D．He followed the policeman’s direction. |
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科目：高中英语 来源： 题型：阅读理解
One day, when I was working as a psychologist in England，an adolescent boy showed up in my office. It was David. He kept walking up and down restlessly, his face pale, and his hands shaking slightly. His head teacher had referred him to me. "This boy has lost his family," he wrote. "He is understandably very sad and refuses to talk to others, and I'm very worried about him. Can you help?”
I looked at David and showed him to a chair. How could I help him? There are problems psychology doesn’t have the answer to, and which no words can describe. Sometimes the best thing one can do is to listen openly and sympathetically
The first two times we met, David didn't say a word. He sat there, only looking up to look at the children's drawings on the wall behind me. I suggested we play a game of chess. He nodded. After that he played chess with me every Wednesday afternoon--in complete silence and without looking at me. It's not easy to cheat in chess, but I admit I made sure David won once or twice.
Usually, he arrived earlier than agreed, took the chess board and pieces from the shelf and began setting them up before I even got a chance to sit down. It seemed as if he enjoyed my company. But why did he never look at me?
"Perhaps he simply needs someone to share his pain with," I thought. "Perhaps he senses that I respect his suffering.” Some months later, when we were playing chess, he looked up at me suddenly.
"It’s your turn," he said.
After that day, David started talking. He got friends in school and joined a bicycle club. He wrote to me a few times about his biking with some friends, and about his plan to get into university. Now he had really started to live his own life.
Maybe I gave David something. But I also learned that one一without any words一can reach out to another person. All it takes is a hug, a shoulder to cry on, a friendly touch, and an ear that listens.
【小题1】When he first met the author, David .
| A．felt a little excited | B．walked energetically |
| C．looked a little nervous | D．showed up with his teacher |
| A．was ready to listen to David |
| B．was skeptical about psychology |
| C．was able to describe David’s problem |
| D．was sure of handling David’s problem |
| A．He recovered after months of treatment. |
| B．He liked biking before he lost his family. |
| C．He went into university soon after starting to talk. |
| D．He got friends in school before he met the author. |
| A．His teacher’s help. |
| B．The author’s friendship. |
| C．His exchange of letters with the author. |
| D．The author’s silent communication with him. |
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科目：高中英语 来源： 题型：阅读理解
My father had always been an alert observer of human character. Within seconds of meeting someone, he could sum up their strengths and weaknesses. It was always a challenge to see if any of my boyfriends could pass Dad’s test. None did. Dad was always right—they didn’t pass my test either. After Dad died, I wondered how I’d figure it out on my own.
That’s when Jack arrived on the scene. He was different from any other guy I’d dated. He could sit for hours on the piano bench with my mother, discussing some composers. My brother Rick loudly announced that Jack wasn’t a turkey like the other guys I’d brought home. Jack passed my family’s test. But what about Dad’s?
Then came my mother’s birthday. The day he was supposed to drive, I got a call. “Don’t worry,” he said, “but I’ve been in an accident. I’m fine, but I need you to pick me up.”
When I got there, we rushed to a flower shop for something for Mom. “How about gardenias（栀子花）?” Jack said, pointing at a beautiful white corsage (胸花). The florist put the corsage in a box.
The entire ride, Jack was unusually quiet. “Are you all right?” I asked. “I’ve been doing a lot of thinking,” he said. “I might be moving.” Moving? Then he added, “Moving in with you.” I nearly put the car on the sidewalk. “What?” I asked. “I think we should get married,” he said. He told me he’d planned his proposal in a fancy restaurant, but after the accident, he decided to do it right away. “Yes,” I whispered. We both sat dumbfounded, tears running down our cheeks. I’d never known such a tender moment. If only Dad were here to give his final approval.
“Oh, let’s just go inside.” Jack laughed. My mother opened the door. “Happy Birthday!” we shouted. Jack handed the box to her. She opened it up. Suddenly, her eyes were filled with tears. “Mom, what’s wrong?” I asked. “I’m sorry,” she said, wiping her eyes. “This is only the second gardenia corsage I’ve ever received. I was given one years ago, long before you kids were born.” “From who?” I asked. “Your father,” Mom said. “He gave me one right before we were engaged.” My eyes locked on Jack’s as I blinked away(眨掉) tears. Dad’s test? I knew Jack had passed.
【小题1】 According to the text, we know the writer’s father was __________.
| A．interested in observing things around |
| B．good at judging one’s character |
| C．strict with her boyfriend |
| D．fond of challenges |
| A．Jack got the family’s approval except Dad’s. |
| B．Jack was different from any other boy. |
| C．Jack was getting on well with Mother. |
| D．Jack knew a lot about piano. |
| A．piece of advice | B．wedding ceremony |
| C．celebration of birthday | D．offer of marriage |
| A．pleased | B．worried |
| C．surprised | D．disappointed |
| A．The gift was the same as the one her husband gave her. |
| B．She had never received such a beautiful gift. |
| C．Her daughter found her life partner at last. |
| D．The gardenia corsage was too expensive. |
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科目：高中英语 来源： 题型：阅读理解
阅读下面短文，按照句子结构的语法性和上下文连贯的要求，在空格处填入一个适当的词或使用括号中词语的正确形式填空。
Everyone had a childhood. And childhood experiences are often very funny. Children often make us 【小题1】(laugh). It’s true 【小题2】children brighten up a home. They never turn off the lights.
I often recall my childhood, the years 【小题3】 many interesting things happened. When I was a two-year-old child, both my parents were always very busy with their work. My mother worked 【小题4】 a sales manager in a company while my father served in 【小题5】 army. So I lived with my grandma in a village. I was always waiting for my parents at home. Once my father 【小题6】 (send) us a photo of his in a soldier’s uniform, 【小题7】 was posted on the table reminding me of him.
Once my mother came to see me and we went 【小题8】 (shop) together. On the way we saw a group of soldiers. And when I saw them, I became very 【小题9】 (excite). I said in a ringing voice pointing to 【小题10】 , “This is my father, and this is my father, and that is my father, too!”
My mother said she would remember that moment all her life.
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科目：高中英语 来源： 题型：阅读理解
Once a great boxer （拳击家）, Tom Brown, went to a restaurant（饭馆）for dinner. He put his bag near the door, but he was afraid that someone would take it. So he got out a pen and a piece of paper and wrote on it: “The great boxer, Tom Brown, left his bag here. He’ll come back in a few minutes. ” He put the paper on his bag and went to have his dinner. When he came back, his bag wasn’t there. But he found a piece of paper on the ground. It said: “A great runner took away your bag, and he will not come back. ”
【小题1】Tom Brown went to the restaurant ________.
| A．for his bag | B．to see the runner |
| C．to have his meal | D．for his pen |
| A．to put down his bag near the door |
| B．he couldn’t find his pen |
| C．thieves would take his bag away |
| D．he couldn’t get enough food himself from the restaurant |
| A．thought the thief would not steal （偷） his bag when he read the words |
| B．was a boxer |
| C．wanted to catch the thief |
| D．wanted to get to know the runner |
| A．found another piece of paper on the ground |
| B．found his bag wasn’t there |
| C．both A and B |
| D．saw the runner running after him |
| A．Mr Brown was foolish． |
| B．The runner was a thief. |
| C．The runner made a joke on Mr Brown. |
| D．The boxer didn’t know the runner at all. |
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