11．When I was a high school student，mathematics looked like a big hurdle（障碍）for me and several of my classmates．When we reached the ninth class，we got Mr．Iyer，a strict maths teacher who was also our class teacher．He always stuck to his discipline．We had to arrive on time，pay undivided attention to his lectures，and dared not neglect any of h is homework．
Even so，as our class teacher，we got to know him better．Noticing some of us fidgeting one day as the mid-term exams approached，he stopped solving a mathematical problem to ask us why．"There's too much to do，"we sighed．"We're afraid we'll never manage to finish our revision before the exams．"
"Nothing is impossible，"Mr．Iyer told us．"This classroom is on the second floor．Do you have a problem reaching here？"
We reacted with blank stares．
"No，you don't!"he said，answering his own question．"You have a staircase to help you climb up to this level．No one expects you to make it in two giant leaps．You simply take one step at a time．Any task can be solved if you focus on the immediate action to be taken．The rest w ill take care of itself，if you keep at it．One step at a time．That's the secret．"
Then he wrote down an o ld motto on the blackboard-the longest journey starts with a single step．Having heard his staircase analogy（比拟），w e understood why he asked us the question and we saw him in a new light．
Most of my classmates scored distinctions in maths．And I went on to become an English teacher．To this day，whenever I pass on Mr．Iyer's invaluable advice to my own students，they brighten up at the prospect of a lighter academic burden．
24．What can we learn from the first paragraph？D
A．Maths was difficult for most of the author's classmates．
B．The students thought Mr．Iyer was not a good teacher．
C．Mr．Iyer would punish the students neglecting his discipline．
D．The students showed great fear to Mr．Iyer．
25．The underlined word"fidgeting"in Paragraph 2probably means""B．
A．excited
B．nervous
C．hardworking
D．calm
26．Why did the author and his classmates react with blank stares？D
A．Because they were too tired to understand what Mr．Iyer said．
B．Because they felt surprised at such an unbelievable problem．
C．Because they had no interest in any subjects that were no good for their exam s．
D．Because they first thought reaching the second floor had no connection with the worry．
27．The staircase analogy implies that．A
A．goals can be reached step by step
B．one can reach his/her goals in a giant leap
C．tasks can be solved under the guide of the teacher
D．there is only one step between success and failure．
分析 本文讲了作者高中时候的一个数学老师的故事．这位数学老师，也是班主任，对"我们"要求很严格．他布置的作业"我们"总是按时完成，上学从不敢迟到，听他的演讲从不敢分心．一次，老师的"爬楼梯"的比喻，对我的学习和以后的工作都有深刻的、积极的影响．
解答 24．D 细节理解题．根据"He always stuck to his discipline．We had to arrive on time，pay undivided attention to his lectures，and dared not neglect any of h is homework．"他总是坚持他的原则，我们必须按时到校，集中精力听他的演讲，并且不敢忽视他布置的任何作业．可知，答案D正确．
25．B 词义猜测题．由该词的下句""There's too much to do，"we sighed．"We're afraid we'll never manage to finish our revision before the exams．"可知，我们感到紧张．故选B项．
26．D 推理判断题．由于我们当时不理解楼梯和学习有什么关系，所以会"茫然凝视"．故选D项．
27．A 细节理解题．根据"Having heard his staircase analogy（比拟），w e understood why he asked us the question and we saw him in a new light．Most of my classmates scored distinctions in maths．"可知，我们的目标就像爬楼梯一样，会一步一步的实现．故选A项．
点评 做阅读理解题，要针对每一种题型，采用具体的解决方法．细节理解题，要针对问题在文中找信息句；推理判断题，要通读全文，才能推出正确答案；词义猜测题，要读划线单词或短语的上下句，猜测答案；主旨大意题，要细读全文，才能总结出答案．
