7．The drug store was closing for the night．Young Alfred Higgins，the stop-assistant，was ready to go home．Mr．Carr，the boss，stared at him and said："Hold on，Alfred．Maybe you'd be good enough to take the things out of your pockets and leave them here before you go．"Alfred's face got red．After a little hesitation，he took out what he had stolen．Mr．Carr said，"Maybe I should call your mother and let her know I'm going to have to put you in prison．"
Alfred thought his mother would come rushing in，eyes burning with anger．But，to his surprise，she arrived wearing a smile．"Hello，I'm Alfred's mother．Is he in trouble？"she said．Mr．Carr was surprised，too．He had expected Alfred's mother to come in nervously，shaking with fear，asking with wet eyes for a mercy for her son．But no，she was most calm，quiet and pleasant and was making Mr．Carr feel guilty…．Soon Mr．Carr was shaking his head in agreement with what she was saying．"Of course"，he said，"I don't want to be cruel．You are right．Sometimes，a little good advice is the best thing for a boy at certain times in his life and it often takes the youths long time to get sense into their heads．"And he warmly shook Mrs．Higgins's hand．
Back home，without even looking at Alfred，she said，"You are a bad luck．It is one thing after another，always has been．Why do you stand there so stupidly？Go to bed．"In his bedroom，Alfred heard his mother in the kitchen．There was no shame in him，just pride in his mother's strength．He felt he must tell her how great she was．As he got to the kitchen，he saw his mother drinking a cup of tea．He was shocked by what he saw．His mother's face was a frightened，broken one．It was not the same cool，bright face he saw earlier in the drug store．As she lifted the tea cup，her hand shook．And some of the tea splashed on the table．Her lips moved nervously．She looked very old．He watched his mother without making a sound．The picture of his mother made him want to cry．He felt his youth coming to an end．He saw all the troubles he brought his mother in her shaking hand and the deep lines of worry in her grey face．It seemed to him that this was the first time he had ever really seen his mother．
56．The reason why Mr．Carr felt guilty was thatA．
A．Alfred's mother appeared polite and gentle
B．he should have called a policeman in first
C．he found Alfred was in fact innocent
D．he thought he was partly responsible for it
57．Which of the following is probably said by Mrs．Higgins while talking to Mr．Carr？A
A．"You know，it takes time for a youth to truly grow up．"
B．"I can't believe it!You are treating my son like that!"
C．"Please，for God's sake，you know，he is just a kid．"
D．"Punishment makes sense because it teaches about the law．"
58．What does the underlined phrase"his mother's strength"（Para.3）refer to？B
A．Mrs．Higgins's attitude towards parental sufferings．
B．Mrs．Higgins's calmness and communicating skills．
C．Mrs．Higgins's love and care for her son Alfred．
D．Mrs．Higgins's greatness as a woman．
59．After the incident，young Alfred would probablyC．
A．feel ashamed of her mother B．learn to live an independent life
C．change his attitudes towards life D．hate Mr．Carr for hurting her mother．
分析 本文属于说明文阅读，作者通过这篇文章主要向我们讲述Alfred在商店偷了东西后，妈妈冷静温柔的反应和做法打动了警官，为我换的一次机会，而回家后意外看到了妈妈害怕惊恐，这些都足以让Alfred改变，重新做人．
解答 56．A．细节理解题．根据文章第二段But no，she was most calm，quiet and pleasant and was making Mr．Carr feel guilty…但是没有，她是最平静的，安静的，愉快的，让Carr先生感到内疚了．可知Carr先生觉得内疚是因为母亲表现出的温柔和礼貌；故选A．
57．A．推理判断题．根据文章第二段Mr．Carr 说的话it often takes the youths long time to get sense into their heads．你是对的．它往往需要年轻人长时间才能意识到自己的头上，可知母亲会对他说你知道，一个年轻人真正长大需要时间；故选A．
58．B．推理判断题．根据文章第二段she was most calm，quiet and pleasant可知母亲的力量指的是妈妈的冷静和交流能力；故选B．
59．C．推理判断题，根据文章最后一段的句子：He felt his youth coming to an end．他觉得自己的青春即将结束可知他真正的长大了，以后会改变的；故选C．
点评 考察学生的细节理解和推理判断能力，做细节理解题时一定要找到文章中的原句，和题干进行比较，再做出正确的选择．在做推理判断题不要以个人的主观想象代替文章的事实，要根据文章事实进行合乎逻辑的推理判断．
