Question

It was a bitter cold evening in northern Virginia many years ago. The old man’s beard was glazed by winter’s frost while he waited for a ride across the river. The wait seemed endless. His body became numb and stiff from the frigid north wind.

It was long before he heard the faint, steady rhythm of hooves (马蹄) along the frozen path. Anxiously watching several horsemen coming up, he let the first one pass by without any effort to get his attention, then another passed by, and another. Finally, the last rider drew near where the old man sat like a snow statue when old man caught his eyes and said, “Sir, would you mind giving an old man a ride to the other side?”

Stopping his horse, the rider replied, “Sure! Jump aboard.” Seeing the old man unable to lift his half-frozen body from the ground, the horseman got down to help him. The horseman took him not just across the river, but to his destination just a few miles away.

As they approached the tiny but cozy cottage, the horseman’s curiosity caused him to inquire, “Sir, I noticed you let several other riders pass by without making an effort to secure a ride. Then I came up and you immediately asked me for a ride. I am curious why, on such a bitter night, you would wait and ask the last rider. What if I had refused and left you here?”

The old man looked the rider straight in the eyes and replied, “I reckon I know people pretty good. I looked into the eyes of the other riders and immediately found no concern for my situation. It would have been useless even to ask them for a ride. But when I looked into your eyes, your gentle spirit would welcome the opportunity to give me assistance in my time of need.”

Those heart-warming comments touched the horseman deeply. “I’m so grateful for what you have said,” he told the old man. “May I never get too busy in my own affairs that I fail to respond to the needs of others with kindness and compassion.”

With that, Thomas Jefferson turned his horse around and made his way back to the White House.

1.Why didn’t the old man ask the previous riders for a ride?

A. Because he was waiting for the last rider.

B. Because his efforts failed to get their attention.

C. Because he assumed they had no concern for him.

D. Because he was too numb to lift his half-frozen body.

2.What caused the last rider to stop and help the old man?

A. the old man’s poor situation

B. kindness and sympathy

C. his own affairs

D. The old man’s warm comments

3.What do you know about the old man?

A. He gave the last rider an opportunity to help.

B. He lived in a cozy cottage a few miles away.

C. He judged people by looking into their eyes.

D. He recognized the president at first sight.

4.Which can be the best title of this text?

A. look into your eyes B. compassion of a great man

C. the last rider to help D. return to the White House

Answer 1

1.C

2.B

3.C

4.B

【解析】

试题分析：在一个寒冷的傍晚，一个老人等待过路的骑者带他过河。然而好几个骑者过去了，老人都无动于衷。当最后一个骑者过来的时候，老人请求他的帮助。他们顺利的到达了目的地。骑者很好奇的问老人为什么不寻求前面几个人的帮助。老人回答说没有在他们的眼中看到关心，而从这个骑者的眼中看到了关心。而这个骑者正是托马斯·杰斐逊。

1.C细节理解题。根据第五段第二句I looked into the eyes of the other riders and immediately found no concern for my situation.可知老人没有请求前面骑者的帮助是因为他在这些骑者的眼中没有看到关心。故选C。

2.B推理判断题。根据文章内容可以推断出最后一个骑者帮助老人是处于本身的善良和同情老人。故选B。

3.C推理判断题。根据文章第五段内容可知，老人是从他们眼神判断人的。故选C。

4.B标题判断题。文章中帮助老人的人是一个伟大人物托马斯·杰斐逊，他是一个非常善良和具有同情心的人。故B选项作为文章标题最合适。

考点：考查故事类短文阅读