Question

“I say, I’m pleased to see you,” said the little man standing by the letter-box.

“Oh, hello,” I said, remembering he was a new neighbor. “Simpson, isn’t it?”

“Yes, that’s right.” He seemed quite pleased by my ready recognition.

“I wonder if you could lend me some money,” he continued. “My wife gave me a letter to post, and I’ve just noticed it isn’t stamped.”

“yes, they never are,” I said, sympathetically（同情地）.

“It must go tonight—it really must! I’d get stamps out of the machine,” explained Simpson,” Only I find I have no small change about me.”

“I’m sorry, but I’m afraid I haven’t either,” I said.

“Oh, dear, dear,” he said.

“Yes, well,” I said, intending to move off. But he looked so unhappy standing there with the blue unstamped envelope that I really hadn’t the heart to desert him.

So I took him to my house and found some pennies and gave them to him, who, in the most business like way, made a note of the loan in his pocket-book, and left. But soon he turned up again.

“I’m sorry I am a stranger round here and —well, I’m rather lost…”

It took me several minutes to explain to him where the post office was. In the end I felt as lost as Simpson and had to accompany him to the post office, but, only to find the automatic stamp-machine was empty!

“Oh!” Simpson was so desperate that he dropped the letter on the ground and when he picked it up there was a large black spot on its face.

“Dear me,” he said, “My wife told me to post it tonight. I’d better post it, if you know what I mean.”

I did know. Or, at least, I knew Mrs Simpson.

Then I got a good idea, “Post the letter unstamped—let the other man pay double postage on it in the morning. ” And he had to agree.

Finishing off our job, I took him home.

“I’m so grateful to you, really,” he said when we reached his home. “That letter—it’s only an invitation to dinner to Mr… Dear me!”

“Why, what’s the matter?”

“Nothing. Just something I’ve remembered.”

“What?”

But he didn’t tell me. He just opened his eyes and his mouth at me like a wounded gold- fish, murmured（低声说话）a “Good-night”, and went inside.

All the way home I was wondering what it was that he had remembered.

But I stopped wondering the next morning, when I had to pay the postman double postage for a blue envelope with a large black spot on its face.

1.Simpson was very happy when the writer greeted him because ____.

A. they were good friends

B. he had a very important letter to post

C. he saw somebody he could turn to at last

D. he didn’t expect the writer to recognize him instantly

2.In the writer’s view, ____.

A. the consequence would be very severe if Simpson didn’t obey his wife

B. wives never gave their husbands money to post a letter

C. it bothered him to lead Simpson to the post office

D. he was as foolish as Simpson

3.What did Simpson suddenly remember when they got his home?

A. His wife was waiting for him to return.

B. The letter was only an invitation to dinner.

C. The letter was just addressed to the writer.

D. It’s unfair for the other man to pay for the letter.

4.How would the writer describe Simpson?

A. Stupid and careless. B. Careless but warm-hearted.

C. Optimistic and kind. D. Cautious but stubborn.

Answer 1

1.D

2.A

3.C

4.A

【解析】

试题分析：本文讲述了主人公偶遇没带零钱买邮票的新邻居并帮助他寄信，结果发现原来粗心的邻居就是要把信寄给自己的小故事。

1. “Oh, hello,” I said, remembering he was a new neighbor.说明辛普森先生是主人公的新邻居，而主人公却一下子就认出了他让他很高兴。故选D。

2. Simpson: “My wife told me to post it tonight. I’d better post it, if you know what I mean.” I did know. Or, at least, I knew Mrs. Simpson.若辛普森先生不能按时把信寄出去，后果会很严重。可以看出辛普森先生必须服从辛普森太太的吩咐。答案为A。

3. “That letter—it’s only an invitation to dinner to Mr.… Dear me! ”他肯定是想起来信就是寄给主人公的，但不好意思说出来。

4.

考点：故事理解类阅读