20．There was a gardener who looked after his garden with great care．To water his flowers，he used two buckets（水桶）．One was a shiny and new bucket．The other was a very old and dilapidated one，which had seen many years of service，but was now past its best．
Every morning，the gardener would fill up the two buckets．Then he would carry them along the path，one on each side，to the flowerbeds．The new bucket was very proud of itself．It could carry a full bucket of water without a single drop spilled．The old bucket felt very ashamed because of its holes：before it reached the flowerbeds，much water had leaked along the path．
Sometimes the new bucket would say，"See how capable I am!How good it is that the gardener has me to water the flowers every day!I don't know why he still bothers with you．What a waste of space you are!"
And all that the old bucket could say was，"I know I am not very useful，but I can only do my best．I am happy that the gardener still finds a little bit of use in me，at least．"
One day，the gardener heard that kind of conversation．After watering the flowers as usual，he said，"You both have done your work very well．Now I am going to carry you back，I want you to look carefully along the path．"
Then the two buckets did so．All along the path，they noticed，on the side where the new bucket was carried，there was just bare earth； on the other side where the old bucket was carried，there was a joyous row of wild flowers，leading all the way to the garden．
1．What was the old bucket ashamed of？D
A．His past．
B．His aging．
C．His manner．
D．His leaking．
2．What does the underlined word"dilapidated"probably mean？C
A．dirty
B．dark
C．worn-out
D．ordinary-looking．
3．The new bucket made conversations with the old one mainly toB．
A．take pity on the old one
B．laugh at the old one
C．show off its beautiful looks
D．praise the gardener's kindness
4．Why was the old bucket still kept by the gardener？C
A．Because it was used to keep a balance．
B．Because it stayed in its best condition．
C．Because it had its own function．
D．Because it was taken as a treasure．
分析 文章讲述了一个园艺工人一直在使用一只破桶来浇花．告诉我们任何一样事物的存在都是有理由的．
解答 1．D 细节理解题．根据第二段最后两行The old bucket felt very ashamed because of its holes：before it reached the flowerbeds，much water had leaked（漏水） along the path．说明旧桶对自己的漏水很羞愧，D正确．
2．C 推理判断题．根据本句One was a shiny and new bucket．The other was a very old and dilapidated one，which had seen many years of service，but was now past its best．该词是指这只桶已经差不多要坏了，故C正确．
3．B 推理判断题．根据第三段See how great I am!How good it is that the gardener has me to water the flowers every day!I don't know why he still bothers with you．What a waste of space you are!"说明是在嘲笑对方，故B正确．
4．C 推理判断题．根据文章最后一段Then the two buckets did so．All along the path，they noticed，on the side where the new bucket was carried，there was just bare（光秃秃的）earth； on the other side where the old bucket was carried，there was a joyous row of wild flowers，leading all the way to the garden．说明这只破桶也有作用和价值，浇灌了它那一边的花草．故它的存在仍然是有价值的．故C正确．
点评 故事类阅读在阅读时要抓住文章的主题和细节，分析文章结构，根据上下文内在联系，挖掘文章的深层含义，对于暗含在文章中的人物的行为动机，事件中的因果关系及作者未言明的倾向、意图、态度、观点等要进行合乎逻辑的判断、推理、分析，进一步增强理解能力，抓住材料实质性的东西．
