8.Tim Richter and his wife,Linda,had taught for over 30years near Buffalo,New York-he in computers,she in special education."Teaching means everything to us,"Tim would say.In April 1998,he learned he would need a heart operation.It was the kind of news that leads to some serious thinking about life's purpose.
Not long after the surgery,Tim saw a brochure describing Imagination Library,a program started by Dolly Parton's foundation (基金会) that mailed a book every month to children from birth to age five in the singer's home town of Sevier,Tennessee."I thought,maybe Linda and I could do something like this when we retire,"Tim recalls.He placed the brochure on his desk as a reminder.
Five years later,now retired and with that brochure still on the desk,Tim clicked on imagination library.com.The program had been opened up to partners who could take advantage of book and postage discounts.
The quality of the books was of great concern to the Richters.Rather than sign up online,they went to Dollywood for a look-see."We didn't want to give the children rubbish,"says Linda.The books-reviewed each year by teachers,literacy specialists and Dollywood board members-included classics such as Ezra Jack Keats's The Snowy Day and newer books like Anna Dewdney's Llama Llama series.
Satisfied,the couple set up the Richter Family Foundation and got to work.Since 2004,they have shipped more than 12,200books to preschoolers in their area.Megan Williams,a mother of four,is more than appreciative:"This program introduces us to books I've never heard of."
The Richters spend about$400a month sending books to 200children."Some people sit there and wait to die,"says Tim."Others get as busy as they can in the time they have left."
28.What led Tim to think seriously about the meaning of life?B
A.His love for teaching.
B.His health problem.
C.The influence of his wife.
D.The news from the Web.
29.What did Tim want to do after learning about Imagination Library?B
A.Give out brochures.
B.Do something similar.
C.Write books for children.
D.Retire from being a teacher.
30.Why did the Richters go to Dollywood?D
A.To avoid signing up online.
B.To meet Dollywood board members.
C.To make sure the books were the newest.
D.To see if the books were of good quality.
31.What can we learn from Tim's words in the last paragraph?D
A.He needs more money to help the children.
B.He wonders why some people are so busy.
C.He tries to save those waiting to die.
D.He considers his efforts worthwhile.
分析 文章通过介绍Richter夫妇从接触一个名为Imagination Library的项目到成立自己的基金会的历程并找到生活的真正价值.
解答 28.B.细节理解题.由文章第1段的he learned he would need a heart operation.It was the kind of news that leads to some serious thinking about life's purpose.可知是Tim 得病导致他思考生命的意义.故选B.
29.B.细节理解题.从第二段Tim说的话中"I could do something like this when we retire",知道他打算在退休后做类似的事.选B.
30.D.细节理解题.从第四段前两句话中得出,"We didn't want to give the children rubbish"比喻指我们不想要质量不好的东西.从本段首句主题句中也能得出the Richters 关心的是书的质量.可知D正确.
31.D.理解推断题.从最后一段Tim的话"Some people sit there and wait to die,"says Tim."Others get as busy as they can in the time they have left."有些人坐而等待死亡,而有些人则在他的余生尽可能的忙碌着"可知,他认为自己做出的事情是值得的有意义的.故选D.
点评 本篇文章主要是细节理解方面的题型,需要考生通过跳读迅速找到对应的句子进行详细理解,句子的理解可以结合上下文意思,通过逻辑推理得到.