Question

【题目】An elderly carpenter was ready to retire.He told his employer, a contractor, of his plans to leave the house－building business and live a more leisurely life with his wife enjoying his extended family.He would miss the paycheck, but he needed to retire.They could get by.

The contractor was sorry to see his good worker go and asked if he could build just one more house as a personal favor.The carpenter said yes, but in time it was easy to see that his heart was not in his work.He resorted to shoddy workmanship and used inferior materials.It was an unfortunate way to end his career.

When the carpenter finished his work and the builder came to inspect the house, the contractor handed the front－door key to the carpenter.“This is your house，” he said, “my gift to you.” What a shock！What a shame! If he had only known he was building his own house, he would have done it all so differently.Now he had to live in the home he had built none too well.

So it is with us.We build our lives in a distracted way, reacting rather than acting, willing to put up less than the best.At important points we do not give the job our best effort.Then with a shock we look at the situation we have created and find that we are now living in the house we have built.If we had realized that we would have done it differently.

Think of yourself as the carpenter.Think about your house.Each day you hammer a nail, place a board，or erect a wall.Build wisely.It is the only life you will ever build.Even if you live it for only one more day, that day deserves to be lived graciously and with dignity.The plaque on the wall says，“Life is a do－it－yourself project.” Your life tomorrow will be the result of your attitudes and the choices you make today.

【1】What did the carpenter plan to do after retirement？

A. Enjoy family happiness. B. Switch to another field.

C. Start his own business. D. Build a house of his own.

【2】How did the contractor plan to deal with the house he asked the carpenter to build？

A. He planned to sell it to one of his customers.

B. He planned to send it to the carpenter as a gift.

C. He planned to fill it with his favorites.

D. He planned to send it to his partner.

【3】What can we know about the last house the carpenter built？

A. It was of low quality.

B. It did not satisfy the contractor.

C. It was perfect in workmanship and materials.

D. It was the best of all the houses he had built.

【4】What does the story intend to tell us？

A. We should focus on the future life.

B. We should react to life rather than act.

C. We should build our houses in life.

D. We should always do our best.

Answer 1

【答案】

【1】A

【2】B

【3】A

【4】D

【解析】

这是一篇夹叙夹议文。本文通过讲述一名即将退休的木匠的故事，告诉人们应该如何面对生活和人生。

【1】细节理解题。由第一段第二句“He told his employer，a contractor，of his plans to leave the house－building business and live a more leisurely life with his wife enjoying his extended family.”可知，木匠把他要退休去和妻子过悠闲的生活，享受家庭快乐的计划告诉了雇主。故 A 选项正确。

【2】细节理解题。由第三段中的the contractor handed the front－door key to the carpenter.“This is your house，” he said, “my gift to you.” 可知，雇主把木匠亲手盖得房子送给了木匠作为礼物。故B选项正确。

【3】细节理解题。由第二段He resorted to shoddy workmanship and used inferior materials. It was an unfortunate way to end his career和第三段Now he had to live in the home he had built none too well 可知，木匠最后建造的房子质量很差。故 A选项正确。

【4】推理判断题。由最后段可知，你的明天将是你的态度和你今天所做的选择的结果。意在告诉我们要认真地，努力地做好每一件事情。故D选项正确。